Reimagine Moville, Co Donegal, aims to improve workability, vitality and the sense of belonging in the heritage town.

Hometown Architect in Moville aims to reimagine the town, first designed 250 years ago, and create the heritage of the future whilst respecting and complementing its built and natural environment. The project will address current challenges, including public transport and digital infrastructure disconnectivity and a lack of viable meeting spaces, especially for young people. Seeing Moville through new eyes, the project team is intent on supporting and strengthening sustainable spaces, full of light and life, where everyone belongs. A series of inclusive conversations for change will culminate in a community-sourced vision.

Reimagine Moville is one of three projects selected for Hometown Architect 2024. The Moville project proposal met the Hometown Architect brief by focusing on issues of particular concern, and on opportunities or innovations for town centre regeneration in line with the Government of Ireland’s Town Centre First Policy. This policy aims to make town centres across Ireland viable, vibrant and attractive locations for people to live, work and visit.  

The Moville team is led by architect Mary Kerrigan, who is a SPAB Scholar (Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings, London) and Sustainable Communities Millennium Fellow, partnering with community stakeholders Clódagh Warnock, founder and director at Ceolan Heritage Group and Ceolan Traditional Music and Harp School, and Anthony Doogan, treasurer, Moville Community Complex Development Company and retired principal of Moville Community College.

Speaking on behalf of the team, Mary Kerrigan stated: “We can’t wait to co-design a whole new future for the town, inviting and welcoming participation by people from all backgrounds, walks of life, ability and ages, to amplify aspirations and ambitions, and accelerate aligned actions, using tried and tested ways that work, to help co-create new possibilities, beyond expectations.” 

A series of creative, inclusive conversations for change runs from late April until the end of May, beginning with the Reimagine Moville launch on Wednesday 24 April at 7:00-9:30pm, in Glencrow Hall. All who live, work, learn, create, shop, stop, stay, play or pray in Moville; who work or volunteer with any organisation that serves Moville and environs; or who belong to the Moville diaspora, and want to help envision a new future for the town are invited to participate.

This is the second round of Hometown Architect, which supports collaborative regeneration projects by architects and community groups in small and medium sized towns outside of major urban centres. The Moville project is one of three that have been selected for development funding of €10,000 each plus mentoring and practical support from the IAF’s experienced placemaking team. The other towns are Bailieborough, Co Cavan and Mountrath, Co Laois.

For updates on this and other IAF Reimagine projects, subscribe to the Irish Architecture Foundation newsletter or follow the IAF on social media.

Top photo: workshop with Moville residents, photo by Patrick Duddy

Bottom photos by Barry Cronin. 1. Anthony Doogan (Moville Community Complex Development Company) and Mary Kerrigan (architect). 2. Mary Kerrigan. 3. Emmett Scanlon (Irish Architecture Foundation), Anthony Doogan, Mary Kerrigan, and Andrew Forde (Department of Rural and Community Development).