Cork County Council Awards €217,000 to Brighten Up Town Centres Across County

Cork County Council has allocated over €217,000 in grant funding to 111 property and business owners across 29 towns and villages to enhance their streetscapes and improve the visual appeal of local town centres.

The funding comes through the 2025 Streetscape Enhancement Scheme, which received an impressive 197 applications from property owners keen to spruce up their premises. The scheme focuses on improving main street appearances through various enhancement works, with particular emphasis on supporting traditional shopfronts.

The council is offering four different levels of support, ranging from 60% grant aid for improvement works up to 100% funding for materials. The scheme covers essential improvements including painting of premises, upgrades to shop-front signage, and materials costs for enhancement projects.

Beyond the financial support, Cork County Council is providing additional guidance to successful applicants on colour palette selection, design principles, conservation approaches for traditional shopfronts, and incorporating Irish language elements into signage.

Mayor of the County of Cork, Cllr Mary Linehan Foley, welcomed the funding allocation:

"This scheme directly supports and rewards property owners who are maintaining and improving properties in our towns to support occupancy, and has the wider effect of making our town centres more attractive, inviting places for people to visit. It adds to the significant investment by Cork County Council in public realm improvements generally and I look forward to seeing the completed works in towns and villages around the county."

The initiative represents a collaborative effort between elected council members, local communities, businesses, and Cork County Council to revitalise town and village centres across the county.

Chief Executive of Cork County Council, Moira Murrell, expressed her enthusiasm for the scheme's uptake:

"I am greatly encouraged by the level of interest in the Streetscape Enhancement Scheme, which is a successful collaborative effort between our elected members of Council, local communities and businesses and Cork County Council, to improve the appearance of our town and village centres. This initiative is one of a number of measures that Cork County Council is employing to build upon the significant county-wide investment in Council-led regeneration projects such as greenways, libraries, housing, public realm and sustainable travel."

The high number of applications demonstrates strong community engagement with efforts to enhance Cork's town centres, suggesting residents and business owners are eager to contribute to making their localities more appealing destinations for visitors and residents alike.