Government allocates €50,000 funding for Carrick-on-Suir amenity area

A €50,000 grant has been awarded to improve public access to Carrick-on-Suir Duck Pond located off Sir John's Road.

The grant go towards funding the Duck Pond Amenity Enhancement Project that aims to support access to this community amenity along the Glen River and protect and enhance its natural character and the ecology of the riverside habitat.

The Duck Pond is popular location with surrounding residents for watching birdlife and for leisurely walks. The pond provides habitat for a wide range of bird species, including mute swans which return annually for breeding.

The €50,000 funding for the Duck Pond Amenity Enhancement Project is part of a wider national package announced on Monday, December 22 by Minister for Rural & Community Development Dara Calleary providing €26m in funding to over 100 community projects across the country under the Town and Village Renewal Scheme.

Fianna Fáil Senator Imelda Goldsboro has welcomed the funding announcement and said the project “has the potential to transform a much under utilised recreational space.”

“As our lives become ever busier, it is important that we have accessible public recreational spaces within our communities and this project delivers exactly that,” she said.

She said the funding will ensure the project is fully developed and carefully planned, making it ready to attract major investment for construction and to deliver long term benefits for the community.

Senator Goldsboro said the Duck Pond project is a flagship measure in the Carrick-on-Suir Town Centre First Plan, which sets out a community led vision to revitalise the town by tackling vacancy, enhancing public spaces and strengthening links between heritage and everyday life.

“We need areas where parents can take children for a walk and spend quality time together, as well as places where people can meet friends and enjoy the outdoors,” Senator Goldsboro said.

“What has become clear in recent years is how much people value spending time together outside with friends and loved ones. We must ensure we have spaces like this, which is why today’s funding is so important for the community.”

She pointed out that the investment marks the beginning of further opportunities for the town.

“This is just the beginning. There are many potential areas that could be transformed into incredible community spaces if funding continues to be allocated,” she said.

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