Taoiseach Leo Varadkar cuts the ribbon on Stanwix Village

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar officially opened the Thurles Lions Trust Stanwix Village on Friday.

The Stanwix Village consists of 16 houses, which is now home to 20 people and a community centre.

The Taoiseach told the Tipperary Star at the opening that he was really impressed by the work of the Thurles Lions Club.

“I’d love to see something like this not only in every town in Tipperary but every town in the country. I think if we had something like this in every town, we would be in a much better place.

“So this is an example to follow, both in terms of bringing an old building back into use, but also supported accommodation for people who need it most so people can live in their communities,” said the Taoiseach.

The development refurbished the Stanwix Home (Widow’s Home), and the trust built six new homes on the site.

The Thurles Lions Trust have prioritised elderly persons, persons with disabilities and others in need of housing.

Speaking at the event, Chairperson of Thurles Lions Trust, Anne Bolton, said the project has been a pleasure to work on.

She told those gathered that it was joy to see residents move in in February and form supportive friendships.

“For some, having the necessary support in place makes it a home,” said Ms Bolton.

Ms Bolton said this development brings the total units provided by the Thurles Lions Club to 81.

Of those, 23 are fully supported, and they also have 15 former tenants who still receive support to maintain independent tenancies.

In attendance on Friday were representatives from Tipperary County Council, councillors and TDs, Jackie Cahill and Michael Lowry.

Deputy Cahill praised the work of the Lions Club and especially on this historic building.

“I am a native of Thurles. I’ve passed this building numerous times and to see it in a serious state of decay. So it is lovely to see it restored and holding its character as well,” said Mr Cahill.

Thurles-Templemore Cathaoirleach Peggy Ryan said the restoration was huge for Thurles.

“This is transformative for Thurles as the restoration of something. Everyone knows it was called the ‘Widow’s Home’ but now we know the history of it and the vision of Emma Slaughter Stanwix.”

Since 1889 The Stanwix Home, known lovingly to generations of locals as the “Widow’s Home”, has been providing sheltered and independent accommodation to elderly ladies from Thurles and surrounding parishes.

Fr George Bourke, retired PP/AP, Moycarkey-Borris, has written a brief history of The Stanwix Home, it’s benefactor Ms Emma Slaughter-Stanwix, and The Stanwix Trust who were charged by Ms Stanwix in her will with delivering on her vision. The Stanwix Village complex is an initiative of Thurles Lions Trust Housing Association.

County Cathaoirleach Roger Kennedy said: “This is a tremendous development here. We are always trying to recycle and reuse and remodify, and this is a prime example of what can be done.

Tipperary Senator Garrett Ahearn said what the Lions Club have accomplished in Thurles can be done across the country.

“Today is a really positive day Just want to congratulate the Thurles Lions Club Trust on all the work they have done.

“This is a real insight into what can be achieved across the country to house people.

“We have a long way to go, but I think in Tipperary, we are leading the way led by the local authority and groups like this,” said Senator Ahearn. Stanwix Village was the last of the Taoiseaach’s engagements in Tipperary on Friday. Speaking to the

Tipperary Star, Taoiseach Vardakar said that Thurles had cme on a lot since he last visited pre-pandemic.

“The last time I was here was before the pandemic, so that was a few years ago now. It definitely seems to be doing better economically.

“There is a greater sense of prosperity here, and there is definitely stuff happening.

“But more to be done, and now that the economy is strong and the government has the kind of money we didn’t have years ago, and we would be in a position to invest in infrastructure, in roads and schools, healthcare facilities and even more so than in the last five or ten years.”

When asked if developments like Stanwix give him optimism for the resolution of the housing crisis, the Taoiseach said:

“It does. I’m not in denial at all at the depth of the crisis and how it’s really hurting hundreds of thousands of people, but I’m also seeing, around the country things really taking off, so I saw the numbers. Someone from the Citizens Information Centre in town said they are getting a huge number of enquiries around the derelict sites grant that’s there to bring derelict homes back into use and then to see investment in social housing here too.

“So I think we are getting there. It’s just such a huge mountain to climb. But how do you climb a mountain other than bit by bit?” said Taoiseach Varadkar.