Contracts were signed today by Roscommon County Council and Tower Plant and Civil Engineering Ltd. for the construction of the Strokestown Public Realm Enhancement project.

Strokestown was one of the first towns in Ireland to benefit from a Town Centre First Plan; ‘Strokestown 2040’. This ambitious plan envisioned a transformative upgrade of the town’s public realm, aiming to enhance connectivity with Strokestown Park House while preserving and celebrating its designation as a heritage town.

This new project, ‘Rejuvenating Strokestown’s Potential’, which received planning approval in December 2023, will create a reimagined public realm along Bawn St and Church Street, providing a visual and physical link to Strokestown Park House recognising the traditional/period character of the house and sympathetic to this in terms of lighting, street furniture, materiality and style. The project will include space for events, festivals, markets and outdoor dining, shared surface arrangements, public information and way-finding signage, new landscaping and street furniture.

Delivery of the project has been led by Roscommon County Council’s Regeneration and Economic Development team, with designers BDP Ltd., and in consultation with Strokestown Town Team.  

Speaking at today’s contract signing Chief Executive of Roscommon County Council Mr. Shane Tiernan described the project as the biggest ever public realm investment in the town, with a total scheme budget of approximately €8M. He paid tribute to the work of the Town Team and highlighted the vital role of community input in shaping the Town Centre First Plan. While acknowledging that the works will cause some temporary inconvenience and disruption, he emphasised that the overarching goal is to create a vibrant, sustainable town centre featuring high-quality public spaces for community gatherings and social enjoyment.

Mr. Tiernan also welcomed the recent completion of the Active Travel works on Church Street and pointed out that the upcoming completion of the N5 project will help ease traffic congestion through the town. This, he added, will significantly enhance the benefits of both the public realm improvements and the active travel initiatives where the town will have increased attractiveness to tourists and visitors, whilst greatly increasing ease of movement and safety for everyone.