Iconic Castlewellan building to be transformed for community

New Social Development Minister, Margaret Ritchie, visited Castlewellan today to announce work to restore an iconic local building to its former glory.

The listed building, known locally as ‘The Lodge’, will be refurbished at a cost of more than £773,000 and one of its anchor tenants will be traditional Irish music organisation, Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Eíreann. A business centre will also be created, incorporating office accommodation for local and community businesses, training rooms and space for community activities such as meetings and classes.

The Castlewellan Regeneration Company Limited has developed the Scheme with assistance from the International Fund for Ireland, the Department for Social Development, the Rural Development Council (RDC) and Down District Council.

During her visit, Margaret Ritchie said: “I congratulate Castlewellan Regeneration Company Limited and its partners on the formation and development of ‘The Lodge’ project. This is another fine example of the Regeneration Company delivering for all the community. Facilities such as these are critical to the regeneration of the local economy and will prove a great addition to the promotion of cultural activities in the Castlewellan area for generations to come. Restoring this listed building to its former glory will see much needed improvements to one of the main gateways into the town.

“The initiative has been made possible thanks to the success of Hillyard House, whose profits have been reinvested in The Lodge. This momentum and continued confidence is central to my Department’s regeneration policy. I believe that this scheme will continue to build on the ongoing transformation of Castlewellan.”

Announcing International Fund for Ireland support of £391,256 for the project, Jackie Hewitt, Board member of the International Fund for Ireland, said: "The International Fund for Ireland has enjoyed a mutually beneficial relationship with Castlewellan Regeneration Company and was a key funder, with the Department, of the Hillyard House project in 1992.

"We are again delighted to support the group in this new project which is situated in a very prominent position in the town and which will have an immediate and positive impact on social and economic life in Castlewellan and play an important role in the long term prosperity of the area".

Speaking at the event RDC Chief Executive Martin McDonald commented, “We are very proud to have worked with this group over the past six years. As a Council RDC is constantly working to encourage a flourishing and sustainable rural Northern Ireland and believe that rural communities play a vital and significant role in achieving this. This project, involving the renovation and refurbishment of an old property to provide an outlet for cultural activity is an example of a rural community identifying and addressing its strengths and utilising them for the good of the local economy. I am particularly pleased that the newly appointed Minister is here to witness what rural development and local communities can achieve”.

Chairman of Down District Council, William Clarke welcomed the support of all the funders and the investment in Castlewellan. He commented: "As Chairperson of Down District Council it gives me great pleasure to be involved with the launch of this exciting project for Castlewellan. The Lodge project, when complete, will provide a valuable community facility which will contribute to the economic growth of Castlewellan and the cultural and social life of the town."

Councillor O’Neill, Chairman of Castlewellan Regeneration, added: “I am very pleased and delighted to be able to announce the appointment of the contractor and the beginning of the work on The Lodge contract. This represents many hard years of work by ourselves in Castlewellan Regeneration Company Limited in partnership with Comhaltas and St. Malachys Parish. The vision behind the Lodge project was the creation of a self sustaining cultural centre which will be a real boast for culture and tourism in the Castlewellan area. I look forward to the successful completion of the contract and the use by the public.”

Notes to Editors:

1. Media enquiries to DSD Information Office on 028 9082 9078.
2. The total cost of the scheme is £773,512. This includes £141,256 from the Department for Social Development (DSD), £391,256 from The International Fund for Ireland, £150,000 from the Rural Development Council, £22,000 from Down District Council and £69,000 from the Castlewellan Regeneration Company Limited.
3. Work on the scheme, which has been designed by Joe Walsh Architects and is scheduled for completion at the end of November 2007.