A WEST CLARE PUB is to be selected for a national pilot programme encouraging rural publicans to diversify their facilities for community use as cinemas, digital hubs, book clubs, meeting spaces or arts and crafts workshops.
West Clare is included alongside Cavan, West Donegal, West Cork and East Kerry for the ‘Pubs as Community Hubs’ initiative which is set to be rolled out over the coming weeks. The Clare Echo understands that the exact pub in West Clare to partake in this programme has not been selected. If the pilot is viewed as a success, it will be expanded to other parts of Ireland.
Funding of €50,000 has been provided to the Vintners Federation of Ireland (VFI), which will select the pubs that will be utilised as community activity spaces during quiet trading times. The VFI will refine proposals with local community groups in the five locations before submitting funding proposals to the Department of Rural and Community Development for consideration.
Clare TD, Joe Carey (FG) felt the possibilities of the scheme were “endless”. He stated, “Family-run pubs have serviced local communities for generations. Falling demand coupled with the strains of dealing with Covid-19 have really challenged these businesses. This policy has the potential to convert underused spaces for the benefit of local communities. Often people in rural areas might have to travel many miles to access certain services. In other instances, there may not be a suitable meeting place for local groups to come together for activities”.
Deputy Carey continued, “The possibilities are endless, but the goal is simple – supporting our rural pubs so that they can continue to be a focal point in our rural communities where friends and neighbours can gather for a range of services and activities into the future. Experiences of a similar initiative in the UK have seen the development of community meeting spaces and similar facilities. These spaces have, in turn, been used to accommodate training programmes and other activities some of which address issues associated with social disadvantage and marginalisation”.
