Galway

Projects will include the transformation of an old church in Co Louth, and a former cinema in Co Sligo into new state-of-the-art public libraries and community facilities

12 projects in areas that currently lack a community centre will receive between €1 million and €6 million to build brand new facilities.

A funding boost of €408,000 will be provided to resurface, re-route and improve 43 rural outdoor trails across 14 counties under the Government's Walks Scheme.

The 2023 CLÁR Programme is to provide a total of €6.2 million in funding for 152 schools, community and sports projects nationwide. Funding of €174,934 has been specifically provided for four projects on offshore islands in counties Galway and Mayo.

National organisations working with asylum seekers, and local representatives in Co Galway have spoken out against the alleged arson attack on the vacant Ross Lake House Hotel.

50 new projects will each receive funding of up to €50,000 each to bring them to a shovel-ready stage.

The 21st annual Pride of Place awards took place in Armagh in November to honour individuals and groups dedicated to improving their local neighbourhoods, creating better places to live, work, and socialise.

Pobal is celebrating 30 years in operation this year. It has expanded rapidly and now has over 700 staff in 12 office locations around the country. In 2022, it distributed €901m on behalf of government departments to thousands of community groups. It's CEO, Anna Shakespeare, is clear, however, that the agency's 30th anniversary celebrations are not about Pobal as such, but about the communities they serve.