Major Tullamore revamp plan takes step forward

Offaly County Council is progressing a €3m plan to create a link between O'Connor Square and Church Street in Tullamore

It's the next phase of the Tullamore town centre regeneration project, which has already included street enhancements at O'Connor Square, High Street and Columcille Street in recent years.

The latest phase involves the use of a derelict property on Church Street in Tullamore, which was purchased by the council, to create an open vista from O'Connor Square (near the library) through Church Street and across to Market Square.

Offaly County Council is seeking to appoint consultants to manage the design and construction of the O’Connor Square to Church Street link as well as a new public realm including sensory garden and civic building for use as a potential remote working hub.

Funding has been approved previously as part of the Urban Regeneration and Development Fund.

The link between O'Connor Square to Church Street will be via an existing bridge over the Tullamore River, to the rear of the Offaly Central Library, leading into a sensory garden and open space on Church Street.

The council says the the new garden, to be located close to the Methodist Church, will connect the two key squares in Tullamore, O'Connor Square and Market Square.

The garden will also house raised landscape elements and sculptures, contain contemporary urban street furniture, and a new deck onto the river.

The contract for the work is for 42 months, which includes planning design, construction, snagging and completion.

Other elements of the reegeneration plan for Tullamore are also being progressed.

A separate plan to allow pedestrian and vehicular access between High Street and the Tanyard via a new link is also expected to be progressed, with contractors due to be sought shortly.

A plan to devise a new civic space on Meath Lane in the town is also likely to push on, with a contractor being sought in the coming months, along with a much-heralded plan to allow managed access to the top of Acres Folly in the town.