A controversial project for Carrick-on-Shannon, which could have seen the significant alteration of one of the town's most famous buildings, has been refused funding by the government.
The local authority has confirmed that its proposal for an innovative town centre experience, an 'Avoca Type' Destination Centre in the centre of Carrick on Shannon town, which was due to be located at the current site of the historic Geraghty's music shop was unsuccessful under Call 2 of the Governments Urban Regeneration Development Fund.
In a statement to Shannonside FM, Lar Power, Chief Executive of Leitrim County Council outlined that "this was a hugely disappointing result and a very unfortunate outcome for the Town Centre of Carrick on Shannon and the County of Leitrim".
He added "like all towns in Ireland, Carrick on Shannon's town centre is under duress and in decline from a retail perspective, and I truly felt this application represented a once in a lifetime transformational opportunity to arrest this decline, restore prominence of the town centre and thereby hugely enhance the opportunity and viability for all retailers in the town centre".
Mr Power went on to say that he "categorically believes it would have been truly a 'game changer' for Carrick on Shannon town centre's fortunes from a retail perspective and would have resulted in a 'must visit' Retail Destination for visitors and locals alike in the North West.
The decision brings to an end a campaign that started last July by the Geraghty family to oppose the development and saw thousands of signatures collected in opposition to the project.
