Friday 7th July 2023: Kildare County Council has today published a Master Plan for the future of Monasterevin, highlighting exciting and ambitious recommended changes and proposed developments to the spatial configuration of the town to guide sustainable growth and enable it to be a safe and enjoyable place to live, work and prosper as well as an exciting place to visit and explore.
A rich history, vibrant and diverse community and an exciting heritage setting, as well as its advantageous regional positioning and strong transport infrastructure connections makes Monasterevin unique, and the Master Plan aims to demonstrate a number of considered and viable approaches to further improve and develop the town. Pedestrians and cyclists are at the heart of the design solutions for the town set out in the plan, as well as creating fully accessible, inclusive and age-friendly public spaces.
The town renewal master plan for Monasterevin was commissioned by Kildare County council and was led by The Paul Hogarth Company, in collaboration with O’Connor Sutton Cronin engineering consultants. Collaboration was central to the development of the plan, with input and knowledge from those who know the town best including local residents, workforce and visitors alike, as well as professional guidance from the design team.
The plan sets out a number of exciting proposals for the town under three categories; History & Heritage, Visiting & Learning, Living & Thriving. Some of these projects include:
- A vision for Market Square – A re-imagining of the square as a thriving urban enclave surrounded by a unique mix of heritage, touristic and commercial offerings, alongside the potential for new dining space alongside expanded public spaces – all finished with quality paving, simplified signage, seating and lighting.
- Drogheda Street – Allowing safer space for active travel modes along this critical transport spine to provide easier movement and access for those walking and cycling to school, while resurfacing and paving works will ensure visual cohesion. Safe spaces for movement as well as additional public lighting, on-street vegetation, improved signage and upgrades to the street’s surface materials could return Drogheda Street into a vibrant community corridor.
- Active Trail, Moore Abbey – An opportunity to celebrate the origins of Mainister-Eimhin in the grounds of Moore Abbey, where a woodland trail offers an off-road experience to explorers, connecting back to the Barrow Blueway at the town’s Market Square.
- Canal Harbour Area – Once a thriving harbour front along the Grand Canal, the plan proposed the re-imagining of this area as a unique heritage trail that announces visitors’ arrival along the Barrow Blueway. The introduction of traffic-calming measures would transform the street into a thriving pedestrian-friendly place with accessible points along the waterfront, increased vegetation as buffers, architectural upgrades to heritage shop frontages, local play points next to the historic wharf and a safe pedestrian connection underneath the rail bridge.
Cathaoirleach of the County of Kildare, Councillor Daragh Fitzpatrick welcomed the plan; “I am delighted to welcome the publication of the Monasterevin Town Renewal Masterplan, an exciting and ambitious document providing a route for the improvement and development of Monasterevin. The exciting proposals contained in the Plan will enhance the experience of those who not only live and work in the town and it’s surrounds, but also for those who visit Monasterevin.”
Welcoming the exciting Town Renewal Master Plan for Monasterevin, Mayor of the Kildare-Newbridge Municipal District, Councillor Suzanne Doyle, said; “The publication of a Masterplan for Monasterevin is the culmination of the work and effort by Kildare County Council in collaboration with a dedicated and collaborative community. Paul Hogarth and company have produced several excellent plans for County Kildare and this one promises to be very exciting given the potential of Monasterevin as a beautiful heritage town with two important waterways that will benefit from National investment in Barrow Blueway.”
“I look forward to the proposals within this plan being pursued and seeing Monasterevin deliver on all its vibrant potential for both local people and business.”
Speaking about the plan, Sonya Kavanagh, Chief Executive, Kildare County Council said; “We very much welcome the launch of the Monasterevin Town Renewal Master Plan. This plan will feed into the next Local Area Plan process, which will map future development, recreation and amenity opportunities, while guiding the sustainable growth of the town; ensuring that Monasterevin is a safe and enjoyable place to live, work and do business for many years to come. We hope that this is the first of many exciting developments for Monasterevin and look forward to seeing the renewal of the town.”
Bart O’Doherty, Associate, The Paul Hogarth Company said; “The Paul Hogarth Company is delighted to have worked alongside the local communities of Monasterevin and with Kildare County Council in developing this Town Renewal Plan for Monasterevin. Through a collaborative process of engagement and consultation, this Master Plan presents an ambitious step forward for the town – one that reflects the energy and passion that Monasterevin has for its rich history, its unique setting in the heart of County Kildare, and the community’s continued ambition to develop a great place for people and the environment.”
The development of the Monasterevin Town Renewal Master Plan was co-funded by Kildare County Council and the Department of Rural and Community Development through the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund (RRDF) and Town and Village grant schemes as well as Local Property Tax allocations by elected members of Kildare County Council.