Thomastown Community Library is now officially open, marking a major investment in local life, learning and regeneration in County Kilkenny. Announced via gov.ie, the project highlights how public funding is being used to reshape town centres with modern, accessible community spaces that serve children, teenagers, adults and older residents alike.
Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht Dara Calleary TD formally opened the new facility on 23 July 2026 during a wider visit to projects in Kilkenny and Carlow. The new Thomastown Community Library was delivered with more than €4 million from the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund, with total investments visited by the Minister on the day exceeding €5 million.
Thomastown Community Library opens as a major Kilkenny community investment
The new Thomastown Community Library has been designed as a state-of-the-art public amenity in the heart of the town. The building includes:
- Dedicated reading and activity areas for adults, children and teenagers
- ICT and digital spaces
- Access to 3D printing technology
- Flexible community rooms for workshops, classes and events throughout the year
The development strengthens Kilkenny Library Service and supports the wider national push to modernise public libraries under the 2023-2027 strategy, The Library is the Place. It also reflects the work of the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht in supporting town-centre renewal alongside other public bodies across Ireland, including Local Government and Heritage, Education, Health and Social Protection services.
According to Minister Calleary, public libraries remain essential community assets, offering safe, welcoming educational spaces for all ages while also generating cultural and social value for future generations.
Why the new library matters
Beyond books, Thomastown Community Library is intended to function as a shared civic space. In practical terms, that means better access to digital tools, lifelong learning, local events and inclusive programming in a central location.
Minister Calleary also opened projects in Carlow and Kilkenny
The official opening of Thomastown Community Library was part of a wider ministerial tour of regeneration and enhancement projects backed by Department funding.
Carlow projects visited
- Tullow: nearly €366,000 under the Town and Village Renewal Scheme for riverfront amenity works, St Austin’s Well, a biodiversity garden, signage, a virtual heritage trail and a paint scheme
- Clonegal: €99,000 for village enhancement, including signage improvements, a paint scheme, Heritage Centre upgrades and works at Wicklow Way Park
- Carrigduff: €250,000 to deliver a refurbished playground with modern, accessible and inclusive equipment
- St Mullins: €117,000 for public realm improvements, footpath upgrades in Pilgrim’s Park, wayfinding signage and a paint scheme
Further Kilkenny investment in Gowran
In Gowran, the Minister officially opened an Outdoor Intergenerational Inclusion Hub and Playground supported by €250,000 through the Town and Village Renewal Scheme and €100,000 in LEADER funding. The project transformed a neglected former dump site into an outdoor space designed for recreation, exercise and social connection across all age groups.
How funding schemes are shaping rural Ireland
The Thomastown Community Library project is part of a broader national funding framework. The Rural Regeneration and Development Fund has approved more than €610 million for 270 projects since 2018, including over €11.7 million across nine projects in County Kilkenny. Separately, the Town and Village Renewal Scheme has allocated more than €210 million to over 1,900 projects nationwide since 2016.
These schemes connect closely with policy priorities seen across gov.ie, from Rural and Community Development to Housing, Finance, Enterprise, Trade and Employment and Public Expenditure. While agencies such as the Revenue Commissioners, Health Service Executive (HSE), An Garda Síochána and Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) serve different public roles, this investment drive shows how joined-up government infrastructure can support everyday life at local level.
What the Thomastown Community Library opening means
The opening of Thomastown Community Library is more than a ribbon-cutting moment. It is a clear example of how targeted state investment can revive town centres, improve access to education and technology, and create inclusive spaces for community life. For Kilkenny, Thomastown Community Library now stands as a flagship local resource and a visible sign of how rural regeneration funding can deliver lasting results.
Article/Image Courtesy: gov.ie
