New Life for Emily Square
Emily Square in Athy, Co. Kildare, has been officially reopened.
Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Martin Heydon TD performed the ceremony in the presence of the Cathaoirleach of the County of Kildare, Cllr Carmel Kelly, following a redevelopment led by Kildare County Council in partnership with Fáilte Ireland.
The project was awarded over €2.7 million in funding through Fáilte Ireland’s Regenerative Tourism and Placemaking Scheme, which is co-funded by the Government of Ireland and the European Union under the EU Just Transition Fund. This investment has significantly enhanced the visitor experience and will support the sustainable development of Athy as a key tourism destination in Ireland’s Ancient East.
The redevelopment of Emily Square includes the resurfacing and enhancement of footpaths, upgraded street furniture and lighting, and a reconfiguration of traffic flows to improve pedestrian access. The space will become a central tourism hub for Athy serving as a venue for events, a meeting and resting point for locals and visitors, and a gateway from which to explore the town’s rich heritage and enjoy the River Barrow by foot, bike, or boat.
The project also restores two significant heritage features, the Maurice Duke of Leinster Drinking Fountain and the 1798 Rebellion Memorial. In addition, a new town tree and two public art murals have been introduced, along with an illuminated ground installation depicting the Barrow Line running through the centre of the square.
Emily Square is the first of 17 projects to be completed under Fáilte Ireland’s Investment Grant Aid Scheme for Local Authorities, which opened for applications in August 2023.
Orla Carroll, Director of Product Development at Fáilte Ireland, said:
"Emily Square is one of the first major projects to be completed under our Regenerative Tourism and Placemaking Scheme and clearly demonstrates the transformative impact that initiatives like the EU Just Transition Fund can have on destinations across the Midlands."
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