The town of Cappoquin is continuing its development journey.

The West Waterford locality recently saw works begin on the former Fennel’s pub and Uniacke’s shop in the town centre.

Director and Secretary of the Cappoquin Regeneration Company Denis McCarthy believes recent projects have already benefitted the town.

“The contract for Fennells and Uniacke’s is the most recent contract that has been signed. Prior to that we’ve had a number of contracts in the town. The first was the Blackwater house which has been completely renovated and now houses the post office in the town,” he said when speaking to WLR News.

And Mr McCarthy says further plans are in the pipeline to accelerate the town’s development.

“There are two contracts ongoing at the moment through ourselves and the local authority. One is the former Moore’s hotel in the town centre and we expect completion on that towards the end of September. In addition to that, there are three residential properties on Green Street and Main Street which are at an advanced stage of construction and they are expected to be completed by the end of this year. The further addition which has come up recently is a private development of the former Walsh’s Hotel which has been contracted out privately and is being refurbished into an Airbnb.”

“With all that done, there will be significant improvement in the town centre and the presentation of buildings in the town. We’ll have about 10 properties which have been derelict and vacant which will be completely renovated, so you’re getting a complete improvement in the structure of the town and in the refurbishment of old and former buildings which have been vacant,” he added.

Mr McCarthy hopes that the development which has seen millions of Euro invested in the community will bring new life to the town in more ways than one.

“We hope to attract families and businesses back into the town. With this refurbishment, these buildings are going to be brought back into active use and we will now see an improvement in the economic development and residential portion of the town. You’ll have new properties available for purchase and lease and that should be a big improvement in the town and a boost from the tourism point of view as well.”

He went on to pay due to the groups who have come together to make the developments happen.

“It’s a bit more than eight million in total being invested and that’s through the office of Waterford City and County Council, the Cappoquin Regeneration Company, the Tomar Trust, Waterford Leader and the Department of Rural and Community Development. All have come together and combined in a number of ways to ensure that these developments take place and that the buildings are regenerated.”

“Eight million being spent in any small town is very significant and a huge boost. There are five contracts going on in the town at the moment in a small town. It’s quite a lot, so it’s a major boost to the town and the people who live in it.”

For the latest Waterford News and Sport, tune into WLR News on the hour and download the WLR App for news on demand.