Carrick-on-Suir Regeneration Plan
'A Journey from the Suir Blueway to the Ormond Castle Quarter'
Your Carrick-on-Suir...
Let us know what you think!
Regeneration Plan
Carrick on Suir Municipal District, in partnership with the Carrick on Suir Tourism and Economic Development Committee and multiple stakeholders have prepared a whole-town transformative Regeneration Plan. Planning permission and detailed plans and drawings have been prepared with the support of funding received from the Department of Rural and Community Development under their Rural Regeneration and Development Fund. The support and ambition of the community and stakeholders in the town have been key in bringing this vison forward.
The proposed Regeneration Plan is subject to a funding application to the Department and a decision is due in September 2022. The following attachments set out relevant details of the proposed Plan and funding application and the attached video summaries the proposed Regeneration vision.
- Supplementary Document to the funding application
- Schedule of Plans and Drawings for the Regeneration Area.
- Tourism Investment Assessment Report
- Stakeholder Survey Results

Part 8- Planning Application
Pursuant to the requirements of Part 8 of the Planning and Development Regulations 2001, as amended, Tipperary County Council hereby gives notice that it intends to carry out the following development:
Description: CARRICK ON SUIR REGENERATION PLAN
The proposed development includes for public realm refurbishment and enhancement in Carrick on Suir’s town centre comprising the upgrading of existing streets and lanes with new high-quality paving, kerbing, public lighting, improved street furniture and utility diversions/works (including undergrounding of overhead ESB cables). Footpath space will be widened, traffic calming will be developed through build-out, reduced road carriage widths and improved pedestrian crossings.
Existing car parks will be improved and new car parking spaces provided. The traffic management at the junction of Main Street and Dillon Bridge will change from a signal-controlled junction to a priority-controlled junction. Pedestrian movement will be prioritised by the design.
The development includes for public realm refurbishment and enhancement at Sean Healy Park comprising the development of a new vehicular parking area with entry and exit, footpaths and hard paved areas, widening of the Blueway and the development of associated landscaping and services/utilities to serve the proposed and future uses; the extension of the Suir Blueway along North Quays to provide cycleway and pedestrian linkages from Sean Healy Park to Ormond Castle and the town centre; the upgrading of Strand Walk with new paving and the development of a new access to Ormond Castle grounds and closing of the existing ramped access. Nature and extent of the proposed development is as follows:
Locations |
Nature and Extent of Proposed Development |
|
|
The development has been the subject of an Appropriate Assessment screening in accordance with Article 6(3) of the EU Habitats Directive (Directive 92/43/EEC) and Article 250(1) of the Planning and Development Regulations 2001, as amended. The Appropriate Assessment screening concluded that the proposed development would not be likely to give rise to significant or indeterminate impacts on any Natura 2000 site.
Click here to see full Part 8 Planning Application Documentation
Solving Our Own Problems
At a workshop held in November 2016, hosted by the Heritage Council and Tipperary County Council, a wide range of measures were identified for addressing the physical, economic and social regeneration of Carrick-on-Suir, including:
- Focus on Main Street to become a desirable destination
- Widen footpaths on Main Street to provide for a more pleasant shopping environment
- Create more desirable weekend experiences- with the Castle as a hub of activities
- Identify the town’s assets - the River Suir, the Marina, Ormond Castle, the Greenway, Cycling, etc.
- Sell the town as a destination spot for day trippers using programmes and initiatives such as the Butler trail, The East Munster way, the Suir Blueway, etc.
- Improve traffic flow on the Main Street as part of public realm enhancement
- Improve awareness of parking options and orientation in general
- Improve definition of town centre and central area zones
- Improve the environment for cyclists
- Improve access to Ormond Castle
- Reduce dereliction and improve accommodation in the town centre
- Develop pedestrian friendly zones in key locations with special emphasis on the historic commercial spine of Main Street
- Continue the Greenway route into the core of the town where there should be facilities provided at the terminal point
The County Council has now appointed Malachy Walsh and Partners (Engineers) and Nicholas de Jong Associates (Urban Design) to prepare the Carrick-on-Suir Regeneration Plan, which actively draws on the ‘Solving our Own Problems’ programme. The Plan will focus on the public realm and urban amenity areas of the town centre with specific emphasis on linkages to the Blueway and the Ormond Castle, and helping to promote Carrick-on-Suir as a tourism destination.
The Regeneration Plan will primarily deliver the following two elements:
- Design and enhancement of the Suir Blueway from Sean Healy Park to Ormond Castle
- Regeneration, public realm design and enhancement of the town
Your ideas are needed to inform and shape this exciting initiative for Carrick-on-Suir.
Project Scope
During 2021 it is proposed, with your help, to prepare a Tourism and Heritage Regeneration Plan for Carrick-on-Suir. The overall vision is to prepare plans for the enhancement of the town as a visitor destination based on its potential as a key attraction in Ireland’s Ancient East on the Suir Blueway.
Key actions include:- Develop an agreed Vision Statement
- Reduce vehicle dominance and improve pedestrian/cycle movement and junction capacity
- Develop Healy Park as a water sports arrival point and community amenity
- Attractive and easy linkages for walkers and cyclists between Healy Park and the Town centre
- Ensure Main Street is a pleasant and safe place to be
- Develop nodes of activity at key public spaces
- Attractive and easy linkages between Ormond Castle
- Quarter and Main Street
- Continuation of Suir Blueway from Healy Park to Ormond Castle Park
- Identify Town Centre location for second Digital Hub
- Enhanced biodiversity through best practice in pollinator-friendly spaces and sustainable urban drainage design
- Enhanced orientation throughout the town by creating a pedestrian and cycle friendly environment
- Consistent high quality materials
- Align existing Suir Blueway marketing with Carrick-on-Suir marketing
- Climate action- opportunities for green design features
- Measures to avoid anti-social behaviour
- Opportunities to enhance public realm at night

- Enhanced linkages between Ormond Castle and the central core.
- Sean Kelly Square Public Realm Enhancement.
- Possible second Digital Hub.
- Enhancement of the central core.
- Amenity improvement for Healy Park and linkages with Town centre.
What makes a great town?
Attractions help to define a town’s identity and comprise the range and diversity of shopping and other activities which draw in customers and visitors.
Successful centres need to be easily accessible by the surrounding areas through road and public transport networks. Ease of access within a town between public transport stops, carparks, and key attractions is also essential.
A healthy town needs to be a pleasant place to spend time in. It should be attractive in terms of environmental quality and urban design, it should be safe and it should have a distinct identity or image.
Actions and initiatives are needed to ensure the viability of the town centre including delivery of improvement projects, regular cleaning and maintenance and co-ordinated town centre management initiatives to promote the continued improvement of the centre.
Carrick-on-Suir has much to offer...
Attractions

Strong Vibrant Centre
- Good selection of independent shops.
- Cafes, restaurants and pubs
- Safe environment
- Pedestrian space
- Accessible parking
- Attractive waterfront

A Great Place to Visit
- River Suir
- Ormond Castle
- Town Walls
- Heritage Centre
- The Butler Trail
- Lingaun Valley
- The Old Bridge

Festivals & Events
- Clancy Brothers Festival
- Brewery Lane and Strand Theatres
- Maurice Davin Festival
- Dick Meany Trophy
- Farmers Market
- Willie Loughman Forest Rally

A Great Place to Live & Work
- Good selection of housing
- Employment Opportunities
- Strong Community
- Good schools and healthcare facilities
- Sports and recreation
- Attractive environment

Riverside Amenities
- Suir Blueway
- Canoeing and kayaking
- Angling
- Walking/jogging/cycling
- Bird watching
- Public marina
Carrick-on-Suir has much to offer...
Accessibility

Mobility Options
- National rail station with regular services to Waterford, Clonmel and Limerick Junction
- Bus services to Waterford and Clonmel
- Ring a Link to Grangemockler
- Cycling and walking routes

Permeability
- Walkable town centre
- Convenient off street car parking
- A network of laneways
- Main street spine
- Safe streets
- Signage and interpretation

Suir Waterway
- Towpath Walking & Cycling
- Public Marina
- The Suir navigation to Waterford
Carrick-on-Suir has much to offer...
Health & Wellbeing

Community Facilities
- Good choice of schools
- Independent shops
- Pubs, Cafes and Restaurants
- Places of worship
- Good healthcare facilities
- Carrick-on-Suir Community Resource Centre

Good Access to Natural Amenities
- Suir Blueway
- Slievenamon
- Comeragh Mountains
- Mahon Falls
- Close proximity to the coast
- Glen River

Community Groups
- Strong community organisations
- Strong parishes
- Numerous sports teams & clubs

Sports and Recreation
- Sean Kelly Sports Centre
- Carrick Davins, Swans and St Molleran’s GAA clubs
- Carrick United AFC
- Triathlon Club
- Panduit Carrick Wheelers
- St. Nicholas Boxing Club
- Castleview Lawn Tennis Club
- Strolling by the Suir
Carrick-on-Suir has much to offer...
Engagement

A People's Town
- Active Tidy Town
- Vibrant Chamber of Commerce
- Carrick-on-Suir Business Associations
- Residents Associations

Vision
- Promotion as a major Destination Town within Ireland’s Ancient East
- Cycling and Watersports destination
- Pollinator friendly Town

Promotion
- Dedicated Website
- Online promotion as a great place to live, work and visit
- 'Ireland's Ancient East'
- 'Your Carrick'
- Regional Cycling Centre
Next Steps
Timeline 2022
December: On the 6th December 2021, the elected Members of Carrick on Suir Municipal District approved the Part 8 planning application and work commenced on finalising the business case for the Regeneration Plan.
With that in place, detailed drawings were finalised by the Multi-Disciplinary Consultants to support the Council’s application for Category 1 funding under the Rural Regeneration Development Fund [RRDF] administered by the Department of Rural and Community Development.
The project in its entirety will cost €17.9m with €3.05m coming from the Council’s resources.
The application was submitted to the Department on the 28 April 2022 and we eagerly await a decision in anticipation of this ambitious once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for Carrick on Suir.
Your Carrick-on-Suir
Let us know what you think
Please let us know what you think makes the town a great place to live, work and visit and what can be done to improve it now and for future generations.
The Survey has been closed.
If you have taken part in our Survey, thank you. The Survey is now is now closed. Any information provided will help in the preparation of the designs for the Carrick-on-Suir Regeneration Plan. All updates on the project will be published here.