Cappoquin Regeneration Company
Cappoquin Regeneration Company CLG was established on 25th March 2019 by the Directors and members of Cappoquin Community Development Company CLG following the completion of occupancy and condition surveys of premises in Cappoquin town and the closure of shops and services. These surveys identified a significant number of vacant and derelict properties in the town.
The primary aim of Cappoquin Regeneration Company is to address all issues of vacancy and dereliction in Cappoquin as stated in the company’s constitution;
“The Main Object of the Company is to improve the quality of life for the residents of the town of Cappoquin and surrounding areas by addressing the issues of vacancy/dereliction/underuse of properties in the town and reversing the current economic, physical and social decline of the town. This will be achieved by purchasing vacant/derelict/underused properties in the town, refurbishing in an environmentally sustainable manner and bringing back into active use. This physical regeneration will lead to the social and economic development of the town for the benefit of the residents of the town and its catchment area.”
The Mission statement of the Company is;
Mission statement:
“We envision working with and on behalf of the local community in reinvigorating and regenerating the town of Cappoquin by purchasing and refurbishing underused/vacant/derelict properties, bringing them back into active use as residential/commercial entities, improving the public realm and thus making Cappoquin an attractive place for families and individuals to live in, work in and enjoy its natural amenities and its activities and also an attractive place to visit, by collaborating with stakeholders such as relevant Government Departments, Waterford City and County Council, Waterford Leader Partnership and the Tomar Trust. We envision being positive in our thinking, focusing on progress rather than survival and believing that success is always achievable. We intend building a reputation, not on things to be done, but on the things which have been done successfully”.
Funding
Cappoquin Regeneration Company, with the financial assistance of RRDF (Rural Regeneration Development Fund) Category 1 funding, the Tomar Trust and Waterford City and County Council, negotiated the purchase of 4 town centre properties and 6 residential properties in the Main Street/Green Street block, all of which were vacant and derelict. This Category 1 funding also allowed for the preparation of refurbishment designs and Part 8 planning applications for all these properties.
With assistance of RRDF Category 2 funding, Waterford City and County Council, Waterford Leader Partnership and the Tomar Trust these properties are being fully refurbished and being brought back into active use.
Further developments planned are the redesign of the Market Square and the provision of a looped walkway from Millwheel Park to the old railway bridge, along the Tourin Road over Avonmore Bridge and returning to Millwheel Park via the Boat Club and Port na hAbhann. The Strategic Plan 2025 – 2030 outlines the Company’s proposals over the coming years.
Directors and Management
The Company has 4 Directors and a Management Committee of 16 members all of whom are voluntary. The Management Committee meets on the second Wednesday of each month in Cappoquin Community Centre.
The current members of the Management Committee are Dr Ben Murphy, Director and Chairperson, Mr. Tom Feerick, Director, Mr. Ollie Wilkinson, Director, Mr. Denis McCarthy, Director, Mr. John McGrath Secretary, Ms Annette Donovan, Mr. John Flynn, Mr. David Keane, Ms Marian Looby, Ms Grainne Moynihan, Mr. Ray O’Dwyer, Ms Orla Nicholson, Mr. Anthony Prendergast, Ms Maura Purcell, Mr. Aidan Walsh and Mr. Joe White.
Town and Village Renewal Scheme
Under the Town and Village Renewal programme, Cappoquin was allocated €100,000 in 2018 to improve the public realm of the town. Waterford City and County Council administered this project and all property owners on the Main Street benefitted from improvements to the fronts of their properties.
Painting Initiative
As a follow on to the Town and Village Renewal Scheme, Cappoquin Regeneration Company operates a painting initiative since 2020. This initiative incentives property owners to paint the façade of their premises by providing grants of €300 to 8 different owners each year.
Blackwater House
Blackwater House (before and after photographs above) was the first regeneration project undertaken by Cappoquin Regeneration Company. With the aid of financial assistance from Waterford Leader Partnership and the Tomar Trust, Blackwater House was fully refurbished and reopened in November 2022 by Minister Heather Humphreys TD, Mimister for Rural and Community Development. The contract was carried out by Marlhill Construction, Ardfinnan, and the design team was led by dhbArchitects, Waterford.
In 2023 the local Post Office was in danger of closing as the local postmaster was retiring and a suitable premises was not available. Cappoquin Regeneration Company converted the gound floor of Blackwater House to An Post standards to ensure the retention of this service in the town.
The first floor contains offices for rental/lease.
Pilot Residential Scheme
In November 2018 the Department of Rural and Community Development announced a pilot scheme in six selected towns in the country to develop innovative proposals to encourage more town centre living. Cappoquin was one of the towns selected.
Waterford City and County Council was awarded €100,000 to develop innovative solutions to bring existing underused/vacant/derelict buildings in Cappoquin town centre back into residential use.
Waterford City and County Council prepared a report entitled “Cappoquin Pilot Scheme – Addressing Residential Vacancy for Dept. of Rural and Community Development” and in February 2022 issued this report to the Department of Rural and Community Development.
This report allows for a plan driven approach to dereliction in the assembly of vacant properties, producing architectural solutions, creating a rolling financial scheme, having efficient delivery of refurbished properties and providing an incentivised purchase scheme.
The emphasis was not to select the most straightforward project, but one that realistically addressed the issues around upgrading the existing stock, removing dereliction and making it attractive for modern residential use.
The report identified an urban block in Main Street/Green Street with significant vacancy/dereliction in the heart of the town as shown in the following photograph.
Rural Regeneration Development Funds (RRDF)
In 2020 Waterford City and County Council (WCCC) was awarded €1.2M from the RRDF programme to initiate regeneration projects in Cappoquin. This €1.2M was supplemented by a further €200k each from WCCC ad the Tomar Trust. This allowed for the purchase of some derelict properties and the preparation of Part 8 planning applications for;
- Housing Pilot Main Street/Green Street.
- Moore’s Hotel.
- Former Fennells and Uniackes properties.
- Public Realm (Market Square and Twig Bog)
In 2022 a further €7.5M was awarded to WCCC for the regeneration projects in Cappoquin (see photographs of announcement). This announcement was made by Ms Heather Humphreys TD, Minister for Rural and Community Development, in Cappoquin Community Centre where the Minister announced the RRDF funding programme nationally. This funding allowed for the preparation of tender documentation and awarding contracts for each of the above listed projects.
This regeneration project is the largest ever construction project undertaken in the town and is the result of the coordinated efforts of Waterford City and County Council, the Tomar Trust, Waterford Leader Partnership and Cappoquin Regeneration Company.
The Main Street/Green Street residential pilot and Moore’s Hotel will be fully refurbished in early 2026 and the Fennel/Uniacke refurbishment will be complete in early 2027. Moore’s, Fennels and Uniackes will have commercial on the ground floors and residential in the upper floors.
The additional car parking at Twig Bog was completed in 2025 and the Public Realm project in the Market Square will begin in mid 2026.
Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme (ORIS)
In 2023 Waterford city and County Council was awarded €0.5M from the Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme for the construction of Phase 1 of the Looped Walk incorporating the Old Railway Bridge, the Tourin Road, the Boatclub and Millwheel Park. Phase 1 is the section from the Boatclub to Millwheel Park. This phase is now completed and funding of €493,000 for the next phase of this looped walk was awarded in November 2025. Below are before and after photos of the initial stage.
Proposals are in place to connect this looped walk to the looped walk in the GAA field at a later stage.
Real People, Real Impact
Above are 2 properties in the town which were vacant and derelict and which the Company has now purchased. The properties have been made safe and painted externally to make presentable. Further restoration and refurbishment awaits funding from Government Sources.
Pilot Scheme:
In November 2018 Cappoquin was nominated as one of 6 towns in the country to take part in a pilot scheme to develop innovative proposals to encourage centre of town living. €100,000 was allocated to Waterford City and County Council for this purpose. Architectural Consultants were appointed for this purpose and proposals concentrating on the block of houses between Upper Main Street and Green Street have been drawn up. These proposals are being submitted to the Dept. of Community and Rural Development.
Town and Village Renewal:
Under the Town and Village Renewal programme, Cappoquin has been allocated €100,000 to improve the public realm of the town. Waterford City and County Council will administer this programme and are currently drawing up proposals for this allocation.
Painting Initiative:
Cappoquin Community Development has in 2018 and 2019 allocated €300 to each of 16 residential properties as an incentive to have the facades of these properties painted.