(From Department for Communities)

Murphy’s on Main Street Community Hub in Ederney is the latest project part funded by the Village Catalyst pilot to open its doors to the local community.

Village Catalyst is a partnership initiative, which tackles rural poverty and social isolation by refurbishing derelict historic buildings for uses which provide access to services and address core needs in small rural communities.

Dr Anne Monaghan, Ederney Community Development Trust said:

“Seven years ago, the Trustees of Ederney Community Development Trust sat down to envisage how we could re-generate Main Street in the village. Like many rural towns, we had suffered dereliction, emigration, isolation and the lack of motivation to turn things around. The development of Murphy’s on Main Street Community Hub and Tearooms stimulated the imagination and, thanks to the medley of funding – large and small – it has led to the opening of an Airbnb, a firm of accountants and the re-location of a hairdresser back to the village, as well as the construction of five new town houses immediately opposite. The Village Catalyst project has been transformative for Ederney.”

Village Catalyst is led by Department for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) and Department for Communities (DfC) with support from the Architectural Heritage Fund, and Northern Ireland Housing Executive.

Teresa O’Neill, Director of Rural Affairs in DAERA commented:

“DAERA is delighted to have contributed £200k to this significant development in Ederney, which has breathed new life into a disused building. It is one of four projects DAERA has supported through the Village Catalyst Pilot Scheme and funded through our Tackling Rural Poverty and Social Isolation (TRPSI) Programme. The provision of a co-working and wellbeing hub has addressed local identified needs, which will help bring social and economic benefits to the rural community in the Ederney area.”

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