Place Engage: VR/XR Town Hall

Dublin mayor plans shelved over Conor McGregor fears: Ministers have knocked back plans for a plebiscite on electing a political supremo for the capital amid concerns that a populist could win power

We’ve received many questions about our newly launched Feminist Placemaking Program, created by The Gendered City with the support of our global FEM. DES. Network network. So we thought we’d share a quick overview here! You can find all the details—and much more—on the program page on our website. Many brilliant partners are involved, and I couldn't be more grateful. https://lnkd.in/deK5rb5w

We were delighted to welcome Minister Dara Calleary, along with TDs, Senators, Elected Members, and the Hollywood Development Committee, to officially launch the newly refurbished Hollywood Park in County Monaghan. Thanks to grant funding and match funding from Monaghan MD, the park has undergone significant improvements – including enhanced accessibility, upgraded pathways and toilet facilities, new picnic benches, and extensive landscaping. #MoretoMonaghan #LiveWorkVisitMonaghan #OurRuralFuture Department of Rural and Community Development

The fabulous amenities of Laois ....

JJ Rhatigan & Company, one of Ireland's leading building contractors, is delighted to announce its sponsorship of the Galway Ladies Minor Team LGFA for the next three years. This partnership reflects JJ Rhatigan's deep-rooted commitment to the Galway community where the company was founded over 70 years ago https://lnkd.in/eCn9kimc

Did you know TidyTowns has an Instagram account? 📲 Follow: https://loom.ly/k_UxIfw or ➡️ @supervalutidytownscompetition

On 9 April, Carlow Town served as a vibrant backdrop for a forward-thinking training event hosted by Town Centre First in collaboration with Local Authority Waters Programme. Town Regeneration Officers from around the country came together to deepen their understanding of Nature-Based Solutions (NbS) as an innovative strategy for town centre revitalisation. The day was marked by a series of comprehensive presentations and a walkabout, showcasing real-life NbS projects and the ongoing efforts of Carlow County Council to address the challenges of vacancy and dereliction within the town. Coilín O Reilly, CE, Carlow CoCo, opened the event and welcomed the group to Carlow Town. This was followed by a presentation on DHLGH NbS Initiatives – Projects / Publications / NbS National Strategy Update by Averil Gannon, Water Policy Advisor. Further presentations were given by Padraig O’Gorman, DoS, Carlow CoCo; Ciaran Brennan, Executive Technician, Carlow Municipal District; Dr. Fran Igoe, Regional Co-ordinator, LAWPRO; Tom Brennan, Senior Executive Engineer, LAWPRO NbS Team; and Eamonn O’Connell, Senior Executive Engineer, LAWPRO NbS Team. Topics included case studies of NbS projects in Carlow Town, integrating NbS into placemaking and better quality of living, rainwater management, and demonstrator projects – each representing a slice of what NbS can offer in enhancing urban resilience. Following the morning session, attendees donned their walking shoes for a guided tour of Carlow Town to observe various NbS initiatives implemented by the council. The walk included stops at sites where green infrastructure has already begun to transform the urban landscape. Nicola Lawlor, Carlow's Town Regeneration Officer, highlighted the council’s hands on approach in tackling vacancy and dereliction and the different funding streams used to bring properties back into use. Declan Cullagh, Fisheries Officer with Inland Fisheries Ireland, welcomed the group to the weir and fish pass at the River Burren in the heart of the town and highlighted the importance of fish in our rivers. The tour provided attendees with a wealth of ideas for applying Nature-Based Solutions in their own locations. By sharing knowledge and fostering collaboration in this way, the Town Centre First initiative aims to equip local authorities with tools to revitalise urban spaces and promote environmental stewardship. It's an important part of the movement towards sustainable town centre regeneration.  Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Department of Rural and Community Development

JJ Rhatigan & Company, one of Ireland's leading building contractors, is delighted to announce its sponsorship of the Galway Ladies Minor Team LGFA for the next three years. This partnership reflects JJ Rhatigan's deep-rooted commitment to the Galway community where the company was founded over 70 years ago https://lnkd.in/eCn9kimc

On March 21, the Danish Ministry of Culture officially released the National Architecture Policy — a bold, future-facing framework that reimagines how we plan, build, and live in our cities. 🎉 💫 At the heart of this policy is a vision for a more sustainable, inclusive, and people-centered built environment — shaped over two years by a dedicated expert group. Gehl’s CEO and Founding Partner, Helle Søholt, served as the group’s spokesperson, playing a pivotal role in shaping its vision. 💡 Last week, the group handed over their white paper and recommendations to the Minister for Culture, Jakob Engel-Schmidt, at THORAVEJ 29, an architectural landmark in circular design. 🤝 This is just the beginning. The policy sets the foundation for coordinated national and local action, inspiring new approaches to planning, design, and collaboration across sectors. We’re proud to be part of this moment, and excited for what comes next. ✨ Read more about the National Architecture Policy here 👉 https://lnkd.in/d_QBFDUp Congratulations to the expert group for shaping this landmark policy 👏 🚀 Pil Thielst: Partner, Lundgaard & Tranberg Architects Ellen Braae: Professor of Landscape Architecture, University of Copenhagen Kent Martinussen: CEO, Danish Architecture Center Marie Stender: Senior Researcher, Aalborg University Ellen Højgaard Jensen: Former Director of The Danish Town Planning Institute and Lecturer at the Royal Danish Academy Lene Dammand Lund: Rector at the Royal Danish Academy Lars Autrup: CEO, Danish Association of Architects Anna Mette Exner: Owner of Anna Mette Exner Arkitektur Claus Sivager: City Architect, Frederiksberg Municipality Sigrid Dahlerup: Department Head, Ministry of Culture #architecturepolicy #urbandevelopment #sustainablecities #futureofcities #peoplecentereddesign