Smithfield Square awarded Fáilte Ireland Urban Animation Grant

Smithfield Square has been awarded a grant of €847,500 by Fáilte Ireland as part of a scheme to “transform and reimagine urban spaces”.

The scheme was open to all 31 local authorities in Ireland, with ‘urban animation’ involving performance spaces, light shows and public art.

“Urban animation will play an increasingly important role in transforming and re-imagining our public spaces as safe, welcoming and vibrant places to visit,” Orla Carroll, Director of Product Development at Fáilte Ireland, said.

Minister for Tourism, Arts, Culture, Sport, Gaeltacht and Media, Catherine Martin said, “The projects allocated funding through Fáilte Ireland’s Urban Animation Capital Investment Scheme will help re-invigorate these urban areas and increase their tourism appeal.”

Urban animation will play an increasingly important role in transforming and re-imaging our public spaces as safe, welcoming and vibrant places to visit”

Orla Carroll, Director of Product Development at Fáilte Ireland

“The original successful vision contained fun and colourful artistic elements including a carousel, Dublin City Council told The Liberty. “This vision will now be used to tender for a final design including many of the previously identified elements.” 

The scheme includes outdoor performance spaces, an outdoor gallery with screens to advertise upcoming cultural events and a multi-functional indoor space.  

The project, which is due to be completed by the end of next summer, is to be sustainable. “As with all Dublin City Council projects, we will endeavour to be as climate aware and environmentally friendly as possible including selecting the materials and sources of energy to be used,” a council statement said.

A budget of €5 million was available for the urban animation capital investment scheme, which was spread across the seven planned projects. The other areas include Cork City, Galway City, Kilkenny City, Limerick City, Waterford City and Drogheda.