LEADER Funded Storage Facility Opens in Castlerea

Jul 9, 2025 | LEADER

A new chapter begins for the Castlerea Rose Festival with the official opening of a purpose-built, off-grid storage facility—a vital development funded through the LEADER Programme. The facility was officially opened recently by the Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht, Dara Calleary TD.

Located at Castlerea Demesne, the new facility will allow the festival committee to centralise and safeguard its extensive inventory of equipment for the first time since the festival’s inception in 1988. Items that were previously stored across four separate locations—including chairs, crowd control barriers, sound systems, inflatable stages, and even robotic dinosaurs—can now be securely housed in one accessible, dedicated space.

The project received €118,476.80 from the LEADER Programme, administered by Roscommon LCDC, Roscommon LEADER Partnership and Roscommon County Council.

Speaking about the new facility, LEADER Project Officer Denise McDonnell praised the initiative:
“This project is a shining example of what communities can achieve with determination, creativity, and support from rural funding like LEADER.”

The new building is more than just storage. Designed to be entirely off-grid, it operates solely on solar energy, making it one of the few low-carbon community buildings in County Roscommon. The facility will also support essential maintenance work on festival equipment—prolonging its lifespan and reducing environmental impact.

Beyond improving the festival’s operational efficiency, centralising equipment has freed up storage elsewhere in Castlerea, benefitting other local groups and organisations in need of space.

Cllr. Paschal Fitzmaurice, Chairperson of the Castlerea Rose Festival, acknowledged the work behind the project:
“This has been years in the making. This facility changes everything—it makes our work easier, more efficient, and more sustainable. I’m especially proud that we’re leading the way with an innovative, eco-friendly design that will serve this community for many years to come.”

The opening also marked the launch of the 2025 Festival Programme, with details now available at www.castlerearosefestival.com.

For more information on the LEADER Programme in County Roscommon, visit: https://www.roscommonleaderpartnership.ie.

Image source: Roscommon LEADER Partnership

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