Skibbereen to benefit from vacant‑to‑vibrant retail programme

Retail minister Alan Dillon has announced a new “vacant to vibrant” retail activation programme that will target 26 towns, including Skibbereen, to convert empty shopfronts into local businesses.

The scheme will involve Local Enterprise Offices, regenerative officers and local authorities providing financial assistance and practical mentoring to business owners, aiming to curb the rise in vacant premises that has affected many Irish towns.

Local entrepreneurs have welcomed the initiative. Mona Best, who runs the Bridge House B&B for 30 years, said the town’s empty spaces are a loss and expressed hope that more residents will return to living above shops, reviving the town’s night‑time activity.

George Roycroft, owner of Southcoast Motorcycles, described the programme as “very good news” and warned that closed doors harm the community. He noted that Skibbereen once hosted over 100 stalls at its farmers’ market each summer, attracting nearly 1,000 visitors, but that online shopping and high rents have left many shopfronts empty.

Nicola Smyth, proprietor of Antiquity Plant‑Based Café and The Time Travellers Bookshop, highlighted rent levels as a key barrier for new independent stores, stressing the importance of cultural venues for tourism.

The programme aims to support existing family‑run businesses and encourage new ventures, with the hope of restoring Skibbereen’s reputation as a vibrant market town.

Source: Irish Examiner. Photo: Pixabay / Pexels.