Council delegation visits Louth Age Friendly Development

^{Pictured above: Darren Carroll, Contracts Manager, Cunningham Contracts Limited; David Fallon, Assistant Engineer, Louth County Council; Alan Little, Technical & Procurement Director, Cunningham Contracts; Ger Murphy, Director of Housing and Culture Delivery Services, Louth County Council; Rachel Hamilton, Senior Executive Architect, Louth County Council; David Conway, Chief Executive of Louth County Council; Cllr Michelle Hall, Mayor of Drogheda; Cllr Sean Kelly, Cathaoirleach of Louth County Council; Declan Grimes, Senior Engineer, Louth County Council; Lisa Murtagh, Chief Operations Officer, Cunningham Contracts Ltd; Declan Gaffney, National Technical Programme Manager with Age Friendly Ireland; and Denis Curtis, Associate Director, Van Dijk Architects}

Cathaoirleach of Louth County Council, Cllr Seán Kelly, Mayor of Drogheda, Cllr Michelle Hall and Chief Executive of Louth County Council, David Conway, visited the Greenhill’s Grange age friendly social housing scheme at Newtown Link Road, Drogheda, on Wednesday

Upon completion the scheme will deliver 45 high-quality two-bed age-friendly bungalows and a five-bed assisted living bungalow, which will be allocated to people aged 55 years and over. The development will enable older people to live independently, safely, and actively within their community. It features housing and public open spaces that are inclusive, accessible, and thoughtfully designed to meet the needs of an ageing population.

Following the visit Cllr Seán Kelly, Cathaoirleach of Louth County Council said: “Greenhill’s Grange is a clear demonstration of our commitment meeting the housing needs of today while also planning for the future. Thanks to the pipeline of developments like this across the county, more and more people in Louth will enjoy secure, long-term, energy efficient and comfortable new homes.”

Construction commenced on site in February 2025. Contractors, Cunningham Contracts Ltd, informed the delegation that over 40% of works have been completed to date and the development is on track for completion by mid-2026.

Cllr Michelle Hall, Mayor of Drogheda, commented: “It’s encouraging to see the progress being made on this Greenhill’s Grange development here in Drogheda. Greenhill’s Grange will provide high quality homes to people; its location provides access to the town and local services and gives residents the opportunity to set down roots which will strengthen the local community.”

Commenting on the development David Conway, Chief Executive of Louth County Council said: “Greenhill’s Grange exemplifies our commitment to ensuring that every person, regardless of age, has access to housing that enhances their quality of life and supports ageing in place.

"In Louth, we are delivering homes that support older people to live well, safely, and actively in the heart of their communities. A key part of this is promoting right-sizing - offering older residents the opportunity to move into more suitable, accessible homes that better meet their changing needs, while freeing up larger family homes for younger generations. This approach ensures that our housing stock works for everyone.”

Declan Gaffney, National Technical Programme Manager with Age Friendly Ireland joined the delegation at Greenhill’s Grange. Mr Gaffney highlighted the importance of age friendly developments saying: “The population of Ireland is getting older and the spaces we live in need to reflect that and adapt to it.

"Housing that supports ageing enables older people to enjoy more active, healthy, and socially connected lives, while preserving both their independence and dignity. It also contributes to improved health outcomes and a greater sense of well-being, in addition to being financially sustainable.”