Ireland's youngest large town celebrates €15m revamp

One of the biggest urban regeneration projects in the country has officially opened today in north county Dublin.

Locals say the €15m revamp of Balbriggan's Quay Street and harbour area has already improved business in what is Ireland's youngest large town and one of the most diverse places in the country.

Once a fishing and textile town, the now commuter area of north county Dublin has a third of its population under the age of 17, the average resident is 30 years of age, and more than a quarter of residents were born outside of Ireland.

Hotel and pub owner Andy O’Neill, CEO of the Choice Hotel Group, has invested €2m in the area since 2023 - off the back of the wider regeneration project - with a new cocktail bar among his most recent enterprises.