Mayo town poised to be location of Ireland’s first cohousing community

WESTPORT is poised to become the location of Ireland’s first cohousing community, with a core group from the area already engaging with local authorities, developers and site owners to advance a cohousing development.

The initiative has generated significant interest in the area among people aged 50 plus who want to keep independent lives while living within a connected and supportive community.

Cohousing is a concept that offers the best of both worlds - privately owned homes where residents enjoy the privacy and security of their own homes while also benefiting from shared spaces, community interaction and a strong culture of neighbourly support.

A dedicated group of around 10 has spent recent months progressing the plans in Westport, and it is now inviting others interested in the concept to attend a public information meeting in Westport Town Hall Theatre on June 3. The group hopes to expand to approximately 25 interested buyers as the project moves to its next stage.

While cohousing groups have also emerged in Cork and Dublin, Westport is well positioned to become the first national model for future cohousing developments across Ireland.

Fiona Hoban (54) has been living in Kilmeena, Westport, for over 20 years and says she is keenly aware of the importance of being socially connected and close to amenities and services as we grow older.

According to Fiona, there has been strong interest in developing a Westport community.

“People increasingly want to remain independent as they age, but they also want connection, friendship and a sense of belonging,” she said. “The model offers an attractive option for healthy, active people in midlife and older age who are seeking manageable, future-proof homes while avoiding social isolation.”

Cohousing communities originated in Denmark in the 1960s and have since become well established in countries including the UK, the USA, Canada and the Netherlands.

The June 3 evening meeting will outline how the cohousing model works, provide updates on the Westport plans, and give interested individuals an opportunity to learn more about becoming involved in the project.

Every year, around 70,000 people in Ireland turn 50, joining 1.76 million others already over that age. This figure set to reach 2 million by 2030. Yet many in this age group are living in homes that are too large, costly to maintain, or no longer suitable for their changing needs. In fact, Ireland has the highest level of under occupancy in the EU with nearly 90% of those over 65 living in under-occupied homes.

Said Fiona, a member of Cohousing Communities Ireland: “Research shows that one in four people over 65 live alone, and nine in ten occupy housing that’s larger than they require.

“Westport is a vibrant, buzzing town which has all the facilities and services and would be an ideal location for a cohousing development. This is about creating a supportive, neighbourly community where people live independently but not in isolation. Cohousing offers freedom, connection, and peace of mind, all in a sustainable and future-focused way.”

Cohousing Communities Ireland is a not-for-profit organisation with more than 350 members. Co-founder of Cohousing Communities Ireland, Anne Connolly, who will speak at the meeting, said cohousing can become a vital new pillar of Ireland’s housing landscape.

“It’s a model that supports people to live well, stay active, and remain connected all while contributing positively to local communities. We are very excited about the interest in Westport and the progress that has been made to developing Ireland’s first cohousing community here.”

She said there are issues which are hindering the development of cohousing communities including huge non-refundable planning application costs and the lack of specifically zoned land for cohousing.

“State bodies have large land holdings and should prioritise sale to community-lead housing for people 55 plus. Similarly, local authorities could have a significant impact on providing age-appropriate housing and releasing larger family homes onto the market if they fast-tracked community led housing for people 50 plus in local area plans, especially on institutional lands near town centres,” Ms. Connolly added.

She welcomed the decision by the Central Bank to change its rules to allow flexible, bridging finance secured against higher value, unencumbered current homes - but said the banks now need to act on this and put it into action.

The public meeting takes place in Westport Town Hall Theatre on the evening of Wednesday, June 3. To register, go to cohousingcommunities.ie.

For more information, email hello@cohousingcommunities.ie.