The proposed new Community Library in Boyle has this morning been awarded funding of €4,335,851.
Minister of State Frank Feighan has welcomed the announcement under the Rural, Regeneration and Development Fund as a ‘game changer’.
“I am thrilled to assist in funding another regeneration project for my hometown of Boyle which sees another significant investment in the town centre with the provision of a much-needed modern library facility for the town. I am delighted that Minister Heather Humphreys has taken on board my representations regarding the need to further regenerate the town centre of Boyle”.
“My hope is that the King House Cultural Quarter and Boyle Town Centre, with an investment of well over €11m to date will attract people into the town centre to visit. I am confident in time this will encourage private investment to compliment the large among of public funding already allocated” concluded Minister Feighan.
The news has also been welcomed by Senator Eugene Murphy and Dr Bláithín Gallagher, Member of National Executive Committee and Constituency Spokesperson for the Green Party.
Roscommon County Council is seeking to develop the new Community Library facility, linking in with existing public realm enhancements in the centre of the town.
The modern Community Library facility will be fully accessible, flexible and suitable for the provision of innovative library services into the future. This purpose built community facility will form part of a programme of developments to regenerate the centre of the town – some of which have taken place with others due to commence shortly.
It will be located in the Cultural Quarter of Boyle as outlined in Boyle 2040. The proposed site for the new development, is located to the rear of the former Royal Hotel which is undergoing regeneration works, where facilities such as an Enterprise Centre, Gallery Space and Information Point will be delivered.
The new Community Library will face out onto a proposed river walk and it will form a prominent part of the public realm enhancements in the centre of town.
The proposed Community Library will be built alongside a civic square, with public seating, events space and views of the river.
The 5000sqft library will be fully accessible, flexible and suitable for the provision of innovative library services, including open library technology, into the future. The new library will be a free, community service available 365 days per year.
The library will extend across two floors and will replace the current library in the basement of King House.
Clad in timber with large glazed windows along the ground floor, the form of the building is reminiscent of the original, and soon to be re-instated, double A pitch roof of the Royal Hotel. The ground floor will be open plan with its main spaces orientated to the river and new public square with services areas at the rear of the building.
On the first floor, the spaces are top lit and have framed views over the river.
The proposal also includes a sensory room and sensory garden.
(Main Image: Design plan drawing showing the proposed new library at the rear of the Royal Building)
