Published: Wednesday, 27th January, 2010 5:15pm

Ballymahon Library revamp project to kick off in February

Work is due to get underway on the €1.5 million refurbishment of Ballymahon Library in the former courthouse building in the town during the first week of February.

The revamp of the premises, one of oldest in the town dating back to 1820, will encompass the provision of a state-of-the-art branch library, one-stop-shop and community facility, with a plaza to the front, but importantly the historic features of the building will be retained and enhanced within the modern use.

The project, expected to take eight to nine months to complete, will necessitate the current library relocating temporarily to its former home in the old Dean Egan Library, now Bridgeways Resource Centre, opposite Ballymahon Vocational school and will be open every Friday from 12pm-6pm.

Speaking to the Westmeath Independent this week, a very pleased local Fianna Fáil councillor Barney Steele said he hoped the project will become a "community focal point" for the town, and will be widely used as a library and for other local events.

"What will happen is that the bottom floor which used to house the fire brigade and a division in to the library, will now be refurbished in to a full library with all the modern facilities," he enthused. These include a children's corner, computer facilities, lending and reference library and soft seating area with coffee, magazines and newspapers.

"There will also be an extension to the rear to house a lift and provide bigger storage space. Then, the upstairs will be retained as a large meeting hall or community room for the general public but still keeping the facade of the courthouse," Cllr Steele added. "There will also be a nice plaza outside the front. It should look very well."

The community hall element is also expected to double as a local studies room, complimented by two smaller meeting rooms. The extension at the rear will provide for public toilets, fire escape, access lift and stores.

Cllr Steele paid tribute to former Environment Minister Dick Roche for pushing the project forward, along with Longford County Council, Sean Harrington Architects, Deputy Peter Kelly and County Librarian Mary Carleton-Reynolds.

The courthouse closed for sittings in Ballymahon in 1998 and it operated for a time as a base for the local fire brigade with the library moving in some time later

Contracts for the Ballymahon Library refurbishment were signed some weeks ago with Galway-based construction firm Purcells. The architect involved in Dublin firm Sean Harrington Architects.