Major flagship project in Offaly takes another step forward
Contractor will be sought for Edenderry library and arts base project
THE major new library and arts centre project in Edenderry has moved to the tender preparation phase.
The scheme has been described as a flagship for the town and county and is seen as key to the revitalisation of the town centre.
A meeting of the Edenderry Municipal District was told last week that the County Council has instructed the project architects to proceed with tender preparation.
This is the first step in securing a contractor, Caroline Dempsey, acting director of service with the council told councillors.
However, replying to a query from Cllr Noel Cribbin, Fine Gael, Ms Dempsey said tender preparation and the assessment of tenders could take six months and the appointment of a contractor would then take place.
“That tender process can be quite drawn out,” said Ms Dempsey.
Planning permission for the project was granted in January of this year and in February financial aid was sought from the Government's Rural Regeneration and Development Fund (RRDF).
Then in May the Department of Rural and Community Development granted €12.2m for the scheme, a move which Cllr Liam Quinn, Fine Gael said “was the largest project funded in that round of the RRDF in the country”.
Cllr Cribbin said €2m had already been spent and a further million euros is to come from Offaly County Council.
“It's a huge project for Edenderry. It'll be a flagship not just for Edenderry and Offaly but it will be one of the finest buildings in the country,” said Cllr Cribbin.
The councillor said the overall project will be a great boost for the town and its main street.
The library and arts base will be located in the town centre at the site of the former Tesco building which was demolished in 2022.
It will be the first phase of a major urban regeneration redevelopment project on a 33-acre site off JKL Street.