No plans to move library to former convent in Offaly town
CONTRARY to a previous report there are no discussions currently taking place to move the Heritage Centre and the Library in Ferbane into the town's Convent building.
"We have no plans to do that," the Town Regeneration Officer Olwen Cummins told the Midland Tribune this week. "The Library will be remaining very much where it presently is.
"The Heritage Centre will continue to operate as an important space for the community but St Hilda's will be moving from the Heritage Centre to the Convent. There will be two tenants in the Convent, the LOETB (which will operate a training base) and St Hilda's (who provide supports to people with intellectual disabilities).
"We are also going to carry out an appraisal of St Mary's Hall, which is derelict, and the Heritage Centre; and from these appraisals we will make concept proposals."
The Town Regeneration Officer pointed out that €683,000 was granted to the convent project. "€200,000 of this has been spent on purchasing the convent. More of the money is being spent on the design team and the design team's project manager, who are currently working away on the project. Another part of the money will go towards some rudimentary remedial works, including dealing with asbestos." She said the heating is switched on in the convent.
"We hope to open two classrooms for community use," she remarked.
Olwen added that the timeline might be as follows: 2023 - work on preparing the project design; 2024 - apply for further funding (a full renovation of the convent might cost between €3 to €4 million - this further funding has not been secured); 2025 - Complete all renovation works by the end of the year.
Other possibilities being explored for the convent include remote working hubs and the development of a public space within the gardens of the convent with access to riverbank walks and sports fields.
The premises was bought by Offaly County Council from the sisters of the Order of St Joseph of Cluny in Spring last year.
The Council plans to enter into a long-term lease arrangement of the property to the local community in Ferbane. A limited company called An Siolán has been created to facilitate the lease arrangement.
The Council's plan to turn St Joseph’s Convent into a multipurpose community/enterprise hub is part of a wider scheme to improve facilities in the town. The official funding agreement between Offaly County Council and the Department of Rural and Community Development was signed on 4th April, 2022.
St Joseph of Cluny Convent was synonymous with education in Ferbane for many years. The move to sell off part of the building began in 2010 when the establishment of Gallen Community School meant that the classrooms in the Convent building were no longer needed. The last three sisters who were living in the convent, Sr Benedict, Sr Joseph and Sr Helena, left the building for the final time in August last year and moved into their new home on the Athlone Road in Ferbane. The Order of St Joseph of Cluny first arrived in Ferbane in May of 1896 to work in the local parish primary school. They did many good works including on the economic front; for example the establishment of Ferbane Credit Union was instigated by Sr Nivard McGrath. They also provided a lot of help to poorer families in the area. For example, their kitchen was always an open house where people could just drop in if they were in need of a bite to eat, or some other help.