Appeal for completion of works at prominent Kildare arts centre

A Kildare senator has appealed for works to be completed at Riverbank Arts Centre, Newbridge, and for it to be made “fully accessible” as a landmark building in the town.

Senator Fiona O'Loughlin addressed the Minister of State at the Department of Health and at the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Kieran O'Donnell in the Seanad on Tuesday, July 8 last.

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The Fianna Fáil senator explained to Deputy O'Donnell that in the late 1990s, she was involved with a group of like-minded people who lobbied for an arts centre in Newbridge, with the Riverbank Arts Centre eventually opening its doors in 2001 as County Kildare's arts centre.

The centre, Senator O'Loughlin continued, has given “great service”, and she paid credit to Caroline Williams and her team for multidisciplinary approach they have taken, bringing theatre with international, national and local elements, and for what they do for young people.

The centre, she pointed out, also has an art gallery, however, the building had “gone beyond its original purpose.”

She said: “Riverbank Arts centre is County Kildare's arts centre. The population of the county has reached 270,000. In the latest census, population growth in County Kildare was recorded as almost 14%, which is almost twice the rate of other counties.

“The theatre was never comfortable. I am short and I find it difficult to fit into the narrow seats so I can imagine taller and larger people find the seating very uncomfortable. In fact, they have ceased to go there and instead go to other theatre spaces.

“There was great jubilation when, in 2017, Riverbank Arts Centre was awarded what was at the time a substantial amount of money from the Department of arts. Along with Wexford, it was awarded €1 million by the Department.

“The venues were the only two in the country to receive that funding. They were to become flagship projects for the Department, and rightly so. We all looked forward to that. Has anything happened since? Absolutely not.”

Senator O'Loughlin said there is now an “excellent” board for the centre, chaired by Paul Davis and comprising volunteers who are putting their time and energy into the project.

They have gone through Part 8 and have tendered for and have “a terrific design”, but nothing has happened, she said.

She added: “Riverbank Arts Centre is where the old vocational school was in Newbridge and beside it is the county library and the Newbridge branch library. The county library was built in the 1930s and there is a preservation order on it. There are many health and safety concerns and refurbishment work will start there.

“The Newbridge branch library was built in the 1970s as an extension. It is not a building of any importance, but there is now an agreement, through national funding and local property tax funding, that the library will be moved across the bridge for a year or 18 months while a three-storey library, which will suit all ages, is developed. That is very welcome, but it does not make sense for there to be three elements in the one space.

“Out of the three spaces, two would have work carried out on them in early 2026. It makes no sense that work on the Riverbank Arts Centre would not go ahead at the same time. As night follows day, two buildings would be completed and funding would come through for Riverbank and we would have to start all over again.”

Senator O'Loughlin appealed for funding to be provided to complete the work in Riverbank and make it fully accessible, and that the seating be made “more comfortable..” This would allow it to become a landmark building and “space for the entrance to Newbridge”, she concluded.

Deputy O'Donnell responded: “I understand that the Senator wants to get the work on the River Bank Arts Centre and Newbridge library done concurrently. The funding for both of those projects, as the Senator will be aware, comes from the Department of Culture, Communications and Sport. It provides a contribution towards securing and enhancing existing arts and cultural facilities under the cultural capital scheme.

“The funding for libraries comes from the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht's library capital programme. I expect the Senator has been in contact with both Departments to discuss the funding for both of those projects.

“The Senator might follow up with them again and then revert to the Department regarding the situation with the public realm works. I will bring the issues raised back to the Minister, Deputy Browne, but the Senator might also follow up in his own way with the Department too.”