Redevelopment of busiest library in Tipperary will cost €10 million

Clonmel’s new library will be four times the size of the current building and the redevelopment of the building at Mick Delahunty Square will cost €10 million, County Librarian Damien Dullaghan has stated.

He told a meeting of Clonmel Borough District that the announcement of capital funding by the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government would be “crucial” as to when the project would proceed.

Match funding by Tipperary County Council would be required but wouldn’t be an issue.

Mr Dullaghan said the new building will occupy a space covering 2,000 square metres, whereas the current building is 500 square metres.

They didn’t know yet whether it would be built over two or three floors. The County Library Service’s preferred option is two floors, but they had to give the architect time to draw up plans.

The open ground floor would include a performance area, while the second floor will be a quieter space that would include a study area and a sensory space.

The architect had been appointed in late October of last year. The library service had meetings with the full design team in November and January.

District Mayor Pat English welcomed the progress on the redevelopment of the library.

Cllr Siobhán Ambrose said the current building had outgrown its original spec. The town had grown and the number of users had increased since it was built, and it was the busiest in the county.

She hoped that the windows in the new building were the type that could be opened, and that it wouldn’t have a flat roof or “fake air”. It would also be important to have book shelves on wheels that could be moved around.

Cllr Ambrose said it was great to see it happening and it was important to get the spec right.