Tipperary community organisations want landmark building to be taken into public ownership

Clonmel’s landmark building, the Denis Lacey Hall, is up for sale.
Calls were made this week for the building, which hosts countless community events and organisations, to be in public ownership.

“It was more than a building; it was a gathering place where generations connected, celebrated, and grew together. Do we really want to let this irreplaceable resource go without a fight?,” asked Michael Fitzgibbon, Chairman of Suircan which is among the organisations calling for the building to be in public ownership.
Its back yard has been home to the Clonmel Organic growers for 25 years and to the Zero Waste market for the past three years.

In 2023, Suircan Environmental Forum set up a base there to run their monthly Repair café and their very popular Toy Library which has a membership of over 70 families, as well as holding swop shops and plant exchanges.
The spare workshop room has hosted several Clonmel Applefest’s textile projects. Healing sessions and yoga classes also take place regularly.

In January 2024, a steering committee of interested people started meeting regularly to develop a plan towards a Community Circular Economy Hub with the Denis Lacey building in mind. “Unfortunately the current owners have decided to put the building up for sale and Suircan Environmental Forum is calling on the council to buy the building to secure it for current and future generations. The building would be ideally suited for youth and community activities with multiple rooms of diverse sizes that can accommodate music, dance and arts activities, artists’ studios, games and social clubs as well as family gatherings and social functions,” said Michael Fitzgibbon.

Earlier in the summer, Suircan put in an application (through the Community Integration Fund) to the council to purchase the building and the group thinks that the building should remain in public ownership for the benefit of current and future generations.

“We need our public representatives to act now: Tipperary County Council should step in and secure Denis Lacey Hall for the people of Clonmel,” added the Suircan representative.