Draft plans unveiled for Tipperary’s €15m flagship library
Draft plans for Clonmel’s proposed €15 million flagship library have gone on public display, marking the latest milestone in the long-awaited project.
Tipperary County Council has been progressing plans for a flagship new library for Clonmel, which is set to cost €15million to deliver.
Draft plans have now been completed and placed on public display.
Members of the public can look at the plans and share their opinions with the design team about what they like or dislike about the proposed new library.
The facility will include a digital room, maker-space, exhibition and performance areas, creative studios and dedicated study spaces.
The library will be built over three floors on a site next to the county council offices and Clonmel Swimming Pool.
The current library has served Clonmel and surrounding areas for more than 40 years, but is no longer fit for purpose as modern libraries have evolved into multi-functional community spaces.
At the July meeting of the Clonmel Borough District, Mayor of Clonmel Siobhán Ambrose said that the newest development in the project is “huge”.
“This is going to be a game changer, this is huge,” Cllr Ambrose said.
“It’s for a library that will be a phenomenal size. The existing library was built in 1987, and it’s a wonderful amenity but it is a victim of its own success now because it is not big enough for the modern day function of a library,” she added.
Clonmel Library is the busiest library across county Tipperary, and the new flagship branch will be among the biggest public libraries in Ireland once it’s built.
The project is expected to cost in the region of €15m, with Tipperary County Council facing a significant shortfall in funding to deliver the project.
€3 million has already been allocated to advance the project, with library officials hopeful that the Government will be able to help provide additional funding to deliver the project.
The plans for the new library are now on public display online, at any of the council offices around the county, and in the current Clonmel Library.
Library staff will also host an in-person consultation session on Wednesday, July 15 at Clonmel Library from 3pm to 7pm.
Members of the library section and the design team will be on hand to present the proposals, answer questions and listen to feedback from members of the public.