New Ross courthouse will temporarily house library while it undergoes €3.3m refurbishment

By Simon Bourke, Wexford People

With renovation works at New Ross Library set to commence in the coming months those of a literary persuasion could have been forgiven for fearing the loss of this valuable resource.

Although the library will be closed for up to 12 months while the €3.3m works are carried out, it has been confirmed that the old courthouse will be converted into a temporary library for the duration of that time.

Having received €500,000 in funding via the Town and Village Renewal Scheme (TVRS), Sean Meyler of Wexford County Council’s (WCC) special projects team said that money would be used to bring the courthouse back into use.

“In the short-term, we are going to use the courthouse to temporarily house the library while it undergoes renovation and extension works,” he said at the September meeting of the New Ross Municipal District (NRMD). “We’re hoping to begin the works in the courthouse next month and be finished by late January.”

With some councillors fearing the courthouse won’t be big enough to fulfil this purpose, even temporarily, district manager Alan Fitzhenry said he had spoken to library staff and they were “happy that the space is adequate”.

Looking to the future and the reopening of the library, Mr Meyler said the long-term goal for the courthouse was to convert into a “community space”.