A new contract for the construction of the Clare County Library is to be issued in July.

Details of the re-tendering for the library which will be located at Causeway Link in Ennis were circulated by the Social Development Directorate in recent days. The tender was uploaded to e-tenders on March 4th, stage one return is expected to run up until April 23rd, whilst stage two will be finalised on June 23rd.

“We would be hoping to award the contract around July 14”, county librarian Helen Walsh told a Social Development SPC meeting last week.

In July 2020, the appointed tenders Keating Construction entered examinership resulting in the termination of its contract with Clare County Council. It was found that debts to the tune of €30m have been uncovered at the company which was started in 1987. Liquidation was granted for the company at the end of January.

Speaking to The Clare Echo, Cllr Johnny Flynn (FG) welcomed the clarity from the local authority.
“This is great news. This is a very important piece of Clare cultural infrastructure. This library is a very modern interpretation of where people come for knowledge and sharing. Particularly it is going to be very important for second and third level students attending courses elsewhere and also the local History and Genealogical groups, bringing them all under the one roof with art.”

Predicted costs of the project are estimated to be €14m, with €5m set aside by the local authority for the library building on Causeway Link in Ennis. “Some people are concerned about the costs, but if you consider that you will get 40 or 50 years out of a cultural building like this, the cost per annum is very small. It is a great investment,” the Ennis representative stated.