Pictured at the contract signing for the construction of the new County Library in the Council Chamber at Áras Contae an Chláir, were: (seated, l-r) Pat Dowling, Chief Executive, Clare County Council; Cllr PJ Ryan, Cathaoirleach, Clare County Council; and Patrick Gardiner, Managing Director, Coolsivna Construction Ltd; and (standing, l-r) Anne Haugh, Director of Social Development, Clare County Council; and Cllr Gerry Flynn, Chairperson, Social Development Strategic Policy Committee, Clare County Council.
CONSTRUCTION WORK has resumed on the new County Library at the Causeway Link adjacent to glór.
Coolsivna Construction’s appointment as contractor for the project ends an eighteen month delay which arose the initial successful tender Keating Construction entered liquidation.
Late 2021 was the original target for completion of the construction of the library building but Chief Executive of Clare County Council, Pat Dowling has confirmed it now has a planned opening of the latter part of 2023 and that it has a tendered sum of €8.7m.
Ennis Community College’s 4,200 square metre three-storey extension is among the most recent projects completed by Coolsivna. As a medium-sized company, Coolsivna has completed projects in residential and healthcare settings and has also won the contract for the construction of the new Craughwell National School in County Galway.
The County Library project consists of a 2,321-square-metre building on the glór site comprising two public floors of library space incorporating the local studies centre, a separate art gallery and the County Library HQ on the third floor. The state-of-the-art new build will provide a key resource for research, study, recreation and art in a centralised location adjacent to the well-established glór theatre. It will also operate as a ‘My Open Library’ service, allowing access to the building during non-traditional opening hours. In addition, it will house the second fully accessible toilet in Ennis after a similar facility was recently opened in Tim Smythe Park.
Speaking at the contract signing, Cathaoirleach of Clare County Council, Cllr PJ Ryan (IND) stated, “This project represents an important investment in an accessible and modern library service for the people of Clare and visitors to the county.” Architects for the project, Keith Williams Architects, also expressed their support for the re-commencement of the project while Anne Haugh, Director of Social Development, Clare County Council, acknowledged the contribution of all involved in getting the project successfully re-tendered and back on track.
Clare County Librarian, Helen Walsh, added, “the long-awaited new library will bring a wonderful collaboration together on the site, unifying the literary arts with the visual and performing arts”. Cllr Pat Daly (FF) said the return of construction workers on site represented “exciting times” for the county.
