*The former de Valera library in Ennis.
PRELIMINARY proposals are being progressed for the redevelopment of the former de Valera library in Ennis while a councillor has called for unused buildings owned by Clare County Council to be utilised as artist’s studios and creative workshops.
Seeking the establishment of more creative hubs in the county, Cllr Tom O’Callaghan (FF) called for Council owned buildings to be used to support the arts.
He put forward the motion at the Council’s July meeting and received widespread support from the assembled elected representatives. “Recognising the deficit of community buildings centrally located in Clare, the county of culture, available as workshops for artists and makers to create I ask that Clare County Council consider the reuse of unused council owned buildings as such a facility,” he proposed.
Director of Service for Tourism, Recreation, Libraries and Cultural Services, Siobhan McNulty outlined that the Council supports a range of creative facilities in Clare including “the Tulla Stables Studios, an award-winning facility providing seven individual artist studios; EASI Studios in Ennis, comprising seven shared/open-plan studios, two individual studios, an animation production space and a communal workshop; and The Courthouse Gallery and Studios, Ennistymon, which provides four individual studios and a communal workspace with the support of an annual Council subvention. Short-term development space for performers is also facilitated from time to time in Cultúrlann Sweeney, Kilkee and glór”.
Clare Arts Office “continues to work closely” with the property management unit of the Council “to identify Council-owned properties that may be suitable for artistic and creative use,” she advised.
McNulty outlined that plans are progressing on future uses for the former de Valera library site. “The Council is also progressing preliminary proposals for the redevelopment of the former De Valera Library site. As part of this process, there is an opportunity to explore the site’s role within a broader cultural quarter for Ennis, building on the town’s existing cultural, community, artistic and heritage assets. Such an approach could further enhance Ennis’ position as a destination for cultural and heritage experiences, while creating opportunities for artistic practice, community involvement, creative collaboration and continued public engagement. The provision of artist studios will be considered as part of these emerging proposals, which will continue to be developed subject to funding availability, statutory requirements, stakeholder consultation and the necessary approvals”.
Speaking at Monday’s meeting, Cllr O’Callaghan urged the local authority to “urgently develop a county wide strategy to identify and support the development of new creative hubs”. He welcomed the “very positive response received on the basis the Council is now progressing the former de Valera library site”, as a creative space. O’Callaghan referred to several benefits associated with greater supports for the arts in Clare including, “encouraging creativity and innovation, enhanced community wellbeing and increased employment”.
Mayor of the Ennis MD, Cllr Tommy Guilfoyle (SF) spoke in support of the motion and added that he had “spoken with several members of the arts community over the last number of weeks. I for one am very excited about the way forward”. He highlighted the potential for an ‘arts quarter’ in the county town, allowing for a progression of street works from Abbey Street and over the Club Bridge back to the former de Valera library site. “It’s a fabulous vision and I look forward to working with the executive to achieve it”.
Several councillors welcomed the motion but acknowledged that a countywide approach should be adopted and that the development of arts centres should not be solely limited to Ennis. Cllr Tony O’Brien (FF) stated he could “think of a number of buildings right around the county, particularly the Killaloe Courthouse”, that could serve the arts well. “It’s for the entire county”, he added.
Referencing the One Shannon Hub, Cllr David Griffin (FF) said the facility would be “a transformative project to deliver for the people of the region. We already had a motion this morning at the MD meeting in relation to theatre and potentially that kind of performance arts. I think that there could be a potential version of that as well that we don’t just look at this as an Ennis project”.
Cllr Clare Colleran Molloy (FF) asked the executive to identify whether or not there was a deficit in Clare in the provision of arts spaces, saying “If it is then everything that’s being said here is clearly true, if we’re acknowledging that there is a deficit, then it needs to be a count wide approach. I fully support what is being said by councillors not representing the Ennis Municipal District”.
Director McNulty confirmed that there was a deficit as the Council holds a waiting list for artists looking to access facilities and is therefore unable to meet demand.
