Ballymahon Branch Library.

Ballymahon Branch Library Refurbishment Project

Ballymahon Library will be closed from 30th January, 2010 due to major refurbishment works being carried out to the Market House building. During the works a temporary library service will be available every Friday from 12-6pm in the Dean Egan Library ( opposite the Vocational School). For more details please contact Ms Carmel Kelly, Branch Librarian 090 6432546. Library customers care also welcome to use Lanesboro Library 043 3321291, Edgeworthstown Library 043 6671927or Longford Library 043 3340727.

About the Refurbishment Project

This project is for a new branch library, one stop shop and community facility within the repaired historic structure of a former courthouse. The building occupies a pivotal position in the main street of Ballymahon and addresses a new paved civic space.

The ground floor of the former courthouse houses the main library, complete with children’s corner, computer facilities, lending and reference library and soft seating area with coffee, magazines and newspapers. Above, on the first floor is a large community hall, which doubles as a local studies room, complemented by two smaller meeting rooms.

The architects were faced with a few interesting challenges on the project;

how to facilitate access for buggies, wheelchairs etc. to the first floor
how to include toilets, a kitchenette within a small historic building etc.
how to include a new boiler room and state-of-the-art computer cabling
how to make a wonderful new irish oak-lined library, complete with children's reading area.
how to improve the setting of the building in the town

..and to do all this in a sensitive and contemporary way, whilst respecting the beautiful historic building.

These present day requirements of public toilets, fire escape stairs, a disabled access lift and stores are contained within a small new extension to the rear of the existing building, sensitively designed and visually disengaged from the historic stone main building. The completion date for the project is 13 December 2010.

The architects on the project are Sean Harrington Architects. See www.sha.ie for more details.

The building contractors are Purcell Construction. www.purcellconstruction.ie

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