Questions Over Library in Field

Clare People, Tuesday, 12th December 2006

by Joe Ó Muircheartaigh

Green Party Councillor and vice-mayor, Brian Meaney, has questioned the motives of Ennis Town Council in exploring the possibility of developing a new Clare County Library service on a part of the Post Office Field.

Speaking at Monday's meeting of Clare County Council, Cllr. Meaney claimed that there are a number of stories circulating about the motives behind the development of new Library services. "I have received a number of concerns about the development of new library services on its present site where there are two listed buildings, while the proposed move to the Post Office Field is also causing concern", said Cllr. Meaney. "The motivation for a move of the County Library service must be questioned. What's prompting that?", added the vice-mayor.

Responding, Ennis Town Manager and County Council Director of Services, Tom Coughlan, said "the motivation is simply the need for better library facilities. The present library is not suitable for a modern-day library service. The building cannot cater for the level and diverse type of use in a library service. Developing a new flagship library service would set the bar for the development of other library services around the county", added Mr. Coughlan.

Despite these assurances, Cllr. Meaney warned that the council "needs to move very carefully in this matter. We don't know yet where on the Post Office Field the library is going to move to", he said.

Meanwhile, Cllr. Gerry Flynn (Ind) hit out at any proposed development taking place on the contentious piece of ground off Bank Place in the heart of the county capital. "I would have huge problems about taking away any of the Post Office Field", said the Shannon area representative. "This is a fabulous facility for the people of Ennis and I don't want to see any of it used", he added.

However, a former member of the Aontas na Pairce group, that mounted a successful campaign to secure the field into public ownership nearly a decade ago, has given the library proposal a guarded welcome.

"There have been assurances given that one-third of an acre will be used for the library and I am happy with that", said Green Party member of Ennis Town Council, Donal Ó Bearra. "There have also been assurances that the rest of the field would be left as a nature reserve, something that seems to be a reasonable compromise. However, everything is still subject to seeing what's actually planned for the site", added Cllr. Ó Bearra.

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