Good news for theatre campaigners in Trim

There was good news on two fronts at today's meeting of Trim Muncipal District councillors.

The OPW outlined its vision for the town hall site which would see the original Market House building upgraded to provide a visitor centre/coffee shop and toilets on the ground floor along with an audiovisual theatre with capacity of up 60/70 and exhibition area. The building would have a lift, be brought up to current building standards and have a fire escape.

It proposes to demolish the hall at the rear-an extension built in the 1960's- which the OPW feels impinges on the castle walls in an unsympathetic way. This would open up views of the castle and improve the entrance. It also proposes to removed the portion of the car park at the castle entrance.

While the OPW does not have funding for capital projects, it believes the tourism funding under Ireland's Ancient East initiative could be accessed for the project.

The downside of this plan is the loss of the hall as a performance space. However, the second piece of good news was a commitment by Director of Services Des Foley that the council will pursue a previous plan to use the existing library site and the old school site next door to provide an extended library and also community and theatre space.

He said the council would look at immediately employing architects to look at the previous plans and what is feasible at the site.