Further €640,000 in funding for Trim theatre and library project

Work is to proceed on the new theatre for Trim, following the allocation of a further €640,000 for the Library and Cultural Centre project from the Department of Rural and Community Development.

The project was originally approved for funding of €3,717,670 in November 2019 and work was due to start later last year, but the contract fell through and new tenders had to be sought.

Minister of State, Damien English announced the additional funding and said: “I understand that the project is ready to go and will take approximately 18 months to complete once it commences on site, which should be shortly following the easing of current public health restrictions.

“I look forward, along with the many local community organisations, such as t-Act, to having this superb facility up and running in Trim which will act as a central hub for the town."

The project, which is being led by Meath County Council, will see the conversion of the former Methodist Church and the existing library into a theatre, library and cultural space.

The library will be housed on the ground floor of the new facility, which will take in the old library and the church with a courtyard and some shared library/ performance spaces.

New library facilities will include a library study space and support area as well as meeting rooms.

There will also be a foyer for the theatre on the ground floor, a box office and toilets.

The main auditorium, with stage and retractable seating, will be on the second floor and will include a balcony with sound desk.

The second floor will also house a library tech room and store room.

Cllr Noel French welcomed the additional funding.

"Following a pre-contract meeting with the main contractor two weeks ago, it is intended to sign the contract as soon as the Covid related construction restrictions are lifted and the works can start shortly after that date. News of the signing of the contract is to be welcomed.

"Thank you so much to Meath County Council and Minister Damien English. It is an Irish company from Blanchardstown that has got the contract and so there is hope for additional local jobs for Trim," he said.

Cllr Joe Fox also welcomed the project which he said was badly needed in Trim and would be a wonderful facility for the area.