Cllr Eugene Cassidy and Minister Helen McEntee pictured outside the old national school building in January 2024 when the purchase of the building was announced.

€150k to refurbish derelict Nobber national school for use as an artists’ workspace

Noelle Finegan

Published: Fri 9 Jan 2026, 4:16 PM

Last updated: Sat 10 Jan 2026, 12:33 AM

Funding of €150,000 has been awarded to Meath County Council under the Artist Workspaces Scheme to refurbish the derelict national school building in Nobber for use as an artists' workspace.

The Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport, Patrick O’Donovan TD, recently announced arts capital grant awards of €987,498 to five local authorities for the development of up to 22 artist workspaces.

This funding is provided under the Artist Workspaces Scheme, a €6m capital investment scheme for Local Authorities to enable them to provide additional capacity and availability of artist workspaces in their regions. Among the allocations is €150,000 to Meath County Council for Nobber village which will see the old national school refurbished as four artist's studios.

Minister Patrick O’Donovan said: “I am pleased to announce funding of €987,498 under the Artist Workspaces Scheme. I am acutely aware of the shortage of affordable creative spaces around the country.

The lack of space has been a significant barrier for artists, limiting their ability to create and exhibit work. This announcement will assist in addressing the critical shortage of performance and work spaces for artists across the country”.

Meath County Council purchased the old national school building in Nobber from the Diocese of Meath in January of last year for the sum of €160,000 after successfully obtaining funding under the Town and Village Renewal Scheme's building acquisition measure.

Now an application to transform the building for use as an artist's studio has been successful with €150,000 awarded to Meath County Council towards the cost of the project. This will be match funded by Meath County Council.

Local councillor Eugene Cassidy has welcomed the funding. He said: "The old school has been derelict for many years and an eyesore in the centre of our village. Meath County Council purchased the building last year from the Diocese . Now we are in a position to push on and give this building a new purpose and bring it back to life again.

"This old school played an important part in growing up in Nobber in the past, now it will play a different role for the parish in the future. I'm sure everyone will be delighted to see new life put in to this old school and the positive visual effect it will have for the village."

He added that the grant covers 50 per cent of the cost of the project with Meath County Council to fund the remainder. Reports to determine what works need to be done to make it fit for purpose have been carried out and plans for refurbishment works and fit out are at an advanced stage.