Moate Library opened its doors yesterday (Wednesday ) morning at 11am in its new home in the town’s former courthouse.
The opening marks the culmination of almost three years of planning and extensive renovation works at the the old courthouse building on Moate’s Main Street. The €500,000 refurbishment includes library facilities, meeting rooms, and a civic plaza to the front of the building.
Local Independent councillor Michael O’Brien said the library’s opening was a great day for Moate and the wider community.
“I am delighted to see the old courthouse building used to house such an important facility. The library is absolutely fantastic; the work that’s been done is very impressive. They have restored the building to complement the old structures in a very fine way. There is a lot of character.”
Cllr O’Brien drew attention to two features of the new facility which are particularly impressive - two glass floor compartments which allow visitors to look down into the building’s old dungeons, and a memorial wall to the late broadcaster and Moate native, Colm Murray.
“I would like to commend librarian Lorna Farrell and everyone in the council who has helped bring this to fruition. I would just like to remind everyone that the library is free to use,” he added.
The building, which is in the ownership of Westmeath County Council, dates back to 1828 and is on the Register of Protected Structures. An official opening of the new library will be held at a later date.
