Heritage.../ Capital Projects/ Proposed Library HQ

File of correspondence, between GCC, the Library Council, architects and others relating to the proposed refurbishment of the Town Hall into a central library headquarters and city branch, and with budget difficulties, alternative sites for headquarters are considered, possible alternative locations such as at Renmore are examined at length, and consideration to incorporate the library headquarters with the development of the new City Hall site on College Road, with the city library branch to remain in the Courthouse (1978).

Includes:

• 1965         - Town Hall Galway booklet produced by Polycon Building Industry Consultants, with some background information on the Town Hall together with various layout drawings, including existing layout as a cinema (1965), proposed sketch plans showing layout as a theatre following Bord Failte Eireann proposal (1961); and proposed layout incorporating library headquarters and Art Gallery and Folk Museum (1964).  Drawings by Wilfrid Cantwell & Associates (01/01/1965);

• 1967-02-21 - Report on structural condition and state of repair of Town Hall;

• 1969-02-14 – Copy internal letter from the Secretary (Library Committee) to the Direct of the Library advising that Wilfrid Cantwell, Dublin has been appointed architect for the reconstruction of Galway Town Hall ‘to make it suitable for use as a Library Headquarters, etc’;

• 1969-08 – brief detailing space required on each floor for various sections of the library service;

• 1970-09-28 – copy letter from the Assistant Co. Manager to Town Clerk (Galway Corporation) outlining status of proposed project, stating ‘One of the conditions on which the Court gave possession of the Galway town Hal to the ty Council was that the premises would be used for library purposes;

• 1971-06-25 – Copy letter from the A/ co. Manager to the Secretary, Dept of Local Government indicating the estimate cost to convert the Hall to a library would cost approx. £150,000, and stating ‘I have had an opportunity of discussing the matter at length with the council’s Solicitor and I suggested to him that the building might be utilised for other purposes and a library headquarters provided in an alternative location. He, however, states that there is no alternative to compliance with the proposals which were put before the High Court that the building must be used solely as a library headquarters in future’.