Irish language theatre gets green light for refurbishment

By Denise McNamara

The last major hurdle blocking the refurbishment of An Taibhdhearc has been overcome with Galway City Council agreeing to match funding of €300,000 after the Irish language theatre company agreed in principle to move to a new dedicated Irish centre in the city if a suitable facility was provided.

Acting City Manager Joe O’Neill told the Council’s cultural policy group meeting that the Council would commit to providing €50,000 a year for six years to pay towards the €900,000 overhaul of the Middle Street building. The funding for the project following a fire three years ago was rubber-stamped at yesterday’s committee meeting on a motion by chairperson Cllr Padraig Conneely. It will now go for approval to the full meeting of the council next Monday, November 8.Funding of €300,000 by Roinn na Gaeltachta was conditional on an equivalent amount being provided by the local authority. They had also stipulated that they would only provide the funds if An Taibhdhearc agreed to move to a proposed Irish Cultural Centre on a site at Lower Merchants’ Road, adjacent to the Picture Palace Cinema.

However, the board of An Taibhdhearc was opposed to this after seeing plans for the centre and visiting a similar cultural space in Derry, which they said was akin to a community hall and not suitable for the home of a national theatre.

It is envisaged that the Irish centre would also house Conradh na Gaeilge and Gaillimh le Gaeilge.

However, Mr O’Neill said board representatives had now advised them they had no objection to moving to a new purpose-built centre if it contained a theatre suitable to their needs.

“In light of the clarifications received, and having regard to the City Council’s financial position, and to the Council’s commitment to the development of the Irish language in the city, I submit that the cultural policy committee recommend that the Council agree in principle to providing a sum of €50,000 per annum for six years, commencing in 2011, and having regard to the commitment by An Taibhdhearc to move to a purpose-built centre if one is provided,” he told the committee.

For more, read this week's Connacht Sentinel.