Museum expansion encompasses Spanish Arch area
The director of Galway City Museum has defended the institution as a well-functioning museum which punches above its weight in terms of visitor numbers and exhibitions, in spite of the building’s limitations.
While Eithne Verling stressed that the museum in the Spanish Arch was fit for purpose, she said it was no secret that a number of environmental issues had to be addressed in order to attract significant international and national collections.
Staff had managed to stage very popular exhibitions with a limited budget, attracting artefacts from the National Museum, making it the second most popular non-fee paying attraction outside the capital.
The facility would welcome its one millionth visitor soon, and was likely to attract 200,000 visitors by the end of the year. The director was responding to the publication in the Galway City Tribune of a draft strategic management plan drawn up by consultants on behalf of the museum which detailed the “highly problematical” design of building for the display and conservation of archaeological and historical objects.
“We have a huge amount to give, and we have a huge duty of care to manage that correctly. If spread over two buildings and by opening up a more family friendly space in the square outside the building, the site becomes much more attractive,” said Ms Verling.
Early plans would see the medieval collection moved to Comerford House, retelling stories about the likes of Christopher Columbus and Granuaile using virtual reality screens, trebling the size of the lecture room to seat up to 90 people, and reordering the current building to house the prehistoric artefacts with tales from the era.
An all-weather area outside could hold currach building workshops, and themed markets, as well as concerts and films.
For more on the plans, see this week's Galway City Tribune