Turning of the sod at Carnegie Library, Skerries, refurbishment and extension project

(Pictured above: Fingal County Council Chief Executive, AnneMarie Farrelly, Fingal Mayor Seána Ó Rodaigh, County Librarian Betty Boardman and County Architect Fionnuala May. Pic: Fintan ClarkeCoalesce)

Fingal County Council recently turned the sod on the refurbishment of and extension to Skerries library.

Skerries Carnegie Library is a detached early 20th century limestone building, and a protected structure sited in a prominent location on Strand Street in Skerries between St Patrick’s Church and Floraville Park, with a large site extending to Chapel Lane at the rear.

Fingal County Council Libraries Department proposes to provide a modern library facility which will include the refurbishment and full use of the existing two storey library building, with links to a new large 2 and 3 storey extension at its rear.

Cllr Tom O’Leary, Fingal County Council Chief Executive, AnneMarie Farrelly, Fingal Mayor Seána Ó Rodaigh, County Librarian Betty Boardman with County Architect Fionnuala May and Cllr Grainne Maguire.
Pic: Fintan Clarke Coalesce

Cllr Tom O’Leary, Thomas Stronge Project Director Midland Construction, Fingal County Council Chief Executive, AnneMarie Farrelly, Fingal Mayor Seána Ó Rodaigh, Sabrina Coldrick Executive Architect FCC, Pat Boyle Senior Architect FCC, County Librarian Betty Boardman with County Architect Fionnuala May, Cllr Grainne Maguire and David Higgins Architectural Technician FCC.
Pic: Fintan ClarkeCoalesce

The proposal, totalling 884sqm with a contract sum of €3.5 million, will accommodate multifunctional library spaces on two and three levels and will also include full upgrade of the public realm to the forecourt of Skerries Library and St. Patrick’s Church.

The new library space will include, in addition to our book lending service, junior and young adult space, link to Floraville Park, study space with up to 40 desks, public PCs and printing / photocopying services, a maker space and meeting and event space.

The library building at Skerries is viewed as a building of special character and an architectural focal point.

The sympathetic and complementary development of this building and extension is seen as a major resource in terms of infrastructure demands of the area.

At a sod turning ceremony last Tuesday, March 15, Mayor of Fingal, Cllr. Seána Ó Rodaigh said:

“Today is a very special day for the people of Skerries and the wider community.

“The library has always been at the heart of our town and the substantial investment by Fingal County Council in refurbishing it is going to transform it into a welcoming, modern amenity while maintaining its important heritage.

“I want to thank everyone involved in getting the project to this stage. We love our libraries and the wide range of services they provide.

“Táim ag súil go mór le cuairt a thabhairt ar an leabharlann athchóirithe nuair atá sé críochnaithe”.

AnnMarie Farrelly, Chief Executive Fingal County Council said:

“The new library development at Skerries will cater for the growing development of the town and surrounding catchment areas.   I am delighted to see the new library development get underway which will provide the state-of-the-art facilities to serve the growing community”.

Betty Boardman, County Librarian said:

“I know that Skerries Library holds a special place in the hearts and minds of the local community and that this is a much-anticipated renovation and extension project.

“The end result will be a combination of the traditional and the modern to give a welcoming, modern and flexible space in which people can meet, relax, read, learn and create”.

Fionnuala May, County Architect said:

“The modern libraries that have been built in Fingal since its foundation have all demonstrated Architectural design of a high standard and have facilitated the development of the Library service in the County. Designed by Fingal County Architects, the new and revitalised Skerries library will be an eloquent addition to the County’s portfolio of public libraries and to the public buildings of the town”.