Work commences on new Donabate Library at Ballisk House
"Another important hub for the local community.”
Work has commenced on the new Donabate Library which is scheduled to open by the end of this year.
The development of the new public library at Ballisk House is one of a number of projects being undertaken by Fingal County Council that will enhance the provision of community facilities in the Donabate area as envisaged under the Donabate Framework Plan and the Capital Programme agreed by the elected members of Fingal County Council last October.
The Mayor of Fingal, Cllr Brian McDonagh, said: “I am delighted that the contractor is on site and work has begun on Donabate’s new library which, when opened, will offer so much more to the local community than just books. The move from its present location in the Community Centre will also free up significant space which can now be used by different groups on the Donabate peninsula.”
The Chief Executive of Fingal County Council said: “Following the closure of the Credit Union it was important for us to ensure that Ballisk House remained a building for the community and it is an ideal location for Donabate Library which now has the opportunity to increase the variety of services it offers to the people of Donabate and Portrane.”
Fingal County Council acquired Ballisk House in 2022 following the decision of the Progressive Credit Union to close its Donabate branch which had been located in the premises. The land had originally been owned by the Council but was sold in 1995 to Donabate Credit Union to facilitate the building of Ballisk House.
Vision Contracting were appointed last December to carry out the refurbishment works on Ballisk House and went on site at the end of January to commence phase one of a two phase project. It is anticipated that the new library will open to the public by the end of this year.
Phase one will deliver a contemporary library with children’s and young adult areas on the ground floor of the building. The installation of wheelchair accessible lifts will provide access to the adult lending area and a library events space on the first floor. The new library will also be a ‘My Open Library’, which will give registered members access to the building beyond normal staffed hours.
Planning has begun for Phase Two of the project which will consider the addition of an extension to the building to further enhance library facilities.
Fingal County Librarian, Betty Boardman, said: “Fingal Libraries operate 10 library branches, a mobile library and housebound service, as well as a Local Studies and Archives service, and the transformation of Ballisk House into a new library for Donabate and Portrane is exciting. It gives us an opportunity to create a state-of-the-art library that can accommodate the wide variety of services we offer as well as becoming another important hub for the local community.”
