Plans by Roscommon County Council to move Boyle town library into the ground floor of the restored Georgian mansion, King House, have been branded "ludicrous."

The organisers of the Boyle Arts Festival said the council was to accommodate just six staff in the existing library space of over 400sq m (4,300sq ft), while commandeering the ground floor of the restored house for bookshelves.

Festival chairwoman member of the recently formed Friends of King House action committee, Irene Madden, stated: "It is ludicrous and the people of the town will fight it all the way."

Fine Gael TD, Frank Feighan, said the council's decision "makes no sense", and contacted Roscommon county manager Frank Dawson earlier this week, asking him to meet politicians, community groups and town residents to clarify the situation.

Mayor of Boyle, Christy Brady, expressed concern about the impact of the move on the acclaimed long gallery inside the main entrance of the 18th century house, which was built by local landowner and MP Sir Henry King in about 1730, and which later served as a barracks for the Connaught Rangers.

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Brady commented: "King House is one of three tourism icons in Boyle along with the Lough Key Forest Park and the Abbey."

Local people were adamant they did not want King House downgraded, given its historical importance. Concerns have also been raided about the ideal temperature for a library having a negative effect on the plasterwork in the refurbished long gallery.

Campaigners say that the gallery is of great architectural significance and is not suitable for a library.

Madden also added: "Must people attending exhibitions and events in King House tiptoe past the library inside the main entrance? We met with the council and they gave us two options – hang the paintings above the library shelves or put the shelves on wheels in the centre of the room."

Many of the paintings in the Boyle Civic Art Collection, which includes work by Louis Le Brocquy, Seán McSweeney, Basil Blackshaw and Tony O'Malley, hang in the long gallery.

According to Madden, the council made it clear it intended to move the library out of the King House basement and into the main house by May 1st next but local people were determined to block the move.

Roscommon County Council says the move will not interfere with the arts festival, which uses King House as a focal point for many of its activities.

Council director of services Kathleen Martin, said it was reviewing the use of King House "to increase its daily use and heighten its appreciation."

(JG)