Work has begun to develop a venue in commemoration of Ireland's first female president, Mary Robinson, in Ballina, Co Mayo.

Construction began on site today, 05 December, which will see the original Robinson family home on Emmet Street conserved and redeveloped into a museum, archive, research and educational facility and events venue.

LPB Construction Services is delivering the project on behalf of Mayo County Council under a €3.1 million contract, which will also see a contemporary new build extension constructed.

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Mary Robinson is world-renowned for her contribution to discourse on human rights, gender equality and climate change. This initiative sees Mayo County Council partner with NUI Galway to provide the public with access to her prodigious archive as well as to papers arising from her ongoing work, which she has gifted to the museum.

The establishment of the Mary Robinson Centre will compliment and reinforce the town's existing cultural suite of civic projects, including the Jackie Clarke Centre, The Ballina Theatre and Arts Centre, and the soon-to-be-realised Ballina Military Barracks Quarter.

It is expected to benefit the local area and provide a boost to the tourism economy of Ballina and the North Mayo region

The new Mary Robinson Centre is scheduled for completion in 2021.

(CM/JG)