The Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys TD , has opened the €7.2 million Mayfair Library in Kilkenny City.

The project which was funded by the Department of Rural and Community Development and Kilkenny County Council involves the transformation of the Old Ballroom in the Abbey Quarter of the city into a state-of-the-art library and community facility. The new building will provide library space of 1,800 square metres, comprising of flexible digital spaces for training and innovation with a dedicated makerspace providing access to 3D printers, 3D scanners and sewing machines. It also features meeting room for workshops, lectures, training and events to improve community engagement.

During the visit to Kilkenny, Minister Humphreys announced an investment of over €25 million in our public library service. The investment includes the delivery of 11 new library buildings across the country, along with 12 new Next Generation mobile library vehicles.

Among Projects that will be funded include:

•Drogheda Library, County Louth - €3 million : The Dominican Church and Priory along the riverfront will be turned into a state-of-the-art community library.

•Fingal Library, County Dublin - €3 million : A new flagship library in the Cultural Centre of Fingal. Project will also include a 163 seat theatre, a gallery, café, a tourist information bureau and office space.

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•Ballymote Library, County Sligo - €1.31 million : This project will see a 75-year-old former cinema building transformed into a library and community facility.

•Ballywaltrim Library, County Wicklow - €3 million : A new state-of-the-art two-storey building on the Boghall Road in Bray. Project will include a space for teenagers, public access PCs, study and remote working desks and break out work from home hubs.

•Ballybay Library, County Monaghan - €1.25 million : The refurbishment of the Market House on the main street into a modern public community library facility.

•Clane Library, County Kildare – €1.9 million : Kildare County Council has purchased a former childcare facility and retail outlet for the purpose of providing a new library facility in Clane.

Minister Humphreys said:

"I’m delighted to officially open Ireland’s newest library facility – a €7.2 million state-of-the-art project in the heart of Kilkenny City. I’m pleased that my Department of Rural and Community Development was in a position to provide €4.7 million of the overall investment. This facility is on the site of the old Mayfair Ballroom and it has been totally transformed for 21st century use. I’m also very pleased today to announce a €25 million investment in our public libraries and library vehicles.

"This will see the delivery of 11 new library facilities across the country, in places such as Drogheda, Bray, New Ross, Swords, Ballymote and Clonmel. The projects include old churches and priories, cinemas and market-houses which will be transformed for 21st century use. This goes to the heart of what we are working to achieve under our five-year rural development strategy, 'Our Rural Future'.

"As part of this announcement, there will also be an investment of almost €2.7 million in our mobile library vehicles, which have proven extremely popular in towns and villages across the country. Investing in our library service is a key priority for as Minister and goes to the heart of our new public library strategy that I launched last year. I’m very pleased to be making this announcement in Ireland’s newest library in Kilkenny City, which I know will make a such a difference to this community for generations to come. I want to take this opportunity to once again thank our dedicated library staff across the country, who contribute so much to our public library service and our communities."