C&N Higgins Construction has been appointed as main contractor by Roscommon County Council to deliver a new library in Boyle.

Construction contracts were penned this week for the two-storey facility, along with landscaped surroundings, which will be situated beside the Boyle River on the former Royal Hotel site, complementing recently completed public realm improvements in the area.

The project is funded by Roscommon County Council and the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht under the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund, with an approved total scheme budget just under €7m. The new facility has been led by the Regeneration and Library Services teams at Roscommon County Council, with Rhatigan Architects Ltd responsible for the detailed design.

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Welcoming the commencement of construction, Roscommon County Council Chief Executive, Mr. Shane Tiernan, stated: "This exciting new project builds upon the transformational regeneration initiatives delivered in recent years by Roscommon County Council in partnership with the Boyle Town Team. It marks another significant step toward realising the ambitions of the Boyle 2040 Masterplan and the continued development of the King House Cultural Quarter."

Architecturally, the structure echoes the original double A-pitched roof of the former Royal Hotel. The ground floor will offer an open-plan layout with floor-to-ceiling glazing, creating a strong visual connection to the immediate surroundings. The first floor, clad in timber, will include framed windows overlooking the river, enhancing the building's integration with its environment. The new building will be bordered to the west by the An Ríoga plaza and to the east by a new inclusive public realm space with electric vehicle charging facilities.

Once completed, the modern, purpose-built library will replace the existing facility currently located in King House. Designed to be fully accessible and adaptable, the new building will feature innovative services, including 'My Open Library' technology, with flexible spaces for events and workshops. It will create a go-to 'third space' within the community that is adaptive and responsive to the community needs.

The new library is expected to open to the public in early 2027.