www.lmkeating.ie L&M Keating Ltd, Kilmihil, Building & Civil Engineering Contractors.

CLARE County Council has awarded a €1 million contract to L&M Keating Ltd, Kilmihil, to carry out a refurbishment and extension to the Sweeney Memorial Library in Kilkee.

The proposed scheme comprises of additional library space, theatre and exhibition space and multifunctional spaces.

Construction work on the proposed development is expected to get underway in the coming weeks and will be completed by the end of 2011. During the development period, the library will be temporarily relocated to Kilkee Community Centre.

The existing building is approximately 4,465ft2 and the revised layout will provide approximately 7,340ft2 at ground and first-floor level. The theatre and foyer have been designed to accommodate approximately 130 people.

The brief for the project has been developed in conjunction and consultation with many groups, including Clare County Library, Clare Arts Office, Clare County Council, Kilkee Town Councillors, area councillors, Kilkee Civic Trust, and drama and community group representatives from the Kilkee area. The project is being funded through a combination of Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism, the Commissioners for Charitable Trusts and Clare County Council resources.

"The completed project will greatly enhance the social infrastructure of the area and will help the future development of Kilkee and its environs," Mayor of Clare Councillor Christy Curtin said.

The Sweeney Memorial Library building dates to the 1950s and was designed to provide mulit-purpose functions including library, cinema, and a dance hall and lecture room.

"The issue with the existing building as it stands is the struggle to address modern accessibility requirements, efficient heating, advanced stage technology and the expanding functions of the library within the community. The proposal aims to improve the standard and range of independent functions within the building, allowing for different activities to occur independently," Bernadette Kinsella, director of services, Clare County Council commented.

"The primary changes to the internal layout are the demolition of the existing toilet block to the front of the building and the separation of library and theatre functions within the existing building. The new side extension will contain the new floor space and gallery, the provision of lift access to the upper level, the new entrance foyer and the upgrade of existing electrical and heating systems, Ms Kinsella added.

Clare Champion, December 17th 2010