Action group calls for delivery of world-class library for Cork city

Members of the Cork Library Action Group held a rally outside City Hall, calling for the delivery of a world-class library for Cork, before this week’s city council meeting.

The group recently published a document outlining its vision and aspiration for the new Cork City Library.

Central to the group’s vision is a commitment to full public consultation.

Social Democrats councillor Niamh O’Connor brought a motion to Cork City Council asking for the core asks of the campaign group to be adopted by the council.

Motion

The motion was set to be sent to the council’s community, culture and placemaking committee for discussion, but Ms O’Connor sought to suspend standing orders to have it heard at Monday’s council meeting, saying there was a level of urgency, given decisions were being made about the library presently.

Last month, the council submitted a preliminary business case to the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, with a number of options including the use or reuse of existing buildings and new-build options.

However, Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael councillors voted against the motion being discussed on Monday night, so it was sent to the committee.

Ms O’Connor told The Echo: “The Cork Library Action Group have put together an incredibly well-thought-out list of must-haves for our new library.

“They have consulted the original application for URDF funding and engaged with architects, librarians, and campaigners in order to make sure the list is thorough and in keeping with the kind of library befitting of not just the city of Cork is, but the city she is becoming.

“I believe in setting our sights high for this library and don’t believe there should be a limit to our ambition for it.

“We have now waited five years for this library to happen while building costs have spiralled — we can’t wait any longer.”

Transforming

Social Democrats TD Pádraig Rice, who has long campaigned for a new city library and is also a member of the action group, said: “Five years ago, Taoiseach Micheál Martin announced that €50m would be spent transforming Grand Parade with a new public library, boardwalk, and plaza.

“Five years on, there’s been absolutely no progress, and the money remains unspent. This is utterly unacceptable.

“We have seen this time and again, where capital projects are announced for Cork, but not delivered. We saw it with the event centre, with the sod turned 10 years ago.”

He added: “The action group have put forward a list of the 10 things we would like to see in this new library.

“We would like for it to be spread over three floors, with more space for children and young people, more study spaces, and enhanced spaces for cultural meetings. The library should offer a place for people to gather, to connect, and a space that is accessible for everyone, that includes public toilets.”