Independent MEP for Ireland South Michael McNamara has again called on Clare County Council to consider its occasional use for Courts in addition to as a cultural and musical venue.
The call comes following recently announced plans to redevelop the derelict Killaloe Courthouse in County Clare into a music, arts and cultural hub,
“Killaloe Courthouse has been sitting idle in the middle of Killaloe for 30 years, and it’s great to see these proposed plans. It’s ten years since I received confirmation from the Courts Service that it was prepared to transfer the historic building to Clare County Council and I made a submission to the Killaloe strategic development plan,” McNamara said.
“For many years after Lismore Heritage Centre was redeveloped as an arts space from a Courthouse, the Courts Service paid to rent the space for monthly Court sittings. Killaloe District Court sittings were held in a hotel function room and bar before all sittings were ‘temporarily’ moved to Ennis Courthouse in 2020, specifically due to Covid 19. District Courts hear relatively minor matters and their stated aim is that such matters are tried quickly and locally. Ennis Courthouse is 50km from Killaloe and is difficult to get to by public transport. It’s high time this temporary measure was reversed.”
McNamara concluded: “I have been a long-term advocate for funding to be targeted at the redevelopment of this protected building, and this project will benefit the local community for years to come with as many uses as possible.”