This article is from page 32 of the 2008-02-12 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 32 JPG
PLANS are at an advanced stage for the redevelopment of Tulla court- house, with hopes that the building will be ready for community use in March. At the AGM of the Court- house Rejuvenation Committee last week, local clubs and organisations came along to give their suggestions about the make-over.
Committee Chairman, Bernard Mulcachy, said the evening proved “very helpful. We wanted input and there was a good response from the community groups and a few good
Suggestions. For instance, we hadn’t looked at wheelchair access to the stage although there is wheelchair access to the hall itself. That’s some- thing we can examine now. We got feedback on quite a few issues which we will be able to look at.”
Since the county council moved out in November to take possession of their new premises in Scariff, the committee have swung into action and now there is a new lighting and sound system, a complete repaint and redecoration of the former council offices and an extension to the build- ing to add an extra meeting room is
also underway.
Among the groups who will be us- ing the newly refurbished courthouse are the Tulla Drama Group, the musi- cal society, the GAA, who will use it for meetings and groups taking yoga lessons and other courses.
The Midnight Court Film Society, based in Scariff, are also considering having some screenings depending on local demand.
Funding for the project came large- ly from a grant from the Department of Arts, Sports and Tourism, which was allocated several years ago.
“We couldn’t use the grant straight
away because we were waiting for the council to move to their new of- fices. Luckily, the department gave us a lot of leeway,” said Bernard.
The total cost of the refurbishment project will be €120,000 and the grant will meet 80 per cent of that COST.
“We would hope that the facility will earn money to make up the dif- ference rather than put the cost back on the community,” said Bernard.
‘And it’s hoped that the community will be attending an open day at the end of March, once the bulk of the work has been done,” said Bernard.