Bank says ‘no’ to the handover of Lynch’s Castle to the city

BY ENDA CUNNINGHAM

 AIB has rejected a proposal by former Mayor Hildegarde Naughton to create a regional municipal arts centre in Lynch’s Castle.

Earlier this week, Cllr Naughton called on Galway City and County Councils to approach AIB with the plan, saying that banks are merging many of their branches.

She said she believes the premises could be “gifted” to the people, or rented on a long-term lease.

However, a spokesperson for AIB ruled out the idea yesterday, saying Lynch’s Castle is an integral part of their branch network.

“AIB undertook a detailed review of its branch network last year and it was decided that Lynch’s Castle is an important part of our business in Galway,” the spokesperson told the Galway City Tribune.

In a proposal at a meeting of the City Council this week, Cllr Naughton said: “It is probably is the finest medieval townhouse in Ireland and it is steeped in Galway tradition and folklore. It’s the ideal spot to locate a Regional Municipal Arts Centre.

“AIB are currently going through a major rationalisation programme and bearing in mind that the Bank of Ireland amalgamated their Eyre Square branches, it is highly likely that AIB will shortly do the same with their Eyre Square and Lynch’s Castle branches,” said Cllr Naughton.

She said there was precedent in AIB – in 1973, they donated their premises on Hyde Park Bridge in Sligo to the Yeats Society.

Cllr Naughton said that with the loss of the Daly art collection – handed back by the Council after almost a quarter of a century because of storage costs – it showed complacency in the city, which is facing stiff cultural competition from other parts of the country.

“Let some good come out of this disastrous decision to return this valuable art collection.

“The Lynch’s Castle proposal presents us with a challenge and an opportunity to start addressing the situation,” said Cllr Naughton.

Read more in today’s Galway City Tribune