No more silence in court as facility gets new lease of life!

The former Oughterard Courthouse has been transformed into a community facility in just four months though the process started over four years ago.

The premises which were built in 1840 stopped being used for court hearings in January 2009 as part of the Court Services’ decision to amalgamate a number of rural courts.

The building had gone into terrible disrepair, so much in fact that a number of judges refused to sit in it as dampness ran down the walls and woodwork was rotting in the cold double height room.

A number of local people, including Councillor Tom Welby approached Galway County Council to secure a long term lease for it so that it could be used as a community facility.

Thanks to the then-County Manager, Martina Maloney, said Cllr Welby, it didn’t take much persuasion and a limited company was set to tackle the project, which cost just under €500,000.

The works themselves were massive as the builders had to renovate the premises sensitively so its architectural heritage would be saved for posterity and modernised at the same time.

Up to last June, the local library was located in the building and they will be returning to the Courthouse between now and Christmas. Meanwhile, they were accommodated by the local Sisters of Mercy nearby.

The building will be managed by the Oughterard Courthouse Conservation Heritage Ltd, chaired by Cllr Welby. Other directors are Leslie Lyons (Company Secretary), Deirdre Forde, David Collins and Willie Dawson. A former director, Brian Buckley, project-managed for months, Cllr Welby added.

The company has charitable status and this project is a joint partnership with Galway County Council, who paid the €28,000 procurement costs (what it cost to prepare the paperwork, plans etc) for the project.

The building will be open to the public from next Monday onwards when an open evening will show off the new interior to the sounds of the Contempo quartet.

See full story in this week’s Connacht Tribune.