From this week’s Galway City Tribune – It will cost €22 million for Galway City Council to deliver on its seven-year-old promise to convert the vacant, disused Lenaboy Castle on Taylor’s Hill into a cultural hub.

The property, which has been idle since it was transferred to the local authority over a decade ago, was never considered as accommodation for asylum seekers or Ukrainians, the City Council insisted.

Acting Director of Services for Housing, Economic Development and Culture, Elizabeth Fanning, has confirmed that the cost of security at the building was more than €8,000 annually. This was being paid to a private security firm following a tender process.

Recent estimates compiled for a European funding application confirmed that it would cost €22m to turn the building into a cultural facility, she said.

In a written reply to Councillor Niall McNelis (Lab), Ms Fanning said the costs included up to €10m on refurbishment, and up to €12m on fit-out. That included professional fees, and a contingency sum.

In 2017, the then City Council Chief Executive Brendan McGrath unveiled plans for a children’s hub at the site – to be a legacy project of Galway 2020 European Capital of Culture – but still it lies empty..

Cllr McNelis said “we were sold a pup” in relation to plans for the property, which was confirmed to him will now cost up to €22m.
This is a shortened preview version of this story. To read the rest of the article, see the February 2 edition of the Galway City Tribune. You can support our journalism and buy a digital edition HERE.