Cllr. Bobby O’Connell sent a message to let his Castleisland constituents know that refurbishment works will begin in the next few weeks on the old Carnegie Library.
The work will include the replacement of windows and of the roof.
“This is a flagship building in Castleisland and I welcome the money allocated and acknowledge the effort of Castleisland Chamber Alliance and Kerry County Council in getting the project to this stage.
“I am very proud to have been of assistance with the project,” said Cllr O’Connell.
The grand old building has served as a boxing stadium, a badminton court, a dance-hall, a cinema, a courthouse and, of course, a library as well as being at the centre on one of the bloodiest battles in the war of independence in July 1921.
The projection room and the opes in the eastern wall – over the balcony are still there to be seen.
Probably because of its long association with reading material and vital learning tools for many in the locality, the building enjoys a reverential status from a time when books enjoyed far higher levels of appreciation than they do today.
The news that its interiors will now be protected by new windows and a new roof will be welcomed as was the refurbishment of the interiors a couple of years ago by the Castleisland Chamber Alliance.
