Hopeful date announced for opening of new Portlaoise library

A full decade since a vacant shop was bought in Laois to become the new Portlaoise library, a tentative opening date has been revealed by Laois County Council.

It is 2013 since the old Shaws shop on Portlaoise Main Street was bought by the council, and plans began to replace it with a new county library.

With construction nearing completion following multiple delays, the council has stated when the library might finally open to the public.

Donal Brennan is Director of Services for libraries.

"In April and May we will start shelving it out. We hope to open to the public in late May, early June," Mr Brennan said at the January meeting of Laois County Council.

Cllr Thomasina Connell, Cathaoirleach had enquired what would happen to the old library building.

The current library is in a rented space on the first floor above shops in Lyster Square.

Mr Brennan explained that two other buildings are also used for the county library. 

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"The library headquarters is in leased space in Fitzmaurice Place. That will move into the new building along with archived material stored in Kea Lew Park," he said.

The new library is estimated to cost €6.5 million plus VAT, with that latest figure given one year ago by the council.  The Government will fund €5.687 million of the cost of the library, with the rest paid from Laois County Council's budget.

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The landmark building is under construction since 2019, and was first estimated to cost €3 million not including equipment.

It was hit by delays, firstly when the actual cost came in at €4.35m and the project was shelved to wait for extra Government support. Contamination of oil on the site added another delay and half a million to the bill. Then Covid paused works for some time.

The library was expected to have opened this winter, in the latest time estimate given a year ago.