Anna-Marie Flynn
BALLINA will have to raise a staggering €500,000 within the next seven months to facilitate the theatre and arts centre planned for the town.
Town Manager Paddy Mahon told elected members at last week’s Town Council meeting that the existing arts centre at the Newman Institute is set to be upgraded into a theatre. He said that while €1.6 million has been set aside by the Town Council, €1.5 million from Mayo County Council and a further €1.2 million allocated from the Government, half a million euro will need to be raised locally.
Design fees alone will cost in the region of €1 million and tenders are set to be invited by October 2008 with construction scheduled to commence in early 2009. It is hoped that all building works will be completed by 2010. The entire project is set to cost in the region of €4.9 million.
Cllr Michelle Mulherin, Chairperson of the Board of Ballina Arts Centre, described the project as ‘very exciting’, resulting in a flagship theatre venue for the region. “This will be a three-storey building with a dedicated rehearsal area on the second floor. It will be bigger than the Hawkswell in Sligo, and with no other theatre of this standing anywhere in Mayo or Roscommon, we are talking about having the biggest arts space outside of Galway.”
She welcomed the funding received to date and said that while €500,000 is ‘a lot of money’ she is not overly concerned about the possibility of raising it. “We are working on a major fundraising drive and the people of Ballina have really got behind this project so far so I’m sure they will come on board to make it a reality. We have the commitment of all the people, and the backing of our local TD, Dara Calleary, who we are delighted to have involved in this project so I’m sure everyone will see this development is for the common good of the town.
“It’s important to remember we have a cornerstone in the monies allocated so far, and while we would have liked more, this is the hand we have been dealt,” she added.
Fellow Fine Gael member, Cllr Mark Winters, said he hopes the project is delivered within the strict timeframe but expressed huge concern over the availability of the local contribution.
“I am very worried about the prospect of raising €500,000 in the next seven months. It is a seriously daunting amount to raise. We are receiving the funding from the Department and this is a precondition of the offer. The Town Council has already donated its share and that has come from the rate-payers’ contributions so I really think that is enough from the people of Ballina.”
Cllr Tommy Cooke dubbed the figure ‘enormous’, while Cllr Willie Nolan suggested a ‘sponsor a seat’ campaign for the 250-seater theatre.
However, Mayor Padraig Moore said that programme was already put in place in 1995 when plans were mooted for the former Astoria Cinema site. He claimed €35,000 had already been collected by business people which is currently ‘sitting in a bank account’.
As PRO of the former Fundraising Committee, the Mayor paid tribute to those who had fundraised for the initial project, particularly one event which raised in excess of €12,000 alone.
Responding to comments, the Town Manager said the dream of having the best facility in the west outside of Galway ‘is very much attainable’.
