Clarke Collection named among chosen projects

Jackie Clarke Library gets grant windfall


Clarke Collection named among chosen projects

Anna-Marie Flynn

BALLINA’s Jackie Clarke Library has been named as one of three projects which stand to gain from a €1.4 million ‘hub status’ bonanza.
Last week, Ballina Town Council confirmed the museum – which is set to house the Clarke Collection - will benefit from the grant, as will the Pearse Street refurbishment scheme. The third project is the establishment of a new link road between Pearse Street and Market Square in the town.
The allocation of €1.4 million was granted to Ballina under the Border, Midlands, Western Assembly (BMW) Gateway and Hub Towns Fund, with the council having just a number of weeks to pinpoint eligible projects which could benefit from the monies.  The funding is being administered by the European Regional Development Agency.
Under the agency’s terms projects must fall into strict guidelines that ensure developments are for the benefit of the town and are completed within the next year.
Outlining the grant details to councillors at the initial stage of project submission, Town Manager Paddy Mahon stressed that suitable developments ‘would be foreseen to be in the immediate future of Ballina’. At that time he hinted that the Jackie Clarke Library would be a suitable candidate.
Confirming the library and the town centre streetscapes are set to benefit, Minister of State Dara Calleary congratulated the Town Council management on earmarking such suitable ventures.
“The Council has identified three major town centre projects which are to be promoted and supported with funding under this programme. They are the refurbishment of Pearse Street which is currently under way, the development of the Jackie Clarke Library and the establishment of a new link road between Pearse Street and the Market Square. All three projects will add significantly to our town and I am delighted that funding to the tune of €1.4 million has been secured,” he said.
“This funding is further evidence of the Government’s commitment to the National Spatial Strategy which identified Ballina as a ‘Hub Town’. I am proud of the fact that I lobbied intensely to secure this status and that it has delivered so handsomely for the town,” added the Minister.
With work already started on the Pearse Street revamp, which includes plans for new street furniture, pedestrianised sections and amenity areas, the link road is the only one of the three pin-pointed projects which has not yet commenced.
During September, the Jackie Clarke Library and Archive held a month-long open event where members of the public could view the collection.
Ballina man, the late Jackie Clarke made headlines across the world when his personal collection of historical memorabilia, which spans 400 years and contains over 100,000 items, was unveiled. It was subsequently entrusted to the town of Ballina and is currently located in Ballina library. It will ultimately be housed in the former Provincial Bank on Pearse Street.