Louisburgh Granuaile Centre to be reimagined

Louisburgh Development Company have announced exciting plans to reimagine the existing Granuaile visitor and information centre located on Church Street in the town. The centre was established in St Catherine's Church in the 1990’s and tells the story of Granuaile and the great Irish famine from a local perspective.

The centre also hosts the Louisburgh Community Library and provides visitor information for the town and the wider region. The proposed reimagination of the centre has been driven by the Fáilte Ireland Clew Bay Destination and Experience Development Plan which calls for the development of 'tracks and trails' including an experience dedicated to the story of Grace O’Malley (Granuaile). The plan calls for investment in the Louisburgh Centre to develop an all year all-weather asset.

In 2022 the Louisburgh Development Company received a grant from the Department of Rural and Community Development under the Town and Village Renewal Scheme to assist with the planning of the proposed project.

The Louisburgh Development Company has engaged with key stakeholders in the reimagination of the centre to ensure that while it provides an iconic experience for visitors that it also remains embedded in the local community. The proposal includes presenting Louisburgh and the region and all that it has to offer, retention of the community library and providing a top-class visitor experience on the Grace O’Malley Trail.

Award winning Architects Taylor McCarney have produced a scheme that includes the removal of the existing 1980s extension at the centre to allow for the construction of an iconic visitor experience.

Library relocation

THE proposal recommends the relocation of the community library to the refurbished St Catherine's Church while other spaces will be dedicated to local stories and archival material. Speaking in advance of community engagement on the proposal Louisburgh Development Company Director Mary Fergus said “that this is an exciting opportunity to reimagine and reposition the centre as an asset for the town”.

Chairperson of Louisburgh Community Futures Pat Joyce congratulated Louisburgh Development Company on the work done to date and said “this is another exiting announcement for the town and presents a sustainable and welcome roadmap for the future of the centre”.

Fionnán Nestor, Wild Atlantic Way Projects Officer – Fáilte Ireland said: “Fáilte Ireland welcomes the proposed development at Louisburgh which is a key action in the Clew Bay Destination and Experience Development Plan. A re-imagining of the interpretive experience at the centre will help strengthen the year-round visitor appeal of Louisburgh and the wider Clew Bay Destination”.

A community engagement event will be held at the centre on Tuesday, November 19, from 5pm to 8pm where the proposals for the centre will be on display, all are welcome.