An illustration of how the proposed new library would look. Pic: City Architects Division
Plans have been submitted to Dublin City Council to construct a new library building at the site of a former historic house and school on the Crumlin Road.
Ardscoil Éanna was a co-educational secondary school on the Crumlin Road, established in 1939 by James J O’Byrne, who had been interned for his role in the Easter Rising in 1916, and Margaret Pearse, sister of Patrick Pearse.
Until a fire which broke out in 2006, the school had a primary school in the form of prefabs. The secondary school closed its doors in 2016 and has lain idle since.
The site is a protected structure and some key aspects of the proposal include creating a new library which will combine a new single storey and partial two-storey building.
On the ground floor it will combine an adult and children’s library space, an events room and ancillary spaces.
An illustration of how the proposed new library would look. Pic: City Architects Division
On the first floor it is proposed there will be a reading room, meeting room and staff rooms alongside a glazed bridge linking it to the original historic house.
The historic building will be converted from the original school building to a library, with a café, office space, toilets and multi-functional rooms.
There are also proposals for conservation work which will include repairing and altering parts of the house, such as removing a non-original porch, adjusting the windows and restoring the original room layout.
Other changes proposed for the site involve retaining and repairing the historic gates and the stone wall along the southern boundary of the site with part of the modern wall being removed.
There will also be new vehicular access to the library from Crumlin Road and a new pedestrian entrance from Rafter’s Lane.
Landscaping work proposed includes creating accessible public spaces, a library lawn, seating areas and bicycle parking with 18 spaces.
Plans are available for public inspection, and there is an opportunity for submissions until January 15.
