“Temporary relocation must not extend to 120 years.”
THE traders and residents of Nicholas Street and King’s Island are hoping that the city museum will eventually be relocated to the medieval quarter from which it is currently in the process of moving.
To accommodate the refurbishment of King John’s Castle, which is underway, it was necessary to relocate the museum from nearby Castle Lane.
It is to be housed in the former AIB building on the corner of Patrick Street and Ellen Street.
At a meeting of the city council, Maurice Quinlivan, Sinn Féin councillor for the Northside said that while there is a very strong feeling among local people that the museum should eventually be returned to King’s Island, its new location in the city’s cultural quarter is welcomed.
“I think that until we have a definitive plan for the Opera Centre, the relocated museum will be in an ideal location and it is good that as the building is owned by the council, rent will not have to be paid,” he said.
“It is also ideally located, in terms of visitors to the city and there is the advantage of very good footfall in the area, due to the proximity of the Milk Market, the Hunt Museum, St Mary’s Cathedral, City Hall, the nearby marina and quays, etc.”
Sounding a note of warning that the museum’s “temporary’ relocation “must not extend to 20 or 120 years,” Cllr John Gilligan said:
“We should not lose sight of the fact that King’s Island is our main tourist and visitor area, that when accurately restored will have huge potential but moving the museum is contingent on the development of Nicholas Street and that the city council, in conjunction with Shannon Development identifies a site in the area for the return of the museum, that is integral with the overall King’s Island plan.
Director of Services, Pat Dowling said the transfer of the museum will take between four to six months.
“Then an overall strategy for the city museum or a Regional and Historical Museum should be contingent on this but we need to have a museum three or four times the size of the Patrick Street building.”
