Council praises Tullamore arts centre committee after €500k fundraising
Offaly County Council has hailed the “tremendous effort” of the fundraising committee behind Esker Arts, which successfully raised €500,000 to help bring the long-awaited arts hub to Tullamore.
Established in 2009, Tullamore Community Arts Centre Ltd (TCAC) is a partnership company and registered charity formed through collaboration between the Tullamore community and Offaly County Council.
Esker Arts opened its doors in April 2023, with then-President Michael D. Higgins doing the honours of the official opening the following June. The facility, featuring a 228-seat auditorium, gallery spaces, and studios, serves as a major arts hub in the Midlands.
TCAC presented a cheque of €325,000 to the council in 2023. In January of this year, TCAC presented a further cheque for €125,000 to Offaly County Council, and the remaining €50,000 was presented to the council on Monday, April 20.
Cathaoirleach of Offaly County Council Cllr John Leahy praised the committee for carrying through on their commitment to raise half a million euro with pride. “It's an unbelievable achievement,” he said.
The Cathaoirleach extended Offaly County Council’s gratitude to Des Doyle and other members of the company Declan Kirrane, Dominic Doheny, John Flanagan, Colin Hughes, Danny Owens, Niall Sweeney and others and all who have contributed to and supported the fundraising efforts.
Chairperson of TCAC Ltd Des Doyle said Esker Arts represented "the culmination of many years of work".
“We met in 2009, a meeting was set up with Pat Gallagher. At that meeting it was decided we would set up a board, made up of councillors and local community members. That was the basis of the board who pushed the whole drive behind Esker Arts.
"There were many ups and downs. With the Kilbride Plaza site, the costs ran away on us, and it was a difficult decision to say we'll walk away from this. Then we decided we would buy Kilroy's.
“We decided we couldn't finance it on our own, we needed Offaly County Council. We made a presentation back in 2019, and without the backing of Anne Marie Delaney, it would've never happened.
“We bought Kilroy's for €405,000, then we had a competition for the design, and we set out to appoint a construction company. The members of the committee drove the whole project, along with the county council. At that meeting all those years ago, we pledged to raise €500,000.
“We couldn't do church gate collections for that amount. We approached individuals, organisations, and businesses to raise the money. It's a great example of teamwork, between the people of Tullamore, the councillors, and the Executive of Offaly County Council. We supported each other through thick and thin, and Esker Arts will be there for many generations to come.”
Offering their congratulations, councillors noted the exceptional achievement of the committee in creating an arts hub in Esker Arts.
Cllr Quinn said the project was “a big leap of fate” which paid off, noting that he was sceptical to begin with.
“I'd always believe something that's good for one part of Offaly is good for all of Offaly. They've done it with sterling achievement. It worked out very well.”
Cllr Feighery hailed the committees “tremendous effort”, Cllr Sean O'Brien adding that it was an "amazing job".
“The result is there. It's a county and Midlands arts centre,” said Cllr O'Brien.
Cllr Aoife Masterson said an arts centre was “something that was always missing” in Tullamore.
“To have a state of the arts centre we have now is a testament. It's something that will last for generations.”
Cllr Shane Murray said Esker Arts has “completely changed the nighttime economy” in the town, with the Cathaoirleach noting that it continues to bring in “people from Offaly and further afield to support the arts”. “It has been a very proud moment,” he added.