Public meeting on plans to turn courthouse into creative quarter

Members of the public are being asked to attend a public meeting in Birr next week to hear further details of the ambitious plans to transform the town's old courthouse into a creative quarter for use by artists and the wider community.

The meeting, under the auspices of Birr 20.20 Vision Ltd., will take place in Birr Theatre & Arts Centre on Wednesday night next, November 19, at 8.30pm, and attendees will be briefed on the next steps towards the project known as Birr Creative Court.

With planning permission already granted at the end of last year, under the Part 8 process, for the full refurbishment of the old courthouse building, a new Business and Governance Plan is currenly being formulated. This new plan will ensure the long-term sustainability of the ambitious project and provide guidelines as to how Birr Creative Court will operate once it opens to the public.

The old courthouse in Birr has been closed since 2013, and it is a tribute to the foresight of Birr 20.20 Vision, who worked closely alongside Offaly County Council, that a new future for the landmark building is being steadily brought to life.

Under the plans already approved for the refurbishment project, the historic courthouse building will retain its unique character while also creating new and flexible spaces to host artists, workshops and community gatherings.

Members of the public from Birr, and the wider hinterland, and all those from the local and wider artistic and creative communities, are warmly invited to attend next week's public meeting on Birr Creative Court in the Birr Theatre and Arts Centre to learn more about this exciting project for the local area.