Ambitious €8.1m plan is set to transform landmark Gorey building

NORTH Wexford Councillors could hear “a pin drop” during the walkthrough of the proposed plans for the redevelopment of the Gorey Market House at a recent special meeting of the Gorey Kilmuckridge Municipal District. Councillors gave their full support of the proposed plans at the meeting on Tuesday, April 30 which could see an investment of up to €8.1million in the historic building.

“It’s about making our Town Centre a space where people really want to live and I think that’s certainly what we’ve put together here,” said Resident Engineer at Wexford County Council (WCC) Sean Meyler who presented the proposed plans to the Council.

After receiving the Council’s approval, Wexford County Council commenced with the Part 8 process which allows for the application of planning permission for projects by local authorities, on Wednesday, May 1.

THRIVE, the Town Centre First Heritage Revival Scheme, a new funding scheme under Ireland’s two European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) Regional Programmes with the aim of re-imagining town centres and transforming publicly owned vacant or derelict heritage buildings within those town centres through renovation, renewal and adaptive reuse.

The project could receive up to €7million from the THRIVE application. However, it is expected to cost approximately €8.1million which surpasses the limit of funding from THRIVE by €1.1million.

As a result, Director Of Services, Liz Hore stated that they’d secured matching funding from WCC for this project. “If we got €7million, it’s because this is transformational and really when you look at the quality of the design and everything we just felt it was really worth pushing it on so we have secured the matching funding to cover it in terms of if we get the €7million,” said Ms Hore.

A large crowd turned up to the public consultations which were held on April 5 and April 6 at the Gorey Library and Market House building. The council gathered a lot of feedback from the public on both days. “The building is absolutely really loved by the people of Gorey and they actually really welcomed the opportunity on the Saturday to come in. A lot of people said they always wanted to come in and look around and view the potential,” said Ms Hore.

Some of the key themes that arose from these meetings were the the public wanted the Market House to be a centre for the town and to have a connection with the wider town/community as well as Gorey Library. The public also wanted the building to be accessible, a multifunctional space, a space for the community to use, restored, archival, an exhibition space, crafts/ coffee shop, a social enterprise element and for it to include an outdoor space.

The key elements of the proposed plans included the restoration of the Gorey Market House to its original condition, the opening up of the ground floor for permeability, two universally accessible multi-purpose community spaces as well as an office and storage space.

“A lot of you would have seen previous plans and the Public Realm Scheme. They had various ideas for the flexible use of the space and that is really where we’re starting from here when this opportunity arose and we went out to public consultation with those few ideas to see where it would take us,” said Mr Meyler.

Furthermore, the redevelopment will include accessible toilets and changing places, a café and retail/display space, multi-purpose outdoor space (with flexible coverage), connectivity from Main Street to Market Square and a potential opening to the graveyard and Plaza on Main Street.

“This was seen as an opportunity to open up the Market House and connect the Main Street through to the graveyard and Market Square, providing a flat run up to Gorey Library and tie everything together in an interesting way,” said Mr Meyler.

He said the public realm at the back of the Market House building had a number of potential uses. “On Main Street, what we’re proposing to do is put in almost a plaza if you will, which will slow traffic but also act as a doorway into the Market House development.”

The plaza will include retractable umbrellas to give shelter from the rain and that space could also be used as a performance space, a market space, a public realm or a place for people to eat.

A storage space for foldable chairs and tables to be put away and taken out in the case of a performance is also included in the plans.

“These spaces are going to be used for a variety of reasons, there could be somebody doing yoga classes one day, there might be somebody doing a comedy club another day and a local community group could be having their AGM the next day, so we’ll need tables and chairs but we’ll also have to put those tables and chairs away somewhere,” said Mr Meyler.

Cathaoirleach Pip Breen thanked Mr Meyler for the proposal and paid tribute to Mr Meyler, Ms Hore, Yvonne Byrne and other Wexford County Council staff members who have worked hard on this proposal.

“If it comes off, I think it will transform the centre of Gorey for future generations and for as long as Gorey will be here. That Market House has been there for over 260 years anyways and I think this will future proof it into eternity,” said Cllr Breen. Cllr Breen was also delighted that the project had progressed to this point, as he’s been involved with the project since it began three years ago.

“I was in Brussels for the launch of New Bauhaus shortly after the collapse of the last plan for the Market House and with Gorey being the designated town I discussed it with members in Brussels and they thought Gorey Market House was the ideal candidate for this job,” said Cllr Breen.

Cllr Anthony Donohue also commended the team for their ambitious plan and questioned when they expected the decision to be made on the funding model. However, he also mentioned that he would have preferred a Wexford based architect firm to be involved.

“The architects did a fabulous job. I probably would’ve like to have seen a Wexford firm used as the architects because we have some fabulous architects around the county as well but I’m absolutely in favour of the project,” said Cllr Donohue.

ODKM Architects from Dublin are the company that are designing and overseeing the Market House development. ODKM Architects also designed the interior of the Wexford Arts Centre.

Cllr Fionntán Ó Súilleabháin was equally impressed with the architect’s work and complimented various aspects of the design. “Everything looks well, the permeability going from the Plaza to the Main Street, Market Square and then to the laneway with the Civic Centre, it’s all one part the whole way through basically from where we’re sitting here. The rooftop garden and café, I love that idea,” said Cllr Ó Súilleabháin.

He also mentioned that some residents living close to the Market House would be interested in collaborating with this project. He also questioned the heritage that would be on display at the Market House.

Liz Hore responded that the council is working with Gorey Community Development Group and North Wexford Historical Society who have been very helpful with the heritage for this project.

The Market House will facilitate touring exhibits for visiting and local exhibitions. “We’re bringing back the heritage but we’re also creating the future and a use for the building for the future,” said Ms Hore.

Ms Hore also highlighted that there are certain heritage items this building will not be able to cater for as they will require certain conditions.

“You can’t just put things out on display, they have to be curated and properly managed and that requires resources. This building will cater to heritage and in itself it is heritage.”

“We will have that opportunity but it’s not a museum. Definitely isn’t a museum and I don’t want to set that expectation either,” said Ms Hore.

Cllr Joe Sullivan complimented the design team and said he believed it would meet the needs of the local community. “They appear to have married the heritage and historical integrity of the building along with the new outdoor space,” said Cllr Sullivan.

He also stated that this was the best proposal for the Market House he’d seen in the last ten years and was eager for WCC to proceed with the Part 8 process.

Cllr Andrew Bolger also complimented the proposal and said “a pin drop could be heard in here” during the walkthrough of the proposed plans. He also questioned the cost of the project.

Cllr Diarmuid Devereux said he supports the project 100 per cent and that it’s going to be the “heart of Gorey”.