At least two year wait for return of Macroom theatre

IT will be at least two years before the Briery Gap in Macroom which suffered extensive damage in May will be up and running.

At the Blarney-Macroom Municipal District meeting, Cllr Ted Lucey (FG), outlined how the community has been left at a great loss.

“The board of management has worked tirelessly to ensure that all scheduled events will be fulfilled with the goodwill of the Castle Hotel and the Riverside Park Hotel,” he said.

The Briery Gap re-opened in 2013 following an extensive refurbishment programme, wowing theatre-goers with its modern look and facilities.

Cllr Gobnait Moynihan (FF) said the town has suffered a terrible loss as the library was also located in the Briery Gap.

At the meeting on Friday, Senior Executive Officer, Anne Collins said she also shared the councillors view. “We are all singing off the same hymn sheet. However, the library is now at a temporary location and we are waiting on a lease to be sorted out between solicitors,” she said.

She said council officials have met with the Board of Management of the Briery Gap where the view was taken it was the better option to sit down with the county Architects to draw up proposed new plans.

She said the Architects are to have some sketches to them within a short few weeks. “Both the library and the theatre would both like more space, but we can only work with what is there. However, by having Architects on board will help maximise the space which is there,” she said.

She clarified that the Briery Gap did “absolutely have insurance.” When pushed by councillors at what sort of a time-frame were they all looking at, she said two years but that was only an estimate.

Cllr Ted Lucey (FG) found this proposed time –frame to be “unacceptable.”

“We need to push this more. I can’t see why it isn’t up and running within twelve months,” he said.