OPW: Office of Public Works
Oifig na nOibreacha Poiblí
Office of Public Works to Take in Charge the Cashel Bolton Library
Tuesday 25th May 2010
PRESS RELEASE
The Minister of State at the Dept. of Finance with Special Responsibility for the Office of Public Works and the Arts, Dr. Martin Mansergh, TD, wishes to announce that the Office of Public Works will be taking in charge the Bolton Library, Cashel, Co. Tipperary. The Office of Public Works will present the Library as part of the Rock of Cashel complex, mindful of the historic relationship between the Bolton Library and the Rock of Cashel, i.e. it was originally the Library of the Cathedral on the Rock.
The Minister of State, Dr. Mansergh, is delighted at the positive outcome to long drawn out efforts to secure the future of the Bolton Library in Cashel. The Library contains a unique collection of antiquarian books and pamphlets from all over Europe, including early material of Irish interest, and covering subjects from theology to history, including 18th century political pamphlets, to mathematics. They were first collected by Theophilus Bolton, Archbishop of Cashel from 1730 to 1744, and are now housed in the Chapter House of the Cathedral Church, John St., Cashel. The book collection will remain in the Bolton Library, and, as with the Library recently acquired in Farmleigh, the ownership will in due course be lodged with Marsh's Library, while the building will be on long-term lease from the Church Representative Body of the Church of Ireland to the Office of Public Works. The books and other documents, while remaining in situ, will be managed in association between the University of Limerick and its Library and the Office of Public Works. A Board of Visitors/Advisory Body will be established with representatives from the OPW, the Church of Ireland, the University of Limerick and other interested bodies to draw on their expertise in the management of the library.
The Minister is conscious of the care and custodianship taken of the Library particularly by successive Deans and Bishops, and those who gave voluntarily of their time to serve on the Board of the Library, and indeed all those who contributed to fund-raising events to cover running expenses. He also acknowledges the support given by the late Tony Ryan and GPA and more recently by the National Heritage Council to maintain the fabric of the building. There will be further architectural works to be carried out by OPW over the next few years.
The Rock of Cashel, Ireland's medieval acropolis, has been experiencing up to a quarter of a million visitors each year, which is putting a strain on existing visitor facilities and on the National Monument, particularly the Vicar's Choral. The opening of a complementary visitor facility at the Bolton Library will assist in the spreading of the visitor load. It will form part of the Rock of Cashel complex, and will be promoted and managed in association with the Rock of Cashel, and visitor traffic can be directed to it. This could add significantly to the capacity of Cashel to absorb increased numbers of visitors, and act as a signpost to the other attractions within the town.
Ends
For further information contact Kevin Kennedy, OPW Press Office, (01) 647 6159 or (087) 930 3888