Cultural music centre gets planning go ahead

Comhaltas Éireann has been given the go ahead to begin works on its proposed cultural music centre in Tulla, which will see the transformation of the former Sisters of Mercy primary school and convent to a performance and archive centre.
Planning permission was granted recently for the first phase of the development that includes the demolition of the existing cloakroom block, cookery room and garden shelter to the rear of the school building. Meanwhile, refurbishment of the building and the construction of a two storey extension to the rear and sides of the existing two storey building was also given the go ahead.
This extension will include the provision of a performance/multifunctional space with seating for 260 people, associated toilets, changing rooms, stores, bar kitchen, reception, foyer and two multipurpose rooms.
Also in this space, the planning permission allows for a basement plant room, change of use from educational to performance and community use and the provision of a new vehicular and pedestrian entrance from the Main Street in Tulla.
The development will include eight parking spaces and nine bicycle spaces, associated landscaping and site boundary treatment.
Clare County Council gave the green light subject to 19 planning conditions these include that the applicants submit full details as to the proposed hours of operation of the facility and that public lighting be provided to serve the development. It was also a stipulation of the planning permission that a special development contribution of €3,000 be paid to the local authority towards the upgrade of the storm water network at this location, which is necessary to facilitate the development of the site and overall area.
One submission was received to the development and the observers noted they supported the venture “wholeheartedly” but they had a number of concerns. They believed that the proposed new access should have restricted access to prevent loitering and asked that the existing ‘concertina gate’ be retained.
Tulla Comhaltas Ceoltoirí Éireann have informed the council that the existing building on the site, which is currently in religious, community and educational use, will continue to be used by them for community and educational purposes.
It is proposed that the ground floor will be used as an educational exhibition area, an archive and for community use, while the first floor, which is currently bedrooms and a common room, will continue to be used providing accommodation for visiting Irish musicians and students carrying out research in the archives.
They group do plan on undertaking some minor works to this building, which include the provision of a new disabled toilet on the ground floor, and removing timber stud partitions also on the ground floor to provide for an archive area.
Further bathroom facilities are also proposed, as is the removal of the modern ground floor extension to the rear of the building.