The countdown is on for the people of Edgeworthstown as the town gets ready to enjoy its brand-new library.
The multi-million euro facility will officially open its doors next Monday - but Kevin McGillicuddy and some locals got a sneak peek inside the building last night:
Edgeworthstown Matt Farrell speaking as the public got their first look inside the new multi-million library for the town on Wednesday night.
The library is the first to be built in County Longford in almost five decades and will open its door properly on Monday next.
Ahead of that, around 30 people were given a short tour of the facility last night after it was confirmed that the official opening, due to take place tomorrow, had to be cancelled due to the latest Covid restrictions.
The project has had a strong local flavour from its very beginning - located in the heart of the historic town with several local people involved from start to finish
Mary Carlton Reynolds is Longford County Council head librarian:
A total of four staff will operate in the library- where Catherine Lee is the new librarian.
The building has high-speed wifi- and special sections for both children and teenagers as wlel as thousands of books and extensive audio and visual collections.
Its outer windows also contain messages of welcome in many different languages, reflecting the 20 different nationalities which make up Longford's second-largest town.
Carmel Noone of the Edgeworthstown District Development Association, which is now located on the lower floor of the library says the project is a huge boost to the town:
Matt Farrell admits that many people didn't believe the library would ever be built.
He says the local community has provided wonderful support in the years-long campaign :
Local businessman Frank Greene says the library is just another symbol of the upward curve the town is enjoying in the last number of years
Carmel Noone says now that the library is open - attention will turn to other projects :
Frank Greene says it's important that everyone finds their own use within the library :
Mary Carlton Reynolds says there is something for everyone in the library- from those who enjoy a good read- to others looking to use 21st-century technology to enhance their lives :
You can hear Mary-Carlton-Reynolds' interview here:
You can hear from Matt Farrell here:
You can hear from Carmel Noone here:
You can hear from Frank Greene here:
You can also hear the audio package played on today's Let's Talk here:
