Minister Calleary officially opens Ireland’s newest library
- Published on: 26 March 2025
- Last updated on: 30 March 2025
- Minister officially opens first ever library in Ballyogan, Dublin
- first library to open that was approved funding under the new Libraries Capital Programme
- first library in Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown with a dedicated sensory space, dedicated teen area, music studio and creative room
The Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht, Dara Calleary has today (Wednesday, 26 March) officially opened Ireland’s newest library in Ballyogan, Dublin 18.
The library was supported by funding of €450,000 from the Department of Rural and Community Development’s new Libraries Capital Programme and is the first project approved under the programme to be completed.
The project transformed the sports gym in the Samuel Beckett Civic Campus into a state-of-the-art library which will be co-located in the building with a range of other services including the community centre, INTREO and the Family Resource Centre.
Speaking at the official opening in Ballyogan, Minister Calleary said:
“I’m delighted to officially open Ireland’s newest library facility in Ballyogan. Investing in our library service is a key priority for me as Minister and goes to the heart of our public library strategy.
“This library will provide outreach services to this community along with an opportunity for educational, cultural, upskilling, inclusion and literacy opportunities.”
It will be the first library in Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown with a dedicated sensory space, dedicated teen area, music studio and creative room. It will provide new and innovative services such as creative tech classes, podcasting, and digital upskilling classes for older users.
The Minister also acknowledged the role of Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council staff and commended the collaboration between local and central government that has ensured the successful delivery of the new facility.
Minister Calleary added:
“One of the ambitions in the Public Library Strategy is that libraries will be a primary consideration in urban and rural regeneration planning and community development and I am delighted that Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council have recognised the importance of this by establishing the first ever library in this community with a rapidly expanding population.
“I want to take this opportunity to once again thank our dedicated library staff across the country, who contribute so much to our public library service and our communities.”
Notes
Ballyogan Library, Co. Dublin
The Samuel Beckett Civic Centre was built in 2016 and is a building of 2,500m² on an 18-acre site along Ballyogan Road, in south county Dublin, located 14km from Dublin city centre.
The new library is bright and spacious, comprising 1,300 square metres over two floors. It is accessible by a lift and includes an outdoor area. It contains:
- events spaces both large (seating 60) and small (including a book nook), dedicated children’s area, sensory spaces both active and restive
- two meeting rooms upstairs for community groups to meet with AV equipment and video conferencing
- exhibition space
- changing places facility
- ample study spaces upstairs in quieter area for single use or group study
- messy play in the Cultural room. Children and Young Adult collections and services
- cubbie sensory hub for neurodivergent people
- quick use area including express PCs and laptops, with free internet and Wi-Fi
- age friendly services and furniture as well as resources
- children’s maker room
- a creative tech space
- music studio
- a wide range of loan items including books, AV materials, Home Energy Saving Kit, Acorn tablets, reader pens and accessible/sensory equipment
- outdoor garden space
- dedicated teen area
- a buggy park