The days of Mallow Town Hall being the hub of activity for concerts and other events are on the way back following news that €1 million has been gran-ted for the redevelopment of the building as an arts and cultural hub under the ERDF (European Regional Development Fund).

This money will be matched by Co. Council funding of €1 million for the creation of a 150-seat theatre space, front of house facilities including box office and bar area, visual arts exhibition space, youth bank facility/workshop area, 56-seat café, and studio/workshop space.

Minister of State Seán Sherlock welcomed the news, saying, “This is a grant that will restore the Town Hall to the people of Mallow. Not only will it restore a cultural and arts hub to the town centre, it will provide another welcome boost to Main Street. This will be community-led and community-driven, as the arts should be, and will open a wealth of opportu-nities for the people of Mallow. Theatre was a central facet of the Town Hall for decades, and will be again.”

The news was announced on Tuesday in Dublin, with County Mayor Cllr. John Paul O’Shea and Director of Services with Cork County Council for North Cork Tom Stritch in attendance. Three projects were submitted by the council for funding in Mallow, the other two being the €1.4m development of a pedestrian boardwalk on Mallow Bridge, and the refurbishment of Spa House to bring the historic building back into public use. Radon prevention works along with electrical, plumbing and fire prevention works are required in the building, costing about €400,000.

Mayor O’Shea welcomed the announcement of funding for the Town Hall, saying, “The six members of the Kanturk/Mallow Municipal District and the executive of Cork County Council along with the business and community sector in Mallow have been working extremely hard over recent months in identifying key projects to submit for funding as part of this grant scheme.”