Letterkenny’s old courthouse is to be turned into a major tourist attraction.
Donegal County Council has announced details of the plan which will save and transform the town-centre building for generations to come.
Details of the launch of the project entitled, ‘Revival at Letterkenny Courthouse’, were unveiled today.
The project is funded by the Urban Regeneration and Development Fund (URDF), a flagship initiative of Project Ireland 2040.
It will focus on the reuse of the historic Courthouse building as a major tourist attraction with the aim of increasing visitor numbers to Letterkenny’s historic town centre and to the wider Northwest region.
The old courthouse first opened in 1831 but closed in January 2018 as a new courthouse at High Road was opened.
There had been considerable speculation locally about the future of the building.
In launching the project, Cllr Kevin Bradley, Mayor of Letterkenny-Milford Municipal District said, “The old Letterkenny Courthouse is an iconic building. It is in a fantastic location in the heart of the town centre.
“This project is a huge opportunity to create an amazing tourist attraction where we can explore options to showcase the culture and heritage of Letterkenny and our wider County in an exciting and innovative way.”
An award winning consultancy team has been appointed to help Donegal County Council bring forward this project. It is led by interpretive design consultants, EPIC Heritage Consulting Ltd, and also comprises Povall Worthington, John Ruddle Consulting and RedC.
Design Lead of EPIC Heritage Consulting Ltd, Dara Lynne Lenehan, said “Our site visit to the Courthouse revealed a beautiful, historic building with great potential for an exciting tourist experience in the heart of Letterkenny. We believe there are so many stories that could be told through the redevelopment of the Courthouse and look forward to exploring what experience will offer a really compelling reason to visit.’
Liam Ward, Director of Service, Community Development & Planning Services said, “The Courthouse is in the ownership of Donegal County Council and is therefore a huge asset that we would like to see harnessed to realise Letterkenny as a vibrant tourist destination in itself and as a gateway to the exceptional offerings across the County and region”.
He added, “This project is not progressing in isolation as it forms part of Councils wider Leitirceanainn 2040 Regeneration programme which includes delivery of high quality public realm, improved walking and cycling infrastructure and high quality office accommodation as examples”.
As the project progresses there will be opportunities for the public to get involved with the first public drop-in event scheduled for Wednesday 17th January 2024.
More information on the plan will follow in the New Year.
