A County Museum should be established in Laois as “a matter of urgency”, according to Cllr Jerry Lodge.
At the recent Portlaoise Municipal District Meeting Cllr Lodge called on Laois County Council to “prioritise the establishment of a County Museum as a matter of urgency”.
A response from the heritage officer Catherine Casey outlined that it is an objective of both the Laois County Development Plan 2017-2023 and Portlaoise Local Area Plan 2012-2018 to facilitate the development of a museum within existing heritage buildings in Portlaoise.
“This has been further explored in the vision statement for Portlaoise town centre where sites have been identified within the town centre for such a use in combination with other uses such as the courthouse, the old convent building and potentially other sites around Fitzmaurice Place. Further investigation of these sites in conjunction with the relevant landowners is ongoing,” she said.
“I appreciate the efforts of the council to provide a location,” Cllr Lodge said, agreeing that they needed a long-term plan.
“What is happening to the artefacts we have been finding? Where are they going – are they leaving the county?” he asked.
He hoped there is a register of local artefacts. He also said it would be worthwhile having all these artefacts housed locally for when people visit the county.
“Every town and village takes great pride,” he said, in their own local artefacts.
“A county museum is badly needed,” Cllr Caroline Dwane Stanley agreed. “It would be a brilliant facility for the town”.
Courthouse
“I would ask that the courthouse be given serious consideration. The courthouse needs to be moved outside of the town and the building would be ideal as a museum with its history as an old jail,” she said.
SEE ALSO – Some great photos from Music Generation’s School’s Out for Summer concert
