Cllr makes urgent call for reopening of Ballyshannon Library

Cllr Barry Sweeny has called for the re-opening of the community library in Ballyshannon as a matter of urgency, particularly in light of how long the whole saga had been going on.

He said it "is a hugely disappointing situation" as he was getting a lot of comments from locals as to why it remained shut.

He added that students are not able to access the location for study or scholarly pursuit in terms of research.

He appreciated that there had been staffing and resource issues surrounding the library but he would ask that it be reopened as a matter of urgency. In doing so, he asked was it the same problem that had existed previously?

He commented that it had become part of the fabric of the town and its current inactivity was "hugely disappointing".

There was a big demand for such a service in the town.

He added tongue in cheek, and without being disrespectful that he wanted to make sure that the current books housed there were not so out of date, that it might be considered a museum rather than a library, if not reopen soon.

"I would ask that the library reopens as soon as possible," he said at the March monthly meeting of the Donegal Municipal District in Donegal Town.

Over a year ago, pupils from Holy Family National School wrote to the councillors in the Municipal District (MD) of Donegal asking for the local library to be reopened.