Ballinasloe Library, Galway 

Located on Society Street in Ballinasloe, Co. Galway, The MErcy Convent was revitalised into A Library in 2016. ThIS former convent and associated chapel are an important element of the architectural, social and religious heritage of the town of Ballinasloe.
A Brief History: Founded by Catherine McAuley in 1831 in Dublin, the Sisters of Mercy established the Mercy Convent in Ballinasloe in March 1853, which comprised four mid-nineteenth century terraced houses amalgamated to form the convent. In 1864, a chapel was constructed, adjoining the convent to its west with further buildings added to the rear (north) during the twentieth century. The convent closed in 2005 and the site was purchased by Galway County Council. 
The terrace and chapel are individually listed as protected structures in the Galway County Council Development Plan and are located with an Architectural Conservation Area. The buildings had been substantially altered with doors removed from the street frontage, the building re-rendered in a cement-render and all windows to the front elevation changed. Internally rooms had been amalgamated or subdivided, depending on their use; however early fabric survived including joinery and cornicing. During opening-up works, the chapel’s original ceiling was found to comprise painted timber trusses and plaster panels which were restored as part of the works.
Carrig Conservation were part of a design team appointed to develop a scheme for converting the former convent and associated chapel into the new use of a public library for the town of Ballinasloe. Carrig provided specialist conservation assessment and design input to ensure that these works were designed and carried out in line with good conservation practice. The project included new build elements to the rear and an infill building to replace one of the terraced houses which was demolished as part of the project.
This set of mid-nineteenth century buildings with significant street frontage in the historic heart of Ballinasloe had become redundant due to the lapsing of their religious use. As conservation consultants to the design team Carrig ensured that the cultural significance and material fabric of the buildings was assessed and taken into account in their adaptation for a new public cultural use which incorporates a library, gallery and office space.

If you would like more information or to discuss a project, please contact the office to speak to one of our conservation consultants.