Mullingar's old county hall, built around the turn of the century, has been converted into one of the most modern arts venues around. The new Integrated Arts Centre and Theatre, beside Westmeath County Council's head office, has cost £1.4 million and will become the envy of communities elsewhere.
That's because the theatre, in particular, has the most up-to-date equipment available and can seat 407 people. The seats can be folded away using the latest technology and stacked into a small area of floor-space under the balcony, leaving a large open area should it be needed for any other purpose.
The multi-functional building can be used as a museum, dance hall, art exhibition space, drama workshop area and has a number of rooms where community groups can hold meetings.
Westmeath's acting County Manager, Ciaran McGrath, said that because of the design of the building and the electronic and televisual links the centre could also be used as a conference facility to accommodate 500 people.
The seeds for the development were sown with the establishment of the Department of Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht. According to Ciaran McGrath, Westmeath and the midlands generally were identified as requiring special attention in the development of the arts. The council had backed a plan to build the new centre.
He said Westmeath Vocational Education Committee had been providing facilities for the arts in the county, and the council, in consultation with the VEC, drew up preliminary plans for the centre. "There had been a decline in the use of the county hall and plans were drawn up to develop the building by architects Murray O Laoire."
Standing under the sweep of the staircase which is a central feature of the front lobby of the building, Mr McGrath said the centre would become a focal point for the arts not only in Westmeath but in the midlands. "We're delighted with what we've got for our money and everything here is unmatched anywhere in Ireland. We are very proud," he said. The modern sound system, he said, would receive its first working test when the centre opened with a gala performance of the musical Chess by the locally-based Lakelands Production Company.
Sean Lynch, chairman of the Lakelands group, said the centre would be the envy of other theatre groups because of its unique design and wonderful equipment. "The design of the theatre will allow groups such as ours stage events which we could not have envisaged anywhere else. It will open up a whole new area of development to us." The official opening will be performed by the Minister for Public Enterprise, Ms O'Rourke, the proceeds of the evening going to a local charity.
The centre will be run by a limited company headed by the former Westmeath county manager Jack Taaffe. It is planned to appoint a director of the centre itself in the new year.
At the moment it is being managed by acting manager Patricia Gibney, who has been seconded from Westmeath County Council and who last week visited Garter Lane Theatre in Waterford to get a sense of what such a centre can do for community life.
A native of Mullingar, she said it would be a major transformation to have arts groups from all over the country and from overseas bringing their productions to the people of the midlands, as the centre was intended to serve more than just the town of Mullingar.