Funding of €7 million for old St Patrick’s Classical school

Funding of Funding of €7 million for the old St Patrick’s Classical school in Navan has just been announced under the Town Centre First Heritage Revival Scheme.

Five towns are to share in a fund of €32 million with the project in Navan being one of the successful applicants.

The derelict old seminary will now be converted into a new cultural hub, which will include the new County Archive and a community space.

The development of the iconic 'duckegg ' building will create a new cultural quarter in Navan as it links to the Solstice Arts Centre at the other end of St Finian’s Terrace.

Welcoming the funding announcement was Fianna Fáil Senator Shane Cassells who described it as a “huge investment in the oldest part of Navan.”

“This is building was in danger of being lost and now we are going to see it brought back to life as a major cultural space in the heart of the town.

“It was something I had championed when I was a local councillor and as an Oireachtas member I pressed for its funding with Minister Darragh O’Brien.

“We will now have a new cultural space in Navan that is going to be free of charge for all to use. On top of this there is going to be a beautifully created outdoor theatrical space.

“I want to pay tribute to Meath County Council and Navan Town Manager Martin Murray for leading the charge in this funding application. It is really creative.”

The design for St Finian’s Seminary is to convert the building into a new Community Hub and County Archive.

The public realm will be restored in line with the natural gradient of the space to create a natural amphitheatre will provide outdoor space for cultural and artistic performances and events.

It will also provide linkages to the other cultural buildings in its proximity and to the historic town core.

The community hub will be used for community meetings, workshops, classes and training and it will also act as a community exhibition space.

The County Archive will provide an appropriate space to store historical records, photographic collections and industrial heritage collections which will be available for academics, schools, historians and citizens free of charge.

The user experience will be prioritised through the design process by considering factors such as comfort, functionality, accessibility and aesthetics to create spaces that are not only visually striking but also highly functional and enjoyable.

According to Senator Cassells the new space will “provide an exciting new space with huge potential for community, civic and creative engagement with the citizens of Navan.”