No support from Kells councillors for suggested closure of centre

THE suggested closure of loss-making Kells Heritage Centre made by town councillor Seán Drew gained no support at last Monday"s meeting in committee in the Town Hall. But his council colleagues supported his call for further discussion on its financial position with a view to generating more income and reducing its losses. Councillors discussed the history of the centre"s operation over the past decade for over three hours and agreed to continue its operation, promising to enhance the 'good work staff have been doing there'. Cllr Drew joined his colleagues in commending the work of staff but councillors unanimously urged the lifting of the Bord Fáilte covenant, requiring the centre to focus solely on the town"s monastic heritage, to the exclusion of later Norman and Georgian elements of the town"s history. Both officials and councillors acknowledged that few heritage centres were generating surpluses and their function lay instead in forming a tourism 'gateway' increasing the numbers visiting the area; that had been achieved in Kells, several speakers claimed, but it had not yet turned into paying visitors to the monastic exhibition upstairs in the centre. The lengthy meeting ended with members agreeing to hold a further meeting after an 'in-depth ' study of the centre"s finances. Meanwhile, the council faces an early call on its finances to carry out roof repairs, likely to cost over €1 million. Experts warned councillors in 2006 that the works would have to get under way within two years or else the roof could suffer serious structural damage. Cllr Drew"s claims were rounded on last weekend by Fine Gael colleague Ollie Sweeney, who said townspeople wanted the centre which they hoped would enhance the image and esteem of the town. It was central to the tourist development of the region, with continuing links from the monastic, through the Norman and even Cromwellian times, through the extensive Georgian architecture in the town centre, of which the 200-year-old building was itself a fine example. Cllr Sweeney said he looked to the Heritage Centre programme expanding to include complete displays of all these major eras, as well as a library outlining its extensive links to Columban Derry, Donegal and the west coast of Scotland, particularly Iona. The imminent completion of the M3 and N52 bypasses would enable the centre to be upgraded in the absence of such heavy through traffic, which looked certain to substantially increase the number of visitors it would cater for, he added. A major restraint on the Heritage Centre"s operations has been the 1998 funding scheme agreed with Bord Fáilte. The State body insisted on the monastic theme and its financial support was contingent on the Kells centre continuing this until 2011 - something councillors and staff have insisted has greatly taken from its ability to portray the heritage town fully, as well as present a livelier and more diverse representation of the district. Meath Tourism chairman John Farrelly also rejected the closure call when he noted that many such heritage centres countrywide were also losing money. The response elsewhere was to maintain such centres for the value they generated for the tourism stock. He offered as chairman of Meath Tourism to facilitate discussions between Kells Town Council, area council and the Chamber of Commerce, to draw up a three-year plan for the centre. It was time to re-ignite the campaign to get the Book of Kells back to the town and secure government agreement for this. Such approval would justify further spending on the centre, he said. The last thing he wanted to see in the town was 'another derelict major building at the entrance to Kells'. The Hurdlestown area councillor urged all parties to unite behind the talks and 'get this thing sorted'.