Agreement reached on purchase of Victoria House in Ballina
Mayo County Council has confirmed that agreement has been reached on the purchase of Victoria House in Ballina, paving the way for works to commence on the Mary Robinson Centre.
Contracts and paperwork will be completed over the coming weeks and, subject to all relevant requirements, construction of the centre will commence in November.
The cathaoirleach of Mayo County Council, Councillor Brendan Mulroy, welcomed today’s news as 'a great step forward for what is an major project' for the county. “The significant community support will be key to the success of this project,” he added.
County council chief executive Peter Hynes commented: “This marks a significant development in the progress of the Mary Robinson Centre, a project which is of significant importance for Ireland in general and for County Mayo in particular. We hope it will provide a national model for honoring and building on the contribution of significant civic figures in the country.”
Mayo County Council thanked the Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Josepha Madigan, for the significant contribution of €2m towards the costs and for her department's continued support on the project.
Speaking on behalf of the board of the Victoria House Foundation, chair Emer Gilvarry also welcomed today's news. She said: “The support of many – locally, nationally and internationally – has been vital in sustaining this project and bringing it to this important stage of development.
“As a board, together with our partners at Mayo County Council and NUI Galway, we look forward to now creating a world-class centre for human rights, gender equality and climate change, exploring the life’s work and legacy of Mary Robinson in her childhood home here in Ballina.”
Ballina-based Independent Councillor Mark Duffy said the town will benefit from having a presidential centre that will attract visitors and academics promoting issues that Mary Robinson has long advocated for, including human rights, women’s leadership and climate justice.
He added: “With an under representation of women in politics, I hope that the centre can help to inspire the next generation of women to become future leaders in our country.”
Councillor Duffy said when the work transforming Victoria House into the Mary Robinson Centre is completed, the facility will lead to additional employment and further tourism to the north Mayo capital.
The cathaoirleach of Ballina Municipal District, Councillor Michael Loftus, said he too is delighted to see that Mayo County Council have purchased the childhood home of former President Mary Robinson. “This will be a major boost to Ballina and north Mayo,” he stated.