O'Donoghue's aid to arts centres 'justified'

THE major recipient of €1.1 million in grants, announced by Arts, Sport and Tourism Minister John O'Donoghue for two arts centres in his Kerry South constituency, yesterday claimed the grant was absolutely justified.

Tech Amergin, a community education centre in Waterville, is to receive €870,000 and the Carnegie Arts Centre, Kenmare, €230,000.

The announcements are the latest in a long list of 'goodies' for which Mr O'Donoghue has taken credit, including a controversial €550,000 in National Lottery funding for a boathouse for Killorglin Rowing Club.

With the population of Waterville village and environs estimated at between 400 and 500 people, it means the Government grant equates to almost €2,000 for each.

Mr O'Donoghue came under political fire for securing the boathouse money and denied accusations of bending the rules to obtain the grants.

Tech Amergin director Fiona de Buis yesterday welcomed the grant, which would allow for a major extension to their existing building, the former Waterville vocational school, owned by Kerry Education Service.

"The project has been carefully planned and costed and is very practical. We had actually looked for €1m," she said.

"The Department of Arts has gone through it with a fine-tooth comb and it is absolutely justified. This is an adult education centre, which has been running for four years. We have an established administrative set up, with secretarial and care-taking staff."

Ms de Buis said it was a community-based project and they had a lot of arts-related activities in progress, including several classes in painting, ceramics, woodcrafts, woodcarving and photography.

They also had poetry readings and drama productions and the centre was a venue for a UCC diploma course.

Ms de Buis said the new building would at least double the space available to them and would include an auditorium, an exhibition space, a café and facilities for events and developing the arts.

The Kenmare centre will be integrated closely with the adjacent library and county council offices and will benefit both buildings, according to Mr O'Donoghue.

He also said the development of arts and cultural facilities would greatly enrich the artistic, cultural and social life of local communities.

"Present and future generations will have state-of-the-art facilities available allowing them to enjoy and celebrate art in a stimulating and attractive environment," he added.

"I hope these developments will encourage involvement and participation in the arts among the general public."

Meanwhile, a wide range of interests, including swimming pools, GAA, soccer and rowing clubs, creches, community organisations, schools and fish producers in Kerry South, continue to benefit from Mr O'Donoghue's regular announcements.