Chapter closes as library a casualty of boundary change

BOOK enthusiasts in a Limerick suburb have been the first to read the reality of the boundary extension which has transferred them from County Limerick into the city.

Caherdavin library, which was financed by Limerick County Council, is to close at the end of the month under the boundary change which came in law on March 1.

The council has informed library members that the service operated by them will cease.

The city council said it does not intend to retain the library as their state-of-the-art library at Watch House Cross, Moyross, has more than enough capacity to cater for existing members of the Caherdavin library.

Pat Dowling, director of cultural and sporting services with the city council said: “There is more than adequate capacity for library members on the north side of the city at Watch House Cross. We have been in discussions with the Caherdavin Residents Association. There was a county council staff member working there who is now being moved. We are not moving out. We are aware of concerns by Caherdavin resident, but it is a county council situation at the end of the day. But we have a magnificent library for that area whereas up to now Caherdavin was served by a small library in the community centre.”

He said the Caherdavin members will at Watch House Cross have access to a computer room, music room, community room and a wide range of other facilities.

Caherdavin resident Anne Hogan of Glenmore Road said members of her family have been using the Caherdavin library for years and were very happy with it.

Ms Hogan said: “Children from the local national schools have also been going there on a weekly basis with their teachers. Now they will be faced with a long walk over to Watch House Cross in all kinds of weather. There was a lot of money spent on the Caherdavin library not so long ago. This is a retrograde step for the Caherdavin area.”

Councillor John Cronin, a member of Limerick City Council, said he was very surprised that such a change was going to come into effect so quickly after the boundary change.

He said: “This is very quick to my mind and I don’t see why we could not have reviewed the whole situation — that I can’t understand.”