25 June 1997
By Tom Gillespie
The outgoing Government has given full and final approval to establish the National Folklife Museum at the historic Turlough Park House, near Castlebar.
Some £8 million will be spent --£5 m by the office of Public Works and the remainder by Mayo County Council -- on providing the facility by the year 2000. This flagship' project will result in an estimated visitor attraction in excess of 200,000 to the transformed Victorian mansion and grounds each year.
It is proposed to display 45,000 priceless artefacts rom the Folklife Collection in Turlough House, which was first built in 1865 and was the ancestral home of the Fighting Fitzgerald. The items which are currently in storage in Daingean, Co. Offaly, are the most complete collection known representing the everyday lie in Ireland from the late 18th century to the early 20th century.
The Minister for Tourism and Trade, Enda Kenny, said the Government had confirmed at its meeting on Thursday to allow the project proceed. Minister Kenny said: "Government approval was also given for the creation of 13 new posts at the centre. This means that one senior post will be filled this year and the others by the year 2000.
He said he was pleased with the Government decision."It will bring huge benefits to both the local community and the County of Mayo in terms of social ane economic prosperity over the next number of years."
Minister Kenny continued: "There are 45,000 artefacts that are created in Daingean for the last 40 years and they have not been in display anywhere.
"It will transform Turlough and there is also an application for serious funding for the restoration of the gardens which were magnificent in their day.
"This would incorporate the restoration of the old lake in front of the house as well as the restoration of Gazebo's.
"It will be done in three phases, the first being for £250,000 for the first stage of the garden. That application has been made but had not yet been granted and it may come before too long.
"The Department of the Environment will now have to come forward with the sewerage scheme for Turlough village. Obviously that is not going to be within my remit now, but the new Government will have to deliver on that immediately and provide the money for it. I will be asking them to do that immediately which will cost in the region of £300,000 to £400,000.
"This will be the second museum in Ireland after Collins Barracks.
"This is a mighty splash in which to go out of Government on. It's an £8 million goodbye", he concluded.
