AN ACTION COMMITTEE HAS BEEN FORMED TO PRESERVE THE FUTURE OF KING HOUSE IN BOYLE, THE ANCESTRAL HOME OF THE KING FAMILY.

THE GROUP WAS FORMED AMID LOCAL CONCERNS THAT THE HISTORIC BUILDING IS TO BE DOWNGRADED AS A TOURIST ATTRACTION.

ROSCOMMON COUNTY COUNCIL HAS CONFIRMED IT INTENDS TO RELOCATE BOYLE LIBRARY TO THE LONG GALLERY ON THE GROUND FLOOR OF KING HOUSE, BUILT ABOUT 1730 BY SIR HENRY KING, MP FOR BOYLE.

THE COUNCIL INSISTS THAT “VERY CAREFUL AND DUE CONSIDERATION” WAS GIVEN TO THE DECISION TO RELOCATE THE LIBRARY FROM THE BASEMENT OF THE HOUSE TO THE GROUND FLOOR, AND SAID IT IS COMMITTED TO USING THE BUILDING AS A TOURIST ATTRACTION AND CIVIC BUILDING “TO ENSURE ITS LONG-TERM VIABILITY”.

THE COUNCIL INTENDS TO MOVE ITS BOYLE AREA OFFICE INTO THE EXISTING LIBRARY.

THERE IS CONCERN THAT THE LONG GALLERY WILL NO LONGER ACCOMMODATE THE BOYLE CIVIC ART COLLECTION, ASSEMBLED BY CO-FOUNDER OF THE BOYLE ARTS FESTIVAL FERGUS AHERN, WHO DIED LAST YEAR.

FESTIVAL CHAIRWOMAN IRENE MADDEN SAYS “THE BOYLE CIVIC COLLECTION IS WORTH OVER €1 MILLION AND THAT MANY OF THE PAINTINGS HAD BEEN DISPLAYED IN THE LONG GALLERY”.

HER CONCERN IS THAT IT NOW SEEMS THAT “THEY INTEND TO HAMMER SHELVES ON TO THOSE WALLS.”