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Severe flooding in Dungannon forced the temporary relocation of the town’s library to a historically significant building near one of Ulster’s oldest sites. Earlier this month, Dungannon Library had to close due to major damage caused by problems with the underground drainage system. While repair work is ongoing, library services have been moved to Ranfurly House, a listed Victorian structure located at the forefront of the Hill of the O’Neill.
The Hill of the O’Neill, which served as the political and military center of the O’Neill clan starting in the 14th century, offers sweeping views and a rich historical backdrop. The collaboration between Libraries NI and Mid Ulster Council was instrumental in securing this alternative venue for the library. Margaret Bell, Head of Services at Libraries NI, highlighted the significance of the library beyond just lending books, saying, “For a lot of people it’s just a safe space to come, have a cup tea, read the papers, maybe pick up a book and have a sit down without any pressure and I think we’ve been able to re-capture that in the new space.”
Bell further explained the wide variety of people the library supports, from infants to the elderly, including students and participants in rhythm and rhyme classes for children as well as adult reading groups, all continuing at the new location. Ranfurly House not only provides a practical setting but also connects users with local heritage, standing alongside ruins of an 18th-century house built by Thomas Knox Hannington. Angela Lynch, a grandmother who regularly brings her granddaughter to the rhythm and rhyme sessions, expressed relief about the relocation, saying, “I was a bit worried when I heard about the flood, but having this alternative space is great because it means the children aren’t going to miss out and it keeps that routine.”
The library is recognized as a crucial community asset in Dungannon. William Ward, who leads an adult reading group there, noted the anxiety around the closure, emphasizing the importance of the library as a social hub: “The library in this town is a fairly vital community resource, for many people the library is quite literally the place where they will socialise with other people, so it’s important to still have this space because there are many people who suffer from social isolation without it.” Sinn Féin assembly member Colm Gildernew played a role in facilitating discussions between the library and council, stating, “I’m delighted to see this wonderful cooperation between the council, the library and the wider community.” DUP councillor Frances Burton also expressed satisfaction with the swift response to the closure, reaffirming the commitment to provide continuous public access to library services. Libraries NI hopes to reopen the original Dungannon Library building by mid-June, although this timeline may change depending on the progress of repairs
Read the full article from The BBC here: Read More
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