A motion was passed at last
Monday night’s meeting of Wexford Borough Council which may lead to the
conversion of the towns old Gaol into a museum.
Sinn Féin Cllr Anthony Kelly tabled the motion calling on the Borough
and County Councils to carry out a feasibility report on the project with a
view to applying to the OPW and other appropriate bodies for grant aid.
“Wexford's old County Gaol is the
perfect location for a town museum,” Cllr Kelly said, “The building and grounds
have played a historic role in the development of the town. First constructed in 1812, the building was
taken over by the Free State and transformed into a military barracks in 1922. On the 13th of March 1923,
republicans Jim Parle, John Creane and Pat Hogan were executed in what is now
the town’s republican garden.”
“As we approach the decade long
period of commemoration which will no doubt be associated with the centenary of
our the rising, war of independence and civil war, it would be fitting for
Wexford to have a museum which could educate people in a mature and non biased
fashion about what really happened
during this troubled period.”
“As well as being a wonderful
education asset, the museum would also be a tourist attraction and would create
local employment. It would not have to
be defined by its own history either.
Our town and county have a rich heritage. It would seem fitting that our maritime
history and artefacts pertaining to other periods should also be housed at the
gaol.”
“The recent funding allocation
for Johnstown Castle is proof that the conversion of the Gaol into a museum is
no longer just a pipe dream. We can make
this happen and I welcome what I hope will be a prompt and successful
feasibility study so that we may move forward with a project that can only
benefit Wexford town and the surrounding area.”
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