merrion street

Mr. Brian Hayes, TD, Minister of State with special responsibility for the Office of Public Works (OPW) today (3 December 2013) officially handed over the keys of the former Garda Station in Cootehall for community use. The building has close associations with the author John McGahern who lived there from the age of ten while his father served as the station Sergeant. McGahern’s book ‘The Barracks’ has made Cootehall and the building itself famous in the literary world.

The Minister said, “It gives me great pleasure to be in Cootehall today to hand over the keys of this former Garda Station to the local community. The proactive approach of the Cootehall Community Development Group is an example to all community groups nationwide. Their plans to develop the building as a McGahern commemorative museum are very exciting and I’m proud to be able to facilitate those plans. I’m sure that enthusiasts, locals, tourists and scholars alike will visit the museum. I’m also pleased that the married quarters will be utilised by the community for various groups and associations.”

The Minister concluded “I wish all members of the community group and the residents of Cootehall very success with this very worthy venture.”

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For further information or if you wish to interview Minister Hayes please contact

Colette Davis, OPW Press Officer at 046 942 6128, 087 947 5552 or colette.davis@opw.ie

Note to Editors:

On 30 March 2012, as part of the rationalisation of Garda Stations by the Department of Justice and Equality, Cootehall Garda Station known locally as ‘The Barracks’ was closed. The former station will be licensed by the OPW to the Cootehall Community Development Group Ltd. (CCDG Ltd.) for community use in line with OPW’s disposal policy.