Bank of Ireland to make available new cultural and heritage centre within its College Green complex to the State for a period of 10 years

Bank of Ireland today announced that it is making a new public exhibition space available to the State at its College Green premises for a period of ten years. Bank of Ireland’s College Green buildings are recognised as important heritage buildings which have played a significant role in the history of Ireland. The new Cultural and Heritage Centre will be utilised by the State for the staging of exhibitions and other cultural events that will be open to the public.

Visitors will access the new Cultural and Heritage Centre at College Green via a separate entrance on Westmoreland Street. Once the proposal for the creation of the new centre is approved for planning the work will proceed immediately. Bank of Ireland will undertake the refurbishment, obtaining appropriate advice and assistance from the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht. When the refurbishment of the new space has been completed, management of the Cultural and Heritage Centre will be the responsibility of the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht in conjunction with Bank of Ireland.

It is envisaged that the new Cultural and Heritage centre will host a variety of historical exhibitions and cultural events.

Welcoming Bank of Ireland’s decision to provide the new Cultural and Heritage centre to the State, Jimmy Deenihan, TD, Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht commented:

“I welcome Bank of Ireland’s decision to make this space available to the State. The importance of the College Green buildings is recognised by us all. These are nationally and internationally important heritage buildings which have played a significant role in Irish history.

“I am delighted that today’s announcement will deliver a public cultural and heritage centre at the heart of the College Green buildings. This is a very significant development, and I want to thank Bank of Ireland for making this space available and for strongly supporting this initiative.

“I now look forward to work taking place to prepare this space and to plan the exhibitions. I hope this Cultural and Heritage Centre will be enjoyed by as many people as possible when open, and that the centre will be an integral part of Dublin City in the years ahead.”

Richie Boucher, Chief Executive, Bank of Ireland said “Bank of Ireland is delighted to facilitate this new Cultural and Heritage centre for the State. Bank of Ireland has been at the heart of commerce in Ireland for over 200 years and will be for many generations to come. We recognise that whilst we are focussed on making a very significant contribution to Ireland’s future economic progress, we are also custodians of the Bank’s own history and heritage and that our College Green buildings are a very important part of Ireland’s history and heritage. We are conscious that over the next few years Ireland will commemorate and celebrate the centenaries of a number of major events in its history including the founding of the State. Bank of Ireland is pleased to demonstrate its important, longstanding role in supporting the communities we serve in Ireland through this initiative and we look forward to working with Government in the development of this new Cultural and Heritage Centre”.