The new 2,300m2 DeValera Library & Súil Art Gallery in Ennis, Co. Clare, Ireland for our clients Clare County Council, was formally opened by An Taoiseach Simon Harris TD on 15 November 2024.
By adding the DeValera library, (county library), and the Súil, a small contemporary art gallery, to abut the town’s existing Glór Theatre (2001), a new cultural nexus for the town and the region, has been created.
The three facilities are interlinked through a new double height colonnaded portico and main entrance, joining up the triptych of the literary, visual and performing arts contained within. The main library over two floors is wrapped in an undulating curved cast stone façade that locks the building into the site geometry giving the project its unique identity. The county library service is placed in a simple bar of adaptable office accommodation above the library and the Súil art gallery with its adjoining sculpture court, sits on the opposite side of the main entrance.
A huge window in the main facade opens up the Library interior and main staircase to the town and Monastery Park opposite, which is particularly impressive as dusk falls and the inner glow of the library is revealed to the world.
The building is clad in pale polished reconstructed stone integral with pre-cast concrete panels. Metal work and glazing systems are bronze coloured powder coated aluminium, and Irish limestone paves the immediate surrounding ground surfaces.
Led by Keith Williams Architects’ project director Richard Brown, the DeValera Library & Súil Art Gallery is the firm’s 6th completed project in Ireland.
Keith Williams, the firm’s founder and director of design stated,
“By placing the DeValera Library and the Súil Art Gallery immediately abutting Glór, a new cultural nexus has been created uniting the 3 primary colours of the arts – the visual, the literary and performing arts – all in a single complex.
The opening represents a very important day in the long genesis of this project. I am very proud of the beautiful new public building that we have created offering outstanding facilities to the people of Ennis and the region. Our team in the studio has worked for over 8 years on this project so it is wonderful to see it finally realised and to garner such great review from both our client and the public.”
The design and delivery team at Keith Williams Architects was as follows:
Keith R Williams : Director of Design
Richard Gm Brown : Director in Charge
Aline Magalhaes : Senior Architect
Lilliana de Cavahlo : Architect
Alexander Craig-Thompson : Architect
Dario Monni : Architect
