New update on €15m library coming to Newbridge
Creating Kildare County Library, Archives and Cultural Centre
Construction on the long-awaited new county library in Kildare could begin before the end of September, subject to final funding approval for the €15.2 million project.
Kildare County Council is progressing the major redevelopment of Newbridge (County) Library on Main Street and Athgarvan Road, with a main contractor expected to be appointed once funding is confirmed.
The project is currently at tender stage, with works anticipated to start in late September and continue for approximately 24 months.
The development will transform the existing library into the new Kildare County Library, Archives and Cultural Centre, creating a modern civic hub while preserving an important protected structure.
The scheme involves refurbishing and upgrading the original 1930s protected library building, demolishing the adjoining 1970s extension and constructing a new three-storey building to the south.
The completed facility will provide around 2,260 square metres of floor space.
Plans include dedicated children's, teenage and adult library areas, local studies and archive facilities, community and multifunction spaces, along with improved accessibility throughout the building.
The wider project also includes extensive public realm improvements. A new courtyard will be created with landscaping, 13 parking spaces, bicycle parking and a refuse store, while the vehicle entrance will be relocated from Main Street to Athgarvan Road.
Works around the site will also include upgraded footpaths, a new cycle lane, a loading bay, a bus stop and accessible parking spaces on Main Street.
Planning approval for the Part 8 proposal was granted by Kildare County Council in July 2023. The project previously progressed through the tender process, with contractors invited to submit bids during 2025 and returned tenders assessed earlier this year.