Very exciting news for one Kildare town as a heritage centre will be turned into a museum

Local Sinn Féin councillor for the Athy area, Thomas Redmond, has announced that the heritage centre in Athy is expected to be upgraded to museum status tomorrow.

People involved with the heritage centre have been working for the past two-and-a-half years to seek museum accreditation for their centre, and it has finally paid off it seems.

The upgrade means that the museum will be allowed to borrow historical items from the Irish National Gallery, such as local artefacts like the Ardree Finds and a Viking Axe which was discovered in Dunrally.

Redmond announced the upgrades on facebook this morning and said; "Tomorrow the final phase of assessment takes place and following the directors meeting Thursday night ,a new chapter in Athy will soon take place."

"Fair play to all the staff and as a director of the soon to be museum ,the role of the council must get a mention. The town is alive with history and we predict within 24 months the town will be alive with visitors."