A LIFELINE has been thrown to one of Wexford’s most iconic buildings with the decision by An Taisce – the National Trust for Ireland, to champion St. Senan’s Hospital’s cause in the local community.
Questions have been rife over the future of the 146-year-old building after it shut its doors to patients and the mental health service in June of last year. The building houses a few health and community offices still but it is understood that these may move to St. John’s Hospital grounds in the future.
Numerous future uses for the building and its expansive grounds have been suggested, including: a college, a hotel, or apartments, but An Taisce is seeking to gauge opinions in the county around its future.
While any refurbishment or renewal of the building is expected to run into the millions in terms of cost, Ian Lumley, Heritage Office with An Taisce, said that the time to act on the building was now, rather than lose it forever.
He explained that St. Senan’s Hospital was split into blocks and therefore could have a multitude of uses, with the organisation focusing solely on the idea of using one section as a business and enterprise centre and another section as a type of community hub open to voluntary, charity or community entities for use.
“Our hope is to start the dialogue on the future use of the building between councillors, community members and interested people. It is only when you get everyone around the table that you get constructive solutions.”
[Full story in this week’s Echo]
