Monaghan County Council signed the contract for the Peace Campus project on Friday 10th July 2020. ‘The Peace Campus’ will bring much needed neutral shared space to Monaghan.
This €17.6 million project is supported by the European Union’s PEACE IV Programme, managed by the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB) which awarded €9.5 million to Monaghan County Council to deliver the project.
The Peace Campus will provide community space, a youth facility, a new town library and a cultural heritage area.
Following a detailed tender process Monaghan County Council are pleased to award the contract for construction of the Peace Campus to Felix O’Hare & Co. Ltd.
Present at the signing of the contract, Cathaoirleach of County Monaghan, Councillor Colm Carthy said, “The Peace Campus project was developed to address the needs that still unfortunately exist in our communities today. This project will be the catalyst to allow all communities to come together to engage in a safe setting. I am looking forward to seeing good progress being made on this project over the coming months and am especially looking forward to using this facility once completed.”
Chief Executive of Monaghan County Council Eamonn O’Sullivan said, “We are delighted to be in a position today to award this contract to Felix O’Hare & Co. Ltd. This project will bring much needed community space to the heart of Monaghan. The last few months have been challenging for us all, but what it has demonstrated is a strong sense of community in Monaghan and a willingness now more than ever for people to come together. The Peace Campus will provide the venue to allow interaction in a neutral, safe setting.”
Welcoming the signing of the contract Gina McIntyre, CEO of the SEUPB said: “This is a significant development in this excellent EU PEACE IV funded project. It is one of a number of shared space initiatives that are being constructed across the border counties of Ireland and Northern Ireland. Each facility has been specifically designed to help bring divided communities together in a safe and welcoming environment. As we start to emerge slowly and plan for recovery from the current crisis, local infrastructure projects like this can help reconnect people and create a confident, forward looking and cohesive society.”
Monaghan County Council have been working collaboratively on this project since 2016. Alistair Beckett, Director of Hall Black Douglas, the Architects for the project commented, “Hall Black Douglas Architects are delighted that this ambitious project is now proceeding on site. The design team have enjoyed working with the Council and look forward to successfully working with the contractor, Felix O’Hare & Co. Ltd, on site. This exciting construction project will provide contemporary community facilities for the people of Monaghan and beyond. This is a very significant building both personally and for the practice, we trust that it will make a positive contribution to Monaghan and all who visit the building. We have designed the building to respond to the local streetscape and level changes across the site.”
Construction work will be commencing on site in the coming weeks and it is expected that the project will be completed early 2022.
Editor’s Note:
The PEACE IV Programme is an EU funded Programme designed to support peace and reconciliation in Northern Ireland and the border region. It is managed by the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB).
This project has been supported by the European Union’s PEACE IV Programme, managed by the Special EU Programmes Body (SEUPB).
PEACE IV Programme Boilerplate
- The Special EU Programmes Body is a North/South Implementation Body sponsored by the Department of Finance in Northern Ireland and the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform in Ireland.
- It is responsible for managing two EU Structural Funds Programmes, PEACE IV and INTERREG VA which are designed to enhance cross-border co-operation, promote reconciliation and create a more peaceful and prosperous society.
- The Programmes operate within a clearly defined area including Northern Ireland, the Border Region of Ireland and in the case of INTERREG VA, Western Scotland.
- The PEACE IV Programme has a value of €270 million and aims to promote peace and reconciliation in Northern Ireland and the Border Region of Ireland.
- For more information on the SEUPB please visit www.seupb.eu
- Further information can be provided by contacting Nicola Payne at Monaghan County Council ay 047 30500 ext. 1426 or npayne@monaghancoco.ie.
