Letterkenny Regional Cultural Centre

Infobox building|right
building_name=Letterkenny Regional Cultural Centre


building_type=Arts Centre
architectural_style=Glass, Oak
structural_system=
location=Letterkenny, County Donegal, Ireland
completion_date=July 2007
opened = 9 July, 2007
main_contractor= McDermot & Trearty Limited
architect=MacGabhann Architects
structural_engineer=|

Letterkenny Regional Cultural Centre is a cultural centre located in Letterkenny, County Donegal, Ireland. The centre is located behind An Grianán Theatre in the town and is the leading cultural centre in north-west Ireland. [ [http://www.donegalculture.com/contact.html RCC: Contact Details ] ] It has been described as a cultural beacon by "The Irish Times". [ [http://www.donegalculture.com/general/about.html RCC: About ] ]

Opening

The centre opened on 9 July 2007. [ [http://www.donegalculture.com/index.html RCC: Home] ] It was officially opened over one year later on 13 July 2008 by the Tánaiste, Mary Coughlan. She stressed how important the centre is for the region. The event coincided with the opening of an exibition, the story of Liam McCormack. Former Northern Ireland politician John Hume opened the exhibition. [Large crowd attends opening of "beacon of culture" - Donegal News, 18 July 2008]

Construction

The flagship facility cost 5 million Euro and was designed by the award-winning Letterkenny based MacGabhann Architects, who also designed the Letterkenny Town Council offices, and is situated on the site of the old council offices. The offices were destroyed in an arson attack but the building has now been transformed into a modern two-storey glass building.

Facilities

The centre features a first floor exhibition gallery and a ground floor auditorium with 150 retractable seats and cinema facilities. There are also three workshop spaces on ground level with dance and drama floors located on the first floor, two dedicated digital media suites and two foyer art galleries. [ [http://www.culturenet.ie/body_show.php?ID=318 Culture Net - Regional Cultural Centre, Letterkenny ] ]

Performances

Many acts have performed at the centre including:

Funding

The building of the centre was funded by The Department of Arts, Sport and Tourism, The Irish Film Board, Donegal County Council and Letterkenny Town Council. [ [http://www.donegalculture.com/funders.html RCC: Funders ] ]

References

External links

* [http://www.donegalculture.com/ Official Site]
* [http://www.dun-na-ngall.com/artc.html County Donegal on the net - Regional Arts Centre]
* [http://www.discoverireland.com/us/ireland-things-to-see-and-do/whats-on/listings/?fid=FI_73180 Discover Ireland - Regional Cultural Centre]
* [http://www.irish-architecture.com/buildings_ireland/donegal/letterkenny/regional_arts_centre.html Regional Cultural Centre @ irish-architecture.com]
* [http://www.bdonline.co.uk/story.asp?storycode=3099426 MacGabhann Architects' cultural centre in County Donegal turns up the volume]
* [http://www.donegalpublicart.ie/43-publicart.htm Regional Cultural Centre @ Donegal Public Art]
* [http://www.damienblake.com/2007/07/letterkenny-update-09july-2007/ Damian Blake on the Centre]