Kildare County Council reveals two massive projects 'are progressing well'

A follow-up meeting with local representatives is scheduled to take place

By Ciarán Mather Published 28th Oct 2026, 09:00 GMT The left photograph shows Newbridge Library and the right photograph shows the Riverbank Arts Centre | FILE PHOTOGRAPHS A follow-up meeting with local representatives is scheduled to take place Both the Newbridge Library and Riverbank Arts Centre renovation projects ‘are progressing well’, according to Kildare County Council (KCC).

The update was delivered by KCC at the latest Kildare-Newbridge Municipal District (MD) meeting, which took place on Wednesday, October 21 last.

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It follows after KCC released updates on the two projects earlier this year .

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The rep also said that KCC is working with both the ESB and Uisce Éireann to organise the provision of utilities, and assured the councillors that these utilities ‘should be on the site soon’.

This prompted the Mayor of the MD, Fianna Fáil Cllr Suzanne Doyle, to remark that this particular update was a ‘very positive’ one.

As for the Riverbank Arts Centre project, the rep said that KCC is currently ‘doing up a planning report’ in relation to the redevelopment.

Furthermore, he revealed that the seating capacity for the venue is due to increase from 185 seats to 220.

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Once the rep concluded speaking, Fine Gael Cllr Tracey O’Dwyer voiced the view that KCC ‘has an opportunity’ to make the venue more accessible than before.

“I have seen a lot of submissions about accessibility [at the Riverbank] and they are valid,” she told the rep.

Cllr O’Dwyer also said that, in her view, it was important for the MD to have ‘value for money’ in relation to the project.

Her party colleague, Cllr Kevin Duffy, also expressed support for this comment.

Moreover, Cllr O’Dwyer asked KCC if there had been consideration to increase the height of the Riverbank, and pointed to the ongoing redevelopment of the Bord na Móna building in the town, which has increased substantially in height.

This idea was supported by Social Democrats Cllr Chris Pender, who added that he wanted to see additional space for artists in the redeveloped venue. Fianna Fáil Cllr Noel Heavey subsequently said that he agreed with this point.

The Mayor of the MD, Fianna Fáil Cllr Suzanne Doyle, then suggested if the MD could host an in-committee meeting to examine the Riverbank project.

Following a brief discussion, it was agreed that a briefing to discuss the matter would be organised in the near future.