Waterford secures €7 million for children's attraction on Lady Lane
The development aims to revitalise Lady Lane.
Funding has been secured for the development of a children-focused attraction on 18 Lady Lane, Waterford City.
The former men's hostel will be transformed into a cultural attraction for families and children, after securing €7 million through the THRIVE (Town Centre First Heritage Revival) scheme.
Tramore-based TD Marc Ó'Cathasaigh welcomed the news, stating that it is "brilliant for Waterford and it’s also brilliant for children and families from further afield.
"Waterford will now become a destination for families to visit and where better to bring them than to this wonderful historic building which will be transformed into a unique visitor experience for young and the young-at-heart."
He added: "I want to sincerely thank Waterford City & County Council for coming on board to deliver this project for Waterford and Minister Malcolm Noonan for backing that vision with this significant tranche of funding.”
The plans for the development of the children's centre were revealed at a meeting of Waterford Metropolitan Council in April 2024.
The development will be named 'Tír na nÓg' and aims to "create a fun, playful, engaging, exciting, stimulating, and thought-provoking experience that captures children’s imagination by creating hands-on explorative experiences".
Director of Services Michael Quinn stated that while the development is aimed at providing a cultural space for children, it should not be referred to as a 'children's museum'.
Mr Quinn said at the time: "I don't think a museum is a correct description, I think this is going to be a childhood experience, interaction with children in an educational form."
Speaking in August 2024, Deputy Ó'Cathasaigh pointed out the benefits that the space could have for inner-city Waterford: "The museum proposal is exciting in and of itself. It will be an outstanding offering that will draw people young and old from far and wide. But one of the aspects of the project that I find the most exciting is its capacity to regenerate the historic laneways of Lady Lane itself and Spring Garden Alley.
"While the council has done a superb job of revitalising the Viking Triangle and improving the pedestrian shopping area around Broad Street, these two parts of our city don’t connect as they should. Bringing this landmark building into public use will reconnect those two strands of our city centre and reanimate some of our oldest historic streets."
