Galway Bay fm newsroom - The Sisters of Mercy are to donate a property in Salthill to the city council for use as a creative hub for children.
Lenaboy Castle which was a former orphanage is to be transferred to the ownership of the council along with a 750 thousand euro cash payment.
Over the past few years, the city council has been in discussion with the Sisters of Mercy, Western Province about the future use of Lenaboy Castle at Taylor's Hill.
The building, on lands between Taylor's Hill and Rosary Lane, had been used as an orphanage, a children's home and a social care centre for children and adolescents under the name, 'St. Anne's'.
The cash payment of 750 thousand euro from the Sisters will be used to renovate and develop the property as a Children's Creative Hub.
The city council says it wants the create the hub to support, nurture and encourage the creation of cultural and artistic work with, and for, children and young people.
Chief Executive of the city council, Brendan McGrath has had preliminary discussions with organisations such as Baboró, Branar, Téatar do Pháistí and Galway Community Circus.
He told Galway Bay fm news that it's "a significant, positive development" and "advances Galway's ambition as a sustainable, cultural force," that "recognises the place of children at the heart of our development as a city."
The building will remain a protected structure and access will be via Rosary Lane.
