Declaring the news, Heather Humphreys was in Kilkenny city to formally open Ireland's newest library.

Twelve new “next generation” mobile library vehicles and eleven new library buildings will be delivered thanks to the €25 million investment.

The money, in accordance with the Department of Rural and Community Development, is the largest contribution to library services in recent memory.

The minister opened the €7 million+ Mayfair Library in Kilkenny at the ceremony. The Abbey Quarter is being renovated for use as a city hub.

New libraries will be built in Ballymote, Co. Sligo, Ballywaltrim, Co. Wicklow, Ballybay, Co. Monaghan, and Clane, Co. Kildare, as well as a new “flagship library” in Fingal, Dublin, which will also include a theatre, gallery, tourist information office, and office space. These projects are among those that will receive funding.

At an estimated total cost of over €2.7 million, new mobile library trucks will be “rolled out” throughout the counties of Roscommon, Sligo, Waterford, Wexford, Limerick, Louth, Kerry, Galway, Limerick, and Kildare.

“This is fundamental to our five-year rural development plan,” Ms. Humphreys stated, stressing the need of investing in library services as a “key priority” and the significant contribution made by library employees across the nation to the public library system.

The location of Kilkenny's new Mayfair Library was formerly a ballroom that featured musicians including Dusty Springfield, Ray Charles, and Chubby Checker.

Speaking during the unveiling, the minister cited a song by the Everly Brothers, another group of performers who performed at the Mayfair in 1966.

“All I have to do is dream,” she remarked, recalling that local employees and customers had formerly just dreamed of the new library.

“Today is a historic day for the city as the newest library in Ireland opens.” We came together in July 2021 when this was only a construction site. Now, this is a very fantastic facility, Ms. Humphreys remarked.

She claimed that libraries “breathe new life” into rural communities.

The 1,800 square metre Mayfair Library has meeting rooms for seminars, talks and other events in addition to digital spaces for training and innovation, 3D printers, 3D scanners and sewing machines.

Over 170,000 people used Kilkenny's local library services last year, according to Mayor Cllr Joe Malone. With the inauguration of the new Mayfair library, there are now three locations in the city: the original Carnegie library along the river, which still provides certain services, and the other at Loughboy.

“With this facility here, I have no doubt that the numbers will eventually increase. I urge everyone in the city to visit and make time for the Mayfair library.”

“This is for the people of Kilkenny and I've no doubt it will be much used and loved by the public, as the Carnegie building has been for years,” he said.