Removed Athy plaques will find a new home
Plaques were removed from what is now the Shackleton Experience building in Athy
Alternative locations are being investigated for six plaques that were removed from the building that used to function as Athy Heritage Centre and is now the home of the Shackleton Experience.
This update was given by an administrative officer in strategic projects and public realm at Kildare County Council after cllr Veralouise Behan brought forward a question on the agenda at the January meeting of Athy Municipal District asking if the council “could confirm any update on the relocation of the historical plaques”.
Kildare County Council removed the plaques in preparation for the refurbishment of the building as part of the Shackleton Experience project.
Fianna Fáil cllr Behan had previously asked the council to reinstall the plaques on the building in September of last year, expressing her view that they are valuable as they form part of the town’s history. The council told her that the plaques would not be reinstated as the building is now dedicated to Ernest Shackleton and that an alternative location would need to be identified.
One of the six plaques is a Made of Athy one dedicated to the Sorrento showband, who performed at the venue when it was once a dance hall. Made of Athy's Colm Walsh told the Kildare Nationalist that there is hope that the plaque will be installed in the Shackleton Experience café.
Mr Walsh also told us that he had spoken to the archaeologist on the Shackleton Experience development and that from speaking to him he could confirm that the plaques are all "safe and sound".
