On Monday morning, 20th July 2020, what was described as a soft launch took place at the Patrick Kavanagh Centre Inniskeen, which has received an extensive refurbishment which cost in the region of €1 million. Booking is advised and the centre is open from Monday to Friday from 10am to 4.30pm. There was a small gathering present for the soft opening, with members of Inniskeen Enterprise and Development Group, Monaghan County Council and Carrickmacross/Castleblayney Cathaoirleachs, Local Authority officials and representatives of the media at local and national level.
A larger event will take place at the new state-of-theart facility dedicated to the poet’s life and work when Ireland’s Roadmap for Reopening after COVID-19 allows. Monaghan County Council are keen to have a community celebration at which all stakeholders are present, but not until it is safe to do so. The new manager of the facility is Darren McCreesh, who has a background in arts programme management.
Full story by reporter Veronica Corr on Carrickmacross News, with accompanying photographs from Pat Byrne and archive pictures from Jimmy Walsh. Peter Murphy admiring a portrait of Patrick Kavanagh which is on display at the newly refurbished Patrick Kavanagh Centre, included in photo are (L-R) Art Agnew and his sister Sister Una Agnew. Pic. Pat Byrne.
