THEATRES, galleries and cultural centres throughout the State are to benefit from, £7.8 million in grants announced by the Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht, Mr Higgins. The money comes from EU structural funds for tourism.
The biggest grants go to projects in the Dublin area. A theatre to be developed in Tallaght will receive £1.1 million, as will an arts centre in Blanchardstown. A theatre to be developed in Dun Laoghaire will get £1 million, with the Hugh Lane Gallery being granted £500,000.
Grants of £750,000 each go to Tralee, Co Kerry, for the reconstruction of an emigrant ship, to Tipperary for the renovation and extension of the museum in Clonmel, and to Co Westmeath for an arts centre in Mullingar.
Other grants are Cork Opera House, £375,000 Northside Arts Centre, Coolock, Dublin, £300,000, Galway Arts Centre, £250,000, Oxmanstown Hail, Birr, Co Offaly, £250,000 St Michael's Theatre, New Ross, Co Wexford, £250,000 Macroom, Co Cork, conversion of cinema into theatre, £150,000, Westport, Co Mayo, exhibition gallery, £140,000, Doolin, Co Clare, theatre, £90,000, and Inis Oirr, Co Galway, cultural centre, £90,000.