WICKLOW County Council has said that it is in discussions with the cartoonist, Mr Terry Willers, on the transfer of the old VEC building in Rathdrum to Mr Willers for the creation of an international cartoon school.
Mr Willers is well known for his promotion of the annual Rathdrum cartoon festival which has attracted existing and aspiring cartoonists from all over the world.
The three storey Victorian building at the centre of Rathdrum is no longer required by the VEC and has recently been acquired by the county council. Confirming that discussions were taking place, Mr Willers said yesterday "there is tremendous potential for the school" and that he hoped to have it "up and running by this time next year".
He said the idea for the school had grown out of "the tremendous interest in, and support for, the annual cartoon festival but the idea of a full time cartoon school is unique in this country".
According to Mr Willers, international cartoonists had been approached and they had indicated that they would be willing to teach at Rathdrum.
"We would be running weekend classes and in addition to cartoons would also be teaching sculpting, that is the making of cartoon models. There would be a visitors' centre where this work could be sold. I would see it as a regular stop on the tourist trail."
The project has been supported by the Leas Ceann Comhairle of the Dail, Mr Joe Jacob TD whose public house adjoins the VEC property. He has spoken of the economic benefits the plan would bring to Rathdrum.