Crosbie venue plan for Gorey landmark

TIM O'BRIEN

ENTREPRENEUR HARRY Crosbie has submitted a proposal to turn the 303-year-old Market House in Gorey, Co Wexford, into a concert venue to be known as Vicar Street South.

The proposal, with an anticipated investment of more than €1 million, would create a sister venue to Mr Crosbie’s successful Vicar Street in Dublin.

Envisaged is the development of a 1,000-seat “black box” space immediately behind the existing heritage building on a “backyard” site. The proposal envisages other arts-related and public uses for the listed building, such as an exhibition space and a heritage museum.

The proposal was made in response to an appeal from local authorities for public submissions on the future of Market House after the decision to discontinue meetings of the town council there last year. More recently it housed the north Wexford tourist offices.

The building is listed as of regional and historic interest and was used as a prison by both sides during the 1798 rebellion. It has also served as a courthouse and a parochial school.

The local town council backed by Wexford County Council said it wanted the building to remain in public use and plans were drawn up to reopen five granite arches at the ground floor front of the building.

Mr Crosbie, who is understood to have a holiday home in the area, was approached by members of the council for advice on the building’s use as a public space.

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