Building to be saved if city's bid is successful

Galway's historic Grammar School, which has been threatened with destruction, may be saved after all. The city authority has put in a bid to purchase the Georgian building and restore it as a cultural and artistic centre.

If the bid is accepted - and there is no guarantee - the building could also house a municipal art gallery, according to the city manager, Mr Joe Gavin. "If we don't succeed, we have an obligation to ensure that the purchaser takes care of it under the new heritage legislation, and we have informed the current owners of this," Mr Gavin told The Irish Times.

The 19th century school, on College Road, was damaged by fire shortly before Christmas - the second such occurrence in recent years. It became the subject of a derelict buildings order after a previous fire in 1996. Built in 1815 by the prominent architect, Sir Richard Morris, it was run by the Erasmus Smith Foundation. It was sold by the Protestant community in Galway in the 1950s to the university for use by the college's department of oceanography.

In 1992, it changed hands again and was acquired by a local development company, which sought planning permission for apartments on adjoining land. Recently it was for sale again and was described as having "residential zoning" and a location "only 200 yards from Eyre Square" with car-parking.

An Taisce's Galway branch immediately called on the local authority to rezone it for "institutional use only" to ensure it did not fall under the hammer of a developer.

The school is on Galway Corporation's so-called "list two", which states "it is the intention of the corporation to consider the preservation of the buildings and other structures of artistic, architectural or historic interest . . . in the event of an application for permission being made to alter or demolish the building or structure".

The corporation has been working closely with Gaillimh na Gaeilge, and so a successful acquisition might suit plans for a centre for Irish language and culture, according to the city manager. "Part of it might also be used for genealogical work, among other options," he said. The corporation might also use the space for art collections which it has already been offered, such as that bequeathed by Mrs Ada Mai Conroy. Some 12 paintings left in her will to the city manager were by her late husband, Padraig, son of Galway's famous writer, Padraic O Conaire. Her will stated that the works, dating from the 1950s, should be put on public dislay.

The bid for the school comes in the same week as another positive step was taken to plan the city's environment for future generations - in contrast to the many recent rows over green space and the threat to woodlands, such as the bluebell wood in Oranmore. Last weekend, the city manager, Mr Joe Gavin, was one of the hundreds who got their hands dirty when he planted several of over 5,000 trees in the new Terryland Forest Park.

The "plantathon" saw Coillte foresters, local authority officials, business people, parents, scouts, youth groups and children labouring together to create the new green space on a 150-acre site near the university. The area on the banks of the Terryland river was designated under the city plan, and will be planted with half a million trees over the next few years, according to the local authority.

The effort owes much to several committed officials and residents, and to the naturalist and lecturer in NUI Galway, Mr Gordon D'Arcy, who had proposed a forest park with a woodland centre, tree nursery and playground for children.

"The corporation took to this very enthusiastically," Mr D'Arcy said. Up to 5,000 people are believed to have responded to the invitation to borrow a shovel last weekend. The event was co-ordinated by Mr Stephen Walsh, executive parks superintendent with the corporation.

Participants were given a map, shovel and saplings at the Black Box Theatre, and "Andy Acorn", alias Mr Joe Quilty, lent his support. Mr Niall O'Brolchain of Terryland Forest Park management committee said the level of interest was "very encouraging".

"We are delighted - it was very heartening," he said. Galway Corporation is the main sponsor, promising £280,000 of the £380,000 cost of the first phase. Terryland is one of three parks planned by the local authority. The other two are at Merlin Park on the east side and Barna Woods to the west.

For those who missed out last weekend, a second plantathon is planned for December.