Newly Refurbished Library in Greystones with Permanent Heritage Area inside
The name La Touche is instantly recognisable in the Greystones area and can also be found on place names throughout Wicklow and Ireland.
A La Touche Heritage Area in the Greystones Library was officially opened on the 8th April, 2010 by Cllr George Jones, Chairman of the La Touche Legacy Committee.
Cllr Jones said in his address “that this was a very proud day for him to have the honour of opening this heritage area dedicated to the La Touche Family.Since the formation of the La Touche Legacy Committee in the late 1988 it was always the objective that we would have a permanent area to remember and pay tribute to the La Touche Family for their contribution to development of Greystones and Delgany. But in particular to note the major role they played in the social, cultural and economic development of Ireland.
Heritage Area View from the Library Upstairs
Cllr Jones said it was very fitting that this heritage area would be part of the Library as Joe Hayes (Former County Liberian) the Late Comm. Jim Brennan and myself were the founding members of the La Touche Legacy Committee back in 1988. Another connection of the Library and the La Touche Family was Peter La Touche’s sister Frances Cecilia Archer was a member of the Rathdown District Council at the opening of the Library in 1912 but was unable to attend but it was recorded that she had ordered the evening newspaper to be sent to the library each evening and provided books for the new venture.
Cllr Jones said “there was many of the same problems between the La Touche times and now, banks failed, developments lose money and off course the family were very involved in national politics “But like those times the Town of Greystones and indeed Ireland came through its difficulties.
Cllr Jones concluded by thanking Brendan Martin of the County Wicklow Library Service for reaching this day, to Sean Mulryan and Sean Dunne for their contribution of €100,000 to the project, and also expressed his thanks to Michael McGinley for his noted history of the whole family. Finally he thanked James & Linda Fortune for their efforts to restore Bellevue House and of course to all the Committee members for their continued support
The Mural on Display in the Heritage Area
While Yellowstone Communications team of designers were commissioned and got to design every aspect of the multi-media for this permanent exhibition, it was Leo Duffy, from their team who defined and drafted the six La Touche family trees. He also sourced and negotiated the use of almost all of the visual materials & assets from numerous archives around the country. Not many company MDs would invest so much in a small project like this but as a long time Wicklow resident, Leo went the extra mile. It took four months - a labour of love, you might say.... and a very big thank you is extended to him for all his work.
.jpg)
