What use should the now deconsecrated Saint Nicholas Pro-Cathedral in Galway be put to?

'Newsbeat' reports on opposition to the proposed renovation of St Nicholas' Pro-Cathedral in Galway city.

The Pro-Cathedral of Saint Nicholas located on the corner of Middle Street and Lower Abbeygate Street was from 1816 a place of worship for Galway city Catholics until the new Cathedral of Our Lady Assumed into Heaven and St Nicholas was opened in 1965.  

Placed on the property market, it has been purchased and the new owner plans to convert it into a shopping arcade. The local branch of An Taisce (The National Trust for Ireland) and the Galway Archaeological and History Society have both objected to this proposal.  

Chairman of An Taisce in Galway Dr SF O'Byrne believes that this culturally important building should have been purchased by Galway Corporation. He would like to see the building put to some public use It has the potential to become a civic centre, an art gallery, or a city hall, none of which at present exist in Galway.  

I've met nobody who has favoured turning it into a shopping centre, absolutely none.

Galway auctioneer Jim Maxwell had the Pro-Cathedral on his books for some time before it was sold and says that businesses were the only group who expressed an interest in it,

Absolutely no interest shown by any cultural group. 

Martin Hession who bought the site says he never intended to change the building’s exterior. He applied for planning permission to convert the interior of the building, and any work carried out will be in line with Galway Corporation’s regulations and requirements.  

Aware of An Taisce's concerns and the request that the building should be used as a cultural centre, he tells 'Newsbeat' that Galway Corporation have already purchased a building on Spanish Parade for that purpose.  

As someone who owns and has undertaken work to preserve stonework on old buildings in the city, he supports efforts to protect the Galway city’s built heritage,

I hate to see old buildings being demolished.

Professor Charles Connor O'Malley, President of Galway Archaeological Society has also protested about the sale of the pro-cathedral. He also favours its use as a cultural or civic centre, and is surprised that Galway Corporation has not expressed any interest in it, as  

It is the only dignified building that we have left in Galway.

This report for 'Newsbeat’ was broadcast on 25 March 1971. The reporter is Cathal O’Shannon.