Councillors approve 20,000 for Wicklow arts centre lighting despite appeal for double

Mermaid Arts Centre presented financial strain and an urgent need for a lighting upgrade to local councillors. The venue operates as a charity rather than a commercial business, with only 21% of costs covered by Wicklow County Council and 19% by the Arts Council. The remaining 60% must come from ticket sales and donations. The centre requested €40,000 to replace ageing lighting systems, but only €20,000 was allocated through a district discretionary fund. Councillors argued the partial allocation was unsuitable for a project of this scale and nature. They said capital projects of countywide importance should be funded at county level, not through limited municipal district budgets, given the centre’s role as a regional arts hub.

"She stressed that Mermaid is "a charity, not a commercial venue," explaining that only 21pc of its costs are covered by Wicklow County Council and 19pc by the Arts Council, leaving the remaining 60pc to be generated through ticket sales and donations."

"The centre, one of the county's most significant cultural venues, had requested €40,000 earlier this year to replace its ageing lighting system. However, only €20,000 was allocated through the district's discretionary fund, an outcome that several councillors argued was inappropriate for a project of this scale and nature."

"Cllr Joe Behan was among the strongest voices calling for a rethink. He said the Mermaid was "critically in need" of the upgrade and stressed that the centre's lighting system was no longer fit for purpose. According to Cllr Behan, the shortfall in funding highlighted a structural issue: capital projects of countywide importance should not be left to the limited discretionary budgets of municipal districts."

""This is a capital project, and capital projects should be funded at county level," he argued, adding that the Mermaid's role as a regional arts hub meant it deserved more robust and predictable support from Wicklow County Council."

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