May Major milestone marked in construction of Dr Karen Guinee Library

Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science James Lawless T.D. has led a special Topping Out celebration to mark a major milestone in the construction of the new Dr Karen Guinee Library at University of Galway.

The ceremony followed the completion of the roof on the new six storey landmark facility overlooking the river Corrib that will transform learning, research and collaboration on campus.

The new library is named in honour of Dr Karen Guinee, a distinguished University of Galway medicine graduate. It commemorates Dr Guinee’s legacy as a gifted and compassionate alumna who completed her education and training as a doctor with distinction.

Construction is due for completion in 2027.

The commemorative naming follows a significant philanthropic gift from the Michael Guinee Charitable Foundation, which is also supporting the establishment of a new scholarship for medical students in memory of Dr Guinee.

The development is also supported by a €15 million capital grant from the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science through the Higher Education Strategic Infrastructure Fund (HESIF) and the Higher Education Authority.

Minister Lawless said: "Today marks an important milestone at the University of Galway in a project that reflects and honours the lasting legacy of Dr Karen Guinee. The development of the new library speaks to the university’s ambitions for the future and will deliver lasting benefits for students, staff and the wider community. As a transformative addition to the campus, the project also demonstrates the Government’s continued commitment to investing in higher education and supporting strong regional development."

President of University of Galway, Professor David Burn, said: “We are delighted to mark this significant progress in the construction of our new library Library, one of the most significant developments on our campus in recent years and a poignant and fitting commemoration of such a highly regarded graduate – Dr Karen Guinee.

“Our new Library will be at the heart of how we provide welcoming and inspiring spaces for learning, discovery and engagement. It will change how our students and researchers access knowledge, work together and develop new ideas, while also opening our campus much more to the wider public.”

             Dr Michael Guinee, Chairman of the Michael Guinee Charitable Foundation, said: “My family and I are proud and honoured that the new Library at University of Galway will stand as a living tribute to my niece, Dr Karen Guinee. As we celebrate this milestone in its construction, it is our hope that this beautiful, state-of-the art facility, will honour her memory and inspire future generations of students to a career of excellence, dedication and service.”

Padraic Rhatigan, Group Managing Director and Chairman JJ Rhatigan, said: “We are delighted to reach this important milestone with the topping out of the Dr Karen Guinee Library, a project that represents not only a significant investment in the future of students in Galway, but also another chapter in our long-standing partnership with the University of Galway It is a privilege for JJ Rhatigan to help deliver this cutting-edge facility, which will serve generations of students and support the continued growth of learning and innovation across the campus.”

Monica Crump, University of Galway Librarian, said: “The new Dr Karen Guinee Library will provide our students and researchers with an inspirational, supportive, high-tech space, designed to meet the current and future needs of teaching, learning and research. It will bring diverse people and disciplines together, enabling interaction and partnership, knowledge discovery and production, innovation and creativity. It will be a vibrant place of scholarship and learning and a flagship building for the University and the city.”

The roof completion and Topping Out represents a key stage in the delivery of a building which spans approximately 10,000m² and ranges from 4-6 storeys in height. When opened, it will become a central hub for students, researchers, staff and the wider community.

Once complete, the Dr Karen Guinee Library will provide over 2,244 study spaces, supporting a range of learning styles with dedicated areas for individual and collaborative work. The facility will also feature a digital scholarship centre, an enhanced makerspace, and a “book-bot”, a high-density storage and retrieval system for books for the Library’s physical book collection.

A key feature of the building is its ground floor, which will be open and welcoming to the public, creating a new space for engagement, events, and exhibitions in the heart of the campus overlooking the River Corrib.

The development of the Dr Karen Guinee Library at University of Galway is further supported by lead alumni and individual donors, and corporate partners including CBE and Anthony Ryan Ltd.

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