Interpretative Centre Councillor Seosamh Ó Cuaig has been told by the management of Galway County Council that they are going ahead with the purchase of lands at Ros Muc for the building of an Interpretative Centre, close to Pearse's Cottage. Councillor Ó Cuaig told Galway County Council that there had been a commitment from Minister Éamon Ó Cuív that money would be available for the building of the Centre. "The Centre is badly needed", Councillor Ó Cuaig said, "and I take it that there are now definite arrangements to have the rnoney provided and Centre built" Cúradh Chonnachta - 29/10/04

There is growing speculation in Conamara that the Taoiseach will intervene in the controversy surrounding lack of funding for an information centre at Pearse's Cottage. Bertie Ahern's admiration for Pádraig Pearse is well known. The broadcasting of his views in recent days on RTE when the Taoiseach met Hector, has led to the independent county councillor for Conamara, Seosamh Ó Cuaig, calling on Ahern to intervene.

Before the last general election in a fanfare of publicity, Minister Ó Cuív announced that 1.2 million Euros had been allocated to build the centre in Ros Muc . Indeed, the Fianna Fáil minister went as far as to announce 2004 as its completion date.

However, according to Councillor Seosamh Ó Cuaig, "the only thing to happen in 2004 in relation to this centre was the announcement, not by Minister Ó Cuív, that government funding had been withdrawn." Councillor Seosamh Ó Cuaig believes the withdrawal of the funding lies with "a PD mentality within the government. It is a mentality that pays worship to the one great God of market forces and does not give a damn for our national heritage. If Bertie Ahern really holds Pádraig Pearse in high esteem then he should show it by intervening and ensuring a commemorative centre is built at Pearse's Cottage." Minster Ó Cuív has announced that on Thursday he will be meeting Tom Parlon, the PD Minister for State in charge of the Board of Works, to discuss the situation with regard to an information centre for Pearse's Cottage.

Glór Chonamara - 30/9/2004

Minister commits to development of Teach an Phiarsaigh centre (Galway Advertiser 14/10/04)