Templemore Townhall
Client
MWP M&E Consultants
Project location
County Tipperary, Ireland
Project date
2025
Photography
Paul O'Connell Photography
When heritage meets ambition
Located in the heart of Templemore, County Tipperary, a newly opened Library and Enterprise Centre acts as a symbol of civic pride and creativity. The revitalised multi-functional facility reflects both the heritage of its surroundings and the ambition of a forward-looking community.
Thorn was only too pleased to support the project, led by EML Architects and specified by MWP M&E Consultants, with a tailored lighting solution which helped to transform the town’s historic hall into a contemporary library and enterprise hub.
LeeTherm served as the main contractor, with Tom Kennedy Electrical as the electrical contractor, helping bring the vision to life through close collaboration with the wider team. The new facility includes a dedicated Makerspace, extensive book stock, quiet reading zones, and a glazed extension that floods the space with natural light.
Officiated by the Minister for Rural and Community Development, the centre is the first in Tipperary to offer advanced public technology, including robotics and 3D printing. With over 15,000 new books, the space is as much a tribute to the past as it is a platform for future innovation.
Products
Lighting the way forward
Thorn’s extensive portfolio offered a number of solutions including Omega, Equaline Mini, Chalice, College, Katona, Graffiti, and Voyager for the emergency lighting, each selected to suit specific environments within the centre.
Outside, areas were illuminated with weatherproof and aesthetically robust luminaires including D-CO LED Bollards, Urba, Caelon, Eroa and Eyekon, delivering safe, welcoming surroundings for visitors after dark.
The lighting design, featuring products from Thorn’s sister brand, Zumtobel, not only met the functional requirements of the various zones but elevated the entire architectural experience. The products were chosen as part of a conscious decision to work with a premium lighting supplier, ensuring that the lighting solution would serve as a benchmark for future public sector projects.
Lighting for showcase destination
Philip Dewey, Key Account Manager at Zumtobel Group, commented: “Templemore is a great example of what’s possible when community investment meets thoughtful design.”
The Templemore Library and Enterprise Centre is a powerful symbol of regeneration, community focus, and sustainable design. With lighting that enhances its usability, safety, and aesthetic quality, the centre will continue to inspire generations to come—a perfect fusion of past and future, brought to light by Thorn and Zumtobel.
Michael Heffernan, Project Manager LeeTherm, the main contractor, said “From day one, this project was about delivering quality. Working with Zumtobel and Thorn ensured we had lighting that not only performs well but also looks exceptional. It’s a scheme that really enhances the finished environment.”
Thorn’s extensive portfolio offered a number of solutions ... each selected to suit specific environments within the centre.