Plans for a new 3.5m euro (£3m) art gallery on the banks of the River Shannon in Athlone, Ireland, have been approved by Athlone Town Council.

The council-led project, designed by Keith Williams Architects, involves the remodelling of an existing 600sq m (6,458sq ft) temperance building, called Father Matthew Hall, to feature a 115sq m (1,237sq ft) arts space with the addition of a 145sq m (1,560sq ft) gallery wing. Informal meeting areas will also be added for public and staff use as well as administration offices. The project has been the subject of much debate among council members and the community when deciding whether the existing building, which has been unused for five years, should be removed or retained due to its strong socio-historic role in the town's history.

It has been decided that the hall will be re-rendered and re-roofed, while retaining its historical façade. Construction work on the site is expected to start in early 2010.