[1] The building was commissioned to replace an early 17th century tholsel,[2] as the assembly rooms and courthouse for the town.

[3] It was designed in the Italianate style, built in brick with a cement render finish and opened as the "New Rooms" in 1779.

There were quoins at the corners and, at roof level, there was a cornice and a parapet which was broken by a central square-shaped pediment, containing the coat of arms of the town supported by a pair of pedestals.

[6] The area around the building was the scene of food riots, with protestors unsuccessfully seeking to prevent crops being loaded onto ships, in 1846 during the Great Famine.

Two 17th century smoothbore muzzle-loading cannons,[14] recovered from an artillery battery which had once defended the town walls,[15] were restored at a cost of €20,000 and installed in front of the building in 2008.