Stipulations in the current County Development Plan mean what was formerly Our Ladyโ€™s Hospital cannot be knocked or delisted until after 2023 at the earliest.

Such detail came to light at the first sitting of the Economic Development Strategic Policy Committee (SPC) of this Council term which Cllr Pat McMahon (FF) succeeding the now retired Richard Nagle (FF) as Cathaoirleach.

Our Ladyโ€™s Hospital was described by Cllr Pat Daly (FF) as โ€œthe best site in the town of Ennisโ€. He lamented that โ€œit has been bought, sold, bought and sold over the last fifteen yearsโ€. โ€œIt is 40 acres in the town and was a derelict hospital that served its purpose for over 100 years. Can it be delisted, all that is there is dogs and birds. The potential for Our Ladys is enormous,โ€ the Ennis representative added.

Director of Service with the County Council, Liam Conneally confirmed to Cllr Daly that he had took note of the โ€œdevelopment friendlyโ€ aspects of the Gort Rd site as outlined.

Senior planner, Brian McCarthy stated, โ€œThe site is protected structure, as of now there are no plans to remove it. Itโ€™s identified as an opportunity site. Iโ€™m happy to sit down and meet whoever wants to take the site forwardโ€. Cllr Daly then questioned, โ€œCan it be delistedโ€ and he was told โ€œthere was no recommendation for itโ€ and that the building was listed as being of โ€œregional and national importanceโ€.

โ€œCan a submission be madeโ€, Daly asked, McCarthy advised him this could be done โ€œin advanceโ€ of the next County Development Plan, a review on the current plan is due to commence this month. โ€œThe building is falling down,โ€ a frustrated Cllr Daly told the meeting.

Related News

shane flanagan 1
Disgraced former Garda to plead guilty to PULSE disclosure
niall gilligan 1
Niall Gilligan's farm firm records combined profits of โ‚ฌ207k in 2023 & 2024
shannon airport time capsule 3
Shannon Airport's history of the skies goes underground with new time capsule
helga himmelsbach ballyvaughan protest
Lisdoonvarna widow laments absence of restorative justice in dangerous driving case
Latest News
niall gilligan 1
Niall Gilligan's farm firm records combined profits of โ‚ฌ207k in 2023 & 2024
shannon airport time capsule 3
Shannon Airport's history of the skies goes underground with new time capsule
corofin v clondegad 27-09-25 sean mcallister 2
Race for U21A football honours wide open with wins for Bricks, Cooraclare, Ennistymon & Clondegad
helga himmelsbach ballyvaughan protest
Lisdoonvarna widow laments absence of restorative justice in dangerous driving case
o'callaghans mills v clarecastle 20-10-25 rg gary gerry conor john joe cooney 1
Relief for Rocky as Mills seal return to merciless senior
Premium
Lisdoonvarna widow laments absence of restorative justice in dangerous driving case
Relief for Rocky as Mills seal return to merciless senior
Community safety 'coming to a head in Kilrush' prompting Cllrs to seek 'urgent meeting'
Further charges brought against pro-Palestinian activists for Shannon Airport breach
Clooney/Quin win senior promotion

Advertisement

Subscribe for just โ‚ฌ3 per month

If youโ€™re here, you care about County Clare. So do we. Did you rely on us for Covid-19 updates, follow our election coverage, or visit The Clare Echo every week for breaking news and sport? The Clare Echo invests in local journalism and we want to safeguard its future in our county. By becoming a subscriber you are supporting what we do, will receive access to all our premium articles and a better experience, while helping us improve our offering to you. Subscribe to clareecho.ie and get the first six months for just โ‚ฌ3 a month (less than 75c per week), and thereafter โ‚ฌ8 per month. Cancel anytime, limited time offer. T&Cs Apply. www.clareecho.ie.