Glimpse of what might have been

It was a typical Tiger-era project – with an investment value of €400 million and set to be the biggest development west of the Shannon – but now, abandoned for five years, it has fallen victim to the elements.

Crown Square in Mervue was supposed to be 12.5 acres of retail units, offices, 140 apartments, a hotel and a ‘public piazza’ bigger than Kennedy Park in Eyre Square.

But when finance dried up, developers Padraic Rhatigan and Walter King decided to ‘mothball’ the project in September 2008.

Now, it sits as an abandoned site, an empty shell with pre-cast concrete slabs, which has been open to the elements for more than five years.

The Christmas storms blew down some of the hoarding around the desolate site – allowing a tantalising glimpse of what might have been had the Celtic Tiger ere endurede.

After NAMA took control of the site last year, receivers sought a five-year Extension of Duration on the planning permission – planning is now ‘live’ on the site until the end of 2017.

NAMA had appointed receivers over certain assets of Stephen Harries, Bernard McKeon and Walter King.

“The site is only worth something to a developer who has funding to finish it out. Nobody has that kind of money, so effectively, the site is worth nothing,” a property source told the Galway City Tribune.

For more on this story, see the Galway City Tribune.