Neighbours’ relief as derelict house up for sale

Neighbours living beside a derelict site, that was attracting an unsavoury element and causing huge problems for those trying to sell their homes, have welcomed the news that the house is now up for auction.

Late last year, City Councillor, Donal Lyons, called on the individual or institution that owned 54 Cruachan Park, Rahoon, to either restore or sell the detached house, before it was razed to the ground altogether.

“It was very hard to find out who the legal owners were,” he told the Galway City Tribune.

“We had also requested the City Council to get the owners to make it secure.”

At the time, the state of the four-bed property was said to be devaluing the whole area, but also the quality of life of residents living nearby.

The windows of the particular house had been broken again, the internal walls were damaged, fires were regularly being lit inside, and unruly groups were holding almost nightly parties inside.

Things came to a head, however, when residents witnessed “a mini-riot” outside the property. Cllr Lyons said that Gardaí were powerless, as there had been no complaint made by the owner.

“That’s the difficulty with this house and similar properties – residents are in ‘no man’s land’,” he said at the time.

“Who do they turn to in the present situation? They want it safeguarded, so that people don’t have access to it in the future. Otherwise, it will become an eyesore.”

The worst fear for neighbours, he said, was that the house would be burned to the ground by revellers, referring to a case on the Ballymoneen Road, where the owner eventually had to demolish the property altogether.

Galway City Council’s powers were restricted under the Derelict Sites Act 1990, and it had to go through the slow process to rectify the situation. Following on from an inspection by a community warden in October, the registered owners – a couple with an address in Ballyglunin, Tuam – were traced through a search of the Land Registry, and a notice was issued to them.

This stated that Galway City Council intended to put the property on the register of derelict sites unless certain works were carried out within a 28-day period to remove ‘the indication of dereliction’.

Since then, the property was boarded up and this had the effect of cutting out the anti-social behaviour, and the house has now been put on the market.

“We are delighted to hear that it is for sale, and there will be some comfort for neighbours that the property will be taken on possibly by a family,” Cllr Lyons said yesterday.

“It is a nice neighbourhood and a fine house.”

O’Donnellan & Joyce have advertised the house on its list of properties to be sold by auction on June 27. With an advised minimum value is €130,000, the house is described as being in need of refurbishment, but one which would appeal to a DIY enthusiast, as it offers a blank canvas.