New owner of Piscatorial School is seeking redevelopment proposals

The developer of Fort Eyre and Davorens Butchers in Shantalla is now turning his attention to Piscatorial House after purchasing the iconic Claddagh building for almost €600,000.

Michael Gibbons from the Westside is believed to have won over the Dominican Order not only with a fat cheque but by producing pictures of his sympathetic renovations of derelict properties which have been transformed into luxury apartments.

The developer is applying to turn the protected structure into high-end offices. But a source close to the businessman said he would welcome any proposal from Galway City Council or other cultural bodies to rent the space for a long-term project which would benefit the city.

The sale of the building, which had a guide price of €500,000, went ahead despite the chorus of disapproval which included local TD Catherine Connolly that such a historic structure would fall into private hands.

The school was founded by the Dominican Order in 1846 right at the height of the Great Famine to educate the children of the Claddagh; generations of boys were taught how to make and repair nets while girls were shown how to sew and spin as well as learning how to read and write. In recent years it housed the social welfare offices and subsequently Youthreach.

Its renovation will return the three-storey 4,800sqft building to its former glory and restore the giant statue on top, which was said to bless the fishermen as they left Galway Bay.

“This will be a very sympathetic restoration. This project is about minimal work, it needs a new roof but the original stairs will be retained, as much as possible the original materials and features will be used,” he said.

“The Dominicans were as much interested in the person and team who were bringing the building back to life as the bid and they gave a full account of work done before with details of the conservation engineers who would be involved.

“The group are long term investors rather than developers so if people on Galway 2020 or City Council came with an idea for the building, they’d be more than receptive to look at it.

Michael Gibbons developed Fort Eyre, an historic Georgian House and spire tower in Shantalla, and an adjacent derelict row of houses where Davorens Butchers used to trade, turning them into 19 apartments and a commercial unit.

All the apartments were let as soon as they were released onto the market, commanding rents of €900 for a one-bed and €1,200 for a two-bed.

He is currently applying to develop the nearby former Mace Store.