Plans drawn up for apartments at 1780 property

Plans for the refurbishment of the derelict Rahoon House – which dates back to the 18th century – to make way for four apartments have been lodged with Galway City Council.

Roger Fahey has sought permission for the four 2-bed apartments and four parking spaces at the site, which has been deteriorating since the 1990s.

The plans involve the refurbishment, renovation, minor internal alterations and two-storey side extensions to the property at Ros Geal.

According to a conservation report submitted with the planning application, the building has been neglected.

“The building is in an advanced state of dereliction with prolonged exposures to water ingress and weather, along with previous neglect and vandalism. The planning files show repeated applications but little or no development works appear to have taken place over a period in excess of thirteen years,” the report reads, adding that the property dates back to around 1780.

“From an overall plan of works, the proposal is to add extensions to enable the restoration and reuse of the premises to achieve two apartments on each of the ground and first floors, so as to finance the restoration and generate a sustainable use for the future of the premises.

“The full details of each intervention cannot readily be analysed because of the limited access and unsafe nature of the premises currently. The advanced nature of the decay of organic material will mean that very little can be fully retained.

“Despite the advanced decay and dereliction due to neglect, vandalism and prolonged exposure to water ingress and the elements, a successful restoration project with conservation of the structure, where possible, should be successful because of the available records and the remaining sections of original fabric,” the conservation report reads.

Dúchas, the Heritage Service, inspected Rahoon House in June 2000 and wrote to the then owners, the Kenny Group, outlining emergency repair work and security measures which it asked to carried out.

Kennys were granted permission in 1998 for the redevelopment of the property to make way for four apartments – at the time, residents in the Ros Geal estate complained of all-night cider parties, smashing glass and drunken antics.

Roger Fahey is listed as the new owner of the building, which was bought at auction in June for €135,000. The Advised Minimum Value was €80,000.

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