St Brigid’s expected to attract bids in the order of €5 million

One of the county’s iconic buildings – the former St Brigid’s psychiatric hospital in Ballinasloe – is expected to attract bids of between €4.5 million and €5 million when it comes on the market.

The building – sections of which are protected – and the 120 acres of ground are considered to be a prime location for badly-needed residential accommodation in the town.

Last week, the Connacht Tribune revealed that there were around 800 applicants in the housing waiting list in the Ballinasloe area. This site alone has the potential to provide around 500 accommodation units.

Local auctioneer John Dolan said that it was a prime piece of land that has huge development potential. He said that it had the potential to be developed into housing accommodation or a luxury hotel complex given its size.

“It is an imposing structure and one that will have to be retained in the town but there are a number of possible options apart from the whole site being turned into housing,” Mr Dolan told the Connacht Tribune.

The old psychiatric hospital, which finally closed its doors six years ago, has come on the market and is being sold by the Health Service Executive. There is no asking price put forward as yet.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.

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