Tiny site attracts huge level of interest

It’s possibly the smallest ever plot of land to come on the market in Galway – yet it is only big enough to moor an ornamental boat.

Already, there is huge interest in the 0.022 acre site opposite the diving tower at Blackrock in Salthill . . . a leftover plot following the sale of the former Ocean Wave Hotel at the end of the 1970s.

The plot previously hosted a currach, which was used as a decorative flower bed.

Because of the unique nature of the plot – which is zoned for residential use – it does not have an official guide price, but offers in excess of €30,000 have been suggested. And there is already on offer on the land.

Sean Coyne of DTZ Sherry Fitzgerald told the Galway City Tribune: “The plot is privately-owned and has been for thirty years and my client had the idea that perhaps, subject to planning permission, it could be used for an ice-cream van or coffee van.

“There has been a huge amount of interest in it, loads of calls, and site maps have been sent out to a lot of individuals. Of course, there is a huge element of curiosity with something like this too. It’s so unique,” said Mr Coyne.

The tiny plot is understood to have stayed in the ownership of the Mullarkey family after they sold the Ocean Wave Hotel (which went on to become the Ocean Towers apartment development) at the end of the 1970s.

It was adjacent to the site that (now retired) Gardaí Jim Boland and PJ Corcoran nabbed the brutal serial killers John Shaw and Geoffrey Evans in 1976.

The Mullarkey family went on to set up the Cotton Box design group, which is now in receivership with debts of around €12m.