An artist’s impression of the Dunlo Hill development in Ballinasloe. Credit OBFA Architects.
An artist’s impression of the Dunlo Hill development in Ballinasloe. Credit OBFA Architects.
Works are progressing at pace on the transformation of derelict buildings in Ballinasloe town centre, with a summer completion date expected as part of an ongoing regeneration project, a Galway councillor said.
A cluster of vacant two-storey and three-storey properties, including an old pub, at the corner of Dunlo Hill, approaching Ballinasloe town centre from the R446, is undergoing a full redevelopment.
Ballinasloe councillor Dermot Connolly told the Irish Independent that construction has been moving smoothly “barr the weather every once in a while.”
He said the project demonstrates how other small towns across the county can bring derelict, centrally located sites back into productive use.
The project includes Dooley’s Pub, the prominent three-storey protected structure built in the early 1800s that has long been deemed derelict. However, due to its historical significance, plans are in place to convert the building into a community facility rather than replacing it.
An artist’s impression of the Dunlo Hill development in Ballinasloe. Credit OBFA Architects.
The first floor of Dooley’s will be converted into the community space, featuring three rooms and basement storage, while the upper two floors will be repurposed as housing.
The wider scheme also includes the redevelopment of a three-storey house and an adjoining two-storey terraced property.
Once completed, the project will deliver 16 new one-bed, two-bed and three-bed residential units, alongside a new community centre with landscaped internal walking areas.
In total, the plans allow for 40 bed spaces. Contractors have completed raft foundations and structural steel works, and the community centre flooring is currently being removed and replaced.
Sinn Féin Cllr Connolly said he hopes to see the project finished by mid-2026.
Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting scheme.