Greenlight for €7m community facility
Edenville House in Roscommon Town. Pic: Paula T. Nolan
Councillors have given the greenlight for the conversion of a 325-year-old historic building in Roscommon Town into a multi-use community facility.
The council is seeking funding of €7 million from the THRIVE fund – the Town Centre First Heritage Revival Scheme - to develop the project at the Edenville House site.
If the application is successful, it is hoped that the works could be completed and the building handed over in the coming years, possibly by early 2028, and that the facility will be run by a community group. The building dates to circa 1700 and is now derelict.
At a special meeting of councillors of the Roscommon Municipal District on Monday, it was agreed that the local authority proceed with the proposal at Edenville House.
Giving a presentation on the proposal, Senior Engineer Rachel Lowe of the council’s regeneration team outlined that the works would include the demolition of non-historic structures on the site, refurbishment and conservation works to the existing former military barrack building, as well as the stabilisation, refurbishment and conservation works to the existing boundary wall.
During the meeting, councillors were told that there were no objections to the development, although some concerns were raised about noise during construction as well as potential overlooking. Local organisations, the Western Alzheimer’s Committee, the Cór Cómáin Choir, Roscommon Town Team, and Roscommon Tidy Towns, all voiced their support for the proposal.
Following the consultation period, it was recommended that the height of the vertical circulation column be reduced and that the pitched roof be removed.
The meeting also heard that the judging of funding applications would take place in mid-September. If successful, the project will proceed to the detail design phase followed by tendering. Council Director of Services Mark Keaveney cautioned that there was no guarantee that the council would be successful in its application for funding.
MD Cathaoirleach Cllr Paschal Fitzmaurice welcomed the development, saying it would be great for the local community. His party colleague Marty McDermott also welcomed the development, saying that the development of the historic building could do the same for the county town what Strokestown House had done for Strokestown.
The other councillors also voiced their support, with Cllr Ruth Conboy saying the demand is already there within the community.
The Part 8 planning application was proposed by Cllr Larry Brennan and seconded by Cllr McDermott. During the meeting, former councillor Orla Leyden was praised for her work on the project.
