Sale clears way to breath new life into Mayo courthouse

A SALE which clears the way to bring the old Ballinrobe Courthouse back into use in the future has been completed.

Funding of €577,000 is still available to be spent on the building, and Mayo County Council will be engaging with the local archaeological society about its future.

An update on the property was requested by Councillor Patsy O'Brien at a municipal meeting where he sought a report from the council on expenditure and works carried out on the courthouse and what future plans they have for the building, including applying for government grant support going forward.

While he welcomed the works that have been done, including roofing, he was disappointed that only half his question was answered, with nothing about the future in the response.

The property comprises the Market House and courthouse, built in 1752, and it has a huge amount of history attached to it. The court has been gone since 2010.

There is €577,000 available and he wanted to see immediate action.

Councillor O'Brien also sought clarification about a part of the building that wasn't owned by the council.

Councillor Michael Burke explained that there was a delay, which wasn't at the behest of the council, and a sale has only been completed in recent weeks.

He wasn't sure about the plans going forward but he would like to see a commercial element on the ground floor.

It has been complex, said Councillor Damien Ryan, but things have moved on in the very recent past, which enables them to bring it forward.

It's an iconic building and he suggested a workshop with the architects to see what might be the best role for it.

District head Padraic Flanagan said €130,000 has been spent, with the balance in the process of being spent. The funding will make the building structurally sound.

They recently acquired the building at ground floor level so the entire package can be developed.

The local archaeological society had been interested in taking the building on, he said, and when it is structurally sound the council will be entering discussions with them.

It is important that the right use is found for the building, he added.

* Published under the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme