High Court challenge over north Mayo hotel decision
A COMMUNITY group in Crossmolina is preparing to mount a High Court challenge following a decision by An Coimisiún Pleanála to grant retention planning permission for works at the Dolphin Hotel enabling its continued use as emergency homeless accommodation.
The national appeals board overturned an earlier ruling by Mayo County Council, which had refused permission for the retention of a change of use at the hotel.
The application, which was refused, included the conversion of the hotel's function room into additional bedroom space.
The council cited concerns relating to overdevelopment, parking provision and traffic safety.
The appeals board's decision has prompted strong reaction in the north Mayo town, with some residents expressing frustration at what they regard as the loss of an important local amenity, while the operators of the hotel state that housing those who find themselves homeless is the only route to keep the hotel open.
At a packed meeting in the town hall last week, attended by more than 60 people, a new committee was formally established under the name Crossmolina Community Information Group.
Local businessman Kieran Mulhern chaired the meeting and told those present that the group intends to seek a judicial review of the decision by An Coimisiún Pleanála. He said the statutory deadline for lodging proceedings ended in three weeks’ time.
The meeting heard that €5,000 was required to retain a barrister to review the case and provide a legal opinion, with a further €5,000 needed should formal High Court proceedings be initiated.
Organisers told attendees: “If 150 people gave €50, we would have the money to have a barrister read the case.”
Since the meeting, this newspaper has learned that the initial €5,000 has been raised and that the case has been referred to counsel this week to determine whether there are sufficient legal grounds to proceed. A further €5,000 will be required if an application is lodged with the High Court.
Speaking after the meeting, a spokesperson for Crossmolina Community Information Group said there are more than 50 derelict sites in the town which, they argued, Mayo County Council should be developing to provide housing, rather than what they described as the “warehousing” of people in the Dolphin Hotel.
Photographs taken during a visit to the hotel show the former function room subdivided into private rooms, each equipped with a television and resembling a high-end hostel.
Hotel manager James McArdle said current residents are referred through the Ballina office and typically use the Local Link bus service to travel to and from Ballina for work or family visits.
He said there had been a lot of rumours regarding the people staying at the hotel but he claimed they were all from the county seeking shelter during the housing crisis.
He said the presence of residents brings some economic benefit to the town, with spending in local shops and takeaways.
Mr. McArdle acknowledged that the hotel is not currently viable as a tourism enterprise. “We tried reducing costs to bring people in but we didn’t succeed in adding anything more than what was already coming in.”
He said he would much prefer to see people spend that €50 in local shops in the town rather than on a barrister.
PLANNING HISTORY
The Dolphin Hotel first came to prominence as an emergency homeless facility in 2024. Mayo County Council subsequently refused retention permission in late 2025 for the conversion of the hotel’s single-storey function room into accommodation. The refusal followed 80 objection submissions from local residents and concerns raised by Councillor Michael Loftus that the proposal could undermine the hotel’s long-term viability as a commercial hospitality premises.
An Coimisiún Pleanála allowed the appeal and granted retention permission in early 2026, subject to conditions.
Mr. McArdle, however, said that the hotel could be developed as a hostel in the future, but he believes emergency homeless accommodation will be needed for at least the next decade.
CONCERNS AMONG RESIDENTS
Following Monday’s meeting, a member of the Crossmolina Community Information Group said the group “has nothing against the residents themselves”, but expressed concern about the long-term impact of continued emergency accommodation use at the hotel.
They argued that the hotel remains an important facility for the town, particularly in light of ongoing development locally, and said retaining it for broader commercial and tourism use should be a priority and questioned whether sufficient services are there for the residents.
Mr. McArdle said that four staff are currently employed at the Dolphin Hotel, compared to approximately 30 when it operated as a traditional hotel.
NEXT STEPS
The Crossmolina Community Information Group is now awaiting the barrister’s opinion on whether grounds exist for a judicial review. The statutory timeframe for initiating High Court proceedings is continuing to run.
It is understood that a separate community group which addressed Monday’s meeting are also in the process of lodging legal action against Pat Mulhern, the owner of the Dolphin Hotel, and An Coimisiún Pleanála.
However, Kieran Mulhern said the Information Group’s proposed action is distinct from any other proceedings.