Council receives proposals for O'Neill's and Connaught St sites

Westmeath County Council said it's received proposals for the development of the long-derelict former O'Neill's pub site and a site at Connaught Street in Athlone.

The issue was raised at the October meeting of the Athlone Moate Municipal District by Cllr Aengus O'Rourke, who sought an update on both. Cllr O'Rourke said the block of units on Connaught Street had been on sale for a number of years, and the O'Neill's site was now on sale for a second time.

In response, the council said it had received proposals for both sites from interested parties and discussions were ongoing "with a view to the sale and development of these sites".

Cllr O'Rourke asked for further details but was told no further information could be made available at this time due to commercial sensitivity.

The Fianna Fáil councillor said that, in both cases, he would like to see any development incorporate commercial premises on the ground floor with overhead accommodation.

"I think especially the O'Neill's site could do with a well-designed site, with commercial on the ground floor - whether that's offices or retail - and then apartments. I think there's even scope to go higher than it was, particularly with the skyline in the surrounding area," he said.

He added that the Connaught Street site, which is located on the opposite side of the street to Walsh's and backs onto Connaught Gardens, represented a good development opportunity.

"It's good that there are proposals in," said Cllr O'Rourke. "In terms of the O'Neill's site, I would be pushing for a Plan B. If it falls through and there is no sale I would like to see the council coming up with a plan to develop it."

He said this could be a development of commercial/residential units or the space could be used to improve the junction, perhaps widening the footpath and increasing the paving area.

"I'd like to see them come up with something creative," he said, adding however: "It would be nice to see someone come in privately and develop it."

The former O'Neill's pub and adjoining Finlay Auctioneering premises were both destroyed by fire in December 2010, and have remained derelict ever since.

The site was initially placed on the market with real estate company Avison Young in May 2022, but a sale did not materialise, and the council moved to remarket it earlier this year.