Nenagh councillors accept review on Part 8 proposal for development of cultural quarter

A plan to redevelop Nenagh’s Historic and Cultural Quarter has been given the go-ahead by the town's nine councillors following a special meeting to discuss the Chief Executive’s report in the Part 8 public consultation on the proposal.

The development, which when fully implemented could cost around €40m, covers the town’s Banba Square, courthouse, former gaol and governor’s house, Nenagh castle and its barbican, as well as public realm works., the enterprise hub at the former Rialto cinema and residential development.

It was put out for public consultation last year with submissions closing in January. There were 16 submissions made by the public, which were taken on board in the final report given to councillors last week.

Outlining the background to the proposals, Rosemary Joyce, District Administrator, said that the Council was trying to achieve a masterplan for the area that would not be funded all from the same source.

“These are significant heritage assets within minutes’ walk of each other and we have to see how we can utilise them and bring them back,” she said.

Ms Joyce said that there had been a “major amount of public consultation” going back to 2021 and, over time, the Council had met various interests and had market tested the plans through Fáilte Ireland ahead of putting the Part 8 public consultation on display.

Under the plan, it is proposed to reinstate the original entrance to Nenagh Castle via a bridge over the ruins at its barbican; refurbish the former Nenagh Gaol’s governor’s house and gaol cell block in the grounds of the courthouse and demolish the Civil Defence building in the courthouse carpark.

Among those making a submission were the Sisters of Mercy, who have a convent at the rear of the Heritage Centre.

In their submission they state that they are the owners of the gatehouse, the governor’s house and all the grounds from the gatehouse inwards, which includes the Sisters’ residence the governor’s house and gatehouse are on lease to the County Council; no permission to carry out works, structural or otherwise, has been given to the County Council by the Community of Sisters who reside on the property; to construct the proposed gantry between the gaol block, which is in the County Council yard, and the governor’s house, is a breach of the boundary of the property of the Sisters of Mercy which was defined when the property was acquired by the Sisters in the early 1900s; the installation / construction of a County Council operated and financed entrance barrier is unacceptable to the owners and residents of the convent property; meetings between the Sisters of Mercy and TCC were attended by Nenagh District Administrator, Rosemary Joyce, and TCC Chief Executive, Joe MacGrath. No decisions were made at these meetings.

However, the Chief Executive’s review states that there is an indenture dated February 1906 from Tipperary (North Riding) County Council leasing the buildings to the Bishop of Killaloe and the Parish Priest of Nenagh for a period of 999 years.

The Sisters of Mercy provided a lease to Tipperary County Council for 50 years from October 2003 in respect of the governor’s house and gatehouse.

The review recommends that all development relating to the gatehouse, governor’s house and the associated grounds will be carried out in consultation with and only with the agreement of the Sisters of Mercy.

A number of individuals also made submissions, including a call to relocate the Civil Defence building ahead of its demolition and that it must be kept in the town; concerns over the loss of car parking at the courthouse; the suggestion that the plan include a space to celebrate the work of Shane MacGowan, and a look at traffic management and the need for bus shelters.

The Council noted the submissions and pointed out that it was planned to establish a transport hub at the railway station.

Another submission raised concerns over the width of footpaths under the proposal.

A number of submissions related to having 35 and 36 Pearse Street in the plan and that they be demolished and the current archway used to develop an artist’s quarter and open a view of Nenagh Castle from MacDonagh Street.

However, the recommendation states that the buildings are not included in the Part 8 as proposed. These buildings are not in the ownership of the Council. As part of potential future phases, the future of the buildings can again be considered in conjunction with the Department.

Conradh na Gaeilge, which has a building on Pearse Street, said in their submission that it understood that some of the prisoners in the gaol in the 19th century spoke lrish. They suggested that the lives of the prisoners would be celebrated as part of the project and that Conradh na Gaelige could assist with that.

The review states that in the development and delivery of the experience for the gaol complex consideration can be given as to how the lrish language can be incorporated into the story.

The review recommended no change to the plan based on any of the submissions received.

The review’s conclusion was that the plan be implemented.