Work has begun on a nine-bedroom guest house in Market Square in Kildare Town.
The former Fitzpatrick's Auctioneers building, which was constructed in the 1920s and was a protected building, was demolished in recent days.
It had been in use for offices until it was sold a number of years ago.
The building was bought by the owners of the neighbouring Harte's of Kildare - the award-winning gastropub premises.
The construction site, which is in the shadow of historic St Brigid's Cathedral, has been cordoned off to the public.
Planning permission was granted in 2016 for the demolition of the two storey derelict building including a rear agricultural shed.
Approval was given at the time for the erection of a new two and a half storey building on the corner of Market Square and Firecastle Lane.
The new building would provide retail space, ancillary dining accommodation, a commercial kitchen, an external service yard with 6 cycle spaces at ground floor level.
In the plans was provision for a nine-bedroom guesthouse with en-suite bathrooms, roof lights and a roof terrace at first floor level.
Newbridge
Elsewhere, a development firm based in Co Galway has applied for planning permission for the demolition of an existing detached single storey house on the Naas Road in Newbridge.
Epicridge Ltd, which was established a year ago, wants to develop residential development consisting of 12 houses.
The development consists of 2 two-storey blocks of two bedroom town houses of 6 and 5 units respectively.
Also planned is a three-bedroom, one and a half storey detached dormer bungalow.
Plans to upgrade the existing entrance and landscaping works are also in the designs.
On Thursday. 1st February, Churches across Kildare and Leighlin, and beyond, will come together to participate in a special ecumenical service at 11am in St Brigid’s Cathedral, Kildare town entitled: ‘Celebrating St Brigid. Brigid 1500: A Service of Thanksgiving’.
The event is dedicated to commemorating the Feast Day of St Brigid and the 1500th anniversary of her death.
The co-leaders of this thanksgiving service are the Most Rev Denis Nulty, Roman Catholic Bishop of Kildare and Leighlin, and the Most Rev Patricia Storey, Church of Ireland Bishop of Meath and Kildare. The Reverend Canon Dr. Alison Joyce, Rector of St. Bride’s Church, Fleet Street in the heart of London, will deliver the sermon.
At the end of the service, a Pause for Peace will be observed in the cathedral at 12 noon. Aligning with a broader initiative whereby the people of Kildare are extending a global invitation, urging individuals worldwide to pause for a minute’s silence at midday (local time) on St Brigid’s Day, the 1st of February 2024.
Livestreaming of the service will also be available worldwide.
