Call for Letterkenny’s Rosemount Area to become an Architectural Conservation Area

Calls have been made to designate the historic Rosemount Area in Letterkenny as an Architectural Conservation Area (ACA).

Cllr Jimmy Kavanagh brought a motion to the January meeting of Letterkenny-Milford municipal district highlighting the importance of Rosemount to the town’s heritage. He asked for the area to be considered in the next review of the Letterkenny Area Plan 2023-2029/ Donegal Development Plan 2024-2030.

Recounting the historical significance of the area, Cllr Kavanagh said: “Rosemount Terrace was constructed between 1908 and 1910 it is one of, if not the most central residential areas in Letterkenny, sitting on the edge of main street and connected to Pearse Road.

“The wider Rosemount Lane area has had a few different titles according to census records, in the 1901 census it is referred to as Rosemount Lane/Major’s Lane, the Major’s Lane title stemming from a resident of the lane at that time. Rosemount Terrace is referred to as Puddle Alley in the 1911 census.  

“The area has a long history, and the terraced houses have been largely preserved as they were, so that they retain their original look to this day. Two of the buildings on the upper part of Rosemount Lane already are protected structures. Rosemount Terrace has been renowned over the years for its floral displays in summer time and has received many awards from Tidy Towns. It also featured in a Channel 4 documentary entitled The Street with the Hanging Garden. Those efforts for Tidy Towns continue into the present, and in the last couple of years the residents have formed a very active residents association, who endeavour to maintain the terrace as near as possible to its original state, and retain the unique charm of terraced housing.”

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Cllr Kavanagh added that the terrace is home to “a very tight knit group of residents who support one another and create an atmosphere of community that reflects the era that the houses are from.

“We are fortunate in Letterkenny to have a terrace of this nature, right in the heart of the town, it’s a throwback to the history and economic climate of its time and as we head towards city status in Letterkenny it is important to see the town develop to meet the needs of city status, and it is equally important to preserve the links to our past and to the people who helped make Letterkenny what it is today.  

“The residents association is keen to ensure that this happens and has plans to further improve the area by for example, creating a community garden in an area of waste ground, they also see their area as complimentary to the Cathedral quarter area and to the new park planned for that area, combined they feel it can help create an old town feel in the centre of Letterkenny. The residents are keen to protect the integrity of the area.”

Cllr Gerry McMonagle seconded the motion, agreeing that the best way to protect the area is to designate it as an Architectural Conservation Area.

In a written response, Eunan Quinn from the council’s Planning, Communities and Culture team said: “The intention of this motion is noted, is generally supported in principle and will be considered at the next available opportunity. It is worth noting however that the Rosemount Terrace area is specifically provided for in the Letterkenny Plan as one of a number of long-established residential areas within and on the edge of the traditional town centre where the Plan identifies that it is reasonable to ensure that these communities are protected and not impacted negatively by development activity in and around the town centre.”

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Citing the Letterkenny Plan, Mr Quinn said: "It is the policy of the Council to protect the architectural, cultural and historic value of residential communities within and on the edge of the town centre that are identified as ‘Long Established Residential Areas’.

“The scope of this policy is such that the architectural, cultural and historic character of this area is already a significant consideration in the future development of the area.”