PICTURES: former Laois restaurant refused as refugee 'guesthouse' up for sale

A once thriving restaurant in Abbeyleix in Laois has gone up for sale, for €700,000.

The former McEvoy Pub and Restaurant, run by the Stokes family of Castle Durrow, has been turned into multiple bedrooms, with new plans for apartments. Laois County Council's approval of the change of use to a 'guesthouse' for refugees was overruled by An Bord Pleanála in 2025.  Full details below gallery. Tap NEXT or arrows.

Macs as it was locally known, had been leased out for four years to proprietor Sean McIlroy but shut suddenly to the shock of the community in May of 2023.

This property built by the original De Vesci family and is on the Record of Protected Structures, dates around 1885.

McEvoy Pub and Restaurant fronting onto Main Street is described as "a prime investment opportunity".

It measures approximately 510.24m² (5 492.18 sq. ft.) on 0.12 hectares (0.29 acres) of land.

The Restaurant, bar and courtyard are turned into residential accommodation with 5 bedrooms, 2 living spaces, shower rooms and bathrooms, kitchen area, all at ground level with a courtyard to the rear with side access at both sides of the building.

The auctioneers says that "internal walls are stud walls and can easily be returned to the restaurant’s original layout".

The first floor is an apartment, with entrance hall, utility/storage area, open plan living area with kitchen / dining area, main bathroom and two bedrooms with an ensuite with incomplete plumbing.

The property comes with architectural plans for 7 apartments and a carpark to the rear, that would require demolition of rear extensions.