Permission granted for redevelopment of a north Mayo hospitality business
Planning permission was granted for the redevelopment of The Merry Monk, subject to 13 conditions.
Mayo County Council has granted planning permission for the major redevelopment of a well-known hospitality business in north Mayo.
In December 2025, Ashbourne Pubs Limited submitted plans to Mayo County Council seeking permission to extend The Merry Monk on Killala Road, Ballina. The proposal includes the removal of the flat roof from the existing single-storey annex and the construction of a new first floor above the building.
The extension will provide ten new guest bedrooms, along with a reception area, significantly increasing the property's accommodation capacity. The plans also include an enlarged ground floor incorporating a new retail unit with a shopfront for use as an off-licence.
The development will provide a total of 13 parking spaces, including 11 designated for guests and staff and two serving the off-licence.
Mayo County Council granted permission for the development, subject to 13 conditions. Among them is a requirement that the project be carried out strictly in accordance with the plans and documentation submitted with the application.
A further condition requires the developer to pay a development contribution of €9,280 to Mayo County Council before construction begins, in accordance with the council's Development Contribution Scheme.
The Merry Monk has been operated by Joe Lavelle and his daughter, Gillian, since 1999 and is a long-established business in the Ballina area.