Derelict bar in Hacketstown to become social housing
An artists rendering of the proposed redevelopment of Kealy's Bar on Main St, Hacketstown for social and affordable housing Image: Ailtirí Architects.
PLANS to redevelop a derelict bar in the centre of Hacketstown have been released by Carlow County Council.
The former Kealy’s Bar on Main Street, Hacketstown, which has lain empty for years, is set to be turned into three one-bedroom apartments, with nine other new dwellings to be built to the rear of the site, if planning permission is approved.
In a new two-storey building, there will be two one-bedroom apartments. There will be a single-storey accessible dwelling house, a terrace of four two-bedroom houses and two three-bed houses.
The site is accessible directly from the public footpath on Main Street and also from the rear through an existing access laneway which will be redeveloped.
The lands are owned by Carlow Co Council and will become social and affordable homes for a shared community of those living alone, couples, young families, the elderly and people with disabilities. The development designed by Ailtirí Architects has been designed to offer a broad range of accommodation choices for different people and household types.
There are 12 communal but private parking spaces in the plans, including a universal access parking bay and bicycle parking. This is below the recommended number of parking spaces, justified by the fact that the compact site is within walking distance of the town centre, is well-serviced for bicycles and is on a bus route.
If built, the site will create 12 of the 56 new residential units expected to be required by 2028 because of population growth in the town. There are also provisional plans to connect the council’s development to a neighbouring site which received planning permission to build seven homes in July 2025.
Works on the site will involve demolishing some of the extensions to the bar which are in poor condition according to the architects and a wall on the north-western boundary. The former bar and residential units over it are ‘no longer suitable or safe for use without substantial intervention,’ according to the architects.
Environmental screening reports concluded that it was not likely that the development would significantly interfere with any protected nature sites or protected species. However, anyone can apply to An Coimisiun Pleanála in the next four weeks to request that an environmental impact assessment screening determination be carried out.
The part 8 planning application is being advertised through the council’s consultation portal online. Submissions and observations in relation to the proposed development can be made before 5pm on 23 October. After the consultation period, elected council members will vote on whether or not to proceed with the development.
