Walls come down on Shamrock Square site
The derelict buildings at the top of Barrack Street which are scheduled to be demolished. Pic: © Michael O’Rourke Photography
The demolition of two dangerous buildings at a prime location in Carlow town began this Monday morning, 24 November.
The activity comes after over 10 days of severe traffic restrictions around the Shamrock Square site at the top of Barrack Street. Demolition is likely to take several days, and restrictions on pedestrian and vehicular traffic will remain until the buildings are down and the site is safe.
“It’s welcome that the building is going to be demolished and the area made safe; and I think everyone is looking forward to the traffic restrictions being lifted.” said cll Fintan Phelan.
The owner of the property is obliged to demolish the buildings before Wednesday, 26 November, under the Dangerous Structure Notice placed on the site by the council.
The two buildings are protected structures and were heavily damaged by a fire in 2008. Masonry came off the building in October of this year, prompting the council to implement safety measures around the buildings and seek their demolition.
A heritage assessment report on the site from 2021 said: “It is doubtful that the damaged buildings could be economically reinstated within the remaining walls.” The report said the timber roof and floor structures had perished, and internal masonry walls have fallen or were in danger of falling.
An Coimisiún Pleanála approved a plan in February 2024 for Shamrock Square Limited to demolish all the buildings on the site and 39 new apartments to be constructed in their place. However, the site was put on the market in June 2024 with an asking price of €1,000,000 and taken off again in December 2024.
