Potential sale of Lenaboy Castle under examination
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The sale of Lenaboy Castle on Taylor's Hill could be in the pipeline after Galway City Council confirmed that interest from an outside party is being considered.
The issue was raised by Cllr Níall McNeilis (Lab), who questioned whether the site could be sold and what constraints or caveats exist on the lease.
The former St Anne's orphanage was transferred to Galway City Council in 2017 by the Sisters of Mercy as part of the religious orders’ contribution to the State Redress Scheme.
It was originally earmarked for development as a Children and Young People’s Creative and Cultural Hub to “support, nurture, and encourage the creation of cultural and artistic work with and for children and young people”.
Recently, officials at the West Ward Area Committee meeting confirmed the stipulation that the building be used for cultural and community purposes.
“We would need legal advice on that and it could be included as a condition for the next landowner,” officials said.
There was an interest from an outside party and that is being examined.
Councillors were told that any further developments regarding the potential sale of Lenaboy Castle would require approval through the Section 183 process.
Under the Local Government Act, it would be brought back to elected representatives for consideration.
“We see this as a medium- to long-term project,” officials said. “I am not aware of what the proposals are and that will come back to the council. It will come through as a Section 183.”
Historian Catherine Corless and former residents of St Anne’s orphanage have previously called for a full investigation of the site before any redevelopment takes place.
At the meeting, officials confirmed that the cost of renovating and repurposing the building, which dates back to 1859, is estimated to run into the “tens of millions”.
Cllr McNeilis queried whether a new commercial manager had been appointed for the project.
However, officials said that although funding for a project manager was sought during the budget process, the request was unsuccessful.
“We put in a request in last year's budget for a project manager to progress any proposals in relation to Lenaboy,” officials said.
“We wanted to secure resources for a full-time project manager but that did not get through the budgetary process.”
Correspondence between Cllr McNeilis and council officials in 2023 showed that, although the building and roof were secure, considerable interior work was needed on the derelict site.
Estimates prepared as part of the Culture Connects Shared Island Project suggested that bringing the building into use as a cultural facility could cost in the region of €22 million.
This included refurbishment costs estimated at between €8 million and €10 million, along with a further €10 million to €12 million for fit-out works, professional fees and contingency costs.
Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme.