Restoration plans for historic building in Offaly in limbo

THE restoration of a severely dilapidated and historic building in Offaly is in development limbo, with no sign of any work to start in the future.

There had been great hope for the future of Birr Workhouse back in 2018 when an exciting project was announced for it. However, since then very little work has occurred.

Local community group Birr 20:20 told the Midland Tribune that they have not heard from the company behind the project for many months.

The company is Castle Rook and the Tribune tried to contact it on a number of occasions in recent weeks for a statement, but with no success.

Many in the Birr area fear that the former Workhouse will become ever more severely dilapidated in the coming months and years.

Since the inception of Birr 20:20 in 2015, the restoration of the Workhouse has always been in the group's sights.

In September 2018 a Birr 20:20 meeting was told that the building had been purchased by Castlerook, a Canadian/Chinese company with its Irish base in Louth, and restoration was now underway, focusing initially on the roof, which is riddled with holes. The building was also badly damaged by fire in 2017.

Detailed plans were shown during the September 2018 meeting to great enthusiasm. Access, the meeting was told, had been secured to the left of the building, leading past a proposed museum.

Castle Rook said it was proposing to transform the Workhouse into a centre providing care for those with dementia.
The proposed centre would provide a roofed pavilion for seating; a landscaped sculpture park; a glass walled dining area to retain connection with the public café, community day care centre, crèche and playground.

The public and residential areas, while having a degree of interaction, would be secured with a biometric fence, allowing security for residents, with a degree of freedom of movement. Thirty residents would be housed in the main building, eventually rising to 70.

Mylo robots would also be in use. The Mylo robot connects to the resident's wristband and can monitor heartbeat and bloodpressure, as well as being programmable as a reminder not only for medication times, but also for ‘me time’ at the treatment centre.

The September 2018 meeting was also told that capital was in place for the purchase and initial works.