Offaly County Council to lodge planning application for Birr Courthouse

OFFALY County Council is to lodge a planning application for the long-awaited development of Birr Courthouse.

Ann Dillon, Director of Services, told the July meeting of the full Council, that the architectural firm Howley Hayes Cooney has been asked to draw up the application.

“The application will contain new ideas,” she said, “such as disabled access and certain energy measures. We will retain the historical character of the building. The application will be lodged in August. Hopefully we will go to the Part 8 public consultation process as soon as possible; to be followed by the councillors giving it their consideration during the October County Council meeting.”

As early as 2015 Birr 20|20 Vision held public meetings regarding possible future uses of the courthouse. The fine early nineteenth century building, located on Emmet St, has been abandoned since 2013, as a result of court sittings being transferred to Tullamore following the financial crash in 2010. Since falling into disuse, the courthouse has been gradually degrading, but by 2018 was clearly deteriorating badly. Roofing work subsequently averted the worst.

The ownership of the building was transferred to Offaly County Council in 2021 and funding was sourced from the Heritage Council, Creative Ireland and Birr Municipal District for a Conservation Masterplan, which was completed by Conservation Architects Howley Hayes Cooney following a period of consultation with the Birr 20|20 Vision Courthouse Working Party.

In January 2023 the Courthouse Working Party and Offaly Local Development Company submitted a business plan to Offaly County Council demonstrating the financial sustainability of the Creative Court project; they also confirmed the support of the Trench Trust; and a viable working body of supporting artists who wished to use the Creative Court and the support of the Festivals Collective.