Refurbishment of former Offaly courthouse to cost €4m - €5m

The exciting Birr Creative Court project will cost from €4 million to €5 million, the AGM of Birr 20:20 was told. Denis Shine, outgoing Chairperson of Birr 20:20, told the meeting that this project will transform one of Birr's most important buildings, increasing the sense of life in that part of the town.

​Denis pointed out that this is a large project which was initially projected to cost €2m to €3m, but has risen. It's hoped it will receive a substantial tranche of funding during 2026. The submissions have been made for the central government funding. “We will just have to sit on our hands for the next six months or so to see if the funding comes through,” said Denis.

Fiona Breen gave a short report on behalf of the working group tasked with driving the project. Fiona, who is Director of Birr 20:20 Vision Ltd.’s Arts Pillar, praised the leader of the working group, Michael Hanna and the hard working members for their deep commitment to the project. “Our aim,” she remarked, “is to bring this historic building back into use as an Arts, Heritage and Cultural space.” She said an excellent report was carried out which gives a good idea of what the design of the building will look like after the refurbishment building work has been completed.

The project has gone through the Part 8 planning process and approval to push ahead was given in December 2024. A preliminary business plan was prepared by Offaly County Council during 2025. Two applications for two central government funding streams were submitted by Offaly County Council and Birr 20:20. One of these funding streams is the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund (RRDF). The deadline for the submissions for the two funds was March 26. It’s expected that a decision on whether the submissions were successful or not should be made during the summer.

There is also a possibility of accessing funding through the Just Transition START programme which is a €30 million funding programme.

Fiona warmly thanked Offaly County Council “who have done quite a bit of the heavy lifting with this project.”

She said Birr Creative Court is just a working name. “We are hoping the people of the town will get to name the building.”

The courthouse has been closed since 2013, but the people of Birr never lost faith in its potential. Through the dedication of Birr 20:20 Vision, working hand in hand with Offaly County Council, a new future began to take shape - one that reimagined the courthouse as a home for creativity, collaboration, and connection.

A 2019 Scoping Study by Louise Browne Associates helped to set that vision in motion, proposing artist studios, rehearsal and exhibition spaces, and community rooms under one roof. It’s a vision that honours the building’s heritage while embracing the creative spirit that runs so strongly through Birr.

Since then, steady progress has been made. In 2021, the courthouse officially transferred to Offaly County Council, allowing essential conservation works to begin. Thanks to the Historic Towns Initiative and Historic Structures Fund, urgent repairs to the roof and façade were completed, protecting the building for the future. A detailed Conservation Master Plan by Howley Hayes Cooney Architects followed, outlining how the courthouse could evolve into a sustainable creative hub.

“The Creative Court is more than a building;” remarked Fiona. “It’s a conversation between what was and what might be, an invitation to create the next chapter together”.

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Birr 20:20 is also planning two new town walks, two 5k walk loops at Killaun bog and a Family Resource Centre for the community, which will host child and family support services that are so badly needed.