Demolition underway at old Texas site in Tullamore to make way for new development

THE former Texas site in Tullamore is in the process of being demolished.

The old store which was once a hive of activity, has lain idle for a long number of years.

It is now being knocked to the ground to make way for a major branch of a well known supermarket chain.

In 2018 the Texas and Tesco sites at Kilbride Plaza were acquired by two prominent local businessmen, Tony Flanagan of Weavermay and Seamus Kane of Cayenne Holdings. Both have different plans for their respective sites and fencing was recently erected dividing both sides.

The Texas site is zoned 'Town Centre' and an 'Opportunity Site'.

In the original planning application submitted by Weavermay, the proposal was for one single-storey dual-height 1,664 sq. metre retail store to include an off licence. A three storey 874 square metre retail/office unit and a two-storey 281 sq metre cafe. Car and bicycle parking was included in the plan.

At that time, Tony Flanagan, Director of Weavermay, said, ''the addition to Tullamore of a supermarket would be a great regeneration of footfall for the town centre and its existing retailers.''

He stressed that the ''proposal is an opportunity to revitalise this town centre site.''

However, the council requested a redesign of the site and contended that the proposal by Weavermay may have been at variance with the requirements of the Urban Development and Building Heights, Guidelines for Planning Authorities, given what it said was "the lack of diversity of uses proposed, the lack of housing and the lack of density."

Despite this planning approval for the site was granted to Weavermay in 2022.

Below an image of the plan submitted by Weavermay for the former Texas site in Tullamore

Work is currently continuing at pace and a substantial part of the buildings have already been pulled down. Bulldozers, diggers and workmen have been on-site since the end of last week and the demolition is expected to be completed in the near future.

Work at the site will be welcomed by locals, as the area had become a serious eyesore in the centre of Tullamore. The general air of dereliction did no favours for the town especially in Tidy Towns adjudications. Once a vibrant and bustling retail centre with attracted people from all over the country it had become a sad and lonely sight in recent years.

In 2008 a plan by Navan businessman Eamonn Duignan to build a giant shopping centre came to nothing.

That particular plan incorporated the former Texas and Tesco stores and faced out onto William Street with Pennys to be the anchor tenant.

The economic crash happened soon after and the plans were put on hold indefinitely.

In March 2018 CarVal the US investment group took control of the portfolio of Eamonn Duignan. Mr Duignan's company, Inverine Plc, had accumulated vast debts and CarVal appointed Ken Farrell of Deloitte and Touche as receiver until it was bought in 2018 by the two local businessmen.