Bold new vision for Tullamore’s future is unveiled

Innovative, futuristic, and spectacular are just a few of the accolades being showered upon draft plans for the regeneration of Tullamore and the visionary reimagining of Tullamore Harbour.

The internationally acclaimed Grafton Architects headed by Tullamore woman Yvonne Farrell crafted the plans for the harbour, while the renowned firm Brady Shipman Martin/Faulkner Browns collaboration, were the consultants for the Tullamore Regeneration Project.

The draft plans are now open for public viewing and people are being invited to make submissions.

The Harbour

The Grand Canal Harbour project is a joint effort by Offaly County Council (OCC) and Waterways Ireland (WI) who recognise the value of this hidden gem in the heart of the town.

The harbour which has remained hidden from view, has been seen as a lost opportunity for many years. But if the plans drawn up by Grafton Architects come to fruition it will become a focal point in the town, attracting visitors as well as becoming a place to live and do business.

''A well kept secret'' is how Grafton Architects describe Tullamore Grand Canal Harbour. It is a space measuring 54m by 46m containing approximately 5,000 cubic metres of water.
Grafton Architects has prepared a new map of Tullamore which it describes as the Golden Map highlighting specific strengths of the harbour and its surrounds.

Grafton say that together with O’Connor Square and Market Square ''Grand Canal Harbour can become a new and unique space – a Water Square – a hub of activity, adding to the Necklace of Squares of Tullamore,'' including Market Square and O'Connor Square.

Grafton proposals termed ''The Catalogue of Opportunities'' include, modifications to the surrounding streets; suggested new entrance points into the Harbour; the restoration of the ''highly crafted, late 18th C. magnificent stonework of the Canal Harbour,'' the Dry Dock, the Canal Spur and Young’s Store; as well as locations for possible development.

''It is incumbent on Waterways Ireland and Offaly County Council to once more facilitate development of the Harbour area as a centre of commerce, recreation, a place to live and visit. These aspirations are firmly rooted in the Masterplan through a catalogue of future development opportunities, each will be subject to detailed cost benefit assessment and contingent on achieving the right funding model at the appropriate time.’’ - Grafton Architects.

Image below of how the Harbour might look in the future

Tullamore Regeneration Framework

Tullamore Regeneration Framework will serve as a model for regeneration of Tullamore into the future. Director of Services Tom Shanahan says it will act as a blueprint for subsequent development in the town.

It will work to ''promote compact growth, healthy and appealing public spaces, enhancing urban resilience, improving permeability, fostering vibrancy, and encouraging sustainable mobility.''

The multi-disciplinary consultancy team in Brady Shipman Martin and Faulkner Browns say their vision is to ''strengthen the town centre through characterful placemaking and increasing opportunities for town centre living, working, socialising and tourism.''

The delivery framework for this vision is set out in a series of Key Regeneration Projects, comprising Opportunity Sites and Public Realm interventions.

They say, ''Tullamore contains the right DNA to become a thriving town. Compact, walkable and with a rich fabric of built architectural heritage, the town is surrounded by lakes, boglands and waterways, offering both an urban and outdoor lifestyle. By creating animated, sustainable and welcoming places for all, the energy and exchange of the market town can be revived, instilling Tullamore as a key town to live, work and visit.’’

They note that the people of Tullamore are proud of how warm and welcoming the town is. They say their plans focus on ''creating spaces and opportunities for social exchange and community interaction, bringing refreshed and contemporary market square concepts to Tullamore for 2040 and beyond.''

The Opportunity Sites identified by the team include, Texas Site. (A plan for this by Cayenne Holdings has gone to An Bord Pleanala.)

Lands behind High Street/O'Moore Street - proposals here include housing, a senior living scheme, new commercial units fronting O'Moore Street.

Lands South of O'Connor Square - proposals include reusing of protected Malthouse and providing new commercial and cultural uses for part of the site.

Railway Lands – This is a prime site for high density and multi residential development with the potential for mobility/public transport hub at the station.

Coen Site - potential for the site to be developed as a town centre perimeter housing scheme with large retail zone retained and additional retail opportunity added to the site. (Planning permission for a retail development at this site was granted to Flanagan Developments in 2021.)

Lands behind the Court - site strategy proposes retaining the majority of commercial uses on the site at Kilcruttin Business Park and re-inforcing this future use. To the north end of the site interior, a new residential infill development of terrace housing is proposed increasing the density of the block.

The Tullamore Regeneration Framework is Funded by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage under the Urban Regeneration and Development Fund 2020 (URDF) and Offaly County Council.

The Framework and Harbour Masterplan are available for inspection in the offices of Offaly County Council, Áras an Chontae, Tullamore Municipal District, Tullamore Library during normal office hours from 13th of June 2024 to 11th July 2024. An open day will be held in Tullamore Library on June 20 from 12pm to 7pm. 

Below an image of how O'Carroll Street could look in the future