Good day for Athy as new-look Carlton Abbey Hotel to re-open with new owners

Kildare Co Council planners have granted planning permission for the proposed redevelopment of the former Carlton Abbey Hotel. The property, situated just off Stanhope Street, was originally a Mercy Convent before it was turned into a hotel during the Celtic Tiger boom.   It was only open for six years before the doors were shut on the 39-bedroom hotel in January 2012. However it was sold in 2016 to new owners. The Country Home & Venue Holdings firm - which is based in Dublin - has been granted permission for a revamp of the three-storey building including the addition of two single storey glass extensions to create a wedding suite and a new lobby. Electronic security gates and security fencing are also in the plans. The large wedding suite will have access to a new small enclosed roof garden. Before the closure, the bar in the hotel seated approximately 100 while a restaurant fitted 80. The function room had capacity for around 180 people with dedicated bar, toilets, and dance floor. There were also some smaller meeting rooms and residents' lounges.