Historic Kildare house in ruins 'should be bought by council'
Originally built in 1813, it could be used for the benefit of the community
A historic Naas house - now in ruins - should be bought by the local authority.
Independent Ireland councillor Bill Clear says Kildare County Council should give “serious consideration to the potential purchase” Market House, at Canal Harbour.
He said the property should be brought into public ownership to secure its future “for the benefit of the local community.”
The owner of the Market House (built in 1813), said previously that proposals for a boutique hotel and eatery have been drawn up.
Pat Keane, who developed the Hanged Man’s pub and restaurant in Milltown, Newbridge, said he had discussions with KCC and he wanted to build a hotel with up to a dozen bedrooms and a restaurant.
However, these plans were not progressed.
Mr Keane has owned Market House for some time and in 2018 KCC granted planning permission for a restaurant and pub there.
That proposal envisaged new two and three storey extensions and the entire building was to have a total gross floor area of just over 1,000 square metres.
When KCC previously granted permission for a pub/restaurant to the Keanes in April 2009, it sought levies totalling €351,500, which, along with the recession, was among the reasons the plans did not proceed at that time.