Star of Room to Improve TV show wants to turn old Army building into cafe

A Clane resident wants to convert a local historic building into a cafe, shop and food market.

Dublin-born Eilin O’Carroll and her South African husband David Pansegrouw featured on RTE's Room To Improve programme presented by Dermot Bannon in 2003.

They bought the Firmount House property (below), part of which they refurbished and moved into with their young twin sons.

Eilin now wants to convert the main part of Firmount House into an organic food market and artisan shop, cafe, creative and community space and gardens as well as an occasional venue.

The planning application for the Millicent Road site in Clane lodged with Kildare County Council includes car parking spaces, footpaths and a patio.