Former Galway pub to make way for student accommodation after appeal rejected
The former Lantern Bar in Ballybane is set to be demolished and rebuilt as student accommodation after An Coimisiún Pleanála rejected an appeal from local residents against the development.
Members of the Monivea Residents’ Association had appealed the decision to grant permission for a 32-bed student accommodation at the former pub site in Ballybane Shopping Centre, close to Atlantic Technological University (ATU) Galway.
The Lantern Bar closed in 2019 after an application to renew its licence was refused by the courts. A subsequent appeal was successful in 2020.
The redevelopment proposal was submitted by Glen Ward and Maureen McDonagh in July 2025. During the planning process, local residents raised concerns about traffic, noise and overlooking from the height of the proposed building.
Peter Lyons, acting on behalf of the residents’ association, lodged an appeal with An Coimisiún Pleanála on March 6, almost a month after Galway City Council granted planning permission.
The appeal argued that a loss of privacy would be among the “severe negative impacts” of the development. Residents claimed the first three floors of the proposed four-storey building would overlook homes and gardens in the Monivea neighbourhood.
Traffic congestion and parking pressures were also cited as major concerns.
However, the appeal was rejected and the project has now been approved subject to 15 planning conditions aimed at addressing some of the concerns raised.
Among the conditions, permanent obscure glazing must be installed on windows on the first, second and third floors of the building. Additional glazing will also be required on north-facing fourth-floor windows overlooking the Monivea area.
To reduce the potential for noise disturbance, access to the rooftop area will be restricted to between 8am and 8pm.
ATU Galway is located approximately 750 metres from the site and is served by frequent bus services. As a result, planners did not require dedicated parking spaces as part of the development, citing public transport as the primary mode of travel for future residents.
The building was slated to be used as a “budget, hostel style” tourist accommodation during the summer months.
However, a condition attached by An Coimisiún Pleanála states that all 19 apartments within the development must be used solely as student accommodation unless further planning permission is obtained.
An Coimisiún Pleanála issued its decision granting permission for the demolition and redevelopment of the former Lantern Bar on July 8.