Galway derelict hospital to go to market in beginning of 2026
Galway County Councillor Alan Harney has confirmed that O’Donnellan & Joyce Auctioneers have been appointed as sales agents for the former St Brigid’s Hospital campus in Ballinasloe.
The HSE has stated that they will see the site, which has been derelict for over a decade, brought to market in the first quarter of 2026.
Cllr Harney said: “There are some challenges around the title deeds to some parts of the campus given that it’s a vast area, and the challenges around record keeping in years gone by.” He added that work on the titles and documents has commenced and is ongoing.
Cllr Harney said he had repeatedly applied pressure during his term on Galway County Council for the HSE to take responsibility for maintaining and protecting St Brigid’s as the property owner.
“They've been failing abysmally in that task,” he said. “We had the derelict sites notice issued in April in an effort to spur the HSE into some action. I'm glad now that we do seem to be seeing some action, I hope the HSE will stick to those timelines and that we will see the campus moved along in early 2026.”
He said no future purpose has yet been suggested for the building but stressed its historic importance to the region as St Brigid’s Hospital once played a huge economic role in Ballinasloe.
Cllr Harney said he would love to see it once again in a position that enhances the town of Ballinasloe adding that a museum space could “recognise the past uses of the building but equally make sure we are moving into the future.”
Cllr Harney also praised the community facilities once hosted on the campus. But ahead of the site going to market, he called on the HSE to recognise their “responsibilities as the owners of protected structures.”
“We need to see the overall campus cleaned up. But then we also need to see stabilisation of the buildings with coverings put on the roofs to protect them from the elements, and repairs done to the windows and doors. Basic works to stabilise the buildings, to make sure that they are still there, and they can be renovated for future use,” he said.
A meeting of the HSE Regional Health Forum is being held today, September 23, 2025, to further discuss the site.
St Brigid’s Hospital has been closed since 2013.