Funding boost brings iconic Tipperary chemist closer to redevelopment
An iconic Tipperary building is set for a new lease of life after receiving significant funding.
The former Parkes Chemist and Opticians on Gladstone Street in Clonmel has been a feature of the town for more than 150 years, but the building has fallen into dereliction in recent years.
Councillors in the district have long been calling for the iconic building to be brought back into use, and in 2024, Tipperary County Council entered into negotiations with the property owner with a view to buying the property.
At the April meeting of the Clonmel Borough District, Fianna Fáil councillor Siobhán Ambrose asked for an update on the project, and welcomed the fact that €32,000 had been allocated for it.
"In terms of Parkes Chemist, would I just have an update on that? €32,000 was approved and you might just tell us the nature of the design we’re going to with that,” Cllr Ambrose asked the district’s administration team.
"It won’t cover construction, but that’s why we’re applying through the new Towns and Cities Regeneration Investment Fund, to renovate it.
"How important that building is because it is highlighted by both the Irish and British Conservation Architectural Societies. It is a pity to see it so derelict, but I welcome the fact that there will be movement on that,” Cllr Ambrose added.
Agreeing with his council colleague, independent councillor Richie Molloy said that it was great to see that there would be moves made to take the property out of dereliction.
"It’s great news about Parkes Pharmacy in Gladstone Street, from the building that I’m working in next door, you can see from there that the top window in Parkes is wide open so it’s exposed to the elements and to pigeons,” he said.
Fine Gael councillor Tom Acheson asked if it would be possible to remove the hoarding around the building as it was somewhat of an eyesore.
"Would it be possible to get to the stage that we could take down the hoarding before the internal works would start? The visual from the street is what makes Parkes special, and if it’s going to take three or four or five more years at the pace we’re moving at like all things, we’re depending on central funding which is slow,” he said.
Mayor of Clonmel Pat English said that a “serious” amount of money had been spent on the building, and said that the hoarding was a matter of security for the building.
District director for Clonmel Jonathan Cooney told councillors that an application under the Urban Regeneration and Development Fund (URDF) was going to be lodged for the former chemist in May.
"The decision on that will be a quick turnaround process but I would suggest to the members that we wait until the decision is made to make a call about the hoarding,” Mr Cooney said.
District administrator for the Clonmel Borough District said that the money that had already been received in funding would allow for the building to be prepared for future works.
"My understanding on the €32,000 is that it’s to clean it out and to get it ready for future works. There’s a lot of pigeon droppings in there and there’s a lot of other material left in there, so it’s to clean out the building,” councillors were told.