Ambitious ‘Castle Quarter’ project will rejuvenate Enniscorthy – but ‘collateral damage’ expected as sports shop and apartments to be removed

By Simon Bourke, Wexford People

Plans to create a new ‘Castle Quarter’ in the heart of Enniscorthy have been submitted by Wexford County Council (WCC) as it continues works to regenerate and rejuvenate the centre of the town. However, despite these plans being broadly welcomed by local councillors, there is a sense that the project has been fast-tracked without sufficient engagement with elected representatives.

At a special meeting held in the Presentation Centre those six councillors were informed that the project, which will see a number of renovation works carried out on Castle Street and its surrounds, was to be submitted for planning within 24 hours and that time was of the essence if funding is to be secured.

As part of the project, the former ballroom/nightclub building built on the original castle garden will be dismantled. The structures to the rear of 6-7 Castle Street will be removed. A new public garden with a raised deck overlooking the town will be created.

And a full refurbishment of the three storey Victorian building at 6/7 Castle Street for use as a ticket office and café, with exhibition rooms above, will be carried out.

This will see what Councillor Pat Kehoe referred to as some “collateral damage”, namely the removal of the popular MySport shop on Castle Street as well as ten residential apartments. Upon hearing this news, Cllr Aidan Browne was keen to ensure MySport would be facilitated elsewhere in the town as a matter of priority.

"That has been one of the most successful shops in Enniscorthy,” he said. “I just hope that we have spoken to them and explained that we’re doing everything we can to find another premises for them because it’s definitely something we don’t want to lose.”

He received the support of Cllr Kehoe who called upon the council to secure alternative accommodation for the families affected by the project.

The view from the courtyard garden. Image: Moloney O’Berne Architects

"That sports shop has been trading there for a number of years, it’s the only sports shop in the town – unfortunately sometimes there has to be collateral damage and it looks like the shop is going to be it. There’s ten apartments there and that’s ten families, I hope they’re going to be prioritised for housing when we have to move them.”

Michael Sweeney of the council’s housing acquisition team said they had been engaging with both MySport and the residents of those apartments since the project was first unveiled in 2024 and that tenants had been contacted regarding a compulsory purchase order (CPO) of the buildings.

“We have written to the involved parties to explain that process,” he said. “We have contacted An Coimisiún Pleanála (ACP) about the CPO of these buildings and we expect to have a decision from them by April 1. We will allow the tenants to remain in situ for as long as possible, and we will work with them in a sensitive manner.”

Rather than lose something, Cllr Browne suggested something else be added to the project to make it even better.

“Surely now is the time to look at securing funding to buy the Athenaeum and making it a part of this project,” he suggested. “Can I propose we purchase it as part of this development?”

That proposal was swiftly seconded by Cllr Jackser Owens and supported by Cllr Kehoe.

“The Athenaeum represents a unique opportunity for Enniscorthy,” said the latter. “It would be the 10pc that would finish this project off perfectly, we could bring the 1798 Centre in on-site and it would become the heritage part of Enniscorthy. The 1798 Centre is off the beaten track at the moment.”

Reminiscing about the days 150 people were dancing in the Athenaeum and the entry fee was just four pence, Cllr Owens requested that an important public facility be part of the project.

"Is it possible to have public toilets there? We haven’t had public toilets in Enniscorthy since the 1970s.”

Meanwhile, Cllr John O’Rourke urged the people of the town to come together and join Team Enniscorthy.

“It’s inevitable that there will be qualms about this project, but if we want to move forward and improve our local economy this has to happen,” he said. “Everyone needs to row in behind it and stop looking for negatives, roll up the sleeves and don’t whinge or complain about it. Work together and let’s all be part of Team Enniscorthy.”

Cathaoirleach of the Enniscorthy Municipal District (EMD), Councillor Barbara Anne Murphy, went as far to suggest that a bid for The Athenaeum be submitted and that its current owners would be open to a potential sale.

“I’m sure the church would have no problem selling it because they’ve already sold The Manse. They have their own financial difficulties and I don’t think it’s something they’d be looking to hold onto if it was going to be bought by the council, it’s a great opportunity and we should go for it.”

But any hopes of The Athenaeum being included in the Castle Quarter project were swiftly dashed by Sean Meyler of WCC’s special projects team.

“It’s a great idea but it’s not part of this project,” he said. “We’re up against it in terms of time, we want to have this submitted for planning within 24 hours so that we can have it approved before the window for funding closes. If we were to bring The Athenaeum into the project it would delay it.”

An aerial view of the completed project. Image: Moloney O’Berne Architects

Director of services Carolyne Godkin was also in favour of the potential inclusion of The Athenaeum in the development, but not at this moment in time.

“It’s not owned by WCC, it’s owned by the parish. Should that situation change we are open to discussing it with them,” she said. “There’s an appetite to over complicate projects in Enniscorthy, we need to focus on what’s in front of us and secure the funding for that. There’s nothing to stop further expansion in the future but let’s do this first.

With an overriding sense of urgency regarding the project, Cllr Kehoe couldn’t help but feel he and his colleagues were being backed into a corner and that they had no say in the matter either way at this late stage.

“This plan came to us 14 months ago, it’s been in the design process for that long without any consultation with the six councillors here, now we have 24 hours before it’s going to planning. It’s very unfair on us not to be included in the consultation process.

“It didn't come back to us so we could talk about the 1798 Centre or The Athenaeum, now it seems like we’re being told ‘here’s the plans, it’s going in tomorrow’. What’s this meeting for? You’re just going to submit it for planning anyway.”

Mr Meyler bristled at the suggestion he and his team had not been accessible during the design process.

“I’ve never heard any proposal to include The Athenaeum in this project, it wasn’t mentioned in December 2024. You all have our phone numbers. To suggest we’re putting a gun to your heads . . .”

“No one mentioned a gun,” said Cllr Kehoe.

“This is the project we brought to you in December 2024 with modifications,” insisted Mr Meyler as he detailed the number of survey works, archaeological investigations, and reports which had to be prepared to reach this stage in the process.

Accepting that the team had been busy, Cllr Browne also felt that there hadn’t been enough consultation with the councillors since December 2024.

“It’s wrong to say The Athenaeum hasn’t been mentioned, it’s always been part of the discussions here. If members of the special projects team were at these meetings they might realise what’s being said.”

With Cllr Owens calling for the minutes of previous meetings being checked to prove how often The Athenaeum had been referenced, Mr Meyler provided the details everyone had been waiting for. Anticipating that construction will commence in early 2028 with a completion date of late 2028/early 2029 he informed Cllr Owens that three public toilets were to be included in the project.

“Can we put more in?” came the response.