Famous Galway music venue that hosted Sinéad O’Connor and Coldplay to become nursing home
Developers Bartra have secured permission for a 131 bedroom nursing home in Galway on the site of the former Warwick nightclub, once host to famous music acts including Sinéad O’Connor, Coldplay, New Order and The Pogues.
Galway City Council granted planning for the four storey development at the O’Connor’s Warwick Hotel site on Upper Salthill Rd that also housed the Oasis nightclub. Both are now demolished.
The site has been vacant for a number of years. A previous 2019 An Bord Pleanála planning permission for a 60 bedroom nursing home secured by Dublin firm Rushmany Nursing Home Ltd was not proceeded with.
Bartra currently has a separate application for a 104 bedroom nursing home for Dalkey in South Dublin before An Bord Pleanála. It is proposed for lands adjacent to the home of broadcaster Pat Kenny and is facing strong opposition from the Newstalk presenter and other residents.
The healthcare arm of the Bartra property group operates three nursing homes and one step-down facility.
Bartra had initially sought permission from Galway City Council last July for a 154 bedroom nursing home at the former Warwick site.
However, after the Council expressed concern over the scale of the then five storey facility, Bartra removed the top floor and reduced the number of bedrooms from 154 to 131.
Its planning consultant, Patricia Thornton of Thornton O’Connor Town Planning, told the council the principle of such a “valuable community service” in the area of Salthill was established with the previous grant of permission for a nursing home on the site.
[ ‘It was an eyesore for a long time’: the landmark Galway venues and nightclubs left idle
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Ms Thornton submitted that the principle of larger and higher-density development “is considered acceptable by both Galway City Council and An Bord Pleanála”.
She stated that the nursing home has a high-quality design and will enhance the local streetscape.
The council received five submissions including one from Stefanesco Andrei who said the original 154 bedroom scheme was a “totally excessive number of bed spaces which will lead to traffic chaos and unsuitable parking”.
The Galway resident said while the site was suitable for a nursing home, the proposal was too dominant and represented an over-intensification of development.
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Green light for 131-bed nursing home
Digital edition of
14 February 2025
Published: 14 February 2025
From this week’s Galway City Tribune
~ 3 minutes read
A new 131-bedroom nursing home on the site of the former Warwick Hotel in Salthill has been granted planning permission by Galway City Council.
The four-storey development is planned for an area that also encompasses the adjoining site of the former Oasis nightclub, a former small shop unit and two semi-detached houses, all of which have been demolished.
The company behind the plan, Bartra Property (Galway NH) Limited, had applied last year for permission to build a 154-bedroom nursing home, part four-storey, part five-storey, on the 1.3 acre Upper Salthill site.
However, following concerns raised by city planners and local residents, the company scaled back the plans to an overall height of four storeys – lowering the maximum height by 1.3m – and a reduction of 23 in bedroom numbers.
The owners of the Warwick site, Sharon and Paul Conlon of Rushmany Nursing Home Ltd, purchased the former hotel at the end of 2015 for a figure believed to be in the region of €700,000 and the following year secured planning permission for its demolition.
They were granted planning permission by Galway City Council for a 60-bed nursing home, a decision that was confirmed by An Bord Pleanála in 2019 after the sole objector failed to turn up at an oral hearing into his appeal.
However, the nursing home was never built and last July the new application, encompassing the hotel site and the site of the adjoining properties, was made by Bartra, a company owned by property developer Mike Flannery. Among the large projects his company is involved in is the O’Devaney Gardens redevelopment in Dublin, which will deliver more than 1,000 new homes. He is also a director of Bartra Healthcare, a group of nursing homes and transitional care units.
A number of submissions were made to Galway City Council in relation to the proposed development, mainly by residents of the neighbouring Lenaboy Park.
Most welcomed in principle the construction of a nursing home on a site that one said had been an eyesore for years, and another said it would bring significant benefits to the local community, where there was an ageing population with a rising demand for quality elder care facilities.
But several expressed concerns about the height and density of the proposed nursing home and its overshadowing or overlooking effect on their homes, while fears were also expressed that 30 carparking spaces were too few and could lead to overspill parking in their area.
In deciding to grant permission for the nursing home, the City Council has laid down a number of conditions, including a requirement to erect a barrier to protect the masonry section of the historic gateway leading into Lenaboy Park during construction.
The developers must also prepare a newsletter giving an outline of the length of the construction period, the construction hours, method of delivery of materials/goods etc, to be be sent to the nearby residential estates and business – with an update to be sent out at least every four months during construction.
In addition to the standard contribution of €222,240 to the City Council towards the cost of provision of public services, the company must also make a special financial contribution of €30,000 towards the cost of provision of junction improvements in the area.
Pictured: An image of the original proposal for the nursing home — the developers have been given the green light after agreeing to remove the fifth storey.
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Objections to plans to build nursing home at former Warwick Hotel site in Salthill
A decision is due this month on plans to build a nursing home on the site of the former Warwick Hotel in Salthill.
Some local residents say they welcome the plans in principle, but have issues with the scale, while others argue it’s completely excessive and unsuitable.
Several submissions from nearby residents welcome the nursing home in principle and agree it’ll be a good addition to the area.
One says it’s particularly welcome given the iconic site has been derelict for years and was an “eyesore”.
But they do raise concerns over the height and scale, and the potential for overshadowing of some nearby properties.
One claims the design of the nursing home would leave it almost six metres higher than the former Warwick Hotel.
Others are far more pointed in their objections – describing it as excessive in almost every element of its design.
One argues that 30 parking spaces for a 157 bed unit is “outrageous” given the amount of staff that would be on duty, as well as high numbers of visitors.
City planners are due to make a decision later this month.
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