Lawless Hotel Revival: Buy - Restore - Reopen

13/06/2026

Tipperary County Council has been granted approval by An Coimisiún Pleanála to compulsorily purchase the derelict former Kearney’s Castle Hotel in Cashel, which has been vacant for a decade.

The hotel on Cashel’s Main Street closed in December 2016 and has lain empty since.

The property includes a 15th century tower house, and a three-storey building next to it. The building fell into disrepair after the hotel’s closure, and was added to the derelict sites register in 2024.

Last October, Tipperary County Council served a compulsory purchase order (CPO) on the property in order to take it out of dereliction.

Read the full article: https://www.independent.ie/county/tipperary/derelict-tipperary-hotel-will-be-bought-by-council-under-compulsory-purchase-order/a/155253515.html?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=seeding

06/02/2026

Portarlington Market House unveiled after €2 million makeover

Excitement is building after the recent makeover of Portarlington Market House, which has been renovated as a community hub and is about to officially open to serve the community.

Builder Terry Higgins of Braemar Construction brought the Leinster Express on a tour of the place before its official opening in February. He said it was a special opportunity to work on a building that he has lived close to all his life.

“Most of the craftsmen who worked on it are local. We used heritage materials like blue bangor slate and lime mortar. It's a fantastic change now; credit to Gerry Murphy before he retired from the council, he pushed it through,” he said.

The Market House has a fully accessible lift upstairs, where huge heritage-grade sash windows give views up the streets, with dark timber woodwork creating a warm A-rated interior.

The new occupants will be the volunteer group Portarlington Community Development Association (PCDA), who are signing a lease to move in this March.

Denise Rainey, Town Regeneration Officer with Laois County Council spoke about the opening;

“This project ticks the 'regeneration of derelict' box, but we wanted it to have a specific purpose, in response to the needs of the community. So if a visitor comes to Portarlington, this will be their first port of call; there will be a reception desk, and they can talk to someone and find out all that Port has to offer.”

The main room is to be a meeting room for the town, to fit up to fifty people seated.

“This room will be a valuable space for the community, for PCDA training courses and for public meetings. There will be two big televisions for training,” Ms Rainey said.

It is also expected to house some of the extensive historic Ronnie Mathews archive.

The project was overseen by Robin Lee Architects and Cora Construction Engineers and local archaeologist Colm Flynn.

https://www.leinsterexpress.ie/news/pictures---videos/2005938/pictures-portarlington-market-house-renovated-as-community-hub.html

Portarlington Business Association Sustainability Group
Portarlington Fans Page
The Red Shed Portarlington
Point at Port
Portarlington Community Centre

14/01/2026

The excitement for the next chapter is building 🥳❤️

28/12/2025

Rumour has it, I’ve found someone to love me,
A soft light flickering where shadows used to be.
The quiet corners of my heart stir anew,
It looks like I may have found love again,
A tender beginning after what once had been.
The world feels warmer, colors richer, more true And even the night hums a brighter hue.
Let’s all hope this love is true and lasts,
Someone who sees my potential and will
Bring my beauty to shine bright in the village once again.
I’m so very hopeful that exciting times are on the horizon.

07/12/2025

Sharing again due to time wasters 😝

HISTORIC HOTEL SEEKS COMMITTED PARTNER FOR LONG-TERM RELATIONSHIP;

Hello there, it’s me; your dream fixer-upper with hundreds of years of emotional (and structural) depth.

Born in the seventeen hundreds, (yes, I’m ancient: but in a “bring-me-back-to-life-and-I’ll-look-gorgeous” kind of way),
nestled in a ridiculously picturesque Irish picture postcard countryside town of Aughrim, in the Garden County where the mist rolls in like theatre curtains and the locals still know the names of your grandparents, I’m a once-thriving hotel with too much potential to be left swiping aimlessly through the lonely hearts column.

I’ve got charm in spades, history in every stone, and room for so much more than cobwebs. I’m a historic hotel with more legends than a local spinning yarns over a pint in the pub after closing time.

Character? Check.
Original features? Oh yes. They’re just waiting to be uncovered (if you know where to look)!

I’ve seen it all, mischief, merriment and maybe a few mild hauntings (the friendly kind, don’t worry). I’ve hosted weary travelers, secret lovers, and more than one accordion competition. But now? I’m a little... lonely.

What I’m looking for:
A dreamer-doer combo. Someone who can see the magic (and the manageable to-do list), who isn’t afraid of a little restoration romance, and who wants to breathe life into a place that’s just waiting to sparkle again.

I need someone. Not just anyone—a special someone. Someone who:

Can see past the peeling wallpaper to the centuries of charm underneath
Will lovingly restore me, not slap me with “modern minimalism”
Appreciates long walks through misty meadows along Aughrims soon to be Green Way or up to our county football ground, all on my doorstep!
Maybe someone who can fix a roof,
Has a soft spot for heritage, tea by the fire, and the occasional banshee wail on a windy night.

In return, I offer:

A unique business opportunity, endless character, both architectural and emotional, a community ready to welcome you with open arms and stories that go back generations, all hoping you’ll call Aughrim and the walls of this historic hotel home.

The chance to sleep every night inside actual history. The rare opportunity to build a thriving business with genuine soul.

A chance to employ local craftspeople and hospitality talent; seriously, the town is bursting with skilled, kind people who want to see me shine.

And yes - real profit potential, once you get past the initial wooing stage! 😉
Think of it as a love story with spreadsheets.

This isn’t just about saving an old building.
It’s about becoming part of a community, reviving a piece of living history, and making something truly special—for yourself, your guests, and the people who’ve always believed in this place.

So if you're ready for a commitment that could pay off in both euros and warm fuzzy feelings, don’t let me crumble alone.

If you’ve ever dreamed of running a boutique hotel where the past whispers through every keyhole; let’s chat.

Don’t let four centuries of charm go to waste. I’ve waited this long for you—don’t ghost me now.

Sincerely,
The Very Historic Beautiful Lawless Hotel (Desperately Seeking Restoration and Love)

07/12/2025

What a beautiful building in neighbouring Rathdrum. Sadly left to rot. 😏
Wishing them the best of luck in their quest for 2026.