Clara GAA outlines plans to refurbish St Brigid’s Convent

Clara GAA has said a proposed redevelopment of St Brigid's Convent has the potential to completely transform the building into a valuable community resource and focal point within the town.

The club recently applied for planning permission for the refurbishment of the existing St Brigid’s Convent building on the Kilbeggan Road, Clara, which will involve the construction of a two-storey extension to the rear of the existing building on a phased basis.

This will provide dressing rooms and associated facilities, toilets, storage, plant room, gym, and the erection of a spectator stand, ball wall and all-weather training area. The development will also incorporate the provision of carparking, paths, paving, walking track lighting, floodlighting, alterations to pitches, ball stops, dug-outs, landscaping, fencing and railings, foul sewer drainage, surface water drainage to a soakaway on site, and all associated site development works.

It will also include the demolition of the existing ball wall and rear extensions.

Clara GAA previously applied for the Built Heritage Investment Scheme in 2023 to upgrade and restore a series of original timber sash windows which had fallen into disrepair and these works were completed in September 2023.

The club currently uses a small building in the south-east corner of the site as dressing rooms, but according to planning documents, this facility is sub-standard in terms of size and isn't positioned in a location close to the pitches. The GAA club has chosen to develop a scheme which integrates its needs with the existing convent so that the building will obtain a new lease of life.

It's proposed to construct the extension on a phased basis. The first phase will involve the construction of a single storey extension to the rear of the existing building to provide dressing rooms, toilets, a plant room and associated facilities.

The second phase will involve the construction of the two-storey extension to create an enclosed courtyard space which will accommodate the proposed gym and circulation spaces. The creation of the enclosed courtyard will enable the external walls of the courtyard to be weathered.

The structure has been designed to create a split-level roof above the gym which will be an independent structure to the convent building.

The existing chapel is being used as a gym space and once the new gym is constructed, this space can be used as a dining space or function room. It has extensive mosaics on the walls, so it is not possible to provide adequate fixings in the chapel for gym equipment and the space is too small for a team gym facility.

The proposed extension is necessary to provide the dressing room facilities adjacent to the pitches, the gym space and the public toilets.

The extension also provides a lift to ensure the extension and the first floor of the convent are universally accessible. At present the first floor is only accessible by stairs.

There is a significant shortage of community space in Clara and the locals hope to use these spaces to meet the demands from an ever-increasing community.

The planning application states that the premises will be able to cater for a wide variety of groups including the local Fire Brigade, Clara Ladies club, Clara Athletics club, Clara Christmas lights, local weight watchers, Clara Musical Society, and a number of other community groups.

St Brigid’s Convent was built in 1862 and is deemed a Protected Structure as per County Offaly: Record of Protected Structures.

A decision is due on the application by May 26.