26th May (Issue 548)
Welcome to the Origin Capital Weekly Irish Property Review. This update is designed to provide you with a full recap of the latest property news from the media over the last seven days.
RETAIL
Longford Town TWM is guiding €3m for Longford Town Centre. Located on the site of a former meat processing facility which had been owned and operated by ABP Food Group, the ambitious Celtic Tiger-era shopping centre, which extends to 253,680 sq. ft with 344 car-parking spaces over three levels, has lain entirely vacant since its completion. The centre was acquired in 2018 by its current owners, the Omniplex Cinema Group, who operate the neighbouring multiplex cinema, from receivers acting on behalf of NAMA for about €1m. It is positioned on a 1.8-acre plot on the banks of the Camlin river in the centre of the town. The Irish Times, 20th May
Henry Street, Dublin 1 Carrolls Irish Gifts have acquired their premises at No 44 Henry Street. Having occupied the property under a single 35-year full repairing and insuring lease since April 1995, the company has secured ownership of the property for €4.15m. The figure represents a slight premium on the €4m price that had been guided by Colliers when it put the building up for sale in January. Carrolls Irish Gifts had been paying a rent of €362,000 a year before its acquisition of the property, and its lease, which had been due to expire in April 2030, was subject to upward-only rent reviews. Number 44 Henry Street extends to a net internal area of 4,263 sq. ft in total and comes with independent access to the upper floors from O’Connell Street. The Irish Times, 20th May
Drogheda, Co. Louth Boots has agreed terms for a new 12,400 sq. ft store at Scotch Hall Shopping Centre. The new store will combine three ground-floor mall units with additional basement accommodation. The announcement follows the recent opening of a six-screen cinema by Omniplex Cinemas at the centre. Scotch Hall was developed in the early 2000s by Gerry Barrett and acquired by Omniplex for about €21m in 2023. The landlord is also seeking planning permission from Louth County Council for the nearby South Bank development, which would include 172 apartments across five blocks and a 107-bedroom hotel. The Irish Times, 20th May
HOSPITALITY
Swords, Co. Dublin Lisney is guiding €2.35m for Forty Four, a small hotel on Swords Main Street. The Forty Four used to be known as the Hawthorn Hotel and it once had 17 bedrooms. As part of a €350,000 refurbishment to convert it into a boutique-style hotel, the number of bedrooms was reduced to 14. A two-storey and part three-storey mid-terrace building, it extends to 7,998 sq. ft, of which the ground floor, with its bar, lounge and kitchen, accounts for 3,735 sq. ft. Its upper floors extend to 4,263 sq. ft. Its food and beverage trade will also benefit from the strong local demographics of Swords, while demand for its accommodation will benefit from travellers availing of its proximity to Dublin Airport. The Irish Independent, 21st May
Dunshaughlin, Co. Meath Lisney is guiding €1.7m for Peter’s pub. Standing on 0.38 acres, the detached premises is much larger than it seems from the front and it extends to 7,212 sq. ft. At ground-floor level, the lounge bar areas are complemented by a well-appointed rear beer garden. Its first floor used to accommodate a nightclub, with separate access from the right of the pub, but in recent years this has been converted to a function room with its own kitchen. Lisney says the first-floor function room also offers potential for a change of use to guest accommodation, subject to the necessary planning permissions. It also benefits from a small car park to the rear which has side access. The Irish Independent, 21st May
OFFICE
Ballsbridge, Dublin 4 Having paid just under €15m in 2022 for two 1980s office blocks known collectively as the Nutley Building on Merrion Road, M7 Real Estate has instructed Lisney to find a buyer for one of them. Better known as the AIG building by virtue of being occupied historically by the global insurer, Block B is being offered to the market with full vacant possession at a guide price of €6.25m. The vendor, M7 Real Estate, is retaining ownership of the neighbouring building having secured full occupancy at the 26,147 sq. ft property following the letting of 4,160 sq. ft of office space to St Vincent’s University Hospital in 2023. Located near the junction of Merrion Road and Nutley Lane, almost immediately adjacent to St Vincent’s University Hospital campus, Block B comprises 16,840 sq. ft of office space distributed across five floors. The Irish Times, 20th May
Maynooth, Co. Kildare A private Irish investor has bought the office building located at Unit K8, Maynooth Business Campus which was listed with a guide price of €4m. Sherry FitzGerald Brady O’Flaherty confirmed the sale of the property extending to approximately 17,298 sq. ft over two floors. The energy-efficient contemporary building was completely refurbished in 2022 and has 28 car parking spaces. The entire building is let to two blue-chip international companies with 10-year leases from Q3 2022 and is subject to a current combined rent of approximately €356,000. The Business Post, 21st May
Industrial
Citywest, Dublin 24 The Sandymark Group is to deliver a new 98,57 sq. ft headquarters warehouse facility at Citywest Business Campus. The development at 2021 Bianconi Avenue is being offered for sale or alternatively to let in advance of its completion by joint agents Cushman & Wakefield and BNP Paribas Real Estate. The guide price is €25.63m, about €260 psf, while the quoting rent is €15 psf. The facility will comprise a highly sustainable LEED Gold-certified logistics headquarters upon completion. The warehouse will have a clear internal height of 13m and 13 dock levellers. The Sandymark Group has delivered more than 6m sq. ft of industrial space for Irish and international occupiers to date in the nearby area of Greenogue. The company also recently commenced construction of the first phase of a new large-scale logistics scheme at Mitchelstown in Cork. The Irish Times, 20th May
MIXED USE
Galway City Cushman & Wakefield is guiding €4.5m (9.37% GIY) for Merchants Square on Dock Street/Merchant’s Road, a reduction on the €6.5m quoted for it when it previously came to the market in 2021. Since then, its rent roll has increased from €372,070 to €421,735 per annum. The property extends to 21,560 sq. ft over four floors, its office accommodation is located at ground, first, second and third floors with the fourth floor accommodating one two-bed and two one-bed apartments. Merchants Square currently generates €378,055 of its annual rent from three commercial tenants, Grant Thorton, Quidel and The Dean Clinic. Three residential units also generate combined rents of €43,680. Given that 2,228 sq. ft on a portion of the third floor is still unlet, it also has reversionary potential. It also offers further potential, as planning permission was granted in 2019 for the construction of an additional floor comprising four apartments, though that permission has since expired. The Irish Independent, 21st May
Frankfield, Cork BIG Property is guiding €2.85m for Ballycurreen House, in Ballycurreen, Frankfield. The mixed-use commercial asset consists of a two-storey building of approximately 20,000 sq. ft, arranged over five separate office suites, as well as a 7,700 sq. ft warehouse, all set on a generous site that could lend itself to further development. The property also benefits from around 110 car parking spaces. Three units are let to Joda, McLarens Chartered Loss Adjusters and Acorn Life generating a combined annual rent of €143,046. The three vacant units include a 1,507 sq. ft first floor office suite and a 3,500 sq. ft office on the ground floor. The third vacancy relates to the warehouse and yard. The complex is located just off the N27 Kinsale Rd (Airport Rd) and South Ring Rd, approximately 3.5 km south of Cork city. The Irish Examiner, 21st May
RESIDENTIAL / DEVELOPMENT
Drogheda, Co. Louth Bannon is guiding €5.75m for a 27.1-acre holding next to the M1 Retail Park in Drogheda. Located just 600m from junction 10 (Drogheda North) of the M1 motorway, the land has dual road frontage with profile on to both the N51 and R168. The land, which is in agricultural use currently, is zoned “E1 – general employment” under the Louth County Development Plan 2021-2027. Planning permission was granted in May 2025 for the development of a single high-bay warehouse unit extending to 34,950 sq. ft together with associated roads and related infrastructure on part of the overall site. The proposal also includes two separate access points on to the N51 and R168 respectively. The Irish Times, 20th May
Ballinteer, Dublin A residential development site in Ballinteer, with full planning permission for 31 apartments has been brought to the market. The 1.1-acre site on Ballinteer Road is being offered for sale through Lisney, with bids sought by 5pm on July 2. The property currently comprises an existing detached residence known as part of the original Ballinteer Lodge alongside extensions added during the 1970s. The site is zoned Objective A under the Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Development Plan 2022–2028, with the objective “to provide residential development and improve residential amenity while protecting existing residential amenities”. Full planning permission was granted in August 2024 for a scheme comprising 31 apartments across three separate blocks. The approved development includes 12 one-bedroom apartments and 19 two-bedroom units, alongside 32 car parking spaces, including 28 basement spaces and four surface spaces. The Business Post, 21st May
Development Land Market Ireland’s development land market recorded a strong start to 2026, with €197.7m transacting across 22 deals, according to the latest report from Savills Ireland. This represents a 55% increase in combined value while the number of deals is up 5% compared with the same period a year ago and the best first-quarter performance since 2019. Dublin City Council accounted for €90m of the Q1 figure with its purchase of the 3.6-acre Camden Yard site near Saint Patrick’s Cathedral. The mixed-use site could supply it with new offices extending to 407,300 sq. ft as well as 299 residential units. The second-largest deal was for an undeclared amount of residential land in Newbridge, Co Kildare. The third was for 31 acres of residential land in Ratoath, Co Meath, which sold for €26m and it has planning approval for 350 new homes. The Irish Independent, 22nd May
Cork Docklands A Bord na Móna site in Cork docklands with potential for 300 “affordable” homes has been transferred to the Land Development Agency (LDA) as residential development gathers pace in an area pivotal to the city’s future growth. The 5-acre Monahan Rd site, known locally as Suttons Coals, is situated between the recently proposed Docklands and Páirc Uí Chaoimh Luas stops and is directly across the road from the former Live at the Marquee venue, where the LDA is partnering with Glenveagh Properties Plc on the delivery of 337 apartments at Marina Depot. The planned development of the former coal yard will add to the LDA’s ongoing activity in Cork, where already close to 1,400 homes are either in planning or already under construction. The Irish Examiner, 20th May
Walkinstown, Dublin 12 Plans for 583 apartments in Walkinstown can proceed after An Coimisiún Pleanála (ACP) rejected an appeal from a nearby waste facility to block the development. KeyWaste Ltd, since renamed KeyGreen Ltd, which operates a 24-hour waste facility in Greenhills Industrial Estate next to the site, was concerned that complaints from future residents over noise and smells could see restrictions placed on its operations. Planning permission was originally granted to Steeplefield Ltd by South Dublin County Council for a large-scale residential development in December 2025. The site off Greenhills Road will accommodate 288 one-bed apartments, 238 two-bed apartments, and 57 three-bed apartments in four blocks ranging from five to 11 storeys in height. The development will also include space for a childcare facility and seven ground-floor commercial units. It will have car parking for 267 vehicles and 1,269 bicycles. The Irish Times, 25th May
Blackrock, Co. Dublin Plans for more than 230 apartments and 16 townhouses in Blackrock can proceed after ACP rejected an appeal from local residents to block the development. The decision comes following nearly eight years of various rejected applications for planning permission on the site. In 2024, ACP rejected planning permission for 355 build-to-rent apartments at the same location. The site is currently part of the original gardens associated with Chesterfield House, a protected structure. The particular area subject to development features mostly greenfield and several disused outhouses, which will be demolished. The site off Cross Avenue will accommodate 42 one-bed apartments, 137 two-bed units, and 56 three-bed apartments in two blocks ranging from five to eight storeys over basement in height. The site will additionally include 16 five-bed townhouses, each of them three storeys high. The Irish Times, 26th May
OTHER
Newcastle, Co. Wicklow JLL is guiding €16.2m for Newcastle Aerodrome in Wicklow. Extending to 141 acres, the facility is in active use as a licensed airfield. Located 45km south of Dublin city centre, Newcastle Aerodrome is a coastal airfield with a 690m-long grass runway. The facility is operational all year round and has a range of supporting infrastructure, including hangars, offices, and operational buildings, all of which are in good condition. The site also includes a disused residential dwelling, presenting potential for refurbishment or repurposing. Newcastle Aerodrome is located within Class G airspace, allowing unrestricted flight operations without the need for clearance from air traffic control. The airfield is designated as a customs-approved entry and exit point for aircraft travelling to and from the UK. In addition, the aerodrome benefits from its own air traffic zone which, again, has no restriction on movement. The Irish Times, 20th May
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