McLaughlin Building, Nun's Island/Gaol Road Nun's Island, Galway City Co. Galway
Refurbishment and extension of the McLaughlin Building for educational use, adding two floors to make it a six-storey building.
2560380 · Galway City Council · Lodged 16 December 2025
- Reference
- 2560380
- Authority
- Galway City Council
- Register status
- In progress
- Type
- PERMISSION
- Received
- 16 December 2025
Summary
AI-generatedThe project involves the refurbishment and extension of the McLaughlin Building, a protected structure, for educational use by the university. Works include removing the mid-to-late 20th-century roof and fifth floor, and constructing two additional floors to increase the building height to six storeys. The overall floor area will increase from 2,962.17 sqm to 3,962.7 sqm.
- Storeys
- 6
- Floor area
- 3,963 m²
Generated from the description above by an AI model and may contain mistakes. The council’s description is the authoritative record.
Official record
Development description
- Permission for development which consists of: the refurbishment and extension of the mclaughlin building (a protected structure rps ref. 7406 former mill - nuig) for educational use including associated academic teaching and study spaces; administrative areas; staff and student welfare facilities; café and ancillary plant and storage areas. The mclaughlin building occupies the site of a 17th century causeway (a recorded monument ga094-100033) situated on the eglinton canal/gaol river (a protected structure rps ref. 8501 rivers/waterways) and contains a series of culverts beneath the building. The proposed works to the mclaughlin building will include the removal of the mid- to late-20th century roof and fifth floor level (approx. 374.1 sqm gross floor area (gfa)); and the construction of two additional floors, resulting in an overall increase in height of the building from 5 storeys to 6 storeys (with maximum proposed height of 30.03 m aod, c. 23.22m above proposed ground floor level). The proposed works will result in an increase in gfa from 2,962.17 sqm to 3,962.7 sqm. Further interventions to the mclaughlin building will include
- Removal of existing mid- to late 20th century building fabric the south-west corner to be replaced with an esb substation and switchroom at ground floor level overclad with perforated aluminium panels to match proposed new aluminium curtain walling with glazed openings on upper levels
- Provision of a new external stair and lift core on the north elevation
- Removal of selected areas of the late 20th century internal steel frame and concrete slabs, provision of new foundations in selected areas, new ground floor slab build-up throughout and new structural frame to support the additional floors
- Existing 20th century windows and doors to be replaced with new thermally broken aluminium doors and windows to match existing openings, and repair of window reveals and cills
- Creation of new entrance on the northern elevation (incorporating two original window openings); enlargement of three existing openings at ground floor level of southern elevations and alterations to two window and door openings to provide compliant door openings to the new escape stair to the northern elevation
- Removal of cement render and retention and repair of original rubble and limestone masonry walls
- Removal of mid to late 20th century extension to the northern elevation
- Removal of non-original subdivisions and provision of new
Land-use zoning
What this land is zoned for
“To provide for light industry and commercial uses other than those reserved in the CC zone”
National zoning type: Community facilities
Objective set by the Galway City Development Plan 2023 - 2029 (2023–2029). The planning authority decides each application on its own merits — this is the zoning context, not a compliance assessment.
Read the zoning objectives in the development planBuilt & sold
What happened next
Beyond the decision: whether this development was built, and what property here has sold for.
Recent sales nearby
within 500 m| Address | Date | Price | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18 Altenagh House, Nuns Island, Galway | Feb 2026 | €395,000 | 45 m |
| 1 Altenach, House Nuns Island, Galway | Jul 2025 | €350,000 | 45 m |
| 13 The Waterhouse, Fishermans Wharf, Bowling Green | Apr 2025 | €415,000 | 136 m |
| 23 Fishermans Wharf, Bowling Green, Galway | Jul 2025 | €560,000 | 136 m |
| Apt 3 1 New Rd, New Rd, Galway | Nov 2025 | €325,000 | 144 m |
| 16 Mill St, Galway, Galway | Jun 2026 | €700,000 | 147 m |
| 10 Fishermans Wharf, Bowling Green, Galway | Aug 2025 | €310,000 | 153 m |
| 46 New Rd, Galway | Jun 2026 | €415,000 | 154 m |
Nearby properties, not this site — a guide to local values.
Sources: Building Control Management System (commencement notices) and the Residential Property Price Register, licensed under CC BY 4.0. Records are matched to this application by location and may not be exhaustive; always confirm against the official source before relying on them.
Key dates
Timeline
- Application received16 December 2025
- Further information requested18 February 2026
- Further information received1 May 2026
- Decision due15 July 2026
In the area
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17322Galway CityLodged 23 Nov 2017Alterations
- Granted80 m away
Permission for the retention and completion of minor floor level reduction roof modifications and associated…
14 Nuns Island , Galway
16195Galway CityLodged 13 Jul 2016Retention
- Granted130 m away
Permission for development which will consist of the retention of the existing Presbytery and associated…
Presentation Road , Galway
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The Cloisters , 24 Nuns Island , Galway
20211Galway CityLodged 7 Aug 2020Retention
- Granted140 m away
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21223Galway CityLodged 29 Jun 2021Alterations
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