Dereliction order placed on Main Street Laois pub

A legal notice of dereliction has been issued to the owners of a vacant Portlaoise pub.

The historic Charles Keegan's pub on 16 Main Street / Bridge Street has lain vacant since 2017. 

Laois County Council has placed a Derelict Sites notice on the property this October.

"Laois County Council is of the opinion that the land situated at Bridge Street, Portlaoise in the townland of Maryborough... is a derelict site within the meaning of the Derelict Sites Act 1990.

"And take further notice that the local authority in exercise of the powers conferred on it by Section 8 of the Derelict Sites Act intends to enter the lands in question on the Derelict Sites Register".

The owner may make representations to the council about entering the land on the Derelict Sites Register.

If it is placed on the register, a derelict site fine will be imposed on the owner, to be paid every year with interest added if unpaid.

"Should the property be entered on the Derelict Sites Register, after consideration by the council of your representations, the market value of same will be established. A derelict site levy shall be charged at the rate of 7% of the market value of the property concerned, annually. Interest shall be charged should teh levy not be paid within the first two months of each local financial year. An appeal in respect of the market value may be made to the Valuation Tribunal," the notice reads. 

A pub has stood on the site since the 1850s, with a two storey coachhouse located to the rear, according to the Pictures of Portlaoise website. In the 1830s it was two houses with a tannery to their rear.

In the 1900s it became a pub run by the Kearney family, changing hands to Patrick Cushen and then on to Charlie Keegan who took on the pub in 1956, later taken on by his widow Bernie.

According to the Architectural Survey 20 years ago, its 'intact facade composition' render this site 'a highly important part of the early streetscape and makes a strong positive contribution to the architectural landscape'

Jeep stolen in Laois overnight

It faces another prominent vacant hospitality building on Main Street Portlaoise, the old County Hotel which was bought up by Laois County Council.

Further public money had to be spent to make safe and clean up its facade, now covered in a professionally painted mural. Plans continue to stall to convert that hotel into social housing apartments.