Public meeting over Laois IPAS pub plans

A public meeting is due to take place over plans to turn a pub in Durrow into IPAS accommodation.

Marc Lennon has lodged a fresh planning application with Laois County Council to change Lennon’s Bar on Mary Street in Durrow from a pub, guesthouse/hostel into accommodation solely for International Protection Applicants (IPAS) use.

The public meeting is being held by Durrow Community Council and will take place in The Castle Arms Hotel on Monday, November 9 at 8pm.

The organisers said a number of public representatives have been invited to attend.

"Everybody is asked to support us in objecting to this plan," the organisers said.

Mr Lennon’s previous application to convert Lennon’s Bar for IPAS use was met with strong local opposition in Durrow. Public meetings were held and a fundraising page was set up to pay for the services of a planning consultant. The proposal was previously approved by Laois County Council alongside a similar development at Peader’s Bar, Mary Street but rejected on appeal by An Coimisiún Pleanála.

The latest application was lodged with Laois County Council on Friday, October 16, 2026. It seeks to “change the use of the existing pub and guesthouse/hostel permitted under Reg. Ref. 2460198 to be used as accommodation for International Protection Applicants (IPAS) only.”

According to the application, the plan includes the change of use of the existing bar on the ground floor and private accommodation on the first floor (both floors permitted as Guesthouse/Hostel use) for use for accommodation on both ground floor and first floor, comprising nine bedrooms with 33 bedspaces. Permission for additional kitchen dining area, communal living area, dining room, study and communal space and two storage areas is also sought.

The ground floor would have female bathroom facilities and male bathroom facilities while the first floor also has mixed bathroom facilities and a new laundry area is to be located to the rear, attached by a covered canopy.

The planning permission is due to be decided by Laois County Council on December 10.

An Coimisiún Pleanála refused permission for the original application because they said the layout would result in substandard accommodation. They were also not satisfied that there are adequate social infrastructure facilities to cater for the proposed development.

The applicant has submitted a community audit with the application which looked at healthcare facilities, childcare and education, sports and recreation, and other community and cultural facilities within the area.

“With regard to the above reasons for refusal and the findings of the Inspector, our client has decided to revise the floor plans to ensure that the development provides good quality living accommodation and to revisit the Social Infrastructure Audit for Lennon’s Bar in order to resubmit the application for Lennon’s Bar as an individual IPAS scheme that aligns with the proper planning and sustainable development of the area,” the planning documents state.

The applicant emphasised that the proposal for this town centre site will provide a new use for this mostly vacant building.

The documents state that currently the site only accommodates the owner of the property, Marc Lennon and his family, who moved back into the property due to security concerns and the ground floor remains unused.

“The town centre location will allow residents to use the local services and visit local businesses in the town. The addition of 33 residents to the town centre will sustainably add to the vitality of the town without paying unnecessary strain on existing infrastructure.”

A previous public meeting held after Lennon’s Bar and Peadar’s Bar were granted planning permission for IPAS use attracted around 300 people while there were around 280 submissions made to Laois County Council in relation to both plans.