Laois County Council flips on pair of derelict houses bought by compulsory purchase
A new life is ahead for a pair of long derelict boarded up houses in a Laois town, following a forced purchase by Laois County Council, and a rapid property flip to a new owner.
The council bought the Stradbally properties in 2025 using a Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO). Now they are to be flipped on to a new owner.
The deal was approved by councillors at the May council meeting, with the properties to be sold to a Portlaoise based construction company.
The council has sold the properties on the Main Street of the Electric Picnic town, to BM Lynch Construction & Civils, based in Clonminam, Portlaoise.
The site includes two adjoining boarded up two-storey houses facing Main Street. They had lain idle for at least 20 years.
Sold as one property, it covers 0.1456 hectares including a large overgrown rear garden.
It is agreed to be sold for €150,000 plus legal fees.
The council had bought the property from Eamon Murphy, Coolkerry, Rathdowney in 2025, using its legal powers to force the purchase as a Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO). They had begun the process back in 2024 when a notice of intent was placed on the buildings.
The sale was proposed by Fianna Fáil Cllr Paschal McEvoy and seconded by his party colleague Cllr Paddy Bracken, at the May council meeting.
Laois County Council CEO Michael Rainey has said only last April that he will “keep pushing” CPOs to tackle derelict vacant properties around the county, in order to provide more housing.
It is not the first time that the council has used a CPO to buy a property with the intention of selling it immediately to a buyer ready and willing to renovate it.
The highest profile property saved by the action is Millbrook House in Abbeyleix.
The crumbling manor was sold to the current owner of Abbey Leix House, Stripe billionaire founder John Collison.
Following expansive and painstaking restoration and construction, it is now about to be reopened as a Michelin star level restaurant and guesthouse run by award winning chef Cúán Green, called Ómós.