Westport convent project to be completed by end of 2027

A long-running project to transform the derelict convent in Westport is to be completed by the end of 2027.

The Convent of Mercy on Altamount Street is to be refurbished as a library and civic office by summer 2027 and will be ready for use by the end of that year.

Tenders for the project went out last week and Mayo County Council are hoping to award the contract by the end of the year. It is then expected that contractors will be on-site in early 2025, subject to the tenders and a business case being approved by the Department of Rural and Community Development.

The building was acquired by Mayo County Council in 2008 for €4 million and was subject to lengthy which have been criticised repeatedly by local representatives.

Pat Staunton, a member of Mayo County Council’s newly-formed Strategic Capital Delivery Team, said that the council were also liaising with the Tuath housing body regarding the delivery of 18 apartments in the old convent building in conjunction with the library and civic offices.

He also told the monthly meeting of Westport-Belmullet Municipal District that major public works in Newport will begin next year.

Funded under the multi-million euro Rural Regeneration and Development Fund (RRDF), the Newport project will see the development of new lighting, public realm works and a community and enterprise hub in the town.

Mr Staunton said that the public lighting project will be fully complete by Quarter 3 of 2025. Construction on the enterprise hub is to begin in Quarter 3 of 2025 with fit-out complete by Q3 of 2026.

'Great news'

Cllr Peter Flynn, who has been a vocal critic of the length taken to deliver the Westport convent project, welcomed the update as ‘great news for the county’.

Cllr Flynn said it was ‘well past time’ for the county council to have a team dedicated to delivering capital projects.

“How many times have we come into meetings both at an MD (municipal district) and at a county council level where we were struggling to get dates, start dates, key milestones along the way and more importantly, delivery dates,” said Cllr Flynn.

“It looks like 2027 will be a very very exciting year for both Newport and Westport in terms of delivering way too long to get to hear, but at least we’re heading in the right direction. It really is positive.”