Apartment plan for former Trim convent appealed
Plans to convert Trim’s 19th century Mercy Convent into tourism accommodation, which were approved by Meath County Council, have been appealed to an Bord Pleanala.
Two third party appeals have been lodged by Eco Advocacy CLG and Saint Mary's Convent Action Group, challenging Meath County Council's decision to grant planning permission for the development. Among other points, both appeals contend that a former Trim Parish priest is buried in the convent and say that this was not addressed by planners.
Located on Emmet Street,the former St Mary's Convent was sold by the Mercy Order in 2022. The new owner, local hotelier David O'Brien, is now proposing to convert the property into ten luxury apartments for short term letting. The convent's chapel is to be retained.
The plans provide for the change of use from a residential convent to tourism accommodation, and also for the removal of the modern toilet and bathroom block and the reconfiguration, refurbishment and repairs to the internal layout of the building. The apartments would be available for short term let and at times the convent would be let as a whole, including the chapel.
One of the conditions of planning is that the maximum stay is for one month and it is clearly stipulated in the conditions that use as permanent residential accommodation is not permitted.
The convent is a protected structure and is located within the Trim historical architectural conservation area and the Trim zone of archaeological potential.
Among the points raised in the submissions to the original planning application was the contention the late Trim Parish Priest Rev Fr John O'Connell who built the convent, was buried there. This also features in the subsequent appeals to an Bord Pleanala.
An appeal has been lodged by James Galligan on behalf of Saint Mary's Convent Action Group, which is accompanied by four letters of support.
In the appeal, the group said it was "shocked" that Meath County Council had failed to address submissions regarding a number of issues and commented that the fact the planners chose to ignore all the material on the late Fr O'Connell being buried in the convent chapel was "inexcusable".
The appeal said this had featured prominently in all of the submissions to Meath County Council and commented that it "was sad to note that the planners had not bothered to address this important issue".
The appeal stated that it was "imperative" that the issue of the burial of Fr O'Connell be addressed and resolved and that the grave needed to be identified and if needs be, the remains exhumed and interred in consecrated church grounds.
The appeal also states that Saint Mary's Convent is a very important and unique building and should be conserved in its current form, not just externally but internally, and that the applicants should seek an alternative solution for the convent which would see it retained as a convent and suggested that there is demand from contemplative orders seeking premises. .in Ireland.
The issue of the remains of the late Fr John McConnell was also among the points raised in the appeal lodged on behalf of Eco Advocacy CLG by director Kieran Cummins. He said that having read the planners report, he was unable to find a single reference to the remains of Fr John O'Connell despite it featuring prominently in the submission. "This is frankly inexcusable", the appeal stated. "At the very least it would have been expected that the issue would [and should have] been addressed in a further information request."
Also enclosed with the Eco Advocacy appeal was the report from the Meath Herald from 1863 featuring the inquest into the death and burial of Rev Fr John O'Connell.