Irish Times reports Carmelite seminary sold to hotel group

January 24th, 2018

The Irish Times reported that the Former Carmelite seminary in Donnybrook was sold well in excess of the asking price thanks to a masterplan drawn up by JMLA. The building and grounds were purchased by the Scally family, owners of the Hayfield Manor Hotel in Cork, who plan to develop it as a hotel. Jack Fagan, property editor of the Irish Times, reports that “The period building extends to 3,251sq m (35,000sq ft), including a chapel on one wing. A feasibility study by John McLaughlin Architects advised interested parties of the potential for more than 10,500sq m (113,022sq ft) of developments on the site to include 90 apartments and 10 large houses. The report also suggested there was scope to convert St Mary’s building for residential or other uses…Selling agents WK Nowlan and GVA Donal O Buachalla had originally quoted €10 million-plus for the well-located property, which attracted immediate interest from a new generation of housebuilders, but ended up with a top bid of close to €16 million.”