WOW! Planning applied to give a massive makeover to one of Tipperary's top historical sites

A well known historic building in Tipperary may soon become a new place to enjoy a coffee, following a planning application now before the local authority.

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The Office of Public Works (OPW) has submitted a proposal to Tipperary County Council seeking permission to replace the existing visitor centre at Damer House in Roscrea with a new café.

According to the plans, the coffee shop would be located in the ground-floor annex of the property, along with a series of internal layout changes.

The OPW is also looking to reopen an earlier window on the west side of the annex, as well as two internal doors in the main Damer House building.

The application states that the project aims to bring an underused section of Damer House back into active use, while having what has been described as a negligible effect on the structure itself. The building holds protected status.

Files lodged with the council note that the annex is currently underutilised and that the proposed change of use would allow the ground floor to operate as a café.

Damer House stands within the grounds of Roscrea Castle and dates back to 1728. It was built by local merchant John Damer.

Although originally intended as a residence, the house was only used as a home for a short period. At the time, wealthier families increasingly moved away from town centres in favour of large rural estates.

Over the years, the building served many different purposes. It functioned as a military barracks during the nineteenth century, before becoming an all boys school known as Mr French’s Academy.

During the Irish Civil War in 1922 and 1923 it again operated as a barracks, and later became a tuberculosis sanatorium.

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