Over €2.5M in property for sale on Farnham Street

An estimated €2.5 million plus worth of prime real estate on one of the county’s most historic streets has been put up for sale.

First established almost 200 years ago, Farnham Street remains one of the county town’s most important and iconic thoroughfares.

Last week DNG O’Dwyer in Virginia brought to market the former Methodist manse, neighbouring church and a half acre of connecting development land.

Its listing follows closely the sale, in one or more lots, of the landmark ‘Provincial House’ and the adjacent former Jackson’s Garage and forecourt, as well as a two-storey office building with a two-year lease still remaining. That property is being sold locally by Cavan Town agent O’Reilly, Taylor, & Tweedy.

Like the Provincial House and Jackson’s Garage, the Methodist manse, church and site to the rear is being sold as one lot or in its entirety.

Both the Methodist manse and church, designed by William Hague, have been described as a rare “opportunity to acquire a substantial landmark property” in the heart of Cavan town centre.

The four-bedroom manse, built circa 1875, and located on 0.147 acres, is listed for sale at €499,000.

“The owners have been conscious in retaining its original features that make it well known and attractive to Cavan’s architecture,” reads the selling agent’s pitch.

“Although presently retained as a residential space, the property has an abundance of potential to be converted to a commercial unit.”

The church on 0.19 acres, meanwhile, has been listed for sale with a guide price of €350,000.

Constructed in 1858, over the years it was converted from a house of worship to a two-level commercial premises. John Weasley had a preaching house on Weasley Street, now Thomas Ashe Street, and moved his church here after the construction of Farnham Street.

It is currently occupied by local print and design company Abbeyset.

The building still retains its pitched slate roof and original stained glass feature window to the front. The original bell tower with steeple was removed in the 1960s.

The church has a private driveway to the side that leads to a small yard to the rear for parking.

Finally the substantial greenfield landholding, marketed as having “residential and commercial development potential subject to planning permission”, has a guide price of €250,000.

The property is accessed via a laneway and also extends westerly to adjacent vacant lands, which are earmarked for future town core development under the 2022-28 County Development Plan.

Selling agent for the nearby ‘Provincial House’ and Jackon’s Garage, Eamon O’Reilly, told the Celt there had already been “satisfactory” interest from potential buyers in the properties, singly and as one lot.

The large three-storey over-basement Provincial House, built 1862-3, once served as the Provincial Bank of Ireland, and latterly as offices by accountancy firm Kelly Rahill & Co.

It was also previously used as offices by Cavan County Council when the courthouse was being renovated in the 1980s.

In 2018 planning was granted for a change of use from offices to a café at ground floor only. Post closure, the building lay vacant before a 2022 application was made to change its use again from a café to a Health Therapy Treatment Facility.

It is a listed property. Again designed by William Hague, it has an enclosed private carpark to rear with capacity for up to 30 vehicles.

The two storied office, converted from a residence to office space some years previous, remains under lease for the next two years; and the former garage premises, on a near one-acre site, comes with an extensive forecourt and exposure to the public roadway.

The price is not been disclosed publically but is available on application.

Mr O’Reilly believes Cavan is expanding at a rapid rate and the properties, sites and locations on the market could be a pivotal part of that.

“We have it advertised as the entire holding for sale together, or in lots, we’re keeping our options open to achieve the best price possible,” says Mr O’Reilly, adding that, such is the level of interest, a deal could even be struck before year end.