Plans submitted to convert old Donegal coastguard station to tourist accommodation

Planning permission is being sought to convert a former Donegal Coastguard station which dates back to the 1860s into tourist accommodation.

Ball Hill Coastguard station, in Summerhill near Donegal town, was built in 1866 and was used as a youth hostel by an An Óige from 1947 before it closed in 2004. The building has been lying empty since.

Listed applicant, Karen Espey, has applied for the refurbishment and change of use of the former coastguard station, to provide four self-contained residential units consisting of two two-bedroom and two three-bedroom units.

Proposals also include the removal of existing ruins and a former boathouse, and the construction of a new boathouse.

McCullagh Architecture & Surveying Ltd, in preparing a supplementary report, detailed a list of activities that tourists residing at the proposed coastguard station units could enjoy, including seal watching, bird watching, fishing, sea kayaking, and hill walking.

It commented: “The existing Ball Hill Coastguard Station is in the enviable location along the shores of inner Donegal Bay, along Ireland’s Wild Atlantic Way.

“The adaptive re-use of the building has been specifically designed to attract visiting tourists with key interests in the surrounding nature, wildlife and marine life associated with the Wild Atlantic Way.

“Through retaining the character of the historical building and reconstructing the original boathouse, visiting tourists are provided with a unique piece of Irish Coastguard history.

“The development of this building includes front elevations which have been designed to provide visitors with key interests in marine wildlife, excellent viewing points of the surrounding Donegal Bay.”

It continued: “The proposed reconstruction of the boathouse in its original position will provide tourists the opportunity to rent kayaks and fishing tackle during their stay.

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“Direct frontage to Donegal Bay's shoreline, accessed via the existing steps, provides tourists with accessible, unobstructed shoreline walks and fishing excursions.

“The overall adjoining lands, also in ownership of the applicant, provides visiting tourists with private hill walks and access onto the Holmes beach which is a short five-minute walk away through the sprawling drumlin.”

In conclusion, McCullagh Architecture & Surveying Ltd stated: “The proposal provides tourists with recreational activities in the immediate vicinity of their accommodation, at a marine setting along the shores of the Wild Atlantic Way. 

“The adaptive re-use of this historical derelict building supports Donegal Town's recreational and marine tourist infrastructure and complements the local area’s tourism product. 

This private location will act as a recreational accommodation destination for tourists along the Wild Atlantic Way within easy reach of Donegal Town.”

The former coastguard station, which is on the National Inventory of Architectural Heritage, is located close to Hassan's Point and has stunning views of Donegal Bay and the south Donegal coast.

An English architect, Enoch Trevor Owen, designed Ball Hill Coastguard Station whilst working for the Board of Works in Ireland, and he designed more than 30 coastguard stations in Ireland, including nine in Donegal. 

In January 2021, conditional planning permission was granted by Donegal County Council to change of use of the two-story Ball Hill Coastguard Station to create four two and three-bed self-contained residential units.

Donegal County Council has set a decision due date for the submitted planning application for Sunday, March 22.