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06 Sept 2025
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06 Sept 2025
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Ballyshannon workhouse is in a critical condition. PHOTO: Thomas Gallagher
An impassioned plea has been made for help in saving an historically important landmark building in Ballyshannon.
Cllr Barry Sweeny (FG) has called for support from the relevant departments of Donegal County Council to save the Ballyshannon Workhouse.
Addressing fellow councillors and council staff at the January meeting of the Municipal District (MD) of Donegal on Tuesday, Cllr Sweeny said: “It is one of those very important buildings in relation to our heritage and history.
“We need to do something very urgent about it to secure the future of it.”
The councillor acknowledged that it was a massive project, having himself been involved in discussions about it for more than a decade.
“It is a very difficult to crack the nut to find out what the correct thing is for it,” he said.
“But we need to find a pathway as to where we are going with it. We are at a critical point.”
Cllr Sweeny said that dilapidation had accelerated in the last number of years.
“Where once there were a few slates missing, there are now 30 or 40 and the floors underneath are deteriorating,” he said.
“We need to look at funds to weatherproof the building and we need to look at an end use for the building.”
The councillor said the old workhouse was in part ownership of Donegal County Council and part ownership of HSE.
“There is funding out there at the moment,” he said. “We need to get funders on board.”
Cllr Sweeny suggested cross-border funding, perhaps twinning with a similar project such as one in Enniskillen.
He stressed the importance of preserving the structure.
“This is the only complete example of a workhouse with three sections still intact,” he said.
“But something needs to be done quickly.
“I have my own ideas about future use and other people have spoken about it before.
“It could be a flagship project and it would be of national importance.
“Rather than look back in five years and say ‘we should have done something about it,’ we should do it now.”
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