Riverdance Founders Secure Approval to Transform Dublin Property into Residence

Dublin City Council has granted planning permission to John McColgan and Moya Doherty, the co-founders of Riverdance, to revamp a four-story property at 30 Merrion Street Upper, Dublin 2, transforming it from an office space into a single-family home. The Irish Times and Western People reported on the approval, which allows for the restoration and sensitive adaptation of the protected structure.

Project Details and Design

The project, outlined in a planning design report by Paul Keogh Architects, aims to create “a comfortable and sustainable home” even as preserving the building’s architectural character. The plans prioritize the conservation of historic fabric and will upgrade internal layouts and service installations to meet modern living standards. The dwelling will include a roof terrace for private open space, which the council determined would not negatively impact neighboring properties.

Application and Ownership

The application was submitted by David Orr, a director at Abhann Productions Ltd, alongside McColgan and Doherty. Documentation includes a letter of consent from McColgan and Doherty authorizing Orr to lodge the application.

Boundary Considerations

A submission from the owners of 85 Merrion Square, Teresa and Brian O’Loughlin, raised concerns that a portion of their land appeared to be included within the application’s boundary lines. However, the council’s planner’s report stated that any boundary issues are “civil issues” outside the scope of planning permission and would not be further investigated.

Additional Properties

McColgan and Doherty too own adjacent Georgian terrace buildings on Merrion Place Upper, currently used for commercial purposes, which share a boundary with the O’Loughlin property. The council’s report confirmed that the proposed works do not impact this shared boundary.