The sale of one of the West of Ireland’s most historic institutional properties has opened the door to a potentially transformative new chapter for Ballinasloe, with the former St Brigid’s Hospital campus and its extensive lands being brought to the market as a major regeneration opportunity.
Extending to approximately 163 acres on the edge of the town, the landmark site includes a collection of historic buildings totalling around 240,000 square feet. The property is being offered for sale by online auction at 12 noon on Thursday, December 3, 2026, unless previously sold, with joint agents Knight Frank and O’Donnellan & Joyce appointed to handle the sale.
For generations, St Brigid’s was an important part of life in Ballinasloe and the wider West of Ireland, employing large numbers of people and providing care and support to patients and their families. Its presence helped shape the town’s identity, with the campus becoming deeply embedded in the social and economic fabric of the local community.
However, following the decline of its former hospital functions, the once-bustling complex has fallen into disrepair, leaving a substantial historic property facing an uncertain future. Its appearance in recent years has been a reminder of the challenge of preserving large institutional buildings once their original purpose has passed.
The condition of the property has come under much discussion at Regional Health Forum meetings, with the cost of maintaining the facility being prohibitive for the health service.
The proposed sale now offers the prospect of breathing new life into the site, potentially turning a long-standing concern into one of the most significant development opportunities in the region.
Renowned architect
The main hospital complex dates from around 1832 and was designed by renowned architect Francis Johnston, whose work forms an important part of Ireland’s architectural heritage. The buildings are listed on the Record of Protected Structures and are included within the St Brigid’s Hospital Architectural Conservation Area, underlining the importance of any future plans respecting the site’s historic character.
The scale of the landholding, together with its location and range of planning designations, provides considerable scope for imaginative redevelopment. The 163-acre property is arranged across seven plots and benefits from direct access to the M6 motorway, with convenient connections to Galway city, Athlone and the wider Midlands.
Under the Ballinasloe Local Area Plan 2022–2028, the lands carry a variety of zoning designations, including regeneration, residential, business and technology, community facilities, open space and amenity uses. Any proposals would, of course, be subject to planning permission and the necessary statutory approvals.
The local area plan also specifically recognises the strategic importance of St Brigid’s, setting out an objective to support its regeneration and reuse through appropriate master planning and collaboration among stakeholders.
For Ballinasloe, the possibilities are significant. A carefully planned redevelopment could create opportunities for new homes, business activity, community facilities, leisure amenities and other uses capable of attracting investment and supporting employment. The restoration and reuse of suitable historic buildings could also preserve an important part of the town’s heritage while giving the wider campus a renewed purpose.
Much will depend on the vision of a future purchaser, the condition of the buildings and the planning and conservation requirements that will shape what can ultimately be delivered. The challenge will be to balance the commercial realities of regenerating such a large site with the community’s interest in seeing the landmark property restored and brought back into meaningful use.
Nevertheless, the decision to bring St Brigid’s to the market represents an important moment for Ballinasloe. After years in which the campus has stood as a reminder of a different era, its sale could provide the starting point for a new phase of investment and regeneration.
Further information is available through the dedicated sales website, www.st-brigids.com Viewings are strictly by appointment through the joint selling agents.
For a town with such a long connection to St Brigid’s, the sale is about more than bricks, mortar and acreage. It is an opportunity to safeguard a significant piece of local history while exploring what the future might hold for one of Ballinasloe’s most recognisable landmarks.
