The official opening of 18 new social homes, constructed by Clúid Housing, marks a significant milestone in the redevelopment of the former Mercy Convent and school in Bantry, County Cork.

These 18 residences include a mix of 10 one and two-bedroom dwellings within the renovated convent and cookery school buildings, alongside eight newly constructed single-story homes. The works also sought to stabilise and preserve the convent's chapel for future use.

Eibhlin O'Connor, Chief Commercial Officer, Clúid Housing commented: "It's wonderful to see this historic site bustling with life. The convent and school have been a focal point in Bantry for 160 years, so their regeneration has been of huge importance to Clúid, and the local community.

"Our decades of experience were certainly called upon for this project. It has been a labour of love – complete with challenges and set-backs – so it’s fantastic to be here today celebrating its official opening. The work done by the team in Clúid, and our expert partners, has preserved the historic buildings and provided 18 high-quality, secure homes that will benefit the community of Bantry for generations to come. We thank Cork County Council for trusting us with a site of such great significance, and hope that your trust has been repaid."

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Paul Barry, who recently moved into his new home in the development, stated: "Before moving into my new home in the Bantry Convent, I was living in emergency accommodation for seven months. This was a very difficult time in my life, and a time when I was really struggling. However, all has changed since I got the keys to my new home, and I feel like I have landed in heaven. I love my new home and I couldn’t ask for more. There is a nice little community emerging in the old convent and it’s lovely to be a part of it. I am very grateful to Clúid for providing me with this opportunity and I hope to be living in the old Schoolhouse for many years to come."

Deputising for the Mayor of the County of Cork, Cllr. Danny Collins said: "It is great to see such a prominent historical vacant building being brought back into use here in Bantry, and Cork County Council have been delighted to collaborate with Clúid in its delivery. These much-needed homes will help to meet social housing needs locally for older members of our community. The development will contribute positively to the vibrant and welcoming community of Bantry and will allow older people to live in their own area and enjoy a high quality of life through established connections with the community."

Funded by the Department for Housing, Local Government, and Heritage through the CAS scheme managed by Cork County Council, these residences aim to offer secure, affordable housing for individuals on the county's housing list. With A-rated energy efficiency, they are cost-effective to maintain. Moreover, several homes retain distinctive characteristics of the original structures, such as arched sash windows and high ceilings.

Eibhlin O’Connor added: "Clúid has delivered thousands of homes through our various construction projects and with our development partners across the country, but converting historic buildings into high-quality, comfortable, liveable homes is not a straightforward task. Our in-house teams worked with a variety of skilled partners to deliver these fabulous homes, including the main contractor, Cork-based Cahalane Brothers, the enabling works contractor, Cetti Building Contractors Limited, JCA Architects, O’Connor Sutton Cronin, Delap & Waller, KSNPM, MACC Consultants and PJ Barrett & Co. I’d like to thank them all for the dedication they showed to our vision of making these landmark buildings a great place to live."