Former Dundrum pub to rise from the ashes?

Former Dundrum pub to rise from the ashes?

11 September 2013

AN appeal has been made for the restoration of the remains of one of Dundrum’s best known buildings.

The former Castle Vaults Bar, which was once a thriving public house at the junction of Main Street and Manse Road, was blown up in terrorist attack in 1972 and what now remains of the bar is derelict.

The public house was built in the early 1890s for John McClafferty, from Donegal.

The former lounge of the bar remains standing but is in poor condition and the main public bar had to be demolished when it became unsafe.

But Councillor Patrick Clarke is hoping the property could be included in a repair scheme funded by the Department of the Environment.

At the start of the year, the government agency made funding available to enable local councils to bid for a share of a funding cake to make safe or help renovate derelict buildings in their respective areas.

Down Council made a successful bid which allowed work to be carried out on 16 properties spread across Ballynahinch, Downpatrick, Dundrum and Newcastle. The work included removing vegetation, tidying gutters, repairing broken windows and painting facades.

Council officials hope there will be a future dereliction fund call and are currently working on compiling a new list of possible projects in the district’s smaller towns and villages.

Councillor Clarke has written to Stormont Environment Minister, Mark Durkan, urging him to make additional funding available to Down Council to allow work to be carried out on other properties across the district, including the one he’s identified in Dundrum.

“This once iconic building is an eyesore and requires repairs and repainting,” he explained. “The former public house, which is a listed building, has been derelict for a number of years and is surrounded by wooden hoarding.”

Councillor Clarke said the Main Street building is included on the property list Down Council officials are compiling and revealed he has been in contact with the owner who lives abroad.

“The owner has not yet placed the property — which has the potential to be redeveloped to provide new shops and apartments — on the market,” he continued.

“In the short term, I’d like to see some repair work carried out to this building and hope the funds required to make this happen will be made available in the near future.”