Iconic Bank of Ireland buildings which once housed Irish parliament set for €36m renovation

The rooflight being restored on the iconic Bank of Ireland on College Green.

A €36m investment to restore Bank of Ireland’s iconic College Green buildings is underway which will see restoration and repair of 280 windows, 45 staircases, and 2.5kms of roof walkways.

Dublin-based John Paul Construction has been appointed as main contractor for the works, which will take three years. 

Bank of Ireland bought the former Irish parliament building in 1803 and opened it to the public as a banking hall in 1808. College Green has served as a bank ever since, making it one of the oldest banking halls in continuous use anywhere in the world. The first of College Green’s 80 rooflights, some of which date from the 1800s, have already been removed, restored and replaced. The overall project will involve the repair, upgrading and restoration of College Green’s 280 windows, 45 staircases and 200kms of electrical cabling, as well as its 54 roofs. 

On completion the project will see improved customer facilities and workspaces for employees. The College Green bank branch will remain open for business during the works.

"As custodians of this special building, and after an enormous amount of planning and preparation, we’re excited to see work get underway. Over the next three years this major investment will breathe new life into College Green, carefully conserving its historic fabric while modernising its energy and heating systems and upgrading spaces for customers and colleagues," said Bank of Ireland Retail division chief executive Susan Russell. 

"When completed, it will help ensure that College Green continues to play an active part in the future of Bank of Ireland and the city of Dublin. Our branch will remain open for business as usual during the works with minimum disruption to customers.”