Fire hits Cork’s historic Good Shepherd site as new development plans emerge

After another major fire, developers prepare new housing plans for Cork’s derelict Good Shepherd Convent site

The former Good Shepherd convent and Magdalene laundry, Sunday's Well, Cork, some years before a series of fires destroyed much of it. File picture

The derelict Good Shepherd Convent site in Cork City, which was extensively damaged by another suspicious fire this week, is being considered for a new residential or apartment development.

The Irish Examiner has learned that a property development firm is looking at potential development options for the landmark former Magdalene laundry and orphanage which was formally declared derelict in 2019.

One of the many fires which have extensively damaged the former Good Shepherd convent and Magdalene laundry, Sunday's Well, Cork. This one occurred in November 2012. Picture: Irish Examiner Archive/Denis Minihane

Moneda, which is listed as the site’s owners on the city’s derelict sites register, was granted planning by An Bórd Pleanála in 2018 for apartments on the site but that scheme never progressed.

It is understood that another firm is now at an advanced stage of preparations and could be ready to lodge a planning application for the site under the large-scale residential development process within a matter of weeks.

In the meantime, it is expected that enhanced security will be sought for the building and across the wider site after the latest suspicious fire caused yet more extensive damage to the already badly damaged building.

In July 2003, Cork City Fire Brigade tackled another fire at the Good Shepherd Convent in Cork. Irish Examiner Archive/Neil Danton

The alarm was raised at around 11.45pm on Wednesday when neighbours spotted flames shooting from the western end of the building.

Firefighters from Cork City Fire Brigade rushed to the scene on Convent Avenue and found a well-developed fire had taken hold in the structure.

At the height of the blaze, until to seven crews with some 20 firefighters on site.

The raging fire destroyed that last remaining wooden floor in the structure, and two heavy cast-iron bathtubs came crashing down from the first floor to the ground floor, putting firefighters at risk.

It was 8am on Thursday before fire officers were able to say the blaze was under control.

Cork City Fire Brigade tackling another blaze at the former Good Shepherd convent and Magdalene laundry, Sunday's Well, Cork, in August 2003. Picture: Irish Examiner Archive/Gavin Browne

One crew remained on scene until mid morning to continue with dampening down operations.

Garda forensic experts conducted an examination of the scene in an effort to establish the cause of the fire which it’s believed was started deliberately.

In a statement on Thursday, Cork City Council said it placed the former convent on the derelict site register in 2019 and has applied the Derelict Site Act since this period.

“The site continues to incur annual derelict sites levies as per the legislation,” a spokesperson said.

“Cork City Council will continue to work with the owners through the planning process to facilitate the development of this large, complex and important site.”

Meanwhile, over 2,000 hectares of land, including 200 hectares of forests, have been affected by wildfires this April.

The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine said higher temperatures and easterly winds in early April compounded the risk and there were at least ten large wildfire incidents in one week alone.

All the fires were started deliberately, and some were started maliciously.

In Kerry and Donegal the fires were started near public roads “ late at night”.