Historic Kildare residence is to be used for town centre housing

A historic town centre dwelling is to be used to provide accommodation.

The Alms House at Dublin Road in Naas is derelict  and has been vacant for about 20 years.

READ NEXT Shock as Irishman (21) dies in Australia after emigrating 'full of hopes and dreams'

Less than two years ago plans to develop Alms House into apartments were abandoned

The Peter McVerry Trust, the national homeless and housing charity, had intended to redevelop this property.

The plan was to provide three self contained own door units consisting of one bedroom each, for  housing accommodation purposes. 

But the trust later advised KCC it is “no longer in a position to carry out this redevelopment.”

KCC subsequently bought it from the Society of St Vincent  de Paul.

According to KCC the transfer of the dwelling “is currently being processed by solicitors acting on behalf of both parties.”

And “it is anticipated that the Alms House will be used for housing purposes.”

According to the National Inventory of Architectural Heritage, the building, also known as the Widows’ House, is of considerable historical and social importance and the building “attests to the longstanding presence of an almshouse on the site, the earliest of which is dated to 1590.”

It was extensively renovated in the late 20th century to accommodate residential use and “the building remains an attractive feature on the streetscape.”

It dates back to 1919.