Percy French

Pictured at the signing of contracts between Cavan County Council and Sandar Construction for the delivery of a new Community, Tourism and Enterprise Hub on the site of the former Percy French Hotel in Ballyjamesduff were: Back (from left): Helen Smith, Ballyjamesduff Community Council (BCC); Martin Quigley, Senior Executive Engineer; Theresa Tierney, BCC; Cllr Philip Brady; Cormac Fitzpatrick, Executive Engineer; Cllr Trevor Smith, Chair Ballyjamesduff Municipal District; Damien Smith, Sandar Construction; Cllr Noel Connell; Siobhán Mulligan, Staff Officer; John Donohoe, Senior Executive Officer; Frank Cooney, Cooney Architects; Susan Willis, BCC; front, Jacqueline Maloney, GV Maloney and Co Solicitors; Cathaoirleach of Cavan County Council, Cllr John Paul Feeley; Leigh Jackson, Sandar Construction and Eoin Doyle, Chief Executive, Cavan County Council. PHOTO: Adrian Donohoe

Contracts signed for transformative Percy French Centre

Percy French

Published: Tue 30 Sep 2025, 2:57 PM

Cavan County Council has signed contracts with local firm Sandar Construction for the development of a new Community, Tourism and Enterprise Hub on the site of the former Percy French Hotel in Ballyjamesduff.

The project, which received €7,651,195 in funding through the Rural Regeneration Development Fund from the Department of Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht, is expected to be complete in 2027, with construction work to commence shortly. Match funding will be provided by Cavan County Council from its own resources.

Cooney Architects are overseeing the Architect Led Design team on the major project, which will see the retention and refurbishment of the existing three-storey Percy French Hotel for use as a meeting and office space and a café at ground floor level, while a two storey return along Stradone Street will be demolished and replaced with a contemporary two storey flat roof building comprising a multipurpose space, storage, community hub, kitchen, community rooms, meeting and office space and a central courtyard. In addition, the provision of benches along the Stradone Street elevation will create an important civic space in the town.

On signing the contracts this week, Cathaoirleach of Cavan County Council Cllr John Paul Feeley said:

“I am delighted to be able to sign the main construction contract on this transformative scheme for Ballyjamesduff so that work can now get underway. I want to compliment John Donohoe and his team for the work they have put in, alongside the design team and in consultation with the local community, to get the project to this advanced stage.

“I would like to also express my appreciation to Minister Dara Calleary and his officials for their continued support of this project and many others in County Cavan.”

Chief Executive of Cavan County Council, Eoin Doyle, added: “This is a hugely significant day for Ballyjamesduff. Combatting dereliction and regenerating and revitalising our towns is a key goal of Cavan County Council, and this hugely exciting project will breathe new life into Ballyjamesduff.

It is particularly pleasing that a local firm was successful in the tender process, and so this investment by the Department and Cavan County Council will also help to boost the local economy and support local jobs.

“Projects of this scale are not possible without match funding, and I would like to acknowledge the support of our councillors, who recognise the value in ringfencing funds for the greater good of advancing major capital projects.”