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# Long-vacant church could soon be back in use
- URL: https://www.dublininquirer.com/long-vacant-church-could-soon-be-back-in-use/
- Published: 2026-10-22T23:26:49.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-22T23:26:49.000Z
- Description: Fáilte Ireland, which controls St Andrew's Church, says the necessary conservation has been done, and it is negotiating terms with a prospective tenant.
- Author: Eoin Glackin
- Tags: Vacancy Watch, vacancy, City Desk, Local Democracy Reporting Scheme

A prospective tenant could finally be found for St Andrew’s Church on Suffolk Street, more than a decade after the former tourist office was vacated.

Fáilte Ireland, which controls the historic city-centre building, says the necessary conservation work has now been completed, and it is negotiating terms with a prospective tenant.

“Subject to the successful conclusion of that process, the relevant legal agreements will then be put in place,” a spokesperson says.

The tourism agency has not identified the prospective tenant or said what is planned for the building. It says it would be premature to comment while the commercial process remains under way.

The church was occupied by Fáilte Ireland’s tourism information office until 2015.

Since then, the agency says, it has concentrated on protecting the building, obtaining the required planning permissions and finding a sustainable long-term use which would contribute to the surrounding area.

## Two earlier plans fell through

The latest negotiations follow two [unsuccessful attempts](https://www.dublininquirer.com/plan-for-food-market-at-st-andrews-church-has-fallen-apart/) to turn the former church into a food hall.

Fáilte Ireland put the building on the market in 2016, and in 2018, Mink Fusion Limited – owned by Michael Wright – secured permission from Dublin City Council to change its use to a food hall, but that project did not proceed.

The 20,000sq ft property was advertised again in 2022 and an agreement was subsequently reached with Manifesto Market, which operates food halls in Prague and Berlin.

Manifesto planned to bring 14 independent restaurants into the church and said the project could create about 300 jobs.

However, its agreement with Fáilte Ireland broke down amid disagreements over responsibility for conservation work, the project’s timetable and when the operator should begin paying its deposit and rent.

Manifesto co-founder Martin Barry said his company had spent €700,000 developing the proposal before withdrawing.

At the time, Fáilte Ireland said it would complete the conservation work itself before returning to the market to find another tenant.

The semi-state agency now says that work is finished.

Fáilte Ireland did not respond directly when asked why finding an operator has proved so difficult.

## Cultural and evening use

Independent Councillor Mannix Flynn says the public should be told what is proposed before any final decision is made.

He argues that state and semi-state bodies should disclose their plans for prominent public buildings through a process resembling a planning application, giving residents and neighbouring businesses an opportunity to assess whether the proposed use would benefit the area.

“We don’t know who this tenant is and we don’t know what the offering is,” he says.

Flynn says any new use should complement nearby businesses rather than compete with or undermine them.

St Andrew’s occupies a prominent position beside the Molly Malone statue, where Suffolk Street meets St Andrew Street and Trinity Street, close to the Grafton Street and South William Street commercial districts.

He is critical of the condition of the surrounding public space, describing Suffolk Street as “neither fish nor fowl” since traffic was removed. The church, he says, could help animate the street and draw people into the area.

“This is a real signature building,” he says. “It needs to have cultural provision.”

Flynn says the church should not become another conventional retail outlet or a short-lived food venture. It shouldn't be vape or phone shops, he says. 

“It needs to be a place that actually is a busy venue, that can operate in the evening and draw people into it,” he says. “It needs to have a really good offering, not an offering that’s only going to last for a while and then close down.”

Fine Gael Councillor Danny Byrne says he is optimistic that a deal can be done soon and a suitable tenant moved in.

“It’s such an important part of Dublin’s heritage, and it would be fantastic to see it being used and enjoyed again,” he says. “Hopefully, we’ll have some good news to share soon.”

*Local Democracy Reporting Scheme.*