Plans lodged for apartments at former Loafers bar on Cork's Douglas Street

Plans have been lodged to convert a former gay bar at 26/27 Douglas Street into seven apartments.

The site was formerly home to Loafers, which described itself as Ireland’s oldest gay bar prior to its closure in 2015. The building has been vacant ever since. The bar was opened by Derek Gerrity in 1983, a full 10 years before the decriminalisation of homosexuality.

Owner Ted O’Connell, who took over the bar from Mr Gerrity, told The Echo in 2015 that the closure was “very, very sad”, but that economic factors also impacted in the years leading up to the closure.

At the end of July, Corkteach Ltd, lodged plans for the extension and change of use of the mid-terrace former Public House, which has a vacant residential unit overhead, to provide seven apartments and a small commercial unit.

The proposal includes the demolition of existing extensions to the rear and modifications to the internal floor plans to accommodate a small commercial unit at ground floor level and three apartments within the existing structures.

The developers also plan to build a new three storey extension to the south to provide a further four apartment units.

A new rooflight, conservation and restoration works including the repair of the existing roof, existing dormer windows and façade, a communal landscape garden, bin storage and eight bike parking spaces are also included in the plans.

A decision by Cork City Council is due by September 15 this year.