Plans outlined for major revamp of landmark Tullamore business
A landmark Tullamore business which has been operating for more than five decades is set for a major revamp which would see the demolition of the existing premises to make way for a modern replacement development.
Maunsell's has signalled its intention to seek planning permission from Offaly County Council for the demolition of a filling station, a licenced premises, function room and all associated structures on its site in Cloncollig which are proposed for replacement with a modern service station, public house and function facility.
According to the planning notice, the replacement development would consist of a two-storey retail building with a retail area of net 100 square metres.
It would include an off licence and four new food/beverage offers, one of which would incorporate "drive thru hatches"; a licenced bar; function room; communal seating area; kitchen; stores; public toilets and ancillary staff and operational rooms.
At the rear of the building it is proposed to have an enclosed delivery yard, store and outdoor seating area, while ancillary development would consist of a forecourt with six fuel dispensers and associated canopy, and a drive through lane.
Car parking and car wash facilities; EV charging, HGV and coach parking; a separate HGV refuelling area and a standalone single-storey "coffee drive thru" are also included in the plans.
Access to the proposed development would be facilitated from the R420 road, in line with the existing one-way entrance/exit arrangement,
It is proposed that the existing underground fuel tanks which are being used as part of the filling station complex on the Cloncollig site would be decommissioned for the duration of the redevelopment works,
The popular Maunsell's premises, which is located on the R420 road on the northeastern side of Tullamore town and in close proximity to the Tullamore bypass (M6/N52), was affectionately known to generations of Tullamore families as 'The White House'.
It got this name due to the fact that the original site on which Maunsell's now stands in Cloncollig was purchased in 1974 by local businesman and entrepreneur, Jimmy Carter, whose namesake happened to be the 39th President of the United States.
When the local Jimmy Carter built a pub, filling station and private house on the site, the pub was naturally christened 'The White House' and this is still the name by which many customers refer to the business today.
The business has had a number of owners since it was first established by the late Jimmy Carter, including Paddy Gavigan, Gussie Lambe and Eamonn Flanagan, before it was purchased by Sean Maunsell, in 1999, who added an off-licence and function room.
The northeastern side of Tullamore has been earmarked for a considerable amount of housing development in recent years, and the busy Cloncollig area is also home to the Tullamore retail park, whose anchor tenant is Tesco, as well as a large number of other large retail outlets.