Dublin City Council granted planning permission to an Irish subsidiary of the US tech giant to change the use of the ground and lower ground floors of a unit in one of its buildings at the Boland’s Mill complex on Ringsend Road, Dublin 4.


The plan Involves converting Unit 3 in Building B on the Google campus, located within the protected structure of the Flour Mill at Boland’s Quay, from its current retail/café/restaurant use into a pub.


No structural changes to the building are proposed as part of this conversion. Google stated that the overall development of the building is nearly complete, and it aims to have all ground-floor spaces occupied once the building is fully operational.


In its planning application, Google Ireland’s consultants mentioned that the proposed pub development was driven by “active interest” from a pub operator, seeking to enhance the mix of uses within the building.


The consultants argued that a pub would “enhance the vitality and attractiveness” of the overall development, making it more appealing to both visitors and local residents.


Google Ireland also acknowledged the difficulty in finding a tenant for the unit as a retail, café, or restaurant space.


The Animal Collective, owners of pubs such as Bonobo in Smithfield, Kodiak in Rathmines, and Caribou on Stephen Street Lower, is expected to operate the new pub, as well as a 557m² food market within the Google campus, inspired by markets like Cork’s English Market.


Google acquired the three landmark buildings of the 19th-century Boland’s Mill in 2018 for an estimated €300 million.


However, residents of nearby Barrow Street expressed concerns that the pub would create noise and disruption at closing time, along with safety risks from increased traffic, particularly for young children.


Seven residents urged the council to refuse the change of use, stating they were “very concerned” about the potential loss of their well-established residential amenity.


They claimed that ongoing developments, such as public benches, had already led to late-night anti-social behavior outside their homes, and that they were “effectively living on Google’s campus.”


The residents also noted a significant reduction in on-street parking due to Google Ireland’s developments.


They argued that with numerous pubs already near Barrow Street, a new licensed venue would draw even more late-night visitors, especially during events at the Aviva Stadium, 3Arena, and Bord Gáis Theatre.


Additionally, they pointed out the lack of public toilets between the area and Grand Canal Dock DART station, raising concerns that public urination outside homes on Barrow Street would worsen with the new pub. The planning permission could still be appealed to An Bord Pleanála.