From the Galway City Tribune – A Dublin publican who bought Richardson’s pub intends to overhaul the landmark building on Eyre Square and reopen it as a modern city hostelry.

While the identity of the new owner remains a mystery, it is thought to be the first property owned by the publican in Galway, which rules out the Louis Fitzgerald Group which bought and recently reopened Murphy’s on High Street.

Richardson’s, which was on the market for €3m, sold just shy of the asking price. The pub had been in the family for over 60 years and was put up for sale by the owner Tom Richardson on his retirement.

O’Donnellan and Joyce also recently sold the Galway Arms on the end of Dominick Street Lower for over one million euro.

That owner is currently in talks to lease the pub with ensuite guestrooms and is likely to reopen shortly.

Elsewhere, the building on Quay Street which was formerly home to Costa Coffee and Blakes restaurant sold for €1.6m, higher than its guide of €1.3m.

That iconic stone building was snapped up by the owners of a retailer specialising in Aran jumpers and will be turned into another shop if a change of planning permission is secured.

Meanwhile, it has been sold, but contracts have not yet been signed for Cooke’s Restaurant and Wine Bar on Upper Abbeygate Street, which was on the market for €1.25m.