Sinéad O’Connor’s former Bray home back on the market after apartment plans rejected

The "Nothing Compares 2 U" singer passed away last July at her home in London, leaving her fans around the world stunned by her loss.

Sinéad lived in Bray for 15 years and had always been vocal about her love for the area and its people — with many flocking to the area to mourn her death last year.

In 2021, Sinéad sold the six-bedroom home in the town for "well over the asking price" of €950,000 with BBA Architecture.

Agents HJ Byrne revealed on DAFT.ie that the house is back on the market for a guide price of €1.295 million, with Sinéad buying it during the boom in 2007 for €1.7 million.

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Sinead O'Connor.

Boasting six bedrooms, three bathrooms, a front forecourt and views of Bray’s esplanade, the property’s interior features a mural in the master bedroom and minor contemporary changes to the original Victorian features.

The property has been in the headlines in recent months after a planning application to convert Montebello into five apartments was rejected, by both An Bord Pleanala and unofficially by the Bray locals.

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Tributes paid to Sinead O'Connor following her death in July 2023.

An Bord Pleanala [Ireland's planning board] refused the proposed redevelopment of the premises earlier in the year due to the existing way Strand Road looks and how the structure would fit in alongside everything else.

The proposed changes to the residence included the change of the use of the house into five apartments, as well as the construction of a three-story extension to the rear of the pre-existing building, with balconies to the rear and west elevation.

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The entrance hall and reception room at Sinead O'Connor's former home.

Partial removal of the roof was also proposed in the application, with a proposed third-floor level in its place with balconies on the front and east.

The proposal also outlined how the owners wanted to relocate and widen the vehicular entrance to the property, as well as other renovations including additional windows and more.

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The living room at Sinead O'Connor's former home.

The refusal was made by An Bord Pleanala with the organization stating the development would be ‘out of character’ with the existing way Strand Road looks.

They also cited their belief that the renovations would "seriously injure the amenities of the area, would adversely affect the architectural character of the seafront area, and would contravene the objective set out in the Bray Municipal District Local Area Plan".

* This article was originally published on Extra.ie.