A Waterford company has applied for planning permission to convert an iconic shop on the quay to offices.
Kiely Gaule Financial Services has bought 87 and 88 Coal Quay which was previously home to John Hearn Hardware.
Kiely Gaule employs 12 people at present and have applied for planning permission from Waterford City and County Council.
Charles Gaule is the Owner and Managing Director
"Our building here [45 the Quay] is not big enough for us anyway.
"Johnny Hearn's, when it became available, it was something that we were looking at to expand our business.
"We've looked at and we've put in a planning application for it.
"Now, it has also special memories for me because when I was a 15-year-old I used to work there, part-time going to school."
He says they want to give the building a new lease of life.
"It's a lovely building, it enhances the town. It's part of Waterford and the heritage of it.
"We would hope, with our planning application, that we would develop it the way it is and give it a new lease of life. Obviously, we can't change the structure on it.
"I think it would be a lovely building to operate from."
