Longford-based interior design firm Cassidy Blinds has received planning approval to convert The Corner House on Dublin Street, Longford, a landmark commercial premises historically associated with White Star Line ticket sales, into its new retail headquarters, as reported by the Irish Independent.

The Irish Independent reported that Cassidy Blinds, a family-run business currently located in Stonepark on the outskirts of Longford town, lodged a change of use application with local planning authorities in April following the sale of the former licensed premises last September. The application was approved subject to four conditions.

The Corner House carried a €250,000 asking price and is regarded as one of the most significant commercial properties to have come to the midlands market in recent years, in part due to its association with the White Star Line, the British shipping company founded in 1845 by John Pilkington and Henry Threlfall Wilson.

Originally focused on trade between England and Australia, White Star Line pivoted to the transatlantic passenger market in the latter half of the 19th century, constructing a trio of ships intended to be the largest and most luxurious of their time. The Dublin Street building served as a point of sale for transatlantic tickets and a first port of call for emigrants seeking passage to America.

The most famous of the three ships, Titanic, was launched in 1911 and sank on 15 April 1912 during its maiden voyage after striking an iceberg off Newfoundland, claiming the lives of over 1,500 passengers and crew in one of the deadliest peacetime maritime disasters in history.

The ground floor of the building will be redesigned to serve as a retail showroom for Cassidy Blinds, with the firm expected to complete its move from Stonepark to the town centre premises over the coming weeks.

The change of use marks a new chapter for one of Longford's most architecturally and historically notable commercial buildings, repurposing a protected structure with significant cultural heritage for contemporary commercial use in the town's main retail corridor.

Discover the full story behind this historic building's transformation here.