LOCAL AUTHORITIES NEED somewhere to hold their monthly meetings, but Bray Town Council get to debate the issues in this Tudor revival style building built between 1882-3.

The town meetings are held upstairs, under the highly pitched roof, with intricate wooden beams. The hall also houses two huge elaborately carved fireplaces. The windows are decorated with colourful stained glass.

Potholes being discussed upstairs, McChicken sandwich being ordered downstairs

What perhaps is most unusual about this building is that while town council issues are being debated upstairs, others are ordering Big Macs downstairs, as McDonalds set up shop here in the 1990s.

The building is not only recognised as a great place to hold official meetings, but USA Today chose it as one of the top ten McDonalds’ restaurants in the world, with Bray coming in at number five.

According to Buildings of Ireland the building was commissioned by the 11th Earl of Meath’s son and heir, Reginald Brabazon (1841-1929).

The construction is of locally-made red brick, with timber framing. The pitched roof is tiled and has a tall copper-clad tower clock on top. The actual building cost was £5,366, extras such as the clock were an additional £1,000.