The Heritage Council has backed attempts to save a historical building in Sligo town and has written to Sligo Corporation asking that demolition be deferred for a "heritage assessment".
The 19th century Harper Campbell warehouses between Union Street and Union Place are graded as of "regional importance" in the Duchas inventory of architecturally significant buildings.
Ms Mary Hanna, the architectural officer with the Heritage Council, said it had to be determined if the buildings were structurally unsound, as is being claimed. She said most Georgian houses in Dublin would not be deemed structurally sound if modern building regulations were applied, and often old buildings could easily be made stable.
The Heritage Council has informed Sligo Corporation it would fund an assessment of the buildings. A contract for the demolition work was signed last week in controversial circumstances, after a majority of the members of the corporation had refused for months to open tenders.
To the anger of corporation members opposed to demolition, the county manager used special powers last month to open tenders, saying he had no option because the corporation's insurers had told him it would not be indemnified for injuries in or near the buildings.
The warehouses, which the corporation bought years ago, are on the route of the proposed Mid-Block Road through Sligo, which a majority of corporation members oppose.
Ms Hanna said they were awaiting a response from Sligo Corporation - but if it opted to go ahead with demolition, the Heritage Council could ask the Minister for Heritage to intervene.
Mr Declan Bree of the Labour Party, who is against the demolition, said he was "absolutely positive" the building was not in a dangerous condition. The first floor was used by young people for indoor football, and he said the corporation should take up the Heritage Council's offer.
"The situation is urgent now because the demolition company is due to move onto the site on Tuesday," he said.