Masterplan for Mayo's Moorehall needs to be expedited

THE lease of two plots of land at Moorehall to Carnacon Community Development Association and South West Mayo Development Company (SWMDC) has been approved.

Now, the presentation of a masterplan for the estate needs to be expedited for what a local councillor has described as the most exciting project to come before Mayo County Council for 30 years.

Councillor Al McDonnell said he meets people from all over the world when he drops by Moorehall and everyone who visits say they want to return. The car parks were full to capacity in recent weekends, and that's in the middle of winter, he noted.

The lease came before a full meeting of Mayo County Council for approval. The local community, explained Councillor Michael Kilcoyne, had borrowed €40,000 for works and they needed this to be approved to get that back.

Councillor Blackie Gavin said a 'huge opportunity' exists at Moorehall, with massive potential to bring in tourists and create jobs.

He also noted that February 1 marked the centenary of the burning down of Moorehall.

Councillor Michael Burke said it was a very important project for the south Mayo area and this was step one in many steps to be taken.

Councillor Peter Flynn agreed it was a fantastic project, in which the council has invested €900,000 to date, but he wanted more information. What was happening with the house, he asked. Was it to be transferred?

Director of services Joanne Grehan set out how the council owns 80 acres at Moorehall, with Coillte owning 300, and the National Parks and Wildlife Service are also partners. The local community have been lobbying for the project for many years.

SWMDC and Carnacon CDC came on board as partners to be the delivery agents on the ground.

SWMDC had undertaken path improvements, play facilities and wayfinding interpretation. The Carnacon group took on the works around the walled garden. Both were funded through Leader.

It is standard practice at the end of those works, and to make final claim, that a lease is provided for. They were not leasing the entire 80 acres. Just the elements of land where works have been carried out by them.

Ms. Grehan said in 2021 there were almost 50,000 visitors to Moorehall. Figures dropped in 2022 due to Covid.

In consultation with TII and Fáilte Ireland, they have decided it meets the criteria to be signposted off the new N5 as a strategic visitor destination, with the likes of Ballintubber Abbey, Cong, Ballycroy National Park and Foxford Woollen Mills.

The long-term vision is to grow it as a destination like Coole Park, which enjoys 300,000 visitors annually.

The development of the house will be a phased approach, taking into consideration the lesser horseshoe bat, which is a protected species that lives in the house.

In response to a query from Councillor Christy Hyland that greenway funding had been allocated to Moorehall, Ms. Grehan clarified that had not happened.