Plans to develop historic castle stalled

Plans to transform the ruins of the 19th century Kilronan Castle in Co Roscommon into a luxury hotel have been stalled following an appeal to An Bord Pleanála.

Roscommon County Council recently approved the €50 million project which includes almost 100 holiday homes and a conference centre on the grounds of the former Kingston estate on the shores of Lough Meelagh in north Roscommon.

The developers are the Hanley Group from Co Roscommon, which is currently building a hotel and over 100 houses alongside a Nick Faldo-designed golf course at Lough Rynn Castle, the former home of Lord Leitrim in Co Leitrim.

The group, which purchased Kilronan Castle 18 months ago, had applied for permission to restore and extend the building, providing an 81-bedroom hotel and leisure centre as well as a separate conference centre building, a small chapel and 110 holiday homes. Roscommon County Council reduced the number of houses to 98.

Three separate appeals have been lodged with An Bord Pleanála on behalf of An Taisce, the Cavan and Leitrim Environmental Awareness Network (Clean) and a couple who are disputing ownership of the property.

Local supporters of the project, who recently held a public meeting in Ballyfarnon, say the castle will gradually crumble without renovation.

They say the development would be a huge tourism boost in an area which has been an employment blackspot since the nearby Arigna mines closed down in 1990.

In its submission, An Taisce accepted the need for "quality tourism accommodation" in the area, but said a project in an historic and architecturally distinguished site should not undermine "the very qualities that make the site significant".

An Taisce are also seeking photo montages to assess the physical and visual impact of the new hotel block on the building.

Describing Kilronan Caste as "a hidden jewel", Clean expressed concern about the proposed construction of a housing development within a historic walled garden.