State buys Durrow Abbey to keep out commercial developers

The Government has bought Durrow Abbey and its accom-panying 6th century monastic site in Co Offaly at a cost of €3.175 million.

The purchase of the sixth century site, founded by St Columcille, and part of the historic Durrow Abbey estate, is designed to protect the Abbey and heritage elements from proposed commercial development on the lands. The vendor was Ms Sheila O'Brien. The Minister of State at the Office of Public Works, Mr Tom Parlon, de- scribed the acquisition as "a true asset in the State's property portfolio".

Work is now expected to commence to ensure that the high cross, which is of the same standard as those found in Clonmacnoise, Kells and Iona, will be brought indoors for protection.

Durrow Abbey is ranked alongside Clonmacnoise, Kells, Armagh and Iona because of its association with St Columcille, who founded it in 553 or 556 AD.

The Offaly monastery is also where the Book of Durrow, one of the treasures of early Christian Ireland, was composed in the 7th century and kept there until the middle of the 17th century.

An Bord Pleanála rejected proposals for the estate which included a €170 million hotel, apartment and houses scheme and an 18-hole golf course.