Plans have been drawn up for the construction of a £130 million leisure resort on an historic estate in the Midlands. The development, which is geared to both the home and international markets, will be built if an application for planning permission now with Offaly County Council is approved.
The Durrow Abbey estate, off the N52 Dublin to Tullamore Road, has been chosen as the site for the development, which will consist of a five-star hotel, a residential development of 375 golf villas, apartments and courtyard housing, a conference centre capable of seating up to 400 delegates, a health and fitness centre, an 18-hole championship golf course and an equestrian centre. When finished, the resort could employ up to 280 people.
The estate was home to an early monastic settlement and a number of important archaeological treasures are still located there, including a high cross which dates from the ninth century, an early Christian tombstone, the remains of a medieval church and a holy well named after St Colmcille, who founded a monastery on the site circa 556.
Developer Radleigh Developments has made it clear that all these historic sites will be preserved, that developments will be located a discreet distance from them and that the public will be allowed access to the sites, something which has not been possible for a number of years.
Agreement has been reached in principle with Duchas, The Heritage Service, that once planning permission is granted, the developers will surrender land surrounding the High Cross and St Colmcille's Holy Well to it. Duchas will manage the sites and car and bus parking facilities will be provided for the public.
It could take up to five months before a decision on the application for planning permission is issued by Offaly County Council. If permission is granted, the development will be built in three phases over seven to 10 years.
John Maher, managing director of Radleigh Developments, Dun Laoghaire. says that golf and leisure facilities will be accessible to local people and that a major US-based international hotel chain has been among those expressing an interest in running the hotel. The 102-bedroom hotel will be linked to Durrow Abbey and 100 residential units, available for rent, will be built in Tudor /Gothic style in clusters around the 900-acre site.
The 375 golf villas, apartments and courtyard houses to be built on the estate will be offered for sale at prices likely to range from £120,000 to £750,000. It is envisaged that the owners of these properties will pay service charges towards the upkeep of the estate.
The golf course will be developed by the partnership of Peter McEvoy, winning captain of the 1999 Walker Cup team, and Craig Cooke, Great Britain and Ireland Walker Cup Captain. They designed and built courses at Fota Island in Cork, Powerscourt in Co Wicklow and Rathsallagh Golf & Country Club in Co Kildare.
The clubhouse will be built from the existing cut-stone outhouses that surround Durrow Abbey House.
Radleigh Developments acquired the estate from the O'Brien family, bought back land that was originally part of the estate and is now in negotiation with Coillte to get a further 300 acres, bringing the total area for the development to about 900 acres.
