CLARE COUNTY Council yesterday granted planning permission for a large tourist complex, including holidays homes, to the developers of Tinerana House in Co Clare.
The plan lodged included the refurbishment of Tinerana House, an 18-hole championship golf course, a 32-bed hotel, 155 two-bed holiday homes and an equestrian centre.
In the permission, the council allowed 116 of the 155 holiday homes. Developers Tinerana Ltd had argued with the council that it could only reduce the number of holiday homes to 130, stating that "any further reduction in the short-stay unit numbers would substantially question the commercial viability of the project".
Tinerana House was the home of Paschal Carmody, who has been involved in court proceedings concerning controversial cancer treatment.
In 2006, the former doctor and his wife, Dr Frieda Keane Carmody, sold the 270-acre site on the shores of Lough Derg in a multi-million-euro deal to Limerick developers Joe Hanrahan and John Shee. Yesterday, the council gave the green light to Tinerana Ltd for the €100 million Tinerana House tourist resort.
As part of the development, 200 temporary and permanent jobs are set to be created, while 200 more jobs will be generated through the construction of the development.
The development will contribute €2.8 million to the council, a sum that represents almost three times the total amount the council has received in development contributions for the first nine months of this year. The council granted permission despite its conservation officer, Risteard UaCronin, stating in a report that if permitted, the development "would contravene national and local policy and negatively impact on this vulnerable spectacular landscape for generations to come".
Mr UaCronin had stated that the project should be greatly reduced and be located in a place where it would significantly reduce the visual and material impact on the landscape.
A spokesman for Tinerana Ltd said that it was pleased that the decision in favour of the development had been made. The council gave the plan the go-ahead after concluding that it would not seriously injure the amenities of the area.
In information lodged with the application, Tinerana Ltd stated that the development, when operational, would generate €13 million a year for the economy.
The project encountered no opposition locally. Martin Moroney, director of Shannon airport, and John Brassil, chairman of Shannon Development, lodged submissions in support of the project.
