THERE HAS been unanimous agreement among councillors in Kerry yesterday to rezone lands surrounding the pub of Páidí Ó Sé, the eight times All-Ireland Kerry senior football medal winner and former Kerry football manager.
The proposal to rezone “the Páidí Ó Sé licensed premises and land to the east at Ard a Bhothair”, a townland near Ventry, from “prime special amenity”, a designation attached to the most scenic and sensitive landscapes, had been opposed by council planners and management.
The redesignation will effectively give village status to the townland.
Fianna Fáil councillor Michael O’Shea proposed the rezoning and it was seconded by Cllr Michael Gleeson, South Kerry Independent Alliance.
The rezoning of the lands, which are at a crossroads less than a third of a mile from the sea on the way to Slea Head, would pave the way for “a sports interpretative centre” as well as commercial residential development, the meeting heard.
Mr Ó Sé, who is a director of Fáilte Ireland, was present in the public area of the council chambers in the afternoon for the vote on the proposal, which will form part of the new five-year Kerry county development plan to be adopted in the coming months.
According to architect Darryl Broe, who made a submission on behalf of Mr Ó Sé, the zoning will facilitate the development of a sports interpretative centre as part of a two-storey rebuild of the existing function room at Mr Ó Sé’s pub.
There will also be a complementary residential development to provide accommodation for family members, employees and patrons of conferences to be held in the interpretative centre.
It will be opposite the pub in Ard a Bhothair, a townland that consists mainly of Mr Ó Sé’s pub, his shop and a Catholic church.