Tullamore toasts end to heritage centre dispute

The dispute between the people of Tullamore and Bord Failte over the right to name their heritage centre after the town's most…

The dispute between the people of Tullamore and Bord Failte over the right to name their heritage centre after the town's most famous drink has been resolved.

Last Tuesday night Tullamore Urban District Council and the management board of the local heritage centre announced the formal inauguration of the Tullamore Dew Heritage Centre.

Late last year there had been a stand-off between the proposers and Bord Failte when the locals insisted that the name Tullamore Dew should be allowed in the title.

The independent committee which evaulates projects put to Bord Failte insisted that if the locals wanted to keep the name, then the level of grant aid would be lower.

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However, that issue has now been resolved, and there was satisfaction all round at the town hall when details of the heritage centre project were announced.

Overall, the project will cost almost £1 million, with the main sponsor being the C & C drinks company, which owns the Tullamore Dew and Irish Mist brands.

C & C is putting £300,000 into the venture and is providing the building, an old wine storage warehouse, the equivalent of a further £250,000.

The local authorities, Offaly County Council and Tullamore Urban District Council, have provided £87,500 for the project and the local historical and archaeological society has given £8,000.

The Offaly county manager, Mr Niall Sweeney, said Bord Failte had agreed to a grant of £279,000, bringing the total to £924,500.

This means that the centre, which will be located on the canal banks, can use the Tullamore Dew title, which had delayed the sanctioning of the Bord Failte grant.

C & C acquired the Irish Mist brand in 1985 and purchased Tullamore Dew in 1994. Both products had their origins in Tullamore.

The project, which is part of the Heritage Towns concept, will be opened later in the year and will also mark the 200th anniversary of the canal.

Originally, Bord Failte had indicated that it was prepared to pay a grant of £437,000 to the project but wanted the name changed.

It felt that the name of the centre should reflect the fact that the centre would be part of the heritage theme towns concept and not a commercial centre.

The reduction of the grant by £158,000, which was agreed in principle, appears to indicate the degree of compromise achieved.