Council wants €3m annually to take on Shannon Heritage sites

CLARE County Council is seeking an annual €3 million subvention for capital works to fund planned maintenance and upgrading of local Shannon Heritage sites, writes Dan Danaher.

This was revealed at a briefing meeting involving senior council officials and Clare Oireachtas members on Friday.

It is understood this is one of the authority’s key requirements before it will agree to the transfer of these key tourist attractions from the Shannon Group.

The proposed grant, which will be subject to government approval, is being sought for about three years in view of the apparent deterioration in the condition of some of the Shannon Heritage attractions in the county.

This would also help the council to cover some of the operational overheads to manage Bunratty Castle, Knappogue Castle and Craggaunowen.

Deputy Michael McNamara said work is required to repair the roof on Bunratty Castle.

Even though a lot of money was spent on improving the Walled Garden in Knappogue Castle a few years ago, Deputy McNamara outlined it has fallen somewhat into disrepair to the extent that considerable works are now required at this facility.

Senator Roisín Garvey said it was important that funding is allocated for the upgrading of Shannon Heritage facilities to ensure they can reopen and continue to provide employment for workers.

The Green Party Senator told the Clare Champion she has contacted Minister of State with responsibility for Heritage Malcolm Noonan and Tourism Minister Catherine Martin to put a case for funding the major refurbishment of these key tourist attractions.

Last year, Minister Noonan visited Bunratty Castle to see first hand what works need to be carried out following a request to visit the site from Senator Garvey.
Deputy Cathal Crowe said the council is conducting due diligence on the proposed takeover by examining a wide variety of issues such as overall finances, structural condition of buildings, employment conditions and legal matters.

Describing this due diligence as “colossal”, Deputy Crowe said the authority is hoping to formalise this takeover in April or May.

“When the council becomes the management body for Shannon Heritage, it doesn’t want to take on any of the liabilities whether they are structural defects or financial.

“The council has prepared some costings and more are due to come in concerning what remedial works are necessary.”

It is expected that funding will be requested from Transport Minister Eamon Ryan, Tourism Minister Catherine Martin and Local Government Minister Darragh O’Brien.

Deputy Crowe said government funding could also be used to promote and market these facilities to ensure they become a jewel in the crown of local authority assets.

Before the start of the Covid-19, Deputy Crowe recalled there was a plan to transform Bunratty Castle, which had a price tag of an estimated €40 million for capital works.