A €50 million west Cork building restoration project, billed as one of the largest in Irish history, shut its doors to the public yesterday to lie idle indefinitely.
Renovation works at Dunboy Castle near Castletownbere, Co Cork, ground to a halt in 2010 as investment dried up leaving the 18th-century Puxley Mansion 90 per cent complete.
A flurry of visitors took advantage of the final opportunity to catch a glimpse of the unfinished interior yesterday, the last public open day for 2011. The castle refurbishment was intended to be Ireland's first six-star hotel and included a complete renovation of the mansion in the grounds of 15thcentury Dunboy Castle, seat of the O'Sullivan Beara clan.
The mansion was left a skeleton after being burned down by the IRA in 1921. Bought by four local businessmen in 1999, the coastal manor was to be redeveloped in conjunction with a large professional hotel group. They secured a developer, Dublin-based Cap Partners, and sold their interest in the property.
Renovation work on the mansion, due to open in 2009, was almost completed, with the great baronial hall restored to its previous magnificence, but work was suspended in early 2010.
When funding dried up, the magnificent unfinished property, with a glass bridge linking to 72 hotel suits was placed on the market for an undisclosed sum with a US property firm, according to Phillip Donoghue, former project manager.
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
Showing posts with label cork heritage planning. Show all posts
Showing posts with label cork heritage planning. Show all posts
Tuesday, 28 June 2011
Thursday, 26 February 2009
Plans to acquire Cork heritage estate abandoned
THE IRISH Heritage Trust has confirmed that it has had to abandon the negotiations which were close to completing its acquisition of the Anne’s Grove estate in north Cork because of current Government cutbacks.
Described by a spokesman as “a wonderful offer of an estate of international importance which we cannot now accept”, Anne’s Grove at Castletownroche is the home of the Grove Annesley family where a famous riverside garden is the centrepiece of a 500- acre estate comprising house, home farm, double stableyard, riverbank and woodlands.
It lies deep in the Blackwater valley close to Spenser’s home at Doneraile which was also the home of Canon Sheehan, close also to the Hennessys of Cognac fame at Kilavullen and to the birthplace of Edmund Burke, and long associated with Farahy, home of Elizabeth Bowen at nearby Bowens’ Court.
While a slight reduction in the core grant supporting the trust does not affect its ability to continue with the development of other projects, the endowment fund of €5 million and associated tax credits which had been allocated for Anne’s Grove were withdrawn two weeks ago. The spokesman indicated that “all bets are off now” with regard to the €35 million earmarked for the trust over the duration of the National Development Plan.
While the Grove Annesleys settled in Castletownroche in 1628 the present house was built in the early 18th century on a plateau immediately above the Awbeg river. Although much of the early plan of the gardens survives, its most significant development came with the dedication of Richard and Hilda Grove Annesley from 1907 to 1966. At present the estate is run by a family trust managed by Patrick Annesley and his wife Jane; it is understood that at one point the family offered to sell the farmland in order to provide a restoration fund for the Irish Heritage Trust, which has confirmed that it was offered the estate on very generous terms.
The dilemma for the Annesleys is that while the trust has not absolutely ruled out the possibility of re-opening negotiations, the value of the property itself has been reduced in the interval since the initial assessments. While the trust’s plan was to keep intact one of the country’s few examples of a complete country house estate, the family is considering other options in an effort to generate sufficient capital to ensure the continued preservation of the demesne.
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
Described by a spokesman as “a wonderful offer of an estate of international importance which we cannot now accept”, Anne’s Grove at Castletownroche is the home of the Grove Annesley family where a famous riverside garden is the centrepiece of a 500- acre estate comprising house, home farm, double stableyard, riverbank and woodlands.
It lies deep in the Blackwater valley close to Spenser’s home at Doneraile which was also the home of Canon Sheehan, close also to the Hennessys of Cognac fame at Kilavullen and to the birthplace of Edmund Burke, and long associated with Farahy, home of Elizabeth Bowen at nearby Bowens’ Court.
While a slight reduction in the core grant supporting the trust does not affect its ability to continue with the development of other projects, the endowment fund of €5 million and associated tax credits which had been allocated for Anne’s Grove were withdrawn two weeks ago. The spokesman indicated that “all bets are off now” with regard to the €35 million earmarked for the trust over the duration of the National Development Plan.
While the Grove Annesleys settled in Castletownroche in 1628 the present house was built in the early 18th century on a plateau immediately above the Awbeg river. Although much of the early plan of the gardens survives, its most significant development came with the dedication of Richard and Hilda Grove Annesley from 1907 to 1966. At present the estate is run by a family trust managed by Patrick Annesley and his wife Jane; it is understood that at one point the family offered to sell the farmland in order to provide a restoration fund for the Irish Heritage Trust, which has confirmed that it was offered the estate on very generous terms.
The dilemma for the Annesleys is that while the trust has not absolutely ruled out the possibility of re-opening negotiations, the value of the property itself has been reduced in the interval since the initial assessments. While the trust’s plan was to keep intact one of the country’s few examples of a complete country house estate, the family is considering other options in an effort to generate sufficient capital to ensure the continued preservation of the demesne.
Irish Times
www.buckplanning.ie
Sunday, 12 October 2008
Iconic cathedral poised for €1m repairs grant from council
AN ICONIC cathedral and leading tourist attraction is poised to get a €1 million council grant to help with repairs.
It is hoped if Cork City Council sanctions the move to partially fund the estimated €4m refurbishment works on the landmark St Finbarre’s Cathedral, it will kick-start the process of securing further funding from central Government.
Designed by William Burges and consecrated in 1870, the cathedral is a city landmark. The site of worship since the 7th century, it is of international architectural significance and attracted more than 26,000 visitors last year.
However, Dean of Cork, the Very Reverend Nigel Dunne, said key refurbishments are needed to secure the building’s future.
“If we don’t do this work, the building will end up in serious trouble and there could be implications for keeping it open,” he said.
All the Cork limestone stonework needs to be re-pointed, gargoyles will have to be repaired and some remade.
The spires have to be weatherproofed and inside, the marble around the high altar also needs repair.
The entire works could cost up to €4m.
“We can no longer do what we have been doing — piecemeal repairs. It is just not cost effective,” Very Rev Dunne said.
Contractors TKB Southgate and Associates are restoring the cathedral’s northwest spire and are due to complete the work in November.
Very Rev Dunne said he would like to continue with work on the southwest spire and west frontage rather than taking down all the scaffolding and putting it up again next year when further funding is expected.
He has discussed the issue with city manager Joe Gavin who will recommend to councillors the city offers financial support, up to a maximum of €1m, over the coming years. The dean has approached the Heritage Council and the Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government for funding.
“In view of the important heritage value of St FinBarre’s, I recommend that the city council offers financial support,” Mr Gavin will say in a report before councillors on Monday. Mr Gavin is grappling with a direction from Government to slash 3% from the council’s payroll budget, funded from revenue sources.
It is understood the funding for the St FinBarre’s project will come from capital spending. The city is using €1.25m from capital funds to buy the original North Monastery School from the Christian Brothers and to transform it into a cultural centre.
Irish Examiner
www.buckplanning.ie
It is hoped if Cork City Council sanctions the move to partially fund the estimated €4m refurbishment works on the landmark St Finbarre’s Cathedral, it will kick-start the process of securing further funding from central Government.
Designed by William Burges and consecrated in 1870, the cathedral is a city landmark. The site of worship since the 7th century, it is of international architectural significance and attracted more than 26,000 visitors last year.
However, Dean of Cork, the Very Reverend Nigel Dunne, said key refurbishments are needed to secure the building’s future.
“If we don’t do this work, the building will end up in serious trouble and there could be implications for keeping it open,” he said.
All the Cork limestone stonework needs to be re-pointed, gargoyles will have to be repaired and some remade.
The spires have to be weatherproofed and inside, the marble around the high altar also needs repair.
The entire works could cost up to €4m.
“We can no longer do what we have been doing — piecemeal repairs. It is just not cost effective,” Very Rev Dunne said.
Contractors TKB Southgate and Associates are restoring the cathedral’s northwest spire and are due to complete the work in November.
Very Rev Dunne said he would like to continue with work on the southwest spire and west frontage rather than taking down all the scaffolding and putting it up again next year when further funding is expected.
He has discussed the issue with city manager Joe Gavin who will recommend to councillors the city offers financial support, up to a maximum of €1m, over the coming years. The dean has approached the Heritage Council and the Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government for funding.
“In view of the important heritage value of St FinBarre’s, I recommend that the city council offers financial support,” Mr Gavin will say in a report before councillors on Monday. Mr Gavin is grappling with a direction from Government to slash 3% from the council’s payroll budget, funded from revenue sources.
It is understood the funding for the St FinBarre’s project will come from capital spending. The city is using €1.25m from capital funds to buy the original North Monastery School from the Christian Brothers and to transform it into a cultural centre.
Irish Examiner
www.buckplanning.ie
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