Blake’s Corner in Ennistymon was labelled as a “disgrace” that “cannot be left to rot” by a Clare councillor.
Cllr Bill Slattery (FG) raised the issue of the buildings’ “embarrassing” appearances on the maintenance of the two buildings, as well as the state of their maintenance since they were acquired by Clare County Council in 2010.
The councillor also questioned what plans, if any, were in place for further maintenance work to be undertaken at the site with a lengthy judicial review process still underway.
In 2022, €30,000 was spent on renovations to the back roofs of the buildings with a relief road also being approved in September of that year. As of yet however, no significant work has been undertaken on the maintenance of the buildings despite 1.5 million tourists passing the junction annually on their way to the Cliffs of Moher. Cllr Slattery maintained that work could be done on the buildings, despite the still ongoing judicial review.
Slattery referred to the buildings as an “eye sore”, adding that “management should be embarrassed” within Clare County Council over their condition. He also cited an earlier example where €100,000 was obtained from the then NRA, now TII for the upkeep of the buildings and questioned whether similar funds could be obtained from this organisation again.
The issue of heritage status of the buildings being used to avoid work was also raised at the meeting with buildings in Kilrush cited as similar problems. Councillor Slattery proposed that some work be done on ‘Blake’s Corner’ before St. Patrick’s Weekend to improve the buildings’ steps and low wall. The issue was acknowledged as a “county problem” and referred to as “not a stone in our shoe, but an absolute boulder” as all members of the meeting made clear the importance of resolving the issue.
Director of social development Jason Murphy attended the meeting and pledged to contact Senior Executive Officer Carmel Greene of the property management department and agreed to “see what could be done” with the premises before St. Patrick’s Day, adding he sympathised with the frustration of councillors Bill Slattery and Shane Talty. Slattery also stated that he did not wish to blame any local engineers at Clare County Council for the state of the buildings as he maintained that the judicial review was the main issue going forward.
