AN URGENT MEETING with the Taoiseach surrounding Clare County Council’s takeover of the Shannon Heritage tourism sites has been requested in what has been described as “the single biggest tourism development” for the county.
Clare County Council is seeking more than €20m in capital grant aid from the Government to take ownership of Bunratty Castle & Folk Park, Knappogue Castle, Crauggownen and a retail outlet at the Cliffs of Moher, all of which had been operated by Shannon Heritage.
Officials within the local authority have been working on a bid for a capital injection to the tune of €15m plus €3m annually for three years to repair and maintain the four sites. The transfer is due to be finalised in May. Speaking in the Dáil at the beginning of February, An Taoiseach Micheál Martin (FF) said Clare County Council should “get on with it” when asked about the transfer of the assets.
Mayor of Clare, Cllr PJ Ryan (IND) has requested “an urgent meeting” between the Taoiseach and Council Chief Executive, Pat Dowling “to discuss the financial implications” and “to ensure the Taoiseach has all the relevant information and facts surrounding the proposed transfer”.
He stated, “we can’t put a burden on taxpayers to take on a facility like that and not know where to go”. The Cratloe man was confident the Council would make Bunratty Castle profitable but predicted it would take three years. “There is a major difference between taking over Spike Island and Shannon Heritage sites. We can facilitate the Taoiseach in our boardroom and we also have no problem with the Chief Executive going to Dublin”.
Taking on the sites has “huge implications” when it comes to staffing and payments, Cllr Gerry Flynn (IND) acknowledged. “I was surprised a man of Micheál Martin’s intelligence to be coming out with a statement like get on with it”. The Shannon representative felt an apology from the Taoiseach would not be out of place.
Due diligence has been evident in the Council’s approach, Cllr Johnny Flynn (FG) said while Cllr Ann Norton (IND) felt senior Government figures needed to pay closer attention to the transfer. Ministers for Finance and Public Expenditure are worth talking to, Cllr Pat McMahon (FF) suggested, “Shannon Group have had weak management for many years, that has been a huge problem. Bunratty Castle known all over the world, there is a future. Look at the positivity, find out where the rotten apple is and take it out of the bag”.
Urgency akin to “a fire brigade approach” is required, Cllr John Crowe (FG) with Cllr Joe Cooney (FG) of the view that “the can has been kicked down the road”. Figures on the costs involved in opening the attractions must be detailed, Cllr Joe Killeen (FF) highlighted.
Discontent has emerged in Fianna Fáil over the Taoiseach’s remarks, “I was disappointed in the Taoiseach’s words, they were not appropriate. Fitting that the motion was tabled by the Mayor,” Cllr Clare Colleran Molloy (FF) said. “He is the leader of my own party but what he said was a major disgrace, people who voted for FF all their lives said they might not vote for them again because of the comment,” Cllr Pat O’Gorman (FF) revealed.
Commitment must be visible for tourism sites in Clare outside of this umbrella, Cllr Joe Garrihy (FG) stressed. “It is better to go slow in the right direction than fast in the wrong direction,” Cllr Donna McGettigan (SF) advised. “This is the single biggest tourism development in the country. Go slowly in the right direction, make your decision slowly or repent it at a face pace,” Cllr Cillian Murphy (FF) added.
Addressing this month’s Council meeting, Dowling said they have been working on “due diligence” regarding the sites for “approximately twelve months”. He has met with all the staff of the Shannon Heritage sites on two occasions. “Irrespective of whether Shannon Heritage comes across to Clare County Council or not I would like to think their future will be maintained,” he said.
Costs associated with the sites “could potentially represent 25% of our budget for 2022” which is too big a risk without financial aid, the Kilkee resident flagged. “COVID has not been kind to Shannon Heritage, it requires Clare County Council in my view to save the Shannon Heritage product that exists. We cannot sustain 150 staff out of our current account, until and when tourism numbers regain their strength or as they were in 2019 and we will pay our way then”. He concluded, “We’ve turned the final corner but we need help from the Government of the day that asked us to take on this project in the first place”.
