This article is from page 4 of the 2006-03-14 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 4 JPG
A LOCAL community has emerged victorious in its bid to secure the future of the church building.
At Sunday mass at St Mary’s Church on the grounds of the former Our Lady’s psychiatric hospital in Ennis, the congregation applauded as Joe Lillis said that a lease on the church was to be signed with developers for four years and nine months.
Fr Michael McNamara told mass goers, “I am sure that through the power of the people here and the strength of the community, that the lease will be extended when it expires. We are delighted with what has been achieved.”
The deal will also allow developers, Allen Flynn, Martin Fitzgibbon and Paul Talty to commence work on the €20 million hotel, proposed for Our Lady’s.
Over the past 15 months, uncertainty surrounded the future use of the church, following the €5.2 million sale by Clare County Council of the 19th century psychiatric hospital.
The church, built in 1939 to serve the hospital community and the wider Doora-Barefield parish, is located on the grounds of the former hospital. Last year, Duesbury Ltd secured plans for a €20 million, 90-bedroom hotel development on the 14-acre site, only for Cllr Brian Meaney (GP) to appeal the decision to An Bord Pleanala, due to his concerns over the future use of the Church.
Negotiations have been ongoing between the developers and the local community over the past number of months with a price tag of €1.3 million at one stage being put on the Church building.
Cllr Meaney has now withdrawn his appeal after the successful outcome of the negotiations.
He said yesterday, “I am happy for all concerned.
“It is a very positive move and I am satisfied that the best deal has been struck.”
Mr Lillis told massgoers on Sunday of the terms of the deal. He said that the lease would allow the use of the church on Sundays and holidays, together with other agreed times.
He said that the developers reserved the right in the interim period, to explore all other options for the church, while there would be parking facilities provided for Church-goers.
Mr Lillis said, “We believe that the committee formed to negotiate arrived at the best possible available deal.”
Mr Lillis paid tribute to the work of the committee, in particular, John Costelloe and Fr McNamara, and for solicitor, John Casey, who provided his services free of charge.