Owner gets 17-year-old shop deleted from protected list

AN elderly Killarney woman has forced the local council to remove her picture-postcard shop from its list of protected structures.

Listed buildings are usually very old, but Margaret O’Leary pointed out yesterday that her store, which is also her home at 33 Main Street, is quite a new building.

“It’s built on the site of very old building in which my family have lived for five generations. Seventeen years ago, I completely demolished the original building, which was crumbling, and replaced it with this structure.

“Why should the council want to protect a new building,” she asked.

The Department of the Environment, An Taisce, Dúchas and the Heritage Council were all opposed to delisting Ms O’Leary’s property.

“I just want to live a quiet life and the hassle has caused me a lot of frustration and anxiety. I’m happy it’s all over now,” said Ms O’Leary.

On the proposal of former Killarney mayor, Michael Courtney, the council decided unanimously on Monday night to delist the property.

In 1987, Ms O’Leary faithfully restored the building to its original appearance and the store stands out in the heart of Killarney and is frequently photographed by tourists.

Catherine McMullin, of An Taisce, said, in a letter to the council, An Taisce was “dismayed” at the proposal to delist Ms O’Leary’s property, particularly when the deletion had not been recommended by the Minister for the Environment.

“This type of building form needs to be preserved for future generations,” Ms McMullin wrote.