Boatyard eyesore may be converted into cultural centre

THE disused site of an old boatyard in Dingle could yet be converted into a thing of beauty.

Now an eyesore in the heart of the town, the boatyard may be compulsorily purchased by Kerry County Council and developed as an amenity.

The council has already demolished the boatyard and has placed a wooden fence around it for safety reasons. A compulsory purchase order can now be issued under derelicts sites legislation.

Council director of services Philip O’Sullivan said there was a lot of local pressure to redevelop the site for the benefit of the community. One of the ideas put forward was for a cultural centre. Other people have called for a theatre/arts centre.

Yesterday, well-known Dingle restaurateur and tourism promoter John Moriarty said the area should be cleared and landscaped. “It should be a place where people could sit and stroll along the harbour front. We’ve already done a lot of damage to the sea front with parking spaces,” Mr Moriarty, of Lord Baker’s, said.

“I’d hope to see the site redeveloped in a tasteful way and not in a honky-tonk fashion. I’ve seen some beautiful seafront developments in old harbour and fishing towns, such as Plymouth. The same could be done in Dingle,” he said.

Dingle boatyard was once an important employer, with skilled craftsmen building vessels for the fishing industry. However, a change from wooden to steel-hulled boats and a decline in the industry resulted in a sharp drop in demand.

Major recent seafront developments in Dingle include a marina, an extension of the pier and an ice plant.