Minister to push for State role in Fota House
Trustee secretary, Professor Tom Rafferty, made the comments last night after a meeting at Fota House yesterday with John O’Donoghue TD, Minister for Tourism, Sport and Recreation.
“We’ve done our job restoring the house. There is a little still to be done but it’s now a functioning property. Now it’s up to the government to take it over,” Prof Rafferty said.
Mr O’Donoghue was in Cork yesterday to visit projects which have, and which may, benefit from funding from his department.
He described Fota House, which together with the gardens and wildlife park attracted 400,000 visitors last year, as “a cultural treasure of immense importance”.
“It is easily the most important attraction in Cork in terms of tourism and I will be discussing with Environment Minister Martin Cullen the possibility of the State taking over the house. I can’t obviously guarantee a State takeover without talks, but I will be, as Tourism Minister, advocating that course of action,” he said.
Mr O’Donoghue also visited Churchfield to view plans for an €8.5 million leisure complex, €3.8 million of which is coming from his department.
Later, at St Vincent’s GAA club, he was briefed on the club’s ambitious expansion plans.
Club chairman William McCarthy said sport was vital for the area and the minister praised the club’s volunteer workers.
And last night, the minister was briefed in private by the Cork 2005 team on plans for Cork’s European Capital of Culture event.
