Push for council to buy historic house as part of tourism plan

LOCAL public representatives are to request that Cork County Council purchase a historic house as part of its plan to turn Cork’s lower harbour into a major tourist attraction.

Councillors on the Carrigaline Area Committee have put down a motion to be debated in County Hall shortly that the council take over the magnificent Georgian-era Crosshaven House.

The owners of the house have put it up for sale with an asking price of €1.6 million.

Cllr Deirdre Forde, who is chairman of the Carrigaline Area Committee, said she and her committee members recently held a meeting in the house and supported the view of Crosshaven Tourism and the Rescue (Fort) Camden Committee, which both want to see the stately home purchased as a centre for tourism.

“This would be a wonderful asset for the community and be a centrepiece for many private and civic functions. The council have already shown great initiative in joining the local community to continue the Camden Fort project. Having seen how successful it is, we cannot let an opportunity slip to have this pivotal building taken into public ownership for the benefit of the people of Crosshaven,” Cllr Forde said.

Crosshaven House, built in 1759, has been used in recent years for corporate functions, weddings and exhibitions.

Its owners, the Cripps family, spent about €3m upgrading it to one of the finest preserved building of its type in the country.

The county council created a precedent for buying historic property for tourist enhancement in the county when it purchased Mallow Castle and its 30 acres of grounds last December for a knockdown price of €1.7m.

The castle, owned by the family of the late American Michael McGinn, was originally put up for sale in early 2005 with a guide price of €7m to €8m.

County manager Martin Riordan said the castle would be used for tourism purposes.

Considering the amount of money put into renovating Crosshaven House, the €1.6m being sought by the owners also represents a knockdown price.

Crosshaven Tourism spokesman Noel Condon said: “It would really fit in with the council’s overall plans for turning the lower harbour into a major tourist attraction by doing up Spike Island and Fort Camden.”