Killarney council urged to acquire Victorian cottage at park gateway

A TOWN council has been urged to acquire a listed Victorian building, once a picture postcard cottage, at the gateway to Killarney National Park.

Purchased by developers during the boom, the 1839-built Reen Cottage has fallen into disrepair and remains overgrown with briars.

Cllr Michael Gleeson appealed to Killarney Town Council to buy the cottage and restore it for the “public good”.

The cottage is visible from the route to Ross castle and island, one of the busiest in Killarney.

A number of suggestions are to be looked at involving private and public bodies.

The historic gate lodge site, at Ross Road on a 10- acre site at the gateway to the Killarney National Park was the last property to be held by the McShain family, former owners of Killarney House.

The Reen cottage lands were rezoned in 2004 at the request of the McShain estate amid objections by environmentalists and locals. Shortly afterwards it was sold to a developer, who has since died. It was to have been restored as part of a 2004 rezoning deal with councillors.

Planning for nine two-storey houses exists on foot of the rezoning.

The meeting of Killarney Town Council on Monday night heard how a bank was now offering the cottage for sale.

The estate of the late developer is also involved in the instructions to sell, it is understood.

Last month, Killarney Town Council took the first step in placing the former gate lodge on a Derelict Sites Register.

Killarney auctioneer Tom Spillane, who is handling the sale, said the cottage and 10 acres have a guide price of €750,000 but can be sold separately.