Mallow Castle development plan due in 3 months

A report on the futuredevelopment of Mallow Castle as a tourist attraction will be finalised in the next three months.

Cork County Council, which purchased the castle last December for €1.7m, initially plans to work on the 33 acres of gardens to make them accessible and safe for the public.

Louis Duffy, a senior council official in charge of the project, said a steering group has been set up to look at the site’s tourism and community potential.

It comprises councillors, the OPC, UCC, Fáilte Ireland, Mallow Development Partnership and Mallow Chamber of Commerce.

“The group has received proposals from a number of interested organisations suggesting various uses and continues to investigate opportunities for the demesne,” Mr Duffy said.

The buildings and other features on the site are protected structures. It is also a designated archaeological site and national monument.

“Cork County Council has appointed a specialist firm to prepare a conservation report on the property so that we can determine the constraints and the scope for development of an iconic attraction,” Mr Duffy said.

The property also features a former farm, granary complex and walled gardens. The grounds are also home to a rare herd of white deer gifted by Queen Elizabeth I.

The council has already restored the front lawns to a beautiful condition.

Over the next few months work will concentrate on restoring the rest of the grounds.