Critics want €9m Clonakilty ‘environmental eyesore’ site taken over

Local authorities are seeking to take control of a former GAA grounds that sold for €9m eight years ago but is now partly an “environmental eyesore” in a West Cork town centre.

The planned development of the eight-acre shoreline site had, at one stage, envisaged a major expansion of retail and office space accommodation in Clonakilty.

However, the partly-developed site is now in receivership and at risk of losing its monetary value as the OPW progresses a new sea defence project for the town, which is vulnerable to floods.

However, the Western Committee of Cork County Council and Clonakilty Town Council unanimously supported an initiative to acquire the site which has “enormous amenity, recreational and environmental potential”.

On the Casement St frontage of the site, potential office and retail space has been created.

Independent councillor Anthony McDermott said yesterday: “It’s very sad to see most of the site in a dilapidated state.

“There’s horses grazing and there’s rubble and the site is a general eyesore for the Tidy Towns Committee, which strives to keep Clonakilty as a leading contender every year.

“The town council has spent a lot of money in the past year in redeveloping Emmet Square and Asna Square and I feel strongly about the GAA grounds lying idle.”

He said the site should be a “jewel in Clon’s crown” and suggested it would be a total disaster for the young people of the town in particular if the former GAA complex was not developed as an amenity or recreational area.

“The site should be utilised for the youth and for all sporting and community organisations,” he said. “Currently, the GAA and the rugby have magnificent facilities, but the soccer club is still without a home, and young players are togging out on the side of a road.”

Fianna Fáil councillor Donal O’Rourke said his primary concern was proposed OPW works, to create a high embankment on the town’s bypass road, would leave the site on “the seaward side” of the flood defences.

“My contention is the land on seaward side of the embankment will lose its future value as a potential retail or industrial site,” he said.

When the OPW completes the works, the site will have little use except for amenity or recreational uses.

Meanwhile, town manager Mary Ryan has agreed to establish ownership and creditors associated with the site. She warned councillors that funding for any acquisition or development of the site would be a major issue.