No sign of Vernon Mount House remains coming under public ownership

Fine Gael councillor Shane O'Callaghan was told that the council's derelict sites team has been engaging with 'multiple partners' in relation to the property

Vernon Mount House, one of Cork's most iconic landmarks, was completely gutted by a fire in 2016. Picture: Billy MacGill

There are still no signs that the remains of the derelict Vernon Mount House and adjoining lands in Cork city will be taken into public ownership, after more than three years on the city’s derelict sites register.

Council officials gave the update, in response to questions from Fine Gael councillor Shane O’Callaghan, at the March meeting of Cork City Council.

Mr O’Callaghan asked when the process of bringing the building and lands into public ownership, whether through the compulsory purchase order process or otherwise, is likely to commence.

In a written reply, the council’s director of services in the strategic and economic development directorate, Fearghal Reidy, said the council’s derelict sites team has been engaging with “multiple partners” in relation to Vernon Mount House.

“The land surrounding the building is currently occupied by the Munster Motor Cycle Club,” he said.

“Owners of the property and their representatives do not reside in Ireland. Despite these challenges, any consideration for acquisition of the site would need to consider existing uses, access, costs, and future uses.

“Any such plan would be subject to the availability of resources.”

Mr O’Callaghan asked why the city’s policy of preparing a business case for possible compulsory purchase order of a site on the register for so long was not being applied in this case.

Mr Reidy also said that, while it is the council’s policy to consider certain sites on the register for a compulsory purchase order business case, it does not always mean that the site will advance to the order.

“Each site would have its own issues, risks, and complexities,” he said

In this case, it’s complicated due to ownership and title of the site.

Vernon Mount House was one of Cork’s last surviving Georgian mansions, containing murals by 18th century artist Nathaniel Grogan.

It has been in private ownership from the 1990s, and fell into dereliction after an investment company was refused planning by Cork County Council for a hotel and residential property development on the site.

The local authority considered a compulsory purchase order, but ruled it out on cost grounds. As the property deteriorated, the council used its powers to repair the building’s leaking roof — at a cost of €170,000 — in 2013.

Three years later, the building was gutted in a suspected arson attack.

The property came under the jurisdiction of the city council in 2019, and it was placed on its derelict sites register in March 2021.