State Minister Patrick O’Donovan is committed to joining forces with ministerial peers Heather Humphreys and Roderic O’Gorman, aiming to create a community hotel in Roscrea. This announcement was made during the inauguration of a tourism pull recently refurbished in the north Tipperary town, costing nearly €1 million.
Mr O’Donovan inaugurated the €900,000 overhaul of the 13th century Roscrea Castle during his visit to the town. Earlier this year, the town witnessed protests after the latter’s remaining hotel, Racket Hall, transitioned into an asylum seeker center.
The government later pledged to procure the former Damer Court Hotel near the castle and transform it into a community hotel. Jackie Cahill, a local Deputy from Tipperary and Fianna Fáil councillor Michael Smith successfully received a pledge from Minister for Integration, Roderic O’Gorman, to move forward with the plan.
Mr O’Donovan, a Fine Gael Deputy, has shown his support for the proposal, promising to lobby for it with both the Minister for Rural Development, Ms Humphreys, and Mr O’Gorman.
“The OPW has allotted close to €1 million on the makeover of Roscrea Castle and Damer House, a top-notch tourist hub located in the heart of the town, although I perceive it as only the beginning of the OPW involvement,” he commented. “However, since this investment has been finalized, our priority is to attract visitors to Roscare and its castle. The higher the footfall, the more reason I have to allocate more funds here.”
Mr O’Donovan did not share the OPW forecast on visitor numbers, though he admitted that Roscrea Castle started from a low point since it had been “practically mothballed since Covid.” Nonetheless, he remained optimistic about it becoming a significant highlight of Tipperary tourism.
The M7 motorway sees a high volume of traffic, with many people seemingly unaware of the rich heritage of Roscrea located just off the route. By drawing even a small portion of those individuals into Roscrea, not only would it boost visitor numbers, but it would also positively impact local businesses in the hospitality industry, including cafes and eateries.
Mr. O’Donovan from the Office of Public Works (OPW) has pledged to collaborate with the Roscrea community, local heritage organisations, and the Tipperary County Council as they have previously done in Cashel, Cahir, Nenagh and Thurles. The goal is to improve the tourism offerings through preservation and conservation efforts.
Roscrea Castle, a stone motte structure built in the 1280s, served as a Butler fortress for more than 400 years until taken over by Cromwellian forces in 1650. It later functioned as a barracks that accommodated 350 soldiers in 1798, and over time has been transformed into a school, library, and a sanatorium. Situated in the castle courtyard is Damer House, a pre-Palladian building from the early 18th century that fell into decay in the 19th century.
A comprehensive three-year restoration of the castle by the OPW encompassed various upgrades such as the enhancement of the lighting system, the implementation of fire and safety measures in the Gate Tower, and repairs to the stone features in Damer House, a national monument. These strategic works prevent water damage to the structure and contribute to the preservation of this important historical site.