Funding sought for motorhome site at historic Laois location

Laois County Council have applied for funding from Fáílte Ireland to carry out a feasibility study on the inclusion of a motorhome site at a historic Laois location. 

The Council hold ownership of two parcels of land on the grounds of the Donaghmore Workhouse and Agricultural Museum, and hope to open a site for motorhomes, caravans and parking for tourists, along with food facilities and a visitor centre.

This motion was tabled by Rathdowney Fine Gael Cllr John King.

"While I was recently at the museum for an event, I was thinking about the two parcels of land that we own, and then thinking of the location," Cllr King said.

Pictured: the land in front of the museum expected to be used as a motorhome site

The museum is a six minute drive from Rathdowney, and an eight minute drive from Borris-in-Ossory.

The buildings first opened as a workhouse in 1853, paid for by a tax on local property owners. The workhouse was deliberately designed to appear as unattractive as possible, so that its only residents would be those who had lost all hope.

The site now operates as a museum, with the interior designed to appear exactly as it did in the mid 1800's.

Ms Elaine Moore, AO in Laois County Council's Tourism section, replied that the Council have applied to Fáílte Ireland for funding.

"Laois County Council have made an application to Fáilte Ireland for funding under the EU Just Transition Fund to carry out a feasibility study at this location and are awaiting a decision on same," Ms Moore said.

Cllr King welcomed this reply.

Pictured: Laois County Council own two parcels of land in front of the workhouse museum

"We have a place where motorhomes and campervans can be put in. I understand that they will have to be monitored, but it would be the keystone to bring people to the area," he said.

Angela McEvoy, Director of Services for Planning, Regeneration and Economic Development, explained that the Council have applied for funding from Fáílte Ireland.

"We are awaiting funding from Fáílte Ireland, we have also got funding for the structures there, we got a substantial grant under the Heritage fund for €200,000 recently," she highlighted.

"We are trying to keep the buildings in the shape that they are, and going forward, we are also developing a motorhome aire policy through the SPC, looking at various locations across the county.

"There is a cluster of developments happening in that location at the moment, with Making Track's glamping site and the Pond Beach resort, and there has been a lot of good work done by the town team in Rathdowney. All of the right things have been put in place there to try and move this on," the director finished.

"This will be the icing on the cake", Cllr King agreed.

Independent Cllr James Kelly seconded this motion from Cllr King, hailing the idea as 'great for the county'.

"We don't have motorhome aires in the county and I believe we should have three or four," Cllr Kelly said.

"We have the beautiful Slieve Blooms, Donaghmore, Mountrath with the link to the Slieve Blooms. I think this is a positive and it's going to be great for the county."

Independent Cllr Ollie Clooney supported this motion, highlighting the rich history within the area.

Pictured: an ariel view of the location. Photo: Google Maps

"It's a good notice of motion, it's in an area steeped in history. Some history that we don't want to read with all the hardship of it, but this will be absolutely brilliant. Parking for these motorhomes is a huge issue, when you have a bit of land, why not use it?" he finished.

Fine Gael Cllr Conor Bergin welcomed this news, praising the work that is undertaken in the museum.

"It's a fantastic amenity," Cllr Bergin said.

"The work that Trevor Stanley does out there is fantastic, he has an incredible knowledge of the history of the workhouse and of the whole area.

"It is a part of history that is important to record, and it very much is tied in with the story of Laois County Council, the fact that the board out there was the predecessor to the County Council in the 19th century. I very much support anything that can be done to improve the facility," he finished.

Cathaoirleach Fianna Fáil's Seamus McDonald also gave his full support to this motion.

This motion was tabled at the May meeting of Laois County Council's Borris-in-Ossory/Mountmellick Municipal District.