Tourists need access to McClancy's Castle - Warnock

Cathaoirleach Cllr Justin Warnock asked Leitrim County Council to engage with the landowners at Rossclogher to get permissive access to the foreshore near MacClancy's Castle which was built on a crannog in Lough Melvin and which is of historical importance and a link to Francisco de Cuellar and the Spanish Armada.

Speaking at the latest Manorhamilton municipal district, he said that this was deterring possibly thousands of tourists from coming to the area.

A report by the Economic Development section said the involvement of a local community group or historical society is recommended as the best mechanism to see this area of historical significance be opened up as an accessible area adding that the securing of permissive access, to the foreshore in this instance, is more likely to be successful where the project is community led.

Cllr Warnock said he was hoping that there would be "some buy-in from the council in relation to it because we are trying to promote tourism and our heritage and this is a great opportunity because there are thousands of visitors to the Spanish Armada sites but when it comes to McClancy's Castle, they can't get down to that last piece of the puzzle and I think it's frustrating for them and the locals."

Cllr Warnock there were "only two or three landowners there."

Cllr Felim Gurn supported the motion saying that "whatever funding streams that can be made available should be available to get access". 

Cllr Sean McDermott also voiced his support saying it "is a piece of our history" with Cllr Mary Bohan also supporting the motion.