Clonmel Arms sale is 'great news' for the largest town in Tipperary

While they had to be sensitive, with legal matters still being dealt with, the sale of the former Clonmel Arms and its redevelopment as a hotel was real and wouldn’t be “a false dawn,” Cllr John FitzGerald has stated.

Cllr FitzGerald told a meeting of Clonmel Borough District that it was great news for the revitalisation of the town centre.
“The people involved do stuff locally and have the resources to complete the transaction,” he said.

It’s understood that the new owners, who are purchasing the building from Dungarvan-based developer Michael Ryan, include a local investor and developer.

Cllr FitzGerald complimented District Manager Sinead Carr and District Administrator Carol Creighton for their “steadfast work” in dealing with issues of safety and anti-social behaviour at the Sarsfield Street site, and for their professionalism in relation to the sale and their work behind the scenes.

Cllr Pat English said that it was great news and would bring major footfall back into the town centre.

He thanked everyone involved, and said it came on top of the official opening of Penneys’ newly-extended €5.7 million store in O’Connell Street, Clonmel.

This was another big plus for the town, with more jobs and more floor space being created.

The National Transport Authority (NTA) had also announced plans for a new town bus service, with four buses, and they had been waiting for this for a long time.

Cllr Michael Murphy said the announcement about the sale of the Clonmel Arms was positive news and a step in the right direction.

He paid tribute to Cllr FitzGerald and the council officials for their work in this regard.

The council should make it clear that as a body they were willing to assist in any way to drive this project so that it realised its full potential.

Cllr Richie Molloy said it was great news that the Clonmel Arms site was being sold and redeveloped as a hotel.

This was the one issue that came up time and time again and the building in its current condition was really letting down the town centre.

Its development as a hotel would transform that area of the town and more accommodation was needed in Clonmel.

He complimented Cllr FitzGerald and his business, estate agents Dougan FitzGerald, for their role in the sale.

Cllr Siobhán Ambrose said the return of this site as a hotel was so important and she looked forward to the rollout of this project.

Knowing the two new owners, she said she had great confidence that it would be completed to a very high spec.

She also welcomed the official opening of Penneys’ revamped store, which had created twenty permanent jobs.

The former Clonmel Arms Hotel closed almost 18 years ago and has fallen into a state of disrepair and dereliction since then.