Castlemacgarrett owners issues statement on proposed refugee accommodation

THE owners of Castlemacgarrett House have withdrawn an application to install modular housing for Ukrainian refugees at the historic estate.

In a statement issued this afternoon (Friday), the owners said that the property will be undergoing renovations that are expected to take 12 to 18 months. 

The owners said that the application for modular housing had been withdrawn following consultation with public representatives, and considering views expressed locally, stating that ‘it is clear opinion does not support modular housing at Castlemacgarrett House’. 

They said that Castlemacgarrett House, was ‘in dire need of rescue’, and would ‘provide accommodation and protect and safeguard the building for future generations to enjoy’.

“We can further confirm that we have lodged an application with the Department of Housing and Local Government for the accommodation of Ukrainian Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection in Castlemacgarrett House,” continued their statement.

“We have considerable experience in construction, and renovation of historic buildings in critical need of renovation. At present the property is in a derelict condition. This building is in dire need of rescue and, save for the proposed works, this building would slip further into dereliction.

“The proposed works will require significant investment and we estimate it will be completed over a 12 -18-month timeline. The renovation will benefit the local community.

“Castlemacgarrett House is a Protected Structure and is listed on the Record of Protected Structures. All works undertaken at the property will be completed in conjunction with the relevant departments, including the Heritage & Conservation Department of Mayo County Council.

Although exempt from planning permission ‘due to the emergency nature of the intended use’ the buildings will still have to undergo ‘rigorous scrutiny’ in order to comply with the relevant fire safety and building regulations. 

“These works aim to both provide accommodation and protect and safeguard the building for future generations to enjoy,” added the owners of Castlemacgarrett.

“The current site works referenced in recent publications are remedial in nature and are purely to halt any further harm to the fabric of the building.

“Our ambition for Castlemacgarrett House can only be achieved with buy-in from the local communities, local residents, interest groups and sports clubs etc. In due course we will call a meeting with local representatives, residents, Chamber of Commerce, sports and interests groups requesting their direct engagement,” they added, before pledging to work ‘closely with  County Council to manage and ensure minimal strain on local services’.

“We will keep the community updated on further developments as they unfold,” it concluded. 

A public meeting of over 200 people outside a church in Crossboyne held last Saturday heard concerns from local people after it was reported that an application for modular housing for refugees had been made. 

Local Fine Gael councillor Tom Connolly complained about a lack of communication from government, telling The Mayo News that local representatives had been left like ‘like headless chickens’ as a result. 

Castlemacgarrett House was purchased in 2006 for a sum in the region of €5.2 million by a business consortium who were understood to be planning to develop the property as a hotel and spa. 

The house was previously run as a nursing home by the Sisters of Our Lady of Apostles since the mid-1960s.