Moorehall masterplan nearing completion

WORK on a masterplan setting out a long-term vision for the Moorehall area as an internationally important cultural heritage attraction and nature reserve is nearing completion.

Conservation of the protected lesser horseshoe bat at the historic house is at the centre of the plan.

Moorehall will be the 'jewel in the crown' in south Mayo, Denis Strong, regional manager with the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS), told members of Mayo County Council's strategic policy committee for tourism, recreation, food and community engagement, who were given a lengthy presentation on the draft masterplan this afternoon.

As well as nature conservation and restoration of the built heritage, potential walking links have been identified with sites such as Burriscarra, Castlecarra and Ballintubber Abbey.

And the connectivity even stretches into Co. Galway – the literary links with Coole Park, synonymous with Yeats and Lady Gregory, which is of huge interest to US visitors – and talks about this have commenced with the council there.

To date, works that have been completed at the estate include the restoration of the walled garden, pathways, the creation of play spaces, nature trails and signage.

The masterplan, said William Cormacan, regional manager, NPWS, presents huge opportunities for Moorehall and Lough Carra, as a world class site for nature conservation, an amenity for the people of Mayo and a tourism attraction, celebrating the Moore family and the history of Ireland.

The plan, which is nearing completion, will now be subject to environmental assessment and then a process of public consultation.

Some committee members did question the investment required and suggested the council should be driving on other priority tourism projects around the county.

Mr. Strong pointed to other NPWS sites, such as the national park in Ballycroy, which started as a 'heather-covered hillside'.

They were told it would never work, he said, and in its 19th season it had 40,000 visitors, employing five local people full-time, with other spin-offs for local businesses.

The Moorehall project, he said, was 'exceptional'.