Spiralling costs a massive headache but scaled back €4m Longford tourism project set to proceed

The ambitious plans to develop the motte and bailey in Granard have been pared-back as the project experienced a massive 600% increase in costs in five years.

Billed as “a major tourism and amenity attraction featuring a living model of a Norman village” the project was poised to be developed at the site of Granard Motte.

In 2019 it was announced that the project would develop the heritage park on 15 acres of land at a cost of €2.8 million with support from Fáilte Ireland.

The village and park was to be built adjacent to the Knights & Conquests Heritage Centre. The plan was to build a Norman village located near the site of Ireland's highest Norman Motte, originally built in 1199.

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At the September meeting of Granard MD, Cllr Padraig McNamara called on Longford County Council to provide an update on the GMCE project. Mr McNamara declared an interest in the project as a committee member of Granard Motte Community Enterprise Ltd, which was formed in 2018.

Paul Newell, Acting Director of Services, told members that the project had “been through a number of iterations since 2018”.

Acknowledging a number of setbacks he said: “You'll be glad to know that the current iteration is now going to progress.”

Above: An image of the original plan unveiled in 2019

Mr Newell said the original plans put forward by GMCE in 2019 was costed at €3m, however escalating costs saw that figure jump to €9m by 2021.

“The feedback from the market was that it was actually more expensive, around €9m. So we then appointed a QS to look at the project. The QS report came back then in July last year for a project of €15m. Additional works, design breaks and overruns, would probably have brought the project up to about €18m. So something had to give,” he told the meeting.

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The project has been backed by the local authority, the Rural Development Fund, the Department of Rural Development, Community Development and Fáilte Ireland. However the funding only stretches to €3m, with €682,000 already spent on reports.

“We had a high level meeting on September 9 with Minister Peter Burke, Senator Micheal Carrigy, a local councillor in Granard who has been involved in the project for 11 years, members of GMCE, our Chief Executive and the Director of Services, John Bannigan. We have now pared back the plans to a €4m project,” Mr Newell told the meeting.

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The scaled back work focuses on the core of the land: “It's to the north west of the site, it is the bailey, which is the centre, the focus point of the project. This bailey is a three metre high fortress built in the middle of the site, in a circular culture.

“Inside that there's going to be a granary, which is like an old Norman store, a chapel, and then activity shelters.”

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Mr Newell said a steering group is being established to coordinate the project. He said the massive jump in the cost of the project is down to a number of factors: “There has been significant delay, I suppose, over the last three years.

“Covid didn't help us. The price increase was significant. It was only really that we got to grips with the price last July after we appointed the QS.”

Cllr Turlough McGovern, who seconded the motion, expressed his dismay at not being invited to the meeting on September 9: “As a Granard elected member, along with other members that I wasn't invited to the meeting. I don't know how Cllr McNamara worked in the Post Office, but usually you want the support of your colleagues. I wasn't asked to that meeting and I felt a little left out.”

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He continued: “It will be great to get it started. It will expand the Rebel Trail we have in North Longford. We will look to push on this project.”

Replying to the rebuke, Cllr McNamara, said an email was sent out to local representatives about the meeting.

Cathaoirleach Garry Murtagh said: “It's a fantastic project. This is only Phase 1 of it, we will keep chipping away and it will come to fruition over time.”

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