Backer defends Durrow leisure project

The developer of a leisure centre at Durrow Abbey, Co Offaly, has denied that his project would overwhelm one of the most important early Christian sites in Ireland.

Mr John Maher, of Radleigh Developments Ltd, said the £130 million plan, which includes a 105-bedroom hotel, 475 houses and apartments, an 18-hole golf course and a Champneys-style health spa, had "overwhelming support" locally.

In an interview with The Irish Times yesterday, following trenchant criticism of the scheme by Dr Pat Wallace, director of the National Museum, Mr Maher said it was also backed by the High Cross Committee based in Tullamore.

The committee was set up to protect the high cross and other elements of the monastic site at Durrow Abbey, which dates from the 7th century.

As part of the plan, Duchas, the Heritage Service, has been offered the monastic site as well as a nearby holy well and space for public car-parking. It will also have a role in certifying an archaeological assessment of the area.

Mr Maher, from Roscrea, Co Tipperary, said he agreed to buy the 300-acre Durrow Abbey estate from the late Paddy O'Brien, whose family still owns it. The contract is subject to planning permission being confirmed by An Bord Pleanala.

"We knew that the site would be regarded as very sensitive, so we consulted with all the relevant bodies, including Duchas, An Taisce and the High Cross Committee. We also outlined our plans at a number of public meetings in Tullamore," he said.

There were also lengthy discussions with Offaly County Council's planners, who were anxious that there would be a master plan for phasing the development over a number of years. This was co-ordinated by Radleigh's architect, Mr Paul O'Toole.

Mr Maher said the plan had already cost nearly £100,000 to put together, and the archaeological assessment required by the county council would add substantially to this figure.

The developer said he would be very disappointed if An Taisce were to appeal against the scheme, given that he had "taken on board" many of the issues it raised. But he could not agree to the 50 per cent reduction it sought in the number of proposed housing units.

The "courtyard-type clusters" of houses and apartments were necessary to make the scheme viable. "It's not a case of cramming in as many units as possible into the place, squeezing every drop of profit out of it and then walking off into the sunset," he said.

Emphasising that he was not "part of the bulldozer brigade", Mr Maher said developments in which Radleigh had been involved, such as apartment schemes at Crofton Road in Dun Laoghaire and at Tolka Vale in Finglas, "always had that extra touch."

A quarter of the housing envisaged for Durrow Abbey would be for rental by visitors using the leisure facilities, while the rest was aimed at people thinking long-term about a retirement home. "It's not going to be million-pound golf villas," the developer said.

Among the amendments he intended to make was to relocate the proposed hotel bedroom block farther from the monastic site. This would protect the setting of a nearby Norman motte.

The leisure centre may also be redesigned to preserve an early 19th-century garden.