THE bitter divisions in Boyle, Co Roscommon, over the development of the area's most precious public amenity Lough Key Forest Park have subsided. Bord Failte has rejected a controversial proposal to build a hotel in the middle of the park. A new era of cooperation instead of confrontation has apparently dawned.
Both sides have got together in an effort to draw up a blueprint for the park. The new group, Lough Key Forest Park Action Group, held an "open forum" in the town yesterday, during which concerned citizens were invited to express their views.
A distillation of the views expressed at the forum will be passed on to Coillte, which owns the park and which has promised to take local views into account.
The group is fronted by Mr Frank Feighan, secretary of the local Chamber of Commerce; Ms Eitbne Sheridan, a solicitor; and Mr Des Curley, principal of the Girls' Secondary School in Boyle.
According to Mr Feighan, it has won widespread community support for its stance, and tapped into a general sense of anger and frustration in the town at the "neglect" of the park by Coillte.
Earlier this year, Bord Failte turned down a £4.5 million funding application put forward by Rockfield Corporation, a US company fronted by a Roscommon entrepreneur, Mr Ed Sheerin. The board approved the plan in principle, but withdrew when certain requirements were not met.
The development, which was originally proposed seven years ago, would have included a luxury 156 bedroom hotel. Opponents of the proposals argued against the effective "privatisation" of a priceless public amenity, with little or no debate; while those in favour said it would create 300 jobs in an unemployment blackspot.
Ironically, the latest move signals the first time in recent history that local people have been asked for their opinions. In earlier centuries decisions about the estate were taken by the owners of Rockingham Demesne. In more recent times a Government Department and then Coillte decided what should happen.
The action group has provided an email address for those in the wider community who wish to contribute to the debate. The address is: dtiernan.tinet.ie.