Mayo County Council purchases and commits to development of historic Moorehall estate

Mayo County Council has proposed to develop the estate as a nationally important nature reserve and tourist attraction.

Mayo County Council has announced that it has acquired the historic Moorehall house and estate from Coillte with the intention of enhancing and developing it for the benefit of the people of Mayo and Ireland. The property being acquired by Mayo County Council comprises some 80 acres of woodland estate overlooking Lough Carra in west Mayo, including the house, courtyard and walled garden. The estate will be developed in collaboration with the National Parks and Wildlife Service of the Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, who are strongly supportive of the project. Mayo County Council is proposing to develop the estate as a nationally important nature reserve and tourist attraction and says it will ensure that the natural, built and cultural heritage of Moorehall is protected, yet developed and managed in a sustainable manner for current and future generations. A plan for the estate will be developed by Mayo County Council and the National Park and Wildlife Service in consultation with stakeholders and the local community. It will include the development of a recreational park, conservation measures and restoration of the historic walled garden to coincide with the upcoming national centenary celebrations of the foundation of the state. The ancestral home of John Moore, first President of the Republic of Connaught, and of the renowned Moore literary writers, the history of Moorehall is closely linked with significant events in Irish history, including the 1798 French invasion, the Irish literary renaissance of the late 19th and early 20th centuries and the Irish Civil War. Commenting on the purchase of Moorehall, Richard Finn, Cathaoirleach of Mayo County Council, said: “I welcome this important investment which I believe will be widely welcomed by people living in and visiting the county. Moorehall is a place of exceptional history, going back many generations, the remnants which are still visible on its historic landscape. “The acquisition of Moorehall by the Council will ensure that the heritage of Moorehall is preserved not just for this generation but for future generations.” Mr Denis Strong, Divisional Manager, National Parks and Wildlife Service of the Department of Culture Heritage and the Gaeltacht, added: “Moorehall is an internationally important scientific and nature conservation site. “We look forward to working with the Council in providing expertise on the management of the natural habitats and, in particular, the protected bat species for which the site is designated a Special Area of Conservation.”