Mattie McGrath urges intervention to save Tipperary golf course
Deputy Mattie McGrath urged the Taoiseach to convene local groups and ask the minister to intervene to save the Great National Hotel Group's golf course at Bellicisteen, Limec Junction. He warned that losing the golf course would jeopardise the hotel and remove a vital local amenity used extensively during COVID, and called for the task force under Alison Harvey to be expanded into the hinterlands.
Request to expand task force
McGrath said he has approached the Taoiseach many times about Tipperary Town and noted a task force had been set up under Alison Harvey. He asked the Taoiseach to convene all the groups working locally and to expand the task force’s remit to include the surrounding hinterlands.
Sale of golf course and risk to hotel
McGrath highlighted that the Great National Hotel Group is selling off the golf course at Bellicisteen, Limec Junction. He warned that - if the golf course goes, the hotel will go - and described the hotel and course as a focal point and a hugely important piece of infrastructure for the region.
Community appeal and COVID relevance
The deputy said the captain of the golf club, Michael Lynch, and several other local groups want to retain the amenity. He stressed the course is an outdoor facility that has been heavily used during COVID and pleaded for intervention to preserve both the golf course and the hotel.
Government response recorded
The Taoiseach replied that the task force has been established and its work is underway. He said whether its remit can be extended to cover the wider area is a matter he would need to discuss with the minister, and he committed to raising the issue with the minister.
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I have approached you many times about Tipperary Town and you did set up a task force under Alison Harvey. I am asking you now to convene a group with all the groups that are working so hard to expand that task force to take in the hinterlands. Now we have the Great National Hotel Group selling off the golf course in Bellicisteen at Limec Junction. You have often been in that hotel, I know. And if the golf course goes, the hotel will go. And it is a focal point and a hugely important piece of infrastructure for this region. We don't have anything else like it. So I'm asking you to ask Minister Martin, I've written to her, to intervene in this because the golf course could be kept there. And the captain of the golf club, Michael Lynch, and several other groups want to keep this amenity and facility. And it's at this time of all times, which, you know, COVID, it's an outdoor sport and it's hugely used. And we need the two, the golf course and the hotel. We can't lose this valuable piece of infrastructure. I'm asking you to intervene, please. Thank you. Thanks, Deputy. I'm not sure I have actually been in that hotel or golf course. Perhaps I have. But in the past couple of weeks, there have been people placing me in all sorts of places I've not been. So perhaps that's just one of the one of the latest ones. But that doesn't matter. You know, the task force, as you know, has been established. Its work is underway. Whether it can be extended or not to include the wider area really is something that I'd have to talk to Minister Burke about. But I'll certainly do that. Thank you.
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