Community hotel model for Roscrea has 'great potential'

During one of the most tumultuous periods in the modern history of Roscrea surrounding the ongoing protests at the former Racket Hall Hotel, a unique suggestion to resurrect the long closed Grant's Hotel on Castle Street was proposed by a local elected representative.

Fianna Fáil Councillor Michael Smith, responding to the outcry from people lamenting the loss of the heritage town's only hotel, suggested investigating the feasibility of adopting a community hotel model in Roscrea.

Building upon a reference to the need for such a resource in the Town First Plan for Roscrea, Councillor Smith and party colleague, Tipperary TD Deputy Jackie Cahill, spoke with Minister Roderic O'Gorman in January.

Following the meeting, Minister O’Gorman agreed to discuss Deputy Cahill and Cllr Smith’s proposal with the leadership of the three parties of Government saying: "Across the Government parties, there is a recognition of the value that the proposal for a community hotel model would represent to the people of Roscrea.

"The Government parties agree in principle to examine funding mechanisms that can be brought forward to support this proposal."

Pictured above are Councillor Michael Smith and Mary Mullen, Chairperson of Knockatallon Development Association, outside the community hotel in Monaghan 

Last week Councillor Michael Smith visited a hotel in County Monaghan which is cited as an example of how the community model could operate in Roscrea.   

In a mainly rural area, 17 kilometres from Monaghan town and nestled in the foothills of the Sliabh Beagh mountains there is a community hotel, which employs 30 full and part time staff, caters for functions, weddings, funerals, meals on wheels and has become an important social amenity centre.

Following the extensive media attention on the situation in Roscrea, the Monaghan hotel has received numerous calls from people curious about it's operating model.

On arrival at the community hotel, Cllr. Smith was asked: “Are you the man causing all the phone calls and questions about the hotel?” by Mary Mullen, Chairperson of the Knockatallon Development Association. 

Councillor Smith described the facility as "an innovative service" which was established after the Good Friday Agreement. Five of the full-time staff are paid by public funds and the other 25 from profits from the day-to-day business. 

Staff explained to Councillor Smith how they financially support local projects, including an all-weather track, childcare and playing facilities from their profits and on the day he visited all of their 14 rooms were booked for that night.

"Standing shoulder to shoulder, the people of Knockatallon have made an outstanding success of this unique opportunity, they have made the community hotel a centre for constant activity. Their dramatic achievements must inspire us," Cllr. Smith told the Tribune.

"How more optimistic should we be with the advantages we have in Roscrea? The former Grants Hotel, lying vacant for over eleven years, and located in the centre of the town, serving a huge hinterland has great potential in this regard and I for one will do everything I can to make it happen.

"A wide variety of organisations have expressed interest in the community hotel project and want to have a role in its development", Cllr. Smith said.

A formal application has been lodged with the government and is awaiting approval of the financial package to push the project forward. A significant amount of money has already been committed locally, for an initiative which is "hugely welcomed" Cllr. Smith told this newspaper.

"It will of course be up to all of us to make a success of this project and bring this hotel back and give a new life to the heart of the town. I was re-invigorated by my visit to the North and firmly believe we are on the right track for Roscrea," Cllr. Smith said.

Meanwhile, protests are continuing outside the former Racket Hall Hotel in Roscrea, where the constant demonstration will reach the seven week milestone on Thursday. Protestors remain encamped at the entrance to the hotel and have kept a constant presence since the protest began on January 11.

On Monday, January 15, members of the Garda Public Order Unit physically engaged with protestors in an attempt to disperse them and facilitate access to the premises for less than 20 people who were initially accommodated in Racket Hall.

Protestors told the Tribune they will remain outside Racket Hall until they receive satisfactory in-person consultation with government Ministers, namely Justice Minister Helen McEntee and Minister for Integration, Roderic O'Gorman.