Plan for off-grid artists' commune in Offaly turned down

BUSINESSMAN Tony Kilduff's plan for an 'off-grid' artists' commune in Offaly has been turned down by County Council planners.

Kilduff applied for permission to build studios on a 40-acre site he bought in his home area, Clonfinlough, near Clonmacnoise.

According to his proposal to the council, the idea was to foster creativity in a quiet and eco-friendly environment that would be economically viable.

It was intended to keep a small group of buildings heated and cooled by solar power gathered via photovoltaic panels laid out at ground level and served by a small shed with a battery storage facility.

“It is proposed that the development will be used as a non-profit, workshop type model and as such will only facilitate artists or people connected with the arts and education in that discipline,” the council was told.

Kilduff has been an honorary council member of the Royal Hibernian Academy, which supports artists.

“He has an active interest in contemporary Irish art and has supported and collected modern artworks for many years, which has led to his ownership of one of the most substantial and unique collections in the country. The project has been endorsed and will be supported by the RHA and the academy will be instrumental in appointing artists for residency on site going forward,” the council was told.

The development at Lakelands, Clonfinlough proposed the refurbishment of an old farm cottage and the construction of four single storey dwellings, three of which were to function as artist studio units. The fourth was to be a two-bed house.