Search
07 Sept 2025
Search
07 Sept 2025
Please allow ads as they help fund our trusted local news content.
Kindly add us to your ad blocker whitelist.
If you want further access to Ireland's best local journalism, consider contributing and/or subscribing to our free daily Newsletter .
Support our mission and join our community now.
To continue reading this article, you can subscribe for as little as €0.50 per week which will also give you access to all of our premium content and archived articles!
Alternatively, you can pay €0.50 per article, capped at €1 per day.
Thank you for supporting Ireland's best local journalism!
Drayton Villa - Former Parochial House in Clara
One Offaly councillor has called fr Ukrainian refugees to be temporarily housed at Drayton Villa, the former parochial house in Clara, Co Offaly.
Cllr Ken Smollen made the call this week as the government confirmed that 6,000 refugees fleeing the war in Ukraine have already been welcomed to Ireland.
"With thousands of Ukrainian refugees on their way to Ireland over the next few days, weeks and months, I have contacted the relevant people at Offaly County Council with regard to possibly opening the former Priests House in Clara, known as Drayton Villa.
"With the necessary work being done it could temporarily house four families that are almost exclusively women and children," Cllr Smollen added.
"I have been assured that Offaly County Council, in conjuction with Offaly ETB, will investigate the possibility of making this happen."
The site and house was acquired by Offaly County Council and Laois Offaly ETB in 2020 with the long-term plan being that a new building for Ard Scoil Chiaráin Naofa in Clara is developed there.
In late 2021, the Department of Education sought permission officially for the appointment of a design team for the planned new school building.
With the project at a very early stage, Cllr Ken Smollen believes it could be some years away and that the house, in the meantime, could be used as accommodation.
The Offaly Express has requested a statement from Offaly County Council on the proposal.
Subscribe or register today to discover more from DonegalLive.ie
Buy the e-paper of the Donegal Democrat, Donegal People's Press, Donegal Post and Inish Times here for instant access to Donegal's premier news titles.
Keep up with the latest news from Donegal with our daily newsletter featuring the most important stories of the day delivered to your inbox every evening at 5pm.
This publication supports the work of the Press Council of Ireland and Office of the Press Ombudsman, and our staff operate within the Code of Practice of the Press Council. You can obtain a copy of the Code, or contact the Council, at www.presscouncil.ie, Lo-call 1800 208 080 or email: info@presscouncil.ie.
