BREAKING: Tipperary County Council will not purchase closed Roscrea hotel
Director of Finance for Tipperary Council confirms no plans to buy the Damer Court Hotel
Tipperary County Council do not intend to purchase a closed hotel in Roscrea, the Director of Finance for the local authority confirmed this morning (Feb 16).
Roscrea's Damer Court Hotel, formerly known as Grant's Hotel and the Pathé Hotel, closed in 2013 and following the closure of the Racket Hall Hotel in January of 2024, was thrust into the national spotlight when local representatives proposed the government purchase it and return the landmark premises to the hospitality business.
A feasibility study costing €150,000 was carried out on the Castle Street premises to ascertain the cost of restoring the building to a working standard.
Last week, following a Parliamentary Question by Sinn Féin to Minister Dara Calleary, the Cathaoirleach of North Tipperary Sinn Féin, Dan Harty, questioned what plans the local authority have in relation to the future running of the hotel.
At the February monthly meeting of the Municipal Council for the Roscrea area, local Councillor Shane Lee, asked the local authority's Director of Finance to clarify the position.
Cllr Lee expressed concern the Council "is being dragged into a mess" and urged senior management "to stand up and say where they stand."
"The people of Roscrea deserve better," Cllr Lee said, adding "mixed messages are going out about the hotel and nobody knows where it stands now."
Mark Connolly, Director of Finance, said Tipperary County Council "have no plans to purchase the hotel in Roscrea."
"We oversaw the feasibility study and the results of that are available for any potential future investors if they want to have a look, but there is no commitment from Tipperary County Council and no plans to buy it," Mr Connolly said.
"There are no plans to purchase or manage the hotel and I will consult with Brian Beck and the executive to examine if anything can be done to help promote it," he said.