Tánaiste acknowledges that Portumna Hotel is a “source of great frustration”

Last week the Tánaiste Simon Harris in the Dáil acknowledged that the former Shannon Oaks Hotel in Portumna is both an "eyesore" and a "source of great frustration".

He was responding to statements made by Local TD Louis O' Hara. The East Galway TD criticised both the idle Shannon Oaks, and local concerns over plans to redevelop Portumna Forest Park. He argued locals cannot understand why the hotel isn't redeveloped as tourist accommodation and why the owners aren't being held to account over the condition of the site.

“Thank you Louis O'Hara - Sinn Féin”, said the Shannon Oaks community group on Facebook, “for keeping Shannon Oaks on the agenda and the Protect Portumna Forest Park proposals.” The group wants to see the former hotel being turned into a tourist accommodation and community hub. The group strongly opposes building tourist accommodation within the Forest Park itself, and highlights the importance of protecting the park's natural beauty, biodiversity, and recreational value for future generations.

The group said it was very disappointed that the Shannon Oaks site, owned by the Comer Brothers, has still not been registered on the Derelict Site Register, which would charge the owners 7% per annum tax on the value of the property.

The group wants the boundary fence removed “as it is no longer a building site.”