Approval given in principle for
£7m Folk Life Museum for Turlough House?
17 Jul 1996
By TOM GILLESPIE
AN ANNOUNCEMENT is expected in the near future from the Government regarding the development of the historic Turlough Park House, near Castlebar.
The property, situated on 40-acres was purchased by Mayo County Council five years ago for £250,000. Approval in principle has been given to transfer part of the folk life collection, currently based in the old reformatory school in Dangan, to Turlough.The cost of the entire project is expected to be in the region of £6 million and will transform the Turlough property into a major tourist attraction.
The Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht, Michael D. Higgins has signed the directive authorising the project which will bring Turlough House Park under the control of the Office of Public Works. The property will be handed over to the OPW by Mayo County Council.
Sources close to the Minister for Tourism and Trade, Enda Kenny confirmed to the Telegraph that the transfer had been approved in principle.
Local Labour County Councillor Johnny Mee, who had fought vigorously for the project said: "The development will put Mayo and Castlebar in particular on the tourist map.
"The artefacts coming to Turlough are part of a most prestigious collection and one which will attract thousands of visitors to this area.
"Minister Kenny has discussed the development with Minister Higgins and I am assured that an announcement is imminent once all the details are finalised."
There has been keen competition for a home for the priceless collection including Johnstown Castle, Co. Wexford and locations in Cork and Limerick.
A Department of Tourism and Trade source said: "The directive is written and discussions are going to open between the County Council and Board of Works on the project."
A number of meetings have taken place between Minister Kenny and Minister Higgins about this issue The project was publicly endorsed by Minister Kenny in Turlough when he opened the recent CAT scan garden party.
Turlough House, which forms the centrepiece of the park, was designed along High Victorian Ruskinian Gothic lines by Sir Thomas Newenhan Deane. The property had been owned by the Geraldine branch of the FitzGerald family since Cromwell sent them to "Hell or Connaught".
The present house was built in 1865, close to the ruins of an earlier one.
Connaught Telegraph - News - July 1996
Connaught Telegraph - Sport - July 1996
