asked the Minister for Lands if he will state (a) the nature of the efforts which were made to sell Shanbally Castle, Clogheen, County Tipperary, (b) whether any offer was made for its purchase, and, if so, the amount of the offer, (c) the estimated cost of the demolition of the castle, and (d) the method of disposing of the cut stone, marble fireplaces and mahogany staircases.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Disposal of Shanbally Castle (Tipperary).
The replies to the various parts of the questions are as follows:—
(a) The castle was twice the subject of advertisements by the Land Commission for sale by tender-first, with 172 acres, as a residential property and secondly, without land, for demolition.
(b) Four tenders were received in accordance with the first set of advertisements but the individual tenders were very inadequate for the property then offered and no tenderer could be relied on to maintain the castle as a residence. Seven tenders were received in accordance with the second set of advertisements and the highest tender was accepted.
It would be contrary to practice and objectionable to publish the amounts of individual tenders.
(c) and (d) As the expense of demolition and disposal of salvaged materials are matters for the purchaser, I am unable to give information concerning them.
Did the Minister make any effort to sell this particular place, as its demolition is a national calamity in the eyes of the people of South Tipperary and adjoining counties?
Every effort was made to dispose of the property. Efforts have been previously made by the owner to dispose of it.