Latest news with #Oakmount
Irish Times
04-07-2025
- Business
- Irish Times
Wicklow County Council paid €613,000 to secure public access to Magheramore Beach
Wicklow County Council paid €613,000 for land needed to secure public access to Magheramore Beach , documents show. In internal discussions, the council said the purchase price was likely to be less expensive than a High Court challenge, which would have had no guarantee of succeeding. The land at Magheramore was owned by Paddy McKillen Jnr's Oakmount , which outbid the local authority for it in 2021 when they paid €700,000. Mr McKillen Jnr had hoped to develop a €40 million surf school , accommodation and restaurant there, but the proposal was rejected by An Bord Pleanála . READ MORE The 21-acre clifftop site went to auction again this year with a successful bid made by a Chinese investor based in Ireland. The investor later contacted the council offering it an opportunity to buy the site for €613,000. An internal council memo said the purchase would secure permanent public access to the beach and that private ownership could lead to it being blocked off. 'There is a registered private right of way the full length of the access lane to the beach; however, there is no public right of way currently registered for the lane,' a memo stated. Therefore, it added, a High Court case would have to be taken to secure public access. The legal costs for such a case would come to at least €600,000 with no guarantee that it would be successful. The memo said the council should go ahead with buying the land, with no VAT payable and both parties responsible for their own legal costs. A council order form said: 'The completion of the purchase represents the best value for money for Wicklow County Council versus the costs of a potential High Court case. 'It will eliminate the risk of access to Magheramore Beach being closed off to the public and the loss of a key recreational and tourism amenity.' The land was originally owned by the Columban order of sisters before its original sale back in the 1980s, and it has changed hands multiple times since. It offers access to Magheramore Beach, a cove that has been used as a setting for numerous TV productions including Vikings, Camelot and Finding Joy. Asked about the purchase, a council spokeswoman said it was the best value for money choice available. 'It has eliminated the risk of access to Magheramore Beach being closed off to the public and the loss of a key recreational and tourism amenity for the county,' she said.
BreakingNews.ie
04-07-2025
- Business
- BreakingNews.ie
Wicklow council paid €613,000 for beach land as it was cheaper than going to court
A local authority paid €613,000 for land to secure public access to an idyllic beach saying it would be more expensive than going to court to guarantee a right of way. In internal discussions, Wicklow County Council said the purchase price was likely to be less than a High Court challenge, which would have no guarantee of success. Advertisement The land at Magheramore Beach was owned by Paddy McKillen Jnr's Oakmount who outbid the local authority for it in 2021 when they paid €700,000. Mr McKillen Jnr had hoped to develop a €40 million surf school, accommodation, and restaurant there, but the proposal was rejected by An Bord Pleanála. The 21-acre clifftop site went to auction again this year with a successful bid made by a Chinese investor based in Ireland. The investor later contacted Wicklow County Council offering them an opportunity to buy the site for €613,000 and 'step into the shoes' of the purchaser. Advertisement An internal council memo said it would secure permanent public access to the beach and that private ownership could lead to it being blocked off. It said: 'There is a registered private right of way the full length of the access lane to the beach; however, there is no public right of way currently registered for the lane. 'Therefore, a High Court case would have to be taken to secure public access. The legal costs for such a case would come to at least €600,000 with no guarantee that it would be successful.' It said the council should go ahead with buying the land, with no VAT payable, and both parties responsible for their own legal costs. Advertisement A council order form said: 'The completion of the purchase represents the best value for money for Wicklow County Council versus the costs of a potential High Court case. 'It will eliminate the risk of access to Magheramore Beach being closed off to the public and the loss of a key recreational and tourism amenity.' Ireland Blue Flags 2025: Record number of Irish beaches gi... Read More The land was originally owned by the Columban order of sisters before its original sale back in the 1980s; it has changed hands multiple times since then. It offers access to Magheramore Beach, a cove that has been used as a setting for numerous TV productions including Vikings, Camelot, and Amy Huberman's Finding Joy. Asked about the purchase, a council spokeswoman said it was the best value for money choice available to them. She said: 'It has eliminated the risk of access to Magheramore Beach being closed off to the public and the loss of a key recreational and tourism amenity for the county.'
Irish Independent
26-06-2025
- Business
- Irish Independent
Paddy McKillen Jr cuts his asking price for Loftus Hall to €3m
When he put the property – which overlooks Hook peninsula and the landmark Hook lighthouse – on the market earlier this year, agents Colliers were guiding €4.5m for it. But they are now guiding €3m. Mr McKillen Jr's development company, Oakmount, is reported to have paid €1.75m for the manor-style house and 68 acres in 2022 and spent millions more on its restoration, with plans to transform it into a luxurious boutique hotel. Reputed to be Ireland's most haunted house, it comprises a detached nine-bay, three-storey house with a total gross internal area of 2,460 sqm (26,487 sqft). Mr McKillen Jr has a passion for refurbishment of old properties and has revamped a number of Dublin hospitality venues in recent years. At Loftus Hall, he has brought phase one of an ambitious redevelopment to near completion with the creation of 22 upstairs bedrooms, restored the roof, replastered the façade and built a new bar and restaurant. He also undertook plans for phase two offering an additional 56-bedroom hotel wing, a spa and fitness centre, dedicated wedding venues, 33 standalone garden cottages, and 10 eco pods positioned throughout the grounds. The building dates back to 1870 and the site dates back to Redmond Hall, which traces its history to 1350. It is named after the Loftus family who undertook extensive renovations in anticipation of a visit by Queen Victoria which never happened. In 1890, the last remaining member of the Loftus family died, and the estate was put up for sale. It was later operated as a convent by the Sisters of Providence and then between the 1980s and late 1990s as the Loftus Hall Hotel. In 2011, the property was acquired by the Quigley family and opened to the public as a tourist attraction centred on its ghostly reputation. The launch of the haunted tours proved very popular at the time, given that many ghost stories have passed from one generation to the next with alleged horrific events that seemingly took place within its four walls. According to storyteller Kieran Fanning in his book Haunted Ireland: An Atlas of Ghost Stories from Every County, one 18th century story relates to Lady Anne Tottenham who, while playing cards there, discovers the man she is playing with has cloven feet. For months afterwards, Anne is haunted by the devil but he is eventually exorcised by a Fr Thomas Broaders. It was speculated that Anne's father may have put out the story of the devil to keep the locals away and to stop them from discovering that Anne was pregnant.
Irish Times
18-06-2025
- Business
- Irish Times
Famed Ivy to open second restaurant on Dawson Street
Having earned the distinction seven years ago of being the Ivy Collection's first location outside the UK, Dawson Street is set to become home to another of the group's restaurants. While the details of its arrival on the street have yet to be confirmed, The Irish Times understands that the Asian-inspired Ivy Asia has signed a deal to occupy the 12,500sq ft restaurant/retail space on the ground-floor and basement level of number 12 Dawson Street. The letting was handled by Savills, who declined to comment on the matter. Better known as the former, longstanding headquarters of New Ireland Assurance, number 12 Dawson Street was redeveloped in recent years by Paddy McKillen jnr's Oakmount and its partners, Core Capital, and is home today to Goodbody Stockbrokers. The space being taken by the Ivy Asia had, at one point, been earmarked for a restaurant to be operated by McKillen jnr's Press Up hospitality group. Number 12 Dawson Street is located immediately adjacent to the block occupied by the Ivy Collection's existing restaurant, the Ivy Dawson. Both the Ivy Dawson and Ivy Asia form part of the wider Ivy Collection, a diverse group of restaurants, cafes and brasseries under the same ownership as the original Ivy restaurant in Soho, in London. READ MORE They are part of Richard Caring's Caprice Holdings, which operates a string of high-profile restaurants and hospitality outlets across London and the UK, including Scott's, J Sheeky, Daphne's and Sexy Fish. According to its website, the Ivy Asia aims to bring diners through what it describes as 'a journey of the senses with a dining and drinking story inspired by Asian influence'. As is the case with its sister restaurants in the Ivy Collection, the Asian-themed venues 'offer a luxurious and theatrical setting in both design and decor'.
