Call for action on derelict hotel in Portumna
Members agreed at this month’s meeting of Galway County Council to pursue the derelict site through a CPO, subject to legal advice.
Chief Executive Liam Conneally has sought more time to “get legal advice” after councillors approved a motion from Fine Gael Cllr Jimmy McClearn.
“This is a derelict building for the last 15 years,” he said. “A hotel is place where you can book a room. You cannot have a coffee or a meal. How we can classify it as anything else is beyond me. The loss of the hotel to the Portumna region is immeasurable.”
Several councillors described the property – which is owned by the Comer Group – as an ‘eyesore’, with Fine Gael Cllr Michael ‘Moegie’ Maher warning of the risk of a fatal incident. “This has been going on for years,” he said.
But some councillors questioned whether a CPO was the right approach.
Cllr Dr Evelyn Parsons (Ind) pointed to a failed attempt to CPO St Brigid’s Nurses Home in Ballinasloe in 2023.
“It was supported by councillors but there was no action arising from it,” she said.
“I understand the need for a hotel in a tourist hub like Portumna. What has happened to the other properties that motions have gone though in the past. What are the blocks to acquiring?”
Officials said they are engaging with the owners under derelict sites legislation and noted the CPO process “involved going in front of the courts” and requires “a very high burden of proof”. ”We will engage with them again on those issues,” they said.
We should give hefty fines. That might shake them a bit
However, Cllr McClearn argued that while the process “is longwinded” it would not take 15 years to complete.
Cllr Ivan Canning said he didn’t support CPOs in principle and instead called for hefty fines.
“I am a business owner in Portumna,” he said. “I see the effects on the town. I don’t agree in principle with CPOs. That is just my own thing about it. We should give hefty fines. That might shake them a bit.”
The Chief Executive said the council would not “shy away” from its statutory obligations, adding that additional resources are being allocated to tackling derelict sites.
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