Concerns are continuing as to the fate of the vacant Knocklofty House, a protected structure, near Clonmel. No remedial works have been undertaken despite an allocation of €10,000 under the Built Heritage Investment Scheme earlier this year. It is thought that the former hotel is owned by a financial institution – Tipperary County Council confirmed yesterday that the owner has declined to undertake any remedial works. Theft of lead from the roof some years ago has led to water entering the building and damaging the plaster work.
Local Sinn Fein member Dean McGrath is calling on the council to be more proactive in seeking to acquire and conserve the property. Mr McGrath, Deputy Martin Brown and Cllr Máirin McGrath are supporting the protection of the property for use as a part of the local heritage and tourism infrastructure. Tipperary Council did address illegal dumping on the site but additional dumping is currently taking place. Mr McGrath acknowledges the efforts of Heritage Minister Malcolm Noonan in engaging with campaigners and approving the €10,000 that was subsequently returned to the Department but says action is essential to save the building that once was the home of the Earl of Donoughmore before being converted 40 years ago into a luxury hotel. At its peak, the stately home was regarded as one of the great Anglo-Irish mansions in Munster.
A teacher working in St Joseph’s Primary School in Tipperary Town has been awarded the INTO Vere Foster medal. This medal is awarded by the Irish National Teachers Organisation in recognition of “Outstanding performance in School Placement. Robyn McCarthy from Clonmel recently graduated top of her class at the Hibernia College. Robyn has completed her Master’s in Education and is one of 920 new primary and post primary teachers conferred at the Dublin Convention Centre last week. The new teachers were encouraged to be “that teacher who never stops learning” by the Academic Dean, Dr Mary Kelly during the ceremony.
