Coolmore plans to demolish Parkville farm buildings stalled

Gordon Deegan

Contentious plans to demolish JP Magnier owned derelict farm buildings at Parkville near Clonmel in Co Tipperary have been stalled.

This follows Dr Alan Moore of the Save Parkville Farm Group lodging an appeal with An Bord Pleanála against the Tipperary County Council's grant of planning permission.

JP Magnier is the son of well-known stud owner John Magnier, and in March 2024, the Magniers’ Coolmore is reported to have paid €2.425 million, or almost €38,000 an acre for the 64-acre farm at Parkville - the lands had a guide price of €1.28 million.

The Council granted planning permission to the Coolmore-linked Melclon UC for the demolition of existing derelict buildings at Parkville together with all associated site development works despite local opposition which included a farm-gate demonstration on October 3rd last at the site.

In the appeal, Dr Alan Moore contends that the permission conflicts in its entirety with the aims and recommendations of Tipperary County Council plan policy in relation to vernacular farm buildings.

In his original objection, Dr Moore stated that "We have lost far too many similar structures both in Tipperary and nationally. There is no excuse for making the same mistake again."

The Moore appeal includes a personal letter that under-bidder to the Parkville property, John Hurley, sent to the Magnier family last October.

Mr Hurley was runner up to Coolmore in the bidding for the property at auction last year and in his letter, Mr Hurley said that himself and his late father had been stewards to Parkville for nearly 50 years where they rented the property.

Mr Hurley says: “Parkville was more than just a farm to us: it was a legacy, a responsibility and a testament to the enduring bond between man and land. We poured our hearts and souls into it, ensuring its beauty and history remained intact.

Melclon lodged its plans on September 18th last, and in his letter dated October 8th, Mr Hurley said that “this letter is written with a heavy heart with both sorrow and a deep sense of injustice”.

Mr Hurley said to the Magnier family that it is crucial to address the recent peaceful protest that took place outside the gates of Parkville.

Mr Hurley followed up his letter to the Magnier family with a formal objection to the planning application.

A notice placed on the gate at the site by the applicants stated that “these lands contain a derelict yard of rubble stone construction. After decades of serious neglect, it is heavily overgrown and crumbling and is now a serious health and safety concern”.

The notice states that “the owner has applied for demolition on health and safety grounds."