No resources to buy bellamont house humphreys

Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht Heather Humphreys has poured cold water over the possibility of a State-backed bid for the €1.3 million-listed Bellamont House near Cootehill, by saying the “resources are not available” to her Department to consider the purchase.
She made the admission when responding to a question in the Dáil last week, put to her by Fianna Fáil Cavan-Monaghan Deputy Brendan Smith.
He had asked the Minister and her department to examine the possibility of buying the house completed in 1730 by Judge Thomas Coote and designed by architect Edward Lovett Pearce, in view of its potential for development as a tourism and heritage project.
The house, bought by the late John Coote in the late 80s and restored up until his death in 2012, was listed for sale earlier this year, with reports of substantial interest in the property.
Replying to Deputy Smith, the Minister said that her department, in conjunction with the Office of Public Works (OPW), may, from time to time, acquire “heritage properties of national significance and in exceptional circumstances”.
However, she said, “given the many competing priorities for funding built heritage and due to the significant reduction in funding to my Department in recent years, resources are not available from my Department to consider the purchase of the property in question.”
She assured though that her department would be “working closely” with Cavan County Council in “maintaining and safeguarding” of the property’s future.
“Both my Department and the local authority will continue to assist and advise in determining any suitable or viable uses for the property into the future,” she said.
Expressing his disappointment to the Celt, Deputy Smith said: “Local community groups in the Cootehill area who had been lobbying for the purchase of this house by the State will be disappointed by the news that its purchase will not even be considered by Government.”

Councillors also back public bid for Bellamont

Meanwhile, the elected members of Cavan County Council at their meeting last week, also supporting the public bid to purchase Bellamont House and have it retained as a tourist attraction.

“This house is a National treasure and, unless Cavan County Council and the government step in now, this house will be lost to developers or to a private family and, again, the gates will be closed and no one allowed to explore this fantastic part of our built heritage here in Cavan,” Fianna Fáil’s Niamh Smyth told the monthly meeting of elected members last week.
Sinn Féin’s Paddy McDonald also placed a motion on the agenda asking that the local authority executive to engage with An Taisce, OPW and other government agencies with the view to supporting a potential buyout.
Fianna Fáil’s Fergal Curtin and Clifford Kelly also supported the motion.
Director of Services Eoin Doyle told the meeting that, while the council would not have the funds to back any deal, they would of course assist any State organisation with a view to retaining the site for community use.
Cllr Smyth further asked that she be included in any meeting between interested stakeholders.