Renovation plans for Portumna hotel destroyed by fire

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Galway daily news Knocknacarra social housing

Renovation plans have been submitted for the Shannon Oaks hotel in Portumna which has been sitting vacant since it was destroyed by a fire in 2011.

Planning permission is being sought for renovation works to the existing, fore-damaged hotel.

Beyond that the developer is also seeking permission for a single storey restaurant, alteration and reconstruction of the front facade and other site works.

The Shannon Oaks Hotel on the outskirts of Portumna has been closed since roughly half of the property was destroyed by a fire which broke out on September 7, 2011.

The hotel is owned by the by the billionaire Comer Brothers from Glenamaddy whose property empire includes some 40 odd hotels around the world.

Last year the Comers committed to a €2 million rebuild of the Shannon Oaks, which it was hoped at the time would reopen for business in 2018.

There has been strong local support for the reopening of the Shannon Oaks Hotel, with an online support group forming around the cause on Facebook which has attracted 2,000 likes and followers.

Local councillors Jimmy McClearn and Ivan Canning have also been vocal supporters of the cause.

This planning application is being made by Dalakhani Unlimited Company, which lists Barry Comer as its Director.

A Habitats Directive Screening was submitted to the county council as part of this application.

It stated the project will not adversely impact on any protected Natura sites.

Submissions related to this development can be made to the county council until July 10.

Galway County Council is due to make a decision on whether to grant planning permission by July 31.