St. Clare's Self-Catering Accommodation Project

The above named project is the second major undertaking the Forum identified as a worthwhile commercial venture for the Town. When completed it will have major tourism spin-offs for all businesses in the area, as it will provide accommodation for 48 people with self-catering apartments finished to the highest standard. The Forum is in the final stages of purchasing the site from The Diocesan Trust for the sum of €150,000.00.

Drawings have been prepared by Plan Design for Planning Permission which was granted on 4th May '06. Planning fees were €3,500 and Architects fees €18,150. We are also purchasing the Triangle on the Town side of the site from Leitrim Co. Co. at a cost of €9,000 plus Legal Fees. A grant of €3,500 is being granted by Arigna Leader towards the Architects fees, this will leave our outlay in excess of €180,000 which will come from the profit generated by the sale of the Backlands.

This project has been assisted by Arigna LEADER Company & the Irish Government Under the National Rural Development Programme 2000-2006 and part financed by the European Union

Information on St. Clare's Hall

The building now known as St. Clare's Hall, was formerly a Catholic Church dating from 1810. The lease for the property was secured from Nathaniel Clements, Second Earl of Leitrim, a mild landlord. His son, the notorious 3rd Earl closed the church on one particular Sunday around 1860 but was forced to re-open it at gunpoint by John O'Donnell of Larkfield House. Incidentally, Lord Leitrim was setting out for Manorhamilton, from his Donegal residence near Milford, when he was assassinated, with two of his employees, on 2nd April 1878.

After the present Catholic Church was built in 1880s St. Clare's became a post primary school, a status it maintained until 1912. Later it was used as a centre for dances, concerts, debates and indoor sports. It was also in St. Clare's that the first Sinn Fein courts were held. Milo O'Shea, the well known film and stage actor first performed publicly in this hall.

Prior to construction of the new development it will be necessary to demolish the old building, as it would be impossible to save it due to the dangerous overall condition it's in at this time. As you can see from the drawing above it will be replaced with an identical building - as St. Clare's is a major part of the history of Manorhamilton. Drawings can be seen in the company office at any time.