Necarne Estate, Irvinestown: six bidders submit expressions of interest

The six interested parties – outlined in a report to the Council’s Policy and Resources Committee – are: 

• Ederney Community Development Trust, Ederney; 
• J and P O’Neill, Irvinestown (directors are listed as John and Paula O’Neill, who own a local farm business and Johnny Rocko’s entertainment zone); 
• Gardrum Holdings Ltd, Dromore (director is listed as Derek Keys, also a director at Euro Auctions, and secretary is Georgina Keys);
• Necarne Manor B&B, Irvinestown (owned by Harold and Jacqui Rankin);  
• NI Estates Ltd, Forthill Street, Enniskillen (director is listed as Janice Richardson); and
• An unnamed late submission.

Read: Necarne closes as it becomes 'surplus' to DARD needs

Fermanagh and Omagh District Council (FODC) is in the process of seeking alternative uses for the site which is currently leased to the Department for Environment, Agriculture and Rural Affairs (formerly DARD). In 2012 the department said that it no longer has any use for the facility.

A previous attempt by Fermanagh District Council to sell or lease Necarne fell through when it failed to attract any desirable bids.

Concerned locals have set up a campaign group called Ad Hoc Saving Necarne Group.

Necarne Castle: protest seeks sustainable future

They are calling for the Necarne Estate “to benefit real local needs, rather than private shareholders.” The group wants “to ensure that our Council provides the most sustainable future for Necarne that ensures both community well-being and protection of the castle building for generations to come.”

They organised a public meeting on Thursday night in Mahon’s Hotel, where they suggested that the estate become a base for equine assisted therapy for all of Northern Ireland and that the future of the site be decided through community asset transfer, whereby surplus land and buildings are owned or managed by community organisations.

The campaign group argues that, because over £5 million of public money has already been invested in the estate, “it should be handed over to a some form of social enterprise that represents health, heritage and equine interests, rather than to assist some private business make profit for themselves and even set them up to apply for more public money to support their business.”

They have taken issue with apparent disparities between the lease agreed with DARD in 1998 – which required the centre to be open to the general public as a recreational facility and to continue the provision of a range of equestrian events such as the annual Fermanagh Harriers Point-to-Point – and the potential new lease which only mentions the requirement that the successful bidder will create and develop opportunities for employment and /or visitor attraction in the area. The 2016 lease tender says the successful business case will “provide a substantial use for the Necarne Estate and present it as an economic driver, or substantial community benefit” for the whole Fermanagh and Omagh Council area.

Read: failed attempt to date to sell/lease Necarne Estate

It suggests that proposals may include “to offer specialist activities unavailable elsewhere and to seek other possible common uses for the remainder of the facility to complement this main objective, so that the entire estate is utilised and maintained.”

The campaign group argues that the criteria for choosing the successful bidder is stacked against community groups because it prioritises “proof of excellent expertise in the chosen field and of running their own business and a robust and assured financial package to support the proposals.”

Spokeswoman for the group, Diane Little, said: “We believe it is wrong to allow the Council to financially exploit heritage and community space they have for so long neglected, to now benefit private investors.”

A statement from FODC said their invitation for expressions of interest “was a publicly advertised process, whereby submissions were welcome from all sectors – public, private and the community and voluntary.”

They add: “Expressions of Interest submitted to the Council will be assessed through due process with a report presented to the Council once complete. The Council cannot consider any other options regarding the use of Necarne Estate while this process is ongoing.”