Gastro pub and glamping/caravan park mooted for Boora

A new gastro-pub and glamping/caravan park could be on the cards on the approach to Lough Boora Discovery Park, the bogland attraction which draws more 100,000 visitors to the area every year.

The news emerged in a newly-published planning notice from Thomas Bennett and James Kelly of Bare Meadows Ltd, in relation to the Lough Boora Inn site at Boora Avenue, in what could prove a major boost for local tourism should it progress.

What's proposed, according to the notice, is a new gastro pub with outdoor dining area, six glamping pods and what's described as 16 berthing hardstanding pitches for caravans or motorhomes for a short-term stay, to include 16 separate electrical and water supply connection bollards. One of the glamping pods would be disability friendly, the plans indicate.

In addition the park would have capacity to park 88 bicycles, an outdoor play area, a toilet unit, waste refuge disposal area and a reception building to include a new first floor work hub for occupants of the park only.

The project would involve the conversion of the existing residential property located to the rear of the existing public house into commercial use as a gastro pub serving food at Boora Avenue, Leabeg,

Boora.

A side extension is also planning, with alterations to the existing front elevation, to include a new main entrance front door and a flat roofed area, windows to replace existing doors and the removal of chimneys.

A new flat roofed outdoor dining area would be provided to the side and rear and would be enclosed by an stone cladding wall.

In addition, 35 car parking spaces are part of the plans to include EV charging spaces, and four disabled parking spaces.

A hayshed on-site would also be demolished, while a new entrance is proposed adjacent to the existing building on the eastern boundary with a pedestrian crossing.

The project would also involve the installation of a rainwater harvesting system for potable water supply to the main building, an attenuation system for surface water runoff and a treatment system with what's described in the notice as cocoo infiltration.

The application proposes to reuse the existing water mains connection and associated landscaping and site works.

Set up in 2021, Bare Meadows Ltd has a registered address at Lumcloon, Cloghan.

The applicant has 14 days to submit the formal plans to Offaly County Council once the planning notice has been published.