Shannon Heritage Workers are calling for clarity, following the decision to close iconic sites in the Midwest in the new year.
Bunratty and King John’s Castles from January until April, following a difficult financial year, resulting in a number of staff being laid off after Christmas, as Clare FM’s Fiona Cahill reports.
Workers say they are “devastated” following the decision to close the Bunratty and King John’s sites for three months in the New Year.
Bunratty and King John’s Castles, which remained open during level three restrictions, now won’t open from January until late April, while Craggaunowen, Knappogue and Dungauire castles have stayed closed since the covid-19 outbreak in March, and will remain shut.
A core group of staff will be kept on to maintain the sites, with others being laid off or supported through Government wage subsidy schemes.
Shannon Group says it regrets the move, with their focus now on protecting employees’ jobs in the long term, with a government review into the Group ongoing.
But workers feel a number of other factors haven’t been considered, such as the impact of the closures on local businesses.
Dolores Marron, a spokesperson for the Shannon Heritage Workers, believes that decisions shouldn’t be made on profit alone.
Earlier this year, Shannon Group submitted a funding application to support Shannon Heritage through until June 2021, and in August, the Government gave the green light for a 2.6 million euro package.
The Department has since confirmed to Clare FM, however, that only in the region of 550,000 euro would instead be drawn down and workers are calling for clarity on whether the remainder could be accessed to maintain employment.
A review of Shannon Group is nearing completion and Sixmilebridge Independent Councillor PJ Ryan insists a new operator should be one of the recommendations.
Clare’s Independent TD, Michael McNamara has today called on the Government to put ‘a lot more thought’ into keeping the heritage sites open and operational in 2021 and beyond.
While earlier this week, Clare’s Fianna Fáil TD Cathal Crowe and his party colleague Willie O’Dea raised the future of Shannon Heritage in the Dáil.
After they pressed for supports for Shannon Heritage, Minister Eamonn Ryan argued that there needs to be a focus on the longer-term future of Shannon Group itself.
