Locals split over €60 million ski resort

September 2005

AN Bord Pleanála’s go ahead for a massive ski and holiday resort in County Wicklow has already split the local community.

Some people feel the €60 million development will be a huge boost for nearby Newtownmountkennedy, while others feel the proper infrastructure isn’t in place to cope with the number of expected visitors. Dr Craig Bishop, of the Newtownmountkennedy Area Development Group, says he fails to see how the holiday resort will bring any benefits for the ordinary people of the area. On the other hand, Paul Kavanagh, Chairman of the local Tidy Towns Committee, says it will be a huge boost for the area.

An Bord Pleanala’s green light came on Tuesday for the alpine village with two ski slopes and year- round snow at the entrance to a disused quarry at Ballinahinch Lower, just outside Newtownmountkennedy.

The massive development is to include ski runs and an alpine village. Snow will be generated through a special refrigeration method.

Plans for the summer include a landscaped tropical beach, a lagoon and warm water pools fed from natural springs on the site.

There will also be a four story hotel, restaurants and bars and an ‘executive’ golf course, and apartments on the 35- hectare site.

The development is expected to create some 500 jobs.