Quinn Holdings seek to develop heritage centre

Quinn Industrial Holdings (QIH) has applied for permission to develop a Heritage and Ecological Visitor Centre on the site of the historic Slieve Rushen House.

Plans for the once grand house, located at Gortawee/Scotchtown on the outskirts of Ballyconnell, as an interpretative centre for local geology and habitats are being viewed with the potential to access funding under the Peace IV Programme, The Anglo-Celt understands.
QIH lodged plans for the development with the planning section of Cavan County Council earlier this month for the development consisting of alterations, extension and change of use of the former Slieve Rushen House to a Heritage and Ecological Visitor Centre. This would include toilet facilities, a café, information display areas and a meeting rooms, as well as one self catering apartment. The plans also provide for associated improvements and upgrade to the existing vehicular access, as well as the provision of new car-parking, a picnic area and play-park and connections to the public sewer. A decision is due August 7.
In the 1609 Plantation of Ulster, Slieve Rushen formed part of lands which were granted to John Sandford of Castle Doe, Co Donegal. The mountain and lands surrounding were later part owned by the Gwyllym family who commanded the Ballyconnell estate. 
QIH as a company comprises of two business units interests- Building Products and Plastic Packaging- which operate from 12 locations in Derrylin, Co Fermanagh; Ballyconnell, Co Cavan; Granard, Co Longford; as well as operating a cement import facility in Kent, England. The business currently employs close to 820 staff, and QIH is owned by QBRC Limited, an investor group established by three local businessmen John McCartin, John Bosco O’Hagan and Ernie Fisher, along with the executive management team. Other investors to the group include the funds Brigade Capital, Contrarian Capital and Silver Point Capital.