Planning has been refused for a major development at a long-derelict South Kerry hotel.
Rínn Rua Holiday Park Ltd had sought planning to develop the former Rínn Rua Hotel in Ballinskelligs into a major tourism and leisure park.
Kerry County Council has refused permission for the development for four reasons, including that it could cause light pollution and reduce water quality.
The former hotel was built in the late 1960s, but has been derelict for over 30 years, and previous attempts to renovate it were unsuccessful.
Plans for the latest attempt to redevelop the area were first unveiled in 2023, including the partial demolition, extension and renovation of the existing derelict hotel.
This was proposed to include 22 self-catering apartments, a bar, dining room, rooftop restaurant, and shop.
The rest of the 22.6-hectare site, overlooking Reenroe Beach, will include 144 mobile homes, 25 holiday homes, 21 glamping pods, 20 campervan stands, six hobbit huts, and a tent camping area, washroom and facilities.
Rínn Rua Holiday Park Ltd also planned to construct a leisure complex with swimming pool, a surf shop and café, natural play area and central park area, with an upgraded cliff walk and beach access road.
Kerry County Council has now refused planning for the development, citing four reasons.
It said that the development would be visually intrusive in a visually sensitive area on the coast.
The council also wrote it was not satisfied the proposed development would not cause pollution of groundwater and surface waters, and it was not satisfied it would not disrupt the public water supply in Ballinskelligs.
Kerry County Council said it’s not satisfied that the proposed development would not seriously injure biodiversity interests, through light pollution and water quality deterioration.
The council wrote increased lighting or sky glow at a location such as this, could impact bird species within the Puffin Island Special Protection Area, and the Deenish Island and Scariff Island Special Protection Area.
