Major plans for Birdhill village

Tourism information centre and business development planned

A major tourism and business development, projected to attract up to 20,000 visitors annually to Birdhill village, has received conditional planning approval.

Tipperary County Council has granted planning permission, subject to a number of conditions, for the proposed development on the site of the former Birdhill Co-Op Creamery and adjoining former village Post Office.

The application outlined the intention to create a Lough Derg Welcome Centre, including a tourism information centre, a café, golf putting course, a children’s play area along with 41 car parking spaces on the site of almost three acres.

A second phase – which would be subject to a separate planning application at a later date - would see an expansion of the exhibition area and a 360 degree cinematic experience which will exhibit commissioned footage of the Lough Derg area.

The development, planned by Caroline and John Rice, will be the largest ever carried out in the village, a former winner of the 2017 Overall National Tidy Town Award and five times winner of Ireland’s Tidiest Village title as well as an international Entente Florale Award.

It will further enhance the attraction of the beautiful village for visitors with projection to attract up to 20,000 per annum to the village on the former N7 Limerick-Dublin road.

Giving way to the development is the former Birdhill Co-Op Creamery, which was built more than a century ago to serve for the intake of milk from local farms.

Constructed in 1914 when local farmers invested £86 in share capital, the intake of milk ceased nearly four decades ago with the rationalisation of the dairy industry and the introduction of a modern milk collection system.

The change coincided with the demise of small dairy farms in the area where during the early years of the last century up to 100 dairy farms delivered milk to the creamery every day during the peak season.

The centre also operated a retail store for the supply of farm and home supplies, which traded very successfully for several years. Adjoining the creamery is the former village post office, which has also been purchased by the developer to extend the area available for the new development. Post Office services in the village ceased with the retirement of postmistress, Mary Ryan, who had operated the business for many years.