An ambitious planning application is expected to be lodged later this week in respect of a new entertainment development project near Thurles Co.Tipperary.
Businessman Richard Quirke has plans to build a massive entertainment facility which will include a five-star hotel, entertainment centre seating 15,000 people, casino, new racecourse for horses and a new greyhound track .
The horse racing course is designed to be similar to the Dundalk, Co Louth track, which successfully opened two years ago and received a grant of €10.2 million from Horse Racing Ireland (HRI).
The Dundalk track which is understood to have cost over €20 million is an all-weather, floodlit track and is viewed as a very sound financial venture.
It is understood this new proposed development will be on an existing 800-acre site close to the village of Two Mile Borris, at Noard House approximately five miles from Thurles town.
The chances of this project becoming a reality may end up being totally dependent on the results of a current review of policy regarding casino gambling in Ireland by the present Government whose decision is expected to be revealed towards the end of 2009 or early 2010. It is believed that now with the advent of Online Casino’s the government may change previous views held in relation to such matters.
Slot-machine tycoon Richard Quirke, a former garda, who boosted his fortune from his gaming arcade,”Dr Quirkey’s Good Time Emporium”, trading as Dublin Pool & Juke Box Company Limited, at 55-56, Upper O’ Connell Street, Dublin 1, is well-known in gaming industry circles. He was previously the owner of the Carlton Cinema site in the centre of Dublin, latter which he sold for an estimated €30 million. The accounts for his Dublin pool and juke box firm lists property worth more than €6m and income for himself and his wife Ann just under €3m. His son Wesley has been dating the former Miss World Rosanna Davison for approximately two years.
Horse Racing Ireland (HRI) officials would make no comment on this matter today at Thurles track, but sources close state that the HRI have had ambitions for a number of years regarding a new racing track in the Munster area.
The 2007 National Development Plan allowed for the provision of €70m to go toward helping finance new racecourses, however, in today’s very different economic situation, both the Government and the HRI have both called a halt to capital development funding.
FINALLY, some good news! This venture, if it goes ahead will bring great prosperity to the area and region. People of Thurles will finally have something to do! 🙂
I’m from Thurles and have worked in London, Nenagh, Dublin and now Limerick, but NEVER WORKED in Thurles,…..it’s an economic wasteland and this proposal would finally give me a job in my hometown….sweet!.
Well done Richard Quirke for your fantastic vison & ambition, lets all do whatever we can to make it become a reality.
Hip Hip Horray
Delighted to hear such good news in the present economic climate.
Our country is in a downturn and the work potential could be huge with this project.
I wish all involved the best in their endeavours to secure planning permission.
I think it’s a fantastic project. I can understand the objections of the older generation,and perhaps the farmers, but we are living in different times. The new generation coming out of school need work, not beautiful landscape.