Write a commentWell known couple Padraig Carragher and his wife Sharon Donnelly Carragher from Mullaghbawn are celebrating the successful granting of a planning permission to provide self-catering glamping pod accommodation at their homestead in the Gullion valley village of Mullaghbawn.
Sharon an acclaimed artist and potter and husband Padraig an artist and woodturner as well as regular musician plan to bring something different to the area to add to it's already bustling tourism offerings.
The planning approval, granted by Newry, Mourne & Down District Council on 6th October, follows hot on the heels of the creative couple being awarded funding from the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development’s Forestry Grant Scheme last Spring to create a community woodland on their lands at Tullymacreeve Road, Mullaghbawn in South Armagh.
Following an application made at the beginning of April, permission was granted for the exciting proposal which includes four beautifully hand-crafted luxurious treated timber pods, each fully insulated and able to accommodate two adults; provision of two shower/toilet enclosures and the conversion and reuse of outbuildings to ancillary accommodation to create a communal kitchen, laundry facilities, a games room, an office, storage and toilets. Car parking and cycle parking will also be provided.
Alongside creating their own artistic pieces, Padraig and Sharon’s studio on site also facilitates a varied selection of woodturning, art and craft workshops and masterclasses as well as demonstrations of traditional Irish cooking and baking for local visitors and tourists alike. The couples planning application statement read that ‘the impetus for such a proposal is as a result of an established and successful local rural tourist enterprise which currently operates from the homestead… Through the introduction of the glamping pods and ancillary facilities the tourism offer would ensure longer dwell time incorporating overnight stays, masterclasses and workshops all within the subject site… Such accommodation would not only enhance, compliment and bolster the existing tourism enterprise but also create positive spin off benefits such as an increase in tourist spend within the Ring of Gullion.’
The planning report, which accompanied the successful permission, states that permission would ‘be granted where it is demonstrated that the proposal will create a high quality and sustainable form of tourism development’ and ‘having considered the nature and scale of the development within its existing setting … the glamping pods and ancillary structure can be absorbed into the area without adversely impacting the rural character ad this Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.’
On receiving the news Padraig commented: “We are absolutely over the moon to have secured this planning approval to provide glamping facilities here in Mullaghbawn. We have no doubt that this novel self-catering accommodation will only contribute positively to the existing tourism offer this AONB is currently offering. We’d like to sincerely thank Colleen Savage, Planning Consultant and Ciaran Hughes of HQ Building Design for their professional help and expertise in achieving this positive result.’
Preparatory works are due to commence at the site in the coming months with a view to the glamping pods being available for reservation in Spring 2017.
