Magheramore Beach Resort Rejected

Computer-generated image of planning Magheramore resort

hen Paddy McKillen Jnr paid €700,000 for 21 acres of Magheramore beachfront propety back in June 2021, there were, of course, concerns.

Mainly that access to this perfect little alcove of Wicklow beach might be suddenly closed.

And now, plans by McKillen’s Oakmount for the popular spot to build a boutique holiday resort and a surf school on the clifftop lands has been rejected by Wicklow County Council.

Under his Creatively Pacific Ltd company, McKillen had hopeed to build what’s described on the application as an integrated tourism-leisure, recreational complex along with 48 accommodation pods and a surf school, all on 2.95 hectare of the 8.5 hectare site.

We’re talking a two-storey over ground level building containing a gym, sauna, cinema and an outdoor swimming pool, reception, bar and restaurant, washrooms and outdoor terrace, plus an event room.

The application was also seeking 49 car-parking spaces and 13 bike-parking spaces, whilst at the same time providing enhancement and supplementation of planting, given that Magheramore Beach is part of a large Special Area of Conservation.

The application also stated that the ‘existing public pedestrian access to the beach will remain unaffected’. There would have been, nonetheless, barrier control to the site of the proposed complex.

Talking to The Irish Times, CEO of Oakmount, Lisa Rocca, said in April, “We have gone to great lengths to create a plan that respects and enhances this very special place. The development not only fits in but also hides in the landscape and cannot be seen from the beach.

“It gives public access in a way that fully respects natural qualities, ecology and the integrity of this stunning location.”

Nice. Took a while to get the figure Wicklow Planning’s refusal, but 24 hours after they listed the application simply as Decided, the confirmation of that refusal also came with their reasons – which we’ve uploaded here. 

A petition against the application got almost 13,000 signatures alongside 99 submissions from local residents and the likes of Bord Fáilte and Keep Ireland Open.

Now, come join us for a lazy, hazy fantazy afternoon at Magheramore Beach right here.