PBP Councillor Gino Kenny who along with members of the Clondalkin Equine Club have been trying to source land in the Clonburris area of Clondalkin for the equine club has hit out at Grant Thornton’s decision not to give a partial tenancy to the equine club. The club had put a submission and an affordable bid  to the auctioneer Knights Frank last year in relation to 177 acres of land.  The lands are in receivership and where formerly owned by a number of landlords including Treasury Holdings. The 177 acres in Clonburris became available to rent in October.

Speaking about the decision Cllr Kenny said,

“ I have been speaking to members of the club and to say they feel let down is an understatement. The club had been in contact with the owners of the land over the past eight months to try and obtain a portion of the land. There is over 200 acres of unused land in the greater Clonburris area which is of no use to anybody at this present time. The club’s proposal was to obtain 45 acres to start the much needed project”.

“Grant Thornton’s decision is purely monetary and gives no social understanding of the land in question were horse owners have kept horses for generations.  The new tenant will now have to clear all the remaining horses from the fields. This will be a PR disaster for the new tenant and Grant Thornton.  Accountancy firms like Grant Thornton are faceless corporate entities who do their biding for absentee landlords, who don’t give a damn about local communities”

“ Almost on a weekly basis we are seeing horror stories of equine neglect and mass impounding across the country.  Here are  local horse owners trying to address these issues with a different kind of approach through adherence to legislation and good equine educational practice.  Members of the club are looking  for a place they can can call their own without the fear of impounding. There has been great goodwill towards the club locally and nationally in what the club is trying to achieve, but if the club can’t find a home it will be difficult to continue the project.  I’m now calling on South Dublin County Council to intervene, facilitate and identify land were responsible horse owners can call their home in Clondalkin”