THE COUNCIL has extended its deadline for expressions of interest in the vacant Necarne Estate in Irvinestown which includes hundreds of acres of parkland and an equestrian centre built at the cost of over £4m. 

Popular with local walkers, the site has been sitting vacant for over four years and hopes are high that entrepreneurs or investors can be attracted to develop the facilities and boost visitors to the area. 

Tenders for the future operation and management of the estate were first advertised last month but the council has now granted an extra three weeks to the deadline in the hope of attracting interested parties.  

Described as “a unique historic estate within an internationally renowned lakeland, tourism and leisure destination”, those who take over its running and maintenance are requested to “provide a high standard quality service to satisfy the needs and requirements of users.”

Situated on 228 acres of grassland and woodland, with its Grade B-listed 17th-century Tudor castle, the estate includes a gatelodge and two-storey garden house, residential accommodation with 16 rooms, an indoor arena with 300-seater viewing gallery and catering facilities, cross-country, steeple chase and point-to-point courses, and a range of other out buildings. 

The estate was bought by Fermanagh District Council in 1981 and seven years later the Department of Agriculture leased the estate on a long-term basis. They vacated the premises in 2012 after it had become “surplus” to requirements. The site boasts nearly 230 acres of land, previously used to house DARD’s equine education programmes which moved to the main Enniskillen campus.

Over £4 million was previously invested in Necarne to create the Ulster Lakeland Equestrian Park, billed as one of Europe’s finest equestrian centres, boasting an indoor arena, generous stables, 500 acres of land for riding, bar and catering facilities, visitor accommodation and an all weather dressage and jumping arena.

For more information and documentation, visit www.fermanaghomagh.com or email tenders@fermanaghomagh.com. Completed submissions must be returned no later than 12 noon on Friday, September 16th. 

The Council would not comment on the level of interest so far until the new closing date for tenders had passed.