National 1798 Centre at Enniscorthy.

At today’s meeting, Wexford County Council received a mandate from members for the sale of the National 1798 Rebellion Centre at Enniscorthy to John Stafford, Slaney Farms, Tomnalosset, Enniscorthy, for the limited purpose of operations as a distillery and visitor centre.

The purpose built centre, established on a green field site adjacent to the old CBS monastery in 1998, will continue in its present form throughout the summer months and a number of events are scheduled to take place there marking the 220^th anniversary of the 1798 rebellion.

A recent meeting of Enniscorthy Municipal District Council agreed the sale of the property measuring 0.63 hectares for €325,000 to Mr Stafford, and the proposed deal passed to the County Council members for full approval.

A clause in the sale agreement emphasises that the Council will have first refusal to purchase the property at the original sale price if the purchaser decides to sell within the first five years.

Speaking to WexfordToday.com, Enniscorthy District Manager, Liz Hore, said the proceeds of the transaction would be ringfenced for local tourism.

She added that the 2018 tourism season will function as normal, the following season it is proposed to be in temporary accommodation, believed to be the Athenaeum Hall, and it is hoped that the ’98 Centre will find a permanent home as part of a major tourism complex for Enniscorthy, possibly based in the area of Enniscorthy castle and the Athenaeum Hall, for 2020.