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€460m gamble on Ireland's Las Vegas

Wednesday, 28 October 2009

Artist's impression of a hotel which will form part of a 460 million euro (�417m) Las Vegas-style village deep in the Irish countryside

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What are these?

It's certainly a Quirkey idea: a resort encompassing a huge casino, hotel, world-class racecourse and 02-style concert arena (with retractable roof) all built around a perfect replica of the White House.

And to top it off, businessman Richard Quirke (aka Dr Quirkey, owner of Dublin-based amusement arcades) revealed yesterday that he wants to build this €460m, 800-acre pleasure palace not in Las Vegas but near Two-Mile Borris.

Such a project would change the Co Tipperary village forever.

Yesterday Two-Mile Borris found itself the unlikely target of a quite gargantuan development scheme which threatens to make the most dramatic Celtic Tiger-era building developments look positively puny.

Tipperary native Mr Quirke, who made his fortune running his Good Time Emporium arcade, is behind plans to construct what excited PR people yesterday called an “Irish Las Vegas” outside Two-Mile Borris which lies just off the new M8.

Details of the project were unveiled yesterday in the Horse and Jockey hotel in Thurles, but despite plenty of local enthusiasm it is unclear if the project will go ahead.

If the project gets the green light, it will take three years to build, employ 1,000 people through the construction phase and employ 2,000 people afterwards.

Planning applications are to be lodged with North Tipperary County Council today.

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22 Comments

As the song suggests, it really should be built in the hills of Donegal.

Posted by Gerry | 30.10.09, 13:40 GMT

I didn't realise that there were so many DUP loving, God fearing folk reading the Tele online!

If it brings jobs to the local community and can be aesthetically pleasing to the eye, what is the problem?

Posted by Strucker | 29.10.09, 08:38 GMT

Las Vegas is a revolting tacky horrible place. It has beautiful desert weather and the desert around Las Vegas is stunning and the sunsets and dusks are breathtaking. Death Valley is a must, the Hoover Dam and the natural scenery, but the town of Las Vegas is for uncultured ignorant people. I used Las Vegas as a base to explore the beautiful desert.

Posted by Patrick Murphy | 29.10.09, 00:39 GMT

A world class racecource sounds great and most racecources in N. America have casinos.It would help tourism and create work. Go for it Tipp.

Posted by Francis loughrey | 28.10.09, 22:45 GMT

For a start I hope it will not happen, but if it does it will cause major social problems since it will be mostly those who can least afford it who will play the slots etc. Our Tiger may be asleep right now, but there are better ways to revive it.

Seymour Goldman (!!) "It's not hard to predict... in rural NI... just watch rural England...and 5 minutes later". Begrudging, Pathetic, jealous comment.

Centeur, it's called money, money, money. Personally I stopped chasing it some years ago - have enough to get by fairly comfortably - never been happier since.

Posted by Evergreen | 28.10.09, 21:22 GMT

It is missing one very important thing, warm dry weather.

Posted by phl | 28.10.09, 18:23 GMT

Im not too sure about here with regards to Tax but in foreign casinos similar to vegas. Winnings can converted to a "casino check" which are non tax deductable when declared to the taxman. With the percentage payout of cetain slot machines (1 token = €10 to €100) on a 5 line machine in a Prive' or Vip lounge of the casino, VIPs go in there with money from dodgy business every weekend, get free room and food with vip points then launder their money legally.

Posted by Sol Kerznery | 28.10.09, 16:30 GMT

"Casinos produce no product except vice: prostituton, broken families, drug culture.etc."

No disrespect but it was the social engineering of the LibLabCon elite that guide the above?

Posted by Alfred Wislowe | 28.10.09, 16:17 GMT

I thought that the Banks had been running a Casino here for years.

Posted by Malachy McAnespie | 28.10.09, 15:55 GMT

I've been to Las Vegas and found it to be rather tacky and full of sad and desperate people shoving mojmey into endless rows of slot machines. Why would anyone want to reproduce THAT?

Posted by Centaur | 28.10.09, 15:40 GMT

I agree with Chris and seymour. Casinos produce no product except vice: prostituton, broken families, drug culture.etc. It preys on people with false hopes and little money to begin with.--As far as that White House replica idea goes--gag me with a spoon! Invest in your beautiful culture and tradition--don't bury it.

Posted by Robbie C | 28.10.09, 15:36 GMT

I have said for some time that something like this would be a great idea for the Maze, easy access from airports, easy access to fantastic scenery and attractions around Ireland (North and South), no need for good weather. Great access from USA and Europe. It would surely get the ecomony up and running, big building projects and thousands of jobs in the resort and the surrounding tourism industry. Can we get an Irish American Casino owner interested ? Will our politicians support it ?

Posted by Paul R. | 28.10.09, 15:36 GMT

Vegas is like a prostitute who promises much, delivers as little as possible, and leaves one feeling somehow cheated and cynical when all is said and done.

I'm not saying it's not a fun place to visit once and awhile, but as a model for economic prosperity - you're better off poor!

Posted by Chris M | 28.10.09, 14:21 GMT

its not hard to predict future trends in rural ireland - just watch patterns in the united states and then wait fifty years..........

comical............

Posted by seymour goldman | 28.10.09, 13:36 GMT

Strucker - vegas sounds class, im getting the flights booked!!

Posted by Jonathan | 28.10.09, 13:22 GMT

Matt - I agree with you to an extent about Vegas.

I never thought it but you can get tired of all the gambling, clubs, scantily clad waitresses offering free drink for tips, good weather (82f in March this year), Grand Canyon, Hoover Dam, helicopter flights, the fountains at the Bellagio, the guy walking along the bar at O'Shea's giving out free shots, limos from the airport, $10 breakfast buffets, five star hotels, the World Series of Poker, countless shows, shopping til you drop and Wayne Newton!

Don't think I'll ever go back!!

Posted by Strucker | 28.10.09, 12:28 GMT

Love Love Love Las Vegas ....its fun to bring this to Ireland would bring jobs and help the ecomony I think its a good idea.

Posted by Heather | 28.10.09, 12:27 GMT

Shoud help get the 'Celtic Tiger' back on its paws.......

Posted by Steve | 28.10.09, 11:37 GMT

it's going to look run down and out of date in as little as ten years. They are following a deeply unoriginal & american-esque form of entertainment venue which is not tailored for Tipperary. It really is quite provincial...hey let's build a big thing.

Posted by Greg | 28.10.09, 10:46 GMT