Castle Saunderson

Castle Saunderson
Belturbet, County Cavan in Ireland
Castle Saunderson
Area	34 acres
Site information
Owner	Scouting Ireland (CSI)
Open to the public	Yes

Castle Saunderson International Scouting Centre near Belturbet, County Cavan, Ireland, opened in 2012. It is on the grounds of the castle, the family seat of the Saunderson family. The centre provides indoor accommodation and campsites covering 34 acres (14 ha). It is open to Scouts year round, as well as to non-Scouts for most of the year.

The Saunderson family acquired the original castle during the Ulster plantation. The original castle was inhabited by the O'Reillys of Breffni and formerly known as Breffni Castle since the 14th century. The present castle dating from the 1840s. A notable member of the family born there was Edward Saunderson, a founder of the Ulster Unionist Party.

Captain Alexander Saunderson sold the Castle in 1977 to a businessman, who planned to use it as a residence, but this never transpired. It later served as a hotel, but was damaged by fire, the third fire to occur at the Castle.

In 1997 the castle and its grounds were acquired by Scouting Ireland (CSI). The subsequent formation of Scouting Ireland and financial difficulties had delayed its development, and put the campsite project in doubt. With support from the American Ireland Fund and Cavan County Council, substantial progress occurred with the announcement in November 2008 of EU funding for the project, amounting to over €3 million.

Michael D Higgins, President of Ireland, opened the €3.7 million European-funded Castle Saunderson International Scouting Centre in Cavan on 18 August 2012. The President was joined by dignitaries from both sides of the Border, including Northern Ireland Executive Ministers Jonathan Bell, Nelson McCausland and Jennifer McCann and Minister of State in the Republic Fergus O’Dowd.

The site delivers programme which compliments the Messenger of Peace Award.

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