Clonmel was the only area big enough and was the obvious choice.

“All the elected representatives in the other urban areas bought into that and they deserve great credit for taking that important step,” insisted the manager.

At the heart of the strategy for the growth centre and the development of South Tipperary were two crucial projects – the purchase of the Ballingarrane Estate outside Clonmel and the development of Tipperary Institute.

The decision to purchase Ballingarrane in 2002 was described as visionary by Ned O’Connor and he believes that the project is crucial to the development of South Tipperary for generations to come.

The IDA came on board and purchased fifty acres for a research and Technology Park and Tipperary Institute were earmarked as important tenants.

The Council also made available fifty acres for the development of indigineous industries and he is pleased that despite the recession there has been a number of positive inquiries.

While progress has been affected by the downturn, the manager believes the 280 acre Ballingarrane site purchased for over j4million, with the IDA and the TI having a t least a presence on site, that development will take place but at a slower pace than was first envisaged.

Ned O’Connor is an advocate of what he described as the ‘lifeline link’ being formed between Limerick Institute of Technology and Tipperary Institute and is hopeful that the forthcoming Hunt report on the third level system in Ireland will give its seal of approval to the new relationship.

TI bought into the site from 2005, committing to a re-location on a cost neutral basis. At the moment TI have a small presence in Ballingarrane but the overall transfer was hit by the downturn but is still very much alive and pressure is being maintained to see that the transfer re-location still goes ahead.

“What is important is that we develop Ballingarrane correctly, we have the IDA on site and hopefully the TI will progress this year and a site is still earmarked for a hotel,” he said.

The manager said South Tipperary had a powerful dynamism and was a location that was greatly enhanced by proximity to the new M8 infrastructure.

“This crucial infrastructure puts South Tipperary and the designated growth centre of Clonmel in a very strong position.