Posted online: May 30th, 2007

The owner of Banbas Crown at Malin Head – Ireland’s most northerly point – is putting the land up for sale.

The solicitor acting for the Harte family, who have owned the land for generations, has revealed to the Inish Times that they have given him instructions to sell.

The proposed sale of the land follows a bitter dispute between the remaining members of the Harte family.

Derry-based solicitor Campbell Rankin said: “The land was owned by an English landlord Frank Harte.

“He died intestate ten years ago and his children Henry and Georgina got the land.

“Henry and Georgina have been engaged in a lot of wrangling over their father’s estate.

“There have been court battles in Dublin, London and South Africa.

“Henry has agreed to give his part of the Irish assets in their father’s will to his sister. She told me that she and her brother have sorted out their differences and their confrontation over Banbas Crown is over.”

Mr Rankin said Frank Harte wished that, after his death, any proceeds from the sale of the land would given to a trust or individual who came up with the best idea on how to develop the land.

“Georgina may or may not respect his wishes – that’s entirely up to her,” said Mr Rankin.

Both Frank and Georgina are in regular contact with Mr Rankin. He said Frank is a doctor who is practising in the Hebribes in Scotland. Georgina is a film executive and lives in southern England.

Georgina has asked Mr Rankin to sort out the transportation of some art and furniture from the Hartes last residence in Donegal, Kilderry House outside Muff.

Frank Harte was a colonel in the British army who then became a journalist in South Africa. He died in a nursing home in Ballinagrd in Roscommon.

In March, Sinn Féin TD Caoimhghin Ó Caoláin sent a parliamentary question to the government saying Ireland’s most northerly point should be bought from its English landlord.

At the time, Buncrana councillor Padraig MacLochlainn said said the Malin Head situation was symptomatic of a general lack of purpose in relation to tourist amenities in Inishowen.

“Grianán of Aileach is in an awful state. That means that Inishowen’s top two attractions are basically off the tourist map.”

On Monday Councillor MacLochlainn welcomed the news of the sale and said he would propose, at the earliest opportunity, that either the state or the county council buys the land.

A tall derelict building known locally as The Tower was built at Banba’s Crown in 1908 by the British Admiralty,

The land was later leased to British insurance giant Lloyds of London.

During World War II, the Irish Department of Defence built small huts as lookout posts at the site.

The land was then sold to Frank Harte.

Cathy O’Donnell, chairwoman of the Malin Head Community Association, said: “I am delighted.

It’s now up to us. The area is very precious to us. There’s huge potential for jobs and tourism.

“This is great news for the association, Inishowen Rural Development Ltd, and Malin Head Fishermen’s Co-op who have campaigned for this area.

“If the government or county council don’t buy it, we’ll see if we can raise the money.

“Former council forward planner Gayle Monaghan, who’s now sadly deceased, worked tirelessly on this project when she was alive. She valued the area at 20,000 Irish punts. I’m sure the owner will be asking for a little bit more than that.

“Let’s hope we can develop the area and exploit its tourist potential. A recent survey of people using the Magilligan-Greencastle ferry showed Malin Head was top of their list of places to visit in Donegal.”