Tag Archives: bats

PLANNED public lighting at Ballybeg cannot be installed until after a bat survey is completed due to the presence of the rare creatures at Ballybeg Woods, a council engineer has said. However, Barry Conway, executive engineer has given assurances that the works will go-ahead with the survey needed to determine the programme of installation Details of footpath works in Ballybeg were outlined at the monthly meeting of the Ennis Municipal District where clarification on a number of issues was sought by Councillor Clare Colleran Molloy. The meeting also heard that speeding traffic is expected to slow down at Ballybeg once the new footpath is put in place. Councillor Colleran Molloy described the commencement of the works as “wonderful for the neighbourhood to see”. Funding granted in 2021 will extend the footpath from the water tower as far as the Radharc na hInse housing development and further funding will be sought to complete the remainder of the path next year. The …

CLARE County Council has swooped to delay a decision on providing street lighting on a gravel walkway in Clonlara due to the presence of bats. Plans for the provision of conduct street lighting over the entire length of Clonlara GAA Club’s gravel walkway and associated site works were submitted to the local planning authority recently. These plans are now on hold after the club was asked to hire an ecologist to prepare a detailed site layout plan to ensure it provides minimal disturbance to bat species. In a recent letter to the club, the local planning authority stated the information submitted with this application is insufficient to enable it to make a complete planning assessment of this proposal. In order to proceed with the application, the authority requested further information and revised plans. “Very limited detail has been submitted as regards the proposal to construct street lighting over the entire length of this gravel walkway and all associated site works. …

KILLALOE bats will be afforded special protection, as part of the green light to develop new sports facilities on the grounds of a €2.5 million local recreational park. An automatic timing system will have to be installed on the proposed floodlights for new rugby and athletic training facilities in Clarisford Park, to ensure they do not operate between April 1 and September 14 every year. This is one of seven planning conditions attached to the planning permission secured by Ballina Killaloe Sports and Community Facilities Development Company, in the interests of ecology and to avoid disturbance to bat species. Clarisford Park is a popular location for recreational activities and currently has a weekly estimated usage of 2,500. Spearheaded by former Munster, Ireland and Lions hooker Keith Wood, the park is very popular with both locals and visitors and is the venue for weekly 5km runs on Saturday mornings. The planning authority has also ruled that all mitigation measures, as outlined …

A bat talk and outdoor walk hosted by Bat Conservation Ireland and supported by Clare County Council will take place in Ennis this Thursday from 8pm to 10pm. The event forms part of efforts by John Curtin of Bat Conservation Ireland to recruit volunteers for BATLAS 2020. The group is resurveying the entire island of Ireland 10 years on from BATLAS 2010 to record the changing distribution of Ireland’s common bat species. Persons with previous experience surveying bats are particularly invited to attend Thursday evening’s event at the Civic Room, Drumbiggle, Ennis. Anyone interested in attending is asked to email info@batconservationireland.