Tag Archives: development

POSITIVE progress is being made on the development potential of Scattery Island as a tourism destination. The Office of Public Works has appointed conservation architects to prepare a Conservation and Management Plan, which will see Scattery Island as the first off-land destination point on the Wild Atlantic Way. Councillor Gabriel Keating said, “It is great to see Clare County Council, the Office of Public Works and the local community working together to deliver on the undoubted potential that there is.” He said the appointment of the conservation architects, combined with the upgrading of the exhibition in the Scattery Island Visitor Centre and the proposed enhancement of ferry services to the island, offer the prospect of Scattery further developing into a key and unique part of the Wild Atlantic Way. “I know also that the council is looking at a Rural Economic Development Zone (REDZ) project for the island, which will further develop heritage tourism in the wider Kilrush area. The …

Members of the public and stakeholder groups interested in the proposed Shannon Town Park project are being asked for their input during a five-week period of public consultation. The €910,000 project will see the enhancement and incorporation of the existing town park woodland and the adjacent Rineanna Park into a flagship town park for the people of Shannon. A full design team, led by a Landscape Architect and Urban Designer, was appointed in late September to progress the design and planning phases of the project and Clare County Council anticipates that contractors could be on site in mid-2017, subject to statutory planning procedures and approval. Clare County Council is now asking members of the public for its input while the Local Authority is also planning to engage with various stakeholders, including schools, residents, locals and visitors to the area. A questionnaire will be made available in the Shannon Municipal District Office, Shannon Library and at Shannon Leisure Centre, while ideas …

CREATING the environment to deliver an additional 4,000 jobs in Clare over the next five years is one of the ambitious targets set by the Clare County Council chief, Pat Dowling. Next Monday, Mr Dowling officially starts his seven-year term, with the possibility of a three-year extension, as the council’s new chief executive officer. In an exclusive interview with The Clare Champion, Mr Dowling has outlined a number of key economic objectives, which will help to transform the county, if they are successfully implemented during his term of office. Asked if he feels the target of 4,000 is achievable, Mr Dowling said that, while it is ambitious, “If you don’t go for it, you don’t get there.” He added, “Tipperary thought that Kilkenny were favourites to win the All-Ireland title but they annihilated them. Clare has to do the same. Clare has to show it can punch above its weight in the region. Instead of saying Clare is not getting …

Clare County Council has commenced work on developing a walkway along the shore of Lough Derg from Killaloe to Ballycuggeran and Two Mile Gate. The existing 0.5km walkway runs from the centre of Killaloe to Brian Ború’s Fort (Beal Ború). Work on the 1.8km extension to the walkway is expected to be completed by the end of 2014. The €100,000 project is funded under a €2 million stimulus package recently announced by the Government for the development of tourism in the Lakelands Lough Derg Region. Councillor John Crowe, Cathaoirleach of Clare County Council, has welcomed the project, adding that it is part of a “coordinated approach to enhancing the overall tourism infrastructure around Lough Derg.” He continued: “The new walkway, in conjunction with the development of new walking routes and the erection of new signage around the lake, is aimed at creating a greater sense of arrival and enhance the visitor experience in exploring the area. This work is being …

Seven years after a proposed move to a greenfield site came unstuck, Clare GAA is set to lodge plans for an estimated €2.5m refurbishment of its spiritual home, Cusack Park. At the end of 2007, Clare GAA clubs voted by 61 votes to eight to sell Cusack Park to the Aisling Chiosóg consortium, led by Bernard McNamara, Noel Connellan and Sean Lyne, and move to Doora. The sale price for Cusack Park was €84.4 million, a fee that would fund a new state-of-the-art stadium, with expanded capacity, a couple of miles away on the Quin Road. The plan for Cusack Park was to develop it into a major town centre retail development, at a cost of some €350 million. However, the plans hit a major stumbling block when members of Ennis Town Council rejected re-zoning Cusack Park for a commercial development. It is also believed that Green Party-led recommendations at the time, regarding building on flood plains, would have militated …

CONFLICTING views have been expressed about the €1.75 million redevelopment of the market area in Ennis by local councillors. Councillor Mary Howard said the provision of a covered Milk Market-style area for the town would result in one of the most “exciting projects” to rejuvenate the town centre. In fact, Councillor Howard told an Ennis Municipal District meeting on Monday that this development would provide an “iconic building” similar to the new Harmony Row Bridge in the town. However, Councillor Clare Colleran-Molloy expressed concern about the impact of funding this ambitious project from the council’s own finances, after director of services for planning and enterprise, Ger Dollard, confirmed the council had applied for department approval for a €1.75 million loan. The Fianna Fáil Councillor noted the lack of finance is already resulting in delay for the upgrading of public infrastructure. Councillor James Breen told the meeting he had been approached by people who claimed the planning notice for the Part …

  THE first permanent extension since the initial construction of St Aidan’s School in Shannon has been opened for some weeks and was recently blessed by the Bishop of Killaloe Kieran O’Reilly. The new extension to the school consists of a main stream classroom, two resource rooms, staff toilets and an extended car park. Speaking this week, school principal Patrice Hayes said; “We had it blessed following the confirmation ceremony, it was a good opportunity for the Bishop who was confirming the children to bless it on the same day. The children actually moved into it in April. We only applied for it in September 2012 and it was ongoing all of last year.” She said that putting the extension in place had been quite a big project; “It’s one 80 metres squared classroom, a resource room, staff toilets and we also redesigned our existing car park. There was a lot of work.” The school is going to have a …

THE redevelopment of Ennis’ market has moved a step closer this week with members of Ennis Town Council agreeing to seek a loan for the proposed plan for Garraunakilla. The council will be looking for a loan of €1.75 million from the government to facilitate the proposed works, with the construction of the covered market itself expected to cost less than half a million while much of the funding would also be spent on improvements to the general area. Members of the council gave their backing to the planned re-vamp of the market on Monday evening, with council officials stressing that this is just “one step in a process”. According to town manager Ger Dollard there will be full consultation, funding will have to be sourced and a tender process will have to be gone through before any works are carried out. He emphasised, “the users of the market will have to be happy with the facility, we want this …