Tag Archives: Shannon Estuary

CLARE County Council should seek to develop a partnership with cruise ship operators that use the Shannon Estuary, as well as looking at the potential of using Cahercon, Kilrush and Carrigaholt for landing passengers, according to Councillor Ian Lynch. At the May meeting of West Clare Municipal District Councillors he said that such discussions could add to the region’s tourism offering. “In some areas, especially around Kilrush, we’re not at capacity around tourism yet. Maybe there’s potential there to look at it, how we manage it is up to us and I’d just like the conversation to go on.” He said the industry is changing and there is potential there for West Clare. “There is an industry out there, a cruise ship industry that uses the Estuary. There was a documentary on National Geographic recently about the changes in the industry, the large cruise ship is going to be gone and the smaller cruise ship is what the future holds. …

WITH major plans for development on the Shannon Estuary, Kilrush based Councillor Ian Lynch has sought to ensure that private interests don’t decide how the assets of Clare are best used. At this week’s meeting of West and North Clare councillors he put forward a motion proposing the establishment of committees that would make sure things move in the right direction, with integrated planning. On protecting the Estuary, he said it doesn’t belong to the ESB or any other body. “Unless we as a local authority step up to protect that asset we will lose it, and I mean lose it in a terrible way. We will lose it environmentally and economically.” He added, “We can’t sit and let businesses there to make money dictate to us how the natural assets of that area will be developed for the people of the county.” Explaining the type of problem that could arise, he said, “One of the concerns from speaking to …

THERE are four key elements to the multi-billion Euro Green Atlantic initiative announced by the ESB, which will result in the creation of a renewable energy hub in Moneypoint Power Station. The first part is renewable enablement. Work has already started on transforming Moneypoint into a green energy hub, breaking ground on a new €50m Sustainable System Support facility in the coming weeks. This new plant will provide a range of electrical services to the electricity grid which would previously have been supplied by thermal fired power stations. Its operation will enable higher volumes of renewables on the system. The second element is the creation of a floating off-shore wind farm of 1,400MW off the coast of Counties Clare and Kerry, which will be developed in two phases by ESB and joint venture partners, Equinor, a world leader in floating offshore wind technology. Once complete, the wind farm will be capable of powering more than 1.6m homes in Ireland. Subject …

THE iconic 731 foot high chimneys that dominate the landscape near Moneypoint Power Station will be knocked when coal burning ceases after 2025, the ESB has confirmed. These two chimneys have become synonymous with the coal-burning power station since they were first built in 1985 as part of the initial investment worth an estimated €900 million. However, the ESB has stated the entire Moneypoint site will be reconfigured on a phased basis as part of the transition to becoming a new renewable energy hub under the Green Atlantic initiative. Speaking during a question and answer session for the media and stakeholders, ESB executive director for generation and trading, Jim Dollard acknowledged the chimneys will come down once the whole site is repurposed. Padraig O’hIceadha head of strategy, generation and trading, explained as the company built up the new infrastructure, the core infrastructure will not be required. While the ESB doesn’t envisage it will become a primary turbine manufacturer, Mr O’hIceadha …

TFI Local Link Limerick Clare has today announced the expansion of its services in Clare, including the first rural regular services that will run five to seven days a week. Launching on Monday, March 1, the new Local Link route 337 will showcase the Shannon Estuary Way and will serve Labasheeda, Kildysart, Ballynacally, Kilmurry McMahon, Knock, Killimer, the ferry terminal, and world famous fishing sites three times a day from Monday to Saturday with a reduced timetable on Sundays. Local Link will provide access to these areas for staycations and tourists as well as facilitating local resident’s transportation needs, providing connectivity between Kilrush and Ennis. The need for the expansion of Local Link services was voiced by the local communities, community groups, Clare County Council and Elected Representatives during a period of public consultation in February 2020. Working with the NTA’s Connecting Ireland Team, Local Link Limerick Clare focused on merging the Bus Éireann rural services in Clare that were …

WEST Clare workers mustn’t be forced to carry an undue burden after Moneypoint Power Station lost a major contract and main source of income from October 2024, according to a local Dáil deputy. Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne has urged the government to sit down the workers at Moneypoint, trade union representatives and local representatives to ensure that West Clare people are not forced to carry an undue burden as the state transitions to a sustainable energy environment. The latest blow for Moneypoint comes about 12 months after about 100 workers lost their jobs as part of a restructuring plan. In a statement issued to the Clare Champion, the ESB expressed its disappointment that the Moneypoint units did not prequalify for the T-4 auction for the period October 2024 to September 2025. This means that Moneypoint will have no capacity income, which is its primary source of income, from October 2024. “This presents further viability challenges to the Moneypoint station which has …

THE heartbeat of Ballynacally is strong, thanks to the recent opening, in the scenic village, of a new community café. The Estuary Way Café, which has to-date been catering for socially distanced chats, pop-up music sessions and high quality food and beverages, is credited with brining a new vibrancy to the village. “It’s been just amazing, everyone is delighted and the feedback we’re been getting is so positive,” said Dorothy Madden, Secretary of the Ballynacally Development Association. The project dates back to 2018 and, after securing funding from sources including the Town and Village Renewal Scheme and Leader, through Clare Local Development Company (CLDC), opened in July. “There has been a massive amount of work by everyone in the development association, with support coming from right across the community of Ballynacally,” Dorothy said. “Deirdre Mulpeter who leads the team at the café is doing a great job and there are two full-time and at least three part-time staff there, so …

The decision by Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael to sacrifice the long awaited €500 million Shannon LNG project to secure a coalition with the Green Party has been welcomed by environmental groups including Futureproof Clare. Criticism of the proposed Shannon Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) terminal near Tarbert had intensified in recent months, with celebrities like Cher and Mark Ruffalo speaking out over its proposed use of fracked gas. US company New Fortress Energy were promoters of the terminal which would have been the first of its kind in Ireland. Futureproof Clare has welcomed the commitment to scrap the Shannon LNG terminal project and to ban the importation of fracked gas in the proposed Programme for Government, ‘Our Shared Future’. “The ban on all new offshore gas and oil drilling in Ireland’s waters is revolutionary in its commitment to leave fossil fuels behind as we transition to a low-carbon society and economy. Ireland would become the first country in the world …