Council to examine feasibility of Loop Head visitor centre

Following a visit to Hook Head Lighthouse in Wexford by Kilrush Electoral Area councillors last Wednesday, Clare County Council, along with the Commissioners for Irish Lights, are to assess the feasibility of developing a visitor centre at Loop Head Lighthouse.

Last week’s trip to Wexford was prompted by aspirations to develop the Loop Head Lighthouse as a tourist attraction and as a key driver of tourism in the peninsula.
The move is supported by the Commissioners of Irish Lights, who are keen to see a similar partnership model being put in place there.
The visitors from West Clare included county councillors and elected members from Kilrush and Kilkee town councils, as well as strong representation from the business and the community sector.
These included representatives from the Kilkee Chamber of Commerce, Kilballyowen Development Association, Carrigaholt Development Association and the Kilmihil Development Association, while officials from Clare County Council and Shannon Development also travelled to Wexford.
“It was a very successful trip and it was excellent to see all interests in West Clare coming together in a very positive way to get behind the Loop Head Lighthouse initiative.
“I am confident that with the broad support of the wider community, we can make progress in putting in place a similar model which has been successfully operated for over 10 years at Hook Head,” Kilrush Electoral Area chairman Christy Curtin commented.
The visit was initiated following a motion to the electoral area committee by Councillor Gabriel Keating.
“The Loop Head peninsula is a tourism gem, which can offer very significant appeal to tourists. Loop Head Lighthouse can become a focal point for the promotion of tourism in the general area and I am confident that a small investment in developing the facility can bring significant benefits to the entire area,” Councillor Keating said after the trip to Wexford.
Last summer, The Commissioners of Irish Lights, which is responsible for the management of lighthouses, expressed support for plans to establish a tourist centre at Loop Head Lighthouse.
“A tourist centre at Loop Head would mean taking in places like Cappa, the Marina in Kilrush, Kilkee with all its facilities, Carrigaholt Castle, the dolphin watch and then on to the lighthouse and the Bridges of Ross,” Councillor Keating told The Clare Champion at the time.