EFFORTS to improve a local beauty spot for the enjoyment of the entire county have been given a €50,000 financial boost, however a lot more funding is needed to complete the project.
Funding of €50,000 has been approved for the Ballyallia Lake Amenity Enhancement Plan under the Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme (ORIS).
Mayor of Ennis Councillor Ann Norton, who worked with Barefield Tidy Towns in launching the Ballyallia Lake Amenity Enhancement Plan, while welcoming the funding announcement says she is hopeful that the project has now been “put on the map” when it comes to securing much needed additional money.
“We are delighted that we are starting to see money coming in because there is quite a big project in Ballyallia and it will take a lot of money over a long period of time.
“This is really the start of the opportunity to enhance Ballyallia. We have done the feasibility study, the recommendations are there, and we want to make sure that we stay in line with all of the regulations and when you are doing that it is going to cost a lot of money.”
She said that the group see Ballyallia as a “fantastic facility for not alone the people Barefield, but we see it as an amenity that would be looked at for the whole of the county”
She added that the benefits of having this amenity so close to the county capital were showcased during Covid restrictions on how far people could travel.
“A lot of people reconnected with Ballyallia which is fantastic. It was an amenity I grew up with because it was accessible for a young person. Now we are seeing the youth back and enjoying the facilities there because it is close, you can cycle or walk there.”
She concluded, “There is a lot of work to be done, but I feel that we will be put on the map now for funding through different grant schemes.
It was a great achievement to get the €50,000 but there is still a lot of work to be done and a lot of money is going to be needed for it.”
Councillor Johnny Flynn, chair of the Ballyallia Blue Flag Working Group, has also welcomed the funding announcement.
Councillor Norton described Ballyallia as a “fantastic amenity” and welcomed the “huge interest” in the amenity in recent years.
She acknowledged the work of Barefield Tidy Towns alongside Clare County Council in launching a Ballyallia Lake Amenity Enhancement Plan. “This ensured we were shovel ready as soon as funding becomes available,” she said.
Councillor Flynn added, “This is an exciting project and a great boost for the area.”
Giving an update on the project, Eamon O’Dea, Senior Executive Engineer, outlined, “The Ballyallia Looped Walk was funded under an ORIS Accelerated Measures Scheme and the work is complete.
“Amendments were required to the original proposal as set out in the Earth Route Ennis Recreational Trails including the use of variable message signs. The walk is structured for the walker to go around the lake via Ballycorey Bridge –Drumcliff – Reaskaun – Templemaley Bridge – Ballyallia Cross to Ballyallia Amenity Area, as the traffic warning system is structured to caution drivers of oncoming walkers.
“There are a number of line marking items that will be completed following surface dressing programme in 2022.
A Project Cost of €56,490 was submitted to the Department of Rural and Community Development and grant aid sought of €40,000.”

Ambitions for Ballyallia stretch back to 2008

THE latest financial boost for Ballyallia comes in the wake of a €40,000 grant funding awarded last year for the development of the looped walk.
Work on the 7km walk is complete, with some line marking to be finished in 2022. The walk goes around the lake via Ballycorey Bridge –Drumcliff – Reaskaun – Templemaley Bridge – Ballyallia Cross to Ballyallia Amenity Area.
Councillor Norton described the walk as a “fantastic amenity” at a recent meeting of the Ennis Municipal District. An update on the development was detailed at the meeting following a notice of motion by Councillor Flynn. The councillor recalled how in 2008 the then Ennis Town Council engaged consultants Earthroute Ltd to carry out a survey to identify recreational walks and trails for development in Ennis and its environs with the aim to open up areas of natural beauty in the wider Ennis area.
“I supported  various walks including the Ballyallia Loop Walk included in the report. Unfortunately the economic collapse in 2008 and subsequent years of austerity and lack of local government finances meant that this project was not funded or carried out. I was anxious to get the 2008 Earthroute report updated and in 2019 contacted Earthroute to seek a quote and then proposed allocating  €1,000 funding to get it updated.
“In June 2020 I requested a progress report  and I was delighted that this report was central in a successful application for government funding under the Outdoor Recreational Infrastructure Scheme ( ORIS)  of €40,000 to develop the Ballyallia Loop Walk. Recently re-introduced lifeguards and portable public toilets during the bathing season has been welcomed by the Ballyallia Blue Flag Working Group (BFWG) who have advocated for them since 2013.”
He said Ballyallia Lake has EU Habitals and Birds Directives designations,  a Special Area of Conservation(SAC),  Special protection Area (SPA) for wild birds and is also a Wildfowl Sanctuary.
In 2012 Councillor Flynn opposed the selling off by Clare County Council of 98 acres of land bank fronting Ballyallia Lake, supported by other councillors including Pat Daly and Paul Murphy. The sale did not go ahead.
“Ballyallia lake up to that time was the bathing water quality black-spot of water quality of County Clare.  The lakeshore areas including walkways through the trees were overgrown, had reports of a lot of anti-social behaviour and illegal encampments.  The once popular lake, which for decades had been a safe bathing area for teenagers and adults was abandoned,” he recalled.
After a public meeting in 2013 the Ballyallia Blue Flag Working Group (BFWG), of which Councillor Flynn is chair, was set up  to improve access and amenities at Ballyallia.
“The  group has been working away when required, particularly on clean ups , on a voluntary basis side by side with Ennis Municipal District.  Since the  Ennis MD system was set up in 2014 it has taken  on much greater  role of the lakeshore cleaning and maintenance,” he outlined.