East Clare village reveals ambitious plan for new venue

LAKESIDE activities of all kinds are planned as part of ambitious proposals to develop a pavilion at Aistear Park in Mountshannon. 

Earlier this month, the Community Council formally lodged plans with Clare County Council for the  facility, after extensive public consultation.

The roofed, open structure, which will provide shelter from the elements, and have water and electricity installed, will be able to cater for festivals, performances, classes, social events and a host of other activities.

Also awaited is an announcement from the Town and Village Renewal Scheme, to which the Community Council has lodged a funding application. 

“We looked at the situation with Covid,” explained Joanne Dunphy-Allen, Chairperson of Mountshannon Community Council.

“We’re always looking to enhance the the community and to improve areas and boost what we have. We looked at situations where we’d had events and festivals. We had groups that were having difficulties being able to meet inside and do things, because of Covid. Also, we live in a country that rains a lot of the time.”

“Aistear Park is community-owned and we’re the legal guardians of it. So, making a planning application is an easier issue. The whole idea is to make a space that would be great for activity outside, so people could do performances of music, dance, drama. You could teach outside and do lots of things in that environment.”

Coming up with blueprints for a structure that will sit into the lakeside landscape involved considerable research and Joanne said that maintaining views of Lough Derg will be vital. 

“We spent quite a while looking at different aspects of how we would make this work,” she said.

“We came up with the idea of a low, roofed structure that was completely unobtrusive and fitted in. Originally, with the plans for the park, the amphitheatre area that was there was always supposed to provide an outdoor space.

“We looked to see if we could put a roof over it. We’re looking at an octagonal structure that’s about 12 metres in diameter with a shallow roof and the height is just above three metres.

“The amphitheatre area means it’s kind of sunken in the park and as you travel along the village, you’re still going to see over the structure and out to the lake. It’s not going to intrude on the view that’s there.”

Consultation with the community has been very important to highlight the potential of the pavilion as well as to give assurances on the scale of the project.

“We’ve engaged with the community and people on the Main Street,” Joanne explained.

“We’ve put flyers through doors before Christmas to tell people we were thinking of the idea. There would be no point in putting in all the work and spending money on the planning otherwise. It was great to engage with people. Were were also listening to the local children and they also could come and have an outdoor class in the pavilion.”

Funding for the development is being sought from The Town and Village Renewal Grant. “That application has been in since last year,” said Joanne.

“It really all hinges on that. It’s probably going to cost in the region of €50,000 or €60,000, but with the increase in prices, it could be more. We’re just waiting to hear and we’ll also do some fundraising locally.

“There’s lots of community groups and festivals who would also be delighted to have the venue. It cuts out an expense because they’re not hiring marquees and other facilities. We’ll have electrics and water, so things like outdoor plays and performances are all possible.”

Making the grant application is something that has taken time, effort and support. 

“We have great help from Clare County Council and from our Rural Development Officers,” Joanne said.

“They were brilliant to support us in our application. We’re been working directly with Séamus Murrihy, the officer of the Killaloe District. He’s been brilliant.

“We also have a great team on the Community Council who have great experience. There was a lot of research put into the application. You have to provide all kind of data and prove why it’s beneficial in the community.”

Mountshannon is very much a town that has its sights on a bright tourism future, with the ongoing development of the Inis Cealtra Visitor Experience.

“We have the wonderful new development happening next door at The Old Rectory, it’s really exciting,” Joanne said. “We’ll be giving people yet another reason to come and visit the area. It doesn’t matter if it’s raining. You’ll be able to sit down and have a picnic outside and enjoy the atmosphere.”

In a letter to County Planners, the Community Council has said it is aware of the unique location of Aistear Park, “in the centre of the village and between the Main Street and Lough Derg”.

It added that is is “very keen not to interfere with the lake views from the village and thus the structure has been designed and located to minimise visual impact”.

As part of the application, a photomontage has been submitted as well as a photo of a marquee at the location earmarked for the pavilion. The letter said that the apex of the proposed pavilion will be similar in height to the marquee and “on a very low scale as a result of the siting of the structure in the hollow existing in the park and its low profile design”. 

“It’s not just for any one group,” Joanne told The Champion. “It’s for everyone in the community.”

Clare County Council have given April 7 as an indicative date for a decision on the planning application.