Kilkee geology centre feasibility study

CONSULTANTS conducting a feasibility study relating to the possible provision of a geology centre in Kilkee, or the surrounding area, visited West Clare this week.

Monday’s January meeting of Kilkee Town Council heard that a geology centre located in Kilkee would be “phenomenal”.

Councillors suggested that one of the vacant Shannon Development industrial units on the Carrigaholt Road, which have been put up for sale, would be an ideal location for a geology centre headquarters.

“The consultants carrying out the feasibility study regarding the geology centre came into town today [Monday] and are here until tomorrow [Tuesday],” Councillor Paddy Collins commented. “The industrial estate is one of the units they are looking at but they are looking at other areas for the feasibility study as well. From my own point of view, the industrial units would be absolutely ideal. If this geology centre opens, the outcome would be absolutely phenomenal for the town,” he added.

However, he criticised Shannon Development for putting the units up for sale.

“Some of them weren’t aware previously that they [industrial units] were even up for tender. I don’t know if I have much faith in Shannon Development. Hopefully, they’ll have a chance to redeem themselves,” he said.
However, Mayor of Kilkee Claire Haugh defended Shannon Development and revealed that three expressions of interest have been received in relation to the vacant buildings.

“There are three expressions of interest in relation to the sale of the factory base received by Shannon Development. There are interested local people. We’ll see how that pans out,” she said.

As for Councillor Collins’ criticism of Shannon Development, Councillor Haugh didn’t share his views.

“I’ve been in touch with a couple of people there and they were very aware of everything that’s happening. I was talking to John O’Toole, Shannon Development, on Friday to get an update on it. He said he would get back to me in a couple of weeks. They were out there fairly recently and they were quite concerned about the state of the factory bays. A lot of vandalism has occurred as well,” she said.

“It’s imperative that they work with the group in Kilkee for the centre. It’s imperative that a bay be retained. It would be hugely beneficial to the whole West Clare area that the geology centre be based in one of the factory bays on the Carrigaholt Road,” the town mayor added.

Last November, Kilkee community activist and retired pharmacist John Williams expressed anger at Shannon Development’s decision to advertise the sale of the industrial units. Mr Williams told The Clare Champion that plans were afoot in Kilkee and the Loop Head peninsula to establish a geology centre, which was likely to be based in the industrial units.

“To say we are outraged is an understatement. A feasibility study ‘Loophead Geology Experience’ has commenced and is evaluating a number of issues in setting up a major geology centre in Loop Head. One of these issues is a suitable location and the enterprise estate in Kilkee was a front-runner,” the long-time former Kilkee Chamber secretary stated.

On Monday, Kilkee town clerk John Corry said that Shannon Development had indicated to him that they would confirm what is happening with the units in the coming weeks.

“The response that I got was that they are going to come back to me in the middle of January. But they indicated that there is no certainty that the buildings will be sold,” he said.