Loop Head Lighthouse to open to public

CLARE County Council has promised to open Loop Head Lighthouse to the public this summer.
The matter was raised at Monday’s meeting of the Kilrush Electoral Area county councillors in Kilrush. All six West Clare county councillors attended.
One of the motions on the agenda included a question from Councillor Gabriel Keating to Clare County Council. He asked the local authority to “define proposed tourism projects for West Clare” and asked that specific start-up dates be provided.
In reply, Ger Dollard, director of services, said Loop Head lighthouse will be opened to public access this summer. However, he said it is impossible to give a definite date yet.
“The council is endeavouring to pilot an access arrangement over the summer of 2011. An overall scheme will require major development and should be progressed in 2012. It is not possible to give definitive timescales at this point,” he noted.
Another possible project mentioned by Mr Dollard is the proposed extension of the Clare Coastal Walk to include the Loop Head peninsula.
“Once the route and agreement with landowners is secured, possible application for funding is to be made to Fáilte Ireland at the end of 2011 or in early 2012. A successful application will require the approval of all agencies and any necessary statutory consents,” he said.
Other items on the tourism development agenda in West Clare include the establishment of a bird observatory by Inis Environmental Consultants.
“They have secured agreements from the Commissioners of Irish Lights to utilise accommodation at Loop Head in September/October 2011 as part of a research base. Viability of the project is to be assessed in terms of the overall development at the site,” Mr Dollard noted on Monday.
A Loop Head passport may also be introduced for visitors and may be completed within 12 months if funding is available.
“Loop Head has woken up. I’m delighted with the report,” Councillor Gabriel Keating commented, adding he envisaged employment for four people in the various proposed developments, at the initial stages.
However, Councillor PJ Kelly, who is chairman of the Kilrush Electoral Area councillors, noted that no definite dates had been set on any of the proposals.
“A project without a time factor is a non-runner. If we don’t put down our target date, our sin is that we did nothing,” he warned.
Meanwhile, the West Clare Employment Taskforce hosted an enterprise evening at Kilrush Golf Club on Wednesday.
The meeting was aimed at assisting new and existing businesses in expanding their operations and showcased the range of supports available to local enterprises.
Participating agencies included Clare County Council, Kilrush and Kilkee Town Councils, Shannon Development, Leader, FÁS, Enterprise Ireland, Clare County Enterprise Board, VEC, Loop Head Tourism and Kilrush and Kilkee chambers.
Financial institutions were invited with a view to informing people of the business packages that are available for new or expanding businesses.