The Clare Champion Clare news, sport, entertainment and local notes
MINISTER for Tourism Catherine Martin has announced a major new investment worth €19 million in world-class facility centres at 22 locations across the country, including two in Clare, where water-based activities are a key visitor attraction.
Ballycuggeran Sports Activity Facility in Ogonnelloe and Waterworld, East End, Kilkee will see new facilities developed under this scheme, in partnership with Clare County Council. Each centre will provide hot shower, changing and toilet facilities, secure storage, induction spaces, equipment washdown and orientation points.
They will be fully wheelchair accessible and built using sustainability best practices such as solar heating panels to meet ‘Nearly Zero Energy Building Standards’*.
Pat Dowling, Chief Executive, Clare County Council said, “I am delighted to welcome the news from the Minister on funding for the delivery of two all-weather shower and changing facilities at Ballycuggeran on Lough Derg and Kilkee Waterworld. This is a great opportunity to support outdoor tourism providers who will play a key role in the Covid-19 tourism recovery. Investment in tourism infrastructure brings many welcome benefits. Clare County Council is one of the key partners behind the Lough Derg Visitor Experience Development Plan, which will create a vibrant tourism destination in magnificent Lough Derg. With the County Clare Tourism Strategy 2030 being launched shortly, we see enormous potential in the future of Clare tourism.”
Owen Ryan
Owen Ryan has been a journalist with the Clare Champion since 2007, having previously worked for a number of other regional titles in Limerick, Galway and Cork.
