Plans unveiled for new Doolin music centre

Plans have been unveiled for a proposed interactive Irish traditional music visitor centre in Doolin.
Trad – Time Limited, whose company directors are Aiden and Natalie Fitzgerald, have applied for planning permission to construct an interactive visitor centre with associated retail space, service building, car and coach parking together with ancillary site works at Doolin.

According to the plans, the development will be accommodated in two buildings. One building will comprise an interactive visitor centre, retail area, office, toilets and plant room. The other will house a storeroom, fuel store, bin store and boiler room.

It will also involve the introduction of hard surfaces in the form of car parking, roadway and paved areas in addition to a large area of soft landscaping in the form of grassed areas.

The applicants estimate that two coaches, 20 cars and foot-traffic will arrive daily to enjoy the interactive Irish music experience and linked retail space.

A Flood Risk Assessment by AF Engineering identified the main cause for flooding of the proposed site would be severe flooding of the Aille River.

However, the assessment noted this risk was low as the water level during the worst flooding in living memory in November 2009 increased by only 0.8 metres on the river bank to the north of the site.

It pointed out the pluvial risk of flooding as a result of the introduction of buildings and hard surfaces and the subsequent water run-off is low.

“The riverbank to the north of the site should remain untouched in terms of alterations of the site contours. This will ensure that this potential small flood plain will not be altered, which may give rise to potential flooding upstream or downstream of the proposed site.

“However, it is proposed as part of the application to retain a ten metre exclusion zone to the river bank, which is to be kept free of development. I would also recommend that the outfall from the surface water runoff to the Aille River in installed at 97.3 metres OD,” stated Aiden Fitzgerald.

It is expected that the development will generate 0.5 bags of general waste and one bag of recyclable waste daily, which will be stored in a dedicated bin store at the rear of the service building.

Four coach, 25 car and eight bicycle spaces will be provided as part of the development. The proposed hours of operation are 9am to 9pm seven days a week, while the expected daily water usage is 1,100 litres.

The site is located on the southern bank of the Aille River in the townland of Doolin between Fitz’s cross and Fisher Street and has been zoned tourism in the North Clare Local Area Plan 2011 to 2017. The land has been used as open grazing for agriculture.

It is bounded by the river to the north, public roadway to the south, open land to the west and residential dwelling land to the east.

Senator Martin Conway has asked to be placed as a representative on this planning application.

A letter of consent from the owner, Guss and Meave Fitzgerald, was submitted as part of the planning application.