Scattery mooted as pilgrimage retreat centre

THE possibility of developing Scattery Island as a pilgrimage and retreat centre was discussed at last Thursday’s meeting of Kilrush Town Council.
Town mayor Ian Lynch forwarded a motion requesting Clare County Council, the Bishop of Killaloe and the Office of Public Works (OPW) carry out a feasibility study into the proposal. Councillor Lynch suggested the proposed retreat centre could be similar to St Patrick’s Purgatory on Lough Derg.
In a written reply, Clare County Council said it may be feasible to market the pilgrim walks linking places in the landscape that have a connection with St Senan of Scattery, including holy wells and St Senan’s Altar. The walk would take in approximately 80km over four days.
The council reply also noted that floors and stairs should be added to the island’s round tower. This would offer panoramic views of the Shannon Estuary.
“It would, therefore, be only one of a few round towers in the country with intact floors and ladders that can be climbed by the public,” the reply read.
Suggesting that a tea room would be needed on Scattery Island if visitor numbers were to increase, the council noted that extra time is required for those wanting to spend a full day on the island including scouts, school groups and those wanting to have picnics on the island. Morning trip with a return that evening (depending on tides) would cater for these specialist groups with provision of seats, shelter, benches and a picnic area.
“It is essential that time is allocated by the boat operator for anyone wanting to make this trip as it often takes longer than the one and a half hours provided by Scattery Island Ferries on the island. Incorporating visits to the Napoleonic Battery and lighthouse into the tour would add value and interest to any trip to the island. Also making the route to the Napoleonic Battery behind ‘The Street’ area of the island, accessible to the public should be examined. This route is often cut off by high tides at certain times of the day due to an artificial man-made inlet. The sensitive location of a boardwalk would overcome this problem,” Clare County Council suggested.
The meeting also heard a suggestion from the council that additional events like the recent musical boat trip, as part of the annual CCÉ Kilrush traditional music festival, are needed on the island. Other West Clare events including Kilrush Biodiversity Week could also feature trips to Scattery Island the council said, while the hosting of a Scattery Island reunion and inviting people with links to Scattery back to the Kilrush and the island for a weekend was also suggested.
Scattery Island consists of a diverse range of habitats including a coastal lagoon, salt marsh, freshwater lough and eroded sea cliffs on the western fringe. Over 41 species of birds have been recorded on the island, along with a long list of plants.
Clare County Council’s vision under the Clare County Council Tourism Strategy 2010 – 2014 is “to support and facilitate the development of a cohesive and sustainable tourism sector in Clare that will make a significant contribution to the local economy”.
Most of the Scattery Island plant list was compiled in the area surrounding the cathedral. The most worrying feature of the island’s management from the point of view of its flora is the lack of grazing. In the case of Scattery Island, the grasslands are now choked with dead grass and most flowering plants smothered with a dense carpet of red fescue. Without grazing, bracken, bramble and blackthorn will gradually merge to form an impenetrable thicket.