Tag Archives: Aistear Park

AN OUTDOOR pavilion planned for Mountshannon has hit a further hitch, with permission for the development being appealed to An Bord Pleanála. Earlier this year, Mountshannon Community Council, which is spearheading the project, secured a funding award of €54,860 from The Department of Rural and Community Development. The facility, to be located at Aistear Park, was given planning permission by Clare County Council at the start of last month. Now, a third-party appeal has been lodged by four residents of the town’s Main Street. The hitch means it will be several months before the future of the project is known. The appeal, which was lodged on April 27, has been made by two couples who had objected to the development when it originally came before the Council. In their correspondence with An Bord Pleanála, the appellants have outlined seven grounds for their opposition to the development. In the first instance, the appellants express the opinion that the planning application should …

AMBITIOUS plans for an outdoor cultural activities space at a lakeside park in Mountshannon have received the green light from planners. Earlier this year, Mountshannon Community Council, who are spear-heading the project, secured a funding award of €54,860 from The Department of Rural and Community Development, to develop the facility at Aistear Park. Conditional planning permission has been granted despite two objections from residents of the town’s Main Street. Planners have asked that steps be take to allay their concerns over the impact on views of Lough Derg. After considering the application and two identical objections, which raised concerns that the open roofed structure would be “rarely used”, and could damage views and attract anti-social behaviour, planners supported the principle of the development. They described the pavilion as “modest in scale relative to the overall park area”, and said it “will not inhibit the use of the area for play and recreational activity”.  In relation to the concerns about visual …

AMBITIOUS plans for a pavilion at Aistear Park in Mountshannon are the subject of objections from four local residents. County planners are currently assessing proposals for the roofed, open structure, which Mountshannon Community Council hope will blend into the lakeside landscape and serve as a sheltered and serviced venue for a range of cultural and educational activities. The plans have already been backed by The Department of Rural and Community Development, through a funding allocation of €54,860 announced in recent weeks. In February, the Community Council formally lodged plans with the Council for the pavilion, after a period of public consultation. In the following weeks, two local couples lodged objections to the development. The objectors have raised concerns about visual amenity, the proposed use of the pavilion and potential anti-social behaviour at the location. In two identical letters of objection, four residents of Main Street said that: “An open space is a special amenity in any village but one overlooking …

MOUNTSHANNON is celebrating an award of more than €50,000 from The Town and Village Renewal Fund. Within days of lodging plans for an outdoor pavilion at Aistear Park, Mountshannon Community Council received positive news and a sum of €54,860 after a detailed application for government funding.  In a statement, the Community Council said: Thanks to Minister Heather Humphreys of the  Department of Rural and Community Development. “Thanks to Clare County Council and especially Seamus Murrihy, Killaloe Municipal Community Development Officer who has supported Mountshannon Community Council through this whole process. Congratulations to all the communities and hardworking committees who have been successful. Best of luck to all!” Noting the funding allocation, Deputy Cathal Crowe said the plan was a model for other communities looking to develop similar recreational amenities. “Importantly, this will be made using sustainable, low-maintenance materials so it will be environmentally friendly and an example to other communities looking to do similar,” he said.  Making the funding announcement …

LAKESIDE activities of all kinds are planned as part of ambitious proposals to develop a pavilion at Aistear Park in Mountshannon.  Earlier this month, the Community Council formally lodged plans with Clare County Council for the  facility, after extensive public consultation. The roofed, open structure, which will provide shelter from the elements, and have water and electricity installed, will be able to cater for festivals, performances, classes, social events and a host of other activities. Also awaited is an announcement from the Town and Village Renewal Scheme, to which the Community Council has lodged a funding application.  “We looked at the situation with Covid,” explained Joanne Dunphy-Allen, Chairperson of Mountshannon Community Council. “We’re always looking to enhance the the community and to improve areas and boost what we have. We looked at situations where we’d had events and festivals. We had groups that were having difficulties being able to meet inside and do things, because of Covid. Also, we live …

SANITIZER dispensers have torn down at Aistear Park, in a spate of weekend vandalism which has been described by the head of Mountshannon Community Council as “just horrendous”. Last Monday morning, members of the Community Employment (CE) scheme arrived at the park to find a significant amount of rubbish, with broken glass and fragments of cans strewn in the grass close to a children’s play area. A popular community book-swapping facility, which is located in the park, was also vandalised, forcing the community council to consider removing it altogether. “The CE scheme members have worked so hard during, the earlier lockdown, to keep the park up to a standard where everyone in the locality can get in and enjoy it,” said Joanne Dunphy-Allen. “We were delighted to get support from Clare County Council who gave us the sanitizer dispensers and signage, so that we could really help people to feel safe in the park and to remind them of their …

LOCALS and visitors to Mountshannon seeking to keep fit were given a welcome boost this week, when new public outdoor sporting equipment was installed in the Aistear Park. Five pieces of equipment, which consist of a double air walker, rower, cross trainer, surf board and single rider, were fixed into position in their new home in the Aistear on Wednesday last, much to the delight of locals and visitors. The amenities formed part of a joint initiative between Mountshannon Community Council, which now runs the Aistear, and the local CE scheme, headed by Tom McNamara. It was made possible after the community council was awarded €3,000 in grant aid, under the Public Area Enhancement Scheme, by Clare County Council. Speaking about the latest addition to the Aistear Park, John Harvey, chairman of Mountshannon Community Council, said, “We have a playground for the children, so we thought a playground for the adults wouldn’t be out of the question. It was just …