Tag Archives: Lough Derg

CLARE County Council has confirmed it is at an advanced stage of negotiations to secure the purchase of Holy Island (Inis Cealtra) on Lough Derg. It is understood that a purchase price has been agreed between Clare County Council and the landowner and it is now at a stage where the council is seeking funding from Government to purchase the island. Ger Dollard, director of services with Clare County Council, confirmed that the acquisition of the island has been under consideration for a number of years and that an opportunity recently arose to bring the site into public ownership. “We are fully aware of the significance of this location and would be anxious to see it forming part of the local tourism product and be available to the wider public. We are conscious of the strong heritage, environmental and conservation considerations associated with the island and, for that reason, have commenced the preparation of terms of reference for a visitor …

A new €2 million stimulus package is being invested to progress the objectives of the new five-year Lough Derg marketing plan. Environment Minister Alan Kelly has announced this funding will be spent on implementing some of the key recommendations of the “Roadmap for Experience Development and Destination Marketing Plan 2014-2017” for Lough Derg, which was launched earlier this year. Minister Kelly made the announcement at the launch of a brand new website dedicated exclusively to the promotion of the Lakelands Lough Derg region. Tourism attractions in Clare will be marketed in a more coordinated fashion with the help of a new website, which is designed to make a big splash for Lough Derg. Visitors to the region with information on places to visit, events, accommodation providers and restaurants, special offers, and land and water based activities by visiting www.discoverloughderg.ie. The website is one of a number of marketing initiatives being rolled out over the coming months and during 2015 to …

THE Killaloe Coast Guard Unit has launched an appeal for new volunteers to fill some vacancies in its unit. With 16 male and three female members in the current search and rescue service, the unit is seeking to recruit at least three new members, as a few other volunteers may leave over the coming months, due to work commitments. Led by officer in charge (OIC), Joe Doolan, the unit is Government-funded and doesn’t have to fundraise, unlike its predecessor, the Killaloe Ballina Search and Rescue Service. Acknowledging that training and call-outs were “time-consuming”, deputy OIC, Damien Madden insists it is also “very rewarding” for members who are involved in rescuing people from the lake or aftermishaps on land. “It is a great service for the community. Anyone who is using Lough Derg and gets into trouble, knows we are there at the end of a call by contacting 999 or 112. Once we are called out, we are normally in …

An all-island tourism delegation from the four main locations with connections Brian Boru will embark on a promotional drive in the United States this week. Coinciding with the 1,000 anniversary of Boru’s death at the Battle of Clontarf in 1014, National Brian Boru Programme representatives from Clare, Armagh, Dublin and Tipperary, will attend the annual Milwaukee Irish Fest in Wisconsin where they will be seeking to attract some of the estimated 150,000 festival goers to Ireland. Boru is a central theme of this year’s Milwaukee Irish Fest from August 14-17. Established in 1981 by members of Milwaukee’s Irish community, the Fest covers 74 acres of Lake Michigan’s shoreline and showcases Irish music, history, dance, drama, sports and culture. The Festival is also used by tourist agencies such as Tourism Ireland, Aer Lingus and CIE Tours as an opportunity to market Ireland as a desirable tourist destination. Members of the delegation, which includes historians, living history interpreters, genealogists, musicians, a bowyer and a folk theatre group, will also deliver a …

A woman in her late sixties died after falling into the water in Lough Derg in the early hours of Sunday morning, despite an extensive rescue operation. The incident happened at the marina near the village of Dromineer on the shores of Lough Derg. The RNLI based at Dromineer was tasked by the Valentia Coastguard Marine Coordination Centre at about 1.15 and were told there were two people in the water. Within about seven minutes, the RNLI crew of three volunteers were on the water and learned that only one person remained in the water. It is understood that a man entered the water with a view to saving the woman but was unable to do so. After leaving the water, he then contacted the emergency services. The Shannon coastguard helicopter Rescue 115 was also tasked to assist in the rescue operation. However, the helicopter was stood down while en route to the scene as the RNLI had recovered the woman from the water. Five …

Visitors to Mountshannon are to benefit from significant developments made by the local community council, in conjunction with the Aistear Field Committee, as the Aistear Tourist Office opened to the public this week. This is the first of a number of initiatives being rolled out by Mountshannon Community Council this month, which are all geared at increasing footfall in the village, as well as catering for tourism. The tourist office was officially opened on Monday, followed by the launch of the Mountshannon App on Thursday. The opening of an exhibition centre takes place on next Monday. Following the successful rollout of Mountshannon.com, a website featuring upcoming events, community pages, tourist information and historical details pertaining to the area, the local council decided to develop an app. This decision facilitated further discussion and out of this came the idea to provide a tourist office. Tom McNamara, supervisor of the CE scheme in Mountshannon, explained how it evolved from there. “We had …

Former Irish Ladies rugby star, Rosie Foley and an Ogonnelloe TG4 presentation director will bid to make history by becoming the first two to swim the full 38 kilometre length of Lough Derg from Portumna to Killaloe this Saturday. James Lynch and Rosie Foley estimate it will take them 15 hours of continuous swimming to make the lake crossing depending on weather conditions and other factors. While Mr Lynch will be wearing a wetsuit for the event, Ms Foley, plans to swim without the wetsuit as she hopes to qualify for an attempt at the English Channel in the future. Up to now the pair have been training in pools since January and from late April they have been swimming long distances in the open water, to help them prepare for the event. The two swimmers and their support crews will be leaving Portumna on Saturday morning around 7am will subsequently make their way south along the lake to Killaloe. …

AVID angler John Gleeson hooked a wild brownie, while trolling recently on Lough Derg. The trout tipped the scales at 14 lbs. John, a member of the Killaloe Ballina Anglers, sportingly released the trout, after first capturing his catch on camera. This year, the club has introduced a catch-and-release rule for the heaviest fish category during their Mayfly competition, to preserve stocks in the lake.