Theme park attraction for Clare is being 'considered' for 2025 - 2040

QUESTIONS surrounding the possibility of the construction of a new theme park in Clare have been raised in the latest Clare County Council meeting. 

The motion, put forward by Cllr Pat McMahon, was proposed 25 years ago and is a long-term target which he would like to see come to fruition. The location was suggested to be in and around the Shannon region.

Repeating the idea in the first meeting of 2024, Cllr McMahon said he would like to plant “the seed of an idea” in his fellow council members' minds. Cllr Tom O’Callaghan seconded the motion, asking his counterparts to be “open-minded”.

The recent successes of the tourism industry in Clare prompted councillors to facilitate the idea and, suggestions that the theme park could be ‘viking’ themed, to coincide with medieval undertones of the historic Bunratty Castle and Folk Park, was suggested.

As well as this, the popularity of Centre Parcs in Longford and Emerald Park in Meath were cited to compare and favour the motion. 

In response, the feasibility of a theme park attraction is to be “considered” as a “future vision of product development” by the director of tourism for the council, Leonard Cleary.

“The Council directly operates seven tourism attractions to support the wider tourism industry, tourism economy and Shannon Airport,” Mr Cleary said.

Amongst the visitor attractions operated by Clare County Council is the Shannon Heritage portfolio, which Mr Cleary said will have a 15 year strategy developed in relation to the future of the Shannon Heritage sites. 

As a result, “this could consider a proposed theme park attraction during the period of 2025 - 2040”, Mr Cleary said.