Council criticised over 60-year delay on essential infrastructure in West Clare village

The council’s failure to provide essential infrastructure to a popular West Clare tourist village, nearly 60 years after it was promised, was highlighted at the January meeting of Clare County Council.

Fine Gael Cllr Gabriel Keating told the meeting that Carrigaholt was promised a sewerage scheme on September 15,1957 - a project the community is still waiting for in 2026.

Carrigaholt currently has no public wastewater system, meaning residents and visitors rely on private facilities.

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The long-awaited scheme would provide essential sanitation for the village, which sees thousands of tourists pass through each year.

Cllr Keating's comments came in response to a motion from fellow councillor Joe Garrihy, where he called on the council to host a series of workshops and forums for elected members "to facilitate input and involvement in shaping the priorities for the County's multi-year strategic investment plan."

Cllr Garrihy said that he "wants to be able to stand over investment we make into this county while I am an elected member."

Highlighting the local challenges, Cllr Keating said the council "wouldn't forget the peninsula" with particular emphasis on a sewerage scheme for Carrigaholt.

He explained that he "did a count at the weekend," which showed the village has just 101 residents and "doesn't even have a public toilet."

Last summer, he said he counted 27 camper vans and several caravans, and observed that "if there isn't a public house open, there is no toilet," calling it a "pity."

He further emphasised that during peak tourist season, between 17,000 and 20,000 people pass through Carrigaholt on the way to Loophead.

The village also receives "overflow from Kilkee" to its beaches when the popular seaside town is busy.

Cllr Keating said that "on the 15th of September, 1957, Carrigaholt were told they were getting a sewerage scheme, and that was a long time ago."

While welcoming council efforts on housing and rural development, he warned that the council "do need that infrastructure to speed up."

He also noted that 22 new holiday homes have been built in Carrigaholt, now housing "full-time residents," and added: "Any help we can get, no matter what, will be appreciated."