Expansion of Clare GAA Centre of Excellence stalled due to bat conservation concerns

Clare County Council has stalled plans by senior All-Ireland winning hurlers, Clare to expand and redevelop the county's GAA Centre of Excellence due to concerns over the EU protected Lesser Horseshoe Bat.

This follows the Council telling applicants Clare County GAA Board that it must be satisfactorily demonstrated that the Centre of Excellence expansion proposal will not have a significant adverse impact on the status of nearby Newgrove House which is a designated Special Area of Conservation (SAC) due to the presence of the Lesser Horseshoe Bat.

According to the Dept of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Newgrove House SAC “is considered to be of international importance” due to the presence of the tiny bat.

The Lesser Horseshoe Bat is one of the world’s smallest bats, weighing only 5 to 9 grams with a wingspan of 194-254mm and a body length of 35 to 45 mm and is afforded legal protection through the EU Habitats Directive.

In June, in a bid to help unearth the next Tony Kelly or Shane O’Donnell, Clare GAA lodged plans for a large extension to its Centre of Excellence at Caherloghan, near the village of Tulla in east Clare.

The long awaited upgrade for the county’s elite hurlers and footballers at all age grades includes two new full length playing pitches; the construction of a new all-weather synthetic playing pitch served by six 25 metre high floodlights and the construction of a new hurling ‘ball-wall'.

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The plans also include the installation of 12 25-metre high floodlights serving existing Pitch Nos 3 and 4 and the construction of a new covered spectator stand serving Pitch 3.

The proposal also includes the construction of a two storey extension to the existing Clare GAA Centre of Excellence building accommodating additional player welfare facilities including new dressing rooms, a gymnasium, dining and administrative areas.

In its letter seeking revised plans or further information, the Council has stated that the Clare GAA proposal is located in close proximity to Newgrove House.

In the letter, Council has stated that the proposed development site is located within the identified foraging site associated with Newgrove and elements of the development, namely the clearance of scrub to facilitate new pitch construction and the development of 18 25-metre high floodlights on the site were identified as having potentially significant impact on the Newgrove House SAC.

The Council state that there is potential for direct and indirect effects to occur given the scale, nature and variety of the proposed development.

As a result, the Council requires an ecological assessment of the site with comprehensive bat surveys to inform the overall design of the proposal and any mitigation measures if deemed necessary.

The Council has also requested the Council to produce a lighting plan to include specialist light bulbs aimed at minimising any impact on the local bat population.

No objections have been lodged against the Centre of Excellence upgrade plans and the application will become ‘live' once the further information has been lodged.

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