Clare County Council seeks permission for major tourism project at Inis Cealtra

Plans to provide enhanced visitor facilities at Inis Cealtra in Lough Derg are progressing with the formal lodging of a planning application with An Bord Pleanála.

Led by Clare County Council, the proposed development provides for enhanced visitor facilities on lands measuring approximately 20.3 hectares located at Inis Cealtra (Holy Island) and at two locations in Mountshannon Village.

According to planning documents, the two sites in Mountshannon Village include lands within the curtilage of the‘Old Rectory’ and extending south to encompass a section of Harbour Road and Mountshannon Harbour car park.

Lands to the north of Aistear Park on the north side of Main Street, Mountshannon are also included.

The proposed development will include the demolition of an existing concrete shelter at Inis Cealtra adjacent to the existing pier at the north-west of the island as well as the installation of a new 'L-shaped floating access jetty and walkway' at the north-west of Inis Cealtra Island at the location of the existing pier.

A series of new 'mown grass pedestrian paths' are to be constructed on Inis Cealtra facilitating enhanced access to the island’s main monuments and natural landscape.

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At Mountshannon, a car park with 169 spaces is to be constructed on the north side of Main Street while a new part one-storey, part two-storey Visitor Centre will be constructed to the south of the existing ‘Old Rectory’ building which is a protected structure.

As part of the overall project, the existing Mountshannon Harbour car park will be reconfigured to include 49 car parking spaces together with public realm enhancements.