Hope has been expressed that East Clare will reap more dividends from Clare’s tourism market once once the ‘jewel of Lough Derg’ opens to the public.
Plans have been submitted by Clare County Council for the long awaited development of the Inis Cealtra Visitor Centre on Holy Island.
Mountshannon Community Council has welcomed the proposal saying it will increase tourism and boost employment not only in the local community but in wider East Clare.
The Council confirmed earlier this week that preliminary plans for the Inis Cealtra Visitor Centre have been submitted.
If given the go-ahead, the Old Rectory building overlooking Mountshannon Harbour and Lough Derg is intended to be transformed into a visitor centre, subject to government funding.
Members of the public will be able to make submissions up until April 2nd, with the plans expected to be presented to Councillors at their monthly meeting in May, when a decision will be made.
Its hoped this deveopment will help attract more tourists to the East of the county, particularly those who flock to the likes of the CLiffs of Moher.
Whitegate Fine Gael Councillor Pat Burke is confident that the project will progress and that funding will be secured.
He says if even a fraction of the visitors already coming to Clare’s coastal areas come to Holy Island, it would have a big impact.
Mountshannon Community Council believes the opening of the new attraction will help boost the attractiveness of the area and in turn boost the local economy.
No timeline has yet been set out for the completion of the development but the local authority has expressed hope that work can progress throughout 2021.
Co-chair of the Mountshannon Community Coucnil, Joanne Dunphy-Allen says the local community are ready to get involved.
