*Ailwee Burren Experience.

CLARE COUNTY Council has granted planning permission to one of the best known tourist attractions in the west of Ireland, the Aillwee Burren Experience in North Clare to construct โ€œmuch neededโ€ staff accommodation.

The proposal had been stalled after becoming ensnared in a family land row where a member of one of the families, the Johnsons that operates the attraction, Ben Johnson claimed that the building that Aillwee Cave Co Ltd was planning to convert into staff accommodation was his.

Ben Johnson is a former shareholder and employee in the business and in an objection lodged on behalf of Mr Johnson by Galway legal firm, Benen Fahy Associates, it stated that โ€œthe lands in question belong to our client even though he is not the registered ownerโ€.

Ben Johnson sold his shareholding in the business in 2014 but was instrumental in setting up the cheese brand associated with Aillwee Caves and the Bird of Prey centre at the visitor attraction.

Commenting on his objection, Mr Johnson said at the time that the building “morally is mineโ€. He said, โ€œBecause of the stamp I left on Aillwee Cave I am justified in claiming the shed back at the very leastโ€.

Mr Johnsonโ€™s intervention resulted in Clare County Council stalling the plan after requesting applicants, Aillwee Cave Co Ltd to submit documentation that it is the owner of the lands in question and that it has sufficient legal interest to lodge the plans

The company has provided that folio documentation and the Council has granted planning permission for the proposal.

The Aillwee Burren Experience is co-owned by another family, the Mulqueeneys and MD of the Aillwee Burren Experience, Nuala Mulqueeney welcomed the Council planning go-ahead. She said that providing the accommodation is part of a three year plan for the Aillwee Burren Experience.

Ms Mulqueeney commented, โ€œwe have to get the green paper yetโ€ in reference to the final planning permission document after the period for appeals to An Bord Pleanรกla has expired.

Ms Mulqueeney said that before the staff accommodation is provided โ€œwe have a lot to do on the site for visitorsโ€.

Ms Mulqueeney said that visitor numbers to Aillwee Burren Experience were between 85,000 to 90,000 in 2024 which was a five per cent increase on 2023 visitor numbers.

Ms Mulqueeney said that Aillwee Caves employs up to around 70 people for the high Summer season and 90 elves for the busy Christmas period.

Ms Mulqueeny said that the business performed well in 2024 despite the increase in overheads.

She said that the businessโ€™s Council rates bill increased by 35 percent in 2024 following a Council revaluation. She said, โ€œThat stings as it is a lot more than it was.โ€

At the end of 2023, Aillwee Cave Company Ltd had accumulated profits of โ‚ฌ1.96m after recording profits of โ‚ฌ82,451 for the year.

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