*The Cliffs of Moher Coastal Walk.
MEETINGS are to commence between Clare County Council, North Clare landowners and IFA representatives within a fortnight to plot the future management of the Cliffs of Moher Coastal Walk.
Last month, the the Cliffs of Moher Coastal Walk Management Plan also known as the Tobin Report was published by the County Council. The 246 page document recommended the Council become the management organisation for the future management and development of the 18km coastal trail from Doolin to Hags Head, a trail that showcases the world-renowned Cliffs of Moher.
Talks will commence between key stakeholders namely the Council, landowners and the IFA in a fortnight while the local authority is to also liaise with Clare Local Development Company (CLDC) on the future transition of managing the walk.
Also commencing within the next two weeks will be the advertising for a trail manager. The recruited individual will be “the point of contact for people going forward on the Cliffs of Moher Coastal Walk”.
Sitting for the first time since the report’s publication, the Council’s Tourism Development Strategic Policy Committee discussed the matter.
Director of Tourism Development, Siobhán McNulty explained that the “next step” was to meet with landowners and representative bodies such as the IFA within a fortnight, details are to be finalised with the IFA, she confirmed. There will also be meetings with landowners not represented by the IFA, she said. “We’re at the position as to what happens next, document has been published and people have had the chance to read it”.
McNulty outlined, “the fundamental premise of the report is that Clare County Council will be tasked with being the trail management organisation going forward, there is a period of liaison with CLDC to transition between their operation and Clare County Council’s operation of the coastal walk”.
At present, the southern side of the Cliffs of Moher Coastal Walk remains closed with the northern side from Doolin to Surfer’s Path open. According to the senior Council official, up to 80 people per day are using the northern section which she labelled as “significant numbers”. She admitted, “it is bringing with it its own challenges on access and penetration, they are utilising the public road which brings its own challenges”.
Chair of the SPC, Cllr Shane Talty (FF) commented, “in North Clare and on behalf of all councillors in North Clare, our shared ambition has been to have a walk which is open, that is safe and respects the stakeholders which primarily includes the landowners. There is a long road to travel on that point, we’re only getting started. That is the road we need to get on, at the last SPC meeting the sensitivities were clear talking about a walk which Clare County Council wasn’t responsible for but it is clear the report recommends the Council becomes lead organisation”.
Lahinch native Talty added, “The walk as it evolved over a number of years outgrew the management framework and management scheme it was under”. He said, “It needs to include a visitor management plan. There is no point having such a heavily trafficked walkway which doesn’t show how we manage the visitor when we arrive”.
Chair of Clare IFA, Tom Lane stated, “It is a pity where we are now that we couldn’t have had a vision a couple of years from the present management scheme to a more solid management scheme, we’re still playing catch-up, I’d like to futureproof the walk beyond 2040, if you bring a group of landowners together that they play a role and it goes from one generation to the next. We had a very good meeting with some landowners last week, it is great to see that people take great pride in owning a piece of the walking trail, nobody got up and said they won’t to be a part of it, there’s remedial works they want to see done”.
According to Cllr Joe Garrihy (FG), “there’s been enough noise” surrounding the plan. He said improvements must be visible every day with any situation. “I share the frustration over the last number of years on the time it has taken to focus on things we did recognise and need addressing”. He continued, “I believe the intent and approach is now firmly very much in focus”. The Lisdoonvarna native said, “Time and space in a clear-headed manner away from unnecessary noise is needed. We’re all fully behind it, we need to look beyond tomorrow and 2040”.
Intent to support the walk’s future must be visible, Cllr Talty noted. “We all owe it to the next generation of farmers, walkers and stakeholders that whoever is looking at this project that it is concluded now in a manner which shows a long-term plan”.
