*Photograph: Eamon Ward
ENNISTYMON has been left off the map by its omission as a stop for the Burren and Cliffs Explorer shuttle bus with the creation of “an outer bypass in Inagh” slammed by locals.
Launched at the beginning of May, the free, hop-on hop-off shuttle bus service connects top visitor attractions with towns and villages across North Clare.
Attempts to add a link for the Explorer with Ennistymon have been made by Cllr Shane Talty (FF).
Director of Services for Tourism with Clare County Council, Siobhán McNulty admitted Ennistymon was considered as a stop for the pilot in 2025. She confirmed, “a number of limitations ruled it out as a location. In the short period to establish the shuttle service the team could not overcome the lack of available parking or the impact of traffic congestion on timetabling. Traffic congestion and delays would have a negative impact on timetabling and reliability of the Burren and Cliffs shuttle service”.
She flagged that a public bus service from Ennistymon to Lahinch is in operation which connects with the Explorer. A 3km walk or cycle can also be undertaken to get from Ennistymon to the nearest stop, the Director advised.
Grounds of Ennistymon GAA were considered but also ruled out as a stop, Ms McNulty outlined. “The team also considered Ennistymon GAA but it was ruled out as it is not within walking distance to town or village to deliver footfall to these areas and it is on a local road. This is a pilot initiative which will be measured to inform decisions on continuation of the initiative. To ensure longevity and to maximise the return to the towns and villages on the routes it is imperative that the local communities promote and support the Burren and Cliffs Explorer”.
Acknowledging the work involved in getting the pilot from concept to procurement within a year “in local authority terms is very efficient,” Cllr Talty said. “The issue I have is and it is particular to Ennistymon not being on the service. To my mind it is the first tourism product launch led by Clare County Council that produces an illustrated map of North Clare and Ennistymon is not on the map, I support 100% trying to spread the benefit but it is an own goal”.
Talty continued, “a small business owner in Ennistymon came into me, he is a tourism centred retailer and he said ‘it is the one positive economic story ye had in North Clare and ye are trying to bypass us, that is the reception I’m seeing on the ground”.
Inagh serving as a bypass to Ennistymon is a further insult with its history of traffic congestion, Cllr Talty remarked. “We have a neon sign in Inagh encouraging visitors to turn left, after twenty five years of failing to deliver on Blake’s Corner and improve accessibility, solution now seems to be we have an outer bypass in Inagh”. Businesses in Ennistymon are “successful, the town is vibrant but this has been an own goal”.
Links between Lahinch and Ennistymon are on a paid for bus service. “The parking option is there from the secondary school I know it is a tight window, we have 120 cars parked in Falls Hotel and accommodated there then they are already accommodated in the town. It is a missed step,” the postmaster stated. “We need to keep exploring the options. The value of tourism to North Clare, we’re not expecting that we get spend of X and divvy it there, it is not about driving numbers to the Cliffs of Moher but it is about increasing dwell time. It has been perceived that the value has been sought out of Ennistymon and not in addition to it”.
Seconding the request, Cllr Bill Slattery (FG) outlined there was strong criticism locally. “People are amazed when you come to Inagh there is a neon sign telling you to go by The Hand”. He felt offering Ennistymon as a stop on the service would work without providing parking.
“This is an obvious learning, we have to have a service with Ennistymon connected into it,” stated Cllr Joe Garrihy (FG). He noted grant funding was secured to make Ennistymon a designated tourism town but pointed out it was excluded from this tourist-centred pilot.
Running the shuttle from The Falls Hotel “makes sense” and would boost numbers, Cllr Joe Killeen (FF) said. “It is in all our interests to ensure shuttle bus works, it is going to be reviewed in two years, based on the economic details the numbers will determine if it is a success”.
