*Stephen Hanley. Photograph: Eamon Ward
CLARE COUNTY COUNCIL’s Chief Executive has declined to comment on the exits of high-profile personnel within their tourism directorate.
Along with a series of cutbacks at tourism sites operated by Clare County Council, the attractions have also been rocked by the exits of key personnel.
The Clare Echo has previously reported on the departures of Stephen Hanley (General Manager Clare Tourism East) and Eoin Flanagan (Group Head of HR at Clare Tourism).
Joining them in heading out the exit door has been Donnacha Lynch who served as Head of Commercial Services with Shannon Heritage. He had been responsible for producing a 600 page analysis and due diligence report for the Council prior to the local authority acquiring the Heritage sites.
Council Chief Executive, Gordon Daly declined to comment when questioned in September by The Clare Echo on whether it was worrying to see such exits from Clare Tourism DAC. “I don’t talk about individual staff members’ circumstances,” he said.
This Wednesday will mark the first meeting of the Tourism Development Strategic Policy Committee (SPC) of the Council since the exits of the senior personnel. While it would be expected in most scenarios that the matter would be questioned and debated, elected members of Clare County Council have reluctant to publicly question decisions by management.
During his two years with Clare Tourism, Hanley was involved with the opening of the Inis Cealtra Visitor Experience in July, announcing plans of a €1m redevelopment at Craggaunowen which recorded a 27 percent increase in visitors in 2024 and Bunratty itself had a 14% jump in visitors in 2023.
At Knappogue, he had predicted it would be capable of catering for 1000 guests in 2025, 2026 and 2027 but was frustrated with the “teething problems” which has delayed its opening as a five-star residence.
Outlook on the tourism front for Clare County Council has become less positive in recent times. The Council’s interim financial report up until the end of June 2025 showed a combined loss of €1m had been recorded for the Clare Collection which is owned and operated by the Council’s subsidiary companies, it was launched in February of this year.
Bunratty Castle and Folk Park, The Cliffs of Moher Experience, Craggaunowen Castle & Crannóg, Inis Cealtra, Knappogue Castle & Gardens, Loop Head Lighthouse and Vandeleur Walled Gardens and Visitor Experience all form part of the Clare Collection.
When asked if cutbacks would continue at the tourism sites, Daly responded, “I don’t have the exact figures, the day to day management of it is under the Tourism Development DAC but Bunratty Castle is an iconic visitor attraction and it is performing very well and continues to be a very popular tourist destination for people and for Co Clare”.
