*Quilty. Photograph: Ann O’Connell.
QUILTY’s has been labelled as an “ideal location” for the potential development of overnight camping facilities while attempts for such a proposal led to a “pile on” in Lisdoonvarna.
In a proposal before the West Clare Municipal District, Cllr Michael Shannon (FF) encouraged Clare County Council “to identify a secure suitable site in Quilty Village for the development” of new RV camping facilties and public restrooms.
Such a site needs to be equipped with power hook ups, shower facilities, wastewater services, laundry and associated services, accessible for wheelchair users and to be both private and secure, Cllr Shannon stressed.
Following the completion of the Campervan Review Report and the Fáilte Ireland-led Accommodation Audit for Clare, a series of webinars were held to “incentivise potential private developers to expand alternative accommodation provision across the county,” Head of Tourism with Clare County Council, Deirdre O’Shea explained. “This work is being augmented through the development of a Business Prospectus for Clare, which aims to highlight investment opportunities and position the county as a prime location for accommodation development,” she said.
O’Shea outlined, “Any future developments will be aligned with the objectives of the Clare County Development Plan and will take into account the availability of essential services, environmental considerations, and community impact. We are committed to identifying suitable locations and supporting initiatives to include the above proposal, that enhance the visitor experience, while safeguarding the interests of local residents and businesses”.
Speaking at the West Clare MD meeting, Cllr Shannon observed, “this is on the tourism radar”. He stated, “Quilty village itself, we have our wastewater system and it is about encouraging a private investor to invest in a site which has public toilets in the village that everyone can use, Quilty is an ideal location for us to participate in the roll out of these when the tourism department will finalise their list. There is keen interest in the area for one of these to be erected and given a go, the tourism product is a relatively new aspect since 2020”.
Seconding the proposal, Cllr Rita McInerney (FF) highlighted, “We have to be mindful of the planning and how it is zoned in the village in particular”. She suggested working with the Clare Local Development Company to try secure funding and make people “who own the land aware of the opportunities which exist, it is nearly getting site specific and looking at sites and approaching people in that regard”.
Campervans have caused problems in Lahinch, Cllr Bill Slattery (FG) reminded his colleagues. “Eoin (Troy senior executive officer) has been active in trying to identify a site and it isn’t easy because not at all sites are suitable”.
“We’ve only been talking about it for a year and a half which is a relatively short period for us,” Cllr Joe Garrihy (FG) remarked. He recalled bringing forward a proposal in Lisdoonvarna where he was “piled on by the locals over the concern of the impact of Lisdoonvarna”.
He said a business case assessing the wraparound finances requires was completed while looking at a location with the existing infrastructure, “I shot myself in the foot, following two years of consultation and everyone saying they wanted it for tourism then they objected, people have a fear of something new”.
Cllr Garrihy added, “I could be shot for saying Kilmurry Ibrickane is a good site for it”. He continued, “I wouldn’t invest money in it unless it is in prime location, we had local groups objecting because they felt there would be an incursion into it”.
Issues already occur in Quilty, Cllr Shannon acknowledged. “We do have illegal overnight camping on cul de sac roads and parking there for a long period of time”.
