*Caherlohan. Photograph: John Mangan
CLARE GAA have asked for extra time to provide further information sought by the planning authority for a major development at Caherlohan.
Clare County Council halted plans for the development in August 2024 over concerns on the impact it would have on the local lesser horseshoe bat population.
In June 2024, Clare GAA lodged plans with the Council to upgrade the facilities. Proposed works include the addition of two new full-length playing pitches, the construction of a new all-weather synthetic playing pitch served by six 25 metre high floodlights and the construction of a new hurling ball-wall. The plans also include the installation of twelve 25-metre high floodlights serving existing pitches 3 and 4 and the construction of a new covered spectator stand serving pitch 3.
Player welfare is to the fore of the development that also features plans for a new gym, dressing rooms and dining areas.
€3.2m was granted to Clare GAA in November under the Large Scale Sports Infrastructure Fund to develop Caherlohan and carry out these plans which Head of Operations, Deirdre Murphy previously estimated would cost €5m.
Opened in 2015 after it was purchased in 2005, Clare GAA’s Centre of Excellence at Caherlohan regularly appeared in the headlines from 2019 to 2021 as a handful of club delegates particularly those from Whitegate, Tulla and Wolfe Tones were vocal in their criticisms of the facility. Since the retirement of Pat Fitzgerald as County Secretary in July 2022, there has been little to no negative remarks passed about the facilities by delegates. Its use by clubs has increased over the last three years.
Costings provided in November 2019 by then Chairman Joe Cooney revealed that the property was purchased by Clare GAA for €2.3m, phase one development cost in the region of €700,000, phase two cost an approximate €1.5m, phase three development cost €210,000 while €90,000 was spent on dressing rooms, teams room and the dining area. The Saffron and Blue strategic review published in October 2021 recommended that Caherlohan be made the long-term headquarters of Clare GAA, the plan also said the facility was “not fit for purpose”.
Concerns were raised in August with the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage telling Clare County Council that it should carry out a study to determine if the Clare GAA proposal will significantly impact on the nearby Newgrove House which is a designated Special Area of Conservation (SAC) due to the presence of the Lesser Horseshoe Bat.
This tiny species of bat measures only 5 to 9 grams with a wingspan of 194-254mm. The Department stated that the proposed development is located within a known foraging site for the bat and are concerned that the scrub generated by construction as well as light pollution from the high floodlights may have an adverse effect on the small mammal.
As a result, an ecological assessment of the site complete with a comprehensive bat survey has been requested. Clare GAA has also been asked to produce a lighting plan and include specialist lightbulbs to minimise the impact on the local bat population.
Officials in Clare GAA have asked for an extension of the period to supply this information however. The planning department has agreed to this request and has given a deadline of May 25th 2025 to do so.
