Burren Lowlands have set their eyes firmly on workers in Dublin and surrounding counties to attract them to come and live in North Clare and South Galway.

An increase in co-operation and involvement is needed by councillors, community activists and Clare County Council so far as Burren Lowlands is concerned, Cllr Joe Killeen (FF) recently told a meeting of the local authority.

“They are working on enhancing the economic and social aspects in the areas covering Crusheen, Ballinruan, Killanena, Boston, Tubber, Carron and New Quay, as well as south Galway parishes in the hinterland of Gort,” Killeen noted of the group funded by Clare Local Development Company and Galway Rural Development.

In defending the Council’s relationship with Burren Lowlands, senior executive officer Monica Meehan responded to Cllr Killeen by referring to the engagements they have held with the group “in order to support them in their efforts to promote the area” over recent years. “This association also extends to Galway County Council and both Councils engage as the need arises”.

Meehan pointed to the development of the Fáilte Ireland led Burren Discovery Trail as “a good example of where Clare and Galway have worked together in order to develop a product which not only benefits specific areas in North Clare but also has the potential to beneficial those areas mentioned in the motion”.

Presently, Burren Lowlands are working on a survey of co-working spaces, carrying out an audit of empty commercial spaces and “targeting workers in the east of the country to come and live here,” Cllr Killeen outlined.