Artist’s impression of improvements at the key urban node at the Toler street junction with Frances Street.
QUICK wins must be “copper fastened” for Kilrush’s town centre first plan, a document which has been labelled “a once in a generation opportunity” for the West Clare town.
Public consultation has been ongoing since November 26th 2025 and runs until January 15th 2026 for the draft Kilrush town centre first plan. Vacancy and the need to enhance the vitality of the town centre have cropped up as recurring themes in the preparation of the plan.
Town regeneration officer with Clare County Council, Joan Tarmey has been among the key officials in the local authority working alongside Kilrush Town Team, elected members of the West Clare Municipal District and Council staff over the past year to re-establish a new Town Team in Kilrush to advance the town centre first plan.
She outlined, “A design team has undertaken extensive research including a draft Socio-Economic Baseline Report, a draft Urban Appraisal, and a Public Consultation Report”. The plan spans a ten-year period.
Hilary Gleeson as Chairperson of the Kilrush Town Team “has played a vital role in shaping the draft plan and engaging the community. The plan will outline the team’s vision and objectives under themes such as Inclusion, Climate & Biodiversity, Vibrancy, Heritage, Culture, and Wellbeing”.
Stakeholders are currently agreeing on an action plan. “Among the projects included in the draft plan is the Mars Cinema site, alongside several other initiatives. Significant preparatory work has already been completed for this project, including a feasibility study and a review is underway to determine the most suitable use for the facility. A number of potential uses are being scoped out but the overall Town Centre First Plan is key to the future development of the facility and will assist in its future direction,” Joan advised.
Once the plan is finalised, efforts will turn to delivering and implementing the identified projects. “These will compete for funding from various sources, including the Town & Village Renewal Scheme, the Rural Regeneration Development Fund, Active Travel, and private philanthropy. The Kilrush Town Team remains highly engaged and will be central to the successful delivery of the plan,” Tarmey added.
A progress report on the plan and particularly the Mars Cinema feasibility study was sought by Cllr Rita McInerney (FF) at the last West Clare MD sitting of 2025. “The commitments shown locally is exceptional, the group is made up of volunteers who want to see Kilrush thrive, they deserve real recognition and support, the town team sees a once in a generation opportunity for Kilrush which needs this initiative to be successful, significant work has been invested to bring it to this stage,” she said.
“If momentum stalls it will be difficult,” Cllr McInerney flagged. “There’s major projects proposed like the Mars cinema which could have a transformative impact on the town, they require local authority leadership, technical support and partnership to move them to delivery”. She added, “given what is at stake for Kilrush, they need to implement what is proposed”. Kilrush receives “a lot of goodwill particularly from the diaspora,” Rita noted.
Kilrush representative, Cllr Ian Lynch (IND) commented, “We need to know what Kilrush needs not what it wants to really thrive”. The ideas need to be planned and developed with the Mars Cinema offering “huge potential”. He said, “the quick wins are the ones we need to copper fasten, if we fail on this one then we will lose the momentum. We are still asking people to invest in the town”.
