*Cllr Gerry Flynn (centre), and the Director of Economic Development at Clare County Council, Liam Conneally (right), visiting the site at the end of May to mark the start of activity on the site. Also pictured (l-r) is the Clare County Council project team of Murach Shannon, Ailish McMahon and Carmel Greene, and John Walsh, Chairperson of the Shannon Allotment Association.
Relocated allotment plots at have reopened to the public in Shannon.
Allotment holders have started planting at the new site for plots in Ballycasey Mór and Clonmomey West having been relocated from Illaunamangh with the land there required for an extension to the burial ground.
The development includes the formation of individual allotment plots, vehicle and pedestrian entrance from the public road, internal pathways and driveway, parking and hard standing area, installation of onsite storage containers, a green composting area, a connection to the public water mains, all ancillary site works including boundary fencing and removal of trees for the vehicular entrance.
In one of his final acts as Cathaoirleach of the Shannon Municipal District, Cllr Gerry Flynn (IND) visited the site alongside Director of Economic Development, Liam Conneally and the project team of Murach Shannon, Ailish McMahon and Carmel Greene along with John Walsh, Chairperson of the Shannon Allotment Association.
Recognising the community need was a commendable approach, Cllr Flynn outlined. “Clare County Council had originally provided garden allotments as a pilot project for Shannon in 2009 and some land purchased for the local graveyard planned extension was used. I put forward a proposal to Clare County Council in 2019 for the necessary extension to Illaunmanagh and the need for a new location for the garden allotments. I am very grateful to Clare County Council for their fast and efficient response in providing a new location for the allotments and at the same time appointing contractors to extend the local graveyard”.
He is hopeful “many hours of enjoyment” for enthusiastic gardeners will be had at the allotments which were described by the Director of Economic Development as “a welcome outlet” in Shannon.
