Clare
County Council has announced a comprehensive plan relating to the future
tourism development and visitor management of the "Jewel of The Lough
Derg", Holy Island (Inis Cealtra) on Lough Derg, County Clare.
At
a ceremony in Mountshannon today, the Local Authority confirmed it has acquired
41 acres on the island which, together with the 2 acres already in the
ownership of the Office of Public Works (OPW), now means that the entire island
is, for the first time, in public ownership.
The
Council also announced its intention to procure professional experts to prepare
a Visitor Management and Tourism Development Plan for Holy Island which will
provide a framework, in consultation with key stakeholders, for tourism
development and visitor management of the Island, whilst also ensuring the
cultural heritage and natural assets that contribute to the Island’s uniqueness
are maintained and protected.
Still used as a burial ground,
the ruins and buildings still standing on Holy Island date back as far as the
7th century when the monastic site was established by St. Caimin. Buildings on
the island include a 24-metre high Round Tower, an Oratory, and a number of
churches.
Speaking
at a function in the Mountshannon Hotel, following a visit to Holy Island, Cllr. John Crowe, the Cathaoirleach of
Clare County Council said “Holy Island is one of
the most important historical and ecclesiastical sites in Ireland, and it has
important links to Brian Ború. It is on the UNESCO world heritage site
tentative list for Ireland as an early medieval monastic site along with Clonmacnoise,
Durrow, Glendalough, Kells and Monasterboice."
"It
is the jewel in the crown for East Clare and I am delighted that Clare County
Council has now concluded the purchase of 41 acres on the Island so that the
Island is now in public ownership," he said.
The
purchase of the Island has been funded by Clare County Council from its own
resources and additional funding towards the production of a Visitor Management
and Tourism Development Plan has been provided by the Lough Derg Marketing and
Strategy Group.
"Clare
County Council has invested significantly in tourism product at the Cliffs of
Moher, the Burren, Doolin, Loop Head and now we have a tremendous opportunity
to make available one of the most important monastic sites in Ireland to a
wider audience," stated the Chief Executive of Clare County Council, Tom
Coughlan.
"We
fully understand and appreciate the significance of this site and the necessity
to ensure that any proposals are sensitive to the natural environment and
cultural heritage of the site. We look
forward to working with all stakeholders as we progress the development of the
Visitor Management and Tourism Development Plan," he added.
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