East Clare needs landmark attraction – McNamara

Clare Independent T.D. Michael McNamara has said the announcement by Clare County Council of plans to develop an Inis Cealtra (Holy Island) visitor centre in Mountshannon presents significant potential for the tourism sector and wider economy of East Clare.

Deputy McNamara added that the area surrounding Lough Derg and the Lower River Shannon needs an iconic site around which tourism can be developed and promoted.

He explained, “Prior to Covid, we witnessed a huge increase in tourism in Clare, but it has been almost exclusively focused on the west coast. Great credit is due to the hospitality businesses there for developing their product. However, there are less tourists in East Clare along the Shannon now compared to when I was growing up here. The whole of Lough Derg needs an iconic site around which tourism can be developed and promoted.”

Lough Derg and the Lower Shannon needs an iconic site around which tourism can be promoted successfully as the Cliffs of Moher has been that site for West Clare. Inis Cealtra is clearly that site for Lough Derg and the Lower Shannon and I am pleased to see that Clare County Council has acquired the site and is proposing to develop a visitor centre in Mountshannon because along with being an iconic site, Holy Island is also a national monument and a heritage site of international significance.

Tourism development needs to be sustainable and protective of the island itself. That development can take place in the site acquired by the Council. The provision of such a facility would lift the streetscape of Mountshannon and provide employment there and across the wider community of Lough Derg and Lower Shannon.