Clare GAA have lodged plans with the planning authority to make the Cloister Car Park a commercial car park.
Earlier this month, Clare GAA submitted the plans to Clare County Council which aspires to change the use of the car park and could become a vital source of financial revenue for the County Board.
Currently its use is permitted for matches and authorised events while Clare GAA wish to see it be utilised as a commercial car park for use both as a long-term and short-term stay for members of the public in the heart of Ennis.
The application includes for the completion of associated site drainage surface dressing, landscaping works and the site entrance, which were previously granted under planning permission,
In their plans submitted to the Council, Clare GAA acknowledge that the site was previously flooded but noted that a flood defence scheme to the River Fergus has since been completed.
As part of the temporary COVID-19 town centre mobility plan for Ennis, the Cloister Car Park has been used throughout the pandemic due to a shortage in spaces following the implementation of social distancing measures such as pedestrianisation.
Previously, it had been utilised by the local authority during the lead-in to Christmas to incentivise more shoppers to use the county town.
It has capacity for approximately 100 car parking spaces with a lack of parking facilities in the town highlighted regularly by county councillors and business personnel.
