*The old Shannon Shamrock.
PLANS TO DEMOLISH the former Shannon Shamrock Hotel in Bunratty and build 67 houses on the site have hit a roadblock with Clare County Council.
Further information has been requested by the planning authority to an application by Crescent House LTD, leaving the future of the site uncertain.
This comes after a number of local residents voiced their opposition to the development, believing that there was still demand for a large hotel in Bunratty and that a renovation of the existing Shannon Shamrock would be a better option than housing. The former hotel has been vacant since 2009.
Visual impact to the village of Bunratty as a result of the development is among the areas the Council is seeking further information on. “There is concern that the proposal may negatively impact on the setting on Bunratty Castle and such consideration should be given to provide for a greater separation between development as proposed on the site and Bunratty Castle in order to provide for a greater visual buffer”.
Local residents are also concerned over the visual impact of the site with David Ward objecting on the basis that “The design and density of the proposed residential units fail to respect the village’s historical context, potentially diminishing the visual integrity of the castle and its surroundings”.
Noise concerns have also been raised with the planning authority asking Crescent House LTD to provide “a Noise Assessment Report with recommendations in terms of noise mitigation” and that “appropriate mitigation measures be implemented”. This request has been made as the site area falls under the jurisdiction of the Clare County Noise Action Plan 2024-2028, which aims to minimise noise pollution in Clare.
The proposed development contains drawings for ‘bat boxes’ to be constructed on the site which is frequented by a number of bats for foraging. The plans state that “A selection of 20 bat boxes will be erected, including winter roost/hibernation boxes. The bat houses will be located within an area of existing woodland edge planting within which bat activity has already been observed”. The planning authority has taken issue with this however, citing problems arising from outdoor lighting at the site and that plans for the bat boxes be updated in the site’s landscape masterplan and tree protection plans.
The RSA has also expressed concerns in relation to a number of issues arising from the development’s proposed parking and traffic management plans. The authority has asked that raised pedestrian crossings be included in the development and that clear details be given in relation to the provision of EV charging stations at the site.
Residents remain opposed to the development as they feel Bunratty does not have the sufficient infrastructure necessary to support an increase in population. At least 14 individual residents have objected to the proposed development.
Planning consultant Andrew Hersey has outlined locals’ opposition to the development in a lengthy objection. He claimed, “there is still a shortfall of services available in the village. The nearest primary school at Clonmoney is a 40 minute walk away and there are no realistic public transport routes to the same. The nearest post primary school is in Shannon. Again the only realistic commuting options to avail of these services is by way of the private motor car which is unsustainable”.
Resident Kenneth Arthur echoed this in his objection, saying “ If the Council feel that housing should be prioritised over tourism then there are much better locations for such a large scale development, there is no Post Office, there is no Primary School within walking distance or on a public Transport route, no Church, no GP, the local GAA club is 8km away, all services that are vital for young families”.
Mr Hersey also expressed residents’ concerns about the development’s appearance, saying “My clients consider that the proposed development which is located directly adjacent to the castle and its grounds will have a considerable negative visual impact and will degrade the iconic status of Bunratty Castle which has worldwide historical status. The applicants should have considered the impact of the proposed development from within the castle grounds and design the proposal in a way as to have the least possible visual impact upon the setting of the castle”.
Many in Bunratty also feel that the development could negatively transform the village into a ‘commuter hub’, with Geraldine Lillis saying, “There are already traffic management issues in the village as it stands with cars being parked on the road throughout the village in busy periods especially weekends and the purposed development will only exacerbate this issue”.
Bunratty Local Development association are opposed to the use of the site for residential development. They issued an objection stating that “this is the only centrally located site in the Bunratty village area and the proposed development for primarily residential development will distort the critical social and economic balance and remove the opportunity for the development of this site for any future tourism function”. Vice Chair of Bunratty LDA Mike Fitzpatrick has offered alternative proposals for housing developments in the village including vacant lands at Bunratty West and lands to the east of Hill Road.
Christopher O’Kelly of Stanswood Gardens, London, issued a handwritten objection in which he outlined his intention to “rebuild a large modern hotel and conference centre”, on the site of the former Shannon Shamrock.
Co-owner of the Bunratty Manor, Maureen Wallace says she is not opposed to the development of the site but rather its development into housing. In a notice of objection submitted to Clare County Council, she said “Given the current unavailability of Bunratty Castle Hotel due to refugee accommodation and the reducing number of B&B’s in the area, Bunratty has extremely limited accommodation for tourism and it is beginning to damage the village’s reputation as a tourism destination”.
