Kilmihil
Kilmihil Location and Context The name ‘Kilmihil’ is derived from Cill Mhichil, Michael's Church, the Michael in question being St. Michael, the Archangel. The shrine of St. Michael is located on Main Street in the village. Kilmihil is centred on its main crossroads but takes on a linear form, ribboning along the main Ennis Road. It has an attractive central 'core' with a mixture of traditional and modern buildings that form fine streetscapes. The village is well situated on the R484, just off the main Ennis to Kilrush road. It has a comprehensive range of services, including a church, national school, GAA grounds, health centre, doctor’s surgery, graveyard, petrol station, a number of public houses, a small supermarket and a number of other small retail outlets. St. Michael’s Community College serves post primary students from the village and its hinterland. There are a number of vacant and derelict buildings in the village and the plan supports the redevelopment or alternative use of such buildings in order to bring them back into active use. Kilmihil is situated within an area defined as peatland fringe, characterised by rolling drumlin landform and shallow ridges nestled at the edge of the upland plateau environment to the north. In the low-lying areas, small loughs and water-logged peaty hollows of ecological importance predominate. The higher slopes to the north of the settlement have areas of peatland and rough, open pastureland. Kilmihil is connected to the West Clare Regional Water Supply and there is sufficient capacity to cater for the population target. The village is served by its own wastewater treatment plant which is currently at capacity. Any future development including alterations to existing commercial or employment generating development will require private wastewater treatment subject to suitable site-specific conditions and must comply with the EPA Code of Practice for ‘On Site Wastewater Treatment Systems’. In addition, the system has a combined sewerage network and during storm events the plant is hydraulically overloaded. New storm tanks and modifications to inlet works are required to prevent hydraulic washout. The treatment plant discharges to the Doonbeg River which forms part of the Doonbeg Margaritifera (Freshwater Pearl Mussel) sensitive area and thus the assimilative capacity of receiving waters shall be the controlling factor in any works that are proposed for the area. In this regard, the Council will support investigations into the feasibility of providing ‘Innovative/Sustainable Solutions’ for the provision of wastewater treatment infrastructure in Kilmihil. However, any proposed development will need to take into consideration the potential effects on this species and its habitat. Accordingly, objectives set out in Volume 1 of the Plan relating to European sites and to appropriate assessment will apply to any future development proposals in this area. The Natura Impact Report accompanying this plan (Volume 10a) provides relevant mitigation measures and recommendations at site and project level. __________________________________________________________________________________ Draft Clare County Development Plan 2023-2029
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