Carrigaholt
Carrigaholt Location and Context Carrigaholt is a large, picturesque fishing village situated on the southern side of the Loop Head Peninsula. It is set within an important natural environment and is centred on two piers (RPS 509 and RPS 515). Although both piers are used by fishing boats, only the one to the south of the village is fully operational on a commercial basis serving fishing boats and the Dolphin watch boat during the tourist season. The piers and Carrigaholt Castle (RPS 263) are distinctive landmarks in the Village. The shell fishing industry plays a key role in the local economy. An extension to the pier would benefit this industry, as well as those using the pier for recreation and tourism uses such as the Dolphin watch boat. The Village has a very attractive centre, displaying distinctive streetscapes and local character. It contains a traditional mix of residential uses and other services including a grocery store, take-away and seafood shop, several public houses, a post-office, health centre, national school, the Dolphin watch information centre and a small carparking and amenity area overlooking Carrigaholt Bay. Coláiste Eoghain Uí Chomhraidhe is a Residential Irish College located approximately 2.5km from Carrigaholt. It has been a successful Summer College for thousands of school children for many years, not only providing them with an opportunity to practice their ‘Gaeilge’ but to also visit the local sights and attractions of the Loop Head Peninsula such as the lighthouse, the Little Ark Church and to go dolphin watching in Carrigaholt. The Coláiste is over 100 years old and is temporarily closed due to a lack of funding to carry out essential upgrades to comply with current health and safety regulations. The Irish College is a valuable resource that provides opportunities for the development of complementary uses in and around the Village. Carrigaholt is located within a Heritage Landscape, offering uninterrupted views of Carrigaholt Bay and beyond. Lands adjacent to the river, to the north of the bridge, are prone to flooding. Inland of Carrigaholt, the landscape is flat, open and marshy, making it an important habitat for certain bird species. Like many of the coastal settlements of West Clare, Carrigaholt village is increasingly reliant on tourism and as a result, the village is seasonally quiet and there is high demand for holiday home developments. It is critical to retain and enhance the character of Carrigaholt and to assess the role of the natural open areas in relation to flood risk management. Future development will be concentrated to the south of the village centre where it will contribute to the development of a strong village core and where the landscape has the capacity to absorb in-depth development.
__________________________________________________________________________________ Draft Clare County Development Plan 2023-2029
146
