Building plan for Clare island blocked

Duchas has succeeded in preventing a development which would have led to a deserted island off the west Clare coast being re-inhabited for the first time in decades.

The State heritage service had argued that the development on the privately-owned Mutton Island would have threatened the population of barnacle geese and grey seals on the island.

Clare County Council upheld its recommendation to turn down plans by a businessman to build an exclusive holiday retreat on the island, which is located two miles off the coast at Spanish Point.

Two years ago, an Ennis accountant and former Ennis Chamber of Commerce president, Mr Noel Connellan, lodged plans through Firan Properties Ltd to rebuild and extend one of the deserted houses on the 185-acre island, which also contains a lake.

There are a number of derelict houses on the island, which was last inhabited in the mid-20th century when it is believed it was home to 12 families. Firan Properties Ltd purchased the island for €130,000 in 2001, and Mr Connellan lodged plans for his holiday retreat. However the plan has been turned down, after strong opposition from Dúchas and the council's heritage officer.

Recommending that the application be refused, Dúchas told the council: "The island is currently uninhabited, and it is our recommendation that in order to protect the ecological value of the site it should remain that way".

Dúchas pointed out that the island was an internationally important site for 300 barnacle geese.

"The dramatic scale of development along the Clare coast places further importance on this island as a last refuge for the protected birds".

It said the presence of an occupied house on the island would create an unacceptable level of disturbance to the wintering geese.

The council's heritage officer, Ms Congella Maguire, also opposed the plan.

"Any permission for this proposal would set a precedent and open the way to further development on the island, in particular a requirement to improve the landing facilities," she said.

She said that the island was one of the most important over-wintering sites in Ireland for barnacle geese,while the island and associated rock outcrops provided "haul-out" locations for grey seals on which they bred and reared their pups.

Ms Maguire said the proposal was contrary to the County Development Plan, 1999, to conserve the flora and fauna through the protection of wildlife habitat.

Refusing permission, the council said the proposal was located within the Carrowmore Point/Spanish Point and the Islands SAC, and the island itself was a Special Protection Area for birds protected under the EU Habitats Directive.

It pointed out that the actual site lay within the Mutton Island ecclesiastic remains, including the church, burial ground and cross.

As a result, the proposal would have a detrimental effect on designated sites and would be contrary to the environmental policy in the County Development Plan which seeks to protect designated sites.

Mr Connellan said yesterday: "We hope to lodge a fresh application in the next three to four months."

The new application would take into account the concerns expressed.

"The island was not bought as a commercial entity, but we do intend to give it some value," he said.