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CLARE COUNTY COUNCIL has stalled plans by Clare GAA to expand and redevelop the county’s GAA Centre of Excellence due to concerns over the EU-protected lesser horseshoe bat.
The Council told Clare GAA that it must satisfactorily demonstrate that the expansion proposal would not have a significant adverse impact on the status of the nearby Newgrove House Special Area of Conservation (SAC), due to the presence of the bat.
In a letter seeking revised plans, the Council said that the proposed development site is located within the identified foraging site associated with Newgrove. They said that elements of the developement, namely the clearance of scrub to facilitate new pitch construction and the development of 18 25-metre high floodlights on the site could have significant impacts.
As a result, the Council said that it required an ecological assessment of the site be carried out, with comprehensive bat surveys to inform the overall design of the proposal and any mitigation measures if deemed necessary.
It also requested a lighting plan, which should include specialist light bulbs aimed at minimising any impact on the local bat population.
No objections have been lodged against the upgrade plans and the aplication will become “live” once the requested information has been lodged.
The lesser horseshoe bat is one of the world’s smallest bats, weighing only five to nine grams, with a wingspan of 194-254mm and a body length of 35-45mm. It is afforded legal protection by way of the EU Habitats Directive.
In June, in a bid to unearth the next Tony Kelly or Shane O’Donnell, Clare GAA lodged plans for a large extension to its Centre of Excellence at Caherloghan, near the village of Tulla in east Clare.
The long-awaited upgrade for the county’s elite hurlers and footballers at all age grades included two new full length playing pitches, the construction of a new all-weather synthetic playing pitch served by six 25-metre high floodlights and the construction of a new hurling ‘ball-wall’.
The plans also included the installation of twelve 25-metre high floodlights serving the existing Pitch 3 and 4, and the construction of a new covered spectator stand serving Pitch 3.
The proposal also included the construction of a two storey extension to the existing Clare GAA Centre of Excellence building accommodating additional player welfare facilities including new dressing roms, a gymnasium, dining and administrative areas.
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The war only affects one fifth of Ukrainian so why are they all coming to ireland a small country that can hardly manage its own population.
@Fran Riley: All coming to Ireland? How many million is that?
@Fran Riley: avg salary in Ukraine is 188 usd/m and in ireland they get 220 per week + accommodation + food + education + bills that are capped at 30 euros/Month + child benefits and a council house without rent and an irish Passport in 3 years and discounted travel and no tax and insurance and many more so why not come here? thats why ireland has spent more than 3 billions on Ukrainians since the war started.
@Fr. Fintan Stack: so many numbers that we cannot accommodate under a roof and are kept in tents that means we have more than half a million arrived according to unofficial sources because the government will never declare and many came from safe countries like Canada Germany Poland and the rest. you can find this information on Ukrainian Facebook pages.
@Fr. Fintan Stack: There were 84,613 Personal Public Service Numbers (PPSNs) given to arrivals from Ukraine by 06 June 2023, under the Temporary Protection Directive.
We are currently spending €42,000,000 per month on immigration.. unsustainable
@Fran Riley: all? Exaggerated much?
@Fran Riley: ‘they are all coming to Ireland’ haha
Great at giving away money to other countries. While we are taxed to high heaven and pay a fortune for just trying to live
23 million! How about building the M20 instead or using it to benefit our own people.
Martin using our money as a leg-up to get the big job he is chasing—and will need after the next election
Absolutely ridiculous. Ireland should not be propping up any wars . I am disgusted with Martin and his warmongering.
We should be calling for peace talks
@BL Music: mehole is a servant but not for the Irish people
Any chance of peace talks or is it just send more and more military equipment. This war will go on for years and lead to hundreds of thousands of deaths.
@: russia does need to be defeated, and defeated so utterly that it wont be a threat to its neighbours again.
Then we can have peace.
If we do not ensure that defeat of russia, then we assure further wars, and more death and destruction.
Now is the time.
Let’s get it done.
And he more help we give Ukraine, the faster it will be done, with the fewest Ukrainian deaths.
Our weak political representation have been the implored to prolong this war and they are carrying out their orders to the detriment of its own people
Is Martin an influencer now
Oh yeah..let’s all have a Jolly Up in New York.
Looking forward to the day when the focus of the Triplets turns to National Law.
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