State withdraws plan for Mullaghmore car park
The decision by the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht to withdraw the planning application avoids the prospect of another long-running and divisive planning battle.
At the end of an eight-year planning dispute with the Burren Action Group, the State was forced to demolish its ill-fated visitor centre at Mullaghmore in 2000.
The Burren Action Group yesterday described the withdrawn car park plan as “yet another crazy waste of money”.
One of those opposed to the new plan for the car park was owner of Fr Ted Crilly’s house, Burren farmer Pat McCormack, who lives with his family in the house overlooking the Mullaghmore mountain in the Burren National Park.
All the exterior house scenes for the Father Ted television series were shot at the McCormack property.
Mr McCormack was one of seven plaintiffs of the Burren Action Group that went all the way to the Supreme Court to prevent the Government proceeding with the previous plan to construct a visitor centre in the 1990s.
Mr McCormack had called on the State to withdraw the new plan, stating: “We are gentle people and the last thing the Burren wants is another argument.”
The department yesterday confirmed the withdrawal of its proposal before Clare County Council.
A spokeswoman said the department withdrew the planning application “as it is considered, among other reasons, that its proposal needs to be further considered in the context of the wider management of the Burren National Park and present Exchequer funding constraints.
“Work is in progress on a management plan for the Burren National Park. The department is actively considering the various important attendant conservation, ecological, biodiversity, tourism, management and resource considerations associated with such a plan.
“A draft plan will be published in due course but there is no specific time frame identified at this stage.”
The Burren Action Group had lodged a comprehensive objection against the planned car park.
A spokesman said yesterday: “We welcome the withdrawal of the planning application. It offers space to address the access issues in the Burren National Park on a fair basis, involving all interested parties.
“The withdrawn proposal was yet another crazy waste of money and whoever authorised this kite-flying should be held to account.”
