Paintball plan put on hold over concerns for rare bat

CONCERNS for a colony of the protected and rare lesser horseshoe bat has resulted in a local authority putting plans for a proposed paintball facility on hold.

Last year, Horatio Vasiu and Stranislav Goreancschi, of Cois Coille, Tralee, Co Kerry, lodged plans to operate the paintball facility on Coillte lands at Collaun near Quin, Co Clare.

In response to the application, the Department of the Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht lodged a submission with Clare County Council stating that the ruins of Cullaun House 600 metres from the proposed development is home to a maternity and hibernation roost of the EU-protected, lesser horseshoe bat.