Clare Council has granted planning permission for the construction of a visitor centre to serve the Pol an Ionain cave in Doolin in spite of stiff opposition from An Taisce, Ailwee Caves, the Pol an Ionain Action Group and the Speleological Union of Ireland (SUI).
Today's Irish Times newspaper reports that three years ago, owners John and Helen Browne opened the cave to the public after a 16-year struggle to realise their dream of showing the 23ft Pol an Ionain stalactite to the world. However, in lodging the plans, the Brownes said the attraction would not be viable without on-site facilities – currently visitors are bussed to the site from Doolin. Now, the Brownes have secured permission for a centre, a 30-space car park and a bus bay at the site.
The council gave the plan the go-ahead after local geologist Dr Maria McNamara found “it is difficult to envisage a scenario in which the proposed development works will impact negatively upon the physical stability of the Great Stal”. The cave was discovered in 1952 by J.M. Dickenson and Brian Varley of Craven Pothole Club, an English caving club based in the Yorkshire Dales.
Clare Council has granted planning permission for the construction of a visitor centre to serve the Pol an Ionain cave in Doolin in spite of stiff opposition from An Taisce, Ailwee Caves, the Pol an Ionain Action Group and the Speleological Union of Ireland (SUI).
Today's Irish Times newspaper reports that three years ago, owners John and Helen Browne opened the cave to the public after a 16-year struggle to realise their dream of showing the 23ft Pol an Ionain stalactite to the world. However, in lodging the plans, the Brownes said the attraction would not be viable without on-site facilities – currently visitors are bussed to the site from Doolin. Now, the Brownes have secured permission for a centre, a 30-space car park and a bus bay at the site.
The council gave the plan the go-ahead after local geologist Dr Maria McNamara found “it is difficult to envisage a scenario in which the proposed development works will impact negatively upon the physical stability of the Great Stal”. The cave was discovered in 1952 by J.M. Dickenson and Brian Varley of Craven Pothole Club, an English caving club based in the Yorkshire Dales.
Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Mr. Tony Killeen, T.D., has reminded Clare farmers that the closing date for receipt of completed applications for Single Payment Scheme applications is 15th May 2009.
Minister of State Killeen described the Single Payment Scheme form as the most important form that a farmer completes in the entire year. “Depending on the farm enterprise, this one form covers a farmer’s application not only for the Single Payment Scheme but also for the Disadvantaged Areas Scheme, the Upland Sheep Payment, the Energy Crops Scheme and the Protein Premium Scheme. It is also an essential form for the purposes of other Department schemes such as REPS and Forestry”, he said. Minister Killeen confirmed that the large number of online applications received to date suggested a further increase in the take-up of this facility in 2009.
Applications received after 15 May will be penalised with a loss of a cumulative 1% of payment per day in the period up to 9 June and a complete (100%) loss of payment after that date.
Clare Council has granted planning permission for the construction of a visitor centre to serve the Pol an Ionain cave in Doolin in spite of stiff opposition from An Taisce, Ailwee Caves, the Pol an Ionain Action Group and the Speleological Union of Ireland (SUI).
