Project Description

This project would see the green area adjoining Carrigaholt Pier being developed into a camping and caravan area. Eventually the Carrigaholt Camping and Caravan Area will see dedicated parking bays for camper vans with electricity supply and toilet & shower facilities. The latter could be purpose built on-site or incorporated into the former co-op building at Carrigaholt Square which could also serve as booking office.

Storm protection on the seaward side of the green area would also be considered.

The project could advance in 2 stages:

• Stage 1 (2023/2024): Installation of barrier and information sign as well as facility for cash donations for the upkeep of the green area.

• Stage 2 (2025 and onwards): Installation of electricity supply for dedicated parking bays; installation of automatic barrier (access only with code); set-up of online booking system (dedicated website or part of CDA website); installation of toilet and shower facilities.

This project would be a major part of the Carrigaholt Rejuvenation Vision (Project 52) and could also become part of a water sports facility for Carrigaholt Bay which could feature the Shannon Estuary Coastal Rowing Club (Project 44) and similar endeavors.

Project Justification & Objectives

The Carrigaholt Camping and Caravan Area would attract an additional kind of traveler to Carrigaholt which would benefit local businesses and tourism on the peninsula in general. In addition, the project would create an income stream for the CDA which would support the upkeep and further development of Carrigaholt and would also create local employment.

Potential Project Stakeholders*

• Carrigaholt businesses (especially tourism related businesses)

• CDA

• Clare CoCo

• CLDC / Leader

Project Description

Carrigaholt Castle is one of Ireland’s best preserved “Tower Houses”, built around 1480 by the MacMahons, the last Gaelic Chieftains to rule the Loop Head Peninsula. Strategically located at the Mouth of the Shannon, the castle’s story reflects the turbulence of European politics. The castle and surrounding grounds are privately owned, however in 2019, permissions was granted by the owners to the CDA to open the area to the public.

The CDA applied for Ministerial Consent (as it is a listed building and archeologically sensitive) to create a universally accessible public pathway through the field from the car park to the Castle grounds, allowing people to visit the area around the building itself. Government grant aid brought this work to completion in 2020, including delivering interpretation of the building, its history and its relevance to the local community and its importance in our shared heritage in the form of a panels along the pathway to the castle. The building itself is not open to the public as the entrance and windows were barred up by the OPW a decade earlier due to safety concerns. However, the castle may be renovated in the future to allow safe public access, delivering further interpretation or guided tours given by a local person. This would create a more personal and meaningful experience, as well as providing much needed employment opportunities to the village.

The walls surrounding the castle are in need of repair and this work could be used as an excellent training opportunity in the skills and craft of conservation renovation.

Project Justification & Objectives

Carrigaholt Castle would be a fascinating Point of Interest on the Loop Head Peninsula Discovery Way providing historical and architectural content at the Castle itself, which is an unusual occurrence. There are hundreds of Tower Houses dotted around the landscape of Ireland but very few are as well preserved and offer self-guided interpretation. The information available on the interpretive boards is extensive, however, a guide or doyen to bring groups and individuals on a tour with extra information and enthusiasm would add to the experience and create employment. The history of the castle is a shared history of the Loop Head community, as well as an interest to visitors, and essential in creating local identity and pride. The castle’s location at the Mouth of the Shannon reminds the visitor of the historic maritime strategic importance of Carrigaholt. 

Project Stakeholders

• CDA

• Carrigaholt Community

• Loop Head Community

• Loop Head Tourism

• Loop Head Together

• Carrigaholt, Klibaha & Kilkee National Schools

• St. Josephs Secondary School, Kilkee

Project Description

The Carrigaholt Development Association (CDA) is community based and facilitates cohesion and common purpose in seeking solutions to local issues from the ground up. The CDA is committed to ensuring that Carrigaholt village remains a thriving, sustainable community in the future.

One possible way to achieving this would be the establishment of the Carrigaholt Community Club (CCC), a purposeful, self-funding, community-based social enterprise focused on the CDA goals relating to population, employment, tourism, pride of place and our environment.

The CCC would be based in the Co-Op building, an attractive stone-faced property located in the centre of the village. The location in the village square makes it very accessible and convenient and the property could lend itself to a wide range of uses. It is currently divided into two parts, with one section used as the post office. Bringing this building into full productive service by the CDA will act as a catalyst in positively leveraging community potential.

The CCC could provide a range of services to residents and visitors. The services that may be provided could include:

• Laundry and drying service (Self-service or outsourced)

• Showers and toilets for visiting camper vans and boats

• Key holding for holiday homeowners (and residents)

• Holiday home services could include welcome packs and changeovers

• Year-round services such as grass cutting, security and storm checks

• Potential for a website bookings management service to provide a one stop shop for holiday home bookings in the area and other services needed

• Tickets for local attractions e.g. boat trips, festival tickets

• Shop for local produce and crafts

• Coffee and pop in area

The services provided would be determined by demand and the availability of resources. Over time new opportunities may present themselves and the social enterprise would evolve to capitalise on these.

Project Justification & Objectives

The benefits to the village would not only be the employment directly provided by the CCC but also increased visitor engagement and the provision of year-round services for residents and visitors alike.

This would considerably raise Carrigaholt’s profile as a modern rural village and – with e-bike hire and charging station and other amenities nearby – a contemporary tourist destination. 

Potential Project Stakeholders*

• Residents of Carrigaholt Village and surrounding area

• Farmers and other landowners in the area

• Businesses in the area, their owners, and employees

• Boat operators and owners who use the pier facilities

• Summer residents with holiday or mobile homes

• Visitors including campers, cyclists, swimmers, fishers, nature watchers.

• Carrigaholt diaspora

• Loop Head Together

• Loop Head Tourism

• Clare CoCo

• CLDC

Project Description

Festivals play a vitally important role in local community vitality and fun for all, and also attract local, national as well as international visitors, thereby supporting the local economy and building the local brand. Carrigaholt has developed a range of festivals that showcase different aspects of the Loop Head Peninsula at different times of year.

The Carrigaholt Oyster & Trad Festival is being celebrated every year on the May Bank Holiday weekend and puts the spotlight on the locally grown oysters which are being served at all local pubs and restaurants over the course of the weekend.

Carrigaholt is also known for keeping traditional music ,song and dance alive  and the Oyster and traditional music festival opens it up, all through the summer months various types of music will be heard from trad ,to jazz, Ska, reggae and ballads.

Singsongs in pubs are also popular and regular impromptu sing-songs occur not only during the festival but all year long. Musicians are always welcome, they can join in on sessions or bring their own group.

The Carrigaholt Walking Festival (in June) celebrates the landscape and scenery of the Loop Head Peninsula and the many varied walks available in the area. Over the course of the weekend the festival offers guided walks; long and short walks, historical and cliff walks; and as a highlight a Camino from Kilkee to Carrigaholt. The Carrigaholt Walking Festival is aimed at residents and visitors alike and plays a vital role in showcasing the Loop Head Peninsula as a vibrant destination for outdoor enthusiast in general and hikers in particular and so promoting sustainable tourism in the area.

Other festivals include the The Carrigaholt River Festival (in July) which celebrates anything connected with the Shannon Estuary and Seafood in September which showcases locally produced and prepared seafood.

Project Justification & Objectives

Festivals can be a main ingredient in obtaining a vibrant community all year round. The Carrigaholt festival season now covers spring, summer and autumn which is an important step towards developing year-round tourism instead of focusing on only a few, short weeks in summer. Year-round well-planned and well-resourced successful festivals would not only enhance year-round community wellbeing but would also make tourism more sustainable and so provide more full-time employment.

In addition, the festivals celebrate different aspects of the community and the wider peninsula, including locally produced food, heritage in music and dance, scenery and outdoor activities which as a whole showcases Carrigaholt and the Loop Head Peninsula as a place of great variety for holiday makers. This builds local self-belief and pride of place.

Potential Project Stakeholders*

• Carrigaholt businesses, especially pubs and restaurants

• Keane’s Oyster Bar

• Carrigaholt residents

• Loop Head Tourism

• CDA

• Moyasta Oysters

• Loop Head Guided Walking Tours

• Loop Head Together

• CLDC

• Clare CoCo

Project Description

There is often a lack of knowledge within communities about the quality of local education. Promoting this would strengthen local confidence, sense of pride and community engagement, as well as encourage other young families to move into the area. The latter contributes to the overall goal of the Loop Head Regional Development Strategy.

The components of the Carrigaholt National School Community Outreach and Celebration project would are:

• Development of a new, easy to update school website on Google Workspace/Sites to provide a vibrant platform to showcase what makes the school special (Unique Selling Points), ongoing projects, events and accomplishments of students and staff. A set of professional photographs/videos will be produced for the new website.

• Develop a mechanism to regularly update the website (blog written by staff and students or link to social media) to keep the community updated on events and projects in the school.

• Organise a Sense of Place art competition where students capture their favourite place / activity in the school or/and the local area in a painting, drawing or photograph. These artworks will be displayed on the website and at an exhibition at the school/community hall or other public space which will officially launch the new website. Students could also present their artwork, explain why they decided to draw, paint or photograph their picture.

• Develop projects that would strengthen the engagement with the community and link in with other Loop Head projects.

• Explore the possibility of a parents’ / students’ & parents’ council to connect the school closer to the community.

Project Justification & Objectives

Schools, national schools in particular, are at the centre of any community. Here the next generation of the community is taking their steps into a bigger world, a sense and pride of place is being communicated, innovation and ideas are being developed. All this activity however often goes unnoticed or taken for granted, leaving a missed opportunity for the community to be more involved and for the schools to benefit from the wealth of resources a community has to offer.

Additionally, schools are one of the main criteria when it comes to young families deciding to live in a certain area. The main goal of Loop Head Together is to help reverse the population decline, so, as part of this, there is a need to showcase and celebrate the quality of education in the small schools on Loop Head to a wider Irish audience, encouraging young families to put down roots on the Loop.

The overall project objective is to increase the visibility of Carrigaholt National School in the community and beyond and increase awareness of their achievements.

Project Stakeholders

• Carrigaholt National School students and their immediate family

• Carrigaholt National School staff

• CDA

• Carrigaholt community

• Loop Head community

Project Description

The Carrigaholt Rejuvenation Vision is a collection of stand-alone projects that will complement each other and together create a unique experience in and around the village of Carrigaholt for both residents and visitors alike.

These projects are:

• Carrigaholt Castle Public Pathway & Information Panels (Project 1)

• Carrigaholt Shannon Dolphins Monument POI (Project 3)

• Carrigaholt Solar Panels POI (Project 5)

• Carrigaholt Wetlands Area (Project 6)

• Carrigaholt Village Information Point (Project 49)

• The Path (in Carrigaholt) (Project 50)

• Carrigaholt Camping & Caravan Area (Project 57)

• Shannon Estuary Coastal Rowing Club (Project 44)

• Carrigaholt Social Enterprise (Project 4)

• Carrigaholt Tidy Towns (Project 54)

• Carrigaholt Festival Circle (Project 55)

It is envisaged that The Path will link in with the Carrigaholt Wetlands Area and the Camping and Caravan Area, and eventually extend along the shoreline to Carrigaholt Square with the Shannon Dolphins Monument, Carrigaholt Solar Panels, and the Village Information Point, which in turn join back onto The Path. This looped walk will link in with Loop Head e-bikes, Carrigaholt Community Club, the Shannon Estuary Coastal Rowing Club, and all the amenities already in the village.

Each of these projects are envisaged to be developed and implemented independently by a dedicated project team with CDA / Carrigaholt Social Enterprise acting as the coordination-, administrative-, support- and stakeholder engagement-centre.

Project Justification & Objectives

Carrigaholt is one of the main villages on the Loop Head Peninsula and lies at the main crossroads that connect Kilkee and the West Clare Greenway in the east with Loop Head in the west. Carrigaholt has already a lot to offer, e.g., Dolphinwatch, award winning restaurants and pubs, post office (the only on the peninsula), e-bike rental, a courtyard café, a beach, two piers and a well-preserved tower house.

The Carrigaholt Rejuvenation Vision would add a number of new attractions to this list and transform so far under-utilized areas of the village. This would benefit residents, attract visitors, create employment, and a revenue stream for the CDA and so subsequently support the upkeep and development of the village. By so doing, Carrigaholt works towards the goals it shares with other communities on the peninsula.

Potential Project Stakeholders*

• Carrigaholt residents

• Carrigaholt businesses

• CDA

• CLDC

• Partners within Loop Head Together

• Clare CoCo

Project Description

The Shannon Dolphins, a group of over 100 Bottlenose Dolphins which is permanently resident in the Shannon Estuary, is one of the foremost and unique attractions and a major nature tourism asset for the Loop Head Peninsula.

To date Kilrush is most strongly associated with the Shannon Dolphins. The town is noted as the Gateway to the Shannon Dolphins and features a Dolphin Trail and the Shannon Dolphin & Wildlife Visitor Centre.

On the Loop Dolphinwatch Carrigaholt has been running dolphin-watch tours out of Carrigaholt for over 20 years as well as supporting dolphin research. Carrigaholt Bay, Kilcredaun and Loop Head are the best places along the estuary to see these animals from land. Nevertheless there is little to showcase the presence of these animals on the Loop Head Peninsula.

This project envisages celebrating the Shannon Dolphins with a monument which would be part of the Loop Head Peninsula Discovery Way. The monument would be developed, designed and produced locally by the community including the Loop Head National Schools. A central location, e.g. Carrigaholt Square would be desirable and a plaque or panel describing the natural history of the Shannon Dolphins and the heritage of dolphin-watching on the peninsula could be created to stand alongside the monument.

Project Justification & Objectives

The Shannon Dolphins Monument would be a major Point of Interest (POI) on the Loop Head Peninsula Discovery Way. It would attract visitors and provide important information on the Shannon Dolphins and the history of dolphin-watching on the peninsula.

The Shannon Dolphins Monument would put the Shannon Dolphins deservedly into the centre of attention and so support nature tourism businesses in the area and create new business opportunities.

Potential Project Stakeholders*

• CDA

• Dolphinwatch Carrigaholt

• Carrigaholt Community

• Loop Head Community

• Loop Head Tourism

• Loop Head Together

Project Description

Situated at the mouth of the River Shannon and almost at the tip of the beautiful Loop Head Peninsula, lies the vibrant village of Carrigaholt. With a 15th Century towerhouse overlooking its dual piers, Carrigaholt retains the essence of its heritage as a fishing port whilst providing a vibrant modern village centre for residents and visitors with pubs, a restaurant, a café, a takeaway, a shop, post office, a Church and a combined pre- and primary school.

Carrigaholt is therefore an attractive and thriving village in a beautiful and historic setting. But what of its future?

The rural village in Ireland faces many existential threats. Many factors have influenced the diminution of Irish village life as demographics and employment as well as educational and other societal changes make rural village life and rural livelihoods more difficult or even unsustainable. Carrigaholt however continues to thrive despite these pressures, but they are felt none the less.

The Carrigaholt Development Association (CDA) is community based and facilitates cohesion and common purpose in seeking solutions to local issues from the ground up.The CDA is committed to ensure the village remains a thriving, sustainable community in the future. One key to achieving this is the establishment of a purposeful, self-funding, community-based social enterprise focused on the CDA goals relating to population sustainability, education, employment, pride of place and the environment.

Project Justification & Objectives

The CDA Social Enterprise has one key resource available: The co-op building at Carrigaholt Square.

This building is an attractive stone-faced property located in the centre of the village. This location makes it easily accessible and very convenient, and the property could lend itself to a wide range of uses. It is currently divided into two parts, with one section housing the post office, the other one (formerly home to the Dolphinwatch Carrigaholt office) is currently empty. Bringing this building into full productive service by the CDA, and partners, will act as a catalyst in positively leveraging community potential.

Potential Project Stakeholders*

• Residents of Carrigaholt Village and surrounding area

• Carrigaholt students and their families,

• Farmers and other landowners in the area

• Businesses in the area, their owners, and employees

• Boat operators and owners who use the pier facilities

• Summer residents with holiday or mobile homes

• Visitors including campers, cyclists, swimmers, fishers, nature watchers

• Carrigaholt diaspora

• Loop Head Together, with its many partners, including schools, GAA, cultural organisations, etc.

• Loop Head Tourism

• Clare CoCo

• CLDC

Project Description

In 2022 a 1.28kw solar PV system was installed in Keane’s Beer Garden in the centre of Carrigaholt, demonstrating a single plug in solar PV solution. This installation was donated to LEAP (The Loop Head Energy Project) by Ken and Andrew O’Connell of F4 Energy Ltd. as part of the ongoing sustainable energy project.

The Carrigaholt Solar Panels POI (Point of Interest) would be part of the Loop Head Peninsula Discovery Way and the first POI highlighting the Loop Head Peninsula’s journey to a sustainable energy future. The information panel would include the background story that led to the installation of the solar panel as well as technical information on how the solar panels work and how they contribute to reducing CO2 emissions.

Further “Energy POI” are envisaged once more renewable energy projects will have become a reality around the peninsula.

Project Justification & Objectives

Creating a sustainable energy future for the Loop Head Peninsula is one of the major goals of Loop Head Together. The Carrigaholt Solar Panels POI would be a unique outlet to celebrate the renewable energy journey the peninsula is on and an asset to the Loop Head Peninsula Discovery Way. It would be aimed at the wider Loop Head community as well as visitors.

Potential Project Stakeholders*

• CDA

• Keane’s Pub

• Carrigaholt Community

• Flensburg University

• Loop Head Tourism

• Loop Head Together

Project Description

Tidy Towns is a well-established competition in which towns and villages around Ireland are judged on the following criteria:

• Community Involvement & Planning

• Built Environment and Streetscape

• Landscaping and Open Spaces

• Wildlife, Habitats and Natural Amenities

• Sustainable Waste and Resource Management

• Tidiness and Litter Control

• Residential Streets & Housing Areas

• Approach Roads, Streets & Lanes

Carrigaholt Tidy Towns has been achieving consistently good and improving rankings over the years. It is now envisaged that a closer cooperation between Carrigaholt Tidy Towns and CDA to work together towards the Carrigaholt Rejuvenation Vision (Project 52) will present the opportunity to further increase rankings.

In the past Carrigaholt Tidy Towns has been taken on the improvement of the overall appearance of the village, e.g. flower displays at access roads, and has been vital in keeping the green area beside the pier in a presentable condition (see Project 57). Current plans for 2023 include to improve wheelchair accessibility of the picnic area and further improve the visual appearance of the village.

Project Justification & Objectives

The volunteer work carried out by Tidy Towns members has been and still is vital in the upkeep if Ireland’s towns and villages. Carrigaholt is no exception. The visual appearance and accessibility of the village plays a huge role in how the place is being perceived, experienced, and remembered by visitors, the work of Tidy Towns Carrigaholt therefore plays a vital role in local tourism. In addition, a well-kept and tended-to village contributes to the pride of place, general well-being and can attract new residents.

Potential Project Stakeholders*

• CDA

• Carrigaholt community

• Loop Head Tourism

• Tidy Towns Initiative / Failte Ireland

Project Description

The flood plain around the estuary of the Moyarta River covers a large area upstream from the bridge and along the northern perimeter of Carrigaholt village. Currently the area is covered with reedbeds and wet meadows, some of which regularly flood in winter. Historic flood protection is in disrepair. The river is exposed to raw sewage from the village and dwellings further upstream, a problem that the Carrigaholt community has been highlighting and trying to resolve in cooperation with the authorities. Current efforts to bring an end to the sewage problem are promising.

Should this problem be solved, the Moyarta River would lose its current poor water quality rating (Q-rating 3 = moderately polluted) which would enable both water sports and oyster culture to expand into Carrigaholt Bay to help the economy of Carrigaholt and the wider Loop Head Peninsula.

In cooperation with the landowners who wish to partake, parts of the flood-plain area could then be preserved as a nature sanctuary and recreational area for the benefit of residents, visitors and wildlife alike. Carrigaholt Bay and the Moyarta Estuary already support a wide variety of birds and the estuary itself, although not accessible at the moment, is one of the most picturesque spots on the Loop Head Peninsula. What this space. 

The Carrigaholt Wetlands Area project envisages the development of a boardwalk along the river of repaired flood-protection dykes, with an information point explaining the natural history, flora and fauna of the Moyarta River as well as the creation of safe-areas for birds and other wildlife. A nature observation hide along the boardwalk and (re-)introduction of native wetland wildflowers is also a possibility. The area currently being envisaged is the 11 acres between the village and the Moyarta River.

Project Justification & Objectives

The Carrigaholt Wetlands Area would not only add a unique recreational area to the village which would attract nature enthusiasts and other visitors but would also be another major building block and Point of Interest within the Loop Head Peninsula Discovery Way.

In addition, the project could be a prime example showcasing that it is possible to create a space that would serve residents, visitors and biodiversity alike.

Potential Project Stakeholders*

• Landowner(s)

• CDA

• Residents with properties bordering the river estuary

• Carrigaholt Community

• Local Authority Waters Programme

• Loop Head Together

• Loop Head Tourism

• Clare CoCo

Project Description

The Kilcredaun - Rinevella Nature & Heritage Trail would be part of the Loop Head Peninsula Discovery Way and build on and follow the existing West Clare Trails in the area, Kilcredaun Heights and Meadow of the Rabbits, and add information on natural history, wildlife and geology to these two trails. The current trails run on minor roads and tracks and connect the village of Carrigaholt with Kilcredaun and Rinevella.

Information panels or a less intrusive alternative are envisaged and would be erected in key locations along the trails. Panel content would be sourced locally and through engagement with the community and Carrigaholt National School.

Possible locations for information panels:

1.Carrigaholt Castle Pier

• Fishing Heritage

• Shannon Dolphins

2.College Strand

• Oyster Farming

• Moneypoint

3.Kilcredaun Lighthouse

• Lighthouse history

• Coastal heath

4.Kilcredaun Battery Site

• Kilcredaun Battery

• Churches and Holy Well

• Okeanos shipwreck

• Wildflowers

5.The Drowned Forest

• See Rinevella Nature Observation Hide (Project 43)

Project Justification & Objectives

The Kilcredaun - Rinevella Nature & Heritage Trail could be built around already existing attractions and points of interest and would become an important building block of the Loop Head Peninsula Discovery Way. The trail would encourage more visitors to explore the area in more detail and stay longer which would benefit local businesses. The trail would also support the development of the Wild Loop Head nature tourism brand which aims to create new business opportunities on the peninsula.

The sourcing of content from the community and Carrigaholt National School would create more awareness for local nature, wildlife and heritage and strengthen the bond between the community and the school.

Potential Project Stakeholders*

• Loop Head Tourism

• CDA

• Carrigaholt National School

• Residents and landowners along the route

• Carrigaholt, Kilcredaun and Rinevella community

• Irish Lights

Project Description

Rinevella Bay, especially the area known as Drowned Forest and the adjoining vegetated shingle and saltmarsh, attracts a variety of resident and visiting birds (Mute Swan, Grey Heron, Little Egret, Ringed Plover, Sandwich Tern, Brent Goose and others) as well as other wildlife and is one of the Loop Head Peninsula’s prime locations for bird watching. The site itself however is difficult to access and high footfall would disturb both fauna and flora and increase the already high level of erosion in the area. A hide accessible from the coast road would therefore be desirable to open the site for visitors.

The project would be part of the Loop Head Peninsula Discovery Way and add a further attraction to the existing West Clare Trails in the vicinity. The nature observation point is envisaged to consist of a boardwalk which would lead from the road to a viewing platform which would feature an information panel and a raised bird hide which would allow an overview over the entire bay. This would allow visitors and residents to observe the plants and animals of the area without causing any disturbance or damage to the fragile habitats.

The Kilcredaun - Rinevella Nature & Heritage Trail would link with this project.

Project Justification & Objectives

This project would help to protect the fragile ecosystems of Rinevella Bay while raising awareness for this nationally unique area and its wildlife.

As part of the wider Loop Head Peninsula Discovery Way the project would also support the development of the Wild Loop Head nature tourism brand which aims to create new business opportunities on the peninsula and would strengthen the Loop Head Peninsula’s reputation as a top destination for nature tourism.

Potential Project Stakeholders*

• Loop Head Tourism

• Loop Head Together

• CDA

• Local landowners and residents

• Wider Rinevella / Kilcredaun / Carrigaholt community

Project Description

The Shannon Estuary between Kilbaha and Querrin hosts a number of fine, sandy beaches, wonderful cliff formations and vibrant wildlife. It also has a variety of fast and slow tides and big and small waves. All in all a wide variety of experiences await.

Part of the landscape described above is a special 2km stretch of calm water with only small tides between the piers and beach of Carrigaholt and Haughs Beach, which is one of the most beautiful in Ireland, and one that is best reached from the water. This is a perfect spot to introduce people looking for an exciting outdoor sport and a get-fit-fast experience to the up and coming world of Coastal Rowing.

Coastal rowing is known as the extreme version, the adventure side of rowing. As expertise improves, coastal rowers can move from calmer inshore waters to the rougher water a bit further out which adds a whole new dimension to the sport with many coastal rowers cherish the exhilarating aspect of rowing in extreme conditions. 

To become a good coastal rower, participants must be aware of tides and currents, learn about the different conditions found in the estuary and know what to do in the midst of maritime traffic and in case of bad weather: The opportunities for fitness, excitement and learning new skills are endless.

This project envisages setting up a Coastal Rowing Club, potentially in partnership with the Carrigaholt Social Enterprise and other projects that exist or might exist and that would include guided boat/canoe/kayak tours to a variety of destinations along the Shannon Estuary. The club would cater for beginners as well as experienced coastal rowing enthusiast and could also aim for different clientele, e.g. dedicated tours for birdwatchers, cliff exploring, seal watching, beach hopping and history & heritage tours could all be designed.

Project Justification & Objectives

Tourism is one of the main employment providers on the Loop Head Peninsula and this project would add a new and unique opportunity to experience the peninsula for visitors as well as residents. Wellness Tourism is also on the up, and this project would provide another set of options for those who want an action-packed week or weekend on the Loop.

This project fits perfectly into the concept of the Loop Head Peninsula Discovery Way and the existing Shannon Estuary Way, and (because this would be the first company of its kind) offer good opportunities for growth and expansion to various bases along the estuary and subsequently employment. 

Potential Project Stakeholders*

• Carrigaholt Development Association

• Loop Head Together

• Loop Head Tourism

• Rowing Ireland

• Other marine-based activity providers

• Schools

• Local Gyms

• Clare Tourism

• CLDC & FLAG

Project Description

This project envisages the creation of a tranquil, garden-like space on the green-area in the centre of Carrigaholt overlooking the harbour and pier.

The centrepiece of The Path would be small shale-plates engraved with the name of former and present residents of the area which would be displayed on the concrete foundation on which the park bench sits. The plates can be ordered by contacting (more info) at a price of (more info) and would be installed in cooperation with the CDA and the Clare County Council.

An additional bench would benefit the place and decorative flowerpots and plants would be placed around the concrete area to create the impression of a secluded “quiet space” without obstructing the view over the harbour area.

In the longer term The Path would be extended along the shoreline with purpose-built walls to house additional plates and would link with other projects of the Carrigaholt Rejuvenation Vision (Project 52).

Project Justification & Objectives

The Path would add a unique community space to the village and honour and celebrate former and present residents in an unobtrusive and respectful way. The space would also catch the interest of visitors and would so play an important role to highlight the history, heritage and community spirit of the village and wider area.

Potential Project Stakeholders*

• Carrigaholt community

• Carrigaholt diaspora

• CDA

• Clare County Council