This article is from page 2 of the 2012-11-20 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 2 JPG
A PROMINENT North Clare hotelier believes that local surfers will have to be “held to account” if funding for a new pier in Doolin is lost.
John Burke, of the Burke Group of hotels, said yesterday that the majority of local surfers are in favour of the pier in principle but have been “misinformed” about the impact that the current design will have on the Crab Island wave.
The Burke Group currently employs 125 people in the area between the Armada Hotel, Hotel Doolin and Tír Gan Éan and believe that the development will be good for everyone in the area, including surfers. In a statement to The Clare People yesterday, he said that surfers will be “held to account” for their opposition, if plans for the pier are rejected by An Bord Pleanála and the funding is lost. “The surfing community is being misrepresented and perhaps misinformed by a number of people, as most surfers I’ve encountered claim that they do not in principle object to the development,” he said. “Some are misguided in believing that this pier will have a significant negative impact on the Crab Island wave, when in fact there will be no impact in most [weather and tidal] conditions on the most surfed portion on the wave. “The surfing community needs to be made aware of the facts of the situation and they need to assess their position based on those facts.
“If, after that, they still wish to object to the proposed pier development, that is their prerogative, but the current position taken by their representatives – that they don’t object to the pier but rather the level of research undertaken – does not represent a fair and honest approach.
“It’s now time to either object on clearly stated grounds, while accepting this may be to the detriment of the piers development, or apply pressure to their representatives to move forward with this.
“This pier will not have another opportunity for development, its funding will be taken, and there will not be energy or drive by any promoters to develop the pier. In this case, the surfing community will have to be held accountable for their position, it is imperative that they are comfortable with where they stand, they are obliged to the broader community and interests in the pier to satisfy themselves with their position.
“If they can’t do this, and can see the work and investigation, and that this can satisfy them, then now is the time to stand side by side and voice their opinion of support.
“The weight of history will rest on their shoulders.” The Clare People contacted the Lahinch-based West Coast Surf Club in relation to this story but no response was forthcoming at the time of going to print. We t fo r t h e e a rly p a rt o f t h e we e k b u t c le a rin g t o d ry a n d c o ld w it h t e m p s st a yin g we ll a b o ve fre e zin g