This article is from page 10 of the 2013-02-12 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 10 JPG
A KILMHIL-BASED construction and civil engineering company has plans to develop, upgrade and expand the Kilrush Marina, which is hoped will bring more business and employment to the area.
During the next five years, L&M Keating will invest € 3 million in the marina, at the end of which it should take ownership of the landmark.
In a deal with Shannon Develop- ment, the West Clare Company will construct a new pavilion building, landing pontoon, fixed and floating breakwaters and additional car marking.
It also sought planning permission from Clare County Council to extend the 120-berth marina pontoon to 160 and will carry out much needed dredging and land reclamation works.
When the work is complete, if Shannon Development is happy with the standard, the ownership of the marina will be signed over to L&M Keating, the company that built the marina’s centre for € 400,000 in 1998.
Managing Director of the company, Louis Keating is both excited and confident about the project. A keen sailor, he hopes to turn it around to what it was 20 years ago.
“The most useful thing we are going to do from a user’s point of view is that we are going to automate the lock gate, which is a contentious issue. Currently, the lock gates only work business hours and we are going to make them 24 hours a day. That will be a huge bonus to marinausers,” he told The Clare People .
Dredging the marina also remains a top priority.
The new building planned on site will be for public use, providing access for dolphin tours and visits to Scattery Island. Plans are also in place to upgrade the boat yard, formally Doherty’s Timber Yard.
“We are going to make it a smart, clean boat yard and hopefully get back the marine businesses – boat repairs, engine repairs and electronic repairs – that were there up to relatively recently, but for various reasons they have gone away. I think by drumming up a bit of business and providing nice facilities, we will get them back in,” he said.
“In terms of jobs, actually employed by the marina, there won’t be any change in numbers but I hope the marina industries will come back.
“My vision is that in five years time you would have eight to 10 people working there – let’s say five all year around and 10 through the summer.”
“I’d be making a serious drive to get in more yachts and more business. It is a fantastic facility. It is fundamentally the best marina on the west coast. I am hoping to drum up business on the west coast and further afield. I actually believe there is a market with the UK boat-owners that are paying probably three to four times the berthage that we are paying in Kilrush.
“We will be on a serious marketing drive once we get the development we are planning done.”