This article is from page 20 of the 2011-08-09 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 20 JPG
THE dream by those involved in Clare camogie to have a headquarters for the game in the county have taken a giant step forward in the last week, with the news that Clare County Council has given the go-ahead for the Camogie Board’s ambitious development plans for a three-acre site just outside Ennis.
Local authority planners have given permission for a range of developments on the site at Gaurus on the Doora Road, that will transform the Clare County Council owned property into a new home for Clare camogie that will be the envy of other camogie associations around the country.
The development includes two pitches, while the planning permission granted by the council last week is for the construction of a carpark, the installation of dressing rooms, the erection of retractable netting system behind each goal on the premier playing pitch and for floodlights on the second pitch.
The granting of planning permission for these phases of the project has been held up as “the final piece of the jigsaw” in what has been a long-running campaign waged by the Clare Camogie Board to get proper facilities.
“Camogie in the county has been crying out for proper facilities for many years,” says Clare Camogie Board chairperson, Orla Considine.
“As far back as 1988 there was a commitment from Clare County Council to provide playing facilities for camogie, so that now it’s finally happening is great. It’s been a long road.
“Nothing was done about it for many years but two years ago the campaign was started up again and this is the result of it.
“We have had many meetings with council officials over the past couple of years and the granting of the planning permission for these developments is a huge step,” Considine said.
As recently as June, prior to the lodging of the planning permission by camogie board treasurer, Michael Maher, a development committee was established to spearhead the fuding and delivery of the project.
This committee is made up of chairperson Orla Considine, treasurer Mick Maher, county councilors Joe Cooney, Patricia McCarthy and Pat Hayes as well Dr Pádraig Quinn, Kevin Kennedy and Eamon Fennessey.