News Release -
New partnership grouping established to address environmental and development needs of Lough Gur
‘Urgent action is now required to address issues at Lough Gur for the benefit of current and future generations’
A new partnership grouping has been formed to look at the urgent action required to meet the future environmental and development needs of the Lough Gur area.
Limerick County Council and Shannon Development, working with the Lough Gur Development Co-Op have come together to form a Consultative Forum to evolve a plan to reconcile often competing demands (nature conservation, tourism, farming practices, public access, recreational pursuits, housing developmental pressures and archaeology) which have combined to form an increasing threat to this fragile, internationally significant resource.
Lough Gur and its immediate surroundings is an archaeological zone of outstanding international significance. Inhabited for 6000 years, the area contains over 130 listed sites (28 carrying National Monument status) ranging in date from Stone Age through to post Mediaeval times (4000 BC to 1700 AD). Surviving monuments include stone circles, habitation sites, megalithic tombs, crannogs, ring forts and castles. The area is also internationally renowned for its bird life and is designated as a Natural Heritage Area and Wildfowl Sanctuary.
Lough Gur and its environs currently sustains a strong agricultural and residential community who through the many initiatives of the Lough Gur Development Co-Op Society (HoneyFitz Theatre, Dramatic Society, Historical Society, FAS, Community Enterprise, Lough Gur guides, Storytelling and Summer Festivals and other social activities) have demonstrated enormous commitment to the development and enhancement of the area. In addition to this Shannon Development’s tourism subsidiary company Shannon Heritage operates the Lough Gur Visitor Centre to tell visitors the story of Pre-Celtic Ireland dating back to 3000 BC.
The necessity to protect the internationally significant resource that is Lough Gur has been recognised by the special protection afforded to the area in the Limerick County Development Plan. However all interests recognise that a lot more needs to be done to realise its cultural and economic potential and to arrest serious deterioration which has taken place in the water quality of this major amenity in recent years.
“Urgent action is now required to address issues at Lough Gur for the benefit of current and future generations”, said Brendan Lynch, Tourism Product Development Manager, Shannon Development, who went on to emphasise that potential economic benefits which could flow from an agreed environmental and developmental plan at Lough Gur.
The new Consultative Forum has just commissioned a comprehensive study to consider all of these issues in a fully integrated manner. The study will identify workable solutions and draw up an action plan to protect and develop the area in a sensitive manner.
A multi disciplinary team of specialists co-ordinated by international landscape consultants (Nicholas de Jong Associates) have been appointed by the Forum to prepare the plan and work is getting underway to carry out the required environmental research and site surveys over the coming months.
One of the most important aspects of this joint initiative involves the active participation of the local community. The Consultative Forum recognises that “there needs to be a much improved understanding between all of the interests associated with this unique area”.
Tom Tierney, Chairman, Lough Gur Development Co-Op said “We welcome this overdue initiative, sponsored by Shannon Development and Limerick County Council in putting Lough Gur back on the agenda. Not since the mid 70s when the lands at the lakefront were acquired for public amenity and the Visitor Centre opened in 1981 has there been such a high profile approach to address the issues of the area. We see this initial stage of detailed fact finding as critical to the creation of a structured, sensitive and balanced approach to development over coming years, taking account of local needs while at the same time developing our amenity to the highest standards.”
Michael Griffin, Senior Staff Office, Limerick County Council, said “Limerick County Council wish to put in place a plan which will be a resource for all users, particularly, the local community”.
The plan is expected to be completed before the end of 2007. Following this a submission to support the major funding requirements of the new plan will be made to Government under the new National Development Plan.
Photograph shows from left: Tom Tierney, Chairman, Lough Gur Co-operative; Michael Griffin, Senior Executive Officer, Limerick Co. Council; Brendan Lynch, Shannon Development and Catherine Reardon, Lough Gur Development Co-op, at Lough Gur, Co Limerick, where it is proposed to commence major upgrading and development works to the archaeological trail near the lake shore.
End
For further information please contact:
Nandi O’Sullivan
Public Relations Manager
Tel: +353 61 710259
Mobile: +353 86-2371510
Fax: 061 363180
E-mail: Click Here