New ladders need to take swimmers’ perspective into account at Doolin

LESSONS must be made from the design of the ladders at Clahane when completing replacements at Doolin Pier, writes Páraic McMahon

Cllr Liam Grant (GP) appealed to the West Clare Municipal District to replace the broken ladder at Doolin Pier at this month’s meeting, this was seconded by Cllr Joe Killeen (FF).

Senior executive engineer in the West Clare MD, Enda MacNamara confirmed, “the design and costs associated with replacement are currently being finalised”.

Some replacements have taken place, Cllr Grant acknowledged. “We remember the situation at Clahane where we ended up with a lad-

Notes

FIDDLE + BOW GIG der that people weren’t happy with. Doolin overall needs to be acknowledged as a swimming location, a lot of places swam at are not safe to do so, we need to make them safer. I hope we can come to some resolution to see all facilities resolved”.

Perspective of the swimmer must be remembered in the design of the ladders, Cllr Cillian Murphy (FF) maintained. “The rungs on the ladders are designed for people on work boots not to slip off them, they are not very comfortable for swimmers.”.

Cllr Shane Talty (FF) urged the local authority to “try and learn from experience”. He said, “the feedback from Clahane has been negative”.

CATCH performance poet Stephen Murphy at Fiddle + Bow in Doolin on March 25th. Originally from rural Leitrim, Stephen is a bard in the truest sense of the term. His live performances have seen him previously called “the highlight” of Electric Picnic by Kitty Holland in the Irish Times, the “poet of our age” by the Irish Independent columnist Billy Keane, and “a splendid, gifted and courageous young poet” by President Michael D. Higgins, owners including the Clare IFA”.

Speaking at the March meeting of the West Clare MD, Cllr Killeen said the designation was “a big deal”. He believed for the bid to be successful, “it needs the cooperation of everyone in Burren area if it is to be designated as a world heritage site. I still wait to see what practical steps will be taken”.

Cathaoirleach of the West Clare MD, Cllr Shane Talty (FF) noted, “It is a sensitive issue in a sensitive area, what the designation might achieve from a tourism point of view is one thing but how it affects landowners and how they continue their duties is another, the consultation aspect will be hugely important”.

Resources must support the intent of international recognition, Cllr Joe Garrihy (FG) stressed. “The value of these internationally recognised awards for our area is clear from the Wild Atlantic Way to the Burren Geo Park, they also bring with them their own challenges. We have to prove that we follow these designations and the recognition of the preciousness of our areas by allocating resources to them and making as the number one priority that local communities thrive off them and I think we’re falling down on that part. We need to do more than say we intend, we need to allocate the resources”.