Mountshannon
Mountshannon Location and Context Mountshannon is situated on the picturesque shores of Lough Derg and dates back to 1742 when Alexander Woods, a linen manufacturer, was contracted to build fourteen workers cottages, a place of worship and a school. It is an attractive linear village nestled in the foot of the Slieve Aughty Mountains. It is a highly scenic area with spectacular views over the surrounding landscape which provides habitat to a range of species recognised for their high ecological value. Mountshannon has a long pedigree in the Tidy Towns competition and is a former National Tidy Towns winner. Located within Irelands Hidden Heartlands, Mountshannon has a conveniently-located harbour on the shores of Lough Derg which offers opportunities for many activities including water sports such as canoeing and wind surfing and is a trail head on the Lough Derg Blueway with trail signage, a canoe storage facility, and a service block. The successful introduction of the White Tail Eagle to Lough Derg has brought with it an influx of bird watchers and visitors alike to the seasonal bird information and viewing point facilities at the harbour. The local community plays a vital role in the seasonal management of this facility. Other activities in the area include hill walking and cycling. Inis Cealtra (Holy Island), one of the most famous monastic sites in Ireland, is located at the mouth of Scarriff Bay on Lough Derg, and is accessible from Mountshannon Pier. Its attractions include a round tower, the ruins of six churches, a holy well, and unique graveyard. The island is in full public ownership following the acquisition in 2015 of 41 acres by Clare County Council. Mountshannon experienced quite considerable growth during the economic boom years, mainly from holiday home and other tourist-related development. The large amount of tourism development and tourist accommodation in Mountshannon results in the village becoming seasonally busy. Mountshannon recorded a 33.7% dwelling vacancy rate in the 2016 census, the majority of which is accounted for by holiday homes, and when discounting holiday homes the vacancy rate is reduced considerably to 12.4%. The existing services in the village include a public house, church, school, garage and a range of other commercial activities. The village is served by a public water supply and a public wastewater treatment facility both of which have sufficient capacity to cater for the target population.
__________________________________________________________________________________ Draft Clare County Development Plan 2023-2029
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