Flagmount

Flagmount

Location and Context

Flagmount has an elevated location, with extensive views to the west across Lough Graney. A laneway in the village leads directly to the shores of Lough Graney. It is an agriculturebased village surrounded by undulating farmlands and forested hills in a highly scenic area with recognised ecological value. It is largely surrounded by the Slieve Aughty Mountains and has developed in a scattered linear form. Flagmount is currently served by a local garage/shop, a church and a school with a large pre-school and after-school care facility. The village also sits along the East Clare Way.

There is a public water supply serving the village, however there is no public sewerage system. The majority of houses within the village are served by individual wastewater treatment systems. Given the environmental sensitivities of Lough Graney as a designated European site and also the public water source for the Flagmount area, any potential future residential developments or tourism or employment generating developments must have regard to, and strict compliance with, the provisions of the EPA Guidelines relating to waste water treatment and disposal.

The entire settlement of Flagmount is located within the Shannon-Graney/Scarriff Margaritifera (Freshwater Pearl Mussel (FPM)) Sensitive Area. While the current status of the FPM in this catchment is unknown, there are previous records of the FPM in this catchment and therefore any proposed development will need to take into consideration the potential effects on this species and its habitat. Any future development should be subject to the requirements of the Habitats Directive given the proximity of the village adjacent to and partly within the Slieve Aughty designated European Site. See also the Natura Impact Report for further relevant mitigation measures and recommendations at site and project level.

General Objectives

• To ensure that existing population levels and services are maintained;

• To ensure that future growth in Flagmount is incremental and small scale in nature, relative and appropriate to the scale, size and character of the existing village;

• To facilitate the provision of infrastructure to allow for future growth.

• To encourage and facilitate the appropriate development of the blue and green infrastructure in the village and its immediate surroundings;

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• To support a rural settlement network of Flagmount- Caher – Killanena to harness the potential of sustainable tourism and recreational activities around Lough Graney and the

Slieve Aughty Region;

• To promote the Slieve Aughty region as a tourism location and to develop a series of viewing points in the area;

• To develop walking and cycling trails from the village offering greater accessibility to the countryside by sustainable modes of travel and promote the sustainable designation and delivery of Greenway and Blueway Corridors.

Employment and Enterprise

Flagmount, along with the sister settlements of Caher and Killanena, is ideally positioned to harness the potential of sustainable tourism activities centred on the lake and surrounding uplands.

In order to promote economic development in Flagmount a site is zoned for tourism related development along the road linking the village to the harbour. To further encourage economic development, it is an objective:

• To encourage small-scale residential, tourism and commercial development in the village that will support the local community and respect the scenic and natural amenities of the area;

• To make provision for developments that will establish Flagmount as a visitor base for exploring the surrounding network of loughs and walkways.

The area around Flagmount and Caher has a significant biomass resource (forestry) which, if managed sustainably, can make a significant contribution to the local economy into the future as the County moves towards a low carbon economy. It is an objective for Clare County Council:

• To support the sustainable development of forestry associated enterprises in the area.

Flagmount is served by a crèche and afterschool facility which provides opportunities for increased participation in the workforce.

Strategy for growth and sustainable communities

The strategy for the sustainable growth of the village and its community is through consolidation and regeneration that promotes compact sequential growth and supports and strengthens a sustainable village community and its rural hinterland. This will be achieved by encouraging small scale growth in areas which make a positive contribution to the overall

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enhancement of the village and sustains it into the future. In line with this approach and to promote vibrant rural villages, village growth areas have been identified which provide opportunities and choice for development, including small scale commercial, enterprise, community, services/facilities as well as small scale cluster housing, all of which offer a viable and attractive option for rural living within a village community and setting.

Undulating farmlands and forested hills in a highly scenic area makes Flagmount a very attractive place to live. The delivery of any new development in Flagmount will be encouraged by adopting a combined approach of sequential compact growth and the re-use and redevelopment of vacant or derelict sites and buildings within the village.

Place Making and Regeneration

Flagmount has a very strong sense of place which would be further enhanced by facilitating the provision of improved access to its blue and green infrastructure, in particular to the harbour area and its associated open space and presents the village’s strongest opportunity in terms of revitalisation.

The existing harbour area is well used by the local community. Swimming lessons take place here each year during the last two weeks in July. There is a strong association between Irish Water Safety and the harbour area at Flagmount and this feature of the village could be further strengthened to the benefit of the village

Locations within the village where opportunities lie for effective place making include the following;

Opportunity 1: This area is at the northern end of the village and extends from where the route of the East Clare Walkway begins in the village to the junction of the L4010-26 with the Harbour Road Entrance.

Opportunity 2: The central village area to the front of O’Meara’s grccery and agribusiness supplier.

Opportunity 3: The area to the front of Flagmount National School.

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Sketch to indicate potential for place-making to the front of O’Meara’s shop and adjacent to petrol pumps

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Indicative Site Plan noting potential public realm/placemaking proposals

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OS1

The existing pier and lakeside areas are important amenity assets in the village for the local community and for visitors alike. There is scope for additional facilities and landscaping of this recreational facility. OS1 comprises an elevated piece of land to the east of the harbour. It has been designated for possible future expansion and enhancement of this recreational facility, which would complement the pier and may include picnic benches, seating, barbeque areas etc.

HAR1 Flagmount Pier

This area is reserved for pier and limited land-based facilities/amenities to facilitate development of recreational, water-based activities for the local community and visitors to the area. It is also an objective to upgrade the lane which currently provides access to the harbour area in Flagmount or to provide new access to the harbour from adjoining lands.

TOU1

Having regard to the lakeside location and potential for water based recreational activities it is considered that there is significant potential to provide for camping/glamping style residential accommodation at this site. Such an enterprise has been successfully undertaken at other locations throughout the County.

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