Ballyvaughan
Ballyvaughan Location and Context Ballyvaughan is a picturesque village located on the shores of Ballyvaughan Bay and first established as a 19th century fishing village. It is situated at the base of a valley providing expansive views of the surrounding upland Burren areas and across Galway Bay. The village is an attractive, quaint place with an identifiable village centre focussed on existing shops, petrol station, church, school, pubs and enterprise units. The village also has a primary care centre, community centre and playground. The town centre has a distinct character and has been designated as an Architectural Conservation Area (ACA). It comprises 18th and 19th century two-storey houses which accommodate a hotel, pubs, shops, and restaurants, all of which contribute positively to the attractive traditional appearance of the village. To the east of the village is the auxiliary workhouse, which is a mid-19th century residential complex laid out in a quadrangle surrounded by rows of terraced single-storey stone gabled houses. Although some of the original structures within the complex are derelict, many of the single-storey buildings have been restored and are currently in use. This site is also designated as an ACA due to its unique character. Given its scenic coastal location on the Wild Atlantic Way and its position on the edge of the Burren, Ballyvaughan has become a popular destination for visitors. There has been considerable growth in the range of holiday accommodation on offer in the village, including hotels, bed and breakfasts, guesthouses, and holiday homes. As with many coastal towns and villages, there is an influx of tourists during the main holiday periods which sees a significant increase in the population. There are also a number of local events and activities that bring visitors to the village during the off-peak season. These include the Burren Peaks Walking Festival and bird watching at Bishops Quarter. Ballyvaughan has experienced a significant amount of development pressure in recent years, primarily in the form of holiday home developments. It is therefore essential to ensure that future development is balanced and contributes to a thriving village community which can support a range of viable year-round services, whilst retaining its distinctive village character. The strategy for Ballyvaughan is to provide for small scale, well-designed permanent residential, commercial and community developments that have regard to the character of the settlement. Water supply to Ballyvaughan is from the Ennistymon Regional Water Supply and is subject to the constraints of that supply. The existing public wastewater infrastructure in the village consists of a collection system and tidal holding tank located in the foreshore area. A new wastewater treatment plant, pumping station including pipework extensions are planned and it is expected that the project will be completed in 2023. Once completed it will have capacity to cater for the target population over the lifetime of the plan. __________________________________________________________________________________ Draft Clare County Development Plan 2023-2029
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