This article is from page 11 of the 2006-05-23 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 11 JPG
CLARE County Council is to construct a car park for visitors to one of the world’s most famous megalithic monuments.
The local authority, in partnership with the Office of Public Works (OPW), has purchased land adjoining the Poulnabrone Dolmen in a bid to alleviate traffic congestion at the site.
The dolmen is one of Ireland’s more accessible megalithic structures attracting over 100,000 people each year.
In the late nineties, the OPW purchased the 5000-year-old portal tomb and 15 acres of adjoining land from a local farmer in a bid to control visitor access to the site.
In recent years, the number of visitors to the monument has increased significantly leading to serious road traffic congestion and potential traffic safety issues at peak visitor periods. In response, Clare County Council and the OPW have completed a comprehensive site selection process for the provision of a carpark.
County Council Senior Planner, Liam Conneally says, “During the summer months, tourists are forced to park their vehicles on the narrow road leading to the five thousand year old portal tomb located”.
“We are satisfied that the parking area, which will cater for 15 cars and 4 buses, will lead to a better managed traffic situation.
The new facility should alleviate the traffic and pedestrian safety issues on the road fronting the monument” he added.
The council will own and manage the new parking area, which will cost between €250,000 and €300,000.
This figure includes the land cost, labour and materials. Submissions or observations with respect to this matter dealing with the proper planning and development of carpark went on public display in recent months and have recently been sanctioned by the county council.
No objections were made to the proposed parking area.
Chairman of the council’s Economic Development and Planning Special Policy Committee, Cllr. Richard Nagle said the parking area, which is expected to be completed by the end of summer, is “part of ongoing cooperation between Clare County Council and the OPW to improve visitor facilities and safety at attractions throughout the county”.
Located to the East of the road from Kilnaboy to Ballyvaughan, Poulnabrone was excavated in 1968 and found to contain the remains of between 16 and 22 adults and 6 juveniles, including a newborn baby.
Those buried in portal tomb were Neolithic farmers who lived in the Burren between 3800 and 3200 B.C.