This article is from page 18 of the 2006-05-02 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 18 JPG
THE promoters of a €1.2 million proposal to commemorate GAA founder, Michael Cusack, face a race against time to get in place a new visitor centre, before the 100th anniversary of the Carron man’s death in November.
Michael Cusack Development Co. Ltd., have been granted planning permission to transform Cusack’s cottage in Carron and construct an interpretative centre.
Clare County Council granted permission after An Taisce withdrew its opposition against the proposal, in response to the promoters making alterations to the scheme.
Project leader and chairman of Michael Cusack Development Co Ltd, Martin O’Loghlen, said that he was delighted that planning permission had been secured.
“It is a major hurdle humped. It is all systems go now and we will simply push on with the development,” he said. “November 28 is the centenary of Michael Cusack’s death and that is our target and if we don’t meet that deadline to have all the facilities in place, it won’t be from the lack of trying.”
Mr O’Loghlen said that the restoration of the cottage should be completed by the anniversary.
“We are also putting in place a visitor centre and it may be asking a lot to have that complete, but that is our aim.”
Fundraising for the venture is to continue. To date, the company has raised €750,000. “There is a lot of work to be done and money to be raised,” said Mr O’ Loghlen.
He added that the centre was aiming for between 25,000 and 30,000 visitors to the attraction each year.
“Carron is one of those areas that has not really benefited from tourism in the Burren and I would like to think that this will change with the project we are putting in place. The community has struggled for 30 years to put a project like this in place.”
Mr O’Loghlen said that the centre would also redress Michael Cusack been partially written out of history.
He said that the object of the plan was, “to commemorate and celebrate a dynamic force in Irish society, create a unique and memorable participant experience for all and ensure a project that is distinct, sustainable and viable”.
Chairman of Burren IFA and Carron man, Michael Davoren, said the people of Carron were 100 per cent behind the project. “Michael Cusack is part of the heritage of Carron,” he said.