This article is from page 14 of the 2006-01-31 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 14 JPG
CLARE County Council has given the go-ahead to plans to develop a music school aimed at giving Doolin’s world-wide reputation for traditional Irish music a focal point.
In move that will add to Clare’s growing infrastructure for traditional Irish music, John D Flanagan and Richard Maher have secured planning from the council to develop a music school along with a retail unit and residential accommodation.
The council granted planning permission having regard to the site in close proximity to Fitz’s Cross at Doolin, ruling that it would not seriously injure the amenities of the area.
However, the council has refused planning permission to a pub which formed part of the application. How this will affect the feasibility of the overall scheme is not known.
The music school is expected to compliment the presence of Glór, the Irish Music Centre, the International Folk Music Centre, located in Doonbeg and the Ennis-based Maoin Cheoil an Chláir.
The architects for the venture, Michael Leahy and Paul Conway state that the “music school will give Doolin’s world famous scene a focal point.”
Their submission states: “the music school will consist of a performance hall, café practice rooms and manager’s apartment at the top of the site on approach to the Fitz Cross part of Doolin.
“The music school is a venue which will have activity through the day with classes taught during the day and performances at lunch-times and evening and will be a year-round industry.”
The council refused planning permission for the pub after opposition was expressed by a Dublin couple who own a holiday home in the area.
Brian and Dympna Campbell claimed that the proposed public house and fast food outlet would create noise, interference and disturbance that would seriously diminish their use, enjoyment and value of their adjoining property.
“The nature of the development comprising part of a public house and fastfood outlet will create a substantial security risk to the use and enjoyment of our property.
“Both of us and our family spend all our holidays on the property and it is our plan to reside there full time in the near future.”