Clarecastle, a picturesque village in County Clare, Ireland, has set out a comprehensive 3 to 5-year plan that integrates community involvement, environmental stewardship, and sustainable practices to enhance the quality of life for its residents while preserving its rich cultural heritage and natural beauty.

Clarecastle’s 3-5 year plan focuses on eight critical categories to enhance its community, environment, and overall quality of life:

Community & Planning

1. Strategic Community Planning: In 3 to 5 years, we envision Clarecastle transformed by strategic development and regeneration initiatives, with modernized infrastructure and vibrant, well-utilized community spaces.

Our Strategic Clarecastle Village Enhancement & Community Plan includes Ennis 2040 Opportunity sites ( Roche remediation & brown site development, Ennis wetlands), Ballybeg. We aim to revitalize our village through regeneration initiatives and a comprehensive review of community buildings. Our focus will also be on mobility planning, improving traffic flow and enhancing open spaces.

2. Inclusive Development: We foresee a community where every voice is heard and valued, with a diverse village team actively contributing to regional development plans, ensuring Clarecastle’s interests are always represented.

By establishing a new Clarecastle Village Team, we will ensure community involvement in our new Community Plan. We will incorporate the submissions from Clarecastle Tidy Towns and CCDL into the regional development plan. The coordination of Tidy Towns & Cross Community support grants and a new Community Lotto will further ensure inclusive development.

3. Preserving and Promoting Identity: We aim to see Clarecastle’s unique identity and heritage celebrated and recognized wider, with our village serving as a captivating destination for tourists, helped by strategic positioning within wider regional plans.

We will promote Clarecastle’s identity through initiatives like local museum and portal to SEW. By reviewing Clarecastle’s standing within the Ennis MD and county development plan, we will ensure our heritage is well represented. Tourism will be boosted through the creation of walk/cycle ways, the Greenway to Clarecastle Quay, and the River Fergus Walk Extension.

4. Inter-Agency Collaboration: We anticipate effective partnerships with local and state agencies, ensuring a sustainable and coordinated approach to community projects, heritage site upkeep, and vital infrastructure upgrades.

We will collaborate with local, county, and state agencies to ensure a sustainable approach to community projects.

5. Community Engagement and Infrastructure: We aspire to cultivate a deeply engaged community, especially among our youth, with enhanced digital platforms and secured funding for initiatives. We also envision improved public spaces, access, and amenities, contributing to a thriving and inviting Clarecastle.

We will actively involve our youth in the community through Clarecastle National School, Pre School, Scouts, and GAA. The development of the Clarecastle Tidy Towns website will further community engagement. Fundraising initiatives like the annual collection, Clarecastle Regatta, and weekly Lotto will support our projects. We will also address infrastructure needs, upgrading existing walkways, car parking, and the Clareabbey roundabout, while also managing the rising costs of maintenance materials.

Streetscape & Public Places

1. Heritage Preservation & Tourism Potential: Advocacy for the recognition of Clarecastle’s historical significance including its role in the naming of the county, with plans to enhance its tourism potential through initiatives such as a local museum, the preservation of the Old Famine Road on the Roche Site, creation of a Monastery Heritage Trail (linking Ennis Friary, Clare Abbey and Killone Nunnery), and the extension of the River Fergus walk to Clarecastle Quay.

2. Village Infrastructure Improvement: Commitment towards the removal of overhead wires in the old village, the use of eco-friendly, low-wattage street lamps, and the creation of universally accessible footpaths. Completion of the Patrick Street development, including wire removal and new footpath installation, is a priority.

3. Heritage Artefact Placement & Heritage Trail Development: Collaborate with Clare County Council Planning & Roads departments to agree on placement of heritage artefacts such as the Mounting Block, a Village Pump, and Jostle Stone, which are integral to the proposed Heritage Trail.

4. Maintenance & Community Spaces: Scheduled maintenance programmes for the upkeep of the village to high standards and further development of community spaces, including themed furniture for the Plaza and a single power source for Christmas lights. Promote the maintenance of the iCan Heritage & Wildlife website.

5. Signage, Parking & Aesthetic Improvements: Implement a policy for bilingual signage in a heritage font, acquire more off-street parking spaces, and introduce a heritage colour scheme for Main Street. Efforts to be made for extending flower displays from the bridge to the main street, and to host Heritage Week activities like Village Heritage Walks and possible Open Day at Men’s Shed.

Green Spaces and Landscaping

1. Tree Planting & Maintenance: A policy for tree planting and maintenance should be implemented, ensuring the right trees are planted in suitable places. The plan includes planting 100 semi-mature trees in Clarecastle by 2030, with particular attention to the People’s Park.

2. Pro-Biodiversity Landscaping: Commitment to promoting pro-biodiversity landscaping practices, including reduced mowing and careful plant selection. The landscaping should focus on biodiversity, reducing flower containers to the core village and Lissane entrance, and having year-round plant and flower impact.

3. Maintenance and Upkeep of Green Spaces: A planned maintenance schedule for trees and open spaces, adhering to the All Ireland Pollinator Plan 2021-2025, and focusing on long & short wildflower meadows. A “no weedkiller” policy is in place, seeking alternative eco solutions to maintain green spaces.

4. Lighting and Infrastructure Improvements: Existing lighting in People’s Park is not compatible with a Biodiversity Park and Leave no Trace area and needs to be replaced with heritage-type pole & LED lamps, along with CCTV. Work with Clare County Council on landscaping at entrances and roundabouts, like the Clareabbey Roundabout, and other areas of the town.

Update and enhance the Clarecastle Biodiversity Plan on an ongoing basis, with better signage for local amenities like the People’s Park and Clarecastle GAA Amenity Park.

Nature and Biodiversity in your Locality

1. Biodiversity Education and Plans: The Clarecastle Biodiversity Plan should incorporate the All Ireland Pollinator Plan. Efforts to promote biodiversity understanding in schools and community-wide surveys, including youth are essential for fostering an environment-friendly mindset.

2. Sustainable Tourism: Clarecastle Tidy Towns and Clarecastle Heritage & Wildlife Group are working to promote Clarecastle as a sustainable tourist destination. This includes preserving cultural heritage, wildlife, and the environment while also exploring potential job creation opportunities.

3. Enhancement of River Fergus Walk: There is a plan to extend the River Fergus Walk to Clarecastle Quay. The plan also includes addressing existing issues such as flooding, graffiti, and tree planting failures. The installation of directional and information boards, seating, bike repair kits, and CCTV will improve the walk’s utility and safety.

4. Community Green Spaces Management: Operational tasks like ‘Cut & Lift’ in People’s Park and other green spaces should align with the Clarecastle Biodiversity Plan. This includes facilitating short & long (hay) wildflower meadows, managing trees and orchards, and other conservation efforts.

5. Community Collaboration and Infrastructure: Partnership with local groups like Clarecastle Community Garden, Clarecastle Scouts, CCDL Clarecastle NS for community engagement in new orchard developments. Plans for the Quay area within the Shannon Estuary Way Destination programme include installation of bins and picnic tables.

Sustainability

1. Promotion of Waste Reduction: Clarecastle Tidy Towns will continue advocating for waste prevention across homes, schools, local authorities, and businesses. This includes promoting insulation in council-owned homes, supporting businesses in reducing waste and energy use, and encouraging the elimination of single-use items.

Collaborative efforts with Clare County Council and local businesses aim to reduce waste, particularly single-use packaging. The “keep cups” project is an initiative to promote reusable cups instead of disposable ones.

2. Improved Public Transportation: Efforts to enhance bus connectivity for Clarecastle are ongoing, with the goal to include Clarecastle in the Ennis Mobility Plan, which will contribute to sustainability by reducing car usage.

3. Sustainable Events and Community Projects: Clarecastle Tidy Towns and Clarecastle Community Development aim to make the Clarecastle Regatta a key pilot festival for the Greener Clare Festivals programme. Additionally, support continues for the Clarecastle Community Garden & Men’s Shed teams, who exemplify sustainable practices such as upcycling, recycling, and growing own food.

Tidiness and Litter Control

1. Path Accessibility and Aesthetic Improvement: Clarecastle Tidy Towns is seeking accessible paths throughout the town, with ongoing progress on Patrick Street’s new paths. Efforts are also being made to remove overhead wires in various areas for better aesthetics.

2. Signage, Advertising and Graffiti Control: A project with Clare County Council (CCC) and Clarecastle Tidy Towns is in place to manage signage, including cleaning dirty signs and making other signage visible. Graffiti issues in areas like Clareabbey and Fergus Walk are also being addressed.

Clarecastle Tidy Towns is working on removing unsightly advertising and recommending designated locations for election posters in 2024. There’s also a drive to lobby for a “No Election posters” rule in the area.

3. Weed and Litter Control: Not using herbicides has increased the workload for Clarecastle Tidy Towns, but cooperation with CCC is helping maintain paths and kerbsides weed-free. There are ongoing efforts to review and improve the county’s litter policy, with initiatives like spring cleans, weekly litter patrols, and promoting waste reduction at the source.

4. Maintenance of Public Spaces: Power washing and painting of public walls and structures are part of the efforts to maintain tidiness. Preventative measures, such as promoting the use of reusable cups over single-use plastic, are also part of the sustainability strategy.

Residential Streets & Housing Areas

1. Enhancement of Clarecastle Village: Advocacy for a new Clarecastle Strategic Plan is underway, aiming to transform the village into an attractive location for living, working, and visiting. Efforts include promoting the use of Clarecastle Tidy Towns’ Dulux prepared colour scheme for townhouses, and encouraging proper maintenance and presentation of all properties.

2. Parking and Property Maintenance: Recognising residents’ need for more parking spaces, a request has been made for designated parking areas. All homeowners and property owners are urged to keep their properties in good repair, litter-free, and neat.

3. Playground and Community Spaces: Maintaining Clarecastle Playground is a priority, despite high insurance costs. The plaza design is being completed with planned installations and enhancements, while promoting participation in Clarecastle Community Garden to foster Grow It Yourself (GIY) initiatives.

4. Community Inclusion and Pride: Social inclusion initiatives are undertaken to promote community participation, nurturing pride in housing estates, streets, gardens, and open spaces. Encouragement is given for keeping properties and boundaries neat, tidy, and weed-free.

5. Signage and Aesthetics: Efforts are made to promote bilingual signage throughout Clarecastle, including maintaining old street and terrace nameplates. The use of Clarecastle Tidy Towns’ Dulux prepared colour scheme is being promoted for Main Street and other community and residential premises close to the village centre.

Approach Roads, Streets & Lanes

1. Urban Planning and Mobility: Clarecastle Tidy Towns support the redesign of the roundabout and approach roads, aligning with the Clarecastle tree survey report’s recommendations. The focus is on balancing the needs of all road users, incorporating traffic calming measures, landscaping, screening and creating a sense of enclosure and place. They also endorse improved village mobility for pedestrians and cyclists.

2. Maintenance of Signage and Road Infrastructure: Clarecastle Tidy Towns continue to work with Clare County Council on the removal of obsolete poles and signage, and the replacement of damaged and faded signs. There is a push for marking out cycle lanes, improving road surfaces, and replacing improperly set drainage grids.

3. Enhanced Appearance of Public Spaces: Clarecastle Tidy Towns aim to enhance the entrances to Clare GAA HQ and work on improving the appearance of Clarecastle Bridge by adding overhanging baskets and scheduling regular paint jobs.

4. Green Initiatives: Utilizing the Clarecastle Tree survey, Clarecastle Tidy Towns plan to enhance trees and hedging on entrance roads, streets, and parks. The goal is to increase the town’s green footprint.

5. Community Taskforce: Establishment of a Clareabbey Taskforce, involving all stakeholders responsible for the maintenance of the Abbey and its surroundings. The taskforce would work on promoting the area as a tourist destination, tackling anti-social behaviour, fly-tipping, and casual littering, and improving pedestrian access at the Clareabbey roundabout.