shannon new town, co. clare

@Paul Clerkin wrote:

Shannon is a new town located in County Clare and is one of only two planned towns …

😮

Shirley thersh shum mishtake?… Might you mean one of only two planned in the 20th C? 😉

@Paul Clerkin wrote:

Yes pedant

Meeoow! :p 😀

I didn’t think the nuclear threat was still so pressing in 1979.

where did you get those images paul? fascinating stuff. the central bank springs to mind, as well as some of the awful stuff thrown up in glasgow around the same time.

A little bit more info on Shannon New Town Centre;

By 1972 the initial phase was up amd running; and by that time it had a population of 4300. The layout was based around a town square idea, featuring an L shaped mall with a 42,000sq. ft. office block as the dominent feature. It already had by then a supermarket, shops, a restaurant and a pub; it was hoped that a bank, post office, garage and hotel would be started later that year. The early plans were quite different from the sheme that was later to emerge, as illustrated by Paul.

A competition was held to decide the design, it attracted 4 Irish entries and a number from across the water. The selected architects were B. P. Jeffers and Assoc with the Consultant Architect being Arthur Gibney, while Downes, Meehan, and Robison did the office block. The development was a joint venture between Messrs John Sisk and Shannon Free Airport Development Co.

At the time Plan Magazine said that “it has at least every chance of being an environmental success”.

@Paul Clerkin wrote:

http://www.irish-architecture.com/unbuilt_ireland/clare/shannon/towncentre/images/shannon_newtowncentre4_lge.jpg

The architects were Burke O’Dea

Was the town centre built to this plan?

In layout yes, but without the “Aztec Temple” and the “half finished lower half of a Pyramid“ appearance of buildings.:rolleyes: In the middle is the Shannon Development Headquarters. Today the Sky Court Shopping Centre takes up the heart of the town centre.

Sky Court Shopping Centre http://www.skycourtshannon.com/

• Major enclosed Retail Centre 20,000 sq.m comprising of 60 retail units.
• Foodcourt comprising of 6 units from 70 sq.m to 150 sq.m
• Home to the biggest concentration of Industrial employment outside the Dublin Metropolitan Area
• Catchment population of 40,000 within a 20 minute drive
• Anchors:Tesco, Dunnes Stores and Lidl
Also located adjacent to the centre are:
Shannon Development
Shannon Credit Union
Shannon Library
Shannon & District Chamber of Commerce

Shannon Map: Airport, Town and Industrial Zones.

Shannon Development: http://www.shannondev.ie/

Official website for Shannon Town: http://www.shannon.ie/

Shannon Airport: http://www.shannonairport.com/index.html

Any present day images around?

Does anyone have any pictures of Shannon Town as it is today? I’ve never been, cannot find anything online and am curious to see what it’s like compared to every other town in the country…

@Urban_Form wrote:

Does anyone have any pictures of Shannon Town as it is today? I’ve never been, cannot find anything online and am curious to see what it’s like compared to every other town in the country…

I live just outside it and if Shannon is a good example of town planning then we’re all screwed!:D
Seriously though for a town of its size it really has been poorly devleoped..until now. The Sky Court is making some difference to the town but up until recently it has suffered from having approx 30% of the retail space of a similar town of same population. Its proximity to Limerick and Ennis hasn’t helped this. The Sky Court development has changed things a bit but it is still very much a work in progress. The Dunnes Stores section of the Shopping mall is bland and adds little or nothing to the area.
What Shannon really needed was a street scape of some sort but what has been so far delivered is a bigger version of the shopping centre that was there already with blocks of new aprtments(http://www.brunasionna.com/) and a new open space which imo is very poor. I’m reserving my judgement until the next phases are complete but it still has the feel of a suburb of Limerick city without ever feeling like a town in its own right.(very like Raheen/Dooradoyle including large housing estates and a massive industrial park)
By the Way those buildings in the plans above for the most part have never happened. Some of the early multistory developments in the town are to be torn down (one after a recent fire rendered it unsafe apparently). I’ll upload some pics later in the week if possible but it would be unfair to judge on what it looks like until the developments are finished. Not much so far of real architectural merit imo.

A friend of mine was manager of the Penneys shop in Shannon TC in the early ’70’s… it was looked upon as a hardship posting, a necessary stopping point on the way up the management tree. For years after it was regarded akin to a transfer to Siberia ( a suitable comparison as it was a bleak place!)
KB2

Yes indeed, with all those pine trees along the way, the drive into Shannon on a wet morning reminds me greatly of the awful dreariness of the Mecklenburg heath; while the buildings inevitably impress an idea, and remind the sensitive mind of Eric Hoenecker and the tatty glory of the Deutsche Demokratische Republik – now thankfully embalmed in the pages of German history.

@Praxiteles wrote:

Yes indeed, with all those pine trees along the way, the drive into Shannon on a wet morning reminds me greatly of the awful dreariness of the Mecklenburg heath]

Ist das Glas halb voll oder halb leer?😉

Yes indeed, 28.000 trees were planted for landscaping in 1968 because they were very important for shelter, due to the exposed nature of the estuary. Driving into Shannon on a sunny morning reminds me greatly of the positive energy unleashed by Shannon Development in the 1960’s to counteract that awful dreariness of mass emigration from Munster and Connacht; while the factory buildings inevitably impress an idea, and remind the sensitive mind of Sean Lemass who started to address the failed protectionist policies of the Irish Free State – now thankfully embalmed in the pages of Irish history.

@KerryBog2 wrote:

A friend of mine was manager of the Penneys shop in Shannon TC in the early ’70’s… it was looked upon as a hardship posting, a necessary stopping point on the way up the management tree. For years after it was regarded akin to a transfer to Siberia ( a suitable comparison as it was a bleak place!)
KB2

Eric Hoenecker was manager of a Penneys shop in Mecklenburg &#8230]“That’s tough sh*t Eric!”[/B] 😀

TCD Arts Block amidst semi-reconstructed Aztec ruins alright!

vkid: I’ll upload some pics later in the week if possible

Excellent, cheers.

vkid: The Sky Court development has changed things a bit but it is still very much a work in progress.

There seems to be a real worrying trend in all of Ireland to substitute proper town centres with large shopping centres as though it’s somehow adequate. Dundrum ‘Town Centre’ is the most blatant example of this.

@vkid wrote:

I’ll upload some pics later in the week if possible 🙂

Frederick Rogerson, Shannon New Town Proposal, c. 1965

Presenting architecture: 20th century drawings and models from the collections of the Irish Architectural Archive.

http://www.iarc.ie/exhibitions/0001.html

@vkid wrote:

Blocks of new aprtments(http://www.brunasionna.com/) and a new open space which imo is very poor. I’m reserving my judgement until the next phases are complete.

Hi VKID, how is this development coming along? Is the new open space your refer to part of this development? How mature is the Town park?

Brú na Sionna http://www.brunasionna.com

Achitects JohnThompson & Partners and constructed by Paddy Burke Builders Ltd

Phase 1 See Map (A) – (F)

http://www.brunasionna.com/layout_map.jpg

http://www.brunasionna.com/thumb_small.jpg

Phase 2 See Map (G) – (M)

http://www.brunasionna.com/layout_map2.jpg

Phase 2 will consist of six apartment and town house blocks, a 5,000 square foot crèche and a neighbourhood shop. Ideally located beside the new town park and preserved woodland amenity, Each block differs in style and shape, some with gardens, balconies and terraces etc. All properties come with parking included.

Block J

http://www.brunasionna.com/block_j_800.jpg

Block L

http://www.brunasionna.com/block_l_800.jpg

The gas thing with so many of these 1960s designs is that they could look good with the right materials and suitable landscaping. UCD Belfield (one close to my heart, as I’m still going there) would look different with some red brich here and there, more sensitive treatment of public spaces on campus, closer together buildings, a central paved area of some form and a material other than concrete in the principal buildings.
The Arts block in portland stone certainly would be interesting!!

have had various issues with both my pc and camera recently so havent had a chance to upload photos yet. Give me a few days as just getting them sorted out now.

Touch of the Brunswick Centre in London to that Shannon design perhaps?

Sorry for the delay folks. Today is the first chance I got to go walkabout so here’s Shannon in all its…erm…glory. Shots aren;t great as they are the first bunch Ive taken with a new camera. Some other non Shannon bits further down too including an interesting toll bridge!

Skycourt/Bru na Sionna


The below was apprently to be demolished due to a recent fire but apparently now it is to be refurbed!

Older Parts of Town Centre – next to be redone apparently…you can see why..(although it is the back of the centre)

UL Health Science Building …hadn’t seen it before. Lot of stuff happening on the Plassey Campus.

An old Toll Bridge just outside Shannon near Bunratty…Shame to see it in such disrepair..!

apart from that toll bridge are there any old buildings(as in early 20th century or earlier) or attempts at fabricating ‘old’ looking buildings in the area?

Nope. Loads of stuff outside the town but all thats in the town is one thatch cottage which is currently a resturaunt/take away. Loads of older stuff in the Bunratty/SixmileBridge/Drumline area but you must remember what is now the town was pretty much the banks of the Shannon Estuary until the Airport and FreeZone came along. Towards the back of the Airport there are some older buildings(cottages etc) and some early settlements on the islands in the Estaury but the town itself is all relatively new.

Shannon was just marshy farmland up to theearly 20th Century known as Rineanna. Just to give some perspective on its location…really havent got to grips with the new camera so excuse the blur..

– Bunratty in the foreground. You can just make out Tarbert Power Station Chimney stack to the right. Aughinish Aluminium to the left. The island in the foreground was recently for sale for approx 300k.

– Tower near bunratty..taken from Toll Bridge. 4 or 5 of these within a few miles of Shannon apparently all visible from Bunratty.

– Parts of Shannon town and Ind Est in the foreground.

– Excuse the quality but you can just make out the twin stacks of Moneypoint in the centre behind the hills. Parts of Shannon and Airport in the foreground.

– Parts of Limerick taken from the same location.

Shannon town transfer maps filed with the Land Registry

ONE of the biggest property transactions in the history of the Irish State has been officially filed with the Land Registry.

Clare Co Council delivered transfer maps for all property in Shannon last week, less than two and half years after responsibility for Ireland’s newest town was transferred from Shannon Development to the Local Authority. This is one of the largest projects handled by the Land Registry in its 115 year history.

Negotiations

The transfer of responsibility for Shannon Town in September 2004 was the culmination of many years of negotiations on bringing the town under Local Authority control. Since then, Clare Co Council has assumed full responsibility for all public services within the town, including roads, water services, public lighting, open space and housing originally part of Shannon Development housing stock.

Ger O’Brien, chief technician with Clare Co Council said the map transfer was the largest single project he had ever worked on in his 29 years as a public servant.

Historic

“The historic handover of maps to the Land Registry will cater for Shannon Town’s development needs well into the future,” said Mr O’Brien. “Now that all lands within the town boundary have been officially documented and filed, in consultation with True North Mapping, I am confident that new development opportunities will be facilitated, encouraging further economic activity in Shannon.

“Over the past two and a half years, I’ve dealt with every type of title recognised in the State, including registered and unregistered land, leased land, adverse possession, public/private rights of way, way leaves and sporting rights,” he said.

According to Paddy Halton of True North Mapping: “The transfer mapping required 87 new maps of areas of the town. The project presented significant challenges given the rate of change in land use sub-division and reclamation over the past 40 years.

“There are areas that haven’t changed in 100 years and others that have changed many times in the past 20 years. The help of Ordnance Survey, Clare Co Council and Shannon Development was invaluable.”

Michael Treacy, Property Registration Authority, said transferring the physical maps to the Land Registry’s online service at landdirect.ie is starting. The Land Registry information systems manager is John O’Sullivan.

Con Power

Sorry now but that UL health building is an EYESORE. Looks like someone built a generic 200x design, slapped wood on it to make it look more modern, then wrapped a barn around it.

@THE_Chris wrote:

Sorry now but that UL health building is an EYESORE. Looks like someone built a generic 200x design, slapped wood on it to make it look more modern, then wrapped a barn around it.

LOL. No need to be sorry.Never said it was pretty. Not sure on it myself either.Strange looking thing on the Clare side of the river. Was too wet to have a good look at the river side of it yesterday. Want to have a good look around Plassey when the weather is better to see a more of this, the Living bridge and the boathouse that are underway as well as another building beside the Schumann building. Not sure what it is though.

CÚL NA GRÉINE It’s black and white ……………..

Client: Clare County Council
Architects: Murray O’Laoire

The 101 dwelling units on the 2.74 ha (6.77 acres) site provides for a density of 36.86 units per hectare (14.92 units per acre).

The mixture of dwelling sizes and designs address a number of housing needs and the design of the various house types is contemporary and of a very high standard. The overall development provides for 19.9% public open space, which is overlooked, exceeds council requirements as set out in the 1999 County Development Plan and is of genuine amenity value.

The site layout facilitates traffic calming and prioritises the safety of the residents

Sorry for always moaning in this thread, but cmon, they’re some of the most horrible buildings I have ever seen in my life. Whoever designed them ought to be shot, whoever signed off on the construction permission should be burnt and whoever built them should be fired.

yeah but the ramp is deadly!

Sorry for always moaning in this thread, but cmon, they’re some of the most horrible buildings I have ever seen in my life. Whoever designed them ought to be shot, whoever signed off on the construction permission should be burnt and whoever built them should be fired.

The most horrible buildings you’ve EVER seen? 😮 You must live a sheltered life 😀

:confused: What’s wrong with them? To my eyes, they’re an order of magnitude better than 90% of the suburban housing which has sprung up around the country over the last 10 or 15 years.

Do you really prefer the likes of this (stolen from another thread):

Its a generic estate so no, Im not keen. But at least they look like standard houses. The black & white ones look like someone got a two normal houses, sliced them down the middle, then stuck them back together again with a bit in the middle.

Yeah or one side of a block will be painted pink and the other left as it is 🙁

Ooh they’re nice and sharp. The grey brick is also very elegant – a good choice and should be used more often that it currently is. The houses are also well proportioned, the paving and wall coping neatly match the house walls, and the uniform timber gates add a nice splash of warmth to the streetscape. The lampposts are also crisp, non-sodium, and suitably finished in black. How refreshing.

But just as mentioned, how long will it be before someone paints their house cream, and replaces the black windows with white Georgian plastic grids? And don’t forget the bay windows and bracketed porches.

What’s most pleasing about this scheme is that it’s not more of the usual patronising, happy-clappy crap of multi-coloured elevations, tokenistic angular slanty bits, and galavanised features we’re getting shoved down our throats of late, backed up by the all-encompassing pathetic excuse of being ‘modrin loike’. There’s an order, logic and genuine attractiveness to this scheme that pushes it head and shoulders above most of the stuff we’re building. Impressive density too. More of this please Murray O’Laoire.

Public to be consulted on rejuvenation of Shannon

Archiseek / Ireland / News / 2007 / June 14

Members of the public are being invited to help prepare a masterplan for the rejuvenation of County Clare’s second largest town. Strictly dealing with land-use issues, the masterplan will seek to guide and facilitate the future development of over 90 acres of land in the centre of Shannon Town, as identified in the South Clare Economic Corridor Local Area Plan 2003.

The key objectives of the masterplan include the provision of new civic landmark facilities for Shannon, the creation of an attractive and durable urban public domain of streets and squares, a town centre built on excellent public transport linkages, and a living town centre with residential development integrated with commercial and employment uses. The masterplan also aims to diversify the range of commercial uses and activities, and support a vibrant town centre atmosphere daytime and evening.

Murray Ó Laoire Architects, in association with property consultants DTZ Sherry Fitzgerald and consulting engineers White Young Green are to prepare the masterplan, on behalf of Clare County Council. As part of the process a public information and consultation evening will be hosted in the Oakwood Arms Hotel, Shannon from 6-8.30pm on Thursday 28th June 2007. The Masterplan team will also be available to meet by appointment with representatives of local community groups during stakeholder clinics on June 28th in the offices of Shannon Town Council.

“The purpose of the masterplan is to conceive an overall vision, planning framework and design guidance on the best potential development of the lands as an extension of the town centre area in Shannon”, stated John Bradley, Senior Executive Planner, Clare County Council.

He continued, “It is imperative that the local community is incorporated into any plans to develop the centre of Shannon. The upcoming public meeting will allow the local community to inform us of their economic development, recreational, social, community, residential, transport and infrastructural needs.”

Submissions to the Shannon Town Centre Masterplan should be made in writing or email by 4.00pm on Friday July 9th 2007. All submissions should be marked; Shannon TC02/TC03 Masterplan, Murray Ó Laoire Architects, Brian Merriman Place, Lock Quay, Limerick or they can be e-mailed to Kate.Hogan@murrayolaoire.com. Submissions should state the name, address, and where relevant, the body represented. The Masterplan team will review all submissions and observations lodged within the above timeframe.

Looking at the images that vkid posted on the previous page, one can’t overlook how surface car parking 🙁 has such a negative visual impact and of course a loss of valuable public amenity space. I hope they make it a priority to replace them with underground or multi-storey car park blocks. Thus freeing up open spaces?

Will be very interesting to see what Murray O L come up with for this. As I said a long time ago this is so badly needed in the town. Some resemblance of a street structure is crucial. Anything else is piecemeal (ie Skycourt..which is a disaster really). Skycourt promised the earth and did very little.
Now all they need to do is get this right . Its a big site and has great potential to give it the town feel it needs. It feels like there is just a very poor shopping centre there now.

Skycourt added one Multistory but its use was limited until recently because of a row over charging for the use of it and the surface car parks…which did not sit well with the locals. This car park charge nearly killed retail in the town altogether and Skycourt felt the pinch( from retailers as much as Joe public) and now allow 2 hours free in both surface and multistory.

Shannon plan to create 1,000 jobs

A €400 million plan to create 1,000 jobs in Shannon over the next 15 years was unveiled today.

The blueprint aims to create a new town centre on a 90-acres site in the Co Clare industrial hub still reeling from the Aer Lingus decision to axe Heathrow flights from Shannon Airport this month.

The proposals include plans for a new main street and town square as well as a civic arts centre, hotel, civic park, a primary school, clinic and an enterprise school.

The Masterplan was prepared on behalf of Clare County Council by Murray O Laoire Architects. Shannon, the only twentieth century planned town in Ireland, was built in the 1960s on reclaimed marshland alongside Shannon Airport and Shannon Free Zone industrial estate.

The town itself was originally intended as a home for local workers but saw rapid growth in population levels in recent years.

“The completed Masterplan contains an overall vision, planning framework and design guidance on the best potential development of the lands as an extension of the town centre area in Shannon,” said Clare County Council Senior Executive Planner, John Bradley, “Shannon has all the traits of a suburb and few of the qualities of a town.

The community needs a place and space that brings things and people together – a pulsing heart. The town centre must integrate properly with the existing centre, airport and industrial estate and estuary to give an overall package.”

The proposals also include 1,500 underground car parking spaces, a network of pedestrian and cycling routes as well as higher building design standards and building technology to achieve the greatest energy efficiency.
Other green energy initiatives in the blueprint include solar panels, rain water harvesting and five hectares of parklands and wetlands. The Shannon Masterplan will go on public display in the town tomorrow.

It must be approved by members of Shannon Town Council and Clare County Council before construction can begin.

© 2008 ireland.com

The new Coonagh Shopping Centre does both Shannon Town and Limerick City Centre no favours.

Shannon Masterplan Link

Masterplan in Summary

A summary of new envisioned development on Shannon TC02 / TC03 lands includes:

• New Main Street for Shannon
• New Civic Arts Centre
• 3.1 hectare Civic Park
• Provision for Primary School, playgrounds and childcare facilities
• Provision for owner occupied small business units
• Provision for public transport
• Provide for a minimum additional population of 2,500 – 3000
• Possible Additional comparison retail – 15,000 sq.m gross floor area
• Possible Additional convenience retail – 5,000 sq.m gross floor area approx.
• Possible Additional non-retail commercial units – 5,000 sq.m gross floor area
• Possible Additional tourism and leisure uses (Hotel, fitness centre, café-bar, restaurant) – 10,000-15,000 sq.m gross floor area

The masterplan also shows potential to provide for:

• Medical Care Facility
• School of Enterprise
• Conference Facilities
• Hotel
• Fitness and Spa destinations

Tributes to Dr Brendan O’Regan

Irish Times Obituary and Article

Shannon Development Chairman

Limerick Leader Article

University of Limerick Industrial Visionary

Plans for new courthouse in Shannon town

By Mike Dwane Limerick Leader

MANAGEMENT at SkyCourt, Shannon, have confirmed they are in discussions with the Office of Public Works over a new courthouse for the town.

Shannon District Court has been sitting in Ennis while the OPW has been looking for a site. And it has now emerged that the state agency is in negotiations with SkyCourt to build a courthouse in the expansion of the shopping centre 😮 which is currently proposed.

This would bring “a strong civic component in the proposed new development”, according to SkyCourt, “consolidating a range of civic facilities facing the town square, including the recently-completed oratory”.

Planning is also being sought by the SkyCourt for a new Tesco’s and Dunnes Stores at the centre.

SkyCourt has objected to the proposed €400 million masterplan 😮 that was recently published. Retail, office and residential space as well as civic amenities are being proposed for this site, TC2/TC3, which is across the road from the SkyCourt centre.

But SkyCourt manager Pat Kelly has said the draft masterplan needs to acknowledge that his centre “represents the existing core retail area” for Shannon.

“The applications which we are now putting before the County Council provide for the lo
gical completion of the SkyCourt centre and this should be prioritised before any development is mooted in TC2/TC3. This is crucial in the interests of SkyCourt, our 60 tenants and nearly 350 employees. It makes no sense to abandon a project that is half-finished and start up another one nearby,” he said.

One of two applications lodged with County Hall in Ennis is seeking permission for a 60,000-square foot Dunnes Stores – with an additional 16,650 square feet of retail space – incorporating the space formerly occupied by Tesco, which closed last month. Dunnes are in talks with SkyCourt over relocating within the centre.

And the second outlines plans for a new 80,000-square foot Tesco’s, plus 7,500 square feet of smaller retail units fronting onto the town square.

Developments covered by the two applications represent an investment of some €60 million, according to SkyCourt.

See also: New Shannon Skycourt plans

Westpark Business Campus Shannon (Updates)

First Post (November 2006)

Westpark Business Campus Welcomes New International Tenant (Michael Punch & Partners)

(August 2007)

The Westpark Shannon Business Campus welcomes their second major international tenant to their one million square feet development. The pharmaceutical company Schwarz Pharma Ltd will expand its Shannon based operations into the business campus. The new building will have a floor area of over 100,000 square feet, over five levels. The building will accommodate administration, quality control, IT services and a research and quality centre. Michael Punch & Partners, as lead Structural/Civil consulting engineers for the project, are delighted to be associated with such a prestigious project.

Successful Planning Permission for 11 Storey Office and Amenity Building at Westpark, Shannon. (Michael Punch & Partners)

(May 2008)

The proposed building forms part of the overall Westpark campus development which is being developed as a hub for high tech multinational companies wishing to locate in the Shannon region. The latest addition to the campus will contain amenity and leisure facilities, including gymnasium and pool along with substantial office space. The primary feature will be a sky restaurant/cafe located on the 11th floor. Construction on this project is due to commence Summer 2008.

From an ariel views of shannon (google earth) the westpark development is quite extensive. Since the New road networks it has direct access with the N19 and the Airport. It reminds me of city west business parks. Even though they are nothing to compare, as they are completely different. But both are fairly successful though the least.

Plans for Shannon crematorium are approved (Limerick Leader)

Published Date: 18 March 2009

By Anne Sheridan

AN Bord Pleanala have approved plans to build the first crematorium in the west of Ireland – in Shannon – despite the recommendation of its own inspector.

The €1 million plan by Illaunamanagh Ltd was strongly opposed throughout the planning process by Gerry Flynn, mayor of Shannon, and residents, but supported by a local priest.

The development received planning permission from Clare County Council, subject to 17 conditions, in December 2007, but was appealed to the national planning authority by four objectors.

Mayor Flynn had argued that the development is contrary to the guidelines for the protection of green areas and areas of conservation, and also questioned the impartiality of the decision made by the local authority.

Nearby residents expressed concern over the health, safety and amenity impacts the development could have.

The heritage body An Taisce also made observations to An Bord Pleanala, stating that the traffic impacts of this regional facility have not been adequately assessed.

In responding to their concerns, the developers stated that cremations will not exceed four per day initially, and argued “the question is not whether this is the most appropriate site, but whether the proposed development is acceptable.”

An Bord Pleanala’s inspector argued that the board should overturn Clare County Council’s decision, due to the “cramped form of development,” among other concerns.

However, in deciding not to accept the inspector’s recommendation to refuse planning, the board ruled that the crematorium would not seriously injure the amenities of the area or property in the vicinity.

Last year, the Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael groups at Clare County Council overwhelmingly voted in favour to contravene the South Clare Plan to back the proposal.
The two directors of the company, Illaunamanagh Ltd, are former members of Clare County Council, Seán Hillery and funeral director Tony McMahon.

Mr Hillery remains a member of Shannon Town Council. It is now expected that work will get under way “in late-spring early summer”.
Mr Flynn said the inspector’s report recommending refusal justified the concerns he had in opposing the plan.

However, a local priest Fr Tom Ryan was supportive of the plans due to the lack of graves in the cemetery at Illaunmanagh, where the crematorium will now also be based.

“We need the crematorium. If we look 10 or 20 years into the future, it offers an alternative to the more traditional burial,” he said.
The Catholic Church had opposed cremation in the past, Fr Ryan acknowledged. “It would have been seen back then as anti-resurrection but the Church understanding has since evolved.”

The crematorium design as building is pretty much functional. One would be forgiven to mistake it for a garage attached to the chapel.

I wonder are urns placed in the remembrance wall, somewhat like graveyards in Italy?

Still though a much needed facility for the Mid-West

Drawing upper half, chapel with covered walkway to crematorium and lower half, chapel with remembrance wall.

Developer says retail park will create 250 new jobs (Limerick Leader)

By Mike Dwane

LOCAL developer Sean Halpin is urging Clare County Council to give the green light to a major retail development at Smithstown, Shannon, that will create 250 full-time jobs upon completion.

Mr Halpin’s Greenband Developments also propose to create 180 jobs during construction, while another 200 jobs could be created indirectly if the €60m investment is approved.

The Limerick Leader reported in February that councillors backed an amendment to the South Clare development plan relating to the phasing of development of Shannon Town.

Shannon county councillor Gerry Flynn said back then that when the phasing provision had been originally introduced it was in the interests of orderly development, but its effect had been to curtail development of the town away from the existing town centre / Skycourt.

Despite reservations from some councillors that the council could expose itself to possible legal action, councillors voted in favour of the amendment, according to Cllr Flynn “in the interests of local job creation”.

Greenband now expects to lodge a planning application this week and Mr Halpin said the project next to the Oakwood Arms, “could not come at a better time” for the local economy.

“We have every confidence in this project and from an economic point of view it will have an enormous benefit on the local community.

“The retail park and neighbourhood centre will create 250 full-time jobs, 200 indirect jobs and 180 jobs during construction. In the current economic environment this would be a major boost to the area, not least given the severe impact of the downturn in Shannon and south-east Clare in general,” said Mr Halpin.

Two anchor tenants will occupy the retail park, with one already secured subject to planning permission and talks with another retailer “at an advanced stage”.

A discount foodstore and neighbourhood centre to include a small convenience store, pharmacy, bookmakers and hairdressers will also be contained in this week’s application. A second phase, comprising a residential development, is to follow.

I can’t see this proposal to be beneficial for the development of Shannon’s Town Centre at this time, see Masterplan above.

Council ruling derails €60m retail park

GORDON DEEGAN in Ennis

A BUSINESSMAN yesterday revealed that he and his business partners are paying €20,000 in bank interest each month on a project that a county council has rendered no longer viable.

Last Thursday, Clare County Council gave the go-ahead for a €60 million retail park at Smithstown, Shannon. But it refused planning permission for the neighbourhood component of the application with the result that no aspect of the retail park will commence.

The application was made by Greenband Investments and Seán Halpin. Mr Halpin criticised the council, saying: “I have never encountered the kind of stone-walling, trip-wires, impediments that was put in the way of this development here.”

Mr Halpin said that the omission of the neighbourhood centre component of the plan no longer makes the retail park viable.

Mr Halpin confirmed that he and his business partners bought the 17½ acre site, zoned commercial, for €8 million in 2005 and have since paid €2 million in interest.

He said the interest is now costing on average €20,000 each month and that this was a lot of money for himself and his partners.

© 2009 The Irish Times

There is a good (sobering) article this week in the Limerick Post by Rebekah Commane. Dealing with a decade of downsizing at the Shannon Free Zone. According to a local representative 50 % of the buildings in the estate are vacant. Some are even saying that manufacturing in Ireland is dead (i.e. high costs).

One glimmer of light for the estate is called the West Park Business Campus. Where the business emphasis is on services such as finance, software, medical etc.

One gets the impression that the campus is or will be built around a small hill mound. According to their website phase 1 of Westpark Shannon business campus is now complete, comprising 3 of the 7 planned landmark buildings and phase 2 will comprise of the remaining 4 of 7 landmark buildings.

Anybody know if phase 2 has started and if so how many of the 7 blocks has been completed to date?

Previous post.

There’re two buildings complete on the town side of the development and one other complete on the airport side.

I actually think they may have begun the next phase including a multistory car park structure. Not sure about that though.

Mainly seems to be aircraft leasing companies based there. GE Capital have taken one full building. Still a major amount of vacant space in there though. No sign of the restaurant building in the centre or the mature planting.

The buildings themselves are quite nice but completely unsustainable energy wise. They’re fully air conditioned and with deep floor plates preventing optimum use of natural daylight.

I do think its pretty bizarre that they’ve allowed these to be built up here given the stagnating acres of land in the free zone below. Its amazing to drive round the old area to see the row upon row of empty buildings.

Shannon town plan goes on display

Shannon’s stand-alone town plan has been placed on public display by Clare County Council.

Up to now, Shannon has been incorporated into the South Clare Local Area Plan and dealt with beside other towns and villages locally.

Now, a draft Shannon Town and Environs Local Area Plan (2012-2018) has been published and will include Shannon town, airport lands, the Free Zone business park and other business parks.

Shannon councillor Gerry Flynn said the plan was a “very comprehensive document” that will influence “the future growth and development of Shannon”.

© 2011 The Irish Times

Clare County Council