Community and tourism groups are being invited to make their input into a draft development plan on how best to manage visitors and tourism on Holy Island in Lough Derg.
Clare County Council acquired Holy Island in 2015, when they bought 41 acres of land on the island, which along with two acres already owned by the OPW, brought the entire island into public ownership for the first time.
Dating back to the 7th century Holy Island, located a few kilometres from the shore at Mountshannon in Co Clare, is regarded as one of the most important monastic sites in the country, where a round tower, a monks graveyard and a number of churches are located.
It has strong connections to Brian Boru, who was High King of Ireland in the 10th century who built the famous tower there, and his brother Marcan was abbot there in 1008.
The "saints graveyard" located beside the tower, which is the burial ground to monks and abbots over many centuries is unique in Europe, in that it has remained undisturbed for 1,000 years.
Holy Island is also earmarked on the UNESCO world heritage tentative list for Ireland as an early medieval monastic site along with Clonmacnoise, Durrow, Glendalough, Kells and Monasterboice.
A team of architects has now drawn up a draft visitor management and sustainable tourism development plan for the island.
The plan is designed to improve access, provide tourism facilities and market and promote the island as an important historical location, but at the same time preserve and protect its heritage.
The draft plan has been drawn up with input from local tourism, community and angling organisations, as well as Waterways Ireland, Fáilte Ireland and the Department of Arts Heritage and the Gaeltacht.
Clare County Council has organised a public consultation of the plan to take place in the Mountshannon Community Hall on 23 March at 7pm for responses and further input into the plan in advance of it being finalised on 21 April.
