Castleisland Town and District submitted by Castleisland Chamber Alliance

Natural Assets and the Green Environment • Kerry, with a large rural hinterland presents an ideal base for any pilot project involving the transition to a low carbon economy, especially as there is a large, productive land base.  Additionally, Kerry has a large supply of organic materials from its larger urban centres like Tralee, Killarney and Listowel, Killorglin, Castleisland, and Kenmare as well as having excellent links to north Cork and west Limerick. There is also a large Industrial Food processing presence. There is an abundance of tacit knowledge and network strength in the bioeconomy area thanks to a wealth of agri-business and private activity in the area, and these businesses would be very keen to use the resources of the region – human capital/IP, physical assets, and the local environment to lead out on focused transitional projects, particularly but not limited to Anaerobic Digestion/Biogas production and Thermal Processing/Biorefining. Kerry is ideally situated to be a Centre of Excellence for developments in the Agri-Food and Waste Biomass Processing industry, the learnings from which could be replicated elsewhere in the county and beyond. These efforts would put the region on a more sustainable and future-proof path economically, socially, and environmentally, contributing to a strong County Development Plan but also aligning to National and EU policy on climate change, energy production, land use and biodiversity.  Kerry County Council should warmly welcome planning applications furthering these ambitions and determined to grow economic activity and employment sustainably and innovatively. The nearness of the new Munster Technology Campus in Tralee, which houses the Agritech Centre of Excellence (ACE), and the Southwest Bioeconomy Cluster is focussed amongst other things on Circular Economy solutions is also another compelling rationale.

•Objective:

To avail of the opportunity to attract some of the large number of visitors to our county into a welcoming and interesting Castleisland Town and extended District. We need to create more experiences to make it worth their time to come and visit.

Linking in with the concept of a Civic Centre for Castleisland- the development of the Con Houlihan/Castleisland District/Sliabh Luachra Museum and Exhibition Centre in the Civic Centre to show case in one place the history that has been documented in many archives by Con Houlihan, The Castleisland District Historical Society/Micheal Donohoe Literary Foundation, The PJ Teahan Handed Down Musical Archives, World Fiddle Day, Timothy Murphy Photographic Collection, Rob McGuire’s The Castle on the Island documentary (the Castle itself is in need of maintenance/development work to make it safe as a visitor attraction) and of course the proud Social and Sporting history of a sports mad region and County. The adjacency to the Kerry GAA Centre of Excellence adds to the appeal of adding a (Kerry) GAA Museum to the offering.

• To connect the Diaspora back to their roots we would propose a tri annual county wide mid-summer Gathering Event promoted by each Chamber, Tourism Bodies and Kerry County Council. The 800th Anniversary of the Town offers a tremendous opportunity to showcase the Town nationally and internationally.

. • Provision of equipment to run local festivals and events to bring people back into the town and local villages and on to the streets in an outdoor setting.

• The heritage of Sliabh Luachra brings the very best of musicians, singers, dancers and poets, plus thousands of enthusiasts, who come here for the unique Immersive Traditional Music experience along with the ambience of the real Rural, Rustic, Authentic, Castleisland Region and Sliabh Luachra Countryside. The Immersive Traditional experience, most sought after by tourists, is not something one captures in a Museum/Exhibition Centre (which only acts as a focal marketing point) but is to be experienced in the many towns and villages in the region, which are already well equipped with Rambling Houses, and Walking Trails. This already adds enormously to the economy of the area, but it needs to be up marketed and sold as a Tourism product, complementing, the tourism and heritage offerings already existing in the Castleisland Area, such as Crag Caves, the Glenageenty Walks and the Con Houlihan Trail. The Sliabh Luachra Region and Trail concept, the Padraig O'Caoimh Festival, along with the Handed Down Series and World Fiddle Day - all need to be strongly marketed and signposted where necessary, with physical landmarks around which walking trails and events (fleadh cheoil) can be organised to capture all that is good in the cultural heritage of our Region.

• The much-admired Glounsharoon viewing vista has now been developed to a standard becoming of such an awe-inspiring elevated viewing place – it is the first view for many visitors to our county of the majestic nature of what’s on offer in the Kingdom. • On the same theme the floral/plant décor of the Roundabouts on the Castleisland by-pass also require upgrading to a standard more in line with the roundabouts located at the entrances to our neighbouring Towns of Tralee and Killarney.

• The road signage on the Castleisland by-pass needs to be clearer at the access points to Castleisland. While the by-pass has solved the street traffic problem, it has also made it easier for potential customers to by-pass businesses in the Town. We need to recapture that business (commercial and tourism) with some compelling signage. On the Limerick approach road at Dooneen, the sign says only ‘Oilean Ciarrai’.

• Two proposed Greenways to link Castleisland

•To Tralee to be given immediate serious consideration, as it is a relatively low-cost project investment, linking the Castleisland/Sliabh Luachra Region to the WAW, via Ballyseedy Woods, Ballygarry Estate and the Limerick/North Kerry Greenway, coming together in Tralee, and incorporates easy access to the very popular Glenageenty Walking Trails, and from there to the well-known Lyreacrompane Region and Walkways – Rural Ireland at its very best.

• As a second phase along the old railway track to Gortatlea, along the River Maine to Castlemaine and onwards via the proposed South Kerry Greenway to Caherciveen, Valentia Island and South Kerry.

•To cater for the bag pack tourist the area needs to increase its stock of fully serviced Glamping and Camper Van accommodation.

•The stock of Guesthouse, Airbnb, and Farmhouse accommodation needs to grow to accommodate the 'experience' seeking visitor.

Sliabh Luachra includes

- Castleisland District: Ballymacelligott, Brosna, Castleisland, Cordal, Currow, Knocknagoshel, Scartaglin:

- Gneeveguilla, Rathmore, Kilcummin, Glenflesk, (Kerry) Ballydesmond, Kiskeam, Knocknagree, Cullen, Boherbue, Rockchapel, (Cork) and Abbeyfeale, Mountcollins, and Tournafulla/Templeglantine in Limerick 

Town Centre Commercial/Civic Development

The enlarged Town Centre now extends from the Killarney Road (Divanes)/Back of the Forge, to Tralee Rd (Kerry Agri) right up through Main Street, to the Carnegie, taking in Limerick Road to the site of the new Primary Care Centre, Church Street to Garveys Shopping Centre and Mart Lane, to Scoil Mhuire Gan Smalt, and the entire area at the rear of Main Street, from Creamery Lane stretching to the Rugby Club/An Riocht sporting and leisure complex.

• Developments of the Public Realm of our Town Centre will greatly enhance the attraction of the Town as a destination for residents - new and old, and for shoppers and visitors/tourists alike. Castleisland is experiencing widespread adoption of remote working, enabling it to attract workers across a wide range of industries and sectors to avail of its attraction as a place to live, and work in this 'new normal'.

Pursuing planning policies in line with compact growth, town centre regeneration and vibrancy, and future-use development to maximise civic/commercial and residential development in the town centre will deliver the desired effect.

•The immediate regeneration of Castleisland Town Centre firstly through careful planning and public consultation leading to the delivery of a high-quality public realm, merging the new and the old, is a must.

•As part of the regeneration of Castleisland Town Centre a Prominent Town Hall building needs to be acquired capable of housing a Castleisland District/Sliabh Luachra Culture and Heritage Centre, and to act as a central focus point for Tourism Activities in the Region and as a centre for Civic activities for the Town.

• As a Town with tremendous (social distancing) space (the second widest street in Ireland) and visual appeal we believe that a European ‘continental Parisienne/Plaza’ feel would be very easily created by widening of our footpaths, enabling canopies and covered areas to be created, for outside seating/dining and perhaps public musical performances - while reducing the amount of redundant space that is now created by the 'traffic island'. A feasibility plan needs to be undertaken to understand what is possible. Over the course of the pandemic, which forced travel restrictions and home working, many people have rediscovered the convenience of shopping locally, and the importance of local towns and villages for social and cultural engagement.

• Care must be taken to maintain Traditional Shopfronts and Signage as far as possible. In addition, traffic signposting needs to be consistent/uniform in shape and font.

• In addition to Over Shop Street residential possibilities, focus is required on the space to the rear of the street properties from Mart Lane to the Riocht/Rugby Club complex as an area for commercial and residential ‘development’ just off Main Street in a compact expansion of the Town Centre.

• While there has been a lot of progress in recovering unused property Enforcement of Derelict Orders may be required to get the remainder back into use. In this regard Promotion of Government/LA Schemes/New Schemes and an increase in subsidies may be required.

• The Riocht Town Park /River Walk Takeover and further expansion in both directions east to Tullig and North to the Water Tower will complement the on-street developments.

•The Survey and Design Award under the 2020 Town and Villages scheme, investigating enhanced connectivity at the top of the Castleisland Town between neighbourhoods, schools, community facilities and amenities and to carry out a study of vacant and derelict properties in the Town fits with these Regeneration proposals.

• Castleisland Town and Region is well served in terms of Public Services, Educational, Sporting and Community facilities. However, the departure of Financial Services companies from the Town leaves gaps in the support services available to Businesses and Community alike.

• Community Support Fund needs to be increased to be able to stage a Summer BBQ to complement the very successful ‘Xmas in Castleisland’ Launch

• The provision of regular Sweeper/Power Hose cleaning of the Main Street, Church Street, Barrack Street, Back of the Forge, Killarney Rd, Tralee Rd, and Limerick Rd.

• Adoption of strict Biodiversity and Pollinator Policy in the enhancement of our Walkways and Green Areas

• Enforcement of Dog Fouling and Littering and Traffic laws

• The creation of permanent outdoor areas to accommodate social interactions in a safe environment to include furniture and awnings. The temporary pods have proven very popular with younger people.

• Enhancement of town centres by painting, cleaning, and improving pedestrian access.

• Restrictions on Temporary Signage and their enforcement

• Major upgrade of Footpath stock - causing risk to the public, due to uneven and broken surfaces on the streets. Additionally linking Cahernard to the Killarney Rd. Roundabout to complete a very attractive (and then safe) walking circuit and finally linking the new Nursing Home on College Rd. to the graveyard.

• Extension of the number of designated Loading and Delivery Spaces and provision of a Taxi Rank

• Review of Traffic Flows through Castleisland, and Parking Requirements/Time Limits in support of the Retailing, Service and Hospitality sectors.