A Co Clare couple have won their 15-year battle to develop a cave that contains reputedly the largest free-hanging stalactite in the world as a tourist attraction.
An Bord Pleanála granted planning permission yesterday to John and Helen Browne of Ardeamish, Lisdoonvarna, to develop the cave containing the 23ft Great Stal near Doolin.
In the face of opposition from An Taisce and the Pól an Ionáin Action Group, the planning board ruled the proposal was in accordance with the sustainable development of the area and would not cause unacceptable levels of harm to the structural integrity of the Great Stalactite.
"We are thrilled and very happy, it has been a long struggle," Ms Browne said yesterday. "What we have is an eco-friendly proposal and we will take a responsible attitude to ensure that no damage is caused to the Stalactite. It is a spectacular thing to see, and we are delighted that the general public will at last be able to view it."
Ms Browne said more than €500,000 had been spent on getting the project to this stage. Work towards opening the cave would start immediately, and it might be open towards the end of the upcoming tourist season.
The board's inspector in the case said in his report that the Great Stal "is a significant part of Ireland's cultural heritage due to its scientific and aesthetic importance".
Planning was first granted in 1991. However, the Brownes failed to develop the plan after becoming embroiled in a High Court land dispute with a local farmer.
The planning permission lapsed after five years, forcing the Brownes to seek permission again, which they secured from the council in 2000. However, this second application was refused by An Bord Pleanála in 2001 after the Brownes were unable to complete the required environmental impact statement.
In the latest plan, the Brownes dramatically scaled back their proposal to omit the original interpretative centre, restaurant, shop and car park with 70 spaces.
In the new model, visitors will be ferried to the site from designated points in Doolin.
In yesterday's upholding of the council's decision to grant planning permission, the board had regard to the limited nature and scale of the above-ground facilities; the detailed proposals submitted by the applicant for the protection of the Great Stalactite, and the provision for controlling access to the site.
One of the 12 conditions attached to the grant limits the number of visitors to the cave to 55,000 per annum.
A spokesman for An Taisce said yesterday that the trust would refer the decision for investigation by the European Commission, to determine as to whether An Bord Pleanála's decision and assessment of the EIS lodged with the plan complies with the Environmental Impact Assessment Directive.
A spokesman for the Pól an Ionáinn Action Group said yesterday: "We are saddened that the developers are to be allowed to widen the passage of the presently intact cave system. This action will be irreversible."
He added: "We are relieved the development above ground is to be extremely limited and that as such the visual amenity is largely preserved."
