A Bed and Breakfast on Inis Oírr is seeking planning permission for an extension to the existing building to serve more guests.
Ciaran Ó Chonghaile runs a bed and breakfast from a residential property at West Village Inis Oírr and is seeking approval from the council to expand the business.
The plans submitted to the county council are for a four bedroom, two storey extension to the existing house with a total floor area of 202.8sqm.
Comhar Caomhán Teo, the representative development company for Inis Oírr, gave its full throated support for the plans in a letter submitted to the council.
“Ciaran Ó Chonghaile is a native islander who has settled here and is raising his young family on the island.”
“The maintenance of a stable population is of paramount importance to Comhar Caomhán Teo and furthermore, as we are preparing a language plan for the next seven years, it more important to maintain our native Irish speakers in this community and those who are raising their children through Irish.”
The development company said that this expansion would “enhance, support, and is crucial to, his efforts to eke out a living on the island and continue living on the island.
A Natura Impact Statement was submitted with this planning application and Mr Ó Chonghaile stated that he intends to return approximately 100sqm of grassland on his property to limestone pavement to make up for the small amount that will be lost for this development.
Galway County Council is due to make a decision on this planning application by November 26.
