Ireland’s Housing Crisis: Communities in Darkness at 9 PM

Shannon, Ireland’s first planned town, currently records a commercial vacancy rate of 34.9 per cent—the highest of any settlement in the country—according to data published by An Post’s property database service GeoDirectory. Built in the 1960s on Drumgeely Hill to house workers for nearby Shannon Airport and the Shannon Free Zone, the Co Clare town has grown to a population of more than 10,000 people. Despite reaching a size comparable to Castlebar or Wicklow town, the settlement lacks a traditional town centre and many basic amenities, leaving residents and community leaders to navigate a stark divide between the residential town and a thriving, investment-heavy industrial zone.

Did You Know? Shannon began in the 1960s as a collection of flats on Drumgeely Hill to support workers at Shannon Airport and the Shannon Free Zone, evolving into a cosmopolitan community formed by people fleeing the Troubles in Northern Ireland alongside international skilled workers.

Derek Clune, a resident of more than 50 years, chairperson of the Tidy Towns group and Men’s Shed, and a board member of the Shannon Community Network, states that the high vacancy rate stops people from coming together as a community. According to Clune, residents frequently travel to Limerick and Ennis to shop or socialise because the town lacks a clothes shop, a shoe shop, a nightclub, and has only two pubs for its population of over 10,000. Helen Downes, chief executive of Shannon Chamber, notes that these commercial vacancies affect perceptions and confidence, leaving the town unable to benefit visibly from the economic success unfolding in the adjacent industrial zone.

Governance of Shannon transferred from Shannon Development to Clare County Council in 2004, and over the past two decades, authorities have drafted multiple masterplans that were never fully implemented. The current masterplan features the One Shannon project, designed to establish a central thoroughfare complete with public amenities, an entertainment venue, and commercial units. A spokesperson for Clare County Council states that an application to fund the project was submitted to the Towns and Cities Regeneration Investment Fund in May of this year, describing the undertaking as the key transformational project for the area. Local representatives, such as Clare Sinn Féin TD Donna McGettigan, observe that while the industrial estate benefits from new units and investment, the town remains slow, prompting community calls to put vacant units to productive use as spaces for local organisations.

Community groups continue to demonstrate high levels of activity despite infrastructural limitations. Earlier this year, Muse Productions and the Shannon Musical Society won top awards at the Association of Irish Music Societies Awards, marking the first time groups from a single town secured both accolades. Martin McNelis of Muse Productions emphasizes that a dedicated local theatre, potentially incorporated into the proposed One Shannon Hub, remains a vital goal for the arts community.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Shannon’s current commercial vacancy rate? According to An Post’s property database service GeoDirectory, Shannon’s commercial vacancy rate stands at 34.9 per cent, representing the highest rate of any settlement in the country.

When and why was Shannon originally established? The town began in the 1960s as a collection of flats on Drumgeely Hill, built to house workers for nearby Shannon Airport and the Shannon Free Zone.

What is the One Shannon project? The One Shannon project is a key transformational proposal included in the current town masterplan, designed to provide a central thoroughfare featuring public amenities, an entertainment venue, commercial units, and a theatre space known as the One Shannon Hub.

How do local residents view the current lack of a town centre and amenities?