COMMUNITY FACILITIES
The 30 acre park contains a rugby pitch, soccer pitch, all-weather sand pitch, all-weather artificial pitch, running/walking trail and a community park.
The intergenerational sports hall and dressing rooms facilitates indoor training, activities and events.
SUPPORT & FUNDING
Clarisford Park is managed and operated by a non profit volunteer led community group.
The Clarisford Project has been supported by Clare County Council, LEADER, Clare Local Development Company, The Ireland Funds, Sports Capital Programme, Clare Sports Partnership, Irish Sport, Dormant Accounts Fund, the JP McManus Benevolent Fund and the W2 Foundation, in addition to local clubs, businesses and the community of Killaloe Ballina.
NATIONAL ACCOLADES
- Designated a Community Sports & Physical Activity Hub in County Clare by Irish Sport and Clare Sports Partnership.
- Runner-up in the National IPB Pride of Place Awards 2015.
- Awarded the National Planning Award for ‘Opportunity & Empowerment’ 2016 by the Irish Planning Institute.
- Finalist in the 2017 Community & Council Awards presented by IPB Insurance & LAMA.
ENVIRONMENT
Clarisford Park is designated as a prime wildlife conservation area in Ireland & Europe. The park sits within the Lower River Shannon Special Area of Conservation (SAC) part of the “Natura 2000” network of protected areas throughout the European Union.
Mature Beech, Oak, Sycamore, Horse Chestnut, Ash and Willow are dominant within the mixed broad leaf woodland with native species of Birch, Hazel, Oak, Holly, Hawthorn and Lime planted as part of the replanting programme for Clarisford Park.
Clarisford Park is popular with bird watchers with species such as the Grey Heron, Mute Swan, Moorhen, Kingfisher, Black Headed Gull, Little Grebe, Great Crested Grebe, Swallow, Great Tit, Robin, Chaffinch, Coot, WoodPigeon, Wren, Blackbird, Chiff Chaff, Jay, Dunnock and the Sedge Warbler.
Clarisford Park originally formed part of the demesne of the Bishops Palace/Clarisford Palace; a magnificent late eighteenth-century building, hosting elegant features such as Doric pillars, designed landscape, outbuildings, entrance lodge and a small courtyard containing an old well. The Palace and its curtilage are listed in the Record of Protected Structures and the National Inventory of Architectural Heritage.
Used as a Bishop’s palace by the Church of Ireland until 1977, Clarisford Palace is now in private ownership.