CLONAKILTY is to get its first 18-hole golf club after Clonakilty Golf Club, located at Lisselan Estate just outside the town, received planning permission this month to add three new holes to its existing popular golf course.

Clonakilty Food Company boss Colette Twomey bought Lisselan Estate in 2018 which included the then nine-hole golf course with a view to expanding it to turn into a 18-hole golf course.

The purchase also included a French Chateau-style house as well as acres of woodland and gardens located next to the Argideen River.

Clonakilty Golf Club applied to Cork County Council for the construction of three new golf holes as well as the extension and reconfiguration of the existing golf course and addition of golf holes which results in an increase from nine golf holes to 15 golf holes.

According to the planning documents, the club has also received planning for 39 car park spaces as well as a change of use from a former estate manager house to a golf clubhouse.

Planning documents also show that that a pedestrian bridge will be added and site excavation and removal of trees will also take place.

An existing septic tank will be decommissioned and a new wastewater treatment system and percolation area will be provided to serve the club house. Planning permission has also been granted for the provision of 25 overflow car parking spaces and all associated site development works including landscaping.

Access to the golf course will be via the existing L8083 road which is just off the N71 road and the development lies within the curtilage of Lisselan Country house and Demesne which is a protected structure and listed on the National Inventory of Architectural Heritage.

The club said the road access will remain the same and there are no proposed changes to the existing access of the site.

According to the planning documents, the area is designated as a ‘Rural Tourism and Diversification Area’ in the County Development Plan 2022.

An Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) screening statement concluded that the development is appropriate in the context of the site’s zoning objective and national policy and that ‘likely positive effects are forecasted’ as the development will provide a positive contribution to the area and will provide an important local amenity for the wider area of Cork.

It did however state that some traffic impacts may occur but they will be restricted to the hours of the operation of the facility.

Submissions received in support of the planning application came from those including Denise McCarthy, Lady Captain of Clonakilty Golf Club and Clonakilty Golf Club who stated that the town ‘needs and deserves an 18-hole golf course’ and that apart from club members it would be available to tourists and visitors throughout the year.

Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) made a submission saying that the local authority should have regard to the provisions of official policy for developments proposals impacting national road.

West Cork TD and Minister for State for Nature, Heritage and Biodiversity Christopher O’Sullivan said that an 18-hole golf course in Clonakilty will be huge for sport, tourism, locals and visitors across West Cork. He congratulated the Twomey family and club members for progressing this development.

Clonakilty Golf Club said online that this is a ‘huge milestone’ for their club, their members and the entire Clonakilty community.

Six years ago The Southern Star got a sneak peak inside the estate gates as well as a tour of the eight-bedroom house which boasts a fully-stocked library, a fairytale-type turret and even a Japanese-themed room. Speaking at the time Colette said she was enjoying the house at that time but would make a decision about its future down the line.