New ten-bedroom lodge for Clare Island

New ten-bedroom lodge for Clare Island


Áine Ryan

Clew Bay outpost, Clare Island, is about to get a significant boost in its tourism appeal with the development of an impressive new ten-bedroom lodge and activities centre, which includes both a public bar and a restaurant.
For Galway-born emigrant and long time New York resident, Mr Jim Cox, the recent Mayo County Council planning permission, on February 10 last, is the culmination of five years’ planning and research.
Speaking from his home in New York yesterday, he told The Mayo News: “If all runs smoothly now, I hope to start work on the site during June with a projected completion date of May next year.”
“The concept is a retirement project and involves both my wife and two adult children, as a family run business. We plan to promote culturally oriented activities with a particular emphasis on Irish music and dancing,” Jim Cox said.
Jim Cox is a native of Galway and emigrated in 1975. He spent many years as a mariner and a ship’s captain and worked in the Persian Gulf and Africa. He then settled in New York 24 years ago.
Situated in the village of Capnagower, the new lodge will overlook spectacular Clew Bay, and  its clusters of Faberge egg-like islands, with imposing pyramidal mountain, Croagh Patrick in the distance.  
It is also situated near the existing Bayview Hotel, which has been closed for accommodation due to a kitchen fire.   
The ten-bedroom lodge and marine activities centre will include such facilities as a reference library, public bar and restaurant. Adherence to the vernacular traditions has been a primary consideration merging with understated and subtle modern architectural design, which encompasses a semi-circular wing housing the dining room. This area looks out over an amphitheatre formed in the landscape from grass banks and dry stone walls. Materials will be drawn from the traditional palate, with the building incorporates green technology in both construction and alternative energy sources.