Locals can no longer afford to rent, buy or build homes in Connemara, where business interests fear residential planning application refusals will suck the life out of the region.

That’s the conclusion reached in research carried out by Connemara Chamber of Commerce, which warned that Clifden – the capital of Connemara – was in grave danger of becoming a two-month tourist town.

A delegation from the business representative group met with Galway Oireachtas members and County Councillors this week and outlined the ‘warts and all’ reality facing Connemara and Clifden.

Led by chairman and Clifden businessman John Sweeney, the group highlighted three problems – a lack of homes for locals to remain living in the area coupled with planning refusals was chief among the existential threats.

The Chamber of Commerce also called for political support to secure funding to get its planned remote working hub over the line. And it urged the authorities to fast-track solutions to Galway’s traffic woes, so that business, residents and holidaymakers can access Connemara without being delayed by city bottlenecks.

“If you can’t provide a place for people to work, if you can’t provide a place for people to live, and if you can’t provide infrastructure for people to get here, where are we going?” asked Mr Sweeney.

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