A €350 million plan to convert a GAA park into a shopping centre has come under fire.

Concerned residents have now made their voices heard with almost 1,000 submissions of dissent.

The 10-acre Cusack Park site was sold earlier this year for €86million to the Aisling Chiosoig Partnership, a consortium made up of builder Bernard McNamara and property developers Sean Lyne and Noel Connellan, who have applied to get the land rezoned.

However, Clare County Council has confirmed it has received 955 letters from local individuals calling on the council not to rezone the site.

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The park, located in Ennis, is the home of Clare's Gaelic football and Hurling teams

According to the Aisling Chíosóíg Partnership, the deal would yield a €66.4 million profit for the Clare County Board with which to build a new Cusack Park.

As well as significant retail outlets, the new development dubbed The Riverside Quarter will include a four star hotel with international standard conference facilities; residential and office accommodation; leisure facilities including a Cineplex, leisure centre, a riverside boardwalk, public plaza, civic amenity areas and residential units.

The Aisling Chiosoig Partnership said that up to 1,000 jobs will be created when the project is completed, and about 500 jobs in construction.

However, residents wish to preserve what is one of the few remaining green areas in the town.

(DW)