After a lot of discussion on how to deal with the issue of how to pay for the materials going into the construction of the Aistear, InisCealtra Community Development Ltd. decided to invite Clare County Council back to the village and to make a presentation on the state of affairs of the project.

At the request of Paul Bugler MCC, Clare County Council agreed to have their adjourned meeting held in the new clubhouse at Woodpark Golf Course. While the meeting was to highlight the lack of finance that the Company had to complete the project, it was also a special commemoration to Paddy Bugler R.I.P.

As part of the presentation a candle was lit to remember Paddy Bugler. His contribution to the community was recalled in detail. The financial plight of the Company was highlighted, as was the voluntary effort of the members over many years. The Company were verbally supported by the Council and praised for their efforts. Members of the Council paid tribute to Paddy Bugler. Councillor Sean Hillery stated that: “It is the greatest honour for anyone to be honoured in their own community”. He said he was delighted to be in a position to honour Paddy as “…his family still provides a great service to the County”. 

The County Council agreed to examine the means through which the Company could be supported to finalise the project.  In the aftermath of the meeting, the Chairman of Clare County Council, Mr. Sean Hillery, was invited to put the keystone, which was presented at the offertory at Paddy Bugler’s funeral mass, in place in the entrance arch of the Aistear. He was furthermore invited to unveil a plaque in memory of Paddy’s unwavering belief in community spirit. After placing the keystone and unveiling the plaque in the pouring rain of that September evening, Sean Hillery gave a commitment from the scaffold on which he stood that the community would get all the necessary support they needed to complete the Aistear project. 

A couple of months later, this was confirmed by Paul Bugler. The necessary funds were to be designated in the estimates to complete the project. Within two years, the funds were allocated and the burden of debt reduced. Throughout all this period progress was being made on the construction. Since FÁS were contributing the costs of wages of the people on the CEP, the work could continue uninterrupted. This was of immense benefit to all concerned. Without the numerous arrangements and agreements of support, the project could not have been completed.  

In 1999, when plans were being made at local and national level to celebrate the new Millennium, the Company decided to make an all-out effort to open the Aistear to the public to celebrate this great event. They set mid-summer evening, June 21^st, 2000, as the date for the official opening. 

At that stage the structure of the maze was almost completed. The participants on the FÁS/CEP worked long and arduous hours to finish the work. In early spring, the banks and footpaths were put in place and though everyone worked intensely, it became apparent that help was needed to get the planting of the boundary banks of the maze completed.  

In co-operation with the Community Council a Meitheal was organised. Posters and notices were issued and the community at large were invited to participate in the planting of the maze.

On the evening of Thursday, 27th April, 2000, men, women, children and visitors to the area gathered to plant the three and a half thousand trees, shrubs and plants that feature throughout the maze. By nightfall, the children had laid out a long winding trail of empty pots. The minds, hearts and hands of the community were indeed engaged in their own project. 2 months later on the 21^st of June 2000, the gates of the Aistear InisCealtra were formally opened by Mrs. Delia Turner R.I.P., the community’s most senior citizen.

 
The Millenium Year 2000 - Aistear InisCealtra opens to the public