THE Wild Atlantic Drive, a new tourism initiative for the Western seaboard, was announced at Wednesday’s Fáilte Ireland tourism briefing for the Mid-West.Comprising a themed and packaged driving trail from Donegal to West Cork, it will be the first in a series of major new initiatives.There have been recent reports regarding an increase in visitors to Ireland but at the briefing, Fáilte Ireland CEO, Shaun Quinn, said a lot remains to be done. “Although 2011 was an encouraging year, there is no room for complacency. We must all remain focussed on doing all we can to maintain a momentum towards recovery. Fáilte Ireland, through a mixture of marketing, supporting tourism businesses and developing attractive tourism destinations, will work closely to boost the full potential of the Shannon region in 2012.”Fiona Monaghan, head of operations for Fáilte Ireland in the Shannon region, said a key focus for the coming year will the development of clearly defined destination development plans for Limerick …

AN appeal to An Bord Pleanála, made by Towercom Ltd after Clare County Council refused planning permission for the retention of a telecommunications mast at Sladoo, Carran, was successful.The inspector’s report outlined where the mast is situated. “The subject site with a stated area of 0.85ha is located at the Eircom Exchange in Sladoo, Carran in the Burren area of North County Clare. The existing lattice structure is located to the northwest of the village of Carron in an area of high scenic and amenity value within the Burren landscape. “The existing lattice structure measures 15.5m in height (including the existing antennae) and is visible over the wider landscape. The site is located within a proposed Natural Heritage Area and the Special Area of Conservation of Moneen Mountain and is also located along a designated Scenic route.”The report states that Clare County Council refused permission for the retention as it was too close to existing dwelling houses, which were located …

The only thing garnering more international media attention than Ireland’s current economic woes is the docile reaction of the Irish people to it. A recent programme broadcast on BBC Radio 4 featured an interview with Fintan O’Toole. Also on the panel were artists and social historians and the topic was austerity. When the Irish journalist had outlined the grim reality facing people in Ireland, the presenter and the panel returned again and again to one question, why are Irish people accepting this? The people of Greece took to the streets to voice their apoplexy at the austerity imposed on them by their government and Europe and other than a demure and orderly march by 100,000 people last year, the people of Ireland have remained stoically silent in the face of their undeserved punishment. During the first weeks of the latest Irish coalition government, the only tough talk we heard from the newly elected leaders was with regard to a staunch …

A CLARE garda has been selected as one of the few to be promoted to the rank of inspector within An Garda Síochána in the past year. Inspector Dermot O’Connor, who is from Ennis, was informed before Christmas he had been selected for promotion to the rank of inspector and this week, he performed his first official duty as prosecutor at Ennis District Court. Inspector O’Connor was first posted to Ennistymon Garda Station having graduated from the Garda College in 1995. In 2002, he was transferred on promotion to the Garda College in Templemore where he was a training sergeant. He returned to County Clare in 2004 and was posted at Shannon Garda Station and in 2005, he was appointed sergeant in charge there. In 2007, the Ennis man took up the divisional clerk post (personal assistant) to Clare’s chief superintendent and he remained in that post up until Christmas. Now as an inspector, he will be assigned to a …

DOONBEG footballer Frank O’Dea is in the middle of a difficult planning dilemma following plans for the construction of 45 extra large wind turbines near his new proposed home.Mr O’Dea outlined his predicament in a comprehensive objection to An Bord Pleanála opposing plans for the development of a new “industrial” windfarm in the locality.Although he recently got planning permission to build a new house in Mount Rivers, he stressed there was no way he would even attempt to build because of the windfarm.“Why would I put money into a house to look at 58 turbines in this area? If I build and this windfarm goes ahead, I will have turbines at the back of my house, at the front of my house and at the south of my house.   “My house would be worthless after building it. If for any reason I ever wanted to sell it, who would buy a house in a windfarm when you can buy one …

AS it begins its 30th year in operation, the Clare and Ennis branch of the Samaritans is seeking new volunteers. The organisation will be having two information/selection events, the first on Thursday, January 26 at 8pm in the Old Ground Hotel and the second at the same venue on the morning of January 28 at 10am.The Samaritans provide confidential emotional support to people who are experiencing feelings of distress and despair, including feelings that may lead to suicide.At a national level, the Samaritans have been very busy since the onset of recession. There were 265,445 dialogue contacts on its telephone system in the Republic of Ireland in the 12 months to October 2011, representing an increase of 9% on the previous 12-month period.In 2010, the local branch received 31,690 contacts, the majority of them by phone, with some via email and some being visitors to the branch. The amount of contacts to the local branch has increased significantly over the …

WELL-known Fianna Fáil stalwart and songwriter, Frank Conway, is the new president of the Ennis No 1 Fianna Fáil Cumann. He was elected at the cumann’s annual general meeting in The Queen’s Hotel, which also elected Peter Moylan as the new chairman.Others elected were Lorraine Burke (vice-chairperson), Sean Lenihan (secretary), Liam Kitt and Oliver Madigan (joint treasurers) and Josie Nevin (PRO).Mr Conway, who was the outgoing chairman, highlighted the branch’s activities in the past year and said among the highlights of his terms in office over the years was the then Minister for Health presiding at the election of officers at one of their annual general meetings and the Dáil Éireann trip to meet Clare Fianna Fáil Oireachtas members. He also paid tribute to the late Michael Guerin, the former president of the Ennis No 1 Cumann. He said for many years, the late Mr Guerin served the people of Ennis, the county and Fianna Fáil very well. He also …

QUEALLY’S Super Valu, Kilrush is to continue with its support of Kilrush Tidy Towns for 2012. “We are extremely grateful to Queally’s for their long-standing support of Kilrush Tidy Towns. Their contribution has created the stability to allow us to pursue a multitude of projects that have benefited the local community and resulted in the town being able to achieve gold medal standard in the last five National Tidy Town competitions,” Kilrush Today Towns chairman, Paul Edson said. The Tidy Towns committee has a number of projects planned for the year ahead to further enhance the town. The upgrading of Moore Street has provided a huge boost to the town and further efforts will concentrate on further enhancing the streetscape.The Kilrush Tidy Towns AGM will be held next Wednesday at 8.30pm in the Haven Arms.