CONCERNS have been raised that the construction of salt barns by the NRA could result in additional surface water being diverted to a stretch of river described as “flood prone”. At a recent meeting of Ennis East Electoral Area, Councillor Johnny Flynn called on Clare County Council, in conjunction with the Office of Public Works (OPW), to increase the water freeflow under both the Aughavaddy and Gaurus bridges.According to Councillor Flynn, this is “urgently needed” for a number of reasons. He stated the action would “reduce the risk of flooding of a main access road to the town, adjoining properties and septic tanks in the area”.He added that it would also result in removing “the danger to traffic with ponding at this busy road, which has occured in the past and is identified by locals as a safety concern”. He commented that there is concern locally that “significant additional surface water from the salt barns being constructed will be diverted …

PLANS have been unveiled for the development of a new canoe trail on Lough Derg by three LEADER companies. Clare Local Development Compan (CLDC) joined up with North Tipperary LEADER Partnership and Galway Rural Development to outline draft plans, which met with widespread enthusiasm at public meetings in Scariff, Portumna, Ballina and Dromineer recently.Canoe trails are a feature of tourism and recreation in Canada, Scotland and the Nordic countries and now Lough Derg has become a candidate for a similar development in the coming years.The proposal includes the provision for the integration of mapping and visitor information, access points, accommodation, transport and equipment hire facilities that allow all standards of canoeist to navigate the waters and stay in the area. Visitors can choose from short or long trips, shore-to-shore or looped routes.It is being put forward as part of the Lough Derg Marketing Strategy Group’s efforts to implement Fáilte Ireland’s Destination Action Plan for the Lough Derg Lakelands policy. The …

THE re-opening of Broadford Post Office next Tuesday has been hailed as a victory for community power in South-East Clare.Deputy Timmy Dooley described the Broadford Action Group as a “shining example” to other communities throughout the country of what could be achieved by “community power” when they are faced with the threatened loss of local services.“The retention of Broadford Post Office brought the whole community together to fight for their rights in a well-organised fashion, which resulted in great success.“I was pleased to work with the local committee to retain Broadford Post Office and was particularly pleased to see the level of commitment and interest displayed by the community in retaining this service. “I would credit the success of this campaign to the efforts of Broadford Action Group committee chairman PJ Mason and his committee, who represented the local community very well,” he said.The post office was closed unexpectedly on November 9 last, which prompted a long-running campaign that included …

TO raise awareness of the world record attempt ‘Welcoming Claires to County Clare’ on June 23, the Clare Volunteer Centre and An Clár as Gaeilge Teo ran an art competition through local national schools. Almost 500 pupils entered the competition, which was adjudicated by Dolores O’Halloran (Clare Volunteer Centre), Karen Dunn (graphic designer) and Domhnall Ó Loinsigh (An Clár as Gaeilge).

SHANNON’S Rachael English has been on RTÉ Radio for more than 20 years and she has just published her first novel, Going Back.It tells the story of Elizabeth Kelly and her young friends, who spend the summer of 1988 in Boston and then revisits them in an Ireland once again in deep recession.Speaking about the plot to The Clare Champion this week, the Morning Ireland presenter said, “There’s a brief bit at the start in the present day but mainly the first half of the book is set in the summer of 1988. Then the second half of the book is set in the present day, between the end of 2010 and early 2012.“The first half of the book is about one particular summer and the second half, more than 20 years later, catches up with the people whose stories were told in the first part of the book. Some of the consequences or decisions they made back in ’88 …

IS our civil war still going on? Maybe we might think so when we listen to politicians but the actual civil war itself never officially ended. There was never a surrender by the Irregulars or a treaty between both sides – they might have thought that the mere mention of a treaty in those distressed times would have been asking for trouble.

PARISH priest Fr Tom Ryan has said the recent parish mission was a celebration of the parish’s faith.“Our parish mission was a time of renewal in exploring our lives through our theme of ‘Share the Good News’ and a true celebration of our parish’s faith. “It was an invitation to everyone to come, no matter whether you are a regular and active participant in the parish, someone who comes occasionally or had drifted away from the Church, to develop a deeper individual relationship with Jesus Christ. They came in their hundreds every day.“We were delighted to welcome our mission team, which was led by Sr Briege McKenna OSC in her only parish mission in Ireland this year and it also included Frs Kevin Scanlon (Dublin), Vincent Sherlock (Mayo) and Noel Kirwan (Limerick). Each one brought their own unique style of communication to each day of the mission.”After each morning session, there was a cup of tea or coffee available in …

MUSIC lovers from across the region will travel to North Clare at the weekend for this year’s Féile an tSamhraidh in Fanore and Ballyvaughan.Joining Paddy Casey and The Walls on the main stage on Saturday will be new band Walking On Cars, along with The Jim McKee Band, while local acts Lobster Johnson and Dominic Flynn perform on the Burren stage.“We have been very ambitious in this year’s festival line-up with fantastic acts from the get-go, so I would advise festival goers to arrive early in order to make sure not to miss their favourite act,” said Tom O’Donnell, one of the organisers.“The music starts in Ballyvaughan community field from 4pm with The Jim McKee Band, followed by Walking On Cars. Paddy Casey takes to the stage at 7pm, followed later by The Walls. Lobster Johnson and Dominic Flynn will perform on the Burren stage through the evening,” he added.There will be free bouncy castles and face painting at Saturday’s …