Car Tourismo Banner
Home » Breaking News (page 73)

Breaking News

Council CEO: Clare fighting lonely battle on rural advancement

NATIONAL policy is the biggest factor holding back the development of rural Clare, in the view of Council CEO, Pat Dowling.  Speaking at the January meeting of the local authority, Mr Dowling commended the work and commitment of Clare’s councillors and executive, but said rural development would remain “a lonely road” unless there is greater support from central government. Mr Dowling made his comments on foot of a motion from Councillor Joe Garrihy calling for a review of the Council’s “commitment to focus on and resourcing of Rural Development”. There was widespread support for Councillor Garrihy’s comments on rural development and his assertion that Clare’s strategy document represented “a landmark and trailblazing initiative”.  Commenting on what he said was a “very balanced” motion, Mr Dowling said Council staff were dedicated to rural development. He noted that significant government funding had been successfully drawn down and that there was a positive relationship with local communities.  “But I still look at our …

Read More »

Shannon Mass goers encouraged to wear masks again

IN a note in last week’s parish newsletters, people attending mass were urged to consider wearing masks once more. Parish priest Father Arnold Rosney said that while people are not being compelled to wear masks, it is wise to do so. “All I’m doing is trying to encourage people to wear a mask again, just inviting them to think of their own safety and the safety of everyone else when we gather for mass. “Crowds do attend mass, especially at the time of funerals. I feel its responsible on my part to alert them to the fact that there are huge Covid numbers and a lot of people with flus and sickness, and there’s the situation in our hospitals.” Priests and eucharistic ministers at local masses will be wearing them while giving out communion, he added.

Read More »

Politicians asked to back region over party whip on health crisis

CLARE’S Dáil and Seanad members have been urged to back the re-opening of the region’s smaller Emergency Departments, even if it means going against the wishes of their parties. Normal business of this week’s meeting of Clare County Council was deferred for a time to discuss an emergency motion on the ED crisis. On behalf of Fine Gael, Councillor Joe Cooney proposed the urgent motion in light of the “ongoing crisis” at University Hospital Limerick (UHL). He called on on the HSE and the Minister for Health “to immediately open Ennis, Nenagh and St John’s as full Accident and Emergency Departments on a full-time basis, 24 hours, seven days a week”. “We call on all Oireachtas members in the Midwest region to support and work for same,” he said.  Councillor Mary Howard, a member of the HSE’s Regional Health Forum West, urged Oireachtas members to implement the motion, even if it meant losing the party whip.  “Today there are 489 …

Read More »

Hopes rise that Taoiseach fully engaged with resolving calamitous Mid-West health situation

SENIOR medics in Ennis Hospital will conduct a review of what additional resources are required in the Ennis Medical Assessment Unit (MAU) after one week of the new trial transferring all non-critical Clare patients by ambulance to Ennis Hospital. Non-critical patients can now be transferred directly by ambulance to the Ennis MAU from Monday to Friday as part of a new pilot project to ease chronic overcrowding at University Hospital Limerick. Paramedics previously had no option but to transport all Clare patients directly to UHL via ambulance following the controversial removal of 24-hour casualty cover from Ennis and Nenagh Hospitals in April 2009. The unexpected change by the National Ambulance Service (NAS) in the controversial protocol, which started in Clare on Monday, is seen as a boost for the Mid-West Hospitals Group campaign to secure the return of round-the-clock cover in Ennis and Nenagh Hospitals. Pressure is growing on the UL Hospitals Group to provide additional resources to Ennis Hospital …

Read More »

Tiers hold no fears for clubs as hurling championship format

Tiered Senior and Intermediate Hurling Championships for 2024 are set to be rubber-stamped at the February meeting of Clare GAA, it was agreed at Tuesday’s Structures Meeting in the Temple Gate Hotel in Ennis. With eight motions put forward for discussion, it was the four pertaining to the format of the county senior and intermediate hurling championships for 2024 that garnered the most debate. Sixmilebridge and Feakle are seeking a return to the pre-covid championship structure of knock-out with a back door while Broadford (senior) and Newmarket-on-Fergus (intermediate) opted for a tiered approach. In the end, Sixmilebridge’s proposal was defeated, with clubs looking more favourably on Broadford’s motion to divide the 16 participating teams into Senior A and B sections (two groups of four in each) with the top three teams from each group at Senior A advancing to the Canon Hamilton Cup quarter-finals alongside the group winners at Senior B. Clubs’ Senior A or B status depended on where …

Read More »

Flynn: Ennis thoroughfare must not become a ‘ghost street’

ENNIS’ Abbey Street must not be left to become “a ghost street”, left behind as other streets in the county town benefit from upgrades. That’s according to Councillor Johnny Flynn who has called on the Ennis Municipal District to carry out a feasibility study on improvement works for the thoroughfare. Speaking at the monthly meeting of the local authority Councillor Flynn pointed to public realm upgrades completed in Parnell Street and planned for O’Connell Street and Barrack Street with a combined cost of €20 million. He urged that the feasibility study for similar works on Abbey Street be carried out “in order to apply for Part 8 Planning to enable the lodging an application to Government for Urban Renewable & Development Fund (URDF)   funding under what would be a third phase of the Ennis Town Centre Public Realm Regeneration.” However, while the local authority executive insisted including Abbey Street in future regeneration projects “is a priority”, Leonore O’Neill senior …

Read More »

Clare teenager set to represent Ireland U17 in cross country

Ennis Track athlete Peter Farrell is part of a 12-strong Irish team that will compete in Scotland tomorrow. The Irish U17 cross country athletes are heading to Perth in Scotland to race in the UK Cross Country Challenge. With no Celtic Cross Country this year, the Athletics Ireland Juvenile Committee felt it was vital for future development that a squad travelled to gain valuable international experience as the athletes progress into the junior ranks. This squad was selected from the 2022 National U17 Cross Country Championships in December. Farrell secured bronze in the Intermediate boy’s race at the Irish Life Health All Ireland Schools Championships last March. Meanwhile, the Clare Senior and Juvenile B Cross Country Championships was recently held in Clarecastle. Dean Casey secured first place in the Senior Men’s competition with Ennis Track romping to team gold as their athletes secured the top six places. Mark Hanrahan, Rory Chesser, Dylan Casey, Barry Conway and Cian O’Boyle all finished …

Read More »

Friday the 13th proves lucky to tune of €50k for Clare prize bond holder

Friday the 13th has certainly not been an unlucky date for one prize bond holder in Clare who is now €50,000 richer. This week’s Prize Bond Star Prize has gone to a Prize Bond holder in the Banner county. The lucky bond was purchased in 2017 and there were over 4,733 prizes awarded in this week’s draw, amounting to over €300,600. In addition to a €250,000 prize awarded on the last weekly draw of March, June, September and December, there are weekly draws where the top prize is €50,000. Other cash prizes awarded each week include 10 of €1,000 and 10 of €500. Prize Bonds are a State Savings product which, instead of paying interest, offers bond holders the chance to win cash prizes every week. All winnings are tax-free, and Prize Bonds can be cashed in at any time after the minimum holding period of three months. Prize Bonds can be purchased by Direct Debit, online at www.StateSavings.ie, by …

Read More »