Motoring

AN Ennis man’s love for classic cars is the driving force behind a fundraiser for Cahercalla Hospice. Motor enthusiast David Queally has launched a brand new book titled ‘Early Motoring in Clare’ which explores vehicles registered in the county from 1904 until 1940. As well as bringing the county’s motoring history to life, the book is also raising funds for the Ennis community hospice. David explains he had the idea for the book for some time, and he is delighted to see it come to fruition now. “A gentleman approached me many years ago wondering if I could tell him what was the registration of his uncle’s car which he had in the 1930s. I always had an interest in old cars, ever since I was a young child, and over the years I had picked up a lot of information from older people about them. “There are some records of cars in other counties around Ireland, but strangely enough …

TRAFFIC tailbacks at a busy Ennis junction, particularly during morning school drop-offs, has prompted calls for the creation of a longer left filter lane. Councillor Mary Howard told a meeting of the Ennis Municipal District, “There are often traffic tailbacks at the junction of Drumcliffe Road (Watery road) and the Gort Road. “Is it possible to create a longer left filter lane in the large green area to allow traffic to flow, especially for school traffic in the mornings?” She outlined that the route is often used by parents dropping their children to school in the mornings with “a build-up of traffic every day”. Ian Chaplin, Acting Senior Executive Engineer told the meeting, “At the junction there is a filter lane for left turning which facilitates a couple of cars. The junction will be monitored to assess the level of queuing at peak times. “A full topographical survey and design would be required to assess in greater detail and a …

“IF landowners would cut hedges and Council would tar roads, we’d have a great county,” a recent meeting of East Clare councillors was told.  The remarks were made by Councillor Pat Burke, on foot of two motions tabled before the Killaloe Municipal District on the issue of hedge cutting. The topic was brought up by cathaoirleach, Councillor Alan O’Callaghan and Councillor Joe Cooney.  Councillor O’Callaghan said overgrown hedges were a constant concern. “Great work has been done last year by Clare County Council and the farmers who took responsibility and there was a vast improvement last year,” he said. “This year, it looks on the ground as if there’s a lot of regional roads that haven’t been done. Are the contractors there and fulfilling their duty? Are they coming when they’re called or putting it off? A push needs to be done. Some junctions are way behind.” Councillor Cooney seconded the motion and proposed his own. “My concern is that …

KILLALOE councillors were advised not to go on a “solo run” in their plans for the installation of Electric Vehicle (EV) chargers around the district.  The matter was discussed on foot of a motion from Councillor Tony O’Brien who said EV chargers are now hugely important in attracting visitors to a region. “We have a very well-developed town enhancement and mobility plan,” he said, “and the aim is to attract many tourists and be a gateway for Clare. Government policies are all about climate change and new ways of doing things and EVs are a hugely important way of doing this.” The Fianna Fáil member welcomed an official response to his motion, outlining that a charger is to be installed in due course. “I’m delighted, he said, “but I would like to see more than one charger. The cost of this infrastructure is in putting it in. We have a number of public carparks which should be suitable. This should …

LINKING Ennis’ traffic light system would be “less pedestrian friendly” a council engineer has explained in response to calls for the lights in the town to be synchronised. Councillor Mary Howard raised the issue at a meeting of the Ennis Municipal District where she said a number of people had suggested the idea as a way of improving traffic flow at busy times. She outlined that the return of students to school has led to a number of “pinch points” at drop-off and pick-up times with the majority of traffic moving in the same direction. Ian Chaplin, acting senior executive engineer responded, “Having consulted with our Traffic Lights providers, it is possible to link the traffic lights in the town but this is now considered old technology. “Linking would have been in operation historically when other traffic light solutions were not available. “For instance, Kilrush Road/Carmody street junction has a MOVA (Microprocessor Optimised Vehicle Actuation) operated set of traffic lights, …

CLARE still has only one NCT centre, but work is underway to put a second one in place according to the Road Safety Authority’s Chief Operations Officer Brendan Walsh. There had been plans for one in Shannon but they fell through and Clare TD Michael McNamara recently put forward a parliamentary question asking for information on the provision of a new NCT centre in Shannon. He subsequently received correspondence from Mr Walsh which said, “I write further to your Dáil Question Number’s 154 in relation to the provision of a new National Car Test centre at Shannon, Co. Clare. “The provision and development of new NCT centres is a matter for the National Car Testing Service (NCTS) Contractor. “The NCTS Contractor has confirmed that following a recent advertising campaign for a suitable NCT premises in the Clare area, a number of submissions have now identified two potential sites that are currently undergoing a design and costing analysis. “It is the …

SECONDARY school students in South-East Clare have left in “limbo” after Bus Eireann suspended their bus transport to St Anne’s Community School suddenly on September 19. Frustrated parents who have been seriously discommoded by the sudden withdrawal of this vital school transport for about 25 children can get no firm date for when it will return, despite numerous phone calls and emails to Bus Eireann. This suspension has caused serious difficulties for households in Broadford, Kilbane and Bridgetown where there are two working parents who are stressed trying to juggle lifts for children with their work commitments. The well established bus service, which is believed to be operational for the last two decades, resumed operation on August 28 until September 16 when parents were informed by the company their bus service would no longer continue from Monday, September 19. This bus also transports children to St Senan’s National School, Clonlara, after dropping off students in St Anne’s, which is still …

A WARNING has been issued to motorists, particularly those in East Clare, as the deer breeding season gets underway. The Irish Deer Commission has likened the behaviour of stags, at this time, to “gladiators entering an arena”. Roads close to forested areas in the Killaloe Municipal District can be especially dangerous and the area is regarded as one of Clare’s ‘deer hotspots’. With that in mind, The Irish Commission is appealing to motorists and other road users to be vigilant. “Tensions are rising as the rutting or deer breeding season gets under way, the time of the year when male deer are driven by an urge to reproduce,” a statement from the Commission said. “From late September until early November, the clash of antlers will be heard as males show off their virility to potential mates and, like gladiators entering an arena, they parade around showing off their armoury of antlers. “While the rut is an amazing experience to witness …