News

Gardaí are currently at the scene of a fatal road traffic collision involving a van and a pedestrian that occurred at approximately 7:10pm on Saturday 4th November 2023 on the N67 at Moyasta between Kilrush and Kilkee in County Clare. The pedestrian, a woman in her late 70s, was pronounced dead at the scene. Her body has since been removed to University Hospital Limerick where a post-mortem examination will be conducted. No other injuries to persons was reported. A portion of the N67 at Moyasta is currently closed with local diversions in place. The services of Forensic Collision Investigators have been requested. Gardaí are appealing for any witnesses to this collision to come forward. Any road users who may have camera footage (including dash-cam) and were travelling on the N67 in the Moyasta area between 7pm and 7:30pm are asked to make this footage available to Gardaí. Anyone with any information is asked to contact Kilrush Garda station on 065 …

A unique piece of research carried out by Clare Public Participation Network (Clare PPN) has found that, unless drastic changes are made, some Clare people will be forced to carry a disproportionate amount of the burden of moving to a low emissions society. The report, which will be officially unveiled this coming Monday, is the product of six months of research, public workshops and interviews with local stakeholders across the county. Entitled ‘Fair Clare: Securing Socio-Economic Rights and a Just Transition in Clare’ – the report was jointly authored by Kieran Harrahill and Roisin Greaney of TASC, the Think Tank for Action on Social Change. The report makes 27 specific recommendations for local and national policy makers on how issues can be addressed in ways that tackle both climate action and poverty reduction at the same time. Suggestions include developing a social enterprise incubator in Clare, that the national retrofit schemes no-cost plans should be extended to low and middle …

Election 2024 is already on the minds of Ennis councillors with a call being made for the creation of designated sites for the erection of election posters rather than having them on lampposts and other locations throughout the county capital. Councillor Mary Howard (FG) made the novel suggestion at a recent meeting of the Ennis Municipal District where she said specific sites for posters would encourage “responsible consumption, climate action and reducing the visual impact of posters, while also ensuring equity between new and existing candidates”. The council executive responded by stating a bill intending to regulate the placement of election posters and referendum material to “designated areas” chosen by local authorities has not been enacted. Councillor Howard recalled that back in 2019, sitting members of the Ennis Municipal District voluntarily agreed not to erect posters, however this agreement did not extend to incoming candidates. Councillor Howard described the move as a “very brave step” for the members of the …

Clare County Council has launched a campaign to raise awareness about the prevention of oil leaks from home heating oil tanks. The purpose of the campaign is to ensure homeowners know their own home heating tank and store oil safely and securely without posing a risk to water, environment or human health. A new web resource has been developed which provides information on siting and installation of a home heating oil tank, the importance of checking for leaks and what to do if there is an oil leak or a suspected leak. “Oil leaks seriously pollute soil and water, including drinking water. By taking action it will help reduce the risk of an oil spill and avoid difficult and expensive clean-up costs later,” said Maura McNulty, Executive Scientist at Clare County Council. “Homeowners have a legal responsibility to ensure that oil is stored safely and securely without posing a risk to water, environment, and human health. This campaign will help …

“This is no ordinary shop,” says Johnny Murphy as he prepares to close the doors of his family shoe repair shop in Ennis for the final time this Saturday. More than six decades after the business was first started by his father John Murphy Senior, Johnny has announced the closure of Ennis institution ‘Johnny Murphy Shoe Repairs’ in Cronin’s Yard/Taylor’s Lane. Since news of the decision to close was revealed, Johnny has been inundated with good wishes and messages of support from valued customers and friends. In fact, when The Clare Champion caught up with Johnny this week to reminisce on his time in the trade he had to pause a number of times to answer calls from people wishing him well. He tells us he has been touched by the outpouring of support and goodwill admitting that this has been an emotional week. “You would be made a stone if it wasn’t,” he smiles. Sitting in his shop surrounded …

The number of Health Care Support Assistants (HCSA) employed in North Tipperary was more than six times higher than Clare in 2021, new figures have revealed. Councillor Cillian Murphy (FF) asked at a recent HSE West Forum meeting for a list of all the types of home care supports provided by the HSE, and the numbers of staff for each type that are directly employed by the HSE in Clare, Galway, Limerick and Tipperary for the years 2021, 2022 and 2023. The HSE confirmed there were just 28 HCSA’s employed in Clare in 2021 compared to 176 in North Tipperary and 218 in Limerick. This improved in 2022 when the number of HCSA’s in Clare jumped to 75, the number in North Tipperary stayed the same at 176 and the numbers in Limerick fell slightly to 215. All areas in the Mid-West benefited from an increase in HCSA’s in 2023 – Clare went up to 86, North Tipperary jumped to …

Gardaí are investigating a fatal road traffic collision that occurred this morning, Sunday 22nd October 2023 in Knockaveen, Clare. The collision occurred at approximately 8:55am and involved a car and a pedestrian. The pedestrian, a female in her 80s, was fatally injured. Her body has since been removed to the morgue at University Hospital Limerick where a post mortem examination is due to take place. There were no other injuries reported. The L8050 road at Knockaveen remains closed and local diversions are in place. A technical examination is being conducted by Forensic Collision Investigators. A Family Liaison Officer has been appointed to provide support to the family of the deceased. Gardaí in Scarriff are appealing to anyone who may have witnessed this collision to contact them. Any road users who were travelling in this area between 8:45am and 9:15am and may have camera footage (including dash-cam), are asked to make this available to Gardaí. Anyone with any information is asked to contact …

Small childcare providers are operating at a loss and are worse off under the new Government scheme, Deputy Violet Anne-Wynne (Ind) has warned. Sinn Féin Deputy Kathleen Funchion tabled a motion in the Dáil recently calling on the Government to cut childcare fees for families by two thirds from 2022 levels, to make them affordable for parents by further increasing public investment; and allocate additional funding to provide fair pay for professionals working in the childcare sector. Deputy Wynne welcomed a statement from Minister for Children, Roderick O’Gorman (GP) that more work needs to be done to improve childcare services, which she said couldn’t be overstated. Stating the investment in childcare is coming from a very low base, the Independent Deputy stressed the reform required is far bigger than last year’s expenditure. “Inflation has increased exponentially in the three-year period from May 2020 to May 2023 while the core funding has risen only by 6% in that period,” she said. …