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HEARTBREAK is being suffered by those struggling to find a home, when so many properties are left vacant and derelict, a meeting of Clare County Council has heard.  The comments came from Councillor Shane Talty in response to a motion tabled by Councillor Joe Killeen. The Ennistymon postmaster agreed with calls for stronger Council powers to use Compulsory Purchase Orders (CPOs). “If your family are housed, you might not even see the derelict properties,” he said, “But, for families and young people, and older people for coming off an income cliff in their transition to retirement age, if you’re passing out these derelict properties every day, families are literally heartbroken and say, ‘Why can’t I get an opportunity to make a home and make a life for a family there’?” Tabling the motion, Councillor Killeen said, “Every opportunity must be made to try and alleviate the situation by making more homes available. We must register our frustration at the number …

A multi-agency search and rescue operation has been mounted at a river in Co Clare after a person was reported to have been seen enter the water late this afternoon. Emergency services were alerted shortly before 5.30pm when passers-by spotted a person in the River Fergus in Ennis and raised the alarm. Units of Clare County Fire and Rescue Service from Ennis station including specially trained swift-water rescue technicians (SRT) were mobilised along Clare Civil Defence, National Ambulance Service and Gardaí. Members of the Doolin unit of the Irish Coast Guard were also tasked to the scene while the Shannon-based search and rescue helicopter was also requested to assist but it’s understood poor visibility prevented Rescue 115 from taking part in the operation. No further details are available at this time…

ENNIS man Professor Gearóid Ó hAllmhuráin, MA, MBA, HDE, DUÉF, PhD was recently appointed Director of the School of Irish Studies at Concordia University Montréal. This international School—the largest of its kind in North America—has a faculty of twenty professors, lecturers, fellows and tutors, and 1400 students who take its undergraduate and postgraduate courses every year. Delivering interdisciplinary programmes in Irish language, history, music, geography, film, literature, theatre, and diaspora studies, the School has hosted over a hundred visiting scholars during the past decade, including Fulbright Scholars from the US and Marie Curie Scholars from the European Union. It is the only School of Irish Studies in the world where research is conducted in four languages: Irish, French, English and Spanish. This synergy is made possible by the Canadian Irish Studies Foundation, the Québec government and Concordia University, who have donated over $14 million to the School since it was founded in 2009. A multilingual scholar who emigrated to France …

THE memoir of well-known activist and Corofin native, Dermot Hayes, is set for publication shortly after a huge response to an online funding campaign organised by his friends. ‘The Road That Rises – Memoir of Boy from Kells’ will lift the lid on a life of campaigning and community action that has challenged establishment thinking over seven decades. The book explores and documents Dermot’s life as a child growing up in Kells, Corofin and his life as an activist and campaigner in youth and community work, trade unionism, worker co-operatives, environmental causes, disability rights and the Independent Living Movement in Ireland. Taking on the establishment is a key theme and there is widespread anticipation of this memoir from a key figure behind the campaigns for disability rights in Clare, against the state’s plans for Mullaghmore and at the forefront of the push for equality legislation. Over the years, he has founded, co-founded and headed organisations to represent, campaign and progress rights …

GARDAI are appealing for information about an incident that occurred near Crusheen last Friday. Clare crime prevention officer, Sergeant Triona Brooks said that two deer were shot and injured on lands at Calluragh, Crusheen at 8.30am last Friday morning, January 20. As a result of their injuries both deer had to be put down. “If anyone saw any suspicious vehicle or persons in this area between 8am and 9am last Friday, we would ask them to contact Ennis Garda Station on 065 6848100,” said Sergeant Brooks.

CLARE County Council has pledged to lend community development assistance to any local voluntary group that establishes a proposed new meals on wheels service for elderly people in West and North Clare. This follows a call from Councillor Cillian Murphy and Councillor Joe Garrihy for the West Clare MD, Age Friendly Clare, and the Rural Development Directorate to support local community groups, the HSE and OBAIR Newmarket in the establishment of a meals on wheels and odd job service for West and North Clare. In the context of the population, over 65, living in North and West Clare, many in rural and isolated areas, they pointed out this would enable older people to live healthier and longer in their own communities and to have a consistent regular contact linking them to locally delivered services. Responding to their joint motion at a West Clare Municipal District (MD) meeting on Tuesday, acting Rural Development Senior Executive Officer, Bernie Haugh, said the Directorate …

Gardaí at Kilrush Garda Station are investigating the attempted robbery from a group of friends in Doonbeg last week. Clare crime prevention officer Sergeant Triona Brooks said, “On Wednesday evening, January 18, at 7.30pm, three friends got off a bus on Main Street, Doonbeg. “They were approached by three individuals who demanded that they hand over their property. “Thankfully the three friends ran and took refuge in a shop. “We are asking anyone who saw this incident or anyone who may have any information to please contact Kilrush Garda Station on 065 9080550.”

CLARE County Council has been allocated almost €3 million to support communities that are hosting refugees from Ukraine and other countries. The allocation is the third highest to a local authority in the country, representing the significant role Clare has already played in supporting international protection applicants. Clare Fine Gael TD Joe Carey said that the money will come from a €50 million Community Recognition Fund for sports clubs, community organisations, transport infrastructure and local groups. “The €2,925,549 awarded to Clare County Council recognises the significant role played by Clare communities in supporting refugees and helping them integrate into the educational, recreational and social life of towns and villages around the county,” Deputy Carey explained. “It is important that community representatives engage directly with Clare County Council over the coming weeks to ensure that high quality projects can be delivered, benefitting their towns and villages for years to come.” Projects that qualify for support include the refurbishment of local sports …