East Clare

A NEW ward extension for Raheen Community Hospital will be operational by the end of June, Scariff-based TD Michael McNamara has learned.  The Independent Dáil member confirmed that he has received an update from the Health Service Executive (HSE). “The extension which includes the provision of seven long-stay replacement beds, is currently under construction and is due to be completed during April,” explained Deputy McNamara. “Equipping of the ward extension will commence once construction has completed. The HSE has informed me that following equipping and the registration of beds by the Health Information & Quality Authority (HIQA), the ward extension will become fully operational. It is anticipated that the facility will open by the end of June.” Deputy McNamara said the news will be very much welcomed by the people of East Clare who have “battled hard for investment” in the small community hospital. “When I was first elected as a TD in 2011, there was a proposal to close …

PROGRESS with the building of a number of new classrooms for Scariff Community College has been welcomed, following un update from the Minister for Education.  Approval for the construction of two mainstream classroom as well as metalwork and woodwork rooms, was given in 2017 and last week Minister Normal Foley gave positive news to Deputy Cathal Crowe. The Fianna Fáil member said he received a call from the minister who was in Boston for St Patrick’s Day. “She confirmed that her department has been examining tenders submitted for the development of two new mainstream classrooms and a metalwork room and a woodwork room for Scariff Community College and they’re now happy for this to now proceed to construction,” Deputy Crowe said. “There should be no further delays and I’m hoping the works can begin in earnest. I’ve been out to visit the school and saw how many of the classes were still being taught in prefab rooms – something rarely seen …

A LARGE group of Americans visited the Cross of Spancilhll this week, part of a folk group from Michigan that travels to places they know of from songs. Local man Michael Brohan said the visit shows the extent of the reach of the song. “People know the song from the likes of Christy Moore and the Pogues and the great Robbie McMahon probably made it famous. It was a poem in the beginning, people think of it as a song but it was a poem at the start by an emigrant who went to America. “Robbie McMahon brought it to life in song and since then it’s been taken up by a lot of famous Irish singers, Christy Moore, the Pogues, the Dubliners, everyone sings it, it’s probably the most recognised ballad from Ireland. “Anywhere I’ve been around the world when people have a sing song Spancilhill is one of the first songs that come to mind.” Michael said that …

AMBITIOUS plans for a pavilion at Aistear Park in Mountshannon are the subject of objections from four local residents. County planners are currently assessing proposals for the roofed, open structure, which Mountshannon Community Council hope will blend into the lakeside landscape and serve as a sheltered and serviced venue for a range of cultural and educational activities. The plans have already been backed by The Department of Rural and Community Development, through a funding allocation of €54,860 announced in recent weeks. In February, the Community Council formally lodged plans with the Council for the pavilion, after a period of public consultation. In the following weeks, two local couples lodged objections to the development. The objectors have raised concerns about visual amenity, the proposed use of the pavilion and potential anti-social behaviour at the location. In two identical letters of objection, four residents of Main Street said that: “An open space is a special amenity in any village but one overlooking …

THE curtain will rise for the 73rd time on Clare Drama Festival, when it gets underway this Friday night (March 25) at Scariff Community College Hall. In addition to the home-grown talent, performers from as far afield as Mayo, Cork, Waterford, and Wexford will compete for the honour of winning at this prestigious event. Clare Drama Festival Chairman, Eamon Moroney welcomed the return of the live festival circuit after a gap of three years. He said the committee is looking forward to meeting old and new patrons to Scariff in the coming days. The festival will be officially opened by Louise Donlon, Executive Director of The Lime Tree Theatre, Limerick. Louise has been working in the arts for over 30 years, and has held roles including the General Manager of Druid Theatre Company, Galway at a time when the company was earning international acclaim. She was recently appointed to the Export Advisory Committee of Culture Ireland by Minister Catherine Martin. …

STUDENTS from Scariff Community College visited Áras Contae an Chláir in Ennis to discuss how a submission they made has informed the preparation of the Draft Clare County Development Plan. As part of the public consultation process on the plan, third-year geography students, along with their teacher Ms Darina Sheridan, were welcomed by Council Chief Executive Pat Dowling, the Elected Members of Killaloe Municipal District, and Council Planning staff. The 22 students made a submission during the pre-draft public consultation process in November 2020, when they were in second year. This was part of a school project devised by the Council’s Forward Planning section. At that time, the students participated in a virtual discussion with the elected members of Killaloe Municipal District on their submission. During their visit to the Council last week, the students discussed how their submission informed the preparation of the draft plan and learned how they can have their say again at this stage of the …

UKRAINE will be to the forefront of a musical fundraiser in Tulla on Saturday (March 26), when a wealth of East Clare talent with gather in solidarity.  Moved by the plight of those who have been forced to flee their homes, a group of local musicians and singers will perform in the the square in Tulla, throughout the day, to raise funds for the refugees from the Ukraine.  Among those performing will be Aisling and Leah Hunt, Andrew Mac Namara and Michael Landers, John Canny and Mark Donnellan, Mary Mac Namara and Risteard Crimmins, Cushla,  Àine and Cara Murphy. They will be joined by a group of local singers under the baton of Joan Culloo Mac Namara. The fundraiser will run from 10am to 5 pm. All money raised will be sent to the Irish Red Cross Ukraine Crisis Appeal.

LIVE drama makes a welcome return to East Clare later this month and, as part of that, John B Keane’s legendary leading lady Big Maggie will be making an appearance. Tulla Drama Group is staging the classic tale of sex, land and money at Tulla Courthouse this week from Wednesday, March 23 until Friday March 25 and Big Maggie will also feature in the feast of drama that will be on offer as part of the 73rd Clare Drama Festival. After a hiatus due to the pandemic, the event is back from Friday, March 25 to Saturday, April 2 in Scariff.  The festival opens on Friday, March 25 at Scariff Community College Hall. Big Maggie will be back on stage there on Wednesday, March 30.  Other highlights of this year’s festival will include a performance of Sive by the Clan Machua Drama Group on March 25. Meanwhile, on Saturday, March 26, Skibbereen Theatre Society will perform Brighton by Jim Nolan. …