East Clare

DANGEROUS trees along roadsides in East Clare are to be removed in the coming months, a meeting of the Killaloe district has been told.  The pledge was given on foot of a motion from Cathaoirleach, Councillor Alan O’Callaghan, who raised the issue at the January gathering. The Kilmurry man asked that “in light of yellow warnings for high winds … a survey to be carried out in this MD on roadside trees especially Ash where the die back has set in”. A written reply to the motion from Derek Troy, Acting Senior Executive Engineer (SEE) outlined that following the consultation with members of the public and community groups, the required assessment reports had been completed, and that removal of trees would begin shortly.  “In 2022, Killaloe MD identified a number of trees for Arboricultural Safety Assessment Reports to be undertaken by a Member of the Society of Irish Foresters (MSIF) Certified Arborist,” the response to Councillor O’Callaghan’s motion explained. “These …

EXCITING plans are afoot in Tulla for the creation of a state-of-the-art astroturf facility at St Mochulla’s National School.  The development is a collaboration between St Mochulla’s and Tulla Camogie Club and the objective is to develop an all-weather pitch, ensuring that sports facilities are available all year round to all of the community.  “In today’s world this is ever more important for their wellbeing and health and a key part of our Active School Policy,”said Angela Byrnes, Chairperson of the Board of Management of St Mochulla’s. “We’re just about to start our fundraising for 2023 and there will be some great opportunities for all of the community to get involved.” The estimated cost of the project is €120,000 and a Sports Capital Grant of €45,000 has already been secured. An additional €20,000 has been raised towards the cost of the 40m x 25m facility.  “We were delighted to join with Tulla Camogie Club because they have no permanent home …

DAMAGE totalling €7,500 was caused to a public convenience just a stone’s throw from Killaloe Bridge, according to a recent estimate completed by a district engineer. Killaloe Gardaí have investigated criminal damage to the public toilets at the Pontoon in Ballina. Over the past year, Killaloe Gardaí have confirmed there have been repeated acts of vandalism on these toilets, which are located along a very popular walking route a short distance from the Ballina Outdoor Heating Swimming Pool. Between 10pm and 12 midnight on Monday night, October 31, windows were broken in the toilets and paving slabs were pulled off the ground outside the toilets. This last act of vandalism was condemned as “appalling” by Waterways Ireland Operations Controller, Éanna Rowe. In response to Clare Champion queries, Marcus O’Connor, Director of Roads, Transportation in Nenagh Municipal District, said the council was extremely disappointed with the ongoing acts of vandalism of these public toilets. He confirmed all the windows to the …

GROWTH is on the cards for the village of O’Callaghan’s Mills now that planning permission has been granted for a development of three homes at Iragh.  Clare County Council gave the green light for the development, on a site of just over half an acre, subject to 20 conditions. After assessing the plans and seeking Further Information (FI) on certain aspects, the local authority found the plans to be acceptable, given the zoning of the land, which is earmarked for “low density residential and mixed use”.  Among the 20 conditions attached to planning permission is the requirement that the homes may only be sold to individual purchasers and not a corporate entity. This is in order “to ensure an adequate choice and supply of housing, including affordable housing, in the common good”. Before construction begins, East Clare Construction must submit a lighting plan for the site. It must also revise plans so that pedestrian circulation is possible around each of …

THE contribution of the late William McLysaght to the state-of-the-art facilities at Raheen Community Hospital will be remembered in a fundraising climb of Moylussa on Saturday, January 14.  Mr McLysaght was co-founder of Raheen Hospital Support Group and passed away in May of last year. His efforts, combined with those of a dedicated committee, facilitated significant development and expansion of the HSE-run hosptial, which will shortly unveil a new extension and kitchen facilities.  As well as paying tribute to Mr McLysaght, the aim of the fundraising climb is to secure services for those who attend the day centre in Raheen, through the purchase of a new mini-bus. The existing bus has been on the road for six years taking people from 17 villages and townlands to Raheen for a range of vital services, five-days-a-week. “After those years on the roads of East and South East Clare, from Flagmount down to O’Brien’s Bridge, the bus needs to be replaced,” explained Mary …

A FASCINATING radio documentary tracing the story of a Mayo woman, who orchestrated the bombing of a community dancehall, has an East Clare twist, it has emerged. RTÉ’s Doc on One production, ‘Dancing Nancy’ by John Corless and Ronan Kelly, details the bombing in the 1970s of Claremorris Community Centre. While a paramilitary motive was at first suspected, Cong businesswoman Nancy Murphy, who ran a rival dancehall, was found to be responsible. Since the documentary aired last August, RTÉ’s Ronan Kelly has updated the piece with an interview broadcast earlier this week featuring Scariff’s James Treacy. The original documentary had revealed that Ms Murphy had found romance, but little was known of her mystery man until the piece was broadcast. James Treacy, recognising himself, in the description of the couple checking into Ashford Castle, contacted RTÉ. He told the station that he had been a long-time companion of the late Ms Murphy, and the revelation prompted Mr Kelly to visit …

AFTER highlighting the danger caused by an ‘explosion’ in the deer population in East Clare, a local councillor is urging members of the public to take part in a new national consultation initiative.  Deputy Pat Hayes told the most recent meeting of the Killaloe Municipal District that several people had raised the matter with him, with particular concerns over road safety, as well as the damage caused by deer to farm lands and crops. He told colleagues and Council officials that the Slieve Aughtys are currently host to a massive population of wild deer, who have moved from the hills down to the valleys, with  ongoing encroachment into farms. Since the matter was raised, the Ministers for Agriculture and Housing have launched  a new public consultation initiative as part of the development of a Deer Management Strategy. Ministers Charlie McConalogue and Darragh O’Brien unveiled the consultation in recent weeks to gather views on key issues relating to deer management in …

CLOSER links between the villages of Bridgetown and O’Brien’s Bridge could be on the horizon, after a well-received motion from Councillor Tony O’Brien. The Fianna Fáil member, who is also Cathaoirleach of Clare County Council, has proposed the installation of a footpath, incorporating a cycle lane, from the village of Bridgetown to O’Brien’s Bridge and Upper Ardnataggle on the R463. “This necessary piece of infrastructure would enable the community to access their local amenities such as the church, school, public houses and community playing pitch,” a motion before the Killaloe Municipal District outlined. “In the case of the primary school alone, it would cut down on a huge amount of private cars using the area on a daily basis as students cannot walk or cycle to school because of road safety concerns.” The Killaloe man told the end-of-year district meeting that the area in question is “very large and highly populated”. “This is very necessary infrastructure,” he said. “The area …