North Clare

AN ORAL hearing is to be held later this month in relation to the compulsory purchase of lands required for an upgrade to the Kilfenora Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP). An Bord Pleanála will facilitate the online hearing on Tuesday, January 19 with a decision on the matter pencilled in for January 21. According to December’s management report from Clare County Council, it is proposed to upgrade the existing Kilfenora WWTP, reuse the existing treated effluent rising main to the current discharge point and construct a new percolation area at this site. Planning permission has been granted to Irish Water, but the appeals board has opted to hold a hearing before it adjudicates on the project. The event is described as an opportunity “to make further submissions and to allow the inspector to seek clarification on any relevant issues arising and objections made”. The board has also stressed that the hearing will look at the nature of the Compulsory Purchase Order …

LISDOONVARNA writer Bill Bradshaw has finished a tough year on a high note after his third book scooped him a prestigious international award. The plot of his third book, Delphine, is described as a horror story, exploring moral taboos and family dynamics in a fictional Clare town. In recent days, it earned Bill the prestigious Kite Award from the World Authors organisation. The novel fought off stiff international competition, but judges chose it from a highly competitive field, describing it as a “searing supernatural thriller”. The former prison officer and Rathkeale native isn’t resting on his laurels, with two more novels in the pipeline and plans to turn Delphine into a six-part Netflix series. Delphine has already won several awards in the US and the film script took honours in Tokyo, Estonia, the UK and Canada, where it picked up the Fear of the Year Award in Toronto.

HIGH-SPEED broadband, hot desk and video conferencing facilities are now available at the Michael Cusack Centre in Carron. The initiative was driven by Clare County Council, in partnership with the centre operators and the government. The Broadband Connection Point (BCP) was provided under the National Broadband Plan, and was officially opened as The Cusack Hub and Broadband Connection Point. The new digital hub facility, which is part of the local authority’s DigiClare.ie initiative, will support rural social enterprises and the wider community by providing flexible, affordable hot desks, video conferencing and printing facilities, all supported by high-speed broadband. The facilities at the hub will be made available to all members of the community who have a requirement to access these services, such as those working remotely and students who require access to third-level course material online. Groups and organisations in the area will also be able to use the facilities for community purposes, such as meetings and presentations. The BCP …

AS HIS book The King of the Swingers climbs the best selling Irish books chart this Christmas the veteran musician Paddy Cole has revealed that he put the finishing touches to it in Lahinch, where he has a holiday home for years. The acclaimed saxophonist also penned a poem, during lockdown, about his love of the Banner County. The memoir was written, during lockdown, with Galway author Tom Gilmore. With both of them cocooning on different sides of the country, most of the interviews were done via Skype. “However, when the first lockdown was lifted, Tom and myself met in Lahinch over a weekend and the finishing touches were put to the book at Lahinch Golf Club,” Paddy said. Known to music fans as ‘The King of the Swingers,’ Paddy has been an international star for almost 70 years and his book lifts the lid on his showbiz exploits at home and abroad. The autobiography reveals the secrets of his …

COVID-related issues are among the topics that Gort Family Resource Centre can offer counselling support with. It is urging people to come forward if they need support with a wide range of issues including anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, trauma, relationship difficulties, stress, grief, bullying o illness. The centre offers low-cost professional counselling face-to-face and by phone. The service, which includes Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) is described as confidential, respectful open and non-judgemental. Appointments can be arranged by calling 085-7706674. Details of all of the supports offered, including support programmes, family support, social welfare advice, homework and after-school club, and more, are available from 091-630902 or 085-2022066.

THE working from home revolution, prompted by the pandemic, has inspired a creative trio to make the move to the Banner county, where they hope to breathe new life into a much-loved North Clare venue. Kymann Power, Áine Leech and Diarmaid Keane who are all digital creatives, with a strong interest in arts, culture and music, have made Daly’s in Ennistymon their new home. The three have been reaching out to musicians and those in the arts with a view to using their digital skills to support them in finding new audiences online and on social media. “Before the pandemic, I was working from home in Dublin,” explained Áine, a Westmeath native. “I was tired of looking at the four walls and got out just before lockdown.” Clare was the destination of choice according to Kymann. “I had travelled here with Áine a few times and when we were looking for a base in the west of Ireland, we happened …

ONE of the highlights of the autumn calendar in North Clare, the Burren Food Fayre is to go virtual this year, enabling audiences to enjoy a host of demonstrations, discussions, tips and advice. The eagerly anticipated event boasts an impressive line-up of food producers and chefs from all over the Burren, who will be taking part in a series of free online events last this month. The event now, in its ninth year, will be live streamed on Facebook and YouTube over 12 days from October 23 to November 3 at 7pm each evening. “Our aim is simple, we want to showcase the rich food culture we have here in the Burren, and bring the recipes of our hugely successful book, Burren Dinners, alive,” said Jarlath O’Dwyer, CEO of Burren Ecotourism Network and organiser of the fayre. “This event is particularly important this year as it brings the Burren to attendees who are unable to travel, due to Covid-19 restrictions, …

KILNABOY native Manus Malone has been selected as one of Ireland’s young creative contributors to a new online series on the challenges that face those who choose the path less travelled in life. ‘Creative Flow’ is produced and created by Limerick native Sarah Edel Hayes, who interviews Manus, and a number of other seasoned and emerging voices from a range of artistic fields. The short series, which launched on SarahEdel.com earlier this month took inspiration from the many conversations that began out of lockdown in Ireland. Sarah said that she wanted to chat to creatives about what it’s really like to follow a creative passion in modern-day Ireland and the challenges that brings to an individual pursuing a creative career. Manus Malone is an up and coming DJ and producer who has played on the stages of Electric Picnic. Since the pandemic restrictions, he has recently turned his hand to writing and producing his own music. In late August, Manus …