Regional

TWO surfers had to be rescued after they got into difficulty off the Clare coast on Saturday evening. The alarm was raised at around 6.30pm when the Irish Coast Guard received an initial report that a person had been cut off by the tide and was trapped on a rock. The location was given as off Doughmore Beach close to the Trump International hotel in Doonbeg. Watch officers at the Irish Coast Guard’s marine rescue sub centre on Valentia Island in Kerry mounted a search and rescue operation. However, further information became available it was confirmed that two surfers had been caught in a riptide and pulled out to sea. The Kilkee and Doolin units of the Irish Coast Guard, National Ambulance Service and Gardaí were alerted and dispatched resources to the scene. The Shannon based Coast Guard helicopter Rescue 115 was also tasked to the incident. As emergency were being mobilised, the Coast Guard broadcast a Pan-pan radio message …

SPRING is here, restrictions are lifted and music performers everywhere are ready and excited to rise and shine. The annual Carpe Diem (Rise and Shine) concert makes a welcome return after its Covid-induced hiatus. The brainchild of Coole Music School’s director, Katharina Baker, Carpe Diem is the theme for a series of commemorative fundraising concerts in memory of Eimear Noonan, and Eli Murray, two avid young musicians, who died tragically in 2017 and 2019 respectively. The 2021 concert, postponed due to ongoing pandemic concerns, will now be staged in Gort on Saturday, April 2, in Sullivan’s Hotel, at 7.30pm. This uplifting concert entitled Carpe Diem, Rise and Shine, celebrates a return to performing live music by young people and spans many genres. Seasoned performers of traditional and contemporary music, joining the young people, will enhance the proceedings. Irish conductor Sinead Hayes is usually found working with choir, orchestra and operas but on April 2 she will be present as master …

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 …

FOR the first time since 2019 the people of Shannon were able to come out to see their town’s St Patrick’s Day parade. Derek Clune of the Love Shannon Community Council said that it had been a great success. “I think it was the biggest parade we’ve had in Shannon and the biggest turnout of spectators and floats that we’ve ever had. “It was a brilliant day and everything went so well. Everyone was really happy and we got some brilliant feedback. Everyone enjoyed the day, the weather was lovely, so it all went well.” He said that there was far greater interest given the restrictions that dogged life over the last few years. “There’s no doubt about it, there was a huge amount of interest because of the last two years. Because of that the turnout was bigger than normal, we were expecting that. Everyone was mad to go, the turnout was huge, bigger than we expected and I’d …

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 …

JOINED-UP thinking about rural regeneration and tourism development was called for for the West Clare area, when municipal district members met recently.  Councillor Joe Garrihy asked that the new national ‘Town Centre First’ policy might be examined in light of all of the existing local tourism development strategies in order to make sure their objectives are aligned. The Lisdoonvarna man called for a meeting with representatives of Fáilte Ireland, the Council’s tourism team and the management of the Cliffs of Moher to look at how the new policy aligns with documents including the Clare Tourism Strategy and plans for the future growth of the Burren, the Cliffs of Moher and coastal tourism.  “I might be tilting at windmills, but I would like to see how the different objectives would be knitted together,” he said. “It’s a little foggy for me and I’m seeking clarity. I see a lot of strategies and there are exponential benefits if these align. However, I …