Regional

A PARK and ride scheme for Ennis could be the solution to traffic problems in the town centre a local councillor has insisted. However while the local authority has said it is continuing to “explore the possibility” of acquiring land for parking, a source of funding would be needed. Councillor Pat Daly, speaking at a meeting of the Ennis Municipal District, urged the council to look at purchasing or leasing land close to the town for use as a pilot scheme for a park and ride centre. He said he has “never seen Ennis as bad for traffic” adding there are “bottlenecks every day of the week”. He suggested a site on the Tulla Road would be suitable for the introduction of a pilot scheme. “A pilot scheme is something that should be looked at where people could park their car and go and do their shopping. This would take cars out of the town centre.” Leonore O’Neill, Senior Executive …

THERE was plenty of fun and games at Scoil Chríost Rí recently, and all thanks to some enterprising students. The SCR Christmas Arcade was held last week in the Scoil Chríost Rí hall organised by fifth class students who created the business idea in an effort to raise funds for charity. The school hall was decorated from head-to-toe by artwork created by the students who designed the fundraiser as part of their very own mini-company. Every child had an important job to do from game co-ordinating, security, welcoming duties, ticket distribution, advertising and photography. There were lots of games to be enjoyed over the two days. All games were designed and assembled by the students. There were games called Present Golf, Pin the Nose, Ping Pong Tree, Guess the Jar, Grinch Toss, Antler Throw and many more. After the SCR Christmas Arcade, the fifth class hosted a ‘Teacher Vs Student Challenge’. Every class attended the event to watch teachers and students …

WHEN Maria Molloy sent out an SOS for some help with the Lions Club ‘Message in a Bottle’ there was no need for The Police! Karen Kelleher, Clare County Commissioner, stepped up and worked closely with 1st and 4th Clare Venturers(Ennis) to encourage a collaboration between them and the Ennis Lions Club project leader to prepare packages for the forthcoming Message in a Bottle Launch 2023. In return the young adults will have earned a community badge. Maria was effusive in her thanks to the young adults who made up over 500 packs for Ennis Lions Club declaring “They were really super from start to finish of this project”. Message in a Bottle is a simple idea promoted by Lions Club of Ireland. It encourages people to keep their basic personal and medical details in a common place, where, in cases of emergency, the attending service teams can easily access them. The information required is very basic but can be …

A WEST Clare couple have lent their voices to this winter’s Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) fundraising campaign that shows the sacrifices made by volunteers each Christmas. As the RNLI launches its annual Christmas fundraising appeal, the search and rescue charity is highlighting the volunteers who will be on call over the festive season to save lives at sea. Kilrush couple, Pa Ryan and Liezel Brand both volunteer on the lifeboats but this Christmas only Pa will be on call, as Liezel gave birth to their son Conor, earlier this year. Pa and many more volunteers around the country may have to sacrifice their precious family time over the festive season to save others this Christmas. That is a very real possibility, as over the past five years, RNLI lifeboats have launched 55 times in Ireland during the festive period, bringing 44 people to safety. Liezel Brand came to Clare from Robin Island in South Africa and joined the lifeboat …

A BID has been made to have the local authority take over a sewage treatment plan in Kilmurry so that lands in the village might not be dezoned for development. A motion was tabled by the Cathaoirleach of the Killaloe Municipal District, Councillor Alan O’Callaghan, calling for the local authority to take over the plant for the Ballymulcashel housing estate. “I have talked to a builder,” he told the November district meeting. “Some years ago, a pilot project was undertaken and work done and a whole new system put in. The plant is brand new and fully funded. It is unfortunate that it is still in private ownership. We may need to take it on, or Irish Water won’t entertain it. In my view, it has to come into local authority ownership.” Councillor O’Callaghan explained that under national guidelines informing the forthcoming development plan, lands that will not be serviced in the lifetime of the plan, must be dezoned for …

TEENAGERS racially abused and spat at a woman while she was walking in Ennis in an act which has been described as “unacceptable” by a local councillor. Details of the incident were relayed at a recent meeting of the Ennis Municipal District where Councillor Johnny Flynn highlighted the woman’s ordeal. He outlined that the woman is from Georgia but now living in Ennis and wishes to remain anonymous. “She never experienced a racial incident until she came to Ennis,” he said pointing out that the county capital has recently been named ‘Ireland’s Friendliest Place’. “A group of young teenagers racially abused her and ran up and spat at her, she was very upset,” he said. “It is not acceptable for a woman to not feel safe within our town, that level of behaviour is not acceptable.” He added he would be raising the matter at an upcoming meeting of the Joint Policing Committee. His comments came as Councillor Mary Howard …

FRUSTRATION has been expressed at the red tape that surrounds the process of reviewing and appealing speed limits. The point was made by Councillor Joe Cooney, at the end-of-year meeting of the Killaloe Municipal District, that action is needed on the route between Tuamgraney and Killaloe. However, he described a Council response to his motion, calling for a speed limit change on the R463 from the Steiner Schools to Raheen Hospital, as disappointing. The response from Senior Executive Engineer Derek Troy outlined that Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII), rather than Clare County Council, is responsible for conducting reviews. It also outlined an appeals mechanism whereby individuals can make a case to a local appeals board. If they are not happy with the outcome, that can be referred to a regional panel and then back to an annual Council meeting for final approval. “I am not happy with the reply,” Councillor Cooney said. “We are all well aware of this section of …

GLOWING tributes were paid to a Clonlara resident for her invaluable contribution to her local community during a recent presentation. The legacy left by Theresa Gleeson (70) was aptly summed up by Clonlara Community Creche deputy manager, Laura Woods when she stated:“What you leave behind is not what is engraved in stone monuments, but what is woven into the lives of others.” Ms Gleeson was given a photograph includes images of St Senan’s National School, the local church and Clonlara Community Crèche as symbols of the indelible mark she has left on the local community. The mother-of-two was on the national school board of management for 25 years, she volunteered for the local church for years and has spent 38 years working in childcare. The crèche caters for 74 children that are looked after by 21 staff. In 2001, Ms Gleeson was named the Clare Person of the Year during this period when she was honoured at a function in …