Regional

A KILLALOE councillor has called for “a major clean-up and facelift” in the town, particularly the bridge into Ballina and the pedestrian bridge over the canal. Addressing the July meeting of the Killaloe Municipal District committee, Councillor Tony O’Brien said he didn’t want people to get the wrong impression of the twin towns, and a major effort was needed to tidy up its key amenities. The Cathaoirleach of Clare County Council noted that several organisations, including Waterways Ireland and Tipperary County Council had a role to play in maintaining infrastructure and facilities in Killaloe. “I’m tabling this motion on the back of the new Killaloe-Ballina Town Enhancement and Mobility Plan,” he told his committee colleagues. “I’ve had a good walk around and I have to say that the bottom of the town is in a neglected state. “I have included the pedestrian green bridge in this motion because it certainly is an eye-sore. There is some doubt, it seems, about …

TEN years after the vision of a multifunctional arts venue for Shannon was floated, the directors of the Shannon Venue Limited have facilitated the transfer of their site at the Town Centre to Clare County Council. In a statement the directors said the sale of the site “has been completed to enable the Council to develop the One Shannon Hub, an iconic, multi-functional civic and community facility in the heart of Shannon Town Centre.” Recent years have seen much disillusionment regarding the lack of recreational facilities and amenities in the town, and the fact that the Venue never got the support required to see it come to pass was a very sore point for many local people. However, the directors of the Shannon Venue Ltd (which was designed as a not for profit company formed to deliver the project) say that the One Shannon Hub will finally deliver what they had hoped to provide. “In essence, this facility is exactly …

THE IMAGE presented by one of the main approach roads to Crusheen came in for criticism at the recent meeting of Killaloe district councillors.  Councillor Pat Hayes called for a full review of speed controls measures on the Tulla Road in the village, as well as a plan to upgrade road surfaces and footpaths.  “The motion is not as much about speed limits themselves, but about traffic controls and the image they present,” the Fianna Fáil member said. “Crusheen, at the moment, is not a properly planned village. What we are doing is planning for houses only. If you are coming in on the Tulla Road into Crusheen and observe traffic management, the aesthetic looks alone doesn’t present a very positive image.” Councillor Hayes welcomed a written response to his motion which noted that Clár-funded safety improvement works are nearly finished at the local school. “What is needed in this area is a total upgrade,” he added. “The new community …

NESTLED in the rolling hills between Inagh and Cloonanaha, Michael Callinan’s family farm is both productive and peaceful. “It was a different world, coming out here on a Friday,” said Occupational Therapist (OT), Kathríona Moloney. Along with Imelda Hogan from Ennis, Kathríona formed part of a group who visited the farm between February and May, experiencing the changing rhythm of the seasons and enjoying the benefits of social farming. Activities for the group included feeding cattle, growing vegetables, planting hanging baskets and the odd visit to see ‘Romeo’, the bull – depending on his mood. Imelda’s face lit up when she recalled her weekly visits. “I loved it,” she said. “It was a lot of fun.” Michael is one the first Clare farmers to open up his home and farm, so that people from all walks of life can access social and other supports. He has around 80 livestock, on a 50-acre suckler farm with another 20 acres rented out. …

CONTROVERSY around the issue of so-called ‘in-fill sites’ has led to an application by a young couple for a house in Kilkishen being rejected, twice over.  The application to build a one-off house at Teeronea was turned down by county planners last year. Following an inspection of the site, and consideration of national and local guidelines, An Bord Pleanála has now copperfastened that decision.  Both the Council and the appeals board found that the creation of an in-fill, or what the local authority described as “gap sites”, would be contrary to the County Development Plan 2017-2023.  An Bord Pleanála also stated that the couple had failed to satisfy the requirement to prove a local housing need. That was despite the fact that one of the applicants attended national school in Kilkishen.  Commenting on the general principle of in-fill sites, Councillor PJ Kelly, who highlighted the issue earlier this year, described the situation as “crazy and vexatious”. “An in-fill site is …

WOODHAVEN Developments Limited has received planning permission for the construction of 55 houses and a childcare facility at Smithstown, Shannon. The County Council granted planning permission subject to 28 conditions, three of which require the developer to make separate payments, which, added together, come to over €600,000. One of the conditions requires “a contribution of €311,801 to Clare County Council in respect of public infrastructure and facilities benefiting development in the area of the Planning Authority that is provided for, or intended to be provided by or on behalf of the authority in accordance with the terms of the development contribution scheme under Section 38 of the Planning & Development Act 2000”. A separate requirement is for a cash security of €275,000 until the development is taken in charge by the Council or until there has “satisfactory completion of the development”. Separately before work starts a Special Development Contribution must be paid to Clare County Council, towards the upgrading of …

A BIKE sharing scheme introduced to Shannon in July is having to be scaled back already due to anti-social behaviour. While it is not being scrapped, it has been suspended while improvements are being made.  “We have had some instances of anti social behaviour so we have temporarily paused the scheme, we’re introducing some new security measures within the app. We’re having younger teenagers accessing the scheme, and we just need to put in some extra security measures so we can verify their age before they sign up. We’re developing that and we hope to reactivate it in the next week to ten days, back to full capacity,” said Jarlath Gantly, CEO of CoMotion, the company that provides the bikes. Shannon has experienced extensive problems with anti-social behaviour in recent years, with numerous complaints made to authorities about vandalism and intimidatory behaviour.  Councillor Donna McGettigan said that many people have been using the bikes, but that the actions of a …

VISITORS from seven European countries are set to visit Ennis when the county capitals hosts the 18th European Culture Week. The celebration of culture takes place from August 8 until August 12. This festival is being organised by the Ennis group Clanna Mileadha and will include participants from Sardinia, France, Hungary, Sud-Tyrol, Lithuania, Romania and Spain. The Clanna Mileadha group have attended all the festivals since its inception in 1986 on a bi-annual basis, only missing out on Sardinia in 1990. The festival was first held in Ennis in 2002 and there is great excitement among the groups to make a return visit to Ennis after 20 years. Covid had an impact in delaying the festival by two years as it was due to be held in 2020. A spokesperson for Clanna Mileadha explains, “The groups are coming together to celebrate their unique individuality. Each country is showcasing their culture through the medium of music and dance. Throughout the week …