Regional

PRESSURE is mounting on public representatives in East Clare to show that a recent major funding investment will pay off soon for the town of Scariff.  That was the view of two members of the Killaloe Municipal District committee when the group held their July meeting. Both Councillor Joe Cooney and Pat Burke sought an update on progress with the Scariff Rural Regeneration Project, particularly the car park element.  Last January, an allocation of just over half a million Euro was made by The Rural and Community Development towards a multi-service centre, improvements to the centre of the town and the development of a town car park.  “There is a lot of concern in Scariff over the lack of parking,” Councillor Cooney said. “The main one is that if we leave it until the regeneration project, it could be a long way down the road.” Councillor Burke agreed that the issue of parking is a challenge. “Pressure is really coming …

AN alliance of local activists and environmental groups is to hold a public meeting in Ennis this Wednesday evening to highlight opposition to the proposed data centre near the town. The meeting will take place at 7pm at The Copper Jug Bar and Café (Courtview, Lifford, Ennis) to convey the group’s “deep concern” about plans by Art Data Centres Ltd. to construct a data centre on the Tulla Road, Ennis, which, they claim, will consume as much electricity as 200,000 homes – more than in Clare and Limerick combined. A spokesperson for the group said, “The plans to build one of the largest data centres in the country here in Ennis brings with it an additional threat to the health of people here as the plans include a gas burning plant that will only make the air quality here worse than it already is, leading to asthma and other respiratory problems.” Ruairí Ó Fathaigh, industry expert and Futureproof Clare member …

BIODIVERSITY measures introduced as part of Ennis Municipal District’s grass cutting operations have resulted in “excellent outcomes” the local authority have insisted following criticism of the service. Councillor Mary Howard told a recent meeting of the council she has received “numerous complaints ranging from grass not being cut to cutting done badly and grass not collected”. The council acknowledged receipt of two complaints relating to grass not being cut within contracted areas, saying these have been addressed. Contractors working on behalf of the Ennis Municipal District cut 75 acres of grass a year with a budget of €80,000 allocated for the task, with council officials describing the contractors as “highly professional”. Eamon O’Dea, senior executive engineer told the meeting that the contractors are “cutting continuously, they start at their first location and travel through”. He pointed out that the areas being cut are “public open spaces, they are not lawns or golf courses and if we want those standards then …

A COUNTY Clare family is set to be the latest beneficiaries of hit TV Show DIY SOS: The Big Build Ireland. Baz Ashmawy and his team will be coming to Ennis, from August 30, and is seeking the help of Clare trades people to renovate and adapt the home of the Mulvey-Sydney family. The project is expected to run until September 8. Thirteen-year-old Isabella Mulvey-Sydney was born with a rare congenital disorder called Lumbar Sacral Agenesis, which resulted in both her legs being amputated at the age of seven. Isabella is a tenacious, bright and brave young teenager, but her home in Ennis, which she shares with her parents and twin brother AJ, is completely unsuitable to her needs and its inaccessibility is causing physical pain to her and her parents, Darum and Clare. Clare Mulvey-Sydney was born and raised in Ennis and is Isabella’s full-time carer as well as being a recent breast cancer survivor. Just last year she …

UPGRADING Killaloe Playground with new equipment and flooring has been identified as a priority project by a new community group. Eight new councillors have been nominated without the necessity of a vote to the newly-established Killaloe Community Council. Council vice-chairman, Eddie O’Gorman said one of the plans of the new organisation is to refurbish Killaloe Playground before handing it over to a new management committee who would look after its maintenance requirements. The new group will be inviting members of the Scariff and Mountshannon Community Council to share their ideas and experience at a future meeting. It will apply for funding to state agencies on behalf of local groups who wish to participate in community projects that will enhance the locality. There are also plans to meet representatives of Clare County Council to examine abandoned local authority buildings and public space in the town. “Clare County Council are fully supportive of this new council. They are willing to provide any …

Doonbeg locals do not want a repeat of “very nasty comments” made about Doonbeg online by ‘anti-Trump people’ ahead of the ex-US President’s planned private trip to his golf resort in west Clare next month. Doonbeg publican, Tommy Comerford said that President Donald Trump’s 2019 visit to west Clare was marked by “nasty comments” made by ‘anti-Trump people’ about the west Clare village. The visit coincides with speculation that Doonbeg could be chosen to host a golf tournament on the controversial LIV Tour, which is attracting big name players away from the established PGA and European Tours. Two of Trump’s golf courses in the US, Bedminster and Doral are staging LIV Golfevents in 2022 and Trump’s Doonbeg Golf Course was designed by Greg Norman, LIV CEO, who is said to be determined to bring an event to the west Clare venue. Doonbeg publican, Tommy Comerford said that President Donald Trump’s 2019 visit to west Clare was marked by “nasty comments” …

TRANSPORT Infrastructure Ireland (TII) should be “shot at dawn” for its work on the Clareabbey Roundabout a councillor has said as he renewed calls for traffic calming to be introduced. Councillor Paul Murphy has described efforts to address safety concerns on the roundabout on the outskirts of Ennis over the years as a “personal crusade” believing there will be a serious accident some day if improvements are not made. The Clarecastle councillor has raised numerous notices of motion relating to Clareabbey roundabout at meetings of the Ennis Municipal District over the years. Most recently he has urged that traffic lights and or signalling be introduced to make the roundabout safer for motorists and vulnerable road users. Speaking at a meeting of the council he requested that all motions he has submitted regarding the need for traffic calming at Clareabbey be collated and forwarded to TII, alongside his latest request and that an “urgent response” be made. John Gannon, Senior Executive …

PLANS for a glamping development on the outskirts of Killaloe have been given the green light by Clare County Council. Elaine and Patrick Scanlon, c/o Andrew Hersey Planning, secured planning approval for six glamping pods, toilet block, car parking area, vehicular access, waste water treatment plant and ancillary site works at Lackenbawn, Killaloe subject to nine planning conditions. The planning authority considered the proposed development would not seriously injure the amenities of the area or of property in the vicinity and would be in accordance with the proper planning and sustainable development of the area. One of the planning conditions stipulated the mitigation measures set out in the Natura Impact Statement – which were received by the planning authority on April 14 last – have to be implemented in full throughout the construction phase of the development. Prior to the start of the development, the applicant has to pay a contribution of €6,354 to the council in respect of public …