Shannon

THERE are currently nine vacant social housing units in Shannon, according to a report at last week’s meeting of the town council.

MINISTER Phil Hogan’s ears must have been burning on Tuesday evening as Shannon town councillors criticised his decision to abolish town councils.

BUSINESSES in Shannon are paying multiples of the commercial rates of similar operations in Nenagh, this week’s meeting of Shannon Town Council heard.

A UNIQUE deal under which Shannon College of Hotel Management has become the exclusive education partner for hotel managers of the future from the Seychelles was endorsed by a visit of the Tourism Minister from the African state, Alain St Ange on Wednesday.

WHILE garda statistics presented at this week’s public meeting of the Shannon Joint Policing Committee showed a general decrease in reported crime, some of those in attendance painted a disturbing picture of teenagers causing havoc, without any fear of the law.People spoke about teenagers causing havoc outside their homes and intimidating small children, while one woman said there is an element now that shows no respect for the law. “There’s a different breed of teenagers out there and they’re not afraid of anyone or anything.”There was also some criticism of local gardaí from the attendance with one local man, Chris Price, saying that when reporting an incident, a guard had replied by saying the matter was “outside my pay grade”.One woman said the lives of herself, her husband and daughter had been ruined because of persistent and violent harassment by neighbours. She said she had to go on medication because of it, while her daughter had to go to counselling …

SHANNON Camera Club had 11 entries for the 30th Irish National Audiovisual Championships, which was held in Dublin last weekend.Shannon had three entries in the novice category, seven in the advanced category and one in the club category.The local entrants enjoyed success as Ann Fitzmaurice received an honourable mention for her sequence The Clare 10k run, while Larry Stewart also got an honourable mention for his sequence The Stained Glass of Harry Clarke. Corrie Thorn won a bronze medal for her sequence The Rescue and he also won the George and Doreen Pollock medal, cup and certificate for best first-time entrant. Noel Ryan received a silver medal for his sequence entitled The Fertile Rock and he also won an honourable mention in the All-Ireland section. He took the best overall prize in the national section and was presented with the Kieran O’Loughlin Memorial Trophy. This trophy is named after a former member of the Shannon Camera Club.In the club category, …

A NEW group founded to seek a reduction of the rates burden on business is set to meet with county manager Tom Coughlan next Monday, while it will hold its second public meeting on Tuesday night at 8pm in the Oakwood Arms.

CLARE VEC Adult and Community Education are setting up a South Clare Men’s Shed Learning Group at their Shannon centre. It kicks off next Tuesday at 2pm with tinsmithing.