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South Clare

dancers sought for charity barn dance

Experienced dancers have been invited to showcase their talents at a charity barn dance in Rodger’s Bar, Scariff on this Saturday night at 8 pm. All age groups from teenagers up to pensioners are being urged to support this venture in aid of Crumlin Children’s Cardiac Unit. A number of spot prizes will be awarded on the night for those who display sublime dancing skills and for the best dressed male and female. It is being organised by the parents of Sophie O’Brien who was born on May 6 last with Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome, a serious defect in the left side of her heart and died less than four weeks later on June 2 with her family in Ballina, Killaloe. While Darren O’Brien (31), Scariff, and his wife, Pamela (32), are still devastated over the loss of Baby Sophie, they are determined that something good will emerge from their personal tragedy. They have issued a fresh appeal for people …

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Pink Ribbon raises €325,000 in five years

BREAST cancer volunteers in Killaloe and Ballina were tickled pink this week, following confirmation that an annual, local, charity walk has raised an impressive €325,000 for Action Breast Cancer since 2010. Last June, almost 900 people descended on the Shannonside towns of Killaloe and Ballina to take part in the fifth Killaloe Pink Ribbon Walk, to raise funds for Action Breast Cancer, a programme of the Irish Cancer Society. It was the biggest event yet and was made all the more successful by the support received from the local community and businesses. Pink bra bunting hung from the historic bridge, sweets and drinks were handed out all along the route, and every house and shop had pink draped from their door or window. The local committee presented a cheque on Thursday evening to Joanne Murphy of the Irish Cancer Society for €52,098. A committee spokeswoman described the sum as “an astounding amount”, which was testament to the incredible fundraising efforts …

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Limbo ends for Killaloe homeowners

THE Government has been urged to introduce new legislation to provide legal protection for home-owners in unfinished ghost estates where the builder has gone bust. The call was made this week by Michele Burke and William Buck, who are due to move into their new detached home in Ard na Deirge within the next week, eight years after paying a booking deposit. The couple have been paying almost €1,400 on a mortgage and rent every month for the past number of years. John Ryan Senior and his wife, Breda, along with their son, John Ryan Junior, who purchased a neighbouring dwelling, are also putting the finishing touches to their houses, as they prepare for the long-awaited move. Ms Burke said there was no legal protection for people living in unfinished estates where the builder has gone bust. She urged all local authorities to engage in “active dialogue” with people in similar situations, like director of services, Ger Dollard did since …

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Killaloe Coast Guard sends out signal for volunteers

THE Killaloe Coast Guard Unit has launched an appeal for new volunteers to fill some vacancies in its unit. With 16 male and three female members in the current search and rescue service, the unit is seeking to recruit at least three new members, as a few other volunteers may leave over the coming months, due to work commitments. Led by officer in charge (OIC), Joe Doolan, the unit is Government-funded and doesn’t have to fundraise, unlike its predecessor, the Killaloe Ballina Search and Rescue Service. Acknowledging that training and call-outs were “time-consuming”, deputy OIC, Damien Madden insists it is also “very rewarding” for members who are involved in rescuing people from the lake or aftermishaps on land. “It is a great service for the community. Anyone who is using Lough Derg and gets into trouble, knows we are there at the end of a call by contacting 999 or 112. Once we are called out, we are normally in …

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Film-maker Ensnared by O’Briensbridge weir

THE ripple effect in a weir near O’Briensbridge provided the inspiration for a local video games developer to make his debut as a writer and director for a new psychological horror short, his 11-minute film, Ensnared. It took Paddy Murphy just 20 minutes to write the script for this unusual short, which sees the lead role, John Galloway, played by Kevin Kiely Junior, on a descent into madness, as he battles with the very fabric of reality. “The story came from seeing the ripple in the water on the way to the weir. It came out of nowhere. “At first, I was unsure if it was something useable but, on reflection, a week later, I felt that if it flowed really well, it didn’t have to be structurally sound,” he said. In the film, Mr Galloway has an experience in a river near O’Briensbridge, where most of the movie was shot, which makes him question everything about reality, as the …

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Show put Bridgetown on the map

ON a cold winter’s night in Ginivan’s Bar in 1989, a handful of locals held an impromptu discussion on what new venture would attract people to Bridgetown. A gymkhana was proposed and 52 people attended the first meeting. Following a decision to hold an agricultural show, the inaugural event in 1990 was packed to capacity. In fact, it was such a success, it earned €6,000 for the organising committee. Ed Ginivan, one of the co-founders, said this windfall helped the committee get the show off the ground and it continued to develop and grow over the next three decades. “No one heard about Bridgetown until the show started. It put Bridgetown on the map, particularly for people connected with jumping and showing horses, as well as cattle,” he said. A number of volunteers, including Ed and his wife, Eileen, decided to take a back seat recently from the organising to allow new blood to rejuvenate the show. However, they are …

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Heritage bridge damaged yet again

A protected heritage bridge in O’Briensbridge was damaged by a heavy goods vehicle last week for the second time in recent weeks. The latest incident has prompted renewed concern from O’Briensbridge community group public relations officer, Mick Murtagh about the implications of regular damage by heavy goods vehicles. According to Mr Murtagh, a low-loader carrying heavy machinery knocked a sizable portion of the downstream corner of the bridge, about five or six feet of the parapet, on Wednesday, July 16 at 4.30pm. “This very large heavy goods vehicle was using the single-lane bridge in O’Briensbridge to access the N7 or the motorway at Birdhill, County Tipperary. There were no advance warning or lead vehicle to make people aware that a heavy load was being moved. “A few motorists coming from the Birdhill direction had to drive up on the side of the ditch to allow the heavy goods vehicle pass. Traffic was backed up on the O’Briensbridge side as this …

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Motorists urged to avoid Corbally Road due to mains repairs

HOUSEHOLDS in South East Clare remain without water as Irish Water carry out essential works to repair a burst water main which has affected the water supply in the Shannon Banks, Westbury and Ardnacrusha area. The local authority is now advising motorists of traffic congestion due to the unplanned works being undertaken by Irish Water to resolve the issue. Homes and businesses in the locality were affected by disruptions to their water supply and reduced water pressure on the Mill Road, Corbally Road, Irish Estates, Shannon Banks, Westbury and outwards to Barrys Cross and surrounding areas. Works have an estimated completion time of 2pm. However this afternoon Limerick City and County Council said that water is not expected to return to the area until 7pm this Tuesday evening. The local authority is also advising motorists to avoid the Corbally Road and to use the R464 through the Long Pavement and Parteen as severe traffic congestion is expected on this road …

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