South Clare

Galway City and County Councils is to receive €58.4 million towards the construction of 1,126 new social houses in Galway. The new houses are due to be built by 2017 and will take 21% and 29% of households off the city and council housing lists respectively. “This is good news for the thousands of families on housing waiting lists across Galway. We will finally see local authorities building houses again – something that Fianna Fail stopped and Labour has been committed to starting again. This funding will provide homes for Galway families and is the first phase in a historic investment in social housing across the country,” noted Deputy Derek Nolan. “Social housing is a social good. It provides quality homes for those who cannot afford their own, relieves pressure on the private rented market and is a control on private house prices. I want to see more social houses built so that those on waiting lists can settle, raise …

  Clare camogie and a South-East Clare community have been left “devastated” by the tragic death of a popular man. Residents in Truagh and Clonlara, the local camogie club and camogie enthusiasts throughout the county are mourning the loss of Declan Fahey whose body was recovered from the Head Race canal near Ardnacrusha Power Generating Station by Killaloe Coastguard on Thursday night. The 48 year-old father-of-three was the chairman of his beloved Truagh and Clonlara Camogie Club where he devoted countless hours coaching underage camogie teams. Mr Fahey was one of the driving forces in their emergence as a very young senior camogie side with the potential of success over the coming years after he played a major role in guiding his club to a string of underage success. In addition to managing the Truagh and Clonlara senior side, he was also training their U-14 side. A member of the Clare County Board grading committee, he was planning to attend …

The body of a man has been recovered from the River Shannon near Ardnacrusha following a 12-hour long search and rescue operation. Emergency Services say the body is that of a man in his 50’s who was reported missing yesterday (Thursday) evening and was reportedly seen entering the water near Clonlara. The Shannon-based search and rescue helicopter, backed up by gardaí, fire service personnel and ambulance crews, last night conducted a search of a section of the River Shannon and the riverbank between Blackwater and Clonlara.

THE 250 berth Lough Derg Marina in Killaloe/Ballina is being offered for sale, with an asking price in excess of €500,000. Situated on the  Ballina shoreline, the marina is on an 3.17 hectare (7.8 acre) site with over 500 meters of lake frontage that enjoy panoramic views of the lake and surrounding countryside. The site includes a workshop/warehouse, ancillary offices, ground floor showroom, storeroom and an adjoining two bedroom first floor apartment. Zoned for mixed use general development, the property may suit planning permission for a new marina or a mixed development, incorporating a water related development, including private and public berthing, cruiser rental, leisure/water related activities, commercial use, holiday and family apartments/ houses or even a small hotel, subject to planning permission. The marina is being offerd for sale by joint agents, CBRE and Costelloe Estate Agents. Robert Colleran of CBRE commented, “This is an exceptional opportunity to acquire a 250 berth marina with potential to develop a new marina …

A plan to take water from the Comeragh Mountains to deal with water shortages in the Dublin region would eliminate the need for the controversial Lough Derg water abstraction project, a retired Cork businessman has claimed. William K Loftus, who previously ran a plant hire and civil engineering business, has drafted proposals for what he described as an “elaborate plan to utilise the southern side of the Comeragh Mountains for freshwater storage and a hydro electric scheme by seawater in the lower lakes”. Mr Loftus maintains it can be achieved without interfering with the scenic aspect of the mountains on the Mahon Falls side. He has sent his proposal to Irish Water (IW), who hadn’t responded to a number of Clare Champion at the time of going to print. A Department of Environment spokesman stated the matter is for IW, while Environment Minister Alan Kelly’s private secretary acknowledged press queries from The Clare Champion but didn’t respond with a comment …

Cratloe Post Office is to remain open for at least another 18 months it has been announced. Senator Tony Mulcahy said he has received confirmation from An Post that the contract for the operation of the post office, which was due to end this month, has been extended until September 2016. He said An Post’s decision is a credit to the work of the local community and the Cratloe Post Office Action Group which have “campaigned vigorously” against the closure during recent months.” He described the extension of the Post Office contract as “a victory for community action.” “I attended a number of meetings in Cratloe and at the GPO in Dublin at which the people of Cratloe outlined the many reasons why the post office should remain open and how its closure would potentially impact the village and surrounding areas. This community approach worked and has served to convince An Post that its plan to not renew the Post …

THE newly formed Friends of Shannon Airport held its inaugural meeting recently at the Oakwood Arms Hotel. Officials have been elected within the group and it will now embark on setting up its operating structure and establishing a programme of activity to support the airport, as it continues on the growth path it began when it was separated from the Dublin Airport Authority. The origins of the group date to a 2014 meeting at the airport, which facilitated requests from people keen to see how they could support Shannon. To date, members of the public from Clare, Limerick, Galway, Tipperary and Cork have shown an interest in getting involved. Shannon Group CEO, Neil Pakey, said the enthusiasm of the Friends of Shannon Airport members and the sense of volunteerism is very encouraging. “There is a really strong sense of community around Shannon Airport and a sense of belonging that stretches far and wide, up the west coast, deep into the …

A TALENTED Ardnacrusha actor and director is among five finalists who are bidding to win a €50,000 prize fund to pursue his dream job. Mark Griffin soared above almost 2,000 entries to earn a voted place in the Dream Job final with Brazilian fashion designer, Alex D’Paula; Dublin concert pianist, Sean Rooney; Stillorgan-based music composer, Scott Tobin and Dundalk comedian, Lisa Casey. Budweiser is asking people across the country to check out the finalist videos on their Facebook page and offer their vote to the person they believe deserves it most. Although each finalist has already secured an equipment bursary of €2,000, the opportunity for the overall winner is life-changing; with a prize fund of €50,000 up for grabs, as well as the priceless mentoring and industry guidance they will receive. The judging panel was headed up by Game of Thrones star, Liam Cunningham, alongside internationally acclaimed DJ Matador and TV presenter, Leanne Moore. According to a Budweiser spokeswoman, the …