South Clare

A STATE-of-the art €400,000 sports complex in Killaloe, promoted by a local committee that includes former Lions captain Keith Wood, has hit the jackpot in securing a grant for half of the overall cost.

A KILLALOE woman, who has raised almost €90,000 with the help of friends for cancer treatment, has revealed her devastation about the return of breast cancer two years ago.

CLARE County Council has been accused of ignoring a submission from a local group following the controversial installation of an “ugly” crash barrier on the approach ramp to a 15th century stone bridge.The Clare Champion has obtained a copy of a letter sent by the O’Briensbridge Community Group, which it insists verifies its contention other alternatives were sent to the council for consideration almost two years before the “offensive two-tier” crash barrier was erected.The group objected to the provision of metal safety barriers in the letter and requested the council implement an environmentally sensitive solution.In fact, group chairman Mick Murtagh went a step further by claiming former senior executive engineer for the Killaloe Electoral Area, Seán Lenihan, was supportive in general concerning the group’s proposals, which he apparently felt were quite reasonable and didn’t indicate they were not feasible.In a letter dated June 22, 2010 to Mr Lenihan, Mr Murtagh stressed the group wanted to find a solution that would …

  RESIDENTS opposing a proposed distributor road costing an estimated €120 million are considering hiring a hydrologist to prepare a case to An Bord Pleanála.Members of the Concerned Northern Distributor Road Group are already fundraising to prepare for a planning “battle” when the Emerging Preferred Route Corridor is being considered by the appeals’ board. Group chairman Ed English has admitted it is unlikely the council would make a major change to the Emerging Preferred Route Corridor, which has been selected.While the group is fully engaging in the public consultation process and had lodged a detailed submission, Mr English expected they would be in a better position to make changes when the appeals’ board is considering the road.Details of the group’s extensive campaign to date was outlined at a public meeting attended by about 50 people in Parteen on Tuesday night. It was attended by Limerick East Fine Gael Deputy Kieran O’Donnell and Councillor Cathal Crowe. Councillor Pascal Fitzgerald was unable …

THE long term benefits of the proposed €120million distributor road linking South-East Clare with Limerick City will be seen by future generations, according to senior engineer Tom Tiernan.Speaking to The Clare Champion, Mr Tiernan said Phase Two of the Northern Distributor Road is needed  to facilitate the future needs of the region.Clare County Council’s senior engineer explained this new road will facilitate development, good quality connectivity and access to all opportunities that exist in South East Clare and North Limerick at present and into  the future.He noted the traffic situation on the north side of Limerick City is different from rest of the city. “The road infrastructure from that area is more radial from Limerick City Centre. A lot of it isn’t good quality road infrastructure. It is quite restricted in some cases at particular times, you do have a deficit from a traffic capacity point of view, particularly at peak times, morning and evening.“There are a series of local …

CLARE County Council has drawn the ire of a community group for installing an “ugly” crash barrier on a 15th century stone bridge.The O’Briensbridge Community Group said they are “incensed, angry and outraged” that the stone bridge has been “defaced and vandalised” by the erection of what they termed an “obscene double tier crash barrier”.Deputy Michael McNamara has also asked that Clare County Council remove this “ugly feature” and replace it with “something more suitable” in advance of the tourist season.O’Briensbridge Community Group received a special endeavour award in 2011 at the Housing, Social and Cultural Services Directorate Awards, held as part of the council’s programme of sustaining positive and co-operative working relationships with local groups. Deputy McNamara claimed “this eyesore flies in the face of their efforts”.“It seems incredible to me that on the same week as Fáilte Ireland and Waterways Ireland, in conjunction with Clare County Council, spent scarce resources on Discover Killaloe and Ballina…this unsightly crash barrier …

Hopes that Clare County Council would drop its plans for a controversial €120 million motorway crossing through South-East Clare were dashed this week after councillors failed to support a proposal from a county councillor.Councillor Pascal Fitzgerald asked that the council drop its plans to proceed with Phase Two of the Northern Distributor Road and concentrate its efforts on developing the new River Shannon Crossing at Killaloe and upgrading the existing roads between Parteen village and the University of Limerick campus at Garraun.Speaking at a county council meeting on Monday, Councillor Fitzgerald said people were looking for a new road in the middle of the Celtic Tiger when traffic volumes were significantly higher, but it was never built.He questioned the merits of proceeding with the route selection process at this time when there is no money to finance the construction of this route in the short term. He also warned that the current Emerging Preferred Route would destroy Parteen village by …

A breast cancer survivor living a stone’s throw away from Westbury in South-East Clare, is set to participate in a charity walk to raise funds to fight this life-threatening disease.  Alice O’Farrell from Corbally missed out on last year’s Pink Ribbon Walk, which raised €56,000.“I had contracted breast cancer myself and I was in the middle of chemotherapy. All I could do was come and see the walkers off. This year I’m feeling great and I’m ready to put on those walking shoes myself,” she said.Not only that, but she’s going to bring half of Limerick with her as well. “I hope to run several busses from the city and get a really big Limerick contingent involved in the walk,” she said, adding “They’ll be wearing special Limerick arm bands”.Alice has been tireless in her efforts to raise funds for cancer. Last year, she raised €76,000 for the Mid-Western Development Trust by producing the Hope Calendar in which she, her …