Tag Archives: clare

AFTER an initial delay, an application for planning permission for the construction of a new €25 million community hospital in Ennis to replace long stay and short stay beds at St Joseph’s has been lodged with Clare County Council. The HSE had initially lodged a planning application for the development at the beginning of August. The Council, however, deemed the application ‘incomplete’ as the site notice had not been erected and dated within two weeks prior to lodgement. A new application has now been made for the development at lands at Clonroadmore, South-East of Turnpike Road and North-West of St Flannan’s College in Ennis. According to the plans the development will consist of: the construction of a part two-storey, part single-storey 100 bed residential community nursing unit (CNU) including; main entrance foyer block; production kitchens; offices; plant room; courtyard gardens with ancillary support accommodation and an enclosed gated delivery yard incorporating a maintenance building and generator. The development will also …

AN elderly Clare man has been stabbed to death while on his mobility scooter in London in what has been described by investigating police as “a shocking act of unprovoked violence”. Thomas O’Halloran, an 87-year-old grandfather was living in the Greenford area of west London but was originally from Ennistymon where he still has a large number of family. The community of Ennistymon have been rallying around the O’Halloran family at this tragic time local Senator Martin Conway has said. Mr O’Halloran was a popular figure in Greenford where he was well known for entertaining locals with his accordion and on the day of his killing it is understood he had been busking to raise money for charity. Police were called just after 4pm on Tuesday to Runnymede Gardens, at the junction with Cayton Road, Greenford to reports of a man with stab wounds. Officers responded and gave emergency first aid until the arrival of the London Ambulance Service and …

TWO people were found asleep on a boat on Lough Derg by RNLI volunteers who had been called to the scene following reports that the vessel was adrift. On Friday morning August 12, Valentia Coast Guard requested Lough Derg RNLI lifeboat to launch to investigate a report from a member of the public of a 25ft vessel adrift in Youghal Bay.  At 8.23am Lough Derg RNLI lifeboat Jean Spier launched with helm Steve Smyth, Joe O’Donoghue and Chris Parker on board. The lake was calm with excellent visibility.   At 8.32am the lifeboat arrived on scene having located the vessel midway between Garrykennedy Harbour and Ryan’s Point at Youghal Bay. Two people on board were sleeping and unaware that their anchor had dragged their boat from its original location. The skipper weighed anchor and made way for harbour.  The lifeboat departed the scene and was back at Station at 8.45am and at 9am the lifeboat was washed down and refuelled.  Aoife …

RESIDENTS of a Shannon neighbourhood are crying ‘foul’ at being kept awake at night by ‘talking’ signs urging dog owners to clean up after their pets. A meeting of the Shannon Municipal District heard that there are “sleepless nights in Drumgeely” with residents disturbed by the signs which were installed to help prevent dog litter on the streets. The signs play pre-recorded messages reminding dog walkers to obey the law when it comes to dog litter, however according to Councillor Gerry Flynn the message is being heard late into the night in the homes of residents. He told the meeting that he has been contacted by people living in the area about the issue saying, “This is a very settled community with older people living there, people can’t sleep at night.” He continued, “It’s a disgrace these signs have been put in an inappropriate place next to the pioneers that made Shannon.” Tom Mellett, senior executive engineer stated that the …

THREE years ago the arrival of Donald Trump saw one of the most extensive security operations in Clare’s history, and he is due to visit his property in Doonbeg again this month. In 2019 Gardai from around the country spent a few days in Clare for the visit, but sources this week say that the operation this time will be far less significant. Last week it was said that Garda preparations on the ground around Shannon Airport had not begun, as full details of the Trump visit were not available. However, local Gardai expect that the vast majority of the Gardai involved in security this time will be drawn from the Clare division, with perhaps a small bit of assistance from neighbouring areas. Even if it were required, Gardai say that bringing in members of the force from other parts of the country would be far more difficult now, with many hotels in the region already fully occupied due to …

WHILE the shortage of housing is still very acute in Clare, 464 new residential units were built in the year up to the end of June, according to the latest GeoDirectory Residential Buildings Report. The bi-annual report is based on GeoDirectory’s database of over two million residential building records. The 464 addresses amounts to 0.8 of the county’s overall housing stock, and is actually a poorer outcome than in the previous 12 months. During the second quarter, work was underway on the construction of 22,390 buildings in the country, with 439 of these in Co Clare. This means the county has approximately 2% of the State’s construction activity. The county has a slight increase (2%) in housing commencements in the 12 months up to June.  The GeoDirectory research shows a 6.3% vacancy rate in Clare, higher than the State average of 4.2%. Some 9.7% of units in the county are holiday homes.  It found that there were 1,116 residential property …

VISITORS from seven European countries are set to visit Ennis when the county capitals hosts the 18th European Culture Week. The celebration of culture takes place from August 8 until August 12. This festival is being organised by the Ennis group Clanna Mileadha and will include participants from Sardinia, France, Hungary, Sud-Tyrol, Lithuania, Romania and Spain. The Clanna Mileadha group have attended all the festivals since its inception in 1986 on a bi-annual basis, only missing out on Sardinia in 1990. The festival was first held in Ennis in 2002 and there is great excitement among the groups to make a return visit to Ennis after 20 years. Covid had an impact in delaying the festival by two years as it was due to be held in 2020. A spokesperson for Clanna Mileadha explains, “The groups are coming together to celebrate their unique individuality. Each country is showcasing their culture through the medium of music and dance. Throughout the week …

CLARECASTLE Show makes its return this weekend offering a fantastic level of prize money and a wonderful day’s entertainment and diversion for all the family. And, what’s more, after an absence of two years the boutique show in the Clarecastle GAA grounds on Sunday, August 7 will be free to enter. The move to make entry to Clarecastle Show was made by the board of the Society as a gesture to the people of Clare and beyond who had endured a lot over the past two years. Clarecastle Show Chairman Michael Slattery explained, “Entry to the show is free, a decision taken by our board because of the stress and strain people have been through caused by Covid and the escalating costs of everything. “Perhaps a day at the show in the fresh air amongst friends will compensate for the difficulties of the Covid years.” Speaking about what makes the Clarecastle Show special he said, “We do not compare. Clarecastle …