Tag Archives: Cratloe

FURTHER concerns have emerged over potential pyrite damage to a number of homes in the South East Clare area. It is understood that publicity around the issue of defective blocks and the visit of the Housing Minister to see a badly affected home in Drumline has prompted other homeowners to come forward. Following a number of calls to The Champion from concerned homeowners, Councillor Patrick O’Gorman confirmed that he has also been contacted. “There are definitely more people who now realise that their houses may be affected,” the Cratloe man said. “As recently as last weekend, I’ve met homeowners who believe there may be pyrite in their homes. In one case, a couple have decided they’re going to have to sleep at one end of their house, because of their fears over the condition of the other side of it. “It’s a very worrying situation and it’s only after the issue was highlighted in the media by the action group …

LAST weekend saw panic buying of bottled water in Shannon, as people in the surrounding areas were concerned after word of elevated levels of manganese in local supplies came from Irish Water. The areas affected have since been clarified and tankered water is now being provided in Cratloe, Sixmilebridge, Kilmurry, Kilkishen and Quin, for those affected. At the time of writing it was thought unlikely that the problem will be rectified until late next week at the earliest. Councillor Pat O’Gorman said that there had been a lot of confusion initially. “The information was very slow coming out, it should have been on local media rather than us scrambling to get it out to the general public on Saturday morning.” It was only on Tuesday that a full list of the affected areas became available, and he said people had been unsure of what to do. “There was an awful lot of confusion. You’re talking about a tight knit area, …

FOLLOWING consultation with the Health Service Executive (HSE), Irish Water, working in partnership with Clare County Council, has issued a Do Not Consume Notice for consumers on the Shannon/Sixmilebridge Public Water Supply due to elevated levels of manganese. The notice applies to approximately 7,500 customers and is effective immediately. It does not apply to customers in Shannon, Newmarket-on-Fergus and Bunratty. It is especially important that mains drinking water is not given to bottle fed infants. Please note this is not a Boil Water Notice. Boiling the water will not reduce manganese levels and is therefore not a suitable measure to make the water safe to consume. This notice does not apply to other water schemes in County Clare. Tankered water will be in place at the following locations to provide an alternative water supply to customers. Customers are reminded to use their own containers when taking water from the tanker and to boil water before consumption as a precautionary measure. …

WITH three of the four sides emerging contently from the opening round, the stakes in the ‘Group of Death’ are upped this weekend as Ennistymon are introduced into the mix against Kilmurry Ibrickane while old rivals Miltown and Cratloe renew acquaintances. Eoin Brennan reports. Kilmurry Ibrickane v Ennistymon at Cusack Park, Saturday, 4.30pm (Referee C Maguire) While neighbours Kilmurry Ibrickane and St Joseph’s Miltown know each other inside out, it’s a little less familiar territory from now on for the defending champions who will be expecting an Ennistymon ambush this Saturday. The North Clare side were the only team to sit out the opening weekend of the championship so they will be extra eager to not only get their championship challenge underway but also make an immediate impact. After all, with Kilmurry Ibrickane, St Joseph’s Miltown and Cratloe strong favourites to take the three knock-out spots, Ennistymon will be determined to break up that cosy cartel, having contested at least …

Owen Ryan TWELVE years after first being elected to Clare County Council, Cratloe’s PJ Ryan became mayor of Clare last Friday afternoon. An independent Councillor, he is very much of the Fianna Fáil gene pool, and first stood for election for that party, staying in the race until the final count in 2004. However, when the party hierarchy decided his face didn’t fit five years later, he decided to go it alone. “They had this selection thing, they sent people down from Dublin to select the candidates, people that knew nothing about the candidates or what they were involved in. Michael Begley and myself lost out, so I decided I’d go the independent route. I’ve been elected three times as an independent.” Both sides of his family were rooted in Fianna Fáil, but he says he didn’t seriously look at going back into the party. “No, the thing about it is, why would you change a winning team?” he quips. …

Half a loaf is considerably better than no bread as following the postponement of last year’s secondary adult club competitions, a condensed county league schedule is set to commence this bank holiday Monday. Four of the seven football leagues begin their campaigns on the first day possible of the government’s Covid-19 guidelines, with all divisions in both football and hurling limited to five matches which are based on last year’s fixtures. With no promotion or relegation at stake, the county leagues are primarily intended as a reintroduction to playing action following a minimum eight month absence. However, while clubs will be without their inter-county contingents, there’s still silverware on offer to retain a competitive edge remains intact as following the completion of the group stages, the top team in each division will be crowned champions. Cusack Cup – Division 1 Football League Round 1 Kilmurry Ibrickane v St Joseph’s Miltown at Quilty, Monday, 3.30pm (Referee: C Maguire) It’s a post-lockdown …

It might still be some time before action is seen at Pairc Micheal O’Hehir in Cratloe, or any other GAA ground for that matter, but that has not prevented the South East Clare club from looking to continue their progression. Over the last 15 or so years, the club has grown both on and off the pitch and now is established as one of the top contenders in both the Clare senior hurling and football championships each year. The first major stepping stone on that journey of the last few years was their Senior B hurling success in 2006, and just three years later the Canon Hamilton trophy was secured for the first time with victory over Clonlara. It returned to the parish in 2014 when Crusheen were vanquished, but their last two final appearances in 2018 (Ballyea) and 2019 (Sixmilebridge) ended in defeat. In the same year their hurling side were making history with a first senior title, the …

By Dan Danaher TRANSPORT Minister Eamon Ryan has bowed to considerable political pressure to finally approve the completion of the final phase of a €58 million major road linking Coonagh with Meelick. Questioned several times by Clare and Limerick Dáil deputies from all parties, Minister Ryan had stated he was continuing to consider the recommendation from Limerick County Council regarding the award of the main construction contract for the scheme. This had prompted stinging criticism locally that it meant the final phase of Coonagh to Meelick Distributor road was being effectively shelved. However, Deputy Cathal Crowe has now welcomed Minister Ryan’s confirmation on Limerick’s Live 95 FM that “Phase One of this long-awaited project can finally go ahead”. Deputy Crowe said this news on Wednesday brought an end to a significant amount of doubt over the future of the entire project in recent weeks, which has been 12 years in the making. “I’m grateful that Minister Ryan has taken time …