Tag Archives: doolin

Ireland’s oldest person has passed away in her 109th year. Nora Canavan, née Mullins, was born in Monreel, Ennistymon on March 9, 1908 but lived most of her live at St Catherine’s, Doolin. She became the oldest person in Ireland earlier this year following the death of 109-year-old Mayo woman Molly Madden. Nora has been described as a family woman who liked crochet and gardening. She also enjoyed traditional music, had a strong faith, and said that hard work was the secret of a long life. Her life was documented by Cuimhneamh an Chláir, the Clare oral history and folklore group. Pre-deceased by her husband Stephen, who she married in 1920, the couple had seven children. She is survived by a wide circle of friends and family, including great-great grandchildren. Her remains will repose at her residence in Doolin this Thursday evening, arriving in Doolin Church for funeral mass at 12 noon on Friday. Burial is to the Holy Rosary Cemetery, Doolin.

Two German tourists were removed to hospital following a two-vehicle collision in North Clare. The men had been travelling along a narrow country road at Toornahooan, a short distance from Doolin, when the accident occurred. Two units of the fire brigade from Ennistymon along with ambulances from Ennistymon and Ennis responded to the incident along with gardaí. Members of the Doolin unit of the Irish Coast Guard were also requested to assist. The two male occupants of the rental car were injured in the collision while the driver of the second vehicle was unhurt. The injured were taken by ambulance to University Hospital Limerick for treatment.

Gardaí in Ennistymon are investigating a fatal road traffic collision which occurred yesterday afternoon (Wednesday). The collision beetween a car and a motorcycle occurred at approximately 4.45pm at Doonagore, Doolin on the R47. The scene of the collision is 8km outside Doolin and the road is locally known as the Coast Road. The front seat passenger of the car, a 35-year-old man, was seriously injured and pronounced dead at the scene. His body was taken to the morgue in Limerick. The male driver and a female passenge, both in their mid 30s, were also injured in the collision and taken to Galway University Hospital and Limerick Hospitals. Their injuries are described as non life threatening. The motorcyclist was seriously injured and is being treated at Limerick Hospital. Gardaí are appealing for witnesses to contact them in Ennistymon on 065 7072180, the Garda Confidential line on 1800 666 111 or any garda station.

A Clare castle has featured in a prize-winning photograph in a national competition. Brendan Cullen’s picture of Doonagore Castle, near Doolin, won him third place in the Heritage Section of Clean Coasts’ Love Your Coast Photography Awards, which were held in Dublin. Speaking at the ceremony, a spokesperson said, “Ireland is fortunate to have some of the most beautiful coastal scenery in the world. This competition encourages people to look anew at the beaches and coastal landscapes we sometimes take for granted. The overall mission of the Clean Coasts programme is to celebrate and preserve Ireland’s spectacular coast and this competition is central to that effort, as it gives people a chance to show their local coastline at its best.” A gallery of the winning photographs can be viewed online.

Famous travel and adventure show, The Road Less Travelled, stopped off in Clare this week as they toured Ireland. Presented by explorer and adventurer, Jonathan Legg and broadcast to an audience of up to six million, the show travelled the country, as the presenter and crew filmed an episode for their upcoming fourth season. The team followed a route, drawn up by Fáilte Ireland, to showcase Irish food and drink, along with some new and unusual experiences on offer across the country. In Clare, the crew took in Doolin, Ennistymon and visited the Cliffs of Moher. Describing their experience in Ireland, Jonathan said,”The food in Ireland was a highlight. Once you put a forkful in your mouth it immediately impresses.After speaking with some of the country’s top chefs I understand why. Irish chefs are taking real pride in locally sourcing their food and the quality of the ingredients comes directly from the quality of the land on which it was …

A ROAD in Doolin has been described as “an embarrassment” by North Clare county councillor Richard Nagle. The construction of badly-needed footpaths linking the two parts of the North Clare village was discussed at the West Clare Municipal District meeting in Kilrush last week. During the discussion, council engineer Cyril Feeney calculated that it could cost €250,000 to pay for the footpaths, excluding the purchase of land. However, Councillor Nagle said the road should be repaired as well. “One of the worst pieces of road in any village in North Clare is from Fitz’s Cross to Fisher Street. The surface is absolutely shocking. It’s an embarrassment for any premier tourist village to have that road surface. Why was it left that way? Because every time a motion was put down, requesting the upgrade of the road, we were told that we had to wait because we had to do the footpaths and the lot. The result is that absolutely nothing …

CLARE County Council are to upgrade or provide toilet and changing facilities at Kilkee, Lahinch and Spanish Point beaches, following criticism of the current “disgraceful” facilities. However, Councillor Ann Norton, who called for a survey of the toilet and changing facilities at council-owned or council-run amenity sites, said she was in Doolin to see the new pier recently and was “aghast” at the state of the facilities on offer to the public there. The Ennis councillor was also concerned over accessibility for impaired mobility users and asked where access to such facilities is deemed inadequate, that a programme be put in place for their upgrade. “Tourism in Clare is a huge part of generating revenue and to be able to bring tourism into Clare, we have to have good facilities. We have a beautiful scenic coastline and have so much to offer people but, I have to say, unfortunately the amenities and the changing facilities really need a lot of …

Plans to promote Clare as a County of Culture during 2016 have taken a significant step forward with the issuing of a call for expressions of interest for key cultural events and festivals during the year. The County of Culture initiative was first announced in March after Ennis was designated as the host town for next year’s Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann. The Clare County Council-led initiative will incorporate the development of a programme of cultural events, to be promoted nationally and internationally, around the prestigious annual event which is expected to attract up to 400,000 people to Ennis in August 2016. The council is now calling on community groups and individuals throughout Clare to submit expressions of interest for cultural festivals and events that will form part of the County of Culture programme. The local authority anticipates that the scheme will support a minimum of four projects each to a maximum value of €10,000. Expressions of interest are invited from …