Tag Archives: kilkee

CLARE County Council has issued an update today (Saturday, August 1) raising its alert level for Lahinch beach to a swimming ban. Temporary bans remain in place, until further notice, on five other beaches. In a statement, the council said that following ongoing monitoring of the bathing waters at Lahinch, the notice has been upgraded from advisory not to swim to swimming prohibition as a result of increased bacterial levels. There is now a temporary prohibition on swimming at the following locations in County Clare due to elevated bacterial levels in the water: • Lahinch • Spanish Point • White Strand Miltown Malbay • Kilkee • Quilty (front beach). The elevated bacterial levels are as a result of heavy rainfall in the catchment area which subsequently discharges into or near the bathing area. There is ongoing monitoring at the above locations, and Clare County Council is in consultation with the HSE. For further information, contact Clare County Council environment section …

Clare County Council, on the advice of the HSE, has placed a temporary prohibition on swimming in Kilkee and Quilty (front beach) due to increased bacterial levels in the bathing water. The situation is being monitored regularly and the prohibition on swimming will remain until further notice. Due to increased bacterial levels in the bathing water at White Strand Doonbeg and White Strand Miltown, it is advised not to swim at these locations until further notice. The risk from increased bacterial levels is a result of run-off from the catchment area after heavy rainfall.

With international travel effectively grounded, those involved in the tourism sector in Clare will find themselves in a dogfight with established tourist centres like Killarney and Kilkenny for their slice of the domestic market. Tourism consultant Cillian Murphy believes that the whole tourism year in Clare will hinge on the domestic market and there should be a unified approach between all the stakeholders so that Clare is able to compete. However, he also feels that Clare will be fighting an uphill battle in consequence of Shannon Heritage’s decision to “lock up shop” and close its major tourist attractions from the end of August. “There’s only the one game in town and that is the domestic market. I’d imagine we will see some bit of business from Northern Ireland and maybe the UK. But inconsequential is how I would label international travel this year,” he suggests. Tourism interests in Clare will have to bring their A game in their endeavours to …

Several libraries across the county reopened this morning in accordance with Phase 3 of the revised Roadmap for Reopening Society and Business. They include De Valera Library in, Ennis and those in Kilrush, Kilkee, Miltown Malbay, Ennistymon and Shannon. Other libraries will be opening shortly once the necessary preparatory work has been completed with update on the Clare County Library website and social media pages. Libraries will provide limited services initially, including limits on the numbers accessing the facility at any one time. Libraries will operate in compliance with current physical distancing guidelines and the public are encouraged to use hand sanitisers upon entry to library buildings. Library visits will be of a maximum 15 minutes’ duration and services will include borrow and return of books, printing facilities, delivery service for those cocooning, online services and children’s services including the 2020 Summer Stars programme. The contact and collect service will continue in the other branches and will commence in a …

Production of a new TV film for one of Germany’s largest broadcasters, ARD, will commence in Kilkee next month. “Planlos in Ireland/Clueless in Ireland” is a joint production by H&V Entertainment GmbH and Treehouse Media Ltd. Kilkee was chosen for its stunning scenery and ease of access to Shannon Airport. The first day of principal photography is scheduled for July 22. The production has developed a HSE-compliant Covid-19 action plan and will be implementing stringent measures to assure the safety of the crew and the public at large. The production is working with stakeholders in the region to implement the Government of Ireland guidelines and protocols to ensure a safe return to work for the cast and crew, prioritising safety for the town of Kilkee. The main character in the movie, ‘Connie’, is in her mid-50s and has worked as an executive secretary in Germany for many years. When she finds out that fluency in written and spoken English has suddenly …

BANK of Ireland has confirmed that three Clare branches closed due to Covid-19 restrictions will re-open later this month, but with reduced opening hours. Concern had been growing when outlets in Tulla, Kilkee and Miltown Malbay remained closed since mid-March. There has been a widespread welcome for news that the branches will open from Monday, June 29. Bank of Ireland said that where ATMs are available, these will also have facilities for the lodgements restored. The three Clare branches will have advice and self-service banking available from 10am to 1pm. Announcing the date for the re-opening, the bank said it would have dedicated supports for healthcare workers, carers, self-isolating customers, mortgage holders and businesses. Gavin Kelly, CEO of Retail Ireland at Bank of Ireland, commented: “We have been monitoring and adapting our operations throughout Covid-19 to reflect customer demand and public health advice. As the economy starts to reopen, which is critically important for families and businesses across Ireland, we …

FEARS have been expressed for the future of the Bank of Ireland branch in Tulla and a campaign to save it from permanent closure has begun. The bank, which is located on Main Street in the town, was among 101 branches nationwide to close temporarily from March 24 last, in a move which Bank of Ireland said would enable it to focus on priority services during the Covid-19 crisis. The branches in Kilkee and Miltown Malbay were also closed as part of the bank’s response. In Tulla, the Bank of Ireland branch is the only bank in the town. Its closure has left the people of the town relying on an ATM in the local supermarket to access cash over the last two months. Raising his concerns at the May meeting of the Killaloe Municipal District, Councillor Pat Hayes, called on Bank of Ireland to “come clean” about the future of the Tulla branch. “The branch was closed down very …

IT’S a long way from West Clare to Papua New Guinea, but Fr John Glynn who is a long-time citizen of the island nation still holds his native Kilkee very close to his heart. Currently on lock-down until at least early June, Fr John, who is full of energy and drive, despite his 80+ years, told The Champion he is keen to return to normal daily life. For the retired teacher, that includes working with some of the country’s most vulnerable, as well as co-hosting a weekly one-hour radio show on the Catholic station, Radio Maria. Over his many decades in Papua New Guinea, Fr John was instrumental in setting up the WeCARe! Organisation, to work with the poor and disadvantaged who make up a considerable percentage of the state’s eight million citizens. Fr John described his adopted home as “an absolute paradise” in terms of its beauty, but a land of deeply ingrained inequality.“Illiteracy rates here are around 85%,” …