Tag Archives: Spanish point

Swimmers who use two popular bathing areas in West Clare have received a timely boost following the lifting of bathing prohibitions introduced earlier this week. Following additional investigative sampling and on the advice of the HSE, Clare County Council lifted the bathing prohibitions at both Spanish Point and White Strand Miltown Malbay on Friday morning. In accordance with An Taisce’s Blue Flag programme, the Blue Flags at both bathing areas were reinstated.   On the advice of the HSE, Clare County Council issued bathing prohibitions at both Spanish Point and White Strand Miltown Malbay on Tuesday. The red flag flew at Spanish Point until it was removed again on Friday morning. The restrictions were introduced as the results of routine bathing water samples taken at both locations had elevated levels of bacteria.   Run-off from the catchment after exceptionally heavy rainfall resulted in elevated levels of bacteria being identified in the water.   In accordance with An Taisce’s Blue Flag …

ON the advice of the HSE, Clare County Council has today issued bathing prohibitions at both Spanish Point and White Strand, Miltown Malbay. The red flag will be flying at Spanish Point until further notice. The restrictions have been introduced as the results of routine bathing water samples taken at both locations had elevated levels of bacteria. Run-off from the catchment after exceptionally heavy rainfall has resulted in elevated levels of bacteria being identified in the water. In accordance with An Taisce’s Blue Flag programme, the Blue Flags at both bathing areas are being removed until such time as the water quality improves.

IN the final weeks of the year leaving the house can be an ordeal, not to mention getting into the Atlantic on a wet or cold winter’s morning or afternoon, but June Curtin was there time after time, day after day. And this week, thanks to those efforts, she was able to present a cheque for €55,782 to the Mid West Simon Community, funds raised from supporters of her regimen of swimming three times a day for three weeks of December. “Doing it seven days a week is one thing, but three times a day is very challenging, I have to say, mentally and physically,” June told The Clare Champion. “This year, towards the end of it, I was absolutely exhausted, I have two children at home, I’m trying to run a house, and I work at home through Snámhaí Sásta doing talks and things, so I was juggling a mountain of stuff.” She also did it in 2020 and …

THE Armada Hotel has already filled half of the 100 new roles it advertised in a high profile campaign started at the beginning of winter and the process continues. It plans to have a €3 million expansion and renovation completed early next month, with a new 90-seater restaurant, bar, private dining area and dedicated space for wedding arrivals with panoramic views. Speaking about the progress of the redevelopment, hotel owner John Burke said Covid has made things difficult, but it is on schedule. “After dealing with pre-Christmas challenges caused by restriction changes and issues around staffing due to close Covid contacts, we began the New Year facing into our renovation and expansion programme. “On day one, we were down to 8 staff out of a team of 24 due to Covid. We now have up to 90 people a day on site at different times and the contractors are constantly making arrangements and juggling schedules based on resources available. “It …

Munster Senior D Post-Primary Schools Football Championship Round 2 St Joseph’s Spanish Point 2-7 St Anne’s Killaloe 1-7 A superb 24 hours for St Joseph’s Spanish Point was initiated on Wednesday afternoon when demonstrating their resolve to hold off a stubborn St Anne’s Killaloe in Ballina, reports Eoin Brennan. A gritty victory, cemented with a late brace of points qualified the West Clare college to the last eight of the Munster Senior D Championship against Salesian College, Pallaskenry. That buoyancy would be copperfastened when their Under 15 side shaded an inch-tight contest with Scoil Mhuire agus Ide, Newcastlewest yesterday (Thursday) to advance to the provincial Under 15D decider against Cork’s St Brogan’s College. All seemed to be going according to plan for their senior side when belying the strong conditions and their 90 minute trip to lead their hosts by 1-3 to 0-4 by half-time. Benefitting from a slice of fortune just before the water break when Joe Campbell’s effort …

A woman was rescued from the sea this morning after getting into difficulty while swimming off the Black Rock at Spanish Point. The alarm was raised at around 11.30am when emergency services received a report of a person in trouble. Watch officers at the Irish Coast Guard’s marine rescue sub-centre on Valentia Island in Kerry mounted a multi-agency search and rescue operation involving the Kilkee unit of the Coast Guard, Clare County Fire and Rescue Service, National Ambulance Service, RNLI and An Garda Síochána. A man walking on the beach at the time is understood to have entered the water and helped the woman ashore. It’s believed the woman, thought to be in her 60s, got into difficulty after finding herself out of her depth. The Shannon-based Irish Coast Guard helicopter, Rescue 115, and the Aran Islands RNLI lifeboat were also tasked but were stood down when it was confirmed that the woman had been brought ashore. The Kilkee Coast …

A WEST Clare hotel has today announced its intention to create more than 100 new jobs to be filled by February 2022 as part of €3m redevelopment plan. To fill the roles, in a sector hampered by difficulties attracting staff, the Armada Hotel in Spanish Point has set up a recruitment agency, complete with its own beach hut. The renovation project which was placed on hold last year due to the pandemic will see the delivery of a large extension housing ‘Aileens’ – a brand new 90 seater restaurant with its own 100% sustainable energy kitchen. There will also be a new ocean bar with an “interactive cocktail space”; a private dining area for parties of up to 12 guests; and a dedicated space for wedding arrivals with feature bar and panoramic views. The remainder of the renovation works will take place in January when the hotel is closed to guests. To facilitate the work, the hotel has launched a …

A VIDEO project made in conjunction with community groups Clare has been premiered by Clean Coasts to raise awareness about the issue of marine litter. Both local people and visitors are being asked to enjoy this part of the coast but also to take personal responsibility for the waste that comes from outdoor activities. As the Covid restriction eased in early May, more people started visiting the magnificent coastal area in Clare. A number of Clean Coasts community groups reached out to Clean Coasts, expressing significant concerns relating to the environmental impact of tourists in the upcoming season. The absence of foreign travel, huge growth in take-out food and outdoor socialising had already begun to increase coastal litter. Coastal communities were nervous about what would happen when the season really begins. One group, suggested creating a video about Lahinch to raise awareness about this issue. Clean Coasts Development Officer Ray Ó Foghlu worked with Spanish Point Community Group to source …