ENNIS has been excluded in the latest list of 16 primary health care centres, which are being progressed nationwide by the HSE, Health Minister James Reilly has confirmed. Ennis was included as one of the 35 potential locations for primary care centres to be developed by means of a public-private partnership when the Government announced details of its multi-million euro stimulus package in July 2012. However, Minster Reilly has admitted that the public private partnership approach to developing a primary health care centre in Ennis will now not proceed, as local GPs are not in favour of the process. While Ennis remains on the HSE’s schedule of primary care centres to be developed, it looks as if a successful completion of this project is years away. Minister Reilly stated that an operational lease is being considered as the best option and the preferred choice of local GPs. “The HSE continues to engage with potential developers who have expressed an interest …

ONE of Clare’s best-known clerics, Fr Harry Bohan, could have died from a blood clot last year, he revealed this week. The Sixmilebridge parish priest was rushed to St James’s Hospital, Dublin suffering from life-threatening blood clots during the August Bank Holiday weekend last year. The lead consultant surgeon wanted to carry out an emergency aneurysm operation but was forced to delay it because all the necessary back-up team weren’t available at the time. Kept under close observation, Fr Bohan was transferred to a ward straight across from the nurses’ station because staff were worried about his condition. A few days later, when the full team became available, a 10-hour operation was completed to get his blood flowing properly again. This week, Fr Bohan said the consultant confirmed he could have died from a blood clot before the operation. Having been hospitalised five times over a 12-month period, the 75-year-old priest appreciated the great care he received in a number …

AN Ennistymon school principal has intervened in a bid to secure emergency accommodation for a local Traveller family living in “sub-human living conditions”. Ennistymon National School principal, Helen Sheridan has expressed grave concern for the physical and mental health of Caroline Sherlock and her seven children as a result of living in a small caravan on the side of the road near Cregg beach, on the outskirts of Lahinch. In a letter to county manager, Tom Coughlan, Ms Sheridan stated five of Caroline’s children were “visibly shaken” by their ongoing accommodation crisis, when they returned to school in September, despite the best efforts of their teachers to help them settle back. The principal noted that her five children are good attendees and are all doing well at school. However, she said, “The children are pale and anxious and frequently tell teachers they are suffering from stomach pains.” The council stated there is one vacant family home in Traveller accommodation in …

It’s not every day you witness the launch of a new car brand, but that’s what we have with BMW’s new i sub-brand, which was introduced to Ireland last week. Although the i3, the first fruit of this particular tree, has been seen before, this was the debut of the final production car on Irish shores. The i brand is all about sustainable mobility and finding new ways to meet the transport needs of the 21st century. The i3 is a compact car, which was designed from the start to be electric. It uses an aluminium chassis, reinforced by carbon fibre to make the chassis as light as possible. The battery is a solid block mounted in the floor and the resulting lowering of the centre of gravity should ensure a very stable drive. In classic BMW tradition, the i3 is rear wheel drive and performance is spritely, with 0-100 km/h dispatched in just 7.2 seconds. Overall range is quoted …

NUMEROUS questions and concerns about the future of water supply in the country were raised at last week’s meeting of Clare County Council, which was addressed by Ray O’Dwyer of Irish Water. Councillors expressed concerns that the new authority will eventually be privatised, while there were also claims that taking it out of the hands of local authorities will lead to an increasingly centralised approach, with rural areas being neglected. A number of other concerns were raised, with the members clearly concerned about the future regime. While Mr O’Dwyer did his best to deal with what was coming at him, he wasn’t in a position to answer everything to the satisfaction of the councillors. Lissycasey-based Fianna Fáil Councillor PJ Kelly asked about the future of Irish Water. “Will Irish Water, because of its relationship with Bord Gais, possibly be sold on in the future and if so, what protection is there for water users?” He said privatisation had produced “disasters” …

By Seamus Hayes The GAA season just keeps getting better for Clare. In a year in which two All-Ireland hurling titles were captured, the county champions in hurling and football are now making their mark in Provincial competition. Sixmilebridge travelled to Pairc Ui Caoimh on Sunday where they proved too strong for their Cork counterparts Midleton. A four point win has sent the Clare champions through to the Munster finalwhere they will face Na Piarsaigh from Limerick on Sunday next in Cusack Park at 2p.m. Adding spice to the final is the fact that former Sixmilebridge captain Sean Stack is manager of the Limerick champions. While the Bridge were maintaining Clare’s dominance over Cork, their neighbours from Cratloe were making their own history. On Saturday they won their first ever Clare senior football title when they defeated Doonbeg who top the roll of honour in the Clare senior championship. Twenty four hours after their 0-10 to 0-7 win over the …

FIGURES published by the parish show that 634 people have died in Shannon since 2000, with 2013 the year when most deaths were recorded. Speaking to The Clare Champion, parish priest Father Tom Ryan said that the town’s demographics are maturing. “Maybe 30 years ago there would be ten baptisms every Sunday, but now the town is maturing and it’s an ageing town. That’s reflected in the amount of grandparents in the town and even great grandparents which wouldn’t have been there in the past.” It’s not that long ago since the cemetery was put in place at Illaunmanagh. “The cemetery opened in 2001 and a number of years later an extension was sought for it and that’s filling up as well, but there’s still plenty of space available.” The parish was founded on Christmas Eve of 1967, although people had been living in the town for some years before that, as part of the Newmarket on Fergus parish. Number …

MILTOWN Malbay Tidy Towns Committee took top prize in the annual IPB All-Island Pride of Place Awards announced at a ceremony in The Venue, Derry on Saturday night. They received their award in Category 3, which is for population size of between 500 and 1,000 people. County Clare also received a Livcom nomination. Speaking about the committee, the judges said, “Social supports and linkages, formal and informal, are important for coping with stressors and improving the quality of life. This community has this down to a fine art and has developed strong linkages and co-operation between diverse agencies. The town has maximised the full potential of an annual festival, which has gone from strength to strength. “A disused school premises has been transformed into a vibrant community resource. The private sector has shown courage and vision in developing a sizable supermarket together with other community facilities. This is a town very much on the move.” Minister for the Environment, Community …