Suffering from unemployment and emigration of its young people, the community of East Clare has not been immune to the effects of the economic downturn, but a newly formed group is aiming to tackle this issue head on. Rather than accepting continued austerity, the newly-formed East Clare Development group, chaired by Sean Bugler, has set itself the objective of developing a sustainable, prosperous and vibrant future for East Clare. One of the objectives of the group is to put together a development plan. With this in mind three sub-committees were established to focus on Innovation and Entrepreneurship, Sustainable Farming and Developing a Unique Tourist Experience. Their work will include developing initiatives to create, support and encourage local employment opportunities to give young people the option to live and work in their own community. “Farming has been important in the past to East Clare and will equally be important into the future and this sub-group will work on driving initiatives that …

CONTROVERSIAL bylaws preventing overnight camping in areas of Kinvara were passed by Galway County Council recently.Councillors voted unanimously to pass a new Kinvara bylaw, which prohibits temporary dwellings at Kinvara Pier, a move that has caused outrage among sections of the local community.However, an objection to the decision is to be lodged with the Minister for Local Government Dominic Gallagher, chairman of the Kinvara Community Council, said the decision sent the wrong message and stressed, “Kinvara is a tourist town; tourists are welcome here”.The community council held a number of meetings on the proposals in recent months, where Mr Gallagher said, “every side got a fair hearing”.“The first meeting was called in Johnston’s hostel and more than 100 people attended and there were speakers from lots of backgrounds. There were representatives from the fishermen, the sailing club, people from Cruinniu na mBád, people in the tourist industry, people from the campervan movement and there was the general public. All of …

FR Tommy Marrinan PP has been appointed grand marshall for the Gort St Patrick’s Day Parade to be held next Monday.He follows a long list of marshalls, who have taken on the position over the years.Fr Tommy, a native of Lahinch, has been parish priest in Gort for the past five years. He had been chaplain at UCHG for the previous 11 years. He is an accomplished harmonica player and plays for charity events with local musicians, Colie Moran, Willie Doorhy, Paddy Jordan and P J Brady.The parade will start on Monday with the traditional blessing of the shamrock immediately after a special mass at 12.15pm.All entrants should be in place at Church Street for the start at 1pm. The parade will be lead by a colour party of Gort Reserve Defence Force, followed by St Patrick’s Pipe Band, Tulla. Participants are observing strict secrecy regarding the nature of their floats and entries on foot. The official theme of the …

The Minister for Agriculture, Simon Coveney, was in Athlone on Sunday to honour and make presentations to the owners of the leading track dogs in the country over the past 12 months, including Sean Meade, Annagh, Miltown Malbay, joint owner and breeder of the sensational Paradise Madison, the inaugural winner of the  Newcomer Of The Year award.

A total of 32 pairs qualified for the McCavana foursomes last weekend at Shannon when scoring was impressive with 74 nett been the final qualifier.

Gallant Oscar looked an exciting recruit to fences when running out a convincing winner of the two-and-a-half-mile Slivenamon Beginners’ Chase at Clonmel last Thursday.

THE Shannon Estuary islands off Kildysart and Ballynacally are the subject of a feasibility study, which could culminate in a €4 million tourism and business investment.The islands are Coney Island, Canon Island, Deer Island, Lowe Island, Horse Island, Shore Island and Inishtubbrid Island. None of the islands has been inhabited since 2004, while six are currently farmed.The extensive report, which was Leader funded and produced by UK-based PHT Consultants, said the islands have “outstanding potential from both a sustainable tourism and agricultural perspective”.The report, which was outlined at a public meeting in Kildysart last Friday night, envisages that the entire project is likely to cost €4m. Costs are described as “indicative”, with €1.8m of that figure to be invested in tourism and agricultural infrastructure. The report indicates it would cost a further €1.2m to restore properties on the islands, which would be let as holiday homes. It is envisaged the annual operational costs would come to €174,500.Other capital costs would …