UPGRADING Killaloe Playground with new equipment and flooring has been identified as a priority project by a new community group. Eight new councillors have been nominated without the necessity of a vote to the newly-established Killaloe Community Council. Council vice-chairman, Eddie O’Gorman said one of the plans of the new organisation is to refurbish Killaloe Playground before handing it over to a new management committee who would look after its maintenance requirements. The new group will be inviting members of the Scariff and Mountshannon Community Council to share their ideas and experience at a future meeting. It will apply for funding to state agencies on behalf of local groups who wish to participate in community projects that will enhance the locality. There are also plans to meet representatives of Clare County Council to examine abandoned local authority buildings and public space in the town. “Clare County Council are fully supportive of this new council. They are willing to provide any …

MORE than €80,000 has already been raised as part of a phenomenal response to a fundraising cycle in memory of a Clonlara woman who died from breast cancer at the age of 32. In fact, Eoghan O’Leary, one of the charity cycle organisers, believes the final figure from Cycle4Helen could be close to €90,000 when all the proceeds from the GoFundMe appeal and other cash donations are collected over the coming weeks. Large donations just keep coming from people that Mr O’Leary doesn’t even know to support three cancer charities that will benefit from this cycle. A raffle for JP McManus Pro Am tickets has also generated a lot of funds. Mr O’Leary was joined by a group of friends and family who completed a 670km fundraising cycle from Malin Head to Mizen Head last week in memory of his beloved wife and friend who was lost to cancer at such a young age. The core group had a two …

A DRESSING room in Cusack Park will be turned into an Autism-friendly sensory room to help 60 children with additional needs enjoy a Clare GAA Cúl Summer Camp this week. Clare GAA Autism Activity Cúl Camp catering for children on the ASD spectrum ranging in age from six to 13 takes places in Cusack Park from 10am to 12 noon from August 2 to 4. Children with Autism and those with additional needs can sometimes become overwhelmed in an environment where there is a large group of people or if they are sensitive to noise. Providing sensory activities before the start of the inaugural two-hour camp last year proved to be very beneficial. The organisers of the second Clare GAA Summer Camp are anxious to build on the lessons from last year’s successful venture to ensure everything is done to make children with additional needs comfortable in a new group. Thirty children between the age of five and 16 who …

PLANS for a glamping development on the outskirts of Killaloe have been given the green light by Clare County Council. Elaine and Patrick Scanlon, c/o Andrew Hersey Planning, secured planning approval for six glamping pods, toilet block, car parking area, vehicular access, waste water treatment plant and ancillary site works at Lackenbawn, Killaloe subject to nine planning conditions. The planning authority considered the proposed development would not seriously injure the amenities of the area or of property in the vicinity and would be in accordance with the proper planning and sustainable development of the area. One of the planning conditions stipulated the mitigation measures set out in the Natura Impact Statement – which were received by the planning authority on April 14 last – have to be implemented in full throughout the construction phase of the development. Prior to the start of the development, the applicant has to pay a contribution of €6,354 to the council in respect of public …

THERE has been a 19.6% increase in the total amount of salaries, expenses and allowances paid by Clare County Council to its elected members over a three year-period, new figures have revealed. Official statistics obtained by the Clare Champion show payments totalling almost €750,000 were paid to 28 Clare County Councillors in 2019. This jumped by almost 20% to a total of €897,002 in 2021 for 29 councillors after the salary for every Clare councillor went up from €17,060 to €21,894 over a three-year period. Former council chairman, Councillor P J Ryan finished at the top of the payments table with a total payment of €40,556 after he received an additional payment of €10,400 for his work as first citizen. Councillor Liam Grant came at the bottom of the table with a payment of €7,464 after he only served on the councillor for part of the year, replacing Councillor Susan Crawford, who resigned her seat last year. Councillor Ryan said …

IN the region of 6,000 patrons flocked to view or participate in the 30th annual South-East Clare Show in Bridgetown last Sunday. In fact, show organisers estimate gate receipts were 3% up from 2019, as thousands converged at the Bridgetown Showgrounds for what was described as an “amazing show”. It was the first opportunity in the last three years for the show committee to showcase local and national competitions due to Covid-19 restrictions. Show secretary, Yvonne McNamara said there was an exceptional entry growth in the home produce and horticulture section, which she believed was due to people having had the opportunity during Covid-19 lockdown to perfect baking and vegetable growing and associated knowledge. The show was opened by newly appointed Clare County Council chairman, Councillor Tony O’Brien as he was escorted through the grounds by members of the Mounted Garda Unit and traditional bag pipe player, Philip Doran before welcoming everybody. The varied weather forecast did not stop the …

DEPUTY Cathal Crowe has fired a shot across the bow of government policy by calling for an end to the allocation of more Ukrainian refugees in Clare due to the lack of suitable accommodation. While Deputy Crowe stressed he agreed that the Banner County should take as many refugees as possible, there was now a point where these refugees were sleeping on airport floors and new tents in Meelick. The Fianna Fáil Deputy said Ukrainian refugees needed a roof over their heads, education, transport, health provision and pastoral care to deal with the trauma of coming from a war-torn country. He believes the government is now doing a “disservice” to these refugees by not properly meeting their needs and by proceeding to accommodate them in tents on a so-called temporary basis, which is likely to continue for months due to the lack of permanent dwellings. The provision of tented facilities for up to new 100 asylum seekers in Meelick has …

TÁINAISTE Leo Varadkar has been urged to address chronic overcrowding at University Hospital Limerick (UHL) when he takes over from Micheál Martin as Taoiseach. Speaking in the Dáil, Deputy Michael McNamara stated almost every day of the lifetime of this Government University Hospital Limerick, (UHL) has been the most overcrowded hospital in the country. “Of the 676 beds we were told would be required at the time of reconfiguration, more than one third have yet to materialise. As Head of Government, what will the Tánaiste do differently? “The current Taoiseach has said it is a matter for the HSE, even though the HSE is not improving the situation? “What will the Tánaiste do differently to ensure UHL is no longer providing a different level of healthcare from the rest of the country?,” he asked. Minister Varadkar said he knows UHL well and has visited it several times. “As Taoiseach and Minister for Health previously, I did my best to ensure …