Last Friday week proved to be an emotional day for Gerry O’Malley, as he closed the door in Kilrush Post Office for the last time after 51 years’ service to An Post, including 15 years as a contractor. Kilrush Post Office in Francis Street, which was built in 1957, is now closed to the public for counter services apart from undelivered mail as retail services have transferred to SuperValu in the town. This building will still be used by local postmen. “A big crowd turned up to see me retire. We were told to close at 4pm because of the transition. We took photographs had a party in my house afterwards. It is a big change not having to get up for work in the morning,” he said. In an interview with the Clare Champion, Gerry said the new buzzword in An Post is co-location as they want post offices to be located in existing business premises. The 69-year-old father-of-two …

There has been a mixed reaction to the announcement that EDF Renewables Ireland is sponsoring a pitch upgrade at Broadford GAA Club, providing €4,000 towards upgraded pitch facilities. This sponsorship funding will be used to help enhance the pitch surface at Coolagh and according to EDF Renewables’ “demonstrates its commitment to supporting local and community initiatives in the areas surrounding its projects”. Earlier this year, EDF Renewables Ireland announced its plans to develop the c.50MW Lackareagh Wind Farm on land to the east of Broadford in Co. Clare. The proposed wind farm, which could power more than 35,000 homes, will be located in the townlands of Killeagy and Shannaknock. Welcoming the sponsorship, John O’Brien, Chair of Broadford GAA Club said: “We’re delighted to partner with EDF Renewables to enhance our pitch facilities. The sponsorship funding will go towards drainage, specialist fertilizer and other works needed to ensure all our youth and senior teams can play on a top-quality pitch all …

THE sense of community that exists throughout Clare has been lauded by the outgoing Clare Council chairman, P J Ryan. In his address to councillors at the authority’s annual general meeting on Friday, Councillor Ryan said serving the council as first citizen has been a “huge honour” over the past year. “I always wore the mayoral chain in the knowledge I represented everyone in this chamber as well as people of this county. “I attempted to attend as many events as possible across the county where I met many wonderful businesses and communities. From my engagement with people, I know the sense of community is one of our greatest attributes. “It has been an extraordinary 12 months here and abroad in the context of the Covid-19 pandemic and the crisis in Ukraine.” He said it heartening that people in the community have worked so hard to provide help and support to those who need it most, which is something to …

Additional psychological services will need to be provided for Ukrainian students in Clare schools when the trauma of the illegal invasion of their country really sets in. That’s the view of new Ennistymon Community School principal, Orla Conway, who believes more back-up services will have to be made available to help schools cope with the devastating impact of the war. “It is like a bereavement for them at the moment. They are numb. When reality sets in autumn and we start heading in to winter the trauma will come then. “That is when we will really need to be ready for this in schools in September, October and November. That is why having strong pastoral care systems in schools is so important. “We are all traumatised from the war. Children in schools already have a level of trauma post Covid-19, they may have lost loved ones and the fear it may happen again. The Ennistymon Electoral Division has the highest …

UPGRADING water and waste water infrastructure and implementing a new County Development Plan have been prioritised by the new West Clare Municipal District (MD) chairman, Councillor Shane Talty. The Lahinch postmaster said these two issues have to be viewed against the backdrop of a national housing crisis and the dramatic 70% increase in Clare’s population since 2011. He recalled Councillor P J Kelly has stated the County Development Plan is an impediment to the sustainable growth of rural communities. “From the Burren to Loop Head, our young people are facing impossible obstacles trying to build their own homes with their own resources. “They are dealing with issues such as visual impact, scenic routes, national roads and other reasons to prevent homes being built in the area. “I believe we must do everything in our power between now and next spring to ensure the new plan becomes an enabler for development for all communities, urban and rural, big and small. “Often …

A NEW proposal calling for Clare County Council to set up a multi-agency emergency response to anti-social behaviour in council tenants will be debated at the authority’s July meeting. It has been proposed that co-operation between agencies is necessary to quickly and effectively deal with, and if necessary to evict, the small number of tenants who engage in persistent anti-social behaviour. Councillor Johnny Flynn, who is proposing this motion, said “neighbours from hell” whose persistent anti-social behaviour comes under the terms of the adopted Clare County Council Behaviour Strategy 2020-2026 need to be dealt with in order to protect adjoining residents and community and prevent damage to badly-needed housing stock. This strategy was adopted in 2021 to prevent and reduce anti-social behaviour in the 3,000 plus tenancies in areas across Clare where the council has tenancy dwellings, RAS and social leasing. This motion, which is being supported by Mayor of Ennis, Clare Colleran-Molloy and other Ennis councillors, also calls on …

A FORMER Bus Eireann inspector from Killaloe has driven to the top of Clare County Council. Councillor Tony O’Brien was elected unopposed as Clare’s next first citizen without a vote as part of the power-sharing arrangement that was first brokered in 2004 at the annual general meeting in Ennis on Friday. The former Smith O’Brien GAA club secretary replaced Councillor PJ Ryan, who was lauded for being a great ambassador for the county over the past year. Councillor O’Brien was proposed by his Fianna Fáil colleague, Councillor Pat Hayes and seconded by Joe Cooney, Fine Gael, while Councillor Gerry Flynn, Independent also expressed his support. Councillor Hayes said his close friend Councillor O’Brien’s years working as a union official for the National Bus and Rail Union (NBRU) has left him very grounded in reality of how things worked. Since his retirement from Bus Eireann, the new first citizen is challenging planning, housing and budgets in the council, Councillor Hayes said. …

CLARE County Council is coming under pressure to lead a multi-agency approach to tackle persistent anti-social behaviour after Ennis residents outlined their experiences of “neighbours from hell” for almost seven years. Councillor Johnny Flynn, Ennis Mayor, Clare Colleran-Molloy and Councillor Mary Howard have called for a multi-agency approach involving the council, Tusla, Clare Gardai, councillors, and residents to evict local authority tenants who are causing havoc in estates. Their call came after hearing a litany of complaints from frustrated residents who claimed they were “living in fear” and were “prisoners in their own homes” at a residents’ meeting on Monday night, which was also attended by Councillor Paul Murphy and Councillor Mark Nestor. One resident in the affected Ennis estate described Family A as the “neighbours from hell”. She has asked to remain anonymous and for the estate to remain unnamed due to residents’ fear of a reprisal. “We are living in fear. There is intimidation, verbal abuse and physical …