ALMOST a year after a revised grant scheme for homeowners with defective concrete blocks was agreed, campaigners say thousands are still “trapped” in unsafe houses.  In a strongly-worded letter to the housing minister, action groups in Clare, Mayo, Donegal and Limerick, have pleaded for an update on when the new scheme will be live. In the correspondence seen by The Clare Champion, action group leaders, including Crusheen’s Dr Martina Cleary, said “homeowners are trapped in unsafe, unhealthy homes because they have no other option”. The letter, copied to all Cabinet members, has also sought an assurance that enough temporary accommodation will be provided when homeowners need it. “Given that thousands of affected homeowners will have to avail of the scheme in the years to come, and there is a national crisis in availability of rental properties all over Ireland, how is the Dept. [sic] of Housing working with the Local Authorities in the counties affected to ensure there will be …

EFFORTS to promote the attractions of East Clare to visitors from Germany are back up and running, with a group of journalists recently enjoying a river cruise in the region.  The group cruised the Shannon, taking in Tuamgraney, Mountshannon, Scariff and Killaloe, as guests of Tourism Ireland, Fáilte Ireland and German cruising tour operator, Le Boat.  Those visiting included representatives of popular travel magazines, a regional newspaper and a radio station – are here to find out more about cruising holidays on the Shannon and to experience at first-hand the spectacular scenery and the wealth of things to see and do.  During their time in East Clare, the group visited Wilde Irish Chocolates, McKernan Woollen Mills and Nuala’s Bar and Restaurant in Tuamgraney; Under the Oak in Mountshannon; McNamara’s Bar and Restaurant in Scarriff; and the Farmer’s Market in Killaloe. “Tourism Ireland was delighted to invite this group of journalists to visit County Clare and Ireland,” said Nadine Lehmann, Tourism Ireland’s Manager for Germany. “Fact-finding visits like this are a really effective way for …

CLARE’S Fine Gael TD has insisted that more must be done to shorten the delay in sentencing people convicted of criminal offences.  Deputy Joe Carey said the practice that has arisen in recent years can lead to the “distancing between the horrific nature of a violent crime and the sentence received”. The Clarecastle-based TD made his comments during a second stage debate on Thursday last, on the Criminal Justice (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill. The Bill proposes to change the current ten-year maximum sentence for the crime of conspiracy to murder, to a possible life sentence. It also makes provision for a doubling of the maximum sentence for serious assaults and the introduction of  new criminal offences of stalking and non-fatal strangulation. On the practice of delaying the sentencing of convicted persons, Deputy Carey said he understood the argument “for the need for victim impact statements and assessment of the perpetrator’s past history”. He added that the sentencing gap “allows for a …

CONCERN has been expressed over the speed of traffic travelling through the village of Quin, particularly on the busy approach from the Dromoland side.  With a number of routes leading into the village, an appeal has been made by Councillor Pat Burke for safety works to protect the many pedestrians that walk in the area, particularly those going to and from school. The Killaloe district councillor described the speed of many motorists as “unbelievable”.  “The Ballykilty/Dromoland Road, as it is known locally, is particularly busy,” Councillor Burke said. “Quin itself is a very busy village with a big and growing population. Between six and eight weeks ago, I was called after an incident where a car left the road and went through a boundary and into someone’s property. Thankfully, nobody was seriously injured, but it could have been an awful situation if there was someone walking in the area at the time.” The Fine Gael member pointed out that the …

A RAPTUROUS welcome greeted Minister for Special Education, Josepha Madigan, as she officially opened the ASD facilities at Scoil na Mainistreach’s in Quin.  The school’s choir and band entertained the Minister for State, before she was presented with mementoes of her visit, including a painting of the scenic East Clare village. The school’s first ASD classroom opened earlier this year. Since then, with the collaboration of the National Council for Special Education (NESC) and a huge level of cooperation from staff, parents and pupils, the school has now increased provision to two classrooms – catering for a total of 12 pupils.  Minister Madigan paid tribute to the entire school team led by Principal Fergal Lynch and Deputy Principal Eleanor Gallagher. She also recalled chairing an online meeting, earlier this year, during which the school’s pupils took part in a debate on vegetarianism. She added that she could see the same “compassion and empathy in action” throughout the school, as it …

WARM tributes have been paid to Scariff native, Fr Michael (Leo) Long, who was laid to rest on Saturday last in the grounds of the Scared Heart Church. At the concelebrated funeral mass, Fr Leo was recalled by the Bishop of Killaloe as “certainly his own man” with a warm and outgoing personality.  Born in 1929, he studied at St Flannan’s College in Ennis from 1941 to 1946. He undertook studies for the priesthood in St Patrick’s College, Carlow from 1946 to 1952. He was ordained to the priesthood by Bishop Joseph Rodgers on June 8, 1952, alongside his brother Fr Jackie. Fr Leo was ordained for the Archdiocese of Melbourne, and ministered in Australia for many years, before returning to Ireland in 1991. He then ministered in Kilmurry McMahon for a year before serving in Silvermines and Templederry, retiring to Nenagh in 2017. He spent his final months at Carrigoran Nursing Home in Newmarket-on-Fergus and died at University Hospital …

GORT Community School (CS) is the only Irish school to feature in a prestigious shortlist of top global educational facilities.  The school has made the Top 10 shortlist for the new $250,000 World’s Best School Prizes, launched this year by T4 Education in partnership with Accenture and American Express. Gort Community School, was named in the ‘Supporting Healthy Lives’ category. Brian Crossan Principal said the school values a rounded education. “Of course, academics is very important in our school and every year our students excel in their exams,” he said. “But of equal, if not more importance, is that our students are happy and healthy. We work hard to ensure that we have the structures, procedures and supports in place to cater to this aspect of our students lives in GCS. And we are very supportive of any initiatives that our enthusiastic, creative and dedicated staff undertake in this regard also.”  Vikas Pota, Founder of T4 Education and the World’s Best School …

CLARE hurler Diarmuid Ryan has been awarded an MIC GPA Sports Scholarship for the coming academic year, in recognition of his sporting achievements.  Now in its second year, the MIC GPA Scholarship scheme is a collaboration between Mary Immaculate College (MIC) and the Gaelic Players Association (GPA), and is open to GPA members who have applied for and are successful in securing a place on MIC’s postgraduate programmes in education and the liberal arts. Two scholarships are offered on an annual basis. Limerick camogie player Caoimhe Costelloe has also been awarded a scholarship. Diarmuid Ryan is a first year Professional Master of Education (Primary Teaching) student at MIC. The Cratloe clubman has played inter-county hurling for the Banner since 2017 and is nominated for an All Star award for his performance in Clare’s All-Ireland Championship campaign this year, where they reached the Semi-Final stages. Diarmuid attended Limerick’s Ardscoil Rís Secondary School and was Vice-Captain of the Harty Cup winning team …