A PASSION for Clare’s heritage, particularly the county’s many historic and traditional buildings, is  the driving inspiration for Edel Barry, who has recently been appointed Community Archaeologist.  The Kilfenora native, who has an MPhil in Archaeology from University College Cork (UCC), takes over the role at an exciting time, when community development groups and individuals are pioneering all sorts of interesting projects. It is also a time when significant funding is being made available for important local heritage projects. Edel’s role itself is jointly funded by The Heritage Council and Clare County Council, and from her base at Ennistymon’s Digital Hub, she is planning an ambitious strategy for the coming months. “The Council has had a number of great advisors on archaeology over the year, but there hasn’t been a role like mine in recent times,” she told The Champion. “There are now Community Archaeologists in a number of counties, including Donegal and Wicklow. The support programme is countrywide and …

HEATED exchanges characterised the first stage of a private members Dáil motion last night (October 4), urging government to scrap the proposed 10% levy on concrete products. The charge was outlined in Budget 2023 as a means of raising funds to support the revised scheme for homeowners, including those in Clare, with defective concrete blocks.  The proposal has been widely criticised by sectors including construction and farming, as well as action groups for pyrite and mica homeowners. In Clare, Dr Martina Cleary, founder of the local action group slammed the levy, saying it was letting the real culprits in the pyrite scandal off the hook.  This week Sinn Féin tabled a motion aiming to have the levy scrapped. Tuesday night’s debate was chaired by Deputy Joe Carey, in his capacity as Acting Chairperson.  Ahead of the vote on Wednesday night, Sinn Féin Councillor Donna McGettigan urged all Clare TDs to back the motion.  The Shannon representative described the plans as …

HOPES are high that a new car park for Scariff will go through the planning process before the end of the year.  Pressure has been growing on public representatives to progress the issue, as the business community, shoppers and other stakeholders continue to voice concern over the lack of local parking. The matter was raised once again at a meeting Killaloe Municipal District, when Councillor Joe Cooney sought an update. Members had previously been told that efforts to accelerate progress had been made, after the car park element was separated out of a bigger project which will also see the development of a multi-service centre and improvements to the town centre. At the September meeting, Councillor Cooney asked district officials where matters currently stand.  Senior Executive Officer (SEO) Morgan Lahiffe assured members that work is ongoing. “We have now engaged with all stakeholders, councillors, Scariff Community Council and Scariff Town Team,” he said. “The acquisition of land has been agreed. …

CONSTRUCTION on a new social housing development in an east Clare town is due to start before the end of the year, a Senior Engineer has confirmed.  Plans for 18 homes on a site at the Feakle Road in Ballyminoge, Scariff, were lodged by Clare County Council in November 2021. Last July, the authority was granted just over €6.09 million for the development, which is to be named ‘Droichead Nua’.  Last week’s meeting of the Killaloe Municipal District heard an update on the scheme, following a question from Councillor Joe Cooney. The Fine Gael member welcomed a progress report from Senior Executive Engineer in Housing, Niamh Madden. He noted that there are 140 people on the housing waiting list in the area, and expressed the hope some might be looked after with the new development.  Ms Madden’s response outlined that funding from the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (DHLGH) had been granted “with an all-in budget of €6,093,289 …

BACK to school blues were eased for the pupils of Flagmount National School with recent Forest School workshops in the leafy Lough Graney Valley. The event, called ‘Wild Plants Can Sing’ was part of the Forest School pilot project, funded by the Heritage in Schools Scheme.< Workshops were facilitated by Marina Levitina and Áine Ní Flatharta. Children got an opportunity to spend time outdoors in nature, as part of an inspirational process that offers opportunities to achieve and develop confidence and self-esteem through hands-on learning experiences among the trees. Principal of Flagmount NS, Louise O’Kelly said the workshops were thoroughly enjoyed and very beneficial. “We are very fortunate to have Forest School in our parish,” she said. “Forest School integrates wonderfully with all our subjects particularly Geography and Science. Unquestionably, Forest School brings Geography and Science to life outside the classroom, fostering a deeper connection with nature. “This year, we also welcomed children from Ukraine to our school, nature is …

VOLUNTEERS are being sought for a Clare branch of an international organisation that provides free school meals to more than two million children in 20 countries, across Africa, Asia, Latin America, Eastern Europe, and the Caribbean. Mary’s Meals was set up 20 years ago in Scotland and now has branches in several Irish towns, including Tuam and Tullamore. A drive has just gotten underway to recruit volunteers to run a fundraising unit in Clare.  “We are a true ‘no frills’ organisation”, explained Angela Moore, Supporter Engagement Officer with Mary’s Meals. “A sum of just €18.30 will feed a child every school day for the full school year. Most of the work in our programme countries, all over the world, is done by volunteers. This is a really amazing movement. We have volunteers in 20 countries, who get up every morning to support this and they even gather firewood to light the fire to cook school meals. We believe that by …

EFFORTS to coordinate all of the agencies responsible for cleaning up Killaloe are ongoing, local councillors have been assured.  The matter was raised, for the second time in three months, by Councillor Tony O’Brien when the Killaloe Municipal District meeting took place last week. Previously, the Fianna Fáil member had called for a clean-up and facelift for Killaloe, particularly along the bridge into Ballina and on the pedestrian bridge over the canal.  Last Wednesday, the Cathaoirleach of Clare County Council asked for an update on engagement with statutory bodies responsible for the enhancement of lower end of Killaloe.  In response, Senior Executive Officer (SEO), Morgan Lahiffe said progress is being made. “There have been a number of conversations with our engineer, and emails to Waterways Ireland asking for meeting. I suggested last Monday morning, but didn’t work out. Our intention is that, before end of week, we would set date for that meeting. “We will move on separately to a …

IN MORT O’Loughlin’s home, nestled among the hills of North Clare, a very special archive has been painstakingly gathered over the last five-and-a-half decades.  Since the late ‘60s, Mort has been The Champion’s Ballyvaughan Notes Correspondent, keeping his finger on the pulse of all things local. After 55 years of stalwart service, he is beginning a well-earned retirement and reflecting on the changing times he has witnessed.  To visit the home of Mort and his wife, Teresa, is to take a step back into the history of Ballyvaughan and its scattered Burren hinterland. Clippings dating to the early ‘70s have been carefully preserved as a record of births, marriages, deaths and all manner of community festivities and tragedies over the years. The area’s attraction for motorsport enthusiasts have been well documented, as well as now defunct traditions like the roasting of a kid goat for dinner on St Patrick’s Day and Easter. The animals would be coaxed by local farmers …