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Fiona McGarry

Shannon Garda Station confirmed to have pyrite

PYRITE has been confirmed in Shannon Garda Station, prompting a call for the government to mount a legal challenge against those who produced the defective material. The presence of pyrite, which can cause severe cracking and other structural defects, was confirmed to Deputy Cathal Crowe, who said he will now seek answers from government on where that material came from.  The discovery was made after the Fianna Fáil TD queried that status of a request to have the building painted. In response to his question, the Office of Public Works (OPW), who manage thousands of public buildings, said pyrite had been detected. “A routine inspection early last year at Shannon Garda Station raised concerns in respect to cracking observed in the external façade of the building,” a reply outlined. “The OPW appointed external consultants to investigate the cause of this cracking and the consultant’s report confirmed the presence of pyrite in the external leaf of the building.” Deputy Crowe described the …

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‘If you don’t live in a house with pyrite, you don’t understand’

SERIOUS mental and physical health impacts for people living in homes where the concrete blocks are defective were outlined at a meeting in Ennis last Friday night (June 16).  As members of the Clare Pyrite Action Group (CPAG) sought an update on the new grant scheme, frustration boiled over they were told they would not be able to make applications for another five weeks.  One emotional homeowner told the meeting that she was recovering after recently suffering a stroke. “My husband now has long Covid and is unable to work,” she said. “How will we manage? What supports will there be to navigate this grant process? I feel like we’re being set up to fail.” Deputy Violet Anne Wynne said the woman was the second person in a fortnight to say they had suffered a stroke as a result of dealing with the stress of pyrite. “While politicians can certainly empathise with the issues constituents are experiencing, you can only …

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Dip at Dawn to mark Summer Solstice on Lahinch Beach

THE SUMMER Solstice was celebrated on  Lahinch Beach this morning (June 21) with a Dip at Dawn in support of The National Council of the Blind of Ireland (NCBI). Senator Martin Conway joined the dozens who took part in the event which aims to remind the entire sight loss community that there is light even on their darkest days. Senator Conway, who sat on the administrative panel and is now the Seanad Spokesperson on Health, is an advocate for Disability and Equality, has just 16 per cent sight and is the first visually impaired Oireachtas member. Senator Conway said he understands the difficulties faced by those with severe sight loss and blindness. “Almost every week, I am contacted by somebody who has recently been impacted by sight loss,” he said. “Often, the contact is made by a family member, a son, a daughter or a parent of a young child. Very often, they are traumatised, deeply upset, with very little …

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Gort Cancer Service Thanksgiving and Portrait Event

ANNUAL thanksgiving mass takes place at Gort Cancer Service, Hollyblue House, Gort Cancer Support on Friday (June 23) at 7.30pm. The mass, which will be celebrated by Fr Tommy Marrinan, is open to all. Music and refreshments will follow. Separately, the centre has described itself as honoured and privileged to host the Vicky Phelan Portrait in Gort in conjunction with the Lady Gregory Hotel. A panel discussion, featuring Quin’s John Wall, a close friend of Vicky’s, will take place on Friday, September 22, at 7pm. Clare McKenna, of Newstalk, will be the MC and panel discussion moderator for the evening. A statement from the centre described Vicky as “a hugely inspirational figure “. Portrait owner, David Brennan, is keeping her legacy alive by sharing her story and reminding younger generations of the importance of cervical cancer awareness.

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Pyrite grant for Clare ‘in five weeks’

PYRITE homeowners in Clare will have to wait another five weeks before they can apply for grant support, according to the county’s Fianna Fáil TD.  Tempers flared at meeting in Ennis on Friday evening (June 16) and that update met with both scepticism and anger. Several homeowners challenged Deputy Cathal Crowe over what they see as previous broken promises and missed deadlines in their three-year campaign. While deadlines for ministerial sign-off  on the new grant, slipped on June 1 and 14, several homeowners angrily recalled Minister Darragh O’Brien’s visit to Clare in August 2021, and the promise of support “within a matter of weeks”.  Deputy Crowe assured homeowners that despite a last-minute delay, over concerns in Donegal – one of the three other counties covered by the grant – they would be able to make applications “five weeks from now”.  Deputy Violet Anne Wynne, who was the only other Oireachtas member present, was sharply critical of the delay saying that …

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Ennistymon Enhancement in line for major award

ENHANCEMENT plans for Ennistymon are in line for a prestigious award that could put the town on the map in terms of its architecture. Members of the public are now being called on to vote for ‘Enhancing Ennistymon’, which has been shortlisted for the Royal Institute of Architects of Ireland (RIAI) Public Choice Award.  The RIAI Architecture Awards are a national awards scheme that recognises excellence in Irish Architecture. The RIAI Public Choice Award is a unique opportunity for members of the public to choose their favourite project from a shortlist of works designed by Irish Architects. Entitled ‘Enhancing Ennistymon’, this plan is one of a number of projects shortlisted by the award’s jury, and a public vote is now ongoing to decide the award winner.   Ennistymon Town Team, Clare County Council and a Design Team led by Helena McElmeel Architects prepared a strategy for the enhancement of Ennistymon town centre, with support from Clare Local Development Company (CLDC). ‘Enhancing Ennistymon’ comprises of three …

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Appeal for information on Canadian sailor’s grave

AN APPEAL is being made for information on the final resting place of a 21-year-old Canadian, whose body was washed ashore at Doughmore Beach, more than 80 years ago. James Hutton, a sailor, was among 207 people who lost their lives with the sinking, off County Donegal, of the troopship, the SS Nerissa on April 30, 1941. In the weeks and months that followed, bodies were discovered along the western seaboard, as far south as Clare. The remains of James Hutton were discovered on May 27, 1941, and laid to rest the same day in Clohanes Graveyard. In the intervening years, knowledge of the exact location of his burial plot has been lost. This week, retired officers of the Canadian Navy travelled to Clare in a bid to find the grave. They are hoping that local knowledge may identify exactly where James Hutton is buried and that the grave will be formally marked.  Retired Lieutenant Commander with the Royal Canadian …

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Gardaí renew appeal over missing teen

GARDAÍ have renewed an appeal for information on a missing Kildare teenager, last seen in this county. Sixteen year-old Briain Holmes is missing from Kildare town and was last seen in Clare on the afternoon of Thursday May 11. Since then, two more possible sightings have been reported in the North of the county. Briain is described as being approximately 5 foot 10 inches in height, of slim build and has fair hair and blue eyes. When last seen, he was wearing black jumper, dark black trousers and black runners. Gardaí and Briain’s family are concerned for his wellbeing. They are appealing to landowners in the North Clare area to check any sheds, outhouses, unoccupied houses or other remote buildings on their lands. Anyone with information on Briain’s whereabouts are asked to contact Kildare Garda Station on 045- 527 737, Ennistymon Garda Station on 065-707 2180, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda Station.

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