SPANCILHILL Fair has secured an eleventh hour reprieve with confirmation that insurance cover has been secured for the world-famous event.  For the last two years, thousands of dedicated traders were deprived of one of the most important horse fairs in the calendar, due to the pandemic. Hope were high that the internationally renowned and centuries-old fair would return this year, offering the opportunity to mark the 400th anniversary of the event, which fell in 2021. Insurance concerns threw a spanner in the works and the difficulty in securing cover the event was flagged in the Dáil by Deputy Michael McNamara.  At this afternoon’s (April 11) meeting of Clare County Council, it was announced that cover has now been secured. The Council’s CEO, Pat Dowling, confirmed – to a round of applause from the chamber – that the event will go ahead in June. The news followed a cross-party motion tabled by Councillors Clare Colleran Molloy, PJ Kelly, Pat Hayes, Pat …

ACTIVE Travel projects are transforming pedestrian and cyclist access in West Clare, a recent meeting of the municipal district has heard. However, some works cannot proceed until aspects of the design of the West Clare Greenway have been ironed out.  In response to a question from Councillor Shane Talty, members were updated on a range of projects across the area. Seeking the update, Councillor Talty said he regularly receives questions about “projects which have been announced but not seen”. “I fully understand that these are in the pipeline and the Active Travel project have massive visibility,” he said. “My only concern is that some of them are contingent on the Greenway, which is still a number of years away.” In a written response to the motion, Senior Executive Officer (SE), John O’Malley provided an update on range of works on paths, crossings and lighting installations.  Mr O’Malley’s response noted that Active Travel is a five-year programme of funding which began …

COASTAL protection works in Quilty will progress when signed agreement from the parties is returned to Clare County Council, local councillors have been told.  The matter was raised at the March meeting of the West Clare Municipal District by Councillor PJ Kelly who sought a report on the proposed works at Clohaninchy. “For a parish like Kilmurry Ibrikane who are in the habit of winning, I’m disappointed this has taken so long,” Councillor Kelly said. “It is a longstanding problem.” A written response to the motion came from Gráinne Reddan, Senior Executive Engineer (SEE) with the Project Management Office (PMO). “To progress the Cloughaninchy Flood Relief Scheme, Clare County Council have been negotiating with landowners over the last number of years, which has proved very time-consuming,” the reply said. “Landowner agreements were issued in February 2022 and Clare County Council await the return of signed agreements from all parties. Provided that Clare County Council receive signed agreements, Clare County Council …

PLASTICS found in fish are entering the human food chain, research supported by a Mountshannon academic has confirmed. Dr Alvin Orbaek White, who works at Swansea University, has just released the findings of a project he supported in Barcelona, which involved a boat-builder and marine biologist catching and examining fish for the presence of plastics. The work was inspired by an idea from artist and boat builder, Mark Redden, with laboratory experiments and scuba diving instructions from marine biologist, Charlie Gaborit. With an estimated 51 trillion micro plastic pieces in the sea, the team of young entrepreneurs and scientists went out in a traditional currach as part of a short scale experiment looking at how micro plastics affect fish stocks and can then enter the human food chain. The work was sponsored by Dr Orbaek White’s start-up TrimTabs. The team’s work was project managed and filmed by Clément Esso and a video, just released, graphically illustrates the plastics problem. “For …

EAST Clare Musical Society make a welcome return to the stage, later this month, after the Covid shutdown.  “This Easter we have eggsactly the treat that audiences, starved of musical theatre for two years, require,” said Eoin O’Hagan. “We are delighted to announce we will stage a reprise of the cabaret special, A Night at the Musicals, in Scariff Community College on Friday, Saturday and Sunday April 15-17, with curtain up nightly at 8pm.” This hugely popular show, which sold out in February 2020, just prior to lockdown, will entertain the fans of musical theatre with solo appearances from many of the leads of previous musical performances of the East Clare Musical Society. Led by Musical Director John O’Brien with the accompaniment of Anne Cullen and Steve Lawrence, songbird Vashti Curran will come back to the stage after a very successful year-long residency performing cabaret in Germany.  Also taking to the stage are other highly talented singers, most of who …

CRUSHEEN Community Centre Committee has announced the creation of a new Wall of Sponsors and have invited their community to be a part of the opportunity. Everyone in the community and all local businesses are invited to sponsor a personalised, engraved brick that will be displayed as part of a wall of sponsors installed as a permanent fixture within the community centre. It is planned to open the facility in autumn, complete with an extension, new heating and insulation, new doors and windows, additional meeting rooms, conferencing facilities, and high-speed Wi-Fi.  One quarter of the capital renovation value is needed to retire the current debt, and all donations and sponsorships raised through ongoing fundraising will support the fit-out and help to plan for the future running of the centre. Bricks can be inscribed with the sponsor’s name, family name, or business name, or in honour or in memory of a relative or pet. Two brick sizes are available – single …

CLIMBERS will take to the 12 O’Clocks Hills this Sunday, April 3, in solidarity with broadcaster Charlie Bird and his fundraising efforts, as he battles Motor Neurone Disease (MND). Two hikes are available from 12 noon in support of MND and also in support of Vicky Phelan and Pieta House. The routes cover 8.5km and 13km and those participating are asked to be on site by 11.45am. All donations made to the Honesty Box at the Belvoir carpark from last Monday, March 28 to Sunday next will be donated to MND and Pieta House.  Monsel Catering will be in attendance between 2 and 3pm on Sunday for those returning from their hikes. On Saturday, April 2, the former RTÉ correspondent will climb Croagh Patrick to raise funds for the two charities in question. He has asked that people who cannot join him in Mayo would climb with him “in spirit” next weekend.  The 12 O’Clock Hills project committee has also …

QUESTIONS have been raised over plans for a major new housing development proposed for Quin, following a number of objections.  Planners are seeking Further Information (FI) on proposals from Datcha Construction, to build 41 homes on a large site at Quin Gardens in the heart of the historic village.  In January, the company applied for permission for 13 detached, 10 semi-detached and 18 terraced houses on a site of just under two hectares. During the submissions window, five objections were received. These include a joint submission from Quin Garden Residents. The submissions have raised concerns over issues including flooding, road safety, traffic volumes and the protection of wildlife. One document details incidents of flooding in Quin in 2009, 2012, 2015 and 2017. Other submissions highlight the requirement under the County Development Plan for hydrogeological assessment for any plans on the development site. Concerns were also raised by some residents about potential overlooking of existing homes.  In addition, The Development Applications …