LESS than a year after receiving formal approval from the Department of Rural and Community Development, the River Fergus walkway is proving one of the most popular recreational amenities in the Ennis area. In fact, the positive public reaction to the paved cycling and walking route from the Quin Road to Clareabbey has prompted a move to extend it to the Quay in Clarecastle where a trailhead development is being planned. Local Fine Gael TD Joe Carey says that proposals for a walking and cycling route linking Clarecastle to Ennis and on to the proposed West Clare Greenway have been under active consideration for several years. “The extensive engineering work on the Ennis South drainage scheme provided the opportunity to develop a walkway alongside the 1.5 kilometre length of the embankment. Because some of the groundwork and infrastructure was already in place, a high standard walkway could be delivered at a very competitive price,” Deputy Carey explained.  “Last March, Rural …

MEMBERS of the public are encouraged to attend an information evening on the next phase of the Ennis Public Realm Regeneration this week. The information meeting will be hosted by Clare County Council on Thursday, March 31. The next phase of the regeneration of the Ennis Public Realm will involve major construction works at O’Connell Street, High Street, Bank Place, Barrack Street, O’Connell Square and Barrack Square. According to a spokesperson for Clare County Council, “The Public Realm Regeneration will significantly improve accessibility for pedestrians through the introduction of shared surface arrangements and by increasing footpath widths where possible. “Advance enabling works involving the replacement of water mains by Irish Water and the upgrading of ESB underground cables are scheduled to commence in May 2022. “The Public Realm Regeneration project works will follow thereafter. It is unavoidable that road closures will be necessary during construction. “The Squares (Barrack Square and O’Connell Square) will be significantly enhanced to improve their amenity …

A CLARE woman who had been reported missing last weekend has been found safe and well her family have confirmed. Noelle O’Looney, 43, who had been missing since Saturday, was found on Tuesday with her family thanking members of the public for their assistance in recent days. One family member took to social media to say, “Noelle has been found. She is safe. Thanks to everyone out there for all their help and support over the last few days, it has meant a huge amount to all of us, everything has worked out ok thankfully.”

AN Ennis store has struck gold achieving a coveted national award. Donnellan’s Centra on the Lahinch Road was among the big winners at the ShelfLife National C-Store Awards 2021 held recently. Picking up the Gold award for Convenience Store of the Year (Medium) on behalf of Donnellan’s were a delighted Joan and Edwina Donnellan. The awards celebrate exceptional standards of Ireland’s convenience store sector celebrated at national industry event. Other Clare stores taking home awards on the night were: Londis McNamee’s Darragh, Ennis which was awarded Convenience Store of the Year (Large) Bronze; Spar, Back Lane, Lahinch, Co, Clare Convenience Store of the Year (Small) Joint Bronze; and Mace, Lissycasey, Convenience Store of the Year (Medium) Bronze. Originally due to be held in November 2021, the ceremony was postponed due to the increase of Covid-19 hospitalisations occurring at that time, and to ensure the safety of all involved. Proving the adage that good things come to those who wait, the …

LISCANNOR based musician Aoife Doyle will make her debut at The Whitehorse Sessions in Kenny’s Bar, Lahinch on Thursday, March 31. Aoife will perform with her band of stellar musicians pianist Johnny Taylor, bassist Peter Hanagan and drummer John Daly. She will be showcasing music from her brand new album ‘Infinitely Clear’ a soothing, soulful mix of jazz, folk, soul and blues which has garnered much praise across the airwaves. Aoife is originally from Bray but is now living in Clare. While she has been performing for many years, it was upon moving to the West Coast of Ireland that she found her songwriting voice. “In Clare I had more quiet time to reflect. The lack of billboards, traffic and other superficial stimulation makes life a lot simpler. “I think nature is the most primal form of creativity and living in the country and keeping a garden etc. you’re seeing the cycle of creation from seed to plant to harvest. …

A MOVING poem written by the residents and staff of a Clare nursing home forms part of a special broadcast released online to coincide with the National Day of Remembrance and Reflection. Carrigoran House has taken part in Reflections, a video released on the Nursing Homes Ireland YouTube channel last week. Over 90 residents and staff from over 20 participating nursing homes including Carrigoran House in Newmarket-on-Fergus feature in the broadcast. Reflections, encompasses song, poetry, readings and reflections from nursing home residents and staff. The poem by the Clare residents and staff recognises the power of our community throughout the pandemic and remembers all that was lost over the last two years. It was written, “In recognition of the commitment and dedication our staff show every day, the understanding and support shown by our families throughout all restrictions and our residents’ resilience and courage in all they had faced.” The poem is accompanied by visual images of life at the …

AN inspection of the Acute Psychiatric Unit at Ennis Hospital by the Mental Health Commission (MHC) found a ‘critical risk’ non-compliance. The centre, which provides in-patient mental health care to residents of North Tipperary and County Clare, achieved an overall compliance rate of 71%, a 7% increase on the 64% it received in 2020. However, the inspection identified one critical risk and six high-risk non-compliances, with the critical risk relating to risk management procedures. The Ennis inspection report was one of three published by the MHC along with mental health centres in Drogheda and Offaly. Across all three the MHC found one critical and sixteen high-risk non-compliances “All of the centres inspected were non-compliant with the regulation relating to premises,” said the Inspector of Mental Health Services, Dr Susan Finnerty. “We see issues with buildings not being maintained, bathrooms not being ventilated and the lack of sufficient privacy for patients. These environments are not conducive to the treatment and recovery …

CONGESTION during peak traffic periods on the Tulla Road and Gort Road areas of Ennis could be significantly eased with the completion of the Ennis North Inner Relief Road, according to Independent Clare TD Michael McNamara. Deputy McNamara has written to Clare County Council urging the Local Authority to revisit the proposal to link the roads, which he said would divert traffic away from the centre of Ennis and the Fair Green area and improve general traffic flow on the northern and eastern sides of the town. “It was originally intended that the Inner Relief Road would link the R458 Gort Road to Oakleigh Wood and The Maples Distributor Road and onwards to the Cappahard and Roslevan Roundabouts on the R352 Tulla Road,” he explained. “However, no progress has been made since 2018 when Phase One of the project, comprising a 520m road link from the Gort Road to the Clare Technology Park, was officially opened.” “While the Council has …