It is hoped a much needed flood relief scheme for Kilkee will alleviate overflow from the Victoria Stream and help protect 134 properties including 118 homes. The scheme, which is now at the planning stage is the first of two planned schemes for the town, and work is separately continuing on design for a scheme to manage the risk from coastal flooding in the town. The Minister of State with responsibility for the Office of Public Works (OPW), Kieran O’Donnell (FG) announced this week that his office has given the approval to Clare County Council to submit a planning application for the Kilkee scheme. The design consists of the construction of new flood defence walls, embankments, box culverts and open channels along the Victoria Stream and Well Stream, combined with a channel diversion and the creation of flood water storage areas along the Victoria Scheme. The scheme is the outcome of detailed engineering analysis, environmental assessments and engagement with the …

Uisce Éireann has said it is working to restore water supply as quickly as possible to impacted customers in West Clare following a burst watermain. The areas affected include Miltown Malbay, Spanish Point, Quilty, Mullagh, Coore, Cooraclare, Mullagh and surrounding areas in West Clare. Expert water service crews have been dispatched and are carrying out the required repair works, with the water company saying every effort is being made to complete this work as quickly as possible. The repair works are expected to be completed by 5pm today. A traffic management system will be in place for the duration of the works. Following repair works, it typically takes two to three hours for normal supply to be fully restored to all areas as the water refills the network, especially for those on higher ground or at the end of the network. A spokesperson for Uisce Éireann has assured customers that every effort is being made to carry out repairs as …

A 32-year-old mountaineer from West Clare who recently completed a gruelling climb of Mont Blanc in the Alps has cautioned it is not a feat to be attempted without previous climbing experience. PJ Byrne from Kilkee summited Western Europe’s highest mountain, 4,500 metres, just weeks after he climbed Africa’s highest mountain, Mount Kilimanjaro, 5,900metres. Climbing mountains was not always in the plan for the Clare man. Living in Bahrain, he generally keeps fit by playing Gaelic football with his local GAA club, the Arabian Celts and doing mixed martial arts (MMA) training. He had not previously climbed mountains but always up for a challenge, when he heard his friend Nadeem Kunwar was planning to climb Mt Kilimanjaro followed by Mont Blanc, he decided to get a piece of the action too and jumped right in. Unaccustomed to climbing however, Mont Blanc would prove to be a technically challenging climb for PJ. “Mont Blanc is more strenuous physically – it is …

A new art installation which has the local community at its core is set to open at Miltown Malbay in mid-August. It is hoped the time machine project located at the former Bank of Ireland building on the town’s main street will enable people to experience what it is like to travel through time, and be transported from 1984 to 2084. Award winning artists Alex Gill and Maeve Stone of Cracking Light Productions have been building a time machine in Miltown Malbay. The one-of-a-kind immersive experience has been informed and inspired by conversations with local participants, and will transform the beautiful premises of the former Bank of Ireland building. The ideal location in the centre of town means visitors can experience the project in person and revisit their once bustling community bank, alongside Friel’s Pub. The bank’s new owner, Aoife O’Malley has been transforming the building into a creative hub for artists and designers, and earlier this summer she launched …

A Lahinch councillor has said he wants the Council to power hose, clean and repair the railings on both the old and new promenade in Lahinch. He has also requested they paint the walls leading from a local hotel over to the promenade. Cllr Bill Slattery (FG) has claimed “everything is lacking” at the popular seaside resort. Putting forward his motion at the July meeting of the West Clare Municipal District (MD) Cllr Slattery said there is no spring maintenance programme going on at the promenade in Lahinch which is especially required, and he stressed that big improvement is required in the town. Noting the council operatives started painting on the bars, Cllr Slattery said, “There is no spring maintenance going on at the promenade in Lahinch because of the colour of the bars on the whole promenade, the painting on the promenade, the bins on the promenade; everything seems to be lacking for such a popular seaside resort of …

An Cathaoirleach of the West Clare Municipal District. Councillor Rita McInerney (FF), has raised concerns over health services accessibility in West Clare, and has highlighted critical issues that she says need urgent attention including what she sees as the limited hours of operation of the Small Injuries Clinic. Cllr Rita McInerney, who is a member of the Regional Health Forum has voiced concerns about the accessibility and availability of health services for residents in West Clare. At the recent Regional Health Forum meeting held on Tuesday, July 16, Cllr McInerney’s inquiries regarding the Ennis Small Injuries Clinic and ShannonDoc services highlighted critical issues that need urgent attention. In relation to limited hours at the Ennis Injury Unit, Cllr McInerney questioned the Health Service Executive (HSE) about the timeline for extending the operating hours of the Ennis Small Injuries Clinic from 8am to midnight. The HSE’s response revealed no current plans to extend these hours, citing a national review in 2023 …

The announcement of nine new tourist traffic ambassadors for North Clare by Clare County Council has been welcomed by local councillors at last week’s July meeting of the West Clare Municipal District (MD). Six ambassadors commenced work at various locations across North Clare on July 8 and the council say they hope to appoint three more staff imminently. The posts are operational on a seven days a week basis with extended hours at busier times of the year. The tourist traffic ambassadors’ primary function is to direct visitor traffic. However, they are also expected to share information about local tourist attractions, culture, history, and other points of interest in the region. It is hoped they will assist and inform visitors as well as help create positive experiences for them ensuring they feel welcome during their visit. The part-time ambassadors who are employed on a seasonal basis have already provided data revealing “significant numbers” of tourist traffic are being directed to …

A crew of five sailors from West Clare are currently involved in the sailing adventure of their lives travelling to France aboard the Sally O’ Keeffe – a community owned boat they built themselves. The crew on board who are all members of the local Seol Sionna sailing group are Niamh McGibney from Mullagh, Stephen Morris and Enda Mc Donagh from Moyasta, Peter Ranalow from Kildysart, and James Devane from Kilrush. The ambitious group left Baltimore in Cork on Tuesday night, July 9 and arrived in the Isles of Scilly on Thursday morning, July 11 for their first stop en route to France. That leg of the journey alone took nearly 40 hours sailing on a 26ft open boat. The group plan to attend traditional maritime festivals in Brest and Douarnenez in Brittany over the next two weeks. The Sally O’ Keeffe was built in 2012 at Querrin by New Zealander Stephen Morris who is also on board her on …