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Breaking News

Sixty-home development stalled over environmental concerns

QUESTIONS have been raised over the environmental impact of a new 60-home estate proposed for Tulla, with planners looking for more information on how sensitive habitats and bat species might be affected. Wiskin Property Developments is seeking permission for 15 detached houses; 36 semi-detached houses and nine terraced houses on a site of just over three hectares at Loughaun South. To date, four submissions have been sent to planners by locals living close to the site, and a representation has been made by Councillor Joe Cooney. Given the sensitive nature of the site, the Council has asked the developers for Further Information (FI) on several aspects of their plans. In the first instance, more details have been sought on mitigation measures to protect a nearby riverside woodland habitat. Planners have also asked for an explanation of how these measures will be integrated into the proposed estate. Under the current County Development Plan, any development at the site must taken into …

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Shepherd’s delight for residents as Ennis laneway named

A DECISION to rename an Ennis laneway ‘Shepherd’s Lane’ following a ballot of local residents has been described as “positive news” by the Mayor of Ennis Councillor Clare Colleran Molloy, as well as being welcomed by other members of the Ennis Municipal District. As previously reported in The Clare Champion the residents of St Flannan’s Terrace had called for a proper name to be given to a back lane which had been known locally as ‘The Laneway’ and ‘The Car Road’. A residents’ association was formed earlier this year and a ballot of all 46 houses in the area was undertaken to determine a suitable name for the site. The results of the ballot saw Shepherd’s Lane come out as the favourite by the majority of the people who responded to the survey. Prior to 1912 the site on which the houses were built was known as the Shepherd’s Field. This month’s meeting of the Ennis Municipal District was told …

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“It showed us how important it is to get out and meet people”

THE weather is changing and the days are shortening, but the Shannon Tidy Towns group is still active. “We’ll still be doing litter picks, that’s important because you’re never free of rubbish in any town or village, group secretary Derek Clune told The Champion. “It’s important to keep the River Walk tidy because it’s very well used, the Town Park is the same. When the Town Park was developed the Council introduced this Leave No Trace, the idea is that everyone takes away everything, and it’s great in theory but in practice it doesn’t work I’m afraid. “If that wasn’t done two or three times a week it would look bad. It’s very well used, families use it,  you have the pump track there, the River Walk is the same, even people from outside Shannon use it.” The group is also hoping to complete a long-planned project this month. “We have a big project in the pipeline for a long …

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627 AirBnBs in North Clare town, but only 36 long-term rentals

THERE are 17 times the number of properties in Ennistymon on Airbnb than are available for long term lets. This huge disparity of 627 Airbnb properties compared to 36 long term lets was highlighted by Clare senator Roisin Garvey. Addressing Minister of State at the Department of Housing Peter Burke, Ms Garvey asked for action to limit AirBnB’s impact in Clare, while she said the means of calculating what areas are Rent Pressure Zones (RPZs) is flawed. Regarding AirBnB, Ms Garvey said, “I draw the Minister of State’s attention to figures I gleaned from Airbnb and Daft.ie. I put in 16 October and looked up Ennistymon, one of the closest towns to where I live. There were 627 places for Airbnb but in all of County Clare, there were only 36 places to rent. “To be clear, Airbnb has a very important part to play in the tourism sector but at the same time, we need to find a balance …

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Kilmilhil ladies looking forward not back in bid to regain title

Kilmihil manager Kevin Callinan insists his side bear no wounds from their 10-point loss to Banner Ladies in last year’s Senior decider. Callinan’s side will line out in their sixth county final in seven years as they face the ever present Banner Ladies. With the Ennis side firm favourites and keen on securing a three in a row after Kilmihil pulled off a shock upset in the decider in 2019, Kilmihil enter the contest as firm underdogs. Throw in JJ O’Dea’s side securing a 10-point triumph in last year’s decider while beating Kilmihil 2-14 to 2-3 in this year’s round robin series and it goes without saying that Callinan’s charges face a mammoth task if they are to secure a second county title in four years. However, he is adamant that Kilmihil hold no burden on their shoulders despite suffering more than their fair share of county final heartbreak. “We wipe the slate clean, and we started again after last …

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Rosie joins elite group with Triple Crown of global swimming

FORMER Irish Rugby international Rosie Foley has dived into an elite group of about 279 people who have achieved the gruelling Triple Crown of Open Water Swimming. The 49-year-old Killaloe native recently followed in the footsteps of her mentor, Fionnuala Walsh, by completing the 32.3 km swim across the Catalina Channel between Santa Catalina Island and the Southern California mainland in the United States. In July 2014, Rosie completed the 33.5 km swim across the English Channel between England and France and the Manhattan Island Marathon Swim, a 45.9 km circumnavigation around Manhattan Island last June. She has also become just the second Irish woman to finish a marathon swimming challenge consisting of three historically important swims around the world. The mother-of-three undertook the charity challenge in memory of her brother, the late Munster and Irish rugby legend Anthony Foley, who died on October 16, 2016. All proceeds will go to the Mid-Western Cancer Foundation, children’s charity CARI and CRY, …

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Relentless Banner Ladies still looking to raise the bar

Despite being the barometer by which other teams within Clare measure themselves, Banner Ladies manager JJ O’Dea insists that his side are trying to raise the bar. With the Ennis club aiming to win their 13th county title in 15 years, O’Dea maintains that blending young players in to his side is a necessity if the club are to stay ahead of the chasing pack. Despite possessing players of the ilk of Niamh O’Dea, Laurie Ryan and Gráinne Nolan, Banner Ladies have continued to give youth its chance with Caoimhe Cahill, Keelin Fitzgerald, Emer Burke, Caoimhe Ryan and Gráinne Burke all plying their trade at adult level after impressing at underage with club and county. “We have to blend youth. The most important teams, in any club is the U-10s or U-8s because they are the future of the club. This team didn’t happen overnight. We worked hard to get this group together. People think we are a big club, …

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Angry traders – ‘There will be no shops left if this stands’

RETAIL businesses in Ennis will close if new rateable valuations on businesses are implemented, a number of traders in the town have claimed. Last week saw a number of businesses receive letters about future rates bills, which left some of the traders shocked. Barry O’Driscoll of Precious Pets said the bill he is facing is set to increase from €8,000 per annum to €14,500. “When I found out what the formula was I realised, ‘Oh my God, my rates have gone up by 82%. Then I started phoning other retailers and I found they were in the same position, or even worse. We got together then, because quite frankly it is very serious and there will be no shops left if this stands.” He said that if there is no change he will go out of business. “This kicks in on January 1, 2024 and I cannot trade with these catastrophically high rates unless something radical is done.” John O’Connor …

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