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DEVELOPERS looking to build 36 new homes on a high-profile site in Tulla have moved to address concerns raised by planners over “piecemeal development”.  In May, Woodhaven Developments lodged plans for the estate on a prominent greenfield site, close to Glebe House on Church Road. During the public consultation phase, four submissions were made. These expressed concerns over the proposed boundary of the estate, as well as potential pedestrian access onto lands belonging to a third party.  On foot of these submissions, as well as separate concerns of their own, planners requested Further Information (FI) from Woodhaven. They sought more details on the proposed connectivity between the site and the town’s Main Street. Planners expressed concerns that the proposed development might not comply with site zoning. While the site is zoned for residential development, there is a specific site objective that connectivity is created into the town centre. The FI request also asked Woodhaven to “satisfactorily demonstrate ownership of all …

Sarah Skelly was part of the panel when Scariff-Ogonnelloe made that unpredecented charge through Clare and Munster in 2019. Having been there from the start of the amalgamation’s development from intermediate to senior, her experience is now required to carry the torch at management level alongside manager Alphie Rodgers and Pat Minogue after last year’s county and provincial winning backroom team headed by David Sullivan opted to step down following their All-Ireland Semi-Final reverse in February. It means that despite their unbridled success, Scariff-Ogonnelloe’s senior squad are playing under their third different management in as many years but still managed to successfully navigate their way back to a third final in four seasons. “It’s never easy to get back to the final and particularly this year as last year’s management stepped down quite late after our All-Ireland Semi-Final loss against Oulart-The-Ballagh.” commenced selector Skelly. “So it understandably took us a while to try and gather ourselves and our agenda for …

Getting to a final is one thing, winning one is a completely different challenge as Truagh-Clonlara found to their cost last November. Granted, having relentlessly strived to make the breakthrough to their first ever senior decider, the squad actually got to contest two in the space of a fortnight but that was scant consolation having come out on the wrong side of the replay. The mindset is different this time around though according to joint-captain Michelle Powell whose sterling performances for the Clare junior side subsequently earned her a prestigious Soaring Star nomination in the last few days. “Last year was such a novelty. I mean there’s no comparison between winning the semi-final this year because last year we were just so delighted to get past the heartache of almost five or six semi-finals in a row that we just couldn’t get over the line on. “This time when we won the semi-final, don’t get me wrong, we were delighted …

And then there were four…Eoin Brennan previews this weekend’s senior football championship semi-finals Kilmurry Ibrickane v Ennistymon at Cusack Park Ennis, Saturday 4pm Remarkably, their group clash eight weeks previously proved the catalyst for both sides to ignite their championship challenge but this time around it’s winner-takes-all for a coveted place in the final. Bouncing back from an opening defeat to Clondegad, Ennistymon’s transformation from being an underwhelming attacking side to an effective defensive structure certainly caught Kilmurry Ibrickane unawares as the North Clare Magpies ground out a 1-9 to 0-9 victory on their way to sealing top spot in the group. It would be an equally impactful juncture for the ‘Bricks who knew that if they were to survive, they would have to win every remaining match and it was that necessity that drove them to new heights in the second period against previously unbeaten Clondegad a fortnight later. The 2020 champions haven’t looked back since as along with …

THE electricity bill for Ballina Riverside Swimming Pool jumped by 52% in August 2022, according to new figures released by the local pool committee. Pool manager, Paddy Collins admitted this massive hike was a “huge shock to the system” and will have implications on how the outdoor heated swimming pool will be run next year. “If ESB bills keep on increasing, some businesses will close. The rising electricity bills will have a massive impact on the pool. We have to heat a huge volume of water. “We will have to be careful about when we are going to open and close. I can’t see us opening in September next year. “We will have to be tighter on our hours and will have to look at how we are running the place. Everything will have to be re-evaluated next year. “I am involved in other sports clubs, which are struggling as well. Purchasing LED lighting involves a huge outlay for clubs.” …

Michael O’ Connor watched Sixmilebridge dismantle Clonlara in the Junior B hurling semi final on a score of 2-23 to 1-7 From the start of this season the intention in Sixmilebridge was crystal clear. Get as many teams as possible out and make them competitive. So, to this end they had four adult teams in semi-finals over the weekend and special emphasis in its own quiet way was in getting one side into Junior A in 2023 and one side into Junior B for next season. One part was achieved within Tulla and on Sunday morning in dreadful conditions they eased past Clonlara in Cratloe for seal a place in the Junior B final against Inagh/Kilnamona on Sunday week in Tulla on county final day. The day before the Clonlara men suffered demotion to Junior A and so there was a need to rally the forces in this tie to bolster morale. Sixmilebridge played with the strong wind in the …

A MAN alleged to have carried out a burglary and four thefts over a 45-minute period in Ennis on Wednesday, has been refused bail.  Nathan Egan (29), with an address at Sandfield Court, Ennis, appeared at Ennis district court this Thursday charged in connection with a series of offences at businesses in the town centre on October 12.  Egan is charged with stealing various items from Haven Pharmacy, Abbey Street; Lifestyle sports, High Street, and Eurogiant, O’Connell Square.  He is also accused of stealing a racer bike valued at €1000 at the Friary car park.  Egan is further charged with entering the Queens Hotel as a trespasser with intent to commit theft.  Garda Joe Kearney told the court he arrested Egan on Abbey Street at 6.20pm on October 12. The court heard the accused was charged with five offences.  Garda Kearney said the accused made no reply to any of the charges after caution. Solicitor Tara Godfrey applied for bail …

A LATE Ennis HPV vaccine advocate has been honoured with a new catch-up vaccination programme that is named after her in collaboration with the Department of Health. Health Minister Stephen Donnelly lauded the tirelessly campaigning work of Laura Brennan when he spoke to reporters outside University Hospital Limerick on Thursday. Minister Donnelly and the family of the late Laura Brennan, have announced the Laura Brennan HPV Vaccine Catch-Up Programme.   Laura died with cervical cancer at the age of 26 in March 2019 but her legacy of advocacy of the HPV vaccine has lived on. Last October, she was honoured with a portrait in the Royal College of Physicians and the RCPI shared an image of Laura’s portrait recently to mark what would have been her 30thth birthday. “We remember her courage and grace as she bravely shared her story while advocating for the HPV vaccine. “Laura’s portrait sits proudly in our historic No.6 Kildare Street, a reminder of her …