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WHILE the shortage of housing is still very acute in Clare, 464 new residential units were built in the year up to the end of June, according to the latest GeoDirectory Residential Buildings Report. The bi-annual report is based on GeoDirectory’s database of over two million residential building records. The 464 addresses amounts to 0.8 of the county’s overall housing stock, and is actually a poorer outcome than in the previous 12 months. During the second quarter, work was underway on the construction of 22,390 buildings in the country, with 439 of these in Co Clare. This means the county has approximately 2% of the State’s construction activity. The county has a slight increase (2%) in housing commencements in the 12 months up to June.  The GeoDirectory research shows a 6.3% vacancy rate in Clare, higher than the State average of 4.2%. Some 9.7% of units in the county are holiday homes.  It found that there were 1,116 residential property …

OVER €60,000 was raised for two cancer charities by the recent South for Susan and Antoinette Malin to Mizen cycle. Presentations of €30,390 each were made last week to Kilnamona-based Sláinte an Chláir and Cancer Care West, both of whom provide cancer support services to patients undergoing treatment and their families. The cycle was undertaken in early June, in memory of Susan O’Neill from Ballyea and Antoinette Pender from Quilty, both of whom died from cancer-related illness last year. Upon receiving Sláinte an Chláir’s share of the fundraising, spokesperson Marie Phelan, said, “The amount received this evening means a huge amount to our charity and will enable us to continue supporting cancer patients and their families in practical ways while they undergo treatment for cancer.” Dave O’Donnell, Head of Fundraising and Communications at Cancer Care West said, “We are full of admiration for the Trojan efforts put in by the cyclists and support team during the trip from Malin Head …

A late flurry of green flags sealed the deal as St Joseph’s Doora-Barefield beat Clooney-Quin 4-9 to 1-8 in the U15 Division 1 final Three goals in the last 20 minutes finally cemented St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield’s Under 15 Division 1 title retention over neighbours Clooney-Quin in Cusack Park, Ennis on Tuesday evening. Despite only possessing three survivors (Liam Clune, Darragh Ball, Diarmuid Boyle) from the side that contested last year’s final victory over Lissycasey, the Parish led from start to finish in a fully merited win. Soaring as much as nine clear against the conditions in the opening period, Doora/Barefield were anticipated to canter to victory on the restart but instead saw their comfortable cushion whittled down to just two by a determined Clooney-Quin by the two-thirds mark. However, that scare only seemed to motivate St Joseph’s into life once more as three goals in the space of just 17 minutes through substitute Graham Ball (2) and captain Liam Clune …

The Clare Intermediate Football Championship begins this Saturday – Eoin Brennan previews the first round action Round 1 Group 1 Kildysart v Coolmeen at Lissycasey, Saturday 3pm A rare civil war between these underage amalgamation partners but while both will fancy their chances of emerging from the group, it’s Kildysart that possess the genuine title ambitions and should have too much firepower for their neighbours. Verdict: Kildysart Naomh Eoin v Kilrush Shamrocks at Shanahan McNamara Park Doonbeg, Saturday 6pm A rare coastal derby at intermediate level at least as it’s only three years since Kilrush edged out the first Naomh Eoin/O’Curry’s adult partnership at senior championship level. The Shams also have nine points to spare the previous season over Naomh Eoin on their way to the intermediate crown so while the margin should be tighter, the same result is anticipated. Verdict: Kilrush Shamrocks Group 2 Banner v Cooraclare at Lissycasey, Saturday 4.45pm Only five years ago three championship tiers separated …

WOODHAVEN Developments Limited has received planning permission for the construction of 55 houses and a childcare facility at Smithstown, Shannon. The County Council granted planning permission subject to 28 conditions, three of which require the developer to make separate payments, which, added together, come to over €600,000. One of the conditions requires “a contribution of €311,801 to Clare County Council in respect of public infrastructure and facilities benefiting development in the area of the Planning Authority that is provided for, or intended to be provided by or on behalf of the authority in accordance with the terms of the development contribution scheme under Section 38 of the Planning & Development Act 2000”. A separate requirement is for a cash security of €275,000 until the development is taken in charge by the Council or until there has “satisfactory completion of the development”. Separately before work starts a Special Development Contribution must be paid to Clare County Council, towards the upgrading of …

Eoin Brennan runs the rule over this weekend’s action as the Clare senior football championship kicks off Round 1 Group 1 Éire Óg v St Breckan’s at Cusack Park Ennis, Saturday 4.30pm Easily the headline act of the opening weekend as depending on how the sides approach it, this heavyweight showdown will either be a timely evaluation of where these Jack Daly contenders are or a cautious must-not-lose affair led by fear rather than ambition. With three to emerge to the last eight from this group, it should be closer to the former and certainly much nearer in terms of scores than last year’s semi-final masterclass from Éire Óg that stifled a normally swashbuckling St Breckan’s before they could get into their stride. The Townies are still the team to beat but going on the hurling version, may need a bit of time to blow off the cobwebs of their meticulous gameplan as they’ve had no competitive opportunities to put …

A BIKE sharing scheme introduced to Shannon in July is having to be scaled back already due to anti-social behaviour. While it is not being scrapped, it has been suspended while improvements are being made.  “We have had some instances of anti social behaviour so we have temporarily paused the scheme, we’re introducing some new security measures within the app. We’re having younger teenagers accessing the scheme, and we just need to put in some extra security measures so we can verify their age before they sign up. We’re developing that and we hope to reactivate it in the next week to ten days, back to full capacity,” said Jarlath Gantly, CEO of CoMotion, the company that provides the bikes. Shannon has experienced extensive problems with anti-social behaviour in recent years, with numerous complaints made to authorities about vandalism and intimidatory behaviour.  Councillor Donna McGettigan said that many people have been using the bikes, but that the actions of a …

VISITORS from seven European countries are set to visit Ennis when the county capitals hosts the 18th European Culture Week. The celebration of culture takes place from August 8 until August 12. This festival is being organised by the Ennis group Clanna Mileadha and will include participants from Sardinia, France, Hungary, Sud-Tyrol, Lithuania, Romania and Spain. The Clanna Mileadha group have attended all the festivals since its inception in 1986 on a bi-annual basis, only missing out on Sardinia in 1990. The festival was first held in Ennis in 2002 and there is great excitement among the groups to make a return visit to Ennis after 20 years. Covid had an impact in delaying the festival by two years as it was due to be held in 2020. A spokesperson for Clanna Mileadha explains, “The groups are coming together to celebrate their unique individuality. Each country is showcasing their culture through the medium of music and dance. Throughout the week …