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THE decision by Government to extend the 9% VAT rate for the hospitality sector is a positive boost for businesses coming into the summer season, according to Fine Gael Senator Martin Conway. Senator Martin Conway has also called on Government to examine the possibility of making the 9% VAT rate permanent to help the tourism and hospitality sector, particularly after the challenges brought by the pandemic. Senator Conway said, “The decision by Cabinet will help businesses in the hospitality sector which have started to recover following two years of upheaval caused by Covid, and now against the backdrop of a devastating war in Europe. “I know that my colleague, Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe, is committed to supporting businesses and to growing our economy, and I thank him for the measure he announced today. “Some tourism and hospitality businesses are encountering massive challenges with staff shortages as they try to prepare ahead for the busy summer period and retrain new staff …

YOUNG people from West Clare have created unique visual statements through the “My Own Brand” project facilitated by artist Ruth Wood and the Clare Youth Service. “It’s a privilege to be able to work in the community, with a diverse range of people to explore and communicate their unique visual expression,” said Ruth. “So I was delighted to be asked by Clare Youth Service to work with local young people here in West Clare.” This led to a small group from the Kilrush Youth Diversion Project and Kilrush Youth Project working with Ruth and supported by Youth Justice Worker Adriona Meere. The project gave the young people the opportunity to explore colour and how it can be used to visualise emotions as well as an opportunity to engage in mindfulness through creative engagement. In designing the creative workshops, ‘meeting young people where they are at’ was a key starting point for Ruth and Adriona. Ruth utilised a variety of artistic …

MORE than €1,000 worth of suspected drugs have been seized by gardaí in recent days as part of Operation Tara. Shortly before 1.30pm on Thursday, May 12 detectives attached to the Divisional Drugs Unit conducted a search under warrant at a house in the Clarecastle area. During the course of this search in excess of €1,000 worth of suspected cocaine, and a quantity of cannabis herb was seized. A male and female both in their early thirties were arrested at the scene and detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984 at Ennis Garda Station. Both have since been released from custody and a file is now being prepared for submission to the DPP. This seizure forms part of Operation Tara an enhanced national anti-drugs strategy, which was launched by Garda Commissioner Drew Harris on July 2, 2021. The focus of Operation Tara is to disrupt, dismantle and prosecute drug trafficking networks, at all levels, international, national, local, …

LIAM Alford retained his WKA world light welterweight title in Wexford on Saturday night, knocking out French challenger Julien Letellier early on. On Monday Liam said he was “over the moon” with the result, which keeps the door open for a possible future defence in his home town. He said it had been an early knockout, although he hadn’t planned to exert much pressure in the early stages. “It was one minute and fifty seconds of the first round. We didn’t know too much about him, so the plan was to go out, suss him out for the first round, see what he’s got. Then start to capitalise and land some shots. “But I went out in the first round and I could see the opportunity and I was thinking why would I wait? If I feel I can catch him in the first round and get him out of there I may as well! “The plan for the first …

AN OUTDOOR pavilion planned for Mountshannon has hit a further hitch, with permission for the development being appealed to An Bord Pleanála. Earlier this year, Mountshannon Community Council, which is spearheading the project, secured a funding award of €54,860 from The Department of Rural and Community Development. The facility, to be located at Aistear Park, was given planning permission by Clare County Council at the start of last month. Now, a third-party appeal has been lodged by four residents of the town’s Main Street. The hitch means it will be several months before the future of the project is known. The appeal, which was lodged on April 27, has been made by two couples who had objected to the development when it originally came before the Council. In their correspondence with An Bord Pleanála, the appellants have outlined seven grounds for their opposition to the development. In the first instance, the appellants express the opinion that the planning application should …

THE first North West Clare agricultural show in three years is going to take place on Sunday, June 5, on the grounds of the Falls Hotel in Ennistymon. PRO Kieran Houlihan said that while missing two years of the show was disappointing, it was necessary. “We were disappointed, but we were more than happy to go along with the guide lines that were in place. A lot of our committee members would be middle aged or older and their safety was a priority. Like all organisations we were curtailed but it was for the benefit of all.” Some things are different after the pandemic and he feels there may be more entries in some of the classes. “We’re hoping to see a large turnout in home produce classes. A lot of people took on lockdown projects and got interested in gardening and fowl and that kind of thing, so we’re hoping there will be an increase in those classes. “Maybe …

A MAN has been struck twice by passing cars on a stretch of local road which sees motorists engage in “games of cat and mouse” prompting calls by Ennis councillors for the introduction of a temporary reduced speed limit. Increasing volumes of traffic on the narrow local road at Kilbricken that runs from Ballaghboy cross/Quin road to the N85 Dual Carriageway has resulted in “a nightmare” for those living in the area, a meeting of local councillors has heard. Speaking at a meeting of the Ennis Municipal District, deputy mayor Councillor Paul Murphy outlined that growing numbers of traffic “has resulted in increased traffic jams/snarls, incidences of verbal altercations between motorists and games of cat and mouse as to which driver can beat the oncoming car to the next passing point.” He continued, “Residents living on the road have to endure this on a daily basis and have made me aware that a local man has been struck by a …

“MORE boots on the ground” are being sought to support Ukrainian refugees and the communities welcoming them to Clare.  The appeal came from Councillor Joe Garrihy, who said he is “immensely proud” of the response of communities in Clare. The Lisdoonvarna man, who has been helping to spearhead relief efforts in North Clare, made his call in response to an update from Chief Executive Pat Dowling.  “We have gone from a national high of 750 to between 100 and 150 per day,”” Mr Dowling said. “Most definitely, the numbers have softened somewhat.” In response to an update request from Mary Howard, Mr Dowling said that there are an estimated 2,200 Ukrainian nationals now in Clare. “We had some additional arrivals over the weekend,” he said. “These were small enough numbers. Those that were accommodation in Quin Road have been now relocated to Rowan Tree building, The Abbey Hostel. That Quin Road emergency facility remains available and we have another facility …