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WITH road deaths nationwide in 2022 up almost 50% on the same period in 2021 a special safety appeal has been launched ahead of the Easter Bank Holiday weekend. The Road Safety Authority and An Garda Síochána launched the appeal in light of the worrying increase in fatalities on the roads – 50 so far this year. The campaign appeals to all road users to slow down, wear seatbelts, not to drive when impaired, or distracted – particularly by illegally using your phone while driving – or when tired. While the RSA and An Garda Síochána have issued a general appeal for road users to take greater care on the road this Easter Bank Holiday there will also be focus on drug driving. An Garda Síochána figures for the full year 2021 saw over 3,300 arrests for Drug-Driving. The number of arrests in 2022, up to 31 March, is 768. Analysis by the Medical Bureau of Road Safety (MBRS) shows …

A delegation of key members of the New Jersey Senate and General Assembly led by Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlan travelled to Clare last weekend for a visit aimed at strengthening ties between the US and Irish regions. The legislators are members of the New Jersey American Irish State Legislators Caucus (AISLC), a bipartisan network of American Irish legislators and legislators who are friends of Ireland at the state and local level of government. There is now an American Irish State Legislators Caucus in every state in the US. The New Jersey delegation visited the Cliffs of Moher, where they were welcomed to Clare by the Cathaoirleach of Clare County Council, Cllr PJ Ryan, and Council Chief Executive Pat Dowling. The trip also included visits to Shannon Airport and Bunratty Castle. Speaking at the Cliffs of Moher, Cllr Ryan said: “I am delighted to welcome the members of the New Jersey AISLC to County Clare today. The visit gives us the …

VISITING on inpatient wards in University Hospital Limerick has been reinstated from this Wednesday morning, April 13. Scheduled visiting slots for one visitor per patient are now permitted, but in line with national guidance on infection prevention, visits must be booked through an online system on this link Visiting restrictions remain in place for the Emergency Department, Acute Surgical Assessment Unit, and Acute Medical Assessment Unit. A spokesperson said UL Hospitals Group “was glad to bring to an end this period of restriction of access, which had been in place during a surge in community transmission of COVID-19”. Visiting hours at UHL are from 2pm to 4pm and 6pm to 9pm every day, and ward staff will assist with any queries about the booking system. Visitors will have to wear a face mask, which are available at the hospital entrance, and observe hand hygiene. Anyone who is feeling unwell is asked not to visit the hospital. The only exceptions to …

DUBLIN Airport acted as a predator feasting on Shannon, but is now seeing the results of its own greed, Fianna Fáil’s Timmy Dooley has claimed in the Senate. Senator Dooley referenced a Tweet from the Dublin Airport Authority Twitter account effectively telling customers that if they are travelling at peak times they should expect delays of approximately three and a half hours. “An addendum advised that if people happened to be bringing a car, they should add another half an hour. For the premier airport in the State to find itself in that situation is appalling, and there is a reason for it finding itself there. “It has engaged in predatory practices in attracting airlines and passengers to dominate the entire sector. Airports such as Shannon have been left to wither on the vine,” he said. The East Clare based senator added, “There was massive growth in passenger traffic prior to 2019. Dublin got the bulk of it and Cork, …

BALLADEER George Murphy clearly remembers his first encounter with the voice of the legendary Luke Kelly, and the impact that those richly textured tones had on him. “I was learning the poem ‘Raglan Road’ in school and my dad told me that it had been sung as a ballad by Luke Kelly,” he recalled. “I was nine years of age and from that moment, I was hooked. Luke’s voice is simply unmistakeable.” Less than a decade later, George wowed television audiences, as well as the judging panel of Phil Coulter, Louis Walsh and Linda Martin, when he performed ‘Raglan Road’ on talent show You’re a Star on RTÉ. To-date, George has four studio albums to his credit: Dreamed A Dream (Sony), So The Story Goes, The Ballad of Archie Thompson, and 2016’s Shadowman: The Stable Sessions.  He also has a touring track-record George with The High Kings, filling the vacancy left by the departure of Martin Furey. In 2018 when he decided to tour his solo show, …

ONE of Clare’s most famous tourist attractions is to reopen this Friday following a €1 million upgrade and rebrand. The Aillwee Burren Experience, formerly known as Aillwee Cave and Birds of Prey Centre, will welcome back visitors on April 15, following extensive renovation works. The rebrand has sought to refine the facility’s unique offering, which as well as the famous caves and well-known bird attraction, also includes a farm shop selling its own award-winning cheese. Nuala Mulqueeney, Managing Director of Aillwee Burren Experience explained, “Our visitors will now be able to enjoy the reinvigorated experience from the newly installed cave lighting system to the spectacular birds of prey collection. “The Farm Shop here at Aillwee really is our hidden gem where you can see the award-winning Burren Gold Cheese being made using traditional farmhouse methods. We are really proud of the outcome of this renovation, and we can’t wait to welcome visitors back.” Speaking at the relaunch Aoibhín Garrihy said, …

A judge has described the circumstances in which a west Clare farmer lost his life in a farm accident as ‘horrific’. At Kilrush District Court, Judge Mary Larkin made her comment after hearing an outline of the State case concerning Damien Carmody’s death at Doonaha, Kilkee on January 22 2021. One of the two men being prosecuted concerning alleged Health and Safety breaches arising from the farm accident is farmer, John Roche of Doonaha Kilkee. Judge Larkin commented: “These are all horrific circumstances. This was a man who was his neighbour and his friend.” Mr Carmody had only got married to wife, Elaine 12 months prior to the fatal incident. In court on Tuesday, State Solicitor for Clare, Aisling Casey said that the case against Mr Roche’s co-accused, Christopher Keane of Bella, Kilkee, is to be heard in the circuit court and a Book of Evidence is to be prepared for service in June. After hearing an outline of the …

FEARS have been expressed the proposed water abstraction of more than 330 million litres of water from Lough Derg to Dublin could result in devastating impact for tourism-related business in East Clare. Speaking at a recent council briefing by Irish Water officials, Councillor Tony O’Brien asked if the proposed water abstraction project is a “done deal” or is it still in abeyance. Describing the River Shannon as the greatest natural resource in East Clare, he warned if Irish Water’s projections and forecasts are wrong, then the impact will be devastating and could “close the place down”. Commenting on the drought situation in Lough Derg in 2018, he said harbours and inlets couldn’t be accessed for tourism purposes for boat hire. “I dread to think if water abstraction was in place that time what the consequences would be. I am hugely concerned and so are my constituents. “Nothing will convince me that abstracting water from the River Shannon south of Killaloe …