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A CLARE school is one of five nationwide that has achieved Yellow Flag status at a ceremony to mark their efforts in tackling racism and promoting inclusion of all cultures, ethnicities and religions. Holy Family Junior School, Ennis was awarded the flag along with schools – two primary and three post primary – from Dublin and Kerry at an online event hosted by RTE Presenter and author of The Same but Different, Emer O’Neill. Speaking at the ceremony teacher Miriam Lowe of Holy Family Junior School, Ennis said; ”The Yellow Flag Programme provides Holy Family Junior School with a flexible framework through which to showcase the rich diversity within our school and to capture and celebrate the inclusion this diversity enables.” To be awarded schools must complete eight steps of the intercultural Programme which aims to improve educational outcomes for all children through a learning environment where diversity is valued and celebrated. Part of their efforts must include establishing a …

ARCHAEOLOGICAL testing is to be carried out ahead of the creation of a new community recreation park in Clarecastle in an area deemed to have “high archaeological potential”. Planning permission has been granted by Clare County Council to Clarecastle Community Amenity Ltd for the development of the park which includes an all-weather multi-purpose playing pitch and walking track. Due to the proximity of the site to recorded monuments mitigation measures have been put forward to ensure the preservation of features of archaeological interest. The community group’s original plans were adjusted including altering the location of the pitch to avoid any direct impact on the recorded monuments in the area. There are two recorded monuments within the bounds of the site itself, levelled earthworks which are likely to be early medieval ring-forts. An intact ring-fort is also located immediately adjacent to the site. Permission for the development was granted subject to a number of conditions of planning including the engagement of …

A GARDA operation in Ennis recently saw €6,000 of suspected drugs seized. On Monday, February 28 at 4pm, the Divisional Drugs Unit conducted a search under warrant at a house in Ennis. During the course of this search €6,000 worth of suspected Cannabis Herb was seized. A male in his late 20s was arrested at the scene and detained at Ennis Garda Station. The suspect has since been released from custody and a file is now being prepared for submission to the DPP. All the suspected controlled substances have been forwarded to Forensic Science Ireland for analysis. This seizure forms part of Operation Tara which is an enhanced national anti-drugs strategy. The focus of Operation Tara is to disrupt, dismantle and prosecute drug trafficking networks, at all levels – international, national, local – involved in the importation, distribution, cultivation, production, local sale and supply of controlled drugs.

DERELICTION in Clare towns needs a tougher approach, including the use of compulsory sales orders, according to Deputy Michael McNamara.  The Independent TD told the Dáil that such orders were successful in other countries. “It is done in Scotland and if it is good enough for that country, it might be worth considering in Scariff,” he said. Deputy McNamara was speaking during a special session the the Town Centre First Policy, unveiled last month by the Department of Housing. The document outlines a number of actions to tackle dereliction including the appointment of Town Regeneration Officers, investment, training for town teams, as well as local plans and national oversight.  Deputy McNamara said that he welcomed the plan, but had concerns about omissions, as well as the “political will” of some local authorities to tackle dereliction.  “To discuss what is in the plan, one of the main actions is that a town regeneration officer will be appointed to each local authority,” …

AN ENNIS Track runner is among 19 athletes that will represent Ireland at the World Indoor Championships next week. Cathal Crosbie is part of the squad named by Athletics Ireland for the Championships taking place from March 18 to 20 in Belgrade, Serbia. The Clare man takes his place alongside Chris O’Donnell, Brian Gregan, Robert McDonnell, Cillin Greeneawdsley and Mark English Molly Scott (St. Laurence O’Toole’s AC) is set take the World Indoor Championships by storm after her incredible record breaking 60m performance at the Irish Life Health National Senior Indoor Championships in February, retaking the Irish Record with a time of 7.19. Phil Healy (Bandon AC) has been a strong feature of the Irish indoor season, after winning the Irish life Health National Senior Indoor Championships Healy went on to set a new 400m PB, 51.66, at the World Indoor Tour in Madrid last week (2nd March). Mark English (Finn Valley AC) takes to the 800m and the Men’s …

THE referral rate of additional needs children to the Clare Children’s Disability Network Team (CDNT) has soared on average by 18% year on year, over the past four years, shocking new figures have revealed. The Mid-West Community Healthcare has acknowledged the introduction of Covid-19 related public health guidelines in March 2020 has also had a significant impact on the waiting times for all services and supports with Clare CDNT, given that services were paused in the most part for several months. This has particularly affected the waiting times for Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) assessments. In total, 92 Clare children are waiting on average 9.3 months for an initial contact with the CDNT; 80 are waiting for an (Individual Family Support Plan) following initial contact; 2,190 specified needs have been identified for families to help achieve identified goals, such as training programme on toilet training and provision of equipment, provision of resources, while 138 children are waiting for an ASD assessment. …

BUNRATTY Castle & Folk Park will be open full time next month, Minister of State Hildegarde Naughton has told the Dáil. The Galway TD was responding to questions from Deputy Cathal Crowe about the fate of Shannon Heritage sites. “I understand that Bunratty Castle and King John’s Castle are currently open on a four-day-week basis until March 2022. “I am pleased to advise the Deputy that it is envisaged that those sites will reopen fully in April. “I am also happy to report that, as the public health restrictions put in place due to Covid were eased in the second half of 2021, visitor numbers to Shannon Heritage sites have increased. “With the removal of all the restrictions and the return of transatlantic flights into Shannon Airport this month, I am confident that visitor numbers to the sites will continue to grow.” Minister Naughton also relayed the fact that the OPW has agreed to re-engage on its maintenance responsibilities and …

MAKING Ennistymon more pedestrian-friendly while also providing more parking for coaches and cars is one of the issues being tackled by a town enhancement strategy, writes Dan Danaher. Ennistymon Town Team and Helena McElmeel Architects are preparing an Enhancement Strategy for the town centre in partnership with Clare County Council and Clare Local Development Agency. Three out of every four people surveyed for the new strategy drive in and out of the town, according to the results of a survey released from public consultation conducted last year. One of the objectives of the Ennistymon Enhancement Strategy (EES) is to make the town more pedestrian friendly, with the proposed provision of a new pedestrian crossing on the old bridge and attractive walking routes such as a river side board walk. The North Clare town will benefit from major infrastructural developments over the coming years, with the development of a new €25 million post-primary school, and €16 million for the Inner Relief …