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Breaking News

IAA approved for new security measures amid trespass concerns

THE Irish Aviation Authority has been given planning permission for the replacement of boundary/perimeter fences at two of its buildings on Woodcock Hill with new 2.4metre high, pallisade fences. A letter which accompanied its two planning applications stated, “Having reviewed the option of replacing the existing fence with an identical type, our Safety and Security people have recommended that the existing fence be replaced with a more secure type fence to prevent the risk of unauthorised entry to the site with the possibility of injury to the trespassers and damage to the critical air navigational aids, which, if damaged, will affect operations in Irish airspace. “The specialist equipment located on site is not easily repaired or replaced in a hurry. “In order to prevent this happening, we are proposing to remove the existing fence and gate and replace it with a green plastic coated 2,400mm high palisade fence and gate.” It said that this would allow it to meet it …

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Steep rise in number of intoxicated drivers on Clare roads

CLARE’S most senior garda has expressed concern about a “significant” increase in the number of people caught driving while intoxicated, writes Fiona McGarry. Chief Superintendent Seán Colleran highlighted a 27% increase in Driving Under the Influence (CUI) incidents between last November and January, when compared to the same period in 2020/21. Addressing the Joint Policing Committee (JPC) meeting last week, the chief was critical of drivers who are willing to take risks with their lives and those of others. In terms of the numbers of people detected driving while intoxicated, Chief Superintendent Colleran said: “It’s up to 38 for this three-month period, as opposed to 30 for the previous three months. “As much as we talk about driver behaviour, and messages getting through, it points to the fact there are still people out there that take risks, and they take risks with other people’s lives because of the offences they commit.” In respect of road traffic collisions, he said this …

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Doonbeg festival to shine as it celebrates diamond anniversary

The West Clare Drama Festival in Doonbeg will be celebrating its 60th anniversary this March with plans to mark the milestone, writes Conor Clohessy. Commenting at the recent AGM, Chairperson John Keane said: “We are delighted to have reached our Diamond Jubilee. This is a significant milestone which has been achieved and maintained through the hard work and commitment of committees passing the mantle of keeping drama alive down through the years. “We are fortunate to still have three members of the original committee – Marie Shanahan, John Igoe and Murt McInerney.” Only a couple of weeks ago, a fourth original member passed away; Theresa McMahon had been the Secretary for over forty years, and Public Relations Officer Rita McInerney said that her passing will be poignant within the celebrations this year. In the middle of the festival on March 8, a dinner is planned to specifically mark the sixtieth anniversary and reward those who have worked hard in the …

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People of Clare to wave their Banner flags in solidarity with Ukraine

THE people of Clare are being urged to don their county colours in solidarity with the people of Ukraine this Wednesday. A march for Ukraine will be held at 6pm on March 2 at the Fair Green, Tim Smythe Park in Ennis. The event has been organised by concerned Irish and Polish people living locally who wanted to show their support for the people of Ukraine in the wake of Russia’s invasion. A spokesperson for the organisers told us that they are encouraging people to come along with their Clare county flags and colours as the saffron and blue is similar to the Ukraine yellow and blue flag. “This event has been organised as an opportunity for us as a community to share our solidarity and our grief with the people of Ukraine, and to call for further action to be taken to end what is happening. “People can bring a candle, and because the colours of the Ukrainian flag …

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HIQA monitors UHL but Clare TD seeks wider review

THE Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) is closely monitoring the overcrowding situation at UHL, a Clare TD has been assured. Following a request from Deputy Michael McNamara for an inquiry into the ongoing overcrowding at University Hospital Limerick, Health Minister Stephen Donnelly has written to him and said the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) are looking at the situation. In a letter to Mr McNamara the Minister said, “With regard to your suggestion of an inquiry, HIQA has advised that they are closely monitoring the overcrowding situation in a number of hospitals including at Limerick over the last number of weeks. “With respect to Limerick in particular – HIQA has also been in recent correspondence with the Hospital Group CEO to seek further information and assurances from them relating to their evaluation of the current factors influencing crowding in the emergency department. “The resultant evaluation which HIQA received is very comprehensive and strongly highlights the Hospital Group’s view …

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Sisters doing it for themselves in LA rescue skills competition

LOCAL woman Brid Casey is part of the first all-female team that will compete in the GRIMP North America competition which will be held in Los Angeles next month. It is an international rescue skills challenge and will be hosted on the Battleship Iowa. GRIMP is a competition that originated in Belgium in the mid 2000s for rescue teams to pit their skills against one another. “Some of them are fire service, some of them work in industry and come together, some of them are rescue teams from different mountains, there’s cave rescue,” explains Brid. “The competition goes over four days, there are different scenarios set, everyone competes on those and there’s a winner announced. GRIMP North America is a spin off from that. “It was on in LA in 2019 and initially they planned to have it every second year, but Covid interfered with that. This is going to be the second year of it. “Twelve teams compete, it’s …

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Taoiseach non-committal on Clare tourist site subvention

WHILE Clare County Council CEO Pat Dowling last week said that he couldn’t leave the local authority exposed by taking on the Shannon Heritage sites in Clare (including Bunratty Castle) without due diligence, the Taoiseach has said they should not hang around. A report presented to county councillors said that the Council couldn’t go ahead until a national funding package was provided to it, and in the Dáil Clare TD Cathal Crowe asked his party leader to help provide such a package. “Last June, Cabinet signed off on a proposal to transfer Shannon Heritage sites to local authorities. “Clare County Council is currently undertaking due diligence on the transfer of Bunratty Castle and Folk Park, Knappogue Castle, Craggaunowen and a retail outlet at the Cliffs of Moher. “The due diligence is extensive but it has thrown up the matter of the incredible costs involved in taking over these sites.  “The thatch is falling off the roofs in Bunratty, as I …

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US ambassador pays visit to Shannon Airport

THE new US Ambassador to Ireland who was appointed this month paid a visit to Shannon Airport on Monday. During her visit Ambassador Claire D. Cronin met with Pádraig Ó Céidigh, Chairman, Shannon Group, and Mary Considine, Shannon Group CEO and was briefed on activities at Shannon Airport and across the Shannon Campus. It was her first visit to Shannon since presenting her credentials to President Michael D Higgins earlier this month. Welcoming the Ambassador to Shannon Airport, Mary Considine, CEO, Shannon Group said; “Shannon has a proud tradition of welcoming visitors from all over the world. Statesmen and women, movie stars, celebrities and every US president since John F Kennedy have been welcomed at Shannon Airport over the years. “We were delighted to continue that tradition by welcoming the first female US Ambassador to Ireland since Jean Kennedy Smith in 1998, who was a regular visitor to Shannon. “The visit of Ambassador Cronin was timely as we look forward …

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