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MOTORISTS have been locked in a ‘stalemate’ with other drivers due to a lack of pull-ins on a narrow road leading to a Clare cemetery. A meeting of the Ennis Municipal District heard calls for the pull-ins to be put in place on the road from Templemaley graveyard to the bottom of Templemaley Hill. Proposing the action, Councillor Pat Daly outlined that the route is very narrow and is popular with walkers. “Pull-ins are definitely required, people have to reverse back and it’s just not good enough in this day and age.” Barry Conway, senior executive engineer, told the meeting, “The L-4146-4 at Templemaley is a narrow road bounded on either side by stone walls. “The addition of pull ins would be most practical in the vicinity of existing gateways or field entrances and would require the cooperation of landowners. Ennis Municipal District will examine the location to identify if suitable locations exist and if so, engage with landowners to …

AN experienced former member of the Doolin Coast Unit has secured a High Court settlement following proceedings initiated a few years ago against the Minister for Transport and the Irish Coast Guard, writes Dan Danaher. Davy Spillane, who was an advanced coxswain with 20 years’ experience with the Doolin Coast Guard, said he can’t comment on the settlement figure. The case arose after the tragic death of Spillane’s Doolin Coast Guard colleague and friend Caitriona Lucas in September 2016. Welcoming the settlement, Irish Coast Guard Volunteers’ Representative Association (ICGVRA) spokesman, Jim Griffin said the result was a vindication of the case taken by Mr Spillane. The group has sought a meeting with the Minister for Transport and has lobbied a number of Senator and Dáil deputies to address the Oireachtas Transport Committee shortly. Mr Griffin said the group wanted to get the opportunity to highlight serious issues involving the National Coast Guard, which has impacted on members throughout the country. …

National Hurling League Division 1 Round 4 Clare 0-18 Limerick 0-18 THE spoils may have been shared but in many ways it seemed as good as a victory for Clare who simply needed to draw a line in the sand against their Shannonside neighbours, reports Eoin Brennan. Ahead of their Munster Championship showdown in two months time back in Cusack Park, a healthy crowd of 10,016 came in anticipation of a real derby battle and they wouldn’t be disappointed even if the intensity levels weren’t always conducive to free-scoring feats. Still, while the result could have gone either way, the mere fact that Clare left Cusack Park feeling as if they left a golden opportunity behind them will only aid their motivation for the ultimate mid-May rematch. After all, with Clare having suffered a nine point reverse to the back-to-back All-Ireland champions six weeks earlier in the Munster Cup Final, Limerick arrived in Ennis with an even stronger side including …

THERE was great joy and pride in the parish of Tulla on Sunday morning last as the community  welcomed home Bishop Ger Nash for his first official visit to his native parish since being appointed as Bishop of Ferns last year.  The Glandree native was ordained last September at St Aidan’s Cathedral in Enniscorthy, but Covid restrictions meant many friends and neighbours were unable to attend. The homecoming provided a welcome opportunity for catching up, good wishes and congratulations. Bishop Ger was the main celebrant at the Sunday morning mass in Saint Peter and Paul’s Church in Tulla. The celebration was attended by a a large cross section of the community, including former classmates from Drumcharley and Tulla National Schools as well as from Saint Joseph’s Secondary School, where the Bishop Ger received his early education. The Harty Cup, so recently won by his Alma Mater, had a special place in the sanctuary. Also present were a group of the …

A BOYCOTT of Russian goods in response to the invasion of Ukraine has been called for by Ennis councillors, who have also urged the people of Clare to support local efforts to provide relief for the war-stricken country. Councillor Clare Colleran Molloy, speaking at the monthly meeting of the Ennis Municipal District, urged that retailers who are stocking products made in Russia withdraw them from shelves as she described President Vladimir Putin as a “modern day Hitler”. She said that the people of Ireland are “repulsed” by recent events in Ukraine. She acknowledged, “This is not the Russian people, they are in the dark, this is being done by a megalomaniac who is detached from reality. He doesn’t care about Russian soldiers in Ukraine who thought they were going in on exercises. This is an appalling betrayal of his own people. But this shouldn’t deter us from boycotting Russia economically.” Mayor of Ennis, Councillor Ann Norton praised the people of …

SINN Féin councillor Donna McGettigan has said that the rancorous departure of Violet Anne Wynne from the party is unfortunate, while she says she herself has not considered a future Dáil bid. On Tuesday, she said efforts had been made to deal with all issues raised by the woman who caused a major upset by taking a seat in the 2020 general election. “Any issue that we were made aware of, we tried locally and nationally to resolve them. It’s just very unfortunate that they couldn’t be resolved and Violet Anne felt she had to leave the party. “I’m not going to get into the tit for tat, the he said she said, because it’s not going to help her and it’s not going to help us either. Unfortunately she’s gone, the seat is gone and what we’re going to do going forward is hit the ground running. “On our social media you’d have seen we’ve been out, we’ve delivered …

MOUNTSHANNON is celebrating an award of more than €50,000 from The Town and Village Renewal Fund. Within days of lodging plans for an outdoor pavilion at Aistear Park, Mountshannon Community Council received positive news and a sum of €54,860 after a detailed application for government funding.  In a statement, the Community Council said: Thanks to Minister Heather Humphreys of the  Department of Rural and Community Development. “Thanks to Clare County Council and especially Seamus Murrihy, Killaloe Municipal Community Development Officer who has supported Mountshannon Community Council through this whole process. Congratulations to all the communities and hardworking committees who have been successful. Best of luck to all!” Noting the funding allocation, Deputy Cathal Crowe said the plan was a model for other communities looking to develop similar recreational amenities. “Importantly, this will be made using sustainable, low-maintenance materials so it will be environmentally friendly and an example to other communities looking to do similar,” he said.  Making the funding announcement …

URGENT action to control the deer population, which is said to have “exploded” in areas like East Clare, is being sought, writes Fiona McGarry. Two farming organisations have appealed to the Department of Agriculture to reinstate a national forum to manage the population, as concerns intensify about links between bovine TB and uncontrolled numbers of certain deer species. The Deputy President of ICMSA has told the joint Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture that the presence and prevalence of Bovine TB after “70 years and counting” of continuous TB Eradication Programmes was a damning indictment of official oversight and efforts. Lorcan McCabe said that far from moving forward at an appropriate rate, the latest eradication programme seemed condemned to repeat the mistakes and inaction that had given us several decades of missed opportunities and often ruinous expense for farmers. Mr McCabe noted that ICMSA alone had attended 30 meetings on TB strategy in just the past year. He said that farmers “desperately” …