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THE developers behind a proposed gated community for older people in the heart of Ennis’ town centre have scaled back their initial plans after concerns were raised by the local authority. According to documents lodged with the planning authority, if given the go-ahead the units on Upper O’Connell Street will be managed by D Madigan Properties Ltd and discussions have been held with both the Peter McVerry Group and Cluid Housing about their long-term lease. A planning application lodged by Alan Cummins Ltd had originally sought to construct a two-storey building incorporating six one-bedroom apartments, and a single storey building incorporating six storage sheds to be used in conjunction with the apartments at Upper O’Connell Street. However, these plans have now been reduced to a proposed one-storey building with three one-bed apartments. This comes after Clare County Council sought further information from the developers after highlighting “serious concerns” in relation to the proposed development’s design and its relationship with the …

A SOUTH Galway survivor of coercive control has called on the Justice Minister to change the law on protection and barring orders to safeguard people who have suffered abuse, writes Dan Danaher. Sourney Linnane believes a barring order should be attached to any person who has suffered abuse and should not be tied to a particular address. The mother-of-three previously got a barring order prohibiting her former partner Kilrush man, Martin Mulqueen from visiting her at Bawn Street, Roscommon. This order, however, is non-transferable and she feels it is now effectively useless, having moved to another part of the West of Ireland. Martin Mulqueen (53), Ballynote, Kilrush, but with an address in Bawn Street, Strokestown, Co Roscommon, was the third person to be jailed for coercive control in Ireland. In March 2021, Mulqueen received a combined sentence of 54 months, with the final 20 months suspended for four years. The sentence was backdated to the time he went into custody. …

Munster Hurling Cup Final Limerick 0-27 Clare 0-18 FIRST blood to Limerick following a commanding derby victory over hosts Clare to cement the Munster Hurling Cup honours on Sunday afternoon, writes Eoin Brennan. A first Shannonside derby meeting since 2020, the neighbours are scheduled for two more 2022 clashes in Cusack Park over the next four months, with Limerick, backed by only seven of the twenty players that lined out in last August’s All-Ireland Final, seizing control from an early stage and never loosening their grip thereafter. With almost 50 shots at the posts including a whopping 19 wides, the back-to-back All-Ireland champions remain the side to beat in the country, with a timely barometer given to home side Clare of the standard of physicality, movement and passing required at the top table. That said, Clare had only six survivors themselves from the team that started against Cork in the All-Ireland Qualifiers last July but while Mark Rodgers was Clare’s …

A man has died after he was swept out to sea while walking along the shoreline in West Clare this afternoon, reports Pat Flynn. A major search and rescue operation was mounted after the alarm was raised at around 2.15pm. Watch officers at the Irish Coast Guard’s marine rescue sub centre on Valentia Island in Kerry launched and coordinated a multi-agency search and rescue operation in an area north of Kilkee. The Kilkee unit of the Irish Coast Guard; the Shannon-based Coast Guard helicopter – Rescue 115 – the Aran Islands RNLI lifeboat; National Ambulance Service and Gardaí were requested to respond. The exact details of the circumstances surrounding the tragedy are not yet known however, it’s understood that the man in his 30s had been out walking on the shoreline near Farrihy Bay north of Kilkee when he lost his footing and and fell into the sea. Emergency services responded to the area by land, air and sea and …

LOCAL Councillors gave their backing to the Shannon Town Masterplan at a meeting this week. The masterplan has provoked a lot of local discussion in recent months, and was the subject of many submissions from the public after the initial draft became public. At Tuesday’s meeting director of services Liam Conneally said that there are two aspects to delivering the plan, one being statutory and one related to funding. He said that the plan will yet have to be incorporated into a review of the County Development Plan. Regarding funding, he said that Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage ahd rejected an application for URDF funding for the Venue development, due to concerns about the location and with making a significant State investment without the masterplan being completed. “The Masterplan is now nearing completion and a new funding application will be made to the Department in 2022,” he added. He said that the Department are anxious that an application …

THE notorious Brennan’s Cross in Meelick is an “accident waiting to happen”, a local Dáil Deputy has claimed. Deputy Joe Carey has called on Clare County Council to realign Brennan’s Cross in the interest of road safety as well as providing public lighting, footpaths and infrastructure from the Knockalisheen Centre back into Meelick. The Fine Gael Deputy has made representations to the council for road improvement works in Meelick following a recent visit to the area with Councillor John Crowe. Several residents had been in touch with Deputy Carey in relation to the dangers posed to pedestrians, cyclist and motorist using both Brennan’s Cross and the Knockalisheen Road. Deputy Carey warned these issues will be exacerbated when the new road linking Coonagh to the Knockalisheen Road, which is currently under construction as part of Phase One of the Limerick Northern Distributor Road, is open to traffic. “It’s my understanding that a section of the Knockalisheen Road is planned to close …

A SCARIFF photographer is hoping to have a second video shown on RTÉ television, as part of The People’s Angelus. James Treacy, from Moynoe, has been filming with his co-producer, Martin Ryan, of the Limerick College of Further Education (LCFE) for a number of months and the final product is being edited. The short film features farmer John Beston baling silage and cutting hay in the late summer, then using it to fodder his animals in the winter months. The piece was chosen because it fits the meditative and reflective tone of The People’s Angelus. “We have been shooting this video since last July 2021 and we now have to put the jigsaw puzzle together,” Mr Treacy said. Previously, the duo made a short film at Kilmallock Mart in County Limerick to reflect the rhythm of farming life and the role of the mart. That piece will be aired again on RTÉ One at 6pm on Friday, January 28, under …

GAA manager Davy Fitzgerald is making a second series of Davy’s Toughest Team with Animo TV for RTÉ in 2022, and applications are now open for those who want to take the challenge. In series one, Davy met a group of young men aged 18 – 22, who found themselves at the crossroads of an uncertain future. Many of the group had battled with issues such as crime, unemployment, addiction and mental health. Over the course of a number of months, Davy guided and mentored the group as they tackled their issues and trained for an intense physical challenge – climbing Carrauntoohil. The seven young men who took part in the first series have since spoken publicly about the lasting impact the programme has had on their lives. Animo TV and RTÉ are now making a second series of ‘Davy’s Toughest Team’ and are currently looking for a diverse new group of 18 – 22-year-old men to take part. Davy …