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A VISION by Burren Lowlands to reimagine the Gort Market Square, was recently realised with the completion of the enhancement works on this much-loved public space.  Burren Lowlands CLG is a volunteer-led community development group whose mission is to make the region a better place to work, live and visit. The Market Square has always been central to the life of Gort town and surrounding communities. The Weigh House located here is a testament to the busy market days of the past, and a Friday market is still held in the Square.   Local architect, Brent Mostert, was responsible for the design. The fact that his office was once located above the Square inspired the design, as he looked upon the comings and goings around the space daily. The primary idea was to create a more open space to allow interaction between the Christ the King monument and people. After some initial fundraising by Burren Lowlands CLG, Town and Village …

THE Barefield National School Choir has been named as a finalist in a national Christmas carol competition. The primary school is among 11 finalists in the Audiology Medical Services Online Christmas Carol Competition, and needs votes from the public to win. There is a prize of €2,000 cash for the winning school. A spokesperson for the competition explained, “Having a hearing loss can be challenging at any time of the year, but none more so than during the Christmas season. “The aim of this competition is to raise awareness among young people on the importance of hearing, and how important the sounds of Christmas are to us all, such as Christmas Carols.” To cast your vote for Barefield NS check https://bit.ly/31Ba7Fe and voting closes Sunday, December 19.

TWO people have been taken to hospital following a multi-vehicle collision in Clare in which one of the cars is believed to have become airborne. The incident occurred at around 6.30pm on Tuesday evening on the main N67 Kilrush to Kilkee road in the west of the county. It’s understood that five vehicles in total were involved in the collision which happened between Leadmore and Carnanes. Units of Clare County Fire and Rescue Service from Kilrush and Kilkee stations responded to the scene along with Gardai and several National Ambulance Service resources. It’s believed that one car became airborne in the incident and landed on its roof. The occupants of the all the vehicles were assessed at the scene by ambulance paramedics while two people were later transported to University Hospital Limerick for further treatment. Neither is said to have been seriously injured. Gardaí from Kilrush are investigating the circumstances of the incident. Meanwhile, a woman had a lucky escape …

THE Government has announced the allocation of another €10.1 million in funding for Shannon Airport. Shannon is to get €5.527 million under the Covid-19 Regional State Airports Programm 2021, while it is also to receive €4.574 million under the Covid-19 Supplementary Support Scheme. According to figures from the Department of Transport, in 2021 Shannon will receive a total of€23.6 million this year, as it continues to grapple with massive drops in traffic due to the pandemic. They also show that €160 million will be the combined sum given by the State to airports this year, with the majority, €97.2 million, going to Dublin. Cork will get €25.1 million while Shannon receives €23.6 million, with Knock, Kerry and Donegal getting much smaller sums. Minister of State at the Department of Transport Hildegarde Naughton said, “Building on my announcement of allocations totalling €23m under the Supplementary Supports Scheme to Irish Airports in July, I am delighted to announce a further considerable allocation of …

Ennis woman who lost her sight in her 30s appeals for understanding from public for people with disabilities AN Ennis woman who has experienced sight loss has appealed for greater understanding among the general public for people with disabilities. While Clare Cassidy (46) was born fully sighted, her life changed dramatically in January 2009 when she contracted a rare eye condition that left her vision impaired. Her appeal for greater understanding comes after the National Council for the Blind Ireland (NCBI) launched a public information campaign highlighting five things on behalf of people who are blind or vision-impaired. In view of different eye diseases, the NCBI outlined there are varying degrees of visual impairment and blindness; some individuals use white canes to help them navigate, others use guide dogs and others rely on their remaining vision. Because having a vision impairment varies so much, vision can be affected by how sunny or cloudy it is outside. Other times it depends …

A LANDMARK scheme to regularise long-term undocumented migrants will transform the lives of many individuals and families living in Clare and all over Ireland, according to the Clare Immigrant Support Centre. The centre have welcomed the announcement of the scheme which will launch early in  2022 and be open for six months. The scheme proposes to regularise the immigration statuses of individuals with dependent children after three years of being undocumented in the State and individuals living in Ireland undocumented for at least four years by the time the scheme opens in 2022. Successful applicants will have the right to live, work engage in education and will also have a pathway to becoming Irish citizens. The scheme will also be open to individuals who have been in the international protection process for two years or more. According to Orla Ní Eilí from Clare Immigrant Support Centre this will be of great benefit to  reducing the large backlog of asylum seekers living …

HISTORIC church ruins at Clonrush, Whitegate, have been conserved thanks to an initiative between the local community, the council and the National Monuments Service. A socially distanced review of the works was facilitated in recent weeks between members of Whitegate Community Council and the local authority, at the 12th century monastic complex which is dedicated to St Colmán. Restoration works were carried out to safeguard the historic church ruins, which were at risk of collapse and had deteriorated in recent years. The main focus of the conservation works was the ruins of the stone church, but the site also contains many interesting remnants of its ecclesiastical past, including the monks’ house (Tig na mBráthar), original arched entrance gate and a little, stone-roofed oratory known as Poll Cholmáin (St Colmán’s Cave). The churchyard also contains many fine examples of carved memorials and ironwork from the 18th and 19th centuries. The works on the church and the archway gate were carried out …

THE Migraine Association of Ireland is hosting a free event this Wednesday, December 15, with one of the leading global specialists in strategies for coping with pain. The online event which takes place between 5 and 6pm will be addressed by Dr. Ian Weinberg, practicing Neurosurgeon at Linksfield Clinic and Triangles Method Applications, in Johannesburg, South Africa. Dr Weinberg has unique insight into pain and how it works within the body. He has developed strategies himself to cope with pain and in 1992 he pioneered the application of psychoneuro-immunology (PNI – the scientific study of the influences of mind states on immune function) into the clinical environment. The event has been subsidised through the HSE National Lottery Office CHO area 3 Clare. The scheme to support national organisations is funded by the Government of Ireland through the Department of Rural and Community Development Though the event is free, booking is necessary and a ticket can be obtained through this link …