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WATER mains in Ennis described as “problematic” by Irish Water, are being replaced this month. Irish Water, in partnership with Clare County Council, is replacing the water mains in Tobarteascáin with the national utility saying the works will improve water quality and provide a more reliable supply. The upgrade involves the replacement of over 740m of problematic water mains with new modern pipes. The programme to replace the water mains in Tobarteascáin will commence in mid-November and is being carried out as part of Irish Water’s National Leakage Reduction Programme. The works will also involve laying new water service connections from the public water main in the road to customers’ property boundaries and connecting it to the customers’ water supply. Where the existing service connections on the public side are made from lead, these will be replaced as part of this improvement work. Outlining the benefits that the mains replacement will bring, Gerry O’Donnell from Irish Water, explained, “The upgrading …

THE “catastrophic and emotional impacts” on young disabled people who have been forced to live in nursing homes has been highlighted by Clare campaigners ahead of plans for an online event this December. Clare Leader Forum are hosting ‘Empower’, a concert with a host of special guests, aimed at raising awareness of the need for a “better future for younger people deprived of their liberty in nursing homes.” The free event, which goes live on December 3 at 7pm, will also celebrate International Day of Disabled People. Those taking part will include Anne Rynne, Shannon Sisters, Fionnathan, Ann Marie Flanagan, Paddy Mulcahy, Marie Griffin, the Donnellan Dancers and many more. Ms Flanagan of the Clare Leader Forum explains, “We will be showcasing a number of very talented artists, some disabled themselves and also some local allies. This concert will be a real show of solidarity with young people forced to stay in nursing homes. “Through no fault of their own …

FRUSTRATION has been voiced in Shannon after it emerged that Clare County Council turned down an offer from the private sector valued at €10 million to develop the so called Venue facility in the town. While it is Clare’s second largest town and is home to much of the county’s industry, there is a strong feeling in Shannon that it does not have the level of facilities it should have. Development of The Venue, which would have been a multifunctional civic and arts space in the centre of the town, was being pursued by a local non-profit group for a number of years to help redress the local facilities deficit. At a public meeting last week organised by the Love Shannon Community Council there was much frustration that the €10 million offer, from unnamed private sources, did not come to pass, apparently because the County Council would have been left with an ongoing €250,000 bill for its running. It is …

AN Ennistymon-based jewellery maker has been chosen from hundreds of crafts people nationwide to participate in a prestigious exhibition organised by the Design and Crafts Council of Ireland. Rowena Sheen is based at the Courthouse Gallery in the bustling North Clare town. She is among the highly skilled markers whose work will be on show in the National Design and Craft Gallery in Kilkenny until January 30, before the exhibition moves to Dublin and later the North of Ireland. The Made in Ireland exhibition has gathered together the largest visual and sensory feast of fresh ideas and craftsmanship and offers an insight into current activity in skilled making on a national scale. It is not only reflective of the skills of Ireland’s community of makers, but it also celebrates work by different generations of the same family, and by collaborative groups and partnerships. It also demonstrates the importance of passing on skills, of cross-pollination and innovation. Rowena takes inspiration from …

A winners-takes-all showdown for a place in the inaugural Clare U-15A Post-Primary Schools Championship Final between Gort Community School and St Flannan’s Blue commences a much-anticipated final round of group matches this evening (Tuesday) in Caherlohan at 7pm, reports Eoin Brennan. With Ardscoil Rís awaiting the victors in the Cup decider on Thursday week (December 9), it promises to be a thrilling conclusion to this new developmental initiative that has provided 30 preparatory matches for over 300 boys ahead of their provincial championships in the New Year. Limerick side Ardscoil, Rís, backed by an eleven strong Clare contingent, are the only unbeaten team remaining in the competition ahead of their final round against St Flannan’s White in Shannon on Thursday evening at 7pm. Indeed, Gort and St Flannan’s Blue’s only defeat was at the hands of the tabletoppers, with a win or draw enough for Gort to advance to the flagship final whereas the loser will contest the Shield decider. …

Clare-raised reporter for Virgin Media News Richard Chambers speaks to Owen Ryan about his book on Ireland’s response to the pandemic from the back room battles to the frontline heroes CERTAIN to be among the bestsellers this Christmas, Richard Chambers’ A State of Emergency goes through the Irish experience of Covid-19, drawing on interviews with Taoisigh and high ranking ministers, members of NPHET, front line workers and the bereaved, among others. Something of a celebrity journalist, the Virgin Media reporter spent most of his childhood in Lahinch and while Dublin-based now, is still a regular visitor to Clare. “Myself, my mother and my brother moved down from Belfast to Lahinch when I was abut four years of age. I was there up until my early teenage years. “I’ve always considered it to be my home county, you have those formative experiences, you fall in love with the GAA, there’s the sea in Lahinch, you’ve all of those early memories.” Covid-19 …

DECLINING water quality across Clare will be addressed in a new draft plan for the management of river basins, councillors have been told.  An overview of the process of creating a new plan for the period 2022 to 2027 was presented at a meeting of the council’s committee on Physical Development last week.  Community Water Officer for the South West, Ruairí Ó Conchúir outlined how views are being sought across the county which will feed into a national plan for protecting Ireland’s water bodies. Outlining the situation in this county, Mr Ó Conchúir noted that the percentage of ‘high status’ waterways here have fallen from 14% to 3% between 2013 and 2018. In addition, the number of water bodies rated as being in poor condition also increased by a third since 2017 “We have seen improvements in the worst of the worst, and decline in the best of the best,” he said. He added that the biggest pressures on rivers …

CLARE Fine Gael Senator Martin Conway has been appointed to a panel within the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) to promote political participation of people with disabilities. Senator Conway was officially appointed to the advisory panel of the OSCE’s Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) after impressing the panel with his commitment in encouraging people with disabilities to become involved in politics.  Senator Conway, who is the first visually impaired member of the Oireachtas, said, “As a life-long campaigner for equal opportunities and rights for those with disabilities, I am honoured to have been appointed to the ODIHR Advisory Panel on the Political Participation of Persons with Disabilities for a term of four years. “My role will involve providing advice, guidance and recommendations to ODIHR, and through ODIHR to the OSCE participating States, on matters related to the political participation of persons with disabilities. “The work includes the implementation of relevant OSCE commitments; legislation, policies …