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AN Ennis woman is urging others to get on their bike to support a charity cycle in aid of two worthy causes this December. Liz Constantinescu is among a group of people who are planning on taking on a 500km cycle relay to raise funds for Brain Tumour Ireland and Cahercalla Hospice. Liz tells us that they are doing the cycle in honour of a friend, and they are hoping that others will follow them in taking up the challenge. “The money raised for Brain Tumour Ireland will go towards researching advances in brain tumour treatment and supporting the brave patients and their families. The donations to Cahercalla Hospice will help to improve the quality of life of their patients. “We are doing it in honour of a close friend who is currently unwell, but continues to face her diagnosis with such bravery and dignity and always a smile on her face. Feeling heartbroken and helpless in the face of this …

FRUSTRATION has been expressed by an East Clare councillor over the ongoing delay in rolling out CCTV in the fight to stop illegal dumping. Councillor Alan O’Callaghan has raised the issue numerous times at forums including Clare County Council and the Joint Policing Committee (JPC). The issue is of national concern, with figures suggesting some local authorities are spending well over €1m annually to tackle the problem. Advice, sought from the Data Protection Commissioner has to-date vetoed the use of CCTV by local authorities, without the express permission of the Garda Commissioner. South East Clare is a particular blackspot in the view of Councillor O’Callghan. He has previously told fellow members of the Killaloe Municipal District he believes unlicensed operators are taking large amounts of waste from Limerick into remote forested areas. Raising the matter again at the meeting of the council’s committee on physical development, Councillor O’Callaghan was told that the new Circular Economy Bill makes provision for the …

TWO American tourists escaped injury after their car collided with a wall at a notorious junction in North Clare this afternoon. The single-vehicle collision happened at around midday at Blake’s Corner in Ennistymon. The BMW car mounted a wall on the west side of the junction where several collisions have previously occurred. The wall which the car struck today has been damaged and repaired several times previously. The two occupants of the vehicle, understood to be visitors from the US, were uninjured. It’s also understood that a National Ambulance Service crew, that had been passing the area at the time, stopped and assessed the occupants to ensure they had not been hurt. There were traffic hold ups for around 30 minutes while the vehicle was removed from the scene. Gardaí from Ennistymon also attended the incident. Blake’s Corner is located close to a bridge on the main road where the N85 and N67 meet and leads to Lahinch and on to …

ONGOING concerns about the condition of the main road from Ennis through East Clare have been highlighted by Councillor Alan O’Callaghan. He told the November meeting of the Killaloe district committee of a bad dip on the R352 close to Henchy’s Cross where larger vehicles are experiencing problems. “The location is just as you’re coming from Clooney towards Henchy’s junction on the regional road,” he said. “There’s a section where the road is narrow with a dip and a jump. I first noticed when I saw a man in front of me with jeep and trailer. There was no speed involved. The trailer jumped a fine height into air. “Maybe the road has gone down a bit. It’s not on any works programme. Can something be done sooner rather than later? This is a busy thoroughfare from Scariff to Ennis, with lots of HGVs and agricultural vehicles using it. There’s a fine jolt off it when you hit it at …

PEDAL power has helped to raise over half a million euro for branches of Down Syndrome Ireland in Munster, including Clare. 2021 will certainly be a year to remember for Tour de Munster, not only as the Tour celebrated its 21st edition, but also raising a phenomenal €522,201-  its largest sum to date for the Munster branches of Down Syndrome Ireland. The grand total was revealed at a cheque presentation on Saturday with cycling legend and long term supporter of the Tour, Sean Kelly, presenting the cheque. Jean Hanrahan of Down Syndrome Clare said, “A huge round of applause is in order for all those involved in this year’s Tour de Munster. It’s truly great to see that, despite the circumstances of the past 18 months, 2021 has been the most successful Tour to date in terms of funds raised. From us all in Down Syndrome Clare, we can’t express our gratitude enough. ” Since the tour began in 2001, …

PUBS and restaurants around the county remain open, but with Covid-19 again rampant, the sector is feeling the pinch. At the same time there is some evidence that general retail has continued to perform well, with its busiest time of the year approaching. Maurice Walsh of Durty Nelly’s in Bunratty says that expectations of a very strong Christmas party season have evaporated. “Our Christmas party set-up would be based around Limerick, Shannon and Ennis, with corporate business. In the last seven or eight days 80% of them have cancelled,” he said on Tuesday. Durty Nelly’s had been set for a very strong Christmas, comparable to 2017 or 2018, prior to this wave of Covid-19. Currently he says turnover is down by about 70%, and he doesn’t know if there will be State support for businesses which are about to lose a lot of seasonal business. The months that followed the summer reopening were quite positive, but he feels the reserves …

THE Taoiseach will be in Ennis on Sunday week (December 5) for the annual Éamon de Valera Commemoration. Micheál Martin has attended previous gatherings at the de Valera monument in the town park at Ennis Courthouse, in his capacity as Fianna Fáíl leader. This visit has added significance due to Micheál Martin’s role as Taoiseach, and the event will be attended by members of the party faithful from Clare as well as the upper echelons of Fianna Fáil. The event will be the 40th annual commemoration of the founding leader of Fianna Fail, Taoiseach and President of Ireland. The ceremony will be hosted by Clare Fianna Fáil Comhairle Dáil Ceantair. The statue of Éamon de Valera, by Jim Connolly, was unveiled in 1981 and has been the focal point for commemorative events for the last four decades.

DESPITE concerns about efforts to pursue a prestigious heritage designation for Inis Cealtra, it has been confirmed it is in the running for UNESCO recognition. Independent TD Michael McNamara congratulated Clare County Council on the news that two of its six applications to become part of a new Tentative List of potential World Heritage Properties have been adjudged to have potential. “I am happy to learn that the Cultural Landscape of the Burren Uplands and Holy Island (Inis Cealtra) were adjudged by the Expert Advisory Group (EAG) appointed by the Minister last June to have potential as a World Heritage Property,” Deputy McNamara said. The Clare TD said the potential benefits of either Clare site receiving World heritage Site designation by UNESCO would have significant positive impact on tourism in the county, particularly in light of the unprecedented challenges now facing the domestic and international tourism sector. “World Heritage Properties are sites of cultural and/or natural heritage designated by UNESCO …