Breaking News

Limerick and Clare Education and Training Board is delighted to continue its partnership with Innovate Limerick through Film in Limerick with the announcement of an impressive new training programme for aspiring creative producers. This is one of many Further Education and Training initiatives designed to help enhance the local film industry in the Mid-West, and prepare up-and-coming producers for employment. A Creative Producer is someone who likes to kick-start the creative process by identifying a worthwhile idea for a film or TV project. They then go on to develop the idea and bring a team together to bring the project forward and help make it a reality. Introduction to Creative Producing for Film is a 5-month part-time programme that­ will take place on Monday and Wednesday evenings, with some Saturday workshop sessions. This is fully-funded and will give would-be creative producers who have an interest in working on TV series and feature films the chance to showcase and develop their …

Area to the east of Ennis identified as ideal to bring long term increased resilience to climate change THE Ennis 2040 Economic and Spatial Strategy states that Ennis could be Ireland’s first climate adaptive town. The document, launched last Friday by An Tánaiste Leo Varadkar, states that the town does have some advantages in this respect. “Ennis is fortunate in having a large area east of the town centre that could, if planned for properly, bring long term benefits and increased resilience to climate change effects,” the document states. “This area relates to the eastern lands between the railway and the M18 motorway. This area includes the River Fergus and its floodplains as well as a network of smaller streams, wetlands and small lakes. “Large extents of this area have been identified as Flood Zone A, in line with the Flood Risk Management Guidelines. “Ennis could be a national leader in demonstrating this approach, by optimising these lands for climate …

Ennis training centre for paramedic BSc would be mutually beneficial, says Crowe THE possibility of an Ennis-based training centre for University of Limerick’s course in paramedic studies has been floated. A government minister has proposed the University of Limerick and the Clare Civil Defence should enter negotiations on the proposed establishment of a training centre for paramedics. Deputy Cathal Crowe recently asked the Minister for Education and Skills, Simon Harris if he would support proposals to develop a training centre for students of the University of Limerick’s bachelor of science in paramedic studies course at the new Civil Defence building in Ennis. Minister Harris said the best way forward would be for the Civil Defence and the University and any other relevant stakeholders to speak directly to see if there are mutually agreeable proposals that can be advanced. Deputy Crowe stated there is room to develop a paramedic training facility in Ennis. “There is a fabulous facility, which the Minister’s …

PLANS to reopen a pedestrian entrance to St Flannan’s College, not used since the 1970s, have been given the green light. Clare County Council have granted planning permission for the proposal which also paves the way for the construction of a controlled crossing point on the Clare Road. The move is part of efforts by the school to reduce car dependency and increase walking and cycling among students and staff. The board of management at the secondary school applied to Clare County Council for planning permission to re-open the entrance on the boundary wall to the Clare Road, as well as erecting a barrier and gate. The access was previously used as a pedestrian access point in the 1970s and was the school’s main access location in the 1940s and 50s. The school, with a student population of 1,181 with 100 staff, currently has one vehicular access on College View Road and two existing pedestrian access points. According to documents …

THE sport of basketball is thriving in Shannon, with numbers playing increasing very significantly during the pandemic, writes Owen Ryan. When he spoke to the Champion last Friday Shannon Jets club secretary Dean Flynn was waiting to see what restrictions were going to be retained, following the Government’s decision not to go for a full relaxation of them last week. Dean said that basketball has been quite heavily disrupted due to Covid. “Last year we were about to start the season when the October/November lockdown kicked in and the season ended up getting cancelled, so we’ve been a year without basketball really. “During the summer we were allowed to train, but only outdoors. Most of our groups started up in the middle of May and we had outdoor training through the summer. “The schools in Shannon were really good to us, they gave us the use of their facilities with no cost. That was brilliant, we had loads of underage …

RENEWABLE Energy Systems Ltd (RES) has been granted planning permission for a 16 hectare solar energy farm at Manusmore and Carrownanelly, Clarecastle. According to the application the solar farm would be operational for 35 years. Permission has been given for the development which will include inverter station modules, solar PV panels ground mounted on support structures as well as electrical cabling and ducting.  The planner’s report into the proposal stated, “The principle of the proposed development is supported in broad terms by European, National and regional policies. The Clare County Development Plan 2017-2023 includes a number of objectives which support a move towards a low carbon economy, encouraging renewable energy development and rural diversification. “This is further strengthened by objectives set out in the Clare Renewable Energy Strategy Volume 6 which identifies factors influencing the preferred location for large scale photovoltaic installations and potential constraints to the development of such proposals.” It states that “The proposal site is located in …

A DRIVER who hit a speed of 200km/h on a motorway in Clare could have caused “devastation and death,” a judge has warned. Judge Mary Larkin was speaking at Ennis District Court where she imposed a two year driving ban on Frankie Mongan (25). Mongan, with an address at Thornfield Drive, Lisnamult, Co Roscomon, was before the court on a charge of dangerous driving but was convicted of careless driving after the State accepted his plea to the lesser charge. In evidence, garda Cyril Page said he and a colleague were operating a speed checkpoint at the M18, Carrigoran near Newmarket-on-Fergus on July 5, 2021. The garda said that at 7.35pm he detected a car travelling at 174km/h in a 120km/h zone. The court heard gardai pursued and the car driven by Mongan hit a speed on 200km/h. The pursuit came to an end when Mongan pulled in, the court heard. Judge Mary Larkin said, “I can’t imagine getting my …

Pauline’s gala to help provide accommodation near maternity hospital for parents using neo-natal clinic A MOTHER-OF-THREE is hosting a fundraising gala in aid of Love Grace’s Place, to raise money for accommodation for parents who have babies in the Neonatal Unit of University Maternity Hospital Limerick (UMHL). This fundraising event will take place in the Clayton Hotel Limerick on December 4 at 6pm. It is estimated that one in 16 women will have a preterm birth. More than 4,500 babies are born prematurely in Ireland every year. Inspired by her own experience of not having the benefit of accommodation near UMHL when she had her premature baby, Pauline Gabbett has set up a new charity to address this deficit. Love Grace’s Place, which is called after her own daughter, Grace will provide free accommodation for parents while their babies are in the neonatal unit in UMHL and not from the county. Parents from Limerick, Clare and Tipperary who are going …