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THREE men are due to appear before Ennis District Court this morning, in connection with directing and participating or contributing to the activities of a criminal organisation in County Clare. The arrests were made following an investigation into organised crime in County Clare, which began in 2018. All three men are in their 20s. One man has been charged in connection with directing an organised crime group, while the two others have been charged with participating in, or contributing to the activities of a criminal organisation. They will appear before Ennis District Court this morning, at 10.30am.

ANGLERS across Clare are taking part in a unique catch, tag and release programme to help Irish and international scientists learn more about the largest tuna in the world – the Atlantic bluefin tuna. Under the Tuna CHART programme, recreational anglers on board two authorised charter vessels in Clare will be catching bluefin tuna and skippers will be tagging and releasing them back into the sea, alive, from July to November this year. The Clare participants are Luke Aston of the Clare Dragoon, Carrigaholt, and Noel Kelleher of the Sailfish II out of Kilrush. The data collected on board authorised vessels will then be used for scientific assessment to improve knowledge of population structures, fish size and how bluefin tuna is distributed in Irish waters and throughout the North Atlantic. Migrating through North Atlantic waters, bluefin tuna frequent Irish coastal waters to feed. Bluefin is an iconic sports angling species and can grow up to 1,500 lbs (approximately 680 kgs). …

THE EU Digital Covid-19 Certificate (DCC) officially came into force this Monday, July 19, but the government began issuing them from July 12. Here’s a quick refresher on what it is, what it does and how to get one. Remind me what it is again? The EU Digital Covid-19 Certificate (DCC), which came into force throughout the rest of the EU on July 1, is designed to make safe travel easier by providing proof that the holder has either: – Been fully vaccinated against Covid-19 with one of the approved vaccines (Pfizer, AstraZeneca, Moderna or Johnson & Johnson) – Received a negative test in the last day or two (PCR for Ireland, but other European countries accept certain types of antigen tests) – Recovered from Covid-19 in the last six months The DCC will be a QR code that will be available digitally on a smart device or on a piece of paper. In Ireland, they will be issued by …

THE Road Safety Authority (RSA) is reminding road users, particularly drivers, to be aware of the dangers posed by ‘sun glare’ as Orange and Yellow weather warnings for High Temperatures have been issued for the next few days. Sun glare can result in drivers being temporarily dazzled or blinded by the intensity and brightness of the sun. As clear sunny conditions and high temperatures are forecast over the next number of days, the RSA is advising drivers to: Reduce the risk from sun glare and of being dazzled by wearing sun glasses. Be aware of the dangers of sun glare when travelling east in the mornings and west later in the day. Be prepared and ensure you have adequate supplies of water, any delays to journeys could result in road users being stuck in traffic for a period time in hot conditions. Children and pets are particularly at risk during these hot spells of weather. https://twitter.com/MetEireann/status/1417096709885374469?s=20 Ensure your windscreen is …

BUSINESSES in Lifford are “feeling a bit left out of the loop” when it comes to lighting up the town centre at night. The Ennis Municipal District has installed festoon lights in the town as part of efforts to support outdoor dining and encouraging people to visit the town, however according to one local councillor parts of Ennis are “feeling forgotten about”. Councillor Mary Howard, speaking at a recent meeting of the Ennis Municipal District, called on the local authority to reconsider hanging festoon lighting in the Lifford area. “The businesses in that area would appreciate the lights being installed for the summer months,” she said. She said that Ennis is “looking so well” with the new lights adding, “The people in Lifford are feeling a bit left out of the loop.” She recalled how efforts were made a number of years ago to extend Christmas lighting into the Lifford area and questioned why this cannot be done again. “They …

AN OVERWHELMING majority of members of Clare County Council have voted to leave the rate of Local Property Tax (LPT) for 2022 at 15% above the standard rate. Councillors have the power to increase or decrease the LPT by up to 15 per cent each year from the basic rate, which is calculated based on the value of a property. On the recommendation of Council Chief Executive Pat Dowling, members voted this week to retain the higher rate, with the aim of raising an additional €1.5m for the local authority. After a motion to leave the 15% hike in place was tabled by Councillor Pat Hayes and seconded by Councillor Joe Cooney, a bid to return to the standard rate was proposed by Councillor Gerry Flynn and seconded by Councillor Donna McGettigan. When put to the vote, 24 councillors were in favour of retaining the higher rate, two members were against and two were judged to be absent from the …

HE creation of a world class Greenway along the route of the old West Clare Railway, expected to bring positive benefits to the entire county, has moved a step further with the appointment of consultants for the first section of the project. Clare County Council has announced the appointment of Roughan & O’Donovan Consulting Engineers to progress the options, route selection, design and assessment phases of the first section of the Greenway between Kilrush and Kilkee via Moyasta.  Much of the land along the old rail-line is in private ownership, and Clare County Council’s Senior Engineer, Seán Lenihan acknowledges that the project has its challenges, with success dependent on co-operation and collaboration between all parties involved. He assured that the council is committed to working with all affected parties, and the council are due to begin engagement with landowners, the public and community groups in the coming weeks. The creation of a world class Greenway from Ennis to Kilkee, connecting towns and …

THE National Council for the Blind of Ireland (NCBI) charity shop has found a new home in Ennis, where a stronger emphasis on sustainability is clearly visible. The NCBI has relocated its shop to Quay House, Wood Quay and opened its new doors last week. Beverley Scallan, Head of Retail, said, “Opening this shop is a fantastic step forward for NCBI. We have transformed what has become the norm for NCBI stores throughout the country, and with this new look, I hope the NCBI store will become a cornerstone of the community as it has in so many other locations across the country. All aspects of the shop fit-out are made from reusable and recyclable raw materials. In addition, the shop will sell quality preloved clothing, accessories, and hidden gems. So, by supporting our shops, customers not only generate funds for our services but also support our drive for more sustainable fashion and furniture. We urge shoppers to pop in and …