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Report shows average asking price for house in Clare now in excess of €210,000 HOUSE prices in Clare are rising at the quickest rate in years, new figures from Daft.ie show. In its report on the second quarter of the year, Daft.ie found that the average price sought for a house in Clare is now €210,676. That was up by 9.2% on the previous quarter and by 15.4% on the second quarter of 2020. House prices in Clare are now 76.2% higher than they were at the bottom of the market, near the beginning of the last decade. While the level of growth in prices in Clare is obviously very significant, it was below average for Munster in percentage terms, with asking prices across the province increasing by 18% year on year. Writing in the Daft.ie report, Professor Ronan Lyons of Trinity College stated that Covid resulted in an intensification of demand, and a decline in available supply as construction …

THE transfer of the Shannon Heritage sites in Clare to the County Council has united the county’s politicians, with a number of statements welcoming the move. Independent TD Michael McNamara said, ““Last summer I went to Clare County Council to propose that the local authority express its interest in taking over Bunratty Castle & Folk Park, Craggaunowen, Knappogue Castle and the retail unit at the Cliffs of Moher Visitor Experience having discussed the matter directly with staff of Shannon Heritage and Shannon Group plc management.”. He continued, “I am glad that this proposal is coming to fruition as it will give a new lease of life to these vital heritage tourism assets and to staff who have found themselves in a precarious position over the past 16 months.” The Scariff man said he had raised the matter with Government numerous times and believes it is a step in the right direction. “This is a good move for the visitor attractions …

Munster Senior Hurling Championship Semi-Final Tipperary 3-23 Clare 2-22 CLARE’S Munster Final hopes were frustratingly dealt a detrimental blow following a controversial refereeing decision which handed Tipperary a pivotal initiative in the LIT Gaelic Grounds, Limerick this afternoon, reports Eoin Brennan. Clare had rolled with the punches in a seesaw first half, with goals from Ian Galvin and Tony Kelly sandwiching two brilliant saves from Eibhear Quilligan to nudge Clare the minimum in front by the break. However, the match would hinge on a mistimed challenge by Aidan McCarthy on Jake Morris just inside the 20 metre line near the left sideline that was deemed to be a cynical foul to prevent a goalscoring opportunity. Only three minutes into the new half, it was a contentious call that Clare would never recover from as McCarthy was sin binned for ten minutes, by which time Tipperary had produced an eight point turnaround to soar 3-17 to 2-14 in front. Jason Forde …

AT the June meeting of Clare County Council a motion was passed, asking the Government to seek a global ban on fracking at the United Nation’s General Assembly. The motion was put forward by Fianna Fáil’s Pat Hayes, Cillian Murphy and Tony O’Brien, and passed unanimously. Introducing the motion, Councillor Hayes said that Clare County Council has taken a strong stand against fracking in the past. “This motion is something that we’ve continuously talked about at Clare County Council over the years. We were the first Council in the country to propose a ban on fracturing gas and that led to a full national ban. “Here we’re looking to go further, looking for the Government to put a proposal in front of the UN to ban the fracturing of gas all over the world.” He said a number of Clare organisations are in favour of the motion and added, “I hope that this Council can be to the fore again …

Board requests ‘significant further information’ A DECISION on a major windfarm project proposed for the slopes of Slieve Bearnagh in North East Clare will not now be made before 2022, The Champion has learned. The 19-turbine plan from Coillte is currently being assessed by An Bord Pleanála under the Strategic Infrastructure Act. The board has confirmed that it has now asked the company for significant further information on a number of aspects of the project, including its environmental impact. The initial phase for public submissions closed early last February, with the appeals board originally indicating that a decision on the windfarm might be made in June. It is understood that observations from members of the public have raised significant concerns about the visual impact of the turbines, the effects on wildlife and the landscape, as well as dissatisfaction with the local consultation process – much of which was hampered by lockdowns and Covid-19 restrictions on gatherings. A spokesperson for An …

THE Clare chair of the Vintner’s Federation of Ireland (VFI) has described the government’s plans to restrict indoor hospitality to vaccinated people only as “a total smokescreen”. Charlie O’Meara characterised the mood of the county’s 160 VFI members as one of “annoyance, anger and frustration” at news that indoor hospitality will not now resume until July 19, at the earliest, and that unvaccinated people may be banned. The Ennis publican said he now fears for what faces the trade this winter when government supports come to an end and vintners try to restart their businesses, without the benefit of the normal summer takings. “There has been absolutely terrible treatment of our members,” he told The Champion. “There’s been no respect whatsoever and the government would have been happy enough, once again, to leave this issue to the eleventh hour, but for the fact that the VFI in Dublin put pressure on them to make a decision. It’s just not good …

DOORA National School is one of just 18 in the country to be provided with free library resources by Children’s Books Ireland. There will be a number of other benefits, accruing to the school under the Every Child’s A Reader project. Teacher Geraldine Greene co-ordinated the Doora entry and was told in February that it had been successful, winning the school hundreds of free books in various genres, free art workshops, art materials and online interactive storytelling sessions with Pat Ryan, the school’s champion of Reading. In late April a launch was held and this was followed with events such as art and storytelling workshops. Sadly, parents or visitors couldn’t come to see the school’s new book case or displays, but it is hoped they will be able to come when school resumes in the autumn. Further storytelling events and art workshops continued during May and June, while each pupil received bookmarks, stickers and their personal challenge record pages. When …

‘Shocking decision’ undermining the Government’s credibility, warns councillor THE decision to delay the reopening of indoor dining and drinking has been met with some exasperation in Clare this week, with Fianna Fáil Councillor Cillian Murphy warning that the Government has lost credibiilty in the eyes of the public. “I think it’s a shocking decision, I’m extremely disappointed with the Government, I’m extremely disappointed with my own party,” the Kilkee representative said on Wednesday. The decision to delay reopening was announced on Tuesday, with plans for a vaccine pass set to follow. It came after NPHET issued warnings to Government of a potential fourth wave, with a huge number of cases of the Delta variant and as many as 2,170 deaths within three months, under a worst case scenario. However, despite the advice from NPHET, Councillor Murphy said he does not accept the right move is being made, particularly with the vaccination programme having gone as far as it has. “Maybe …