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AN extensive public consultation process has commenced as part of the development of a sustainable long-term masterplan for the Cliffs of Moher. Clare County Council is working, with consultancy firm Haley Sharpe Design, to prepare the Cliffs of Moher Strategy 2040. The focus of the work to date has been on preliminary research, on-site investigations, and desk-top studies to understand the challenges facing the Cliffs of Moher and to identify potential opportunities for helping to realise future aspirations. A four-month consultation process involving local communities, organisations, businesses, and residents, to facilitate participation in this listening process commenced this week. The process includes online workshops, feedback sessions, focus groups, written submission and surveys. “The consultation phase of the strategy is a key stage of the process,” explained Leonard Cleary, Director of Rural Development, Clare County Council. “Initial meetings have taken place this week with a series of other meetings and workshops to follow over the next three to four months,” he …

STAFF members of a Chinese restaurant in Shannon bravely challenged a robber carrying a knife, who then fled the scene empty handed. At approximately 10pm on Saturday night, April 17 a teenager wearing a black hoody, black face mask and carrying a knife entered the Shannon Palace Chinese Restaurant in Tullyvarraga, Shannon. He demanded money from the staff member, who ran to the back of the restaurant. According to Crime Prevention Officer, Sergeant Triona Brooks, “This male was challenged by other members of staff and left the scene empty handed. Thankfully nobody was injured in this robbery. “We are asking for the assistance of the public in this investigation. If anyone was in the vicinity of the restaurant and saw this male or anyone who may have dash cam footage please contact Shannon Garda Station on 061 365900.”

THE Health Protection Surveillance Centre has today been notified of six additional cases of Covid-19 in Clare and one additional death related to Covid-19 nationally. There has been a total of 4,867 Covid-19 related deaths in Ireland. As of midnight, Thursday, April 22, the HPSC has been notified of 434 confirmed cases of Covid-19. There has now been a total of 245,743* confirmed cases of Covid-19 in Ireland. Of the cases notified today: 228 are men / 204 are women 74% are under 45 years of age The median age is 31 years old 217 in Dublin, 30 in Kildare, 30 in Cork, 27 in Limerick, 21 Donegal and the remaining 109 cases are spread across 20 other counties.** As of 8am today, 166 CovId-19 patients are hospitalised, of which 48 are in ICU. 17 additional hospitalisations in the past 24 hours. As of April 21, 2021, 1,275,828 doses of Covid-19 vaccine have been administered in Ireland: 904,774 people have …

GARDAÍ have arrested a man, aged in his 20s, as part of an ongoing investigation under Operation SKEIN, this morning, Friday, April 23. A search operation was conducted by Gardaí at a location in Ennis, with assistance from the Garda National Economic Crime Bureau (GNECB). The man was arrested for offences contrary to Section 72 of the Criminal Justice Act, 2006 as amended. He is currently detained in Ennis Garda Station under the provisions of Section 50 of the Criminal Justice Act, 2007. He can be detained for up to seven days. This is the 21st arrest as part of Operation SKEIN.

PAUL Truss has just marked 20 years of service with the Shannon-based Coast Guard helicopter, Rescue 115. A winch operator, he is from England originally, and explaining how he ended up working over here, he says, “I was in the Royal Navy, did 15 years flying in the Royal Navy, mostly anti submarine warfare, but I spent the last ten years in Prestwick which was anti-submarine warfare and search and rescue. When I left the Navy there was a job vacancy here in Ireland, so I put in for it, came over for the interview and started in April 2001.” Working with the Coast Guard means coming face to face with life and death situations on a fairly regular basis and Paul says the goal is to save as many people as is possible. “There have been numerous jobs where lives have been saved. Unfortunately not all lives can be saved, but that’s what we strive for,” said Paul. While …

A CLARE TD has hit out at “do-gooders,” who claim people have the right to keep horses, regardless of their capacity to give them adequate care. Deputy Cathal Crowe made his remarks at a recent meeting of the Joint Policing Committee (JPC), where he disputed social media claims that people have a cultural right to horse ownership. “There was a situation where a horse died in the south of Clare in the last 14 days,” he said. “That horse was not being cared for in accordance with the Animal Health and Welfare Act or the Control of Horses Act.” Citing his own personal experience, Deputy Crowe disputed the belief that people should be allowed to keep horses, if that is their culture. “You can say it’s a culture to keep horses,” he said, “but I don’t agree. My grandparents had horses. My father didn’t, because he hadn’t the space. He didn’t think he had the God-given right to keep horses.” …

SECURING a new motorised wheelchair for a person with disabilities can take up to three years from the initial application, a local health advocate has claimed. The long waiting times have been criticised as a “disgrace” by Councillor Ann Norton who stated the initial assessment is often out of date by the time a person can actually use the new motorised wheelchair. Councillor Norton explained it can take two years for the official sign off for a new wheelchair before it is ordered, while the moulding can take between six to eight months once funding has been approved. She outlined the wheelchair seating assessment is carried out by the Central Remedial Clinic (CRC) in Limerick. The first assessment conducted by a physiotherapist and occupational therapist establishes if a new wheelchair is needed. If therapists believe a new wheelchair is required, a few appointments may be requiring examining suitable models and types of wheelchairs, moulding and seating before an application for …

THE government’s vaccination programme may not be progressing as speedily as some hope, but there was good news this Wednesday when two of three mass vaccination centres in the region opened ahead of schedule, reports Dan Danaher. New centres in Ennis and Nenagh opened this Wednesday, instead of next Monday as originally planned. Along with the centre at the Radisson Blu, Meelick, the facilities form a tripartite vaccination network to accelerate the delivery of Covid-19 vaccine in the Mid-West. Activity at the Ennis and Nenagh centres commenced with the 65-69-year-old group, who have been registering in considerable numbers since the opening of the HSE online registration portal last week. Colette Cowan, CEO, UL Hospitals’ Group said the group is delighted to now open vaccination centres in Ennis and Nenagh a few days in advance of their initial planned date. The portal and the phone line remain open for those aged 65 and over and we expect to start allocating appointment …