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DISCRIMINATION is being experienced by the vast majority of Clare’s LGBTQ+ community, a new survey has found. In research conducted by a number of local agencies, including the Clare Public Participation Network (PPN), as part of the LGBTQ+ Clare project, 70% of those who responded reported facing discrimination because of their gender identity or sexual orientation. An online meeting will take place later this month as a forum for members of the community to share their views and experiences and address a sense of isolation, which a majority of respondents also reported. Another major issue of concern that emerged from the research is the need for social outlets and supports. 80% of respondents said they would like more opportunities to connect with community members. Over half of all respondents did not feel sufficiently connected and supported in their community.  One of those who gave her views to researchers said, “I would love a way to meet other LGBTQ people in Clare and just …

BETWEEN 50 and 100 jobs will be created to provide a new €50 million Synchronous Compensator in Moneypoint Power Station as part of the ESB’s exciting new €5 billion Green Atlantic development, reports Dan Danaher. This Synchronous Compensator, which will be the largest of its kind in the world, will provide a range of electrical services to the electricity grid, which would previously have been supplied by thermal-fired power stations. Its operation will enable higher volumes of renewables on the system. While Moneypoint plant manager, Sean Hegarty was unable this week to provide an exact number of new jobs in advance of signing this major new work contract for the site, he estimates a major construction of this scale usually requires between 50 and 100 people. It is estimated the construction of the new offshore windfarm will create up to 600 new jobs, pending planning approval. This new Synchronous Compensator will be sub contracted to a major manufacturer who may …

FRUSTRATION is growing among Parteen residents over the failure to remove a controversial wind turbine located near a local factory, reports Dan Danaher. A few weeks ago, Clare County Council requested a local developer to decommission and remove a controversial wind turbine erected near a Parteen factory on or before Thursday, April 8 following an alleged breach of a planning permission condition. According to a Council enforcement notice, the turbine and base structure as constructed is allegedly not sited at the location as permitted under planning permission initially granted in 2010 and is therefore not in compliance with this approval. If within the specified period the steps required under the enforcement notice have not been taken, the Council warned the developer may be guilty of an offence and liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding €5,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months. Seamus Madden, c/o Limerick Blow Moulding, was granted planning permission to erect …

The group tasked with preparing a five year strategic plan for Clare GAA has outlined that they will be adopting a “grass roots up” approach in its workings. Group member Mark O’Connell, CEO of Repucon Consulting, addressed club delegates at this weeks county board meeting to detail the process the group will be following. He stated that they will be following a “structured approach” with an emphasis on ascertaining the views of club members and supporters of Clare GAA to identify their views on how the association should move forward over the coming years. Surveys have been compiled which have been issued to club secretaries to feed back information with further surveys planned for the coming weeks for both club members and the public to have their say. He also outlined that development squad coaches, S&C coaches along with referees and past and current players will also be canvassed for their opinion on the process. Once all that information has …

THE Health Protection Surveillance Centre has today been notified of fewer than five additional cases of Covid-19 in Clare along with 11 additional deaths related to Covid-19 nationally. Of the deaths reported today, three occurred in April, one occurred in March, two in February and five occurred in January or earlier. The median age of those who died was 88 years and the age range was 77-94 years. There has been a total of 4,831 Covid-19 related deaths in Ireland. As of midnight, Thursday, April 15, the HPSC has been notified of 420 confirmed cases of Covid-19.There has now been a total of 242,819* confirmed cases of Covid-19 in Ireland. Of the cases notified today: 218 are men / 197 are women 74% are under 45 years of age The median age is 32 years old 147 in Dublin, 41 in Meath, 33 in Donegal, 26 in Galway, 18 in Limerick and the remaining 155 cases are spread across all …

Clare’s ladies footballers will have just one home game in the group stages of the 2021 National Football League. Evan Talty’s side are grouped with the Meath side who ended their championship run last year, along with neighbours Kerry and fellow intermediate side Wexford. The campaign will start on May 23 with a home tie against Wexford, before trips to Kerry and Meath to round off the group stages. Talty has also confirmed his management team for the coming year, with former Mayo ladies goalkeeping coach Donal ‘Doc’ Hughes, former Meath star Odharnaith McKenna (Performance Analysis) and Cooraclare’s Andrew O’Neill (physio) joining the set up. Training is set to begin in earnest next week when restrictions will be lifted to allow elite level sides to resume on field training, with that session being the first time in 2021 that the squad will have met face to face. It will also be the first opportunity for new Clare ladies football chairperson …

MINISTER for Tourism Catherine Martin has announced a major new investment worth €19 million in world-class facility centres at 22 locations across the country, including two in Clare, where water-based activities are a key visitor attraction. Ballycuggeran Sports Activity Facility in Ogonnelloe and Waterworld, East End, Kilkee will see new facilities developed under this scheme, in partnership with Clare County Council. Each centre will provide hot shower, changing and toilet facilities, secure storage, induction spaces, equipment washdown and orientation points. They will be fully wheelchair accessible and built using sustainability best practices such as solar heating panels to meet ‘Nearly Zero Energy Building Standards’*. Pat Dowling, Chief Executive, Clare County Council said, “I am delighted to welcome the news from the Minister on funding for the delivery of two all-weather shower and changing facilities at Ballycuggeran on Lough Derg and Kilkee Waterworld. This is a great opportunity to support outdoor tourism providers who will play a key role in the …

REPORTS of rioting across Northern Ireland have provided an uncomfortable reminder for one Clare resident of the long years of violence prior to the Good Friday Agreement. Now resident in Kilkishen, Anne Stewart grew up as a Catholic in Newtownabbey, a Loyalist stronghold just north of Belfast. It was one of the areas where young people came onto the streets to antagonise the PSNI last week, and the widely-viewed clip of a rioter becoming engulfed in flames was recorded there. Anne feels that Arlene Foster has to take a share of the blame for the recent violence, as she feels the First Minister’s language raised tensions beyond snapping point. “Arlene Foster kind of provoked the situation, she was kind of like Trump there for a while, provoking and getting the young kids out on the streets. “They were throwing petrol bombs at the PSNI, which is ridiculous. I think Sinn Féin are keeping very quiet and picking their words around …