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THE “huge frustration” felt by residents awaiting works to be carried out at the junction of the Shanaway Road and the N85 Lahinch Road has been highlighted, as the route to the coast is expected to become even busier with the resumption of travel within the county this week. A meeting of the Ennis Municipal District heard this week that revised design options are being prepared by the Council’s Road Design Office following a request from Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII). Councillor Mary Howard raised the issue in a notice of motion asking for an update on “proposed traffic controls” at the junction which sees traffic “backed up every day”, describing the current situation as “crazy”. The councillor questioned if there had been any recent engagement with TII; what funding has been allocated for the project; has there been engagement with local property owners and is there a proposed timeline to start and complete the necessary works? John Gannon, senior executive …

PEOPLE who have benefited from the Killaloe Community Covid-19 Response team hugely appreciated this service, according to a local councillor. While some people were a bit reluctant at first to receive assistance, Councillor Tony O’Brien pointed out volunteers quickly put them at ease by reinforcing the message this was something they wanted to do for their local community. “If the Covid-19 pandemic has taught us anything, it is none of us are an island. Irish people are great for coming to the assistance of our neighbours in a time of trouble. “While rural isolation is a problem, there was also huge isolation within towns and villages. Some people had a routine of going to Mass in the morning and getting milk or bread on the way home. They lost all that. They were so lonely left behind closed doors. “This is where the Covid-19 response teams came to the fore. The volunteers deserve huge credit as they could identify people …

A MAN wearing a hazmat suit stole the contents of the till at a shop in a Clare town in the early hours of Monday morning. At 1.05am the man entered the Centra on the Gort Road wearing the white hazmat suit with a hood, blue face mask and orange gloves. He was also carrying an implement. The man threatened the member of staff and left with the contents of the till. Thankfully nobody was injured but this was a very traumatic incident for the staff member. This male left on foot in the direction of the Gort Road / Watery Road. We are asking if anyone saw this male or anything suspicious or anyone who may have dash cam footage to contact Ennis Garda Station on 065 6848100,” said Sergeant Triona Brooks, Crime Prevention Officer.

Clare will face familiar opposition in the 2021 Munster Senior Football and Hurling championships. This morning’s provincial draws saw the footballers paired with Kerry in the Munster SFC quarter-final, marking the sixth time that Colm Collins has faced the Kingdom in his eight year tenure. The winners of that tie will go on to face the reigning provincial champions Tipperary in the semi-final, while Cork and Limerick will square off in the other last four encounter. The hurlers have been handed something of a revenge mission, with Brian Lohan’s charges set to face the Waterford side who ended their 2020 championship campaign. The prize on offer for the winners of that encounter is a semi-final clash with Tipperary. All Ireland champions Limerick face Cork in the other provincial semi-final. No fixture details have been confirmed for those games yet, with the GAA expected to issue an update on all fixtures in the coming days.

STAFF members of a Chinese restaurant in a county Clare town 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 front of house 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.”

Ireland could become net exporter of energy once Green Atlantic project comes fully to fruition, reports Dan Danaher. THE creation of a new multi-billion euro green energy hub at Moneypoint Power Station can help Ireland to become a net exporter of energy, the ESB has predicted. In line with the Government’s ambition of reaching net zero emissions by 2050, ESB has stated the transformation of Moneypoint in County Clare into a green energy hub will help Ireland to become a leader in green energy production. Green Atlantic is a new ambitious plan, which includes the proposed development of new off-shore wind farm with the potential to power 1.6 million homes. Speaking at a press briefing on Friday, ESB chief executive, Pat O’Doherty stated Green Atlantic at Moneypoint reflects the scale of its ambition and commitment to creating a cleaner, brighter and more sustainable future for everyone. “Ireland imports 80% of its requirements in the form of coal, oil and gas. …

A SUM of €6.327 million is being allocated to Shannon, under the Covid-19 Regional State Airports Programme 2021, Minister of State Hildegarde Naughton announced this morning. Knock, Donegal and Kerry Airports will also be receiving a combined total of almost €4.8 million. Announcing the allocations, Minister of State Naughton said: “I am delighted to be approving these capital allocations in what has been an incredibly difficult year on our regional airports. This funding represents a strong commitment by Government to help Ireland’s regional airports remain financially sustainable as they plan to move beyond the largest exogenous shock that the sector has ever faced.” Minister Naughton added, ‘I am pleased to say that this year’s funding has also taken climate objectives into account for the first time, representing an important step in the process towards the ‘greening’ of Irish Airports. I am confident that today’s allocations, coupled with the impending funding to address the impacts of Covid, will help airports regain …

NEW Clare County Council byelaws would see the use of jetskis prohibited at White Strand in Miltown Malbay, White Strand in Doonbeg, at Ballycuggeran Lake in Killaloe and Ballyalla Lake in Ennis. The move towards a ban is being criticised by Peter Conroy, the Miltown-based chairman of the Irish Tow Surf Rescue Club, who says it is regressive, and will limit the club’s ability to carry out the training it requires to provide rescue services. He says the club was founded after it became apparent there was a need for safety services. Mr Conroy said, “It was set up about 12 years ago when we started tow surfing at the Cliffs of Moher, that big wave underneath there. “We started surfing there and we started realising that the Coast Guard couldn’t help us if we got in trouble in certain areas, so we started to get professionals over to train us up in jetski rescue and certain medical procedures. Basically …