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INCIDENTS at a mass gathering in Kilkee on Saturday night have resulted in nine arrests, Clare Gardaí have confirmed. Three men are due to appear before Kilrush District Court on September 15. Two youths have been referred to the Youth Diversion Programme. Two men and one woman were given an adult caution and one man was released without charge. Meanwhile Councillor Cillian Murphy, a resident of the town, reported a quieter night on Sunday. He said that, in three decades living in Kilkee, he had never witnessed anything like Saturday’s night’s events. “I’m living in Kilkee for over 30 years and I cannot ever remember this sort of behaviour on anything like this scale before,” a post from Councillor Murphy said. He said he worked alongside council crews from 6.30am Sunday morning dealing with the consequences Saturday night. Meanwhile, in a statement issued on Sunday, Chief Executive of Clare County Council, Pat Dowling, reminded young people that anyone can contract …

FIVE Clare towns and villages have received just under €115,000 as part of a new Government scheme to help them adapt to the Covid-19 pandemic. They are among 106 towns and villages across the country that will benefit immediately from €2.8 million in funding under the enhanced Town and Village Renewal Scheme. The local areas that will benefit from the initial tranche of €114,274 in funding are: Tulla: Social distancing community meeting space (€13.050) Tuamgraney: Improvements to East Clare Memorial Park, including footpaths, seating and boundary wall (€25,000) Kilkee: Reconfiguration of playground layout to allow for social distancing (€22,295) Carrigaholt: Provision of outdoor tables and seating with temporary awnings (€24,229) Killaloe: Provision of measures to promote social distancing in main pedestrian areas (€29,700) Welcoming the funding, Clare Fine Gael TD Joe Carey said the money will help communities to shop, socialise and work safely as they adapt to the post-Covid reality. “It is vitally important that we see an increase in …

  A TOTAL of 53 new confirmed cases of Covid-19 have been reported today (Sunday) to the Health Protection Surveillance Centre. There are no new confirmed cases in Clare. No additional deaths have been notified nationally. According to the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET)  has now been a total of 1,763 Covid-19 related deaths in Ireland. As of midnight Saturday, August 1, there is a total of 26,162 confirmed cases of Covid-19 in Ireland. Of the cases notified today; 27 are men / 26 are women 80% are under 45 years of age 45 are associated with outbreaks or close contacts of a confirmed case 4 cases have been identified as community transmission 25 cases are located in Dublin, 19 in Laois, 6 in Kildare and the remaining 3 are spread across two other counties. The HSE is working to identify any contacts the patients may have had to provide them with information and advice to prevent further spread. …

A NEW Rural Ideas Forum could help reduce rural depopulation in Clare if it is properly implemented, according to Clare Beef Plan secretary, Bláth Cooney. However, Ms Cooney has warned this proposal, which is contained in the new Programme for Government conflicts with existing policies of urbanisation and large-scale afforestation and also the new EU Protected Areas plan, which proposes to designate 10% of the country as very high level special protected areas. She pledged the Beef Plan Movement will monitor the implementation of the consultation process and insist that the commitment to support farmers and local food businesses is honoured. “Some of this support is framed as a drive to improve land management to reduce emissions. It is important to recognise that in general farmers know their own land and improvements must be proposed in consultation with farmers rather than being imposed upon them. “This system has worked well in the locally-led schemes. The longest-established of these is the …

APPEALS have been made for more responsible behaviour amid concerns about large gatherings in Kilkee on Saturday night (August 1). Footage has emerged appearing to show large numbers of younger people socialising in Kilkee in a manner that breaches public health guidelines on Covid-19 control. The video clips, which are circulating widely on social media, have prompted Clare County Council to appeal to all members of the public to act responsibly this August bank holiday weekend. Chief Executive of Clare County Council, Pat Dowling, said: “Young people must remember that anyone can contract the virus. Furthermore, anyone not adhering to the guidelines risks transmitting the virus to more vulnerable members of their families and communities, for whom the consequences may be dire. There must be no repeat occurrence of the scenes shown on social media, in Kilkee or anywhere else in County Clare.” Meanwhile, in a social media post, Councillor Cillian Murphy who lives in the town appealed to parents …

A MULTINATIONAL discount giant can proceed with plans to develop a multi-million Euro foodstore in Westbury after An Board Pleanála dismissed a planning appeal. Lidl has been given the green light to construct a new discount retail outlet, coffee shop and car park in a major new development, subject to 16 new planning conditions. The supermarket discount store has estimated the new store and adjoining coffee shop could generate approximately thirty jobs in the local area. The development also includes the provision of 87 surface car parking spaces to the front of the site. The discount foodstore, which incorporates a sales area of 1,192 square metres will also accommodate a small café area, bakery, preparation area and staff ancillary spaces. A large chiller/freezer area together with a delivery and storage area is also to be incorporated within the building. The delivery area is to be located at the northern end of the building. The main public access is to be …

GARDAÍ have arrested a man in relation to three burglaries, a theft and a criminal damage incident that occurred in the Kilrush area. Shortly after 3pm on August 1, 2020, Gardaí in Kilrush received a report of a possible burglary at a house on Toler Street. Gardaí attended and saw a man coming out through a side window of the house.  Following a short foot chase the man, aged in his 30s, was arrested. He was also found to be in possession of a knife. The scene was preserved and examined by the local Scenes of Crime Unit. A hatchet and a screwdriver that are believed to have been used during the course of the burglary were also recovered. The suspect was detained at Kilrush Garda Station under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984 and has since been charged. He is also charged in relation to the following incidents in Co. Clare: Burglary at a shop on Francis Street that …

THE business community in Ennistymon has been expressing its concern over the reduction of up to 16 parking spaces from the town centre. The matter was raised by Councillor Shane Talty at the July meeting of the West Clare Municipal District, who said he had been hearing of “huge trepidation” among retailers. Under a Part 8 planning application to revitalise Main Street in the town, 14-16 spaces will be removed with the council proposing to expand pedestrian facilities and increase street furniture. Councillor Talty said that while the Part 8, which is to be lodged later this year, was widely welcomed, an alternative town centre parking is needed. “We have a historic problem with congestion,” Councillor Talty noted. “There has been a welcome increase in the number of businesses opening, with one business from Parnell Street in Ennis recently relocating to Ennistymon. We have a very vibrant town, but I’m hearing of huge trepidation at the prospect of a reduction …