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The rate of reversal of planning permission decisions by Clare County Council is far higher than the national average according to the annual report of the Office of the Planning Regulator. In its Annual Overview of the Planning System 2021 it found that 4.4% of the decisions made by the Council were appealed, and of these 46.7% were reversed; the national average was just 27.7%. Another notable figure from the report was the finding that Clare County Council had a total of 164 sites designated as vacant and/or derelict; this contrasted with a figure from the Central Statistics Office for the county of 6,104. The report also showed that in 2021, 94% of planning applications were approved by Clare County Council, with just 6% refused. Clare County Council approved 1,157 applications during the year, with just 68 refused. The Clare approval rate is considerably higher than the national one, which is 88.5%. Commenting on the findings, Planning Regulator, Niall Cussen …

AN Ennis man who purchased a Toyota jeep for €43,000 in cash in €50 notes in February 2021 has made a renewed court bid to have Gardai return the jeep to him. At Ennis District Court this Wednesday, solicitor Daragh Hassett had before court a Police Property application on behalf of Ned Doherty (32) of St Michael’s Park, Ballymaley, Gort Road, Ennis for the return of his 20-2 Toyota Hilux jeep. Unemployed at the time, Mr Doherty purchased the jeep in cash from a County Roscommon car dealer on February 23 2021 but it was seized 10 days later as part of a wider Garda operation that also involved the Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB) on March 5 2021. Mr Hassett told the court that the vehicle was seized almost two years ago and Mr Doherty has yet to be charged in relation to any offence or for any application to be made by the State to permanently seize the vehicle. …

A FASCINATING radio documentary tracing the story of a Mayo woman, who orchestrated the bombing of a community dancehall, has an East Clare twist, it has emerged. RTÉ’s Doc on One production, ‘Dancing Nancy’ by John Corless and Ronan Kelly, details the bombing in the 1970s of Claremorris Community Centre. While a paramilitary motive was at first suspected, Cong businesswoman Nancy Murphy, who ran a rival dancehall, was found to be responsible. Since the documentary aired last August, RTÉ’s Ronan Kelly has updated the piece with an interview broadcast earlier this week featuring Scariff’s James Treacy. The original documentary had revealed that Ms Murphy had found romance, but little was known of her mystery man until the piece was broadcast. James Treacy, recognising himself, in the description of the couple checking into Ashford Castle, contacted RTÉ. He told the station that he had been a long-time companion of the late Ms Murphy, and the revelation prompted Mr Kelly to visit …

GARDAÍ have launched an investigation after shots were fired in broad daylight in Ennis this week. Nobody was injured during the incident which occurred at around 2.45pm on Tuesday in the Beech Park area of Ennis. A video which appears to show the incident has been circulating on social media showing two men dressed in black while a third person filmed them. Superintendent John Galvin of Ennis Garda Station told the Clare Champion that gardaí are “actively investigating” the incident including carrying out of a number of follow up searches. He appealed to anyone who may have information about the incident to come forward to gardaí. “Anybody who was in the area at the time or who may have dash cam footage we would appeal to them to contact Ennis Garda Station on 065 684 8100 or  or the Garda Confidential Line 1800 666 111.”

CLARE professional boxer David Ryan has been nominated for the irish-boxing.com Professional Debut of the Year Award. David is one of five nominated and describing his debut, the irish-boxing.com blurb said, “The Shannon kickboxing convert was thrown straight in at the deep end in November when he was matched with Nicaraguan dangerman Brayan Mairena in Belfast. Ryan rose to the challenge in a fun war and we can’t wait to see him in domestic fights at light welterweight.” David’s professional debut was televised on TG4 and he won on points after a hugely entertaining four rounds. Speaking to the Clare Champion in the aftermath of the fight, he said he hadn’t found it very taxing. “Not at all. The fight was actually fairly easy. The first three rounds I won fairly handily and in the fourth I took the foot off the gas and counterpunched a small bit, let him come and do the work, I didn’t have to chase …

THE transfer of patients to Ennis Hospital Medical Assessment Unit for emergency care is set to continue for the foreseeable future. The announcement comes on foot of a meeting this Wednesday between Oireachtas members in the Mid-West Region, the Taoiseach, Minister for Health, Senior HSE officials and the management of UL Hospitals Group.    Speaking after the meeting, Deputy Violet Anne Wynne said, “I have spoken with the CEO of UL Hospitals Group Prof. Colette Cowan, and she has assured me that the transferring of patients by ambulance to the MAU at Ennis Hospital for emergency care where possible will continue beyond the end of this current massive level of overcrowding at University Hospital Limerick. “I have sought assurances that resources will be ramped up to ensure that this new MAU pathway will not detract from the existing services provided at Ennis Hospital. I have not received those assurances; however, I have been informed that the management will meet again …

A PAINTING by Ennis artist Mick O’Dea is getting the royal treatment in its brand new home. His painting of the Grace O’Malley Tall Ship is now on display in the offices of HSH Prince Albert II of Monaco at the Yacht Club Monaco. The artwork which was commissioned by Robert Lee Mulcahy is on permanent loan and on display at the yacht club. The painting was purchased by The ATLANTIC Youth Trust, a charity focused on youth development through working with tall ships. Earlier this year the charity purchased a 164ft tradewind schooner, now named the Grace O’Malley after the famous Pirate Queen. Following a refit of the vessel the charity aims to provide on board training to 1,000 young people annually from all socio-economic backgrounds in sailing, navigation and communication skills development. Speaking to the Clare Champion, artist O’Dea said, “I’m proud to be associated with such a worthy cause. The complete refurbishment of Ireland’s new tall ship …

AFTER highlighting the danger caused by an ‘explosion’ in the deer population in East Clare, a local councillor is urging members of the public to take part in a new national consultation initiative.  Deputy Pat Hayes told the most recent meeting of the Killaloe Municipal District that several people had raised the matter with him, with particular concerns over road safety, as well as the damage caused by deer to farm lands and crops. He told colleagues and Council officials that the Slieve Aughtys are currently host to a massive population of wild deer, who have moved from the hills down to the valleys, with  ongoing encroachment into farms. Since the matter was raised, the Ministers for Agriculture and Housing have launched  a new public consultation initiative as part of the development of a Deer Management Strategy. Ministers Charlie McConalogue and Darragh O’Brien unveiled the consultation in recent weeks to gather views on key issues relating to deer management in …