Breaking News

THE Irish Blood Transfusion Service are urging the people of Clare to give a “priceless gift” and donate blood this Christmas and New Year. Blood donation clinics will be open in Ennis across three days next week with donors called on to make a special effort this festive season. The clinics will be held by appointment only at CBS Primary School, Ennis on Tuesday, December 27, Wednesday, December 28 and Thursday, December 29. To book an appointment contact 1800 222 111. According to IBTS, donations are especially important given on-going challenges with donor availability due to the level of illness in the community, with nearly 20% of all appointments being cancelled weekly. “We really need blood donor’s help, we know it’s been hard and our donors have been amazing in their support.  Donating blood is a selfless act for the person who gives it but is a priceless gift to the person who receives it. For the next three weeks, we …

AN eight-year-old boy who was saved from drowning at Doughmore Beach in West Clare by the crew of Rescue Helicopter 115 has visited the CHC Shannon Base to convey his thanks.  Aidan William Cordeiro was swimming at Doughmore Beach on August 13 when he was taken by rip tides further out to sea. The Kilkee and Doolin units of the Irish Coast Guard were dispatched to the incident along with Rescue 115 from Shannon. A number of people on the beach attempted to reach Aidan but without success. Rescue 115 arrived on scene and were able to see that Aidan was struggling badly to stay afloat. CHC winchman/paramedic Philip Wrenn was lowered to the boy but due to difficult sea conditions, Philip made the decision to release from the winch and swim/fin Aidan to shore. An eye witness said, “The child had to be a strong swimmer to keep himself above water for that long but he was starting to go …

EMERGENCY response times for West Clare patients are back in the spotlight again after a Kilrush woman endured an eight-hour wait for an ambulance. The elderly woman did receive medical assistance from a member of the fire brigade and off-duty medical person while she was left lying on the floor in her home. This case was highlighted at a recent HSE West Forum meeting by Councillor Cillian Murphy where he stressed eight hours was too long for anyone to be waiting who needs hospital care even if it wasn’t a high acuity case. The Kilkee-based councillor said this person would have been ideal to receive treatment from a community paramedic. “If an eight-hour wait is what we are expecting, I would like a response on that.” Chief Ambulance Officer, J J McGowan admitted the ambulance response time fell short of their standards. “If you would like to send us the details, we would like to see what happened in that …

Clare GAA PRO Anne Hayes admitted at the county convention to not having any control of up to four Clare GAA social media accounts on Instagram and Facebook. In her first report to convention as Clare GAA PRO, having been elected in April 2022, the Lissycasey native outlined, “We would have liked to be in control of Clare GAA Instagram and the numerous Clare GAA Facebook pages however we are unable to get access or to find out who is involved in these.” Highlighted by Coiste na nÓg Chairman PJ McGuane, the Cooraclare clubman enquired, “Who has control to those social media pages pertaining to Clare GAA and why isn’t it under the control of the PRO?” In response, Clare GAA Head of Operations Deirdre Murphy said that the matter “had been engaged with the various social media platforms in some cases, individuals”. Backing up her claim, PRO Hayes explained, “While we would love to have access to all the …

AN eclectic arts festival that made its debut this year is to return for a second instalment at the end of January. Hedge School, an initiative of Doolin Arts, will take place over three days from January 27 to January 29, in and around the north Clare village. The festival programme boasts more than 30 events across a wide variety of artistic disciplines including music, literature, film, visual arts and will include classes, workshops, artistic collaborations and intimate encounters all against the magical backdrop of the Wild Atlantic Way. Highlights within the Hedge School programme include a performance from Manchán Magan, a seminar on Magick by acclaimed Glasgow writer David Keenan and a workshop on the tradition of keening and lament from artist Ceara Conway. There will be musical performances from Katie Kim, Stephan James Smith, Ana Mullarkey. Boutique guitar pedal-makers from around the world will host a pedal party, whilst attendees can also discover new sounds at a pop-up …

A motorist has escaped injury after his van overturned on the M18 motorway this morning. The single-vehicle collision occurred at around 11.45am in the northbound lanes of the motorway just before the slip-road at junction 12. A white Volkswagen van, believed to have been travelling from Kerry to Fermanagh, is understood to have lost control before colliding with an embankment and overturning. The van came to a stop on its wheels in the hard-shoulder. The van was carrying a load of timber at the time and shed its load. Gardaí responded to the emergency call and on arrival found that the driver and sole occupant of the van appeared to be unharmed. Clare County Fire and Rescue Service and the National Ambulance Service were also alerted. Units of the fire service from Ennis and Shannon stations were mobilised to the scene along with an ambulance. The driver was assessed at the scene by paramedics but was found to be uninjured. …

FESTIVE lights are burning brightly once again on Tulla’s Main Street after a complaint forced their removal from ESB poles earlier this month. The goodwill of residents and businesses on Main Street has resulted in bespoke brackets being installed so that Christmas lights could be hung back up last week. The street had been without its seasonal illuminations for some days after a complaint was made to the ESB about the positioning of the lights which had, in a decade-long tradition, been suspended from the poles. While there was no question of the lights drawing any electricity from those, the ESB was forced to act on the complaint. Despite their dismay at not being contacted directly by the complainant – likened by some to the Grinch – the Tidy Towns committee quickly rallied its resources. A dedicated Christmas lights team went above and beyond the call of duty to get brackets installed, so that the festive sparkle could be restored. …

A PARK and ride scheme for Ennis could be the solution to traffic problems in the town centre a local councillor has insisted. However while the local authority has said it is continuing to “explore the possibility” of acquiring land for parking, a source of funding would be needed. Councillor Pat Daly, speaking at a meeting of the Ennis Municipal District, urged the council to look at purchasing or leasing land close to the town for use as a pilot scheme for a park and ride centre. He said he has “never seen Ennis as bad for traffic” adding there are “bottlenecks every day of the week”. He suggested a site on the Tulla Road would be suitable for the introduction of a pilot scheme. “A pilot scheme is something that should be looked at where people could park their car and go and do their shopping. This would take cars out of the town centre.” Leonore O’Neill, Senior Executive …