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Failure to develop Limerick’s planned Northern Distributor Road would impact negatively on future investment potential and jobs at the National Technology Park, leading multi-national employers and the IDA have said. Three of the largest FDI employers, Johnson & Johnson Vision, Cook Medical and Northern Trust, with a combined work force of over 3,300 people and the IDA have come together to state their concerns that rejection of the proposed road by councillors would be a significant regressive step for the city, county and region and send the wrong signal to inward investors. A spur from the Limerick Northern Distributor Road (LNDR) is seen as the panacea to existing capacity constraints on the main road through the National Technology Park (NTP) and UL, which has up to 40 minute delays that will deny further expansion and investment into the area. The closing date for submissions from stakeholders and the wider public on the LNDR is Monday next, Limerick City and County …

A net total of 173 new jobs were delivered in 2016 by small businesses in Clare that have been supported by Local Enterprise Office Clare. The figure is the fourth highest of the country’s 31-strong Local Enterprise Office network, according to the results of the latest LEO annual jobs survey published by Minister Mary Mitchell O’Connor and Minister for Employment and Small Business Pat Breen The results, compiled by Enterprise Ireland, show the total number of people employed in small businesses supported by Local Enterprise Office Clare stood at 1,110 (full-time and part-time) at the end of last year. Cathaoirleach of Clare County Council,Bill Chambers commented, “The strong jobs performance by Local Enterprise Office Clare clients during 2016 is extremely welcome and testament to the strong entrepreneurial activity ongoing throughout the county. The figures also underline the considerable role now played by Local Enterprise Office Clare in providing financial, information and training supports to entrepreneurs and micro enterprises.”

The President Michael D Higgins has led tributes to the former Northern Ireland Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness, who died early this morning. Mr McGuinness, a former IRA leader in Derry, emerged as a key Sinn Féin political figure in the North and played a significant role in the peace process and forging the Good Friday Agreement. “The world of politics and the people across this island will miss the leadership he gave, shown most clearly during the difficult times of the peace process, and his commitment to the values of genuine democracy that he demonstrated in the development of the institutions in Northern Ireland,” the President said. He added, “As President of Ireland, I wish to pay tribute to his immense contribution to the advancement of peace and reconciliation in Northern Ireland – a contribution which has rightly been recognised across all shades of opinion. “Our paths have crossed many times in recent years at official events, including most …

Farmers, landowners and anyone enjoying the recreational opportunities of our countryside have been warned to behave responsibly and within the law with regard to lighting fires. Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine with responsibility for forestry, Andrew Doyle has reminded farmers, forest owners, forest managers and the public of the need to be alert to the risk of wildfires over the coming months. “An inherent risk of fire exists during spring months on certain types of land, particularly in upland areas and that high fire risk conditions can be expected over the coming spring and summer months, when weather conditions dictate,” stated the minister. Recalling the major wildfires in recent years that destroyed or damaged property, including farmland and forests, he added, “Such fires directly endanger people’s homes and property and destroy valuable habitats and tourism resources. Furthermore, they place enormous strain on the emergency services and put the lives of rural dwellers and …

Representatives of Clare County Council met with senior executives from Tourism Ireland in New York over  St Patrick’s weekend. They were briefed on Tourism Ireland’s extensive promotional programme for 2017, which is in full swing right now. Tourism Ireland aims to build on the success of 2016, which was the fourth record-breaking year in a row for Irish tourism from the United States. Tourism Ireland is prioritising North America this year, as a market which offers a strong return on investment, in terms of holiday visitors and expenditure. Our important ‘culturally curious’ and ‘social energiser’ audiences are being targeted with distinctive vacation experiences, events and special offers tailored to their interests. Tourism Ireland is creating ‘stand out’ for the island of Ireland in the US, highlighting experiences like the Wild Atlantic Way, the Causeway Coastal Route and Ireland’s Ancient East. Promotions aim to grow travel to the regions of Ireland, during the shoulder and off-peak seasons. With the recent announcement …

A group of more than 20 people from Langenfeld, located in North-Rhine-Westphalia between Düsseldorf and Cologne, have travelled to the county capital to participate in the 2017 Ennis St Patrick’s Day Parade today (Friday) Since the Irish Embassy in Berlin first facilitated contact between Ennis and Langenfeld in 2009, relations have been strengthening between both towns in the areas of culture and youth affairs. Ennis and Langenfeld became official twinning partners in 2013. Langenfeld is already twinned with Senlis (France), Gostynin (Poland), Montale (Italy) and Batangas City (Philippines). Mayor of Ennis Ann Norton; Leas cathaoirleach of Clare County Council Paul Murphy and Councillor Michael Begley, chair of the twinning committee, welcomed the delegation to Áras Contae an Chláir in Ennis.

Tourism Ireland has unveiled a new online film for St Patrick’s Day 2017, to encourage prospective holidaymakers to come and visit Ireland this year. The 60-second film includes wonderful footage shot around Ireland, including the Cliffs of Moher, interwoven with some great images from Tourism Ireland’s Global Greening initiative, which sees hundreds of famous landmarks and iconic sites across the globe illuminated in green each year to celebrate St Patrick’s Day on this Friday. The film is being promoted through Tourism Ireland’s social platforms, including Facebook with 3.8 million fans worldwide; Twitter with 379,000 followers and YouTube. Last month, Tourism Ireland announced details of some of the famous attractions and sites around the world which will join its Global Greening initiative this year to mark St Patrick’s Day. From Rome to Rio and from London to Las Vegas, a host of major landmarks and iconic sites around the world will be illuminated in green this week – including the Colosseum, …

THE Central Bank has today (Monday) confirmed that 8% of mortgages in Clare are currently in arrears. The Central Bank has also noted almost 66% of people are unaware that there are free support services available to home-owners who are in mortgage arrears, as outlined in a new study conducted by the Citizens Information Board (CIB). The finding comes on foot of the recent launch of the communications campaign for Abhaile by the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality, Frances Fitzgerald and Minister for Social Protection, Leo Varadkar. Angela Black, chief executive of CIB welcomed the report, which forms part of the communications campaign, aimed at increasing awareness of Abhaile, the Free Mortgage Arrears Support service dministered by MABS. Since its introduction last October, Abhaile has helped in excess of 4,800 people in mortgage distress. “We very much welcome the launch of the communications campaign, which has been developed specifically with the distressed borrower in mind. While this service has already brought much …