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WITH quite a number of road deaths since the beginning of the new year, new research from AA Ireland has revealed that some Irish motorists are still too heavy on the accelerator. In an AA Motor Insurance survey, 21.07% of more than 7,000 admitted that they had broken the speed limit within the past month. Meanwhile, a further 8.76% and 10.13% admitted to speeding within the past 6 months and within the last year respectively. Despite the increase in traffic on Irish roads, there was some positive news as the survey found that over a third of motorists, 35.06%, have never broken the speed limit. However, male drivers were significantly more likely to have broken the speed limit while driving, with just 28.11% stating they had never sped compared to 40.08% of women. Over a quarter of male drivers surveyed admitted to breaking the limit within the past month, almost 8% higher than the number of female motorists who had …

THREE of the organisers of a teenage gambling awareness workshop in Ennis last week have told The Clare Champion that it is a significant issue for some young people. The gambling awareness seminar at Coláiste Muire involved interactive, peer-led workshops, which were designed by the school’s transition-year class. Among the guest speakers were Barry Grant, CEO of Problem Gambling Ireland, and addiction counsellor Justin Campbell. Shona Hale, Niamh McHugh and Rachel Kennedy, all of whom are transition-year students, played a central role in organising the event. As part of the project, Niamh interviewed a teenage girl with a gambling problem. “You wouldn’t think this girl had this problem. She gambled on online poker. She told us it all started with innocent slot machines. She was like, ‘if you know how to play it properly, you’re obviously going to win’. That’s what she said. She was gambling on slot machines, then internet slot machines and then online poker. “She made a …

THE late Caitríona Lucas was posthumously named Clare person of the year at a ceremony in the Falls Hotel in Ennistymon last night. Over 300 people were in attendance at the Clare Association function, as the award was accepted by the late Ms Lucas’ husband Bernard, her son Ben and daughter Emma. Speaking to The Champion at the Falls, Bernard said “It means an awful lot for all of us, for the family, the extended family, it’s a huge honour.” Bernard, who also volunteers with the coastguard, added, “it’s a very proud night for all of us and it’s a great honour to have. Unfortunately it’s posthumous, but she would be very, very honoured by it.” He also paid tribute to those who have helped him and his family since last September. “We’ve had a lot of support from friends and neighbours. It would have been very difficult without them, but we have great neighbours, great friends and great extended …

THE most expensive property sold in County Clare last year was also the most expensive outside of Dublin, the latest Property Price Register (PPR) has revealed. It was a student accommodation complex, Thomond Village, in the University of Limerick, which sold for €33 million. The most expensive house was Quinville Abbey in Quin, which sold for €1.4 million, while Suite 7 at Donald Trump’s Doonbeg Golf Club, which sold for €675,000 made the top five. At the other end of the scale, the cheapest houses sold in Clare was The Old Post Office, Cullenagh, Labasheeda, which sold for €6,000. Three other properties in Kilrush, Carron and Cooraclare sold for €10,000. Countrywide, the level of property transactions fell by 3.5% in 2016 to 47,175 according to an analysis of the Property Price Register carried out by the property website MyHome.ie. However, while the level of transactions may have fallen, the total value of property transactions actually increased by 7.4% to over …

BALLYEA are flying high in the club hurling championship but another Ballyea native, Niamh Kelly, has enjoyed her own taste of success, after being selected as the 2017 Abu Dhabi Rose, destined for the Rose of Tralee festival from August 16 to 22. A farmer’s daughter, Niamh started a nursing degree at University of Limerick in 2009, after which she moved to London, before heading to the Middle East in July 2016. Niamh will be among the 65 Roses from Ireland and Irish communities around the globe who will travel to Kerry for the seven-day festival. “I am a proud Clare woman, who can be found reciting The Banner Roar whenever the opportunity presents itself. My main loves are sports, fashion, travelling the world with my best friends, Irish music and craic and keeping up with my 94-year-old grandad on Skype. “I’m looking forward to representing the Irish community in Abu Dhabi and my family from Clare at the Rose …

AN alleged illegal moneylender has appeared before a sitting of Kilrush District Court accused of engaging a man to threaten to shoot or torch the home of a debtor. John Thomas Naughton (64), with an address at O’Gorman Street in Kilrush, appeared before the local district court this week charged with engaging in moneylending without a moneylender’s licence granted by the Director of Consumer Affairs on a date unknown between April 1, 2014 and May 31, 2014. The offence is contrary to section 98(1) of Consumer Credit Act 1995. He is further charged that at O’Gorman Street, Kilrush he did without lawful excuse, through a third party, make a threat intending that it would be feared it would be carried out, to damage the house belonging to the injured party in the case. The offence, which is contrary to Section 3 of the Criminal Damage Act 1991, is alleged to have occurred on a date unknown between July 18, 2016 …

Clare holiday makers and those planning any trip abroad, have been advised to apply for a passport well in advance of travel. Minister for Employment and Small Business Pat Breen said, “I have had numerous calls to my constituency office in Ennis from people who are waiting weeks for a new passport, with many fearing they will not have their passport returned in time to travel. My advice therefore is to apply for your passport as early as possible.” “However, if you are travelling for business, even personal business, and require a passport within 15 to 20 days it is advisable to avail of the Passport Appointments Service rather than the Passport Express System,” he said. There has been an unprecedented number of applications for Irish passports since the vote on Brexit. According to figures revealed by the Department of Foreign Affairs there has been a 72% increase in applications from Northern Ireland and a 70% increase from Great Britain …

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