Motoring

INSTALLING the controversial Púca statue at a busy Ennis junction would draw motorists’ attention to new road safety measures put in place a local councillor has quipped. An upgrade of the Corrovorrin junction, including a new mini-roundabout, has been widely welcomed locally, however a meeting of the Ennis Municipal District has been told there needs to be more driver awareness of the changes to the road. This prompted Councillor Mary Howard to joke, “People are still not aware of the roundabout, they would know if the Púca was in the middle of it to draw attention to it.” More seriously she added, “Traffic is flying through and I’m afraid of what might happen.” The issue at Corrovorrin junction was raised by Councillor Johnny Flynn who urged the council to consider further improvements to the “excellent upgrade” of the area. He called for improved road signage immediately adjacent to the junction to increase driver awareness; road marking of the track drive …

One man has been hospitalised following a road traffic incident that occurred across two different scenes on the outskirts of Ennis this morning. It’s understood that two vehicles collided initially near Inch Bridge on the Ennis to Miltown Malbay road shortly before 8am. No-one was injured in that incident. However, one of the vehicles continued towards the main N68 Ennis to Kilrush Road before colliding with a ditch and rolling over at Inch Beg. It’s also understood that the driver of a vehicle who witnessed the first collision followed the car that left the scene and raised the alarm after it crashed. The car rolled over and came to a stop on its side leaving the driver and sole occupant trapped inside. An ambulance and rapid response advanced paramedic unit were sent to the scene along with local Gardaí. When it was reported that a person was still inside the vehicle, two units of Clare County Fire and Rescue Service …

MOTORISTS have been seen driving on a pedestrianised area of Ennis’ Parnell Street in the evening, prompting calls for barriers to be put in place. Councillor Mark Nestor highlighted the concerns of local businesses located on the town centre street at a meeting of the Ennis Municipal District. He stated, “There are businesses operating in the pedestrianised section of Parnell Street after 6pm but over the last number of weeks there has been an issue of cars driving up the street when they shouldn’t.” He requested that Ennis Municipal District erect temporary barriers at the end of the pedestrianised section of Parnell Street, to stop traffic coming up the street. The motion was seconded by Councillor Pat Daly. Eamon O’Dea, Senior Executive Engineer, “The contractor is awaiting for ESB connections to the retractable bollard to be completed and then the bollards can be commissioned. “The Ennis Municipal District will arrange temporary traffic management to obstruct errant drivers from entering from …

ANALYSIS by a car history check company has revealed a significant amount of imported cars being driven in Clare that have been salvaged or written-off despite being sold as “all clear”. An investigation by MotorCheck.ie estimates the market value of these so-called ‘Zombie’ cars in the Banner County to be as high as €7m. The company identified 39,336 such vehicles with a total market value of €318 million being driven on Irish roads and has conceded that the true figure may be even higher. Examples of Zombie cars were found currently for sale privately and on dealers’ forecourts with ‘All Clear’ histories. Despite the introduction of new Brexit-linked import charges, the number of vehicles imported from the UK to the Republic of Ireland remains high. In 2021 over 83,000 vehicles have been imported with a total of 457,000 coming across the water over the past four years. In an effort to understand the prevalence of Zombie vehicles (those brought back …

RESIDENTS living in the Cloughleigh area of Ennis are calling for action to address an increasing amount of traffic and speeding in the locality. Their concerns were highlighted at a recent meeting of the Ennis Municipal District where Councillor Mark Nestor sought the replacement of an existing speed ramp and for the erection of additional ‘slow down’ and ‘children at play’ road signage at Gordon Drive. The councillor outlined that a number of residents have made representations highlighting their worries about the amount of cars speeding on the road. He also pointed out that the popular astro-turf facility on the road is resulting in even more traffic coming into the area. Barry Conway, A/Senior Executive Engineer, told the meeting the Ennis Municipal District will carry out a road safety assessment in Gordan Drive giving consideration to all signage, speed ramps and line marking. “Any necessary repairs will be included in this years SMDW,” he added. Councillor Nestor welcomed the response …

WITH road deaths nationwide in 2022 up almost 50% on the same period in 2021 a special safety appeal has been launched ahead of the Easter Bank Holiday weekend. The Road Safety Authority and An Garda Síochána launched the appeal in light of the worrying increase in fatalities on the roads – 50 so far this year. The campaign appeals to all road users to slow down, wear seatbelts, not to drive when impaired, or distracted – particularly by illegally using your phone while driving – or when tired. While the RSA and An Garda Síochána have issued a general appeal for road users to take greater care on the road this Easter Bank Holiday there will also be focus on drug driving. An Garda Síochána figures for the full year 2021 saw over 3,300 arrests for Drug-Driving. The number of arrests in 2022, up to 31 March, is 768. Analysis by the Medical Bureau of Road Safety (MBRS) shows …

AN Ennis man who was part of a convoy of Tesla drivers bringing Ukrainian refugees to Ireland has told how he still gets emotional thinking about the experience. John Casey, founder of the Tesla Owners Group in Ireland, also revealed the drivers are planning a return trip to help even more people to safety. John recently returned from Poznan in Poland where he was part of a humanitarian endeavour which saw more than 70 Ukrainians, including a three-month old baby, brought by car across Europe to Ireland. He explains that fellow Tesla driver and member of the group Tom McEnaney, founder of International Orphanage Development Programme Ltd, approached him last month with the idea of the club helping people in Ukraine. Having put the word out to the members on Thursday, March 24, a convoy of 15 cars and a van set out for Poznan. Fellow club member, and director at Unicef, Caroline Dowling flew out ahead of time to …

CLARE gardai have appealed for witnesses to a traffic collision that occured on Monday of last week in Ennis. At 1.20am on Monday, March 21, a traffic collision occurred at the Tulla Road/Lifford Road roundabout and the second vehicle failed to remain at the scene. The driver of one car was travelling from Clonroad in the direction of the Tulla Road/Lifford Road roundabout intersection. The driver was taking the second exit at the roundabout when the offending vehicle which approached from the Lifford Road direction collided into her car. The only description available currently is that it was a black car. If anyone witnessed this collision or anyone has dash cam footage of it, they are asked to contact Ennis Garda Station on 6848100.