News

By Dan Danaher FORMER Clare Labour Party activist, Paula McNamara will contest the Local Elections as an independent candidate in May. In addition to stepping down from the Labour Party’s Central Council, Paula McNamara, Magowna, Inch, resigned from the party last month. The daughter of former Ennis Hospital Development Committee chairman and Labour Party activist, the late Peadar McNamara, Paula also relinquished a number of administrative roles including PRO of the Ennis Labour Branch, county women’s’ officer, and co-treasure. Involved in numerous community projects from a young age, she hopes voters will judge her  ability to make a difference on the council on what she has achieved in the past. “I am young energetic person who likes to get things done. I hope my years of community involvement will give voters a glimpse of what I have and can achieve with their support,” she said. Revitalising Ennis town centre to make it a more attractive place for local shoppers and tourists …

GARDAÍ in West Clare are investigating reports of attempted break-ins by a person, who it is claimed was attempting entry using a supposed master key. The gardaí are reacting to a matter raised by Councillor Oliver Garry at Monday’s meeting of the JPC, where he said he had received calls from members of the public in Kildysart, who had told him “a person was going around with a bunch of keys trying specific doors of houses”. He said on receiving a call about it, he phoned gardaí in Kilrush. He asked if the gardaí were aware of certain doors that could be accessed by using a “master key”. “He was only trying certain doors. I don’t know the specifics of the particular one,” he said. Superintendents Derek Smart and Seamus Nolan were not aware of this specific incident but said they would make enquiries. Following the meeting, Superintendent Smart said the gardaí had not heard about this particular type of …

THE Clare Champion’s coverage of Community Games activities was recognised at the national annual general meeting which was held in Westport in Mayo at the weekend. In the Provincial media section, the Clare Champion captured third prize. Sports editor, Seamus Hayes received the award from the organisation’s president, Gerry Davenport. The public relations officer of the Clare organisation, Mary Phelan from Sixmilebridge received an award for her work in that role. Over 200 volunteers descended on the Mayo town where keynote speaker, Kieran Mulvey, chairperson of the Irish Sports Council, praised the HSE Community Games for being a “nursery of sporting talent” in Ireland today. “The HSE Community Games is a shining star in Ireland today and the Irish Sports Council are proud to be associated with this nursery of sporting talent. This year, the HSE Community Games received funding of €260,000 from the ISC (Irish Sports Council) and €25,000 from Women in Sport and we consider this to be …

THE issuing of adult cautions is becoming more prevalent in recent times, something gardaí have attributed to the current economic climate. At a meeting of the county’s Joint Policing Committee Superintendent Derek Smart, of Ennis Garda District, outlined to the committee that the number of theft and theft-related offences had increased by three instances, bringing the total to 858. Noting in the breakdown of these figures that thefts from shops accounted for 230 of these crimes, Councillor John Crowe asked the Superintendent to clarify if these would have resulted in successful prosecutions. Superintendent Smart said, “The vast majority of them would end up in convictions. Most shops have good CCTVs, and we would also make use of the adult caution in the case of a first time offence, which keeps the matter out of the courts. We are seeing this being used a lot more in the current economic times”. After the meeting, Superintendent Smart told The Clare Champion, “It …

CLARE County Council is to receive over €16million from the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government to undertake repair works to local authority managed infrastructure damaged during the recent storms. The €16,205,637 funding has been allocated in response to submissions made to Government by Clare County Council outlining details of  the damage caused to infrastructure along Clare’s Atlantic coastline and at some locations along the Shannon Estuary. The funding has been earmarked for a programme of repair works to roads, piers and harbours, coastal protection repairs, tourism infrastructure and other facilities which are in the charge of Clare County Council. Meanwhile, the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government has also made a once-off allocation of €608,878 to the local authority to recoup the costs associated with its response to storms during January. Welcoming the news, Mayor of Clare Councillor Joe Arkins said, “This is a very positive announcement for Clare and the people who live and …

TOURISM is one of the main drivers of the Clare economy and in the North Clare region the Burren plays a pivotal role in this sector. Next Wednesday night, an information and network event will be held to showcase the activities, adventures, food and heritage of the Burren Region. The Burren and Cliffs of Moher Geopark, in conjunction with the Burren Ecotourism Network, will host The Burren Tourism Story 2014, at the Pavilion, Lisdoonvarna from 6.30pm to 8.30pm. The event will feature information stands, food tastings, the launch of the Burren’s first adventure and activities trail, and guest presentations from author and green business lecturer Prof. Finbarr Bradley; head of programmes and delivery Fáilte Ireland, Fiona Monaghan and award-winning travel writer and journalist, Pól O’Conghaile. Tina O’Dwyer, sustainable tourism co-ordinator, Burren and Cliffs of Moher Geopark explained that the primary purpose of the upcoming event will be to highlight the variety and quality of visitor attractions and activities on offer …

By Peter O’Connell FARMERS affected by coastal flooding in Farrihy , which straddles the border between Kilkee and Doonbeg, have had to hire a private contractor to help save 300 acres of land extensively flooded in the January and February flooding. “The farmers have taken it on themselves because their land was getting worse and worse. Every time the tide comes in three feet of their land is removed. It is reaching the stage now where it’s going to reach the bog area of the land,” Coastal Erosion Group PRO Tommy Comerford said. “The flooding has just absolutely destroyed the whole place. What they have done is they have got their own private machine in. They’re doing it out of their own pocket to try and protect the piece of land that’s getting damaged. Doonbeg regards this as a real emergency,” he added. Mr Comerford has revealed that a land and householder in Farrihy, Gearóid Greene, has had to spend …

A PROUD grandmother whose young grandchildren were her “best work” was how the late Josephine, better known as Josie, Lucas was fondly remembered, as family and friends gathered for her funeral mass on Wednesday. The 74-year-old died following a tragic accident involving her own car in Francis Street, Ennis on Sunday afternoon. Emergency services were called, however, despite their best efforts she was pronounced dead at the scene.  Both Mrs Lucas’ grandchildren, who were with her, were treated for shock. Her brother, Kevin told mourners at St Joseph’s Church that his sister was “determined, confident and she spoke her mind” adding she was “very proud of being from Clare.” Mrs Lucas trained to be a nurse as a teenager, meeting her future husband, Tony in London before moving back to Clare where they joined the publican trade. Her family own Lucas’ pub on Parnell Street, with Kevin recalling his sister’s determined spirit during floods on the street. “I have great memories …