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FOUR families in Kilcredaun, Carrigaholt were marooned on Monday when high tide hit the picturesque townland, which is home to an historic lighthouse. The flooding has resulted in the townland of Kilcredaun on the Loop Head peninsula being rendered effectively an island. A total of six houses were cut off by the flooding in recent days. The grounds of the nearby O’Curry’s Irish College has also been hit by flooding following the breaching of a wall. Meanwhile,  a number of houses in Carrigaholt village were hit by flooding when the village wall was breached at high tide. Locals are very concerned that their difficulties will be exacerbated should further storms hit the area in the coming days.

LEADING property website daft.ie has found that asking prices for house prices in Clare fell by 11% between the last quarter of 2012 and the last quarter of 2013. According to their figures the average house price in the Banner county fell to €128,175, down 59% from the peak of the bubble. According to their figures, the average price for a one-bedroom apartment in this county is now just €45,000, while a two bed is €57,000. A three bedroom semi detached house is €83,000, while a four bed is €169,000. A five-bed semi detached house now has an average asking price of €189,000. According to the Daft figures the price of apartments was hit hardest in 2013, with the one beds down y 18.6% and two beds down by 16.1%. Regarding houses, the five beds were down by 15.7%, four beds by 11.3% and three beds by 13.6%. The Daft report showed a two speed property market, with Dublin seeing …

RESIDENTS at Dooras, O’Callaghan’s Mills have been “trapped” in their homes since water levels began rising on the road outside their homes at Christmas. Some locals opted to abandon their homes taking up alternative accommodation, while others who had managed to traverse the flood in jeeps and tractors over Christmas week, are now unable to leave as water levels hit upwards of three feet. Flooding on this narrow stretch of road, which is a cul de sac, has been a feature of the area for many years, with residents having to resort to boats, or abandoning their homes until it subsided. However, in previous years the water abated much quicker. There are four houses on this stretch of road. Residents say although their houses have not been flooded the road servicing the properties is completely submerged and is extremely dangerous to even attempt to travel on as there is an eight to ten feet drop on either side of the …

UP to 1,000 acres of farmland in the Ballynacally/Kildysart area was flooded on Sunday, as a result of a major breach in the Shannon Estuary embankment. Over 50 farmers in the area have been affected – 43 in Ballynacally and the remainder in Kildysart. Kildysart graveyard has also been flooded, which has caused further distress to locals. At a public meeting, attended by elected representatives, in Ballynacally community centre, a formal appeal for Government intervention was made.  Efforts are to be made as soon as possible to assess the cost of the damage to support the appeal. There are no reports of the loss of livestock but in one instance fodder had to be brought to two horses isolated on raised ground. On many farms, however, silage bales have been left under several feet of water, which will cause an additional financial burden for farmers. John Joe O’Sullivan, whose farm in Ballynacally includes a parcel of corcass, said his holding …

CLARE County Council has issued a warning to home, business and land owners in flood prone locations and along the coast that there is potential for further flooding tonight and tomorrow morning. Lahinch promenade remains closed to the public until further notice following the extensive damage on Friday. Met Éireann has today issued a new Orange Alert for Clare warning of the danger of coastal flooding due to the combination of the gale force winds, high tides and very high seas. Local spot flooding inland could also occur. Council senior engineer, Tom Tiernan said, “We are advising members of the public to stay away from the seafront, particularly at Lahinch where it simply is not safe for people to be there as the structure of the promenade is seriously compromised. The facility will be reopened for public use as soon as possible.” Clare County Council, in conjunction with the Emergency Services, says it is also progressing contingency arrangements in terms …

IT’S back to school for thousands of primary and second level pupils in Clare tomorrow after the Christmas holidays. This will mean a considerable increase in the level of traffic and pedestrians on the roads in the morning and evening. With bad weather conditions expected to continue, resulting in flooding and surface water on roads, both motorists and pedestrians should be especially vigilant.  Motorists should follow the simple guide of slow down and expect the unexpected, while pedestrians should  be alert in crossing roads, especially at busy junctions. Also, they should observe lights at junctions and other crossings.  

HUNDREDS of people descended on Tim Smyth Park (Ennis Fairgreen) on Sunday afternoon to participate in, or enjoy as spectators, the annual Christmas tree throwing competition. A break in the bad weather enabled the event to progress in a very enjoyable atmosphere, much to the relief of organisers, Ennis Town Council and Clare County Council. The contest, which is based on age-old lumberjack traditions and is commonplace across Germany and Austria, sees members of the public competing to achieve the longest distance for throwing a standard 1.5 metre tree. Last year’s winner, John O’Dea from Limerick launched a Christmas tree 10.2 metres, just less than 2 metres short of the World Record held by Klaus Pubnaz who hurled a tree a distance of 12m in Germany three years ago.