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Growing uncertainty surrounding the future of at least three community nursing homes in Clare and the lack of adequate funding for home help has prompted claims that elderly care in the county could become a “ticking time bomb”.Green Party Councillor Brian Meaney has warned the lack of proper supports for the elderly is a potential “time bomb” over the coming years unless proper resources are put in place.His claim coincides with a warning from Fianna Fáil TD, Timmy Dooley that long stay residential facilities in Raheen, Ennistymon and Kilrush are facing possible downgrading, or closure in a worst case scenario, under radical proposals being considered by Health Minister James Reilly.At a HSE Forum West meeting in Galway on Tuesday, Councillor Meaney said he is getting an increasing number of representations in recent weeks from people who are struggling to look after their elderly father or mother in their own home.Following the dramatic decrease in the number are in long-stay residential …

Gardaí investigating the murder six years ago of North Clare woman Emer O’Loughlin have said that an appeal on RTÉ’s CrimeCall on Tuesday night has generated “some very interesting calls”.Ms O’Loughlin’s charred remains were found in a burned-out mobile home at Ballybornagh, Tubber on April 8, 2005. The 23-year-old’s death was immediately treated as suspicious but a post mortem examination at the time did not indicate how she had died. Last year, Emer’s body was exhumed and a new post mortem revealed she had died violently. For operational reasons, however, gardaí did not release the specific details. This week, gardaí in Gort launched a fresh appeal for information in the case. They also announced Crimestoppers has offered a “substantial” cash reward for information on the present whereabouts of John Griffin, the owner of the mobile home in which Emer’s body was found. Mr Griffin, formerly of Cardinal Cushing Road, Mervue, Galway, was last seen on the Aran Islands on April …

IN an effort to address what has been deemed a “catastrophic” 301 person decrease in the town’s population since the 2006 census, a steering committee has been established in Kilkee. Group member, Councillor Paddy Collins, has voiced fears that Kilkee will be downgraded to village status if the population falls below 1,000 people.The 2011 census figures show the town’s population has fallen by 22% since 2006 when 1,325 lived there. The current population consists of 1,024 people, a fall of 301 people in five years. In 1996, Kilkee had the fourth largest population in Clare but 15 years later the seaside town has slipped down to 13th. “The steering group has been set up to try and address this situation although we don’t know how yet,” Kilkee town councillor Paddy Collins said, adding that they have written to local TDs, MEPs and the Clare county manager to highlight the situation. He is banking on cross agency support to aid Kilkee. …

Ruan Councillor Joe Arkins pipped his party colleague, Councillor John Crowe, to become the last Fine Gael mayor of this council’s term, following a secret ballot of 12 councillors on Monday last.Councillor Arkins will be the last First Citizen of the county from July 2013 to July 2014 when the current term of Clare County Council ends, following in the footsteps of Councillor Pat Daly, who replaces current Mayor Pat Hayes next summer.Councillor Tony Mulcahy became the First Citizen in the present authority and was subsequently elected as a Fine Gael Senator earlier this year. He was replaced by Councillor Christy Curtin as Mayor of Clare.The latest election is yet another heart-breaking political disappointment for Councillor Crowe, who lost out on winning a Senate seat by the narrowest of margins earlier this year after he was the 10th candidate left standing in a nine-seat panel.Despite completing an intensive campaign in the run-up to the last Senate, the Sixmilebridge retailer hung …

SENATOR Tony Mulcahy has confirmed he resigned as a director of a Shannon company before it was recently dissolved for its failure to submit annual returns.According to documents provided by the Companies Office, Ballycasey Developments Limited, with a registered address at 5 Clairn Drive, Ballycasey, Shannon, was struck off on November 14 last and dissolved five days later.Official documentation has also revealed that the last time annual returns were filed was on March 14, 2009, with the next annual return date due to have been July 14, 2010. The record of accounts is to December 31, 2008.The principal company activity was general construction of buildings and civil engineering works. The company had two directors, Tony Mulcahy, Tullyvarraga Crescent, Shannon and Catherine Justice, Clairin Glass, Shannon, who is also the secretary.Senator Mulcahy said he informed the Companies Office in writing last July that he was stepping down as a director but did not get an acknowledgement.Asked about work carried out by …

For six-and-a-half-years, candles have flickered on a table in the O’Loughlin home outside Ennistymon. The low flames cast their light on a large photograph showing the face of a vibrant, smiling young woman with a beaded-necklace and her brown hair in pig tails. This image is flanked by others. Whether in school uniform or petting a pony, Emer O’Loughlin is beaming.“We put that there the day the body was released from the Regional in Galway. We brought her home here and kept her for the night and that was put there then,” Emer’s father Johnny says, pointing at the shrine. “It has been there since.”Some of the photographs have been rearranged over the years but when you walk into the kitchen, Emer’s face still smiles back at you. Johnny recalls his little girl who loved animals, his teenager who thrilled in taking photos, his fun-loving travel companion, the college student who always called in home for a chat. But since …

Two small West Clare schools could be forced to close their doors due to low enrolment numbers, The Clare Champion has learned.Following last week’s closure of a school in Kerry, three months into the academic year, because it had no pupils The Department of Education confirmed it is in contact with two Clare schools about their viability.“The department is in correspondence with the patrons of two schools where pupil enrolments have declined to a level where the viability of the schools concerned may need to be considered. The two schools in question are primary schools in Clare. Both have children enrolled and have teaching principals. One also has a learning support hours allocation,” said a spokesperson for the Department of Education.Baltard National School in Doonbeg has just five pupils currently. The school is one of five in the Doonbeg parish along with Doonbeg, Bansha, Shragh and Clohanes National School. Baltard National School board of management chairman, Michael Haugh told The …