News

Clare Local Development Company is to launch a number of idea-gathering seminars across the county, beginning this month with a view to drawing those with fresh ideas for business in rural Clare to the Leader development programme.

ENNIS Chamber and other opponents of a proposed large retail development on the outskirts of the town, have been subjected to stinging criticism in a controversial lobbying document circulated by one of the developers.According to a copy of the document leaked to The Clare Champion, local business people and residents have been provided with a list of points to help influence six of the Ennis town councillors ahead of a crucial vote on a variation to the Ennis and Environs Development Plan on Monday next.Ennis Chamber chief executive officer, Rita McInerney, said members were “shocked and disappointed” with some of the contents of the document, particularly the criticism of the Chamber.Ms McInerney stressed the Chamber, which has over 230 members representing over 4,000 employees, is pro-development, competition and pro-business.In addition to meeting with Ennis Development Forum and traders associations in the main streets, she said it had embarked on a very inclusive consultation process before it drafted its submission reflecting …

THE most famous car in Clare looks set to be used by the new President of Ireland, Michael D Higgins on his first official visit to the county where he was reared.  

THE clergy of the county are concerned that parishioners may be afraid to go to church during the day following a substantial number of burglaries and thefts from churches during daylight hours. Gardaí in Clare have recorded 12 of thefts from churches in the past four months, with the first incident logged on August 7. While gardaí can’t say these “despicable” crimes are being perpetrated by one individual or a group, they believe the majority of them are connected. The Clare Champion has learned that on one occasion in August, a donation box was stolen from Ennis Cathedral during a funeral and on another occasion earlier that month, a handbag was stolen in Lifford Church during mass. Churches at Kilnamona, Kilmaley, Connolly, Coolmeen, Rath, Kilmore Broadford, Lissycasey and Clouna have all been hit in the past four months. In most instances candelabra units and donation boxes were taken, with brass candle stands taken in others. There have been some attempts …

Members of Clare fire brigade came under attack with rocks in the course of their duties over the weekend, having been called to deal with a bonfire on Hallowe’en night in Ballyalla, near Ennis. The unit of Ennis fire brigade attended a location beyond the lake in Ballyalla, where a large group of up to 100 teenagers were gathered, responding to a report of a bonfire at this location. The Clare Champion has learned that while at the scene there were rocks thrown at them by youths in the grouping and as a result, the fire officers had to call the gardaí. Gardaí from Ennis Garda Station were dispatched and when they arrived on the scene, the group dispersed and the fire officers were able to carry out their work. Gardaí and the fire service said the majority of those who were at this location were not to blame for the rock throwing. No one was injured in the incident …

A COMPANY is waiting on payment of thousands of euro for the provision of play equipment at Inis Ealga, Tuesday’s meeting of Shannon Town Council heard.

Since 2008, there have been 20 incidents of stolen firearms in the county, the majority occurring in the commission of burglary and, as a result, gardaí in Clare are appealing to those in possession of firearms and ammunition to take extra care in securing these items. In some cases where these items were stolen, gardaí discovered that the firearms were easily accessible and not secured away to prevent their removal. Sergeant Joe Downey, crime prevention officer for Clare, said, “There are considerable obligations on all firearms holders to ensure that their weapons are securely stored away when they are not in use. This applies to both within the home and when travelling to a shoot or a hunt.”He stressed that firearm holders run the risk of having their licenses revoked it if is discovered that proper security measures were not in place at the time of the theft. Sergeant Downey outlined the proper methods for storing firearms and ammunition and …

AS MANY AS 600 jobs could be placed at risk after the High Court declined to appoint an examiner to Mr Binman, a family-owned chain of waste disposal companies, instead appointing receivers to the group. Mr Binman, which directly employs 331 people in Munster, says up to 270 other jobs may be indirectly dependent on their business and that those jobs could now be lost by the court’s decision.Kieran Wallace and Padraic Monaghan of KPMG were appointed as joint receivers on the application of the group’s largest creditor, Bank of Scotland, which is reportedly owed €53m.Justice Mary Finlay Geoghegan refused to confirm examinership, saying the companies had not made sufficient claims that they could continue as a going concern with a reasonable prospect of continuing operations.The Mr Binman companies had been under court protection but this no longer applies. The directors of the company did not appeal the decision to appoint an examiner and did not oppose the subsequent appointment …