News

THE cost of installing public lighting to an area of approximately 200 metres in length in Barefield is approximately €11,000 a meeting of Ennis councillors has been told. Residents in the area have been calling for the lights to be installed between the two public houses in the village as far as the school, Councillor Pat Daly outlined at the recent meeting. Ian Chaplin, acting senior executive engineer told the meeting, “There is existing public lighting at and around the school and the junction where the two pubs are located. “The area in between has been assessed and a quotation for installation of lighting was sought. The length in question between the pubs and the school is approximately 200m.” A quotation was sought for the supply and installation of five 10m columns and 54w LED fittings complete with ancillary equipment and wiring. “The cost of this work was quoted at approximately €7,000 and extra costs would be Civils work (€3,000) …

A PROPOSED €20 million development by Lidl Ireland “will not compete” with businesses in Ennis’ town centre the developers have insisted. Further information regarding the plans has been submitted to Clare County Council in response to a number of issues raised about the proposed development including its potential “adverse impact” on the town centre. Retailer representative group The Retail Grocery Dairy & Allied Trades Association and local business owners have also voiced concerns about the plans. Lidl is seeking planning permission for the development of a new store and mixed-use development at the junction of the Clare Road (R458) and Toberteascain Road. If given the go-ahead, the development will include 20 residential apartments, a café and two commercial units. According to the supermarket giant the development will create 30 local jobs along with 100 more during construction if granted planning permission. Among the concerns raised by the local authority was the potential cumulative impact of the proposed development with a commercial …

AN BORD Pleanala has given the green light for a new bridge in Ennistymon in north Clare that will eliminate one of the most notorious traffic bottlenecks in the country. The appeals board has cleared the way for Clare County Council to press ahead with the new bridge that will end the long standing Blake’s Corner bottleneck that delays tens of thousands of motorists every year on their way to and from the Cliffs of Moher and Lahinch. The new bridge – which will be 80 metres upstream of the existing bridge – will involve the demolition of one family home that includes a florist and a local branch of the Dept of Social Protection. The scheme also involves the pedestrianisation of the existing bridge. In the long running saga, the Council applied for the Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO) to allow the scheme proceed in June 2020 and confirming the CPO today, the appeals board has taken into account to …

BUSINESSES in Clare’s coastal communities are being encouraged to apply for the Brexit Blue Economy Enterprise Development Scheme, with funding of up to €200,000 available per capital project. The aim of the scheme is to stimulate growth in rural coastal communities post-Brexit, with funding available to businesses operating within 10 kilometres of the coastline and involved in the blue economy. The blue economy covers a wide range of economic activities within coastal communities such as seafood, coastal tourism, boat building and maintenance, marine recreation, and renewable energy initiatives. The scheme, the largest of its kind ever, is open to three streams of projects: Capital Investment, Business Mentoring & Capacity Development, and Upskilling & Training. A €25 million budget is available in 2022 and 2023, funded under the EU Brexit Adjustment Reserve. The Scheme is an initiative of the Government of Ireland and is being administered by Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM). Paul Downes, regional officer at BIM, said the scheme, which …

Cistercian College Roscrea is hosting an ‘Open Evening and Live-in Experience’ for prospective students and their families, on Friday September 30. The “Live In” experience is open to boys who are interested in the College’s five- and seven-day boarding programmes for the 2023/24 and 2024/25 academic years and will provide the opportunity for an overnight stay to gain experience of what life is like for a boarder. This opportunity is also available to those who are considering the day boarding option with these boys attending the Friday evening programme from 3pm to 7pm. This year the College has welcomed its largest enrolment in over 20 years with upwards of 260 boys attending the college; 70% of these are five- or seven-day boarders. The first-year cohort of 45 students shows continued growth with boys enrolling from around the country thanks to the College’s excellent location, facilities and transport links. Cistercian College has boarding options to meet each family’s needs. The seven-day …

A LANDMARK study of poverty and social exclusion in Clare has described as “staggering” the difference between Census figures detailing 10,281 unoccupied dwellings in the county compared to just 53 vacant properties, according to Clare County Council figures. The report cited Census figures showing an overall figure of 58,148 habitable dwellings in Clare. Of these, 47,867 were occupied, 4,912 were unoccupied holiday homes, and a further 5,369 were vacant dwellings. This means that there were 10,281 unoccupied dwellings in the county, giving a total vacancy rate of 17.68% or nearly one in six houses in Clare. Last July, there were just 10 properties for rent on Daft.ie for the entire county. According to Clare County Council, the report stated there are just 53 vacant properties in Clare. The census figures do not include derelict buildings. They relate to dwellings that are in a generally good state and are habitable. The report also outlined there are 4,912 vacant holiday homes in …

A MILTOWN Malbay father who died in an air crash at the weekend has been remembered as a “gentleman” with his loss described as a “terrible tragedy” ahead of his funeral mass this Thursday. Michael Flynn of Kilcorcoran, Miltown Malbay lost his life when a powered hang glider he was piloting crashed in a field off the Ballard Road about a kilometre from Miltown Malbay on Sunday. Family and friends gathered for an emotional goodbye at his funeral mass on Thursday in St Joseph’s Church, Miltown Malbay. Speaking to the Clare Champion Fr Donagh O’Meara said Mr Flynn “was a lovely character, a lovely man, just a gentleman. He was very well got in the community, very well liked.” Mr Flynn’s death has sent shockwaves across the local community. He was well known in the local area and worked as a plumber as well as being involved in farming. “It has been an awful shock for everybody. It is just …

CLARE TD Violet-Anne Wynne made history last night when she became the first woman to bring a baby into the Dail chamber. The Independent TD and young Collins Mountaine, aged seven months, were greeted with a sustained round of applause from fellow members on Wednesday evening. Ceann Comhairle Sean O Fearghaill quipped that it was the first time there had been “an actual” baby in the Dail. Deputy Wynne was present for the weekly voting blocks and given that the Dail creche closed at 6.15, she felt she had no other option than to bring Collins in with her to the Chamber. 'History' was made in the Dáil when Clare TD Violet-Anne Wynne brought her 7-month old daughter Collins into the chamber. Ceann Comhairle Séan Ó Fearghaíl commented that it was the first time an 'actual' baby was in the Dáil pic.twitter.com/awD4CZWJTs — RTÉ News (@rtenews) September 21, 2022 She told the Irish Examiner, “It’s a learning curve, but it’s …