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WITH schools now on summer holidays the dangers that farms can pose to children have been highlighted by gardaí in Clare. “Now that schools are over and the weather is hopefully starting to get good, kids are out and about on farms, but farms are a workplace and unfortunately children are killed every year on farms,” warns Clare Crime Prevention Officer Sergeant Triona Brooks. “Never allow a child onto a farmyard unless they are closely supervised by an adult. It’s not possible to safely look after your child and work on the farm at the same time.” She has issued advice to those who live on a farm saying, “Keep children out of work areas. Have a fenced off safe play area in view of your home. Have easy to read danger signs and tell children what they mean.” All unattended vehicles should be locked and the keys removed and kept away from children. Safety measures should be put in …

THERE were 59 homeless adults in Clare during the week from May 23-29, according to figures from the Department of Housing.Across the Mid West region there were 71 families, with 135 children accessing emergency accommodation during the same week. Jackie Bonfield, Mid West Simon Community CEO said that the homeless situation is disimproving, and likely to continue to decline. “The numbers nationally are getting worse. The ban on evictions has been lifted, which absolutely isn’t helping the situation. There is still a shortage of accommodation, a shortage of properties to rent. “I don’t believe we have seen the wave yet from the increase in the cost of living, but it is going to come, I’d say over the next few months. “People are struggling to pay bills now and there’s only so long they can afford to keep paying the rent at the rate they were paying it, and trying to survive, with food and everything else increasing.” Support is …

THE art of motherhood is explored in a new exhibition which has just opened at The People’s Museum in Limerick.  Created by a collective of ten Clare-based artists, the exhibition explores the overlap between the roles of mother and artist, as well as the creative tensions and potential they spark. “The exhibition is called ‘Stretched’ and was created by ten Clare based artist-mothers, exploring our various journeys through motherhood and our innate desire to create,” said artist Claire Frawley. “We celebrated our inaugural group exhibition on Friday (July 1), with a wonderful wine reception to a packed house of family, friends and art enthusiasts.” Members of the Artist Mothers collective come from many backgrounds and several different disciplines. They are described as being of different ages and stages of motherhood, as well as in their artistic careers.  “We have formed as a group to encourage, support and inspire each other, through collaboration and conversation,” an artist’s statement said. “Within the …

THERE was friction between Clare TDs yesterday, when two Government party deputies voted to pass the controversial Bill underpinning the new grant for homeowners with defective blocks.  Deputy Michael McNamara, who drew up some of the 160 amendments sought by campaigners and the Opposition, was the only Clare TD to oppose the guillotining of the legislation yesterday (Wednesday, July 6). Deputy Violet Anne Wynne was not present in the chamber when the Bill was passed the Bill by 74 votes to 69. Frustrated at lack of time for amendments, and the stance of his constituency colleagues, Deputy McNamara was sharply critical of those ‘talking out of both sides of their mouths’. Despite voting for the guillotining of the Bill, Deputy Cathal Crowe made a number of points about the defective blocks issue. “It is very important that, while this €2.7 billion is ring-fenced, redress be expedited and further improved and refined by regulation in the autumn,” he said. The Meelick …

HAVING taken a break last year due to Covid-19 Peadar White, who recently turned 78, will be back in the saddle this weekend in support of the Samaritans Ennis and Clare. Peadar will be completing a stationary cycle on Saturday at the Height in O’Connell Street, Ennis from 9am to 6pm, and he’s urging people to come out and show their support for the invaluable work of the Samaritans. Peadar’s cycle is just one of a number of events which have been organised this month to raise funds and awareness of the round-the-clock emotional support services provided by the Samaritans. Samaritans Ennis and Clare volunteers will be walking 7 km on 24/7, or July 24, at 7pm around Ennis to encourage the community to reach out for help. And the public are being urged to help raise funds for the organisation by taking part in a ‘Samarathon’ and running, walking or cycling the equivalent of a marathon across July. Looking ahead to this …

THE untimely death of David Woodford in May 2020 was a huge loss, not just for his family, but also for the wider community and music lovers across the county. While Covid ruled out a large public gathering to mark his passing, David’s legacy is now enshrined in the launch of the Bassment rehearsal space at Clare Youth Service in Ennis. A generous donation from Eileen Woodford on behalf of her late beloved David has allowed young people at CYS to get together, remodel, and design the studio and rehearsal space located in the Ennis Youth Centre. As Eileen explained, David was always a supporter of Clare Youth Service and, with his band ‘Hot Ice’, had run an event to raise funds for the organisation, “David always had great time for young people and helping to revamp their space to allow greater opportunity for young people to come and play music seems very fitting.” It has been nearly 15 years …

CLARE Independent TD Michael McNamara has said he has received confirmation from the National Car Testing Service that two locations for an NCT centre have been identified in the Shannon area. In May the NCTS confirmed that the development of an NCT Centre at the Smithstown Industrial Estate Smithstown halted “due to significant contractual difficulties.” Deputy McNamara, who has been pressing for a second NCT Centre for County Clare, said he has received confirmation from the NCTS that two alternative locations have been identified. “Construction work on the new centre had already commenced at the Smithstown Industrial Estate as far back as last summer, including the erecting of the centre’s steel structure, and it was expected that the centre would be operational by the end of 2021,” he said. “It was disappointing to hear that the development would not be proceeding at the site. However, I am delighted to learn that two new site locations are currently being evaluated.” Deputy …

TENSIONS between campaigners and political representatives have ratcheted up significantly this week, as the Oireachtas moves to finalise the Bill to underpin a new grant for those with defective blocks.  On Tuesday, Clare’s government TDs, Deputies Cathal Crowe and Joe Carey, voted in favour a proposal to allow just two hours to finalise the draft law. The move has angered local campaigners who had sought 80 amendments. Campaigners themselves, meanwhile, came in for criticism from some members of the local authority. The Clare Pyrite Action Group (CPAG) along with campaigners in Limerick, Mayo, Sligo and Donegal, challenged councillors to declare their support for the amendments. A poster was then circulated on social media with an X through the faces of those who had not responded by the deadline.  Councillor Gerry Flynn, one of two Clare councillors who didn’t respond, described the approach as “totally out of order”. “We are parish pump, we don’t sit at the Cabinet table,” he said. …