News

Clare deputies have hit out at AIB’s decision to go cashless in 70 of its 170 branches nationwide, including Ennistymon, Killaloe, Kilrush and Shannon. AIB branches will be losing traditional services in the coming months, meaning that no transactions involving notes, coins, cheques, foreign exchange or bank drafts will be offered in the affected banks. ATMs located outside the 70 branches are also set to be removed. “This is yet another blow to rural Ireland and even more so to those who are of an older generation,” said Deputy Cathal Crowe. “There are people out there in their 70s or 80s – many younger again and some even not far off my own age – who have never used a debit card and prefer to operate in cash. “While this won’t be the way forever, it’s completely unjust to dismiss these people who have spent their lives working and contributing to society in the later years of their lives. “This …

NEITHER of the two Clare applications to be included on the tentative list for UNESCO World Heriage Site status have been successful. Of six applications made by Ireland, three were successful, the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage announced today, but the Cultural Landscape of the Burren Uplands in County Clare and County Galway and Iniscealtra on Lough Derg did not make the cut. Inclusion on the tentative list is the penultimate step before world heritage site status is conferred. However, the Department stated, “The Cultural Landscape of the Burren Uplands, County Clare offers significant potential to be a future World Heritage property. Considerable work had been done to date on the Tentative List application but additional work on defining its outstanding universal value (OUV) is still required along with consideration of how any potential World Heritage property might be managed and operated.” “The Cultural Landscape of the Burren Uplands will not therefore be added to the new Tentative …

NARROW ‘pinch points’ along a popular cycling route on the Shannon Estuary Way pose a danger, according to one local councillor who has called for warning signs to be introduced. Councillor Paul Murphy, speaking at a meeting of the Ennis Municipal District, outlined the success of the R473 Ennis/Clarecastle to Kildysart, Labasheeda and Kilrush, Shannon Estuary Way. The Ennis deputy mayor said that the road, “has become extremely popular as a cycling route and this can be seen on a daily basis but particularly at weekends”. However, he pointed out there are a number of ‘pinch points’ along the route, including one in the Ennis Municipal District area, from St Anthony’s Grove through to Hempfield/Claremount Cross. “These pinch points are extremely narrow,” he said, with barely room for two cars to pass. “You throw cyclists and pedestrians into the mix and it makes it extremely dangerous.” Councillor Murphy requested that road markings are replenished on this stretch of road, and …

THE COST of public liability claims against Clare County Council more than doubled last year, according to figures released to a West Clare member. Councillor PJ Kelly sought detailed information about public liability claims against the local authority over the years 2020 and 2021, ahead of the Council’s July meeting. In a written response, the Lissycasey man was told that 159 claims were settled over the last two years, with payments made in 127 cases. The cost of claims settled came to just under half a million Euro in 2020, while in 2021, the figure was €1,009,173. According to the Council’s data, the average award over the past two years was €9,485. The average for 2021 was €14,213. The largest category of claim related to “footpath slips/trips”, the response said. The Council stressed that their insurers “contest every claim through the various stages” and noted that 32 claims were settled over the last two years, with zero financial payment. Those …

HSE chief executive, Paul Reid visited health services in Limerick and Clare this week as part of a series of visits to services around the country. Councillor Cillian Murphy described this visit as a “farewell tour”. During his visit, Mr Reid met staff involved in a range of initiatives and heard in particular about how acute and community services are collaborating and integrating to improve health outcomes. An important element of the visit was to acknowledge and thank staff for their work throughout the Covid-19 pandemic, according to a HSE press statement. At University Hospital Limerick, he saw specific services designed to reduce Emergency Department waiting times and avoid hospital admission for patients who would be better cared for in appropriate services in the community. He spoke to the team promoting early stroke discharge, which is leading to better outcomes and less use of acute beds, visited the cancer directorate, which is eliminating ED delays for cancer patients, and heard …

BANK of Ireland is warning Clare customers about a new wave of fraudulent text messages in circulation, in which fraudsters are using customers’ card details to set up Apple/Google Pay. The bank has experienced a spike in ‘smishing’, where fraudsters send fake text messages appearing to be from delivery services including An Post or Government agencies including the HSE and Revenue.  Customers who click the links in the text messages are then directed to fake websites where they are asked for their card or online banking login details. The fraudster uses these details to set up Apple/Google Pay on the customer’s card or to set up the customer’s online banking on a new device. If the customer gives away the genuine One Time Passcode sent by Bank of Ireland to confirm the set-up, the fraudster can then access the customer’s account. Where customers have stopped part of the way through the scam process, they may then get a phone call …

TRAVELLER and comedian Martin Beanz Warde will be the star MC of the Clare Traveller Pride Award in Ennis. The event has been organised and is hosted by a brand new organisation, Clare Traveller Community Development Project (CDP).   Admission is free for the evening of live entertainment and Traveller awards at Cois na hAbhna on the Gort Road at 7pm on Thursday, July 21, with food and refreshments provided. Clare Traveller CDP co-ordinator Bridgie Casey said, “The aim of the awards is to highlight and recognise the achievements and contributions of Travellers in their communities and in Irish society. The awards also aim to instil pride in Traveller identity, highlighting some of the obstacles that exist for Travellers, and celebrate Travellers’ undoubted positive contribution to Irish life.  “Clare Traveller CDP was chosen as one of seven pilots nationally for a Community Development Programme funded by the Department of Rural and Community Development. “This is an exciting and much needed opportunity for …

WITH the new River Fergus Walk and Cycleway already proving to be a great success with locals and visitors to the Ennis area, attention is now turning towards potentially extending the route. Clarecastle Community Development are endeavouring to secure funding for a feasibility study to be carried out into the possibility of bringing the walk and cycle way as far as Clarecastle Quay. Speaking at a recent meeting of the Ennis Municipal District, Councillor Paul Murphy requested the local authority “row in behind Clarecastle Community Development’s aspiration of extending the Fergus Greenway onwards to Clarecastle Quay”. He outlined there is currently a live application for low level Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme (ORIS) funding that will allow a feasibility study for this project to be carried out. Eamon O’Dea, Senior Executive Engineer, responded, “A joint application has been made by the Project Management Office and Clarecastle Tidy Towns to the Department of Rural & Community Development, under the Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme …