News

AGRICULTURE Minister Charlie McConalogue has been requested to address an anomaly that prevents Clare farmers with low-input permanent pasture to cut hay or silage if they are in GLAS. This request was made by Deputy Michael McNamara in the Dáil recently where he also asked when the minister met the EU agriculture ministers, did he call for a reduction in or the abolition of EU import tariffs on fertiliser? “Farmers with low-input permanent pasture cannot cut hay and silage if they are in GLAS. The Minister is trying to incentivise them to do so but they cannot. “Will they, on a temporary basis for this year or for as long as this fertiliser crisis lasts, be allowed to cut silage? “Likewise, traditional hay meadows can only be cut once because cutting can only take place after a certain deadline. “Will that deadline be brought forward to allow for a second cut this year? These are matters the Minister can deal …

THERE has been a mixed reaction in Clare to a government pledge of €10 million annually over three years to support the post office network. Tom O’Callaghan from the Independent Postmasters’ Group said “one battle has been won but not the war”, to provide a long-term sustainable future for post offices. Mr O’Callaghan stressed there must be a focus on new products, capital investment and government services for the network. “It is crucial that there is an immediate five-year holding plan to ensure there will be no downward revisions of post office incomes,” said Mr O’Callaghan, “otherwise there will be no network to salvage. “Community Banking must be reinvestigated and developed as a survival option in light of the global economic depression. New Zealand and Germany community banking models should be considered. “The community and social value of the network, so visibly present during the pandemic, must be recognised as a separate asset to the state, must be protected by …

ALL week, news reports have been highlighting the crisis at Dublin Airport, where more than 1,000 people missed flights last Sunday. Around Clare there is little sympathy for an airport which is seen as having pursued a fairly aggressive policy of targeting the traffic of its smaller competitors. Many people are saying they won’t fly from the capital again, happy to  holiday from whatever destinations Shannon has available at the time. To test the ease of using Shannon, the Clare Champion simulated the experience of a passenger catching a flight scheduled for departure to the UK at 3.15pm on Wednesday afternoon. The first step involved driving to Shannon and after leaving Ennis at 1.19pm, we turned off the engine in Shannon 21 minutes later.  While people who only fly from Shannon might not fully appreciate it, the fact of not hitting any red lights in the miles up to the airport and effectively having no congestion to deal with is …

A HARDY group of Clare cyclists will travel the entire length of the country next week, raising funds for cancer charities and commemorating two women who passed away in 2021. In July of last year Ballyea’s Susan O’Neill died having battled cancer, and then in November Quilty’s Antoinette Pender also passed, having fought the disease bravely. The cycle, entitled ‘South for Susan and Antoinette’, is in their memory and funds are being raised for Sláinte an Chláir and Cancer Care West. The group of cyclists will make their way to Donegal this Sunday, before setting off from Malin Head on Monday morning on a gruelling challenge. The Monday will see them cycle from Malin Head to Donegal Town; on Tuesday it’s Donegal to Claremorris; Wednesday is Claremorris to Ballyea; Thursday is Ballyea to Blarney and finally on Friday the cyclists will make their way to Mizen Head. The starting point is Ireland’s most northerly point and the finishing its most …

A PACKAGE of sustainable financial and non-financial incentives for health workers practising in remote rural areas needs to be introduced to tackle the GP shortage, according to a local doctor. Professor Liam Glynn, who has been a rural GP in Ballyvaughan for 23 years, made the call ahead of a major medical conference in University of Limerick. Global health leaders including Dr Michael Ryan, Executive director WHO Health Emergencies Programme, will attend the WONCA World Rural Health conference in UL from June 17 to 20. The need for more family doctors is acutely felt in Clare amid confirmation the HSE received no applications for Dr Michael Harty’s medical card patients panel, despite advertisements on three occasions prior to his retirement at the beginning of March. Councillor Cillian Murphy was informed at a recent HSE West Forum meeting that two applicants expressed an interest in taking on this panel following a fourth advertisement since Dr Harty’s retirement. Since February 21 2022, …

PYRITE has been confirmed a significant public building in Clare, owned by the Office of Public Works (OPW).  Deputy Joe Carey tabled a number of Parliamentary Questions (PQ) in relation to public buildings with defective concrete blocks and to-date has received just one response. That came, last week, from the Minister of State with responsibility for the OPW, Patrick O’Donovan.  While the identity of the building in question was not disclosed, it is understood to be in the south of the county. “Pyrite has been detected in one building in the ownership of the Office of Public Works (OPW)  in County Clare,” Minister O’Donovan stated in this reply. “A routine inspection earlier this year raised concerns in respect to cracking observed in the external façade. The OPW appointed external consultants to investigate the cause of this cracking and the consultant’s report has confirmed the presence of pyrite in the external leaf of the building.” The minister’s response said that “further …

MORE than 1,000 homes in Clare could have pyrite, new research shows, with Newmarket-on-Fergus the worst hit area.  A study unveiled by Clare Pyrite Action Group (CPAG) chairperson, Dr Martina Cleary, estimates that 1,025 homes and 11 public and private buildings have defective blocks. A survey of 90 members of the CPAG, shows affected homes in 38 locations. Seven of these are in Newmarket. Drumline, Ennis, Kilkee, Kilrush and Sixmilebridge have five homes each. There are four properties in Cratloe, with the same number in Feakle, Kilkishen and Shannon. Clonlara, Crusheen, Inagh and Miltown each has three pyrite-affected properties. There are two in each of Doolin, Doonbeg, Fanore, Ennistymon, Quin and Tulla. The remaining 19 are dotted across Clare.  The findings were unveiled this week at a conference on the impact of defective blocks, hosted by the Technological University of the Shannon (TUS). The data shows that 17 private housing estates are affected and five Council developments.  Respondents were also …

A MEMORIAL sculpture in honour of the children who died in the Clare County Nursery was unveiled this week at Old Shanakyle Graveyard. Speaking at the unveiling local authority CEO Pat Dowling said, “Today is just another step in this council’s effort to accept responsibility for the unconscionable treatment of women and children in this facility, which was managed and funded by Clare County Council.” The event was attended by Ms Breda Murphy of the Tuam Mother and Baby Home Alliance who said after the event, “Today was a very special day, honouring and remembering the lost lives of those who were forgotten for decades. I was honoured to attend and witness the outpouring of love and respect for both the mothers and children of the Kilrush Nursery.” Following a 12-month research and geophysical survey project, the Burial Grounds Unit of Clare County Council identified a large plot at the graveyard which contains a significant number of children’s burials. In …