News

Former construction professional recalls being told crumbling blocks were ‘too fresh’ but notes all blocks are tested before they are sold A PYRITE crisis has been predicted in Clare by a former construction sector professional, whose own home is now beginning to show signs of defective concrete in its blocks. The man, who spoke to The Champion on condition of anonymity, shared his experience of working during the years of the Celtic Tiger building boom. He recalled instances where bales of concrete blocks would “crumble” on site, and have to be returned to the supplier. He said that when construction companies raised concerns, they would be told those blocks were “too fresh”. The man also believes that those making and supplying the products must have known of wider quality issues. He added that while people are paying 15-30 year mortgages, some homes won’t last that long and he warned of the toll of the issue on people’s mental health. In …

A MEETING will take place this Friday, May 6, between the Council and homeowners affected by pyrite, as the authority prepares “a further report” for the government.  It is now nine months since Clare County Council submitted its original report to Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (DHLG) seeking access to the Defective Concrete Blocks Grant Scheme. Since then, the government has agreed to revise the scheme, currently only available in Mayo and Donegal. The DHLGH has also reverted to the Council with a series of detailed questions about the prevalence and impact of pyrite here. Among the items requested is proof of a causal link between the presence of pyrite and the cracking of properties. The Council sent an initial response before Christmas and is continuing to engage.  “The Council is currently preparing a further report for submission to the DHLGH which will be discussed at the meeting between the Clare Pyrite Action Group and Clare County Council …

Two US army veterans in their 80s have been fined €5,000 each for interfering with the operation of Shannon Airport as part of an anti-war protest three years ago, report Isabel Hayes and Claire Henry. The jury at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court acquitted Ken Mayers (85) and Tarak Kauff (80) of criminal damage to an airport perimeter fence and of trespassing at the airport with the intent to commit an offence or interfere with property. The verdicts came on Tuesday afternoon after more than five and a half hours of deliberations. The jury returned a majority verdict of guilty on the charge of interfering with the operation, safety or management of an airport by entering the runway area and causing the airport to close. The majority verdict was 10 to two, the court heard. At a sentence hearing on Wednesday Tony McGillicuddy SC, prosecuting, told the court that the penalty is a fine not exceeding €250,000, two years in prison or …

A LOUGH Derg RNLI volunteer jumped into the lake from the lifeboat and swam out to help bring a yacht to safe water over the weekend. The Lough Derg RNLI launched on Sunday to help two people ran aground in a yacht on the lake. Fortunately the stricken vessel was spotted at Ryan’s Point shortly after the RNLI volunteers set out and those on board were found to be unharmed. At 4.47pm on Sunday Valentia Coast Guard requested Lough Derg RNL lifeboat to launch to assist two people on a 25ft yacht aground at Ryan’s Point on the eastern shore of Lough Derg. At 5.06pm Lough Derg RNLI lifeboat Jean Spier launched with helm Keith Brennan, Steve Smyth, Joe O’Donoghue and Richard Nolan on board. At 5.14pm the lifeboat had the casualty vessel in sight at Ryan’s Point, broadside to weather. Taking a tow line with him, an RNLI volunteer swam back to the casualty vessel whilst the lifeboat stood …

A SECOND phase of public and stakeholder consultation is underway in relation to the development of a long-term strategy and site masterplan for Ireland’s most visited natural attraction. The Cliffs of Moher Strategy 2040 is being prepared on behalf of Clare County Council by a multidisciplinary consultancy team led by Haley Sharpe Design and is co-funded by Failte Ireland. A number of key concepts have developed from the extensive first phase of consultation with key stakeholders, local communities, organisations, businesses, and residents across Clare in 2021. The concepts, which are linked to the County Clare Tourism Strategy 2030 and the Clare County Development Plan, include rewilding large sections of the Cliffs of Moher destination site, providing cliff-edge panoramic viewing platforms, repurposing the existing visitor centre, developing a new access gateway building at the site, and embracing a strategic approach to traffic management through greater coordination and links with existing and new transport services. A series of stakeholder consultations in relation …

MARY Kelly’s shop has been part of the landscape of O’Connell Street in Ennis for decades, but she will close its doors for the last time on Friday.  “I started here exactly 40 years ago on Saturday and I’m closing this Friday. I did it quickly because once the sale went through last Wednesday I said there was no point in dragging it out for a whole month,” she told the Clare Champion this week.  Much of her life has been spent running the landmark business, and she says she has loved it. “I had the best of times, the best of times. I’m so glad I was here when I was here.” She began the business at a time when there were lots of people working on the town’s busiest street. “I started here in 1982 and I took over from Mrs Reidy, her maiden name was Henchy, and it was in her family before that for many, many …

MNÁ Ag Gaire (MAGs) Women’s Shed has confirmed that, with support from the Clare County Council and Haven Horizons, it will now be providing activities to help the displaced Ukrainians living in Ennis. MAGs will be partnering with Clare Immigration Support Centre; Limerick-Clare Education and Training Board and other volunteers in creating this new enterprise, the Ukrainian Community Hub. Existing services by these agencies and MAGs will continue alongside of this new project for Ukrainians. A spokesperson for MAGs explains that activities will include; assistance with immigration issues; members of Ukrainian community to meet; English classes; providing a place for the displaced to meet, converse, etc; Ukrainian women setting up a shop for needed items such as necessities, etc and other skill share programmes in conjunction with Clare Haven. “The need to meet the Ukrainian emergency is great. Our facility for MAGs offers many opportunities to meet those needs. “In concert with the Clare Immigration Support Centre, Haven Horizons and …

A TOTAL of 1,264 houses were sold at market value in Clare last year, according to figures from the CSO, with an average price of almost €217,000, according to figures from the Central Statistics Office. The average price increased by €26,000 compared to 2020, with the market soaring in Clare. The median price (half buyers paid more and half less than this figure) is sometimes seen as a better barometer of affordability and it was €195,000 in 2021, up by €10,000 on the 2020 figure. With the market very strong again, it is a huge contrast from the recession years. Over €274 million was spent on market-value transactions in Clare last year, compared to just €62.5 back in 2011. The mean sale price in Clare in 2014 was less than €114,000, not much more than 50% of last year’s figure. Auctioneer Diarmuid McMahon said that there is very little stock available within Clare, and with remote workers moving here, there …