News

Enforcement of planning conditions were brought up at Ennis MD, as alternatives for return of popular walking bus at Ennis school are explored ALTERNATIVE options are being examined by an Ennis school to allow for the return of a popular ‘walking bus’ after access to its traditional meeting point at the Westpoint Retail Park was prevented. A meeting is due to be held between council officials and public representatives and the board of management of Ennis National School this week in a bid to find a solution which will allow the walking bus to go ahead in another location. Questions are also being asked about Clare County Council’s enforcement of planning conditions, with Ennis councillors insisting that the facilitation of the walking bus was part of a previously granted planning application. The walking bus had operated from Westpoint Business Park every morning for eight years, and late last August parents of school children were informed that the facility was cancelled due …

It was draining to be in such a messy situation the Kilrush TD tells Owen Ryan LESS than three weeks after the birth of her sixth child, Violet Anne Wynne’s resignation from Sinn Féin has focused negative attention on the country’s most rapidly growing party. In an interview with the Clare Champion Ms Wynne said that the party in this county is divided, that she wasn’t supported around her pregnancy, that the internal problems were preventing her delivering for the constituency and that Mary Lou McDonald never contacted her after the birth of her daughter or after she quit the party. She is going to continue representing Clare as an independent TD, and says it is very likely she will contest the next general election. Ms Wynne caused a stunning upset when she took a seat in the 2020 general election, but just before the poll it came to light that she owed some €12,000 in rent arrears. She says …

Gardai in court have withdrawn a charge that well-known anti-vaccine activist Antonio Mureddu allegedly assaulted a garda in Clare last August. At Ennis District Court, Sergeant Louis Moloney told Judge Mary Larkin the case against Mr Mureddu (44) of Headford Arms Hotel, Headford, Co. Galway, was being withdrawn by the State. Sergeant Moloney didn’t tell the court why the three charges were being withdrawn against Mr Mureddu. Mr Mureddu was not in attendance in court for the withdrawal of the case against him as his attendance was not required. In the case, Mr Mureddu was charged that on August 10 last year at Knockanean, Ennis of assaulting Garda James Hanley with intent to resist or prevent the lawful apprehension or detention of himself for an alleged offence, dangerous driving. The charge is contrary to Section 19 of the Criminal Justice Act (Public Order Act). Those who do face such a charge and are found guilty in the circuit court face …

AN Ennis group of volunteers are working with well known Polish charity WOSP in transporting necessary supplies to the Polish/ Ukrainian border. WOSP is the biggest non-profit charity in Poland. WOSP are collaborating with local volunteers in Ennis through the local Polish School (Polanka) in transporting vital items for the Ukrainian refugees in the coming days. This is a nationwide project initiated by our Polish community. The items needed include, thermal blankets, sleeping bags, sleeping mats, hygiene products- toothpaste, toothbrushes, shampoo, body wash, tampons, sanitary towels, cotton wool and baby wipes. Disposable plates, cups and cutlery. Baby food and formula. Disposable gloves and face masks. First Aid items- bandages, plasters and dressings. Powerbanks, USB charging cables, battery operated flashlights and batteries. Noise cancelling headphones and earplugs along with thermos mugs and flasks. “These items can be dropped off at our unit at Tracklands Business Park, Clon Road More in Ennis – V95 F3C5 (beside Pitman Training Clare)  each day between …

TAOISEACH Mícheál Martin was at EI Electronics in Shannon today, where he officially opened the company’s new 10,000 square metre facility. The company are locally owned and one of the biggest employers in Clare, while they expect to add around 200 more staff over the coming year. When construction on the new facility began in 2020 they predicted that the development would allow them “to significantly expand our teams and current production capacity over the coming years, as well as deepening our ties with the local community and region.” The new development provides provides additional Manufacturing Capacity, R&D, and Office Space. The continued success of EI Electronics was lauded by Clare TD Cathal Crowe, who welcomed the fact that its headcount will increase once again. “Today’s announcement by Chief Executive of EI Mick Guinnee is a hugely positive endorsement of Shannon, Clare and the Midwest region as a whole,” said Deputy Crowe. “The Shannon Free Zone is proving time and …

A concert to raise funds for the people of Ukraine will be held in Shannon on Wednesday night (March 9), writes Owen Ryan. Cuppa Tea TV (which is run by Damian O’Rourke), the Love Shannon Community Council and Shannon Leisure Centre all came together to organise the event. “We have Luka Bloom, David Hope, the Shannon Gospel Choir. There’ll be a good few from Youth in Music singing at it, and a lot of other locals, there’ll probably be 15 or 16 playing on the night,” said Damian. The proceeds are all for the Irish Red Cross and explaining how it would work, Damian said, “It’s donations on the door, anyone can come along and throw in whatever they want into the bucket. We’re working on a GoFundMe link, so anyone who can’t make it on the night can make donations through that.” Karl Fogarty, manager of Shannon Leisure Centre, was the person who got the ball rolling on the …

THERE was a broad welcome in Clare today for the allocation of €50,000 to Corofin under the latest round of the Town and Village Renewal Scheme. The money will go towards a property feasibility study and streetscape enhancement plan; defining new use for an existing derelict building; public realm improvements and improvements to the tourist experience through signage strategy. The allocation is part of an overall €850,000 from the Department of Rural and Community Development to support 19 rural regeneration projects across the country. “Today’s allocation of funding to the village of Corofin is the culmination of many months of hard work by the locals in the community,” said Deputy Cathal Crowe. “I’ve been out to visit the local residents and business owners and have seen first-hand the work that they’ve been doing, as well as their ambitious plans for the area. “I want to commend my colleague, Councillor Joe Killeen, who has been instrumental in leading this project and …

SINS of the Father, a book by local survivor of sexual abuse Shaneda Daly has just hit the shelves. In 2011 Shaneda’s father Harry, who worked as a prison officer for years and who is formerly of Lanna, Lisycasey, pleaded guilty to 227 sample charges of offences including rape, indecent assault and sexual assault.  While he received a 15-year sentence, in reality the time served was far shorter and Shaneda has been a prominent voice in recent years, seeking reform and mandatory sentencing. Shaneda had been faced with very frequent sexual abuse from the age of five until she turned 17 and moved out of home.  In an interview with the Clare Champion in 2018 she said, “When I was 17, me and my brother had a fight. I went down to the Garda station and it came out in the Garda Station. The next day my father left the house for a year, supposedly to get therapy. “Then he …