News

AN Ennis girl who touched the hearts of the nation with an appearance on last weekend’s Late Late Toy Show has described the experience as “amazing”. 12-year-old Isabella Sydney Mulvey was born with Lumbosacral Agenesis which necessitates her using a wheelchair as her legs were amputated at the age of seven. On the show, which has been watched by 1.8 million people all over the world, Isabella spoke with host Ryan Tubridy about her favourite sensory toys and her ‘Adventure Book’ which includes all her favourite wishes including a dream to visit the Louvre in Paris. She was then surprised by Ryan who revealed she and her family would be going on a magical trip of a lifetime to the French capital including a visit to Disneyland Paris. Speaking to The Clare Champion this week Isabella said, “Being on the show was great, it was amazing. Ryan was really lovely and nice.” She said she is “very much looking forward” …

FINE Gael Senator Martin Conway has been appointed to a panel within the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) to promote political participation of people with disabilities. Senator Conway was officially added to the advisory panel of the OSCE’s Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) after impressing the panel with his commitment in encouraging people with disabilities to become involved in politics. Speaking to The Clare Champion, Senator Conway recalled he applied to be appointed to the OSCE, which he described as an expert umbrella group to promote democracy for people with disabilities in 95 countries. Following a three-hour interview by a five-person interview panel, the Fine Gael Senator wasn’t expecting to be successful given the huge interest. “There was massive interest in the panel. I was shortlisted down to a group of 60 out of thousands of applicants, and I was informed on Tuesday I was successful. Former President of Ireland Mary Robinson has been …

PUBLIC lighting has been restored to the car park area close to Sixmilebridge railway station, after it had been cut off for the last few months. The power supply for the public lighting had been cut off, following the discovery of an illegal connection. While the decision to cut the power might have solved that problem, it caused another, as local scout groups use the Old Station House and there were safety issues with people coming and going in the dark. This week Clare TD Cathal Crowe said he was very pleased that the lighting has finally been restored. “I’m glad that Clare County Council and the ESB have now reinstated street lighting in the car park area of Sixmilebridge Railway Station,” said the Fianna Fáil representative. “Approximately 14 streetlights there had been switched off since early September on a precautionary basis after the ESB discovered that one of the secure panels on a lamp post had been tampered with …

WORKS are underway to provide updated maps outlining the areas benefiting from the Ennis South Flood Relief Scheme, the Ennis Municipal District has confirmed. The flood maps may be used to assist the insurance industry in determining the cost and provision of flood cover to homes and businesses in the local area. Details of the works were outlined at a recent meeting of the Ennis Municipal District following a notice of motion by Councillor Paul Murphy. The councillor had sought on update on a response received in February after requesting the municipal district and Clare County Council collaborate  with stakeholders such as Ennis Chamber of Commerce, Ennis Traders Group and Retail Excellence Ireland in preparing a document, detailing the improvements to the flood defence system and outlining how the risk of flooding has been minimised as a result of the works completed. “Information provided in the requested document was to meet the requirements of Insurance providers from a risk management …

A ‘safe homes for Christmas’ protest is to be held, later this month in South East Clare, by those affected by pyrite. An emotional meeting in Ennis last night (Friday, Dec 3) heard the frustration of members of the Clare Pyrite Action Group (CPAG), as delays continue in the assessment of their application for State redress. While the updated terms of the Defective Concrete Blocks Grant Scheme were unveiled on Tuesday, there was no indication of when the fund will be extended beyond Mayo and Donegal. The Department continues to query technical aspects of a report submitted by the council in July and a letter clarifying the full requirements is expected to issue on Monday. Against that backdrop, founder of the CPAG, Dr Martina Cleary told the meeting there is now no alternative but to take to the streets. “This will be an ‘all we want for Christmas is a safe home’ march,” she said. “We need you to come …

GOVERNMENT supports like the Employment Wage Subsidy Scheme need to be extended for at least four months to help the struggling hospitality sector to survive, according to local hoteliers. Clare hotels, who are big commercial ratepayers, suffered a double hit this week with a 3.8% hike in commercial rates and a reduction of financial supports under the EWSS. Old Ground Hotel proprietor, Allen Flynn described the decision to increase rates as “extraordinary” at a time when a lot of businesses are struggling to stay open. “It is only government supports that is keeping most businesses open at the moment. These supports need to be continued for the first six months of 2022. “For a local authority to increase its commercial rates is completely at odds with what the government are trying to do. Other Chamber members are shocked and very disappointed with the increase. This sends out a very bad message to business. Despite a strong staycation market when the …

TWO men have been arrested by Gardaí investigating an incident of criminal damage at Cloughleigh, Ennis. An investigation commenced after a firearm was discharged and a petrol bomb was thrown at a property on Pearse Avenue, Cloughleigh, in the early hours of Monday, November 22. There was no one injured. A number of searches were conducted this morning, December 3, in the Ennis area by detectives leading this investigation and two men aged in their 30s were arrested. They are currently detained under Section 30 of the Offences Against the State Act, 1939, at Ennis and Shannon Garda Stations. The investigation is ongoing and further updates will follow.

CLARE Haven Services are currently hosting a multimedia exhibiton entitled Hidden Truths: Behind Closed Doors, which explores the experience and themes of domestic abuse in Clare. The exhibition aims to draw peoples attention to the reality of domestic abuse in a novel and thought provoking way. It is on at their premises at Abbey Lodge on the road between Ennis and Clarecastle until December 10, and is part of the organisation’s 16 Days of Action to Prevent Violence Against Women calendar of events. For the exhibition a number of rooms have been transformed, with thought provoking pieces installed which bring home the reality of domestic abuse for women and children. Dr Siobhán O’Connor is Manager of services at Clare Haven and speaking about the exhibition at its launch last Wednesday, she said, “This all comes out of a thought process I had about two years ago when I saw the space we had here and thought about how best to …