News

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 …

    UL Hospitals’ Group vaccinators will be running six Walk-In Covid Vaccine Booster Clinics for 60-69-year-olds at our vaccination centres this weekend. This is in addition to separate walk-in clinics for anyone who has not yet received their primary Dose 1 or Dose 2 vaccines. People attending walk-in clinics at the Limerick centre in Scoil Carmel this weekend can avail of a free shuttle-bus service, which will run between the Southcourt Hotel, Raheen, and the centre, every half-hour between 8am and 7.30pm on Saturday and Sunday. The Walk-in Covid Vaccine Booster clinics will be held at the Mid-West Covid Vaccination Centres in the former Outpatients’ Department at Ennis Hospital on Friday from 11 am to 6pm and on Saturday from 12noon to 6pm; in the Abbey Court Hotel, Nenagh on Saturday from 2 to 7pm, and on Sunday from 8.30am to 7pm; and Scoil Carmel in Limerick on Saturday from 12 noon to 7pm and Sunday 8.30am to 7pm. …

TIGL Enterprises Ltd, which operates Trump International in Doonbeg, recorded an operating loss of almost €2 million during 2020, according to newly filed accounts. One of the largest employers in west Clare pre-pandemic, it availed of the Temporary Wage Subsidy Scheme during the year, but the average number working there dropped from 230 in 2019 to 112 in 2020. Staff costs dropped by over €3 million year on year, from €6.57 million to €3.54 million. Sales for the year were down by over €8 million, from just shy of €12 million in 2019 to €3.763 million last year. The filed document states that “The group made an operating loss of €1,986,319 for the year ended December 31, 2020 (2019 profit of €209,858).” It also says that the company net assets had decreased by €2,087,944. Three directors of the company are listed, Eric Trump, Donald Trump Junior and Joseph Russell. A heading in the accounts entitled Directors’ Remuneration says that €190,973 …

A NEW draft county development plan for Clare is about to go on public display, but many members of the County Council have serious issues with it. At a special meeting of the Council on Tuesday evening, the decision was taken to move to the next phase, but several of the members insisted this didn’t mean they were happy with everything in it. There was anger about national policy which provides certain targets for Clare’s population growth, which they feel are too low for the county, and have the potential to stymie its development. There is also concern about inability to zone areas for development where sewerage systems aren’t in place, with a fear that certain rural areas will not have the chance to reach their potential. At Tuesday’s meeting Councillor Tony O’Brien said that moving to the next stage of the plan “does not indicate agreement with the entire contents, that goes without saying”. He warned that there could …

For some time now, the European Union has been leading the way in the fight against climate change. As European Commissioner Mairead McGuinness recalls, “When the Commission committed in December 2019 to achieving climate neutrality by the middle of this century, this was ground-breaking – a clear sign of EU ambition and a signal to the rest of the world to make bold and ambitious commitments. Several of the world’s leading economies have also now committed to climate neutrality by 2050. Europe will keep working with our global partners to achieve our collective ambition to tackle climate change.” European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen confirmed that, “Europe is on track to be the first climate neutral continent by 2050. We have reduced our emissions by more than 31% compared with 1990, while at the same time growing our economy by 60%, which shows that you can cut emissions and prosper.” Europe’s Green Deal recognises that the transition to a …

WATER mains in Ennis described as “problematic” by Irish Water, are being replaced this month. Irish Water, in partnership with Clare County Council, is replacing the water mains in Tobarteascáin with the national utility saying the works will improve water quality and provide a more reliable supply. The upgrade involves the replacement of over 740m of problematic water mains with new modern pipes. The programme to replace the water mains in Tobarteascáin will commence in mid-November and is being carried out as part of Irish Water’s National Leakage Reduction Programme. The works will also involve laying new water service connections from the public water main in the road to customers’ property boundaries and connecting it to the customers’ water supply. Where the existing service connections on the public side are made from lead, these will be replaced as part of this improvement work. Outlining the benefits that the mains replacement will bring, Gerry O’Donnell from Irish Water, explained, “The upgrading …

THE “catastrophic and emotional impacts” on young disabled people who have been forced to live in nursing homes has been highlighted by Clare campaigners ahead of plans for an online event this December. Clare Leader Forum are hosting ‘Empower’, a concert with a host of special guests, aimed at raising awareness of the need for a “better future for younger people deprived of their liberty in nursing homes.” The free event, which goes live on December 3 at 7pm, will also celebrate International Day of Disabled People. Those taking part will include Anne Rynne, Shannon Sisters, Fionnathan, Ann Marie Flanagan, Paddy Mulcahy, Marie Griffin, the Donnellan Dancers and many more. Ms Flanagan of the Clare Leader Forum explains, “We will be showcasing a number of very talented artists, some disabled themselves and also some local allies. This concert will be a real show of solidarity with young people forced to stay in nursing homes. “Through no fault of their own …

FRUSTRATION has been voiced in Shannon after it emerged that Clare County Council turned down an offer from the private sector valued at €10 million to develop the so called Venue facility in the town. While it is Clare’s second largest town and is home to much of the county’s industry, there is a strong feeling in Shannon that it does not have the level of facilities it should have. Development of The Venue, which would have been a multifunctional civic and arts space in the centre of the town, was being pursued by a local non-profit group for a number of years to help redress the local facilities deficit. At a public meeting last week organised by the Love Shannon Community Council there was much frustration that the €10 million offer, from unnamed private sources, did not come to pass, apparently because the County Council would have been left with an ongoing €250,000 bill for its running. It is …