News

THE N18 dual-carriageway is closed southbound before the turn-off for the Radisson Hotel following a serious road traffic collision, reports Pat Flynn. The crash occurred at around 12.30pm between junction 5 Cratloe and junction 4 Cratloemoyle. Units of Clare County Fire and Rescue Service from Shannon and Limerick City attended the incident along with National Ambulance Service resources and Gardaí. The southbound lanes of the dual-carriageway have been closed and traffic is being diverted off the route at junction 5. Any motorists caught up in the traffic tailback are being turned back up onto the slip-road at junction 5 and away from the scene. No further details on the incident are available however it’s expected the road will remained closed for several hours.

Minister Eamon Ryan rules out extension of power plant’s use in current guise despite fears over supply of energy HOPES that Moneypoint Power Generating Station could stay open longer than the proposed 2025 shutdown in its current form to deal with power shortages have been dashed by Minister Eamon Ryan. Eirgrid has warned that Ireland won’t have enough electricity to meet demand for the next five winters, if action isn’t taken. In a key report, the company outlined this is due to the closure of older power plants and a rise in demand for electricity. The report has promoted the Commission for Regulation of Utilities to recommend that older power stations, which were due to be decommissioned, are kept open to boost supply. Deputy Michael McNamara highlighted concerns about what will happen when Moneypoint ceases to burn coal in four years’ time. Like the Transport Minister, Deputy McNamara looks forward to the Moneypoint plant becoming a green energy hub. The …

A US-bound cargo jet was forced to turn around over the North Atlantic and divert to Shannon Airport this morning after the crew reported a mechanical problem, reports Pat Flynn. United Parcel Service (UPS) flight UPS-232 was travelling from East Midlands airport in the UK to Philadelphia in the US at the time. The scheduled cargo service had departed Cologne, Germany earlier in the morning and made a planned stop at East Midlands. The Boeing 747-440(F) jet, with three crew on board, had departed from East Midlands at around 5.20am and was about three hours into its journey when the crew requested permission to turn around and divert to Shannon Airport. The pilots had been in contact with air traffic controllers at the Irish Aviation Authority’s North Atlantic Communications Centre at Ballygirreen at the time. The crew advised controllers they had a “mechanical issue with some flight controls”. It’s understood the issue was associated with one of the jet’s hydraulic …

An injury-time goal from Andy Clancy snatched a dramatic Under 13A Shield title victory for Kilmaley following a thrilling seesaw derby battle with Éire Óg on away soil on Sunday morning. Led by the ever-impressive marksman Luke Vaughan, who accounted for all but one point of his side’s tally, Éire Óg had finally reeled in their opponents by the three-quarters mark and duly hit the front at the perfect time when Vaughan produced a superb solo goal in the 50th minute to move 1-11 to 0-11 clear. Crucially, Kilmaley didn’t panic however and having reshuffled their pack, got back on track with a Sean Daly point before chief threats Jason Keane Hayes and Odhran Murphy teed up Andy Clancy to fire to the net from close range in the 61st minute followed immediately by a brace of Seanie Connellan points to cement a remarkable late turnaround. While it was the perfect way to win a final, it was also exceedingly …

NINE transformational projects have been identified as central planks in the Ennis 2040 Strategy. The proposed projects relate to Abbey Riverside; Wetlands & Enterprise Areas, Cornmarket Precinct, Friars Walk, Harvey’s Quay and the Post Office Field, the site of the former Roche plant, the former Ennis National School, the proposed Data Centre at Toureen and the Clare Technology Park. Regarding the Abbey Riverside development, it suggests a landmark building in the Abbey Street car park, a location for modern retail formats, a new educational quarter, a waterfront development, a high quality public plaza and a mix of retail, office and civic uses. It says there would be development on both sides of the river. It claims the location would become “a destination not just for shopping but for many activities, with a focus for visitors and tourists and a meeting place for all”. The strategy states, “A unique architectural approach will contribute in a new way to the existing cultural …

Senior Camogie Championship Semi-Finals Truagh-Clonlara v Kilkishen/Bodyke @ Fr. McNamara Park, Saturday 12pm (Noel Quinn, Gort) NOT many of the few souls that were scattered around the fencing in Fr. McNamara Park last September for the Senior B decider between the pair could have predicted a rematch at this lofty stage but it isn’t really that much of a surprise. After all, up to last year, Truagh-Clonlara were knocking on their door of a breakthrough to the McMahon Cup final, with a trio of semi-final battles with Newmarket all being edged by the Blues despite back-to-back bouts of extra-time in 2018 and ’19. However, it was Kilkishen/Bodyke who would take out Newmarket on Truagh’s behalf and it’s refreshening that a newcomer will line up in this year’s knock-out stages. There was little between the sides in last year’s Senior B final as Truagh-Clonlara trailed for over 45 minutes before springing to life late on capped off by an Aine O’Loughlin clinching …

A JUDGE has ordered that three young children who are alleged to have been stripped and flogged by their father will remain in State care for a further year. At the family law court in Ennis, Judge Mary Larkin extended the Interim Care Order (ICO) for the three children to October 2022 after a TUSLA social worker told the judge that the welfare and health of the children would be put at adverse risk if the court didn’t grant the order. The social worker told Judge Larkin that a Garda file concerning the allegations against the father is currently with the DPP. As part of a Garda investigation, the children were interviewed by specialist Garda interviewers. The children were removed from the care of their parents in September 2020 and have been cared for by foster carers on behalf of TUSLA since. Judge Larkin first granted the ICO last September after hearing that the couple’s son told a Childcare Support …

WHILE Ennis is in the grip of a housing crisis, the Ennis 2040 strategy suggests a significant increase in the town’s population can be accommodated. The strategy, launched by An Tánaiste Leo Varadkar, proposes high density development composed mostly of two-bedroom units, with some one- and three-bed units. Up to 1,500 apartments could be developed, the strategy posits. Annual population growth of 1.6% per annum is projected, bringing the town’s population to around 37,000 by 2040, and it identifies areas where these new residents can be accommodated. First off, it says that 30 hectares of land in the town centre can be made available for housing in the inner area of Ennis. “It is envisaged that spare land capacity identified in the inner area will be used to achieve a mix of uses, in the form of a combination of commercial and residential development,” the strategy states. “Broadly speaking, a 50-50 split might result in 30 hectares of residential development …