News

A WEST Clare slatted house will double as a recording studio next week, when a group of musicians and singers come together to produce an album to raise funds for research into children’s cancers. The idea is the brainchild of Miltown Malbay native George Benn, who has recently received the all clear after being diagnosed, in recent years, with cancer. Now a long-time resident of Ruan, George is a member of the choir in Ballyea. Over the last few weeks, he and his fellow members, musicians and friends have been busy rehearsing for the 14-track album. The slatted shed, which is owned by choir member Martin Casey, has been centrally important as a venue which facilitates social distancing for the group of around 20. “But for Martin, this wouldn’t have been possible,” George said. Originally, George planned to hold a church concert. “Covid got in the way,” he outlined. “Then I thought, ‘Why not make an album?’ Everyone got behind …

AN INCREASE in the cost of burial plots could be on the cards in a bid to boost resources for cemetery services in Clare. Following a detailed review of burial ground management, the council’s rural policy committee was told that just half of the costs of running cemeteries is covered by the income generated. The review, which was presented to the council’s rural policy committee, was conducted by former Fire Chief and Director of Services with Limerick City and County Council, Ollie O’Loughlin. It examined eight aspects of the operation of burial grounds in Clare. Among the report’s recommendations is an increase in clerical and technical support for the Burial Ground Unit, something that could potentially be done by pooling resources with those for community playgrounds. Mr O’Loughlin is also proposing a review of the bye-laws governing burial grounds in order to address issues including anti-social behaviour. In addition, Mr O’Loughlin has recommended a licencing system for those working in …

ENNIS Rotary Club is urging the public to make a ‘wheel’ effort in continuing support of a project which is bringing bicycles to school children in Africa. The initiative which sees people donate their unwanted, repairable bikes has already resulted in 157 bicycles shipped from Clare to Gambia. The Rotary Ireland School Bikes Africa project, with the support of Clare County Council, gives members of the public across Clare the opportunity to bring their unwanted bicycles to the Central Waste Management Facility at Ballyduff Beg, Inagh. From there, Rotary Ireland deliver the bicycles to the open prisons at Loughan House, County Cavan, and Shelton Abbey, County Wicklow, where they are refurbished by prisoners. They are then shipped to Africa and distributed to school children, giving them the chance of a better future. Michael Shepherd of Ennis Rotary told The Champion that they have been delighted with the response the project has received locally. He outlined that there is now a …

The pandemic exposed a decade of neglect in primary and special schools and as we move to recover from Covid19, it’s imperative we do better. Budget 2022 needs to deliver for primary education. Irish primary class sizes remain the largest in the European Union. Too many pupils still learn in a classroom of 30 or more pupils, with one in five pupils nationally learning in such crowded environments. At the height of the pandemic, Ireland was the only EU country that had to plan for social distancing in supersized classes of thirty or more. Research shows that smaller classes enable teachers to give adequate and necessary time to each child in the classroom, which has a positive impact on learning outcomes. Principals must be supported in their efforts to lead teaching and learning in our schools whilst they simultaneously carry out the range of administrative tasks assigned to the role. No school in the country would have been able to …

A DRIVER who performed “donuts” at a crossroads while up to 15 cars blocked all four access roads has received a driving ban, writes Ronan Judge. The “organised” drifting event occurred close to Lemenagh Castle near Corofin last November, Ennis District Court heard. Judge Mary Larkin said of the incident, “This was an organised event. It was dangerous. There is no other way about it. It was dangerous.” Garda James O’Donoghue told the court he and colleagues responded to a report of “boy racers drifting” near Lemenagh north, Corofin at around 1.45am on November 22, 2020. The garda said he heard the “extremely loud noise” of screeching tyres at the scene. The garda said he exited the patrol van and observed two cars performing donuts at a crossroads. He told the court the cars were surrounded by a group of up to 15 other cars that were blocking all access to the crossroads. A number of the people were standing …

Irish Water has warned of supply outages to facilitate ongoing upgrade work on Clare’s largest treatment plant following a delay to the project. There will be interruptions to supply affecting a number of areas as construction continues at the new Doolough Water Treatment plant. Areas that may be affected include Kilrush, Kilkee, Kilmihil, Doonbeg, Quilty, Carrigaholt, and all surrounding areas, including all group water schemes fed from this supply. As a precautionary measure, Irish Water are providing water tankers at 15 locations that consumers can access if affected. Outlining the upgrade, Regional Operations Lead for Irish Water, Duane O’Brien explained, “We had a slight delay in the commencement of the works, at a very crucial stage of the project which will mean the capacity of the water treatment plant will be temporarily reduced for another few days – until October 4. Tankered water remains in place at the following locations to provide an alternative water supply to customers in the …

VOLUNTEERS in Clare removed around 1.6 tonnes of marine litter from our coasts at the weekend as part of the Big Beach Clean. After a break in 2020, the Big Beach Clean took place over the weekend and Clean Coasts were overwhelmed with the incredible support and commitment shown by communities across Ireland. In Clare, volunteers organised clean-ups in 16 different locations, removing approximately 1.6 tonnes of marine litter. Among them, volunteers from Clean Coasts group Keep Lahinch Clean organised a clean-up that saw also local kids from the surfing school get involved after their class and collected over 10 bags of marine litter. The Big Beach Clean is an annual call to action that takes place in September at the end of the bathing season. Volunteers around Ireland were asked to register their clean up event and take part in a worldwide citizen science project, as part of the International Coastal Cleanup (ICC), operated internationally by Ocean Conservancy. This …

RESIDENTS of an Ennis retirement village are “horrified” over plans for a housing development which has been labelled by one objector as a “Mini-Manhattan”. Leadlane (Drumbiggle) Ltd have lodged a planning application for the development on lands to the west of Pairc na Coille Retirement village. The plans have been the subject of dozens of submissions, with objectors also creating a YouTube video highlighting concerns for nearby wildlife in an area the retirement village residents dubbed “our nature reserve”. A decision on the planning application is currently on hold as Clare County Council await a response to a request for further information from the developers. The application seeks permission to construct 58 residential units comprising 10 four-bed houses, 26 three-bed houses and 22 duplex units comprising 11 two-bed ground floor apartment units with 11 three-bed house units above. Permission has also been sought to alter and upgrade the existing access road to provide additional footpath, cycle paths and raised traffic …