News

LAST week saw the official launch of Inbhear na Sionna, the new 47-unit estate, which has been delivered by approved housing body Co-operative Housing Ireland. The houses are one, two, three and four-bed units, each one with a BER rating of A3. Pearse O’Sheil is chairman of Co-Operative Housing Ireland and speaking about the organisation’s work he said, “What we do is provide homes for families, either in the social housing sector as an approved housing body, or indeed for groups of people who wish to come together as a co-operative and build their own homes. Since its foundation in 1973, the organisation has provided over 6,000 homes through home-ownership, shared ownership and social rented co-operatives. With its membership of democratic local co-operatives, Co-operative Housing Ireland manages more than 3,000 homes across Ireland as well as providing a network of childcare services in their communities. “We operate in the social housing sector, State support sector and we’d be open to …

WORK on the construction of the new Shannon River Crossing, Killaloe By-Pass and upgrading of the Ballina to Birdhill regional road is expected to start next spring, writes Dan Danaher. East Clare councillors were informed the contract for the main scheme works, estimated to cost in the region of €50 million, is expected to be awarded by the end of this year subject to Department of Transport approval. This was revealed at a Killaloe Municipal District meeting on Wednesday, following a motion from Councillor Tony O’Brien. Senior engineer, Sean Lenihan outlined members will be aware that this was a two-stage tender process, and that the council had already carried out a Suitability Assessment stage last year resulting in six main contractors being prequalified and shortlisted. Further to receipt of ministerial approval to proceed to tender, the council published the Main Scheme Works Tender on Friday, August 6, on the eTenders platform. “As expected for a project of this type and …

Sinn Féin housing spokesperson says major changes needed to make redress system fit for purpose, writes Fiona McGarry THE Sinn Féin housing spokesperson has insisted there must be “no distinction in terms of geography” for Clare homeowners looking to the defective grant scheme for those with defective blocks. Deputy Eoin Ó Broin, who has just published a detailed account of the plight facing thousands of people living in defective homes, told The Champion that the soundings on redress for Clare homeowners are “positive”. He cautioned, however, that major changes to the Defective Concrete Blocks Grant Scheme are needed before it is fit for purpose. He also insisted that homeowners across the State must be treated equally, regardless of where they live, or the cause of the problems with their homes. Defects outlines the legacy of frenzied construction activity, much of it in the Celtic Tiger years, combined with a weak regulatory regime and buyers desperate for a foot on the …

A GROUP of Clare landowners will fly the Banner flag at the National Ploughing Championships in Ratheniska near Portlaoise this week, writes Dan Danaher. Clare ploughing competitors are revving up to return to national championship ploughing, as there has been no county matches since the end of 2019 due to Covid-19 restrictions. While Clare competitors haven’t enjoyed the same level of practice as other years, Clare Ploughing Association chairman, Pat Quinn, insists they will all do their best in their respective categories. “There is a great tradition of ploughing in Clare. Clare competitors punch above their weight in view of the fact there is no real tillage farming or stubble ground in the county. We hold our own in the All-Ireland ploughing championships. “A lot of the new tractors are so big their wheels aren’t suitable for ploughing. You need narrow wheels for ploughing. “It is becoming expensive for new young entrants to compete in ploughing championships, particularly if they …

A BID to create housing for older members of a religious community in Tuamgraney has hit a hitch, with planners seeking further details on a number of aspects of the project, writes Fiona McGarry. At the end of June, The Christian Community lodged an application to update their existing facilities at Drewsborough, and to create 12 new accommodation units. While planners had initially indicated an August decision date was possible, they have now asked for detailed Further Information (FI) on several aspects of the proposals. According to a design statement submitted with the application, the existing Christian Community Centre is made up of a chapel, priest’s house, visitor accommodation, therapy rooms and associated services. The proposed project would involve the demolition of part of an existing building, the extension of an existing chapel and the creation of an accommodation block. In relation to the physical design, the application noted that, “The core of the design revolves around community and it …

Clare hospitality industry reaps staycation dividend as Irish tourists spend more money, writes Owen Ryan WITH schools back and the evenings shortening, the peak 2021 tourist season has ended in Clare. While international visitors were absent again, the fact Irish people couldn’t easily travel meant that west and north Clare got a large number of ‘staycationers’ which allowed local businesses to enjoy a very busy summer. Kilkee-based county councillor Cillian Murphy said that the area has been very busy since reopening from lockdown. “It has been unusual in that there was a short run-in, then craziness and a short run out. In a normal year you’d start in April, it’d get busier incrementally, and then you have the mad summer before winding down in September and October. “This year there was no run in, the doors opened on July 26 and it was championship football! I know from being in business myself and talking to a lot of my friends …

LAST May I met with artist Richard Hearns in his garden near Bellharbour and I really was struck by his remarkable sense of positivity despite being an artist in the midst of a pandemic. Perusing a beautifully illustrated catalogue I discovered that the Cadogan Contemporary Gallery in London organised a series of Richard’s works to be shown during the summer. The exhibition entitled ‘Enclave’ described by Richard as a ‘territory marked out not by traditional lines, borders and language but by something beyond these bounds -colour! This is exactly what we need these days – more colour in our lives. That day on behalf of New Quay Community Development Group I asked Richard to create a concept for a mural for our community on New Quay National School’s ‘Shelter’ wall. A few days later Richard responded with a brilliant concept based around ideas of ‘Growth’. He told me how he thought about the holistic growth of a child. How their …

“Being a therapist, every day is a school day,” says Marie Guiney-Kelly who has delivered a free support service for 38 Clare children that have experienced the impact of a cancer diagnosis over the last six years. Stressing that any family dealing with a cancer diagnosis needs support, the Mullagh native enjoys working with children whose parent, brother or sister, member of extended family or other significant adult such as a child minder has cancer. Now in her sixth year as leader with the CLIMB programme, (Children’s Lives Include Moments of Bravery) Marie brings additional qualifications as a professional counsellor and psychotherapist. She has also worked with Sláinte an Chlair as a counsellor and therapist helping family members of and cancer patients for the past six years. There are three families on a waiting list for the programme, two families are currently completing the programme and three families finished it recently. “The Clare Cancer Centre in Kilnamona and Raheen do …