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Business owners seeking ‘meaningful’ consultation

Ennis businesses and their representative groups say only one public consultation has been held so far by Ennis 2040 DAC and the Clare County Council. And there is a general opinion amongst business owners that, as one retailer put it, there has been no “meaningful” public consultation. At the recent drop-in events organised by Ennis 2040 DAC/ The Council displays advised the public that “extensive” consultation has taken place. Proprietors of Ennis Bookshop, Feargal Dúlaing and Dervilla Evans told The Clare Champion they first became aware of the project in early 2023 when Ennis Chamber organised a meeting at the Temple Gate Hotel in Ennis where a representative of Ennis 2040 DAC and the Council set out their vision for the proposed developments with the aid of a brochure and slides. “To suggest that an extensive consultation took place or continues to take place is inaccurate and very misrepresentative. All through 2023, we met members of the public – business …

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Family speak of ‘whirlwind’ of feelings as nephew gets life for uncle’s murder

The niece of a 78-year-old widower has told the Central Criminal Court that her family have experienced a raw, pervasive fear “stemming from the chilling reality of evil so close to home”. The testimony was heard as part of three emotional victim impact statements read today to the Central Criminal Court, where 34-year-old Thomas Lorigan was sentenced to the mandatory term of life imprisonment for murdering his uncle Mr O’Neill. The sentence was backdated to January 8 2022, when he went into custody. Niamh Higgins, niece of Mr O’Neill, told the Central Criminal Court today that the “cruel loss” of her uncle to this “heinous murder has plunged us into a whirlwind of raw feelings”. She added: “Feelings we find ourselves wholly unprepared for – overwhelming grief, despair, trauma, including a pervasive fear stemming from the chilling reality of evil so close to home”. Ms Higgins said that to think of the injuries “being inflicted by a stranger” would be …

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Five taken to hospital following road traffic collision in Miltown Malbay

Five people were taken to hospital following a road traffic collision in Clare on Sunday evening. The two-car crash occurred at around 6.30pm on the N67 Spanish Point road out of Miltown Malbay about 500m from the town’s square and outside the local GAA field. Units of Clare County Fire and Rescue Service from Ennistymon station responded to the scene along with National Ambulance Service paramedics and Gardaí. A total of five people were injured in the collision while firefighters had to use specialist cutting equipment to help free the injured from the wreckage. It’s understood there were four people travelling in one vehicle and just the driver in the second. All five were transported by ambulance to University Hospital Limerick for treatment. It’s understood that one person was seriously injured but his injuries are not believed to be life-threatening. The others are not believed to have been seriously hurt. The road remain closed overnight while a technical examination of …

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Clare County Council to launch Climate Action Plan next week

Clare County Council is set to launch its Climate Action Plan on Wednesday, February 21, at the EirGrid Energy Citizens Roadshow at Treacys West County Hotel in Ennis. Described as a ‘roadmap’ for the local authority’s commitment to sustainability and environmental sustainability, the plan aims to set out a “pathway towards positive change”, according to Clare County Council’s Climate Action Coordinator, Morgan Lahiffe. Mr Lahiffe will join a panel of speakers from EirGrid, the operator and developer of Ireland’s electricity grid, the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) and ESB Networks, to discuss renewable energy, the future of the electricity grid and home energy upgrades and grants. The event will also host exhibitors, including energy consultants, solar panel experts and Ennis Credit Union. Attendees will hear about the various grants and incentives available to homeowners and businesses to make energy-efficient upgrades. “This Climate Action Plan is a pivotal roadmap for Clare County Council’s commitment to sustainability and environmental responsibility,” said …

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Pyrite affected homeowners struggle with grant application

NO CLARE home owner affected by the scourge of pyrite has received any Government funds under the Enhanced Defective Block Grant Scheme up until January 23 last, new figures have revealed. Sinn Féin Deputy Eoin O’Broin asked Housing Minister Darragh O’Brien for a breakdown of the number of new applications to the Enhanced Defective Block Redress Scheme; the number who have drawn down funds to date; and the number who have drawn down their full grant. The official figures show there were 49 Clare applicants to the scheme compared to 1,456 in Donegal, 357 in Mayo and 18 in Limerick. According to these statistics, no Clare homeowner affected by pyrite has submitted remedial plans, which is in sharp contrast to 127 in Donegal and 140 in Mayo. No Clare resident has commenced remedial works unlike 96 in Donegal and 132 in Mayo. Zero is also the figure for the number of Clare homeowners who have completed works or drawn down …

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Councillors warn of ‘necklace’ of windfarms

A CHAIN of windfarm developments is on the way to East Clare, with turbines up to 180 metres in height, unless An Bord Pleanála makes appropriate decisions, members of Clare County Council warned this week. At Monday’s council meeting they discussed the development of a windfarm at Oatfield, which the council executive are making a submission to An Bord Pleanála on, while the Killaloe area councillors are making a separate submission. Killaloe councillor Tony O’Brien (FF) said there could be “a proliferation of massive, industrial size wind turbines stretching from Bodyke and Ogonnelloe right down across Broadford, the 12 O’Clock Hills, Sliabh Bernagh, right down into Meelick and all areas in between.” A number of East Clare residents were at the meeting and he said the councillors fully understand their opposition to having huge turbines built close to their homes. “Your concerns are our concerns,” he said. Councillor Gerry Flynn (Ind) also said the Oatfield development is just the start. …

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Seed Savers take root at the Áras

AN EAST Clare non profit seed bank has branched out to Áras an Uachtaráin after presenting president Michael D Higgins with a special tree in memory of his dog. Irish Seed Savers Association received the presidential seal of approval recently after a Lough Key Crab tree was planted at Áras an Uachtaráin in memory of the beloved Bernese Mountain Dog, Bród owned by President Higgins and his wife, Sabina. President Higgins expressed his gratitude for the meaningful gesture from the Irish Seed Savers Association, emphasising the importance of preserving Ireland’s agricultural heritage. The planting of the Lough Key Crab tree at Áras an Uachtaráin serves as a poignant tribute to Bród and contributes to the protection of Ireland’s apple tree heritage. Four members of the ISSA attended the planting ceremony including Communications Development Co-ordinator, Gillian Lattimore, Executive Director, Elaine Bradley, Orchard Team members, Marie Collins, Scariff, and Anne English. Áras an Uachtaráin Head Gardener, Robert Norris showed the ISSA the …

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DNA search for lost Clare father

AN ENGLISH woman of Clare descent is appealing to the people of Clare to help her trace her long lost biological grandfather. Born in Coventry, Louise McNamara has always known that half of her family tree was from County Clare. Her father, Francis McNamara, was born in London in 1956 but was unofficially adopted soon after his birth and has no memory of his birth mother or father. After years of research, the family managed to learn the identity of Francis’ mother, who was originally from Ennistymon. Unfortunately, Francis’ mother had passed away shortly before the family learned of her identity. Last Christmas, Louise McNamara, convinced her father to undergo DNA testing in an effort to discover the identity of his Clare father. The DNA tests revealed that both of Mr McNamara’s parents come from the West Clare or South Clare area and, to the families great surprise, the test also showed a match in the Ennis area. This match, …

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