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THE Health Protection Surveillance Centre has today been notified of fewer than five additional cases of Covid-19 in Clare and 34 additional deaths related to Covid-19 nationally. Of the deaths reported today three occurred in April, four occurred in March, 19 occurred in February, five occurred in January, and three occurred in December or earlier. The median age of those who died was 81 years and the age range was 33 to 96 years. There has been a total of 4,769* Covid-19 related deaths in Ireland. As of midnight, Thursday, April 8, the HPSC has been notified of 473 confirmed cases of Covid-19.There is now a total of 240,192** confirmed cases of Covid-19 in Ireland. Of the cases notified today: 224 are men / 247 are women 76% are under 45 years of age The median age is 29 years old 229 in Dublin, 32 in Kildare, 21 in Mayo, 19 in Meath, 30 in Donegal and the remaining 142 …

PRE-PLANNING consultation has begun in South East Clare as a German renewable energy company prepares to lodge an application for an eight-turbine windfarm, early next year. RWE Renewables Ireland Limited (RWE), which describes itself as one of the world’s leading renewable energy companies, launched an eight-week pre-planning consultation exercise at the start of this month. It says that feedback received from residents and stakeholders – whom it aims to meet virtually while Level 5 restrictions continue – will inform the design of the windfarm, proposed for a 320-hectare site 6km south west of Killaloe and 1.5km north of Bridgetown. As a mandatory element of windfarm projects, RWE will administer a community fund in the event of securing planning permission from Clare County Council, a figure which could range from €168,000 to €288,000 per annum for 15 years. A brochure on the project also outlines the potential for community shared ownership. It details the creation of up to 70 jobs during …

THERE was shock in Ennis this week with the confirmation that one of the county town’s most popular establishments would be closing its doors for good. The multi-award winning Food Heaven has been a firm favourite since it was first opened on Market Street in 2006. However on Friday it was confirmed that the cafe and delicatessen had closed permanently. Since the announcement owner Noirin Furey has been “overwhelmed” with the number of good wishes which have been described as “very humbling”. A post on Food Heaven’s social media page stated, “I am very saddened to announce that Food Heaven will close on a permanent basis, on Saturday, April 3 2021. I sincerely thank all those who over the last 14 and a half years have worked closely with me, and have made such a positive contribution to the success and reputation of the business. It was a pleasure having you on this journey.” The statement continued, “I would like …

THE parklet on O’Connell Street in Ennis has been described as an “aesthetic abomination” and “a pustule” this week, by a local trader, who has said there have been reports of rats being seen around it. Meanwhile Clare County Council have defended the parklet, saying it was brought in to support elderly people and those with reduced mobility, that the public reaction to it has been positive and that the parklet hasn’t led to an increase in vermin in the area. In a letter sent to the HSE and Clare County Council, a local trader complained of seeing rats at the parklet, close to their premises. “I, myself, observed rodents scurryting around and under this structures on Thursday, March 11, as I was cleaning the outside of my premises. I approached the street cleaning lorry and my observation was corroborated by them. Another street cleaner can bear witness to this also. “Before this sighting, I have never seen rats in …

ENNIS is “becoming a problem area” with calls being made for the setting up of a special Joint Policing sub-committee with a specific focus on the county capital. This week’s meeting of the Ennis Municipal District saw councillors raise concerns about anti-social behaviour which has been linked to the use of tourist buildings as homeless accommodation. Residents of Hermitage and Considine’s Terrace in Ennis have reported anti-social behaviour including incidences of drug dealing and intimidation associated with some living in Ashford Court under the Winter Initiative Project. While concerns have also been raised about residents at Westbrook House, a former bed and breakfast on the Gort Road being used for emergency accommodation. Councillor Johnny Flynn raised the issue at the meeting, requesting a report on the planning and development status of the ongoing homeless and emergency accommodation use of tourist accommodation buildings at both Ashford Court, and Westbrook.  He insisted that all councillors are “fully committed” to providing social housing. However …

AWARD winners have been revealed in the very first Clare Drama Radio Play Festival which concluded its hugely successful run on Easter Sunday night. The initiative involved groups from around the country sending their pre-recorded short dramas to Scariff Bay Community Radio (SBCR) who broadcast a feast of radio plays in collaboration with Clare Drama Festival. Ranked in first place for their production of When I Was God was the Kilmeen Drama Group, who received the The Alan Sparling Perpetual Trophy. The Clonakilty-based group beat off stiff competition from six other short-listed companies, including the Doonbeg Drama Group and the Sliabh Aughty Drama Group. The award for direction also went to Kilmeen with Denis O’Sullivan taking that prize. The title of Best Actress went to Muriel Caslin O’Hagan from Balally Players, for her role as Marion in Pizzazz, while Best Supporting Actress went to Lasairfhíona Kennedy for her role as Tríona in Manic Monday with the Sliabh Aughty Drama Group. …

THE Health Protection Surveillance Centre has today been notified of no additional Covid-19 cases in Clare and seven additional deaths related to Covid-19 nationally. Of the deaths reported today two occurred in April, two occurred in March and three occurred in February. The median age of those who died was 78 years and the age range was 62 to 89 years. There has been a total of 4,737* Covid-19 related deaths in Ireland. As of midnight, Wednesday, April 7, the HPSC has been notified of 400 confirmed cases of Covid-19. There is now a total of 239,723** confirmed cases of Covid-19 in Ireland. Of the cases notified today: 205 are men / 193 are women 72% are under 45 years of age The median age is 35 years old 162 in Dublin, 61 in Kildare, 26 in Cork, 21 in Galway, 17 in Donegal and the remaining 113 cases are spread across 18 other counties***. As of 8am today, 226 …

“I CAME over to Dublin from Ghana for what was meant to be six months, to help my friends set up a restaurant and plan a menu, then I blinked and found five years had gone by.” Sam Gleeson is reflecting on the road that has led him to Ennistymon and how he has come to set up a knife making business that last week won him a prestigious national craft award with a €10,000 bursary. Using metal and woodworking techniques, and using found and reclaimed materials, even washed-up ocean plastics, he creates beautiful, distinctive knives for culinary use. The plan now is to open a teaching facility in Ennistymon to share his bladesmith craft with others and Sam plans to use his bursary to attend a forge-welding course in the US and take his own skills to the next level. “Reclaimed wood and plastic goes in the handles,” he says, “but what I’m becoming known for is making my …