News

PERMISSION has been granted for 36 new homes in the village of Quin, subject to 25 conditions being satisfied. Datcha Construction, who lodged their planning application in January of 2022 for a site at Quingardens, have secured the permission despite some local opposition. While the developer originally sought permission for 41 homes, the local planning authority has reduced the permitted number by five. The developer had applied for permission for 13 detached, 10 semi-detached and 18 terraced houses on a site of just under two hectares. During the initial assessment of the plans, five objections were received by the local authority. These included a joint submission from Quin Garden Residents, raising concerns about local bat roosts and other issues. County planners sought FI on nine aspects of the housing proposals. These included further details of the impact on the Lower River Shannon Area Special Area of Conservation (SAC), the Poulnagordon Cave SAC and the Old Domestic Buildings SAC. The developer …

CLASS A drugs worth a combined €26,000 have been seized in Clare following a raid on a premises in the county town. On Wednesday, January 11, Detective Gardaí from the Divisional Drugs Unit assisted by the Regional Support Unit and the Southern Region Dog Unit carried out four searches under warrant in locations on the outskirts of Ennis. During the course of the searches approximately €14,000 worth of suspected Cocaine and €12,000 worth of suspected Heroin was located and seized. The suspected controlled substances have been forwarded to Forensic Science Ireland for examination and a full investigation into these seizures is being carried out by the Divisional Drugs Unit.

A CLARE GP is supporting calls for people to wear masks in public places in a bid to reduce the spread of respiratory illnesses, which has resulted in increased admissions to local surgeries and University Hospital Limerick. Dr Michael Kelleher estimates presentations to his practice has gone up by up to 20% over the last four weeks due to the surge in RSV, Covid-19 and influenza. The Lahinch doctor recalled mask wearing was a very effective measure during peak Covid-19 surges and should again be repeated in the midst of a significant hike in respiratory illnesses. “There is evidence that wearing a mask reduces droplet transmission. In the midst of a surge in respiratory illnesses, I think wearing masks in public places might be perfectly reasonable, particularly if you are a vulnerable individual. “Wearing a mask protects a person you are in close contact with more than yourself. It does make sense. If there was more mask wearing in public, …

A DETAILED design and locations for bus stops as part of plans to develop an Ennis town bus service is expected to be completed by the National Transport Authority within the first nine months of this year. The establishment of the bus service has been described as “crucial” by Councillor Johnny Flynn who, at the monthly meeting of the Ennis Municipal District, urged that preparations begin immediately to ensure infrastructure is in place to support the service. Eamon O’Dea, Senior Executive Engineer, stated that the provision of the service “has been a priority for all involved in the delivery of services for the former Ennis Town Council-Clare County Council Ennis Area and Ennis Municipal District Council.” And he said the council will assist the NTA in the “timely completion” of required infrastructure designs and installation. Speaking at the meeting, Councillor Flynn welcomed the news that the NTA plan to have a two route Ennis bus service in operation by early …

A COMMUNITY leader has been lauded for her inspirational work spearheading the provision of a €8.5 million sheltered housing complex in Ennis. Pauline McNamara (72) has been awarded the Margaret O’Leary achievement in community housing for her work with Cuan an Chláir. This award is designed to recognise the achievements and commitment to housing by voluntary board members, individuals or local authority representatives demonstrating a high level of leadership in housing delivery and management over a sustained period. “The award is for all of the committee. It is great to win an award, but my focus is on the next project. What has been achieved by the whole committee is marvellous,” Pauline said. In his nomination submission Cuan an Chláir director, Willie Moloney described Ms McNamara as someone who “nourishes and protects dreams through bad days until she brings them to sunshine and light”. Mr Moloney outlined their chairperson has been the driving force behind the initiative from the start …

TRIBUTES have been paid to a much loved North Clare woman who sadly passed away last week. Selina O’Sullivan, of School Road, Lahinch was well known throughout the county, particularly for her services to the Irish Red Cross in Clare and Water Safety Ireland Clare. Selina passed away peacefully in the care of the staff at Milford Care Centre on Monday. She is survived by her husband Kieran, daughter Susan, brother Owen, sisters Joan and Helen, other relatives and friends. She was predeceased by her parents Marie and Tomsie. Selina spent many years dedicated to the Irish Red Cross in Clare and in a statement posted online the organisation said, “It’s with great sadness that the Irish Red Cross Clare mourn the passing of Selina O’Sullivan. “Treasured wife, mother, sister and member of the Irish Red Cross. Former ADU and EMT. We wish our deepest condolences to Selina’s family and friends. May she rest in peace.” Clare Area Treasurer James …

THERE WAS good news for Clare this Monday with the announcement of 25 new jobs and the promise of more to come from Lufthansa Technik Turbine Shannon (LTTS). Announcing the further expansion of its business in Ireland with the opening of a new 2,000 M2 facility and the creation of 25 jobs in Shannon, LTTS said it was responding to significant worldwide increase in demand for its services. LTTS, a subsidiary of Germany’s Lufthansa Technik AG, is experiencing the increase market demand for maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) services for aircraft engines and components following the recovery of the aviation sector after the Covid-19 pandemic. LTTS has been operating in Ireland since 1992 and employs more than 300 people in Shannon, Kildare and Dublin. The current expansion plans mean that the company urgently needs 25 highly skilled aircraft mechanics who will be based at its new facility in the mid-west, working on state-of-the-art aviation technology and equipment. It is expected …

THERE WERE eight awards for Clare at the BT Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition (BTYSTE) last week, including an individual win for one Scoil Mhuire Ennistymon student. Alanna Hayes won the Senior Individual section of the Chemical, Physical & Mathematical Sciences category for her project ‘An Analysis of Routing Algorithms for Electronic Design’. Meanwhile, April O’Donnell, from Mary Immaculate Secondary School Lisdoonvarna, took third in the Intermediate Individual section of the Biological & Ecological category for her project, ‘Is the Clumping Behaviour of Mussels (Mytilus edulis) affected by the Presence of a Predator?’. There were sponsored category awards won by Clare projects in the Chemical, Physical & Mathematical Sciences and Biological and ecological categories also. Oisin Jackson, Mary Immaculate Secondary School Lisdoonvarna won the Met Eireann award in the Chemical, Physical & Mathematical Sciences category for his ‘Statistical analysis of the relationship between precipitation and river discharge in the Aille River catchment area’. Meanwhile in the biological and ecological category, …