News

HEARTLESS thieves, who have stuck again at Tulla Graveyard, over the festive period, have been condemned by a local councillor. Gardaí say that in the run-up to Christmas four graves were targeted and a number of decorative items taken. The incidents have quashed hopes locally that a spate of thefts over the course of last year had finally come to an end. “The latest news is hugely disappointing,” said Councillor Pat Hayes. “Gardaí have put huge time and effort in to tackle this situation and it seemed to have stopped. It’s a sinister activity and people are, naturally, hugely emotional when the grave of a loved one is disturbed. People go to the graveyard for quietness and solace and shouldn’t have to be worrying about what they’ll find when they go there.” Prior to the December incidents, it is understood that there have been more than 20 thefts at the remote graveyard over the course of the year. At least …

THE growing popularity of Ballybeg Woods during Covid-19 restrictions has seen motorists park on footpaths, blocking access to those using wheelchairs or pushing buggies, a meeting of the local authority has heard. Mayor of Ennis Councillor Paul Murphy urged the council to install signage at the natural amenity and carry out other improvements in a bid to tackle the problem. Speaking at a meeting of the Ennis Municipal District, Councillor Murphy stated that during Covid-19 times the general public are maximising all of our public spaces and amenities. The councillor requested that creeping ivy and overgrowth in the public car park be tidied up in the short term “in order to maximise the space available for parking”. In addition to this he said that advisory signage should be installed at the Ballybeg Road entrance, requesting patrons to use the carpark to alleviate the problem of cars being parked on footpaths in this area. Repair of damage to a picnic bench …

IT can take as little as three minutes for thieves to steal a catalytic converter gardaí in Clare have warned. Gardaí are urging motorists are to take steps to secure the devices following a spate of converter thefts recently. The equipment is coveted by thieves due to their high scrap metal value. Gardaí in Clare are investigating a number of catalytic converter thefts over the Christmas holidays, many of which occurred in the early hours. On Wednesday, December 23 at 1am a man was woken by noise outside his house in Aughanteeroe. He saw two males who left in a red car and he later found that the catalytic convertor had been stolen. On Thursday, December 31 at 1.35am a man was also awoken to noise outside his house on St Joseph’s Road, Ballyvaughan. He saw three or four males outside who they left in the direction of Lisdoonvarna and again the catalytic convertor had been removed from his car. …

UP TO €3,000 worth of food and other essential supplies have been donated by members of an Ennis gym to families in need in the community over Christmas. In the run-up to the festive season, Mike Hogan of Ozone Health and Fitness asked members to donate whatever non-perishable products they could to support local families who need extra help at this time of year. “We did it for the first time in 2019 and collected around 150 kilos of food and other products,” said Mike. “This year, everyone was so conscious of how tough things have been for so many and we were delighted to reach 500 kilos of food and other basic supplies. I’m awful proud of everyone. We have fantastic members. Sometimes, there can be a bit of scepticism about charities and where the money goes, but we proved that what we are doing is supporting genuine people in our own community. People are really fantastic when they’re …

THREE new ‘tranquillity moorings’ are being proposed for sites along Lough Derg’s Clare shoreline. Waterways Ireland has lodged applications with Clare County Council to build the moorings at Castle Bawn Bay, Ogonnelloe; at the mouth of the Scariff River; and on another site North West of Inis Cealtra, close to Knockaphort Jetty, around 130m from the lakeshore. Consultants who worked on the application noted that the lake is currently used for recreational boating, mainly during the summer months. “Casual boat mooring occurs within quieter inlets outside of the existing navigational markers, with boats dropping anchor near parts of the shoreline,” they note. “The proposed development aims to formalise mooring facilities in these areas, but discourage more casual mooring closer to the lake shore.” If granted permission, the development off Knockaphort Jetty would involve a new floating mooring buoy anchored by a concrete weight, sitting on the lake bed connected by a galvanised steel chain. That proposed mooring would only be …

IRELAND’S only Irish Sign Language Interpreted pantomime, Jack and the Beanstalk at UCH Limerick has been extended due to overwhelming public demand. The panto will now run until midnight on Sunday, January 10 with a choice of online streams with or without signing. With people watching everywhere from Panama to Portlaoise and Brisbane to Bantry, the UCH Panto has already been viewed thousands of times right across the world. People have tuned in over Christmas from countries including Australia, the US, South America, Canada and New Zealand, as well as throughout Europe and of course, in every corner of Ireland. The smash hit international sensation can now be enjoyed for an extra week, keeping the kids entertained during their prolonged holiday. Jack & The Beanstalk features long time UCH Panto favourite, Richie Hayes, joined by the always irresistible Dame Myles Breen. Liam O’Brien of Emmerdale fame makes his UCH Panto debut as the baddest of baddies! Dayl Cronin, is back …

‘EXPECT to meet us anywhere,’ is the message from Clare Gardaí as they continue to enforce public health restrictions on travel. Following the return to Level 5, the policing plan for the division will now see three static checkpoints in Clare, and a number of roving, randomised checkpoints on roads across the county. “We will have checkpoints right across the division and you can expect to meet us anywhere,” said Superintendent John Galvin. “As well as three static checkpoints, we will be operating random, short-term checkpoints at a wide range of locations. The message is that if you are on out on the roads, we will be asking you about the purpose of your journey.” Superintendent Galvin noted that the approach taken to policing the 5km travel restrictions will be a “common sense” one. “We will be there to explain, advise and encourage,” he said. “People are entitled to travel to shop for essentials, for example, but they shouldn’t need …

By Ronan Judge THE chairman of one of Clare’s biggest GAA clubs has called on the association to do more to stand up for employees who are the subject of online attacks. Chairman of Sixmilebridge GAA, Paddy Meehan, told The Clare Champion that some of the abuse directed at Clare County Board secretary Pat Fitzgerald, is “unbelievable.” Allegations of online abuse against Pat Fitzgerald are the subject of a garda investigation. Meehan says, “Pat Fitzgerald is a paid employee of the GAA and I don’t believe they have stood up for him and I don’t think they have backed him 100%. Maybe if employers start backing people… because you see it nowhere else. There was a case in Kerry there where a former soccer player was being abused and it went to court. It has to stop, this online abuse, people hiding behind computers. That’s where we’re coming from. I have often went to the Clare County Board, had issues …