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A MAN in his 40s was arrested after gardai raided a house in north Clare and seized almost €11,000 of suspected cannabis. On Wednesday, November 30 gardaí from Ennistymon and Kilrush Garda Stations carried out a search under warrant of a house in Lisdoonvarna. During the course of the search approximately €11,000 worth of suspected Cannabis Herb was located and seized. A male in his early 40s was arrested and detained at Kilrush Garda Station. He was charged with simple possession and possession for sale or supply and brought in custody before Ennis District Court on December 1, when he was released on his own bail to appear at a later date before the same court. The suspected controlled substances have been forwarded to Forensic Science Ireland for examination.

PLANS are underway for the delivery of a pedestrian crossing at the top of Abbey Street, with one local councillor describing the current situation as “deadly dangerous”. Councillor Pat Daly raised the issue at a recent meeting of the Ennis Municipal District where he said, “It’s seriously dangerous crossing the street at this particular area of town.” He continued, “I have seen first hand people coming to cross the road and they are chancing their arm crossing over. How people have not been hurt or killed I can’t understand it. It’s a serious health and safety issue.” Paddy Tiernan, acting senior executive engineer responded to the motion, “A need for a pedestrian crossing at this location has been identified and is planned. “The pedestrian crossing is currently planned to be delivered under the Ennis Town Centre Public Realm Regeneration Project B. This project is programmed to commence construction in 2023.” Councillor Daly stated, “I welcome something will be done, I …

Over €950,000 of suspected cannabis plants have been seized and three persons arrested following the search of a premises conducted as part of Operation Tara in County Galway yesterday. The search of a premises was conducted by Gardaí attached to Galway Garda Station and the Galway Divisional Drugs Unit and occurred shortly after 3:30pm in Kilcolgan, County Galway. During the course of this search, Gardaí discovered a sophisticated growhouse operation within the premises and seized suspected cannabis plants worth approximately €950,000. Two men (both in their 40s) and one woman (aged in her 30s) were arrested at the scene. They are currently being detained at the North Western Regional HQ under the provisions of Section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act, 1996. All of the drugs seized will be sent to Forensic Science Ireland for analysis. Investigations are ongoing. Speaking yesterday about this seizure, Chief Superintendent Gerard Roche in Galway said: “This is a significant blow to those …

AN INDEPENDENT Senator has written to the Health and Safety Authority (HSA) requesting a full investigation into claims that a life jacket used by a Doolin Coast Guard volunteer may have been faulty before she tragically lost her life six years ago. Mother-of-two Caitríona Lucas (41) had offered to help out the neighbouring Coast Guard unit from Kilkee in the search for a missing man, but she died after its rigid inflatable boat (RIB) capsized in a shallow surf zone on September 12, 2016. Two other crew members on board the RIB, who were also thrown into the sea, survived. Speaking to the Clare Champion, Senator Gerard Craughwell confirmed he has written a letter to the HSA to advise them life jackets provided to Coast Guard volunteers in late 2014 and early 2015 were tested in a number of stations around the country, which allegedly failed in all tests. He has also asked the Comptroller and Auditor General to examine …

HOMEWORK clubs started for Ukrainian children in West and North Clare in recent weeks are already proving themselves to be a success, with hopes of expanding the idea to other parts of the county and maybe further afield. The Homework Club Project, established by Clare Local Development company started for Ukrainian children on October 10 in Kilkee, and on October 17 in Ballyvaughan. Lisdoonvarna’s Homework Club is now up and running successfully for the last three weeks and that one is also open to local children in Direct Provision. Project Leader for the three clubs, Ailbhe Crowley of Clare Local Development Company Ailbhe explains how they work. “These are Ukrainian afterschool homework clubs. We already have homework clubs running around Clare in the Deis schools and these were hugely successful, so after the Ukrainian new arrivals had got involved in the summer camps we decided to expand the homework club system.” “The idea has been a great success so far, we began to …

THERE has been a significant seizure of drugs that were for sale or supply in the Ennis area, according to a local Garda Chief. Superintendent John Galvin told members of a Joint Policing Committee meeting on Monday that a person has been arrested in relation to this haul, which is regarded as a major blow to the local drugs trade. The figures showed the seizure of drugs for sale or supply fell from 68 from January to October 2021 to 32 from January to October 2022, a drop of 53%. Detection of so-called simple possession fell from 143 to 110, which translated into a drop of 23%. Serious injury as a result of road accidents in the Clare Division fell 50% from 22 to 11, speeding offences dropped by 7% from 3,749 to 3,478. However, motorists caught driving without car insurance increased 24% from 110 to 136, while driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs went up 39% from …

The Department of Public Health Mid-West has moved to make the public aware of an increasing incidence of influenza in the Mid-West region in recent weeks. Flu season starts in October and ends in April according to the Deprtment, and the Mid-West trend is similar to what is taking place around the country. Latest data suggests that the flu is now circulating in the community, and rates may rise more quickly in the coming weeks due to socialising in the Christmas season. A spokesperson said the Department is advising people to avail of the flu vaccine in order to reduce the risk of severe illness. “We are currently experiencing an earlier flu season, and we are concerned about the combined impact of COVID-19, influenza, RSV and other respiratory viruses. “This will add increased pressure on hospitals and General Practice with increased attendances from patients who are ill. We are concerned about the negative and disruptive impact on healthcare settings e.g. …

CLARE County Council being named Local Authority of the Year at the Chambers Ireland Excellence in Local Government Awards was an honour and a humbling experience, said the Council CEO. The Council was also named overall winner in the ‘Festival of the Year’ (for Ennis Mela Festival) and ‘Sustaining the Arts’ award (for House! Open Air Aerial Dance Spectacle with Fidget Feet). At the Council’s budget meeting, its Chief Executive Pat Dowling said, “It was an honour and a humbling experience last night to be chosen amongst our peers. “Morevoer I think it’s important that these awards are endorsed by the business community, as overseen by various chambers of commerce across the country.” He added, “The two other authorities that we competed with for the overall award were Limerick City & County and South Dublin, two very large urban-based authorities. I take particular pleasure that we did come out on top.” Mr Dowling said the Council staff and the councillors …