News

Newly appointed lifeboat operations manager at Kilrush RNLI, Pauline Dunleavy, had her first callout in charge, when an alert was received on Sunday morning. The lifeboat was launched to reports that a plane flying overhead had observed an indication that a fire may have broken out in the cargo hold. In these circumstances it is standard procedure to launch the lifeboat and it gave Pauline a chance to see how fast the lifeboat can be launched and the response of the volunteers in times of emergency. The lifeboat was launched at 9.20am and kept a presence on the river before they learned that the flight, which was en route to France, had landed safely at Shannon Airport and they were stood down. Commenting on the callout, Pauline Dunleavy said, “During my first callout in this new role, it was great to see the lifeboat crew respond to an emergency from the other side. I had the opportunity to see the …

DONATIONS totalling over €11,000 have been collected by a Clare couple, who were motivated to raise money for two charitable causes, after the tragic death of their baby daughter. Sophie O’Brien, who was born on May 6 last with a serious defect in her heart, died less than four weeks later on June 2 with her family in Ballina, Killaloe. Darren O’Brien, Scariff, and his wife, Pamela, decided to speak publicly after their daughter’s death to raise awareness of the condition and also to ensure Sophie’s legacy lives on by raising money for two charitable causes. Darren and Pamela are thrilled with the generosity of people who have helped them to raise €4,000 for the Ronald McDonald House behind Crumlin Hospital, where they stayed for three weeks. The funds raised will be used to help finish off renovation works in the Ronald McDonald playroom, which can cater for about 10 or 12 children. They also raised €7,100.83 for the new €4.5 million …

MORE than €28,500 was raised for charity in 2014, following the allocation this week of funds from Clare’s District Court poor box. The funds collected in the poor box were distributed across 23 charities this week by Clare’s District Court Judge Patrick Durcan and the recipient charities are expected to receive the funding prior to Christmas. This year, the charities benefitting from the most funds are the St Vincent De Paul, with €5,000 allocated to St Senan’s Kilrush conference of St Vincent De Paul and a further €5,000 to St Vincent De Paul in Ennis. Ennis Community Development Project and the Lions Club of Ennis are set to receive funds of €1,500 each. Donations of €1,000 were made to 12 charities, which included Hand in Hand (Children’s Cancer Charity); Diabetes Ireland Clare Branch; Dream Believe Achieve; Rape Crisis Midwest Clare Centre; Clare Crusaders; Cahercalla Hospice; Poor Clares in Ennis; The Samaritans, Ennis; ClareCare; Clare Haven Services; Pieta House and Childline. …

Projects and organisations in Clare are to receive funding totalling €80,530 from National Lottery grants. Acquired Brian Injury Ireland (formerly The Peter Bradley Foundation) is set to receive €20,000 towards the cost of purchasing a transport vehicle. Kilmaley Daycare Centre has been allocated €25,000 towards the cost of purchasing a replacement bus. Rehabcare Ennis has been awarded €18,000 to go towards purchasing a wheelchair-accessible bus, while the Irish Red Cross Clare Area Committee is to receive €10,000 to be used towards funding the cost of a support vehicle or ambulance. In Ennistymon, the North West Clare Family Resource Centre has been given €4,960 to develop a men’s shed project. Arthritis Ireland will receive €25,700, which will go towards funding weekly Tai Chi classes in Newmarket-on-Fergus. Fine Gael Deputy Joe Carey said the grants allocated by the Minister for Health, Leo Varadkar, will make a big difference. “National Lottery funding is allocated to groups and organisations involved in the provision of …

The average rent for all dwellings let in County Clare in the third quarter of this year, and which were registered with the Private Residential Tenancies Board (PRTB), was €512. That was slightly down (€3), when compared to the prevailing average rent in the third quarter of last year, when the amount was €515. These findings are drawn from the PRTB’s Average Rent Dataset, part of a comprehensive rent index, which is compiled for the board by the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI). The average rent cited is based on rents registered with the PRTB for all dwelling types (houses and apartments; one, two or more rooms). However, if people are interested in seeing the rent that applies to different dwelling types (number of bedrooms) and for different locations, they can check this out at www.prtb.ie (click “rent index”) and go to the Average Rents in my Area (Dataset). On an annual basis, nationally, rents were 5.6% higher than …

MILFORD Hospice is encouraging people to remember someone special this Christmas by dedicating a light on Milford’s Christmas tree. A light  can be lit  to remember both living and deceased relatives and friends who won’t be with us this year. This year marks the 15th anniversary of the Light Up A Memory event, an important fundraiser for the Hospice. More importantly, the event is an opportunity to pause and reflect, remembering perhaps a person who has died, a son or daughter who has emigrated and is unable to come home this year, or someone who, for some other reason, may not be able to spend this special time of the year with us. “It’s an occasion that offers a memorable start to the season and since Light Up A Memory began in 1999, it has offered great comfort to so many people,” said Pat Gilmartin of Milford Hospice Friends. “At this time of the year, many people come to remember their loved ones …

An 18 year old has appeared before a special sitting of Ennis District Court this Saturday morning charged in connection with the seizure of approximately €70,000 worth of drugs. Ronan Carroll with an address at Cahermore, Cree is charged with possession of cannabis for sale or supply at an address at Beechpark in Ennis. Evidence of arrest charge and caution was given by Garda Brian O’Callaghan, who outlined that the defendant was arrested in Ennis on Thursday night. The defendant was granted bail and was remanded to reappear before Ennis District Court on January 21 next.

A new Brian Boru Millennium Crown, which is being used as part of a nationwide drive to raise thousands of euro for cancer research, was taken to the birthplace of its namesake this week. The crown, which is part of the Jewels for Cures cancer initiative, was transported from the Hunt Museum for a few stops at historical landmarks connected with Brian Boru in East Clare, by the brainchild of the charity drive, Alison McCormick. Ms McCormick had originally intended to auction the crown but then decided to donate it to the Irish people, as a gift to mark the commemorations marking 1,000 years since Brian Boru’s death at the Battle of Clontarf. This project raises funds for the Cancer Clinical Research Trust (CCRT), which was set up by Professor John Crown in 1997. Members of Killaloe Ballina Féile Brian Boru committee and the High King’s direct descendant, Lord Inchiquin, Conor O’Brien were present to mark this historic occasion at …