News

John Crane Ireland this week marked a milestone anniversary, as it celebrates 40 years since it planted roots in Shannon. The long-established company, which produces industrial sealing applications, currently employs over 90 workers, with an average length of service exceeding 20 years. To mark its 40 years, Shannon Group PLC made a presentation of County Clare bog oak to the company. Plant manager, Chris Milici said the company has had a very positive experience in Shannon. “The levels of expertise, commitment and dedication are second to none and we look forward to building on our heritage as we grow the business to new heights.” Congratulating the company on its 40th anniversary, Ray O’Driscoll, managing director of Shannon Commercial Properties (which is part of Shannon Group) said, “By any standards, 40 years is a very considerable commitment by a company to a location. It speaks volumes not just about the standards delivered week in, week out by the company but also its …

A TEENAGE girl was reported missing in Shannon Thursday night, but she was found shortly afterwards safe and well. She was reported missing around midnight and the Coastguard, Limerick Marine Search and Rescue and Gardai were all involved in a search. Twenty minutes after commencing the search, the Shannon based Coast Guard helicopter located a heat source in a wooded area at Illaunmanagh and a ground crew were dispatched to investigate. The girl was found in the area and was uninjured.

Plans for a park and ride facility to serve people going to the Cliffs of Moher have stalled. Clare County Council decided not to extend the period of planning permission for the car park at Liscannor. In July, Lazarus Investments Limited applied to the local authority to extend the permission, which was granted in 2009 and will cease to have effect on January 2, 2015. An initial application was made in May and refused at the end of June. The reasons given for this were disputed by a planning firm, acting on behalf of the Lazarus Investments Ltd, in a letter accompanying the July application. The letter said the applicant received legal advice that the decision was “erroneous, fundamentally flawed and that there are very strong grounds to judicially review the decision”. It went on to say the application was being relodged, to “give the planning authority an opportunity to rectify their apparent errors and to grant planning permission”. Last …

A public seminar entitled European Economic Policy – What’s in it for Ireland? will be held at Glór in Ennis on Wednesday night next. This event, which is being organised by the European Commission Representation in Ireland, will feature presentations from Stephen Kinsella of the University of Limerick and Seamus Coffey from University College Cork. The panel will aim to shed light on new EU economic governance rules and what lies in store for Ireland’s economy. Speaking ahead of the seminar, Barbara Nolan, head of the European Commission Representation in Ireland, said, “Ireland is now well on the road to recovery. The economy is again growing and creating jobs. This seminar in Ennis seeks to explain how new EU economic governance rules support policy making in Ireland and seek to ensure that the recovery is sustainable and socially inclusive. Those who attend will have an opportunity to hear from the experts, but also to ask questions.” During the Q&A session, …

THE Irish Association of Barbershop Singers will be ‘United in Harmony’ in Ennis this weekend to celebrate their silver anniversary. With a packed programme of competition, and concerts open to the public, up to 400 barbershop singers will converge on Glór from this Friday to Sunday for the 25th Annual Convention of the Irish Association of Barbershop Singers (IABS). The event officially opens at 7pm this Friday with a gala competition and guest entertainment evening. This will by followed by a winners gala concert at 8pm on Saturday. Both of these events are open to members of the public ­ with 200 tickets available per night. Quartets and choruses will compete for the prestigious category prizes of National Male Quartet, National Female Quartet, Opened Mixed Quartets, National Female Chorus, International Quartet and International Chorus competitions over the weekend, with the convention and the competitions kicking off at 2pm. A team of international judges from all over Europe will preside over …

Almost three quarters of all homes in Liscannor were empty on Census night 2011, according to a Clare County Council report on vacant houses in the county. The local authority confirmed a housing vacancy rate of 21.2% in the County based on the most recent Census figures. It is the second highest in Munster and higher than the national average of 14.5%. Over one third of homes in nine Clare villages were vacant on the night according to the figures and in six of these areas, more than half of all homes were empty. Villages with the highest vacancy rates were in the West Clare Municipal District. 85% of the county’s holiday homes are also located there. Figures show that 73.1% of homes in Liscannor were empty when surveyed in April 2011, 71.6% in Kilkee, 70.4% in Lahinch, 59.2% in Mountshannon, 51.3% in Bunratty, 50% in Ballyvaughan, 42.4% in Doonbeg, 39.3% in Miltown Malbay and 37.9% in Lisdoonvarna. 82% of …

THE HSE has this week taken a decision to end the locum arrangements in Feakle after it failed to attract any applications for the doctor’s position having advertised the position three times. In a statement issued to The Clare Champion, a spokesperson for the HSE has said, “having been unsuccessful in attracting a candidate after the third occasion of advertising the GMS list in Feakle, a decision has been taken to initiate procedures in the coming weeks to end the locum arrangements in Feakle and to disperse the current GMS listing using the Choice of Doctor option available to all GMS patients”. The HSE confirmed that despite opening the post up to other practices, no applications were received prior to last Friday’s deadline. “Regrettably, on the third occasion of advertising the GMS list in Feakle, no application has been received. We took the additional step, on this occasion, of opening up the competition to existing list holders, but, unfortunately, to …

A 64-year-old Crusheen woman who was reported missing has been found safe in Dublin. Brigid Walsh from Drumumna presented herself at a garda station in the city on Thursday morning after seeing a report that she was missing.