East Clare

BACK to school blues were eased for the pupils of Flagmount National School with recent Forest School workshops in the leafy Lough Graney Valley. The event, called ‘Wild Plants Can Sing’ was part of the Forest School pilot project, funded by the Heritage in Schools Scheme.< Workshops were facilitated by Marina Levitina and Áine Ní Flatharta. Children got an opportunity to spend time outdoors in nature, as part of an inspirational process that offers opportunities to achieve and develop confidence and self-esteem through hands-on learning experiences among the trees. Principal of Flagmount NS, Louise O’Kelly said the workshops were thoroughly enjoyed and very beneficial. “We are very fortunate to have Forest School in our parish,” she said. “Forest School integrates wonderfully with all our subjects particularly Geography and Science. Unquestionably, Forest School brings Geography and Science to life outside the classroom, fostering a deeper connection with nature. “This year, we also welcomed children from Ukraine to our school, nature is …

EFFORTS to coordinate all of the agencies responsible for cleaning up Killaloe are ongoing, local councillors have been assured.  The matter was raised, for the second time in three months, by Councillor Tony O’Brien when the Killaloe Municipal District meeting took place last week. Previously, the Fianna Fáil member had called for a clean-up and facelift for Killaloe, particularly along the bridge into Ballina and on the pedestrian bridge over the canal.  Last Wednesday, the Cathaoirleach of Clare County Council asked for an update on engagement with statutory bodies responsible for the enhancement of lower end of Killaloe.  In response, Senior Executive Officer (SEO), Morgan Lahiffe said progress is being made. “There have been a number of conversations with our engineer, and emails to Waterways Ireland asking for meeting. I suggested last Monday morning, but didn’t work out. Our intention is that, before end of week, we would set date for that meeting. “We will move on separately to a …

BURIALS are taking place at an East Clare cemetery with mourners and undertakers having to make their way around scaffolding supporting a dangerous church ruin. The situation at the Old Cemetery in Moynoe was highlighted at the September meeting of the Killaloe Municipal District by Councillor Pat Burke. The Whitegate native called for an outline of any works planned at the church ruins.  “Scaffolding was erected, some months ago, because the church is considered unsafe,” he told the meeting. “Burials have taken place and the scaffolding is still there. We were very grateful for the funding for works at Clonrush Cemetery and very keen to see similar works in Moynoe. I’m concerned, though, that that will take time and Moynoe can’t be left the way it is.” Councillor Joe Cooney seconded the motion. “We are aware of the inconvenience being caused to families there, but health and safety is very important,” he said. “The problem is funding. When we go …

THE cathaoirleach of the Killaloe Municipal District has described himself as “baffled” as to the raft of regulations on the installation of traffic calming ramps.  Councillor Alan O’Callaghan made his remarks as he called for ramps to be put in place as a safety measure for those using the school and playground in Kilkishen. In response to his motion, he was told that the installation of ramps at the location would have to meet the requirements of the Road Traffic Act (1994) and involve a public consultation process.  The Fianna Fáil member thanked Senior Executive Engineer (SEE) Derek Troy the “huge work” already done at school in Kilkishen. “Speeding is still cropping up all the time,” Councillor O’Callaghan insisted. “I’m only here since 2014, but I feel that since then, only one speed ramp has been put in. I think there’s a feeling that we’re going to try everything bar a ramp. There are ramps in Newmarket, Sixmilebridge, Shannon, and …

A SOUTH-East Clare landlord have been left with an estimated cleaning bill of €12,000 and unpaid rent totalling more than €4,000 after two tenants ruined a modern two bedroomed furnished cottage near the Lakes Nursing Home in Killaloe. The landlady, who purchased the cottage for €400,000 during the peak of the Celtic Tiger in 2005, was shocked to find the state of the house was in such a poor condition when her tenants eventually left a huge mess behind them. While the landlord has opted to remain anonymous for personal reasons, she decided to go public about her experience to show how irresponsible tenants are not helping the current housing accommodation crisis. A foul smell greets any visitor once they open the front door of the cottage after dogs were allowed to urinate and leave their faeces on carpets and furniture. “Food was left all over the place and bags of rubbish stored for months at rear when there were …

AS THE evenings draw in, an exciting programme of music and song will play out at venues on the shores of Lough Derg in Mountshannon.  ‘Autumn by the Lough’  is curated by local musician Clí Donnellan, and an initiative of Clare Arts Presents (CAP). Supported by The Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, through Clare Arts Office, and Mountshannon Arts, the eclectic programme will include traditional and contemporary sounds.  Events get underway this Friday, September 30, at 8pm at St Caimin’s Church of Ireland in Mountshannon with a performance from AWNYA. Drawing on the tradition of storytelling, this Clare conceptual artist and singer-songwriter promises to take audiences on a theatrical journey through her songs, to create a full immersive experience. There is honesty and comedy woven into her songs, as well as what is described as “a refreshing view of the world of broken hearts!”. AWNYA’s music has been described as ‘Vaudeville Folk’ and a highly entertaining …

A COMMUNITY information meeting will take place in North East Clare to highlight the work of an important water quality initiative.  The event, which will focus on the catchment of Lough Graney, will be held at Lough Graney Community Hall in Flagmount at 7.30pm on Wednesday, October 5. The Graney Catchment is one of six pilot catchments in Ireland which have been selected for inclusion in a new €20 million European Union funded project called ‘Waters of LIFE’. The initiative aims to address the decline in water quality in Ireland’s most pristine and sensitive river catchments, like the Graney Catchment, which covers East Clare and part of South East Galway. Pristine, or near pristine waterbodies (rivers and lakes), are called ‘high-status objective waterbodies’ and are assigned a ‘Blue Dot’ to distinguish them as ‘the best of the best’ among Irish waterbodies. Blue Dot waterbodies are mainly located in remote and lightly populated areas, with many of them found in upland …

ADVENTURER Declan McEvoy is back on the road for Stage Six of his Round-the-Word Motorcycle Journey.  The much-travelled Quin native has already broken records on his global odyssey. Earlier this month, he set out from Lusaka in Zambia, with the aim to travelling along the West of the African continent, all the way to Dakar in Senegal. His daring itinerary, which will involve diplomatic, navigational and mechanical skills. The 10,000km trek is set to take him through Namibia, Angola, Congo Kinshasa, Cabinda, Republic of Congo, Cameroon, Nigeria, Benin, Togo, Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire, Guinea, and Guinea-Bissau. “Last year my efforts were thwarted in Oshakati due to the Angolan border being closed because of Covid,” Declan said. “This year I’m feeling more optimistic of making better progress and the visa chasing game is currently in full swing.” Arriving in Zambia, in the South of Africa, Declan was well prepared to make the most of local Irish contacts. “I immediately felt comfortable to …