East Clare

A NEW brochure, which aims to assist B&B operators in East Clare compete more effectively for tourism, has been launched this week under a European programme.

ST Joseph’s Secondary School in Tulla is a step closer to acquiring a new school building as the Tánaiste announced this week that the school has been sanctioned to begin the process of appointing a design team.The Department of Education and Skills published its school building work programme for 2011 and St Joseph’s new school project has been progressed to the stage where briefs will be formulated this year with a view to appointing a design team.Commenting on the recent development, school principal Margaret O’Brien said, “we are thrilled”.Half of the school currently operates out of prefab classrooms and it is accepted that the current school facilities and site are unsuitable. Ms O’Brien stated that although this progress has been made, it is essentially the beginning of the new school building process. She stressed that it had taken a lot of planning over the past 10 years to bring this project forward to the development stage.It is envisaged that the …

A SLIGHT wind chill but overall a beautiful day last Sunday was the setting for the unveiling of a memorial to commemorate the 90th anniversary of the ambush at Glenwood where six policemen were shot dead by members of the East Clare Brigade IRA.The day began with a concelebrated remembrance mass in Kilkishen Church by Fr H O’Dowd, assisted by Fr Harry Bohan and Fr K Hogan, who is the son of Seamus Hogan, Galway, a volunteer in the ambush. A number of relatives of the volunteers also participated in the service.Those in attendance then proceeded to the site in Glenwood where memorial committee chairman, Patsy Neville welcomed a large gathering and acknowledged the large voluntary effort that facilitated the memorial day.Speakers on the day included Deputy Tony Killeen and Fr Bohan, with the treasurer of the memorial committee John Lenihan making the closing address.The memorial itself is constructed so that a candle can be placed at its heart and …

SCARIFF could become the new home of East Clare athletics as a call has been issued to form a track and field athletics club based at of new facilities in the local community college.

TWO women involved in developing a nursing home in Tulla have claimed the village is not big enough for two such facilities and have called on An Bord Pleanála to refuse planning for a second nursing home directly across from their site.

THE Scariff-based chipboard factory told union committee members of its plans to make 52 workers redundant last Thursday afternoon in what came as a shock to workers who were on two weeks’ leave for Christmas.

THE news that 52 employees at Finsa are to be made redundant has been met with deep regret among a community which has had chipboard manufacturing at its heart since the 1950s.

FARMERS in East Clare and across the county have been affected severely due to the adverse winter conditions, as many report difficulties with getting water supplies to their livestock, as well as issues with diesel freezing and milking equipment freezing.At a time when water restrictions still apply to many parts of East Clare, the county chairman of the Irish Farmers’ Association, Michael Lynch, said farmers have “been affected most severely” in comparison to other sectors, due to the limited water supply.“If you are without water at this time of year, you’re in trouble straight away with livestock. Once they are on dry feed, they need to have water. Drawing this water is usually a great inconvenience and can be quite costly for farmers and while what’s available from the council is welcome, the quantity is far greater than what can be provided through that,” he said.East Clare county councillor and farmer, Pat Hayes stressed the necessity to review the issue …