East Clare

A FACELIFT is on the cards for six Clare towns and villages, three of them in the East and the South East of the county. A pot of €7 million is to be shared among 124 areas across the country under the Streetscape Enhancement Initiative. In Clare, the beneficiaries will be Tulla, Scariff, Clonlara, Kilrush, Corofin and Clarecastle, where property and business owners will be invited to apply for funding. The allocation will support a number of activities to brighten the appearance of towns and villages. These include strategic collaboration between property owners to paint buildings or shopfronts in vibrant colours and the commissioning of murals in towns and villages. The funds also enable the upgrade or restoration of historic and traditional shopfronts; as well as the provision of street planting, shrubbery, trees and flowers boxes. Enhancements through the illumination and lighting of architectural features can also be carried out, as well as the installation of canopies and street furniture …

A BELVOIR family have shown their gratitude to the specialist medical team at University Maternity Hospital Limerick (UMHL) by fundraising in honour of their daughter Aoibheann. Now nearly ten, Aoibheann is thriving, but faced a challenging start that required her to have neo-natal care at St Munchin’s. “Almost a decade ago this coming October our daughter Aoibheann was born in St Munchin’s Maternity Hospital in Limerick,” outlined mum Orla O’Mara. “Aoibheann needed neo-natal care and she spent four weeks getting first class medical care. As first time parents our emotions were very high. It is incredible how you feel when you are faced with your new born baby needing neo-natal care. You place all your trust in the medical consultants, nurses and midwives and that is what we did. We were beyond fortunate that Aoibheann received such wonderful care from the devoted medical specialists.” Thankfully, little Aoibheann was soon able to leave hospital, under the ongoing care of the paediatric …

A SCARIFF-based photographer is looking ahead to the festive season and plans to celebrate his native town and support charity in the process. James Treacy has just launched a Christmas card in support of The Irish Cancer Society with the image depicting a snowy Scariff. “We have the card designed but we are looking for a firm of printers to print the card as cheaply as possible and I have approached the Society of Photographers in London of which I am a member for advice in hiring the best printer at an affordable price,” Mr Treacy said. Mr Treacy remarked that he is usually very busy at Christmas organising tours to the Holy Land. The pandemic meant that last year he was at home for Christmas for the first time in almost a decade. At the moment, he is getting ready for Christmas 2022 when he hopes to bring a group back to Israel and Palestine on pilgrimage. “I am …

A NUMBER of White-Tailed Eagle chicks have been released into the wild at Lough Derg, boosting the ongoing project to reintroduce the species in South East Clare and a number of other Munster locations. A total of 21 chicks were released at four locations by staff of the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) who had been keeping the chicks at purpose-built enclosures at the Shannon Estuary, Waterford and Killarney National Park. The clutches had arrived from Norway five weeks ago in the hope of further bolstering Ireland’s existing White-Tailed Eagle population, and the reintroduction programme, which began in 2007. The re-establishment of breeding White-tailed Eagles at sites like Lough Derg and Killarney National Park has proven hugely popular with local residents, while the potential for economic benefits from sensitive, sustainable ecotourism was experienced in Mountshannon, when the first breeding pair nested within sight of the village in 2012, attracting thousands of visitors. Once a conspicuous part of Ireland’s landscape, …

SAFETY works are being sought in South East Clare where a busy summer of staycations has brought record visitor numbers to the area. Cathaoirleach of the Killaloe Municipal District, Councillor Joe Cooney welcomed the boost to the local economy and commended everyone involved in developing amenities in areas around Ogonnelloe, Ballycuggeran and Two-Mile Gate. However, he repeated an appeal to Clare County Council for safety and traffic management works to facilitate locals and visitors alike. “It’s really important that traffic calming goes into Ogonnelloe,” the Fine Gael member said “We are all aware that this is a long, drawn-out village and with the Killaloe Bypass and bridge crossing set to come on stream, where will be additional traffic travelling through Ogonnelloe. It’s vitally important, going forward, that traffic calming goes in.” The chairperson also noted the ongoing work of volunteers in Ogonnelloe. “There is a very active community council in the village,” he said. “They’ve done wonderful work and they …

HEART-FELT tributes have been paid to the late Feakle singer and poet Dun Purcell who passed away in his 99th year on Saturday (August 14). Dun, who was a native of Bauregegaun, was a much-loved character with a wide circle of relatives, friends and admirers of his talent, wit and care for his community. Having battled Covid-19, which he recovered from earlier of this year, Dun demonstrated huge spirit – one that had already seen him overcome the threats of TB and Scarlet Fever in his youth in East Clare. His contribution to life in Feakle and the wider community have been very fondly remembered in recent days. A renowned singer, Dun handed the musical tradition down to his family, with his daughter Kate an accomplished folk singer and guitarist. He was a popular participant at musical gatherings of all kinds in the area. Dun was a life-long volunteer in a host of ways in his local community and was …

WORKS which are due to begin in Clooney in the coming weeks “will put the village on the map on the main road from Ennis to Portumna”, in the words of the Cathaoirleach of the Killaloe Municipal District. Councillor Joe Cooney said that, thanks to an allocation under the Town and Village Renewal Scheme, the village, which has a very active development association, would soon see a major boost to its infrastructure. A contractor has just been appointed and work on a new footpath/cycleway as well as public realm infrastructure and a pedestrian crossing are set to get underway in the coming days. “ML & S Boldand Civil Engineering Ltd will be working to complete the works within three months,” the Fine Gael member said. “It’s fantastic news for Clooney and the Clooney-Spancilhill Community Development Group deserve a huge amount of credit as do the council staff and councillors who have worked so hard to progress the issue. The work …

RESIDENTS in South-East Clare have no flood insurance for their home for the last five years after it was cancelled by an insurance company. In an interview with the Clare Champion, Geraldine Quinlivan recalled in March 2016 their insurance company sent them their renewal notice with a highlighted pen, confirming they were no longer covering them for flood risk for their dwelling in Springfield, Clonlara. She also confirmed the company didn’t telephone them to discuss this issue before their flood insurance was cancelled. The company still provides general house insurance. “It is an added strain because you no longer have a safety net of thinking if the house gets damaged I will be able to repair it when you see flood water approaching your house.” She pointed out flood-hit residents in other areas had requested insurance companies to reinstate flood cover following the provision of protection works. “Flooding has a devastating impact on all of the community. People are affected …