East Clare

A TRANSITION-year student from Tulla has been chosen to represent his county in a research project that will see him visit the Somme battlefield in Northern France next summer. Nathan Peer was selected from entrants across Clare to represent the Banner County in the History Teachers Association of Ireland’s inaugural Adopt a WWI Soldier Project. The competition was open to students with an interest in history who were in either transition year or fifth year in the Republic of Ireland or in years 12/13 in Northern Ireland. The competition includes a research project between now and the summer and will culminate in a trip by 32 selected students from each county to the Somme battlefield in June 2015. The idea behind the project is that each student will “adopt” a soldier from his/her native county who died in the First World War. They will carry out research about the soldier through archival material and by talking with living relatives. When …

WHITEGATE resident and volunteer with NGO Amurtel, Didi Ananda Prama Driscoll returns to Haiti this month to continue her work with those displaced by the 2010 earthquake that devastated Port Au Prince. Didi has been visiting the region each year over the Christmas period hoping to bring some joy to those who have been devastated and thrown into poverty since the earthquake struck four years ago. “I was last there a year ago to see how all the children in the children’s home were doing and trying to figure out a programme to increase the amount of protein that these kids could get because that’s what they are missing,” she explained. The charity developed a Moringa plantation that year and Didi is now returning to see how this is developing. “Moringa is a tree and its leaves are really rich in protein. The interesting thing is it tends to grow in very dry areas and in areas where people are …

Well known publican and former county councillor, John Minogue from Tulla has died. Elected to Clare County Council on five separate occasions, serving over 30 years as an Independent county councillor, John Minogue was also a well known publican in Tulla village. His premises was a great meeting point for GAA supporters on big match days at Dr Tommy Daly Park, as well as a venue for music sessions and social occasions. He died on Monday, having been unwell for the last number of months. He has also been an avid supporter of the GAA and collector of GAA memorabilia. John Minogue has been described as a “pillar of the local community” in his native Tulla by the Cathaoirleach of Clare County Council Councillor, John Crowe. Councillor Crowe said, “John represented the Killaloe Electoral Area from 1960 to 1991. He was always honest and hard working for the people he represented. His non-party standing meant he often took a stand …

CLARE TD Michael McNamara has written to the Minister for Tourism, Transport and Sport, Paschal Donoghue calling on him to support and provide financial assistance to Clare County Council to secure the purchase of Inis Cealtra (Holy Island). Inis Cealtra on Lough Derg is included among the early monastic sites on Ireland’s UNESCO Tentative List and is one of the most famous of such sites in Ireland. He highlighted to the minister that among its many attractions are a well preserved round tower, the ruins of six churches and a cell-like structure, which is one of the most extraordinary buildings in Ireland. “A Lough Derg Tourism Audit carried out in 2012 found that Lough Derg is not reaching its full potential in terms of attracting visitors and that Lough Derg has no defined ‘iconic’ visitor attraction that can act as a motivator for visits. “Inis Cealtra, with its iconic round tower, has the potential to be that driver of tourism …

THE Health Service Executive is to lodge a planning application in the coming weeks for the construction of an extension to Raheen Community Hospital to include six single rooms, one double room with en-suites and a new patient sitting area. The HSE publicised its intention to seek planning permission on Thursday and, commenting on the proposed development, Labour TD, Michael McNamara has said it is “a crucial first step in bringing the community hospital up to HIQA standards”. He said the extension, if granted, will ensure greater comfort and care for the patients in this highly-regarded facility. “The planning application has been expected for a long time but I believe that recent modifications to the plans, based on work carried out at Ennistymon and Kilrush community hospitals, will make for a better outcome at Raheen. “It is proposed to construct a new single-storey extension to include six single and one double bedrooms, all with en-suite facilities. The proposal to include …

LONG awaited works are to begin on Quin bridge next week, which will see the removal of temporary bollards providing pedestrian access on the bridge. The local bridge committee held a meeting at Quin Hall this week where it was revealed that Clare County Council is to begin works on agreed plans to provide pedestrian access on the bridge from Monday. The news comes on the back of nine months work by the local committee, under the chairmanship of Tony Demspey, who said they are pleased to see the project to progress to the construction stage. It is expected the work will take about four weeks to complete, weather-permitting. This will mean the project will be completed by Christmas. Local councillor Clare Colleran Molloy said, “Thankfully, the bollards will be removed next week and there will be a pathway paved and edged in Liscannor limestone, which will be put on the bridge”. The work, when complete, will see the bridge …

IT has been 20 years since Grease, the musical, was performed by Scariff Community College students and almost 10 years since they last performed a musical but, this November, the T-Birds and Pink Ladies return to the school stage. Scariff Community College’s forthcoming production of the ever popular Grease is directed and choreographed by former East Clare Musical Society director, Tim Landers, with musical direction by Johnny O’Brien. It takes place in Scariff Community College Hall from Thursday, November 13 to Saturday, November 15 and will offer audiences an entertaining evening, full of song, dance and comedy, performed by more than 90 of East Clare’s finest young talents. Taking on the leading roles are Trudy McGonigle as Sandy and Paddy Walsh as Danny. The Pink Ladies are played by Amber Meskell (Rizzo), Alannah Marsh (Frenchy), Fiona Hogan (Jan) and Rachel Allen (Marty), while Rachel Glass plays Patty. The T-Birds are Shane Corry (Keneckie), Josh Maloney (Doody), Oran Treacy (Roger) and …

SCOIL na Mainistreach in Quin will have to wait for funding for a PE hall and general-purpose facilities, after it was revealed by Minister for Education, Jan O’Sullivan that funds were not available for the project at this time. Responding to a parliamentary question posed by Clare Fianna Fáil Deputy, Timmy Dooley, Minister O’Sullivan said, “Due to the competing demands on my department’s capital budget, imposed by the need to prioritise the limited funding available for the provision of essential additional school accommodation to meet increasing demographic requirements, it is not possible to provide for a PE hall at this time.” Deputy Dooley heavily criticised a visit to the school by former Minister for Education, Ruairí Quinn, before May’s local elections. He commented, “I am extremely frustrated and angered that Minister Jan O’Sullivan has reneged on a promise by her predecessor to ensure funding was made available for PE facilities at Scoil Na Mainistreach in Quin. In a deeply cynical …