Regional

Enforcement of planning conditions were brought up at Ennis MD, as alternatives for return of popular walking bus at Ennis school are explored ALTERNATIVE options are being examined by an Ennis school to allow for the return of a popular ‘walking bus’ after access to its traditional meeting point at the Westpoint Retail Park was prevented. A meeting is due to be held between council officials and public representatives and the board of management of Ennis National School this week in a bid to find a solution which will allow the walking bus to go ahead in another location. Questions are also being asked about Clare County Council’s enforcement of planning conditions, with Ennis councillors insisting that the facilitation of the walking bus was part of a previously granted planning application. The walking bus had operated from Westpoint Business Park every morning for eight years, and late last August parents of school children were informed that the facility was cancelled due …

A FEAKLE publican is to be remembered in song and story later this month as the community mourns his passing. Michael (Mickey) Naughton passed away, suddenly, at his home in Kilclaran on February 18, bringing a cloud of sadness to his local area and beyond.  Broadcaster Paula Carroll paid tribute to the late publican and farmer on her Wednesday night edition of Clare FM’s ‘The West Wind’, recalling his great hospitality and warm personality. On her show on March 9, she will broadcast excerpts from a live-music programme recorded 15 years ago in his popular pub. Mickey hosted one of Paula’s now famous ‘Kitchen Sessions’ live shows in his much-loved premises. The programme is part of a series broadcast live from the homes of music lovers across Clare and featured the best of song and dance from East Clare and North Galway, including Charlie Harris, Des Mulkere and Tom Neilan. The event saw Naughton’s packed to the rafters and full …

TAOISEACH Mícheál Martin was at EI Electronics in Shannon today, where he officially opened the company’s new 10,000 square metre facility. The company are locally owned and one of the biggest employers in Clare, while they expect to add around 200 more staff over the coming year. When construction on the new facility began in 2020 they predicted that the development would allow them “to significantly expand our teams and current production capacity over the coming years, as well as deepening our ties with the local community and region.” The new development provides provides additional Manufacturing Capacity, R&D, and Office Space. The continued success of EI Electronics was lauded by Clare TD Cathal Crowe, who welcomed the fact that its headcount will increase once again. “Today’s announcement by Chief Executive of EI Mick Guinnee is a hugely positive endorsement of Shannon, Clare and the Midwest region as a whole,” said Deputy Crowe. “The Shannon Free Zone is proving time and …

A concert to raise funds for the people of Ukraine will be held in Shannon on Wednesday night (March 9), writes Owen Ryan. Cuppa Tea TV (which is run by Damian O’Rourke), the Love Shannon Community Council and Shannon Leisure Centre all came together to organise the event. “We have Luka Bloom, David Hope, the Shannon Gospel Choir. There’ll be a good few from Youth in Music singing at it, and a lot of other locals, there’ll probably be 15 or 16 playing on the night,” said Damian. The proceeds are all for the Irish Red Cross and explaining how it would work, Damian said, “It’s donations on the door, anyone can come along and throw in whatever they want into the bucket. We’re working on a GoFundMe link, so anyone who can’t make it on the night can make donations through that.” Karl Fogarty, manager of Shannon Leisure Centre, was the person who got the ball rolling on the …

“SYSTEMATIC and organised” beggars on the streets of Ennis are taking advantage of the generosity of well-meaning local people, with some collecting up to €200 a day, it has been claimed. A meeting of the Ennis Municipal District this week heard calls for an investigation to be carried out by An Garda, Revenue and other State Agencies, with councillors saying organised begging is taking much needed funds away from local charities. The issue was highlighted by Councillor Johnny Flynn who said that people are being dropped off in the town centre to beg before being collected later. He said these are not local homeless people, but instead are “people plying their trade, it’s a business”. He insisted that Ennis is “one of the safest and friendliest towns in the country” adding he is proud of the actions of gardaí when dealing with criminal behaviour. He said that the actions of organised beggars “has to be called out” and an investigation …

THE highly popular seed swapping events return to Scariff on Sunday next (March 6), offering an opportunity to learn new skills and contribute to the promotion of biodiversity.  A Community Seed Exchange will be hosted by Irish Seed Savers at its leafy gardens in Capparoe. The event will run over two time-slots, starting at 12pm and again at 2pm, and will present the chance to for individuals, families, gardening and community groups to come together to share and swap seeds. Those intending to join are invited to bring any spare or saved seeds to share and swap with other growers. From the rare to the everyday varieties all kinds of seeds are welcome. This event will help promote biodiversity and, through the sharing seeds, a more resilient food system is created. Irish Seed Savers is delighted to be able to open to in-person visits and events, after the restrictions that the pandemic brought. “The past two years have really highlighted …

WEST Clare councillors are to write to the ESB to condemn the sourcing of coal from Russia for the Moneypoint power plant. It comes against the backdrop of sanctions taken by western nations against Russia over its attack on Ukraine. This coincides with the revelation that Russian coal accounted for almost all of the fuel consumed in Moneypoint in 2021. Responding to Clare Champion queries, the ESB outlined prior to 2021, electricity generation from Moneypoint had reduced significantly, requiring only small quantities of coal in those years. However, in 2021, a combination of factors saw an increase in electricity generation from Moneypoint to meet demand on the Irish electricity system, resulting in more than one million tons of coal being burned over that year. The ESB has seen that trend continue into the early part of 2022. “ESB sources coal for Moneypoint on international markets. Russian coal accounted for almost all of the coal consumed in Moneypoint in 2021,” the …

ON March 1 Teresa Woods will retire having been Parish Secretary for the last 17 years. She took up the role in February of 2005, working for then parish priest Father Tom Ryan, with the Parish Office having opened a couple of months afterwards. People call into the office for all sorts of reasons, from baptisms to bereavements, buying mass cards and booking weddings.  Looking back on the last 17 years Teresa says the people she has encountered have made the job a really fulfilling experience. “I’ve worked with incredible people in the parish. First of all the clergy have been terrific. The parishioners as well.” Shannon has a unique mix of people, and she feels that one consequence of its demographics is that people give each other a chance. “We’re a very unique parish in that we’re all kind of blow-ins, and we all get on well with each other, we take each other at face value. I think …