Regional

PLANNING permission is being sought for a 27-bedroom extension at Hotel Doolin. The extension would also include a new entrance and reception area, along with 28 new parking spaces. The area of the extension would be 1,688 square metres, over two floors. A document accompanying the application points out that the hotel’s success, and that of the Wild Atlantic Way means additional capacity is required to cater for increased tourism. “The hotel wishes to ensure that all tourists wishing to stay and provide economic stimulus in the area can be accommodated in a quality environment.” It claims that without the additional accommodation there would be negative economic results for Doolin and West Clare. Recent years have seen frequent complaints that Clare isn’t getting the benefit it should from the Cliffs of Moher, with many visiting and then leaving the county straight away. The thrust of Clare’s tourism policy is now to address this issue, and the application says the new …

THE Ennis Musical Society has confirmed that this year’s production of Legally Blonde has been postponed until next year, writes Jessica Quinn. However, the local group has said there are plans for a smaller scale project for this April or May. The society had planned to hold auditions for the popular musical production of Legally Blonde earlier this month. However, a spokesperson for EMS has said that the society has made “the difficult decision to officially postpone Legally Blonde until 2023”. Just last November the society announced plans for the much anticipated show which was set to run in glór from the end of March and into early April. The society had been unable to put on a show in 2021 due to Covid-19 restrictions, and their 2020 production was cancelled after just two performances. Society chairperson Rachael Culligan at the time had said they were looking forward to getting back on stage in 2022. She also made an appeal …

A FASHIONISTA turned animal rescuer has been left “speechless” by the generosity of supporters, after the donation of a car to enable her vital work to continue.  Caitríona Lowry, who runs Hilltop Sanctuary, alongside Pat Tobin, turned her back on a love of fashion and shopping, around a decade ago to respond to the needs of abandoned animals. “I was all about the clothes and shoes and socialising at one stage,” she said. “It’s funny how priorities change. Now, every penny goes towards the work we do.”  Caring for 103 animals, including donkeys, horses and abandoned household pets, certainly racks up the expenses. An operation for a sick mare, for example, was €5,000 and badly injured and neglected animals need huge levels of ongoing care, which can be costly.  Crucial to the work of the East Clare organisation is a reliable car. “The Gardaí get in touch with me and I might have to collect an animal if they can’t …

ELEVATED particulate matter levels from domestic home heating systems during cold weather, as experienced in Ennis earlier this month, “is a cause of concern”, according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The agency said it is working with Clare County Council “to better understand the causes of poor air quality in Ennis”. The Clare Champion contacted the EPA for comment after concerns were raised about the town’s air quality following the detection of a spike in air pollution levels on the night of January 16. Particulate matter (PM) are minute particles of dust, soot and smoke and the daily limit for PM10 is 50 ug/m3. PM10 of 485.38ug/m3 and PM2.5 of 467.58ug/m3 was recorded in Ennis, January 16, at 7pm, along with sulphur dioxide measuring 67.22ug/m3. On the same day, China’s notoriously smoggy capital city Beijing experienced moderate to good levels of air pollution. According to the EPA the daily average PM10 at the Ennis monitoring station for  January 16, …

MORE than 30 people attended an online meeting last week to voice opposition to plans for mineral prospecting in East Clare, writes Fiona McGarry. The gathering heard that a county-wide ban should be sought, in the same way that fracking had previously been prohibited in Clare. The virtual event was organised by the newly-formed Keep Tulla Untouched and hosted by co-founder Jacintha Van Roij. Ms Van Roij, who described herself as a small-holder in the area, said that while a representative of Minco Ireland, the company currently seeking a prospecting licence, had been invited to attend, no response had been received. Farmers, public representatives and environmental campaigners alike were alarmed earlier this month at news that Department of the Environment intended to grant a licence to the Navan-based company for the prospecting of minerals, including silver and gold ore. After a political and public outcry, the Department extended the submission period to January 23 and an emergency motion was carried …

The Irish Taekwondo Academy has started providing free self-defence classes for women only in Killaloe amid increased fear being expressed by mothers after the recent death of primary school teacher, Ashling Murphy, writes Dan Danaher. Smith O’Brien’s GAA and Camogie club are hosting these classes in their new astroturf without any fee on Friday nights at 8pm for another five weeks. Also in attendance will be three female black belt assistant instructors along with female senior rank students to assist everyone with the class. Irish Taekwondo Academy head instructor master, Damien Madden recalled a number of mothers had asked him if he would be in a position to organise female only self-defence classes in light of what happened to Ms Murphy. “After posting these classes on social media, we had 30 women who said they definitely wanted to do it. There were more than 40 women at the first class including a few women who travelled from Nenagh. “Basic self-defence …

RELIEF was palpable in Bodyke last weekend with the easing of pandemic restrictions and the return of customers to the long bar at The Cobbler’s Rest.  Like thousands of so-called ‘wet pubs’, the venue was hit hard by the pandemic, enduring months of complete closure. The pub, which had never served food, chose not to provide the now infamous €9 meal in an effort to keep the doors open. The result was that it remained shut down between March and September of 2020 and worked around various waves of restrictions in the 15 months that followed. “It’s like a cloud has been lifted over Bodyke last weekend,” said Susan McMahon, who runs the popular rural venue alongside Martin Butler. “The relief was palpable and there was a great sense of excitement on Saturday night. Ironically, I’d say a lot of people chose to go to a restaurant that night, so we were fairly quiet, but it was great for that …

DEVELOPING maritime training facilities at Cahercon isn’t economically viable, but getting a marine research facility installed may be a runner instead,the Dáil has heard. Clare TD Michael McNamara asked Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Trade & Employment Damien English for an update on the matter, He specifically inquired about “the status of Enterprise Ireland funding totalling €1,759,226 allocated to Clare County Council in 2018 for the development of the Clare Maritime Economic Zone project for Cahercon, Kildysart”. In his reply Mr English said, “Clare County Council were approved funding of €1,759,226 under Call 2 of the Regional Enterprise Development Fund in 2018 to support the development of a Maritime Enterprise Zone. “The proposed project was initially on an identified site in Cahercon, Kildysart, Co Clare. “I have been advised by Enterprise Ireland that subsequent to the grant approval and detailed examination of this site by the promoters, it was established that the renovation costs necessary to develop …