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Route design and bus stop locations in the works for Ennis

A DETAILED design and locations for bus stops as part of plans to develop an Ennis town bus service is expected to be completed by the National Transport Authority within the first nine months of this year. The establishment of the bus service has been described as “crucial” by Councillor Johnny Flynn who, at the monthly meeting of the Ennis Municipal District, urged that preparations begin immediately to ensure infrastructure is in place to support the service. Eamon O’Dea, Senior Executive Engineer, stated that the provision of the service “has been a priority for all involved in the delivery of services for the former Ennis Town Council-Clare County Council Ennis Area and Ennis Municipal District Council.” And he said the council will assist the NTA in the “timely completion” of required infrastructure designs and installation. Speaking at the meeting, Councillor Flynn welcomed the news that the NTA plan to have a two route Ennis bus service in operation by early …

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Late Selina ‘stood tall any time there was something to be done for anyone in trouble’

TRIBUTES have been paid to a much loved North Clare woman who sadly passed away last week. Selina O’Sullivan, of School Road, Lahinch was well known throughout the county, particularly for her services to the Irish Red Cross in Clare and Water Safety Ireland Clare. Selina passed away peacefully in the care of the staff at Milford Care Centre on Monday. She is survived by her husband Kieran, daughter Susan, brother Owen, sisters Joan and Helen, other relatives and friends. She was predeceased by her parents Marie and Tomsie. Selina spent many years dedicated to the Irish Red Cross in Clare and in a statement posted online the organisation said, “It’s with great sadness that the Irish Red Cross Clare mourn the passing of Selina O’Sullivan. “Treasured wife, mother, sister and member of the Irish Red Cross. Former ADU and EMT. We wish our deepest condolences to Selina’s family and friends. May she rest in peace.” Clare Area Treasurer James …

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Lufthansa to create 25 new jobs in Clare with more to come

THERE WAS good news for Clare this Monday with the announcement of 25 new jobs and the promise of more to come from Lufthansa Technik Turbine Shannon (LTTS). Announcing the further expansion of its business in Ireland with the opening of a new 2,000 M2 facility and the creation of 25 jobs in Shannon, LTTS said it was responding to significant worldwide increase in demand for its services. LTTS, a subsidiary of Germany’s Lufthansa Technik AG, is experiencing the increase market demand for maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) services for aircraft engines and components following the recovery of the aviation sector after the Covid-19 pandemic. LTTS has been operating in Ireland since 1992 and employs more than 300 people in Shannon, Kildare and Dublin. The current expansion plans mean that the company urgently needs 25 highly skilled aircraft mechanics who will be based at its new facility in the mid-west, working on state-of-the-art aviation technology and equipment. It is expected …

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Community gets ‘ball rolling’ on biogas plant legal challenge

Less than two weeks after a public meeting to discuss concerns about a grant of planning permission for a biogas plant in Gort, more than €60,000 has been raised to fund a legal challenge. Gort Biogas Concern Group have confirmed to The Champion that legal representation has been secured to initiate a judicial review. The group said it is determined to overturn An Bord Pleanála’s decision to green light the controversial project, in the wake of its rejection by Galway County Council.  “Six days after the meeting over €60,000 had been raised,” spokesperson Ciarán O’Donnell said. “We had around 400 people attend the meeting last week and raised a lot of funds on the night so that we can take a court challenge to this decision. Local business people are genuinely worried, everyone is worried and even though everyone is struggling financially, they are putting in money they can’t afford, because they feel so strongly. We even had a school …

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“I loved the airport, loved my job and I’d do it all again’

NIALL has left the building. After 41 years at Shannon Airport, many of them as its operations director, Niall Maloney has now retired. Always hugely enthusiastic about his work and the success of Shannon, this week he said he had really enjoyed his career. “It has been a wonderful experience. Would I want to do it again? I’d absolutely do it again. I loved the airport, loved my job, but I knew it was time to move on. It’s about energy, about new thought processes. I really wish Niall Kerins well as the new director.” Shannon airport has been at the heart of the Maloney family, with Niall’s father working there before him, having been headhunted by Dr Brendan O’Regan in the early 1950s. Niall’s own career started there in the early 1980s. “I was very fortunate that I got a temporary job in the airport in 1981. I thought I was going to be there for six months but …

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Cross political support for clean up of De Valera monument

ENNIS councillors from across the political divide came together this week to support a call by Ennis Mayor Fianna Fáil’s Clare Colleran Molloy for maintenance and clean up works to the DeValera monument. While the town’s deputy mayor, Fine Gael’s Mary Howard who represented the council at a recent commemoration at the monument, has quipped a statue of Michael Collins could be added to the site near the courthouse. Speaking at a meeting of the Ennis Municipal District Councillor Colleran Molloy described the monument as “kind of sad looking” as she urged that the bronze statue of the former president be examined for maintenance and cleaning. She said that any works needed should be undertaken “as soon as possible”. Councillor Howard described the monument as “an integral part of our public realm” recalling how when she went to school the statue’s glasses regularly went missing. “It’s important we embrace our history and not be exclusive” she said adding with a …

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Council has ‘grotto’ upgrade the road in Hermitage

THE “poor condition” of both sides of the road adjacent to Hermitage’s Grotto was highlighted at a meeting of Ennis councillors, with a senior engineer suggesting a thin surface overlay may provide a solution for residents. The condition of the road was raised by Councillor Pat Daly at the Ennis Municipal District meeting. “The road is seriously in need of upgrading, it has not been done in many, many years.” Paddy Tiernan, Acting Senior Executive Engineer informed the meeting that the Ennis Municipal District will put forward this road for inclusion in the Schedule of Municipal Works for 2023. “Subject to inclusion and associated funding this road will be upgraded in 2023.” Councillor Daly welcomed the response, saying the grotto is “a hugely popular area in the middle of the ‘Tage.” Seconding the motion, Councillor Mary Howard said an upgrade is “long overdue”. The road is made of concrete, with Councillor Howard saying there are a lot of older residents …

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Flynn: Ennis thoroughfare must not become a ‘ghost street’

ENNIS’ Abbey Street must not be left to become “a ghost street”, left behind as other streets in the county town benefit from upgrades. That’s according to Councillor Johnny Flynn who has called on the Ennis Municipal District to carry out a feasibility study on improvement works for the thoroughfare. Speaking at the monthly meeting of the local authority Councillor Flynn pointed to public realm upgrades completed in Parnell Street and planned for O’Connell Street and Barrack Street with a combined cost of €20 million. He urged that the feasibility study for similar works on Abbey Street be carried out “in order to apply for Part 8 Planning to enable the lodging an application to Government for Urban Renewable & Development Fund (URDF)   funding under what would be a third phase of the Ennis Town Centre Public Realm Regeneration.” However, while the local authority executive insisted including Abbey Street in future regeneration projects “is a priority”, Leonore O’Neill senior …

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