Regional

THE Get Involved Awards for 2015 have been underway over the last 10 months and it’s nearing awards day at the end of this month. The Clann Credo Community Impact Prize category has now been opened out to an online vote. This will allow communities celebrate their success and communicate the great things their projects are achieving locally. The online voting will commence on this Friday and close on Sunday, February 21. The Community Impact prize fund is €5,000; 1st €3,000, 2nd €1,500, 3rd €500. The Clann Credo “Community Impact Prize” highlights how outstanding community-based projects meet local and community needs in an innovative & collaborative way. In total six projects from around the country have been shortlisted for this year’s Clann Credo sponsored Community Impact Prize. Members of the local community are encouraged to get behind their local shortlisted project by sharing information about the online voting on social media (Facebook, Twitter) and through their other local networks All members of …

The ESB has advised that the flow of water through Parteen Weir will remain at 230 cubic metres per second today (Wednesday) and the situation will be reviewed again tomorrow. This level of water flow will continue to have associated flooding to land and property in the vicinity of the Shannon downstream of Parteen Weir including the areas of Springfield, Montpelier, Castleconnell, Mountshannon (Annacotty) and the University of Limerick. ESB is continuing to monitor the situation and is liaising with the relevant local authorities.

The flow of water through Parteen Weir will remain at 230 cubic metres per second today (Tuesday) and the situation will be reviewed again tomorrow. This level of water flow will continue to have associated flooding to land and property in the vicinity of the Shannon downstream of Parteen Weir including the areas of Springfield, Montpelier, Castleconnell, Mountshannon (Annacotty) and the University of Limerick. Note that other areas between Parteen Weir and Limerick may also be vulnerable to flooding due to local issues. ESB is continuing to monitor the situation and is liaising with the relevant County Councils.

Gardaí  in Gort are investigating a two vehicle fatal road traffic collision that occurred on the N18, approximately 2 kms on the Galway side of Ardrahan, shortly after 12.30am this Monday. A pedestrian, a 66-year-old man, was fatally injured when he was struck by a car. The car also struck a parked garda car injuring the two gardaí, who were outside the car at the time. The man was pronounced dead at the scene and his body taken to University Hospital Galway. The two gardaí were taken to University Hospital Galway with injuries described as non life threatening. They remain in hospital. The man in his 40s, who was the driver of the first car, was arrested at the scene and taken to Gort Garda Station and has since been released. This stretch of the N18 is currently closed to facilitate an examination by Garda Forensic Collision Investigators and local diversions are in place. Gardaí wish to appeal for witnesses …

It was an emotional evening for members of the Greer family from Ennis at the Gleneagle Hotel in Killarney recently. In winning the Munster B Snooker Championship, the Ennis team captured the Pauline Greer Memorial Cup, a trophy presented in memory of Arthur Greer Senior’s wife. Adding to the excitement on the night was the fact that the outcome came down to the final frame in the final match, with Arthur Greer Senior at the table for the Ennis team. Ennis and the Century club from Limerick City were tied at two games each at the time. In the final match, Arthur Greer Senior lost the first game in the best-of-three contest. He won the second on the black ball, before going on to romp home by more than 60 points in the deciding frame, sending the players and supporters into wild celebration as their journey ended with the winning of the trophy named after Pauline. It was a very …

The musical genius of Clare fiddler Martin Hayes has been acknowledged in his selection as the first recipient of a prestigious new award at the University of Limerick. UL has announced a new three-year arts patronage award through the Irish World Academy of Music and Dance. The Irish World Academy Artist, will facilitate the creative process of selected artists across a three-year period through a budget of €60,000. Martin Hayes, the first recipient, has been internationally acclaimed for bringing his local East Clare traditional fiddle style to a global audience through his many performances and recording. The Irish World Academy Artist at the University of Limerick will undertake a series of creative projects across the three-year span. Students of the academy will have access to open workshops in the building on the banks of the river Shannon on the University Campus. Professor Don Barry, president of UL, said, “It is fitting that an artist of the stature of Martin Hayes should …

Levels in Lough Derg have increased overnight and the flow of water through Parteen Weir will increase to 195 cubic metres per second today (Wednesday). Since last weekend, the level of flow has been at 160 cumecs. The situation will be reviewed again tomorrow. This level of water flow will continue to have associated flooding to land and property in the vicinity of the Shannon downstream of Parteen Weir. The ESB is continuing to monitor the situation and is liaising with the relevant county councils.

The CEO of healthcare recruitment company TTM, which has announced 500 new jobs over the next five years, has committed to continue pushing for job creation in the region. Brian Crowley has confirmed that all of the new jobs announced will be Irish based, with 75 of those set to be created in Clare. The company currently employ 80 staff at its headquarters in Ballymaley and there are plans to expand the workforce at the site. There will also be jobs created in the resilience care sector of the company, providing outreach, respite and residential services for children and adults with disabilities and home-based services for people with complex medical needs. There are currently 20 people working in this sector in the county. Following this week’s jobs announcement, Mr Crowley told The Clare Champion, “I am extremely proud to be a Clare man. When we are sitting at the boardroom table and looking at where our expansion is directed, I …