Regional

HOT on the heels of its successful March production of Me and My Girl, the Ennis Musical Society this week announced its plan to perform the hit musical, Annie, as its 2014 production.

ORGANISERS of the Kilrush Traditional Music Festival, which was held last weekend, say they were very happy with the attendance from competitors and the general public.

AT the end of August, the contribution of the Salesian sisters to education in Kildysart and Clare will be marked in the Shannonside village.

North Clare residents will have the chance to commute to Galway by boat next month after Ballyvaughan Bay Hop announced it is holding another trial from September 2 to 13.

A proposal to upgrade an existing caravan park in Kinvara, which was recently given the go-ahead by Galway County Council, could help end the illegal parking problem in the seaside village a public representative has claimed.

A Missouri visitor to East Clare was reunited with 29 of his cousins thanks to an event hosted by the Tulla Reaching Out committee last weekend.

  HAVING cycle lanes and footpaths right beside each other is causing problems in Shannon, with some elderly people afraid to walk to local shops. That was the message delivered at last week’s meeting of Shannon Town Council last week after independent councillor Cathy McCafferty put down a motion asking for details of any measures that would be taken to “address the anomaly of so-called ‘shared use footpaths’ put in place by the local authority given that the Department of Transport has confirmed its intention to introduce fixed charge notices for various cycling offences, which are likely to include cycling on a footpath.” However, she was told the introduction of these fines wouldn’t be relevant to the shared use paths/lanes. “The shared-use foot/cycle paths currently in place in Shannon are signed and lined for shared-use and as such would not be subject to these fixed charge notices. Cyclists are allowed to use marked cycle paths and mixed-use pedestrian/cycle paths, but …

A Gort businesswoman is calling on Galway County Council to offer more support to the community, which has seen 25 businesses close their doors in the last two years.