Regional

A CUSTOMER survey has shown that over 50% of respondents want more early evening shopping in Ennis, with over 80% interested in either early evening shopping or earlier entertainment. The results of the survey were revealed at the recent briefing to businesses highlighting the retail opportunities available in the early evening in the wake of Ennis’ Purple Flag success.

  PUPILS at St Conaire’s are at the top of the class when it comes to using mobile technology for learning, after being awarded the Intel e-schools prize, following a competition to describe how mobile computing technology would be used in the primary school environment. The prize allows the school to install a suite of HP Elite Pads, enhanced wireless technology and a storage device. The school will also benefit from technical support from Intel and IT company Net Communications. The devices were presented to the school by Brendan Cannon, director of corporate affairs with Intel. He praised the school’s commitment to providing all pupils with access to the latest technology. Mayor of Clare Pat Daly and Mayor of Shannon Michael Fleming presided at a function in St Conaire’s last week, where the school outlined its vision for the future in relation to learning in the digital age.School principal, Peter Walsh said the technology package will have an important impact. …

PLANS for the development of outdoor seating on Ennis’ main thoroughfare by one of the county’s best-known hotels have been given the go-ahead by An Bord Pleanála.

A NEW visitor centre in Mountshannon to facilitate the hundreds of tourists viewing the first white-tailed sea eaglets on Bushy Island may be provided in the coming months, if plans come to fruition.

A RECENTLY prepared plan has identified 19 potential improvement opportunities for the town of Scariff after it was chosen to participate in a Tidy Towns/Environmental Improvement Strategy project.

HOUSEHOLDERS in Meelick have been asked by Clare County Council to address off-site drainage problems before the authority can consider re-surfacing a road.

A LOCAL quilter has put a friendship quilt, the fruits of over 100 hours of painstaking labour, up for auction on Facebook to raise money for the Killaloe Pink Ribbon Walk, which takes place on Sunday.

THE Loop Head Peninsula has been named ‘Best Place to Holiday in Ireland’ following an Irish Times competition, which attracted more than 1,400 entries. Members of the public were invited to nominate the places they like to holiday. Loop Head was named the overall winner from a shortlist featuring the Glen of Aherlow, Inishbofin island, Derry City and Killarney. An evening of celebration followed in The Long Dock, Carrigaholt on Monday. Loop Head was nominated by Mary Redmond, who with her husband, Johnny, runs a restaurant in Kilkee. “I’ve lived here for 38 years. I think it’s the most beautiful place, completely unspoiled, and it has great cliff walks and water sports, diving and swimming. But I don’t think people know about it really, so I decided to tell them. Winning this award will make Loop Head a destination like Dingle or the Ring of Kerry but without the tour buses. We want people to find an Ireland that has …