Regional

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 …

A FUNDRAISING cookery demonstration with Neven Maguire, held in the Armada Hotel, Spanish Point recently, raised €12,609 for the West Clare Cancer Centre in Kilkee. The event was organised by Kate McInerney from Spanish Point, who was given transport by the West Clare Mini Marathon Cancer Fund when she was diagnosed with cancer in 2010. “Since the West Clare Cancer Centre provided transport for me, to access my chemotherapy treatment, it has always been my wish to give something back to support the centre that were so supportive to me,” Kate said. The venue was packed for the event, which attracted people from throughout the county. “I have been overwhelmed by the positive response and the tremendous support from so many who helped in relation to my fundraising initiative. It has been a great privilege to have been able to organise the demonstration in order to raise funds for the cancer centre,” Kate added. Eleven stall holders, who showcased food …

THE parish of Killanena/Flagmount has received a funding boost of €230,000, which will go towards the development of a community centre. The funding was sanctioned to Loughgraney Community Development Association this week under the Rural Development Programme for the proposed multipurpose facility, which will be located in Flagmount village. The building will comprise a sports hall with changing rooms and toilets and it is envisaged that the hall will be suitable for social, educational/training events and a variety of indoor sports. Speaking about the allocation, development association secretary Kathleen McNamara said the group is delighted with the news that they can now press ahead with the provision of this long awaited facility. “We are thrilled. It is great for the Killanena/Flagmount parish and surrounding area because it will be of benefit to the whole North-East Clare area. It is something we have been trying to achieve for years and it is great to see it come to fruition at last,” …

PHASE two of Cnoc na Gaoithe, the Tulla Comhaltas Cultural Centre is almost complete and is due to be opened to the public at the Féile Chnoc na Gaoithe at the end of June. At the Gathering event, which runs from June 28 to 30, the second phase of the cultural centre build will be opened, unveiling the newly restored oratory of the old convent.  As part of the renovations, the original stained glass windows are to be reinstalled. The oratory will house a collection of photographs and memorabilia commemorating the Sisters of Mercy in Tulla since 1883, which has been donated by the Sisters of Mercy. According to the committee up to 10 local people have been employed in the construction phase of the development and approval has been given to the centre to provide employment for two people under the Tús scheme. These posts will be in respect of caretaking and administration.The original parlour in the former convent …

YOUNGSTERS from Ennis National School’s specialist reading class for children with dyslexia have helped to create a new book which, it is hoped, will help other children with dyslexia, their parents and teachers.The book, Dyslexic Brains Learn Differently, will be launched this Thursday in the civic offices, Waterpark House. The 40-page book sees each child tell their own unique story, from discovering that they have dyslexia to learning how to cope with it. It also highlights their many talents and abilities.Fíona de Buitléir of Ennis National School explained, “I was aware for a long time that there were very few resources out there for children who, when they discover they are dyslexic, want to know what it is. There are one or two books out there, but they are English or American so I thought it would be lovely to have an Irish-made book.”The idea stayed with Fíona for a number of years until this year she was approached by …

THE long-standing service of retired vet PJ O’Driscoll to the Clare SPCA was honoured this week at a special awards ceremony in Ennis. Mr O’Driscoll has been involved with the organisation since its foundation in the 1980s and on Tuesday, surrounded by family and friends, his accomplishments were acknowledged by the animal welfare organisation.ISPCA chairperson Barbara Bent travelled to Ennis for the ceremony in the Temple Gate Hotel, where the fantastic work Mr O’Driscoll has done locally for the organisation was outlined. Frankie Coote of the Clare SPCA described him as a “gentleman and wonderful man”. “He has been with us since 1980 and in that time he never sent a bill into us for the work he did. He has been a member of the Clare SPCA since its foundation and although he has retired from his practice in the Market, he still continues to help us.“PJ is fantastic with people, he respects people and he respects animals. He …

AN Ennis man has been presented with an award in London by the Duke of Kent in recognition of his long service to the RNLI. Dick Robinson, now living in Corrovorrin but originally from Valentia Island, received a gold badge from the lifesaving charity at their annual presentation of awards at the Barbican Theatre, London, last week.The modest man said, “I’m very happy and I never thought I’d see the day but I didn’t look for it although I really appreciate it.” Mr Robinson has been involved with fundraising for the lifeboats since he was a child in Valentia, noting, “My family were up to their ears in water all our lives.”Some of his earliest memories are of collecting for the lifeboats with his father, who was superintendent on the island’s radio station, while his mother came from a Welsh seafaring family.For 15 years, he was both a volunteer crew member and a fundraiser for Valentia RNLI and for a …

CONCERNS have been raised that the construction of salt barns by the NRA could result in additional surface water being diverted to a stretch of river described as “flood prone”. At a recent meeting of Ennis East Electoral Area, Councillor Johnny Flynn called on Clare County Council, in conjunction with the Office of Public Works (OPW), to increase the water freeflow under both the Aughavaddy and Gaurus bridges.According to Councillor Flynn, this is “urgently needed” for a number of reasons. He stated the action would “reduce the risk of flooding of a main access road to the town, adjoining properties and septic tanks in the area”.He added that it would also result in removing “the danger to traffic with ponding at this busy road, which has occured in the past and is identified by locals as a safety concern”. He commented that there is concern locally that “significant additional surface water from the salt barns being constructed will be diverted …