Regional

A PROGRESS report on the backlog in the public school health screening programme in South Galway will be requested by a local county councillor at a forthcoming Health Service Executive (HSE) briefing for public representatives.

CLARE Accessible Transport has been selected to pilot the inclusion of rural transport services as part of the national journey planner.

PLANS for a mixed-use development at Bank Place, put on hold following the collapse of the property boom, have been refused an extension of the period of planning permission by Ennis Town Council.

NEW York Times columnist and Pulitzer Prize winner, Maureen Dowd didn’t forget her strong North Clare roots when she was conferred with a Degree of Doctor of Literature by the National University of Galway, NUIG on Friday.

  FOLLOWING the “tremendous success” of last year’s Clarecastle Regatta, organisers are optimistic that people from all over the county will once again row behind the event by coming out to enjoy the fun.The 2012 Clarecastle Regatta takes place on Saturday, July 14 at the quayside, starting at 1.30pm. This is the third regatta to take place since 2010 following an initiative by the Clarecastle GAA to revive the regatta after a lapse of many years. “This year’s event has a huge variety of attractions and if we are lucky enough to be blessed with similar weather to last year, it promises to be a great family day out,” said Veronica Talty, secretary of the regatta committee.All proceeds from this year’s events will go to three worthy causes: Sr Mary Barry’s Mission in Kenya, the local branch of the St Vincent de Paul and the Clarecastle Development Committee Playground Fund. Entry to the quayside is free, however, there will be …

CRIME figures for the second quarter of the year in Shannon show a decline in assaults, members of the local Joint Policing Committee heard on Monday.

HOPES are high that some of the “appalling” conditions at Meelick National School can be rectified after the Department of Education sanctioned €45,000 for replacement of foul and surface waterlines and roof repairs.

THE largest ever flotilla of boats to visit Kilrush Marina sailed from Limerick City to Kilrush on Tuesday and spent a few days enjoying the delights of West Clare and the Shannon Estuary as part of the inaugural Inland Waterways Association of Ireland (IWAI) Limerick/Shannon Estuary Rally.