Regional

Large tracts of land in the area could be subjected to a “planning freeze” for at least 10 months due to the constraints imposed by the proposed Northern Distributor Road, local county councillors have claimed. Councillor Michael Begley stated consultants preparing documentation for Phase Two of the Limerick Northern Distributor Road will not release any more land from the so-called “frozen corridor” until the preferred route is confirmed.This “frozen corridor”, in planning terms, includes a large slice of the Meelick and Clonlara parishes and covers large tracts of land between the Head Race Canal and the River Shannon.While Councillors Michael Begley and Pascal Fitzgerald are urging affected parties in South-East Clare to attend the public consultation meeting in the Radisson Hotel, Ennis Road, Limerick, on Wednesday from 3pm-8pm, they are extremely concerned about the impact of the sterilsation of large portions of land.During a brief session with county councillors last Friday, Councillor Begley was told by a consultant that Clare …

Residents in one of the largest housing estates in the Mid-West look set to be divided over the payment of the controversial €100 household charge.The Department of Environment has confirmed that residents in Bruachlan and Carraig Midhe in Westbury will be exempt from the charge because they are living in “unfinished” housing estates. Other exclusions include Churchfields in Clonlara and Shantraud Woods in Killaloe.Last night, the Deptartment of the Environment announced a list of housing estates in Clare that will be exempt from the new household charge. These estates have been classified as of a certain ‘unfinished’ condition.Councillor Pascal Fitzgerald, who tabled a motion about the issue at a council meeting on Monday, said residents in one part of the Westbury estate will be exempt while others will be expected to pay even though Clare County Council hasn’t taken the estate in public charge.He argued either the whole Westbury estate should be exempt, or else the council should proceed with …

Members of the Army Bomb Disposal Unit were called to examine what appeared to be a suspicious military device washed up at Lahinch Beach last Saturday night.A member of the public had reported having seen what he believed to be a suspicious device on the beach to Ennistymon gardaí, who in turn contacted the Army Bomb Disposal Unit at about 9pm.According to a spokesman for the Irish Defence Forces, the unit arrived from Cork to examine the object at Lahinch Beach at 11.30pm.Doolin Coast Guard was also tasked to assist Ennistymon gardaí and Ennistymon Fire and Rescue Service at the Northern end of the Beach and cordoned off the area.The Doolin Coast Guard quad bike was used to transport some army equipment and lighting to the site.The Army Bomb Disposal Unit examined what proved to be an industrial gas cylinder. A short time later, they performed a controlled explosion to ensure no gas would escape. Having been in the water …

Clare County Council has come under fire for threatening legal action against a North Clare man for alleged illegal parking in Ennistymon, where new bylaws had not yet been introduced.Brian O’Halloran, Booladuff, Inagh was issued with a parking ticket on December 2 last at an area near the entrance gates to the Falls Hotel, despite the fact new parking bylaws were not due to come into effect until January 2012.In addition to increasing the parking ticket from €40 to €60 once the ticket wasn’t paid within 28 days, he was warned that legal proceedings would be instigated without further notice unless he paid this fine within 56 days from the alleged offence.Mr O’Halloran confirmed late on Tuesday evening that he had received a letter in the post from Clare County Council which stated his appeal had been successful and he believes the authority will no longer be pursuing the matter.“The name of the place where my car was parked Falls …

A RADICAL review of funding for local authorities needs to be undertaken to facilitate a reduction in rates for hard-pressed businesses in South-Galway, a local county councillor has warned.Councillor Gerry Finnerty has called for an overhaul of the way local authorities, including Galway County Council, are being funded to allow a more equitable means of paying for vital public services.He made the call after Galway County Council recently adopted its 2012 Budget Estimates without reducing commercial rates for businesses.The Gort Chamber of Commerce PRO said the chamber had made efforts to see if the council could reduce commercial rates to help struggling businesses in the teeth of the economic recession.He explained a 1% reduction in commercial rates would result in a saving of €250,000 required elsewhere in the provision of public services, such as water and sewerage.Despite the chamber’s best efforts, he admitted the county council simply does not have the money to reduce commercial rates even by 1% or …

AFTER the success of last year’s All Shook Up, pupils at Gort Community School have a challenge to equal that standard again but this year’s show, Back to the Eighties, is set to be a winner.Featuring lots of popular hits from the time, including Girls just Wanna Have Fun, Video Killed the Radio Star and Kids in America, along with plenty of comedy and a great cast, set and pupil band, it is set to be a great start to the new year.Last year’s show was a sell-out and tickets for this year’s offering, available from the school office and Gort Community Centre during office hours, are being snapped up.Teacher Caroline Meagher is appealing to people to show their appreciation for the efforts of the pupils, who have spent long hours rehearsing so that everything will be on cue on the night.“It is a great opportunity to see the great talent that is nurtured in our school. It’s totally awesome,” …

The application, which refers to the development of an outdoor activity facility, including paintball, was lodged by Horatio Vasiu and Stranislav Goreanschi in November and a decision is due by the end of this week. The applicants are seeking to develop the facility on Coillte lands at Cullaun/Deerpark South, near Quin. Coillte forest manager Christy O’Dea confirmed to the local authority that Coillte Teo had no objections to the paintballing company applying for permission to operate the activity centre on Coillte lands.In a cover letter to the council, the applicants said they are “experienced operators of a similar facility”. “We intend carrying out the limited construction work, running and managing the facility initially ourselves. At this stage paintball is the only activity being considered, However, it is hoped any permission, which Clare County Council might grant, would allow some flexibility and provide for other compatible outdoor activity,” they continue. In a document on the planning file, the applicants say their …

WHEN Charlie McGrath hit 60 at midnight on January 4, his increased age wasn’t the only thing weighing on his mind. The opening minutes of his sixth decade marked the end of Charlie’s time as a firefighter in Kilkee. He joined the service as a 19-year-old, 41 years ago in 1971, serving as an officer in the Kilkee station for 39 of those years. His longevity in the service outstrips every firefighter in the county.“In that time, I was fireman for two years, sub-officer for nine years and station officer for 30 years,” Charlie told The Clare Champion.During his 41-year stint, Charlie attended 2,000 call-outs in the Kilkee, Doonbeg and peninsula areas.“It varied from haybarns in my early days to bog fires, flooding, road traffic accidents and numerous types of fires,” he recalled.Loss of life was sometimes an unfortunate accompaniment to the call-outs. “That was the hard part of it. Being a small community and as a fuel merchant, going …