Regional

O’Callaghan’s Mills Community Council will hold a public meeting this Tuesday, January 10, to discuss plans to refurbish and extend the local community centre. The event kicks off at 8pm in the community centre, where there will be a presentation of the proposed plans for renovation. The centre, which was the old parish schoolhouse, was converted to a community hall in the 1970s and it has been used by the community as a meeting place and montessori in most recent times. However, the centre is in need of upgrading and the community council is proposing to carry out renovations to include the installation of new windows and flooring in the main hall, the upgrading of toilet facilities and to provide kitchen facilities. The council are also looking at providing a wheelchair toilet and wheelchair access. An extension is also being considered by the council, which would allow for more activities to take place within the centre.  The community council is …

YEARS of endeavour by a well-known North Clare community activist were officially recognised at the first annual Lisdoonvarna Parish People of the Year awards in the local Pavillion Theatre on Friday last.Joe Garrihy received a standing ovation when he received the Outstanding Achievement Award for the vision and hard work that culminated in the development of the €3.5 million North Clare Sports and Amenity Park in Lisdoonvarna. The state-of-the-art development includes a community field, playground, crèche, astro-turf facility and upgrading of the pavillion.Having paid tribute to people in the locality for their help over the years, Mr Garrihy singled out long-serving Lisdoonvarna Fáilte director, Tom Connolly for special mention.Over 350 people packed the pavillion to see people from Lisdoonvarna, Doolin and Kilshanny honoured for their community work. All the proceeds from the event will go towards reducing the outstanding debt for the North Clare Sports and Amenity Park, which is believed to be in the region of €314,000.Paddy Dunne and …

CLARE County Council has requested the developer of a proposed end-of-life recovery facility at Leitrim, Bridgetown, to clarify his plans.In a recent letter to Cork planning consultants, Barnes Murray De Bhaill, the local planning department has stated the information submitted is insufficient to enable planners to make a complete planning assessment of the proposal.Requesting clarification, the planning department has sought a revised site layout plan to clarify the discharge point for all waters.“It is noted that on December 7, 2011, additional details were submitted with regard to a discharge point for surface water from the site to an existing lagoon within the Roadstone Quarry located about 240 metres to the east of the site.“The continuance of this practice is not considered appropriate and alternative measures are required. It is noted that written consent of the owner or operator has not been submitted. The arrangements for the treatment of surface water from the car storage area require clarification,” the council stated.Plans …

NEXT year’s Christmas festivities in Ennis could be bigger and better than ever before as the town hopes to capitalise on its recent success in RTÉ’s The Business Christmas Towns Competition.

DESPITE concerns expressed by a local resident and the HSE, Clare County Council has given planning permission for a manufacturing facility, which will employ around six people at Lacken, Kilmihil.

CLARE County Council is investigating odours in Miltown Malbay believed to be related to the local sewerage scheme.

FIVE pupils from Seamount College in Kinvara joined a select group of young people when they were among the first recipients of the Pope John Paul II Awards in the Diocese of Galway and Kilmacduagh.