Regional

OVER 60 businesses in the twin communities of Ballina and Killaloe have supported the biggest line-up of family fun-filled events for the eagerly-awaited Féile Brian Boru Festival.Local traders are anticipating a major boost in their tills over the coming days as people from the Mid-West flock to the lakeside town for an action-packed programme.Speaking at the official launch of the festival in the Lakeside Hotel, Ballina, Killaloe on Thursday night, committee chairman, John Grimes confirmed the support they received on a local level was phenomenal.“The 2011 programme of events is the biggest yet. Féile Brian Boru 2011 is another milestone on the road to the build-up to the millennium celebrations in 2014,” he said.Speaking to The Clare Champion, Mr Grimes said over 100 young Irish dancers took part in the feis in the Lakeside Hotel on Sunday. They included entrants from Cork, Dublin and one from the United States of America.He said initiatives such as the Arts Trail brought a …

East Clare County Councillor Pat Hayes is set to be voted in as the county’s next mayor at the local authority’s AGM on Thursday, bridging a 16-year gap since the region had mayoral representation. Councillor Hayes has been a county councillor since 1999, having stood in 1991 unsuccessfully. He lives in Maghera, Caher and comes from a very musical family. He is the son of Peggy Hayes and the renowned musician PJoe Hayes, now deceased. The part-time farmer, community worker and father of three was nominated by his Fianna Fáil party colleagues two years ago to represent them in the bid for mayor. He is expected to be named as the new mayor, due a standing arrangement within the various groupings of Clare County Council. Asked about the role, Councillor Hayes says he is both apprehensive in the sense that it is a big challenge taking on the role of Mayor of a county but is also deeply honoured to …

An Bord Pleanála has granted planning permission for the construction of a 30-person nursing home in Tulla despite a recommendation to refuse the development on three separate grounds by the planning inspector in the appeal. Planning was granted to applicants John and Ted Nugent, subject to 14 planning conditions, for the construction of a 26-bedroom nursing home together with eight assisted living complex units, ancillary facilities and associated site development works.The board found that it would not seriously injure the amenities of the area, or of property in the vicinity and would result in an acceptable level of amenity for future occupants and would be acceptable in terms of traffic safety and convenience, subject to compliance with 14 cited by the planning board. The planning inspector recommended that planning be refused and noted in her report that further to the above planning assessment of matters pertaining to this appeal, that the location of the nursing home would be contrary to …

GORT will host one of the most unusual sporting events of the summer this month. Gort Community Centre confirmed it will be running a Drag Tag Rugby tournament in aid of Gort Cancer Support as part of its free open day on July 16.  “We haven’t seen this anywhere else. I was living in Dublin so we played in tag leagues every summer and at one stage, there was a fancy dress tag but I though the word ‘drag’ would work well with ‘tag’ and that’s really how this idea came about. The mixed leagues are always the best craic where there are boys and girls. There was a tag league here but it was run by rugby league and we will have a mini-tag competition before the drag tag on the day as well,” explained Marianne Fahy, one of the organisers. Since the idea of Drag Tag was mooted a few weeks ago, the response has been overwhelmingly positive …

GALWAY County Council secured nearly €20,000 in funding for the Community and Voluntary Forum this week.The Minister of the Environment, Community and Local Government, Phil Hogan announced funding of €19,392 is being allocated to the local authority for 2011 to support the work of the forum in the county.The forum works to provide a voice for the community and voluntary sector at local and government level. “The active involvement by local community and voluntary organisations in local authority decision-making is very important,” said Minister Hogan. “This funding will support the local Community and Voluntary Forum in Galway County to ensure that local strategies are responsive to the needs of communities ,which is very important in these challenging economic times.”The announcement is part of an expenditure package of €587,000 to support the work of local community and voluntary for across the country and their national representative body, the Irish National Community and Voluntary Forum in 2011.

THIS year’s Gort Show will be particularly special, promises organisers, as the South Galway institution celebrates its 30th birthday. Following record entries and attendance last year, the show returns on August 7 with the deadline for entry to the show schedule on July 30. “This year, we would like to see even more people getting involved. Anyone who wants to join in the celebrations shouldTHIS year’s Gort Show will be particularly special, promises organisers, as the South Galway institution celebrates its 30th birthday. Following record entries and attendance last year, the show returns on August 7 with the deadline for entry to the show schedule on July 30. “This year, we would like to see even more people getting involved. Anyone who wants to join in the celebrations should be deciding now which classes they are going to enter. This year again, we have lots of categories for people interested in horses, photography, dogs, baking, flowers, vegetables, crafts, art, children’s …

The exceptionally high standard being set by farmers in the Burren as part of the Burren Farming for Conservation Programme (BFCP) could open the door for other farmers in the area to take part in the scheme, it was claimed this week.The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine began issuing farmers in North Clare with payments as part of the BFCP this week.“We’re delighted with the first year of the BFCP. We’ve had great support from the Department of Agriculture and the NPWS, who co-sponsor the programme. “It’s the response of the participating farmers, which has been the most impressive. Many of the farmers have in fact done more than was asked of them in terms of the quantity and quality of work done and there has been a huge pride in showing off this work. The payments these farmers have now received are terrific value for taxpayers’ money as BFCP only pay for work done and results generated. …

Last Saturday, the owner of Cassidy’s Pub and Restaurant, and member of Clare Farm Heritage Tours, Robert Cassidy, gave an inspiring account of the days gone by in the upper Burren. Taking a wide view and including the whole history of the Burren and in particular the region around Carron, he went on to recount colourful stories of local life under the constabulary told to him by his father and the older generation in the region. While the weather was looking grim in the morning, the rain stopped for an hour in the afternoon, allowing the bravest of the listeners to also get a view of the area and warming up afterward with a cup of tea at Cassidy’s. It was the first in a series of summer talks and walks organised by Clare Farm Heritage Tours, with further events to be announced shortly.Running alongside the series of events, the farmers are available for their usual farm tours on a …