Regional

Clonlara residents affected by flooding four times in the last 16 years, feel they should be consulted during a new study of the River Shannon.

A Cratloe-based metalsmith has been selected as one of six Irish artisans who will represent Ireland at a major event next month.

SHANNON swimmer Chris Bryan has met the criteria for entry to this summer’s World Championships in Shanghai. Chris competes in open water swimming over 10km and at a competition in Israel, he recorded a time of 1.53:01.The 21-year-old trains at the University of Limerick and his coach, Ronald Claes said he performed well.“There are a series of European open water events as part of the overall European competition. Israel is probably one of the bigger ones and it’s the first of the year. Swim Ireland set out two criteria to qualify for Shanghai; he had to finish in under two hours and within 10 minutes of the winner. He did both.”Chris managed this despite having to overcome a significant obstacle. “The field was very big so they split it into two groups and put the entrants from the stronger swimming countries in the first one. There would have been a big advantage in being in the first group, so that …

PLANS to extend and renovate the historic chapel at St Flannan’s College to provide new classrooms for the school have been given the go-ahead by Ennis Town Council.

THERE are shades of the adventures of fictional characters, Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn in a novel fundraising event being planned by an Ennis group at the end of the month.Members of the Chill Out! river and sea kayaking club are undertaking a trip down the River Fergus from Dromore Woods in Ruan to Steele’s Rock in Lifford, Ennis on Sunday, May 28.They will abandon their usual modes of transport in favour of heading downriver in a bathtub. Around 20 members, both male and female, have signed up to this relay challenge to support the Irish Heart Foundation.The specially adapted craft, which is for a single oarsman, will be accompanied by a flotilla of kayaks and canoes, the Chill Out Armada.The man behind the project, local community activist, Jacko McMahon from Willow Park, has already brought the bath on a trial run. His friend, Mark Torpey is also prominently involved in the project.Jacko stumbled on the idea when, after some …

A SOUTH Galway charity scooped the overall award at this year’s County Heritage Awards held last week. Representatives of Kinvara-based Burrenbeo Trust were presented with the top award at the event.The Galway County Heritage Awards ceremony took place in the Claregalway Hotel on Thursday. The ceremony, which was postponed from December 2010 due to bad weather, was well attended by elected representatives, community groups, schools and individuals from all parts of the county.Speaking at the ceremony, Councillor Jimmy McClearn, Mayor of the County of Galway, said, “Our heritage belongs to each one of us and it is vital that it is valued and appreciated at a local level if we are to manage, preserve and protect it. It is clear from the number, quality and calibre of the nominations for a County Heritage Award that our built, natural and cultural heritage is valued at a local level.”Scoil Bhríghde Naofa, Northampton, Kinvara was the winner in the Loughrea Electoral Area for …

Don’t be surprised if you see the odd hairy milkman or decidedly lovely girl wandering around North Clare this weekend.

A CLONLARA resident has cried foul over sewerage blockages in a local authority estate, which have resulted in raw sewage seeping into his shed.Billy Carey, 1 Derryvinna Estate, Clonlara was greeted with a stench from about six inches of water mixed with sewage in his backyard last Saturday. This is the second time this year he has been forced to put up with raw sewage on the property after a similar spillage on New Year’s Day.Clare County Council sent out a sub-contractor to clean out the pipes and carry out preliminary investigation work.Speaking to The Clare Champion, Mr Carey claimed the problem has been ongoing for the last 34 years. He said it has never been fully resolved because he is the only resident who is being adversely affected by the blockages. He believes that because his house is situated at the highest point in the estate, all the foul water and sewage comes back down to his property and …