Regional

HOMELESS organisation HELP is hoping to raise funds to assist those currently living rough in Ennis through a specially organised concert in Glór. According to Josephine O’Brien, an advocate for the homeless with HELP, there are presently seven people living on the streets in the town. Some of them are living rough close by the Glór venue. The concert, organised in conjunction with Glór, will see Brian Flynn acting as MC over 18 acts, who will take to the stage in an effort to raise funds for HELP. Among the line-up are the Cú Chulainn Step Dancers, The King Family and Friends, Ben Escorcio, Pat Marsh, Josephine Marsh, Joe Flynn, Dave Culligan and Suzanne Murphy to name a few.  Ms O’Brien has highlighted that the seven on the street, the majority of whom are not Irish citizens, have found themselves living rough due to circumstance; having lost employment and are left without access to benefits.  “Some are sleeping rough at …

AFTER years of lobbying, Gort now has a bus shelter in the town’s Square. The shelter is located on the left-hand side of the road going north, which means it facilitates people travelling in the direction of Galway. “Unfortunately, due to the layout of the footpaths on the opposite side, it was not possible at this time to have a second shelter erected for people travelling south,” said Galway County Councillor Gerry Finnerty. “I will continue to monitor the situation and hope in the future that one can be included. I will also continue to lobby for erection of one on the Ennis Road, where there is huge demand. The Ardrahan Bus Shelter will be erected without delay as Galway County Council granted planning permission for it earlier this year,” he concluded.  

A SENIOR Clare County Council engineer has said the local authority is willing to sit down with a major quarry owner near Parteen to try and secure an agreement for approving the payment of a planning contribution levy, which was previously set at over €900,000.An Bórd Pleanála gave the green light for the continuation of quarrying activities in Ardnacrusha, including blasting and processing of aggregates for the next 25 years, after an appeal by local residents.The appeals’ board upheld the decision by Clare County Council to grant permission on January 19, 2008 to Bobby O’Connell to continue activities at the existing registered quarry lands at Ballycar South, subject to 22 new planning conditions.Residents had lodged an objection against the local authority decision, while the applicant had appealed a number of the planning conditions, including a €970,561 special contribution to upgrade roads in Parteen.Within three months from the order dated April 20, the developer has to lodge an approved insurance company …

A 13-year-old boy from North Clare has proved to be a model student taking national first place in the Community Games for the past three years. Barry Clancy from Kilnamona began clay model making when he was nine years of age and now finds himself with county and national titles in the event.  

THE first Ennistymon Farmers’ Market was held last Saturday, in sunny conditions.

MINISTER for Defence Tony Killeen visited Scoil Mhuire Ennistymon recently as 30 transition-year students were presented with bronze President’s Award at their end-of-year celebrations.

A South Galway farmers’ market received national recognition at last weekend’s Bloom festival in Dublin.

Entrants are being sought for this year’s Golden Mile of Galway competition, the countryside equivalent of the Tidy Towns competition.