Regional

FINE Gael Deputy Pat Breen is hoping that the ban on headshop products, announced by the Minister for Health and Children this week, will lead to the closure of the one remaining headshop in Ennis.He added that it is vitally important now that the new legislation banning substances with mood-altering effects sold in headshops will be followed by the introduction of a regular monitoring system of new products which may now be developed.It has been stated that by the Minister for Justice Dermot Ahern that the legislation will very likely close many headshops as most of the substances currently on sale in such premises have been found to contain psycho-altering components. The headshop, Harmonisation, off Parnell Street in Ennis was closed on Tuesday evening at 6.40pm and again on Wednesday morning at 11am and on Wednesday afternoon at 2.30pm and 4pm. It remains to be seen if it will reopen for business.Deputy Breen commented, “I welcome the news that the …

COUNCILLOR Paul O’Shea has been accused of not being “well informed” with a motion objecting to water charges, which lacked “credibility”.The councillor said at this week’s meeting of Ennis Town Council that the introduction of water meters to 1.1 million householders will be further bad news for Ennis families. “Not only will they now have to face water charges but it is also likely that they will be forced to pay for the installation of meters,” Councillor O’Shea said.He proposed that Ennis Town Council remain opposed to the re-introduction of domestic water charges.Councillor Peter Considine commented, “It is not well informed to say that people will have to pay for the installation of water meters. This motion lacks credibility. If someone comes up with a motion like this, they should come up with ways of meeting the costs. People will have to pay for what water they use, encouraging people to use water more carefully,” he commented.He continued, “I don’t …

MEMBERS of Ennis Town Council are to meet with Bishop Willie Walsh to decide whether a memorial sculpture or a commemorative plaque is more appropriate as a means of paying respect to victims of abuse.The matter was raised by Councillor Paul O’Shea at a meeting of the town council this week. He was calling on the council to support the erection of a sculpture and his request sparked a heated “schoolboy” argument between him and Councillor Brian Meaney.Councillor Tommy Brennan said he had spoken to Bishop Walsh during the week and arising from his conversation with the bishop, he proposed that the council erect a commemorative plaque.Councillor Peter Considine supported this stating that Bishop Walsh was “more than willing” to do anything that would be deemed appropriate with regard to commemorating victims of abuse. “His generosity and Christian values are his downfall in some respects. He is very keen to have this done and is interested in acknowledging the national …

ENNIS Lions Club is looking for the support of the community to raise funds to bring a group of elderly and disadvantaged people on holiday to Trabolgan in County Cork.They are organising a Walk with Lions to gather the money. “Every June, the Lions Club of Ennis participates in the Lions Club annual holiday for elderly and disadvantaged people in Trabolgan Holiday Centre, County Cork. This year, we will take 10 guests from Ennis and the surrounding area to Trabolgan on June 11, where they will enjoy a holiday for one week. All meals are provided with entertainment and a variety of activities to keep everyone occupied. As Trabolgan is by the sea, when the weather is fine, it is a huge bonus. There will also be opportunities for day trips to amenities and attractions in the area and in Cork City. Over 700 guests from all over Ireland will benefit from this holiday. Lions Club members volunteer their time …

TRAFFIC management in place between the Killow East Roundabout and the Clareabbey Roundabout is to facilitate the removal of part of the embankment at that section of the Ennis bypass.Road works have been ongoing since early March, with traffic management in operation since the second week of April. Brian Eccles, acting project resident engineer for Clare County Council, explained that the work is to remove part of the embankment which was constructed during building of the bypass and replacing it with lightweight fill. “This work is in connection with the bridge repair on the River Fergus Bridge. It’s a durability issue rather than a safety matter. Neither the road or the bridge is sinking,” he explained.He added that road structures are designed for a life span of 120 years. “We did not want to face major remedial jobs in future. The road is built on a piled structure. It is built in a river valley and there are always difficult …

LOCAL amenity, Ballyalla Lake received a much-needed clean-up at the weekend due to a Facebook campaign. Over 700 people joined the Facebook campaign calling for the site beside the lake to be cleaned up.The campaign was spearheaded by a local woman, Kiara O’Rourke, who said she knew something had to be done to improve the amenity because it was no longer a nice place to bring her children.Through Facebook, she linked up with hundreds of other Ennis people who wanted to clean up Ballyalla. On Sunday, she and others, who had joined the Facebook campaign, met up at Ballyalla Lake and collected refuse bags and barrels of rubbish. The aim of the campaign now is to keep the area clean and not to let as much rubbish as was there before the clean-up build up again. Ennis town councillor, Mary Howard, is also involved in the campaign as are a number of members of Clare Young Fine Gael, who took …

On Tuesday, as she collected her son, Joanne Hinsley from Ballycasey said that safety had been compromised. “It’s just about health and safety. It’s so dangerous. We’ve got the playground here, the school beside it, there are cars coming in all the time and when the carnival is here there are trucks and lorries. That one of them would knock over a child is my biggest concern.”She said this wasn’t the first time the arrival of a carnival had caused problems and they had been very disappointed to see the problem arriving again this year. “We were all angry last year but no one seemed to do anything. This year, when we saw it coming back again it was different. The circus was over behind the Comp and we thought, great, it won’t be here anymore. “Then when the carnival came in the other day we couldn’t believe it. No matter how many times you tell them, the kids will …

Fifty years of a limousine service that opened up Waterford and the South-East to the flow of American tourism and investment from the Shannon transatlantic gateway was marked with an anniversary re-enactment.Now heading the country’s oldest family-run limousine operation, Jim Falconer was behind the wheel when repeating the Waterford to Shannon run that he first completed 50 years ago. This time round, he was driving one of the Falconer fleet of Mercedes.Jim recalled his debut as a chauffeur. “Back in 1960 I was driving a 1952 metallic silver Ford V8 and I can even remember the registration of ZF 4320,” he said.Jim has good reason to recall every detail and the precise date, because May 4 is his birthday. “I was still at school at Waterford de La Salle and it was on my 17th birthday that I got my licence and my father gave me my first assignment.”To celebrate the 50th anniversary, Jim received a presentation from Shannon Airport …