South Clare

COUNCILLOR Cathal Crowe engaged in a verbal spat with Housing Minister of State Jan O’Sullivan at the official takeover ceremony for the Westbury Housing Estate on Monday.

CLARE’S Government deputies have been accused of giving a local group “false hope” about the possibility of averting the closure of Broadford Garda Station before it was officially confirmed.

Clare County Council will spend an estimated €585,000 on the long-awaited public takeover of one of the largest housing developments in South-East Clare, it emerged this week.

The appointment of Father Brendan Leahy as the new Bishop of Limerick ends the uncertainty about the future of the Limerick Diocese, according to Parteen parish priest, Fr Tom Carroll.

RESIDENTS in Broadford are living in fear over the closure of the local garda station at the end of the month, a community activist has warned.

AN Post has requested a new lobby group to present a case outlining the future viability of Broadford Post Office in the event a decision is taken to reopen the vital facility.

  ***The year in review*** The provision of a major piece of infrastructure, such as a new distributor road, is usually welcomed by the majority of residents and businesses as a sign of progress. However, plans for the second phase of the 10km Northern Distributor Relief Road, costing between €100 and €120 million, have divided locals, particularly in Parteen and Clonlara.In fact, despite Clare County Council’s efforts to explain the necessity to plan for a new route linking Coonagh with the outskirts of Castletroy in Limerick City, local dissent still rages at the end of 2012.The extent of the opposition against plans for phase two is significant, considering phase one of the route, linking Coonagh with Knocknalisheen in Meelick, generated little conflict.What promises to be the second largest piece of infrastructure after the €660m Shannon Tunnel, has generated unprecedented interest among communities with over 400 submissions lodged by residents and interested parties during the extensive consultation process.This is almost five …

  ***The year in review*** WHILE most towns and villages are crying out for investment in the midst of Government austerity, Killaloe and Ballina bucked the national trend with the unveiling of developments totalling over €1.6 million in 2012. Undoubtedly, the twin communities benefited from having a junior minister on their doorstep. Minister of State at the Department of Transport, Alan Kelly, who lives between Ballina and Portroe, a few miles from Killaloe bridge, announced projects totalling €432,348 during the year.One of the most important developments was the green light for a €1.2m sports and recreational project, spearheaded by former Lions player and Ireland captain Keith Wood at Clarisford Park.Work started on the first phase of the ambitious project in May, following seven years of endeavour by a local committee. The Clarisford Development will see sports and recreational facilities brought into line with growing local need.The first phases of the development on 25 acres of parkland behind the former Bishop’s …