South Clare

Fears have been expressed that one of the main garda stations serving more than seven communities in South-East Clare could be included in a list of 10 Clare stations that are facing possible closure as part of Government cutbacks.Justice Minister Alan Shatter has refused to rule out the possibility of closing down Broadford Garda Station and other stations in the county before the Garda Commissioner’s draft 2012 Policing Plan is finalised.In fact, Minister Shatter warned that like all public sector organisations, the Garda Síochána would to have to manage with reduced resources next year.Councillor Cathal Crowe requested Clare County Council to seek immediate clarification from Minister Shatter about the future status of Broadford Garda Station at a recent meeting of the Killaloe Electoral Area.This motion was supported by his five electoral area colleagues and a letter will be issued to Minister Shatter. In a statement issued to The Clare Champion, Councillor Crowe stressed it was vital that every pre-emptive effort …

Businesses in Ballina and Killaloe are looking forward to Discover Killaloe Day, which is expected to take place next March or April.Funded by Tourism Ireland and Waterways Association, the initiative will provide traders in Ballina and Killaloe with the ideal platform to showcase their vast array of services and recreational activities on the shores of Lough Derg.Ballina Killaloe Business Association vice-chairman James Whelan confirmed local traders are working hard at trying to maximise the best possible benefit from Discover Killaloe Day.“It is expected this event will be held in March or April. Every business will be doing its utmost to put their best foot forward on the day. It is vital that everything will be in tip-top shape to help the local business community kickstart the tourism season.“The traders’ association have also been working very hard since last July, trying to secure funding from LEADER for various promotion initiatives for the area and for new training in areas such as …

THE amount of green vegetation on the historical crossing between Ballina and Killaloe has been raised by county councillors on both sides of the bridge.Clare and North Tipperary county councillors agreed at a recent joint meeting of the Newport and Killaloe Electoral Area that urgent action needs to be taken to safeguard the integrity of the bridge, which carries huge volumes of traffic on a daily basis.However, councillors couldn’t reach a consensus on the best method of fast-tracking the completion of this project, which has already been discussed at previous joint meetings. Following a lengthy discussion, it was decided the scale and extent of the work needs to be identified, an estimate for the amount of funding provided and decision made on whether or not an application should be made by a community or jointly by the two local authorities.Work costing an estimated €100,000 was originally scheduled to take place in the spring of 2008. However, the possible presence of …

PLANS for the retention of a “thriving business” employing six people in Cratloe have been withdrawn by the applicant, despite securing an extension of time before the planning authority made its final decision. John Gleeson had applied for retention permission for a workshop, mezzanine offices and a septic tank in its existing location in Brickhill West, Cratloe.In a recent letter to the authority, John McMahon of McMahon Conroy Architects and Fire Consultants, Limerick, stated they had a call from the council’s fire department expressing some concerns about the fire requirements within the workshop and noted he had a meeting with Ger Fallon of the fire service to discuss the matter.Following this meeting, Mr McMahon provided two copies of drawings indicating revisions made at the behest of the fire officer.Mr Fallon suggested changes should be made to the planning drawings, which would show preliminary compliance with fire regulations, pending a Fire Safety Certificate application, notably enclosure of internal metal staircase connecting …

Clare County Council has confirmed that an unusual agricultural “barn” which is under construction in Ogonnelloe doesn’t require planning permission amid disputed claims it “looks like a house”.

A residents’ group has decided to pay to repair some of the broken lights in one of the largest housing estates in the Mid-West.

A Broadford entrepreneur has pioneered a new iphone and Android App to help people keep track of their cash transactions.

A STATE-OF-THE-ART €10 million two-storey nursing home will be opened on Monday in Westbury with approval from the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA).The independent health authority has given Athlunkard Partnership the green light to open the 51-room ground floor as part of the first phase of the development, which is near St Nicholas’ Church.In an exclusive interview with The Clare Champion, Athlunkard Partnership spokesman Flor McCarthy said the new nursing home would be provided in stages, subject to demand.Starting with about 14 employees, of which four are full-time, Mr McCarthy explained the number of people employed could eventually increase to 60, most of which would be full-time when the nursing home is fully occupied, depending on the needs of residents.Believed to be one of the largest nursing homes in the Mid-West, Mr McCarthy said their aim is to be the best in terms of meeting the highest health and quality standards, as laid down by the regulatory authorities.Once demand …