South Clare

THE proposed abstraction of enough water from Lough Derg to fill Croke Park to the brim almost 12 times will be opposed until independent verification is provided that it will not be to the environmental or economic detriment of the lake’s catchment area.That’s the warning issued by Mayor of Clare, Pat Hayes who has expressed grave concern about Dublin City Council’s plans to remove over 350 million litres of water on a daily basis from Lough Derg.The preferred option involves raw water abstraction from northern Lough Derg, pumping of raw water to a cutaway bog near Portarlington, raw water storage at this site, water treatment and pumping facilities at this site and pipelines to convey treated water from the site to the Midlands and to the Dublin Region. Combined raw water and treated water pipelines would be about 130km in length. The proposed 2031 level of abstraction for Dublin and Midlands is about 2% of the average Shannon flow in …

A MEELICK historian has been shortlisted for a major literary award after publishing over 400 photographs about conflict during the early formation of the State, many of which have never been featured previously.Revolution: A Photographic History of Revolutionary Ireland 1913-1923 by Pádraig Óg Ó Ruairc has been nominated under the International Education Services Best Irish-Published Book of the Year category in the 2011 Bord Gáis Energy Irish Book Awards.Mr Ó Ruairc believes this is the first time a full photographic history of the important period 1913 to 1923 has ever been produced. He spent about a year going to museums in Ireland and England as well as Kilmainham Jail and meeting private collectors to obtain a series of photographs, which were never seen before.“I am delighted to be shortlisted for this award. I would appeal to people to vote for the book on line at www.irishbookwards.ie as this will be decided by public vote,” he said.The son of Pat and …

KILLALOE Coast Guard has used its new state-of-the-art rigid inflatable boat (RIB) for about 20 call-outs to assist people experiencing difficulty on Lough Derg, it emerged this week.The new Dalton 8.4m RIB, which was officially launched by Minister of State at the Department of Transport, Alan Kelly in Killaloe recently, was used in an important rescue mission when three people found themselves thrown overboard into the lake at Hair Island opposite Garrykennedy, on September 10 last.The three people suffered from hypothermia when their sailing craft overturned in bad weather in the peninsula above Mountshannon.All emergency services including Killaloe Coast Guard and the Shannon-based rescue helicopter were involved in the rescue.Obtained by Killaloe Coast Guard last January, the new vessel had to undergo a few sea trials and part replacement to ensure it was suitable for the River Shannon.Officer in charge, Michael Quigley confirmed their new boat had already been used to assist people who were experiencing difficulty on the lake …

AN Ardnacrusha-based public health nurse, who has helped to raise in the region of €70,000 for hundreds of poverty-stricken street children in India in recent years, remains as passionate as ever for this worthy cause.Not content with making a huge difference to the lives of malnourished children living in appalling conditions in Kolkata (Calcutta), Mags O’Sullivan has organised yet another fundraiser to improve their dismal plight.This time, it is an adult Hallowe’en party, with optional fancy dress, in the Loft venue above the Locke Bar in Limerick City on Friday, October 28, at 9.30pm.  When Mags visited Kolkata with another public health nurse from Patrickswell, Noreen O’Grady, in October 2006, she couldn’t get the distressing images of squalor and deprivation experienced by hundreds of families out of her head. At Kasbah, a home for abandoned young street boys, she saw children scavenging for food from skips in a desperate bid to survive.With the help of family and friends, the duo …

OVER five years of planning, designing and fundraising were rewarded this week with the official completion of the new €180,000 Cratloe Community Playground.Known as Spraoi sa Choill, contractors moved off site at Cratloe Woods on Tuesday and a final safety inspection is scheduled to take place this Friday.Once safety standards are met, children will be able to play on the wide variety of eco-friendly equipment such as slides, climbing frame, sand area and zip line, which allows children to swing from one bar to the next.Project designer, Lisa McKnight, has ensured the new playground fits in with the surrounding landscape by using Robinia wood throughout.The seeds for the development were sown back in 2006 when Cratloe Community Council learned about playground grants being distributed by Clare County Council.A new committee was established to embark on the difficult site selection process and during this period, Mary Foley took over as chairperson in March 2009. Ms Foley is delighted with the final …

ARTS Minister Jimmy Deenihan seems to be on a different track concerning the merits of a new sports complex in Killaloe, judging by different stances adopted over the development, which is being promoted by former Lions rugby captain, Keith Wood.      Speaking at the recent opening of the new €2 million mooring development along the Killaloe Canal Bank, the minister paid tribute to Keith Wood for his involvement in a new recreational and playing pitch development at the Moys, Killaloe.“Keith Wood has shown great leadership in the community and has a very interesting sports project, which hopefully we can help him with. It is great to have someone living in the community that is so well-known, not only in this country but internationally.“He is a source of important leadership. He has already shown his generosity by putting major funding into this sporting development. To have someone like that in a local community is a major asset,” Minister Deenihan said.A new group, …

TWO unemployed people have been chosen to start work on a new Government-sponsored community employment scheme in Meelick.It is expected the two people, who were interviewed last week following a random selection process conducted by the Department of Social Protection, will start work on amenity projects in the locality within the next two weeks.An application by the Meelick Development Committee to participate in the TÚS employment scheme was officially approved recently.Meelick Development Committee chairman, Councillor Cathal Crowe said he was delighted the committee’s application had received the green light.Individuals over the age of 18, who have been unemployed for at least 12 months, are eligible to work in the TÚS scheme. Those who are eventually selected to work on the scheme will benefit from enhanced social welfare benefits.“The Meelick Development Committee is unique in that it brings together all community organisations under one umbrella structure. Every club and organisation is entitled to a full and equal input. Local residents are …

ELIMINATING the risk of repeated flooding in parts of South-East Clare will be extremely difficult, a local county councillor has warned.