South Clare

Clare County Council is supporting the principle of a major tourism development in a well-known Ogonnelloe estate, despite a ruling from An Bord Pleanála, which turned down a €100 million project.

People who want to visit a South-East Clare community are being directed to Galway because of its exclusion in official Ordinance Survey maps, it emerged this week.

THE arrival of almost 20 alien species in Lough Derg has increased the risk of further unwanted invaders, which could change the entire ecology of the lake, a local marine biologist has warned.

A construction compound in the Westbury housing estate has been described as “a bombsite” that is “seen as a playground” amid calls to remove it.

Convent Hill, Killaloe is regarded as a good location to ascertain the main issues affecting punters in the midst of the recession in the twin communities of Killaloe and Ballina.

Showers and toilets may be provided by Failte Ireland to enhance a major new €1.7 million development of Killaloe Canal, a local engineer has revealed.

THE discovery of one of the world’s most invasive clam species in Lough Derg has sparked a call from a local marine biologist for increased monitoring of the River Shannon.Dr Dan Minchin of the Lough Derg Science Group discovered the presence of the Asian clam and believes more sampling of rivers and lakes is needed to monitor the impact and spread of such species. The Asian clam (corbicula fluminea) is regarded as one of the most invasive species found in freshwater habitats and was first discovered in Ireland by biologist Dr Pascal Sweeney in the lower reaches of the River Barrow. Inland Fisheries Ireland research staff found dense populations in the Barrow, with almost 10,000 clams per square metre. It was also found in the Nore last year.Able to grow to three centimetres in diameter, such is its reproductive capability that it could have a serious impact on the biology of Lough Derg. A survey downstream of Rooskey conducted by …

THE relentless demise of the small outlets in rural villages continues following the recent closure of the last shop in O’Briensbridge.Residents looking for a pint of milk, a loaf of bread or their weekly copy of The Clare Champion will now have to travel to Killaloe or Broadford, after the shop near the Old Mill Bar and Restaurant shut its doors for the last time.The award-winning Old Mill had to close due to a lack of trade last October. Add in the closure of the local post office and the picture of a rural village fighting desperately for survival becomes clearer. There are now just two pubs, Darby’s and Bonner’s, left as well as the Village Bistro, while neighbouring Bridgetown also has to do without a retail outlet.Several operators had tried to generate a sustainable trade in the O’Briensbridge shop but, like most small outlets, they had one hand tied behind their backs trying to compete with large discount supermarkets …