South Clare

THE National Roads Authority (NRA) has estimated that up to 30,000 people availed of a “once in a lifetime” opportunity to walk under the River Shannon on Saturday.

THE Bridgetown community  toasted the success of its local national school at a celebration to mark its golden jubilee on Thursday.Former past pupils, including board of management chairperson, Batt Skehan and Tom Spaight, who attended the old school, which was on a different site way back in 1958, were present for the celebrations.Like a lot of rural schools in South-East Clare, families such as the Conlans, Whelans and Skehans have generational ties with the old and the new school. In fact, some families could trace their descendants back to 1916 on one of the several roll books provided in the school as part of the festivities.Proceedings got underway with the celebration of mass in Bridgetown Church, which was concelebrated by Fr Noel Hayes, Fr James Grace, PP Killaloe, Fr Rodgers and Fr Cleary.Members of the Bridgetown National School hurling team, who reached the Cumman na mBunscoil final where they were beaten by Clooney-Quin, and the camogie side, who also reached …

BUSINESSES and tourism-related enterprises in Killaloe and Ballina are looking forward to a major spin-off from the eagerly-anticipated 18th annual Féile Brian Ború Festival.An action-packed programme of events for all the family from Tuesday, June 29 to Sunday, July 4 is expected to attract thousands of day-trippers and tourists to the shores of Lough Derg.Festival chairman, John Grimes said the committee is confident the new attractions included in this year’s line-up will generate a lot of extra business for local pubs, restaurants and bed and breakfasts.Mr Grimes told The Clare Champion there has been a tremendous response from local businesses, who have put their shoulder to the wheel behind the festival.Top of the bill is the arrival of one of the Ireland’s most successful ballad groups, The High Kings, who will conclude the weekend with a performance in the Lakeside Hotel on July 4.People are advised to book early for the show as a lot of people who turned up …

A SENIOR Clare County Council engineer has said the local authority is willing to sit down with a major quarry owner near Parteen to try and secure an agreement for approving the payment of a planning contribution levy, which was previously set at over €900,000.An Bórd Pleanála gave the green light for the continuation of quarrying activities in Ardnacrusha, including blasting and processing of aggregates for the next 25 years, after an appeal by local residents.The appeals’ board upheld the decision by Clare County Council to grant permission on January 19, 2008 to Bobby O’Connell to continue activities at the existing registered quarry lands at Ballycar South, subject to 22 new planning conditions.Residents had lodged an objection against the local authority decision, while the applicant had appealed a number of the planning conditions, including a €970,561 special contribution to upgrade roads in Parteen.Within three months from the order dated April 20, the developer has to lodge an approved insurance company …

Councillors in South-East Clare have backed a submission from a residents’ group in Clonlara requesting an independent review of the flood management of the River Shannon to prevent a repeat of the devastation caused in the area last November.

A 27-year old Ogonnelloe resident has been awarded a highly prestigious 18-month Marie Curie Fellowship, which she will take up in the Netherlands in August.

A modern, purpose-built Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD) unit in Broadford National School costing €170,000 is only being used by one pupil with special needs, due to a lack of enrolments.

IT could take another three to four years before a number of road projects to alleviate traffic congestion in Killaloe and Ballina are fully completed, a local senior engineer has confirmed.