South Clare

THE long-awaited new €40 million bridge crossing linking the twin communities of Ballina and Killaloe, Killaloe bypass and associated link roads may be hit by the economic downturn, it emerged this week.

CLARE county councillors and hundreds of residents in South-East Clare are gearing up for yet another battle to prevent a “land grab” by Limerick City Council after a new Government committee was given the task of examining the possibility of changing existing boundaries.

THE University of Limerick has unveiled plans to create a new access link road from the Clare campus to Gillogue, Clonlara in a bid to address existing inadequate road infrastructure for thousands of staff and students entering the facility from the region.

AN international crew, including a Killaloe coast guard member, have succeeded in completing more than half of their gruelling 5,000km row across the Atlantic Ocean.

THE outstanding contribution of the Killaloe Coast Guard Unit to communities in South-East Clare and North Tipperary has been honoured by a new monthly awards scheme.Killaloe Coast Guard Unit became the first recipient of the Ballina-Killaloe Community Achievement Awards, which has been set up by The Nenagh Guardian newspaper in association with the Lakeside Hotel, Ballina, Killaloe.The aim of the awards is to highlight, celebrate and reward the best in local sporting, cultural, voluntary and community achievements by an individual, club, society or organisation. Coast guard unit area officer, Michael Quigley and deputy area officer, Denis Dillon accepted the award on behalf of the unit at a function on Friday night. Their two sons are also members of the unit.Mr Quigley said the coast guard service is an integral part of the local community. “The coast guard attends schools in Clare, Limerick and North Tipperary, where it provides information to schoolchildren on how the unit operates and safety on water …

THE submission of revised plans, which have reduced the capacity of a Cratloe nursing home by four beds, have been approved by Clare County Council.Olivia English had applied to the local planning department for retention of a ground-floor extension, first floor conservatory, internal alterations and emergency service entrance at Sancta Maria Nursing Home, Brickhill, Cratloe.However, Ms English had to substantially amend her initial plans following concerns expressed by the council.The council attached four planning conditions including a stipulation that the development has to be carried out in accordance with details submitted on January 6, 2010 and a requirement to pay the council a contribution of €1,715 towards the provision of public infrastructure and facilities benefiting the development.According to a council planning report, six bedrooms were removed on the ground floor and were replaced by administration offices, visitors’ room and store.The report noted that the existing day room on the ground floor would be converted into two bedrooms with a new …

EDUCATION Minister Batt O’Keeffe has ordered an independent report into the source of funding for a president’s house on the University of Limerick’s Clare campus, costing in the region of €1.1 million.Concern has been expressed about the university’s decision to spend the large sum on what Minister O’Keeffe described as a “lavish” three-storey building, at a time when the university has debts of about €3m.The minister requested the report despite assurances that the second home for the university president was entirely funded from leading United States philanthropist, Chuck Feeney. University Students’ Union (USI) president, Peter Mannion told The Clare Champion that UL’s decision to spend over €1m on a house for its president sends out the wrong message at a time when students’ registration fees have increased dramatically.Mr Mannion alleged it is unlikely some private benefactor approached the university and offered to build a new house for the president.“According to a recent study, only half of the CAO applicants will …

CLARE County Council has granted planning approval to retain a marina development in Killaloe near a protected area after the applicant addressed a number of concerns expressed by the planning authority. Additional information and revised plans concerning the controversial marina development were sought by the council amid concern from local residents about compliance for existing planning permission.It expressed concern that the site layout plan as received from Ian Symington, c/o Neil Bennett MRAI, 3 Riverfront, Howley’s for the retention of nine existing berths was not an accurate illustration of the existing marina layout at this site.An application submitted by the same applicant last year to reorganise a previously permitted inland marina, provision of 48 new berths within the marina and retention of nine existing berths at Harbour Village was refused by the county council.On inspection of the marina, the council claimed the site layout plan differed from the actual situation on site, which has a wooden walkway at the side …