West Clare

STORM Brendan has left over 3,000 ESB customers in West Clare without power this afternoon. The ESB Powercheck system is showing widespread outages in West Clare are being measured from the Tullabrack HV substation as well as the Ennistymon equivalent. The ESB say they are working to repair the faults and will restore power to those affected as quickly as possible. There is an unknown estimated restore time as Storm Brendan passed through Clare with little damage this afternoon, but premises in many areas, such as Ennistymon and Miltown Malbay, are without power.

A MAN has been arrested after the car he was driving collided with the front of a house at Lisdeen, on the main Kilrush to Kilkee road earlier today The car crashed into the porch of the house after leaving the road at approximately 1.30pm today and the sole occupant of the house was uninjured. Upon arrival, Gardaí found the vehicle unattended but the driver was found a short distance from the crash site and arrested on suspicion of driving while under the influence. A section of the N67 was closed while gardaí, paramedics and members of the fire service carried out examinations and secured the area. The car was taken from the scene by gardaí and the man is currently being detained at Kilrush Garda Station.  

KILRUSH based Scattery Island Tours have been named as a finalist in the SFA National Small Business Awards 2020. There are 41 finalists across nine different categories, with Scattery Island Tours qualifying in the Outstanding Small Business category. The aim of the awards is to celebrate the achievements of small business in Ireland, and to recognise the vital contribution of the small business sector to Irish industry. An Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, TD, who is Patron of the Awards, stated that: “Small and medium businesses make a huge contribution to the Irish economy and the SFA awards are a fabulous and timely opportunity to recognise the talent and innovation in the Irish SME sector.” The finalists in the SFA National Small Business Awards 2020 were officially announced by Sue O’Neill, SFA Chair and Chair of the SFA Awards Judging Panel. “The response to the awards programme serves as a reminder that Irish small companies are resilient, putting their best foot forward …

OPENING up about her battle with anxiety and depression, which led to suicidal thoughts, Fiona O’Brien, a 25-year-old psychiatric nurse from Kildysart, is encouraging people to talk, seek support and is reminding young people in particular that it is ok not to be ok. Last Thursday was World Mental Health Day and this year’s theme is Suicide Prevention, as set by the World Federation for Mental Health. Fiona qualified as a psychiatric nurse three years ago and had really been enjoying it but her life took a turn. The end of a relationship, coupled with pressures at work and societal pressures, led to her mental health beginning to suffer. She explained that no one thing triggered it but just “life happened”. “I suffer from anxiety and depression. It has been going on for some time. I worked through a lot of it myself. As I’m a psychiatric nurse, I know a lot of the things I need to do. I …

Sixth class children from St Senan’s National School in Kilrush may not have been granted an audience with His Holiness Pope Francis but they received the next best thing, the Pontiff’s blessing. Last week there was great excitement in the school when a letter, addressed to pupil Jenita Varghese, arrived on her desk from The Vatican. It was a very personal reply written on behalf of Pope Francis from his chief assessor in The Vatican, Monsignor Paolo Borgia. The Pontiff’s letter was in response to one penned by Jenita on behalf of all the pupils in her class. Jenita has posted the letter prior to Christmas wishing him a happy birthday, a merry Christmas and a happy New Year. She also implored Pope Francis, if he had “some time to pray for us as we are preparing to receive the Sacrament of Confirmation”. Monsignor Paolo Borgia outlined that His Holiness Pope Francis has asked that he reply in his name …

CONCERNS about the impact of the water supply to Moneypoint on residents of West Clare, have been raised at a meeting of Clare County Council. Councillor Ian Lynch proposed that Irish Water and the management of Moneypoint “cease the current arrangements for water supply to the generation station, until a suitable water management plan is put in place that will end the adverse effects the current arrangements are having on entire West Clare communities.” He said people were left without a proper water service for more than 10 days. “People can’t flush their toilets or have a shower. I don’t think that’s acceptable in this day and age.” A report from senior engineer Sean Ward said, “The flow to Moneypoint power station increases when the station’s reservoirs are being filled. Under the present regime, this occurs approximately twice annually and lasts typically for three days at a time, although this duration may be variable. Cooraclare road, including Tullabrack, Breaghva and …

Clare County Council, on the advice of the HSE, has today (Friday) lifted restrictions relating to public bathing at Kilkee’s Blue Flag beach. The council confirmed the results of water sampling tests carried out on Thursday show the water is clean. The prohibition on bathing at Kilkee was introduced on Wednesday afternoon after the results of routine tests on water samples at the beach highlighted bacterial contamination. “On the advice of the HSE and following analysis of water samples, the council is happy to be able to announce the lifting of all restrictions relating to bathing at Kilkee,” commented Paul Moroney, senior engineer, environment section. “Public notices indicating bathing water restrictions are being removed while the Blue Flag will be flying at Kilkee beach this weekend.Clare County Council would like to thank the public for their understanding and cooperation over the past two days,” Mr Moroney added.

ST Joseph’s Secondary School, Spanish Point, recently presented its end-of-year awards, one of which was the prestigious Ceist award. Ceist is the trustee umbrella body that governs St Joseph’s. This year, the award was presented to Adam Clohessy, a second-year pupil, for his quick action in helping to save his father’s life. Living in Kilrush, Adam has been attending Spanish Point ASD class for the last two years. The school felt it was appropriate that he be recognised for his actions in saving his father’s life. Adam explained, “I woke up at 5am and my dad was calling my name. I thought he was talking in his sleep but he called again. It was only then I heard a thump. I went to check him and I found him on the floor. He had fallen out of bed and I tried to help him back in but he just kept falling. His speech was a bit slurred, which eventually made …