West Clare

Loop Head Lighthouse has been named as part of the Great Lighthouses of Ireland, an EU funded tourism initiative. Launched by Tourism Minister, Paschal Donohoe and the Commissioners of Irish Lights, featured are 12 lighthouses in stunning coastal location, which will offer unforgettable experiences and create a deep appreciation of the role of lighthouses, past and present, and in the maritime and seafaring story of the island of Ireland. From Loop Head Lighthouse it is possible to spot whales, dolphins and seals, and the rock ledges and caves of the dramatic cliffs are home to many seabirds. Ger Dollard, director of services at Clare County Council, who oversees the Loop Head lighthouse projects, said “Loop Head’s recognition among these 12 extraordinary sites will benefit all locations, enabling us to better showcase our individual attractions and the maritime heritage of the whole island to wider audiences. We see a lot of opportunities to further grow our international appeal and extend the season through …

FIVE people who are facing charges arising from an investigation into money-lending in Kilrush are set to have their cases heard in the circuit court. Diana Casey, 12 Wood Road, Kilrush; Patrick Casey, Beverley Hills View, Kilkee Road, Kilrush; Ann Marie O’Brien, 12 Sycamore Drive, Kilrush; James O’Brien, Chapel Drive, Kilrush and Bernie O’Grady of Wood Road, Kilrush were all before Ennis District Court this week, where Judge Patrick Durcan refused jurisdiction in the matters. Giving evidence at Wednesday’s court sitting, Detective Donal Corkery said a number of people had been identified following what was called Operation Payday and that observation had been carried out over a lengthy period of time. He also said that people using money-lenders had been identified and some complaints had been made. Detective Corkery said he understood loans involved had ranged from €50 to €8,000. Regarding rates of interest, he said in the case of someone who was borrowing €100, €150 would have to be …

Free parking is to be introduced on a trial basis in Ennis and Kilrush, it has been confirmed. Clare County Council has announced two-hour free parking is being made available in Kilrush, while free parking is also being provided in the council’s car parks in Ennis from 2pm each Saturday. Parking charges will continue to apply to on-street car parking in Ennis. The incentives were proposed at Monday’s council meeting where they received the unanimous backing of elected members. Both schemes will operate on a trial period from June 1 to the end of September. Cathaoirleach of Clare County Council, John Crowe said, “Providing quality access and convenient parking is instrumental in presenting our main towns as attractive and vibrant shopping locations. I welcome the council’s introduction of these incentives, which should now act as an additional stimulus to activity in both Ennis and Kilrush and encourage greater retail activity in the towns.”

Nearly €5m is to be spent on developing 25 new social housing units in Clare, as part of a new nationwide investment programme. Ten homes are being built in Quilty, along with 15 more at Tullyglass in Shannon at a combined cost of €4.75 million. The money forms part of a newly-announced investment programme worth €312 million that seeks to build 1700 new homes throughout Ireland. Minister for the Environment, Community & Local Government, Alan Kelly said the first major direct build social housing programme is part of the first phase of  the Government’s social housing strategy. €312 million has been approved which will see an additional 1,700 social housing units come on stream by 2017 with an estimated 3,000 additional jobs in construction created. The projects, which cut across each local authority area, range in size from small numbers of units to projects of over 50 units for some of the Dublin local authorities. Minister Kelly said local authorities …

A Dublin man who was taking part in a motorbike rally which he helped  organize for Down Syndrome Ireland died in a motorcycle crash near Kilrush yesterday. Aidan Lynam, a 44 year-old father of three from Lucan,  had helped collect more than a €1million for the charity. The fatal crash occurred outside Kilkee on the Kilrush Road at approximately 11.45am. Mr Lynam was airlifted to University Hospital Limerick where he was later pronounced dead. The driver of the car was uninjured. The stretch of road was closed to facilitate an examination by Garda Forensic Collision Investigators. Witnesses are asked to contact Kilrush Garda Station on 065- 9080550.

A Ballynacally farmer has expressed his frustration at the lack of progress in repairing the Shannon Estuary banks along 30 acres of his land in Lisheen. Vincent O’Shea, who farms up to 120 acres, has been unable to cut silage on the affected land and has had to sell 30 cows. The land was badly flooded more than 12 months ago and he says that no progress has been made in the interim with regard to alleviating the problem. Two neighbouring farmers, John Slattery and Seán Carrig, are similarly affected. “The two sluices went in January of 2014. There is no one coming near us. They are saying they are doing this and doing that. Pat Breen (TD) reckons the council have the money but you ring the council and they say they have no more there for this. They have money for the tourists going to Lahinch and Kilkee but that’s no good to me. I can’t do any …

CLARE gardaí have enlisted the services of an oceanographer as part of a complex investigation into the alleged dumping of 17 carcasses at the base of the Baltard Cliffs near Doonbeg. Chief Superintendent John Kerin confirmed the oceanographer was hired in an effort to establish whether or not the animals, which were discovered in April 2014 were washed in from the Atlantic Ocean. Superintendent Kerin confirmed a substantial two-volume file on one of the most complex cases in West Clare in recent times had been lodged with the DPP since December. It is understood that a decision considering a direction in this case will be made in the near future. An investigation is continuing involving the gardaí, the Department of Agriculture, Clare County Council and the ISPCA. The expertise of the Department of Agriculture, concerning DNA examination of the dead animals, has been called on to establish if they matched any herd number in the department’s official records. Up to …

A state-of-the-art €320,000 AstroTurf facility in Kilrush has been described as an “important and significant addition” to West Clare’s recreational infrastructure by the Cathaoirleach of Clare County Council. Councillor John Crowe was speaking at the launch of the new facility, on the Cooraclare Road, which coincided with the official opening of the Active Kilrush Sports Complex. The opening of the complex was also attended by local community and sports organisations, officials from Clare County Council and Clare Local Sports Partnership, and Aitricity League Chairman and FAI Board member Eamon Naughton. Funded by Clare County Council and through a €59,000 Sportnation grant from IPB and the Department of Transport, Tourism & Sport, the 75x38m AstroTurf pitch features an FAI-level 3G artificial playing surface. Constructed by Sportslawn Ireland Ltd., the multipurpose pitch is complemented by security fencing, floodlights and CCTV, and is already being used by a variety of local sports clubs and schools. Active Kilrush Sports Complex also features a soccer …