West Clare

ONE of the main access roads to the Loop Head Peninsula has reopened following the severe storms that impacted the County Clare coastline during January and February. Clare County Council has completed extensive works to rebuild and repair over 100m of the regional road and coastal wall along Kilbaha Bay. This work was completed in time for the St Patrick’s weekend. The reopening of the road has been welcomed by Mayor of Clare Councillor Joe Arkins, who said: “The temporary reconstruction works were necessary to re-establish connectivity in Kilbaha and the wider Loop Head Peninsula, and are a timely boost for the upcoming tourist season. Recent weeks have already seen the launch of the Wild Atlantic Way with a number of discovery points along that route situated in the greater Loop Head area.” Works undertaken by council staff include the positioning of over 3,000 tonnes of rock armour along the seafront, 1,200 square meters of surfacing works, and the pouring …

AS befitting a as place known far and wide as The Long Village, the St Patrick’s Day parade in Doonbeg was a long-tailed and very colourful affair.  It reflected many aspect of local life, with quite an emphasis on the 1,00th anniversary of the death of Brian Boru. On of the most remarked upon floats was that which paid tribute to the late Padraig Haugh, the Bard of Bansha, a poet and raconteur, who penned many a verse in respect of great occasions in the parish. A very big crowd turned out to enjoy the parade.

Kilkee Civic Trust (KCT) is usually associated with organising a summer programme of talks and music events, but the organisation is springing into action this weekend to support an important community effort. “Arising from so much terrible storm damage disfiguring our beloved Kilkee, we are putting out a call for assistance, at the request of our fellow KCT member, Mayor Paddy Collins, for everyone to assist in any way possible, to help by improving matters on the ground,” said spokesperson, Joseph McClosker. To this end, there will be a promenade clean-up, starting from 9am this Saturday. Volunteers are asked to meet at the Intrinsic Anchor, near Fisherman’s Corner, at the East End. This is an entire community initiative, and is being organised by friends of Kilkee, with the help of Kilkee Chamber of Commerce. It is important that suitable clothing is worn and that a mindset of safety is maintained throughout the clean-up.

CLARE County Council is to contribute €5,000 towards a feasibility study of Doonbeg Pier. This will evaluate the potential of upgrading the pier, which has been the subject of a long campaign by Doonbeg Community Council. “Doonbeg has a small pier which is inadequate and because it is tidal people can only access the pier at certain tides. The community is doing everything to develop tourism. Doonbeg is on the coast, so sea-angling would be a normal extension of its tourism product,” commented Clare TD Michael McNamara. “I expect that sea-angling would be popular with customers of Doonbeg Golf Resort. Now that the resort is part of the worldwide Trump organisation, there is renewed optimism in Doonbeg for the future of tourism and the upgrade of the local pier infrastructure has to be considered as a good investment,” he added. Money is available from the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine to develop piers but only when the project …

THREE weeks after Storm Darwin resulted in serious damage to the seawall and the Strand Line in Kilkee, the damage is still evident on the seafront. The issue was raised at this week’s West Clare Electoral Area meeting by Councillor Patrick Keane, who asked for a report on what he called “the sinking Strand Line road,” in Kilkee. Loop Head Tourism chairman and Kilkee business man, Cillian Murphy has also expressed concern at the state of the Strand Line, comparing it to a war zone. “I’m standing here looking at a hole that has been dug out of the pavilion in front of the Esplanade. It must be 30 feet by 40 feet. There was a small breach but the sea is after widening the breach and sucking everything out from underneath it. A load of concrete would have shuttered up the front of it and prevented further damage,” Cillian Murphy suggested. “From the esplanade down as far as the …

By Peter O’Connell KILDYSART Drama Group will present their production of Jimmy Keary’s The Maiden Aunt in the local community centre this Saturday and Sunday. This is the third time that the Kildysart players have staged a Jimmy Keary play.  They produced the world premiere of Too Close to Home in 2007 and Fortunes and Misfortunes in 2010.   Last year the group enjoyed enormous success with their production of A Wake in the West which, like this years production, was directed by Colin McMahon. “Last year was our biggest success to date. I’d say we turned away hundreds of people. We just didn’t have the room for them so we’re trying to keep up with that standard now which isn’t easy,” the play director told The Clare Champion. Some who attended last years play thought that they had wandered into a funeral home. Anybody who entered the hall by the rear door, were met with a ‘body’ which  was …

By Peter O’Connell DOONBEG Golf Club designer Greg Norman has told The Clare Champion that he expects to hear from Donald J Trump if any changes are to be made to the course. Speaking from the US on Wednesday, ‘The Great White Shark’ also revealed that his company had been asked if they were interested in buying the club. The two-time Major winner spoke to the new owner of the West Clare club, on hearing that Mr Trump had bought Doonbeg Golf Club, which entered liquidation in January. “I put a call into Donald and said ‘congratulations.’ I knew the golf club was in play (on the market) for a while. I had actually been approached earlier on, a couple of months earlier, to see if we had any interest in it or any recommendations,” Mr Norman said. “I knew Donald was on the acquisition trail of iconic properties. That has been no secret, especially here in the United States. …

Wednesday’s Lotto jackpot of more than €8.3 million was sold in Kilrush. The ticket was bought in Miniter’s Shop on Henry Street on Saturday and according to store owner Mary Miniter Doherty, speculation is rife. “There is great excitement. People are coming in congratulating us,” Mary told The Clare Champion. The winning ticket was a €24 mixed-play ticket, which included Lotto Plus, Quick Pick and individually selected numbers, valid for last Saturday’s and Wednesday’s draws. “It is very distinctive. It was someone’s own numbers and a Quick Pick and for two draws so it is unusual. We haven’t a clue who it is but we are surmising! We are hoping it is a syndicate and I hope it is one of my regular customers. I am a Lotto agent since the Lotto started so I am hoping it is one of my customers,” she added. There was just one winning ticket to Wednesday evening’s Lotto jackpot of €8,302,204. “It is …