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West Clare

Call for research on the impact short term lets having on Clare

COUNCILLOR Cillian Murphy has called for a report on the impact of short term lets on communities across Clare to be commissioned by the County Council. In response to his proposal, a written report prepared by Direct of Services Liam Conneally said it was recognised that an over-concentration of holiday homes and short term lets in an area can create a high level of vacancy outside of the main tourism season. This, he said, can have a negative effect on the sustainable development of rural settlements and areas and their communities. Mr Conneally’s response stated, “It is therefore essential to achieve a balance between the tourism needs of the county and the need to support the permanent population of settlements and rural areas. “The provision and distribution of holiday homes in settlements and rural areas throughout the county, particularly along the Atlantic Coast is monitored through the development management process to ensure that the overall vision of sustainable communities is …

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New class in Doonbeg NS will help everyone shine

A NEW Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD) class has opened at Doonbeg National School.  Called An Ghrian, it will provide children attending mainstream school with additional support throughout the school day. School principal Neil Crowley said, “We would have seen that there were children with these needs in the school and we wanted the best approach to support their needs as best we could.” He has no doubt that the An Ghrian will make a big difference to the children accessing it. “Oh, definitely. The supports are there to give them the best access to education required.” Mr Crowley said a lot of work has been done over recent months. “We are very excited about our new class and we have seen so much work completed for it by the staff over the last few months. “The Special Class Teacher and the team of Special Needs Assistants, have closely worked together to make our new class a welcoming and supportive learning …

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Councillors condemn Moneypoint’s use of Russian coal

WEST Clare councillors are to write to the ESB to condemn the sourcing of coal from Russia for the Moneypoint power plant. It comes against the backdrop of sanctions taken by western nations against Russia over its attack on Ukraine. This coincides with the revelation that Russian coal accounted for almost all of the fuel consumed in Moneypoint in 2021. Responding to Clare Champion queries, the ESB outlined prior to 2021, electricity generation from Moneypoint had reduced significantly, requiring only small quantities of coal in those years. However, in 2021, a combination of factors saw an increase in electricity generation from Moneypoint to meet demand on the Irish electricity system, resulting in more than one million tons of coal being burned over that year. The ESB has seen that trend continue into the early part of 2022. “ESB sources coal for Moneypoint on international markets. Russian coal accounted for almost all of the coal consumed in Moneypoint in 2021,” the …

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Doonbeg festival to shine as it celebrates diamond anniversary

The West Clare Drama Festival in Doonbeg will be celebrating its 60th anniversary this March with plans to mark the milestone, writes Conor Clohessy. Commenting at the recent AGM, Chairperson John Keane said: “We are delighted to have reached our Diamond Jubilee. This is a significant milestone which has been achieved and maintained through the hard work and commitment of committees passing the mantle of keeping drama alive down through the years. “We are fortunate to still have three members of the original committee – Marie Shanahan, John Igoe and Murt McInerney.” Only a couple of weeks ago, a fourth original member passed away; Theresa McMahon had been the Secretary for over forty years, and Public Relations Officer Rita McInerney said that her passing will be poignant within the celebrations this year. In the middle of the festival on March 8, a dinner is planned to specifically mark the sixtieth anniversary and reward those who have worked hard in the …

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From crippling debt to near death, Danny’s days were never dull

From Cross village to Texas for gruelling US Navy training; from running festivals to nearly drowning in debt; from earthquakes in Manila to almost dying in Mondello, Danny Boland has experienced many highs and lows which he shares with Dan Danaher. WHEN he was working on major construction projects all over the world, Danny Boland always gave thanks for the training he received in Ardnacrusha Power Station. “It was the greatest training anyone could ever have,” says Danny, “It was unbelievable. I would not have been able to work on any of these projects without the ESB. The training and skills I learned in Ardnacrusha made all these jobs so easy. “If I ever ran into a problem on a job, I can pick up the phone and get advice from one of the ESB fitters or electricians I worked with.” “We were trained to weld, operate lathes, maintenance work, construction work, piping. I learned about five different trades in …

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Focus now on Kilrush rather than Cahercon for training facility

THE proposed development of training facilities at Cahercon proved not to be economically viable, the Dáil heard recently and the matter was again raised by Councillor PJ Kelly at a meeting of Clare County Council.  He requested a report outlining the employment related projects now being pursued in the Shannon Estuary. The report subsequently received from Director of Service Liam Conneally said, “There are very real opportunities for both Moneypoint and Cahercon and all of Clare to play a key leading role in the establishment of a hub for offshore wind energy together with the route to market and supply chain associated with the Offshore Renewable Energy industry. “In this regard Clare County Council have been actively supporting and liaising with the key Offshore Renewable Energy companies seeking to build Offshore Floating Wind farms off the Clare Coast. “These companies will utilise the Shannon Estuary, for manufacturing, assembly, servicing, and associated supply chain requirements of the large-scale turbines and critically …

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Budding Clare author to launch debut book this week

WHEN West Clare author Meadhbh Chambers completed working on her debut children’s book Rosie the Daisy there was certainly no shortage of little readers to give their reactions. As well as being a mother of four, Meadhbh is the infant teacher at Kilmihil National School. “I’ve tried the book out on my own kids, and in the classroom, and my kids have 33 cousins as well so I’ve given it out to a few kids to get feedback and it’s been very good so far,” she tells us. Launching this Friday in Kilrush Library, the book tells the tale of a daisy named Rosie, with Meadhbh explaining that as well as being a touching children’s story it is also a resource aimed at encouraging communication between children and trusted adults. “The idea behind it is that it would be a resource for adults to open up conversations with children, about sharing their thoughts and worries and feelings. The story is …

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Man airlifted to hospital after accident at Moneypoint

A man was airlifted to hospital today after he was injured in an incident at the ESB’s Moneypoint power station in West Clare. The man, a mechanical contractor in his 50s, is understood to have sustained serious leg injuries in an accident involving a forklift. National Ambulance Service paramedics attended the scene and treated the injured man. It was decided that the casualty should be flown to the nearest suitable hospital so an air ambulance was requested. The HSE’s Emergency Aeromedical Service (EAS) tasked the Cork-based, charity-funded Irish Community Air Ambulance (ICAA) helicopter to respond to the incident. The helicopter landed in a GAA field near Kilrush and the injured man was transported by road to meet the aircraft. The man was then airlifted to University Hospital Limerick for treatment. The flight took less than 15 minutes while the 80 kilometre journey by road would have taken over an hour. The man is being treated for crush injuries. A spokesperson …

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