West Clare

A FUNDRAISING tractor run, supporting The Declan O’Shea Trust, will be held in Kilmihil on Sunday.Declan, who turned 36 in January, was seriously injured in an accident last October in Faro, Portugal. He underwent an operation on his spine in Portugal and then spent a month in the spinal injuries unit of the Mater Hospital in Dublin. He has been receiving treatment at the National Rehabilitation Hospital in Dún Laoghaire since last December.A Kilmihil footballer, mechanic and part-time farmer, who completed his Green Cert, Declan is well known throughout West Clare.Organisers are keen to stress that Sunday’s tractor run is not confined to vintage tractors. Therefore, anybody with access to any type of tractor, whatever its age, is welcome to attend. Registration will be at 12noon at Kilmihil GAA field, while the tractor run is due to depart Declan O’Shea’s native village at 1pm.Organisers are confident the event will be supported by local communities, as well as the Kilmihil parish. …

IN their ongoing effort at sustained engagement throughout the county, Clare Local Development Company (CLDC) through Leader will host their third regional seminar in Doonbeg Hall next Wednesday from 10am to 1pm.A total of four seminars are taking place around the county on varying dates to encourage, develop and nurture non-agriculture enterprise in Clare.The theme for the West Clare leg is Activity and Tourism. Leader has played a role in supporting eco-tourism, marine tourism, activity tourism, visitor centres and food tourism projects throughout Clare. Many of the projects will showcase their business at the seminar in Doonbeg.“They are here not only to promote their business but be available to any member of the public who might be interested in finding out how to go about starting a new business. The seminars focus is on “peer-to-peer” learning and cross-fertilisation of ideas,” explained Bridgette Brew, rural enterprise animator with CLDC.The keynote address will be given by Paddy Matthews, who joined Fáilte Ireland …

DURING his recent visit to the United States, Mayor of Kilrush Ian Lynch met with Brian Stack of CIÉ Tours, who undertook to review CIÉ’s current policy of their tour buses not stopping in Kilrush. Councillor Lynch said he emphasised the significance of Kilrush as a tourism destination.“I explained that if CIÉ Tours were to stop in Kilrush, this would result in a significant increase to the local economy, greatly helping the town’s economic recovery. Mr Stack committed to carrying out a review of Kilrush as a possible tour stop and further arrangements are to be made in the next few weeks,” the town mayor said.During his trip, Councillor Lynch also met with the Consul General of Ireland, Boston-based Michael Lonergan. The mayor presented Mr Lonergan with a copy of Kilrush, Live, Work, Play – Investing in your Future, a document the mayor produced prior to his trip to the US to highlight the benefits for businesses of establishing in …

THERE was a huge turn out of both floats and spectators at the various parades in West Clare over the bank holiday weekend. Along with the parade in Kilrush on St Patrick’s Day, a footing turf and peeling potatoes competition was held.  

MORE than three years after it was suggested Kilrush Wood walking trails be upgraded, it has emerged that Kilrush Town Council is to meet with Coillte to examine ways to develop the 420 acre wood.

THE possibility of developing Scattery Island as a pilgrimage and retreat centre was discussed at last Thursday’s meeting of Kilrush Town Council. Town mayor Ian Lynch forwarded a motion requesting Clare County Council, the Bishop of Killaloe and the Office of Public Works (OPW) carry out a feasibility study into the proposal. Councillor Lynch suggested the proposed retreat centre could be similar to St Patrick’s Purgatory on Lough Derg.In a written reply, Clare County Council said it may be feasible to market the pilgrim walks linking places in the landscape that have a connection with St Senan of Scattery, including holy wells and St Senan’s Altar. The walk would take in approximately 80km over four days.The council reply also noted that floors and stairs should be added to the island’s round tower. This would offer panoramic views of the Shannon Estuary. “It would, therefore, be only one of a few round towers in the country with intact floors and ladders …

A BEAUTIFUL new illustrated heritage guide to the ancient Clondegad parish in the heart of Clare has been produced in the multiple award-winning tidy town village of Ballynacally.Supported by Ballynacally Development Association and Clare Local Development Company, Clondegad, A Heritage Guide is a thoroughly researched, accessibly written and superbly presented visual introduction to a hidden gem of Ireland’s Shannon Region for both history buffs and general visitors. Rarely promoted for its rich cultural and natural heritage, stunning landscape and riverside vistas and strategic estuarine location, this guide brings to life Clondegad’s finest attractions and hidden histories from the scenic Ballynacally village and its panoramic surrounding pastures, historical craglands and magnificent native woodlands right up to the northern valley forts and the tranquil holy waters of the Abhainn Sliabh, the river which courses the veins of the Ballynacally/Lissycasey parish. Produced by Daniel McCarthy, MD of Boru Cultural Enterprises and its international publishing and exhibition development platform, The Heritage Factory, the guide …

KILRUSH Town Council has highlighted Kilrush pupils for their input into the development of a new blueprint for the future development of the town.