West Clare

Kilkee’s Eileen Kelly, who is a speech and language therapy student at NUIG, will travel to South America in June for five weeks as part of NUI Galway’s annual overseas volunteering programme.

The Doonbeg Branch of Apostolic Work Ireland held its 50th annual display in the parish hall last Sunday. The display is always a noteworthy event that showcases the talent and commitment of its members but this year was especially significant as the Doonbeg branch celebrates its golden jubilee anniversary.

THE heart of Kilrush was transformed into a sea of green on St Patrick’s Day as more than 200 people dressed as our patron saint gathered in an attempt to set not one but two world records.

People in Kilrush who have lived in a council house for 10 years or more can chose to buy their house under the 2011 Purchase Scheme for long-standing tenants.The scheme was debated at last week’s meeting of Kilrush Town Council, where some councillors said that the price being charged for the purchase of some council houses was too expensive. “The big elephant in the room is market value,” Councillor Tom Prendeville commented. He said that he knew of one council tenant who had offered €22,000 for a council house, which had been valued at €200,000. “When you go into an estate and see 30 to 35 houses boarded up, you won’t have a queue outside the town hall, wanting to buy a council house,” Councillor Prendeville added. In a written presentation, Kilrush Town Council said that ‘market value’ or the cost of the house, was the figure that in the opinion of the council, the house would realise if it …

THE figure for uncollected 2010 rates in Kilrush on February 1, 2011 was €109,274.09. This figure was revealed at last Thursday’s monthly meeting of Kilrush Town Council where town clerk John Corry said that some rate payers, who have yet to pay, are likely to have legal action taken against them.

IN a report to last week’s Kilrush Town Council meeting on the progress made by the West Clare Task Force committee, Kilrush and Kilkee Town Manager Nora Kaye said a survey is being conducted on how to improve signage from Killimer Car Ferry towards the Loop Head peninsula.

FIVE primary schools from South-West Clare are preparing to take to the airwaves as part of a new series with the area’s community radio station Raidió Corca Baiscinn. Each week, one of the participating schools will produce and present a 10-minute radio programme focusing on various activities taking place in the schools.

Aside from the four General Election candidates who were elected to ­represent Clare in the 31st Dáil, first-time Independent candidate Brian Markham gleaned most from last Friday’s vote.