West Clare

STUDENTS at Querrin National School have recently become an official Coastcare group. The school has signed up to the national network of 121 other Coastcare groups. This project fits in very well with the school’s strong environmental ethos.

THE development of a useful index to the manuscripts of the 1930s Schools’ Folklore Collection from national schools in the West Clare area was an ambitious enterprise undertaken by TY pupils at St Joseph’s Secondary School, Spanish Point.

DESPITE repeated calls from Kilrush Town Councillor Stephen O’Gorman, Moore Street and Grace Street will not be resurfaced in the foreseeable future.

A NEW research report from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) shows that the geology of West Clare is unsuitable for long-term carbon storage, a key technology in the fight against climate change.The study, which involved advanced re-analysis of existing geological data and new drilling investigations in the region, found that the complexity and characteristics of the rocks that underlie West Clare are unsuitable for storing carbon dioxide. It found that the porous nature and permeability of the rock would not support such a use, the space available within the rock for carbon dioxide storage is limited and the effort needed to inject carbon dioxide into that space would be prohibitive.The project findings also have implications for earlier assessments of the potential storage capacity around Ireland, as it suggests that this may be less than originally considered. However, further extensive geological studies will be required to confirm this.Carbon dioxide is the most important long-life greenhouse gas implicated in driving climate change. …

THE Loop Head tourism group, which last week won Ireland’s European Destination of Excellence award, feels that the accolade will be a springboard for developing sustainable aquatic tourism in the area.The group is a partnership of local organisations who are committed to providing a quality tourist experience, while safeguarding the lifestyles and biodiversity that makes the peninsula a unique place to live and visit. The group won the European award in the aquatic section.The group consists of Kilkee business people Cillian Murphy (chairman), John Williams, Kilkee Chamber president, Johnny Redmond; and Kilkee-based architect Tom Byrne.“We always knew that we were a hidden gem with something special in terms of a tourism product and this award was just affirmation for one of the best-kept secrets in the West of Ireland,” the group said in a statement to The Clare Champion.“The award points to the fact that elements with varying tourism products can come together with one positive aim in mind and …

ACCORDING to John Paul Estate-based town councillor Stephen O’Gorman, the lack of progress with completing development work has led to one side of the estate “laughing at the other part”.

NOT a single Kilrush dog owner has been issued with a fine for incidents of dog-fouling inside the last five years, according to Clare County Council. In reply to a question of how many fines had been issued under Section 21 of the Litter Pollution Acts since 2005, Mary McMahon of the county council said that no fines have been issued during that time.

After a lapse of several years, Kilrush will host a family festival entitled Féile Shona, this summer. The event will be held from Thursday, July 1 until Sunday, July 4.Kilrush Fine Gael town councillor Ian Lynch is the main organiser and is appealing to local clubs to become involved and help out. However, he says that the idea nearly stalled after an unsuccessful first meeting. “I’ll admit that at several points ,I considered giving up on the idea, especially after I first organised a meeting inviting over 50 different groups and clubs and only two people turned up. But I persisted and I am delighted I did so because I believe this will be a great event,” Councillor Lynch said. “So often I hear our youth saying ‘there is nothing to do in the town’. Yet we have almost 40 clubs and organisations all screaming for new members. “This festival will give groups and clubs a chance to get recognised …