Gardai and coast guard drive-bys lift brave youngster who has endured torrid year after rare brain tumor diagnosis THE efforts of an O’Briensbridge woman and the co-operation of local emergency services have given a welcome boost to a nine year-old boy battling a rare form of brain cancer. Tracy Howard has organised a series of fundraising ventures and drive-bys to show the huge support in the twin communities of Killaloe and Ballina for Joey Moran, who lives in the neighbouring village of Portroe. A GoFundMe page “Joey Moran’s journey with a rare brain tumour” has thus far raised €20,845. The brave young lad, described as a “warrior” and an “absolute legend” by parents Emma and Alan, has had to endure a number of serious surgeries as well as the very draining subsequent chemotheraphy and radiation treatments. One year ago the world changed for the Moran family. On September 18, 2020, Emma recalled Joey came out to the kitchen and struggled …
Read More »Killaloe mourns ‘iconic’ publican Marie Reddan
THE twin communities of Ballina and Killaloe were united in mourning following the recent death of an “iconic” publican. Marie Reddan (née McMahon), Main Street, Reddan’s Bar, Killaloe, and formerly of Castleconnell, County Limerick died peacefully at her residence in the loving care of her family. Tributes have been paid to the 93 year-old, who was one of Killaloe’s best known and respected people. Councillor Tony O’Brien described the former Ahane camogie player as an “iconic figure” in the life of Killaloe. The Killaloe councillor stated Reddan’s pub is synonymous with family celebrations. “It is a place we all gather to celebrate and indeed to mourn, it is a place where our families gather for a pint when our loved ones return home. A massive part of all those family and community gatherings was Mrs Reddan. She ran a house of a thousand welcomes, a house of laughter and fun, which is known the world over. “When meeting people who …
Read More »Mobile St Patrick Replaces Parade In Killaloe
THERE will be no official St Patrick’s Day Parade in the twin communities of Killaloe and Ballina for the second year in a row due to Covid-19 restrictions. However, Killaloe community volunteer, Eddie O’Gorman has decided to organise a mobile St Patrick for the benefit of local children who can’t look forward to the traditional St Patrick’s Day parade. St Patrick will be standing on the back of a trailer towed by a car festooned by an arch of balloons by Emma Hickey from Boru Balloons. Féile Brian Boru has loaned a St Patrick’s Day costume to Eddie for use on the day as well as plenty of flags and bunting. Eddie has appealed to adults and children not to congregate in groups once he comes into their housing estate and to observe all social distancing Covid-19 guidelines. The mobile St Patrick will head off from St Lua’s Villas, Killaloe at 2 pm tomorrow up to Crossroads, down Convent Hill …
Read More »Road Closure Will Impact On Killaloe Residents
RESIDENTS in Killaloe and Ballina can’t use a regional road to travel to Birdhill and Limerick for the next two weeks. TIPPERARY County Council recently made an order to close a regional road on the outskirts of Ballina to facilitate preliminary works for the Shannon Bridge Crossing project. Following a public consultation process, the council has decided to close the R494 Ballina to Birdhill Road from 7 am on February 15 to 7pm on March 1. Traffic travelling to Ballina from Birdhill are advised to use an alternative route by proceeding along the R445 to its junction with R496, continue along the R496 to its junction with R494 and proceed on R494 to access Ballina. Traffic travelling to Birdhill from Ballina should proceed along R494 to its junction with R496, proceed along R496 to its junction with R445 and drive on the R445 to access Birdhill. Local access will be facilitated. Road users in Ballina- and Killaloe should expect delays …
Read More »Council progress €69 million Shannon River Crossing
Clare County Council is making significant progress delivering the €69 million Shannon River Crossing project. The estimated cost of the project totals €69 million, which includes construction, land acquisition, design, supervision, risk, contingency and archaeology. It is expected the new Shannon River Crossing, Killaloe By-Pass and upgrade of the Ballina to Birdhill R494 regional road will take up to three years to construct and could start next summer if everything goes to plan. Out of 110 affected property owners, two homes were acquired under the Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO) process which will have to be demolished. One of these is in Clarisford while the other one is at the Ogonnelloe end of the Scheme. The council concluded a deal with these two property owners at an early stage – one built a new dwelling in the locality and the other home owner has moved out of the area. In an interview with the Clare Champion, senior engineer, Seán Lenihan said …
Read More »Death of Killaloe centenarian
THE death of one of the oldest residents along the banks of Lough Derg evoked a great deal of sympathy in the local community. Dora Benson (102) was one of the centenarians living in the twin communities of Ballina and Killaloe. Mary (Dora) Benson, who would have been 103 in October, died peacefully at her home in Ballina surrounded by her loving family recently. Born in Grange, Ballina in 1917, nee Clarke, she attended what was known at the time as the Iron School in Killlaloe, which was subsequently closed due to small numbers so she transferred to Ballina National School. She and her sister were sent to live with an uncle and aunt in Adare so she could attend a Church of Ireland national school. At the age of 15, she returned to Grange to look after her mother who wasn’t well at the time. She continued to look after her mother and work on the farm until she …
Read More »Killaloe businesses adapt to Covid-19 restrictions
BUSINESSES in Ballina and Killaloe have re-opened on a limited basis as they come to terms with operating new social distancing guidelines during the Covid-19 pandemic. McKeogh’s Hardware, Ballina, closed for two weeks at the end of March when the national lockdown was announced. Fred McInerney of McKeogh’s recalled they operated on a call-and-collect basis for a number of weeks before they re-opened fully on Monday. Mr McInerney said the area of the store was mapped out before the lockdown and acknowledged most people are adhering to social distancing guidelines. Gloves and hand sanitiser are provided in the store and perspex screens are provided for staff. He said there was a big demand for paint during the call and collect period and now the demand has switched to outdoors with large numbers requesting DIY to complete repair jobs and decking. The Lakeside Hotel is planning to re-open from July 20 with restrictions for social distancing. It is expected their leisure …
Read More »Teenager dies in farming accident
A Lough Derg community has been plunged into mourning following the death of a local teenager in a farming accident. Nenagh Gardaí are investigating a fatality involving a 15 year-old from Ballina on a farm in Carrigatoher, Nenagh on Sunday at about 3.30pm. According to the Garda Press Office, the teenager was pronounced dead at the scene at the Health and Safety Authority has been notified. He has been named locally as Padraig McCormack, Ryninch, Ballina, Killaloe. The Health and Safety Authority (HSA) has confirmed it is carrying out a separate investigation into the accident, which occurred on the teenager’s uncle’s farm. Investigators from the HSA visited the scene of the accident on Monday and spoke to a number of people in relation to the incident. The HSA will be completing a report on this incident, which will not be published. This is the first farm fatality in 2018. Last year, 24 people lost their lives in farming accidents …
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