Tag Archives: Broadford

THE Cathaoirleach of the Killaloe Municipal District has called for a major media campaign next month to make landowners aware of their responsibilities when it comes to hedge-cutting. At the July meeting of the local authority, Councillor Joe Cooney noted that hedge-cutting, other than essential safety work, is prohibited between the start of March and the end of August, but insisted that more publicity is needed so that works can be carried out promptly from September 1. “There’s a lot of traffic on the roads at the moment,” the Fine Gael member said. “There’ll be schools traffic returning at the end of August and the start of September and we need to make sure that hedge cutting is being done, within the guidelines, to ensure safety.” The Broadford man welcomed a response from Senior Engineer John Leahy which outlined that funding of €95,000 has been allocated to hedge-cutting this year. “This is fantastic to see,” said Councillor Cooney. “Now is …

GARDAÍ are seeking the public’s help in identifying a car which is thought to have been used in a South East Clare burglary. A shop in Broadford was broken into in the early hours of last Thursday morning and a cigarette machine and the drawer of the cash register stolen. A silver Audi is believed to have been used in the incident, and gardaí are appealing to anybody with information to contact them. Clare Crime Prevention Officer Sergeant Triona Brooks explains that the break-in to the shop on the main street of Broadford village occurred between 3.30am and 3.45am on Thursday morning, June 24. “The shutter mechanism was interfered with and the front door was smashed in. The cigarette machine was forced off the wall and stolen along with the drawer of the cash register. A silver Audi A3 five door vehicle was believed to be used in this burglary. If anyone was in the area between 3am and 4am …

THIRTEEN children with additional needs from Broadford, Tulla and Sixmilebridge, thoroughly enjoyed a six-week inclusive athletics programme in Tulla. That’s the verdict from one of the coaches and child psychologist, Louise Fitzsimons, following the completion of the pilot project on Saturday, which was facilitated by Tulla Athletics’ Club and Clare sports inclusion disability officer, James Murrihy. Other coaches included Sarah Shally, teacher for the early intervention ASD class in Stonehall National School, Antonio Raffa, Sixmilebridge, who is heavily involved in athletics, Lucy Hughes, Michelle Greene, and Kelly Ann Brady, primary school teacher. Ms Fitzsimons said the coaches and volunteers have learned a lot over the six weeks about how to organise sessions and support children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in getting used to different activities that suits their own particular needs. It is hoped to continue with more sessions during the summer with a review in August. “All children will not transition quickly or easily to the main athletics …

WORKS have just got underway on a long-awaited pedestrian crossing for the village of Broadford, writes Fiona McGarry. The traffic calming scheme, which was proposed by Councillor Joe Cooney, at the March meeting of the Killaloe Municipal District, will extend from the local national school to the GAA pitch. Welcoming the commencement of the works, which are likely to take a number of weeks, Councillor Cooney said the issue had been on the agenda for some time. “Everyone appreciates that these improvement works are badly needed,” he said. “There is a serious issue with road safety for a number of years. Teachers and parents have worked well to keep issues under control on a very busy regional road and the really good news is that works are underway on a pedestrian crossing. “When the job is completed, the area will be a lot safer for the pupils and wider community. While a lot of improvement works have been carried out …

VILLAGES and towns in Clare can’t sustain new housing developments because of the lack of adequate water and wastewater facilities, according to a local senator. The lack of proper water infrastructure in Broadford and Miltown Malbay was raised by Senator Róisín Garvey in the Seanad recently. Commenting on a new Green Party policy setting out the recognition of clean water as a human right, Senator Garvey stated new houses can’t be built until proper water infrastructure is provided. “In Broadford and Miltown Malbay in County Clare, we have all of the money, the sites, and the houses have been designed and are shovel-ready, but without water infrastructure there will be nothing built. Therefore, we must take water infrastructure seriously and invest in it. “Infrastructure deficits in Ireland impact on the provision of safe and secure drinking water. They lead to pollution and environmental damage. They present a challenge to achieving sustainable development across urban and rural Ireland. “Water supply must …

A STRETCH of road in East Clare could be in line for an upgrade, following a commitment from the local authority to consider it for improvement works. The condition of the L7000 through Broadford was raised by Councillor Joe Cooney at the January meeting of the Killaloe Municipal District. Tabling a motion on the matter, the Fine Gael member appealed to the council to include it on the roads program for this year. “The road is in very bad condition,” he said. “I have had many representations on it and there is a lot of concern locally from those who use it. It needs more passing bays, because the current condition means vehicles need to be able to pull in safety to let others pass.” The motion received the support of Councillor Cooney’s four fellow municipal district members who agreed that action was needed. In a written response to the motion, Senior Executive Engineer (SEE) Niamh Madden said the route …

COMMUNITIES from Feakle to Killaloe are being urged to make themselves aware of the details of a planning application for a 19-turbine windfarm which have just been lodged with An Bord Pleanála. Along with reports detailing the potential impact on the environment and on wildlife habitats on the 749 hectare site, the Coillte application outlines the full specification for the Carrownagowan Windfarm, which is earmarked for the northern slopes of Slieve Bernagh. “I would strongly urge all of the communities of East Clare to make themselves aware of what is proposed,” said Chairperson of the Killaloe Municipal District, Councillor Pat Hayes. “People need to be satisfied about the impact this development might have on the quality of life for this generation and generations to come. People need to inform themselves and make their views known.” Because the project has been designated as ‘strategic infrastructure,’ it has gone directly to the planning appeal’s board. Submissions are being accepted up to February …

AS EVENTS in the War of Independence are commemorated across the country, communities in East Clare are preparing to mark the 100th anniversary of the Glenwood Ambush in the New Year. On January 20, 1921 at about 4pm, a motorised patrol of ten armed Royal Irish Constabulary (RIC) and Black and Tans, travelling from Sixmilebridge to Broadford, approached the back gate of Glenwood House. Waiting for them, concealed behind the walls of the Glenwood estate was a group of approximately 37 armed volunteers, from the East Clare Brigade of the IRA, led by Michael Brennan of Meelick. As the patrol passed by the gates, a fusillade of gunshots struck the patrol. Six RIC and Black and Tans were killed, two were injured and two escaped unhurt. One IRA volunteer was injured. The ambush party then withdrew through the forest and mountains to the East of Glenwood, towards the village of Oatfield. The surviving members of the patrol made their way …