Tag Archives: Castleconnell

A NEW group in Castleconnell, just over the Limerick border, is looking to help women who are recovering from breast cancer by dragonboat racing. An ancient Chinese sport, dragonboat racing dates back over 2,000 years and has been in Ireland since the 1990s. Chairperson of Shannon Dragons, Bríd O’Connell, says it is very helpful for women in recovery. “It’s the upper body movement. It aids recovery and it helps to minimise lymphedema, which is a complication you can have if you’ve had the lymph nodes removed.” Originally from Birdhill, Bríd has close ties to Clare, having gone to school in Killaloe and having a role with Sixmilebridge Scouts Group. She says some women from Clare are already involved with Shannon Dragons but she wants to spread the word a bit. “We have women coming from Shannon and Ennis but we want to reach into the community in Clare; we want women around the county to know about this. We have …

Embrace FARM, the voluntary bereavement support group, has announced it is to establish a Mid-West branch of the network for families affected by fatal and non-fatal accidents. An information night is to be held on Thursday week, April 7 in the Castleoaks Hotel, Castleconnell with a view to establishing a branch for the area. It will be the fifth branch of the support group nationwide and will meet regularly provide invaluable support to families who have had to deal with tragic deaths and serious injury arising from farm incidents. Angela Hogan, from Nenagh will be the Regional Host and bring her own experience of the benefits of participating in a network, having joined the very first support group in the Midlands two years ago to help her deal with the aftermath of her partner Brendan’s death in a tragic accident in 2011. Embrace FARM was founded by Laois farmer Brian Rohan after his fathe,r Liam died following a farm accident …

Gardaí are investigating a fatal road traffic collision that occurred in the townland of Gooig, Castleconnell early on Sunday morning. At approximately 6.15am a pedestrian was struck by a car and was fatally injured. His body has been removed to University Hospital Limerick and a post mortum will take place. The driver of the car was uninjured. Gardaí are seeking any persons who may have travelled in the townland of Gooig or in the vicinity of Daly’s Cross between 6am and 6.30am on Sunday to contact them at Henry Street Garda Station on 061 – 212400 or the Garda Confidential Line 1800 666 111 or any Garda station.

  A 28-year-old man has died in hospital after he was rescued from the River Shannon at Castleconnell, Co Limerick yesterday. Three other men, aged in their 20s and 30s, are being treated for hypothermia at University Hospital Limerick. The man was submerged in water for more than two hours after a fifteen foot aluminium safety boat capsized, plunging him and the three others into the water at “World’s End”, Castleconnell. Four units of Limerick Fire and Rescue assisted in the multi-agency rescue operation, along with the Killaloe Coastguard, Limerick Marine Search and Rescue, the Ambulance Service, Gardaí and the Shannon-based rescue helicopter. When responding emergency crews arrived they found the boat wrapped around a tree in the middle of the raging swell. Some of the men were clinging to the boat while others were stuck on debris along the tree line. Members from the Limerick Fire and Rescue Service entered the river from the shoreline while Killaloe Coast Guard …

The flow of water through Parteen Weir will reduce further to 195 cubic metres per second toda (Friday). This level of water flow will continue to have associated flooding to land and property in the vicinity of the Shannon downstream of Parteen Weir including the areas of Springfield, Montpelier, Castleconnell, Mountshannon (Annacotty) and the University of Limerick. Other areas between Parteen Weir and Limerick may also be vulnerable to flooding due to local issues. ESB is continuing to monitor the situation and is liaising with the relevant local authorities.

The ESB has had to steadily increase  the flow of water down the old River Shannon at Parteen Weir, it was confirmed this morning (Tuesday). This is due to the fact that flood waters along the River Shannon are continuing to rise, having reached Parteen. The flows down the old Shannon River downstream of Parteen Weir have been increased to 375 cumecs (metres cubed per second) this morning, from a rate of 315 cumecs yesterday. As the water in Lough Derg continues to rise, an increase in the level of water flowing down the old River Shannon will be required over the next number of days. This increased volume of water is likely to lead to associated flooding of roads, land and  property in the vicinity of the old River Shannon downstream of Parteen Weir including the areas of Springfield, Montpellier, Castleconnell, Mountshannon (Annacotty) and the University of Limerick. ESB is continuing to monitor and manage the situation and is liaising with …

Limerick City and County Council has been informed by the ESB of plans for further significant releases of water from Parteen Weir. The volume of water planned for release is at a level which is likely to cause flooding of roads and could also potentially affect property in flood-prone locations, according to the council. The areas most at risk of experiencing flooding are Montpelier, Castleconnell and the Mountshannon Road, Lisnagry. The local authority is liaising with householders in these areas that were affected by the 2009 flood and is putting additional measures in place to help alleviate the effects of flooding. At this time, there is no expectation of flooding in Limerick City but the council is monitoring the situation on an ongoing basis. The council is advising property owners in flood-prone locations, and motorists, to exercise vigilance over the coming days. The Council is also calling on property owners and landowners to ensure that drains and gullies on their property …

A PROTEST letter, which included claims about the “detrimental effect Inland Fisheries Ireland’s current regime” is having on recreational angling, was delivered to the organisation’s CEO, Ciaran Byrne, before a recent conference. More than 60 anglers attended the protest, including retired ESB fishery staff and anglers from West Limerick, Kerry and Ennis, before the EU Mulkearlife Conference, at the Castle Oaks House Hotel in Castleconnell. Two security guards manned the gate of the hotel with a crowd barrier, for what the organisers described as a very civilised protest, organised by the Limerick and District Anglers Association (LDAA). Attendees and speakers from Europe came out to talk to the anglers but IFI management stayed out of sight. The LDAA claimed it was completely “snubbed” by both MulkearLife and Inland Fisheries Ireland for this conference. “The association did not even receive a reply or acknowledgement to applications submitted by two of our members to attend, despite being the oldest and largest stakeholder …