Tag Archives: clare champion

OUTGOING Ennis Municipal District Councillor Johnny Flynn has resigned as a member of the Fine Gael party he has confirmed. In correspondence to Clare Fine Gael seen by The Clare Champion the Ennis councillor stated he is resigning his membership of the party as “it has been made apparent over the last week that the two current Ennis Municipal District Fine Gael councillors and other sitting  Fine Gael councillors  continue to fully support what I consider to be  destructive Council and Ennis 2040 DAC plans for Ennis town centre. This is despite that all councillors, including Fine Gael ones,  recieved written confirmation last October that a petition signed by 3,700 people was handed into the council opposing the plans.” Councillor Flynn, who announced earlier this year he would not be seeking re-election, said he intends to continue to work and campaign as an independent citizen against the “controversial plans of the Council to hand over ownership/control to a private company  Ennis 2040 …

A MAN in his twenties has been killed in a road crash in South Galway after the quad bike he was driving collided with a tractor. Emergency services were called to the scene of the fatal road traffic collision which occurred on Sunday at approximately 1.15pm on the R353 in Derrybrien, Gort. The driver of the quad bike was fatally injured as a result of this collision. His body was removed from the scene to University Hospital Galway for a post-mortem examination. No other injuries were reported following this collision. The R353 (Gort to Portumna road) was closed to traffic following the incident and local diversions put in place. Gardaí are appealing to anyone who may have witnessed this collision to contact them. “Any road users who may have camera footage (including dash-cam) and were travelling in the vicinity of Gort, Loughrea and Derrybrien this afternoon, between 12.15pm and 1.15pm, are asked to make this footage available to Gardaí. “Anyone …

GARDAÍ in Ennis are appealing for witnesses to come forward following a “serious” assault in Clarecastle at the weekend. An investigation has been launched into a number of incidents that occurred in the village on the afternoon of Sunday, April 14. Shortly before 1pm, it’s reported two men entered a retail premises and assaulted two males before fleeing the scene in a car. One of the injured males, aged in his 20s, is currently being treated for serious injuries in hospital. The other injured male, a youth in his late teens, received treatment in hospital for non-life threatening injuries and has since been released. A female in her 50s was also injured during the course of this incident and is receiving hospital treatment for non-life threatening injuries. The scene is preserved and a technical examination is being conducted. An Incident Room at Ennis Garda Station has been established and an investigation is continuing. Gardaí are appealing for any witnesses to …

DATES for public engagement events on Ennis 2040 plans for the development of the Post Office Field have been announced. Clare County Council together with Ennis 2040 DAC is inviting residents and stakeholders in Ennis to come along to public drop-in events as part of the Post Office Field development public consultation. According to a spokesperson for Ennis 2040 the dates have been scheduled “to allow members of the public to view the plans that are in development and meet in person with the project team.” The public engagement drop-in events are taking place at the Civic Room, Waterpark Campus, Drumbiggle Road, Ennis (Eircode V95 RR72) on: Wednesday, April 24 from 6pm to 8pm; and Thursday, April 25 from 5pm to 7pm. The proposed development will consist of an elevated boardwalk designed around river biodiversity, habitat and wildlife.  The boardwalk will also provide connectivity and spectacular views of the town’s historic heritage and create a new destination for people to meet …

INVESTIGATIONS are ongoing after gardaí seized €15,500 worth of suspected drugs along with cash and designer goods during a search in Ennis over the weekend. The search was carried out following the arrest by gardaí attached to Ennis Garda Station of a motorist who failed to stop when instructed on Saturday afternoon. “During the follow-up operation, including searches under warrant of a residential property in Ennis, approximately €15,500 worth of suspected cocaine and cannabis were seized, awaiting forensic analysis. Additionally, a sum of cash and a quantity of designer goods were confiscated,” confirmed a garda spokesperson. The arrested individual, a male in his 20s, was subsequently detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984, at a Garda Station in County Clare. He has since been released without charge, and a file will be prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions.

ENNIS 2040 developments are predicted to create over 200 long term jobs and result in €3.5 million of new economic activity in the Clare economy annually. The Ennis 2040 DAC, in collaboration with Clare County Council, has released details of an Economic Impact Assessment examining the transformative potential of a proposed €48 million investment in four strategic town centre sites – Abbey Street Car Park, Harvey’s Quay, Post Office Field, and a brownfield site on Francis Street. The economic impact analysis was undertaken by AECOM and according to Kevin Corrigan, COO, Ennis 2040 DAC the study, “showcases the tremendous potential and wide-ranging benefits” of the proposed developments with “far reaching positive effects” for the town and county. The construction phase is projected to create 526 short term jobs, “providing a substantial and immediate boost” to the local job market.  Beyond construction, the completed projects are expected to generate over 200 long term jobs, contributing an additional €3.5 million annually to the Clare economy.  The proposed …

THERE is “amazing interest” in next week’s arrival to Ennis of a portrait inspired by the courage of Vicky Phelan, according to local organisers of the event. The Vicky Phelan portrait tour featuring a painting of the Kilkenny woman on Clare’s Doonbeg beach, a location she described as her favourite place on earth, will visit Danlann An Chláir on Friday January 26 at 7pm. The event is hosted by Councillor Mary Howard in partnership with Clare Haven Services and Relay For Life Clare. As well as the display of the painting guest speakers on the night will include Vicky’s childhood friend David Brennan who bought the painting along with Clare healthcare campaigners John Wall and Caoimhe O’Neill- Forde. “Since we announced this very different event a couple of weeks ago there has been amazing interest in it. Vicky’s strength and frankness really struck a chord with so many people who admired her from afar, and this is an opportunity to …

TWO men have been arrested by gardaí as investigations continue into a shooting incident and criminal damage in North Clare at the weekend. Gardaí have confirmed the arrests were made on Monday and the men detained at Ennis Garda Station under Section 30 Offences against the State Act. Gardaí at Ennistymon Garda Station are investigating a number of incidents including a discharge of a firearm and criminal damage that occurred in Ennistymon on Sunday. A man in his 50s was taken to hospital for treatment after a firearm was discharged in the Deepark area of the North Clare village. Sergeant Triona Brooks outlined, “Shortly after 6pm, a number of persons were in the Deerpark area of Ennistymon in possession of a number of weapons including at least one firearm. Extensive damage was caused to a number of domestic residences and vehicles. “A firearm was also discharged and a man in his 50s was later taken to University Hospital Galway with …