Tag Archives: clare champion

CLARE motorists heading to the beach are being urged to slow down and drive with care as gardaí confirm checkpoints will be in place on roads leading to the coast. Gardaí are also warning drivers that they face a fine and points on their licence if they are found to be driving while using a mobile phone. There were a number of intercept speed checkpoints carried out last weekend on the routes in and out of Clare’s coastal resorts and a number of drivers received fixed charge penalty notices for excessive speed. According to Clare’s Crime Prevention Officer Sergeant Triona these checkpoints will remain in place for the coming weeks. “We want to encourage drivers to be considerate and responsible on the roads and to play their part in keeping each other safe,” she said. “Slow down and always drive within the speed limit and at a speed appropriate to the prevailing conditions. Drivers should pay attention to the speed …

SEVEN people were rescued from a sinking boat on Lough Derg near Mountshannon this week. Lough Derg RNLI, the Irish Coast Guard Search and Rescue Helicopter team Rescue 115 and the Killaloe Coast Guard rescue boat were called to the scene after the alarm was raised in the afternoon. Valentia Coast Guard requested Lough Derg RNLI lifeboat to launch to assist seven people on a 60ft vessel which was taking on water and sinking. Valentia Coast Guard gave lifeboat volunteers coordinates for the vessel, which was at a location south of Mountshannon Harbour on the County Clare shore.   At 2.42pm Lough Derg RNLI lifeboat Jean Spier launched with helm Eleanor Hooker, Owen Cavanagh, Joe O’Donoghue and Ciara Lynch on board. The lifeboat was also carrying its salvage pump. The Irish Coast Guard Search and Rescue Helicopter team, Rescue 115, had taken off from their base at Shannon Airport and the Killaloe Coast Guard Rescue Boat was also launched.   On their way to …

CLARE GAA has been successful in its goal of turning the Cloister car park in Ennis’ town centre into a permanent parking facility. Clare County Council has given the green light to an application for planning permission to a change of use of the site on Lower Abbey Street. Prior to this the location had permission to provide spaces for vehicles only before and after GAA matches and authorised events at Cusack Park. The granting of planning permission paves the way for the site to be used as a commercial car park for both long term and short term parking for members of the public. Local authority planners in assessing the application acknowledged the development of car parking “would be welcome” in the area, helping free up spaces in other parts of the town centre. The site lies within the Ennis town centre Architectural Conservation area and within the immediate vicinity of a number of protected structures including Ennis Friary …

WITH everything from a blissful barbecue in the Burren, to seaweed tastings by the coast, the return of the Clare Food & Drink Fleadh provides an ideal showcase for all that is good about the food and drink scene in The Banner county. County Clare is well renowned as one of the best in Ireland when it comes to producing high-quality artisan food and drink, sparking the establishment of the Clare Food & Drink Fleadh in 2019. This year’s event from July 15 to 17 will feature a wide variety of events catering for foodies and drinks connoisseurs of all tastes. Clare Food & Drink Fleadh co-ordinator Margaret O’Brien said, “It’s great to be back after the disruption of recent years. “We chose July 15 to 17 as our festival dates for 2022 to complement Skoda Ring of Clare cycle event, which is set to attract thousands of participants, their partners and families to Clare.” Clare Food & Drink Festival …

A PROPOSAL to develop housing in Lahinch has been refused planning permission due to inadequate sewage treatment. The local authority stated the development would be “premature” due to a deficiency in sewerage facilities locally and “result in a risk of pollution and would be prejudicial to public health”. John Talty Construction Ltd had applied to Clare County Council for planning permission to construct a development of eight houses, comprising six detached and two semi-detached homes. The proposal included all associated site development works, wastewater pre-treatment and connections to public services at Cill Stuifin, School Road, Attycristora, Lahinch. However in refusing permission Clare County Council stated the proposal would be “premature by reference to the existing deficiency in the provision of sewerage facilities in Lahinch and the period within which this constraint may reasonably be expected to cease”. The planning authority’s decision continued, “It is further considered that the proposed development of eight houses to be served by means of an …

A FREIGHT yard at Ennis Rail Station should be used to provide tourist and student accommodation, helping to alleviate a “critical” shortage of accommodation in the county. That’s according to Councillor Johnny Flynn who believes the freight yard situated at a transport hub with the national rail and bus network could attract students commuting to neighbouring counties during term time, while opening up to tourists in the summer. Speaking at a meeting of the Ennis Municipal District he urged that discussions take place with Clare County Council’s Tourism department, Irish Rail, third level institutes in the Mid West and Failte Ireland to investigate the possibility. The councillor stated that the Clare County Council Tourism Strategy identifies “deficiencies” in Clare tourism offering “including a serious defect in tourist accommodation beds both in Ennis and Clare”. It also identifies poor transport links within the county to countywide tourism attractions in West, North and East Clare, he said. Making the case for tourism …

REPORTS of jet skis doing ‘doughnuts’ on Lough Derg and speeding near Killaloe Bridge has prompted gardaí to warn operators that they have the power to seize a vessel. Clare Crime Prevention Officer Sergeant Triona Brooks outlines, “There have been a number of incidents in Killaloe of jet skis being operated at excessive speeds – up to 60kph near Killaloe Bridge where the speed limit is about 5kph, and also reports of jet ski operators doing ‘doughnuts’. “Under the Maritime Safety Act Gardaí have the power to seize a vessel if it is deemed appropriate action. “Gardaí can require a person operating a craft or remove it from waters in certain circumstances, to stop, board and inspect craft and also have powers of arrest and forfeiture. We would ask people using the lake to be respectful of others and obey the relevant speed limits, be safe and never take risks on the water.”

IN a move that is sure to spark interest with electric vehicle drivers, the Ennis Municipal District has confirmed plans are underway for a small scale pilot project to install on-street chargers later this year. Details of the project, which are subject to funding, were outlined following a request from Mayor of Ennis Councillor Clare Colleran Molloy for information on roll-out plans for the installation of E-charging points for electric vehicles throughout the district. She stated she had been contacted by a number of people locally who are interested in moving to electric cars. Welcoming the plans, Councillor Johnny Flynn suggested the chargers be placed in ‘park and stride’ locations rather than the town centre to ensure “fairly scarce” parking spaces are not taken up for hours by those charging. Responding, Eamon O’Dea, senior executive engineer said from speaking with one of the country’s major operators of electrical chargers there is a need for medium to fast charging outlets. It is …