A GORT student is set to create a storm in the music world having being named a winner in a global song-writing competition. Jenna Coughlan, a sixth year student at Gort Community School is one of six young musicians from across the world to be included on a new album with her award winning song ‘Smoke Storms’. The recording is being released by Future Youth Records, a non-profit record label dedicated to helping youth create and distribute music promoting social justice based in California. In previous years winners of the song-writing competition would have been flown to LA to record their track, however due to Covid-19 this was not possible. Speaking to the Clare Champion, Jenna reveals that she managed to record her song for Think Earth Vol 1 from her very own bedroom in Gort. The Leaving Cert student says, “It would have been a nice experience to over there, but at the same time it’s a busy time …
Read More »All change in Kilkee as Post Office moves to new home
IT is the end of one era – and the beginning of another – in Kilkee with the moving of the coastal town’s post office to brand new location. On Friday, Margaret Keane will retire as post mistress in Kilkee, having worked there for over 50 years, and the town’s stand-alone post office on O’Connell Street will come to a close. However, the postal service is set to continue in the popular seaside resort, moving to another long standing institution of the town, Haugh’s shop on O’Curry Street. The new post office will open its doors in Haugh’s on Tuesday with preparations now being finalised for the unveiling next week. Carmel Muldoon of Haugh’s explained that the retirement of Mrs Keane meant that the operation of the postal service in Kilkee went up for tender, and Haugh’s were delighted to be successful in their application. She stressed the importance of services like the post office to local communities saying, “With …
Read More »Update sought on Clarecastle/Ballyalla link
THE recent announcement of €200,000 funding for a walking and cycling route linking Ennis to Clarecastle has been described as “very positive”, with more funding being sought by the local authority for future projects. Once complete it is intended that people will be able to access the route at Clareabbey, bringing them to the Quin Road. In light of the funding, Councillor Clare Colleran Molloy, at a meeting of the Ennis Municipal District, sought an update on efforts to create a greenway/blueway from Ballyalla to Clarecastle. Eamon O’Dea, Senior Executive Engineer, responded, “The Ennis Municipal District has submitted the “Connecting and Co-creating Ennis” project to the NTA for Active Travel Funding in 2021 with the intention of phasing the works over a number of years. “Some the elements of works identified in the project, will require the completion of the Mobility Plan for Ennis to show the justification for the proposed higher cost works. “The EarthRoute “Banks of the Fergus …
Read More »Estate with 30kph zone is being abused as ‘rat run’
A RESIDENTIAL area of Ennis which had been a pilot location for 30kph speed limit zones is being used as a rat run with “unbelievable” speed. Increasing traffic has lead to local fears of potential accidents in Castlewood Park and residents are seeking the erection of speed ramps at the entrance and exit to their estate. Councillor Mark Nestor highlighted the issue at a meeting of the Ennis Municipal District where senior executive engineer Eamonn O’Dea confirmed a review will be carried out while also stressing the need for driver behaviour change. “Residents are very much concerned that the area is being used as a rat run to get from one estate to a main shopping area of the town quickly,” said Councillor Nestor. He added that the level of on-street parking is adding to the danger. “A lot of residents there don’t have their own driveway and there are quite a lot of children living in the area. “What …
Read More »Efforts to secure school places for all commended
EFFORTS by patrons to ensure a place at second level is made available to all pupils in Ennis and feeder communities have been commended. Deputy Joe Carey praised the “proactive action” of the patrons of Ennis post-primary schools in helping to alleviate parents and children’s stress about the issue. A statement issued by George O’Callaghan, CEO Limerick and Clare Education and Training Board, (LCETB) has said that a virtual meeting of the schools concerned took place recently. The statement was issued on behalf of the school patrons. “The meeting was to review progress on the issue of pupils without school places for the forthcoming academic year at post-primary in Ennis and establish a unified process to address the problem for the school year 2022/2023 and in forthcoming years,” the statement read. Deputy Carey said that this approach will help to alleviate what has been an ongoing issue for several years in Ennis. “In planning ahead on this and seeking to …
Read More »Pleas to get Summerhill works going
SUMMERHILL locals are “beginning to lose their patience” with traffic detours introduced as part of Ennis’ temporary Covid-19 mobility plan. Calls have now been made for planned road improvements at Summerhill to be expedited due to the “inconvenience” residents have endured. A meeting of the Ennis Municipal District heard the job is part of this year’s road works programme, and is dependent on completion dates of improvements to a section of the Parnell Street Public Realm and the Temporary Covid-19 Ennis Town Centre Mobility Management Plan. Mayor of Ennis, Councillor Paul Murphy raised the issue welcoming the inclusion of Summerhill in the roadworks programme and urging that they take place “in as timely a manner as possible”. Seconding the motion, Councillor Clare Colleran Molloy stated, “We are all in agreement that these works should be prioritised. These people have been very patient.” Summerhill residents have “put up enough with traffic going up and down,” said Councillor Pat Daly: “I realise …
Read More »Drain art proves sewer-fire winner with people of Ennis
THE town of Ennis has been making waves with a new artistic initiative which has proven to be anything but a drain. Reports of something fishy happening in the town began to emerge last week, with sightings of sea creatures on Ennis’s streets. While robots and dinosaurs were also spotted hanging around the drains of the county capital. However there was nothing to fear from these colourful creatures which have been the result of a new ‘drainart’ project of public art instigated by Ennis Chamber. The artwork has already proven to be a massive hit, with the hashtag Everybody Loves Ennis, trending as people from around the world shared photos across social media of the designs. The images were shared on RTÉ’s social media, with Margaret O’Brien of Ennis Chamber telling us that according to the national broadcaster it was one of the most positive engagements they had across all their platforms that day. The paintings were created by artists …
Read More »Man arrested and charged in relation to Clare robbery
Gardaí have arrested and charged a man in relation to a robbery in County Clare on April 19. Shortly after 1am a man, armed what is believed to be a handgun and a crowbar entered a shop on Gort Road in Ennis. The man threatened staff and demanded cash from till. One customer in the shop at the time was also threatened. The staff member handed over the contents of the till and the man left then left the shop. No person was injured during the incident. Uniform and detective Gardaí from Ennis Garda Station attended and begun an investigation. A man, aged in his 20s, was then arrested on April 26, 2021. He was brought to Ennis Garda Station where he was detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984. He has since been charged and is due to appear before Ennis District Court this morning. The man is also charged in connection with an attempted burglary …
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