Tag Archives: clare county council

Cathaoirleach of Clare County Council, John Crowe and the council’s chief executive, Tom Coughlan are in the US this week to meet government and business representatives in a number of cities. The high point of their visit will be when they lead the New York Clare Association down Fifth Avenue in the 2015 St Patrick’s Day Parade on Tuesday. Councillor John Crowe, Cathaoirleach of Clare County Council and Clare County Council Chief Executive Tom Coughlan pose with Boston City Council officials in Boston, .

Applications can now be made for funding under the Community Tourism Initiative for the Diaspora. The initiative, launched last year, builds on the community involvement legacy of The Gathering 2013 and is a joint partnership between Clare County Council, IPB Insurance and Fáilte Ireland. The scheme provides a national fund of €1m to support local community-based events and festivals each year. Last year, 31 local events were supported in Clare, attracting over 1,400 visitors from overseas. Administered locally by Clare County Council, the application process will close on March 31. Interested parties can contact Ailish McMahon, Tourism & Community Department, Clare County Council. Cthaoirleach of Clare County Council, John Crowe said, “We all witnessed the benefits from The Gathering and this scheme gives us an opportunity to build on its legacy. The Community Tourism Initiative allows us to sustain many of the grass roots networks which sprang to life during The Gathering in Clare and sustain an infrastructure of events …

FORTUNE tellers were on the receiving end of councillors’ wrath this week, for parking their camper vans in Lisdoonvarna for the months of August and September. Parking problems in the North Clare town were raised at Tuesday’s meeting of the West Clare Municipal District in Kilkee, when councillors Bill Slattery and Richard Nagle outlined their concerns. “You have traders and you have fortune tellers who take up their positions in the square, along the bog road and remain there for the whole month of September, taking up prime parking spaces,” Councillor Nagle claimed. The Clare Champion contacted a number of fortune tellers for their take on the suggestion that they park up for weeks on end in Lisdoonvarna. However, just one, on the understanding that she remained anonymous, was prepared to comment. “I predict that there will be no issue this year, if we are provided with somewhere to park. However, I also predict bad tidings for anyone who makes …

  Hundreds of Clare businesses will be tuning up to a €30 million windfall next year after Ennis won the right to host the 2016 Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann. Securing the largest traditional music festival in the world for the first time since 1977 will attract an estimated 300,000 visitors to Ennis and neighbouring towns in August 2016, which will in turn provide a multi-million Euro boost in the coffers of local traders. Sligo are hosting the All-Ireland showpiece again in 2015 for a second successive year and local promoters were keen to stage it in 2016. However, after narrowly missing out on winning the right to host the prestigious annual event over the past four years, Ennis was named ahead of Sligo and Drogheda as the host venue for the event at a ceremony in Dublin on Saturday. Clare County Council has welcomed the announcement by the Ardchomhairle of Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann to name Ennis as the host venue from …

The BreastCheck mobile unit has returned to the grounds of Clare County Council in Ennis and is expected to remain at this location until December. On its last visit, close on 7,000 women availed of the free service. “Since BreastCheck first came to Clare in 2010 may lives have been saved by this simple procedure,” Councillor Mary Howard remarked. “These lives have been our mothers, sisters, aunts and cousins. However, it is important to be aware that about 20 men get diagnosed with breast cancer each year also,” she added. The Ennis councillor said women should carry out regular self examinations of their breasts and encouraged eligible participants to attend their appointment. BreastCheck – The National Breast Screening Programme encourages women aged 50 to 64 to avail of their invitation for a free breast mammogram (x-ray) in the mobile digital screening unit in Ennis. It is expected that about 10,000 women will be invited in this round, including approximately 1,800 women who …

Members of the public have just days remaining to have their input into two key strategies aimed at guiding the proper planning and sustainable development of Ennis and County Clare. The public has until this Friday to have their voice heard in relation to the Draft Ennis and Environs Local Area Plan 2015-2021, while a closing date of Monday next is in place for the new Clare County Development Plan 2017-2023. Clare County Council has already held a number of public consultation events in relation to the two separate plans. Cathaoirleach of Clare County Council, John Crowe is advising people to familiarise themselves with the new plan and to consider making a submission during the final week of consultation. Mayor of Ennis, Johnny Flynn said, “The new Ennis Plan will guide the development of the county Capital and its environs in terms of economic development, recreational and community requirements, as well as residential, retail, transport and infrastructural needs.

Áras Contae an Chláir and the O’Connell Monument in Ennis will be illuminated in green light in the days leading up to St Patrick’s Day. Clare County Council is also encouraging businesses and building owners, particularly of high profile well known buildings around the county, to support the initiative by turning their properties green for Ireland’s national holiday. Welcoming the decision to illuminate some of the town’s best-known landmarks, Mayor of Ennis, Johnny Flynn said, “Famous buildings and locations all over the world will be lit up as part of Tourism Ireland’s drive to grow overseas tourism to Ireland. I am delighted Ennis is participating in this initiative and in illuminating the O’Connell Monument and Áras Contae an Chláir. The Clare capital and the people of the county will also be able to showcase their national pride to the world.” Meanwhile, St Patrick’s Day 2015 in Ennis promises to be a major celebration, with large crowds expected on the streets. …

A BID to have the proposed National Diaspora Centre based in Bunratty has come to nothing, after the Government announced  that the project will not go ahead. Clare County Council had worked in partnership with Shannon Heritage and tourism advisers Sherwood and Associates to prepare what it called “an ambitious and detailed bid” for the project, which it wanted to build in Bunratty, which it claimed was an ideal site close to Shannon Airport and the M18 with an established tourism infrastructure. After learning this week that the Government has decided not to proceed with the project, Council Director of Services for Planning, Community, Enterprise and Economic Development Ger Dollard said, “The council has been advised that the process underway for the selection of a National Diaspora Centre has now been terminated. “This is disappointing in that a very detailed proposal had been prepared by the council, supported by Shannon Heritage and the Shannon Group. We will continue to work in …