Tag Archives: Clare Leader

WORK on laying the tartan track for the new Derg AC €500,000 multi-generational community facility started earlier this week. Set in idyllic surroundings in Clarisford Park, Killaloe, this impressive new development will provide athletics and leisure facilities for everyone including people with disabilities. Derg Athletic Club chairperson, Deirdre Coleman outlined that the committee and numerous volunteers are working on this project almost on a full time basis over the last four years. “This is a community training facility for everyone. It is not a competition facility. People of all ages can use it for walking or jogging. “The project started the day that lockdown ended. That was a huge decision to start a project in the middle of such uncertainty. “It is a facility that people will use even more because of Covid-19. It has taken us four years to bring this project to fruition. We are delighted to see that four years of hard work by everyone is paying …

FRUSTRATION has continued to build amongst people with disabilities due to the lack of action on firm commitments made by Government across all parties, according to Clare Leader Forum chairman Dermot Hayes. As a result, M Hayes said, “Due to the level of apathy shown by TDs, the Clare Leader Forum has taken the difficult decision to picket the offices of all Clare- based TDs from this Thursday afterenoon.” Continuing, Mr Hayes said, “The reality is that thousands of people with disabilities are living in poverty. Research has continually laid bare this fact including the ERSI report, Nevin Economic Institute, and research by the Government’s own National Disability Authority, of which one of the Clare Leader Forum participants is a sub-committee member.” Mr Hayes said the decision to commence this action has not been taken lightly. However the Clare Leader Forum believe that people with disabilities have been left with little option, given the decision by Government to continue to …

THE enterprise and vision that transformed unused farmland into a state-of-the-art €2 million recreational park in Killaloe has been officially recognised with a national award. Clarisford Limited scooped a runner-up award in the national Pride of Place Community Innovation category at a function in Treacy’s West County Hotel, Ennis on Saturday night. Members of the group from Killaloe and Ballina were presented with a statuette and a €500 cheque for displaying great community innovation. Spearheaded by former Lions and Irish rugby star, Keith Wood, Clarisford Park was set up to provide a home for Lough Derg FC, Killaloe Ballina RFC and the local scouts group. The dream of providing a new recreational area for the local community became a reality due to funding from the Keith Wood Foundation, Clare LEADER, sports capital grants and the three anchor tenants clubs, who contributed about 10% of the overall cost. In fact, it has totally exceeded initial plans and expectations, with more than …

By Dan Danaher RURAL development funding, worth an estimated €14.7 million for community projects throughout Clare, will be on hold for at least two years, Clare Local Development Company has warned. While the budget for the next Clare Leader programme is still not finalised in advance of the tendering process, chief executive officer, Doirin Graham estimates Clare should get at least €10 million, out of a total amount of €250 million, based on the population size and rural nature of the county. Stating the last grant approval for a Clare project was made last summer, Ms Graham said the best-case scenario is that funding will be made available from mid-2015. Ms Graham also warned that €200,000 of grant aid would be lost to the county, unless Environment Minister Phil Hogan allows the non-for-profit company to reallocate any unspent funds in 2014. Clare Leader estimates the total loss for the county will be €14.7 million, as every €5 million in rural …