Tag Archives: clare

BUS Éireann have announced “significant enhancement” to Clare services and timetables. Funded by the National Transport Authority through the Government’s July Stimulus, it includes a new Sunday service of two round trips between Scariff/Limerick on Route 345 as well as enhancements linking Kilkee directly to Doonbeg and Lahinch by public transport for the first time on Route 336. Route 345 will see an enhanced weekday timetable with three daily round trips, Saturday timetable with three daily round trips up from one and a Sunday service with two round trips from Scariff/Limerick On Route 333 there will be enhanced weekday timetable with four daily round trips, Saturday timetable with four daily round trips a new Sunday timetable with three daily round trips and improved evening frequency. While all services will provide connections at Ennis Bus/Rail Station and wider public transport network Route 336 benefits include an enhanced weekday timetable with six daily round trips, Saturday timetable with six daily round trips, …

WORKS aimed at ending the discharge of untreated sewage into the River Fergus are to begin in the new year, Irish Water have confirmed. Irish Water, working in partnership with Clare County Council, is progressing with works to upgrade the sewerage infrastructure in Clarecastle. This will help eliminate the discharge of untreated wastewater into the River Fergus and the greater Shannon Estuary, bringing significant environmental, social and economic benefits to the area. This project involves the construction of 2.1km of new wastewater pipelines and upgrades to the existing Quay Road wastewater pump station.  The first phase of works involve the construction of 311m of sewer main between Clarecastle Church and Quay Road are due to get underway on January 4, 2021 for a period of five weeks. These works have been brought forward in order to facilitate the Clarecastle Streetscape Rejuvenation Plan which is being supported by Clare County Council, Clarecastle Community Development Committee and the local Tidy Towns group and …

ENNIS Railway Station is on track to being more accessible to people with reduced mobility. A new accessible footbridge crossing with stairs and lift is to open at the station in the start of the new year. This follows a €1 million investment by Iarnód Éireann, enabling people with reduced mobility as well as those with buggies and prams to have better access. Councillor Johnny Flynn, who has been campaigning for the move for 10 years has welcomed the development saying, “I welcome the circa € 1 million investment in wheelchair / buggy / pedestrian lifts and cross track bridge opening after Christmas at Ennis Railway Station. This will make rail transport to and from Ennis  more accessible to all by having accessible use of both platforms at all times and improve travel times by eliminating current occasional delays of up to 15 mins when simultaneous safe wheelchair user access is required from platform 1 to both Galway and Limerick …

THE West Coast Motorcycle Club have revved up behind plans for the creation of a sensory memorial garden at St Clare’s School in Ennis. While Covid-19 has seen many charitable events cancelled this year, the annual Toy Run by the West Coast Motorcycle Club went ahead earlier this month raising an amazing €2,000 for St Clare’s. John Murphy of the motorcycle club said they were delighted to be able to once again do the toy run for St Clare’s “even in these different times”. He explained the reason behind the event was “simply to give back something to those who need it most”. He added, “The school are raising funds to establish a sensory memory garden as a thoughtful tribute to all the young people and members of St Clare’s community who have sadly passed away over the years. This will be a quiet reflective place where one can be comforted and inspired.” John expressed appreciation to everybody who supported …

GARDAÍ in Clare have issued a number of safety tips for this Christmas. In relation to Covid-19 gardaí advise that every contact counts. “If you must meet up this Christmas keep your contacts to a minimum, wear a mask if you can’t stay two metres apart and follow the HSE guidelines for your safety and others,” says Crime Prevention Officer Sergeant Triona Brooks. However, the advice is not confined to Covid safety. “Drink alcohol responsibly and if you are going out plan your night, tell someone where you are going and when you’ll be back. Don’t walk home alone but if you have to walk in well-lit areas,” she urges. People are being reminded to take care when carrying your handbag and phone, keep handbags zipped and don’t put a wallet in your back pocket. “Only take out as much money as you need at ATMs and cover your pin,” she says. Other advice includes not leaving shopping on view …

FOUR out of ten cars examined as part of Operation Curb in Clare this month were found to be “dangerously defective”, according to gardaí. Gardaí from the Divisional Roads Policing Unit in Clare carried out Operation Curb on December 12 last. Crime Prevention Officer Sergeant Triona Brooks explains, “The purpose of Operation Curb is to detect and educate road users in relation to road safety and the dangers of modifying cars over the legal limit.” She confirmed a total of ten cars were examined by the PSV inspector, “four of which were found to be dangerously defective. One car, which has recently failed its NCT more than once, was found to have a major defect with its steering rod whilst another car had oversized wheels which would hit the wheel arch when turning.  This affects steering and braking and also causes excessive wear and tear on the tyres. It also causes spray and debris to be thrown back onto following …

SUPERMACS managing director Pat McDonagh has said the granting of planning permission for a new Barack Obama plaza-style motorway service station on the outskirts of Ennis “will be a huge boost” to the county capital. Clare County Council have given the green light to the €10 million development adjacent to Junction 12 of the M18 at Kilbreckan, Doora which is set to create 120 jobs. This was the fast-food chain’s fourth application to develop the service station at this location. Reacting to the granting of planning permission for the development, Mr McDonagh said the decision is affirmation of the commitment of the local authority to the people of Clare. He said Supermac’s will do, “everything to respond generously in job creation and all it takes to ensure that this development will contribute significantly over decades to the economic and social development of Ennis and the whole county”. He said there is “no substitute for tangible investment and that the creation of …

AHEAD of the ‘Longest Night’ of December 21, Samaritans Ennis and Clare are reminding those in need that their helpline will be open during their darkest hours if they are lonely or struggling to cope this Christmas. Volunteers on the 24-hour-helpline answered almost 40,000 calls in Ireland in December last year, with more than 50 volunteers answering over 1,150 calls and written contacts on Christmas Day alone. Landmarks across Ireland and Ennis and Clare are lighting up in green to mark the Longest Night, to show people Samaritans are here for them during the long dark nights. Áras Contae an Chláir and Samaritans Centre, Sunville in Ennis are among those turning green on Monday, December 21, the winter solstice, to support Samaritan’s Christmas campaign. We are calling on local businesses and others to do the same. Margaret MacMahon Director of Ennis Samaritans, said, “It has been an unprecedented year with the pandemic affecting so many people’s health and wellbeing and …