Tag Archives: clare

IRISH Red Cross members in the Clare area have recorded 3,240 voluntary hours since the beginning of Covid-19.   The dedicated volunteers in the county’s four branches have been busier than ever since the beginning of the pandemic, despite Covid-related restrictions curtailing many of their usual duties. In the wake of national volunteering week last week, the Irish Red Cross are asking the people of Clare to consider becoming an Irish Red Cross volunteer to help support the vulnerable in their community.   James Lafferty, Ennis Branch Community Support Officer, says that while there was an influx of volunteers during Ireland’s first lockdown, many of those volunteers have since returned to their day jobs and don’t have as much time to deliver groceries, collect prescriptions or transport people to routine appointments.    “I know some people think you need special skills to be a volunteer but every pair of hands is appreciated and drivers with a D license are especially needed at the moment to help with transporting people …

IT was music to the ears of Bunratty farmer Joe Melody to discover that he has been named Clare Macra Young Farmer of the Year. Having come on top at the county rounds, Joe will now go on to represent Clare in the 2020 Macra na Feirme FBD Young Farmer of the Year competition. Joe runs both a dairy and beef enterprise. The Clare native milks a herd of 139 Holstein-cross British Friesian cows, along with a pedigree herd of Charolais and Limousin cows. In 2015, Joe was milking 75 cows and since then have expanded and are now milking 139 cows; however, the hope is to go further again and milk around 160-170 cows in the near future. Explaining the expansion of the dairy enterprise over the last few years, Joe said, “We bought a lot of breeding stock, from a local farmer, such as in-calf cows and heifers, as well as breeding our own replacements. At the moment, …

FUNDING to pilot a trial introduction of communication boards at amenity sites in the county is to be sought in response to calls from an Ennis councillor. Councillor Ann Norton, at the monthly meeting of Clare County Council urged that the local authority put up the boards in locations such as John O’Sullivan Park (Lee’s Road). She explained that the boards use photographs or symbols and support those who may find it difficult to express themselves including people with disabilities, limited language skills and elderly people. Siobhán McNulty, acting director of social development responded, “The installation of communication boards would be a welcome addition to Clare County Councils amenity sites and in this regard we will seek a funding stream to pilot a site and trial this initiative. That said the premise of these boards is that they are interactive and given current Covid-19 restrictions we would not be in a position to commence a pilot at this time. We …

THE concerns of residents in Ennis’ Turnpike about speeding motorists have resulted in plans to develop traffic calming measures. Members of the Ennis Municipal District have agreed to a plan to install traffic calming ramps at the Turnpike Road and Limerick Road. The works include the removal of an existing traffic calming ramp; refurbishment of two existing traffic calming ramps; installation of five new ramps and the provision of all associated signage and road markings. A report furnished to members of the Ennis Municipal District outlines that the traffic calming measures are proposed “due to a number of concerns raised by residents in the area about traffic speeding and traffic volumes”. Following surveys a design was prepared in accordance with the Road Traffic Act, 1994 and associated Regulations, the Traffic Management Guidelines and the Design Manual for Urban Roads and Streets. Four submissions were received in relation to the proposals, including one by Councillor Johnny Flynn. The councillor outlined his …

THE 2019 accounts for Roche Ireland have been filed, which show it recorded a loss of over €8.8 million for the year, as it proceeds towards its closure. The Director’s Report states that, “Ninety seven per cent of Roche Ireland employees were made redundant by May 2020 and the company has transitioned from a manufacturer to a construction site commencing the decontamination and demolition works in 2020, which will continue until 2023.” It said the pandemic has not made much difference to its plans. “The Covid-19 pandemic did not have a significant impact on the project progress. While the Clarecastle site was in a six-week lockdown, the project sub-teams responsible for developing both the regulatory applications and tender package were working remotely to ensure the scheduled timelines were met. No additional costs are expected as a result of the lockdown.” The parent company is providing finance for the closure. “The company continues to receive funding on an ongoing basis from …

A SERIES of smartphone classes for older people in a number of libraries across Clare will begin at the end of September. The daytime classes will take place in the libraries in Ennis, Shannon, Scariff, Kilkee and Ennistymon. The four-week programme will include a session on Zoom video conferencing and the WhatsApp platform so that participants can learn how to connect with others and how to avail of online classes and activities. The tutor-led classes will be of two hours’ duration and will take place in the mornings or afternoons. Numbers at the classes are limited due to current restrictions. The classes are specifically for those who do not have a smartphone or have just recently received one. Karen Fennessy, Age Friendly Development Officer for Clare County Council, has advised that many older people felt isolated when cocooning during Covid-19 restrictions. Other Council staff on the Clare Covid-19 community response helpline also noted requests for service provision for older people, …

THE number of houses being bought and sold in Clare has been lower since the pandemic struck, but prices appear to be fairly stable. Covid-19 became a part of life during March, but sales held up in that month, with 111 transactions filed in Clare, compared to 110 filed in March of the previous year. However, in April the figure was at 81 compared to 102 in April of 2019. In May, the figure was down to 63, compared to 91 in April of 2019. The June figure was 82, down from 110 in the sme month last year, while in July it was 83, compared to 119 in July 2019. While the volume of sales may have dropped, the mean and median prices don’t seem to have been impacted on very much, being relatively stable according to the figures, which are provided by the CSO. The most recent month for which statistics are available is July and at that …

TOO many people with disabilities are on “permanent lockdown” due to access issues, according to Ann Marie Flanagan, disability rights activist ahead of this Friday’s return of Clare’s ‘Make Way Day’. Cathaoirleach of Clare County Council, Councillor Mary Howard, will host representatives and guest speakers from a number of disability organisations such as Clare Leader Forum, Shine and the Irish Wheelchair Association in a virtual meeting on ‘Make Way Day’ this Friday at 11am. This year’s event will ensure that the voices of people with disabilities are heard as they raise awareness around access issues in public spaces from their lived experience of disability. Welcoming this year’s event, Councillor Howard said, “Everyone has a role to play in Make Way Day and it is so important that people with disabilities have this opportunity to inform the public about the impact obstacles and access issues have on them as they navigate public spaces in their daily lives. The majority of these …