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Tag Archives: clare

“They have to put on their Clare jersey”

WITH a range of challenges mounting for Clare, there was disappointment this week, as not only was the county denied a seat at the Cabinet table, there won’t even be a representative from the wider Mid-West Region. Cathaoirleach of Clare County Council Mary Howard said that while ability should be the first criteria, the lack of West of Ireland representation in the new Cabinet is striking. “The other night, when you looked at the map and there wasn’t a senior minister from Donegal down to Limerick, it wasn’t a nice thing to see. I’m hoping that the west of Ireland will have the majority of the junior ministries now. “It was glaring when you saw there was two ministers in Wicklow, three in Cork, six in Dublin and nothing at all from Donegal down to Limerick.” At the moment the Mid-West’s health services are a shambles, Shannon Airport seems to lurch from crisis to crisis, while there are fears that …

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Racist language in online video

THREE young Clare people, two males and a female, have faced an online backlash after a video was posted in which racist language was used. The video, which is just a few seconds long, has been shared widely on social media in recent days. The two males involved posted messages on social media subsequently, in which they apologised for their conduct. St Caimin’s Secondary School in Shannon posted a message on its Twitter account subsequently, in which it distanced itself from the behaviour seen on the video. “We have been made aware of a video in which a group of young people use an abhorrent racial term. “In St Caimin’s, we teach our students about the hurt and harm caused by such language. Racism is not tolerated in our school and we are committed to upholding our anti-racist ethos.” However, a number of people, some of whom said they were past pupils, subsequently replied to criticise the school, while some …

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Another day without a Covid case in Clare

While 11 new cases of Covid-19 have been recorded in the last 24 hours, none were detected in Clare. Consequently, it is all of 19 days since the latest person in the county was diagnosed with the virus. The Health Protection Surveillance Centre was informed that one person with Covid-19 has died and there has now been a total of 1,736 Covid-19 related deaths in Ireland. As of midnight Monday, the HPSC has been notified of 11 confirmed cases bringing to 25,473 the number of confirmed cases of the virus in Ireland. Over the past week, 24,607 tests were carried out and 116 tests were positive, giving a positivity rate of 0.5%. Dr. Tony Holohan, Chief Medical Officer, Department of Health, said; “Today marks six months since the WHO first received reports of what we now know to be Covid-19. Since then, there have been 10 million cases and 500,000 deaths reported worldwide. “We know more about this virus and …

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United front needed to fight domestic tourism battle

With international travel effectively grounded, those involved in the tourism sector in Clare will find themselves in a dogfight with established tourist centres like Killarney and Kilkenny for their slice of the domestic market. Tourism consultant Cillian Murphy believes that the whole tourism year in Clare will hinge on the domestic market and there should be a unified approach between all the stakeholders so that Clare is able to compete. However, he also feels that Clare will be fighting an uphill battle in consequence of Shannon Heritage’s decision to “lock up shop” and close its major tourist attractions from the end of August. “There’s only the one game in town and that is the domestic market. I’d imagine we will see some bit of business from Northern Ireland and maybe the UK. But inconsequential is how I would label international travel this year,” he suggests. Tourism interests in Clare will have to bring their A game in their endeavours to …

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European cycling route expands into Clare

Funding of €182,000 recently allocated by Minister Shane Ross will extend the EuroVelo cycling route into County Clare. EuroVelo 1 stretches from Norway to Portugal via Ireland and targets long-distance cyclists but also provides routes for users of all abilities as the criteria for inclusion specify lower-trafficked roads as well as Greenways. The route forms part of a network of 17 long-distance cycle routes throughout Europe and it enters County Clare via counties Galway and Limerick. The route in Clare is approximately 317km long and comprises six daily sections, that is sections which typically can be cycled in one day. In some parts the route ties into cycle routes already in operation, for example, the Doolin and Loop Head cycle routes. The roll out of the route will include the provision of EuroVelo signage, bike repair stands, information boards and cycle racks. Carmel Kirby, Director of Physical Development, Clare County Council, said: “This project will be a stimulus for economic …

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No Covid case in Clare in 18 days

Clare has gone 18 consecutive days without a confirmed Covid-19 case but on a national scale 24 additional cases were diagnosed. To date, 1,735 lives have been claimed as a result of Covid-19 in the Republic of Ireland. The Department of Health have stated that nobody has died in the last 24 hours from the virus. However, an additional 24 cases have been notified to the Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC). It comes on the day after the lowest amount of daily confirmed cases in June were recorded and brings to 25,462 the total amount of individuals to have tested positive. Dr Tony Holohan, Chief Medical Officer, Department of Health, said: “We are starting to see a worrying trend, with the number of reported cases increasing, and some new clusters. As restrictions are lifted and people move about more, it’s important that we use the tools that have helped us suppress the virus to date. “Hand washing, physical distancing, cough/sneeze …

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Mary Howard elected Cathaoirleach of Clare County Council

AN emotional Mary Howard was this afternoon elected Cathaoirleach of Clare County Council, while her Fine Gael colleague Pat Burke was elected Leas Cathaoirleach. Both positions are essentially ceremonial, with the Cathaoirleach expected to represent the Council at a wide variety of events, while also chairing meetings of the local authority, while the Leas Cathaoirleach will deputise for her over the coming year. Councillor Howard said she was hugely honoured with her election. “To represent my county and its citiens is a lifelong dream and to be here now is humbling, exhilarating and a wonderful privilege,”she told this afternoon’s council meeting. She was very emotional as she paid tribute to the impact her late parents had upon her. “My late parents were firm believers in hard work as well as family, community, public service, playing ones part and contributing to ones home place,” said the Ennis woman, Councillor Burke said he believed it was the first time ever Fine Gael …

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Shannon Group issues State aid plea

SHANNON Airport is to resume passenger services next week, while it has sought a range of supports, as it faces tough new realities. In a submission made by Shannon Group to the State’s Aviation Recovery Taskforce, it has sought “significant and effective funding” to help restore important routes. Shannon has also sought a two-year waiver from commercial rates, for the wage subsidy scheme for aviation/tourism to continue until at least March 2021 and a regionally targeted marketing support scheme to challenge Dublin’s dominance. In addition, Shannon has sought changes to national aviation policy, including a request that the Government designate it Ireland’s dedicated location for commercial transit operations. It has also made a request that consideration be given to providing support to a link between Shannon and a major European hub. While Shannon is to reopen with a number of Ryanair services next week, Aer Lingus have already temporarily laid off all of their workers at the airport and some …

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