Tag Archives: clare

ENNIS is thriving as the social and cultural hub of County Clare and the retail offer in the town centre is robust, a Clare County Council survey has claimed. The Council’s Planning Department conducted an Ennis Town Centre Retail Health Check in September 2021 surveying the ground floor use of units in Ennis town centre. The results of the Health Check were compared with the results from previous years, to allow for comparisons to be drawn and patterns to be identified. The findings from the Ennis Town Centre Retail Health Check 2021 illustrate that retail and retail services account for 35% of the total ground floor use of buildings within the town centre, and leisure services such as restaurants, public houses and gyms encompass 12% of the ground floor usage in Ennis. These findings indicate that Ennis is thriving as the commercial, social and cultural hub of the county. Financial and business services are also well established in the town, accounting for 7.3% of the ground floor usage …

A NORTH Clare student has showcased his skills and scooped a national award. Shane Price, who attends Ennistymon Vocational School, has been named a winner in the 2022 Career Skills Competition. Shane came first place in the Transition Year category of the competition with an impressive career investigation on Computer Programming – Artificial Intelligence and an essay detailing his work experience in a health pharmacy. The aim of the competition is to encourage independent career research among second level students and to foster awareness around the importance of career skills, which can be developed as a result of completing a work experience placement. Shane tells us he “found the whole experience amazing”. He explains, “The competition was all about writing an essay of having a critical view of skills required for careers observed in work experience and the second part of the essay required you to do your own research into another career that you do not have any work experience in. “It requires you …

WOMEN are often driven by a sense of social injustice as a pathway to politics and more women need to support each other as allies in a bid to bring about a cultural shift. That was one of the key messages from the ‘Promoting Gender Equality & Diversity in Local Government’ event hosted by Clare County Council and See Her Elected in glór, Ennis last week. Madeleine Taylor Quinn, the first female TD for County Clare and one of the first women elected to the council in 1979 was the keynote speaker at the event.  She said that finance and childcare issues are still some of the major barriers for women entering politics as well as a lack of maternity leave for county councillors. “My first child was only two weeks old when I got a call to say you better be in Dublin tomorrow for a vote of the Government could fall- imagine being put under that sort of …

DOG owners risk losing thousands of euros in damages claims if their pet is left uncontrolled and causes an accident on the road, the county’s dog warden Frankie Coote has warned saying, “You could lose your house if there was a serious accident”. The stark reminder comes as Éilís Neville, chairperson of the Clare Ladies Cycling Club reveals two of the club’s members have been hurt in recent weeks following incidents involving dogs. According to Mr Coote a dog must be on its owners property unless it is with the owner or a responsible person and under control. He is aware of successful large claims for compensation by people injured on the road as a result of an uncontrolled dog. “There are dogs that chase bikes, dogs that just walk out and even dogs just outside on the road sleeping, but if a dog is outside the property and if there are any injuries or damage caused by them, then the …

THE Yellow Brick Road leads to glór theatre in Ennis this week as the Dinan School of Ballet hosts their annual production, which this year will see all proceeds donated to Milford Care Centre.   The school’s annual summer show makes a welcome, post-pandemic return, with Over the Rainbow, their own unique adaption of the classic tale of The Wizard of Oz. The two performances, on Wednesday, May 25 and Thursday, May 26, bring the talents of students of all ages to the fore with a brilliant mix of dance and drama, creative choreography, colourful costumes and quirky characters, and a guarantee of something for all the family.   Now in its 35th year, the Dinan School of Ballet, founded and run by Niamh Dinan, has, with the exception of over the course of the pandemic, produced a school show every year since 1988. This year will be of particular importance to the entire school community with all proceeds from the shows being donated to support the invaluable …

Munster Senior Hurling Championship Round 5 Clare 3-31 Waterford 2-22 CLARE deservedly soared to the summit of the Munster Senior Championship table after producing a spectacular finale to decimate the Deise in Cusack Park Ennis this afternoon, reports Eoin Brennan. Having qualified for the Munster Final with a game to spare, Brian Lohan made six changes for their final group outing against a Waterford side desperate to stay afloat in the championship. However, a new-look Clare gelled with immediate effect as eleven different scorers allowed the hosts to lead comfortably from start to finish and soar as much as twenty points clear at one stage of the second half. Central to the latest command performance was the scoring feats of the untrackable David Fitzgerald (2-3), the tireless work-rate of Peter Duggan (0-8) and a classy yet clinical display from Shane O’Donnell (0-5) who combined for 2-16 of their side’s handsome tally. There were debuts for Cian Nolan, Aaron Fitzgerald and …

All-Ireland Premier Junior Camogie Championship Round 1 Clare 4-17 Mayo 0-7 A buoyant Clare stormed into their latest bid for All-Ireland Premier Junior Camogie silverware when brushing aside the challenge of newcomers Mayo in Cusack Park this afternoon, writes Eoin Brennan. Fresh from being crowned Munster Junior champions eight days earlier, the Banner’s second string weathered the expected Mayo storm that was backed by a strong gale, with a 1-5 unanswered rally entering the second quarter effectively turning the tide. Shauna Canny converted a superb solo goal in the 19th minute while debutant Aoife Anderson also finished the opening half with an impressive three point haul to move 1-8 to 0-5 clear by the break. With the conditions to come, the second period was disappointedly one-sided as an early Regan Conway deflated any remaining defiance in the recently crowned National League Division 4 winners. Further final quarter goals through Olivia Phelan and Abby Walsh completed the impressive opening contest that …

DRIVERS are “taking risks every single day” at a notorious road junction in Ennis, with one councillor likening it to “Russian Roulette”. The frustrations of residents on the Shanaway Road who are awaiting road safety improvements were highlighted at a recent meeting of the Ennis Municipal District. An update from the roads design team on any progress made regarding the exit from Shanaway road onto Lahinch Road was sought by Councillor Mark Nestor following contact from residents. The meeting was told by council officials that designs for Active Travel Measures are being developed. Michael O’Grady, Executive Engineer, stated, “The Road Design Office have recently completed a topographical survey of the N85 from Claureen roundabout to the start of the speed limit zone, conceptual design options for Active Travel Measures are being developed for this area, the Shanaway Road junction is being incorporated in these designs.” Councillor Nestor acknowledged the response and welcomed the survey however he continued, “that’s all well …