Tag Archives: Clarecastle

GARDAÍ in Ennis are appealing for witnesses to come forward following a “serious” assault in Clarecastle at the weekend. An investigation has been launched into a number of incidents that occurred in the village on the afternoon of Sunday, April 14. Shortly before 1pm, it’s reported two men entered a retail premises and assaulted two males before fleeing the scene in a car. One of the injured males, aged in his 20s, is currently being treated for serious injuries in hospital. The other injured male, a youth in his late teens, received treatment in hospital for non-life threatening injuries and has since been released. A female in her 50s was also injured during the course of this incident and is receiving hospital treatment for non-life threatening injuries. The scene is preserved and a technical examination is being conducted. An Incident Room at Ennis Garda Station has been established and an investigation is continuing. Gardaí are appealing for any witnesses to …

The 1968 Clare Rose was one of a bunch of 27 former Rose of Tralee winners who marched in the New York St Patrick’s Parade last Saturday. Clarecastle woman, Eileen Slattery Mostafa teamed up with her sister roses when the 1994 Rose, Muirne Hurley Goode, put out a call on their WhatsApp group. Battling breast cancer at the time, the Limerick woman had a dream to march in the famous parade, and the roses stepped up to the plate to help her realise it. The current Rose of Tralee, New York rose, Róisín Wiley, along with many of the 2023 contestants and escorts also participated in the event. “The seed was sown by our lovely 1994 Rose. She had the idea to live out a life long desire to walk in this special parade on St Patrick’s Day,” Eileen told The Clare Champion this week. “Courageous Muirne sent out the word to her fellow rose sisters. The response was amazing …

A GOAL to develop a new community and recreation park, including a full sized all-weather playing pitch and walking track and trails, is being realised in Clarecastle. Clarecastle Community Amenity Company have turned the sod on the park which will be located on lands donated by Clarecastle GAA. The park is part of a wider phased programme of development that will include a spectator viewing area, floodlighting and female changing rooms. It will feature the first full-sized all-weather pitch in County Clare. At the sod turning, Tadg Collins, chairman of the Clarecastle Community Amenity Company said, “Today is the culmination of a number of years’ work to develop a facility that has been long identified by members of our community as filling a gap in terms of facilities for young and old. It will provide a community resource that we hope will encourage more year-round physical activity and participation in a safe environment. Our partnership approach with Clarecastle GAA provides …

VOLUNTEERS who cleaned up a well known Clare landmark were shocked to discover that just hours later bags of rubbish were dumped again. Clarecastle Tidy Towns volunteers have been striving to keep Clareabbey litter free, however a meeting of the Ennis Municipal District heard this week that their efforts have been undermined by illegal dumping. Calls are being made by Ennis councillors for the introduction of CCTV in locations where fly-tipping and illegal dumping have become an issue. Councillor Paul Murphy praised the work of the Clarecastle volunteers, saying he believes that CCTV could act as a deterrent against dumping rubbish. The issue of littering was highlighted at the meeting by Councillor Ann Norton who pointed out that illegal dumping “is a crime” which can result in fines or being brought to court. She stressed the importance of ‘no dumping’ signs as a visible reminder and asked for a review of the number of signs on roads, and that the …

A WOMAN was knocked down and injured in Clarecastle, sparking calls for action to be taken on a “dangerous junction” in the village. A meeting of the Ennis Municipal District last week heard Councillors Paul Murphy and Tom O’Callaghan voice their fears for public safety at the junction where three roads meet. Councillor Murphy proposed that a Road Safety application be prepared and submitted “as soon as possible” seeking funding to improve safety at the junction of Barrack Street, Old Road and Church Drive / Creggaunahilla. “This is a dangerous junction where three roads meet and there is the added complication of a carpark being adjacent to it also, a number of pedestrians have been knocked down and this needs to be given priority urgently,” he said. While Councillor O’Callaghan also asked the council to review the Church Drive road “on safety grounds in Clarecastle due to increased traffic to and from Creggaunnahilla Housing Estate”. Responding to both councillors’ proposals …

THE road from Clareabbey to Barrack Street in Clarecastle has been described as “resembling a patchwork quilt” by local Councillor Paul Murphy. A meeting of the Ennis Municipal District has confirmed that an application for funding to resurface the road has been submitted to Transport Infrastructure Ireland with plans for works to take place next year. Councillor Murphy had called for the road resurfacing, including the junction with Old Road/Church Drive, to be “carried out as soon as possible”. Paddy Tiernan, A/Senior Executive Engineer, responded, “An application for funding has been submitted to the TII under the Former National Roads Scheme. It is envisaged this road will be re-surfaced in Q2 2023.” Councillor Murphy described the response as “pretty positive, and I’m hoping it will come forward early summer and late spring. The road resembles a patchwork quilt at this stage with plenty of dips and hollows.” Councillor Clare Colleran Molloy supported the motion, adding it was “wonderful” to see …

A CLARE mother whose son was diagnosed with Autism has spoken about the “life-changing” effect of access to respite and residential services. Mary Nolan whose son Liam has availed of RehabCare respite services for more than 20 years, was speaking as a new regional service offering up to 1,200 respite bed night opportunities for children and adults with severe and profound disabilities in the Mid-West region opened in the county. The new regional respite and residential service, which will support more than 100 adults and children, was opened on Friday in Clarecastle by the Minister of State with responsibility for Disability, Anne Rabbitte. Carrowgar is operated by RehabCare, the Care division of the Rehab Group. This service will support children and individuals with severe/profound learning difficulties, accompanying physical disabilities, complex medical and healthcare needs, and those who may have additional sensory impairments. The HSE Mid-West funds this new service to provide much-needed respite breaks for children and families responding to …

THE ability of Clarecastle’s coastal flood barrage, built in the middle of the last century, to protect Ennis and its surroundings needs to be examined “urgently” a local councillor has insisted. Councillor Johnny Flynn has urged the local authority to prepare a report on the barrage in light of the current “climate crisis”, while renewing his call that the critical infrastructure be moved. Senior Engineer Sean Lenihan has acknowledged that the barrage is a “key piece of infrastructure” saying the benefits of Ennis’ flood defence schemes “absolutely depends on a fully functioning and optimally fit for purpose barrage.” The monthly meeting of the Ennis Municipal District heard that the council are in the process of commissioning engineers to prepare a brief for the appointment of experts to carry out a structural assessment of the barrage. Speaking at the meeting Councillor Flynn outlined he was “very concerned” about the historic barrage which was designed and build in the mid 20th century …