Tag Archives: Clarecastle

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 …

AN eight-year-old girl who was found with serious injuries at a home just outside of Clarecastle last week is no longer in a critical condition and is now “out of danger” in hospital, gardaí have confirmed. The youngster and her 46-year-old mother who had come to Clare from Ukraine were brought to University Hospital Limerick on Tuesday morning. The mother, who was found unconscious at the scene, is still under medical care but she is making a good recovery. The girl, who it is understood suffered a large number of stab wounds, was transferred last week from Limerick to a hospital in Dublin where she had been in a critical condition. A spokesperson for the gardaí confirmed to The Clare Champion this Wednesday that the girl’s condition is no longer critical. “She is still in hospital and she is out of danger,” he said. The mother and daughter had been living at a house in which a number of other …

Eoin Brennan was on hand to watch Inagh-Kilnamona power to a 7-11 to 2-5 defeat of Clarecastle in the U13A hurling final Goal hungry Inagh-Kilnamona powered to their third Under 13A crown in six seasons after hat-tricks for Sean Hehir and Fionn Daffy sunk Clarecastle in Cusack Park on Monday evening. A quickfire brace of majors in the tenth minute through Hehir and Padraig O’Looney helped settle Inagh-Kilnamona to a seven point half-time cushion. However, it was their clinical five goal blitzkrieg in just 17 minutes on the restart that put the result beyond any doubt as Joint-Captain Daffy, Hehir and the excellent O’Looney provided the firepower to cement the prestigious honours. In addition, Donnacha Kelly, midfielders Tom Hegarty and Tadhg Hassett and especially goalkeeper Rio McCoy also impressed as Clarecastle had just as many goal chances but found the Inagh-Kilnamona stopper in particular stubborn mood. That said, even without talisman Sean Meere, Clarecastle battled hard throughout, with spinal defenders …