Tag Archives: Clarecastle

AFTER a two year Covid-related hiatus the popular Clarecastle Regatta returns this coming Saturday June 25 from 1.30pm to 6pm. According to organisers the Regatta promises to be a day of fun with a wide range of events to thrill all members of the family. Returning favourites include a children’s fancy dress parade from the church grounds meeting at 1.15pm, dog show, bonny baby and best dressed lady competitions as well as the market stalls, vintage cars live music and food. Other events include the “Hanging Tough” challenge, children races and amusements. There will be hurling shootouts, the Long Puck and footballs tests of skills. The local Currach Club Fergus Rovers will be on hand to give people an opportunity to sit into and manoeuvre the currachs. Other water events will include kayaking and Stand Up Paddle Boards. The Regatta was revived over 13 years ago and has been a resounding success offering the community of Clarecastle and surrounding areas …

A devastating finish of four final quarter goals saw Clonlara sink Clarecastle in truly dramatic fashion on their way to the U-15B title in Cratloe. The interval switch of centre-back Harry Hodgins would ultimately be decisive as trailing by five nearing the turn of the final quarter, he would dramatically fire two goals in the space of just four minutes to completely flip this decider on its head. Now soaring in confidence, further goals through Dan and Mark Hogan would remarkably complete a late 14 point turnaround which did certainly skew the final scoreline. Along with the impact of Hodgins, the lively Darragh Dillon, who scored the opening goal and set up two more, along with Ciaran Howard were Clonlara’s main protagonists in an unprecedented final win. And yet it was arguably Clarecastle midfielder Harry Doherty’s almost incredulous powers of fielding, especially from puck-outs that will live longest in the memory bank from this seesaw final. Doherty and excellent chief …

CLARECASTLE’S Men’s Shed certainly took a punt when it came to their latest project, the results of which they quite literally launched this week. On Wednesday the members of the shed set a 20 foot punt boat out on the water at Clarecastle Quay having lovingly built the vessel over the last couple of months. A complete photographic record of the construction of the boat has been kept by the  Clarecastle & Ballyea Heritage & Wildlife Group. With Eric Shaw of the group saying, “This will be an important archival record”. The Clarecastle Men’s Shed were commissioned to build the punt boat, with a boat of this design not been built in Clarecastle since the 1960s. It is believed the late Tommy Considine was probably the last man to build a punt boat in Clarecastle and two of his boats still survive. One was donated to the Clarecastle & Ballyea Heritage & Wildlife Group in 2018. The Men’s Shed were delighted to get …

A CLARE woman who was diagnosed with breast cancer has opened up about her experience of taking part in clinical trials, and is encouraging others to ask their doctors if a trial is suitable for them. Sarah McGrath from Clarecastle, who has been nominated by government to be the next Ambassador to Singapore, was diagnosed with hormone receptor positive breast cancer in May 2020. On her last medical oncology appointment she heard about the opportunity to take part in the ‘Add Aspirin’ clinical trial funded by the Irish Cancer Society which is ongoing and focussed on studying non-occurrence. She says it was an “easy decision” to take part in the trial and the experience has been “very positive”. Sarah spoke to The Clare Champion ahead of International Clinical Trials Day on May 20, with Cancer Trials Ireland hosting a free webinar on clinical trials for members of the public on the day. Usually based in Dublin Sarah tells us it …

ORGANISERS of a hike up Mount Brandon to raise funds for a charity working in Ukraine have confirmed they have raised more than €6,000. Retired Air Traffic Controllers  Frank Barry from Clarecastle and  John Hunt from Roscommon with his daughter Annie and four members of An Garda Siochana from Portlaoise recently climbed Mount Brandon to raise money  in aid of Concerns appeal for Ukraine. Paying tribute to all of those who supported the endeavour Frank said, “A big thank you to everyone who supported this fundraiser which took place on April 6”.

LESS than a year after receiving formal approval from the Department of Rural and Community Development, the River Fergus walkway is proving one of the most popular recreational amenities in the Ennis area. In fact, the positive public reaction to the paved cycling and walking route from the Quin Road to Clareabbey has prompted a move to extend it to the Quay in Clarecastle where a trailhead development is being planned. Local Fine Gael TD Joe Carey says that proposals for a walking and cycling route linking Clarecastle to Ennis and on to the proposed West Clare Greenway have been under active consideration for several years. “The extensive engineering work on the Ennis South drainage scheme provided the opportunity to develop a walkway alongside the 1.5 kilometre length of the embankment. Because some of the groundwork and infrastructure was already in place, a high standard walkway could be delivered at a very competitive price,” Deputy Carey explained.  “Last March, Rural …

IRISH Water, working in partnership with Clare County Council, is progressing plans to deliver the Clarecastle Sewerage Scheme that will end the discharge of raw sewage into the River Fergus and Shannon Estuary. Project Delivery Lead for Irish Water, Seamus Glynn said, “Wastewater from the public sewer network in Clarecastle is currently discharged untreated into the River Fergus and the Shannon Estuary. “The discharge of untreated wastewater is unacceptable, threatens water quality and detracts from the amenity value of the area.” “Once completed, the Clarecastle Sewerage Scheme will improve the water quality in the River Fergus in compliance with national and EU regulations relating to the treatment of wastewater, and will enhance the environmental amenity of the Clarecastle area. We will be sure to keep the local community informed regarding traffic management as this essential project progresses.” The project will involve the design and construction of new below-ground infrastructure at the site of the existing Quay Road Pump Station, and …

ARCHAEOLOGICAL testing is to be carried out ahead of the creation of a new community recreation park in Clarecastle in an area deemed to have “high archaeological potential”. Planning permission has been granted by Clare County Council to Clarecastle Community Amenity Ltd for the development of the park which includes an all-weather multi-purpose playing pitch and walking track. Due to the proximity of the site to recorded monuments mitigation measures have been put forward to ensure the preservation of features of archaeological interest. The community group’s original plans were adjusted including altering the location of the pitch to avoid any direct impact on the recorded monuments in the area. There are two recorded monuments within the bounds of the site itself, levelled earthworks which are likely to be early medieval ring-forts. An intact ring-fort is also located immediately adjacent to the site. Permission for the development was granted subject to a number of conditions of planning including the engagement of …