Tag Archives: Clarecastle

  The closure of Roche Ireland would result in an estimated loss of €20 million annually for the Clare economy, according to Ennis Chamber. In the event that Roche Ireland does not secure a new buyer for the purchase of the Clarecastle pharmaceutical factory as a going concern, Ennis Chamber has warned that closure of the plant would result in the loss of 240 people who are directly employed and hundreds of other people employed as contractors who are local suppliers to the facility. In a statement issued to the Clare Champion, the chamber estimated that a closure of this magnitude and the loss of direct and indirect jobs would result in a loss of €20 million annually for the Clare economy. The chamber is calling on the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Richard Bruton as well as the IDA to intervene in the proposed exit of Roche from their site in Clarecastle. Speaking about the announcement, Ennis Chamber …

More than 240 Roche employees have been left reeling following the shock closure of its small molecules manufacturing site in Clarecastle. Roche, which is one of the biggest employers in Clare, today informed employees at its over of its intention to exit the site. The closure has been described as a “black day for Clarecastle and Clare” by Clare Fine Gael Deputy Joe Carey in view of the hundreds of jobs that are directly and indirectly linked to the factory. According to Deputy Carey, Roche has a three-year timeframe for the closure of the plant. “Today is a very difficult day for everyone on site. Clarecastle has been a significant and successful manufacturing site since 1974 and the proposal for Roche to exit the site is in no way a reflection on the performance of the people or the site,” according to Gerry Cahill, Managing Director, Roche Ireland Limited. “We will do our utmost to support our colleagues during this transition.” …

A garda manhunt is contuning this morning for a prisoner who escaped from Ennis courthouse yesterday afternoon. Jason Freyne, aged 22 from Carew Park in Limerick, remains at large. Gardai believe that Mr Freyne, who had appeared in court after being caught driving a stolen car, may have returned to his home county. A second man, Keith Garrihy of Beechgrove, Newmarket on Fergus, was who had also absconded from the courthouse was apprehended shortly afterwards by gardai in Clarecastle. The pair, who had been brought from Limerick prison, made their escape at 3.15pm from prison staff at Ennis courthouse. Chief Superintendent John Kerin told The Clare Champion that a full investigation is underway and that Clare gardai are working closely with their counterparts in Limerick to find Mr Freyne. “We believe that he may be attempting to return to Limerick and we are liaising with gardai in Limerick as part of this investigation,” he said. He confirmed that a full …

A farmer had a lucky escape yesterday when his tractor caught fire while driving through the village of Clarecastle. The incident happened at around 1.40pm near the bridge on the outskirts of the village and the man had to jump from the cab after the tractor burst into flames. The driver managed to pull the vehicle into the kerb before jumping to safety. Emergency services and two units of the fire brigade attended the scene and gardaí from Ennis closed the road to traffic while fire crews brought the outbreak under control.

MORE than 40 craftspeople, artists and antique dealers have already taken retail space in the newly-opened arts, antiques and craft centre and restaurant at the former Coach House pub in Clarecastle. The Castle, a three-storey building, has been given a €1m restoration through the partnership of antiques expert, Paul Walsh – who operated in the nearby Antique Loft premises across the road for many years; coach operator, PJ Keogh, of PK Travel; and tourism and accommodation specialist, Emelyn Heaps, of Renaissance Resorts. Walsh also had a successful antiques business in Kilcolgan, County Galway, which he sold two years ago, thinking to retire and spend more time indulging in his hobby of horse-training. However, his friend, Emelyn, had other ideas. “Emelyn said to me, ‘Your building would make a great craft building’ but I told him it’s not big enough on its own. It might be okay for crafts but it’s not big enough to make it a draw for people. …

The ongoing search for and survey of the wreck of a Spanish Armada vessel off the coast of Quilty, is among local projects that will benefit under The Heritage Council’s 2015 Community-based Heritage Grants Scheme Clare County Council has welcomed the allocation of €32,000, which will go towards a village development strategy for Clarecastle, a study of the history of the iron industry in northeast Clare and a heritage audit of the Loop Head Peninsula. “I am delighted that 13 separate community groups have been afforded the opportunity to enjoy, record, conserve, restore and celebrate the distinctive qualities of their local heritage, their community and their environment,” said Congella McGuire, Clare Heritage Officer. “The work carried out on these projects in 2015 will complement the wonderful range of projects that have already been carried out on a voluntary basis by many communities throughout Clare over the past number of years,” she added. The funding recipients in Clare are the Clare …

There were considerable tailbacks on the M18 Ennis to Limerick motorway this morning (Tuesday) following a seven-vehicle pile-up. The accident occurred  on the north-bound lane near Manus, Clarecastle during a heavy hailstone shower. Emergency services from Ennis and Shannon attended the scene. There were no fatalities but a number of people were treated for minor injuries. Ennis-bound traffic was diverted on the old road through Clarecastle.

LOCAL author and illustrator, Matt Griffin will launch his debut novel, A Cage of Roots, this Friday. Matt Griffin was born in Dublin in 1979, grew up in Kells, County Meath, and now lives in Clarecastle with his wife Orla and daughters, Holly and Chloe. Matt works as a full-time illustrator and has garnered a reputation as one of the most eclectic graphic artists in contemporary illustration, collecting awards and accolades for his work in film, blue-ray covers and movie posters, as well as illustrations for editorial magazines, such as Wired. He also illustrated A Cage of Roots. Matt had been working with publishers O’Brien Press as an illustrator and was asked by art director, Emma Byrne if he had any of his own stories. “Funnily enough, I’ve always had lots of stories and hundreds of ideas for stories and had done some journalism in my 20s but I hadn’t done any creative writing in years. She said ‘if you …