Tag Archives: Clonlara

FLOOD relief works that were due to begin in Springfield, Clonlara next week, have hit yet another hitch, it was revealed to council members last Monday (May 10). The matter was raised by Councillor Michael Begley who ask officials for the revised completion date for the works, which were first mooted in 2016. The works, which are designed to finally remove the risk of severe flooding that has hung over the area for more than a decade-and-a-half, had already been dealt a blow by pandemic restrictions. There had been widespread relief at the prospect of them finally getting underway. “We’re now waiting for two reports,” Councillor Begley noted, at the monthly meeting of Clare County Council. “One of those is from the hydrologists and the other will come from the consultants thereafter.” Chief Executive Pat Dowling noted that the latest obstacle to the works is “quite new”. “A particular matter has arisen,” he said “We have to await the outcome. …

CLONLARA Development Group has issued an appeal for people in the Mid-West to search for old photographs, stories and press cuttings in connection with “Pattern Day” at St Senan’s Holy Well in Clonlara. The group are in the process of compiling a display for National Heritage Week 2021 Exhibition, which runs from August 21 August to August 2nd. It believes that the current lockdown to minimise the spread of Covid-19 provides the ideal opportunity for people to go through old albums and momentoes to help preserve these memories from days past. The 2021 “Pattern Day” exhibition will follow the successful 2020 exhibition, a two-day event held at local Kiltenanlea Church. For those who are not familiar with “Pattern Day”, the word pattern is derived from the Irish word patrun or English word patron. In olden days most Irish parishes would honour and celebrate their patron saint. Only parishes with a holy well or shrine typically had a pattern day. Prayers …

A GOVERNMENT minister has pledged that the construction of a new €1.3 million flood relief scheme on the outskirts of Clonlara will ensure scenes of flooded homes will “become a thing of the past”. Minister of State with responsibility for the Office of Public Works, Patrick O’Donovan, has welcomed the approval of planning permission by An Bord Pleanála for the proposed flood relief scheme in Springfield, Clonlara. The scheme will involve the construction of a flood protection embankment, land raising, penstock / sluice, pump station and associated works at the townland and surrounding areas of Springfield. The project will protect 18 residential properties and will cost in the region of €1.3 million to build. “I think everybody who has followed coverage of flooding events over the past few years will recall the scenes of flooded homes and distressed residents trying to deal with the aftermath of significant flooding in Springfield/Clonlara. “Now that An Bord Pleanála has approved planning permission for …

A 25-YEAR campaign by flood-hit residents in South-East Clare has finally reaped dividends after An Bord Pleanála gave the green light to the construction of a €1.2 million flood protection embankment. Springfield resident, Geraldine Quinlivan has praised the dogged determination of the local community for securing the long-awaited flood protection works. This South-East Clare rural community has been hit by flooding in 1995, 2002, 2009, 2015, 2016, 2018 and in February 2020 when families had to be evacuated from their homes after their access road became impassable. More than 7,000 sandbags and pumping stations were delivered to houses in the locality as part of a flood management plan implemented by Clare County Council to assist other locals in the battle to keep water from entering their premises. Speaking to the Clare Champion on Wednesday, Ms Quinlivan said residents were delighted with the latest ruling from the appeals’ board after decades of lobbying. She hopes that no one will lodge a …

FLOOD-hit residents in South-East Clare are “living in hell” and are “living in fear” of more flooding, a local Dáil deputy has claimed. The devastation caused to several households and farmlands in Springfield, Clonlara was highlighted in the Dáil this week by Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne when she presented a case for the establishment of one single body to manage the River Shannon. Commenting on the River Shannon Management Agency Bill, Deputy Wynne warned flooding is becoming too regular and must be tackled with timely action rather than “more kicking the can further down the road”. Last February, she recalled several households and farmlands were destroyed or severely impacted due to flooding in South-East Clare. “One man in Clonlara was quoted as saying “I am living in hell”. For him it has become a very common life event. While many people have commented on the ways we can tackle flooding along the River Shannon, I believe that one of the most …

MAKING tasty spiced beetroot relish has helped a South- East Clare food producers to secure a place in the 2020 Blas na hEireann Awards finals. Bramble Cottage Produce has beaten off stiff competition to become a finalists in the Irish Food Awards. Kathy McAndrew Wallace is a small artisan producer who makes chutneys, relishes and pickles in her HSE-approved kitchen in Clonlara from home grown vegetables and fruit. Operating from Bramble Cottage, she is a finalist in the relish category for her spiced beetroot relish. Her business evolved out of growing her own vegetables and deciding to make beetroot relish, which is the product that has made it to the finals. She recalled people asked her to make beetroot relish for them, and, as one of the main founders of the Urban Coop in the Eastway Business Park. Limerick, she started selling it in this market. She also makes red onion marmalade, Thomond Red Ale chutney using the red ale …

Gardaí have arrested one man and seized drugs with an estimated street value in excess of €36,000 during an intelligence led operation targeting the sale and supply of controlled drugs in Clonlara late on Friday night. At approximately 11pm, Gardaí executed a search warrant at a premises in Clonlara. During the course of the search, a quantity of ketamine, MDMA, cannabis, cannabis plants, DMT and cannabis jellies were seized (subject to analysis) with an estimated street value of €36,000. Approximately €4,000 in cash, a taser and mobile phones were also seized along with drug paraphernalia. One man, in his 20s, was arrested during the course of the search and is currently detained under Section 2 of the Criminal Justice (Drug Trafficking) Act, 1996 in Henry Street Garda Station. Investigations are ongoing.

DISAPPOINTMENT has been expressed in Springfield, Clonlara, after a further delay with relief works designed to save residents from a repeat of devastating flooding that has forced them out of their homes multiple times over the last 15 years. Planning for flood protection works began in early 2016, after more than 10 families had to evacuate their properties and a further five had their access roads completely cut off. Since then, the proposed €1.2 million works have hit a number of hurdles, and it has now been confirmed that rather than going through an internal local authority adjudication process, the plans will now go to An Bord Pleanála. Senior Engineer with Clare County Council, Seán Lenihan told authority members this month that the nature of the works could not be contained, as had been anticipated, within a Part Eight application. “They require an EIAR (Environmental Impact Assessment Report) and an EIS (Environmental Impact Statement),” he explained, adding that the application …