Tag Archives: Councillor Paul Murphy

GRAVE desecration and damage alongside ongoing flytipping at one of Clare’s most historic sites has prompted the establishment of a new taskforce. The Clare Abbey Taskforce are due meet for the first time next month and calls are being made for the installation of CCTV cameras at the national monument. A meeting of the Ennis Municipal District also heard this week that efforts are being made to have the Minister of State with responsibility for the Office of Public Works to visit Clare Abbey and hear first hand the concerns of locals. Councillor Clare Colleran Molloy urged that the council convene the taskforce and adopt measures including CCTV to tackle flytipping which is “continuously being highlighted by the Clarecastle Tidy Towns” and “the ongoing risk of repeated damage and desecration to the graves located within the abbey”. She called on the council to support Clarecastle Tidy Towns request for a “much more thorough” analysis of flytipping material found in Clareabbey …

THE Ennis Municipal District is to motor ahead with exploring suitable locations for the development of overnight parking for motor-homes near the town centre. Both Ballyalla and Ballybeg lakes have been flagged as potentially suitable sites for the venture which, if it goes ahead, is expected to result in an economic boost. Mayor of Ennis, Councillor Paul Murphy has led the calls for the facility saying holidaymakers don’t just want to visit seaside locations. He pointed out that the ‘staycation’ market needs to be targeted “particularly in these current times as foreign travel will not be very prevalent for the foreseeable future.” He outlined that the main requirements are a chemical toilet discharge point, regular wastewater discharge and running water. “The fees recouped would be year round and a facility like this would bring additional business to Ennis. Similar facilities currently exist in Cobh and Bantry and have proven to be a great success.” Eamon O’Dea, Senior Executive Engineer replied, …

A majority of Clare Fine Gael councillors support the current proposed national coalition of Fine Gael, Fianna Fáil and the Green Party, according to the findings of a Clare Champion survey. Councillor Gabriel Keating said efforts should have been made to form a national government made up of a number of political parties last March. Stressing the need for a new government to be elected as quickly as possible, he is a little reluctant to give his full support for a Fianna Fáil (FF), Fine Gael (FG) and Green Party (GP) coalition as he doesn’t think this will be good for rural Ireland. Instead, he supports a coalition of these parties with Labour and a group of rural Independents like Michael McNamara, which he feels would be better able to deal with these challenging times. Councillor Johnny Flynn said he would not vote for any coalition deal with Fine Gael and Sinn Féin as he disagreed with some of their …

THE village of Clarecastle is set for a €200,000 makeover which is hoped will bring an economic boost to the local area. Public consultation has begun for the proposed Town and Village Renewal Scheme which will be mainly centred in the heart of Clarecastle. Among the planned improvements will be the inclusion of street furniture and sculptures, traffic calming and landscaped areas. It is anticipated that these works will have the potential to encourage new businesses to set up in Clarecastle, giving a much-needed shot in the arm to the local economy following Roche’s decision to close its plant there. Local councillor Paul Murphy has described the works as a “positive move” for the village. “These proposed works will enhance the centre of the village and it is hoped that this will make the village more attractive to businesses. There are some vacant units here and these works, which will increase the attractiveness of Clarecastle, will have the potential of …

Clare County Council was represented by Leas Cathaoirleach Councillor Paul Murphy at the French Embassy in Ireland’s Bastille Day celebration in Dublin. The celebrations complemented the 1916 commemoration with re-enactments depicting various episodes in Ireland’s long and shared history with France including Hoche and Tone’s Bantry Bay expedition of 1796, French General Humberts expedition to County Mayo in 1798, the 1916 Rising and Ireland’s involvement in the Battle of the Somme during Wold War 1. The celebrations had concluded before word of the Nice tragedy became known on Thursday night. Clare County Council has opened a Book of Condolence in memory of the victims of the attack. Members of the public are being invited to sign the Book during opening hours of 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday at the corporate headquarters of Clare County Council, Áras Contae an Chláir, Ennis. The book is available until Friday after which it will be delivered to the French Embassy in Dublin.