Tag Archives: Councillor PJ Ryan

‘HELL’ has been predicted, when people start to receive tax bills on zoned land in their ownership, under next year’s Residential Zoned Land Tax (RZLT) regime.  The comment was made by Councillor Shane Talty on foot of a motion tabled by Councillor PJ Ryan. The Shannon member called for a derogation, for a fixed period, on the RZLT. He voiced concern at the number of people looking for their lands to be dezoned, and the impact that that might have on the provision of housing. Supporting the motion, Councillor Talty said many people were unaware of the implications of owning zoned land. “I think this is going to blow up into serious controversy when these Revenue letters arrive, the actual bills,” he said.  While there was widespread support for the motion, Councillor Ryan deferred it on the advice of Council Chief Executive Pat Dowling, to give time to examine recently-received public submissions on the RZLT.  Outlining a topic that generated …

THE lack of motorway service stations is forcing people to turn the side of Clare’s stretch of the M18 into a public toilet, a local authority member has asserted.  Offering to produce video evidence of the practice of public urination along the M18 and N18, Councillor PJ Ryan appealed to the Council to ask Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) and the Transport Minister to install public services on the Clare stretch of the motorway. “It has been brought to may notice that quite a lot of vehicles cars on N18/M18 are using side of motorway when they need to go to the toilet,” he said. “Making a public toilet out the motorway is a disgrace It is mostly on the south-bound side that there is the problem. The north-bound stretch has services at Birdhill. Clare County Council needs to do something.” Seconding the motion, Councillor Pat McMahon agreed that the Tipperary stretch of the motorway has better services. “In Tipperary, there …

THE sense of community that exists throughout Clare has been lauded by the outgoing Clare Council chairman, P J Ryan. In his address to councillors at the authority’s annual general meeting on Friday, Councillor Ryan said serving the council as first citizen has been a “huge honour” over the past year. “I always wore the mayoral chain in the knowledge I represented everyone in this chamber as well as people of this county. “I attempted to attend as many events as possible across the county where I met many wonderful businesses and communities. From my engagement with people, I know the sense of community is one of our greatest attributes. “It has been an extraordinary 12 months here and abroad in the context of the Covid-19 pandemic and the crisis in Ukraine.” He said it heartening that people in the community have worked so hard to provide help and support to those who need it most, which is something to …

THE Bunratty Manor hotel was the venue for the official launch of the 170-page Centenary Book of the ambush at Glenwood which took place on January 20, 1921.  This launch, which had previously been deferred due to the Covid-19 pandemic restrictions, was performed by the Mayor of Clare, Councillor PJ Ryan. The Council chairperson was assisted by Mr Flan McCarthy and Mr Mick Ryan, who are joint presidents of the Glenwood Ambush Memorial Committee.  The publication contains a number of different versions of what actually happened on ambush day in January 1921, and accounts of the later reprisals by the Black and Tans. There are some details too of a number of the participating volunteers, in as much as was possible for researchers to get the information. These include Martin ‘Neighbour’ McNamara, Joe Clancy, Tom McGrath, Mattie McGrath, James Hogan, Paddy McCarthy, Jackie Ryan, Jimmy McInerney, Miko Neville, Dinny Minogue, Mick Moloney, Mick Shaughnessy, Tom McInerney, Michael Cleary, Peter St Ledger, …

DAMAGE caused by forestry extraction to roads in West Clare has been compared to a “moonscape”, by one member of the local authority.  Councillor Cillian Murphy was speaking in support of a motion from the Cathaoirleach at the May meeting of Clare County Council. The chairperson, Councillor PJ Ryan called for the enactment of a bye-law holding timber harvesting benefactors responsible for any damaged to public roads during extraction operations. “Most councillors will have come across this,” he said. “The issue is very prominent in West, East and South East Clare. When the roads are damaged, it’s virtually impossible to get any kind of contribution. “These roads were never designed for these kinds of trucks. Some were only designed for a horse and cart. When the road gets damaged, it’s back to the local authority and it’s a huge drawn on our roads funding schemes. Residents are up in arms. They are asking why those taking out timber ore not …

THE CHAIR of Clare County Council has asked that Shannon Airport be marketed as “the gateway to the Wild Atlantic Way”. At the April meeting of the local authority, Councillor PJ Ryan called on the Council to request Shannon Group, Clare Tourism, Fáilte Ireland and other tourism-related bodies to undertake the marketing initiative. A written reply from Deirdre O’Shea, Acting Head of Tourism said that the success of Fáilte Ireland’s Wild Atlantic Way brand “presents a unique opportunity for the marketing of Shannon Airport”. “The Clare Tourism Advisory Forum, as an industry stakeholder-led forum comprises of representatives from Clare Tourism Department, Tourism businesses and State agencies, to include Fáilte Ireland and Shannon Group, meets on a bi-monthly basis,” the response said. “The marketing of Shannon Airport is a recurring agenda item. This facilitates all partners on the forum working collaboratively to ensure that Shannon Airport and air connectivity to the West of Ireland receives continued priority through collaborative marketing nationally …

Occupants want the council to give them a four-bedroomed house to facilitate their family’s requirements, writes Dan Danaher FEARS have been expressed that an illegal encampment at Sixmilebridge Railway Station may not be removed for weeks much to the annoyance of local residents who are campaigning for a resolution to this issue for more than a year. Despite a number of court cases, Clare County Council has not been able to move the occupiers of the encampment to a more appropriate location. An interim order was issued by the High Court following a recent hearing and this case is listed for hearing again on January 28. Last June, Mr Justice Senan Allen granted an interim order restraining Clare County Council, which owns the car park, the Garda Commissioner, the DPP, and the State from taking steps under public order and housing legislation to remove the caravans. However, the following month the High Court lifted this injunction, which was appealed and …

ALL-WEATHER drone facilities are to be sought by the council in 2022 in a bid to boost the search and rescue capabilities of the Civil Defence, writes Fiona McGarry. The news was revealed following a call from Mayor of Clare, Councillor PJ Ryan, for enhanced drone equipment, with infrared and all-weather facilities. The Cathaoirleach told the December meeting of Clare County Council, “This motion came about after I read recently in some of the national and local papers, about two successful searches which took place recently in Clare.” “I also visited the Civil Defence Headquarters on the Quin Road and spoke to some of the members and I went in just to see what the drone was like, and they told me, it was fantastic. But there was a problem with it, that it didn’t operate in wind or in the dark. So I asked to know, was there a possibility that an attachment could be got for it, but …