Tag Archives: East Clare

SCOIL na Mainistreach in Quin will have to wait for funding for a PE hall and general-purpose facilities, after it was revealed by Minister for Education, Jan O’Sullivan that funds were not available for the project at this time. Responding to a parliamentary question posed by Clare Fianna Fáil Deputy, Timmy Dooley, Minister O’Sullivan said, “Due to the competing demands on my department’s capital budget, imposed by the need to prioritise the limited funding available for the provision of essential additional school accommodation to meet increasing demographic requirements, it is not possible to provide for a PE hall at this time.” Deputy Dooley heavily criticised a visit to the school by former Minister for Education, Ruairí Quinn, before May’s local elections. He commented, “I am extremely frustrated and angered that Minister Jan O’Sullivan has reneged on a promise by her predecessor to ensure funding was made available for PE facilities at Scoil Na Mainistreach in Quin. In a deeply cynical …

WILLIAMSTOWN Harbour in Whitegate has been sold for a figure believed to be just shy of €1 million and the new owners have plans to develop the location, to return it to its former glory. Lough Derg boating firm, Shannon Sailing Marina, whose general manager is Kilkishen man, Denis Dillon, has acquired Williamstown Harbour, which had been in receivership. Shannon Sailing Marina is a company set up 28 years ago in Dromineer, County Tipperary, directly across from Williamstown on Lough Derg. It is expected that the expansion to County Clare will see jobs created locally at the new site, as well as spin-off jobs during a planned construction phase. The sailing company’s base at Dromineer consists of a fully serviced workshop where the company carries out complete overhauls on boats. It includes a chandlery shop, where it sells boating equipment, and it also operates an ISA training school, where they teach people how to drive motor cruisers, drive power boats, …

This year marks the 40th anniversary of Scariff Central National School and last week Scariff National School invited all past and present pupils, parents and staff to attend an event to celebrate this milestone. Principal, Brídann O’Callaghan said, “September 1974 was a milestone in the history of education in the parish of Scariff. It marked the opening of a brand new, modern school, Scariff Central National School at Fossabeg catering for a large number of pupils in the Scariff catchment area. “As we celebrate the schools 40th anniversary it is interesting to look back at the history of education in the locality. Like most areas in Ireland, there were hedge schools in the Scariff area, with records showing schools in Inis Caltra, Aughrim, Moynoe and Tuamgraney. “Due to the restrictions imposed by the Penal Laws, Catholic schools in the 18th century were illegal. Nevertheless hedge schools abounded though these were temporary and therefore no physical traces of them remain,” she said. …

A number of villages in East Clare will be without water supply following a major break on the water network near Sooreeney Cross in Sixmilebridge. The areas without water or have reduced water supply until further notice include Kilmurry, Quin, Kilkishen, O’Callaghans Mills and Tulla. A number of group water schemes are also affected including Ballycar GWS, Deerpark GWS, Drumline GWS, Killanena GWS, Lackyle GWS, Corbally Danganbrack GWS, Cullane GWS, Caherkine GWS, Ballymarkham GWS, Knocknagoug GWS. Traffic diversions are also in place. Traffic coming from Kilmurry will be diverted onto the Mart Road from Kilmurry to Sixmilebridge. Traffic from Sixmilebridge to Kilmurry will be diverted at Sooreeney Cross. HGV’s coming from and into Sixmilebridge will be diverted via Cratloe and/or Shannon. Water tankers are available for water distribution at Kilmurry National School and outside the church in Quin until 4pm today.  

A 17 year- old East Clare girl was lucky not to lose her eye after being shot with a pellet gun by another teen in Tulla on Friday. The incident occurred on the village’s Main Street at approximately 3.30pm, when the secondary school student was shot by a male of a similar age while she was standing outside a local shop. Gardai say that the shot was fired from a car and that the plastic bearing struck the girl in the face. A senior garda in Killaloe said the girl “was very lucky not to lose an eye”.  She was treated by a doctor but did not require hospitalisation. It is understood that gardai spoke with the male teenager and the pellet gun has been seized by gardai and will not be retured. Gardai have advised that although these pellet guns are legal they are “dangerous when fired indiscriminately in the direction of a person”. Carol Byrne

TULLA Vintage Organisation (T.V.O.) will hold the second Pat O’Halloran Memorial this Sunday September 7 giving the East Clare community an opportunity to check out the best vintage models around. The event is once again being staged in O’Halloran’s Field, Church Road, Tulla, from 12 noon and this year’s main beneficiary is Sláinte an Chláir, which will see funds donated staying in the East Clare area. A display of vintage tractors, classic cars, motorbikes will parade through the town led by the Tulla Pipe Band from 1pm, while a host of stationary engines will be on display throughout the day at O’Halloran’s field. Due to the success of the Vintage Day last year and to the generous support of you the people; Tulla Vintage Organisation was in a position to donate €4,290 to the Jack and Jill Foundation and €4,290 to the Tulla Tidy Towns Committee. Tulla Vintage Organisation also held a fundraiser through the sale of their DVD on …

THE 70TH annual Scariff Show took place last weekend and the competition was as fierce as ever for this milestone year. Among the events was a special dog category event, helping East Clare Musical Society select a suitable dog actor for their forthcoming production of Annie. Four candidates were selected to play the role of Sandy and, after a trial period working with these dogs, one lucky canine will be selected to perform in December. The shortlisted entries included Jessie, owned by Paul Brooks; Monty, owned by Eleanor Walsh; Sammy, owned by Caroline Ford; and Muffy, owned by Holly Sturton, who will play the role of Annie for the production. The top four dogs will work with a trainer, once rehearsals begin. Chorus rehearsals begin on Tuesday at 8pm in the music room at Scariff Community College. Anyone interested in getting involved are asked to come along, new members are always welcome.   Carol Byrne

CON Fada Ó Drisceoil will be the host for the Tulla Trad Festival celebrity concert, which is the main highlight of this year’s festival. Con, a  songwriter and accordion-player from West Cork, is renowned for writing comic songs on a wide range of subjects, from Shakespearean tragedy to unwelcome percussionists and the wildlife of County Clare. In 2009, he received the composer’s award at Gradam Ceoil TG4. Among the celebrity guests taking to the concert stage on the weekend after next are Darren Breslin, June McCormack, Michael Rooney, Tim Collins, Edwina Guckian, Edel Fox and Neil Byrne. There is huge demand for places at the workshops, which are a very important element of the Tulla Trad Festival. The organisers have warned that places are filling up rapidly in most workshops, which feature top-class tutors. For details about the festival, visit tullatradfestival.ie. Carol Byrne