Tag Archives: Ennis

IRISH Rail is proposing to open a number of new stations along the Ennis to Limerick railway line, including stops close to the Limerick Institute of Technology and University of Limerick which would improve access for Clare students, and a park-and-ride facility at Cratloe. Chief Executive of Irish Rail Jim Meade outlined the plans for Clare at an Oireachtas Committee on Transport this week following a number of questions by Clare Senator Timmy Dooley. Mr Meade also told the meeting that a technically viable drainage scheme which would prevent the “long running saga” of recurring flooding at Ballycar has been submitted for government approval and funding. And he indicated that Irish Rail would support moves to open a station at Crusheen. Speaking to the Clare Champion following the meeting, Senator Dooley said it is “clear” that Irish Rail is in touch with the issues in Clare. “I am very pleased that Irish Rail are committed to increasing capacity and increasing …

WORKS on the regeneration of Ennis’ Parnell Street are to re-start, Clare County Council have confirmed. A statement issued by the local authority this Monday stated, “Further to discussions at departmental level, a review of critical transport infrastructure projects has been undertaken and it is now appropriate to re-commence the Parnell Street, Laneways and Bow-ways Public Enhancement Scheme.” Ennis Chamber had urged that the works go-ahead while the country remains under Level 5 lockdown, with concerns raised last week by Ennis Chamber vice president Darragh McAllister about the effects delaying the project would have on local business. Reacting to the announcement of the recommencement of the works, Ennis Chamber CEO Margaret O’Brien said, “Ennis Chamber is delighted that clarifications sought from Minister Darragh O’Brien and the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, about re-starting public realm works in Ennis have been communicated to Clare County Council and that works will now re-commence.” On Thursday it was confirmed that Minister …

THERE have been 12 new cases of Covid-19 notified for County Clare today which brings the 14-day incidence to 138.9. The Health Protection Surveillance Centre notified 788 confirmed cases of the disease. There havc been 17 additional deaths related to Covid-19. 15 of these deaths occurred in February and 1 in December. The median age of those who died was 80 years and the age range was 50-92 years. There has been a total of 3,948 COVID-19 related deaths in Ireland. There is now a total of 209,582 confirmed cases of Covid-19 in Ireland. Of the cases notified today: 409 are men / 371 are women 71% are under 45 years of age The median age is 31 years old 315 in Dublin, 61 in Galway, 59 in Meath, 42 in Louth, 33 in Kildare and the remaining 278 cases are spread across all other counties. As of 8am today, 899 Covid-19 patients are hospitalised, of which 160 are in …

THE challenges faced by students and their parents when it comes to securing secondary school places in Ennis is “very negative and damaging” to their mental health. That’s according to Fianna Fáil Senator Timmy Dooley, one of a cross-party group of Clare Oireachtas members who have come together to try and find a solution to the ongoing issue. He has urged that a common application system be put in place for allocating secondary schools. Party colleague Cathal Crowe TD also advocates the common application system, and is calling for additional school accommodation to be provided by the Department of Education and the appointment of additional teachers. The allocation of school places has become an annual cause for concern in Ennis. Last week it was confirmed that St Flannan’s College would be adding some additional places in response to “unprecedented demand” on second level schools in the county capital. Deputy Dooley held a Zoom meeting on Tuesday evening with parents and …

RESIDENTS of one of the oldest estates of Ennis have voiced concern about the state of the road surface with calls being made on the local authority for improvement works to be made. At a recent meeting of the Ennis Municipal District Councillor Mark Nestor highlighted the need for the Hermitage area to be included in the 2021 roadworks programme. He urged that a particular focus be paid to the carpark near Honan’s Terrace which is “in quite a bad state” with residents “worried the road surface is uneven”. Backing the call, Councillor Mary Howard said roads in the area have “not been touched in years”. She pointed out that the roads are made of concrete and are “long overdue” an inspection. “There are a lot of older residents living there and resurfacing would make a big difference to their lives.” Councillor Pat Daly said Hermitage is “one of the oldest estates in town, there are good, honest people living …

CLARE County Council is inviting people at home and abroad to come together virtually to celebrate St Patrick’s Day 2021 online. Given the limitations presented by current government guidelines, this year, the council are organising and presenting an online St Patrick’s Day event with the theme of ‘Connecting Clare’, and everyone can get involved. To participate, Clare County Council are requesting people record an individual or group performance and submit it online. A spokesperson for the council said, “We are looking for variety, so music, song, poetry, dance, backyard parade – the choice is yours. Please embrace the theme, ‘Connecting Clare’, in your performances.” A judging panel selected by Ennis Municipal District will review all entries and, on St Patrick’s Day a series of short videos will be released every hour between 11am and 5pm. There will be prizes for winners in the following categories: Best interpretation of theme (€300) Best children’s performance (€300) Most imaginative entry (€300). Winners in …

THE Mayor of Ennis has likened the development of the Clareabbey Roundabout to “putting a knife through a pound of butter” resulting in “dividing the two communities of Clarecastle and Ennis”. Councillor Paul Murphy has been a long-time campaigner for improved safety at the roundabout for pedestrians and cyclists. At the monthly meeting of the Ennis Municipal District he sought an update on the progress of three draft proposals submitted to Transport Infrastructure Ireland, as well as on a proposed sustainable biodiversity project. John Gannon, senior executive engineer, responded, “The Road Design Office has received approval in principle from the TII for the preferred design option submitted. The next steps required by the TII are to carry out baseline traffic speed and traffic volume counts including pedestrian and bicycle counts, to carry out a safety audit of the preferred design and to update the feasibility report with cost projections for the various design options submitted. In advance of any statutory …

A Quin-based patient advocate has pledged to continue monitoring government plans to introduce legislation extending medical cards to any patient with a terminal diagnosis of up to two years. John Wall, who is living with prostate cancer, got a terminal diagnosis in July 2017. In March 2018, he travelled to University Hospital Gasthuisberg, Leuven in Belgium, and admitted without this treatment in this public hospital, he wouldn’t be still alive. The air traffic controller said there is also need to make the application process to obtain a medical card and information provided to patients more user friendly. “The campaign doesn’t stop. I will be taking a break, but there is a body of work to be completed in terms of the application process for medical cards and the information that has to be provided to patients and their families.” John recalled the late Laura Brennan, Ennis, who campaigned extensively to increase the take up of the HPV vaccine, before she …