Tag Archives: Ennistymon

The chief executive and a director of services of Clare County Council have apologised to the three families affected by what has been described as the “fiasco” of the council’s handling of proposals on Blake’s Corner in Ennistymon. Council CEO Tom Coughlan has privately delivered an apology to the families whose homes and businesses could face demolition if a new bridge, aimed at alleviating traffic problems at Blake’s Corner, goes ahead. Councillor Richard Nagle raised the matter at Monday’s meeting of the council in a motion that called for a protocol to be put in place that would outline clearly how individuals and communities are to be consulted concerning any proposals that directly affect them. “I put down this motion because I believe that it is important that we, as a council, have clear guidelines in place for projects that have a major impact on individual members and the communities in which they are to take place,” Councillor Nagle stated. …

A committee set up in opposition to the route of a proposed new inner relief road in Ennistymon will meet with senior Clare County Council officials again later this month. The group, made up of residents and local representatives, met with officials from the local authority on Monday and had “a full and frank exchange of views”, according to committee chairman, Senator Martin Conway. The committee was set up at a large public meeting on January 23, after it emerged that the council’s “preferred solution” to congestion at Blake’s Corner would likely result in the demolition of three homes, including one belonging to a young family and another to an elderly couple. “Following our mandate from the public meeting, I have been in regular contact with senior officials in Clare County Council, regarding the threat to family homes and businesses as a result of the proposed inner relief road. These discussions culminated in a meeting between the committee and council …

FOUR houses and business premises could be knocked in the latest attempt to address Blake’s Corner in Ennistymon, one of the county’s worst bottlenecks. One couple, due to move into their first family home this week, has organised a meeting seeking public support in what they predict will be a major battle with Clare County Council and the National Roads Authority. Sheena Clancy, her husband, John and their four-year-old son, Jamie, are “devastated” after finding out they could lose the house they have spent the past seven months renovating and which they plan to move into this Friday. Sheena rented the property at Bridge Street for three years before the couple bought the building at auction last May, to renovate as their family home. Now, the family has discovered that the building is likely to be the subject of a Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO) because it is in the path of a proposed new road. Sheena and John were paying …

Councillor Bill Slattery has upped the ante considerably with regard to his opposition to the traffic issues at Blake’s Corner, Ennistymon. While the January meeting of the West Clare Municipal District heard suggestions that the controversial bridge should be blown up, on Tuesday Councillor Slattery told The Clare Champion that he would act decisively at the busiest time of the year in Ennistymon and Lahinch, if an upcoming consultant’s report on the issue is not to his liking. Councillor Slattery believes the only option left to progress the issue is for him to spend time on the bridge during the upcoming visitor season. “I will protest on the bridge during busy weekends for the 2015 season. I want this brought to the attention of the people of Ireland and not only the people of North Clare. I’m getting complaints from Dublin about this. This is an absolute disgrace,” he thundered angrily. “The vast majority of people in Clare want this …

MOL an Óige Steiner National School in Ennistymon was this week granted permanent recognition by the Department of Education. School principal Una Garvey told The Clare Champion that the news is a huge boost to the school, which is the first Stenier school in Ireland to receive this recognition. “It’s a complete validation of the Steiner approach and Steiner methodologies. It’s a recognition of all of the fantastic work that goes on in the school. This says that this school does wonderful work, does it in a different way but it delivers the curriculum to the children and gives them what they need,” Ms Garvey said. She also believes this development validates the Steiner approach to the public. “It puts it in the public sphere. We know what we do inside here and we know how well it works. But now it’s in the public domain that the Department of Education also recognises the good work that happens inside here,” …

ENNISTYMON’S Laurence Healy has opted to end his nine year inter-county football career. The 33 year old school teacher was not a regular starter in 2014 and has decided to call a halt as Clare near the start of their 2015 division 3 NFL campaign. “I loved the training part and playing with the best players in the county. Getting to mark some of the best players in Ireland was also something I enjoyed. Last year I was on the panel but I was a sub. When you’re used to starting it’s hard to face into being a panellist. Steven Gerrard had the same issue at Liverpool,” Healy joked. “I’m not good at being a sub anyway. I know that from last year. I suppose you’re selfish in that way in that you just want to be playing. It was great that the team went well but it’s just not the same when you’re not playing,” he conceded. Healy said that …

CLARE Cascaders Basketball Club has established   Inagh Community Centre as its headquarters for the season ahead. Since the club moved there in September, the membership is growing every week. A very important factor in the club’s decision to re-locate to Inagh was the fact that the centre is equipped with state-of-the-art adjustable basketball boards to suit all age categories. The club caters for boys and girls from U-10s right up to senior ladies and the Ennistymon senior men work out there on Thursday nights. “We needed a new home for basketball and it was great that the centre was finished on time with facilities second to none. The committee has been very supportive and welcoming to the club, its members and volunteers. Consequently, basketball is now flourishing in a new location with everyone looking forward to the new year,” according to a statement from the club. The club has plans to run more coaching clinics in the coming weeks and a basketball …

Ennistymon club man, John Fawl will represent Clare GAA on Central Council next year following his victory at Thursday night’s annual convention. In a three way contest for the post, at the Auburn Lodge Hotel, he secured 92 votes and was elected on the first count, defeating Miltown’s John Reidy, who secured 57 votes, and O’Callaghan’s Mills’ Noel O’Driscoll, who received 28 votes. The quota was 89. All other members of the executive for 2015 were elected without opposition. They are Tadhg Murphy, Cooraclare (president); Michael McDonagh, Miltown (chairman); Joe Cooney, (O’Callaghan’s Mills) vice-chairman;  Rosaleen Monaghan, Tubber (assistant secretary); Bernard Keane, St Joseph’s (treasurer); Gerry Lynch, Tulla (assistant treasurer); Sean O’Halloran, (Bodyke) PRO; Anne Hayes, Lissycasey (culture and Irish officer); Ger Hickey Feakle (development officer); Michael O’Neill, Ballyea (coaching and games officer); Fergal Gray, Feakle (children’s officer); PJ Kelly, (Inagh-Kilnamona) and PJ McGuane, Cooraclare (Munster Council delegates);  Michael O’Neill, (Ballyea); Bernard Keane, (St Joseph’s); Tom Downes, (Kilmihil) plus the chairman and secretary (Congress delegates); Gabriel …