Home » Tag Archives: kilkee (page 6)

Tag Archives: kilkee

Kilkee to retain ATM after Bank of Ireland branch closure

BANK of Ireland has moved to reassure Clare’s Independent TD that its ATM in Kilkee will be retained after the closure of the branch. From September, the outlet will be one of three in this county – and 103 on the island – to be closed in a move which the bank said comes in response to online banking and cashless transactions. Deputy Michael McNamara questioned bank officials on Tuesday at the Joint Oireachtas Finance Committee. Gavin Kelly, CEO of Retail Ireland at Bank of Ireland confirmed that Kilkee is one of four locations in the Republic of Ireland that will retain their existing ATM. “There will be four locations that we are going to keep an ATM in the branch because there isn’t an alternative branch in the town, and Kilkee is one of those locations,” Mr Kelly said. “So, we are committed to maintaining the ATM in Kilkee for that reason.” In response to Deputy McNamara’s question about the …

Read More »

Post office deal sees bank ‘piggybacking’ on State – Talty

A POSTMASTER and local councillor has accused Bank of Ireland of “piggybacking on the State,” in its deal which the bank says is designed to cushion the blow of branches closures in Miltown Malbay, Kilkee, Tulla and elsewhere. Last Monday, in tandem with announcing the shutting of over 100 branches, Bank of Ireland outlined a new deal to allow its customers to do their financial business in post offices. Councillor Shane Talty, who is postmaster in Ennistymon and Lahinch, described the planned closures as “regressive”. “There’s a report from consultants Grant Thornton recommending an annual €17 million Public Service Obligation (PSO) commitment to the post office network,” he said. “The bank is piggybacking on the State and the fact that it will ultimately have responsibility to support services. The bank is abandoning the community and the State will be left holding the post office network in its lap. The transaction fee to postmasters will not sustain the network.” Deputy Michael …

Read More »

‘Body blow’ to Clare as three Bank of Ireland branches to close

PLANS by Bank of Ireland to close three branches in Clare have been described as a “body blow”. The bank confirmed today (Monday, March 1) that it is to close its branches in Tulla, Miltown Malbay and Kilkee from the end of September. It comes as part of plans to close 103 across the Republic of Ireland and the North of Ireland. Fianna Fáil Senator Timmy Dooley, a Tulla resident, said, “The decision by Bank of Ireland to close three of its branches in Clare is extremely disappointing and represents a significant blow for communities in Tulla, Kilkee and Miltown Malbay. “Older people and the business community will be disproportionately impacted by the decision. For older people many prefer to go into their branch and deal with people rather than use online banking. “The retail, business and hospitality community will be very seriously impacted as they will have to travel much further now to lodge money in county towns – which in some …

Read More »

Man dies in workplace accident in West Clare

A man has died in a workplace accident that happened shortly after midday today near the village of Doonaha in West Clare. Two units of the Clare County Fire and Rescue Services from Kilkee station along with National Ambulance Service resources were sent to the scene. A Garda spokesman confirmed that gardaí also attended the incident along with a request for the Athlone-based Emergency Aeromedical Service air ambulance to attend. Volunteers from the Kilkee unit of the Irish Coast Guard were tasked to secure a safe landing site for the helicopter, however, the man was pronounced dead at the scene and the helicopter was stood down and returned to its base. The man’s body has been removed to University Hospital Limerick where a post-mortem examination will be carried out. The Garda spokesperson confirmed that the Health and Safety Authority (HSA) will conduct an investigation into the tragedy and that gardaí will assist as required.

Read More »

Remote working drives Clare coastal property boom

DEMAND for property in coastal Clare continues to increase, to the point where the working from home phenomenon has been likened by a local businessman and public representative to a revolution. The potential for remote working created by digital technologies, and introduced out of necessity during the pandemic, is proving to be a game-changer for rural communities which up to last year had been facing the prospect of accelerating depopulation. Now, demand from city dwellers looking to relocate, as well as holiday home owners who have switched their primary residence has boosted the population of coastal communities. A property price survey conducted by The Sunday Times showed that while the median house price in Clare is down from €194,500 to €191,000, coastal property prices continue to rise. Demand for property in Kilkee and Lahinch was aid to be “insatiable” with a three-bedroom semi-detached home in the latter recently selling for €274,000, after multiple bids. “We are at a transition point,” …

Read More »

Holidaymakers urged to stay away from Kilkee for health reasons

A former Mayor of Kilkee has urged tourists and visitors to stay away from the West Clare holiday hotspot during the holiday period to minimise the spread of Covid-19. While Claire Haugh stressed holidaymakers are normally very welcome in Kilkee, she is concerned that any large influx of people into the town could result in the unwanted transmission of the virus. “It is a hugely difficult and dangerous time for everyone and the safety of people in Kilkee is paramount. We welcome visitors all year round but these are different and frightening times. “People in Kilkee are trying to mind ourselves and visitors should be cautious of their own health. “There will be good times ahead when the vaccine comes in and then there will be a thousand welcomes for people to come to Kilkee. “When things get better, the doors will be wide open to welcome them as usual. We love having visitors in Kilkee and it is great …

Read More »

Garda appeal after man found with head injuries

GARDAÍ in Clare have launched an appeal for the public’s assistance after a man was found lying on a Kilkee street with head injuries. The discovery was made on O’Curry Street by gardaí on routine patrol over the August Bank Holiday weekend. After being taken to University Hospital Limerick scans showed that the man suffered a fracture to the head. Clare Crime Prevention Officer Sergeant Triona Brooks has urged anybody with any information to contact gardaí. She outlined, “In the early hours of Saturday, August 1 at 2.40am gardaí on mobile patrol came across a male lying on the footpath on O’Curry Street, Kilkee. This man had sustained lacerations to his head. He was taken to University Hospital Limerick and after a CT scan was carried out it was discovered that the male had suffered a bone fracture to his head. “We are appealing to anyone who may have been in the area of O’Curry Street, Kilkee between 2am and …

Read More »

Lahinch and Kilkee bask in afterglow of staycation boom

AFTER an unusually warm and sunny weekend, Kilkee was overcast and somewhat autumnal on Monday afternoon. Staycationers were fewer than they had been even 24 hours earlier, but shopkeeper Donal Hayes wasn’t complaining as he said the season which is ending has been the best one for many years. While the pandemic has crippled many businesses and even some entire industries, it has actually helped his shop. “It’s been a huge benefit to us, I hate to say it, but it was. The only poor weekend was Whit weekend, I think that was the way for the whole of the town. The summer was excellent, last weekend was as good as any over the summer. You can see today it has quietened a lot so we’ll see how it goes until the October Bank Holiday Weekend, if we can get the weekends out of it we’ll be very, very happy with that.” Asked if business would have been up five …

Read More »