A seven-year old boy has died after getting into difficulty in a swimming pool at a hotel in south east county Clare. Garda sources confirmed the boy was rushed by ambulance from the Leisure Centre at the Lakeside Hotel & Leisure Centre, which overlooks the picturesque towns of Ballina and Killaloe, Saturday afternoon. The boy was rushed by ambulance to University Hospital Limerick where he was later pronounced dead. In response to queries, a Garda spokesman said: “Gardaí and emergency services responded to an incident at a swimming pool on a premises in Killaloe shortly before 3pm on Saturday, April 20th, 2024.” “A 7-year-old boy was transported from the scene to University Hospital Limerick, where he was later pronounced deceased.” “The local coroner has been notified, and arrangements are being made for a post-mortem examination” It’s understood the boy was recovered from the water unconscious and efforts were desperately made to try and save his life at the poolside. Garda …
Read More »Late Smith O’Brien’s Clubman Bore Illness With Great Dignity and Courage
A former Smith O’Brien’s hurler who died in Milford Hospice following an illness bravely borne with great courage and dignity has been described as an “inspiration” during his Funeral Mass recently. Thousands of mourners lined the Main Street in Killaloe on Sunday to pay their respects to Liam Walsh, Walsh’s Bar, Killaloe and Ballykildea, Killaloe for what was one the biggest funerals held in the town since the death of former Munster and Ireland rugby legend Anthony Foley. Members of Smith O’Brien’s GAA and Camogie club shouldered his coffin from Rory Scanlan’s house to the entrance to Reilig Lua graveyard. A guard of honour of club members was formed from the church past his beloved GAA grounds onto the graveyard. Fr James Grace said the community felt deep sadness and grieving following the death of Mr Walsh. Expressing his sympathy to his “broken hearted” family, he assured them of the support of the community during this terrible time. A …
Read More »Cross border challenge for Tara
Growing up in a twin community straddling two counties has helped a World Dance Championship entrant to take part in Rose of Tralee selection conventions in successive years. Tara Brady, Ballina, will participate in the Tipperary Rose selection in the Anner Hotel on March 24, a week before she will be competing in the World Dance Championships. Last year, Ms Brady (23) participated in the Clare Rose competition following encouragement from her uncle, Eddie O’Gorman, Killaloe. “It was a fabulous experience. I met so many intelligent, brilliant, funny girls. I would probably have never met them only for the Clare Rose because they all came from different backgrounds and age groups,” she said. “I am still in contact with some of those girls today. I would encourage any woman who is thinking about entering the Rose competition to go for it. “You learn a lot about yourself and it is a great confidence builder. The whole emphasis is on the …
Read More »Green Rebel is ready to set sail
A Killaloe Sailing Club member is on the crest of a wave preparing for the second time to become the first Irish person to complete an around-the-world race known as the “Voyage for Madmen”. Pat Lawless now has a driving desire more than ever to try and win the 2026 Golden Globe Race, after he had to retire from the 2022 race when his self-steering failed 1,200 nautical miles west of Cape Town. With a heavy heart, after repairs he sailed Green Rebel back home to Ireland. Without a self-steering system, he was unable to achieve his dream. He could have made repairs and continued the voyage under Chichester Class as a one-stop circumnavigation, but decided to retire. “I felt terrible shame because of all the support I received. You learn from shame because you don’t want to feel it again. I was heartbroken, I was trying to fix it. When I got into Cape Town everyone was so nice …
Read More »File being prepared for the DPP follow East Clare collision
Gardaí will prepare a file for the Director of Public Prosecutions after three people were arrested in connection with a road traffic collision in East Clare on Tuesday. A man and two male juveniles have since been released without charge. They had been detained following the collision at Newline, Killaloe which left a woman and two children requiring treatment in hospital. It’s understood the three males fled the scene after the collision. The crash occurred at around 11.30am on the R463 Killaloe to Limerick road at Newline close to Shantraud Woods in an area where roadworks are currently being carried out. It’s understood that a car attempted to overtake a truck and collided almost head-on with an oncoming vehicle carrying French tourists. Units of Clare County Fire and Rescue Service from Killaloe station responded to the incident along with Gardaí and National Ambulance Service paramedics. A woman and two children were transported to University Hospital Limerick. There injuries are reported …
Read More »Frustration growing over East Clare water issues
Uisce Éireann is still unable to give a projected timeframe for when boil notices affecting the public water supply in Killaloe and O’Brien’s Bridge will be lifted. Frustration is growing in O’Brien’s Bridge where a boil notice was announced on August 25 and in Killaloe where it was applied on September 17. Local residents are still being advised to boil before preparing food, baby formula, drinking water or brushing their teeth. “We would like to assure customers supplied by the Killaloe Public Water Supply that we are working to lift the notice as quickly as possible,” said Darragh Conneely, Uisce Éireann’s Drinking Water Assets lead for Clare. “We are upgrading our chlorine systems and alarms at the water treatment plant. This will provide the plant with greater robustness and safeguard supply. We are also carrying water sample analysis in the network. “We appreciate the impact this is having on the community and we thank them for their patience as we …
Read More »Fire Damages Killaloe Pub
Substantial damage has been caused to a well known popular pub in Killaloe following the outbreak of a fire on Monday afternoon. There are no reports of anyone who is missing or major injuries following the blaze in Walsh’s Bar, which is located just a stone’s throw from St Flannan’s Catholic Church at Main Street, Killaloe, Members of the Clare Fire and Rescue Service are still on the scene of the fire with units from Killaloe and Scariff who are being assisted by the gardaí and the National Ambulance Service. An aerial piece of equipment has been obtained from Nenagh Fire Station to facilitate access to the roof of the building. The Main Street in Killaloe has been closed off to vehicular traffic while emergency services continue to remain at the scene. It is understood the alarm was raised at about 12.50pm. While it has not been definitely determined the exact cause of the fire, one theory that will …
Read More »Establishing Irish Water was a mistake, claims former Mayor
A former first citizen has criticised the government decision to establish Uisce Éireann due to the lack of information for householders in two neighbouring communities in South-East Clare who are subject to a boil notice. Almost 1,000 consumers in O’Brien’s Bridge and Bridgetown are affected by a boil notice, which was issued on August 25. Last Friday, almost 1,800 residents in Killaloe, which is in the same parish as O’Brien’s Bridge for GAA purposes, were hit by a similar notice. Councillor Tony O’Brien (FF) has claimed public representatives and consumers received a better service when Clare County Council was managing the public water supply, before this function was taken over by Irish Water, now Uisce Éireann. In an email to Uisce Éireann on Tuesday, Councillor O’Brien stated he was inundated with queries regarding the boil notices issued to consumers in the O’Brien’s Bridge and Killaloe public water supply. “In the case of the O Brien’s Bridge supply the boil notice …
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