Tag Archives: killaloe

KILLALOE has been lauded as a crucial hub along the River Shannon by a well-known senior waterways manager. Speaking at a media event to preview the Lua End of Season Celebration in Killaloe this weekend, Waterways Ireland regional manager, Eanna Rowe said the future development of this hub is outlined in the Shannon Tourism Masterplan, which was completed by Waterways Ireland, Fáilte Ireland and officials in ten local authorities. “One of the best ways of putting places like Killaloe on the shop window is through festivals like Lua. Waterways Ireland are delighted to support the Lua Festival. “This is in addition to the bricks and mortar development work we carry out as well. It is great to see Lua getting off the ground at last. Covid-19 got in the way previously. Hopefully this festival will go from strength to strength.” Mr Rowe said it is great to see so many elements of the waterside and waterways community coming together in …

JET SKI activity at one of Lough Derg’s most scenic bathing areas has been described as “an accident waiting to happen”.  The issue has prompted a petition calling for restrictions to protect swimmers at Knockaphort, a popular bathing spot and launch point for vessels sailing to Holy Island. Local swimmers have reported a number of near-misses with jet skis. One Mountshannon woman described her own recent experience as “horrific”.  Clí Donnellan told The Champion she was so frustrated with the ongoing problem that she launched the petition last Sunday night on Change.org. “The situation last weekend was just shocking,” she said. “There is a massive, massive safety issue. Knocaphort is only around 500 metres from Holy Island. There are reeds about halfway between the shore and the island and jet skis just shouldn’t be there, and they certainly shouldn’t be speeding. Swimmers are now reluctant to go into the water because of the danger.” Clí recalled her own recent near-miss …

PLANS have been floated for a new end of season celebration in Killaloe next month, marking people’s ever-evolving relationship with wild water. One of the organisers, Rev Paul Fitzpatrick hopes this inaugural event will grow and develop into an annual celebration, marking the end of the season. The Dean’s Vicar of Killaloe and Stradbally Group of Parishes is keen to extend hospitality and “the extraordinary ambience” of Killaloe to all visitors. “All personal contact is now made and there is such amazing collaboration support and generosity around for this celebration,” said Reverend Fitzpatrick. “The inaugural event will complement so much all that has and is presently happening. Flags are really flying for Clare, Tipperary and Killaloe. “Our human relationship with wild water is ever-evolving. In past times water seemed to bear greater symbolic significance when a body of water represented a liminal interlude on the way to another world. It was used as a transport vector for cultural, pastoral, and …

A SPEED survey is to be carried out on a busy residential street in Killaloe following concerns raised by a local councillor.  At the July meeting of the Killaloe Municipal District committee, Councillor Tony O’Brien asked that ramps be included when planned road resurfacing works are carried out at lower Ardnataggle. “This is a highly residential area,” the Fianna Fáil member told the meeting. “There are two rowing clubs in the area, which attract traffic and there are a number of residents who are quite elderly. We had the same problem around Clarisford Park. What happens is that Johnny or Mary have to be rowing at 9am. It’s 30 seconds to nine, and all they can see is that they need to get down there.” Councillor O’Brien, who is Cathaoirleach of Clare County Council, said it is not just rowers who are using the route. “There is speeding happening day and night and we need to give a bit of …

A KILLALOE councillor has called for “a major clean-up and facelift” in the town, particularly the bridge into Ballina and the pedestrian bridge over the canal. Addressing the July meeting of the Killaloe Municipal District committee, Councillor Tony O’Brien said he didn’t want people to get the wrong impression of the twin towns, and a major effort was needed to tidy up its key amenities. The Cathaoirleach of Clare County Council noted that several organisations, including Waterways Ireland and Tipperary County Council had a role to play in maintaining infrastructure and facilities in Killaloe. “I’m tabling this motion on the back of the new Killaloe-Ballina Town Enhancement and Mobility Plan,” he told his committee colleagues. “I’ve had a good walk around and I have to say that the bottom of the town is in a neglected state. “I have included the pedestrian green bridge in this motion because it certainly is an eye-sore. There is some doubt, it seems, about …

PLANS for a glamping development on the outskirts of Killaloe have been given the green light by Clare County Council. Elaine and Patrick Scanlon, c/o Andrew Hersey Planning, secured planning approval for six glamping pods, toilet block, car parking area, vehicular access, waste water treatment plant and ancillary site works at Lackenbawn, Killaloe subject to nine planning conditions. The planning authority considered the proposed development would not seriously injure the amenities of the area or of property in the vicinity and would be in accordance with the proper planning and sustainable development of the area. One of the planning conditions stipulated the mitigation measures set out in the Natura Impact Statement – which were received by the planning authority on April 14 last – have to be implemented in full throughout the construction phase of the development. Prior to the start of the development, the applicant has to pay a contribution of €6,354 to the council in respect of public …

STAFFING issues have been identified in a Killaloe nursing home following an inspection by an independent health watchdog. The Lakes Nursing Home can accommodate a maximum of 57 residents, and on April 6 last during an unannounced HIQA inspection, there were 54 residents in the residential centre. On the day of inspection there were sufficient numbers of staff on duty to attend to the direct care needs of residents. The person-in-charge, however, confirmed that the centre was faced with ongoing recruitment challenges and that staff turnover was high. Records evidenced multiple shortfalls in the allocation of healthcare assistants. It was confirmed that when staff phoned in at short notice they could not be replaced. Residents had provided feedback to the provider through the resident surveys, voicing concerns on staffing in the centre. The results of a residents’ survey identified that 33% of respondents stated they were satisfied while 17% stated they were not happy and 50% were recorded as not …

TEMPERATURES soared to 28 degrees Celsius on Sunday as hundreds of local and visiting revellers enjoyed a wide variety of family fun during the concluding day of the annual Féile Brian Ború. Organisers were blessed with some of the hottest days along the banks of Lough Derg compared to the corresponding days in recent years. This ensured there was a huge influx of day trippers to Killaloe and Ballina last weekend for various water and land based activities for all the family. One of the highlights of the festival was the Féile Fireworks display over the lake on Saturday night. There wasn’t a cloud in the sky as the fireworks exploded spectacularly in red, orange, green and blue fireballs, bringing gasps from the crowd who lined up along Killaloe Bridge and at various vantage points in the two twin communities. It costs in the region of €12,000 to run the festival every year and Arlene White said the organising committee …