Tag Archives: killaloe

RESIDENTS in Killaloe and Ballina can’t use a regional road to travel to Birdhill and Limerick for the next two weeks. TIPPERARY County Council recently made an order to close a regional road on the outskirts of Ballina to facilitate preliminary works for the Shannon Bridge Crossing project. Following a public consultation process, the council has decided to close the R494 Ballina to Birdhill Road from 7 am on February 15 to 7pm on March 1. Traffic travelling to Ballina from Birdhill are advised to use an alternative route by proceeding along the R445 to its junction with R496, continue along the R496 to its junction with R494 and proceed on R494 to access Ballina. Traffic travelling to Birdhill from Ballina should proceed along R494 to its junction with R496, proceed along R496 to its junction with R445 and drive on the R445 to access Birdhill. Local access will be facilitated. Road users in Ballina- and Killaloe should expect delays …

EFFORTS are to be made to provide greater access to the lakeside town of Killaloe, with the local authority committing to look into the possibility of providing additional parking space for those with disabilities. The matter was raised by Councillor Tony O’Brien at the January meeting of the Killaloe Municipal District who appealed for more to be done to promote access to the lower end of the town. “This is a significant issue of concern for a lot of people in the area,” he said. “We need to take action to make sure that people are able to access the town, especially now that they are limited to a 5km for travel. I call on the council to designate a disabled parking bay at the lower end of Killaloe town. This would enable people with disabilities to have access to do business at the lower end of the town.” The Fianna Fáil member’s area colleagues were supportive of the motion …

THE twin communities of Ballina and Killaloe were united in mourning this week following the sudden death of well known community activist, John Grimes. John (71), who was married to his wife, Betty for 45 years,  passed away suddenly in University Hospital Limerick last week. The former chairman of the Féile Brian Boru Committee was brought from his home on Main Street Killaloe on Wednesday morning to St Flannan’s Church. As a result the Main Street and The Green was blocked to traffic between 10:30am and 11am. After the Funeral Mass, the cortege turned up St Flannan’s Road, turning right into Courthouse Lane passing the house where John grew up. It then turned left on to Cross Roads before travelling to Relig Lua for his burial. Speaking at his Funeral Mass on Wednesday, his son, Jonathan, said his father always knew what was important in life – family, friends and community. “Dad lived a life with was guided by love …

COMMUNITIES from Feakle to Killaloe are being urged to make themselves aware of the details of a planning application for a 19-turbine windfarm which have just been lodged with An Bord Pleanála. Along with reports detailing the potential impact on the environment and on wildlife habitats on the 749 hectare site, the Coillte application outlines the full specification for the Carrownagowan Windfarm, which is earmarked for the northern slopes of Slieve Bernagh. “I would strongly urge all of the communities of East Clare to make themselves aware of what is proposed,” said Chairperson of the Killaloe Municipal District, Councillor Pat Hayes. “People need to be satisfied about the impact this development might have on the quality of life for this generation and generations to come. People need to inform themselves and make their views known.” Because the project has been designated as ‘strategic infrastructure,’ it has gone directly to the planning appeal’s board. Submissions are being accepted up to February …

Clare County Council is making significant progress delivering the €69 million Shannon River Crossing project. The estimated cost of the project totals €69 million, which includes construction, land acquisition, design, supervision, risk, contingency and archaeology. It is expected the new Shannon River Crossing, Killaloe By-Pass and upgrade of the Ballina to Birdhill R494 regional road will take up to three years to construct and could start next summer if everything goes to plan. Out of 110 affected property owners, two homes were acquired under the Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO) process which will have to be demolished. One of these is in Clarisford while the other one is at the Ogonnelloe end of the Scheme. The council concluded a deal with these two property owners at an early stage – one built a new dwelling in the locality and the other home owner has moved out of the area. In an interview with the Clare Champion, senior engineer, Seán Lenihan said …

PROGRESS with a greenway project for South and East Clare has prompted optimism that the development will have a transformative effect on tourism in the region, in the near future. Deputy Michael McNamara has learned that Waterways Ireland, who secured €140,000 last July, is to go to tender for a feasibility study and preliminary design works next week. Contractors for the study and design on the 41km route, which will start from the existing greenway to the University of Limerick (UL), crossing the River Shannon over the Black Bridge and following the old Errina Canal to O’Brien’s Bridge and onwards to Scariff, are expected to be appointed before Christmas. “Both reports should be complete by the end of the first quarter of 2021,” the Independent TD told The Champion. “Because so much of the land along the route is in the ownership of the ESB, I would hope that issues that are affecting the development of greenways in Kerry and …

SCARIFF businessman Mike Rodgers still lives in the house where his famous granduncle was born. Pictures of Alphie Rodgers and his family hang on the wall of the house in The Square where the man who was to become one of the legendary Scariff Martyrs came into the world in 1897. Alphie was one of a family of four and grew up alongside his brother Gerald – Mike’s grandfather – and his sisters Gertie and Kathleen. As respected shop-keepers, with a wide and loyal customer base, the family could never have imagined the devastation the events of the War of Independence would bring to their home. “Alphie was a bit of a golden boy,” Mike told The Champion. “We have letters that he sent when he was a pupil at Rockwell College, thanking his mother for sending him sweets. He was as good boy, but must have had a strong personality too.” Alphie was just 23 when he was fatally …

THE number of children attending Inclusive Athletics in Clarisford Park, Killaloe is increasing every week thanks to the success of a project driven by parents of children with disabilities. What started as a pilot project have gone from strength to strength and it is now a weekly fixture on Saturday morning that is eagerly-anticipated by both parents and children with disabilities. Nicola Welford explains the group want children to move from inclusive to mainstream, if this is at all possible, as part of their overall progression. She is looking forward to the opening of the new all weather Derg AC €500,000 athletics track as their sessions will not be impacted as much by rain. “Every week we have a new child starting with us as parents are discovering inclusive athletics. The main comment from parents is ‘I can’t believe I didn’t know about it and I can’t believe this is happening’ because there is nothing happening for children with special …