Tag Archives: Kilrush

Over 50 firefighters will display their cleaning skills at seven locations throughout the county to raise money for children with special needs. The Clare Fire and Rescue Service has teamed up with Clare Crusaders Children’s Clinic to organise a charity car wash this Saturday from 10am to 4pm. People can get their car washed outside fire stations in Ennis, Shannon, Scariff, Kilrush, Church Street car park in Ennistymon; SuperValu, Killaloe and the Square, Kilkee. All donations will go to the clinic. Senior assistant fire chief, Tom Burke, said the fire service is delighted to be associated with the clinic, which provides hundreds of children in the county with free therapy. He encouraged anyone who needs their vehicle washed to consider supporting the event.

CLARE County Council’s efforts to progress with learning how to treat and dispose of asbestos at various sites in West Clare have been hit by the receipt of only one tender, following a public procurement process. Based on information provided by consultancy firm RPS, in August the council sought tenders from companies who would help to establish the extent of the asbestos issue. Clare County Council confirmed on Wednesday that it has terminated the tender process without appointing a consultant. The council is now reviewing its options, in consultation with RPS. Last March, Clare County Council commissioned an external, independent investigation into the circumstances surrounding the depositing of asbestos and cement materials at a number of sites throughout West Clare. At the time, the council said it informed the Health and Safety Authority (HSA) of its intention to remove the hazardous waste material from nine separate locations in the vicinity of Kilrush and Kilkee. A specialist asbestos consultant was engaged …

THE Health Service Executive (HSE) has revealed that Regina House in Kilrush  is currently down staff, due to long-term sick leave, but they can still accommodate two palliative care patients in the building. The HSE did, however, confirm the West Clare Mini Marathon-funded palliative care rooms are currently empty. Last week, mini marathon chairman, Willie McGrath said that one of two palliative care units in Regina House was not in current use. The rooms were opened in February 2004 and have benefited from in excess of €180,000 in funding from mini marathon proceeds since the first run was held in 1998. “We have to be absolutely definitive and clear on such a sensitive issue. The following are the facts and we are anxious to assure the public. Regina House has capacity to support two people in palliative care at any one time,” HSE area manager for the Mid-West, Bernard Gloster said. “Today, there are two people in the centre receiving …

Gardaí in Ennis are investigating an assault on a woman in which paint was sprayed into her face. The incident occurred on Tuesday September 30 last at approximately 9.25am, while the injured party was out walking at Aughanteeroe on the Gort Road, Ennis with some members of her family. She was approached by two other females and one of them sprayed red paint into her face. They then fled the scene. Gardaí in Ennis are appealing for witnesses to this crime, and anyone with information is asked to contact them. Separately,  in Ennis gardaí are investigating after windows in the glass houses at the Dulick centre on the Gort Road were broken by rocks. The centre, which is used by people with intellectual and physical disabilities, was targeted between 4pm on Friday September 26 and 9.30am on Monday September 29. Gardaí are treating the incident as criminal damage and are appealing for information for assistance. Further to these incidents Ennis …

THE lack of suitable boating infrastructure in Kilrush and Kilkee is stunting growth opportunities in West Clare, according to a local councillor. Councillor Ian Lynch has estimated the value of the Kilkee Dive Centre is worth €250,000 for the seaside resort, while up to €500,000 could be generated through new marine-related developments in Kilrush. He has suggested Clare County Council could assist with a funding application for a multi-departmental approach to try and reap the full potential of private boating. Clare County Council has stated that, in a time of constrained funding, a very strong evidence-based case needs to be made to supply any investment applications. Councillor Lynch believes Kilrush and Kilkee are in ideal locations to maximise the private boating industry and while they are located close to each other, they would be competing for somewhat different markets. He noted the pier in Kilrush is lacking access facilities to accommodate pleasure craft and this combined with a lack of …

THE West Clare Municipal Authority is to meet with Kilrush Chamber of Commerce because the town “needs to be pushed on” according to a local representative. Councillor Bill Chambers requested that a meeting be set up with the chamber and “any other interested parties, with the view of promoting Kilrush as an industrial, commercial and tourism centre”. At the recent West Clare Area meeting, Councillor Chambers claimed, “This was a very active town until 30 years ago. There was lots of employment….it is backwards we have gone.” The Fianna Fáil councillor said he believed the town was missing out on tourism business, particularly from the Killimer ferry, because of the lack of a hotel in the town. “This town badly needs a lift and, if Kilrush is going well, then the whole area is going well,” he said. Responding to the councillor’s request, meetings administrator in the municipal district, John Corry said he would arrange the meeting, if councillors agreed. …

KILRUSH has been named Ireland’s Tidiest Small Town in this year’s SuperValu National Tidy Towns competition. The result was announced by Mr. Alan Kelly, Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government at the 2014 National SuperValu TidyTowns Awards Ceremony in Dublin. Kilrush was marked against strict adjudication criteria and beat off stiff competition from scores of other small towns throughout Ireland. Other competition winners included Kilkenny City (Tidiest Large Urban Centreand overall winner), Clonegal Co. Carlow (Tidiest Village) and Westport Co. Mayo (Tidiest Large Town). Speaking following the ceremony at The Helix, Cathaoirleach of Clare County Council Councillor John Crowe said the award success is a tribute to the local community in Kilrush and the work they have carried out improve the appearance of the town. He added: “Key to Kilrush’s progress in the TidyTowns competition has been the partnership approach that it been adopted locally. There is a broad range of groups and organisations now involved in promoting …

FIGURES released this week show 304 people were homeless in Clare in 2012. The most startling revelation is that Clare had the highest figure per capita in the Mid-West (244) in terms of children affected by homelessness. The remainder of those affected were mostly aged in their 20s. While Limerick City had more than twice the number of homeless people at 608, just 259 children in the city were directly affected by homelessness. North Tipperary had 217 people on the homeless list, of which 74 were children. Speaking to The Clare Champion, Jackie Bonfield, manager of the Mid-West Simon Community branch in Limerick, said she was shocked at the Clare homeless statistics for children. “Clare had the biggest number of children presenting as dependents. That is very scary. It means that the children are the biggest sufferers in the area from homelessness,” she said. In 2012, there were 160 homeless women in Clare and 144 men. The reasons leading to …