Tag Archives: Limerick

A BUSINESS case for a rail stop at Crusheen has been called for by the Cathaoirleach of the Killaloe Municipal District. While council officials say that such a facility should be furthered as part of a forthcoming county-wide transport plan, Councillor Pat Hayes insists that success if more likely through an initiative focusing solely on Crusheen. Addressing this week’s meeting of the Killaloe district committee, Councillor Hayes said that CEO of Irish Rail, Jim Meade, had told the Oireachtas Transport Committee a business case for the Crusheen stop would be considered and that the council is responsible for doing this. “Crusheen is a growing area,” Councillor Hayes said. “It has a wide hinterland stretching to Tulla, Barefield and Ruan. It’s an ideal location for a rail stop.” The Caher native thanked Senior Executive Engineer (SEE) John Gannon for a written response which said that a Transportation Strategy for Clare is to be undertaken to highlight gaps in public transport and …

AS A wheelchair user, 29-year old Jessica Keegan has always made the most of the cards that life has dealt her. A native of Manchester, Jessica was born with cerebral palsy, a condition which restricts her movement and affects her balance and coordination. She spent much of her childhood in Feakle and attended Dromindoora and Flagmount national schools and later Scariff Community College. “Feakle is beautiful,” she said, “but it’s not such a great place to be if you happen to use a wheelchair. It’s really hard to access services from there and you can end up being very isolated.” Jessica, a graduate of Mary Immaculate College, describes herself as “bubbly and sociable”. Her friends and the staff of Enable Ireland Adult Services at Quinn’s Cross in Limerick, are a lifeline for her in what has been a time characterised by isolation and loneliness. But while the pandemic has presented huge challenges, Jessica has faced them with characteristic courage and …

IRISH Rail is proposing to open a number of new stations along the Ennis to Limerick railway line, including stops close to the Limerick Institute of Technology and University of Limerick which would improve access for Clare students, and a park-and-ride facility at Cratloe. Chief Executive of Irish Rail Jim Meade outlined the plans for Clare at an Oireachtas Committee on Transport this week following a number of questions by Clare Senator Timmy Dooley. Mr Meade also told the meeting that a technically viable drainage scheme which would prevent the “long running saga” of recurring flooding at Ballycar has been submitted for government approval and funding. And he indicated that Irish Rail would support moves to open a station at Crusheen. Speaking to the Clare Champion following the meeting, Senator Dooley said it is “clear” that Irish Rail is in touch with the issues in Clare. “I am very pleased that Irish Rail are committed to increasing capacity and increasing …

A CLARE mechanic, who gardai claim is a “major player” in the wholesale distribution of drugs in Munster, was charged in Limerick District court this week with possession of cocaine, worth almost quarter of a million euro, which had been found by gardai in a car in Limerick. Anthony Sexton, (39), was arrested last Saturday, by members of the Limerick Divisional Drugs Unit (DDU), supported by the Garda Armed Support Unit (ASU). Gardai intercepted Mr Sexton driving a dark grey coloured Audi car on the R510, at Raheen, Limerick, and discovered three-and-a-half kilos of cocaine worth an estimated €247,500. The father of three, with an address at Cahaska, Corofin, appeared before Limerick District Court, charged with four offences, namely: possession of cocaine for sale or supply; possession of cocaine; possession of a flick knife; causing criminal damage to an official garda patrol jeep. Detective Garda Mark O’Sullivan, Limerick DDU, gave evidence that gardai “conducted an operation targeting drug trafficking offences” …

IRELAND’S only Irish Sign Language Interpreted pantomime, Jack and the Beanstalk at UCH Limerick has been extended due to overwhelming public demand. The panto will now run until midnight on Sunday, January 10 with a choice of online streams with or without signing. With people watching everywhere from Panama to Portlaoise and Brisbane to Bantry, the UCH Panto has already been viewed thousands of times right across the world. People have tuned in over Christmas from countries including Australia, the US, South America, Canada and New Zealand, as well as throughout Europe and of course, in every corner of Ireland. The smash hit international sensation can now be enjoyed for an extra week, keeping the kids entertained during their prolonged holiday. Jack & The Beanstalk features long time UCH Panto favourite, Richie Hayes, joined by the always irresistible Dame Myles Breen. Liam O’Brien of Emmerdale fame makes his UCH Panto debut as the baddest of baddies! Dayl Cronin, is back …

PARTEEN native, Larry De Cleir is a man of many parts. A psychotherapist, who spent two decades in the Irish army, he is also a talented singer-songwriter, whose work ranges from personal reflections to commentary on politics and society. With a CV like that, his retirement is probably set to be a fairly active one. The role of retiree is one that Larry is still getting used to having signed off, just last week, after a 13-and-a-half year stint as Project Leader with Bedford Row, an initiative that supports prisoners and families in Clare and Limerick. “I was involved with the project for a long time before that,” he explains. “I was counselling and getting clients from the project. Before that, again, I was involved, in very early days meeting workers with the Hospitality Centre in Limerick Prison, where the project started up. I was aworking with South Hill Outreach and we had a step-down [service] going on, so I …

A PRIVATE testing centre for Covid-19 is to come on stream in the Clare/Limerick area, with a drive-through facility, as well as mobile testing units for large organisations. The development by healthcare company RocDoc was announced this week, as the company expands its operations. The company will also create 200 new jobs at the facilities in the Midwest, as well as in counties Meath and Cork. While specific details of the location in the Clare/Limerick area were not released, plans for its opening are said to be well advanced. At its existing clinic in Ashbourne, County Meath, the private company offers molecular tests using what is referred to as Loop-mediated Isothermal Amplification (LAMP) technology. Results are available within a few hours, depending on what kind of service is requested. Currently, in order to attend a State-run Covid-19 testing centre, patients must have a referral from a doctor. However, people can attend the private RocDoc centres and get tested without the …

FIVE new cases of Covid-19 are among a total of 92 confirmed today (Thursday, August 13) by the Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC). Eight cases have been confirmed in Limerick. There have been no new deaths reported. There has now been a total of 1,774 COVID-19 related deaths in Ireland. As of midnight Wednesday August 12, the HPSC has been notified of 92 confirmed cases of COVID-19. There is now a total of 26,929 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Ireland. Of the cases notified today; • 43 are men / 48 are women • 72% are under 45 years of age • 43 are confirmed to be associated with outbreaks or are close contacts of a confirmed case • 12 cases have been identified as community transmission • 24 in Dublin, 24 in Kildare, 8 in Limerick, 6 in Carlow, 6 in Kilkenny, 5 in Meath, 5 in Clare, and remaining 14 cases are in Cork, Donegal, Kerry, Laois, Louth, …