Tag Archives: Ogonnelloe

THE husband of Euromillions winner Dolores McNamara has died in Killaloe. Adrian McNamara, who was in his late 60s and a bricklayer by trade, passed away following an illness this morning. He died peacefully and surrounded by his family, at his son Lee’s home in the Clare village. Mr McNamara along with his wife, who won a €115m Euromillions jackpot in 2005 after purchasing a €2 Quick Pick ticket, had lived together at Lough Derg Hall, a vast property and estate in Ogonnolloe, overlooking Lough Derg. Ms McNamara purchased the 10,000 sq ft hill-top property for €1.75m in 2005, after it had reportedly attracted the interest of Hollywood actor Robert De Niro. The lavish country manor, boasting amazing lakeside views, at the end of a half-mile long private entrance, fronted by electric gates and an eight-foot high wall, is set on 38 acres, including a coach house. The high-end property is a far cry from the modest 1,200 sq ft …

MINISTER for Tourism Catherine Martin has announced a major new investment worth €19 million in world-class facility centres at 22 locations across the country, including two in Clare, where water-based activities are a key visitor attraction. Ballycuggeran Sports Activity Facility in Ogonnelloe and Waterworld, East End, Kilkee will see new facilities developed under this scheme, in partnership with Clare County Council. Each centre will provide hot shower, changing and toilet facilities, secure storage, induction spaces, equipment washdown and orientation points. They will be fully wheelchair accessible and built using sustainability best practices such as solar heating panels to meet ‘Nearly Zero Energy Building Standards’*. Pat Dowling, Chief Executive, Clare County Council said, “I am delighted to welcome the news from the Minister on funding for the delivery of two all-weather shower and changing facilities at Ballycuggeran on Lough Derg and Kilkee Waterworld. This is a great opportunity to support outdoor tourism providers who will play a key role in the …

HOLY Island and the Ardnacrusha hydro-electric power station have been identified as catalysts for development across the East and South East Clare regions in a new masterplan developed for the promotion of tourism along the River Shannon. The Shannon Tourism Masterplan was launched on Tuesday, after being commissioned by Waterways Ireland and Fáilte Ireland, and supported by Clare County Council along with nine other local authorities. The document proposes an investment of over €76 million in visitor facilities, along the river, up to 2030. Clare features in a Lower Shannon Discovery Zone which runs from Portumna to Limerick. Among the ‘hero products’ of this zone is Inis Cealtra. According to the masterplan, the monastic island will “form a core element of the emerging Pilgrim Way, offering clusters of early Medieval monastic sites of exceptional interest… at Limerick, Killaloe, Tuamgraney, Inis Cealtra, Johnstown, Lorrha and Portunma”. The new masterplan also underlines the importance of the proposed Shannon Greenway which will link …

THREE new ‘tranquillity moorings’ are being proposed for sites along Lough Derg’s Clare shoreline. Waterways Ireland has lodged applications with Clare County Council to build the moorings at Castle Bawn Bay, Ogonnelloe; at the mouth of the Scariff River; and on another site North West of Inis Cealtra, close to Knockaphort Jetty, around 130m from the lakeshore. Consultants who worked on the application noted that the lake is currently used for recreational boating, mainly during the summer months. “Casual boat mooring occurs within quieter inlets outside of the existing navigational markers, with boats dropping anchor near parts of the shoreline,” they note. “The proposed development aims to formalise mooring facilities in these areas, but discourage more casual mooring closer to the lake shore.” If granted permission, the development off Knockaphort Jetty would involve a new floating mooring buoy anchored by a concrete weight, sitting on the lake bed connected by a galvanised steel chain. That proposed mooring would only be …

WITH the return of Level 5 restrictions, communities across East Clare are responding with the kindness and solidarity that they have shown throughout the last nine months of 2020. The East Clare Community Response group covers Flagmount, Killanena, Feakle, Scariff, Tuamgraney, Ogonnelloe, Bodyke, Mountshannon and Whitegate, and can be contacted on 085-8659889. Volunteers will respond to calls to that number, as well as texts or WhatsApp messages, and will support anyone who is elderly, vulnerable, or who has chosen to self-isolate. The response group will deploy Garda-vetted local volunteers in the relevant community area to ensure people have access to medicines and general supplies. Response group members work within strict medical protocols and in compliance with all public health guidelines. All requests for support are confidential and information is never held or shared. Anyone who wishes to volunteer is advised to contact their local community group.

A NEW walking trail between Tuamgraney and Ogonnelloe has been hailed as a fantastic asset for East Clare. At this week’s meeting of the Killaloe Municipal District, Councillor Joe Cooney sought an update on the amenity path which is to run from Tuamgraney to Bealkelly and which will ultimately provide greater connectivity between Scariff and Killaloe. Councillor Cooney noted there had been extensive cooperation between Tuamgraney Development Association (TDA) the Ogonnelloe Community Group and the local authority and capitalised on the funding from the Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme. “It’s very positive to see funds being secured and the groups involved are very appreciative.” The Fine Gael member asked the executive if there were any plans to widen the trail and how much of it would be paved with ‘blacktop’ over the coming months. Councillor Tony O’Brien seconded Councillor Cooney’s motion, saying the tail was “a fantastic selling point”. “With all of the spurs that will link to this route,” he …

OGONNOLLOE twin brothers had reasons for a double celebration earlier this week when they achieved outstanding results in their Leaving Certificate exams. Oisín McKeogh scooped the highest possible marks of 625 in the Leaving Certificate while his brother, Cathal secured 532. The two brothers attend St Anne’s Community College in Killaloe. Oisín hopes to study film and television production in the Institute of Art, Design and Technology in Dun Laoghaire, which is a four-year undergraduate degree, subject to his Leaving Certificate results. The young film maker is very passionate about making films and is eagerly looking forward to honing his craft in Dublin. Acknowledging that securing accommodation in Dublin is quite expensive and will be challenging, he is nevertheless eager to take on the next steps in his academic career. It looks like Cathal will be in college much closer to home as he hopes to study Biological and Chemical Science in the University of Limerick. “I was very happy …

CONCERNS are being voiced in Bodyke about the nature of the consultation process surrounding a multimillion Euro wind farm proposed for the slopes of Slieve Bernagh in East Clare. In recent weeks, a Facebook page, called ‘Bodyke Voice on Wind Farm’ has been set up by people in the community to facilitate discussion. One of those raising awareness of the project, Susan McMahon of the Cobbler’s Rest, has used the page to publish responses from the developer, Coillte, to a series of detailed questions, some of which focus on a perceived lack of consultation with the wider community. “I have no agenda on this,” Ms McMahon told The Champion. “I’m not trying to rally the forces or influence people one way or another on this project. I’m not against green energy, I’m in favour of it, but, I do feel we have been brushed aside in terms of consultation.” The publican outlined how she had learned, by word of mouth, …