Tag Archives: South-East Clare

A Fine Gael candidate for Shannon Local Electoral Area who was eliminated on the ninth count has said the community in south-east Clare has been forgotten about by Clare County Council. First time candidate, Val Gillane said he feels south-east Clare is being forgotten about at local level: “I would love to see Clare County Council now wake up and come down and have a look at south-east Clare. South East Clare voted to stay in Clare. Please come down to us and now show us. We are completely forgotten about like we are between two boundaries. We are 2km from Limerick County Council and we are 40km from Clare County Council. We don’t have the representation. We don’t have the funding. We don’t have the back-up. We don’t have any of the basics…I am talking about communities and infrastructure. West of the Shannon Banks was built in 1966 like 1966 footpaths and 1966 lighting…” “I would love to see …

AN application has been made to government by University of Limerick and Clare County Council to have lands adjoining the north campus of the University designated an Economic Strategic Development Zone. It is envisaged that the site will have a range of education, research, living, working, and recreational spaces integrated within the University campus environment and could generate up to 3,500 jobs in the construction phase. Economic forecasts have suggested that the site could generate a gross added value of €1.795 billion annually to the Irish economy. President of UL Professor Kerstin Mey and Chief Executive of Clare County Council Pat Dowling have formally written to the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage Darragh O’Brien, TD to seek the designation. The application submitted to government to expand and designate lands on the north campus of the University as a Strategic Development Zone (SDZ) has been made through the UL and Clare Economic Development Agency Designated Activity Company (DAC). The …

FURTHER concerns have emerged over potential pyrite damage to a number of homes in the South East Clare area. It is understood that publicity around the issue of defective blocks and the visit of the Housing Minister to see a badly affected home in Drumline has prompted other homeowners to come forward. Following a number of calls to The Champion from concerned homeowners, Councillor Patrick O’Gorman confirmed that he has also been contacted. “There are definitely more people who now realise that their houses may be affected,” the Cratloe man said. “As recently as last weekend, I’ve met homeowners who believe there may be pyrite in their homes. In one case, a couple have decided they’re going to have to sleep at one end of their house, because of their fears over the condition of the other side of it. “It’s a very worrying situation and it’s only after the issue was highlighted in the media by the action group …

RESIDENTS in South-East Clare have no flood insurance for their home for the last five years after it was cancelled by an insurance company. In an interview with the Clare Champion, Geraldine Quinlivan recalled in March 2016 their insurance company sent them their renewal notice with a highlighted pen, confirming they were no longer covering them for flood risk for their dwelling in Springfield, Clonlara. She also confirmed the company didn’t telephone them to discuss this issue before their flood insurance was cancelled. The company still provides general house insurance. “It is an added strain because you no longer have a safety net of thinking if the house gets damaged I will be able to repair it when you see flood water approaching your house.” She pointed out flood-hit residents in other areas had requested insurance companies to reinstate flood cover following the provision of protection works. “Flooding has a devastating impact on all of the community. People are affected …

A PLANNING application for the development of eight 180 metre wind turbines in South-East Clare will be lodged to Clare County Council next February. RWE Renewables has unveiled plans for the development of the wind turbines at Fahy Beg, Fahy More North, Ballymoloney and Ballyknavin in Bridgetown. RWE Renewables spokesman, Kieran O’Byrne, has also confirmed the next stage of the process is the completion of the Environmental Impact Statement. In an interview with The Clare Champion, he said the company has sent out two information letters to residents in April and was planning to circulate a third one this Friday or next Monday. He confirmed a company representative has met about 30 residents, some of those living less than one kilometre away are positive, some of the houesholders living more than two kilometres away are negative, and it is also receiving questions from people living further away. He said the company is happy to talk to any resident and hoped …

TWO South-East Clare entrepreneurs were rewarded for their business acumen at the Network Ireland Limerick Businesswoman of the Year Awards. Ber Collins, Meelick, a director of Crystal Clear, won the Established Business Owner Award. Adopting the tagline “Say Goodbye to Bottled Water”, Crystal Clear works with schools, colleges, small and medium enterprises and multi-nationals to help them reduce waste from single use plastic bottles through the installation of mains-fed water dispensers. In an interview with The Clare Champion, Ms Collins, who has been living in Meelick for the last 16 years, said she was absolutely “thrilled” to win the award. She revealed one Ennis school went from recycling 600 plastic bottles daily down to zero after the installation of their contactless water system. Once a person places their empty plastic bottle into the contactless unit, a sensor triggers the flow of cold water that doesn’t stop until the bottle is full. The company has provided about 30 of these units …

A NEW transformational development costing an estimated €400 million across three key sites in Limerick City will generate major economic benefits for South-East Clare. That’s according to Deputy Cathal Crowe, who revealed plans will be unveiled in the near future for the development of a new industrial zone near Knockalisheen, Meelick. Limerick City and County Council has announced a new transformational development proposal across three key sites in Limerick City in an investment worth in the region of €400 million. This new development will include a new state-of-the-art medical facility and will see the creation of over 200 construction jobs across the sites. Some 108 new one to four bed affordable and social housing units are also included in this major project. The three key sites are in Thomondgate, Hyde Road Park and Coonagh, which is located on the Limerick Clare border. Deputy Crowe predicted there would also be an announcement in the near future about the provision of a …

THE Department of Housing has defended its decision not to approve Clare County Council’s plans for a multi-million social and affordable housing development in Meelick. Deputy Cathal Crowe wrote to the Housing Minister asking why a loan was denied to Clare County Council to develop a mixed housing development comprising of 70 social and affordable housing in Meelick last year. The Fianna Fáil Deputy had expressed his disappointment this housing development was shelved as there is a huge demand for social housing in South-East Clare. “It is hugely regrettable that this project is not being developed at a time when there is an immense need for housing in this area. I liked this development because it almost had a 50 50 split of affordable and social housing,” he stated. In accordance with the requirements in the Local Government Act 2001, Clare County Council sought sanction to borrow €6 million to purchase 10 sites across the county for housing development in …