Tag Archives: Tuamgraney

PLANS for housing for older members of a religious community in Tuamgraney are being considered by Clare County Council. At the end of last month, The Christian Community lodged an application to update their existing facilities at Drewsborough and to create 12 new accommodation units. On its website (Thechristiancommunityireland.net), The Christian Community, a registered charity, describes itself as a “religious renewal movement”, which was founded in Europe in the years following World War I and came to Ireland in the ‘70s and ‘80s. Currently, weekly and monthly services are held in Tuamgraney and in the Kilkenny area. According to a design statement submitted with the application, the existing Christian Community Centre is made up of a chapel, priest’s house, visitor accommodation, therapy rooms and associated services. “The existing chapel does not meet the needs of the community/congregation,” the statement outlined, “and the building is in need of major repairs and maintenance”. The statement also described “an acute need identified in …

CLARITY on a schedule of works for footpaths in East Clare has been sought by Councillor Joe Cooney. Addressing the most recent monthly meeting of the Killaloe Municipal District, the Fine Gael member called on the local authority to outline the footpaths programme for 2021. “We don’t know yet the housing developments which are to have their paths fixed this year,” he outlined. “In some cases, the estates are between 40 and 60 years old. Many of them have paths which need upgrading. I have previously invested my General Municipal Allocation (GMA) funding and I would have no problem doing it again,” said Councillor Cooney. “I’m thinking of the likes of Beechwood Lawn in Bodyke and areas in O’Callaghan’s Mills and Hillcrest Grove in Kilkishen.” Councillor Cooney also asked whether the walking trail from Killaloe will be connected to Tuamgraney. “There is a section still to be done as you come down the hill from Raheen. I’m aware that funding …

CLARITY on a schedule of works for footpaths in East Clare has been sought by Councillor Joe Cooney. Addressing the most recent meeting of the Killaloe Municipal District, the Fine Gael member called on the local authority to outline the footpaths programme for 2021. “We don’t know yet the housing developments which are to have their paths fixed this year,” he outlined. “In some cases, the estates are between 40 and 60 years old. Many of them have paths which need upgrading. I have previously invested my General Municipal Allocation (GMA) funding and I would have no problem doing it again. I’m thinking of the likes of Beechwood Lawn in Bodyke and areas in O’Callaghan’s Mills and Hillcrest Grove in Kilkishen.” Councillor Cooney also asked whether the walking trail from Killaloe will be connected to Tuamgraney. “Fantastic work has already been done,” he noted. “There is a section still to be done as you come down the hill from Raheen. …

A POPULAR walking route in the Tuamgraney area will be surveyed by the local authority, following concerns over the condition of the footpath. The matter was the subject of a motion from Councillor Pat Burke at the Killaloe Municipal District meeting who raised concerns about the section between Niland’s Filling Station and Nuala’s Restaurant. “I have had a number of representations on this from people in Tuamgraney,” he said. “It is one of the busiest paths in the area. People drive to Scariff and then park up and walk to Tuamgraney. The route is lit and people are out regularly in their high-vis vests. “I thought it was in relatively good condition until I walked it and saw sections which need repair.” Cathaoirleach, Councillor Pat Hayes noted that the area has been a popular walking route for some time. He welcomed an allocation of €28,000 for flooding in front of Scariff Community College. In a written reply, Senior Executive Engineer …

TUAMGRANEY native Edna O’Brien is to be awarded France’s highest cultural honour on the eve of International Women’s Day next Monday. The multi-award winning novelist  will be named Commander of the Ordre des Arts et Lettres by the French culture minister, Roselyne Bachelot. The online ceremony will be also attended by Irish culture minister Catherine Martin, actor Gabriel Byrne and writer Colum McCann. The French Embassy in Ireland said the honour is being made in recognition of “the struggle of a committed feminist who offered a voice to women around the world”. The citation also described Ms O’Brien as “one of the greatest writers of the twentieth century”. The Commander of the Ordre des Arts et Lettres is France’s highest cultural distinction and Ms O’Brien will join previous Irish recipients, Bono and the late Séamus Heaney. The Clare author previously made French literary history in 2019 when she was awarded the prestigious Prix Femina and became the first ever non-national to …

A VERY special lady celebrated her 100th birthday last Saturday at Raheen Community Hospital, where she has been a popular and cherished resident for the past three years. Peggy Tuohy (née Smyth) was born in Cleaveland, Ohio, where she spent the first six years of her life. When her family returned to Ireland, they lived in Kilbarroe and Peggy attended national school in Feakle and later Annaghneal. The eldest of seven siblings, Peggy went on to study home economics in agricultural school in Portumna, while also helping her mother to look after the family. Peggy worked in Dublin for a time as a carer for an older person before she met and married her husband Frank. The couple had six children Helen, Marie, Harry, Fergal, Gerard and Deirdre and Frank passed away in 1998. Three of Peggy’s children live in America, and she has 13 grandchildren 13 great grandchildren and one great great grand child. Frank  was a farmer so …

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 …

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 …