Tag Archives: Tulla

CELEBRATIONS are taking place in Tulla, after the Cnoc na Gaoithe Cultural Centre was honoured nationally as a model for excellence in town and village renewal.  “It’s like achieving a Michelin Star,” said Breda McNamara, Chairperson of the Cnoc na Gaoithe Development Committee. “We are so delighted that what has been done here has been recognised. The buildings were donated by the Sisters of Mercy over a decade ago and they have been the gift that keeps on giving. We’re so grateful to the order and thrilled that the centre has been able to revitalise the heart of Tulla. To have that recognised on the national stage is very satisfying. It’s recognition for a job well done.” Last week at Local Authority Members Association (LAMA) All Ireland Community and Council Awards, Cnoc na Gaoithe picked received the national award for ‘Best Town and Village Regeneration’ project. It was chosen from a shortlist that also included the Ballinamore Area in Leitrim, #WeAreAthleague in Roscommon and the enhancement …

A LIVELY night of music, song and dance is promised within the beautifully-restored walls of Cnoc na Gaoithe, Tulla, on Saturday, March 25. Since the state-of-the-art auditorium was opened last October, it has hosted packed shows featuring PJ Murrihy and Séamus Shannon, and a well-attended céilí mór to test out the new dance floor. Saturday week will see fresh, upcoming four-piece folk, ballad and trad band, The Fogues, take to the stage in a show that is set to attract an audience from across Clare and beyond. Hailed for a repertoire that covers everything “from the Dubliners to Cascada”, the band even have a bus coming from their own native Mitchelstown, such is their unique appeal. The band is made up of three Fogartys, who are first cousins, and their close friend Ted O’Brien. A champion Irish dancer, Micheál Fogarty is no stranger to Clare and has travelled overseas with Cnoc na Gaoithe, under the auspices of Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann. …

AN event in memory of 1916 and War of Independence leader Liam Mellows will be held in Knockjames Church Tulla this Sunday. Mellows hid out in the Knockjames area for five months, in the aftermath of the Easter Rising, during which he led forces in Galway.  At the time Knockjames was such a Republican stronghold that the authorities installed an RIC barracks there, which was manned by a sergeant and three constables. Despite this, one of the most wanted men in the country was sheltered by the local community for months. In December of 1916, Mellows went to New York and was associated with the Carmelite community there. He taught Irish Music and Dance at the Carmelite Priory in Manhattan. Sean Halpin who comes from Kiltanon in Tulla is currently living in New York and made contact with  the Carmelite community there. Mellows is a celebrated figure among the Carmelites and they have a stained-glass window in his honour along …

WORKS on footpaths in Tulla are set to begin this month, with a significant improvement project for the junction of Main Street and Chapel Street likely to get underway in March of 2023. Councillors received the update in response to two motions which raised concerns over the condition of footpaths in the East Clare town. At their final meeting of the year, members of the Killaloe district were told that, in addition to the work funded through the Active Travel scheme, replacement and upgrading work will be carried out in the coming days at Lower O’Reilly Park.  Motions were tabled by Councillor Joe Cooney and by Cathaoirleach, Councillor Alan O’Callaghan at the November meeting of the Killaloe Municipal District. The latter told the meeting that the local Tidy Towns group had contacted all local councillors calling for an update on footpath works in the area.  Councillor Cooney welcomed the work done to-date on the Gort Road to link with the …

A COMPLAINT about the positioning of the Christmas lights on Tulla’s Main Street has led to them being removed by the ESB. The move has caused great disappointment, after the local Tidy Towns group invested time and money installing the lights in the same position they have been in for a decade. Local man Brendan Worsfold, a retired Tidy Towns volunteer, was among those to express dismay at the situation, suggesting that a ‘Grinch’ had put a damper on the festive season. “This is part of an annual display which has been going on for years and added to with new decorations each year,” he said. “It adds to the festive season and brightens up a dull winter. The lights have been going up like this for ten or more years and there has never been a problem.” Mr Worsfold said the ESB has seemed “very apologetic” about the situation, but explained they had to act on the complaint. Tim …

DEVELOPERS seeking to build 36 new homes in Tulla have lodged an appeal, after being refused planning permission by Clare County Council. An application from Woodhaven Developments for a site on Church Road was turned down after planners judged the plans to be “deficient in terms of its pedestrian provision” and out of keeping with the character of the area. In its appeal to An Bórd Pleanála, Woodhaven said it felt the Council’s refusal was “based on a narrow review of the submitted proposals as regards the housing need within the development plan requirements, national policy, quantity and type of units, design, layout, principle of development, site topography, site services, adjoining planning history associated with Tulla”. The company also said that, in refusing permission on the grounds outlined, the Council would remove the site from future development as the adjoining lands are not in Woodhaven’s ownership and are not for sale. Woodhaven noted that the site has been described by …

TRAFFIC calming and safety are to be boosted in Tulla and Kilkishen, following the approval of works by members of the Killaloe Municipal District.  Both projects have been eagerly anticipated by elected representatives and local communities alike. However, there was a qualified welcome for the work in Tulla, where one local representative said further work will be needed to fully address issues on the ground, especially in light of new housing developments on the Gort Road.  In Tulla, traffic calming will be carried out on the R462 Regional Road at Church Road and Ennis Road. The works were proposed by Councillor Joe Cooney and seconded by Councillor Pat Hayes. “I really welcome the fact that the issue at the primary school will be addressed,” Councillor Cooney said. “It will be now be safer for children, staff and parents. Great credit is due to Council for all of the efforts to-date. More does need to be done. no scheme is achieved …

FURTHER public submissions are to be accepted on a major private housing estate proposed for Tulla, now that the developers have provided the Council with extra information.  In response to planners concerns, Wiskin Property Developments submitted Further Information (FI) earlier this month. Planners have decided that the the nine points of information provided, as well as updated drawing and reports, constitute “Significant Further Information”. That means that more public submissions will be accepted for a five-week period. The Council has given January 14 as the updated decision date on the estate plans.  Plans for 60 homes on a site at Loughaun South were submitted in August of this year. After an initial assessment, and four submissions from nearby residents, planners questioned several aspects of the proposals. Residents highlighted the rapid increase in housing development in Tulla, and raised concerns over an increase in traffic, parking and road safety.  Planners’ questions, in an FI request, centred on the impact on a …