South Clare

Limerick Fianna Fáil TD, Willie O’Dea, whose constituency extends into South East Clare is one of four public representatives featuring in a new TV3 series, Dáil on the Dole. In a first for Irish television, elected representatives will spend time with their constituents, who are dependent on social wlefare, in order to get a better understanding of what the real issues affecting their day-to-day lives are. Produced by Mind the Gap Films for TV3, the four part documentary series, airing on Monday night at 9pm, will show the TDs exactly how the other half lives. As well as Willie O’Dea, the other TDs in the four-part documentary are Catherine Byrne (Fine Gael – Dublin South Central), Joanna Tuffy (Labour – Dublin Mid West) and John Halligan (Independent – Waterford). Dáil on the Dole takes TD’s out of the current affairs realm and into the real world. Viewers will get an insight into the reality of living on social welfare and …

While out on exercise last Thursday night, Lough Derg RNLI Lifeboat came to the assistance of five people whose boat had suffered engine failure, at the south western end of Lough Derg. At 8.30pm the lifeboat observed a boat, close to shore at Two Mile Gate, flash a distress signal with a torch. Upon investigation the lifeboat found five people, four adults and one child, on board a 20ft boat that had suffered engine failure. They had contacted two friends for assistance, but having attempted to tow them, the battery on their jet ski failed. The lifeboat crew, with helm Eleanor Hooker, Robbie Garland and Owen Cavanagh on board, secured the jet ski and took the boat with her passengers and an RNLI crew member on board, under tow to their mooring at Killaloe. Once the boat was safely tied alongside, the lifeboat took the two jet skiers plus their vessel upriver and under the bridge at Killaloe to their …

Children whose parents cannot afford to pay for private dental treatment are waiting up to three years to see an orthodontist, a Galway councillor has claimed. The “gaping” lack of orthodontic treatment available for children in the county was raised by Councillor Catherine Connolly at a recent HSE West Forum meeting. Councillor Connolly made her comments after tabling a question about orthodontic treatment for children in the county, what service is currently available, the nature and duration of all waiting lists and the criteria used for these lists. Saolta University Health Care Group chief operating officer, Tony Canavan, revealed the waiting time for treatment currently stands at three years, while the waiting time for assessment is three to four months. However, Mr Canavan noted a small number of cases are on a priority waiting list due to the severity of the case, or if the child’s treatment is dependent on growth. This list has a 20-month wait time he stated. He explained …

Galway City and County Councils is to receive €58.4 million towards the construction of 1,126 new social houses in Galway. The new houses are due to be built by 2017 and will take 21% and 29% of households off the city and council housing lists respectively. “This is good news for the thousands of families on housing waiting lists across Galway. We will finally see local authorities building houses again – something that Fianna Fail stopped and Labour has been committed to starting again. This funding will provide homes for Galway families and is the first phase in a historic investment in social housing across the country,” noted Deputy Derek Nolan. “Social housing is a social good. It provides quality homes for those who cannot afford their own, relieves pressure on the private rented market and is a control on private house prices. I want to see more social houses built so that those on waiting lists can settle, raise …

  Clare camogie and a South-East Clare community have been left “devastated” by the tragic death of a popular man. Residents in Truagh and Clonlara, the local camogie club and camogie enthusiasts throughout the county are mourning the loss of Declan Fahey whose body was recovered from the Head Race canal near Ardnacrusha Power Generating Station by Killaloe Coastguard on Thursday night. The 48 year-old father-of-three was the chairman of his beloved Truagh and Clonlara Camogie Club where he devoted countless hours coaching underage camogie teams. Mr Fahey was one of the driving forces in their emergence as a very young senior camogie side with the potential of success over the coming years after he played a major role in guiding his club to a string of underage success. In addition to managing the Truagh and Clonlara senior side, he was also training their U-14 side. A member of the Clare County Board grading committee, he was planning to attend …

The body of a man has been recovered from the River Shannon near Ardnacrusha following a 12-hour long search and rescue operation. Emergency Services say the body is that of a man in his 50’s who was reported missing yesterday (Thursday) evening and was reportedly seen entering the water near Clonlara. The Shannon-based search and rescue helicopter, backed up by gardaí, fire service personnel and ambulance crews, last night conducted a search of a section of the River Shannon and the riverbank between Blackwater and Clonlara.

THE 250 berth Lough Derg Marina in Killaloe/Ballina is being offered for sale, with an asking price in excess of €500,000. Situated on the  Ballina shoreline, the marina is on an 3.17 hectare (7.8 acre) site with over 500 meters of lake frontage that enjoy panoramic views of the lake and surrounding countryside. The site includes a workshop/warehouse, ancillary offices, ground floor showroom, storeroom and an adjoining two bedroom first floor apartment. Zoned for mixed use general development, the property may suit planning permission for a new marina or a mixed development, incorporating a water related development, including private and public berthing, cruiser rental, leisure/water related activities, commercial use, holiday and family apartments/ houses or even a small hotel, subject to planning permission. The marina is being offerd for sale by joint agents, CBRE and Costelloe Estate Agents. Robert Colleran of CBRE commented, “This is an exceptional opportunity to acquire a 250 berth marina with potential to develop a new marina …

A plan to take water from the Comeragh Mountains to deal with water shortages in the Dublin region would eliminate the need for the controversial Lough Derg water abstraction project, a retired Cork businessman has claimed. William K Loftus, who previously ran a plant hire and civil engineering business, has drafted proposals for what he described as an “elaborate plan to utilise the southern side of the Comeragh Mountains for freshwater storage and a hydro electric scheme by seawater in the lower lakes”. Mr Loftus maintains it can be achieved without interfering with the scenic aspect of the mountains on the Mahon Falls side. He has sent his proposal to Irish Water (IW), who hadn’t responded to a number of Clare Champion at the time of going to print. A Department of Environment spokesman stated the matter is for IW, while Environment Minister Alan Kelly’s private secretary acknowledged press queries from The Clare Champion but didn’t respond with a comment …