County Clare is 'Loving It'

The first 50 of 200 jobs being created by McDonald's with the opening of four new fast-food outlets in Ireland this year have been put in place.

A new state-of-the-art two million euro Drive Thru restaurant was opened at Gort Road in Ennis by Munster, Irish and Lions rugby star David Wallace. It is part of a 12 million euro investment the company is making in Irish outlets during 2009.

John Atherton, managing director of McDonald's Ireland told the Press Association: "The investment and the creation of 50 new jobs is a lift for Ennis, which has always been a vibrant and lively town but one that has been hit by the current economic downturn. We believe that Ennis is a great location in which to invest and we look forward to providing great food and great service at a great price to our local customers and indeed working with local businesses to increase footfall amongst shoppers over the coming months."

County Clare's only other McDonalds outlet is located in Shannon Town.

County Clare is 'Loving It'

The first 50 of 200 jobs being created by McDonald's with the opening of four new fast-food outlets in Ireland this year have been put in place.

A new state-of-the-art two million euro Drive Thru restaurant was opened at Gort Road in Ennis by Munster, Irish and Lions rugby star David Wallace. It is part of a 12 million euro investment the company is making in Irish outlets during 2009.

John Atherton, managing director of McDonald's Ireland told the Press Association: "The investment and the creation of 50 new jobs is a lift for Ennis, which has always been a vibrant and lively town but one that has been hit by the current economic downturn. We believe that Ennis is a great location in which to invest and we look forward to providing great food and great service at a great price to our local customers and indeed working with local businesses to increase footfall amongst shoppers over the coming months."

County Clare's only other McDonalds outlet is located in Shannon Town.

Man in serious condition following Connolly RTA

A young man was in a serious condition in hospital last night after he lost control of the car he was driving and skidded sideways into the corner of a farm building.

The single-vehicle crash occurred at around 6.15pm on the R474, the main road between Ennis and Miltown Malbay, in Clonboula townland just 300 metres from the village of Connolly. There was no other person in the car. According to the Irish Independent, the white Toyota Corolla hatchback appeared to hit the soft margin before going out of control and crashing sideways into the corner of a farm building. There was no-one in the farmyard at the time.

The injured man was treated at the scene by an ambulance crew and an advanced paramedic who attended the incident in a rapid response vehicle. Two units of the fire brigade from Ennis were also sent to the scene. The driver, believed to be in his late teens or early 20s, was badly trapped in the car for a time. He had to be cut free by fire personnel using specialist cutting equipment.

The man was taken to the Mid Western Regional Hospital in Limerick with suspected serious internal injuries. He was reported to be in a serious condition last night, however his injuries are thought not to be life threatening. Members of the injured man's family arrived at the scene while fire personnel were attempting to remove him from the car. It is understood that the young man lived just a short distance from the scene. "This is a bad stretch of road particularly at this time of day when people are heading home from work or heading to Ennis for the evening," one local said.