Flooding Report From County Clare - Sun 22 November 1.30pm

Flood response efforts continue across County Clare with local authority staff, Clare County Fire and Rescue, the army and Gardai providing 24-hour response to the flooding crisis on the ground.

Agencies involved in managing the flood crisis met mid-morning and have reviewed the current situation.

The Clonlara area of South East Clare has been identified as an additional priority area and is the focus of ongoing attention. The army, assisted by Killaloe Fire Brigade, delivered sandbags to the affected area early this morning.

In Ennis, Council engineers also monitored the flood levels overnight throughout the town with the Gort Road Industrial Estate being kept under close review. The Gort Road remains closed at the industrial estate until further notice.

The council appreciates the offers of voluntary assistance which have been received and is appealing to local clubs to provide support when requested to do so.

High Tide Sunday night is at 10.25pm. The forecast for today is a stormy day ahead with showery outbreaks of rain also, heavy and possibly thundery at times. The gales will slowly abate tonight and the showers will die away.

Given the present status of the flooding the emergency response will continue on a 24 hour basis. The helpline is 1890-252943 and will operate on a 24 hour basis. Information is also available on the Clare County Council website on http://www.clarecoco.ie

Latest details in relation to roads affected by flooding:

ENNIS TOWN:
The Gort Road Industrial Estate is flooded and the Gort Road is not passable at the industrial estate
There is slight flooding in Abbey Street car park.
Newbridge Road, Ennis closed to vehicular traffic – pedestrian access only
Bridge at Bank Place open to vehicular and pedestrian traffic.
Tobartascain closed from Limerick road junction – local access only
Cusack Lawn, Lahinch Road, Ennis is passable
Clonroad – Mangan’s to Sutton’s Lighting is open
Drumcliffe Road from Lees Road complex to Graveyard is now passable but with care
Glassan Estate and Claureen Drive, Drumcliffe Road is flooded but passable
Willow Park and Watery Road passable – local traffic

ENNIS DISTRICT:
Ballymacahill Road is closed reviewed at 12:00
Ennis to Corofin passable by detour after Toonagh
Spancil Hill - Large flood but passable
Tulla Road open
Quin to Latoon Road – passable
Road between Killone Interchange to Doora Church – closed
Road between Henchy’s Bar and Lynch’s Cross Closed
Ennis to Ruan open
Old road from Quinn to Tulla flooded not passable

SHANNON DISTRICT
All main routes are open to traffic
Crowe's shop Sixmilebridge at junction with Cratloe Road, flooded but passable
Old roads in the back parts Newmarket on Fergus are flooded
Rossmanagher Road Sixmilebridge (L7112) not passable
Sixmilebridge to Broadford not passable

ENNISTYMON AREA
Ennis to Ennistymon road now open
Maurice's Mills road from Corofin Road - Not passable
Lisdoonvarna to Ballyvaughan Road now open
Ballyvaughan to Fanore Road now open
Ruan to Corofin Road- now open
Corofin to Kilfenora Road not passable at Lemenagh
Corofin to Gort Road not passable at Lough Bunny
Corofin to Ennistymon Road not passable at Rath Church
Corofin to Ennis Road not passable at Tierney’s garage- detour in place
Tubber to Kinvara Road not passable at Lough Bonny
Tubber to Corofin Road not passable
R476 Ennis to Corofin closed at Ryan’s Quarry Toonagh is not passable
Carron to Gort closed


KILRUSH DISTRICT
All roads in Kilrush area now open. Surface water still present on roads, drivers advised to use caution

KILLALOE DISTRICT
Tulla to Quin Road patches of surface water but passable
R466 Road from Broadford to Tulla is not passable - Divert take Broadford to Bodyke road go left for O Callaghan's Mills
Road from Broadford to Sixmilebridge is not passable

HELPLINE NUMBER 1890 252 943

Pride Of Place Success For Kilnaboy Youth Club

Kilnaboy Youth Club were last night named as one of the principal winners of Cooperation Ireland’s annual Pride of Place Competition 2009 at a ceremony held at the Slieve Donard Hotel in Newcastle, County Down.

The North Clare organisation won the ‘’Youth’ themed Single Issue category. Three other local organisations, Lisdoonvarna Failte Ltd, O’Briensbridge Community Group and Clare Family Resource Centre, were also shortlisted in the all-island competition which aims to recognise and celebrate the vital contributions that community groups make to society.

Pride of Place, which is run in conjunction with local authorities north and south of the border, was first piloted in the summer of 2003 and came from the Local Authority All-Island Steering Forum - a forum that encourages strategic, sustainable approaches to cross border co-operation.

Awarding the Kilnaboy Youth Club the overall prize in its category, the adjudication panel commented: “Kilnaboy Youth Club is an excellent example of a vibrant youth club developed over many years in a rural area. The judges were impressed with the commitment and drive of the leaders, but what marked this entry out as special was the manifest support of the wider community and the highly laudable endeavours of the youth club to provide services for the elderly. The breadth of available activities and the planned Astroturf pitch gives plenty of choice for all.” As the winner of the ‘Special Issue’ category, the Club received an exclusive crystal decorative memento and a cheque for 1,000 euro.

Speaking following the awards ceremony, Mayor of Clare Cllr. Tony Mulcahy congratulated Kilnaboy Youth Club on achieving national success in the competition. He said the organisation was a great example of what could be achieved by adopting a partnership approach to improving community life.

Mayor Mulcahy continued: “The commitment and community spirit that has been demonstrated by members of the club is reflective of the enormous civic pride that exists among voluntary and community organisations throughout County Clare. I would like to compliment Kilnaboy Youth Club and Clare’s other participants in Pride of Place for their valuable work to further improve the lives of those who live in, work and visit their respective communities. They should also be commended for their commitment to working closely with the community, public representatives, local businesses, Clare County Council and other bodies.”

Judging for Pride of Place takes place in July each year. County Clare communities that have taken part in the competition in recent years include Kilrush, Kilkee, Labasheeda, Sixmilebridge, Ballynacally, Scariff, O’Briensbridge/Montpelier, Gleann an Óir in Tullyvarraga, Tuamgraney Development Association, The Burren Centre in Kilfenora; Obair Afterschool Project in Newmarket on Fergus, and Seanoirí Iaichtín Naofa based at the West Clare Resource Centre in Miltown Malbay.

According to Betty Devanny, Pride of Place Co-Coordinator “This competition focuses on local communities, both north and south of the border, coming together to shape, change and enjoy all that is good about their area. Groups have the opportunity to network, exchange ideas and learn from others and further promote their activities. “

“This year we received expressions of interest from towns and villages all over the County, and the Council is delighted to see that one of its four nominees has achieved national success. This is especially gratifying considering that Tuamgraney Development Association was also named as one of the principal category winners in 2008”, added Ms. Devanny.

Pride Of Place Glory For County Limerick

The County Limerick village of Glin has received national recognition after being named one of the principal winners in Cooperation Ireland’s annual Pride of Place Competition 2009.

At an award ceremony held in Newcastle in County Down last night, the West Limerick village was named overall winner of Category 3, catering for population centres of 500-1000 people. The Glin Development Association was lauded for its maritime-themed submission, which featured a recently installed footbridge over the Corbry River, children’s playground and Glin pier.

There was further success for the County at this year’s all-island competition with Broadford Development Association being named as a runner-up in Category 2 (Population 200-500) for their work in helping to develop the Daycare Centre and Community Crèche amongst other local facilities.

Pride of Place aims to recognise and celebrate the vital contributions that community groups make to society. The initiative, first piloted in the summer of 2003, came from the Local Authority All-Island Steering Forum - a forum that encourages strategic, sustainable approaches to cross border co-operation. Cappamore Development Association won a national title in 2008.

Commenting on County Limerick’s performance in the 2009 competition, Councillor David Naughton stated: “The performance of local participants is evidence of the depth and breadth of voluntary activity underway in communities across the County. Limerick County Council and its elected representatives are pleased to have worked closely with this year’s entrants, and would like to sincerely congratulate Glin and Broadford for achieving national recognition for their respective communities. Special mention should be made of Bruff-Grange-Meanus Community Council who also performed excellently.”

Glin Councillor John Sheahan expressed his delight that the local Development Association was named overall winner of a keenly contested category. He added: “This is an outstanding achievement for Glin and members of the local community. A huge amount of work has been carried out in the village to make it a more attractive place to live in, work and visit. Our success is a wonderful example of what can be achieved when the Local Authority and the community work together.”

As a category winner Glin Development Association received an exclusive crystal decorative memento along with a cheque for 2,000 euro. Broadford Development Association, meanwhile, was presented with a framed certificate and a cheque for 500 euro.

Mary Lee Geary of Broadford Development Association said that being named as a runner-up in a national competition was a tribute to everyone who had contributed to the Association’s success, including those who helped out during the Pride of Place presentation in July. He continued: “The Association is grateful for the assistance it received from Limerick County Council. Special thanks should also be given to members of the local community who assisted us in our efforts throughout the year.”

Ms. Josephine Cotter Coughlan, Director of Services, Limerick County Council, congratulated this year’s nominated projects for doing their local communities and the County proud.

Commenting on the benefits of taking part in Pride of Place, she noted: “This competition focuses on local communities, both north and south of the border, coming together to shape, change and enjoy all that is good about their area. Groups have the opportunity to network, exchange ideas and learn from others and further promote their activities. There is no doubt that local communities that have participated in the past have benefited greatly from their experiences. It has provided them with an excellent opportunity to highlight the elements of their areas that they have civic pride in, and gave them a platform to showcase the work they are doing on a continual basis.”