Riches of Clare concert, Kilfenora Cathedral

Kilfenora Dramatic Society is back in action from 28-30 March at 8pm in Kilfenora Community Hall with their latest offering, a play by Kerry playwright Tom Coffey called ‘Them’. The stage will be transformed into Brid Flaherty’s kitchen cum living room in 1960s’ Ireland. By the end of the play the audience will know more about Brid, her family and the impact of difficult decision making.

Tickets are available on the door for €10, with a family price of €15. Be there early to ensure entry, as these Kilfenora productions are very popular!

About Tom Coffey

The late Tom Coffey worked as a schoolteacher and in industry before writing plays for the Abbey and the Lyric Theatres. He is the author of The Long Sorrow (on the IRA border campaigns); Anyone Could Rob a Bank; Stranger, Beware; The Call; Them; Gone Tomorrow, winner of Irish Life Drama Award in 1965. He also wrote many episodes of the RTE drama serial, ‘The Riordans’.

About Kilfenora Dramatic Society

Amateur actors from the community, under the direction of Fr Ned Crosbie, with the help of other volunteers creating the sets and aiding the production. A long history of highly popular productions of works by Irish playwrights.

Significant changes have been proposed by the National Transport Authority (NTA) to bus routes in North Clare. A survey is being conducted locally by Kilfenora Development Community Group about bus provision, and answers to the questions below are requested by Monday 3 February in order to make representations to the NTA. The main changes – see the map below – are:

• removing the direct link between Corofin/Kilfenora to Ennistytmon, Lahinch, Miltown Malbay and beyond – the current 4 times daily bus 333 would now run directly from Ennis to Ennistymon duplicating the 350 service;
• instead a new route (338) would run from Ennis to Kilfenora and Lisdoonvarna, and then terminate at Ennistymon – no details of frequency have been communicated;
• the 350 bus would now proceed more directly from Galway to the Cliffs of Moher via Corkscrew Hill, cutting out Fanore. A new 350C bus would now service Fanore and Newquay. (Fanore community rejected the NTA proposal fiercely at a recent public meeting; Cllr Joe Garrihy on Clare FM echoed community criticism of the NTA for not consulting locally. )

At the same time Clare County Council have issued an e-tender proposal for a shuttle bus to connect the Cliffs of Moher to Ennistymon and Lisdoonvarna, with a possible additional link to Kilfenora and Miltown. However this would only run from June to August, and an entry ticket to the Visitor Centre must be bought.

This contrasts with comprehensive proposals for North Clare connectivity submitted by community representatives in September to a Council working party that would have left the 333 service as it is; connected Kilfenora to Lisdoonvarna, Doolin and the Cliffs on a year-round basis; provided a connection between the visitor centres at Kilfenora and Corofin via the National Park at Mullaghmore, to satisfy100s of walkers that come to the Burren Centre weekly expecting that service; and connected Ballyvaughan, Ailwee, Caherconnell & Poulnabrone to the bus stop at Lemenagh. Services would be more frequent in season, obviously. Users should be able to plan journeys easily using a phone app. There should be far more publicity to encourage greater use of improved public transport services, including marketing to tourists by Fáilte Ireland.

The aim was to provide both local and visitor users with a car/coach-free public transport service, reducing the traffic problems created by current policies and practices, serving environmental goals and making North Clare a more attractive place to visit and live in.  (Minister Ryan similarly urged this in April 2024 on a visit to Clare.) The NTA describes the changes as enhancements and part of the “Connecting Ireland Rural Mobility Plan”. You can judge whether what is proposed is actually an enhancement for local communities.

If you wish to submit views, please send an email to [email protected] by Monday 3 February responding to these questions. (Just copy and paste the questions into a document.)

Q1          Should the current 333 service be retained – ie connecting Corofin/Kilfenora directly to Ennistymon and beyond? (Yes/no and comment if desired)

Q2          Should a shuttle connect Kilfenora, Lisdoonvarna, Doolin and Cliffs of Moher as an all-year service  not just 3 months (obviously frequency would vary seasonally)? (Yes/no, comment)

Q3          Should the National Parks bus run from Kilfenora to Corofin via Mullaghmore, not just from Corofin? (Yes/no, comment)

Q4          Should a seasonal shuttle link Ballyvaughan to the Q3 route and the 333 service to Ennis via Ailwee/Caherconnell/Poulnabrone and Lemenagh (Yes/no, comment) 

Q5          Should the NTA. TFI, Failte Ireland and local Councils work together to facilitate and promote more public transport usage that connects rural and visitor locations and enables more car-free travel?  (Yes/no, comment)

As has been broadcast on Clare FM, a number of community hubs and water supply stations came into operation on Tuesday 28th January 2025 to provide support for those struggling for basic services following Storm Éowyn.

1             Community Hubs

Clare County Council has organised Community Hubs providing people with water, phone charging facilities, broadband, showers and information on how to source a hot meal or other requirements from today. The hubs will also provide a source of information and signposting as required, with Council staff present at some of these hubs between 10am and 4pm. (The facilities are open longer.)

North Clare locations nearest to Kilfenora are Community Centre Ennistymon, V95X8XC (open 7am to 10pm);  Doolin Hotel V95DE2X Tuesday January 28 to Thursday January 30 inclusive (open all day);  Lisdoonvarna  Imperial Hotel V95HF5X Friday January 31 to Tuesday February 4 inclusive (open all day). The Council states that other satellite centres may be provided through local Community Centres with further satellite centres being considered for other communities.

An update has been provided on 21 January by Clare County Council and can be read by clicking here. This includes the offer of access to power and water at Kilfenora Community Hall – call 086 0817993 to arrange access.

2             Water

By Tuesday January 28, a temporary water supply has been provided by Uisce Éireann at various locations. In N Clare these include Lisdoonvarna (The Pavilion), Ennistymon Water Bottle Refill Station, Lahinch Beach car park, Fanore O’Donovan’s Pub and Ballyvaughan Church car park. See www.water.ie for details.

Please check in on vulnerable neighbours to ensure they are safe and have access to essential services, including the Storm Éowyn Community Helpline – 065 6846386 – which will be active from 8am to 8pm to provide advice and direction to supports available for the duration of the emergency.

Please note that the Clare County Council Emergency phone number remains open after 8pm – 087 259 9568.