This article is from page 7 of the 2009-04-21 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 7 JPG
WEDDINGS in the former “capital of County Clare” are being affected because of a lack of signage on the N18 Ennis bypass, a meeting has heard.
Cllr Bernard Hanrahan (FF) told a meeting of the Ennis electoral area that Clarecastle has become a popu- lar spot for couples tying the knot.
However, Cllr Hanrahan claimed that many people on their way to at- tend weddings in Clarecastle end up in Doora because there is no sign for the village on the N18 Ennis bypass.
“You have people coming into Clarecastle and they end up travel- ling all the way up to Doora because there isn’t a sign on the bypass for Clarecastle,” said Cllr Hanrahan.
He continued, “You have signs for Quin, you have signs for Carrigoran. I mean, what do Quin and Carrigor- an have to offer more than Clarecas- tle? Clarecastle was once the capital of Clare.”
“All I want ye to do is erect sig- nage on the main road. I spoke to the deputy head of the National Road’s Association (NRA) and they were in favour of it,’ added Cllr Hanrahan.
Supporting Cllr Hanrahan’s call, councillors urged Clare County Council to erect signs on the Ennis bypass.
Cllr Tommy Brennan (Ind) told yesterday’s meeting that the issue of signage for Clarecastle had been raised repeatedly at area meetings.
“That came up at the last meet- ing. It’s coming up at every meeting. Could we not just put the signs up?” he said.
Cllr Brennan added, “Why can’t we just go ahead and do it?” Cllr Pat Daly (FF) said a sign for Clarecastle should be situated at the roundabout near the Clare Inn hotel.
Cllr Sonny Scanlan (FG) also called for clearer signage along all sections the N18 Ennis bypass.
‘People are going up as far as Bare- field. When you are coming from the other direction, you see signs for Scariff and Tulla and none for Ennis. How are people supposed to know’? It’s a pure joke. We need signs for Clarecastle and we also need them for Ennis as well,’ he said.