This article is from page 8 of the 2014-02-18 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 8 JPG
ENNIS Golf Club is counting the cost of Storm Darwin after dozens of trees were knocked over on the course on Wednesday afternoon.
It is estimated that around 130 trees were knocked over or uprooted along the 107-year-old course.
A full assessment of the damage has been carried out.
The course is expected to remain closed for a number of days to facilitate removal work.
In a message posted on the club’s Facebook page, Club Manager Pat McCarthy thanked all members who had volunteered to help out.
He stated, “In common with the rest of the country, Ennis Golf Club has suffered seriously from the recent storms. The unprecedented winds of Wednesday have knocked large numbers of evergreen and deciduous trees all over the course. Many more have been left in a weakened and dangerous state.”
Mr McCarthy continued, “A full assessment of the damage has been carried out and contractors are quoting for the clean up at present and we expect work to commence early next week. In the interests of safety and to allow the heavy work of removal we have no alternative but to close the course for at least a week. We will keep members updated via email regarding the reopening of the course. We are grateful to our members who have volunteered their help but, until such time as the dangerous work is successfully completed, we cannot allow members onto the course.”
The club was among numerous areas of the town where trees were knocked over by storm force winds on Wednesday.
A number of patients had to be evacuated from the top floor of Ennis General Hospital because of fears that winds could damage the roof.
No signs of damage was found and the patients were able to return to the building.
Fallen trees near St Flannan’s College forced the closure of a busy road while gardaí were called to deal with an overturned truck on the M18 motorway outside Ennis.