Firefighters tackle sweeping blaze

Dozens of firefighters from four different stations were last night battling to save homes and forestry threatened by one of the largest gorse fires in Co Clare for several years.

Fire crews managed to prevent one home from being engulfed in flames and battled to save others after the massive fire swept through hundreds of acres of scrubland.

Fires were reported along both sides of a 6km stretch of the Ennis to Miltown Malbay R474 road between The Hand and Coore East. Gardaí had to close the roads as poor visibility hampered motorists.