THE ruin hugs the rugged shore straddling the bays of Ballinskelligs and Waterville. Once upon a long ago it was a hotel. Today it sits in an overgrown field, a three-storey concrete skeleton, like something lifted from a bomb-ravaged city. You can walk up and look inside the walls at the rubble, the moth eaten furniture, the sepia-toned dreams pummelled by time.

IT LOOKS like we never learn in this country, no matter what. What other country grants planning permission for a €460 million development that depends for its financial success on the inclusion of something that is not legal?

A PROMINENT casino consultant has questioned the sustainability of the proposed €460 million casino and leisure complex in rural Tipperary — saying he personally would not invest in such a project.

SO An Bord Pleanála has given the go-ahead for the construction of a €460 million, 800-acre “Las Vegas-style” sports and leisure complex in Co Tipperary complete with a 500-bedroom five-star hotel, a 6,000sq m casino, an all-weather racecourse, a greyhound track and a golf course.

BUSINESSMAN Richard Quirke unveiled his grand vision for what was quickly dubbed a “Las Vegas-style” development in October 2009 — not the most auspicious of times for the start of a €460 million investment in the middle of Co Tipperary.

SURFERS have thrown into doubt Clare County Council’s plans for a €6 million pier at Doolin for summer 2012.

AN Taisce was last night labelled a secret society.

THE most derided pillar in Irish public administration, the quango, has come to symbolise what is wrong with our bureaucracy.

THE HSE has requested that a baseline health study be completed around Cork Harbour before An Bord Pleanála consider sanctioning a toxic incinerator in Ringaskiddy.

BUSINESS associations along with independent traders’ body, RGDATA, and An Taisce are opposing plans for a €40 million retail park on the outskirts of Clare’s county town.

AN oral hearing to discuss objections to a planned super casino in Tipperary is set to take place on March 8.

THE intensification of use of a contentious quarry would fail to protect the tourism and amenity resources of west Clare, An Bord Pleanála said.

THE redevelopment of a public pier in Doolin is crucial to the tourist industry in the Clare village.

A PUBLIC hearing is to be held to examine a planned €460 million casino and leisure development for Co Tipperary.

PLANS for a revised €6 million pier at Doolin in Co Clare will pose a significant health and safety threat to surfers along with damaging the world famous wave environment at the location.