The Clare Echo 05 December by The Clare Echo

Minister gig for Dooley?

by Páraic McMahon

paraic@clareecho.ie

COUNTY Clare’s chances of having a Minister for the first time since 2011 appear stronger than ever.

Two Fianna Fáil TDs, one Fine Gael TD and one Sinn Féin TD were elected by the people of Clare after 63.6 percent of the electorate used their democratic right to vote in the General Election.

Timmy Dooley’s (FF) showing where he recorded the highest first preference vote in Clare since Brendan Daly’s (FF) 1977 result saw him clock up the second highest vote of a Fianna Fáil TD in this election, only behind

party leader Micheál Martin. The Mountshannon native is now in a very strong position to become a Minister. Should Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael as expected enter into a coalition with another grouping, the prospect of Cathal Crowe TD (FF) who enters his second term as a TD getting a Junior Ministry is a possibility while political sources have said a factor of Joe Cooney’s (FG) decision to rejoin the race may have included a promise of a role by outgoing Taoiseach, Simon Harris, a suggestion Cooney has rejected.

l (Clockwise) Timmy Dooley (FF) is lifted shoulder high; Cathal Crowe (FF) embraces Francie Daly; Mayor of Clare Cllr Alan O’Callaghan (FF) bows before Joe Cooney (FG); and Donna McGettigan (SF) speaks to Scariff Bay Radio

Photos by Joe Buckley Full Story p12

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Dowling to retire as Chief Executive

by Páraic McMahon paraic@clareecho.ie

CHIEF EXECUTIVE of Clare County Council, Pat Dowling is to re tire from the role next month. Dowling’s exit had been expected but was

on Monday morning. His retirement will become effective from December 31.

Appointed to post in June 2016 on a seven year term, the Knockaderry native arrived in Áras Contae an Chláir in September 2016 as Chief Executive and has since November 2016 lived in Kilkee with his wife Rose. The 61 year old is a father of six.

County Council.

Ouch! Judge awards €10,000 compo to Ennis hospital attendant

by Gordon Deegan news@clareecho.ie

A JUDGE has awarded a retired HSE multi-task hospital attendant €10,000 compensation for an injury sustained from a used Covid-19 vaccination needle stick to a middle finger.

In March 2023, he informed the Department of Local Government and the Public Appointments Service that he wished to avail of the option of a three year extension to his seven year appointment. Twenty months on, he has announced he is to retire from the role. It means his first and last jobs were based in Co Clare, having started his career as a

“It has been my privilege to serve the Council and the county for almost eight and a half years and it is my earnest hope that I have made a positive contribution to the reputation and standing of the organisation and the county. Working with Clare County Council has represented the pinnacle of my career and I thank all the members, present and former for their support and co-operation during that time.

At Ennis Circuit Court, Judge Patrick Quinn said that he was “being as generous as he could be and being as fair as I can be to both parties “ in making the €10,000 award to Peter Rogers (67) of Doon, Tubber, Co Clare.

needle bin which was in the wrong place in a shed and the needle was wrongfully exposed at the top of the bin.

Feirme and rural development with Kildare Leader Company.

Mr Rogers removed the needle immediately but was bleeding severely. Mr Rogers went to Ennis General Hospital where the finger wound was dressed.

“I look forward to observing the exploits of Clare County Council from my home in West Clare and I wish you all well for the future,” he said in correspondence of elected members of the Council on Monday morning.

Mr Rogers who worked at St Joseph’s Hospital in Ennis was suing the HSE and St Joseph’s Hospital and liability was admitted and the case was before the court for the quantum of damages only.

Glowing tributes were made by county councillors at Monday’s meeting of the Council where he also received a standing ovation.

In evidence, Mr Rogers said that “Covid-19 needles” were being used to give vaccinations to patients in the Church at St Joseph’s Hospital in January 2021.

Counsel for Mr Rogers, Sheila Finn BL said that Mr Rogers suffered “a significant puncture wound from a used needle into the right middle finger” on January 25th 2021.

Mr Rogers sustained the injury when moving a sharps

Ms Finn said that Mr Rogers was told by a medic that he was at risk of Hepatitis C and HIV and to avoid sexual intercourse with his wife and it took eight weeks for blood test results to come back when Mr Rogers was given the all clear.

In evidence, Mr Rogers said that “I got a shock” after sustaining the needle prick injury.

Before moving to Clare, Pat was Deputy Chief Executive for Limerick City and County Council with responsibility for Social Development. His first role in local government was in 1999 when he joined the Limerick Corporation, previously he worked with Clare Youth Service, National Youth Council of Ireland, Macra na

He told the court: “It was very sore and I was very nervous and worried about the Covid-19 needle.”

hospital treatment. He did not sleep that night.

In 1983, he graduated with a degree in European Studies from the National Institute for Higher Education which is now the University of Limerick and during his time there was placed on co-op at the United Nations in New York and lived at the time with his older brother Michael, who is now the President and Chief Executive Officer of Northwell Health. His second placement while in university was in the European Parliament. He received a bronze medal for exceptional achievement when graduating.

Mr Rogers said that the injury made him “very agitated and very ratty” at home. He said that was “living in fear every day” of contracting a similar injury.

He confirmed that he made five visits to his GP in 2021 concerning the needle injury. Mr Rogers went back to work the same day after receiving

The court was told that the pain in his right middle finger intensified in the days after the accident and Mr Rogers went off sick from work from January 28th to February 15th. The finger was now swollen and stiff.

Garden in Kilrush; and the most significant tourism project to be undertaken in East Clare with the development Inis Cealtra visitor centre. On two occasions during his tenure, Clare County Council was named local authority of the year.

Mr Rogers retired in June of this year unconnected to the needle stick injury and he told the court: “I am a different man now. I am happy.”

He was also to the fore in Lahinch’s hosting of the 2019 Dubai Duty Free Irish Open serving as a major success.

Judge Quinn said that for some reason, Mr Rogers’s solicitors referred him to a psychologist who found that two and a half years after the needle injury he was described as having mild to moderate Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

As Chief Executive of Clare County Council, Pat oversaw the transfer of the Shannon Heritage tourism sites to the local authority which he previously described as “one of the biggest risks” in the 125 year history of the Council. He was involved in the multi-million euro redevelopment of the Vandeleur Walled

However, a psychologist for the HSE found that Mr Rogers on examination had no features of PTSD but did develop a degree of worry after the accident which was understandable. On examination no evidence was found of Mr Rogers sustaining any psychiatric injury, the report found.

Also under Dowling’s watch, the County Council has voted to implement the highest charge of local property tax on a consistent basis. He has always stressed the importance of the Council maintaining a balanced budget and noted his pride at the local authority never recording a deficit during his tenure. He previously issued promises that issues at Blake’s Corner would be solved during his term as Chief Executive and has been a central figure in the creation of the Ennis 2040 Designated Active Company (DAC).

l Library in Ennis. The brand new DeValera County Library opened its doors to the public on Monday morning. The 2,321sqm building on Causeway Link, Ennis comprises a public library over two floors which includes the local studies centre, a 100sqm a gallery and the County Library headquarters

Photo by Eamon Ward

The team from Le Cheile Café busy uploading pics to Instagram at the welcome reception for Clare Business Excellence Awards - Le Chelie went on to win Best Place to Eat (café)

Photo by Eamon Ward

Everest conqueror John Burke’s hotel business scales new height after record 2023

by Gordon Deegan news@clareecho.ie

THE west of Ireland hotel business operated by Mount Everest conqueror John Burke scaled new heights last year as it enjoyed record revenues and proﬁtability.

Mr Burke operates the Armada Hotel that overlooks Spanish Point beach in west Clare and new accounts for Armada Hotel Holdings Ltd show that operating proﬁts increased by 18pc to €2m in 2023.

This followed revenues rising by 13pc from €11.69m to a record €13.23m.

The hotel is one of the west of Ireland’s most popular hotel venues for weddings and the directors state that the Armada continues to develop and grow new markets for trade, with signiﬁcant growth in meetings and events.

A breakdown of revenues show that the hotel’s largest revenue generator in 2023 was food at €5m, followed by accommodation at €4.26m and bar sales increasing to €3m.

Mr Burke climbed to the top of Mount Everest in 2017 and is part of a business double act where his wife and former Fair City actor, Aoibhin Garrihy is continuing to expand her Beo wellness brand this year with

the opening of a new cafe outlet in Ennis, The Well in May.

Commenting on the Armada’s 2023 performance, Mr Burke said: “Most- if not all of the proﬁtability from 2023, was reinvested in to the business, with a solar project, room renovations, technology upgrades, but with a big emphasis on work spaces to support morale and employee retention, the main area here was an entire new kitchen.”

He said that without proﬁt the company would be unable to make these critical investments.

He said that “independently owned, regional hotels, with a strong emphasis on food and beverage have to work harder than ever to compete with the growing suite of international brands growing market share in the country”.

He said: “But we are up to the task and believe with the right energy and creativity, the right people and strategic reinvestment of proﬁts, that the Armada should have a strong future.”

The directors’ report states that the business is now showing a stable and steady growth in casual dining and special events.

The proﬁt for last year takes account of non-cash depreciation costs of €929,517

The business recorded an operating profit of €2m and interest payments of €264,650 reduced profits to a pre-tax profit of €1.74m The business enjoyed a post tax profit of €1.52m after incurring a corporation tax charge of €217,675.

The expanded hotel enterprise is one of the largest employers in west Clare and numbers employed last year increased from 195 to 215 as wages costs increased from €3.87m to €4.86m.

A detailed breakdown of the hotel’s costs show that the company’s energy bill last year declined from €326,571 to €305,717, while the hotel’s insurance bill increased from €111,758 to €151,360.

The amount paid out to ‘bands artists’ totalled €100,867 while subscriptions to IMRO/ SKY totalled €14,599. The amount spent on donations/ sponsorship increased three fold from €8,942 to €27,763.

Accumulated proﬁts at the end of December last totalled €4.85m. The further capital investment in the business resulted in the book value of tangible assets increasing from €11.74m to €12.34m.

Venue: The Ennis Bookshop

When: Friday 6th Dec - 6 to 7pm email: books@ennisbookshop.ie Tel: 065 68 29000

Pictured are the Eabha McInerney and Cora Brooks of the Vocal Ponies at the switching on of the Christmas lights in Ennis last Thursday Photo by Arthur Ellis

CHRISTMAS CHRISTMAS TRUCK AT TRUCK AT

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by Gordon Deegan news@clareecho.ie

Teen charged with assault at minsinformed Corofin protest against asylum seeker accommodation Bunratty Christmas Parade

A 19-YEAR old Ennis man has appeared in court charged with the assault causing harm of a man in his 60s at a protest against a rumoured new accommodation centre for asylum seekers in Co Clare last year.

At Ennis District Court, Ross Culligan of Connolly Villas, Ennis appeared after being charged with the assault causing harm of local man, Michael Neylon at Scool, Corofin contrary to Section 3 of the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act on May 22nd 2023.

Outlining the State case against Mr Culligan, Sgt John Burke stated that a blockade was mounted against a rumoured centre for asylum seekers and Mr Culligan was one of those protesting.

Sgt Burke said that the alleged injured party, Mr Neylon, engaged with people in the blockade at the location “and there were verbals back and forth”.

Sgt Burke said that during the course of this, Mr Neylon was allegedly assaulted by Mr Culligan, who will turn 20 in January.

Sgt Burke said that the alleged assault was captured by mobile phone video. Judge Alec Gabbett said that he would like to see the footage before making a decision

on court jurisdiction.

Mr Neylon suffered a facial injury as a result of the alleged assault and Sgt Burke said that a photo handed into court showed stitches to Mr Neylon’s face.

Sgt Burke stated that the blockade was mounted over false reports and there were no plans to establish accommodation for asylum seekers at that location.

Judge Gabbett is to decide if he will hear the case himself in the district court or transfer the case to the Circuit Court where more serious penalties apply on conviction.

On the matter, Judge Gabbett said, “I would be inclined to keep it here given the age of the accused. He wasn’t a child at the time but was just over 18. The outcome of this is quite serious”.

Judge Gabbett noted that the DPP has directed that the case be heard in the District Court on a plea to guilty only.

Solicitor for Mr Culligan, Tara Godfrey said that some disclosure has been provided to her in the case.

She said, “We don’t have the video footage and we have just received the medical records.”

The protest in Scool, Corofin, Co Clare took place after it was organised via social media, in response to, as it turned out, false claims asylum seekers were going

to be housed in the area.

These came about after a video was circulated online in which men toured a house containing multiple beds in each bedroom, claiming that it was going to house asylum seekers in the locality.

At the time, the Minister for Integration, Roderic O’Gorman (GP) ruled out the use of the Scool property for asylum seekers.

On RTÉ radio, Minister O’Gorman said at the time there had been “detailed misinformation” about the property being put into

use.

He said, “This is entirely as the result of misinformation that’s been circulated on social media –detailed misinformation, setting out indicative numbers, indicative genders”.

He added, “We are not using the site that has been identified in Corofin. It’s never been offered to us and I suppose I can’t be clearer than that”.

Judge Gabbett adjourned the case to next month when he will make his decision on court jurisdiction.

l The property in Scool, Coroﬁn which was the subject of misinformation as a rumoured accommodation centre for asylum seekers.

Photo by: John Mangan

Chloe Corry age 4 from Ballyea pictured with Santa Claus at the switch on of the Christmas Lights at Bunratty Castle and Folk Park as Thousands of people gathered in the small County Clare village of Bunratty for the inaugural Bunratty Christmas Parade and the ofﬁcial start of the Christmas season at the iconic Bunratty Castle, which celebrates its 600th anniversary in 2025.

Photo by: Brian Arthur

82 year old man dies from hypothermia after outside fall

by Gordon Deegan

An 82-year old man died of hypothermia when unable to get up from a fall outside his remote west Clare home on a Winter’s night after his 78 year old wife collapsed unconscious while trying to ring for help, an inquest has heard.

At the Clare Coroner’s Court in Kilrush, County Coroner, Isobel O’Dea returned a verdict in the death of Bernard Kennedy of Drumellihy, Cree that was in line with the medical evidence after a post mortem found that Mr Kennedy died of hypothermia after a fall outside

his home on the evening of November 5th 2023.

Ms O’Dea said that Mr Kennedy’s health was also compromised because of cardiac and bronchitis issues as highlighted in the conclusions of the post mortem report.

When Mr Kennedy’s body was discovered outside his home close to midday on November 6th by a neighbour who alerted the Gardai, rigor mortis had already set in on the remains of Mr Kennedy.

Originally from Thomondgate, Limerick city, Mr Kennedy and his wife, Annette were married for 59

years and lived for the last 20 years at their home in Cree in west Clare. The inquest heard that the health of the two deteriorated in recent years.

In her deposition, Mrs Kennedy said that on November 5th 2023 she was ill in bed with Covid-19.

Mrs Kennedy said that evening a friend phoned for Bernard - who worked as a painter for Limerick Corporation for many years - and she went looking for Bernard and found him outside and as he walked towards her he fell.

Mr Kennedy was without shoes and socks and a top

and Mrs Kennedy said: “I walked over to Bernard and tried to lift him up. I said a prayer to Saint Mary but I couldn’t lift him up. I tried two times to lift him but I couldn’t.”

Mrs Kennedy said that she phoned for help but there was no answer and missed calls were found on Mrs Kennedy’s phone the next morning from one of the people she tried to contact. She said: “I then went into the house. I was really sick and I collapsed. That is all I remember until the next morning when I was informed that Bernard had

A neighbour, John Considine said that at around 11.55am the next morning as he was going about checking his cattle he said he saw something on the ground outside the Kennedy home and as he got near he could see that it was Bernard Kennedy and he was dead.

Mr Considine said that Annette Kennedy was found on the floor of a bedroom and had legs up against the inside of a door and the door had to be pushed to get in.

Tony Hannon told the inquest that Mr Kennedy was his ‘best pal’ and said that Annette “is a very good person and had looked after Bernard for many years”. The inquest heard that Bernard had several falls around that time including one a few days previous where he sustained two black eyes.

Ms O’Dea told Mrs Kennedy who was present that what happened “must have been a huge shock to everyone involved”. In reply, Mrs Kennedy said: “Absolutely.”

John Considine said that Mrs Kennedy “seemed dazed and confused”. He said: “Her face was all swollen. She didn’t look like the woman I have known from walking the road.”

Clare Concertina Player awarded Ashling Murphy Memorial Entrance Scholarship

Mary Immaculate College (MIC) and the Irish National Teachers’ Organisation (INTO) are delighted to announce that talented musician, Rachel Mahony, has been awarded the Ashling Murphy Memorial Entrance Scholarship for 2024.

The scholarship, now in its second year, is awarded in memory of Ashling Murphy, who was killed just months after graduating from MIC as a primary teacher. To cherish her memory, the scholarship recognises her twin love for traditional Irish music and for teaching and is open to First Year Bachelor of Education students who have shown exceptional talents as traditional Irish music players. The

her short career. It is therefore ﬁtting that we honour her memory by awarding a scholarship, in partnership with the INTO, to a fellow talented musician who is embarking on their B Ed (primary teaching) programme here with us at MIC. Rachel is such a musician and a worthy recipient and I wish her all the very best with her studies over the next four years.”

Rachel—from Ennis, County Clare—is a highly accomplished, award-winning traditional Irish musician and aspiring primary school teacher. She plays concertina and piano, with numerous wins at the Fleadh Cheoil, including ﬁrst place in both solo and group competitions under her belt. As a member of Crusheen Comhaltas, she has contributed to successful Grupa Cheoil and Ceilí Band performances at county, provincial, and national levels. Her dedication to preserving and sharing Irish music culture is also reﬂected in her involvement with both Music Generation Clare’s Irish Concertina Orchestra and Trad Orchestra. Her performance experience includes live appearances on RTE’s Ceilí House, TG4, Raidió na Gaeltachta and Clare FM.

As a music teacher, Rachel tutors young musicians within her own community and she is actively involved as a tutor in Consairtín too—Ireland’s annual concertina event. Living in a musically rich area has allowed her to learn from esteemed musicians like Tim Collins, Noel Hill, and the late, Chris Droney. She is deeply committed to promoting Irish music culture and looks forward to furthering this mission in education.

On accepting the scholarship, which was recently awarded at the annual MIC College Awards following her live performance at the ceremony, Rachel had this to say.

“I am delighted to receive the scholarship founded in Ashling’s memory. My passion for Irish traditional music has been a driving force in my life. I regularly attend festivals, ﬂeadhs, and other events across the country, where I’ve had the opportunity to connect with fellow musicians of all ages. These friendships, formed through a shared love of music, are as signiﬁcant to me as the music itself.”

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Kirby appointed Interim Chief Executive of Clare Co Council

by Páraic McMahon paraic@clareecho.ie

CARMEL KIRBY has been chosen as interim Chief Executive of Clare County Council.

Kinsale native Kirby has been a Director of Service with Clare County Council since 2017 and this week was appointed interim Chief Executive of the local authority ahead of Pat Dowling’s retirement at the end of December.

A permanent appointment is to be made in the first quarter of 2025 but in the interval Carmel will serve in a temporary capacity and for this month will work on a handover with Kilkee based Dowling.

Both Kirby and Dowling worked together in Limerick City and County Council, she crossed the border to Clare following his appointment to the top job. While in Limerick, she was the Social Development Director.

From 2017 to April 2023, Carmel was Director of Physical Development in Clare but was appointed Director of Economic Development in April 2023, all the while remaining as Director of Services in the Ennis Municipal District and serving as a member of the board for the Ennis 2040 DAC. The Ennis 2040 strategy and the shortage of

parking in the county town have been issues to stir debate within the Ennis MD over the past twelve months.

Planning, economic development, local enterprise office and related support services of the Council across the county are delivered under the Economic Development Directorat

She is married to former Limerick hurler, Gary Kirby and was conferred with a PhD in recent years.

Kirby aad been one of the front-runners for the post after Dowling announced last month that he was to step down. She was chosen ahead of Director of Social Development, Jason Murphy and Director of Physical Development, Alan Farrell for the role.

Her elevation has resulted in long-serving engineer Seán Lenihan, a native of Miltown Malbay becoming Acting Director of Service for the Ennis Municipal District. On Tuesday, he stepped down as Chairman of the Clare LGFA following a four year term which included securing Rengen Power as an anchor sponsor.

l Carmel Kirby

‘A

result that will be studied in political classes for decades’ Dooley in the mix for Minister’s role

DURING HER ﬁve year political career, Violet-Anne Wynne (IND) has left an impression and she created further history in her second General Election campaign.

Wynne received the lowest ever return for a sitting TD in Clare in the thirty ﬁve General Elections held in Clare since the formation of the State. Her vote crashed as she recorded a 8,677 drop in votes compared with the 2020 General Election when she topped the poll when run ning for Sinn Féin. She subsequently left the party in Febru ary 2022 and claimed she was subject to “psychological warfare” while serving as a member.

As the Feb ruary 2020 poll topper, she had 8,987 ﬁrst preferences on the ﬁrst count.

When bidding to retain her seat, Violet-Anne had 310 ﬁrst preference votes which was less than the 385 votes she received among an electorate of 18,104 when running for Sinn Féin in the Kilrush LEA for the 2019 local elections.

For the latest campaign, the Offaly native did not have a visible campaign with no posters or election literature. She was not present in the count centre on Saturday or Sunday and has since deleted her political pages on social

She described herself as the “tried and trusted” Independent TD in social media posts in advance of polling day when trying to win over voters.

Speaking on The Electoral Chair, communications consultant, Mark Dunphy said of the historic loss of votes. “They will be studying this in

political classes in universities across Ireland for decades to come because it was exceptional. It is not for us to sit here and discuss Violet-Anne’s failings or otherwise on why she didn’t get more than that, it is impossible to tell, how long is a piece of string”.

Director of Elections with Fianna Fáil, Gerry Reidy stated, “I had a perception that her ofﬁce was functioning as a TD’s ofﬁce would and that she would have had connections and linkages into people who she looked after but that doesn’t seem to have panned out but whatever she was doing was not effective and it did not translate into support”.

Similarly in Kildare, Patricia Ryan (IND) who was elected in February 2020 while on holidays and left Sinn Féin in October 2024 also lost her seat. She recorded a 93 percent drop in votes when she obtained 678 ﬁrst preferences.

Violet Anne Wynne attending the Clare Echo’s Electoral Chair debate

CLARE’s chances of having a Minister at Cabinet level in the next Government have been greatly strengthened by the showing of Timmy Dooley TD (FF).

Nationally Fianna Fáil won 48 of the 174 TD seats followed by Sinn Féin (39), Fine Gael (38), Independents (16), Labour (11), Social Democrats (11), Independent Ireland (4), People Before Profit Solidarity (3), Aontú (2), Green Party (1) and 100% Redress Party (1). 88 seats are needed to form a Government with coalition talks beginning this week.

Tulla based Timmy Dooley (FF) recorded the second highest vote of all Fianna Fáil TDs nationally. Only party leader Micheál Martin (FF) with 14,526 managed to get a higher first preference than Timmy’s 11,313.

This coupled with Fianna Fáil returning two TDs in Clare puts forward a very strong argument for the county to be awarded with a Minister for the first time since 2011 when former TD, Tony Killeen was Minister for Defence, that was also

the last time Fianna Fáil had two TDs from Clare in the Dáil.

Speaking to The Clare Echo, Dooley said, “The cause is stronger, the calls will be made by others, Cathal and I have experience, we would be capable of that, but that’s not going to be easy but look at the voters have put forward, and the teams here have put forward, the best case so let’s see what happens, but nothing’s guaranteed in that”.

On the prospect of the county earning a senior and junior Minister all in the one go, Tim-

my stated, “That’s very hard. We have a cabinet, so Ministers don’t get dropped generally. We won’t be shy about asking. If we’re lucky, we get a result, if we’re not, we still have to continue to fight for the issues here, and we will. We have a strong team now, and we will we will try to deliver for the county. Having access to the top table or the top layer helps to deliver a bit easier, if we’re fortunate, that’s great, if we’re not, we’ll just continue to do what we do best, and try to deliver on the big projects here”.

by Páraic McMahon paraic@clareecho.ie

Timmy Dooley TD (FF) and Cllr Pat Hayes (FF)

Photo by Joe Buckley

Ennis man faces new 'petrol bomb' charge while threatening to kill hitch-hiker

by Gordon Deegan news@clareecho.ie

A 30-year-old Ennis man who is accused of threatening a hitch-hiker that he would set him alight if he did not pay money for his lift now faces a ‘petrol bomb’ charge.

At Ennis District Court, the Book of Evidence was served on Brian Joyce of St Enda’s, Beechpark, Ennis concerning the incident on August 13th last.

The Book of Evidence contains the additional charge and after reading the new charge against Mr Joyce, Judge Alec Gabbett commented “this is a petrol bomb charge”.

In the new charge, Mr Joyce is charged with, while committing an alleged offence of threatening to kill John Hourihan at Monreel South, Ennistymon on August 13th, did produce a Powerade bottle filled with petrol contrary to Section 11 of the Firearms and Offensive Weapons Act.

Garda Amy O’Connor told the court that Mr Joyce made no reply

after charge and caution.

After the Book of Evidence was served, Judge Alec Gabbett sent Mr Joyce forward to Ennis Circuit Court for trial with the next sessions due to be heard early next year.

Mr Joyce has remained on remand in custody at Limerick prison since August after failing to secure bail at a contested bail hearing arising from the incident.

At the bail hearing, Garda Amy O’Connor said that when Mr Joyce made the alleged ‘light you up’ threat to John Hourihan, Mr Joyce’s pregnant partner was driving and their two young children aged 7 and 9 were back seat passengers along with two puppy dogs.

Garda O’Connor said Mr Hourihan was hitch-hiking to Lahinch out of Ennis at around 5.30pm on August 13th when he was picked up.

Garda O’Connor said that Mr Hourihan got into the back seat and front seat passenger,

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Brian Joyce “got very aggressive during the journey towards the alleged injured party and said he wanted money for giving him a lift”.

Garda O’Connor said that it will be alleged that after Mr Hourihan refused this, “Mr Joyce pulled out a Powerade bottle full of petrol and threatened Mr Hourihan that he would set him alight if he did not

pay them money”.

Garda O’Connor said that Mr Hourihan managed to snatch the bottle from Brian Joyce and demanded that the car be stopped.

Garda O’Connor said that the car was stopped and the alleged injured party got out before the silver Golf drove off. The court was told that these are only allegations against Mr

Joyce and Mr Joyce is entitled to the presumption of innocence. In the case, Mr Joyce is also charged with threatening to kill or cause serious harm to

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John Hourihan between Lahinch Rd, Ennis and Monreel South, Ennistymon on the N85 on August 13th last.

Pauline Downes of Le Cheile café in Bareﬁeld with Mayor Of Clare, Cllr Alan O’Callaghan at the Clare Business Excellence Awards, organised by Ennis Chamber at the Inn At Dromoland last week Photo by Eamon Ward

Cooney ready for ‘senior hurling’ in the Dáil

LEINSTER House awaits Joe Cooney TD (FG) who says he will grasp the opportunity to represent the people of Clare in the Dáil.

In 2007 the late Seamus Brennan (FF), a former Minister, told Green Party members as negotiations on a coalition with Fianna Fáil progressed, “you’re playing senior hurling now lads”.

In the same vein, Cooney entered politics in 2004 with a successful election to Clare County Council and followed it up with poll topping performances in 2009, 2014, 2019 and 2024. Sunday saw him secure his election to the Dáil and so ‘senior hurliing’ awaits.

A former Chairman of Clare GAA for five years, Cooney remarked of the new challenge, “Like yourself Paudie, I played senior hurling in the past as well and I never got wanting for playing the senior hurling, I’m well up for the ball to be thrown in”.

Ironically, he played in the 1986 Clare SHC final held in Carron where Clarecastle overcame the Mills, this time round he had a Clarecastle running mate in Leonora Carey (FG) but was the only Fine Gael TD elected.

Adjusting from Cllr Joe Cooney to Joe Cooney TD “feels fantastic, a massive achievement but probably an achievement that I wouldn’t have achieved without the team I had working with me over the last three weeks”.

“It’s a challenge to try and achieve for the people of the Banner County, and that’ll be

my aim for the next number of years to try make our county a better place to live, to work, and to enjoy and to do that, a lot has been achieved in the past, more needs to be achieved. But the most important thing is extra funding going into our county as regards to sort different issues and concerns that people have here in Clare”.

During his time on the Killaloe Municipal District, the O’Callaghans Mills man has criticised the absence of funds given to the local authority for improving infrastructure. He’s

determined to lead the charge to bring improved funds to the county. “It’s about getting the funds for Clare. As we’re aware, the health service, housing are different issues but I’ll be working with the other three deputies to try and achieve as much as possible over the next number of years for our county”.

A U-turn from Cooney saw him rejoin the election race at the beginning of November, this followed enhanced appeals from outgoing Taoiseach, Simon Harris (FG). Political sources have told The Clare Echo that a Junior

Ministry with the OPW is a possibility for Joe. During his canvass, Joe, who stood down from his role with East Clare Construction Ltd in the past 12 months, flagged that housing emerged as the biggest issue in the constituency. “It was definitely brought to my attention during my canvass in different parts of the county that there is young people of maybe 30 to 40 still living at home and can’t put their own roof over their own head, which every young person wants to do. It’s also a burden in the family, the younger people are having their families and it’s a lot of inconvenience... it is something I’m going to try and deal with.

Fine Gael keep their seat in Clare thanks to the success of the outgoing Cathaoirleach of the Killaloe Municipal District. “It’s very important to keep our seat in Clare naturally enough, we had a bit of hard luck not to win two seats but in fairness to Donna (McGettigan) she done brilliant and got a fantastic transfer which people thought she may not get, a fantastic transfer. Timmy (Dooley) and Cathal (Crowe) simply had a fantastic vote both of them, I think myself there’s four good Deputies elected to represent the county going forward”.

Following the conclusion of a hectic three week campaign, Joe said he was reinvigorated to receive a mandate to represent the people of Clare. “As I say, any time there is a challenge there, I’m up for the challenge. I’ll take on the challenge, I’ll do my best, and hopefully, I’ll achieve going forward”.

l Joe Cooney TD (FG) celebrates his election to the Dáil

Photo by Joe Buckley

by Páraic McMahon paraic@clareecho.ie

SOCIAL DEMOCRATS “are on the map in Clare” following the General Election, unsuccessful candidate Hilary Tonge (SD) maintained.

Hilary had targeted hitting six percent of the vote in Clare but had to settle 3.5 percent after securing 2,144 ﬁrst preference votes before her elimination on the tenth count.

Reflecting on her performance, the Ennis woman said, “I think it was brilliant, I’m very proud of myself, I’m very proud that the Soc Dems are on the map in Co Clare. We had a great team, a small team but a great team and they were a big help to me. I want to thank them very, very much and thank the party for supporting me as well”.

Despite not hitting her intended target, Hilary outlined, “It’s improvement as in we’ve never had a Social Democrat candidate ever in Clare for a General Election, I’m the ﬁrst and I’ve done extremely well”.

Co-founder of the Mid-West Hospital Campaign, she is not conﬁdent that returning Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael TDs will help health services in the county. “Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael have basically done nothing up till now, that is why the Mid-West Health Campaign endorsed me to be a voice for them, I hope I’ve them done proud, we really need to continue this campaign”.

With two elections under her belt since June including a run for Clare County Council where she polled 598 votes and ﬁnished ninth where seven candidates were elected. “I’m totally exhausted but very happy,” she remarked of her two campaigns. She is adamant the Social Democrats will continue to grow in Clare. “Onwards and upwards. We’ll keep working here, build a party, it has doubled its numbers, so that’s great, and keep working away”.

Part of that building is to be in a strong

place come 2029 to try elect a county councillor for the ﬁrst time. “I think we have to get the young voters out. I haven’t seen all the results, but I reckon we had a low turnout, and we need young people voting because young people are Social Democrats at heart”.

On how they can be engaged, she told The Clare Echo, “Start talking. Start going into schools. Education”. When asked if there’s more elections to come from Hilary Tonge, she replied, “Always”.

Chair of the Social Democrats branch in Clare, Fiona Levie (SD) told The Clare Echo of the party’s chances of entering into a coalition with Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael. “Our stance is there are red lines particularly on health and housing that we will not cross, we look at it at as a poisoned chalice. It is a double-edge sword, we know we can’t be doing the same things and expecting different outcomes, we’ve seen it with Labour and the Greens and what happened. The temptation to go into Government and make a difference on health and housing is clearly there but at the same we won’t compromise our red lines.” Mountshannon woman Fiona said the focus is on growing the branch in Clare and is “cautious” on a coalition “but we don’t want to stay in opposition forever”.

Belfast’s Banner woman is Shannon’s ﬁrst TD

by Páraic McMahon paraic@clareecho.ie

SHANNON is still Ireland’s newest town - six decades on from its creation it can now lay claim to a TD following the election of Donna McGettigan (SF).

Donna was the third TD elected in Clare. She polled 7,843 ﬁrst preference votes as Sinn Féin returned a member of Dáil Éireann for the second election in a row, a feat it hadn’t recorded in Clare since 1922.

On Saturday and Sunday for the election count at Treacy’s West County in Ennis, Donna was the ﬁrst candidate to arrive at the count centre. When she landed in the county town, she did so as a councillor, when she headed for home on Sunday evening she was a TD.

Of the transition in job titles, she remarked, “It sounds a bit weird alright but it’s absolutely amazing. It would not have happened only for everybody to come out and voted.”

Donna remarked that nothing stopped her dedicated team from going out canvassing, as they worked through “the rain and wind”.

Becoming the first TD from Shannon was a source of immense pride for McGettigan. “That’s an incredible achievement for anyone, it just shows, Belfast-born Banner woman... and the first female Cathaoirleach of the Shannon Municipal District so the first of everything.

“I hope I’m the strong voice for the people of Clare, that is what I’ll be doing and I hope I don’t let any-

one down, I’ll be doing my best”.

Speaking at The Electoral Chair: Election Debate, Donna made it clear she was keen to win back ‘the Sinn Féin seat’ won by Violet-Anne Wynne (IND) in February 2020, which she kept following her exit from the party in February 2022. Doing just that brought a sense of satisfaction, “What a proud moment it was for us to win back that seat..it was a Sinn Féin seat, and the numbers today prove that”.

Two weeks in advance of polling day, Donna noticed a change in the doors with a more positive reception for Sinn Féin. “The one refreshing thing I ﬁnd when we went the doors

and when someone would answer the door and they come out and go, ‘we read your policy’ and they were asking us different questions on it, which meant they were looking into us and seriously considering us, and that was very refreshing and I kind of felt there was a change then when the policy started coming out .

“People believed in the policies, the fact that they’re fully costed. I think the word ‘change’ was in people’s minds, the fact that we were probably the most, transfer friendly party here”.

Former Shannon councillor and an ex colleague of Donna’s, Gerry Flynn (IND) told The Clare Echo

that Sinn Féin had “smoothed over the edges” when describing how they were picking up more transfers in the county than before. Across ten counts in 2020, Wynne picked up 2,916 transfers whereas McGettigan pulled 4,193 across the 16 counts this time.

Of the 4,193 transfers, there were big gains from the distribution from Roisin Garvey (GP) (1233), Hilary Tonge (SD) (840), Eddie Punch (II) (810) and June Dillon (AON) (413). The rise in Sinn Féin transfers was welcomed by Donna, “it was lovely for us to see, we picked up votes in every single box.

“If you look at the very ﬁrst person that was elected, it took until the 13th count for them to be elected, I’m not going naming the persons but it just shows the transfers, we were coming up behind them the whole time and the transfers really were important”.

Fighting the cause for an ED in Ennis was listed by Donna as the issue she was looking forward to tackling as a TD. “Ennis A&E, that’s been something that’s been I’ve been ﬁghting on for years, Ennis A&E is a huge issue. Clare is a very touristy county, and I love Clare, you know, so I’d love to be trying to help the tourism sector and the West of Clare which kind of doesn’t have a presence in the area (no TD) so it’s something that all four of us need work together towards”.

Entering into a coalition with Fianna Fáil should not be ruled out, the Sinn Féin TD maintained. “Here’s the way we look at it, we will talk to anyone simply because they might have given number 1 to Fianna Fáil and they might have given us a number two, and if we don’t talk to everyone, we’re disenfranchising those voters, and that’s not right.”

Co-opted onto Clare County Council in February 2020 following the death of Mike McKee (SF) in November 2019, when he was elected to the Council in 2014 he became Sinn Féin’s first representative since 1975. He was among the late figures that Donna was thinking of following her biggest political success. “He would be (very proud), he’s been here with us and another friend Hannah who we lost, her anniversary was yesterday so the two anniversaries fall next to each other, but there was also Mags O’Connor and Big Jim, these are all people that were very influential in my life and with Sinn Féin Clare, they are all very much in our thoughts”.

She retained the Council seat at the local elections in June when she was the second candidate elected in the Shannon Municipal District. She was an unsuccessful candidate in the Ennis MD in 2019, at the time she was also Runaí of Clare Sinn Féin Comhairle Ceanntair and a Sinn Féin Ard Comhairle delegate.

When asked if this was something she’d be doing from the opposition benches in Leinster House, McGettigan said, “We will have to wait and see”.

l Donna McGettigan TD (SF) is raised into the air Photo by Joe Buckley

Free entry to Cliffs of Moher for Clare residents and holiday homeowners

COUNTY Clare residents and holiday homeowners in Clare are invited to celebrate the Christmas season with free admission to the Cliffs of Moher Experience from December 1st to January 5th, 2025. This festive offer allows locals and holiday homeowners to enjoy one of Ireland’s most iconic attractions in a holiday atmosphere, right on their doorstep.

The Cliffs’ Craft and Gift Store features products from over 80 Irish suppliers—60 of whom are local artisans—offering a wonderful way to support local businesses this Christmas. Shoppers can find unique, handcrafted gifts ranging from knitwear, candles, and jewellery to art, ceramics, and beauty products.

Visitors can also dine at the Cliff View Café, where the menu showcases locally sourced favourites such as Burren Smoked Salmon, St Tola Goat’s Cheese, and Burren Gold Cheese. Food lovers will enjoy the selection of Clare’s finest treats, including jams, chutneys, and festive hampers that capture the unique flavours of County Clare.

In the spirit of giving, the Cliffs of Moher Experience team will host community fundraisers and events throughout December, including a Christmas Breakfast. Annual visits with local schoolchildren to nursing homes in North Clare will continue this year, spreading holiday joy to residents.

“The Cliffs of Moher Experience offers one of Ireland’s most unique shopping and dining

experiences this Christmas,” says Geraldine Enright, General Manager Clare Tourism North West. “Whether you’re drawn by the breathtaking views or the festive atmosphere, you’ll discover everything from children’s

books to vintage posters, handbags to holiday decorations, all inspired by the rich culture and creativity of the region.”

The visitor centre will be decked out in twinkling lights and holiday decorations

from mid-November, adding a magical touch to every visit. Festive visitors are welcome daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Visitors can also download the free Cliffs of Moher Experience App and Audio Guide, available in advance or onsite. With free WiFi throughout the visitor centre and viewing platforms, the app provides easy access to detailed information about the cliffs and surrounding area.

For those who haven’t yet experienced the new Ledge 4D Experience, a treat awaits. This interactive attraction, located within the visitor centre, offers a thrilling 3-minute journey across the cliffs. With immersive visuals showing the cliffs on a calm summer’s day— both above and underwater—paired with environmental effects like the mist and wind of the West Coast, the 4D experience brings the cliffs to life in a way like no other.

The Cliffs of Moher Experience is also accessible to visitors with disabilities or reduced mobility, thanks to two electric buggies—’The Lifts of Moher’. Operated by trained staff, these buggies offer a guided tour that includes the viewing platforms overlooking the majestic cliffs and the historic O’Brien’s Tower, a 19th-century icon.

Clare residents can book their complimentary tickets online at www.cliffsofmoher.ie using the promo code CLARE24. Proof of address will be required in addition to your booking.

CHRISTMAS MAGIC

Enjoy

Dec.

Give

Enjoy the festive wonderland in the garden Delight in local artworks at our Winter Exhibition

'We went from a funeral back into a campaign'Crowe relieved to be nearing end of long year

by Páraic McMahon paraic@clareecho.ie

SINCE bursting on the scene as a 21-year old in 2004, Cathal Crowe TD (FF) said his campaign to get re-elected to the Dáil was unquestionably the toughest.

Twenty seven days out from polling day, Crowe’s mother-in-law Mary Fehily (72) was killed in tragic circumstances when a car mounted the pavement in Charleville after she purchased a lotto ticket to support the local GAA club.

After retaining his seat as a TD, Cathal dedicated the success to Mary. He said, “It was quite difficult on a personal level. Above all I’m a family man and we had a traffic bereavement in the campaign. I loved my mother in law dearly and I had to be there to support my wife Maeve during a very difficult time so it was only right to stand down campaign to allow us mourn, have a funeral. It was the right thing to do but it meant canvassing couldn’t happen.

“I love politics, one of my favourite things is electioneering and meeting people on the door but I had a heavy heart during this campaign given we went from a funeral back into a campaign, it was difﬁcult but I have the most incredible family and supporters who really dou-

bled down in the past three weeks to make sure we canvassed every corner of the county, we managed to canvass some areas twice as you witnessed yourself in O’Briensbridge”.

Crowe continued, “I was pleased with the response on the canvass, we were challenged on the doors in some places but people were very polite. I felt the campaign was going well but I knew it was a very crowded ﬁeld.”

He was the second candidate elected behind his running mate Timmy Dooley (FF), the two were the only duo to surpass the quota of 12,182. “As a party we have long aspired to have two seats in the county, the last time was in 2011, almost 14 years ago. At one point for this election, we may have even been in the hunt for three seats but as the ﬁeld became more crowded then two seats looked more realistic but you can never assume that can happen. It was an absolute battle, Timmy, Rita and I slogged it out to make sure the votes transferred, we canvassed the entire county apart from the home patch of each other”.

Even though he had a higher ﬁrst preference vote in 2020 he didn’t pass the quota, a dip of 94 votes may have been recorded this time round but he pointed to increases in Shannon and West Clare as satis-

factory aspects. “I was very pleased with my vote, I was down 30 or so (91) votes in the county which to me is a really good performance.

“I was standing on my own record and people thankfully appreciated that and I knew I was doing my best for the county. The polls from the tallies showed Donna McGettigan and Joe Cooney were doing well

in my own area so it was a pressurised election and unfortunately there was people telling people in my area that I was as safe as houses when I wasn’t. Overall, it was a solid performance”.

With Fianna Fáil electing 48 of the 174 TDs, they are on course to be the lead partner of any coalition.

The Meelick native is of the view

they will again join up with Fine Gael, noting, “Things worked well with Fine Gael in the last Government”.

As it stands, Micheál Martin (FF) is most likely to be Taoiseach, he said no Government will be formed before Christmas. According to Crowe this is not down to a lack of urgency but rather a need to reach agreement among the various parties in agreeing a Programme for Government.

With two Fianna Fáil TDs elected in Clare, the prospect of a Minister from the county is certainly strengthened. Dooley and Crowe are held in high esteem by Martin which poses the possibility of a senior and junior Ministry. “If I’m asked to serve in a post of Minister at Cabinet or a Minister of State I will relish and give it 110% as I’ve done with everything in my political career but I know Timmy Dooley and Joe Cooney will do the same...it is out of our hands, I’d be very respectful of the post of Taoiseach so I won’t meddle in it.

“I hope my track record nationally and locally will at some stage be considered in the appointment of positions but there will be many TDs from around the country laying claim in a right to be a Minister,” Cathal told The Clare Echo

l Cathal Crowe (FF) celebrating on Sunday Photo by Joe Buckley

Dooley's day 'hugely humbling'

by Páraic McMahon paraic@clareecho.ie

POLL-TOPPER, Timmy Dooley TD (FF) bounced back with a bang to claim his place as one of the county’s four TDs in the 34th Dáil.

Not since the late Brendan Daly (FF) in 1977 when he recorded 11,933 first preference votes has there been a return higher than the figure of 11,313 amassed by Timmy in a General Election in Clare.

Topping the poll is nothing new to the Mountshannon native who was previously first over the line in 2007 and 2016 but the success was made more special considering he won back the seat that he lost in February 2020.

That defeat made Dooley savour his latest success. “I was pleased to get elected. Having been through 2020 and losing a seat, anything that gets you back is good. It's been a good campaign, very pleased for Fianna Fáil that we managed the strategy better this time, that the two of us got elected. We were so close the last time, so we kind of learned our lessons in terms of our canvass strategy.

“We’ve been out sort of more direct campaigning since early September, and the weather was kind, so it allowed us to get to more places and meet more people”.

With such a visible campaign that included massive signs placed around the county, the scaffolding was described as akin to the Eiffel Tower by Mayor of Clare, Cllr Alan O’Callaghan (FF). Dooley’s campaign manager, Martin O’Loghlen told The Clare Echo, “this was probably the biggest effort to date in the five general elections he has contested, we canvassed every town and village in Clare but more importantly the rural areas which most candidates never got to”. Their campaign received a renewed focus with the addition of Joe Cooney (FG) into the race at the beginning of November, Timmy said. “I have to say when Joe

Cooney came into it, I had real cause for concern because I know Joe and I know how he does his business, and I know how well liked he is, and I'm also conscious that a first time candidate gets a massive injection of energy.”

According to Timmy, the reception on the doors was positive for the work done by Micheál Martin (FF) and their coalition partners Fine Gael. “Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael have worked well in Government, so from my party's perspective, the stewardship and leadership of Micheál Martin has been really helpful, we got lots of people on the doors who reflected positively about his time as Taoiseach, about his statesmanship, about his diplomatic skills on some of the international and worldwide issues, particularly his knowledge and understanding and his forthrightness on the Middle East, his work from a national perspective in relation to the war in Ukraine, as well as dealing with issues domestically. He has put country ahead of sometimes the party in terms of just naked politics, and that doesn't always play off immediately. It takes time for people to realise that maybe a tough decision was in the longterm better interest, and that has always been his strategy and I so that has helped both Cathal and I on this occasion”.

Both Timmy and then Junior Minister, Pat Breen (FG) lost their seats in February 2020, which was the lowpoint of his political career so bouncing back with a bang was very satisfying. “It really is tempered. I know people look at the numbers and they go, ‘you must be over the moon’. I was just pleased to be back and, for me, it was about recognising the last time. I didn't lose heart when I got defeated because I felt with the 7,700 odd votes that it wasn't it wasn't a rejection of me as a politician or what I stood for or the work that I did because I saw many other politicians around the country with a lot less votes get-

ting elected so I took some I took some sucker from that, that it was just a quirk of the system at the time and the strategy we deployed, but it was it's nice when you continue to do what you what you what you did, and that people reflect positively on it and re-elect you”.

Speaking to The Clare Echo at the count centre, Dooley took time to remember many of his supporters that were no longer around. “Some of the difficult things this time were the people who weren't with us that had been so good to us. Seamus Harrison, who's just a neighbour of mine, his son was with us, he just died really suddenly back in

the summer. Denis Hayes, who was the chairman of the Comhairle Ceanntair and the person who has probably the biggest inspiration to me since I was elected to the Seanad about getting elected to the Dáil, he passed away after COVID, my Dad (Joe) had also passed. Liam Walsh in Killaloe who was out with us for every election and died of a brain tumour, he wasn’t with us on this occasion, Paschal Lenihan from Sixmilebridge, Pat Reilly who passed away previously and wasn’t around for the last election and Mike Noonan two guys with me from the start, all relatively young men and many others whom

I haven’t forgotten but I thought about those guys at some stage, one or other of them every day when we went to an area that we'd had a funny incident with one or other of them, and that that drove me on some of those days. Having been defeated and seeing the pain in their face was what I actually found harder the last time because I could only blame myself because of the strategy we developed but it was mine so I owned it, they were saying ‘we were out to get you elected not anybody else’, I felt I let them down by being part of a strategy which didn’t deliver for what they wanted”.

His family were by his side in The Falls and were once again flanking him on a more joyous outcome at Treacy’s West County Hotel. “Emer and the girls (Aoife and Aisling), my mother (Mary), my two sisters (Liz and Mary), my brother (Paddy), there's an endless line of first and second cousins, there's people who are distantly related, there are no relations and they put in the hard yards every day, every night through the campaign and they're there throughout the year to lend a hand around anything that will be forever indebted to them but at least on this occasion now we've managed to turn it around and give them back a victory which they're proud of. They worked night and day, but they did the last time too, and that's why that was as I said to you, that was was the hardest to see the effort they put in and it not to be rewarded and, you know, me being able to take the blame a little bit for sort of devising a strategy that didn't pay so but look, that's from their perspective, that's in the past now so it's it's onwards but, yeah, it is a great feeling to have so many people around you, that believe in you and want to want you to succeed, it's hugely humbling, it's up there”.

l Timmy Dooley TD (FF) with his wife Emer and their daughters, Aoife and Aisling

Photo by Joe Buckley

Punch steps away from public life

AFTER two election defeats this year, Eddie Punch (II) will be “completely detached” from public life in 2025, writes Páraic McMahon.

Punch’s campaign never really sprung to life despite his credentials as a candidate. He polled in eighth position of the 20 candidates but overtook Cllr Rita Mcinerney (FF) following transfers from June Dillon (AON) to prolong his involvement until the 14th count.

Having polled 20,751 first preference votes in Ireland South for the European elections in June, Eddie was never going to match that figure in Clare but it represented 3.01 percent of the vote where-

as his return of 2,583 in the General Election was 4.1 percent of the vote and insufficient to have him in the reckoning despite his ability to pull high transfers from Dillon (895), Michael Leahy (IFP) (559), Hilary Tonge (SD) (169), Kevin Hassett (IND) (131) and Dr Tom Nolan (FG) (105).

Reflecting on his finish, Eddie stated, “There’s no point in saying I am not disappointed with the outcome of the election but look the people have spoken, and I have to respect their decision and, I wish the elected candidates all the best”.

Prior to the election, the Cratloe farmer told The Clare

Echo if the Dáil bid didn’t work, he planned to “eat some seabass in Kuşadası in Turkey and drink some nice wine”. When asked if this remained on the horizon, he said, “God, I hope it is. But, like, I'll have to you know, we'll put it this way now, in 2025 I intend to be completely detached from public life or representing anybody except myself”.

Seanad bid for McInerney?

by Páraic McMahon paraic@clareecho.ie

ATTEMPTS to secure a Seanad nomination are to be made by Cllr Rita McInerney (FF) after she lost out in her bid to become Fianna Fáil’s ﬁrst TD from West Clare in over two decades.

A dip of 663 votes from the 2020 General Election led to Rita’s elimination on the 12th count but once again she was the eighth candidate left standing as the county elected its four new TDs.

Off the back of a successful local election in June where she topped the poll in a competitive Kilrush LEA, it had been expected that Rita would received a higher share of the 5.7 percent of the vote she amassed.

She said of her performance, “Considering there was there was so many candidates in the in the ﬁeld, it's probably in around the same. It was a difﬁcult campaign, it was a very short lead in time compared to other campaigns but, I enjoyed it, I had a great team, and, they put their heart and soul into it, and I'm very fortunate to have that support. I'm very passionate about the West and North in the county and making sure that we have representation, and I'll continue to do that and

build my proﬁle as Cathaoirleach of the West Clare Municipal District for this year and raise the issues and take the concerns of people, to the fore.”

On the next ‘dream’ for Rita, the shop owner conﬁrmed. “I’ll certainly put my hat in the ring [to become a Senator]... There's a job of work to be done there in terms of seeking a Seanad seat because we have a lot of Fianna Fáil councillors around the country as well so I have to feed into that and use as many contacts as I can.”

Amanda eyeing up FF return

by Páraic McMahon paraic@clareecho.ie

IN JUNE, when Amanda Major (IND) said she was “done with politics”, five months on with a General Election campaign under her belt and she said the fun is only beginning in her political career.

After polling 205 first preferences, Amanda was eliminated on the second count of the General Election in Clare.

Prior to polling day, she had told The Clare Echo she was not confident of causing an upset so after arriving in the count centre on Sunday, having had some time to absorb her elimination at 22:30 on Saturday, she was pointing to the positives of her campaign. “I was not really expecting anything different but like I said, anyway, I put my name forward to raise a topic, you know, which is the health care

system in Clare and I think I’ve succeeded in doing that. I just hope now that the four TDs who got the seats will move on it and make sure that that is done, between the five years that they are there that they deliver a gold standard health care system for Co Clare”.

This was her third run for office following unsuccessful attempts in the Ennis Municipal District in 2019 and 2024 where she polled 200 and 396 first preference votes respectively. The Ennis woman has been an Irish citizen since 2015, she formerly lived in Direct Provision and has also resided in Scariff and Shannon.

Following her defeat in June, she announced “I’m

done with politics” but within a matter of months was back in the game and bidding to become a TD and the mother of four equated any election campaign with giving birth. “I know I said that, but, like, then I said, when a woman is going through labour, you know, when you’re in that process of pain, you can say anything, and then you’re back in the next nine months”.

There remains a strong possibility that she will rejoin Fianna Fáil. She had attempted to secure the party’s nomination to run in the Ennis MD and was also unsuccessful in the co-option of Novemeber 2022 which saw Cllr Tom O’Callaghan (FF) chosen to take Mark Nestor’s (FF) seat. “I might go back [to Fianna Fáil] because I think there’s unfinished business there, I think I can work with the party much more than being on the front seat, there’s other things that need to be done”.

DRIVE, LIMERICK ROAD, ENNIS, CO. CLARE

ROSLEVAN, TULLA ROAD, ENNIS, CO. CLARE

2 CHURCH DRIVE, CLARECASTLE, ENNIS, CO. CLARE

FERGUS MANOR, ENNIS, CO. CLARE

2 MEADOW COURT, CLONROAD, ENNIS, CO. CLARE

5 DROMARD, LAHINCH ROAD, ENNIS, CO. CLARE 137 ACHA BHILE, LAHINCH ROAD, ENNIS, CO. CLARE

43 CATHEDRAL COURT, ENNIS, CO. CLARE

ASHFIELD HOUSE, CUSACK ROAD, ENNIS, CO. CLARE

42 ASHFIELD PARK, GORT ROAD, ENNIS, CO. CLARE

2 OAKWOOD, SIXMILEBRIDGE, CO. CLARE 1 DUN NA MANACH, QUIN,

HILL, ENNIS, CO. CLARE

47 SYCAMORE DRIVE, LIMERICK ROAD, ENNIS, CO. CLARE

ROSLEVAN, TULLA ROAD, ENNIS, CO. CLARE

2 CHURCH DRIVE, CLARECASTLE, ENNIS, CO. CLARE

FERGUS MANOR, ENNIS, CO. CLARE

2 MEADOW COURT, CLONROAD, ENNIS, CO. CLARE

5 DROMARD, LAHINCH ROAD, ENNIS, CO. CLARE

137 ACHA BHILE, LAHINCH ROAD, ENNIS, CO. CLARE

43 CATHEDRAL COURT, ENNIS, CO. CLARE

ASHFIELD HOUSE, CUSACK ROAD, ENNIS, CO. CLARE

42 ASHFIELD PARK, GORT ROAD, ENNIS, CO. CLARE

2 OAKWOOD, SIXMILEBRIDGE, CO. CLARE

REASKAUN, LARCH HILL, ENNIS, CO. CLARE

2 OAKWOOD, SIXMILEBRIDGE, CO. CLARE

QUIN, ENNIS, CO. CLARE

It’s ‘not the end’ of Leonora Nolan hits out at FG HQ

CLARE will not be represented by the member of the Car- ey family in Dáil Éireann for the first time in almost two decades after Leonora Carey (FG) came up just short in her quest to become a TD. Her father Donal (FG) was first elected to the Dáil in 1982, he retained the seat for five subsequent campaigns until he lost out in 2002. Five years later, his son and Leonora’s brother Joe (FG) was elected and was a TD for four terms until announcing his retirement from politics on medical grounds in August.

Although she spent four terms on the Fine Gael Executive Council and was a campaign manager for Paschal Donohoe (FG), this General Election was Leonora’s ﬁrst run for ofﬁce.

“I am hum bled and thrilled to have got the vote that I've got here. I was the last woman stand ing, and, you know, I think that shows the support, that the people have of Co Clare had for me and that they could see that, ac tually, I had the poten-

tial to be a good TD for them,” she said after her elimination on 16th and ﬁnal count.

She polled 5,251 ﬁrst preferences and proved to be transfer friendl

Over the coming days and weeks, members of her team will reflect on the campaign.

“I had the most fantastic team working with me, both personal friends and Fine Gael family, friends and family. My director of elections, Sinead Carey, was amazing. Hannah Fitzgerald, who helped me with my social media, she's a ﬁnal year student in UL, has been phenomenal. There's plenty of time to reﬂect on what we could have done differently. We've worked night and day for the last number of weeks to try meet as many people to get support, and certainly when I came away from doors having canvassed people, I was coming away feeling, they've heard me, and that they wanted to support me. I think that

has been shown in the number ones, but also in the transfers that I got”.

Supporters of Leonora and the Carey family were in tears when the result was announced.

On her experience from the election, she said, “I loved every minute of it”. She added, “I don't think it's the end of Leonora Carey”. This could suggest a potential Seanad bid but Carey said she would take time to consider her options, “I need to talk to my friends and family over the next 48 hours, and we'll see what comes out of that”.

Political analysts have suggested that Leonora could have aided her proﬁle by running in the local elections in June following Johnny Flynn’s (FG) resignation.

Days in advance of polling day, her signs were altered in Ennis to say ‘local TD’. “I think that’ll remain to be seen,” the Clarecastle woman said on the loss of the county town not having a representative in the Dáil. She added, “I certainly look forward to working with Deputy Cooney in terms of how we promote, what the county needs to have delivered on and worked on, and that'll include Ennis A&E”.

DR TOM NOLAN (FG) said he was “added in and left without life support” by Fine Gael party headquarters throughout his election campaign.

Following an initial decision by Joe Cooney TD (FG) not to contest the General Election, Fine Gael made approaches to Nolan who agreed to run but less than ten hours after his addition to the ballot paper it emerged that Cooney had changed his mind.

The Clare Echo understands that promises were also made to Dr Nolan that Fine Gael would organise for someone to direct and run his social media campaign but this didn’t come to pass and his niece Ettie Chambers had to fill the void.

When both instances were put to Tom that he was let down by Fine Gael, he stated, “I was added in, and then I was left without life support, basically. So, there’s something strange going on. I’m walking out of here knowing full well that I made the decision to go forward into this situation, and saw it as an opportunity to get something done that I’ve wanted to get done for some time so I have nothing but good feelings coming away from this. Not only have I given it my best shot, all my team gave it their best shot. we had a wonderful cohesive unit, and we all feel the same way.”

He polled 2,139 first preference votes and was eliminated on the ninth count. Reflecting on his campaign, the Kilkee man

commented, “Been there, done that, got the t-shirt and one will do me, that’s it. I can honestly say I didn’t know one day from the other over the last 18 days from the day we got our promotional literature, and started out. Suddenly being thrown in the line from my quiet life was an acute learning curve and then I got excited about it and then I got energy for it. Then I felt I could make a difference and do something for the health services.”

Dr Nolan who had been a member of the Ennis Hospital Action Group said the election bid was his last roll of the dice to try restore services to Ennis Hospital following its downgrading in 2009. A higher first preference vote had been anticipated for the Kilrush GP. “Honestly, I expected it would be higher. I don’t know why I thought it would be higher, but, when you think about it, at the end of the day, I was last in, I had a short campaign, and other people had committed their votes to other people.”

‘Tis the time for Christmas wreaths

SO JUST like that’s December has arrived and it’s a wee bit chilly as expected. The garden can be quiet this time of year but still plenty to do. Here is a little reminder of what you can keep busy with.

Tidy up and clear fallen leaves and debris and spent plants to prevent disease from overwintering. Clean and sharpen, and oil garden tools to prepare for next year. Mulching apply mulch around plants to insulate roots and protect the soil from frost.

Frost sensitive plants wrap in fleece to protect them. Plants bulb still time to plant tulip bulbs while ground is frost free.

Wildlife keeps feeders filled and ensure their fresh unfrozen water

available.

The bareroot plants are now available if you needed to put down a hedge get quality plants and affordable call in to chat about it with us to see the range available.

So, with December comings the festive season and Christmas trees and the smell of pine and if you love a real tree there is nothing nicer. It’s a lovely time for Xmas wreaths and there are so many to choose from weather it’s the lovely natural look with holly red berries and pinecones, cinnamon sticks and some orange slices. Or a more traditional ones with lovely red ornaments and poinsettia. My favourite is the real red berry with the traditional holly and

robin. The Robin is a frequent visitor here and a were welcome one.

So, with everyone starting to think about gift we have a lot to offer this time of year from door wreaths to a lovely Xmas basket to a fabulous table arrangement. We also have a fabulous Christmas shop with lots of ornaments Santas and so much more on offer. We also do personalise gift if you want to do a hamper or a lovely selection of plants .Their is so much to choose from . Christmas trees , wreaths and beautiful filled pots here we are a one stop garden centre where we have something to suit your needs .

by Páraic McMahon paraic@clareecho.ie

Thought for the week: The Candles of Advent

Spreading the word of positivity

RONAN SCULLY

Ready or not it is Advent. It began last Sunday and many of us are already preparing our homes and families to observe this season.

As the commercial world about us readies itself for the Christmas season we are invited to take a step back and view the bigger picture.

Advent is a season of Hope and we must make it so for our people in need in our country. It is a season full of anticipation and hope.

In my family growing up we always kept an Advent wreath whose four burning candles reminded us of the spirit of the season and served to build anticipation for the coming joy of the Christmas celebration. Just the other day I was powerfully reminded of the

symbolic importance of the Advent wreath through a beautiful allegory a close friend shared with me.

It goes like this: “For me this is an important reminder that hope is an integral part of our Christian faith. The reality of Christ’s birth reminds us that God has a plan to conquer the pain, sufferings and misfortunes of humanity’s existence.

That plan consists of the birth of the Christ child in a manger over 2,000 years ago. As we prepare to celebrate the birth of the “ultimate hope” let us reflect on our own abundance or dearth of this vital virtue. Is our “Hope” candle still burning bright? If so, you may be surprised at how many other candles you can light, and how many lives you can touch. As usual a story might help.

Thought for the week

As your thought for the week, please remember that Advent matters, because it’s our way of keeping our

eyes and our hearts and our arms all wide open even in the midst of our grief and longing.

Advent is the perfect time to clear and prepare the Way. Advent is a winter training camp for those who desire peace. By reflection and prayer, by reading and meditation, we can make our hearts a place where a blessing of peace would desire to abide and where the birth of the Prince of Peace might take place. Let’s try to make our country a place of love, peace and care for all our people, especially our children and for those who might feel marginalized and alone and afraid. Let’s always make our country a place of Hope and a place where a Prince of Peace may be born....now that is something we can be proud to do!!!

Amhrán Nua le Phoenix & Wolfe/ New song by Phoenix and Wolfe

Macalla an Chláir

LE MACDARA Ó CONAOLA

‘Slí na Fírinne’ – an singil nua ón duo Éireannach Brasaíleach Phoenix and Wolfe a deir siad atá spreagtha ag leithéidí Clannad, Loreena McKinnett, Gamela, Dire Straits, Lenine.

‘Slí na Fírinne’ is the new single from the Brazilian Irish duo Phoenix and Wolfe which they say is inspired by the likes of Clannad, Loreena McKinnett, Gamela, Dire Straits, Lenine.

Equally inspired by the sean-nós tradition and the Brazilian arrangest and composer Gamela this hotly anticipated Irish language single ‘Slí na Fírinne’ celebrates the connection of two nations dispossessed of their native languages and traditions. l Amhrán nua le Phoenix agus Wolfe

AN BHFUIL SCÉAL LE ROINNT AGAIBH ?!

Bígí i dteagmháil linn agus leanaigí ar Facebook agus Twitter muid ag: @macallaanchlair R-phost: macallaanchlair@gmail.com

Imeachtaí/Events:

nLUIMNEACH – AIFREANN GAEILGE, chuile Dé Domhnaigh, 10.30am, Mainistir an tSlánaitheora, Sráid San Doiminic, Luimneach nClare FM - Cúl-chaint le Domhnall Ó Loingsigh chuile Dé Sathairn, ag 9am ar Clare FM nCILL INÍNE BAOITHE - Ciorcal Comhrá san XPO, chuile Dé Céadaoin ag 7.30pm nINIS – CAINT AGUS COMHRÁ, chuile Dé Luain ag 11am sa gCopper Jug, Dé Céadaoin ag 11am in O’Brien’s, oíche Déardaoin sa Temple Gate (8pm), agus Dé Sathairn i nGlór, 11am-12pm. Déan teagmháil leo ag: caintaguscomhra@outlook.com

nLUIMNEACH – Ciorcail Comhrá. Chuile Dé Céadaoin ag 10.30am, Bialann Eden, Ollscoil Luimnigh.Tuilleadh eolais ar fáil ó Noel ag 086 792 8389.

n AN SCAIRBH – Lón i nGaeilge, 1-2pm, CHUILE DÉ MAIRT i gcaifé An Gáirdín fáilte roimh chuile dhuine.

Goose Breast with Glazed Beetroot and Thyme

INGREDIENTS

For the Glazed Beetroot

n60g butter

n2 shallots, peeled and ﬁnely sliced

n500g beetroot, peeled and cut into wedges

n2 tbsp maple syrup

n200ml of water

For the sauce

n1 large shallot, peeled and diced

n250ml red wine

n500ml chicken stock

n2 tbsp redcurrant jelly

n25g butter, chilled and diced

nA few sprigs of thyme

n4 medium sized goose breasts

nOlive oil

nSea salt and freshly ground black pepper

METHOD

Step 1: To cook the beetroot, melt the butter in a saucepan and add the shallot. Cook until softened, but not coloured.

Step 2: Add beetroot wedges. Add water. Reduce until liquid has evaporated. Stir in maple syrup, and a knob of butter, keep cooking and stirring until you have caramelisation.

Step 3: Season to taste.

For the sauce:

Step 4: Sweat off shallots and thyme. Add red wine, until reduced by half.

Step5: Add chicken stock, reduce again by half. Add redcurrant jelly, bring to simmer, whisk in hard butter cubes, take off heat and keep warm. Do not boil or you’ll split the sauce.

To cook the goose breast:

Step 6: Half goose breasts out at room temperature, preseasoned with salt, do not use crushed pepper at this stage.

Step7: Put the goose breasts on a cold frying pan, skin side down. Tip: use grease proof paper, or butter paper between the goose breasts and the base of the pan. Step 8: Fry until you have a nice golden brown colour on the skin. When so, ﬂip over your breast, add thyme, butter cubes and baste your breast, until cooked to your preference. I recommend medium rare. If well done, put into a pre- heated oven at 180 electric until cooked to your preference.

Step 9: Remove from oven, let rest for 10 minutes under a sheet of tinfoil.

To serve:

Arrange glazed beets on dish, slice the goose breast, and spoon over sauce. Recommend serve with apple, potato and sage mash.

Enjoy.

Local Author Wins Paul Cave Prize For Literature

SIXMILEBRIDGE author

Tracy Fahey has won the 2024 Paul Cave Prize for Literature.

The awards judge, British literary agent Tim Saunders, praised the award winning novella; What Happens At The End, saying ‘It is an absolute pleasure to read this beautifully crafted novella, which is a celebration of excellent descriptive writing and carefully considered vocabulary. Not once does it disappoint. Strong, endearing characters complement each other while thorough research or experience has played its part, too. Set in Ireland, the description of the landscape and the liberal sprinkling of humour further enhances this work. This novella really does set the standard for this award.’

‘It was a complete surprise, and an amazing end to my writing year,’ says Fahey. ‘It’s all the more exciting as What Happens At The End is unpub-

lished, and part of a big project I’ve just completed—a book of linked stories on the mythological figure of the Hag, so it’s a real joy to see it recognised,’ says Fahey.

Fahey has been shortlisted for a number of prestigious awards – she is a three-time finalist at the British Fantasy Awards (2017, 2021, 2024) and has been shortlisted for

the London Independent Short Story Prize (2024) and the Leicester Short Story Prize (2021). Musician and writer, Lol Tolhurst of The Cure has praised her work, calling her ‘A modern-day gothic whose Kafkaesque otherworldly stories are beautifully disturbing.’ What Happens At The End, Fahey’s prize-winning novella, is narrated by a doctor who comes to live in a small Irish coastal village, where one of her patients defies categorization; an ancient woman, Máire Ní Mhurchú, who styles herself a bean feasa, a wise woman. Mingled with this story are warning echoes of ecological concerns; as the world of Máire Ní Mhurchú begins to teeter, so too does the landscape about her.

The Paul Cave Prize for Literature is an annual competition run by literary agent Tim Saunders and created to honour veteran English publisher Paul Cave.

Clare artist finalist for two major art prizes

ARTIST Thomas Delohery secured two major Portrait artist prizes.

Originally from O’Callaghan’s Mills, Co Clare but now living in Ballarat, Victoria, Australia Delohery has been named as a MAP Portrait Prize Finalist with a Portrait and a Shirley Hannan National Portrait Award Finalist.

Deloherys sitter for both Portraits is actor Lachy Hulme who played Immortan Joe and Rizzdale Pell in Furiosa A Mad Max Saga acting opposite Chris Hemsworth. Hulme kindly sat twice for Delohery and they bonded over their mutual love of good Cuban Cigars.

SPORTING

SCHOLARSHIP TO HURLING CAPTAIN

Unique, Thoughtful, and Functional Christmas Hampers: The Perfect Gift for Loved Ones

AS THE holiday season approaches, we’re all thinking about how to make Christmas special for the people we care about. But with the cost of living being so high for so many, the pressure to find the perfect gift can feel overwhelming.

That’s where we come in!

At Ferns Wellness Health Store, we’re excited to offer a truly unique and thoughtful solution to your holiday shopping woes: functional hampers designed to support your loved ones in ways that go beyond traditional gifts.

A Gift That Keeps on Giving

Whether it’s your partner, a close friend, a family member, a teacher or an SNA, everyone could use a little extra support this Christmas. That’s why our hampers are packed with functional, health-focused goodies that will make your loved ones feel cared for, in-

side and out.

Think of them as more than just presents; they’re gifts of wellness, self-care, and thoughtfulness.

Our hampers are fully customizable, allowing you to mix and match from a wide selection of wellness products that suit your loved ones’ tastes and needs. From plant based laundry and cleaning products to natural skincare and soothing teas to nutrient-rich supplements and fitness essentials, James, Laura and Tracey will handpick items for you that are as practical as they are special.

Thoughtful, Yet Practi-

cal

Gifts

In today’s fast-paced world, we all know how important it is to take care of our health, both physically and mentally. Many of us are juggling the demands of work, family, andeverything in between, so a little help in maintaining wellbeing is al-

ways appreciated. That’s why we’ve curated these hampers with care because we believe the best gifts are those that serve a real purpose.

The Ferns Wellness Health Store Christmas Club

To make this experience even easier, we’re offering our Christmas Club; an exclusive service that allows you to plan ahead and order your hampers with ease. Whether you’re buying early or need a little extra time, our Christmas Club ensures that you get the perfect hamper delivered to your door or ready for pickup when you need it. You’ll also be supporting a local business and giving your loved ones a meaningful gift that they’ll truly appreciate.

Say Goodbye to Holiday Stress

One of the most stressful parts of holiday shopping is dealing with crowded

shopping centres and the dreaded quest for a parking space. We’re here to help make your life easier. Our phone-in and delivery services allow you to skip the hassle and still find the perfect gift. Simply call us to place your order, and we’ll take care of the rest! Christmas isn’t about how much you spend, it’s about showing your loved ones you’re thinking of them. In these tough times, we believe that the most meaningful gifts are those that provide practical support, comfort, and care. Our functional hampers are a beautiful way to remind someone how special they are and to help them prioritize their health and wellbeing during the holidays and beyond.

lHOLIDAY HAMPERS: drop into ferns wellness to ﬁnd the perfect Christmas gift

AWARD WINNING AUTHOR: Tracy Fahey

lDelohery’s portraits of actor Lacy Hulme

Ronan O’Connor, from Feakle Co. Clare with his sister Aisling and brother Liam. The Clare U20 Hurling Captain and First Year Bachelor of Education student at MIC has been awarded one of two Bronze Elite Sports Scholarships at MIC, valued at €1,000.

Photo by: Arthur Ellis

Ennis: Talk of the Town

5 medals for Clare GAA clubs

FIVE Clare GAA Clubs awarded with with medals for promoting the use of Iris language within their clubs.

On Friday November 29, Fondúireacht Sheosaimh Mhic Dhonncha awards were presented to a distinguished assembly of 70 GAA clubs from across Ireland. This prestigious ceremony took place at Croke Park, marking a significant celebration of the commitment to the Irish language within the GAA community.

Clare was well represented at the awards with a total of 5 medals returning to the county; four bronze medals and one silver.

The bronze medals were awarded to Clár Átha an Dá Choradh CLG (Clarecastle); Éire Óg Inis; Naomh Breacáin; and Wolfe Tones na Sionna.

However, the biggest prize went to Cuar an Chláir, who were awarded a silver medal for their sterling work in promoting the Irish language within their club and community.

Representatives from clubs in Clare were present at Croke Park to proudly accept their awards, symbolising their dedication to promoting the Irish language both within their clubs and in their broader local communities.

Ennis girl wins Peace Poster Contest

SOFIA Serbinovschi, a 6th class student at Holy Family Senior School, wins local art competition hsoted by Ennis Lions Club.

There were over 40 entries from 5 local schools into the local district Lions Peace Poster Contest.

David Goodstein, Ennis Lions Club President, said he was impressed by the expression and creativity of the students at several schools in Co Clare. “It is obvious that these young people have strong ideas about what peace means to them. I’m so proud that we were able to provide them with the opportunity to share their visions.”

The winning poster was selected by the project team at Ennis Lions Club for its originality, artistic merit and portrayal of the contest theme, “Peace without limits” and will now be submitted to the next phase of the annual contest to hopefully reach international level.

“Our club is rooting for Soﬁa as her poster advances in the competition, and we hope that

her very personal and highly signiﬁcant interpretation of ‘Peace without Limits’ will ultimately be shared with others around the world.” David Goodstein said.

Susan Ward of Ennis Lions Club thanked Art & Craft Co. in Merchant Square who sponsored a prize of a €100 voucher for Soﬁa.

‘Food

from the Garden’ video launch

CLARE Garden Festival will launch an online video exploring the theme “Food from the Garden”.

The highlight of the video launch will be a live Q&A session with Master Gardener Kitty Scully.

The Food from the Garden video shows and explains practical information around Growing and Harvesting food, featuring talks by local and national experts Kitty Scully, Michael Kelly, Jim Cronin, Lynn O Keeffe as well as short videos with Siobhan and Sarah Gallagher, Sam McCarthy and Carmen Cronin.

“Growing our own vegetables and fruit means knowing exactly where our food is coming from, enjoying health and wellbeing beneﬁts of gardening and saving resources for ourselves and our planet.” states Sam McCarthy, Healthy Clare Coordinator.

“This video highlights this important message and it includes many aspects including our inspiring visits to Community Gardens and allotments this year.”

The second part of the 30 minute video follows the festival pallet garden through spring and summer and also features the journey to four different Growing Spaces throughout the county; Scariff Community Garden, Ennis Men’s Shed, Kilrush Community Garden and Shannon allotments.

The video will be launched on the Clare Garden Festival Facebook page on December 9 at 8.30pm.

lPEACE POSTER WINNER: Soﬁa and her winning poster

Maureen Considine @skinandmakeupstudioennis completed the Dublin Marathon and raised € 2537.70. She has chosen to donate chose to donate monies raised to Clare suicide Bereavement Support services. Pictured above are Maureen(on the right) presenting a cheque to our treasurer Lottie Kenny (left).

l5 MEDALS FOR CLARE: Clarecastle GAA, Pat Carey, Chairperson of Glór na nGael, and Seán O’Shea, GAA Irish language Ambassador.

Photo by: Conor O’Mearain.

Kilrush credit union celebrates best innovation project award and banking hall upgrades

Celebrating the Best Innovation Project Award at this year’s All Ireland CU Awards

Kilrush Credit Union (KCU) strives to support and be involved in what is important to their members and the local community. As part of this commitment to the community, in early 2023, Kilrush Credit Union, Kilrush YouthReach and The Vandeleur Walled Garden agreed to collaborate on a project, which would give the YouthReach learners some real world experience.

Kilrush YouthReach provides second-chance education opportunities, for unemployed early school leavers aged 16+.

The Vandeleur Walled Garden is a fabulous local amenity, a beautifully and lovingly restored walled garden, which was once part of Kilrush House, owned by the Vandeleur family, built in 1808, but sadly destroyed by ﬁre in 1897.

The town of Kilrush and it’s surrounding areas are steeped in the history of the Vandeleur family – both light and dark – and the gardens serve as a reminder of that history.

The mission of the project was to have groups of the community work together to create an ecofriendly space which could be

enjoyed by all. The beautiful space which was created, is not just a green space, teaming with pollinator friendly plants, but a living classroom and a space to be enjoyed, with games and activities which can be used by all visitors.

In particular, those involved wanted to develop a project that would encourage the YouthReach learners to become engaged with their community, by giving them the opportunity to plan, document, develop, maintain, and enjoy the space they participated in creating.

The area is situated by the old entrance to the café/gardens. This is an ideal location, as all members of the public who visit the gardens will get to enjoy this space. There is no entrance fee to this area of the gardens, meaning there is no restriction for anyone who wishes to visit. However in celebration of the win, Vandeleur Walled Gardens are offering a 25% discount on their entrance fee to all Credit Union members.

This will be an ongoing project, with phase one completed this year, by this years YouthReach learners, following on from this, the next intake of learners will have the opportunity to build upon what was created.

KCU are immensely proud of all the learners at Kilrush YouthReach and endlessly thankful to the tutors at YouthReach for their focus and determination – particularly Ann, Bríd and Timo, and the incredible staff of The Vandeleur Walled Garden for sharing the vision for this project, and their wealth of knowledge with the learners – particularly Colette, Tom and Karoly. The project wouldn’t have been the success it was, were it not for the unwavering commitment of all those involved. Kilrush Credit Union would also like to extend a special word of thanks to Mr Gerry O’Dea for his much appreciated contribution to the project and also to Martin O’Malley of Clare Car and Tractor Parts for the support and advice in respect of the project. Lastly a thanks to Shirley Lyons, ‘The Garden Design Expert’, for designing the garden.

Upgrading the banking hall

KCU were delighted to be able to invest in a substantial upgrade of their banking hall, located in The Square, Kilrush. The upgraded banking hall is a modern space with a traditional twist, and should serve the members of KCU well, for many years to come. As a

further extension of this upgrade KCU have acquired a unit at Merchant’s Quay Business Quarter, which will ensure that, even in the worst of circumstances, they will be able to continue to serve their members without interruption.

The main banking hall has been separated between Cash Services and Member Services, allowing for more privacy, particularly for those longer, or more sensitive transactions. KCU is committed to evolving with the community it serves, future focused while always remaining true to it’s roots.

Kilrush Credit Union offer a wide range of banking services, including a current account, with a globally accepted debit card; and while KCU offers full online functionality from account opening to loan drawdown –they are also committed to ensuring the personal touch is there when you need it.

KCU is excited to grow and continue to serve it’s members and the wider community, and looks forward to welcoming new members, young and old.

l CEO Fiona Walsh pictured in the newly refurbished ofﬁce

l Team behind YouthReach collaboration project

Sexton’s have the best selection of fresh ﬁsh in Co. Clare

Mon - Sat 9 am - 6.30pm 065 6843679 Turnpike Rd. Ennis @cs shdoonbeg

Seafield Conservation Forum launch new website

a mobile responsive website was the obvious route to take.

SEAFIELD Conservation Forum has launched a new website to boost awareness of biodiversity and its conservation efforts in Seafield.

The new online resource is a one-stop shop of information concerning Seafield’s sand dune system.

As a voluntary led community group, Seafield Conservation Forum wanted to find a way to quickly get accurate information out about its activities. Given the widespread use of smartphones in the Community, developing

In announcing the new online resource, Caroline Egan, Co-Moderator of Seafield Conservation Forum said:

“Forum members have been kept busy for over 18 months, laying the necessary groundwork to expand sand dune conservation and restoration efforts in Seafield. A lot of this work is unseen and can sometimes be misunderstood. With the new website, we can bring everyone along on the conservation journey with us. People can follow us on Instagram and Facebook certainly,

but the website gives us the space to explain why we are doing what we are doing. Conserving Seafield sand dunes is helping to protect the beaches for everyone’s enjoyment. To be honest, should the sand dunes disappear, so too would the beaches. In the case of Seafield, you can’t have one without the other.”

She went on to add “We get asked a lot of good questions when we are out and about in Seafield. The website provides a practical way to answer these questions. That’s why we have pages on the site dedicated to Conservation, Biodiversity

and how the Commonage land works. And for anyone who isn’t familiar with the impact coastal erosion is having, the homepage provides an excellent video from botanist Phoebe O’Brien and some eye-opening aerial photos of the dune system.”

Having received the necessary consent from the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Seafield Conservation Forum will be progressing full steam ahead with its schedule of conservation work in 2025. Follow progress online at https:// www.seafieldconservation.com.

€750, in recognition of his sporting achievements

Kilmihil are running their Annual Light Up Your Wagon event On Saturday December 14 at 5pm with registration from 4 p.m. in Kilmihil GAA

There will be prizes for Best Lit Up Tractor, Best Lit up Truck , Best Lit Vintage Vehicle, Best Lit Up Motor Cycle.

Special Thanks to their Sponsors, Ryans Garage, Circle K Fitzpatricks, Powers Pharmacy & Brian McMahon Rooﬁng & Construction.

Old Kilfarboy Society talk

The December talk of the Old Kilfarboy Society will take place on Tuesday, December 10, in the Malbay, Miltown Malbay at 8pm. Ben Taylor, professional photographer, will talk about incidents and coincidences that occurred while producing some of the images in a 2016 book written by Howard Marshall.

Milltown Malbay Christmas Lights

The Miltown Malbay Christmas Lights and Tree will be ofﬁcially switched on this Friday (6th of December) at 7pm in The Square by the children from Miltown Malbay National School. Please join us for this special occasion where there will be carol singing and refreshments for the children.

lNEW WEBSITE: Seaﬁeld Pier

Pictured: Daire Culligan, a Second Year Bachelor of Education (Primary Teaching), who received an MIC GAA Bursary Award, valued at

Pic: Don Moloney

Kilmihil Light up Wagon Run

by Páraic McMahon paraic@clareecho.ie

Daire Culligan, with his parents John and Brid.

Ennistymon & District Credit Union serving the community for 50 years

ENNISTYMON & District Credit Union (“EDCU”) celebtrates their 50th aniversary serving the common bond in North Clare.

To commemerate reaching this siginiﬁcant milestone EDCU has set up a n €50,000 Community Investment Fund to provide non-repayable grants to community organisations within their common bond to assist with community development initiatives. The fund was fully subscribed with 13 local community organisations availing of grants ranging from €1,000 to €5,000 to assist with long-term projects in the community. Community organisations are invited to contact EDCU to discuss their needs. In addition, as part of their thank you to their members EDCU has introduced a special 50th Anniversary Rate for new personal loans of 5.0% (5.12% APR) of up to €20,000 for a limited period which ended in June. This loan has proven to be hugely popular and we welcomed over 100 new borrowers to the credit

union under this initiative. The availability of the special rate has been extended to June 30, 2024 as a thank you to EDCU’S loyal members. Non-members who may be interested in exploring loan options can contact EDCU at one of their branches or online and they will be happy to assist you in becoming a member.

It is a good time to be a credit union member. Credit unions have been ranked as the most reputable organisation in Ireland, topping the Ireland RepTrak® 2024 study ranking for the second consecutive year. Credit unions were the only organisation to attain an excellent score this year, ranking ﬁrst in four out of seven of the key drivers of reputation - Citizenship, Conduct, Products & Services, and Workplace as well as taking ﬁrst place in Trust to do the right thing, Fair in the way it does business, Ethical, Open & Transparent and other important reputation metrics. Locally, all staff and volunteers at

EDCU aim to serve our members to meet those same high ethical and transparent standards identiﬁed in the Ireland RepTrak® 2024 study.

The credit union sector has undergone huge changes since we ﬁrst opened our doors in 1974. One of the common misconceptions about credit unions is that you need to be a member for 3 months or have built up savings before borrowing with us. This is no longer the casecase, and we would be happy to take on new members and provide our full services to them from Day 1.

We have seen a huge growth in digital offerings providing ﬁnancial services and loans. This is a great innovation and EDCU can offer full online services including loan applications and membership onboarding. However we also believe in maintaining the personal touch and we maintain full branch services at all of our branches and we undertake to do so for our second ﬁfty years.

This personal touch is never more evi-

dent in those situations when a member encounters short-term difﬁculties and we are happy to work with the member to provide short-term forbearance. This was especially useful for our members during Covid when we were happy to provide breathing space to many of our members and this helped to support the members and their families during that awful period.

Our goal is not only to serve our members but also to service the community within our common bond. As part of our determination to serve our community we have The Board of Directors, Board Oversight Committee, volunteers, and all staff at the EDCU would like to thank all of the people of North Clare for their continued support and dedication over the last 50 years.

The EDCU truly appreciate the communities support, and will continue to grow and develop to ensure that they remain a strong, stable credit union that cares for its community, always.

lPatrick Garrihy founding member of Ennistymon Credit Union and Board Oversight Committee Member

lFr Ned Crosbie - Founding Member of Ennistymon Credit Union

lStaff L to R Jane Cogan, Triona O’Connor, Una Shannon, Paul Morgan CEO, Mary Sexton, Sharon Foley & Noelle Darcy

lRockmount NS - Kate Brosnan & Ailish O’Neill wiith Paul Morgan CEO

Honouring Sinéad O’Connor: A Night of Music, Tribute, and Solidarity in Doolin

Celebrate Sinéad O’Connor, on the eve of her birthday with a music event in honour of the Irish singer.

This special event brings together an exceptional lineup of artists inspired by her fearless spirit, trailblazing artistry, and timeless legacy.

Sinéad O’Connor was not just an artist— she was a cultural icon whose work challenged boundaries and gave voice to the voiceless. With her music and advocacy, she stood for equality, justice, and individuality.

To celebrate her life and the power of her message Cuppa Tea TV’s Damian O’Rourke and Aoibheann Boyle have come together to organise an evening with performances from Emma Langford, Róisín El Cherif, Steo Wall, Seba Safe, Molly Sterling, Lúila, LORKEY, Mná and Aoibheann herself.

The Performers

Steo Wall: A Dublin-born singer-songwriter now based on Ireland’s west coast, Steo is known for blending traditional Irish folk with contemporary rap, creating music that resonates deeply with themes of family, identity, and resilience. His acclaimed albums, ‘Where I’m From’ and ‘Street Wisdom For Lost Souls’, have established him as a unique voice in Irish music. Steo’s raw, heartfelt sound has earned praise from legends like Christy Moore and Damien Dempsey.

Emma Langford: Hailing from Limerick, Emma’s music fuses folk, trad, and jazz into an unmistakable style. An RTÉ Radio 1 Folk Award winner and Irish Women in Harmo-

ny collaborator, her albums ‘Quiet Giant’ and ‘Sowing Acorns’ have earned critical acclaim.

Known for her poignant lyrics and captivating live performances, Emma embodies the storytelling tradition Sinéad cherished.

Róisín El Cherif: A Galway-based Irish-Palestinian artist, Róisín combines haunting vocals, poignant lyrics, and atmospheric soundscapes. Influenced by Sevdaliza and Tracy Chapman, her work blends folk, R&B, and pop, as showcased in her acclaimed EP Glass House.

A passionate advocate for diversity, Róisín’s multilingual artistry reflects a shared commitment to inclusivity.

Molly Sterling: A singer-songwriter celebrated for their tumultuous lyrics and emotionally raw performances, Molly has graced stages at festivals like Other Voices and Forbidden Fruit. Their haunting voice and introspective songs, lauded by outlets like Hot Press Magazine, channel a personal intensity that mirrors Sinéad’s authenticity.

Seba Safe: With a sound that blends pop, folk, indie, and R&B, Seba Safe is one of Ireland’s most promising songwriting talents. His deeply personal lyrics and soulfully crafted music have earned him significant acclaim, airplay on BBC 6 Music and RTÉ, and sold-out shows in Dublin.

Lúila: A Limerick-born artist with influences ranging from Dolores O’Riordan to Stevie

Nicks, Lúila’s music combines soulful rock and folk with a touch of old-school attitude. Her recently released single, The Morrigan, captures themes of empowerment and emotion, echoing the fearless spirit of Sinéad.

Mná (Theresa Garrihy, Kate Daly, and Kathleen Malone): This Clare-based trio combines traditional, folk, and contemporary songs, known for their harmonies and heartfelt performances.

Each member brings a unique musical background, from classical training to songwriting and community engagement. Their dedication to storytelling and their shared roots honor Sinéad’s legacy of connection through song.

LOR-KEY: Lorcan O’Garvey, known as LOR-KEY, is a French-Irish artist and music producer based in the south of France. His music spans reggae, afrobeats, and hip hop, creating a unique blend that seeks to “unlock” connections between cultures, spiritual doors, and the freedom of move ment. LOR-KEY’s journey began in West Clare’s vibrant town of Ennistymon, where his project, LOR-KEY and the Lockpickers, formed as a reggae-fusion band with talent ed performers from North Clare.

A Celebration for a Cause All proceeds from this event will support the Movement of Asylum Seekers in Ire land (MASI), an organisation dedicated to equality, inclusivity, and justice - val

ues that were all close to Sinéad’s heart. Sinéad’s music and advocacy continue to inspire. Let us celebrate her life and legacy together.

Event Details

Date: 07 December

Location: Doolin, Ireland

Tickets: https://www.tickettailor.com/ events/cuppateatvmissingucollab/1411708

Proceeds: Supporting the Movement of Asylum Seekers in Ireland (MASI)

Tickets are now available, and with such a stellar lineup paying tribute to one of Ireland’s greatest voices, early booking is highly recommended.

Join us for this powerful evening of music, remembrance, and solidarity as we honor the legacy of Sinéad O’Connor—a voice of truth, strength, and compassion.

Think before you drink and drive this Christmas

It’s Christmas party season. That means there will be plenty of staff parties, family gatherings and drinks with friends.

Even though you want to enjoy the celebrations it’s important to make sure that you stay safe whilst travelling this Christmas.

The Road Safety Authority is urging drivers nationwide to stay safe and sober this festive season as new data from the Medical Bureau of Road Safety (MBRS) show concerningly high levels of alcohol and other drugs in driver toxicology testing. New survey research from the RSA has also identiﬁed concerning behaviours and attitudes among motorists in relation to driving under the inﬂuence.

The Clare Echo has teamed up with Martin Daly Autos to help you make sure that you stay safe on the roads this winter whilst still enjoying all of the festivities.

With December bringing holiday celebrations into full swing, the RSA, An Garda Síochána and the MBRS are urging motorists to stay drug and alcohol free to prevent collisions and protect all road users this Christmas.

Recent surveys from MBRS have found that drivers on Irish roads are getting behind the wheel despite blood alcohol several times in excess of the legal limits for driving.l.

Professor Denis Cusack, Director of the MBRS said: “Intoxicated driving with alco-

hol and other drugs continues to be a major crash risk and problem on Irish roads. It is deeply concerning to see the high number of test results being signiﬁcantly over the legal limits. Intoxicated driving signiﬁcantly inhibits a driver’s ability to use the roads safely, putting themselves and all other road users at serious risk. The development of alcohol interlock devices to stop drunk driving has great potential to reduce this danger.”

RSA behaviour and attitudes research, conducted in November 2024, found that 11% of motorists admitted to driving after consuming any alcoholic drink in the past 12 months. Meanwhile, 25% of motorists said: “it is acceptable to drive short distances in your local area after consuming one alcoholic drink”.

Here are some tips to make sure you stay safe on the roads this Christmas;

lPlan Ahead: If you know you will be drinking, make sure to pre-book a taxi home

lDesignated Driver: If you feel you may be under pressure to drink, opt to be the groups designated driver. This way other people will be depending on you to drive them home and you are less likely to cave and have a drink.

lFind alternatives: If you are out celebrating with friends and you know you have to drive that evening or the next morning, try out a non-alcoholic drink alternative to keep you sober and safe. Make sure to think about your own safety as well as the safety of others while driving this Christmas. If you have any questions and queries about how

you make sure your vehicle is ready for the winter make sure to drop into Martin Daly Autos.

Gardaí spreading Christmas cheer in Shannon

IN THEIR annual bid to spread the festive cheer in Shannon, Gardaí in the town will be delivering Christmas meals later this month.

Gardaí in Shannon have teamed up with the Shannon College of Hotel Management and many local businesses to deliver up to 400 Christmas dinners to senior citizens in Shannon, Sixmilebridge, Newmarket-on-Fergus, Bunratty and Cratloe.

Meals are cooked over three days by the Shannon College of Hotel Management and local Gardaí deliver them to grateful senior citizens in the locality.

This initiative began during COVID-19 when the Shannon Garda senior citizens Christmas party had to be postponed due to successive lockdowns. Following the pan-

demic and the resumption of the parties it was decided to continue with the meal deliveries due to its popularity.

Involvement of many contributors including the Shannon College of Hotel Management, TY students, local national schools and many others allow the Gardaí to complete the initiative.

On completion of the Christmas Dinner Deliveries Shannon Gardaí are hosting the annual Shannon Garda Senior Citizens Christmas Party in the Goal Post Bar in the Wolfe Tones na Sionna GAA Club on Tuesday 17th December at 1230pm. This is always a very festive occasion that all senior citizens in the Shannon, Sixmilebridge, Newmarket-on-Fergus, Bunratty and Cratloe Area are all welcome to attend.

Please contact Shannon Garda Station on 061 3650900 or email Shannon.sergeantoffice@garda.ie for further information.

Agri-Food Regulator secures its first conviction against Shannon company for a breach of the unfair trading

by Gordon Deegan news@clareecho.ie

A JUDGE has directed that the operator of a Halal meat plant in Shannon attend court in order “to protect the integrity of the meat industry here”.

At Ennis District Court, Judge Alec Gabbett made his formal direction after the Agri-Food Regulator secured its ﬁrst conviction for a breach of the unfair trading practices (UTP) Regulations.

In the case, Judge Gabbett convicted Halal meat plant operator, Asba Meats Ltd, Beechpark Logistics Centre, Smithstown Industrial Estate, Shannon when the judge ruled against the meat processor following the non-payment for cattle delivered to the slaughter plant by a west of Ireland farmer.

No one appeared from or on behalf of Asba Meats for the case and Judge Gabbett said, “It is a concern for someone not turning up to court to face a summons as serious as this with the food regulations and hygiene regulations that are in place”.

Judge Gabbett said that he would issue a letter directing that Asba Meats attend the next court date for ﬁnalisation of the case following the conviction.

Judge Gabbett said that if there is an appearance on be-

half of Asba Meats Ltd on the next court date on December 13th, “it might lessen the ﬁne and the court might be more benevolent concerning the costs issue”.

Judge Gabbett said the reality is that if the owner of Asba Meats ﬁrm “is not here to litigate the ﬁne, it will remain at €5,000 and the costs are €8,000 - that is €13,000”.

The court heard that, in August 2023, the farmer in question made a complaint to the Agri-Food Regulator claiming that Asba Meats was in breach of the Unfair Trading Practices (UTP) regulations as a result of the non-payment for animals which were delivered to the processor in October 2022.

Under the 2021 UTP Regulations, failure to pay within a 60-day period constitutes a breach of the UTPs.

Representing the Regulator, solicitor, Jonathan Moore of Fieldﬁsher Ireland LLP stated that the case before the court was as a result of the regulator’s investigation of the complaint and he conﬁrmed that, whilst a portion of the payment had been paid during the course of the proceedings, a portion due to the farmer was still outstanding.

Judge Gabbett convicted the company on a single charge concerning the non-payment but placed a stay on the conviction un-

til December 13th to allow someone from Asba Meats attend on that date

Speaking after the court case, CEO of the Agri-Food Regulator, Niamh Lenehan, said that the court outcome “is a signiﬁcant milestone for the Agri-Food Regulator”.

Ms Lenehan said, “Securing a conviction in this case sends an important message to both suppliers and buyers in our agri-food supply chain - actively engage regarding your rights and obligations”.

Ms Lenehan said that the successful conviction served as a reminder to primary producers and small agri-food businesses in particular that the Agri-Food Regulator was here to help them in their

dealings with larger buyers, adding that anyone who feels they are experiencing or have been subjected to an Unfair Trading Practice should contact the Regulator immediately.

Ms Lenehan continued, “This is the ﬁrst conviction in Ireland as a result of an Unfair Trading Practice. I hope it will encourage other producers to come forward if they are concerned that they are not being treated in accordance with the UTP Regulations”.

Ms Lenehan also called on any other farmers who were facing payment-related issues with their buyers such as in this case to come forward and make themselves known to the Regulator.

TESCO SHANNON OPENING

Páraic McMahon paraic@clareecho.ie

lGIVING SEASON: Shannon Garda Christmas dinner project

lASBA Meats

Pictured at the ofﬁcial opening of the new Tesco Superstore at Shannon Town Centre were Paul Healy Tesco Ireland, Retail Operations Director, Alan Coughlan, Tesco Ireland, Clair O’Donnell, Tesco Ireland, Brian O’Callaghan, Deputy Store Manaager, Cllr Tony Mulcahy, Debbie Martin, Tesco Shannon, Cllr Donna McGettigan, Chrissie Cody, Tesco Shannon and Anna Papyan, Shannon Family Resource Centre.

Phot by: Don Moloney

Armed Gardai deployed pepper spray and taser on part-time farmer armed with hatchet

by Gordon Deegan news@clareecho.ie

ARMED Gardaí had to deploy pepper spray and tasers to get under control a 60-year old parttime farmer who was armed with a hatchet, a court has heard.

At Gort District Court, Garda Eugene Boyce gave an outline of the incident on November 20th/ November 21st concerning Galway man, Gerard Nestor as Gardaí successfully objected to Mr Nestor’s application to vary his bail conditions to allow him to go into Gort.

Garda Boyce said that he was present at the incident on November 20th/November 21st last and told the court, “Such was the gravity and danger posed by the actions of Mr Nestor, he had to be tasered and pepper sprayed by armed Gardaí to bring the situation under control and make his arrest”.

Judge Adrian Harris refused Mr Nestor’s application to be able to go into Gort while on bail after the alleged injured party in the case, John O’Donoghue (46) of Bunasrah, Ennis Rd, Gort expressed his

own concerns if Mr Nestor is allowed to return to Gort.

Mr O’Donoghue said that the situation has escalated in recent weeks “because I have now built a wall to separate my land from Mr Nestor’s”.

Mr O’Donoghue alleged that Mr Nestor has taken down his new wall twice. Mr O’Donoghue said that Mr Nestor “produced a hatchet and it took the Garda RSU (Regional Support Unit) from Limerick to stop him”.

The two men also each face a charge of assault causing harm against each other at Bunasrah on September 29th 2022.

Solicitor for Mr Nestor, John Nash put it to Mr O’Donoghue that “it is not all one-way traffic” referring to the September 2022 assault charge against him.

In response, Mr O’Donoghue said, “I was defending myself”.

Garda Boyce said that he has a concern that further incidents will occur if Mr Nestor is allowed back into Gort.

Solicitor for Mr Nestor, John Nash said that Mr Nestor has farmland in the Gort area and an-

imals need to be looked after. Garda Boyce said that family members of Mr Nestor might be able to assist with the animals.

Mr Nash said that what is before the court are only allegations that and his client has the presumption of innocence.

Mr Nash said that his client is getting bail in name only if he has to stay out of Gort.

Insp Stan O’Grady said that Mr Nestor “owns a considerable amount of property”.

In the case, Mr Nestor of Dun Na Mara Drive, Renmore, Galway and College Rd, Galway is charged with producing a hatchet at Bunasrah, Ennis Rd, Gort while committing alleged criminal damage contrary to Section 11 of the Firearms and Offensive Weapons Act on November 21st.

Mr Nestor is also charged with the criminal damage of a block wall belonging to John O’Donoghue on dates between November 20th and November 21st at Bunasrah, Ennis Rd, Gort.

Mr Nestor is also charged with the criminal damage of a shed door belonging to John O’Dono-

ghue on November 20th at the same address.

Mr Nestor also faces a charge of dangerous driving at Laghtyshaughnessy, Gort on November 6th 2024.

Mr Nestor is also charged with the assault causing harm of Mr O’Donoghue at Bunasrah, Ennis

Rd, Gort on September 29h 2022.

In turn, Mr O’Donoghue (46) of Bunasrah, Gort is charged with the assault of Mr Nestor at the same location on the same date.

Judge Harris adjourned the assault cases to February of next year for mention.

Portumna Forest Park Survey Reveals Community’s Vision for the Future

The Protect Portumna Forest Park community group’s recent survey, has unveiled a wealth of insights into what makes this forest park so special—and what improvements are most urgently needed.

Portumna Forest Park, a cherished natural resource with a history dating back to the Clanricarde estate, lies at the heart of community life in East Galway and beyond.

What Makes Portumna Forest Park Special?

The survey results conﬁrm the park’s enduring allure:

nWalking remains the top activity for 97% of respondents.

nWellbeing and mindfulness attract 46%.

nSocialising comes in third at 38%.

When asked what they love about the park, the top responses reﬂect its serene and scenic qualities:

n91% cited the tranquil

atmosphere and natural beauty.

n80% appreciated the selection of walking and cycling trails.

nA tie for third place (71%) goes to connecting with nature and lake views.

Balancing Tourism and Conservation

Respondents overwhelmingly support small, practical improvements within the forest while opposing large-scale commercialisation or disruptive changes.

There is a shared vision for sustainable tourism that maintains the simplicity and accessibility of this treasured natural space.

The survey also highlighted opportunities to better connect the town of Portumna with the forest, enabling visitors to access a wider range of services, heritage sites and enterprises within a 10-minute walk of the main forest gate.

Respondents suggested several improvements outside the forest itself, including a footpath from the Castle Gate to the marina and investment in the town’s infrastructure to support tourism. A recurring theme was the revitalisation of local amenities, such as the derelict Shannon Oaks Hotel, rather than building accommodations within the forest.

This reﬂects a desire to balance development with conservation. The Protect Portumna Forest Park community group is now calling on Coillte, along with project partners Fáilte Ireland and Galway County Council, as well as local political representatives, to engage transparently with the survey ﬁndings and prioritise the needs of the community.

Wild Swans Theatre Company announce next play

The Wild Swan Theatre Company Gort next production will be Eclipsed by the late Patricia Burke Brogan. The play will run for 7 nights in Gort Town Hall opening on January 6.

Tickets will be €15 plus booking fee, selling online from 10am December 14.

l ARMED GARDAI: Gort Court House

l PORTUNMA FOREST PARK: Photo taken on November 26 2024 at the Community Survey Presentation, Portumna Community School Hall

CHRISTMAS IN GORT

Gort shines brightly for festive season

by Lisa Mullaly lisa@clareecho.ie

THE Christmas spirit has officially landed in Gort, south Galway with the 2024 Christmas Lights now shining bright.

Last Sunday evening saw a huge crowd gather in the town square for the official turning on of the lights ceremony.

Live music together from the Music Generation Pulse Drum Group brought an upbeat musical and festive atmosphere and of course Santa made a quick stop to say hi to all the kids.

The Gort Scouts group helped Santa turn on the lights and all at once Christmas came to town.

The main feature of the Christmas display was a 10 metre high tree in the square. Also included in the town decorations were two smaller trees, 2km of street lighting and over 30 feature pieces around the town. It’s safe to say, a lot of work goes into decorating the town every year and this year has been no exception.

The Elves gang have been seen out in all weather from early November getting the town ready for Christmas celebrations. This year they were brilliantly assisted by the folks at Anderson Painting who were simply unbelievable in enthusiasm and energy.

Christmas lighting is an integral part of every town’s Christmas necessities. The Gort Christmas Lights team believe that a good festive vibe attracts visitors and encourages locals to shop local also. Local businesses in

satellite towns like Gort face a harsh battle every year against city and internet shopping and anything that can help them is worth it.

Aside from the financial benefits everyone from adult to child loves the feel of a hearty Christmas lit town.

Of course none of this comes cheap and the Christmas In Gort team not only have to roll their sleeves up and work hard but each year they must put out their hand out too as

donations from local residents and business owners is the only way they can keep going. Running costs, repairs, renting equipment, buying new lights, paying professionals etc all come together and add up. Each year the donations come thick and fast; the positivity is heartwarming. The group run a ‘Buy A Bow’ fundraiser also where for just €5 anyone can have a personal message to a lost loved one or someone you’re thinking of placed on their

‘Thinking Of You’ Tree outside St. Colmans Church. This is immensely popular everywhere and their stall at Minihanes SuperValu each November is a common sight. Bows can still be purchased or indeed much needed donations made simply by calling into Gort Credit Union.

It may be hard work but the Elves always have a great laugh in hail, rain or hopefully snow..the banter with locals around the town and the patience shown as traffic is held up is always much appreciated.

The group have a Facebook page ‘Christmas in Gort’ for full info or how to contribute and they asked that a special thank you go out to everyone that helps in any way and to those local businesses that offer teas and coffee and snacks as they work away in the late evenings. The offers of Stout from publicans must be refused while work is in progress but they are happy to take up the offers when complete.

While the lights are officially on, more work still has to be done with some new pieces yet to go up and continued running repairs. Local electrician Aidan O’Grady can be seen very active at all hours and his help is vital and much appreciated.

Gort certainly looks very festive and the hard work has paid off. In just a few short weeks, the elves will be off out again to take everything down, carefully, in order and stack them away till Christmas 2025. So make sure to stop by the town to enjoy all of the festive cheer Gort has to offer.

Christmas promotion underway at Pat Smyths

PAT Smyth’s is celebrating the Christmas Season with their annual Christmas promotion available across the store now.

Pat Smyth’s Ladies & Gents Fashion is located on Bridge Street Gort, a charming town known for its warm, welcoming people and rich sense of community. The clothing shop has been ingrained in the heart of Gort ever since it first opened its doors in 1996.

Steeped in tradition but also moving with the times, Pat Smyths offers you the perfect mix of quality, up to the minute style and a personal service making it a truly special shopping experience for the people of Gort and surrounding areas.

For those who value quality fabrics and traditional service the gent’s department features top labels such as Benetti, Magee Douglas and Graham Walker and Hunt to name but a few. There is also a huge selection of knitwear hand-picked by Pat and Pat Junior on offer, 0 from round neck, to the ever-popular quarter zip - they have it covered! Whether you need a suit for that special occasion, well-fitting weekend casual wear, or quality workwear. Stocking size small to 4XL with footwear and accessories to match.

Christina Felix , Marble knitwear, Ichi and many more. They also now stock the timeless Spanish labels Tinta and Bariloche. Stocking sizes 10- 26 and a beautiful selection of accessories to complete your look.

Whether it’s an outfit for your special occasion or classy everyday outfits we are delighted to help. Mary, Stephanie and Helen look forward to welcoming you this Christmas and beyond.

Whether you’re a local or just passing through this Christmas, Pat and the team look forward to welcoming you.

The ladies department is a treasure trove of latest trends including leading Irish and international labels such as Naya, Coco Doll,

l A 10-metre high tree is the main feature of Gort’s lights C/O Christmas In Gort Facebook Page

PICTURED: Pat Smyth with daughter Stephanie and son Patrick at the family business on Bridge Street

The Gift that keeps on giving: over 60 years of The Gift Box in Gort

by Lisa Mullaly

THE Gift Box is an inspirational gem filled with unique one of a kind pieces from all over the world.

The story of The Gift Box begins with the local Post Office in Gort, which has been in the Piggott family since the early 1960s.

What started as a Post Office and grocery store eventually transformed into the beloved gift shop we know today. About 25 years ago, Noelle Piggott made the decision to diversify. With bigger grocery stores moving into town, she saw an opportunity to offer something different to the members of the community and visitors to the town.

The Gift Box offers a vast range of items suitable for any gifting oc-

casion. Alongside their selection of fashion accessories, leather handbag, italian scarves, gold and silver jewellery as well as beautiful pieces from both New bridge Silverware and Tipperary Crystal, the Gift Box offers exclusive, oneof-a-kind items from around the world.

Noelle explained; ‘’The gifts are personally chosen and displayed by Patricia and myself .’’

With a carefully curated window display, the shop is particularly festive around Christmas, offering a vast array of gifts that are perfect for holiday giving.

Although Christmas may be their busiest time of year, Noelle and her team select unique products to suit every season.

“We try to have seasonal promotions. We

do winter fashion and we also do seasonal lines.”

Despite the challenges posed by larger online retailers, the Piggott family have remained committed to keeping things local. They have managed to adapt and thrive by offering products that are both timeless and unique.

“Our focus is on the local community and so we try to have a variety of products all the time to keep people interested in revisiting’’.

With a long-standing team of Mamie, Helen and Patricia, The Gift Box at Gort Post Office is about building connections and creating a warm welcoming atmosphere for all who visit us’, says Noelle.

“We are a fourth-generation family run business,” says Noelle ‘’After

trading here for many years, we are proud of that heritage’’

Noelle is extremely proud of her team and the role they continue to play in the community.

For over 60 years, they have been there for their customers; whether helping to send a letter, deliver a package, or find that perfect gift. As they look toward the future, they are determined to keep the spirit of this family-run business alive for generations to come.

So, the next time you visit Gort, make sure to stop by The Gift Box at Gort Post Office.

Whether you are checking off your Christmas list or simply looking for ‘that’ something special, it’s the perfect place to find the perfect gift.

lisa@clareecho.ie

CHRISTMAS IN GORT

3 is the magic number for Healy family

by Lisa Mullaly lisa@clareecho.ie

No.3 Boutique is a family run business stocking ladies fashion and interior accessories.

The Clare Echo spoke to business owner Theresa Healy who told us how the business came to life.

“The love, beauty and magic of fashion has always been in our blood, from a very early stage. My late Dad was a very stylish gentleman, who got his suits made by Tailor Dowling in Bandon, Co Cork. So that is where our story for the love of fashion began,” said Theresa.

In 2013 after losing her Mum, Theresa hit a wall emotionally and made a very hard decision to close up her wonderful boutique called Squisito in Clarinbridge, but because of pre-season buying she had to wait until January 2014 to fully close the business.

Theresa explains that it was actually her daughter Niamh who confined her to go back to the fashion industry after grieving the loss of her mother.

“Moving on to the present day I actually thought I would never go back into business but as my youngest daughter Niamh put it

‘Mum your passion never left you’.”

With the support of her daughters , friends and family, it took no time at all for Theresa to pick up right where she left off and join her youngest daughter Niamh in a new business venture

“I kept saying..”I must be mad”, when most my people age are retiring”

Theresa originally joined Niamh in business intending to stay in the background and allow Niamh to be the face of the business, but soon Theresa was back doing what she did best.

“I realised I had missed the magic of the fashion world immensely. From our buying trips to Milan, Paris, Copenhagen and London , in bringing a new store to Gort and the surrounding areas and also meeting all our original clients again. It truly has been magical, to say I missed this world is an understatement.”

Once on board there was no stopping Theresa, she worked with her daughter Niamh and they made every decision together.

“We had to go looking for property in Gort, our adopted home, we found this amazing old town house, still kitted out with kitchens, living rooms etc. We met the

owners and fell in love with both and this beautiful piece of history”

The No.3 Boutique opened January 18 this year, Theresa is back doing what she loves best; “bringing a smile, a laugh, and a good banter to all.”

“We received the warmest of welcomes for all the businesses in Gort and we are very grateful for that. Styling , honesty and respect is what every woman deserves and we believe this in No.3 Boutique.”

As the Ho Ho season has begun , the No.3 Boutique has a wonderful collection of attire to suit everyone, from day to evening, Christmas day to Stephens and New years eve. With labels such as; Sand Copenhagen, Mei Meij Italy, Notshy Cashmere from Paris as well as footwear, award winning Edblad Jewellery and a fabulous array of gifts beautifully wrapped in their own designed gift boxes there is no better place to shop this Christmas.

“We love to assist, style and advise at No.3 Boutique Gort. Niamh and I want to wish you all a very happy, peaceful Christmas and joyous New Year”

l Niamh Healy and Theresa Healy of No 3 Boutique

The best of Gort: Bernice Forde Carolan

by Lisa Mullaly lisa@clareecho.ie

SMALL rural towns such as Gort depend on the enthusiasm and involvement of its community to ensure they thrive as vibrant hubs rather than end up as a mere stopping point on route to larger cities.

One woman who has been recognised for enormous contributions to the town of Gort’s vibrancy is Bernice Forde Carolan. Bernice was recently honoured at the ‘Galway People of the Year Award’ for the incredible community work she has undertaken since her return from the UK six years ago.

Bernice grew up on Berwick Street, just around the corner for the town square before moving to the UK to train and work in health care. After retiring six years ago, Bernice moved back to Gort with her husband and has reintegrated into the community as if she never left.

Bernice gives The Clare Echo a tour of the streets of Gort, showing an unquestionable enthusiasm for the town and love for her community. Her grá for Gort is mirrored as the people greet her fondly as she continues to point out more of Gort’s beautiful features.

Coming from a healthcare background, it is in Bernice’s nature to be busy and to help others. Following her retirement, Mary Nolan, a long-term volunteer of the Gort Cancer Support Group, suggested that Bernice volunteer as a driver

for the users of the support centre and her community work just snowballed from there.

“I like to be out, I like to be chatting to people, and I like to be involved. You come back and you hear people moaning about pain. Why haven’t we got this? Why haven’t we got that? And I think, well, if you don’t get involved, you’ve no right to sit and complain about it..So if I can do something that allows the town to be improved in whatever way it is, I will.”

Bernice is now a member of six community organisations includ-

ing; Gort Credit Union, Gort Tidy Towns, the local tourist ofﬁce which is run by Burren Lowlands CLG and the Family Resource Centre, the Gort Welcomes Ukraine Group and the newly-established Gort Town Team. Bernice has also helped to initiate a number of initiatives to enhance the beauty of the community.

As well as being an active member of the Gort community, Bernice is outspoken about issues within the town which need to be addressed and is an advocate for positive change in the area. While enjoying a coffee at a newly-opened bakery on George’s street Bernice told The Clare Echo the main point of contention within the community at the moment is St.Patrick’s Convent.

For the past two and half years the convent has housed 34 Ukrainians who have integrated into the community Gort seamlessly. They have enrolled in local schools, registered on sports teams and become involved in the local community groups. So two weeks ago, when the County Council announced these families were to be moved to various new locations, the people of Gort got to work trying to rectify the situation.

“These people are part of our community. So we fought like hell. We had letters pinging here, there and everywhere.”

As a result the families now have the option to remain in Gort, those who have opted to stay have been relocated to The Grove or have

been taken in by other locals.

Now that St.Patricks Convent is empty, Bernice and other active members of the community want to renovate it so that it can be used as a prominent amenity in the town.

“We have a huge plan of what we want to do with that building. We want to see things like the Family Resource Centre relocated. We want the social services down there. We want things like a remote working hub. We want it to be a community facility. We want to use the chapel there for concerts and plays. It sits on the river. It’s a prime site in the middle of Gort. And we do not want it to disappear into the ether and collapse into the river.”

Bernice says the community and Council are on board with plans to revive the convent but they are having difﬁculty negotiating with the nuns who own the building.

The rejuvenation of St.Patricks Convent is only one of 20 initiatives currently underway as part of the ‘Gort Town Centre First Plan’ created by Galway County Council and the Gort Town Team, of which Bernice is the Town Champion. Many of these projects are still in planning phases but Bernice highlights a select few of the initiatives which have been put into action.

The Gort River walk scheme has been an ongoing project within the town. Headed by David Murphy and his team, the plan is to continue the development of this amenity so that eventually the walkway will virtually

circumnavigate the town.

Bernice also described the plans which have been put in place to improve the Town Hall. As one of the oldest buildings in Gort, The Town Hall has recently been ‘revamped’ and these improvements will continue as the town is now looking into improved disabled access. This was a necessary project as the Town Hall is used as a venue by a number of Gorts community groups.

“There’s a lot of work to enhance that. And it’s a great venue because they use it for the Cinema Club as well. Okay, yeah. The Gordiﬁed Cinema Club. Yeah. They use it for after school events. They use it for everything and anything. Music sessions, you name it.”

The ﬁnal project Benice spoke about is the Streetscape enhancement scheme, which has a massive uptake from the community so much so that they have more people opting in than they had budgeted for. The plan is to bring colour back to Gort and paint the buildings throughout the town in heritage colours.

“We’ve had a colour consultant come on board, she’s met with property owners, and the engagement from the Townsfolk has been brilliant. That’s amazing. And that’s what we want to see. Now what we really want to see is this happening as soon as possible in 2025. We want Gore to be looking really glamorous by the summer time.”

CHRISTMAS IN GORT

Community at heart of Gort Cancer Support Centre

by Lisa Mullaly lisa@clareecho.ie

GORT Cancer Support Centre and Holly Blue House, has for 17 years provided conﬁdential cancer support to anybody affected by cancer in the South Galway & North Clare areas.

A cancer diagnosis can place a huge ﬁnancial and emotional burden on families. Gort Cancer Support Centre aims to relieve even a fraction of this burden through the provision of free and conﬁdential services to families and individuals with a cancer diagnosis.

The support centre welcomes anyone in need of their services completely free of charge. Whether someone needs physical therapy, talk therapy, or a safe social space to help them deal with the difﬁculties which come with a cancer diagnosis, The Gort Cancer Support Centre aims to help in any way that they can. Based in a set of renovated semi-detached houses, the centre’s 40 volunteers and professional facilitators, strive to create a comforting homely environment to support the community.

The Clare Echo sat down with Mary Nolan, a long-term volunteer who helped to es-

tablish the centre in 2007, and Cara Brady, the centre manager, to hear about their ongoing dedication to providing the essential services.

Mary explained that the idea for the centre came about when a woman from Gort was traveling 35 minutes to attend a similar centre in Tuam. This woman’s sister along with a small group of local ladies involved in the Gort Lions Club set up the Gort Cancer Support Centre in 2007.

Starting out with two small rooms in the GRETB building the demand for services quickly outgrew the small space, and in 2010, the Centre purchased a semi-detached house near the square with the help of a generous donation of a couple in Manchester. Even with the extra room, the centre still needed more space to be able to facilitate all of its services.

Through a combination of fundraising efforts, community support, and a loan from Clann Credo, they were able to buy the property next door and continue to expand.

“Between our own fundraising and a massive contribution from local businesses and individuals, we managed to clear our mortgage by February 2022,” says Mary.

“It’s a testament to the generosity of the Gort community that we’ve been able to provide free services for so

between care and the expenses that come with treatment.

Professional services offered at the Centre include counselling, complementary therapies such as reﬂexology, acupuncture, lymphoedema management, and even post-mastectomy ﬁttings.

One of the Centre’s most important services is its driving program, which offers volunteer drivers to take patients to and from hospitals, ensuring they can access treatment without the stress of navigating public transport. “We’re in a rural area, and many of our clients have compromised immune systems, making it risky to travel on public transport,” says Mary. “Our driving service is a lifeline for them.”

according to Cara it isn’t always very steady, is the Holly Blue House Shop. This Shop is located in the back of the building and is open to the public. It is ﬁlled with unopened gifts or unused items all donated by members of the community.

While the Centre does receive some support from the HSE, it’s not enough to cover its full operating costs, which last year amounted to over €120,000.

CHALLENGE

many.”

The centre now ﬁlls two renovated semi-detached houses which now comprises two physical treatment rooms, a dedicated play therapy room, a multi-purpose therapy room, a quiet room, a sensory garden, an art studio, a kitchen and a comfortable living room for group sessions. Although they are based in Gort the Cancer Support Centre extends its services to people and families across Clare and Limerick. They provide help and support to people of all ages with the youngest attendee at age 4 years old and the oldest being in her 90s.

The Gort Cancer Support Centre is deeply committed to offering its services free of charge. For many, a cancer diagnosis comes with a huge emotional and ﬁnancial burden. The Centre’s approach is to provide a wide range of services at no cost, ensuring that no one has to choose

While professional therapies are at the core of the support centre’s offerings, it also provides a welcoming, safe environment where people can socialise and relax. Activities like chair yoga, art therapy, music groups, and peer support meetings are held regularly. These activities offer a space where individuals can not only receive support but also connect with others who understand their experience. “Sometimes, people just need somewhere to feel safe, to sit down with a cup of tea, or to chat with others,” explains Cara. “It’s about creating a community where people don’t feel isolated.”

The Centre also hosts a peer support group, which allows patients to meet others in similar circumstances. “It’s often the case that one person might mention something they learned at the hospital, and another might not know about it,” says Cara. “It’s a great way to learn from each other.”

Despite its success and growing reputation, the Centre faces ongoing challenges. The reliance on public donations means that the Centre’s future is never guaranteed, and the team is always concerned about maintaining funding. The Gort Cancer Support Centres main steady stream of income, although

“The challenge is that we depend so heavily on the generosity of the community,” says Mary. “If people ever stop donating, it would have a huge impact. We are a small, independent charity, and we don’t receive any guaranteed state funding.” Even so, the Centre remains optimistic, thanks to its loyal network of volunteers and donors. “Without them, we wouldn’t be able to do what we do,” says Mary. “And we’re seeing more and more people coming to us, especially younger people, which shows that the need is still growing.”

The Gort Cancer Support Centre is not just a place for medical care; it’s a space where healing happens in many forms. For clients and their families, it’s a sanctuary of understanding, care, and support. And for the volunteers, it’s a chance to make a real difference in the lives of others. The Centre is a reminder of the power of community, the importance of volunteerism, and the incredible impact of compassionate care. It’s a place where people come to ﬁnd strength, share their journey, and know that they are never alone.

For more information about the Gort Cancer Support Centre and how you can support their work, visit their website or contact them directly. Donations and volunteers are always welcome to help continue the Centre’s life-changing work.

l Cara Brady, Centre Manager with volunteer Mary Nolan

CHRISTMAS IN GORT

Ensure safe travels this Christmas with Kevin Burke Tyres

AS THE festive season approaches, many of us are planning road trips to spend time with family and friends.

It’s a time for joy and connection, but it’s also essential to prioritise safety—especially when travelling. Kevin Burke Tyres Gort, is here to help ensure you and your loved ones stay safe on the road with their Free Tyre Health Check.

Located on Crowe Street in Gort, their depot proudly serves South Galway, offering exceptional customer service and expert tyre solutions.

Whether you need tyres for a car, tractor, or even an earthmov-

er, they have you covered. From affordable options to premium brands, we stock a range to suit every budget and requirement.

Your tyres play a critical role in road safety. Worn or damaged tyres can lead to accidents, especially on wet or icy winter roads.

That’s why Kevin Burke Tyres encourages everyone to take advantage of their Free Tyre Health Check. Their experienced team will thoroughly inspect your tyres for wear, pressure, and damage, giving you peace of mind as you prepare for the festive season.

In addition to fitting and repairing tyres of all sizes, the team in Gort also provide a wheel reconditioning service, including shot-blasting and powder-coating, customised to your specifications.

Looking for the perfect gift this Christmas? Why not give the gift of safety and reliability? Kevin Burke Tyres Gort offers gift vouchers, the ideal present for the person in your life who already has everything. Tyres are an essential investment, and this practical gift is sure to be appreciated. With competitive prices, expert services, and a commitment to

keeping South Galway safe on the road, Kevin Burkes Tyres is your trusted local tyre specialist.

Open Monday to Friday, 8:30 am to 6 pm, and Saturdays, 8:30 am to 3 pm. Call 091-632800 or email at gort@kbt.ie to book your Free Tyre Health Check or to purchase a gift voucher today. This Christmas, make road safety a priority. Whether it’s a thoughtful gift or ensuring your own tyres are ready for the winter roads, Kevin Burke Tyres Gort is here to help. Safe travels start in Gort!

Climate ambassador award for Kilkee’s Sharmila

by Páraic McMahon paraic@clareecho.ie

KILKEE’s Sharmila Bano has received a Climate Ambassador Award from An Taisce.

Citizens passionate about protecting the plant are honoured in the awards which also recognise their local efforts to reduce the impact of climate change in Ireland.

A natural climate communicator, with an affinity for youth education and inclusion, Sharmila transitioned BT Young Scientist’s student interactions into peer-to-peer learning workshops with schools in West Clare. She designed and implemented a Youth Education Program called ‘Awareness to Action’ for 85 students in 9 local schools exploring climate-conscious topics through conversations and games.

She is described as a ‘future citizen’, someone who is not just safeguarding their local community today, but also working to protect our future planet and the future of many generations to come.

Credentials in Sharmila’s community engagement are also evident in how she helped others learn about energy consumption and set up The Loop Head Climate Ac-

tion Team. She organised clothes recycling and participated in the Big River Watch. She is also at the beginning of an exciting and much-needed initiative called The Active Hope Programme which aims to ease eco-anxiety and develop resilience in young people.

148 Climate Ambassadors were trained by An Taisce’s Climate Action Team earlier this year, and together they delivered 658 climate actions, directly engaging over 265,000 people. The group also released 2,375 climate communications, reaching an estimated 4.5 million people in 2024. The ambassadors come from a wide range of backgrounds including primary school teachers, secondary school students and teachers, university students, academics, farmers, and businesspeople.

Every Climate Ambassador was recognised with a framed certificate, and ten including Sharmila were distinguished with special awards for their impactful climate actions. Throughout the year, they engaged their networks with biodiversity, circular fashion, education, nature restoration, youth communications, sustainable travel, sustainable energy, tree planting, rewilding, flood prevention, degrowth, food waste, and

environmental advocacy.

In addition to their impact and extensive list of achievements, the awardees were also commended for uniting communities, boosting neighbourhood bonds, building trust, bridging generational gaps, and raising hope for our future. This intergenerational programme, which is funded by the Department of Environment, Climate and Communications and has been in operation since 2017, continues to expand, as proactive citizens decide to upskill in climate science, solutions and communications, enabling them, with support from An Taisce, to carry out climate actions.

Throughout the year they are asked to undertake four key tasks – two climate communications and two climate actions,

though many participants achieve much more. This programme allows individuals to join a strong network of dedicated people who share knowledge, gain insight from one another, and forge long-lasting friendships.

Sharmila said, “The Climate Ambassador Programme training was very empowering. It helped me to move from guilt activism to positive activism. I learned so much and was inspired by the infectious hope of the next generation in exchange for my knowledge”.

“An Taisce has no doubt that Sharmila will continue to inspire others to take action locally in Clare and further afield,” said Gráinne Ryan, Climate Action Manager in An Taisce.

l CLIMATE AMBASSADOR AWARD: Sharmila Bano, Conor Anderson, Department of Environment, Climate and Communications, Gráinne Ryan, Climate Action Programme Manager.

Clare farmer contributes to new book on sustainable farming

Fergal Smith from Clare joins forces with Irish Farmers to publish The Farming For Nature Handbook This new book combines scientiﬁc research with local knowledge to gives farmers and others practical tips on how to create a more sustainable future, while protecting land and nature.

At a time of great challenge and uncertainty for farm families, The Farming For Nature Handbook is a practical guide to protecting and restoring nature.

With contributions from more than 50 Irish farmers, the book also shares farmers’ experiences of how working with nature can help reduce costs and improve incomes.

Fergal Smith, a mixed stock farmer from Lahinch who ran for election as a Green candidate, is one of the contributors, and shares his views on sustainable farming in the book. He says:

“The trees which we planted are now four years and older. They are starting to really give shape to the farm and wind protection. We’re

also seeing a noticeable increase in bird life around the farm. We have planted the trees in the hedges to thicken them up and then we have broken a lot of the ﬁelds into 20m lanes. These are giving us a lovely structure to the farm and in time no doubt will help with adding structure underground to the soil.”

While there is widespread awareness of the environmental damage caused by poor farming practices, this book in contrast attempts to highlight the positive ways farmers can sustain and enhance our natural environment, and beneﬁt from the results.

It is hoped The Farming For Nature Handbook will become the essential guide to caring proﬁtably for our land.

The book, which launched on November 28, was inspired by regular requests to the non-proﬁt Farming For Nature project from landowners, farmers, smallholders and growers wanting to learn how best to manage their land, big or small, in a way that enhances habitats, protects proﬁts, and safe-

guards our natural environment and rural communities.

The Farming For Nature project was set up to support, encourage and inspire farmers who farm, or who wish to farm, in a way that will improve the natural health of our countryside.

The book was conceived and developed by Brigid Barry, researched and mainly written by conservation ecologist Dr. Emma Hart on behalf of Farming For Nature and co-edited by Dr. Brendan Dunford of the Burrenbeo Trust. It is beautifully illustrated with watercolours and sketches by farmer and artist Clive Bright as well as digital images by scientiﬁc illustrator William Helps.

The book has been described by President of Ireland Michael D Higgins as “a timely and essential contribution to the on-going discourse on how we, as a society, must respond to some of the most pressing challenges of our time”.

The book was supported ﬁnancially by the National Parks and Wildlife Service, the Department of

Agriculture, Food and the Marine, and the Lifes2Good Foundation.

Farming For Nature co-founder Dr. Brendan Dunford said: “Two thirds of our countryside is owned and managed by farmers, and we view these farmers as potentially a huge resource in addressing the biodiversity crisis that Ireland faces today. This has seen declines in most of our habitats and species – for instance, it’s estimated that we’ve lost 30% of our semi-natural grasslands in only one decade. To mobilise these ‘farmers for nature’ we need better funding but also better guidance, and this handbook will hopefully help inform the journey ahead towards a more sustainable future for our wonderful landscapes and those who farm them.”

lGREEN FARMING: Fergal Smith

Celebrating Clare’s volunteers this International Volunteer Day

IN PARTNERSHIP with Clare County Council, the Clare Vol unteer Centre is hosting a spe cial Volunteer Recognition Event to celebrate and honour those volunteer across County Clare who have repeatedly engaged with the Clare Volunteer Centre carrying out a wide diversity of roles. The evening, which is taking place on Decem ber 5 2024, will highlight some of the volunteers and their stories, each volunteer playing an essential part

in strengthening our communities, from supporting local events, fundraisers and other projects. December 5 is International Volunteer Day and Sharon Meaney, Manager of the Clare Volunteer Centre spoke about why this date holds such significance.

“International Volunteer Day is an opportunity for us to shine a light on the volunteers and the local organisations who make up the rich fabric of County Clare. Ireland is unique in that there is a volunteer centre in every county, acting as a brokerage service between volunteers and the organi-

sations that they volunteer with. There are in excess of 2700 volunteers registered with the Clare Volunteer Centre and we work with over 350 organisations providing services such as volunteer referral, garda vetting, training and 1:1 support. We also work closely with the community integration forum and have seen first hand how people who are new to our communities have brought skill sets, enthusiasm and energy to local initiatives”

Dolores O Halloran, who leads on volunteer placement within the volunteer centre explained the health benefits of volunteering for people who are looking to volunteer. “Volunteering has many benefits to the individual, socially, professionally and certainly health related. Volunteering gets you out and about, meeting new people, learning new skills and we often hear back from volunteers about that ‘feel good feeling’. People can register on our website, www.volunteerclare.ie or they can contact me directly at dolores@volunteerclare.ie or 065 68 45517 to find out more about what we can offer and what volunteer roles are active at the moment. I would encourage all people to think about volunteering, there is definitely a role to suit everyone”.

Sharon finished by sharing her enthusiasm for the Volunteer Recognition event: “We wanted to recognise the volunteers who are registered with the Clare Volunteer Centre and who have done multiple and diverse roles. We have volunteers who have done in excess of 40 different volunteer roles since registering, and this event is about giving back to them, celebrating their achievements, and reinforcing the powerful impact they continue to make in our community. We also hope that it would encourage more people to think about volunteering, looking forward to 2025 and how we can all make a difference”

As well as local recognition, the Clare Vol-

unteer Centre were delighted to announce that Shanelle Waring - Woods from Co. Clare has been shortlisted for the national 17th annual Volunteer Ireland Awards. Those shortlisted will be honoured at the national awards ceremony in Dublin on December 8, which celebrates the commitment and dedication of volunteers across Ireland. Shanelle has been shortlisted in the Sports & Recreation category. Shanelle has been volunteering with the Ennis Hockey Club for five years and serves as the Designated Liaison Officer, Committee Member and a Coach, passionate about making hockey a fun, safe and rewarding activity for all.

At the heart of Shanelle’s contribution is her work in developing programs for individuals with disabilities both adults and children. Commenting on the shortlist, Sharon Meaney, Manager of the Clare Volunteer Centre said:

“Every year I continue to be inspired by the dedication of volunteers across County Clare. People with busy lives and commitments, taking the time to give back and help others and make a real difference in their communities. We are lucky to have volunteers like these making such an incredible contribution, and this shortlist is just a snapshot of what goes on across the county every day. I’d like to congratulate Shanelle and all of this year’s nominees.”

The 2024 Volunteer Ireland Awards are made possible thanks to support from the Department of Rural and Community Development and award partner Healthy Ireland. The 17th annual Volunteer Ireland Awards take place on Sunday 8th December in the Carlton Hotel, Blanchardstown, Dublin. Shortlisted nominees will be presented with their certificates before Volunteer Ireland announces the winners in each category and names Ireland’s Volunteer of the Year for 2024.

Celebrating Clare’s volunteers this International Volunteer Day

The evening, which is taking place on Decem ber 5 2024, will highlight some of the volunteers and their stories, each volunteer playing an essential part

in strengthening our communities, from supporting local events, fundraisers and other projects.

December 5 is International Volunteer Day and Sharon Meaney, Manager of the Clare Volunteer Centre spoke about why this date holds such significance.

As well as local recognition, the Clare Vol-

l INTERNATIONAL VOLUNTEERS DAY: Clare Volunteer Centre Team; Dolores O Halloran, Marguerita Heffernan, Sharon Meaney and Olena Bondar [inset image: Shanelle Waring-Woods]

Clare jersey is O’Neill’s best seller for 2024

by Gordon Deegan news@clareecho.ie

CLARE’s jersey for 2024 was O’Neill’s best selling replica jersey this year.

COMMUNITY FUNDING INFORMATION CLINICS

Clare County Council’s Rural Development Directorate has scheduled a series of in-person sessions to support Community Groups/Organisations who may wish to apply for current and upcoming funding schemes for their community. Any group who requires guidance and support to inform their ideas or projects in their area are more than welcome to discuss this with our Rural & Community Development Officers.

The following funding schemes are set to open for calls for applications from Community Groups in the coming weeks:

• Clare Local Area Grants Scheme (CLAGS) 2025

• Local Enhancement Programme 2025

• Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme 2024/2025

If you cannot make these dates, please email your queries to rcdo@clarecoco.ie

In-Person Advice clinics will be held across the County at the following locations and times:

Kilkishen Cultural Centre, Kilkishen, V95 KN34 10.00AM – 1.00PM

Monday, 9th December

Tuesday, 10th December

Killaloe MD Office, Scariff, V94 NY33 2.00PM – 5.00PM

Treacy’s Oakwood Hotel, Shannon, V14 NH97 10.00AM – 1.00PM Clare Council HQ, Annex to the Council Chambers, New Road, Ennis V95DXP2 2.00PM – 5.00PM

Wednesday, 11th December The Ritz, The Square, Lisdoonvarna, V95 Y624 10.00AM – 1.00PM

Corofin Community Hall, Corofin, V95 RD88 2.00PM – 5.00PM

Thursday, 12th December Clonlara Community Centre Clonlara, V94 VXD4 10.00AM – 1.00PM

Kilrush Town Hall, Kilrush, V15 XK70 2.00PM – 5.00PM

Friday, 13th December Miltown Malbay Community Centre, Miltown Malbay, V95 W93R 2.00PM – 5.00PM

Finance Director with O’Neills, Paul Towell confirmed that O’Neill’s sports brand is looking overseas to increase revenues after taking a 15 percent hit to GAA replica jersey income due to the condensed All-Ireland Championships.

Towell said that the company plans to further increase sales in Australia and the UK due to the impact the shortened inter-county GAA season is having on domestic sales.

Mr Towell said that the brand is losing out on six weeks of GAA jersey sales due to the GAA decision to stage the All-Ireland finals in late July and early August.

He said, “Everything is being rushed now, that is the problem. We have the same commitment to the counties but we have six weeks less to sell the replica jerseys”.

Mr Towell made his remarks when commenting on new accounts for Balbriggan Textiles Ltd which show that pre-tax profits last

year increased by 21.5pc to €1.9m. This followed gross profits increasing by 13pc to €13.25m.

Mr Towell said that the six weeks loss of GAA jersey replica shirt sales “is out of an 18 week long All-Ireland championship so it is having an impact”.

Mr Towell said that the best-selling county jersey in 2024 was ‘far and away’ the jersey for All-Ireland senior hurling champions, Clare, followed by Cork.

Mr Towell said that the best-selling county jersey for 2023 was Limerick as the hurlers won four All-Irelands in a row.

Mr Towell said that overall sales increased last year despite the drop in GAA jersey replica sales.

He said that O’Neill’s revenues in Australia in the last five years have doubled as the company has expanded overseas to compensate for the impact of the condensed GAA season.

Mr Towell said that the company’s replica jersey for Australian rugby league team, the Penrith Panthers is amongst the top five selling jerseys.

Mr Towell said that O’Neills employs 1,050

here north and south, “We need to keep expanding our markets to keep production levels up.”

Mr Towell said that “we are looking outside Ireland as much as we can”.

The directors’ report for Balbriggan Textiles states that the return of consumers to the high street post Covid-19 has led to a 19 percent increase in revenues in 2023,

They state that gross profit margin decreased slightly on the prior year “due to significant inflation in raw material, packaging and distribution costs”.

They state that they are satisfied with the result of the group “in what has been a challenging year”. Numbers employed increased by nine to 135 and staff costs totalled €5.56m.

Accumulated profits totalled €24.7m as cash funds decreased from €6.49m to €5m.

Mr Towell said that he did not think the retail price of O’Neill replica county jerseys is an issue. “They are much cheaper than soccer jerseys and soccer clubs change their jerseys every year”.

lROLE MODELS: Mark Rodgers signs the jersey of a young fan

Photo by Gerard O’Neill

Beckman Coulter scoops top gong

THE Clare Business Excellence Awards confirmed its status as the best business event in Clare.

Hosted by Ennis Chamber with Clare County Council as lead sponsor, and The Clare Echo as its media partner, the glittering occasion held at the Inn at Dromoland on November 27, was a night of celebration for businesses from all corners of the Banner County.

Outstanding businesses large and small, plus a voluntary community group were announced winners of their individual categories, by event MC, RTE Radio1 Reporter John Cooke, while the mantle of ‘Clare Business of the Year’ went to Beckman Coulter, the Life Sciences business based in the beautiful rural setting of O’Callaghan’s Mills.

Beckman Coulter had earlier won two individual categories for ‘Best Green & Sustainable Practices’, sponsored by Rengen Power, and for its commitment to ‘Health & Wellness in the Workplace’, sponsored by Essilor.

Congratulating all winners and finalists on the night, Cathaoirleach of Clare County Council Cllr. Alan O’Callaghan said, “The diversity and innovation of your businesses

is a positive reflection of a vibrant and sustainable local economy. Your success is a testament to the resilience and determination many of you have demonstrated in recent years – overcoming many challenges.

The tenacity, endurance and entrepreneurship you have shown leaves me in no doubt that this county’s economy will continue to grow and prosper thanks in no small way to each of you and your hard work. You carry the pride of ‘The Banner’ in all that you do.”

Sheila Lynch, President Ennis Chamber said, “The finalists in the room represent a very wide and diverse range of sectors and businesses.

“From multi-nationals to independent retailers, from our world-famous tourism businesses to our excellent hospitality and food providers, from traditional long-established businesses to new businesses based on futuristic cutting-edge technology – County Clare has it all in abundance.

“We can all feel very proud. I congratulate all finalists and category winners, but of course, we have to give special mention to overall winners – ‘Clare Business of the Year’ Beckman Coulter – a very worthy winner.”

LYONS CLASSIC CAR RESTORATION

l The Beckman Coulter team celebrate winning the overall award at the Clare Business Excellence Awards 2024 hosted at The Inn At Dromoland last Thursday

Photos by Eamon Ward

BEST USE OF DIGITAL MARKETING & SOCIAL MEDIASPONSORED BY THE CLARE ECHO

Denise Quin, Head of Sales with The Clare Echo, and Sheila Lynch, President of Ennis Chamber, present Sean Torpey with the award for ‘Best Use of Digital Marketing and Social Media’ award, along with Kevin Jordan of Kevem Media, Torpey’s social media agency

BEST MICRO BUSINESS - SPONSORED BY LEO CLARE

Padraic McElwee, Head of Enterprise at Local Enterprise Ofﬁce, Clare, presents David and Micheal Lyons, directors of Lyons Classic Car Restoration with their award

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CHEILE CAFÉ

Kieran Clancy, Retail Manager, AIB presents the award for ‘Best Place to Eat – Café’ to Pauline Downes and Joseph Kaleja, representing Le Chaile Café

BEST MANUFACTURER - SPONSORED BY EI ELECTRONICS

Barry Loughnane, Manufacturing Manager, presents the award for Best Manufacturer (employing 150+ people) to Vitalograph CEO Frank Keane

Mullins, AIB Business Banking, presents the award for Best Place to Eat (restaurant) to Aine Knapik (Town Hall Manager) and Martin Kaupa (Town Hall Head Chef) representing The Town Hall (Old Ground Hotel)

CUSTOMER SERVICE

EXCELLENCE- SPONSORED BY McKEOGH

BEST TOURISM EXPERIENCESPONSORED BY TUS

Fact File

BUNRATTY CASTLE INN AT DROMOLAND

DR Marian Duggan Vice President TUS, and Sheila Lynch, President of Ennis Chamber, present the award to Charlotte Rebers and Stephen Hanley

BEST HOSPITALITY PROVIDERSPONSORED BY SHANNON AIRPORT GROUP

Nandi O’Sullivan of The Shannon Airport Group, and Sheila Lynch, President of Ennis Chamber, present award for Best Hospitality to Nico Hernandez and Michael McIntosh of Inn at Dromoland

PROFESSIONAL SERVICES EXCELLENCESPONSORED BY BANK OF IRELAND

Colin Ryan, Bank Manager, Bank of Ireland presents award for Professional Services Excellence to Marina Keane, Stephen Keogh and Derek Walsh, partners with MHP Sellors

Carroll,

Truagh-Clonlara: Next stop, Croke Park

ALL-IRELAND SNR CLUB CAMOGIE SEMI-FINAL

Truagh-Clonlara 0-11 ST VINCENT'S 0-09

Venue: Walsh Park, Waterford

Compiled by Seamus Hayes

STORY OF THE

TRUAGH/CLONLARA

Frees For; 14 (5/9)

Wides: 5 (1/4)

Scores from play; 0-7

Spread of scorers; 4

Own puckouts won; 11 out of 16

Bookings: Becky Foley (50)

REFEREE: Andy Larkin (Cork)

PLAYER of the match in the Clare final, player of the match in the Munster final, Aine O’Loughlin picked up another player of the match accolade as Truagh-Clonlara qualified for the All-Ireland senior club final with a two point win over a fancied St Vincents from Dublin at Walsh Park in Waterford on Sunday.

Speaking to The Clare Echo shortly after Sunday’s wi in waterford she said “I’m still I shock, I cant believe it, I cant believe that I will be wearing my Truagh-Clonlara colours in Croke Park. Its just a dream come true, I’m so proud of

GAME

ST. VINCENTS

Frees For: 8 (5/3)

Wides: 7 (4/3)

Scores from play: 0-8

Spread of scorers: 7

Own puckouts won: 9 out of 16

Bookings: Deirdre Johnstone (35)

this group of players”.

Asked about the determination of the payes she said “we have been told many times by management that we are a very stubborn team, we don’t give up and in the last few matches against Scariff-Ogonnelloe, Inagh-Kilnamona, Clonoulty and Galtir, this was evident. We just keep going, we keep playing to the final whistle”.

Reflecting on Sunday’s performance she said, “at half time we weren’t really happy with out performance we knew there was another gear. We said we needed to play wider, Eimear got some

great scores as did Becky, we played he way we want to play in that second half”.

Continuing she said “it’s a dream to play in Croke park, it will be a special occasion, we will prepare and we will give it everything, we don’t mind delaying the Christmas celebrations because of this”

Concluding Aine said “this is great for Clare camogie, It’s great for our parish where the people is totally behind us, you could see hat today, they were all here and ‘great to see. We are representing and

Munster in Croke Park now, it’s a dream come true”.

Meanwhile, Truagh/Clonlara coach Ryan Morris will be postponing his honeymoon to prepare for their All-Ireland senior club camogie final.

“Myself and my wife are supposed to go on our honeymoon on the weekend of the All-Ireland final, that’s not happening now anyway! New York will always be there, All-Ireland finals don’t come along too often” he marked.

Morris who has been coach

No Clare intermediate side in 2025

by Seamus Hayes news@clareecho.ie

CLOSE to 200 players represented Clare on the camogie field this year while the county will not be fielding an intermediate side in 2025.

In presenting a detailed report to the annual convention of Clare camogie, secretary Ann Sanz said “it is hard to compare it to 2023, any year where you win an All-Ireland or two is always going to be difficult to follow. However, considering that the senior team was hit with 11 retirements at the beginning of the year, with those positions being filled by players coming from the junior panel, it is an achievement that they held their own and will remain senior in 2025”.

Continuing she said, “Our new Intermediates were also not relegated despite the losses to their ranks, but unfortunately, as the Association has decided that counties can only have one adult team in 2025, we will not be playing Intermediate next year”.

She congratulated senior cham-

pions Truagh/Clonlara on their success in adding the Munster title ans she wished them well in the upcoming All-Ireland final.

“Almost 200 players took to the field to represent Clare over the year from U14 to Senior, and there are over 4,000 registered players in the county, out of a total of 5019 registered members. We played over 40 inter-county games and to date have played over 650 club games, with practically all fixtures having been fulfilled. The attendance at all games is up from inter-county to club round games, and the media presence has increased”, according to the secretary who completed her five year stint as secretary at Monday’s convention.

She noted the dedication of volunteers, clubs, managers and players and went on to pay tribute to sponsors, Clare Credit Unions who sponsor the adult club championships and Ei Electronics who sponsor the Senior County team and she also thanked Club Clare for their support.

“Our links with Clare GAA grow stronger year on year and they have yet again been very generous to us in allowing us use of Cusack Park, Caherlohan, Clareabbey and Ballyline whenever we asked for it. Our senior and intermediate teams both played their home games in Cusack Park and trained in both Clareabbey and Caherlohan during the year. We held senior championship games in Clareabbey almost weekly, and most of our games were played in GAA pitches given by the clubs. Thank you to everyone who makes this possible, especially Kieran Keating and Deirdre Murphy. The senior county final in Dr Daly Park in Tulla was a huge success and proved the perfect venue for the game”, she said Concluding she thanked all the members of the executive for their efforts and said “being secretary for the past five years has been a great experience with some fantastic highs”.

of the side for four years commented, “these girls don’t know where to stop, There was a good bit of wind there today, we went in at half time and the girls were totally relaxed, there was no panic whatsoever in the dressing room”.

“We got a couple of key messages to the girls and they responded really well,. We came our flying. The first message was to get the first score and put Vincents on the back foot and take it from there. We know what we are capable of and there are no words to stress that”, he continued.

Understandably Ryan was pleased with his team’s response to the half time talk “St.Vincents goalie pulled off a hell of a save. We felt we could have been more ahead in the third quarter.. We scored the first three points We always knew Vincents were gong to come back, they hadn’t scored n the first ten minutes. They have some great players, Ashlig Maher really stood up and they put us under pressure but we nev-

er panicked and the players coming off the bench made a big conribution”, he said.

Continuing the team mentor said “it’s not just the team that starts, it’s the team that is going to finish for us and we have done that a lot this season. We have taking players off and brought them back on, (Marren)is one of those, we knew if we could take her off, have a chat and bring her back on, she is one of the finishers for us. Niamh Ryan and Leah Hawes also made valuble contributions when introduced, their tackles, their efforts were a vital part of this win”.

Commenting on qualifying for the all-Ireland final he said “it’s nice to break that barrier for Clare. Scariff/Ogonnelloe were the trend setters for us, we wanted to get to where they were, they had Munster success and we hadn’t so we wanted to achieve that and now we hope we can set the trend for Claree. We are the first from Clare club to get to the All-Ireland final but we won’t be the last, there are some great teams in Clare, It’s a very young camogie county, there is a lot of potential there”.

Clare camogie shows €14k loss

by Seamus Hayes news@clareecho.ie

Clare camogie recorded a loss of €14,824 in 2024, delegates attending Monday’s convention at Hotel Woodstock were told by treasurer John Hogan.

Total income for the year amounted to €227,957 down from €244,796 he previous year.

Expenditure for the year came to €242,781 up from €185,924 in 2023. The main items in income were €59,942(sponsorship and donations), €45,159 (Field event contributions-gates) €45,130(grants), €42,823 (Afﬁliation fees) and €31,632(Fundraising activities).

The main items on the expenditure side were team expenses amounted to €93,455, Personal sports gear cost €35,926, transportation €26,030, catering and hotel accomodation €15,075 and ﬁeld maintenance €17, 153.

The treasurer pointed out that he transportation ﬁgure covered two years. “Everything costs money now”, John Hogan told the meeting when asking the clubs to put forward names if people who will serve on a ﬁnance committee.

He paid a particular tribute to the

retiring assistant treasurer Martin Kaiser for his work.

“The loss shown for this year like all losses is as a result of a number of circumstances. Most development and the adult sides ran fundraisers including bag packing by the U14’s, Bingo by the U16’s and Golf Classic and Bingo night by the adult sides. The work by the management teams is much appreciated”, the treasurer said in his report.

Continuing he said, “The reality is that costs are only going to increase and we need to prepare for that. To that end we need to revisit Fundraising/Sponsorship with an eye on the fact that to maintain preparation for County sides at current high standards and remembering that any new innovation/requirement will add additional costs.

Concluding he said “camogie in Clare, both county and club, offers an exciting opportunity for girls and women in a highly competitive and spectator friendly sport and it is felt that revisiting sponsorship may add some additional funding and together with combined fundraising ease the ﬁnancial pressure”.

SCAN HERE FOR MATCH REPORT

l Sinead Hogg at the ﬁnal whistle

Photo by Gerard O'Neill

U21 victory a great way to end the year for Doora/Bareﬁeld - Vaughan

by Seamus Hayes news@clareecho.ie

BEING crowned under 21 A Clare football champions was a great way to finish the year according to St. Josephs manager Donagh Vaughan.

Speaking after his charged had recorded a one point win over Lissycasey in Saturday’s final which required extra time at Clareabbey he said “it’s a great breakthrough a great way to finish a long tough year”.

“A lot of these boys have played senior this year, no more than Lissycasey as seven or eight from both teams played senior.

Both didn’t win in the senior so it was important to keep it go-

ing and when you are developing younger players this is a brilliant competition. This was a great game of football considering the time of year, it was a super match and there was nothing between the teams”, he said.

Continuing the winners manager said “the wind was a huge factor in the first half, Lissycasey had a five point lead but we got it back to a draw.

"In the first period of extra time when we had the wind, Lissycasey were superb, they held the ball well and they kept us to one point. It was really up to us to hold on in that second period, keep ball and keep ball, We got one more score and we hung on and that was what

it’s all about”.

Looking to the future he said “We have 35 on our panel and I can’t say enough about these young lads that came up from minor.

"They got a bit of a drubbing from Lissycasey in the minor final, a lot of them joined us and we had to get them going. Hopefully the future is good for Doora-Barefield football.

"We have a great bunch of lads and we just have to get them through now. We will enjoy tonight, the boys have a hurling semi-final next week, we will get a week or two off and we will think about next year then”, he concluded

by Seamus Hayes

Tuamgraney have added a Junior inter-club title to the cabinet of wins for 2024.

The Junior team of Ciaran Malone, Seanie Doyle Mici Sheedy, Conor Downes, Paddy Fitzgerald (inj) defeated Templeudigan of Wexford in the ﬁnal with a game to spare.

Ciaran Maloney won his singles and the pair of Seanie Doyle and Mici Sheedy won in the doubles building a lead that could not be overtaken should Conor Downes have lost his remaining singles.

Ciaran Malone, Seanie Doyle and Paddy Fitzgerald add the 40x20 interclub All-Ireland to the 60x30

won earlier in the year.

The Junior B team of Cathal McKenna, Tiarnan Slattery, Fionn Slattery, Shane Walsh and Jamie Howard lost their semi-ﬁnal to Moycullen of Galway, Moycullen went on to win the All-Ireland.

CUMANN NA MBUNSCOIL: Clare had four teams (two boys sides and two girls teams) taking part in Cumann na mBunscoil Munster competition at the weekend.

The boys A travelled to Ballydesmond in Cork, while the B travelled to Mallow. The girls teams played in Clarecastle. Clare won gold in boys A and B and the girls A with girls B winning silver.

CLARE LGFA AGM CUT SHORT BY LACK OF OFFICERS; ROSEINGRAVE ENTERS THE CHAIR

Theresa Roseingrave became only the sixth ever female chairperson of Clare Ladies Football in the association’s 41 year existence when succeeding fellow St Joseph’s Doora/Bareﬁeld club-mate Sean Lenihan at Tuesday’s Annual Convention in Hotel Woodstock.

Roseingrave, who served as Clare LGFA Assistant PRO in 2023, along with the return of Monica Callinan as county secretary after a two year gap, were the clear positives from an AGM that ac-tually had to be cut short due to the lack of appointed ofﬁcers.

Indeed, despite 39 proposed motions and recommendations listed in the detailed 64 page AGM

booklet, none could be discussed as there were only four positions ﬁlled on the Clare Ladies Football Executive for 2025 when at least a quorum of eight was required.

Miltown Malbay’s Rachel Healy, who was initially appointed as Assistant PRO last year but stepped up to the vacant PRO’s position during 2024, was rubber-stamped as the outright Pub-lic Relations Ofﬁcer in her absence while former PRO Caoimhe McMahon, also from Miltown Mal-bay, agreed to take on the job as Assistant Secretary to Monica Callinan who had previously served as county secretary from 2018-22.

However, the positions of Treasurer, Registrar, Vice-Chairperson, Assistant Treasurer, Assistant

PRO, Culture & Language Officer and even appointed roles of Development Officer, Children’s Officer and Fixtures Secretary were vacated while the search is also on for two Munster dele-gates and two Central Council equivalents.

Having expressed his desire to step down twelve months previously, only to remain in situ for one ﬁnal year, Sean Lenihan bowed out on Tuesday after a four year term. This is the third successive year that ofﬁcer positions are required to be appointed in the new year, with an email to be sent to all 22 clubs within the next seven days, seeking nominations for all 14 vacant roles.

Outgoing Treasurer Geraldine Kelly who had served a maximum

ﬁve year term reported a €40,000 turnover from 2023 as increased expdenditure amounted to an annual deﬁcit of €38,645.74 for 2024. However, the Shannon Gaels native did offset this by stating the the new treasurer would be presented with a healthy bank balance of over €85,000.

Handball: club honours for Tuamgraney

Boys A; Jack McMahon(Quin NS), Gearoid McDonnacha, Cian Donovan, Ethan Collins (Kilkishen NS), Oran Rodgers (Tulla NS), Eliah Kenny(Clonmoney NS), James Hoban(Newmarket-on-Fergus NS) Iarla; Kelleher(Bodyke NS) Boys B; Leo Walsh, Tom Hayes(Tulla NS), Conal Early, Jack Kirby(Clonmoney NS), Coley Sweeney (Clarecastle NS), Jack Sheedy, Eoin Hogan (Ogonnelloe NS), Dara Brohan (Clooney NS) Girls A; Saoirse Frost, Annalise Hogan(Kilkishen NS), Ella Kirby(Clonmoney NS), Anna Brooks(Quin NS), Anna Madden(Scariff NS), Samantha Vaughan(Toonagh NS) Girls B Elaine Littleton, Eve Madden, Elaine Littleton(Tulla NS), Ava Considine, Ellen Keogh(Clarecastle NS), Natasha Casey(Toonagh NS)

ADULT COMPETITIONS:

Semi-ﬁnals and ﬁnals of adult Clare doubles championships will take place across venues over the weekend. Winners will

continue to represent the county in Munster championships after Christmas with a second pair to be selected in each grade to play the following weekend.

The Club leagues are also commencing with Division 1 on Mondays with 7 teams taking part. Division 2 will be on Tuesdays, Division 3 on Wednesdays and all with 7 teams with 8 teams in Division 4 on Thursday evenings.

ANOTHER TITLE FOR SEAN:

The One Wall universities competition took place over the weekend in Spa handball club, Killarney. Sean Coughlan with partner Rory Grace continued in their winning form. They captured the doubles title representing UL.

l Joint captains Fionn Kelleher and James Curran of Doora-Bareﬁeld

Photo by Gerard O'Neill

Feakle-Killanena overcame Inagh-Kilnamona

Photo by Ruth Griffin

by Eoin Brennan news@clareecho.ie

CLARE COUNTY COUNCIL FURTHER INFORMATION/ REVISED PLANS

Planning Ref: P24/60380

Development Description: The construction of a new dwelling house and garage, complete with a sewage treatment system and ancillary works

Location: Ballynagranagh, Crusheen, Co Clare.

Take notice that Ethan O’Donnell & Shauna Ferguson have lodged significant further information in respect of planning application P24/60380. This information and planning application may be inspected or purchased at a fee not exceeding the reasonable cost of making a copy, at the offices of the Planning Authority of Clare County Council, Planning Department, Aras Contae an Chlair, New Road, Ennis, Co Clare during its public opening hours. A submission or observation in relation to the further information or revised plans

may be made in writing to the planning authority on payment of the prescribed fee, not later than 2 weeks after the receipt of the newspaper notice and site notice by the planning authority or in the case of a planning application accompanied by an EIS within 5 weeks of receipt of such notices by the planning authority.

CLARE COUNTY COUNCIL BALLYCORICK, BALLYNACALLY, ENNIS, CO. CLARE. Take notice that Padraic & Lorna Delaney intend to apply to the planning authority for permission to construct a granny flat along with ancillary works at the above address. The planning application may be inspected, or purchased at a fee not exceeding the reasonable cost of making a copy, at the offices of the planning authority, Clare County Council, Aras Contae an Chlair, New Road, Ennis during its public opening hours and that a submission or obser-

vation in relation to the application may be made to the authority in writing on payment of the prescribed fee within the period of 5 weeks beginning on the date of receipt by the planning authority of the application.

CLARE COUNTY COUNCIL CASTLEBANK, ARDNACRUSHA, CO. CLARE. V94YK6P

I, Jacqueline Mc Carthy, Wish to apply for retention permission for domestic store at the side of the dwelling and retention permission for extension to the dwelling at the rear and all associated site works at the above address.

The planning application may be inspected or purchased at a fee not exceeding the reasonable cost of making a copy at the offices of the Planning Authority, during its public opening hours.

A submission or observation in relation to the application may be made to the Planning Authority in writing, on payment of the pre-

scribed fee, €20, within the period of five weeks beginning on the date of receipt by the authority of the application, and such submissions or observations will be considered by the Planning Authority in making a decision on the application.

The planning authority may grant permission subject to or without conditions, or may refuse to grant permission.

CLARE COUNTY COUNCIL MUCKANAGH NEWMARKET ON FERGUS

Take notice that Jennifer Huang intends to apply to the Planning Authority for planning permission To retain partially built access roadway and to complete access roadway and turning circle on the property.

The planning application may be inspected or purchased at a fee not exceeding the reasonable cost of making a copy at the offices of the Planning Authority during its public open-

ing hours. A submission or observation in relation to the application may be made to the authority in writing on payment of the prescribed fee within the period of 5 weeks beginning on the date of receipt by the authority of the application.

CLARE COUNTY COUNCIL LEANA, KILNABOY, CO CLARE

Take notice that Rowena Sheen intends to apply for outline planning permission to build a new dwelling and install a waste water treatment system & all other associated site and ancillary works at the above address.

The planning application may be inspected or purchased at a fee not exceeding the reasonable cost of making a copy, at the offices of the planning authority, during its public opening hours. A submission or observation in relation to the application may be made in writing to the authority on payment of the prescribed fee of €20.00, within the

period of 5 weeks beginning on the date of receipt by the authority of the application.

CLARE COUNTY COUNCIL, RHYNAGONNAUGHT, DOONBEG, CO. CLARE

Take notice that P. Barcoe intends to apply to the Planning Authority for permission to retain the alterations and extension made to his dwelling house along with associated site works at the above address.

That the planning application may be inspected, or purchased at a fee not exceeding the reasonable cost of making a copy, at the offices of the planning authority during its public opening hours and that a submission or observation in relation to the application may be made to the authority in writing on payment of the prescribed fee within the period of 5 weeks beginning on the date of receipt by the authority of the application.

CLARE COUNTY COUNCIL, MUCKINISH WEST, BALLYVAUGHAN, CO. CLARE

Take notice that M. Hutchison & K. Noone-Hutchison intend to apply to the Planning Authority for permission to alter and extend their existing house and install a new proprietary wastewater system along with ancillary site works at the above address.

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McMahon, Seamus (Brown) Liscannor

COSTELLO, RAYMOND Scariff

O’Connor (née Shanahan), Breda Ennistymon

O’Sullivan, Michael J. Sixmilebridge

Sheedy (née Tierney), Kitty Fanore

Sheedy (née Tierney), Kitty Liscannor

Sinnott (née Blake), Nora Killaloe

Ward, Peter Killaloe

Recent Deaths

Cantillon, Pat (Paddy) Spanish Point

KEANE, Doris Shannon

KIRWAN, Frank Newmarket-on-Fergus

Kyne (née Howard), Bernie (Bernadette) Kilrush

Normoyle, Michael Kildysart

Cassidy (née Lynch), Mary Carron

Collins (née Arthur), Cecilia (Cissie) Ballyea

Devlin (née Killikelly), Irma Ballyvaughan

Fitzgibbon, Michael (Mickie) Ennis

HALPIN (née Shannon), Marie Clarecastle

Kelly (née Fawl), Pauline Ennis

O’BRIEN (née Casey), NOREEN Tuamgraney

McMahon, Seamus (Brown) Liscannor

COSTELLO, RAYMOND Scariff

O’Connor (née Shanahan), Breda Ennistymon

The Clare Echo Quiz

1 To whom is there a holy well dedicated to in Liscannor?

2 What is one thing Liscannor is

is the name of the pub in Liscannor that has a famous song written about it

Who wrote the song Liscannor Bay?

5 O’Brien’s Tower was named after Cornelius O’Brien, what was his profession

How many people live in Liscannor according to the last census?

How far does The Shore Wall Art Project in Clahane stretch?

is the name of the woman who started The Shore Wall Art Project in Clahane?

What is the name of the man who invented the submarine?

Mahon 10 In what year did he receive a contract from the U.S to build a submarine?

QUESTION 5 : O’Brien’s Tower was named after Cornelius O’Brien, what was his profession ?

ANSWERS

Clare County Council invites you to the third citizen and stakeholder engagement session for Thrive Ennis, an exciting project aimed at revitalising a vacant, under-utilised heritage building in the heart of Ennis town centre We would value your input on the proposals to adapt and repurpose a historic building as part of the Thrive Town Centre First Scheme. A short in-person presentation will take place at 5 pm and will remain available for viewing throughout the session. Drop in at any time, share your thoughts, and help shape the future of Ennis!

Photo

Gerard O’Neill

THIS WEEKS PUZZLES Dec 5th

THIS WEEKS PUZZLES FEB 10th

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