The Clare Echo 02/02/23

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‘Very racist’ rhetoric at Clare event

by Páraic McMahon paraic@clareecho.ie

DEPARTMENT officials have confirmed a building in Shannon Free Zone will be used for emergency accommodation - as tensions simmer locally over the plans.

Clashes were visible within Shannon at a public meeting where close to 200 people were in attendance including

far-right extremist Graham Carey.

The Shannon Residents Group has been formed subsequent to the meeting to try represent local views.

Former Strategic Projects Manager for Shannon Development, Michael Leydon felt some of the speeches at the Shannon meeting were “very racist”.

Chair of the Shannon

Residents Group, Elaine Kingston Durbin said “broken systems” in Shannon must be fixed before more refugees arrive in the town. “I won’t be bandied a racist because I’m absolutely not, I’m genuinely concerned about the impact it will have on the town, the citizens in the town and my own family”.

MORE ON pg 9-12

l Phil Moloney and Mary Hester at the launch of Ennis Book Club Festival 2023 in Temple Gate Hotel, Ennis at the weekend.

Photo by Brian Arthur

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Ennis Book Club Festival launched

Siobhan Ni Ghairbhith, Roisin Garvey, Una Ni Ghairbhith and Colm Garvey pictured at the launch of Ennis Book Club Festival 2023 at the Temple Gate Hotel, Ennis, on Friday night. The event featured The Art of Reading Book Club with Louise Kennedy, Author of Trespasses (in Ennis) in conversation with Colm Tóibín, the Laureate for Irish Fiction (in New York)

The Poet's Corner Bar

is a traditional Irish pub that opens its doors onto the main town street of Ennis. Perfect for a pint, a bite to eat or traditional Irish music session.

Smother returns to small screen

The Brendan O'Regan Restaurant is ideal for special occasions. The menu features traditional cuisine with a modern day creative twist.

COUNTY CLARE is set to shine on the small screen once again with the return of the third series of Smother, writes Páraic McMahon RTÉ drama Smother begins its final series this Sunday at 9:30pm and runs for the next six weeks.

Leading actress, Dervla Kirwan has prom-

The Town Hall Bistro

Providing a welcoming environment with great value food championing local ingredients.

ised a “tremendous ending” to what she called “the final series of a beautiful trilogy”.

She said, “I do hope that the people who have been very loyal to the series won’t feel that it’s ended anti-climatically, and that in fact we have absolutely reached the highest heights with this drama”.

Kirwan’s character Val will throw herself

The Poets Corner Bar

A traditional Irish pub that opens its doors onto the main town street of Ennis. Perfect for a pint, a bite to eat or traditional Irish music session..

into a whirlwind romance and marriage in the final series. Wounded from the past, she is determined to put her own needs first for once.

But when her daughters insist on churning up her past pain, she must make a difficult and life changing choice between her family or herself.

The Brendan O’Regan Restaurant

Ideal for special occasions. The menu features traditional cuisine with a modern day creative twist.

Photo by Brian Arthur

Staff warn of delayed diagnoses

by Páraic McMahon paraic@clareecho.ie

STAFF AT ENNIS HOSPITAL have been dealing with five successive weeks on cancellations of elective day case procedures.

The Clare Echo has learned that 150 general anaesthetic day surgeries have been cancelled in Ennis since January 9th.

Ennis’ two fully equipped theatres have remained empty and closed since before Christmas, according to staff. “Without a doubt there will be delayed cancer diagnosis with some of my patients due to the cancellations here in Ennis,” one source told The Clare Echo Clare TD, Michael McNamara (IND) raised the matter with the Taoiseach in Dáil Éireann this week. He stated, “A surgical hub is part of the proposed solution to overcrowding and long waiting lists in Limerick. Since Christmas, however, two newly equipped theatres in Ennis have not been used and the highly trained and expert staff who would normally work there are now diverted to general work around the hospital”.

Existing facilities should be utilised before further developments, Deputy McNamara ar-

gued. “In circumstances where we have surgical facilities in the mid-west which are not used, it is difficult to see how going to the expense of developing another facility will add to the solution”.

The Scariff native commented, “We need to use the facilities we have before we talk about build-

ENNIS PARADE 2023

11a.m. Friday 17th March 2023

No additional resources for Ennis Hospital

NO ADDITIONAL resources look set to be granted for Ennis Hospital on foot of the recent decision to transport patients via ambulance from University Hospital Limerick (UHL), writes Páraic McMahon.

As overcrowding at UHL continues, the transfer of patients to Ennis Hospital’s MAU for emergency care is set to continue for the foreseeable future. The MAU pathway began on January 9. Despite the extra use of Ennis Hospital, no additional resources will be provided. Senior officials in UL Hospitals Group have said they are “pleased” with how the MAU has adapted thus far.

Correspondence from UL Hospitals Group Chief Executive Officer, Colette Cowan to Dublin North-West TD, Róisín Shorthall (SD) in a parliamentary question to the Minister for Health, Stephen Donnelly (FF).

ing other ones”.

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar (FG) said he did not know the reasons behind the theatres lack of use but committed to make inquiries. “I agree with the Deputy’s point. If we are putting additional elective capacity and theatres into Ennis, Nenagh and Croom, for example, it makes

sense to use them rather than building new ones, at least in the first instance. I have heard of similar issues.

“The surgical hub in Tallaght, for example, has four theatres but only two operating. I am told that it is down to staffing issues, but perhaps there is more to it than that”.

Deputy Shorthall asked if the decision to transport patients to Ennis was a temporary measure and if it would result in extra resources. Ms Cowan outlined that a similar pathway had been trialled in Cork and Mallow General Hospital last year. “This pathway will result in patients receiving medical treatment in a hospital closer to their home, will reduce patient presentations to Emergency Departments and will release ambulances more quickly to respond to other emergency calls”.

Hospital apologies from UHL management have ‘come too late’

Ennis Municipal District invites individuals, groups, clubs and societies from across Clare to participate in the 2023 Ennis St. Patrick’s Day parade. We would love for our regular participants to showcase their talents again this year and would really encourage new groups and individuals to take the plunge, submit an entry and get in on the fun.

The Mayor of Ennis, Cllr. Clare Colleran-Molloy commented “The St. Patrick’s Day parade is a wonderful event where people from all over Clare unite, from the world of sports and the arts in addition to our many community groups to celebrate our Irish culture. I would like to thank all the other agencies, who work alongside Ennis Municipal District to co-ordinate this event”.

The theme this year is ‘Communities in Action’ with prizes to be secured under the following categories;

• best visual spectacle (€250)

• best musical entrant (€250)

• most environmentally aware entrant (€250)

• best interpretation of theme (€250)

• In addition, the overall winner will walk away with €500.

We are appealing to all entrants to get creative this year, make an impact!

The application form is available at https://www.clarecoco.ie/news/notices/st-patrick-sday-in-ennis-2023.html or a hard copy can be requested by contacting ennisparades@ clarecoco.ie

All application forms must be completed and returned on or before Thursday 16th February, 2023 to the St. Patrick’s Day 2023 Organising Committee, Municipal District of Ennis, Clare County Council, New Road, Ennis, Co. Clare or by e-mail. Please email the address above if you have any queries.

AMENDMENTS have been sought to a Fine Gael motion which is due to be debated in the Seanad, writes Páraic McMahon

A group of Fine Gael Senators including Clare’s Martin Conway have submitted a motion on University Hospital Limerick to the Seanad that is debated this week. His party colleagues, Maria Byrne, Garret Ahearn , Paddy Burke, Micheal Carrigy, John Cummins, Emer Currie, Regina Doherty, Aisling Dolan, Seán Kune, Tim Lombard, John McGahon, Joe O'Reilly, Mary Seery

Kearney and Barry Ward have also put their names to it.

They welcomed an apology from UL Hospitals Group CEO, Colette Cowan and management for the “stress caused to patients, their families and staff” at UHL while also praising the MAU pathway in place at Ennis Hospital.

Fine Gael’s Senators have requested that the protocols be extended at Ennis, St John’s and Nenagh be extended to “further alleviate the pressure at UHL ED and to fast-track the proposed second and third 96 bed blocks to address capacity issues”.

Their motion also asks for the decision not to provide an elective hospital in the Mid-West to be revisited and for the start date of the proposed surgical clinic for Limerick City to be accelerated plus the relocating of the ShannonDoc at the UHL campus.

Members of the Mid-West Hospital Campaign have requested the Senators to amend the motion, firstly to recognise that the apologies from UHL management came too “late in the day for many families”.

Health activists also wish to see the motion include a request for a model three hospital in the Mid-West and for additional resources “to ensure the changes to the ambulance protocol at Ennis will be capable of delivering a significant impact. Extending this change in protocol to Nenagh and St John’s without adequate resources will not deliver the desired outcome”.

l UL Hospitals Group CEO, Colette Cowan

l THEATRE: Ennis Hospital

Plans to be lodged for apartment and retail projects in Ennis town centre

by Ronan Judge news@clareecho.ie

PLANS for large residential and commercial developments in Ennis town centre will be submitted this year as part of efforts to attract €100m investment.

Planning applications for a 2500m2 large retail and office development in Abbey Street and a 50 room apartment block on the taxi rank at Harvey’s Quay, are due to be lodged with Clare County Council in the first half of 2023.

The proposed developments form part of the Ennis 2040 project, on update on which was provided to members of Ennis Chamber this week.

Survey works are ongoing at the post office field with Ennis 2040 anticipating plans for a boardwalk and elevated walkways to be completed in the “next three to four years”.

The Harvey’s Quay and Abbey Street projects are designed to turn Ennis towards the river Fergus, according to Ennis 2040.

Kevin Corrigan, chief operating officer of Ennis 2040, said it is in “masterplanning mode” with the planning process expected to take at least a year.

“We are looking at an apartment, mixed use development over in Harvey’s Quay. The whole thing is

designed to turn the town towards the river. Currently we are faced away from the river so we are not maximising the benefit of the riverside location. All of these projects will come with an extensive public realm element, squares, pedestrian bridges across the river - that type of stuff. It’s all planned”, Mr Corrigan told The Clare Echo.

He continued, “The post office field is also another project that is going on for the short term. That will be connected on an elevated

boardwalk and pedestrian bridges across there. It’s about joining all that area of the town up, and making pedestrian access into the town much easier, making it a very pleasant place to be so that you can go for a walk there or there are services there”.

Environmental surveys are currently being carried out at the post office field.

Mr Corrigan said, “You have to do your due diligence and make sure you are not affecting anything.

Obviously it will all be done to minimise environmental impacts. The overall goal of everything we are doing is to make the town as sustainable as possible and to brand the town as Ireland’s first climate adaptive town, which we can use to good effect in making the town more climate adaptive and attract in businesses and jobs and investment”.

“We would hope to get that (post office field) done in the next three to four years max. It’s important to note that we are planning now. We are in masterplanning mode. We get into detailed design. We submit a planning application. The application will take at least a year to go through the process and in that term we have to organise finance etc. So nothing is going to happen in the next 12 months”.

Mr Corrigan said there will be “extensive and meaningful public consultation” with briefings and communications taking place in the first half of 2023.

“We will be taking on board what the concerns of the communities are and the businesses in the town. We are trying to adapt and mould these projects into the optimum solution for the town and lodging the planning applications based on that consultation, later on this year. We intend to work with everyone.

Dream Bigger!

At the end of the day it’s working towards a vision for Ennis 2040, attracting in investment, making it a great place to live, work and shop. No one is doing this with the idea of making anywhere worse. It’s all to a greater good”, he said.

Mr Corrigan said €100m of investment in Ennis is targeted over the lifetime of the plan and discussions have already taken place with the European Investment Bank (EIB). He said Ennis 2040 is not in competition with the private sector. “To attract in this type of investment it has to be large scale, refurbishing small scale buildings was going to take too long. It’s not going to attract in the investment. We’re taking on the projects that the private sector wouldn’t so we’re not in competition with them. We’re there to compliment and attract investment in and stimulate the market. We’re choosing the sites that maybe wouldn’t be economically viable for a private sector developer to develop”, he said, “We’re talking to a range of large scale investment bodies such as the EIB and government funding as well. It’s investment in the buildings. You’re talking in the short to medium term, over €100m”.

Mr Corrigan said compulsory purchase orders (CPO) will not be part of this stage of the plan.

l DEVELOPMENT: Abbey St, Ennis

Sophie earns WiSTEM2D scholarship

Sophie Spellissy, Computer Science and Information Technology; Ennis, was presented with a bespoke framed glass artwork to mark their receipt of a scholarship from global healthcare company, Johnson & Johnson, as part of its WiSTEM2D Programme at University of Galway. The programme, supported in Galway by Johnson & Johnson’s CERENOVUS team, will provide the scholarship recipients with extensive industry mentoring and leadership training. The WiSTEM2D Programme showcases Johnson & Johnson’s commitment to developing and implementing highimpact strategies to support female students undertaking STEM2D degree courses in universities around the world Photo Martina Regan

Housing body seeks to expand Clare offering

A housing body that manages 10,000 homes nationwide is assessing future developments to deliver more housing in Clare, writes Ronan Judge Clúid, one of Ireland's largest approved housing bodies, says it will continue to work with Clare County Council to meet housing targets. There are currently 273 residents in 92 Clúid homes in Clare. This week, Clúid Housing celebrated the landmark achievement of 10,000 homes in management. There are over 27,000 people currently living in a home managed by Clúid. Clúid provides affordable, high-quality homes and housing management services to people in housing need across 31 Local Authorities, including Clare.

In 2022, Clúid says it deliv-

ered over 1,000 new homes into management.

In recent years Clúid has expanded its offerings to include 911 age-friendly homes delivered by Clann, its dedicated housing service for older persons. The housing body has also delivered over 270 Cost Rental homes, a new form of tenure that allows residents to pay rents that are solely based on the cost to build, manage, and maintain the homes.

In a statement, a spokesperson said Clúid is looking to deliver more housing in Clare.

"Clúid has homes in every county in Ireland, including Clare. There are currently 273 residents in 92 Clúid homes in Clare. We are currently assessing future developments to deliver more homes in the county in the years ahead, and

help Clare Coco meet their Housing Delivery Action Plan targets and overall Housing For All targets", the spokesperson said.

Clúid's Chief Executive Officer, Brian O’Gorman commented, “Clúid’s vision is ‘a society where everyone has a great place to live’, and I am delighted to announce today that 27,099 people are living in our 10,272 homes. Everyone in Clúid has worked hard over the years to achieve this milestone and I would like to congratulate each of them.

Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Darragh O’Brien TD said: “Reaching 10,000 homes in management is a significant milestone and I congratulate Brian and everyone in Clúid for their commitment”.

Ennis man fails with ‘three trotters’ evidence to secure return of jeep

by Gordon Deegan news@clareecho.ie

AN UNEMPLOYED Ennis man has failed to convince a judge that the €26,000 he received for ‘three trotters’ helped finance him purchasing a Toyota jeep for €43,000 in cash in €50 notes.

At Ennis District Court, Judge Mary Larkin has dismissed a fresh bid by Ned Doherty (32) of St Michael’s Park, Ballymaley, Gort Rd, Ennis to have Gardai return his 20-2 Toyota Hilux jeep.

Judge Larkin said that she was “more confused than ever” after hearing about the various sums Mr Doherty is claiming to have used on the jeep’s purchase.

Judge Larkin said that the evidence from Mr Doherty was a mix of ‘don’t know’, ‘can’t remember’ and ‘don’t deal with money’.

Mr Doherty purchased the jeep

in cash from a County Roscommon car dealer on February 23rd 2021 but it was seized 10 days later as part of a wider Garda operation that also involved the Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB) on March 5th 2021.

Making the ‘police property application’ for the return of the jeep, solicitor, Daragh Hassett said that Mr Doherty was able to put the €26,000 he received in €50 notes for ‘three trotters’ horses broken and ready for sulky racing in a cash deal on January 4th 2021 with Gort man, Thomas Donovan towards the jeep purchase. In evidence in court, Mr Donovan confirmed the deal.

Mr Hassett said that the ‘three trotters’ deal was done on the basis “of a shake of the hands, there were no invoices”.

In evidence, Mr Doherty told the court: “We are travelling people and we like to deal in cash”.

Asked by Mr Hassett was there “anything dodgy” about the funds that bought the jeep, Mr Doherty replied ‘no’ and when Mr Hassett asked: “All above board?”, Mr Doherty replied ‘yes’.

Mr Hassett said that the source of funds for the purchase of the jeep came from savings, the sale of a mobile home and personal injury compensation awards to Mr Doherty and his wife, Marylin.

Mr Hassett said that his client has been without his jeep for two years now, and Mr Doherty “has not been charged and there has been no movement as far as I can see. The silence is deafening.”

Outlining the various amounts, Mr Hassett said that Mr Doherty received a personal injury award of €10,100 in 2011 and another €1,000 in 2012.

Mr Hassett said that Mr Doherty’s

wife, Marylin received two personal injury award claims totalling €15,000 in 2012 and 2014.

Mr Hassett said, “The State is saying to my clients ‘‘you have no money, you are on social welfare, the purchase has to have come from the proceeds of crime’ and Mrs Doherty is saying she has €15,000 from personal injury claims. She is saying that the money wasn’t frittered away”.

Mr Hassett said that sums of €8,000 and €3,000 were also taken out of two Doherty sons’ accounts ahead of the purchase.

He said that along with the €26,000 sale of the three trotters, Mr Doherty received an additional €12,000 from the sale of a horse in October 2020.

Sgt Aiden Lonergan asked that the application be refused as the file following a complex investigation is

with the DPP. Sgt Lonergan stated that this was the first time since the jeep was seized that Gardai have been presented with documentation around the source of funds for the €43,000 jeep.

Rejecting Mr Doherty’s bid to have the jeep returned, Judge Larkin said that “there is insufficient information to accede to your application”.

Judge Larkin said, “I am not satisfied with the evidence that I have heard to allow me to return the jeep”.

On the evidence of the Doherty funds provided to court, Judge Larkin said, “I have been asked to believe that €6,000 in 2012 was in a safe for nine years, €9,000 in 2014 was kept for seven years and €10,300 was stashed somewhere for 10 years. €1,000 in 2013 was stashed somewhere for eight years, €25,000 in 2013 was stashed somewhere for eight years”.

For injuries such as breaks, sprains or minor burns, go to Ennis Injury Unit

We treat patients aged 5 and older. It’s a walk-in service, no GP referral required.

Open 7 days | 8am - 8pm

Aoibheann and James to promote online safety

TWO students from St. Flannan’s College in Ennis are among more than 140 students from across Ireland who are taking part in the Webwise Safer Internet Day (SID) Ambassador Training Programme, writes Elaine Tubridy

The peer-led programme equips students with the knowledge and skills to lead their own online safety awareness raising campaign in their schools and local communities.

Aoibheann O’Dwyer-Forde and James Hegarty attended the in-person training day in Dublin, where they received training and support from the Webwise Youth Advisory Panel.

The theme for Safer Internet Day 2023, which takes place on Tuesday, February 7th, is “Promoting respectful, inclusive online communication”, and aims to empower young people to build positive and inclusive online communities.

The Webwise Safer Internet Day Ambassador Training Programme gives students the opportunity to take a leading role in promoting a safer, better internet and tackle issues that are important to them including online bullying, wellbeing and privacy online.

Safer Internet Day (SID) is an EU wide initiative to promote a safer internet for all users, especially young people. It is promoted in Ireland by the PDST Technology in Education and Webwise, with a record-breaking 183,000 people taking part in last year’s celebrations.

Visit the Webwise Safer Internet Day Hub at webwise.ie/saferinternetday

‘Completely unacceptable’ wait times for driving tests

That number should be increased dramatically to try to reduce these figures,” the Clarecastle native said.

Minister of State at the Department of Transport, Jack Chambers (FF) conceded that the wait times were “completely unacceptable”. He commented, “I accept that the current service does not meet what the public expects. If we are being honest, the service level agreement of ten weeks needs to be examined as well. Even ten weeks is too long as I am concerned. There is constant engagement with the RSA and they have increased the number of testers from 100 to 130.

DRIVING test applicants in Clare are waiting more than eight months for an appointment, writes Páraic McMahon

Clare TD, Joe Carey (FG) has accused the Road Safety Authority (RSA) of failing to meet its service level agreement to provide driving tests within a ten-week period with some applicants waiting more than eight months for an appointment in the county.

In Shannon, the average wait for a driving test is 35 weeks, the duration is 20 weeks in Ennis and 15 weeks in Kilrush.

Speaking in the Dáil, Deputy Carey highlighted that the long waiting times were proving problematic, particularly for young people

in rural parts of the county. “Some have been waiting more than six months to get a test and this is just not good enough. The target timeframe is ten weeks but the figures show that people in Clare are waiting a minimum of 19 weeks to get an appointment. There are many examples of where a test date is nearly due and then the appointment is put back by another month or two”.

“This issue stems back to the fact that last year a cohort of 32 trained driver instructors who were employed on a temporary basis were not made permanent. We have a growing population and we have only 130 testers now.

“All of County Clare is beyond the service level agreement time, but those in Shannon and Ennis in particular are waiting far in excess of what they should be. I will reflect Deputy Carey’s feedback to the RSA, which is deploying additional capacity in those areas where people are waiting longest,” the Junior Minister added.

Stating that he was encouraged by Minister Chamber’s comment that even a ten-week wait was not acceptable and that it needs to be reviewed, Deputy Carey added that more testers were needed to reduce the number of people on waiting lists.

“There is a particular issue on the West Coast, particularly in County Clare, regarding the availability of testers. The fact that the RSA has committed to redeploy testers to areas where there are longer waiting lists, would indicate that Clare should be regarded as a priority for additional testers,” he concluded.

People must reject ‘far right agitators’ stoking division

by Páraic McMahon paraic@clareecho.ie

FAR-RIGHT groups attempting to hijack community concerns regarding the arrival of asylum seekers need to be rejected, the Clare Public Participation Network (PPN) Secretariat has stated.

Since its establishment in 2014, Clare PPN has welcomed new arrivals to communities across the county, including refugees and asylum seekers, while also campaigning to end Direct Provision. Clare PPN is a network of more than 350 community groups in the county.

In a statement to The Clare Echo following Saturday’s public meeting discussing the potential arrival of more refugees in Shannon, Clare PPN warned of far-right agitators trying to stoke violence within the county. “Farright agitators have been active before in Clare but with little success in Lisdoonvarna, Ennis, and nearby in Kinvara, Co Galway. Our communities saw through these attempts to pit people against each other and instead acted to welcome people to their neighbourhoods, while continuing to demand better resources and services. The very same agi-

tators did however go on to cause community division and upset in Oughterard and Rooskey and Moville to name but a few places”.

There was ‘extreme concern’ within Clare PPN over the presence of some far-right activists at the Shannon gathering.

“Given recent events around Ireland, Clare PPN is extremely concerned that the groups of far

right agitators DO present the prospect of violence in our communities and we are calling on all the community groups to reject their presence, and to reject their messages of division”.

Co-ordinator of Clare PPN, Sarah Clancy stated, “Far-right groups offer us nothing and have no contribution that will benefit us. They have no solutions

‘I will not be bandied a racist’

to our housing or health issues. In recent weeks we’ve seen the resurgence of a very well-supported community-led campaign to restore our health services, with people from three counties standing together in unity. This is the kind of action we need more of: we need to take our concerns to the centre of power to our TDs, Senators, Government and we must refuse to pit those with least power in our communities against each other”.

Persons from Syria, Iran, Somalia, Eritrea, Iraq, Afghanistan and Ukraine that have arrived in Clare have been of “extraordinary benefit to the county and apart from their social contributions it is clear to those of us involved that our care services, tourism enterprises, health services and the construction industry would struggle without their presence”.

In a report released last year, Clare PPN detailed the huge housing vacancy rate in the county with nearly one in five houses unoccupied. “We are concerned, however, to see the recent rise in attempts by known individuals and groups to use these genuine concerns to manipulate communities into anti-migrant and anti-refugee sentiment.”

PERSONS opposed to the arrival of asylum seekers to the Shannon Industrial Estate should not be brandished as racist, the Chairperson of the newly formed Shannon Residents Group has argued, writes Páraic

McMahon

At a meeting on Saturday morning in the Shannon Town Park, prospective volunteers for the new group were put forward with one of the main organisers of the gathering, Elaine Kingston Durbin later becoming its Chairperson. Shannon is struggling with a lack of services at present, she maintained. “My issue is the people making decisions about our town are not affected by the decisions when it falls apart, they are not looking for GPs, they are not looking for schools, I don’t want my parents or my children to be a statistic in a broken system. We need to fix what is broken, look at what Shannon needs and then you can look at bringing more people in”. People in the town have been afraid to speak out, Elaine flagged. “There’s people who contacted me during the week who said they’ve had older people come to them that are not on Facebook and are afraid to speak out, they want to be the voice for them, we need people on the committee representing the views of people in their community that want to speak but can’t. You saw what happened today, people wanted to speak but were shot down, it can’t be about racism, people need to clear about that. I won’t be bandied a racist because I’m absolutely not, I’m genuinely concerned about the impact it will have on the town.”

lUNITY: Sarah Ferrigan and Sarah Clancy of Clare PPN

Photo by Joe Buckley

Refugee concerns ‘unfounded’

Killarney refugees cited in Shannon protest

by Páraic McMahon paraic@clareecho.ie

MISINFORMATION regarding refugee accommodation in Killarney has been used in arguments concerning plans to use a State owned property for emergency accommodation in Shannon.

At Saturday’s public meeting in Shannon, Killarney was referenced by multiple speakers against the arrival of more refugees to the Clare town with claims that women and children were afraid to walk down the streets of the Kerry town by Hotel Killarney where 400 refugees are based.

David Byrne lives in Killarney and works as a journalist with Kerry’s Eye, prior to this he was the Shannon correspondent with The Clare People up until the closure of the weekly newspaper in 2019.

Speaking to The Clare Echo this week, David who has lived in Killarney for the last three years explained, “There has been a lot of online commentary, many of it misinformation, in relation to certain refugee accommodation in Killarney, a lot of it I believe to be put out there by an anti-immigrant element who have never ever been to Killarney, or if have, haven’t been here recently, and most certainly do not live here.

“The narrative seems to be that groups of men are hanging around the town, and the town is now unsafe, something I feel that couldn’t be further than the truth. I walk the town most days, and evenings, and the town is as safe and welcoming as it ever has been. Of course with the nature of Direct Provision in this country, unfortunately those seeking asylum here cannot work. As a result, many refugees living in local hotels are seen hanging around the town in groups, but none more so than local teenagers”.

Up to 20 asylum seekers were involved in a major violent disorder incident on New Year’s Day at Hotel Killarney which is home to 400 direct provision applicants alone.

According to David, this was “an isolated incident which involved a minority of the some 400 people (men, women, and children) living in the hotel at the time. My question would

Tensions rise over refugee accommodation

by Páraic McMahon @clareecho.ie

TENSIONS escalated in Shannon on Saturday morning as members of the public gathered for a meeting to discuss plans to accommodate refugees in the town’s industrial estate.

be; ‘If this had happened in a tourist hotel, would we brush all guests that weekend with the same brush?’ or would we say ‘all Cork people are a certain way’ if those involved were from Cork, for example”.

He added, “I live close to the hotel in question and often see those living there outside and in the shop nearby and there are never any issues. Of course, people may feel intimidated by groups of people ‘hanging around’ but all interactions I have seen have been nothing but friendly with local people welcoming people to the town. I can completely understand local people’s concerns in Shannon, and people have a right to raise such concerns and ask questions looking for more information, but in my experience issues in Killarney have been blown completely out of proportion”.

A native of Limerick, the UL graduate acknowledged “there are well founded concerns in relation to the pressure bringing extra people to the town has had on local services such as GPs, the overall health system, local schools but this is nothing different to say a local factory opening up and hundreds of people moving to the town for employment. We had serious pressure on certain services before any war in Ukraine or before hundreds of refugees were moved to Killarney”.

Issues must be tackled locally in Shannon but “unfounded concerns” in Killarney should not be brought into the equation, he said.

“One thing I remember covering Shannon during my time as a journalist in Clare was how friendly a town it is and how welcoming it is, something I believe is a result of the fact it is a new town and built on generations of people who moved there from elsewhere. I hope concerns are tackled locally but if such concerns are based on ‘what is happening in Killarney’ then I believe, from my experience, that they are unfounded concerns based on misconceptions of people, who if given the proper channel to integrate into life in Shannon, will add more to life there than they will take away from life in the town”.

Scant information has been issued to both the public and elected representatives to date on the Government’s mooted plans to house refugees at a unit in the Shannon Industrial Estate.

Close to 200 people gathered at the Band Stand of Shannon Town Park on Saturday to air their views with personalities clashing. Three members of An Garda Síochána were present to ensure matters did not get out of control.

Local residents formed the vast majority of those in attendance while the presence of far-right protester Graham Carey who previously suggested taking control of Dublin Airport “with a rucksack” in November and was also involved in organising a protest outside the home of Taoiseach Leo Varadkar (FG) over COVID-19 vaccinations.

Politicians were banned from attending the meeting but organisers later said that elected representatives needed to step up and provide further information to the community.

Present difficulties in accessing medical services, accommodation, school places and staffing were voiced by those opposed to the use of the Industrial Estate for housing refugees. Individuals that wanted to extend a welcome to the refugees highlighted how a large amount of the persons are fleeing war.

Michelle McAleen Hayes began the discussion at Saturday’s meeting, criticising the lack of consultation with local residents and county councillors. “Why is this empty building going to be used to accommodate asylum seekers, what countries are these people

from, have they been vetted and do they have the correct documents to come into this country. I’m so concerned at what’s going on in Killarney and CityWest. As we know this does not end well”.

Elaine Kingston Durbin who was the main organiser of the Shannon meeting told the crowd that its residents were “tired of being left with no services or access to GPs”.

“Roderic O’Gorman is not on the phone to (local GP) Yvonne Williams on a Monday trying to get an appointment, he’s not spending an hour trying to get through to someone to get his bloods done. The people making the decisions about Shannon are not affected by the decisions that they’re making about our town.”

Opposition to the addition of more refugees in Shannon was voiced by the majority of speakers but Elaine stressed, “the people of Shannon are not racist” and explained that she had to Google the meeting of far-right in advance of the meeting.

That refugees were fleeing wartorn countries was raised by one speaker in the crowd. Another attendee who was keen to see Shannon welcome more refugees was asked if they had welcomed persons fleeing war into their own home.

No detail on the amount of refugees that will be housed in the building has been provided by the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth. A figure of “up to 400 people” was mentioned by Jason Casey when addressing the meeting.

“They are all from different backgrounds and religions, look at Killarney the people there are afraid to walk the streets, we need to be very concerned and ask the questions”.

Concluding the meeting, Elaine stated that refugees were “victims of a broken system”.

She added, “We need this committee to meet and represent the

l Shannon residents air differing views at Saturday’s

views of Shannon”. In response, a woman in the crowd said, “they are not the views of Shannon. There are 10,000 people in Shannon, this committee will not represent them all”. Dickson then retorted, “you can form your own

Refugees ‘are not coming

A FORMER board member of Shannon Group has expressed worry that the behaviour of Shannon residents has come across as “very racist”, writes Páraic McMahon

At the public meeting in Shannon Town Park to try gather further information on plans to use a unit in the Shannon Industrial Estate for emergency accommodation, the majority of speakers were against such a move.

Michael Leydon who was one of the first Board members of Shannon Group plc upon its formation in 2014 admitted that he was worried with the rhetoric and antics of those present at the meeting.

“I’m very concerned about this type of initiative and this meeting here today, this

Facebok group was set up, it’s a private group, nobody can see who the members are. It was set up last Sunday and in a flash there was 800 members in a relatively small town like Shannon, obviously something is organised behind the scenes that people have been signed up to this group en bloc”.

Speaking to The Clare Echo, the former Strategic Projects Manager for Shannon Development commented, “I’d be very concerned with some of the speeches made which to me were frankly very racist, very anti-foreigners and very anti-immigrants, they were exaggerating some incidents which is pitting ordinary people against these immigrants who deserve to be looked after in this country because they have come from a situation which they can’t sur-

vive in”.

committee” with stressing, “don’t resenting the One of the Rabee Hamdauni own journey Irish citizen and

Michael who is a member of The Labour Party added, “Obviously there’s problems with health services and housing but this wasn’t caused by the immigrants, it was caused by ourselves and our policies, we should separate the two things”. He was fearful of what could arise in the town. “To me what they are going to do very soon is organise a protest and I’d be very concerned that they would have protests at refugee centres and nobody knows where it is going to lead from there”.

with Dominic Haugh “don’t say you are reppeople of Shannon”.

final speakers was Hamdauni who shared his about becoming an and admitted he was

Department confirm Shannon building as emergency housing

opposed to such a large volume of refugees being housed in an industrial estate.

“People are crying to find an apartment or a GP, they are driving to Limerick for places,” he said while mentioning the difficul-

ties associated with the Brú na Sionna apartment complex in the town.

Subsequent to the meeting, heated discussions continued with individuals on either side of the debate.

herefor the fun of it’

Shannon based Malcolm Moran who lived in England as an Irish immigrant for over two decades said asylum seekers should be given “a fair chance” in the Clare town.

At the age of 17, Malcolm Moran emigrated to England, returning to Ireland in his early forties after making a good living in the building trade.

“When I went to England on the doors of houses were ‘no blacks, no dogs, no Irish’, it greatly concerns me because all they seem to be talking about is anti-racism. I’m living in Shannon, I’m concerned about the services in Shannon, if you have a child and need access to the health centre they don’t provide it anymore you have to go to Ennis. If you are a working parent, you have

to take a day off work unpaid and get a bus if you haven’t access to a car to get to Ennis”.

An absence of information from the Government has not helped this particular matter, Malcolm acknowledged.

“These are just asylum seekers, we have Irish people who have gone all over the world to work, we’ve Irish working in every country in the world, we have a good reputation all over the world, people are entitled to be given a fair chance, they are not coming here for the fun of it, they are not coming here because they are economic migrants, like the rest of us they would prefer to be in their own country if they could make a living there or if there wasn’t a war there or if there wasn’t a drought there or if they weren’t treated like shit there”.

A STATE owned building in the Shannon Industrial Estate will be used for the purposes of emergency accommodation but the exact quantity of refugees living there and the length of their stay in the town has not been finalised, writes Páraic McMahon

Responding to queries from The Clare Echo, a spokesperson for the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth said engagement was ongoing with the Office of Public Works (OPW) to use a state owned property in the Shannon Free Zone (Industrial Estate).

Officials in the Department anticipate that “the property will come online later in the year”. Specifics on when in 2023 this will occur were not forthcoming When information on the amount of asy-

lum seekers that will be living in the building and how long it will be used for this purpose was sought, the spokesperson replied, “It is not possible to provide final details prior to designs being decided and a facilities provider to operate the facility in place”.

“For any such property coming into use, inspections are carried out to ensure fire safety, general health & safety, sanitary facilities, food service, security and the general condition of building is up to the standard required. No person can be placed in the accommodation until all inspections are carried out satisfactorily.

“As persons with status get their own accommodation it frees up space as more people come into Ireland and into the system,” the spokesperson added.

Newborns have blurry vision for the first four months that develops over time, but they do love to focus on your face (especially your eyes) as you hold them.

It takes about four months for a baby to fully see colors and distant objects

Saturday’s public meeting

Photo by Joe Buckley

MERCHANTS SQ ENNIS

lPhoto by Joe Buckley

Residents Group must give everyone in Shannon a voice

present in the Town Park on Saturday morning and was among the minority to speak up and say that more refugees should be welcomed into the locality.

10% OFF CHANGE ROBES

From Feb 2nd to Feb 15th

SHANNON town faces the risk of becoming divided even further as persons on either side of the debate on whether asylum seekers should be housed

in emergency accommodation in the Industrial Estate air their views, writes Páraic McMahon.

Dominic Haugh has lived in Shannon since 1983, he was

Speaking to The Clare Echo, the secondary school teacher stressed that current difficulties in the country cannot be blamed on asylum seekers. “People should be informed of what is going on in their own community and the Government isn’t doing that, the danger is if you pick an issue like the refugee crisis and then begin using that to say we can’t take anymore, if all 70,000 refugees were kicked out of the country tomorrow morning it wouldn’t solve the housing crisis, it wouldn’t solve the health crisis or the crisis with facilities here”.

He added, “The danger with picking on a particular cohort is that you create division within a community, that is the point I was trying to make with regards to what happened in Shannon in 1972 and 1973, there was this attitude and these concerns but eventually the people of Shannon realised that the people coming here were victims and they em-

braced what was going on, it created a community in Shannon, the people from the North helped build the town, Shannon as a community is hugely diverse, it has different religions and different nationalities, the stuff being said by some people not by everybody that we don’t who these people are and what countries they are coming from, the vast majority of these people are coming from countries where there is war, where there is famine, violence and terror.

“If you dump 400 people into a hotel and give them nothing to do and don’t tell them what is happening, eventually stuff will boil over, to say everyone in Killarney who is an asylum seeker and a refugee is causing problems is not true. We have no idea what the plan is for here, people are saying there are going to be 1000 people up in the Industrial Estate, we don’t know that, we know nothing but because of things like social media everything gets heightened and blown out of proportion completely, then some people step into the vacuum and create division. “

Cohabitation: Unmarried couples

Cashin Clancy Solicitors take a look at the fine print of the Law on Cohabitation

MANY people live together without being married (known as ‘cohabitation’). Perhaps they intend to get married at some point, perhaps not. Either way it is important to know and understand the law.

PROPERTY

A cohabitant has no automatic inheritance rights to property that is not in their name. If purchasing a property together they can decide either to own it as ‘tenants in common‘ or as ‘joint tenants’.

Tenants in Common: Each person owns a specified share of the property. On death their share will pass according to the terms of their Will. If there is no Will, such share will go to their family. This can cause difficulties if the surviving co-owner does not wish to share ownership of the property with third parties, or, to have it sold.

Joint Tenants: On death of either of the owners their share passes to the other, but this may have adverse inheritance tax consequences.

It is therefore very important for cohabiting couples to obtain legal advice and make Wills where property is involved, and also, to obtain advice on the taxes or reliefs/exemptions (e.g., Dwellinghouse Relief) which might apply to their circumstances or whether an Insurance Policy (to cover inheritance tax liability) should be put in place.

Co-Ownership Agreements: On buying a property a cohabiting couple should enter into a legal agreement that sets out how and in what shares the property will be owned, how liabilities (e.g., mortgage, utilities, tax, maintenance & upkeep) will be dealt with, to include if a break-up or dispute arises.

In case of a break-up or dispute, the cohabitants can revert to their Co-Ownership Agreement and follow what was originally agreed. Otherwise, they could consider mediation to try and resolve matters, or the next step (and last resort) would be court proceedings.

FINANCES

Cohabitants, at the start of their relationship, can enter a Cohabitation Agreement, setting out how they will handle their money matters (e.g., assets, debts, liabilities, financial support, pensions, etc.) during their relationship, and, if it ends.

Again, in the event of a break-up or dispute they can seek to rely on the Cohabitation Agreement, or otherwise engage in mediation or if all else fails then court proceedings.

CHILDREN

Guardianship: Only where a father is cohabiting with a mother continuously for twelve months, and at least three of these months are after the birth of their child, the father will automatically be deemed to be a legal guardian of the child.

Otherwise, both parents could sign a Statutory Declaration appointing the father as joint legal guardian of the child or alternatively the father, on notice to the child’s mother could apply to the District Court to be appointed legal guardian and the Court will decide on his appointment.

Access, Custody and Maintenance: If the parents’ relationship breaks down, arrangements should be put in place to deal with Access, Custody and Maintenance. Again, where there is dispute in relation to

children, they should in the first instance attend mediation, and failing to reach agreement either person can make an application to the District Court for orders on these matters.

THE LAW ON COHABITATION

The Civil Partnership and Certain Rights of Cohabitants Act, 2010 gives legal rights on the break-up of certain long-term cohabitants (called ‘qualified cohabitants’). To apply, the cohabitants must have been living together for at least five years, where there are no children, or two years, where they have children. Also, where one is married, he/she must have been separated from their spouse for at least two of the previous three years.

Here are some types of redress commonly sought from the courts:

• Maintenance Orders: Where the relationship ends, and one qualified cohabitant can prove they’ve been financially dependent on the other, the court can order regular payments or, a lump sum payment.

• Property Adjustment Order: The court can direct a property be transferred from one to the other.

• Inheritance: the court can direct payment out of the deceased cohabitant’s estate, to the surviving cohabitant, even if there is no financial dependency, and which will be exempt from inheritance tax

• Pension: If financially dependent, the court can order for payments from the other cohabitant’s pension scheme.

Time Limits: There are very strict deadlines for these court applications: -

• During Lifetime: A claim must be

brought within two years of the relationship breaking down.

• On Death: If one cohabitant dies during the relationship, the other has two years within which to bring their claim, but, if one cohabitant dies within two years of the relationship ending, any claim can only be brought within six months from the date of Grant of Probate (or Letters of Administration).

It is important to obtain specific legal and tax advice if you are in a cohabiting relationship. For further information or to arrange an appointment contact Cashin Clancy Solicitors on 065 6840060 or email enquires@cashinclancy.ie. This article does not constitute legal advice.

lSOLICITORS: Cashin Clancy's Sheila Lynch, Pamela Clancy and Angela Woulfe Photo by Natasha Barton

lDIVIDED: Dominic Haugh speaking at Saturday’s public meeting

Photo by Joe Buckley

SHANNON NEWS

in association with

Clíodhna points the way with new app

by Páraic McMahon paraic@clareecho.ie

SHANNON student Clíodhna Forrestal has been recognised for her innovative app to help visually and hearing impaired people navigate buildings.

Sixteen year old Clíodhna was awarded second place in the Technology Software category at Teen Turns SciFest, a national competition promoting Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM). Her project was one of 47 projects exhibiting at the event in Dublin along with five other projects from her school, St Patricks Comprehensive in Shannon. The app called ‘Project Breadcrumbs’ helps visually or hearing impaired people to navigate their way around buildings. In order to learn how to code and to develop her app from a small idea into a real project, Clíodhna worked with Teen-Turn’s Project Squad. Project Squad is a 12

week after school programme that partners girls with a mentor, who supports them to bring their science idea to life.

Before working with Teen-Turn Clíodhna had never coded and had

no idea how to go about developing an app from scratch. “Starting off I had no idea how to build an app, so they helped point me in the right direction. They pointed out the flaws that I might have missed

or overlooked. They also organised trips where I got to talk to people and get advice for my app,” she explained.

“I found it was a great learning experience. I really enjoyed it and I want to continue with Technovation. I enjoyed just spending time after school with my friends having the craic despite me doing an individual project. I had no idea what I wanted to do when I joined TeenTurn, and it made me realise I liked working with computers and the idea of learning the programming behind computers and apps. I think I will probably want to continue working with them in the future,” Clíodhna added.

St Patrick’s Comprehensive teacher, Jacquie Murphy who is a mentor on the programme noted the importance of encouraging girls to work in STEM. “They have given some fantastic opportunities to our young women in the field of STEM and have helped students to devel-

op and find their love for these subjects. Our girls are availing of opportunities that they have not had before and we have developed relationships with local companies and resources based on our work with Teen Turn. Our after school club is going from strength to strength with girls taking full advantage of the mentorship they receive from so many people in various STEM industries”.

Jacquie said that they are receiving an increasing number of enquiries into the after-school club. “Teen Turn encourages our girls to solve problems with independence and strategy while being guided and supported by their mentors. They also get first hand experience of industries in the STEM subjects through some wonderful field trips. Their trips to some of our fine third level institutions in Galway and Cork have also given them an insight into what life at university might hold”.

Shannon’s InflightFlix signs deal with Aer Lingus

A SHANNON company has signed a new deal with Aer Lingus which will see It provide 500 Irish tourism videos on all of the airline’s flights to North America, writes Páraic McMahon

Five years after videos of The Wild Atlantic Way went live on Aer Lingus’ inflight entertainment, tourism in the region has received a further boost with Shannon based InflightFlix announcing a new entertainment destination content deal with the airline.

InflightFlix signed a similar contract with Emirates last year producing destination videos for the UAE, US and UK. The videos on board the Aer Lingus flights will feature 500 Irish tourism experiences covering every corner of Ireland as well as destination

Notes

guides for two UK cities and 11 transatlantic destinations. Ten reasons to visit each of the 30 counties will be listed in the videos while for Dublin, Belfast, Cork and Galway they will include 50 things to do, and places to stay and shop in each of the cities. This summer, Aer Lingus has a record number of 2.25 million seats on sale to North America, making it its largest North American summer schedule to date.

In the absence of inflight magazines post covid, InflightFlix enables tourism business to reach globally dispersed visitors without a global advertising budget. The production of native destination video guides aim to enhance the passenger experience by providing rel-

SIXMILEBRIDGE FOLK CLUB CONCERT

evant content to passengers on board and convert cost to revenue for airlines. Irish tourism videos by InflightFlix will also be distributed via IrishCentral in the US and Irish Hospitality Global, a global network of Irish bars.

CEO of InflightFlix, Martin O’Regan highlighted the opportunity in front of tourism businesses. “This is a unique opportunity for 10 tourism businesses in each county to get in front of North American passengers pre arrival at an affordable price. Previously inflight advertising was only affordable by the big brands with international advertising budgets, now small Irish companies in every county can promote their experience at a fraction of the cost”.

Renowned for organising the very successful annual Shannonside Winter Music Festival and a calendar of eclectic concerts throughout the year, the activities of the Sixmilebridge Folk Club were adversely affected by COVID-19. All that is set to change as the committee has regrouped, and while it is not currently feasible to resurrect the Festival in its past form,

priority is being given to organising a series of concerts in Gleeson’s Bar in Sixmilebridge over the coming months. The first of these concerts featuring Mark Donnellan, Brian Donnellan and Michael Landers will take place on Friday, 10 February at 8pm. Doors opening at 7.30pm. No advance booking required. Cover charge of €5 to cover hosting costs applies.

l PROJECT BREADCRUMBS: Clíodhna Forrestal

Notes

MAIDÍN NA MBAN

Maidin na mBan for women speakers of Irish resumes in Ennis on the first St Brigid’s Day holiday weekend.

The in-person social event brings together women who cherish our language for an informal and enjoyable chat ‘as Gaeilge’. Restarting post-lockdown the get-together, marking Lá ‘le Bríde, is unique in Ireland. Maidin na mBan is due to take place in Insomnia, Ennis Shopping Centre, this Saturday 4 February, at 11:00A.M. Women speakers of all levels of knowledge of Irish, all ages and nationalities are invited. Visitors to Clare are welcome too. Bi linn agus ná bí i do chailín ciúin. Eolas: caintaguscomhra@outlook.com

Night of song and dance for Ukraine

Put on your dancing shoes and enjoy a night of music while supporting the Irish Red Cross/ Ukrainian Response. Bands confirmed for the night are Isolated Frequency, U Can Dance and Patrick Roche. The fundraisering event will take place at Treacy's West County Hotel on Friday the 10th of February at 9pm. Pictured are the organising committee: (L-R) Cllr Mary Howard, Steve Flaherty, Katie Devine, Cllr Clare Colleran Molloy and Nigel Devine

Michael McCaul ordained a priest in Derry

ENNIS’ Michael McCaul (inset) has been ordained to the priesthood, writes Páraic McMahon

A native of Marlborough Street in Derry, Michael attended Rosemount Primary School and St Joseph’s Boys’ School before the family relocated to Co Clare. He spent his childhood years in Elm Park and was a pupil of Ennis CBS. Following his schooling, he qualified as a teacher before com-

mencing his studies for the priesthood. He is the son of Philomena and the late Michael McCaul and the brother of Rosemary, Martin, Eamonn, Kevin and Catherine.

On Sunday in St Eugene’s Cathedral in Derry, Michael was ordained to the priesthood by Bishop Donal McKeown. He celebrated his first mass in St Eugene’s Cathedral on Monday.

In his Homily at the Ordination, Bishop McKeown said Reverend

Michael was being ordained for ministry when he would proclaim that the “Kingdom of God” was near. “This country has suffered much over the centuries with conflict, oppression, poverty and even famine. In 2023 we face division, anger and uncertainty about the future. That sort of message is frightening for so many young people, so many of whom are very anxious. The church and our society will be renewed when Christ’s followers are driven to look outwards with peaceful hearts that are formed by the Beatitudes.

“Be a man of prayer, let ting Christ form your heart in silence. In your own weak ness, bring good news to neighbours and strangers. Show how God’s grace has changed your life. The beatitudes challenged Jesus’ followers to believe in his Kingdom. He challenges us today to let grace flow in our time and place in Jesus’ battle against sin and its power. That will not be easy

in an age that says we ought to pamper ourselves. With Peter and Andrew, James and John, you are asked whether you prepared to take Jesus seriously, wherever it may lead and whatever it may cost you”.

Michael is to return to Clare in the coming weeks where he will celebrate mass in St Joseph’s Church in Ennis, the same location where he received sacraments as a child.

Strong Hermitage links to Eurovision hopeful

by Páraic McMahon paraic@clareecho.ie

A DONEGAL singer with strong Ennis connections is vying to represent Ireland in this year’s Eurovision.

This Friday, the national song contest to select Ireland’s representative in the Eurovision will be held on The Late Late Show.

Andrew Carr who goes by the stage name ADGY is among the six contestants partaking in Eurosong this week with the goal of singing in the Eurovision Song Contest which takes place in Liverpool this May.

All six finalists will perform on a special edition of the Late Late Show where the winner will be chosen by a combination of national jury, international jury, and public vote.

From Donegal, Andrew penned the piano ballad ‘Too Good for Your Love’ during the lockdown. He signed a record deal with Universal Music Group in 2020 for the release of ‘Like You Do’, since then he has released music that has accumulated over 10 million streams globally across streaming platforms and radio.

Andrew’s late grandmother, Mary Sullivan hailed from Ennis. Her family originally lived in what was known as The Boreen which later became Marian Avenue, prior to the development of Marian Avenue the Sul-

livan family relocated to Hermitage. Mary moved to England where she met her future husband Andrew Carr and they settled down in Donegal.

Mary’s brother Jimmy who is a grand-uncle of Andrew currently resides in Drumcliffe and will be among those supporting ADGY this Friday.

Well-known Irish band, Wild Youth are the most recognisable of the six contestants which also includes Connolly, Leila Jane, K Muni & ND and Public Image Ltd.

lAndrew Carr

Pilot scheme assisting elderly in Killaloe

Tulla Pipe Band seek new members

TULLA’s Pipe Band are on the lookout for pipers and drummers while they are extending a welcome to any prospective new members as they resume practice this week.

Officers OF the Tulla Pipe Band have been elected for 2023 with the band resuming practice this Friday.

At the recent AGM of the Tulla Pipe Band, officers were elected for the coming year with Fintan Leamy in the role of Chairperson.

APILOT SCHEME aimed at assisting the elderly and vulnerable has been rolled out in Killaloe.

Ran in conjunction between An Garda Síochána and Clare County Council, the scheme sees the circulation of an A4 document to persons living on their own, in isolation or deemed to be vulnerable.

This page which is split in two contains emergency contacts on one side and allows for the individual to fill in their own personal details such as an Eircode, name, number, GP and emergency contacts that could be used by emergency services in an instance where a person could be found unresponsive.

Community gardaí in Killaloe have been doing the rounds to assist older members of the popula-

tion in the East Clare town to fill out their forms as part of the scheme.

Mayor of Clare, Cllr Tony O’Brien (FF) has been pushing for the roll-out of the scheme which primarily has been done by visits to Clarecare thus far. He described it as “a fantastic initiative”.

He stated, “it is certainly providing comfort to people living on their own or who feel isolated”.

“It’s also a win win as you have An Garda Síochána calling with something positive and it’s a way of them linking in with the community,” the Killaloe representative told The Clare Echo.

Inspector Shannon Moloney has been one of the key personnel at Killaloe Garda Station involved in the scheme.

An update on the work carried out as part of the scheme is to be presented before a sitting of the Clare Joint Policing Committee (JPC) to be held later this month.

Lighting hasn’t improved to help walking refugees

to walk to the nearest shop or village”. The Whitegate representative felt “extra monitoring” was required.

“Farmers meet droves of them walking the roads, there’s nothing for them to do once they leave the house, it’s a great facility but it is very hard to compare to an urban situation,” Cllr Burke commented.

Acting Director of Services Ukrainian Services Development with Clare County Council, Jason Murphy explained that the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth contacted the Council before “they activated Bodyke which they don’t normally do and asked about transport provision”.

It comes as the band resume practice this Friday night at 8:30pm in the Band Hall, Tulla. Persons willing to learn pipes or drums are particularly welcome to play with the band. In addition, new members of all ages are welcome with officials informing The Clare Echo that no prior musical experience is necessary. For further enquiries, email tullapipeband1@ gmail.com, contact their Facebook page or any of their members.

Noted

ty

APPEALS TO IMPROVE

LIGHTING in Bodyke on the back of the arrival of over 100 Ukrainian refugees has not been acted on, writes Páraic McMahon.

In October, 32 Ukrainians arrived to the East Clare Holiday Village in Bodyke with an additional 150 later taking up residence there. Safety concerns were

raised by Cllr Pat Burke (FG) who flagged that the new residents were walking on dangerous roads which did not have adequate lighting and was not aided by the absence of hi-vis jackets on pedestrians.

He stated, “East Clare Golf Course is a lovely pace to go, it is an isolated location but it is quite a distance

Murphy said that Local Link were asked to adjust services between Ennis and Scariff which they were happy to do to try facilitate the refugees in Bodyke.

No additional lighting has been installed on public roads between Bodyke and Tuamgraney or on the approach from Broadford, The Clare Echo has learned.

by Páraic McMahon paraic@clareecho.ie

across the coun-

and beyond, the Tulla Pipe Band has been in existence and playing for the last 87 years.

l IN TUNE: Tulla Pipe Band Photo by Gerard O’Neill

l DANGEROUS: (above left) The unlit road

lKillaloe

ESB plans for Moneypoint site works

by Ronan Judge news@clareecho.ie

THE ESB is hoping to secure permission for site investigation works at Moneypoint as part of the early stages of its multi-billion euro Green Atlantic plan.

The ESB is seeking planning permission from Clare County Council for the works comprising boreholes and trial pits at the power generating station.

The proposed development is located on ESB lands within and adjacent to the existing Moneypoint ESB generating station.

The ESB states it is only seeking permission within the jurisdictional area of Clare County Council and a separate process will apply to any works in the marine area.

In a document lodged with the Council, the ESB states, “Arising from ESB’s Green Atlantic vision for the future of Moneypoint, published

in 2021 and the harnessing of floating wind energy from the Atlantic Ocean, ESB intends to undertake site investigation works on lands and in foreshore associated with the Moneypoint generating station in 2023, assuming planning permission is granted”.

The document continued, “ESB has reviewed the planning requirements for the proposed SI works and has reached the conclusion that planning permission will be required for the proposed works. This application sets out the basis for the proposed development and the associated planning application.

A pre-planning consultation was held with Clare County Council in relation to the proposed development. For the avoidance of doubt the ESB is only applying for planning permission for those proposed SI works located within the jurisdictional area of Clare County Council. A sep-

arate consenting process will be undertaken by ESB for surveys and works located in the marine area”.

As part of its plans for the future of Moneypoint, the ESB has previously set out what it called an “ambitious and bold course of action to help Ireland achieve climate action targets and transition the country to reliable, affordable, net zero energy.

Green Atlantic at Moneypoint is a multi-billion Euro programme of significant investments on the County Clare site over the next decade”.

“A floating offshore wind farm of 1,400MW will be developed off the coast of Counties Clare and Kerry in two phases by ESB. Once complete, the wind farm will be capable of powering more than 1.6m homes in Ireland. Subject to the appropriate consents being granted, the wind farm is expected to be in production within the next decade”, the ESB stated.

Tubridy lands new Sunday Game role

by Páraic McMahon paraic@clareecho.ie

DOONBEG’s David Tubridy has landed a new role subsequent to his retirement from inter-county football, writes

hon

playing under subsequent managers including Frank Doherty, Micheál McDermott and Mick O’Dwyer.

Páraic McMa-

Fresh from calling time on his 16 year senior career in the saffron and blue, David has been unveiled as one of the new additions to RTÉ’s famed GAA show, The Sunday Game.

With 22-421 to his name, David is the record scorer in the National Football League of all time, a feat he achieved in 2021. Last sea son as Clare under Colm Col lins’ watch consolidated their Division 2 status for the sixth season in a row, David remained a vital figure of the side and he was again back in the starting 15 as the Banner reached the All-Ireland quarter-finals for the second time of Col lins’ tenure, losing out to Derry in Croke Park.

When Clare began their latest League campaign on Sunday with a one point win against Louth, it was the first time the manager set out without the Doonbeg man in his panel.Collins is the longest serving inter-county football manager since his appointment at the end of 2013.

In championship, Tubridy kicked 9-140 in the saffron and blue, making his debut in 2007 under Páidí Ó Sé and

Tubridy’s retirement which was first reported by The Clare Echo is the third departure from the county football panel with both Kevin Harnett and Sean Collins also announcing their retirements in the winter.

Of relief to the Magpies will be David’s hope to continue line out at club level for a couple of more seasons at least.

He will be part of a new-look Sunday Game this year, Jacqui Hurley has been announced as Des Cahill’s successor as presenter of the highlights show with Damian Lawlor a Saturday equivalent.

David is one of the new analysts involved this season as is Tyrone great Peter Canavan, four-time All Star Paul Flynn of Dublin, Mayo favourite Lee Keegan and Tyrone’s Enda McGinley.

On the hurling front, Joe Canning of Galway joins the team which also includes Clarecastle’s Anthony Daly and former Newmarket-on-Fergus coach Liam Sheedy. Football fans in Clare will be hopeful that David’s addition will see more insight rather than the usual line trotted out by pundits over the past decade that ‘Colm Collins has done a tremendous job in Clare’.

l GREEN ATLANTIC PLAN: Moneypoint Power Station

l SCORE: David Tubridy in action for Clare’s footballers in Cusack Park

Photo by Gerard O’Neill

Vision for Lisdoonvarna in €4.3m plan

by Páraic McMahon paraic@clareecho.ie

LISDOONVARNA’S future development and the conservation of its rich heritage is to be ensured under a new heritage plan and design guide.

Numerous upgrades, public realm improvements and developments have been set out in the Lisdoonvarna Heritage Plan and Design Guide which requires a total spend in excess of €4.3m. Work on the plan has been ongoing since August 2022, with a lot of recommendations based on the current look of Clonakility’s public realm in Co Cork.

A Heritage Trail is proposed to connect the many heritage sites in the town, including the Spa Wells, bridges, significant buildings and views, which, alongside an audio guide, can highlight local stories, folklore and history along the trail.

Other proposed upgrades include public realm improvements for the Main Square, Lower Main Street and Tivoli Terrace, along with conceptual drawings for the town’s arrival points, the Twin Wells, Rathlaun Wells, and the viewpoints at the Spectacle Bridge, Gowlaun Spa and Maryville House.

At the main square, it is proposed to simplify the design, remove clutter and enhance the appearance of the square. It will make it easier for the public to use the square for different events, for example farmer’s market, food festival, dancing or musical events and as a public gathering space. A water feature is to be included, where the sound and sight of running water would be central to the experience of being in the square.

Lisdoonvarna is renowned for its mineral

Notes

OLD KILFARBOY SOCIETY

springs making it Irelands’ best-known and only surviving Spa Town. The Spa Wells is a fascinating story of geology, water and people and operates under its original themes of heritage, tourism and wellness. The Spa Wells contain an important array of significant historical buildings and biodiversity including the Victorian Neo-Gothic style Maiville house with 50 acres of forest walks, Victorian Gardens and Pump Room, a 1940’s neo-clas-

sical Bath House and Twin Wells, and a 1970’s Dance Hall, the Pavilion building and 30 acres of parkland as public open space.

The Heritage Plan and Design Guide also makes proposals for the Spa Wells complex. The town streetscape, its architectural conservation area and the Spa Wells complex are very valuable resources to the local community and visitors to the town and, in the context of tourism, Lisdoonvarna adds to the

already significant offering of the Burren and County Clare.

Suggested future uses of Gowlaun Spa include an educational campus, a boutique hotel or wedding venue, a destination spa and community facilities.

Unlike most Irish towns, Lisdoonvarna is relatively modern, having almost popped into existence in the late nineteenth century. This investment in the town relates to the huge increase in tourism and the railways but also a popular interest in health and wellbeing. Lisdoonvarna continued to boom right into the twentieth century, making itself famous for the matchmaking festival, dancing and music just as much as it was for its ‘waters’.

Estimated costs of works proposed stand at an approximate total of €4.3m, €1.2m of which is associated with the heritage trail and €800,000 for the main square upgrade. The remainder is divided between South Main St (€600,000), Tivoli Terrace (€500,000), North Main St (€500,000), Rathlaun Wells (€210,000), Gowlaun Wells (€170,000), Twin Wells (€170,000), Town Gateways (€150,000), View to Spectacle Bridge (€15,000), View to Maiville House (€15,000). No fee has yet been calculated for the Stories of Lisdoonvarna aspect which will see local oral history and personal stories recorded.

Cllr Joe Garrihy (FG) has been one of the key figures involved in the plan’s development. “The Lisdoonvarna Heritage Plan and Design Guide is a major step forward in the future renewal of the town and a guide for future direction, which has been articulated to the local community and agreed upon as part of the planning process”.

The next talk of the Old Kilfarboy Society is scheduled for Tuesday, 14th February 2023 in the Malbay, Miltown Malbay at 8pm. It's title is DÚCHAS IS DÓCHAS:

Amhráin Ghaeilge an Chláir - The Irish Language Songs of County Clare and will be delivered by Diarmuid de Faoite. Diarmuid will bring us on an oral, aural and visual journey through the store of music, shining a light on the songs, the airs, the composers, the places from which they came and their legacy as well as introducing us to present day compositions with an emphasis on West Clare.

X-PO EVENTS

Post Office Sessions X-PO: 8pm February 3rd 2023

X-PO’s next monthly Post Office Session - Lár an Aonaigh - takes place on Friday 3rd February at 8pm. The assembled will include mighty fine musicians, singers, poets and listeners from North Clare and beyond. The wonderful sounds take place in a unique setting – an intimate and disused Post Office. As the event coincides with the ancient calendar custom of Imbolg, some of the tunes will touch on renewal and the turning of the year. The event is free of charge. Donations to X-PO welcome.

In the footsteps of the Burren's prehistoric hunter-gatherers with Conn Herriott: Thursday 9 February 8pm. X-PO is delighted to welcome archaeologist Conn Herriott for our February Heritage Talk. Conn will bring us back in time over 10,000 years to explore what life was like for the Burren’s very first inhabitants. These hunter-gatherer communities relied on a rich environment for the necessities of life, moving through the landscape on a seasonal basis. Conn will paint a picture of the Burren’s past ecology, and drawing on studies of hunter-gatherer societies, he will look at what can we tell about the Burren’s earliest inhabitants. X-PO is a not-for-profit space where all our events are free, ensuring that X-PO is open and accessible to all. All welcome!

GORT ARTS COLLECTIVE CELEBRATE ST BRIGID’S DAY

A new Gort Arts Collective is hosting a series of events to celebrate the new St. Brigid's bank holiday between February 4th and 5th. Events include a procession, an outdoor largescale projection onto the town's courthouse, an art exhibition, and theatre performances. The aim of the group is to bring the community together to celebrate old traditions and create new ones through the medium of the arts. The Gort Arts Collective is a group of 40 artists who work in a variety of art forms: painting, sculpture, the written word, and filmmaking.

Noreen Scully from the group detailed that "Ours is an old Irish market town that enjoys a rich and diverse cultural community - and it's important for everyone in the town to feel that they belong”. See Gort Arts FB/Instagram for more details. Any queries can be directed to gortarts@gmail.com. All are welcome!

l SPA TOWN: Ailish Drake, Drake Hourigan Architects; Cllr Joe Garrihy, Clare County Council; Helen Quinn, Acting Senior Planner, Clare County Council; Congella McGuire, Heritage Officer, Clare County Council; and John Hehir, Lisdoonvarna Historical Society

Photo by Eamon Ward

GREEN CLARE

lQuagga Mussel

Funds aid the fight against alien species

Hare’s Corner is coordinated by the Burrenbeo Trust and takes its name from an old farming expression for the corner of a field or an area of roughy ground which wasn’t so intensively farmed.

Biodiversity funding was also used to carry out a survey to determine the current status of rare, threatened and characteristic plants of the Burren.

and community groups as well as local authority staff on the management of invasive species on private land, public land, and while working near water.

ble the funding for this vital biodiversity funding scheme, which has proven immensely popular with local authorities”,

by Ronan Judge news@clareecho.ie

GROUPS in Clare are being encouraged to avail of a €3m local biodiversity action fund.

Local Authorities can now apply to the National Parks and Wildlife Service to avail of this funding to deliver local biodiversity projects.

Over €87,000 was allocated to local projects through Clare County Council in 2022.

In Clare, the funds have aided the battle against invasive alien species and established the Hare’s Corner habitat creation initiative.

First launched in 2018, the Local Biodiversity Action Fund offers funding to help local authorities achieve actions identified in the National Biodiversity Action Plan.

The scheme, operated by the National Parks and Wildlife Service of the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, saw 109 projects funded in 2022.

A wide variety of projects were financed including in the areas of Wetland Restoration, Bird Surveys, Dune restoration, Biodiversity Awareness and Invasive Alien Species.

Funding secured in 2022 went towards a number of projects in Clare.

These included the Hare’s Corner, which offers landowners practical and accessible support to enhance biodiversity on their land through the creation of habitats such as ponds, native orchards, and mini woodlands.

Electric buses to go live within two years

A FULLY electric bus service is scheduled to go live in Ennis within two years, writes

Elaine Tubridy

The National Transport Authority (NTA) is holding talks with Clare County Council to secure land for the charging infrastructure, with full details to be announced once the process has been ironed out.

Clare Fine Gael TD Joe Carey revealed that a route test exercise was carried out in December and, while final routes may change slightly, the exercise confirmed the

feasibility of the current plan.

“The NTA’s Service Planning team will be undertaking a number of steps including finalising the preferred routes as well as developing detailed stop and terminus designs. This will be done in collaboration with the Ennis 2040 team to take account of existing and future active travel and other schemes within the town,” Deputy Carey explained. Responding to a Dáil question from the Clarecastle TD, Minister Ryan said that the NTA’s Service Planning

team will be finalising all documents required to commence an operator procurement towards the end of this year.

“In the meantime, the NTA will work closely with all stakeholders to ensure that any measures and opportunities to shorten this timeline would be availed of, without compromising the integrity of the process, or the ability of both the NTA and Clare County Council to achieve their longer-term objectives for Ennis,” Minister Ryan concluded.

A citizen science and strategic survey was carried out assess the status, trends and breeding performance of barn owls throughout Clare.

Other projects included the development of a comprehensive online resource toolkit for the public

Meanwhile, a study of the Quagga mussel carried out by several local authorities and a team from UCD to asses this high impact aquatic invasive alien species that was discovered in the Shannon in 2021.

Commenting on the €3m funding announcement, Malcom Noonan, Minister of State for Heritage and Electoral Reform at the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage said,

“I’m delighted to be able to dou-

“Reversing biodiversity loss is among the greatest challenges of our times. Locally-led initiatives can be extremely impactful – supporting them is an important part of the response. Local Authorities play an important role in these efforts. Combined with our announcement last year of the appointment of Biodiversity Officers in the Local Authorities, today’s funding increase will allow the Local Authorities to play an ever more active role in our plans to address biodiversity loss.”

Country’s first ‘Hope Spot’ off Clare coast

by Elaine Tubridy news@clareecho.ie

A large swathe of ocean off the coast of Clare has been named as Ireland’s first ‘Hope Spot’ by global marine conservation movement, Mission Blue.

Hope Spots are special places that are scientifically identified as critical to the health of the ocean. Existing spots include the Galápagos Islands, the Great Barrier Reef, the Northwest Passage and parts of Antarctica.

The Greater Skellig Coast stretches from Kenmare Bay in Kerry to Loop Head and covers an area of roughly 7,000km2 of Irish coastal waters. It is home to critically endangered sharks, globally important seabird colonies, and animals threatened with extinction which rely on these areas for breeding and feeding.

Mission Blue is led by oceanographer Dr. Sylvia Earle and now has a network of 148 Hope Spots across the globe. It aims to inspire public awareness, access

and support for a worldwide network of Marine Protected Areas.

The area has been championed by Fair Seas, a coalition of Ireland’s leading environmental non-governmental organisations and networks, with the support of Sea Synergy, a marine awareness and activity centre based in Kerry. Fair Seas has been campaigning for the Government to designate a minimum of 30% of Irish waters as Marine Protected Areas (MPA) by 2030. The Greater Skellig Coast is one of 16 ‘Areas of Interest’ identified for possible MPA designation by the organisation.

Mission Blue was founded by American oceanographer, explorer and author Dr Sylvia Earle. She has been National Geographic’s Explorer in Residence since 1998 and was named the first Hero for the Planet by Time Magazine.

Aoife O’Mahony from Fair Seas and Lucy Hunt have been named as champions of the Greater Skellig Coast Hope Spot by Mis-

sion Blue.

Aoife said: “It is incredible to see a small part of Ireland’s seas being recognised as critically important to global ocean health by Mission Blue, and joining the likes of the Galapágos Islands and other world-famous marine locations. The waters off the coast of Kerry and Clare are rich with fascinating creatures and marine life but there has been an alarming decline in the numbers of iconic species like angel sharks in recent years.

“We want to halt that decline and give species every chance to thrive. The Hope Spot will help us to raise awareness and bring the public closer to the ocean as we work to safeguard the water and the marine life within.

“This global recognition is even more critical now as we finalise our own national MPA legislation in Ireland. We have one chance to do this right and we owe it to the next generation to do this well.”

lTRUE BLUE: Aoife O’ Mahony, Campaign Manager for Fair Seas and Lucy Hunt (right), Founder of SeaSynergy launching Ireland’s first Mission Blue Hope Spot

Photo by Alan Landers

‘Best of Clare’ to go on display at Cliffs

THE best of Clare’s artisan food and crafts will enjoy a unique shop window next month at the inaugural Cliffs of Moher and Clare Retail Expo, writes Elaine Tubridy

Clare food and artisan suppliers will

come together with consumers and retail buyers for the event which takes place over two days on February 19th and 20th.

Clare County Council is currently inviting applications from suitably qualified persons for the below competitions. Clare County Council will, following the interview process, form panels for the areas set out below from which future relevant vacancies may be filled subject to sanction approval from the Department of Housing, Local Government & Heritage.

• EXECUTIVE ARCHITECT

Completed applications must be emailed to: recruitment@clarecoco.ie not later than 4.00 p.m. on Thursday 16th February, 2023

• EXECUTIVE ARCHITECTURAL CONSERVATION OFFICER

Completed applications must be emailed to: recruitment@clarecoco.ie not later than 4.00 p.m. on Monday 20th February, 2023

Application forms and further particulars may be obtained by requesting same from the Human Resources Department, Clare County Council at 065-6846250, via e-mail: recruitment@clarecoco.ie or can be downloaded from the following website: www.clarecoco.ie

Clare County Council is an equal opportunities employer and welcomes applications from all sectors of the Community.

Scriobh chugainn as gaeilge más fearr leat.

PANEL OF CLEANERS

REF. 012981

PANEL OF CARETAKERS

REF. 013061

Supported by the Clare Local Enterprise Office, Clare County Council and the Burren & Cliffs of Moher UNESCO Global Geopark, the two-day event is the biggest showcase of its kind to be held in County Clare in recent years.

Buyers will have a chance to “Meet the Maker” and touch, taste and see some of the award-winning and internationally renowned products from the Burren, including cheeses, whiskey, salmon, oysters, jams, chutney, breads and beef to name but a few.

Geraldine Enright, Director

Limerick and Clare Education and Training Board are inviting applications from Cleaners & Caretakers to create a panel for any future vacancies that may arise in Limerick and Clare. Applications will be accepted to this panel on an ongoing basis and prospective suitable candidates will be called for interview as vacancies arise.

Online application form and further details are available on www.lcetb.ie/recruitment

Completed application forms should be returned no later than 12 noon Wednesday, 8th March 2023.

Limerick and Clare Education and Training Board is an Equal Opportunities Employer. Canvassing will disqualify.

of Cliffs of Moher Experience, said the forthcoming Expo presents opportunities for new business relationships to form between suppliers and retailers, and for consumers to learn about the quality and breadth of food and artisan products being produced in Clare.

“As part of the Burren and Cliffs of Moher UNESCO Global Geopark we are proud to be able to support local suppliers,” stated Ms. Enright.

“Throughout 2022, we provided a platform for local suppliers to showcase their products to visitors to the Cliffs of Moher. The initiative forms part of our Meet The Makers programme which invites visitors to discover more about the artists, producers, and craftspeople.”

See www.cliffsofmoher.ie for more details.

Part M Aviation Ireland [Part M] is an aircraft maintenance management company based in Shannon, Co Clare. Part M are now recruiting for the following positions.

AIRCRAFT TECHNICAL SERVICES ENGINEER

The main duties and tasks involved with this role will include but are not limited to:

• Review and evaluate Airworthiness Directives and Service Bulletins.

• Coordinate scheduled maintenance / Application of Airworthiness Directives

• Prepare the current status of Engine / Airframe Service Bulletins / Airworthiness Directives as required by the approved maintenance schedule.

• Ensure Maintenance Instructions are amended correctly and to latest issue.

• Update of appropriate computerised maintenance systems.

• Review/Update of aircraft records.

Candidate Requirements:

• Between 1-3 years’ work experience within a CAMO environment.

• Microsoft Office Suite Skills – Excel proficiency is essential.

• Strong communication skills with excellent attention to detail.

• Demonstrated team player with a problem-solving attitude.

• Ability to travel to locations worldwide.

• Knowledge of software systems will be considered an asset.

• Completion of a relevant Type or GenFam or Part M course is advantageous. An attractive renumeration package and supported career progression is on offer. Applicants must have the ability to work within Ireland free of any visa or permit requirements. Please submit cover letter and CV to hr@partmaviation.com

-

Caherconnell Fort and Sheepdog Demonstrations are recruiting for our vibrant busy tourist attraction in the heart of the

- Full training provided

EXPO: Patricia Farrell, Paul O’Dwyer, Raquel Walsh, Bobby Kerr, Geraldine Enright and Leonard Cleary

Photo by Eamon Ward

Clare businesses meet thousands of buyers at LEO showcase

to have been transacted across the three-day event.

Creative Clay - Creative Clay creates ceramic giftware that brings a unique visual experience to any wall or space in your home. Ceramicist Raquel Walsh from Co. Clare creates a range of ceramic pieces that are inspired by the natural beauty of the landscape around her, in particular the Burren. These creations are influenced by the marks that time, weather and use leave behind and are decorated with wildflowers often found growing along the hedgerows of Ireland. Each piece is individually assembled from rolled out slabs of clay, decorated and hand painted so no two pieces can ever be the same. www.creativeclayireland.com

by the Irish beach and coastline.. https://siarphotography.ie

The Moher Soap Company - Raquel Ruido is an artisan cosmetic producer based in Co. Clare. The product range includes Soaps, Lip Balms, Body Scrubs, Body Moisturisers, Bath Salts and a selection of Gift Sets containing all the above. All of her products are handmade using only natural ingredients with zero waste packaging. The business name ties the products to both the Wild Atlantic Way and Ireland, where they are hand produced. https://themohersoapco.com

sible position to maximise their appearance at the event including sales technique, marketing materials and stand production.

Padraic McElwee, Head of Enterprise at LEO Clare, said; “Local Enterprise Showcase is potentially a business changing opportunity for these Local Enterprise Office clients. They have the chance to meet with buyers specific to their market from countries all over the world opening doors to new export opportunities that they simply would not get anywhere else.

Businesses from County Clare had the opportunity to meet buyers from all over the world this week as part of the Local Enterprise Showcase at Showcase 2023 in the RDS in Dublin. There were over 100 Local Enterprise Office supported businesses from across the country present at the event.

Creative Clay, Siar Photography,

The Moher Soap Company and Wix and Wax Ireland, were all exhibiting at the Local Enterprise Showcase, part of Showcase 2023, that saw over 4,000 buyers from retailers across the globe attend the three-day event in Dublin looking to secure new sales and partners for the year ahead. Upwards of €20 million in business was expected

St. John’S hoSpital

John’s Square, Limerick, V94 H272. Tel: (061) 462254 Email: hr@stjohnshospital.ie

St. John’s Hospital is a Voluntary Hospital founded in 1780. Applications are invited from suitably qualified candidates for the following post(s):

Clerical Officer Grade III

Permanent Whole-time & Part-time Post(s)

Temporary Whole-time & Part-time Post(s)

Siar Photography - SIAR meaning “West” or Westward” in Irish, is a range of contemporary photography prints of Ireland founded in 2019 by husband and wife team, Gary and Aoife. SIAR Photography offers over 130 original photographs by Gary, with each print printed, packaged and sold from their studio in County Clare on the Wild Atlantic Way. They also offer greeting cards, notebooks, postcards, an annual calendar and collaborated with a local candle producer to create their first candle Trá, a scent inspired

Wix & Wax Ireland - Wix and Wax Ireland is a luxury home fragrance company based in Ennis. They manufacture a range of handmade home fragrance products including melts, candles, diffusers, rooms sprays and gift boxes for their own brand. Their products are vegan friendly and cruelty free and are manufactured using sustainably sourced soy blend waxes. https:// wixandwaxireland.com

The Clare companies were selected by Local Enterprise Office Clare to take part in this year’s Local Enterprise Showcase at Showcase 2023. They have been working closely with them in recent months to ensure they are in the best pos-

“Each of these clients has worked closely with their Local Enterprise Office to ensure they are in the best possible position to sell their products to national and international buyers. This event shows the value of partnership with the Local Enterprise Offices, the Design & Crafts Council of Ireland and Enterprise Ireland partnering to give these wonderfully talented designers and craftspeople the opportunity to bring their products to the world stage.”

For more information on Local Enterprise Showcase 2023 and supports a, log on to www.LocalEnterprise.ie and for more information on Showcase 2023, log on to www. ShowcaseIreland.com

Applicants must be of good character and educated to Leaving Certificate standard. Experience of working in a Hospital setting is highly desirable.

A panel may be formed from which Permanent/Temporary Whole-time & Part-time vacancies may be filled during the life of the panel.

Applications must be made on the approved hospital employment application form (available on www.stjohnshospital.ie) and emailed to recruitment@stjohnshospital.ie or posted to the Human Resources Department, St. John’s Hospital, John’s Square, Limerick V94 H272.

Closing date for receipt of completed applications is 12 Noon, Friday 17th February 2023.

Applicants may be shortlisted on the basis of information supplied in their application.

It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure their application is received in the Human Resources Department before the closing date.

l CLEAN LIVING: Raquel Ruido, The Moher Soap Co

Photo by Damien Eagers

Macalla an Chláir

le MACDARA Ó CONAOLA

An Clár as Gaeilge Teo Togra Páirtnéireachta Forbairt Teanga Pobail do Chontae an Chláir

Iontrálacha Fhéile na hInse

DIA dhaoibh a Chairde!

Tá súil agam that you are all go maith agus ag súil le deireadh seachtaine fada na Féile Bríde / i mBolg. De réir mar a deir an seanchas, dúirt Naomh Bríd go mbeadh chuile darna lá tar éis a lá fhéin go breá. Feicfidh muid!

Thought for the week: Accepting myself

Spreading the word of positivity

RONAN SCULLY

AN CLÁR as Gaeilge commenced fun Irish classes for adults in Cois na hAbhna this past Dé Luain and will resume ar an 13ú Feabhra. An 8-week programme at beginners/ entry level, intermediate level, and improvers level. Beidh fáilte romhaibh!

Bígí linn do Phreab-Ghaeltacht na Féile Bríde san oíche amárach, Dé hAoine, ag 9pm i dTigh Paddy

Imeachtaí/Events:

Tá Féile na hInse ar an bhfód le tríocha naoi bliain i mbliana. Ná déanaigí dearmad bhur gcuid iontrálacha a sheoladh chugainn. Is é amárach an 3ú la de Feabhra an spriocdháta le haghaidh iontrálacha a sheoladh chugainn. Tomorrow, Friday 3rd of February, is the closing date for entries for this year’s Féile na hInse festival!

DURING the course of my 56 years of my life so far, persistent anxiety and stress have been some of the things with which I’ve wrestled the most. From childhood, I found myself anxious or stressed out in situations where it seemed most other people were not. In recent years, I’ve acquired some new habits that have helped me to live with serenity. Chiefly among the new habits is my recitation of the Serenity Prayer once or twice a day. I always take a few moments to reflect upon it and think about its application to my life in the here-andnow and how best to accept my life as I truly am.

SERENITY

The Serenity Prayer is a prayer asking God to grant acceptance, courage, and wisdom for things in our life we can’t control. It also means being able to know when things are within your control and when things are beyond your control.

Quinn ar Shráid an Mhargadh, Inis!

To reserve a place and register, please contact us at: Fón: 065-6864474, e-mail/r-phost: anclarasgaeilge@gmail.com

Lean ar na meáin-shóisialta muid ag @ClárAsGaeilge. Gaeilge is for all of us to enjoy!

Until next week, tóg go réidh é! Go dtí an tseachtain seo chugainn, tógaigí go réidh é!

• Cúl-chaint le Domhnall Ó Loingsigh chuile Dé Sathairn, ag 9am ar Clare FM

• Ciorcal Comhrá san XPO, i gCill Iníne Baoith, chuile Dé Céadaoin ag 7.30pm

• Scéalaíocht do pháistí / Story time i nGaeilge le MacDara, Dé Máirt, 7ú Feabhra/February, Leabharlann De Valera, Inis, 15.15 – 15.45, Saor in aisce / Free of charge

• Preab-Ghaeltacht, Tigh Paddy Quinn, Inis, Dé hAoine, 3ú Feabhra, 9pm

• Rith le Ruairí, chuile Dé Máirt ag 6.30pm, ag Local Motion, Inis

• Caint agus Comhrá, chuile Dé Luain ag 11am sa gCopper Jug, Dé Céadaoin ag 11am in Insomnia (Tesco), oíche Déardaoin sa Temple Gate (8pm), agus Dé Sathairn i nGlór, Inis, 11am-12pm

• Scéalta agus Rannta le Chéile, chuile Dé Céadaoin i Leabharlann Shráid na Cathrach ó 10.30 – 11am, Saor in aisce / Free of charge

Gluais/Glossary

Irish/Gaeilge English/Béarla

own truth, heal from their woes and exercise ‘self and other’ compassion. When applied to any situation in our lives, this prayer works like a genius challenging us to be present, conscious and deliberate with our thoughts and choices. People who live this prayer discover how to strike a dynamic balance between acceptance and change. Many of us spend too much time anxious about things we cannot change: the economy, the weather, traffic on our roads, or people who annoy us.

As a result, we don’t have the energy to make the most of the opportunities we do have.

Acceptance is the key. If we can understand what serenity means then we can better understand what recovery from addiction, anxiety and worry is about. As humans, we have two basic strategies for handling any situation that disturbs us. One is to change the situation. For example, if we are short of a few bob, we can trim our latte or cream bun allowance or seek an increase in our weekly pay. If we are lonely we can call a loved one.

It is a wide door, one that’s open to people of all faiths, backgrounds and none. Wise people have used this prayer as a foundational rudder in their lives. It guides them to stand in their

This is how we usually cope with our anguish and distress. We try to alter the world outside us. And in many cases, this is powerful and appropriate. However, circumstances are sometimes beyond our

power. We can call a friend or a loved one to suppress our loneliness, but that person may not be at home. Hoping we can control every event that comes our way is like hoping we can control the weather or how many goals Ronaldo or Messi score.

RESPONSE

In such moments, we often forget we have options and that we can change our response to the situation. Viktor Frankl was prisoner number 119104 in a concentration camp in the Second World War. He spent most of his time alone, laying tracks for railway lines. Most people assume he would have been miserable or gone insane, but even in the concentration camp, Frankl felt free. In his book, ‘Man’s search for Meaning’, he concluded that everything can be taken from us except our ability to choose our attitude in any given set of circumstances. Another name for this freedom is ‘Acceptance.’

Between stimulus and response there is a space. In that space is our power to choose our response. In our response lies our growth and our freedom.

Everything can be taken from a person but one thing: the last of the human freedoms—to choose one’s attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one’s own way. Fankl discov-

ered this second option while he was in the concentration camp. Escape was not feasible; he was powerless over the situation. So he responded by dwelling on thoughts that empowered him. More specifically, Frankl stayed alive to the beauty of nature. Even the Nazis could not take away sunsets.

THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK

As your thought for the week, pray for people you know who have an addiction, worry or stress in their lives including me, that they will say the Serenity Prayer and use it as a road map for their future and that we will have the courage and wisdom to use that map in our future dealings with ourselves and with others.

Pray the Serenity prayer everyday as I do, “God grant me the serenity, To accept the things I cannot change; Courage to change the things I can; And wisdom to know the difference. Living one day at a time; Enjoying one moment at a time; Accepting hardships as the pathway to peace; Taking, as He did, this sinful world, As it is, not as I would have it; Trusting that He will make things right, If I surrender to His Will; So that I may be reasonably happy in this life and supremely happy with Him, Forever and ever in the next. Amen.”

Romantic meal: Fisherman’s Hotpot

STEPHEN KEARNEY RECIPES

IHAVEN’T done seafood in a while so I thought I would share a handy fish stew recipe that I have in my arsenal. This is pure handy to prepare and is a lovely dish to serve either as a starter or as a main perhaps with some rice. I am also aware that Valentine’s Day is on the way and this would make an ideal dinner dish as it is not too heavy that you would be stuffed after it and not leave room for “dessert”. As usual I will throw an instructional video up on my Instagram at the weekend, @kearneycooks, but for now let’s crack on with the recipe.

YOU WILL NEED

• 300g clams

• 150g devained prawns

• 300g washed and debearded mussels

• 200g hake or cod, cut into 2cm pieces

• 3 crushed garlic cloves

• 2 tbsp rapeseed oil

• 1 finely chopped shallot

• 1 finely chopped chilli pepper

• 1 finely sliced fennel bulb

• 1 stalk of finely chopped celery

• 1 tsp salt and pepper for seasoning

• 1 tbsp tomato puree

• 1 tsp dried oregano

• 200ml dry white wine

• 1 can chopped tomatoes

• 700ml fish or veg stock

• Zest of half a lemon

Step 1

In a big pot heat a little oil and gently fry off all your vegetables until they have slightly softened. Then add your tomato puree and oregano and stir for a further three minutes. Fire in the wine and cook on high until the liquid has reduced by half.

Step 2

Add the tinned tomatoes and the stock. Bring it to a boil, then reduce the heat to a simmer, and cook with the lid on for 10 minutes. Add a pinch of salt and pepper, have an old taste and adjust the seasoning accordingly.

Step 3

Bring the heat back up to medium and add the clams, mussels, fish and prawns. Cover and cook until the shellfish opens and the fish and prawns are just cooked through. This should take around five minutes.

Step 4

Serve the stew up in a big bowl with some chopped parsley or chives and a sprinkling of lemon zest. This goes very well with a big old slice of crusty bread and a nice glass of Albarino on the side.

Open house - DNG offers Clare TY students unique view of real estate

For the third consecutive year, DNG is once again opening it’s (virtual) doors to transition year students from Clare who have their minds set on a career in Ireland’s property market.

Registration is now open for DNG’s interactive online work experience TY Programme, which will run from February 8th-10th. 500 students are expected to take part in the programme this year.

Participating students will be provided with a first hand understanding of working as an estate agent in Ireland, experiencing a day in the life through online auctions, virtual viewings, 3rd level college presentations, and an auctioneering and property services apprenticeship programme. Before the transition to the online format, only 25 positions were available each year on DNG’s programme. Utilising the online platform has greatly increased the opportunity to participate and provides students of all backgrounds and abilities with the

opportunity to get involved.

DNG has delivered its TY Programme to over 1,000 students across the country since 2021.

Commenting on the programme, Keith Lowe, CEO of DNG said: “Seeking out beneficial work experience can be a great source of stress for TY students and their parents alike. Our virtual TY programme approach has increased the number of students we can accommodate each year vastly, while also giving an exciting opportunity for TY students to experience the world of Irish real estate and open their eyes to a potential career.”

“Students from 22 different counties have already signed up to take part this year, but there are still places available and I would encourage all TY students to consider taking part.”

TY students, parents and teachers can find more information about DNG’s TY programme and register to take part by visiting https://ty.dng. ie/

Louth unhappy with referee

NATIONAL

FOOTBALL LEAGUE DIVISION 2, RD1

Clare 0-13 Louth 1-09

Venue: Cusack Park, Ennis

Compiled by Páraic McMahon

STORY OF THE GAME

CLARE

Frees for: 14 (7/7)

Wides: 12 (2/10)

Scores from play: 0-06

Spread of scorers: 6

Top scorer: Emmet McMahon (0-03 2f)

Bookings: Emmet McMahon (29), Pearse Lillis (63), Cian O’Dea (72).

Own kickouts won: 14 from 16 (88%)

LOUTH

Frees for: 10 (7/3)

Wides: 6 (4/2)

Scores from play: 1-06

Spread of scorers: 5

Top scorer: Sam Mulroy (005 3f)

Bookings: Peter Lynch (28), Black Card: Liam Jackson (23).

Own kickouts won: from 12 from 25 (48%)

REFEREE: Sean Lonergan (Tipperary)

MANAGER COMMENT “

Colm Collins, Clare:

“I wasn’t that disappointed at half time, we hit the post three times and had two scoreable frees missed against a decent breeze. I was happy enough that we were in a good position at half time and all we could do was tidy up our game a little. We had a lot of shots in the second half, a lot were close but not over the bar, close but no cigar, it’s important we tidy that up going up to Navan.

“It was a marvellous finish by the lads, a marvellous contribution by the subs who came on. It was said to me more than once at the Moy function on Saturday night that we had a strong bench, it proved it today.

“It’s not their first rodeo, they’ve done it before, they did it above against Roscommon last year, there is a tremendous spirit in these

players, anybody would be delighted to be associated with them, they never give up, I’m delighted with today.

“It didn’t look good, at the same time they weren’t pulling away either, I thought that when Jamie got the point we were in a good spot, we made a little error on the kickout and they broke to get a goal.

“I was roaring at Cleary that this game was there for us, the breeze was quite strong and I still felt it was there for us, they were under fierce pressure with the kickout.

“We played into their hands, we started losing kickouts and hadn’t patience, if you do that they will nail you, they have a really good system going and they know how to play it. Louth will be hard beaten in this Division, their cam-

paign isn’t over by a long shot, they have a very good defensive system. Their midfielder Ciaran Byrne is going to be a big loss. With Sam Mulroy on the pitch you can’t give away any frees, he is a machine.”

SCAN HERE FOR MATCH REPORT

MANAGER COMMENT “

Mickey Harte, Louth:

"I think we played much the better football in the last ten minutes, I couldn’t for the life of me understand how Conor Grimes was blown up, first of all I think he was fouled before he went to ground, then he passed the ball out and the ref gives a free out, a critical decision in that game. I don’t know where the seven minutes of added time came out of in the second half. It is devastating to think

PLAYER WATCH

we got nothing out of that game for the efforts our players put in.

"You can see some simple decisions that go against you and you wonder why does that happen. We have to take it, it’s not easy but we’re very proud of the players and what they did, they gave every ounce of energy that they had, we couldn’t ask anymore from them.

“We didn’t help ourselves in other ways, a couple of

other men picked up yellow cards so we had to move them because they were technically only a foul away from being sent off. The boys who came in did very well and I have to congratulate them for the effort they put in, I’m really proud of the players and I feel so much for them. When you put that much work into a game and the training that they’ve put in over the last few months, to get something like that to take the result totally away from them is very difficult to take.”

Match winner Malone looks ahead to Meath

PÁRAIC

MCMAHON

paraic@clareecho.ie

CONFIDENCE and character will build within the Clare ranks following their lastgasp opening round National Football League triumph over Louth, match-winner Jamie Malone maintained.

Corofin’s Malone is carving a reputation as the man to step up with the important scores for Clare when it matters most. His kick sent them on their way to the All-Ireland quarter-finals last year defeating Roscommon in Croke Park while the real action of 2023 commenced for Clare when his seventh sixth minute score gave them a winning start to this year’s Allianz National Football

League campaign.

Getting the result was the main thing and that Jamie hit the all-important score was merely a bonus, he admitted.

“I didn’t really care who got it to be honest, once we got our noses in front at the end is the main thing, the result is a huge thing, we’re happy with the result, there’s a lot of things other than that that we wouldn’t be happy with it, there’s plenty to improve on from our performance next week and going forward”.

It wasn’t until the sixtieth minute that Clare took the lead for the first time while the mounting amount of wides, ten in total in the second half hindered the hosts but Jamie outlined that they never felt the game was gone from them.

“There was stages where

we kicked two or three wides in a row and that’s poor execution and decision making and some lads taking shots that weren’t on.

"We have to work on that but I don’t think we panicked even when they got a goal so late in the game which put them two up and that was a big enough lead in the nature of the game but we would be happy with how we responded to that. The next score we got was crucial to keep us ticking away and in touch.

"It was a bit chaotic then towards the end, we won a couple of kickouts, we had good resilience to dig out the result”.

Just after going one point ahead, Clare were hit by a sucker punch when Ciaran Downey goaled immediate-

success there during my time with Clare.

"Meath have had the hoodoo over us in the League over the last number of years, it will be a tough test, it is a big game for both teams, the race is on to get as many points as we can, we’ll target that and hopefully improve our performance and see what result will give us”.

Now based at Scoil Chríost Rí in Cloughleigh, Jamie’s preparation for the second round will be aided by the offer of Irish and Cultural Officer with Clare GAA, Joe Garry to take care of his yard duty for the week.

“I’ll hold him to that, maybe a few favours here and there from Joe wouldn’t go astray,” the primary school teacher said of the offer.

DERMOT COUGHLAN wing forward

Photo by Gerard O'Neill

'Learning curve' for Ladies

LADIES FOOTBALL LEAGUE DIVISION 3, RD2

Clare 2-03 Louth 3-09

Venue: Cooraclare

Compiled by Derek Dormer

STORY OF THE GAME

CLARE Kickouts: 13 from 15(87%)

Frees: 15 (8/7)

Wides: 3 (1/2)

Scores from play: 1-3

Spread of scorers: 2

Top scorer: Fidelma Marrinan (1-3)

WEXFORD Kickouts: 5/8 (63%)

Frees: 17 (9/8)

Wides: 3 (1/2)

Scores from play: 2-6

Spread of scorers: 5

Top scorer: Sarah Harding Kenny (2-0)

REFEREE: Paul McCaugbey (Westmeath)

MANAGER COMMENT “

“At half time I thought we would go on and win it. I felt we were probably the better team in that first half but we left a lot of scores behind us. It's not an excuse but the wind definitely changed direction for that second thirty and that threw us a bit. Realistically though our skill set let us down. We ended up chasing

back a lot rather than pushing forward and we lost an awful lot of ball in contact.

“We had a game plan to try bring Lizzie Roche into it but we didn't stick to it and that's disappointing. We had a game plan for Sligo last week and we stuck to it with seven different scorers but today we didn't and as a result

we had only two scorers and that's a concern.

“Ladies football is always a transitional game with a lot of new players every year in all teams. It's a learning curve for our girls. There's a massive physicality to the in-

ter-county game especially in contact. At club level you might get away with going into contact but not at this level. The ball is stripped from you immediately. I always felt rounds two and three against the top two teams

Lohan to make late calls

by Seamus Hayes news@clareecho.ie

CLARE will be “going as strong as we can” according to manager Brian Lohan when he and his management team sits down to name the side which will line out against Westmeath in the opening round of the Allianz National Hurling League.

Cusack Park in Ennis hosts the tie which commences at 2pm. “The league is ideal preparation for Munster championship. We will be going as hard as we can but we are conscious that we do need to find a couple of players”, the All-star full back said earlier this week.

would be learning curves. On the positive we had a lot of ball but on the flip side we lost a lot of ball. We have to learn from this”

PICTURED: Clare's Louise Griffin with Wexford's Beibheann McDonald.

Burren Eye Photography

Kelly to continue as Clare captain

by Seamus Hayes sports reporter

TONY Kelly will continue as Clare senior hurling captain for 2023.

Clare manager Brian Lohan has confirmed that the Ballyea hurler will enter his second year as the county captain.

Kelly’s form during Lohan’s tenure has been off the charts with the secondary school teacher collecting three of his four All Star awards in this period.

Last year, he finished the championship with a personal tally of 1-54 with some scintillating dis-

plays central to him picking up his fourth All Star. An incredible sideline cut from Kelly saw Clare bring the Munster final to extra time where John Kiely’s Limerick just had the edge, winning 1-29 0-29.

As Clare begin their 2023 Allianz National Hurling League campaign this Sunday at home to Westmeath, Tony’s role as captain has been confirmed.

He succeeded Clonlara’s John Conlon as skipper last season. Conlon had been captain for the first two years of Lohan’s reign.

A leadership role has been natural for Tony since he made his

championship debut for the Clare senior hurlers with a dramatic win over the Anthony Daly managed Dublin in Cusack Park.

One year later he would be named Hurler of the Year as Clare were crowned All-Ireland champions. In 2016, he was appointed joint captain alongside Crusheen’s Cian Dillon for what was Davy Fitzgerald’s final campaign as Clare manager.

When Donal Moloney and Gerry O’Connor appointed Tubber’s Patrick O’Connor as captain in 2017, they made Kelly vice captain. The joint managers had pre-

viously picked Tony as captain of the Clare minors in 2011, a year in which they won the Munster championship while he held the same role in 2014 this time at U21 level when provincial and national honours were secured by Clare.

Panellists both young and old are in awe of the ability and leadership of Kelly with midfielder Cathal Malone stating last year, "He's just incredible, he really drives the standard both in training and in matches. He works incredibly hard as well and he's always looking to improve and he's always driving us on to improve”.

Sunday Game gig for Tubridy

DOONBEG’s David

Tubridy has landed a new role subsequent to his retirement from inter-county football, writes Páraic McMahon

Fresh from calling time on his sixteen year senior career in the saffron and blue, David has been unveiled as one of the new additions to RTÉ’s famed GAA show, The Sunday Game.

With 22-421 to his name, David is the record scorer in the National Football League of all time, a feat he achieved in 2021. Lst season as Clare under

Colm Collins’ watch consolidated their Division 2 status for the sixth season in a row, David remained a vital figure of the side and he was again back in the starting fifteen as the Banner reached the All-Ireland quarter-finals for the sec-

ond time of Collins’ tenure, losing out to Derry in Croke Park.

When Clare began their latest League campaign on Sunday with a one point win against Louth, it was the first time the manager set out without the Doonbeg man in his panel, Collins is the longest serving inter-county football manager since his appointment at the end of 2013.

In championship, Tubridy kicked 9-140 in the saffron and blue, making his debut in 2007 under Páidí Ó Sé and playing under subsequent managers including

Frank Doherty, Micheál McDermott and Mick O’Dwyer.

Tubridy’s retirement which was first reported by The Clare Echo is the third departure from the county football panel with both Kevin Harnett and Sean Collins also announcing their retirements in the winter.

Of relief to the Magpies will be David’s hope to continue line out at club level for a couple of more seasons at least.

He will be part of a newlook Sunday Game this year, Jacqui Hurley has

Asked about the challenge that Westmeath are likely to present he said, “We have seen over the last number of years that the standard is very even amongst all the teams. When we played Offaly last year there was one point between the teams with ten minutes to go. Westmeath have had some impressive results recently, they drew with Wexford last year, they had a good Walsh Cup campaign, they beat a strong Antrim team and they were close with Dublin.”

It will be later this week before the Clare management finalise the starting team for Sunday. Shane Meehan (Banner) and Darragh Lohan (Wolfe Tones) are ruled out for the first round and are unlikely to feature in the opening games of the campaign due to injury.

“We have a number of players with soft tissue injuries and groin strains but we hope to have them back for some of the league. Then we have to be mindful of the Fitzgibbon Cup and some of our players are facing three games in six days next week”, Lohan explained.

According to the Clare boss “there is no easy solution to this situation (Fitzgibbon cup and league fixtures in close proximity). There is so much pressure on players who have an awful lot of matches to get through when you add in the under 20 championship”.

Seven members of Lohan’s squad are also part of the under 20 management which is managed by Terence Fahy. They are Adam Hogan (Feakle), Oran Cahill (Éire Óg), Patrick Crotty (Scariff), Oisin O’Donnell (Crusheen), Keith Smyth and Ian MacNamara (both Killanena) and John Conneally (Clooney/Quin). All seven are pressing hard for game time on Sunday when the team is expected to include a mix of youth and experience.

been announced as Des Cahill’s successor as presenter of the highlights show with Damian Lawlor a Saturday equivalent.

David is one of the new analysts involved this season as is Tyrone great Peter Canavan, four-time All Star Paul Flynn of Dublin, Mayo favourite Lee Keegan, Tyrone’s Enda McGinley. On the hurling front, Joe Canning of Galway joins the team which also includes Clarecastle’s Anthony Daly and former Newmarket-on-Fergus coach Liam Sheedy.

Clare face Munster under 20 championship games on March 22(v Tipperary), March 29 (v Limerick), April 12 (v Waterford) and April 19 (v Cork).

Amongst those expected to provide the experience are Conor Cleary, David McInerney, David Fitzgerald, John Conlon and Tony Kelly who will continue as the team captain for 2023.

With five games in seven weeks, the Clare management team is sure to have the opportunity to give game time to many of their panel. They play Limerick at the Gaelic Grounds on Saturday February 11, Wexford at Wexford Park on Sunday February 26 before finishing with home games Galway on March 11 and Cork on March 18.

Clare’s Munster senior championship campaign will begin on April 23 against Tipperary in Cusack Park.

Wayne Freeman, Clare:

SCAN HERE FOR MATCH REPORT

Photo by Gerard O'Neill

Shannon Town & Newmarket Celtic meet in Munster

by Páraic McMahon paraic@clareecho.ie

TWO Clare clubs will do battle in the last sixteen of the Munster Junior Cup.

Home advantage has been secured by Shannon Town Utd for the

last sixteen tie where they will welcome neighbours Newmarket Celtic to Lynch Park.

Monday’s draw pitted the last two Clare clubs standing in the provincial competition against each other.

A 2-1 home win over Corkbeg

saw Steo Dolan’s Shannon Town progress to the fifth round while Paddy Purcell’s Newmarket outfit had a 5-1 win over Killavilla Utd. There is further Clare interest in the fortunes of Regional Utd who have the trio of Rob Shier, Brian

TULLA SINK HIBS IN CUP AS AVENUE FIGHT FOR TOP SPOT

O’Connor and Eoin Duff in their ranks.

Fifth round ties in the McCarthy Insurance Group Munster Junior Cup are to be played before Feburary 19th.

Attention is firmly focused on the

Magic from Miniter

FAI Junior Cup for this weekend with Regional Utd and Newmarket Celtic crossing swords at 2pm on Sunday in the last sixteen of the national competition.

New captains drive-in at East Clare Golf Club

by Seamus Hayes sports reporter

EAST CLARE GOLF CLUB

Having been postponed in recent weeks due to bad weather, the East Clare golf club captain's ‘drive- in’ took place on Sunday.

The drive- in, led by lady captain Rachel Whelan, men's captain William Hayes and club president John Duffy, was followed by a 9 hole scramble for members. The winners of the scramble on the front nine were Rachel Whelan, William Hayes and John Duffy from Teresa Bradley, Kevin Grimes and Ben Rittweger with third spot filled by Brid Hayes, Donal Fleming and Richard Hayes.

The winners of the back 9 scramble were Marie Donnellan, Tricia Kerr and Teddy O Hanlon from Ursula Hogan, Michael Larkin and Enda Donnellan with third spot filled by Mary Jo Minogue, Martin McInerney and Patsy Kett.

The ladies competition on Wednesday was won by Noreen Doyle, Joan Kinsella and Joan McNamara from Maureen Clune, Breda McCarthy and Mary Jo Minogue.

In the senior men’s competition on Tuesday the winners were Noel Earley, Michael McNamara and Ger Shortt from Tom Larkin, Willie Roche and Tim McGrath with third spot filled by Sean Ahern, Chris Davis and Jim Bradley.

Friday’s mixed scramble was won by Terry Coughlan, Pat Duggan and Mary Farrell from Michael Heffernan, Paul Husband and Jimmy Nagle with third spot filled by John Fahy, JJ Barton

and Richard Pomfret.

The mixed scramble continues every Friday morning at 10 a.m while round 3 of the club’s winter league has commenced.

ENNIS GOLF CLUB:

Last week’s ladies 14 hole stableford competition at Ennis was won by Monica Finnerty (23) with 25 points from Peggy Costello (22) with a similar score. Anne Kelly (29) was in third spot with 24 points.

The 9 hole stableford competition was won by Patricia O’Reilly (25) with 18 points from Mary Woulfe (15) with 15 points.

In the senior ladies competition last week, the winners were Brid Cunningham, Carmel Cummins, Therese Lillis and Anne Kelly with 54.08 points.

KILRUSH GOLF CLUB:

Michael Miniter (10) was the winner of the weekly 12 hole men’s singles competition at Kilrush with 29 points. John Robinson (16) was second with Rory Flynn (9) in third place and they both also scored 29 points. Gavin Duffy (11) was fourth with 28 points

GORT GOLF CLUB:

The men’s competition at Gort at the weekend was a 15 hole singles stableford event which saw Gerard Connors (10) win category 1 with 37 points. John Williams (15) won category 2 with 41 points, David Cahill (17) won category 3 with 38 points and Michael Ryan (22) was the category 4 winner with 35 points.

l Club President John Duffy with Lady Captain Rachel Whelan, and Men's Captain William Hayes

l Darragh Miniter from Kilrush won the senior men’s shot putt at the University national championships held at the Sport Ireland Campus in Abbotstown, Dublin. Darragh was representing University of Limerick where he also set a new record.

Paul Tuohy makes a flying save for Bridge Utd

Photo by Joe Buckley

Evan almighty...

Badminton silverware for Clare

COUNTY CLARE was well represented at the Munster underage intercounty championships in Killarney. Players from Ennis Smash Badminton Club, an Droichead Badminton Club, Ennis

Tennis and Badminton Club, and Mountshannon Badminton Club wore their Clare colours proudly as they helped bring home medals at U13 & U17 levels. The Co. Clare teams were

the most successful on the day coming away with team Golds in the U17 divisions (A & B) and team silver in division 1 of the U13 competition.

l Last Sunday Evan Nugent enjoyed his first career success aboard his boss Derek O'Connor's newcomer Now Is The Hour in the colours of the winning trainers wife Carol at Cragmore Point to Point, County Limerick. Evan graduated from the trainee jockey programme at the Racing Academy and centre of education in Kildare. He currently rides out for Derek and his brother Pauric O'Connor in their separate yards in Tubber.

Strong Clare lineup for National Coursing

by MICHAEL MAHER

ALL roads lead to Clonmel this Sunday for the 2023 National Coursing Meeting with a big line up representing the Banner and hopes are high that celebrations could be on the cards at the end of the three day meeting. Michael Maher profiles the Clare dogs vying for glory.

The Horse and Jockey Irish Oaks:

Tromora Swot owned by David Hogan from Quilty. Qualified at Liscannor.

Smitten owned by Noel Hehir from Inagh with Rachel Wheeler from Golden, Tipperary. Qualified at Miltown Malbay.

Gooleen Magic, is very well fancied after a stellar performance at Killimer. Owned by mother and son, Eilish and Dermot O’Sullivan from Labasheeda.

Ler Levelle caught the eye at the excellently ran South Clare Meeting, owned by Johnny Fitzgerald, a Kilkee native who resides in Kilrush, bred by Seamie Browne in Killimer, a daughter of Newinn Wonder and Rally on Rosie.

A Happy Comet under the stewardship of Sean Heeney from Ennis, won independently at the recent Tubbercurry meeting.

Windfarm Madam qualified at East Donegal, owned by Claire Eustace originally from Ennis, a litter sister of Smitten. Trained by Mullagh native Pat Curtin, who also has the Limerick owned Breaska Code and Faha Wild competing in this classic.

Malbay Diamond will be on the card as a reserve following her success at Mitchelstown, owned by Ciara Burke and Jason O’Dwyer from Miltown Malbay.

Boylesports Irish Derby:

Oneinthebarrell after triumphing at the Ennis/Clarecastle meeting by winning the working members stake, three weeks later he collected the golden ticket to Clonmel at Miltown Malbay. Trained by Shane Flanagan from Rockmount and owned by the experts syndicate which includes Ciaran Browne, a son of Newinn Wonder and Blades of Honour. Jeru Hope a son of Kyle Mozart and Alvor, qualified at the Kilcreevin/Ballymote meeting which was ran at Tubbercurry. Trained by John Browne from Ballyea, Hope is owned by the Jeru syndicate, of Ruth, Jenna & Johnny O’Donoghue.

Brassic collected his ticket at the Doon meeting, a son of Pestana and Laurdrella Dani he is owned by Inagh’s Noel Hehir in partnership with Rachel Wheeler.

Pick Your Stride is trained by Pat Curtin for the Good-Mix Syndicate, which comprises of Paudie Browne, Tomas O’Doherty of Cooraclare and Doonbeg’s Eoin Gallagher.

Bred by Paudie’s father Seamie, this son of Newinn wonder and Rally On Rosie, qualified in East Donegal.

Three Clare dogs are on the reserves list; Tromora Lion owned by Quilty’s David Hogan, a reserve winner at Killimer. Solitude, a brother of Jeru Hope is also on the reserve list after winning in South Clare, Cree’s Johnny O’Donoghue is in joint ownership with Noreen Liddy from Limerick for this dog. Newhall Magic was a reserve qualifier at Ennis/ Clarecastle for the Collins ream Syndicate, a son of Boylesports Magic and Count Amaren, trained by John Browne, Ballyea.

Grace & Matt Bruton Champion Bitch

Stake:

Ocean Kerrie owned by young Mark Fitzgerald from Clonlara who trains her with his Dad, Tom, Kerrie has been a star of the Clare coursing circuit this season, she won the all ages at Killimer Kilrush and South Clare respectively and is expected to run with distinction up the Powerstown stretch. A daughter of Newinn Wonder and Duarigle Magic.

Fate Intervenes bred by Martin Keane from Kilmihil, who owns this daughter of Drive on Smokey and Mixed Marriage with Patrick Treacy from Kilmallock, winner in Kilflynn and Mitchelstown respectively.

Kevin Smith Champion Stakes

Sammy Be, the winner at Ennis/Clarecastle and Listowel, he takes his place in the much-coveted champion stakes .Owned by the Banner Gentlemen Syndicate, this syndicate was formed one night over a few pints in Walsh’s Bar in Cree, its members are Finbarr Keating, the Cooraclare contingent of Tom Browne, John Reidy, and Michael Healy, Kilmihil’s Frank Finucane and Brendan Clancy from Mullagh.

Sammy Be was named after Irish Cyclist Sam Bennet, who was going well in the Tour de France at the time of naming of this son of Newinn Wonder and Breaska Dawn – trained by Pat O’Connor of Saleen near Ballylongford.

DRIVING LESSONS

GRINDS

Irish grinds available to Leaving Certificate students, Ordinary & Higher Level. All aspects of course are covered and comprehensive notes provided. Contact: 0834777423

HOMECARERS

• Workshop by Artist Christopher Hughes

• Starting in Jan 2023Oils & Acrylics

• Beginners or Advanced

• All Welcome & All material supplies

Phone 087 971 8405

RealPrint

PLANNING

CLARE COUNTY COUNCIL DRUMELLIHY, CREE

Take notice that J. Considine intends to apply to the Planning Authority for permission to extend existing dwelling house, to demolish shed and to install foul sewer system + percolation area 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 planning authority on payment of the prescribed fee, €20, within the period of 5 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 MOVEEN WEST, KILKEE

Take notice that A.

McGuire intends to apply to the Planning Authority for permission to erect dwelling house, garage, foul sewer treatment system, percolation area and new site entrance 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 planning authority on payment of the prescribed fee, €20, within the period of 5 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 SCHOOL ROAD, ATTYCRISTORA, LAHINCH, CO. CLARE

Take notice that Brian Foudy & Associates Ltd of Osprey House, Carmody Street, Ennis, Co. Clare

065 6893565 www. foudyconsulting.ie.

Intend to apply to the planning authority on behalf of Michael Kelleher for permission to amend approved house design granted under P21-275. The proposed amendment will consist of a) removal of stone façade

b) removal of rear single storey element

c) internal alterations together with all associated site development works and connections to public services 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 planning authority 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 BALLYBEG, ENNIS, CO. CLARE

Take notice that Pat Talty and Nandi O’Sullivan intends to apply to the Planning Authority for retention of extension to

the rear of their dwelling house and retention of a rear door to the original dwelling 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, New Road, Ennis, 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 prescribed fee of €20.00, within the period of 5 weeks, beginning on the date of receipt by the planning authority of the application.

CLARE COUNTY COUNCIL CLOONYCONRY MORE, BROADFORD, CO CLARE

Take notice that Padraig Hickey & Laura Shanahan intend to apply to the planning authority for permission to construct a new dwelling house and garage complete with a new entrance, sewage treatment system 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

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Prayer

THE MIRACLE PRAYER

Oh, most beautiful flower of Mount Carmel, fruitful vine, splendor of Heaven. Blessed Mother of the son of God; Immaculate Virgin, assist me in my necessity. Oh, Star of the sea, help me and show me you are my Mother. Oh Holy Mary, Mother of God, Queen of Heaven and earth! I humbly beseech from the bottom of my heart to succour me in my necessity. There are none who can withstand your power. Oh, Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee. (3x). Holy Mary, I place this prayer in your hands (3x). Amen Say this prayer for 3 consecutive days and then you must publish it and it will be granted to you.

Thanksgiving to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and Our Lady of Mount Carmel for having granted my petition. TOR

planning authority, Clare County Council, Aras Contae an Chlair, New Road, Ennis 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 planning authority of the application.

CLARE CO. COUNCIL DRIM, QUIN, CO. CLARE.

Take notice that Adrian Mc Donnell intends to apply for permission for development, the development consists of the construction of a slatted unit and associated site works at the above address. The planning application maybe 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 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 CO. COUNCIL KILKERIN, LABASHEEDA, CO. CLARE.

Take notice that Brian O Connor intends to apply for permission for development, the development consists of the construction of a slatted unit and associated site works at the above address. The planning application maybe 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 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 LEADMORE, KILRUSH, CO. CLARE

Take notice that Kevin Murphy & Gemma O’Connor are applying to Clare County Council for planning permission to construct a new dwelling house, access road, entrance, private garage and install a new wastewater treatment system along with all associated 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 Clare County Council during its public opening hours and 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.

The Clare Echo Quiz Clare musicians

1 West Clare native Noel Hill is famous for his association with which instrument? Fiddle Flute Concertina

2 The deceased fiddle player Paddy Canny was a founder member of which band?

Tulla Ceili Band

Kilfenora Ceili Band

Aslan

3

What is the name of Martin Hayes’ critically acclaimed 2014 album?

The Gloaming

The Gloating

The Gloomy

4 The Willie Clancy festival is held in Miltown Malbay every year, but which city did the man emigrate to when unable to make a living through music locally? London New York Helsinki

5 When was the Kilfenora Ceili Band founded?

1809 1909 1959

6

Sharon Shannon’s debut album was the best selling album of traditional Irish music ever released. What was it called?

Sharon Shannon

The Heart of Shannon

Squeezebox silliness

7 Maura O’Connell is one of Clare’s finest musical exports, but what shop did her mother’s family own in Ennis?

Fish shop

Butchers

Blacksmiths

8 Founding members of The Stunning, brothers Steve and Joe Wall are from which Clare town?

Ennis

Miltown Malbay

Ennistymon

9 Which of the following musicians is not mentioned in Christy Moore’s hit song Lisdoonvarna

Micho Russell

Jackson Browne

Sharon Shannon

10 Where is the Dan Furey weekend traditionally held? Labasheeda Ennis Doolin

Hats off for graduation day at LCETB

Michelle O’ Toole from Ennis who graduated with Level 6 in Childcare and Roisin Shannon from Inagh with a level 5 in Childcare celebrated after their graduation ceremony for fulltime programmes at Limerick and Clare ETB’s College of FET Ennis Campus where learners received QQI Major and Component Awards in disciplines including business, music, healthcare, graphic design, tourism and childcare

1.Concertina

2. Kilfenora Ceili Band

3. The Gloaming

4. London

5. 1909

6. Sharon Shannon

7. Fish shop

8. Ennistymon

9. haronS Shannon

l QUESTION 8: The founding members of The Stunning are from which Clare town? Photo by Richie Smyth

Photo by Brian Arthur

Y

THIS WEEKS PUZZLES Feb 2nd

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HOW TO PLAY

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ANSWERS

ACROSS

1 Thinly scattered (6)

4 Each one (6)

8 Precise (5)

9 Side by side (7)

10 News (7)

11 Sheep noise (5)

12 Remiss (9)

17 Reside (5)

19 Circus performer (7)

21 Draw back (7)

22 Hit (5)

23 Scarcity (6)

24 Card game for four players (6)

DOWN

1 Afternoon rest (6)

2 Forsake (7)

3 Lucifer (5)

5 Short moral story (7)

6 Wipe out (5)

7 Extensive landed property (6)

9 Attacker (9)

13 Chivalrous, dashing (7)

14 Size of popular newspaper (7)

15 Revered (6)

16 A sculptor’s work (6)

18 Minor actor in crowd scenes (5)

20 Happen again (5)

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