The Clare Echo 03/02/22

065 671 9021

clareecho.ie

FEB 3 2022

‘Everyone in Clare should be furious’

WELCOME TO THE BURREN

Anger at pyrite protest PÁRAIC McMAHON

paraic@clareecho.ie

A l Photo by

Joe Buckley

PUBLIC protest held in Ennis for pyrite-affected homeowners heard that “lives have been lost already”. Speaking at the protest, Jamie-Lee Donnelly said that the lives of Irish citizens are at stake. Linda

O’Callaghan from Cooraclare added, “every single person living in Clare should be livid with anger, this Government is discriminating against the people of Clare”. A committee member of the Clare Pyrite Action Group, Linda said the discrimination was “purely on the grounds of geography”. FULL STORY pg 8

l A Highland cow happy out in the January sunshine in Knockans, Carron in the heart of The Burren on Sunday afternoon

Photo by Burren Eye Photography

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2 NEWS

Index NEWS

THURSDAY, FEB 3 2022

STANDING IN SOLIDARITY WITH WOMEN

2-14

COLUMNISTS

15-16

ENTERTAINMENT

17

GREENER CLARE

19

COMMUNITY

20-21

RECRUITMENT

22-24

SPORT

25-29

36C Abbey Street, Ennis, County Clare Telephone: 065 671 9021

NEWSDESK

Email: editor@clareecho.ie paraic@clareecho.ie news@clareecho.ie

SALES

Email: niall@clareecho.ie or sales@clareecho.ie This publication supports the work of the Press Council of Ireland and Office of the Press Ombudsman, and our staff operate within the Press Council’s Code of Practice. You can obtain a copy of the Code, or contact the Press Council, at www.presscouncil.ie, Lo-call 1890 208 080 or email: info@presscouncil.ie

l POWERFUL: Over 50 people gathered together recently for a ceremony celebrating the first full moon of 2022. Organisers Rosie McMahon, Fiona Guigheen Anita Cullen and Micheál McMahon dedicated the event to Women's Aid and to the memory of Aisling Murphy. The group gathered at White strand Miltown Malbay at 4:30pm. They lit candles for Aisling and placed them at the centre of the ceremony. "We held a minute's silence for Aisling and held her in our hearts for the whole ceremony," said Rosie. There was Meditation by Anita, a Gong bath sound by Fiona and Yoga with Rosie followed by cacao with the help of Micheal. "We lit a fire, set intentions, and followed it up with a cold dip into the ocean," Rosie added. The group raised €500 and donated it to Clare Women's Network, who will pass the funds to Women’s Aid Ireland. The next full moon ceremony is planned for 13th February 2022.

Photo by Michael O'Brien, Clare Camera Club

NEWS

THURSDAY, FEB 3 2022

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4 NEWS

THURSDAY, FEB 3 2022

Cyclist feels lucky to be alive be after horror crash by RONAN JUDGE

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LARE cyclist Imogen Cotter is on the road to recovery after suffering serious injuries in a crash in Spain. The Ruan woman says she feels lucky to be alive after suffering a broken arm and leg when she was hit by a vehicle while out cycling last week. The 28-year-old underwent surgery and is currently recovering from her injuries. In a Twitter post this week, Cotter said she was "hit at high speed by a van driving on the wrong side of the road." "I feel incredibly lucky and also confused as to how I only walked away from this with a broken patella and fractured radius. Life is fragile and fleeting. Find the good in every day" she added. In the aftermath of the incident, Cotter said she felt "lucky to alive" "I’m just so grateful to still be here to write this. It could have been so much worse”, she added. Photos shared by Cotter on social media showed the extent of the injuries and the extensive damage caused to her bike. The incident occurred in Spain where the Ruan woman has recently relocated. The Girona based cyclist races professionally with the Belgian UCI team, Planter Pura, on the second tier of professional women's cycling. A talented runner and swimmer, Cotter won national running titles in cross country and track before joining Cycling Ireland's taken transfer program in 2017. After years of steady progress, 2021 marked the highpoint so far in Cotter's career when she won the

ACCIDENT: Imogen Cotter Photo from Instagram national senior road race title. The talented cyclist has also has ambitions of participating in the Tour de France and will be hoping to get back on the roads as soon as her recovery is complete.

Cliff walk under threat FEAR has been expressed over the future of the spectacular Cliffs of Moher coastal walk, writes Páraic McMahon. Currently managed by the Clare Local Development Company (CLDC) under the National Walks Scheme, the coastal walk appears to have hit a stumbling block with one year to run on this contract and local authority officials stating that the present arrangement was no longer feasible. Running along the top of the Cliffs from Doolin to Hags Head, the 13km trail has proven to be a massive hit with visitors to NorthWest Clare offering incredible views of the rocks and surrounding sea. In a joint motion to the West Clare Municipal District, Cllr Liam Grant (GP) and Cllr Joe Garrihy (FG) asked for the stakeholders involved to repair parts of the walk, particularly those from Doolin to the visitor centre. “Repairs and upgrades would greatly improve the safely of the world class trail. Clare County Council need to start taking some responsibility for the upkeep of the path,” the proposal stated. Acting senior executive officer in the West Clare MD, John O’Malley replied, “permissive access agreements are in place with the landowners for the maintenance and upkeep of the walk and the bound-

ary. Due to the iconic nature and ever increasing popularity of the walk, environmental/habitat protection needs, repairs and maintenance issues there are challenges in ensuring that the walk is kept up to standard which requires funding and personnel resourcing”. O’Malley referred to the Council’s commitment to improve 2km of the coastal walk. Lack of engagement between the Council and CLDC is evident, Cllr Grant believed. Landowners must be on board to ensure it remains an attractive walk, he said. “Anybody doing the walk from Doolin to Hags Head aren’t arriving on bus, they are generally staying for the day and that is what we want to encourage,” he added. Community consultation is already completed with 39 different landowners in agreement to let people walk on their lands from Doolin to Hags Head, Garrihy stressed. Cooperation of the landowners was acknowledged by Director of Service, Leonard Cleary. “Going forward, it isn’t feasible to continue with the existing model. Clare County Council offered to sit down with the CLDC with a view to leading out the walk, we would like to go out and bring our technical capacity to lead out with our expertise”. New collaboration is needed, he concluded.

Last orders at McHugh's by RONAN JUDGE

I

T'S almost time for last orders at a popular Ennis pub. The operators of McHugh's bar have announced that the business will close on March 6. The pub opened on Parnell Street just over six years ago. In a statement, the team behind McHugh's sad they are stepping back from the bar trade to focus efforts on their Kilmaley based brewery business, Western Herd. They say it has been an "absolute pleasure" serving the people of Clare and are looking forward to meeting customers again over the

next few weeks. The award winning Western Herd brewery was founded by siblings Maeve Sheridan and Michael Eustace in 2015. "After the last few weekends, it seems like we have weathered the worst of the pandemic. With things back to normal, now is the right time for us to step out from behind the bar. It's hard to believe that it has been over six years since we pulled our first pint but now we want to concentrate our efforts on the brewery," a statement posted on the pub's Instagram page read. McHugh's are urging anyone with gift vouchers to get

in touch before March 6. It continued, "March 6 will be our final day in McHugh's. For anyone with gift vouchers, please get in touch. Between now and then we will be bringing back one or 'trio' of your favourites so feel free to let us know if there is anything you want to see on the menu before we go. No promises but we'll do our best. If you want to have nachos and wings one last time, please call 087-3934545 for reservations. It has been an absolute pleasure serving you these past few years and we look forward to catching up with everyone during our final few weeks at McHugh's."

CLOSING TIME: McHugh's bar

NEWS 5

THURSDAY, FEB 3 2022

Last week to avail of

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6 NEWS

THURSDAY, FEB 3 2022

Supreme Court rule in favour of Ennis Traveller family appeal PÁRAIC MCMAHON

paraic@clareecho.ie

A

N ENNIS Traveller family have had their appeal against an eviction upheld by the Supreme Court. In what is viewed as a significant ruling, five Supreme Court justices ruled unanimously in favour of the McDonagh family from Ennis. The case focused on their unauthorised presence on a Clare Council-owned site, having not been provided with appropriate accommodation by the Council elsewhere. Clare County Council had secured an injunction from the High Court requiring Bernard and Helen McDonagh, and members of their family, to immediately vacate council-owned lands at Cahercallamore, Ennis, Co Clare. The mandatory injunction, granted in 2019, was to remain in place pending the outcome of the full hearing of the dispute. The injunction was upheld on appeal by the Court of Appeal in 2020.

Giving the court's decision, Mr Justice Gerard Hogan said the lower courts had erred in their decisions that the McDonaghs had not raised a fair case in the context of the injunction application. Mr. Justice Hogan set out that if an injunction allowing the eviction to occur was lifted, the McDonaghs would have nowhere else to go without necessarily trespassing on someone else’s lands. “This judgment is being delivered just over 100 years since the first Provisional Government for an independent Irish State was called into being. It is nonetheless salutary to reflect that one hundred years later a distinct group – the Irish Traveller community – still remains a vulnerable minority at the margins of Irish society. The members of that community have struggled for recognition of their own cultural identity and way of life,” Mr Justice Hogan stated. Central to the appeal was the Supreme Court’s examination of whether a local authority was obliged to consider the impact of eviction on persons such as the applicants and their prospects for obtaining lawful accommodation elsewhere, as well as the Council’s

CASE: Four Courts, Dublin own interests, powers and obligations both as landowner and as housing and planning authority. Monday’s ruling sets out that it is ultimately for a Council to convince the courts in any future cases that they have fulfilled their obligations, and for the Courts to assess the proportionality of the Council’s actions. For several years, the McDonagh family resided as tenants of the Council in a small Traveller-specific housing development. After the destruction of their home by fire they then lived in

private housing for several years, but had to leave rented accommodation when the landlord required possession for the purpose of refurbishment. In 2018, they subsequently moved to the Council owned vacant site that is the subject of this case. In its legal role as amicus curiae (‘friend of the court’) Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission (the Commission) argued that Clare County Council failed in its statutory obligations to properly and proportionately assess the rights of a Traveller family before

invoking planning laws to evict them from a site in the county. Sinéad Gibney, Chief Commissioner of the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission stated, “This ruling sets out that it is not enough for a Local Authority to evict Traveller families from public land without any thought of their accommodation needs and requirements. The Supreme Court is clear that the Local Authority is the housing body, and it has an obligation to offer suitable accommodation. "This obligation must be fulfilled rather than side-stepped. Councils across the country are failing to properly and appropriately address Traveller accommodation. People are being left to live in conditions which ultimately damage their health, their children’s health, impact their access to education, employment and their quality of life. This has to stop”. Clare County Council’s initial action against the McDonaghs arose out of related proceedings where the local authority sought to have the McDonagh’s vacate another site in Ennis, which they had previously resided at before it was destroyed by a fire in 2012.

NEWS 7

THURSDAY, FEB 3 2022

Aimee Foley speaks out about 'brutal' abuse

A

by RONAN JUDGE

CLARE woman who endured years of "brutal" abuse at the hands of her father hopes that by speaking out she can help others. Aimee Foley spoke bravely about the ordeal she was put through by Michael O'Donoghue who she has described as a "monster, a paedophile, an animal." Michael O'Donoghue (44), of Colmanstown, Ballinasloe, Co Galway, pleaded guilty to 31 counts of sexually assaulting Ms Foley, one count of raping her and one count of producing child pornography in various locations in Galway between April 2012 and April 2018. Aimee was aged between 12 and 17 at the time of the abuse. The court heard O'Donoghue plied his daughter with alcohol and drugs before abusing her. At the central criminal court in December 2021, O'Donoghue received a five year prison sentence. Speaking this week, Aimee said all she wanted was a father who would love and encourage her. "I never got that, I got the monster. I got the animal", Aimee told RTE's Clare Byrne live. Aimee recalled how she was mentally, physically and sexually abused by her father from an early age. "I was groomed that way. I was completely brainwashed". Aimee said her ordeal has left her with a "life sentence". "No matter when I learn how to cope with what I have to cope with, I will have to take that with me through life." She compared this to her father who received a five year sentence and will "be out in less than

'Worrying' increase in callouts to scenes of domestic violence by STUART HOLLY

ORDEAL: Aimee Foley speaking on Claire Byrne Live

three". "It's so hard to be on the other end of things, why did I bother. At the end of the day he's going to be out in the blink of an eye", she added. Aimee said that when she heard the length of the sentence handed down to he father, it felt like the weight of world had landed back on her shoulders. "It was just a completely re-traumatising event". Aimee described the abuse she suffered at the hands of her father as "brutal" and said she had always been afraid of him. She recalled how he introduced her to cannabis and alcohol at an early to age. Aimee said she is happy that the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) is considering appealing the leniency of the sentence. She said she is speaking out to help others who may be experiencing abuse and difficult situations.

STATISTICS have revlealed that Gardaí in Clare received some 837 reports of domestic violence in 2021, a dramatic increase in the number of reports made in the year prior to the pandemic - when the figure stood at 665. The figures show a 26% increase in domestic violence incidents notified to Gardaí in the past two years. During the pandemic it had been frequently re-

ported that organisations helping domestic abuse victims had seen a large jump in incidents of domestic violence. Aontú national secretary Sarah Beasley has called for more supports and funding for services that offer valuable emergency assistance to the victims of domestic violence and their families. Ms Beasley said: "each one of these incidents is horrible

APPEAL: Aontú national secretary Sarah Beasley

and regretful, imagine how upset and scared a victim feels, unsure if the violence will happen again, this fear has debilitating long-lasting effects. "Aontú are asking the government to commit to tackling domestic, sexual and gender-based violence in all its forms, and to supporting victims of these heinous crimes’’. "Aontú are calling for a greater allocation of budget 2022 to be assigned to organisations that help all victims of domestic violence; men, women and children. It is vital that supports go to frontline organisations that are best placed with expertise and knowledge on how to assist, comfort and care for these victims’’ concluded Ms Beasley.

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8 NEWS

THURSDAY, FEB 3 2022

A 'Humanitarian crisis' by PÁRAIC McMAHON CRUMBLING homes in Co Clare due to the presence of pyrite in concrete blocks has been labelled “a humanitarian crisis”. Sligo businessman, Seamus Maye the founder of the International Small Business Alliance addressed Saturday’s protest organised by the Clare Pyrite Action Group which saw approximately 200 hundred people march on the streets of Ennis. Holding the protest can make progress “calling out this scam,” he stated. “What we’re dealing with is a humanitarian crisis, it didn’t just happen, our problems with deleterious materials gone back a long way. It goes back 55 years to a corrupt toxic relationship with the construction sector and successive Governments and low standards or what I’d call no standards”.

Prior to a national pyrite and mica protest for 100 per cent redress on June 15th, Seamus claimed that the people were “hoodwinked” with an agreement already made with Government and some activists on a working group. He warned affected Clare homeowners, “you are not within an ass’ roar of getting 100 percent red ress”. The Culleenamore man said quick efforts were made to bail out the banks in 2008 but the same approach was not evident this time round, “if the banks are important then what about the people”. For over two and a half decades, Seamus has been pursuing a case against Irish based multinational building materials group CRH. He claimed that the company’s anti-competitive prices in Ireland led to the closure of his family’s quarry and concrete business in the 1990s. CRH has denied the allegations.

No pyrite detected in the Comp A DEPARTMENT of Education report has confirmed that no traces of pyrite have been detected in the walls of St Patrick’s Comprehensive in Shannon, writes Elaine Tubridy. Following a visit to the school last year, Deputy Cathal Crowe raised concerns with the Education Minister over the state of the building, resulting in the initial plans for a small refurbishment project being shelved in favour of a major

multi-million euro new facility. “I have been in regular contact with the principal of St Patrick’s Comprehensive Ms Mary Costello on the state of the current school buildings over the past number of months,” said Deputy Crowe. “I know that her staff and pupils are very excited about the prospect of a new stateof-the-art school building. “When I first called out to visit the school, I was ac-

tually able to put my hand through some of the cracks in the walls and was very alarmed by what I saw. “Over the past two years, I have visited many homes in the county that have pyrite issues in their structure and the first thing that strung to mind is that the walls of Shannon Comprehensive must also contain pyrite and so I made an urgent referral to Minister Norma Foley asking that appropriate inspections take place."

Pyrite Action Group lead call for justice

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ETWEEN 200 TO 300 Clare people protested along the streets of Ennis on Saturday as efforts to gain access to a defective blocks scheme intensifies for affected homeowners, writes Páraic McMahon. Growing anger and distrust towards the county’s politicians was evident as members of the Clare Pyrite Action Group spoke of the “ticking time bombs” their homes are turning into with the concrete blocks continuing to crumble. As they marched from Áras Contae an Chláir to the Daniel O’Connell monument in the heart of Ennis, homeowners shouted for “justice for Clare” and a redress scheme that would meet the needs of the property owners whose beloved homes face demolition. Joining the protesters were affected homeowners from Donegal, Sligo, Mayo

 REDRESS: Protesters of all ages took to the streets

Photo by Joe Buckley

and Limerick with the protest heard issues of pyrite have also emerged in Wexford and Tipperary. Vice Chairperson of the Clare Pyrite Action Group, Mary Hanley urged those in attendance to talk to their neighbours, relations and friends, “some of them are afraid, nervous and embarrassed, I was too,” she admitted of revealing the

presence of defective concrete blocks. Having welcomed Minister O’Brien to her Drumline home in August, Mary was furious that he failed to deliver on his promises. “The Minister was so nice and pleasant, he told we’d have a decision in a couple of weeks but it’s been a hell of a long time since the 27th of August”.

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THURSDAY, FEB 3 2022

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10 NEWS

THURSDAY, FEB 3 2022

'The ball is in the public's court' PÁRAIC MCMAHON

M

paraic@clareecho.ie

EMBERS of the public must make every effort to study the draft of the Clare County Development Plan 2023-2029 to understand potential changes to their area. From December 10th to March 28th the draft of the County Plan will be on public consultation. Upcoming consultation events will take place in Clarecastle (February 3rd), Kilmihil (February 8th), Tulla (February 9th) and New-

CONSULTATION: Kilmihil

market-on-Fergus (February 10th) from 4pm to 8pm. Acting senior planner, Helen Quinn explained that persons who attend will find out more through information displays and will get the opportunity to ask questions of Clare County Council’s planning department. She confirmed that a media campaign to promote the consultation events is underway to “raise public awareness and to promote and encourage public engagement in the process”. Ms Quinn stated, “Through the use of the Council’s social media platforms, the local press and radio media, as well as through the PPN, parishes offices (for Parish newsletters) and schools, every

effort is being made to reach as wide an audience across the County as possible. The media campaign will be on-going throughout the consultation period”. Speaking at the January meeting of the West Clare Municipal District, Cllr Joe Killeen (FF) noted that work had been ongoing on the plan for the past eighteen months and now was the chance for the public to have their say. He expressed “misgivings” with the projected population increases for the county under statutory plans which he felt missed the boat in recognising remote working’s potential for Clare. “We’ve put an awful lot of time into this, the planners have put an awful lot of time into it, now is the time for their public to have their input, the ball is in the public’s court now,” Cllr Joe Garrihy (FG) commented. This was echoed by Cllr Cillian Murphy, “there has been huge work done by elected members and staff, now is the time for the public to get out there and have a look at it”. Alerts should be issued to county councillors on the various submissions made in their respective areas, Cllr Ian Lynch (IND) suggested. In reference to previous discussions on planned Greenways for Clare, Cllr PJ Kelly (FF) remarked, “it is important to have the public’s involvement but unless the present policies are changed we won’t have any problems with greenways, it will be a greenway the entire way from Ennis to Kilrush”.

Futureproof Clare to hold discussion over Aughinish expansion plans by ELAINE TUBRIDY THE implications on people and the environment of the new application lodged by Rusal for an expansion of the Aughinish Alumina facility near Askeaton, County Limerick, will be the focus of public talk organised by Futureproof Clare, People Before Profit and Cappa Farmers Support Group. The Zoom webinar will take place next Monday the 7th of February, three days ahead of the deadline for submitting observations concerning the expansion of the bauxite processing facility. "While Aughinish Alumina, operating since the 80s in the area, is considered as a strategic development, given the importance of aluminium in technology applications and the industrial sectors, the effects of its operations on the health of inhabitants of the area and on the delicate Shannon ecosystem have been felt

for decades. "With the new application Aughinish Alumina intends to expand its operations, thus creating increasingly more 'red mud' and salt-cake, two main by-products of bauxite processing both of which are toxic to human health and the environment. Moreover, a borrow-pit extension is planned in order to facilitate further blasting of rock on-site to provide the material for expanding the residue-containing area, to begin in spring," said a spokesperson for the event. Details on how to submit observations project, and sign a petition will be provided, so that further consideration is given to thipotentially detrimental development. The link to the event will be shared by Futureproof Clare, People Before Profit and other relevant groups on social media closer to the date of the event.

THURSDAY, FEB 3 2022

NEWS

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12 NEWS

THURSDAY, FEB 3 2022

SHANNON NEWS in association with

Travolta touches down in Shannon PÁRAIC MCMAHON

H

paraic@clareecho.ie

OLLYWOOD actor John Travolta landed in Shannon Airport over the weekend for a “business trip”. A regular visitor to the five star Dromoland Castle in Newmarket-on-Fergus, the star of Pulp Fiction, Saturday Night Fever and Grease was back in the Banner County for a brief stay. Travolta flew into Shannon Airport on his own private jet on Friday. The sixty seven year old told his 3.7 million followers on Instagram that he had travelled from Florida to Co Clare

“for business” in his Falcon 900. His attempt at an Irish accent in the video showcasing the flight has raised some eyebrows. His role in 1995 film, Get Shorty won him a Golden Globe Award while he has twice been nominated for Academy Awards. Down through the years, he has been a frequent flyer to Shannon Airport with many subsequent stays at Dromoland Castle speaking highly of the staff and the locality. Prior to this week, John last stayed in Clare in 2019. On this occasion, Ennis hairdresser, Hassan Jiad received a booking from the five star hotel and the owner of Panache Hair Design was unaware whose hair he was cutting, “He looked familiar, but I couldn’t put it together.

PRIVATE JET: John Travolta

Finally, it clicked. Only one or two nights beforehand I was watching one of his movies”.

Their encounter saw Hassan receive a subsequent booking to cut John’s hair in New York City.

New traffic lights would be ‘premature’ INSTALLATION of traffic lights at the junction of Bóthrar Droim and Bóthar na Rinne would be “premature” until a mobility plan for Shannon town was completed, a senior engineer has stated,” writes Páraic McMahon. A renewed appeal for safety improvements at the junction were voiced by Cllr Gerry Flynn (IND) at the January meeting of the Shannon Municipal District. He asked that traffic lights be installed at the junction approaching the shopping centre and for existing lights to be altered “into the design of the junction”. An upgrade of the existing pedestrian crossing at the junction has recently been completed, Mellett noted. “It is considered any change would be premature pending the outcome of a more detailed integrated study”. Cllr Flynn maintained the centre would become more vibrant and accessible if the requested measures were completed.

‘Huge degree of illegal activity’ at Drumgeely Pumphouse by PÁRAIC McMAHON ANTI-SOCIAL behaviour and illegal dumping needs to be clamped down on in Drumgeely, Shannon representatives have stated. Drumgeely’s pump-house is proving to be a magnet for both illegal dumping and anti-social behaviour according to local councillors who issued a request for the area to be tidied in order to deter this conduct. In a proposal before Tuesday’s meeting of the Shannon Municipal District, Cllr Gerry Flynn (IND) urged Clare County Council to clean the area surrounding the pump house “located adjacent to the river and Drumgeely housing and also to put in fencing around the pump house to

deter further illegal dumping of waste and anti-social activity”. Pedestrians could potentially be re-routed from the site through the restoration of the local footpath linking onto the river walk, he suggested. Crews from the Shannon MD completed a tidy up of the location in December and again during the first week of January, senior executive engineer Tom Mellett advised. “The location is at the bottom of Drumgeely Hill adjacent to a storm water pumping station, the embankment walk and Lynch Park. Fencing off the area surrounding the building will not of itself reduce the instances of large-scale

dumping but may deter anti-social gatherings. Fencing has not been allowed for in our budget for 2022 and so I will seek funding opportunities to complete”. Mellett confirmed that a tender is to be prepared to upgrade the embankment walk from the Airport access on Drumgeely Hill to the Lynch Park side. “In support of this project, we will arrange for better access along the established path linking to the Drumgeely Hill road,” he added. Efforts of the Shannon MD crew was acknowledged by Cllr Flynn who flagged that some vegetation was yet to be moved. “There is a huge degree of illegal activity and anti-social behaviour going on around the pumphouse,” he commented.

ANTI SOCIAL: Drumgeely pumphouse Photo by Joe Buckley

13

THURSDAY, FEB 3 2022

in association with

Book Club Festival line up revealed ELAINE TUBRIDY

A

news@clareecho.ie

FTER what has been a difficult couple of years for festival organisers up and down the country, the much loved Ennis Book Club Festival is about to return with a jam packed programme of live events. 2022 Ennis Book Club Festival Artistic Director Dani Gill, commented: “It’s great to be returning to live events where we can gather and celebrate books as a community. Ennis Book Club Festival is more than a book festival, it is about being present in the vibrant town of Ennis, enjoying the lively atmosphere of the town and experiencing interactions with writers against that backdrop.” Running from Friday, March 4 to Sunday, March 6, the festival promises a “vibrant programme of

live events and activities for book lovers of all ages”. The festival kicks off with an event based on Look! It’s A Woman Writer! Irish Literary Feminisms by Éilís Ni Dhuibhne. Also on Friday, Local author Joe Queally chats about his book - Echoes from a Civil War, Jan Carson will be in Conversation with Chandrika Narayanan-Mohan and Frank Golden will launch his latest collection, If you Tolerate This. Michael Harding will discuss his most recent title A Cloud Where the Birds Rise. Saturday’s programme includes talks with Paul Perry and Audrey Magee, Elaine Feeney, Annie MacManus, Edel Coffey, Donna Freitas, John Banville, Kevin Power and Claire Keegan. The hugely popular Sunday Symposium opens the final day of the Festival. On Sunday afternoon Ennis Book Club Festival moves to the goat shed on St. Tola Cheese Farm, Ennistymon for a unique

FOODIES: St Tola’s Cheese Farm

event. Join Ballymaloe co-founder and author Rory O’Connell as he talks about his beautifully illustrated and personal book: The Joy of Food. This is an intimate event for foodies and book lovers to enjoy a chat and some demos with Rory and Kai Restaurant owner, Jess Murphy.

Clonroadmore residents struggling to leave homes by PÁRAIC McMAHON RESIDENTS in Clonroadmore are having difficulty exiting their homes due to the planters and bollards installed for a segregated cycleway. Since their installation in August 2019, the planters and bollards in front of St Flannan’s College leading to the Kilrush Rd from Clonroadmore have been lauded by cyclists but residents stated that they brought chaos to the area. An adaptation of the planters and bollards was sought by Cllr Johnny Flynn “to ensure that drivers exiting estates and private houses can do so without crossing the centre line onto oncoming traffic”. Staff within Clare County Council’s road design office have said that the junctions all comply with the design manual for urban roads and streets. “On the tighter junction radius the driver has to approach the junction square to the main road and then rotate to the left. “If the driver proceeds to cut the corner they will either mount the kerb (hit the bollard) or have to cross the centre line to turn left. “The purpose of the tight-

er radius is to reduce speed of vehicles,” senior executive engineer with the Ennis Municipal District, Eamon O’Dea explained. Width of the road is very narrow, Cllr Flynn commented. “A number of residents are having difficulty getting in and out of their driveways or to turn left out of town, they’re having to go out across the line,” he added. Emails forwarded to local authority staff have not been replied to, Flynn highlighted.

He told a meeting of the Ennis MD that the residents of two homes cannot safely exit their property. Engineers should meet with Cllr Flynn “to see if there is room to manoeuvre,” Cllr Paul Murphy (FG) believed. “It is important to acknowledge the success of the cycle path, the safety it has brought for cyclists has been brilliant, there’s kids cycling to school on a daily basis,” he said. The proposal was seconded by Cllr Ann Norton (IND).

CHAOS: Traffic bollards outside St Flannan’s College

As always, there are lots of other terrific events taking place across the Festival weekend including the beloved Books n ‘ Buns event on Saturday morning; Beyond Borders Book Club, a celebration of great literature from countries beyond Ireland and a Poetry Book Club Session.

In advance of National Gardening Day, Ennis Book Club Festival ventures to Kiltumper on April 9th for an intimate tour and talk with authors Niall Williams and Christine Breen in their beloved garden. Ennis Book Club Festival, in association with Clare Library also features an extensive programme for younger readers , including the chance to participate in Fighting Words, a creative writing workshop for Secondary Schools. Other events in the Young Readers’ programme includes Writing for Wellbeing with E.R. Murray; Write Where you Come From with Tracey Fahey and an audience with author and lecturer Donna Freitas.

Most events on sale now on www.ennisbookclubfestival.com with remaining events on sale from Friday February 4th. Please note that some events are limited capacity, early booking advised. See www.ennisbookclubfestival. com for full details on all events.

14 NEWS

BRAVE JUNE RAISES €56,000

THURSDAY, FEB 3 2022

Banner County to be beamed into 155 million North American homes

U

by ELAINE TUBRIDY

BRR-ILLIANT: Jackie Bonfield, CEO, Mid West Simon Community accepting a cheque for €55,782 from June Curtin, Snámhaí Sásta, from the proceeds of her 63 Dips in December at Spanish Point Beach

S TV travel show ‘Ireland with Michael’ is set to showcase Clare and Limerick as holiday destinations to audiences of 155 million people across the USA and Canada this month. Emmy nominated Irish singer-producer Michael Londra is originally from Wexford town and is now a resident of the US. Michael hosts the travel show which airs across the PBS network in the US and Canada. In each episode, he takes viewers on an intriguing journey to the popular and some of the lesser-known Irish destinations to learn about Irish history, meet local artisans, experience small-town pubs and food, and enjoy unique musical and cultural experiences. He combines glorious video footage of Ireland’s storied landscapes, destinations, exciting cultural experiences, and performances from Irish stars. In the Clare based episode, the crew first stop at the Cliffs of Moher. More than a little terrified by the heights Michael shares the story of the cliffs and how to view them. He recalls his college days in Limerick having many trips to the coast of Clare for traditional music and takes a tour of those pubs along the Wild Atlantic Way. The gateway to that coast is the city of Limerick where he meets traditional fusion band ‘One for the Foxes’ at Saint Johns Cas-

tle on the banks of the Shannon. Viewers will enjoy a song from the band who recently won album of the year in multiple traditional music award shows. Michael then heads out to the Neolithic Poulnabrone tomb in the heart of the Banner county and on to see the celtic crosses of Kilfenora with a tour around the cathedral and stories of those mystic crosses with a performance by Cláirsí Neamhaí or heavenly harps. The Kilfenora centre houses the story of the Burren and the parlour hosts its music with performances by traditional dancing kids. The show closes with a showcase from the legendary Kilfenora Ceili Band and Michael gets to visit during soundcheck for an interview and private performance. Speaking of the new series release Michael says, “We are delighted to release Season 2 of ‘Ireland with Michael’, the show has been such a huge hit in Season 1 with a viewership of 75% of all U.S. households. "It is an honour to highlight our greatest asset. Be they singers, dancers, poets, artisans or storytellers, our creators share their Ireland, in every episode of the show. I'm so proud of the country and the people in it, it is a joy to be able to share that around the world. The ‘Ireland with Michael’ series is aired across PBS stations and can also be viewed internationally online via www.irelandwithmichael.com

Increased toll fees for motorists

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086 0565373 087 369 8315 www.claresuicidebereavementsupport.com

MOTORISTS in Clare are adjusting to increased toll fees at the Limerick Tunnel, writes Páraic McMahon. Since January 1st, higher toll charges for Clare drivers using the Limerick Tunnel or heading to Dublin have been in force, rising from €1.90 to €2.00, a 50c weekly increase for motorists that travel via the tunnel five days a week. Transport Infrastructure Ireland who are responsible for setting state toll prices said the spike was driven by inflation. “The increase in inflation over the

nine-year period from August 2012 to August 2021 was 4.3pc, of which 2.9pc related to inflation between August 2020 and August 2021”. Accounts filed in August for DirectRoute Ltd, the private consortium operating the toll at the Limerick tunnel, showed that Traffic Guarantee payments from Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) to the consortium soared by 148% to €9.63m in 2020 up from €3.88m in 2019. Toll income declined by 29% from €16.76 million

to €11.96 million due to the Covid-19 lockdown impact on traffic volumes. The jump in Traffic Guarantee payments resulted in overall revenues for DirectRoute Ltd increasing marginally from €22.25 million to €22.55 million last year in spite of the pandemic impact on motorway traffic volumes. Pre-tax losses of €10m were recorded, however, this is largely due to the large non-cash depreciation cost of €13.4 million incurred last year and finance payments of €18 million.

THURSDAY, FEB 3 2022

Neylon Our country was Eoin An inside look at Clare’s never neutral political spectrum

I

N ANY game of brinkmanship, he who blinks first, oft loses. And so, it came to pass in the tale of the Russian Navy and the fishmen of Cork, Kerry and further afield. News that the Russians were to relent and move their live fire war games outside of the Irish Economic Exclusive Zone (EEZ) was welcomed far and wide. The area in which they were due to take place, some 190 miles south-west of Loop Head, is both an area important to many species of marine life, but also houses many trans-Atlantic telecommunication cables on the seabed, just before the continental shelf plunges them to much greater depths. Yet, despite the Russians moving further away from Irish territory, the legacy of this episode is far from over. Questions about of defence forces, our geopolitical outlook and our ‘neutrality’ have bubbled to the surface again from the depths of public discourse. But with it have come many of the old

misconceptions and myths that prevail to this day. Firstly, Ireland is not now, nor was it even a neutral country. Neither have we a constitutional obligation to be a neutral country. The only mention of our military non-alignment came about as a result of the Nice Treaty where a specific article of the treaty was inserted as a result of the first referendum on Nice whereby it is clear stated now in Article 29.4, subsection 9 that “The state shall not adopt a decision taken by the European Council to establish a common defence pursuant to Article 42 of the Treaty on European Union where that common defence would include the State.” This insertion was in direct response to baseless Euro-sceptic claims that the Nice Treaty would see Irish citizens conscripted into an EU Army. Two decades after the ratification of the Nice Treaty and no such thing exists. Ireland never has been neutral, not since our foundation as a state. Even in World War Two, while officially

non-combatant, Ireland effectively helped the Allies with intelligence, weather reports, communications, refuelling of US military planes at Shannon and allowing Allie servicemen transit through Irish territory back to the UK, whereas Luftwaffe pilots who crashed on Irish soil were interred until ‘The Emergency’ had concluded. Even post WW2, Ireland aided the Western powers throughout the Cold War from 1955 on via a link established by Liam Cosgrave with an official in the Irish embassy in London. This saw the State pass on information and even check planes stopping over at Shannon from Warsaw Pact countries and Cuba for ‘warlike materials. Even Ireland’s accession to the EEC (EU) proves that we are not now or ever have been neutral. What we have been is militarily unaligned, a position which has stood to us in conflicts around the world where our defence forces have distinguished themselves time and again as peacekeepers.

The furore about Shannon airport and US military rears its head time and again by the same people who refuse to accept several realities. Firstly, being that as members of the United Nations, we are obliged under the charter to allow for passage of aircraft and personnel transitioning on UN mandated missions. As much as people may complain the Gulf War initially saw no involvement of Shannon until the activities in the Middle East came under UN mandate. If the Irish Government were to bar any country’s personnel taking part, we would be breaking international law and our UN obligations. Furthermore, over 70 countries’ military aircraft have used Shannon for refuelling over the past decade. To decide that one country alone is not welcome is and of itself not a neutral act. But what does neutrality currently serve? When Ireland’s health service came under cyber attack last year at the height of the

NEWS 15

pandemic, it was widely reported the chief suspects were Spider Wizard, a cyber gang based in St. Petersburg were responsible. This is a familiar pattern where cyber criminals are not only left unhindered, but sometimes actively encouraged in certain countries if their targets remain European and North American based. This is where a lot of conflict will arise from into the future. Not by, as is happening in Europe right now, amassing troops along a border, but by actively undermining a country and its infrastructure over a server. In these situations, no one who would seek to do us harm cares if we’re “neutral”, nonaligned, or relocated to the Moon even. Whereas I would oppose us going as far as joining NATO, it is most definitely high time we dropped the false neutrality narrative. It doesn’t serve us, or anyone else, any good. We should face into 21st century problems in unison with those who share our values in the world.

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16 NEWS

THURSDAY, JAN 13 2022

CHOCOLATE STRAWBERRY DELICE Kearney Cooks

S

O VALENTINE’S Day is slowly creeping up on us, and nothing says Valentine’s Day like chocolate. So this week I’m offering up a recipe that’s loaded on chocolate with a little fruit layer on top (one of your five a day, very important). Anyways I won’t give any more of an intro as there’s a few steps in this recipe, but don’t let this daunt you as this recipe is very simple as long as you stick to the steps. YOU WILL NEED • 300g of your favourite chocolate (dark or milk work best) • 2 packs of Oreos • 50g butter • 300ml of cream for boiling • 300ml of cream for whipping • 50g sugar • 300g strawberries • 2 × 12g packs of gelatine powder • A 10 inch cake tin Step One Crumb the two packs of

Oreos and combine with 50g of melted butter. Spread evenly into the bottom of the cake tin to form a base and refrigerate for an hour. Step Two Boil the cream and pour over your chocolate, whisking constantly until it forms a smooth chocolate ganache. Pour a 12g sachet of gelatine into a cup of 50ml of hot water and let it dissolve. Whisk it through the ganache. Allow to cool to 30 degrees or until it feels cold but is still liquid. Fold it through 300ml of whipped cream. When the entire mixture is combined, pour it over the biscuit base, smooth it until it is level and leave it to set in the fridge for two hours. Step Three Cut the leaves off of your strawberries and put into a pot with the sugar and 20 ml of water and boil them for 10 minutes. While they are boiling, combine the other 12g sachet of gelatine powder with 50 ml of hot water until the gelatine is disolved. Mix the gelatine in with the strawberry and sugar

mix, and blend everything together, and then strain into a bowl. Allow this mix to cool but not set. When it’s cool but still liquid, pour it over the chocolate ganache cake and put it back into the fridge to set for at least two hours, but overnight is best. Step Four Take out of the fridge, cut yourself and your significant other a slice, serve with cream, stick on some Barry White and enjoy each other’s company. Oooooohhhh yeeaahhhhh. This recipe requires a bit of time, a bit of love and a lot

of patience but it is so worth it. This dessert is richer than an oil baron, and more decadent than a formula one after party, but my god is it sexy. As usual if you have any questions about this recipe or others please feel free to message me on Instagram ( @stevekearney@hotmail. com). Also keep an eye to The Clare Echo Facebook page or my Instagram page for the instructional video that goes with this recipe.

Enjoy

Steve K

Arts & Entertainment 17

THURSDAY, FEB 3 2022

Smother star enlists Bernard to overcome fear of water PÁRAIC MCMAHON

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paraic@clareecho.ie

NE of the stars of RTÉ drama Smother has revealed that an Ennis instructor helped him to overcome his fear of the water. While filming the second season of the popular RTÉ show in North-West Clare, James O’Donoghue who plays Calum had to learn how to swim two months before shooting began. For this, the services of Bernard Cahill from Cahill Aquatics were enlisted. A past pupil of Rice College, Bernard has competed internationally for Ireland in lifesaving championships, his last victories are the men's oceanman during the European Championships 2019 and the men's surf race during the European Championships 2019. He competes in 200m super lifesaver, board race, oceanman, ski race, surf race, 4x50m

medley relay, board rescue and ocean relay. Bernard told The Clare Echo of the experience working with the promising Irish actor, “I had a great time with James, he’s a great fella and we made some good progress together” Overcoming his fear of swimming was aided by Bernard and arose due to a planned scene with show newcomer Finn where James had his head shoved underwater. “It’s so funny. I’ve lived in many places known for aquatics, my school is so close to Dun Laoghaire and I live here in Wicklow where swimming is a big thing, but I just did not know how to swim whatsoever. Going into the season I had zero ability, but I worked with this brilliant guy, Bernard Cahill. There was a lot of buildup to that sequence. I started learning how to swim about two months out,” James said. He added, “I have a really bad fear of the water, I was terrified of putting my head underwater. I had to go on a journey just for that sequence, to be able to do it. We knew

we didn’t want to have a stunt double. It’s not something particularly spunky but it is a mental thing I had to overcome. Bernard was brilliant and everything turned out really well”. Learning to swim in Co Clare was another perk of working on the show, the Leaving Certificate student told The Clare Echo. “That’s the great thing about acting sometimes, you learn some life lessons through it, acting can take you anywhere, I was being drowned in the ocean so you learn skills naturally. “I came out of filming, it was the start of summer by the time we finished filming and we went straight into summer and I was able to go swimming with my friends which is something I had never been able to do before which sounds very sad, I was able to go out, go to the beach and I wouldn’t have been able to do that only for Smother”.  I’VE GOT YOUR BACK: Smother actor James O’Donoghue with Bernard Cahill

Selections begin for Miss Clare THE search is now underway to find Miss Clare 2022, writes Páraic McMahon. Shannon’s Rebecca O’Neill (inset) was the last winner of Miss Clare, taking the crown in 2020 ensuring the Airport town had back to back successes following in the footsteps of Emma Austin’s 2019 win. Previous Miss Clare winners include, Esther Woods, Hazel McMahon, Lauren Guilfoyle and Elaine Galvin. Plans are in motion for the 75th Jubilee of the Miss Ireland competition with a Clare winner to be selected before that event in the summer. Selections will run all

over the country to find contestants from each county with beauty, poise and personality to take part in the Miss Ireland 2022 competition. The winner from each county will represent their county at the Diamond Jubilee Miss Ireland show. The winner of each of the county crowns and sashes will also represent their county and title throughout the year at various events, awards and appearances. Full details on how to enter Miss Ire-

land 2022 are available on www.miss-ireland.ie. The finalists of Miss Ireland this year will be put through their paces in a challenging competitive process testing their skills in debating, public speaking, talent, sports, modelling, social media and each finalist will be tasked with raising much-needed awareness and funds for their chosen charities. Established in 1947, Miss Ireland has proven to be the launch pad for many contestants in starting out their own careers. This year’s Miss Ireland winner will receive a lucrative agency contract and a host of prizes including jewellery, gowns, professional photo shoots, beauty and hair products and then jet off to represent her country at the Miss World Festival which is televised in over 100 countries around the world.

Young Offenders icon to launch new teen disco in Lisdoonvarna

by ELAINE TUBRIDY IRISH Actor Shane Casey better known as Billy Murphy from the hit series Young Offenders is to launch the Hydro hotel’s first teen disco in Lisdoonvarna on February 12. The troubled Young Offenders character became a cult hero after he serenaded a hijacked bus in the series. Marcus White, Managing Director of the Hydro hotel said: “We are

delighted that Shane was available for this launch - we had to postpone this event in March, two years ago, when the pandemic hit – so we are delighted it’s back.” Mr White said that star will meet and greet teens and pose for photos and said that that the event will be the first of many teen discos planned for this year, Adding that “it will be professionally

supervised, with strictly no alcohol or illegal substances and will be for secondary students only.” On the decks will be Killian Murphy, a club DJ with residencies in Santa Ponsa, Spain who will be playing alongside DJ Adam and DJ ANIL. Tickets are available from Eventbrite.ie. There will be a limited number of tickets available at the door. For more infofollow @hydroteendisco on social media.

Words matter A

18 FEATURES

THURSDAY, FEB 3 2022

Donna celebrated for ‘inspirational’ teaching

RONAN SCULLY

Thought for the week

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AST year I was involved in helping to organise a very successful charity choral event that began with the beautiful voices of the Ignite Gospel Choir. While listening to the many beautiful voices of the Ignite choir blending together and noticing the different makeup of the people involved in it, people from all walks of life, from all shapes, sizes and colour, from all sides of the community, from various political parties and none, young and old and yet when they all sang together it reminded me of the glory of unity and what unity can do when done right and it sounded amazing. These people had put all their differences aside to bring to those present something special and it showed to me what unity was all about. It made think recently after all that has happened in the last two years or so of a pandemic, that I again thought of that sound of unity of that night when a large group of people came together under the name of The Ignite Gospel Choir in a common goal and left their differences aside and sang their hearts out to make life better for people and children in dire need in our world and helped to truly make a difference. I am just wondering if all the political parties and the many organisations put their differences aside for a few years to work in real unity to truly care about the poor, the needy, the sick, the homeless, the abused, the lost, the frontline workers, those affected physically, mentally and spiritually by the pandemic, the abandoned, the downtrodden, the lonely, the unemployed, the mentally unwell and the suicidal? I wonder what sort of a country we would have if we did that, if we all helped one another instead of talking, gossiping, slandering or being unkind to one another. Gossiping and slandering are something so many of us do on a daily basis. Gossip and slander seems harmless on the surface, but it can cause a lot of negative things in people’s lives. Gossiping and slandering are certainly not giving love, it’s the exact opposite. I have found at times on my journey through life that the saying, “Sticks and stones may break my bones but names will never hurt me,” could not be further from the truth. Each one of us has at one time or the other been on the receiving end of hurtful and unkind words. Make no mistake about it, those

painful unkind words not only hurt, they also change us forever. While broken bones can heal in time, words filled with rage, bullying, belittling and unkindness never heal. Even with therapy, time and knowledge, hurtful and unkind words remain for a life-time. As the writer Frank Outlaw used to say, “Watch your thoughts; they become words. Watch your words; they become actions. Watch your actions, they become habits. Watch your habits, they become character. Watch your character; it becomes your destiny.” We should always try as much as possible to build people up rather than trying to tear them down.

“Who Am I”?

This is a great thought I heard from Nana Scully called “Who Am I”, “I am more deadly than the screaming shell of the cannon. I win without killing. I tear down homes, break hearts, and wreck lives. I travel on the wings of the wind. No innocence is strong enough to intimidate me, no purity pure enough to daunt me. I have no regard for truth, no respect for justice, no mercy for the defenceless. My victims are as numerous as the sands of the sea and often as innocent. I never forget and seldom forgive. My name is Gossip and Slander.”

Keep Custody of your Tongue

If those who speak an unkind word in gossip against another could feel for themselves the pain, the anger, the humiliation and hopelessness that resulted, perhaps gossip would then begin to subside. But that is the nature of gossip; it is entered into in exactly the kind of way that offers the perpetrator a good measure of isolation and protection from having to feel as I know the real and all too often devastating outcome of their actions. Just look at the results recently in the lives of some people who were bullied and gossiped about. In the Benedictine monastic tradition, there is a spiritual practice called keeping custody of your tongue. The idea is to consciously pay attention to what you say at all times. It’s okay to speak your mind and even to express anger, but you must do so with awareness that harsh words can be very harmful. Keeping custody of your tongue is not an easy practice. Be patient with yourself. The only way to break a habit of careless and harmful words is to

work on it day by day with honest intention. Just consider the consequences of not paying attention to what you say! As the words of Leo Buscaglia says, “Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around.”

Thought for the week

As your thought for the week, remember that sometimes the strongest people are the ones who love beyond all faults, cry behind closed doors and fight battles that nobody knows about and yet they are gossiped about or are the receivers of some of our harshest, slanderous and unkind words! A prayer I like to say to give me strength at times goes as follows, “Lord, Praise You for godly friends who hold us accountable. Thank You for illuminating the deceitful power of gossip, that we all entertain within earshot daily. Forgive us for listening to it instead of walking away. We confess that often we don’t speak up out of fear of rejection, and pray that you help us to have the courage to honour others with kind words when their character is being publicly slain. Bless and heal those who have been mangled by gossip, and others enslaved by it’s addictive habit. Heal our insecurities, and help us learn to turn to you for affirmation. Make us busy serving others in love to give You glory, instead of sitting in circles of babble and participating in chatter-filled phone calls. Empower us with Your Holy Spirit to heed Your warnings, and steer our conversations with Your love. Grant that I may never fall into the sin of slander and gossip. Help me to think charitably about my neighbour and to never spread lies or rumours about them. May I always remember that my neighbour is made in Your image and is deeply loved by You, the same as me. May I treat them as I would treat You. If there is a situation in which my friends or coworkers are gossiping, give me the courage to change the subject, bring up the person’s good points, or walk away entirely. Help me to hold my tongue when the occasion warrants, knowing that my every word is recorded and I will be judged according to Your justice. For the times I have failed in this charity, forgive me Lord, and grant that I may not fall into that sin again by Your grace. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.” In finishing this thought, remember to always take custody of your tongue in your dealings with others and remember the words of Mother Teresa when she said, “Kind words can be short and easy to speak, but their echoes are truly endless.”

TULLA Secondary School teacher has received national recognition for her holistic approach to the classroom, writes Elaine Tubridy. Donna Fitzgerald is one of four national winners of a Teachers Inspire Award. Organised and run by Dublin City University, Teachers Inspire is an initiative that seeks to celebrate teachers and to recognise the transformative role they play in our communities. On behalf of a number of students, Teachers Inspire was told Donna has continuously provided a top class academic

experience, helping students achieve consistently high marks in Geography. She started the school mental health awareness program which resulted in a ‘Wellness Week’ in the school as well as a huge effort to support Cycle Against Suicide which stopped in Tulla. Donna said she was “overwhelmed” to hear she had been nominated. She said a teacher “can be the only person in a day that smiles at that child. We can be the only person in the day that asks them how they’re doing.” Being selected for a Teachers Inspire has also brought positivity throughout the school community, she added.

TOP CLASS: Donna Fitzgerald

Annual Toonagh Walk raises €7,000

DONATIONS: Rosemary Foudy, Martina O’Donoghue, Denise Whelan and Miriam Strand

OVER €7,000 has been raised for three worthwhile charities following the Annual Toonagh Charity Walk, writes Páraic McMahon. Huntington’s Disease Association of Ireland (HDAI), Irish Motor Neurone Disease Association and the Parkinsons Association of Ireland will split the funds of €7,505 among them following the generous donations received for the popular annual Toonagh Charity Walk. Organised by Denise Whelan, the fundraiser welcomed donations from locals

and expats with walkers enjoying the fresh January air while clocking up the steps. The Irish Motor Neurone Disease Association became a new addition to the fundraiser last year. Donations will be accepted until February 16th. The target of €5000 has already been smashed by the organisers. A framed photograph of Ashling Murphy surrounded by lit candles was at the starting point of the walk where walkers stood in silence for a short while in contemplation and sorrow.

FEATURES 19

THURSDAY, FEB 3 2022

GREEN CLARE

Break up with plastic this Valentine’s Day STUART HOLLY

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editor@clareecho.ie

HIS February, Clean Coasts are calling for people all over Clare to end their relationship with single-use plastic

items. “Recent statistics show that Ireland is the number one plastic waste producer in the European Union, with 54kg of plastic waste per person produced each year, as well as being the country with the fourth-lowest recycling rate. Ireland has some of the most diverse and spectacular coastlines in the world. However, our excessive use of plastic is polluting our oceans and it is having impacts on our waterways and threatening our marine wildlife and people’s health,” said a spokesperson for the campaign. According to Ocean Conservancy’s Coastal Clean-up Report 2021, the most common items found on the Irish Coast were plastic food wrappers, cigarette butts and plastic beverage bottles. In 2021, the EU ban on certain single-use plastic items was transposed into their national law by member states, including Ireland, and certain items were banned from the Irish market, such as

 Single use plastic

cotton bud sticks, plastic cutlery, plates, stirrers, straws, and balloon sticks. The #BreakUpWithPlastic initiative aims to raise awareness of the impact of plastic pollution on the planet and marine environment by asking people to stop opting for single-use plastic. Speaking about the campaign, Sinead McCoy, Clean Coasts said: “We once again are asking people to stop and think how they are using plastic and to educate themselves about plastic and its impact. If we continue with the use of plastic as a single use item, we will continue to create immense waste issues and high demands on our natural environment. We need now more than ever before to discover ways to move away from the overly convenient individually packaged lifestyle we have adopted and find a way to break up with single use plastic.” Sinead continued, “We realise it can be difficult to make the break from single use, so for anybody starting the journey towards new, reusable, long-lasting loves, we have tips and hints on our website to get you started.” Throughout the month of February, to celebrate Valentine’s Day, Clean Coasts, alongside the Think Before You Flush campaign, will be sharing tips and resources to help people to end their toxic relationship with single-use plastic and

find themselves a better match. Think Before You Flush is a public awareness campaign tackling the issue of sanitary waste projects being disposed of incorrectly. Every day thousands of wet wipes, cotton buds, sanitary products and other unsuitable items are flushed down toilets instead of being put in the bin, causing blockages and plastic pollution in rivers, on beaches and in the ocean. Think Before You Flush is operated by Clean Coasts and run in partnership with Irish Water.

Clean Coasts and Think Before You Flush will be sharing on social media and their website some downloadable resources, easy daily swaps, blog posts and more. In addition, Clean Coasts and the Think Before You Flush campaign will be hosting a social media live session on 14th February to discuss the impact of plastic on the marine environment, how to reduce plastic within our communities and actions that can be taken to protect our ocean from home. Active participation of just 3.5%

of the Irish population can bring about change – so imagine what could be achieved with more. Breaking up with plastic may seem daunting at first, but we’re here to help. Check out how other people have already made the switch on social media @CleanCoasts and try out these top tips for Valentine’s Day below. All positive actions make a difference! Join the campaign on social media @CleanCoasts and at www. cleancoasts.org.

20 COMMUNITY

THURSDAY, FEB 3 2022

Community TULLA PIPE BAND AGM THE 2022 AGM of Tulla Pipe Band was held on Friday, 28th January last. This was the band’s first meeting after a two year break due to the Covid 19 pandemic. The officers elected for 2022 were as follows: Patron: Fr. Martin O’Brien. President: Michael John Quigney, Vice President: Tom Byrnes, Chairman: Diarmuid Murphy, Vice Chairman: Fintan Leamy, Secretary: Deirdre O’Gorman, Assistant Secretary: Alison Donovan, Treasurer: Gerry O’Loughlin, Assistant Treasurer: James McNamara, Engagements Secretary: Oliver Quigney, Assistant Engagements Secretary: Patrick Murphy, PRO: James McNamara, Assistant PRO: Noel Leamy, Pipe Major: Fintan Leamy, Assistant Pipe

CONTACT

NEWSDESK 065 671 9021 news@clareecho.ie

ENNIS Major: Tom Foy, Drum Major: Jim Hogan, Drum Sergeant: Noel Leamy, Drum Corporal: Darragh Leamy, Child Protection Officer: Deirdre O’Gorman and Uniforms Officer: Noel Leamy. Band practice will resume this week on Friday night at 8.30pm at the Band Hall, Tulla. The pipe band has been in existence and playing throughout the county and beyond for the last 86 years. We are looking for anyone willing to learn pipes or drums and play with us to keep this great tradition going. New members of all ages are welcome, no prior musical experience necessary. Just come along to one of our practices. For enquiries, email tullapipeband1@gmail.com, contact us on facebook or any of our members.

LABASHEEDA MEMORIAL RUN THE seventeenth annual ‘Patricia Corbett Memorial Walk/Run’ will be held in Labasheeda, (or can be done virtually), on Sunday, February 13th starting at 1pm. This year, all funds raised will be given to the West Clare Cancer Centre in support of their wonderful work. The course is 6 miles/10km around the scenic Labasheeda peninsula and we are delighted to be back on the local roads again this year after ‘going virtual’ in 2021. Of course the option is still there for people

to do the walk/run in their own locality if they so wish, but the main thing is to get out and about in support of this worthy cause. The organising committee will ensure that you receive a warm welcome to St. Kieran’s Community Centre on the day, registration is necessary before the start, changing facilities are available and refreshments will be provided for everyone afterwards. The entry fee is only €10 and donations can be made online or through Paypal @ LiamWoulfeLab. Everyone is welcome to take part.

TULLA ST PATRICK’S DAY After a two year break the Tulla St Patricks day parade is back. It will be departing St Mochullas national school at 4.30pm on 17th March led by the Tulla Pipe band. We hope all the groups and business in Tulla and its surrounds will make a special effort this year to take part. What else is Happening in Tulla for St Patricks day? The ruined church on the hill of Tulla will be

lit in green each night on the week before. Last year the people of Tulla sent us their photos of parades in Tulla in years gone by and the business in Tulla kindly let us display them in the local shop windows. We will be displaying these photos again this year and they are also available on Tulla sports & social Facebook page. If you have photos to add to our collection, they can be sent to tullaparade@hotmail. com

YSI: Pictured left to right are Gaelcholáiste an Chláir Transition Year students

Abdelrahman Liani, Muireann Ní Craith, Colin MacDiarmada, Eoghan Ó Cleirigh, Martina Nic Chonmara, Programme coordinator, Niamh Van Wilpe and Conor Ó hUiginn Clochasaigh, who presented a cheque for €4,259.45 to the Saint Vincent de Paul charity recently.The money was raised as part of their Young Social Innovators project entitled ‘Locked Out of Education’, in December. The students camped out for a night and operated the St Vincent de Paul shop in Ennis for a day.

NEWMARKET ON FERGUS

LAHINCH

DONATION: Cliodhna Fawl (Lahinch Christmas Swim) presenting a cheque for €6720 to James Lafferty of the Irish Red Cross Clare Area, with Padraic Flaherty, Clare FM. All funds raised will go towards Community Support Services which offer transport free of charge to medical appointments across the country.

KIND GESTURE: Moira McMahon (Acting Principle of Scoil Na Maghduine Mhuire, Newmarket on Fergus) accepting a donation of PCs from Ros Quinn of FRS Network. In March 2020, the FRS I.T. Team moved to work from home. As a consequence, a large amount of desktop computers had to be replaced with less cumbersome laptops. Although the PCs could be sold, the selling value did not reflect the worth of the computers and the IT Team felt that donating them to schools would be a far more worthwhile endeavour. Peter Byrne, retired Group CEO of FRS Network and Colin Donnery, new Group CEO of FRS Network, agreed to the donation of the computers but went even further and committed to maximise the resources for schools by funding all the peripheral equipment at a cost of €10,000.

COMMUNITY 21

THURSDAY, FEB 3 2022

St Conaire’s pupils get down to business STUART HOLLY editor@clareecho.ie

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IXTH class pupils from St Conaire’s National School in Shannon faced the Dragon’s Den in recent weeks, as part of their participation in the Clare Primary Schools Entrepreneur Programme. Four groups from Mr Eoin Glynn’s sixth class have developed business ideas including branded sports bottles (Daniel Wymbs, Kyle Keogh Mulqueen and Jamie Makham), crested sports day jerseys (Ryan Dowds, Daryll Bryant, Seán McCabe, Cillian Robert and Jobriel Dasico), a car wash business (Chloe Darcy, Peyton McMahon, Alannah O'Reilly, Brendan Hogan, Parth Bajaj, William Cauley, Randhir Singh), along with wellbeing jewellery & accessories (Kate Lee, Meadhbh Bane, Justyna Kreciwilk, Lena Kubow, Martyna Kalecinska and Mia ferfecka). Elaine Donnellan of Tea and Tones Café in Shannon was the ‘Business Visitor’, speaking with the class for over half an hour and then surprised them by inviting the class to her cafe. She gave them a

tour of the premises and provided them with hot chocolate and treats. Mr Glynn added, “I have to say she went above and beyond anything we ever expected. It was a memorable day out for the class. Particularly as it was the first time in over two years the class were able to engage in anything educational outside of the school grounds due to Covid.” The class also faced the Dragons Den (Mr Walsh, Mr O'Connell and Ms. Hogan) who chose the crested sports day jersey project. This mini business group spoke about the history and tradition of the family “colours” for St. Conaire’s sports day. They pitched the idea of having St. Conaire’s crested jerseys in each of the four family colours available to purchase. As a result of their market research, they believe there will be a positive response to this product. Not only will the different colours look fantastic on sports day, the pupils will also be allowed to wear these tops on PE days and on school tours. The whole class will now work together in hope of brining this idea to the market. The pupils have decided that if they are lucky enough to make a profit in their venture, they would like to donate half towards school resources and half to a local charity.

ENTREPRENEURS: (Clockwise from top right) The Branded Sports Bottles group was

made up of Daniel Wymbs, Kyle Keogh Mulqueen (Part of this group but absent on the day - Jamie Markham); The Crested Sports Day Jerseys group included Ryan Dowds, Daryll Bryant, Seán McCabe (Part of the group but absent on the day - Cillian Robert, Jobriel Dasico; the Spongy Car Wash Business was created by Chloe Darcy, Peyton McMahon, Alannah O’Reilly, Brendan Hogan, Parth Bajaj, William Cauley, Randhir Singh and The Charming Ocean Co Wellbeing Jewellery and Acccesories group included Kate Lee, Meadhbh Bane, Justyna Kreciwilk, Lena Kubow, Martyna Kalecinska (Missing from photo Mia ferfecka);

NOTES

SHANNON ACTIVE RETIREMENT ASSOCIATION THE group are holding their First Meeting since Lockdown in Bunratty Room at The Oakwood Hotel Shannon on Wednesday February 9th at 11am. Please wear a mask. Looking forward to seeing you all there. GORT PARADE RETURNS GORT’S St Patrick’s Day Parade will be held again this year after an abscence of two years. There is renewed enthusiasm for this year’s parade after the period of lock-down and restrictions. The organising committee are appealing for more people to become involved in planning the parade in the short few weeks between now and 17th March. New members and new ideas are invited to attend an open meeting of the Committee to be held on Wednesday next 9th February in Sullivans’ Hotel at 8pm. HISTORICAL LECTURE Clare Archaeological and Historical Society presents ‘Liscannor: seafarers, shipwrecks, a once-thriving industry, and how Liscannor came to be known as The Pope’s Parish.’ This lecture will be delivered by Martina McCarthy and takes place on Tuesday 8th February in the Old Ground Hotel, Ennis, at 8.00 pm. Entry is free. Enquiries to Frances at fogorman51@ gmail.com or Mary at 0878362491. Hope you can join us!

22 RECRUITMENT

THURSDAY, FEB 3 2022

Vitalograph shares Middle East expansion plan by ELAINE TUBRIDY

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NNIS Medtech company Vitalograph have revealed that they hope to expand their services in the Middle East. Their recent participation at Arab Health has firmly placed them amongst the Irish innovators paving the way for the future of healthcare in this region. Speaking of the event, Vitalograph CEO Frank Keane said: “The Gulf Region represents a real potential for our company as there is a high incidence of COPD and Asthma, which are two of the diseases that our diagnostic devices address. We have

received superb support from the team at Enterprise Ireland whilst at Arab Health, and they introduced us to many potential partners which we are very excited about.” Based in Ennis since 1974, Vitalograph is a global leader in the development and production of respiratory diagnostic devices. With exports to more than 110 countries worldwide, they are now growing their presence in the Gulf Region with new partnerships in Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Kuwait, and the UAE. As part of Enterprise Ireland’s delegation of 20 top Irish medtech companies, Vitalograph showcased their product range to over 50,000 visitors and forged relationships

HEALTHCARE: At Dubai World Trade Center, January 2022, from left to right: Billy Cargill, VP Export & Sales Vitalograph; Frank Keane, CEO Vitalograph; Dr. Tarek Fathey, Group CEO of Seha; Ross Warner, VP Global Marketing Vitalograph.

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with many new partners 2022 is set to be a busy year for Vitalograph, with plans to increase their workforce in Ennis and to create a new base in Limerick to meet the growing demand for their best-in-class respiratory diagnostic products and services. Speaking about this year’s plans for expansion Mr Keane said: “Vitalograph is in the enviable position of needing to expand to cope with the growing demand for our products and services. We have an extremely dedicated workforce in Ennis, many of whom have been with us for more than a decade, and we are looking forward to growing our local team significantly in the coming

months, bringing a range of career opportunities to suit all levels of experience and qualifications." As the world faces a renewed focus on respiratory-related healthcare issues postCOVID, demand for Vitalograph’s range of spirometry devices is on the increase. A significant milestone for the company is having recently received FDA approval for the ALPHA, their premium desktop spirometer. This approval allows the ALPHA to be marketed throughout the United States and is expected to drive demand for the company’s spirometry products in the rapidly growing USA respiratory care market, where Vitalograph has had a presence since 1969.

RECRUITMENT 23

THURSDAY, FEB 3 2022

Remote working platform for Irish students announced as Innovation Awards finalist

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OWSY has been announced as a finalist in the New Frontiers category of The Irish Times Innovation Awards 2021, writes Elaine Tubridy. The platform allows third level students in Ireland to get paid remote work experience with Irish businesses. John Brady, CEO, from Bowsy, said: “The mid-west is one of Bowsy’s key growth areas. Our first external hire to the Bowsy team Helena Sweeney (pictured right), Business Development Manager is based in Newmarket on Fergus and we have third level students registered on our platform from all across Limerick, Tipperary and Clare, which includes students at TUS, UL and GMIT. In addition to student support in the midwest, the Shannon Chamber is also strongly recommending Bowsy and we have had a subsequent great response from local businesses who see an opportunity for both students and employers in the area. We want to create a win-win for both employ-

ers, who get flexible access to local student talent, and students, who will get meaningful paid work experience that will help them with their future careers. “We are delighted to be recognised for our innovation, particularly because there is a strong social cause at the heart of Bowsy." Shannon Chamber CEO Helen Downes describes this initiative as most welcome, particularly for companies who are seeking to hire college graduates: “From a Chamber perspective, this is the ideal way to showcase the great work being done by companies in this part of Ireland that students might not otherwise

have heard of or considered as a career opportunity. It has the potential to attract a pipeline of talent to the MidWest region.” The Irish Times Innovation Awards aim to recognise and promote the best service, product, or operational innovations throughout the island. The finalists were selected by an independent panel of judges to secure a place at the final and a chance to win the overall ‘Innovation of the Year’ award as well as a unique and high profile communications and advertising package worth €100,000. Category Winners will receive a €10,000 communications package in Business+Innovation and a one year premium digital subscription to The Irish Times. Bowsy will be competing against two other finalists in their category. The winners of the competition will be announced at an awards ceremony in Dublin on 9th March, 2021. Further information about Bowsy can be found at https://www.bowsy.com/.

24 RECRUITMENT

THURSDAY, FEB 3 2022

03-02-22

Clare Echo THE

pg 25

instagram.com/ClareEcho twitter.com/ClareEcho facebook.com/clareecho clareecho.ie

NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE DIVISION 2, ROUND 1: CLARE 1-13 OFFALY 0-07 AT CUSACK PARK

Clare ‘drove on’ after crucial goal

Compiled by Páraic McMahon

COLM COLLINS, CLARE MANAGER: “I’m absolutely delighted with the result and delighted to start off with two points. Offaly are a hard team to play against, they’re very well organised defensively, but you just have to be patient, it can be tough for people watching but Offaly have done well on people losing patience with them, going for the jugular and getting turned over. “The breeze was very important. We took the chance of playing against it and being down one point at half-time was a good position to be in. In the first half there were times when I thought we gave the ball away unnecessarily but in the second half we were better. “This division is tough going, there’ll be points going in all directions. I got a few of the other results from today badly wrong, for instance, but all we’ll think of now is the warm welcome we’ll get down in Cork next Saturday night. “I thought we were very solid in the fullback line, ye have all watched the club championship so you know how good these boys are, they are serious footballers, Cillian Rouine has a recurring injury so we took him off. “Anybody that was having any problems we took them off because we have a really good bench, some of the lads that didn’t make the 26 were unlucky and it shows we’re in a good place. “We got a great start with the goal after half time, the longer you go without a score you start to doubt yourself but the

goal eased off, after that we drove on really well, this division could come to score difference. Every point is going to matter, we’re well aware of that and I thought we managed the game well”.

JOHN MAUGHAN, OFFALY MANAGER: “We received a costly lesson there today. There was a huge difference in conditioning. Clare are a very, very settled side and have survived in Division 2 for seven or eight seasons and it looks like they will survive again because they have a lot of quality. “I would have known that as I’ve watched quite a number of videos of them in the last few weeks so I recognise the talent they have and the depth of talent off the bench as well. So we struggled against that today and I think five points in the first half wind-assisted was not a sufficient return and we knew we’d be under pressure. “It is what it is, it’s going to be a battle, there’s no question about that. The games will be coming thick and fast and that begins next Sunday Clare’s Aaron Griffin takes on Offaly’s Cathal Mangan at Cusack Park Photo by Gerard O’Neill at home to Derry. “They were, they picked up a couple of young lads coming through from the have a lot of Under 20’s coming through of frees there that kept them in touch and Under 20’s that will take a bit of time to but it will take time as a lot of them are then after half-time we gave away a soft learn their trade at this level. only 18, 19, 20 years of age. But it is what goal, a kind of fortuitous enough goal “So we might well take one step forward it is and we’ve just got to pick it up next that was poorly defended from our perand then two back before we are able to week again. spective. It’s a school day, a learning curve become a seasoned and battlehardened for us as this is a young team with a lot team. Look, there is a future because we REFEREE: Brendan Griffin (Kerry)

CLARE: Wides: 7 (3/4) Frees for: 14 (8/6) Spread of scorers: 7 Scores from play: 1-07 Top scorer: Keelan Sexton (0-05 5f) Bookings: Alan Sweeney (58) Own kickouts won: 9 from 15 (60%) OFFALY: Wides: 8 (5/3) Frees for: 11 (5/6) Spread of scorers: 5 Scores from play: 0-05 Top scorer: Bernard Allen (0-03) Bookings: Ciaran Donnelly (46), Cathal Mangan (52) Own kickouts won: 12 from 21 (57%)

SCAN HERE FOR MATCH REPORT

Roche hat-trick helps Avenue to big win Pairings made for by SEAMUS HAYES ALL SO EASY FOR AVENUE

Avenue United 7 Shannon Hibs 0

Avenue United had a comfortable victory over Shannon Hibs in this premier league tie on Sunday. The winners were in control from the outset and played the final half hour with 10 men as they had used the regulation five substitutes when Jamie Roche picked up an injury which forced him out of the contest. Avenue were 3-0 in front at the half way point thanks to goals from Mark Roche (2) and Thomas Hehir. Roche completed his hat trick in the second half when Alan Roche, Philip Talty and Dylan Casey also hit the target

Avenue United A; James Tierney; Cullen McCabe, Conor Mullen, Dylan Casey, Jamie Roche; Steve Jordan, Mikey Dinan, Alan Roche, Mark Roche, Eliaz Kunz, Thomas Hehir. Subs; Simon Cuddy for Cullen; Dylan Barry for Dinan; Callum Barrett for Jordan; Gary Roche for Hehir; Philip Talty for Kunz Shannon Hibs; Damian Casey; Ciaran McKee, Liam Delaney, Stephen Tuohy, Bobby

O’Connell; Thomas Mc Dade, Ziggy Wall, Jack Hannah, Lee Wall, Gary Leahy, Billy Connors; Subs; Julian Woods for Leahy; Darren O#Loughlin for Thomas McDade; Pa Devanney for C. McKee; Adam Ryan for L. Wall

LEADERS NEWMARKET MAINTAIN TOP SPOT Newmarket Celtic A 4 Ennis Town 1

Premier league champions Newmarket Celtic A kept up their strong challenge for another title with this comfortable victory over Ennis Town. They led 2-0 at half time thanks to two headers from Stephen Kelly. Goals from Ronan McCormack and Gearoid O’Brien saw them double their advantage in the seco half before Ennis Town pulled one back through Lee Clohessy, shortly before the final whistle Newmarket Celtic A; Dermot Gannon; David O’Grady, Conor McDade, Stephen Kelly, Pat Purcell; Alan Kelly, Gearoid O’Brien, David McCarthy, Daithi O’Connell, Eoin Hayes, Ronan McCormack; Subs; Darren Cullinan for A. Kelly (inj); Cathal Hayes for E. Hayes (inj); Eoin Kelly for O’Brien; Cale Gaffney for R. McCormack; Davy Lennon for D. O’Connell Ennis Town; Aidan Jordan, Thomas Collins, Sean Perrill, Stephen Horgan; Johnston Mununkum, Eoin Keenan, Donal O’Halloran, Conor O’Halloran, David Keenan, Dean Hegarty, Lee Clohessy; Subs; Jason Cushen for Mununkum; Ultan Shields for Collins; Conor Meaney for Horgan; Dean Coughlan for D. Keenan; Yasher Aliu for Hegarty;

ANOTHER VICTORY FOR BRIDGE UNITED; Mountshannon Celtic 0 Bridge United 2

Long serving Jonathan Downes gave Bridge United A the lead in this premier league tie when he found the net after just nine minutes. They doubled their advantage when teenager Leon Daly scored eleven minutes from time. Mountshannon Celtic; Andy O’Dwyer; Oran Scanlan, Niall Dear, Michael Barrett, John Scanlan; Martin Cunningham, Guy Vigurs, Luke Sugrue, Paul Burke; Ciaran Keenan, William Glass; Subs; Ronan Dooley for Sugrue; Niall Minogue for O. Scanlan; Bridge United A; Paul Tuohy; Dan Larkin, Jason

Loughnane, Alan Mulready, Storm Devanney, Jonathan Downes, Leon Kelly, Adam Fitzpatrick, Jordan Downes, Liam Buckley, Brian Corry; Subs; Leon Daly for L. Kelly; Enda Boyce for Jordan Downes; Kieran Quinlan for Corry; Luke Shea for Fitzpatrick.

Clare Soccer Cup

MCCONIGLEY BROTHERS ON TARGET

by SEAMUS HAYES

Sporting Ennistymon travelled to Shannon on Sunday and returned home with the points after they defeated Shannon Olympic by the odd goal in three. The North Clare side took the lead just before half time. A Ciaran Monahan cross found Jack O’Dea and his effort looked to be heading for the net but Olympic full back Benjamin Cantillon saved on the line. Jamesie Mc Conigley was following up and he applied the finish Hibs got back on terms when Jay Regan scored from the penalty spot after he had been fouled by McConigley midway through the second half. Ennistymon got back on top after this and piled on the pressure. With full time approaching a melee developed and led to the sending off of Dan Clair (Olympic) and Shane Kearney (Ennistymon) Just before the full time whistle the McConigley brothers Sean and Cathal combined and Sean struck for what proved to be the winning goal.

THIRTY-five teams will compete in this season’s Clare soccer cup competition, the draw for which was made at a meeting of the Clare league on Monday night. There will be three preliminary rounds with the winners here going into the first round which will involve sixteen games. Holders Newmarket Celtic A will be away to Shannon Olympic in the opening round. There will be a local derby in the preliminary round with Bridge United A at home to their neighbours Bunratty/Cratloe and whoever comes through that ne will then face Newmarket Celtic B. The draw is as follows;

Shannon Olympic 1 Sporting Ennistymon 2

Shannon Olympic; Zsolt Lagos; Benjamin Cantillon, Dan Clair, Ray Quigley, Pa Madden; Rachid Amallah, Sean McDonald, Ciaran Keane, Ryan Kelly, Jay Regan, Declan McDonald; Sub; Piotr Kaluza for Amallah Sporting Ennistymon; Joe Gallagher; Jack O’Dea, Jamesie Mc conigley, Eoin Marrinan; Ciaran Monahan, Nickolia Jug, Chris O’Keeffe, Thierry Bouton, Shane Kearney, Sean McConigley, Darren McNamara; Subs; Tiernan Hogan for Bouton; Ross O’Doherty for D. McNamara; Cathal Mcconigley for Jug; Michael O’Brien for O’Keeffe

Preliminary round; Manus Celtic A v Fern Celtic; Bridge United A v Bunratty-Cratloe; Kilkishen v Moher Celtic B; First round; Shannon Town B v Kilrush Rangers; Hermitage v Ennis Town; Manus Celtic B v Avenue United A; Bridge United A or Bunratty/ Cratloe v Newmarket Celtic B; Bridge United B v Lifford; Moher Celtic A v Coole FC; Tulla United v Inch Crusaders; Avenue United B v KIlkishen or Moher Celtic B; Shannon Hibs B v Corofin; Ennis Dons v Shannon Hibs A; St. Pats v Shannon Town A; Kildysart Celtic v Connolly Celtic; Mountshannn Celtic v Shannon Town C; Sporting Ennistymon v Turnpike Rovers; Manus Celtic A or Fern Celtic v Rhine Rovers; Shannon Olympic v Newmarket Celtic A

03-02-22

pg 26

NATIONAL HURLING LEAGUE: DIVISION 1A CORK VS CLARE, SATURDAY AT PÁIRC UÍ CHAOIMH (5PM)

‘Growth mindset’ among Clare hurlers EOIN BRENNAN

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T’S YEAR three for Brian Lohan and his management team as they look to maintain Clare’s upward development graph in what hopefully is their first full unrestricted season. With the refreshing benefit of a winter pre-season and recent Munster Cup campaign, selector James Moran feels that they finally have the opportunity to really develop the squad both on and off the field. “Obviously Covid has been disastrous for everyone but it has been there throughout our time with Clare. That said, we’d be very happy with how guys have progressed in the programme set out for the last two years. We’ve invested a lot of time in the nutritional and strength and conditioning side of things and through regular measuring, you can see the advancement in the players’ speed, power, muscle gain etc. “The piece that we haven’t really had a chance to work properly on is the whole spending a good block of time with the team. I think the most that we’ve actually spent with the team in the last two years is probably a five- or six-week block without rest as you’re moving from one game to the next. So it was very much reactionary rather than sitting down, reviewing and trying to set out your goals for the next couple of weeks. “So the big plusses for me since 2020 are the advancements in S&C and nutritional aspects. And the players have really bought into that too as they can see themselves making gains so there’s a growth mindset amongst the players for what we’re trying to do.” Sod’s law invariably dictates that the welcome lifting of restrictions is offset by an inordinate current injury list that includes back-to-back All-Star Tony Kelly, National Young Player of the year nominee Aidan McCarthy, Shane O’Donnell, Peter Duggan, Ian Galvin and David Fitz-

Tony Kelly is among the hefty injury list as Clare head to Cork for their National League opener this weekend

gerald. However, while they would love to have a full hand to choose from, former Limerick star Moran is still enthused to find new leaders and options ahead of the much-anticipated return of the Munster Senior Championship round-robin series in April. “We do have a lot of injuries at the moment but we have a good medical team in place so hopeful-

ly we can get as many of them back on the field in the next four or five weeks as we can. “Due to restricted numbers in January, some newer fellas got an opportunity to play that maybe would have had to bide their time if we had a full squad available. “Some of those guys did very well but most importantly it gave them the confidence to say ‘I’m

good enough to be part of this and play my role’. We have a squad of 36 so it’s not possible to give all of them game-time but you do want to keep everyone ticking over as much as you can and reward those who have been training hard since December 8. “So January for us was great. We targeted the Waterford game to try and maybe get a result and the prize was a final against Limerick which was a brilliant game to get as it was in front of 8,000 people. I mean, where in January would you get a game like that to test players, with so many people there and a really great atmosphere? It was a chance for the guys to have a competitive run-out and we learned a lot to be honest. “So every cloud has a silver lining I suppose.” With Ed Sheeran inadvertently helping switch Cork’s Munster Championship home tie against Clare to the neutral territory of Semple Stadium on May Day, it still doesn’t take from Saturday’s National League opener in Páirc Uí Chaoimh (5pm) according to Moran. “We’ve played in Páirc Uí Chaoimh a few times and what we’ve been struck by is the pace on the pitch. it’s one of the fastest fields in the country so we’ve got to be sharp on Saturday. “Cork are always strong, they were in the All-ireland Final last year but have been very quiet so far this year. They didn’t partake in the Munster Cup and have a good few involved with the Fitzgibbon Cup so we don’t really know where they’re at whereas they would have gotten to see us twice and size us up. “But these are the games you look for and these are the games you live for. So while this year’s league should be really competitive, we’ve always taken something from the league each year and tried to build up momentum. “We will also be looking to get players back over the course of the campaign. We’re giving players time and not rushing them back immediately so it will be interesting to see how some of our newer guys fare as the Cork game has been on the radar for a while.”

Busy Flanagan faces dual dilemma by EOIN BRENNAN

IF YOU want something done, ask a busy person and they don’t come much busier than Paul Flanagan. Not only is he on the crest of a wave as a central cog in Ballyea’s emergence as a senior kingpin along with finally establishing himself on Clare’s flagship team, the former All-Ireland U21 winning captain is also part of Ardscoil Rís’ Harty Cup management — not to mention his ongoing work with the county’s development squads in psychological preparation. And that’s just hurling. “It is busy alright. It’s like sometimes you’re teaching full-time during the week and you’re hurling full-time at the weekend between coaching and playing, so you’ve got to be careful of the balance and making sure you’re taking some time out. But overall, it’s great and I’m enjoying it. “The biggest thing about getting games is that you get a bit of momentum and you’ve got to keep your body as right as you can as in senior inter-county hurling, staying fit and sharp is nine-tenths of the law really,” says the 29-year old. “With the coaching side then, it’s something different for me. It’s

great to train a lot and complete a lot and play matches but I find the psychological preparation and mental skills and what I’ve learned on that is also of huge interest to me.” Unfortunately, two of those passions directly collide on Saturday, with Ardscoil Rís’ Dr Harty Cup Final showdown with St Joseph’s Tulla in TUS Gaelic Grounds in Limerick (1pm) and Clare’s National Hurling League opener away to Cork in Páirc Uí Chaoimh (5pm) leaving the defender in an unenviable position. “It’s a very tough scenario. You’d love to be in two places at once but the bottom line is that I’m still very fortunate to be playing myself so I’ll be on route to Cork and will have to be content to watch it on my phone when I get a chance. They’re in very safe hands with Niall [Moran] and Cormac [O’Donovan] though.” Having been involved with the group since First Year, Flanagan is thrilled to have seen the panel thrive in reaching Ardscoil Rís’ first Harty Cup Final in four years. His involvement with Clare’s development squads means that he knows more than most about the quality of players on both sides of

the divide, with the county being the biggest winner in his opinion. “I am experiencing a bit of crossover really as I do some work with Clare from U16 down and also with the minors in terms of psychological development and psychological skills. So I’ve come across a good few of the Tulla players which is great and for Clare hurling across the board, it’s really positive. “I mean if you look at the two prestigious Munster Schools Hurling Finals, the Harty and Dean Ryan, there has been a huge representation of Clare guys in both finals this year alone between Ardscoil, St Flannan’s and Tulla which is hopefully a trend that continues. “Overall I think there has been a real sea change in terms of what’s happening at underage. The recent announcement of three more underage strength and conditioning coaches in the county; the work in the development squads that has been largely steered by Donal Moloney and Kieran McDermott in terms of the organisation and recruitment of coaches as well as Micheál Duffy’s work in terms of the whole organisation has all been really refreshing. “I’m already seeing the benefit

of it with a couple of younger lads in Ardscoil coming through. A rising tide lifts all boats and that’s what you’re hoping to do is put these guys in a high performance development environment over those few teenage years with the premise of trying to improve them all for their clubs and county.” The end goal of course being to represent Clare, something Flanagan has had to patiently work towards for the bones of a decade. “It’s a mad timeline when you look at it. I made my senior championship debut in 2014 below in Wexford for the qualifier replay. I came on in extra-time that day but then my first full championship game wasn’t until 2020. “So it’s been a long journey and there was probably a year out there that really freshened me up in terms of getting away and doing a bit of traveling and so on. “It’s also been a process of trying to get the body right as well. I did a lot of work with Adrian O’Brien from Kilmallock to get my body in better shape overall and suddenly the opportunities started opening up that bit more and Brian asked me back in with Clare. So it has been a really positive two

years to try and just play and enjoy it as much as I can.” And Clare’s National League prospects? “We’re just trying to build ourselves throughout the league, develop more options and get guys back that have been out through injury. It’s great to have these competitive games, especially as they mirror some of the championship matches we are going to face with a quick recovery period in between so I’m really looking forward to kicking it off on Saturday and start building week-onweek.”

pg 27

03-02-22

Ennis hammer Kanturk

ENNIS RFC’s U16s continued their winning form against Kanturk of Cork at the weekend. On the back of a good win against Kilrush the previous week, the Clare side carried their momentum into Saturday’s game as they opened the scoring after just two minutes with a powerful run from winger Luke Kennedy. Luke had to see off two defenders before crossing the line for the opening score of the game. This was the theme of the half as Ennis took control with trys from Diarmuid Boyle, Odhrán Flynn, Andrew Cahir Whelan and a brace from Jacob Cassen-Rennie. Ennis finished the half 40 points up. A lot of changes for Ennis came after half time but one thing remained the same - it was the hosts firmly in control. A beautiful cross field kick from Marco Cleary put Kaden Deegan Herlihy through for the opening score of the half. The Ennis pack began to pile on the pressure with strong carries from Cian Enright and Nicolas Roo. Darren Halpin crossed next for Ennis with a strong carry close to the line. Another cross-field kick from Marco Cleary saw Evan Casey in space. He popped the ball off to Oisín O’Donoghue to run in at the corner. The final score of the game came from Odhrán Flynn with a strong carry beating a number of Kanturk defenders before dotting down under the posts. The game ended Ennis 62- 7 Kanturk. Next up is a visit from Cobh in a top of the table clash next Sunday at 1:30pm in Lees road. ENNIS: 15 diarmuid boyle 14 Luke Kennedy 13 AARON MALONE 12 Jack Dillon 11 Marco Cleary 10 Odhran Flynn 9 Sean Queally 1 LHP Jacob Casson-Rennie 2 H Conall O’Donovan 3 THP Michael Sweeney 4 Daniel Humphries 5 Cillian Mcinerney 6 Adrian Moloney 7 Matthew Jordan-Allen 8 John Sweeney Replacements: 16 Cian Enright 17 Nicolis Roos 18 Daniil Kolesnikov 19 Ben Smith 20 Owen O’’Gorman 21 David Moses 22 Kaden Deegan Herlihy 23 Andrew Cahir Whelan

CASCADERS ARE 8 & 1

Clare Cascaders basketball club continue their great season in the North Munster Basketball League with eight wins and one loss so far for the Ennistymon men. All league games are played in St Munchins College and head coach Stephen Leigh is delighted how players are improving with every game. Their spirit is incredible resulting in two good wins last weekend against a very talented Clare Panthers side. Cascaders have also qualified for the cup final due to be played in early March. Pictured (back row l-r) Coach Stephen Leigh, Michael Leigh, Cillian Devitt, Conor Dillon, Sam Linnane, Mathew Kinch, Ultan Mc Donald, Mikey Rouine (front l-r) Claudio Redondo, Killian O Connor, James Leigh, Ciaran Harrington, Caelan O Neill, Enda Gallery

Clare contingent set for the magic of Clonmel THE four-day National Coursing Meeting commences at Powerstown Park, Clonmel on Friday, with large crowds expected at the ‘Cheltenman of the Greyhound fraternity’. Fans will be treated to two derbys, two Oaks, and two Champion Stakes. Commencing with 2020/21 Classics, The Banner County is represented in The Boylesports Derby by Tromora Danny (owned by David Hogan from Quilty); Malbay Shelby owned by the Pure Ganders Syndicate; Sammy Be, Owned by the Banner Gentlemen Syndicate, which was formed one night over a few pints in Walsh’s Bar, Cree by Finbarr Keating, Tom Browne, John Reidy, and Michael Healy, Kilmihil’s Frank Finucane and Brendan Clancy from Mullagh. He is trained by Pat O’Connor from Saleen near Ballylongford – all three of the above dogs are 25/1 shots at present. Also in action is DA Real Buddha (partowned by Ennistymons’s Ciaran McMahon. This is one of eight charges Mountshannon trainer Pat Curtin has going to slips in Clonmel and Buddha is a son of former derby winner Coolavanny Bingo and Breaska Lantern; Moyne Wonder, owned by Seamie Browne, who was renowned as a excellent corner back for his native Cooraclare. Wonder is trained by Noel Sexton from Mullagh with his daughter Sharon and they get great help from Seamie’s sons Paudie and Jimmy; Ocean Kerrie (20/1) owned by young Mark Fitzgerald of Clonlara, is expected to give a good account – Mark trains this daughter of Newinn Wonnder and Duarrigle Magic with his dad, Tom. Tom knows how to prepare a runner for Clonmel as the Fitzgerald family derived great excitement with Ocean Tolula

a semi-finalist of the Oaks in 2011. Staying in Clonlara, attention will revert from hurling to coursing with the exploits of Alluring Star, owned by a group of hurlers including Sean Moriarty, Micheal O’Loughlin, Ian Galvin, Owen Fitzgerald, Paul McNamara and Jack Hackett. Others in contention include Amazing Song, owned by the Burke sisters from Miltown Malbay, Ciara and Sarah; Princess Cutie (50/1), representing the Carey family from Liscannor; Oilean Wonder – who is under the stewardship of Sixmilebridge native Gerry Meehan; Well Enstein, owned by the Nenagh based Rob A Job Syndicate which Ballyalla resident PJ Cooney is part off. And Ashtown Alice who is trained by Pat Curtin. In the Boylesports Derby, there are three Clare representatives – Tromora Lennon, a smashing looking son of Crafty Gonzalo and Clonreddan Molly owned by Quity’s David Hogan in partnership with Mark Wilson; Scattery Pal – representing the Scattery Sundicate from Moneen, Killimer, brothers Anthony & Denis Clohessy, with their nephew Anthony Mcnamara, nieces Bridget, Mary Anne and Kathleen and their grand niece Annie Keane. Rich Man Game owned by Martin Keane of Killimer takes the position of first reserve There are 2 Clare ladies going to slips for The Grace Bruton Champion Bitch Stake. Malbay Dixie, the third representative from Gerry Burke’s Malbay Kennels; and Luath Lady, owned by Pat Holland of Sixmilebridge. In the Male version - The Kevin Smith Champion Stakes – Boglane Swift is qualified as second reserve for Sixmilebridge trainer Stephen Murray.

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pg 28

DR HARTY CUP FINAL: ST JOSEPH’S SECONDARY SCHOOL TULLA VS ARD SCOIL RÍS SATURDAY 1PM AT TUS GAELIC GROUNDS, LIMERICK

History on table for St Joseph’s PÁRAIC MCMAHON

paraic@clareecho.ie

ST JOSEPH’S TULLA competing in the Dr Harty Cup final is the “stuff of dreams,” manager Terence Fahy admitted. In what has been a season of firsts, St Joseph’s Tulla recorded their first ever win in the prestigious competition while also advancing to both the semi-final and final for the first time. All along the way, they have upset the odds beating fancied challengers such as St Colman’s of Fermoy, CBC Cork and De La Salle. Thus it comes as no surprise that anyone following the panel has savoured the rollercoaster ride. “The team have character, they have grit, discipline, resilience, they don’t give up, people like that and to see that, they like to see an underdog that isn’t afraid to take on the bigger schools, people like that and respect that. It’s rare enough to get such traction for a small school in an elite competition to be taking it on at the different stages, people respect that, they like it and they admire it, our lads have lots of support,” Fahy outlined. Having started his teaching career at Castlecomer Community School in 1999, Terence joined the teaching staff at St Joseph’s Tulla in 2008 where his subjects are English and history. The annals of the East Clare school

will look favourably on the Harty Cup team of 2021/22 regardless of the final outcome. “The lads have already made history, they’ve won a few Harty matches, the school had never won Harty matches, there’s very special history on the table next weekend, that’s why they are training and that’s what they are striving to achieve, we’re hoping very much that we can do and put in a proud performance”. To be preparing for the Harty Cup final is “very special,” the Whitegate man acknowledged. “It’s the stuff we could have only dreamed of over the years when we were struggling in different competitions of Munster colleges, there were many days when were a million miles away from a Harty Cup final, to be there now is really special and exciting”. Hurling in East Clare will benefit from the memorable run to date of the Tulla outfit. “Harty Cup is elite, we’ve three schools in East Clare, Tulla, Scariff and Killaloe, this is the first time that one has got to a Harty Cup final. Scariff won two Dean Ryans in the 90s, they did huge hurling at A level, this is the first time that the Tulla school is competing in an A-level final in any grade in Munster, it is a lift. “Tulla is a hub for a number of clubs that filter in, all it’s going to do is improve the standard. We already see it on the field in school, the field is full in the mornings, everybody has a hurley, it was always full in the evenings and it has a domino effect across all

Fionn Hickey on the ball against De La Salle in the semi-final; (inset) Terence Fahy Photo by Gerard O’Neill

the codes, there is a great energy, interest and excitement about it. It has to be good for East Clare hurling”. Speaking to The Clare Echo, Terence gave an indication of what makes this panel of players special in their own way. “The Leaving Certs are the leaders, they’re very tight and they are friends outside of hurling, it brings them together and it connects them. They’re friends and they are a collective on the field, in the corridors and the classroom, that is their great strength, they really back each other up”.

Saturday’s opponents, Ard Scoil Rís “are awful powerful, awful strong and organised, they know what they’re doing, they have a number of big game players,” he interpreted. The fact that Tulla were involved in a battle for their entirety of their semi-final compared to the Limerick school recording an emphatic 4-18 1-12 could be of benefit. “If the game is a contest and if we can make it a contest, it will stand to us absolutely. Ard Scoil Rís had the game over after 15 minutes the last day, all of the talk is about the power

Medals will head to Clare regardless of outcomes by PÁRIAC McMAHON

REGARDLESS of the outcome of Saturday’s Harty Cup final, coveted provincial medals will be heading home to Clare. On the management front, Ard Scoil Rís are led by former Limerick hurler Niall Moran alongside Clare corner back Paul Flanagan and U21 All-Ireland winner Cormac O’Donovan. Standing in the St Joseph’s Tulla corner are current Clare U20 manager and coach, Terence Fahy and Tomás Kelly plus All-Ireland winning Galway defender Aidan Harte. Ard Scoil Rís has always been a feeder school for hurlers from clubs such as Clonlara, Cratloe, Parteen and Meelick but in recent years with more success recorded, youngsters from Sixmilebridge, Newmarket-on-Fergus, Broadford and Killaloe heading to the secondary school on the North Circular Rd in Limerick. From their semi-final side which hammered Thurles CBS, Ard Scoil Rís lined out with Sixmilebridge duo Colm Flynn and David Kennedy at corner back and forward respectively. Séimi Gully whose father Jim was manager of the last Clonlara team to win the Clare SHC is the goalkeeper for the side with Broadford’s Niall O’Farrell at centre-forward. Cratloe duo Sam Sheehy and Riain McNamara were introduced to the full-back line during the 4-18 1-12 win against

Ard Scoil Rís goalkeeper Séimí Gully

Thurles CBS while Clonlara’s Diarmuid Stritch is close to a place in their attack. Sixmilebridge’s Dara Casey, Noel Flynn and Morgan O’Connell are listed among the substitutes. Sean McMahon who captained Ard Scoil’s Dean Ryan side that lost out in the final to St Flannan’s College is part of the panel as is Broadford’s Denis Fahy, Seadhna Liddy who was centre forward for the

Newmarket-on-Fergus U21 team that reached the county final and Eoin Deegan of Cratloe, son of All-Ireland winning Clare selector Mike. With a panel of 31, St Joseph’s Tulla have eight clubs represented in their squad, namely Tulla, Feakle, O’Callaghans Mills, Broadford, Clooney/Quin, Crusheen, St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield and Sixmilebridge.

they have, if we can go with them it will certainly stand to us”. He added, “At high level sport you’re demanding and hoping for a performance in every quarter, very few teams are able to be on it in a sustained fashion, you will have your peak and valley period. In the games we have left ourselves open at times and with a lot of ground to make up but our boys are strong finishers, we are in great shape and they’re strong boys”. On top of his family commitments and role with Tulla, Fahy is also the manager of the Clare U20 hurlers and Whitegate senior hurlers. The run to the final has been “a special time” and has seen their discipline improve, “I think our hurling has become crisper with the more matches we’ve played and the better conditions we’ve come into. We’re getting more disciplined, the collective is getting stronger, we’re still not burning it up from play on the scoreboard but the team is beginning to work harder and harder all the time”. Whether or not silverware returns to East Clare will not be confirmed until Saturday afternoon but there is a confidence that long-term success of the run will be felt within the school for years to come. “You’re always in the market for hearts and minds, that is real life, if we can get more traction in the clubs around us and become the go-to place for hurlers well that would really add further strength to our school down the line”.

Clare’s strong ties with Ard Scoil Rís

THERE has been a strong Clare influence in each of the five Dr Harty cup winning teams from Ard Scoil Ris in Limerick, writes Seamus Hayes. Amongst those who were part of their squad when the prestigious title was captured for the first time in the school’s history in 2010 were Jamie Shanahan (Sixmilebridge), Cathal McInerney (Cratloe) and Martin Moroney (Parteen). In the years leading up to that breakthrough, they had come close with All-Ireland winning Clare players Conor Ryan (Cratloe), Darach Honan and Nicky O’Connell (both Clonlara) featuring. Martin Moroney and Meelick’s Oisin Hickey were in the team that retained the title in 2011. They were back as champions in 2014 with a team which included brothers Padraic and Micheál O’Loughlin from Clonlara, Barry Fitzpatrick and Alex Morey from Sixmilebridge, Ian Galvin (Clonlara), and Sean Phelan (Broadford) to mention some. All-Ireland winning handballer, Colin Crehan from O’Callaghans Mills is another who helped the Limerick school to success. Clare players were again prominent when the title returned in 2016 with Clare senior Diarmuid Ryan one of those in the squad along with Nathan Fox from Parteen, Sean Phelan (Broadford), Padraic O’Loughlin (Clonlara), now operating in attack having filled the goalkeeper’s roll in 2014. Clonlara’s David Fitzgerald and Cian Moriarty were also in the squad in 2016 along with Darragh Cunningham and Michael Danagher from Cratloe and Jeff Ryan (Parteen). In the school’s most recent win in 2018, Cratloe’s Diarmuid Ryan was in the line-up and by then he had been drafted into the Clare senior hurling line up. His Cratloe clubmates Rian Considine and Jack McInerney were part of that squad along with Clonlara’s Aidan Moriarty and Conor Bourke. Others who were part of that panel were Evan Keogh (Cratloe), Joe Collins and Shane Fox (Parteen), Jathan McMahon and Cillian O’Brien (Clonlara).

pg 29

03-02-22

Ennis CBS squash aces impress in Munster and Mount Pleasant

SEVERAL Ennis CBS players took part in the Munster Squash Masters Open in Cork. In the O65’s competition, Mike Conlon had an easy passage to the semi-final as befitted his top billing. There, he faced Pat Hanley from Galway LTC, who displayed his full armoury to take the initial games 11/6 and 11/8. Conlon remained calm and focused, some excellent touchplay firing him to an 11/8 riposte. Into the 4th, Hanley led 9/6 and had the winning post in sight when an arguable refereeing call went his way. Conlon shrugged off this setback, showing fierce determination to score five unanswered points to level the match with a thrilling 11/9 win. The Ennis CBS man maintained this peak of intensity all the way to the finish with an excellent 11/7 deciding game win to set up a familiar final meeting with Peter Stevens, a game which went all the way. On this occasion, Conlon succumbed 11-7 in the decider, in a continuing rivalry which has certainly come to define the O65 division. In the Ladies section, Ennis CBS’ Nuria Smyth’s exploits have certainly propelled her into the National reckonings. Not troubled en route to the final, Nuria defeated American Ali Magee (both pictured right) in a superb contest, dropping only the second game on her way to the victory. John O’Shaughnessy played some preliminaries in the O65 division before the main event – an O70 final with Seamus Daly of Dublin. The Ennis CBS man deployed his trademark superb drop-kills to good effect, at times, however Daly managed to hold him off in straight sets to claim the title. Clive Morgan & John Cosgrave took on the white-hot competition in the O45 bracket. John faced a gargantuan task in Belfast’s David Ayerst and, while he lost 3-0, the third game was a ferocious battle. Clive’s initial opponent was

Neil Murphy from the Curragh club (a former Munster Masters Open champion). Murphy won 3-0, Morgan causing him plenty of problems throughout. The CBS men both met in the second round with Clive taking the spoils and indeed he claimed a creditable 5th place overall following a comfortable win over James Barrett (Sligo). Following on from her hugely encouraging weekend at the Munster Master Open, Nuria Smyth travelled to the Mount Pleasant Open in South Dublin to take on a high-quality field. She defeated Roisin O’Shea, in a re-run of their clash in the Connacht Senior Open, before a defeat to Finland’s Emilia Korhonen, a professional with a PSA ranking of 140. She finished with a flourish by defeating the Ireland U17 No1 Sara Sabry and Rachel McNulty.

First major title for Crehan OATFIELD’s Colin Crehan has claimed the first major elite singles title of his handball career. Gort na Mona Court in Belfast was the venue as Crehan reigned supreme in the 2022 Irish 4-Wall Adult Nationals. Fourth seed Colin defeated his doubles partner Diarmaid Nash of Scariff in the final, claiming the win following a thrill-

ing 11-6 tiebreak in what marked a major breakthrough in his handball career. The final finished 15-11 2-15 11-6. The pair have won back to back All-Ireland doubles championships and are among the best in the country. Kilkishen clubman Colin defeated Kilkenny’s Peter Funchion in the semi-final 15-9 10-15 11-5 who was fresh from

eliminating favourite Martin Mulkerrins. A 15-8 15-8 quarter-final win for the O’Callaghans Mills hurler over Owen McKenna followed his last 16

clash with Caolan Daly (15-12 15-2). From the Tuamgraney club, Diarmaid had an outstanding semi-final against Armagh’s Charly Shanks when he trailed 2-10 to claim the tiebreak 11-10. He overcame Niall O’Connor (15-8 15-5) and Gary McConnell (15-11 1015 11-7) in the quarter-finals and last sixteen respectively.

New captains ‘drive-in’ attracts crowd in Kilrush by SEAMUS HAYES

KILRUSH GOLF CLUB: The ‘drive-in’ for captains for 2022 at Kilrush, Noel Kilkenny and Peggy Mulqueen, took place on Sunday in the presence of a large attendance. A team scramble was held to mark the occasion and the winners were Denis Nagle, Tom Fox, Mary Keating and Mary O’Sullivan. In second place were Tom Clancy, Marie Kearns, Michael Twomey and Pat Shannon and they were followed by Michael Studdert, Bernie Tubridy and Terry O’Hare with fourth spot filled by Pat Brennan, Brendan Carrig, Joan O’Malley and Margaret Hehir In the weekly men’s singles the winner was Patrick Coleman (11) with 30 points from Brian Scanlan (7) with 29 pints. Michael Minitser (10) was third and he also scored 29 points. ENNIS GOLF CLUB: Helen Gallery (24) was the winner of the weekly, ladies 14 hole singles competition at Ennis with 26 points. She had one to spare over Anna Marie Darmody (30) with third spot filled by Ann PYne Gallery (29) also with 25 points, Ann A. Gallery (17) was fourth and she also scored 25 points fith fifth spot filled by Della Burns (19) and she had 24 points In the 9 hole stableford competition Flor Coffey (24) was the winner with 19 points from Della Burns (19) with 17 points. Mary Glynn (36) was third with 16 points followed by Mary O’Halloran (32) with 14 points. Last week’s senior ladies competition was won by Carmel Cummins, Kathleen Pyne and Patrice Ryan with 36 points. They had two to spare over Margaret Flanagan, Marie Dilleen

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and Deirdre Molyneaus with Mary Glynn, Loretto Torpey and Mary Lenihan a further two back on 32 points. Fourth spot was filled by Alice D’Arcy, Liz Kelly and Carmel Verling with 31points.

WOODSTOCK GOLF CLUB: Entries are currently being accepted for the men’s Spring league at Woodstock. Teams will comprise of four players and entries must be submitted by 6p.m. on Sunday week, February 13. The format on week one (February 19/20) will be a team of four scramble with a fourball betterball on week 2 (February 26/27). In week three (March 6/7) the competition will be a rumble where one score counts on holes 1 to 6, two scores to count on holes 7 to 12 and three scores to count on holes 13 to 18. There will be a modified fourball on week four (March 12/13) while the format on the final week will be a team of four with two scores to count at each hole. The weekly seniors outing on Tuesday was won by Gerry Griffey, Leo Quinlan and Pat McMahon with 47 points SHANNON GOLF CLUB: Mark Wallis (20) won the 15 hole singles at Shannon last week with 37 points with second place filled by John O’Connell (16) with 35 points. Last week’s team of four competition was won by Kevin ((9) and Ben Moylan(14) Carlos Lynch(19) and Alan Watson(24) with 83 points This week sees the start of the winter league sponsored by St Francis Credit Union.

30

OBITUARIES

RECENT DEATHS Christopher Larner Abbeylawn, Clarecastle, Clare / Kilkee, Clare Date of Death: Monday 31st January 2022 Jim Joe Morgan Dysart, Maurices Mills, Clare Date of Death: Sunday 30th January 2022 Margaret Nugent (née Behan) Carnanes, Kilrush, Clare, V15 ND73 / Castleisland, Kerry Date of Death: Sunday 30th January 2022 Ann O’Callaghan (née Roberts) Moynoe and Derg View, Scariff, Clare / Dublin Date of Death: Sunday 30th January 2022 Anthony O’Loughlin Shanawalla, Inagh, Clare Date of Death: Sunday 30th January 2022 Geraldine Pigott (née Finnegan) Drogheda, Meath / Ennis, Clare Date of Death: Sunday 30th January 2022 Deirdre Tynan (née Reid) St. Senan’s Road, Lifford, Ennis, Clare Date of Death: Saturday 29th January 2022 Bridie Kelly (née McCarthy) Tonlegee, Ballynacally, Clare Date of Death: Saturday 29th January 2022 Patricia O’Connor (née Sullivan) Ardcarney, Ruan, Clare Date of Death: Saturday 29th January 2022 Mary Quinlivan (née Callinan) North Circular Road, Limerick / Ballynacally, Clare Date of Death: Saturday 29th January 2022 Mary Sexton (née O’Leary) Belmont, Wood Road, Cratloe, Clare Date of Death: Saturday 29th January 2022 Sean Reidy Ballinagun East, Cree, Clare Date of Death: Friday 28th January 2022 Martin Clune Clountismara, Inagh, Clare Date of Death: Friday 28th January 2022 Maura Sheedy Bunnow, Doora, Ennis, Clare Date of Death: Friday 28th January 2022 Michael Keane Cross, Kilkeedy, Tubber, Clare Date of Death: Thursday 27th January 2022 Mary McMahon Regina House, Kilrush and formerly of Marian Estate, and Donoughboy, Kilkee, Clare Date of Death: Thursday 27th January 2022 Nancy Burke (née Mitchell) Tullyvarra Court, Shannon, Clare Date of Death: Thursday 27th January 2022 Catherine (Kathleen) Ryan (née Buckley) Ballinooskny, Newmarket-on-Fergus, Clare Date of Death: Thursday 27th January 2022 Fintan Kelly Breaffa, Lissycasey, Clare Date of Death: Wednesday 26th January 2022 Seamus (John James) Gormley 72 College Grove, Ennis, Clare / Castlederg, Tyrone Date of Death: Tuesday 25th January 2022 Raymond Molloy 44 McNamara Park, Ennis, Clare Date of Death: Tuesday 25th January 2022 Dolores O’Loughlin (née Moore) Shannon Road, Six-Mile-Bridge, Clare Date of Death: Tuesday 25th January 2022 Jason Peppard Kealderra, Bodyke, Clare Date of Death: Monday 24th January 2022 Philomena (Mena) Power (née Keane) Toureen, Kilnamona, Clare Date of Death: Monday 24th January 2022 Robert Nestor 18 Cloughleigh Rd., Ennis, Clare Date of Death: Thursday 20th January 2022

THURSDAY, FEB 3 2022

ANNIVERSARY

Obituaries MARY O’BRIEN (NEE HANLEY) Ballycar, Newmarket-on-Fergus, Co. Clare (Formally of Henry Street, Kenmare, Co. Co Kerry) 1st Anniversary In loving memory of my Mum Always remembered by your loving daughter and family. To all those who offered sympathy and kindness in so many ways. Those who travelled to send Mary off to her final place of rest, sent Mass cards, letters, online messages and telephone calls. To my wonderful friends who offered so much comfort during a very difficult time. To all the staff in Milford Hospice Limerick. Thank you so much for caring for my Mum in the last few months of her life. Your kindness and integrity shown will never be forgotten. I do not need a special day to bring you to my mind The days I do not think of you are very hard to find Each morning when I wake I know that you are gone and no one knows the heartache as I try to carry on My heart still aches with sadness my secret tears still flow What it meant to lose you no one will ever know My thoughts are always with you Your place no one can fill In life – I loved you dearly In death – I love you still X

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS First 100 words €40 + vat

Between 100-200 words €60 200 + words on request + vat

ANNIVERSARIES Up to 80 words + Photo 80 + words on request BIRTHDAYS Up to 80 words + photo

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€20 + vat

PLANNING 31

THURSDAY, FEB 3 2022

PLANNING NOTICES CLARE COUNTY COUNCIL MAIN STREET, LAHINCH, CO. CLARE Further Information/Revised plans Planning Ref: P21/1194 Development Description: Permission to change of use of derelict retail unit to residential. Rebuilding the ground floor lean to at the rear and extending it up to first floor, converting loft and adding a rooflight. and all associated site and ancillary works. Location: Main Street, Lahinch, Co. Clare Take notice that Gabrielle and David O’Brien has lodged significant further information in respect of planning application P11194. This information and planning application may be inspected or purchased at a fee not exceeding the reasonable cost of making a copy, at the offices of the Planning Authority of Clare County Council, Planning Department, Aras Contae an Chlair, New Road, Ennis, Co. Clare during its public opening hours. A submission or observation in relation to the further information or revised plans may be made in writing to the planning authority on payment of the prescribed fee, not later than 2 weeks after the receipt of the newspaper notice and site notice by the planning authority or in the case of a planning application accompanied by an EIS within 5 weeks of the receipt of such notices by the planning authority. CLARE COUNTY COUNCIL KILMACDUANE EAST, COORACLARE, CO CLARE V15 X438 Take notice that Rachel and

John Dillon intend to apply for Permission to Retain The existing entrance to the east of their property, and for Permission to: Alter/improve the existing entrance, to include a new field entrance adjacent to it and to build up the existing entrance to the west of their property and all associated site and ancillary works at the above address. The planning application may be inspected or purchased at a fee not exceeding the reasonable cost of making a copy, at the offices of the planning authority, during its public opening hours. A submission or observation in relation to the application may be made in writing to the authority on payment of the prescribed fee of €20.00, within the period of 5 weeks beginning on the date of receipt by the authority of the application. CLARE COUNTY COUNCIL BALLYBEG, KILDYSART ROAD, ENNIS, CO CLARE V95 Y6K7 Take notice that Fintan O’Donoghue intends to apply for permission to retain: 1. The Storage Shed to the rear of the property 2. The conversion of the attached Garage to a living area within the Dwelling House, the resultant changes to the fenestration and all associated site and ancillary works at the above address (Original Planning Permission Ref: P8/25292). 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 pub-

EASY TO USE SERVICE

lic opening hours. A submission or observation in relation to the application may be made in writing to the authority on payment of the prescribed fee of €20.00, within the period of 5 weeks beginning on the date of receipt by the authority of the application. CLARE COUNTY COUNCIL TOOMULLIN, DOOLIN, CO CLARE Take notice that Cliodhna Leyden and Liam Shannon intend to apply for permission to build a New Dwelling House, install a Wastewater Treatment System and all associated site and ancillary works at the above address. The planning application may be inspected or purchased at a fee not exceeding the reasonable cost of making a copy, at the offices of the planning authority, during its public opening hours. A submission or observation in relation to the application may be made in writing to the authority on payment of the prescribed fee of €20.00, within the period of 5 weeks beginning on the date of receipt by the authority of the application. CLARE COUNTY COUNCIL MOYMORE NORTH, LAHINCH, CO CLARE Take notice that Gillian Conroy & Luke Underwood intend to apply for permission to build a Garage and Storage Shed and all associated site and ancillary works at the above address. The planning application may be inspected or purchased at a fee not exceeding the reasonable cost of making a copy, at the offices of the planning

authority, during its public opening hours. A submission or observation in relation to the application may be made in writing to the authority on payment of the prescribed fee of €20.00, within the period of 5 weeks beginning on the date of receipt by the authority of the application. CLARE COUNTY COUNCIL CARROWGAR, OGONNELLOE, CO. CLARE Take notice that Tara Keegan intends to apply for planning permission for development at Carrowgar, Ogonnelloe, Co. Clare. The development will consist of a new dwelling house, site entrance, wastewater treatment system and associated site works. The planning application may be inspected, or purchased at a fee not exceeding the reasonable cost of making a copy, at the offices of the planning authority during its public opening hours and that a submission or observation in relation to the application may be made to the authority in writing on payment of the prescribed fee within the period of 5 weeks beginning on the date of receipt by the authority of the application. CLARE COUNTY COUNCIL BALLYMACKEA MORE, QUILTY, CO CLARE Take notice that D. Clancy intends to apply to the Planning Authority for permission to erect new dwelling house, garage, foul sewer treatment plant, 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 CARROWNAKILLY, OGONNELLOE, CO CLARE I, April Harty, am applying to the above authority for permission for the following development on property at Carrownakilly, Ogonnelloe, Co Clare: Permission for detached two storey dwelling, detached domestic garage, onsite wastewater treatment system and percolation area, connection to necessary services, new entrance together with all associated ancillary and incidental site works The planning application may be inspected, or purchased at a fee not exceeding the reasonable cost of making a copy, at the offices of the planning authority during its public opening hours and 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 18 GLENGRAGGA, NEWMARKET-ONFERGUS, CO. CLARE Take notice that Michael Keating Dip. Arch. (phone 085-8421780), on behalf of Joseph Ludden, intends to apply to Clare County Council for full permission to retain porch at 18 Glengragga, Newmarket-on-Fergus, Co. Clare. The planning application may be inspected or purchased at a fee not exceeding the reasonable cost of making a copy at the offices of the Planning Authority during its public opening hours. A submission or observation in relation to the application may be made to the 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 LISSANE EAST, CLARECASTLE, CO. CLARE Take notice that Stephen O’Halloran & Orla Devitt intend to apply to the planning authority for permission to construct a new dwelling house and garage complete with a 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 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 COUNTY COUNCIL BALLYLANNIDY, ENNIS, 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 Darvin Trading Company Ltd for the following development (a) 16 No. dwelling houses consisting of 2.No. detached two storey dwelling houses and 14. No. semi-detached two storey dwelling houses (b) all ancillary 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.

PLACE YOUR PLANNING NOTICES WITH THE CLARE ECHO CALL 065 671 9021 EMAIL SALES@CLAREECHO.IE

32

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Most Holy Apostle St. Jude faithful servant & friend of Jesus. The Church honours & invokes you universally as the patron of hopeless cases, of matters almost despaired of. Pray for me I am so helpless & alone. Make use I implore you of that particular privilege given to you, to bring speedy help where help is almost despaired of. Come to my assistance in this great need that I may receive the consolation & help of Heaven in all my necessities, tribulations & sufferings & that I may praise God with you & all the Elect forever. I promise O Blessed St. Jude to be ever mindful of this great favour to always honour you as my special & powerful patron & to gratefully encourage devotion to you. Amen. This prayer must be said for 9 consecutive days & published immediately & in 3 days the favour will be granted.

34

PUZZLEPAGE

THURSDAY, FEB 3 2022

THIS WEEKS PUZZLES FEB 3rd

SUDOKU 6 2 1

9 3

4

5

3

1/1

1 8

6

Free

How to play

Improvise

Sudoku is a logic puzzle where you have to populate the grid with numbers. A number can appear only once in each row, column and house. Each puzzle can be solved using logic from the given information and requires no guesswork.

ANSWERS 7 4

1

8

5

6

3

9

2

7

5

4 6 9

3

5 3

5

7

4 6 2

1

1

8

7

2

3

8 2 9 1

8

7

6 9

8

4

3 5

2 7 8 4 9 5 6

7

6

9

9

6

1

1/1

2

5

3

3

8

2

4 1

7

9/22/21, 9:38 AM

Mingus

4

Miles

1

5

Latin

4

Jam

8

Sudoku is a logic puzzle where you have to populate the grid with numbers. A number can appear only once in each row, column and house. Each puzzle can be solved using logic from the given information and requires no guesswork.

1

HOW TO PLAY

3

Funk

6

2

2

4

1

Ella

Festival

9

2

Duke

Yardbird

7

1

Down Beat

4

Swing

9

Clubs

5

7

Sax

3

Chick

8

6

Satchmo

3

7

8

Blues

5

9

9

Ornette

8

New Orleans

1

5

Bebop

Basie

6

3

2

Monk

How to play

Acid

Sudoku is a logic puzzle where you have to populate the grid with numbers. A number can appear only once in each row, column and house. Each puzzle can be solved using logic from the given information and requires no guesswork.

WORD SEARCH

9/22/21, 9:38 AM

The Clare Echo Crossword

1/1

Daily Quick Crossword: 21 September 2021, 9/21/2021 Michael Curl

ouse warriors r graceful female

12

R

13

1

T

U

S

S

21

E

14

E

T R E A M

15

R

16

R O U G H

A M A Z O N S

A

T

10 8

E S

S

17

J

V

S C O U R

U

I

M A R 2

E

I

3

11

I

9

S

M A N S E

I

O

N E R 4

5

C

O N

E

S Y

6

L

U

P H 7

Michael Curl

Daily Quick Crossword: 21 September 2021, 9/21/2021

Opening Hours Mon - Sat 10am - 10pm Sun 12 noon - 10pm

t nd white beast nced person tic material l drama ather left

T

20

Phone 065 6820914

19

#supermacs heart of Ennis

D E

I

(065) 682 0914

A

H

O'Connell Street, Ennis

18

I

O L D H A N D

Introducing our extended delivery service available from 1pm daily Order through Supermac’s app

P A N D A

25

t condiment h wine

23

24

C

23

B

22

T

system

E

21

22

20

T

19

A

18

O P E R A

17

C

16

I

15

L

14

A C R Y

13

D U E

12

11

I

10

U

9

CROSSWORD ANSWERS 1 Pungent condiment 2 Spanish wine 3 Jittery 4 Negligent 5 Underwater detection system 6 Spare time 7 Intuitive feeling 13 Childish fit of anger 15 Tiresome 16 Be a go-between 17 Football 18 Succulent fruit 19 More proficient 21 In front E

8

1 Sailor 5 Slender graceful female 8 Scrub 9 Large house 10 Female warriors 11 Crude 12 Loathe 14 Current 18 Black and white beast 20 Experienced person 22 Synthetic material 23 Musical drama 24 Bart’s father 25 What is left

DOWN

R E S

le

ACROSS

25

7

E

6

U

5

C

4

H O M E R

3

24

2

nt ater detection system ime feeling fit of anger e -between ll nt fruit roficient

1

QUIZ 35

THURSDAY, FEB 3 2022

The Clare Echo Quiz THE BURREN

old is the limestone in the 1How Burren?

was Blackhead lighthouse 7When built?

2

many different orchids can 8How be found in the Burren?

What does Boirinn, the Irish word for Burren, mean?

(a) Dry place (b) Wet place (c) Rocky place

3

What is the ancient grazing practice in the Burren called?

(a) Winterage (b) Strip grazing (c) Seasonal grazing

plant is the Burren famous 4What for? (a)Dandelion (b) Heather (c) Orchid

(a) 1640 (b) 1902 (c) 1964

(a) 27 (b) 12 (c) 32

9What is a turlough? (a) A brackish lake (b) an oligotrophic lake (c) a disappearing lake

. Which of these Burren 10 plants was used to treat arthritis? (a) Wild marjoram (b) Guelder rose (c) Red clover

l THE BURREN

5How high is Slieve Elva? 6How old is Poulnabrone dolmen? (a)4000-6000 years (b) 10,000-12,000 years (c) 12,000+ years

Spot the Difference Can you spot the difference? Spot the 7 differences. The answers will be revealed in next weeks edition.

6. 4000-6000 years 7. 1902 8. 27 9. a disappearing lake 10. Wild marjoram

(a) 314m (b) 334m (c) 344m

ANSWERS 1. 350 million years 2. Rocky place 3. Winterage 4. Orchid 5. 344m

(a) 100 million years (b) 350 million years (c) 750 million years

Last weeks Answers . white logo missing on pants (right) . Pole missing in background (right) . Crest missing on player (front right) . Beanie different colour

. String on hoody missing (front centre) . Bib different colour (back right) . Logo on sleeve missing (back Right)

Pyrite Protest in Ennis Photograph: Joe Buckley