The Clare Echo 03/06/21

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JUNE 3 2021

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‘It could have been catastrophic’

Antigen tests for clubbers in Ennis?

Hero surfers save the day in Lahinch

CIAN O’BROIN

cianobroin@clareecho.ie

C

HAOTIC scenes in Lahinch on Sunday have prompted Clare County Council to commit to additional life-guard resources across the county, however full-time cover will not be in place until the end of June.

Thousands of visitors flocked to Lahinch in the sunshine on Sunday with the absence of any lifeguards plus the surf conditions heightening the danger for swimmers.

Reports of two toddlers going missing, a heart attack scare and twenty plus rescues from the water

A “CONSIDERED and robust plan” has been presented to the Taoiseach which suggests a pilot reopening of the Queens Nightclub in Ennis.

Ennis Chamber together with management of the Queens and directors of the Ennis based antigen testing company Westland Health have created a proposal that aims to support a safe pilot night club reopening for a maximum of 250 people.

Clare TD, Joe Carey (FG) has made representations to Taoiseach Micheál Martin (FF) on the proposal. “A number of pilot re-opening cultural and sporting events are planned, why not have one in Ennis, which is the largest town in Munster,” he stated.

were among the incidents in Lahinch on Sunday.

Bunratty native Jack Marfell was among those rescued from the sea. He told The Clare Echo he was “lucky to be alive” while his partner Katie Burke admitted “I thought he was actually gone.

That’s what was going through my head. Is he under the water Is he still floating”.

Local surfers have been hailed for their bravery over the weekend in carrying out lifesaving rescues on members of the public that got into difficulty. The group of men included Mike Paige, Aaron McGettigan, Ollie O’Flaherty, Ben Bennett, Ollie Welsh, Stephen Hanna, Richard Brangwyn, James Monohan, Liam Posener and Bradley Skidmore.

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Index NEWS

THURSDAY, JUN 3 2021

REACH FOR THE STARS

2-17

GREENER CLARE

18

ENTERTAINMENT

19

WILD ATLANTIC WAY 25-36 BUSINESS

38-39

BUY INTO CLARE

40-43

SPORT

44-49

A

by PÁRAIC McMAHON

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

NEWSDESK

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

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Email: ger.naughton@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

Kid’s pool in Lahinch refurb plans

lSHINE ON: Caroline Gleeson from Ennis has been selected to feature in

an exhibition as part of the inaugural ‘Reach for the Stars’ astrophotography competition run by the Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies with her image of the Milky Way above the Poulnabrone Dolmen

CHILDREN’S learner swimming pool is to be included in the development plan for Lahinch SeaWorld.

In December 2019, Lahinch SeaWorld closed to allow a refurbishment of the facility to take place with a contractor appointed in the second half of 2020.

On Tuesday, the Board of Lahinch SeaWorld confirmed that a new children’s learner pool will be included in the €5.8m development.

Other aspects include universally accessible facilities with toilets, changing facilities and pool hoist to support users with mobility challenges, a 25m pool designed to competition standard, a new front facing landmark as part of a two storey glazed structure that includes a gym, a new jacuzzi, sauna and steam room, refurbished changing rooms and an ‘A-rated’ renewable energy heating system.

According to a spokesperson for the Board, “very significant funding from two incredibly supportive philanthropic funds”, ongoing local fundraisers and support from Clare County Council has allowed for the addition of the learner swimming pool into the plans.

Early 2022 has been set as the target for the reopening of the Lahinch facility.

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THURSDAY, JUN 3 2021

John Burns leaves behind a legacy in Barefield NS CIAN O’BROIN

J

cianobroin@clareecho.ie

OHN Burns leaves behind a legacy as he departs as principal of Barefield N.S after 41 years at the school.

Qualifying as a teacher in 1978 with a first-class honour Master of Education from University College Galway, John would quickly return to the school he spent eight years attending as a pupil, first as an Assistant Teacher in 1980 and later being promoted to principal in 1984.

It wasn’t long before the Burns legacy was left on the school, as his “love for Irish” and “deep respect and commitment to the job” shone through, told Assistant Principal Gillian Moore.

When John started, Barefield N.S. had three teachers, three small classrooms, one prefab, two outside toilets, two cloakrooms and 90 pupils on roll. Since then, John co-ordinated the construction of a new school in 1995 involving six different extensions over 25 years.

Now the school has 16 classrooms and associated facilities, employing a staff of 36 with 383 pupils on roll catering for all abilities.

l FAMILY FUN: John Burns retires from his role as principal Speaking to The Clare Echo, John reflected, “One of my great joys and satisfactions is that our school never requested any funds from our

local Parish Financial Committee for any of our extensions. I raised all the necessary funds through numerous fund-raising activities

with the most generous support of parents, local businesses and community”.

Last week, a series of activities

were organised within the school to mark John’s official retirement on May 28, this included a drive by which attracted over 200 cars and a tree planting ceremony, a symbolic marking of the Burns family tree, starting with John’s father Frank who was acting principal before him and his son Sean Burns, now a special education teacher within the school.

John’s love for debating led to the decision to create the John Burns Debating League within the school last week. Gillian explained that half of the current 24 teacher roster, like herself, are ex-pupils of the school and always found John to be “a guiding and inspirational figure”.

He is looking forward to his retirement, with his wife Margaret, daughter Sinead, sons Ciaran and Sean, which “undoubtedly will be a huge change for me. I am looking forward to the fact that I will have no need for my diary, zoom calls, and meetings. My plans are first of all to relax and enjoy my first proper summer holiday without schoolwork for many years. There is no shortage of jobs at home, between painting and gardening so I am sure I will not be idle,” the recipient of the Department of Education Carlisle and Blake Award for teaching excellence concluded.

Morrissey announced E-coli prevalent in sea as new Clare FM host PÁRAIC MCMAHON paraic@clareecho.ie

E

X LIVE95 FM and Tipp FM journalist Alan Morrissey (inset) has been appointed as the new presenter of Clare FM’s Morning Focus.

Clonlara resident Alan will present his first show on Tuesday June 8th. He moves to Clare FM from his role as a communications officer with the HSE with his predecessor Gavin Grace who fronted the station’s flagship show since 2015 moving in the opposite direction.

A graduate of Mary Immaculate College in Limerick, Alan spent two months as a cover presenter for Clare FM in 2007 for the Friday night show, ‘Weekend Wind Down’.

Subsequent to this, Alan took on the role as Sports Editor and presenter of Spin Talk, the weekday afternoon talk show on Spin South West. He was appointed Sports Editor of Tipp FM in May 2013 before starting a five year stint as a broadcast journalist with Limerick’s

Live95 FM. On his latest role, the 40 year old remarked, “I am delighted to have been given the responsibility of presenting such a prestigious show and to be allowed the opportunity to connect and engage with our listeners each weekday”.

He added, “Morning Focus is many people’s go-to source for all of the news and issues that matter to Clare, and that will remain the case under my stewardship. I want to maintain what is attractive about the show, while over time hopefully adding my own style and some newer elements in terms of content”.

Meanwhile, Ennis native Fiona Cahill has been appointed as the new Head of News with Clare FM. She joined the team at Francis St in 2015 from Live95 FM and soon became the Deputy Head of News.

Fiona is also a graduate of Mary Immaculate College and has fronted the main morning and afternoon bulletins on the station. She is also heard singing the news alongside breakfast show presenter Colum McGrath each week.

E-COLI infections among young bathers remain prevalent at coastal locations in the county, a Clare Senator has warned, writes Páraic McMahon.

Frustration with water quality in Clare has been highlighted in recent weeks, it follows the third prohi-

bition on swimming in as many years in Kilkee. The swimming ban was lifted on Friday by Clare County Council.

A two week old boy was hospitalised after an e-coli infection was passed onto him after an older sibling was swimming in Kilkee,

Senator Roisin Garvey (GP) told the Seanad on Monday.

“I’ve had families contact me where one of their sons got e-coli and he gave it to his two week old brother who ended up in hospital.

“Are we waiting for the Government to get sued in the Courts or something?”.

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THURSDAY, JUN 3 2021

Bishop bans holy gatherings

by PÁRAIC McMAHON PARISHES across the Diocese of Killaloe have been reminded that no First Holy Communion or Confirmation ceremonies are to take place during the months of May and June.

On Tuesday, Bishop Fintan Monahan contacted parishes within the Diocese to advise them that no Sacraments of Confirmation or First Holy Communion are permitted to take place in May or June as per current guidelines surrounding COVID-19.

A senior officer within the HSE made contact with the Bishop on Tuesday morning to emphasis the importance of no ceremonies taking place due to high rates of infection in the Mid-West, predominantly in Co Limerick.

In his correspondence, Bishop Monahan discouraged parishes from setting dates until further advice is forthcoming.

“They are clear that great efforts are being made in relation to the Church ceremonies but it is afterwards with the gatherings that dangers are arising. They further made the point that many of the parents of the children involved are still awaiting vaccination and it would be very much prudent to wait until that happens,” he said of the advice from the HSE.

Hero surfers praised for life-saving work PÁRAIC MCMAHON

A

paraic@clareecho.ie

GROUP of surfers were responsible for saving dozens of lives at a chaotic Lahinch on Sunday.

Scenes at Lahinch on Sunday saw thousands of visitors visit the beach with no lifeguards on duty when it was reported that two toddlers went missing, a heart attack scare occurred and over 20 rescues from the water were carried out by volunteer lifeguards and surf instructors.

Increased lifeguard service is to be introduced to Clare’s busier beaches from this weekend while full-time cover will not be introduced until the end of the month. Weekend service of lifeguards begin at beaches across the county this weekend as originally scheduled with a full-time service to commence from Monday June 28th.

l CHAOTIC: A packed Lahinch at the weekend A spokesperson for Clare rescues on members of the pubCounty Council has confirmed lic that got into difficulty. The that lifeguard services will be group of men included Mike increased particularly at busi- Paige, Aaron McGettigan, Ollie er beaches from the weekend O’Flaherty, Ben Bennett, Ollie “in light of the level of activity” Welsh, Stephen Hanna, Liam Poobserved. Where available, life- sener and Bradley Skidmore. guards will also be on duty on Richard Brangwyn spent over weekdays. four hours in the water and carLocal surfers have been hailed ried out numerous rescues and for their bravery over the week- assists while James Monohan end in carrying out life-saving was responsible for two serious

rescues.

Speaking to The Clare Echo, one of the men involved, Ben Bennett of Ben’s Surf Clinic recalled that several issues came to the fore on Sunday. “The size of the crowd, the surf conditions and the fact that there wasn’t much supervision added to the chaos, it was as busy as I’ve ever seen it, I was trying to think of a day when I saw so many people on the beach and I honestly can’t think of one”.

An approximate 15 rescues and more than 20 assists were carried out by the volunteers and surf instructors on Sunday who have been volunteering in this capacity for the past three years.

“Over a thousand people were at Lahinch on Sunday. “The beach was jammed, my own children were down there but left by lunchtime because it was too busy. There was thousands of people on the beach and definitely hundreds in the water, it was very busy,” the Kildare native noted.

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by CIAN O'BROIN A BUNRATTY man was lucky to walk away with his life at Lahinch on Sunday after he was swept out to sea on a day where no lifeguards were present on the beach.

Jack Marfell and his partner Katie Burke were relishing in the 22-degree heat along Lahinch’s 2km sandy shore. After a game of soccer, Jack and his friends decided to join hundreds of others in the water, whilst Katie looked on.

A strong swimmer, instructed in his youth by his mother who was a lifeguard, Jack soon found himself about a quarter of a mile out beside the furthest surfers. “Before I knew it, I was out so far and couldn’t see the shore in front of me,” he told The Clare

l SAVED: Jack Marfell

Photo by Joe Buckley

Echo.

With his path and view blocked by the crowded waters, he decided to swim in diagonally but “the further I swam in, the further I got dragged out.” Two operations on his shoulders affected his ability to keep going and panic began to set in. “I started to give up and that’s when I began to fear for my life, thinking how do I get back,” the Crusheen resident recounted Katie, who was looking on, started calling for her partner, but to no avail. After she turned to one of his friends to ask for help and went to point him out, he was no longer there. Walking along the beach, the Ennis woman began to fear the worst. “I thought he was actually gone. That’s what was going through my head. Is he under the water, is he still floating”.

Meeting a girl with a surfboard along the beach, Katie quickly asked for help. Before she set out in the water, she instructed Katie to call a lifeguard at the tower, unaware that there were none on duty that particular day. Whilst walking along the promenade, Katie kept an eye on the water and eventually spotted the girl pulling Jack onto her surfboard. A “huge relief” set in for the pair after reuniting and the next day Jack realised that “he was lucky to be alive”.

The couple are now calling for greater signage to be posted along Lahinch beach, informing swimmers of the dangers of currents. “Luckily it wasn’t a child last Sunday.

There were several unsupervised teenagers swimming near us. If it was one of them, it would have been catastrophic,” Katie, who is a graduate of Colaiste Muire Ennis concluded.

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Leo backs Amazon potential

by PÁRAIC McMAHON MOOTED plans of Amazon setting up a distribution facility in Shannon Airport have been backed by the Tánaiste.

In February, The Clare Echo reported that Amazon were in talks with Shannon Group on the prospect of setting up a significant distribution facility in Shannon Airport.

This week, it emerged that Amazon unsuccessfully lobbied the government for an exemption to construction restrictions to progress its ambitions of opening a fulfilment centre in Ireland, this is to be located next to the Irish military’s Casement Aerodrome in Baldonnel. The company has refused to comment on speculation regarding a Shannon distribution facility.

Tanáiste, Leo Varadkar (FG) has suggested that Amazon look at using Shannon Airport for its supply chains. “A really underused piece of infrastructure in Shannon, for example. Knock and Cork are there too so, you know, if I was looking for them to go anywhere I’d be talking to them about Shannon rather than Baldonnel”.

Varadkar said there was a “gap in the market in Shannon”, an issue he claimed to have discussed with Amazon in “commercial conversations”.

THURSDAY, JUN 3 2021

Ryanair committed to Shannon Airport PÁRAIC MCMAHON

R

paraic@clareecho.ie

YANAIR CEO Michael O’Leary has emphasised the airline’s commitment to Shannon Airport.

After making the call for an approach to be made to Michael O’Leary with the view to Ryanair using Shannon Airport as its European hub, Cllr Pat Daly (FF) contacted the businessman and also furnished him with a copy of The Clare Echo which ran a front-page story on the topic.

In correspondence to the Ennis politician, O’Leary wrote, “We continue to maintain our base at Shannon and are committed to restoring it, as soon as the Government removes the insanely defective hotel quarantine and home quarantine restrictions on UK CTA visitors”.

lUP AND AWAY: Ryanair will continue to maintain their base at Shannon

O’Leary said the Government’s “mismanagement of the Covid

recovery” had cut Ireland off from Europe and labelled it as

“simply insane” that UK visitors can drive across Northern Ireland without restrictions but have to quarantine for fourteen days if they fly into Shannon, Cork or Dublin.

“It doesn’t help when we have a Minister for Transport who has no plan, and no interest in aviation and tourism in Ireland.

“He is just not up for the job, but you may rest assured, we will keep trying,” the Mullingar man stated as he criticised the absence of transport or tourism policies “from our two Green Ministers”.

He pledged to continue to invest and grow Shannon and paid tribute to their working relationship with the Airport management.

Speaking to The Clare Echo, Cllr Daly welcomed the positive sentiments towards Shannon from O’Leary.

“It is good to be reassured he is not walking away from Shannon Airport like Aer Lingus did”.

More Shannon protests planned

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FURTHER demonstrations are planned by the Save our Shannon (SOS) action group which campaigned in Ennis last weekend as they declared the current situation with Shannon Airport to be an emergency.

Short of a dozen protesters gathered at the Daniel O’Connell Monument in Ennis on Saturday afternoon where they flew flags belonging to the counties of Clare, Galway, Limerick, Tipperary and Mayo.

Due to COVID-19 guidelines, a smallscale demonstration was permitted by An Garda Síochána. Politicians were not invited while many Ennis businesses informed The Clare Echo they were unaware it took place, others felt Shannon itself would be a better setting for any demonstration on the Airport’s future.

“I am here on behalf of my sisters in England, they are two regular flyers to Shannon Airport, they love using Shannon because it is so convenient. I am also here for my 93 year old aunt Florence and cousins,” disability activist Dermot Hayes stated.

He believed Aer Lingus let Shannon down “badly” and subsequently would hinder individuals like his aunt Florence from returning to Co Clare.

Dermot believed there was “an appetite” among the SOS campaign and pledged to have more demonstrations in the coming weeks. He said past protests in Shannon

“didn’t turn out great” when questioned on the choice of venue.

Livelihoods of thousands of people are at stake, Chairman of SOS, Denis Vaughan warned. He said the decision of Aer Lingus to close its Shannon Airport base was a potential “death knell” and called for Government intervention to reverse the decision.

He continued, “It’s an emergency. We need action. Shannon is massively important to our region, from an economic standpoint and the wider role in the lives of so many people in the Mid West”.

lSOS: Dermot Hayes

Photo by Fiona McNamara

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THURSDAY, JUN 3 2021

‘The term heart failure has a real impact on the mental health of the human being’ CIAN O’BROIN cian@clareecho.ie

lADVOCATE: Pauline O’Shea at home in Ardnacrusha

Photo by John Mangan

CALLS for a greater understanding to the employment potential of heart failure patients has been made by one Ardnacrusha woman who has been living with the condition since 2012.

Mother of three Pauline O’ Shea had to forego a successful career in marketing five days after her youngest daughter was born, following a combination of chest pains, sweating and nausea which later led to three heart attacks, going into cardiac arrest and open-heart surgery that saved her life.

Pauline was originally diagnosed with Spontaneous Coronary Artery Dissection (SCAD) in the Mater Hospital in Dublin, a condition where a tear forms in a blood vessel in the heart, blocking blood flow. Following this, she was told in the ICU that part of her

Minogue leaves his mark on Flannan’s

heart was dead, joining the estimated 1,800 people in Clare labelled as “heart failure” patients.

At the age of 38, with a newborn and two boys of nine and seven years of age, she was devastated, feeling that her “life was turned upside down.” Frightened and shocked “the real work was picking up the pieces of my life.

Nobody could guarantee a future for me as my ability to keep going was limited.” The demands of motherhood would often inflate feelings of fatigue and at first, for each 30 mins of output, Pauline required a rest. With different physical abilities, Pauline had to reframe her life going forward.

The Tralee native admonished that there aren’t phenomenal employment opportunities for people with heart failure despite having the same cognitive abilities.

“Heart failure isn’t a term that promotes confidence. It’s diminishing. It has a real impact on the mental health of the human being. I no longer had my business,”

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she stated.

She is frustrated that the label paints a picture of someone that is “about to die” and believes that the naming and perceptions should be reconsidered. Her suggestion is for the term to be called ‘heart inefficiency’, an idea she took from the Heart Inefficiency Clinic at Tallaght University Hospital (TUH). “If a person is viewed through a prism of one label, it diminishes the totality of them. It doesn’t mean they are not capable or valuable in society.”

Pauline Founded SCAD Ireland following her diagnosis of a “condition with no representation”. She is of the view that any diagnosis is “a journey for the head as much as the heart” and is encouraging people within the county experiencing heart failure to avail of the IHF’s six free counselling sessions.

“If you have experienced a diagnosis, reach out. It is important not to feel alone, isolated and forgotten about,” she concluded.

Mary Immaculate College

by PÁRAIC McMAHON

A

FTER just shy of four decades at St Flanann’s College, John Minogue has bid farewell to Clare’s biggest secondary school.

Warm plaudits have been flooding in for the Scariff native since his retirement was confirmed on Friday. Although he still had some paperwork to get through this week, the exit of students for the summer holidays has brought to an end his stint as Deputy Principal. “There’s a time to stay and go, I think it was time to go. I’ve spent a lot of years there, enjoying it mostly and I’d have been reluctant to go but it is time to go,” he reflected this week.

When he joined the staff in 1982, the style of teaching was “chalk and talk” whereas now it is dominated by technology and “an awful lot of zooming”.

During his time at the Ennis secondary school, he pinpoints the shift from a churchled school, the advent of co-education at St Flannan’s in 2002 and the closure of the boarding school in 2005 as the substantial milestones observed. “The advent of co-education and girls coming into the school that was a huge change for St Flannan’s College, it was an all-boys school, a boarding school and then it began to change and that was one of the major advancements”.

Children today enjoy going to school, John told The Clare Echo. “When I arrived in St Flannan’s there was still a hint of corporal punishment but that faded out very quickly, not because I arrived in the place but that whole thing of the leather strap was gone and there was a much more pleasant atmosphere. It was still tough but there was an acceptance that corporal punishment was on its way out and was no longer tolerated by the parents or society”.

An increased workload lays at the desk of teachers today, he believed. “There is more

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lFAREWELL: John Minogue

Photo by Gary Collins

expected because society expects more, our society has become very educated and an educated society expects results. That’s not to say there isn’t fun and games in the place but it’s very timetabled, education led, student teacher orientated and there have been great advancements made”.

A selector with the county senior hurlers that reached the All-Ireland final in 2002, Minogue also has the distinction of being the first man to guide Clare to success in the U21 All-Ireland and Munster hurling championship, the breakthrough occurring in 2009.

Unsurprisingly, the father of five is looking forward to enjoying plenty of GAA action in retirement.

Throughout his 39 years at St Flannan’s, John stayed abreast with the primary issues affecting adolescents for each generation, all the while maintaining control and earning the respect and appreciation of students, staff and parents.

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Dentist services declining

by PÁRAIC McMAHON

THURSDAY, JUN 3 2021

Families can’t move without amenities

CLARE TD, Violet-Anne Wynne (SF) has raised what she described a “decline in the number of dentist surgeries across the constituency”.

The Department of Health have confirmed that seven less dentists are contracted under the DTSS in Co Clare since 2017.

Deputy Wynne outlined, “Many constituents have reached out saying that they no longer can access essential and sometimes emergency services because their dentist is no longer accepting medical card presentation as payment, with some having to spend upward of €250 when the cost should be covered by their medical card qualification”.

Clare has worst fair deal rate

by PÁRAIC McMAHON

LATEST figures for the Fair Deal which provides financial support to people in long-term nursing home care shows that support for patients in Clare is the lowest in the country at €930.20 per week. This is €281.60 less per week per bed than Dublin, where the highest rate is paid.

Based on those March figures, across a full year this would amount to a differential per bed of €14,643.20 per annum. For a 65 bed nursing home - the average size of homes in Ireland today - the difference could potentially be up to €951,808 per annum in financial support for patients across the home.

l KILRUSH: An appeal has been issued for more recreational facilities to be made available in the West Clare town

Photo by Páraic McMahon

PÁRAIC MCMAHON paraic@clareecho.ie

R

ECREATIONAL and playground facilities are needed in the heart of Kilrush to promote “the attractiveness of town centre living,” a local representative has affirmed.

An appeal for the West Clare Municipal District to develop a town centre recreational or playground facilities within the heart of Kilrush was issued by Cllr Ian Lynch (IND) who felt it would increase the likelihood of people choosing town centre living.

Sites will be researched within Kilrush, acting senior executive officer in the Rural Development unit of Clare County Council, Bernadette Haugh outlined. She agreed that such facilities were

welcome assets to towns and villages but flagged that issues like ownership, management, development and funding of playgrounds “requires careful consideration from the outset to ensure the long-term sustainability of such facilities”.

She detailed that the local authority favours community partnership “as the preferred approach which fosters the required sense of ownership and responsibility within communities”. Government funding will be sought once a proposal is put together, Bernadette confirmed.

Rejuvenation of town centres continues to be a huge discussion point, Cllr Lynch told a recent meeting of the West Clare MD. He said that the playground in Cappa was a wonderful resource but cautioned, “it has been thronged to the point where it gets uncomfortable to

be there when watching social distance. If you want people to come and live in a space, there needs to be something for them to do”.

Community groups are struggling to get the money each year to fund the facilities, the Kilrush representative added. He maintained the Council should be stepping up in this regard.

As he backed the proposal, Cllr Cillian Murphy (FF) was adamant, “it is critical if we want to reinvigorate and refigure our towns and communities, it is the only way to make them attractive to move into”.

Successful destinations must be examined, the Leas Cathaoirleach of the West Clare MD added. “I refuse point blank for anyone to tell me the weather in Amsterdam is better than Kilrush or Kilkee, they all have outdoor spaces that are family friendly. We can’t expect to look

at buildings in these towns, to do them up and expect families to move in without amenities”.

Equipment is being removed from playgrounds before inspections for fear of not receiving adequate certification. The outcome of this is leading to less equipment “because the funding isn’t there to keep them to standard,” the Kilkee representative highlighted.

A focus on the rural way of life and the quality of life are pillars of the county’s rural development strategy, Director of Service Leonard Cleary advised councillors.

A special insurance scheme to support community groups managing playgrounds is to be explored, he stated.

Cathaoirleach of the West Clare MD, Cllr Joe Garrihy (FG) acknowledged it was “a huge challenge” in trying to change systems from the past.

to attend the scene which is in close proximity to Fr Murphy Memorial Park, they arrived at the house at 5:40pm.

A visual inspection was completed before the EOD crew moved the device to a section of the property, buried it, covered it with sandbags in advance of the controlled explosion.

Gardaí closed the Ballycar Rd to traffic for less than half an hour to allow the operation to take place while neighbouring residents and those from further afield tried to get a view of what was going on.

Crime Prevention Officer, Tríona Brooks acknowledged the understanding showed by the community. “Gardaí want to thank the residents of Newmarket on Fergus for their assistance as there was some disruption to traffic and pedestrians in the area”.

Properties as far as Dromoland and Lemenagh were able to hear the explosion when the routine was conducted.

Local sources believe the grenade dates back as far as July 1919 when the local RIC barracks was raided by the IRA. At

the time, it was common procedure for the gentry to leave their weapons and devices with the RIC for safe-keeping.

Griffin appointed as advisor Controlled explosion carried out

by PÁRAIC McMAHON

A Newmarket-on-Fergus man has been appointed as the political assistant to a Kildare Senator. David Griffin (25) has taken on the role this week where he will be working with Senator Fiona O’Loughlin (FF). “To have an office on the same corridor as Senator Dooley in Leinster House is quite surreal,” David told The Clare Echo.

He believed the new role represented a “fantastic opportunity”. The Vice Chairman of Clare Ógra Fianna Fáil added, “I am really looking forward to getting stuck in and supporting Senator O’Loughlin as she pushes forward a progressive agenda”.

by PÁRAIC McMAHON

NEWMARKET-ON-FERGUS welcomed an army bomb disposal team to the village on Sunday evening following the discovery of a hand grenade.

While clearing out the backyard of a recently purchased cottage on the Ballycar Rd, a family came across a vintage device on Sunday afternoon and sounded the alarm to An Garda Síochána at 2:30pm.

Notification was also issued to the Explosive Ordnance Disposal Team who were requested

l BOMBS AWAY: The grenade

THURSDAY, JUNE 3 2021

O RDER O NLINE o r PHONE 0 65 682 812 7

NEWS 11

12 NEWS

THURSDAY, JUN 3 2021

Holy Island at risk of missing out on UNESCO status

lTOURISM: Holy Island

PÁRAIC MCMAHON paraic@clareecho.ie

collinsjewellers@yahoo.com

I

NIS Cealtra is at risk of being dropped from Ireland’s tentative list for designation as UNESCO World Heritage sites.

In 2010, Inis Cealtra was one of six early medieval monastic sites put forward on a tentative list UNSECO World Heritage status however it has yet to be included in a submission by Clare County Council as part of a review by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, the deadline of which is June 30th.

Deputy Michael McNamara (IND) flagged the matter before the Dáil last week and told The Clare Echo he has raised it at the highest level within Clare County Council.

Minister of State for Local Government and Planning, Peter Burke (FG) revealed that he was expecting an application from the Council for the Burren but not for Inis Cealtra before the deadline.

McNamara believed it was not too late for a submission to be put together by the local authority but stressed all efforts must be dramatically intensified. The inclusion

of the Burren was welcomed by the Scariff native but the absence of Holy Island was labelled as “inexplicable”.

“It is an indictment of Clare County Council if a local group has to make an application because the County Council failed to do so,” Deputy McNamara stated. The idea of Europe was born in the Middle Ages through the work “of a network of monks and they had their origins in monasteries, including Inis Cealtra and Inis Cathaigh,” he added.

Criticism of the Department’s lack of progress in increasing Ireland’s representation on the UNESCO world heritage site list was voiced by the Clare TD. He cited the additional tourist footfall that comes with UNESCO World Heritage site status and the particularly high-value of those heritage tourists. Ireland currently only has two sites on the UNESCO world heritage list, Skellig Michael and Newgrange.

“That is the same number as Afghanistan which have spent much of this century in internal strife and without an effective government. By comparison, Austria and Denmark both have ten world heritage sites, the latter having advanced five sites to designation in the past decade,” McNamara concluded.

Scariff Bay goes online in wait of 10 year application SCARIFF Bay Community Radio has gone online only as the community radio station awaits clarity on whether its bid for a ten year FM licence from the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland has been successful, writes Páraic McMahon.

On Saturday, Scariff Bay’s 100 day licence ended and FM transmissions have stopped.

The station is hopeful this will resume if their application for a 10 year broadcasting licence is given the

green light by the BAI. Station management hope this decision will be known by the autumn with another 100 day licence to be sought in the interval.

PRO of Scariff Bay, Eoin O’Hagan cautioned “this isn’t certain to be approved”.

Shows will continue to be produced and aired online via the station’s website with all shows also appearing as podcasts.

O’Hagan told The Clare Echo that the criteria with

the application was “convoluted” and would take “longer to process”.

He added, “We’re delighted that our roster of presenters has grown through the Covid lockdown.

We’ve increased the number of shows broadcast, including broadcasting mass, our innovative Radio Play Drama Festival, our coverage of the club and county championships in both hurling and camogie”.

NEWS 13

THURSDAY, JUNE 3 2021

COVID-19: Resilience and Recovery

The Path Ahead Thanks to you, the Government’s plan on the easing of restrictions is working. We can see society and economy recovering slowly and steadily.

To maintain our momentum, we need to continue to follow the public health guidelines in these coming weeks. We are entering a new stage of our recovery with the further easing of pandemic restrictions. The National Vaccination Programme is having a significant and positive impact.

Summer Reopening Plan 2nd June 7th June

Hotels, B&Bs, guesthouses, self-catering accommodation and hostels can reopen. Indoor dining and bar services for residents can resume.

Outdoor matches Up to 100 or 200 depending on venue

Indoor visits in private homes* From one other household for unvaccinated households

Outdoor Restaurants, Cafes, Bars* Tables of up to 6 with additional provisions for children under 12

Outdoor Events Up to 100 or 200 depending on venue

Wedding celebrations/receptions Up to 25 guests

5th July (subject to the prevailing health situation)

Gyms, Swimming Pools, Leisure Centres Individual training only Cinemas and Theatres

Outdoor matches Up to 200 or 500 depending on venue

Indoor visits in private homes From three other households

Indoor matches Up to 50 or 100 depending on venue

Outdoor Events Up to 200 or 500 depending on venue

Indoor Restaurants, Cafes, Bars* Tables of up to 6 with additional provisions for children under 12

Indoor Events Up to 50 or 100 depending on venue

Wedding celebrations/receptions Up to 50 guests

Indoor Training In pods of up to 6

Hotels, B&Bs, guesthouses Indoor dining and bar services open to non-residents

19th July

Travel New travel advice and the EU Digital Covid Certificate system will come into effect.

National Vaccination Programme Update May Over half of the adult population (over 18 years) will have received their first dose vaccination by the end of May

70 years, residents and staff in long term care facilities and frontline healthcare workers with improved outcomes

Over 1 million doses administered during May

Significant number of housebound people have been vaccinated with referrals ongoing

Over 2.6m doses have now been administered Plans in place to administer over 300,000 doses weekly Roll out is well advanced to at-risk groups including those aged over

Supporting the Recovery

June

July to September

First Dose Vaccinations will start 40 – 44 year olds

Second dose vaccinations continue for all groups

Second dose vaccinations underway 45—69 year olds

Vaccine extended to all remaining age groups down to those aged 16

38 vaccination centres operational

Vaccination of high risk and very high risk groups is on track Latest research shows that public sentiment on vaccine uptake remains high

Measures and guidance for businesses and individuals, charting an economic plan through recovery and beyond.

Everyone should continue to work from home unless it is absolutely necessary to attend in person. *for further details on this or any of the arrangements go to gov.ie/recovery

14 NEWS

THURSDAY, JUN 3 2021

Media-savvy students have their say

T

HE Transition Year students of Gaelcholáiste an Chláir in Ennis have been participating in a six-week Media and Communications module, which gave them the opportunity to highlight teenagers’ concerns with the Mayor of Clare.

The module, run by Peter O’Connell Communications, focused on several aspects of media and communications, including how to identify breaking news, feature writing, journalism interview skills and how to prepare for a part-time job interview.

It formed part of the school’s Transition Year programme, which is co-ordinated by Martina McNamara, while English teacher, Margaret Moynihan co-ordi-

nated the module. The Transition Year programme is the only one in Clare which operates trí mhéan na gaeilge.

Gaelcholáiste an Chláir school principal, Brian O’Donoghue, said that the purpose of Transition Year is for students to explore lesser travelled paths, as outlined by the minister for education when the programme was launched in the 1970s.

“This Media and Communication course allows students at Gaelcholaiste an Chlair to do just that. It helps them to explore areas and learnings that otherwise they may not have.

“Who knows what interests will have been sparked and where this opportunity will lead. It is terrific to read their well crafted articles.

l CONCERNS: The Transition Year students of Gaelcholáiste an Chláir

This course highlights the joy of experiential learning through the TY programme,” Mr O’Donoghue said.

The Transition Year students interviewed Mayor of Clare, Councillor Mary Howard, and learned how Clare County Council operates, while also raising issues with her, such as pedestrianisation, a lack of recreational activities in Ennis and the need for more medical facilities

NEASA NÍ HAINIFÉIN While Ennis has much to offer, one thing I have noticed is the lack of medical facilities, which local people can avail of.

A primary example is the lack of an A&E department in Ennis.

Three years ago, I hurt my neck in PE at school. I was lying on the floor of the PE hall, unable to move a muscle for the long hour it took for an ambulance to arrive. When I got to the overcrowded A&E department in Limerick, I had to spend seven hours awaiting an x-ray.

in the town.

As part of their module, the students wrote about their home town of Ennis, where they highlighted positive aspects to life in the county capital, while also pointing to some issues of concern.

StudentMiriam Ni Choinn noted: “I think that the streets of Ennis should stay pedestrianised. I feel that whatever we do, there will al-

FINN Ó CEILLEACHAIR

We need to have more cycling facilities in the town of Ennis, such as skateparks and a pump track. There is already a skate park in Lees Road but it is a little bit outside town and people won’t want to go out there just for the skate park. If the county council was to build one, I think the Fair Green would be the best place to build it.

AISHLING NÍ GHEALBHÁIN Most people have a love for one common activity; shopping. Many people chose to shop online as you get more options and it can be generally cheaper. But there are disadvantages of online shopping, like never knowing if what you buy is going to fit. The majority of shops around Ennis are boutiques that have more formal clothes at a price most teenagers cannot afford. Even if the prices were lowered, the clothes sold are not really the style most teenagers would wear. Everyone would benefit if more affordable and diverse styled shops came to Ennis.

AISLING WILLIAMS NÍ RINN

Do you ever go into town and find that there are very few places to sit?

When I'm in town with my friends, we end up sitting at the O'Connell statue or on the surrounding footpath, which isn't very comfortable. I think Clare County Council could make better use of their money, rather than spending it on things that aren't really needed.

There is an indoor market but the space could have been used to develop a nice seating area. The council could at least put a few benches around town, that would be better than nothing.

JOY NI AILLEACHÁIN Ennis is full of character, personality and fabulous people. Aside from its warm sense of community and rich history, the first thing any resident, or visitor, would tell you about the town of Ennis is how awfully narrow the main streets are. Imagine a wheelchair user trying to manoeuvre through the mere metre-wide footpaths, with pedestrians coming towards you. It is extremely frustrating and frightening for anybody, let alone people with reduced mobility.

These paths are simply not wide enough for people to walk on safely without being forced onto the busy road. Some streets have been pedestrianised to reduce the volume of people on these narrow streets. In my opinion, this is a brilliant initiative and something the council should definitely consider making more permanent.

ways be antisocial behaviour and bringing back the traffic won’t stop it.

Recently more shops and cafes are opening up again and the atmosphere is already much nicer. There are a lot more people in town, drinking coffee and having a good time. I’d hate to think the stress we would all feel if there was a lot of traffic in Ennis at the moment. “

GEARÓID MACCUIRTIN

There is a lack of social, academic, recreational and creative activities for teenagers in Ennis. There are no facilities which provide benefits to kids or teenagers in the town.

As a result, this leads to them being drawn towards street groups, alcohol consumption and drug usage.

If you are a musician and you wish to perform with a group every weekend, it would be great to have a definite location, that is open to all and where equipment can be deposited.

I also feel that the council should dedicate more time to preparing and arranging housing for homeless people.

NEWS 15

THURSDAY, JUNE 3 2021

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Shannon man selected as Emmy juror PÁRAIC MCMAHON paraic@clareecho.ie

A

SHANNON man is to be one of the jurors for the 2021 International Emmy Awards.

James Sexton has been approached to become a juror for the International Emmy Awards which recognises excellence in international television programming. The offer is one the father of three is delighted with. He is a member of the Emmy TV club based out of New York.

Sexton has worked in the entertainment business since the age of 17 when he started out as a mobile DJ. From here he created James Sexton Entertainment which would become one of the busiest entertainment companies in the country.

In 2000, HIYA Event Management was founded out of James Sexton Entertainment as the company began expanding nationally and internationally into the different markets of the entertainment industry.

His first TV show format to be commissioned by RTÉ is the very popular ‘Ireland’s Fittest Family’ which he co-created alongside Davy Fitzgerald. The series premiered in January 2014, and has now been on the screens for eight series in Ireland. The Fittest Family format has since gone international with the show now commissioned in seven other countries.

As well as a performing as a DJ and singer in various bands, James is also noted for an infamous cameo appearance in D’Unbelievables as the right funny man ‘Darcy’. He was also the warm-up act for Ireland’s Got Talent on Virgin Media.

lAWARDS: James Sexton

NCT centre to open in Shannon by end of 2021

by PÁRAIC McMAHON A SECOND NCT centre is to be opened in Co Clare by the end of this year.

Shannon is to become the location of Clare’s second NCT centre, motorists of the county will now have the choice of getting their vehicle tested either there or in Ennis.

The centre will be based at the Smithstown Industrial Estate with construction already ongoing. The steel structure is already in place

with shuttering work underway in preparation for pouring the main concrete floor.

Confirmation was issued by the National Car Testing Service (NCTS) to Clare TD, Michael McNamara (IND) in response to a parliamentary question about the provision of additional centres in Clare.

Deputy McNamara stated, “The NCTS decision to open a new NCT centre in

l TEST: The NCT centre in Ennis

Photo by John Mangan

Shannon is very welcome news for the large population of south and southeast Clare area. Once the centre is operational by the end of this year, it will inevitably contribute to reduced waiting times for tests at the existing Ennis test centre”.

He added, “The NCTS has confirmed to me that the facility will be operational before the end of the year, pending there is no more Covid restrictions introduced between now and then”.

Potential of opening a further NCT centre in West Clare must be examined, the Scariff TD maintained.

“I have requested the NCTS to review the potential for a third centre for County Clare in Kilrush to accommodate thousands of people in the west of the county who face much longer than average journey times to an NCT centre. The NCTS has confirmed to me that the patterns of demand for testing and the need for test facilities in Clare will be kept under constant review

by NCTS. I will continue to make representations on the matter”.

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‘Ponies and traps’ testing speed limit

by PÁRAIC Mc MAHON DRIVERS are not the only ones using “excessive speed” on the stretch of road from the Circular Road to the Cornmarket in Ennis with an elected representative flagging that ponies and traps are also going within touching distance of the speed limit.

Alternative traffic calming measures have been sought by Cllr Mary Howard (FG) who informed a recent meeting of the Ennis Municipal District that she had received “a number of complaints regarding excessive speed used by not just vehicles but by ponies and traps” from the Circular Rd to the Cornmarket.

Senior executive engineer, Eamon O’Dea detailed that speed surveys would be carried out. “If the speeds recorded warrants further interventions, the details will be forwarded to An Garda Síochána for their review of traffic enforcement locations”.

Cllr Howard believed the issue had escalated during the lockdown when persons were confined to their own locality.

Support for the proposal was also voiced

by Cllr Mark Nestor (FF) who was hopeful a solution could be implemented.

Consultants appointed for €6.2m social housing scheme PÁRAIC MCMAHON

C

paraic@clareecho.ie

ONSULTANTS have been appointed for the design of a new 26 unit social housing development at Drumcliffe.

Clare County Council’s Social Development Directorate will manage the project design which is also comprised of Vincent Hannon Architects (architects), P Coleman & Associates (civil and structural engineers), Matt O’Mahony Consulting Engineers (mechanical and electrical engineers) and Tom McNamara & Partners (quantity surveyors).

Initial design for the scheme will include 4 four-bed units, 6 three-bed units, 14 twobed units and 2 specially adapted two-bed units. An estimated cost of €6,279,889 for the project is to be funded by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage.

Ennis family awarded for water saving efforts AN ENNIS family has been named as one of the five winners of the Water Conservation Photo Competition ran by Green Schools in partnership with Irish Water, writes Páraic McMahon.

Families all over Ireland were encouraged to save water by asking students to do water saving activities at home and for photographs to be shared by their parents on social media. Winning families received waterproof cameras. Áine Purcell had the winning entry in Ennis with her daughter Róisín and Róisín’s Grandad working together on a rainwater harvesting system.

Green Schools Manager, Cathy Baxter explained, “Through our water theme we encourage water saving in schools, at home, and in the community.

“However, parents/guardians are not always involved, and we want students to keep thinking about water saving when the schools are closed”.

l Róisin Purcell from Ennis and her Grandad worked together on their rainwater harvesting system

l Pictured at Áras Contae an Chláir with (seated, l-r) Anne Haugh, Director of Social Development, Clare County Council, Cllr Mary Howard, Cathaoirleach of Clare County Council, and Pat Dowling, Chief Executive, Clare County Council, are members of the project design team for a new 26-unit social housing development at Drumcliff, Ennis Photo by Eamon Ward

18 FEATURES

THURSDAY, JUN 3 2021

GREEN CLARE

52 pupils from 12 Clare schools contribute to Ocean of Stories book CIAN O’BROIN

T

cianobroin@clareecho.ie

HE Marine Institute is expanding its ocean literary programme in primary schools in Clare with the release of a brand-new ocean anthology book.

With contributions by 52 schoolchildren from 12 classes within the county, as well as the addition of two from Limerick City, An Ocean of Stories looks to enshrine local geographical education into the curriculum for 4th to 6th classes.

The 58-page book was selected and compiled by Carmel T. Madigan, who has been working as an outreach officer for the Marine Institute since 2016.

The project, which was a self-starter, began as a writing competition where children told their own emotional stories associated with the ocean.

Carmel, who set up the Loop Head Sum-

mer Hedge School in 2013 feels that “there is a little fear amongst schoolchildren concerning the water and the ocean. It isn’t really enshrined in the curriculum and there is more about jungles in South America than there is about the ocean, which provides us with 50 per cent of our oxygen”.

A native of Loop Head, Carmel has written several books on nature and wildlife, The Wildflowers of Loop Head in 2012, as well as a detailed book on the shoreline of Ross Beach, Loop Head in 2014.

Since September, restrictions have limited Carmel’s typical outreach duties in the county, but her emphasis on helping children draw on their personal lived experiences is stronger than ever.

Over 300 stories were produced by schoolchildren in the Explorers Personal Story Writing Guidebook, which also included a series of short videos and Zoom sessions, helping children to express their own experiences with the ocean and coastline.

“The age group selected is great. They are well able to write. There is a well-being element tied in with self-expression. The children who are reading it are getting an in-

sight into other children’s lived experiences”.

A total of 500 copies have been published, funded by the Marine Institute.

Although it won’t be directly installed into the curriculum, Carmel hopes that it will prove an invaluable resource for external educators during school visits. The aim of the book is to promote a local education.

“Even though we are an island, it’s not really how we learn in school. I like local education, I like Clare. I want the children to be immersed in the county.

“My visits to a school could include a virtual tour of the Shannon Estuary, going all the way up from Loop Head to Limerick City. That’s not something you would find it textbooks. Through these tours you encounter industry, navigation and historical systems. That’s why local education is great,

in my opinion,” the professional artist stated.

Carmel’s innovation and work stands testament to her inclination to always put the children first, particularly during a difficult time for those in primary schools, remarked Joint Acting CEO of the Marine Institute Patricia Orme. She added that the new ocean literacy book is a timely reminder of our love for the ocean as we approach World Ocean day on June 8th, celebrating The Ocean: Life and Livelihoods this year. “I am sure many will treasure this book in years to come,” she concluded.

Schoolchildren were involved from: Cratloe NS 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th, Scariff NS 5th, Killaloe GNS 5th, Kilkee NS 4th and 6th, St. Patrick’s GNS 6th, Moveen NS 5th and 6th, Lahinch NS 4th. Fanore NS 5th, O’ Callaghan’s Mills NS 5th and Inch NS 6th.

YOUR COUNTY. YOUR WASTE?

Illegal dumping is costly. It threatens our environment. Let’s all take responsibility. #StopIllegalDumping Report Illegal Dumping Call: 1800 606 706 Email: enviroff@clarecoco.ie

lANTHOLOGY: Carmel Madigan pictured with the book

Arts & Entertainment 19

THURSDAY, JUN 3 2021

‘I decided before I die to give a little about the life I lived’

Kilrush home features in Dermot Bannon’s new show

by PÁRAIC McMAHON

TADHG HOLLAND

E

news@clareecho.ie

NNIS nun Sr. Carmel Kehoe released a new book of poetry and pros on Tuesday entitled ‘Memoirs Singing the Song of Life’.

The book which is Carmel’s fourth having previously released ‘Angels of God Come to Meet Her’, ‘Canticles of Colour’ and ‘The Surge of Gratitude’ follows Carmel’s life from her childhood in Lacken, Wexford through to her time in the clergy, teaching at various schools across the country, working in a therapeutic facility for those with schizophrenia in London and serving as a hospital chaplain in Beaumont.

The book is also interspersed with essays detailing Carmel’s philosophies and thoughts on both life and religion.

One such essay ‘Our Purpose in Life’ even quotes The Clare Echo’s own ‘Thought for the Week’ columnist Ronan Scully.

For Carmel what was really important about writing this book was to have a permanent document of her life stories.

“I decided that before I die I’d give a little about the life I’d lived and that kind of thing. You know the way we all kind of live our own lives and nobody knows what goes on and what people do or anything like that. I really basically did it because I wanted to hand on something to the nieces and nephews [so they could] see what this cracked aunt of theirs was up to,” said Carmel.

Carmel has been a nun for over 50 years and much has changed in that time. Her childhood in Lacken was one built on a tight knit community something Carmel herself says is very different now. However she believes she’s carried on the values she learnt in her childhood throughout her life “[that sense of community] has changed hugely but I have managed to continue on I think with who I was as a child if you can imagine that because I lived in Waterpark, Drumbiggle for nineteen years and that was a council es-

lMEMOIRS: Sr Carmel Kehoe

tate and I very much had an open house and you know the three houses above me were outpatients from the psychiatric services and when I was there they were in and out and they were part of who I was and a part of my family.

“They looked like my family and then I always had a dream of you know that I wanted to have a house of my own but I wanted it with a reason that people along the way if they needed a helping hand they could maybe just stay a while and recover their souls and go on and I did that quite a lot. It was a very very used house so I continued on if you like the tradition of childhood.” Said Carmel.

Memoirs Singing the Song of Life is now available at Ennis Bookshop, Mary Kelly’s on O’Connell St and O’Connor’s Newsagents in the Market.

A KILRUSH pub that was restored into two unique holiday heritage homes is to feature on Dermot Bannon’s latest RTÉ show this weekend.

Dermot Bannon’s Super Small Spaces travels to Kilrush where the architect meets Paul Gleeson at the Merchant’s House and Store in the heart of the town. The series sees Bannon traverse the country meeting the people who have designed, renovated, reimagined and rebuilt the spaces around them throughout the pandemic.

After returning to Kilrush in 2010, Paul got involved with the estimated €150k restoration of the property at Market Square. The building itself dates back to 1811 when it was leased by the Vandeleur family. The Glynns occupied the house at various stages until 1890 and were responsible for modernising it.

The Clancys were the next tenants, they were then followed by the Ryans from 1901 to 1930, opera singer Catherine Ryan was noted for singing from the drawing room where her voice was heard across the town.

There is a rich music connection to the Merchant House with the Dubliners

once playing a session from the sitting room during the Fleadh Cheoil of August 1963. When the lease ended, the Glynns sold the property and it was purchased by the McDermott family which included Joe McDermott, a former golfer on the PGA tour. After the Lynch family, it was acquired by the Gleesons.

Paul’s father Michael ran Gleesons Hardware which he founded in 1960.

Producers of the show contacted the Kilrush man before Christmas about the prospect of making an appearance. His passion for the revitalisation of towns and villages has previously been documented by The Irish Times.

New uses for buildings such as turning old shops into apartments needs to be considered, Paul stressed.

“My motivation is to show people this can be done. We can save towns and villages, we can find new uses for vacant buildings.

“Retail is declining but we can still find new uses for buildings instead of of coming into towns and villages and seeing derelict buildings.

We can have living breathing towns and villages. Our towns are so under-valued but are wonderful places,” he added.

Fleadh Nua looking forward to better times FOR the second year running Fleadh Nua will not be taking place this year due to Covid 19 restrictions.

But Fleadh Nua Chairman Frank Whelan is looking forward to the return of the festival in 2022, when he promises it will be bigger and better than ever.

In the meantime, he hopes that memories of the great Fleadhannas down through the years will sustain the many lovers of tradi-

tional music, song and dance for whom the Fleadh Nua has become a much anticipated annual event.

“Those of us who are old enough remember the 70s and 80s when the Fair Green became a tent village for the last week in May. “Then there were the huge parades and colourful floats winding their way through the narrow streets of the town, with set dancers batterin’ away on the back of a moving truck, and no one ever

fell off.

“But sadly Health and Safety regulations did away with all that,” he recalled.

Frank Whelan also recalled some memorable Fleadh concerts like the one in 2006 at Cois na hAbhna where all the surviving musicians and singers named in Robbie McMahon’s famous song “The Fleadh Down in Ennis” came together to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Fleadh Cheoil na

hÉireann held in Ennis for the first time in 1956.

In the absence of a Fleadh to organise, Frank has been busy going through hours of video from past Fleadhanna in the Cois na hAbhna Archive, which he hopes, in time, to upload to the Archive’s YouTube channel. In the meantime, he has a special treat for Fleadh Nua fans.

“I came across some video of the Fleadh Nua from 1985, it was

amazing to see how much the town, and the Fleadh has changed since then.

“There’s some familiar faces and lots of young musicians in the Aos Óg concert, who are maybe not so young anymore!

It will be up on the Fleadh Nua Facebook page and the Cois na hAbhna Archive Youtube Channel from Saturday next, so have a look, you never know who you might spot,” Frank added.

20 COLUMNIST

THURSDAY, JUN 3 2021

Eoin Neylon

An inside look at Clare’s political spectrum With

With

In this week’s column, Joe Melody reflects on the challenges and joys of the spring season

A

T LAST a verdancy has came over the countryside, with the incessant rain of May replenishing the thirsty blotting paper like canvas that was the countryside, this appears to have been the panacea we were waiting for.

At the mid-way point of the year, it would seem apt to have a cursory review of the spring period. Like most springs, the spring of 2021 has been described as tough, weather wise. My thought on this is spring was neither good or bad, spring was spring. Changeable, joyous, frustrating, fulfilling, challenging, re-invigorating, all these words describe spring at some point.

Spring by its very nature is a volatile couple of months, a season that in my opinion extended well into May, it was like a bad guest, it did not know when to leave. However going forward we as farmers must make sure we are prepared for the “bad spring” as having a contingency in the form of extra fodder reserves etc. will help us cast a cold eye on spring and see it through without needless hand-wringing.

Irish agriculture is en-

HERD: Joe Melody

joying one of its best years in terms of market returns and its brilliant to see that this is across all farm commodity classes. A good year to a farm is not just important for the present viability of a farm business.

It can also contribute to the medium to long term prospects of the business if the allocation of that extra income is done in a way that will make the farm a more efficient and productive business.

If a farmer is under capitalised, it can lead to cutting back on necessary spending on areas like soil fertility or perhaps they will have to wait until they have the money to do a relatively simple recurring investment that might lead to greater profits if it were done. On our own farm, thankfully breeding season

is slowing down with what seems to be at this stage a small number of repeats, I keep my fingers firmly crossed on this as we are not at our sixth week of breeding but the signs are positive as of yet. This day last year we had a large amount of our silage work under cover and wraps for the year but we have yet to make a bale in 2021, we should get our first cut in the pit this week but the changeable weather could make a fool of me and my assumption.

Our reseeded paddocks have come alive and are now sporting a light green shadow of new grass, it will be a few weeks yet before we get to graze these. The dairy heifers now have two red Aberdeen Angus bulls residing with them to pick up any repeats.

Power elected Chair of Macra THE Annual General Meeting of Ennis Macra na Feirme took place recently on Zoom.

Among the high-profile guests were Training & Development Officer Debbie Donnelly, Outgoing Munster Vice President Sean Wallace and Incoming Munster Vice President Elaine Houlihan.

It was an interesting year ending up with difficult circumstances relating to COVID-19.

However, it continued to give the club an opportunity to re-invent themselves and show their presence online through social media in various different ways.

In her Chairperson's speech, Caitríona Power thanked everyone for electing her as chair and said she was delighted to be taking on the role. She is looking forward to the year ahead, the club already has a busy few

weeks ahead with a range of activities from footgolf, farm skills and kayaking. Caitríona would encourage anyone with an interest in farming, sport, public speaking or even meeting new people to join Macra. She said it was the best decision she made five years ago.

The election of officers was officiated by Sean Wallace. Elected on the night were Chairperson; Caitríona Power, Secretary; Cillian Griffey, Treasurer; Justin Mulqueen, Rural Youth Officer; Mark Nestor, Young Farmer Development Group Chairperson; Donal Bourke.

You can register your interest in joining the Macra by visiting their Facebook or Instagram page or join online by visiting macra. ie

Outdoor summer needs planning

A

S I sit here typing, the heat radiating from my arms indicates the slight sunburn received over what prove to be the best weekend, weatherwise, this year so far.

I am old enough and middle class enough to be in a circle of friends that now have our own places and be able to sit in the back gardens, barbeque flaming, enjoying delivery pints from the local of whoever’s house we happen to be in this weekend. This is the kind of ‘Outdoor Summer’ that the likes of Tony Holohan and co evidently spoke about when they proclaimed that as their tag line for the lifting of restrictions.

It also betrays their actual complete lack of empathy for people outside of their own social bubble that do not have such luxuries, especially young people who have sacrificed so much over the past 15 months, largely for the benefit of others. They don’t have such comforts, and require public spaces in order to allow them enjoy the Summer months, as per Government suggestions, outside.

A tweet from the Chief Medical Officer on Saturday evening, relaying the “shocking” scenes he witnessed of mainly young people out and about on the streets of Dublin has generated a lot of debate.

The same people agreeing with the CMO that it was awful to see crowds of people in narrow streets we, by in large, the same people only weeks previously congratulating Dublin City Council for shutting Portobello Square, one of several public spaces around the country that have been shut in order to “prevent crowds gathering”.

The, frankly, idiotic thing about such a policy

being that the less space you make available to people, means the greater the crowd density in other locations to which people will then flow. It is completely counter intuitive for the goals they proclaim they want to achieve.

What would be far more conducive to a safe, clear outdoor Summer, would be for local authorities to put proper facilities in place for people to be able to get out and about and enjoy cities, towns and countryside meaningfully and respectfully, whilst adhering to public safety measures.

“

The Council had utterly failed in their duty of care to the citizens of Clare

“

With

There need to be more public litter bins and toilets to begin with.

In Clare over the weekend, we saw another glaring oversight from officials who had failed to adequately prepare for the outdoor Summer and the good weather last weekend when, shockingly, no lifeguards were on duty on Clare’s popular beaches.

The Council had utterly failed in their duty of care to the citizens of Clare, and we luckily avoided a more serious incident or potential loss of life by pure luck and the wonderful volunteer work of surf instructors and other concerned citizens. The issue was highlighted by Ben Bennett of Ben’s Surf School, Lahinch on social media and was quickly acted on by various politicians so that a repeat incident will not occur on the county’s beaches this Summer.

Nevertheless, it highlights an ongoing trend in the county of a failure by the local authority to maximise our outdoor spaces and amenities, which is often left to private enterprise to promote and bring to the wider public, with some notable exceptions.

The Shannon and Fergus rivers and estuaries are prime examples as under-utilised areas of scenic beauty. Locations like the Kilkerrin Battery near Labasheeda, Killone Abbey in Ballyea and Dysart O’Dea Castle should be developed and further promoted in order to showcase more of the history and natural beauty of the county. In East Clare, the Brian Boru name still resonates, yet we have failed to capitalise on it to showcase more of East Clare outside of Killaloe village. The history of that time would make for a fine heritage trail, opening more of East Clare to those who want to get out and about and experience the locations that make the legend.

Likewise, our county town fails to exploit much of its natural beauty. Due to bad planning, the river Fergus is often seen as something we need to protect the town from, given the history of flooding we’ve experienced down through the years. However, the Post Office field would be another location for a novel tourist attraction. That of a sinkable park. One that people can visit and enjoy as a local amenity in the Summer months, allowing people get close to the river and its fauna that gave birth to the town. In Winter, it can be closed off to allow it flood naturally, fitted out with street furniture designed to survive flooding.

Rather than shut us off from our wonderful natural heritage, it is time to start embracing it more. It is the one natural resource we have in utter abundance.

COLUMNIST 21

THURSDAY, JUN 3 2021

BEETROOT AND GOAT CHEESE SOUP

O

NE of Clare’s greatest food success stories has to be St. Tola Goat Cheese. A fantastic product from Inagh that is served in restaurants the length and breadth of this country. I was in the amazing Cheese Press in Ennistymon the other day and picked up a jar of their Greek style cheese as well as a stunning cup of coffee. Whilst the coffee was polished off in no time, I held onto the goat cheese and waited until I had some fresh beetroot to pair it with.

Now as I write this we are going through a bit of a heatwave, so I thought I would do something light, vibrant and fresh with my beetroot and goat cheese; cold beetroot and goat cheese soup. This will be along the style of a gazpacho soup and we will pack it full of flavour.

Kearney Cooks

the goat cheese and blend it. Taste and adjust the seasoning with the salt and pepper.

Step 2 Pour into a bowl and crumble some St Tola Greek style cheese over the top.

Step 3 Horse into it. Honestly, it’s that easy, and you get a light, refreshing, healthy starter that’s packed full of flavour and low in calories.

I love a recipe like this. Very simple

to do, there’s very little cleanup after and I get to feel smug for a while because I ate some of my five a day. Also if you want to give this dish a creamier texture then fire in a tablespoon of Greek yoghurt as you’re blending.

As usual if you have any questions about this recipe or others please feel free to message me on Insta. Just search @stevekearney37 or KearneyCooks.

Enjoy

Steve K

YOU WILL NEED: • 4 cooked beetroot • Half a red onion • Half a cucumber • 2 garlic cloves • 3 sprigs of dill • 1 red chilli • 200ml of vegetable stock • A jar of St Tola greek style goat cheese • The juice of half a lemon • Salt and pepper to season Step 1 Put everything into a blender except

R

ebecca O’Neill

Wear sunscreen

As a beauty therapist, Rebecca O’Neill knows her stuff when it comes to protecting your skin from the sun’s harmful rays

W

E ARE coming into the summer months and hopefully sunnier days.

In saying that, protecting our skin should be one of our main priorities.

This week I’m going to talk about the effects sunburn has on our overall health. Protecting your skin is more popular nowadays than ever but still needs to be discussed regularly. We forget that our skin is the biggest organ on our bodies and it needs to be taken care of.

Your skin is a massive interpretation in your mood and your overall health. It shows everything, in terms of dehydration or unhealthy eating habits. When studying to be a beauty therapist I learned a lot in terms of how the skin works and how it reacts to certain things.

Sunburn is one of the leading cases of skin cancer and melanoma. Some people don’t generally realise how sunburn can really damage your skin and may even

cause some harsh complications with your health. Many of us still expose our skin to burning rays without UV protection. Even on a cloudy day, sun cream is still very essential when it comes to protecting your skin. Sun damage is often not even visible. UV light can alter your skin and change your DNA to cause ageing in your skin.

This DNA damage can result in

many different skin cancers. How soon sunburn and sun damage develops depends on your skin type, the sun’s intensity and how long you’re exposed to the harmful rays.

Preventing sunburn would mean to wear sun protection frequently, reducing your time in the sun by watching the clock and often wear tops that protect your shoulders etc. Always apply sunscreen about

SUMMER: Wearing sunscreen is vital

30 minutes before going outside and reapply sunscreen every two hours.

Treating sunburn involves relieving reddened skin and reducing the pain. Home remedies for treating sunburn would be to use cold compress towards the skin or using any creams or gels such as aloe vera, menthol or any sort of after sun products. Stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water and reduce your time in the sun.

The saying “You are what you eat” really comes into effect when it comes to your skin. Eating greasy and unhealthy food can cause clogged and congested pores and leave you with spots and oily skin. When not staying hydrated enough your skin can become extremely dry, giving a grey looking complexion. Eating clean foods tailored to your needs and staying fully hydrated can make a huge difference to how your skin looks and feels. Minding your skin is a contribution to your overall health and needs to be a main priority.

22 COMMUNITY

Community KILKISHEN

THURSDAY, JUN 3 2021

CONTACT

NEWSDESK 065 671 9021 news@clareecho.ie

DROMOLAND

FOOTPATH FUNDING

HOPES for the finishing of a footpath opposite Hamilton Park in Kilkishen have hit a stumbling block, writes Páraic McMahon.

Senior executive engineer in the Killaloe Municipal District issued a note of caution at a recent meeting that the allocation for works in 2021 to footpaths “has been significantly reduced”.

Her comments came in response to a request from Cllr Alan O’Callaghan (FF) that the local authority “finish the footpath across from the GAA field in Kilkishen in the interests of safety”.

The proposal was seconded by Cllr Tony O’Brien (FF).

Madden highlighted that the referenced footpath was “currently a gravel footpath and should funding become available throughout the year, the Killaloe Municipal District will consider surfacing this pathway”.

Cllr O’Callaghan acknowledged that the €160k allocation from the IPB, which provides insurance cover to local authorities and other public bodies “won’t last long if we’re all going on about footpaths”.

Putting blacktop on the footpath “would be nice,” the Kilmurry publican stated. He said the footpath in question was not too wide and “a couple of thousand” euro would be sufficient to complete the job.“It won’t take huge funding, a small bit will finish it off,” he added.

KILKEE

lFOUR: Fiona Staunton from the Alzheimer’s Society of Ireland with Sarah McCoy, Annette Hassett, Tom Enright, Peter O’Flanagan and Damian Trimble (all from Extreme Networks) pictured as they tee up for Extreme Networks Corporate Golf Fundraiser in aid of the Alzheimer’s Society of Ireland on Sunday August 8th. Dromoland Castle Golf Course will be the venue for the team of four ball scramble competition. Prizes will include the mid-west corporate team trophy along with prizes for nearest to the pin and longest drive. Early bird registration fee for a corporate team is €400.00. The competition is limited to 10 teams with registration open from 17th May 2021.

To book your slot please email Tenright@extremenetworks.com or call 083 139 0189 Photo by Brian Arthur

UMH LIMERICK

CLIFF ROAD SAFETY SIGNS

WARNING signs are to be erected at the Cliff Rd in Kilkee following safety concerns, writes Páraic McMahon.

Temporary speed reduction measures had been sought by Cllr Cillian Murphy (FF) for the Cliff Rd in Kilkee “to minimise the risks to the increased volumes of pedestrians, cyclist and families using this section of road”.

This proposal was seconded by his party colleague, Cllr Shane Talty (FF).

Senior executive engineer, Alan Kenneally confirmed that some warning signs would be installed by the County Council “along the Dunlickey Road between Kilkee and the access to the Cliff Walk. We can review the situation at a later date if necessary”.

Speaking at a recent meeting of the West Clare Municipal District, Cllr Murphy noted that increased outdoor activity has highlighted areas for improvement when it comes to infrastructure. “The Cliff Walk in Kilkee is hugely busy, it is spectacular and attracts an awful lot of people,” he stated.

Murphy informed the meeting that students at Scoil Réalt na Mara in Kilkee drew signs of children on the road and labelled this as “a very effective way of humanising the consequence of not slowing down”.

He is hopeful these drawings will be placed along the road in the near future to impart that message to motorists.

lTHANK YOU: MIRACLE baby Ella Blennerhassett turned two recently and to celebrate, she presented a book written by her mum Lisa to the

Neonatal Unit in UMH Limerick. Ella was born at only 26 weeks gestation weighing only 506grams. She spent 19 weeks in the Neonatal Unit at UMHL. As a way of saying thank you, her parents Mark and Lisa set up a go fund me page for her first birthday, raising a staggering €8,020 for the Neonatal Unit. With this money, Ella’s mum wrote a book that parents can read to their babies during their time in neonatal care. Entitled ‘Once Tiny, Forever Strong’, the book will be a story of hope and reassurance to parents who are going through an extremely stressful time. The family have also gifted a piece of artwork to the Neonatal Unit. Pictured are Professor Roy Philip, Denise Dempsey and Deirdre O’Connell with Mark, Ella and Lisa Blennerhassett and (inset) Lisa’s book

COMMUNITY 23

THURSDAY, JUN 3 2021

TUAMGRANEY

TULLA ‘BAD DIPS’ TO BE MONITORED

lMOVING ON UP: Attendees at the LCETB Youthreach Moving On seminar included Jake Rowat, Odin Harvey, Bob O’ Donnell, Patrick Lucas, Ciaran Rogers, Alice Fitzgerald and Mikey Tuohy from the East Clare Youthreach in Tuamgraney

WORKS to identify “bad dips” along the R462 from Tulla to Kilkishen are to be monitored and carried out this year, writes Páraic McMahon.

An appeal to complete the improvement works and resurface “the bad sections” was issued by Cllr Joe Cooney (FG) at a recent meeting of the Killaloe Municipal District “in the interests of road safety”.

Approximately 7km in length, the R462 between Tulla and Kilkishen was described by Cllr Cooney as “a very busy regional road with a lot of traffic moving on it”.

Senior executive engineer, Niamh Madden stated that a section had been observed “which requires restoration maintenance and it is the intention of the Municipal District to carry out these works this year.

Further sections of the R462 will be closely monitored throughout 2021 and repair works will be carried out as necessary.

“It is anticipated that an additional stretch of this road will be considered for works under the 2022 Roads Works Programme”.

Cooney said that “a couple of sections of this road has gone into bad disrepair” and attributed this particularly to conditions over the winter months. “It is a very busy road and hopefully works will be carried out sooner rather than later”.

As he seconded the motion, Cllr Alan O’Callaghan (FF) informed the meeting it was a road he travelled “a good bit every day”.

He concurred with the remarks of Cllr Cooney, “over the winter months sections of it seemed to go into bad disrepair.

Further support was voiced by Cllr Pat Hayes (FF).

ENNIS CHAMBERS IRELAND AWARD

CLARE County Council has been presented with the Chambers Ireland 2020 Excellence in Local Government ‘Best Library Service’ Award for the project, ‘Connections: Stories

by Syrian Families in County Clare’.

The presentation of the award was made at Shannon Library by the Chief Executive Officer of Shannon Chamber, Helen Downes, to representatives of Clare County Council.

‘Connections’ is a compilation of written and illustrated stories in which the authors – children and adults – recall real places and experiences and imagine a bright future in Ireland and, in particular, in County Clare.

The publication is primarily the result of a literacy project shared by children of Ennistymon National School, Scoil Mhainchín, with their parents and siblings.

The objective of this library initiative in the ‘Right to Read’ programme was to give space for each parent and child to connect and have fun together as a group as well as improving the participants’ oral literacy and writing in English.

The project began with an invitation to Syrian families (who had come to Ireland through the UN resettlement programme) to use their local library and to offer them a special project where they could share their stories and work as a group.

The workshops were facilitated at Ennistymon Library by visiting author, Debbie Thomas. Illustration workshops were led by illustrator, Tatyana Feeney.

With assistance from Poetry Ireland, iBbY Ireland and Creative Ireland, the project was initiated and managed by Clare County Library.

The Cathaoirleach of Clare County Council, Cllr Mary Howard, said: “The ‘Connections’ project has been a hugely positive one, that demonstrates the power of storytelling and writing in linking two very diverse cultures.

“I congratulate the library service, the project organisers and participants, and the children and adults who shared their stories.”

lCONNECTIONS: The Chambers Ireland Excellence in Local Government Award 2020 for ‘Best Library Service’ was presented to

Clare County Council on 27th May, 2021, for the project, ‘Connections: Stories by Syrian Families in County Clare’. Pictured in the newly developed sensory garden adjacent to Shannon Library are (l-r): Cllr Gerry Flynn, Chair, Social Development Strategic Policy Committee, Clare County Council; Anne Haugh, Director of Social Development, Clare County Council; Cllr Mary Howard, Cathaoirleach, Clare County Council; Helen Walsh, County Librarian, Clare County Council; and Helen Downes, Chief Executive Officer, Shannon Chamber.

24 FEATURES

Road to serenity

RONAN SCULLY

Thought for the week

I

t was my daughter Sophie's birthday this week whom myself and my wife adore and love so much. I wrote her a prayer letter which I have used for my column this week. It starts by saying how much we love her and always will.

"You and your sister are the most special gifts we have ever been given and we will remember that always. From the moment we knew you were on the way, we felt the love that is so overwhelming.

We never knew a love so fierce as the love we felt for you the moment you were placed on our chests. We heard there is nothing like a parent’s love, but we never understood what it meant until that moment.

We know we are far from perfect, and can only hope to be half the parents that we were blessed and fortunate to have, but we can promise you one thing, we couldn’t love you more. We will always try our best but there are times when we will fail, times when we will let you down and we hope you can forgive us.

We will try to give you everything you need and some of the things you would like. We will put your needs as much as we possibly can before ours always. Writing these honest words gives us a sense of purpose and joy that cannot be explained. In that moment when we first held you we knew that we wanted to protect you from the evils of the world and teach you how to be a strong independent woman. We know that some of these words may be hard for you to understand now, but we are still writing them anyway. We are hoping that these words in time and especially when we are gone will help you along the way of your journey of life.

Love and Pray

Learn to love and pray with all your heart and soul. Love and prayer are the greatest feelings anyone could ever have, give, receive or experience. It is free to give or receive. Always remember it is important to love and pray for yourself too. Fall in love with every single piece of yourself. The great, the bad, the good, the beautiful and the ugly.

The majority of your happiness will come from self love. You'll never be happy in life if you don't accept and love yourself.

So start this moment by loving yourself so you can spread that love and more to others, especially those most in need in our world. We want you to remember that love is worth it when it’s real, but love

is not the same thing as affection, gifts, or other romantic movie type stuff. Love is sacrifice and hard work. Love is being more concerned about the wellbeing of your other half than you are for your own. Love also means sometimes having your heart broken, and that’s okay too.

Broken hearts heal, and loving deeply and truly is worth it. We want you to fall in love, and fall hard, but also let yourself–your true self–be loved deeply in return.

Don’t hold back when you find your love, sweetheart. Love is always worth the risk and love is always kind, passionate and caring.

Speak your mind but always as much as possible consider other people’s feelings and emotions.

Relationships are so fragile at times that even a single act of rudeness may ruin or destroy everything you have built. Speak up if you see injustices and inequalities in your surroundings. Make a stand if you feel that your rights are abandoned but have your limits and know when to stop. Remember that words can either build or destroy relationships or even lives.

Always know that there are those whose love and understanding will always be there, even when you feel most alone.

All people are special

Be respectful to every single person you will deal with. In your eyes they may have no significance.

But in the eyes of others, they are friends, fathers, mothers, wife, husband, children that make them special. Thus, treat them with care and compassion. Be kind, faithful, prayerful and generous. As you grow, you will start to see that many people in this world are not kind and that many more are selfish. I want you to be different. Love and Pray. You have inherited your granparent’s kind and generous hearts and I want you to embrace it! I want you to spread kindness like wildfire, just like your grandparents did their whole life. You are their legacy, and you should be proud to be so much like them.

Keep your faith. Remember the time when we as family prayed together for God’s guidance? It’s called faith building.

Why? Because when everything falls apart and you have nowhere to run, you can hold on to that faith and turn that into hope. God makes miracles. Trust God, and trust your instincts. I hope that we can instill in you a deep sense of faith. Our God is a loving, caring, friendly, non-judging and trustworthy God. He has a plan and a

purpose for your life that is more beautiful than we can even imagine. Learn to talk to Him and pray daily, put your faith in Him alone, and trust Him with all things. He will never fail you. And He will give you the instincts and discernment you need to make hard choices and face hard things in this life.

You will never fall when you lean into Him. Know by heart what siblings are all about. Please take care of your sister and be a source of strength to one another. Your siblings are your ultimate blessings.

Nurture them, love them, feed them with love the way we are loving you and always will we. Be kind and always think of others. Do good for others, it's good for your soul.

The world needs more people who see beyond themselves.

Remember this: the world will spin without you. So anytime you think you're hot stuff, just remember that! There is no such thing as a life better than yours. Please.

Please. Always remember this. Do not lust after more than you have.

Goals and dreams are fine and important, but appreciate every single thing you have been blessed with thus far. You will never find happiness by looking for more.

Life will give you everything that's yours. And if you don't have it then chances are it was not meant for you. What's meant for you will come to you when it is supposed to! Know that all that glitters is not gold! It might be gold plated. But for real.

Things look shiny and perfect from the outside, but they usually aren't. Please do not lust after money, fame, and shiny things.

There is so much more to life than that! May you find enough inner strength to determine your own worth by yourself, and not be dependent on others' judgments of your accomplishments. Our dreams for you is that you walk your journey in life with humility and a strong sense of right and wrong. Pursue your dreams with gusto and always know that even in your weakest moments, we are so proud, blessed and honoured to be your Mammy and Daddy."

Thought for the week

As your thought for the week, always remember that you and your sister are the greatest joy and miracles in our world. Remember these words. You Are Enough.

There will be many days when you feel like everything is going wrong, and that you cannot do it. Push those words out of your head. You are more than enough, and you can do anything.

I pray that God will bestow favor upon your life so that you may enjoy it in whatever you do. May you flourish and prosper abundantly in every aspect of your beautiful life.

Happy Birthday. Love Mammy and Daddy.

THURSDAY, JUN 3 2021

Charity to plant one million trees in Africa CLARE Echo columnist and Self Help Africa founder Ronan Scully is on a mission to plant another million trees in Africa and 100,000 in Ireland, following the success of the project last year.

"Trees are a vital source of food for millions of people, and they have been a source of food since mankind first walked the earth. To this day it’s fairly common in Africa for many rural households to depend on forest foods between harvests," Ronan commented.

Self Help Africa’s campaign planted nearly half a million new tree seedlings at Lake Ziway over the past year. This action was part of a wider and hugely ambitious government programme that encouraged the biggest reforestation effort in the history of Ethiopia.

"I’m hugely proud of the ‘One

Million Trees’ campaign that Self Help Africa launched last year, and hugely grateful to our great friends at Glenisk for supporting the effort by putting the campaign, and the vital information about the importance of trees on their yoghurt pots and milk cartons," Ronan noted.

Based on the success of the initial campaign, in March 2021 a new collaboration, ‘Another One Million Trees’ was launched with Glenisk by Self Help Africa. Small and medium sized companies across Ireland are being invited to join in planting another million new trees in Africa and in Ireland while offsetting their carbon footprint.

If you would like to support this work please do so by finding further details of this campaign and their work in Africa at www.selfhelpafrica.org.

lLIFELINE: Danitsu planting a Tree as part of the Self Help Africa One Million Tree Campaign in Ziwzy in Ethiopia

Ash trees 'particularly affected' by disease ASH trees in Co Clare have suffered particular affects from Ash Dieback which are feared to pose long-term problems for the species of trees and subsequently the game of hurling, writes Páraic McMahon.

The invasive tree disease is expected to affect all ash trees in the country, causing the majority of them to die over the next two decades.

In Clare, “the amount of ash plantations and the prevalence of ash planting on acid soils in the county” were referenced by heritage officer, Congella McGuire when putting forward

the view that Clare has been “particularly affected” by Ash Dieback.

An appeal was issued by Cllr Donna McGettigan (SF) before the Shannon Municipal District asking that they work in tandem with Teagasc “who are developing a gene bank with the ultimate goal of producing tolerant ash seed, in order to remove and replace dying or dead ash trees with ash dieback tolerant trees”.

Contact has been made with Teagasc in Nenagh who have responsibility for Clare on the matter, Congella confirmed.

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Aran Islands staycation market STUART HOLLY

editor@clareecho.ie

S

PEAKING passionately about Doolin’s rich connection to the Aran Islands comes easily to Eugene Garrihy, mainly due to his family’s integral and historical role in that process.

There’s an inexplicable feeling of escape when you step onto the soil of one of the three islands and witness the crystal waters, white sand and meandering stone walls. The solitude must have been something even more bewildering when the journey was first made by Eugene’s aunt Nellie Garrihy in 1930 as a teenager. Growing up in Ennistymon, Nellie was invited on a daytrip to Inis Oirr on a converted Galway Hooker by her neighbour Caitlin McNamara, who would go on to marry infamous poet Dylan Thomas. Nellie, who sadly passed in February of this year aged 106, didn’t know then it would be the beginning of a century long relationship between the Garrihys and the Aran Islands.

Eugene continues, “The relationship really blossomed in the 1940s with my father and the islands and he became the main trader between Doolin and Inis Oirr. He was the main shipwright and agent for the islands as they started to develop themselves with lobsters and potatoes, and in return he’d be sending out gates and donkeys and bulls… it was a source of great relationship building between the Aran Islands and Doolin and my father was the man that built that relationship.”

Fast forward to 1968, Eugene’s brother PJ first took payment for bringing a passenger to Inis Oirr on board a currach. PJ would spend much of his life fishing the choppy coastal waters under the towering Cliffs of Moher but due to pressures on fishstocks the family was encouraged to move into the tourism sector and Eugene states, “Now we spend our time catching tourists.”

These days, Doolin2Aran Ferries export thousands of people every year from the mainland to the limestone islands along with running daily Cliffs of Moher tours.

The company was established in 1999 by PJ and Joe under the moniker Cliffs of Moher

Cruises, with Eugene and Donie joining a few years later.

Those relationships built by Nellie, Jack and PJ have been maintained and forged further with the islanders in the last 20 years. Last year, survey results published by various media outlets alleged that 92 per cent of islanders were against the early lifting of restrictions which would allow people visit the islands, however Eugene contends this survey was inaccurate and unsubstantiated. “So it was as far from a factual based survey and on the ground we didn’t pick up any of that,” he says, adding that not one case of Covid has been linked to people travelling on Doolin2Aran Ferries over the last year.

Eugene also recognises the vital importance of promoting Doolin and North Clare as a tourist product, something he has done on an international stage with Tourism Ireland over the last five years. And while he admits that 75 per cent of Doolin2Aran’s clientele has been of the international calibre, the absence of bus operators trucking international tourists into Doolin this summer could result in a positive impact on the surrounding local economy. That will be one of

Take a cruise to the Cliffs of Moher

the major implications of a staycation tourism market, according to Eugene. He adds that the Aran Islands are a “critical part” of the tourism offering in North Clare.

“Last year we had just a three month window to sustain our business and it was extremely busy and it was 100% staycationers.

This year, we’ll be - at least until the end of July - 100% staycationers, so we are marketing to them and hoping they will turn up to the Wild Atlantic Way. “In relation to the benefits of the staycationers. In fine weather it can become quite busy at Doolin but the great benefit of that, particularly this year, you won’t have coaches so you have a lot of independent travellers, and the towns and villages around Doolin, Ballyvaughan, Corofin, Kilfenora, Ennistymon, Lisdoonvarna, Lahinch, Liscannor, Kilshanny, will gain and benefit from the fact that people are passing by getting the ferries to the islands, so it gives us great encouragement to continue to market as a destination rather than a business.”

In recent years and in tandem with building up their fleet of ships, Eugene says that being members of the Cliffs of Moher &

GARRIHY’S

SAVE

10% PROMO CODE

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Tel: 065 707 5949 | 087 245 3239 www.doolin2aranferries.com

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brings new opportunities Burren Geopark along with Burren Ecotourism, has put in sharp focus.

Among their fleet are the the new Spirit of Doolin and the Star of Doolin. The Star is a 200-person capacity ship which Eugene says is the most modern, eco-friendly, low emissions engine vessel on the coast of Ireland. “We decided to up our investment as a central part in our role as members of the Cliffs of Moher & Burren Geopark and members of Burren Ecotourism. When we were fishing, through ignorance and as a byproduct we were killing a lot of birds and stuff like that getting caught in nets. Now we proudly work closely with Cormac McGinely, a local marine biologist, who trains up our crew, people working on the shore as well, for the benefits of the protection of our environment. That includes birds, mammals and fish. We proudly do that as a means of protecting our environment.”

l Spirit of Doolin and (right) Eugene Garrihy

To book with Doolin2Aran Ferries, visit doolin2aranferries.com or call 065 707 5949. Advanced booking is strongly advised.

Pictures from along the Wild Atlantic Way

l Poulnabrone

l Cottage in Doolin John Mangan

l The Burren landscape

l The Burren Art Gallery

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Just a

O

UR visitors are back, and it is so wonderful to see people enjoying the fabulous cliffs and magnificent views.

Breathe in the natural, clean air, soak up the serenity and reconnect with loved ones that have been missed so much over the last year.

We recommend spending a glorious two hours at the Cliffs of Moher, though many visitors choose to spend a little longer. Book your tickets online and in advance for the best rates; if you need to change your time or date, the flexibility to do so is offered.

See www.cliffsofmoher.ie To get the best out of your day we recommend a walk that takes in the views from both North and South platforms. The Cliffs of Moher are the highest sea cliffs in County Clare. South of the visitor’s centre, there is a beautiful old stone tower from the early 1800s called Hag’s Head, built in the Napoleonic Wars era when fears of a French invasion ran high.

To the north, O’Brien’s Tower marks the highest point of the cliffs. Climb to the top of O’Brien’s tower, or chat with one of our tour guides and learn about the building’s history and that of its owner, Cornelius O’Brien.

This lookout point was built in the 19th century

by O’Brien, the area’s MP, and affords breath-taking views of the surrounding areas along the cliffs and out to the Aran Islands. To the north you can see the Twelve Bens, one of Ireland’s highest mountain ranges, and to the south lies the coast of Kerry.

The Cliffs of Moher is designated a Special Protection Area and strives to maintain favourable conservation conditions for its wildlife. On your trip you may see, among others, kittiwakes, peregrine falcons, and puffins who cling to the windswept cliff faces, as well as whales and dolphins swimming at the base. The Cliffs are home to seven protected bird species, the magnificent seven as we like to call them, with over 30,000 breeding pairs.

If you head to the South platform, you can view

Breathe in the atmosphere of the Wild Atlantic Way Reconnect with loved ones in the great outdoors, enjoy the views, the picnic tables, safe pathways, craft & gift shops, takeaway coffees.

Listen to the wildlife and learn from our custodians.

Book online for the best rates. We offer flexibility on all online bookings.

Book online only at www.cliffsofmoher.ie

™

Co. Clare, Ireland.

T: +353 65 7086141 E: info@cliffsofmoher.ie

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perfect day…

The Visitor Centre has lots to offer, including informative and entertaining permanent exhibitions in its extensive gallery space and auditorium. Visit the on-site theatre and experience an exhilarating virtual-reality cliff-face adventure. For the little ones there is an interactive play area. Browse the Craft and Gift store, with something to suit everyone and more importantly their budget, stunning products that are all either locally sourced or Irish made. Once you have your fill of shopping both from the craft street stores outside the Visitor Centre and inside, relax with a takeaway homemade locally produced sandwich and coffee. Order a delicious picnic 24 hours in advance from Cliff View Café; check out their range of gourmet hampers on www.cliffofmoher.ie. There are lots of picnic benches around the site and you can even pick up a picnic blanket from reception to use during your visit.

Three thousand reasons to visit the Aran Islands and take a Cliffs of Moher cruise this Summer!

Bill O’Brien’s Doolin Ferry launches their €3,000 Summer giveaway.

S

INCE 1970, Doolin Ferry has been transporting passengers from Doolin pier on the voyage of a lifetime to the last bastion of Irish native culture; the Aran Islands. The pioneering O’Brien family added a majestic cruise underneath the world famous Cliffs of Moher in 1990, allowing passengers unspoiled views of the Cliffs.

New for Summer 2021 is Doolin Ferry’s ‘Seafari’, a 10 seater rib that can be hired for private charters where you dictate the itinerary so no two journeys onboard are ever the same!

Doolin Ferry has come a long way since starting out with a currach, manned by Bill O’Brien over 50 years ago to two of the largest, fastest and most comfortable boats operating in the West of Ireland. They were humbled to win ‘Boat Tour Operator of the Year’ this year to coincide with their 50th anniversary, this award being testament to the hard work of their loyal crew of 45.

Commenting, Liam O’Brien, Managing Director, said; ‘We are so excited to be back operating our daily service from Doolin Pier.

Seeing the boats sailing again signifies hope for the future of the tourism sector and a return to some sort of normality for those involved in the industry in Clare.’ Liam continues, ‘In fact we are so thrilled to be back on the seas that we are offering a massive €3,000 cash prize to one lucky passenger

this Summer! All you have to do to win is book a ticket for the Aran Islands or a Cliffs of Moher cruise and you will be automatically entered. The winner will be announced at the end of the season and you can enter as many times as you wish.’ ‘So, whether it’s your first time sailing with us or you’re looking forward to enjoying a return visit, we look forward to welcoming you onboard this Summer’ concluded Liam.

While you are at reception, why not pick up some binoculars too and head to the main platform to get a better view of the birds nesting along the Cliff edges?

We want you to enjoy your day whatever your age or mobility, with that in mind we have the Lifts of Moher: if any members of your party have trouble walking to the platforms, we have an electric vehicle with experienced guides to transport you around the site.

You are now in the Burren and Cliffs of Moher UNESCO Geopark, an area of geological and historical significance. Explore the unique Burren landscape in a variety of ways and stop in the surrounding villages to enjoy the warm embrace of North Clare and all it has to offer. We look forward to welcoming you and remember book online and in advance.

For more details see www.cliffsofmoher.ie

­ ­

­

l Bill, Son Liam, Grandson Conor

Goat Island, where the Puffins like to nest from the end of March to early July. Don’t worry, safety barriers made from Liscannor stone keep you from getting too close to the edge. These stone walls and paths are hewn from quarries close by and feature intricate patterns laid down over millions of years.

As you walk, the authentic sounds of Ireland, and particularly County Clare, float along the air from the many buskers playing along the paths.

Film fans can savour the feeling of walking a famous set as the Cliffs have made countless appearances on the big and small screens. Make sure to check out Ail na Searrach, the Cliffs to the north of O’Brien’s tower, which were cast as The Cliffs of Insanity in 1987 classic ‘The Princess Bride’. Looking south from O’Brien’s Tower you will spot the cave that featured in Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince.

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Luxury cottages back on the menu at Fiddle + Bow in Doolin this summer

W

ELCOME back! The Fiddle + Bow Collection looks froward to welcoming you to Doolin this summer.

Nestled in the heart of Doolin, just 40 minutes away from Ennis, The Fiddle + Bow Collection opened its doors two years ago in May 2019. The collection comprises of the Fiddle + Bow Hotel, luxury self-catering cottages, holiday lodges, Russell’s Fish Shop and The Meadow. Our identity celebrates the village’s rich reputation as the home of traditional music in Co. Clare. We honour the natural Burren landscape through our design, music and use of local materials and produce to deliver an authentic sense of place to our visitors and guest.

Russell’s Fish Shop is located next to the hotel and champions local food producers and suppliers in Doolin and Clare. Our passionate team offer an authentic ‘taste of Doolin’ using fresh and locally sourced, sustainable ingredients. Lobsters caught daily at the base of the Cliffs of Moher are among the features on our menu. Discover our new summer menu during your visit to Doolin and choose from fresh lobster rolls, calamari, homemade chips

and more! The Terrace is now open at Russell’s Fish Shop too, featuring covered seating and heated lights on cool summer evenings.

On the grounds of our hotel, you will find our outdoor sanctuary, The Meadow. Serving locally roasted coffee from the Burren, açai bowls, warmed brioche French toast, sourdough sandwiches and more, The Meadow offers a variety of breakfast and lunch items to enjoy outdoors on our picnic benches. Food-to-go is also available to bring with you on your day trip to the nearby Cliffs of Moher or even the Aran Islands.

As proud members of the Burren Eco Network, we instil a spirit of sustainability across the Fiddle + Bow Collection. We encourage our guests and explorers to immerse themselves in all that the local life and landscape has to offer in Doolin.

Follow our journey on Facebook and Instagram @fiddlebowcollection For more information visit fiddleandbow.ie Contact us on info@fiddleandbow.ie or (065) 670 0200

Part 1

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THURSDAY, JUNE 3 2021

W

ESTERN Herd is all about cans at the moment. The Clare brewery, once exclusive to the Banner, have gone national since the pandemic.

“With 90% of our sales in bars and restaurants in Clare, our business model collapsed overnight last March. Bubble wrapping bottles of beer was torturous so we switched to cans and have not looked back”, says Michael Eustace, co-owner of the brewery.

Their core range was first to go into cans along with a number of one off special brews using experimental hops.

One of the best things to arise out of the pandemic was that it afforded time to experiment with

recipes and new beers. The most recent release is a pilsner. Inspired by the lighthouse that guided merchant ships safely along the ancient maritime route of Clare’s Wild Atlantic Way, Loop Head Pilsner is crisp, dry with a slightly fruity finish. “We didn’t have the capacity in the past to allow for the fermentation time required for a pilsner until now so we seized the opportunity to get a full batch brewed. The response to the first batch was phenomenal so we brewed it again and we will keep brewing it.” continued Michael Follow Western Herd on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter for further stockist details.

A taste of Clare

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Spooney’s: from THURSDAY, JUNE 3 2021

STUART HOLLY

editor@clareecho.ie

T

HE unrivalled buzz of Lahinch was on full display last weekend as thousands flocked to the seaside town to absorb the fine weekend weather. Much development has taken place in Lahinch in recent years, including pedestrian and slipway upgrades and one recent change that won’t have gone unnoticed for visitors is the addition of Spooney’s, proudly mooring the well traversed promenade.

The famous anchor of Vaughan’s in Liscannor now adorns the wall of what used to be O’Looney’s Restaurant, representing the anticipated opening of Vaughan’s on the Prom Restaurant. Adjacent to this is their sister establishment of Spooney’s where an offering of fish & chips along with a cacophony of icecreams are available. After a swim, surf or long walk in the fresh sea air, the opportunity to briefly drop anchor at Spooney’s is too tempting to pass up.

A year of economic uncertainty has turned into a beacon of opportunity for some business people. This is the case for the Vaughan family, already known for their high standards in food and service at their seafood restaurant in Liscannor village.

Its prime location isn’t the only thing that makes Spooney’s a unique prospect. Homemade produce created from local ingredients has been a staple to the Vaughan’s success story. This carries through not only on their fish & chips offering, but also their homemade ice-cream.

Speaking to The Clare Echo, Lisa Vaughan explains that the ethos of ‘from cow to cone’ is a daily process that begins early each morning on a farm in Liscannor. “We make all our own ice-cream. Every morning at 6:30am we collect our own milk from a local farmer, Laceys in Liscannor, and it’s pasteurised at Vaughans in Liscannor and brought to Spooneys in Lahinch where we make our own ice cream, from cow to cone! We also make our own sundaes, teas and coffees.”

At Spooney’s fish & chips, everything is homemade from the chips, to the batter and tartar sauce. “Every-

Open Daily 10-7pm

Lahinch, Co. Clare

0657081414

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cow to cone thing is made on the premises.”

Spooney’s is a family effort, explains Lisa, with her husband Denis along with their two sons James and Denis involved. The family aspect of the business goes right down to the name, with Spooney’s being named in honour of Denis’s late brother John, who sadly passed away on January 25, 2017.

John was a fanatical Manchester United supporter and locally was known for being a founding member of Moher Celtic FC. He was an avid collector of autographed jerseys, many of which now fittingly adorn the inner walls of Spooney’s.

Lisa adds that the reaction from patrons has been overwhelming since their ‘soft opening’ in February in the middle of the 5k lockdown, and they already employ in excess of 25 people. “It’s been hell for leather since. It was a soft opening as they say, but it’s just been ‘go go go’ since we opened the doors and then when the 5k was lifted, it just got busier and busier.”

When restrictions lift for indoor dining in July, Spooney’s will continue on a takeaway only basis however Vaughans on the Prom will facilitate

those wishing to dine in, and enjoy the culinary delights on the edge of the Atlantic.

Spooney’s is open 10am-7pm seven days a week.

For booking enquiries for Vaughans on the Prom, email vaughansbookings@gmail.com.

Family filled fun at Moher Hill farm

M

OHER Hill Open Farm and Leisure Park is situated overlooking Liscannor Bay and is much more than a fun family filled day out.

This 14 acre open farm, which has been featured on RTE programmes, ensures that children and adults alike have an opportunity to learn about and interact with their favourite animals in breathtaking surroundings.

The farm boasts a wide variety of animals such as‘Leroy’ the llama, ‘Andy’ the alpaca and our ever popular ‘Ozzie’ the ostrich. Our animals include both exotic and those typically found on Irish farms to ensure that there is something for everyone. Children have an opportunity to feed the animals with animal food provided or join in our daily bottle feeding and animal holding experience.

The farm has a wide range of activities to en-

sure that all ages are kept entertained, regardless of the weather with our enchanting Fairy Trail, out-door go karts, all weather out-door play area and an out-door 9 hole miniature golf course.

Moher Hill Open Farm allows children and adults to learn about animals in a safe environment where education and fun combine for an exciting and unforgettable experience.

Whatever the weather, there’s lots of fun to be had at ‘Award Winning’ Moher Hill Open Farm, the friendliest, family-run ‘open farm’ in Co. Clare.

Moher Hill Open Farm is compliant with the Fáilte Ireland Covid-19 Safety Charter. Meet the raccoons in their new enclosure.

Moher Hill Open Farm Cliffs of Moher Road, Liscannor, Co.Clare.

065 7081071 087 2258347

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Taste of Italy in Lahinch CIAN O’BROIN

L

cian@clareecho.ie

AHINCH’S North Italian styled restaurant Raviolo Verde is looking forward to what it expects to be one of the busiest summers for dining along the Wild Atlantic Way. Entire restaurant renovations took place on site throughout the restrictions, with a brand-new upgraded kitchen put in place to accommodate what has been an enormously busy period for takeaway dinners. Restructuring of the restaurant to comply with COVID rules and regulations has also taken place ahead of the eagerly anticipated indoor dining date of July 5.

The Main Street Italian Ristorante Pizzeria has also added Kim Murphy to the roster, who will be taking over as Front of House Manager for the busy season. Bookings are now being taken for July 5. Reservations can be made online through www.raviolo-verde.ie or by calling the restaurants phone line at: +353 65 708 1426.

The online ordering system will continue with takeaway following the full reopening of the restaurant come July 5 as it looks to service a huge influx tour buses, visitors, surfers to Lahinch as well as all those that will be travelling along the Wild Atlantic Way this summer.

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‘Something for everyone at The Rock Shop’ in Liscannor CIAN O’BROIN

L

cian@clareecho.ie

ISCANNOR’S The Rock Shop has been offering families more than just a simple shopping experience along the Wild Atlantic Way for the past 25

years.

Founded by current owner Adam Johnson and his father, the former Aliwee Caves employee always had an interest in local rocks and fossils. Now sporting a large tearoom and both indoor and outdoor dining facilities, the family-owned business once comprised of an old two roomed primary school in St. Brigid’s Well.

Following a large extension in 1998, it has

since evolved into a special space, adorning rocks and fossils from all over the world, each with their own unique story to tell. In store, one can find Irish minerals, lots of Connemara Marble, Trilobites, Fossil Fish as well as the highly regarded healing crystals.

Co-owner Cathy Johnson told The Clare Echo “we leave a bit of information on each rock and fossil. People love to know where they are coming from and what their healing properties are. We have something for everyone here at the Rock Shop. We have loads of kids stuff and they particularly enjoy the tactile textures of the rocks”.

The support of locals has been incredible throughout the winter months, in particular the tearoom, where people wander around the shop, have coffee and pick up birthday gifts for friends and family. It all helps in

the off-season, Cathy added. The Rock Shop also sustains a fantastic relationship with the Wild Atlantic Way, welcoming tourists from all over, particularly those in close proximity that are visiting the Cliffs of Moher, just 3.4km away.

Ahead of the busy outdoor summer months, the Rock Shop has just launched a brand-new ice cream van, where it will be serving a range of different food and drink items. “We are more than just a shop; we are an experience. Our indoor space can sit up to 60 people, which we will be looking forward to once restrictions allow. We do all our own home baking and are recognised for our apple tart, scones and coffee”.

The key ingredient, Cathy admitted, is having a great and hardworking team behind it all. “It takes a while to know the busi-

ness as there are so many bits in the shop.

We are a bit more than just a shop here, we are a fun family experience”.

l A fun family experience: The Rock Shop, Liscannor

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THURSDAY, JUNE 3 2021

NEWS

Clare is Amazing,

7

Sponsored by

take it ALL in...

Wonderful Experiences

to Enjoy in Clare on the Shannon Estuary Way Clare is Amazing, T Sponsored by

HE Shannon Estuary is a spectacular and unspoilt estuary located just off the Wild Atlantic Way. This area of remarkable natural beauty is where Ireland’s longest river – the mighty Shannon flows into the azure water of the Atlantic Ocean. Along the Shannon Estuary

take it ALL in...

Air Atlantic Adventures, Shannon

ALL . It will e you!

Bunratty Castle & Folk Park

THERE is an intriguing fascination with aviation.

Spread your wings and take a trip to Air Atlantic Adventures in Shannon town to indulge your passions. You’ll find a mix of interesting aviation wonders past and present here, where you can learn about Shannon Airport’s unique history and contribution to global aviation.

It is well suited to families and tour groups with different camps running throughout the year where children of all ages can get to see flight simulation in operation. Adults may wish to indulge themselves with a totally ‘hands on’ Flight Simulation Experience. Booking essential. www.atlanticairadventures.com

Way, you will find delightful towns, pretty villages and world famous shore fishing sites.

Here are some interesting things in Clare to try out while exploring the Shannon Estuary Way:

Beds of Silk, Labasheeda

IF you are looking for somewhere different to stay on your break – why not give glamping a go! Beds of Silk provide luxury glamping getaways without kids in Labasheeda, a picturesque village in Clare nestled by the River Shannon.

The Irish translation of Labahseeda is Leaba (Bed) Sioda (silk) – the Bed of Silk. With strong environmental credentials, the shepherds huts use pumped rain water for showers with hot water supplied by a BioGas powered boiler – a low carbon but high quality experience. The Labasheeda Peninsula has lots on offer from stately homes, ancient churches, to holy wells and a Napoleonic battery. www.bedsofsilk.com

S H A N N O N E S T U A RY

Vandeleur Walled Garden, Kilrush

ored by Clare County and IF YOU areCouncil looking for a good day out, head for BunON the edge of Kilrush town, Vandeleur Walled Garden eature in this paper over the weeks ratty.

The kids will be enthralled with the Castle and the is nestled within Kilrush Woods. You can easily spend a f experiences that can be explored dungeons.

There is plenty of space to run round the folk test public health guidelines. few hours here and enjoy lovely way-marked walks, the ‘Get outpark There’ share their andand experience past times or enjoy the playground delights of a beautiful walled garden, and gorgeous hometips! What you discovered and inhave the midst of the “village street”. You can pet or feed the made food inloved the Woodlands Bistro. Before you head Tell our readers what you most ons within the County? Tell us, and animals including twoon beautiful Irish wolfhounds: Meabh don’t forgetthe to County, pursue the great selection of plants we’ll share some of the best tips about your home, recent trip around

re a l C l l Te IN and W

and Saoirse. If you need a break, relax in the café with available for purchase. and win some great prizes - including a coffee and a tasty snack. www.vandeleurwalledgarden.ie Family Staycation Holiday. www.bunrattycastle.ie w suggestions: Every second week we will draw winners for Whether arriving our latest prizes from those you who are provide good or leaving our beautiful county, great loop walks suited to walkers of Shannon Ferries run a ferry different levels of fitness. Our clifffeedback and tips. Then, at the end of August, short crossing from Killimer to top, mountain-top, Tarbert.

While keep an eye out for the bottlenose BRINGand thehill-top familywalks on an exploration – take awetrip will also draw from all entrants forcrossing, a very special are spectacular. dolphins that live in the waters of the estuary. Enjoy. weekend staycation for either a family or two around this impressive hill fort near Newmarket-on-Fer• Bring a picnic, or buy a picnic. As sharing (the winners choice!). gusplaces and enjoy woodland. You’ll be surprised ‘eating in’ are notthe yetmystical open, either bring a picnic or check you have never visitedout here before. the places you can pick up a tasty

Mooghaun Hill Fort and Woods Ballynacally Village

This Weeks Prize

takeaway. Restaurants and cafés are very creative at this time, and you can order and pick up excellent meals Win on a ‘Walk with a Hawk’ THIS is aagreat for the family the Shannon Esand snacks.

It’s also great stop way to support tuary local businesses! at community the Aillweeplayground Cave Burren Way. It has a well-equipped

Birdsofofthe Prey Centre to entertain the children in the heart village, as Hawk cuppa Walk at Aillwee is a once in a lifetime well the Estuary Way Café for a Agreat and gorgeous opportunity to interact with some of nature’s top cakes. It even has outdoor seating, so it’s a great place for predators.

Guided and instructed by experienced Falconers, Aillwee’s people to re-connect with each other along thehour-long shores‘Walk of with a Hawk’ through hazel woodland and across Burren limestone the Shannon Estuary. pavement is tailor-made for anybody seeking a totally

Scattery Island

unique experience. The lucky winner and a friend can avail of the prize once the Aillwee Cave and the Birds of Prey Centre re-opens. That’s something to look forward to! See www.AillweeCave.ie

LOCATED just off Kilrush in County Clare, Scattery Island is a truly unique visitor experience on the Wild S C AT T E RY I S L A N D Feedback Online to Win! Atlantic Way. With just a 20-minute ferry ride, you can immerse yourself in Scattery Island’s ancientTohistoric have a chance to win, sites including five Churches, a Cathedral, avisit magnificent www.Clare.ie/TellClare Round Tower, a Napoleonic War Artillery Battery and a working Lighthouse. Pack a picnic or even enjoy a swim #VisitClare while you’re there. It is a great day out for all the family. #ShannonEstuaryWay Scattery Island Tours run trips to/from the island. . Please remember to follow all public health advice. Above all, always distance yourself www.Clare.ie www.scatteryislandtours.com m other people.

Wear face coverings, covering your mouth and nose, when in proximity #WildAtlanticWay

well and frequently. See www.gov.ie/covid

A I R AT L A N T I C A D V E N T U R E S , S H A N N O N

VA N D E L E U R WA L L E D G A R D E N , K I L R U S H

NEWS 37

THURSDAY, JUNE 3 2021

Cruinniú na nÓg

Clare Saturday 12th June

Free Events for Children & Young People

Local Events include

Ireland is the first, and only, country in the world with a national day of free creativity for young people.

A spek-tacular show of nursery rhymes and sing-alongs set to acoustic Irish music, plus vibrant watercolour illustrations and a performance by Canadian musician Charlie Hope. youtube.com/user/clarelibrary

Cruinniú na nÓg is a flagship initiative of the Creative Ireland Programme.

The Speks Concert

Thugamar féin an Samhradh Linn Song, poetry, and art come together in this bilingual performance about jumping into summer 2021. Tagann amhrán, filíocht agus ealaín le chéile sa léiriú dátheangach seo faoi léim isteach sa samhradh 2021. youtube.com/user/clarelibrary

Irish Storytelling Workshop 500+ free events cruinniu.creativeireland.gov.ie #CreativeIreland

An exciting programme of performance, readings, and music, with a spotlight on traditional storytelling in the West of Ireland led by Irish fiddle player Aindrias de Staic. clarelibrary.ie/eolas/library/creative_ireland.htm

National Events include Beat Your Drum Be part of this series of global drumming workshops and an epic film showcasing Irish, African, Indian, Brazilian, and Native American drumming techniques. glor.ie/beatyourdrum

Let’s Dance!

Get creative, get dancing and have fun! Calling young people across Ireland to take part in our Let’s Dance! dance challenge.

Check it out on social media & share YOUR moves with us on Tik Tok @danceireland #LetsDance! danceireland.ie/lets-dance

Nenagh Children’s Film Festival Light’s Camera, Action! Join us for 3 days of shorts, animation & feature films from all over the world, plus go behind the scenes with workshops, interviews & insights from aspiring young filmmakers. nenagharts.com

Cruinniú na nÓg is a partnership of

38 RECRUITMENT

THURSDAY, JUN 3 2021

Chef/Cook Required - We are looking for that special one that can help drive our food business & join our fun team, Ideally someone with 2-3 years experience.

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- The successful candidate would ideally be ambitious, hardworking, loyal & have a passion for Cooking.

SE LR e t ai l To p Qu a lity Ti l l Ro lls (Ran g e o f S iz es) Visa Ro lls Therm al S ca le L ab els (Pr int ed or P lain)

Call J i m o n 086 25 7 9 8 8 5

Clare Echo launches weekly newsletter

T

HE Clare Echo has launched a weekly newsletter - and in doing so has become the first news outlet in Clare to do so, writes Elaine Tubridy.

The newsletter brings readers closer to the main stories of the week and offers more insight for those who care about what’s happening in Clare.

Each week, readers will be sent an email including the three most read stories of the week, a deeper dive into sporting stories and statistics, updates on breaking business stories, crucial developments at Shannon Airport and more. The Monday afternoon newsletter is part of The Clare Echo’s online expansion plans.

Editor Stuart Holly said, “It’s clear to us that the future of media is online and we are reacting to that by increasing our digital offering.

We are delighted to be the first media outlet in Clare to launch a weekly newsletter and by doing so, we hope to learn more about our readers and what information they value the most from their local media.

l FREE WEEKLY: Clare Echo Digital Marketing Officer Erin Malone designed the newsletter “The early uptake rate has been particularly strong and we’re proud to see the feedback from our subscribers has been overwhelmingly positive. Having recently redesigned our website to im-

prove the user experience, we see this as the next natural step in our online journey.”

To sign up for The Clare Echo weekly newsletter, scan the QR code above.

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Hotels reopen as booking levels for summer increase it is safe to travel and will facilitate the necessary lead times for planning holOTEL and guest- Federation (IHF), booking idays and business travel. house owners levels nationally average "As an island nation interin Clare have 31 per cent for July and 27 national tourism is critically reopened their per cent for August. important, accounting for doors with bookIn the Mid-West, the figover 70 per cent of tourism ing levels for July and Au- ures are 26 per cent for revenue pre-COVID,” the gust showing an increase.

June, 32 per cent for July co-owner of the Shannon In the latest industry sur- and 25 per cent for August.

Springs Hotel stated. vey from the Irish Hotels Chair of the Shannon A firm commitment is needed from the Government on business and employment supports for the sector into next year, Dermot maintained.

He added, “The summer The Alzheimer Society of Ireland is currently recruiting for the following position: months are very important and the uplift we are seeing in booking levels is a clear indicator that the recovery of Irish tourism is underway. However, overall, a slow recovery is still Interested applicants, please submit your up to date CV along with expected in 2021. Our industry has been dispropora cover letter detailing the job you are applying for to tionately impacted by the pandemic and with some recruit@alzheimer.ie by Friday 11th June 2021. level of restrictions likely for some time to come, tourism recovery is not going to Job description for the above roles is available on begin in earnest until 2022.

The hotel and guesthouse www.alzheimer.ie/careers sector is a vital part of tourism infrastructure”.

by PÁRAIC McMAHON

H

BUSINESS 39

WELL IMAGINE THAT

branch of the IHF, Dermot Kelly has called on the Government to facilitate the return of vaccinated overseas travellers quickly to give a clear sign to overseas markets too that Ireland is open for business again.

“This would send a very clear signal that Ireland is reopening for tourism when

Home Care Coordinator

Clare region , Monday to Friday 25 hours a week

l BROADBAND: Almost 55,000 homes and businesses

across Co. Clare now have access to Imagine’s 5G Fixed Broadband service as the company continues the expansion of its network across regional and rural Ireland. This includes 18,347 premises designated as ‘Amber’ or having inadequate access to high speed, high capacity broadband, under the National Broadband Plan (NBP). Co. Clare homes and businesses will be served from 23 mast locations with additional mast areas going live in Clare the coming months.

Pictured is Sean Bolger, CEO of Imagine

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Plan presented to the Taoiseach on pilot reopening of the Queens PÁRAIC MCMAHON paraic@clareecho.ie

REPRESENTATIONS have been made to the Taoiseach about the possibility of a pilot reopening of the Queens Nightclub in Ennis.

In recent weeks, Ennis Chamber, management of the Queens and directors of antigen testing company, Westland Health which is headquartered in Ennis have created what they’ve called a “considered and robust plan” to support a safe pilot night club reopening for a maximum of 250 people.

If the pilot is given the go ahead,

antigen testing will be delivered by professional nurse practitioners on behalf of Westland Health.

They envisage being able to test 100 volunteer clubbers per hour in advance of the proposed pilot.

Follow up antigen testing would be arranged within five days.

Clare TD, Joe Carey (FG) has made representations to An Taoiseach, Micheál Martin (FF) on the matter and issued his strong support for the initiative. “A number of pilot re-opening cultural and sporting events are planned, why not have one in Ennis which is the largest town in Munster? I am hopeful that this pilot will be given the green light. It would be a huge

boost, not just for the Queens but for business in the town of Ennis.

Also, young people need something to look forward to”.

“It has been a few years since I was in the Queens but it has been a right of passage for Clare people from all over the county. If they get the go-ahead for this pilot and play Rhythm is a Dancer, I’d nearly be tempted to hit the dance floor myself,” the Clarecastle man quipped.

Director of the Queens Nightclub, Donal Lyne felt pilots undertaken in other countries can be learned from. “We need to look beyond outdoor events and we need to look beyond Dublin to pilot a safe re-opening of the

night-time economy. Nightclubs throughout Ireland have been shuttered since March 2020 and currently we are in the dark about when we will have permission to re-open”.

Sensory toys from Clare help kids build confience and learn CIAN O’BROIN

 

 



KILLALOE business Thinking Toys is helping children with special needs build confidence and learn through sensory specific products.

Now offering over 5,500 toys, the East Clare company started as a part-time venture by local Áine Conacur due to the inability to access specific toys that would help her daughter Ailis engage in play, learning and imagination games that weren’t overly sensitive. Áine’s aim was to “alleviate pressure from other parents” and after 18 months, visits from parents all over the country looking for special toys meant that her husband Michael left his civil service job to tend to the growing needs of the business.

Ailis has autism spectrum disorder (ASD), epilepsy and a visual impairment.

Sourcing the store's unique de-sensitising toys stems from Áine's parenting experience. “If your child is stressed, they are not learning. If they are engaged, then that is half the battle.

Kids with intellectual disabilities, have their imagination

Áine and her daughter Ailis. Photo: Mohu Designs skills suppressed. Mom and success. Break down every Dad must be actively en- game as an activity. If you gaged. What I do here and are actively their partner, on my Instagram is educate then you will have success.”

Following the interest of parents on how to get the your child is the best advice, most out of their products."

She offered Connect 4 as she maintains. “If they are a salient example of the im- into fairies, then get fairies, portance of play for children if they are into cars, then with special needs. The fo- get them cars”. Áine and Micus is “in play” and it’s “about chael are grateful to the Lopicking and posting.” This cal Enterprise Office Clare develops the child’s motor after they availed of the Lean skills and then it’s time to for Micro programme, which get into colour patterns. All assisted them in “looking products in Thinking Toys at our sales profile activity” revolve around touch, feel due to the business being and smell. These include “heavy loaded on stock”. sensory boxes and fidget The programme revolves boxes. The best approach around being more efficient, to these toys, Áine says, is as well as stamping out any through cognitive sequenc- waste and peer supported ing. “This means that they opportunities to identify any are not scared of failure as areas of improvement. they have already had some

BUY INTO CLARE 41

THURSDAY, JUN 3 2021

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Buy into Clare

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BEAUTY LOFT HAS Darragh-based business proves a welcome

STUART HOLLY editor@clareecho.ie

J

UST a few minutes outside Ennis, the newly-established Beauty Loft is quickly becoming a place of R&R for people looking for an espace from the hustle and bustle of town.

Based on the concept of a co-operative, Danielle Dillane is heading up the operation and in less that a year the popularity of the establishment means that the offering continues to expand beyond expectations. Already, the salon boasts three hairdressers, two lash technicians, a laser treatment expert and two beauty therapists.

Located above McNamees shop in Darragh, the sleak interior adds to the experience and Danielle says that The Beauty Loft's biggest selling points include the convenience of a one-stop shop for all beauty needs, free parking, a modern layout and late evenings.

Danielle adds that she wanted to give people an alternative option outside Ennis while still offering the highest quality treatments. Before the year's end, Danielle also has plans to launch a day spa. "Less than a year later I've been blessed to work alongside some of the best in business. We are still expanding with a new business venture coming to Darragh later in the year, it really will be an oasis for those hoping to relax in comfort whilst receiving the highest standard of hair and beauty treatments."

With this expansion, the salon size will double, there will be mud rasuls, steam room, jacuzzi, self service spa with membership options at affordable prices.

The Beauty Loft will also be offering this faster, effective and comfortable treatment at a significantly lower cost opening it up to anyone who loves the idea of no more shaving or waxing.

There will be numerous options for clients including Hen party packages with prosseco bar, couples Sunday retreats, customized wraps, muds and scrubs

Wish the Beauty Loft the very best of luck from everyone at MMEL LTD (086) 2628625 MMELLTD@GMAIL.COM

from Eminence with a different wrap available each month.

Groups of eight can avail of the option to book out the salon.

The hairdressers currently in situ rent the hair salon, which is now known as The Malibu Hair Lounge. Danielle's sister Lorraine has come on board and will be offering laser hair removal.

Lorraine, who up until her maternity leave had been working as an accounts manager in a local business, has been interested in the beauty industry for some time. She has been doing a part-time degree in beauty and Danielle says she is "super excited" that with the new addition to the team, they will be offering "an amazing laser hair removal

Construction Ltd.

Wishing The Beatuy Loft all the best in the future from everyone at Custy Construction 087 6119909

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treatment which is up to five times faster than regular laser/ IPL machines with painless and permanent results".

Danielle and Amelia Fitzsimmons offer all the top beauty services specialising in Environ skincare facials, gel nails, brows, lashes and cranio sacral therapy alongside body massage. Danielle adds, "We have come together to offer a Summer package which brings all our services together, our 'Hot Girl Summer' deal which includes a curly blowdry, full volume eyelashes, full set of gel nails and toes with a spray tan for €160."

Aimee Barron and Vera Kuznecova have been friends throughout the lash industry for the last three years and they both share the love for perfecting the "perfect lash" look. Aimee is a qualified beautician for over 13 years having travelled the world and delveloped many new techniques. She ventured into being a lash technician, and has since built a close friendship with Vera who is an accomplished and experienced lash technician.

Danielle explains, "There is something for everyone from eyelashes, brows, hair and nails. It really is a one stop shop with a young vibrant atmosphere amongst some of the most talented people Ennis has to offer."

To get in touch, call (065) 671 4039, visit www.beautyloftennis.ie or find The Beauty Loft on social media.

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P43

THURS, JUN 3, 2021

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PICTURED: (far left, inset) Danielle Dillane, founder of The Beauty Loft; pictured left (back row l-r) Lorraine Dillane, Danielle Dillane, Aimee Barron, Aisling O'Keeffe, Aemilia Fitzsimmons; (front row l-r) Nicole Corcoran; Erin McMahon and Vera Kuznekova Other pictures show interior of the Darragh premises, including the reception, waiting area, hair salon, treatment room and nail bar

Web : www.optimummotors.ie

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pg 44

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

Gallagher apologises for comments on Éire Óg man

by PÁRAIC MCMAHON

Patrick O’Connor suffered an injury to his right knee

Photo by Martin Connolly

NET

CLARE GAA Treasurer, Michael Gallagher has issued an apology for comments made at last Monday’s County Board meeting.

Tensions reached boiling point with a raft of delegates and Clare GAA Vice Chairperson Kieran Keating leading the call for Gallagher to retract comments made about Éire Óg’s Niall O’Connor.

Praise was first extended to O’Connor by the Treasurer for raising funds which have been used to give the U20 hurlers post-training nutrition. Rory Hickey of the Ennis club told the meeting that €4000 was raised in four hours.

Gallagher then questioned O’Connor’s motivations and asked why he didn’t make contact before raising the funds. Past events involving the son of ex Clare joint manager Gerry O’Connor were also refer-

O’Connor waits on scan over cruciate damage fears SEAMUS HAYES

F

ORMER Clare senior hurling captain Pat O’Connor is this week keeping his fingers crossed that the knee injury he suffered while playing for Clare against Limerick in a challenge game on Friday evening last at the LIT Gaelic grounds doesn’t prove to be as serious as is feared.

Wing back on the victorious All-Ireland winning Clare team of 2013, O’Connor suffered the injury midway through the opening quarter and the fear is that he has damaged the cruciate in his right knee.

Should this prove to be the case it will rule him out of action for the remainder of the season which will be

a massive blow to both Clare and to his club Tubber.

“I was chasing possession down the wing when my opponent’s hurley locked on to my knee. I am presently waiting on the results of a scan to learn how serious the damage is”, he told The Clare Echo on Tuesday.

With league action resuming this weekend, O’Connor agrees that Clare’s clash with Dublin on Saturday is “a big game. Dublin, particularly up there in Parnell Park will not be easy. I played there when we were All-Ireland champions and they beat us.

They are tough opposition up there and they seem to be showing form. The tables don’t lie (Dublin are second at the moment) and they are there on merit.

“They could have got a result against Kilkenny,” the Tubber native added.

He believes the addition of

ex Clare coach Gavin Keary and fellow Loughrea man Tommy Kelly have been big pluses to the Dublin set-up.

“Our games against Dublin and Kilkenny a week later are two great games to have coming into the championship. There are a lot of games in a short space of time. We went from 0 to 100 so quickly. We only had five or six sessions before our first league game. While it’s been difficult for managements, players are delighted to be playing games”, he concluded.

The team which lined out against Limerick on Friday was; Donal Tuohy; Pat O’Connor, Aaron Fitzgerald Cian Nolan; Darragh Lohan, Jack Browne, David Fitzgerald; Shane Golden, Paidi Fitzpatrick; Ross Hayes, Ryan Taylor, Domhnall McMahon; Gary Cooney, Colin Guilfoyle, Stiofan McMahon.

Limerick won 4-26 to 0-20.

enced by the ex Garda. This drew criticism from a host of delegates including those from Kilmaley, Clarecastle and Éire Óg.

On Sunday, Éire Óg released a statement which confirmed that the Treasurer had made contact to apologise. “I would like to say, on reflection, I can see how my comments were hurtful and embarrassing to Niall and, I wish to offer my apologies directly to Niall for those comments. I don’t intend to try to explain or offer excuses for making those comments, because I don’t think that would be helpful either.” Éire Óg noted that the apology was accepted. “Niall also wishes to acknowledge that, in hindsight, it would have been appropriate that the Co. Treasurer was involved in any fundraising initiatives. In view of the above, we now consider this matter closed and we wish to move on in a spirit of harmony, for the betterment of Clare GAA”.

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Clare Echo THE

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ALLIANZ NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE DIVISION 2: ROUND 3 Compiled by Páraic McMahon

Clare advance to semis despite loss Clare 1-13 Kildare 0-13 Venue: Cusack Park, Ennis

CLARE Kickouts Won: 16 from 27 (59%) Short Kickouts: 8 from 27 (30%) Frees Won: 24 (11/13)

CORK Kickouts Won: 17 from 21 (81%) Short Kickouts: 8 from 21 (38%) Frees Won: 16 (7/9)

Wides: 2 (2/0) Scores from Play: 0-09 Spread of Scorers: 8 Top Scorer: David Tubridy (1-08 6f 1’Pen)

Wides: 5 (0/5) Scores from Play: 0-18 Spread of Scorers: 10 Top Scorer: Cathail O’Mahony (0-05 1f)

COLM COLLINS, CLARE MANAGER “Well we had a few options because Cork had to win by four, we had a little bit there. I thought it could have been a draw at least but at the end of the day we are sure of Division 2 next year and we are playing in a play off semi-final to go to Division 1 and if you had given me that at the start of the year, I’d have taken it.

“Both teams played excellent football.

Cork got some great scores and that’s their best performance this year. Our fellas rose their game as well, there was nothing in it and I am just delighted that it worked out that we are going the right way.

“There was a lot in the media during the week about managers. In this whole

set up, there is a second team behind this team and everybody does their job so well. If they don’t do their job it doesn’t matter who is manager. There is a very professional bunch of people behind these boys and we have a great bunch of players. They really worked hard and gave it everything.

“We have conceded no goal yet and we felt that if we kept Cork without a goal today, we would be okay and that’s the way it turned out. This game will stand to us and it will stand to Cork as well.

“There is a lot of talent coming through in Clare and Aaron Griffin is just one of them. He is a very exciting player and he knows nothing only to go straight for the goals. He is the type of player you love to watch and I am de-

PLAYER WATCH DARREN O’NEILL

Darren O’Neill plots his next move Photo by Gerard O’Neill

Passes: 5 Long: 2 Short : 3 Tackles: 3 Turnovers: 1 Frees For: 1 Frees Lost: 0 Scores: 0-01 SCAN HERE FOR MATCH REPORT

lighted for him that he grabbed his opportunity today”.

RONAN MCCARTHY, CORK MANAGER “There are a lot of positives to take from this for us. We have come to a very difficult venue against a team that is on a high and have beaten us the last three times we played in the league and we won the game. That’s

Eoin Cleary and Gavin Cooney force a turnover Photo by Gerard O'Neill

significant. We scored well and looked very dangerous at times. In the second quarter we played some really really great stuff. We would be disappointed with our defending at times.. It must have been 6 or 7 scores for them from frees in the second half, some on the soft side. We could have defended better. Some of our decision making was not great.

“It’s pleasing to put up a score like that against a team that was going to sit back. We are in this to win games and we won. We could have lost and still qualified. Are you better off, I don’t think so. I prefer to be winning our own games. To come to a really difficult place like this and get a result despite a lot of things that went against us, it’s good for us”.

Harnett likely to miss Championship

by PÁRAIC MCMAHON CLARE’S Kevin Harnett is unlikely to feature in this year’s football championship after sustaining an achilles injury.

Approaching almost a decade as a Clare senior football panellist, the Meelick man was forced off with injury in Sunday’s encounter with Cork as Colm Collins’ side picked up their first defeat of the year.

Harnett was substituted with twenty one minutes played in Clare’s 0-22 1-18 defeat, the departure of the Newmarket-on-Fergus clubman also coincided with Cork taking control of the contest as they blitzed the Banner in the second quarter with six scores in succession.

Speaking after Sunday’s encounter, Clare manager, Colm Collins stated, “My view of an achilles injury is he won’t play in the championship. It is one of the slowest injuries to

heal,” the Cratloe clubman lamented. Clare face Kerry in the Munster SFC quarter-final in Killarney on June 26th.

Collins commented that it was “not all sad” as Kevin and his wife Rachel welcomed a baby girl into the world at 3am on Sunday morning.

It does force Collins and his management team to change the planned make-up of their defence. Eoghan Collins, Dean Ryan, Alan Sweeney and Conall Ó hÁiniféin are among those hoping to nail down a starting jersey in the absence of Harnett.

There is some positive news on the injury front for the footballers with the manager confirming that both Podge Collins and Jamie Malone “should be in the mix” for the NFL promotion clash with Mayo on Sunday week.

03-06-21

Clare Echo THE

pg 46

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

David Tubridy gets TG4 man of the match award Photo by Gerard O'Neill

Tubridy (34) becomes all time NFL top scorer A WONDERFUL display on Sunday and a personal tally of 1-08 saw David Tubridy become the all-time top scorer in the history of the National Football League.

While Clare lost out by a point to Cork in Cusack Park, it was not enough to dent their bid to secure promotion to Division 1 of the NFL. Tubridy kicked 1-08 on Sunday and his contribution saw him bypass Sligo’s Mickey Kearns to have scored more than anyone else in the competition.

Sinead O’Keeffe gets the sliotar away Photo by Pat Ahearne

League promotion bid dashed for Clare Juniors Carlow 2-17 Clare 2-8 Venue: Feenagh, Carlow

By Brid MacNamara CLARE’S hopes of reaching the penultimate stage of the Littlewoods Ireland Div 3 League semi final were dashed on Saturday afternoon with a last quarter resurgence from hosts Carlow.

Up against Intermediate championship side Carlow in their final group game, the Banner side carried the tag of underdog on the long road to Feenagh, but their performance on the field made a lie of the tag as the Banner outfit went toe to toe with their hosts, and for fifty minutes or so had the home side on the back foot.

Clare: Joanne O’Gorman Kilkishen; Rebecca Crowe Ruan, Katie O’Flanagan New-

market on Fergus, Deanna Considine Sixmilebridge; Aoife Griffin Newmarket on Fergus, Aleisha Malone Corofin, Ciara O’Dell Clarecastle; Caoimhe Kelly Kilkishen, Niamh Mulqueen Broadford; Kate O’Gorman Capt Kilkishen 0-2, Eva O’Dea Corofin, Ciara Halpin Clooney Quin 1-0; Sinead O’Keeffe Kilmaley 0-1, Sarah Loughnane Sixmilebridge 1-3, Sinead Power Inagh Kilnamona 0-1 Subs: Niamh O’Gorman Kilkishen 0-1 for O’Dell 44 mins, Olivia Phelan Sixmilebridge for Power 48 mins, Siobhain Lenihan Kilkishen for K O’Gorman 48 mins, Corina McMahon Corofin for Malone 60 mins, Aoife Forde Corofin for Considine Carlow: Chantelle Kelly Muinebheag; Keeva Collins Naomh Bríd, Niamh Canavan Ballinkillen, Shannon Kavanagh Mount Leinster Rangers; Emma Cody Muinebheag, Mairead O’Shea St Mullins, Katie Garry Murphy Naomh Bríd; Eleanor Treacy Ballinkillen 1-10, Ciara Kavanagh Mount Leinster Rangers; Caoimhe Coady St Mullins, Rachel Sawyer Naomh Bríd 0-3, Anna Breen Mount Leinster Rangers; Eve Sinnott Muinebheag 1-1, Ciara Quirke Myshall 0-3, Ali Cushen Muinebheag Referee: Bernard Heaney, Meath

As it stands, the Doonbeg sharpshooter has scored 22-142 (478) in the NFL and Clare followers will be hoping this margin increases further when the Banner welcome Mayo to Cusack Park on Sunday week.

Monaghan footballer, Conor McManus is the only footballer still playing that is included in the top ten all-time scorers, he has 14-341 (383) to his name.

Tubridy recently told The Clare Echo, “I’ve never felt in better shape in my life” and credited this to the

input of strength and conditioning coach, Rob Mulcahy, an injury free run and pilates classes.

According to the Doonbeg publican, Clare boss Colm Collins is to be applauded for prompting the Banner footballers to believe in their ability.

“When he started off eight years ago he always said that we were a top16 team and he got the belief in us.

The players believe that they’re good enough to be up there”.

Goal-hungry Kerry ensure Clare ladies don't get back to back wins

Carol O’Leary in action against Kerry

CLARE’S ladies footballers recorded their first defeat of the year going down to Munster rivals Kerry on Sunday at Austin Stack Park, Tralee.

Kerry 4-13 Clare 3-11

Fidelma Marrinan may have saved Clare’s blushes in their opening round league win over Wexford but there was no such heroics to deny Kerry a deserved win and see Evan Talty suffer his first loss since succeeding his cousin and clubmate James Murrihy as manager.

Sticking with the same fifteen that had one point to spare over the Model County didn’t bring the same result when Clare hit the road to Kerry. Indeed within 90 seconds, they had a rude awakening with Kerry raiding for 1-01, the goal coming via Hannah O’Donoghue.

A trait throughout Clare’s display was their attempts to bounce back and claw their way into proceedings. However they were bowled over in the third quarter when Siofra O’Shea fired home

Photo by BurrenEye Photography

two goals, one of which was a rebound from an O’Donoghue penalty that was well saved by Kilmihil’s Micaela Glynn.

Familiar opponents Meath are next up for Talty’s charges when they make the journey to Navan on Sunday. The Royal County eliminated Clare from the All-Ireland championship at the semi-final stage last year en route to claiming national honours.

Clare: Micaela Glynn (Kilmihil), Ellie O’Gorman (Kilmihil), Siofra NiChonaill (Doora Barefield) (1-0), Orla Devitt (Eire-og, Ennis), Caoimhe Harvey (West Clare Gaels) (0-1), Tara Kelly (Cuil Gaels), Roisin Considine (Liscannor) (0-1), Aisling Reidy (Doora Barefield)(2-2), Roisin Looney (Cooraclare), Eimear Keane (Miltown Malbay), Ciara McCarthy (Kilmurry Ibrickane), Lauren Griffin (Fergus Rovers), Lizzy Roche (Burren Gaels) (0-3), Fidelma Marrinan (West Clare Gaels) (0-2), Cliona Blake (Doonbeg) (0-1). Subs: Chloe Moloney (Kilmurry Ibrickane) (0-1) for Griffin, Carl O’Leary (Newmarket on for Keane, for Johanna Doohan (Kilmurry Ibrickane) Looney, Caitriona Callinan (1-0) for Blake, Aisling Morrissey (Cooraclare) for Kelly, Ailish Kenny (Cuil Gaels) for Roche, Katie Connole (Burren Gaels) for Marrinan,

pg 47

03-06-21

Clare Echo THE

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Arch rivals face off as Cusack Cup gets underway

SEAMUS HAYES AFTER eight months without games, GAA clubs throughout the country will return to the playing fields for competitive action on this June bank holiday Monday.

In Clare first round games in Divisions 1, 2 and 3 of the football leagues will go ahead along with the opening games in the new division 7 which involves six clubs that will be competing at this level for the first time.

The game of the day in the Cusack Cup (Division 1) sees near neighbours and arch rivals, Kilmurry Ibrickane and St Josephs Miltown clash at Quilty at 3.30p.m.

Aiden Moloney continues at the helm with county champions Kilmurry and this year he is joined by former Kilkee and Clare player David Russell while Michael Neylon has returned to the manager’s role with his native Miltown.

With inter county senior and under 20 panellists not available to the clubs, there will be an opportunity for players to stake a claim for places come championship. Éire Óg and Ennistymon clash at the Ennis club’s venue and both have new coaches this year. Kilmurry Ibrickane’s Odhran O’Dwyer is coaching Ennistymon

this year while former Limerick player, Seanie Buckley is part of Paul Madden’s management team at Éire Óg.

Donie Garrihy will take his St. Breckans team to Ballynacally to take on Clondegad and both teams are keen to win silverware and this should be a close fought affair.

The remaining game in this group sees Doonbeg host Kildysart and both these teams are also under new management.

When they met last year Kildysart scored a narrow win but with home advantage Doonbeg will be determined to reverse that this time around.

In Division 2 intermediate champions St. Josephs Doora/Barefield travel to Labasheeda to face Shannon Gaels while county senior semi-finalists last year.

Lissycasey will take on Kilrush at Kilrush. Cooraclare, another of the clubs under new management this year, will entertain Corofin while the remaining game in the race for the Garry Cup will see Kilmihil entertain O’Currys.

First round games in Division 3 will see Killimer, Coolmeen, St. Senans Kilkee and Kilfenora with home advantage against Wolfe Tones, Cratloe, Ennistymon and Naomh Eoin.

Golf: Kearns wins men’s single comp at Kilrush

by SEAMUS HAYES In the men’s singles competition at KILRUSH Golf Club, the honours went to Declan Kearns while impressive scoring was recorded across the board.

Declan Kearns (22) won the men’s singles competition at Kilrush at the weekend with 43 points. He had three to spare over Thomas Downes (12) with third spot filled

by Paul McGibney (24) with 39 points followed by Cyril Kelly (20), also with 39.

Noel McMahon (12) won Division 1 with 38 points, Andrew O’Neill (16) won Division 2 with 38 and Aeneas O’Connor (21) won Division 3 with 36 points.

Last week’s ladies competition was won

by Geraldine Burke with 30 points from Mary Young with 29 while Anne McMahon won the 12 hole competition with 18 points.

WOODSTOCK GOLF CLUB: Last week’s club singles at Woodstock was won by Chris McGrath (10) with 41 points from Damian Hogan (17) with 40 points and Gary Greene, also with 40 points. Jason Considine (2) won the gross with 34 points.

In the AMR Shanaway cup fourball qualifier the leading team comprised Steve Spencer and Cathal McCoy with 52 points. They won from Kieran Quinn and Pat McMahon with 49, Cormac Walsh and Darragh Casey with 49, Brian Keogh and Cathal O’Neill, also 49. The other four pairings that qualified are Brian Gilligan and Kieran Browne 48pts, Ryan Enright and Pat O’Brien 48pts, John and Bryan Clune 46pts, Andrew Kenny and Ken Fielding 46pts.

Due to Covid protocols, the matchplay matches cannot start until June 7. The May monthly medal will be played for over the June Bank holiday weekend while there will be a modified fourball betterball on Bank Holiday Monday, June 7 EAST CLARE GOLF CLUB: The men’s competition at East Clare at the weekend was an 18 hole two ball better ball competition. The category 1 (0-20) winners were William O’Brien and Ben Rittweger with 50 points.

Category 2 (21-30) was won by Martin Breen and John Duffy with 65 points from Stephen Moloney and Tim Walsh with 63 points while the category 3 winners were

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Martin and Ray McInerney with 63 points from Teddy O’Hanlon and John Duffy with a similar score. The winner of the ladies 18 hole competition was Noreen Doyle with 36 points from Noreen Skehan with 35 and Evelyn Skehan with 34.

The ladies Wednesday team of three 10 hole competition was won by Jenny Ryan, Connie McKenna and Teresa Bradley with 42 points from Nancy Starr, Ursula Hogan and Margaret MacNamara with 41 points with third spot filled by Brid Hayes, Hannah Guinnane, Mary Collins and Helen Downey with 40 point.

ENNIS GOLF CLUB: The Ennis ladies section hosted the 3T’s competition over 18 holes last week when the winner was Suzanne Deane (17) with 37 points from Attracta Willians (36) with 35 points. Anne Caset (27) with 34 points, Deirdre Molyneaux (19) with 34 points, Patricia Moroney (20) with 32 points and Kate Keohane (21) with 32 points. Della Burns (16) won the gross with 28 points.

The 9 hole stableford competition was won by Maureen Moloney (20) with 19 points from Nuala D’Auria (19) with 17 points, Mary McMahon (12) with 17 points, Pat Leacy (17) with 16 points, Patricia O’Reilly (24) with 16 points, Bridget Hoey (11) with 15 points and Mary Walshe (15) with 15 points.

SHANNON GOLF CLUB: The Dr. William Flynn May medal at Shannon, sponsored by Easons, Shannon Town Centre was won by Greg Moloney (15) with 67 from Jason Treacy (22) with a similar score. Cian Coady (21) was third with 69 followed by Paul McElligott (14) with 69, Michael Darcy (24) with 69 and Andrew Moloney (15) with 69. Keith Buckley (5) won the gross with 76.

GORT GOLF CLUB: The 18 hole singles at Gort at the weekend was won by Harry Mulleady (27) with 47 points from Joseph Caulfield (24) with 43 points and Tony Moran(25) with 42 points. Alan Minogue (8) won the gross with 33 points.

In the ladies 18 hole singles Maureen Brennan (25) was the winner with 39 points from Josie Collins (19) with 38, Josephine Cummins (24) with 35 points and Patricia Skehill (29) with 34 points.

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03-06-21

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‘Once in a lifetime dog’ Boy Hero claims 26th win A CLARE owned greyhound recorded a remarkable twenty sixth career win in Limerick on Thursday.

Boy Hero owned by Clarecastle’s Tommy Hegarty and Seanie McMahon of Newmarket-on-Fergus together with Páraic Campion from Tipperary and Ozzie Bennett of Kilkenny continues to earn the plaudits of greyhound followers.

On Thursday, Boy Hero was first home in a time of 28.77 to claim the spoils in what was his twenty sixth career win.

Speaking to The Clare Echo, Tommy expressed their euphoria with the continued exploits of the legendary dog. “We are privileged to own a once in a lifetime dog. I suppose since he has come running in limerick it has sort of rejuvenated him and he is certainly enjoying himself and while he is doing that we will race him away”.

Tommy said it was “a remarkable feat” for the twenty sixth win of Boy Hero’s ninety one race career to have such an impressive time.

“A run like he did last Thursday of 28.77 is staggering considering he has just past his fifth birthday in April.

The night was made even more special as our other syndicate dog Burning Candle also passed the line in first place in a time of 28.95 making it a double on the night

Boylesports extend deal

Tommy Hegarty, Paraic Campion, Ozzie Bennett & Seanie McMahon with Boy Hero in Clonmel in 2019.

for our trainer Paraic Campion,” the ex Magpies goalkeeper added.

Murray keeps winning streak STEPHEN Murray’s dogs continued their recent winning form at Galway with the Sixmilebridge trainer teaming up with Paul Conlon for a litter double while Astro Oisin owned by the Peppers of Feakle ended his nine race drought.

Having met trouble on his two career outings thus far the Colossal Syndicate of Ennis owned Colossal Knight made it third time lucky in race three at Galway on Friday. In this A8 graded contest over 525 yards, he made all the running to defeat Ardera Karen by four and a half lengths in 29.74.

From an early stage in race 4 for this S6 graded contest there was little doubt that the Miss Rachel Murray of Sixmilebridge owned Lady Blue Eyes, trained by Stephen Murray, was set to register her third career success as she made all the running to defeat Askingforafriend by two lengths in 19.47.

Trapping well the daughter of Laughill Blake and Playmistyforme led Grancore Suzie ands Erril Star by over two lengths approaching the opening bend and kept control to record a comfortable success.

Race 5 centred around the two inside runners Last

Rabbit and the reserve Clydagh Chloe with the Mark and Anthony Cusack of Cooraclare owned Last Rabbit (Skywalker Tuco-Sugan Jet) proving half a length too good at the line in 29.86.

The chief supporting contest was the A3 eighth contest over 525 yards and from traps Ougham Sky and Bumblebee Lana were best away with Ougham Sky showing the best pace to lead approaching the opening bend from Buttsys Bullet who ran off the rails as Ougham Sky led Bumblebee Lana into the back straight. Passing halfway Buttsys Bullet began to close again out wide as Ougham Sky still held the call. Off the home turn the Buttsys-Buckos Syndicate of Shannon owned Buttsys Bullet loomed up on the leader’s outside and the Gerry Holian trained runner edged on close home to score by three parts of a length in 29.18.

In race 10 the Jerry Maloney and Patrick O’Driscoll of Doora owned Ballaghboy Panda was another winner to make all the running as the son of Lenson Panda and Sues Music proved a length and three parts too good for Baylin Fancy in

pg 48

this A4 graded contest in a time of 29.32.

Owner Paul Conlon and Trainer Stephen Murray of Sixmilebridge teamed up for a litter double on Saturday at the College Road venue with the brace completed by the impressive all the way success of Besloe Sinsinati in the A7 graded fifth contest as the daughter of Over Limit and Be Slow Django romped home six lengths clear of Bridgepark Jack in 29.30.

The opening leg of the brace came in the A9 graded third contest. Rounding the bend Drombeg Timmy tracked well to take a two length advantage into the back straight ahead of Besloe Missouri with the remainder five lengths further adrift. Rounding the home bend the leader drifted wide and this allowed the Paul Conlon owned Stephen Murray trained Besloe Missouri to kick clear for a four length success in 29.53.

The Thomas Keane of Kilmihil owned Glynnscrossfluff made it fifth time lucky in race seven as he recorded his maiden victory by six and three quarter lengths over Bumblebee King in 29.50.

Viewed as the most prestigious race on the Irish greyhound calendar, the Irish Greyhound Derby will continue to be sponsored by BoyleSports, taking its association with the event to 10 years. The value of this sponsorship is expected to exceed €3m.

Ballymac Ariel trained by Liam Dowlng is the early favourite with 2020 Juvenile Derby and recent Select Stakes champion Skywalker Barry, Con & Annie Kirby Memorial finalist Explosive Boy, 2020 Juvenile Derby finalist Knight Tornado and Broadstrand Ryan hoping to upset the odds.

The 2021 BoyleSports Irish Greyhound Derby was launched at Ireland’s premier greyhound stadium, Shelbourne Park on Monday 31st May under the watchful eye of champion greyhound himself Newinn Taylor and Timmy Holland, son of 2020 Derby-winning trainer Graham.

BoyleSports will also be sponsoring the Champion Stakes at Shelbourne Park from 2021-2023. Run over 550 yards, the event traditionally attracts big names.

because

THIS RUNS

Find out more about Jackie and other amazing greyhound stories on grireland.ie/thisrunsdeep

pg 49

03-06-21

Clare Echo THE

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Death of noted Tulla athlete John Minogue

by PADDY BRASSIL

L

ATE last month, I watched online the Requiem Mass from St. Peter & Paul’s Church Tulla for John Minogue of Glendree.

In normal circumstances I would have made the five hour round trip from my house here in Cork to pay my respects to John but because of restrictions due to COVID this was not possible.

When, as a young lad, in February of 1957, I cycled out to Kennedy’s land in Miltown to train for cross country running with Tulla A.C., the people that offered me friendly encouraging words that Sunday morning were Dermot Walsh, Jimmy McGrath, Paddy Fitzgerald and John Minogue.

The one thing that has stayed in my mind about the course is that there was a trench at the lower end and while older lads jumped over it I had to jump into it to get through.

Tulla A.C. was formed in November 1952 and proceeded to win the Clare senior for the first five years of its existence. John scored in all five. I remember the fifth, held in Miltown on St Patrick’s Day 1957. The girls secondary school in Tulla was officially opened on the same day and my brother Donal was allowed home from St. Flannan’s College for the day.

The College authorities didn’t know that the real reason he wanted to go home was to assist Tulla in retaining the Clare senior for

Tulla team of the late fifties. (Back L-R) T Flynn selector. D Brassil, J Minogue, M O’Rourke, MJ Quigney, P McNamara,T Byrnes, D Walsh manager. (front) PJ Fahy, J Hynes, T Meehan, C Lynch, D Conheady, J Danaher

the fifth year in a row, he finished fifth scoring man.

In those days cross country running wasn’t considered a sport in St. Flannan’s. I was denied permission to run in three Clare youths

July start earmarked for CDSL return COMPETITIVE action in the Clare District and Soccer League (CDSL) is expected to kick off at the beginning of July.

The Clare Echo understands that officers in the CDSL are viewing July 3rd/4th as the start date for the new season.

Action will begin with a League Cup that will see Division divided in two. This competition is anticipated to be played out until the end of August or the beginning of September.

Once the League Cup concludes, attention will turn to league activity with teams

Photo

by John Mangan

beginning their respective campaigns in the Premier, First, Second and Third Divisions.

CDSL officials are also trying to gauge the interest levels of clubs on the possibility of starting an U19 league. The Munster FA are also considering the possibility of an U19 Cup competition.

As first reported by The Clare Echo in January, there is a desire among CDSL officials to re-establish an U19 league to try minimise the effects of COVID-19 on player retention. If such a move was to occur, there would be no Youths (U18) league.

An U19 Cup final was last played in Clare in 2015 when Burren Utd recorded a 2-1 win over Avenue Utd.

championships, missing out in an All Ireland win in 1961. I am delighted to say that nowadays St.Flannan’s College win All Ireland cross country championships almost every other year and that is due mainly to the great

input by Fr. John Jones of Clonloum O’Callaghan’s Mills.

John Minogue was the first Tulla clubman to bring an All Ireland gold medal back to Tulla when Clare won the All Ireland junior championship at Ballgriffin, Dublin in 1953.

In doing so, he paved the way for John Danaher, Joe Lynch, Tom Byrnes and Tony Durack to follow.

John’s great friends and team mates Dermot Walsh and Paddy Fitzgerald had previously won All Ireland’s with O’Callaghans Mills and Feakle in the 1930’s and 1940’s and it was fitting that John won his also.

In reminiscing with Tom Byrnes and John Danaher last weekend it was clear that they both held John in very high regard. The last time that I spoke with John was at Joe Lynch’s funeral and he invited me to Glendree for a chat sometime. Unfortunately in recent years my visits back home have not been as frequent as before and that trip to Glendree never materialized. It was my loss as John was a great raconteur. This I learned from Historian Tomas MacConmara’s interviews with John.

To John’s daughter, Bridget and extended family I offer my deepest sympathy on their sad loss. On my next visit to Tulla, which I hope is soon, I promise to make my way up the Hill to pay my respects to John and all that lie there and maybe I will make a trip to Glendree to hear the cuckoo. John you were a true gentleman R.I.P.

CSSL set to hold EGM to get season back on track PÁRAIC MCMAHON paraic@clareecho.ie

AN EMERGENCY general meeting is to be held next Wednesday in order to allow schoolboys/schoolgirls soccer action commence for the coming season.

Plans for the start of the season which was to kick off in June were thrown into disarray when six of the seven members of the Clare Schoolboys/Schoolgirls Soccer League (CSSL) resigned from their posts.

Attempts from the Schooboys Football Association of Ireland (SFAI) to appoint an interim committee failed when it emerged not all individuals were Garda vetted which prompted their departures.

Tommy Molloy who was the only member of the seven person committee not to resign was appointed interim chair by the SFAI and still remains in this position.

On Sunday, clubs held a virtual meeting where there was unanimous agreement to expedite an EGM to appoint committee members as quickly as possible. The meeting was organised by Mark Moloney

of Hermitage FC, Shannon Town Utd’s Gerard Kelly and Pat Daly of St Pats. All clubs were either represented at the meeting or contacted in the aftermath of it.

In correspondence issued to acting chairman Tommy Molloy, he was presented with two options by the clubs. One being to co-opt individuals onto the committee to assist in running leagues. The second was to call an EGM, “as all league members agree, no-one is prejudiced by the short notice and subject to the SFAI being satisfied, we propose that the league be given permission to proceed on this basis”.

Clubs have given their backing to an EGM on Wednesday June 9 to put a committee in place with nominations for proposed roles to be circulated to clubs in advance of this.

According to Kelly clubs “were unanimous in their support of the committee members who had resigned and requested that we approach them to see if they would consider withdrawing their resignations.

Unfortunately, it appears that those members still feel sufficiently strongly about the situation that they are not willing to return in the current circumstances”.

50 NEWS

THURSDAY, MAY 27 2021

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PLANNING

THURSDAY, JUNE 3 2021

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PLANNING NOTICES CLARE COUNTY COUNCIL KNOCKERRA WEST, KILRUSH Take notice that P. Fitzpatrick intends to apply to the Planning Authority for outline permission to erect 6No dwellings, foul sewer treatment plants, percolation areas 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 FISHER STREET, DOOLIN Take notice that P. Sexton intends to apply to the Planning Authority for permission to revise part of front elevation, to convert part of storage area to gift stall, and to relocate exit to proposed smoking area at the above address.

The Planning Application may be inspected or purchased at a fee not exceeding the reasonable cost of making a copy, at the offices of the planning authority during its public opening hours. A submission or observation in relation to the application may be made in writing to the planning authority on payment of the prescribed fee, €20, within the period of 5 weeks beginning on the date of receipt by the authority of the application and such submissions or observations will be considered by the planning authority in making a decision on the application.

The planning authority may grant permission subject to or without conditions or may refuse to grant permission.

LISLORKAN, LISCANNOR, CO CLARE. Take notice that Patrick Considine intends to apply for PERMISSION to attach the existing Dwelling and Garage by building an extension as a link 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 NO 7 KNOCKRAHADERRY, LISCANNOR, CO. CLARE Take notice that Paul Conway Architects, Knockbrack, Ennistymon intend to apply to the Planning Authority of Clare County Council on behalf of Stephanie MacGrath for planning permission for development at No 7 Knockrahaderry, Liscannor, Co. Clare.

The development will consist of the construction of a 14.0 SqM extension to the front/ north; a 12.5SqM extension to the side/ west, and a 15.5sqM extension to the rear/ south with replacement to existing windows, and alterations to site works and services.

That the planning application may be inspected, or purchased at a fee not exceeding the reasonable cost of making a copy, at the offices of the planning authority during its public opening hours and that a submission or observation in relation to the application may be made to the authority in writing on payment of the prescribed fee within the period of 5 weeks beginning on the date of receipt by the authority of the application CLARE COUNTY COUNCIL LISCRONA HOUSE, DOONAHA, KILKEE Please take notice that Derek Timmons of Liscrona House, Doonaha, Kilkee intends to seek permission from the planning authority to hold small events 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 open hours and that a submission or observation in relation to the application may be made on payment of the prescribed fee within the period of 5 weeks beginning on the date of receipt by the authority of the application. 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 UNIT 138, SHANNON FREE ZONE, SHANNON, CO. CLARE We, FedEx Express (Ireland) Limited, intend to apply for permission for 4 No face illuminated wall signs to replace existing,1 No non-illuminated freestanding sign to replace existing and 1 No new nonilluminated freestanding sign at Unit 138, Shannon Free Zone,

Shannon, Co. Clare, Ireland.

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 FURTHER INFORMATION / REVISED PLANS PLANNING REF: P20/855 Development Description: Permission to construct an extension and carry out alterations to existing dwelling house together with all ancillary site development works and services.

Location: No.11 Ocean View, Crag, Lahinch, Co. Clare Take notice that David Kilcoyne has lodged significant further information in respect of the planning application P20/855.

This information and planning application may be inspected or purchased at a fee not exceeding the reasonable cost of making a copy, at the office of the Planning Authority of Clare County Council, Planning Department, Áras Contae an Chláir, New Road, Ennis, Co. Clare during its public opening hours. A submission or observation in relation to the further information or revised plans may be made in writing to the planning authority on payment of the prescribed fee, not later than 2 weeks after the receipt of the newspaper notice and site notice by the planning authority or in the case of a planning application accompanied by an EIS within 5 weeks of receipt of such notices by the planning authority.

CLARE COUNTY COUNCIL. SCOIL CHRÍOST RÍ, CLOUGHLEIGH, ENNIS, COUNTY CLARE. Take notice that the Board of Management of Scoil Chríost Rí are applying to Clare County Council for permission to retain and complete a sports storage shed at Scoil Chríost Rí, Cloughleigh, Ennis, County Clare.

This 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 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 CO COUNCIL BALLYVONNAVAUN, DOORA, CO. CLARE. Permission is sought to

construct a single storey domestic extension, garage and covered link to existing dwelling house including all ancillary site works and services at above address, applicant – John Duggan 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.

LICENSE APPLICATIONS AN CHUIRT CHUARDA SOUTH WESTERN CIRCUIT COUNTY OF CLARE IN THE MATTER OF THE LICENSING ACTS 1833 – 2016 AND IN THE MATTER OF THE COURTS (SUPPLEMENTAL PROVISIONS) ACT 1961 AND IN THE MATTER OF SECTION 6 OF THE LICENSING (IRELAND) ACT 1902 AS AMENDED BY SECTION 24 OF THE INTOXICATING LIQUOR ACT, 1960 AND IN THE MATTER OF AN APPLICATION BY MICHAEL O’HALLORAN AND ANGELA O’HALLORAN NOTICE OF APPLICATION TAKE NOTICE that Michael O’Halloran and Angela O’Halloran whose place of abode is Ballyahsea, Kilnamona, Ennis in the County of Clare intends to apply to the Circuit Court sitting at the Courthouse, Ennis in the County of Clare on the 29th day of June 2021 at 10.30 am in the morning or on such day thereafter as this Application may be taken in it’s order in the Court List for a Certificate entitling and enabling the Applicant to receive a full Seven Day Publican’s Licence to sell intoxicating liquor for consumption on or the premises known as “O’Halloran’s Bar” and situate at 7 & 8 High Street, Ennis, in the County of Clare which said premises are more particularly described on the plans and drawings accompanying this application.

Dated this 28 th day of May 2021 Michael O’Halloran and Angela O’Halloran The Applicants Cahir & Co LLP. Solicitors for the Applicant 36 Abbey Street, Ennis,

County Clare To: The County Registrar, Circuit Court Office, The Courthouse, Ennis, Co. Clare.

To: The Superintendent of the Garda Siochana,

Ennis, Garda Station, Ennis, County Clare.

To: The Judge of the District Court, c/o/ the District Court Clerk, District Court Office, Courthouse, Ennis, Co. Clare To:

The Chief Fire Officer, New Road, Ennis, Co. Clare.

AN CHÚIRT DÚICHE (The District Court) DISTRICT COURT AREA OF ENNIS DISTRICT NO. 12 LICENSING ACT 1872, Section 82 LICENSING ACT (IRELAND) 1874, Sections 9,10 and 37 BEER RETAILERS’ AND SPIRIT GROCERS’ RETAIL LICENCES (IRELAND) ACT 1900 LICENSING (IRELAND) ACT 1902 BEER HOUSES (IRELAND) ACT 1864, Section 3 BEER LICENCES (IRELAND) ACT 1877, Section 2 INTOXICATING LIQUOR ACT 2008, Sections 6, 7 and 8 NOTICE OF APPLICATION FOR A CERTIFICATE FOR A NEW SPIRIT, BEER AND WINE RETAILER’S OFFLICENCE APPLICANT: TC ROSLEVAN STORES LIMITED PREMISES: ROSLEVAN STORES, TULLA ROAD, ENNIS, CO. CLARE TAKE NOTICE that TC ROSLEVAN STORES LIMITED whose registered office is at Roslevan Stores, Tulla Road, Ennis, Co. Clare intends to apply to the District Court sitting at the Courthouse, Ennis, County Clare on the 7th of July , 2021 at 10.30am for the following matters:1. A Certificate to hold a Spirit Retailers Off Licence.

2. A Certificate to hold a Beer Retailers Off Licence.

3. A Certificate to hold a Wine Retailers Off Licence.

In respect of the premises known as Roslevan Stores Premises and situate at Tulla, Road in the County of Clare in the Court Area and District aforesaid.

Dated this 25th of May 2021 Signed _Michéal Glynn and Co. Solicitors Micheál Glynn & Co., Solicitor for Applicant of 98 O’Connell Street, Limerick To: The Superintendent of the Garda Siochana,

Ennis, Garda Station, Ennis, County Clare.

To: The District Court Clerk, District Court Area of Ennis, The Courthouse, Ennis, Co. Clare AN CHUIRT DUICHE (The District Court) DISTRICT COURT AREA OF ENNIS DISTRICT NO. 12 IIN THE MATTER OF: THE LICENSING ACTS 1833, Section 6 THE INTOXICATING LIQUOR ACT 1960, Section 29 NOTICE OF APPLICATION FOR AN AD INTERIM TRANSFER OF A SPIRIT, BEER & WINE RETAILER’S OFF LICENCE APPLICANT: AJL SUPERMARKET LIMITED PREMISES: CLAUREEN SERVICE STATION, ENNIS CO. CLARE TAKE NOTICE that an Application will be made to the District Court sitting at the Courthouse, Ennis, Co. Clare within the District Court Area aforesaid at 10.30 a.m. on the 7th of July 2021 on behalf of AJL Supermarket Limited with a registered office situate at 180 Caislean na Habhainn, Castletroy, Limerick for an Ad Interim Transfer of the Licence attached to the premises formerly known as Claureen Service Station, and situate in the Court Area and District aforesaid to the said Applicant, which Licence is presently held in the name of Claureen Service Station Limited.

Dated this 25th of May 2021 Micheál Glynn & Co. MICHEÁL GLYNN COMPANY, SOLICITORS 98, O’CONNELL STREET, LIMERICK. To: The Superintendent, An Garda Siochana , Ennis, Co. Clare And To: District Court Clerk, Ennis Courthouse, Ennis, Co. Clare

&

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PUZZLEPAGE

THURSDAY, JUNE 3 2021

THIS WEEKS PUZZLES JUNE 3

SUDOKU 2

6 7

1

9

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6

acclaim

8 7

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8

7

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How to play

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ANSWERS

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5/31/2021

The Clare Echo Crossword

not too difficult - just .

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Phone 065 6820914

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CROSSWORD ANSWERS 1 Modifications (7) 2 Professorship (5) 3 Necessary (7) 4 Over there (6) 5 Excellent (5) 6 Bravery (7) 7 Bed covering (5) 13 Frankness (7) 15 South American country (7) 16 Odd, unusual (7) 17 Brigand (6) 18 Burn fiercely (5) 19 Gumption (5) 21 Annoyed (5) G

1 Londoner (7) 5 Religious factions (5) 8 Hard stone (5) 9 Roman sea god (7) 10 Long-necked animal (7) 11 Cook in an oven (5) 12 Mediterranean island (6) 14 Convent head (6) 18 Additional payment (5) 20 Everywhere (3,4) 22 Embellished (7) 23 She-fox (5) 24 Eagle’s nest (5) 25 Tosh (7)

DOWN

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4

HOW TO PLAY

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6

1

7

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9

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5/31/2021

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

1/1

lt - just

54

QUIZ 55

THURSDAY, JUNE 3 2021

The Clare Echo Quiz

THE EARLY DAYS OF CLARE FM Caimin Jones left his post with RTÉ to 11975In1968what year was Clare FM launched? 6 become Chief Executive of Clare FM. Where in the county is he from

3

At the time of its foundation, which Clare family were the principal shareholders in Clare Community Radio with a 25 per cent stake?

The Fitzgeralds The Galvins The Glynns

Who was the first voice heard on 4 Clare FM? Pat Flynn Jerome Forde Ger Sweeney

The first song played on the airwaves 5 of Clare FM was a version of Spancil Hill. Who sung the particular version chosen?

Pat Shortt Jon Kenny Brendan Grace

What was the name of the flagship 7 current affairs show presented by Caimin on the station?

Morning Focus On A Clare Day The Clare Corner

Alongside Fr Gerry Kenny and Pat 8 Flynn, which current presenter has been with Clare FM since its beginning?

Brian Flynn Brian McLoughlin Mike Gardiner

Which Morning Ireland presenter 9 memorably had a dose of the giggles when reading out a report on Clare FM

about the Golden Vale VEC Schools Calf Rearing Competition?

Mary Wilson Rachael English Áine Lawlor

Who was the first News & Sports 10 Editor of Clare FM? Alan Cantwell Marty Morrissey Anne Jones

Spot the Difference Can you spot the difference? Spot the 7 differences.

The answers will be revealed in next weeks edition.

l Caimin Jones at last year’s General Election count at The Falls Hotel.

Photograph: John Mangan

ANSWERS

6. Scariff 7. On A Clare Day 8. Mike Gardiner 9. Rachael English 10.Marty Morrissey

the individuals involved with groups vying to win a broadcasting licence from the Independent Radio and Television Commission (IRTC) for a Clare radio station. How many Clare groups were in competition for the local radio service in the Banner County?

Four Seven Eleven

1989 Four The Galvins Ger Sweeney Jon Kenny

Willie Clancy, Brendan Vaughan, Mar2 ianna Quinlivan, Frank O’Dea, Muiris Ó Rócháin and Gay Mangan were among

Killaloe Doora Scariff

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

1989

Last weeks Answers . Tattoo on neck of man with camera missing . Pepper shaker missing . Flower basket missing on bridge . Mound of grass missing in river

. button on shirt missing (man with camera) . Telephone pole missing . Palm tree missing

Leap of faith Darragh Bohannon rises highest to claim the ball for Clare Photo by Gerard O’Neill

AND GUTTERING CLARE

ROOF MOSS CLEANING