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Beating the same ol’ drum

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Business under pressure as staff hit by Covid cases PÁRAIC McMAHON

paraic@clareecho.ie

l The New Year was welcomed in in style with the bang of drums as people of Gort staged

a noisy fun walk against the proposed construction of a biogas plant in their town. The case now resides with An Bord Pleanála and a decision is expected early in the New Year

EVERAL retail and hospitality businesses across Co Clare have been forced to close their doors temporarily. Unprecedented levels of COVID-19 infection all over the county has left businesses unable to keep their doors open with staff either testing positive for the virus or designated as a close contact of a confirmed case. Preliminary analysis shows that between 1,100 and 1,500 daily COVID-19 cases have been diagnosed across the Mid-West region surpassing the previous record of 902 daily cases recorded on January 2nd 2021. Despite having a staff of 75, co-owners of the four star Shannon Springs Hotel Dermot Kelly and John Gavin admitted, “we simply do not have enough staff to open and run our hotel” as the town grapples with very high levels of community transmission which also prompted The Goalpost Bar operated by Wolfe Tones na Sionna to close.

Irish Open on course for Clare

See your local group details on page 14

MAJOR sporting events are set to return to Co Clare this coming year, writes Páraic McMahon. Five star Dromoland Castle is on course to be named as the venue for the return of the Women’s Irish Open, The Clare Echo has learned. Management of the hotel, Sport Ireland officials and Deputy Joe Carey (FG) have been involved in discussions to see the Irish Open’s return take place in Newmarket-on-Fergus. Most recent tournaments saw Kileen Castle in Meath as the venue in 2011 and 2012. Historically, the Ladies Irish Open has attracted some of the strongest golfers with the 2011 event seeing top professionals from Europe and America compete in the €400,000 Ladies European Tour event. Lahinch Golf Club famously hosted the DDF Irish Open in 2019 which was won by Jon Rahm. Hosting the event was heralded as a major advertisement for the county across the globe with the glorious sunshine adding to the occasion. The golf course, village and the wider west Clare region received worldwide exposure through Sky Sports and the Golf Channel, with pictures broadcast into 350 million homes.

For the first time in its forty five year history, O’Connor’s Texaco in Shannon closed on New Year’s Day amid a shortage of staff who were either self-isolating or awaiting a test result. The store reopened on Monday morning. Ennis bars including McHugh’s, the Abbey, Josie O’Shea’s, Taylor’s Bar and the Halfway House closed their doors in light of “close contacts” and “government restrictions”. Power’s Pub in Clarecastle was forced to stop pulling pints temporarily due to some positive cases in the village. The popular pub reopened on Tuesday evening. Due to staff being designated as close contacts, both Michael A’s Bar in Miltown Malbay and The Woodcross Bar in Cratloe were left with little option but to close for a number of days prior to New Year’s Eve celebrations. Similarly, The Creamery Bar and Restaurant in Bunratty had a number of staff unavailable to work because of the virus and closed until further notice. A high level of close contacts among staff resulted in The Sherwood Inn announcing that they would stay closed until Friday.

FULL STORY pg 6

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2 NEWS

Index NEWS

THURSDAY, JAN 6 2022

PANTALOONS RETURN TO ENNIS STAGE

2-14

GREENER CLARE

REBECCA O’NEILL

COMMUNITY

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

OH YES THEY DID: From December 23rd right through to January 1st, Pantaloons put on a total of nine shows of Cinderalla at glór bringing the panto back to Co Clare. Sparks Dance School also took part with 14 children involved in the production. Clare FM’s Colum McGrath made his panto debut as Buttons with Emma Traynor of Crusheen starring as Cinderella and Ennis model Timmie Murphy in the role of the Prince. Shop owner Laurence O’Brien was the Step-Mother with The Clare Echo’s very own Rebekah Crerand to the fore as both a maid and flower seller. Patrick Kelly, Tina Kavanagh, Ciara Rees, Michael Daffy, Cristine Doherty, Kiya Healy and Johnny O’Loughlin completed the cast. Junior cast members included, Conor Parry, John Rellis, John Cleary, Alex O’Brien, Aimee Dolan and Aalia Tariq. Director Maeve Fox said, “the panto is a wonderful tradition for families all over the country so it meant so much when the curtains opened on the 23rd of December, there was a huge satisfaction from all cast and crew as all the months of rehearsals in these trying times. It was a great feeling to be back on stage”.

94 per cent of persons aged over 12 fully vaccinated by PÁRAIC McMAHON OVER 94 per cent of persons aged 12 and older are fully vaccinated in Co Clare. Director of Public Health MidWest, Dr Mai Mannix has said the region is “among the leaders in vaccine uptake in Europe and the world”. In Clare, 94% of people aged 12 and older are fully-vaccinated; over 95% in Limerick in the same age cohort are fully-vaccinated, and Tipperary is in the region of 96%. Reflecting on the past twelve months, Dr Mannix recalled, “This time last year, many believed the worst of COVID-19

had been behind us following the pandemic’s first and second wave. “The third wave in January 2021, as we know, was extremely difficult for everyone and what ensued was one of the greatest tests on our country, our health service, and ourselves”. She praised the public for how it has handled the “challenging period”. Dr Mannix stated, “We adapted well and led by example when society returned in spring. “Parents, teachers, and children proved to be among the most resilient since the return to the classroom. Young people

who missed out on the quality college and university experience for over a year continued to show leadership in protecting their families and loved ones in times of crisis. Our frontline workers, across all agencies and authorities, persevered in their pursuit to protect us all”. Although she praised the vaccination uptake in the Mid-West, Dr Mannix flagged, “Breakthrough infections among fully-vaccinated can still happen though, and serious illness and death can still occur among our most vulnerable. Booster doses will help prevent serious outcomes and protect

ourselves and each other from the emerging threat of the Omicron variant. Personal circumstances, views and misinformation, are among the many factors why some have yet to be fully vaccinated. “If you are unsure, speak to your local GP or a trusted healthcare professional, and read reliable and trusted sources, such as the HSE website. To assist the Department of Public Health Mid-West to do their job, she appealed to the public to remain on their guard. “2022 will be a different year, and a year where we move forward in a positive direction together”.

Schools need to be kept under ‘tight review’ SCHOOLS remaining open during the month of January needs to kept under “tight review,” a Clare TD has said, writes Páraic McMahon. On Tuesday evening, the Department of Education conﬁrmed that schools would reopen as planned this coming Thursday. It follows a meeting between Minister for Education Norma Foley (FF), public health representatives, the HSE and education stakeholders. In a statement, the Department said that public health advice remains that COVID-19 mitigation measures in place in schools “are effective and appropriate”. Speaking to The Clare Echo, Deputy Cathal Crowe (FF) admitted he has “a number of concerns” regarding the situation at schools

but backed the decision made by public health officials which was endorsed by key Government officials. He believed the reopening of schools needed to be “kept under a tight review during the month of January”. Crowe said that the forecasted peak of the Omicron variant “may arise in the second or third week of January, if we have a scenario when it becomes increasingly difficult to staff schools or that schools have become a focal point of transmission then we need to react to that situation”. Crowe said the present situation is “far from ideal” and admitted that he has fielded emails from concerned second level students across Clare who are “demanding that the schools

reopen” so that they can adequately prepare for upcoming Mock and State examinations. “There is a real expectancy to have a regular Leaving Certificate and a regular run-in to it, anything to derail that would be devastating”. Formerly a primary school teacher at Parteen NS, the TD flagged that former colleagues have stressed the need to improve “mitigating measures” in education settings. He felt there was room from improvement when it came to the provision of HEPA filters. “Fresh air and open windows seem to be one of the best mitigating measures but it doesn’t necessarily work well during a cold snap of weather, we need for once and for all to invest in HEPA filters”.

Scariﬀ park gets upgrade by PÁRAIC McMAHON

CARIFF Community Council have officially opened upgraded paths at the newly named Riverside Community Park. Works were part-funded by the LEADER programme through the National Development Plan and by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development, together with the Department of Rural and Community Development and Clare County Council under the Town and Village Renewal Scheme 2020. Financial donations of the community, together with local businesses have contributed hugely to the development of the paths. At an event prior to Christmas, Scariff Community Council proudly showcased the works while also launching the Condition and Conservation Report on the Workhouse Water Tower, Scariff which was funded under the Community Heritage Grant Scheme 2021. Fifth and sixth class pupils from Scariff NS were in attendance for the launch.

NEWS

THURSDAY, JAN 6 2022

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4 NEWS

THURSDAY, JAN 6 2022

Crowe’s appointment to Fianna Fáil Commission brought into question

by PÁRAIC McMAHON ONFUSION continues to cloud around the supposed appointment of Clare TD, Cathal Crowe (FF) to a commission assessing the aims, ideology and objectives of Fianna Fáil. In October, Deputy Crowe took to social media to announce his selected appointment by the Taoiseach Micheál Martin (FF) to the commission chaired by Kildare North TD, James Lawless (FF) looking at Fianna Fáil’s aims and objectives for the coming years. Creation of a commission was recommended by Junior Minister, Sean Fleming (FF) following the General Election of February 2020. Senior figures in the party nationally have said Crowe was never appointed to the committee which is comprised of Deputy Lawless, Junior Minister Mary Butler (FF), Christopher O’Sullivan TD (FF), Paul McAuliffe TD (FF), Senator Lisa Chambers (FF), Cllr Kate Feeney (FF), Cllr Rob Power (FF), Cllr Uruemu Adejinmi (FF), Aideen Ginnell of the Ard Chomhairle, John O’Neill

CONFUSION: Taoiseach Micheál Martin flanked by Senator Timmy Dooley and Deputy Cathal Crowe Photo by Natasha Barton

Chair of the Wicklow CDC, Seána Brady of Ógra Fianna Fáil and General Secretary Seán Dorgan. Meelick native Crowe told The Clare Echo, “I was appointed some months back” but is to instead be part of a new committee which the Taoiseach has “asked me to serve on”. While Crowe engaged with Deputy Lawless “on a number of occasions,” members of the commission have facilitated meetings with constituencies across the country but Crowe confirmed he did not organise any engagement of this nature.

In response to queries from The Clare Echo, Deputy Crowe said he was “surprised, we’re still in a peak COVID situation” that his involvement or not in a commission was worthy of questioning. “If there was a discussion to be had, it is a discussion that should have been internally rather than on the pages of a newspaper”. When contacted by The Clare Echo, senior officials in the party said they “can’t speak to exactly what happened” regarding the former Mayor of Clare’s involvement but confirmed he was likely

Miltown Malbay reservoir works get underway

to have a role to play in a new party committee. Chair of the Fianna Fáil Clare CDC, Mike Enright said members were initially delighted to read Crowe’s social media post and subsequent report in The Clare Champion on his appointment to the Commission but admitted they were left confused when question marks on his involvement first emerged. Senator Chambers facilitated the Clare meeting for the commission in the past fortnight with Enright asking the question following queries from party members on whether Crowe was actually appointed. “We’re still none the wiser, I got no straight answer” the Newmarket-on-Fergus man outlined. “We have no clarity, our members need to know who is and who isn’t on it. Why make the announcements, you’re either on it or you’re not, it’s very straight forward”. Deputy Lawless confirmed to The Clare Echo that his Clare colleague was not on the commission but praised the “great level of knowledge and information on the Fianna Fáil party’s heritage and customs” that he brought to the table during discussions.

paraic@clareecho.ie

A NEW reservoir serving Miltown Malbay and surrounding areas is to be delivered in the second half of 2022, writes Páraic McMahon. Irish Water have conﬁrmed that a contract to construct a reservoir at Rockmount has been awarded to Shareridge Civil Engineering with preliminary works commencing on site already underway. Access to a reliable and safe source of drinking water has been secured following the replacement of a 4.5km watermain between Mullagh to

Miltown. “The delivery of the new Rockmount reservoir will further strengthen the local water infrastructure and will provide a two-day reserve in the event in any watermain burst in the future,” Clare TD, Michael McNamara (IND) maintained. By the third quarter of 2022, Irish Water anticipate the Rockmount reservoir will be operational. Valves have also recently been replaced in the Glendine Group Water Scheme “further minimising potential for sup-

ply disruption on that scheme whose customers have previously encountered many disruptions to service in recent years”. Deputy McNamara paid tribute “to Clare County Council’s water services staff and the engineering staff of the West Clare Municipal District for their work on improving and strengthening water supplies, which while overdue, will have lasting positive consequences for the people of Miltown Malbay and surrounds,” concluded Deputy McNamara.

ON HIS return to the airwaves, Marty Morrissey has paid tribute to his late mother, Peggy, writes Páraic McMahon. Quilty’s Marty presented The Marty Morrissey Show on RTÉ Radio One on New Year’s Day in what was his ﬁrst return to work since Peggy’s sudden death following a car crash on December 7th. He began the show by expressing his gratitude for the groundswell of support he has received in the past month. Marty described his mother as “very special, a force of nature to be honest. An only child from north Cork, she married an only child from west Clare, and they had an only child – that’s me and where once there were three of us, now there is only one. Don’t get me wrong, we had our moments but wasn’t I the lucky one to have had my mother for so long, but your mom is your mom and I miss her terribly. “I’ve been very lucky to have received such strength and comfort these past few weeks from friends and strangers alike. Your kindness and warmth has been overwhelming and your cards, letters, emails and texts have been a massive help. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. I’m also aware that many of you have suffered terrible losses in recent times and I want you to know that I’m thinking of you,” he continued.

Ryanair to reduce services this month PÁRAIC MCMAHON

WATER: Miltown Malbay Photo by Arthur Ellis

Marty pays tribute to mam on radio return

ERVICES from Shannon Airport are to be impacted as Ryanair cuts its January capacity by 33 per cent from Monday (January 10th). Shannon’s recently restarted service to Luton Airport has been shelved temporarily. Other impacted routes include the twice weekly flights to Birmingham and Edinburgh. Ryanair have confirmed that the Shannon to London Gatwick flights have been put on pause as has the service to London Stansted. Further cuts have not been ruled out but the airline is hopeful to resume the services as normal in February with Airports informed the reduction in services will last until January 30th. A spokesperson for Ryanair told The Clare Echo that the spread of the Omicron variant of COVID-19 and Government restrictions across Europe weakened Christmas and New Year bookings, “this sudden downturn has also caused Ryanair this week to cut its planned January schedule capacity by 33%”. In light of this, Ryanair decided to cut its January capacity by approximately 10

million to a figure between six and seven million, December traffic was at roughly nine million when estimations had hoped for this figure to be closer to 11 million. The airline expects its full year traffic forecast to be under 100m passengers with a net loss in the region of €250m to €450m. “These schedules will be revisited in January as more scientific information becomes available on the Omicron variant, its impact on hospitalisations, European population and/or travel restrictions in February or March,” the spokesperson confirmed. CEO of Shannon Group, Mary Considine confirmed that services at Shannon Airport were impacted by the variant. “The reality is that the exponential rise in the number of infections due to the Omicron variant combined with travel restrictions across Europe, has resulted in reduced bookings forcing the airline to make difficult decisions. Some of Shannon Airport services are impacted by this decision. “Prior to this Shannon Airport had seen encouraging recovery with key air services returning. January tends to be a quieter time at Shannon and we remain confident that once the current Covid surge dissipates, we will rebound quickly,” she added.

NEWS

THURSDAY, JAN 6 2022

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6 NEWS

THURSDAY, JAN 6 2022

Clonlara 'destroyed’ by bat droppings PÁRAIC MCMAHON

paraic@clareecho.ie

ATS have been accused of “destroying” parts of Clonlara. Ways of getting rid of bats from the South-East Clare village need to be explored, a frustrated Cllr Michael Begley (IND) told a recent sitting of Clare County Council’s Economic Development Strategic Policy Committee (SPC). “How do I go about getting rid of bats from a public building in use,” Cllr Begley questioned Clare Heritage Officer, Congella Maguire. “They are literally destroying the place,” he added with the amount of droppings left behind prompting a rise in his frustration. Obstacles posed by the bats and their protection were overcome by Clonlara GAA club when they secured permission to develop a walkway, “they were put through the ropes,” the former Mayor of Clare outlined. Begley continued, “Are we gone over the top in protecting situations like that where

it is preferable to have an inside of a church destroyed by bat droppings rather than clear them”. Solutions should be examined with National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS), Maguire said in response. She explained, “Bats and lighting is an issue, lighting can affect insects and certainly affects the behaviour of bats, they are not mutually exclusive but it has to be planned properly and done in the right way, we have to look at how a trail can be lit which wouldn’t hopefully affect the bats”. Clarification was then provided by Cllr Begley that the lighting issue was sorted and that it was the regular droppings at the church that were problematic. “There is no reason for the church situation to continue,” Congella responded. She said the building would have to be looked but was hopeful a resolution would be implemented, “there is a way around these”. Chair of the SPC, Cllr Pat McMahon (FF) remarked in jest, “we will have to find out if they are Catholic bats”.

Businesses close temporarily due to rising COVID-19 cases by PÁRAIC McMAHON CLARE’s retail and hospitality sector continues to feel the brunt of COVID-19 with plenty of disruptions caused to businesses in light of rising cases in the county. Initial indications detail that daily cases of COVID-19 in Clare are double what they were before Christmas with public health ofﬁcials in the Mid-West predicting a further sizeable increase in positive cases over the coming weeks. Multiple temporary closures of businesses have been announced across Co Clare in recent days, a trend which has been replicated all over Ireland. Ennis bars including McHugh's, Taylor’s Bar and the Halfway House closed their doors in light of “close contacts” and “government restrictions”. A spokesperson for McHugh’s outlined, "We were really hoping to make it through to the end of the year without making another closing post but like so many families this Christmas, we realised that unfor-

tunately there is no escaping. “It is with great disappointment that we have decided to close temporarily until such a time as it is safe to open". Power’s Pub in Clarecastle was forced to stop pulling pints temporarily due to some positive cases in the village. The popular pub reopened on Tuesday evening. Due to staff being designated as close contacts, both Michael A’s Bar in Miltown Malbay and The Woodcross Bar in Cratloe were left with little option but to close for a number of days prior to New Year’s Eve celebrations. Similarly, The Creamery Bar and Restaurant in Bunratty had a number of staff unavailable to work because of the virus and closed until further notice. A high level of close contacts among staff resulted in The Sherwood Inn announcing that they would stay closed until Friday. Hotels such as the Shan-

non Springs have had to close temporarily due to very high levels of community transmission in the town. Seventy five people are employed by the four star hotel located five minutes from Shannon Airport. In a statement, co-owners Dermot Kelly and John Gavin outlined, “We collectively have made the decision to remain closed due to the high community transmission in the area, we simply do not have enough staff to open and run our hotel”. They are hopeful of reopening this week. For the first time in its forty five year history, O’Connor’s Texaco in Shannon closed on New Year’s Day amid a shortage of staff who were either self-isolating or awaiting a test result. The store reopened on Monday morning. Dr Rose Fitzgerald, Specialist in Public Health Medicine, said: “We have yet to see the true impact of Christmas celebrations and the current Omicron wave”.

Unprecedented level of COVID-19 infections

by PÁRAIC McMAHON

NPRECEDENTED levels of COVID-19 infection have been reported across Clare, Limerick and North Tipperary. Preliminary analysis shows that between 1,100 and 1,500 daily COVID-19 cases across the region have been diagnosed across the Mid-West region surpassing the previous record of 902 daily cases recorded on January 2nd 2021. Officials in the Department of Public Health Mid-West have cautioned the current high volume of cases may result in delays in reporting, meaning that data may not be complete and up-to-date. A spokesperson told The Clare Echo, “We expect this high level of infection to continue circulating in the community for a number of weeks, which is why we are appealing to the public to significantly reduce social activity”. Public Health Mid-West is managing

and monitoring a significant number of COVID-19 situations across a range of settings, including nursing homes, longterm care facilities, residential care facilities, special education needs facilities, and vulnerable populations. Dr Anne Dee, Specialist in Public Health Medicine, said: “If you have any symptoms of cold or flu, no matter how mild, its likely be COVID-19, and you will need to self-isolate to protect other people around you. If you are awaiting antigen tests or PCR tests while symptomatic, continue self-isolating between seven and 10 days, depending on whether you have had a booster or not, or if you have recovered from COVID-19 in the past three months. It’s important to remember that testing will not stop transmission; isolation will. “Omicron is a highly-transmissible variant, and symptoms can range from very mild to severe. As we see more cases, there will be more people with serious disease,” Dr Dee added.

ANTIGEN TESTS AND ISOLATION  If you are aged 4-39 and you have symptoms, you should self-isolate, and book a free antigen test through the HSE website. Antigen testing must be done three times.  If you test negative on all tests and you still have symptoms, selfisolate until you are 48

hours symptom-free.  If you are awaiting an antigen test or PCR test while symptomatic, presume you have COVID-19, and continue self-isolating for seven (if you have received a booster or have recovered from COVID-19 in the past three months) to 10 (if you have not received a booster) days. If your

symptoms continue after 10 days, selfisolate until you are 48 hours symptom-free. Make sure to consult your GP if you are feeling unwell.  People who do not have symptoms and test positive on an antigen test should self-isolate and book a PCR test.

PANDEMIC: Lahinch Photo by John Mangan

NEWS 7

THURSDAY, JAN 6 2022

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8 NEWS

THURSDAY, JAN 6 2022

Missing road signs confusing motorists

 LOCAL ROADS: Kilmihil

by PÁRAIC Mc MAHON

OAD signs that have been missing in Kilmihil and Kildysart have been confusing the people of West Clare for years, a county councillor has claimed. At the ﬁnal meeting of the West Clare Municipal District in 2021, Cllr PJ Kelly (FF) appealed for answers to be found regarding the long-running mystery of missing road signs and numbers at Ballydineen and Aylroe. His proposal was seconded by Cllr Gabriel Keating (FG). Senior executive engineer, Alan Kennelly explained, “road signs showing local road numbers are erected at the junctions of local roads and National Secondary or Regional Roads. On National Roads respon-

sibility for these signs rests with the TII. It rests with Clare County Council on Regional Roads. “We do not erect these signs at the junctions of local roads with local roads. There are simply too many of these junctions”. Cllr Kelly detailed that the absence of signs “has been causing confusion down through the years”. He outlined that locals hear of a road being repaired but are left with questions when it is Ballydineen as three roads in West Clare have the same name. West Clare has been home to “a ﬁnger post paradise that was always disappearing,” the Lissycasey representative reﬂected. He said that “quite a few roads” in the Municipal District have no numbers.

Asbestos removal to cost millions by PÁRAIC Mc MAHON “MILLIONS” of euros will be spent on the removal of asbestos from sites in West Clare. Chief Executive of Clare County Council, Pat Dowling confirmed that “significant costs” will be incurred during the remediation of asbestos from different sites in West Clare. Tender competitions for multidisciplinary consultancy services for the remediation of sites containing ACM (asbestos containing material) were published in November with an appointment of technical advisors for the final remediation of all sites due once all submissions are received, the deadline for applications is this month. Seán Lenihan of the Council’s Project Management Office outlined that the con-

sultants will oversee and sign off on necessary remedial works. “In the interim, the sites, having been rendered safe following the carrying out of temporary works in consultation with the EPA, continue to be routinely monitored by Council staff,” Dowling detailed in his monthly management report. Cllr Cillian Murphy (FF) queried what the expected cost would be at the December sitting of the County Council. Staff within the local authority “continually report” on asbestos, Dowling stated, its removal forms part of a “long-term strategy”. He revealed, “the costs are significant and will be in the millions to remediate it”. Work to maintain the sites

in “a safe manner” is ongoing, Dowling stated. He explained that there was “no immediate danger to public health” because of the sites. Clare County Council in March 2014 launched a major investigation into the dumping of asbestos. An external independent investigation was commissioned after asbestos waste materials were found at nine separate places, following a complaint from a member of the public in June 2013. Of these sites, six were in Kilkee and three in Kilrush. Prolonged inhalation of asbestos can cause serious health problems. Asbestos has been blamed for some 120,000 deaths every year from diseases caused as a result of exposure to the building material.

DOWN WITH THIS SORT OF THING

Unmet housing needs of Travellers a form of discrimination says Clare TD UNMET housing needs for Travellers in Clare represents a form of discrimination, Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne (SF) has said, writes Praic McMahon. There is a “breach” in the State’s duty of care with the “significant unmet housing needs” in the county, Clare TD Wynne maintained. Adequate housing for members of the Travelling community is an ongoing issue, she flagged. She referenced a recent Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission’s (IHREC) report revealed that only 2% of people on social housing waiting lists have been identified as Travellers, “even though Travellers are overrepresented in homelessness figures at 9%. These figures don’t add up. Overall, Traveller represent just 0.7% of the general population, so the fact that they have such high representation in homeless figures exposes

the inequalities they face”. Deputy Wynne continued, “there is and has been for over 20 years a legally binding onus on Local Authorities to establish a Local Traveller Consultative Committee and have representation from the Traveller Community. In Clare so far that has not been achieved and efforts have never yielded the desired result. There are issues of institutional, structural bias and prejudice, most of which is subconscious but is very much there”. “In the 5 years leading up to 2019. just seven traveller accommodation units were delivered in Clare. Between 2015 and 2019, the Council spent roughly €725,000 delivering Traveller Accommodation as per their legal obligation to do so under the Housing (Traveller) Accommodation Act 1998. However, a total allocation of €1.85 million was made available. This phenome-

non of Traveller Accommodation funding not being drawn down in its totality in not unique to Clare and was common to most constituencies,” the Kilrush woman commented. Recommendations of the Traveller Accommodation Expert Review (July 2019) are yet to be implemented, Wynne highlighted. “The report noted that while 94% of local authorities have Traveller-specific objectives in their development plans, only four development plans included maps to identify Traveller-specific accommodation, and only 1 of these 4 has actually planned a future site”. Violet-Anne concluded, “This ongoing gap between theory and practice; between the great intentions of policy and lack of real life, tangible results for Travellers is in part because of this vagueness and in part subconscious discrimination”.

 MAKE SOME NOISE: Gort Biogas Concern Group organised a protest walk on New Year’s Day against the proposed construction of a Biogas plant in their local area.

NEWS 9

THURSDAY, JAN 6 2022

Approval granted for €44m Killaloe Bypass project

by PÁRAIC Mc MAHON

 Killaloe

PPROVAL has been granted for the long-awaited Killaloe Bypass and Shannon River Crossing proj-

ect. Set to cost €44m, the project is set to commence construction on site in March 2022. It follows Minister for Transport, Eamon Ryan (GP) giving Clare County Council the green light to award the contract for the Killaloe Bypass, River Shannon Crossing and upgrade of the R494 project to John Sisk & Company. An estimated 40 percent reduction in congestion between the Clare and Tipperary border towns of Killaloe and Ballina is expected once the works are completed. Cathaoirleach of the Killaloe Municipal District, Cllr Joe Cooney (FG) and Killaloe based Cllr Tony O’Brien (FF) recalled that the genesis for the current scheme was a proposed widen-

ing of the existing Killaloe Bridge back in the late 1990s. This was ruled out for environmental and heritage reasons but prompted a wider Traffic Management Strategy which was carried out in 2003 and identified that a new bridge crossing was required in the region downstream of the existing bridge while also recommending a bypass of Killaloe and an upgrade of the

R494 as part of the longer-term strategy for Killaloe and Ballina. Clare TD, Cathal Crowe (FF) said he was “thrilled” to see the project advance. “There’s a constant bottleneck on the old bridge that links Killaloe and Ballina and even though a traffic light system has been installed in recent years, the problem has never gone away”. Deputy Crowe expressed his

confidence that the bypass and bridge crossing will “hugely alleviate traffic pressures” but also entice more visitors to Killaloe. “I’m delighted that the government has funded this and after many false dawns it’ll now see the light of day”. Cathaoirleach of Clare County Council, Cllr PJ Ryan (IND) stated, “This is really great news not just for Killaloe and Ballina but for the counties of Clare, Tipperary and the Midwest in general. It has been many years in the making and it is absolutely fantastic that the scheme has now been approved to go to construction”. A “need for action to address the inadequacy of the existing route has been recognised for many years,” Pat Dowling, Clare County Council Chief Executive commented. Clare County Council’s Director of Physical Development, Carmel Kirby, flagged “as well as the journey time savings and improved accessibility and connectivity, there are many other environmental,

tourism and health benefits accruing. These include enhanced safety measures along the R494, pedestrian and cycle facilities throughout the scheme including facilitation of the Limerick to Scarriff Greenway/Blueway, reduction in carbon levels in both towns as well as many other active travel opportunities that can now be incorporated into the recently drafted Killaloe/Ballina Mobility Plan”. Senior Engineer in the Council’s Project Management Office, Seán Lenihan assured the project would now move at pace. “There are a number of conditions that Sisk will have to comply with prior to them being formally appointed but it is hoped that we will be in a position to issue the Letter of Acceptance in late January, all going well. This will allow them to organise their supply chain issues and prepare to mobilise on site in March. Of critical importance is that they are in a position to carry out the in-water works in the river during the limited Fisheries window this summer”.

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THURSDAY, JAN 6 2022

Work on solution to Henchy’s Cross to begin in Spring 2022 PÁRAIC MCMAHON

paraic@clareecho.ie

PRING 2022 has been set as the target to commence works to improve visibility at Henchy’s Cross. Long-running safety concerns at the busy East Clare junction are hoped to be eased somewhat when minor works begin early this year in what is viewed as an interim measure. A larger scale €2m application for Henchy’s Cross was rejected by the Department of Transport. Senior executive engineer of the road design section of Clare County Council, John Gannon explained of the planned works this spring, “the project will also provide advance warning of hazards ahead such as road narrowing, hidden dip while encouraging motorists to reduce speed on the R352 on the approaches to the junction”. Warning signs to be introduced include, ‘road narrows’, ‘junction

ahead’ and ‘no overtaking’. Stop lines and slow road markings will also be painted while the centre line will be renewed for the entire length of the scheme with existing edge lining to the east of the junction repainted while new edge lining will be installed to the west of the junction at the beginning of the scheme. Gannon confirmed that yellow hatch road markings would be added on the L8166 approach to the junction with buff coloured high friction surfacing (anti-skid) to be provided for 30m on both sides of the junction. On the western side of the junction between the L4104 and R352, a low (25mm) kerb with bituminous surfacing will be installed, a stone wall on the western side of the junction will be lowered and stone piers to be set back. All vegetation growing on existing stone walls will be removed and vegetation growing on earthen mounts to be cut down as much as possible, Gannon detailed. Senior executive engineer in the

 SAFETY: Henchy’s Cross

Killaloe Municipal District, Niamh Madden stated, “As design is now substantially finalised and consultation with landowners nearing an end, we aim to carry out works in relation to this safety scheme in early 2022”. Speaking at the final Killaloe MD meeting of 2021, Cllr Pat Hayes (FF) described Henchy’s Cross as “an extremely dangerous junction” with traffic heading towards Ennis, Shannon, Caherlohan and the Mart. He recalled that €150k was

received in 2020 for preliminary works which the design office used to put an application before the Department. Officials need to view Henchy’s Cross as “the main project” in East Clare, “it has to be delivered.. it is imperative,” Cllr Hayes stressed. “I don’t think as a Council we can stand by and not let it happen. At 4pm and 5pm in the evening, people are risking their lives out there, you wouldn’t get planning for a rural house there, I don’t want to see

emergency services at Henchy’s Cross and a loss of life, there has been notable accidents”. Cathaoirleach of the Killaloe MD, Cllr Joe Cooney (FG) remarked, “it is good to see we have something on paper to see something will happen”. Acting senior executive officer in the Killaloe MD, Morgan Lahiffe informed the meeting that Henchy’s Cross was included in their strategic plan. He said “a large scale application” in the region of €2m was put before the Department. “We are trying to do a low cost solution, all of these projects that involve land, land ownership and houses are intricate, road design have worked a lot on this project to try bring it to where it is, it is a slow moving project. We’re not going to promise the world here, it is a low cost short-term solution. We’re looking at spring next year, the long-term commitment is there to improve this road”. He confirmed that money allocated in 2021 would be reallocated to 2022.

Greenways take ‘step in the right direction’ with almost €1m allocated by PÁRAIC McMAHON

1800 827 555

CLOSE to €1m has been allocated for the progression of six greenway routes across Co Clare. A total of €970,000 has been allocated by the Department of Transport for investment in greenways in the county. 2025 remains the target for the opening of the West Clare Greenway with the fresh set of funding aiding this. Half a million has been set aside for the 20km section between Kilrush and Kilkee, €200,000 has been announced for the Ennis to Ennistymon phase with €50,000 each for the Ennistymon to Miltown Malbay section and the Miltown Malbay to Moyasta route. Shannon’s much sought after connection to Bunratty is one step closer with €100,000 allocated to connect the town with Bunratty and onto Limerick. €70,000 has been granted for the greenway which links Limerick to O’Briensbriddge and Scariff. Referencing her time as

a county councillor when she brought local authority ofﬁcials and fellow elected representatives to cycle the Waterford Greenway, Senator Roisin Garvey (GP) highlighted that the funding was a step in the right direction for the arrival of Greenways to Clare. She said of the funding, “Some of it will be for construction because we have moved past design stage and the rest of it will be getting consultants to look at the designs and meet the landowners. “This is a great step in the right direction, it is a long time coming but if you keep asking you get it in the end. “I can’t wait until we can ﬁnally cycle around our beautiful county and do so safely, safe for our children, older people, people with disabilities and tourists. “I will make sure the Greenways are connected to the villages and towns and the schools, we’ve seen it done in the past,” the Inagh woman added. Clare TD, Cathal Crowe

(FF) was confident the entire county would benefit. “Anybody who has used a greenway in any part of the country has seen first-hand just how beneficial they are to the health, wellness and moreover the economy of the localities they traverse. “Clare is a county ideally suited to these facilities, as a rural and scenic county, and it’s very encouraging to see a good spread of these route plans across the West and East of the county, so that we are not falling into the trap of focusing on one area which would end up suffering as a result of overuse”. Crowe added, “It’s also important to note that while these projects have been given a significant boost due to this funding, they won’t immediately won’t see the light of day but it allows them to progress at greater speed through the stages of design, procurement and so on. “I look forward to taking my own family for a spin or a walk on each and every one of these six greenways once they are up and running”.

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THURSDAY, JAN 6 2022

SHANNON NEWS in association with

Pace of ﬂood relief works ‘concerning’ PÁRAIC MCMAHON

paraic@clareecho.ie

ESIDENTS OF Shannon Town are becoming increasingly concerned with the pace at which flood relief works are

moving. The Shannon CFRAM Study Area identified Shannon Town & Shannon Airport as an Area of Further Assessment (AFA) and IRR Individual Risk Receptor (IRR) respectively and concluded that a flood relief scheme would be viable and effective for the community. Last July, RPS were appointed by OPW in partnership with Clare County Council to further

assess the CFRAM Study identified options and prepare a detailed scheme for Shannon which is economically viable and environmentally sustainable. Stage I is currently ongoing which has commenced in August 2020. In his monthly management report, Council Chief Executive, Pat Dowling detailed that maintenance works to the Airport embankments would be ongoing for the remainder of 2021. ”As reported previously, progression of works immediately after Christmas will be dependent on weather conditions at that time”. Speaking at the December meeting of the Council, Cllr Gerry Flynn (IND) stated that concern was growing among Shannon residents regarding the scheme’s progress. “It seems a very long time ago

DEFENCES: Flooding in Shannon

since we met Minister Moran and we were granted money to be ringfenced for the project”. The pace at which Shannon Airport was “pushing ahead with measures to protect it from flooding, Shannon Town is still vulnerable to the el-

ements,” he flagged. As is stands, residents in Shannon Town cannot get flood relief insurance, he said. Discussions with the OPW regarding the scheme occur on “an ongoing basis,” Dowling replied. He stressed that there were “signif-

icant technical projects” associated with the large capital scheme. “I can reassure you and everybody in Shannon that the project is funded, we’re working to the detailed design, it is technically quite specific, a variety of interventions have to be made, there is no one simple solution for protecting Town and Airport,” he added. Seán Lenihan of the Project Management Office outlined that it was a five year plan with “a huge amount of work” to be completed. He offered to hold a briefing with councillors in the Shannon Municipal District. “We have a long ahead of us,” he advised. Work ongoing at the Airport relates to repairs and upgrades, “it is not that they are doing work quicker than we are, they are maintaining and repairing existing embankments”.

Appeal issued to light up ‘black path’ in Shannon by PÁRAIC McMAHON CALLS to light up Shannon’s ‘black path’ have been voiced by elected representatives. Located between Tradaree and Drumgeely, The Black Path goes through housing estates in the environs of St Tola’s National School in Shannon. At a recent meeting of the Shannon Municipal District, Cllr Donna McGettigan (SF)

appealed for extra lighting along the path and “to move the sign indicating the black path to its correct location”. Her request was supported by Cllr Gerry Flynn (IND). She said that work had been done on the tree roots, “more lighting would help people to see the footpath. The sign should be where the black path is”. Anne O’Sullivan, a se-

TOO DARK: The black path Photo by Joe Buckley

nior executive engineer in the roads and transportation section of Clare County Council outlined that the proposal would be examined by the public lighting section with a cost estimate to be prepared “with a view to seeking funding for this project”. Senior executive engineer in the Shannon MD, Tom Mellett conﬁrmed, “the sign will be relocated to the correct location”.

THURSDAY, JAN 6 2022

in association with

Clareabbey roundabout is ‘cutting oﬀ Ennis from Clarecastle’ PÁRAIC MCMAHON

paraic@clareecho.ie

NNIS and Clarecastle are “cut off from each other” due to the present infrastructure at Clareabbey roundabout. €10,000 was allocated by Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) in the days prior to Christmas for pedestrian and cycle crossings at the busy axis point. Prior to this, updates had been sought by Cllr Paul Murphy (FG) on a preliminary design for the roundabout plus an appeal to develop and fund a pedestrian and cyclist overpass. Clareabbey’s design will be influenced by the outcome of trials at a similar roundabout in Kerry,

TII: Clareabbey Roundabout Photo by Gary Collins

TII officials had advised. Clare County Council in a recent application to TII outlined “a high-level ambition to develop a cycling/walking infrastructure that will ultimately link Lees Road

Sports & Amenity Park in Ennis via Claureen Roundabout and Clareabbey Roundabout through Clarecastle and Newmarket on Fergus to Shannon Town. Cycling/ walking and transportation infra-

Ennis Gardaí remind public to lock cars as valuables stolen over Christmas by PÁRAIC McMAHON THREE unlocked cars were broken into and had items taken from them over the period of a couple of hours on one Christmas night in Ennis. Overnight on Sunday December 19th into Monday morning December 20th, a total of three cars were broken into across the county town. A laptop was taken from a car parked on Cornmarket

Street, a sum of money was stolen from the glove compartment of a car parked on Old Mill Road, Cloughleigh and cash and sunglasses were taken from another car parked on the Kilrush Road. Crime prevention ofﬁcer, Triona Brooks conﬁrmed that all cars were unlocked. “We want to remind car owners to secure all doors and windows and use your car alarm.

“Take valuable property with you and do not leave valuable property on view inside the car”. Meanwhile in Killaloe, between November 21st and St Stephen’s Day, a 20 foot 5 seat ﬁberglass boat beige in colour with a green top and wooden trim and an electric start outboard engine were stolen from The Boathouse, Annacarriga, Killaloe.

‘Children of Gallows Hill will be safe from now on’ by PÁRAIC McMAHON CHILDREN of Gallows Hill “will be safe from now on,” an Ennis councillor has predicted following confirmation that new signage will be erected in the area. Installation of two ‘children playing’ signs at the St Flannan’s College side of Collins Park and Gallows Hill were requested by Cllr Pat Daly (FF). He explained, “drivers are avoiding the newly installed speed bumps on the main

road and are instead using the local link road where children play outside their houses”. Senior executive engineer, Eamon O’Dea confirmed that signage would be put in place at Collins Park. This prompted Cllr Daly at the December sitting of the Ennis Municipal District to remark, “the children of Gallows Hill will be safe from now on”. Support for the measures was voiced by Cllr Clare Colleran Molloy (FF) and Cllr Paul Murphy (FG).

structure on the N85 from Claureen to Loughville will also be included,” senior executive engineer John Gannon stated. Efforts to bring about improvements at Clareabbey have been “dragging on for 14 years,” Cllr Murphy remarked at the December meeting of the Ennis Municipal District. “Active Travel is one of the buzzwords with the current Government in place but the situation at Clareabbey, it is a major piece of infrastructure but it is beyond belief that TII are still dragging their heels on this one”. As it stands, “it has cut off ” Clarecastle and Ennis from each other, Murphy maintained. “We are the one in reality except in GAA terms. People can’t walk or cycle safely from Clarecastle to Ennis which beggars belief. It is time to consider an overbridge.

They are excuses, it was a disaster from day one and it needs to be addressed. The time will come when something happens”. Mayor of Ennis, Cllr Ann Norton (IND) claimed the roundabout is “preventing a lot of young people from cycling to school”. While praising Cllr Murphy for continuing to raise the matter, Cllr Clare Colleran Molloy (FF) stated, “I use the roundabout daily for walk from Ballybeg, it is not that overwhelming for an adult but I can imagine that it does disconnect younger people who want to travel from Clarecastle to Ennis”. Cllr Pat Daly (FF) said Clareabbey is “probably the busiest roundabout in the county. There are thousands coming from Shannon Airport, Shannon Industrial Estate, Clarecastle and Ennis using this on a daily basis”.

14 NEWS

THURSDAY, JAN 6 2021

Doolin pier railings to be replaced

ROADS ACT 1993 TEMPORARY ROAD CLOSURE Notice is hereby given in accordance with Section 75 of the Roads Act 1993 of Clare County Council’s decision to close the roads detailed hereunder for the period stated, in order to facilitate site investigation works on O’Connell Street, O’Connell Square, Salthouse Lane and High Street.

by PÁRAIC McMAHON

RAILINGS at the old pier in Doolin are to be replaced. An appeal was issued by Cllr Liam Grant (GP) at the final West Clare Municipal District meeting of 2021 for the local authority to repair or replace access railings at the old pier in Doolin. He outlined, “The remaining damaged railings pose a serious risk of tripping or laceration. I would also ask that an additional railing on the pier wall and anti-slip marine matting be considered to ensure safer access and egress for pier users”. Senior executive engineer, Enda MacNamara confirmed, “The railings will be replaced near the steps of the old pier. The use of anti-slip marine matting needs to be assessed to determine suitability”. Growth of the amount of ‘Doolin swimmers’ in the summer months heightens the need for action, Cllr Joe Garrihy (FG) believed. The results of the anti-slip work will be ‘very interesting,’ Cllr Cillian Murphy (FF) maintained.

Damage at Newmarket dealership

FOUR CARS for sale at a Newmarket-on-Fergus garage were damaged following an early morning incident prior to Christmas. Several traffic cones and hazard bollards were taken from the edge of the forecourt of NI18 Autos on the Ennis Rd in Newmarket-on-Fergus at approximately 2:20 on Saturday December 18th. These cones and bollards were placed on the bonnets and roofs of four cars for sale on the forecourt causing paint and scratch damage to the cars. The forecourt is the old former Great Gas service station across from the grounds of Newmarket Celtic. While CCTV footage is believed to have captured some of the activity, Gardaí in Newmarket-on-Fergus are appealing for witnesses who have may have driven past the village after 2am on December 18th to contact the Garda Station on 061 368172.

Bus shelters for Cratloe?

BUS SHELTERS at existing stops in Cratloe are to be requested from the National Transport Authority (NTA). Clare County Council’s road design office are to make the plea as part of their Bus Shelter Programme that will be circulated to the NTA. It follows a proposal from Cllr Pat O’Gorman (FF) before the Shannon Municipal District asking that the present bus stops on either side of the dual carriageway at Setights Cross be equipped with shelters. His bid was supported by both Cllr PJ Ryan (IND) and Cllr John Crowe (FG).

34 year wait for footpath funding likely to continue by PÁRAIC McMAHON

Construction costs alone are likely to reach 6 figures. Land agreement, accommodation works, reasonably largescale earthworks are all likely to add considerably to the cost. Clare County Council does not have any plans to commence the construction of the proposed footpath at present. A funding source would have to be identified.” Cllr Keating described the residents as “very genuine” while urging the Council to talk with them. “34 years is a long time to be waiting for a footpath, in these times there is money for everything”.

Roads to be closed: O’ Connell Street, Ennis from O’ Connell Square to junction with Station Road. Salthouse Lane and High Street. Date and time of closure: O’ Connell Street, Salthouse Lane and High Street Closures: 7:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. Monday-Thursday, 17th - 20th January 2022, 7:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. Monday-Thursday 24th - 27th January 2022 and 7:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. Monday-Tuesday 31st January to 1st February 2022. Alternative routes / diversions: There will be no through road, from Abbey Street to O’Connell Street for the duration of the works. Diversion will be at O’ Connell Square at the junction of Bank Place and O’Connell Square. Traffic flow will be reversed on Old Friary Lane for duration of works on Salthouse Lane and High Street. Diversion will be at junction of Salthouse Lane and Old Friary Lane. Follow diversion signs in place. A map outlining the closures is available on our website at www.clarecoco.ie

CONSTRUCTION costs of a footpath on the Kilkee Rd in Kilrush would be a six figure sum, a senior engineer in Clare County Council has warned. Emergency Access Dating back to April 1987, requests Emergency Access will be maintained. have been issued to the local authoriClare County Council regrets any inconvenience that ty to provide a footpath on the Kilkee these closures may cause. Rd in Kilrush on the N67 at Leadmore East/Carnanes. Then TD, Madeline Taylor-Quinn (FG) was informed by the Council that the funds were not available that year or the subsequent two years. Retired Junior Minister, Pat Breen (FG) informed residents in November 2019 that the costs of construction including public lighting and a pedestrian crossing would be €190,000. Commitments were given by Steve Lahiffe of the West Clare Municipal District following a proposal by Cllr Gabriel Keating (FG) in May 2017 that the Council would consult with Transport Infrastructure Ireland on the request. “We have heard nothMondays Shannon Wednesdays Ennistymon Thursdays Gort ing from this engagement,” a letter signed by 29 residents in Oakwood Hotel Teach Ceoil Ennistymon Gort Community Centre October flagged. 5.30pm 5.30pm 9.30am KILRUSH ENNISand 7pm ENNISTYMON Cllr Keating at the last Louise 086 1381874 Orla 085 8761334 Maura 087 2768935 meeting of the West Clare MD AUBRUN LODGE HOTEL COMMUNITY CEN TEACH COIL in 2021 sought an update on the proposed footpath. TUESDAY EVENINGS Wednesdays MORN WEDNESDA + TUESDAY Tuesdays Ennis Killaloe MORNING Thursdays Ennis Senior executive engineer, Alan Kennelly detailed that Auburn Lodge Hotel Killaloe Hotel and Spa West County Hotel EVENINGS the footpath extends as far as 9.30am, 5.30pm and 7pm 5.30pm + 7pm 8am, 9.30am, St. Theresa’s Nursing Home 086-1381874 085-8761334 Louise 086 1381874 Fidelma 087 4395322 4pm and 5.30pm on the N67 and “is located almost entirely” where the 085-8761334 Orla 085 8761334 maximum speed limit apTuesdays Kilrush Thursdays Labane plies which means the TII are ENNIS ENNIS the relevant road authority. KILLALOE Kilrush Community Centre Labane Hall Ardrahan Saturdays Ennis “It is my understanding that CBS PRIMARY SCHOOL4.30pm and 6.30pm STSchool FLANNANS SC 9.30am CBS Primary the proposed footpath is in BALLINA PARISH HALL, SATURDAY MORNINGS Maura 087 2768935 breach of National Policy reOrla 085 8761334 8.30am and 10.30am EVEN THURSDAY BALLINA lating to National Secondary Orla 085 8761334 Roads, and therefore the conWEDNESDAY EVENINGS sent of the TII is very unlikely 085-8761334 085-8761334 to be forthcoming,” he stated. Kennelly added, “The cost of the proposed footpath is 087-4395322 likely to be quite substantial.

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Arts & Entertainment 15

THURSDAY, JAN 6 2022

‘We’ll meet again at Bealacana Bridge’ - stirring tribute to I.J. Shannon

by PÁRAIC McMAHON ARM tributes have been paid to the gentleman known as I.J. Shannon, the father of renowned Clare musicians Sharon and Garry plus their siblings Mary and Majella. Crowds descended to St Mary’s Church in Ruan for his funeral on St Stephen’s Day with current restrictions and the spread of COVID-19 prompting many mourners to pay their respects online where it was clear how I.J. was regarded as both a gentleman and strong character. At 94 years young, I.J. “passed away unexpectedly but peacefully in the arms of his loving family,” his daughter Sharon outlined. She added, “We are all grateful and relieved that he didn’t have to suffer, and that he was in the comfort of his own home when he slipped away. He was 93, almost 94 actually and he had a great life. If we could, we’d be holding on to him for another 94 years. It goes without saying that we will all miss him enormously, but he got a mighty send off that he’d have been proud of with plenty of music and singing and stories”. He moved to Bealacana in Ruan 70 years ago from Willbrook. Speaking at I.J.’s funeral, Garry detailed that neighbours such as Tommo Daffy, Joe Casey, Jimmy Hynes, Dónal O’ Brien, Joe Waters, Thomas Hehir and Micho Halloran made him feel very welcome in the 1950s. In 1962, IJ married

 RIP: IJ Shannon cycling toward Bealacana Bridge

Photo by Ray Doherty

Mary “after 10 years gallivanting around Ruan and Corofin”. His love of animals was referenced at the mass with gymkhanas and horseshows said to be “his real passion”. A school teacher at St Flannan’s College, Garry quipped that thanks to his father’s

style of driving, it was common for them to be late for school. “He had revolutionary driving techniques, especially driving on the right hand side of the road coming up to a bend, so that if there was anything coming, he’d see them sooner. And in spite of how fast he drove, we were never in time for

school. He had many an accident on the way with Paddy Lyons or Rose Moloney or Dermot Glynn and the car was like a battered oilcan and we’d be egging him on, ‘up to 90 Daddy, up to 90”. Garry credited his father for introducing them to music. “He brought us to the Teach Ceoil in Corofin for music classes every week, and to Toonagh for the céilís and later to the Fleadhs all over the country, the whole lot of us in a small caravan”. Love for his family was always evident, Garry noted. “He had ups and downs with depression but despite declining health, he was mainly positive. He used up all his nine lives in close shaves over the last 20 years, and was fiercely determined every time to recover and to keep himself in working order with exercises, riding the go-kart and so on. We all thought he was indestructible because of all the times he came back from the dead. He was very proud of us and of his 11 grandchildren and loved to slip them a few bob to encourage them to visit him and he loved to meet their girlfriends and boyfriends – even though he struggled to pronounce some of their names”. “I.J. went to visit his old friend Dónal O’ Brien (Dano) when he was in hospital 30 years ago and Dónal said to him: “If I die here, we’ll meet at Bealacana Bridge”. And we’re saying the same today, Goodbye I.J. old friend, we’ll meet at the bridge,” he concluded to stirring applause.

Tuamgraney actor Blake a rising star for 2022 TUAMGRANEY actor Frank Blake has been earmarked as a star to watch in 2022, writes Páraic McMahon. The Irish Times this week published a list of 50 young people likely to be breakout stars this coming year in what their writers described as the best young talent

in the country across ﬁlm, television, politics, music, entrepreneurship, sustainability, fashion, beauty, food, activism, sport, art and design. 2020 saw Frank star as Alan, the complex brother of leading lady Marianne in the hit show, ‘Normal People’. The award-nominated

novel by Sally Rooney was adapted for the small screen by Lenny Abrahamson and was released while the Scariff Community College past pupil spent lockdown in East Clare. Writing in The Irish Times, ﬁlm correspondent Donald Clarke predicted big things on the horizon

for Frank this year describing him as “a handsome Clare man with a good line in simmer”. He added, “he had roles in Bridgerton, Game of Thrones and the Russo brothers’ Cherry. This year he elbows his way to the front of the crowd with a key role in the second season of Sanditon, continuing its take

on an unﬁnished Jane Austen novel, and a still under-the-horned-hat part in Netflix’s Vikings: Valhalla, follow up to the hit Norse series”. A grand-nephew of Edna O’Brien, the 25 year old’s ﬁrst role was in a production by East Clare Musical Society of Jesus Christ Superstar.

16 FEATURES

THURSDAY, JAN 6 2022

GREEN CLARE

Ennis retains third spot in IBAL litter survey

STUART HOLLY

editor@clareecho.ie

NNIS has retained its third spot ranking in the final Irish Business Against Litter (IBAL) survey of 2021. As Clare’s only surveyed town in the IBAL survey, Ennis was found to be cleaner than European norms as it was marked the third cleanest town and city in the country behind Naas and Portlaoise, it is the first time Naas has claimed top spot. In its report on Ennis, An Taisce noted, “It is only fitting that the 2021 Tidy Town winner should score so well in the IBAL litter league. It is particularly encouraging that a site which had been seriously littered over the last number of IBAL surveys was now deemed top-ranking – Gort Road Business Park”. “Tim Smythe Park has been very much deserving of a the top litter grade for the last number of years and this time around the park environment has been further enhanced by the provision of newly unveiled

‘Dressing Rooms’. Other top ranking sites included O’Connell Street, Ennis Courthouse and Ennis Recycle Facility – the latter is a ‘managed’ facility and certainly the staff deserve special mention as it was so well maintained. This is not always the case in other ‘managed’ facilities throughout the country”. Nationwide litter levels have risen slightly, the survey found with PPE litter at its highest level since the pandemic began. IBAL’s Conor Horgan outlined that the presence of discarded masks and gloves is on the rise. “The disposable blue face mask has become a ubiquitous part of the landscape up and down the country. People have not moved to reusable masks and people are not taking care of their masks.” International research has found PPE litter accounting for as much as 5% of all litter, and likely to have “a devastating, lasting effect on the environment”. Mask use is forecast to remain high into 2022. There was a significant rise in other pandemic-related litter, such as coffee cups, while alcohol-related litter remained at previous levels despite hospitality reopening and the survey being conducted in winter.

IBAL has frequently criticised the failure of local authorities to clean up sites identified in its surveys as heavily littered, and this was again the case. Of 89 such sites highlighted in summer last year, only 33% had been addressed by the time of this most recent survey. 2021 was the 19th year of the

IBAL Anti-Litter League. Cork and Limerick City Centres, both littered, showed a deterioration on the previous survey, while Dublin City Centre fell to heavily littered. Galway City lost its clean status, leaving Waterford as the country’s only clean city.

FREE CHRISTMAS TREE COLLECTION DROP-OFF POINTS

monday 10th Jan 2022 - Saturday 15th Jan 2022 If you chose a real tree this year, you can recycle it for FREE at the following designated locations around Co. Clare from the 10th January, 2022 to the 15th January, 2022:  Central Waste Management Facility, Ballyduff Beg, Inagh  Lisdeen Recycling Centre & Transfer Station, Kilkee  Scariff Recycling Centre & Transfer Station

 Shannon Recycling Centre  Gardening Section, Gort Rd, Ennis (adjacent to Cois na hAbhna, drop off point outside the gates)

RECYCLING CENTRE OPENING HOURS CENTRAL WASTE MANAGEMENT FACILITY, BALLYDUFF BEG, INAGH Tel: 065 6836960 Opening hours Tues - Fri: (8:30am - 4:30pm) Sat: (8:30am - 1:00pm) Mon and Sun: Closed LISDEEN RECYCLING CENTRE AND TRANSFER STATION Tel: 065 9060175 Opening hours Mon: (9:00am - 4:00pm) Wed - Fri: (9:00am - 4:00pm) Sat: (10:00am - 2:00pm) Tues and Sun: Closed

SCARIFF RECYCLING CENTRE AND TRANSFER STATION Tel: 061 921735 Opening hours Mon: (2pm - 6pm) Closed Bank Holidays Tues: (9am - 1pm) Wed: (closed) Thurs: (2pm - 6pm) Fri, Sat: (12:00 noon - 6:00pm) Sun: Closed

SHANNON RECYCLING CENTRE Tel: 061 364483 Opening hours Tues - Fri: (10:00am - 5:00pm) Sat: (9.00am - 3:00pm) Mon and Sun: Closed

GARDENING SECTION, GORT RD, ENNIS Opening hours: Mon-Fri Drop off point outside Garden Centre gates

LIKE ALL WASTE YOUR GREEN WASTE MUST BE MANAGED CORRECTLY By discarding your Christmas tree in public areas or along roadside locations, you are dumping waste and BREAKING THE LAW. This may result in an on-the-spot fine of €150. Dumped green waste cannot readily biodegrade. It looks unsightly, can attract other forms of dumping in your area and may attract vermin.

More information on home composting and reducing green waste can be found at

www.stopfoodwaste.ie

Clare County Council Promoting a Greener Clare @GreenerClare Antilitter Hotline No.: 1800 606 706 Email: enviroff@clarecoco.ie | www.clarecoco.ie

CLEAN STREETS: Ennis is cleaner than European Norms

NEWS 17

THURSDAY, JAN 6 2022

ebecca O’Neill

Discover yourself Rebecca O’Neill looks at using the new year as an opportunity for change, without laying on the pressure

HEN coming into the New Year it holds a great excuse to make a positive change in your life. I think everyone, no matter what age, are still trying to discover themselves and find out what’s right for them in life. Being able to let go of the negatives is a hard skill to achieve but creates an extremely positive impact on your outlook of the whole year. Introducing healthy habits and ensuring you are safe guarding your mental health, while making the best memories with your loved ones is something we can all try our best to do without putting pressure on ourselves. HEALTHY HABITS This involves introducing small changes into your life that are not overwhelming. This is entirely in your control so don’t expect too much from yourself. It is best to keep the list short and concise so that all goals can be met. A good exercise is to brainstorm the little things you want to achieve and start with the most realistic one and go from there. Allowing yourself to make these changes takes a lot of strength and you will feel so much better once they are completed. For example these healthy habits could be to stay moving daily like going for a 20 minute walk or doing a small yoga/gym session. Another one could be eating healthier than usual. HOBBIES Taking up a new hobby can be a perfect

way to discover your talents and what you actually find fun. It’s good to have balance when it comes to your routine and introducing this can really help productivity and fulfilment. New hobbies to try could include starting to knit/crochet, painting or being more active like running. Ensure that whatever you choose is realistic to your everyday life. VISUALISE YOUR GOALS Just thinking about a healthy habit or goal isn’t enough to achieve it. There is more to reaching a goal than just vocalising it. Write down a goal that means a lot to you. By writing it down it can increase your mo-

tivation which increases the likelihood of achieving it. Studies have shown that you are 42% more likely to finish a goal when writing it. Keep it somewhere you’ll often see it like in your note on your phone or on your phones wallpaper. If you tend to be more motivated by pictures, then a vision board might also help motivation and consistency. 2021 wasn’t the best year for some and that is okay. Minding yourself and expressing your feelings is so important and should happen more often. Talk to someone if you feel down and try introduce healthy things that make you genuinely happy and fulfilled. Improve on your personal relationships and be there for yourself.

Shannon Gaels toast success of 1971

HANNON GAELS have been reeling in the years to recall their two in row championship success of 1970 and 1971, writes Páraic McMahon. Members of the panel attended a reunion at Murty Browne’s in the middle of August with cards distributed over the Christmas period

to mark the occasion. In the 1970 decider, Shannon Gaels defeated Kilrush Shamrocks 1-03 1-02, their youngest player Martin Keogh registered the all-important goal on August 16th at Hennessy Park in Miltown Malbay in what was their first senior success since 1900 delivering the killer punch at a vital stage.

One year later, the opposition was Doonbeg and the venue Shanahan McNamara Park but the margin was still a one point win in favour of the Gaels. PJ Murphy assumed the captaincy from gentle giant Arthur Forde. The age-range of the panel varying from nineteen to twenty eight. Paudie Neylon was man of the

match at midfield in 1971 playing a starring role alongside his partner Kieran O’Neill (RIP). Forde raided for goal in the opening half to give them a 1-06 0-02 platform at the break with the Irish flag at half mast to remember all those who died in Northern Ireland during the Troubles. Neylon told The Clare Echo, “at

the time we were boasting that all of the panel were still alive but sadly since the celebration that is no longer the case,” he said while paying tribute to his former teammates Kieran O’Neill and Gerry Moloney. TEAM: The Shannon Gaels winning side of 1971 pictured then and in 2021

18 FEATURES

Joyful journey

RONAN SCULLY

Thought for the week

NE of the goals I am going to be working on this year is to be more positive and joyful. Our Lord in St. John’s Gospel wants us to be joyful when he said,”These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full” (John 15:11). If we live our lives on edge because we are afraid of bad things happening, we miss out on all the Joy. Other times we miss out on Joy because we are looking for it in extraordinary amazing special moments and ways and we forget that Joy can be enjoyed in the small everyday moments of life and especially if we try to live in the present moment. Joy, for such a small word, there’s a heck of a lot of power, hope and love in it. God wants the joy of his love to dwell with us and in us always. Joy takes time and it comes, I would say, as a by-product of living a grateful, loving and appreciative life, of having time and taking time to “smell the roses,” as we used to say. Joy needs time.

Hold On

We are all on this wild adventure we call life. There are twists and turns along the way, both good and bad, but as we walk on this journey, we are called to find joy and to dwell in joy as we journey on our journey of life. Finding joy when things are going well is easy, but finding joy when things are not going well is a challenge that faces each and every one of us. Of all the months of the year, January is by far the most challenging for so many reasons; but perhaps mostly because of the bleak feeling of emptiness and worry that it creates for so many, along with an unimaginable sense of loss and detachment. Many are saying goodbye to loved-ones who had travelled home for Christmas if they were lucky to travel during our present restrictions because of the Coronavirus and are now returning to those faraway places where they are now living. We hug them, trying not to cry and fall apart, knowing we won’t see them again for a long time. Many are mourning a sad Christmas because, for whatever reason, it just didn’t feel like it should have been or maybe the Coronavirus took over the house for 10 days or more. Maybe you didn’t get to see your children. Maybe someone you love died in recent times and these last few weeks and days were just too much to bear without them to share the annual joy of the begin-

ning of a New Year and happiness with. It can be easy to lose our sense of identity and our purpose during the first few weeks of the new year. For most, this feeling lifts with the arrival of Spring and its longer days and brighter mornings. Christmas then feels like a dim and distant memory. Life is full of difficult challenges, but there is no such thing as an impossible solution to the mental anguish and the soul-destroying torture caused by life’s difficulties. Perhaps this life has lost all of its joy for you right now. It hasn’t. Trust me. Life has not lost all of its joy. Life itself never loses joy. It’s just the period you are going through that feels joyless; but that’s just a period, a space you find yourself in right now. Life is full of joy. It always has been and always will be. It’s just that you mightn’t be able to see that just now. But you will, if you wait, and if you hold on. You will. As my friend David used to say to me when I was feeling down or joyless, “This too will pass”. And so it will because everything changes and continues to change. We are constantly changing. It’s the same with joy. Joylessness fades, while joy, hope and love renews itself and becomes stronger. So hold on. Each of us gets only one attempt to live this life. It’s worth living it to its fullest. We don’t get a second try. By giving up, you deprive yourself of finding your one true voice and your real strengths. I’m only asking you to hold on for today; because tomorrow will bring with it a renewed strength to help you through whatever challenges we might or might not come up against then. But that’s tomorrow, not today. Focus right now on the fact that everything changes, feelings, pain, sadness - everything, and usually when you least expect it to. Remind yourself of how loved you are by the last person who smiled at you and who relies on the happiness you bring to them in order for them to feel how wonderful life is. Maybe right now you might not feel it, but you are the reason why other people feel that their lives are worthwhile - because of the happiness and the joy and love you bring to them. Remember to always love yourself, accept yourself, forgive yourself and be good to yourself, because without you the rest of us are without a source of many wonderful and amazing things.

Thought for the week

As your thought for the week,

we must reflect the light of Christ shining on a darkened world to give joy to those who are joyless. We must rise up in joyful splendour, to give witness to the great light which has overwhelmed the darkness of our world and shows us the glory of a God who loves us so much that he became one of us, in order that we might even one breath at a time, one heartbeat at a time, become ever more and more like him, in order that we might no longer be afraid. In finishing say this beautiful prayer of joyful compassion which has become a favourite of mine this past year called “Prayer of Joyful Compassion” that I have by my bedside that I read to encourage me to do the best I can with the life I have and to live a life of love, joy, prayer and compassion towards myself and the people I come into contact with. “Dear Heavenly Father, We confess: our lifestyles are too busy, our focus self-centred, and our world is consumed with fear, greed, and pride. Sometimes, Lord, we react to the pains of others with a flippant “who cares?” Yet, in our more receptive times, when Your Voice calls to our innermost beings, We know with absolute certainty two things we desperately need: To be loved…and to love. Lord, enlighten my mind and heart with truth, love, mercy, gratitude and joyful compassion. Give me the courage to follow you daily in faith, love, joy and hope. Make me aware of the needs of the people around me. Help me to be grateful for what I have and help those with so much less. Help me to be gentle towards every person I encounter today, in thought, word and deed. May I recognize that others are facing difficult circumstances which I know nothing about. Oh Lord, that others would encounter You when they meet me today! Still my tongue and open my heart. Fill me with a spirit of forgiveness, joyful compassion and generosity. As it be Your will Lord, place the words in my mouth that others need to hear today. Lord, I thank You for caring for me, tending my hurts with Your inexhaustible joyful compassion. As we begin this new week together, renew my mind and my heart. Help me to share Your unfailing joyful compassion with all people, especially those with whom I live and work. Be with those whose hearts are broken, demoralised by life’s blows; those who mirror to us that unfairness and suffering is not lightened by flipant answers or avoidance, but is made bearable because of fellow travellers who truly do care, and show it. Walk with us, God. Our trek is not always easy, our vision shortsighted, our love and joy often hidden. May we seek the deeper places where our compassion, our joy reflect You, the God who is Love. Amen.”

THURSDAY, JAN 6 2022

Autism Aware Clare allocated €78,500 funding

by PÁRAIC McMAHON

N ALLOCATION of €78,500 in Government funding has been confirmed for Autism Aware Clare. Clare County Council have been allocated the amount specifically for Autism Aware Clare. It is one of thirty nine projects chosen across thirty one local authorities to benefit from the 2021 Disability Participation and Awareness Fund. Funding will be “significant” to allow Autism Aware Clare to continue its work, Clare TD, Cathal Crowe (FF) maintained. He said that its work is already vital to ensure effective inclusion and participation in society for people with disabilities. Deputy Crowe stated, “It’s only with funding like this that we can see meaningful action being taken in removing barriers that are faced by those living with disabilities – be they visi-

ble or invisible ones”. He added, “Clare is leading the way in helping those with autism lead a fulfilling and inclusive life in our society – last summer, we became just the third county in the country to hold an Autism Cúl Camp and I have every faith that this will become an annual event. “The most important thing for the autistic community is that they are supported from the ground up – right down to early intervention, which I am all too aware is an area that needs significant work to address funding and staff shortages, then on into the school system and beyond. The beauty of a programme like Autism Aware Clare is its aim is to raise awareness of the condition and the challenges faced not only by those living with autism but also by their families. Thankfully, there is increased awareness these days but there’s still plenty of work to be done,” Crowe concluded.

Maintenance revenue sought for estates

CONSTRUCTION: Shannon Heights, Kilrush SPECIFIC funding streams need to be established to allow for the maintenance of housing estates, a Kilrush councillor has argued, writes Páraic McMahon. While appealing for resurfacing works at Shannon Heights in Kilrush and Marian Estate in Kilkee, Cllr Ian Lynch (IND) requested that a speciﬁc funding stream “separate to the roads allocation” be created “to adequately ﬁnance the maintenance of housing estates into the future”. Alan Kennelly, senior executive engineer in the West Clare Municipal District said that both estates were “typical of many housing developments in West Clare. Both developments are perhaps 50 years or more old and the road surface is relatively poor in places”. Road reconstruction must be completed to restore the road

surface to its original condition “Overlays are expensive and the West Clare MD does not have the funds in its annual roadworks programme to carry out pavement overlays in these - and many other – housing developments,” Kennelly stated. He said a dedicated funding stream would be welcomed. A “perfect storm” is set to brew, Cllr Lynch warned as he referenced the increased amount of estates taken in charge by the Council and critiques of the infrastructure provided by Irish Water. Lynch commented, “We need the Government to set aside specific funding for us. We have to set aside some money for repair of footpaths and maintenance in estates. Irish Water have an awful lot to answer for in Shannon Heights, they need to go to the halfway line and can’t just dig a hole and leave it”.

COMMUNITY 19

THURSDAY, JAN 6 2022

Community

SHANNON

CONTACT

NEWSDESK 065 671 9021 news@clareecho.ie

ENNIS

LIONS CLUB DONATIONS

SHANNON Lions Club have paid tribute to the people of Clare who supported their festive fundraising efforts, writes Páraic McMahon. Two weeks prior to Christmas, Shannon Lions Club held both a Flag Day and Church Gate Collection in the town as part of their annual fundraiser, both of which were reported to have been very successful. An annual food appeal was also completed by the Lions Club, this year it was done in collaboration with Iceland. Mental health services in Shannon and the Family Resource Centre both received three

hampers and three Dunnes Stores food vouchers each to be distributed to personnel in need of them. Supply of oil was also organised for one Shannon resident by the Lions Club on Christmas Eve. President of Shannon Lions Club, Tony Walsh paid tribute to the people of Shannon, Sixmilebridge, Newmarket-on-Fergus and Cratloe for their continued support while also acknowledging the efforts of their members. “It is important for people to know that the Shannon Lions Club is always there if people that are in need of support need to contact us,” Walsh stated.

COUNTYWIDE

SHANNON

RED CROSS

THE Irish Red Cross Clare will hold their church Gate Collection in all churches in Ennis Parish on this Saturday 8th and Sunday 9th of January. All funds raised is for our Community Services. Please give generously. The Irish Red Cross Clare have completed a total of 8,800 voluntary hours in 2021. Community Transport totalled 4,762 voluntary hours to complete 274 Medical transports. These journeys included: Limerick 116; Galway 54; Ennis 38; Dublin 33; Cork 9; Croom 9; Tralee 4; Nenagh/Tipperary 4 Ennistymon 3; Mayo 1; Community 3. Our fundraising teams completed 2710 Hours with Tour of Clare fundraiser which completed 50 venues and marked 10 years on the road – Counter Top Boxes – church gate collections and others events. Thank you to all our volunteers – community drivers – Community support teams and our fundraising teams in make everything possible and to keep the wheels rolling in support of the people of Co. Clare.

lDECADE: Robert Moorhead receives first prize in the Ennis Tidy Towns Awards Medium Sized Garden category for the 10th year in a row

lNEW YEAR BABY: A boy from Shannon is the first Clare baby born in 2022. Treacy O’Connell from Shannon and James O’Keefe welcomed baby Michael Jimmy O’Connell O’Keefe at 10:47 on January 1. Michael Jimmy weighed 8 lbs 12 ozs when he was born at the University Maternity Hospital Limerick

ENNIS

lTENNIS: Ennis tennis players Shauna Woods and Eunan Gavin who won Division 3 Mixed Doubles of the Limerick Open Championships defeating their Tipperary opponents 2-0. They are pictured with their coach Danny Comerford

20 CLICK FOR CLARE

THURSDAY, JAN 6 2021

Escape Rooms find new home in Shannon STUART HOLLY editor@clareecho.ie

ONNOR & Sarah Donovan wrapped up a very challenging two years by winning a brace of international awards for their small, Clare based business. The Donovans opened Escape Rooms Ennis in 2019, and it was an instant hit with locals and tourists alike. Escape Rooms are challenging puzzle games, played in groups, that emphasise the use of teamwork and creative thinking. Each room has a different immersive theme. For example, their ‘O’Brien’s Cottage’ game is a room designed to look like a traditional, rural Irish cottage. The story behind the game is that the cottage has been cursed by the Banshee, and the players have one hour to find a way to break that curse. The room is full of puzzles and riddles which must all be solved within the time allowed in order to win the game. The Ennis Escape Rooms were a big hit for families, groups of friends, birthday parties, and corporate team-building.

But on the first anniversary of the business, the pandemic struck and Escape Rooms Ennis spent most of 2020 closed for business. In a scramble for survival, the Donovans learned how to host their games online through Zoom, with the players directing their movements and telling them what to do within the room. Escape Room owners all over the world were using this technique (now known as live-hosted or live-video games) to stay afloat during lockdown. Additionally, the Donovans spent the year learning how to digitalise their games into a “point-andclick” format, which people could play from home on their computers, and even connect with their friends and families online to play together in their own time without having to book an appointment. Sarah says, “This helped our games reach people in other countries and time zones who never would have been able to play our escape rooms before. “It wasn’t easy, at our age,” she admits. “We had never even used Skype or Zoom before all this, let alone attempted any coding of any kind. It was really difficult, stressful, and it took endless hours of learning, and making mistakes, be-

Connor and Sarah Donovan of Escape Rooms, Shannon

fore we started getting things right.” And in the middle of all of this, they unexpectedly had to relocate their business. “It was a massive upheaval. It was during level 5 lockdown and there was nowhere else we could go. Once the lockdown ended, we found the perfect place in the Ballycasey Craft & Design Centre, Shannon where we had to re-build our rooms all over again from scratch. Now ‘Escape Rooms Shannon &

Online Escape Rooms Ireland’, we re-opened in our new location in mid-July 2021 and to a wonderful summer of staycationers and a warm welcome from the local community.” Things were looking up for a little while but then, in December, the Covid 19 advice from the Government caused all of their Christmas season bookings to cancel, and the in-person business went quiet yet again.

“I started hosting larger events online, mostly corporate team-building events,” explains Sarah. “Being able to enter a 360 virtual version of a real space was something unique in the online event scene, and people really loved it. Thank goodness it caught on, because it was those online events that helped keep us going through a very difficult time.” After all of the challenges, with creativity and perseverance, the Donovans end 2021 on a high note. Escape Rooms Shannon & Online Escape Rooms Ireland were awarded two international awards for their online games: Best Live Hosted Game 2021 for ‘O’Brien’s Cottage’, and 2nd place for Best Digital Game at the annual international Bullseye Awards. “It is incredible that such a small family business, in a town of less than 10,000 people, could be recognised as top in the whole World. It’s a really wonderful end SCAN FOR ESCAPE to a very tough ROOMS SHANNON year, and we are looking forward to a bright future in our new location in Shannon.”

CLICK FOR CLARE 21

THURSDAY, JAN 6 2021

(left) Laura Vaughan outside her premises on O’Connell Street, Ennis; (above) a lampshade and cushion which incorporate the photography of landscape photographer Dara Vaughan and (below left) the lampshade inspired by Brandon’s Bar

Independent shops make Ennis so special, says Laura Vaughan STUART HOLLY

editor@clareecho.ie

PTURNED boats in the harbours of Ireland’s Wild Atlantic Way is a common scene, symbolising the thousands of nautical miles put down by sailors along our coast. It’s a familiar sight that is often absorbed by the powerful spectacle of a coastal vista; however one County Clare designer has made it the centre-point of her beautiful living room creations. Laura Vaughan, proprietor of Laura Vaughan Design Studio & Gift Shop, carries a range of lampshades, cushions and napkins named after various coastal locations including Ballyvaughan, Liscannor, Kilkee, which inform the customer where the product design has been born. Laura tells The

SCAN WITH PHONE CAMERA TO START SHOPPING IN CLARE

Clare Echo of the wild scenes that have inspired her work since opening her shop on O’Connell Street in 2017. “There’s a range of my fabrics named after different locations on the Wild Atlantic Way. I love the underside of boats so if you see an upturned boat in a harbour it will have layers and layers of paintwork,” the Ennis woman explains. Laura photographs the paintwork, which she digitally manufactures into a beautiful design for fabric printing, which is then used to craft her unique creations. Over lockdown, Laura’s creative juices were also inspired when the shop front of a neighbouring premises, formerly Brandon’s Bar & Music Venue, which was being power washed as part of a renovation project. “The building has been sold but when they were renovating it, they power washed the front of the building and there were layers and layers of paint so I photographed that and converted them into a digital file and I developed three prints based on the front of Brandon’s. I have them on the window of my shop and they were really popular over the last couple of months because so many generations of people have such great memories and nostalgia for Brandon’s.” Laura’s background is in interior architecture and design, and she worked on commercial projects across the UK and Ireland for a number of years before the opportunity to set up her own studio and gift shop arose in 2017. Laura notes how grateful she

is to have the use of the Ennis premises from her parents Ann and Paddy, who once ran a children’s clothes boutique and estate agents respectively at the corner of O’Connell Street. Since opening, her shop “has thrived” while she continues to take on selected commercial projects, most recently on the Wild Beans Café in Kinvara. Laura also runs popular evening design workshops which have taken a backseat due to the pandemic. From her shop, Laura sells her own work along with a range of other Irish design and craft makers, “which compliments my own designs”. These include Laura’s brother, Clare landscape photographer Dara Vaughan; jewellery by Rowena Sheen (Ennistymon) and Lorna Langenkamp’s Wild Atlantic Silver; Sorrell Reilly lino prints; Lani Gregory Art; ceramics by both Aoife Slattery and Siobhan Dyar; greeting cards made in Barfield by Craftbyk8, and Wild Atlantic Candles made by Ann and Don Ryan in Kilrush. Laura has also made the move online with the development of an e-commerce shop during the pandemic with help from LEO Clare, “from whom I’ve received support and mentoring which enabled me to do that”. And while she admits that while there’s a great appetite among people to support local producers and create a “circular economy”, the last two years has brought its own challenges. Laura felt a huge dent on

tourist trade, with just two Americans visiting her shop during the six months she was able to open. She adds, “People’s shopping habits have also completely changed. People are so used to being at home that they’re definitely not going into shops like they did in the past, that’s been the biggest thing. The reality is that if they don’t [shop local] you’re not going to have really nice independent shops and that’s what is really special about Ennis. Since I’ve been open, the amount of people that come to Ennis from all over just to shop because it has such a nice variety of independent shops; you don’t have that in Galway or Limerick. If we lose that trade, the heart and the character of the town is gone.” Looking forward, Laura is excited about developing and producing more of her own range and she remains optimistic for the future, particularly in the context of doing business in Ennis which she believes “has established itself as such a popular shopping and weekend break destination which all local business can benefit from and continue to develop and avail of ”. She praises initiatives such as Ennis Chamber’s #Everybodylovesennis campaign, adding “Ennis has the opportunity to market itself as a gateway town to the Burren and the rest of Clare, this is really exciting for the town and for local business.” SCAN WITH PHONE CAMERA TO SHOP AT LAURA VAUGHAN

Laura Vaughan Design Studio is closed for January but you can visit the online store at https://lauravaughan.ie/

22 BUSINESS & RECRUITMENT

THURSDAY, JAN 6 2021

Rising rejection of placement requests depriving third level students PÁRAIC MCMAHON

paraic@clareecho.ie

HIRD LEVEL students are finding it increasingly difficult to secure college placements thus impacting on their career progression, an Ennis representative has warned. Speaking at a recent sitting of the Economic Development Strategic Policy Committee (SPC), Cllr Johnny Flynn (FG) highlighted an increasing hurdle facing college students across the country with businesses taking on fewer placements since the arrival of COVID-19. Flynn told the meeting that of his four children, two are still in college and have informed him of the

growing trend of companies declining students a placement for the required period of time “A lot of people are having difficulty securing placements, a lot of companies are deciding not to take them on for the period of nine months”. He questioned if SMEs in Co Clare would be able to step in and offer some sort of a solution. “During COVID, I’m hearing of a lot third level students not getting the experience that is necessary to bring them forward”. Head of Enterprise with Clare LEO, Padraic McElwee said it was an issue that hadn’t been discussed in the SME sector or that had been considered in the LEO. He committed to raising the matter with the Mid West Regional Skills Forum, “there may be opportunities,” McElwee stated.

lCONCERNS: Cllr Johnny Flynn highlighted the increasing hurdle facing college students Photo by Eamon Ward

No ‘adverse trends’ of Clare businesses closing permanently

EAD of Enterprise at the Clare Local Enterprise Office, Padraic McElwee has said they are “not seeing an adverse trend” during the pandemic of businesses in the county having to shut their doors as a result of the economic impact. At a recent meeting of Clare County Council’s Economic Development Strategic Policy Committee (SPC), Cllr Pat Daly (FF) sought an indication “on the amount of businesses that have closed down permanently in Clare due to COVID”. He prefaced his remarks by praising the active role of the LEO in particular Mr McElwee. According to McElwee there are “no sense of closures” caused directly by the pandemic. “From the client base we interact with, I’m aware of one to two percent closures, one of them might have been because of COVID-19 but the very nature of start-ups is some work and others don’t,” he stated.

€110k of sports funding OVER €110,000 in COVID related sports funding has been announced for Co Clare. Sporting organisations across the country will benefit from the €80m fund nationally to help them recover from the pandemic. €62,200 has been allocated to the Clare Sports Partnership; €38,644 to the county to target grassroots support with an additional €10,000 funded under a separate stream. Clare TD, Cathal Crowe (FF) said the importance of sport has never been clearer. “Anybody who heretofore had been out training multiple times a week and playing a match on a weekend suddenly found themselves at a loss. Those of us who have children involved in sport

know how difficult it was for kids not to have that outlet. Sports fans who had nothing to watch for a long time also felt the loss. Thankfully, things are recovering in earnest but there’s still a lot to be done from the ground up to help our clubs around Clare and nationwide to ensure their long-term viability. “Crucially, this funding aims to ensure that people of all ages and abilities can return to sport. “This is an extremely welcome announcement for all who have sport in their lives and I think when you see the breadth of the clubs that will benefit from funding, it shows that there is a sport out there for everybody,” the Meelick native added.

Enva provides a range of expert environmental services to industries and municipalities across the UK & Ireland. Due to continued growth, we are recruiting for:

Skilled General Operatives The role would be based in the County Clare area and candidates would be responsible for a range of tasks including: • •

Drainage cleaning and investigation works Drainage repairs & pipe re-lining

Candidates would be expected to have a good level of English and ideally have a valid safe pass

Apply to:

https://enva.com/careers/general-operative-7

06-01-22

Clare Echo THE

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

Dromoland Castle set to host return of Women’s Irish Open

BY PÁRAIC MCMAHON

OR the first time since 2012, the Women’s Irish Open will be part of the Ladies European Tour schedule when it is held from September 22nd to 25th and will clash with the Walmart NW Arkansas Championship on the LPGA Tour A venue and prize fund has yet to be confirmed but The Clare Echo has learned that Dromoland Castle in Newmarket-on-Fergus will host the tournament event with efforts ongoing between management at the five star hotel, Sport Ireland officials and Clare TD, Joe Carey (FG) to bring this to fruition. England’s most accomplished female golfer of modern times, Laura Davies was the winner of the first Women’s Irish Open in 1994 which took place at St Margaret’s. The tournament was played fifteen times over the following nineteen years. Most recent tournaments saw Kileeen Castle in Meath as the venue in 2011 and 2012. Memorably, Lahinch Golf Club hosted the DDF Irish Open in 2019 in what was regarded as both a roaring success for the tournament but also the county.

‘Real Deal’ Donovan returns to the ring next month

Avenue Utd manager David Russell

League action on course to resume this month

O PÁRAIC MCMAHON

paraic@clareecho.ie

ENNIS boxer Paddy Donovan is to make his keenly anticipated return to the ring next month. Undefeated welterweight, Donovan will feature on ESPN and Sky Sports as part of the undercard of undisputed light welterweight Josh Taylor versus WBO No. 1 contender Jack Catterall on Saturday, February 26 at the OVO Hydro in

Glasgow. Donovan who is trained by Andy Lee has not been in the ring since he defeated Jose Luis Castillo at the Feile in Belfast in August. He remains undefeated in the professional ranks. An injury to his left hand prompted the cancellation of a planned fight in New York in the interval. Prior to the win over Castillo, he defeated both Jumaane Camero and Siar Ozgul either side of Christmas 2020.

Photograph: Natasha Barton

FFICIALS in the Clare District Soccer League (CDSL) have expressed their hopes that games will recommence as planned on the weekend of January 22nd/23rd. Games last took place at the beginning of December with current Premier Division champions Newmarket Celtic and 2017 winners Shannon Town Utd sharing top spot on eighteen points, O’Malley’s Celtic side have a game in hand. Avenue Utd are in third position on sixteen points with the Ennis side still to play two extra games, should they secure maximum points on offer then they would overtake Celtic and Shannon Town in the

BY PÁRAIC MCMAHON

Maloney Garden Machinery Premier Division. Without a win in six outings, Shannon Hibs sit at the foot of the table. David Russell’s Avenue who have been the most impressive Clare side this season will face off with Leinster Senior League side Yellowstone Celtic in the last thirty two of the FAI Junior Cup on the weekend of January 15th/16th with Ennis Town FC meeting Ballymun Utd on the same weekend. In the Ann Romer Flowers First Division, Newmarket Celtic B are at top of the table with nineteen points from nine games. However, Tulla Utd fresh from launching their club history are one point adrift but crucially have three extra games to partake in which would see the

East Clare outfit make the ascent to first spot. Rhine Rovers (24 points) and Connolly Celtic (22 points) are battling it out in the Brian Pyne Tiles Second Division. Corofin Harps are chasing behind in third spot on nineteen points with an additional game in their favour. Bunratty/Cratloe’s charge for promotion in the Brownie’s Barbershop Third Division is on course. With seven games played, they have six wins and one draw putting them five points ahead of Ennis Dons. Munster FA have decided to delay the next round of the Munster Junior Cup until February.

New look Clare to face Cork in McGrath Cup

AS CLARE prepare for the new senior football season, a number of players are expected to make their debuts this Saturday at 2pm in Miltown Malbay when the Banner side will face Cork in the McGrath Cup. Clare were to have had their first competitive outing of 2022 last Sunday against Waterford but the McGrath Cup first round fixture was postponed due to a high number of Covid cases in the Waterford camp. Colm Collins is expected to give debuts to a number of players in what will be Clare and Cork’s first outing of the year. Corofin

players are focussing on their upcoming Munster intermediate championship final clash with Na Gael from Kerry and amongst those ruled out because of this game is Jamie Malone. Conor Jordan will be absent as he is a member of the Austin Stacks side in the Munster senior club final. Other regulars unavailable include Pearse Lillis, Sean Collins and Ciaran Russell. Éire Óg’s Mark McInerney is expected to feature while his clubmates Manus Doherty and Ronan Lanigan are tipped to get game time over the coming weeks. Brian Mc-

Namara and Micheál Garry (both Cooraclare), Tadhg Lillis (Doonbeg), Brendy Rouine (Ennistymon) and Thomas Meenaghan (Banner) have been added to the training panel and are likely to see action this week. Darragh McDonagh, having returned from London, is in the running to face Cork on his home pitch. Ciaran Morrissey (Kilmurry-Ibrickane) and Dara Conneally (Ennistymon) are also expected to feature against a Cork side that is also expected to include a number of debutants. Tristan O’Callaghan (St. Breckans) is one

of three goalkeepers in the panel, the others are Stephen Ryan (Kilrush) and Tom O’Brien (St. Josephs Doora/Barefield). Clare’s Allianz league campaign will begin at the end of the month (January 30) with a home game against Offaly, managed by John Maughan. Clare’s other league games in Division 2 will see them away to Cork on February 5; away to Roscommon on February 20; at home to Derry on February 27; away to Galway on March 13; at home to Meath on March 20 and away to Down on Sunday March 27.

06-01-22

‘A year more memorable for events in boardroom than on field of play’ – Fitzgerald Clare GAA secretary, Pat Fitzgerald Photograph: Natasha Barton

McCarthy set for lengthy spell out of action

BY PÁRAIC MCMAHON

A PÁRAIC MCMAHON

paraic@clareecho.ie

LARE GAA’s year just gone was “more memorable for developments in the boardroom rather than performances on the field of play,” the county secretary has reflected. In his annual report to County Convention, Pat Fitzgerald detailed the efforts in creating a Strategic Plan for Clare GAA and efforts on the field of the men in saffron and blue. Beginning his address, Fitzgerald praised teams, managements and officers at both club and county level for their adherence to guidelines throughout the year. Croke Park’s decision to follow a split season for a successive season brought “more structure” and gave the fixtures committee “more defined parameters enabling them to streamline their secretary,” he stated. “Admittedly, the year was more memorable for developments in the boardroom rather than performances on the field of play. The major discussion and debate centred on the production of the ‘Saffron and Blue Plan’, a radical blueprint for progress of the Association in the county over the next five years. Contrary to a misconceived perception in some quarters, I fully endorsed the production of the strategic development plan even if it may have presented a critical overview as to how the board has been operating as regards governance, efficiency and delivery”. He added, “Truth be told, I’ve never had an issue with constructive criticism. We all share a common goal, trying to achieve what is best for Clare GAA. The greater good has always been my motto since I became secretary thirty years ago and it very much remains that way”. Fitzgerald commended Éire Óg who tabled the proposal to start the plan and lauded the nine person committee who drafted the review in the space of nine months. Of the findings, the secretary commented, “the plan will enable us to take a seismic step down the professional road it envisages for Clare GAA over

the next few years. It represents a comprehensive body of work and while it may be an ambitious and aspirational plan, it is one that is imminently achievable”. Caution was voiced by Fitzgerald that the recommendation of creating thirteen full-time positions “will place a heavy burden on the board which is already cash strapped. I say that as a word of caution and it should not be construed as anything other than that. Working our way around that potential financial obstacle is one that can be successfully negotiated”. An investment of €2.4m in Caherlohan is proposed in the plan which prompted the Sixmilebridge man to acknowledge the “tremendous work” of the Caherlohan Workgroup appointed by the Board and chaired by Simon Moroney. A report completed by this working group in 2021 recommended a €1.925m investment in a flood-lit all-weather pitch, €331,000 to surface and mark the entrance to the clubhouse and car park, €120,000 to recruit staff to develop a systematic maintenance programme, €286,000 to reconstructure the floodlit pitches 1&2 and €430,000 for pitch drainage and surfacing on pitches 3 and 7. Looking at matters on the field, the secretary felt Brian Lohan’s senior hurlers were “decidedly unlucky not to have at least reached the last four in the championship”. He recounted that their exit from Munster to Tipperary “swung on a controversial refereeing decision”. Reference to Clare’s disappointing exits in the U20 and minor campaigns were also included in the report. “Undoubtedly the darkest hour for Clare hurling in many a year came in the minor championship. They were annihilated by Cork in a rebel rout, 6-28 0-06”. On the football front, he said Colm Collins’ seniors “drew the short straw” with an away tie to Kerry which resulted in “possibly their most disappointing performance of the year” after reaching the Division 2 National Football League semi-final. Both the U20s and minors “fell at the first hurdle”. Appreciation to the “continued and loyal support” of Clare GAA’s main sponsor Pat O’Donnell was voiced by Pat who also paid tribute to the staff at Clareabbey, fellow officers, club delegates, local media, Clare Supporters Club, Club Clare and Clare Football Supporters Club.

pg 24

IDAN MCCARTHY is set for a lengthy spell on the sidelines after undergoing an operation before Christmas. A nominee for Young Hurler of the Year last season, McCarthy sustained a broken bone between his leg and ankle in a workplace accident in December. He was first called up to the county senior panel by Donal Moloney and Gerry O’Connor having impressed for the Sean Doyle managed minor outfit which reached the All-Ireland quarter-final in 2017 when he was named in the Electric Ireland Minor Hurling Team of the Year at wingback. Aidan made his senior championship debut in 2019. Clare boss Brian Lohan is now minus the services of McCarthy and All Star Tony Kelly for the Allianz National Hurling League, while Kelly will feature in this year’s championship all going well, an exact time-frame regarding Aidan is unclear at present. He underwent an operation on December 13th and is now confined to a boot with his recovery period of three months to commence following this. Lohan’s side have a bye in the opening round of the Munster cham-

pionship before travelling to Tipperary (April 24th) and hosting Limerick in Cusack Park (May 8th). The prospect of Aidan featuring in the later stages of the provincial campaign will be dependent on his recovery. During Lohan’s first year in charge, Aidan featured in all championship outings in the half-back line and scored a second half goal in Clare’s All-Ireland quarter-final defeat to Waterford. In the year just gone, he was a central part of their forward line, his displays earned him the Young Hurler of the Year nomination and infamously he was sin-binned in a controversial decision by James Owens which had a big impact on proceedings in their provincial semi-final loss to Tipperary. At club level, Aidan was to the fore in guiding Inagh/Kilnamona to their first ever Clare SHC final appearance. He was the top scorer for Eugene Cullinan’s side and finished the championship with a tally of 2-58, 0-41 of which came from placed balls. As well as tasting defeat in the Clare SHC final, Aidan was also left disappointed when Kilmurry Ibrickane lost out to Éire Óg in the Clare SFC decider. For both of the county finals, McCarthy was carrying a hamstring injury, he lined out at midfield for the Bricks but was moved to full-forward for Inamona due to reduced mobility.

First outing of Clare’s senior hurlers in 2022 to be streamed online PÁRAIC MCMAHON

paraic@clareecho.ie

LARE’s senior hurlers first outing of 2022 will be streamed online, Munster GAA have confirmed. All games in the Munster Hurling Cup sponsored by Co-Op Superstores will be streamed on clubber.ie with Brian Lohan’s side making their first appearance of the year on Friday week (January 14th) when they welcome Liam Cahill’s Waterford to O’Garney Park in Sixmilebridge. New additions to the Clare panel will be expected to see game-time in the semi-final versus the Déise while the competition is also an opportunity for Lohan to win his first piece of silverware in what will kick off his third season as manager. Limerick meet the winners of

Tipperary and Kerry in the other semi-final with the final pencilled in to take place on Saturday January 22nd. Cratloe’s Diarmuid Ryan attended the launch of the competition at the Co-Op Superstores in Raheen, Limerick which is the flagship store in Dairygold’s retail network alongside Fionan MacKessy (Kerry), Barry Nash (Limerick), Barry Hogan (Tipperary) and Austin Gleeson (Waterford). Chairman of Munster GAA, Liam Lenihan maintained the pre-season competition “provides participating teams with a great opportunity to prepare for the very competitive Allianz League starting in early February”. Liam O’Flaherty, Head Of Dairygold Agri Business said: “We are delighted to join forces once again with Munster GAA in what is a most exciting and competitive era for hurling in Munster”.

pg 25

06-01-22

(Clockwise) Clare GAA Asst Treasurer Tony Brohan with his nephew Ashley; Corofin/Ruan players celebrate; Cian Foley goes to ground under pressure from Jason Power

Photographs: Gerard O’Neill

(Clockwise) Cill Cuil Gaels celebrate their success; Thomas Kelly is lifted in the air by JJ Carrig ; Gerard O’Grady takes on Jarlath Collins; Niall O’Donoghue and the umpires watch on as the ball hits the back of the net

Corofin/Ruan 1-18 Newmarket-on-Fergus 0-14 Venue: Gurteen Referee: Wayne King (St Josephs Doora/Barefield)

Corofin Ruan v NOF

Photographs: Gerard O’Neill

Cíll Cúl Gaels 1-10 Éire Óg 0-08 Venue: Hennessy Memorial Park, Miltown Malbay Referee: Chris Maguire (Wolfe Tones)

SCAN FOR MATCH REPORT

Cill Cúil Gaels v Éire Óg

Corofin/Ruan: 1: Cian O’Donoghue 2: Marc O’Loughlin 3: Ashley Brohan 4: Jason Power 5: Cillian McGroary 6: Gearoid Cahill 7: Gearoid Hanrahan 8: Shane Punch (1-10, 0-9 f) 9: Dara McInerney (0-1) 12: Kevin Keane 11: Robin Mounsey (0-4) 10: Diarmuid Cahill (0-3) 13: Jack McDonagh 14: Killian O’Connor 15: Patrick O’Halloran;

Newmarket-on-Fergus: 1: Padraic Guilfoyle 2: Ger O’Connor 3: Jack Enright 4: Mark Delaney 5: Darragh Burke 6: Stephen Casey 8: David Frost 10: Eanna Crimmins 9: Shane Lynch 17: Jason O’Neill 12: Seadhna Liddy 11: Eoin Guilfoyle (0-3) 13: Cian Foley 15: Peter Power (0-9, 8f, 1 ‘65) 14: Owen McCoy

Cíll Cúil Gaels: 1: Conor Cusack (Kildysart) 2: Dylan O’Halloran (Coolmeen) 3: John Finnucane (Kilmihil) 4: Stephen Sheehan (Kildysart) 7: Gavin Downes(Kilmihil) 6: Fergal Guinnane (Kildysart) 5: Tadhg Kelly (Shannon Gaels) 8: Emmet McMahon (Kildysart) 0-5, 3f 9: Jack Reidy (Shannon Gaels) 10: Conor Hassett (Kildysart) 11: Gearoid O’Grady (Kilmihil) 17: Seamus Casey (Kildysart) 18: Thomas Kelly (Shannon Gaels) 14: Diarmuid O’Donnell (Kildysart) 1-5, 0-5f 12: Darren Crehan (Shannon Gaels)

Subs: 17: Conor Leen for J. McDonagh (41) 18: Shane O’Brien for O’Halloran (58) 19: Patrick O’Gorman for O’Connor (63) 20: Oisin Madigan for McInerney (65)

Subs: 25: David Hall for O’Neill (inj. 21) 23: Jamie Power for McCoy (37) 7: Kieran McMahon for M. Delaney (43) 29: Oisin McInerney for E. Guilfoyle (65) (inj)

Sub: 13: J.J. Carigg (Coolmeen) for Crehan (46)

Joe Cahill, Corofin/Ruan manager: “This is a brilliant occasion for both Corofin and Ruan. We have dreamt about this day. Ruan won this title twice back in the seventies. Corofin have never come near this. It’s a brilliant occasion, two clubs coming together and united with the sole focus of maybe not winning everything but competing at the highest level and creating players than can go back to their adult clubs and be key players”. “These lads had to be coached at under 16 and minor but the last two years at under 21 they were on auto pilot. They are a great bunch of guys, you talk about building character and building standards of excellence. These lads come to training and they want to perform. “We had to step up and open a gap. We knew we had to get a great start. Great respect to Newmarket, they came up and they wanted to compete in under 21 A. It was a tough battle and we knew we had to get a good foundation”. “The remarkable thing about this group is that we have only one player that we lose out of this squad next year but that doesn’t guarantee you anything. We have to go back and work hard and keep improving. Ruan and Corofin are in a great position as regards hurling and hopefully either one will make the breakthrough to senior. That’s the ambition for both to try and get up to senior where these players deserve to be”.

SCAN FOR MATCH REPORT

Éire Óg: 1: Niall O’Donoghue 2: Cuan O Glaisne 6: Ronan Lanigan 4: Hugh Connolly 5: Gavin D’Auria 7: Jarlath Collins 21: Gearoid Collins 8: Darren O’Brien 9: Oran Cahill 10: Jack Joyce 11: Mark McInerney (0-7, frees) 12: James Lyne 13: Philip Talty 14: Stephen Talty (0-1) 15: Kevin Moloney

Subs: 22: Andrew McElwee for Joyce (half time) 17: Jack Lynch for Lyne (38) 29: Cillian Moroney for O’Glaisne (47) 23: Eoin Guilfoyle for Moloney (57)

Paul Reidy, Cill Cúil Gaels joint manager: “The better team won and if we took the goal chances we probably would have won more comfortably. We don’t do things easily. Look its reward for the players, they have worked vary hard over the last five or six weeks. It means a lot to them, we have won nothing. I heard on the way up that Éire Óg had won six under 21 A titles. For a lot of our players out there they had won nothing. This is a very proud moment”. “I am a Kilmihil man talking about this but I am as proud of the Kildysart, Shannon Gaels and Coolmeen lads as I am of our Kilmihil lads. They have worked very very hard. They have trained three nights a week for the last six weeks and that’s what got them over the line”. “Amalgamations are the future. It’s where our clubs are right now, amalgamations are here to stay. Look at the programme, it’s almost all amalgamations that were in the under 21 finals this week We just don’t have the population. These clubs have been amalgamated for three or four years and no one had any issue when we weren’t winning. This success has come about because of hard work and for no other reason. There are good players there and they would be sitting at home this evening if the four clubs hadn’t come together. We only had 22 players togged out, that’s what we have at the moment”. “Winning this title is a big boost for the clubs involved. There are a lot of Inter county standard players there, they are the future of Clare football and they got exposure over the last few weeks playing Corofin, Ennistymon and Éire Óg, They were playing the best of the best and it will only improve those players. There are very good individuals there. The performance in this championship didn’t come about by throwing four teams together. They worked hard, we worked hard. All those boys are friends, they played development squad level together, they socialise together, there is a really good bond there and anyone at any of our games will have seen that they play for each other. It’s very player led. We wanted it that bit more tonight, probably because we haven’t had the success”.

06-01-22

pg 26

Christmas cheer for Clare owners PÁRAIC MCMAHON

paraic@clareecho.ie

OOSE WOMEN helped Sixmilebridge’s Stephen Murray back to the winners enclosure with the top public trainer of 2021 celebrating in Galway once again. December 23rd was finals night at Galway Greyhound Stadium with no fewer than ten final down for decision on the twelve race programme with all finals sponsored by the Western Greyhound Owners & Breeder Association. Stephen Murray of Sixmilebridge who was named top public trainer for 2021 was in the winners enclosure once again after the Deceased Members A2 550 Final where the Helen Vaughan of Quin owned Loose Women never saw another rival in this final as she delivered a career best to score by three lengths from Crokers Wish in 29.99. Trapping superbly, the Murray handled daughter of Laughill Blake and Ranchers Rainbow led Crokers Wish and Christophorus by two lengths in the long run towards the opening bend rounding which she increased her advantage to three lengths over Crokers Wish entering the back straight. There was a thrilling finish to the Pat O’Loughlin Top Team A3 Final as the Buttsys Buckos Syndicate of Shannon owned Buttsys

Bullet just denied the renewed challenge of Croaghill Lizzy by an ever diminishing neck in 29.33. In the early strides the wide seeded Croachill Lizzy showed plenty of pace to lead in the run towards the opening bend from Croaghill Jaytee and Buttsys Bullet. Rounding the opening bend the eventual wine trailed well to clave right up on the leader entering the back straight. At halfway Buttsys Bullet went to the front and led by two lengths at the third but despite running wide around the home bend Croaghill Lizzy produced a tremendous rattle that just failed to collar Buttys Bullet at the line. 2021’s final meeting took place on December 30th at Galway Greyhound Stadium. In the S5 graded sprint contest, the Frank Casey of Newmarket-on-Fergus owned Erril Star record her second career success as she made all the running to defeat Shammer Dubh by two lengths in 19.64. From traps the daughter of Toolatetosell & Snow Eva was away well and racing towards the opening bend was closely attended to by Sports Friend on her outer with Shammer Dubh in third place just behind the pair. Rounding the home bend the winner kicked on and she stayed on well all the way to the line to win going away. The outcome of the A5 contest was in little doubt from the halfway mark as the Kieran and Aaron Nugent of Ballyea owned Killerk Black was out in splendid isolation in front five lengths clear of his rivals. Having trapped well the son of Ballymac Best

Rose and Martin Kelly present the winning trophy to Stephen Murray, Ennis, after Loose Woman won the WGOBA Deceased Members 550 Final, at the Night of Finals, at the Galway Greyhound Stadium. Also in photo are Johnny Maloney, Martin O’Driscoll, Marian and Danny Potter and Kevin Ryan.

& Dynamic Cool Sky led from Lillies Joy and Sports Degree rounding the opening bend and striding out well was clear down the back. Approaching the home turn the winner did drift wide off the rails but he was home for all money from an early stage. In race ten, the Three Pointer Syndicate owned Give It Up trained by Sixmilebridge’s Murray put up a fine performance in taking this A3 graded contest by five lengths from Banter Blitz in 29.22. Trapping well on the

wide outside the son of Azza Azza Azza and Demon Cause headed the pace setting Whitelaced Boots rounding the opening bend and tracking well around the second bend he led Peteles Countess by two lengths racing towards the halfway mark. Approaching the penultimate corner the winner extended his advantage one again as he stayed on powerfully all the way to the line.

Power prevails in impressive scoring Dromoland competition BY SEAMUS HAYES THE New Year’s weekend men’s 9 hole stableford competition at Dromoland was won by Eamon Power with 23 points from John Higgins with 22, Paudie Dorgan with 21 and Paul English with 21. Cillian O’Connor won the gross with 21 points.

WOODSTOCK GOLF CLUB:

The Christmas weekend team of 4 scramble at Woodstock was won by Mike Crosby, Kevin O’Neill, Mike O’Malley and Niall Higgins with 50.1 nett from Colm Mullen, Jason Dormer, Tony and Paul Coote with 52.1 nett. In third spot with 54.1 nett were Cathal Nagle, Noel Moloney, John

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Dempsey amd Eugene Killeen. The weekly seniors competition will return after the Christmas break on Tuesday next, January 11th. The course is closed until Friday of this week to allow for the carrying out of necessary maintenance work

KILRUSH GOLF CLUB:

Eoin Fitzgerald (12) was the winner of the Christmas week singles at Kilrush with 29 points from Noel McMahon (6) who had a similar score. The New Year week singles was won by Brian Scanlan (7) with 28 points from Shane McGibney (15), Tralee with a similar score. Eoin Fitzgerald (12) was third and he also scored 28 points as did fourth placed Geremiah Brennan (8).

pg 27

06-01-22

‘We need to bring more women into Clare soccer’ - CDSL hopeful to recruit female referees PÁRAIC MCMAHON

paraic@clareecho.ie

DDITION of female referees to the ranks of the Clare District Soccer League (CDSL) has emerged as an aspiration of the current Executive. Three beginner courses will take place on January 11th, January 18th and January 25th lasting two hours each. The FAI Referee’s Department have announced that the courses will be held online. PRO of the CDSL, Jim Madden told The Clare Echo, “from our point of view it is important to get new young referees taking charge of our games, equally it is important that we have more female referees”. “Having a woman in the

middle of the pitch in my opinion would improve and influence the discipline of the players,” the Shannon official stated. Jim spoke of the growing amount of girls playing the game and the success of Clare’s Gaynor Cup squads as reasons to be hopeful that the CDSL can recruit female referees. “We need to bring more women into Clare soccer”. Madden added, “I’d also like to see more women involved in roles throughout our clubs. I think they are more organised than us men and bring a different dimension”. He referenced “influential” women currently holding roles at clubs across Clare including the “superb” Grainne Hayes secretary of Newmarket Celtic and Lifford’s Deirdre, “you couldn’t ask for better people,” the former CDSL Chairman said.

Amount of referees must increase to cater for schedule of games Barry Kelly and his officials. Photograph: Burren Eye Photography

Paudie Hayes is among one of the youngest referees at present in Clare. Photograph: Natasha Barton

PAST PLAYERS and members of GAA clubs across Clare have been urged to consider becoming a referee this year as the county deals with a shortage of whistlers. Concern was raised by officers both of whom were former referees at the 2021 County Convention over the shortage of referees in Clare with increasing pressure placed on the match officials to cover a multitude of games spread across the county. Coiste na nÓg secretary, Pat Gavin warned that the current amount of games are unlikely to continue if there is not an increase in referees. He detailed that their fixtures took place in 2021 thanks to a “loyal band of referees”. The Ogonnelloe man added, “we appreciate

the way they give of their time so freely at all times so games can be played. It is important we continue at all times to show the utmost respect to our referees without whom there could be no games to entertain us all. “If the current programme of games is to continue going forward then clubs are going to have to supply more people to come forward and take up the whistle and become an official referee,” Gavin cautioned. Jack Chaplin in his first and final address to Convention as Chairman stated, “I am however concerned that we are drawing from a small pool of referees and I appeal to our clubs, past players and anyone interested to offer their services in this area”.

PLANNING NOTICES CLARE COUNTY COUNCIL MAGHERA, TULLA, ENNIS, CO. CLARE Take notice that Orla Vaughan intends to apply for planning permission for development at Maghera, Tulla, Ennis, Co. Clare. The development will consist of a

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development works and services at the above address.The planning application may be inspected or purchased at a fee not exceeding the reasonable cost of making a copy at the offices of the planning authority during its public opening hours. A submission or observation in

relation to the application may be made in writing to the planning authority on payment of the prescribed fee within the period of 5 weeks beginning on the date of receipt by the authority of the application.

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

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PUZZLEPAGE

THURSDAY, JAN 6 2022

THIS WEEKS PUZZLES JAN 6th

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SUDOKU 8

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The Clare Echo Crossword Daily Quick Crossword: 16 December 2021, 12/16/2021

9 1

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C O R N E A

E R R A C E

V E R

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T A C K E D 5

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QUIZ 31

THURSDAY, JAN 6 2022

The Clare Echo Quiz ENNIS CHAMBER QUIZ

was the first Chairman of the 1A: Who Ennis Chamber of Commerce? Michael Houlihan B: Thomas Dermody C: James O’Regan

In what year was Ennis Chamber 2 founded? A: 1924 B: 1930 C: 1947

A former CEO of Ennis Chamber 7 contested a General Election in Clare, what was their name? A: Pascal Fitzgerald B: Rita McInerney C: Brian Meaney

The current President Darragh McAl8 lister owns which two Ennis pubs? A: Lucas’ & Nora Culligans B: Lucas’ & Cruises C: Lucas’ & Considines

Funds from what were used to estabHis predecessor was which Ennis 3 lish Ennis Chamber? 9 hotelier? A: Church Gate Collections A: Allen Flynn B: Ennis Festival Week C: Rallies at The Height

The Ennis Chamber is located on 4 what street in the county town? A: Abbey St B: O’Connell St C: Parnell St

How many members are there pres5 ently in the Chamber? A: 160

B: Paul Madden C: Sean Lally

Name the honorary lifetime mem10 ber of Ennis Chamber board? A: Peter Moylan B: Pat Morris C: Peadar McMahon

l Who is the CEO of Ennis Chamber?

B: 210 C: 300

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

6. Margaret O’Brien 7. Rita McInerney 8. Lucas’ & Considines 9. Allen Flynn 10. Pat Morris

C: Margaret O’Brien

ANSWERS 1. James O’Regan 2. 1930 3. Ennis Festival Week 4. O’Connell St 5. 160

Who is the CEO of Ennis Chamber? 6 A: Mary Kelly B: Gwen Culligan

Last weeks Answers . White line on the ground missing (right) . Tips of runner on girl (right) different colour . Pocket on girl (right) missing . Button on mans jacket missing (left)

. Red line on girls top (right) missing . White piece of paper on ground missing . Light (background) missing

Scariff Community Council, Riverside Park Photograph: Ruth Griffin

AND GUTTERING CLARE