The Clare Echo 06/08/20

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AUG 6 2020

‘WILL PUBS EVER REOPEN?’ Clare publican hits out at Government PÁRAIC McMAHON

R

news@clareecho.ie

URAL pubs have been dealt with another setback following confirmation that their reopening has been delayed for a second time.

Following a Cabinet meeting on Tuesday to discuss recommendations from the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET), it was confirmed

that pubs, hotel bars, casinos and nightclubs would keep their doors closed. The matter will be reviewed in three weeks time.

Speaking to The Clare Echo, Miltown Malbay publican David O’Brien highlighted the mounting pressure personnel in the sector are under, “People are starting to wonder now will they ever reopen again, the bills haven’t stopped even though the reopening date has been pushed back and back, the bills that businesses have been paying since March continue to come in”.

Pub owners are growing tired of the statements issued by politicians. O’Brien who runs Michael A’s Bar in Miltown Malbay outlined, “They keep saying ‘we sympathise, we understand’ but there has been no package put in place to support those businesses.

A lot of the anger is because people thought Tuesday was last chance saloon to save their business and it went. Whatever the good reason is for keeping pubs closed, it won’t pay the bills right now, that’s the problem”.

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2 NEWS

THURSDAY, AUG 6 2020

Index NEWS

2-12

ENTERTAINMENT EDITORIAL SCULLY

13 14-15 16

GREENER CLARE SPORT CLASSIFIEDS

KNEES UP FOR DOWN SYNDROME CLARE

17 18-27

PLANNING

28 29

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

NEWSDESK

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

SALES

l HOOLEY: Lenka Hoffmann dances at a gig organised by John Hanrahan to raise money Down Syndrome Clare. The St Michael’s

Email: ger.naughton@clareecho.ie or niall@clareecho.ie

Villas/Castlewood Park community came together on Sunday afternoon to enjoy entertainment from John, Dave Hanrahan, Trevor Hansbury, Kevin Fitzgerald, Sean Murphy, Paddy Mulcahy and Lenka. Thursday 6th August is the start of the Down Syndrome Ireland/Tour de Munster’s annual four day charity cycle. This year is the 20th Cycle – an event which to date has raised a staggering ₏2.7million for Munster Branches of Down Syndrome Ireland.

John Hume remembered

065 684 8515

75 O'Connell Street, Ennis

O

NE of Ireland’s most important political figures, John Hume has been lauded this week following his death on Monday at the age of 83, writes Påraic Mc-

Mahon.

Born in Derry in 1937, John Hume won a scholarship to his local grammar school through post-war education reforms. He began working as a teacher but was drawn into public life.

Alongside Gerry Fitt and other constitutional nationalists, Hume founded the SDLP. The Good Friday Agreement of 1998 would prove to be his crowning glory in politics.

As a result he was recognised by the awarding of the Nobel Peace Prize to him and Da-

vid Trimble, the financial reward for which Hume donated entirely to his local hospice.

As part of an RTÉ series in 2010, the Derry man was named as Ireland’s Greatest Person.

Tributes have been paid to John Hume across the globe, including in Co Clare. Senator Martin Conway (FG) called him “A true social democrat�. “A man who gave his life to resolving conflict through dialogue and building bridges�.

Clare TD, Cathal Crowe (FF) stated, “John chose peace over war and dialogue over terrorism. “He exemplified decency and will be eulogised for many years to come as a man who stood resolutely with a downtrodden people in their time of need�.

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4 NEWS

Aer Lingus reviewing viability of Shannon PÁRAIC MCMAHON

A

paraic@clareecho.ie

ER LINGUS are reviewing the viability of operating out of Shannon Airport and Cork Airport.

Future operations of Aer Lingus at Shannon and Cork Airport are under threat as the airline attempts to cut costs. Aer Lingus has 350 staff based in Cork and Shannon and is seeking 500 redundancies across the airline.

Having posted the biggest quarterly loss in its history, Aer Lingus management have informed staff that previously announced job cuts “will be implemented on a voluntary basis if possible, but on a compulsory basis if necessary”. Last month the airline announced that up to 500 jobs could go due to the impact of COVID-19 on the aviation sector, job losses were described as “deeply regrettable” but “inevitable” by IAG Chief Executive, Willie Walsh.

Chief Executive of Aer Lingus, Sean Doyle

told staff via video communication on Friday that they have “no line of sight” on when the “meaningful resumption” of operations at Shannon and Cork will resume. “As such we are reviewing the scale of our flying programme from these airports and the ongoing viability of our regional bases there.”

Doyle referenced COVID-19’s impact and criticised the Irish Government for implementing “the most restrictive travel policies in Europe” while failing to add supports for the sector. The airline said its passenger revenues fell to €315m from €936m last year.

Speaking in response to a query from Deputy Cathal Crowe (FF) at Tuesday’s sitting of the Dáil COVID-19 Committee, Mr Doyle referenced an inferior demand for Shannon services compared with routes out of Dublin Airport. “We don’t have an operation out of Shannon, we have cabin crew

and ground handling based out of Shannon, there was no work there to employ them to, we were also laying people off at Dublin and re-

ducing the hours significantly. This is an issue of where the work was and where we were able to deploy that work, at the minute we don’t have flights operating out of Shannon”.

Also on Tuesday, Doyle flagged that its operations out of Cork Airport were “very small” with only a Heathrow and Amsterdam service, “It was not viable to maintain a service at Shannon”. He stated that “significant reductions” had been made at Dublin Airport. Service demand influenced the decision to suspend operations from Shannon during COVID-19 as opposed to other Irish airports, “at the minute we haven’t seen any indication that we can reinstate those flights, I look forward to the day when we could because we understand the importance of the Heathrow connection to Shannon”.

Prior to COVID-19, he said that Aer Lingus were “very happy” with the performances of the Heathrow route from Shannon Airport. Should demand increased, Doyle was confident the service would return but that it has not been confirmed.

“At the minute it is not at a point where it is viable, I can’t confirm it because it is not confirmed, we are evaluating the situation, as I said, the impact of the policies we have at the minute are suppressing demand”.

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THURSDAY, AUG 6 2020

50 jobs cut at Lufthansa A SHANNON based aviation company is to reduce its workforce by over 20 percent, writes Páraic McMahon.

The Clare Echo has learned that an approximate 50 employees are to be let go from Lufthansa Technik Turbine Shannon (LTTS) from September. An additional 20 plus contractors are also expected to conclude their service with the company as a result.

It will follow a 30 day consultation process that commenced at the beginning of August between the company and employee representatives.

LTTS specialise in the repair of components for both high pressure and low pressure turbines for CFMI and GE aircraft engines. Originally founded in 1992, today it employs a staff of 220 and has some 8,000 square meters of floor space available at its Shannon site in the World Aviation Park.

All job losses are directly as a result of COVID-19 which has had a devastating impact on the aviation industry.

A spokesperson for the company said, “Lufthansa Technik and its subsidiaries are in the deepest crisis of their history, caused by the impact of the corona crisis on the international aviation business.

This development also affects Lufthansa Technik Turbine Shannon (LTTS).

“The economic existence of the company is seriously threatened. Since the measures taken so far have not been sufficient to ensure the company’s survival in the long term, further measures that were unthinkable until recently, such as possible staff cuts, must now be considered”.

NEWS 5

THURSDAY, AUG 6 2020

'It's a nightmare' - rural publicans PÁRAIC MCMAHON

R

paraic@clareecho.ie

URAL pub owners in Clare are at risk of not pulling pints again following confirmation that their doors would remain shut for another three weeks, at least.

On Tuesday evening, An Taoiseach Micheál Martin (FF) announced that the forced closures of pubs not serving food, hotel bars, nightclubs and casinos stays unchanged. "I know that this will come as a blow to pub owners and I want them to know that I have enormous sympathy for their plight," he stated.

Not alone has the news caused anger among rural publicans but some are furious with the comments of the Taoiseach.

David O'Brien, proprietor of Michael A's Bar in

Miltown Malbay when asked for his views on the Taoiseach's remarks stated, "I'd love to see him understanding the plight, he will pick up more in wages this week than a rural pub has got in grants from the Government since March".

Michael A's is one of the Clare pubs that remains shut. O'Brien detailed that the financial support they are receiving from Government will not be enough to sustain rural pubs. "Most businesses would be averaging between €2,500 and €3,000 a month in outgoings since March, as it stands now we've worked out that somewhere in the lines of €14 per day that we've received off the Government".

He told The Clare Echo, "They showed totally how detached they are from the reality of a rural businesses who

has 75 to 80 per cent of their income for a year made up between March and August, that is money that won't be got back now. The bills will still be there in November, nobody knows if they will be able to pay them or not now".

Rural business has been neglected in the July Stimulus Package, the Miltown Malbay man believed.

"Very little in the July Stimulus last week had any effect on how a business was going to support itself while it was closed, the fact they came out yesterday and said we would look into how we can support this industry which more or less said we haven't really considered how we'd support ye for the last four months but we might now".

Ongoing uncertainty surrounding their future has been described

by David as "a nightmare". He said publicans had been waiting by the phone all day Monday and Tuesday but received no communication prior to the announcement on Tuesday. lANGRY: Publican David O'Brien

Photo by Gerard O'Neill

Phase four reopening is postponed again PÁRAIC MCMAHON

paraic@clareecho.ie

PUBS will not reopen next Monday while increased crowds at sporting fixtures will not be allowed for at least three weeks, the Government announced on Tuesday.

Phase 4 in the roadmap for reopening Ireland which was due to proceed on August 10th will not go ahead, the Taoiseach Micheál Martin (FF) confirmed on Tuesday evening.

The reopening of pubs, hotel bars, nightclubs and casinos were included in phase four along with an increase in the amount of people permitted at indoor and outdoor gatherings.

A meeting of the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET) issued the recommendations which were discussed at a Cabinet meeting on Tuesday with details announced at a press conference shortly after.

"International evidence shows very clearly that pubs and nightclubs reopening too early leads directly to an increase in community transmission," Martin stated. The Government has decided that pubs that do not serve food will remain shut, the matter will be reviewed again on August

31st.

Taoiseach Martin said the country was now in a "precarious position".

He commented, "I wish that I was in a position to share better news today, but I am not. It is now clear that our cautious approach in mid July was the correct approach". He added, "The five day moving average for confirmed cases newly reported to the Department of Health is 45.4. For comparison, this is up from 6.4 on 24th June.".

Sympathy for the "plight" endured by pub owners was voiced by the Taoiseach. Cyprus, Malta, Gibraltar, Monaco and San Marion have been removed from the Green List, individuals that travel to either of these countries on essential business will have to limit their movements for 14 days upon arriving back to Ireland.

As a result of the limit of 200 people for outdoor gatherings remaining, sporting attendances will not increase.

Weddings are also affected with no increase in the amount of people allowed to attend indoor or outdoor ceremonies.

Couples have also had to cancel dates for weddings that they had re-arranged in recent weeks.

The Irish Hotels Federation had also said that thousands of jobs were being put a risk.

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8 NEWS

Clash of the Bambú CIAN O’BROIN

T

cianobroin@clareecho.ie

ORPEY Hurleys have released their brand new sustainable Bambú hurley, an innovation in sports engineering that has been sculpted and shaped, behind the scenes, for the past six years.

Conceptualised in 2014, the Bambú hurley has seen many iterations in its journey and Sean Torpey admits that a number of different materials were used, such as polymer, in the run up to developing a fully sustainable hurley. An invasive alien disease called ash dieback accelerated the process and Sean took inspiration for the future of hurleys from the far East, where entire skyscrapers are developed from bamboo, proving that the material is both strong and flexible.

Sensitive to the traditional element that ash hurleys bring to the game, Sean now feels that it is negligible to know the difference between a Bambú hurl and its historical predecessor. Talking to The Clare Echo, he tells of how the new Bambú model embodies sustainability as well as detailing the meticulous journey that has led to its 2020 release.

The hurley is made predominantly

from bamboo and a small amount of biobased materials, Sean tells. The hurley is biodegradable and does not have any harm on the environment. Ash hurleys have gone back into the ground for the last 150 years, with no detrimental effects on the environment, aside from the cutting down of trees.

This was an important factor in the decision to use bamboo for Sean. Deciduous ash trees take 35 years to grow. Cutting down trees isn’t a factor in the process of making a Bambú hurley. A bamboo tree grows at five metres per year and it can be harvested after five years.

The Irish climate lacks the necessary humidity required for bamboo to flourish and so Torpey Hurleys source their bamboo from the far east, working with partners for a fair price, ensuring that a positive impact is felt for the environment and all parties involved.

Sean admits that Torpey Hurleys has basked in the beauty of natural hurley making for the last 40 to 50 years. On the feel of the new Bambú hurl, he opines, “Immediately we felt like we had something to work with. I don’t think I can describe the feeling of hitting a hurley and a ball, especially an ash hurley and a ball. I don’t think you can describe that in words. When you hit it, you know it’s right. When you use something else that

you know isn’t made from ash, you know when it is wrong, definitely.

“With the Bambú hurley, we discovered something that is, I would say, negligible to notice the difference between an ash hurley and a bamboo hurley in terms of the feel and flight of the ball. It feels the same. The other thing we noticed is that the ball is actually moving a little bit quicker than how it would be with an ash hurley. We feel like we have a great product here.”

A rigorous practical and scientific testing process through several iterations of the Bambú hurley led to the final model.

Sean notes that 12 hurleys were sent out to specific players on a trial basis. Out of a total of 179 training sessions and matches, only one single hurley broke. The next phase involved a number of inter-county players. The first one was John Conlon, a friend of Sean’s and a loyal Torpey user.

Sean remarks how particular John is about his hurleys, possessing great pride for his traditional ash models. Not only was John interested in the new innovation but felt that it was something he could continue playing with. Séadna Morey, Tony Kelly and David Reidy have all been using the hurley since.

“We are already sold out of our first pre-order. We are delighted with the initial response,” Sean added.

l INNOVATIVE: Torpey Hurleys have created a hurley made from bamboo

O'Connell resigns from Clare Champion editor post KILMURRY McMahon native Peter O'Connell has resigned from his role as Editor of The Clare Champion, writes Páraic McMahon.

A member of staff at the weekly newspaper since 2002, O'Connell joined The Clare Champion from Clare FM having previously worked with Midlands Radio.

As well as covering local sport, he began as the Shannon correspondent and later became the West Clare news correspondent.

In May of 2018, he was announced as successor to Austin Hobbs who had served as Editor since 2006.

Peter confirmed earlier this week that he would remain working in the communications and media sector.

His tenure as Editor is among the shortest in the history of the paper since its establishment in 1903.

O'Connell left his role with the publication at lunchtime on Wednesday last as The Clare Champion's weekly edition was being put to print ending his 18 years with the publication.

Management and working reporters were informed of the development as the finishing touches were put to the paper.

Experienced journalists, Gerry McInerney who is the current Deputy Editor and Austin Hobbs who between them cover the North and West Clare news had announced their departures from the publication before word of O'Connell's exit was known.

THURSDAY, AUG 6 2020

Clare single use plastic hotspot COUNTY Clare has become a single use plastic hotspot, according to one study conducted by the Cease Using Single-Use Plastics group, writes Cian O’Broin.

The study identifies hot spots within Clare where single use plastic packaging waste is generated in terms of volumes, concluding that households in Clare generate 7,200 tonnes of single use packaging waste annually, equating to 160 Olympic sized swimming pools.

The objective of the study is to condense large quantitative data into smaller bite sized increments in the hope of tackling smaller, more identifiable targets on a both a community and personal level. The CUSP midlands-based group was established in 2018 for this very reason.

Irish households generate 171kgs of single use plastic waste each year.

This is the highest rate in Europe and can be compared to French and Swedish households, which produce 153kgs and 55kgs per household, respectively.

The need to Identify micro-targets led CUSP to investigate County Clare, in which eight towns were scrupulously analysed. These towns comprise 36 per cent of the counties annual single use plastic waste.

Ennis Town tops the table, generating a vol-

ume of 1,300 tonnes annually, with Shannon generating 550 tonnes.

Kilrush and Sixmilebridge follow suit registering similar levels of single use plastic waste, 175 and 162 tonnes to be precise. The table also looks at Newmarket on Fergus, Killaloe, Ardnacrusha and Kilkee.

Most notably, the table outlines UN aligned annual reduction targets for each town, complying with a sustainability goal of eradicating all single use plastic packaging by 2030. To achieve this, the study indicates that County Clare must reduce its current figure of 7,200 tonnes annually to 2,200 tonnes annually by 2030.

CUSP is asking each Clare household to reduce its annual single use plastic waste by 12kgs. Amounting to just 1kg per month, ten years of this reduced target means that a significantly reduced result of 120kgs will be produced.

The free to use CUSP app allows householders to identify 1kg of waste per month.

The app contains 22 pre-registered common household items and their weight. Householders enter their estimated units for each item on the first day and repeat the process after 30 days, to see their new reductions.

The app is available for iOS and Android.

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10 FEATURE

Café breathes new life into Ballynacally STUART HOLLY

E

editor@clareecho.ie

STUARY Way Café is the newest gem on Clare’s Shannon Estuary – the result of a community effort to make Ballynacally a more attractive place to live and visit.

Nestled in the quaint village between Ennis and Kildysart, locals and visitors can enjoy the newly-established eatery situated at the Range Cottages at the village’s Fair Green.

Two years since planning was sought for the project, the café is the result of a local initiative led by the Ballynacally Development Association, which had the help of no less than 17 passionate community organisations (under the umbrella group Future Planning Ballynacally).

Chairman of the Association, Liam Kirwan says that the café – which is less than a month open – is breathing new life into the centre of the village. Currently, the café opens from Tuesday to Sunday (9-5pm) and offers not just a new dining option to the area but also a meeting point for friends and groups alike.

The project is ongoing and there are plans to accompany the café with two Air BNB apartments at the Range Cottages which will help attract more tourism to the area, with the committee actively seeking funding for this. Liam also says there is an opportunity to make the café an information centre-point for visiting tourists and walking groups.

According to local historian Mary Hester, “These houses were originally built by the Ball family who were local landlords. Usually, employees on the Ball estate lived there.

House Number 1 was owned by the O’Dea family and latterly John O’Dea worked here as a harness maker. Gardener to the Ball family, Michael O’Toole and his family inhabited House Number 2.

“The last people to live in the third house were Bill and Beatrice Cusack (nee McMahon). Beatrice inherited the dwelling from her aunt. House Number 4 was Nan Fawl’s.

Nan was the village character. She was always ready to lend a helping hand to anyone who needed it and also worked at O’Grady’s. Stories about her abound.

“She played the concertina and as children we loved to visit her for bread and jam and to practise our jigs and reels. At the end of the Range is Grady’s garage which is now in private ownership.”

Speaking about the project which has resulted in the Estuary Way Café now being housed by the cottages, Mr Kirwan told The Clare Echo, “With the help of LEADER and the consultants, we did a survey to know what people would like in the village. Top of the list was a meeting place, a café where the whole community could meet or hang out, all ages. That’s how it came about initially.”

Assisted by LEADER and Clare County Council, the group then successfully applied for funding through the Town & Village Renewal Scheme and secured further funding to develop a working kitchen which came from the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD).

Breakfast, lunch, tea and coffee are all on the menu at Estuary Way Café, which is being run by Deirdre Mulpeter who Mr Kirwan says the project would not have happened without. He explains that she is also employing one person “which is under the criteria of the funding going towards trying to create

jobs and cater for tourism”.

Local reaction has been “amazing” with a thriving local repeat business being complimented by visitors from Ennis, Kildysart along with visiting walking groups. Liam quips that it has almost become the “new pub” while Covid restrictions remain in place, however he admits the onus is now on people from Ballynacally and its surrounds to make sure the café remains viable into the future.

“People can’t believe it happened in Ballynacally and it has, there’s a great buzz around it. There’s a little square there, the Fair Green, and a playground right beside it, and the hall, parking spaces, and it’s created a great buzz. It has become a social place for young and old.”

Mr Kirwan added that an official opening will take place in the coming weeks while visitors will also be treated to surprise ‘pop-up sessions’ in the coming months on the Fair Green with people able to enjoy the café and its surrounds with their coffee or tea along with entertainment in a safe setting for social distancing. The Estuary Cafe is located in two of the houses on the Range in Ballynacally looking out on The Fair Green. The four cottages are owned by Ballynacally Development and with the aid of grants and local fundraising they have now been refurbished.

Houses 1 and 2 are now the Estuary Cafe.

lTASTY: The Estuary Way Café in Ballynacally

THURSDAY, AUG 6 2020

LCETB scoop second award from Europe LIMERICK and Clare Education and Training Board today announced its Hospitality Education and Training Centre, based at Limerick Enterprise Development Park, has become the first centre in the Republic of Ireland to be awarded with a consecutive European Framework for Quality Management (EFQM) Centre of Excellence Award.

Operated by the ETB's Further Education and Training Division, the centre at Roxboro is dedicated to providing the highest level of culinary and hospitality training. It has built strong relationships within the Irish hospitality industry since its inception and links its learners directly with employment opportunities.

The coveted EFQM award is granted to Europe's best performing organisations, following an in-depth audit of an organisation's business processes and procedures. The Hospitality Education and Training Centre underwent a rigorous assessment to benchmark its performance against EFQM principles.

One of the factors highlighted in the assessment was the unique partnerships and collaborations that have been established by the centre with hospitality industry employers. It became the first recipient in the 26 counties of the EFQM Centre of Excellence Award in 2016.

Commenting on the achievement, Bernadette Enright, Centre Manager, said: "Achieving this award for a second time acknowledges the centre's continuing commitment to the highest level of success, as it engages with its learners, staff, industry and education partners, as well as government agencies and the local authority."

She continued: "Our centre is unique in that it delivers skills training directed at finding future employment within the hospitality industry specifically. I would like to thank Paul Patton, our Director of Further Education and Training, for his unwavering support of the centre over the last number of years. I also wish to acknowledge the support and friendship of Michael Fitzgerald and his contribution to the centre. This is an incredible achievement made possible only through tremendous professionalism and enthusiasm.”

Kilmartin Educational Services are here for you KILMARTIN Educational Services have been successfully preparing primary, secondary and third level students since 2002.

Based in Ennis and Limerick, Julie Kilmartin and her team of expert teachers have been aiding students nationwide and even internationally since the COVID-19 outbreak. Kilmartin Educational Servies made the transition to online tuition and courses in March 2020.

Julie hails from the Gaeltacht of Connemara. A native Irish speaker, she graduated with a Bachelor of Science - 1st class honours in 1989.

Two years later, Julie became one of the youngest if not the youngest college principals of a private college in Limerick.

In her role as principal, she continued her teaching of the major science subjects and became renowned for her ability to impart knowledge and maximise the academic potential of her students while developing

a love of learning in all her students. Her vibrant, positive, energetic personality and command of her subject matter makes her one of Ireland's top educators.

Julie and her amazing team were thrown into turmoil on March 12 with the closure of both colleges. Today, Julie and her highly experienced team of teachers have created a well established online service.

A large investment has been made over the past few months In the streaming of live and pre recorded classes. Today, Kilmartin Educational Services are not only servicing the National educational market but now have an international market availing of their services.

Julie's reputation is synonymous with hard work and exam success. She brings energy and enthusiasm to the classroom.

The hunger to be the best that you can.

Julie is a great sports enthusiast and her love of sport is acknowledged by her

support of local club teams and sporting events not to forget her regular trips to Anfield. Her love of the GAA can be seen when she won the Best Galway Supporter in 2017 on Up For The Match.

Local and national charities are indeed very close to Julie's heart, especially those associated with children. The team of Kilmartin Educational Services fundraise annually for many charities.

"As we go through these uncertain times and the effect of COVID-19 on the educational system, one thing is for sure, Julie will respond and with provide the certainty, the stability and security that students require.

"Rest assured, Julie and her team will be setting the standards for the New Educational Norm that we face. In Julie and her team, we trust the future of education," a spokesperson for Kilmartin Eduational Services said.

lEXPERT: Julie Kilmartin

NEWS 11

THURSDAY, AUG 6 2020

Abandoned boats impacting access to Mountshannon PĂ RAIC MCMAHON

A

paraic@clareecho.ie

BANDONED boats are making Mountshannon Harbour unsightly, local representatives have

claimed.

Officials in Waterways Ireland have met with Clare County Council staff in the Killaloe Municipal District to determine the responsibility of each body at Mountshannon Harbour. The engagement follows a motion from Cllr Pat Burke (FG) to July's meeting of the Killaloe MD. Deputy Mayor of the Council, Cllr Burke had requested the local authority "to remove unwanted and abandoned boats at Mountshannon Harbour which are moored on Council property".

Following on from the meeting, acting senior executive officer,

Morgan Lahiffe said that efforts to remove abandoned and sunken boats would be carried out.

Lahiffe added, "It is important that we find out the extent of what our responsibility is as a County Council before we make a move on it".

Acknowledging that it was a seasonal issue, Cllr Burke stated, "I appreciate Waterways Ireland have only one function and that is the navigation of boats on River Shannon, Clare County Council has 1001 functions. Waterways Ireland are very effective in removing these boats".

Recalling an incident with his own boat at Dromaan Harbour, the Whitegate representative outlined, "I got pulled away on business and left it for two days, I got a call from Waterways Ireland asking to move it.

"They are doing this daily, if they see boats left two or three days, owners are phoned to move it on, I won't say it is threatening but it is

an enforcing phone call".

Access for fishermen and locals in the area to the harbour is impacted as a result of abandoned boats, Cllr Burke commented.

He appreciated the wide remit of Council duties but reminded officials they were responsible for Mountshannon Harbour.

"A couple of boats there, they are unwanted, they are half sunk and so unsightly in an area like Mountshannon where tourists come with their fancy boats". He added that "a lot of locals have nice boats".

His motion was seconded by Cllr Tony O'Brien (FF) who praised the engagement between the two bodies, "let's see what comes out of it".

Cathaoirleach of the Killaloe Municipal District, Cllr Pat Hayes (FF) told the meeting that Waterways Ireland had invested half a million euros on a new machine that would be able to remove boats. "The issue is ongoing for a long time, it needs to be dealt with".

l ONGOING ISSUE: Mountshannon Harbour Photo by Eoin O'Hagan

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l ENJOY: Explore the beautiful gardens at Fota Island Resort

12 NEWS

THURSDAY, AUG 6 2020

Strong case to be made for increased funding for Shannon Recycling Centre PĂ RAIC MCMAHON

S

paraic@clareecho.ie

TRONG representations are to be made at senior levels within Clare County Council to plead the case of enhancing the Shannon Recycling Centre.

A system whereby “no recyclable materials would be turned away� from the Smithstown facility needs to be implemented, Cllr Pat O’Gorman (FF) told a recent meeting of the Shannon Municipal District.

Issued by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in 2006, the Certificate of Registration allows the County Council to operate a recycling centre in Shannon.

It permits the recovery and transfer of glass, aluminium cans, steel

food cans, textiles, paper, card, cardboard, packaging, plastics, plastic bottles, metal, timber, oil, filters, paint or paint cans, green waste, used batteries plus waste electrical and electronic equipment. Brendan Flynn, senior executive engineer with the Council’s environmental section outlined, “If there are other materials which potentially can be recycled and we can source a service provider to collect those materials we can review such proposals�.

Speaking on the matter, Cllr O’Gorman recalled an incident where a man had cleaned the entirety of his garage but was unable to recycle the mattress from a child’s cot at Shannon and had to travel all the way to Inagh to do so. “Could we have some sort of a trailer unit that the Council take it in Shannon and return to Inagh, it is a simple thing,� he pleaded. The Cratloe representative reiterated

concerns that the Shannon MD has “a major problem with illegal dumping�.

Agreement was voiced by Cllr Donna McGettigan (SF), “they should be taking everything rather than being sent everywhere�. Cllr

John Crowe (FG) seconded the motion and noted how “extremely busy� the recycling centre has been over recent months. “I don’t know how much land Clare County Council have to try expand the centre at Shannon,� Cllr PJ Ryan

l SERVICES: Shannon Recycling Centre

(IND) pondered.

Shannon representative, Cllr Gerry Flynn (IND) stated, “The Director needs to be asked to revisit it,� and recalled that the recycling centre was “strategically positioned to serve the district�.

A former Chairman of Shannon Tidy Towns, he believed “people in Shannon feel it is okay to dump green waste� and that the move of the recycling centre from beside the leisure centre “had recuperations�.

Director of Service, Liam Conneally told the meeting that he was aware Carmel Kirby, Director of Physical Development was assessing the matter. “We need to look at what capacity is there to expand the facility given the population base and catchment area. I will be communicating with the Director of Physical Development and I won’t be taking no for an answer when it comes to funding,� he said.

Shannon not getting fair share from Council PĂ RAIC MCMAHON

S

paraic@clareecho.ie

HANNON is not getting a fair return on the amount of rates it is giving to Clare County Council.

Criticism of this nature was voiced at a recent meeting of the Shannon Municipal District.

Deteriorating footpaths in the town prompted the backlash from Cllr Pat O’Gorman (FF) as he pressured Council officials to take action. “The majority of footpaths in Shannon are there since the beginning of the town�.

He questioned if a plan would be put in place by the local authority or if the onus

was going to fall to councillors through the General Municipal Allocation (GMA). “We have to put some sort of plan in place for Shannon. “It is the biggest rate payer in the county, the amount of money coming out of Shannon into the coffers of the county and the service it is getting is not balanced. The footpaths will not get better on their own�.

O’Gorman’s comments came in response to a motion from Cllr Donna McGettigan (SF). She called on the Shannon MD to clear footpaths in Purcell Park, O’Brien Park and Delacy Park as they were becoming overgrown “with some having tree roots coming up through them�.

Senior engineer, Aidan O’Rourke explained, “Typically footpaths with root damage will need to be replaced and if pos-

sible these will be considered for exclusion in footpath remediation works, subject to available resources�.

Wheelchair users have “awful difficulty� accessing any of the three estates, McGettigan highlighted. She said that the area had become overgrown and that roads were uneven. “It is fantastic to have Donna at one end of the area and I at the other,� Cllr Gerry Flynn (IND) commented. “We haven’t gone away, now that I have Donna’s support, we will be coming out like a two edge sword and you won’t know what way we are coming from,� he said of future efforts to bring improvements to the estates.

Flynn added, “It is a historic part of Shannon, we are ageing with it but not Donna�. “You haven’t gone away at all,� Cllr Pat

McMahon (FF) replied while Cllr PJ Ryan (IND) quipped, “The footpaths are getting grey too�.

l FRUSTRATED: Cllr Pat O’Gorman

Photo by John Mangan

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Arts & Entertainment 13

THURSDAY, AUG 6 2020

glór returns from lockdown with The Albiez Trio ELAINE TUBRIDY

G

elaine.tubridy@clareecho.ie

LÓR has partnered with Music Network’s Live and Local tour to present The Albiez Trio. The Albiez Trio brings a uniquely global style of Irish traditional music to glór for Music Network’s Live and Local series.

Fiddler Tóla Custy, harper Laoise Kelly and whistle player Cormac Breatnach formed the Albiez Trio in the idyllic surrounds of the French Alps at the CeltiCimes music festival back in 2014. As a group with varied backgrounds, their music has many influences from across many regions.

Cormac grew up in an Irish/ Spanish speaking family and was immersed in the Irish music tradition from early childhood.

Throughout his long career he has played with artists as diverse as

Elvis Costello, Vanessa Williams, Donal Lunny, Bernard Purdie and Susan McKeown and has recorded many albums to date. Highly influenced by jazz and blues, he has recently acknowledged and embraced his Spanish/Basque roots bringing this inspiration into his musical work.

Laoise Kelly, TG4 Gradam Ceoil Musician of the Year 2020, is regarded as one of the most significant harpers of her generation. She is known for her use of a new style of harp playing, which combines the techniques of fingerpads in the bass and fingernails in the melody on a thirty-four gut strung Paddy Cafferky harp. Director of Achill International Harp Festival, Laoise has performed and recorded with an eclectic range of artists from The Chieftains to Kate Bush and has released 3 critically acclaimed solo albums.

Tóla Custy is a fiddle player and composer from County Clare. Extensive touring around the world has exposed his ear to many mu-

sical experiences, such as Breton, Bulgarian, American and Māori music. With these influences, Tóla has sought to create a sound of his own whilst remaining sympathetic to the subtle nuances in Irish traditional music. He has performed many a sell-out concert in Ireland

and the USA and is the founding member of worldwide touring ensembles such as Calico, Guidewires, The Bowhouse Quintet, Dán, Albiez Trio and Tradivarious.

2020 may be the summer of the staycation, but there’ll be plenty of opportunities for vicarious musi-

cal travel as this remarkable trio take to the stage.

The Albiez trio, glór, Friday, August 14 at 8pm. Tickets cost €15/€12 conc.

Call the glór box office on 0656843103 or visit www.glor.ie for more information.

lTHREE OF A KIND: The Albiez Trio is made up of Cormac Breatnach, Laoise Kelly and Tola Custy

Woman’s Way call on Clare families to find top mammy

lTHE BEST: 2019 Mum of the Year Caitríona Nic Mhuiris

Photo by Paul Sherwood

WOMAN’S Way and Beko are calling on the people of Clare to nominate a great mammy for their Mum of the Year awards.

The prestigious competition, now in its 17th year, is the largest and most recognised national awards celebrating mothers across Ireland.

The Woman’s Way and Beko Mum of the Year Awards aims to give spouses, children, relatives, friends and community groups the opportunity to recognise the fantastic work mums do for their families and friends.

Woman’s Way and Beko will recognise the outstanding achievements of mothers, reflected in the dynamic and multi-faceted roles that so many modern mothers in Ireland now play. Open to mums

throughout Ireland, finalists – chosen from each province and from Dublin – will attend a special lunch in October where each will be presented with their awards and prizes.

On the Awards, Áine Toner, editor of Woman’s Way says: “We’re delighted to be able to continue these very special awards and there’s never been a better time to say thanks to your mum or a mother figure. The world has changed but the importance of being a mum hasn’t and we’re delighted to partner with Beko for the fifth year to ensure our 2020 winners are justifiably celebrated. The awards are a reminder that there are women, and families, out there who face challenges with strength and integrity.”

Norah Casey, Woman’s Way publisher, says: “We needed our mums this year more than most.

And yet we all wanted to keep them safe which meant we didn’t get to see them or hug them for many months. Younger mums were busier than ever between homeschooling and keeping the family safe and well. We need to reward our mums more than ever this year and let them know they are loved, appreciated and admired. Never has it been more important to celebrate mums.”

To nominate a mum that deserves recognition, Woman’s Way & Beko are calling on readers to complete the nomination form in the current issue of Woman’s Way or to visit www.womansway.ie to nominate online.

14

COLUMNISTS

2009

THURSDAY, AUG 6 2020

A homecoming of sorts...

Cian O’Broin looks at the highs of Ali’s visit and lows of floods which decimated parts of Clare

CIAN O’BROIN History

T

HIS year, we take a look at Muhammad Ali’s visit to County Clare to honour the birthplace of his great-grandfather Abe Grady, who came from Turnpike Road in Ennis, eventually emigrating to the United States in 1860. We see one historian’s claim that Ali’s lineage actually aligns with the village of Crusheen and not Ennis, much to the dismay of the inhabitants of the Clare capital. In addition, we look at the floods of 2009 that besieged Great Britain and Ireland and was the basis for a great deal of development and flood relief schemes in the years to come.

ALI COMES TO ENNIS In 2009, one of boxing’s most iconic sportsmen visited County Clare. On September 1st, around 10,000 people decorated the streets of Ennis to catch a glimpse of the three-time world heavyweight champion, Muhammad Ali, become the very first Honorary Freeman of the Clare capital.

Ali’s great grandfather, Abe Grady, lived at Turnpike Road, before emigrating to Kentucky in the United States in the 1860s, eventually marrying an African American woman whose identity remains a mystery to this day.

At the ceremony bedecked with lights, cameras and an assemblage of media personnel, sat Ali with his wife, Lonnie. The centre stage couple were met with adorning eyes by three individuals from different families: Imelda O’ Grady, Mary Grady Gormley and Mary O’ Donovan. Each of these women are said to be related to Ali. ‘Ali the Ennisman’ was the salutary introduction made by Dr. Pearse Lyons, the founder of Alltech and organiser of the event.

Ali’s tenuous connections with the town of Ennis were declared, along with the vast achievements of his life’s work, both in and out of the ring. ‘The dignity of Honorary Freeman of the Town of Ennis’ was conferred on Ali through a calligraphy parchment imbibed with Celtic lettering. Ali’s wife Lonnie, showed the scroll to her husband and declared in response, “Now that we know that Muhammad is an Ennisman, we will be back.” Sadly, Cassius Clay Junior or ‘Muhammad Ali’ passed away on the 3rd June, 2016 at Scottsdale, Arizona in the United States.

Ali Leaves behind an untouchable legacy in boxing and human rights and will forever be remembered for some of the fastest feet and one of the toughest tongues to ever come out of the sport. Ennis, County Clare cherishes its tenuous ties to one of the greatest of all time and an inquiry into Abe Grady’s true birth cert caused quite a bit of upset within the town, with one historian Seán Spelllissy, uncovering that Abe Grady never set foot in Ireland and was in actual fact, born in Kentucky in 1865.

This fact still remains highly disputed and doesn’t discredit that Ali’s lineage points to Clare, however; Mr. Spellissy believes that Abe Grady’s father came from Crusheen.

lMuhammad Ali’s visit to Ennis in 2009 and (top) huge crowds throng the streets of the Turnpike FLOODS OF 2009 County Clare and much of Ireland saw flooding of a biblical proportion in 2009.

Formally known as the ‘2009 Great Britain and Ireland floods’, November and December saw the county inundated with flooding from the River Shannon. Local Authority staff, Clare County fire and rescue, the ESB, army and the Gardaí were providing response around the clock for the worst effected areas. The flooding forced St. Flannan’s College to be closed for a number of weeks, with water streaming over the outer-boundary walls. The St. Flannan’s

stream catchment area is 5km and drains at a sink or swallow hole at the end of the sports field, making flooding quite a common occurrence here. On November 23rd, it was reported that water levels along the Shannon were higher than before Ardnacrusha was built. Residents of Springfield, Clonlara, Co. Clare also felt the brunt of severe flooding in 2009 as well as 1995 and 2016. Over 40,000 homes were left with no water in the aftermath of the floods.

The then Minister for the Environment John Gormley described the flooding as the worst he had seen in 800 years. Even

Photo by John Mangan

Lough Derg broke all previous records in relation to water levels on November 26th.

County Cork saw severe damages due to the River Lee bursting its banks, resulting in a total of €141 million euros in damages.

That’s all for this week, check back next year as we take a look at what happened in County Clare in 2009.

FEATURES 15

THURSDAY, AUG 6 2020

Opinion Publicans set for long stint in pergatory

STUART HOLLY Editor

P

UBLICANS and hoteliers have been left out in the damp cold by this Government.

This week, as expected by many, we are reacting to the news that pubs will not be reopening next Monday as Phase 4 will not go ahead. It’s a blow that will take many a long time to recover from.

There are 280-plus pubs operating in County Clare alone, the majority of which don’t serve food. The only thing on ice in these respective establishments are now the staff, while the people who have invested time, money and their lives into running these businesses find themselves in the most precarious of positions.

With nothing to do but await further instructions from Government, one must really fear for their mental and emotional wellbeing. Anyone who has had the misfortune of unemployment will know of the isolation which accompanies it, however for our publicans – some of whom who have known nothing else for most of their lives – this is another serious sucker punch. How much more can they take?

Our front page leads with Clare publican David O’Brien of Michael A’s Bar in Miltown Malbay, who describes the current situation as a “nightmare”.

I don’t think his words can be taken lightly, because this is a living nightmare for David and all his colleagues in the industry. I’m not saying other industries haven’t suffered, but this is another level of pain.

Some of our publicans have spent heavily on making sure they will be compliant with social distancing measures on their planned reopening – all the while remaining compliant to their rental duties to landlords. I have heard anecdotally of numerous incidents of pub closures in other locations

across the country and that Clare’s publicans haven’t exited the market en mass is a huge credit to their spirits, which don’t appear to be broken yet by the actions of our Government. But again I ask, how much more can they take?

It might be argued that the Government’s hands are tied by the ongoing pandemic, however I’m not suggesting that the doors be flung open across the board. But I would suggest that if you are going to take away the livelihood of an industry while giving them no future roadmap, comprehensive measures should be put in place to assist and guide them through this period because they are very much alone right now. While the rest of the country gets on with its ‘new normal’ together, publicans are in a vacuum which has also sucked in some of the selfemployed who are dependent on the survival of the pub and wedding trade, such as photographers and wedding planners to name a few.

Meanwhile, the rug has been swept from under the feet of our hotels in a major way. Hotels whose survival is crucially dependent on the wedding trade are lost at sea with no sign of a life raft.

Phase 4 is going to be reviewed in three weeks’ time when only God knows what will happen. So what does this mean for publicans and hoteliers? Well, the stark reality is that they are in continued purgatory, not knowing whether they will be doomed to what seems like an eternity of closure and restrictions or whether the gates will open and allow them to welcome back their customers.

Certainly, the prize on reopening will be nothing like heaven as social distancing must be maintained.

Get in contact Become part of the conversation. Submit your letters to the editor by emailing editor@clareecho.ie or via post addressed to 36c Abbey Street, Ennis, County Clare

16 FEATURES

Gift of resilience

RONAN SCULLY

Thought for the week

A

FTER a reflective morning prayerful walk along the seashore earlier this week and seeing some beautiful ships and boats heading off into the attempted sunrise, I started to think about who is captain of my heart and soul?

Whether expressed through prayer, meditation, or in other ways, being spiritual is important for building resilience and in giving you strength for the journey of life and can help make you ‘captain of your heart and soul’.

Put the Glass down

“A psychologist walked around a room while teaching stress management to an audience. As she raised a glass of water, everyone expected they’d be asked the “half empty or half full” question.

Instead, with a smile on her face, she inquired: “How heavy is this glass of water?”

Answers called out ranged from 8 oz. to 20 oz. She replied, “The absolute weight doesn’t matter.

It depends on how long I hold it.

If I hold it for a minute, it’s not a problem. If I hold it for an hour, I’ll have an ache in my arm. If I hold it for a day, my arm will feel numb and paralyzed. In each case, the weight of the glass doesn’t change, but the longer I hold it, the heavier it becomes.”

She continued, “The stresses and worries in life are like that glass of water. Think about them for a while and nothing happens. Think about them a bit longer and they begin to hurt. And if you think about them all day long, you will feel paralyzed – incapable of doing anything.”

“It’s important to remember to let go of your stresses. As early in the evening as you can, put all your burdens down. Don’t carry them through the evening and into the night. Remember to put the glass down!”

At times in our life we can find ourselves mentally and physically stretched to the limit. We feel our life is like a tight ball of stress and worry. How can we go about regaining our true shape or true strength?

For me being spiritually resilient is the answer. Being spiritually resilient gives me the capacity to be flexible, to say sorry, to forgive, to be adaptable and face up to the worries and stresses in my life.

Being a spiritual person has helped me to face and overcome problems with courage and determination, to say sorry when I am in the wrong of which I have been

in the past few years and to forgive when someone is in need of forgiveness and it has given balance to my life.

I’ve seen it help others, too. My spirituality is the thing that gets me through tough times and what helps other people endure unbelievable suffering and live to tell the tale! It’s what lifts people up.

It’s what makes us strive. It’s the mysterious strength we all have - the ability to endure anything, dream anything and accomplish great things. And we need that spirit now more than ever as we face many worries, stresses and unknowns in our future especially as we continue our battles with the Coronavirus.

The Resilient Son

A wealthy man and his son loved to collect rare works of art. They had everything in their collection from Picasso to Raphael. They would often sit together and admire the great works of art. When the Vietnam conflict broke out, the son went to war. He was very resilient and courageous and died in battle while rescuing other soldiers.

The father was notified and grieved deeply for his only son.

About a month later, just before Christmas, there was a knock at the door. A young man stood at the door with a large package in his hands. He said, “Sir, you don’t know me, but I am the soldier for whom your son gave his life. He saved many lives that day, and he was carrying me to safety when a bullet struck him in the heart, and he died instantly. He often talked about you, and your love for art.”

The young man held out his package. “I know this isn’t much.

I’m not really a great artist, but I think your son would have wanted you to have this.” The father opened the package. It was a portrait of his son, painted by the young man. He stared in awe at the way the soldier had captured the personality of his son in the painting.

The father was so drawn to the eyes that his own eyes welled up with tears. He thanked the young man and offered to pay him for the picture. “Oh, no sir, I could never repay what your son did for me through his resiliency for us on the battlefield. It’s a gift.” The father hung the portrait over his mantle.

Every time visitors came to his home, he took them to see the portrait of his son before he showed them any of the other great works he had collected. The man died a few months later. There was to be a great auction of his paintings.

Many influential people gathered, excited over seeing the great paintings and having an opportunity to purchase one for their collection.

On the platform sat the painting of the son. The auctioneer pounded his gavel. “We will start the bidding with this picture of the son. Who will bid for this picture?” There was silence. Then a voice in the back of the room shouted, “We want to see the famous paintings. Skip this one.”

Finally, a voice came from the very back of the room. It was the longtime gardener of the man and his son. “I’ll give €10 for the painting.” Being a poor man, it was all he could afford. “We have €10, who will bid €20?” “Give it to him for 10. Let’s see the masters.” “€10 is the bid, won’t someone bid €20?”

The crowd was becoming angry.

They didn’t want the picture of the son. They wanted the more worthy investments for their collections.

The auctioneer pounded the gavel.

“Going once, twice, SOLD FOR €10!”

A man sitting on the second row shouted, “Now, let’s get on with the collection!” The auctioneer laid down his gavel. “I’m sorry, the auction is over.” “What about the paintings?” “I am sorry. When I was called to conduct this auction, I was told of a secret stipulation in the will. I was not allowed to reveal that stipulation until this time.

Only the painting of the son would be auctioned. Whoever bought that painting would inherit the entire estate, including the paintings.

The man who took the son gets everything!”

God gave his Son 2000 years ago to die on a cruel cross. Much like the auctioneer, His message today is, “The Son, the Son, who’ll take the Son?” Because you see, whoever takes the Son gets everything and will be given the gift of resilience to help them face up to the difficulties and stresses of life.

Thought for the week

My prayer is that you will have that strength of resilience in your life when you most need it and that it will help you as it says in the prayer, ‘Invictus’, by William Ernest Henley , to become, “Captain of your heart and soul”.

It goes as follows “Out of the night that covers me, black as the pit from pole to pole. I thank whatever Gods may be, for my unconquerable heart and soul.

In the fell clutch of circumstance, I have not winced nor cried aloud.

Under the bludgeonings of chance, my head is bloody, but unbowed.

Beyond this place of wrath and tears, looms but the Horror of the shade. And yet the menace of the years, Finds, and shall find, me unafraid. It matters not how straight the gate. How charged with punishments the scroll. I am the master of my fate. I am the captain of my heart and soul.”

THURSDAY, AUG 6 2020

NEW YEAR, NEW GEAR

lKITTED OUT: Crowe’s Bakers & Grocers Kilkishen recently

sponsored O’Callaghan’s Mills Minor GAA Club with a set of jerseys. Pictured are Timmy Crowe of Crowe’s Bakers presenting the Jerseys to the U10 players and coaches

Fifth birthday for Scariff Bay PÁRAIC MCMAHON

S

paraic@clareecho.ie

CARIFF Bay Community Radio celebrated five years on the radio last weekend.

Birthday celebrations took place on Saturday and commenced on Saturday Chronicle where a special cake to mark the occasion made its way into the studio as Jim Collins, Patricia Nugent and Marie McNamara were on air.

Every Saturday and Sunday from 9am, the Scariff based station produces shows of local interest and importance.

Guests from all the county have contributed to the station which is run and led by a team of dedicated volunteers.

Board member, John S. Kelly was on hand to cut the cake

in recognition of the role the community radio station has played in East Clare over the past half a decade.

Coverage of sport on Scariff Bay has been highly regarded so it was fitting that during the fifth birthday celebrations, listeners tuned in from various locations on the globe to the live commentary from Leo Doyle and Pat McNamara from O’Garney Park as Feakle overcame Whitegate.

Live updates from the sideline were provided by Alphie Rodgers.

Such was the interest in Scariff Bay’s coverage of Tulla and Scariff on Friday evening that the online system crashed in the opening half as listeners attempted to hear the live commentary.

Presenter with Scariff Bay, Eoin O’Hagan told The Clare Echo, “It’s hard to believe that the years fly so fast in Community Radio”.

lJOLLY GOOD FELLOW: Scariff Bay presenter Jim Collins is on hand to blow out the candles

FEATURES 17

THURSDAY, AUG 6 2020

GREEN CLARE

Clean Coasts programme protects our shores CIAN O’BROIN

A

cianobroin@clareecho.ie

N TAISCE’S Clean Coasts programme operates with the objective of maintaining cleaner beaches and shorelines through the empowerment of small and large coastal groups speckled around the country.

More than 1,000 groups of varying degree, size and characteristics take care of the Irish coastline, with support being provided by the Clean Coasts programme in the vein of gloves, litter pickers, bags, contact with local authorities as well as providing a platform to connect and to disseminate essential educational resources that allow each and every group to prosper.

Coastal Programme Officer Ray O’Foghlu liaises and supports groups in Clare, Galway and Mayo.

Speaking to The Clare Echo, Ray sheds light on the most pressing forms of litter found on the Clare coast, the driving force of volunteers as well as a renewed vigour that has manifested itself within groups in the face of Covid-19.

There are two types of litter along the Clare coast, Ray tells. The first, litter that comes off the land and is blown into the sea or litter that stems from towns and villages and is swept out to sea through rivers.

This usually comes in the form of bottles, bags and wrappers.

In towns like Kilkee and Lahinch, this is the main form of litter, making the west coast of Clare quite a challenge, in Ray’s opinion.

On the other hand, litter emanating from the fishing industry has drastic consequences on marine life. Industrial waste like cut up bits of rope, discarded lobster pots or other equipment from these boats accidentally or on purpose, end up in the sea and eventually washes up on the beaches, Ray admits.

Ray cites a very common from of environmental waste that is produced as a result of the fishing industry, in short strands of monofilament nets. Green in colour and only two inches long, these nets are dispersed through the ocean after being shredded from the propellers of boats. Unfortunately, these microfilament pieces do not break down.

On the role of volunteers in the

Clean Coasts programme, Ray comments, “We would be absolutely nothing without our volunteers. They are by far and away the most important piece of the puzzle in trying to keep our coast clean and to be fair, Clare has got some excellent Clean Coast groups. “The volunteers are everything and that is why we try to support them as much as we can, be it through information but also through resources and equipment.

We also try to highlight the work that they do and give them a platform to communicate. We have quite a big platform on social media, so if they have any issues that they want to put out there, we are more than happy to help.� “In the last couple of years, there has been much more awareness floating about concerning the situation we are in, ecologically and from a climate point of view in terms of litter and marine litter.

Clean Coasts really offers an entry point into feeling like you are doing something worthwhile. “You don’t need to know anything, you don’t need to have a qualification, you can sign up as a group, turn up and meet new people. As well as facilitating beach cleans, we do a lot of educational work around the ecology of their local piece of coastline. You will meet new people; you will learn new things and you will feel like you are part of the solution.�

Ray remarks that Covid-19 had greatly affected Clean Coast groups around the country, with the implementation of a stringent lockdown meaning that all activities had to be ceased for a threemonth period. Safety of our group members is paramount, Ray divulges.

In spite of this, Ray feels that a tasteful and innovative adaptation took place in this period, which resulted in a flurry of seminars and webinars that paved the way for new forms of communication.

We kept our education going, Ray proudly professes.

Clean Coast groups are now in full swing once again and Ray notes that there are groups, large and small, that are getting back out there, and with a vengeance. Any individual interested in joining a group can do so at www.cleancoasts.org, with the website also providing a place to register new groups and as a portal where you can go to learn more about the ocean.

On a final note, Ray imparts some words of wisdom as to the

future of Clean Coasts, “What is going on now in the world with climate change can feel quite op-

pressive. I think we can sit back, and we can worry about it or we can get up and take some physical

action to make a difference even if they are small. Clean Coasts offers the opportunity to do just that.�

lSTUNNING: The Clean Coasts programme helps look after beauty spots like the Kilkee Cliffs

Photo by Valerie O’Sullivan

Sport Clare Echo THE

06-08-20

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Huge entry for captain’s prize

F

APTAIN John Casey’s prize was the attraction at Dromoland at the weekend where the leading players after 18 holes qualified for a 9 hole play off on Sunday evening, writes Seamus Hayes.

DROMOLAND GOLF CLUB: Conor Barry emerged as the winner with 101 nett from Bart O’Brien on 102.5 with Ruairi Price in third spot with 104.5, they were followed by Mike Daffy with 106, Shane O’Doherty with 107.5, Stephen O’Donoghue with 108, Damian Morris with 109 and Adam Merriman with 109.5.

Mark Reynolds won the gross with 73.

Other prize winners were Martin Barry (guests) with 77, William Fitzgerald (past captains) with 75, Dylan O’Brien (junior) with 66, Cathal Ruane (student) with 107 nett, Billy O’Mahony (18 and over handicap) Jody McDermott (front 9) and Niall Geraghty (back 9) In the captains prize to the ladies Kelly MacClean (above) was the winner with 68 from Ellie

Cotgreave with 70, Mary Arthur with 73 and Kitty Quinn with 73. Leslie O’Flynn won the gross while the nines were won by Ann Nix with 36 and Jean Colleran with 35. Anne Fahy Cosgrove won the 9 hole competition In Friday’s open singles Eoghan Smith was the winner with 45 points from Gordon O’Neill on 41 and Aaron Landy on 40, Brian Shelly won the gross with 35.

EAST CLARE GOLF CLUB: Round 1 in the men’s player of the year competition at East Clare took place last week. The 18 hole stroke winner off the white tees was Erik Kolshus (13) with 67 nett from Aaron O’Brien (11) with a similar score. Eoin Magill (3) won the gross with 72.

In the 18 hole stableford competition off the yellow tees the winner was Shane McGrath (12) with 44 points from Donal O’Grady (21) with 41 and John Canny (25) with 39 In the ladies 18 hole stroke competition the winner was Siobhan Shanahan (15) with 70 nett.

The category winners were Eileen Donnellan (17) with 75, Margaret Lynch (27) with 74 and Helen Downey (33) with 73 KILRUSH GOLF CLUB: The SuperValu men’s singles at Kilrush on Saturday was won by Tom Clancy (6) with 40 points from Rory Lillis (14) with 39 and Shane Lillis (2) with 38.

In the Kepak open the winner was Tom Clancy (7) with 43 points from James Murtagh (16) with 40 points and Emmet Long (13) with 40 points.

The ladies West Clare Cleaners singles was won

by Ailish Lorigan (16) with 36 points from Margaret Hehir (19) with 34 points, Peggy Mulqueen (29) with 33 points and Marion Brennan (22)

Club managers in Clare have criticised restrictions on the amount of panel members allowed to tog out for championship encounters, writes Páraic McMahon.

Along with the cap of 200 people allowed to attend GAA games - the figure includes players, management teams, media, officials, stewards and volunteers – teams are only permitted to name a panel of 24.

Ennistymon senior football manager, Kieran Kelleher admitted that having to only name a panel of 24 was “the toughest thing” he has had to do since taking charge of the North Clare magpies.

“I hope they make a change because it is very hard for a manager to pick 24 players. I made phonecalls on Thursday telling guys they wouldn’t be in the panel of 24 and it was heartbreaking. For some of them it’s awful because these guys are all training together, to have to pick 24 is very unfair, I would love if they let the whole panel in”.

Similar sentiments were expressed by St Josephs Miltown boss, Maurice Reidy. He outlined that having to select a panel of 24 was “extremely difficult”. “We have a lot of guys who have been with the club a long time, they’ve put a lot of effort in, they have trained very hard and to have to tell those guys on a Tuesday night that they couldn’t be part of the panel, warm up or be with us on Saturday was one of the hardest things I’ve had to do”.

Reidy is hopeful but not confident the decision may be reversed by officials in Croke Park.

“I think it’s wrong to have to go to a guy who has been with us all year, doing Zoom calls, doing Zoom sessions and has maybe played a League game earlier in the year or challenge this games and tell them they are not part of the squad, it’s not right”.

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with 33 point. han and P.J. McAllenn with 83 points.

The category winners were Margaret Donnelly ENNIS GOLF CLUB: (18) with 33 points and Kathleen Haugh(32) with Captain Ollie O’Loughlin’s prize was played for 32 points at Ennis on Sunday when former captain Liam GORT GOLF CLUB: McCannon (15) emerged victorious with 67 net.

Last week’s open singles at Gort was won by Gerry Collins (6) was second with 68 followed by Jack Beakey (5) with 39 points from Damien Cathal Ruane (6) with 68 and Michael Meagher Kennedy (13) with 38 and Dylan Molloy (16) (9) also with 68. with 37.

Peter Lyons (13) was fifth with 68 followed by The Bob Forde trophy, an 18 hole singles sta- Paul Nihill (13) with 69, Joe Carmody (16) with bleford competition, was won by Gerard Niland 69, Frank Owens (19) with 69, Eddie Glenny (19) (6) with 42 points from John McGrath (13) with with 70 and John Kelly (16) with 70. Matthew 40 points and Niall O’Shaughnessy (8) with 38 Whelan (4) won the gross from Martin Moran points. Paul Smith (9) won the gross with 29 (6), both returning 75.

The category winners were Ronan Herbert (6) points.

In the Bob Forde ladies competition the win- with 72, Padraig Cusack (16) with 71 and Gerry ner was Anne Kerins (21) with 39 points from O’Connor (24) with 71. Dave Pender (9) won the Ruth Naughton (18) with 38 points and Marcella past captain’s prize with 74 while Pat Murphy (9) Killeen (28) with 36 points. Yvonne McMahon won the senior’s category with 72. The nines were won by Andrew Whelan and Michael O’Brien.

(19) won the gross with 36 points. this Liam Hughes (18) won the Friday open sinIn the Coen Steel summer golf classis the winners were Martin O’Reilly, Cyril Doherty, David gles with 41 points from Joseph Flynn (28) from Cahill and Philip Dunne with 102 points from Gowran Park with a similar score.

David Rushe (13) was third with 40 points folMichael Ryan, David Daly, Kieran Reidy and David Quinn with a similar score. In third spot lowed by Conor O’Halloran (18) from Limerick with 99 points were John Moylan, George Fahey, with 40. Ronan Herbert (6) won the gross with 75 In the Tuesday fourball Tom Greene and Steve Tommy O’Donnell and Gerry Glynn followed

by Colin Higgins, John Reidy, Donagh Murphy Burns were the winners with 38 points from and Niall McMahon with 98 points. Fifth spot Gary Cunningham and Peter Lyons with 37. In was filled by Eanna Melville, Shane Burne, Ronan third spot with 37 points were Alfred Jones and Mike Moroney with(11am 37 points followed

by Flan Burke Liam Perkin with 98Open while the ladies LastandMinute Gift?

Sunday 21st - 2pm) prize was won by Yvonne McMahon, Joan Fog- Downes and Barry Lee with 36, Conor Doyle Oisin McCarthy 35, Sean O’Gorman arty, Patricia Reddy and9Teresa Mahon with 90 andPk Unit Westgate Business Kilrush Rd,with Ennis points. The non GUI prize winning team com- and Michael Butler with 34 with Evan Greer and (065)6840844 prises Dermot McDermott, Kevin and Joe Kee- Mark McCarthy in seventh spot with 33 points.

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06-08-20

Clare Echo THE

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O’Connell returns as Truagh/ Clonlara boss

PÁRAIC MCMAHON

C

paraic@clareecho.ie

LARE camogie boss Ger O’Connell has taken the reigns of Truagh/Clonlara as they begin to get their bid for a first ever county camogie championship back on track.

Camogie followers in the county were left shocked at the margin of the difference between Inagh/ Kilnamona and Truagh/Clonlara following their first round meeting two weeks ago. The 1-11 0-03 win was a very positive start for Inamona but was the catalyst for change in South-East Clare with players leading the call for change and it John Fennessy’s management team which included Colm Fitzgerald as coach.

County boss Ger O’Connell has now returned to his former post and they face Sixmilebridge in Cratloe on Saturday evening.

Susan Fahy made her first appearance for The Bridge as they lost 2-21 1-06 against reigning champions Scariff/Ogonnelloe in round one. Both sides are in need of a win as defeat will rule out the possibility of either outfit progressing to the knockout stages. It also pits O’Connell against Conor Dolan who is training the Sixmilebridge side and is coach to the county team.

Saturday’s meeting of Scariff/ Ogonnelloe and Inagh/Kilnamona is expected to be an exciting affair. With a win each, a successive victory would see them secure their place in the semi-finals.

Shadow boxing may be on the cards as the two clubs would be fancied to potentially meet in the county final later this year.

In Group One, Kilmaley will be eyeing up their second win. They take on last year’s intermediate champions St Josephs Doora/ Barefield in Fr McNamara Park.

Having raided for three goals in their 3-11 0-14 win over Kilkishen/Bodyke, Kilmaley will be hoping for more of the same and will look to centre back Niamh O’Dea and centre forward Claire McMahon to steer them to success.

Kilkishen/Bodyke will be determined to keep their chances of appearing in the knockout alive and to do so they must overcome Newmarket-on-Fergus in Shannon. The Blues although they accounted for St Josephs Doora/ Barefield 1-18 0-08 in round one are in need of improvement and the East Clare side which includes Kate Lynch, Kate O’Gorman and Alannah Ryan will be eyeing up taking a potential scalp.

Action continues in the interme-

diate champions where the meeting of Clooney/Quin and Éire Óg will reveal which side is more likely to win promotion to the senior ranks. Feakle/Killanena will be looking to build on recent strong form when they meet neighbours Whitegate while the final clash pits Tulla against Clarecastle/ Ballyea.

Kilmihil begin title defence MONDAY night championship action begins this week with the start of the senior campaign. Kilmihil will begin their defence when they travel to Gurteen to face St Josephs Doora/ Barefield. Kevin Callinan continues as manager of the West Clare outfit who denied Banner Ladies a ninth championship in succession last September.

The Considine sisters will be a major influence in Kilmihil’s fortunes while county dual-player Siofra Ní Chonaill will be looked to as St Josephs Doora/ Barefield go in as underdogs. Cooraclare have a bye in the opening round.

Coolmeen hosts the encounter between Cúil Gaels and West Clare Gaels in Group 2, with great importance for each side on getting a win under their belt before their remaining group clash with Banner Ladies.

Games begin in the intermediate championship with Doonbeg taking on St Josephs Miltown. Fergus Rovers face an away trip going up against Liscannor while the final clash pits Kilmurry Ibrickane against Éire Óg.

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GALWAY Greyhound track continued to be a source of success for Clare greyhound owners with victories over the weekend for Ennis, Tubber and Kilmihil owned dogs.

The opening contest on Saturday’s Galway card was an A9 contest over 525 Yards and from trap the reserve Rockmount Kamala broke smartly on the outside and she was closely attended to by Suirview Mannix on the run towards the opening bend. Racing down the back, Rockmount Kamala owned by Ennis’ Shane Flanagan opened up a five length advantage as Wee Small Hours moved into second place and although the latter closed rapidly from the home bend Rockmount Kamala was still a length and a half to the good in 29.45.

Approaching the opening bend in the A7 graded third contest Sues Panda, Sports Magic and Feed Me Branston were all prominent but with the benefit of the inside line, Sues Panda took two lengths out of her rivals. Owned by Johnny Burke of Tubber, she extended her advantage to three lengths as Merciful Ali went in pursuit but Sues Panda was clear form halfway as she scored by three and a half lengths in 29.50.

The N2 Graded fourth contest went in scintillating fashion to the Mullins-Curtin Syndicate of Gort owned Miss Joss (Sparta Maestro-Blundel Spark) who routed her rivals by upwards of six and a quarter lengths in a brilliant 28.73.

In the S5 graded fifth contest all six runners were closely grouped approaching the opening bend where the Maria Browne of Kilmihil owned Burnpark Pluto shot to the front as Wilbrook Fantasy also improved.

Racing around the home turn Wilbrook Fantasy swept to the front out wide but Burnpark Pluto rallied again close home to prevail by a length and a quarter in 19.55.

As the traps rose for the feature, all runners were away well but as they approached the opening bend Cloneyogan Flash held a narrow advantage over Rathmeehan May and Headford Melody. Turning down the back Cloneyogan Flash owned by Moy’s Siobhan Garrahy opened up a three length advantage as Headord Melody moved in to second but Cloneyogan Flash prevailed by a length and a half in 29.17.

The concluding heat of the Sean Connolly Plant Hire A3 Sweepstake went in trap to line fashion to the Sean Stack of Sixmilebridge trained Rallying Rivers who made all for a four and a half length success over Canya Blitz in 29.15. The winner despite jinking right coming away from his trap six berth showed plenty of early pace to lead from Canya Blitz and Mollrose Melody. Racing down the back the winner went further clear and the Franck’s Walsh owned runner maintained the gallop to the line.

On Friday evening, the opening heat went in trap to line fashion to Pinnacle Rio owned by Michael Costelloe of North Clare who recorded a comfortable nine and a half length success over Rising Turbo in 29.02.

In the third heat Ougham Tiger led on the outside from Tulla owned Banner Chops as they rounded the opening bend and at halfway the lead was two lengths. Approaching the third bend the Donal Duggan trained Banner Chops edged through on the rails to lead and the Pat and Gerard Mc Mahon owned son of Laughill Duke and Whitefort Meo stayed on well to defeat Ougham Tubber by a length and a quarter in 29.55.

A superb performance from the Stephen Murray trained Astro Abby saw him storm to success in heat five with a five and a quarter length victory ahead of Killanin Sky in 28.95.

Clare Echo

pg 20

THE

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Compiled by Páraic McMahon & Eoin Brennan

Kilrush Shamrocks 1-06 Éire Óg 2-15 Venue: Cusack Park, Ennis

lIkem Ugwueru offloads watched

by Billy Clancy.

Photograph: Gerard O’Neill

Frees For: 13 (5/8) Wides: 4 (2/2) Scores from Play: 1-06 Spread of Scorers: 4 Top Scorer: Liam Madigan (1-03) Own Kickouts won: 13 from 25 (52%) Aidan Daly, Kilrush Shamrocks: “I’m feeling very proud of the players and that group, nine players made their championship debut and two more came on as subs, we had eleven players making their championship debut which I’d say is unheard of. They are a very honest group, I can’t ask any more of them, we’ll take a few bits and pieces from this but we will come back. They are a very honest group and I must admit, I’m 32 years involved with senior championship football either playing or training teams and this is the most honest group I’ve ever been involved with, it’s a pleasure to be involved with them”.

St Breckans 2-08 Cooraclare 2-06 Venue: Hennessy Memorial Park, Miltown Malbay Frees For: 16 (9/7) Wides: 2 (1/1) Scores from Play: 2-03 Spread of Scorers: 6 Top Scorer: Colm O’Brien (0-04 4f) Own Kickouts won: 12 from 14 (86%) Donie Garrihy, St Breckans: “In 2018 we also beat Cooraclare in a championship match, we’ve unfinished business here. Check out the record, what happened in the next game after 2018, that ain’t happening in the next game. These guys have changed the culture, it’s not about winning one senior football championship match, it’s about putting a couple of games back to back and manning up, man up St Breckans”.

“We got a real tough championship match from Cooraclare, a proud club with ten titles, we turned them over tonight and we’re happy to do that”.

Frees For: 17 (10/7) Wides: 6 (3/3) Scores from Play: 2-02 Spread of Scorers: 4 Top Scorer: Ciaran O’Donoghue (1-01) Own Kickouts won: 9 from 12 (75%) David Russell, Cooraclare: “They had ten players back for a long time which makes it hard to get that ball in to get our lively forwards putting pressure on them inside 25m. Ultimately the better teams can get them balls in and put pressure on the other defence who will then pick up black and yellow cards and you’re picking up scores from frees or attacks on goal. Our two goals were fortunate enough but they got a green flag anyway”.

“It was an entertaining game, football is defensively set up, it’s easier to do it that way, attacking is our job and we weren’t up to scratch”.

lMicheál Garry and Jack Sheedy tussle for possession.

Photograph: Burren Eye Photography

06-08-20

Frees For: 12 (8/4) Wides: 8 (4/4) Scores from Play: 2-10 Spread of Scorers: 6 Top Scorer: Gavin Cooney (1-09 4f) Own Kickouts won: 10 from 11 (91%) Paul Madden, Éire Óg: “The first half we struggled for long periods, we started okay but had a bit of a wobble. The thing I was happiest with was the attitude and the fact that when we went to 14 men, we won that ten minute period which put us a point up at halftime. Kilrush put up a good fight to be fair to them, we got scores at crucial times in the second half.

“We’re no further forward than we have been in the last couple of years, we had to win today but we’ve nothing major achieved, there is plenty of improvement needed.”

Ennistymon 0-11 Doonbeg 0-10 Venue: Hennessy Memorial Park, Miltown Malbay Frees For: 13 (8/5) Wides: 3 (2/1) Scores from Play: 0-06 Spread of Scorers: 4 Top Scorer: Cillian Rouine (0-06 5f) Own Kickouts won: 10 from 19 (53%) Kieran Kelleher, Ennistymon: “We are happy with the result, that was our objective when we came here to win this game and be in the top six, we are very happy with the result”.

“We had the wind in the first half and we didn’t take advantage of it in the first 15 minutes but being ring-rusty and lads playing their first game that was bound to happen. We have to build on this, we started working a bit better in the second fifteen, we still had errors but we were better and got ahead, we held the lead the whole time which was great...There’s an awful lot of lads coming back from injury who will be back in contention the next day”.

Frees For: 13 (6/7) Wides: 9 (3/6) Scores from Play: 0-06 Spread of Scorers: 4 Top Scorer: David Tubridy (0-05 3f) Own Kickouts won: 12 from 14 (86%) Brian Dillon, Doonbeg: “I don’t think they threatened to score a whole lot other than the frees so from that point of view it was good from our sense.

We’re disappointed but this time last year we were in the same position and we drove on, we’ll take it, we’ll recover and see what happens”.

“This is championship football, there’s only twelve senior teams at the moment, it is very competitive, we will dust ourselves off and see what the draw brings up.

We’ll try and regroup”. lCillian Rouine executes a pass Photograph: Burren Eye Photography

pg 21

06-08-20

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Clare Echo THE

SCAN QR CODES USING PHONE CAMERA FOR FULL MATCH REPORT

Frees For: 13 (7/6) Wides: 12 (6/6) Scores from Play: 0-09 Spread of Scorers: 5 Top Scorer: Eoghan Donnellan (0-3) Own Kick-outs won: 7 from 8 (88%) Flan Enright, Clondegad: “It’s disappointing not to at least have forced extra-time. We tried to play some nice football and at times we did but there were other occasions we forced passes and got punished for it.

We had a couple of handling errors as well at the end that if avoided could have brought the game to extra-time but it wasn’t to be. And it means that we’re in a group now that only one team comes out of six but we have to embrace that now, learn from today and put it behind us.

“We had wides, had two great goal chances too whereas they took their two goal chances so that was the ultimate difference today. It came down to small margins and every score counts when you’re in a tight game It’s knock-out for everyone now whether you won or lost your first game so we won’t hang our heads. We’ll move on from this, regroup and do our best again the next day.”

Gerry O’Grady, Kilmihil: “It’s just fantastic to win because we’re down so many players from last year so it was backs to the wall stuff. It was like going into a hospital casualty ward and try to pull out lads at times this year but we had juniors that really stood up today and I’m just so proud of every one of that team. We had a plan. As you could see a defensive plan but we do have forwards that can hurt on the break and that’s the way we set-up to play today.

“Now in fairness, Clondegad tried everything to break us down but they just couldn’t do it.

They did score ten points but I knew we had the firepower to grab goals and thankfully we did today.

“We’re full of heart and we got some great performances out there when we needed it most.

It often came down to a fingertip tackle but the difference in the end was only fingertips, inches really and it means we’re in the winners’ pot now.

lConor Finnucane steals the ball from Micheál Hawes.

Photograph: Gerard O’Neill

Kilmihil 2-05 Clondegad 0-10 Venue: Cusack Park, Ennis

Lissycasey 2-09 Cratloe 0-13 Venue: Cusack Park, Ennis

Frees For: 24 (9/10/4/1) Wides: 14 (7/2/3/2) Scores from Play: 1-04 Spread of Scorers: 4 Top Scorer: Aaron Griffin (1-03) Own Kickouts won: 25 from 33 (76%)

Frees For: 14 (2/7/3/2) Wides: 20 (7/7/2/4) Scores from Play: 0-11 Spread of Scorers: 7 Top Scorer: Podge Collins (0-05 1f) Own Kickouts won: 17 from 25 (68%)

John Ryan, Lissycasey: “They dug deep, Cratloe gave it everything, our bench was a big factor and when we brought fellas in they worked hard. They are young, they’ve youth and experience, this will bring them on. They’ve trained very hard over the last six weeks and today was a big day.

Sometimes you train and you don’t get your reward, today we did that”.

“Injuries can become a problem especially when you are trying to cram six weeks work in, that was a big win. Last week we had a few niggly injuries and we go through it, the rest is history today thank God”.

Colm Collins, Cratloe: “You’ve got to handle the long road now and that’s it but it’s good to get any road, fair play to Lissycasey they deserved their win. I felt we were missing a bit of composure at the end of normal time when they were down two men, we didn’t show composure then and it shouldn’t have been a difficult thing to get a score at that point and we didn’t. Credit to Lissycasey, they played very well and they fully deserved their win.”

“God only knows what happens from now on but it’s great to still be in the championship, in a lot of previous years you would have been out at this point if you had been beaten so it’s good to still be there”.

lMartin O’Leary & James Murphy lead for the ball.

Photograph: Gerard O’Neill

Kilmurry Ibrickane 0-12 St Josephs Miltown 0-09 Venue: Cusack Park, Ennis

lSeanie Malone shakes off the tackle of Keelan Sexton.

Photograph: Gerard O’Neill

Frees For: 23 (13/10) Wides: 8 (5/3) Scores from Play: 0-04 Spread of Scorers: 4 Top Scorer: Eoin Cleary (0-06 4f) Own Kickouts won: 10 from 15 (67%) Maurice Reidy, St Josephs Miltown: “From our own point of view, we had quite a bit of possession we created chances that we didn’t take and had we been a bit more efficient it would have made a big difference to the game. With five minutes to go it was level and in fairness to Kilmurry Ibrickane they made better use of the chances they created in that period”.

“Realistically no matter what side of the draw you are on now it is knockout, we need to focus on the things that we can better, make improvements in those areas and produce the performance that will beat whoever we get in the draw next”.

“The minds should be focused now, if they aren’t we will be in trouble. We need to make the improvements we can make and build game by game”

Frees For: 19 (12/7) Wides: 3 (2/1) Scores from Play: 0-06 Spread of Scorers: 7 Top Scorer: Keelan Sexton (0-04 4f) Own Kickouts won: 14 from 17 (82%) Aiden Moloney, Kilmurry Ibrickane: “We were a bit worried coming in today, we haven’t had a serious match since the county final, we were looking for a reaction, maybe after ten or fifteen minutes it didn’t look great but I have to say as the game went on we got stronger, we kept Miltown in it with our own mistakes but we finished strong and I’m happy with that, the fitness levels were quite good. It’s just the first round, I know Miltown will be back, they are a good side and like ourselves were down a few players, they will have a big say in the championship”.

“We’re going to go back and keep working, we’ll look at today and see where we can improve, there is a lot of room for improvement.”

Clare Echo THE

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THE GAME CENTRE FOOTBALL

Results Senior football championship Éire Óg 2-15 Kilrush Shamrocks 1-6 Lissycasey 2-9 Cratloe 0-13 (after extra time); Kilmurry-Ibrickane 0-12 St Josephs Miltown 0-9 Kilmihil 2-5 Clondegad 0-10 Ennistymon 0-11 Doonbeg 0-10 St. Breckans 2-8 Cooraclare 2-6 Intermediate football championship: Kildysart 0-13 Corofin 0-12 Shannon Gaels 2-12 Liscannor 0-6 Kilfenora 1-9 Eire Og 0-5 O’Currys 1-11 Coolmeen 0-9 St Josephs Doora/Barefield 3-17 Naomh Eoin 2-13 (after extra time) MichaelCusacks 0-11 Wolfe Tones 0-6 Junior A football championship: Banner 5-12 St Senans Kilkee 0-14 Ballyvaughan received walkover from St. Josephs Doora/ Barefield Killimer 3-7 Meelick 0-7 Clondegad 0-16 Cratloe 1-12 Ennistymon 2-9 St Josephs Miltown 1-1 Kilmurry-Ibrickane 2-15 Cooraclare 0-6 Clooney-Quin 1-13 Doonbeg 0-11 Junior B football championship: Shannon Gaels 2-8 Eire Og 0-8 Kildysart 2-10 Moy 1-11 Parteen 4-13 Wolfe Tones 3-5 St. Breckans 2-21 Clonbony 0-1

HURLING

Minor A hurling championship: Corofin/Ruan 0-18 Sixmilebridge 1-10 Clooney-Quin 1-18 Doora-Barefield 0-12 Feakle/Killanena 3-26 Clonlara 1-12 Minor B hurling championship: Crusheen-Tubber 4-16 Sixmilebridge 0-5 Tulla 0-14 Ballyea 0-14 Wolfe Tones 3-6 Eire Og 0-14 Broadford 1-15 Parteen 3-9 O’Callaghans Mills/Bodyke 2-18 Newmarket 3-14 Banner 0-15 Kilmaley 0-12 Minor C hurling championship St Josephs Doora-Barefield 6-15 Clarecastle 5-18 Ennistymon 1-18 Corofin/Ruan 1-10 Éire Óg 4-14 Clooney-Quin 2-13 Smith O’Briens 3-12 Cratloe 1-6

SOCCER

Results Martin Donnelly MyClubShop.ie Munster Youths Cup Semi-Final Ballingarry 1 Bridge Utd 0 Maloney Garden Machinery Premier Division Sporting Ennistymon 0 Shannon Town A 2

T Sheils & Company First Division League Newmarket Celtic B 8 Mountshannon Celtic 0 - Ennis Town are promoted Campion Insurance Second Division League Manus Celtic A 0 Kilkishen Celtic 4 Suttons Lighting Third Division League Connolly Celtic 2 Ennis Dons 2 - Connolly Celtic are Third Division Champions Shannon Hibs B 1 Cloughleigh Celtic 2 Inch Crusaders 3 Manus Celtic B 1- Inch Crusaders are promoted Maloney Garden Machinery Premier Division Avenue Utd A 3 Bridge Utd A 1 Newmarket Celtic A 2 Shannon Olympic 1 Michael O’Gorman Youths Cup Quarter-Final Shannon Town 5 Tulla Utd B 0 FIXTURES: Saturday 8th August 2020 FAI Youths Cup Semi-Final Sixmilebridge: Bridge Utd v Douglas Hall 2pm T Sheils & Company First Division League Roslevan: Avenue Utd B v Newmarket Celtic B 7pm Pa Gleeson Sunday 9th August 2020 Maloney Garden Machinery Premier Division Lynch Park: Shannon Town A v Avenue Utd A 11am Julian Sandford Lahinch: Sporting Ennistymon v Newmarket Celtic A 11am Trevor White Sixmilebridge: Bridge Utd A v Shannon Hibs A 11am Mark Rellis T Sheils & Company First Division League Lees Road: Ennis Town v Hermitage A 2pm Pa Gleeson Campion Insurance Second Division League Corrib Drive: Shannon Town B v Bunratty Cratloe 2pm Sean Kenneally Liscannor: Moher Celtic B v Coole FC 11am Frankie Coote Monday 10th August 2020 T Sheils & Company First Division League Lahinch: Moher Celtic A v Mountshannon Celtic 7.15pm Michael Rock CSGL Electrical Youths League A Division Corrib Drive: Shannon Town v Tulla Utd A 7pm Paudie Hayes Wednesday 12th August 2020 Maloney Garden Machinery Premier Division Olympic Park: Shannon Olympic v Bridge Utd A 7pm Dylan Shannon Riverside: Shannon Hibs A v Sporting Ennistymon 7pm Pa Gleeson McDonough Park: Newmarket Celtic A v Shannon Town A 7pm Julian Sandford Roslevan: Avenue Utd A v Lifford A 7pm Mark Rellis Campion Insurance Second Division League Kilkishen: Kilkishen Celtic v Rhine Rovers 7pm Thursday 13th August 2020

CAMOGIE

FIXTURES Sat 08th Aug Senior Championship Cratloe GAA: Truagh Clonlara v Sixmilebridge, 5pm Referee: Fergal O’Brien Clooney GAA: Scariff Ogonnelloe v Inagh Kilnamona, 5.30pm Referee: Kevin Walsh Shannon Camogie: Kilkishen/Bodyke v Newmarket on Fergus, 5.30pm Referee: Aaron Hogg Fr McNamara Camogie: St Josephs v Kilmaley, 6.45pm Referee: Ger Hoey Intermediate Championship Eire Og GAA: Eire Og v Clooney Quin, 7.15pm Whitegate v Feakle/Killanena Tulla v Clarecastle/Ballyea Sun 09th August Junior A Championship Corofin v Broadford Ruan v Inagh Kilnamona Junior B Championship Parteen v Kilkee/Bealaha Scariff Ogonnelloe v Whitegate Eire Og v Sixmilebridge Banner v Truagh Clonlara Wed 12th August U16A Championship Truagh Clonlara v Sixmilebridge Inagh Kilnamona v Kilkishen/Bodyke U16B Ballyea v Kilmaley Broadford/Parteen v Clooney Quin St Josephs v Eire Og Newmarket on Fergus v Ruan U16C Feakle/Killanena v Wolfe Tones Cratloe v Clarecastle Corofin v Whitegate

LADIES FOOTBALL

Monday August 10th: Senior Championship Round 1 Doora Barefield v Kilmihil in Gurteen at 7:30pm. Referee: Barry Kelly Cúil Gaels v West Clare Gaels in Coolmeen at 7:30pm.

Referee: Michael Talty Intermediate Championship Round 1 Doonbeg v St Josephs Miltown in Doonbeg at 7:30pm.

Referee: Fergal Culleton Liscannor v Fergus Rovers in Moher Pitch at 8pm.

Referee: J McDonagh Kilmurry Ibrickane v Éire Óg in Quilty. Time/ref TBC

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Campion Insurance Second Division League Bunratty Cratloe v Manus Celtic A 7pm Sean Kenneally Shannon Town B v Bridge Utd B 7pm Pa Gleeson

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Fit Kildysart impress as Clare IFC kicks off SEAMUS HAYES INTERMEDIATE FOOTBALL ROUNDUP

KILDYSART’S superior fitness proved decisive as they eeked out a one point win over Corofin in what was a most entertaining intermediate football championship first round game at Cusack Park on Friday evening.

When the draw was made this was billed as the tie of the round and it lived up to that billing on a day when the sides were level on six occasions.

The teams had exchanged points four times in the opening twenty seven minutes.

Corofin finished the half strongly with three unanswered points to lead at the break on a score of 0-7 to 0-4. They struck for the first two points of the second half to go five clear and things looked good for them.

The introduction of veterans Ger Kelly and Neil O’Connor five minutes into the new half played a huge part in Kildysart taking control.

Between them Kelly and O’Connor landed five points and as the game reached the end of the third quarter the sides were level at 0-9 each.

Robin Mounsey and Kelly swapped points before Kelly and O’Connor landed a brace which sent their side on the road to victory.

Kildysart, beaten finalists for the past two years, had two great goal chances in the opening half but neither were converted while Corofin, relegated from senior last season, also had one in the second half which they failed to capitalise on. It finished 0-13 0-12 in favour of Kildysart.

Shannon Gaels got off to a great start with a Niall Ellis goal in the opening minute and they went on to score a comfortable win over Liscannor. Ellis also scored the team’s second goal in their 2-12 to 0-6 victory while Barry Crehan, making his championship de-

but with the Gaels following his transfer from Kildysart chipped in with six points.

Micheál Duffy was the goalscorer in Kilfenora’s 1-9 to 0-5 victory over Éire Óg at Corofin. The winners led from the outset and deserved their victory over the Ennis club’s second string who are managed by Billy Woods.

Extra time was required when St. Josephs Doora/Barefield faced Naomh Eoin at Cooraclare. Conor Magner had an early goal for the team from the west but a like score from Cathal Duggan left the sides level at 1-5 each at half time.

Leo Duggan goaled for Doora/Barefield early in the second half but Naomh Eoin fought back and levelled helped by a goal from Owen Lynch. At the end of normal time it was 2-11 each.

Heading towards the final whistle the Westerners were three points clear but St Josephs hit three in a row to force extra time where they had the upperhand. They sealed victory with their third goal which came from Kieran Thynne in the second period of extra time.

David O’Brien played a key role in the Parish’s victory O’Currys put in a strong second half to seal a five point win over Coolmeen in this first round tie played at Doonbeg. Coolmeen had the better of the first half exchanges and led by two points, 0-7 to 0-5, at half time. As the second half wore on O’Currys got a grip on the tie and the crucial score came ten minutes from time when Thomas Clancy converted from the penalty spot for the game’s only goal. Clancy was the game’s top scorer with 1-7 to his credit.

In the last of the first round ties, 2019 Junior A champions Michael Cusacks accounted for a fancied Wolfe Tones at Corofin on Sunday.

A strong start which saw them go 0-7 to 0-0 clear laid the foundation for this victory for the Carron outfit. Discipline was a factor with the Shannon men losing Chris Dunning to a red card while they finished the encounter with 13 men as another player was in the sin bin.

(above) John Murtagh of Kildysart gives chase to Corofin’s Diarmuid Cahill; (right) Jack O’Dea of Kilfenora holds off Éire Óg’s Darren O’Brien Burren Eye Photography

Cracking ties on cards in 2nd round of Clare SFC and IFC

R

EIGNING county champions St Josephs Miltown will have to overcome Doonbeg in a repeat of last year’s semi-final if they are to hold onto the Jack Daly.

Neighbours Ennistymon and St Breckans will do battle in the winners section with the victor advancing to the Clare SFC semi-finals while last year’s beaten finalists face off with Éire Óg in a quarter-final. The remaining quarter-final sees Lissycasey and Kilmihil, both sides are on a high after recording round one victories. Teams that lose out will be eliminated from the championship.

There’s a repeat clash of last year’s semi-final where St Josephs Miltown put their crown on the line against Doonbeg. Colm

Collins’ Cratloe have been drawn against Clondegad while the final pairing sees Kilrush Shamrocks meet Cooraclare. Only one team from this six will complete the makeup of this year’s Clare SFC semi-finals.

Corofin will be fancied to secure a semi-final spot in the Clare IFC. Defeated on Friday

by Kildysart, Colm Clancy’s side will meet Liscannor in the losers section of round two, the three successful teams in this section will face in a three way play-off for the final semi-final spot.

Teams from the winning section that can record back to back wins will advance to the semi-finals.

CLARE SENIOR FOOTBALL C’SHIP ROUND TWO: Winners Group: Lissycasey v Kilmihil Ennistymon v St Breckans Éire Óg v Kilmurry Ibrickane Losers Group: St Josephs Miltown v Doonbeg Kilrush Shamrocks v Cooraclare Cratloe v Clondegad

CLARE INTERMEDIATE FOOTBALL C’SHIP ROUND TWO: Winners Group St Josephs Doora/Barefield v Michael Cusacks Kilfenora v Shannon Gaels O’Currys v Kildysart

Losers Group Naomh Eoin v Éire Óg Wolfe Tones v Coolmeen Corofin v Liscannor

JUNIOR A FOOTBALL C’SHIP ROUND TWO: Losers Group A: Cratloe v St Senan’s Kilkee B: Cooraclare v St Josephs Miltown Malbay C: Doonbeg v Meelick Winners Group Kilmurry Ibrickane v Lissycasey Clooney/Quin v Ennistymon Clondegad v The Banner Killimer v Ballyvaughan

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Clare Senior Hurling Championship Round 2 preview Ballyea in action against Crusheen in the first round

EOIN BRENNAN

Photo by Gerry O’Neill

A

CTION steps up a gear in the Clare SHC with the second round representing a do or die knockout clash for all senior sides, Eoin Brennan previews what we can expect.

Inagh-Kilnamona v Newmarket-on-Fergus @ Cusack Park Ennis, Friday 6.45pm It isn’t simply about remaining in the race of the Canon Hamilton but equally a pivotal barometer of where both Inagh-Kilnamona and Newmarket-on-Fergus currently lie in their development paths.

Their last meeting at the same juncture two years was also do-or-die. So when Inagh-Kilnamona eased 11 points clear in the opening half before completing a 3-17 to 0-17 win with goals through goalkeeper Patrick Kelly, David Mescall and substitute Gerry Coote, it seemed to confirm a changing of the guard in their respective positions. After all, Newmarket’s golden generation, which had contested four county finals in eight seasons from 200613 including that long-awaited 31 year breakthrough in 2012, suddenly found themselves in the relegation play-offs for the second time in three years.

They did avoid any further slippage against Whitegate and even ended the season with silverware after annexing the Clare Cup against Kilmaley having sucker-punched Inagh-Kilnamona with a late Colin Guilfoyle goal in the semi-final. However, the fact remains that they have only won one of their last six senior championship matches.

Inagh-Kilnamona’s graph meanwhile has been on a continuous upward curve. Despite being edged out by eventual champions Ballyea at the last eight hurdle following that victory over Newmarket in 2018, they would make a considerable leap forward last season. Fergal Hegarty’s side not only contested a semi-final but there’s also that sizeable motivational factor that they should have advanced to a first county final after letting Sixmilebridge off the hook down the final straight.

However, a rousing nine point opening victory over Clooney-Quin a fortnight ago has only bolstered Inagh-Kilnamona’s belief once more albeit they will still be wary of a Newmarket side that could have easily come out on top in their opener with Clonlara.

Their brush with danger in 2018 did also spur the Blues to look towards replenishing their squad, a process that has been accelerated for this year’s campaign following a double Under 21B Final appearance and a Minor B

success in 2019.

Inagh-Kilnamona are further down that road, having garnered Under 21A titles in 2016 and ’18 along with a Minor A crown in ’17.

They haven’t been fully tested yet however as their opening round tie was effectively over by halftime when they led Clooney-Quin by 2-10 to 0-06, thanks in the main to 1-5 from county senior Aidan McCarthy.That litmus test will come tomorrow evening from a new-look Newmarket that led Clonlara entering the final minutes. But it’s one that they simply need to pass.

Verdict: Inagh-Kilnamona Wolfe Tones v Kilmaley @ Cusack Park Ennis, Saturday 1pm Two big clubs that are yet to fully see the blossoming of their young blood, in the senior championship at least. Wolfe Tones’ last heralded team led by Aron Shanagher, stormed through the underage ranks to complete an Under 14A hurling and football double in 2011 and held off Kilmaley by four points in subsequent semi-finals at Under 16 (2013 where they beat Clarecastle in the final) and Minor (2015, lost final to Broadford/Smith O’Brien’s).

However, by the time Wolfe Tones and Kilmaley met in the Under 21A Quarter-Final equivalent in 2018, the tide had turned in the latter’s favour as the blue half romped to a 2-20 to 2-03 victory.

In truth, Kilmaley’s relentless underage success highlighted by Minor titles in 2012 and ’14 along with Under 21A breakthroughs in 2015 and ’19 mean they are better

placed to end their senior famine that stretches back to 2004. A first Clare Cup in 18 years just before last year’s Canon Hamilton race didn’t prove the final piece of the jigsaw as they suffered defeats to Éire Óg and Cratloe amidst three championship outings. And they would fall again to Cratloe two weeks ago in what was their third successive reverse to the same opponents in as many campaigns.

Nothing but victory will suffice if Kilmaley are to make good on their promise but are facing a Wolfe Tones side brimming with confidence after a 15 point blitz over Clarecastle.

County senior Aaron Cunningham was back on board, Aron Shanagher proved in unstoppable form both as an aerial magnet and scorer with 2-9 last time out while Rory Hayes pulled the strings in the centre. So that triumvirate’s potency along with a vastly experienced core of captain Jamie Roughan, Barry Loughnane and Gary and Daithi O’Connell who are their sole links to the Tones' last championship win in 2006 will provide a wall of resistance that won’t easily be bypassed.

That said, it’s now make-orbreak for Kilmaley who to their credit, did rally superbly against Cratloe last time out after a stuttering start led by Mikey O’Malley’s 1-7 haul. The concession of 2-6 without reply in that first half was their ultimate undoing so if they can avoid any repeat and curb Shanagher and Cunningham, Kilmaley should be able to get their title ambitions back on track.

Verdict: Kilmaley

Feakle v Clarecastle @ Cusack Park Ennis, Saturday 3.45pm The most obvious reference point is of course their 1987 County Final meeting that saw the Magpies retain their senior title by 0-15 to 0-11. However, considering that was 33 years ago, outside of the interesting fact that both managers Rodgie McMahon (Clarecastle) and Michael Guilfoyle (Feakle) lined out in that final as did Feakle mentor John Tuohy and the fathers of Clarecastle selectors Brian Russell (Paschal) and Alan O'Loughlin (Victor), it's merely a historical footnote.

Instead, with the vast majority of players not even born in 1987, the current panels will reflect upon a much more recent decider, albeit at the opposite end of the senior championship when Feakle and Clarecastle met in the relegation decider in 2017.

It was Clarecastle's second such occasion in three seasons while for Feakle, who had only re-established themselves at senior since 2014, and actually won an Under 21A title in 2017 in cooperation with neighbours Killanena, it was a thoroughly unwanted position that ultimately weighed heavily upon their shoulders.

The Magpies, who were looking to protect an 86 year senior status, duly circled the wagons to produce a razor sharp performance that sent a shell-shocked Feakle down to intermediate level once more by 1-21 to 0-11.

Much like in 1988 when bouncing back from a final defeat to win the senior crown 12 months later,

2018 would prove another famous year as Feakle not only claimed the county intermediate honours at the first attempt but would come agonisingly close to adding Munster honours too.

The irony of this Saturday's rematch though is that while 16 of the 18 players that contested that relegation decider also played their part in Feakle's battling 0-21 to 0-16 opening victory over Whitegate two weeks ago, the 2017 encounter will be of little reference to Clarecastle.

The Magpies may have opted for experience then but are now committed to assimilating a new generation of Magpies. Indeed, of the 17 players that faced Wolfe Tones in Round 1, only five (Jonathan Clancy, Stephen O'Halloran, Killian McDermott, Marc McAuliffe and substitute Stephen Ward) remain from the 20 that consolidated Clarecastle's senior status three years previously. In fact, 50 per cent of that 2017 panel are not even part of this year's transitional revolt in the fishing village.

With no threat of relegation, it was a necessary leap to assimilate the Minor A Finalists of three of the past four years into their flagship side. And while such a mass inexperienced turnover left the Magpies exposed to being punished by Wolfe Tones two weeks ago by 4-19 to 0-16, it came with the caveat that their experienced inter-county core of Bobby Duggan, Patrick Kelly and Stephen Ward (from a starting berth) are yet to come back if their injuries clear up in time.

Feakle's more consistency of personnel, led by the attacking triumvirate of Shane McGrath, Oisin Donnellan and Gary Guilfoyle, means that they will be favourites to maintain their perfect championship start and return to the quarter-finals for the second successive year. However, while Colin Nelson's return is a big boost to their squad, Con Smyth appears to be out for the remainder of the campaign with an achilles injury so their threadbare senior panel cannot afford any further absentees.

Verdict: Feakle Sixmilebridge v Whitegate @ Cusack Park Ennis, Saturday 6.45pm You’d actually have to go back to when respective mentors Davy Fitzgerald (Sixmilebridge), Terence Fahy and Patrick Minogue (Whitegate) were players themselves to find the last senior championship clash between Sixmilebridge and Whitegate.

They weren’t to know it at the time but 2002 would be the ‘Bridge’s final title surge for 11 years until their revamped underage structure churned out a consistent conveyor belt of exciting new talent in the last decade.

After contesting the 2011 decider, Sixmilebridge would go on to become the team of the decade

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with biennial triumphs in 2013, ’15, ’17 and of course last October when garnering a remarkable fourth crown in seven seasons.

Each one was sweet as they lowered a succession of neighbours’ colours as Newmarket-on-Fergus, Clonlara, Clooney-Quin and Cratloe couldn’t break that two year sequence.

Whitegate will pose an unknown factor though, just as they did in that 2002 Quarter-Final when coming in under the radar of a rather underwhelming Senior B campaign that included a win over Broadford, a loss to Clonlara and a character-filled draw with Bodyke to squeeze through.

However, when needed most, Whitegate duly rose their challenge considerably to ambush the ‘Bridge in Cusack Park at the last eight stage. Granted, the eventual champions would have to play for almost 50 minutes with only 14 men after the early dismissal of Niall Gilligan. However, it was Whitegate who led by 0-7 to 0-6 by the break and even bounced back from the concession of an early goal on the restart to immediately grab one of their own through Minogue and snatch back the advantage.

Ultimately, they were unable to sustain that challenge as the ‘Bridge eventually ran out 2-11 to 1-08 victors, thanks to 2-8 from John Chaplin. Fast forward 18 years however and those traits are still ingrained in both clubs’ DNA. Yes, their priority lists are totally contrasting as each year, the ‘Bridge look to add to their already bulging cabinet whereas it’s firmly survival mode for Whitegate. But with the trapdoor removed this year, Whitegate can throw everything at this game and save their big backs-to-the-wall performance for the champions albeit that injuries to key players Colm Madden and Paul Burke will be a major cause for concern.

That said, Sixmilebridge’s consistent ability to grind out results is admirable, as witnessed against Éire Óg, Inagh-Kilnamona and Cratloe in last year’s run-in while doing likewise against the Townies again two weeks ago.

They will only improve and will need to if they are to avoid an unwanted dogfight here., just as they did in the 2015 Clare Cup Semi-Final between the pair.

Verdict: Sixmilebridge Cratloe v Éire Óg @ Shannon, Sunday 12pm It's essentially about redressing the balance for Cratloe and Éire Óg this Sunday in a rare meeting in Shannon. For Cratloe, backto-back county decider defeats to Ballyea and Sixmilebridge will have left an indelible imprint on the tenth anniversary of their historic 2009 breakthrough as despite further final appearances in 2010, '12, '14, '18 and '19, realistically they should have more than the remarkable double win in 2014 to show for their hurling endeavours since.

With the age profile and mileage inexorably mounting, Cratloe will

be more determined than ever to take advantage of the unusual lead-in that has avoided any taxing ground work or fatigue. That freshness was required to eventually hold off Kilmaley in what was a perfectly timed validation of their title credentials a fortnight ago.

For Éíre Óg, getting over their quarter-final hoodoo that now stands at five successive last eight defeats in six years will be a luxury to plan for as it means first being able to avenge their regretful record against Cratloe.

After all, their first two quarter-final attempts both came against the then Joe McGrath managed Cratloe in 2014 and '16, with the Townies somehow incapable of putting their opponents to the sword on either occasion despite having all the momentum.

In 2014, a young, raw Townie side finally graduated from Senior B to hit Cratloe with everything in their armoury and certainly didn’t merit the eight point final margin that eventually befell them. Five points clear approaching the break, Éire Óg had rattled their opponents but couldn't inflict the killer blows as instead they finished with 14 men and were overtaken by a Conor McGrath led revival (with 1-9 to his name) at 2-21 to 2-13. Two years on and if anything, Éire Óg's unwanted forgiving nature was worse as despite bounding back into contention with a Shane O'Donnell goal to kickstart a six point turnaround, having been four in arrears at halftime, the Ennis side still couldn't put a warweary Cratloe away.

Incredulously Éire Óg passed up 2-7 in that final quarter and would be duly punished as Cratloe never panicked and managed to rally with six of the last seven points to take a rousing 0-18 to 1-12 win on their way to a sixth semi-final in eight seasons.

So what of the 2020 version?

Injuries could be crucial in how this heavyweight clash is decided as Éire Óg sorely missed the services of David Reidy, Aaron Fitzgerald and Dara Walsh against holders Sixmilebridge whereas Cratloe were minus Cathal McInerney, Oige Murphy, Billy Connors and subsequently Enda Boyce for their opening win over Kilmaley.

Reidy’s expected return would be a huge jolt for the Townies but they require vast improvement up front to match Cratloe’s potency.

Verdict: Cratloe Clonlara v Broadford @ Cusack Park Ennis, Sunday 12pm It wasn’t championship but last year’s rare derby in the Clare Cup Quarter-Finals certainly possessed an intensity not normally reserved for the county’s secondary competition.

Broadford, on the road back to Division 1A, would garner the notable scalp of their neighbours Clonlara by 3-21 to 1-22 in O’Garney Park to advance to the last four. And aside from the obvious individual brilliance of Shane Taylor who accounted for 3-9 of that tally, it just seemed to mean more to the then intermediate side.

12 months on and their rivalry will undoubtedly be upped another few notches as everything is on the line to maintain their respective senior challenges. For Broadford, it’s another free shot as having finally regained their senior status at the fifth attempt, the removal of any trapdoor back to intermediate level makes them a dangerous opponent for Clonlara to negotiate. With Clare senior Captain John Conlon already ruled out through injury for 2020, the expected return of club captain Cathal ‘Tots’ O’Connell will be a major boost to Clonlara’s attacking unit that aside from Micheål O’Loughlin’s free-taking heroics was rather inexperienced against Newmarket in Round 1.

Clonlara did prevail but O’Connell’s return could be lessened by an injury concern to their second county man Colm Galvin who had been embroiled in the duel of the game against Colin Guilfoyle in the opening period last time out.

Diverging development paths will also provide an additional motivational tool for Broadford who will be eager to make up for lost time, having enviously looked on at the neighbours’ seamless leap to the top table at senior level in the noughties, starting with that breakthrough Canon Hamilton success in 2008.

That may seem too long ago to be relevant but let’s not forget that the last time these sides would have clashed at championship level came in a royal rumble, quite literally, for intermediate honours in 2007.

Broadford won the opening round tie in Shannon by 2-12 to 1-12, with an all-out war greeting the final whistle which ensured that the semi-final would be hosted in Cusack Park, a tie that Clonlara edged 3-11 to 2-10 on their way to county and provincial honours.

12 months later, Broadford themselves garnered the intermediate crown but couldn’t emulate their neighbours feat of accumulating Munster silverware as Blarney beat them in the decider.

Meanwhile, Clonlara’s meteoric rise saw them soar to a first senior title in 89 years, and while similar success has eluded them since despite three more final appearances, Clon have consistently reaffirmed their status as one of the top four sides in the county.

Broadford meanwhile eventually succumbed to the drop in 2014 but having paid their dues, will never get a better chance to make an impact back in the top tier as the pressure is all on Clonlara.

There are cousins on either side and Clonlara’s Jimmy Browne is the new manager of Broadford so all the ingredients are there for what could be the tie of the round.

If Colm Galvin joins fellow AllStar John Conlon on the sidelines, this derby is ripe for an upset as having being forced to turn their jerseys inside-out against the Mills, the Broadford colours will be front and centre for the ultimate high noon derby showdown.

Verdict: Broadford

O'Callaghan's Mills v Crusheen @ Cusack Park Ennis, Sunday 2.45pm A 50/50 pairing was the consensus when the draw was made and nothing has suggested otherwise since as they appear familiar foes. However, ask any Fireball or Crusheen man about their last championship meeting and they’re left scratching their heads as outside of regular clashes in the Clare Cup, you’d have to go back to 2006 to find a senior bout (Crusheen 2-10 O'Callaghan's Mills 0-11) involving this pair.

Granted, they did produce one of the more memorable Senior B Finals in 2009 when it had to take two outings to separate the sides.

The inclement conditions didn’t help as a prestigious Cusack Park finale was deferred to nearby Clarecastle at the eleventh hour. A dramatic finish in which Crusheen hit four unanswered point to inch ahead at the death looked to be decisive, only for Adrian Flaherty to punish a misplaced pass and earn a replay at 0-11 to 0-11.

Now in mid-Novermber, the replay back in Clarecastle was equally as unpredictable as the Mills raced into a 0-6 to 0-2 advantage, only to be hit by a late Paddy O’Grady goal that slashed the half-time deficit to just the minimum. The lead would subsequent change hands on five more occasions before a late brace of Joe Meaney points finally cemented the honours for Crusheen by 1-09 to 0-11. However, the significance of that victory would only become apparent in the following years as Crusheen would garner back-toback Senior A equivalents, the first two Canon Hamilton triumphs for the club. The Mills meanwhile were also consistent business end merchants but found Sixmilebridge and Clonlara in particular difficult obstacles to clamber over before finally reaching the penultimate stage in 2018.

Last year’s brush with relegation has forced an inevitable response for 2020 as they managed to keep neighbours Broadford at bay last time out. However, they are now facing a Crusheen side that made the last four themselves in 2019, backed by a new crop of talent that have freshened up a vastly experienced defence.

Indeed, six of the seven backs that played in that Senior B Final replay with the Mills are still in situe 11 years later (Donal Tuohy, Alan and John Brigdale, Cathal and Cian Dillon and Ciaran O’Doherty). Add in Ross Hayes, Conor O’Donnell, Jamie Fitzgibbon, Breffni Horner, Paddy Vaughan and Eanna O’Brien and Crusheen have plenty in their armoury to trouble the Mills, having rather got bogged down by tactics against Ballyea. The Mills through Conor Cooney, Patrick and Bryan Donnellan, Jacob Loughnane, Ciaran and Gary Cooney and Colin Crehan are equally as proficient.

But while they do have the added boost of a win under their belts, Donach O’Donnell’s men will earn it to prevail.

Verdict: Crusheen

Ballyea v Clooney-Quin @ O'Garney Park Sixmilebridge, Sunday 5pm This is a third championship clash in the space of five years and so far while Clooney-Quin have pushed them to their optimum, crucially Ballyea have emerged victorious on both previous occasions.

Indeed, it could be easily argued that outside of the final series itself with two compelling outings with Clonlara, Ballyea’s biggest test on their way to a historic first county senior crown in 2016 came at the hands of Clooney-Quin in Round 3.

Three sucker-punch goals would have been sufficient to floor most sides but Ballyea managed to roll with the punches of even saving a penalty before inflicting the knock-out blow themselves at the death, inevitably through Tony Kelly to prevail by the minimum at 0-18 to 3-08.

The rest is history as a relieved Ballyea would never look back on their way to county and provincial honours before finally being halted at the ultimate hurdle in Croke Park the following March.

However, Ballyea’s unprecedented breakthrough would also inadvertently inspire Clooney-Quin too as realising that they had the measure of the All-Ireland Club finalists, they went on their own rollercoaster run 12 months later.

And in truth, they should have emulated Ballyea’s feat in the county final against Sixmilebridge, only to be lowered in the replay.

Last year’s joust between the pair was even more tantalising as following their second Canon Hamilton success, Ballyea were faced with even greater adversity in their first title defence. A Peter Duggan brace of goals entering the second period catapulted Clooney-Quin seven clear, only for the same player to actually have to force extra-time after a composed Ballyea backlash.

Goals through the ever-reliable duo of Tony Kelly and Niall Deasy finally completed a 14 point turnaround by the end of an unmissable 80 minute showdown at 3-23 to 2-19.

Kelly and Deasy’s heroics were surpassed by fellow county man Peter Duggan who remarkably scored all but five points of Clooney-Quin’s total that day.

Without the 2018 All-Star’s firepower for 2020, Clooney-Quin had hoped that others would have stepped up to the mark. But while they did rally in the second period, a very poor start saw the 2017 finalists really underwhelm in their first evaluation against Inagh-Kilnamona.

A backlash is inevitable but they would have preferred any other draw than to face perennial title contenders Ballyea once more.

After all, with no inter-county distractions, the Bally boys full focus will be on wrestling back the Canon for the third time in five seasons and will unquestionably prove equally as ruthless and efficient as Inagh-Kilnamona.

Verdict: Ballyea

06-08-20

Clare Echo THE

pg26

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

O’Dea added to Bridge Utd bow out of Galway Utd first Munster Youths Cup team squad PÁRAIC MCMAHON

paraic@clareecho.ie

Ballingarry AFC 1 Bridge Utd 0 Venue: Ballingarry BRIDGE Utd have been defeated in their efforts to qualify for a Munster Youths Cup Final.

Convincing victories over Newmarket Celtic and Ennis Town followed up by a 5-3 away win to Caherdavin and penalty shootout victory against Charleville saw Bridge Utd reach the last four in Munster but a strike on four minutes ended their involvement in the competition despite a brave showing.

MULLAGH’S Caoilfhionn O’Dea has been added to Galway United’s first team squad.

Now in his third year at the club, Caoilfhionn has impressed at U17 and U19 level. The central midfielder who also lines out as a right winger had been one of the most consistent players for Galway Utd’s academy sides.

He joined from Newmarket Celtic and immediately blended into Alan Murphy’s U17 outfit. With Murphy now over the first team, he has added O’Dea and Francely Lomboto to the

first team on the back of their displays in the academy.

Caoilfhionn was a member of the Kilmurry Ibrickane senior football panel last year but had to depart the squad at the latter end of the championship due to his Galway commitments.

O’Dea’s addition now means there are four Clare men in Galway Utd’s first team squad. He joins Shannon’s Jack Lynch and Ennis duo Joe Collins and Maurice Nugent. Prior to the 2019 season, Nugent was named Vice Captain by Murphy.

A strong early move from Bridge Utd proved to launch the counter-attack that would ultimately end up with the decisive goal that proved to be the difference between the teams.

Goalkeeper Jack Molloy pulled off a brilliant save to deny Conor Maxwell scoring from a header. Molloy then began the counter-attack that saw Mike Molloy receive the ball on the left wing, he was sharp enough to spot Will Fitzpatrick was slightly off his line, he then floated his shot over the Bridge goalkeeper with a fantastic finish.

Dean Clancy’s Ballingarry then developed a very solid defensive approach anchored

by Ciaran Tagney and Kieran Storin who were quick to close down any attack from the Sixmilebridge team.

Evan O’Callaghan came close

to getting an equaliser on nineteen minutes, his well-worked volley narrowly sailed over Molloy’s cross bar.

Ballingarry would have doubled their lead on were it not for a superb block by Storm Devanney to prevent what looked like a certain goal from Adam Hickey late on in the contest.

Having brought great pride to Bridge Utd following their exploits in the provincial competition, the Kyle Walker captained outfit have little time to lick their wounds and welcome Douglas Hall to Clare on Saturday in the FAI Youths Cup semi-final.

Bridge Utd: Will Fitzpatrick, Leon Kelly, Liam Buckley, Storm Devanney, Luke Shea, Thabiso Dube, Scott Kirkland, Kyle Walker, Evan O’Callaghan, Leon Daly, Conor Maxwell

Ennis Town secure return to top flight ENNIS Town have secured their promotion to the top tier of the Clare District Soccer League.

Following Newmarket Celtic B’s 8-0 victory over Mountshannon Celtic on Sunday it guaranteed Ennis Town’s return to the Maloney Garden Machinery Premier Division.

Avenue Utd B have already been declared as winners of the T Sheils & Company First Division League, with Newmarket Celtic B in second place and current rulings preventing a club’s second team from promotion to the Premier Division, Ennis Town FC have benefited and will take their place next season.

Declan Cassidy’s side currently have 11 wins from 17 league games, they sit twelve and eight points behind Avenue Utd B and Newmarket Celtic B respectively. Relegated from the Premier Division in 2017, Ennis Town were crowned Premier League champions in 2004 for the fist and only time in their history.

Impressively since the return to action, a determined Ennis Town have scored four goals in their two encounters. A double from Elias Kunz along with efforts from Ciaran O’Halloran and Kevin Barron saw them record a 4-2 win over Moher Celtic. They followed this up with another 4-2 victory, goals from Kunz (right), Michael Gallagher and two from Evan Kelly saw them defeat Tulla Utd.

Connolly promoted to second division

Ruta from Friary Dental Clinic presents Avenue United B with their new training tops

CONNOLLY Celtic have capped off a memorable season after being crowned champions of the Suttons Lighting Third Division, writes Páraic McMahon.

Having already got their hands on the League Cup, Connolly Celtic have backed it up by becoming winners of the 2019/20 Suttons Lighting Third Division.

Two goals from Brendan Dillon saw them overcome Ennis Dons 2-0 on Sunday to wrap up the league and seal their spot in the Campion Insurance Second Division next season. Their promotion was confirmed in July when they had a 2-1 victory over Cloughleigh Celtic with Eoin Fitzger-

ald and Kevin Tubridy hitting the net on that occasion.

It comes in a year where Connolly Celtic took a major scalp in the Clare Cup. Back in January, goals from Aidan Kennedy x2 and an Eoin Fitzgerald penalty saw Ray Kennedy’s side dump last year’s beaten finalist Newmarket Celtic B out of the competition.

Inch Crusaders have also been celebrating their promotion to the Second Division. They recorded a 3-1 win over Manus Celtic B at the weekend with Tommy Barry scoring twice and a Ronan Grace effort topping off a productive weekend for soccer in Kilmaley.

PROPERTY 27

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PLANNING NOTICES CLARE COUNTY COUNCIL TOLER STREET, KILRUSH, CO. CLARE.

the authority on payment of the prescribed fee of €20.00, within the period of 5 weeks beginning on Take note that Charlie the date of receipt by the & Deirdre Glynn are authority of the application. applying to Clare County CLARE COUNTY Council for planning COUNCIL permission to renovate, DRUMINSHIN, alter and extend an existing dwelling house along DYSERT, CO. CLARE with all associated works Take notice that Brian at the above address. The Foudy & Associates – planning application may Architects & Chartered be inspected, or purchased Engineers of Osprey House, at a fee not exceeding the Carmody Street, Ennis, Co. reasonable cost of making Clare 6893565 www. a copy at the offices of 065 Clare County Council foudyconsulting.ie. during its public opening Intend to apply to the hours and a submission planning authority on or observation in relation behalf of Brian Cullinan to the application may be & Orla Keating for made to the authority in permission to alter and writing on payment of the extend existing dwelling prescribed fee within the house, upgrade wastewater arrangement period of 5 weeks beginning treatment on the date of receipt by the together with all ancillary authority of the application. site development works and services at the above address.

CLARE COUNTY COUNCIL, ILLAUN, The planning application MILTOWN MALBAY, may be inspected or purchased at a fee not CO. CLARE. exceeding the reasonable Take notice that M. Barry cost of making a copy at intends to apply to the the offices of the planning Planning Authority for authority during its permission to construct a dwelling house, garage and public opening hours. A submission or observation proprietary waste water in relation to the application treatment system along with ancillary site works at may be made in writing to the planning authority on the above address. That payment of the prescribed the planning application fee within the period of may be inspected, or 5 weeks beginning on purchased at a fee not the date of receipt by the exceeding the reasonable authority of the application cost of making a copy, at the offices of the planning CLARE COUNTY authority during its public COUNCIL opening hours and that a RINNAMONA, submission or observation KILNABOY, CO. in relation to the CLARE application may be made to the authority in writing on Take notice that Brian payment of the prescribed Foudy & Associates – Architects & Chartered fee within the period of Engineers of Osprey House, 5 weeks beginning on Carmody Street, Ennis, Co. the date of receipt by the authority of the application Clare 065 6893565 www. foudyconsulting.ie.

CLARE COUNTY Intend to apply to the COUNCIL , planning authority on GLASHAMORE, behalf of Claire Moroney DOOLIN, CO CLARE & Jason O’Connor for Take notice that Noel permission to (a) Construct McDonagh intends to apply a dwelling house and install for permission to build a a new wastewater treatment new dwelling and install system (b) demolish a waste water treatment existing shed, (c) alter system and all associated existing dwelling house to site and ancillary works store / shed together with all at the above address. The ancillary site development planning application may works and services at the be inspected or purchased above address. at a fee not exceeding the The planning application reasonable cost of making may be inspected or a copy, at the offices of the purchased at a fee not planning authority, during exceeding the reasonable its public opening hours. A cost of making a copy at submission or observation the offices of the planning in relation to the application authority during its may be made in writing to 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

30 PUZZLEPAGE

THURSDAY, AUG 6 2020

THIS WEEKS PUZZLES AUG 06

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HOW TO PLAY

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1.Natural satellite (4) 3.Client (8) 9.Simple songs (7) 10.Itinerary (5) 11.Command to a dog (5) 12.Animal Farm author (6) 14.Not liable (6) 16.Obsolete gold coin (6) 19.Idler (6) 21.Trial copy of printed text (5) 24.Hirsute (5) 25.Moorhen (anag) (7) 26.Opposite (8) 27.Small amount of whisky (4)

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QUIZ 31

THURSDAY, AUG 6 2020

The Clare Echo BUNRATTY QUIZ

is allegedly the location of first recorded settlement at 1Bunratty which of the following?

6The Bunratty Castle was... . The last British soldier to die in Clare during the Irish War of Independence . The oldest castle in Ireland . The film set for the movie Brave Heart

. Vikings . Norsemen . The O’Brien family

According to the last CSO, the The fourth Bunratty castle, the 2 population of Bunratty is which of 7 present structure, was built by the following? which family after around 1425? . 101 . 227 . 349

. O’Briens . MacNamaras . Morrisseys

Castle and Folk Park is 3Bunratty owned by...

In 1954 who purchased the castle 8 and restored it with the help of the Tourist Board and Government?

40 years . 400 years . 4000 years

5 .

The name Bunratty Bun na Raite means what in English?

End of the Raite river . Rats crumbs . Hot buns

In 2018, the Armada Table - a res9 ident of Bunratty - was put up for auction by its owner Lord Inchiquin.

ANSWERS

How much did it sell for? . 3,600 . 36,000 . 360,000

famous politician’s ances10Which try is linked to Bunratty Castle? . Donald Trump . Boris Johnson . Vladimir Putin

Spot the Difference Can you spot the difference? Spot the 7 differences.

The answers will be revealed in next weeks edition.

6. Norsemen 7. MacNamaras 8. Viscount Lord Gort 9. €360,000 10. Boris Johnson

How old is Durty Nellies pub in 4 Bunratty this year? .

. Viscount Lord Ennis . Viscount Lord Gort . Viscount Lord Jaffa Cake

1. The last British soldier to die in Clare...

2.349 3. Shannon Heritage 4. 400 years 5. End of the Raite river

. The Government . Shannon Heritage . Clare County Council

Last weeks Answers . Bottom of mic stand missing . Mic different colour . Quotation marks missing on sign . Lines on sleeve of Clare jersey missing . Road sign different colour

. Yellow line on road missing . Dots on sign missing

Pictured are (front) Clodagh Helen, Falconer with “Eiriú” the Red Kite from the Birds of Prey centre, Aillwee Cave and Lorna Cronin, Operations Manager Aillwee Caves and (back) left to right Siobhan King, Project Officer Fáilte Ireland, Diarmuid O’Callaghan, Cheesemaker, Nualla Mulqueeney, Managing Director Aillwee Cave.

Photograph by Eamon Ward