The Clare Echo 10/10/24 by The Clare Echo

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Getting down to business

Minister of State for Business, Employment and Retail, Emer Higgins met with six LEO supported local businesses and Clare County Council members and staff during her visit to Ennis on Monday Pictured (l-r) is Sam Gleeson, Mike O’Dwyer, Padraic McElwee, Head of Enterprise Clare, Minister Emer Higgins, Cathaoirleach Alan O’Callaghan, Sharon Barrington, Maeve Sheridan, Edel Breslin, Michael Considine

Triple nomination for Hotel Woodstock

HOTEL WOODSTOCK has been nominated in three different categories for the Irish Family Awards. Contributions of family businesses to the economy and local communities are acknowledged through the Irish Family Business Awards which are now in their sixth year. Hotel Woodstock in Ennis is in the running for three accolades, hospitality business of the year, best in customer service and the

innovative family business award. Husband and wife, Sean and Elaine Lally (pictured right) are the co-owners of Hotel Woodstock. The duo come from a family business background and believe a family run hotel is very important “as customers want to deal with the owners when booking and they arrive at the hotel for their event”.

Sean said, “The team at Ho-

tel Woodstock are delighted to be recognised and nominated for these three awards and it is a huge boost to the hotel in the run into the busy year end and the Christmas period”.

Winners will be announced on Friday November 8th at the Crowne Plaza in Blanchardstown where the MC for the event will be journalist and broadcaster, Matt Cooper.

Bishop Fintan named Irish delegate for Jubilee Year 2025

by Páraic McMahon news@clareecho.ie

BISHOP of the Killaloe Diocese, Fintan Monahan has been designed as the delegate of the Irish for the Jubilee Year 2025.

A Jubilee or Holy -Year is marked every twenty ﬁve years by the Universal Church as a time of dedicated prayer so as to re-establish a proper relationship with God, with one another, and with all of creation. The theme for Jubilee Year 2025 is ‘Pilgrims of Hope’. A plenary indulgence will be granted following participation in pilgrimages to designated pilgrim sites in the course of the Holy Year.

Bishop Monahan said, “I am delighted to announce that a dedicated countdown timer has now been launched on CatholicBishops.ie to help us look forward to the Holy Year. Many different groups: clergy, religious various ministries and lay apostolates, will celebrate speciﬁc jubilee occasions in Rome and at home throughout 2025. One of the highlights will be a speciﬁc youth pilgrimage to Rome next August, with Pope Francis celebrating Mass. Already individual dioceses are making concrete plans to attend”.

He explained, “The Holy Year will begin on this Christmas Eve, 24 December, with the opening of the Holy Door of Saint Peter’s Basilica, Rome.

To echo the theme of Holy Year, Pope

Francis is calling on all Catholics to renew in the hope of Christ, using Saint Paul the Apostle as a guide for this special year. Each diocesan bishop will celebrate Mass on Sunday, 29 December, to mark the solemn opening of the Holy Year. Similarly, at national and local level for the Irish Synodal Pathway, the theme of ‘Hope’ will be central to many of the meetings and prayerful discernment leading towards a national assembly in 2026”.

A native of Tullamore, Fintan was ordained the Bishop of Killaloe in September 2016. Between 1993 and 2006 he taught science, mathematics, Irish and religion at Saint Jarlath’s College, Tuam, while also coaching basketball and hurling.

IN SPORT

Reports on Clare SHC semi-ﬁnals

Photo by Eamon Ward

Mother made daughter write out ‘grossly inappropriate’ false sexual allegations against her father, court hears

by Gordon Deegan news@clareecho.ie

A MOTHER made her daughter write out “terribly elaborate and grossly inappropriate sexual allegations in a diary” against her father, a court has heard.

At the Family Law Court, a TUSLA social care worker told Judge Alec Gabbett that the girl admitted to Garda specialist interviewers in July of this year that she had fabricated the sex abuse allegations against her father.

The TUSLA social care worker told the court at the Garda interview, the girl stated that she fabricated the allegations against her father “because her mother asked her to say such things otherwise she would get into trouble”.

The social care worker told the court that the girl had made this disclosure to herself before the Gardai specialist interview where she repeated that the allegations were fabricated.

The TUSLA worker replied ‘yes’ when Judge Gabbett asked her “do you think the entire thing is contrived based on your clinical opinion?”

The TUSLA social care worker

said Gardai have closed the file and the girl is happy and safe living with her father.

The parents of the girl are estranged and in court Judge Gabbett made an order awarding sole custody of the girl to the father.

The parents contested custody of the girl at a court hearing earlier this year and Judge Gabbett said that he was making the custody order in favour of the father after hearing the new TUSLA evidence.

Judge Gabbett said that he was

making the order on the basis that at a Garda specialist interview the girl said that she fabricated the allegations against her father because her mother asked her to stay such things otherwise she would get into trouble.

The judge said: “At Garda interview she has admitted on video that it is all made up.”

Judge Gabbett stated that TUSLA regard the treatment of mother against daughter concerning the false sex abuse allegations as intentional emotional abuse where the mother “made her write out terribly elaborate and grossly inappropriate sexual allegations in a diary”.

Judge Gabbett said that TUSLA has concluded that it is “very happy with the child in Dad’s care and that she is very safe in his care”.

Judge Gabbett said that the mother in the case was not able to come to court due to medical reasons - the father was in court and legally represented by solicitor, Pamela Clancy.

Judge Gabbett said that he was previously in a position to make a ruling on custody after hearing evidence from mother and father but had not done so due to the unavailability of the mother but in light of

the new evidence, he said that the case had to be moved on.

The TUSLA social worker said that mother made severe allegations of sexual abuse against father in May of this year concerning their daughter.

The social worker stated that “mother presented a diary of over 40 records of physical abuse, most of them sexual abuse, very graphic sexual abuse outlining different sexual practices that could never have come from a child”.

She said: “This was our major worry actually - who has produced these allegations and who could have written them down?”

The TUSLA social worker said that TUSLA assessment changed from allegations of sexual abuse by the father to emotional abuse by the mother. The social worker says that since making the severe allegations against Dad, mother is not contactable.

The TUSLA worker said that mother has made no effort to see her daughter in recent months or has not availed of any access.

The social care worker said that she told the mother that her child “is suffering and she wants to see

Cost to sort flooding in Ballycar now in region

by Páraic McMahon news@clareecho.ie

FLOODING in Ballycar

“has been the bane of our life”, the top official in Iarnród Éireann has remarked.

This March was the first time in four years that the Limerick to Ennis rail line was forced to close due to flooding in Ballycar, Newmarket-on-Fergus but the problem winds all the way back to 1826.

A report compiled by RPS Consulting estimated that the flooding problems in Ballycar would cost €16m to solve. This was undertaken for Iarnród Éireann

and stakeholder representatives from Clare County Council, the Office of Public Works (OPW), the Geological Survey Ireland (GSI) and the National Parks & Wildlife Services (NPWS). This study recommends a new preferred option of a technically viable drainage scheme that would (prevent flooding of the railway occurring whilst also including any flood mitigation measures downstream that would be necessary either directly or indirectly with this option.

Addressing an Ennis Chamber breakfast briefing, CEO of Iarnród Éireann

Jim Meade stated, “Ballycar flooding is one of the issues that has been the bane in our life, whoever decided to build a rail link through a lake in the 1800s needs to be questioned. We have the project done and we know what the solution was, we are recosting it and updating the numbers, we need to get the funding signed off, it is a two or three year project to deliver, we can’t close it for eight or nine weeks a year, we need to solve the funding”.

Clare TD, Violet Anne Wynne (IND) questioned if up to date costings had

been produced. “A number of years ago it was €16m so we’re into the mid-twenties now. The plan is still the plan,” Meade replied.

During his time as a Clare TD, Michael Harty in December 2019 at a community forum event in Newmarket-on-Fergus commented, “Ballycar flooding is a huge issue. There is a turf war between the OPW and Iarnród Éireann, there is an active process in place because it is part of the Western Railway Corridor”.

When questioned by The Clare Echo if there was a turf war ongoing, Meade stated,

you and she wants to talk to you”.

The social worker said that the mother “has abandoned her child”.

The TUSLA worker said that TUSLA regard the case closed concerning the father - the court was told that the father is doing “a brilliant job”.

Judge Gabbett said that arising from the false allegations made, the daughter was subject to a Sexual Assault Treatment Unit (SATU) examination which he said are intrusive by their very nature and in this case “un-uncessary”.

Judge Gabbett said that a multi disciplinary team made up of TUSLA, Garda and SATU and CARI representatives has recommended that the girl commence trauma therapy. Judge Gabbett described the TUSLA social worker’s report in the case as “as incredible report”. He said: “It so badly needed in a case like this and has given me the clarity I need to make a decision.”

The family law dispute between the estranged couple over access, maintenance and custody has appeared numerous times before Judge Gabbett and he said that his court file on these matters “is nearly 10 inches high”.

of €25m

“It’s not necessarily a turf war, we have worked a project over a number of years which had the local authority involved and ourselves, Parks and Wildlife, the IAA in Shannon to understand the implications of how we would do it, we have a plan that will work, the only issue for us all now is who funds it, that is a Government decision and which Department, to my view it doesn’t matter whether local authority, the OPW or Transport funds it, it is about the delivery of it and the agencies, we have no powers outside of the boundary line

of the railway so it will be either Clare County Council or the OPW will have to do the project, we’re updating the costings to today’s numbers, we’ll be back into the Government to say we need to fund it and whatever agencies or Department funds it”.

He believed there was a willingness from all parties to tackle the issue. “There was round-table meetings facilitated by the Council in Ennis, everybody around the table understood what needs to be done and it is about getting the final solution”.

l The girl was told by her mother to write the diary entries

‘This

will

not be the

Children’s Hospital mark two’ - Council defend Ennis public realm works

by Páraic McMahon news@clareecho.ie

A SENIOR OFFICIAL in Clare County Council has said the Ennis public realm works “will not be a Children’s Hospital mark two”.

In October 2023, works began on the Ennis public realm regeneration project. The €11.6m scheme is one of the largest public infrastructure projects to take place in the county town but the pace of works are having a crippling impact on local businesses.

€8,744,275 has been approved for Project B of the Ennis Public Realm Regeneration Strategy following the successful delivery of significant public realm enhancements at Parnell Street, and town laneways and bow-ways in 2020 and 2021. It is funded under the Urban Regeneration and Development Fund (URDF) with 25% match funding from Clare County Council

October 2025 remains the target for the completion of works. Uisce Éireann is funding the delivery of the foul sewer upgrade in parallel.

Ennis businessman Patrick Bourke speaking on Clare FM this week said the project “smacks of the Children’s Hospital” while criticising the pace of works, the amount of workers on-site and claimed that there is a disagreement between the contractor Shareridge Ltd and officials in Clare County Council.

In a proposal before Tuesday’s meeting of the Ennis Municipal District, Cllr Mary Howard (FG) asked for a discussion between councillors and the executive “around setting aside considerable funds (including GMA funding) for a paint scheme be made available to all with premises, both owners and traders, that have been affected by the current public realm works”.

Senior engineer, Seán Lenihan said he fully supported the motion, “in fact suggested something similar at a meeting I attended in recent months with business and property owners affected. At the time, a rates waiver or moratorium was being asked for. I explained why that wasn’t an option but certainly we would endeavour to support those affected in a tangible and meaningful way such as a regular window cleaning service and perhaps an end of works paint scheme as now suggested. The Members will be aware that there has been some funding made available in the past for painting premises as well as a scheme supported by the Paint Industry in advance of Ennis hosting the National Fleadh some years ago”.

Funding supports available were not “fully clear,” he flagged. “A meeting with Ennis MD Councillors to discuss the options and make the necessary arrangements will be organised at a mutually suitable time in the coming weeks,” Lenihan outlined.

Speaking at Tuesday’s meeting, Cllr Howard outlined that her genesis for the motion went back almost a decade and prior to the 2016 Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann.

“I’m not talking about a token like paint scheme, I’m talking about

help revitalise the town” and that she was willing to put “most of my GMA from next year towards it”.

Deputy Mayor of the Ennis MD, Cllr Antoinette Baker Bashua (FF) seconded the proposal but admitted, “I don’t know about the GMA going towards it, there should be a grant” as “a nice gesture of goodwill to help businesses with their shop fronts”.

Businesses are “finding it very difficult,” Cllr Tom O’Callaghan (FF) commented, “we all know when it is completed that Ennis will benefit”. Help must also be given to areas where works are designated, he said, “My biggest concern is the speed, we need to get the work done as quickly as possible”.

something substantial, even ones not on O’Connell St or the Square because the whole town has been affected, we can’t give a rates waiver because it is not within our capacity”. She said a scheme “can

Support for the proposal was also voiced by Cllr Paul Murphy (FG), “Taking note that we can’t give a rates waiver, this would be a way of helping the businesses that do need help, I heard one businessman on the radio who was extremely frustrated at the speed of the works, it is not my job, I’m sure the will is there to get it expedited”.

“There is a lot of frustration there but at the end of the day it will turn out to be a beautiful street and town,” predicted Cllr Pat Daly (FF). He said works were “very slow” and referenced the Children’s Hospital by Patrick Bourke. He questioned why works were no longer continuing at night as previously agreed, “I’d like to see it move faster. It is total frustration for businesses on O’Connell St”.

Attending the meeting remotely, Mayor of the Ennis MD, Cllr Clare Colleran Molloy (FF) questioned if the senior engineer was happy with the progress of the works. She suggested a briefing, which would be held behind closed doors, away from the public and the media, to ascertain “how could we reassess the businesses that are discommoded during the works”.

Lenihan told the meeting, “It won’t be a Children’s Hospital mark two. A contract has been agreed with the contractor for a price and for a duration, there are penalties if they run over the contract period but unfortunately there aren’t

any bonuses if they finish sooner, the bonus for them is to move to another job and make money elsewhere”. He confirmed that the contract runs until October 2025 with Shareridge Ltd, “the project management office are engaging with the contractors and design team to see if there’s any revisions to the programme that is acceptable and adequate to both sides”.

He said “there was some nighttime and late-time working outside of normal business hours” for what is “a very complex project, it is inside the centre of a heritage town, you have a fairly tight footprint to work from, you have to lay new services, there’s backfiling and concrete work which has to cure for a month”.

Local authority staff up and down the country are envious of the funding Ennis received for the public realm works, Lenihan stated. He said he attended a town hall meeting at The Old Ground Hotel, “I spoke and more importantly listened to the frustrations expressed that night, I expressed as best I could what we were doing. We’re standing down the contractor over the Christmasperiod to allow the town to trade and thrive”.

Contractors are “looking to see how they can expedite, they have had a change in staff recently and we’ve seen some benefit from that,” he said. The senior engineer said expectation would have to be managed on funding, he estimated that the paint scheme would cost “in excess of €100,000” and predicted a spend of €1,000 per business. Having walked up the town, several business owners put questions to Cllr Tommy Guilfoyle (SF) which he admitted he could not answer. “Business owners are of the belief that there is a serious dispute between Shareridge and the Council. Is the relationship healthy,” he asked.

In response, Lenihan said he was not aware of any dispute between the Council and the contractor, “There is always difference of opinion between contractor and client”. He added, “I’m not aware of any dispute that you are aware, we might talk offline if you have further information. It is on target, albeit slow but it is moving the right way”.

Concluding the discussion, Cllr Howard maintained it was “one of the more frank debates we’ve had on public realm works. Our pot of money is finite and part of that is GMA, for one year of the five we could consider giving the money over to a paint scheme, I remember the buzz from the first Fleadh, if you stood still long enough there’s a chance you would have had a lick of paint on you”. She added, “We do need something to lift morale, businesses are feeling the brunt of it, they need to know we will assist them in anyway we can”.

l Ongoing public realm works at O’Connell Street, Ennis

Photo by John Mangan

Get-away driver jailed & jeep ‘cleaner’ jailed for their role in attempted murder

by Gordon Deegan news@clareecho.ie

A JUDGE has imposed a four year-four month prison term on the get-away driver in the attempted murder of a Shannon man out celebrating his 21st birthday during a music festival in a small Clare town.

At Ennis Circuit Court, Judge Francis Comerford has imposed a ﬁve year eight month prison term with the ﬁnal 16 months suspended on father of two, Caoibhlen McMahon (27).

Mr McMahon of Dun Aile, O’Callaghan’s Mills was the get-away driver in the attempted murder of Daniel Harty Junior at Pound St, Sixmilebridge on January 18th, 2020.

Judge Comerford has imposed a separate two year four month prison term on horse trainer for ‘sulky races’ William McInerney of Keladerra, Bodyke who had agreed to ‘clean’ the BMW X5 used on the night but did not proceed with it after hearing it was used in an attempted murder.

Last month, the High Court approved an application from the Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB) to seize Mr McIner-

ney’s Keladerra home in Bodyke after ruling that it was purchased from the proceeds of crime.

Judge Comerford imposed the prison terms to both men after they pleaded guilty to participating or contributing to the activities of a criminal organisation.

In October of last year at the Central Criminal Court, leader of the criminal organisation and convicted drug dealer, Tony McInerney (29) formerly of Glenina, Gort Rd, Ennis received a 17-year jail term for the attempted murder of Mr Harty.

Det Sgt Kevin O’Hagan told Ennis Circuit Court that an innocent by-stander received a gun shot in the buttocks and festival goers went for cover in Sixmilebridge as Mr McInerney and a second shooter got out of the BMW X5 to give chase and shoot Mr Harty shortly after midnight on January 18th.

Det Sgt O’Hagan said that the BMW X5 was ‘patrolling’ the streets of Sixmilebridge on the look-out for Mr Harty as part of the “well-organised operation”.

Det Sgt O’Hagan said that nine shots were discharged and three hit Mr Harty in the back, abdomen and shoul-

der.

Mr Harty survived the attack on his life after ﬁnding cover behind a wall and Mr McMahon picked up Mr McInerney and the second man before making their getaway.

Det Sgt O’Hagan said that Mr Harty required the use of a colostomy bag for two years and underwent bowel reconstruction surgery and was diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

He said that Mr Harty had to remain in hospital for a long period.

Det Sgt O’Hagan said the background to the shooting was a €2,500 drug debt allegedly owed by Mr Harty to Mr McInerney and back and forth over social media over a woman.

The senior Garda said that in the middle of 2019, Mr McInerney had called to the Harty family home in Shannon and introduced himself as Tony McInerney and told Danny Harty’s father that Danny Jnr owed him €2,500 for a drugs debt.

Counsel for the State, Lorcan Connolly SC (instructed by State Solicitor for Clare, Aisling Casey) said that Tony McInerney said to Mr Har-

ty Snr “if he didn’t receive the money, he was going to spray his house and shoot his son”.

Det Sgt O’Hagan said Mr Harty Snr followed Tony McInerney with a sweeping brush and Mr McInerney ran away from him to the car that dropped him off.

Det Sgt O’Hagan said that Danny Harty Jnr was in Sixmilebridge on the night of January 17th to celebrate his 21st birthday with two friends.

Det Sgt O’Hagan said that one of those two men is “a signiﬁcant person” in the Garda investigation relating to communications with others on the night.

In evidence, Det O’Hagan accepted that William McInerney did not realise what the BMW jeep going to be used for.

Det Sgt O’Hagan stated that William McInerney said that when he heard about the shooting the following day on the news “and he realised that this was the vehicle”.

Det O’Hagan state that William McInerney “was concerned and wouldn’t have anything more to do with the vehicle”.

He commented, “William McInerney had a poisoned

chalice in the yard and he didn’t know what to do with it”.

Det O’Hagan said that Garda were able to recover gun residue from the uncleaned jeep that linked the jeep to the Harty shooting.

The court was told that William McInerney has 43 previous convictions that are historic in nature and a large amount of road trafﬁc.

Det O’Hagan said that accepted that Mr McMahonwho has 19 previous convictions - felt under duress from Tony McInerney to become involved.

The detective said, “Tony McInerney being the person he is he felt it was very difﬁcult to say no”.

Det O’Hagan stated that

Tony Mcinerney was the leader of the Organised Crime Group and its main ﬁeld of business was the sale and supply of drugs in Clare and wider area.

On William McInerney and Caoibhlen McMahon’s roles, Det Sgt O’Hagan said, “While they not have known what their part was going to be in it they were a party to the organisation”. He said, “They had a small part to play. They were deﬁnitely at the lower end of the scale of this organisation”.

Det Sgt O’Hagan said that the shooting of Danny Harty “was well organised and planned”.

He said, “The vehicle was secured, there were separate phones to be available for the night, they had ﬁrearms, they had the means of getting rid of them afterwards and they had a plan for the vehicle”.

On the others suspected to be involved on the night in question, Det Sgt O’Hagan said, “We will be here with other persons at some date in the future”.

Danny Harty

Environmental effects prompt An Bord Pleanála to admit flaw in planning permission for Ennis Data Centre

by Paraic McMahon paraic@clareecho.ie

AN BORD PLEANÁLA has conceded there is a flaw in the planning permission it granted for a €1.2bn data centre campus in Ennis.

A legal challenge to the High Court was mounted by three local environmentalists and two NGOs over the approval of the Data Centre.

This week, the planning board’s barrister, Christopher Hughes, instructed by Fieldfisher solicitors, said it is no longer opposing the court action. Developer Art Data Centres Ltd, through its counsel Damien Keaney, asked the court for an adjournment to consider how to respond to the move.

Ms Justice Emily Farrell heard the planning body’s concession relates to its acknowledgement of a failure to properly consider the development’s effects on the environment, specifically in relation to bats. She adjourned the case to a date later in October.

The five court challengers, all represented by FP Logue solicitors, made various claims about how An Bord Pleanála dealt with the data centre planning application. They cited the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Act in support of their contention that the board failed to perform its functions in line with the State’s climate action plan and other green objectives.

At the hearing to take place later this month, the developers Art Data Centres will have to determine if they wish to continue to defend the case without the planning authority. In the event that they don’t and the planning permission is quashed, they have the option to have the application remitted to An Bord Pleanála for fresh consideration. This would involve a fresh inspec-

tor’s report and the board deciding whether to grant permission or not, based on the new report.

In April, An Bord Pleanála had granted planning permission for the campus which was to comprise of six data halls of 33mw each, an Energy Centre and Vertical Farm designed on a flexible and modular basis, covering 145 acres and 1.3 million sq ft. The planning, strategic assessment and zoning processes took six years prior to this.

Johnny Flynn resigned from the Board of Ennis 2040 DAC in September 2022 over long-term concerns with the proposed Ennis Data Centre which was a priority project for the Ennis 2040 strategy. He said he highlighted concerns to Clare County Council and later An Bord Pleanála since January 2019 that the proposal should have zero emissions using low carbon renewable energy as its primary source of energy and that other infrastructure and environmental concerns needed to be resolved.

Speaking to The Clare Echo this week, the former county councillor pointed out he was one of seventeen people

to make a submission in the two month period after the Council lodged a zoning application for the Ennis Data Centre. He said he was “very pleased” that it was finally acknowledged appropriate environmental assessments were not carried out. He claimed that €2m has already been spent over the past seven years in developing the plans, “a lot of the time and money could have been saved if environmental concerns were taken on board”.

Flynn pointed out that Ennis 2040 DAC were “very supportive” of the plans and that the development this week is a big setback for the DAC, he predicted that the DAC’s plans for Abbey Street and Parnell Street car parks “will fail on environmental grounds”.

Clare Green Party had been among those to object to the development, “I’m so delighted that the challenge was successful and very grateful to all who brought it to judicial review” said Bridget Ginnity, Green Party representative for Ennis. “Futureproof Clare expressed concern about bats and fortunately the applicant made a basic error regarding legislative requirements. This

and other circumstances, primarily related to climate, led to the decision by An Bord Pleanála to cede”. Bridget added, “Many councillors and the executive within Clare County Council did not listen to the scientifically sound objections we raised. The fact that the data centre would use more electricity than the rest of the county and that the emissions would dwarf those of agriculture in Clare did not mean anything to them. Much was said about the jobs but we should be creating jobs that reduce our emissions, not increase them. The mitigation proposed by the applicant was pathetic. The district heating was unworkable on several fronts, the solar heating was the same as about 10 houses, the vertical farm would have cheaper to heat with a gas burner and their rain water collection was only for when they had used up all our town water. I really hope that if the developers are foolish enough to reapply, that the Council will listen to the other side of the story”.

Emergency department at UHL records highest number of presentations

by Paraic McMahon paraic@clareecho.ie

UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL

LIMERICK’s (UHL) emergency department recorded its highest ever level of presentations on Monday.

325 patients attended the ED on Monday, the highest ﬁgure recorded to date. Surge capacity has been opened at UHL with scheduled activity at the Dooradoyle facility and other sites under UL Hospital Group’s control under constant review, with the exception of urgent and time-critical pa-

tients, including cancer patients.

A spokesperson for UL Hospitals Group told The Clare Echo, “We apologise to anyone who is currently experiencing long waits for admission to University Hospital Limerick in recent days. The ED remains open 24/7 and urgent care is being delivered to those who need it most. However, anyone who comes to ED who doesn’t have a life-threatening or severe illness or injury will face a signiﬁcant wait.

“We encourage the public across Limerick, Clare and

North Tipperary to make use of all available alternatives to ED, including local pharmacies for minor ailments; family doctors and out-ofhours GP services; and the Injury Units at Ennis, Nenagh and St John’s Hospitals. We thank the public for their patience at this time of exceptionally high demand for hospital services, and ask them to continue supporting us in ensuring emergency care is prioritised for the sickest, most seriously injured and frailest patients”.

General Election candidate Hilary Tonge (SD) said

the escalating crisis at UHL’s ED is a concern. “The MidWest Hospital Campaign group, of which I am a member, has been contacted this week about serious overcrowding at the ED at UHL. It has been claimed that the resus department was unable to cope with the volume of patients needing attention, while the ED was ﬁlled to capacity with an estimated 180 people awaiting treatment”. She said, “According to those who witnessed the chaos, there was no additional space within the hospital to cope with patient

demand, with both overﬂow areas full to capacity. It is also unacceptable that beds are being taken from nursing homes in Clare to help cope with the overﬂow from UHL. This situation is particularly concerning when you consider that we are not even into peak winter season yet, when demand on the emergency department will inevitably increase.

“No patient in 2024 should have to tolerate these conditions and no member of hospital staff should have to work under such pressure. The crisis at UHL is the re-

sult of years of neglect by our elected politicians, successive Health Ministers and mismanagement by the HSE and Department of Health. The closure of the ED at Ennis Hospital in 2006 was a disastrous decision for the people of Clare and has contributed to the growing pressure on UHL. The people of Clare deserve access to a properly functioning health service and safe emergency department,” the Ennis woman added.

Fifteen Clare projects benefit from €693,130 in CLÁR funding

by Paraic McMahon paraic@clareecho.ie

FIFTEEN groups and schools across Clare are to benefit from €693,130 in funding under the CLÁR (Ceantair Laga Árd-Riachtanais) 2024 Programme.

Under the programme, sports clubs, schools, and community groups in rural areas received grants of up to €50,000 to enhance community infrastructure and facilities. Eleven of the successful applications in Clare have received the maximum allocation.

€50,000 has been awarded to Doonbeg Community Development Limited for a community playground development, to Tulla GAA club for access improvement, to Crusheen GAA club for surfacing of a com-

munity car park, to Broadford GAA club for the creation of a car park in the village, to Tulla Athletics Club for public car parking and access improvement at the club grounds, to Moy GAA club for a community walking track development, to Ennistymon Parish Project Community Centre Ltd for maintenance works at the centre and to Scoil Realt na Mara in Kilkee for an Astro turf play area, sensory garden, and biodiversity area.

Other groups receiving the €50,000 allocation include Kildysart GAA for a community walkway development, St Senan’s GAA Club in Kilkee for a car park plus a walking and running track upgrade and to Whitegate GAA for public safety works at their facilities.

Derg Active Alliance will receive €46,004

for an accessible lift installation at the community centre. €35,403 has been granted to East Clare Community Cooperative Society for a covered community event space and upcycling shed. Kilrush Town Team have been approved €36,900 for the Cappagh toilet refurbishment while Kilrush Shamrocks GAA club are to get €24,822 for the resurfacing of the existing gravel walkway track.

Mayor of Clare, Cllr Alan O’Callaghan (FF) stated, “The fiffteen communities in County Clare that will benefit from the development of facilities being funded under this announcement are to be commended for their dedication and determination in developing these projects to this stage. I would like to thank Minister Humphreys and the Depart-

ment for making this funding available and I look forward to the projects progressing”.

Bernadette Haugh, Acting Director of Rural Development at Clare County Council said, “I am delighted to see such deserving community projects receive funding under the CLÁR programme. This funding will enable each local group to develop facilities for the future enjoyment of residents and visitors, creating new recreational opportunities in communities across the county. I would like to acknowledge the commitment and dedication of all the groups involved and congratulate them on their successful funding applications”.

Explore Clare it’s the perfect time to step outside to walk our ways and our Loops

THERE’S something extra special about October in Clare.

It’s the perfect time to step outside and enjoy everything the county has to offer. Clare is made for adventure and relaxation, from exploring the famous cliffs and coastlines to discovering hidden historical gems, it is an opportunity to create unforgettable memories. Walking is one of the best ways to fully absorb its beauty this month. A network of quiet country roads, forest paths, mountain and coastal trails traverse the county. For the serious walker, there are many well-organised routes, including national trails that are well sign-posted. There are also great loop walks suited to walkers of different levels of fitness. Our cliff-top, mountain-top, and hill-top walks are spectacular.

7 WALKS & LOOPS TO EXPLORE:

Ballyalla Lake

Enjoy this 8km loop trail near Ennis. It is a beautiful peaceful spot just outside of Ennis and is generally considered moderately challenging. It takes an average of 1 h 52 min to complete. This trail is great for running and walking, and it is unlikely you will encounter many other people while exploring. Dogs are welcome but must be on a leash. It covers an area of 308 hectares and is an important site for waterbirds. This time of year, it is very good for wildfowl especially ducks.

Dromore Loop Walk and Woodland Nature Reserve

Dromore Woodland Nature Reserve is a picturesque area spanning approximately 400

hectares in the southeastern part of the Burren region, County Clare. There are two self-guided nature trails, each taking approximately one hour to complete. A section of the renowned 140km Mid-Clare Way passes through the reserve, oﬀering a longer adventure for those seeking a more extensive exploration. The loop trail intersects with the Castle Nature Trail and the Mid-Clare Way, commencing at the main car park.

The Ballycuggaran Loop Walk, near Killaloe, overlooking Lough Derg

The Ballycuggaran Loop Walk is approx 5.6km and overlooks Lough Derg. The start of this loop walk is located in the townland of Ballycuggaran, near Killaloe. The walk overlooks Lough Derg, the Annacarriga valley and the hills that stretch from Caherhurley to Ogonnelloe. The loop walk is marked in both directions – to get the best views walk the trail in an anti-clockwise direction.

The Ballyvaughan Wood Loop

This 8km loop on minor roadways, green lanes, woodland and cross country, explores the valley behind the seaside village of Ballyvaughan with splendid views of the surrounding Burren’s folded limestone layers. It passes close by Aillwee Cave.

The ﬁrst section of the loop follows part of the long-distance Burren Way, climbing up towards Aillwee Cave; it takes you along the side of Aillwee Mountain and back down to Ballyvaughan. This loop is part of the network of national Looped Walks and is marked using the standard purple National Looped Walk directional arrows.

Experience the 12 O’Clock Hills Walks

The Hill Knockanuarha (12 O’Clock Hills) is located 5 km (3.1 miles) southeast of Kilkishen village in East Clare. The 12 O’Clock Hills are designed for anyone who wants to go walking or hiking. These walks will suit many, from solo walkers to groups of friends and family!

There are 3 walking trails, namely the RED, BLUE and PURPLE TRAIL. They are marked with coloured arrowheads on way markers or steel plates. All trails take in the Crag River Walk, which is approx. 0.6km from the car park.

The East Clare Way

The East Clare Way is a stunning circular route that crosses the Slieve Bernagh Mountains before descending to the Clare lakeland areas around Tulla and Feakle. It appeals to walkers who like a bit of wilderness and breathtaking scenery and those interested in monuments of the past. It is a haven for those

who enjoy hiking and walking, with lakeshore walks, mountainous hikes and casual strolls around every corner, there is something for everyone.

The Shannon Town Estuary Looped Walks

A beautiful trail around Shannon, situated on the banks of the Shannon River Estuary. Shannon Town Estuary Trails consists of two loops, the Shannon Town Estuary Yellow Loop (5.0km) and the Illaunmanagh Purple Loop (11.4km), both taking in the scenic area around the estuary. The Shannon Town Estuary Loop takes in Hastings Farmhouse which was one of several farmhouses located along the old routeway into Tullyvarraga as well as the Shannon Wetlands in the Town. The walks take in views across the Shannon Estuary hosting an abundance of Flora and Fauna many of which are highlighted at the signed look-out spots. The walks are easily accessible from many areas of the town, beginning in the Town Centre with more parking at Illaunmanagh. The walks are rated as Easy for walkers.

l Dromore Loop Walk and Woodland Nature Reserve

l The Ballyvaughan Wood Loop

l The 12 O’Clock Hills Walks

Iarnród Éireann not planning to bring in extra staff for Ennis Train Station

by Paraic McMahon paraic@clareecho.ie

NO PLANS are in place to increase the amount of staff at Ennis Train Station, the CEO of Iarnród Éireann has confirmed.

Elected representatives in the town of Ennis including Cllr Mary Howard (FG) have been vocal in their criticism over how the station has negatively impacted on rankings for the county town from IBAL and in the Tidy Towns.

Cllr Howard previously warned that Ennis Station was a “hotspot of anti-social behaviour” which was not helped by the lack of staff.

Bus Éireann in response to a parliamentary question from former TD, Michael McNamara (IND) in October 2021 said they were not planning on increasing their staff count in Ennis. “There are no current plans to allocate staff to the station. Bus Éireann, is currently working on a nationwide upgrade to all our information displays in stations including Ennis, funded by the National Transport Authority (NTA). Customers in Ennis can purchase tickets from the automatic ticket machine situated in the bus station and from the driver on board the bus”.

CEO of Iarnród Éireann, Jim Meade told The Clare Echo they did not foresee bringing in more employees at the station. “We have staff in Ennis and man it while the trains are running, we have staff on-site, I know some of the bus side isn’t manned but it is about creating the environment and methodologies for people to self-serve and have a seamless journey and transition and indeed making the station totally accessible and doing those improvements that really make it a good place to visit and a good experience when you interchange with the various modes of transport, headed rail is the backbone of public transport but the whole transport family works together be it headed rail, light rail, the local link services and Bus Éireann services in Clare or as you go to the capital the Luas and Dublin Bus, it is the transport family interacting well and providing that complete service”.

When questioned on the negative impact the station has had on rankings for Ennis in IBAL surveys and the Tidy Towns adjudication process, Meade responded, “Right across the network we’ve 146 stations, we have a rolling programme of improving stations

and investing in stations, we’ve done some investment in Ennis and we’ll do more in the future, by way of example, over the past six months Limerick station is a completely transformed station from what it was, we have a complete new bus step with 21 new bus bays, we’ve doubled the size of the concourse, it is a bright station and the platforms have all been renewed, it is a nice environment to even go and meet somebody even if you’re not travelling, it is a proper transport interchange hub, we are doing that, at the other end of the Mid-West region in Galway we’re out on the ground with a new station there, it was a one and a half platform dark station, it will now be a five platform station futureproofed glazed roof, a really modern station.

“We’ve done some work in Ennis already, we’ve relaid the platforms last year, we’ve put in lifts and footbridges to make it accessible to everybody, there is a constant programming of upgrades taking place but we will take the comments from the briefing on board and do whatever improvements we need to do”.

Treat yourself this Autumn with a trip to an award-winning Spa

NESTLED deep within the castle walls, The Castle Spa at Dromoland Castle is a special experience.

One of Ireland’s leading Spa destinations, the award-winning Spa recently unveiled a bespoke Autumn Winter Treatment Menu for a limited time, featuring three of the revered Spa’s elite brands, Seabody, Dr. Barbara Sturm and Oskia.

Within the sanctuary of the Spa’s six treatment rooms, including a secluded twin suite and a grounding, warming Amber and Quartz Crystal Bed, you are safe to surrender to true relaxation. The Spa Team’s compassionate, expertly-trained therapists will guide you through your chosen treatments and rituals, customising the smallest detail to your own specific needs and preferences.

Afterward, deepen and extend your sense of wellbeing with a peaceful interlude in the Whisper Room. Stay as long as you like. Emerge from the lovely post-treatment haze at your own pace. This is a place to be nurtured.

The latest treatment to launch at The Castle Spa is the Revolutionary Lift & Revive featuring Dr. Barbara’s revolutionary PureLift™ - a

non-invasive facial elevation and sculpting tool. Purelift exclusively uses patented electrical impulses for facial toning, giving you the appearance of a fuller, more youthful face in just 10 minutes. Dr. Barbara Sturm is a world-renowned anti-inflammatory Spa brand. Finish off your Spa escape with a walk in the serene 500 Acre woodland estate, grab a wholesome lunch or dinner at The Fig Tree Restaurant.

Treatments on the Autumn Winter Menu at the Luxury Spa start at €140 (including Facial and Body Treatment) for Mid-Week –the perfect escape after a school run or pamper day this Autumn. Members of the Castle Spa team are trained by TPOT (The Power of Touch) to meet the needs of guests who are undergoing treatment for cancer or are currently in recovery. Book the Restoration Massage and 5% of the treatment cost will be donated to Breast Cancer Ireland. The Spa Team love to assist and guide you on what treatment will suit your needs, call the Castle Spa Reception for more information on (061) 368144.

Get-away driver & jeep ‘cleaner jailed for murder attempt on Shannon man

by Padraic McMahon padraic@clareecho.ie

A JUDGE has imposed a four year-four month prison term on the get-away driver in the attempted murder of a Shannon man out celebrating his 21st birthday during a music festival in a small Clare town.

At Ennis Circuit Court, Judge Francis Comerford has imposed a five year eight month prison term with the final 16 months suspended on father of two, Caoibhlen McMahon (27).

Mr McMahon of Dun Aile, O’Callaghan’s Mills was the getaway driver in the attempted murder of Daniel Harty Junior at Pound St, Sixmilebridge on January 18th, 2020.

Last month, the High Court approved an application from the Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB) to seize Mr McInerney’s Keladerra home in Bodyke after ruling that it was purchased from the proceeds of crime.

Judge Comerford imposed the prison terms to both men after they pleaded guilty to participating or contributing to the activities of a criminal organisation.

In October of last year at the Central Criminal Court, leader of the criminal organisation and

convicted drug dealer, Tony McInerney (29) formerly of Glenina, Gort Rd, Ennis received a 17-year jail term for the attempted murder of Mr Harty.

Det Sgt O'Hagan said that the BMW X5 was 'patrolling' the streets of Sixmilebridge on the look-out for Mr Harty as part of the "well-organised operation".

Det Sgt O’Hagan said that nine shots were discharged and three hit Mr Harty in the back, abdomen and shoulder.

Mr Harty survived the attack on his life after finding cover behind a wall and Mr McMahon picked up Mr McInerney and the second man before making their getaway.

Det Sgt O’Hagan said that Mr Harty required the use of a colostomy bag for two years and underwent bowel reconstruction surgery and was diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

He said that Mr Harty had to remain in hospital for a long period.

Det Sgt O’Hagan said the background to the shooting was a €2,500 drug debt allegedly owed by Mr Harty to Mr McInerney and back and forth over social media over a woman.

The senior Garda said that in the middle of 2019, Mr McIner-

ney had called to the Harty family home in Shannon and introduced himself as Tony McInerney and told Danny Harty’s father that Danny Jnr owed him €2,500 for a drugs debt.

Counsel for the State, Lorcan Connolly SC (instructed by State Solicitor for Clare, Aisling Casey) said that Tony McInerney said to Mr Harty Snr “if he didn’t receive the money, he was going to spray his house and shoot his son”.

Det Sgt O’Hagan said Mr Harty Snr followed Tony McInerney with a sweeping brush and Mr McInerney ran away from him to the car that dropped him off.

Det Sgt O’Hagan said that Danny Harty Jnr was in Sixmilebridge on the night of January 17th to celebrate his 21st birthday with two friends.

Det Sgt O’Hagan said that one of those two men is “a significant person” in the Garda investigation relating to communications with others on the night.

In evidence, Det O’Hagan accepted that William McInerney did not realise what the BMW jeep going to be used for.

Det Sgt O’Hagan stated that William McInerney said that when he heard about the shooting the following day on the news “and he realised that this was the vehicle".

Det O’Hagan state that William McInerney “was concerned and wouldn’t have anything more to do with the vehicle”.

He commented, “William McInerney had a poisoned chalice in the yard and he didn't know what to do with it”.

Det O’Hagan said that Garda

were able to recover gun residue from the uncleaned jeep that linked the jeep to the Harty shooting.

The court was told that William McInerney has 43 previous convictions that are historic in nature and a large amount of road traffic.

Det O’Hagan said that accepted that Mr McMahon - who has 19 previous convictions - felt under duress from Tony McInerney to become involved.

The detective said, “Tony McInerney being the person he is he felt it was very difficult to say no”.

Det O’Hagan stated that Tony Mcinerney was the leader of the Organised Crime Group and its main field of business was the sale and supply of drugs in Clare and wider area.

On William McInerney and Caoibhlen McMahon's roles, Det Sgt O’Hagan said, “While they not have known what their part was going to be in it they were a party to the organisation”.

He said, “They had a small part to play. They were definitely at the lower end of the scale of this organisation”.

Det Sgt O’Hagan said that the shooting of Danny Harty “was well organised and planned”.

He said, “The vehicle was secured, there were separate phones to be available for the night, they had firearms, they had the means of getting rid of them afterwards and they had a plan for the vehicle”.

On the others suspected to be involved on the night in question, Det Sgt O’Hagan said, “We will be here with other persons at some date in the future”

500L of free oil giveaway

WITH the colder months upon us, local oil provider Banner Oil is helping to ease the winter woes by giving away €500 of free heating oil to three lucky customers. Order your heating oil or kerosene this October, November or December and be automatically entered into a monthly draw to win 500 litres for free with Banner Oil. It comes as the lucky winner of the September giveaway has been announced as Banner Oil customer Hilda Sarkodie. Stay warm this winter and enjoy the chance to boost your supply - at no extra cost. With one lucky winner chosen every month, now is the perfect time to stock up and save. Order now for your chance to win by calling 065 905 0179, 086 3800859 or 086 170 8019.

Banner Oil, based in Tiermaclane, supplies heating oil, agricultural, marine & road diesel to domestic, agricultural & commercial customers.

Young drivers urged to check tyres this Tyre Safety Day

WITH winter approaching, the RSA is reminding road users of the importance of tyre grip, in particular when travelling in wetter weather conditions when motorists need to double their braking distance.

To highlight the importaNce of tyre safety to young drivers The Road Safety Authority (RSA), An Garda Síochána and the Irish Tyre Industry Association (ITIA) launched Tyre Safety Day today on Monday.

Alarmingly, tyres remain the main cause of NCT failures in Ireland with ﬁgures from the last 12 months, showing 162,222 (9.5%) motorists failing due to tyre condition, and 2.7% (44,887) of those drivers failed as a result of dangerously low tyre tread of less than 1.6mm. This follows a trend of ﬁxed charge notices issued to motorists for tyre offences by An Garda Síochána of 1,755 year to date.

Sarah O’Connor, Director of Partnerships and External Affairs, Road Safety Authority, said: “Many motorists give little consideration to their tyres unless an emergency requires a tyre replacement or repair. As our main contact with the road, tyres play a crucial role in keeping us safe and it is vital that they are checked regularly. Getting into the habit of carrying out a regular tyre check at the early stages of their driving life, means young road users are equipped with information about their tyre health to keep them safe. A check is as simple as walking around your car before you go on your journeylook for any defects, ensure all your tyres are inﬂated properly and that the tyre tread depth is within legal requirements.”

Here are some tips and information for keeping your tyres safe this winter:

lCarry out tyre checks every time you take your car or motorcycle out on the road

lLook out for any bulges, cracks, cuts or grazes

lEnsure your tyres are inﬂated to the current level for your car

lCheck your tyre tread depth – the recommendation is to replace a tyre if below 3mm. New tyres are 8mm. The legal minimum tread is 1.6mm. A motorcycle legal limit is 1mm

Look out for your own saftey anf the safety of other road users by dropping into Martin Daly Autos for a tyre safety inspection. Make sure sure your vehicle is are ready for winter roads with Martin Daly Autos.

l Winter ready: check tyre threads before driving

Sparks flying again between Save Ennis Town & Council

by Paraic McMahon paraic@clareecho.ie

CLARE is no longer the Banner County, members of Save Ennis Town have claimed.

It follows a move from top brass in Clare County Council to remove a banner erected by the community group within the space of twelve hours.

Save Ennis Town is a community group of local traders and business people who have clashed with Clare County Council regarding some of their plans for the Ennis 2040 Strategy.

As part of their opposition to plans to build on the riverside car parks in Abbey Street and Parnell Street, Save Ennis Town presented the County Council with a petition of 3,500 signatures, held a silent march, a public rally and were infamously referred to as “bananas” by Mayor of the Ennis Municipal District, Cllr Clare Colleran Molloy during The Clare Echo’s election debate.

A Save Ennis Town banner was erected across O’Connell Street attached to private property above ongoing public realm works but was taken down by general operatives for the County Council on the instruction of senior management.

In a statement to The Clare Echo, a spokeswoman for Clare County Council outlined, “The banner as referenced below was removed on Wednesday last and returned to the owner soon after. Related to same, Ennis MD staff also last week commenced the process of removing banners and bunting on O’Connell St, the majority of which were erected earlier in the summer in support of the Clare Hurling Team. Clare County Council would like to take this opportunity to remind the public that under the Roads Act, Signage should not be erected on or above a public road without the necessary

statutory consents being in place”.

A spokesperson for Save Ennis Town told The Clare Echo, “Interestingly there have been many banners in the past, some left up

for months on end such as for the Clare Hurlers, The Fleadh, Ennis Book Club Festival. The banners are all hung from privately owned properties, with the permission of

peated requests to the Council. He said the €400 cost of the banner was funded by the Retailers of Ennis. “We wanted to let people know that Save Ennis Town still exists and we haven’t gone away. There would have been no problem with the banner only for it went against the Council’s narrative”.

O’Connor pointed out that there was no issue from the Council on adhering to the Roads Act when he hung a banner on behalf of the now defunct O’Connell Street Traders supporting the Clare hurlers for two months, without permission.

“We were spotted at 07:30 on a lovely autumn morning putting up the banner by someone high up in Ennis 2040 DAC and I knew the bells were already tolling, twelve hours later the banner was taken down,” he said.

He continued, “it is very important that the sauce for the goose is also the sauce for the gander and the signage on all approach roads to Ennis need to be looked at and to see if the owners of these signs have permission”. O’Connor confirmed they will now be attempting to secure permission under the Roads Act to have a Save Ennis Town banner flying in the heart of the county town.

the owners. Clare is no longer the Banner County”.

John O’Connor of Save Ennis Town told The Clare Echo that the banner was only returned after re-

Save Ennis Town banner across O’Connell Street

Revived Mars Cinema can be ‘excellent addition to West Clare’

by Páraic McMahon news@clareecho.ie

OVER 150 people attended a public consultation event in Kilrush to discuss future uses of the former Mars Cinema in Kilrush.

On Thursday last, more than 150 people attended the event held by Tourism Development International in conjunction with Clare County Council and Kilrush Town Team at the Town Hall in Kilrush.

Established in 1950, Mars Cinema was designed by Patrick Tubridy, the Tubridy family previously operated another theatre called The Palace Theatre at John’s Street from 1920 to 1950 which showed the silent films of the day. The Mars itself with a 850 seater theatre with 600 seats in the ballroom and another 250 seats in the balcony. It was the home of the Kilrush Operatic Society from 1951 to 1966 and Kilrush Boxing Club used the building in the 1980s.

A 3,310 square foot building, the former cinema is located on Ireland’s second widest street. It closed its doors in 1991 and was acquired by Clare County Council for €175,000 in March 2023 through Town and Village Renewal Scheme funding.

Despite water and broadband issues in Kilrush last Thursday, the consultation was “excellent” according to Cllr Ian Lynch (IND).

“It’s over ten years since I met the then owner of the property to discuss possible uses, we gathered a number of people together

to drive a number of proposals but unfortunately at that time it was out of our reach. Over the next number of years I approached the executive of Clare County Council and made several proposals. An opportunity came where the Council could purchase the derelict building and with much delight Clare County Council were approved to purchase the cinema”.

He continued, “Kilrush Town Team, Charlie Glynn, Tomás Prendeville, John O Malley, Mags Cotter, Colette Browne and I have spent hours behind the scenes coming up with different approaches, making dozens of funding applications to try and make this project a reality”.

According to the Kilrush man, the consultation event “put the finishing touches to a

project that will be an excellent addition to West Clare. This is however the beginning of the journey and we have quite a way to go yet. But we are confident that once the feasibility study is completed we will have an excellent project to bring to government to seek funding to turn it in to a reality”.

Shannon based Cllr Donna McGettigan (SF) said, “We believe this is a once in a lifetime opportunity to provide facilities for young people in Kilrush and West Clare, and at the same time, boost tourism in the town”.

A candidate in the upcoming General Election, she added, “Our hope is that it can incorporate a soft play area, laser quest or similar, bowling lanes or a smaller cinema, and a youth café. Such facilities are badly needed in the town and would draw tourists during the season, especially when the weather is not great. Dawn talked to people on the doors about this and they were very supportive of her ideas. When Dawn first told me about her vision for the cinema, I agreed completely and promised to help in any way I could so I’m glad it has progressed to this stage”.

She said she was “a bit concerned” that the consultation hadn’t taken place earlier in the year as originally planned. “There was talk that it had been cancelled, so I liaised with a municipal district official about it. Public input is essential so I’m delighted that the consultation process has taken place”.

l Mars Cinema and (inset) Cllr Ian Lynch

lDeputy Cathal Crowe (FF)

UHL management to be relocated back on-site

by Páraic McMahon paraic@clareecho.ie

SENIOR management OF UL Hospitals Group have been directed to relocate to the University Hospital Limerick (UHL) campus in Dooradoyle.

Management of the hospital have been instructed to relocate to the hospital campus, senior management had been based out of an office in a nearby industrial estate.

Clare TD, Cathal Crowe (FF) has frequently criticised the mechanism which allowed management to be off-site. “I’m delighted that common sense has prevailed and UHL management have been directed to relocate to the UHL Hospital Campus in Dooradoyle. For the past couple of years, the senior management team of the UHL Group have been located in an industrial estate at an office building a couple of kilometres away from the hospital,” he said.

Deputy Crowe stated, “I have repeatedly made the point in the Dáil that hospital management needed to be on site and it made no sense for them to be remote from the hospital working environment. Prior to my election to the Dáil, I worked as a primary school teacher. It would be unheard of in the world of education that a principal would be managing a school from a remote location and the same can be said for many other workplace scenarios.

“Furthermore, the Justice Frank Clarke report into the death of Aoife Johnston identified that on the night Aoife lost her life, it wasn’t clear who was in charge of the hospital. It makes sense for management to be on site. Only then can they have proper oversight of situations in the hospital environment and in my opinion, it will inform better decision making.”

Meanwhile, Prof Brian Lenehan, Chief Clinical Direc-

‘Aoife would have survived that night in any other hospital’

by Páraic McMahon paraic@clareecho.ie

AOIFE JOHNSTON’s parents James and Carol have said their daughter would still be alive if she went to any other hospital than University Hospital Limerick (UHL).

tor at UHL has applied for an injunction at the High Court seeking a restraining order preventing the HSE from suspending him, the Sunday Independent has reported.

Prof Lenehan is one of four people including Chief Executive Colette Cowan placed on administrative leave pending a disciplinary inquiry into the death of Shannon teenager Aoife Johnston at UHL.

In a statement to the Sunday Independent, Prof Lenehan said the tragic death of Aoife is “never far from my thoughts and, as I have always pressed for, must remain central in whatever comes out of this process”. He extended his condolences to Aoife’s family and acknowledged their “profound distress”.

“I have participated, and will continue to participate fully in all internal HSE processes. My goal is that those processes are concluded comprehensively and expeditiously and I have not sought to delay the investigation process in my action to protect my rights. The decision, however, to place me on administrative leave, in my capacity as chief clinical director, a role to which I was appointed in 2020 and reappointed to in 2023, was, I believe, unwarranted,” he stated.

He said for the HSE internal process to be considered “objective and credible”, all decisions, including ones “relating to administrative leave while these processes are ongoing”, must be made fairly and reasonably.

“There must be full transparency on this matter, and I - along with others - have consistently called on the HSE to publish the full report by retired chief justice Clarke. Now that this has been actioned, media coverage to date has already shown how the Clarke report provides vital context on the circumstances that led to this tragic event, and should undoubtedly be considered as central to any HSE process currently being contemplated”.

Greater accountability and transparency from the HSE has been sought by the Johnston family. Both James and Carol spoke on RTÉ’s Prime Time where they recalled the circumstances which led to the death of sixteen year old Aoife.

Shannon student Aoife died at UHL in December 2022 of meningitis after being left without antibiotics a vital treatment that could have saved her life. She initially presented in the emergency department of UHL on December 17th with suspected sepsis having been referred by Shannondoc. There was a thirteen-anda-half-hour gap between when Aoife was seen by a GP and when she received the required antibiotics for sepsis.

In their ﬁrst interview, Aoife’s parents Carol and James Johnston told Prime Time that the Clarke Report into the circumstances of their daughter’s death was “pointless” and has not “revealed anything”.

Carol admitted, “I do ﬁrmly believe that if Aoife was in a different hospital, she would have survived that night”. She added, “Aoife’s nearly gone two years, and we’ve never really spoke much about it, but we’re angry because we’re thinking back about everything that’s gone on and we expect more answers from the hospital”.

Retired judge, Chief Justice Frank Clarke published his report on September

20th, its findings included that UHL’s emergency department was “grossly overcrowded” and there was a “lack of clarity” on sepsis protocols on the night Aoife died. There was also a “significant” shortage of staff on the night of Aoife’s death according to the report, with five fewer nurses than were required and one less doctor. It also found that Aoife died in circumstances which, on the basis of the medical evidence, “were almost certainly avoidable”.

“We didn’t get anything out of it that we didn’t know already. We don’t know what happened to Aoife and they promised us that we would,” James said. Carol added, “I suppose as Aoife’s parents, it’s very hard to accept that as the answer. Aoife was missed. There’s a reason why she was missed. Someone has to know”.

On the day Aoife was admitted to hospital she had initially texted her mother from her bedroom in Shannon, saying she felt unwell and that she wanted some paracetamol. She vomited and had a high temperature, so a decision was made at around 5.50pm on 17 December for James to bring her to Shannondoc as a precaution. “I’d say we spent maybe ten, 15 minutes with him [the Shannondoc GP]. He said to me, ‘I don’t know what your next move is, but I recommend you go straight into the hospital in Limerick.’ And he wrote a referral letter. Aoife was still chatting away and we were having the banter,” James recalled.

After coming out of the doctor’s surgery, James rang Carol who had stayed at home, to tell her the GP had recommended they go straight to the hospital.

James then collected Carol from home and the three drove to UHL. When they arrived, Carol opened the referral letter to see what the GP had written. “I did spot ‘viral septicemia’ on it, and it did raise a bit of a ﬂag,” Carol said.

After checking in at the emergency department, Carol says that despite Aoife’s worsening condition, she was still chatting away. “Aoife was showing me pictures of grad dresses. She was sick, she was thrown down, but she was still talking. She was just talking about stuff, stuff she wanted to buy her boyfriend at Christmas, little things like that,” Carol said.

Aoife, who was triaged as a high-priority patient, should have been seen by a doctor within

ten to 15 minutes of arriving at the emergency department according to an inquest into her death at Kilmallock Corner’s Court in Limerick last April. But with little progress being made after their arrival, Carol and James fashioned a makeshift bed out of two chairs for their daughter whose condition was now starting to concern her parents. “Her temperature was continuing to stay high. Her skin was blotchy and still vomiting. Nothing had changed. And she had been put on a drip for, I think it was paracetamol and for ﬂuids.

As the evening

Statutory inquiry into Aoife ’s

by Páraic McMahon paraic@clareecho.ie

HEALTH MINISTER, Stephen Donnelly (FF) has said he is not ruling out a statutory inquiry into the death of Shannon teenager, Aoife Johnston.

Aoife Johnston died at University Hospital Limerick in December 2022 after suffering from meningitis-related sepsis. She was left for more than 16 hours without antibiotics.

Former Chief Justice Frank

Clarke wrote a report which said that her death was “almost certainly avoidable”.

The solicitor for Aoife Johnson’s parents Carol and James said the family wanted a statutory inquiry which would make findings of fact, and could make adverse findings against individuals.

Speaking this week, Minister for Health, Donnelly said he wanted to speak directly with Aoife’s parents to discuss the case with them and that he was not ruling out a statuto-

ry inquiry .

Minister Donnelly stated, “Solicitors sometimes talk about statutory inquiries and talk about them like they will resolve all of the problems and answer all of the questions. There is a statutory inquiry into the Grace case and that has been running for six years and they have yet to publish their first report into phase one. It is a very legalistic process and they don’t always give people what they want.”

Senior partner Damien Tansey

Photo by Natasha Barton

l James and Carol Johnstone, the parents of

wore on, Carol and James began to panic.

“The two of us were going in and out, begging for help. It came to a point that we were arguing amongst ourselves. I just kept saying, ‘please help us,’” James said.

“There was other patients on trolleys and they were shouting for Aoife saying, ‘you need to go in and help that girl.’ But no one came in to us. All the signs were there. Well, I didn’t know anything about sepsis, now I know everything about it. And the doctor never, ever came anywhere near us until whatever time, 13 hours later,” James added.

Aoife’s inquest later heard that one doctor was left managing 191 patients in the department. The Clarke report would describe the over-

crowding as “more severe than it should have been” when the Aoife was admitted.

In evaluating what went wrong, Mr Clarke stated that the evidence ultimately suggests none of the nurses or doctors working in the relevant part of the emergency department that night were aware Aoife was a suspected sepsis patient. He says the failure to implement a “decongestion protocol” to deal with overcrowding “made what would inevitably have been a bad situation much worse and thus materially exacerbated the difﬁcult conditions in which staff were required to work.”

A doctor eventually saw Aoife at 6am the morning after she had arrived at the hospital.

“I went down and let a big roar out, cursing, and everything that, ‘you need to go in there and help my daughter,’ because we knew that she was seriously ill. She was barely standing. And that’s when they seemed to make a bit of a move,” James said. “There’s not a day that goes by that I don’t blame myself for not doing more. I just didn’t think she was going to die. If I had known, I would have torn the place apart,” he added. When Aoife was eventually seen, she was prescribed antibiotics for suspected meningitis. But she continued to deteriorate. After an hour, James sought help from a doctor again. “I went out and I lost the plot, basically. I was shouting that ‘you need to get in

death not ruled out

SC, who represents Aoife Johnston’s family, said, “They (Aoife’s parents) certainly do want a statutory inquiry”.

Senator Timmy Dooley (FF) had been one of the first to call for such an inquiry. “The Johnston family and the people of the Mid-West deserve answers. In this country, justice must prevail, we must get answers when things go wrong, particularly terribly wrong like it did here. We typically get that but right now people are pointing fingers at each other and the noise goes on but the Johnston family’s enti-

tlement to truth and justice is ignored. This noise instead needs to be filled with clarity and closure for her family. In filling it, we send a clear message, set a new standard for that hospital that bad practise won’t be tolerated and that, in turn, will lead to a better, safer hospital going forward. If we get to there, it will be an additional legacy for Aoife. At least then we can say that while her death should have been avoided, what came out of it made this hospital a better place for everyone else across the region,” he said.

Aoife Johnston who passed away at UHL in December ‘22, aged 16

Scariff exhibition on top photographers

by Páraic McMahon news@clareecho.ie

SCARIFF is showcasing the work from two of Clare’s top photographers.

Clare Arts Office in conjunction with Scariff Library Gallery will host the AIB Press Photographer of the Year Exhibition, along with the Press Photographers Association of Ireland (PPAI) from October 7-16.

It is the first time that the exhibition has visited Scariff.

Now in its 46th year, the PPAI AIB Press Photographer of the Year Award celebrates the best of Irish press photography. The exhibition features over 100 winning and highly-commended photos, featuring all aspects of Irish life, at home and abroad, during 2023 and

highlights the dedication and skill of Ireland’s top press photographers.

Winners from Co Clare include John Kelly of The Clare Champion. The Mullagh native has worked with the local newspaper for over three decades. His work has also appeared in numerous

publications. He was victorious in the portrait section for an image of Kilfenora’s Sheamie Garrihy. Ennis’ Eamon Ward features in the Daily Life and People category of the exhibition. The multiaward winning photographer formerly worked for both The Clare People and The

Clare Champion but is now a freelance photographer working for corporate clients, bodies and national news outlets. John and Eamon featured in the acclaimed publication, The Scattering which documented the stories of Clare diaspora on all corners of the globe.

East Clare land conflict among History Week highlights

A PANEL discussion on land conflict in East Clare is among the highlights of Clare Libraries History Week.

From October 14 to 18, Clare Libraries will offer an array of engaging talks, presentations and exhibitions that delve deep into Clare’s past. Clare Libraries is inviting the public to immerse themselves in a week of enlightening lectures, both online and in libraries throughout the county. This year’s programme has been curated by Terry Dunne, Historian-in-Residence at Clare Libraries.

Highlights include a focus on changing land ownership in Clare between the 1840s-1920s, with lectures by Terry Dunne on Clare’s Changing Landscape Mapped and Dora Brew’s farm in Seafield and the Revolution, screening of a documentary film online on Clare landed estates in 1923 and a panel discussion in Scariff Library on land conflict in East Clare 1852-1923.

Historian Jane O’Brien will give a talk in Ennis Library on the Industrial School for Children in Ennis and Liam Irwin will talk on Thomas J. Westropp. There will also be a series of online lectures, including Lucille Ellis speaking about Bindon Street, Kieran Hickey on Slobland Reclamation in Clare, Peter Connell on housing in Kilrush, Michael Talty on the Ordnance Survey and Joe Power on Patrick Hogan TD.

The programme also includes talks on collections in Clare Local Studies and Archives, Clare Museum and Tori McMor-

ran will talk on Community Archaeology in Clare in the Clare Museum, Ennis. Exhibitions will be held in branch libraries in Shannon, Ennistymon, Scarriff and the Local Studies Centre in Ennis.

A nostalgic event will take place on Wednesday, October 16, entitled Memories of de Valera Library 1975-2024 as Clare Libraries prepares to say goodbye to Harmony Row and move to its new location in Ennis beside glór. All are welcome to attend to share a night of reminiscences and memories and view the accompanying photo exhibition.

Speaking at the launch of the programme, Clare County Librarian, Helen Walsh, stated, “History plays a critical role in helping us navigate the present and future by providing us with invaluable insights into our roots and the events that have shaped our world.”

Senior Executive Librarian, Dolores Meaney, added, “Clare Libraries History Week gives us an opportunity to showcase scholarship related to our county and hear the voices of local historians and researchers. Whether you are a history enthusiast, a scholar, or simply curious about the past, these lectures are designed to be welcoming and accessible to all.”

Clare Libraries History Week takes place online and in-person from Oct 1418. For more, visit the History Week page at: https://clarelibraries.ie/projects/history-week-2024/. History Week has been funded by the Dept of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media.

€100 Wonder Photo voucher goes to Kilrush winner

KILRUSH man Frank Shinkins has been announced as the winner of The Clare Echo’s ‘print an All-Ireland photo’ competition in conjunction with Wonder Photo Shop, Ennis.

Those who ordered a photo print from Clare’s All-Ireland win and the ensuing celebrations with the Clare Echo were entered into a draw for a €100 voucher to be used towards framing at Wonder Photo Shop, Fujiﬁlm Ennis. Kilrush’s Frank Shinkins was the lucky winner, after ordering a photo of the Clare team at Croke Park on All-Ireland ﬁnal day. Congratulations Frank!

lPHOTOGRAPHER: John Kelly

lWINNING ENTRY: The photo taken by Gerard O’Neill on All-Ireland ﬁnal day and (right) winner Frank Shinkins with Denise Quinn of The Clare Echo

Ennistymon event to mix harp & yoga for Lá na Cruite

by Páraic McMahon news@clareecho.ie

HARP YOGA is to take place in Ennistymon as part of Harp Day.

More than 100 events will take place worldwide on Saturday October 19 which is Lá na Cruite (Harp Day 2024).

This year’s theme, ‘Cothú,’ meaning ‘Nurture‘, highlights the harp’s ability to inspire, uplift, and connect communities while focusing on empowering the next generation of harpers to shape the future of Ireland’s national instrument.

For the first time, Cruit Éireann Harp Ireland (CÉHI) Young Harpers’ Forum gives a voice to 40 young harpers from across Ireland, who have

influenced the 2024 programme.

An invigorating yoga class is planned for Ennistymon with Harp Yoga offering a mix of music and mindfulness.

Taking place at The Falls Hotel and Spa at 10am, the soothing sounds of the harp from Aisling Lyons and pedal steel guitar of Simon O’Reilly will accompany the session. Sue Redmond will be the yoga instructor.

At Ennistymon library from 11am, harp maker Paul Dooley will give a demonstration and talk on the early days of the Irish Harp. It’s back to the Falls for 12pm when Aisling Lyons will be allowing people to try the harp

MUSIC: Aisling Lyons

with ten minute slots.

An evening concert takes place at 8pm in The Courthouse Gallery where the musicians include Paul Dooley, Kseniya Rusnak, Aisling Lyons and local students.

Speaking on the significance of this year’s programme, Lauren Ní Néill, CEO of CÉHI, said, “We’re proud of the next generation of Irish harpers who are designing their own events this year with incredible energy and enthusiasm to celebrate Lá na Cruite | Harp Day amongst their friends, family and local communities.”

Founded in 2016, Cruit Éireann has led the revival and promotion of Irish harping across Ireland and globally.

With a mission to safeguard and celebrate harping, CÉHI connects Irish harpers with audiences worldwide while fostering innovation and accessibility for all.

Remedial works to be initiated for failed watermain in Doolin

A REMEDIAL works programme is to commence in Doolin to tackle failed watermains, writes Páraic McMahon

An appeal for the West Clare Municipal District to undertake remedial works on the Lisdoonvarna to Doolin Rd from the Wood Cross to Doolin Church

“at particular areas where continual road sinkage is occurring due to poorly laid watermains” was made by Cllr Joe Garrihy (FG).

Senior executive engineer in the West Clare MD, Tony Neville outlined, “Our plan is to initiate a remedial works programme over the coming winter months to deal with the failed watermain surround at localised spots and carry out temporary repairs where there is road subsidence. This will be in conjunction with Uisce Éireann who are ultimately responsible for the watermain”.

He confirmed that affected sections of the L-1036 road

Burren groups come together to host the Burren cattle drive and Food Fayre

THE Burren Winterage Festival will return on October 27, and this year, the annual cattle drive and food fayre will be organised by four groups in the region.

Burren Beo, the Burren Ecotourism Network, The Burren & Cliffs of Moher UNESCO Global Geopark and the Burren National Park will all their play roles the event.

The traditional Burren Beo winterage cattle walk will start at the newly acquired McGann’s Farm, now in the ownership of the Burren National Park, while the Burren Food Fayre will have food and drink producers from the Burren Ecotourism Network showcasing their products and celebrate the best local food. This will take place in a marquee at the farm, right at the head of the walk, and will be supported by the Burren & Cliffs of Moher UNESCO Global Geopark.

“This annual event which attracts visitors from every corner of Ireland and, as well as international tourists, is an wonderful chance for people to not only hear about the ancient farming practices of the Burren, but also for them to experience walking the cattle upland to the winterage, and then to be able to taste and

lMARQUEE EVENT: The Burren Food Fayre and (inset) cattle drive

purchase the foods of the land and sea at the Burren Food Fayre,” said

Jarlath O’Dwyer, CEO of the Burren Ecotourism Network.

“We are very happy to collaborate with the Burren Beo team, who have run the Cattle Drive so well for several years, and this year it is being held at the farm owned by The

Burren National Park. We are also fortunate to have the support of the Burren & Cliffs of Moher Geopark, who help us with facilities and the promotion of the event.”

The locally sourced food and drink will include beef, salmon, pork, oysters, cheese, breads, jams, chutneys along with Burren whis-

key and gin. Many of the producers taking part adhere to the GEOfood concept, an international Global Geopark initiative, which promotes local food produced in and around UNESCO Global Geoparks.

The cattle drive walk will start at 12pm, and attendees are encouraged to arrive at 10am to park and to avail of the complimentary tea, coffee and scones in the marquee.

“We are delighted that the food fayre is once again being staged on the rich agricultural lands of the Burren, there is no better way to connect people to the produce than to see where it came from," said Carol Gleeson, manager of the Burren and Cliffs of Moher UNESCO Global Geopark.

Unusually, in The Burren, unlike most other parts of the world where animals are moved to the mountains in summer, the grazing cattle are moved to the uplands in winter, a practice that is key to maintaining the unique flora and fauna. The Burren Food Fayre is sponsored by Flogas Ireland.

To participate in the walk, tickets are available in the event section of the Burren Beo website https:// www.burrenwinterage.com/

will be included in our next Multi-Annual Roadworks Programme which is due to cover 2025 to 2027. “When tuned into an issue you pay attention to it a bit more,” commented Cllr Garrihy. “I’m not sure is it always an issue with Uisce Éireann that they have failed watermains but it is particularly bad on this section from Lisdoonvarna to Doolin”.

Lisdoonvarna-based Garrihy sought further detail on the engagement with Uisce Éireann and said the road condition has “been the case for a while. Are they slow to respond to these issues, it is taking a long time to get the response. I welcome there will be works done on this section”. Sinkage is an issue cropping up on roads around North Clare, he flagged.

Seconding the proposal, Cllr Shane Talty (FF) stated, “The road is in a deplorable state, I am also interested to hear what the situation is with Uisce Éireann”.

Notes

ENERGY FAIR IN COROFIN

All of North Clare and beyond are invited to attend an Energy Fair at Corofin Community Hall on Oct. 21 at 7:30 p.m. Clare-based professionals including residential solar PV and heat pump installers, insulation experts and one-stop-shop contractors, as well as experts in agricultural systems will set up booths and be available to answer any questions.

This fair is for anyone who is interested in making their home or farm more sustainable, while also saving money. Talk with the experts!

The event is sponsored by the Corofin Sustainable Energy Community, a program of the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland. The Corofin SEC will be launching its Energy Master Plan that night as well. Learn what our village is doing to become more energy efficient. Please mark your calendar and join us. You might win a spot prize! Tea and treats will be served.

An Bord Pleanála gives green light for Moneypoint power station conversion

by Gordon Deegan news@clareecho.ie

AN BORD Pleanála has granted the green light to the ESB to convert the 900MW Moneypoint coal-burning power station in West Clare to Heavy Fuel Oil (HFO).

The appeals board concluded that the proposed development, due to its strict operational parameters as a generator of last resort over a defined period up to the end of 2029, the proposal would be in accordance with national, regional and local planning policies.

The appeals board ruled that the proposed development “will provide a temporary conventionally powered back-up generator to the national electricity grid making the most sustainable use of existing infrastructure and equipment”.

It stated that the converted HFO station “will provide significant backup to the national electricity grid when predicted/projected demands outstrips generation”.

The board did acknowledge that while the operation of the development would generate greenhouse gas emissions, the need for additional conventional generation is recognised as a national priority in the Government Policy Statement on Security of Electricity Supply.

The board points out that the operational timeframe of the converted HFO Moneypoint will stop at the end of 2029 “thereby ceasing emissions from this site, while the

proposed development will result in the cessation of the use of coal as a fuel at the Moneypoint generation station, and the use of HFO will result in fewer emissions arising than coal operations”.

The appeals board has given the scheme the go-ahead after consultants for the ESB, Mott McDonald warned that if Moneypoint doesn’t convert to HFO to produce electricity, winter power outages ma occur the period 2024 to 2029.

MacDonald told the board that if the proposed conversion does not occur “this would have a significant adverse effect, in terms of energy requirements and supply on the island of Ireland”.

The planning application includes the construction of two HFO tanks each with a capacity of 25,000 tonnes and the construction phase will result in the creation of 90 to 100 jobs.

The conversion of money point to gas was ruled out due cost and time necessary. The Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) states that the costs associated with a conversion to gas included an estimated €150 million on a 21km gas pipeline and an additional €90 million to convert the three coal units to gas. The conversion to gas “has the potential to much greater and more complex environmental impacts than the planned HFO conversion.

Figures provided in the extensive documentation lodged with An Bord Pleanála showed that Moneypoint will continue to be a significant contributor from within the

energy sector to greenhouse gas emissions after the conversion from coal to HFO.

The EIS’s chapter on the impact on climate lodged with the application, stated that the proposed development “has a 12% lower emissions intensity than the existing coal-fired plant and presents lower emissions through transition to HFO than a ‘do nothing’ scenario with continued use of coal”.

On the proposed development’s impact on climate, the EIS stated that the proposed development

Kilkee gig for Andy Irvine

by Padraic McMahon padraic@clareecho.ie

SINGER songwriter Andy Irvine is to perform in Kilkee this weekend.

Cultúrlann Sweeney is the venue for Saturday’s concert where Andy will perform his repertoire of Irish traditional songs and dexterous Balkan dance tunes.

Having travelled the world with bands such as Sweeney’s Men, Patrick Street, Planxty, and more recently, Mozaik, Andy continues to pursue new combinations and styles of music. He has broadened his musical horizons over the course of his 40year career to encompass the musical styles of countries he visits, such as the Balkan folk style of playing.

Tickets cost €26, including booking fee, and are available from www. clarearts.ie or 065 9060769

annual emissions “would be approximately 39-46 per cent of total projected Irish energy sector annual emissions if operating in 2030”.

Whereas a HFO operated Moneypoint is estimated to account for 4-5% of projected national emissions across all sectors in 2030, which is the closest projection available.

The EIS also stated that the HFO-operated Moneypoint is to operate “with limited run hours from late 2024 until the end of 2029”.

The EIS also eexplained that the proposed development “will act as an out of market generator of last resort and will operate only when required by EirGrid for security of supply reasons”.

MacDonald stated that the project “aims to ensure that the power station remains viable as an energy generation node until 2029”.

The EIS states that currently Moneypoint “is a strategically important part of the energy generation network” and meets on average ca.12-15% of national demand.

Irish Language Festival to be held in Miltown Malbay for sixth year

The sixth annual Irish-language festival, Éigse Thomáis Uí Aodha festival held will be held by Oidhreacht an Chláir in Miltown Malbay on October 11-12.

The festival is in memory of Tomás Ó hAodha, a major literary and cultural ﬁgure at the time of the Gaelic renaissance and a native of Miltown.

On Friday, October 11 at 8.00pm in Áras OaC (Flag Rd), renowned broadcaster Seán Bán Breathnach will give a talk entitled, 53 bliain ag craoladh: Cumann Lúthchleas Gael mar a bhí agus mar atá, in which he will speak on his remarkable 53-year career as a broadcaster with RTÉ Raidió na Gaeltachta and TG4 and share his thoughts on how the GAA has changed over the years.

There will also be an exhibition of the personal archive of Tomás Ó hAodha, donated to Oidhreacht an Chláir by his family.

On Saturday, October 12 from 10.30am to 12.00 noon, also in Áras OaC, there will be a Ceardlann Amhránaíochta (Singing Work- shop) by Éamon Ó Donnchadha, three-time

winner of Corn Uí Riada, the premier Sean-Nós singing competition.

From 12.15pm to 1.00pm, there will be a visit to the Main St house where Tomás Ó hAodha was born and the Ennis Rd house where he later lived till he moved to Dublin.

From 3.00pm to 5.30pm, there will be Ceol agus Caint in Friel’s bar, featuring; lA Pop-Up Gaeltacht as an opportunity for people to use their Irish in an encouraging and comfortable environment lSongs by Éamon Ó Donnchadha and Tim Dennehy lMusic with Joan Hanrahan (ﬁddle) and Bríd O’Gorman (ﬂute).

All events are free. Fáilte roimh chách. Further information from 085-1611443 or from eolas@oac.ie.

lMoneypoint power station

‘Shannon setting standards for airports globally’ - new report says

by Paraic McMahon paraic@clareecho.ie

SHANNON AIRPORT is “setting the standards for airports globally,”, a new report has found.

In the CXi Report Shannon Airport is named as the highest ranking airport and in fourth place overall in its national customer experience league table.

Top spot was secured in the travel category in Ireland’s Customer Experience Insights (CXi) Report 2024 by Shannon Airport. The national report, widely regarded as a benchmark for customer satisfaction, evaluated 175 organisations, of which 150 were ranked across 11 categories.

Management in Shannon Airport say their rise in the rankings from sixteenth to fourth is a major achievement.

The report praised Shannon

for its friendly staff, efficient security, accessible services, and convenient parking.

Author of the CXi report, Michael Killeen stated, “Shannon is setting the standard for airports globally by actively listening to its customers. As one of only two airports in the world awarded ‘Age Friendly’ status by the WHO and the first in Europe to provide an autism sensory room, Shannon stands out as Ireland’s aviation star. If it keeps its customers to the fore, the only way for Shannon is up”.

Customers highlighted the airport’s seamless security process and relaxed atmosphere, with one noting, “Hassle-free security and a very relaxed experience at Shannon. The best airport to travel through in Ireland”.

CEO of the Shannon Airport Group, Mary Considine com-

mented, “This recognition is a testament to the dedication and teamwork of our staff, and I would like to thank them for the world-class services they provide to our passengers. Achieving fourth place overall and securing the top spot in the travel category is an outstanding achievement. Our ‘making it easy’ promise drives every interaction, and it’s rewarding to see more travellers from all over Ireland choosing Shannon for its convenience and exceptional service”.

In 2017, the airport installed the first airport sensory room in Europe for passengers with sensory needs, in conjunction with its Autism Awareness Programme. In 2022 the airport was designated an Age Friendly airport by the World Health Organisation (WHO), one of only two airports in the world to earn this status.

No lunch chair for 2-year old at creche due to funding loophole Extension approved

A SHANNON creche owner is “very frustrated” at a situation which has left a two-year old without a suitable chair to eat their lunch.

Alex (not real name), who goes to Kidz Haven Crèche, Shannon for playschool has recently been diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy. They have complex needs including being unable to sit unattended without a support seat, and requiring a speciﬁc ‘Roomer buddy walker’ to move and play. Alex, at two and a half years old, is too young for the Early Childhood Care and Education Scheme and as such, Alex gets no AIM (access and inclusion model) support for essential equipment. Creche owner, Siobhan Mulderrig, says that ﬂexibility is needed. “I feel very strongly that there needs to be underage intervention in complex cases like this. Alex is a wonderful little child who wants to be involved with the rest of their peers in the classroom. Unfortunately, without proper equipment we

are struggling to meet their needs.”

At present the creche are sharing a walker from

They love to play with their little friends, they sing and take part in activities which are arranged around their

Alex’s home. This vital piece of equipment is quite heavy and cumbersome which makes transporting it to and from the service every day quite difﬁcult for their parents. There is a high risk of this life-altering piece of equipment being damaged, which Ms Mulderrig considers unacceptable.

“Alex is just like any other two and a half year old.

needs – but Alex cannot even sit at the table and eat their snack with the children due to the lack of a suitable chair. Alex can only walk around and play if their parents drag this cumbersome walker in with them every morning at 8am.”

Local TD Violet-Anne Wynne recently visited the service and met Alex. She had extended a request

from the Dáil ﬂoor for Minister O’ Gorman to join her, but that request went unanswered. “This is the second time this year I have attempted to bring local issues to O’Gorman’s attention,” says Deputy Wynne, “and again, neither he nor any member of his Department were willing to come out and see the effect their policies are having on local people.”

Ms Mulderrig has highlighted Alex’s case to the Minister on numerous occasions, and to date has received no response. She is currently employing a full time SNA at her own expense for Alex - because she believes Alex should be given the same opportunities as their peers. “Alex is an absolute delight to have in our service. They have wonderful parents who have been ﬁghting for them since the day Alex came into the world. These parents will unfortunately have to continue to ﬁght for Alex for the rest of their life.”

for St Aidan’s NS

by Paraic McMahon paraic@clareecho.ie

AN EXTENSION for St Aidan’s National School in Shannon has been conﬁrmed by the Department of Education.

Ofﬁcials in the Department of Education have given the goahead for the development of two new mainstream classes, two new special educational needs classrooms and one special education training place.

Hopes for inclusion of a new school hall in the project have been dashed but school management have said they will keep trying to ﬁnd a way to try make this a reality. “We

are thrilled to ﬁnally get the go ahead to start this project which has been years in the making. It’s such a pity not to have approval for a school hall but we will keep trying,” a spokesperson for the school stated.

Clare TD, Cathal Crowe welcomed the approval from the Department. “I am delighted to have been engaging with St Aidan’s National School to-date and to see this hugely welcome news come through”.

Deputy Crowe pointed out that he is a former “college buddy” and teaching practice partner of St Aidan’s NS principal Patrice Hayes.

St Aidan’s National School

Photo by Joe Buckley

Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne with creche owner Siobhán Mulderrig and one of the children attending the creche

Clare Indian Association celebrate Onam

ONAM Festival was celebrated by the Clare Indian Association Ltd in St Flannan’s College on September 21st.

Mayor of the Ennis Municipal District, Cllr Clare Colleran Molloy (FF) lit the traditional lamp during Onam, noted for its unity in diversity.

Prizes were distributed by Rev. Fr. Joy Njarakattuvely for the winners of sports and cultural activities. Chairman of the Clare Indian Association, Jomon Joseph was among those speaking at the event to welcome all in attendance while an annual report was presented by secretary Vishnu. The four program committee coordinators are Santosh, Tibin, Sanal, and Jithin and the coordinators of traditional dances were Sini Sanjay, Ancy, and Remya.

An approximate 300 families living in Co Clare are from Kerala in South India, most of them are healthcare professionals including doctors, nurses, physiotherapists, social care workers and health care assistances.

Clare Indian Association Ltd works to support the traditions, cultural values, and activities of the Indians. It consists of a director board panel of six members and a sub-committee of 13 members.

King Mahabali visited his people in Ennis and was welcomed by traditional musical instruments.

Onam festivities run for ten days, also known as Thiru-Onam or Thiruvonam, they are celebrated with much pomp across Kerala, state of India as people mark the return of King Mahabali/Maveli. Each day of Onam holds significance.

According to the Malayalam calendar, Onam falls in the month of Chingam, between August and September. Malayalam is the native

language of people from Kerala.

Onam also marks the beginning of the Malayalam year called the Kolla Varsham. The harvest festival marks the return of the kind-hearted and generous King Mahabali/ Maveli to his beloved state Kerala.

According to legends, King Mahabali defeated the Gods and ruled all three worlds. He was a generous and wise leader, but the Gods were insecure about his popularity.

During the festival, people wake up early to take morning baths, deep clean their homes, decorate with flowers and lights, make Pookalam, prepare Onam Sadhya with seasonal vegetables, and paint intricate designs on their front doors with rice flour batter.

Onam Sadhya or Onasadya is a major part of Onam celebrations, featuring over 26 vegetarian dishes prepared with the help of all the family members and eaten on a banana leaf. Mr. Titty the Indian Chef who works in Old Ground Hotel,

Ennis prepared Onam dinner for 300 familes.

Additionally, during Onam celebrations, people wear new clothes and gift jewellery and traditional garments to family members and loved ones. While men choose to buy mundu, girls prefer Pattu Pa-

vada, and women wear Kasavu saree. People also enjoy other cultural activities, including Onakalikal (various games played during the festival), Vallamkali (boat race), Pulikali (a tableau with actors dressed as tigers and hunters), and archery during Onam.

Annual Charity Radio Auction is LIVE

The annual Ennis Lions Club Radio Auction hosted by Clare FM is now live for bidding until Grand Finale on the morning of October 18th. With almost 200 items already pledged and listed and more arriving daily the Lions Project Team are enthusiastic about raising funds for Slainte an Chlair – Clare Cancer Support.

Some interesting items such up for grabs include signed Munster and Clare Jerseys, the use of a qualiﬁed electrician for a day, Cathal Crowe TD hosting a dinner for two in the Dáil restaurant! He said ‘Apart from the many, varied and welcome off the shelf items these things are not something you can usually buy’

Everything from a €17 scented candle to a full blown website development valued at €2,500 can be bid on over the next 10 days.

Project Manager Hans Eisenberg said ‘We are delighted with the response from local businesses – as

always our community is supporting its own. We encourage people to register and browse the items as soon as possible to be in the best position to bid and win’.

Susan Ward commented ‘Each year we are lucky to have some stellar artwork donated and these will be displayed in Kaffeine at the Queens again this year –drop in and see them in re-

ality to consider bidding on them’.

Listen to Clare FM this week and next to hear personal stories of the work that Mary Hewson and her team at Slainte an Chlair are offering to Clare people diagnosed with Cancer.

German coffee & chat group set up in Ennis

For the past eleven years, Ennis has been twinned with Langenfeld in German. Following work to identify native German speakers living in the locality plus those who have worked in Germany or have studied German in school, it has led to the creation of Kaffee Klatsch. Monthly gatherings are held by the coffee and chat group, Kaffee Klatsch who speak in German along with operating a German book exchange.

All German speakers are welcome to attend with the next Kafe Klatsch on Saturday October 19th from 10am to 12pm at glór.

l Onam: Mayor of Ennis and Calre Indian Association celebrates Onam festival

by Padraic McMahon padraic@clareecho.ie

l Signed Munster Jersy

Use October to prepare your garden ready for the winter

OCTOBER is a transformative month in the garden, as the vibrate energy of summer fades and the autumn’ cooler temperature takes over.

Here’s a look at what October brings to the garden.

Bulbs So still plenty of time to plant Spring ﬂowering bulbs like Tulips Daffodils Bluebells, crocus just to name a few. They need cool winter months to establish roots before blooming in Spring.

Vegetable gardens can continue with some variety of veg available Garlic and onion for kitchen gardens you can plant garlic and onion set now

for a summer harvest. Winter vegetables hardy crops like kale spinach and winter lettuce can still be planted especially in a milder climate or under the protection of a cold frame. Now is the time to start preparing your garden for winter. A great way to get your gadren ready for the winter months is to do some mulching. Spread a layer of mulch over ﬂower beds and vegetable beds to protect the soil from the cold prevent weed growth and conserve moisture.

Clean up, remove dead plant and compost healthy material to avoid harbouring pest or diseases.

This is also a good time to clear spent annuals. Raking leaves in October is a common sight especially as trees shed their leaves. It helps keep lawns healthy from suffocating grass and plants. Rake when leaves are dry, its harder when they are wet.

Consider mulching the leaves with the lawn mower or adding them tothe compost pile. The best bonus is that this is a great workout and you get to enjoy the crisp fall

lPrep for the winter: Spread mulch to protect your ﬂower beds

€2m in funding for device to help cancer patients

by Páraic McMahon news@clareecho.ie

GALWAY MedTech company

SymPhysis Medical has secured €2.2m funding for the development of a device to address the condition of fluid in the chest of cancer patients.

The device is called ‘Releaze’ and offers a less invasive alternative to current treatments which can be managed from a patient’s home. Fluid in the chest impacts 50% of end-of-life cancer patients and can cause pain and shortness of breath, it also requires frequent hospital visits for treatment.

The €2.2m funding consists of follow-on investments from Irrus Investments, the MedTech Syndicate and Boole Investments along with capital from Enterprise Ireland and a new private investor. It follows €1.5m in funding announced in December 2023 as the company prepares to launch in the US. In total, SymPhysis Medical aims to raise €6.5m in 2024.

‘Releaze’ is being manufactured in Letterkenny, Co. Donegal, by Phillips Medisize.

Key to its launch in the US will be Food and Drug Administration (FDA) clearance, which SymPhysis Medical aims to receive at the end of 2025. In advance of this, the company seeks to carry out the necessary pre-clinical studies

required by the FDA for the clearance of medical devices. If granted FDA clearance, SymPhysis Medical’s next goal will be to seek the CE mark, which would enable it to market its device in Europe.

Company founders, Tim Jones and Dr Michelle Tierney, identified the unmet clinical need for better treatment as part of the BioInnovate programme run by the University of Galway. “Regardless of how active their condition allows them to be, cancer patients receiving palliative care all have

one thing in common: they are determined to ensure that the time they have remaining is enriched and fulfilling – and that requires as little time in hospital as possible,” Mr Jones said.

Dr Horiana Grosu, Director of Pleural Service in MD Anderson said the new system could be a game-changer. “The insertion process for this device is straightforward and the drainage system is user-friendly, offering patients greater independence”.

Two ‘heroic’ Gort gardai commended

TWO gardaí stationed in Gort who rescued a man trapped in rocks at Kinvara have been awarded commendations with distinction.

Killian Kenny, aged in his 70s, had walked out to a rocky outcrop near Dunguaire Castle late last month while the tide was out. As he waded back to the mainland, his left foot and leg became stuck in the rocks and the tide began to come in rapidly.

When Garda Randal Considine and Garda Shane Riddell were called to the scene, only Mr Kenny’s head was visible above the water.

Garda Riddle ran to grab a life buoy while Garda Considine swam out to the man, freed him from the rocks and brought him to safety.

Emergency services tended to Mr Kenny, and he made a full recovery.

At the presentation, Mr Kenny thanked the gardaí for their fast response. “Had it not been for you, I wouldn’t be here. The tide rose so fast, I could feel it coming up to my

shoulders, then I could feel it coming to my chin.

“Randal, after going down to release my boot from the rocks, swam me back to shore.

“It was heroic. Had it been two minutes later, chances are it would be a different story.”

Receiving his commendation, Garda Considine said: “We’re glad we got there in time, we got a bit of a shock when we looked over the wall and could only see your head.

“We’re happy to have got you out and safely back to your family.”

“Right place, right time,” Garda Riddell added.

Former Clare hurler and two-time All-Ireland winner, Superintendent Ollie Baker of Galway County East Community Engagement said: “Our response in management was one of total admiration for what the two members did.

“They just acted on instinct, and it is a real testament to them; everything they did was phenomenal.”

Kilchreest NS included in CLÁR infrastructure funding

KILCHREEST NS is among 15 community projects across County Galway to benefit following the allocation of €724,000 under the CLÁR 2024 Measure 1 Programme.

Significant funding is directed at enhancing the county’s playgrounds with the inclusion of new equipment, net climbing frames, sensory play equipment and additional seating in Moylough, Woodford, Roundstone, Gort and Clonberne with further grant aid allocated for the development of play facilities at Leenane Community Park.

The investment programme also supports rural communities by sustaining community meeting places, events and activities through the funding of infrastructural upgrades to community centres and halls in Barnadearg, Killererin and Killmordaly.

CLÁR will aid the further development of outdoor facilities including walkways and multi-use games areas at Kilchreest N.S. in , Ballygar N.S., Williamstown and Dunmore combined with investment in community rooms and changing facilities in Clontuskert and renovations to Esker Committee Centre.

Meanwhile, funding has been allocated for the delivery of tennis and basketball courts in Kilconly. Cathaoirleach of Galway County Council, Cllr Albert Dolan (FF) said the funding, which was secured with the support of Gal-

way County Council, “will assist voluntary organisations and schools with the development and upgrade of community and sports facilities, playgrounds, sensory gardens and walking tracks.”

Liam Conneally, Chief Executive of Galway County Council commented,

“The Local Authority is delighted to have supported the funding proposals which have come directly from the community and voluntary organisations. The groups behind these initiatives will each receive an average of €50,000 in capital funding, which is provided at a rate of 90% of eligible expenditure. The projects must be completed within 15 to 18 months”.

Director of Services for Rural, Community and Integration, Jackie Carroll noted the level of interest and efforts by communities.

“Further to an open call for Expression of Interest by Galway County Council in May 2024, 69 applications were received and assessed underlining the level of interest and value of this small-scale infrastructure scheme to communities throughout County Galway,” she explained.

“The combined investment will provide a vital injection of funding to sustain the year-on-year improvements in community amenities which the Department, Galway County Council, and community and local development groups are collectively achieving”.

The Minister for Rural and Community Development Heather Humphreys TD confirmed the funding allocation this week as part of an €11.4 million investment for 264 projects across Ireland under the 2024 CLÁR Programme, representing one of its largest allocations of CLÁR funding to date.

lFUNDING: Irrus Investments lead investor Gerard Ryan with SymPhysis Medical chief scientiﬁc ofﬁcer Michelle Tierney and chief executive Tim Jones

Photo by Aengus McMahon

Beef and Red Wine Stew

INGREDIENTS

n 1 tablespoon unsalted butter

n 2 tablespoons olive oil, divided

n 2 pounds trimmed diced beef from butcher

n Rock salt

n Freshly ground black pepper

n 1 cup ﬁnely chopped onion

n1 tablespoon ﬁnely chopped garlic

n1 tablespoon all-purpose ﬂour or gluten

free ﬂour

n1 (750-milliliter) bottle dry red wine

n 2 bay leaves

n 1 thyme sprig

n 1 (5-ounce) piece of smoked pancetta

n 2 1/4 cups water, divided

n 15 pearl onions, peeled

n 15 cremini mushrooms

n 15 baby carrots, peeled

n Sugar

n Chopped fresh parsley, for garnish

METHOD

Step 1

Preheat the oven to 350°F.

Step 2

In a large enameled cast-iron casserole, melt the butter in 1 tablespoon of the olive oil.

Step 3

Arrange the meat in the casserole in a single layer and season with salt and pepper. Cook over moderately high heat, turning occasionally, until browned on all sides

Step 4

Add the chopped onion and garlic and cook over moderate heat, stirring occasionally, until the onion is softened, 5 minutes

Step 5

Add the ﬂour and stir to coat the meat with it

Step 6

Add the wine, bay leaves, and thyme; season with salt and pepper. Bring to a boil, stirring to dissolve any brown bits stuck to the bottom of the pot.

Step 7

Cover the casserole and transfer it to the oven. Cook the stew for 1 1/2 hours, until the meat is very tender and the sauce is ﬂavorful. Meanwhile, in a saucepan, cover the pancetta with 2 cups of water and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer for 30 minutes

Step 8

Drain the pancetta and slice it 1/2-inch thick, then cut the slices into 1-inch-wide lardons

Step 9

In a large skillet, combine the pancetta, pearl onions, mushrooms, and carrots. Add the remaining 1 tablespoon of olive oil, 1/4 cup of water, and a large pinch each of sugar, salt, and pepper

Step 10

Bring to a boil, cover, and simmer until almost all of the water has evaporated, 15minutes.

Step 11

Uncover and cook over high heat, tossing, until the vegetables are tender and nicely browned, about 4 minutes

To serve; stir some of the vegetables and lardons into the stew and scatter the rest on top as a garnish.

Top with a little chopped parsley

Recommended: serve with creamy mashed potatoes or buttered tagliatelle.

Enjoy!

Clare County Council Supporting Individuals to ‘Live Well Through The Menopause’

A FREE public information event will be held in Ennis to mark World Menopause Day.

Clare County Council, Creative Ireland and Healthy Clare are encouraging individuals to “Live Well Through the Menopause” by supporting a free event at glór on Thursday October 17, the day before World Menopause Day. The event aims to provide valuable insights, support, and resources for people in perimenopause and menopause, with doors open from 9am.

Essential topics such as health and wellbeing, mental health, diet, nutrition, physical activity, sexual health, and pelvic floor health will be covered with a keynote address from Dr Máire Finn of Centric Health Ennis.

Highlighting the importance for individuals to have access to accurate information on signs, symptoms and treatments at this time of change, Noeleen Fitzgerald, Director of Finance and Support Services, Clare County Council, said “Clare County Council is leading the way in this space as an employer. In 2023, our HR department had the pleasure of welcoming Dr. Máire Finn to our organisation to speak with staff. This year, we are supporting our staff to attend this

event during their regular working hours, as we continue to embed our recently launched Menopause Policy in Clare County Council. We are also widening the scope of this year’s Menopause event by inviting the wider community to attend, recognising that people can be supported to live well during this time”.

Mayor of the Ennis Municipal District, Cllr Clare Colleran Molloy (FF) welcomed the initiative,

“Talking about menopause openly is vital for health and wellbeing. People need to know that they are not alone and that there is help available through the services presenting at this event”.

Dr Finn outlined, “Menopause is a natural transition phase of life for women. It can bring many challenges but the more we talk and educate ourselves the better we will manage. We can and should aim to

live well through menopause”.

Events scheduled for the day have a focus on supporting wellbeing and enhancing quality of life including, chatting with friends and colleagues over a tea and scone from 9.15am, creative activities for wellbeing such as Chair Yoga and Mindful Journaling, speaker input and panel discussion from 10am facilitated by Mental Health Ireland with speakers on menopause signs, symptoms, treatments, mental health, physical activity, lifestyle and nutrition from the Ennis Medical, Centric Health, the HSE and Food Choice.

Eva Birdthistle, Creative Communities Engagement Officer, Clare County Council, said, “Creative Ireland is delighted to be part funding this collaborative project. By working together, we are not only strengthening our cultural landscape but also enriching our community’s creativity and engagement”.

Helen Walsh, County Librarian and Creative Ireland co-ordinator, added, “This event embodies our commitment to the Culture and Creativity strategy, fostering a vibrant and inclusive environment for all”.

Samantha McCarthy, Healthy Clare, is encouraging participants

to pose questions as part of the booking process, “During booking, there is an opportunity to ask questions that will be addressed by the panel on the day of the event. Due to the busy schedule, there will not be time on the day for the audience to ask questions. This event is open to all women, healthcare providers, family members and anyone interested in learning more about menopause. Together, we can create a supportive community and foster a better understanding of this natural phase of life. As a community we can learn to live well and improve quality of life during menopause”.

To register for the event scan the QR code below. For more details visit www.glor.ie.

please visit: https://glor.ticketsolve. com/ticketbooth/shows?tags=livingwiththemenopause

EMS Training: perfect solution for athletes and fitness enthusiasts

IN THE ever-evolving world of sports and fitness, athletes and fitness enthusiasts are constantly on the lookout for innovative training techniques that can enhance performance, speed up recovery, and prevent injuries.

Among the many options available, Electrical Muscle Stimulation (EMS) has emerged as a game-changing technology that is quickly gaining traction in the athletic community.

The Science Behind EMS

Electrical Muscle Stimulation works by sending electrical impulses to muscles, mimicking the natural signals that the brain sends to initiate muscle contractions. This stimulation can activate more muscle fibers than conventional exercise, leading to increased strength, endurance, and power. For athletes, this means they can train smarter, not just harder, effectively optimizing their workout sessions.

EMS training can be adapted to

the specifics of a given sport

EMS workout can be tailored to target specific muscle groups. For instance, golf and tennis players rely heavily on core strength, balance, and flexibility for optimal performance. EMS can enhance these key areas by targeting muscles that are often difficult to engage during regular exercise. For golfers, stronger core and back muscles lead to better swing power and posture, while tennis players can benefit from improved agility and explosive movement. EMS also helps reduce the risk of injury by strengthening stabilizing muscles, crucial for both sports.

For football or hurling players, speed, endurance, and recovery are essential. EMS can improve muscular endurance and enhance quick, powerful movements. Football players often see gains in sprinting speed, while hurlers can benefit from more explosive energy on the field. Additionally, EMS aids in quicker recovery after intense matches by increasing

blood flow and promoting muscle repair, allowing athletes to bounce back faster.

Enhanced Recovery and Injury Prevention

Recovery is a critical aspect of any athlete’s training regimen. Intense training sessions can lead to muscle fatigue and soreness, which, if not managed properly, can result in injuries. EMS can significantly aid recovery by promoting blood circulation and reducing muscle soreness. The stimulation enhances nutrient delivery to the muscles, facilitating quicker recovery times. Additionally, EMS can play a vital role in injury prevention. By maintaining muscle activation during periods of reduced activity such as; during injury rehabilitation, athletes can preserve their muscle mass and strength. This is particularly beneficial for athletes returning from injuries, as they can gradually reintroduce their muscles to high-intensity activities without putting undue stress on healing tissues.

Supporting Fitness Enthusiasts EMS is not just for professional football, hurling, or ypu are sprinter or dancer, EMS could be the perfect

l Dr. Máire Finn, Ennis Medical, Centric Health

Clare welcomes its first Wellness Café to support postive mental health

Peer-led Wellness Café - a new initiative for adults supporting positive mental health and social connectedness begins as a pilot in Clare starting with Glór, Ennis as the host venue.

The Wellness Café model comes from the successful county-wide cafés in Donegal. The idea began in 2019 at An Grianán Theatre Letterkenny with a pilot café, that quickly spread out across rural towns and villages where regular social connections within communities were needed and valued.

The Clare group, involved in the setting up of this Wellness Café, come from a variety of backgrounds, sharing a common interest in promoting good mental health, for themselves and for others.

The peer-led model is based on using experience of

mental health challenges and the empathy for recovering mental wellbeing which can be beneficial also to others.

The first Donegal café was led by a peer group who met as part of their mental health journey and were supported by founder Sharon Ferguson as part of mental health service improvement, with the backing of colleagues in local mental health services.

The group had been meeting for a training series and found that they enjoyed the craic over the cup of tea so much that they wanted it to continue, and to reach out to others who might also need it.

Isolation and loneliness can affect anyone, in particular where connections have been lost for any reason. The café offered a supportive environment where socialis-

ing and friendly connection helped drop-in attendees to build confidence. The simplicity of the peer-led model of empowering others means cafés can be self-sustaining. It is a place to go each week, buy your cup of tea or coffee and chat in a safe and friendly supportive atmosphere, with people who value social connectedness for good mental health.

The Clare Wellness Café group was formed with Mental Health Engagement lead Rosemary Ryan. The committee of interested parties comprises adults of different ages, who come together with a variety of life experiences, and is supported by Samantha McCarthy, Clare County Council Healthy Clare programme, Claire Flynn who works with Mental Health Ireland, and

Fionnuala Killoury, ADON Rehabilitation & Recovery.

“Working in Mental Health Engagement, I have met the most fantastic people and staff who have real empathy and resilience. Through life experience, these individuals understand how isolation or loss of social connections can impact on all of our mental health’, explains Rosemary Ryan. After hearing of the Donegal initiative through mental health services, we began to discuss the idea about creating a local engagement meeting and how it might help people in Clare.

Our first meeting took place in glór café in March, and we have been planning towards this launch ever since. Preparations included a trip to Letterkenny to meet the Donegal peer group and experience what a Wellness Café is, ‘which was so uplifting and fun’ states Rosemary. The initial group would like to extend their gratitude to Clare Red Cross, who fa-

cilitated the trip for the initial small group journey, by offering support with transport and a driver. Rosemary, acknowledges the Clare Red Cross as a ‘very valuable service that supports people across Clare’. And for anyone experiencing mental health challenges, ADON Fionnuala sees this as ‘a nice place to go, no expectations, no pressure, just come along’.

The venue in glór provides an ideal space and the ask is simply to stop by. ‘We are there every Monday, between 10:30am-12pm. We welcome people to join us over a cuppa and have a chat. We can offer a space to listen and share social connection which is a wonderful way to start the week.’ says Clare Flynn of Mental Health Ireland. ‘The peerled Wellness Café model has the motto “something for us, with us” and support organisations are in the background assisting as cafes are peer-driven. The café is open to anyone and simply offers

an easy way to connect with others, in a friendly and non judging way. The cafés can also act as a springboard onto other opportunities and expertise shared within the group can lead to engagement in other wellbeing activities happening around County Clare’, explains Healthy Clare Coordinator, Samantha McCarthy. Rosemany states that the ‘visit to Letterkenny gave us a first-hand experience of the café in actiona lovely mix of all ages and abilities and the support organisations that make the Wellness Café a welcoming place where creativity can shine in a supportive environment’. Launching Monday 21 st October in Glór café, 10:3012pm and running as a pilot each Monday (except closed public holidays) in 2024. All welcome. We look forward to seeing you there!

PEER

of the

Clare working to make mental health a priority

MENTAL Health Month takes place throughout October, with October 10th marking World Mental Health Day.

This year, EmployAbility Clare, Clare Libraries and Limerick and Clare Education and Training Board are working in partnership to make mental health and wellbeing a priority, by hosting 3 Connect Café’s on the 9th, 10th and 16th October throughout the County.

Each café will have a programme of speakers and workshops that showcase ways to look after your mental wellbeing, as well as raise awareness of the importance of Connection for the promotion of good mental health. These events are free to attend and all are welcome. Please check the poster for details of events in your local area.

GROUP Members

Wellness Café Development Group - Kamal Ariff, Lily Binti Abas, Deirdre Garrihy, Eilish Neylon, Yvonne Canny, Rosemary Ryan

Clare public need to be all aboard cause to reopen Crusheen railway station

by Padraic McMahon padraic@clareecho.ie

CLARE’S PUBLIC need to be all aboard plans to reopen Crusheen rail station if officials in the capital are to get behind it, Iarnród Éireann’s CEO has said.

At the beginning of September, Repucon Consuting published a socio-economic study for Clare County Council which detailed the huge demand for the reopening of the Crusheen Railway Station on the Western Rail Corridor which is the Galway-Ennis-Limerick rail line.

There is an estimated market of 1,700 commuters and students currently living in the catchment of the station and an estimated economic value to the local economy of €25million arising from associated employment opportunities.

Speaking to The Clare Echo, CEO of Iarnród Éireann Jim Meade said the report “helps the case”. In the past month, he met with Mayor of

Clare, Cllr Alan O’Callaghan (FF), elected members of the Killaloe Municipal District and senior planner with the Council, Brian McCarthy to discuss the plans.

“It helps them as a local authority because it goes into their development plan as to what is needed for the infrastructure. I would support the reopening of the station, I’m a railway person, we like to see new infrastructure and that helps the debate with the National Transport Authority and with the Department of Transport”.

Meade felt there was a reason to be hopeful that the station which closed to passenger traffic in 1976 can be reopened. “The people of Crusheen are right to be optimistic because if the people of Crusheen and Clare don’t believe this can be delivered then it is very hard for somebody up in Dublin to believe it, we have to support it, they do support and believe it, the local councillors, the local people and the people of Clare believe in it so

that is always a good sign”.

Senator Roisin Garvey (GP) said the Minister for Transport, Eamon Ryan (GP) is happy to meet representatives from Crusheen to discuss the plans.

According to Senator Garvey, the National Transport Authority (NTA) are unaware that reopening Crusheen is “an easy win for the county”. She stated, “the Cratloe and Shannon rail spur is key, it could take five years, we need to look at greenways not just rail tracks. Crusheen is very time effective, I want Cratloe and Shannon, the NTA are talking about Cratloe and not Crusheen yet Crusheen is something that could happen ASAP”.

Clare TD, Cathal Crowe (FF) told a recent briefing organised by Ennis Chamber, “everyone wants the rail spur linking Cratloe, Bunratty and Shannon, it can happen but what can happen a hell of a lot sooner is Crusheen. Clare County Council have the plan done and it

can be delivered”. ”.

Addressing the briefing, Brian McCarthy of the Council said, “we see Crushee being of benefit. We have no role in advancing the

train station but we have produced a socio-economic study to help the case”.

l All Aboard: huge demand for re-openign Crusheen Railway Station according to Clare County Coucil

Photo by Irish Rail

Clare environmental groups protest after overturned Shannon LNG decision

by Padraic McMahon

ENVIRONMENTAL campaign groups from Clare are among those calling on the Government to halt the Shannon LNG.

Futureproof Clare joined groups including Love Leitrim, Future Generations Kerry, Extinction Rebellion Ireland and Slí Eile in protesting outside the Dáil on Wednesday where they delivered an open letter to the Government calling on them to ban the LNG.

In the past two weeks, the High Court overturned a decision by An Bord Pleanála, refusing permission for the proposed gas terminal. Shannon LNG wants to con-

struct a power plant, battery energy storage system and a re-gasification unit, on a 630-acre site between Tarbert and Ballylongford.

Last September, the planning board ruled that it would be inappropriate to permit such a development, pending the completion of an ongoing review of energy supply. An Bord Pleanála said the project was “contrary to Government policy and therefore contrary to the proper planning and development of the area”.

Emanuela Ferrari of Futureproof Clare said, “Minister Ryan removed the ban on the premise of needing a ‘strategic reserve’. He said it would be ‘State-Led’, which just means a commercial

terminal that is regulated by the state. Eamon Ryan admitted himself in the Sunday Business post last week that LNG is unsuitable for storage, due to boil-off gas. He basically admits that LNG constantly needs to feed gas into the system and therefore cannot be used as a ‘Strategic reserve’. Despite this, he says at the end of this article that he would still like to get An Bord Pleanála to apply conditions to make it a ‘strategic reserve’. We are worried that the government is using this crisis to promote their own ‘state-led’ LNG terminal”.

Clare based architect, Melína Sharp commented, “The Irish government have a policy to build as many

data centers as big tech companies want. Ireland is becoming a carbon haven for these companies. They are expected to take more than 30% of our electricity grid by 2030. And when they go through planning their emissions seem to go through the Emissions trading scheme, so they are pretty much written off so they say ‘that’s fine’ when in reality this pollution is occurring here and these data centers each have the emissions of a large town like Kilkenny. This is driving the construction of new gas power plants, some of which are powering ‘islanded’ data centers and are actually just built for the sole purpose of powering a data center”.

Scariff based activist, Sinéad Sheehan stated, “I believe that we have the power to stop this. We had the ban in 2021, it was the people who made that happen by getting out on the street. The climate crisis is worsening with every year, people

will not accept this and all government parties have a responsibility to live up to their promise, but especially the greens and minister for energy Eamon Ryan, this is your policy. Our demands are clear and we will not accept anything less”.

padraic@clareecho.ie

l Shannon LNG

Hyperbaric Oxygenation: Supporting Women’s Health

I RECENTLY gave a talk on the benefits of hyperbaric oxygenation (HBOT) for women’s health and it was a stark reminder of the many medical conditions that disproportionately affect women.

As a woman you are more likely to suffer painful and sometimes debilitating medical conditions. But why do these health issues target women so disproportionately? A significant factor lies in the constant hormonal changes women go through during different life stages; puberty, menstruation, pregnancy, and menopause. These hormonal shifts are believed to play a direct role in many of the health challenges women face. For example, the fluctuating levels of oestrogen and progesterone can influence the immune system and trigger a cascade of inflammation, joint pain, and other symptoms. Now when I say a dispro-

portionate amount, I really mean it. 75% of those diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis are women! As a woman you are 4 times more likely to be diagnosed with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and 3 times more likely to suffer migraines. For some women, these aren’t just occasional headaches but frequent, severe episodes that disrupt both personal and professional life. This highlights the urgent need to find solutions and supports for female health such as HBOT. Through scientific studies, it’s become clear that HBOT can help alleviate many of the symptoms women face. The underlying issues in these conditions are inflammation and an overactive immune response. These are two areas that HBOT has been proven to have a positive effect on. When we breathe oxygen under normal conditions, our blood already carries a decent amount, but by increasing oxygen intake

under pressure, HBOT helps saturate even hard-to-reach tissues. Imagine a sponge soaking up every last drop of water—it’s similar to what happens to our cells in a hyperbaric chamber with oxygen.

Hyperbaric oxygenation reduces inﬂammation by providing extra oxygen to cells, which helps the body heal faster and diminishes the inﬂammatory response. For women with conditions like rheumatoid arthritis or even menstrual pain, this can be life-changing.

For conditions like rheumatoid arthritis or lupus, which are autoimmune diseases, the immune system becomes overactive, attacking healthy tissue. HBOT has been shown to help modulate the immune response, preventing it from attacking the body without completely shutting it down. This is crucial for autoimmune conditions where striking a balance is key.

Thought for the week: Stop comparing yourself to others

Spreading the word of positivity

SOMETIMES at the start of a new week we are afraid to wish or pray for good things.

A lot of us spend our time stuck in regret, wishing things, comparing our lives to others. Comparing yourself to others is a dangerous way to determine your success.

If you ﬁnd yourself comparing yourself to others, you’re not alone. Throughout my life, I have had a bad habit of comparing myself to others. I always came up short. I felt I wasn’t smart enough, strong enough, caring enough, spiritual enough, just not good enough. Because of that, I was stuck in a mediocre life for quite awhile. I’ve learned one valuable truth; the measuring stick of comparison will get you stuck. Comparison is the thief of joy that’s kept many of us from stepping into our God-given destinies. Comparison opens the door for sabotag-

ing ourselves, steals our conﬁdence and stymies our courage.

As long as you’re comparing yourself, you’ll be frustrated because you’ll always ﬁnd somebody that looks like they have it better than you.

THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK

Don’t compare yourself to others but instead dare to dream. More importantly, dare to put action behind your dreams and be the best you can be. Know and trust that you are enough. Be grateful for all the good things in your life.

In ﬁnishing I would like to give you this prayer of gratitude; “Thank you, God. I’m grateful for so many things that you have given me. I am grateful for the gift of life that you have given me with all its ups and downs. Without you I wouldn’t be here.

I’m grateful for my beautiful and loving parents. They love me with every breath of their being, Help me to be a grateful child, and remind me to be grateful in person.

I am grateful for my friends. God, you show your love for me

Another important beneﬁt of HBOT is improved circulation. For women dealing with poor circulation or vascular problems (common in migraines and autoimmune diseases), HBOT helps oxygenate tissues that are otherwise deprived, promoting healing and reducing pain. Think of

through my friends. They help me to laugh. And they help me to laugh at myself. That alone is reason to be thankful.

I am grateful for my family. I’m thankful that, I’m part of a family that has helped to make me the person I am. Help me to be a good family member, trying to help out when I can, make the phone call or pay a visit when they’re lonely.

I am grateful for my job. Help me to be a good colleague, to give people the beneﬁt of the doubt. And help me remember that all work done freely and with a loving heart is worthy in your sight.

I’m grateful for the food and clean water that is easily available. Help me to be grateful, and help me remember that I can help those who have less by being generous, caring, compassionate, merciful and loving. Most of all, God, I’m grateful for your presence in my life. This week I will try to be grateful for family, friends, colleagues and everything in my life every day, since you are generous to me, like you are every time. Amen.”

it like improving the plumbing in your house—better ﬂow, fewer clogs, and fewer problems down the line.

While hyperbaric oxygenation offers beneﬁts for everyone, it is particularly promising for women, given the unique health challenges they face. The complex

hormonal ﬂuctuations that contribute to autoimmune conditions, migraines, and chronic pain can now be better managed. Whether it’s reducing inﬂammation, boosting immunity, or improving circulation, HBOT offers real, tangible improvements in quality of life.

Éigse Thomas Uí Aodha i Sráid na Cathrach

Macalla an Chláir

LE MACDARA Ó CONAOLA

Beidh an Éigse ar s siúl 11ú- 12ú Deireadh Fómhair. Biedh Go leor imeachtaí Breathnaigí ar chlár imeachtaí ar siúl i rith on deireadh seachatine.

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AN BHFUIL SCÉAL LE ROINNT AGAIBH ?!

Bígí i dteagmháil linn agus leanaigí ar Facebook agus Twitter muid ag: @macallaanchlair R-phost: macallaanchlair@gmail.com

lTreatment: Hyperbaric oxygenation

Collins Jewellers celebrates 70 years sparkling customer service

by Jane Hinchy news@clareecho.ie

IN THE heart of Ennis town, a family legacy has thrived for over five decades at Collins Jewellers.

However the story begins earlier than that, as patriarch Christy Collins has worked passionately in the industry for over 70 years.

Initially trained as an optical technician at Maurer’s on O’Connell Street, Christy’s journey began under the mentorship of Bernie Maurer. While studying at the Technical school in Ennis Bernie Maurer recognized Christy’s potential in arithmetic and selected him for an apprenticeship at the tender age of 15.

From optics to jewellery, Christy mastered his craft over the years, even meeting his wife, Loyola, along the way.

Christy worked at Maurer’s for 18 years before deciding to establish Collins Jewellers alongside his wife Loyola in 1973 on Parnell Street. The family business moved to 61 O’Connell Street in 1973 and in 1976 they purchased 63 O’Connell Street, where the business stands today.

A father of three and grandfather of seven, Clarecastle native Christy has seen the industry evolve dramatically over many decades, moving away from the optical side of the business in the 1990s to focus exclusively on the craft of jewellery. “When I first began, everything was done by hand,” he recalls. “Now, we have laser machines and advanced tools that speed up the process.”

During The Clare Echo’s visit to Collins Jewellers, Christy was working on a bespoke, golden bracelet in the workshop. He emphasises

l A Family Affair: Founders Christy & Loyola Collins

the importance of integrity in their work. “Whatever we say we’re going to do we will do it, we only do what is right,” he states. Christy adds that transparency and educating the shop visitor about the gold, silver, and various stones they use is of utmost importance in gaining the trust of their loyal customer base.

“To give one piece of advice in all my years of business, you have to be honest,” he explains, recounting his 50+ years of running a successful family business.

Today, Christy’s son, Tadg, continues the family tradition, specialising in diamonds after receiving his education abroad, “Tadg does most of the jewellery work, while I focus on repairs”. Christy’s daughter Janice also works alongside the rest of her family.

Outside of work, gardening is a main hobby for Christy, providing an escape from the demands of running a business. “I’ve enjoyed my career,” he says, highlighting the fulfilment that comes from his job. At 85 years young Christy continues to work five days per week. Crafting bracelets and custom pieces remains a joy for him. “Someone can come up with an idea, and we’ll bring it to life.”

Christy adds that he is deeply fulfilled by the sentimental thoughts and power evoked by pieces of jewellery crafted at O’Connell Street, which he hopes will pass through families for generations to come. “I love the thought that the jewellery will last and still be there and have a long life after many years”.

Profits decline 18pc to $12.55 at Shannon based Element Six

by Gordon Deegan news@clareecho.ie

Pre-tax proﬁts at industrial diamond manufacturer, Element Six decreased by 18pc to $12.55m (€11.3m) last year.

New accounts ﬁled by the Shannon based company show that Net proﬁts decreased after revenues declined by 12pc from $218.8m to $191.5m.

The directors for Element Six Ltd state that macro headwinds particularly in the oil and gas and global automative sector resulted in the 12pc decline in revenues in 2023.

The directors state “to help mitigate these challenges, the directors have continued to focus on tight cost control and on operational excellence to help drive improvement in yield and in production processes”.

They state that various operational and working capital initiatives have been out in place to help improve the underlying performance of the business.

They add that the Element Six group continues to invest in Research and Development (R&D) in new products and technologies. It is expected that these will yield increased market share and market growth in an ever increasing environment.

The company’s R&D spend last year totalled $8.63m compared to $8.2m in 2022.

The company last year paid out $10m in dividends which was down from the $30m dividend payout in 2022.

Last year the company received dividends of $6.55m and this was down sharply on the $15.76m dividends received in 2022.

The markets mainly served

by the company’s industrial diamond are the US, China, Japan and all countries in the EU.

The directors state that the main risks and uncertainties facing the company include low cost competition from Eastern European and Asian suppliers, commodity price ﬂuctuations impacting consumer demand and ﬂuctuating currency exchange rates.

Last year, the company recorded an operating proﬁt of $4.32m and this followed an operating loss of $1.05m in 2022 - a positive swing of $5.37m.

The dividend of $6.55m along with net interest payments received of $1.66m resulted in the pre-tax proﬁt of $12.55m.

Numbers employed at the company last year declined from 456 to 431 that included 188 contractors.

The ﬁrm’s 243 directly employed workforce also includ-

ed 121 in production, 70 in ﬁnance and administration, 30 in engineering and 22 in sales and marketing.

The company’s staff costs last year declined from $35.98m to $34.32m. The proﬁts last year also take

account of non-cash depreciation costs of $6.05m and non-cash write downs of $1.69m.

Pay to directors declined from $1.3m to $1.2m. In a post balance sheet event in May a new revolving credit facility was agreed for the group for $135m. At the end of December last, shareholder funds totalled $124.74m that included accumulated proﬁts of $106m.

l Crafted wih care: a handmade bracelet by Christy Collins

Packed house for Deloitte’s Budget 2025 Breakfast Briefing in the Old Ground Hotel

BUDGET 2025, the ﬁnal budget in this coalition’s life cycle, was delivered by Minister for Finance, Jack Chambers, and Minister for Public Expenditure & Reform, Paschal Donohoe, on Tuesday, 1 October 2024. Budget 2025 was a bumper budget package, with a net tax package of €1.4 billion, a cost of living package of €2.2 billion and an expenditure package of €6.9 billion.

Fergal Cahill (Tax Partner, Deloitte) and his team held a Budget Breakfast Brieﬁng on Wednesday, 2 October 2024 in the Old Ground Hotel, Ennis, where they were joined by a panel of Entrepreneurs, Gavan O’Sullivan, Vicki O’Toole and Gearoid Whelan, who had all successfully exited from their businesses. As the audience listened to their diverse stories, one common theme stood out, their resilience and determination to succeed in the face of various personal and business challenges. It was a powerful reminder of the essence of entrepreneurship - the unwavering drive to persevere in the pursuit of success, no matter the obstacles.

Some of the key tax measures announced in Budget 2025, as highlighted by Karen Galvin and Claire Burns, included the changes made to CGT Retirement Relief, an increase in CAT Thresholds for the ﬁrst time since 2019, the narrowing of the scope to claim Agricultural Relief from CAT and some notable rises in Stamp Duty. A summary of the measures announced in Budget 2025 included:

Changes for Individuals

• The standard rate band for income tax (the amount of income that is subject to tax at the 20% rate) is to be increased by €2,000 to €44,000 per individual.

• A number of tax credits were increased –personal tax credit, employee tax credit, earned income credit (by €125), home carer and single parent tax credits (by €150), rent tax credit (by credit (by €250), incapacitated child and blind persons tax credit (€300) and dependent relative tax credit (by €60).

• The 4% rate of USC will be reduced to 3%, a second consecutive reduction in this rate. The entry threshold for the 3% USC rate also rises by €1,622 to €27,382.

• The temporary one-year mortgage interest relief, announced in Budget 2024, will be extended for one more year. Homeowners who had a mortgage balance of between €80,000 to €500,000 on their primary dwellings on 31 December 2022, will be able to avail of the relief, in respect of the increased interest paid on their mortgage in 2024 compared to the interest paid in 2022.

Changes for Businesses

• There were some positive measures announced for businesses, including extensions for Employment Investment Incentive (“EII”), Start-Up Relief for Entrepreneurs, and the Start-Up Capital Incentive until the end of 2026. An increase in maximum relief for the EII Scheme to €1,000,000 and the relief available under the Start-Up Relief for Entrepreneurs scheme increased to €980,000 were welcome, as well as an increase to the lifetime limit for Angel Investor Relief, to €10 million.

• There was also an increase in the ﬁrst-year cash repayment of the Research and Development tax credit to €75,000, an increase to the Small Beneﬁt Exemption to €1,500, as well as the introduction of a BIK exemption for the provision of a facility for the electric charging of vehicles at employees’ homes.

• On the international front, the long-awaited dividend participation exemption for foreign dividends was also formally announced, to come into operation from 1 January 2025.

Stamp Duty Changes

• A new 6% stamp duty rate will apply on consideration over €1.5 million on the purchase of residential property. The 1% rate will continue to apply on values up to €1 million, with 2% applying to the value between €1 million to €1.5 million; and 6% applying on

the excess.

• The stamp duty rate on bulk acquisitions of 10 houses or more has increased from 10% to 15%.

Succession Planning Changes

• There was a welcome increase to CAT-free thresholds:

o Group A: Increased to €400,000 (broadly transfers to children);

o Group B: Increased to €40,000 (transfers from lineal relatives/siblings); and

o Group C: Increased to €20,000 (transfers between all other parties).

While the higher thresholds are a positive development for succession planning, further increases given the ever-increasing price of housing, would be welcomed in future budgets.

• Budget 2024 made signiﬁcant amendments to Retirement Relief from CGT, scheduled to take effect from 1 January 2025, including a welcome increase in the age threshold from 66 to 70 years old. A cap of €10 million proceeds was also introduced in Budget 2024 where previously there was no cap up to age 66. Budget 2025 retains the upward increase to age 70 and also introduces a clawback of the relief where the €10 million proceeds are exceeded, and the business assets are disposed of by the child within 12 years. This effectively provides a full exemption from any gain where the child retains the business assets for 12 years or more. Fergal and his team supported this change, as a good out-

come to facilitate intergenerational transfers of family businesses.

• Budget 2025 also announced a signiﬁcant change to Agricultural Relief, which provides a 90% CAT relief on the transfer of agricultural assets. It will now be necessary for the transferor to actively farm the lands for 6 years prior to the disposal. It seems the intention of this provision is to safeguard agricultural relief for genuine farmers however this may have more far-reaching consequences than intended and we await the Finance Bill for further detail.

In light of the changes to Retirement Relief and CAT, businesses should be encouraged to consider succession planning before the end of the year to assess whether action is required.

Fergal Cahill is a Tax Partner in the Private Client tax team with Deloitte, Limerick. He joined Deloitte as a Partner in June 2022 following the successful merger of his Ennis-based tax advisory practice, Cahill Taxation Services.

Fergal has over 25 years of experience advising a broad range of clients including private business owners, high-net-worth individuals, and families on all aspects of their tax affairs. He has particular expertise in dealing with family business succession, business exits, corporate reorganisations, tax controversies, and property transactions.

l Panellists Vicki O'Toole (iNED), Gavan O'Sullivan (Nortev), and Gearoid Whelan (JFW Renewables)

l Full House Attending the Deloitte Breakfast Briefing at the Old Ground Hotel Ennis

l Briefing Claire Burns, Fergal Cahill and Karen Galvin

Networking Ireland honour for Shannon Region Conference and Sports Bureau

NETWORK Ireland honours the head of the Shannon Region Conference and Sports Bureau, Karen Ronan for her work to attract business and sports tourism to the Shannon Region over the past two decades at Network Ireland’s annual Businesswoman of the Year Awards for 2024.

The awards ceremony celebrated the success of women in business across eight categories. Karen Ronan, General Manager of the Bureau received the ‘Judges’ Highly Commended’ award in the ‘Networker of the Year’ category for her contribution to Mid-West economy.

Having previously worked with Bord Fáilte (Fáilte Ireland) and in various sales and marketing roles within the hospitality sector, Ms. Ronan was appointed to her current role with the Bureau in 2003.

The public-private partnership has since provided a free service to hundreds of organisations, event organisers and local ambassadors to help increase the Shannon Region’s share of the lucrative international business and sports tourism market. These efforts have resulted in an economic impact of over €150 million for the wider Shannon re-

lBusiness woman of the year: Karen Ronan, General Manager Shannon Region Conference and Sports Bureau

gion, including Limerick, Clare, Tipperary and Offaly.

sports events, including The World Tag Rugby Championship, European School Chess Championships, The Outing, European Ultimate Frisbee Championships, World Wallball Championships, World Rural Health Conference and the Oceans Conference,” stated Ms. Ronan.

“Network Ireland is a fantastic organisation which supports the professional and personal development of women,” added Ms. Ronan. “As former President of the Limerick Branch of Network Ireland, I can speak to the opportunities that it presents to everyone to connect, learn and share ideas.”

“Winning this accolade is a huge honour for me and I dedicate it to the massive team effort involved delivering events in the conference, corporate and sports sector for the region,” commented Ms. Ronan, who was nominated for the award by the Limerick Branch of Network Ireland.

Shannon to Porto;

by Kieran Murphy

Shannon airport is now offering direct flights to Porto in Northern Portugal. Getting away for a sunny city break has neer been easier and what better place to relax than the Portugals Northern coast. Our man Kieran Murphy jetted off to Northern Portugal with Shannon Airport nd visit Portugal to see all Northern Portugal had to offer.

Day 1:

The trip began with an unforgettable culinary experience at Cantinho do Avillez. The menu is a blend of traditional Portuguese dishes with a modern twist.

After lunch, we embarked on a walking tour around Porto’s historical centre, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The city was filled with narrow cobblestone streets, colourful buildings, and stunning azulejos (traditional Portuguese tiles).

We strolled along the Ribeira district, where the vibrant riverside atmosphere, street performers, and charming cafes capture the essence of Porto’s old-world charm.

For a unique view of Porto and its neighbouring city, Vila Nova de Gaia try out the Six Bridges Boat Cruise. The 50-minute cruise takes you along the Duoro River and through, you guessed it, six bridges offers each of its own architectural style and history.

She continued, “The Bureau works collaboratively with Fáilte Ireland, the local authorities in Clare, Limerick, Tipperary and Offaly, Shannon Airport and all tourism stakeholders in the region to attract events of substantial scale

and impact that boost the local economy and showcase the region’s capability to host events of international standard.”

“Hundreds of ambassadors have been actively working with the Bureau in recent years to help attract thousands of people to the region through a range of business and

get the most from weekend

We ended our day with a delightful dinner at Vinum Restaurant, Vinum focuses on local ingredients and traditional Portuguese cuisine. The restaurant’s terrace boasts a stunning view over the Douro River and the city of Porto. The perfect spot for a romantic dinner. That night we stayed at the 5-Star Boeira Garden Hotel. From the moment we arrived, we were greeted with warm hospitality and a sense of serenity that immediately made us feel at ease. Nestled within lush, beautifully landscaped gardens, offering a peaceful escape.

Day 2

Our first stop was the Bom Jesus do Monte Sanctuary, a

UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the most famous pilgrimage sites in Portugal. The sanctuary is renowned for its grand Baroque staircase that zigzags up to the church, offering breath taking views.

You can reach the top by climbing the 577 steps or taking the historic funicular, one of the world’s oldest water-powered cable cars. We took the cable car!

We enjoyed lunch at Restaurante Panorâmico, conveniently located near the sanctuary. This restaurant is aptly named for its panoramic views over Braga and the surrounding countryside.

We then headed down

to the centre of Braga for a walking tour through the charming city.

The centre is also filled with quaint shops, cafes, and bakeries where you can enjoy a pastel de nata (custard tart) or sip a refreshing vinho verde.

In the late afternoon, we departed for Ponte de Lima, a charming town known for its medieval architecture, stunning landscapes, and the iconic Lima River that runs through it. The car journey from Braga to Ponte de Lima took about 30 minutes and it provided us with a scenic drive through the beautiful Minho countryside.

That evening, we headed to the Terra Rosa Country

Commenting on Network Ireland’s annual Businesswoman of the Year Awards, National President of Network Ireland Linda Codoul said, “We had an overwhelming response to this year’s call-out for entries and I’d like to thank all our members who took the time to apply. The theme of my presidency has been ‘a step ahead’ and all 90 finalists across the categories are just that. I’d like to congratulate them, and our eight winners, who have really excelled in their fields – they are worthy role models for businesswomen throughout Ireland.”

in Portugal

House, a charming countryside retreat surrounded by Vineyards. This for me, was the highlight of our wonderful trip to Northern Portugal. Ponte de Lima; famous for its flower-filled squares, traditional markets, and friendly locals truly lived up to it’s reputation as we stumbled upon the family-friendly Festa Do Vinho Verde. We soaked up the welcoming atmosphere while sampling the food and the wines of many local producers.

Day 3:

We began our final day in Northern Portugal with a golf clinic at Axis Ponte de Lima Golf Resort, This 18hole golf course is renowned for its picturesque landscape, featuring challenging fairways surrounded by mountains, vineyards, and small farms.

We drove for approximately 2 hours through the beau-

tiful countryside to Arouca.

Upon arrival, we indulged in a traditional Portuguese lunch at a local restaurant.

After lunch, the Arouca Suspension Bridge. Spanning 516 meters across the Paiva River Gorge, this is the longest pedestrian suspension bridge in the world. Our next stop was a guided river trekking adventure in Rio Paiva, known for its crystal-clear waters and pristine natural beauty. We wandered through shallow waters, navigated over rocks, and even swam in natural pools, all under the supervision of our experienced guide.

We ended our trip in Porto, where we spent the night at the eco-friendly NEYA Porto Hotel. We relaxed in one of their stylish rooms where we enjoyed a peaceful evening on the terrace overlooking the river.

lArouca Suspension Bridge

lOld-world charm: the historic city of Porto

Photo by Visit Portugal

Photo by Visit Arouca

news@clareecho.ie

Inagh-Kilnamona penalty defeat 'hard to take'

TUS CLARE SHC SEMI-FINAL

SIXMILEBRIDGE 0-28 Inagh-Kilnamona 1-25 (SMB win 4-3 on penalties) Venue: Cusack Park, Ennis

Compiled by Páraic McMahon & Eoin Brennan

STORY OF THE GAME

SIXMILEBRIDGE

Frees for: 20 (7/6/4/3)

Wides: 11 (3/5/2/1)

Spread of scorers: 7

Scores from play: 0-15

Top scorer: Alex Morey (011 9f)

Yellow Card: Jamie Shanahan (33), Shane Golden (41 & 63)

Red Card: Shane Golden (63) Own puckouts won: 32 from 45 (71%)

INAGH/KILNAMONA

Frees for: 12 (3/5/2/2)

Wides: 19 (9/6/2/2)

Spread of scorers: 7

Scores from play: 1-17

Top scorer: Aidan McCarthy (0-13 8f)

Yellow Card: David Fitzgerald (13), Seamus Foudy (17), Sean Rynne (24), Hugh Paddy O’Byrne (coach) (25), Keith White (28 & 55), Shane Woods (58), Aidan McCarthy (65).

Red Card: Keith White (55), Own puckouts won: 29 from 39 (74%)

REFEREE: Aaron Hogg (Clonlara)

“

MANAGER COMMENT

Stiofan Fitzpatrick, Sixmilebridge:

“It’s probably no way to finish a game but for fellas to stand up and take them on both sides, there’s great credit due to those lads. We’re just delighted and relieved that we came out on the right side of the result as Inagh/ Kilnamona are the up-and-coming team, they’re the team that’s supplying the county with play-

ers at underage so I’ve no doubt that they will be back here next year. I just have to take my hat off to both sets of players there because it was an epic encounter.

“This performance just reemphasised to us what a group of players we have. I mean you can have all the medals in the world but if you don’t still have

the desire, composure, discipline and application that these lads have to come training and to put in the effort and to do the long nights in the winter and go to the gym and do what’s asked of you, then it won’t happen for you.

“There’s no guarantee that with the experienced players

we have that you won’t get injured or that you would even be successful. We didn’t get out of the group last year so I think that sank in that their days are numbered and therefore these are days to be cherished and enjoyed.

“With Clare winning the All-Ireland, the club champi-

onship has become a showpiece event so there’s a great buzz around the county and now there’s be a great buzz around the ‘Bridge as well over the next two weeks at least.

“Feakle’s story is even more dramatic as it’s 36 years since they were last in a final so they will come with all guns blazing

so we’ll need to step up again”.

“It is hard to take. We all knew the rules beforehand so we’re not complaining about the penalties or anything like that. Once you get to penalties, you’re at the mercy of a lottery really whereas we felt that we had chances to win the game in real time and extra-time so we can’t have any complaints and we just have to get on with it now, learn from it and move forward.

“All the good teams will hit back at you if you don’t put them away so there are real learnings in that for us. When you are on top and you have your purple patch, you need to make the scores count on the board and look, it just didn’t happen for us, we weren’t able to shake them off and the longer they stayed in the game, the happier they were.

“This experience will hopefully be invaluable to [the young players] and I’ve no doubt that all the lads can learn from this”.

Feakle players 'made a promise to themselves'

TUS CLARE SHC SEMI-FINAL

Feakle 1-17 Cratloe 1-15

Venue: Cusack Park, Ennis

Compiled by Seamus Hayes

STORY OF THE GAME

FEAKLE

Frees For: 11 (7/4)

Wides: 8 (5/3)

Scores from play: 1-11

Spread of scorers: 8

Top scorer: Shane McGrath (0-11 6f)

Bookings: Shane McGrath (19); Patrick Daly (35)

Own puckouts won: 27 out of 33 (82%)

CRATLOE

Frees For: 19 (8/11)

Wides: 17 (5/12)

Scores from play: 1-8

Spread of scorers: 4

Top scorer: Rian Considine (0-8 7f)

Bookings: David Collins (4); Daithi Collins (19)

Own puckouts won: 19 out of 26 (73%)

REFEREE: John Bugler (Whitegate)

MANAGER COMMENT “

Ger Conway, Feakle:

“We came here last year and we felt we didn’t do ourselves justice. The lads made a promise to themselves that they were going to leave everything out there and try and get into a county final and, thank God, it did happen.

“Conditions were very bad. It was raining all the time coming up to the match but thankfully

SCAN HERE FOR MATCH REPORT

it did stop for the game but there were patches of the field that there was water on. It was very hard for players to keep their feet especially at the pace games are being played at now. Great credit is due to both sets of players for the game they provided.

“We were under no illusions coming in here today. Cratloe

are there or there about for the last 10 or 12 years, they are brilliant hurlers, Conor McGrath, the Collins, Rian Considine, Diarmuid Ryan, they have oceans of hurling. We knew what we were going to get from Cratloe. They were going

to leave everything out here. You have to admire them the way they keep hurling and football at the top level.

“Thirty six years since the title went to Feakle, it was brilliant in ‘88. We are a long time in the doldrums since. We were down

in intermediate for a while. This bunch of players have worked tremendously hard for the last couple of years. There has been bits of underage success. We won a few 21A’s, this team has been building, there is no doubt about it. They deserve their crack at a county final.

“We don’t know yet the seriousness of Evan McMahon’s injury. If he is out he will be an awful loss to us as he marshals the centre of the defence for us. Hopefully it may not be as bad as it seems. We have been lucky enough on the injury front all year”

“The wides in the second half cost us. We fought very hard and we cannot fault the lads from that point of view but the wides cost us in the long run. It was just one of those days. Obviously the swirling breeze had a bit of an effect.

“The loss of Sean and Podge Collins was a big blow, no team can do without that talent. We have a few young fellas coming

in and Oisin (Collins) and Cathal (Lohan) did well today. We brought Podge on because we need something at that stage. We were hoping and praying that he would get through and, thank God, he did. We have to look at the future as well. We have plenty of experienced fellas on the team but we have a few young fellas coming as well.

“Cratloe GAA is in a good place, we have a few young fellas coming through and, obviously, we would have preferred if they had come through earlier. I am hoping that all the rest of the fellas will stay on and make those young fellas fight for their places and make them better hurlers. It will take a while for the young fellas to blend in. It’s a good group, they all buy into everything we do. It’s disappointing now. We came here to win, our aim was to win the county championship."

SCAN HERE FOR MATCH REPORT

Tomas Kelly, Inagh-Kilnamona:

l Derek Fahy saves a penalty in the shootout

Photo by Gerard O'Neill

Mike Deegan, Cratloe coach:

l Cathal McInerney is held up by Adam Hogan

Photo by Gerard O'Neill

'A parish of leaders' in Coroﬁn

TUS CLARE SHC RELEGATION FINAL

Coroﬁn 2-18 O'Callaghan's Mills 1-18

Venue: Fr Murphy Memorial Park, Newmarket-on-Fergus

Compiled by Ross O'Donoghue

STORY OF THE GAME

COROFIN:

Frees for: 7 (4/3)

Wides: 4 (1/3)

Scores from play: 2-12

Spread of scorers: 6

Top scorer: Diarmuid Cahill (1-5)

Bookings: Conor Leen (28’)

Own puckouts won: 63% (22/34)

O’CALLAGHAN’S MILLS

Frees for: 11 (5/6)

Wides: 15 (9/6)

Scores from play: 1-10

Spread of scorers: 7

Top scorer: Sean Boyce (1-12 7f 1 65

Bookings: PJ O’Connell (manager) (57’)

Own puckouts won: 53% (13/24)

REFEREE: Fergal O’Brien (Broadford)

“

MANAGER COMMENT

“We had an advantage. We got this group together last Sunday after losing our senior status in football. We’ve 11 or 12 dual players. They said they were going to create a resolve and fight to stay up senior. It was disappointing to lose our senior football status and we’ll rise again.

“But when it was in the melting pot and I knew we’d have the leaders. We’re so lucky in this club. We have a parish of leaders.

“We know how the Mills feel. We felt it last Sunday evening. Nobody wants to lose their senior status.

“We came up last year and it wasn’t going to look well for us if we had to go back down again. We made a load of mistakes playing intermediate hurling last year. We came along this year and we made the very same mistakes and we got punished for them. Last year we didn’t get punished for them.

“That’s the difference and

that’s the learnings we’ll take –you have to limit the amount of mistakes you make to be successful at this level.

“Our season last year went right into late December with the Munster club final. We were back again in February and maybe we didn’t give them enough time off. I felt that we were just lagging a bit at times during the year.

“We got well beaten in the senior championship games but we showed that mental courage to say we were going to come

back and go at this again.

“Conor Leen had trouble with the quad muscle after the goal. He wanted to stay on so we put him in full forward. Conor is a real character and a real leader in this team.

“An outstanding Clare player as well. We felt that in withdrawing him, we’d probably lose that impetus that we had at the time”.

Tubber 'won't lie down' in ﬁnal

TUS CLARE IHC SEMI-FINAL

Tubber 1-16

Killanena 0-11

Venue: Dr Daly Park, Tulla

Compiled by Páraic McMahon

STORY OF THE GAME

TUBBER

Frees for: 6 (3/3)

Wides: 9 (6/3)

Spread of scorers:

7 Scores from play: 1-12

Top scorer: Blaine

Earley (0-5 3f 1’65)

Bookings: Blaine Earley (29), James Howard (56).

Own puckouts won: 15 from 20 (75%)

KILLANENA

Frees for: 9 (7/2)

Wides: 9 (5/4)

Spread of scorers: 5 Scores from play: 0-8

Top scorer: Keith

Smyth (0-6 3f)

Bookings: None.

Own puckouts won: 15 from 26 (58%)

REFEREE: Kevin Corry (Sixmilebridge)

MANAGER COMMENT

Pat Taffe, Tubber:

“If there is anything we have in Tubber we have spirit and battling qualities, Killanena are the same as ourselves, a small little club and they battled like hell, we went out in conditions today that were terrible between the breeze, rain and everything, fair play to Tulla the pitch was brilliant, the refereeing was good. We’ve put our heart and soul into this to try get back into a county final, we’re there now, I feel sorry for Killanena because in these sort of conditions I think that anything can happen.

"We’re so proud of our

lads, we battle all the way and we don’t know how to do anything else only to battle, that is why we’re such proud Tubber guys and everyone in the county knows we’re such proud Tubber guys, we’ll battle and battle every day.

“We have set goals in every game, our goals in this game was to win both halves, against the wind and with the wind it didn’t make any difference because we wanted to win both halves.

"Patrick O’Connor has turned the years back, he is a super Tubber man, Domhnall McMahon has gone to wing back and it’s brought a new lease of life, he has played in the forwards all his life, we brought him back to wing back and he is playing out of his skin. James Howard has been unbelievable too for us, the three of them are running the show for us, they are hugely experienced guys and they are doing their job for us. We’ll go back and have a go at the final, that is all we can do.

“We’re definitely going to go in as underdogs but we’ll come out fighting, we won’t lie down, we’ll bring our spirit to the Park or wherever it is on”.

Final for Tones

TUS CLARE IHC SEMI-FINAL

Wolfe Tones 3-20 Ruan 1-13

Venue: Dr Daly Park, Tulla

Compiled by Páraic McMahon

STORY OF THE GAME

WOLFE TONES Frees for: 13 (6/7)

Wides: 10 (5/5)

Spread of scorers: 9

Scores from play: 2-14

Top scorer: Cian O’Rourke (0-9 5f)

Bookings: Aron Shanagher (18). Own puckouts won: 15 from 23 (65%)

RUAN Frees for: 11 (3/8)

Wides: 9 (5/4)

Spread of scorers: 5

Scores from play: 1-7

Top scorer: Aidan Lynch (0-6 5f)

Bookings: Tom O’Halloran (17), Ashley Brohan (18), Shane Punch (20), Pat Meaney (21), Jason Power (31), Robin Mounsey (55). Own puckouts: 21/33 (64%)

REFEREE: Niall Malone (Éire Óg)

MANAGER COMMENT “

Barry Keane, Wolfe Tones:

“It is 2015 since we were last there, we went down last year and that really hurt but we’ve drove on and we’re there now. We were coasting and then in fairness Ruan came at us, they are a quality side and their inside forwards are very good, we got the response in the second half.

“We’ve been doing that all year (strong second half displays), go back to our Clare

Leon Quirke, Ruan

Cup games and we did the same thing to Clarecastle in the Cup, we seem to come out that bit more determined in the second half and we’re delighted. We could have been gone the last day but it just shows the bounce of a ball, we’re there”.

“I’m expecting a serious battle (in the final from Tubber). I’ve been to see them twice.. they are very good”.

“We’re disappointed, the better team won in the end. We could have brought it back in the second half but we left 1-2 behind us and they went up to get the killer scores, really in the last five minutes the game was gone from us. They were the better team and were physically stronger, they got good scores.

“In the first ten minutes we probably stood off them and showed them too much respect, when we started to work harder we started to get scores and we got 1-4 in a spell to bring us right back into the game. You could say half time came too soon for us because we were in a good patch but we didn’t really capitalise on it”.

Joe Cahill, Coroﬁn:

SCAN HERE FOR MATCH REPORT

l Diarmuid Cahill was Coroﬁn’s top scorer Burren Eye Photography

Photo by Gerard O'Neill

l Daithi Lohan protects the ball

Photo by Ruth Griffin

SCAN HERE FOR MATCH REPORT

St Francis Credit Union All Star Awards

THE St Francis Credit Union Clare Community Games will hold their Annual All Star Awards Presentations on Friday 8th November in Treacy’s West County Hotel, Ennis at 8pm sharp.

This is the social highlight of the community games year where the children and parents get together socially. It is usually a great occasion for all those who attend. Forty Seven children from fifteen areas across the county will receive awards for their endeavours in their events.

There will be entertainment on the night.

COUNTY ANNUAL GENERAL

MEETING

St Francis Credit Union Clare Community Games will hold its Annual General Meeting on Tue 12th November in Treacy’s West County Hotel. All areas should now be holding their Agm and send their Motions and Nominations for County Agm and be prepared for the upcoming season when events will be starting up early. Nominations are welcome for all positions on the County Executive.

Kilmurry girls show 'great heart'

Kilmurry Ibrickane 0-11 Kilmihil 1-07

Venue: St Michael’s Park, Kilmihil

Compiled by Seamus Hayes

STORY OF THE GAME

KILMURRY IBRICKANE

Frees For: 19 (11/8)

Wides: 4 (2/2)

Scores from play: 0-5

Spread of scorers: 3

Top scorer: Chloe Moloney (0-7 6f)

Bookings: None

Own kickouts won: 10 out of 13 (77%)

KILMIHIL

Frees For: 29 13/16)

Wides: 5 (2/3)

Scores from play: 0-4

Spread of scorers: 3

Top scorer: Ailish Considine (1-4 1’Pen 3f)

Bookings: Laura Egan and Becky Mahon

Own kickouts won: 13 out of 15 (87%)

REFEREE: John O’Connell (Cooraclare)

MANAGER COMMENT “

“It is always a killer blow when you concede a penalty that late in the first half.

"The girls were deflated enough going in at half time but we have been in this position before and I have said when you are playing against the wind the gaps will open up if we stick to our plan. In fairness to the girls, they said let’s go out and get the next score.

"Going in at half time it was hard to turn things around. They showed great heart in the second half and in the last ten minutes we were in a good position.

"In fairness to Kilmihil they lost a player or two near the end which didn’t help their cause. Look we are in the senior ladies final for the first time, the ladies from the club have never been in that position. The next

hurdle will be an even bigger one to get over and we will have to work hard for the next three weeks.

"We were five down at half time and it was when we got ahead that the girls actually believed we could win this one and in fairness to them they did. We are no strangers to Doora/Barefield, we lost to them in the first round and we had a great battle with them in the league final

Kilmihil criticise lack of clarity around CODA process

by Páraic McMahon paraic@clareecho.ie

DEBATE and questions on what led to a three week delay of the Clare senior ladies football championship were shut down during a tetchy board meeting this weekend.

Club delegates gathered for a rare in-person meeting at Fr MacNamara Park on Tuesday evening in what was first meeting since the three week delay to the senior championship occurred.

An appeal had been lodged with Complaints Objections Disciplinary and Appeals (CODA) following the third round of games played in the senior championship at the beginning of September. This investigation focused on the registration of one Kilmihil player and the matter came to light following their game with Kilmurry Ibrickane.

Kilmihil’s Monica Callinan told the meeting she had questions relating to procedures, “we had this whole debacle”. Chairman of Clare LGFA, Seán Lenihan interrupted her contribution to point out, “before you start. We don’t want individual cases mentioned, we don’t want specifics mentioned of cases which have gone through a process”.

A former secretary of Clare LGFA, Monica pointed out that somebody must be a member of an organisation to bring an issue to CODA, “I will speak on my own case,” she said to which Lenihan interjected, “I will rule you out of order. It was not a debacle”.

Clarification was sought on three occasions over the past month by Kilmihil, “we never got clarification on who objected. I will continue to speak”. “Respect the Chair,” Lenihan said. “I need

to be respected. You did not answer the questions asked. How did the Kilmihil team sheet land with county secretary before the referee’s report was filed,” Callinan asked.

Lenihan replied, “An issue arose, it was referred to by CODA”, he said the manner in which it came to light did not matter to which Enda O’Flaherty of St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield said “it does matter” as did Callinan. “Who in the Executive brought the issue forward. How did the issue come to light two hours after we played Kilmurry Ibricakne,” she asked.

“We won’t debate this across a public floor,” the Chairman said. Callinan replied, “you cannot submit something in writing without no signature or disclosure”. The Chairman said he was happy to “go to Dublin on this” and that CODA were “entitled to look into anything” while telling delegates “read the rules”.

Callinan told the meeting, “I’m aware of the rules”. The Chairman said, ‘we’re not getting into the individual cases” and added “the bottom line on the case you brought up and I feel bad bringing it up, it was referred to CODA by the Clare Executive, a hearing committee convened and the matter is closed”.

While attempting to ask further questions, Callinan said “you can complain me to CODA” and Lenihan said, “it is finished, I’m closing down the debate”. He acknowledged the presence of the media and advised that “meetings are normally very friendly”.

O’Flaherty questioned why it took three weeks to deal with the investigation. Lenihan said the matter was referred to CODA, “I’m not going into

the detail” but said a second and third CODA had to be convened due to “a conflict of interest”. He continued, “we at all stages consulted with Dublin, the existing hearings committee had a conflict of interest so we had to compile a new committee”. Confusion exists because “CODA is impartial”, O’Flaherty said.

“I don’t care if ye want to complain me,” the Chairman told delegates. He said the officials are “here for the betterment” of ladies football in the county.

Kilmurry Ibrickane’s Ger Talty said an “issue that came up” as a result was “people saying stuff in the papers, people were reading stuff in the papers, we were mentioned as having an objection made which we had to clarify. We didn’t have an issue”.

Lenihan in response said the Executive never said they lodged an objection and pointed to the back of the room to this writer, “the author is there. Paudie who was your source”. The meeting was told by this writer, “A journalist never reveals their sources. I’m not here to talk at this meeting but seeing as I’ve been mentioned, who raised the issue and made the complaint”.

Talty said the media were “told lies” and the Chairman wrapped up the meeting, “if Paudie is not wiling to disclose who his source is then that’s on his conscience”.

Processes were not followed by CODA in relation to an un-registered player and another case involving a club referral it also emerged at the meeting.

and it took free kicks to separate us then. It won’t be any different the next day. It will be new territory for both and both will fancy their chances but there won’t be anything between the teams. We were on the wrong side against Kilmihil a few weeks ago and we turned it around today It could have gone anyway in the last few minutes there. We are happy to be where we are”.

Doora/Bareﬁeld to end Banner’s drive for ﬁve

Niall Hickey, Kilmurry Ibrickane:

SCAN HERE FOR MATCH REPORT

l Caitriona Callinan tracks the run of Joanna Doohan Photo by Gerard O'Neill

Intermediate glory for Éire Óg

Éire Óg sealed their return to the senior ranks after winning the Clare intermediate ladies football ﬁnal on Sunday.

Shane Daniels’ side had a 2-12 1-7 win over Liscannor at Shanahan McNamara Memorial Park in Doonbeg, a tie which brought a

considerable crowd to the West Clare venue. Alannah McNamara was awarded the player of the match accolade while the experi-

Cusack Park double header for Ladies ﬁnal

CUSACK PARK is to host a double header of the senior ladies football final and men’s Clare SFC final after club delegates from ladies football club outvoted the County Executive.

A novel pairing of Kilmurry Ibrickane and St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield will be the curtain raiser to the men’s final in Cusack Park on Sunday October 27th following a very tight vote which finished 21-18 in favour of the move to go before the men’s game. The proposal to play the game in Cusack Park is one which took the top table by surprise and leaves them trying to organise logistics in advance of the marquee game.

There was considerable debate during Tuesday’s two hour and thirty three minute meeting at Fr MacNamara Park on the date and venue for the Senior A fixture which was initially set to be a double header with the Senior B final between Banner Ladies and Kilmihil.

Addressing the meeting, Chairman of Clare LGFA, Seán Lenihan informed delegates the fixture was provisionally fixed for Sunday October 27th, “that is the same day as the football final, I don’t think we should be clashing and we should do everything we can to avoid that”. He said he had suggested to the four clubs involved that the game take place on Bank Holiday Monday (October 28th) and that alternative dates of the 20th which is the weekend of the camogie finals and the Saturday October 26th were put to him.

Secretary Frank Culleton said he sent out an email to the four clubs, “nobody said they wanted to go with Monday”.

Kilmurry Ibrickane’s Ger Talty said correspondence was sent in from the clubs.

“Our option is Saturday 26th or Monday 28th,” Lenihan told delegates. Enda O’Flaherty of St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield queried if it was “an option to play before the men’s final. We could get the curtain raiser if we could agree on the gate”.

Lenihan responded, “We get on very well with the GAA, we had a double header in Doonbeg last year, it was Kilmihil vs West Clare Gaels and Kilmihil vs Naomh Eoin in the men’s but it didn’t really work out. We’ve decided Doonbeg as our venue,” the Chairman is said. “Doonbeg is the only club to pitch their venue to us, the question is do we go with Saturday or Monday”.

Kilmihil’s Monica Callinan questioned if there was not a rule in place saying the county championship must conclude seven days prior to the provincial championship which meant the Bank Holiday Monday was not an option. Fixtures secretary, David O’Brien said this was a five day ruling but Callinan flagged that it was seven and that they had already outlined they had an issue with player availability for the Monday. The Chairman said they were confident the powers that be would allow them to hold the game on the Monday if they made a special request.

Therese Roseingrave of St Joseph’s Doora/ Barefield stated, “if you’re going to request clubs to abide by the rules then the County

Board and the Executive needs to be abide by the rules”. She said the Board has ignored players with how they handled the three week delay to the championship. “When the refixture of the senior championship, why did the Executive sent out the 27th as the date for the final to be played. In the midst of the three weeks the Executive at no point has apologised to players who changed dates for weddings, christenings and C-sections”. She continued, “at some point, we need to stop and look at the players at the centre of this, they have been blaguarded”. She urged the top table, “illustrate the behaviours you want us to respect”.

Chairman Lenihan responded, “we do abide by the rules. I don’t understand why you’re saying we need to apologise. We didn’t decide to delay the thing by three weeks, an issue arose, we had to follow procedures and it was”. He added, “there was no decision made to blaguard the players”. He said dates were put out “with the best will in the world”.

Representatives of St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield, Kilmurry Ibrickane, Banner Ladies and Kilmihil left the meeting to try reach an agreement on the final date.

Addressing the meeting on his return, Doora/Barefield’s O’Flaherty stated, “We want to play in Cusack Park as the curtain raiser to the men’s final. Clare GAA will facilitate us, they will agree the gate, that is what we have agreed”. He said the Senior B final could proceed “but not in Doonbeg”.

“We need to check with Clare GAA,” Lenihan said to which O’Flaherty remarked, “it is

already done”. “You didn’t have the authority to do that,” the Chairman flagged. “We had a decision made on the venue, you could get a bigger crowd in Doonbeg than Cusack Park”. The collection of fees from the gate “is a big problem” that has been created, Browne highlighted. “It won’t be a problem. What we agreed was an average of last five county final plus an additional €1,000,” said O’Flaherty. Browne said, “going back to the last four or five finals. Kilmurry Ibrickane and Doora/ Barefield will have the biggest crowd at the county final, there is no way the gate will be the same, it will be a few thousand more”. 12:30pm would need to be the throw-in time, O’Flaherty told the meeting which was also informed Kilmurry Ibrickane and St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield were agreeable to play on October 28th while Kilmihil “will do our best” to field a team on the day, Callinan said.

A counter-proposal of Saturday 26th October was then issued by Lenihan, “I thought the four teams could agree themselves, it is not in the interest of Clare ladies football”. Regan said, “everyone wants to see the right thing done. Has to be a secret ballot if going to a vote”.

Proposals were then put to the floor, one as a curtain raiser to the men’s final and the other from the Executive to play a double header in Doonbeg on October 26th.

21 delegates voted for the Cusack Park double header and 18 for the Doonbeg double header.

enced Orla Devitt had the honour of captaining her club and accepting the Sile Callinan Memorial Cup.

Burren Eye Photography

Páraic McMahon paraic@clareecho.ie

by PÁDRAIG MCGRATH

Taking place at the Royal Montreal Golf Club in Quebec, Canada, the crowds at this year’s Presidents Cup were largely local, generating a lot of support for the international team, who were also captained by the well-known Canadian golfing legend Mike Weir.

I have had the realisation that although I play a lot of golf, I mainly play a lot of the same courses.

In fact, I believe I have not played 95% or more of the courses in Ireland. Therefore, I am setting myself a goal over the next number of years to play the array of different courses we have available to us around the whole island.

On my journey I will also discuss any golf destinations I might play abroad and recommend possibly golf holiday destinations and maybe even look into setting up a trip or two for our readers at some point along the way. As I write this, I am sitting in Shannon airport about to fly

to Myrtle Beach in South Carolina a golfing heaven I have not been to since 2013.

I will let you know how this trip goes in a future article and discuss the four courses we will play twice. I always recommend playing a good golf course twice on vacation when you get to play a great course it always leaves you with a taste to return again.

In this week's article I will chat about my recent visit to Palmerstown House Estate Golf Club, a championship course designed by our own Christy O'Connor Jnr. Set on 800 acres of historical Kildare countryside the golf course weaves its way through mature woodland, meandering streams & beautiful water features.

The Estate has been owned by the Comer Group since 2014. Since this time the golf course, manor house & facilities has seen major investment to restore all parts of the business back to its former glory. Having opened in 2005 the golf course had the honour of holding the prestigious title ‘PGA National Ireland’, the first of its kind on the island

of Ireland. Having hosted the Irish PGA Championship won by Padraig Harrington & the Irish Seniors Open won by Constantino Rocca the golf course is of championship standard that could host any event. Most recent improvements have seen our practice facilities become one of the best in the country, boasting a floodlit Trackman driving range with numerous targets set out at various distances. From the moment I arrived at Palmerstown I was blown away by the changes since my previous visit. The decor of the new bar is stunning with views overlooking the

18th green. The breakfast menu had a huge variety and it was one if the nicest I have had on my visits to Dublin. Us golfers are in the know, the best food spots are at golf clubs around the country. Downstairs the pro shop is very well-stocked and what I love is you will always receive a very warm welcoming friendly atmosphere. The club has three PGA Golf Professionals in Darren, Mark and Mick and all three are some of the best in the business, and are available for coaching or any advice before you head for the first tee. The course is similar to

Dromoland Castle and the manicure is just perfection. In my opinion the greens are the most important feature on a course followed by the fairways, tee boxes, the rough and aesthetics of the course in general. Palmerstown's greens were lightning and immaculate. The fairways, rough and aesthetics were also a sight to behold. In fact, I would honestly say it has to be one of the best kept courses on our wee island.

The course itself has some of the toughest tee and approach shots you will hit on any course. It is a golf course where you can't fully relax over any shot because there is plenty of water and hazards that await any shot that drifts from the fairway. I would highly recommend any high handicap golfer to play from the forward tees on your first visit especially because those further back tees are extremely challenging.

There are so many great holes at Palmerstown but I especially love their Par 5's that are extremely challenging and are surrounded by lakes that have to be avoided by both your tee shots as well as your

approach shots to the green. Course management and keeping the ball out of the water is vital if you are to avoid high numbers on the Par 5's. My favourite hole has to be their newly designed signature 10th hole. This Par 3 has been completely redesigned and it now is Irelands answer to 17th hole at Sawgrass. The pond on the 10th hole now wraps completely around the whole green so any shot that misses this green will meet a wet grave. The hole plays anything from 150 - 180 yards in length depending on the tee you chose to play from and you will usually meet a swirling breeze just to make it even more challenging. This is now one of the best golf holes we have in Ireland and one of the strongest Par 3's you will find anywhere in the world.

Palmerstown have kindly offered the Clare Echo readers a ridiculous low rate of €40.00 per person from now until the end of March 2025 (valid Monday – Friday). Bookings made through the golf shop quoting ‘Clare Echo’.

Slainte An Chláir golf classic a great success

by Seamus Hayes news@clareecho.ie

A very successful golf classic for Slainte An Chlair (Clare Cancer Support) was held recently at Ennis raising much needed and valuable funds.

The overall winners were . Ollie O'Loughlin, Tim Scanlan, Michael Ball and Declan Hanley.

The men’s section was won by Ronan Ryan, Mike Clancy, John McCarthy and Cormac O'Neill. They won from Paul White, Mike Studdert, Mike O'Grady and, Shane Mowat with third spot filled by Tony Kinnavane, Barry Ryan, John McNamara and Christy Fitzgerald who were followed by Ger Hanrahan, Eugene Fawl, Ronnie Guinnane and Mike Butler

Sinead O' Sullivan, Carmel Verling, Geraldine O' Rourke and Nuala D'Auria won the ladies section while the winners in the mixed category were Clare Pyne, Ursula Lineen, Martin and Oisin Morrissey

The presentation will take place on Sunday week, October 20

DROMOLAND GOLF CLUB

Joan Ryan with 33 points was last week’s winner in the ladies 8 hole stableford competition at romoland She won by two from Katrina O’Neill

In the 9 hole weekly stableford competition the winner was Jean Colleran with 22 points from Mairéad Toomey with 19 and Colette Colleran with 18

The men’s 18 hole stableford competition was won by Barry Nuigenty (12) with 42 points from Alan O'Flanagan 16 with 41 and Joe Walsh 10, also with 41.

Jason Ryan (scratch) won the gross with 35 points while Eamon Power won the category for 20 points while Eamonn Power (22) won the category for those with handicaps of 20 and over with 33 points

David Reidy with 19 point won the 9 hole weekly

competition from John O’Neill with 18 points and Ronan McCarthy, also with 18 points.

LAHINCH GOLF CLUB

Entries are now being accepted for the Winter league at Lahinch golf club. The event will run from November to February and each team will consist of six players.

The format will be singles and teams will comprise six members with the top four individual scores being submitted per event

KILRUSH GOLF CLUB

John Sherin (15) with 37 points won the EMF Carpentry Ltd open singles at Kilrush at the weekend. He had one to spare over Alan F Howard (34) with third spot filled by Neil Browne (6) who also had 36 points

Brian Rogers with 19 points and Tony McMahon with 18 points won the nines.

EAST CLARE GOLF CLUB

Last week’s Wednesday competition for ladies at East Clare was won by Brid Hayes, Siobhan Mulcahy and Hannah Guinnane. In second place were Evelyn Skehan,Trish Kerr and Eimear O'Halloran followed by Pauline Nugent, Joan Kinsella and Connie Mc Kenna.

The winners of last week’s senior men’s competition were Terry Coughlan,Nick Ryan and Danny Minogue from Nick Obolwwicz, Kieran Mc Namara and Mike Heffernan with third spot filled by Brendan Magill, Pat Duggan and Michael Drew.

WOODSTOCK

Pat Keane(13) won the week-end club singles at Woodstock with 37 points. In the annual Costello cup competition, Woofstock defeated Ennis on a score of 204 ro 178 points. The leading score for the winners was provided by Frank McEnery and Martin White with 48pts.

Special offer for new members at family-friendly Ennis Golf Club

ENNIS Golf Club is opening its doors to new members by running a special promotion, offering excellent value for potential golfers in County Clare and beyond.

The beautiful 18-hole, par 70 parkland course is the perfect destination for golfers of all levels and ages, and indeed those looking for a social and active hobby in the heart of Ennis.

Proudly owned and run by its members, Ennis Golf Club's relatively even terrain makes it accessible for all while the County Clare club has an unsurpassed record for remaining open 12 months of the year.

Conveniently located close to Shannon Airport, the Burren, Cliffs of Moher & Wild Atlantic Way, Ennis Golf Club is a family-orientated and equal opportunity club open to members aged 8+. Many members actively get involved in the day-to-day management & maintenance of the club and its facilities.

"We encourage participation of people with all capabilities, whether you are new to the game of golf or wheth-

er you need extra support through our Special Olympics programme, at Ennis Golf Club all are welcome," said a club spokesperson.

Various different memberships are available including Junior, Intermediate, Country & Overseas. Junior supervised coaching takes place from April – October while there are weekly member competitions, offering opportunities to join teams to take part in yearly Golf Ireland run competitions.

The clubhouse offers ladies & gent’s locker rooms, a meeting room & Gihan’s Bar & Restaurant, providing panoramic views onto the course along with daily specials & Sunday lunch.

Over the Winter Months the club organises social events such as table quizzes and combs every Monday night.

The Pro-Shop offers a selection of golf equipment, accessories and golf apparel while visitors, societies & classics are welcome to contact the office for availability.

New member offer: €695 (excluding levies) Oct 2024Dec 2025.

Every cloud has a silver lining...

FOLLOWING unforeseen extensive damage to our golf greens at the start of the year, Ennis Golf Club faced considerable uncertainty regarding playability in 2024. However, every cloud has a silver lining, says Club President, Kieran O’Loughlin, as he reﬂects on the recovery programme put in place by Agronomist, Eddie Connaughton and the manner in which "so many of our club members volunteered to make improvements throughout the course".

Course Superintendent, Jack Hanrahan, and his team addressed the chal-

lenge of recovery with great dedication and energy, often working until late into the evening, and within a few months ‘green shoots’ began to appear. A great synergy developed between Jack, his team, Course Manager James Corcoran, Men’s & Ladies Gardening Committees and the numerous Volunteers who came forward to assist. "The recovery of the greens was considerably greater than expected and the enhancement to the entire course, brought on by the selfless work of our members, has brought renewed pride to the club."

l The beautifully manicured Ennis Golf Club; (below) the club enters teams into yearly Golf Ireland-run competitions

l Ennis Golf Club volunteers have the course looking immaculate

Top class contests on the cardsO'Connor previews football semi-ﬁnals

by Stuart Holly editor@clareecho.ie

SEMI-FINAL action in the TUS Clare senior and intermediate football championships dominates the action in the local GAA scene this weekend.

Cusack Park is the venue for the senior semi-finals with champions Cratloe facing off with Kilmurry Ibrickane on Saturday at 3:30pm while it’s a repeat of the 2022 final when Éire Óg and Ennistymon lock horns on Sunday at 3pm.

West Clare venues will be the setting for the intermediate semi-finals. Clondegad’s bid to bounce back to the senior ranks at the first attempt sees them meet Naomh Eoin in Cooraclare at 1:30pm on Saturday while St Michael’s Park hosts a repeat of last year’s semi-final on Sunday at 1pm where Kilrush Shamrocks and Wolfe Tones do battle.

Coolmeen’s Cathal O’Connor has played with and against many of the players who will be in action in this weekend’s senior and intermediate football championship semi-finals. He is eagerly looking forward to a weekend of top class football and very tight contests before the finalists in both grades are known.

“The meeting of Kilmurry Ibrickane and Cratloe is very hard to call. They are two experienced teams and meetings between them in recent years in particular have been very tight. Much will depend on who may or may not play because of injury”, the former Clare mid-

fielder said.

A current member of the Ballyea senior hurling team, he is well positioned to understand the demands on Cratloe due to their progress in both codes. “Sean and Podge Collins didn’t start for their hurlers last week while Kilmurry Ibrickane’s captain Dermot Coughlan is a ma-

jor doubt having picked up a foot injury in their win over Miltown the last day out. The availability or otherwise of these players could determine the outcome. It’s a particularly hard one to call but I think that Kilmurry might edge it by a point or two”.

Turning to the meeting of En-

nistymon and Éire Óg Cathal says “Éire Óg are on a different level to everyone else. They were surprised last year. They may have bigger things on their minds but they can’t take their eyes off the Clare competition. They may feel that they should have won a Munster club already. Ennistymon have been

knocking on the door for a while but everything points to an Éire Óg win”, O’Connor said.

Intermediate semi-finals are going to be tight Cathal believes, “we are likely to have two really close games. It’s a very difficult championship to win and I have a slight fancy for Wolfe Tones in their meeting with Kilrush. I picked them at the start of the campaign and they are playing well but Kilrush are getting goals which is huge, especially at this time of year given the weather conditions. Wolfe Tones are in the hurling final also and they don’t have a huge overlap of players which is a help. They will be driven on by last year when they lost out to the same opposition at the same stage”.

Looking at the other semi-final in which Naomh Eoin face Clondegad he says, “Naomh Eoin have surprised many and are seen to be punching above their weight for a club with limited numbers like ourselves. They are getting the maximum out of their players and you have to admire them for what they have achieved in the last few years. They have already beaten Clondegad and I have a slight suspicion that they will do it again. It’s very hard to play against them. they know what they are good at and they execute it very well. It’s not easy to come back up after being relegated and Gary (Brennan) has stepped away. This is a very hard championship to win".

Senan's win Clare derby while Ennis women sink Bruff

by Dearbhla Parry news@clareecho.ie

Women’s Friendly:

Ennis/Kilrush RFC 43 –15 Bruff RFC

The Clare women displayed a strong and disciplined performance and triumphed over a resilient Bruff side with 43 – 15.

Ennis/Kilrush dominated possession and field position in the opening half. They opened the scoring early with scrum-half Aisling Browne going over the top of the ruck to touch down at the side of the posts. Orna Moynihan finished a well-worked back move using blistering speed to score under the posts. Moynihan’s sister, Ciara Moynihan, followed her minutes later with a score of her own on the left wing. Ellis Flaherty added the final score of the first half after a long run to touch down under the posts, converted by Megan O’Connor.

The second half’s score was opened by Bruff after a series of carries and a score under

the posts, without a conversion. Ennis/Kilrush then scored a penalty try, followed by number eight Caoilfhionn Morrisey touching down to the left of the posts, converted by O’Connor. Pack leader Ciara Coughlan added a fantastic score with a striking run from the halfway and Moynihan added her second score, touching down in the corner, converted by O’Connor. Bruff managed to add a pair of consolation scores before Ennis/Kilrush’s Emma Keane closed the game with a score to the left of the posts, allowing the Clare women to win 43 – 10.

Senior Men’s Division 2

Ennis RFC 36 – 40

St. Senan’s St. Senan’s senior men’s team came out victorious against Ennis with a final score of 26 – 40 at Jimmy Slattery Park in Shannon. Ennis’ Cian Guilfoyle scored the game's first try with an interception from the middle of the field to score under the posts, con-

verted by Dylan Kenny. Then, after Ennis conceded a penalty, St. Senan’s mauled over to score their first try, without a conversion. Passes across the backline to Kenny gave him the opportunity to score in the corner, without a conversion. The ball was spread wide after breaks from Joe Connaughton, Jack Scahill, and Bence Benko, and Guilfoyle scored his second try. The opposing team also scored another try just before halftime, leaving the score at 17 – 12.

At the beginning of the second half, St. Senan’s managed a converted try and Ennis’ Guilfoyle scored his third try of the game. Following a scrum and an off-side penalty, the opposition scored another converted try. The ball was then spread wide to Ennis’ backs, and Kenny scored a converted try. St. Senan’s scored their sixth try of the match after several pick-and-go’s. However, Ennis fought on and Calum Barret scored their sixth try

too after a tap-and-go penalty and a powerful run from Benko. With only four points between them, Ennis continued to attack but conceded a penalty, and St. Senan’s won 36 – 40.

U16 Girls’ Munster League: Ennis RFC 14 –44 Garryowen RFC

The U16 girls' team played against Garryowen and scored 14 - 44 during their first round of the Munster League.

There was a slow start at the beginning of the game, but Ennis managed to chase back into contention and scored two tries by the end of the first half.

The girls took the game to their opposition when the second half started, however, Garryowen stepped up their game and ran in some great tries, leaving the final score at 14 – 44.

U16 Boys’ Pan Munster League: Ennis RFC 49 –26 Clanwilliam RFC

A hat-trick from Ciarán

was one of the highlights of the Ennis v Clanwilliam game which helped obtain the victory of 49 – 26 for Ennis.

The try of the game came from Daragh Ruane, who caught a crossfield kick from O’Donnoghue just outside his 22 and dodged three tackles to score under the post.

Ryan Nash tackled superbly, and Ennis’ halfbacks kept a great pace, freeing the outside backs to use the space. Other tries were scored by Ali Gam, Donnacha Begley, Evan Cusack, and Harry O’Donnoghue.

The U16 team looks forward to their match against Kilfeacle in two weeks.

U15 Boys’ Pan Munster League: Ennis RFC 29 –10 Clonakilty RFC

Ennis secured back-toback wins in the opening round of the U16’s Pan Munster League with a 29 - 10 win against Clonakilty.

Great work off in the scrum allowed Ennis to take the lead as Stephen O’Neill

scored a try. Another try was added by Donal Garvey and a third by Alex Pelczar, leaving the halftime score at 19 – 0.

When the second half started, though, Clonakilty proved a huge physical strength for Ennis and fought back. However, the try of the game came when Pelczar finished off in the corner after a fantastic team move from a fiercely contested ruck. Oisín Egan fed to Stephen O’Neill, who then exchanged passes with Sam Kelly. Kelly delivered a pass to Pleczar, who crashed over the line. Clonakilty scored two tries before Ennis managed the game's final try within the last ten minutes.

Performances from scrum-half Ronan O’Leary, hooker Oisín Egan, out-half O’Neill, and the powerhouse Pelczar gave Ennis their deserving win of 29 – 10.

l Sean & Podge Collins of Cratloe will look to make an impact after neither started for the hurlers last weekend

CLARE COUNTY COUNCIL

KNOCKNAGROAGH, BALLYVAUGHAN, CO CLARE

Take notice that Rory Comyn intends to apply to the Planning Authority of Clare County Council for planning permission for development at Knocknagroagh, Ballyvaughan, Co Clare.

The development will consist of con-

struction of a single storey dwelling and detached garage, with site works and connections to public services.

The planning application may be inspected, or purchased at a fee not exceeding the reasonable cost of making a copy, at the offices of the planning authority during its public opening hours and that a submission or observation in relation to the application may be made to the authority in writing on payment of the prescribed fee within the period of 5 weeks beginning on the date of receipt by the authority of the application.

CLARE COUNTY COUNCIL

COLLISTEIGUE, CLONLARA, CO CLARE

I, Eoin Sheridan, am applying to the above authority for retention permission for the following development on property at Collisteigue, Clonlara, Co Clare V94 C2RR

Permission for retention of as-constructed waste water treatment system and raised bed polishing filter together with all associated ancillary and incidental works.

The planning application may be inspected, or purchased at a fee not exceeding the reasonable cost of making a copy, at the

offices of the planning authority during its public opening hours and a submission or observation in relation to the application may be made to the authority in writing on payment of the prescribed fee within the period of 5 weeks beginning on the date of receipt by the authority of the application.

CLARE COUNTY COUNCIL FURTHER INFORMATION/ REVISED PLANS PLANNING REFERENCE: P24/130 DEVELOPMENT

DESCRIPTION:

Permission to build a new dwelling, garage, install a wastewater treatment system & all other associated site and ancillary works.

LOCATION: Carrowlagan, Mullagh, Co Clare.

Take notice that Julie Cashman & Dermot O Brien have lodged significant further information in respect of planning application P24/130. This information and planning application may be inspected or purchased at a fee not exceeding the reasonable cost of making a copy, at the offices of the Planning Authority of Clare County Council, Planning Department, Aras Contae an Chlair, New Road, Ennis, Co Clare during its public opening hours. A submission or observation in relation to the further information or revised plans may be made in writing to the planning authority on payment of the prescribed fee, not later than 2 weeks after the receipt of the newspaper notice and site notice by the planning authority or in the case of a plan-

ning application accompanied by an EIS within 5 weeks of the receipt of such notices by the planning authority.

CLARE COUNTY COUNCIL

BALLINY NORTH, FANORE, CO

CLARE

Take notice that EILEEN MC MAHON intends to apply for permission to demolish the existing Pyrite Damaged Dwelling and build a New Dwelling and Garage & all other associated site and ancillary works at the above address.

The planning application may be inspected or purchased at a fee not exceeding the reasonable cost of making a copy, at the offices of the planning authority, during its public opening hours. A submission or observation in relation to the application may be made in writing to the authority on payment of the prescribed fee of €20.00, within the period of 5 weeks beginning on the date of receipt by the authority of the application.

CLARE COUNTY COUNCIL FEIGHQUIN, QUIN, CO CLARE. V95C5K7

Take notice that Teresa Moroney and Colm Banaghan, the administrators of the Estate of Kathleen Ryan, intend to apply for retention permission for the extension to the side of the existing dwelling and the shed to the rear of the dwelling & all other associated site and ancillary works at the above address.

The planning application may be inspected or purchased at a fee not exceeding the reasonable cost of making a copy, at the

offices of the planning authority, during its public opening hours.

A submission or observation in relation to the application may be made in writing to the authority on payment of the prescribed fee of €20.00, within the period of 5 weeks beginning on the date of receipt by the authority of the application.

CLARE COUNTY COUNCIL DOONAGORE, DOOLIN, CO CLARE.V95 A2T2

Take notice that Georgia Heard and Dermot O Brien intend to apply for permission to extend and renovate the existing dwelling , upgrade the existing septic tank with a wastewater treatment system & all other associated site and ancillary works at the above address.

The planning application may be inspected or purchased at a fee not exceeding the reasonable cost of making a copy, at the offices of the planning authority, during its public opening hours.

CLAIRE COUNTY COUNCIL: BURLINGTON BUSINESS PARK, GILLOGUE, CO CLARE

We, Zinc Properties, intend to apply to the above named authority for planning permission to erect a warehouse for storage purposes, including all associated site works at Burlington Business Park, Gil-

logue, Co Clare.

The planning application may be inspected, or purchased at a fee not exceeding the reasonable cost of making a copy, at the offices of the Clare County Council during its public opening hours and a submission or observation in relation to the application may be made to the Authority in writing on payment of the prescribed fee within the period of 5 weeks beginning on the date of receipt by the Authority of the application.

APPLICATION TO AN BORD PLEANALA FOR SUBSTITUTE CONSENT

I, Declan Lyons, intend to apply for Substitute Consent for repairs to the gravel slipway and adjoining wall with concrete together with widening & repairs to the gravel pathway running to the jetty at Ballynakillew, Whitegate, Co. Clare.

The application is within an SPA & pNHA and is accompanied by a Natura Impact Statement. Submissions or observations may be made on the application, to An Bord Pleanála, 64 Marlborough Street, Dublin 1, www.pleanala. ie without charge .Submissions or observations must be in writing and made within the period of 8 weeks beginning on the date of receipt of the application by An Bord Pleanála and such submissions and observations will be considered by An Bord Pleanála in making a decision on the application. An Bord Pleanála may grant the consent subject to or without conditions, or may refuse to grant it.

The application for consent may be inspected, or purchased at a fee not exceeding the reasonable cost of making a copy, at the offices of An Bord Pleanála, or the relevant planning authority during its public opening hours.

CLARE COUNTY COUNCIL

UNIT 5 WESTBURY SHOPPING CENTRE, WESTBURY, CORBALLY, CO CLARE I Mentor Muco wish to apply to Clare County Council for retention permission for a change of use from a retail unit to a Fast Food takeaway restaurant at the above address. The planning application may be inspected, or purchased at a fee not exceeding the reasonable cost of making a copy, at the offices of the planning authority during its public opening hours and that a submission or observation in relation to the application may be made to the authority in writing on payment of the prescribed fee within the period of 5 weeks beginning on the date of receipt by the authority of the application.

CLARE COUNTY COUNCIL CHURCH STREET, MOY MORE, LAHINCH, CO. CLARE

Take notice that Carl Manzor and Paula Kelleher intend to apply for permission for development at the above address. The development will consist of the construction of a single storey dwelling, garage and associated site works. The planning application may be inspected, or purchased at a fee not exceeding the reasonable cost of

making a copy, at the offices of the Planning Authority during its public opening hours. A submission or observation in relation to the application may be made in writing to the planning authority on payment of the prescribed fee within the period of 5 weeks beginning on the date of receipt by the authority of the application.

CLARE COUNTY COUNCIL

I, James Monahan, wish to apply to the above named local authority for planning permission for the demolition of an existing dwelling and the construction of a new single storey dwelling house, detached domestic garage, wastewater treatment system and percolation area, site entrance and all ancillary site works at Ballyashea, Kilnamona, Co.Clare

The planning application may be inspected or purchased at a fee not exceeding the reasonable cost of making a copy, at the office of the planning authority during its public opening hours and that a submission or observation in relation to the application may be made to the authority in writing on payment of the prescribed fee within the 5 weeks beginning on the date of receipt by the authority of the application.

THE MIRACLE PRAYER

Dear Sacred Heart of Jesus,

In the past, I have asked for many favours. This time, I ask you This special favour. (Mention Favour)

Take it and place it within Your own broken heart

Where your Father sees it, Then in His Merciful Eyes It will become your favour Not mine. Amen. Say this prayer for 3 times a day for 3 days and favour will be grateful. Promise publication, never known ot fail MBK

Recent Deaths

Copues Storan, Andrea Clare

Dixon, Christopher (Christy) Clare

Doohan (née Lorrigan), Peggy Kildysart

Cahill (née McConnon), Nuala (Phinula) Ennis

Clancy, Jonathan Kilkee

Clancy, Jonathan Carrigaholt

Devitt, Mary Ennistymon

Dooley, John Feakle

Killeen (née O’Connell), Elizabeth (Betty) Quilty

Killeen (née O’Connell), Elizabeth (Betty) Mullagh

O’Halloran, Donal (Donie) Newmarket-on-Fergus Caffrey (née Walsh), Teresa

COSTELLO, Timothy (Timmy) Crusheen

Ryan (née Wallace), Kathleen Shannon

Carragher, Joseph Gabriel Kilshanny

Derrane (née McMahon), Maureen Ennis

Derrane (née McMahon), Maureen Kilrush

Fox, Colman Ardnacrusha

Neylon, David Ennistymon

FROST, George Bunratty

Shortt, Joe Shannon

Tierney (née Thynne), Nora Kilshanny

The Clare Echo Quiz

1 The tallest building in the world is the Burj Khalifa (828m). How many times taller is it than the Ennis Cathedral?

2 Why was the statue of Icarus in Ennis erected? As a lightning conductor To celebrate Ennis’s 750 year anniversary To

3 The Daniel O’Connell monument in Ennis was erected in 1867 – but which hand does the Liberator have raised in the depiction?

4 In which year was Moneypoint Power Station completed?

5 Built in 1925, Ardnacrusha took u phow much of the Government’s annual revenue budget to construct?

6 How many kilometres is it from Loophead Lighthouse to the Statue of Liberty in New York?

Dromoland Gazebo, which can be seen from the M18, was built in 1740 but what was its purpose? Vantage point to observe training of horses A house for the head groundskeeper Function room for general community

8 At what elevation is O’Brien’s Tower at the Cliffs of Moher? 190ft 289ft 535ft

9 Mooghaun Ringfort is believed to be the largest hill fort in Ireland. Where is it located?

Newmarket-on-Fergus Barefield Labasheeda

10 The round tower at Inis Cealtra, or Holy Island, was founded by which saint? Senan Tola Colum

Spot the Difference

the Difference

l QUESTION 6: How many kilometres is it from Loophead Lighthouse to the Statue of Liberty in New York?

Colum

Newmarket-on-Fergus

Vantage point to observe training of horses

weeks Answers

Cratloe and Feakle battle it out in last Saturday’s semi ﬁnal in Cusack Park

Photo by Gerard O’Neill

Staff at the Lahinch Opening

Photo by Eamon Ward