The Clare Echo 10/12/20

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I was followed ‘by members of Sinn Fein’ PÁRAIC McMAHON

news@clareecho.ie

A Executive Chef Tom Flavin, with TY student Fionn Kennedy, announcing new apprenticeship ‘taster’ scheme for transition years with an interest in the hospitality industry thanks to Limerick and Clare Enterprise Training Board Photo by Brian Arthur Photography

DEC 10 2020

Kilkee man claims he was followed by members of Sinn Féin after tweeting criticism of the political party.

In September 2017, Mike Taylor posted a sticker of a distasteful graphic featuring the Sinn Féin logo which caught the attention of Deputy Mary Lou McDonald (SF). She commented at the time of Taylor, “The person who posted it is not fit to preside over any club or society in a publicly funded university”.

Speaking to The Clare Echo, Mr Taylor claims that threats were received while Mike said he was

followed by two members of the NUIG cumann of Sinn Féin consistently for a week, a view that was confirmed to him by a now departed party member. “The two people were everywhere I turned, they were around every corner and they followed me into lectures that they didn’t even attend.

Anytime I got up out of my seat, so did they”.

FULL STORY PAGE 4

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2 NEWS

Index NEWS

THURSDAY, DEC 10 2020

CHRISTMAS COMES TO LISDOONVARNA

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ENTERTAINMENT GREENER CLARE CHRISTMAS

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

NEWSDESK

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

SALES

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

l FESTIVE Residents of Rooska Housing Estate in Lisdoonvarna switched on their Christmas lights on Sunday. A real Christmas

tree was donated this year. Some members of the Rooska Estate planted it and lights purchased and donated decorated the tree in advance of the official lighting up ceremony. “It’s nice to see small estates like Rooska making the effort to bring joy and happiness to the younger generation as well as some of us who are not that young. People were quite pleased with the occasion and all are looking forward to a peaceful Christmas and a Healthy New Year free from the Covid-19 virus,” said a spokesperson

HAPPY CHRISTMAS We are delighted to be open

CLIFFS OF MOHER VISITOR CENTRE As a thank you for your support over the last year; we are offering complimentary admission to all Clare residents every Friday, Saturday and Sunday until December 18th.

Open daily, 9am to 5pm. We look forward to welcoming you very soon.

Open daily 9am – 5pm | Closed 24th, 25th & 26th December

Enjoy great discounts of up to 20% in the gift shop and café.

Christmas shopping, café delights and a refreshing walk.

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Co. Clare, Ireland T +353 65 7086141 E info@cliffsofmoher.ie

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Huge renewable energy opportuniry for Estuary STUART HOLLY

A

editor@clareecho.ie

N UNPRECEDENTED renewable energy opportunity for Ireland, the Shannon Estuary and the south and west coasts has been unveiled in a

major study.

The Offshore Wind Potential Study commissioned by Shannon Foynes Port Company identifies the potential to turn the State into an exporter of energy and generate job creation.

The report estimates €12 billion investment into the Estuary by 2050 under a medium growth scenario and without including export potential to other markets. As the floating wind sector is currently in its infancy, there is no well-established supply chain and this represents an opportunity for Ireland to be first movers in the floating wind sector, the report states.

“The opportunity is a confluence of the emergence of floating offshore wind technology as the biggest growth area for renewables globally, the Irish west coast having among the best wind resources in the world and the unrivalled deep waters of the Shannon Estuary – a key asset and component for the manufacturing and industrial ecosystem necessary to support the global scale floating offshore wind farms,” said a spokesperson for Shannon Foynes Port Company.

The report estimates that the available

wind resource can generate up to 70GW of floating offshore wind energy and identifies not alone the export opportunity from excess electricity generated but also for green hydrogen produced from the offshore wind farm sites.

“With investment into the Shannon Estuary, there exists huge potential to develop world-class and innovative facilities aimed at growing the floating offshore renewable energy (ORE) sector allied to the manufacturing potential in the Shannon Estuary.

Therein exists the potential of dramatically reducing the Levelised Cost of Energy (LCOE),” the report states.

It finds that Shannon Foynes is best placed to service the future offshore floating wind market. This is due to the proximity to resource and market; availability of the deepest watercourse in Ireland and one of the deepest and most sheltered estuaries in the world; extensive future landbank availability; and the existence of Shannon Foynes Port Company as a statutory authority.

The report identifies the potential to create between 10,000 – 20,000 jobs in manufacturing and a further 10,000 industry jobs.

Manufacturing could also extend to the preparation and export of component parts further afield to the East coast of USA and into European developments, both onshore and offshore.

Pat Keating, CEO of Shannon Foynes Port said: “This would very much be a phased programme rivalling anything on an international scale but will transition Ireland to a global renewable energy leader.”

4 NEWS

THURSDAY, DEC 10 2020

Kilkee’s Taylor says he was subjected to online threats PÁRAIC MCMAHON

A

paraic@clareecho.ie

KILKEE man has claimed he was followed by members of Sinn Féin after tweeting criticism of the political party.

In September 2017, Deputy Mary Lou McDonald (SF) called on NUIG to expel a Clare student following what she described as a “vile” tweet.

Mike Taylor posted a sticker of a distasteful graphic featuring the Sinn Féin logo which caught the attention of McDonald.

She commented at the time of Taylor, “The person who posted it is not fit to preside over any club or society in a publicly funded university”.

Subsequent to this, NUIG issued a verbal warning to Mike who then offered to step down from his role as President of the NUIG Law Society which his colleagues objected to. He recounted that her tweet “called on NUIG to expel me, they took paper action because of the request”.

He issued a formal apology to Deputy McDonald after deleting the offensive tweet.

“It was in extremely poor taste and posted through extremely poor judgement”.

Speaking to The Clare Echo, he recalled, “My phone buzzed for days after, I had to deactivate my Twitter account and my student email,” Mike stated.

He was of the belief that this was a co-ordinated “bombardment” by members of Sinn Féin. “It was one to two weeks of an absolute barrage”.

Threats were also received while Mike said he was followed by two members of the NUIG cumann of Sinn Féin consistently for a week, a view that was confirmed to him by a now departed party member.

“The two people were everywhere I turned, they were around every corner and they followed me into lectures that they didn’t even attend. Anytime I got up out of my seat, so did they”.

Although he admitted to not being scared by the tactics, he did describe the antics of Sinn Féin as “terrifying”.

For the past 10 years, Mike has been a member of the Fine Gael party. He contested last year’s local elections in the West Clare Municipal District polling 473 first preference votes and was the second youngest candidate across the county.

“I have not been shy in expressing my opinions both in public and privately, I have called for leaders to resign as you have written about before but regardless of my views nobody has called to my door at night or questioned my credibility.

“Fine Gael is not perfect and I’m one of the first members to call out BS when it is there,” he stated.

Laois-Offaly TD, Brian Stanley (SF) has come under fire in the past week for a series of tweets, one of which has been understood as being a homophobic jibe at the Tanáiste Leo Varadkar (FG). Taylor accused Deputy McDonald of hypocrosy with how she has handled the ‘Stanley affair’.

He commented, “Mary Lou has made a career demanding answers from people right here right now but she has now given Brian Stanley a week to get his story straight”.

Efforts were made to contact Clare TD, Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne (SF) for a comment but none were forthcoming. The Sinn Féin national press office had not replied to requests for a comment at the time of going to press.

l POLITICS: Mike Taylor claims he was tracked in his movements

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6 NEWS

THURSDAY, DEC 10 2020

‘Voice of golf’ Peter Allis remembered at Lahinch SEAMUS HAYES

T

news@clareecho.ie

HE unexpected death took place last weekend of well known golf broadcaster Peter Allis who was an honorary overseas life member of Lahinch golf club.

Between 1954 and 1969, Peter won 31 professional tournaments including three British PGA championships and he was twice winner of the Vardon Trophy.

In September 1958, he won the national championships of Italy, Spain, and Portugal in three consecutive weeks.

His first appearance in the Ryder Cup was in 1953, and with the single exception of 1955, he represented Great Britain and Ireland in the event until 1969 and is one of only two father-and-son duos to have represented their country at this level.

In 1961, Peter worked his first tournament as a broadcaster for the BBC, The Open Championship at Royal Birkdale, where he also played. He retired as a playing professional in 1969 and became BBC’s lead commentator in 1978.

Affectionately known as ‘the Voice of Golf ’ by his many fans around the world, Peter transcended his sport as one of the greatest broadcasters of his generation.

Peter was inducted into the

World Golf Hall of Fame, in the Lifetime Achievement category, for his services to golf and just last month he commentated for the final time on the BBC’s coverage of the 2020 Masters Tournament from his home.

Peter and his wife Jackie were made Honorary Overseas Life Members of Lahinch Golf Club in 1990. With the support and assistance of their son Simon (European Tour’s Tournament Director for the Dubai Duty Free Irish Open), Peter and Jackie travelled to Lahinch last year to spend an evening with members.

l LEGEND: (right) Late golf commentator Peter Allis

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Clare teacher awarded for volunteer work with Concern CLARE teacher Denis Bates has been given an award for his volunteering work that dates back to 1984 with Ireland's largest aid agency Concern Worldwide, writes Stuart Holly.

Denis, from Shannon, received a silver medal for his involvement with the charity's national school debating competition, Concern Debates.

Hundreds of schools take part in the nationwide contest each year with students going head-to-head in debates about world and development issues – with volunteer judges like Denis deciding who wins each one.

Denis was also a mentor for student teams at CBS Sexton Street in Limerick city when he worked there over many years. He also adjudicated at many debating contests involving Clare schools like St. Patrick's Comprehensive in Shannon and Coláiste Muire in Ennis.

"I am delighted and honoured with this award," he said.

"The Concern Debates is an excellent forum for young debaters. Many students have taken part and along the way they have learned a lot about development issues around the world. It gives them the confidence and courage to speak out in public."

Denis has also worked in countries where Concern operates, such as in Kenya where in the early 80s he spent six years as principal of a secondary school and years later in around 2000 he made three visits to Ethi-

opia as a consultant on a teacher training project.

He was one of 32 Concern volunteers to be given awards at the 2020 Concern Volunteer Awards, which was held virtually on Saturday, December 5.

The awardees also included Dublin footballer and Concern ambassador, Michael Darragh Macauley.

Concern's Chief Executive, Dominic MacSorley, praised the organisation's volunteers and all those who support them in their efforts.

"The extraordinary commitment of Concern volunteers has kept a flame of compassion alive in communities around Ireland," he said.

"Their commitment has been integral in sustaining Irish people's solidarity in action across the world's hardest hit areas. We cannot thank them enough for their support, particularly at this most challenging time."

lCHARITY: Teacher

Denis Bates from Shannon who recieved an award for his involevment with Concern

NEWS 7

THURSDAY, DEC 10 2020

Normal People star turns on Tuamgraney Christmas lights ELAINE TUBRIDY

O

elaine.tubridy@clareecho.ie

NE of the stars of the 2020 TV Hit Series ‘Normal People’ has officially turned on the lights of the community Christmas Tree in his native village of Tuamgraney. Frank Blake was on hand to flick the switch on the annual festive lighting display in the East Clare Memorial Park which also marked the reopening of the park after recent refurbishment works.

The works carried out in the park over the past two months have included new paving and footpaths, additional seating and a gazebo. The project has been part funded under the Town & Village Renewal Scheme by Clare County Council and the Department of Rural & Community Development.

The East Clare Memorial Park was opened in 1952 and is the only Garden of Remembrance to the War of Independence in east Clare. It is a much enjoyed public park and used for many activities throughout the year. “This is a wonderful Christmas lighting display and hopefully it will give people from east Clare and

those from the area viewing it online a lift after what has been a difficult year” said Frank Blake.

Tuamgraney Development Association have announced a Go Fund Me page to help secure match funding for the work and also offset the costs of the Christmas lighting which have been added to this year.

“The park is a wonderful historic and community space and is particularly special when lit up for Christmas. The refurbishment works just completed have made it more accessible for everyone. We hope to see more people enjoying the park in the future.” said Paul Brooks, Chairman, Tuamgraney Development Association “We are thankful for the support we have received to date from those who have sponsored a new seat in the park. As it’s been a very difficult year for fund raising, we would be very grateful for support through our Go Fund me page or to any member of our committee,”he added.

The turning on of the Christmas lights in Tuamgraney including excellent drone footage can be viewed on line at Tuamgraney Tidy Towns Facebook page.

Contributions to the fundraising campaign can be made at GoFundMe.com by searching for “Tuamgraney park and Christmas lights”.

ADD US ON SNAPCHAT Normal People’s Frank Blake turns on Christmas lights in his na5ve Tuamgraney

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lWONDERLAND: The Christmas lights in Tuamgraney Memorial Park and (inset) actor Frank Blake

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8 NEWS

THURSDAY, DEC 10 2020

BUMBLEance fundraiser gives back to Covid affected firms ELAINE TUBRIDY

A

news@clareecho.ie

RC Studios, an award-winning visual advertising agency, is offering businesses charities, organisations and small firms etc. the chance to win an award-winning corporate video package worth €5,000.

Entry, by donation of €200, will give businesses the opportunity to win this incredible package whilst raising much-needed funds for BUMBLEance, The Children’s National Ambulance Service.

ARC studios, established by husband and wife team Aisling and Colm Kerr, are famed for their portfolio of photography and commercial videos. Creative Director Colm is an award-winning videographer with the IPPVA and has won many awards for his architecture, fine art and commercial photography.

Aisling Kerr, CEO of ARC Studios, says: “At ARC Studios we are

mindful of the Covid-19 pandemic and the affect and toll this has taken on many businesses across Ireland.

“We appreciate marketing your business can be costly, be it for a charity, local café, restaurant or bar, perhaps a hairdressers or barber shop, retail, a financial institution or a start-up etc. In turn, we are also wholly committed to our community and fundraising to support the valuable work BUMBLEance does for children and families across Ireland.

“As business owners ourselves and as parents to two young children, we are delighted to be in a position to use our services to give back to businesses in these uncertain times, whilst also helping families of sick children by donating 100% of the proceeds of this fundraiser.”

BUMBLEance is the official Children’s National Ambulance Service of Ireland, providing safe and comfortable transportation for Ireland’s youngest patients.BUMBLEance is with families every step of the way, with the comfort and safety of the children as its number one priority.

The €5K corporate video package, includes video concept/storyboard and film schedule, art direction and styling, two days on location filming, post-production including licence fee for music, voice over coaching and recording, graphic overlay, access to an award-winning videographer and

lCAMERA READY: Chris McCarthy (bumbleance driver), Veronica (mum), Shaye (4), Jayce (5), Freya (11) and Carly (12) launch the BUMBLEance fundraiser

its kind in the world and has all the amenities of a regular ambulance but also includes the all-important extras to make a sick child’s journey as safe and entertaining as possible.

“BUMBLEance has made over 14,000 trips since its inception with hundreds of families availing of the charity’s service – free of charge – making positive life impacts for sick children.

“ARC Studios have been a great asset to BUMBLEance, assisting us with our photography and videography requirements and we are beyond thankful to them and all our supporters who allow us to continue this humbling service,” says, Tony Heffernan, Co-founder of BUMBLEance, Children’s National Ambulance service and The Saoirse Foundation.

The raffle is now live, closing date 23rd December 2020. Donate here https://www.idonate. ie/raffle/winacorporatevideo or scan QR code.

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FIANNA Fáil TD for Clare Cathal Crowe says it's a huge blow to learn that Moneypoint Power Station in West Clare has lost out on a crucial electricity supply contract, writes Stuart Holly.

The ESB has confirmed its disappointment that the Moneypoint units did not prequalify for the T-4 auction for the period October 2024 to September 2025.

The capacity auction, run annually by EirGrid and its Northern Irish equivalent, is a key element of the all-island wholesale electricity market and is designed to deliver a reliable electricity

supply at the least possible cost.

The auction also aims to encourage new and efficient power plants into market; but only if these are competitive and economical solutions.

Moneypoint not qualifying will mean that it will have no capacity income, which is its primary source of income, from October 2024.

"This is a massive blow for our county," said Deputy Crowe.

"Moneypoint has been shrouded by uncertainty in recent years and this development will undoubtedly add to the stress felt by contrac-

tors and their families.

"For several years we have all known that Moneypoint will cease burning coal in 2025 but there is no clear plan for its future beyond that. With it now looking almost certain that Moneypoint will not be generating electricity from the autumn of 2024 onwards. This means that the ESB, working in partnership with the government, must urgently strategise for Moneypoint's future.

I plan on urgently speaking to the Taoiseach, Micheál Martin, and party colleagues who serve in government on the future of Moneypoint.”

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10 NEWS

THURSDAY, DEC 10 2020

Shannigans GAA Garda investigation into launch new online abuse at ‘advanced stage’ festive menu PÁRAIC MCMAHON

A

paraic@clareecho.ie

GARDA investigation into the sustained online abuse of Clare GAA officials has reached “an advanced stage”.

Last November, Clare GAA contacted An Garda Síochána to commence an investigation surrounding the online abuse of county board officials, particularly long-serving secretary, Pat Fitzgerald.

“It is a fairly advanced stage, I’ve been talking to them in recent times, it is a slow process, far slower than I would have anticipated. I just wanted it to stop and I felt at the same time there was a lot of derogatory stuff,” Fitzgerald told The Clare Echo on the progress of the investigation.

He added, “I believe myself that constructive criticism maybe a lot of it is destructive, within reason you have got to take it, when you get into a job like mine you have to take that, you don’t enter a beauty contest. At the same time, when it goes beyond that and it is an aspect of bullying and harassment, I think everyone is entitled to fair play, it is being dealt with and I would like to leave it at that. It will come to a conclusion”.

Fitzgerald is grateful to clubs who spoke out against the abuse at a meeting

of the County Board last October. “It had been going on for a number of years. It was referred to at two or three club meetings and at one particular meeting was dedicated to it and they said it wasn’t on, I got tremendous support and I wouldn’t have expected it.

“I was always pretty tough on clubs but I was surprised with the support I got along the way. I rang a lot of clubs last year to see how things were going, I was overwhelmed by the response”.

According to the county secretary, he has more knowledge of social me-

dia than people would expect. “I know young people grow up in a social media environment but I believe it can be very destructive not constructive, I have no problem with anything if it is constructive”.

How clubs responded to COVID-19 with initiatives across communities in Clare and the impact they have on young people all over the county was described by Fitzgerald as “enormous”.

He concluded, “the health and welfare of the people in our communities is paramount”.

l SUPPORT: Long serving GAA County Board secretary Pat Fitzgerald

Photo by John Mangan

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The Inn at Dromoland also offer Afternoon Tea on a daily basis from 1-4pm. Enjoy a selection of freshly prepared finger sandwiches, scones, desserts and cakes accompanied with a variety of coffee and teas.

Priced at €21 per adult (or €26 per adult with a glass of prosecco) you will not source better value for money! A Kid’s afternoon tea menu including hot chocolate is available at a reduced price of €12.50pp. Pre booking for Afternoon Tea is required a minimum of 24 hours in advance.

Treat your loved ones with a gift voucher from the Inn at Dromoland this Christmas. Spoil your family and friends with a variety of voucher types to suit all tastes. Choose from: Monetary Vouchers, Afternoon Tea Vouchers, Leisure Club Membership Vouchers, Shannigans Gastro Pub Dining Vouchers, Accommodation Vouchers and much more. There is an option to suit every budget! Vouchers can be purchased on www.theinnatdromoland.ie, over the phone by calling 061-368161or at hotel reception up until 9pm every night in the lead up to Christmas. Support Local this year and consider a Gift from the Inn at Dromoland!

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! g n i z a m a s i e r a l C and 1 e c ien ut 202 r e p Ex ugho o t Plan y it Thro Enjo

Request our FREE 2021 Holiday Calendar For most, 2020 was a difficult and stressful year, and one to forget. We expect and hope for better things next year and, in anticipation, we have been sharing our 2021 Holiday Calendar with those who might holiday in our beautiful county, or influence others to do so.

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Wishing you and yours a joyous Christmas and a happy New Year Clare Tourism Department, Clare County Council

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If you would like an ‘Experience Clare 2021’ calendar to send to someone or to plan your year, you can request a copy via the web address below, or scan the QR code. The calendar presents stunning images from around the county, a reminder of the wonders of Clare!

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12 NEWS

Council officials are ‘guilty’ of contempt PÁRAIC MCMAHON

S

paraic@clareecho.ie

enior officials of Clare County Council are guilty of "contempt" according to a Lissycasey representative who walked out of a meeting in protest at the decision making of local authority officials.

A "considerable" reduction to the income from development contributions has been recorded by Clare County Council in 2020. A total of €1.75m was received this year which is down on the approximate €3.71m in 2019. "It is very important for us to try keep the development contribution schemes coming in," acting senior planner Helen Quinn outlined this week.

At Monday's meeting of the Economic Development Strategic Policy Committee (SPC), Cllr PJ Kelly (FF) questioned how many applicants from areas of population decline benefited of the 50% discount" as passed following a motion at a meeting of the County Council. In a written reply to that proposal, Director of Economic Development, Liam Conneally highlighted that any changes to the terms or charges of the scheme would "require the preparation and the making of an entirely new Development Contribution Scheme".

Approximately €160k of a saving was recorded from the 25 percent discount, Quinn replied. "The 25% discount is what we are operating to," she stated.

"Are you telling me the Executive did not comply with the lawful decision of the Council," Cllr Kelly responded. He then outlined that there was 'unanimous' agreement to reduce plan-

ning contributions by fifty percent for areas of population decline, "has it not been honoured," he asked.

Quinn said that they were operating from a scheme adopted in 2017 and not the notice of motion passed in recent weeks.

"Clare County Council lawfully decided in the same manner as it did previously, it is recorded in the minutes of the day that a 50% reduction apply. It is contempt of the Council if it is a fact.

It was unanimous," the long-serving councillor retorted.

Chair of the SPC, Cllr Pat McMahon (FF) informed Cllr Kelly that the matter would be investigated as he brought a halt to the discussion. Cllr Kelly then walked out of the meeting in protest.

lPROTEST: Cllr PJ Kelly Photo by Eamon Ward

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Traffic dangers outside Bodyke school ‘frightening’ ‘FRIGHTENING’ scenes are being witnessed in Bodyke with ‘increasing danger’ in the vicinity of Bodyke national school on a frequent basis, writes Páraic McMahon.

Immediate installation of road safety measures outside Bodyke national school have been sought

by Cllr Joe Cooney (FG).

He referenced the “growing school population” plus the “speed and volume” of traffic using the Bodyke to Limerick regional road for creating “an increasingly dangerous” situation for children, teachers and parents. Funding to prioritise “major improvement works” is required he felt.

Discussions have been held on the matter between members of the Bodyke Community Council and staff within the Killaloe Municipal District, senior executive engineer Tom Mellet con-

firmed.

A pedestrian crossing has been identified as “the preferred option” by Killaloe MD staff. This would be located closer to the school while measures at the R352 junction to reduce the potential for speed coming from the village and additional signage from the Broadford approach are needed, Mellett noted.

Efforts to source land are ongoing from the school board of management, Cllr Cooney detailed at a recent meeting of the Killaloe MD. “Something needs to be done. I have pictures of what is going on and it would actually frighten you”. Two rows of traffic are parking on the lefthand side of the road, he highlighted with limited room between the school and road. He suggested that short-term measures be put in place until the improvement.

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14 NEWS

THURSDAY, DEC 10 2020

Relive Clare's All Ireland win and the best of 90's hurling STUART HOLLY

R

editor@clareecho.ie

ÉABHLÓID GAA is a new one-hour documentary that tells the story of how hurling redefined itself as a sport in the 1990s to truly become our national game.

In the documentary, Ger Loughnane calls legendary Clare hurler Seánie McMahon the best of his era. Loughnane was not short on praise for his former player, who opened the scoring for Clare in their breakthrough 1995 All Ireland Final.

“Clare huffing and puffing for the first six or seven minutes, no sign of a score coming. Next thing, Seánie puts the ball over from play and follows it with a 65. There was never a bigger occasion for any player from any county, than the first ten minutes of that All-Ireland and that’s when he really shone out. He was the best centre back of his era,” said Loughnane.

For over a century, the hurling spoils were shared among the traditional three superpowers of Cork, Kilkenny and Tipperary. As the decade began there was no sign of the aristocracy

being unseated.

Then, in five minutes in 1994, the hurlers of Offaly sparked a revolution.

Along came a collection of upstarts to destroy the old order, and go down in history as Ireland’s most charismatic, colourful and enduring personalities.

This is their story, their words and their deeds - in the defining period of modern hurling history. Réabhlóid GAA digs deep into an extensive archive of classic GAA shows- from Breaking Ball, Road to Croker, Committee Room, Championship Matters, Thank GAA It’s Friday – weaving together archive interviews with un-

lGOAT: Seanie McMahon in action

Photo by Sportsfile

forgettable action from some of the greatest games of all time. Featuring, among others, Davy Fitzgerald, Ger Loughnane, Brian Whelahan, Johnny Dooley, Johnny Pilkington, Liam Griffin, Martin Storey, all in their heyday, these are the winners writing the history as they lived it.

Réabhlóid GAA is the latest offering from Loosehorse, the standard-bearers in GAA and sports documentary with an acclaimed track record featuring The Boys in Green, Micko, Giles and many more, and is directed by Ronan O’Donoghue (Sunday Best, Jayo, All Ireland Day). Diarmuid Lyng, for whom the ‘90s provided the inspiration for his own stellar inter-county career with Wexford, is an authentic and affectionate Narrator.

This is an epic retelling of an extraordinary time, from Offaly’s astonishing comeback, Biddy Early being banished in the Banner, the Boys of Wexford marching across the border, and the outrageous trilogy of 98, all played out in a rapidly evolving social and cultural landscape.

Relive Clare’s All Ireland glory and the best of 90’s hurling with “Réabhlóid GAA” which goes out on TG4 at 9.30pm on Wednesday, December 16th.

Billy Kelleher

Dalo reminisces about ‘95 success in Travel Tales podcast THE All Ireland Senior Hurling final in Croke Park this Sunday should be hosting the delayed traditional half time 25th anniversary celebration of the Clare winning team from 1995. But due to lockdown restriction that will not be able to take place on Sunday, writes Fergal O’Keeffe.

Anthony Daly told the Travel Tales with Fergal Podcast this that he had been looking forward to the honour of joining his teammates on the pitch for the traditional wave at halftime even if it had been to an empty stadium.

“We had great plans made. All through February and March this year we had planning meetings and some of those meeting turned into great nights. We are a dangerous bunch when we assemble”, Anthony joked.

“The beauty of the 25th anniversary celebration is that management and players are all still around and if you go through a lot of counties a lot are not able to say that”, Anthony told the Podcast.

Anthony reminisced on the podcast about the glory days of Clare hurling during

the revolution years of the 1990’s and told great stories of Clare team holidays and All Star trips to South African, American and Thailand.

“Some of the stuff that went on. We were lucky enough.

You just think back and go ‘how did we all come back in one piece. There were a few broken bones with lads doing dives and stuff like that.

But we had such a ball”.

The Travel Tales with Fergal Podcast drops every Tuesday on all podcast platforms and people can follow all his updates on @traveltaleswithfergal on Instragram and Facebook and @ FergalTravel on Twitter.

lGLORY: Anthony Daly

Photo by Sportsfile

M.E.P.

Keeping Ireland at the heart of Europe constituency@billykelleher.ie

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16 NEWS

THURSDAY, DEC 10 2020

Senator Róisín Garvey

Small school hoping to make a big difference SARAH CLARKE

T Roisin.Garvey@oireachtas.ie Spokesperson

Councillor Susan Crawford

RANSITION Year Students in Scoil Mhuire, Ennistymon , have been busy putting together a Virtual Concert for over 400 nursing homes across Clare, Galway and the rest Munster. The Clare Echo spoke to student Caoimhe Mc Mahon about their experience in recording this concert and how it evolved.

Transition Year Students in Scoil Mhuire traditionally perform for the staff and residents at the Ennistymon Community Hospital. Unfortunately, due to Covid-19 restrictions, this was not possible this year.

They decided to work around this and create a virtual performance instead.

Caoimhe explains, “We felt that people in nursing homes have missed out on enough this year when they can’t have visitors or anything. They were going to be missing out on this concert which is traditionally performed by the students here.

Why should they miss out on that as well?”

All Transition Year Students were involved in putting the 35-minute virtual concert together. Taking about one month to create the whole thing, it involves a wide range of singing, Irish traditional music, dancing and drama. All students were very willing to take part in the video.

Caoimhe adds, “Once the idea was mentioned at all, everyone was so on board and everyone was volunteering to do stuff.

Even if they had not sung a song or danced in a while, everyone was willing to give it a go and they all put in the effort to practice.”

Initially the video was just for the Ennistymon Community Hospital but the students decided as it was a video, they could send it to more. Caoimhe states, “We contacted a few other local nursing

homes like Liscannor and a few in Ennis as well and it was the responses we got from those people, they were all so grateful for the video, so we decided we would go even further again. We did all of Clare, we moved on to Galway and we did all of the nursing homes in Munster and Temple Street Children’s Hospital in Dublin also”. The students uploaded the video onto a private YouTube channel and sent the nursing homes the link to the video through an email.

Feedback from the nursing homes have been extremely positive. Caoimhe explains, “Several nursing homes have emailed us back, even before they’d even seen the video. Even just ringing them about it and telling them what it was all about. They were already ecstatic about it”.

The experience for the Transition Year students was worthwhile and beneficial.

Not only did it have a positive impact on Nursing homes, but students and teachers also. Caoimhe describes the experience, “As much as it helped the nursing homes, it helped the students as well. Even the teachers in school have said that it created a really nice atmosphere in the school coming up to Christmas.”

Email ty2020@scoil-mhuire.ie to find out more.

l HUP: Students at Scoil Mhuire

Ennistymon taking part in the concert

Greens welcome new fund for rural active travel projects

Roisin.Garvey@oireachtas.ie Clare Co Councillor

GREEN party spokesperson for Rural Development Senator Roisin Garvey has urged the county council to apply for a new €50m fund announced by Minister for Transport Eamon Ryan, writes Elaine Tubridy.

"This new funding is specifically designed for our towns, villages and rural areas and I urge Clare County Council to make sure that Clare gets the maximum benefit from this fund. Minister Ryan has said that he wants to fund the development of active travel network strategies, the provision of new/widened footpaths or segregated cycle tracks, improved crossing facilities for pedestrians/cyclists, and a wide range of other measures.

“I want to see Clare become a great

place to walk and cycle because this brings not only environmental benefits but health and community benefits as well as being attractive to tourists,” said Seantor Garvey.

"In particular I'd like to see safe walking and cycling routes rolled out that gives children safe options for walking and cycling to school in our towns and villages.

“Councils can roll out this infrastructure quickly using Section 38 of the Roads Act which allows them to quickly build segregated cycle tracks and widened footpaths on existing roads without using the Part 8 planning process. This fund represents a real opportunity for Clare and I will work with Clare county Council to make sure that Clare gets the maximum benefit from this funding,” Senator Garvey added.

18 NEWS

THURSDAY, DEC 10 2020

Strike Sports Coaching aims to ‘develop the whole child’ CIAN O’BROIN

S

cianobroin@clareecho.ie

TRIKE Sports Coaching provides individual players the opportunity to enhance their sporting ability through professional training sessions.

With small class sizes, players are catered for on an individual basis, providing a clear development pathway in an age relevant format. The emphasis here is on developing the key fundamental movement skills for all sports, through fun, game-based training sessions.

Run by highly experienced UEFA Licensed coaches, Owner Kieran Ryan explains that Strike Sports Coaching is the perfect off-season outlet for individual players hoping to play for Clare or aspiring to compete in underage League of Ireland (LOI) or simply, to improve their skills, speed, balance and agility for next season.

The coaching staff includes Kieran, who works with the Galway United u15’s as well as having managed the Clare Kennedy Cup squad in 2019. Also on board is Barry Ryan,

who has accumulated 450 LOI games and “a renowned, highly decorated ladies’ coach” who will be joining the team for girls coaching after Christmas.

On the ethos, Kieran states: “We are very focused on the child and what they want.

Children want games. They don’t want to be standing around waiting for two touches of the ball. Every player has at least one football, all of the time. The number of touches on the ball is a priority.

“They are allowed develop through games.

It’s a game-based formula that has genuine benefits to their natural ability to improve.

We look at isolated skills. I might take a player out of the game to practice on his stepover, as opposed to everyone working on their stepovers at the same time.”

Kieran stresses that Strike Sports Coaching will work with managers and teams to further develop their players in different leagues.

Taking a team for six weeks, the coaches will deliver a variety of sessions, whilst offering free advice to their managers at the same time.

“The focus is generally on players aged seven to fourteen. Kieran states: “At age six, seven and eight it’s all about getting the basics skills right. At age nine, ten and eleven, it’s

about me and my buddy. That means moving the ball, when to pass and one-two’s. From 12 years on, it’s me, my buddy and others. This includes third man runs, selfless runs and creating space for others. It’s all age specific.”

Through various coaching courses, Kieran acknowledges that many parents and coaches spend too much time telling a young player to pass it, without them really understanding the when and why.

“If I’m a kid, and I’m only getting the ball once every 90 seconds, I want to be comfortable. He needs to learn how and when to pass as well as why, rather than being told by some adult to pass. As we get older, it’s all about the why. Once he understands why he should do something, he can make that decision himself. Why, leads to better decision making.

We have a big focus on improving their decision making as they get older,” he opines.

From 12 years of age players can then focus on positional sense, Kieran believes. “During my time as Kennedy Cup manager, my goal was not to win but to develop players in different positions,” he explains. Too many managers, he believes, put players in a single position and they never really develop a sense of what it’s like to play in every position.

“They put you in only one position and

then they drop you. That is their opinion of you. How qualified really are they to do that,” he states.

Adding, “Our goal here is to develop the whole child so that they are good with friends, their interpersonal skills improve and they are fitter, with freer minds. I have gotten plenty of testimonials from parents of children on that Clare squad, saying they were doing better in school and that they were looking forward to finding out what position they are going to be playing next week.”

Strike Sports Coaching is running a Christmas camp this year on December 28th, 29th and 30th. This will include fun games between 10am to 3pm, with specific coaching for players with different positions over the three-day period. “This is all game based, loads of matches, loads of shooting, goals and passes,” Kieran states.

All coaching delivered will adhere to hygiene advice, PPE and provide handwashing facilities. The coaches at Strike Sports Coaching are committed to running a fun and safe camp.

For more information strikesport.org/

visit

lON THE BALL: (above left) Strike Sports Coaching Owner Kieran Ryan, (bottom left and above) kids get stuck in at a coaching session

https://

20 COLUMNIST

R

THURSDAY, DEC 10 2020

ebecca O’Neill

T

Hair care heroes

Miss Clare Rebecca O’Neill shares her top five hair products in this week’s Clare Echo column

AKING care of yourself is crucial for your mental well-being. Even so much as your hair, skin and body, ensuring that you feel and look amazing. I have been asked a lot on my social media about what I use to keep my hair healthy. Hair is a very personal topic for most people. How it looks can initially interpret your mood and state of mind. Taking good care of your hair is so important, because it is the only head of hair you will ever have.

For me, when I take care and nourish my hair with good products, I feel more positive about myself. If you are struggling to find the right products for your hair, this column is for you. I am going to talk about my top five favourite hair products that work for me.

1 Eleven Australia Hydrate my hair Moisture Shampoo has helped my hair remarkably well.

Being a blonde, my hair can get very dry, so it needs all the hydration it can get. This shampoo replenishes moisture for normal to dry hair. This product also has an amazing scent, leaving your hair smell fresh and feel so soft. I always ensure to not use too much product and only use what is needed. Only apply when hair is wet to ensure you get all the benefits.

2 Eleven Australia Hydrate my hair mois-

ture conditioner goes hand in hand with the “Hydrate my hair moisture shampoo”. Like all conditioners, this one helps keep your hair feel moisturised and rejuvenated. It also contains a refreshing scent and softens the ends of your hair. Only apply to the ends of your hair and not the roots.

3 Semi Dilino Anti-Breakage Daily Fluid by Alfaparf Milano is most definitely essential in

LOCKS: Some of Rebecca’s favourite hair care products

your hair routine.

This product does exactly what it says on the tin. It ensures that your hair will not break while being wet. Your hair is most fragile when it is wet, so this product helps repair and prevent damage to it. Packaged in a spray bottle, it is also very easy to apply by spraying it on the ends of your hair.

4 Aussie Miracle hair insurance is also an amazing hair repair product for every day hair conditioning, containing Jojoba seed oil. This tells those annoying knots and tangles to take a hike. Leaving your hair feeling de-tangled and smelling divine. Also designed as a spray bottle which makes it easier to apply.

5 Semi Dilino Cristalli Liquidi by Alfaparf Milano is a gorgeous serum for the ends of damaged hair. This helps nurse your dead ends back to health and replenish your hair. Having a unique oily texture while also smelling fabulous. This can be used after washing your hair or after curling and straightening your hair, to give it that smooth and healthy look.

To shop locally for these products, Hair Art in Ballycasey Craft and Design Centre in Shannon retail the whole range of Eleven Australia products and Alfaparf Milano Semi Dilino Range. Your local pharmacy retail all Aussie products also. Be sure to shop any products you need locally.

Arts & Entertainment 21

THURSDAY, DEC 10 2020

Burren family reach final of TG4 talent show CIAN O’BROIN

T

cianobroin@clareecho.ie

HE Farrell family from the Burren are through to the final of Réalta Agus Gaolta, an Irish speaking talent show on TG4, that searches for Ireland’s most entertaining family.

The Farrell family from New Quay, performed a classical take on Coldplay’s ‘Viva la Vida’ in episode 3 and are now through to the final, which will take place in episode 8.

Shónagh (19), the eldest of the four siblings played the lead violin and sang, while Mia (17) played the viola and sang backing vocals. Euan (14), played on the cello while the youngest of the family, Noah (10), played the violin. They combined their music with dance moves and vocals into a well-polished act.

Ellie Farrell, the children’s mother, explains that “Without music, there would be a huge void in their lives. It has really given them great confidence, great friendships and great opportunities. There are instruments everywhere throughout the house. It was a nail biting, nerve wrecking experience but a brilliant feeling for them to come through the show. Let’s hope they make the county

proud in the final.”

Throughout lockdown, the Farrell family had been practicing together at home. In late August, before reconvening for school, they had the opportunity to busk on the streets of Galway City, Ellie tells, “There is a great community of buskers up there.” A lady representing Réalta Agus Gaolta approached the Farrell family on the street, mentioned the show and asked if they would send in some clips.

After sending on material the following day, Ellie received a call back asking if they would participate in this year’s competition.

“It was a real adventure for them as they haven’t ever done anything like this,” Ellie admits.

Brian and Ellie Farrell, parents to the children, have no musical experience but assert that music is everything to the Farrell family. When Shónagh was a baby, Brian, who operates a bus company, gave a lady a lift to a special musical event on the Aran Islands.

This woman, Katharina Baker, mentioned that she was intending on opening a musical school in Gort.

Two years later, Brian and Ellie received a call from Katharina, asking if Shónagh was interested in enrolling in Coole Music. In senior infants she was inaugurated into the world of music and later followed by her three siblings Mia, Euan and Noah, each of

365 days of Moher beauty

lSTUNNING: An image of the Cliffs of Moher from Kevin’s book

whom are involved in Coole Music and Arts.

“They love playing together,” Ellie states.

Adding, “Shónagh is the leader of the group.

She is now in her first year of studying Music and French in UCD. She and Mia volunteer with the orchestra’s in Coole Music, helping

the younger children. They have found a real family for themselves in the music school.

Without music, it would be a huge loss. They might not go into it as a profession, but they always see themselves as getting together when they are older and having a session.”

lFAMILY: Mia, Euan, Shónagh and Noah Farrell will battle it out to win Réalta agus Gaolta

CIAN O’BROIN

cianobroin@clareecho.ie

LISCANNOR resident Kevin L. Smith has created a snapshot of the Cliffs of Moher in book format, having taken a picture of the cliffs each day throughout 2018.

Moving to Clare from Westport, County Mayo 10 years ago, Kevin alludes to the feeling of missing out each day as he watched the sun rise and set on the cliff line from the comfort of his kitchen.

A mechatronic engineer by trade, Kevin’s introduction to the cliffs came about when he was requested to film his brother, a professional surfer, in a year long project. Since then, Kevin conducts his own video production projects and flies drones commercially for television and film.

“In November 2017, I decided that, come January I would take a picture from the same angle every

day just to see how the light changes at the cliffs. Out of curiosity, I wanted to see how many nice sunsets there were in a year. I noticed so many things. In the winter, it sets behind Hags Head and in the summer, behind the Aran islands.

It was lovely to see the cliffs and truly take them in,” he said.

Kevin never intended to make a book until two years later, at the start of the first lockdown, where he accumulated additional photos of people surfing, kayaking and the pronounced activity of wildlife on the cliffs from 2018.

A real understanding of the beauty of the cliffs began to develop. “The snow in March was ridiculous. The whole cliff was lined with waste-high snow. There was nobody there for two days. It was kind of eerie. There were icicles hanging off the cliff. It was still, silent and surreal. That was the highlight of the year because it was so unique,” he added.

In creating The Daily Cliffs, Kev-

in collected the photos month by month, compiling his photo journal with different angles. To offer variety, he decided to interview a number of people who were familiar with the cliff and gauge their understanding of what it meant to them.

Kevin interviewed Eugene O’ Dwyer, Director of photography for Father Ted. Eugene spoke about rolling a wheelchair off the cliff with a dummy pretending to be Father Jack, as well as flying a helicopter over the cliff.

Kevin also spoke to a mixture of locals and guides that have great knowledge of the cliffs, matching up their description to his own imagery, in order to, “Bring the photos to life.”

A percentage of the proceeds generated from The Daily Cliffs will go towards Enable Ireland.

The Daily Cliffs is available for purchase in Banner Books and The Salmon Bookshop, both in Ennistymon.

22 COLUMNIST

THURSDAY, DEC 10 2020

Eoin Neylon With

An inside look at Clare’s political spectrum

With With

Optics do not reveal the whole story when it comes to ‘the cheque from Brussels’ received by farmers according to Clare Echo farming columnist Joe Melody

T

RADITIONALLY this time of year was always a period that farmers would target to sell their cattle in the marts. The theory behind this for some farmers was the single farm payment would be arriving into farmers accounts and they might be more likely to spend the cheque from Brussels, in turn this would bring about a buoyancy to the cattle trade.

Currently it is a sellers market out there but much of that is more to do with a scarcity of cattle rather than anything else, hopefully farmers can capitalise on this as there has been enough doom and gloom hanging over the beef industry in the past few years. “The cheque from Brussels� is one of these commonly used phrases almost as ubiquitous as “do you have much road frontage�, these lines are often trotted out when a farmer meets someone perhaps from an urban background. This well meaning urban dweller means no malice but is merely finding common ground with their rural cousin. However there is a gap between the optics of the farmer receiving the cheque in the post and why they’re actually receiving it.

This payment from the EU is not actually farmer focused, it is in fact consumer focused. It’s striking that Ireland has now one of the lowest spends as a percentage of income, on food. In 1980 27.7% of Household income went on food, today that is now down to 8.7%. My sense of it is if the true cost of food production were to be passed back to the consumer, some people would

have to go without and this could lead to social unrest.

There was famine in Holland during World War two, this was a man made famine created by the Nazis and we all know the devastating legacy our own great famine left on this island. These kind of events remind us that food security should be the under-pining raison d’être of the EU project.

In our own county, the farm payments have achieved a lot from helping to keep the family farm structure viable and subsidising the production of high quality food to conservation projects in the Burren and along our river banks.

All this money flows into the local economy acting as a rural stimulus package as well as making sure we all have food on the table at a reasonable price.

Back in Bunratty this week, we housed the in-calf dairy heifers. With the persistent rain and plummeting temperatures, we felt this would be too much pressure on these girls body condition as some of them will be calving from mid January so they can’t afford any backward steps in their development.

All in-calf dairy heifers and cows will receive a pre calving mineral from next week on. All cows are now dried off for their winter break, this is welcome for man and beast.

However we are turning our attentions to planning our spring workload. We could be forgiven for getting lazy on the lead into Christmas but a little planning now should take a lot of pressure off for next spring when the work volume peaks.

ď ŹIT’S FRIESIAN: The Melody crew housed the in-calf dairy heifers due to cold weather

Communication break down

G

EORGE Bernard Shaw once famously opined, “The single biggest problem in communication is the illusion that it has taken place.�

Members of the Government would need to heed these sage words of wisdom.

Over the past few weeks, the comms division of the Executive branch of the state has been woefully inadequate.

The net result is an opposition that is running rings around the Government when it comes to public perception as to what is going on in dayto-day political affairs.

The latest example of this came in the form of the student nurses pay motion that People Before Profit brought before the DĂĄil last week. On the face of things, it was a noble motion.

However, the wording of the motion was problematic and fraught with issues.

Firstly, the suggestion within the PBP motion that students studying courses for frontline jobs be given free registration fees is an unfair insult to all other students.

Effectively, this motion sought to create a hierarchy of students, categorised by how useful the Government of the day deemed them to be. Given how short-sighted politicians of all hues can be, this would invariably lead to Ireland producing a myopic range of graduates and therefore, stunt our own growth as a nation.

Secondly, the motion asked that all nurses be put on a mandatory 37-hour a week maximum workload.

Again, something that sounds laudable, until you face the reality that were that introduced in the morning, it would lead to multiple ward closures all over the country due to understaffing.

Actions have consequences.

So too would the precedent of allowing public sector pay be something decided solely by TD’s haggling over the floor of the Dåil instead of the correct way; between the Department and the union at formal pay talks.

It just so happens that a new round of public sector pay talks will begin next month at which the Government

already committed to dealing with the situation of student nurses pay/allowances.

So why, when the Government appeared to be somewhat prepared for the topic, did they let the message get completely missed. Complacency is one thing.

The Government did not allow a straight vote on the PBP motion take place, instead amending it to effectively say that Government will deal with the issue as part of the upcoming talks.

In the age of social media though, that allows so much room for spin. It didn’t talk long for SF and PBP TD’s to tweet how “Government had voted no to paying student nurses�, despite no such vote occurring.

The screenshot shared with it was even the voting record on the amended motion that showed 77 Government TD’s voting Yes to their amended motion, a point that was clearly missed by the thousands that shared it online.

It will now be another month or more before the issue is resolved. The Government should not have kicked the can down the road, given the huge service these young students did for the state.

As a gesture, it would be fitting for Government to reward every nurse and midwife in Ireland with a Christmas bonus as well as covering their registration fees for the coming year.

By not getting ahead of the motion though, and communicating the situation to the public ahead of time, Government effectively gave the Opposition free reign to

create the narrative.

This is not the first time they have allowed this to happen. It was the same situation with the mother and baby homes data, where Government introduced a Bill to save the database and prepare it for publication in the new year.

However, by not communicating this ahead of time, the narrative that they were sealing it for 30 years got out to the public and caused mass outrage.

If we are to have confidence in Government, we need to know that they can see ahead and make accurate and fair plans for the future.

That confidence is undermined when they cannot look ahead in the DĂĄil schedule and see potential PR disasters coming up.

Yet, it appears that they will do it again. As Cabinet approved this week, of all weeks, a judicial pay increase (which it was legally bound to do soon anyway), it also faces into a Labour party Bill again on student nurses pay.

Given the action on the PBP motion last week, the Government may indeed vote down the Labour Bill and again, create a deeper furore over this issue. If they were smart though, they’d use amendments to give these people the financial thank you they deserve for their efforts in 2020, with a firm, legal commitment to meaningful reform of their pay/allowances for the future within the framework of the upcoming pay talks.

It would be only right and proper to end the year on a note of fairness.

ď ŹHEALTH: Student nurses have been campaigning to receive payment for their work

FEATURES 23

THURSDAY, DEC 10 2020

GREEN CLARE

The upcycling Christmas challenge CIAN O’BROIN

K

cianobroin@clareecho.ie

EEP Well campaign have joined up with Greener Clare this Christmas in promoting a Green Christmas.

Christmas time is a time of year where lots of waste is created. By being creative and looking at different ways to keep items in use longer, through reusing, repairing, repurposing and upcycling, is not only good for the environment but also good for our own well-being.

In March, Anthony Daly was appointed Community Champion of Clare in an effort to liaise with various groups throughout the county, ensure that people availed of PPE and communicate with the various leaders through Zoom meetings and in person.

Sharing community ideas and initiatives has been at the heart of Anthony’s role.

Mr. Daly states: “It’s been a hugely chalenging year for us all. There were various other competitions such as story writing and art during the year. This is another way for people to switch off from Covid and focus on something creative.�

Clare people are encouraged to participate in Clare County Council’s Upcycling Christmas Challenge 2020 and have some fun creating a new Christmas decoration out of waste that would otherwise be placed in a recycling bin or general waste bin. “It’s all about creating something Christmassy from your recyclable waste, whether that’s a decoration for the door or a candlestick holder,� Anthony adds.

This is a great competition which anyone of any age can enter and even help each other out with tips and ideas! There are three prize categories one for children age 12 and under, one for teenagers and one for adults.

Each category winner will receive a Clare Gift Card to the value of â‚Ź100! These gift card prizes are sponsored by the Local Enterprise Office, Greener Clare and The Community Resilience Fund as part of the Keep Well Campaign. “It’s a great chance to tear into something, whilst being creative. It’s safe as there is nobody handing in projects, it’s all a before, and after picture and what you can do in between. It’s great for young and old people,â€?

Mr. Daly expressed.

People can participate by firstly taking a “before� photo of the waste materials and then taking an “after� photo of the Christmas decoration created.

People can simply enter then by forwarding both their before and after photo to the email address: UpcyclingChallenge@clarecoco.ie . The closing date is the 21st December 2020. The winners will be announced on Clare County Council Facebook page on the 23rd December 2020.

lCOMPETITION: Upcycle household items into decorations

24 FEATURES

Keep it all the year RONAN SCULLY

Thought for the week

A

LTHOUGH 2020 has been a bit of a nightmare, we are finally at that wonderful time of our worst ever year.

We are living in a time of a Covid-19 pandemic and of unequalled material prosperity and comfort and we feel ourselves and our world surrounded by the darkness of uncertainty and hopelessness.

Every year the season of Advent and Christmas comes to draw us out of these feelings of uncertainty and hopelessness and even at times despair by reminding us that we are called to move out of the darkness of selfishness and greed to live in the light of giving and goodness.

Our feelings of utter powerlessness especially in these times of Covid-19 remind us that we do need a Saviour, one who is coming into our lives and into the life of our world again at Christmas time.

So thankfully December has come and with it all the joys of Christmas. But what is the real meaning of Christmas? Is it the presents under the Christmas tree, the lights in the windows, the cards in the mail, the Christmas emails, long distance phone calls from family and friends, turkey and ham dinners, maybe if we're lucky snow, stockings hanging in the living room and bedrooms, and shouts of "Happy Christmas" to those who pass us in the streets? Is this really what Christmas means to me or you?

The Story of The Gold Slippers

"It was only four days before Christmas. The spirit of the season hadn't yet caught up with me, even though cars packed the parking lot of our local supermarket store.

Inside the store, it was worse.

Shopping carts and last minute shoppers jammed the aisles. Why did I come today?

I wondered. My feet ached almost as much as my head. My list contained names of several people who claimed they wanted nothing but I knew their feelings would be hurt if I didn't buy them anything.

Buying for someone who had everything and deploring the high cost of items, I considered gift-buying anything but fun.

Hurriedly, I filled my shopping cart with last minute items and proceeded to the long checkout lines. I picked the shortest but it looked as if it would mean at least a 20 minute wait. In front of me were two small children - a boy of about 6 and a younger girl. The boy

wore a ragged coat. Enormously large, tattered tennis shoes jutted far out in front of his much too short jeans. He clutched several coins in his grimy hands. The girl's clothing resembled her brother's.

Her head was a matted mass of curly hair. Reminders of an evening meal showed on her small face. She carried a beautiful pair of shiny, gold house slippers. As the Christmas music sounded in the store's stereo system, the girl hummed along, off-key but happily. When we finally approached the checkout register, the girl carefully placed the shoes on the counter.

She treated them as though they were a treasure. The clerk rang up the bill.

"That will be €6.09," she said. The boy laid his coins atop the stand while he searched his pockets. He finally came up with €3.12. "I guess we will have to put them back, " he bravely said. "We will come back some other time, maybe tomorrow." With that statement, a soft sob broke from the little girl.

"But Jesus would have loved these shoes, " she cried. "Well, we'll go home and work some more.

Don't cry. We'll come back," he said. Quickly I handed €3.00 to the cashier. These children had waited in line for a long time. And, after all, it was Christmas. Suddenly a pair of arms came around me and a small voice said, "Thank you kind sir." "What did you mean when you said Jesus would like the shoes?" I asked.

The boy answered, "Our mommy is sick and going to heaven. Daddy said she might go before Christmas to be with Jesus." The girl spoke, "My school teacher said the streets in heaven are shiny gold, just like these shoes." "Won't mommy be beautiful walking on those streets to match these shoes?" My eyes flooded as I looked into her tear streaked face. "Yes" I answered, "I am sure she will." Silently I thanked God for using these children to remind me of the true spirit of giving." 'Tis the Season!!

Remember that it's better to give than receive.

For me Christmas is…

A gift of love wrapped in human flesh and tied securely with the strong promises of God. Christmas is angelic music in the form of a carol and oratorio with a celestial descant. Christmas is "glory to God," "good will to people," and "joy to the world."

Christmas is "peace on earth" for those who accept it and live in unity with God's will. Christmas is a person on duty keeping all of

us safe and in good health and a person tending animals, or land, or machine, who senses the upward call and stops to worship. Christmas is a tall green tree which serves as a festive altar for any household which discovers the true meaning behind it all.

Christmas is a ringing bell calling a distraught humanity to gladness and hope. Christmas is a glowing hearth gently placed in the winter of people's loneliness. Christmas is an altar to which a person can bring their heartache for comfort, their lostness for guidance, and their sin for forgiveness. Christmas is the sparkle of anticipation and the steady light of faith in the eyes of a little child as he hears the old, old story.

Thought for the week

As your thought for the week, especially during this Advent and Christmas season, look at ways you can help create a world in which human dignity, kindness, mercy, genuineness, love and care is respected and where everyone can reach their full potential. This would be true progress and would be worth more than any economic growth.

Let me leave you this week with a Christmas version of that great verse from 1 Corinthians 13 – "If I decorate my house perfectly with plaid bows, strands of twinkling lights and shiny balls, but do not show love to my family, I’m just another decorator. If I slave away in the kitchen, baking dozens of Christmas cookies, preparing gourmet meals and arranging a beautifully adorned table at mealtime, but do not show love to my family, I’m just another cook.

If I work at the soup kitchen, carol in the nursing home and give all that I have to charity, but do not show love to my family, it profits me nothing.

If I trim the spruce with shimmering angels and crocheted snowflakes, attend a myriad of holiday parties and sing in the choir’s cantata but do not focus on Christ, I have missed the point.

Love stops the cooking to hug the child. Love sets aside the decorating to kiss the husband or wife.

Love is kind, though harried and tired. Love doesn’t envy another’s home that has coordinated Christmas china and table linens. Love doesn’t yell at the kids to get out of the way, but is thankful they are there to be in the way.

Love doesn’t give only to those who are able to give in return but rejoices in giving to those who can’t.

Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails. Video games will break, pearl necklaces will be lost, golf clubs will rust, but giving the gift of love will endure.

Happy Advent and Christmas and lots of love to you and yours!

THURSDAY, DEC 10 2020

Declan goes coast to coast for Simon TADHG HOLLAND

D

news@clareecho.ie

ECLAN and Jacinta McEvoy from Quin county Clare will be cycling from Salthill to the 40 foot in Dún Laoghaire all in one day in aid of Simon community on December 21st. The journey which measures a total of 235 kilometres will take an estimated 18 hours, 8 of those hours will be in daylight the other 10 in darkness.

Last February Declan broke the Guinness world record for the longest journey undertaken by motorcycle on ice riding his bike 634 km across the frozen lake Baikal in Siberia with temperatures as low as -20 degrees during the day and -30 at night.

This year however due to Covid-19 Declan was prevented from completing any feats of endurance internationally so he and his wife brought their adventures closer to home. “I normally travel international every year” Declan told The Clare Echo.

“I’ve been in the process of riding a motorcycle around the world in a kind of a staged event every year and because that wasn’t possible this year we were literally nearly getting bored out of our brains during lockdown in the summer. Initially what my wife and I had done was walk from Salthill to the 40 foot in Dublin, it took 11 days to do it.

"Then about a month later we decided we would cycle from Mizen to Malin and again that took about eight days. Then we were talking about the notion of doing Salthill to 40 foot one again but on a bicycle, which sounds fairly easy really but the challenge was could you do it in one day?” Despite Declan’s experience many advised him not to take on this journey “A lot of people particularly cyclists said to us look kick to

touch until next year because you’ve lost daylight and it’s now it’s not going to be possible but you know for me kind of therein lies the challenge.

So, we deliberately turned our back on that kind of advice and said right let’s go to the ultimate which is to do on a winters day when it would possibly be the worst time of the year to do it.”

However, for Declan and Jacinta just cycling 235km all in one day in the depths of winter wasn’t quite enough of a challenge already so they will also be bookending the journey with a swim at 5am in Salthill and a swim at the 40 foot when they arrive in Dublin at approximately 11:30pm.

However, Declan does accept the cycle will be difficult.

“It’s going to be a challenge” he said “We’re not cyclists per se so we’re spending every evening [training]. We don’t have any support whatsoever.

"We were offered support you know in terms of a support vehicle driving along with flashing lights but that’s just really not my thing. So there’s a lot of preparation just to make sure I suppose physically you have the capabilities of getting through it because it’s a lot of miles in the dead of winter and weather is going to be critical as to how difficult it’s going to be”.

100 per cent of the proceeds will be going to the Homelessness charity, The Simon Community. “For me Simon is kind of near and dear you know I’ve seen these people in action on the streets. Personally I’d have a particular grá for just you know the notion of helping someone homeless through whatever kind of misfortune they might have had in their life that got them there you know I think it’s a very simple idea where you bring out hot soups, foods, sleeping bags or even on a more long-term basis to try and find something a bit more permanent.” Donations can be made at ie.gofundme. com/f/coast2coast4simon.

lCHILLY: Declan McEvoy set a Guinness World Record last year. This year he is taking on a challenge closer to home

NEWS 25

THURSDAY, DEC 10 2020

‘We really should have our playgrounds all inclusive’ PĂ RAIC MCMAHON paraic@clareecho.ie

A SHANNON councillor has led the call for wheelchair swings to be added to playgrounds to make “all children feel welcome�.

Installation of a wheelchair swing at the playground in Shannon was requested by Cllr Donna McGettigan (SF) in a recent motion to the Shannon Municipal District. She appealed for a source of funding to be obtained to carry out the proposal. “We really should have our playgrounds all inclusive and this would go a long way to making all children feel welcome,� McGettigan outlined.

Senior executive engineer, Aidan O’Rourke confirmed in response that the proposal would be progressed “with a view to identifying a suitable location and obtaining prices for such an installation with a source of funding to be identified�.

Speaking at the meeting, the Belfast native

stressed the importance of fostering a spirit of inclusivity at amenities in the county and acknowledged that children with sensory issued would need a specific playground. The proposal was seconded by Cllr Gerry Flynn (IND).

PĂ RAIC MCMAHON

A

paraic@clareecho.ie

lACCESSIBILITY: Shannon playground

Photo by John Mangan

Lighting river walk would impact wildlife too much LIGHTING will not be installed along the River Walk in Shannon due to a predicted “negative impactâ€? on the bird and animal life in the vicinity, writes PĂĄraic McMahon An appeal for the installation of street lighting along the Shannon Loop and River Walk

was voiced by Cllr Donna McGettigan (SF) at a recent meeting of the Shannon Municipal District which was supported

by Cllr Gerry Flynn (IND).

COVID-19 restrictions led to an increased amount of people “using the walkway as a form of exercise and with evenings

lAMENITY: Shannon river walk

Shannon company signs new deal to develop implants

coming in quicker now this leaves less daylight time to walk there,� she stated.

Senior executive engineer, Aidan O’Rourke noted that the location referenced was “an off-road trail in an area of natural beauty and biodiversity�.

The trails “are intended for use in daylight,� he commented.

O’Rourke added, “Installation of lighting would have a negative impact on the bird and animal life in the location and would also likely require a further upgrade to the trail surface to prevent trip hazard�.

Completion of a SlĂ­ na Slainte route along the Bealach BuĂ­, BĂłthar Linne and BĂłthar na Rinne route to cater for the winter season was prioritised

by Clare County Council as an alternative, the senior engineer detailed.

SHANNON company has signed a four year agreement to make medical implants in what has been described as “a ground-breaking deal�.

PBC BioMed is to explore metal 3D printing to make medical implants as part of a new deal with I-Form, the Science Foundation Ireland (SFI) Research Centre for Advanced Manufacturing.

As part of the â‚Ź312k deal, the project will explore the feasibility of manufacturing magnesium-based medical implants using state-of-the-art metal 3D printing and coating processes. The aim is to demonstrate improved implant performance while developing a cost-effective, advanced manufacturing process.

Located in the Western Business Park in Shannon, PBC BioMed was founded in 2010. The company partners with MedTech Companies to advance and maintain medical products helping create and bring to market products that provide value and benefit to patients and practitioners globally. The firm designs, develops and manufactures medical devices with a track record in science-based innovation.

Managing Partner for PBC BioMed, Paul Burke outlined, “This long-term engagement with I-Form forms a critical part of our R&D product and technology roadmap process. The SFI Centre - industry engagement model allows us to access the best expertise

and equipment in academic institutions. Development of our R&D platform will help drive innovation and sustainability,� he said.

DCU duo, Prof Nicholas Dunne (inset) and Dr Tanya Levingstone will lead the I-Form research team for the development. “This four-year research programme is an exciting continuation of a long-term, fruitful research partnership between DCU and PBC BioMed,� Prof Dunne stated.

He continued, “The advanced manufacturing expertise across the I-Form Centre will bring significant additional value to the programme.

In particular, the access to expertise and cutting-edge equipment for metal 3D printing is essential to develop the next generation of these medical devices�. “Metal 3D printing is a digital-first advanced manufacturing process that facilitates rapid product development and unique designs that are not possible using traditional techniques.

The 3D printing of magnesium alloys is a relatively new area but the excellent mechanical properties and biodegradability make these materials exciting candidates for improved device performance in orthopaedic applications,� Dr Levingstone explained.

Funded by SFI, I-Form works with industry to advance the low-cost, lowrisk design of new products and the manufacture of high-value components exhibiting enhanced material performance, while reducing processing times and achieving enhanced process reliability.

Â

TAKE AWAY COCKTAILS

Each Cocktail Bottle Serves 4

26 COMMUNITY

Community

THURSDAY, DEC 10 2020

CONTACT

NEWSDESK 065 671 9021 news@clareecho.ie

COUNTYWIDE TOUR DE MUNSTER

THE charity cycle Tour de Munster which raises vital funds for the Munster branches of Down Syndrome Ireland (DSI) and individual beneficiaries has raised an incredible €340,000 following its 600km tour across the six counties of Munster in August.

The tour, which celebrated 20 years in August, has raised over €3.4 million for charity since 2001, with over €3 million raised for the Munster branches of Down Syndrome Ireland. 2020 marked the 11th year that Down Syndrome Ireland’s Munster Branches have been the main beneficiary of the popular charity cycle, where participants also have the option of choosing their own beneficiary for whom they will raise funds and awareness.

The Munster branches of Down Syndrome Ireland play a vital role in the lives of children and adults with Down syndrome. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the branches saw the majority of their vital fundraising events cancelled which they rely so heavily on. Funds raised as a result of the 2020 Tour de Munster charity cycle have never been more important.

Taking place over four days from August 6th to 9th, Paul Sheridan, founder of the Tour de Munster and cycling legend Seán Kelly, a long term supporter of the tour were joined by cyclists as they departed Cork City Hall, covering an average of 150 km per day

through the towns and villages of Cork, Waterford, Tipperary, Limerick, Clare and Kerry before completing the tour on the top of Patrick’s Hill in Cork City.

Speaking on the funds raised, Paul Sheridan, founder of the Tour de Munster said, “The Tour took a new approach this year with new and additional safety measures to protect all those involved but this didn’t dampen the spirit of the tour. Participants were driven more than ever to raise much needed funds and awareness for some fantastic charities, especially DSI’s Munster branches whose members turned out in force to cheer participants in every county. It’s hard to believe the tour began 20 years ago and we are blown away by the continued support from participants, the public and of course the many businesses, in particular this year’s main sponsors, u-blox and UPS.” The funds raised for the Munster branches of DSI will be shared among their six branches to fund services for people with Down Syndrome. The individual charities that benefited from the 2020 Tour de Munster are West Cork Down Syndrome Support Group, Enable Ireland, Cope, Marymount and Friendly Call Cork. This year’s media partners are the Irish Examiner, Clare FM, Tipp FM, and RedFM. For more information on Tour de Munster and DSI log onto www.tourdemunster.com and www.downsyndrome.ie.

ENNISTYMON

lGREAT CAUSE: Paul Sheridan Tour de Munster and Jeni Kiely from Carrigaline pictured as the Tour de Munster raises €290,000 for Down Syndrome Ireland’s Munster branches, following its 600km tour across the six counties of Munster in August. Over €340k, was raised in total for the Munster branches and individual beneficiaries.

ENNIS VOLUNTEER AWARDS

ENNIS local Margaret Hurley was named a winner in the Health and Wellbeing category in the national Volunteer Ireland Awards for her commitment to the Irish Wheelchair Association.

Margaret Hurley has been volunteering with the Irish Wheelchair Association in Ennis for over 15 years. Mags has been the backbone of the Ennis Branch, and has been the driver – literally and metaphorically – of hundreds of activities over the years. She is currently the Branch Treasurer, but also acts as a driver of IWA’s wheelchair accessible minibus when required.

Despite the considerable time commitment Margaret gives to the local volunteer branch, her dedication to the organisation is so strong that she also has another volunteer role with the Irish Wheelchair Association Charity Shop in Ennis.

According to Clare Volunteer Centre Manager, Sharon Meaney “The Clare branch of the Irish Wheelchair Association were determined to recognise and acknowledge the contribution that Mags has made over the last 15 years. We all benefit when people like Margaret volunteer and the Volunteer Ireland Awards give us an opportunity to say thank you and celebrate the difference volunteers make every day.” Sharon went on to acknowledge the work of volunteers, groups

and communities during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Arthur and Deborah Carr were named Christine Buckley Volunteer of the Year for their outstanding commitment to supporting those in crisis in Galway.

Joe O’Brien TD, Minister of State for Community Development and Charities, added “It gives me great pleasure to congratulate all the winners of the Volunteer Ireland 2020 Awards, which are supported by my Department.

“After what has been a very challenging year for us all, it is all the more important to thank those volunteers who have gone the extra mile to support the most vulnerable in our communities. In addition to the winners, I would also like to thank Volunteer Ireland for their work to support and champion volunteering around the country”.

As a physical event was not possible this year each awardee received a special surprise delivery from Volunteer Ireland announcing their win.

It included an engraved trophy, a framed message from President Higgins, complimentary tickets to EPIC The Irish Emigration Museum and of course, a hamper of goodies to celebrate with. All 805 volunteers nominated in this year’s awards also received a special thank you card from Volunteer Ireland earlier this month.

ENNISTYMON lBRIGHT FUTURE: Congratulations to Sarah Howley outgoing Leaving Certificate student

of 2020 from Ennistymon Vocational school who was awarded a scholarship from Mary Immaculate College (MIC). “We wish Sarah great success in her studies and in her future in her BA in Education, Business & Religious Studies - MIC Thurles,” said a spokesperson for the school

CHRISTMAS CONCERT

ENNISTYMON Vocational School along with friends are delighted to be presenting their annual concert in aid of Friends of Ennistymon Hospital. The concert will go out vir-

tually and will be available to watch on the school’s website and Facebook pages from Monday 14th December. Visit www.ennistymonvs.ie or Ennistymon Vocational School @EnnistymonVS

COMMUNITY 27

THURSDAY, DEC 10 2020

ENNISTYMON

GORT

CBS VARIETY SHOW

THIS year the CBS Ennistymon will present a Live Streamed Variety Show on Wednesday 16th December at 7.30pm with proceeds going to Clare Haven Services. This will be live streamed from the CBS Ennistymon Facebook page (@cbsennistymon).

Usually at this time of year the school would produce a live variety show in Ennistymon Community Centre with over 300 friends and family members coming to see the students perform. This year, in an effort to keep the festive school spirit thriving, we have moved our show into the online world. While it is different, it will be no less special for our school community.

We are very proud that our school show is performed by our students throughout. We consider ourselves very fortunate to have such great talent in the CBS. The show will

feature traditional Irish music from all of our year groups, some in conventional trad groups and some with pop ensembles. Our school rock band, mentored by local professional musician Jon O Connell, will perform two songs with solos from 2nd year student Seán Daniels and 5th year student Eoin Dalton. Our Leaving Cert’s have put together an original drama skit, alongside trad music and classical violin from Tommy Nunan, Luke Neylon and Byron Kenny. There will be piano, Christmas music and poetry, Transition Year novelty dancing, guitar ensembles, pop songs and more.

All support is greatly appreciated. Our students are working very hard to produce a wonderful evening of entertainment for our school community. Join us Live on Facebook on Wednesday 16th at 7.30pm. Thank you. Enjoy the show.

LIMERICK CITY REDEMPTORIST APPEAL

lVIP: Keeva Lynskey from Peterswell, aged 5, was the guest of honour at the Gort

Christmas lights switch on event. Keeva was diagnosed with a brain tumour in June 2019 aged three. She had surgery to remove it followed by months of intensive therapy. Keeva is she back attending pre-school. She is pictured with her parents, Ciara and Joe together with her sister Síofra and brother Evan Photo by Darren Hardiman

Switch off and be creative We’re having quite a year, and we all need a little help to get us through.

Starting with a plan to do one small thing that will keep you well is a great way to look after your mental health and wellbeing.

The ‘Keep Well’ campaign is aimed at showing people of all ages how we can mind our own physical and mental health and wellbeing by adding healthy and helpful habits to our daily and weekly routines.

Simple activities like being creative, learning something new, spending time in nature or practising relaxation, can help to restore and revive our spirits and help us to keep ourselves well.

Switching off We are receiving information about Covid-19 constantly through TV, radio and social media.

It can become overwhelming for both you and your family. While it is important to keep up to date with the latest messages, it is also important to step away and take a breather.

Make a plan With everything that we all have going on in our lives, be it looking after children, working, managing the home, or caring for elderly relatives, it can be really hard to find the time for ourselves. Making a plan that includes this time for self-care can really help with your overall wellbeing. Having a scheduled time dedicated to ourselves will help us to feel more in control and less overwhelmed.

Switching off and giving some time to yourself to do the things you enjoy doing is so important in looking after your mental wellbeing.

THE Annual Redemptorist Sleep Out in aid of the Christmas Hamper Appeal will be replaced by a SitOut this year because of the coronavirus pandemic.The SitOut will take place on December 11th and 12th outside Leonard’s Shop on O’Connell St. Launching the SitOut at the Redemptorists, Fr Seamus Enright said: We expect 2020 to be more challenging than previous years.

Our partners are telling us about an increase in the demand for their services. Some of our traditional fundraising activities will not be possible this year because of the coronavirus restrictions.

The Redemptorists are working with the Limerick Food Partnership and partner organizations across the city and county to get

hampers into approximately 6,000 homes in the lead up to Christmas. This is one of the biggest food initiatives in Limerick each year.

The cost of the hampers this year will be €165,000. The Redemptorists are depending on the generosity of the people of Limerick and the surrounding areas to fund this.

Fr Enright believes that people will respond generously this year as they have every year since the Christmas Hamper Appeal began in 1972.

A donation centre has been opened at the Redemptorists where people are invited to bring donations of cash, food, new toys and toiletries. Donations can be mailed to Fr Seamus Enright at Mount St Alphonsus.

People can also visit the SitOut site on O’Connell St on December 11th and 12th.

Find ideas on what you can do and what’s available in your local community at

clarecoco.ie/together So make sure to carve out some time to engage in an activity that you enjoy and that will allow you to be distracted from what is going on around you.

An enhanced range of services to help you switch off is available from Clare County Library, Arts Service, Heritage Office and our partners. Visit www.clarecoco.ie/together for more information.

Community Response Helpline A helpline is available to respond to the needs of vulnerable members of our community. If you need practical supports, like your shopping delivered, or you just need someone to talk to you, the Clare Covid-19 Community Response Helpline is here for you.

Call Freephone 1800 20 36 00 or email clarecommunityresponse@clarecoco.ie

Follow Clare County Council on social media

28 COLUMNIST

THURSDAY, DEC 10 2020

ROCKIN’ HOMEMADE MINCE PIES Kearney Cooks

S

O A few weeks ago I made mincemeat for this column, so I think it’s only fair to give people a pastry recipe so we can make mince pies with our mix.

Myself and my wife make these every year and it has become a family tradition in our house, and these days our kids also help out (by help out I mean cover the kitchen table in flour and mincemeat). It’s a great thing to make and I reckon these are hands down way better than shop bought pies.

For this recipe you will need • 200g plain flour • 50g strong flour • 100g caster sugar • 1 large egg • 130 g cold butter cut into small cubes • 1 tsp vanilla essence • 1 jar mincemeat

your ingredients are mixing. If your mix looks curdled, dont worry this will sort itself out as you mix the flour.

Step 3 Slowly mix the flour until all your ingredients are combined and you can shape your dough into a ball.

Step 4 Knead your dough by hand for four minutes on a floured surface. Wrap your dough in clingfilm and put into your fridge for at least an hour.

Step 5 Cut your dough into two and roll each ball out into two sheets. Cut out circles of dough that will fit into a cupcake tray from one sheet. Cut out slightly smaller circles from the other sheet to use as lids.

Step 1 Put your butter and sugar into a bowl and mix them until they are combined and creamy

Step 6 Lightly grease up a cupcake tray with butter or a spray oil. Shape your larger circles into the cupcake tins. Spoon a nice bit of your mincemeat mix in and cover over with your smaller circle of pastry. Using your thumb and forefinger crimp the edges of your pastry base and pastry lid together and voila, you have a pie.

Step 2 Add your egg and vanilla essence and mix. You may need to scrape down the side of your bowl to make sure all

Step 7 Eggwash the pies and feck them into the oven @180 degrees for 25 to 30 minutes or until the pastry is golden

This should make about 18 mince pies

brown.

Step 8 Leave them cool for a bit and horse into them.

If you click into the video that goes with this article there is also a recipe for mincemeat puff pastry turnovers as well. You will also get a better look at how I assemble the pies themselves.

Enjoy with a nice cup of tea or a massive glass of mulled wine Enjoy

Steve K

FOR VIDEO DEMO, SCAN THE QR CODE WITH YOUR PHONE

30

DEC 10 2020

‘Stay on your guard’ PÁRAIC MCMAHON paraic@clareecho.ie

THE Department of Public Health Mid-West is urging the public to not let down its guard in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic as t h e

countdown to Christmas approaches.

As per the Government’s announcement, Level 3 restrictions, with some variations came into effect last Tuesday and will last until January, with special arrangements for Christmas.

Dr Mai Mannix, Director of the Department of Public Health Mid-West, said that while restrictions have eased, the public can still exercise the same precautionary measures in the coming weeks by following the core public health guidelines; limiting social contacts, keeping a physical distance of two metres, wearing a mask, frequently washing hands, and adhering to proper cough and sneeze etiquette.

“Though we are seeing a reasonably low incidence rate in the Mid-West at present, our team is still in the

process of managing and controlling complex outbreaks and clusters in healthcare facilities, long-term residential care settings, extended families, private households, and among the student population,” she stated.

Dr Mannix added, “We can prevent such outbreaks if we follow public health guidelines.

Our priority is to ensure the people of the Mid-West enjoy a safe and healthy Christmas period after what has been an extremely difficult year. By following the guidelines, we can protect our most vulnerable and lessen the burden on our health service.”

PICTURED: Dr Mai Mannix, Director of the Department of Public Health Mid-West, is urging the public to exercise caution

Revealed: County Clare’s Favourite Sweet Treats

LOCKDOWN has driven Ireland to indulge in more sweet treats, drumming up a 117% increase in orders since April.

Analysing over 700 million orders from bakeries, ice cream shops, coffee shops and desserts from all restaurants menus, Just Eat has analysed those orders to uncover the county in Ireland with the biggest sweet tooth.

Bringing the data to life, Just Eat has created an interactive map that lets you compare counties all over Ireland and discover who has the sweetest cravings across the country, highlighting their top favourite desserts.

Ranking 6 overall on the the list for counties with the biggest fondness of sweet treats, Clare's favourite sweet treats are: 1) Brownie; 2) C h o c o l a t e Chip Cookies; and 3) Hot Cookie Dough.

Hot Cookie Dough, Chocolate Brownie and Cookies have been revealed as the nation’s top 3 favourite sweet orders while the analysis revealed that Kilkenny people have the sweetest tooth in Ireland, with Roscommon people showing the least interest in indulging in sweet treats.

Christmas ‘sit-out’ in Limerick THE Annual Redemptorist Sleep Out in aid of the Christmas Hamper Appeal will be replaced by a SitOut this year because of the pandemic.

The SitOut will take place on December 11 and 12 outside Leonard’s Shop on O’Connell St. Launching the SitOut at the Redemptorists, Fr Seamus Enright said: “We expect 2020 to be more challenging than previous years. Our partners are telling us about an increase in the demand for their services. Some of our traditional fundraising activities

will not be possible this year because of the coronavirus restrictions.”

The Redemptorists are working with the Limerick Food Partnership and partner organizations across the county to get hampers into 6,000 homes in the lead up to Christmas. The cost of the hampers will be €165,000.

A donation centre has been opened at the Redemptorists where people are invited to bring donations of cash, food, new toys and toiletries. Donations can be mailed to Fr Seamus Enright at Mount St Alphonsus.

Carrygerry Christmas Shop Open from December 4th 2020 Range of Carrygerry Hampers made to order Gift Sets & Gift Vouchers Available

Order your corporate hampers today All budgets catered for

Pre Order your Christmas Day Treats: Pate, Seafood Chowder, Tarts, Crumbles, Cheesecakes, Christmas Puddings, Cranberry Sauce etc

Restaurant Opening Times: Thur to Sat from 6.00pm - 9.00pm Closed 24th - Reopening 30th December For more information or to make an enquiry please contact us at: T: 061 360 500 | E: info@carrygerryhouse.com | www.carrygerryhouse.com

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DEC 10 2020

Council launches ‘Experience Clare 2021’ calendar

T

HE Tourism Department in Clare County Council has produced a special Experience Clare 2021 Holiday Calendar with the objective of encouraging visitors to choose County Clare as the destination for their holiday breaks, when it is safe to do so.

Launching the new calendar, the Mayor of Clare, Cllr Mary Howard, said: “The year 2020 has been an incredibly difficult year and is one that we will remember for a long time to come. I am delighted to launch this beautiful ‘Visit Clare’ Holiday Calendar 2021. A break in wonderful Clare will be just the tonic for people to unwind and recharge. Visitors will be assured of a warm welcome, and the hospitality industry in Clare continues to work tirelessly to ensure a safe and enjoyable visitor experience for all.”

The calendar features a range of attractions in Clare, from exhilarating activities in coastal locations on the Wild Atlantic Way to more tranquil venues in Ireland’s Hidden Heartlands in the eastern part of the county. They offer opportunities for dining, shopping, heritage, activity and adventure, and much more. With 2021 promising to be a much better year, it looks like being a year to get out and about and take more holiday breaks when it is safe to do so.

Pat Dowling, Chief Executive, Clare County Council, said: “The tourism industry worldwide has suffered a massive economic shock in 2020. The local economy and businesses in Clare have not escaped its devastating impact. Before Covid-19 halted travel, the tourism sector in Clare supported over 6,600 jobs. It is vital that we do everything possible to sup-

port our tourism industry, and the Clare Tourism Recovery Taskforce has been working to help ensure Clare tourism recovers strongly. This holiday calendar will help us to look forward to 2021 with hope and optimism and, more importantly, will encourage visitors to return to our beautiful county.”

Deirdre O’Shea, Head of Tourism, Clare County Council, explained: “The Experience Clare 2021 Holiday Calendar promotes County Clare on a worldwide stage, with the calendars being distributed both internationally through Tourism Ireland and domestically through Fáilte Ireland, media, tourism networks and the hospitality sector. It will be a subtle reminder of the huge appeal of Clare to visitors. On behalf of the tourism team, I would like to wish everyone the very best for 2021.”

People are encouraged to send a calendar to a loved one, whether at home or abroad, with a message inviting them to Clare in 2021.

Joan Tarmey, Tourism Officer, Clare County Council, said: “The Visit Clare tourism team has produced this special holiday calendar, which is just one initiative in its marketing programme. The calendar features a selection of images from around the county to give a flavour of what to expect and to inspire people to visit Clare in 2021. The festive period will be different this year, and perhaps we will have more time to look forward and plan our holiday breaks for next year.”

Ms Tarmey continued: “2021 will be a time to reconnect with friends and extended family, and what better destination than County Clare to play host to these wonderful memory-making opportunities.”

HomeGallery-Xmas-2020-FPG.qxp_Layout 1 02/12/2020 15:15 Page 1

interiors

Xmas Opening Hours Monday - friday 9.30-6.00 Sunday 1.00 - 5.30

Kilrush Rd, Ennis Ph: 065 6797040

34

DEC 10 2020

Taste of the Burren on offer STUART HOLLY

T

editor@clareecho.ie

HE award winning ‘Burren Ecotourism Network’ is offering a taste of the Burren this Christmas with the launch of its new online gift Guide.

Many of the region’s top food producers feature in the guide which includes hampers, vouchers, books and experiences which can be purchased online, delivered or are available through a click and collect service.

Recently the network was named as one of the Lonely Planet’s ‘Best in Travel 2021’ – one of only 30 top places, people and tourism projects in the world to receive this honour. Sustainability is at the heart of the Burren Ecotourism Network, and the gifts and products offer here reflect this ethos. For a full list of over 60 + Burren businesses in the network go to www.burren.ie BURREN ECO TOURISM GIFTS Burren Baskets Taste the Buren this Christmas with the fabulous ‘Burren Baskets’, showcasing the area’s best artisan food producers. Hampers

are available in two sizes; medium €55 and large, for €99. Products include seafood from the Burren Smokehouse, St Tola Goat Cheese, Burren Gold cheese from the Ailwee Cave, black & white pudding from the Market House Ennistymon, beetroot chutney from the Burren Fine Wine & Food and brown soda bread mix from Stone Cutters Kitchen. Available from www.burren.ie Burren Dinners Book Chefs and food producers in the Burren have collaborated to produce the Burren Dinners’ cook book. The book features the region’s top quality food and unique recipes.

Price, €25 and available from www.burren.ie Burren Vouchers Burren gift vouchers can be sent anywhere in the world. These vouchers priced from €50 to €200 they can be used for across a variety of accommodation, experiences and restaurants in the area. www.burren.ie.

Ailwee Cave Hampers An array of hampers are available from the Farm shop at the Aillwee Cave, showcasing products made within the Burren region and beyond as well as the cave’s own Burren Gold cheese. Price start from €21.95. Go to aillweecave.clr.events/event/130320:hampers.

Burren Farm Experience: Burren Beef Fifth generation farmers Cathal & Bronagh O’Rourke from the ‘Burren Farm Experience’ on the banks of Lough Bunny have launched the ‘Burren Beef Box.’ Working with an artisan Butcher in Valhalla Meats, the couple are offering different beef box options. Each box contain a selection of cuts, from steaks, beef strips, minced beef to roasts and delivered to your door. Go to https://burrenfarmexperience.ie/ Burren Fine Wine and Food Hampers and Gift Packs of the finest quality wine and gourmet foods with prices

starting from as little as €30. The luxury hampers come in beautiful wicker baskets.For more information go http:// burrenwine.ie/gift-hampers/ Burren Free Range Pork This year, Burren Free Range Pork have assembled an Artisan Christmas Food Hamper featuring their own products and those from Co Clare. This includes their own free range pork jumbo sausages and rashers, Anam Coffee, ginger bread cake, Doolin Wildlower honey, Burren Gold cheese, Wild Chocolate, Richenda’s Apple juice and a jar of home-made chutney. Price €55 Pre-order at: burrenpork@gmail.com St Tola Goat Cheese Artisan Goat Cheese producer St Tola Goat Cheese have a selection of hampers available including their own cheeses and products from Co Clare. Prices for hampers start from €35. For more information go to https://st-

The The The The

TheC OCLOLCELOCLCLETOLCILEOTLCNIEOTCINTOINO N COLLECTION

The perfect gift this Christmas...

COMPLIMENTARY NIGHT when you spend €250 on vouchers

Simply purchase online at www.FlynnHotels.com or via reception at any of our four hotel locations.

Call & Collect your trees this

These Christmas trees come in a pot, and when minded properly can be used again next year!

this Christmas tola-irish-goat-cheese.myshopify.com/ Flaggy Shore Oysters Learn how to Shuck Oysters with a unique shucking experience from ‘Flaggy Shore Oysters’ The Shuck off Oyster experience is available â‚Ź100 for two people which includes one hour and a half Oyster experience including all you can eat oysters and wine.

Order a Dozen Oysters including opening instructions, shipped to your door for â‚Ź20. For more information and other options go to www.redbankfoodco.com Wild Kitchen The Wild Kitchen is offering a taste of the Wild Atlantic in its unique hampers, featuring Hand harvested organic dillisk, seaweed and nettle seed salt, seaweed crackers haw ketchup, merry marmalade including poitin, guru tea and spicy beetroot chutney.

For more information on made to order hampers go to www.wildkitchen.ie Burren Smokehouse hampers The Burren Smokehouse is offering a large variety of hampers this year, including the popular Wild Atlantic Hamper for â‚Ź59. For a full list of gifts and produce go to www.burrensmokehouse.ie Wild Catering Company The Wild Catering Company have Christ-

mas Cookie Kits (â‚Ź20) and Christmas DIY Gingerbread Houses (â‚Ź50) for sale for the whole family to enjoy and get involved. For any enquiries contact 0857259256 or wildcateringcompany@gmail.com The Market House Food Hall The Market House Food Hall offers top quality locally produced Irish meat with turkeys, hams, lamb and Burren Beef all available from the meat counter. Christmas Hamper range and gift vouchers available.

Go to www.markethouseennistymon.com.

Moher Cottage Moher Cottage sell their our own fudge and this year are delighted to be offering a subscription box for 3 or 6 months , a sweet gift from Co Clare. Mohercottage.com.

Stone Cutters Cottage A taste of the Burren from the popular Stone Cutters Cottage in Doolin, with gift vouchers available for the restaurant. Go to www.stonecutterskitchen.ie for more.

Doolin Inn Delicious culinary Christmas treats available on the website, to include Mince Pie Box of 6, 2lb Christmas Pudding, A selection of jams and chutneys, and more. For more information go to www.doolininn.ie

DEC 10 2020

35

Pop in Store for all PopChristmas in Store for all your decor your decor PopChristmas in Store for all your Christmas decor

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36

in Kilrush

DEC 10 2020

Kilrush needs help lighting up STUART HOLLY

T

editor@clareecho.ie

HE Christmas lights in Kilrush are in danger of not being switched on in the year 2021, it has been warned.

Cllr Ian Lynch (IND) has warned that up to €25,000 needs to be raised in order for the festive lights to continue in operation from next year.

The Kilrush councillor set up an online fundraiser earlier this week and at the time of writing, had so far secured €1,830 thanks to donations from 42 individuals.

Appealing for help on a GoFundMe page, Cllr Lynch said, “Hi everyone, unfortunately the Christmas lights that we have all gotten to know and love to see each year in Kilrush have come of age and are in need of repair/ replacement.

“We have managed to repair the lights for this year but they need a lot of work if we are to be in a position to erect them next year.

“2020 has been a tough year for everyone and now more that every we appreciate the value of seeing our Christmas lights spreading Christmas cheer.

“We are raising funds to ensure we can have the lights repaired and erected for next year.

“If you are in a position to help we would greatly appreciate your support. Thanking you in advance.”

If you would like to donate to the Christmas lights fundraiser in Kilrush, open your smartphone’s camera and scan the QR code below to visit the GoFundMe page. Alternatively visit Kilrush Town’s page on Facebook where every person that donates and shares the Kilrush Town post will be entered in to a draw for 2 x €100 gift vouchers.

6.5% RATE

NEW Car Loan Rate Available for a Limited Time ONLY

Credit Union House, Market Square, Kilrush, Co Clare.  loans@kilrushcreditunion.ie  065 9051242

www.kilrushcreditunion.ie  €10,000 over 5 years at an APR of 6.71% will cost €45.06/week with a cost of credit at €1,712.88. All loans subject to approval. T&Cs apply. WARNING: If you do not meet the repayments on your loan, your account will go into arrears. This may affect your credit rating which may limit your ability to access credit in the future. Credit Unions in the Republic of Ireland are regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland.

in Kilrush

DEC 10 2020

37

‘Discrepancy’ surrounds funds allocated for Kilrush footpaths PÁRAIC MCMAHON

A

paraic@clareecho.ie

KEEP A LID ON IT: James Coughlan with his new Covid-19 Opinion Box, which came into action at Jimi’s Barber Shop in Kilrush following their reopening last week. The popular West Clare businessman has banned Coronavirus chats and is “keeping everything positive”. He adds, “But customers are very welcome to write down their opinion and post it in our opinion box, it gives everyone a smile.”

“discrepancy” exists with the amount of money allocated for footpath improvements in Kilrush and works completed, a local representative has claimed. €412,303.19 has been allocated for footpath works in the Kilrush local electoral area from January 2015 to October 2020. Of this figure, €180k is for discretionary maintenance in Kilrush, €97k was spent on public liability works in 2018, a total of €91k was utilised as part of the General Municipal Allocation (GMA) a portion of which was spent on footpaths, €28k was the cost for in 2016 overlay works on the N68 with the remaining €14k for the back road car park in Kilrush.

Additional footpath works were not included in the breakdown provided by senior executive engineer,

Alan Kennelly at the November meeting of the West Clare Municipal District. Obtaining records specifically on the subject of footpath works “is difficult,” he outlined.

Under the active travel measures from the Government, a new footpath and cycleway is under construction at Vandeleur Gardens with the existing infrastructure to be updated. The total cost of the project is in the region of €120,000, Kenneally confirmed. A further 100m of footpath on Lower Moore St is to be relaid at a fee of €20,000 in this year’s roadworks programme.

Kilrush representative, Cllr Ian Lynch (IND) had asked for the breakdown but was regretful that he did not seek further specifics from West Clare MD staff. “Kilrush Town has consistently been allocated the most amount for footpahs, if you match up the funds allocated and works done there is a discrepancy there”. He felt an additional amount of “significant work” was yet to be completed. His proposal was seconded by Cllr Gabriel Keating (FG).

38

DEC 10 2020

in Kilrush

Cappa Drive reveals ‘inconsistency’ in Council’s taking in charge approach – Lynch PÁRAIC MCMAHON

R

paraic@clareecho.ie

ENEWED appeals for Clare County Council to assume responsibility for a Kilrush housing estate have been lodged.

A repeated call by Cllr Ian Lynch (IND) for Clare County Council to take in charge Cappa Drive Upper was made at the November meeting of the West Clare Municipal District. Cllr Bill Chambers (FF) seconded the request.

Taking in charge is a request to have certain services taken in charge when a development is completed to the satisfaction of the local authority. It is carried out in accordance with Section 180 of the Planning and Development Act, 2000 and Section 11 of the Roads Act, 1993.

Administrative officer with the planning department of Clare County Council, Kieran O’Donnell confirmed that the Coun-

cil could initiate the process if a request was issued by the developer or from the majority of individuals that own the houses.

O’Donnell added, “The taking in charge team has very little information on Cappa Drive Upper, Kilrush but if we receive a request under Section 180, a more detailed assessment of the development can take place”.

“This is the fifth time the motion has appeared before the Chamber and it is the fifth time I’ve had no answer,” a frustrated Lynch outlined. He claimed the matter had been agreed by Kilrush Town Council.

“When money disappears, people come up with excuses not to do something”.

Residents have contacted the Kilrush representative to inform him it had not been taken in by the local authority. “The reply leaves a lot of questions that I’m failing to understand,” he added as he accused the Council of being “inconsistent” in their approach.

in Kilrush

DEC 10 2020

MAGNIFICENT DISPLAY Kilrush relationship with Irish Water now at ‘crisis point’

I

The incredible lights display at John Fennell’s home just outside Kilrush, on the R483. This year all donations will go to the local RNLI lifeboat station in Kilrush. Those visiting are asked to please wear a mask when calling in around the house and sanitize at front gate on way in

39

RISH Water’s relationship with the people of Co Clare has reached “crisis point,” a West Clare representative has affirmed.

Detail on the level of work completed, remaining works and acquisitions coupled with comprehensive timelines with regard to the Kilrush Town sewerage works were sought by Cllr Ian Lynch (IND) at the most recent meeting of the West Clare Municipal District.

Senior engineer, Cyril Feeney in a written response confirmed that Irish Water has advised that it acquired the land required with planning permission granted for the new wastewater treatment plant in Kilrush. Works are expected to commence in early 2021. Further information was requested by Feeney but was not forthcoming at the time of the meeting.

Speaking at the meeting, Cllr Lynch stated, “The reply from Irish Water which is not surprising is very short. I was under the impression that the second bit of land hadn’t been purchased”.

He continued, “We’re at a crisis point of dealing with Irish Water, this project has significance for the future of the town”. The Kilrush representative wanted clarification that funding was not redistributed to works at Miltown Malbay and criticised the water utility company for “refusing” to recognise elected representatives.

Little new information was received despite tabling a motion on the subject, Lynch maintained. “It is crucial to the development of the town that it is resolved. I hope Cyril will come back with more information”.

Cllr Shane Talty (FF) seconded the motion and advised his colleague “not to hold his breath”. “It is getting farcical,” Lynch replied.

40

in Kilrush

DEC 10 2020

Why shop in Kilrush this Christmas?

W

While scenes like this from last year’s Santa Den in Kilrush won’t take place this year, the public are still being urged to enjoy a festive atmosphere and avail of the free parking in order to shop local

E HAVE now entered the most important time of the year for not just family and community, but also businesses and the local economy.

A Retail Ireland report predicts that the Irish households will spend an average of €2,690 in shops in December, approximately €866 more than any other month. With many Irish shoppers now choosing to shop on foreign websites, there is a huge challenge for Irish retailers to ensure that they benefit from this anticipated additional spending.

With the big day quickly coming upon us, get started now so you can really enjoy the festive season. If every shopper spent some of their allocated Christ-

mas spend in Kilrush, or indeed across West Clare, we could help to make a real difference to our local communities. Local businesses are the life-blood of the economy. Buying local helps to support business owners who either produce their own artisan products or employ members of your family, neighbours and friends. They in turn, will spend money locally hence improving the cycle of the local economy.

When a business thrives it can create jobs for your friends, neighbours and members of your family.

These new jobs provide more money to spend in the local economy. When more money is spent locally, more jobs are created, and that means, there’s more money to support local fundraising drives for local charities, sport-

ing events/clubs and festivals. So not only do local businesses benefit, but our communities can continue to be vibrant places where we want to live, work and bring up our kids.

Choosing a gift can sometimes be a difficult and laborious task, check out the numerous advertisers in our feature who offer products and gift vouchers to help make your choice easier this year.... The number of top quality local shops is evident when you look through those advertising in these pages...

So this Christmas think before you buy. If every shopper spent some of their allocated Christmas spend in Kilrush — we could help to make a real difference to our local communities. Happy shopping!

42 CLICK FOR CLARE

THURSDAY, DEC 10 2020

Public heeding ‘support local’ message STUART HOLLY editor@clareecho.ie

T

HE Click For Clare campaign has been heralded as an “invaluable support” for local businesses.

Head of Enterprise at Local Enterprise Office Clare, Padriac McElwee believes the ‘support local’ message being permeated via campaigns supported by LEO Clare is being observed by the public. Speaking to The Clare Echo, Mr McElwee said that feedback from local businesses would suggest there has been an increased appetite to support local amidst the current global pandemic.

Discussing the work of the Local Enterprise Office, Padraig noted that one

of the pillars of what LEO Clare does as an agency is “try and support and stimulate confidence among our business community”.

“Some of the ways we do that is through our student enterprise program encouraging future entrepreneurs, and more importantly we have campaigns that we do in association with The Clare Echo such as Click for Clare and other avenues supporting Ennis Chamber in what they’re doing and that is about providing invaluable supports to local businesses encouraging our communities to support and buy from our local businesses.”

Mr McElwee has been in the role of Head of Enter pr is e since August 2015, having pre-

SCAN WITH PHONE CAMERA TO START SHOPPING IN CLARE EAST CLARE ArraTek www.arratek.ie Bia Folláin Healthstore www.biafollain.ie Bridge House Studios bridgehousestudios.ie East Clare Yoga www.eastclareyoga.com Glendara Art www.glendaraar.com Happy Out Forest School happyoutforestschool.ie Inward Bound Mindfulness inwardboundmindfulness.ie Palm Free Irish Soap palmfreeirishsoap.ie Planet Tri www.planettri.ie The Greene Room www.greeneroom.ie Wilde Irish Chocolate wildeirishchocolates.com ENNIS & SURROUNDS BEO Wellness www.beowellness.ie Berka Solutions www.berksolutions.com Blackbird Jewellery www.blackbirdennis.ie Brass Boutique www.brassboutique.ie Bridget Haren Hair www.bridgetharen.com Buckets.ie www.buckets.ie Carestore www.carestore.ie Carmel T Madigan Art carmeltmadigan.com Carries Bakery www.carriesbakery.ie Candles With Character candleswithcharacter.ie

Club Dangan & CD2 clubdanganmenswear.com Cornucopia www.cornucopia.fashion County Boutique www.countyboutique.ie Ela Maria Boutique www.elamaria.ie Ennis Art School ennisartschool.com Ennis Blinds www.acmeblinds.com Ennis Electrical www.enniselectrical.ie Ennis Gourmet Store gourmet-hampers.ie Ennis Home Furniture ennishomefurniture.com Fitness4Fun www.fitness4fun.ie Fun Kidz Klub www.funkidzklub.ie GA Sports www.gasports.ie Gift Works giftworksstore.com Jackson’s Pig & Poultry www.jacksonspp.com K2 Hair www.k2hair.ie Kilkenny Shop www.kilkennyshop.com La Jolie Femme www.lajoliefemme.ie Laserderm Clinic www.laserderm.ie Maureen Grogan Therapies maureengrogantherapies.ie Max Business www.maxservices.ie Meya Boutique meyaboutique.com Mods & Minis www.modsandminis.ie

viously enjoyed a 32-year career in financial services.

The Donegal native notes that the year 2020 won’t be forgotten in a hurry by LEO Clare due to their unique position as a first point of contact for many businesses trying to navigate the choppy waters of C ov i d - 1 9 .

As a point of reference, in a typical year they usually process about 32 to 34 Trading O n -

NAIIAD Designer Jewellery www.naiiad.com Neighbourfood www.neighbourfood.ie Nozomi Shoe Boutique www.nozomishoes.ie Quin Art Shop https://quinartshop.com/ Old Ground Hotel oldgroundhotelennis.com Ollie’s Tours www.olliestours.com Pamela Scott www.pamelascott.com Patrick Bourke Menswear patrickbourkemenswear.ie Physio Recovery Room physiorecoveryroom.connect. tm3app.com Rena Casey Lewis art renacaseylewis.net/ Rochfords Pharmacy rochfordspharmacy.ie Risk Assess It www.riskassessit.com Salon Glow www.glow.ie Siar Photography www.siarphotography.ie Smelly Bees www.smellybees.com Strike Sport www.strikesport.org Sweet N Green www.sweetngreen.ie The Candle Emporium www.candleemporium.ie The Record Break therecordbreak.com The Woollen Market thewollenmarket.com The Wine Buff www.thewinebuff.com Tomas O Maoldomhnaigh www.tomasartist.ie/ Vigour www.vigour.ie Water Online www.wateronline.ie Western Herd www.westernherd.com Wix & Wax wixandwaxireland.com Wonder Photo Shop www.fujiennis.ie

line Voucher grants, which assist businesses in setting up their online stores. For 2020, his team will have processed more than 400 before the year’s end. They have also provided training to more than 2,200 people and one-to-one mentoring to more than 400 businesses in Clare.

Reflecting on his interactions with businesses this year, Padrag admits the mood has been “a bit strange”.

“In the early days of the pandemic there was a lot of shock, a lot of people didn’t know what to do and that’s where the mentoring support became very important, because what we did was put in mentors into businesses to help them to develop a pathway through the pandemic.

“We saw massive resilience from our local businesses. In the first three or

Wowwee.ie www.wowwee.ie YOU Therapies www.youtherapies.ie 2 For Joy https://www.2forjoy.ie/ NORTH CLARE Airmid Natural Handmade Skincare www.airmidsoap.com Anam Coffee www.anamcoffee.ie Banner Books http://bannerbooks.ie Burren Smokehouse www.burrensmokehouse.com Celtic T-Shirts www.celtictshirts.ie Climb It www.climbit.ie Doolin2Aran www.doolin2aranferries.com Doreen Drennan Art doreendrennan.com Doolin Ferry company https://doolinferry.com/ Eko Tree Cashmere ekotreeknitwear.store Folded Leaf www.foldedleaf.ie Glas Grazing www.glasgrazing.ie Healing Hearths healinghearths.com Hitching For Hope hitchingforhope.com Irish Crafts Online irishcraftsonline.com Irish Hand Weaves http://www.irishhandweaves.ie/ Irish T-Shirts www.irishtshirts.ie Kenny Woollen Mills kennywoollenmills.com Lahinch Art Gallery lahinchartgallery.com Lahinch Surf Shop lahinchsurfshop.com Moher Cottege www.mohercottage.com Morrisson Gallery phillipmorrison.com Nature’s Pocket www.naturespocket.ie Olive & Crew www.oliveandcrew.ie

four weeks of the pandemic it was transformational in that people said, ‘right, what can we do?’ And while some sectors are still very adversely impacted like the wet pubs and areas that are providing services, a number of other businesses have found a way to continue trading to generate income and keep employment going.”

Mr McElwee adds, “I would like to wish everybody a very successful and safe trading period in the run-up to Christmas; that is what we’re trying to achieve.”

The Ennis resident tags on a note of caution that 2021 will pose another great challenge which has been largely deflected as an issue due to Covid-19. “Brexit is probably the biggest challenge at the moment. Our concern is that Covid will continue to be there but with the announcements around vac-

Rowena Sheen Jewellery www.rowenasheen.com Ruth Vaughan Photography ruthvaughanphotography.com Secret Fashion Fixes secretfashionfixes.ie St Tola Goat Farm www.st-tola.ie Susan Quirke Meditation www.susanquirke.com The Design Lodge www.designlodge.ie The Russell Gallery www.russellgallery.net The Salmon Bookshop www.salmonpoetry.com Tunes From Doolin tunesfromdoolin.com West Clare Flowers westclareflowers.ie SHANNON AREA Ann McBride Design www.annmcbridedesign.com/ Avokado and co avokadoandco.com Back Baller www.backballer.com Carrygerry Country House carrygerryhouse.com Creative Clay creativeclayireland.com Genisis Beauty www.genisisbeauty.net Gleeson Goldsmiths gleesongoldsmiths.ie KMF Eco www.kmf.ie Lavender Beauty www.lavenderbeauty.ie Shannon Springs shannonspringshotel.com The Inn At Dromoland theinnatdromoland.ie Torpey Hurleys www.torpeyhurleys.com SOUTH EAST CLARE Galanta Jewellery www.galanta.com Hungry Soul hungrysoulplantpower.com I-Spy Clothing www.i-spy.ie

cines, we are confident that towards the middle of 2021 a degree of normality will return. However Covid 19 has deflected a lot of businesses from assessing the impact of Brexit. Covid-19 has the potential to affect supply chains, the cost base of our local businesses, so that is an immediate concern because whether we like it or not from January 1 there will be customs controls and paperwork related to Brexit even if there’s an agreement or no agreement.”

Mr McElwee is urging local businesses to avail of the range of Brexit supports available from LEO Clare, including risk assessment and customs training workshops.

If you would like to contact LEO Clare about business supports visit www.localenterprise.ie/clare.

JC Safety www.jc-safety.ie ONS Site Support www.onsitesupport.ie WEST CLARE Anchor Crafts anchorcraftskilrush.ie Armada Hotel www.armadahotel.com Carsten Krieger Photography irelandsnaturestories.com Cocolemon Hair www.cocolemon.ie Cottage Garden Centre cottagegardencentre.ie Daisy Days www.daisydays.ie Irish ICE Cards www.irishicecard.ie JJ Corry Irish Whiskey www.jjcorry.com John O’Dwyer Concrete johnodwyerquilty.ie Kilbaha Gallery www.kilbahagallery.com Loophead Alpacas loopheadalpacas.ie Malone’s Pharmacy malonespharmacy.ie Nevsail Watersports nevsailwatersports.ie Nia Natural Beauty nianaturalbeauty.com Riverside Hair & Beauty www.rsbeautyshop.ie Sallyann’s Handmade Bags sallyannsbags.com Sew Irish www.sew-irish.ie Smaointe www.smaointe.com SMT Consultants www.smt.ie The Family Store www.thefamilystore.ie The Pantry Cafe www.pantrykilkee.ie The Perfect Touch Beauty Salon www.theperfecttouch.ie Wild Atlantic Living wildatlanticliving.com Wild Irish Seaweed wildirishseaweeds.com

CLICK FOR CLARE 43

THURSDAY, DEC 10 2020

Julie Living her best life in Kilrush STUART HOLLY

A

editor@clareecho.ie

qualified optometrist, Julie Neylon opened Wild Atlantic Opticians in Kilrush in 2016 following a move from Galway to West Clare where she and her husband Padraig, a Kilmurry McMahon native, decided to raise their young family. In doing so, she opened the doors to the only opticians in Kilrush, however within four years she has not only grown this business but also diversified into online gift and homeware sales from her base on Frances Street.

The Mountbellew native added the Wild Atlantic Living gift shop following feedback from customers who were impressed by the interior of the boutique establishment, which Julie describes as “quirkier than your typical opticians”. Adamant that she wouldn’t be defined by her professional qualifications, Julie explains, “I’ve always been interested in interiors and art and my uncle suggested that we didn’t have to only sell glasses, so that’s where it started from.”

When the pandemic hit, Julie was forced to close her optical practice to the public in mid-March. With two months worth of cancelled appointments to contend with and the provision of her staff in mind, Julie decided to take advantage of the growing demand for online sales and the Wild Atlantic Living website was live by May. Since then they have been processing orders and sending packages across the length and breadth of the country, along with supplying their strong support base in Clare. Due to the success of the online store, Julie has already been able to expand to a unit overhead their premises which, as of last week, now serves as a standalone gift shop separate from the opticians.

“What started off as a hobby transpired to be a worthy pursuit due to this unprecedented situation. It’s been good in the sense that if my hand hadn’t been forced, I wouldn’t have pushed to get everything online.” Julie was on maternity leave with her third child in the spring and admits her staff were the driving force behind getting the store running online.

With hundreds of unique home and interior products

available on the website, Julie says some of their more popular products include flamingo-legged lamps, octopus wine bottle holders, whale book-ends and rolling wine glasses. “We try to bring some light humour to your everyday life and gifts that will lift people up. It’s really different from what you’d find in a typical high street shop, it’s unique one-off pieces and quite quirky pieces. Every item has been hand-picked and curated so a lot of thought has gone into each product and we hope that there’s something for everyone whether it’s a baby gift or a new home item or something for ‘difficult to buy for’ people who have everything.”

Going forward, Julie believes the online offering will become an integral element of her business. “I certainly wouldn’t have been able to set up the standalone gift shop if it wasn’t for the online business, that has funded it and kept all my staff in employment when the opticians was closed so it’s been a god-send really.”

Wild Atlantic Living delivers nationwide and internationally with the option of complimentary gift wrapping and a hand-written note.

SCAN WITH PHONE CAMERA TO VISIT WILD ATLANTIC LIVING

OLIVE & CREW LAUNCH NEW ONLINE STORE CIAN O’BROIN cian@clareecho.ie

KATHI Marr established Olive and Crew in Lahinch in April 2018. She previously operated ‘Olive Vintage Style’ in Ennis for eight years, opting to move her business closer to Liscannor, where she lives. Kathi originally trained in fashion design, before her decision to share her unique vision and love of clothing and accessories with her customers.

Olive is the name of her mother, who used to own a nightclub and restaurant, always seeming to find herself around other people, Kathi tells. “This is why we called it Olive and Crew, meaning there was always a little gang. There is a big family connection here in the store.

I have all of my dad’s paintings here too,” she adds.

Olive and Crew sells clothes for women and children. Kathi’s ethos

is to refrain from selling anything fashionable, so that it “never goes out of date.” A men’s range can also be found in store as well as a huge selection of Irish candles and Irish skincare products. “I’m really trying to follow the buy Irish model and I’m getting a lot of greeting cards too. People are really enjoying supporting local products,” she opines.

Kathi admits that Covid-19 has been difficult. Having the shop closed throughout the lockdowns, with ongoing rent and rates, was really tough, she says. Initially, Olive and Crew did not have a website and so Kathi began selling over Facebook and Instagram.

Business operated through postage or collections at the door. “Financially it was difficult but at least it kept the shop alive,” Kathi reflects.

Olive and Crew launched their live website two weeks ago, after availing of the LEO trading online voucher. “I am really happy with the online element and it’s selling,” she states. Kathi details that about 50 per cent of the items available in store are also listed on the website, with more to follow in the coming weeks.

“The community of Lahinch has been very important and supportive throughout all this. A lot of people are coming in to purchase candles. I feel like they just want to support me as well as purchasing my items. It’s been really good. It’s a lovely feeling here,” she states.

Kathi hopes that everyone in Clare will look forward to the future and the new year, to take care and have a very happy Christmas.

For more information visit: https://oliveandcrew.ie/

SCAN WITH PHONE CAMERA TO VISIT OLIVE & CREW

A GREAT CREW: Olive & Crew based on the Main Street in Lahinch and (left) Kathi’s daughter Alice modeling their line on the website

44 RECRUITMENT

THURSDAY, DEC 10 2020

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A native of Ennis, Brian qualified with an honours degree in Business with a focus on taxation in 2014.

Before joining Michael Houlihan & Partners Solicitors firm in 2017, Brian worked in commercial law, gaining experience in banking and debt collection.Brian served his apprenticeship with Michael Houlihan & Partners Solicitors and was admitted to the roll of solicitors in 2020.

"Brian is a valuable member of our litigation department, having gained experience in defence insurance litigation and plaintiff personal injury litigation," said a spokesperson for the firm.

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MOTORING

THURSDAY, DEC 10 2020

45

MOTORING MOTORING EXPERT NEIL BRISCOE GIVES HIS VIEWS

NOT A GRUMPY CAT

FORD BRINGS BACK THE

I

FORD PUMA 1.0 HYBRID ST-LINE

Model tested: Volkswagen ID.3 1st Plus

FACTS & FIGURES

Pricing: ID.3 1st from â‚Ź33,715 on-theModel tested: Ford Puma ST-Line X 1.0 road (including EcoBoost MHEV SEAI grant, VRT rebate PUMA NAME FOR A CRACKING CROSSOVER Pricing: â‚Ź31,317 as tested; Puma starts at delivery) that this new Puma effortlessly, Dick Fos- proper 48-volt electrical system (unlike and â‚Ź24,835

’M driving a lesson in not pre-judging, in not — as sports journalists would tell you — writing the headline before the kick-off. Y’see, when Ford announced that its new compact crossover was going to be called Puma, many of us (self included) rolled our eyes and groaned. For persons of a certain age, especially those with a bit of a Steve McQueen fetish, the original 1997 Puma is both sacrosanct and god-sent. Based on the Fiesta, it was cute-as-a-button and turned on a dime, a mixture of good looks, incredibly sharp, engaging handling, and sensible old-school Ford practicality and mechanical simplicity.

No wonder we loved it.

Fast forward 23 years and here’s another Puma. Once again, it’s based on the Fiesta (enthusiasts cheer) but this time around, instead of a coupe, it’s a five-door SUV (enthusiasts’ sharp intake of breath). A crossover?

Bearing the legendary name of Puma?

Well, the sad fact is that if Ford had launched Puma 2.0 as a coupe, it would likely have garnered huge critical praise, but sold almost none at all. For a Ford Motor Company that needs a big-seller to fight back against strong competition from the likes of VW and Toyota, that would not have been much help.

So the Puma is a small crossover, hitherto a class of car for which we’ve not been able to raise much enthusiasm. Generally builtdown to a price, and far more concerned with style than substance, they have mostly been the nadir of the current car market.

Bought by many, but for reasons we critics could not fathom.

That has changed of late. Cars such as the new Peugeot 2008, and even the flawed-but-generally-competent Renault Captur have raised the bar a touch. It’s a bar

bury-like, vaults over.

The styling is, I guess, a little mixed. At the front there is the current Ford family face, but one stretched upwards into something of a grin, with faint hints of the old fifties Austin-Healy ‘Frogeye’ Sprite about it. Around the back, it actually gets a little better, with a low-slung belt-line that thankfully resists the current trend for ever-rising, wedge-like profiles. It’s very colour sensitive — blue is good, white rather less so) but overall kinda cute.

Inside, it’s a Fiesta. Well, obviously it’s bigger. The Puma is 200mm longer than its hatchback progenitor, and 70mm wider.

That makes it usefully roomy, rather than hugely spacious, but there’s just enough in there for a growing family to make good use of. The boot is genuinely impressive — with as much as 468-litres of space under the luggage cover, and the clever ‘MegaBox’ storage under the floor. This is maybe a little less clever than Ford touts it — it is, after all, just an extra storage area — but it’s designed to be hosed out (so you can store muddy boots or wet sports gear) and the extra height means that the Puma can carry tall, upright items such as, let’s say rubber plants (or, of course, the inevitable golf clubs).

The rest of the cabin is as-per the Fiesta. Lots of dark, uninspiring plastic, but it’s all well bolted together. The SYNC3 touch-screen is good, without being overly-flashy, and the Recaro bucket seats of our ST-Line X test car are grippy and huggy, but without being too constrictive for your husky correspondent. Rather pleasingly, at a time when automatic gearboxes are becoming almost tiresomely ubiquitous, this one has a six-speed manual, although sadly it’s not topped with a solid ball of aluminium, as was that of the original Puma. It would have been a nice touch, alas.

Power comes from a mild-hybrid version of Ford’s familiar 1.0-litre EcoBoost three-cylinder petrol engine. It gets a

some who try to pawn you off with a 12volt) and Ford says that it can improve overall fuel economy by nine per cent (mostly by running the stop-start system more efficiently around town) and can add a little extra torque when accelerating.

It works rather well — the extra torque makes this little engine feel rather beefier than usual, but our economy worked out only in the low-6.0-litres per 100km region. Fine, but not exceptional. Then again, that could have been the way we were driving...

You see the thing that really does connect new Puma with old Puma is fun. Absolute, unadulterated, driving fun. That starts with the steering, which has truly remarkable feel and feedback for a modern, electrically-assisted steering setup. It’s almost like good old-fashioned hydraulic steering, so much does it constantly tell you about what’s happening at the front wheels. Allied to that is firm, lightly springy, suspension that keeps body movements under control, and allows you to fully exploit the Puma’s steering and the solid mid-range of that 1.0 engine through corners. It is zippy, agile (yet sure-footed thanks to a longer wheelbase and wider

Engine: 1.0-litre three-cylinder turbo petrol with mild-hybrid assistance Electric system: rear-mounted Transmission: six-speed manual, electric frontwheel drive motor, 58kWh battery pack Body style: five-door, seven-seat SUV CO2 emissions: 127g/km (Band B1 - â‚Ź270 per annum) Transmission: single-speed Combined economy: 65.6mpgautomatic, (4.3 litres/100km)drive rear-wheel Top speed: 191km/h 0-100km/h: 9.8 seconds Power: 125hp at 6,000rpm Body style: five-seat, five-door hatchTorque: 210Nm at 1,750rpm back Boot space: 468-1,161 litres

track than that of the Fiesta), and enormously entertaining. It is a car with the power to shock, in some way — mostly because it’s shocking how used we have become to cars with inert steering and flabby chassis. The only major shortcoming is that the stiff springing means that on poor road surfaces, there’s too much bounciness going on, to the point of car-sickness in some passengers.

Still, at least you’ll be having fun. The Puma, which could have been a half-hearted mish-mash trading on the faded glories of a classic name, actually turns out to be one of the most engaging, enjoyable, and honest-to-goodness fun cars of the whole year. And let’s face it, this year we need to take our fun wherever we can find it.

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46

MOTORING

THURSDAY, DEC 10 2020

MOTORING MOTORING EXPERT NEIL BRISCOE GIVES HIS VIEWS

RENAULT CELEBRATES ELECTRIC LEADERSHIP WITH MONEY OFF

GET YOURSELF €1,000 OFF THE PRICE OF A NEW ELECTRIC CAR

R

ENAULT is the best-selling electric vehicle (EV) manufacturer in Ireland and to celebrate, the Renault ‘Unplugged’ Sales Event will take place at its network of dealerships around Ireland from Thursday 10th – Saturday 12th December, with expert advice and 211 offers available across the Renault electric, hybrid and plugin hybrid ranges.

The Renault 100 per cent electric and hybrid range is now fully-charged, unplugged and ready to test-drive. Customers can expect robust hygiene and safety measures in place, and can book an appointment at their local dealership.

Renault has committed €60M in finance and €2M in green grants to help customers switch to electric and hybrid vehicles.

The 100 per cent electric new Renault Zoe Z.E. 50 leads Renault’s electric charge as the most affordable electric car in Ireland with 395km range from €26,990 (including SEAI grant).

The brand-new hybrid range has now arrived in dealerships, and includes All-New Clio Hybrid, All-New Captur Plug-in Hybrid and New

Mégane Sport Tourer Plug-in Hybrid. The new hybrid range starts from €24,995.

To help customers to make the switch to cleaner, lower emissions cars, and to support the VRT changes announced in the recent Budget, customers can avail of a competitive 211 offer on 100% electric, hybrid, and plug-in hybrid vehicles. Those offers include the €1,000 Green Grant — Renault is the only brand offering a €1,000 Green Grant on top of Government grants and has €2 million available. You can also get a 2.11 per cent APR Hire Purchase finance package, and take three months’ deferred payments — so no payments for the first three months and no increase in payments after the three-month period The €1,000 Green Grant and ultra-low 2.11 per cent APR offer, according to Renault, delivers real value and real savings to customers, who can choose to defer the first three months’ payments, making the switch to electric easier.

These 211 offers are available through Renault Bank until 31st January 2021 at all Renault dealerships.

THE ALL-NEW ŠKODA

OCTAVIA

A CLASSIC REIMAGINED

Al Hayes ŠKODA, Gort Road, Ennis, Co. Clare.

Tel: 065 682 2400 • www.alhayesskoda.ie WLTP (Worldwide Harmonised Light Vehicle Test Procedure) combined fuel consumption for OCTAVIA in l/100km range from 6.1 to 3.9. WLTP combined CO2 emissions in g/km range from 138 to 102.

Sport Clare Echo THE

Shock at sudden LGFA resignations SEAMUS HAYES

T

he annual convention of the Clare ladies football board was adjourned on Tuesday night after the meeting failed to elect a chairman, treasurer and PRO. It was expected that outgoing chairman David O’Brien and outgoing treasurer, Geraldine Kelly were going to continue in those roles. They were the only nominees for the positions but when it came to filling those posts they both announced that they would not be going forward.

Secretary Monica Callinan who was returned for another term said she was “shocked and surprised at what has unfolded” When the meeting resumed af-

ter a short break, the secretary’s proposal that proceedings be adjourned was accepted. Clubs will be asked to provide nominations for the vacant positions and it is expected that the adjourned AGM will take place next week when it is hoped to fill the vacancies and debate the motions submitted.

Elected at Tuesday’s night’s meeting were Christy O’Connor (President); P.J. O’Halloran and James Costello (Vice Presidents); Monica Callinan (secretary and Central council delegate); Edel Conway (assistant treasurer); Fiona McGonnell (registrar); Sheila Murphy (Culture and language officer), Carmel Bohannon and Christina Hayes (Munster delegates).

Posts to be filled include those of chairman, Vice chairman, assistant secretary, treasurer, P.R.O. and development officer.

10-12-20

pg 47

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‘A year to celebrate volunteers’ SECRETARY of the Clare LGFA, Monica Callinan believed the role of GAA clubs in communities will be appreciated more following the local efforts undertaken this year, writes Seamus Hayes.

“2020 has been a very difficult year due to Covid-19, lockdowns and restriction been imposed for most of the year. However, it has also been the year that we can celebrate the volunteers in our communities who provided vital supports to the elderly and vulnerable during lockdown. Many of those voluntary efforts were coordinated through local GAA/ LFGA clubs, once again demonstrating the role our clubs play within our communities.”

So said Clare ladies football board secretary Monica Callinan in a report to this week’s annual general meeting of the body.

“2020 has also been

the year of the ‘virtual challenge’ which helped raised thousand for euros for many national and local charities. Back in April the Clare intermediate team took part in the ‘ditch your boots’ challenge and ran over 23,000km raising over €10,000 for Pieta, Clare Cystic Fibrosis, and West Clare Cancer Centre. I think when we look back at 2020 we will do so with enormous gratitude for the sacrifices our healthcare workers have made throughout this pandemic to take care of the sick and the vulnerable.

“We must also reflect on the terrible loss experienced by the bereaved who had to deal with their grief under very difficult circumstances, in some cases not being afforded the opportunity to say good-by”, said the Kilmihil official.

“In May the Banner Ladies suffered the sudden and devastating loss of Michael McInerney. Michael played a huge role within the Ban-

ner ladies and he made a massive contribution to Ladies football through his involvement at County Board and as a Munster delegate.

Michael enriched the lives of those around him, he was a gentleman with an unassuming, calm, and gentle manner who always listened before offering his opinion. The esteem in which Micheal was held throughout the county was very evident on his final journey home to West Clare.”

Thanking all who worked for the promotion of the game, she had a word of praise for those who served as Covid officers. Looking forward to 2021 the secretary said “there will be lots of challenges related to the continued restriction associated with Covid 19 which will dictate how we conduct all our activities. Fixtures will always present a challenge, but I do feel with better levels of cooperation between clubs and the Fixtures Committee we are making good progress in this area.”

Weekend wins on track for Kilrush, Miltown and Ennistymon owners

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WEEKEND wins on the greyhound track were notched for Kilrush, Ennistymon and Miltown Malbay owners.

There was just the one nights racing this week at Galway Greyhound Station due to Friday nights rugby game.

In race two the Red Jacketed Killawalla Tiger was very smartly into stride in this S9 graded affair and racing towards the opening bend he was closely attended to by the Cathal Meaney of Kilrush owned Ray Road on his outside with Peteles Duchess also close up on the wide outside. Rounding the opening bend Ray Road joined issue with Killawalla Tiger and the pair turned for home as one. On the run for the judge Ray Road was always holding the upper hand as he prevailed by a

length and a half in 19.58.

The Tommy Flanagan of Ennistymon owned Dromoher Alice (Droopys Buick-Flandys Hawkeye) recorded her maiden success in race seven which was an A6 graded contest leading at the opening bend on her way to a three length success over Saltoftheearth in 29.42. Having been baulked early on last one the winner enjoyed a clear run to the opening bend as Saltoftheearth and Decisive Pablo also showed pace to the turn. Railing well at the opening bend Dromoher Alice took two lengths out of her rivals turning down the back as Rocket Robert and Saltoftheearth gave chase but that chase was all in vain as Dromoher Alice set sail for home on her way to a decisive success.

In the chief supporting contest was the A3 graded

eleventh contest over 550 yards in which Fish Fingers broke smartly in the centre off the track but on the long run towards the opening bend the Sean Meade of Miltown Malbay owned Paradise Asia showed just enough pace to lead along the inner at the turns Astro Abby moved second ahead of Fish Fingers entering the back straight. Setting sail for home passing the halfway mark Paradise Asia(Droopys Nidge-Alexandra) was home for all many rounding the home bend as she proved three lengths too good for Astro Abby in 30.09.

10-12-20

Clare Echo THE

pg 48

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‘Not bearing grudges against a club is a principle I always hold’ Clare GAA Secretary Pat Fitzgerald encourages his critics to come forward PÁRAIC MCMAHON paraic@clareecho.ie

C

LARE GAA’s biggest critics have been urged by the longest serving member of the County Board to air their views with officers in a bid to drive the county forward as he rejected comments that he holds too much power in the organisation.

In a rare media interview, secretary of Clare GAA, Pat Fitzgerald spoke at length with The Clare Echo on Monday afternoon. He has appealed to supporters of the county to come forward to either himself or fellow officers with ideas and critiques to help Clare reach the highest level while outlining some future plans and aspirations of his own.

Appointed county secretary on July 15, 1990, he said this became a full-time role 19 years later. His contract with Croke Park expired in July 2016 and is currently under a full-time contract with Clare GAA. For the launch of his autobiography, Ger Loughnane chose Pat to launch the book and described him as one of the most intelligent, constructive and progressive administrators in the GAA. That was 2001. Fitzgerald insisted his hunger for the job still existed. “I’d be honest with you, my appetite is as big now as it was ever, I don’t know what other people think. The volume of work has increased significantly and I mean significantly, that is probably another reason why I am not out and around is the amount of emails you have got to deal with in any one day. I look after Cusack Park and Tulla also.

I would be continuously in touch with people around the county to keep myself abreast with what is happening, I contend that I know what is going on in the club scene, I would always like to be aware of the downsides of a club and the problems that exist in the community, we’re a community based organisation”.

More recent years have seen Loughnane comment that the county secretary has too much control and that he is holding back Clare GAA. Pat disagrees with the view that he is a dictator. “I’ve

nothing but the greatest of admiration for Ger Loughnane, everyone knows that. He could have got anyone to launch his book, I remember Bertie Ahern was Taoiseach at the time and he would have been privileged to do it. People for whatever reason say that [I’ve too much power] but you have 13 officers, a fixtures committee which has 12 people on it, you have a hearings committee and I can assure you that the fixtures committee will have their say and if they see anything wrong do you think they will sit around a table and allow me to dictate on everything”.

Writing in The Irish Examiner last year, All-Ireland winning captain Anthony Daly stated the “culture is all wrong” within Clare GAA. Fitzgerald has appealed to individuals such as Daly to confront Clare GAA officials with their ideas to leave the organisation in a stronger standing.

“Anyone that wants to ring me directly anytime and anything they have to say I have no problem, I will meet them at any place.

With some people, I have offered to go to their houses and sit down, if there is an issue and I’ve done something wrong I will say come and tell me and I will talk about the bloody thing. Even if they don’t want to talk to me, they can talk to the Chairman.

“I believe and I hope that we can work together and go on as a unified approach, that is what I’ve always been hoping for. I’ve stretched out the hand, I may be tough in a meeting but I’ve often met people five minutes afterwards or the day after and they would look for something, you can rest assured the day I couldn’t separate those two issues I would walk away from it. Not bearing grudges or holding something against a club is a principle I’ve held since the 15th of July 1990, people may think different but I will debate it with anybody”.

There is an annoyance on his behalf that people allow this view go undisputed as he mentioned he has less of a role in appointing referees for club games in Clare.

“It’s like everything, people will associate me and the other thing is people in the know will put that out. I would like to ask those people, where and what aspect of the Association do I have all that

Pat Fitzgerald

Photo by John Mangan

power in, if they say everything I think it would be important for them to come to the Chairman or me directly if they want to and ask about this. Someone once said, give a dog a bad name”.

Clubs who have spoken out against the tenure of the secretary feel they have paid the price when it comes to the venues for games involving their teams and the match officials chosen. It is an assertion rejected by the Sixmilebridge resident. “There is one particular club who have given me a torrid time and I’d say if people looked at it, they’ve played outside Cusack Park three times in the past three years and that is a club that have not been very nice to me. I can assure you, I’ve probably been one of the first people that have always said because of their location that I would put them down for Cusack Park.

“I would like to think whether it is the Bridge or whoever it is, I know they all say the Bridge get the favoured treatment but they are at a level that they will be seen and people will use that. That is one thing I would like to scratch, if someone had an argument with me today and came back tomor-

row looking for €100 and I had it I’d give it to them if I trusted them”.

Tuesday’s Convention will elect a successor to Joe Cooney as Chairman. A man Fitzgerald has immense admiration given his commitment and dedication to the post “despite being heavily involved in a number of different roles”. He also paid tribute to all officers past and present for their “tremendous work and dedication” to Clare GAA. One narrative looming over the nomination process has been the age-profile and gender of persons put forward. He acknowledged that consideration must be given to attempting to entice quality energetic candidates as opposed to solely allowing clubs select the shortlist. “Getting young blood is very difficult in all areas of the Association for a number of reasons, the fabric of society has changed dramatically in recent times, the younger people are taken up with domestic life, it is very difficult to get people because they don’t have the time and thus that is why I think invariably you haven’t the interest shown by any of the younger people”.

An “enormous interest” in the

GAA is cited by Pat for continuing to stay in the role. He admitted, “I have no other interests really, I don’t socialise and I don’t do anything else. When I get home in the evening time, there is still some work to be done, maybe you don’t have to do it or get a lot of other people and costs would escalate but it gives me great pleasure to be doing it and I enjoy doing it. I have a great pride in the Association and the people in it.

“There can be some bits of tension and you’ve said it that I do very little interviews, one of the things I was often tempted to do was to come out and say what was said or written here was wrong and get the facts right, I’m always hopeful that we should be working together particularly in this county. We should be all in it together and working for a common purpose, I believe that even with that it is difficult to succeed at the higher level, rather than I coming out and scoring points. I hope people will do their research, in 2002 we had two pitches Cusack Park and Ballyline and from there we developed.”

He believed fairness has been a consistent trait of his tenure. “I spent many years in Shannon and was involved in union matters, dealing with many issues. The job of secretary was to get the job done, you can be sure that I would have been quizzed at a Board meeting if there was anything wrong, in all the time I’ve been secretary I have missed one meeting in all of those years, I was there to be held to account for anything that I’ve done that is the point I’m making.

“I’ve got nothing but support and help, okay I have been pretty tough with the way I deal with issues but I do that because I believe and if I learned anything it was from my previous area in the union is that you cannot take two sides, you’ve got to be straight down the middle and to be straight down the middle is not being popular and it is the most unpopular way you can be. The one thing I would challenge people on, I don’t mind them saying I am this, that or the other that I may not be a nice guy to deal with or whatever but I’ve always been straight and fair as much as I can, I make mistakes yes I make thousands”.

pg 49

10-12-20

Clare Echo THE

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Naming rights for Cusack Park and Centre of Excellence on cards PÁRAIC MCMAHON paraic@clareecho.ie

N

AMING rights for Cusack Park and Clare GAA’s Centre of Excellence are to be considered, the county secretary has detailed in his report to Convention while the potential to generate ‘significant revenue’ from the county grounds is on the horizon.

Speaking to The Clare Echo, Pat Fitzgerald stated that he has been examining the potential of selling the naming rights at the home of Clare GAA, Cusack Park and the Centre of Excellence in Caherlohan “for the past ten years”.

“We have been doing quite a lot of development, we have been doing it in stages. What you will always try and do is wait for the most preferential time. It is mind-boggling the amount of plans I have for what I would like to do and where we should go. You will have people saying different things about Tulla and I think Tulla is a tremendous facility to put there, yes there is a few things we can do but nothing major and they need to be done. I would love to put an astro-turf surface into Tulla, it would cost €1.3m” which he acknowledged was “prohibitive”.

When asked if the €4.8m spent

on Caherlohan to date represents value for money, Fitzgerald stated, “We got €4m for an area of 1.8 acres in Cusack Park which was over €2m an acre. On the 15th of April in 2005 we bought Caherlohan, we bought 68 acres for €2.3m. In February of 2006, St Josephs sold Roslevan, I think it had 4.5 acres and they got €2m for it which is in excess of €230k per acre, we paid €37k an acre but the fact is, some of it wasn’t great. We walked areas

by Dromoland, areas approaching Clarecastle, all officers walked it and an amount of different places, Caherlohan was the best by far for the price”.

In his report to Convention, Fitzgerald noted that issues to be dealt with at Caherlohan were created “due to the grass clippings having not been collected over a two to three year period when the pitches were not in use”.

It is estimated that between €130k to €500k is required to make Caherlohan an all-year round facility. The facility was used by Colm Collins and the Clare senior footballers when activity resumed this year while Brian Lohan’s county hurlers trained elsewhere as they prepared for the Munster and All-Ireland SHC. “The aspiration would be that every person in the county as much as can be facilitated would be able to access Caherlohan at all times in the year if that was possible, that is from U14 right

up to senior. They should have access to all of the facilities that are there, as much as possible,” Pat felt.

A hill sprint area is already designed at the facility but would require an additional €30-€40k to complete. This and further work on an astro-turf was impeded by the necessity to upgrade the seated stand at Cusack Park.

In his report to Convention, Fitzgerald outlined that he will be putting forward a suggestion to the Executive that a finance committee to be comprised of businesses personnel and marketing experts “to meet the challenge” of raising finance for infrastructure and all county teams be established.

Selling Clare GAA owned facilities is unlikely to be recommended by this committee. “If you sell an asset, I believe you need to replace it with another asset and if you

don’t you are going backwards. I believe we nearly have too much at the moment. You need to acquire an asset of benefit to the organisation if you are disposing of an asset. I would hope they would take an overview particularly with a view to generating money. I would like to think we would attract people of a financial background and people to look at where we are, where we have been and to put some thoughts before us. I believe that in my position I have a certain responsibility to put something like that before the new Executive before they come in and hope they take it on board. Some people will say I have too much power and others will blame me if it isn’t done”.

An opportunity to “generate a fairly significant sum of money each year” is within reach at Cu-

sack Park, Fitzgerald detailed.

“The one thing that is very close to fruition and I don’t want to talk about it but it is the one thing I have aspired to and it is to get some source of commercial revenue on a regular basis to sustain the costs needed to run the Board.

When we bought the Cloister site it was with that in mind, I’ve been trying to get this done for fifteen years and the idea was that we would hire out the facility as car parking and we would feel there is significant money there. There is a heap of soil on the inside area that has to be cleared, the permit is ready to go but we still have to get a licence and that is the difficult part. The most exciting part of what is there is to develop that area to what it needs and I think it would generate a fairly significant sum of money each year”.

An overall total loss of €478,359 will be reported in Clare’s accounts for 2020. The decision not to hold a fundraiser to alleviate costs was explained by Fitzgerald, “people in the community have suffered enough, who are we going to be taking money off only those people who had gone through enough already. We are showing a significant loss which I don’t think other counties will show, last year we made a significant profit”. We have had a bad year but things will be okay”.

Clare GAA plan to fill coaching vacancies when funds allow SECRETARY of Clare GAA, Pat Fitzgerald said it is planned to fill coaching vacancies that have arisen within the Association while he admitted to having a “reasonable” relationship with Brian Lohan, writes Páraic McMahon.

Relations between Clare senior hurling manager, Brian Lohan and ex manager Davy Fitzgerald have deteriorated in recent years. This has not impacted the working relationship between Lohan and the secretary who is also Davy’s father.

“I would say I’m getting on reasonably okay with Brian Lohan as far as I’m concerned, I have treated him with the courtesy he deserves and I think to be fair to him he has done the same to me. He might feel different, he has dealt with other officers too and I’ve no problem with that. We need more bonding and a unified approach going forward, you have enough people out there outside the county knocking us. We need to really support Colm Collins and Brian Lohan, I’m there to support them. It may not come across to the people on the outside and here is where some of those guys who have all their own

views create a lot of problems but I can’t change the world,” Pat told The Clare Echo.

He added, “There is a view out there that I wouldn’t be supporting team managements and that is the opposite. I have tried and have maybe gone overboard trying to prove the opposite whoever it is. It is no State secret that people would think I would not support Brian Lohan, as far as we can as a county committee without putting ourselves into difficulty we will support Brian and the same with Colm Collins, then to a lesser extent the grades down because the two senior teams are the flagship squads and they will be getting more favourable treatment. Maybe that is the wrong way, maybe we should be putting more emphasis on the younger age-groups but that is the way it has been”.

Notably, less visible at Clare football games, Fitzgerald acknowledged that he may not be ever-present on the sideline but offers his support to team managements away from games. “God be good to Tom Downes and I left him as the guy, the appointment of football managers was more or

less to him and he would always come back and tell me what was happening as he would with the Chairman. I would feel that people who have the most interest and dedication, Bernard Keane has taken it over and I don’t interfere with him, I sign the sheets or whatever. I have been at a lot of football games but if I do go I won’t be on the sideline, I will be sitting in the stand, on a number of occasions they might not even know I was there, I would go just to support them.

“I’ve met Colm Collins at least six times in the past fortnight, Dermot Coughlan would be onto me with any issues he has, Joe Cooney is the liaison officer. The liaison officers whoever they are, if I’m not involved I won’t be seen out front, maybe I should go to more football games but I don’t go to all the hurling games either”.

Currently, Peter Casey, John Enright and Micheál Duffy are employed by Clare GAA with Sean Chaplin having tendered his resignation in recent weeks. Two other posts were paid for by Clare GAA “but the money dried up”.

It is intended to fill those positions when finances allow. He confirmed, “As soon as we’re able to afford it we certainly would. We had Kelvin Harold for a number of years doing strength and conditioning for underage, you can certainly condition the thinking of twelve and fourteen year olds which is very important. Kelvin is going to the schools and was a great asset. I would like to put an S&C person in that would look after the whole county”.

He is keen for Munster Council to alter their responsibility for coaching in each county. “Munster Council have the responsibility for a lot of that area, we pay a certain amount towards it and while they answer to me, it is Pat Ó Sé that manages that process. I would love to change the whole system. I have looked at systems in other counties, I would always be looking to see what other counties are doing, I do think that they have better coaching systems than we have.

We are dependent a lot on provincial council, they seem to want to dictate”.

12-11-20

Clare Echo THE

pg 50

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

‘Clare clubs need to seek change’

Niall O’Connor

Photo by Martin Connolly

AHEAD OF County Convention next week, The Clare Echo spoke to some figures from the world of GAA to get their take on calls for a fresh approach to Clare’s governance and business management.

JIMMY COONEY, EIRE OG INIS CHAIRMAN It's not an easy job to run a county board, but with better, more modern, more professional structures the task can be made easier. Nobody denies that those in charge are working extremely hard at what they do but we seem to be running to stand still. We have obviously fallen behind other counties in how we present our teams; take Tipperary, Limerick, Cork minor hurlers this year. We need better structures, better funding mechanisms, much better accessability to our so-called centre of excellence at Caherlohan...We also need club delegates to speak up and stop pretending that things are fine when they're obviously not.

I couldn’t keep quiet anymore’

MIKE GUILFOYLE - FORMER CLARE HURLER AND CLUB COACH Clare need to get into the 21st century and get a commercial manager to oversee the funding of the teams, more upgrades to Cusack Park but more importantly- get Caherlohan to a standard where the teams can train there year round- all county and divisional teams. Money can be raised from the sale of Clare Abbey and Ballyline as a start and those funds must not be used to run the board on a day-to-day basis, they need to be used for development.

Caherlohan needs to upgraded and ready for all teams - we have not gotten value for money so far.

In terms of coaching and games development; I am not sure what is happening since the resignation of Sean Chaplin, but the next person must be give the funds to have a S&C coach appointed full time - we lack this so badly versus other counties. The process in the past to get a person in was seriously flawed and need to be remedied.

Niall O’Connor heads to convention after open letter to clubs gains traction STUART HOLLY editor@clareecho.ie

ÉIRE ÓG clubman Niall O’Connor is leading calls for a complete review of business management structures within Clare GAA. Following an open letter penned by the 30-year-old in recent weeks, there has been what O’Connor describes as a groundswell of support for points he made relating to the future of Clare GAA, with a number of club representatives contacting him to commend his stance.

O’Connor, whose father Gerry was joint manager of the Senior Clare hurling team until last year, believes that Clare must adopt a new strategy involving a five-year plan to be developed by a five-person group who are independent of the county board. He has highlighted concerns including the continued expenditure of using facilities in Limerick, the under-development of Caherlahon, along with a lack of support for player groups such as the Clare u16 hurlers, who this year had no management in place. O’Connor put his stance forward via his club as a motion which has now been passed and is expected to be dealt with at County Convention early next week.

Speaking to The Clare Echo, O’Connor said, “Next Tuesday night I will go to county convention representing my club Eire Og Inis for the very first time. I didn’t anticipate I would be attendance at a convention for many years to come, if ever at all, but unfortunately I couldn’t keep quiet anymore like so many others around the county and penned an open letter to all the clubs in County Clare after previously writing to my club and submitting a motion. It has thankfully been passed and will be motion No12 at County Convention and its future is now in the hands of clubs across Clare.

The motion asks “that Clare GAA establish

immediately a committee to develop a five year strategic plan. This committee to consist of a 5 person group independent of the county board, drawn from business and commercial interests with a strong record of commitment and involvement in the GAA. The Committee will make, within six months from its establishment, recommendations to the County Board on the following areas of activity: Finance and fundraising; Optimisation of the Centre of Excellence at Caherlohan and other facilities; Coaching and Games Development; Governance; Public Relations; and Marketing and social media.

“The committee will receive full co-operation, funding and support from the county board. Its recommendations to be circulated to all clubs within the county and discussed at a special convention to be held no later than September 2021.”

O’Connor believes that Clare GAA “is now a multimillion operation and we now need to treat it like one”. He cites cases such as Wexford GAA’s recent commercial success as something to aspire towards. Wexford, who themselves announced a loss of more than €203,000 in 2017, have since restructured their commercial operations and this year announced a surplus of more than €507,000.

“Clubs need to see what’s happening in front of their eyes and need to demand a halt at county convention,” contends O’Connor. “Next week the county board will announce a loss of €478,359 for 2020 which includes an ‘exceptional item’ which is the sale of part of the land purchased to develop the Centre of Excellence at Caherlohan. That figure details a loss of €195,575 on the sale which is part of the overall deficit figure.”

“I hope all clubs will come together get behind this motion and demand that Clare GAA establish a five year strategic plan where a high class group of people can come back to the clubs with recommendations on how to change the Clare GAA business model and lead us into a better future.”

DARACH HONAN - ALL IRELAND WINNER IN 2013 Clare are being left behind in Munster. Our U21 hurlers haven't won a game since 2015 and we are falling behind the others at most grades.

Off the pitch, we are not faring any better. Limerick, Cork and Tipperary have caught my eye for the progress they have made at administration level in recent years. For years in Cork, too much power was in the hands of one man, and this led to many people with lots to offer Cork GAA being frozen out. Since Tracey Kennedy has taken over as secretary in Cork, she has managed to make huge strides down there by engaging former greats to get involved in their underage coaching as well as launching ambitious projects like 'One Cork'.

Anthony Daly, a great former player, coach and vocal supporter of all things Clare is just one example of someone who should be drafted in at some level to be involved in Clare GAA. Tipperary have recently appointed Liam O'Shea as commercial officer for the county. The funds that Liam will be able to bring will be used to improve infrastructure and develop great players of the future.

Meanwhile in Clare, we have just seen a year when not one cent was raised to support our county teams. Most clubs would have outperformed these fundraising efforts.

There is a need for a fresh approach in the organisation. I anticipate that the motion will pass with ease, as I do not understand how it could be voted against. The key then will be to ensure that good people are appointed to the committee.

CONOR CLANCY – TWO TIME ALL IRELAND WINNER I would be in support of the motion and anything that would promote or bring forward change is welcomed. A big question mark is on the clubs with regards to whether they are going to support something like this.

We are at a critical juncture at the moment. If we don't do something soon then it's going to lead to more problems in the years ahead.

"I would like to see that the recommendations are followed, that an independent committee or grouping are given the freedom to do what needs to be done. Whatever recommendations come forward from that group then are acted on. I was looking at the paper today with the news coming out of Wexford, they've recorded a surplus of €500,000 for the year, with a cash reserve of €1.2 million and they're in the process of initiating a new five year plan.

"In Clare, I'm not sure if you can get the type of sponsors like a Zurich or an AIG. We are quite limited but I do think that it's an area that we haven't looked at. Putting together a separate grouping that look to identify those revenue streams in a county, that makes sense.

"It's not just a Clare problem. It's been a Galway and a Mayo problem too but in fairness to those counties, you've seen some change there within their county boards. You see clubs advocate for change.

In Clare, I haven't seen too many clubs standing up looking for this change. I'm not sure what the reason for this is but until clubs start to come forward and make a stand, we are at a critical point. You need to see fresh blood.”

pg 51

26-11-20

Clare Echo THE

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New secretary elected at historic Clare camogie AGM PÁRAIC MCMAHON

A

paraic@clareecho.ie

NEW secretary of Clare Camogie has been elected following a historic AGM. Ann Sanz of the Banner Club defeated Tulla’s Ciaran Sheehan in a vote to become secretary of the County Board. She will replace Marie-Louise Kaiser with the Newmarket-on-Fergus woman remaining in the role of Fixtures Secretary. Kilkishen’s Billy Murphy succeeds Dervilla Moloney in the only other change to the Executive.

Monday’s annual general meeting was a historic one becoming the first county sporting AGM to be held virtually.

Treasurer Martin Kaiser detailed that the income to Clare camogie fell by almost €100k in 2020 with fundraising activities greatly curtailed and the gate intake from matches almost wiped out.

Almost €16k was raised through fundraising efforts led by PRO Brid MacNamara’s virtual walk

to Croke Park. He stated that the end of the financial year puts Clare camogie “in a very healthy position” but noted the resumption of inter-county activity would impact this.

Outgoing secretary, Marie-Louise Kaiser told the meeting she was looking forward to concentrating solely on fixtures following the completion of a plan which took six years. A presentation was made to Marie-Louise by Denise Brookes in recognition of her contribution while Chairperson Joe O’Donnell remarked, “every time I see what you are doing I get tired, you are doing so much”.

O’Donnell in his address acknowledged that more work is needed to continue to introduce improvements at Fr McNamara Park and paid tribute to their neighbours Ennis Men’s Shed.

Clare reaching their first All-Ireland senior camogie quarter-final since 2014 was referenced by the Cratloe man as “a stepping stone to further advancement in the future”.

“It was a difficult year for us all but when there is unity, we can rise to the challenge,” Brid MacNamara

stated in her address to clubs. She acknowledged the efforts of all players at club and county level and gave a nod to all media outlets in Clare for their continued coverage of games.

Presidents: Kitty McNicholas & Michael O’Halloran Chairperson: Joe O’Donnell (Cratloe) Vice Chairperson: Eleanor Skelly (Scariff/Ogonnelloe) Secretary: Ann Sanz (Banner) Asst Secretary: Caroline McAuley-Rynne (Inagh/Kilnamona) Fixtures Secretary: Marie-Louise Kaiser (Newmarket-on-Fergus) Treasurer: Martin Kaiser (Newmarket-on-Fergus) Asst Treasurer: Billy Murphy (Kilkishen) PRO: Brid MacNamara (Ruan) Registrar: Evelyn O’Brien (Bodyke) Development Officer: Jimmy Kenny (Banner) Munster Delegate: Ann Sanz (Banner) Munster Delegate: Anne McNamara (Sixmilebridge)

The unusual view at this year’s Clare camogie AGM Congress Delegate: Jimmy Kenny (Banner) Congress Delegate: Brid MacNamara (Ruan) Congress Delegate: Ann Sanz (Banner) Congress Delegate: Joe O’Donnell (Cratloe) Munster Convention Delegate: Denise Brookes (Clooney/Quin) Munster Convention Delegate:

Marie-Louise Kaiser (Newmarket-on-Fergus) Childrens Officer: Aideen McCormack (Banner) Health & Wellbeing Officer: Ann-marie McGann (St Josephs Doora/Barefield) Data Protection Officer: Martin Kaiser (Newmarket-on-Fergus) Secondary Schools Officer: Anne McMahon (Kilmaley)

Clubs ask not to rule out playing U21 championships PÁRAIC MCMAHON paraic@clareecho.ie

CLARE GAA has set up a special committee to liaise with clubs as to what competition should be run for players between 17 and 21.

Croke Park recently instructed clubs in all counties that juvenile competitions in 2021 will be for teams at under 13, under 15 and under 17 levels.

Counties may, in addition, run competitions for teams at under 14 and under 16 but the competitions for teams in the uneven ages are a must.

Currently the next age group catered for with a competition is under 21 but there is a view that the gap from under 17 to under 21 is too big.

Clubs were written to this week for their views as to whether or not

there should be competition at under 19 or under 20 instead of under 21. Inter county competition is currently for teams at under 20.

The clubs are asked to have their replies back by Friday of next week, December 18.

Current county board officers Sean O’Halloran and Anne Hayes have been appointed to chair the hurling and football committees respectively. O’Halloran is joined

by Pat Gavin (Ogonnelloe), Sean McMahon (St. Josephs Doora/ Barefield), Tony O’Brien (Smith O’Briens) and Padraig Boland (Broadford) while Anne Hayes is joined on committee by Noel Crowe (Ennistymon), Joe Garry (Cooraclare) and Colm Browne (Kilrush).

PICTURED: Last year’s Clare minor Keith Smyth in action against Luke Horgan of Cork

52 CLASSIFIEDS

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PLANNING 53

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PLANNING NOTICES Clare County Council School Road, Attycristora, Lahinch, Co. Clare Further Information / Revised Plans Planning Ref: P20/175 Development Description: Permission to construct 16 No. semi-detached 3 bedroom houses, 10. No. semi-detached 4 bedroom houses and 1 No. detached 4 bedroom house together with all associated site development works and connections to public services Location: School Road, Attycristora, Lahinch, Co. Clare Take notice that John Talty & Patrick Droney has lodged significant further information in respect of the planning application P20/175. This information and planning application y be inspected or purchased at a fee not exceeding the reasonable cost of making a copy, at the office of the Planning Authority of Clare County Council, Planning Department, Áras Contae an Chláir, New Road, Ennis, Co. Clare during its public opening hours. A submission or observation in relation to the further information or revised plans may be made in writing to the planning authority on payment of the prescribed fee, not later than 2 weeks after the receipt of the

newspaper notice and site notice by the planning authority or in the case of a planning application accompanied by an EIS within 5 weeks of receipt of such notices by the planning authority.

Clare County Council Cottage Gardens, Station Road, Ennis, Co. Clare Take notice that Colin Doyle & Bridgit Ginnity are applying to Clare County Council for planning permission to construct a new dwelling house, access road and connect to existing services along with all associated 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 Clare County Council during its public opening hours and a submission or observation in relation to the application may be made to the authority in writing on payment of the prescribed fee within the period of 5 weeks beginning on the date of receipt by the authority of the application.

Clare County Council Ballyvroghaun Eighter, Tulla, Co. Clare Take notice that Brian Foudy & Associates – Architects &

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Intend to apply to the planning authority on behalf of Danny Moran to (a) alter and extend existing dwellinghouse (b) relocate & upgrade wastewater treatment arrangement together with all ancillary site development works and services at the above address.

The planning application may be inspected or purchased at a fee not exceeding the reasonable cost of making a copy at the offices of the planning authority during its public opening hours. A submission or observation in relation to the application may be made in writing to the planning authority on payment of the prescribed fee within the period of 5 weeks beginning on the date of receipt by the authority of the application Clare County Council Ballynote West, Kilrush, Co. Clare Take notice that Lorna McDermott is applying to Clare County Council for planning permission to carry out alterations and refurbishment of an existing dwelling house along with all associated 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 Clare County Council during its public opening hours and a submission or observation in relation to the application may be made to the authority in writing on payment of the prescribed fee within the period of 5 weeks beginning on the date of receipt by the authority of the application.

Clare County Council, Craggaknock East, Mullagh, Co Clare Take notice that Silvercreek Developments Ltd. intends to apply to the Planning Authority for permission to retain the following a) the rear extension and elevational changes made to the as constructed dwelling house b) changes to the elevations of the as constructed garage c) front boundary wall and vehicular entrance as constructed along with associated site works at the above address.

That the planning application may be inspected, or purchased at a fee not exceeding the reasonable cost of making a copy, at the offices of the planning authority during its public opening hours and that a submission or observation in

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

Clare County Council, Breaffy North, Miltown Malbay, Co. Clare.

Take notice that B. Fitzgerald intends to apply to the Planning Authority for permission to change the use of existing sheds from agricultural to commercial along with associated site works at the above address.

That the planning application may be inspected, or purchased at a fee not exceeding the reasonable cost of making a copy, at the offices of the planning authority during its public opening hours and that a submission or observation in relation to the application may be made to the authority in writing on payment of the prescribed fee within the period of 5 weeks beginning on the date of receipt by the authority of the application.

Authority for permission to retain their existing garage as constructed along with associated site works at the above address.

That the planning application may be inspected, or purchased at a fee not exceeding the reasonable cost of making a copy, at the offices of the planning authority during its public opening hours and that a submission or observation in relation to the application may be made to the authority in writing on payment of the prescribed fee within the period of 5 weeks beginning on the date of receipt by the authority of the application.

Clare County Council, 2 Four Seasons Drive, Roslevan, Ennis, Co. Clare Take notice that P. Ward & A. Barry intend to apply to the Planning

THANKSGIVING

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54 PUZZLEPAGE

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1 Flabbergasted (6) 4 Venom (6) Best Daily Search   Word     players    also   enjoy: 8 Expel, force out (5) 9 Pivot (7)        ber 2020 10 Colonist (7)             11 Chess piece (5)      12 Never dying (9) https://puzzles.bestforpuzzles.com/games/best-daily-word-search/          17 Confess (3,2) 19 Repeat (7)      21 Leaf vegetable (7)             22 Gloss (5)        23 Motor fuel (6)             24 Shortness of sight (6) Â

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QUIZ 55

THURSDAY, DEC 10 2020

The Clare Echo Quiz

On April 1st Wimbledon was canOn the 27th of April The Rose of 1cause celled. What was the last event to 6 Tralee International Festival was its cancellation before corona cancelled for the first time in its

2

On April 5th Boris Johnson was admitted to hospital suffering from covid-19 True of False?

On the 10th of April it was an3 nounced junior cert exams would be cancelled. On the same date what was announced would happen to leaving cert exams?

. They would be cancelled and replaced by predicted grading . They would be going ahead for sure . They would be postponed until late July or August

4

On April 15th the North Korean supreme leader missed an event commemorating his grandfather sparking speculation that he was either dead or gravely ill. What is the name of the current North Korean supreme leader? . Kim Il-Sung . Kim Jong-il . Kim Jong-un

5

On the 18th of April The Cranberries became the first Irish band to reach one billion plays of a song on YouTube. Which of their songs was it that reached the milestone?

61year history True or False?

On May 25th the killing of George 7 Floyd by police officers sparked widespread protests. In what city did the killing take place? . Minneapolis . New York . Memphis

On the 27th of June 2020 the 33rd 8 Dáil Éireann was formed with which three parties in government? . Sinn Féin, Fine Gael, Fine Fáil. . Fine Gael, Labour, Social Democrats. . Fine Fáil, Fine Gael, Green Party

On June 5th Biden formally took 9 the presidential nomination for which party? . Democrats . Republicans . Neither he was an independent

l THE CRANBERRIES: On the 18th of April The Cranberries became the first

Irish band to reach one billion plays on a song on YouTube. Which of their songs was it that reached the milestone?

On June 30th footballer Lionel 10 Messi reached his 700th career goal when he scored a penalty against which Spanish Football Club? . Real Madrid C.F. . Atlético Madrid . FC Barcelona

. Dream . Zombie . Linger

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

The answers will be revealed in next weeks edition.

6. True 7. Minneapolis 8. Fine Fáil, Fine Gael, Green Party.

9. Democrats 10. Atlético Madrid

. World war 1 . World war 2 . It had never been cancelled before

ANSWERS

1. World war 2 2. True 3. They would be postponed until July/Aug 4. Kim Jong-un 5. Zombie

virus?

Last weeks Answers . Hat different colour . Red alarm missing on wall in background . Line missing on wall in background . Zip missing on womans top

. String missing on top of person (right) . Parcel missing on wall in background . Symbol on mask missing on person (right)

Photo by Joe Buckley