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Covid rates RED LETTER DAY on the double
PÁRAIC McMAHON
paraic@clareecho.ie
C
OVID-19 infection rates have doubled in the Mid-West over the last month, with 1,027 in Clare alone over the last 14 days, it has emerged. Of the new cases in the Mid-West over the last 14 days, 79% are aged 18+, with the remaining 21 per cent aged under 18. It comes as the Dept of Public Health MidWest makes a fresh appeal for people to limit their social activity. Infection rates are similar to levels experienced during the January wave, health officials have said. Dr Mai Mannix, Director of Public Health Mid-
West stated, “We are expecting a considerable increase in COVID-19 cases, should social activity remain at its current rate. As a result, we will likely see a greater number of people with COVID-19 in hospital this winter period”. “We can reverse this trajectory by making small changes in our day-to-day activity. We ask that people limit their social activity and social contacts over the coming weeks to help reduce the incidence of COVID-19 in the community. We advise people to continue wearing face masks in busy public places, around older and vulnerable people, and at work. We are seeing a trend of some workplaces dropping their guard in terms of mask-wearing, which is high-risk when COVID-19 is circulating widely in the community.”
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l Éire Óg fans made their voices heard at Cusack Park last weekend as they cheered on their side to the Jack Daly Cup for the first time in 15 years
Photo by Gerard O’Neill
2 NEWS
Index NEWS
THURSDAY, NOV 11 2021
LES PADDYS BRING THE GIGS TO FRANCE
2-16
ENTERTAINMENT
19
GREENER CLARE
20
COMMUNITY
23
RECRUITMENT
24-27
BLACK FRIDAY
28-32
SPORT
33-50
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SHOWTIME: ‘Pictured in Arzon, France, celebrating the 30th anniversary of the Arzon / Lahinch twinning in Île-aux-Moines are the delegations from Clare and Arzon. Les Paddys, a Clare based Irish fusion band are playing concerts to mark the anniversary of the twinning in Arzon weekend, October 27th to 31st, 2021. Full tour details can be found on www.lospaddys.com. Les Paddys tour is gratefully supported by Culture Ireland Photo by Michel Coquerelle
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Killaloe’s Mary is Volunteer of Year 4 NEWS
PÁRAIC MCMAHON
B
paraic@clareecho.ie
UNRATTY Castle and Folk Park is to reopen next Friday (April 30). Killaloe’s Mary O’Mara has been named as the Clare Older People’s Volunteer of the Year for 2021. With 40 years of volunteering under her belt Mary 3QW nominated for her contribution to a variety of organisations in Killaloe including the Scouts, the Apostolic Society and the Killaloe/ Ballina Family Resource Centre. One example of her trojan work was during the pandemic where she helped the local Family Resource Centre distribute 150 food hampers to those most in need last Christmas. She not only helps those most vulnerable in our communities but lends her support to the community workers in the area too. She has
at
l RECOGNITION: Mary O’Mara accepts her award been cited as their “mentor” and “guide” especially these past 18 months. Hosted by the Clare Older
People’s Council and supported by Clare County Council, the awards took place at The Temple Gate Hotel on Thursday last.
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Mary received an engraved glass trophy and a One4All voucher from Mike Hanrahan (Stockton’s Wing), who is Clare’s Age Friendly Ambassador. Opening the event, Cathaoirleach of Clare County Council, Cllr PJ Ryan (IND), spoke of the importance of voluntary work to local communities and of how such work contributes to the resolution of challenges faced by those communities. Keynote speaker, Dr Rose Galvin, Associate Professor at the School of Allied Health, University of Limerick (UL), and senior member of UL’s Ageing Research Committee, spoke of staying active and healthy as we age and the importance of maintaining intergenerational relationships. Clare Age Friendly Ambassador, Mike Hanrahan, congratulated the winner and all the nominees, who received a framed certificate of recognition for the fact that they had been nominated by their communities.
THURSDAY, NOV 11 2021
Infection rates have doubled
INFECTION rates of COVID-19 in the Mid-West have doubled in five weeks. Over the past 14 days (as of November 8), there were 3,374 COVID-19 cases in the Mid-West region; 1,801 in Limerick, 1,027 in Clare, and 546 in North Tipperary. Of these, 79% are aged 18+, 5% are aged 12-17, 13% are aged 5-11, and 3% are aged 0-4. A fresh appeal has been issued by the Department of Public Health Mid-West for people in these counties to limit their social activity. Infection rates are similar to levels experienced during the January wave, health officials have said. Unlike the January wave, there is lower incidence of serious illness and death, largely due to the vaccination programme, thus far. However, due to the sharp escalation in new cases, breakthrough infections with serious outcomes are more likely amid current, widespread community transmission. Outbreaks in the region are currently being managed in nursing homes, long-term residential care facilities, healthcare settings, workplaces, education settings, and a range of settings in the community. Pre-pandemic levels of social activity is a factor in the high prevalence of infection in the community, causing significant onward transmission in multiple settings.
Back to school costs crippling for families by PÁRAIC McMAHON CHILDREN in Clare are being curtailed from extra-curricular activities and trips due to “crippling back to school costs”. Stricter guidelines are needed at national level on the use of specific uniforms and school jackets, Cllr Donna McGettigan (SF) detailed in a recent motion before Clare County Council. She asked that the Department of Education and Minister for Education, Norma Foley (FF) be contacted regarding “crippling costs of back to school for families”. A substantial increase in funding for the school book scheme is also needed, the Shannon representative believed. “Many parents are struggling financially with back to school costs with many of them forced into debt through uniform, books, school transport and voluntary contributions which a lot of parents stating that they feel under pressure to pay”. Summer months have become “an extremely difficult time” financially for many families due to the cost of back to school,
McGettigan said. “The cost of back to school makes the summer months an extremely difficult time financially for many families. Many parents, who might already be at the pin of their collar, are forced into sizeable debt just so they can send their children to school. Many families get little to no support and yet they have to fork out hundreds of euro to get their children ready for primary school, and over a thousand euro to send them to secondary school”. Two thirds of parents have to decide that a child cannot partake in some extra-curricular activities while a third of parents can’t afford school trips, she claimed, “free education is a myth if you look at these numbers”. McGettigan added, “This is part of the growing cost of living crisis in this country, underfunded public services requiring citizens to cough up more”. “It is a huge cost especially for families with more than one or two children,” Cllr Gerry Flynn (IND) commented as he supported the proposal. The figures were concerning, Cllr PJ Ryan (IND) acknowledged.
Man robbed in Ballina
GARDAÍ in Killaloe Garda Station are appealing for witnesses to come forward following a Ballina robbery which saw a man lose his jacket, wallet and phone. In the early hours of Sunday morning (November 7th) between 12 midnight and 2 a.m. as a couple left a fast food restaurant on the main street of Ballina they were approached from behind by four to five males. The man received a punch to the back of
the head and a black eye before falling to the ground. The males proceeded to steal his Tommy Hilfiger jacket, a black Tommy Hilfiger wallet and a black Apple iPhone 7. “We are appealing to anyone who was in the area of Main Street, Ballina and witnessed this incident or anyone who may have dash cam footage to contact Killaloe Garda Station on 061 620540,” crime prevention officer Sergeant Triona Brooks said.
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THURSDAY, NOV 11 2021
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6 NEWS
Mediator for Doolin Coast Guard dispute PÁRAIC MCMAHON
A
paraic@clareecho.ie
MEDIATOR is to be appointed in an attempt to resolve a dispute at Doolin Coast Guard. On Monday last, the Doolin Coast Guard was stood down after six long-serving volunteers, including the unit’s officer in charge (OIC), issued their resignations with immediate effect. At a cost of €1.9m, a state of the art purpose built Doolin Coast Guard unit opened in March 2015. Calls for a mediator have been issued by multiple Clare politicians over the last week. Minister of State Hildegarde Naughton (FG) informed her party colleagues, Deputy Joe Carey and Senator Martin Conway on Tuesday that a mediator would be appointed in a bid to resolve the ongoing fall-out by engaging
l CRITICAL SERVICE: A Coast Guard helicoptor over the Cliffs of Moher Photo by Chris Copley with all parties. “This person has to be independent of the Coast Guard, it appears that is where some of the problems were,” Senator Conway told The Clare Echo. Senator Dooley suggested Kieran Mulvey be appointed as the mediator. The Mountshannon native also recommended Mulvey earlier this year to solve an
ongoing dispute among the IAA and air traffic controllers. Tension had been growing for some time in Doolin, Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne (SF) stated. “Having engaged with members, both current and former, I am deeply concerned at what I have been told. Members claim management have been grossly negligent of issues occurring across
it of a Do The Shop For
Children’s Fashions
regional units. Their response to regional issues has been dividing communities and has hindered more than it’s helped.” She added that there have been claims of unfair dismissals of members. “This has led to a deep sense of antagonism between membership and management”. Something is “badly wrong” with the operations in Doolin, Deputy Michael McNamara (IND) told the Dáil. “The Minister for Finance, Deputy Donohoe, spoke about visiting Doolin and I was there myself when its lovely new shining Coast Guard station was opened. “The officer in charge there was Mattie Shannon, a man who gave his lifetime to the Irish Coast Guard in Doolin. He left the Irish Coast Guard but the Minister of State should talk to him and ask him why he left. She should also talk to the many others who left the Doolin Coast Guard unit one by one. People of that sort of dedication do not leave unless there is something badly wrong”.
THURSDAY, NOV 11 2021
Axel Foley tribute for NZ match
A TRIBUTE song to Anthony Foley will be launched during half-time in this weekend’s rugby international between Ireland and New Zealand at the Aviva Stadium. Penned and performed by Hermitage Green singer and former international Barry Murphy, ‘Alone You Stand’ is being released on the fifth anniversary of the untimely death of Axel Foley from Killaloe. All proceeds are being donated to the Orla’s Wild Ways charity, a new project developed by Orla Foley in memory of her late brother. Orla has already undertaken a 3,000km cycle along the Wild Atlantic Way, raising €9,000 in the process for a number of charities. Regeneron sponsored the production of Barry’s song while the IRFU helped to organise the launch at the Aviva. Staging the launch on the day Ireland face the All Blacks “makes it a much more special occasion for us all,” Orla admitted. “Dad was on the Munster Team that beat the All Blacks in 1978, Barry was on the Munster team that nearly beat the All Blacks in 2008, and the Irish team made the very special Axel 8 formation after Anthony died for the historic win in Chicago in 2016. “I just want to keep alive the memory of my beautiful brother who continues to inspire me.”
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7
8 NEWS
THURSDAY, NOV 11 2021
Doolin Swimmers take to water for ‘Swim in Pink’
Shortage of ‘scientific resources’ preventing increase in water testing by PÁRAIC McMAHON
A
BRAVE: Early morning on Sunday, November 7 in bouncy conditions, the Doolin Swimmers took to the water at Doolin Pier to take part in ‘Swim in Pink’, a nationwide event which saw hundreds take to the sea in aid of the National Breast Cancer Research Institute marking the end of October, breast awareness month. 26 swimmers including 3 men all dressed in pink took to the water laughing and chatting with many locals turned up to cheer the group on and offer encouragement. Afterwards, the swimmers had amazing hospitality in the Fiddle & Bow Hotel with hot tea and coffees with delicious pastries sponsored from Hugo's Bakery Lahinch. To find out more about the National Breast Cancer Research Institute and ‘Swim in Pink’ go to www.breastcancerresearch.ie and follow Doolin Swimmers on, Instagram on @doolinswimmers Visitors are always welcome to join the group for a swim.
BSENCE of “significant scientific resources” will stop Clare County Council from committing to a more stringent bathing water quality testing regime. Referencing a notable increase in the amount of people swimming at the fourteen designated bathing areas in Clare, Cllr Cillian Murphy (FF) called on Clare County Council to put in place a bathing water quality testing regime across the full calendar year. Bathing areas are currently monitored from June 1st to September 15th each year, senior engineer Cyril Feeney explained. “Unfortunately, it is not possible at this time to commit to an expanded 12 month bathing water testing regime due to the significant scientific resources required,” he added. Speaking at a recent meeting of the County Council, Cllr Murphy flagged how sea swimming “has become a massive part of the lives of many people”. He stated, “I feel we do all we can to protect people’s health in the bathing season but on the 16th Sept it’s as you were and back to yourself”. The Kilkee man continued, “I appreciate the cost implications and the resources but I think our job is to spend public money for public benefit.
“There is a responsibility to ensure these activities can be engaged in a safe way”. There is “a duty of care” to extend the length of testing, Cllr Ian Lynch (IND) maintained. He said that there was a “phenomenal” uptake in sea swimming in Kilrush. “Some of the areas are very low risk areas, some of them are high risk, maybe we could do it in a scaled approach, tie in with local media to put out a warning based on predicted rainfall in particular areas. I don’t think it is something we can’t do anything on”. Clare’s “fabulous locations” must be protected, Cllr Gerry Flynn (IND) affirmed. He said the local authority is “taking a strategic look at proliferation of caravan parks and holiday homes, I do believe it is a contributory factor to pollution”. Ballyalla’s water quality has visibly improved following the creation of the Blue Flag Working Group in 2013 which has been aided by the Council, Cllr Johnny Flynn (FG) outlined. More consideration needs to be given to the request, Cllr Paul Murphy (FG) felt. “I swam in Doonbeg yesterday, it is good for health and wellbeing, that has driven it on during COVID, take Snamhai Sasta in Spanish Point, it goes on everyday but Sundays in particular”.
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NEWS
THURSDAY, NOV 11 2021
THE LATE NIGHT PHARMACY IN CLARE
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THURSDAY, NOV 11 2021
People visiting cemetery 'taking their life in their hands' PÁRAIC MCMAHON
M
paraic@clareecho.ie
EMBERS of the public are taking ‘their life into their hands’ when accessing a cemetery in South-East Clare. “Mayhem” occurs at funerals at Kileen Cemetery, councillors in
the Shannon Municipal District stated when discussing the need for a low cost safety improvement scheme on the Limerick Rd in Sixmilebridge. Officials in Clare County said the location would be considered for inclusion next year. Kileen Cemetery although on the Limerick Rd in Sixmilebridge falls into the parish of Cratloe and thus the Diocese of Limerick. The graveyard is also known as Killavoher. There are some flag-
stones dating to the 18th and early 19th Centuries, but the majority of burials are from the 20th Century onwards. It has been suggested that a pre-Norman church may have stood on the site and it continued to be used for burial. Cllr John Crowe (FG) who made the proposal detailed that visibility from the Cratloe side “is very bad”. He remarked, “You’re taking your life into your hands trying to come out of that graveyard because the
visibility from the Cratloe side is so dangerous”. He said the graveyard was unique in that the old part was built in the shape of the coffin. Part of the problem was due to the “very small car park,” the Sixmilebridge representative believed. “The graveyard is full, with so many buried there you have a lot of people visiting the graves, the road is so busy that it is very hard to park”. His views on limited parking and the need for action were supported by Cllr PJ Ryan (IND). “It is a very old graveyard, there is a limited amount of parking there, the graves have increased, there are more and more people visiting. Maybe the local authrority would
look at idea of acquiring more ground to try help the situation, it is something that is going to have to be looked at, the traffic coming from Cratloe direction seems to come on fairly lively”. That there has been no serious accident has “amazed, Cllr Gerry Flynn (IND) remarked. “A lot of my family members are interred there,” he outlined. “Some additional parking might help. It is mayhem at funerals there”. Additional parking would be welcome “but you still have to get onto the road,” Cllr Pat O’Gorman (FF) replied. “He felt traffic calming measures were needed coming around the bend “because you’re bouncing a stone wall”.
Vulture fund bulk buying needs to be prohibited by PÁRAIC McMAHON BULK buying by vulture funds needs to be prohibited by the Minister for Housing, a Shannon representative has argued. Clare County Council are to request Minister for Housing, Darragh O’Brien (FF) to change the requirements under Part V of the Planning and Development Act 2000. This is so the mandatory increase on developers to 20% in the Housing for All policy will “be entirely focused on the delivery of affordable housing and the social element be removed as it is causing considerable difficulties for developers who are in the business of building private housing,” Cllr Gerry Flynn (IND) outlined. Flynn who is the Chair of the Social Development Strategic Policy Committee (SPC) which has responsibility for housing also called on Minister O’Brien “to prohibit bulk buying by vulture funds in order that private development is available to owner occupiers”. Proper resources are needed for local authorities to deliver social housing, Cllr Flynn said as he urged the Minister to expand the Local Authority Home Loan Scheme aimed at single applicants to counties other than Dublin, Cork and Galway. Reports that Clare will not get an affordable housing scheme under the Housing for All plan was labelled as “very worrying” by Flynn. He said a change in the banding system also needs to be considered, “it hasn’t been changed since 2011”. Maximum household income limits, to qualify for Housing Assistance Payment, are organised under three “bands” depending on the area in which a household wishes to rent. Band 1 covers the four
Dublin local authorities plus Cork City, Meath, Kildare and Wicklow, the maximum annual net income thresholds are €35,000 for a single person and €42,000 for a family with children. Band 2 is comprised of Limerick City and County, Cork County, Kerry, Kilkenny, Louth, Wexford, Waterford City and County, the net income thresholds are €30,000 and €36,000. Clare is included in Band 3 alongside Carlow, Cavan, Donegal, Galway County, Laois, Leitrim, Longford, Mayo, Monaghan, Offaly, Roscommon, Sligo, Tipperary and Westmeath, the limits are €25,000 and €30,000. Cllr Donna McGettigan (SF) said she had concerns over elements for social housing being removed. “I do like the aspect to prohibit bulk buying from vulture funds”. “I know we’re in the provision and entirely focused on provision of social housing, I’m saying 20% on affordable which is there to encourage developers to get back on the pitch and build houses. The social element is well covered, I think we’re over egging it to a certain degree,” Flynn replied.
HOUSING: Cllr Gerry Flynn
Photo by Eamon Ward
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THURSDAY, NOV 11 2021
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THURSDAY, NOV 11 2021
Developer behind Moneypoint project leaves the Irish market PÁRAIC MCMAHON
ENERGY: An artist’s
impression of the offshore wind farm
P
paraic@clareecho.ie
LANS for a €2bn floating offshore wind farm off the coast of Moneypoint have been dealt a major setback with the developer of the project leaving the Irish market. Leading developer, Equinor has withdrawn from the Irish market with dissatisfaction with the regulatory and planning regime currently in place for offshore energy development said to be one of the main reasons for their decision. They informed ESB in recent weeks they were pulling out of the partnership. Equinor had been in partnership with ESB since 2019 with the aim of delivering a large portion of the 80% of electricity which the country aspires to generate from renewable sources by 2030. The Norwegian company was formerly known as Statoil. This major setback came on the day the Government published its Climate Action Bill. In April, ESB and Equinor announced plans to develop a Green Atlantic Hub in Moneypoint as part of a multi-billion euro
plan. Hundreds of jobs were forecast with 600 of these in the construction of an offshore wind farm of 1,400MW off the coasts of Clare and Kerry. It was to become the first offshore wind farm on The Atlantic and was set to cost €2bn. 2028 was the target for the first phase to
be in operation by with 1.6 million homes to be powered as a result of Green Atlantic. Green Atlantic was to be one hundred percent owned by ESB while the offshore wind farm was a split 50/50 ownership between ESB and Equinor. Speaking to The Irish Examiner, a spokesperson for Equinor said, “the decision is based on many things and obviously the regulatory process would be part of that but it is just a part of the totality. We won’t comment in detail on how much the regulatory process was involved in the company decision”. ESB “remains fully committed to developing and delivering a major portfolio of offshore wind projects in Irish waters following the decision by Equinor not to continue with offshore wind development in Ireland at this time,” a spokesperson outlined. “While ESB is disappointed with the decision by Equinor to withdraw from Irish offshore wind development, this in no way diminishes the ambition of ESB to deliver an offshore wind portfolio of scale in our home market. The ESB team is making strong progress on the development work associated with an exciting multi-GW portfolio of projects. The first of these projects, Oriel Wind Farm in partnership with Parkwind, will enter into the first offshore wind
renewable auction in 2022. We are confident that ESB will have a significant role to play in the delivery of new offshore wind in Ireland, both fixed and floating, to 2030 and beyond,” the spokesperson added. Clare TD, Violet-Anne Wynne remarked that the decision represented “devastating news for West Clare”. She outlined, “It is a devastating blow for the community in West Clare. There have been very scant details about what the ‘Green Atlantic’ project is actually going to look like. The €2bn. offshore windfarm in the pipeline, using floating technology seemed like positive movement in the right direction. “However now, the future of the project is called into question. Are other foreign investment partners going to be similarly offput by Ireland’s excessive bureaucracy in terms of planning and regulation? I appreciate that the Maritime Area Planning Bill is going through the houses at the moment but energy experts warn that the protracted nature of this process will have detrimental effects on how responsive we are to adapting to the challenges presented by Climate Change. It would have provided 1.4GW of the overall national total of 5GW making it one of the main wind energy infrastructures in the country. The youth in the area are crying out for jobs and this project would have provided opportunities for a very disenfranchised youth”. Deputy Wynne concluded, “Planning applications began for this project in 2019. Now in 2021 – we come to learn that Equinor has pulled out. That is two years wasted. The battle against Climate Change is a battle against time. The extremely protracted nature of planning and regulation processes in this country will have to change if we stand any chance at dramatically and rapidly changing our energy infrastructure in line with COP26 and other carbon reduction commitments”. Cathaoirleach of the West Clare Municipal District, Cllr Cillian Murphy (FF) said he was “beyond furious” to learn of the risk to the Moneypoint project. “Offshore wind is extremely costly to develop and needs regulatory certainty for investors, the lack of progress in providing that certainty is extremely frustrating.”
THURSDAY, NOV 11 2021
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NEWS 13
14 NEWS
THURSDAY, NOV 11 2021
SHANNON NEWS in association with
Zimmer Biomet launches STEM scholarship ELAINE TUBRIDY
A
news@clareecho.ie
CKNOWLEDGING the contribution of its highly skilled workforce in Ireland over the last 13 years and with the goal of encouraging a new generation to enjoy a career in STEM, Zimmer Biomet has launched an annual scholarship award programme focused on recognising the children of its employees in both Shannon and Galway. Five Leaving Certificate students are the initial recipients of the award. In addition to paying third-level fees for the first year, Zimmer Biomet will provide opportunities for all scholarship holders to network within peer groups, be mentored, join career workshops and gain invaluable, hands-on work experience. Taryn Donnellan is from Clarecastle and
has recently started her general nursing degree at the University of Limerick. Reacting to her award, Taryn said, “Receiving this scholarship paves the way for me to learn more and have a career that I’m proud of while helping people in their time of need. I would like to thank Zimmer Biomet for its fantastic support.” From Shannon, Ramon Lapurga has recently started his mechanical engineering studies at the Limerick Institute of Technology. Ramon said, “One thing that I have learned from both my Irish and Filipino upbringing is the sense of gratitude for opportunities given and making sure that good value is given back to the community, who helped provide that opportunity. Thank you for your confidence in me. I am committed to my education and excited about taking a step closer to becoming an engineer.” A leading employer in Shannon, and Oranmore, Co Galway since 2008, Zimmer Biomet’s footprint in Ireland features two state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities.
THE FUTURE: Zimmer Biomet Scholars 2021 pictured with their proud parents, left to right: Taryn, Adrian and Aisling Donnellan from Clarecastle; Ramon, Iannever and Samuel Lapurga from Shannon and Ellie, Ron and Catherine McMinn from Tipperary.
Funding needed to upgrade ‘outdated’ passport checks by PÁRAIC McMAHON FUNDING is required to upgrade “outdated” passport control facilities at Shannon Airport to protect the public and staff, the county’s first citizen has said. In a proposal before a sitting of Clare County Council, Cathaoirleach of the local authority, Cllr PJ Ryan (IND) asked that a request be put before the Minister for Transport, Climate, Environment and Communications, Eamon Ryan (GP) and the Minister for Finance, Pascal Donohoe (FG) to “provide funding to upgrade passport control facilities at Shannon Airport to bring them up to modern days standards.” Anybody lucky enough to travel through Shannon Airport will have noticed the passport facilities are a bit out of date with COVID, there is no protection for the travel-
SECURITY: Shannon Airport
ling public or the people operating passport control there,” Cllr Ryan stated. His proposal was seconded by Cllr Gerry Flynn (IND) while Cllr Pat McMahon (FF) also offered his support. “Hopefully we will have full flights flying in and out and with transatlantic back on stream next year, I would like to welcome Mr Ó Céidigh, at long last we have a person who knows aviation and has general respect across the board, he has plans into the future, a west of Ireland and Galway man which is a huge bonus. Shannon is lucky to get a guy of such high calibre,” McMahon commented. Over a fortnight ago, a new €2.5m security screening system was unveiled at Shannon Airport. The works form part of a €17m programme underway at the Airport.
Photo by Joe Buckley
NEWS 15
THURSDAY, NOV 11 2021
Concern voiced over retention of firefighters PÁRAIC MCMAHON
S
paraic@clareecho.ie
ENIOR officials in Clare County Council have disputed claims that there is a crisis in the County Fire and Rescue Service. Calls for an urgent review and update of the Fire and Emergency Operations Plan 2014-2019 were issued at Monday’s meeting of the local authority in a proposal from Cllr Liam Grant (GP), Cllr Johnny Flynn (FG), Cllr Ian Lynch (IND), Cllr Cillian Murphy (FF), Cllr Donna McGettigan (SF), Cllr Joe Garrihy (FG) and Cllr Shane Talty (FF). Fire stations across Clare “are struggling to stay up and running,” Cllr Grant outlined. He suggested a similar strategy to that in Cork on the retained fire service be implemented. Chief Fire Officer, Adrian Kelly acknowledged that the current plan was adopted in 2014 for a five year period. A review has been postponed due to there being no update on the National Review or Maztak Ruling, both are expected to reach conclusion in the near future. Currently, there are 75 retained firefighter positions across seven stations in Clare, presently there are six vacancies, four of which have been advertised since September. “Although a significant number of firefighters enjoy a long career in the Service, the nature of the Retained Fire Service nationally is that there is a constant throughput of people, particularly in recent years. Reasons for personnel leaving have includ-
URGENT: Clare County Fire and Rescue Service attend the scene of an incident in Crusheen ed, moving to other employment, retirement, personal / family circumstances or the restrictions of the on-call availability of the role,” Kelly outlined. Cllr Grant who is a firefighter in Ennistymon argued that problems existed with recruitment and retention. He said 24 firefighters were recruited for Shannon since 2016, “sixteen of those have already left the service, they can’t keep people in Shannon”. He warned that resignations are likely in Killaloe if it does not return to a full crew of nine, there are seven officers presently, Grant said as he warned of a future crisis in the service.
Over the past five years, there have been 47 departures from the Fire Service “for reasons other than retirement date, that is over 60% who don’t want to do it anymore, it is not sustainable,” the Lahinch man stated. “A retained firefighter is on call 80 to 90 percent of the time, you can’t mind a family if you’re on call. There is a responsibility on parents to drop their kids to school or a football match, as a retained firefighter you can’t do that, you would have made a lot more money on the PUP than as a firefighter in Clare and you won’t be able to get a mortgage. We’ve an out of date fire emergency plan”. Pat Dowling, Clare County Council’s
Chief Executive stressed to the meeting, “Clare Fire and Rescue Service is not in a state of crisis”. Improvements in the time taken to mobilise fire brigades was acknowledged by Cllr Flynn, “it is extraordinary to see the level of commitment from retained and experienced firefighters but there are issues on retention”. “Back in the day you were fighting to get into fire service you were dealing with community fires, what they are dealing with now is extremely horrific, you are getting up in the middle of the night to deal with road traffic collisions,” Cllr Lynch noted. A review is required “to ensure we keep those people for as long as possible,” Cllr Murphy said of the firefighters in the county. “While it isn’t a crisis, it does need to be looked at. The review needs to happen,” Cllr McGettigan commented. Concern was voiced by Cllr Tony O’Brien (FF) that there are only seven retained firefighters in Killaloe., “I welcome the interview process but we are not far away from a crisis”. Mention of a crisis was “completely untrue,” Kelly stated. He disputed figures provided by Cllr Grant. “Every time we get a boom in the economy we lose people, during the bust they come back, that is what we’re dealing with at the moment. My mistake was to put 2014-2019 on title, it is not out of date”. Developments in Doolin with the Coast Guard were not surprising, Cllr Grant flagged, “we needed to tackle the problem three or four years ago, our Oireachtas members and councillors talking now but it is too late. I’m worried for the people of Clare. There isn’t a crisis until there is”.
Upgrades sought for road formerly Companies that have a home to War of Independence veteran data requirement should be by PÁRAIC McMAHON attracted to set up in Clare UPGRADING the road which was formerly home to the country’s oldest surviving War of Independence veteran has been requested. An appeal for Clare County Council to upgrade, strengthen and resurface Earl Hill in Clonlara was issued by Cllr John Crowe (FG) at a recent sitting of the Shannon Municipal District. “It is in a bad state of repair,” he flagged. Tom Mellett, senior executive engineer said the road would be assessed “as part of the preparation process” for next year’s roads programme. “Part of this road is in the Killaloe Municipal District, we might be able to touch base with them,” Crowe said as he suggested ways to progress the improvements. “It would make sense to get
a joined-up programme to cover the full length of the area,” Cllr Michael Begley (IND) commented in seconding the request. Lieut Col Seán Clancy who at the time of his death aged 105 in 2006 was the oldest surviving War of Independence veteran. He served alongside Michael Collins and was a commanding officer of the Fifth Infantry Battalion. He was born in Earl Hill, Clonlara, and became involved with the East Clare Brigade in 1918 before moving to Dublin and joining the Volunteers a year later. He fought against British forces in the Dublin Brigade of the Volunteers from 1919 to 1921 and was at Dublin Castle with Michael Collins when Britain handed over power to the new Irish Government. APPEAL: The late Sean Clancy
COMPANIES “who will bring data requirement” need to be enticed to set up in Co Clare, a Newmarket-on-Fergus representative has said, writes Páraic McMahon. Citing the “excessive electricity demands” in the greater Dublin area, Cllr Pat McMahon (FF) urged Clare County Council to request the Government and IDA “to increase efforts to attract industry including those who will bring data requirement to this region”. His proposal was seconded by Cllr PJ Ryan (IND). Cllr McMahon specified that he was not speaking about the Ennis Data Centre which is currently under awaiting a decision on whether it will be approved for planning. “There will be 5000 students going into UL in the future, there 10,000 people working in Shannon Industrial Estate with 63 aviation based industries, aviation is on a recovery
MULTINATIONALS: Cllr Pat McMahon Photo by Eamon Ward all over the world. Our Irish and aviation companies are moving on in a positive fashion,” McMahon stated. He continued, “Ennis will hopefully reach city status in the next ten years. Could we make it attractive for a multinational to have a serious look at our county, we know data centres have to be planned overall to allow this to happen”.
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THURSDAY, NOV 11 2021
in association with
Rate of COVID-19 testing in Ennis at highest level of pandemic PÁRAIC MCMAHON
M
paraic@clareecho.ie
ORE COVID-19 tests are being conducted in Ennis than at any stage during the pandemic. Mid-West Community Healthcare which operate the COVID-19 test centres across the region, have said they are conducting more tests in Ennis than ever before. The facility at Ballymaley Business Park is the sole testing centre in the county. Over 5,900 tests were completed in Ennis in the last two weeks of October, and this has continued into this week with a further 1,500 tests conducted between Monday and Wednesday. The trend is reflected throughout the Mid West Region, where over 43,000 tests were conducted last month.
This surge in demand means that walkin testing cannot be accommodated at this time, and tests are only available by booking in advance. People attending Test Centres will be required to verify their pre-booked appointments upon arrival, and it is important that you only attend during your allocated time as it may not be possible to facilitate testing outside these time slots. Members of the public can easily book appointments via the HSE Website. All COVID-19 testing is free of charge, and is available seven days a week. Ellen Rush, COVID-19 Testing Lead with HSE Mid West Community Healthcare explained, “Our staff are under significant pressure with the high number of people currently presenting for tests. We’re appealing to the public to help us by booking their tests in advance, and by attending for their tests at the allocated time”.
PRESSURE: Walk in tests are unavailable at this time Photo by Sean Curtin True Media
Shortfall of loading bays by PÁRAIC McMAHON ABSENCE of loading bays for businesses in Ennis town centre has been “exasperated” due to the traffic management system in place, a county councillor has claimed. Provision of “at least two loading bays in each retail street” and public car park in Ennis was sought by Cllr Johnny Flynn (FG) “in order to support” businesses and jobs in the town centre and enable deliveries from suppliers. Senior executive engineer, Eamon O’Dea said the proposal should be considered when the parking bye laws are under review. He noted, “there are loading bays provided in a number of streets or adjacent streets. Some of the loading bays (Abbey Street) have time constraints that were previously requested by the business community to facilitate customers later in the day”. Consultation with the business community will have to occur regarding the type, frequency and timing of deliveries. “A number of the collection service operators for businesses in Ennis do not use vehicles that comply with requirements for loading bays and other forms of short-term parking needs to be considered for this activity,” he stated. Local businesses are “finding it very dif-
ACCESS: Businesses are stuggling to receive deliveries Photo by John Mangan
ficult to get supplies in”, Cllr Flynn highlighted. He said thirteen large gas cylinders are delivered per week in O’Connell St with suppliers “finding it very difficult to get into town to keep supplies in the local shops”. He calculated that 81 percent of shops and businesses in O’Connell St don’t have rear access or large storage areas. Flynn acknowledged that the local authority were providing “adequate loading bays in the car parks” but maintained there was “a shortfall”. Some suppliers to Dunnes Stores are forced to park at the O’Connell Monument and use trolleys to bring their goods down the street, he observed. “We’re closing down the street for a number of hours each day which is making it difficult for them. It is an issue that has been exasperated since the reopening and partial closing during the day”. Speaking at a recent meeting of the Ennis Municipal District, Cllr Paul Murphy (FG) revealed that he recently did some work as a delivery driver “a few days a week”. He recalled, “my own experience driving a van was it was very hard to access a loading bay”. Loading bays were being “abused” by motorists and builders, the Clarecastle man affirmed. “The abuse of them is causing a lot of parking congestion problems in the town. A van driver has to park on double yellow lines which is when you get your mayhem on the town. Traffic team have a hard job, I saw them issue tickets but it was mayhem during the summer”. Director of Service, Carmel Kirby confirmed that a parking review is commencing in November, “we will prioritise Ennis,” she commented. In response to queries from Cllr Flynn on out of order parking metres, Ms Kirby said the review will incorporate this and look at vacant spaces, parking enforcement and the fees that should be applied. An appointment is likely to be made to conduct this review, she hinted.
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NEWS 17
THURSDAY, NOV 11 2021
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18 COLUMNIST
THURSDAY, NOV 11 2021
With
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‘Pseudoscience’ of the Kyoto Treaty may wreak havoc on rural Ireland, writes farming columnist Joe Melody
D
URING the summer I was asked to speak at a conference that was to be held in Helsinki this autumn. The conference was titled European Rural Entrepreneurship Voices. Unfortunately, due to climbing coronavirus cases in Finland, the conference had to migrate to the online medium of Zoom. Nonetheless it was a very informative afternoon. The overall theme of the conference was on the future of food production in the EU and the role of rural entrepreneurs to invigorate the rural parts of Europe. One thing that was made implicit by the speakers was that they were farming in harmony with their climate and ecosystem. One example was the farmer producing reindeer in Lapland who spoke of the important role reindeer play in keeping vibrant polar ecosystem balanced with a healthy pasture interspersing the forests. It was wonderful to see the level of innovation some of speakers had undertaken on their farms to further strengthen their business model. It ranged from a farmer in Slovakia whose family farm was milking two and a half thousand cows and had diversified through building an on farm hotel and
restaurant alongside game hunting on farm, to an organic vegetable producer in Austria who had built a thriving business on a small footprint of only a few acres. The common thread of these farmers was their business was a good fit for their region. Our own farm business is emblematic of the wider grass based Irish livestock industry, we are in a unique position in Ireland in that our livestock graze outdoors for most of the year. This is an anomalous situation to the majority of the worlds food producers. I came out of this EU funded conference feeling inspired and with a renewed sense that opportunity is lurking in every corner for rural Ireland and all that is needed is some creative thinking and less bureaucracy. Unfortunately my optimism is set against the backdrop of a witch-hunt against Irish agriculture led by the Green Party. Almost two decades ago, the Irish Government ratified the Kyoto treaty which uses only above ground measures for accounting of greenhouse gas emissions. This is an incomplete science to say the least as it takes no account of all the carbon that is sequestered into the roots of our grasslands and hedgerows. Our Government sought
for a derogation to extend using the Kyoto protocols for accounting of emissions until 2030. Many commentators who engage in environmental sloganeering will retort the line ‘follow the science’ to anyone who questions the growing vilification of agriculture. However an incomplete science is no science whatsoever. Many EU countries have chosen to adopt the accounting methods for emissions as laid out in the Paris Agreement. The Paris Agreement takes into account all sources of greenhouse gas emissions and crucially sequestration. France has adopted this method and this now means French farmers are generating soil carbon credits which are now being used to offset the nation’s emissions. This has led to France being cited by the OECD as best in class as the country has achieved 12% reduction in agricultural emissions by 2020. Ireland is far ahead of France in terms of pasture cover and if we adopted the Paris protocols we could emphatically illustrate how sustainable Irish agriculture really is. 2030 is a long time away and the damage that will be wreaked upon rural Ireland through the pseudoscience of the Kyoto Treaty might not be so easily undone.
CLIMATE: World leaders celebrate The Paris Agreement
CLOSE ENCOUNTERS AT UL SCIENCE WEEK
HEY THERE: (above) Cathal Murray (6) with a Meerkat and (below) Ella Tierney (11) pictured in University of Limerick as they kicked of Limericks Festival of Science with Animal Magic as part of Science Week
Photos by Brian Arthur
Arts & Entertainment 19
THURSDAY, NOV 11 2021
Dean brings the power of opera to Clarecastle stage STUART HOLLY
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editor@clareecho.ie
EAN Power is bringing The Corona Beards – a group of top class Irish opera singers – to his hometown later this month for a powerful night of song in Clarecastle Church. Dean Power & The Corona Beards bonded over a Whatsapp group over the past 18 months, as the music industry was decimated by the Pandemic. The group emerged as a real savior for the men’s mental health as they supported each other through uncertain times. Two other positive outcomes was the emergence of 20 men sporting beards (hence, The Corona Beards), and a new group of singers who have pledged to perform together in a bid to raise money for men’s health issues. Dean for his part, has undergone a life-changing year and a half. Having lived and breathed opera since his latter teenage years after he was introduced to opera singing by Archie Simpson of the Lismorahaun Singers, the Clarecastle tenor has spent most of his adult life performing in Munich’s Bayerische Staatsoper, an incredible 2,000-seater opera house. It was an 11-year journey which began when Dean first crossed the
SINGER: Dean Power
doorstep of the Staatsoper after being offered an audition. “I remember leaving and shaking the hands of all the people and honestly thinking sure that’s it now chances are I’m not going to come back here and as soon as I was in Ireland, I got an email saying they’d like to offer me a place and you could say the rest is history.” While Dean admits he had the opportunity to work with “everyone that is influential in my business”, he and his wife had been discussing moving back to the west of
Ireland in recent years with their two young children. That decision was accelerated by the pandemic and led to a dive into the deep end, Dean admits. “It’s literally like chalk and cheese, I don’t mean that in a bad way. It’s just they have opera and classical music as a part of their culture, part of their life. In Ireland every village has a hurling field … in Germany every town in every district or county has some sort of a theatre and many of them, if not all, are state funded.
“As you know, Clare would not be a stronghold for opera,” he quips, stating the obvious in a most earnest fashion. “But saying that we would have a fierce amount of musicians and classical musicians. It’s been lovely getting back it was literally like putting on an old pair of shoes.” When the Pandemic hit a friend of Dean’s from Fanore, Peter O’Donohue set up the Corona Beards Whatsapp group which now boasts about 20 opera singers from around Ireland. “It was really a group for a bit of fun and one of the lads then realized after about a week of, I don’t want to use the word lightly but, a week of depression of the realization that, chances are, the opera world was not going to open again for a long time. After a number of Zoom chats over drinks, attention turned to the group doing a concert together with all proceeds after costs going to Movember. So, a request was put in with Fr Pat Malone in Clarecastle to put the concert on in the village and he duly obliged. “It’s going to be a jam-packed concert,” says the former St Flannan’s student. “Whatever we’re doing, we’re going to do it with a bit of fun and at the same time take it seriously and do to the absolute best standard we can and hope we can move people.” Tickets (€20) for the show, starting 6pm, are available at Eventbrite (search Dean Power). Or call Dean on 087 4159217.
New book shares memories of Old Military Barracks
HISTORY: The Old Military Barracks
A NEW book sharing the history and memories of the Old Military Barracks in Ennis is now on the shelves, writes Elaine Tubridy. Written by William Crowley in conjunction with Clare Roots Society, the book is a collection of articles on military history, residents, sport, maps and photographs associated with the Ennis Barracks. William describes that growing up in the Barracks was quite different to anywhere else in Ennis. “We had a massive big playground within the walls, also loyal neighbours and great friendship. We had our own sports field, our very own handball alley, our own boxing club which we utilized whenever youngsters from other parts of the town tried
to overtake our territory and all disputes were handled in McGuanes Field across from the front gate of the Barracks”. Mayor of Ennis Ann Norton said in her introduction to the book “it is so important that the history of the Military Barracks is in print for future generations. This will ensure our history is not forgotten and always remembered”. Long before the bugle of the Clare Militia echoed around the Turnpike, the buildings we all knew as The Military Barracks were the County Fever Hospital. In 1834 a site in excess of two acres was found at the southern end of the Turnpike Road (the Kilrush Road did not exist at this time). In 1836 the
new fever hospital was completed. We learn from an article on the Fever Hospital by Eddie Lough about the background and conditions associated with the hospital. Later in the book Eddie tells the story of the Clare Militia and the background to the establishment of the Military Barracks and closure in July 1909. The official handover of the barracks to the Clare County Council occurred in March of 1910. The book is on sale at Ennis Book Shop, Abbey St. Mary Kelly's Newsagents O'Connell Street, and O'Connor's Newsagents The Market for €15 and all proceeds go to Clare Roots Society towards the cost of publication.
20 FEATURES
THURSDAY, NOV 11 2021
GREEN CLARE
Public still need persuading to help tackle climate change PÁRAIC MCMAHON
M
paraic@clareecho.ie
EMBERS of the public still need to be persuaded when it comes to reducing energy consumption, an Ennis councillor has acknowledged. RPS Group has been commissioned by Clare County Council to prepare an energy and emissions balance report for the county this year which will include predicted energy use up to the year 2030. A Clare Renewable Energy Strategy is also to be prepared as part of this work and will form part of the new County Development Plan. Cllr Johnny Flynn (FG) called on the local authority to prepare a Clare Climate Change and Green House Gas (GHG) Emissions strategy to meet its 2030 commitments. An update to the Limerick and Clare Climate Change Strategy and Limerick and Clare Energy and Emissions Balance, both of which were produced by the Limerick Clare Energy Agency in 2012 was also sought by Flynn. “The real threat of Climate Change is clearly set out in the recent UN IPCC report whose findings have been described as ‘code red for humanity’”. Senior engineer in the environmental section of the Council, Cyril Feeney said “further clarity” would be visible from the Climate Action and Low Carbon Development (Amendment) Act 2021 to assist local authorities in tackling the effects of climate change. Flynn admitted he was “not confident” of the effectiveness of the Climate Adaptation Strategy completed in 2019 by the County Council. He cited a recent Irish Times/IPSOS poll which detailed that three quarters of the persons polled were against paying for climate change measures, “I believe the public will be hard to bring along with this process”. He spoke of being “disturbed” to see other counties had specific strategic policy committees (SPCs) on climate change whereas Clare
didn’t, “we need to have a good look at our climate change actions to protect our communities, infrastructure, economy, biodiversity and environment”. Clare is “very vulnerable” to the effects of climate change, Cllr Joe Garrihy (FG) cautioned. Funding from the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland should be leveraged to prepare the county, the Lisdoonvarna representative said. “It is scary when we hear of the big numbers and big predictions, we have to control what is on our own doorstep”. Challenges on energy, climate change and biodiversity are looked at “clearly” at SPC level, Cllr Pat Hayes (FF) responded. “It is an opportunity for us as a county to be to the fore, we are one of the counties at risk but we have opportunities to deal with it, we need actions now”. Cllr Clare Colleran Molloy (FF) recalled that councillors agreed to have climate change and biodiversity as a standing item on each SPC meeting so that it was regularly discussed by
VULNERABLE: Flooding along the railway line at Ballycar has been a reoccurring problem for generations Photo by John Mangan
all members, “that was my understanding,” Cllr PJ Ryan (IND) responded. There was “a huge financial saving” to Clare County Council by not setting up another SPC, Cllr Gerry Flynn (IND) noted. “I acknowledge the work done by the
Chief Executive in making sure all of the SPCs incorporated climate issues into the conversation, it is working very well”. Elected representatives were informed by Cllr Cillian Murphy (FF) of his ongoing work in renovating a one hundred year old
house into a “totally decarbonised house” which “fundamentally means everything is through electrification”. A member of the Economic Development SPC, Cllr Johnny Flynn said his appeal for a climate change vulnerability study to be done could not occur “because it had to be referred to the Physical Development SPC. I still believe we need our own SPC for climate change, it is done in seven or eight counties, we need actions not print strategies”. Director of Economic Development, Liam Conneally outlined that this query was referred to the Physical Directorate. “I will give a commitment to follow up and will have a response at the next SPC meeting”. Chief Executive, Pat Dowling said allocating climate change to one SPC would make it “a minority subject”. He stressed, “It is all of our business, all of the time. We are best served by all of us dealing with it rather than locking it in a pigeon hole”.
True friendship
FEATURES 21
THURSDAY, NOV 11 2021
RONAN SCULLY
you are invited to. It is so much more than these things.
Thought for the Week
Thought for the week
A
FTER a very productive deep and meaningful conversation on a long walk up Diamond Hill in Connemara with one of my best friends recently, I started to reflect on the nature of friendship, and a few thoughts emerged regarding what constitutes a healthy friendship. One reason that I think friendship is so enjoyable is that it allows us to appreciate qualities in others that we do not ourselves possess. God has made each person unique and unrepeatable and friendship gives us a chance to recognize the gifts of others.
Friendship Blessings
What makes us want to maintain a friendship? For me friendship is a life-line. Connecting with like-minded people who genuinely care about one another is a gift we take for granted all too often. Friends are people we feel good with. Some make us laugh, some hear us out and really listen to our hearts, others support us when the going is tough, and still others just hang with us when we need down time. A true friend holds up a mirror in which we see ourselves. For many people, friends are a rare commodity and true friends are ever more rare. I have said many times before that if you have true friends that amount to the fingers on one hand you are truly blessed. A true friend unbosoms freely, advises justly, assists readily, adventures boldly, takes all patiently, defends courageously and continues a friend unchangeably. To have a good friend is one of the highest delights of life; to be a good friend is one of the noblest and most difficult undertakings. Friendship improves happiness and abates misery, by doubling our joy and dividing our grief. Anyone with a heart full of friendship has a hard time finding enemies. Since there is nothing so well worth having as friends, never lose a chance to make them. Recently, I received the most beautiful note from a close friend of mine who was thanking me for praying for them in their time of need with the following quotation enclosed: “Friendship isn’t about whom you have known the longest. It’s about who came and never left your side.” Among the basic ingredients of true friendship are: loyalty, trust, compassion, love, care, honesty, mutual commitment and shared ideals. Friends are very special to us because we know that they are there for us, just as we are there for them. When we have the safe haven of a true friend and genuine friendship,
Ronan Scully takes on 350km charity walk in memory of his niece
we have something precious beyond words. Friends make life worthwhile because they embody the powers of goodness, trustworthiness, honesty and love. True friends enrich our lives in so many ways and shower us with many blessing’s. Through a magical combination of similarities and differences, friends offer us the opportunity to know ourselves as we are and help us grow into who we want to be. Our similarities attract us to each other, comforting us with familiarity when we see ourselves in them. When we are drawn to those we admire, the same recognition is at work, unconsciously acknowledging that these people possess qualities that we ourselves possess. By acting as mirrors, friends help us define who we are by reflecting ourselves back to us. True friends also help us know ourselves through our differences. Differences allow us to see other options and make choices about who we want to be. Sometimes we are drawn to those who appear to be our opposites, and we learn to accept the parts of them we love and the parts of them that don’t resonate with us. True friends have the courage to correct each other’s mistakes rather than keep silent and do nothing. True friends help us to be a better version of ourselves and any friendship that brings toxic elements of bullying or judgementalism and hurtfulness needs to be dissolved as it will lead to illness and hardship. Friendship for it to work needs to have a positive impact on our lives not a negative one. True friends are very hard to find and if you have them in your life cherish them forever. Part of the joy of friendship is the feeling that we are accepted just the way we are, with no need to change. It is a gift they give us, and one we can give back every day. Ultimately, we choose friends because they make us feel good about ourselves and life. Through tears and difficulties, friends help us find laughter. When we find those special people who offer us that perfect combination of comfort and stimulus to grow, we are very fortunate. Friends, those wonderful blessing’s of companions that walk with us through life, help us define and refine who we are and who we choose to be every day. Friendship to me is about paying attention, devoting time and unconditional love to a small number of people who truly deserve you. It is not about how many “friends” you have on Facebook or on Twitter or whatever social media app you are presently using, or how many events or parties
As your thought for the week, look around you and truly cherish those special people and friends that are part of your life and always remember that friendship can be a true place of refuge and is one of life’s most wonderful blessings. Let me finish this thought with a prayer I say for my friends, “I will pray for you, my friend. I will name you in my heart before God and ask all His blessing be upon you. I will be concerned for your rising and your daily mood. I will be sympathetic to your personal needs and desires in each day of your life. I will wish you well in your learning, or your work, in your domestic round and your leisure. I will think of you at the close of each day and pray that God’s peace be with you. If you have been especially kind or helpful to me then I will make my gratitude known to you. If you are in trouble or difficulty of any kind, or simply tired and worn down, I will do all and anything I can to lift your spirits. I will ache for you in your sorrows and disasters and rejoice with you in your joys and triumphs. I will love and care for you as I love and care for myself. Amen.” So always remember that a friend is someone who walks in when the whole world has walked away. Be thankful and cherish those true friends that are part of your life and understand that we all need help and support now and then. Please remember that Friendship is one of the most beautiful, most powerful, and most valuable treasures in life and a true gift from God. Jesus said: “Greater love has no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. I have called you friends, for all that I have heard from my Father I have made known to you.” John 15: 12-15. Imagine that! Jesus has brought us in on the conversation He has with His Father. And just as talking with your friend is as important as it is pleasant, so having a conversation with Jesus and His Father is crucial in maintaining our friendship with God. And this is simply called “prayer.” Furthermore, we know that when we love God, we love everyone He loves. And there is actually no one outside of His love. In fact, charity, which is this friendship with God, this love of God for His own sake, is the only way we can love all our neighbors, even our enemies! Now, the reason it was good for me and my friend as we climbed Diamond Hill to consider what human friendship is like is that it helps us to understand something of what friendship with God is like. It also helps us prepare for that experience we will have with Him and all those He loves in heaven. And it’s beginning here on earth. Right now.
REMEMBERING AOIFE: Ronan and Mia Scully with a picture of his niece, Aoife, who lost her life in a tragic accident
ELAINE TUBRIDY elaine.tubridy@clareecho.ie
C
LARE Echo columnist Ronan Scully is putting his best foot forward with some of his lifelong friends again this year, as he embarks on his fourth Bay to Bay charity walk. During a week-long ‘Bay to Bay’ Charity Walk of Life, in memory of his young niece Aoife Doyle Scully who passed away tragically in 2020, Ronan aims to raise much needed funds for some worthy causes especially Self Help Africa and some charities close to his heart. The money raised will go towards helping children and young people in need in Africa and Ireland. The walk will take place from Donegal Bay in County Donegal down into Sligo and Mayo along the West of Ireland and then across to his home in Galway, a mere 350km. Paying tribute to all who have supported him in his efforts over the past 28 years, Ronan Scully said that the upcoming cross-down country walk would provide him a chance to say thank you to so many people who have supported him in his work with some of the poorest people, families and children on our planet. “I am looking at it as a prayerful journey and a celebration of the time I’ve spent working for charity, and also of the many incredible people who I’ve crossed paths with in this line of work over the past 28 years and who gave so much of themselves so that we could help so many people, families and children in need around our country and our world,” he said. This year’s charity Bay to Bay walk is dedicated to the memory of some of his deceased family members and greatest friends, especially to
the memory of his young niece Aoife Doyle. He will also remember his great friend and fellow walker David Lohan, his amazing friend, Irish Times journalist and colleague Mary Hunt, his superhero cousin the great Fr. Tom Scully, his fabulous gentleman Uncle Jim Flattery and his amazing Aunty Terry Colsh as well as other family members and friends who all passed away recently and who always supported Ronan with his charity work. Having worked for a number of years with Mother Teresa’s Missionaries of Charity in Calcutta, Ronan Scully then spent more than a decade in India, Nepal, Angola, Ethiopia, Kenya and Sierra Leone, and continues this work over the past 28 years as a representative in the West of Ireland with Self Help Africa. The week long event will conclude with a 5k charity walk which everyone is invited to take part in on the promenade in Salthill, Galway, on Saturday afternoon at 3pm on the 13th of November. All are welcome to join him at the Claddagh Hall in Galway to walk the Salthill Prom for this event and register at the Claddagh hall that day for the 5km walk and make a donation of €15 or whatever people can afford towards the charities and no amount is too small. Ronan is also asking people to do a Virtual 1km or 5 km or 10 km walk or whatever distance people can walk during that week in support of his walk and make a donation or get sponsorship and donate it to the charities involved.
Ronan is calling for peoples generosity and donations as he is undertakes this epic walk to support www.idonate. ie/AoifeDoyleScully or at https://www.facebook.com/donate/1048088942611355/
22 COLUMNIST
THURSDAY, NOV 11 2021
CHUNKY CHRISTMAS CHUTNEY Kearney Cooks
N
OW that Halloween has passed us by, my attention is turning to Christmas. One thing that is big in my house and my extended family’s houses are cheeseboards and charcuterie, and all the wonderful accompaniments that go with them. Indeed, this week I am prepping a lovely chutney to go with my Christmas cheeseboards. I grow beetroot at home, and I still had a few of them left so I am making these the star of the show along with some other little bits I had lying around the house and some lovely granny smiths that I picked up in the veg shop. YOU WILL NEED • 4 beetroot, peeled, cooked and diced • 2 Granny Smith apples diced • 1 onion diced • 200g raisins • 200g brown sugar • 1 orange, zested and juiced • 150ml apple cider vinegar • 1 tblsp mustard seeds • 1 tsp cinnamon • Pinch of salt • Pinch of black pepper
Step 1 Feck everything into a big pot and cook on a medium heat for an hour and a half, stirring occasionally.
Step 2 After an hour and a half take the chutney off the heat and leave it to stand for 10 minutes. Then spoon it into some sterilized jars and shove them into a press for a few weeks. Trust me this will taste amazing after a few weeks. Step 3 After a few weeks, take out of the press and serve up with some cheese, crackers and wine. And enjoy it. This chutney makes a fantastic gift, on its own or as part of a hamper. (If
anyone I know is reading this, I don’t need a present of chutney, I have loads, but I do wear a size playstation 5) As usual if you have any questions about this recipe or others please feel free to message me on Instagram. Also keep an eye to my Instagram (@ stevekearney37) or The Clare Echo Facebook page for the instructional video that goes with this recipe.
Enjoy
Steve K
THURSDAY, NOV 11 2021
Community
KILRUSH
COMMUNITY 23 CONTACT
NEWSDESK 065 671 9021 news@clareecho.ie
COUNTYWIDE
INTERVIEW SKILLS COURSE
JENNIFER Laudet Smith of Jayarel Consulting will be providing a set of 4 Free workshops, of 90 minutes duration, in Kilrush Library on the following dates: Thursday 25th November, Thurs. 2nd Dec, 9th Dec & 16th Dec from 10.30am – 12pm. The workshops will cover CV presentation, Basic interview skills, information on changing careers and confidence building skills for returning to work. All Covid 19 guidelines will be in place and participants must wear masks while in the Library. Places are limited, to book your place contact Kilrush Library on 065 9051504 or email kilrush@clarelibrary.ie
ENNISTYMON MACRA QUIZ
ENNISTYMON Macra will be hosting a quiz night on Friday 19th of November at 8pm in McInerney’s Bar, Ennistymon. John Egan will be the quizmaster on the night. €20 per table of 4. Raffle on the night. All proceeds to Ennistymon Macra na Feirme (the latest Macra na Feirme club to be set up in Clare). On the night, members of Macra na Feirme will speak about the organisation and how to get involved if you are not already a member. A great night of fun is guaranteed. All welcome.
CLONLARA ROAD UPGRADES
EFFORTS to see part of the L7048 in Clonlara included in the 2022 roads programme are making progress. Senior executive engineer in the Shannon Municipal District, Tom Mellett confirmed that the road will be assessed as part of the preparation process for next year’s roads programme. It follows a request from Cllr Michael Begley (IND) who asked that the section north of Mountcatherine Bridge in Clonlara be included in the programme. His proposal was supported by Cllr John Crowe (FG).
ENNIS WILLOW PARK ROUNDABOUT
ADDITION of a new roundabout and extended footpath in Willow Park has been labelled a “crucial piece of road infrastructure” for Ennis, writes Páraic McMahon. With work ongoing on a new roundabout at Willow Park, Cllr Mary Howard (FG) requested that the footpath from the Drumcliffe Rd junction onwards be extended. Senior executive engineer with the Ennis Municipal District, Eamon O’Dea outlined that the works on the roundabout at the junction of Drehidnagower Rd and Watery Rd are to be undertaken by the developer of the housing scheme in the area. He confirmed, “the margin on the Willow Park side of the Watery Road will be wide enough to cater for a footpath. This footpath will be done as part of the Drehidnagower Road footpath from Drumcliffe Road to Watery Road”. Members of the Council’s road staff “feel it would be unsafe to direct people towards the junction,” O’Dea explained. Cllr Howard said the footpath needed to be extended into Willow Park “for mothers bringing children to schools and their buggies”. She also asked that the oak trees be replanted, some of which were removed as part of the development.
lHEALTH: Grainne Flynn, Jean Langford, Erin Dolan, Ashling O’Kelly and Aisling White launch the Midwest Diabetes Advocacy campaign ahead of World Diabetes Day on November 14 ADVOCACY GROUP HIGHLIGHTS ISSUES ON WORLD DIABETES DAY
PEOPLE with diabetes from Clare and Limerick have launched a campaign in advance of World Diabetes Day, 14th November, to highlight the lack of services provided by University of Limerick Hospitals Group (ULHG) for those over age 18 years of age and are calling on ULHG to address these issues urgently. “It is of utmost concern that one year after seeking national funding, ULHG still cannot fill positions in the outpatient adult diabetes clinic and therefore cannot provide specialist type 1 diabetes education or offer insulin pump technology to prevent developing long-lasting complications such as amputation, kidney dialysis or vision loss. In addition to these issues, there is at least a five-year waiting list to access the diabetes outpatient clinic,” said a spokesperson for the campaign. Specialist education for adults with type 1 diabetes such as DAFNE (Dose Adjustment For Normal Eating) is the cornerstone to good diabetes management. The National Clinical Guidelines for adults with type 1 diabetes states that DAFNE training for people with diabetes reduces the number of severe low and high blood sugars hospital admissions and reduces long-term complications. There are currently 12 DAFNE accredited
centres in Ireland with a plan for six additional centres to implement the National Clinical Guidelines. Limerick hospital looks set to be excluded from the DAFNE expansion as it cannot recruit the necessary staff to undertake the DAFNE educator training. Additionally, Midwest Diabetes Group’s concern is that there is no provision of insulin pumps for people with diabetes over 18 years of age. “There are currently 51 adults attending the clinic who use insulin pumps with only one member of staff trained in supporting them. An insulin pump offers greater flexibility for people with diabetes as the user can adjust insulin more precisely than with injections and in much smaller doses. Insulin pump therapy should be offered as a treatment option when health outcome targets are not being reached using injections or when the individual is extremely sensitive to insulin and requires very small doses. One of the barriers identified with insulin pump access is the lack of a pump specialist nursing staff. Thus, the group is calling on UL Hospitals Group to request funding at a national level to secure a minimum of one full-time diabetes specialist pump nurse to initiate insulin pumps to those aged over 18 years. “The third concern is the five-year waiting list to be seen by a consultant endocri-
nologist in the Limerick diabetes outpatient clinic. 663 people are waiting on their first appointment to UL hospital’s outpatient diabetes clinic, with over half of those on the list 24 months or longer. This situation is unacceptable and will lead to increases in the number of people with diabetes developing related complications such as foot ulcers, amputations, and kidney dialysis,” added the spokespserson. Midwest Diabetes Advocacy is calling on the Minister for Health to intervene to ensure the hospitals group’s inclusion in the current national rollout of DAFNE structured education in 2021; to request funding at a national level to put in place a diabetes insulin pump nurse specialist to offer insulin pump therapy as a treatment option and implement the necessary resources in the outpatient diabetes clinic to reduce the five-year waiting list. A public demonstration to highlight these diabetes service issues organised by Midwest Diabetes group will take place on Sunday 14th November, World Diabetes Day, between 1pm-3pm outside UL hospital, Dooradoyle, Limerick.
For more information about the event, Midwest Diabetes Advocacy group and #AccessToCare campaign visit: https://www. crazyaboutdiabetes.com/midwestdiabetes or email: midwestdiadvocacy@gmail.com
24 RECRUITMENT
THURSDAY, NOV 11 2021
Doolin Ferry Co launch Christmas candles by ELAINE TUBRIDY
2c
SAFE PASS CONFINED SPACE CHEMICAL AWARENESS MANUAL HANDLING Venue:
Bus Card_V1.indd 1
2d
02/03/2020
B2 Corcanree Business Park, Dock Road, Limerick
AMBER SAFETY
DOOLIN Ferry have teamed up with local Irish artisan candle maker, The Irish Chandler, to create two beautiful scents which will bring people’s ‘Aran Memories’ to life this festive season. The limited-edition candles also make the perfect gift for loved ones abroad, who may like a little reminder of home. Erin O'Brien, Director, Doolin Ferry says "We found that people in Ireland, and indeed around the globe, are craving travel and exploration now, more than ever before. Knowing that travel may still be out of reach for many this year, these candles have been designed to help people fulfil the desire to renew memories and connections to the Aran Islands from the comfort of their own homes. “Working closely with the incredible Lisa Barnett, founder of the Irish Chandler, a boutique, artisan candle maker based just up the road from us in Lisdoonvarna, we really 13:33 believe we've created something truly special which will transport people straight to the beautiful Aran Islands."
TRAINING & CONSULTANCY SOLUTIONS TO BOOK THESE TRAINING COURSES
www.ambersafety.ie
or call
2e
061 302520 / 087 3356704
For shipping within Ireland, visit www.doolinferry.com/shop to order. For international orders, email edel@doolinferry.com.
AMBER SAFETY
TRAINING & CONSULTANCY SOLUTIONS
LOVE AND RESPECT IN EVERY ACTION!
Brothers of Charity Services Ireland
Providing Intellectual Disability Services in Ireland for more than 80 years.
Recruitment Open Day Shannon (Abbey House, Shannon, Co Clare V14 PW68)
Monday 15 th November 5pm-7.30pm Walk-Ins welcome Come in and see what we do and if you would like to work for us
THURSDAY, NOV 11 2021
Ice Break
We’re looking for mixologists to join our team.
You’ll be an innovator and experimental maverick - someone who knows how a great cocktail and the story behind it can help guests relax, try something new and leave with a story to tell. You’ll be a student of the classics but unafraid to clash flavours and bash ice, herbs or zest in search of the new. You might not know that at the Armada we have an all-Irish whiskey suite, nor that we make our own Mist + Moss gin. We look forward to seeing what you do with them. Think you know a mixology trick we don’t?
F a big adventure by the sea Now recruiting 100 team members in over 30 roles Are you the best in hospitality, or would like to be? For more information visit jobsbythesea.com or email your CV to HR@armadahotel.com
RECRUITMENT 25
26 RECRUITMENT
THURSDAY, NOV 11 2021
W E AR E HI R I N G
Ennis Electrical
JOB VACANCY AVAILABLE Retail Sales Assistant
- Support Pharmacist, minimum 2 days a week - Pharmacy Technician, minimum 2 days a week - Full time Front of Counter Assistant Flynns’s Life Pharmacy, Gort Road , Ennis T h e co nta c t d eta ils fo r a ny
SUITABLE FOR A CONFIDENT, CAPABLE PERSON WITH SALES EXPERIENCE, GOOD CUSTOMER SERVICE AND COMMUNICATION SKILLS.
a p plica tio ns a re a s fo llows: sedaly@uniphar.ie
THIS IS A FULL TIME POSITION PLEASE APPLY WITH CV TO
AUDREY@ENNISELECTRICAL.COM Lakiernicy techniką natryskową
(zapewnione pełne szkolenie)
Spray Painters
(full training provided) International Aerospace Coatings is the global leader in aircraft painting, interiors, and graphics, with 10 state of the art facilities across the USA and Europe. Our European head office is based in Shannon, Co. Clare. We currently have openings for Spray Painters at both our Shannon airport and Dublin airport facilities. Full training will be provided to upskill to aircraft spray painter.
For more information and to apply go to IAC website https://iac.aero/careers/ or email careers@iac.aero
International Aerospace Coatings jest światowym liderem w dziedzinie malowania samolotów, wnętrz i wykonywania grafiki, posiadającym 10 najnowocześniejszych obiektów w USA i Europie. Nasza europejska siedziba znajduje się w Shannon w hrabstwie Clare. Obecnie do naszych obiektów w porcie lotniczym w Shannon, jak i w Dublinie poszukujemy lakierników techniką natryskową. Zapewniamy pełne szkolenie. Aby uzyskać więcej informacji i aplikować, zapraszamy na witrynę internetową IAC https://iac.aero/careers/ lub wysłać wiadomość email na adres careers@iac.aero
BUSINESS 27
THURSDAY, NOV 11 2021
Ennis businesses acknowledged in Age Friendly Town initiative
AWARDS: Mike Hanrahan, Clare Age Friendly Ambassador (front left), and Karen Fennessy, Clare Age Friendly Programme Manager, Clare County Council, with Age Friendly Charter recipients at an event in Hotel Woodstock
F
OURTEEN Ennis businesses have been acknowledged as part of the Age Friendly Town initiative, writes Páraic McMahon. Hotel Woodstock, County Boutique, Ennis Leisure
Centre, Lucas’ Bar, Nozomi, Sweet n Green, the Temple Gate Hotel, Treacy’s West County, de Valera public library, Bank of Ireland and the three O’Connor’s Bakery stores in the town received a framed Age Friendly Charter which they will display
at their premises to signal the value of the custom they receive from their older clients. An initiative by Age Friendly Ireland, it is part of the national Business Recognition Programme. Older people account for up to 50
percent of consumer spending. All of the Ennis businesses involved received special online training earlier this year by Orlaith Carmody, Age Friendly Ireland Business Consultant, to help them develop their actions. Clare Age Friendly Ambassador, Mike Hanrahan (Stockton’s Wing), congratulated the businesses. Clare Age Friendly Programme Manager, Clare County Council, Karen Fennessy commented, “the businesses in Ennis have really embraced this initiative by developing low cost/no cost actions to deliver great customer service to older people.”. CEO of Ennis Chamber, Margaret O’Brien felt the businesses acknowledged were “at the forefront of delivering an improved customer service experience to older people in Ennis. For the first time this year we have included an ‘Age Friendly’ category in our Chamber Awards, held last week”.
Clare County Council is currently inviting applications from suitably qualified persons for the below competition. Clare County Council will, following the interview process, form a panel for the area set out below from which future relevant vacancies may be filled subject to sanction approval from the Department of Housing, Local Government & Heritage.
• LIBRARIAN PANEL (GRADE 5) Completed applications must be emailed to: recruitment@clarecoco.ie not later than 4.00 p.m. on Thursday 25th November 2021. Please note the following requirement: Each candidate must, on the latest date for receipt of completed application forms, hold a degree (level 8 on the National Framework of Qualifications) in the area of Library and Information Studies. Application forms and further particulars may be obtained by requesting same from the Human Resources Department, Clare County Council at 065-6846251, via e-mail: recruitment@clarecoco.ie or can be downloaded from the following website: www.clarecoco.ie. Clare County Council is an equal opportunities employer and welcomes applications from all sectors of the Community. Successful candidates will be subject to Garda vetting in advance of appointment to the position. Scriobh chugainn as gaeilge más fearr leat.
Bunratty Castle is Ireland's favourite PÁRAIC MCMAHON paraic@clareecho.ie
BUNRATTY Castle has been named as Ireland’s favourite castle in a survey carried out by Empathy Research. Just over one in six people (17%) voted for the 15th Century Bunratty Castle, with its famous Folk Park, pipping another famous tourist attraction, the 800 year old Kilkenny Castle, into second place with just over one in seven giving it their first preference (15%) according to the national poll of over 1,000 people carried out for online lottery company Lottoland. Internationally famed, Bunratty Castle topped the pile in the survey carried out to celebrate Halloween. Dublin, Blarney and Ashford completed the top five of castles. Well known concert venue of Slane Castle in Co Meath finished down the list of popularity with just 7% of the vote but it did get its biggest preference vote from the millennial 18-34 year age group. Lord Henry Mountcharles’ famous castle and concert venue still came in
ahead of other famous battlements such as Trim Castle in Co Meath, Ross Castle in Killarney, Birr Castle in Co Offaly and Cahir Castle in Co Tipperary, the last of which hasn’t received the bounce in popularity yet from Matt Damon’s latest film, The Last Duel, which was filmed there recently. A second castle in the county just missed out on the top ten. Dromoland Castle also located in the parish of Newmarket-on-Fergus received three percent of the vote. In an unsurprising twist, voting for Ireland’s favourite castles turned out to be very parochial around the regions, with Dubliners giving Dublin Castle (23%) and Malahide Castle (18%) their biggest number one votes, whilst Blarney Castle got its biggest first preference from Munster voters (23%). Co Mayo’s Ashford Castle got its biggest vote by far from the Connacht-Ulster folk (23%) but they bucked the trend in regional voting by giving Bunratty Castle their biggest first
preference votes of any region (28%). Research was conducted through an online survey across a nationally representative sample of over a thousand adults aged over eighteen. Quotas were placed on gender, age, social class and region with weighting applied to ensure final data was representative of these quotas. Research was conducted amongst members of Empathy Research’s proprietary research panel. Graham Ross from Lottoland Ireland said of the findings, “it seems old school is best with the Bunratty Castle & Folk Park, that most traditional south west holiday destination, coming out top of the pops for the Irish public”.
Virtual Open Day Saturday 20th November, 2021 from 10am to 4pm Join us LIVE online to find out why so many students choose GMIT for their college experience. ■ Find out about courses in GMIT’s five campuses ■ Watch our live-on-camera chats and ask your questions there and then!
REGISTER TODAY ON
openday.gmit.ie
BOOK A CAMPUS TOUR Campus tours every Friday (2-4pm) in November
BOOKING ESSENTIAL Email: CampusTours@gmit.ie
Galway - Mayo - Letterfrack - Mountbellew Bunratty Photo by Paschal Brooks
FOLLOW US
www.gmit.ie
29
BLACK FRIDAY SALE 50% OFF MATTRESSES UP TO
E
VERYBODY knows how important it is to have a good Mattress, but did you know that Black Friday is the best time to invest in one from our store. Home Trends located on Parnell Street Ennis have reduced all their stock with massive savings of up to 50% off, Mattresses, Bed Frames and Bases. Whether you are upgrading your own bedroom, your child’s or guest room, we have what you are looking for and all at reduced prices. Home Trends Black Friday Sale features up to HALF PRICE on top rated brands that won’t be beaten on price. Home Trends’ very owned manufactured Mattresses are engineered through Spring Air, the world’s leading manufacturers in Pocket Sprung Mattresses. Unlike many competitors, Home Trends buy directly from the manufacturer which means bypassing
the wholesaler guaranteeing massive savings to the customer with the best and lowest prices in town without compromising on quality. The team at Home Trends will work with you if you have a specific budget. We cover the commercial, rental and airbnb market with prices to suit every budget. All size Mattresses are on Sale and if you are looking for a particular size, we can also accommodate you. 3ft Single Irish Made Orthopaedic Mattress now
at Home Trends
only €99, 4’6 Double Irish Made Orthopaedic Mattress only €179. We love providing our customers with package deals and the Chelsea Package deal is exceptional value 4’ Chelsea Headboard and Base with 4’ Pocket Sprung Mattress was €798, now €399, HALF PRICE. This package deal is also available in a 5’ was €998, now €499, also HALF PRICE. Noteworthy also is the stunning 4’6 Hannah Bedframe with 4’6 Irish Made Orthopaedic Mattress reduced from €599 to €399, an of-
fer not to be missed. The experienced staff at Home Trends will ensure you have a very positive shopping experience and will go the extra mile to ensure your needs and requirements are catered for. The Delivery Team do Nationwide Delivery, will take away your old Mattress and Bedframe and all packaging will be recycled free of charge. If you are unable to get into our store, you can sit back, relax and order from the comfort of your home, our website address is www.hometrendsfurniture.ie
For Quality, Service and Value call today and don’t miss out on the BEST BLACK FRIDAY SALE where you will save up to 50%. Sale must end this Saturday 13th November at 5:30pm. Home Trends, Parnell Street Ennis. Eircode V95ED79. Call 065-6797853
UP TO
29-31 Parnell Street Ennis, Co Clare www.hometrendsfurniture.ie
OPENING HOURS Mon-Sat 9.30am - 6pm Ph: (065) 6797853
- Mattresses & Bedroom Furniture - Fabric & Leather Sofa’s - Bespoke Furniture – Sofa’s, Armchairs etc - Wooden Flooring - Occasional Furniture - Mirrors, Rugs & Accessories
30
CLARE: GAME OF MY LIFE
I
HOPPED out onto the motorway, beside Bunratty Castle, with the hurleys and gear bag in my hand and stuck out my thumb. It was a Sunday morning in February of 1995 and I was on my way to Portlaoise, where I was due to start my first league game for Clare. This game sticks in my memory because my grandmother (Maureen Baker) passed away on the Thursday beforehand. She’d had dementia, so it wasn’t a huge shock but of course it was sad for the family. The team had been named at training on the Thursday night and I was picked to start. I had come
on in two games against Galway and Limerick, before Christmas. It was my first year on the panel and this was my first opportunity to get a starting jersey. These were the days before mobile phones. You generally found out you were named in the starting 15 when it came out in The Clare Champion on Thursday. I had an aunt who was coming over from England, so the funeral Mass was on Sunday morning and we were playing the same day. Ger (Loughnane) and Mike (McNamara) came to the removal and shook hands with everyone. They presumed that when I wasn’t there five minutes before the bus was leaving on the Sunday, that I wasn’t
CLARE 1-17 LAOIS 0-5 NHL Round Five O’Moore Park, Portlaoise FEBRUARY 26, 1995
In this extract from Peter O’Connell’s best selling book, Ollie Baker revists his first start for the county
going to turn up at all. At home my father had said, ‘What are you doing hanging around here? Will you go away and play a game of hurling. There’s nothing you can do here anyway. So go on away’. My timekeeping, generally, is five minutes late. So my uncle Noel dropped me to the West County Hotel. Bus gone! I was thinking that they couldn’t be gone too long, so the next stop was down in Clarecastle. The uncle drove me to Clarecastle, but they were gone from there too. The uncle then tore down the road to Newmarket... GONE! The last stop they had in the county was in Bunratty. My uncle was saying, ‘I’ve to go back to my mother’s mass!’ He dropped me to Bunratty. Bus gone from there too. There was my starting place gone.
Everything... GONE! Noel was asking, was I going back with him? After being told to go to the match by my father, I knew I wasn’t going to be welcome at home either. So that’s why I had my thumb out, beside Bunratty Castle. I got a lift, after maybe 20 minutes, to Caherdavin. I put out the thumb again and got a lift to the Nenagh road, at the other side of Limerick city. From there, I got a lift to two or three miles short of Birdhill. It was getting tight enough at that stage. I had to make up my mind as to whether I was going to continue on. There were 20 minute intervals between every lift. I had a back-up plan in my mind. I thought that if
LAST CHANCE!
LEGEND: Ollie Baker
31
I got as far as Matt the Thresher’s in Birdhill, I’d hang on inside there and listen to the match on the radio and surely someone coming home from the match would give me a lift back to Barefield. I had all that in my mind and the next thing, a car passed by. They jammed the brakes and reversed back. It was John Casey from Fanore. He was going to the match himself so I said, ‘That’s great’. The car was full but I was bundled into the back of it. There were a few questions about why I was late, and I was trying to explain myself. I hadn’t known it but the team was stopping at The Racket Hall in Roscrea. I saw the bus as we were passing and I said, ‘I’ll be grand here’. John jammed again and I got out. The players and management were coming out to the bus. All I was afraid of was that they would have named a replacement. Loughnane’s face dropped as I came in. It didn’t happen too often but he went quiet for a second or two. He said that he was after telling someone that they were starting, I think it was John Chaplin. Loughnane heard the story of how I got there and he said that he couldn’t leave me off after that. They knocked a bit of craic out of it on the bus. I was just 20 years of age and I was as green as grass. You need something like that to bond you with a team. I was the idiot that couldn’t make the bus on time. We went out to play the match and I remember that Sparrow (Ger O’Loughlin) was playing corner-forward. Sparrow always wanted the ball put into Sparrow. He didn’t want it put in between himself and the corner-back. That wasn’t the kind of ball that Sparrow wanted. He was giving me a bit of guidance going out onto the field and I just felt so comfortable in and around everybody. We’d had great craic on the bus and I was so relaxed after the panic of getting there. As it turned out, I scored four points from midfield and a sideline cut. The next time I scored a point from a lineball was in the All-Ireland final. I had a really good game and, in my own mind, I felt completely at home at that level. The easiest thing to do would have been to stay in the car with my uncle that day and to say that the bus was gone. I don’t know would I do it nowadays or would
RIVALS: Ollie takes on Daithi Regan
I encourage it. I’d probably have to do 30 laps for missing the bus and I’d have to apologise to the whole panel for letting them down. I’m not sure would it be acceptable these days, but that’s the way it was. Scoring five points gave me a huge boost in confidence. When you’re coming in as a young lad, you need some kind of bond with the team to help you feel like you belong there. That takes away all of the doubt that you have about yourself... Am I good enough to be here? If you don’t have the confidence of the group around you, there’s going to be a huge amount of doubt in your own head. Eight months later, we were walking down the steps of the Hogan Stand with the Liam MacCarthy Cup in our hands. Completely unbelievable and you couldn’t plan for it. In hindsight, you could read a lot into Loughnane starting me against Laois, but I’d say they just said, ‘We have to play him after the trouble he went to’. They were only laughing at the good of it. That day certainly stuck with me forever, though. When I think of it, I think of nana’s anniversary and that maybe she was Upstairs looking down, giving me a little bit of comfort and a bit of guidance. There was nothing made of it at home. I was telling them that I had to get three or four lifts after Noel had dropped me off. The auld lad’s answer was, ‘Sure, how else were you going to get there?’ That’s not to bemoan the current generation, although you’d never
see a lad out thumbing now. Maybe that is linked to why there is a lack of freedom, for some players, to express themselves on the field. Everything is planned. There is a huge difference between preparation now compared to back then. I’d love to say that I was never late again for a game but I can’t say that. Still, if we were meeting at 10am tomorrow, I’d be there at five past. There’s a more relaxed attitude towards time the further west you go in this country, which I’m okay with. If management had sat us down in 1995 and said our goal that year was to win the Munster Championship and the All-Ireland, we’d have frozen with the enormity of all of that. They guided us through it game by game. Loughnane and Mike Mac were doing an awful lot of psychological work, unknown to us. Their genius was to prepare us for when they did come with the pressure; they could say that we had been through all of it. Running out to play in a Munster final in Thurles was never anywhere near as hard as the training we did in Ballyline or on the hill in Shannon. All we needed was a bit of a reminder that this was the easy bit. In ways, looking back on it, there’s a certain element of guilt. I had played a game and a half of championship hurling for Clare and I had a Munster medal in my back pocket. The likes of Cyril Lyons had been toiling for over a decade. You’re feeling guilty, in one sense, that you were so lucky and so privileged but you knew when
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you were talking to Cyril that you had his respect. When I think back on the training we did that winter and spring, the group formed a bond around each other. We never lost sight of any of that when we started winning things. Everything was in line for it to happen and it did happen, whereas the teams of the 70s and back further, they had great teams and great players. But they never got the rewards that we got. You’d be very thankful in that regard. Even if we hadn’t won the All-Ireland or Munster that year, I was having a ball being involved with the Clare team. That’s all I ever wanted, to be playing with players I really looked up to; the likes of Jim McInerney, Cyril Lyons and Jamesie O’Connor. The Laois game was a great start for me and I kept the jersey for a couple more games. Frank Lohan, Fergal Hegarty and myself had been brought into the panel. Seánie McMahon was getting a run at centre-back, Anthony Daly was playing out on the wing and Brian Lohan was gone in full-back. Mike O’Halloran was also new to the set-up, as were Stephen McNamara and Conor Clancy. It was an exciting time for a young lad to be involved. Everyone would have this perception, under Ger, Mike and Tony, that we were really intense, goal-driven and that nothing was going to get in our way. Nothing could be further from the truth. The best performances we ever gave were when we were relaxed. We knew what we had to do, and
QUESTION:
we just went out and did it. There was no roaring or shouting or threats issued against anyone that they had to do this... or else it was going to be curtains. There was a trust and understanding along the lines of... We know the lads are training hard and the natural consequence of that is that they’re going to play okay. That mutual respect was there. When I got a call to join the Clare panel in September or October of 1994, Mike Mac rang our house phone. He didn’t talk to me though. He spoke to my mother. All he said was, ‘Tell Ollie that we’re training on Tuesday evening over in Ballyline and if he wants to be part of the panel, he’ll be there’. That was it. I was standing 10 feet from my mother but he didn’t want to talk to me. Even when I joined the gardaí, there were no mobile phones. It would have been in the winter of 1997. You got a phone call on a Friday evening to say that you were starting on the Monday. That’s the way the world worked and that was everyone’s house. There was no panic and there was no rushing. You weren’t getting a phone call asking, ‘Where are you now?’ I had come on as a sub against Galway in the league in 1994 before Christmas. I was put in marking Pat Malone. I went in to challenge him for the first ball I went for. I bounced off him and my legs went from under me. As he was running off, his heel came back up and hit me under the chin and burst me. I never felt as low. I’ll never forget that moment and the complete embarrassment of being out on the field with a great player like Pat Malone. I felt that I didn’t belong there at all. But it’s how you dust yourself down and how you come out of that moment that tells a lot. We were level going into injury time and I scored a point to put us ahead. It was the first time in a couple of decades that Clare would have won a game in Galway. I was fierce excited, thinking that I was going to get all of the headlines. There were three minutes of injury time played and Jim McInerney got 2-1.There wasn’t a mention of Ollie Baker again.
‘Clare: Game of my Life’ by Peter O’Connell is published by Hero Books and is available in all good book stores (priced €20.00).
Where did Ollie catch up with the team bus?
32
Black Friday kicks off early
C
HRISTMAS season is upon us and the seasonal shopping period has kicked off with searches for “Black Friday” up +138% year over year (YoY) and “Christmas” up +41% YoY, indicating that shoppers are planning for Christmas earlier. Searches for “Gifting” are up +40% on last year and “Christmas decorations” are up +42% which also shows potential early shopping behaviour. As well as researching what to buy, Irish shoppers are also keen to shop local online with searches for “near me” increasing by 50% YoY indicating that Irish retailers who are visible and accessible online could benefit from those shopping earlier. One driver of shoppers starting earlier is the ongoing supply chain disruption which is causing logistical challenges that savvy consumers want to avoid. Commenting, Alice Mansergh, Director
for Small Business at Google said, “Google searches show consumers are thinking about Christmas shopping already, and are searching online to research and buy earlier, perhaps to get ahead of any supply chain issues. “It’s heartening to see all the opportunities for local Irish businesses to connect with their consumers. Many businesses moved online during Covid, and this year’s trends show consumers are as keen to research and buy online as ever. “By being digitally present, businesses can capture Christmas shopping demand and can help consumers ‘buy local’ online.” In Ireland, over two thirds (68%) of organisations are prioritising enhancing their customers’ online experience as it has become more important than ever for retailers to “ stand out” and to be discoverable online.
WE HAVE MOVED LOCATION
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Clare Echo THE
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Ireland call-up Avenue Utd & Ennis Town march on for Ennis RFC’s McInerney by SEAMUS HAYES
by PÁRAIC McMAHON
ENNIS’ Alana McInerney has been named in the Irish women’s rugby squad for upcoming tests against the USA and Japan. Fresh from receiving a call-up to the Irish squad, the centre is on course to be included in the matchday squads for the upcoming fixtures against the USA (November 12th) and Japan (November 20th). The twenty year old who also lines out with UL Bohs impressed for the Munster side which won the inter-provincial championship in September. It caps off a memorable sporting week for the McInerneys. Alana’s twin Mark scored the only goal on Sunday when the Éire Óg footballers won the Clare SFC title for the first time in fifteen years. Indeed, Alana managed to facetime her brother while he was on the pitch in Cusack Park after the game as she was just after finishing a training session with the Irish squad. Kilmihil duo, Edel McMahon and Eimear Considine are also included in the Irish squad.
AVENUE United and Ennis Town progressed to the next round of the FAI Junior Cup with home victories over Desmond league opposition on Sunday. There was no such luck for Bridge Utd who bowed out of the title race when they fell to Fenit Saphires from Kerry after a penalty shoot out. Shannon Olympic advanced in the Munster junior cup with a narrow win over their neighbours Shannon Town C. Avenue United and Newmarket Celtic clash in their re-scheduled Munster junior cup tie this Sunday. With the teams tied at 1-1 two weeks ago the game was cancelled when one of the match officials took ill.
DYLAN HEADS AVENUE TO WIN Avenue United 1 Abbeyfeale 0 Venue: Roslevan
Dylan Casey scored the only goal in this FAI Junior Cup game which saw Avenue United overcome Abbeyfeale on Sunday. Dylan rose highest to plant a powerful header in the net for the decisive score which has sent the Clare league side into the next round of this prestigious competition.
Avenue United: James Tierney; Cullen McCabe, Conor Mullen, Dylan Casey, Conor Hehir; Stephen Jordan, Cian McDonagh, Alan Roche, Shane Browne; Thomas Hehir, Mark Roche; Subs: Cian O’Dea for McDonagh, Eoghan Thynne for Browne, Gary Roche for M Roche.
BRIDGE LOSE IN SHOOTOUT
Fenit Saphires 1 Bridge United A 1 Fenit won 4-2 on penalties.
Bridge United made the
journey to Kerry on Sunday which ended with them bowing out of the title race after a penalty shoot out. Kieran Quinlan was the Clare side’s goalscorer in normal time n which both sides had chances to edge ahead. Extra time failed to produce a winner and this resulted in a penalty shoot out which the Kerry outfit won. The Bridge goalscorers in the shoot out were Davy Lynch and Steve Stewart. Bridge United; Paul Tuohy; Dan Larkin, Mikey Carr, Alan Mulready, Storm Devanney, Conor Deasy, Leon Kelly, Alex Collins, Kieran Quinlan, Leon Daly, Jordan Downes; Subs: Brian Corry for Quinlan; Jason Loughnane for Deasy; Steve Stewart for Kelly; Davy Lynch for Daly
ENNIS SURVIVE LATE CHARGE Ennis Town 3 Rathkeale 2 Venue: Lees Rd, Ennis
Ennis Town booked their place in the next round of the FAI junior cup with this victory by the odd goal in five over Rathkeale. Ennis Town led 3-0 at half time with goals from Davy Keenan, Dean Hegarty and Yasher Aliu. Rathkeale piled on the pressure in the second half but the home side held firm with goalkeeper Andrew Skerritt making some excellent stops in the closing quarter.
Ennis Town: Andrew Skeritt; Thomas Collins, Sean Perrill, Johnson Mulkunum, Stephen Horgan, Eoin Keenan, Peter O’Brien, Yasher Aliu, Lee Clohessy, Dean Hegarty, Davy Keenan; Subs: Declan Ensko for O’Brien;
OLYMPIC ADVANCE IN MUNSTER Shannon Town C 0 Shannon Olympic 1
Shannon Olympic progressed to the next round of the Munster Junior Cup with this hard earned win over their
neighbours, Shannon Town C. After a scoreless first half the all important goal came midway through the second period when Daniel Clair got up to head a corner from the right to the net at the far post. Shannon Town tried to get back into the contest but Olympic held firm for a merited win. Shannon Olympic; Zsolt Lakos; Benjamin Cantillon, Dan Clair, Matt Chelminiak, Wayne Regan, Rachid Amaliah, Ray Quigley, Sean McDonald, Jay Regan, John Keogh, Declan McDonald; Sub: Gary Birchall for Amaliah
NEWMARKET CONTINUE CHARGE FOR ANOTHER TITLE Newmarket Celtic A 4 Lifford 1
Newmarket Celtic continued their search for another premier league title with a comfortable win over Lifford. Defensive errors proved costly for Lifford in the early stages and the winners raced into a 3-0 lead. Sean Corry pulled one back for Lifford but Newmarket restored their three goal advantage to se-
cure all three points. David McCarthy opened the scoring for the winners when he converted a free kick and Aaron Rudd doubled their led when he headed to the net. They stretched their lead courtesy of an own goal and led 3-0 at the interval. In the second half Aaron Rudd scored again for the winners.
Newmarket Celtic A: Shane Cusack; Pat McDaid, Darren Cullinan, Alan Kelly, Eoin Kelly; Cathal Hayes, Conor McDaid, David McCarthy, Kevin Harnett, Aaron Rudd; Eoin Hayes. Subs: Gary Higgins for Hayes; Ian Collins for McCarthy; Jamie Egan for Harnett, Jamie Cronin for Alan Kelly, Conor McCarthy for Rudd. Lifford: Rhys Phillips; Michael Junaid, Dan Daly, Dara Kerins, John Maher; Sean Corry, Naathan Rdendze, Josh Brack, Ruairi Norrby, Gary McNaboe, Dean Coughlan. Subs: Zube Okore for Maher; Jean Ganda for McNaboe; Nani for Norrby; Dara Madigan for Coughlan; Eddie Killeen for Nathan Rdendze
PICTURED: Avenue’s Dylan Casey
Inagh/Kilnamona win minor but major still to come EOIN BRENNAN INAGH-KILNAMONA, O’Callaghan’s Mills/Bodyke and Tulla garnered the inaugural Minor Hurling Championship honours at Under 17 level amidst five underage hurling deciders last weekend. It took extra-time to separate the U17A heavyweights as after a enthralling seesaw hour in which the sides were level on 10 occasions, Inagh-Kilnamona upped the ante to match-winning effect with a six point unanswered blitz that shook off Clooney-Quin by 0-22 to 1-17 in Cusack Park on Sunday. The favourites had to dig deep though as a Callum Hassett-led Clooney-Quin appeared to be on their way to a first Minor A crown in 15 years when soaring 0-13 to 0-11 clear entering the final minutes. However, talisman Sean Rynne would get his side back on track with a trio of scores
in a four-point blitz that actually forced Clooney-Quin to scramble for extra-time, inevitably through Hassett and impressive midfielder David Considine at 0-15 to 0-15. Having rediscovered their mojo though, Inagh-Kilnamona seized full control of extra-time with Rynne, who finished with 13 points, grabbing five more to carve out a 0-22 to 0-16 advantage by the second period. To their credit, Clooney-Quin kept up the fight and along with Hassett’s tenth point, David Considine raided for 1-1 but the goal proved to be the last puck of a superb contest as Inagh-Kilnamona secured their first Minor A title in four years. O’Callaghan’s Mills/Bodyke actually achieved a unique back-toback of Minor B crowns in Meelick on Sunday. Despite the age alteration to Under 17, the amalgamation would keep neighbouring combo Scariff-Ogonnelloe at arm’s length to prevail by 2-14 to 1-11.
Tulla players make a splash in Broadford Photo by Martin Cooper
A brace of first half goals through Jamie Howard proved decisive as the holders opened up a 2-6 to 0-7 interval advantage. And thanks in the main to joint-captains Darragh Moroney, Sean Cooney, Billy Scanlon, Thomas Wiley and the lively Sean Boyce, O’Calaghan’s Mills/ Bodkye managed to successfully
fend off anything their opponents could throw at them. Liam Madden’s goaled 25 metre free in the 38th minute did lower the deficit to four but that was as close as Scariff-Ogonnelloe would get to the leaders despite the best efforts of Scott Cairns, Donnacha McNulty and Aaron Collins.
In contrast, it was a brace of second half goals that finally got Tulla over the line against Newmarket-on-Fergus in the Minor C decider by 2-12 to 0-16 in Broadford on Saturday morning. With Emmett Mulcahy (Tulla), Sean Arthur and Adam Enright (Newmarket) to the fore in the scoring stakes, this evenly-match encounter went blow-for-blow until Eanna Culloo and captain Fionn Ryan altered the narrative decisively in Tulla’s direction. Cian Neylon’s impressive 1-11 haul kept Kilmaley on top despite second half strikes in riposte from Cillian Moroney (penalty) and Andrew McElwee in an Under 17A Shield Final derby victory over Éire Óg by 1-15 to 2-6 in Ballyea on Saturday. However, the drama didn’t end there as Dara Hogan’s last gasp goal sealed the Under 13C Hurling Shield for Ennistymon over their heartbroken hosts Banner by 5-6 to 3-11.
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Clare Echo THE
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CLARE SENIOR FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL
‘Fantastic’ to lift Cup after 15 years ÉIRE ÓG 1-11 KILMURRY IBRICKANE 0-09 Venue: Cusack Park
PAUL MADDEN, ÉIRE ÓG MANAGER: “Our hearts were in our mouths for the third quarter but to be fair you’re playing a team like Kilmurry Ibrickane, perennial winners so you’re going to concede a purple patch to them at some stage, we got breakaway scores at the end to hold on, it is a fantastic feeling. “The last time we won the championship 15 years ago we didn’t concede a goal in the whole championship, it was the same this year and that was the bedrock. I said it to Nathan Murray that Aaron Fitzgerald is probably in line for goalkeeper of the year following a few of the blocks. Gavin Cooney set the tone with a brilliant first point, we were up for it today. I’m not saying they weren’t because they were one hundred percent, they are champions for a reason but this meant so much to us, 15 years is a long time. “There hasn’t been a crowd like this on a pitch in three years. The club is important, it’s like a second family. We’ve a couple of members overseas, we’ve other members that lost family members in the last few weeks and in the last couple of years, we remember Eugene McNamara today, it’s five years this week since he was buried and he was a great football man for Éire Óg. “You’ve no business at the latter end of the championship at senior level if you don’t have workrate, by God we’ve had a huge amount of it this year and it’s the mantra since the first day we met in January right till today in November, almost a full year and that was if you’re not going to work hard you will not survive at this level. “The days when you lose are frustrating because you can see the potential but potential isn’t worth a curse unless you can fulfil it. Sometimes it takes time, we had ten U21s playing a couple of years ago in the championship, they need time to develop and mature. Gavin Cooney goes up to get the Cup today and he is only just 22, he is a young man, it takes time but it makes it all worthwhile when you win. “It means so much but these guys whether it is hurling or football they are well able, it is fantastic.”
ÉIRE ÓG: Frees for: 20 (10/10) Wides: 5 (2/3) Scores from play: 1-08 Spread of scorers: 7 Top scorer: Gavin Cooney (0-05 3f) Bookings: Manus Doherty (45), Ikem Ugwueru (52), Own kickouts won: 13 from 15 (87%) KILMURRY IBRICKANE: Frees for: 13 (7/6) Wides: 6 (4/2) Scores from play: 0-04 Spread of scorers: 5 Top scorer: Keelan Sexton (0-05 4f) Bookings: Red Card: Joe Campbell (61). Own kickouts won: 14 from 17 (82%) (above) Éire Óg players watch as Gavin Cooney accepts the Jack Daly (below left); (below right) David Sexton looks as Mark McInerney’s effort hits the net; (opposite page) The young Townies make their voices heard Photos by Gerard O’Neill
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Clare Echo THE
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CLARE SENIOR FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL
Captain Cooney’s relief as Éire Óg able to reward ‘amazing’ supporters by PÁRAIC MCMAHON
ÉIRE ÓG’S supporters helped to give their senior footballers an edge when they crowned Clare SFC champions on Sunday, their match-winning captain has outlined. Chants of ‘Cooney, Cooney, Cooney’ echoed across Cusack Park when Gavin Cooney prepared to accept the Jack Daly from Clare GAA Chairman, Jack Chaplin on Sunday which highlighted the admiration for the 22-year old from the Éire Óg supporters. As the minutes and hours progressed, he would also become the most photographed member of the team with a queue of young Townies looking to get their picture with the skipper. Many of the individuals shouting
his name were also quick to pass on their well wishes during the
week, Gavin noted. “A lot of them have been texting me during the
week saying I better perform, to hear the support we got today by all the supporters was absolutely amazing, to give back to them is what it’s all about really”. His memories of the 2006 final, the club’s last win at this level prior to Sunday were of the flares brought by Éire Óg followers to the country grounds. The flares returned as the Ennis club secured the title for the first time in fifteen years. “It’s like the sixteenth man when the flares came out and we were walking past the band, it blows you away really and you forget you have a game to play, it’s amazing to see it all and we’re very grateful that the supporters were here”. He added, “The last few years I’ve been watching other captains
do it for good teams, it was something you always dream of. When I was asked to be captain this year, it’s always the peak you want to reach to and it was amazing up there to lift the trophy, it’s a moment I won’t forget”. A quad strain hampered Gavin’s preparation for the county final and ruled him out of the hurlers’ semi-final defeat to Inagh/Kilnamona a week previously. With the first ball on Sunday, he scored an excellent point to set the tempo but also damaged his quad, “It went with the first ball, I felt it go, it was the exact same way as it went in training when I first hurt it. I had to put it to the back of my mind and get on with the game,” the full-forward told The Clare Echo.
Hon the townies
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11-11-21
CLARE SENIOR FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL
McInerney delighted to follow in Dad’s footsteps by PÁRAIC MCMAHON
(clockwise from above); Gavin D’Auria, Jarlath Collins, Ultan Shiels & Mark McInerney race onto the field at the final whistle; David Reidy and Aaron Fitzgerald celebrate; Mark McInerney and Ronan Lanigan with the Jack Daly; Éire Óg’s next generation study the match programme; Darren O’Brien and Conor O’Halloran rejoice at the final whistle; Photos by Gerard O’Neill
pg 36
ÉIRE Óg’s Mark McInerney is hopeful of following in the footsteps of his father by collecting multiple senior football championships. McInerney collected his first senior medal on Sunday as Éire Óg recorded a 1-11 0-09 win over Kilmurry Ibrickane. At half-time, the Doonbeg team of 1996 were honoured with Mark’s father Francis, captain of the Munster championship winning side of 1992 among them. Both events added to the occasion for the McInerney clan with Mark observing that his father was showing what the win meant a bit more visibily. “He is more emotional than me, I saw him there with tears in his eyes, he has seven county titles so I’ve a bit of catching up but to get one is amazing, if I finish up in however many years and I only have one I’ll be delighted.” Given the age-profile of their team, eight of the starting team were under the age of twenty five, Mark was hopeful that this would be more than a flash in the pan.
At twenty years old, he was the youngest member of a full-forward line which also included Gavin Cooney (22) and Philip Talty (21). “If we can build on this for the next ten years or so and keep everyone together hopefully we could make a Doonbeg-esque dynasty or something like that, it is probably wishful thinking but we’ve a serious team with a mixture of leadership, youth, athleticism and the lads at the back are unbelievable”. Marking these “unbelievable” defenders in training “has made us all better forwards,” he maintained. “Ronan Lanigan and Manus Doherty are unbelievable corner backs, Aaron Fitz is unbelievable at full-back, every day at training we’re made better, it’s possibly the best training you can get in the county when you’re marking defenders of that calibre three times a week in training, it has improved us all”. A major turning point if not the most important moment in the match was when the former Clare minor and U20 footballer palmed the ball to the
back of the net after an outstanding run by Éinne O’Connor. The green flag on seventeen minutes saw Éire Óg’s lead grow from one to four points which gave them a platform from which Kilmurry Ibrickane would never catch them. “Everyone played a key role, we all ran ourselves into the ground, I was lucky enough to get the goal but Éinne put it on a plate for me, all I had to do was tap it in, everyone put in a savage effort the whole year, we knew we had to give it everything and thankfully we got a good result out of it”. Their success has been aided by a newfound buzz in the club, Mark outlined. “Paul Madden has been immense with us for the past four years, he’s laid the foundations and James Hanrahan before him, Seanie Buckley brought in a real freshness as coach this year to the training sessions, everyone refocused and there was more commitment from the lads, the hurlers doing so well gave us a massive buzz, with all the wins it was giving each team and the club a buzz which helped to make it different”.
Russell hails defensive effort
INTRODUCING a more defensive approach was hailed as key to Éire Óg winning a first Clare SFC title in 15 years by one of their most experienced backs, writes Páraic McMahon. In their six championship games this year, Éire Óg didn’t concede a single goal. “It wasn’t just the six backs, a lot of people just say it but I mean it, it was the 15 lads on the field especially the 14 outfield; the tackles from the boys inside in the full-forward line were unbelievable which made our job that bit easier, anything that went past us, the boys were mopping up inside. It was a great year defensively, a lot of that has to go to Seanie Buckley who put the plan in place,” Russell stated. Speaking to The Clare Echo, the Garda admitted that their inability to break past the quarter-final stages for four seasons in succession had him questioning if the Townies would ever fulfil their potential. “I knew we had the players but there was always question marks, sometimes we were able to put up scores but we couldn’t keep them out...this year we weren’t putting up big scores and people said we were boring to watch but I’ll take that all day long, we have the cup and we’re absolutely delighted with that”.
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CLARE INTERMEDIATE FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL
Corofin ‘couldn’t envisage these scenes’ COROFIN 2-12 KILDYSART 2-10 Venue: Cusack Park
DOUGLAS HURLEY, COROFIN MANAGER: “With four minutes to go I’d have taken a draw most definitely. I couldn’t envisage these scenes, I always hoped we would get a goal and if that came we’d follow it with a point but the two goals one after another were killer blows for Kildysart, we probably should have driven on but we sat back and invited them on us after that. “Kildysart were bound to come at us, they were a great side, well equipped for senior and it is heart-breaking for them today, I’d have taken a draw with five minutes to go but credit to our lads, they kept at it. “The wind died a bit in the second half I’d say if anything, we were at sixes and sevens ourselves in the first half. They played well and caught us on the break, we had to adapt to that situation so we put Jamie Malone back to shore it up a bit, they didn’t open out, they kept it tight at the back. It was a turnover ball and still a shock when the second goal went it but we’ll take them whatever way they come. “It looked like we kicked it away, Diarmuid Cahill was very unlucky to kick three or four balls wide, another day they would have gone over the bar and we’d be level at the water break, I wondered had we kicked it away but all we could tell the lads was to keep at it, eventually it came. “Ater last year and the loss to Ruan in the hurling was a major kick to them this year, we only had to steer them, they took control of the situation after that. “There was lads inside in the last water break and they were going to die with their boots on, whether they won it or not was going to be another question, they were not going to leave anything on the field, they were out on their feet for a finish.”
Compiled by Páraic McMahon SCAN HERE FOR MATCH REPORT
Determination got Corofin over line, says Clancy A SELF-BELIEF in their fitness and determination ensured Corofin’s players were never going to relent in their pursuit of promotion to the senior ranks. When Rory McMahon goaled for Kildysart with 15 minutes played in Saturday’s Clare IFC final, it gave Noel O’Grady’s side a three point lead and an advantage that they maintained until the last score. Trailing by four points entering the seven minutes of additional time, Corofin were inspired by a Damien O’Loughlin interception and excellent goal which they immediately followed with a Diarmuid Cahill green flag, all of which occurred in the space of 56 seconds. Corofin captain, Fionn Clancy admitted that there were plenty of references to their final defeat to St Josephs Doora/Barefield last year. “It was on our mind, all week and all year we were saying it, we lost last
year’s final in 15 minutes after halftime, we nearly lost in the first 15 minutes of this game but I think we learned lessons, our fitness and determination got us over in the end”. Tracing back on a whirlwind finish, he recounted, “I don’t know what happened, it is hard to pin down. Damien O’Loughlin intercepted a ball and the finish was sublime, that got us going.” The midfielder admitted he was concerned the North Clare side let the title slip for a second year. “I’d love to stand here and say no but I can’t, I was a bit worried but I knew we had it in the tank, we know we’re fit, we know we’re determined and we know we have some savagely talented players, our goals showed that and we got them at the right time.” While accepting the Talty Stores Cup from Clare GAA Chairman, Jack Chaplin, Clancy signalled the respect held by the panel for their management led by Douglas Hurley. “They have done everything for us, I cannot say enough for the management. They have gone above and beyond the role of management, they are natural born leaders and we’ve learned an awful lot from them”.
COROFIN Frees for: 25 (11/14) Wides: 11 (3/8) Scores from play: 2-07 Spread of scorers: 6 Top scorer: Diarmuid Cahill (1-04 3f) Bookings: Fionn Clancy (63) Own kickouts won: 10 from 16 (63%) KILDYSART: Frees for: 16 (9/7) Wides: 4 (2/2) Scores from play: 2-09 Spread of scorers: 7 Top scorer: Keith Murphy (1-01) Bookings: Kieran Leahy (46) Own kickouts won: 20 from 25 (80%) (clockwise from left) A jubilant Fionn Clancy with the Talty Stores Cup; Corofin players watch as Fionn Clancy accepts the Talty Stores Cup Photos by Gerard O’Neill; Ecstatic Corofin supporters watch on as the North Clare side put together a dramatic finish; Gearoid and Diarmuid Cahill celebrate Corofin’s win; Jamie Malone offloads possessio Burren Eye Photography;
11-11-21 CLARE SENIOR HURLING CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL: INAGH KILNAMONA VS BALLYEA
Journey began on bedroom floors in Inagh-Kilnamona SEAMUS HAYES
I
NAGH/KILNAMONA’S hunger for success in 2021 can be traced back 11 months when sitting rooms and bedrooms were the location for Zoom S&C sessions as The Combo began their championship preparations, joint captain Cian McInerney recalls. The teacher at St Colman’s College in Fermoy adds that disappointments suffered from being knocked out of the championship in the latter stages in recent years also weighed on their minds, helping the Inagh-Kilnamona men gain valuable experience for this year’s outing. “From last December, even in lockdown, everyone was working hard. It was difficult in lockdown as gyms were closed and we had a lot of meetings on Zoom. We were doing our strength and conditioning work on the floors of sitting rooms and the floors of bedrooms but it’s paying off now. A zoom call for 45 lads on a Tuesday evening shows the hunger that is in this group. There were no excuses being made,” Cian told The Clare Echo. “We have been close over the last four or five years. Against the ‘Bridge two years ago in the semi-final we were ahead with a few
David Mescall and Cian McInerney jump highest in their clash with Whitgate
Photo by Gerard O’Neill
minutes to go but we didn’t win. On another day that would have gone our way but they came back and their experience got them over the line. We have gained ex-
perience and hopefully that will help us.” The current management is the third that Cian has played under. “Each management has progressed
us and this year’s management has really driven us on. There is fierce competition for places which helps a lot. The games in training are better than any training
session. Lads are hungry for places in the starting 15 and that’s what you want. We have played five or six games and the same team hasn’t started twice.” Tony Kelly’s absence for Ballyea is “a massive loss,” the former Clare minor hurling captain noted. “They still have a great team with massive experience. They haven’t got to three county finals without a reason. They have had an edge over us and that will drive us on. They are a great outfit and we are not going to underestimate them at all. We won’t read too much into what the bookies say”. Reaching the final has been “a great lift” to the parishes of Inagh and Kilnamona, he outlined. “It’s a first county senior final for us. We are not getting caught up. We are keeping our heads down and training away. It’s just another game”. Underage success most recently Sunday’s Minor A win over Clooney/Quin is being matched by players making the breakthrough at senior, the defender maintained. “It’s no good to you if you can’t bring them to senior level. It’s great to have success at underage level but we have to get players onto the senior level. There will be a great buzz and atmosphere around but we can only try our best and see where it takes us”.
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Healy to referee final by PÁRAIC McMAHON JOHNNY Healy has been named as the referee for Sunday’s historic Clare SHC final between Ballyea and Inagh/Kilnamona. Inagh/Kilnamona will be appearing in the county final for the first time while Robbie Hogan’s Ballyea will be chasing a third Clare SHC title when the sides meet in Cusack Park on Sunday. Smith O’Briens clubman Healy has been appointed to officiate the fixture in what will be his third time as the man in the middle for the Clare SHC final. He previously was the whistler for the 2005 final when Clarecastle defeated Wolfe Tones and the 2011 decider as Crusheen completed back to back wins at the expense of Sixmilebridge. A referee for two decades, the Killaloe man had the distinction of refereeing the 2007 Munster intermediate final between Limerick and Tipperary. He was added to the provincial panel of referees in 2004 and stayed as part of this group for a number of years. Last weekend, he was a proud supporter as his club Smith O’Briens secured their return to the senior ranks by overcoming St Josephs Doora/Barefield in the Clare IHC final. Healy was in charge for Ballyea’s one point semi-final win over Newmarket-on-Fergus with Wayne King of the St Josephs Doora/Barefield in charge for Inagh/Kilnamona’s victory against Éire Óg.
Hehir: We have to steel our minds for huge task by SEAMUS HAYES
INAGH/KILNAMONA have been hardened by disappointments of recent seasons and comments regarding their inability to see out games, joint captain Kevin Hehir has said. Having the captaincy doesn’t bring extra pressure, the environmental consultant based in Dublin insists. “In that role I just go up for the toss. We have leaders throughout the field. Of course it would be a huge honour for myself and my family if we get to go up the steps of the stand to receive the Canon Hamilton Cup but we know that we are in for a huge challenge if that is to be achieved. “From once the draw was made the target has been to win the next match. We haven’t had the comfort of being able to look ahead with the quality of the opposition in the group. Being battle hardened from day one has helped us. We would be notoriously
known for not being able to see out games and for falling apart in the last 15 minutes. This year we had to get it right from the start or else we wouldn’t have even made it to the quarter finals”, he told The Clare Echo. Players have not felt pressure to deliver success at senior level having done so at underage level, Hehir maintains. “What we felt was a certain degree of disappointment at not bringing it through. We had the hurlers, it was just making that next step, making that next big step, underage and senior are completely different.” Having three teams competing in adult competitions is “a huge help” to the club, Kevin felt. “It has fellas pushing each other. We are able to play 15 a side games at most of our training sessions and that is great as it helps set you up for championship games.” A huge challenge awaits Inagh/Kilnamona on Sunday when they face Ballyea. “Ballyea have 15 phenomenal hurlers and anyone
that says they don’t have a chance without Tony Kelly doesn’t know hurling. The winning culture they have developed in their club is something every club should strive for. They have always beaten us in recent times. They have always had that little edge in the last 15 minutes and they have set the benchmark really high.” “We have ten or 11 of the squad based outside the parish but we know there is huge interest in the game throughout the parish. We know we are in for a serious challenge but that’s where our focus is, it is on the next game and that’s Ballyea this week.” Hehir concludes, “The disappointment of recent years has hardened us. We know that the game of hurling takes its own life on any given day. Just because we have lost before doesn’t mean that we won’t lose again. We just have to steel our minds and get ready for the huge task that is ahead of us”.
Joint Inagh Kilnamona captain Kevin Hehir
Photo by Gerard O’Neill
pg 39
11-11-21
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11-11-21
‘We relish being the underdogs’ N by SEAMUS HAYES
O PRESSURE or extra expectation rests on Inagh/Kilnamona’s shoulders despite the club formed in 2007 preparing for their first ever Clare SHC final this weekend, manager Eugene Cullinan affirmed. Allowing his name to go forward for the position of team manager was “an easy decision” for Eugene Cullinan. “I asked a few lads if they would be interested in being involved and they said yes and once I had the boys with me, I had no problem in going for the position. I knew that there was a good bunch of lads there. Like a lot of teams around the county there is potential but to change it into real stuff to win a championship are two different things.We are starting
to fulfill our potential now.” He has been involved in the club from an early age and played at all levels. When Inagh and Kilnamona became one club at the end of 2007, they faced into their first season as one in 2008. In the first round of the senior championship they came up against Tulla who were the title holders, Inagh/Kilnamona won that day helped by two goals from Eugene. Building on success at underage grades “takes time”, Cullinan stressed. “There has been phenomenal underage success and a huge amount of work that goes unseen. Eventually you will get there if you work hard enough.” Having a tough route to the final by facing Kilmaley, Clonlara, O’Callaghans Mills and Whitegate in the group stages followed
PATHS TO THE FINAL
BALLYEA Round One: Ballyea 1-19 Broadford 2-15 on 15/08/21 at Cusack Park, Ennis Round Two: Ballyea 2-21 Crusheen 0-15 on 02/09/21 at Cusack Park, Ennis Round Three: Ballyea 1-17 Cratloe 1-17 on 03/10/21 at Cusack Park, Ennis Quarter-Final: Ballyea 0-17 Kilmaley 0-16 on 17/10/21 at Cusack Park, Ennis Semi-Final: Ballyea 1-14 Newmarket-on-Fergus 1-13 on 31/10/21 at Cusack Park, Ennis
INAGH/KINAMONA Round One: IK 0-23 Kilmaley 0-21 on 14/08/21 at Cusack Park, Ennis Round Two: IK 0-23 O’Callaghans Mills 1-16 on 22/08/21 at Cusack Park, Ennis Round Three: IK 1-22 Clonlara 2-15 on 05/09/21 at Cusack Park (Rd4 bye) Round Five: IK 0-22 Whitegate 0-22 on 02/10/21 at Cusack Park, Ennis Quarter-Final: IK 1-22 Cratloe 0-21 on 17/10/21 at Cusack Park Ennis Semi-Final: IK 1-17 Éire Óg 0-17 on 30/10/21 at Cusack Park, Ennis
by knockout wins over Cratloe and Éire Óg has been an improvement, Cullinan said. He is strong in the view that Inamona this weekend “are up against one of the top teams in the final, their record is phenomenal, two county titles in the last five years, one Munster title and an All-Ireland final appearance. Their record is unbelievable. No other Clare club side has reached the final since Doora/Barefield in 2000. “The talk is about who they are missing but nobody is talking about who they have, Jack Browne, Inagh/Kilnamona manager, Paul Flanagan in the backs, Eugene Cullinan Gary Brennan, Pierce Lil Photo by Gerard O’Neill lis, Stan Lineen in the middle and Niall Deasy, Mossy Gavin and Aaron Griffin Among two of their younger squad memare flying it up front. We are under no illu- bers to play central roles in their run to the sions at all.” final are Conner Hegarty and Josh GuyBallyea’s experience makes them favour- ler, both of whom played minor last year. ites, Eugene argued, adding “but we will rel- “There have been huge sacrifices from the ish the underdog tag.” lads, coming back from Dublin, Cork, out Doubts remain over the fitness of county from Limerick, training at different venues men David Fitzgerald and Aidan McCar- throughout the county in the past month, it thy with McCarthy featuring in Kilmurry hasn’t been easy but it hasn’t been easy for Ibrickane’s Clare SFC final loss to Éire Óg any club. Thank God the sacrifices are payon Sunday. ing off for the lads.”
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pg 42
CLARE SENIOR HURLING CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL: INAGH KILNAMONA VS BALLYEA
AIDAN McCARTHY
AUSTIN KERIN
CATHAL McGONIGLEY
DAMIEN LAFFERTY
DARREN CULLINAN
EVAN McNAMARA
GERRY COOTE
DAVID FITZGERALD
JACK O’CONNOR
CIAN McINERNEY
COLIN SHANNON
COLM PILKINGTON
CONNER HEGARTY
DAVID MESCALL
ÉAMON FOUDY
EOGHAN FOUDY
EOIN FITZGERALD
JOSH GUYLER
KEELAN GUYLER
KEITH BARRY
JOE BARRY (Chairman)
JASON McCARTHY KEITH WHITE
KEVIN HEHIR
LIAM HEHIR
MARC BARRY
MILO KEANE
NIALL MULLINS
PADRAIG DEVITT
TOM BARRY
PAUL O’LOONEY
SEAMUS FOUDY
SEAN MAHONEY
SHANE DOWLING
SHANE McINERNEY
SHANE VAUGHAN
PATRICK KELLY
Wis hin g t h e Inagh Ki l na mo na hurlers t h e be s t of l uc k this we e ke n d i n t h e co u n ty fina l IT' S B EEN A LO NG WAI T S INCE 19 0 8
WISHING BOTH TEAMS THE VERY BEST OF LUCK IN THIS WEEKENDS COUNTY FINAL
pg 45
11-11-21
CLARE SENIOR HURLING CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL: INAGH KILNAMONA VS BALLYEA
AARON GRIFFIN
AONGHUS KEANE
BARRY COOTE
BRANDON O’CONNELL
BRIAN CASEY
BRIAN LONGE
BRIAN MURPHY
CIAN MEANEY
TONY KELLY
CILLIAN BRENNAN
DAMIEN BURKE
DANIEL KELLY
DIARMUID O’NEILL
EOGHAN DONNELLAN
LIAM CROWE
JAMES CARMODY Chairman
All photos by Gerard O’Neill
EVAN WALL
GARY BRENNAN
JACK BROWNE
JOE NEYLON
MARK CROWE
MARTIN O’LEARY
MORGAN GARRY
MOSSY GAVIN
(back l-r) Raymond O’Connor (selector), Alan Duggan (stats), Jude Quinlivan (selector), Kieran Connolly (physio); (front) Diarmuid O’Sullivan (selector), Robbie Hogan (manager), Kevin O’Grady (coach), Adrian O’Brien (S&C)
OISIN HENNESSY
PAUL FLANAGAN
PEARSE LILLIS
PETER CASEY
RYAN GRIFFIN
SEAN MEANEY
STAN LINEEN
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pg 46
CLARE SENIOR HURLING CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL: INAGH KILNAMONA VS BALLYEA
TONY ‘HAS BEEN A GREAT HELP’ FROM SIDELINE by PÁRAIC McMAHON HURLING is no longer the number one priority in Paul Flanagan’s life and he’s enjoying the game much more as a result. Ballyea are chasing their third Clare SHC title this Sunday when they face off with Inagh/Kilnamona.
Paul Flanagan
Photo by Gerard O’Neill
For their 2018 win over Cratloe, Flanagan missed out due to a knee injury which kept him sidelined for that campaign, this weekend they are without Tony Kelly. Their cruel role reversal is something the duo have discussed. “We’ve spoke about it a bit, we travel a lot together, we’re in the car together a lot whether it was Clare or Ballyea, we’d be hopping ball about a few different things. We spoke about the fact I was in the stand for 2018 and Tony is there now. “When he said to me that the operation was imminent, I just said to him to do what was best for him and make sure that whatever you do that you do it right. He’s been a great help, it’s been brilliant to have him on the sideline and listening to different
nuggets that you can get, they are so short that you can get an insight into something which might click with a few guys.” A two-time All-Ireland U21 winner and a member of the Clare panel crowned All-Ireland champions in 2013, Paul rejoined the county panel last September after receiving a call from Brian Lohan, earning his championship debut in November. This year, he has been ever-present in the full-back line alongside Rory Hayes and Conor Cleary and clearly has been enjoying his hurling. He told The Clare Echo, “It’s been built out of a couple of years of hard work and trying to get to a better place overall which is mentally too. I’ve really enjoyed it, looking at it you just want to take it as it comes. Good things will happen when you let them happen, for years I was probably forcing things a lot and you make hurling your number one in many shapes but it has swung around a little and I’d be a bit more balanced now.” From February to December of last year, the Ard Scoil Rís Irish and PE teacher completed a masters in performance psychology at UL. Since his graduation, he has assisted with Clare U14, U15 and U16 teams on the request of Donal Moloney while he is also working in tandem with a number of
individual athletes. “I placed a lot of emphasis on hurling being the be all and end all, I wasn’t as aware of myself and what was happening even during games, something would go against you and your whole thing would fall apart because you were placing such an emphasis on it. I started chipping away at it and started reading more myself, then I got the interest to go back to UL and do the Masters in Performance Psychology, that was brilliant, I really enjoyed it. I gained a huge amount as a player, simple things and techniques in what athletes were using and evidence based stuff,” he recalled. While Clare’s success was to be savoured, the pressure to deliver and perform in subsequent years did have an impact. “Everyone knows a lot of success came to us quite early mainly with Clare. Between the U21s and 2013, when you look at the photo on the wall and you say I was 20 years of age, we were very young. In some ways we were fast-tracked with a very good set-up and an excellent coach but it was something that was early for us in terms of our hurling career.” This year’s club campaign has “went on for so long, it’s been spread out,” the Ballyea full-back felt. As such it isn’t any great surprise that he prefers the format used in recent years as opposed to the 2021 equivalent. “I prefer the format that
was there before which would reward you for winning, I think there is a bit more of a bite to it and a bit more of a competitive edge, even if you lose one game you can get back on the road by winning again, I think it worked really well and players liked it. The group side of things has maybe prolonged it a bit more”. Since he began lining out with the Ballyea seniors a decade ago, a leadership role has been assumed by the TG4 analyst but he admitted that he is conscious that there are different ways in which to lead. “You learn as you go, I’ve stepped back a small bit more for the simple reason that for the whole thing to be sustainable it’s more like consistency over time and consistency in how you interact with other guys over time instead of being the person that is always talking, you take different things from other players like that and you don’t have to be talking all the time. In some ways energy is everything whether it’s your job or hurling. I really enjoy with the younger guys here, it’s the same with Clare, it has given great energy and you have great craic with them, that is the way I look at it a bit more”. His approach and thinking may have altered but Flanagan remains steadfast as ever in his desire to succeed.
Hogan savouring the buzz in Ballyea COUNTY final fever has brought a buzz to Ballyea and it is a feeling to savour given the hardship of the past 20 months, writes Páraic McMahon. Robbie Hogan became the first Ballyea man to manage their senior side to Clare SHC glory in 2016, they backed this up with provincial success and an appearance in the All-Ireland club final. Following this, the self-employed tiler stepped down from the role after five years. Four years later, Hogan returned egged on by a phone call and house call by key player, Tony Kelly. “The likes of Reggie, Sully and Alan being willing to come back was a huge help, there’s a familiarity in working with lads that you trust, it was seamless because you worked with them before and then we had the fresh voices of Jude Quinlivan and Kevin O’Grady who came in full of energy on the back of great success with St Flannan’s College plus Adrian O’Brien was a god-send on the S&C side.” Resilience in adapting to a high turnover of players was one of the most impressive aspects of Kevin Sheehan’s
success with Ballyea in 2018 but this spirit has been an ever-present trait of the side. “They are a very honest bunch of lads. We were at the pin of our collar the last day and in a few of our games, there’s some very calm heads out there on the field, Gary Brennan will always see the positive, when one goes the rest will follow, that is leadership.” As a player, Robbie represented Ballyea at all levels while also won a Tony Forrestal medal with Clare in 1986 along with tasting plenty of success at Dean Ryan, Harty Cup and senior football level at St Flannan’s College. Returning to a county final has been warmly welcomed throughout the parish, Robbie observed. “Ballyea is buzzing, people are excited, we haven’t had much to cheer about for the last two years so it is a great lift particularly to the young and old”. He continued, “The gable end of the house and the hurley were a lot of fella’s friends for good spells of the lockdowns, it is an outlet, you come into the pitch to get away from all of that stuff, the gate is always open and we’re happy to be where we are.”
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pg 47 11-11-21 CLARE SENIOR HURLING CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL: INAGH KILNAMONA VS BALLYEA
Talk is cheap for Ballyea captain Browne by PÁRAIC McMAHON PLAYING and winning with the friends you grew up with makes the journey with Ballyea all the more special, according to Jack Browne. He will lead the side into battle having been handed the captaincy at the beginning of the year. “Any team I was ever captain of, I don’t think they were too successful,” Browne noted. He previously captained the UL Fitzgibbon Cup hurlers in 2016 and the Ballyea U11 ground hurling side, their final loss in Newmarket-on-Fergus is still remembered by the defender. There is “an added privilege” with being captain but it doesn’t impact how Jack prepares for a game. “The only thing I do different is to go up for the toss, if we’re lucky to win something I will have to go and collect a cup, that is the only thing that’s different in Ballyea. I’d say I talk less this year than I’ve talked any other year, there’s 15 or 20 lads that know what they’re doing, there is no need to tell them.” Ballyea GAA was the go-to place for Jack and his friends during his formative years, it is also the location in which these friendships blossomed creating a bond that has been abundantly clear every
time the men in Black and Amber go into battle. Speaking at the club grounds on Sunday, he outlined, “The club means everything, I know it’s a cliche but it’s where it starts and it’s where it all ends, you’re playing with lads that you went to school with. I remember the years being down here, this was the meeting point in Ballyea, you would come down to the field, you would play soccer in the morning, you would cycle down the shop and then play hurling, rugby, everything and anything. The odd time we would go up to Gudgy’s (Gearoid O’Connell) house, up to Tony’s house or up to my own house. “I remember coming down watching the Ballyea team and watching them doing laps with lads going in over the wall getting sick, we loved to see it. I remember coming down and standing behind the goals when they were doing shooting drills and pucking balls out to them, you look up to who is above and we’re lucky enough that we’re competing at senior, it is a big thing for young lads to see it.” Tony Kelly’s absence for the final is “a huge loss”, he acknowledged. “The only upside you could say to it is, at least we know we won’t
have him, it’s not like losing him mid-game and it’s a massive shock, we have to prepare without him albeit we would love to have him.” Alongside Kelly, Browne is heavily involved in coaching at St Flannan’s College. “When you go to Flannan’s you love to manage teams and try win anything, there is a great atmosphere in there. As a hurler you just enjoy hurling whether that is coaching or playing.” “Smart comments” from students are par for the course with the woodwork and technical graphics teacher on Monday mornings after games. He’s been a member of staff at the Ennis school for five years and is now facing off with more ex pupils on the field of play, “it’s becoming more common, Cian Galvin joined the Clare panel last year and I was teaching him for the Leaving Cert that year, it’s happening a bit more often.” Away from hurling and school, greyhounds is the main passion of the two-time All-Ireland U21 winner. “It is an enjoyable past-time, my grandfather had dogs, my father had dogs, I swore I would never get dogs but I now have a lot of dogs... there is a satisfaction out of trying to train a dog, they are
Wishing best of luck to both teams in the County Final
Jack Browne
Burren Eye Photography
athletes like ourselves.” After making his debut for the Clare seniors in 2014, Jack became a regular at corner back, winning a National Hurling League title in 2016 and standing out as one of the top players when the Donal Moloney and Gerry O’Connor managed side reached the last four in 2018. Game-time has become less fre-
quent in the past two seasons under Brian Lohan but Browne is determined to use the club campaign to put his hand up for selection, “every time you go out you’re trying to impress. When you go back to Ballyea it’s just thoroughly enjoyable to play hurling, you’re just trying to do your best for the boys and hoping for the best.”
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pg 48
CLARE LADIES FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL: KILMIHIL VS BANNER LADIES
Kilmihil not lacking motivation for final clash against Banner SEAMUS HAYES
K
ILMIHIL are not lacking in motivation ahead of a fifth senior ladies football final appearance in six years. While Sunday’s Clare ladies senior football finalists Kilmihil and Banner ladies met in the final group game with Banner winning comfortably, Kilmihil manager Kevin Callinan believes that that game will have little or no bearing on Sunday’s final. “We were both through to the semi-finals at that stage making that meeting somewhat of a dead rubber. We were missing a few players and they were also short quite a few”, he told The Clare Echo this week when looking ahead to Sunday’s final which will take place at 2.30p.m at Shanahan McNamara Park in Doonbeg.
Sunday’s final will be Kilmihil’s fifth final appearance in six years and their sixth in all. They were victorious for the only time two years ago. Banner Ladies have provided the opposition in all of those finals, explained Kevin who is joined in management by Enda O’Halloran while James Murrihy has been doing some coaching with the squad this year. “Banner ladies have a huge set up and an experienced outfit. As a club panel goes, we are a tight knit group. We are always there, the girls play for one another and that brings us a long way, there is good camaraderie in the group, they all have each other’s backs,” Callinan said. Heading into Sunday’s final, Kilmihil have a clean bill of health and will have a full squad from which to select their team. “We have had a tough campaign and we would be just a little worried that the legs could be tired but we are hoping that they
will be fresh”. “Playing the group games our aim was to get to the semi-final. We met Doora-Barefield at that stage and it was the third time this year that we met and it’s been a battle every time. They got a goal in the dying seconds to force extra time in the semi-final and that was also a battle but the fact that we have got to the final is a testament to the team and the panel”, explained the Kilmihil boss. According to Kevin, “there is big support for the team. Our parish will always back the club and the players. There is great drive in the parish and it comes from all angles and the girls are very proud of the fact that everyone is backing them. That’s what LGFA is about”, he said. Team captain Ellie O’Gorman told The Clare Echo that they have been “training since February for this championship and motivation hasn’t been a problem.
Any time you are facing into a final it’s easy to motivate yourself ”. Accepting that the Banner have dominated the game at senior level in Clare the Kilmihil captain says “we wouldn’t put on the jersey if we didn’t think we could win. Yes they have been in the last thirteen or fourteen finals and that’s a very good record. We know the quality of players that they have. Our aim is to reach their standard and play at that level. It was fantastic two years ago when we beat them to win the title. We had lost the previous three finals”. The Claregalway based teacher agrees that “it was difficult to train at the beginning of the year when we had to train on our own. Since then things have improved bar having the use of dressing rooms which isn’t a major inconvenience”. In line with the team manager, Ellie is hugely proud of the Kilmihil supporters.
Kilmihil captain Ellie O’Gorman
“We have a great group of supporters. Any team in any age group in the men’s or ladies clubs, they get the full backing from the parish. It’s
Photo by Gerard O’Neill
great that crowds are allowed and we hope to have a good crowd there. They are like another player on the field for us”.
Banner Ladies braced for Kilmihil backlash by SEAMUS HAYES BANNER Ladies are expecting a strong opposing support for Sunday’s county final as they deal with the favourites tag. Kilfenora GAA clubman J.J. O’Dea has been involved with the Banner ladies club since his daughter Niamh was six years old. “We had no girls playing football in Kilfenora so it was the Banner or Miltown. I knew Pat Crotty in the Banner and he was the connection. Sitting in the car while training and matches are going on is the worst thing ever so you get involved in doing something if it’s only picking up the water bottles,” said the man who has managed Banner ladies to numerous successes in the past decade. O’Dea’s backroom team includes well known Galway camogie player Orla Kilkenny who teaches in Kilrush and lives in Ennis, Martin Nolan and Dorothy Meeneghan. “This team won a few Féile titles which resulted in us travelling to Derry and Tyrone for the national finals. They have come up through the ranks. There are new girls coming into the squad all the time,” he noted. He was critical of both the
camogie and ladies football finals taking place on the one weekend. “It’s a killer on players who play both camogie and ladies football who are expected to play games on Saturday and Sunday most weeks. A number of the girls who will be involved in the ladies football finals on Sunday are facing camogie deciders on Saturday.” The Banner boss is adamant that he is “not thinking about anything other that Sunday’s final. We got caught two years ago and we were hurt over that. It will be a different game this year. When we met in the group match it was only cat and mouse stuff. They (Kilmihil) will be up for this. County finals are not easily won. You could be the better team but it’s not easy to win. We saw that with the intermediate football final last Saturday. To win you have to win the 50/50 challenges. Football is still a simple game, put the ball over the bar. Nowadays they have laptops and all that stuff but it’s all about who puts the ball over the bar at the end of the day.” Heading into the final he is concerned about the fitness of his daughter Niamh O’Dea. “I can’t see her being able to play. She broke a bone in her ankle and also
Louise Hinchy
Photo by Gerard O’Neill
did ligament damage. She only got the boot off last week. “A lot of the girls have stepped up to the mark this year such as Aoibheann Malone. Look, they are a great bunch. They listen and they take things on board. It concerns me that they are being made raging hot favourites. Human nature being what it is, everyone in the
county will be hoping that we are beaten. There will be a big crowd which will benefit Kilmihil”. He also said that if the pick up was allowed in the men’s game it would speed up the game a lot. Emma O’Driscoll has been part of all of the Banner ladies senior championship successes and this year she captains the side from the
goalkeeper’s position. “It’s a great honour to have been chosen as team captain and it’s an honour that a number of players have had over the years”, she told The Clare Echo. Asked where the hunger comes from each year she said “it comes from the group of players that we play with and every year we get an injection of youth and that brings a new energy to the group. When you are at the top you are there to be knocked and we know that we can’t take anything for granted and you never know whata will happen. The core group has been there for a long time and that stability with the injection of fresh players every year is a good formula”. While she accepts that the Banner ladies carry the favourites tag she stressed that “Kilmihil have a superb panel of players, they have a wealth of talent and we can’t take anything for granted. We will have to perform as best we can. We know how hard Kilmihil have been working and they know what it feels like to win. They have had a taste of it. When they beat us two years ago they had all their home work done. We have to do what we have been doing all along. We have had some very good wins and we are looking to continue doing that.”
pg 49
11-11-21
CLARE SNR CAMOGIE CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL: TRUAGH CLONLARA VS SCARIFF OGONNELLOE
‘One of the toughest games we’ll ever play’ - Ciara Doyle
Photo by Gerard O’Neill
Truagh/Clonlara taking first senior final appearance in their stride SEAMUS HAYES TRUAGH/CLONLARA are confident they will take their first senior final appearance in their stride. Joint captains, Eimear Kelly and Michelle Powell say they “are here to enjoy the occasion, the build up and we are really looking forward to the weekend. It is our first time to get to the final. We will enjoy the lead up to the game and we will take it in our stride”. Getting to the final “is our biggest step so far. We have been there for the past few years and for us it was massive to win the semi-final. We are here to enjoy the occasion and the build up. We are really looking forward to the weekend,” Eimear stated. “We only beat Inagh-Kilnamona by a point but it was great as it put us into the semi-final against Kilkishen/Bodyke. That was a very tough game. We beat the ‘Bridge early in the competition and we really had a tough game against them also. Every game is so competitive in Clare. There have been big shocks in he group stages in the past few years,” Michelle noted. Qualifying for the final “is massive for the parish. In the last week and a half people have really been getting behind the team, sending us text messages while bunting and flags have been put up throughout the parish. They are all getting behind us,” Kelly outlined. Clare hurling captain John Conlon is a member of the backroom team and Eimear believes that his influence “is massive. What a lot of people don’t realise is that John has been involved with us for the last few years. He is a most down to earth fella and his involvement is fantastic for the development of players. He
brings a professional edge and adds loads to the management and while it is great to have him involved, he is just one cog in the management wheel and they all play their part”. Both ladies would, of course, love to be stepping up to accept the McMahon cup on Saturday but right now they are enjoying the lead up to throw in. MANAGEMENT: WE HAVE RIGHT MIX Excellent work at underage level has been key to Truagh/Clonlara’s progress to this Saturday’s Clare senior camogie final according to team manager Bob Caulfield and selector Eamonn Noonan. “A bit unlucky” not to have played at this stage of the senior championship in the past, the South Clare outfit have finally made it to the final “having been knocking on the door for the past few years”. “Scariff-Ogonnelloe have been here before. They won this chamionship in 2019 and went on to win the Munster title. We will have to play very well if we are to beat them. This is a huge challenge for us”, according to Truagh-Clonblara manager Caulfield, who has been part of the management team since 2011. “We won the intermediate title in 2012. I really enjoy being involved. The club and the girls are brilliant. We have had great managers over the years.” Selector Eamonn Noonan believes that the have a “good mix of youth and experience. We have players who have been there for a while and we have players breaking through from the minor team. We have a good mix and it’s very important to have that as it drives things on. There is huge competition for places and we are delighted with that. It’s very hard to pick the team come match day but it’s a great headache to have”.
CIARA Doyle has represented her club, county and college but is expecting Saturday’s county final to be one of the toughest encounters she will line out in, writes Seamus Hayes. “From the outset this year Scariff-Ogonnelloe’s sole focus was to qualify from the group. The first match was all we looked at when the draw was made and we never looked any further than Kilkishen/Bodyke. It was one game at a time. Now that we have qualified for the final we know that we are up against serious opposition and this will probably be one of the toughest matches we will ever play”, the centre back stated. She disputes the label assigned to her as a key player on the Scariff/Ogonnelloe side. “Everyone is a key player. We have young players who have come on. We are very very lucky and privileged to be able to get out to play. Last year we got used to a lot of things being online and we just bought into it. We just made sure we were in the right condition when we got back to the field”. Ciara believes that “Truagh-Clonlara are unlucky that they haven’t been in a number of finals in the last few years but our target now is to win the McMahon Cup and bring it back to East Clare. Last year we only got to the semi-final stage and we feel we left ourselves down. We are one of the best teams in Clare and we have the experience of having played in a Munster final but the girls in the Truagh-Clonlara team have played with Clare and they have been in a number of underage finals”. Very little separates the two teams, the Bodyke native felt. “I think it’s fairly even between the two of us and I think it will go down to the wire and it won’t be decided until the final minutes” A member of the Clare panel Ciara believes that “Clare camogie is not far away from a major breakthrough. Playing Cork in Páirc Ui Caoimh last year was huge, the first time in six years that we got to the quarter finals. It mightn’t have gone our way but
Ciara Doyle Photo by Caroline O’Keeffe the club scene is really coming on”. For now “the focus is on Saturday and we are hoping we can get over the line. We will enjoy it as well. Hopefully we will get over the line and go on to represent Clare in the Munster championship”, she concluded.
Competitive series good for camogie by SEAMUS HAYES
CLARE camogie is reaping the rewards from a very competitive senior championship, the manager of one of this year’s finalists has said. Scariff-Ogonnelloe manager David O’Sullivan believes that “there are a lot of good teams in Clare in the last few years and anyone that qualified out of the county did really really well. Three or four or maybe five teams can hold up their hands each year and say they can win the title. We were in a very tough group with Kilmaley, Newmarket, Kilkishen and Doora-Barefield and we were delighted to qualify from that group”, he told The Clare Echo this week. Having qualified Scariff-Ogonnelloe’s semi-final opponents
were Inagh/Kilnamona who were fancied by many to progress. “All in our own camp knew we had the potential. We are not a bad side and we got an extra bit of motivation from everyone tipping Inagh/Kilnamona. Our performance in that game was brilliant. We did to Inagh/ Kilnamona what they had done to everyone else over the last few years. We dogged them and worked hard and we had the class to get the couple of scores and stay ahead. It was a great win, a great game of camogie and a great advertisement for the Clare championship as well”. O’Sullivan said the East Clare side are determined to win on Saturday to get another crack at the provincial championship. “This year we have seven debu-
tants in the senior side for the championship and that is what it’s all about, bringing on the new players and having a good structure. The senior players can’t stay going forever. We need competition for places. These debutants have a chance to make a name for themselves on Saturday”. They have a clean bill of health heading into this weekend’s decider but expected a number of girls to be playing in their first senior final. “Truagh-Clonlara are an excellent team. Both of us are unbeaten, Our focus is to win a second senior title” “Look the real winner in Clare is camogie. The teams will bring a massive crowd to Saturday’s final and it will be the same for the intermediate and senior B finals. Clare camogie is the real winner”.
11-11-21
pg 50
Stack’s Loxley sets the way in Limerick SEAN Stack’s owned Loxley continues to set Limerick greyhound stadium alight. On the Limerick Card on last Thursday night there was a twelve race graded card on offer which resulted in three Clare associated winners. The Clare Abbey Trio Syndicate off Paul Keating, John Keane and Jim McEnery enjoyed a fifth career win with Turn the Page who broke smartly to hold on for victory in 29.54, this son of Droopys Buick and Flandys Hawkeye is trained by Ennistymon’s Tom Flanagan. Inislosky Jasper representing Mary Crotty from O’Briensbridge finished strongly the claim honours
in 29.46 – this was a third win for this son of Droopys Roddick and Cailin Pol. Fergus Lady kept her consistent form intact for Meelick’s Patrick Croinin when she finished well to record 29.14, this was this daughter of Laughil Blake and Ballyelan Comet’s sixth career win. It was another action packed evening at the same venue on Saturday night last for the second round heats of the Matchbook Betting Exchange Irish St. Leger. Fast Fit Paddy owned by John Quinn of Gort and trained by Declan McDonagh from Liscannor is still in the hunt for further honours after finishing third in his heat, Bling Bling Paul owned and trained
by John Meehan from Newmarket-on-Fergus put in another top class performance to fill second spot in his heat. Loxley owned by Sixmilebridge hurling legend Sean Stack continues to set the Limerick Track alight, Loxley made it win number eleven in the concluding race time here was 28.71 for the 525 yards trip, The first race on the card brought victory to Anne and John Carey from Cooraclare when Gower Dazzler recorded her first career win in 29.82, dazzler is a daughter of Droopys Roddick and Gower Queen. The John Collins and Albert Long bandwagon continues to roll
Win for Breen & Logue by SEAMUS HAYES
(8) in third spot with 18 points
WOODSTOCK GOLF CLUB: The Autumn league continued at Woodstock last week when the format was fourball betterball. The winners with 46 points were Ruairi Breen and Brian Logue, they had one to spare over Paddy Meehan and Brian Kilker who pipped Jason Dormer and Tony Coote on the back nine. In fourth spot, also with 45 points were Brian Keogh and Ray Grogan with Ross Darmody and John Brennan fifth on 43 points. In the club fourball competition the winners were Cathal Nagle and Eugene Killeen with 44 points The league continues this weekend when the format will be a rumble where players will play their own ball throughout the round. One score will count for the first six holes, two scores on holes 7 to 12 and three scores for the final six holes. For those not taking part in the Autumn league there will be a club singles
KILRUSH GOLF CLUB: Part Murtagh (12) was the winner of the weekly winter turkey competition at Kilrush with 32 points from Shane Carey (10) with 31, Derek Garvey (10) with 31 and John Stapleton (14) with 30 points.
ENNIS GOLF CLUB: Last week’s senior ladies competition at Ennis was won by Brid Cunningham, Margaret Flanagan and Peig Cleary with 50.5 points. In second place with 51 5/6 were Carmel Verling, Nuala D’Auria and Anne McMahon with third spot filled by Bridie Hanrahan, Margaret McEnery and Mary Murray with 53 points. The weekly ladies 9 hole singles was won by Mary Nagle (13) with 20 points from Mary McMahon (12) with 19 points with Suzanne Deane
on as they were back in the winners enclosure after race three at the Galway Track on Saturday night as Brickhill Layla notched up her fourth career success in this A3 graded affair this time, she eased home five and a half lengths clear of Drombeg Glory in 29.30. The winner got the better of the argument with fellow early pacer Springwell Diva at the opening bend and racing down the back she led from Drombeg Glory and Ballyhale Chloe. In command at the head of affairs the daughter of Droopys Syndent and Rathmeeehan May extended her advantage from the crown of the home bend to win going away.
In race five, the Niall O’Riordan owned Non Stop is the most consistent sprinter in her grade and the daughter of Shaneboy Lee & Raficky made it thirteen career wins with an all the way two length success over Room To Stop in 19.39. The Stephen Murray of Sixmilebridge trained lady excels in the red jacketed and breaking smartly she led Room To Stop and Caislean Ruby by almost two lengths approaching the opening bend. Railing well Non Stop led by two lengths off the home bend and she maintained that advantage all the way to the line.
Derek Frehill (Director of Racing) & Philip Peake (Interim CEO) launching Ag Rásaíocht Le Chéile. The initiative is being rolled out across ten greyhound racing stadia with the evening’s card being preceded by a minute’s silence in memory of all victims of Covid. Admission is free with racegoers encouraged to purchase a €2 programme, the proceeds of which will go directly to ALONE for its work across Ireland in highlighting the issues facing older people living alone. Tickets can be booked online www.gogreyhoundracing.ie
DROMOLAND GOLF CLUB: Dermot McMahon was the winner of the men’s 18 hole singles stableford competition at Dromoland with 44 points. He had two to spare over Brendan Spicerf with third spot filled by Ruairi Price with 39 points followed by Gerry Barrett with 38 points. Noel O’Brien won the gross with 32 points. Colette Colleran won the ladies 9 hole turkey/wine/chocolate competition with 20 points from Joan Ryan with a similar score. Mairead Toomey was third with 19 points. SHANNON GOLF CLUB: The Autumn league concluded in Shannon last week and resulted in victory for team Abrahan Ancer with a total of 399 points. The members of the team are Joe O’Neill and Michael Darcy; David Flynn and Eamonn Carroll; Eddie Russell and John Monaghan. In last week’s green tee challenge the winner was Dermot Eyers (27) with 44 points from Charles Fisher (19) with 43 points with third spot filled by Hugh Heaney (15) with 42 points. Eoin Collins (9) won the gross with 33 points
Photo by Brian Arthur
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PLANNING 51
THURSDAY, NOV 11 2021
PLANNING NOTICES CLARE COUNTY COUNCIL CRAGGAKNOCK EAST, MULLAGH CO. CLARE Take notice that Steven & Sandra Brooks intend to apply to the Planning Authority for permission to extend dwelling house at the above address. The Planning Application may be inspected or purchased at a fee not exceeding the reasonable cost of making a copy, at the offices of the planning authority during its public opening hours. A submission or observation in relation to the application may be made in writing to the planning authority on payment of the prescribed fee, €20, within the period of 5 weeks beginning on the date of receipt by the authority of the application and such submissions or observations will be considered by the planning authority in making a decision on the application. The planning authority may grant permission subject to or without conditions or may refuse to grant permission. CLARE COUNTY COUNCIL BALLYMACLINAUN, LISCANNOR, CO CLARE EIRCODE V95 R860 Take notice that Noel Mantle intends to apply for permission to RETAIN the revised site boundaries and site layout, which differ from that granted under planning reference P07/2764 and all associated site and ancillary works at the above address. The planning application may be inspected or purchased at a fee not exceeding the reasonable cost of making a copy, at the
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offices of the planning authority, during its public opening hours. A submission or observation in relation to the application may be made in writing to the authority on payment of the prescribed fee of €20.00, within the period of 5 weeks beginning on the date of receipt by the authority of the application. CLARE COUNTY COUNCIL FURTHER INFORMATION / REVISED PLANS CLOONAGOWAN, CRUSHEEN, CO. CLARE Planning Ref: P21/782 Development Description: Permission to construct an extension and carry out alterations to existing dwelling house together with all associated site development works and services Location: Cloonagowan, Crusheen, Co. Clare Take notice that Leroy & Nicola Kulczynski has lodged significant further information in respect of the planning application P21/782. This information and planning application may be inspected or purchased at a fee not exceeding the reasonable cost of making a copy, at the office of the Planning Authority of Clare County Council, Planning Department, Áras Contae an Chláir, New Road, Ennis, Co. Clare during its public opening hours. A submission or observation in relation to the further information or revised plans may be made in writing to the planning authority on payment of the prescribed fee, not later than 2 weeks after the receipt of the newspaper notice and site notice by the plan-
ning 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 MAIN STREET, LAHINCH, CO. CLARE Take Notice that Gabrielle & David O’Brien intend to apply to the planning authority for permission to change of use of derelict retail unit to residential. Rebuilding the ground floor lean to at the rear and extending it up to first floor, converting loft and adding a rooflight and all associated site and ancillary works. The planning application may be inspected, or purchased at a fee not exceeding the reasonable cost of making a copy at the offices of the planning authority during its public opening hours and 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, FURTHER INFORMATION / REVISED PLANS KILLARD, DOONBEG, CO. CLARE PLANNING REF: P21/595 Development Description: Retention permission to retain the as-constructed foundation for a machinery shed and planning permission to complete
the construction of the machinery shed along with all associated site works and services at the above address. Location: Killard, Doonbeg, Co. Clare Take notice that Gerard Blake has lodged significant further information in respect of planning application P21/595. This information and planning application may be inspected or purchased at a fee not exceeding the reasonable cost of making a copy, at the offices of the Planning Authority of Clare County Council, Planning Department, 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 CAHERHURLEY, BODYKE, CO. CLARE, V94 VFH0 Take notice that Marcus Leaning and Sadhbh O’Dwyer intend to apply for planning permission to demolish an existing flat roofed and pitched extension to the rear of the property and construct a new two storey extension to the rear of the existing property and renovations to the existing property and associated ancillary works at the
PLACE YOUR PLANNING NOTICES WITH THE CLARE ECHO CALL 065 671 9021 EMAIL SALES@CLAREECHO.IE
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, Clare County Council, Áras Contae an Chláir, New Road, Ennis, Co. Clare, V95 DXP2 during its public opening hours. (Monday to Friday 9.00 am to 4.00 pm). 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 CAHERADERRY, LAHINCH, CO. CLARE Take Notice that I Niamh Egan intend to apply to the planning authority for permission to build a new dwelling house with garage, install a waste treatment system, creating a new entrance to the public road and all associated site and ancillary works. The planning application may be inspected, or purchased at a fee not exceeding the reasonable cost of making a copy at the offices of the planning authority during its public opening hours and 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 LISSYCASEY, ENNIS, CO CLARE Take notice that Deirdre & Declan Donnelly are applying for retention permission for the demolition of a derelict building and planning permission to construct a new dwelling house, private garage and carport, new entrance, sewerage treatment facilities and 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 LISSYCASEY, ENNIS, CO. CLARE Take notice that Lissycasey Community Properties are applying to Clare County Council for planning permission for the demolition of an existing squash court and community building and the construction of a new community hall incorporating meeting rooms, general purpose room and changing facilities, installation of new sewerage treatment unit & percolation area along with all associated site 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.
LEGAL NOTICES AN CHUIRT DUICE THE DISTRICT COURT Case No: D:LIC:ENIS:2021:008544 Gaming and Lotteries Act 1956 Section 15 APPLICATION FOR A GAMING CERTIFICATE District Court Area of Ennis District No. 12 Banner Amusements Limited APPLICANT TAKE NOTICE that the above-named Applicant, Banner Amusements Limited, of 43 Parnell Street, Limerick, V94X293 will apply to the Court sitting at Ennis District Court on the 08 December 2021 at 10:30 for a certificate under section 15 of the Gaming and Lotteries Act, 1956 (No. 2 of 1956), authorising the issue of a licence permitting gaming at an amusement hall or funfair, namely Biggles Casino situate at Lower Drumbiggle Road, Ennis, Clare, V95 P462 in said court area, subject to such conditions as may be imposed in accordance with section 15(4) of the said Act. The number and kinds of games proposed to be carried on are as follows:Number of Machines: 40 Gaming Type Details: Video Poker Gaming Machines and Slot Gaming Machines The period in the particular year to which this application relates for which the licence is sought is 1 January to 31 December 2022 AND FURTHER TAKE NOTICE that the applicant will rely on the following matters in support of the application:Forms of Entertainment other than Gaming on the Premises: Assorted video games and amusement games, coffee bar, TV sports and music entertainment. Dated 09 November 2021 Signed Michael Houlihan & Partners Solicitors LLP Solicitors for the Applicant, 9/10/11 Bindon Street, Ennis, Clare To: The District Court Clerk at Ennis District Court, The Courthouse, Ennis, Co. Clare. And: The Superintendent of the Garda Síochána, Ennis Garda Station, Ennis, Co. Clare. And: The Fire Officer, Clare Fire Station, Ennis, Co. Clare And: County Council Clare, New Road, Ennis, Co. Clare.
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PHOTOGRAPHERS
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Dear Heart of Jesus, In the past, I have asked for many favors. This time, I ask you This very special favour. (Mention Favor) Take It dear Heart of Jesus, And place it within Your own broken heart Where your Father sees it, Then in His Merciful Eyes It will become your favour Not mine. Amen. Say this prayer for 3 days. Promise Publication. Favour will be granted.
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› Word › Best Daily Word Se… (http://puzzles.bestforpuzzles.com/category/word/)
Best Daily Word Search
THURSDAY, NOV 11 2021
THIS WEEKS PUZZLES NOV 11
Best Daily Word Search: 20 December 2019
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QUIZ 55
THURSDAY, NOV 11 2021
The Clare Echo Quiz THE MUNSTER FOOTBALL FINAL OF 1992
was manager of the Clare 1Who footballers in 1992? A: Mick O’Dwyer B: Tom Downes C: John Maughan
Who was the Clare captain and 6 only the second man from the county to lift the Munster Cup? A: Tom Morrissey B: Kieran O’Neill C: Francis McInerney
How many players turned up to From where did defender Frankie 2 this manager’s first training ses7 Griffin come back every weekend sion as Clare boss for training and matches?
A: Fitzgerald Stadium, Killarney B: Gaelic Grounds, Limerick C: Semple Stadium, Thurles
many people attended the 4How game? A: 15,780 B: 24,015 C: 30,760
Clancy scored Clare’s first 5Colm goal, who got the second? A: Martin Daly B: Gerry Killeen C: Aiden Moloney
Which panellist has since gone on 8 to become a Director of Service at Local Government level? A: Noel Roche B: Liam Conneally C: James Hanrahan
l QUESTION 6: Who was the Clare captain in 1992?
RTÉ commentator, Marty Mor9 rissey famously referenced which animal at the end of the game? A: Horse B: Pig C: Cow
By how many points did Clare 10 beat Kerry in the 1992 Munster Final?
ANSWERS
6. Francis McInerney 7. London 8. Liam Conneally 9. Cow 10. Four
was the 1992 Munster 3Where Final played?
A: London B: Letterkenny C: Labasheeda
1. John Maughan 2. 13 3. Gaelic Grounds, Limerick 4. 24,015 5. Martin Daly
A: 6 B: 13 C: 30
A: Two B: Three C: Four
Spot the Difference Can you spot the difference? Spot the 7 differences. The answers will be revealed in next weeks edition.
Last weeks Answers . Number 6 missing . Line missing on jersey (left) . Circle missing on sock . Line missing on arm of jersey (middle)
. Crest missing on jersey (middle right) . 4 missing on jersey (left) . Logo on glove missing (middle)
Corofin players celebrate. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill
AND GUTTERING CLARE
ROOF MOSS CLEANING