The Clare Echo 12/03/20

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l Statue of Willie Clancy in Miltown Malbay dons mask as fears over the Corona Virus ramp up.

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4 NEWS

THURSDAY, MAR 12 2020

Index NEWS

A PIECE OF HISTORY DESTROYED

A

SECTION of the Old Barracks corner building has been washed away as a result of the latest high tide in Ennis.

Ongoing pressure from recent storms in the county has taken some of the building attached to the Old Barracks on the River Fergus in Lifford, Ennis.

An Garda Síochána were first informed of the damage on Sunday afternoon, shortly after its occurrence.

The Clare Echo understands that the section of the building first became detached around midday on Sunday.

Height levels on the River Fergus have almost reached peak levels in the past three weeks due to ongoing rainfall.

A status yellow rainfall warning is in place for Co Clare over a twenty four hour period from 5am on Monday to 5am on Tuesday.

Now owned by the Office of Public Works (OPW), the building has served as a Royal Irish Constabulary barracks, Garda station and Army reserve.

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l WATER DAMAGE: A section of the Old Barracks building in Ennis has been washed away following weeks of heavy rain

Photo by Gary Collins

Lahinch Smother series cast revealed STUART HOLLY

editor@clareecho.ie

THE cast has been revealed for the RTÉ/ BBC series currently filming in Lahinch.

Written by Kate O’Riordan (Mr Selfridge, and upcoming Channel 5 drama Penance) Smother is a family thriller about deeply buried secrets and their unintended consequences, set in a small town on the wild and rugged coast of Clare.

Dervla Kirwan (The Stranger, White Dragon), pictured right, leads as family matriarch Val Ahern- a devoted mother who is determined to protect her family and particularly her three daughters Jenny, Anna and Grace, at any cost.

When Val’s husband Denis played

by Stewart Graham (The Cure, Hunger) is found dead at a foot of a cliff close to their home the morning after a family party, Val begins to interrogate the events that unfolded the night before.

She explores Denis’s relationships with his children, step-children and his siblings in order to find out who might have been responsible for his brutal, shocking death.

The deeper Val delves into her family’s secrets the more she realises how her late husband’s controlling, manipulative behaviour had a deep affect on each member of the family.

The cast also includes Thomas Levin (Borgen), Hilary Rose (The Young Offenders) and Justine Mitchell (Cheat).

Dervla Kirwan said: “It’s been a long time since anything this well written about an Irish family has come my way. In Smother Kate O’Riordan has created a riveting thriller that will wake the world up to contemporary Ireland and rewrite an outdated narrative that has been peddled about the Irish for years.

“Val is such a complex, layered character and a ferociously protective mother and I’m really excited to be playing her in such a powerful Irish drama. Smother has so much to say about modern families, and it says it in a compelling and gripping way.”

The 12 week shoot began on February 10th and will wrap on Friday May 1st. Shooting locations include Lahinch, Liscannor, Spanish Point, Fanore, Ennistymon and Lisdoonvarna.

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6 NEWS

THURSDAY, MAR 12 2020

COVID-19 OUTBREAK EVENTS CANCELLED, SCHOOLS CLOSE AND BUSINESSES SUFFER

St Patrick’s Day cancelled PÁRAIC McMAHON

S

paraic@clareecho.ie

T PATRICK'S Day parades across Clare are to be cancelled following the decision by elected representatives to postpone the county parade.

Cathaoirleach of Clare County Council, Cllr Clare Colleran Molloy (FF) sought the postponement of the Ennis St Patrick's Day due to the threat of the coronavirus.

"This is a very difficult decision but it is the right decision. I ask the people of Clare to remain calm. This is a crisis for our country and the world. We have taken action in the way we could. I ask the people of our county to listen to reliable sources and not to propagate misinformation," Cllr Colleran Molloy stated.

Protecting "vulnerable people" was stressed as a key factor by Cllr Ann Norton (IND). "I wouldn't like to think that we as a County Council didn't put something in place that prevents the progression of this virus. I am conscious people will be disappointed with

Five cases in Kinvara LOCAL GPs in South Galway have appealed for schools to close down to help contain the spread of coronavirus. Five tests carried out in Kinvara have tested positive for coronavirus according to local medical officials.

On Wednesday, representatives in the area called for the instigation of a plan of action for South Galway.

Gort-based Dr Richard Joyce has appealed to parents to keep children from schools to limit the spread of the virus and noted that there was five positive cases in a small area. “Schools must close immediately. They do it everywhere eventually and the only regret has been not doing it sooner”.

He believed it was “madness” schools remained open and warned, “we won’t be able to cope with the fallout”. On Tuesday, Kinvara Pharmacy confirmed they were “taking steps” to protect the health of their staff and customers “due to the recent numbers of localised cases of Covid-19”.

Kinvara GAA club announced their decision to “postpone until further all upcoming fundraising events” including a scheduled Fashion Show due to take place tonight (Thursday).

“This decision has been made in light of recent and localised cases of the Coronavirus. We remind all people in our community to heed and follow the advice of the HSE and local medical staff. We all now have to be responsible and take the necessary steps, be it on an individual basis, or as a community together”.

Speaking on Wednesday, Galway East TD, Ciaran Cannon (FG) stated that he is in “constant contact” with the Taoiseach, Tánaiste, Minister for Health and Minister for Education on the matter.

the work involved and work that has gone into this.

For the health and safety of the older generation and the most vulnerable of our society that might not be able to fight this virus, it is important that we stand together to show we are united in protecting the people of this county".

A personal decision had already been made

by Cllr Mary Howard to avoid large crowds and decrease her chances of picking up the virus. "We don't know what we're dealing with, we're in uncharted water.

“When we all heard there was a case in the West of Ireland, we assumed it was Limerick or Galway, little did we know it was over the road".

Italy's scenario has pained a clearer picture of what Ireland needs to do, Cllr Cillian Murphy (FF) outlined.

"The territory is very well chartered, three weeks ago Italy were in the same place, look at reports from Italian medical personnel. We need to do this and we need to do more, it is going to cost something, maybe a lot in the short-term but if we don't make hard decisions today it is going to cost us everything

in the future".

"People have come to the fore," Cllr Donna McGettigan (SF) stated in calling on the Council to show leadership. The risk of "community transmission" outweighed the positives of the parade in the eyes of Cllr Johnny Flynn (FG).

"We need to keep calm heads, we don't want to drive on hysteria," Cllr Paul Murphy (FG) cautioned as he welcomed the proposal.

An "economic impact" is on the cards for the county that "will knock inward tourism", Cllr Joe Killeen (FF) maintained.

He was disgusted to have attended a funeral over the weekend which had no visible hand sanitisers and highlighted the need for all public buildings to have them readily available.

Statistics as first reported by The Business Post in which 40% of the population are set to get coronvirus were cited by Cllr Pat Hayes (FF).

"We want best practice to become the norm. Whatever we attend, we must ensure the norm is proper hygiene". Cllr Joe Cooney (FG) insisted now was the time for the local authority to get "on top" of the matter.

lPOSTPONED: The 2019 St Patrick’s Day Parade in Ennis Photo by Eamon Ward

Online abuse of Clare Covid-19 family slammed PÁRAIC McMAHON

E

paraic@clareecho.ie

LECTED local representatives have blasted the public commentary aimed at one Clare family since they were diagnosed with the coronavirus.

Further spread of Covid-19 is to be expected, Cllr Shane Talty (FF) told Monday's meeting of Clare County Council. He noted that there was "an uneasy feeling" last Wednesday night when the outbreak of four people with the coronavirus were first reported as being from the county.

"It is important that we publicly reiterate that the health professional sought and fol-

lowed HSE guidelines, they have been changed since," the Lahinch postmaster pointed out.

"Some of the public commentary whether it is on social media, in shops or down the streets, I was in the town of Ennis last Thursday and some disgraceful stuff was being said". Talty was thankful that the North-West Clare family are doing well in their recovery at University Hospital Limerick.

Views expressed towards the family were later referred to when a motion by Cllr Mary Howard (FG) called on both the Minister for Justice and the Minister for Communication "to seriously consider legislation to deal with trolls and trolling.

“The proposed legislation should be similar to the same oversight involved with setting up a bank account be introduced for those set-

lSHUT: Inagh school is closed following four confirmed Covid-19 cases in Clare

ting up social media accounts".

Abuse aimed at politicians following the General and local elections was criticised by the Ennis representative.

"We saw people promoting Be Kind following the tragic death of Caroline Flack but it didn't last long with the talk on social media following the coronavirus. People that know the family involved heard threats that their house would be burnt down. It is incumbent on all of us to say enough is enough".

Lisdoonvarna based Cllr Joe Garrihy (FG) admitted to being scared by abuse visible on social media.

"The potential damage it will do to our democracy is unquantifiable. The carry on in North Clare was beyond what you could imagine when someone becomes unwell".

Photo by John Mangan

NEWS 7

THURSDAY, MAR 12 2020

Shop local, as virus could be ‘catastrophic’ to businesses PÁRAIC McMAHON

T

paraic@clareecho.ie

HERE has been a “relatively reasonable” short-term impact on business in Clare since the outbreak of coronavirus however the long-term effect “has the potential to be as catastrophic for business as the Lehman collapse,” one hotelier has warned.

A day by day approach is being followed by several businesses across all industries in the county.

Speaking to The Clare Echo, Michael Vaughan admitted the impact on the tourism and hospitality sector is very hard to predict.

“The cancellation of the St Patrick’s Day Parade will have a particular affect on pubs, restaurants and hotels in the next week or two, that is the kicking off of the tourism season”.

Cancellations have been noted in Clare accommodation providers, some of which for April in Lahinch particularly. “We’re not seeing any cancellations into the summer yet, we’re hopeful the worst will be over by the time the main season goes ahead. You couldn’t rule out the fact that this has the potential to be as catastrophic for business as the Lehman collapse back in 2008, anyone I’m talking to in business is foreboding about it”.

He added, “If the figures turn out to be really bad in terms of illness and restriction we could have one of the worst seasons that we’ve ever had. It’s a moment of real fear among people in business at the moment, most people in business are trying to see what kind of reserve they have in order to stay open, the attitude of the banking sector is critical and the Government in terms of what supports they can put in place to help busi-

nesses stay going. Most of the businesses in Clare are profitable businesses but when cash dries up and you haven’t the cash to pay wages that is when a business fails”.

Meanwhile, further frontline staff are expected to be diagnosed over the coming weeks posing major challenges for the Irish health service. No particular location in Ireland will be unique in becoming a hotbed for instances of Covid-19, Dr Michael Harty (inset) has said.

“We have very limited cases here at the moment, I don’t expect Clare will be any different to any other part of the country. It’s practically impossible to predict how it is going to spread, it would appear from the Department of Health and the HSE that we are not going to become immune to it here

in Ireland and it is going to arrive”.

In such a scenario, he has urged people to contact their GP before arriving to any practice to prevent further spreading of the virus.

Forty percent of the Irish population are expected to contract coronavirus, a statistic Harty believed was “a distinct possibility”. “That is a huge amount of people, the majority over eighty percent will have minor illness or will not be aware that they have got the virus at all, it is the other 15 or 20 percent of people who would be the biggest concern from a medical point of view”.

“If you’re not having symptoms, there is a very low likelihood of you passing on that virus, it’s when you start to sneeze or cough that you are shedding the

virus in large amounts”.

Speaking to The Clare Echo, the Kilmihil GP outlined that the same practices apply to everyone in trying to combat Covid-19 and that is “basic hygiene”. He said, “It is extremely important that you wash your hands thoroughly for at least 20 seconds, I would suggest that people use a nail brush to wash their hands, keep nails short, wash hands thoroughly including above the palm of your hand to your wrist.

“Dispose of any tissues for coughing and sneezing, they should be single use and discarded. People need to be coughing and sneezing into their elbow rather than into their hands, not to be touching their face or eyes, stop picking their nose. If you do touch your face, eyes or nose, you should wash your hands, that is one of the most important things you can do to prevent the transmission”.

Coronavirus in Clare timeline Wednesday 4th March: The Clare Echo is first to report that four cases of coronavirus in the West of Ireland are in fact a Clare family.

Four school closures are announced in North Clare. Nine cases are confirmed to be on the island of Ireland.

lPUBLIC HEALTH: LCETB demonstrate how to make your own sanitiser Photo by John Mangan

Make your own sanitiser

WITH the concerns of the general population in mind and the non-availability of hand gel in Ennis, Limerick and Clare Education and Training Board stepped up on Friday to assist learners and staff in the etiquette of hand washing and infection control.

“We delivered a short demonstration class to the assembled group on the correct way to wash and dry your hands to minimise the possibility of the virus remaining on the skin.

“We concluded the demonstration by making our own personalized hand gel and hand wipes,” a spokesperson for LCETB said.

The demonstration was delivered

by Marie Moore, Infection Prevention and Control Tutor, Rebecca Atkinson VTOS learner and Nora McGurrin Teacher Limerick and Clare Education and Training Board and Cllr Mary Howard.

HAND SANITIZER RECIPE 3/4 Cup of pure aloe vera gel 1/2 Cup of alcohol (rubbing alcohol/isopropyl or vodka if 60% proof) 10 Drops of Lavender essential oil

METHOD - Put the aloe vera into a glass bowl - Add 10 drops of lavender oil - Add the alcohol - Mix together until smooth - Using a funnel pour the mixture into a small spray bottle or saturate gauze with solution and put some into a zippy bag to bring with you to sanitise surfaces

Thursday 5th March: One of the family members is confirmed to be a GP in Clare.

Contact tracing of the four Clare individuals gets underway.

Individuals are encouraged to ring their GP before arriving if they fear they have symptoms.

Nurses working in the A&E Unit of University Hospital Limerick (UHL) undergo testing for virus.

The confirmation of pupils at Inagh NS is postponed.

Staff at one factory in Shannon are tested for Covid-19.

Students at UL are advised that numbers on campus may have to be reduced in the coming weeks.

Some schools in Clare are told to prepare two weeks worth of work due to the possibility of widespread closures.

13 confirmed cases on the island of Ireland.

Friday 6th March: Two further cases in Clare linked to the family are confirmed. Both are females.

Ennistymon CBS opens a virtual classroom. Mr Murphy’s Leaving Cert Maths class are the first to log in from home instead of being in the classroom.

Tubber NS announces its closure.

Underage Gaelic Football games in Clare are postponed for an unspecified period of time due to “weather, pitch

conditions and other issues”.

A small number of attendees at a recent event in glór are contacted by the HSE and advised to enter self-isolation as they may have come into contact with a confirmed case.

Nursing Homes Ireland has confirmed that visiting restrictions are now in place in nursing homes nationwide.

UL Hospitals Group announce visiting ban on all six of its sites which includes Ennis General Hospital.

A local helpline is set up by UL Hospitals Group by members of the public who have questions regarding coronavirus, (1890 300046). The number is in operation from 10am to 5pm.

Sporting Ennistymon cancel all fixtures and training sessions “until further notice”.

Corofin GAA stop all underage training in light of cases of Covid-19 in North-West Clare.

22 confirmed cases on the island of Ireland.

Saturday 7th March: It is confirmed that the GP from Clare sought advice from the HSE and was cleared to return to work having returned from a family holiday in Italy.

Former Lahinch Garda Station is put into use for testing in North-West Clare.

Kilmurry NS’s confirmation is cancelled one hour before it is due to commence.

In Miltown Malbay, a surgical mask appears on the Willie Clancy statue, for the first time.

The meeting of Crusheen/ Tubber and Corofin/Ruan in the U21B hurling championship is postponed as is the fixture involving Inagh/Kilnamona (2) and Bodyke.

Fanore and Lisdoonvarna cancel their St Patrick’s Day parades.26 cases in Ireland.

Sunday 8th March: 75 staff from University Hospital Limerick enter self-isolation.

The Clare family receiving treatment are said to be recovering well. 33 cases confirmed on the island of Ireland.

Monday 9th March: A female in the West contracts Covid-19 following close contact with a confirmed patient.

St Patrick’s Day parades cancelled. 36 confirmed cases of Covid-19 in Ireland.

Tuesday 10th March: Club Clare are forced to cancel a fundraising event due to take place on Saturday night.

Ryanair confirms it is suspending all flights to and from Italy.

Public transport records a 5% reduction according to the National Transport Authority.

Bank of Ireland and Ulster Bank have said they will offer mortgage and loan repayment deferrals to personal customers, to help them deal with financial strain caused by the Covid-19 outbreak 50 confirmed coronavirus cases on the island of Ireland Wednesday 11th March: Criteria for testing of Covid-19 expands. Ennis GP, Dr Máire Finn states, “I suspect community transmission figures will increase”.

Chief Executive of Clare County Council, Pat Dowling and Cathaoirleach Cllr Clare Colleran Molloy (FF) will not be attending St Patrick’s Day celebrations in the US.

8 NEWS

DUIs are on the rise PÁRAIC McMAHON

T

paraic@clareecho.ie

HERE was a seven percent increase in the amount of Clare motorists found to be driving under the influence of drugs and alcohol in 2019.

Fourteen extra arrests of drivers found to be under the influence of drink and drugs were made in Co Clare last year.

In total, 204 motorists were arrested for such an offence. In January of this year, in 27 tests 2 drivers were found to have taken drugs before sitting behind the wheel.

Three people died on Clare roads in 2019 with only a single fatality the year previous. Chief Superintendent, Seán Colleran outlined there was a "significant reduction in serious injury accidents".

He said weather conditions were "having a major impact on minor road collisions".

Over 1,100 less speeding offences were reported with a 30% reduction in the amount of drivers got without insurance in 2019. The drop in speeding

was to do with the monitoring carried out by GoSafe vans as opposed to An Garda Síochána.

Colleran admitted that the increase in those behind the wheel being under the influence is "a big concern.

“It is not just drink driving but also drug driving, we are seeing a trend upwards which is a cause of concern". A breakdown to highlight the amount of drivers on drugs and those having consumed alcohol was asked for by Cllr Alan O'Callaghan (FF), "we're all well aware as to where we're at as a country with the drugs".

Cllr Ian Lynch (IND) queried if non-serious accidents were included and how the statistics relating to accidents in Kilrush Rd were being collated, "maybe there is a truer figure from the Ambulance and Fire Service," he commented and praised the presence of Garda checkpoints, "it's not just for drink driving or tax but it can intercept criminal activity".

Further detail on the cause of fatalities on Clare roads was sought by Cllr Gabriel Keating (FG), "was it drink, speed or road conditions".

At the February sitting of the

Clare Joint Policing Committee (JPC), Colleran confirmed they could provide a breakdown of traffic collisions that had no injury at a later date.

"People shouldn't fear checkpoints, they are not to catch anyone out but to make roads safer", He added, "I wouldn't like to speak individually on fatal road traffic collisions".

Cllr Keating replied, "People never hear the whole story" and

he was told by the Chief Supt that inquests would also determine the cause of death for such incidents.

Meanwhile, increasing the amount of raids carried out by Gardaí at social settings has been suggested to tackle the growing drugs industry.

Arrests relating to the sale, supply and possession of drugs all rose in 2019 within the county.

l DANGEROUS Driving under the influence of drugs and alcohol increased in 2019

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THURSDAY, MAR 12 2020

33% increase in rape cases LESSENING fear has been attributed to the increased in reported rape and domestic violence cases in Clare, leading Garda officials have stated ahead of the opening of a protective service unit in Crusheen.

Twelve cases of rape were reported to Gardaí in the Clare Division last year, three more than 2018.

There was also an increase in sexual assault crimes, 31 instances were dealt with in 2019 and 27 in 2018.

Domestic dispute offences rose by 23 percent from 309 to 379 in 2019.

On 60 occasions last year, there was a breach of barring, safety and protection orders up from 38 in 2018, "the increase is favourable because people aren't afraid to report incidents.

“The most important thing goes back to the person which is predominantly female but sometimes male, they feel confident now in reporting the danger".

A dedicated unit to deal solely with sexual assaults is to be opened in Crusheen this July.

"The increase in rape and sexual assault, depending on what way you look it, the increase could be argued that it shows a worsening scenario but really it shows people are willing to come forward.

The Crusheen unit will make a massive difference there, not so much in the numbers but in the professionalism that we investigate, we always investigated professionally but it will allow us to investigate to the higher standards".

Kilrush representative, Cllr Ian Lynch (IND) admitted he didn't realise the numbers were "as high" in Clare for domestic orders and sexual assaults. "If there is a breakdown of those trends as to where they are occurring, is there something we as a Council can do to maybe light up certain areas," he asked.

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l ONE YEAR ON: St. Flannan’s College staff and students will come together on the 20th

of March to celebrate the remarkable life and achievements of the late Laura Brennan.

March 20th marks Laura’s first anniversary and alongside her family and friends, the staff and students of the college will be holding a 5km colour run in her memory. The organising committee made up of Grainne Lynch, Emer Murphy, Claire Wehrley and Statia Knowles wanted to do something special in Laura’s memory. “A 5km colour run was chosen because it celebrates healthiness, happiness and individuality all attributes that were seen in Laura throughout her life. Laura attended the school from 2006 to 2011. During her time in St. Flannan’s Laura was a bundle of energy and had a zest for life. Laura was a great asset to the ladies football team and her leadership skills were very much evident on the field. She was full of enthusiasm and encouragement and was most certainly the best turned out lady on the pitch. Laura will forever be a true inspiration and her strength and courage goes beyond words. We hope to do her proud,” a St Flannan’s spokesperson said. Please note this event is not open to the public. Pictured at the colour run launch were Laura Brennan’s parents Larry and Bernie with Laura’s friend Veronica Moloney Photo by John Mangan

NEWS 9

THURSDAY, MAR 12 2020

Newmarket will get its GP back

lDEVESTATION: Flooding in Springfield, Clonlara Photo courtesy of Clare Co Co

STUART HOLLY

A

editor@clareecho.ie

FULL-TIME GP service will soon be restored in Newmarket-on-Fergus, health authorities have confirmed to Clare TD Joe Carey.

The news will come as a relief for the people of Newmarket-on-Fergus, which has been without a full-time GP service since Dr Colm Hackett retired in May last year.

Since Dr Hackett's retirement, the people of Newmarket have had to travel to the Shannon Medical Centre to access vital services.

Delays in appointing a new GP prompted some speculation locally that the full-time GP service in the town would not be replaced.

However Deputy Carey, who has had extensive contacts with the Health Service Executive (HSE) in relation to the matter, said he has received confirmation that the appointment of a full-time GP is imminent.

Deputy Carey said: "This news will come as a huge relief to the people of Newmarket-on-Fergus who have been without a GP for far too long.

"This is a hugely important service for Newmarket-on-Fergus and the surrounding catchment area. The lack of a full-time GP service is

Flood costs match permanent solution lRELEIVED: Joe Carey at a meeting on GP services in Newmarket-on-Fergus now a longstanding issue but I'm encouraged by the replies I've received from the HSE in relation to the matter.

"The HSE has informed me a number of outstanding elements of the recruitment process, including Garda vetting, occupational health clearances and accommodation agreements, need to be completed prior to the new GP taking up their new role. I have urged the HSE to ensure there are no further delays and that every effort is made to ensure a successful conclusion to the process."

NEWLY elected Fianna FĂĄil TD Cathal Crowe has complained that the annual cost of fighting the floods in Clonlara comes close to matching the cost of a more permanent solution.

"The residents of Springfield, Clonlara are immensely grateful to the Council and Civil Defence for all of their efforts. Their level of preparedness has given great reassurance to people throughout the flooding crisis.

"All of this comes at a high cost though and the manpower, hired pumps and other machinery on site will put a big dent on the Council's finances. If these costs were to be repeated in a number of years they would be close to matching the overall cost; â‚Ź1.2 million, of providing a permanent flood defence embankment. The Office of Public Works need to consider the annual financial outlay of fighting floods

in Clonlara. It makes sense for all efforts to now be concentrated on a permanent solution," he said.

Crowe praised the efforts of Clare County Council and the Civil Defence in Clonlara over the last few weeks. "They have had a huge presence in flood-stricken Clonlara and they were extremely supportive to local residents".

Clare County Council hope to make a fresh planning application for a flood preventing embankment at Springfield within the next month.

"In advance of this application being lodged I hope to bring senior engineers on site to meet with local residents and listen to their experiences of the problem. I sincerely hope that would-be objectors would carefully reflect on the stressful fortnight that the residents and farmers of Springfield have had to endure," Crowe added.

10 NEWS

Ennis pharmacy late night arson attack PÁRAIC McMAHON

A

paraic@clareecho.ie

N ENNIS pharmacy was the subject of an arson attack in the early hours of Thursday morning.

Haven Pharmacy on Abbey St in Ennis sustained damage to its premises shortly after 2am on Thursday morning when recyclable materials were set alight at its entrance.

Vodafone's store on O'Connell St was subject to an attempted arson but the potential blaze was extinguished before any destruction was caused.

In a statement on Thursday morning, the owners of Holly's pharmacy confirmed they were still taking prescription orders at the door of the Ennis based premises.

"Thankfully nobody was injured, and damage was kept to a minimum thanks to the superb work of the Fire Brigade and the Gardaí. We are hugely grateful to both of them. We are currently taking prescription orders at the front door of the premises, and by phone on 0656828568".

Crime Prevention Officer, Sergeant Tríona Brooks confirmed to The Clare Echo that both fires were "started maliciously outside two shops".

"Both fires were brought under control by Ennis Fire Brigade but one of the shops was badly damaged. Fortunately nobody was injured in these two incidents. The scenes were preserved and shortly after a male suspect was arrested by Gardaí and detained at Ennis Garda Station and has since been charged and brought before the District Court".

l FIRE: Ennis Fire Brigade attend the scene of the arson attack at Haven Pharmacy

THURSDAY, MAR 12 2020

‘A voice for young people’ PROMOTING positive mental health, youth employment and discrimination are to continue as central actions focused on by a group self-described as "a voice for the young people of Clare".

Members of Clare Comhairle na nÓg addressed the Rural Development Strategic Policy Committee's (SPC) first sitting of 2020 as it outlined the work it plans to undertake for the remainder of the year and what it completed last year.

Sinead Hogan told the meeting that Comhairle na nÓg is "a voice for the young people. We represent the youth of County Clare and, express our opinions and views on certain topics of interest to the young people of today".

Comhairle members praised the benefit of attending an LGBT workshop to better understand the difficulties faced by members of this community.Cian Hughes added, "Discrimination will continue as an action in to 2020 as we feel we only scratched the surface last year".

"Central to all we do is positive youth mental health," Katie Hartigan explained. Youth employment will be factored as Comhairle's third action in 2020.

LOVELY HURLING Merger of Clare and Tipp Gardai to commence in April PÁRAIC McMAHON

paraic@clareecho.ie

CLARE’S merger with the Tipperary Garda Division is expected to commence next month.

On Wednesday, An Garda Síochána announced the phased introduction of the Garda Operating Model in each of its nineteen Divisions throughout 2020 plus the allocation of Superintendents to each Division.

As part of this, Division will increase in size and will be “operationally autonomous”. “The Garda Operating Model will see more frontline Gardaí, a stronger focus on community policing, and a wide-range of policing services delivered locally,” a spokesperson outlined.

Garda numbers are expected to rise to 15,000 by the end of 2021 with more than 800 Gardaí to be deployed to the front-line. 640 officers have already changed from administrative roles to the front-line.

Included in the second phase of the Garda Operating Model is the amalgamation of the Clare and Tipperary Garda Divisions. This is anticipated to begin in April. Superintendents will be in locations throughout Divisions and not just based in the Divisional HQ which is Ennis.

Before changes are made at a Divisional level, change impact assessments will be

conducted at a local level to ascertain what needs to be done to enable implementation.

Under the Operating Model, each Division will for the first time have a Superintendent dedicated to Crime, a Superintendent dedicated to Governance and Performance Assurance, and a number of Superintendents in charge of Community Engagement.

An Assistant Principal, which is the grade equivalent of a Superintendent, will also be appointed in each Division to head up Business Services, which covers areas such as HR, Finance and Administration. This will freeup Superintendents from administrative tasks so they can focus on policing activity. Seven of the 19 Assistant Principals are already in situ in their respective Divisions. The remainder have either been selected or the selection process is underway.

Following a review based on operational requirements including the submission of business cases from local management, a total of 93 Superintendent positions have been allocated across the Divisions. This is a further 17 Superintendent positions from original projections. The total number of Divisional Superintendents will go from 104 to 93.

Under the Operating Model, there will be a significant increase in the allocation of Sergeants and Inspectors to Divisions, particularly in the area of community policing.

l MY BALL: Action from the Limerick Institute of Technology Wheelchair Hurling Tournament “Goal is to Wheel” today, organised by the 2nd Year Business with Event Management to raise awareness of the Sport

Photo by Brian Arthur

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12 NEWS

THURSDAY, MAR 12 2020

Gort residents concerned over Bio-Gas firm plans CIAN O’BROIN

G

cianobroin@clareecho.ie

ORT residents are coming together in an effort to stop the proposed planning permission of a new Bio-Gas company to be located one kilometre from the

town.

On Tuesday night, March 10th the Gort Bio-Gas Concern Group held a vital public information night at Sullivan’s, Gort to discuss a compilation of observations made against the proposed site, with a look at the potential for further communal resistance.

Planning permission for the site was refused

by Galway County Council in January last but the company have reinvigorated their efforts through lodging an appeal with An Bord Pleanala, an institution with the power to overturn such denials. Gort resident Els Van Haut speaks about the alleged detrimental health and economic implications that she believes such a site would have on the town.

The signing of objections has become a serious communal endeavour in recent months within the town, with a great deal of ques-

tions concerning the viability of other less urbanised sites being put to the company, to little avail. In the latest application, the company have mentioned that they only looked at four potential sites, all located very close to Gort. On the objections, Els delegates, “There was a lot of resistance to all these heavy jeeps coming through town past Lidl. People are starting to develop a river walk now at the location. There was a lot of resistance to that entrance, so they have changed the entrance to a place over their own land, to stop the opposition from the town.”

In terms of potential health defects, Els outlines the hazard that such a site potentially poses to the wider community of Gort and Kinvara, “The site is only a few hundred metres from a housing estate and Lidl. They call themselves sustainable, but the way they want to operate is not sustainable. They want to use silage as their main source for creating gas. Financially and environmentally, silage for gas does not match up. In addition, the edge of the site is only ten metres from the local river. That river goes underground to Coole Park further down, which subsequently leads to Kinvara Bay.” Ms Van Haut claims this could lead to complications in terms of chemicals and sewage. “This is a massive

application, with twelve potential gas tanks.

They are relentless and so we think there must be some local interest due to the fact that they won’t give up this site.”

The town of Gort as well as Kinvara have a vested interest in contending this appeal to An Bord Pleanala, through a well-documented submission which will be sent to Dublin on March 13th, detailing a number of issues relating to the proposed site. The submission has garnered a myriad of signatures from concerned residents. The final day for signing the document is Thursday March 12th at the Gort Post Office.

At the meeting held on March 10th, residents expressed their views on the current situation. Els notes some key speakers at the event and their concern with the dangers of a Bio-Gas company so close to civilization, “The local GPs are very strongly against it for health reasons and the local pharmacist expressed his feelings about a very industrious process of bottling gas at such a site, which should be at a complex industrial site unlike the one chosen. If there’s one leak, it could go into the river or anywhere. I don’t know if such a sight can hold this weight due to the complexity of the process.

“The other big argument on the night was

that Gort already has enough to deal with after coming out of economic hardship. A number of new successful tourism initiatives such as the new River Walk would be greatly affected by this site. The town will have no future for tourism.”

In terms of jobs, the company has outlined that twenty new jobs will be created, however; Els claims that these are highly skilled technical roles that will be filled by individuals from outside the town of Gort. The complexity of this site will drive other companies away from the town, adding further to a lack of infrastructure and employment which could come about from the new site.

On the future of Gort residents, Els admits, “Personally, I am really happy living in Gort at the moment. If this goes ahead, none of us have a way of getting rid of the effects of the site. Nobody will be able to buy a house. We won’t be able to relocate. Nobody will be able to get away from these consequences. At first, we thought this would be a good way to get rid of waste but since we have realised that it is too close to the town, the river and a delicate environmental area.”

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l TALENTED: Eight Clare sportspeople were among the 56 international athletes to receive the LIT Sports Scholarship this year. They were honoured at a special event last Tuesday afternoon at LIT’s Moylish Campus. Barefield’s Chloe Towey (camogie/ ladies football), Clare senior footballer Gavin Cooney (gaelic football), Aisling Morrissey of Cooraclare (ladies football), ex Clare U21 goalkeeper Killian Nugent (hurling), Cobh Ramblers’ Lee Devitt (soccer), Tara McEvoy (swimming/lifesaving), Meg Brennan (basketball) and Robin Mounsey from Ruan (hurling) were the Clare students honoured.

Pictured at the awards ceremony were Chloe Towey, Aisling Morrissey and Robin Mounsey Photo by Brian Arthur

Shannon Group donate €100k STUART HOLLY

S

editor@clareecho.ie

HANNON Group staff have boosted two charities doing invaluable work across the region with a €100,000 donation made this week from its chosen charity programme.

Limerick Suicide Watch and the Irish Cancer Society have shared in the largest amount ever gathered by Shannon Group staff.

The monies raised last year brings the total sum raised to over €350,000 since the programme started six years ago.

Last year saw staff across the Group’s businesses run a number of their own individual fund-raising initiatives as well as collaborate on group-wide activity – the

net result being a €50,000 cheque going to each of the 2019 chosen charities.

Isabel Harrison, Chairman of the Shannon Group Staff Charity Committee said: “We are absolutely delighted to be handing over such a large amount of money to these charities. There isn’t a community in Ireland that hasn’t been touched by suicide or a family that hasn’t been touched by cancer so it is an absolute privilege to be able to contribute to the amazing work that both of these charities do.”

The year-long programme saw four Shannon Group staff cycle between four Irish airports in four days. They covered a staggering 787km taking in Shannon, Knock, Dublin and Cork airports. Other initiatives include the annual favourite Christmas kick-off for the region, the Santa Flights, as well as a 5k run at Shannon Free

Zone, bake sales, a family fun day at Bunratty Castle and Folk Park, a mountain run and an auction.

Shannon Group CEO Mary Considine also revealed that the 2020 Shannon Group Chosen Charities are CMRF Crumlin and Sláinte an Chláir.

Colm O’Byrne, Chairperson Limerick Suicide Watch said: “Unfortunately, our services are in high demand and it’s only with the support of the public and corporate donors that we can stay doing what we do, week in week out. Shannon Group’s contribution is one of the biggest corporate donations we have received, and it will allow us to make some sizeable investments. This money will undoubtedly save lives and I thank the Group and its staff.”

Said Mark Mellet, Head of Fundraising at the Irish Cancer Society: “We are extremely grateful to the

WOLFE TONES FOR LIFE

l HONOURED: (Pictured are the new Wolfe Tones na Sionna Honorary Life Members (back row (L-R); Joe Kelly, Jim Tubridy, Kevin Hehir, Tony O’Connell and (front row L-R); Larry Donnellan, Kathy Hogan, Donie O’Loughlin

Shannon Group and everybody in the region that supported their great fundraising. With the number of people getting cancer in Limerick and Clare increasing

each year, support like this helps ensure we can meet the increasing demand for Irish Cancer Society patient services to ensure no one goes through cancer alone.”

l CHARITY PARTNERS: (L-R) Joen Noonan with 4 year old Adam Noonan, Mary Considine, Colm O’Byrne, Limerick Suicide Watch, Annette Haran, Irish Cancer Society and Grainne McInerney, Shannon Group Charity Committee with Mary Kennedy and Isabel Harrison Photo by Arthur Ellis

BRIGHTER DAYS ARE ON THE WAY

l TECH FÉILE: Katelyn Ní Chuinneagrain trying a bit of weather forecasting with TG4’s Caitlín Nic Aoidh at the National Tech Féile at Shannon Airportl on Tuesday Photo by Eamon Ward

14 Arts & Entertainment

THURSDAY, MAR 12 2020

St Patrick’s Day magic

NIGHT AT THE MUSICALS

E

AST Clare Musical Society made a triumphant return to the stage at the end of February.

Scariff Community Hall had two sold out shows from ECMS in recent weeks. Since the success of five sell out Oliver shows three years ago, the team behind the production had taken a break but the decision was

made last year to bid to mirror such success in 2020.

Pre-production started in August 2019 as the team led by Musical Director, John O’Brien from Whitegate vowed to come back with a bang which the crowd in Scariff certainly felt they did.

All photographs courtesy of Eoin O’Hagan

lILLUSIONIST: Joe Daly will bring his comedy magic show to glór on St Patrick’s Day GLÓR will once more present its annual feast of food, fun, music and activity for the whole family to enjoy on the coming bank holiday.

Events kick off at 12pm with the ever-popular free trad session in the

foyer with Eoin O’Neill and friends. All the family can join in so bring along your instruments for this relaxed session.

Face painting for the little ones will take place from 12 – 3pm, and at 2pm direct from his weekday magic show abraKIDabra on RTÉjr, Joe Daly brings his children’s comedy magic and illusion show to glór. Joe will bring children on a rollercoaster ride of magic, illusion, comedy and fun. Prepare yourself to be spellbound one minute and roaring laughing the next. Tables will fly, cola will get poured over a volunteer’s head and it will even snow on stage…and that’s just for starters!

The café will as usual be serving homemade bakes, as well as lunch specials and sweet treats for glór’s younger audience.

glór Tuesday 17 March: Joe Daly magic show €10/€35 family of four; Face painting €2 per child; Trad session free of charge. Visit www.glor.ie or call 065 6843103 for tickets and information.

l

16 OUT & ABOUT

ENNIS BOOK CLUB FESTIVAL l READ ALL ABOUT IT: Pictured at the Ennis Book Club Festival were (clockwise from right): Book lovers listening to Caroline Foran speaking the Temple Gate Hotel; Bobby McDonagh speaking on Ireland, Brexit and Europe in St Columba’s Church; Kids enjoying the Beyond Borders event with Sarah Clancy at the Temple Gate Hotel; Some of the Book Club Festival team at work over the weekend; Brian O’Connell at the Temple Gate Hotel; Mia Gallagher, “Mark, Word, Breath” performance at glór; The winning team at the Books and Buns event in the Rowan Tree Photos by Eamon Ward

THURSDAY, MAR 12 2020

COLUMNISTS 17

THURSDAY, MAR 12 2020

Eoin Neylon

An inside look at Clare’s political spectrum

Cancellations should go a step further

I

HAVE few distinct memories from my Junior Cert year in St Flannan’s College. One that does stand out was going to my exams via disinfectant mats as I entered the college campus. 2001 saw the outbreak of Foot and Mouth disease in the UK. Yet, despite there only being one confirmed case of it in Ireland, the measures taken to curb its spread were swift and wide ranging. Amongst them were the postponement of Six Nations games, the deferral of the St Patrick’s Day festival to summertime, cancellation of other large festivals, cultural and sporting occasions and community gatherings. There were also certain, evidence based, travel restrictions put in place to stop the spread of the virus that afflicted hooved animals, especially those of a Bovidae genus.

So why did the same actions take so long for political leadership to enact this time? The first reason is, this is a brand new virus, the exact nature of the behaviour and spread are still not 100 per cent mapped and identified. Comparisons have been made to the flu, however Covid19, a novel coronavirus, is distinctly different. Were it a common flu virus, we’d know exactly how to go about combatting it and how to synthesise a vaccine. We do this for flu mutations every year after all.

Coronavirus is an umbrella term for a range of respiratory tract infections which are typically very mild in nature.

Nevertheless, several variants including Covid19, SARS and MERS can be lethal. Covid19 is proving to be a highly

contagious variant to a degree that has not been seen before.

As such, the response from health experts and governments has had to be tapered specifically for the new virus.

Firstly, the call to cancel St Patrick’s Day parades is the correct one. Although it will have certain economic impacts to the country, the public health concerns must be put first. Clare County Council were definitive on this point and our local councillors must be commended for their decision. National Government was slow in making a similar call. I get the need to avoid mass panic, but we must try slowing the rate of infection. Elderly people and those with underlying illness are the ones at greatest risk. It’s worth reiterating that regular washing of hands with soapy, hot water, good hand hygiene and coughing and sneezing into a tissue or your elbow are all vital in this endeavour and should protect most people from contracting the virus. It’s also recommended you avoid touching your face, which is the easiest way to transfer the virus into your body, and drink water every 15 minutes.

There is no need to panic, however, there is a need to be vigilant in order to protect those of us in society who are the most vulnerable. As someone with an underlying, chronic, long term respiratory illness, I am one of these people. There are probably a few in your family too. On the flip side to people unduly panicking, doing silly things like hoarding toilet paper, there are still those acting altogether too blasé.

Political leaders should go a

PASSING THE BUCK: Shane Ross should be more proactive Photo INPHO in his role as acting Transport Minister

step further than the cancellation of the St Patrick’s festival, and ban all gatherings of 1,000 people or more. We are not at a critical point yet in trying to combat Covid19 in Ireland.

It is worth remembering, though, that on February 21, Italy had the same number of cases as there are in Ireland at the time of writing. By the time this is printed, and you are reading it, that number in Italy will likely have risen to more than 10,000 infections and over 500 deaths. The time for decisive action from Government is now. Given that Irish people, particularly those in the Mid-West, have amongst the highest rates of long-term respiratory illness in the World, a large outbreak of Covid19 would undoubtedly lead to unbearable strain on our health service and many deaths.

What’s more, Government should take action on companies who are price gouging during this crisis. It’s disgusting to see businesses charging up to €10 for a small hand sanitizer and up to €150 for a packet of surgical masks.

With a view to public safety, this should be illegal.

For this reason, I do think that it is time for a National Government to be formed involving all parties. We need a stable Government, if even it was only for a 12-month period. If Government formation talks cannot be concluded in a timely manner, then all parties should come together on a temporary basis.

The vacuum at the top of Government is palpable, save for a few exceptions. For instance, Simon Coveney and Simon Harris have coped rather well and appear decisive and calming in their public appearances. On the contrary, the acting Minister for Tourism, Transport and Sport, Shane Ross, came out with the line that it wasn’t the Government’s responsibility to cancel sporting events.

On the contrary, sporting organisations are not medical nor public health experts and should be getting advice from Government. Sporting competitions should be postponed.

I say this as a sports fanatic; however, I’d prefer to see zero death from Covid19 in Ireland than for Clare to win the National Hurling League.

There are more important things than sport at this time.

Clare County Council has deferred the remaining 'Housing Options' information evenings to a date (to be decided) later in the year.

Details of the dates and times of the rescheduled events will be communicated closer to the time.

Staff remain available to assist those looking for housing solutions and can be contacted by email at housing@clarecoco.ie

We would like to thank the public for supporting this initiative and look forward to the rescheduled events.

T: 065 6846429 E: klordan@clarecoco.ie W: www.clarecoco.ie

18 NEWS FEATURE

THURSDAY, MAR 12 2020

The real truth about stoves

CIAN O’BROIN

R

cianobroin@clareecho.ie

ECENT media attention in several national news outlets has thwarted the public’s perception of the use of stoves in terms of efficiency and environmental impact, misinterpreting cherry-picked data and engraining this into the public psyche. Stoves are bad for the environment, they say. Nothing could be further from the truth according to a Clare businesswoman.

Maeve Wilson of Fairgreen Stoves in Ennis refutes these negative sentiments, and is looking to set the record straight through her extensive knowledge and expertise within the industry. Maeve lays out the truth about the use of stoves and their positive economic and environmental impact within the household.

Looking to clear the air on the topic of efficiency and cost savings, Maeve states, “Statistically speaking, the much-lauded open fires are only 20 per cent efficient. For every ten-euros worth of fuel used, only two euros is available to the room. On the other side of the coin we have stoves which hold 80 per cent efficiency, giving eight euro to the room from a ten-euro spend. Due to their inherent inefficiency, open fires encourage the use of coal. Because a stove offers 80 per cent efficiency it encourages the use of carbon neu-

tral fuels like timber and reduces the use of all other fuels within the household.”

The implications of heat loss experienced from the structure of an open fireplace can be felt deep within the householder’s pockets.

A standard fireplace opening generally sits at 22 x 18”, resulting in a great deal of heat loss within the household caused by a huge draft created while the fire is burning. This draught pulls through the sitting room door

a distinct lack of air quality produced by dirt and dust when cleaning out ashes, a feature with potentially life-threatening consequences for some young children.

Maeve notes an increase in room temperature experienced by a client that installed a stove last summer, whereby the overall room temperature increased from seventeen to twenty degrees, with no open fire necessary.

“Resting zones in sitting rooms and liv-

and across your feet. The only way to stop this draught is through the use of an energy efficient stove which allows the heat to move naturally throughout your home. Open fires require more fuel, adding expense on top of

ing rooms can be controlled with ease by the stove. Whilst sitting down and relaxing, you are at your coldest. The desired room temperature can be controlled by your stove.

The central heating can be adjusted to a lower

Mon-Fri: 9:30-6

temperature throughout the rest of the house at this time, maximizing cost savings. People find that when they get their stove, they use much less oil or gas because the draught is dramatically reduced and the heat is held overnight. They are turning their central heating on later and the radiator in the sitting room is now off.”

The installation of a stove as opposed to an open fire system is something which new and old homeowners must seriously consider, both economically and environmentally.

Financing the installation of a new stove can oftentimes be a deterrent for homeowners, however; Maeve feels that the government is incentivising the switch to the more environmentally friendly option of a stove, contrary to where public opinion may lie at the moment.

“A stove increases the efficiency value in your house when calculating the BER rating. Banks are offering lower interest rates for B3 to A1 ratings. This is a fantastic selling point for any home. In 2022, the government are increasing the efficiency requirement of stoves. We have these in stock now, they are known as Ecodesign Ready Stoves. Finally, SEAI offer 132-euro credit for our stove installation through Electric Ireland. Ask in store for more details.”

Tune in next week as Maeve looks to further separate fact from fiction, highlighting the importance of stove maintenance and breaks down the fallacy of wet fuel and of how most retail outlets are swindling the public in terms of energy efficient fuel.

GREEN CLARE

Creating a circular economy: company combats consumer waste by repair CIAN O BROIN cianobroin@clareecho.ie

RepairMyStuff.ie is Ireland’s leading online repair directory which looks to combat consumer waste in Ireland. The directory prides itself on its contribution to the circular economy, looking to bypass an avaricious and unsustainable consumerist society through a model of repair and reuse. The focal point of a circular economy is to eliminate waste.

By setting up Repair My Stuff, the Monaghan County Council and Local Authorities are looking to encourage the repair Industry in Ireland. Statistically, each person in Ireland produces 586kgs of waste per annum, placing Ireland at sixth worse for municipal waste generated per capita in Eu-

rope. Repairing a household item decreases the over-consumption of valuable natural resources and can also have substantial economic benefits to the homeowner. Repair My Stuff is an online platform that easily connects the user with a repair business tailored to their specific needs.

In the beginning, Repair My Stuff was established by ten Environmental Awareness Officers from different local Authorities, led

by Monaghan County Council. The idea was to develop a database of Repair Providers.

Funding for the idea came from the EPA’S Local Authority Waste Prevention Network, comprising of a collaborative group of local authority personnel working in waste prevention. Drawing on a stronghold of environmental expertise, a database was provided with over 700 repair business from numerous categories, all for the service of

the local community. This database was then imported into a website developed by F.C.D.M, based in Athlone. In 2019, the Repair My Stuff website was amassing upwards of 3,000 eager consumers per month, looking to get in touch with a respective repair professional.

This success led the website to the accolades of best joint local authority initiative at the December 2018, Chambers Ireland Excellence in Local Government Awards as well as the Local Authority Members Association (LAMA) awards in February 2019, where the website achieved silverware in the Best Waste Management Category.

The website has communal benefits in that it supports local businesses that may not have a sturdy marketing budget, allowing for a professional to register their business for free. By linking consumers with local

professionals, Repair My Stuff supports the local circular economy in each village, town and city.

The criteria for registering your business is straightforward, with no special requirements needed, you must simply, own or operate within a repair business. There are a plethora of repair services and industries for consumers and enthusiastic business owners to select from. Ranging from clothing, furniture and upholstery to musical instruments, clothing and all kinds of electronics, Repair My Stuff covers every little corner of the market save for motor-related repairs.

To reduce waste production and contribute to Irelands ever growing circular economy, contact a local repair professional at MyWaste.ie.

IRELAND’S LEADING ON-LINE REPAIR DIRECTORY

F R L EE ISTIN

G!

Find a local professional who can repair it!

For many, purchasing a new pc or new washing machine when an old one breaks is the norm, however, repair and reuse is often a cheaper and most certainly a more environmentally sustainable option.

Categories will include - but are not limited to:

Clothes & bags

Monitors, TV’s & displays

Electronics

Furniture & upholstery

Large appliances

Small appliances

Bicycles

Leather & shoes

Musical instruments

Watches & jewellery

Computer & mobile phones

Lawnmowers & garden machinery

Businesses can get listed by registering for free at repairmystuff.ie/register For more information email greenerclare@clarecoco.ie

20 COMMUNITY

Community ENNIS

KILRUSH

ENNIS

CAINT AGUS COMHRÁ

TABLE QUIZ

INSTRUMENT APPEAL 2020

For those who have an interest there is now and will be conversation and chat in Irish every week in these following locations: Luan at Zest, 11 am; Ceádain at Sweet + Green, 11 am; Diardaoin at Temple gate, 8 pm; Aoine at Sweet + Green, 11am; Satharn at glór, 11 am. All are welcome.

The Annual Kilrush Choral Society Table Quiz in conjunction with " SISTER ACT" Are holding a General Knowledge/Sports Quiz in The Haven Arms on Saturday 21st March @9.30pm SHARP. Table of 4 @€20.

Major raffle for lots of great spot prizes, and Finger Food. Sing song afterwards.

KILLALOE YOUNG FILMMAKERS

Ireland's Young Filmmaker of the Year 2020 moved one-step closer to crowning its winners by announcing some of its finalists on Friday, March 6.

Among the finalists was 18 year old filmmaker Oisin McKeogh from Killaloe, Co. Clare with his film 'Midsummer Beauty' starring Rebecca Jones, 18 also from Killaloe and Devlin Staunton, 18, from Ballina. The film is about a teenage girl named Luna who struggles with a crush on her best friend.

Audience Awards were announced following each regional screening, and Oisin was announced as the winner of the Audience Award for the Limerick Heat for 'Midsummer Beauty'.

Oisin described being at the heats as "exciting", saying, "it's my fifth year entering Fresh International Film Festival and winning the Audience Award and being recognised by your peers is the ultimate compliment. I have grown as a person and a filmmaker with this

Festival. I am always so excited to see my films on the big screen and I am honoured to have made it through to the finals surrounded by such a talented group of filmmakers."

Another film through to the finals from Clare was 'Ali's Story' by 16 year olds Alisina Hussain, Jack Grace, Kian Donnelly, Cathal O'Donnell of St. Anne's Film Club in Killaloe about Alisina's journey from Afghanistan to Killaloe. The film explores how sport has helped him overcome challenges, make new friends and learn a new language.

Also through was 'In The Future' by St. Anne's Film Club TY year film class inspired by the work done by Greta Thunberg on the climate crisis and 'Bloody Mary' by the Sparks group about a silly game sends people into a scary world who have to work out how to escape.

Films shortlisted for the final will be screened at Fresh International Film Festival 2020 and Ireland's Young Filmmaker of the Year Awards will be presented on the March 25 for the March 26.

Calling all unused and unloved musical instruments! This initiative is in its fifth year and is led by Ennis based Cllr Mary Howard.

Since 2014 we have donated over 300 different instruments to local schools, all of these instruments are being played and loved again. The instruments have been donated to our schools and youth services over the past few years we even donated a piano to a local nursing home.

This project is supported by the Ennis Phoenix Twinning Board and each year the Youth Ambassadors run the project and aim to rehome as many instruments as possible.

“The genesis of the project was a visit by St Mary’s High School Band who were visiting Ennis to celebrate 25 years of a twinning relationship in 2013.

Prior to the band returning to Phoenix they were taken on a musical tour of schools in the Ennis area. All of the students were so excited and thrilled to be included in the schedule. We discovered that a number of students were very talented and were on music scholarships and many also could not afford a “step-up” instrument” explained Cllr Mary Howard.

Then Chairman of the Ennis Phoenix Twinning Board, TJ Waters, Eddie Corry and Cllr Mary Howard put their heads together and came up with the idea of the Instrument Ap-

THURSDAY, MAR 12 2020

CONTACT NEWSDESK

065 671 9021 news@clareecho.ie

peal, where returning Youth Ambassadors would organize the collection of instruments in their locality and these are then donated to the school, so the school had the opportunity to build up it’s own bank of instruments.

Chairman of the Ennis Phoenix Twinning Board, Michael Byrne said “this is a novel project and it is perfect in its simplicity, every Irish home has musical instruments that are no longer played, this project ensures that these instruments are played and loved again.”

“This project can not happen without the work of our youth ambassadors- Colaiste Muire’s Lily Price and Holly Curran, they are currently working at creating awareness of the project and collecting the instruments at local secondary schools,” said Mary Howard “The fantastic result of this project is that every instrument donated since the project began five years ago is being played again.

The gift of music is a gift that keeps on giving, a child who learns to play music will always have a hobby and the means to earn a living. Playing music has been found to be of huge benefit to the players wellbeing and positive mental health.

If you would like to donate a musical instrument we can be contacted on both facebook and Instagram at “Instrument Appeal” or also by contacting Cllr Mary Howard at 086 87 80 298.

COUNTYWIDE YOUNG SOCIAL INNOVATORS

836 young people from Limerick, Clare, Tipperary, Kerry have taken part in a national Speak Out Tour, bringing creative solutions to urgent social issues.

Topics from local schools include: Coláiste Muire, Ennis: “Don’t Wait, Vaccinate” - raising awareness and promoting the uptake of the HPV vaccine among both male and female youth; Gaelcholáiste an Chláir, Ennis: “We Don’t Need Coins, We Need CHANGE: - making a stand against homelessness and raising public awareness about the issue; St. Joseph's Secondary School, Tulla: “It’s

Not a Joke, Don’t Take the Toke” - educating young people about the harmful effects of vaping.

Co-founder and CEO of Young Social Innovators, Rachel Collier said: “Young Social Innovators is working with schools and young people throughout Ireland to build a force of responsible leaders, innovators and citizens – a force for good in Ireland.”

YSI is also calling on young people to make sure they have their voices heard at a political level by introducing themselves and their issues to newly elected representatives.

Visit www.youngsocialinnovators.ie.

l TUNING UP: Holly Curran, Cllr Mary Howard and Lily Price

l SPEAK OUT: Students from Cólaiste Muire in Ennis are promoting the uptake of the HPV vacine

Photo by John Mangan

COMMUNITY 21

THURSDAY, MAR 12 2020

ENNIS

DOORA BAREFIELD

PARENT SUPPORT GROUP

THE CHASER

Psychotherapist and Counsellor Tatjana Simakova is setting up a support group for parents of adolescents who are going through emotional turmoil - anxiety, depression, parent-child relationship issues, parent divorce/separation issues, self-harm, suicidal ideation and other issues.

The first group is going ahead on the 21st March, 11am - 1pm at the Orchard wellness centre. Please contact 0852819849 for more information.

KILRUSH THE LIGHTHOUSE

West Clare Mental Health Association invite you to the Official Opening of “The Lighthouse” Peer support centre by Martin Rogan CEO Mental Health Ireland at Limekiln Road Kilrush at 5.30pm on the 18th March.

Speakers to be announced. Enquiries to Edel 0879807987.

DANCING

Thursday musical afternoon in Kilrush – Join us for an afternoon of music and dancing with Patrick Roche at the Community Centre Kilrush on Thursday, March 12 from 2pm to 4.30pm. Admission costs €5. Call the West Clare Family Resource Centre on 0659052173 for more information.

MILTOWN WORKSHOP FOR CHOIRS

Liam Lawton will do a workshop for choirs in the area on Thursday 2nd April 2020 from 7.30pm to 9.30pm in Miltown Malbay Community Hall. Liam will teach some music along with teaching other composes. All choir directors and members are welcome.

More information from Fr. Donagh 087 2322140

St. Joseph’s Doora Barefield Camogie Club will launched the new nationwide show "The Chaser" as their major fundraiser for this year in The Grove recently. The main event will take place on the 27th March in the Auburn Lodge, Ennis. Based on the popular television show, each of the six contestants selected can win €1500!

Caroline O’Connor, Chairperson of St. Joseph’s Doora Barefield Camogie Club explained that the proceeds from this fundraiser will go towards supporting the ongoing development of the club, “2019 was hugely successful for us, we reached Senior Status and a Munster Final, a first for the club. We want to build on this and give the younger players in our club the best possible supports in terms of coaching and mentoring.

We are the largest camogie club in the county and rely heavily on the support of people who give their time voluntarily whether as a coach, jersey washer, fundraiser or supporter”.

Caroline went on to express her delight at the support given by the local community.

“We are completely overwhelmed by the amount of local businesses who have supported us by buying adverts and exhibitor space for this event. We have had businesses from outside of the county also, supporting our fundraiser, which has been fantastic”. The show will be launched by Clare camogie captain, Laura McMahon and Clare senior hurling manager, Brian Lohan. Those in attendance at the launch will also get a sneak preview of the show.

Tickets for the show are priced at €50 for a family ticket and can be purchased from any committee member, the club shop in Gurteen or O’Connors newsagents in the market. Tickets will be available from the night of the launch. Tickets are expected to sell out in advance and will not be on sale at the door on the night so people are encouraged to purchase their tickets early.

Caroline paid special thanks to the hard-working committee for their work and said if any company wished to support the event they should contact any committee member or email dbcamogie2020@gmail.

l FUNDRASIER: Clare captain John Conlon and Camogie captain Laura McMahon at the launch of The Chaser

O’CALLAGHAN’S MILLS

l WINNERS: Clare senior hurling captain John Conlon presents 2019 u16A shield winners O’Callaghan’s Mills/Bodyke with their medals last Saturday night in newly opened O’Callaghans Mills community hall

22 THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK

THURSDAY, MAR 12 2020

Ronan Scully

THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK Author spreading the word of positivity

Spring’s renewal of life

I

T HAS been a long winter. With record rainfall across the country and numerous wind and weather warnings.

Now, don’t get me wrong, I love winters that feel like winter. Yet, there is something about the hope of spring just over the hill that brings on a feeling of optimistic expectation.

I think God created Hope when he created Spring. Crocuses, daffodils, and tulips wait expectantly just under the surface of a thin blanket of soil and earth.

The trees, stoic and bare, whisper of new life and greener more vibrant days.

Spring Change Spring is the time of year when many people take on “spring cleaning” projects inside and outside their homes and offices. But what about inside your heart and inside your soul?

Just as there are seasons in the world around us, so there are in our interior life,” Teresa of Avila wisely observed.

“We cannot expect it to be otherwise.” Since we put so much time and effort into cleaning our homes, offices and outer self at this spring time of the year, shouldn’t we also do some spiritual spring cleaning of our heart, soul and inner self?

There comes a time when we must clean out the wardrobes of our life so that we may have room for items that will enhance our life.

Let’s search the wardrobes of our lives and make a trip to the rubbish bin.

Throw away any hatred that may be lurking there and be sure to toss out jealousy, bad attitudes, dishonesty, complaints and hypocrisy. Before you finish, throw away that grudge you’ve been carrying against someone.

Make room to add love, honesty, forgiveness and kindness and not to mention thankfulness for all God’s blessings.

Go on and make room for reverence and respect for God from whom all good gifts come.

Stand back and look: Your life’s wardrobe is looking better, isn’t it? Take a moment today to spring clean your heart and soul.

Spring renewal and rebirth Recently a dear family member Uncle Jim travelled on and out of his body into spirit. He had lived a beautifully long and contented life.

He touched many people with his love, gentleness, knowledge, insights and skills.

He inspired many. So, I find myself reflecting on how much easier it is to celebrate the beginning of an embodied life, but have difficulty celebrating a life well lived.

I grieve for my loss, and how it’s impacting me and the many loved ones and friends who have gone before him during my life’s journey.

Can I not be happy for the freed spirit that is no longer restrained by the limitations of a physical body?

The prayerful meditation practice of breath, posture and stillness, allows us to integrate the grief but it also creates the space to feel the joy that their embodied spirit brought to the world.

It’s an opportunity to motivate us to create meaning out of the loss of a special person.

The deeper our prayer life becomes, the more we can find space in our heart, mind and spirit to allow the gifts to get passed on through our actions.

There’s an opportunity to find and experience the ‘oneness’ with all things and how love is the fabric of the Universe and the fabric that connects us all.

The lessons learned through our prayer life and meditation practice help us to realize that the bonds of love are unbreakable if we keep them safe in our hearts.

So, from this prayerful perspective, Spring is no longer a season but a state of always being open to the newness of another breath, another minute, another hour, another day, another year.

The Spirit’s transition from body to spirit is perhaps a living Spring! Spring is a reminder that we enter into the cycle of birth, death, rebirth in many ways during our lifetime.

Thought for the week As your thought for the week, I pray that as the signs and the magic of spring begin to show themselves all around us and that you will remember that each new day is like a cleared field ready for planting.

Your thoughts, attitudes, and actions are the seeds you plant. Plant three rows of peas: Peace of mind, Peace of heart, Peace of soul. Plant four rows of squash: Squash gossip, Squash indifference, Squash grumbling, Squash selfishness.

Plant four rows of lettuce: Lettuce be faithful, Lettuce be kind, Lettuce be obedient, Lettuce really love one another.

No garden should be without turnips: Turnip for meetings, Turnip for service, Turnip to help one another. Water freely with patience and cultivate love.

There is much fruit for your garden. Because you reap what you sow. To conclude our garden.

We must have thyme: Thyme for God, Thyme for study, Thyme for prayer, Thyme for loved ones, Thyme for each other, Thyme for friends.

This Spring and always, choose only the seeds that will produce a bountiful harvest of love, joy, health, kindness, care, prosperity, and peace.

And may you give thanksgiving not only for the springtime around you, but also for the springtime within you. Why don’t you this Spring, clean out hate and r eplace it with love. Clean out pride and replace it with humility.

Clean out anger and replace it with self control. Clean out unbelief and replace it with faith.

Clean out revenge, and replace it with forgiveness. Clean out complaining and replace it with praise.

Clean out evil thoughts and replace them with pure thoughts. Clean out gossip and replace it with encouragement. Clean out laziness and replace it with caring.

May the blessing of the Gatherer of Hope, the Bringer of Springtime, the Brightener of Seasons, be upon me as I set forth today. Laughter of the

running hours be mine, love be the circler of my soul, and with the leave of lightness, may I come home in joy.

So Touch the earth with gentleness.

Touch the earth with love.

Touch her with a future, by the way you live today.

God has given us the power to create the world anew; If we touch the earth together me and you.

The time is here, the time is now, we can change things.

Give Earth your dream of harmony, she is waiting; Waiting for love, waiting for you, waiting for me.

Show the Earth you care about her future. Melt the walls of hate and fear that keep us apart; Believe we can live together as friends of the Earth.

So be the reason, be the hope for others to believe; That Earth is meant for beauty, goodness and peace. And that our God of love is God of the Earth’s one family.

The cycle of life continues just as the cycle of the seasons continue.

Through the good and the bad the flow of the river will remain.

It’s all connected. So as we leap into spring, let’s move forward together with a sense of gratitude for the world around us; let’s stop letting the little things knock us down and let’s begin to spread a little bit more love!

Let’s embrace the change of the season that is upon us and use it to help build us up, not tear us down.

It is through our thoughts we control our destiny. Embrace life. Enjoy the seasons. Enjoy Spring everyone!!

MY HOME

How to keep your driveway in top conditon T O keep your driveways in great shape, here are some maintenance tips; • Remove stains as soon as possible • Avoid heavy traffic of large vehicles • Avoid deicing chemicals Here is a comprehensive guide of how you can successfully take care of and maintain different types of driveways.

Concrete driveway maintenance tips The secret to maintaining a great concrete driveway is by cleaning and sealing it regularly. According to experts, a concrete driveway must be sealed every two years or whenever you notice that the finish is wearing off.

If your driveway is being used every day and you do not live in an area with severe weather, then you should make sure that it is maintained perfectly.

Brick driveway maintenance tips The process of installing a brick driveway is time-consuming and expensive as well. So, proper maintenance is recommended to help it last longer and maintain its quality. Experts

advise you to remove weeds frequently. At least once a week, take a walk over your lovely brick driveway and remove the grass and weeds that might have started growing along the driveway or between the bricks.

Driveways often build-up lots of mud and dirt in between the bricks. Consider purchasing a outdoor brush and sweep and hose the driveway regularly to remove dirt from the bricks. This will prevent it from packing down and making the cleaning process more difficult Gravel driveway maintenance tips Property owners consider a gravel driveway to be one of the least expensive options when it comes to installing a new driveway. More people are opting for this type of driveway due to the material’s durability and affordable prices.

It is wise to check regularly as weeds tend to grow on these driveways. It is also difficult to can rake other types of rubbish found on the driveway. Potholes are one of the major reasons most people forego gravel driveways. If you do notice a pothole on your driveway, fill the hole with sand and raking the gravel level again. The replace the gravel, and your drive-

way will always look great.

Asphalt driveway maintenance tips Asphalt is a popular driveway choice for many property owners. It can look fantastic when you have it installed. However, without care and proper maintenance, it can get damaged easily.

Once every week, consider pulling out your garden hose and rinse off the asphalt driveway to remove the accumulated dirt and debris.

Avoid getting any spills such as gasoline or motor oil on the driveway as these can cause damage to its surface.

Flagstone driveway maintenance tips One of the most beautiful driveways is a flagstone driveway. It comes in many different designs, but it can be expensive. Therefore, you should take care of it. Make sure that the driveway is cleaned regularly using the right cleaning materials. All stains must be cleaned using the right product as soon as you spot them.

This will ensure that your driveway will always look great.

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MY HOME

TRENDS TO GIVE YOUR

A

S WITH new season fashion trends we see new emerging home decor trends each season, that tempt us to update our homes – rather than change them

entirely.

He began carving walking sticks and st‘Trends’ evolve at different paces – some are popular for years rather than a season, like the Nordic trend, but there are also key colours that become the big thing for decorating our homes.

Here, we bring you some key trends for 2020 and simple ways to update your existing decor. This means you don’t have to redecorate your whole home to be on song with the latest styles.

TREND 1.

ABSTRACT ENERGY This is the fun, free-spirited interiors trend that takes inspiration from abstract expressionist artwork. With bold geometrics, handdrawn sketches and playful blocks of colour this look is all about expressing personality in our homes. The purpose is to evoke emotion and create a mood – and that, it

certainly does.

Bold patterns and punchy colours lend a more playful approach to styling a decor.

As with the expressionist art movement this trend celebrates the imperfect and fluidity of hand-drawn forms – line drawings play a key focus within this look.

TREND 2. STRUCTURED SIMPLICITY

Evolving from the Nordic Retreat trend of 2019 this look is stripped back style back.

The purpose is to create a calm, comfy, chilled-out space to relax in – it’s all about making our homes a safe, inviting space to

rest and regenerate.

Has grey had its day? The new neutrals are warming, as we look to create a calm yet uplifting space to retreat to from the outside world.

Trade bold and bright for soft and neutral and go for pared-back pieces and considered choices. This element of more thoughtful home choices comes from the trend for being aware of sustainability.

Where to use it? This look works in any setting, whether it’s a rustic kitchen or a small modern bathroom, but it’s especially at home in a living room or bedroom, paired with a dark accent colour.

TREND 3. HONEST COMFORTS Layer up comforting cushions, throws, knits and faux furs to make any space feel instantly inviting. This approach will see you through the winter and still light enough to see your home fashionably dressed ready for spring.

The colour palette: The emphasis on natural pigments remains at the roots of this trend.

Go for a mix of cool blues and greys teamed with accents of warmer pinks and browns.

This organic colour palette can be complemented

by washed teals and mossy greens, that are easy to work into a relaxed, neutral scheme.

TREND 4. ECLECTIC GLAMOUR

A move on from Retro Revival last season, this is 2020’s bold, confident and sassy take on the glamour trend. Taking it up a notch this reimagined trend is a grown-up look that channels Thirties sophisticated elegance with a little sexy Seventies-style opulence thrown in. Here shapely furniture with rounded curves and fluid shapes takes centre stage within this elegant theme.

MY HOME

HOME WOW FACTOR...

Think 1920s elegant occasional chairs with the scalloped shell-like backs and soft edges.

Pick rich tones for key pieces, such as royal blue or ruby, mixed with warmer tones of ochre, rose and bronze. Layer on the bling with lashings of metallic touches – think gleaming gold, burnished copper,

brushed brass and bronze.

TREND 5. JAPAN There’s been a strong Japanese design element running as an undercurrent through interior collections over the past few season. This autumn winter it’s really coming into it’s own as a stand out trend.

Several big retailers have presented us with collections bursting with rich silk textures, graceful bird motifs, stylised oriental prints and structured furniture shapes.

A mash-up of elegant Japanese minimalism and rustic Scandinavian simplicity, Japandi is a hybrid trend bringing together the best of these two muchloved styles. This trend is the one for you if your home is your sanctuary and you take a less-is-more approach with uncluttered spaces, clean lines and a calm, subdued colour palette.

Combining the mindfulness elements of Scandinavian hygge and the Japanese theory of ‘wabi-sabi’ this trend finds effortless beauty in the simple things.

Lantern style lighting, like this bamboo floor lamp, helps to add a soft ambient light that’ll keep homes in a state of calm serenity at all times.

TREND 6. REFINED GLAMOUR The new glam is less sheen, more sophisticated. Luxury materials such as pewter, marble and velvet all mix together beautifully to create fine decorative details. Fringing

is everywhere this season, from lampshades to wall hangings – fringe is in!

Key colours: Dusky rose and pewter.

Key materials: Velvet, marble, brass and smoked glass The new metallics are more muted than in previous seasons, feeling more sophisticated. The brass is matt and the silver, despite being almost liquid silver, has a less shiny look compared to chrome.

MY HOME

11 Household

1. SET THE TONE AT THE FRONT DOOR

If you want your house to make a great first impression, paint the front door a fun, glossy hue. “Red is a lucky color in many cultures,” says Lara Allen-Brett, a New Jersey-based stager. A red door meant “welcome” to weary travelers in early America, and on churches it represents a safe haven. Two other hues gaining favor: orange and yellow, according to San Francisco-based stager Christopher Breining. Both colors are associated with joy and warmth. One thing that should go: an outdated screen door. Get rid of it or replace it with a storm door with full-length glass that you can switch out for a screened panel.

2. KEEP WALL COLORS LIGHT AND NEUTRAL

tick to colors like beige or gray, especially on the first floor, where flow is important. “You want to minimize jarring transitions,” says Breining. Neutral walls give you the greatest decorating flexibility, allowing you to easily switch up your accessories. And if you have two small rooms next to each other, painting them the same neutral color helps them feel larger. Look at a paint strip and move up or down a shade or two for a subtle variation from room to room, suggests Allen-Brett.

3. MAKE SURE YOUR SOFA TALKS TO YOUR CHAIR

Think of a nice hotel lobby: The furniture is arranged in groupings that invite conversation. When you place the furniture in your living room, aim for a similar sense of balance and intimacy. “A con-

versation area that has a U-shape, with a sofa and two chairs facing each other at each end of the coffee

Brian Pyne

Tiles & Bathware

table, or an H-shape, with a sofa directly across from two chairs and a coffee table in the middle, is ideal,” says Michelle Lynne, a Dallas-based stager. One common mistake to avoid: Pushing all the furniture against the walls. “People do that because they think it will make their room look bigger, but in reality, floating the furniture away from the walls makes the room feel larger,” she says.

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7. LAYER YOUR LIGHTING

“When it comes to heavy, outdated drapes, a naked bank of windows is better than an ugly one,” says Lynne. Ideally, window dressings should be functional and elegant: Think sheers paired with fulllength panels. If your room gets a lot of sun, opt for light colors that won’t fade. The most recommended lightweight fabrics for panels are cotton, linen, and silk blends because they tend to hang well.

Every room should have three kinds of lighting: ambient, which provides overall illumination and often comes from ceiling fixtures; task, which is often found over a kitchen island or a reading nook; and accent, which is more decorative, highlighting, say, artwork.

For a living room, you should have at least 3 watts (42 lumens) per square foot. One visual trick Breining swears by: using uplights.

“Placing a canister uplight or a torchiere in the corner will cast a glow on the ceiling, making a room seem bigger,” he says.

5. HANG AT LEAST ONE MIRROR IN EVERY ROom

8. ANCHOR RUGS UNDER FURNITURE FEET

4. LET THE SUN SHINE IN

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other tall, average their heights.

Also take scale into account; for a large wall, go big with one oversize piece or group smaller pieces gallery-style. For the latter, don’t space the pictures too far apart; 2 to 4 inches between items usually looks best.

“Mirrors can make a space feel brighter because they bounce the light around the room,” says Breining. But placing one in the wrong spot can be almost as bad as not having one at all. Put mirrors on walls perpendicular to windows, not directly across from them.

Hanging a mirror directly opposite a window can actually bounce the light right back out the window.

6. SCALE ARTWORK TO YOUR WALL

“There are few things more ridiculous-looking than hanging dinky little art too high on the wall,” says Breining. The middle of a picture should hang at eye level. If one person is short and the

Follow these basic rules for an area rug: “In a living room, all four legs of the sofa and chairs in a furniture grouping should fit on it; the rug should define the seating area,” says Breining. “At the very least, the front two legs of the sofa and chairs should rest on it,” he adds. Even living rooms with less than generous proportions usually require an 8-by-10-foot or a 9-by12-foot rug to properly accommodate a seating area. Go too small with the rug size and everything looks out of scale.

9. CALL IN A PRO TO DECLUTTER

The longer you live in a house, the less you see the mess over

MY HOME

Hints time. Sometimes you need a fresh pair of eyes. You can hire an organizer for a few hours (expect to pay $35 to $150 an hour, depending on where you live) to tackle bookshelves and closets, which stagers say are often packed with twice the amount of stuff they should hold. Breining suggests whittling down what’s on your shelves by 50 percent. Then mix horizontal stacks of books among the vertical rows and intersperse decorative objects, such as bowls or vases, among them.

10. USE VISUAL TRICKS TO RAISE THE CEILING

If your ceilings are on the low side, paint them white to make the room feel less claustrophobic. Hang curtains higher than the windows, suggests Allen-Brett, to trick your eye into thinking the room is taller. Most standard curtain panels measure 84 or 96 inches, allowing you to go about 3 inches above the window casing before the length gets too short. If you want to hang them higher, you’ll have to order custom drapes. Love patterned panels? Try vertical stripes; the lines vi-

sually elongate your walls. Leaning a large mirror against a wall can also make a room seem taller.

11. GIVE OUTDATED FINISHES THE CINDERELLA TREATMENT

Got dated fixtures? Reinvent them with spray paint and inexpensive refinishing kits. “A 1980s brass chandelier can get a new lease on life with a quick coat of hammered-bronze or satin-nickel spray paint,” says Breining. Even outdated kitchen cabinets benefit from a few coats of white paint and new hardware. And if you thought there was no hope for Formica countertops, think again. Breining swears

by Rust-Oleum Countertop Transformations, a DIY counter-coating product that mimics stone, making even the ugliest 1970s counter look fresh. What’s left to do: Swap out cracked and mismatched switch plates and outlet covers for updated matching ones. Says Lynne: “Nothing drags down a refreshed space like a dingy, almond-colored switch plate.”

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MY HOME

W

8 Decorating Tips

hether you rent, recently moved into your first home, or just have a limited budget, high-end furnishings, and home accessories can be out of reach for many, especially if you’re just starting out. But that doesn’t mean your first place has to look like a dorm room.

There are several tips and tricks you can use to give your starter home or apartment more grown-up polish. Luckily, it’s more about know-how than cash when it comes to adding some sophistication to your space.

Here are 10 ways to make your place feel more grown-up.

1

DECORATE AND FILL SPACES WITH PLANTS It’s amazingly simple but true. Just adding a living plant or two to will make any room feel more finished and home-y. Put a low-maintenance plant such as a succulent, cactus or philodendron on a side table or nightstand and you’ll give the impression you have your act together (Even if you’re still working on it!). After all, you have to be responsible enough to keep it alive! And when you’re ready to adopt a

3

STYLE YOUR BOOKCASE Even if the only books you have are paperbacks and old textbooks from college, you can still organize the whole lot so that it looks pulled-together.

Style your bookcase like a pro by arranging your books both horizontally and vertically, and mixing in accessories.

bigger or leafier plant, consider a Monstera or Fiddle Leaf Fig!

2

USE A TRAY ON YOUR COFFEE TABLE Trays not only keep your clutter under control, they give a polished look to surfaces such as a coffee table. Fill a decorative tray with a short stack of hardback books, a box for your remote controls, a set of coasters and a pretty object or two for a grown-up, lived-in look. Plus, putting everything on a tray allows you to pick it all up and move it aside when you need the space for entertaining.

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UPGRADE YOUR LIGHTING Torch lamps and string lights may have worked in a dorm room, but they lack in sophistication.

Trade adolescent lighting choices for a pair of inexpensive but chic table lamps.

Or, copy one of these DIY lighting fixtures to replace unsophisticated ceiling lights.

Another budget-friendly idea for your first place is to look for lamps at thrift stores, then make them like new by spray painting their bases.

MY HOME

for Your First Place 8

Save money by DIYing your own bar cart, and if you’re really handy, try making one of these beautiful wood bar carts.

6

COORDINATE YOUR THROW PILLOWS One of the quickest ways to pull a room together is with decorative pillows. Strategic choices can help you camouflage an ugly couch, or add warmth, color, and style to a boring room.

Learn to mix and match patterned pillows like a pro, or go with a completely eclectic mix for a boho-chic look.

5

ADD SOME CLASS WITH A BAR CART Organize your booze on a classy bar cart for a grown-up look. Add some swanky barware such as an ice bucket or a cocktail shaker for even more sophistication, then just roll it all into the corner after the party.

HANG CURTAIN PANELS This is one instant upgrade you don’t want to skip! Trade those cheap vertical blinds or plastic roller shades for curtain panels to give your room a more grown-up look. Curtains not only pull a room together, but they also help cut your heating bill and add a layer of privacy. Save on hardware by trying one of these DIY curtain rod hacks.

7

FRAME YOUR ART After college, it’s really no longer acceptable to hang unframed prints or posters on the wall with tape. You can, however, use unconventional methods for hanging art, such as on a grid of clipboards for a modern take on a gallery wall, or with wooden pants hangers for a vintage-industrial look. Fortunately, there are several online sources offering affordable, original art prints. And there are lots of out-of-the-box ideas for wall art too, such as objects like plates, textiles and architectural salvage.

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MY HOME UPSTAIRS, DOWNSTAIRS - WHAT’S THE FLOOR PLAN?

W

HEN it comes to flooring, the options these days seem endless. Current trends can be hard to keep up with - what’s the first step with my new floor? Do I want carpet, hard wood, laminate, tiles, or luxury vinyl flooring? What will suit my kitchen unit, my stairs or sitting room furniture? Once your floors are fitted, it’s quite the long term commitment so it’s important to get it right and whatever you opt for must stand the test of time.. Here, we bring you some trends and ideas to help you on your way.

DOWNSTAIRS New wooden floors can transform your living room, and an authentic grainy look will serve you the longest; while real hard wood is still a very popular option, there are a multitude of options to suit your budget (pop in to your local floor specialists for infor).

Grey wood are becoming popular as they provide a good neutral base to style your living area around and offer a bright fresh alternative to the traditional darker tones we usually associate with living rooms. Adding depth of colour can be achieved with cushions and rugs, or wall art.

With more and more open plan living spaces, it’s a very clever option to continue the same flooring throughout your entire downstairs shared spaces such as kitchen, hallway and living area. But if your home

isn’t set up like so - or even if you prefer to break up an open plan area and create different atmospheres - then flooring can be the perfect way to achieve this.

Create a modern parquet look in your kitchen with luxury vinyl flooring; it gives an authentic look without the difficult upkeep, it’s the perfect style to add character to your kitchen design project. Of course, tiles are still the staple in many Irish kitchens but

vinyl flooring is definitely on the rise.

UPSTAIRS The bathroom can often be left as an afterthought because it’s hidden away and becuase tile trends move fast, it’s not unusual to see a LOT of outdated bathrooms so it’s important to give this the attention it deserves in order to get years out of your bathroom. Therefore the more pared back the better; the humble subway tile paired

with darker neutral floor tiles is a safe bet but also a classy one.

Bedrooms, meanwhile, are one area where carpeting is and probably always will be very popular - nothing like a soft, warm landing when you get out of bed in the morning!

Again, it’s neutral all the way and a light grey carpet works with a number of bedroom decor styles. You won’t go wrong with a high quality carpet that will stay in good shape for a long time.

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THURSDAY, MAR 12 2020

BUSINESS

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WowWee win Clare Enterprise Award STUART HOLLY

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editor@clareecho.ie

PERSONALISED gift business from Ennis has won the County Enterprise Award for 2020 and has been named as Clare’s Best

Enterprise.

The top prize of €3,500 went to WowWee.ie who will now represent Local Enterprise Office Clare at the National Enterprise Awards, on May 28th at the Mansion House, Dublin. A PR Mentoring package was also part of the prize.

WowWee.ie.ie is owned by Aine Gleeson and is an online

l DELIGHTED: WowWee owner Aine Gleeson

Photo by Martin Connolly

Personalised Gift Service with a choice of over 900 gifts on www. wowwee.ie. They are currently shipping to over 26 countries.

Speaking after the Awards as part of Local Enterprise Week, Padraic McElwee, Head of Enterprise with Local Enterprise Office Clare said: “WowWee.ie has already become a success story and the judges were particularly impressed by the grasp Aine had of her business model, her focus on LEAN principles and where the opportunities lie for the future growth of the business. Clare are proud to be represented by Aine”.

Speaking at the Awards, Minister of State Pat Breen said “I would like to congratulate Aine on winning this year’s Clare County Enterprise Award.

While there can be only one outright winner, I am extremely heartened by the quality of all the entries and of the strong level of enterprise that clearly exists in the county. I am confident that many of the businesses here will develop and grow and will expand into global markets.

“As we have seen from previ-

ous winners like Get the Shifts, Aaron PCB, Callan Technology and ABC Nutrition, this competition can be a springboard to great success and I wish WowWee and all the finalists all the best in their enterprise future.

They can be assured that their Local Enterprise Office here in Clare will always be there to support their ambition “ Other winners at the awards ceremony, held at the The Old Ground Hotel in Ennis on Friday night included McKernan Woollen Mills Ltd winning Best Export Award; Ergtech Ltd winning Best Innovation Award and Torpey Hurleys winning Future Focus Award.

The National competition judging is taking place in April and WowWee.ie will be competing against 30 other finalists from every local authority area for a share of the €40,000 prize fund. Other local businesses that were also shortlisted this year were AforeAfter, Quin Art, Muscleballers, Siar Landscape Photography, Meeres Pork Products, AMS Ltd and Kilkee Forge.

Ingenium unveil new 68 project THIS week saw the unveiling of the finished ‘68 Project’ by Ingenium, a Limerick-based management training and consultancy company.

The apt project title comprised of a major restoration of the four storeys and basement at 68 O’Connell Street in Limerick leading to the complete revamp and transformation of the space into commercial offices.

This development included the creation of a new contemporary extension to the rear of the building, with a generous sized apartment on the top floor and a Mews music recording studio.

The journey of this project has been one of discovery, with Ingenium Chairperson, Finola O’Donnell, describing it as an “opportunity to create something unique where we can celebrate Georgian living today as part of the Limerick’s inner-city rejuvenation.

“When we acquired the 68 O’Connell Street site in 2017 we had no idea of its true potential. Our minds were opened when

we explored the opportunities for connecting old and new, bringing the past into the modern era and blending contemporary business living with over 200 years of history.”

At the opening event, special thanks were given to all the project development project team.

The project was a massive undertaking where architects David Leahy from DHL Architects and David Averill from Sheehan Barry fully understood the challenging task of how to incorporate the combination of complementing the new and respecting the preservation of the old.

Also, special thanks were given to Mark Quinn and David Ducie, from the main contractor, QCon, and design touches by interior designer, Jennifer Gabbett, alongside many other specialists and suppliers who helped to guide the project to success throughout the different phases over the last two years.

This project was delivered by a vast sup-

ply of Limerick suppliers, but this collaboration didn’t just stop there.

Demonstrating first-hand their belief in community and its importance, Ingenium partnered with the Limerick School of Art & Design and commissioned a number of students and graduates to create a selection of art that celebrates the intertwining values of the company with the historic building.

Ingenium CEO, Dr. James Ring, explained how this partnership was not just proof of the company’s investment in Limerick’s home-grown talent but to be a “stunning statement that showcases beautifully the foundation of who we are as a company and what we represent - integrity, collaboration, excellence, innovation and most importantly, a passion for people.”

The building is part of Limerick’s primary Georgian district, known as Newtown Pery, largely built between 1770 and 1840.

Limerick hosts the largest Georgian streetscape in Ireland outside of Dublin, and one of the most extensive in Europe.

Glaucoma could affect a third of Irish poeple over 50 AN ESTIMATED 3% of people over the age of 50 in Ireland already have glaucoma and the Central Statistics Office estimates that the prevalence of the condition will jump by 33% by 2021, due to our ageing population.

The condition, which is often referred to as the silent thief of sight due to its gradual onset, is the third largest cause of blindness in the world.

With World Glaucoma Week (March 8-14) in full swing, Specsavers is raising awareness on the condition.

Chairperson of Specsavers, Kerril Hickey, commented: “Glaucoma occurs when naturally-occurring fluid inside the eye does not drain properly, causing a build-up of pressure. The condition often affects both eyes, usually to varying degrees, however, there are two types - chronic glaucoma which develops slowly with subtle changes to your vision, and acute glaucoma which develops rapidly with a sudden, painful build-up of pressure in the eye.”

Specsavers stores nationwide have introduced Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) scanners - a cutting-edge piece of equipment that allows opticians to view the eye in more detail than ever before. OCT can also help to detect glaucoma up to four years in advance.

While caffeine can raise eye pressure, some studies indicate that regular exercise can lower it. While there is no evidence to prove this can directly prevent glaucoma, it does support overall eye health.

While many people know that smoking is bad for your health, some don't know that smoking can have a detrimental impact on our eyes, it can cause a plethora of complications and even increase the risk of glaucoma. Group Two drivers (those who drive lorries and buses) need to advise the NDLS even if they have glaucoma in just one eye, as tests are more stringent for commercial drivers. For Group One drivers (cars and motorcycles), the NDLS only needs to be advised of glaucoma when it affects both eyes.

For further information or to book an eye test visit www.specsavers.ie/.

CLARE’S MOST ENTERPRISING STUDENTS ARE ON THE ROAD TO CROKE PARK

l Local Enterprise Office Clare Student Enterprise County Finalists Announced. The Local Enterprise Office Clare were delighted to host the 2020 Local Enterprise Office Clare Student Enterprise Programme County Final at Treacys West County Hotel in Ennis .

Pic Arthur Ellis

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OCAL Enterprise Office Clare have announced that winning teenager entrepreneurs from St. Joseph’s Seocndary School, Tulla, Scoil Mhuire, Ennistymon and St Joseph’s Secondary School, Spanish Point will represent Clare at this year’s Student Enterprise Programme National Finals in Croke Park on the 1st May. The students all took part in the County Final on 4th and 5th March, which was held at the Tracey’s West County Hotel, Ennis.

An estimated 225 students from 11 schools took part in the annual programme locally.

The enterprise education initiative, funded by the Government of Ireland through Enterprise Ireland and delivered by the 31 Local Enterprise Offices in local authorities throughout the country,

saw 25,000 students from over 500 secondary schools across the country take part in 2018 / 2019.

The programme supports students to create, design and market their own business, all with the hope of reaching the National Finals in Croke Park.

This year’s Programme saw two new pilot competitions across the Junior, Intermediate and Senior categories. The first, the “My Entrepreneurial Journey” pilot ran in the Junior and Intermediate cycle and was open to any students involved in the wider competition. It required them to map out the life of a entrepreneur and what is required.

In the Senior category there was a new “Most Creative Business Idea” section. Under the theme “Go Green: Be Sustainable” students could push their most inno-

vative ideas, without having to produce a product or service and was open to all senior students taking part in the wider competition.

In the Junior Category, the student representing Co. Clare at the National Finals in Croke Park is Darragh Walsh from ‘Banner Locker Accessories’ at St. Joseph’s Secondary School, Tulla.

In the Intermediate Category, Alanna Hayes of ‘Rainbows of the World’ from Scoil Mhuire, Ennistymon will be representing the county in Croke Park.

In the Senior Category of the competition, Co. Calare will be represented on May 1st by Rachel Guinene, Eabha Greene, Ava Burke and Ellen Flanagan from ‘Atlantic Beauty’ at St. Joseph’s Secondary School, Spanish Point..

Special guests at the County Final included Mayor of Clare, Clare

Colleran Molloy made a special appearance on the 5th March at the County Final and was very impressed by the standard, positivity and entrepreneurial spirit in the room.

Speaking at the county final, Padraic McElwee of Local Enterprise Office Clare congratulated the students, saying “We have a very successful student enterprise programme here in Clare, with over 700 students from 14 local schools taking part this year.

Our national finalists are excellent ambassadors for the programme and we wish them the very best of luck in Croke Park on May 1st.

What our students are learning from the programme is that with the right supports and encouragement, they can take an idea from the classroom and develop it into a real-life business. The skills they

learn along the way, such as business planning, market research, selling and team-work, will help them become more entrepreneurial throughout their future careers”.

Clare Colleran Molloy, Mayor of Clare, congratulated this year’s winners adding that the Programme “is a practical and fun way of encouraging young people to consider establishing their own business ideas in years to come.”

The local students will be competing against hundreds of other student entrepreneurs from all over Ireland in Croke Park at the Annual Student Enterprise Programme National Finals on May 1st.

Further information around the Student Enterprise Programme is available from www. studententerprise.ie and by searching #studententerprise on social media.

Minister Breen announces WowWee.ie as Clare County Enterprise Award winner for 2020

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personalised gift business from Ennis has won the County Enterprise Award for 2020 and has been named as Clare’s Best Enterprise.

The top prize of €3,500 went to WowWee. ie who will now represent Local Enterprise Office Clare at the National Enterprise Awards, on May 28th at the Mansion House, Dublin. A PR Mentoring package was also part of the prize.

WowWee.ie.ie is owned by Aine Gleeson and is an online Personalised Gift Service with a choice of over 900 gifts on www. wowwee.ie. The creative team of 9, design, embroider, paint, print, engrave and pack each order with great attention to detail.

The business is currently shipping to over 26 countries.

Speaking after the Awards as part of Local Enterprise Week, Padraic McElwee, Head of Enterprise with Local Enterprise Office Clare said: WowWee.ie has already become a success story and the judges were particularly impressed by the grasp Aine had of her business model, her focus on LEAN principles and where the opportunities lie for the future growth of the business. Clare are proud to be represented by Aine Gleeson from WowWee.ie Speaking at the Awards, Minister for Trade, Employment, Business, EU Digital Single Market and Data Protection, Pat Breen, T.D., said “I would like to congratulate Aine on winning this year’s Clare County Enterprise Award. While there can be only one outright winner, I am extremely heartened by the quality of all the entries and of the strong level of enterprise that clearly exists in the county. I am confident that many of the businesses here will develop and grow and will expand into global markets. As we have seen from previous winners like Get the Shifts, Aaron PCB, Callan Technology and ABC Nutrition, this competition can be a springboard to great success and I wish WowWee and all the finalists all the best in

their enterprise future. They can be assured that their Local Enterprise Office here in Clare will always be there to support their ambition “ Other winners at the awards ceremony, held at the The Old Ground Hotel in Ennis on Friday night (6th March) included McKernan Woollen Mills Ltd winning Best Export Award; Ergtech Ltd winning Best Innovation Award and Torpey Hurleys winning Future Focus Award.

The National competition judging is taking place in April and WowWee.ie will be competing against 30 other finalists from every local authority area for a share of the €40,000 prize fund. The Mansion House in Dublin is the venue for the awards ceremony in May and categories this year include ‘Best Export Award,’ ‘Best Innovation Award and ‘Future Focus,’ in addition to eight runner-up awards.

Other local businesses that were also shortlisted this year were AforeAfter, Quin Art, Muscleballers, Siar Landscape Photography, Meeres Pork Products, AMS Ltd and Kilkee Forge.

Among the special guests at the ceremony were Minster Breen and Mayor of Clare, Clare Colleran Molloy. Members of the judging panel included Harriet Cotter of Enterprise Ireland, Damian Barrow of Curtin O’Friel & Co Accountants and Theresa Roseingrave of BrandAmp Ltd. The awards were just one of the many highlights of Local Enter-

prise Week, which came to an end on March 6th. All over the country, the 31 Local Enterprise Offices have jointly ran over 300 events aimed at start-ups, aspiring entrepreneurs and small businesses in their area, to mark the week.

Other high-profile events during Local Enterprise Week included Tools for Bettering your Business, Business Advice Clinics, Food Information Event, PR Workshop and the Student Enterprise Programme Awards.

l (above) Local Enterprise Week Clare 2020. National Enterprise Awards, Clare Final and (left) Aine Gleeson, WoeWee, Overall Award Winner with her parents Sean and Mary McDermot.

Pic Arthur Ellis

34 RECRUITMENT

THURSDAY, MAR 12 2020

RECRUIT

CONTACT US WE’RE ON FACEBOOK, TWITTER AND INSTAGRAM #CE CALL 065 671 9021 TO PLACE YOUR RECRUITMENT ADVERT

Join our family of CAREGivers There’s more to being a CAREGiver than you might think!

Come to our CAREGiver recruitment day to learn about opportunities to care for older people in your community Thursday March 12, 2020 9.30am to 5pm @ Home Instead Senior Care Clare, U16, First Floor, Roslevan Shopping Centre, Tulla Road, Ennis • Competitive pay • Part-time work available

• Training provided • Staff appreciation days

Apply at HomeInstead.ie/Clare-jobs Call us on (065) 679 7507 Email clare@homeinstead.ie Find us on Facebook @HomeInsteadIreland

Applications are invited for the following vacancies within our Nursing Home, a dynamic working environment offering quality holistic care.

HEALTH CARE ASSISTANTS Opportunities for full and part-time HCA positions for day/evening shifts. Ideal candidates will be qualified, or currently undertaking QQI Level 5 in Care Skills, and have an interest in working with the older person.

QQI Level 5 Motor Technology in Ennis “QQI Level 5 Motor Technology” – offering a mix of practical and theory based subjects, designed to help learners to gain employment or to pursue further education in Motor technology.

Course is aimed at learners aged 18 to 35 (course free to Jobseekers)

Please submit your Curriculum Vitae to: Director of Nursing, Carrigoran House, Newmarket on Fergus, Co. Clare.

061-368100 or email: info@carrigoranhouse.ie www.carrigoranhouse.ie

If you are interested in training or would like to find out more, Call Leonard or Jackie on 087 7780356 Like and share our motor tech Facebook page

https://www.facebook.com/Motor-Technology-Local-training-Initiative-795448170640711/

The Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (SICAP) is co funded by the Irish Government and the European Union under the European Social Fund and includes a special allocation under the Youth Employment Initiative

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It’s not just about property. It’s about people

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Flannan’s semi-final bound

lTRUE BLUES: St Flannan’s supporters are due another day out after defeating St Kieran’s College of Kilkenny in the All-Ireland quarter final

Photo by Gerard O’Neill

St Flannan’s set for All-Ireland semi final while Ennis RFC U18s prepare for Munster final

Flannan’s set for semis

Ennis’s date with destiny

Buttsys pride of Ballycasey

Brilliant from the Bridge

St Flannan’s coach Brendan Bugler spoke to Seamus Hayes about his pride in his players after his side were succesful in defeating Kilkenny’s St Kieran’s College

The Ennis U18s are ready for the underage club showpiece game, as they take on Cobh Pirates in the Munster Cup final at Irish Independent Park in Cork

Shannon syndicate-owned Buttsy Bengal was the pride of Ballycasey after claiming the Seachtaine na Gaeilge Novice 350 Stake final in Galway at the weekend

Bridge United have qualified for the FAI Youths quarter-finals following an impressive win over College Corinthians on Saturday

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SCAN QR CODE FOR CLONLARA V DOORA/ BAREFIELD U21 MATCH REPORT

Bridge lucky to prevail against Tulla PÁRAIC MCMAHON paraic@clareecho.ie

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Sixmilebridge 0-16 Tulla 0-15 Venue: Clonlara GAA

IXMILEBRIDGE took the lead in the sixth minute of additional time to claim their place in the U21A hurling semi-finals defeating Tulla on Sunday morning.

A better start and stronger finish paved the way for U21 roll of honour leaders Sixmilebridge to seal their spot in the last four of the competition. Despite requesting to drop down to the B grade before the championship draw, Tulla certainly didn’t lack belief for this contest and they will certainly feel it is a win they left behind them.

Two frees from Jack Corry and one point each from Luke Keogh and Paul Corry had Sixmilebridge leading 0-04 0-01 at the conclusion of the first quarter. Notice-

ably during this period, The Bridge had won the first four of their own puckouts while Tulla had lost their first six puckouts.

When they settled, Tulla took control, with Sean Withycombe, William Halpin and Conor Murphy all on target, they retreated to the dressing rooms at half-time leading 0–08 0-06.

Shane Whyte denied Tulla a dream start to the second half pulling off a save to deny Andrew Conheady a green flag. Points from Murphy and Withycombe pushed Aidan Lynch’s side two clear by the end of the third quarter.

Approaching the final few minutes of normal time, two Jack Corry frees put The Bridge on level terms.

Had it not been for full-back Sean O’Callaghan, Tulla would have been further behind, he was in the right place at the right time to keep out a Luke O’Halloran attempt on goal. Netminder Cillian Dunworth was also called upon to keep out a Bridge effort from Sean McNamara.

Frustration was voiced by the

Tulla management when seven minutes of additional time was announced. During this spell, they added just a single score through Withycombe with Tommy Liddy’s Bridge pointing through Jack Corry and match-winner Luke Keogh in time for the final whistle.

Unlucky not to get a draw, not to mention a win, the result will cause plenty of hurt in Tulla. When the pressure mounted, they lost their sense of positioning which in turn offered free space and free runners which Sixmilebridge took advantage off. The concession of nine points from frees in knockout hurling is always going to be costly. Up front they had the danger man to cause havoc but failed to supply the them with enough possession. Sean Withycombe, James O’Gorman, Andrew Conheady and Conor Murphy stood out for the East Clare side who will benefit from this encounter.

It was more strong individual displays rather than a cohesive collective that aided Sixmilebridge

MATCH STATS PUCKOUTS SIXMILEBRIDGE WON: 12/22 LOST: 10/22

WIDES SIXMILEBRIDGE: 10 TULLA: 8

TULLA WON: 10/26 LOST: 16/26

FREE CONVERSION JACK CORRY: 9/11 SEAN WITHYCOMBE: 6/7 JAMES O'GORMAN: 0/1 TIARNAN AGNEW: 1/1

FREES SIXMILEBRIDGE: 14 TULLA: 15

lCLOSE ENCOUNTER: Sixmilebridge and Tulla in action at the weekend Photo by John Mangan

when tensions mounted. They were fortunate to come out of Clonlara as victors and will need to improve if they are to stay on the winning side against Inagh/Kilnamona.

Both wing-backs Leon Kelly and Dylan Downes impressed as did Storm Devanney in the corner while the amount of ball won in the

day afternoon. Missed goal chances from the Townies including a penalty, however Cormac O’Halloran between the posts must be applauded for keeping a clean sheet with some excellent saves. He impressed for the winners as did the Keoghs, Darragh and Cian. Seventeen year old centre back, Oran Cahill stood out for Éire Óg.

In an East Clare derby it was Scariff/ Ogonnelloe who dominated from the getgo as they defeated O’Callaghans Mills 2-18 0-11. Despite playing against the wind, Scariff/Ogonnelloe netted two goals in the opening half via Martin Walsh and

Scorers Sixmilebridge: J Corry (0-09 9f), L Keogh (0-02), P Corry (0-02), C Hassett (0-01), L O’Halloran (0-01), T Agnew (0-01 1f).

Scorers Tulla: S Withycombe (0-08 6f), C Murphy (0-03), W Halpin (0-02), R Molloy (0-01), A Conheady (0-01).

John Conlon Clubs anxious injury blow for U21 games A KEY member of Brian Lohan’s Clare senior hurling panel sustained a serious injury this week.

Captain John Conlon picked up a knee injury at training on Tuesday night.

The Clare Echo understands that Conlon damaged his knee while training on the 4G pitch at the University of Limerick. The extent of his injury is unknown as of yet with the Clonlara attacker due to undergo a scan on Wednesday.

However, those that witnessed the incident are fearful that the 2018 All Star is set for a spell on the sidelines.

The All-Ireland winner is almost certain to miss Clare’s Allianz National Hurling League semi-final on March 22 while Wednesday’s scan will determine how much of their Munster championship bid he will be absent for. Clare take on All-Ireland champions in Semple Stadium on May 17th in their opening outing of the 2020 Munster SHC.

Ballyea and Clooney/Quin among winners SEVEN games took place as the U21 B and C hurling championships commenced at the weekend.

A change in venue from Kilmaley to Feakle didn’t get in the way of Ballyea advancing to the last eight in the U21B where they will meet reigning champions Broadford. They recorded a 2-10 1-09 victory over Wolfe Tones. Kevin Sheehan’s side got a brace of 1-03 without reply in a thirteen minute period in the second half that dented the challenge of the Shannon side.

Clooney/Quin overcame the challenge of Éire Óg 0-10 1-05 in Gurteen on Sun-

air by Paul Corry was vital to creating attacks with Luke Keogh also on form.

Patrick Ryan giving them a three point advantage at the interval. Confidence was evidently low within the Mills’ ranks for the second half as they hit just three points.

Comprehensive wins were the order of the day in the C championship. Feakle/ Killanena dispatched of a youthful St Josephs Doora/Barefield 4-25 0-05 while Sixmilebridge’s second string were unable to cope with Whitegate who ran out 4-10 0-05 winners. Twelve points was the difference as Parteen advanced to the last four beating Ballyea 1-17 0-08 while Banner got off to a flying start defeating Smith O’Briens 2-14 1-03.

to proceed

GAA clubs in Clare have expressed their desire for the U21 championship to run ahead as normal despite cases of coronavirus in parts of the county.

At a meeting on Tuesday evening in Clareabbey, clubs discussed the potential implications the virus would have on the U21 hurling championship which began last week. Already two contests in the B competition were postponed as a result of the virus.

Held behind closed doors, The Clare Echo understands that the general consensus among clubs at the meeting was to keep going with the championship. However very few games are expected to take place this weekend with the prospect of one C semi-final being scheduled and also one B quarter-final on St Patrick’s Day. It is expected that the bulk of games will be played next weekend.

A representative from Sixmilebridge is said to have told the meeting that if the coronavirus delays the championship, they would be requesting that the involvement of some of their panellists with Bridge Utd’s Youths team be accommodated by having no games on at the same time.

Ties involving Crusheen/Tubber, Corofin/ Ruan, Inagh/Kilnamona and Bodyke were postponed last weekend. Families connected to some panellists from these clubs are currently in self-isolation.

Midweek games are on the cards to assist with the scheduling of the U21 championship. Concern was outlined that delaying the games would run into college exams and panellists travelling to America on J1 visas with others in attendance highlighting that teams have been preparing since November.

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SCAN QR CODE FOR ST FLANNAN’S V ST KIERAN’S COLLEGE MATCH REPORT

Bugler delight at St Flannan’s spirit MATCH STATS

St. Flannan’s College 0-14 St. Kieran’s College 0-11

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Venue: Mallow GAA Complex

Possessions - 13 Clean Distributions - 10 Wasted Distributions - 3 50/50s won - 6 50/50s lost - 3 Turnovers - 4 Hooks/Blocks -1 Shot attempts - 6 Scores - 0-4 Missed - 2 Fouls - 0

ST. FLANNAN'S COLLEGE FREES WON: 24 (16 IN THE FIRST HALF) WIDES: 9 (2 IN THE FIRST HALF) RED CARD: ASHLEY BROHAN (23 MINUTES) ST. KIERAN'S COLLEGE FREES WON: 14 (7 IN EACH HALF) WIDES: 8 (7 IN THE FIRST HALF) YELLOW CARDS: DAVID FOGARTY (23); HARRY SHINE (29); CIAN KENNY (40)

O’Connell calls for consistency

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ONSISTENCY. That elusive ingredient which has seperated Cork, Kilkenny and Galway from every other senior camogie side again boiled to the surface of the post-match debate in Cratloe on Saturday.

Having secured back-to-back opening National League victories over Offaly and Kilkenny, Clare appeared to have turned a corner, only to reverse back around it in a below-par first half display against Waterford that cost them all the points on offer according to manager Ger O’Connell.

ATURDAY’S victory by St. Flannan’s over St. Kieran’s in the Schools All-Ireland final was “as good a win as Flannans have ever had” according to team coach Brendan Bugler, writes Seamus Hayes.

Speaking moments after the final whistle the Whitegate native said, “There was a strong wind there and to be only five points down, I thought we did brilliantly in the first half, closing them out, closing out space.

The policy was not to concede a goal. We had a sending off just before half time which I thought was harsh.

Ashley has been a big big player for us all year and the message at half time was to give him another day out.

We fought tooth and nail for this”.

Joint captain, Conner Hegarty injured his shoulder in the Harty Cup final week. His introduction early in the second half gave St Flannan’s a noticeable lift.

“First and foremost you have to look at a player and his well being. He told us he was fine. Conor Halpin has been chomping at the bit as well all season and he has been training really well. He came in today and did a great job. When Connor Hegarty came on, he has that little bit of class and when there is space in front of him he can take a point and he was exceptional in the second half ”.

Bugler and the management team of Kevin O’Grady, Mike Kelly and Shane McCarthy had their homework done on St Kieran’s College ahead of Saturday’s quar-

Ger O’Connell

Photo by Bryan Keane / INPHO

“It’s very disappointing...especially in the first half is even more frustrating than disappointing to be honest because as I’ve said, the girls have some amount of work done and it just didn’t show in the first half. Particularly being our first game at home, everyone was eager to perform.”

Two Waterford goals in as many minutes in the opening quarter turned the game on its head as Clare’s two point advantage descended into a seven point deficit by the break. “Both of their goals stemmed from our mistakes...you just can’t give a team like that a seven point lead, especially as we were facing into the wind for the second half.

“We were much better in the second half, had a better attitude and got the ball into the full-forward line earlier than we did in the first half. But we had given Waterford

ter-final. “They brought on the likes of Harry Shine, an under 16 with Kilkenny and touted as the next Richie Hogan. They had Eoin Guilfoyle and Ciaran Brennan also to spring from the bench. We knew when they were with that wind if we kept the score down and not give them a lead of ten or eleven points we would always have a chance. “Our defence was heroic and they were heroic here last week as well. It was really backs to the wall type of stuff. It really is not good for the heart but we got out on the right side”.

Tony Butler was absent from the “heroic” Flannan’s defence. “When someone is missing it’s really next man up. Jack Lyons came in today and did well as did Conor Halpin. It’s next man up that’s the way we look at it. We have a strong panel,” Bugler said when asked about the unavailable Doora/Barefield teenager.

“It’s St Raphael’s next on Monday week, it’s not ideal as a lot of these lads have under 21 championship on the day before but it’s great to be there. The lads went back to their clubs during the past week and we did a light session on Wednesday. It will be the same this week. We have to be mindful of the under 21 championship, it’s an important championship in Clare and they have to go back and perform for their clubs”, said the two time All-star defender.

“These lads are competitors, it doesn’t matter if it’s an egg and spoon race. The Harty is over and we are focussing on the Croke Cup. We have a huge task ahead.

Raphaels beat an exceptional Presentation team but I wasn’t really surprised as they won the All-Ireland B last year. We will have to have our work done to match them”, concluded a clearly happy team coach.

EIMEAR KELLY PLAYER WATCH Posessions: 17

(7 IN FIRST HALF/10 IN SECOND HALF)

Clean: 12 (5/7) Wasted: 5 (2/3) Passes: 8 (6/8) Long: 6 Short: 2 Hurley: 8 Handpass: 0 Shots: 11 Scores: 0-6 (5f) Wides: 4 Short: 1 Tackles: 5 Turnovers: 2 Hooks: 0 Blocks: 1 Frees won: 3 Frees Lost: 2

too much of a headstart. We were faffing with the ball in the first half around the middle of the field so we simply said at half-time get the ball in early. We have a girl who is 6’3” inside there so why are we messing around with it and getting turned over? I know I’m coming across as frustrated because I am. I mean we had two good wins and we had talked about consistency but for some reason, we just fell flat starting off today. We just need to find

MATCH STATS Waterford 2-11 Clare 1-11

Venue: Páirc Uí hEithir, Cratloe

PUCK-OUTS CLARE WON: 8/16 LOST: 8/16 SHORT: 3/16 WATERFORD WON: 9/17 LOST: 8/17 SHORT: 4/17 FREES CLARE: 17 (9 IN FIRST HALF/8 IN SECOND HALF)

WATERFORD: 14 (9 IN FIRST HALF/5 IN SECOND HALF)

WIDES CLARE: 5 (3 IN FIRST HALF/2 IN SECOND HALF)

WATERFORD: 3 (1 IN FIRST HALF/2 IN SECOND HALF)

that bit more consistency.”

Indeed, Waterford had no answer to the towering target of Aine O’Loughlin in that second half as she created the goal for Aoife Power and had four shots at the target herself.

“We did nothing different today than we did against Kilkenny, that’s the frustrating thing. It’s just a consistency that we need to bring as a group, something hopefully that we can learn from down the line.”

Clare Echo THE

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Monday March 16th All-Ireland PPS Senior A semi-final: St Flannan’s College v St Raphael’s College, 14:30 in Gort.

GAELIC FOOTBALL

Saturday March 14th O’Gorman Cup Group 1 Lissycasey v Kilrush, 15:00 in Lees Rd Doonbeg v Cooraclare, 15:00 in Shanahan McNamara Memorial Park, Doonbeg St Josephs Miltown Bye Group 2 Naomh Eoin v Ennistymon, 15:00 in Pairc Eoin, Cross Ballyvaughan Bye Sunday March 15th Alliianz National Football League Division 2 Round 6: Clare v Fermanagh, 14:00 in Cusack Park. Referee: Sean Lonergan O’Gorman Cup Group 2 Kildysart v O’Currys, 11:30 in Kildysart

SOCCER

Saturday March 14th Martin Donnelly MyClubShop.ie Clare & District Soccer League Fixtures CSGL Electrical Youths League B Division Newmarket Celtic v Kilrush Rangers, 14:00 in McDonough Park, Referee: Sean Kenneally Kildysart Celtic v Ennis Town, 14:00 in Kildysart. Referee: Caoilfhionn O’Dea Clare U17 Cup Quarter-Finals Manus Celtic v Coole FC, 14:30 in Lees Rd Astro. Referee: Frank Coote Bridge Utd v Avenue Utd, 14:00 in Sixmilebridge. Referee: Julian Sandford Tulla Utd v Shannon Town, 11:00 in The Cragg. Referee: Museliu Bashua Note: In the event of a draw 10 mins e/w extra time and penalties if necessary Sunday March 15th Banner Carpets and Flooring Clare Cup Round 3 Avenue Utd A v Shannon Town B, 12:30 in Lees Rd Astro.

Referee: Julian Sandford Newmarket Celtic A v Shannon Town A, 11:00 in McDonough Park. Referee: Mark Rellis Bridge Utd A v Shannon Hibs A, 11:00 in Sixmilebridge.

Referee: Michael Rock Note: In the event of a draw 10 mins e/w extra time and penalties if necessary Maloney Garden Machinery Premier Division Lifford A v Kilrush Rangers,11:00 in Cassidy Park.

Referee: Dylan Shannon T Sheils & Company First Division League Newmarket Celtic B v Mountshannon Celtic, 14:15 in McDonough Park. Referee: Brian Punch Kildysart Celtic v Tulla Utd, 11:00 in Kildysart. Referee: Martin O’Brien Campion Insurance Second Division League Coole FC v Bridge Utd B, 14:00 in Gort. Referee: Trevor White Manus Celtic A v Rineanna Rovers, 14:15 in Lees Rd. Referee: Sean Kenneally Suttons Lighting Third Division League Connolly Celtic v Ennis Dons, 14:00 in Kilmaley School.

Referee: Paudie Hayes Shannon Town C v Cloughleigh Celtic, 14:30 in Corrib Drive. Referee: Frank Coote

Munster Junior League Division 1 St Senan’s v Crosshaven, 14:30 in Jimmy Slattery Park.

Referee: John D. Adams Munster Junior League Division 3 Scariff v Waterford City, 14:30 in Scariff. Referee: Robert Prenderville Girls U16 Cup Ennis v Fethard & District, 16:00 in Ennis. Referee: Gearoid Folan Youths U15 Conference North Newport v Ballina/Killaloe, 11:30 in Murroe. Referee: Tony Carey Youths U14 Conference North Ennis Black v Shannon Blues, 11:30 in Lees Rd. Referee: Simon Ryan Bruff v Kilrush, 12:00 in Kilballyowen Park. Referee: Robert Grimes

Thursday 19th March Hugh Kelly Premier Division Cup Quarter-Final Shannon Olympic v Avenue Utd, 18:45 in Frank Healy Park. Referee: Martin O’Brien Note: In event of a draw after 90 minutes match will be decided by a penalty shootout

RUGBY

Thursday March 12th Schools U15 Cleary Cup St Anne’s Killaloe v Abbey CBS Tipperary, 12:30 in 4GUL. Referee: Chris O’Malley Saturday March 14th North Munster Webb Cup St Senan’s v UL Bohemians, 14:30 in Jimmy Slattery Park.

Referee: Dermot Hallahan Girls U16 Cup Highfield/Kinsale/Midleton/Youghal v Ballina/Killaloe, 12:00 in Youghal. Referee: Richard B. Twomey Girls U14 Cup Ballincollig v Ennis, 12:30 in Tanner Park. Referee: Greg St Leger Sunday March 15th Munster Club U18 Cup Ennis Red v Cobh Pirates, 17:30 in Irish Independent Park. Referee: Mossie Keith

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MUNSTER U18 CUP FINAL: Ennis RFC v Cobh Pirates Irish Independent Park, Cork at 5.30pm on Sunday

Munster men lead by example ROAD TO THE FINAL

SF: Abbeyfeale 15 (3T) Ennis 22 (3T) QF: Ennis 16 (1T) Skibbereen 14 (2T) ROUND 5: Bandon 18 (2T) Ennis 29 (5T) ROUND 4: Mallow 8 (1T) Ennis 11 (1T) ROUND 3: Ennis 38 (6T) Carrick-On-Suir 5 ROUND 2: Cork Con 12 (2T) Ennis 28 (4T) ROUND 1: Ennis 38 (6T) Abbeyfeale 0

STUART HOLLY

E

NNIS captain Tony Butler was revelling in Harty Cup glory two weeks ago as St Flannan’s disposed of CBC Cork in the final. Moments after the final whistle in Mallow, Tony’s attentions were turned to rugby as less than an hour up the N20 in Old Crescent RFC, Ennis were about to kick off in the Munster Cup semi-final against Abbeyfeale.

Tony explains, “Initially I wasn’t going to play the rugby and then the referee was 45 minutes late so a fella came onto the pitch after the Harty final, one of dad’s friends, to say the game’s been pushed out an hour or so. So we hopped into the car and made it back for the last 20 minutes. We were winning anyway so there was no need to come on.”

Tony along with Ennis scrum-half Ethan Coughlan and No8 Conor Moloney have all enjoyed call-ups to international duty and are members of the Munster U18 set-up.

They have formed the spine of this Ennis team since U14 level.

“It’s definitely helped create a bond and chemistry on the pitch that we’ve played together for so long,” says Kildysart man Conor, with Ethan adding, “It does help on the field but I think off the field, the whole team are really good friends, every single one of us. We’re a really tight group. There’s that bit of confidence now but it’s controlled confidence so we don’t take stuff for granted. For the semi final when we were missing Tony, even though we had beaten Abbeyfeale 36-0 earlier in the season, we didn’t take anything for granted because it’s the same again, 15 men aginast 15.”

That mentality is part and parcel to Ennis’s success. With history on the line

lRISING STARS: Ennis U18s Ethan Coughlan, Conor Moloney and Tony Butler at the Ennis clubhouse on Tuesday evening Photo by Helen McQuillan and a second Munster Cup in three years at stake, Conor insists, “We take it one game at a time. If you get caught up in that stuff you won’t win much. Our focus now is on training Friday night.”

The trio are hoping for a call-up to the Ireland clubs and schools team, who are due to play two tests against England during Easter holidays. Their involvement with previous Ireland and Munster sides is a source that Ennis hope to draw on. Tony tells The Clare Echo, “Whatever we learn we try to bring it and implement it on the pitch.” Conor adds

Wishing the very best to Ennis Rugby Team this weekend

that it helps create a competitive environment within the team, and that introducing what they’ve learnt in Munster “is easy enough to do though because most of the boys we play with here are just as good really, they’re top quality here as well.”

For Conor, it also raises the stakes that of the four Cobh counterparts on the Munster development panel, two play in the back row alongside him. “We know enough about them, I played with them all summer, with their so-called best players and I’d be friendly enough with all of them as well but we know

what they’re going to do. They’re going to be bring it up front, they’ll be very physical. After that I’d say we have the beating of them.

I’m actually really looking forward to facing up against them now, put down a marker because there’s good competition there. I can always have that to my name that we won a Munster title, if we do, please God.” A quiet confidence is exhumed from the trio ahead of Sunday and Conor says that his captain Tony isn’t of the loud variety, much like the Kildysart man. “He just leads by example, that’s what I go off too. If you’re roaring and shouting you’re not doing something else. If something has to be said, say it short and sweet, there’s no point effing people out of it, noone’s going to learn that way.”

Conor admits that the goal was to go unbeaten this year and the character of the panel has ensured they’ve managed to keep their winning record intact. “You’re going to find it hard to win if you don’t go into every game confident. Even whenever it looked like we weren’t going to pull it off and drop the heads, we never did. We always came back, there’s been a few games. Against Bandon we were down and came back to win comforatbley, there’s just a winning mentality.”

When asked what they’re focussing on ahead of Sunday, he adds, “There’s always room for improvement. There’s endless ways to be better so we focus on that. Whatever we do bad on a Sunday we bring that into training on a Wednesday and we get that right and bring it to next Sunday’s match.”

Best of luck to Ennis Rugby Club this weekend from all at Haven Pharmacy THE LATE NIGHT PHARMACY IN CLARE

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Unbeaten Ennis look to make history

“I

T’S going to be a hell of a match. It’s the two best teams in the competition.”

These are the thoughts of Damien O’Connor, Ennis assistant head coach ahead of the U18 Munster Cup final this Sunday evening against Cobh Pirates at Irish Independent Park in Cork, writes Stuart Holly.

Ennis are unbeaten this season in all competition and will look to make history as the first Clare team to win the Munster U16 Cup only to follow it up with the U18 equivalent two years later. A highly decorated side, it would be fitting that their underage journey would culminate in claiming the most prestigious underage tournament on the Munster club rugby scene.

Head coach Nigel ‘Sledge’ Moloney talks The Clare Echo through the side’s roll of honour when asked if he saw potential in this group of players when he began coaching them at U13 level.

It includes a list of North Munster League titles, League Cups, a Pan Munster (all-Munster) trophy, and an appearance in an All-Ireland final.

“I suppose we did [see their potential]. We went down to the U13 League final and League Cup final and were beaten in both by Young Munster, so we developed.

At U14 our goal was to do well in the League and Cup and we won both of them. We went further the following year, we won the League and Cup and we got to the final of that tournament and Tullow beat us in the final. The following year at U16 we won the Pan Munster against Cobh who we’re playing on Sunday and then beat Ballinasloe in the semi final and Tullow beat us by five points in the All Ireland final.”

The Ennis coaching staff are quick to acknowledge that at the beginning of the season, an Ennis vs Cobh Munster final was a scenario they envisaged. Seven players who line out for Ennis this Sunday have at some stage been

involved in Munster development squads, while Cobh can boast their own contingent of four current Munster representatives. Despite not having played each other this year, there appears to be good intel on both sides on what they will be faced with in Cork on Sunday.

Ken Butler, father of captain and out half Tony, has been involved with Ennis coaching staff for seven years. He explains, “Cobh have developed as well from last year because they have four guys on Munster Development squad.

Conor [Moloney] plays in the backrow with two of the Cobh players and they have a good prop, Darragh McCarthy, he’s a fine player.

We’ve got to be really up for this game, they’re a serious team.

They’ve come out of Cork, they’ve won all their games. A few of them also have Irish underage caps.”

Although Ennis are unbeaten in all competitions this season (they are also due to play the North Munster League final vs Nenagh), they’ve found themselves in one or two tricky situations and results haven’t always come easily.

In the quarter final, it took a Tony Butler penalty with just three minutes remaining to beat reigning champions Skibbereen. Backs coach O’Connor, a former Galwegians and Ennis player and now a detective based in Ennis, insists that remaining unbeaten is a testament to the character of the team. “These lads don’t know how to lose games. We go behind and they just come back. The belief of these men is just incredible.”

Ennis hope to employ their expansive gameplan on Sunday.

“Our main focus is hands,” says Sledge. “Play the expansive, outwide game. At this age level that’s where you want to get the ball out, to the 13, 14 channels; setting up primary possession inside to get the ball out quick because we have the players to do that in our scrumhalf and out-half.

Damien adds, “The skillset is very impressive. When I came

here last year, the passing off both hands, their technical ability, decision making, they are excellent.

You can see the level of coaching they got. Last year we’ve been putting systems in place and we’re seeing that this year in attack and defence, the systems are coming together for us.”

Ennis have no injury concerns ahead of the big game barring influential second row Brian Barry who has missed the entire season with a cruciate injury. With one session left on Friday night, all eyes turn to Cork with “a few debates to be had yet” on who makes the team sheet. Not that any added motivation is needed, Sunday will be used as a trial of sorts for players on the radar of Munster and Ireland selectors. Nigel adds, “It’s also a showcase for the boys because the Irish international camp is coming up in two weeks’ time, so it’s a showcase for both the guys that are looking for the call-up and the guys who are borderline.”

Ken insists it’s key that Ennis manage the occasion of playing at Irish Independent Park in Munster final. “It’s all in the day, how we turn up. It’s out of sorts for a lot of them who would never have been to Independent Park. A couple of lads who played there, Tony, Ethan Coughlan (scrum half) and Conor Maloney (No8) have played there all year with the Munster CSP (club select) squad that they were part of that played in the senior cup rugby preliminary rounds, so they’re familiar with the set-up there but for the rest of the lads it’s all new.

“But we’re confident too,” adds Damien. “We’re a good team, we’re here on merit. We’ve no fear of going down to Cork - we’ve been down there, we’ve won there.

I don’t think the boys realise how big it is to go into Limerick to beat teams, go to Cork and beat teams, it’s incredible what these men are achieving and we’re going in confidence.”

WISHING THE VERY BEST OF LUCK THIS WEEKEND TO

ENNIS RFC FROM PADDY BROWNE

lFINAL FLING: Ennis in their quarter final win over Skibbereen at Lee’s Road and (below) coaching staff Nigel Moloney, Ken Butler and Damien O’Connor Photos by Helen McQuillan

ENNIS U18 panel: Colm Kearney, Jason Downes, Daniele Andrioli, Seanie Keane, Evan Wood, Fionn Langan, Ethan Coughlan, Bence Benko, Joey Keane, Cormac Browne, Darragh O'Callaghan, Eoghan Hahessy, Aidan Roland, MJ Malone, Conor Moloney, Brendan Cleland, Eoin Cullinan, Hope Omorodion, Mark Halpin,

Matthew Hanrahan, Calum Barrett, Sean McGrath, Tony Butler (c), Ryan Murphy, Daniel Fogarty, Brian Barry Head coach: Nigel ‘Sledge’ Moloney Assistant head coach: Damien O’Connor Backroom team: Eanna Lennon, Dave Carroll and Ken Butler

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Defeat for Ladies

CLARE’S wait for a win in the Lidl Ireland Ladies Football National League goes on following Sunday’s defeat to Cavan.

Cavan ran out 1-13 1-09 winners in Doonbeg, Grainne Nolan collected Clare’s only goal in the second half but it wasn’t enough as James Murrihy’s side tasted their fourth defeat of the competition.

Photo by Gerard O’Neill

Buttsy Bengal the pride of Ballycasey

O

WNED by a Shannon syndicate, Buttsys Bengal was the pride of Ballycasey after claiming the Seachtain na Gaeilge Novice 350 Stake Final in Galway at the weekend.

Friday nights Galway card saw the commencement of three stakes and the final of the Seachtain Na Gaeilge Novice 350 Yards Stake with the opening heats off the Bumblebee Kynen Enjoying Retirement A7 525, The Maurice & John Leahy Memorial Unraced and the Bull Run Bolt At Stud A4 525.

Having impressed in his semi-final victory, the Ger Holian trained Buttsys Bengal was a warm order to claim the Seachtain Na Gaeilge Novice 350 Stake Final with a €500 winners cheque on offer. However as the traps rose those that took odds were worried as he mistimed the start completely as Cragbrien Benjy and Rathin Maura disputed the lead in the run towards the opening bend.

Rounding the bend Rathin Maura took definite advantage along the inner as Buttsys Bengal began to thread his way through the field into third place. Off the home bend

Rathin Maura led by two lengths but the Buttsys Buckos Syndicate of Shannon owned Buttsys Bengal was now in full flow as he swept down the outer to win going away by a length in 19.79.

Killuran Seanie and Dunmahon Jet were smartly into stride with the former showing the better early toe leading by two lengths rounding the opening bend of the Bull Run Bolt At Stud A4 525 first heat. The improving Cozzys Gem was tracking closely as Dunmahon jet tracked a wide course with Lamestep. Racing down the back Killuran Sean opened up a four length advantage on Cozzys Gem who though did begin to close approaching the penultimate bend. Approaching the home turn Cozzys Dream came through on the leaders inner to just strike the front before the Sean Cosgrove of Clarecastle and Stephen Sheedy of Ballyea owned runner eased away to defeat Dunmahon Jet for the Donie Duggan kennel in 29.48.

Newhall Torpedo, owned by Ballyea duo Noel Coote and Colin Barry recorded his second career success in the A3 graded contest on Satur-

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l DELIGHT: Ryan

Hodge, Eoin Collins, David Ryan and Ciarán Connolly with Buttys Bengal

day night defeating Tiger Roll by a length and a quarter over in 29.57 for the John Browne kennel. The winner was away well on the wide outside to lead from Tiger Roll and Domino Burko along the inner.

Kicking on rounding the opening bend Newhall Torpedo extended his advantage to over three lengths at halfway an although Tiger Roll tried hard he could never get on terms.

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Brilliant Bridge advance to FAI Youth QF Bridge Utd 3 College Corinthians 1

B

Venue: Sixmilebridge

RIDGE United have qualified for the FAI Youths quarter-finals following an impressive win over College Corinthians on Saturday.

A glistening season for the Mark Culbert managed Bridge Youths got even better on Saturday afternoon as they sealed their place in the last eight of the FAI Youths Cup. They will line out in the Munster Youths semi-final later this month.

Top Cork outfit, College Corinthians came to Clare full of confidence at the weekend, the Leesiders have also qualified for the last four of the Munster Youths Cup and are unbeaten in 37 games in their own County League.

Clare Youths captain Liam Buckley put Bridge ahead with a powerful header on fourteen minutes. They doubled their advantage nine minutes later when Thabiso Dube put the ball in the net. From here, the visitors began to get a foothold in the contest and were rewarded when they pulled back a goal.

However the Sixmilebridge side responded superbly. Leon Daly teed up Conor Maxwell who executed his shot rather impressively on twenty nine minutes giving the hosts a 3-1 advantage at the interval.

Corinthians piled on the pressure in the second half as they tried to make their way through. With three of the Clare Youths backline lining out in the Bridge’s defence, getting through was going to be no easy task and so it proved.

They now have a busy few weeks on the card as they travel to Cork to face St Mary’s FC in the FAI Youths Cup quarter-final on March 21st/22nd. The week after they are on the road again, this time to take on Limerick outfit, Ballingarry AFC in the Munster Youths Cup semi-final.

Bridge Utd: Will Fitzpatrick, Leon Kelly, Storm Devanney, Liam Buckley, Luke Shea, Dylan Downes, Scott Kirkland, Kyle Walker (Capt), Leon Daly, Thabiso Dube, Conor Maxwell.

Subs: Eli O’Sullivan for Dube, Adam O’Sullivan for Downes, Evan O’Callaghan for Maxwell, James Egan, Michael Carey, Conor Morey, Ian Collins

Flurry of golfing over two day spell

I

MPROVED weather conditions, albeit for just two days, towards the end of last week, brought a flurry of activity to golf courses across the region, writes Seamus Hayes.

In the weekly singles at Kilrush, John Stapleton emerged with the honours with 28 points. The senior men’s scramble was won by Noel Thornton, Tony McMahon and John Robinson with 64 from Aeneas O’Connor, Denis Nagle and P.W Glynn with 63. In third place, also with 63, were John Stapleton, Tom Coffey and Matt Fitzpatrick.

Meanwhile, the open Winter series scramble at Dromoland continued at the weekend when the winners were Seamus Lyons, Derek Grimes, Paul Doherty and Mick Moynihan with 59.7 strokes. The

series will continue on this Sunday, March 15 with the grand final scheduled for Sunday week, March 22 The annual team of four classic which raises funds for the Clare senior football training fund will take place on Friday May 22 at Woodstock. Some times are available on the afternoon on Thursday May 21.

Further information can be had from any member of the committee, Colm Collins, Kevin Callinan, Michael Clancy, Ciaran Browne, Tommy Tubridy, Seamus Hayes, Mary Farrell-Keane and Niamh Madigan or from any member of the senior panel and team management

Kierse is still good as gold

l DELIGHT: Former international athlete Rita

Kierse has won double gold in the indoor All Ireland masters in Athlone. Rita won individual gold in the 800m and 1500m event in the over 60 category.

Michael Hayes also a long serving St Marys ac athlete won a Gold medal in the shot put event, Michael competed in the over 90 event.

The Scorecard in association with

EAST CLARE GOLF CLUB Ladies Wednesday Winners Noreen Skehan, Marie A Kelly, Trish Kerr

KILRUSH GOLF CLUB Mar 02 / Mar 08 KGC Men’s Weekly Singles 1 John Stapleton 28

Scramble Friday 1st Willie Hayes, Steve Symes, Marry Jo Minogue, 2nd John Fielding, Evelyn Skehan, Michael Heffernan 3rd Dave Condren, Terry Coughlan, Siobhan Mulcahy

Feb. 04 Senior Men’s Scramble 1 Noel Thornton, Tony McMahon, John Robinson 64 2 Aeneas O’Connor, Denis Nagle, PW Glynn 63 3 John Stapleton, Tom Coffey, Matt Fitzpatrick 63

ENNIS GOLF CLUB Scramble 7th March 2020 1st T J Scanlan Tim Scanlan, John Kearse (73-3) 68pts 2nd Della Burns, Paul Kenny, Ger O’ Donohue 65pts

Spanish Point Golf Club: 4th/8th March Ladies’ Weekly Singles 18-Hole Stroke 1st Valerie Shannon 79 nett 2nd Maura Killackey 85 nett 3rd Karen White 87 nett

Gent’s 4 Ball B/B(9/10hdc) 14 Holes Sat.7th & Sun. 8th March 2020 1st Sean Ryan(23) & Matt Flynn(19) 38pts 2nd Enda Heaney(11) & Frank Gormley(16) 36pts 3rd Conor Gleeson(14) & David O’ Loughlin(20) 35pts 4th Andy Cregan(17) & Christy Cusack(10) 35pts 5th Gary Collins(6) & John Blessington(11) 34pts 6th Conor Gleeson(14) & Eamon Moloney(23) 34pts

5th March Actively Aging Group 13Hole Scramble 1st Bernie O’Connor, David Eastham, Len Wilson 41.5 nett 2nd Ann White, Michael O’Connor, Pat Cooke 42 nett 3rd Maura Killackey, John O’Brien, Patrick O’Boyle, Martin Davis 42.4 nett 3rd March Seniors Open Singles 18-Hole Singles 1st Bernie O’Halloran 37 pts 2nd Dermot Hammond 33 pts 3rd Michael Reilly 32 pts

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PLANNING 45

THURSDAY, MAR 12 2020

PLANNING CLARE COUNTY COUNCIL 1 COLLEGE VIEW, ENNIS, CO CLARE

Take notice that Mr & Mrs Alan O’Connell intend to apply for Planning Permission to demolish the existing flat roof structure at the rear of the existing dwelling house, construct a single storey extension and a detached fuel store/ outhouse to the rear of the existing dwelling house including all ancillary site services and works at the above address. The planning application may be inspected or purchased at a fee not exceeding the reasonable cost of making a copy at the offices of the Planning Authority, Clare County Council, Aras Contae an Chlair, New Road, Ennis, Co. Clare during its public opening hours. A submission or observation in relation to the application may be made to the Planning Authority, in writing, on payment of a fee of €20.00 within five weeks beginning on the date of receipt by the Authority of the Planning Application.

CLARE COUNTY COUNCIL KNOCKALOUGH,

065 671 9021 sales@clareecho.ie

KILMIHIL, CO. CLARE

Take notice that Eamon Downes is applying to Clare County Council for planning permission to renovate and extend an existing cottage, demolish an existing haybarn, alter the existing entrance to provide a separate access for the dwelling and farm, setback the existing roadside boundary to improve the sight distance for the existing entrance and install a new wastewater treatment system along with all associated works at the above address. The planning application may be inspected, or purchased at a fee not exceeding the reasonable cost of making a copy at the offices of Clare County Council during its public opening hours and a submission or observation in relation to the application may be made to the authority in writing on payment of the prescribed fee within the period of 5 weeks beginning on the date of receipt by the authority of the application.

CLARE COUNTY COUNCIL BALLYMACAHILL TOWNLAND ENNIS

CO. CLARE

Take notice that Teresa and Patrick Perill intend to apply to the planning authority for permission to retain garden shed and treatment system serving existing dwelling house as constructed at above address.

The Planning Application may be inspected or purchased at a fee not exceeding the reasonable cost of making a copy, at the offices of the planning authority during its public opening hours. A submission or observation in relation to the application may be made in writing to the planning authority on payment of the prescribed fee within the period of 5 weeks beginning on the date of receipt by the authority of the application and such submissions or observations will be considered by the planning authority in making a decision on the application.

CLARE COUNTY COUNCIL HILLCREST, ENNISTYMON ROAD, LAHINCH CO. CLARE. V95 W9P5

Take notice that Oonagh Purfield and Niall Goulding intend to apply

RUBBISH REMOVAL

for permission to build an extension onto the eastern gable of the existing dwelling 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 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 E20.00, within the period of 5 weeks beginning on the date of receipt by the authority of the application.

CLARE COUNTY COUNCIL CALLURAGH SOUTH, LAHINCH, CO. CLARE.

Take notice that Elaine Kearney and Michael O’Dwyer intend to apply for permission to build a new dwelling, install a wastewater treatment system, create a new entrance onto the public road 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

STORAGE

reasonable cost of making a copy, at the offices of the planning authority, during its public opening hours. A submission or observation in relation to the application may be made in writing to the authority on payment of the prescribed fee of E20.00, within the period of 5 weeks beginning on the date of receipt by the authority of the application.

to the application may be made in writing to the 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 BALLYKEELY, KILLALOE, CO. CLARE. V94 H6YC.

CLARE COUNTY COUNCIL BALLYVESKIL, TEERMACLANE, ENNIS, CO. CLARE.

I, Cathal Reynolds, intend to apply for outline permission for development at Ballykeely, Killaloe, Co. Clare. V94 H6YC. The development will consist of a three bedroom passive domestic dwelling not exceeding 160m2.

The planning application may be inspected or purchased at a fee not exceeding the reasonable cost of making a copy, at the offices of the planning authority, during its public opening hours.

A submission or observation in relation to the application may be made in writing to the authority on payment of the prescribed fee, E20.00, 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.

Take notice that Michael Keating Dip. Arch. (phone 085-8421780) intends to apply to Clare County Council, on behalf of Niamh Stackpoole, for full permission to construct a pre-school building to the rear of existing dwelling house. Connect to services.

Relocate existing septic tank and soak away.

Provide public parking and signage and carry out all ancillary 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 the Planning Authority during its public opening hours. 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 DROMARD, DRUMCLIFF ROAD, ENNIS, CO. CLARE. PLANNING REF:

Take notice that Brian Foudy & Associates – Architects & Chartered Engineers of Osprey House, Carmody St, Ennis (0656893565 www. foudyconsulting.ie) Intend to apply to the planning authority on behalf of Mary Daly for permission to construct an entrance, dwellinghouse, garage, wastewater treatment system and soil polishing filter together with all ancillary site development works and services at the above address.

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

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DEVELOPMENT DESCRIPTION: TO CONSTRUCT ONE PAIR OF SEMI-DETACHED HOUSES AND TO CONNECT TO ANCILLARY SERVICES.

Take notice that “Merlot Homes Limited” has lodged significant further information/revised plans in respect of planning application P19/804.

This information and planning application may be inspected or purchased at a fee not to exceed the reasonable cost of making a copy, at the offices of the planning authority of Clare County Council planning department, Aras Contae an Chlair, New Road, Ennis, Co. Clare during its public opening hours.

A submission or observation in relation

CLARE COUNTY COUNCIL BALLYDUFF, BAREFIELD, CO. CLARE

authority of the application.

CLARE COUNTY COUNCIL DRUMGEELY/ TULLYGLASS, SHANNON CO. CLARE

Take Notice that We, The Board of Management, St. Johns National School Shannon intend to apply to Clare County Council for Permission for The installation of a portacabin to be used as a Classroom & Sensory room with connection to existing services including ancillary site works at 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 of Clare County Council, Planning Department, Aras Contae an Chlair, New Road, Ennis, Co. Clare during its public opening hours. A submission or Observation in relation to the application may be made to the authority in writing on payment of the prescribed fee of €20 within the period of 5 weeks beginning on the date of receipt by the authority of the application.

CLARE COUNTY COUNCIL, GARRAUNNATOOHA, KNOCKERRA, KILRUSH, CO. CLARE

Further Information / Revised Plans Planning Ref: P19/403 Development Description: Planning permission to construct a new dwelling house, private garage, entrance, wastewater treatment system and all other associated site works at the above address.

Take notice that Rebecca Smyth & Padraig Flanagan have lodged significant further information in respect of planning application P19/403. 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.

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46 PUZZLEPAGE

THURSDAY, MAR 12 2020

Best Daily Word Search

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THIS WEEKS PUZZLES MAR 12 Best Daily Word Search: 5 March 2020

WORD SEARCH

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1

QUIZ 47

THURSDAY, MAR 12 2020

The Clare Echo Quiz NAME THAT CLARE SONG

They find out where the engine’s 1sweet been hiding. And it drags you to Corofin . The Darlin Girl from Clare . Are you right there Michael? . Farewell to Lissycasey

Here we are in the County Clare.

6 It’s a long, long way from here to there . It’s a long way from Clare to here . Lisdoonvarna . The green hills of Clare

There’s four who share this room You’ll see the high rocky slopes on 2 as we work hard for the crack. And 7 the West coast of Clare. The towns sleeping late on Sundays I never get of Kilrush and Kilkee can be seen . Spancilhill . The Green Hills of Clare . From Clare to here

. Are ye right there Michael? . Cliffs of Dooneen . Lovely Rose of Clare

Oh the sun it shines out like a 3 jewel on the lovely hills of Clare

And every man had got the finest 8 plan. Ye ever see now - barrin’ me now

Though I have travelled many 4 lands To far off Australian sands

Last night as I lay dreaming of 9 pleasant days gone by. My mind being bent on rambling to Ireland I did

My thoughts turn to Eirn When my day’s toil is done

. It’s a long way from Clare to here . Green hills of Clare . Spancilhill

. Lisdoonvarna . Lovely Rose of Clare . The Darlin girl from Clare

fly

. The West Coast of Clare . Spancilhill . The ambush at Rineen

Twas in the year of 95 in the sum10 5 mer of July, All Munster suffered sunstroke . The Banner dream . Banner roar . Stand up for Co Clare

lLEGEND: Christy Moore has penned many a song about Clare

The fare is all first rate there, Of that you can be sure.

The nearby north Clare creamery, Makes butter rich and pure. . The Iron Men from Quilty . Ennistymon, the town of the cascades . The Cliffs of Moher

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

The answers will be revealed in next weeks edition.

6. Lisdoonvarna 7. Cliffs of Dooneen 8. The Darlin girl from Clare 9. Spancilhill 10. Ennistymon, the town of the cascades

. My lovely rose of Clare . Chapel gates of Cooraclare . The Green Hills of Clare

ANSWERS

1. Are ye right there Michael?

2. From Clare to here 3. My lovely rose of Clare 4. Green hills of Clare 5. Banner roar

to Mass

Last weeks Answers . Ball missing . Crest on players jersey (centre) missing . Number 3 missing

. Crest on shorts missing (centre) . Line on pitch missing . Logo on jersey missing (left) . Piece of fence missing background

Clare v Wexford Oscar Traynor photo by John Mangan