The Clare Echo 13/04/23

Shannon soars with 20% bump in passengers

Car park fills up as Airport recovery soars

by Páraic McMahon paraic@clareecho.ie

SIGNS OF RECOVERY are in the air at Shannon Airport with the car park close to full capacity as it enjoys its busiest holiday period of 2023.

More than 73,000 passengers travelled by plane at Shannon Airport over the Easter period. This beats the pre-pandemic 2019 figure by 20 percent and is up 26 percent compared with 2022.

Such is the demand for services at Shannon that both the Long Stay and Park4Less car parks are close to full capacity.

Minister for Transport, Eamon Ryan

(GP) has appointed former Secretary General at the Department of Finance, John Moran and Microsoft Director Aisling Curtis to the board of Shannon Airport Group.

Meanwhile in an extensive interview with The Clare Echo, founding director of Aer Rianta International, Liam Skelly has criticised the move which resulted in ARI being taken away from Shannon. “Dublin took Aer Rianta International, it was a goldmine making millions every year and they still have it, Shannon which needed it to create the jobs and employment, they shifted the people to Dublin and they stayed in Dublin, Shannon has lost out.”

FULL STORY pg 14-16

l Clare senior football manager Colm Collins and Eoin Cleary share a moment on the field in Cusack Park following Clare’s historic one point win over Cork in the Munster SFC

Photo by Gerard O’Neill

Great day for the Shannon parish

End in sight for Shannon Heritage sites transfer

by Páraic McMahon

AN END is in sight for the transfer of Shannon Heritage sites to Clare County Council.

Negotiations have been ongoing since June 2021 with a multitude of false dawns, setbacks and broken promises in the last 22 months.

Assurances have always been issued to staff on the security of their jobs at the four sites in Clare, namely Bunratty Castle & Folk Park, Craggaunowen, Knappogue and the Cliffs of Moher gift shop.

A deal was said to be imminent before Christmas but this never materialised. White smoke is understood to be in the air with Cabinet approval all that is needed to sign off on the transfer with negotiations concluded between the County Council and the Department of Transport.

Clare TD, Michael McNamara (IND) had given his view to The Clare Echo on why the pace of the transfer was so slow. “I think there’s nobody at Cabinet seized of it, there’s nobody at Cabinet hugely exercised by this, I think that is a large part of it and as I’ve always said there’s too many agencies and departments involved, you’ve Shannon Airport Group, Clare County Council, Fáilte Ireland because they were talking of a €5m capital development before COVID, then you have the parent department of Fáilte Ireland which is Arts, Tourism, Culture, Media and Sports, the parent department of Shannon Group is Eamon Ryan’s Department of Transport and the parent group of Clare County Council is the Department of Housing, Heritage and Local Government, ultimately it is going to cost money, it’s easy to bounce something around between departments forever when nobody particularly wants a solution.

He added, “I think Clare County Council want a solution to it because they recognise how important tourism is to Clare, that goes back to our other point, to be very clear I’m not trying to create an us and them with regards to the people in the hotels but it is also damaging for them in the long-term, we need to get these people integrated, get them working, with the best will in the world jobs are not as concentrated as a map of Ireland if you look at where various people are concentrated there isn’t a massive amount of jobs in those areas but we need to get them integrated. Tourism is hugely important to Clare that’s why Clare County Council are interested in it, Shannon Airport want rid of it but don’t want it seems to part with the landbank around it, they are unwilling to part with the amount of money that they initially planned to invest in it as part of the capital development programme that had been tentatively agreed with Fáilte Ireland prior to COVID. I keep saying that somebody needs to knock heads”.

“It has been knocked about for a very long time, obviously we were told an offer was made before Christmas but it was far short of what Clare County Council felt was needed. Arguably Clare County Council, everybody needs to give a bit and Clare County Council will perhaps have to accept less than they want to but my understanding is Clare County Council are being practical about it and they will accept less than they would like but equally they are keenly aware they can’t bankrupt the Council for this, they know how important tourism is to Clare, whether the Government is going to come up with more money or Shannon Airport is coming up with more money or more capital,” McNamara stated.

lASSET: Knappogue Castle

The Purcell family at the blessing of the new parish monument in Shannon, Emma, Joe, Patrick, Catherine, Orla and Claire

Photo by Joe Buckley

paraic@clareecho.ie

‘Inordinate delay’ in new NCT centre criticised

“COMMERCIAL sensitivity” of negotiations has been cited by the National Car Testing Service (NCTS) for their inability to comment on the delay in opening a second NCT centre for the county, writes Páraic McMahon

Work had commenced in the summer of 2021 on a site in the Smithstown Industrial Estate in Shannon which was to become the county’s second NCT centre. In May 2022, the NCTS said “significant contractual difficulties” meant the Shannon centre would not proceed. Currently, Clare motorists have to contend with a six month backlog for NCT appointments.

In October, the Road Safety Authority’s Chief Operations Officer Brendan Walsh said work was underway to have an NCT centre in Shannon but refused to outline where but that potential sites were identified.

Officials in the RSA said that negotiations are ongoing for this centre in Shannon but due to their commercial sensitivity, the National Car Testing Service (NCTS) does not wish to comment until contracts are finalised.

Clare TD, Michael McNamara (IND) submitted a recent parliamentary question on the topic. He was annoyed with the “inordinate delay” in delivering the second NCT centre for the county, the need for which is greater than ever. The matter was recently debated by elected members of Clare County Council with Cllr John Crowe (FG) flagging the backlog with a notice of motion.

Deputy McNamara stated, “In May 2021, the NCTS informed me it was on schedule to open an NCT Centre at the Smithstown Industrial Estate, but this was subsequently halted due to significant contractual difficulties. What was particularly disappointing was the fact that construction work on the new centre had already commenced, including the erecting of the centre’s steel structure, and it was expect-

Ennis Hospital MAU to remain open seven days a week

ed that the centre would be operational by the end of 2021. Separately I have learned that another property-owner in Clare found the NCTS difficult to deal with to the extent that he withdrew his expression of interest”.

He added, “However, as always In Ireland, there’s little or no accountability for any failings by State agencies and it’s ordinary people who suffer. It appears that little progress has been made in the intervening 18 months and this inordinate delay is resulting in growing waiting times for motorists in the county”.

Scariff native McNamara like Cllr Gabriel Keating (FG) has previously suggested an NCT centre be opened in Kilrush. The TD said he will continue to push for this option.

“I have previously requested the NCTS to review the potential for a centre in Kilrush to accommodate thousands of people in the west of the county who face much longer than average journey times to an NCT centre. The NCTS has confirmed to me that the patterns of demand for testing and the need for test facilities in Clare will be kept under constant review by NCTS. I will continue to make representations on the matter”.

by Páraic McMahon paraic@clareecho.ie

OPERATIONAL hours of Ennis Hospital’s medical assessment unit (MAU) will remain extended into the future following the confirmation of a multi-million euro funding package for UL Hospitals Group.

An allocation of €5.2m has been approved by the HSE’s National Acutes Division to allow the MAUs in St John’s and Nenagh be operational for seven days of the week from this weekend. The funding will enable Ennis’ MAU continue to operate every day of the week. The Ennis MAU is currently open from 8am to 8pm each day.

Recruitment has been ongoing for an additional 51.45 WTE across a number of specialties for the MAU services, including medical doctors, nurses, allied health professionals, health and social care professionals and administrative staff.

MAUs are not a walkin service, referrals to the service are via GPs. The extended opening hours, with all three units open

seven days a week, will create an additional total of 7,176 patient slots per annum across the three sites, significantly enhancing the acute medical healthcare referral alternatives available to GPs over the weekends.

Dr Bruce O’Donnell of River Walk Medical Centre in Ennis welcomed the announcement.

“General Practitioners in the Mid-West are delighted at this announcement to increase services and availability at the Medical Assessment Units across the region. The MAUs provide a valuable, vital and timely service to GPs and patients, and have done for many years”.

He added, “The Trojan efforts of all staff involved in delivering this service, including clinicians, nurses, support staff and the staff in the Bed Bureau, has been a lifeline to General Practice in the management of complex cases during turbulent times in the health service over the past number of years. This move will have a very positive impact for all stakeholders in the Midwest and

help alleviate the pressures on our colleagues in the Emergency Department and UHL”.

In 2022, more than 12,737 patients were referred to the MAUs in the three hospitals, which have played an integral role in ED avoidance, patient flow to Model 2 hospitals, and appropriate community referrals.

CEO of UL Hospitals Group Prof Colette Cowan praised the support of new HSE Chief Executive, Bernard Gloster, for supporting the funding application. “Weekend opening of all three MAUs will greatly assist hospital management and our GP colleagues to avoid unnecessary attendances at ED and admission to UHL. The regional’s main acute hospital, serving the population of Limerick, Clare and North Tipperary, continues to experience an exceptionally high level of demand for emergency care and inpatient beds at present. In that context, the €5.2m investment will greatly enhance an already invaluable service for UL Hospitals Group”.

lFUND INJECTION: Ennis Hospital Photo by Firestone

lNCT

Council contacted by over 60 households who have received notices to quit

OVER 60 households have contacted Clare County Council after being issued with notices to quit from their landlord.

Figures released by Clare County Council in the past week reveal that 61 households have contacted the local authority since receiving notices to quit (NTQs) from their landlord. An unspecified amount of this have occurred since the lifting of the eviction ban, the balance have dates ranging from the end of April to the end of September giving the Council a window of opportunity to work with tenants to source appropriate solutions before a risk of homelessness materialises.

Of the 61, 27 were in cases where the landlord intends to sell the property, 18 were needed for the landlords family and six were for tenancy breaches. The Council is checking the validity of 12 NTQs before completing further assessment.

Acting Senior executive officer in the Social Development (Housing) directorate of the Council, Pádraig MacCormaic explained, “Approximately 50% of these tenancies appear to be registered with Residential Tenancy Board per our latest listing . However since 4 April 2022, a landlord is obliged to register a tenancy every year on the anniversary of the date that tenancy began for so long as the tenancy exists and this should ensure a far greater number of tenancies are registered into the future. Where there are issues between the landlords and tenants in relation to breaches of tenancy the advice to both parties is that they need to engage with the Residential Tenancies Board for resolution”.

Within the past fortnight, a number of queries have been received by the Council

from households who don’t qualify for Social Housing Support under current income policy. “Where all options have been explored and there remains a risk of homelessness we are not in a position to purchase the properties. However the Department have advised that a new scheme will be launched this week ‘Cost Rental Scheme for Tenants in Situ’, which is targeted at supporting a cohort of

lHousing

support the purchase of their own property, either the existing property or an alternative property.

In cases where there is a risk to homelessness which may not be avoidable through other options, the Council are exploring opportunities around purchasing the property with the tenant in situ. This involves working with AHBs, between them they are presently exploring the purchase of fourteen properties.

As a last resort, the Council will utilise emergency bed facilities where available and the Homeless Action Team will continue to work actively with the household until such time as their need is met. “We are confident that through exploring all of the above alternative options we will identify more sustainable solutions for tenants in difficulty,” MacCormaic added.

At the April sitting of the Council, Cllr Donna McGettigan (SF) asked how many persons had contacted the local authority due to ongoing eviction notices and the systems followed to support these people.

these clients,” he stated.

In each case, the Council’s homeless action team initially engages with the household to identify the risk of homelessness and whether there may be alternative accommodation available.

Where it may be deemed a possible option, the loans team are exploring whether clients may have potential to raise a mortgage to

Dream Bigger!

She told the meeting, “I commend Clare County Council for the work they are doing. Most of the figures I’m getting are what is registered with RTB, approximately 60% of them not registered. I commend them for work they are doing on this”.

Director of Services, Anne Haugh reminded councillors that they have been issued with details on the various options the Council have to pursue and assist individuals who have been serviced with notices to quit. “The local authority will be assisting any tenants who come into contact with us”.

Two new Directors appointed to Shannon Airport board

by Páraic McMahon paraic@clareecho.ie

TWO new Directors have been appointed to the board of Shannon Airport Group. Strategy and Sustainability Director at Microsoft, Aisling Curtis and John Moran, CEO and Founder at RHH International, have been appointed by the Minister for the Environment, Climate, Communications and Transport, Eamon Ryan, TD (GP) to serve on the Board for a three-year term.

Aisling has over 20 years’ experience in telecommunications and technology sectors including Global, Regional, and Irish market roles. Aisling was previously Commercial Director; Global Partner Solutions Director and her current role is Director of Strategy and Sustainability with Microsoft.

She has held non-executive roles in UK, Netherlands, South Africa and more recently sat on the National Maternity Hospital Board and held an advisory role on the IMI Council. She recently completed the Insead Data and AI School and Cambridge University Sustainability Leadership in 2021-2022 along with both the Microsoft and Vodafone Leadership Development programmes. Aisling is an active member in the 30% Club Technology Steering group. She has been an IMI Mentor and a Business Mentor (Start-up/scale up) programme with Enterprise Ireland and Local Enterprise 2018/9.

Up until recently, John was Chair of the Land Development Agency. He has also worked in various roles such as Board Member of the European Investment Bank, Commission member of the Central Bank, aviation lawyer at GPA Group plc and McCann FitzGerald and CEO of Zurich Bank and

Zurich Capital Markets. He also served for eight years as Chair of the Hunt Museum in Limerick.

Moran is the CEO and founder of RHH International a thought leadership and social entrepreneurship venture based in Limerick. He previously held the role of Secretary General at the Department of Finance helping in the post crisis recovery and he is well recognised as a champion of SMEs and advocating for more balanced regional and sustainable development in Ireland.

In his consulting work, he has a number of roles in both private sector and not-for-profit organisations such as Chair of Grid Finance, Luna Connect, Takumi Precision Engineering, The Urban Resilient Fund (TURF),

Mannok, the Limerick Tunnel PPP, Liveable Limerick and the Limerick Economic Forum.

Chair of the Shannon Airport Group, Conal Henry stated, “Aisling and John are very welcome additions to our Board. Their experience and expertise will add immense val-

ue to our Board as we pursue our mission to build sustainable livelihoods and a vibrant economy for our people and the region by shaping opportunities in aviation and property. I look forward to working with them at this exciting time for the Group”.

Farmer charged with drink driving in North Clare

A Clare farmer has appeared in court charged with drink driving and dangerous driving while driving his tractor, writes Gordon Deegan

At Ennis District Court, Padraig Malone (25) of Ballytarsna, Kilshanny in North Clare is charged with drink driving while driving his tractor at Calluragh East, Ennistymon on October 23rd last. Mr Malone is also charged with dangerous driving his tractor on the same date at the same location. The farmer is also

charged with failing to produce his driving licence and driving without insurance on the same date at the same location.

The drink driving charge from last October is one of two drink driving charges that Mr Malone is facing from last year.

Solicitor for Mr Malone, Daragh Hassett told the court, “there are two different allegations of driving while intoxicated”. Judge Alec Gabbett noted that the summons before

the court provided two different addresses for Mr Malone.

Mr Malone with another address of Rineen, Miltown Malbay is also charged with drink driving at Deerpark, Ennistymon on July 9th 2022. On this occasion, Mr Malone was driving a car.

On the same date, Mr Malone is also charged with driving with no insurance.

In relation to the alleged October driving offence, Judge Alec Gabbett

asked “is it an English car?” and Mr Hassett replied ‘tractor’.

Judge Gabbett asked is Mr Malone a contractor and Mr Malone said from the body of the court, “I am a farmer, your honour.”

Mr Hassett said that he had disclosure in the case from last July and Mr Malone would be taking a certain course on that “and we have to figure our position in relation to the second case”.

Sgt Lonergan stated that the two

cases could be adjourned to May 10th and that disclosure will now be provided concerning the alleged October 2022 offences.

On Mr Hassett having disclosure on the alleged July offence, Judge Gabbett said that Mr Hassett may be able to produce “rabbits" concerning the question of insurance documentation. In response, Mr Hassett remarked, “Bunnies are gone Judge. Easter is over.”

lNEW ROLE: Aisling Curtis

lAPPOINTED: John Moran

The Town Hall Bistro

Providing a welcoming environment with great value food championing local ingredients.

Wynne no longer on speaking terms with former colleagues

FOLLOWING her exit from Sinn Féin over a year ago, Violet-Anne Wynne TD (IND) has said she is not on speaking terms with the majority of her former colleagues, writes Páraic McMahon

Last February, the Clare TD resigned from Sinn Féin saying she had been subject to “psychological warfare” whilst on maternity leave and that party colleagues called her an “effing eejit” when she told them about her pregnancy.

Since leaving the party, relationships with former party members no longer exist. “There wouldn’t be any conversations, once I made the decision to leave the party, you know that in effect, which I knew would happen, I mean, that makes sense. Like communication would just go down to a zero or minimum”.

From the outside it would have seemed from the canvass in advance of the 2020 General Election, her frequent presence at events organised by Sinn Féin and how everyone wanted a piece of her at The Falls Hotel for the February 2020 count that Violet-Anne was a close friend of fellow Sinn Féin members. Events that have taken place

would indicate that such persons are not indeed friends of the TD. “Relations were strained anyway which is what I refer to locally so you know they definitely were all cut from the moment that I left the party, which is completely understandable”.

On the very first day of her canvass for the 2020 General Election, Deputy Wynne hit the campaign trail in Shannon, promotional leaflets had been not issued by Sinn Féin on time but it didn’t dilute the optimism of the Kilrush woman.

When asked if the delay in receiving such material was indicative of the lack of support she felt from the party, Violet-Anne replied, “I don’t really reflect any longer, that would have been the process that I was going through in that two years and for now, I definitely don’t want to be looking back.

The Brendan O'Regan Restaurant is ideal for special occasions. The menu features traditional cuisine with a modern day creative twist.

“I want to be moving forward and I suppose having conversations about politics and not so much about Sinn Féin that’s gone now as far as I’m concerned, but yes, there would have been many difficulties that I would have faced and getting leaflets very late in the day was something that happened not

only in the generals, but also the local elections”. Being subjected to a campaign of “psychological warfare” was not easy, she said. “It was having an impact on every aspect of my life, it was more importantly distracting me away from the work which was what I took issue with and so I suppose I was in a very bad place if you’re not able to

do the work that you want to do and you’re being distracted or being pulled off in other directions, you’re going to obviously be feeling frustrated and all of the things that come with that kind of frustration. I just know that I’m in a much better place now in terms of even sort of how I feel and how I’m able to do my work”.

The Poets Corner Bar

A traditional Irish pub that opens its doors onto the main town street of Ennis. Perfect for a pint, a bite to eat or traditional Irish music session..

The Brendan O’Regan Restaurant

Ideal for special occasions. The menu features traditional cuisine with a modern day creative twist.

its doors onto the main town street of Ennis. Perfect for a pint, a bite to eat or traditional Irish music session.

lGOING SOLO: Violet-Anne Wynne Photo by Natasha Barton

Carey appointed Chair of Oireachtas committee

by Páraic McMahon paraic@clareecho.ie

CLARE TD, Joe Carey (FG) has been appointed as the new Chairperson of the Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications.

Four-term TD Carey (inset) had been tipped for a Junior Ministry in December as part of a Government reshuffle but five months later has received some form of recognition with the new role.

Deputy Carey’s new gig brings it with an additional payment of an approximate €10,000 per annum on top of a TD’s basic salary which falls in the region of €105,000.

Clarecastle native Carey will assume the new roles when he returns to Leinster House. He is currently on sick leave and expected to be out of action for the remainder of the month, at least.

Fine Gael’s reshuffle of their backbench also sees Joe become their spokesperson on Transport, fellow Clare TD Cathal Crowe (FF) holds the Aviation and Transport spokesperson title for Fianna Fáil.

Speaking to The Clare Echo following Taoiseach Leo Varadkar’s (FG) decision to snub him for a Junior Ministry, Carey expressed confidence of an Oireachtas Chairmanship post. “I’m a member of the Transport Committee, maybe there is a possibility that I could be appointed Chairperson there, maybe I won’t but

that is maybe an opportunity in the next few weeks I might get positive news on that”.

“I think everyone in politics wants to progress, I’ve been elected to the Dáil on four separate occasions, I certainly want to be a Minister or Minister of State,” he added.

Currently Chairman of the Oireachtas Group on Shannon Airport, Carey has underpinned Shannon Airport as one of the key issues he is fighting for as a TD, particularly its development as a European transport hub and the introduction of a national aviation policy. “Shannon Air port is one of the bigger issues for me, as a member of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport, I proposed that we do a piece of work around aviation policy and the need to amend national aviation policy to give a better slice of the cake to Shannon”.

“If we could maximise the asset that Shannon is and give it a better oppor tunity, I think we can grow and grow.

Shannon was included in the Regional Airports Programme for the first time last year, we got €11m which we used really well, we put in a new state of the art security screening system in Shannon, people can get through Shannon quicker than any other airport in Ireland and nearly across Europe, you’ve two security checks in Dublin if you want to fly to America and there’s only one in Shannon, we’ve the preclearance facility too, Shannon Airport management have used the money very well, it also helped with operational monies for security and other issues, that money helps free up money to market and route develop.

“The current aviation policy only allows airport with figures of less than one million to get into that fund, in a European context under EU State rules airports across Europe can be funded by their national governments if the passenger numbers are at three million or less, at a very least aviation policy needs to change to reflect that and I think Shannon could benefit from that,” Carey stated.

Crowe contacted Gardaí over clinic incident

CLARE TD, Cathal Crowe (FF) has said he has not witnessed bullying within political circles but that he has had to contact Gardaí after he was threatened at a constituency clinic, writes Páraic McMahon.

Female politicians in Ireland over recent months have highlighted the abuse they have suffered both verbally and from social media while others including Holly Cairns (SD) have shared stories of how the public have been intimidating by visiting her home in Cork.

It has been cited as one of the barriers to encouraging more women to enter politics in this country.

Deputy Crowe told The Clare Echo he has filed complaints with Gardaí following one constituency clinic but would not divulge the location of this incident. “I would receive a fair bit of online abuse, some in-person as well, I have called the Gardaí on a number of occasions, for instance one was at a

clinic I held in the county where a man who I subsequently found out was recording me, he threatened me and I would have reported him to the Guards, I don’t want to say anymore on that. I would have also made a speech in the Dáil some months ago where afterwards it drew harassment from some people online and I would have reported one of those instances to the guards”.

During the early days of his political career at the time of his election to Clare County Council in 2004, the Meelick native said he suffered “reverse ageism”.

Crowe said he was not concerned with the age profile of Fianna Fáil’s councillors in the county. “I don’t think age matters too much. When I began as a councillor I was 21, there was reverse ageism because people said I hadn’t enough life experience to properly represent people”.

Ennis Mayor backs plans for €25m Abbey Street development & cottage demolition

by Páraic McMahon paraic@clareecho.ie

PLANS FOR A €25M mixed-use development on Abbey Street car park, the demolition of six cottages on Frances Street and the construction of a €1m temporary car park in the town have been defended by the Mayor of Ennis who has claimed never to have had an issue sourcing a parking spot in the town centre.

At a heated meeting of the Ennis Municipal District this month, councillors voted 4-3 against a call to pause plans for the €25m development on Abbey Street car park. Mayor of the Ennis MD, Cllr Clare Colleran Molloy (FF) along with Cllr Mary Howard (FG), Cllr Ann Norton (IND) and Cllr Paul Murphy (FG) voted against the trio of Cllr Johnny Flynn (FG), Cllr Tom O’Callaghan (FF) and Cllr Pat Daly (FF) who wished to see “the box” moved to the other side of the River Fergus.

Speaking to The Clare Echo, Cllr Colleran Molloy defended the decision, despite initial opposition from traders in Abbey Street. “Within the strategy there are opportunity sites, there’s nimbleness in the document, you’re not saying it is set in stone but one of the opportunity sites identified is Abbey Street as a potential location for a major new realtor presence and corporate regional headquarters presence. The idea is you’re bringing in possibly 50 office type jobs and 50 jobs in retail.

“It is of course understandable that people when they think about taking away the car spaces in Abbey Street will have concerns, I

offered to speak one on one with each trader at our meeting because change is difficult, if you have consultants say, these are not people like me who don’t know, these are people who say if you build something like this in the heart of Ennis you’re going to increase footfall per week by 20,000, I’m not pulling that figure out of my head, these are substantive and substantiated figures. Nobody likes change, we’ve the traders that are not happy but yet if you flip that around, if indeed that type of footfall is to materialise would those traders not then be even more viable and profitable”.

She emphasised that “international” experts are pointing the

all views, then ultimately come to a judgement you are comfortable with. I’ve heard from other councillors who were sceptical of Ennis 2040, its overriding objective but who did their homework and are fully convinced this is the vehicle to have Ennis prosper as a town which is ultimately sandwiched between two major cities. I would discount that as a suggestion. I do agree that when you are the Mayor, you do have closer ongoing communication with the Executive because you are involved in so much but that doesn’t mean you lose your ability to have independent thoughts and assess all the facts”.

Plans to demolish a block of cottages on Francis Street to construct a temporary car park were also defended by the Mayor. “The cottages are derelict and asbestos ridden, the cost of refurbishing them is not viable, it had also been suggested to develop from glór, I wouldn’t like to live in a refurbished cottage that will then be possibly be knocked and have to hear all that noise going on as development occurs from the back forwards, I consider that preposterous”.

way for the county town to progress through the Ennis 2040 Strategy. She said traders have expressed their support for the Abbey Street development, “they have come through indirectly by way of comments made to others. Even here on Abbey Street there are people in favour”.

Given the widespread criticism of the €500,000 spent on the Market Building, commonly referred to as a white elephant, business personnel are likely to be more vocal when it comes to ambitious plans. She insisted Abbey Street traders will be listened to. “

Abbey Street’s use as a civic space during Fleadh Cheoil, Muhammad Ali’s trip to Ennis and homecomings for All-Ireland winning U21 hurling sides is likely to be restricted should the development proceed. Colleran Molloy said a detailed design hasn’t been prepared, yet.

“We understand it has a substantially enhanced public realm element, moreover you have public realm enhancements from The Height into O’Connell Street down to Barrack Street, all of that could ultimately be a vehicle for these kind of civic events. When you think about it, we had super events held in other areas of Ennis such as Tim Smythe Park, the homecoming for the 2013 All-Ireland winners, you have other areas that can be worked on like non-Council owned land such as The Mart and Cusack Park”.

Along with her role as Mayor, Clare also sits on the Ennis 2040 Board. She disputed the view that having a more cosy relationship with officials may have influenced her decision. “I’d hate to think so, I’m a lawyer by background, I’ve practised in Florida and Ireland, you have to have independent of thought, be impartial and listen to

Zoned for mixed use, she was confident the Francis St would be developed into housing, eventually. “It’s possible that it could be entirely residential, indeed it is could be entirely affordable housing because hopefully Ennis will get the designation it has sought but for it to be viable it is my understanding that it will be predominantly residential and an aspect of retail. It has been put out there that there will be a €1m cost for 100 car spaces, if that’s correct which I don’t know for certain then I can only imagine it is the highest level of car parking, this was meant to be temporary, it would be like the Cloister with tar and chip”.

Surveys by Retail Excellence Ireland have indicated that Ennis shoppers are influenced by their proximity to stores when deciding where to go. Removal of up to 75 spaces in Abbey St was referenced by Cllr Flynn, Cllr O’Callaghan and Cllr Daly when pleading to pause the plans. The Mayor said “huge works” were ongoing to source park and ride facilities while she disputed the view of Cllr Flynn that the parking deficit is between 1,000 to 2,000 and instead pointed to Council officials research which listed a deficit just shy of 50.

“There’s no doubt that peak times like Christmas and major times in Ennis you’re going to have problems getting a car space, that’s true but you can’t suggest to me as a taxpayer that you want enough car spaces for every pinch point moment. I personally have never had a problem getting a car space in Ennis, I normally park up in Drumbiggle on the street, always spaces, whenever I pull into Abbey Street or the Temple Gate I always get a space, the other day I had to move from the Temple Gate over to Bank Place and I got a space no problem, in and out”.

lDEVELOPMENT: Mayor of the Ennis Municipal District, Cllr Clare Colleran Molloy (FF)

I personally have never had a problem getting a car space in Ennis ”

Public march to take place over planned demolition of Francis Street cottages

by Páraic McMahon paraic@clareecho.ie

A PLANNED march is to take place this Saturday (April 15th) over plans to demolish cottages on Francis Street in Ennis.

Following on from the decision of elected members of the Ennis Municipal District at a vote of 4-3 to proceed with the construction of a temporary car park and the demolition of the cottages, it has led to the birth of a new group called the Francis Street Alliance.

Members include prominent disability activist, Dermot Hayes, Clare Chair of the Community Action Tenants Union Tim Hannon and Sinn Féin’s Thomas Guilfoyle.

Campaigners argue that the costs which are estimated to reach €1m would be better spent renovating the properties to provide social housing within the county town.

On Saturday, they will be marching from the car park of glór at 1pm to the offices of Clare County Council.

In a statement to The Clare Echo, Tim said, “It is scandalous that Ennis councillors have approved the demolition of these cottages at a time when families in all parts of Clare are being evicted into homelessness, and no emergency accommodation is available.

“This decision shows a clear lack of understanding of the housing crisis in our county”.

Guilfoyle outlined, “The coun-

cillors who voted in favour of this demolition have clearly demonstrated their lack of commitment to

tackling the housing crisis in Clare”. He added, “The Francis Street Site is Council property, and we be-

lieve that it should be used to build much-needed houses.

“We also believe that the Ab-

bey Street carpark must remain in public ownership and open for use by the community. This space provides an important venue for festivals and other amenities in Co. Clare’s main town”.

Corofin native Hayes highlighted that the cottages would be suitable for single people with accessibility issues.

“It is disappointing to see that the Council is willing to demolish structurally sound cottages that could provide accessible housing for people with disabilities in our community”.

Mayor of the Ennis Municipal District, Cllr Clare Colleran Molloy (FF) has said the properties are “asbestos ridden”.

The Save Francis Street Alliance expressed deep concern about the authority granted to the Ennis 2040 DAC and the potential privatization of publicly owned assets.

The organisation believes that it is crucial for the town’s resources and assets to be managed in the best interests of the local community and the wider county. The group said it was worried of a recurrence of the scandals that marred the Galway 2020 project if there is insufficient transparency and oversight from the local community.

lHOUSING: (left) The Francis St cottages

Garvey hopes to ‘dispel myths’ around solar panels at info night

by Stuart Holly editor@clareecho.ie

CLARE Senator Róisín Garvey (Green Party) is hosting an information night to inform and equip the public all they need to know about solar power, where she hopes to “dispel the myths” around solar energy.

The event takes place tonight at 7:30pm in the Old Ground Hotel, Ennis, and will allow the public to engage with the Clare Community Energy Agency and solar installers. Róisín says it’s an excellent opportunity for home owners and farmers to understand how easy it is to install solar panels to help them embrace green energy and bring down their energy costs.

“We need to dispel the myths, that it costs too much, and it’s too complicated. It’s never been as easy to go solar and own our own energy. Before there was no grant, you had to get planning permission and pay a load of money. Now, you have no planning permission, a €2,400 grant and it’s VAT free so that’s another 13.5 per cent off the price,” says Róisín.

“For example if you get a 3kw system for €4,000,

which I did, you get your grant of €2,400 and just last week Eamon Ryan conviced the cabinet to get rid of the VAT which is another 13.5 per cent off the costs of the solar panels themselves,” remarks Róisín. “I worked in schools for years and they all wanted solar panels but it seemed to be really complicated. I discovered that you needed planning permission to put up a solar panel which I thought was insane in a fossil fuel crisis and a climate change war, so I introduced a bill which led to the abolition of the need for planning permission for your shed or house roof. Then Eamon Ryan and his department came up with a grant of €2,400.”

“This is why I’m doing this free public event in the Old Ground, so that people realise how possible it is. The cost all depends on the size of the roof, size of the house, how they use their energy. So each house is quite individual. Maybe they don’t need a battery like me, I use the excess energy that’s not being used to heat the water, I haven’t turned on the immersion in a year.”

Róisín adds that the

installation of solar panels has softened the blow of increased energy costs. “If you’re creating your own electricity your bills go down.

I spent €4,000 to put up the unit and I pay back a six per cent rate, but your savings are far greater than the cost of the loan.

“I’ve got an app on my phone and I can see I’ve produced 3,5000kw which is 3,500 units. I was getting charged 38c a unit for that, but now I’m getting that for free.”

Tomorrow night, Colm O Ghairbith from Clare Community Energy Agency – who has initiated more than 200 installations in Clare –will be on hand to guide people on their home’s solar needs, while two installers will also be on hand to advise the public.

Róisín says that the Green Party aims that at least 30 per cent of energy would come from community and domestic, adding, “We should aim higher than that, actually.”

The Solar Power event takes place tonight (April 13) at 7:30pm in the Old Ground Hotel, Ennis.

MEMBERS of the public are being encouraged to become a tourist for the day in County Clare through a new tourism promotion initiative offering free and half-price admission to popular local visitor attractions and sites on Sunday, 23rd April, writes Elaine Tubridy

The Tourism Department of Clare County Council, working in partnership with the Clare Tourism Advisory Forum and local tourism attractions, says ‘Be a Tourist in Your Own County Clare’ is aimed at promoting the quality tourism product available in Clare to the domestic market ahead of the peak tourism season. Clare is home to some of Ireland’s best known visitor attractions including the Cliffs of Moher Visitor Experience, Bunratty Castle and Folk Park, Aillwee Burren Experience, Killaloe River Cruises, Doolin Cave, Craggaunowen, Burren Smokehouse & Taste the Atlantic – the Salmon Experience, and OPW Ennis Friary, all of which feature in the promotion. Other participating attractions include Wilde Irish Chocolates, The Flying Al-

paca, Doolin Ferry, Caherconnell Fort & Sheepdog Demonstrations, Vandeleur Walled Gardens, Loop Head Lighthouse, Moher Hill Open Farm, Lahinch Leisure Centre, and the Michael Cusack Centre.

Cllr Tony O’Brien, Cathaoirleach, Clare County Council, says the pre-season timing of the promotion is important as it targets local consumers, so they are aware of what is on offer in County Clare.

Cllr O’Brien said: “Clare has a compelling array of adventure activities and remarkable experiences for both locals and visitors to the county to enjoy, and we are looking forward to a busy season in 2023. I would like to commend the local tourism businesses on embracing this initiative and I encourage everyone, particularly families, to take advantage of the half-price and free admission offers that are listed on VisitClare.ie and to come out and enjoy the best our county has to offer.”

Visit www.visitclare.ie/wow for more on ‘Be a Tourist in Your Own County Clare’ and for details of the offers available on Sunday, 23rd April.

Expert gardeners showcase how to garden everywhere

CLARE Garden Festival will be held again on the last Sunday in April, the 30th of April and it will see an exciting range of expert speakers covering all areas of gardening.

Master Gardener Jim Cronin will of course be speaking about and demonstrating Organic Gardening exploring the Ying and Yang of Gardening. Jo Newton will this year be hosting the stage whilst sharing her extensive gardening knowl-

edge and inspiring people to give ‘it’ a go with her talk on Starting off your Organic Garden. The festival theme ‘Growing Urban, Wild & Strong’ will be embraced by former Airfield Head Gardener and TV presenter of ‘Homegrown’ Colm O’Driscoll as he will be show-casing growing in small spaces both on stage and in the festival demonstration area. Considering Urban Gardening from an environmental angle will

be local Water expert Feidhlim Harty with his Rain Garden model. For Ornamental enthusiasts, head gardener at Bellefield House Paul Smyth will excite with his favourite spring plants and as part of the Programme for Specialist Traders Ali Corcoran of Leaf & Petal will be enthusing Gardeners senses with her talk on Scented Leaves and Flowers.

The festival will see 6 on-stage expert talks and 7 demonstrations and workshops in dedicated areas for avid Gardeners, some especially for Children and all of them open to discussion and practical hands-on view.

In addition to Garden Talks and Demos, childrens entertainment and music, the festival will of course feature its huge Garden and Food Fair again with over 65 stalls presently confirmed at the easily accessible Ennis showgrounds just off the M18 in Ennis town. This will incorporate stalls from the gardening industry from all over Ireland and supported by Artisan food and related stalls from Clare and beyond. There will be stallholders including Specialist Nurseries, Garden Centres, Education and Charities, Crafts, Garden Accessories, Visitor Gardens and Artisan Food. The festival is already booked up with stalls from Cork, Dublin, Limerick, Tipperary, Galway and Clare signed up for the day.

Clare Garden Festival is running in partnership with Co Clare Agricultural Show Society and is held annually at Ennis Showgrounds this year on Sunday, 30th April. The festival is proudly supported by Fruithill Farm, Clare County Council, Healthy Clare, Burren Smokehouse, Visit Caherhurley Nursery, Clare Echo, Ennis Municipal District, Pobal, LCDC and Mast Insurances. See www.claregardenfestival.com and @ claregardenfestival on Facebook for more information.

Be a tourist in your own county

lRoisin Garvey Photo by Eamon Ward

ONE of Ireland’s greatest businessman, Brendan O’Regan was most certainly a guy ahead of his time, writes Páraic McMahon.

Born in Sixmilebridge in May 1917, he died at the age of 90 in February 2008. Along the way, he developed Shannon Airport, invented the concept of the duty-free shop, transformed the Mid-West of Ireland, became involved in peace efforts between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland and founded the Shannon College of Hotel Management.

Founding director of Aer Rianta International and ex Director of Shannon Airport, Liam Skelly worked closely with O’Regan.

Indeed, the Clare native was one of the reasons why Liam

came to live and work in the Banner County.

“I thought he was a fantastic man, he was a man way ahead of his years, he had brilliant ideas about everything, he not alone wanted to do his own business but he wanted to help the whole region of Clare and the Shannon region. He set up the Shannon Industrial Estate, he got Paul Quigley in as the Head, he felt that creating employment was so important that he did a master job, I thought there was nobody like Brendan O’Regan”.

Sadly the level of innovation shown by O’Regan has never been replicated in Shannon. Giving his view as to why this is the case, Liam stated, “I think that they are probably brought up differently”.

Making Aer Rianta international the highlight for Skelly

ESTABLISHING Aer Rianta

International stands out as the highlight in a distuinguished career for Liam Skelly, writes Páraic McMahon.

Living in Scariff since 1955 with his wife Jo, Liam is in remarkable condition at the age of 93. All of his seven daughters are based locally, married and working with “a good deal of grandchildren” to also keep him entertained.

Growing up in Tipperary, it comes as no surprise that Liam played hurling when attending Thurles CBS. He is the holder of a National Hurling League medal and he also captained Dublin to win an All-Ireland junior title. “I played with Tipperary in 1947, I won an All-Ireland minor with Tipp. At senior, I just came down and played a few league games with Tipp, I said I’d give up hurling and I abandoned it, the following year they won the All-Ireland, I missed out on all of that, I’d at least have been on the panel if not playing so I lost out and that was the end of my hurling career,” he recounted.

Staying fit and healthy has always been a priority for Liam who is one month away from his 94th birthday.

“I was always healthy, I didn’t ever drink too much, I played hurling, I stayed very active and I kept fit, I ran and did all kinds of thing like that. I eat healthy enough, I don’t over-eat”.

Reflecting on his career, the highlight of his time as Director of Shannon Airport was playing a pivotal role in

‘They took Shannon Airport’s golden goose’

setting up Aer Rianta International (ARI). “Setting up the international was the biggest thing, it has done wonders for this whole region. We had a whole new business, we first of all started to attract airlines, Michael Guerin was my deputy and he became Director of Shannon when I withdrew, I went with Aer Rianta International altogether.

“They were attracting airlines into Shannon by selling fuel at a very good price, they started going their own fuel which was called Shannon Aviation Fuel, the fuel came on ships from Ventspilss, the Russians brought in their own fuel from Ventspils, the Baltic all the way down the North Sea, up the mount of the Shannon and it was pointed to tankers there to be used by Aeroflot, because it was a better price than Shell and Esso were charging airlines, we attracted a big number of flights into the airport who were on chartered business to Europe who were trying to get a good deal anywhere.

“When we joined with Aer Rianta, it was to give a total package, reduced landing fees, reduced oil prices for refuelling so we attracted all kinds of people on the North Atlantic who needed to stop somewhere. We got an awful lot because we had a package so people said this was the place to stop because you get everything. When we joined with the catering and the shops we were able to give them the complete package.”

by Páraic McMahon

SHANNON Airport’s “golden goose” was snatched by Dublin Airport when it was stripped of Aer Rianta International while becoming an independent airport.

When Shannon Airport split from the Dublin Airport Authority (daa) over a decade ago to become an independent entity, it came at a severe cost with the loss of Aer Rianta International (ARI), a move which it still has not recovered from according to a former Director of Shannon Airport.

Liam Skelly, a native of Holycross who has been living in Scariff since the 1950s was a founding director of ARI. He joined the sales and catering division of Shannon Airport in 1955 and was appointed Airport Director in 1979, helping return the business to profit through a ground-breaking fuel bartering deal with the Soviet government.

In 1987 Skelly headed an Aer Rianta delegation to Moscow with the intention to develop duty-free in Russia, and the following year the Irish company’s joint venture with Aeroflot and the Russian authorities, Aerofirst, began trading as Moscow Duty Free, marking the birth of ARI.

During an in-depth conversation with The Clare Echo at his beautiful Scariff home, Liam aired his frustration with the manner in which the 2012 decision to take ARI from Shannon and leave it with the daa, one that was made when

current Taoiseach Leo Varadkar (FG) held the role of Minister for Transport.

ARI formerly owned the nine Great Southern Hotels which they sold for €265m in 2006. He recalled, “they now had cash so they could release Shannon but they didn’t do anything and said nothing, Shannon never complained, it carried on until 2012 when they had the State Airports Act which said that Shannon would be independent and when it had cash free to give it its independence, a lot of the deputies said and Seamus Brennan the lord have mercy on him he said Shannon created Aer Rianta and of course Aer Rianta International so of course it must go to Shannon when it gets its freedom.

“Shannon got it in 2012 and they said Shannon would have to pay for its freedom, they said it was something like €80m or €105m at that stage, they said they wouldn’t charge but just take Aer Rianta International from them, they removed Aer Rianta International, Shannon never owed a penny but Dublin took Aer Rianta International, it was a goldmine making millions every year and they still have it, Shannon which needed it to create the jobs and employment, they shifted the people to Dublin and they stayed in Dublin, Shannon has lost out and I’ve been furious about it ever since but nothing has happened”.

Skelly despite being a founding director of ARI left the company in 2010. “They got rid of me in 2010 because they felt I would be a hindrance when

they were taking over, Dublin got rid of me really, they felt I’d be criticising them for taking over, Michael Hanrahan who was one of my assistants and an executive was let go also, we had withdrawn and were heading on to go continue getting new positions, they had got lots of them by this time so they said they would take over and good luck to us”.

One could argue that ARI knew Liam would fight the cause for it to remain with Shannon. “They knew I’d be kicking up, it was terrible. It was Shannon that needed it, Dublin had millions of passengers going through and Shannon had nothing. There was 2.4m passengers in 2003 compared with 1.4m in 2012, consequent employment also tumbled, its losses increased, Cork’s fortune also declined but not to the same extent. The 2004 Act which was to set us free has been almost forgotten and only partly implemented in legislation even though it was signed into law in 2004, no monitoring system was in place to ensure that the decisions were implemented, that was a major weakness in the process and it was an absurd

‘There was nobody like O’Regan’

paraic@clareecho.ie

decision to trust the DAA to deal fairly with the processing of Shannon and Cork’s independence”.

On reflection, he is more annoyed with how Shannon and the Mid-West was treated rather than him when it came to the departure. “I wouldn’t be bitter, it was unfair but that is life. I wouldn’t wish them any bad luck but they were really unfair to us, we did the bloody job and Shannon needed it, it had nothing and they were prepared to leave it that way. What the Government said, Varadkar the so and so who is still there, he said that Shannon owes Dublin €200m if they withdraw from it that would be the cost but the Act said they were withdrawing for nothing, nobody picked them up on that, no other opposition got up and asked did they know the story of Shannon at all, they had to pay nothing for their independence but he said they owe this money so instead of getting the money off them with their independence in 2012 that they’d take Aer Rianta International which was giving them the €207m and giving them millions every year since, it was the golden goose they got.

“I got fed up being bitter about them, it was lousy, unfair. If it was the opposite way that Dublin were entitled to it and Shannon got it then you’d say it might have been

fair because Shannon needed it but it was Shannon that owned it and the other eejits (Dublin) were let take it to pile more money and jobs into the city with less jobs down here, people had to be transferred up and people got their walking papers in Shannon, they got early retirement or go to Dublin, most of them didn’t want to go to Dublin. It was an awful decision, it was one of the big black marks on Aer Rianta”.

Aer Rianta’s success began in the sales and catering division of Shannon Airport, yet today it has no link or connection with the International Airport.

“The story of Duty Free shopping began in sales and catering of Shannon, Dr Brendan O’Regan, there was no duty free anywhere in the world, Brendan saw it when he was on board a ship and said it was a thing we should think about, he was friendly with Sean Lemass and he got permission to set it up. People were coming from all over to see how he did it, we were telling everybody about it so the other airports eventually went ahead and had ones too”.

Where it once led the way for the world to follow, Shannon is no longer a global leader. “It has never recovered from running duty frees around the place which it could still be at, it could have advanced and meant Shannon was the headquarters of what was happening with duty frees around the world. One of our men, Colm McLaughlin went down to Dubai and set up a Duty Free there for them, he stayed then and has done very well. John Sutcliffe was another who went. It was a big comedown for Shannon to lose all that business”.

Varadkar’s decision as Transport Minister has left Shannon with wounds that remain open, Liam believed. “Mr Varadkar made a bad decision by giving away Aer Rianta which he did in 2012, it was to pay for Shannon’s independence but if he read the 2004 Act it was clear from the outset that Shannon and Cork won’t have to pay for their independence but that they will have to wait until money is got in distributable reserves. Aer Rianta were to sell things to get distributable reserves, they had The Great Southern Hotel which they sold and got €200k, they sold interests in Birmingham Airport and got another €200k, they had loads of distributable reserves, they held onto it all but Shannon got none of it and was left struggling on”.

This decision could have been prevented by officials in the Department of Transport who he felt conveniently ignored the 2004 Act. “I blame the guys in the Department who would be working with him, they were the crowd who were working with the Dublin lads, you don’t blame the politicians because they are only here for a while and then gone, the Department fellas knew what was happening, they started working with Dublin and saying ‘leave it to me’, they’d be wined and dined in Dublin, everything Dublin Airport had on they would bring out the Department guys. That wasn’t fair”.

Passenger numbers were also impacted by the ARI decision, he felt. “You had to go out looking for traffic that was crossing at the time which was looking for a place somewhere to land and who gave them the best deal. Part of Shannon, the airport management side in the old years, they wouldn’t see that at all, they’d say an aircraft goes from point a to point b in the shortest way possible, we said it would go from point a to point b in the cheapest way possible not the fastest way. That’s what was happening, we got business in that way and since then with the jets flying anywhere traffic is going down and Shannon has to look to something else, they lost two years to COVID. A lot of money was lost from Shannon, well Dublin took it and Shannon lost out”.

l Liam Skelly

Photo by Natasha Barton

SHANNON NEWS

in association with

Car park nearly full with 73,000 Easter flyers

SHANNON Airport’s car park is at full capacity while it has enjoyed iits busiest holiday period of the year to date, writes Páraic McMahon

More than 73,000 passengers have travelled by plane at Shannon Airport over the Easter period.

This beats the pre-pandemic 2019 figure by 20 per cent and is up 26 per cent compared with 2022. A total of 33 destinations are included in Shannon Airport’s summer schedule to 11 different countries across the EU, UK and USA.The schedule includes six new destinations to Naples, Bezier, Porto, Newcastle and Liverpool with Ryanair, and a daily service with United to the international hub of Chicago O’Hare Airport, from May. Demand for services has both the Long Stay and Park4Less car parks close to full capacity. Passengers with a pre-booked car park space may park as normal according to their booking. Passengers are advised to

pre-book car parking where possible, at least one week in advance. Remaining car parking spaces are limited and will be allocated on a first come first served basis for passengers arriving to the airport without a pre-booked car park space.

Excitement can be felt in the air, CEO of the Shannon Airport Group, Mary Considine said. “Five of our new destinations launched last week with Ryanair, providing more exciting holiday options for our passengers.

“These are just part of Shannon’s summer schedule which offers 33 services on over 280 weekly flights.”

“Our US Preclearance, the airport sensory room and our high-tech security screening are just some of the facilities we pride ourselves on, to ensure the journey through Shannon Airport this Easter, and every other day, is as easy and hassle free as possible,” she added.

link from Wetlands to town to be progressed

Cycling

A CYCLING link from the Wetlands to Shannon Town is to proceed to construction next year, writes Páraic McMahon

An Active Travel proposal was made to the National Transport Authority (NTA) on foot of representations by elected members in the Shannon Municipal District for the project.

Senior executive engineer in the Shannon MD, Tom

Mellett confirmed, “We have received funding to continue this project to design stage and in collaboration with our colleagues in the road design office intend to be in a position to proceed to construction in 2024 subject to funding approval for the construction works from the NTA”.

At the March meeting of the Shannon MD, Cllr Gerry Flynn (IND) had urged Clare

County Council to continue efforts to source funding “to develop a footpath and cycling link from The Wetlands to the many sports facilities located in the Tullyvarraga area around Shannon Town”. “It is important we get as much money as we can for footpaths on Active Travel, hopefully this will proceed,” Cllr Flynn commented. His proposal was seconded by Cllr Donna McGettigan (SF).

lPhoto by Joe Buckley

Ennis family endear themselves to the nation

by Páraic McMahon paraic@clareecho.ie

AN ENNIS family lifted the spirits of the nation when appearing on the latest instalment of DIY SOS: The Big Build Ireland.

On Sunday, the Mulvey-Sydney family were helped by an army of vol- unteers on the RTÉ One television show presented by Baz Ashmawy, where their family home and garden was transformed.

A familiar face given her memorable appearance on The Late Late Toy Show in 2021, Isabella Mulvey-Sydney shared the screen this time with her twin-brother AJ and parents Claire and Darum.

2021 was a memorable year for the family with Claire named as the Netwatch Clare & Munster Family Carer of the Year, she is the daughter of well-respected Clare journalist Tony Mulvey, formerly of The Clare Champion

Thirteen year old Isabella was born with a rare congenital disorder called Lumbar Sacral Agenesis, which necessitates her using a wheelchair as her legs were amputated at the age of 7.

Their family home by Tobarteascáin was unsuitable to Isabella’s needs with its inaccessibility causing physical pain to Isabella and her parents.

In what was a challenging rebuild, the DIY SOS team truly delivered with the Mulvey-Sydney family endearing themselves to the nation in the process.

Justin takes on Mr Personality for Clare

CLARE Macra na Feirme members will head to the Premier County to support Ennis Macra member Justin Mulqueen as he represents Clare in the Macra na Feirme Mr. Personality Festival this weekend, writes Elaine Tubridy.

The festival kicks off tomorrow, Friday the 14th, in the Talbot Hotel, Clonmel, where the 26 contestants will take to the stage for the interviews. On Saturday 15th, the boys will take part in a number of different fun events during the day, with a banquet at 7:30 and DJ until late. At 12pm, the Mr. Personality for 2023 will be crowned.

Justin is very much looking forward to this weekend and says if he were to win the title of Mr. Personality, he would love to promote Macra more

Notes

and increase active membership in the county.

For more information on Clare Macra and the Mr. Personality festival, check out Facebook or Instagram.

CLARE ROOTS SOCIETY LECTURE

THE next Clare Roots Society lecture will be presented by Ghislaine De Regge, PhD on The Notable Nonos of Ennis on Thursday, 20th April 2023, at 8:00pm at the Clare Education Centre, Government Buildings, Kilrush Road, Ennis, V95 F782. Also available via Zoom.

The Nono shop and printing business was a well-known enterprise on O’Connell Street for almost a hundred years. Charlie Nono retired to his hometown of Ennis in 1992 and shared the stories of his grandfather Mons whose ten talented children supplied the town with music and theatre. Ghislaine, in turn, researched the Irish and Flemish branches of the Nono family. The accomplishments of the featured Nonos from five generations are presented here in their historical and economic contexts.

lTHE MULVEY-SYDNEY FAMILY: Claire, Darum, AJ and Isabella

l DAPPER: Justin Mulqueen

Emergency funding sought for roads

by Páraic McMahon paraic@clareecho.ie

EMERGENCY funding to help with road repairs in West Clare has been sought from the Department of Transport.

Senior engineer with the roads and transportation section of Clare County Council, John Leahy confirmed the local authority has highlighted the condition of roads in West Clare with the Department of Transport. “We will continue to engage with our Department inspector over the coming months to seek additional funding if it becomes available”.

A joint motion from Cllr Cillian Murphy (FF), Cllr Ian Lynch (IND) and Cllr Shane Talty (FF) asked that emergency funding for road repairs be made “given the serious negative impact the winter has had on our regional and local roads in the West Clare Municipal District, the resulting poor condition of many and the scale of the problem”.

Each councillor in the MD is “getting it in the neck every day about the state of our roads, ultimately we’re asked to wallpaper over foundations aren’t good enough,” Cllr Murphy outlined. “We’re not getting to do the proper work first, we’re putting a patcher on roads which aren’t suitable,” he flagged. The Kilkee representative referenced the Moyasta to Doonbeg road and said it is “falling apart, it is a danger for the car and road users, there roads are falling to pieces and we don’t have budget to deal with them”.

out before the landlords. We don’t have the money to manage what we hope to get done this year, I don’t know how we will be able to go back to people and tell them when certain roads are not included”.

Department officials have been presented with a spreadsheet of roads which have been surveyed, senior executive engineer in the West Clare MD, Alan Kenneally stated. “We’re trying to give some scale of the damage cause and we’ve forwarded it to the roads who gave to the Department who have yet to say yay or nay”.

Cathaoirleach of the West Clare MD, Cllr Talty said he raised the point directly with Junior Minister at the Department of Transport, Jack Chambers (FF). “The local authority for the last 100 years or whatever, the function as far as the public is considered is to provide and maintain the public road network”.

At this juncture, Cllr Bill Chambers (FF) suggested the county’s four TDs be brought before a special meeting of the MD. “The LIS scheme is there for 10 years, only one or two of them roads have been done”.

lPothole

Clare’s TDs need to step up and deliver the funding, Cllr Lynch maintained. “Our four TDs need to start doing the work. When it comes to big announcements on houses, they are

Senior executive officer, Siobhán McNulty explained that the schedule of Municipal District works aims to do 10 per cent of the road network each year. “Increased costs this year mean we are unlikely to get 10 per cent of the network done. If you did the 10 per cent, the roads would be covered over 10 years”. Only 6.7 per cent of the road network was completed last year, Cllr Lynch flagged. He queried, “if we get the same funding will we only cover four per cent” to which McNulty responded, “the 10 per cent model is one we know we can achieve”.

Zambia kids preparing for special trip to Doonbeg

ELEVEN young judokas will be travelling over 12,600 kilometres to partake in the West Clare Judo Open Tournament, writes

Páraic McMahon

On Sunday April 30th, the West Clare Judo Club will be hosting a very special group of young judo players, 11 of the youngsters involved will travel to Doonbeg from Kabwe in Zambia.

All visitors are from “Sables Nua”, a children’s centre in Kabwe for street children and other O.V.C.s. (orphans and vulnerable children) run by an Irish N.G.O. called Zamda. Kabwe is a town with close links to many Irish, who would have worked there throughout the 20th century, it being the Dubai of its day with its vibrant lead and zinc mining industry, providing young Irish with opportunities not available at home. The legacy of that industry left Kabwe to be known as the most polluted town in the world, with its toxic dust pervading the whole area and townships.

Youths from Zambia will arrive in Co Clare on Friday April 28th where they will get a taste of Loop Head, Irish culture and the Wild Atlantic seaboard before the competition begins on the Sunday.

It will be their first time seeing an ocean and they will be heading for a dip in Kilkee on Friday evening. Weather permitting, there will be a boat trip in Kilkee Bay courtesy of the Kilkee Sub-Aqua Club.

Sables Nua offers education, a feeding programme, vocational training, emergency accommodation, medical care, and extra-curricular activities to over 310 vulnerable children in Kabwe. One of these extra-curricular activities is judo.

With the help of Fr. Jude McKenna and support from Judo Ireland, a judo club was started in Sables Nua by Sergeant Gabriel “Gabby” Kunda, Zambia Police, former

Zambian International Judo Player and Mr. Padraig Ó Fainín, Director of ZAMDA.

Judo Ireland sent mats for the club and in 2018 West Clare Judo Club coaches and judokas travelled to Kabwe to kickstart the club. After a hectic 10 days of judo with the visitors from Co Clare, the Sables Nua Judo Club was up and running.

Gerard Troy and Kevin Heapes, before they left Zambia, extended an invitation to Sensei Gabby and his judokas to come visit Clare. Unfortunately, Covid-19 intervened and Sensei Gabby died, but though delayed, the invitation to Clare still stood and now the group of 11, who began judo five years ago will travel to West Clare.

For many years, Sables Nua has been hosting visitors and volunteers from Ireland but this is the first visit of pupils and past pupils of Sables Nua to Ireland.

During their trip, the group will visit schools, talk about Zambia, visit judo clubs in Clare, Cork, Dublin and Wexford, travel to historical sites, meet with officials of the Zambians in Ireland Association including Hitra Shakanungu, former Zambian International judoka now resident in Ireland and also attend a number of sporting events including a League of Ireland soccer game and a tie in the Leinster Senior Hurling Championship.

Doolin Pier plans moving forward again

DESIGN options are moving forward again for the development of the Doolin Pier Visitor Services Building, writes

Páraic McMahon

Last year, Clare County Council had signalled their intent to submit a planning application for the visitor centre at Doolin Pier with An Bord Pleánala at the end of 2022 with the hope of gaining approval by the second quarter of 2023.

No proposal has been issued with the planning authority as of yet and targets to complete a detailed design, develop tender documents and appoint a contractor by 2023 are likely to suffer. The completion of the project had also been earmarked for 2024.

An assessment was recently completed at the

Notes

BOOK SIGNING

Community bus suggested to tackle transport issues

by Páraic McMahon paraic@clareecho.ie

Pier. This “has resulted in clarity regarding land use options and we are now moving forward with our design team to develop a workable plan for the scheme with a view to submission to An Bord Pleánala for planning approval at the earliest possible juncture,” senior executive engineer of Clare County Council’s project management office, Seán Lenihan outlined in April’s monthly management report. He added, “This follows a period where it was necessary to pause the design process to allow time and space for surveying, monitoring and consideration of some of the more significant environmental requirements impacting the proposed development”.

Bríd O’Donoghue will sign copies of her book, The mystery of the sensitive child, at Lahinch Bookshop on Saturday, April 15 from 3pm.

East Clare

ESTABLISHING A community bus has been suggested to tackle ongoing issues with transport in North Clare.

Exploring a partnership between Clare County Council, Local Link, Clare Local Development Company and other stakeholders “to support and investigate the establishment of a community bus initiative” was proposed by Cllr Joe Garrihy (FG).

He tabled the motion before the West Clare Municipal District “in light of the major issues around transport” in North Clare. The bus “would support schools, community services and societies in their operations,” he believed.

Feasibility and a mechanism for the creation of a community bus for North Clare is being examined by Clare County Council and other stakeholders, senior executive officer Siobhán McNulty confirmed.

“The process will take time as there are many stakeholders and factors to be addressed to achieve the delivery of a community bus for North Clare”.

Setting up a community bus can ease the pressure experienced by parts of North Clare, Cllr Garrihy insisted. “We are all well aware of the last number of years and the ongoing pressure particularly on transport in North Clare and in my time with North Clare. We are inundated with a shortage of buses and issues

with drivers”.

Costs associated with hiring buses has led to schools reducing the amount of swimming lessons for students, the Lisdoonvarna representative flagged. “With schools accessing swimming lessons, we have a new state of the art swimming pool which caters for 35 schools in the Municipal District, one of the obstacles is the access to the bus. These are essential life skills for children to get swimming lessons, in my experience there are schools who cut from two terms of swimming lessons to one because of the cost of buses”.

Garrihy referenced that 30 per cent grant aid was available from the National Transport Authority (NTA) to assist

Faded road signage ‘doesn’t give a good impression’

CONDITIONS of signage

along the roads of East Clare are not supplementing the ‘heavy investment’ in tourism in the region, writes Páraic McMahon

Road signs came under the spotlight at the most recent sitting of the Killaloe Municipal District with both Cllr Tony O’Brien (FF) and Cllr Alan O’Callaghan (FF) leading the calls

for improvements to be carried out.

Cllr O’Brien had asked for information and warning road signs under the control of Clare County Council to “be washed and cleaned particularly signs within our towns and villages”.

Restrictions on available funds and resources has kept the primary focus on cleaning signs with directional signage on regional roads and regulatory signage, acting senior executive engineer Derek Troy stated. He said the Killaloe MD would “endeavour to increase washing and cleaning of information and tourism signage and directional road signs, in line with the resources available”.

Tulla’s signage has become “badly faded,” Cllr O’Callaghan flagged as he appealed for replacement signs to be erected. In particular, he pointed to the four crossroads to Kilkishen and the promotional brown signage for Tulla.

A condition survey of all directional signage on all regional junctions within the Killaloe MD was arranged to be undertaken earlier this year, Troy outlined. Fourteen junctions will be assessed “to generate a replacement programme prioritised on both condition and estimated traffic volume. It is expected that the junc-

tion of the R352 and R462 will be included in the first batch of sign replacements, subject to funding availability”.

Discussions are ongoing between the Killaloe MD and Tulla Tidy Towns regarding a review of the tourist signage for the town. He said the local authority was committed to work with the Tidy Towns to design and place updated signs. “The removal of any illegal signage or signage clutter which may cause driver distraction in particular at busy junctions will also be considered as part of the review”. Signage is letting down the area, Cllr O’Brien lamented. “We have invested heavily in East Clare from the tourism side of things, it’s terrible if we’re let down by our signage for our own citizens and people living there but also for our tourists, if the places aren’t clean and not visible it doesn’t give a good impression”.

He added, “From our own perspective, we need to up our game, if we’re going to invest heavily in Inis Cealtra, the Killaloe Bridge and Bypass and invite people to our county then it is incumbent to present ourselves in the best fashion, first impressions last. If I come over the bypass and the first thing I see is a big dirty sign it’s not a good look”.

communities with the purchase of a bus. Grants will not factor in the ongoing costs of sustaining the scheme, Cllr Shane Talty (FF) pointed out. “I welcome the commitment to review the feasibility of it. The 30 per cent capital grant is fine but the ongoing management and provision of community led bus won’t offset the costs”.

Confidence was expressed by Cllr Joe Killeen (FF) that the scheme could come to life. “In the past bus services in North Clare were very poor, they were infrequent because the money just wasn’t there. It can be done, we just need to find a partner. We’ve half the roads in Clare and an awful lot of dispersed communities”.

Landmark bridge to be considered for repair work

REPAIR works are to be considered for the “well-known landmark” in East Clare called ‘Mickey Two Tailors’ bridge, writes Páraic

McMahon

Located on the L80781 on the Clare to Galway border, ‘Mickey Two Tailors’ bridge is named after a local man called Mickey Taylor, “he was also a tailor so a tailor by name and trade,”

Cllr Pat Burke (FG) explained.

He sought repairs to the bridge north of Mountshannon.

Acting senior executive engineer in the Killaloe Municipal District, Derek Troy outlined that the bridge would be forwarded to Clare County Council’s roads department for inspection.

Notes

“We can’t always trust Google Maps but it is a well-known landmark,” Burke remarked. “It is not the most traversed road in our Municipal District but it is an important landmark,” he added. Located on the East Clare Way, he said the road is used by walkers who park nearby. “Walls of the bridge have fallen into the river at one side, beautiful cuts of stone have been stolen from the top of the wall, I look forward to the day when it can be worked on”.

Work done by the local authority on bridges “bringing them to proper standard” was praised by Cllr Joe Cooney (FG), “it is great to see natural stone being maintained”.

Macalla an Chláir

le

MACDARA

Ó CONAOLA

An Clár as Gaeilge Teo Togra Páirtnéireachta Forbairt Teanga Pobail do Chontae an Chláir

Ranganna amhránaíochta gaeilge i Inis

Irish singing classes

20ú Aibreán/April Sign (and sing) up now!

DIA dhaoibh a Chairde!

An Clár as Gaeilge will commence relaxed Irish Singing classes for adults/daoine fásta every Thursday evening at 7pm in Cois na hAbhna on the 20th of April/Aibreán.

Oireachtas Sean-nós na bhFear 2022 winner, Domhnall Ó Braonáin from Conamara, will teach the 6-week programme.

Croch suas é!

Songs are a great way to improve your language skills!

To reserve a place and register, please contact us at: Fón: 065-6864474, e-mail/rphost: anclarasgaeilge@ gmail.com

Sign up for irish classes – Beginning this Dé Luain / Monday 17ú Aibreán ag Cois na hAbhna. Lean ar na meáin-shóisialta muid ag @ClárAsGaeilge, Twitter, Facebook agus Instagram. Go dtí an tseachtain seo chugainn, bígí ag caint i nGaeilge libh fhéin agus le chéile!

Imeachtaí/Events:

• Scéalta agus Rannta le Chéile, chuile Dé Céadaoin i Leabharlann Shráid na Cathrach ó 10.30 – 11am, Saor in aisce / Free of charge

• Cúl-chaint le Domhnall Ó Loingsigh chuile Dé Sathairn, ag 9am ar Clare FM

• Ciorcal Comhrá san XPO, i gCill Iníne Baoith, chuile Dé Céadaoin ag 7.30pm

• Rith le Ruairí, chuile Dé Máirt ag 7.30pm, ag Local Motion, Inis

• Caint agus Comhrá, chuile Dé Luain ag 11am sa gCopper Jug, Dé Céadaoin ag 11am in Insomnia (Tesco), oíche Déardaoin sa Temple Gate (8pm), agus Dé Sathairn i nGlór, Inis, 11am-12pm

• Scéalta agus Rannta le Chéile, Dé Sathairn 15ú Aibreán, i Leabharlann Inis Díomáin ó 11 – 11.30am, Saor in aisce / Free of charge

Self Help Africa Cyclone appeal

Clare Echo Columnist and Self Help Africa founder Ronan Scully has made an appeal for urgent help for the people of Malawi in the wake of the devastation caused by Cyclone Freddy. The death toll from the tragedy is expected to exceed 1,200 people, and hundreds of thousands more have been left homeless, cut off from roads, electricity and clean drinking water in mainly poor, rural areas. You can make a donation to Self Help Africa’s Cyclone Freddy appeal by visiting: https://selfhelpafrica. org/ie/cyclone-freddy-emergency-appeal/

Thought for the week: Try to be kind

Spreading the word of positivity

AT THE start of each new week I always try to dedicate the week to kindness and trying to be kind to people and to try and treat people the way I would like to be treated.

SMALL KINDNESSES

It’s no secret that the world is in a state of turmoil. Every day, there’s another headline about some new act of violence or hatred. It can be easy to get overwhelmed by all the bad news and feel like there’s nothing we can do to make a difference. But there is something we as individuals can do. We can always choose kindness. It may not seem like much, but choosing to be kind to our fellow human beings and the world around us can make a big difference.

In the quest to create a gentler, more loving world, kindness is the easiest tool we can use. Though it is easy to overlook opportunities to be kind, our lives are full of situations in which we can be helpful, considerate, thoughtful, caring, loving and friendly to loved ones as well as strangers. The touching, selfless acts of kindness that have the most profoundly uplifting effects are often the simplest: a word of praise, a gentle touch, a helping hand, a gesture of courte-

sy, a listening ear, a warm friendly letter or email, the lighting of a prayer candle, a hug or a smile. Such small kindnesses represent an unconditional form of love that we are free to give or withhold at will. When you give the gift of kindness, whether in the form of assistance, concern, or friendliness, your actions create a beacon of happiness and hope that warms people’s hearts. he components of kindness are compassion, mercy, love, care, empathy, respect and generosity. Put simply, kindness is the conscious act of engaging others in a positive way without asking whether those individuals deserve to be treated kindly. All living beings thrive on kindness. A single, sincere compliment can turn a person’s entire world around. Holding a door, or thanking someone who has held a door for you, can inspire others to practice politeness and make already kind individuals feel good about their efforts. Smiling at people you meet, even those who make you feel like frowning, can turn a dreary encounter into a delightful one, for both of you. Every kind act has a positive influence on the individual who has performed the act as well as on the recipient, regardless of whether the act is acknowledged. Kindness brings about more kindness and slowly but surely makes a positive impact on humanity. You’ll discover that each act of

kindness you engage in makes the world, in some small way, a better place and it warms the heart’s of many. Kindness starts with caring and being tenderhearted and compassionate toward others. Kindness is humbly giving of ourselves in love and mercy to others who may not be able to give anything back, who sometimes don’t deserve it, and who frequently don’t thank us for it. Basically kindness means a way of thinking that leads to doing thoughtful deeds for others and doing good to them and for them.

THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK

As your thought for the week, make it your goal and habit to be actively looking for opportunities to show kindness and “To Be Kind”, to one another and to others when it is possible and needed. Kindness is a lifestyle. It is a daily practice. It is a choice. As people of this world we are to grow in the fruit of the spirit – love, joy, peace, patience, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control, and kindness – and growth takes time.

A seed does not transform into a tree overnight, but with careful watering, tending, and patience, a seed will slowly grow day-by-day into a strong towering tree. It is the same with kindness. We must be faithful every day to bear the good fruit of kindness. Being kind should be our default mode, a habit of goodwill, a heart

of continual service every day of the year. Practice genuine kindness as much as you can in your daily life and ‘plant flowers’ and ‘warm people’s hearts’ wherever you can! Three things in human life are important: the first is to be kind; the second is to be kind; and the third is to be kind. No act of kindness is ever wasted. And always remember that compassion has no limit and kindness has no enemy.

Be kind and “Do Good”, always or as much as you can!!

“To Be Kind” is to be Christlike. Not for just a season or one day of the year, kindness is for every moment of every day; it’s a habit, a lifestyle, a continual practice. It is intentional, taking time and patience, a giving of ourselves in “the busy,” even when we are “too tired.” And lastly, kindness is for absolutely everyone. As we intentionally show kindness each day, may we shine the light of Christ to a dying world in need of a savior, a generation in need of love and grace.

Be Jesus to someone today and every day; make Him your role model and kindness your lifestyle. In a world where you can be anything, Be kind!!

I believe the best thing you can be in life is to “Be Kind”. Kindness in words creates confidence. Kindness in deed creates truth. Kindness in love creates life. Kindness in thinking creates profoundness. Kindness in giving creates love. Amen.

l Domhnall Ó Braonáin

Clare GAA helping to tackle drug use and gambling in local communities

by Stuart Holly editor@clareecho.ie

CLARE GAA’s Health & Wellbeing Committee is in its infancy, having formed just one year ago. However with the help of Bushypark Treatment Centre, the Gardai, and the Samaritans they have begun a journey of informing clubs on how to deal with some of the most pressing issues present in the GAA and wider community.

Its Joint Chairman, John Conroy, tells The Clare Echo that one of the first decisions made at committee level was to address the area around substance abuse and gambling.

“Cocaine use is a big thing we’re trying to address,” says John, an experienced fitness coach. “These people who have substance abuse, they’re good people, they just get caught up in the wrong path and if the clubs can provide some kind of help there at all, it’s just marvellous.”

“It’s a big problem - the cocaine use and gambling. Over the next few years hopefully word will get out and we’ll build up the meetings and get word out there.

The meetings John refers to, titled HEED (Health, Educate, Enforcement and Driving) have been rolled out over the last six months

and continue to be delivered regionally to clubs in County Clare, where speakers from Bushypark Treatment Centre, the Gardai and the Samaritans provide information to management, players, GAA members and the wider community.

The pilot event in the Temple Gate in November saw the programme delivered to coaches from clubs acros the county along with the intercounty management teams.

“The whole idea was to make people aware of how much of a concern substance abuse is at the moment,” explains John. “We’re the fourth highest users of cocaine in the world with around 1 in 40 and gambling-wise we’re the fourth highest in Europe. So, it is obviously a problem. We use GAA clubs as an avenue to connect people in the community to problems that are there.”

At the events, Bushypark provide advice on services available at their treatment centre through their counsellors, wihle gardai give advice and support in how families can react to drug intimidation, which John explains “is for example when a dealer calls to a family home. The son or daughter are on a substance and their family may not know that, and the dealer is calling for large sums of

money. The gardai are there to help in that area.”

“Another thing we weren’t aware of, the Samaritans offer a 5-minute huddle, say before or after training, where they come in and speak for five minutes to players on the services that are available from them.”

So far they have rolled out HEED in Kilrush, Ennis, Sixmilebridge and Scariff, with upcoming events at Parteen-Meelick, Miltown Malbay, Lisdoonvarna and Newmarket-on-Fergus.

John, who is well-known for his charity work in Uganda, is joined on the Clare GAA Health & Wellbeing Committee by Mark O’Sullivan, John, Noreen Vaughan, Bernie Regan, Anne MacNamara, Grainne Travers, Don Regan and Kathy Hogan.

There are a number of schemes that come through the committee, such as providing clubs with a critical incident manual; a Green Clubs programme; a diversity inclusion programme; youth leadership; and healthy eating. John reflects, “One club in particular who are leading the way on this are Eire Og. They’re quite active, they’ve got Gaelic for mothers, fitness classes for seniors in the community, they’re also the pilot club for Season of Respect in Clare (a pro-

gramme around respecting match officials).”

The committee also assists clubs partaking in the Irish Life Health project, a national program which sees clubs accredited as ‘Irish Life GAA Healthy Clubs’. Doora-Barefield native Bríd Ó’Dwyer is the National Healthy GAA Clubs Coordinator for the GAA and she tells The Clare Echo that there are some 450 accredited ‘Healthy Clubs’ around Ireland and abroad, with 12 clubs in Clare receiving accreditation in recent years; Cratloe, Sixmilebridge GAA, Sixmilebridge Camogie, Clonlara, Doonbeg, Éire Óg, In-

agh-Kilnamona, Wolfetones na Sionna,Newmarket, Parteen-Meelick, Tulla, St Joseph’sDoora Barefield.

“It started in 2013 with just 16 clubs so it has grown across the years and is going from strength to strength. There are nearly 2,000 GAA clubs across Ireland so we’re a quarter of the way there,” says Bríd.

One of the most popular initiatives that the Irish Life Health project is associated with is called Ireland Lights Up, which takes place every January. “It is in association with Operation Transformation and looks at opening up the GAA Club and turning the lights on as a safe place for people to take part. That’s one example. The clubs are required to pick three activities that would support the health and wellbeing of their club and the community. There are six priority areas where clubs can focus their activities on; physical activity, mental fitness, diversity & inclusion, community development, substance abuse and gambling.”

Upcoming evenings on Substance Abuse and Gambling being run by Clare GAA are as follows:

April 24th - Hosted by Parteen/Meelick G.A.A. Club - clubhouse at Parteen , Westbury

May 8th - Hosted by St. Breckans Clubs at the Pavillion Community Centre

May 22nd - hosted by Newmarket G.A.A. Club at clubhouse

Wednesday 31st MayMiltown gaa, kilmurry gaa and Moy gaa

The second episode of the HSE’s Talking Health and Wellbeing Podcast discusses ‘Health and Wellbeing’ in the GAA with Colin Regan. Colin is the GAA’s Community and Health Manager who shares the background and progress of how the GAA have been supporting their clubs to become ‘Healthy Clubs’ and the ambition to have GAA clubs support their communities, by being hubs for health and wellbeing. Keep up to date with all the episodes by visiting www.youtube.com/@HSEHealthandWellbeing.

Bríd notes that partaking clubs have seen an increase in membership, by offering activities and initiatives “to people outside the playing population that may have not seen a place for them in the club”, while it also opens avenues for funding opportunities. “The other obvious benefits are the physical and mental health benefits. We see for that older population, I’m speaking about Ireland Lights Up, it presents an opportunity for a lot of older people to get out for their physical activity and social engagement.”

To contact the Clare Health & Wellbeing Committee, email chair. hwc.clare@gaa.ie. Clubs that want to get involved in the Irish Life Healthy Clubs project, applications will open in Autumn. For more information visit https://www.gaa.ie/my-gaa/ community-and-health/ healthy-club/

Irish Life GAA Healthy Clubs

E-mail: brid.odwyer@gaa.ie web: healthyclubs.gaa.ie

John Conroy

GREEN CLARE

‘Balance needed between young footballers and grass cutting’

by Páraic McMahon paraic@clareecho.ie

“A HAPPY medium” needs to be found between letting grass grow in public spaces and keeping these areas accessible for children to play in, a Clarecastle representative has said.

Recruitment is underway for the position of a Biodiversity Officer within Clare County Council after the local authority successfully applied to the Heritage Council for funding. “It is hoped that the position will be filled in the coming months,” acting senior planner Helen Quinn outlined.

Cllr Paul Murphy (FG) requested that the initial priority for the incoming officer be the creation of “a community led biodiversity plan, that is realistically implementable and non-labour intensive for voluntary groups” such as Tidy Towns and residents organisations.

Ms Quinn explained, “The Biodiversity Officer will have a cross-cutting role in the local authority and while positioned within the Forward Planning section of the Planning Department, the resource will have an impact across every functional area of the Local Authority.

A key output in 2023 will be the development of a Clare County Biodiversity Plan 2023-2029 which it is hoped will be completed by year end and this together will the delivery of projects funded under the National Biodiversity Action Plan will form priority work packages for the new resource on en-

tering the Local Authority”.

Clare’s Biodiversity Officer is expected to have a close working relationship with community groups to identify their requirements, to assist them in developing plans and strategies together with assisting individuals and groups in applying for funding opportunities and to deliver on projects across the county on behalf of the Local Authority.

Filling the post “in the not too distant future” was welcome news, Cllr Murphy said. “I’m all for biodiversity but it has to be for community groups and work for them, we’ve been told to let the grass grow long, we’ve had No Mow May, we are letting pollinators grow and it is beautiful but it is restricting children from playing hurling, football and the likes, it is restrictive in public green areas but a happy medium needs to be found, funding has to be there to take it away when it is cut”.

He added, “Green areas need to be amenities, young children are playing video games and on phones for long enough”.

Support was voiced by Cllr Donna McGettigan (SF). “I’ve been speaking to beekeepers who are afraid our bees are being decimated, they’re afraid it is lowering the amount of bees,” she told the April meeting of the County Council.

Meanwhile at the April meeting of the Ennis Municipal District, Cllr Murphy asked that the grass cutting of Council managed public green areas commence as soon as possible with additional financial resources included in future budgetary processes.

Grass cutting in the Ennis MD was due to commence on April 3rd, senior executive officer Leonore O’Neill stated.

“Ennis MD will seek an allocation of additional financial resources for grass cutting as part of the Council’s budgetary process”.

Sourcing more funding was needed within communities, Clarecastle native Murphy maintained. “There has been extreme grass growth over the winter. Public green areas need to be cut, they are there to serve our children and skills hopefully as Clare hurlers

or footballers or the club they will represent in whatever sport. We need to make these plans more people centric”.

Reviewing No Mow May was worthwhile, Cllr Johnny Flynn (FG) believed, he claimed it “led to dereliction in certain estates”. Cllr Mary Howard (FG) commented, “It is balance. When you consider young lads going out to the green area and they want to play hurling or football but they can’t do it because the grass is too long then a certain need of balance is needed”.

‘Compelling case’ to reopen Crusheen station to be put before Irish Rail

SENIOR officials in the Department of Transport have repeatedly said there are no plans to reopen the railway station in Crusheen but North-East Clare elected representatives remain optimistic the return of stop may come to pass, writes

Páraic McMahon

Indeed elected representatives in the Killaloe Municipal District believe they have “a compelling case,” senior planner with Clare County Council, Brian McCarthy noted in correspondence issued to Chief Executive of Iarnród Éireann, Jim Meade.

Elected members of the Killaloe MD are to meet with a delegation from Iarnród Éireann on foot of this.

McCarthy outlined the views of members that the Climate Action Plan 2023 “which seeks significant increases to modal share and sustainable public transport use, the adoption of the Clare County Development Plan 2023-2029 which continues the long standing Council objective to reopen the railway station at Crusheen and the ongoing preparation of an All-Ireland Strategic Rail Review, it is considered there is a compelling case to be made to reopen the station and the provision of a rail service at Crusheen”.

Passenger numbers and connectivity along the Western Rail Corridor between Galway City and Limerick

would be increased were the Crusheen station to reopen, the elected members maintained.

Cathaoirleach of the Killaloe MD, Cllr Alan O’Callaghan (FF) told his colleagues that Iarnród Éireann were happy to facilitate a meeting with them. “If he can’t meet us here, we will go and meet him”.

Cllr Pat Hayes (FF) who has been particularly vocal on the subject, said “following on from a lot of publicity around it, people are saying it is a win-win situation, the public very much behind it”.

Hayes felt there was “a real enthusiasm” to reopen the station in Crusheen. He said it was essential to get

the reopening of Crusheen on the agenda for the All-Ireland rail review to try obtain

funding. “Moyross station is being pushed and we need to push for Crusheen,” he

added.

Councillors were advised by McCarthy that Iarnród Éireann have said they are willing to hold a meeting but have said there are no provisions for funding Crusheen at present.

Originally built in the 1860s, Crusheen railway station closed in 1976 for passenger traffic and in the 1990s for freight traffic. Although the Minister for Transport, Eamon Ryan (GP) speaking in response to Senator Martin Conway (FG) in the Seanad noted that the thinking to reopen former stations like Crusheen is what’s needed, but officials in his own Department are very reluctant to fund the request.

l WIN-WIN: Crusheen Railway Station

Photo by Anthony E Bennett - Irish Railway Record Society Archive

Be a Tourist in your Own County Clare on Sunday, April 23

On Sunday, April 23, the “Be a Tourist in Your Own County Clare” event takes place. Clare County Council’s Tourism Department is encouraging you to enjoy it as a tourist would and get out and explore the parts of Clare you don’t know so well, such as the scenery, forests, beaches, lakes, attractions, dining experiences, and more.

Up to 50%-off discounts and free admissions to Top Attractions for ONE DAY ONLY!

Go full Willy Wonka at Wilde Irish Chocolates in East Clare and have the family build their own personalised chocolate bars.

Hug the fluffy Alpacas at the Flying Alpacas farm in West Clare. Bring your camera!

Head underground for a spectacular cave tour at Aillwee Burren Experience or Doolin Cave.

Have a hoot with an owl at the Birds of Prey Centre at Aillwee Burren Experience, or meet the animals at Moher Farm.

See Clare from the water on an amazing short cruise on Lough Derg or beneath the Cliffs of Moher or when sailing to the Aran Islands.

Explore Ennis Friary for FREE - they have waived admissions for the day. Rediscover the Cliffs of Moher Experience (early morning or late afternoon).

Climb to the top of the Loop Head Lighthouse for breathtaking views.

Enjoy Bunratty Castle and Folk Park - a real family favourite.

Head to Vandeleur Walled Garden - free admission and 10% off garden plants.

Watch some of the world’s smartest sheepdogs in action at the ancient Caherconnell Fort in the Burren.

Take a tour of the Michael Cusack Centre - home of the founding father of the GAA.

Swim in the all-new Lahinch Leisure Centre.

Enjoy the Taste the Atlantic Salmon Experience in Lisdoonvarna. Explore Craggaunowen and step back in time to experience the resilience and fortitude of early Bronze Age settlers in Ireland.

ESSENTIAL INFORMATION - The details of ALL the great offers and visit or booking instructions feature on www.VisitClare.ie/wow. In many cases, the attractions require prebooking online using a promotional code to avail of the offer. All this information is available on the website, www.VisitClare.ie/wow.

50% OFF DISCOUNTS and FREE Admissions to Clare’s Top Attractions for ONE DAY ONLY!

On Sunday, April 23, 2023, we encourage you to become a tourist in your own County Clare and explore the parts of the County you are not so familiar with –the hidden gems and captivating attractions that make Clare a mustvisit destination. For this ONE DAY ONLY, take advantage of the BIG DISCOUNTS and FREE ADMISSIONS to Clare’s Top Attractions with our ‘Be a Tourist’ vouchers below.

The ONE-DAY SUMMARY OFFERS on Sunday, April 23

There are brilliant experiences to be enjoyed at discounted prices, including going full Willy Wonka at a chocolate factory, hugging an Alpaca, taking a cave tour, having a hoot with an owl, enjoying a spectacular cruise beneath the Cliffs of Moher or on Lough Derg, visiting Ennis Friary for free, climbing a lighthouse, rediscovering the Cliffs of Moher and Bunratty Castle and Folk Park, buying garden plants at a discount, watching sheepdog demonstrations and more.

ESSENTIAL TO KNOW: View the DETAILED offers online, as some require online bookings. See www.VisitClare.ie/wow

Only one voucher is needed per booking party. However, some attractions also require bookings to be made online using promotional codes. Detailed offers, including any special booking requirements, terms and conditions, and promotional codes associated with each offer, can be viewed at www.VisitClare.ie/wow. Please read and follow any instructions provided.

booking conditions on our web page.

Record €2m surplus for Lahinch Golf Club

by Gordon Deegan news@clareecho.ie

ONE of the country’s most celebrated golf clubs, Lahinch last year enjoyed a record operating surplus of €2 million as green fee income soared.

In his report to members for the club’s 2022 Annual General Meeting (AGM), Chairperson of Lahinch Golf Club, John Gleeson states that 2022 “was a record financial year for the club”.

The club recorded the bumper surplus on the back of green fee tripling from €1 million to €3.05 million, topping €3 million for the first time in the club’s history.

Newly crowned US Masters winner, Jon Rahm won the highly successful Dubai Duty Free Irish Open staged at Lahinch in 2019 which raised the course's international profile. US golfers usually make up a sizeable chunk of the green fee income where it will cost non-member golfers €275 for a round at Lahinch’s ‘Old Course’ during high season from next Monday, April 17th to the end of September this year.

In his 2022 Chairperson’s Report to members, Mr Gleeson says, “These unprecedented results have allowed us to rebuild

our finances that, not only secures our future, but facilitates the funding of a number of key capital projects that are necessary to keep us at the forefront of not just Irish golf but world golf”.

Mr Gleeson said that “2022 was an excellent year for our great club with activity at record levels after two turbulent years of the COVID pandemic”.

He said, “It was a record financial year for the club with profits of €1.2 million after depreciation of €818,737 giving an operational surplus of €2.02 million”.

Offshore sector can restore west’s economic imbalance

RENEWABLE offshore energy will restore an economic imbalance towards the west of Ireland, the Minister for Public Expenditure has said, writes Páraic

McMahon

On Monday, Ennis Chamber’s Presidents Lunch focused on offshore energy opportunities for Co Clare with Minister for Public Expenditure, Paschal Donohoe (FG) the guest speaker.

Pace at which the reform of the regulatory system for offshore energy in Ireland is moving prompted both Equinor and Shell to withdraw from the market, both companies had been involved in companies off the Clare coast.

Mr Gleeson stated that while the club will see a reduction in the number of overseas visitors to the golf course in 2023, to facilitate additional tee times for members, green fee income is still expected to be around €2.7 million for this year. The €3.05 million in green fee income along with €1.1 million in members’ subs contributed to overall revenues last year increasing by 93 per cent from €2.56 million to €4.94 million. Mr Gleeson said that Lahinch has “one of the largest memberships of any club in Ireland”.

Speaking to The Clare Echo, Minister Donohoe insisted, “I believe we are maximising our potential but it is one of the reasons why events like this are successful because you get to hear directly from the frontline regarding the feedback they have on the efforts of Government”.

“I believe the renewable energy opportunity for Ireland is as big as the FDI opportunity was for Ireland in the 1990s, the vast majority of it is concentrated on the west coast of Ireland so it is a once in a generation opportunity and if you look at the fair critique of so much of our economic development in the last century which is that it is too eastward bound and that it hasn’t delivered the overall proper national development our

country wants, in the last few years accelerated now by the war we have now realised the need to get to energy security and the renewable sector can deliver it for us,” he added. Minister Donohoe said he was “satisfied” despite the frustrations and subsequent departures of Equinor and Shell. “I am happy and satisfied with the pace, we always want to go quicker, I know some in the sector are critical of the progress we are making, I’m equally ambitious for us to do more faster but the Government does have to weigh up a lot of competing priorities as well which sometimes means that not everything moves forward at the pace as those working in the sector want it to move forward on”.

When asked if offshore renewable energy could restore an imbalance in economic development, he responded, “Categorically. We have an opportunity to be one of the few energy exporters into the European Union, the raw material that will help us do it is mostly concentrated on the west and south-west of Ireland so there is a truly extraordinary opportunity in front of us”.

In capitalising on this potential, there is a need to focus on the county’s infrastructure in order to encourage more people to live in counties like Clare.

“There’s always a need to improve infrastructure,” he added.

lPhoto by Jamie Gibson

What is biophilic design and why is it so important for our homes and wellbeing?

Deirdre Coleman Interior Designer

IN an increasingly fast-paced world, anxiety and burnout are on the rise. In order to recalibrate and give our overstimulated brains a reprieve, the simple notion of home as a nurturing sanctuary is gaining momentum.

The creation of a happy home that allows us to relax, unwind, rejuvenate and flourish are not things we often consider when we sit down with our builder, architect or interior designer to plan our spaces. We focus solely on the aesthetics and the cost with little consideration on the impact on our mood and our overall wellbeing and happiness.

Nature has the potential to lift our spirits and spending time outdoors can refresh our minds and be a balm in times of challenge. But does this connection have to end when we move indoors? The foundations have been laid for a new pillar of success in design: biophilia, meaning love of nature, and the enhancement of health. Science has repeatedly proven that rooms with a garden view help children to learn faster at school and hospital patients to recover more quickly. Simply put, nature contributes to making spaces more restorative, energising and relaxing, lowering blood pressure and boosting the immune system. Biophilic design takes this idea one step further: because we are the indoor generation spending 90% of our time indoors, it’s proving vital to bring the outdoors in and create indoor environments

that reference nature in both obvious and subtle ways for the sake of our health.

The evidence of positive effects from nature includes studies on specific psychological conditions such as depression, anxiety and mood disorder. Access to nature has also been found to improve sleep and reduce stress, increase happiness and reduce negative emotions, promote positive social interactions and even help generate a sense of meaning to life. Being in green environments boosts various aspects of thinking, including attention, memory and creativity, in people both with and without depression. The work couldn’t be timelier. The rise of remote working has meant more time at home for many.

Whether you want to boost your mood, lower your blood pressure, decrease your bad habits or ease the burden of dementia, this research can provide evidence-based strategies to optimise your living space for your physical and mental health. Biophilia can be brought into any environment in three main ways: experientially through the very architecture and construction of the space around you (curves, natural materials and the use of wood in particular feature heavily); indirectly with colours, patterns and textures that mimic the natural world (for example, leafy prints on fabrics or wallpaper, or textured flooring that looks like moss); and lastly through an unfiltered direct connection to plenty of daylight, greenery and water features.

Here are 6 ways to enhance your wellbeing by bringing nature in:

1MAXIMIZE NATURAL LIGHT SOURCES

Throughout the course of a day, light levels change sending our bodies signals to wake up or wind down. A healthy circadian rhythm is associated with improved long-term health and helps promote better sleep at night, allowing our brains to repair our bodies as well as our minds.

Designing the layout of your home according to how the light moves around a space is the first thing to consider when building or renovating your home, ideally following the way the light changes throughout the day. We can tweak our homes to increase our exposure to natural light by replacing solid doors with glass-panelled doors or bouncing natural light using mirrors or mirror-topped tables or accessories. Boost light levels by installing skylights or light tunnels if these are a possibility. Ambient and subdued light in the evening lets the brain know it is time to relax and prepare for sleep. Avoid blue light at least one hour before going to bed like the light emitted by TV screens, computers and smartphones, even LED lightbulbs.

2AIR QUALITY

As we tighten up our homes for energy efficiency, we are becoming increasingly exposed to indoor pollutants such as chemical gases emitted by furniture, household cleaning product and common allergens like dust, pet dander and mould. Indoor air quality is a key component of biophilic design as it returns the indoor built environment to a more natural state, similar to the type of air we were breathing for millions of years while evolving on the planet, i.e. fresh, clean and pollution-free. If you’d like clean, fresh air circulating around your home at a comfortable temperature, it’s worth considering

installing a mechanical ventilation with heat recovery (MVHR) system. These consist of a unit and ducts that extract stale air and pollutants from your home and replace it with fresh air. They’re a common addition to new-build properties. These systems extract warm air from inside the home and cool air from outside, passing both through a heat exchanger box. So before the inside air is piped out, the heat is transferred to the incoming, filtered fresh air, bringing it to a regulated temperature before it’s released into the home. In the absence of mechanical ventilation, consider adding air purifying plants, removing shoes that drag in toxins and investing in an air purifying fan such as the Dyson Purifier.

GREENIFY YOUR HOME

The colour green has an immense impact on the way humans feel– it’s a comforting hue. And that’s likely an innate response that we adapted over time to associate with nature and safety. Beyond ingrained reactions, numerous studies have shown that plants can have a calming effect on us physiologically and psychologically, all while boosting mood and wellbeing. One of the easiest ways to greenify your home without making huge changes, is to include houseplants and edible herbs. Try growing basil, rosemary, or your favourite herb near a windowsill. Not only will having it around infuse an herbal aroma into the air, but adding to your meals can excite the taste buds. Botanical wallpaper and nature murals and artwork also serve to enhance our connection to the natural world as do accessories like pinecones, corals, stones, shells, feathers and ornamental driftwood.

4

EMBRACE CURVES

Based on scientific research, shapes have a significant impact on human emotions. Round shapes in particular induce positive emotions such as approachability and friendliness, while spherical objects communicate balance, which can help us feel at ease with our surroundings - especially if you suffer from anxiety. Consider introducing arches ball-shaped pendant lights and cushions, round mirrors, circular coffee tables or curved furniture and observe how the curves soften your space. The curvy sofa is 2023’s big story – using soft curves instils a relaxing environment and enhances intimacy and connection. Using a curved sofa is a great solution to assist in creating multiple seating groups in one large room. They also take the focus off the TV and put it firmly on socialising and conversation. Curved headboards can enhance our sense of enclosure and safety.

Another way to introduce curves is through on-trend arches, whether in the form of doors or doorways, windows, shelving, mirrors, paint or wallpaper effects, etc. Arches represent strength and support and from a design perspective, they visually draw attention to the height of your walls, making any room look more spacious.

5USE NATURAL MATERIALS

Using natural materials is one of my favourite ways to bring the outdoors in. Natural materials have increased considerably during the pandemic and will strengthen in appeal as marble and unpainted wood kitchen cabinets become a firm fixture. Not only do they have a rich aesthetic quality, but they are increasingly being recognised for their health

3 Insider Tips to Rewild Your Home for Health 1

Get a Snake Plant or Mother-in-Law’s Tongue: With this plant in your bedroom, you’re in for a great night’s sleep. Also known as Mother-in-Law’s Tongue, this yellowtipped succulent releases oxygen at night, helping you to breathe better while sleeping. It’s one of the best plants for filtering the air of formaldehyde, xylene, benzene, toluene, and trichloroethylene. 2

Attract the birds: Make your garden attractive to birds by providing food or preferably a nesting spot. Research has shown that bird watching lowers our risk of depression, stress and anxiety.

benefits (reducing the amount of chemically treated items in the home).

Weave natural materials like sisal, linen, bamboo, stone, terracotta, seagrass, marble, grasscloth and wool to bring the outside in. Layer materials that contrast and complement each other for a pleasing look - glossy marble against rustic wood, for example or smooth bamboo with a thickly textured wool rug. Texture is an essential part of any designer’s vocabulary, because a scheme without texture is a scheme that falls seriously short of the mark. Adding texture to a room encompasses a great deal more than a fringededged cushion here and a roughsawn wood texture there. It is the precise art of blending the rough with the smooth and knowing how to create visual texture—the sort that isn’t tactile at all.

Texture can come through in a whole host of ways, so don’t forget the impact that the following can have: matte versus glazed ornaments on a bookcase, book spines stacked on a side table aside a sculpted glass lamp base, a polished granite fireplace hearth with a tasselled rug in front of it, or even wall treatments and artwork that have the ability to make the walls feel multi-dimensional.

Starting with your wall treatments, your choice of natural materials like wood panelling and clay paints to grasscloth can add heaps of character and texture to a room. Choose paints that are manufactured without the use of VOCs (volatile organic compounds) or harmful chemicals (like Farrow & Ball). As more improvements are made to the way homes are built, giving us better insulation and heat retention, it’s more important than ever before to choose a paint that promotes better indoor air quality. Poor indoor air quality has even been linked to certain respiratory health conditions, so it’s not just a matter of comfort, but of safety too.  When it comes to paint, designers have a new darling: limewash paint. The textured paint is coming into the spotlight thanks to ingenious uses and new vivid colours. There are also other natural benefits to limewash paint: it’s breathable, nontoxic, and eco-

friendly, and the high pH level means that it’s bacteria- and mouldresistant. Also, because limewash paint contains no VOCs, its application is practically odourless.

BAUWERK Colour Limewash Paint is very easy to use and affordable.

6INCORPORATE COLOUR FROM YOUR LANDSCAPE

If we take the natural world as our cue, we can at least try to mimic some of the elements in nature that seem to make us feel good. Think about the variety and ratio of colours in the natural environment. Think warm earthy tones, gentle blues and soft greens. Notice the tones of colours around you when you are out in nature and notice how they make you feel. When you have identified the right tonal pitch for you, the colours which trigger the right emotions for you, nature gives you the colours in the right proportions for use in the home. Green combines harmoniously with plenty of neutral tones or layers of other greens. We are very comfortable with this combination because we are used to seeing so much of it in the natural environment. Green combines beautifully with earthy tones, wood finishes of every kind, along with paler shades like creams and stone, and darker, richer colours such as browns and blacks. Blues and cyans are reminiscent of picturesque skies and the sea and are particularly good in bedrooms as they are deeply calming to create a restful retreat. There is a high degree of individuality associated with colour preference and the key is tuning into which colours resonate with you and create the feeling you want in a room. Your home should be a story of you, and a space to support and nurture you. When you are next out for a walk, take notice of the nuances of colours around you. Different shades of a colour can create very different emotional responses, from calming and relaxing, to refreshing and uplifting, or energizing and invigorating. Tune in to the colours around you to discover the best harmonious palettes for your emotional wellbeing.

3

Create an Outdoor Vertical Herb Garden: April is the best time to sow many different herb seeds but some herbs can be sown all year around such as chives, mint and rosemary. If you don’t want to grow your herbs from seeds, you can choose from our range of already potted, grown herbs, which are available in your local garden centre. The Plant Box Living Wall System is an efficient and stylish way to add greenery to any interior or exterior space. The stackable, modular system includes a number of self-watering plant boxes, allowing you to maintain lush and healthy edible or ornamental plants with minimal effort. You could also DIY your own solution.

Biophilic Design: Where to Shop

MULHERNS, MAIN STREET, KILDYSART, CO. CLARE

AMV: €90,000

Sale Type: For Sale by Public Auction

DNG O’Sullivan Hurley are delighted to offer this historic building in the heart of Kildysart for sale by online auction on Friday 21st April at 12.00pm. To review legal

Contact: DNG O’Sullivan Hurley Tel: (065) 684 0200 PSL 002295

documents or to register to bid at auction please use following link; https://osullivanhurley.dngauctions.ie/lot/details/91132

Self.ly Interior Design based in Ennis, Co. Clare is focused on wellness interior design, creating spaces that enhance our wellbeing. Interior Designer, Deirdre Coleman, is passionate about designing for the wellness of her clients and focuses on delivering restorative spaces that positively impact on health and wellbeing.

With an interest in designing for wellness, Deirdre is putting her considerable wealth of experience in self-care, health and wellbeing to design homes that make people feel their best

selves.

Self.ly Interior Design offers one hour online design consultations, room designs and full house designs customised to your needs. We also offer property staging and showhouse design focused on wellbeing and hybrid working.

For more information and design inspiration, follow us on Instagram: @Self_ly

Tel: 086 3868058

Email: selflydesign@gmail.com

BALLYGIRREEN, NEWMARKET ON FERGUS, CO. CLARE

AMV: €100,000

Sale Type: For Sale by Public Auction

Overall Floor Area: 11.64 ac Auction Location: https://osullivanhurley. dngauctions.ie/lot/details/91137

Auction Date & Time: Fri, Apr 21st at 12:00 PM

DNG O’Sullivan Hurley are delighted to

Contact: DNG O’Sullivan Hurley Tel: (065) 684 0200 PSL 002295

offer this quality parcel of farmland to the market for sale by Online Auction on Friday 21st April, 2023 at 12pm. To access legal pack or to register to bid at the auction please use following link; https://osullivanhurley.dngauctions.ie/lot/details/91137

Mosella 3 Seater Sofa, Hometrends Furniture

Dyson Purifier Hot+Cool Formaldehyde™, Ennis Electrical

Deirdre Coleman Interior Designer

Floral Arrangements & plants, Vaughan’s Garden Centre

Acacia Round Table with Marble Top, Browsers Interiors

Ethnicraft Furniture, Browsers Interiors

Clare 'rectify' wrongs of league

MUNSTER SFC QUARTER FINAL

Clare 0-14 Cork 0-13

Venue: Cusack Park, Ennis

Compiled by Páraic McMahon

STORY OF THE GAME

CLARE:

Frees for: 16 (8/8)

Wides: 14 (7/7)

Spread of scorers: 7

Scores from play: 0-12

Top scorer: Keelan Sexton (004) & Eoin Cleary (0-04 2f)

Bookings: Alan Sweeney (70)

Own kickouts won: 14 from 18 (78%)

CORK:

Frees for: 15 (10/5)

Wides: 5 (3/2)

Spread of scorers: 4

Scores from play: 0-05

Top scorer: Steven Sherlock (0-10 7f 1’45)

Bookings: None

Own kickouts won: 17 from 28 (61%)

REFEREE: Fergal Kelly (Longford)

MANAGER COMMENT

Colm Collins, Clare:

“When it went so close at the end you were looking over your shoulder, it’s great to come out the right side of a result like that for a change. We drove on and we got the last score but on a general side for getting a result you would have to be proud to be associated with that bunch of lads, fantastic effort across the pitch, they gave every last drop they had and it would be an awful travesty if they didn’t come out with a result.

“We had a lot of wides and for once our freetaking was off a little, we missed some scoreable frees, lads that are usually so reliable but the most important thing is we got the result, we’ve an opportunity now in a Munster semi-final, if we win it we’re back into the Sam Maguire, that is the important thing.

PLAYER WATCH

CIARAN

l MEMORABLE OUTING: Ciaran Russell goes to ground following a challenge by Ian Maguire Photo by Gerard

quickly enough when we turned over the ball, I think we rectified nearly all of that."

SCAN HERE FOR

“As a team they were very deflated over some of the losses, after playing some really good football in those games we let teams beat us, it sounds queer to say you let Dublin beat you but that was it, we were in a winning position and we didn’t drive on, today thankfully they righted that and I’m delighted for them, they are a fantastic group of players.

"The other thing we were concerned about was we were taking shots that weren’t really on, we needed to be more patient and thirdly we weren’t breaking

MANAGER COMMENT “

John Cleary, Cork:

“We’ll have a few weeks to lick our wounds but we’ve no choice but to get back on the horse again and see where it takes us. There’s other games to be played here, we’re very disappointed...Clare are a formidable side, in light of trying to make progress it is definitely a setback, on the day we could have no complaints.

“I think Clare upped it, we couldn’t live with them, they realised maybe the game was going from them and fair play to them they got stuck in, they took it on and they got their scores, well worked scores and deserved the victory.

“League and championship is always going to be different, we got goals that day, who knows if Brian O’Driscoll’s one went in instead of off the crossbar it might have put a different complexion on the game, you could see it was do or die for Clare, they really wanted to play in the Sam Maguire going forward, we may not be there now, we’ll have to wait and see. When the game was up for grabs Clare took it by the scruff of the neck and fair play to them”.

Lillis wants to lead a Clare march in Munster

A MEMBER of the Clare football team for seven years, Pearse Lillis has stressed the importance of the county improving their record in Munster.

Lillis turns 25 this year but is already a stalwart of the Clare senior side. He’s come a long way since making his first start against Sligo in Division 3 of the Allianz National Football League back in 2016. He made his championship debut that year, starting in their 0-16 0-13 win over Limerick at the Gaelic Grounds. However in the eleven Munster championship games he has played in, the Cooraclare man has only tasted victory on four occasions.

Speaking to The Clare Echo, Pearse noted the importance of their one point victory against Cork. “It’s great to get a win in Munster, we’ve underperformed in Munster in the last few years, it’s great to get over the line in the end”.

Now seventy minutes away from appearing in a first Munster final, the UL graduate is determined they grab the opportunity. “Of course (we want to be in a Munster final),

we’re aiming for that and beyond”. He added, “Limerick will be a different challenge again, we’ll get ready to play them”.

Losing to either Cork at the weekend or Limerick in the semi-final will see Clare end up in the Tailteann Cup rather than the All-Ireland series, Lillis is in no doubt as to which competition he wants the county to be appearing in. “People were saying that we’d be in the Tailteann Cup if we lost and that’s not where we want to be and it’s not

what we aimed for at the start of the year, we’re a step closer to staying in the All-Ireland”.

Fresh from the relegation to Division 3 of the National Football League, the secondary school teacher at Coláiste Muire Máthair noted that they needed to bounce back when it came to championship. “Cork had beaten us twice this year, it was up to us to learn from those losses and final beat them”.

Whether it’s wing forward or wing back, Lillis has been to the fore for his county and it was in this middle third that Colm Collins and his management targeted diluting Cork’s influence.

“Especially when it started raining and was getting wet, it was a battle at the end and it became about who wanted it more, thankfully we won today”.

O’Neill

l HISTORIC: Darragh Bohannon embraces Darren O’Neill as RCB’s Nicholas Rynne looks on and (right) Pearse Lillis Photos by Gerard O’Neill

Captain Cleary hopeful Cork win will inspire next generation

by Páraic McMahon news@clareecho.ie

CLARE captain, Eoin Cleary is hopeful their historic win over Cork will be referenced as an inspiration for future county footballers.

Colm Collins’ side booked their place in the Munster semi-finals with Clare’s fourth ever championship win over Cork on Sunday and their first since a famous provincial last four clash with the Rebels in Cusack Park back in 1997.

On that day a quick free from Ger Keane teed up Martin Daly to rattle the net and secure a famous one point victory for the side then managed by John O’Keeffe.

It was a moment referenced by Cleary in the aftermath of Sunday’s win when speaking to The Clare Echo. “We’ve only seen videos of Ger Keane and Martin Daly’s goal in 1997, a lot of us were only three and four, Cathal O’Connor is the only one that might remember it! This is a day when hopefully future Clare footballers will talk about but at the same time it will count for nothing if we don’t beat Limerick in two weeks time”.

In advance of the game, Cleary

had outlined to The Clare Echo that that they are at their best when their backs are to the wall.

“It’s great to be right for once. Hearing the bang of the galvanised when a few scores went over, the Clare crowd got behind us, a pivotal moment in the game for me, I don’t know Ciaran Russell had the energy but he shored up the line there and the ref could easily have blown it up, he came up through two Cork players and popped it over to Cillian, the rest is history”.

Countless moments could have been recalled during the game, whether it was Stephen Ryan plucking a Rory Maguire shot from the crossbar to stop Cork scoring, Cillian Brennan’s timely turnovers or Jamie Malone’s soaring runs, such was the nature of a strong collective performance.

“It was unreal. The second half was what were really all about, Jamie Malone spoke really well at half time, the energy we fed off the crowd, the first few points we got really got us going and that’s the performance we were looking to put together all year, we put it together when it most counted,” he said.

Along with Malone’s message, the narrative at simple was to improve the tackling technique to stop Steven Sherlock from slotting over frees and also to settle in front of goal. “Our shooting efficiency was a bit off, we rushed a few shots, we talked about fixing that and the boys identified that. Thankfully we were able to rectify that for the second half, I don’t think we conceded too many frees although Colm will dissect that performance and I’m sure we’ll hear a lot more about it on Wednesday and our mistakes, that’s what we need to do, listen to him and learn for the next day”. Securing the win adds to the Easter weekend, the Miltown Malbay noted but said his celebrations may be curtailed due to the upcoming visit of a certain US President.

“We’ll enjoy the moment and tonight as a group but once Monday morning comes it will be all about Limerick. For sure it’ll make the long weekend very enjoyable but I think I’m rostered to work for Biden this week so it might be quieter for me than most”.

U20 footballers overcome 'nervy finish' to set up Tralee semi-final

MUNSTER U20 FOOTBALL QUARTER FINAL

Clare 1-11 Tipperary 0-11

Venue: FBD Semple Stadium, Thurles

Compiled by Páraic McMahon

STORY OF THE GAME

CLARE:

Frees for: 16 (10/6)

Wides: 9 (4/5)

Spread of scorers: 5

Scores from play: 1-07

Top scorer: Mikey Kelleher (1-02)

Bookings: Odhran Cunningham (12).

Own kickouts won: 14 from 14 (100%)

REFEREE: John Ryan (Cork)

TIPPERARY:

Frees for: 19 (12/7)

Wides: 3 (2/1)

Spread of scorers: 6

Scores from play: 0-07

Top scorer: Cian Smith (005 4f)

Bookings: Joseph Lawrence (27), Declan Nee (29), Rory Collins (62).

Own kickouts won: 16 from 21 (76%)

MANAGER COMMENT “

Michael Neylon, Clare:

“It was always going to be a tight affair coming down to Semple Stadium and Tipp’s home patch, we had a certain amount of pressure on us and we knew that from the beginning. We were favourites, we knew that going into it and that brings a certain pressure on guys but they did very well, they were very professional out there and stuck to the job.

"They didn’t give up, they finished it out while under pressure, they got to the position where they needed to be in

those last few minutes and managed to create some turnovers and opportunities for us up front.

“Those couple of points before half time were crucial for us, it gave us a huge lift and it put Tipp back in their box a little bit. We knew Tipp were going to come out strong and throw everything to it, the game was slipping from them, they had nothing to lose so they just poured forward, it made for a nervy finish.

“We place huge value on workrate, our workrate was there tonight, we’re happy with that. Our tackling, pressurising and pressing was quite good to me, it is a great basis and foundation for a lot of the stuff we do, it created a lot of the chances and kept us in the game when maybe we were making mistakes but recovering well from them.

“All the five guys that came in did excellently, that is a difficulty for us and picking the 20 guys to play, we would have huge confidence in the next 10 after that as well. I’m delighted that the five guys who came in did so well and it just shows the interest and alertness they have and the ability to take up the mantle and finish it out for us.

“That (first away win at grade since 2012) really makes this special, we had talked about it, we’ve gone back with the players through the results, it’s really pleasing that this group is one that has managed to set a positive trend for away fixtures.

“We’re looking forward to it (Kerry in semi-final on Monday), that’s what these boys talk about and it’s what they want, we will get planning and plotting our trip for there next Monday night.”

l Mikey Kelleher on the attack for Clare

Photo by Gerard O’Neill

l EMOTIONAL: Colm Collins and Eoin Cleary share a moment at the final whistle Photo by Gerard O’Neill

KILMALEY & BRIDGE UNBEATEN

CLARE CUP ROUND-UP

Clare continue prep with narrow Galway win

by Páraic McMahon news@clareecho.ie

CLARE’S senior hurlers are continuing their preparations for the first round of the Munster championship.

All-Ireland glory for Nash & Crehan

CLARE duo, Diarmaid Nash and Colin Crehan secured a third senior doubles title in the O'Neill's All-Ireland 4-Wall Senior Championships.

Nash of Tuamgraney and Crehan from Oatfield defeated first-time finalists Daniel Relihan and Michael Hedigan of Cork at the new show-court in Croke Park.

There was no sign of nerves from the Liscarroll duo as they matched the Banner most of the way in game one. While Clare led 16-10 and 18-12, Relihan’s shot-making was impressive, as was Hedigan’s solid right-side play.

They took the lead and surged 19-16 in front but the experienced duo refused to panic. Nash’s speed in the front court was extraordinary as he consistently picked anything that wasn’t rolled out while Crehan, who switched to the left when he was serving, came up with the big shots on the home stretch.

A right-handed Nash kill from deep got Cork out of the service box at 16-19. Crehan took Clare to 18 with a left-handed pass with a big hook on it. A Nash re-kill in the right corner tied it, Crehan paddle-killed in the left corner and then drove one at Relihan and forced a hand error to claim the first game.

After that reprieve, there was always a sense that the two-time winners would come to the fore and that was the case in game two as both men played their best stuff of the season to run out 21-13 victors.

David Considine and Mici Sheedy contested the men’s Minor All-Ireland final but lost out to Kilkenny’s Conor Doyle and Noah Manogue 1021 8-21. They had defeated the Tyrone pair of Ruairí and Killian Kerr in the semi-final.

Leah Minogue and Amber Nolan lost out in the Ladies Junior All-Ireland semi-final against Caitlin Conway and Elizabeth McGarvey 18-21, 21-20 9-11.

Seamus Ryan of Tuamgraney and Kilkishen’s Mike Baker team up this weekend to face Ulster opposition in the semi-finals of the Masters Doubles this weekend. They are competing in the Silver Masters B competition. In the Ruby Masters semi-final, Newmarket-on-Fergus’ Mike Kelly teams up with Pat Lynch of Toonagh to take on Antrim pair, Roy McCoy and John McManus.

U20 game against Waterford called off

by Páraic McMahon news@clareecho.ie

CLARE’S U20 hurlers were spared a journey to Waterford on Wednesday evening as their third round clash was postponed.

At 12:55pm, Munster

Brian Lohan’s charges recorded a narrow victory over Galway in Cusack Park this Bank Holiday weekend with a last minute penalty from Inagh/Kilnamona’s Aidan McCarthy sealing the win over Henry Shefflin’s side.

The Clare Echo understands that Feakle’s Adam Hogan will not be togging out for the Clare U20 hurlers in their final round robin clash against Cork. Hogan who is captain of the U20s will instead be in line to make his senior debut versus Tipperary, under the new ‘seven day rule’, players under the age of U20 cannot play senior championship if

they had been involved with the U20s in the preceding seven days.

Rory Hayes continues to recover from a wrist injury and is in a battle against time to be fit for the crunch opening round

tie against Tipperary, giving Hogan, a 2021 Harty Cup winner the opportunity to grab a starting jersey.

As previously reported by The Clare Echo, Shane Meehan is unlikely to feature in the

opening stages of the Munster SHC due to a persistent injury complaint. Mark Rodgers who had been absent for the final rounds of the league will be available for selection.

Munster final awaits Clare Minor Ladies in Mallow

A MUNSTER FINAL awaits for Clare’s minor ladies footballers.

Mallow GAA Sports Complex will host the meeting of Clare and Cork on Wednesday (April 19th), the winner advancing to the All-Ireland A semi-final.

Clare are unbeaten to date in the competition following impressive home victories over Kerry and Limerick which were followed by away wins to Tipperary and Waterford.

John O’Malley’s panel includes a number of survivors who won an All-Ireland C title last year, there are seven dual players who are also on this year’s Minor Camogie panel.

Other members of the team have been successful in rugby, basketball and soccer with two players, Grainne Burke and Lyndsay Clarke, representing Ireland in this years Under 18 Women’s Six Nations. Other challenges for players at this age include a number sitting their leaving Certificate exams this year including team captain Caoimhe Cahill.

Miltown Malbay’s O’Malley has been very pleased with the effort and commitment of the panel since their first session in January. “The atmosphere among the players and mentors

has been great. The extended panel have put in a massive effort over the last few months which has pushed all of us on and there is a real belief and hunger to go on and give the best account of ourselves the next day”.

Ex Clare footballer Graham Kelly is coach of the side while former county goalkeeper Emma O’Driscoll is a selector alongside John Torpey, Fergus Conway and Seamus Byrne with Pat Walsh as liaison officer.

Panel Abby Downes (St Joseph’s Miltown Malbay), Áine Longe (Banner Ladies), Aimee McNamara (Cooraclare), Aoife Griffin (Fergus Rovers), Aoife Mo-

loney (Kilrush Ladies), Caoimhe Cahill (Banner Ladies), Caoimhe Ryan (Banner Ladies), Caragh Killeen (Doonbeg), Catríona Byrne (St Joseph’s Miltown Malbay), Clíodhna Queally (St Joseph’s Miltown Malbay), Éabha O’Malley (St Joseph’s Miltown Malbay), Eimear Clune (St Joseph’s Doora Barefield), Ellis O Flaherty (St Joseph’s Doora Barefield), Ellie Hanrahan (Kilmurry Ibrickane), Emer Burke (Banner Ladies), Gráinne Burke (Banner Ladies), Gráinne McMahon (Newmarket on Fergus), Jenna Murphy (Kilrush Ladies), Keelin Fitzgerald (Banner Ladies), Lauren Conway (Doonbeg), Lauren Flaherty (Liscannor), Leah Commane (Liscannor), Lucy Shanahan (Doonbeg), Lucy Power (St Joseph’s Doora Barefield), Lyndsay Clarke (St Joseph’s Doora Barefield), Maria Wallace (Kilrush Ladies), Nell Walsh (St Joseph’s Miltown Malbay), Niamh Miller (Kilmurry Ibrickane), Poppy Rees (Clooney Quin), Sarah Blunnie (Kilrush Ladies), Saoirse Flanagan (Banner Ladies), Sophie Torpey (St Joseph’s Doora Barefield).

GAA confirmed that the third round U20 hurling fixture between Clare and Waterford would not proceed at Fraher Field, Dungarvan. “A date for the re-fixed game will be confirmed in due course,” a statement outlined.

GAA chiefs moved much quicker to announce the game’s postponement to ensure Clare supporters had not made the journey to Waterford as had occurred when the minor game between both counties was called off on Tuesday evening, twelve minutes before throw-in.

Terence Fahy’s side although unbeaten in both outings, need to collect their first win to keep aspirations of advancing alive.

Meanwhile, Brian O’Connell’s minor hurlers will be returning to Waterford on Friday. Their third round outing has been confirmed for a 7pm start.

League promotion on the line

A CHANCE at promotion to the second tier of the National Ladies Football League is on the line when Clare meet Kildare this Sunday, writes Páraic McMahon.

Parnell Park hosts the fixture at 4pm on Sunday, the Division 3 final will also be broadcast live on Spórt TG4’s YouTube page.

Relegated from Division 2 of the League last season, Clare have the chance to bounce back at the first attempt. Clare were Division 3 champions previously in 2011 and 2006, while Kildare, runners-up in 2021 and 1999, are gunning for their first Division 3 title win.

From the outset, Clare boss Wayne Freeman had targeted a League final appearance and even had an inkling they would be facing his native Kildare in the decider when speaking back in January. “Well we’re looking to reach a league final anyway. That’s our first ambition and after that we just have to take it competition by competition and build incrementally as the year develops”.

“So the league final is something we’re aiming for to challenge perhaps Kildare who I expect to get there. Being my home county would be a nice day out as well,” he added.

l Rory Hayes is in a battle against time to be fit for the Tipperary tie

Photo by Gerard O'Neill

Steven Conway and Barry Fitzpatrick battle for possession

Photo by Gerard O'Neill

l Clare forward Lucy Shanahan Burren Eye Photography

GLORY KILMIHIL AS ST PAT'S TAKE LEAGUE TITLE

Munster Junior semi-final for Celtic

NEWMARKET CELTIC will go in search of a place in the Munster Junior Cup final when they make the trip to Jackman Park this weekend.

Paddy Purcell’s side face off with Fairview Rangers at the penultimate stage. Although they exited the FAI Senior Cup at the weekend, Purcell and his management used the tie with Skerries Town to get more minutes into players like Stephen Kelly and Eunan Doherty who are pressing for inclusion in the starting eleven.

David McCarthy though he went off injured in the FAI Junior Cup semi-final win over Ballynanty Rovers is back available for selection and will once again occupy a key role for Celtic along with Eoin Hayes.

Celtic last reached the semi-finals of the provincial competition in 2019 when they lost out to Pike Rovers.

GOLF: Marnane hits 44 to win at Dromoland

by Seamus Hayes sports reporter

DROMOLAND GOLF CLUB

Patrick Marnane was the winner of the men’s 18 hole singles stableford competition at Dromoland Castle golf club at the weekend with 44 points. He had two to spare over Eamon Power with Alan Pyne third on 39 followd by Gerry Barrett, also on 39. Brian Shally won the gross with 35.

In category A in the men’s seniors competition Alan White won with 20 points from James Linnane with 19 and Brendan Sicer, also with 19.

Catgegry B was won by John Murphy with 16 points from Kevin Kent with a similar score. Matthew Cooney, also with 16 points, was third.

There were two competitions for junior boys off the white tees and both were won by won by Cillian Mahon with 40 and 41 points.

There also were two competitions for junior boys off the black tees. On April 4th, Nathan Slattery won with 50 points from Conor Brennan with 49 while on April 6th, Simon Pereire won with 58 points from Ben O’Halloran.

In the junior girls competition Jennifer McCarthy won with 39 points from Rachel Staunton with 38 and Alison Hayes with 36.

SHANNON GOLF CLUB:

Last week’s ladies 18 hole stroke competition at Shannon was won by Sandra Ferguson (28) with 69 nett from Anna Keely (27) with 72 nett. Michelle Pyke (8) won the gross with 82.

Category 1 winner was Connie Corry (17) with 75 nett while catego-

ry 2 was won by Deborah Roughan (26) with 79 nett and the category 3 honours went to Anna Corry (41) with 80 nett.In the 9 hole stableford Dee O’Donnell (29) won with 13 points.

EAST CLARE GOLF CLUB:

East Clare hosted a team of three for men, ladies and mixed teams over the bank holiday weekend.

In the ladies competition the winners were Catherine Minogue, Siobhan Shanahan and Marie Donnellan with 64 points and they won from Rachel Whelan, Bridget Minogue and Celia Moloney with 59 points.

The winners of the men’s competition were Colm Kelly. Martin and Mark McInerney with 71 points. In second place with 68 points were Ger Teefy, Seamus Mason and John Fahy followed by Ray McInerney, Jason Horan and Noel Nash, also with 68 points.

In the mixed section the winners were Mary, Eoghan and Gearoid Mannion with 68 point.The winners of the ladies Wednesday competition at East Clare were Ursula Hogan, Connie McKenna and Margaret Lynch.

Last week’s senior men’s competition was won by Kevin Grimes, Seamus Mason and Charles Stuart from Noel Earley, Michael Drew and Brian Corry. In third spot were Tom Larkin, Batt Skehan and Jimmy Nagle

ENNIS GOLF CLUB:

The ladies' Ardagh Cup round 1 qualifier was played with the March medal at Ennis.

In the silver section Kitty Morris (15) won from Ann O’Loughlin (18), both finishing on 76 nett.

Patricia O’Reilly (48) won the bronze section with 70 from Mary Nagle (27) with 76. In the 9 hole competition the overall winner was Della Burns (10) with 20 points.

In division 1, Sinead Hegarty (10) won with 14 points while Bridie Keane (17) won division 2 with 16 points with division 3 honours going to Joan Cullinane- Coote (19) with 18 points.

Last week’s senior ladies outing was won by Margaret Flanagan, Pat Lacey and Jacinta Nicholas with 37 from Una 0'Reilly, Mary Glynn, Eileen Corry and Anne McMahon with 30.

The Ennis men’s seniors social group competition played on Thurs-

day April 6 was won by Pat Murphy, Brian Considine, PJ Garry and Tommy Heath with 77 points from Liam Pyne, Noel Pilkington, Michael Kerin and Fredie O Donoghue with 74 and in third place were Senan Ryan, Sean O Gorman, Michael A Considine and Denis O Ceallaigh also on 74 points.

KILRUSH GOLF CLUB:

The men’s singles competition at Kilrush on Sunday was won by Des Murphy (16) with 29 points from Sean Moran (15) who also had 29 points.

Noel Thornton (11) was third with 28 points followed by Patrick Coleman (11) with 28 and Bernard Coleman

(12), also with 28.

Last week’s ladies competition was won by Ann Marie Donnellan (11) with 28 points from Marion Brennan (18) with 27 points and Mary Keating (22) with 25 points.

WOODSTOCK GOLF CLUB:

David Quinn with 44 points was the winner of the club singles at Woodstock at the weekend from Paul Coote with 42 points. Michael O’Kelly was third with 338 points followed by Mark Hogan with 33 points. The winners of the club fourball were Brian Kilker and Richard Pyne with 45 points from Ray Casey and Frank Mc with a similar score. In third place with 44 points were Cormac Walsh and Mark McCarthy. The competition this weekend will be a club singles.

GORT GOLF CLUB:

The April masters 18 hole open singles at Gort, sponsored by Gort Road Tyres Ennis, was won by Cyril Doherty (23) with 45 points.

Category 1 was won by Robert Deegan (10) with 37 points, category 2 was won by John Neylon (19) with 39 points, category 3 by Pat Fitzpatrick (20) with 39 points while the gross was won by Eoin Magill (plus 2) from East Clare with 35 points.

In the open singles on Easter Monday, the winner was Peter Deegan (19) with 39 points while Paul Brennan (3) won the gross with 31.

The ladies subscription stakes on Easter Sunday was won by Ann Nolan (21) with 70 from Sara Broderick (21) with a similar score with Patricia Skehill (29) in third place with 72. Siobhan Forde (11) won the gross with 81.

l Captains’ Valerie Shannon and Kevin Molony pictured as they drove into office at Lahinch Golf Club on Sunday evening Photo by Brian Arthur

Pic: Natasha Barton / CDSL

ALL IRELAND FINALISTS

HANDBALL RESULTS

Men's Senior All-Ireland

Final Diarmaid Nash/Colin Crehan (Clare) dft Daniel Relihan/ Michael Hedigan (Cork) 2119; 21-13

Men's Minor All-Ireland

Final David Considine/ Mici Sheedy (Clare) lost to Conor Doyle/Noah Manogue (Kilkenny) 10-21; 08-21

Men's Minor All-Ireland

semi-final David Considine/ Mici Sheedy (Clare) dft

Upset in Kirby Memorial as Murray enjoys Great Friday in Galway

Ruairi and Killian Kerr (Tyrone) 21-07; 21-05

Ladies Junior All-Ireland

semi-final

Leah Minogue/Amber Nolan (Clare) lost to Caitlin Conway/Elizabeth McGarvey 18-21; 21-20; 09-11

by MICHAEL MAHER

THERE was a big shock with the exit of favourite Clona Duke from the Con & Annie Kirby Memorial while Stephen Murray kennels dominated the Good Friday racing in Galway.

Friday night’s 10 race card in Galway was an all graded programme with the concluding A3 graded 525 yards contest the top graded contest. Training honours on the night though went to Sixmilebridge handler Stephen Murray who recorded a treble courtesy of Wilbrookj Sydney, Chicuitita and Groves Joy. The highlight of the trio was the success of the Groves Syndicate owned-Groves Joy (Droopys Sydney-Astro Abby) who recorded his second career victory by three lengths over Lissatouk Sox in 29.40. Trapping well Groves Joy showed pace along the rail to lead round from Nephin White and Lissatouk Sox, at halfway Groves Joy led by two lengths and although Lissatouk Sox closed on the crown of the home bend the winner was in command racing up the home straight.

The treble was initiated in the opening A7 graded contest. Wilbrook Sydney in the centre of the track was away well taking a definite advantage rounding the opening bend. Along the back straight, the Stephen Murray-trained Wilbrook Sydney led her rivals by over a length as Rocket Blade and Mahoonagh Best gave chase. Off the home bend the Claire Davoren and Jimmy Harte owned charge (Droopys Sydney-Killinan Reina) led by a length and a half, a lead she held to defeat Mahoonagh Best in 29.58.

Race three saw the middle leg of the treble as all six runners were away in terms for this S8 graded sprint contest with Chiquitita on the wide outside just about shading the issue towards the opening bend. Rounding the bend Chiquitita led by a length from Fast Fit Wilma with Lakeside Maggie in third. Turning for home the Rachel Murray owned Chiquitita (Pestana-Shady Pam) extended her advantage to two lengths and maintained that lead to the line to score her maiden success at the 12th attempt in 19.52.

In Race 6, the entire complexion of this A5 graded bitch 525 contest changed dramatically approaching the third bend as the Shane Flanagan of Ennis owned Rockmount Mia (Droopys Jet-Rockmount Royce) cut through her rivals like a hot knife through butter as she powered clear to route her rivals by upwards of twelve & three quarter lengths in a superb 29.07. From traps Menmal Princess broke best and she led from Erril Star rounding the opening bend. Racing down the back Menmal Princess continued to lead but at the third bend the winner

swept through the field and took command as she raced to an impressive victory. Saturday night's card was dominated by stakes contests with the semi-finals of both the Ann Cheevers Memorial A5 & Connect 6. A7 Stakes down for decision as well as the First Round Heats of the Great Blue Shark/WGOBA A2 Tri Distance first round over 525 Yards.

As the traps rose for the first semi-finals of the Ann Cheevers Stake Springwell Denny was best away along the inner with Hit The Diss prominent towards the outer as Lissatouk Gena just in behind the leader along the fence rounding the opening bend. Turning to run down the back Lissatouk Gena poked her head in front along the fence and racing towards the halfway mark the James McMahon of Cooraclare-owned last led by two lengths. Tracking well around the third bend Lissatouk Gena (Laughill Blake-Lissatouk Dolly) shot clear and she scored by five lengths from Springwell Denny and Cklaudegreengrass in 29.45.

In heat three of The Great Blue Shark Stake, the John Quinn and Kate Cantwell of Gort owned Fast Fit Lucky won. The Declan McDonagh of Liscannor-trained son of Doratos Wildcat and Fast Fit Maeve was in command virtually throughout and scored by two and a half lengths at the line from Call Me Quick in 29.15.

Racing opened with an S7 garden sprint contest in which all runners came away in teems with Ronans Warrior first to break rank towards the outside but on the run towards the opening bend the Thomas Keane of Kilmihil owned Glynnscross Phil swept down the wide outside to take command of the contest. Cutting inwards at the bend the son of Droopys Sydney & Glynnscrosstyler quickly opened up a commanding advantage as he raced clear to defeat Show No Fear by six & a half lengths in 19.24.

Down Limerick way the four quarter finals of the Con & Annie Kirby Memorial served as the highlight on and there was no shortage of thrills and spills with the main talking point the shock exit of outright favourite, Clona Duke.

Indeed, the Graham Holland-trained Clona Duke had lit up the Classic in recent weeks and his 27.95 clock last weekend was the quickest time ever recorded since the inception of the Kirby. However, such as greyhound racing, seven days later the Juvenile Derby winner was to fluff his lines at trap rise and was to miss out on qualification in a photo finish for third place. In contrast, Ryhope Beach, who had been workmanlike in his performances thus far at Limerick, finally put it all together in the final quarter final to record a fastest of the night 28.05.

Quarter Final winner, Ryhope Beach with Mark O'Donovan, son of trainer Michael O'Donovan. Also pictured are Margie and Declan Murphy of Hospital Herbertstown GAA, the nominated Limerick GAA Club. Photo by Brendan Gleeson

PLANNING

CLARE COUNTY COUNCIL SITE NO. 9, HOLLAND STREET, LISCANNOR, CO.

CLARE

Further information/ Revised plans

Planning Reference No: P22/1140

Development Description: Application for permission consequent on the grant of outline permission Ref. No. P 21/ 846 to construct a dwelling house, site entrance, connect to public services and carry out all ancillary site works.

Location: Site no. 9, Holland Street, Liscannor, Co. Clare, Co. Clare.

Take notice that Bernadette and Richard Dixon, have lodged significant Further Information in respect of Planning Application P22/1140. This information and planning application may be inspected or purchased at a fee not exceeding the reasonable costs 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.

CLARE COUNTY COUNCIL KILCLOHANE, QUILTY, CO CLARE

Take notice that Nicole Talty intends to apply for permission to build a new dwelling , install a wastewater treatment system & all other associated site and ancillary works at the above address.

The planning application may be inspected or purchased at a fee not exceeding the reasonable cost of making a copy, at the offices of the planning authority, during its public opening hours. A submission or observation in relation to the application may be made in writing to the authority on payment of the prescribed fee of €20.00, within the

period of 5 weeks beginning on the date of receipt by the authority of the application.

CLARE COUNTY COUNCIL ST SENAN’S RUGBY CLUB, TULLYVARRAGA, SHANNON, CO

CLARE

I, Eir Ltd. intend to apply for retention permission for development at this site St Senan’s Rugby Club, Tullyvarraga, Shannon, Co Clare

The development consists of The existing 30metre high telecommunications monopole support structure carrying associated antennae and communication dishes, and associated telecommunications cabinets and equipment all enclosed in palisade fencing as previously granted under local authority reference 09845 at St Senan’s Rugby Club, Tullyvarraga, Shannon, Co Clare. The development will continue to form part of Eir Ltd existing and future telecommunications and broadband network.

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

A submission or observation in relation to the application may be made in writing to the planning authority on payment of the prescribed fee, €20, within the period of 5 weeks beginning on the date of receipt by the authority of the application and such submissions or observations will be considered by the planning authority in making a decision on the application. The planning authority may grant permission subject to or without conditions or may refuse to grant permission.

CLARE COUNTY COUNCIL MULLAGH VILLAGE, MULLAGH, CO. CLARE

We, Kilmurry Ibrickane Community Centre Committee CLG, intend to apply to Clare

County Council for Permission to construct a Playground within the Mullagh All Purpose Sports Facility along with 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, Clare County Council, New Road, Ennis, during its public opening hours and that a submission or observation in relation to the application may be made to the authority in writing on payment of the prescribed fee within the period of 5 weeks beginning on the date of receipt by the authority of the application.

CLARE COUNTY COUNCIL

ILAUNE, MILTOWN

MALBAY, CO CLARE

Take notice that Sheila Malone & Brendan Keegan are applying to Clare County Council for planning permission to construct a new dwelling house, new entrance, access road, private garage 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 CO. COUNCIL GORTACLARE, BELLHARBOUR, CO. CLARE

Take notice that Aidan Linnane intends to apply for permission for development, the development consists of the construction of an extension to the rear of existing dwelling house and associated site works at the above address.

The planning application maybe 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, CLOONAGOWAN, CRUSHEEN, CO. CLARE

Take notice that Diarmuid Keane + Associates Ltd. (065-9083667, www.diarmuidkeane. ie) intend to apply to Clare County Council on behalf of Micheal Roseingrave & Deirdre Sexton for retention permission to retain the partially constructed site entrance and access road and planning permission to revise the proposed house & garage location and site boundaries previously authorised under planning permission ref no.

P21/1279 to include the completion of the site entrance and access road along with all associated site works at the above address. The planning application may be inspected, or purchased at a fee not exceeding the reasonable cost of making a copy, at the offices of the planning authority during its public opening hours.

A submission or observation in relation to the application may be made in writing to the planning authority on payment of the prescribed fee, €20, within the period of 5 weeks beginning on the date of receipt by the authority of the application, and such submissions or observations will be considered by the planning authority in making a decision on the application. The planning authority may grant permission subject to or without conditions, or may refuse to grant permission.

CLARE COUNTY COUNCIL, ISLANDCOSGRY, OGONNELLOE, CO. CLARE

Take notice that Diarmuid Keane + Associates Ltd. (065-9083667, www.diarmuidkeane.ie) intend to apply to Clare County Council on behalf of Megan & Colum Flanagan for planning permission to construct a new dwelling house with attached garage, site entrance, private bored well and wastewater treatment system along with all associated site works at the above address. The planning application may be inspected, or purchased, at a fee not exceeding the reasonable cost of

making a copy, at the offices of the planning authority during its public opening hours.

A submission or observation in relation to the application may be made in writing to the planning authority on payment of the prescribed fee, €20, within the period of 5 weeks beginning on the date of receipt by the authority of the application, and such submissions or observations will be considered by the planning authority in making a decision on the application. The planning authority may grant permission subject to or without conditions or may refuse to grant permission.

CLARE COUNTY COUNCIL, BALLYMACQUIGGAN, LARCH HILL, ENNIS, CO. CLARE

Take notice that Diarmuid Keane + Associates Ltd. (065-9083667, www.diarmuidkeane.ie)

intend to apply to Clare County Council on behalf of Sarah Moloney & Barry Kilbane for planning permission to construct a new dwelling house, private garage, site entrance and wastewater treatment system along with all associated site works at the above address. The planning application may be inspected, or purchased, at a fee not exceeding the reasonable cost of making a copy, at the offices of 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 pre-

scribed fee, €20, within the period of 5 weeks beginning on the date of receipt by the authority of the application, and such submissions or observations will be considered by the planning authority in making a decision on the application. The planning authority may grant permission subject to or without conditions or may refuse to grant permission.

CLARE COUNTY COUNCIL BALLYVORGAL BEG, SIXMILEBRIDGE, COUNTY CLARE

I DENIS QUINN, of Land at Ballyvorgal Beg, Sixmilebridge, County Clare Hereby applies for retention planning permission for one number residential apartment following alterations and one number ancillary apartment for staff employed at the stables. That the planning application may be inspected, or purchased at a fee not exceeding the reasonable cost of making a copy, at the offices of the planning authority during its public opening hours and that a submission or observation in relation to the application may be made to the authority in writing on payment of the prescribed fee within the period of 5 weeks beginning on the date of receipt by the authority of the application.

ROOF MOSS

The Clare Echo Quiz

1Which revolutionary leader visited Clare in the summer of 1962?

Che Guevara

Fidel Castro

Thomas Sankara

2What Clare town’s name simply translates to ‘hill’?

Tulla Doolin Quin

3

Why is Clare called the “Banner County”?

The tradition of greeting politicians with banners

The first settlers came to Clare with a banner

The first Clare people were traditionally buried with banners

4How far is the distance from Co. Clare to Dublin?

305km

234.9km

192km

5How tall is Moylussa in metres?

681m

532m 495m

6How many lakes are there in Clare?

7What is the Irish word for Burren? Burann Boran Boireann

8What temporarily halted the construction of a sea wall at Donald Trump’s golf course in Doonbeg?

A snail

A woodlouse

A bank vole

9

What does Lisdoonvarna directly translate to?

Fort of the closed keep

Fort of the longest keep

Fort of the gapped keep

10

Which 1987 film features the Cliffs of Moher?

Masters of the Universe

The Princess Bride Jaws: The Revenge

Spot the Difference

Can you spot the 7 differences

Last weeks answers

. #missing top (right)

. ribbon different colour on the cup

. button missing (front row 2nd from right)

. #missing (background left)

. ceiling light missing left

. pocket tie missing (middle)

. bar on chair missing (centre)

‘The young ultras’, Newmarket Celtic supporters who had positioned themselves early in Frank Healy Park to get a decent vantage point

Photo by Joe Buckley

1. Che Guevara

2. Tulla

3. The tradition of greeting politicians with banners

4. 192km

5. 532m

6. 15

7. Boireann

8. A snail

9. Fort of the gapped keep

10. The Princess Bride

l QUESTION 3: Why is Clare called the “Banner County”?

WORD SEARCH

Baseball Basketball

Bowling

Boxing

Diving

Fencing

Football

Golf

Hockey

Judo

Karate

Kendo

Lacrosse Polo

Rowing

Shinty

Skating

The Clare Echo Crossword

Skiing

Swimming

Tennis

Wrestling

HOW TO PLAY

Sudoku is a logic puzzle where you have to populate the grid with numbers. A number can appear only once in each row, column and house. Each puzzle can be solved using logic from the given information and requires no guesswork.

DOWN

1 Husband or wife (6)

2 Ruled (7)

3 Receiver of stolen goods (5)

5 Not artificial (7)

6 Permit (5)

7 Despot (6)

9 Make germ-free (9)

13 Emblem of royalty (7)

14 Marine animal (3,4)

15 Pursues (6)

16 Greek capital (6)

18 Kingdom (5)

20 Excellent (5)

CROSSWORD ANSWERS