The Clare Echo 14/10/21

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No future for 52 villages in Clare?

PÁRAIC McMAHON

paraic@clareecho.ie

R

URAL communities in Clare are at risk of “dying out” with plans to dezone lands in areas without wastewater infrastructure in the upcoming County Development Plan.

An appeal for Clare County Council to let private operators construct wastewater infrastructure in towns and villages “where there is a demand, desire and need

for development” was issued by elected representatives at Monday’s Council sitting.

Currently 52 of 85 towns and villages in Co Clare do not have adequate wastewater treatment systems. They include Ardnacrusha, Carrigaholt.

Barefield, Kilmaley, Doolin, Tubber, Cree, Cooraclare, Kilbaha, Meelick and O’Briensbridge. If the County Development Plan is approved, it poses big questions on the future of over two thirds of the county in terms of future development and population.

“For me, this is a choice between having no town or village or taking a leap

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and taking a risk, it is a risk of accepting privately led infrastructure, monitoring it and making sure it is done to the highest standard or forgetting about the small town or village and saying we’re done,” Cllr Joe Garrihy (FG) stated.

Villages in rural Clare will die if the plan passes in its current format, Cllr Joe Cooney (FG) feared. Cllr Pat Hayes (FF) added, “We’ll applaud funding for footpaths but we’re closing the door if we dezone lands for development. We’re at a real crisis in future planning for our county, it is a high risk to our schools, sporting organisations and communities”.

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

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

CHAROLAIS: Brian and Jim O’Leary

SALES

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

A

Photo by Trisha Kennedy

HERD belonging to a Newmarket-on-Fergus family has claimed first prize in the Irish Charolais Cattle Society (ICCS) Sucker Herds Compe-

tition.

Jim and Brian O’Leary saw their herd recently selected as the overall winner for its sheer volume of quality calves, its efficien-

cy and sustainability.

Adjudicators admitted to being impressed by the fact that the O’Leary’s farm on all rented land and continue to turn a healthy profit each year praising their grassland management.

A calf to weanling system is ran by the O’Learys who keep approximately 120 suckler cows, the breed of cows on the

farm are predominantly Limousin, Belgian Blue, Saler and Charolais crosses.

The two stock bulls used on the farm are two full brothers, Ralahine Oliver and Ralahine Noah, who were both bred by the O’Learys.

Both Jim and Brian aim to breed U grade weanlings and sell most of their weanlings off farm to repeat customers every year.

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Councillor confirms he doesn’t use black magic laghan outlined. “In Ennis, if you didn’t have change in the car, you find it very hard to pay for parking, if you only had notes you have to buy something in a shop to get change back”. Fifteen to 20 minutes is being ‘wasted’ by members of the public trying to sort payment via coins and cash, he said.

There was no need for the former Deputy Mayor to cast any spells to try twist the arm of Council officials with administrative officer, Liam O’Connor confirming that “an extensive review” of car parking across Clare is to be undertaken in 2022. Digital parking options will be considered, “these payment options are likely to include an online app and parking meters that can accept both coin and card payments”.

Promotion of payment online will be encouraged as an online option “leading to greater efficiencies with reduced maintenance costs, coin collection costs and reduced safety implications associated with the collection and count-

PÁRAIC MCMAHON

A

paraic@clareecho.ie

Kilmurry representative has clarified that he does not engage in black magic following a slip of the tongue at Monday’s meeting of Clare County Council.

“I do use black magic or park magic, sorry black magic is sweets or something,” Cllr Alan O’Callaghan (FF) commented while putting forward a proposal alongside Cllr Mary Howard (FG) and Cllr Pat McMahon (FF) to facilitate payment via card at car parks across the county.

Cathaoirleach of Clare County Council, Cllr PJ Ryan (IND) was first to pull up the publican on his blunder, “I didn’t know you practiced it,” he quipped in reference to the black magic. “ParkMagic Mayor,” O’Callaghan clarified.

Use of card and mobile phones for transactions is becoming more common, O’Cal-

ing of coin”.

Allowing people to ‘tap’ to pay would be “sensible and practical,” Cllr Howard believed. It can be “very difficult” to source change at present, Cllr McMahon flagged, “in order to get change you’ve to buy something to open the till but business people are reluctant to give it because it is scarce”.

Using the app ParkMagic is “quite difficult,” Cllr Ian Lynch (IND) felt. “With the technology that is there, people are taking the chance of not paying and we’re missing out on massive revenue”.

Between 2012 and 2013, €1.3m in revenue was sourced from parking charges in Ennis, Cllr Johnny Flynn (FG) flagged.

“Maintenance of machines has slipped, I have noticed people doing long-term parking without paying for it. We need the review to enforce parking by-laws and have easiest options available”. He maintained the introduction of paying via card could see a return to the “levels of finance the Ennis Town used to enjoy”.

Grant makes history as first Clare councillor co-opted virtually

by PÁRAIC McMAHON

LAHINCH’S Liam Grant has been formally co-opted to Clare County Council.

Grant made history by becoming the first member of the local authority to be co-opted at a virtual sitting in its 122 year history. Cllr Grant (GP) was present Áras Contae an Chláir alongside Cathaoirleach, Cllr PJ Ryan (IND), Chief Executive Pat Dowling, Director of Service Liam Conneally and Ann Reynolds of Corporate Services.

He replaces Susan Crawford, the Miltown Malbay woman resigned from her role in July having been co-opted following Roisin Garvey’s nomination to the Seanad. The contributions of Crawford during her 10 months on the Council were acknowledged by Cllr Gerry Flynn (IND) and Cllr Joe Cooney (FG).

In proposing the co-option of his fellow pa-

rishioner, Cllr Shane Talty (FF) said it was “a pity” there was no physical meeting for Liam to mark the event with his family. “Liam is a big community man in Lahinch and will be a big addition”.

Well-wishes were also voiced by Cllr Flynn, Cllr Cooney, Cllr Pat Hayes (FF), Cllr Joe Killeen (FF), Cllr Joe Garrihy (FG), Cllr Cillian Murphy (FF) and Cllr Donna McGettigan (SF).

A return of a Green Party councillor was welcomed

by Cllr Johnny Flynn (FG), “It is a great honour to represent your local constituents and the county at large.

It is great to have a Green representative back on the Council, I’m a blue Green myself, I’m with Fine Gael but tinged with Green”.

“It is a very exciting day for anybody coming into Clare County Council for the first time, we’ve all experienced it, it’s a very daunt-

ing day too. As the weeks go on, you’ll realise there’s no demons or dragons here, they’re pretty sound people,” Cllr Ryan quipped.

Colour schemes of Cllr Johnny Flynn were questioned by the Chief Executive, “Be assured blue green represents purple when you mix them together”. He added, “There are no demons or dragons in Clare County Council, I would like to assure the media too, they were banished with the snakes many years ago”.

Addressing the Council for the first time, Cllr Grant a retained firefighter in Ennistymon, said, “I look forward to working with everyone whether you are Blue Green or Red Green, whatever your colour combination is”.

Liam voiced his desire to end “end the game of musical chairs that has been going on with the Green seat and hopefully you will be stuck with me for a while”.

New signs to promote free parking in Kilrush CAR PARK: Place de Plouzane

by PÁRAIC McMAHON MORE awareness on free parking in Kilrush town is needed.

An appeal was issued

by Cllr Ian Lynch (IND) for resurfacing works to be completed at the Place de Plouzane car park in Kilrush and for the addition of signage “directing people to avail of the free parking”.

Clare County Council has committed to ‘free

parking’ fingerpost signs “advising motorists of the ample available parking at Place de Plouzane,” senior executive engineer Alan Kennelly advised.

He added, “Place de Plouzane is included in the Kilrush Masterplan, which is currently being developed by the Kilrush Town Team in partnership with Clare County Council. Clare County

Council has no plans to resurface the Place de Plouzane prior to the publication of the Kilrush Masterplan”.

“During the summer in Kilrush we didn’t see the warden, we need to see a turnover of spaces in the town,” Cllr Lynch outlined. He flagged that there are a number of vacant properties in the vicinity. A tidy up such as resurfacing “would make a big difference,” he felt.

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Inclusion in pyrite scheme assured

MICA: Danny Maloney asks the top table questions during the meeting Photo by Natasha Barton

PÁRAIC MCMAHON

C

paraic@clareecho.ie

LARE’S inclusion in a defective concrete block scheme has been assured by the Minister for Housing, a Government Senator has claimed while members of the county’s pyrite action group have warned that thousands of homes are affected.

Addressing a meeting of the Clare Pyrite Action Group, Senator Roisin Garvey (GP) said when she last spoke with Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Darragh O’Brien (FF) on the scheme she stressed that pyrite and mica “was a Clare problem as well”.

“I was told categorically that Clare would be part of a defective concrete block scheme,” the Inagh woman stated and clarified that there was no mention of mica redress or pyrite’s omission from potential compensation.

Political commitments have been forthcoming but Clare needs to fight to be in the door of the working group alongside Donegal

and Mayo, Senator Timmy Dooley (FF) outlined. Senator Martin Conway (FG) felt it was “a question of equality, what happens in Donegal has to happen in Clare” while Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne (SF) was adamant the county need to be included “as soon as possible”.

Comments from Senator Garvey were welcomed by Feakle’s Ted Harrington, an affected homeowner but he believed different stages of redress should not exist. Cllr Joe Cooney (FG) said the possibility of Clare’s inclusion was a positive, “we want to see these houses put right, that should be our focus going forward”.

Founder of the Clare Pyrite Action Group, Dr Martina Cleary argued that the mooted figures of redress in the scheme for mica were flawed. A draft report carried out by a working group on the defective concrete blocks grant scheme calculated that costs of repairs could hit €3.2bn for mica while €400m has been reported as the amount for counties impacted by pyrite.

“How will €400m cover five counties and there is over €3bn for Donegal,” she queried.

Deputy Cathal Crowe (FF) ac-

knowledged “the figures are flawed”.

He was adamant “redress needs to happen”. Senator Dooley felt the scheme for Donegal and Mayo was “not fit for purpose” but noted it was “the only concrete scheme that exists”, the Mountshannon native said a new scheme was due to be published by the Department of Housing in the coming weeks as he voiced his disappointment that Dr Cleary was not included in the working group.

“Our aim is to be included in the scheme,” Vice Chair of the Action Group, Mary Hanley said. “There is no doubt our houses will have to be demolished. There are ten more houses on my road with pyrite that are not here tonight, there are at least 1000 homes in Clare affected with hundreds between Newmarket-on-Fergus and Shannon,” she flagged.

Dr Cleary said that the current scheme was likely to only fix five houses per year, “what will you do to get more money,” she asked the Oireachtas members. “The first thing is to get on the scheme,” Deputy Crowe replied as he predicted it was set to become “a bigger problem”.

THURSDAY, OCT 14 2021

Manufacturers of defective concrete block 'have no morals'

by PÁRAIC McMAHON TARGETING manufacturers responsible for the selling of defective concrete blocks leading to the cracking and crumbling of hundreds of homes in Co Clare must wait until agreements are reached on redress, senior politicians in the county have said.

Danny Moloney’s Kilkishen home was built twenty three years ago, they discovered in recent months that severe cracking on the walls was due to the presence of pyrite which has had many impacts including their inability to close their back door properly.

He quizzed Clare’s Oireachtas members on whether the Government had any plans “to go after” the companies responsible for selling defective concrete blocks which contained mica and pyrite, minerals that absorb water which causes buildings to disintegrate and plastering to crack.

Senator Timmy Dooley (FF) felt the present was not the right time to look for “who is to blame”.

He believed the primary focus currently needed to be on Clare’s inclusion on a redress scheme.

Dooley outlined that the Government have been clear that they are requesting the Attorney General to advise them of legal routes that can be followed “to target the companies responsible”. This will be a long-term issue, Senator Dooley said which will be fought in the

Courts.

“The banks were bailed out but when we go looking the can is kicked down the road,” a disappointed Danny responded.

Starting to go down the legal avenue while a redress scheme is to be finalised would “muddy the waters”, Senator Martin Conway (FG) opined.

Clare TD, Cathal Crowe (FF) was confident “a very large court case” would occur in the coming years. “A legal case will happen but it will take several years,” the Meelick native added. “We know who the companies are, they are very profitable and they are trading very well,” he said.

Crowe suggested that the companies in question give sand aggregate or blocks for free while also offering to send their trucks to assist with construction on affected homes. “They’d put them on fire,” Dr Martina Cleary said of potential of blocks being offered, “They are still selling defective concrete blocks, nobody will trust them,” the Crusheen woman claimed.

There are “moral obligations” that the companies must adhere to, Deputy Crowe replied. “Their morals were gone a long time ago,” Mary Hanley of the Clare Pyrite Action Group quipped.

Cllr Joe Cooney (FG) said that developers “bought materials in good faith” as he stressed the need of homes to be built during the current climate.

Dept of Housing 'playing jiggery pokery' OFFICIALS within the Department of Housing have been accused of “jiggery pokery” on the pyrite problem that is causing hundreds of homes to crumble across Co Clare, writes Páraic McMahon.

On Wednesday of last week, Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Darragh O’Brien (FF) told Clare TD, Joe Carey (FG) that queries from his Department were issued to Clare County Council but no response had been received, “he didn’t anticipate any problems,” Carey said.

Senator Timmy Dooley (FF) said

that as of Friday, senior officials in Clare County Council had yet to receive the communication from the Department. Cathal Crowe TD (FF) detailed that the only correspondence received from the local authority on the matter since June was on costings.

This prompted strong criticism of the Department by Senator Dooley who he felt were “toing and froing” with the drafting of a report on the defective concrete blocks grant scheme, “the Department are playing jiggery pokery with it”.

Politicians clash as pyrite meeting raises tensions CLARE’S politicians clashed at a meeting of the Pyrite Action Group with accusations of “playing party politics” thrown at the only opposition Oireachtas member in attendance, writes Páraic McMahon.

Tensions rose slightly following Deputy Violet-Anne Wynne’s (SF) contribution at a meeting of Oireachtas members and the Clare Pyrite Action Group at Treacy’s West County Hotel with Deputy Cathal Crowe (FF), Senator Roisin Garvey (GP) and Senator Martin Conway (FG) taking umbrage with her remarks.

Of the redress scheme, Wynne said, “I am disappointed with how Clare has been treated”. She felt, “All that we’ve heard so far from the speakers have been political gestures”. She said she was more interested in hearing the stories of affected homeowners rather than listening to the politicians.

“I appreciate you have some information but not all the detail,” the Kilrush woman commented following previous contributions from Deputy Crowe, Senator Garvey, Deputy Joe Carey (FG) and Senator Timmy Dooley (FF). She believed it was unhelpful

to throw out costings during the meeting.

Crowe responded, “It is not helpful to play party politics”. Senator Garvey clarified that the information on costings for submitting a report to the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage was provided by Clare County Council’s Director of Service, Anne Haugh, the Inagh native said up to €35,000 was the cost for testing five identified houses with further costs incurred with testing on local authority homes.

Deputy Wynne replied by saying the information should have been circulated earlier

by Oireachtas members and not until she raised the matter.

Senator Conway added, “It is not helpful for us at the top table to be disputing or arguing, a significant wrong has to be righted.

Our senior politicians need to be careful with the language they use”. The Ennistymon man believed it was the “duty of politicians of this generation to get this right”. “I would appeal to all politicians to work together, if we’re bickering and fighting we’re going nowhere, when politicians try to score political points we don’t achieve to our potential”.

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Mescal donates shorts to raise funds

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by GORDON DEEGAN ORMAL People actor, Paul Mescal is putting his celebrity status at the disposal of a GAA club to help it raise €20,000 in a €10 raffle for a pair of O’Neill shorts signed by the actor.

The Normal People break-out star has donated the shorts to Cooraclare GAA club to help raise funds for the club and has signed the shorts with the dedication ‘to the Normal People of Cooraclare’.

The actor has close family links to the west Clare village of Cooraclare. His father, Paul Snr was born in the parish and his Uncle Paudie, nephews and nieces, Clodagh, Aoibhinn, Páraic and Darragh Jim and first cousins are an integral part of the Cooraclare Club today.

Cooraclare GAA spokesman, Joe Considine said on Thursday: “We

are delighted to have one of our own doing so well in the entertainment world. The whole Mescal family are great supporters of the Club so when Paul came along to watch his Godson, Daragh Jim, train with the club’s under 9’s recently he kindly agreed to sign a few items for us including of course the iconic shorts”.

Tickets to enter the draw are €10 and Mr Considine said: “The past two years have been tough for everyone and the importance of the GAA Club to all Irish communities was never so obvious. This kind donation by Paul will, we hope, help to raise some much-needed funds for our club. He kicked around with some of the boys for a while and was very generous with his time.”

The shorts come framed and ready for hanging on the wall and in addition to the shorts, Paul has signed a club football jersey which is also up for grabs.

 GAA: Shorts signed by Normal People star Paul Mescal

Mr Considine said: “Our club facilities at Caherue have served us well for the best part of 40 years but now need to be updated. By supporting our raffle people are getting behind the planned upgrade and

renovation of our facilities that will support, encourage and develop future generations of Cooraclare footballers.” https://www.idonate.ie/raffle/ CooraclareHalloweenGiveAway

Future uses of Querrin school building to be debated

by PÁRAIC McMAHON FUTURE uses of the former school building of Querrin NS will be debated at a facilitated workshop next week.

Querrin Community Development Group (QCDG), in association with O’Curry’s GAA club, West Clare Gaels ladies football club, the

local IFA, and the Doonaha Community Development Group have organised an externally facilitated workshop to help guide the next steps for the Querrin school building, as it moves towards being a new community space.

John Aston of AstonECO Management will facilitate the workshop which starts at 2pm on Saturday (October 23rd).

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At the workshop, attendees will be split into groups and invited to express ideas for the facility, with the output being a list of feasible options that could then be reviewed, circulated and prioritised for action.

Ideas already mooted for the building include its use as a business hub or small enterprise centre, a seasonal café and a men’s shed.

Increase in tenancy inspections AN INCREASE in the inspections of private rental properties has been recorded for September in Clare amid “legacy hesitancy from tenants in permitting access”, writes Páraic McMahon.

Private rented inspections “remain impacted” by COVID-19 restrictions and “a legacy hesitancy from tenants in permitting access to properties for physical inspections,” a spokesperson for Clare County Council outlined.

A virtual inspection option remains open to landlords and tenants to assess compliance with minimum rented standards. In the month of September, housing officials in the local authority completed 180 virtual inspections and two physical inspections.

Cllr Johnny Flynn (FG) speaking at Monday’s meeting of the County Council commented “virtual inspections give great opportunities for tenants and landlords to prove they are living in adequate accommodation or to prove where they are deficiencies”.

The Council’s tenancy enforcement team have responded to 1,943 call-outs to date in 2021.

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The Rowan Tree closes its doors due to rising ‘operational costs’

Nugent family hopeful search for answers has turned a corner PÁRAIC MCMAHON

F

paraic@clareecho.ie

 DIFFICULT DECISION: The Rowan Tree Restaurant in Ennis

by PÁRAIC McMAHON “INCREASING and unsustainable operational costs” have been cited by the owners of a popular Ennis restaurant for its closure this week.

On Monday, management of the award-winning Rowan Tree Cafe and Hostel located on Harmony Row in Ennis announced that it was to cease trading.

In a statement, Brian and Marianne O’Neill outlined that the “difficult decision” to close their doors arose “due to increasing and unsustainable operational costs”.

They paid tribute to their thousands of customers who have supported the business. “We would like to thank all our loyal guests and customers for their valued custom over the years and most importantly thanks to our fantastic employees

many of whom have been with us since the beginning, for their loyalty and dedicated hard work, we will miss the interactions with you all on a daily basis but we feel now is the right time to end this chapter”.

Customers that have a gift voucher are asked to make contact with management via info@rowantreecafebar.ie before Friday.

Former Ennis Town councillor, Michael Guilfoyle said the closure of the Rowan Tree marked a big loss to the heart of Ennis. He noted that “not only was it a great restaurant” but it was a business that was very generous to local groups with sponsorship. “It’s another nail in the town of Ennis,” he stated and commended the O’Neills for doing ‘everything in their power to promote the town they love’.

AMILY members of a Sixmilebridge man killed 37 years ago in unexplained circumstances are confident of ‘turning a corner’ in their long search for answers.

On Friday, family members of the late Patrick Nugent met with officials from the Department of Justice. For more than three decades, the Nugents have been seeking answers into Patrick’s death, subsequent manslaughter trial and inquest.

Mr Nugent was working as a banqueting manager at Bunratty Castle, when he was found dead in the Folk Park near the popular tourist attraction on 11th February 1984.

In October of 1985, a jury at the inquest into Pat’s death said it was satisfied that he had been struck by persons or persons unknown, causing him to fall to the ground and that car no 643 KIE (owned by William Ryan, a well known chef from Shannon) accidentally hit him, causing internal injuries from which he died.

The incident had come in the early hours of the morning, at

a party to celebrate the 40th wedding anniversary of Ryan.

While Pat died after being struck by the vehicle, what has not become apparent even now is how the 23-year-old hotel manager, who had been in charge of running the celebration, came to be lying on the ground and who he had been referring to in his dying words which were “he clocked me, he clocked me, he clocked me”.

An 111 page inquiry into how Gardaí investigated the death was completed by former judge Patrick Clyne and issued to the Minister for Justice, Helen McEntee (FG) in November of last year. Despite Minister McEntee issuing commitments that the report would be published fairly soon after, the Nugent family have been waiting close to a year to see its contents.

Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys (FG) has had the Justice portfolio added to her workload during Minister McEntee’s maternity leave. She previously defended the delay which occurred due to a wait to receive advice from the Attorney General when speaking to The Clare Echo.

“The Attorney General in fairness to him, there has been

a lot of work there and when you think of all the regulations that have had to be signed because of COVID-19 and different things”.

Family solicitor Kevin Winters, of KRW Law in Belfast issued a statement to The Clare Echo on behalf of the Nugent family following their meeting with Department officials.

“We are pleased to announce we received a very firm commitment by the Justice Minster to release an 111 page report arising from an inquiry which concluded at this stage last year”.

He described the meetiing as “welcome and positive”.

Winters added, “The family have had to wait a year to get news about the findings arising from the Section 42 inquiry. Thankfully we now have a timescale for the release of the report but I have to stress that at this stage everything remains confidential until further engagement with the Ministers office and due process is complete”.

Deirdre Nugent stated, “It’s been terribly frustrating to have to wait this length of time for justice.

“However we feel we are about to turn the corner now with news of the release of the report after 37 years since Patrick’s death”.

Brave swimmer takes on 63 ice-cold dips this December MID West Simon Community have teamed up with Clare native June Curtin to to raise €50,000 for those most vulnerable in our local community, , writes Elaine Tubridy.

As founder of Snamhaí Sásta, June (pictured right) is no stranger to icy cold waters of Spanish Point in Clare but she will be taking on the challenge of completing 3 Dips a

day throughout December.

Building off her successful fundraising campaign last year, June has upped the ante this year by committing to swimming a total of 63 swims, starting on December 1st to the 21st December. June and her community of happy swimmers have been meeting at Spanish Point every day since 2019 and it

has been the catalyst towards helping many maintain their mental health. Mid West Simon Community understand the trauma of homelessness on a persons mental health and through Junes voice spreading awareness and raising funds those struggling can be supported right now.

“Swimming has helped me immensely over the past two years. I also care deeply about people in my local community. Nobody should be without a place to call home this Christmas, so I am delighted to bring my two passions together, swimming and compassion for others.

“I have seen first-hand the amazing work Mid West Simon Community do and I appeal to everyone to give what they can. Every cent raised will go towards helping those who truly need it in our local community,” says June.

Mid West Simon Community, work hard to support children and adults experiencing the everyday challenges around homelessness and food poverty in the Clare, Limerick and North Tipperary area.

Jackie Bonfield, CEO Mid West Simon Community said “We are delighted that June has chosen Mid West Simon Community as the beneficiary from her 63 December Dips again this year. June is a great fundraiser and

supporter of Mid West Simon Community and we greatly appreciate her fundraising efforts. Her support and those who support this fundraising campaign will make a huge difference in the lives of so many vulnerable people throughout our community. All funds raised from this event will go towards our Homeless services in Limerick, Clare and North Tipperary and all funds raised locally will stay local.”

Donate to June’s fundraising page here: https://www.idonate.ie/fundraiser/Simon3DipsADay

NEWS 11

THURSDAY, OCT 14 2021

Possibility of dezoning lands with no wastewater ‘closes the door’ on rural Clare

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by PÁRAIC McMAHON URAL communities in Clare are at risk of “dying out” with plans to dezone lands in areas without wastewater infrastructure in the upcoming County Development Plan.

An appeal for Clare County Council to let private operators construct wastewater infrastructure in towns and villages “where there is a demand, desire and need for development” was issued by elected representatives at Monday’s sitting of the local authority.

Engagement with Irish Water continues, senior engineer Cyril Feeney and acting senior planner Helen Quinn stated in a written reply as they “seek to put in place a mechanism whereby Irish Water will facilitate the Taking In Charge of Privately Led Infrastructure on completion of multi-unit developments of a satisfactory standard”.

Without such a commitment

from Irish Water, the Council “would not be in a position to facilitate developments dependent on privately led infrastructure”.

Currently 52 of 85 towns and villages in Co Clare do not have adequate wastewater treatment systems. They include Ardnacrusha, Carrigaholt. Barefield, Kilmaley, Doolin, Tubber, Cree, Cooraclare, Kilbaha, Meelick and O’Briensbridge.

Absence of wastewater infrastructure represents “a crisis for our towns and villages,” Cllr Garrihy stated.

“It is not lightly that we bring forward this motion asking for such a leap. Welcome the engagement with Irish Water. For me, this is a choice between having no town or village or taking a leap and taking a risk, it is a risk of accepting privately led infrastructure, monitoring it and making sure it is done to the highest standard or forgetting about the small town or village and saying we’re done. In-

Strong Clare ties to new Sunday Times Editor Nóirín Hegarty

by PÁRAIC McMAHON NÓIRÍN Hegarty whose parents hail from Co Clare has been appointed as the new editor of The Sunday Times.

Formerly editor of the popular Sunday Tribune from 2005 until its closure in 2011, an expenses scandal reported by the paper later resulted in the resignation of Ceann Comhairle in 2009. Nóirín (inset) also held the same role with The Irish Independent’s online edition, Independent.ie for 18 months before she joined travel media group, Lonely Planet as Managing Destination Editor and late Vice President Digital Content.

She succeeds Frank Fitzgibbon as editor of The Sunday Times.

She joins the publication in November as Ireland editor of The Times and The Sunday Times and will become the second Sunday paper editor with strong links to the county, Ardnacrusha’s Richie Oakley is currently editor of The Business Post.

Both of Nóirín’s parents hailed from Co Clare. Her father Sean who died in December of last year was a native of Lahinch and was named Clare Person of the Year in 2002. Sean and his wife Carmel founded Sean Hegarty Earthworks Ltd, a company which was succeeded by Hegarty Demolition Ltd which was se-

lected for several large-scale civil engineering projects.

On her new appointment, Nóirín admitted that she was longing for a return to the hustle and bustle of print journalism. “I’m very passionate about what I do, sometimes I wish I wasn’t so driven, I’m very delighted to get this opportunity, I wanted to get back to mainstream or newspaper journalism which is where I came from or what I love, I wasn’t sure anybody wanted me to come back so I’m pretty pleased it worked out, it’s great”.

West Clare has always had an influence on her career while it was the kidnapping of Tiede Herrema that really stoked her desire to enter journalism, she said. “I always knew I wanted to be a journalist, my roots are very much in West Clare, my parents are from West Clare, from a very young age I remember my uncle Martin Vaughan in Miltown Malbay nurturing that in me, he was in the civil defence and I thought what he did was really interesting and exciting.

“I do think journalism is really important, particularly now because there are so many conspiracy theories, so much propaganda and lies out there that good journalism should comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable, I do believe it is a force for good in society and in democracy it is vital to expose truths and corruption, to ensure we know what is happening in the democracy that we live in”.

stead of cursing the darkness, let’s look for the solutions”.

Serious consideration to a public/private partnership on wastewater is needed, Cllr Murphy felt, “I don’t think we can afford to not support this notice of motion”. He added, “We cannot forget about

two thirds of the county which is the reality of what is happening here”.

Plans to dezone land in the deferred County Development Plan where there is no wastewater treatment equated to “turning off the key completely” for parts of Clare,

Cllr Cooney warned. “Some rural villages will be dead in the water if we do”. He informed the meeting that Ms Quinn had written to the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Darragh O’Brien (FF), his reply “will be vital and very important”.

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12 NEWS

THURSDAY, OCT 14 2021

Public survey to seek views on potential pedestrianisation measures for Ennis town

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N preparation for the development of a Local Area Plan for Ennis, Clare County Council is engaging with the wider community as part of the Ennis Mobility Plan, which will examine all modes of transport for the sustainable movement of people within Ennis and its environs. We are conducting a survey over a two week period from Oct 15th to Oct 29th.

The survey specifically focuses on potential pedestrianisation measures in Ennis town centre. All members of the public are invited to complete the

survey, including residents, business owners, employees and visitors to the town. It is your opportunity to have your say, on how you would like to see the town centre of the future operate to meet the needs of all. The survey will capture people’s individual preferences for navigating the town centre and will inform future decision making. Individual responses will be kept confidential, however the Council intend publishing the overall results of the survey when available.

The survey will be open from 9am on Friday October

15th and will close at 5pm on Friday October 29th. It can be completed online on Clare County Council’s consultation platform https://yoursay.clarecoco.ie/ennis-pedestrianisation or in paper format (which will be available at all Clare branch libraries, Áras Contae an Chláir or can be downloaded on www.clarecoco.ie).

Each individual will be limited to one response. All fields marked with an asterisk must be completed otherwise the survey will be rendered invalid. Prior to completing the survey, online applicants will

be required to register on Clare County Council’s online engagement platform, enabling the individual to contribute to all future online consultations.

This registration process will require an email address. Paper copies can be returned to any of the branch libraries or posted to Ennis Municipal District, Buttermarket Building, Drumbiggle, Ennis, Co. Clare, V95 RR72. Postal respondents are required to ensure that surveys are posted in sufficient time to be received by the deadline.

The survey comprises of

twelve questions including a number of profiling questions. This information is being sought to inform us if we are capturing the preferences of a broad range of users of the town. There are a number of non-mandatory questions which seek individual opinions on pedestrianisation, infrastructural requirements and various forms of pedestrianisation.

If you have any queries regarding the above please email ennismunicipaldistrict@clarecoco.ie or call 065-6821616.

THURSDAY, OCT 14 2021

NEWS 13

PUBLIC SURVEY Have your say on potential pedestrianisation measures for Ennis town centre Clare County Council are conducting a survey over a two week period from Oct 15th to Oct 29th to get public opinion on potential pedestrianisation measures in Ennis town centre

Complete online at https://yoursay.clarecoco.ie/ennis-pedestrianisation or in paper format (which will be available at all Clare branch libraries, Áras Contae an Chláir or can be downloaded on www.clarecoco.ie).

If you have any queries regarding the above please email ennismunicipaldistrict@clarecoco.ie or call 065-6821616

14 NEWS

THURSDAY, OCT 14 2021

Dooley suggests its time for Shannon Airport to set up its own airline

by PÁRAIC McMAHON A CLARE Senator has suggested that Shannon Airport set up its own airline to put it in greater control of its operations.

Shannon Airport’s initial development led to an expectation that it would be of continued growth, when business capacity was not at desired levels, “the State intervened through Shannon Development and built factories,” Senator Timmy Dooley (FF) recalled.

He believed now was the time for a similar intervention as he suggested Shannon Airport look at having is own airline to serve new routes.

“That is not to suggest that every route can be served. Is there an opportunity for Shannon Airport to set up an airline, a small one initially, with some State capital,” he questioned at a Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications.

“The big leasing companies have a lot of aeroplanes on their balance sheet, many of which are not being leased. This could be a good time to try something like this. It certainly could be done in conjunction with the leasing companies. They would give favourable rates in the short term”.

Greater control would be at Shannon’s disposal in such a scenario “rather than being at the whim of the airlines, all of which, with the exception of Ryanair, are international and are significantly stretched because of recent loss-

es.

“It might be time for a small, new, fit-for-purpose airline getting access to relatively cheap aircraft on the international leasing markets”.

Chairperson designate of Shannon Group, Pádraig Ó Céidigh said Dooley’s suggestion was “very interesting and entrepreneurial”.

He added, “It is thinking outside the box. It also sets a challenge that is outside the box and is well worth investigating. I know all about setting up and building an airline. It is a huge challenge. It is a different business model from an airport model. Having said that, we would not be the first airport to consider doing something like that.

It is worth looking at and doing a feasibility study into the proposal.

“Establishing an airline is a huge task and I am certainly open to looking at the opportunity. I thank Senator Dooley for raising it because it is the kind of thinking we need. It is outside-the-box stuff we need for Shannon,” the former Senator stated. Ó Céidigh concluded, “The potential of setting up an airline is longer term. It is important to look at it but it is not absolutely urgent here and now.

“The urgent issue is the Heathrow route and, as members said, getting at least the fundamentals of the transatlantic routes - Boston and New York - on flow. If we can nail that down, we can look at stage two of a strategy and a longer term strategy”.

Shannon Group 'better off inviting Duffy's Circus to Airport than Cabinet' PÁRAIC MCMAHON

A

paraic@clareecho.ie

SUGGESTION to bring members of the Cabinet to Shannon Airport to hold a meeting has been dismissed by a Clare TD who quipped that it would be better to invite Duffy’s Circus instead.

Chairperson of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Transport and Communications, Limerick TD Kieran O’Donnell (FG) told its sitting in recent days that bringing members of the Cabinet to Shannon Airport to hold a meeting would send “a powerful message”.

While Chairperson Designate of Shannon Group, Pádraig Ó Céidigh welcomed the idea, the reaction was not as favourable from Clare TD, Michael McNamara (IND) (inset). “There is a proposal to bring the Cabinet to Shannon Airport. Unless they are coming with a strategy for Shannon Airport, which has been sorely absent up to now, I respectfully suggest that the airport would be better off bringing Duffy's Circus to Shannon because at least it would bring a crowd,” he said.

Deputy McNamara also sought clarification on the difference between an executive chair and a non-executive chair. “Mr. Ó Céidigh said that his role is to determine the strategic direction of the airport,. Whose role is it to drive matters and achieve that strategic direction if he remains a non-executive chair,” the Scariff na-

Collaboration a ‘win win’

by PÁRAIC McMAHON

C

OLLABORATION between Shannon and Dublin Airport can create “a winwin situation,” the Chairperson Designate of Shannon Group has said.

Speaking before the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Transport and Communications, Pádraig Ó Céidigh revealed that he has already been contacted by the CEO of the Dublin Airport Authority, Dalton Philips “offering to co-operate and work with me and with us in any way he possibly can, which I welcome”.

He stated, “This is not an either-or situation. This is about working together for Ireland Inc. We have a slightly different roles and objectives. Shannon Airport has an objective for that region and Dublin Airport has a slightly different objective in the same industry. There is no reason, in the context of a small island with a population of approximately 5 million. for us not to work together and create a win-win situation. One of the

first things I will be looking at is how we can work with Dublin Airport to create a win-win situation”. Ó Céidigh was speaking in response to queries from Clare TD, Joe Carey (FG). Deputy Carey noted that 46,500 “jobs hang on the back of Shannon and its well-being”. There is a feeling amongst the business community in the Mid-West that the appointment of the Galway man “is a shot in the arm” for the region.

Carey detailed, “Even prior to Covid-19, Shannon Airport was struggling to gain market share.

The key issue is addressing the imbalance between Dublin Airport and the rest. One of Mr. Ó Céidigh's targets should be to amend national aviation policy and have positive discrimination towards Shannon Airport because it is much more than an airport. It is an economic driver and businesses that are in Shannon or the mid-west region are there principally because of the presence of Shannon and the connectivity it provides”.

During a recent meeting with the Irish Hotels Federation held at the Inn at Dromoland, the

Clarecastle man said a conversation with Lahinch hotelier, Michael Vaughan left an impression on him. “He said they had 30 Americans that night and that every one of those had entered the country through Dublin. They had to sit on a bus or in a car and come down to Lahinch to overnight, play golf and so on. Why are these people not coming through Shannon Airport? Part of Mr. Ó Céidigh's objective should also be to restore transatlantic routes, build on that traffic, re-establish the three daily direct return routes to Heathrow and get a bigger slice of the aviation cake nationally for Shannon”. Ó Céidigh voiced the need for active engagement with all stakeholders in the region, the management team, staff and business communities. “Together we can put Shannon Airport on the map and I am confident of that. From a board perspective and as already indicated, the big objective is to get us back to 2019 levels. That includes three Heathrow flights a day and transatlantic routes. We are going to do everything in our power to achieve that”.

tive questioned. Ó Céidigh’s response indicated that his new role is a part-time role. “As I see it, a non-executive chair is very much a part-time role, the primary function of which is to chair anything between eight to ten board meetings a year, each lasting up to two to three hours and sometimes longer. The executive chair is a fulltime role. That is the primary difference. The Deputy also asked about the difference between the chair, the chief executive officer and the management team, and the strategic direction. In my view, it is the board and not the chair. The chair facilitates the board. The board creates the vision and works on the strategy with the management team.

“Fundamentally, strategy is very simple. The Deputy spoke of strategic direction. With strategic direction, we start off knowing where we are at now. It is totally honest, with no sort of bias. It is just a case of asking where we are at now. Then we ask where it is we want to get to. Strategy is the bridge we build between where we are now and where we want to get to. It is the board's role, in my view, to work with the management team in creating a realistic and effective strategy in creating it. It is the management team's function to execute on the strategy. Management are primarily in execution mode.

The board is not necessarily in execution mode. All of the board, including me, are non-executive. There are many other things going on in their lives, as is the situation with most, if not all, other State boards. That is the difference in the role of the board versus the role of the executive”.

Concern lingers for future of Shannon to Heathrow SHANNON Group’s Chairperson designate has voiced his concern for the future of the Shannon Airport to Heathrow service, writes Páraic McMahon.

Currently, flights to and from Heathrow are operating at Shannon Airport until November while upgrade works to Cork Airport are carried out. Aer Lingus have yet to voice a commitment that the route will return permanently from Shannon.

Clare TD, Michael McNamara (IND) speaking before an Oireachtas Joint Committee on Transport and Communications raised the matter. “There has been a great deal of talk about Heathrow slots. At the moment, however, the only slots that are being utilised are those relating to Cork. How real is the risk of losing the Heathrow slots when the guarantee runs out next year”.

Chairperson designate of Shannon Group, Pádraig Ó Céidigh admitted he was concerned about losing the slots.

“Maybe it is wishful thinking on my part, but I do not believe it is going to happen. I mentioned earlier the numbers of passengers in and out of the UK from Shannon Airport was in the region of 600,000. The number of passengers in and out of Heathrow from Shannon Airport was 268,000 in 2019. That is a fair number of passengers. Any airline should be able to make a return on that if it has a reasonably decent cost structure. I am very hopeful that we would

get Shannon Airport back in there.

There is, however, a risk of losing it”.

“I do not see any reason those routes would not come back. If we could incentivise them, as was mentioned earlier, it would help to make the decision easier, get them back faster and grow faster, and support Shannon Airport faster. The owners of Shannon Airport is the Exchequer, which is you and me and all of us. I believe we are going to get a return on our investment very quickly. It is a no-brainer to be honest,” Ó Céidigh added.

Bringing Aer Lingus back to Shannon is the biggest short-term challenge for Shannon Airport, Senator Timmy Dooley (FF) believed. “We want to see the single flight each day continue when Cork Airport reopens. My discussions with Aer Lingus suggest that is possible. However, while the flight to Heathrow is a welcome development, it is not adequate and does not meet the needs of the region. We need an early morning flight out of Shannon, as Mr. Ó Céidigh well knows, and a late evening return flight. Mr. Ó Céidigh indicated the airport will try to get back to three flights a day and use those slots, which will be a further challenge. As Mr. Ó Céidigh will be aware, Aer Lingus's commitment to the slot access to Heathrow has a life span and is up for review. It will be important to challenge to retain that slot access to Heathrow”.

Arts & Entertainment 15

THURSDAY, OCT 14 2021

Nuala brings the shorelines to glór PÁRAIC MCMAHON

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paraic@clareecho.ie

PIECE of new work commissioned by glór premiers at the popular Ennis venue this Sunday (October 17th).

Under the Arts Council traditional arts project awards, glór was given two commission awards in 2020.

As part of this scheme, Nuala Kennedy was commissioned to develop and perform a new piece of work, it is entitled Shorelines and premiers this Sunday featuring Nuala on vocals and flute, Tara Breen on fiddle, Tony Byrne on guitar, Caoimhin

Varley on piano with Muireann Nic Amhlaoibh on vocals and flute.

Nuala Kennedy’s Shorelines both explores that tradition of solitude and joyfully celebrates the return to live music performance with a thrilling new band that features some of the leading lights within traditional music. It is one of three commissions that will premiere this autumn to mark glór turning twenty.

Newly composed music meets traditional song, as eddies and currents shape the rocks on the Irish shore. Shorelines begins with the image of a woman by the sea, lamenting a loss, but vowing to venture forth and explore the world.

Considered a regular on the main

 JOYFUL: Nuala Kennelly

stage of major folk festivals around the world, Nuala has appeared on the cover of Irish Music Magazine, Sing Out. In 2019, the Dundalk woman performed at the United Nations in New York as well as for Mayor Bill De Blasio at Gracie Mansion. She was commissioned by Celtic Connections Festival to write an hour-long piece in 2006, as part of their ‘New Voices’ series in 2007.

All new and existing ticketholders are required to show proof of Covid-19 Vaccination Certificate on entry to this event at glór. Children under 18 who are accompanying adults do not need proof of vaccination or recovery. Wearing of a mask/face covering is compulsory at all times inside the building.

A full line up for Clare History Week A FULL programme of events for Clare County Library History Week has been unveiled, writes Páraic McMahon.

Running from October 16th to 22nd, the history week covers the revolutionary period in Clare and will consist of exhibitions, online lectures, music and talks.

Artist Marie Connole’s exhibition ‘Irrepressible Women of Clare’ at Clare Museum is the first event and it begins at 12pm on Saturday and will run until November 9th, the project is supported by the Clare Arts Office.

Inspired by the stories of women from the Cuimhneamh an Chláir archive, musician Tim Collins of the Kilfenora Céilí Band has created an original piece ‘I fought the War – Re-voicing Clare Women in the Revolutionary Period’ which will be released online this Saturday.

Stockton’s Wing frontman Mike Hanrahan will end his Clare: Songs of Independence project with The Ballad of the Crimson Warrior’ as part of an online event at 2pm on Monday.

Historian, Dr Sinéad McCoole who specialises in the history of Irish women will discuss Mná100 as she explores a century of

change in an online lecture at 7pm on Monday.

An online radio documentary by Ennis based journalist Joe Ó Muircheartaigh entitled ‘Brigades at War’ looks at the friction between the East and Mid Clare Brigades during the War of Independence, it will be available online from 2pm on Tuesday.

Kilrush Library will host an exhibition on the County Clare Nursery which was the only Mother and Baby Home in the county, it will run from October 20th to November 9th and is marked by an online lecture on Tuesday by West Clare historian Rita McCarthy at 6:30pm.

Feakle’s Paula Carroll will host a live Zoom event on Tuesday at 7.30pm called Joe Kenneally – Child of 1921: stories from the Cuimhneamh an Chláir archive. Booking is required at eventsclarecac@gmail.com.

Joe was born in Kilshanny at the end of the War of Independence in July 1921, he still lives in the house he was born in 100 years ago. His was an ordinary farming life in many ways and was reflective of the lives of many born into the new Irish State. But no lives are really ordinary.

Joe has been recorded by three different

 STORIES: Joe Kenneally collectors for Cuimhneamh an Chláir, by the National Folklore Archive in UCD and by many other song collectors. The story that emerges is of a man with an intense artistic engagement with the songs and stories carried by generations of his family.

Ennis teacher, Brian Spring will launch his

primary school resource pack ‘The Brave and the Bold: the War of Independence in County Clare’ on Wednesday, this will be made available online. John Rattigan, Curator of Clare Museum will give snapshot of some museum artefacts from the revolutionary period including Kathleen Griffin’s autograph book.

Dr Joe Power will speak on Clare and the Civil War in an online lecture at 7pm on Wednesday.

Director of the Gender Studies Programme at UCD, Dr Mary McAuliffe presents an online lecture on Thursday (October 21st) looking at Republican surveillance of women during the War of Independence and features case studies of gendered violence in Clare.

Traditional Irish music presenter, Áine Hensey analyses the roles of Fr Pat Gaynor and Fr Michael McKenna during the War of Independence in a lecture entitled ‘The Rebel Priests of Mullagh’ which takes place online at 7pm on Friday (October 22nd).

The majority of the programme is virtual with all content accessible at www.clarelibrary.ie

16 NEWS

THURSDAY, OCT 14 2021

Power at centre of storm with Dublin City Council Chief PÁRAIC MCMAHON

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paraic@clareecho.ie

HIEF Executive of Dublin City Council, Owen Keegan has come under fire for comments made to a Clarecastle man who is serving as President of the UCD Student Union, the Taoiseach was among those calling for the remarks to be withdrawn.

Ruairí Power is in his first year as President of the Student Union at UCD, this week he was on the national airwaves following a spat between the Student Union and Dublin City Council’s Chief Executive.

At the end of September, Power wrote to the Chief Executive following an article in The Business Post and he highlighted that thousands of students were without accommodation in the capital with “very long” commute times experienced by students as a result.

“DCC are looking at a guaranteed revenue stream instead of student’s

interests,” he said.

In a subsequent letter, Ruairí also flagged the number of purpose-built student accommodation (PBSA) developments being used for tourism until May next year while demand for the upper-end apartments is low.

Keegan in response accused the Clarecastle man of “misrepresenting” why a change of use was allowed when it came to PBSA. “It is unfortunate that UCDSU did not participate in the planning process in respect of these particular applications”. He added, “However, it is not the City Council’s fault that you appear to have been unaware of how the planning system works”.

“If you genuinely believe that excess profits are being made in the PBSA market I am surprised the Students’ Union has not entered the market itself and provided lower cost student accommodation for its members,” Keegan concluded.

An Taoiseach, Micheál Martin (FF) called on the Chief Executive to withdraw his comments which he labelled as “facile”, “dismissive”

 UNION: Ruairí Power and “unhelpful”. The Cork native added, “It was very dismissive. I think he should withdraw the statement and articulate some regret for it. I just couldn’t understand it, I couldn’t believe it”.

Minister for Higher and Further

Education, Simon Harris (FG) felt Keegan’s response was “sarcastic” with Minister for Housing, Darragh O’Brien (FF) voicing his surprise and disappointment with the letter.

Speaking to The Clare Echo on

Wednesday morning ahead of organising a protest outside the offices of Dublin City Council, Ruairí said it was his first time engaging with Mr Keegan. “We were quite surprised with the comments to some extent but he has made derogatory comments on homelessness in the past”. He felt it was time for the official to resign, a call that was echoed by Sinn Féin.

Comments from the Council Chief were “intended to belittle” the Students Union, Power outlined. “It is not the type of leadership we expect from someone in his role or on his salary”. Improvement is also needed from how UCD approach student accommodation, he felt, “we’ve had far more positive discussions with members of Government than senior officials on campus, they are focusing on luxury accommodation, they don’t have a willingness to work with us”.

While he welcomed the political support, the Social Democrats member flagged that the current strategy on student accommodation was drafted by Fine Gael.

The Clare Echo launches their Monster Halloween Fundraiser

by STUART HOLLY

FOR

CLARE HAVEN SERVICES

THE Clare Echo is asking the people of County Clare to dress up this Halloween to raise funds for Clare Haven Services.

Schools, community groups, businesses and individuals are invited to take part in The Clare Echo’s inaugural ‘Monster Halloween Fundraiser’ this October to be in with a chance of winning a number of prizes including a Shannon Duty Free Hamper, a voucher for Brass Boutique, Haven Pharmacy and more.

To get involved, all you have to do is dress up for Halloween, take your picture and send it to The Clare Echo via email or tag us on social media, and then donate via the link. To be in with a chance of winning a great prize, we ask that you take a screenshot of your donation (the amount at your own discretion).

Dr Siobhan O’Connor, Manager of Services at Clare Haven Services, told The Clare Echo that following the pandemic, the facility experienced an average increase of 23 per cent in service demand from the public and she admits fundraising efforts are all the more pertinent as reports of domestic abuse rose last year.

“Particularly when the pandemic hit first, we were all told that we were at our safest in our homes but unfortunately for far too many women and children in County Clare, it’s the least safe place and they were trapped in their place of torture.” Dr O’Connor lamented that children who were subjected to domestic abuse were often in a situation where they couldn’t even visit their playground.

Clare Haven Services receive funding from State agencies for staff costs however day-to-day running costs along with the development of young people services rely on

the generosity of the public.

She explained that fundraising efforts help with maintenance costs, and recently enabled the painting of the refuge, along with development of facilities including an outdoor covered playing area for children and sensory boxes which help aids children “remain calm and help dealing with anxieties having experienced domestic abuse”.

Clare Haven Services has been in existence for 27 years and the six-family refuge unit was developed in 2000. They also run outreach clinics in six towns across the county.

Dr O’Connor added that while Clare Haven is powered by the many committed volunteers, she added that “every day we’re amazed by generosity of people, particularly in the last year and a half, a lot of people have been forced into PUP payments and still they reach into their pockets to donate to us. We’re very, very grateful.”

Fundraiser organiser, Clare Echo Sales Executive Rebekah Crerand, said, “I am delighted to be organising our Halloween Monster Fundraiser for Clare Haven Services and the excellent work they do. It has been a tough year in a lot of homes and due to Covid-19, domestic violence incidents have increased significantly.

“I feel it’s important for us here at The Clare Echo to give back to the community especially around holiday periods such as Halloween and Christmas.

“It’s also a bit of fun after a long year and half of Covid so if you can get together with your loved ones, dress up, donate and win some brilliant prizes. I’d also like to say a huge thank you to all of the businesses that donated prizes, everyone has been so supportive.”

To donate, go to www.idonate.ie/clareechofundraiserforclarehaven.

NEWS 17

THURSDAY, OCT 14 2021

SHANNON NEWS in association with

Airport’s return to 2019 passenger levels likely to take ‘some years’ - Considine PÁRAIC MCMAHON

S

paraic@clareecho.ie

HANNON Airport is unlikely to return to 2019 passenger levels for “some years yet,” the CEO of Shannon Group has cau-

tioned.

Newly appointed Chair of Shannon Group, Pádraig Ó Céidigh has set the target of restoring Shannon Airport back to 2019 passengers levels within his three year term while in correspondence to Clare County Council, Mary Considine has flagged that this will take some time.

In 2019, Shannon Airport had 1,710,000 passengers, a drop of eight percent on the previous year. A decade previously saw 2,794,563 passengers use Shannon in 2009. A ban on international travel for the most part of last year greatly impacted on the aviation sector, Shannon Airport was no exception with the International Airport recording 360,000 passengers in 2020.

“Our ambition is to build back stronger,” Ms Considine outlined of their plans to the local authority. “We have made

a good start with some recovery in our air services. However, it will take some years yet for the airport to recover to 2019 passenger levels, we hope the local communities in the region and surrounding areas will continue to support both our existing and new services as that will be vital to our success”.

There has been “huge activity” at Shannon Airport in recent

weeks, Cllr Pat McMahon (FF) said as he lauded the return of Ryanair with long-term contracts which was “highly positive”. Although Aer Lingus are operating a temporary service to Heathrow, he was fearful of the implications if the route did not become permanent when runway works at Cork Airport concluded.

Improvements can still be made on the promotion of Shannon, the Newmarket-on-Fergus representative believed. “Marketing with Shannon Group is still weak, the motorway is only a mile and a half away, there’s easy parking and this needs to be promoted”.

Ryanair’s faith in Shannon was not reflected by Aer Lingus, Cllr

Pat Daly (FF) felt. “It was struggling because Aer Lingus abandoned it. Aer Lingus has short memories, Shannon was good to it in 60s, 70s and 80s. Be upfront with Shannon Group, tell them your plans, are you staying or going”.

Creative thinking is needed to give Shannon a further lift, Cllr Michael Begley (IND) said. “Trojan work has been done by Mary Considine and her team to get Shannon back to level we would all like to see it”. He added, “we need to do whatever is required to make use of Shannon economically for the airlines”. COMEBACK: Mary Considine

Bollards set to be placed at busy Shannon junction

by PÁRAIC McMAHON BOLLARDS are to be introduced at a busy Shannon junction “to improve safety for cyclists”.

An appeal to make the road junction linking Cronan, Inis Ealga and Rineanna View “safer” was issued by Cllr Donna McGettigan (SF) before the Shannon Municipal District.

“This is an extremely busy junction to navigate and needs action taken,” she stated. Her proposal was seconded by Cllr Gerry Flynn (IND).

Tom Mellett, senior executive engineer confirmed that bollards were set to be intro-

duced at the location “to improve safety for cyclists. This will tighten the junction slowing vehicle movements and so improving the overall safety of all road users at this junction”.

Funding has been granted for a mobility survey in Shannon Town under the National Transport Agency with an assessment of the junction to be completed as part of this.

“Long before I took over, this junction was always an issue and people always complained about it,” Cllr McGettigan, who was co-opted to Clare County Council in January of last year, commented.

“It’s a wonder why there hasn’t been a serious accident,” she added.

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ROAD SAFETY: The junction at Inis Eagla

Photo by Joe Buckley

18

THURSDAY, OCT 14 2021

in association with

‘An iconic presence among musicians’ - tributes paid to Tony McMahon PÁRAIC MCMAHON

T

paraic@clareecho.ie

RIBUTES have been extended to Ennis born accordion player, Tony MacMahon who died on Friday at the age of 82.

Born in Turnpike, Ennis in 1939, Tony was a button accordionist and broadcaster who was held in high esteem in the world of traditional music. Throughout his career, he released six albums, the first in 1972 and his last ‘Farewell to Music’ in 2016.

Galway accordion player Joe Cooley was one of the early influences on Tony’s musical career, he was living and working in Ennis as a labourer during the 1940s and 1950s and was a frequent visitor to the MacMahon home.

After completing his Leaving Certificate

at Rice College in Ennis, Tony left for the capital in 1957 to study to become a teacher.

In the capital, he became acquainted with accordionist Sonny Brogan and violinist John Kelly. Travelling in North America in 1964 in New York and Dublin, he shared an apartment with the piper and singer Seamus Ennis, which he believed had an important influence on his performance of slow songs.

He joined RTÉ in 1969, the Ennis native presented traditional music shows on television and later produced equivalent shows on radio. He launched the long-running show The Long Note, he returned with The Pure Drop and Come West TV road. In 1979, The Green Cardinals documented Tony and banjo player Barney McKenna travelling in Western Europe in a green Citroen 2CV van. He retired from RTÉ in 1998. In 2019, a TG4 documentary film Slán leis an gCeol was produced about his life.

President, Michael D. Higgins led the

RIP: Tony McMahon

tributes to the Clare musician who he described as “one of Ireland’s iconic presences

among musicians”. He stated, “Tony brought to performance in so many forms, places and venues the talent of a maestro. To hear him play Port Na bPúcai, for example, was to feel transported into another world. His commitment to traditional music and to the friendship of his fellow musicians was full of integrity”.

Maghera musician, Martin Hayes also voiced his admiration. “For me he will always be one of the truly great musicians of all time. He encouraged and inspired me from a very young age. Traditional Irish music has lost a giant figure”.

Speaking on Monday, Cllr Pat Daly (FF) remembered his fellow Ennis man as “an outstanding musician”. He noted how Tony kept close friendships in the county including with Frank Whelan Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann and how his niece Mary MacNamara has continued to bring music to the county.

Artists could use Chapel Lane vacant buildings FUEL SPECIALISTS IN Kiln Dried Timber, Wood Pellets, Ecologs & Smokeless Fuel

by PÁRAIC McMAHON REGENERATING a historic part of Ennis could see it become an asset to local artists and craftspeople, an elected representative has predicted.

Calls to develop an action plan for the “economic and social regeneration of Chapel Lane” were issued by Cllr Johnny Flynn (FG), Cllr Ann Norton (IND) and Cllr Clare Colleran Molloy (FF) at the October meeting of the Ennis Municipal District.

Citing the Parnell St lanes and bow-ways project, Cllr Flynn suggested that a similar scheme in Chapel Lane would “assist artists and crafters working and living in the lane and it could be a blueprint for regeneration of other areas of the historic town centre”. It would be eligible for funding under the Urban Renewal and Development Fund which has been extended to 2030 under the National Development Plan.

According to a historic town Atlas’ of Ennis, a portion of Chapel Lane was built before 1600 with the remainder constructed from 1601-1736, the majority of the original buildings there are from the 18th century.

Its name derives from a Catholic Church erected in 1735 during the Penal Times, “the church is part of the Ennis community centre which occupies nearly one third of the eastern side of the lane with Merchants Square built in 1992 occupying a similar portion of the western side,” Cllr Flynn outlined.

He described Chapel Lane as “an important artery in the heart of Ennis”. Flynn said that of the 17 remaining ground floor premises that do not have main doors opening to Parnell St or other streets, nine of them (53%) were found to be vacant in the 2019 Town Centre Health check carried out by

BENEFIT: Chapel Lane Clare County Council. “This is the highest vacancy rate in the town with the average of less than 20 percent,” he flagged.

Recent public realm improvements have been positive for Ennis, Cllr Norton said as she reiterated the need for a feasibility study for Chapel Lane. “It is only when you look at Chapel Lane and look at the amount of derelict buildings and the opportunity that could be Chapel Lane”.

Several listed buildings are in the area, Cllr Pat Daly (FF) acknowledged as he recalled the history associated with Chapel Lane. He reminisced on watching the 1968 European Cup Final between Manchester Utd and Benefica at CYMS Hall, “a community centre which was famous for looking after people”.

Senior executive officer, Leonore O’Neill saw the merits of a feasibility study, “it should probably be in context of also examining the Lower Market Area, how the different areas interact with each other is very important”.

THURSDAY, OCT 14 2021

PROPERTY 19

­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­

20 FEATURES

THURSDAY, OCT 14 2021

GREEN CLARE

17 Clare schools are awarded the Green Flag this week STUART HOLLY

S

editor@clareecho.ie

EVENTEEN schools across the county were awarded the Green Flag this week for their dedication to sustainability and protecting their environment. In spite of two school years with closures and challenges posed

by COVID-19, 526 schools around Ireland were awarded Green Flags, including 33 schools that have been awarded the Green Flag for the first time.

Green-Schools is an environmental management programme for schools which focuses on themes including Litter and Waste; Energy; Water; Travel; Biodiversity; Global Citizenship and Marine Environment. This year schools in Ireland achieved amazing results in the following areas: 70% of schools working on the Litter & Waste theme took part in awareness raising action days, with 73% reporting an increase in awareness of lit-

ter and waste issues; 29% of schools working on the Energy theme managed to make energy savings which is amazing considering the challenges over the last couple of years. 94% of schools saw an increase in awareness on the topic of Energy; 77% of schools awarded for the Green-Schools Travel theme saw an increase the number of students cycling to school and 85% of schools recorded an increase in sustainable travel overall; Schools involved in the Biodiversity theme increased the level of biodiversity nationwide by planting over 2000 trees, creating more than 150 new wildlife-friendly gardens and erecting at least 250 new bird feeding stations; 88% of schools working on the Marine Environment theme investigated the sources of marine litter and promoted an action to reduce it ; 93 secondary school students took part in the Water ambassador programme as part of the Water theme, which provides mentoring and training for committed students who want to make a difference.

Speaking at each ceremony this week, Green-Schools Manager Cathy Baxter con-

GREEN FLAG AWARDEES  Clondrinagh N.S, Lissycasey  Clonmoney N.S, Newmarket on Fergus  Tubber N.S, Ennis  Ennistymon C.B.S, Ennistymon  St Patricks Comprehensive School, Shannon  Clarecastle N.S, Clarecastle  Mary’s National School, Feakle  Ballina N.S, Killaloe  Augustine’s National School,

GREEN WAVE: The Green Schools flag

Kilshanny  Flagmount National School, Feakle  Mochulla’s N.S, Tulla  Ballyea N.S, Ennis  Kilmurray McMahon N.S, Kilrush  Knockanean N.S, Ennis  Kildysart N.S, Ennis  Flannans College, Ennis  Joseph’s Secondary School, Miltown Malbay

gratulated the 526 schools receiving their Green Flag: “We know that you have all been working incredibly hard in your schools over the last year and you continued to find innovative ways to keep the programme going during school closures and social distancing. You managed to have outdoor Committee meetings, online workshops and attending online webinars to keep up to date, so thank you.”

Schools were invited to six online award

ceremonies which took place from Monday, October 4th to 8th with the final ceremony for the Water theme taking place on October 14th. At the ceremonies schools enjoyed activities like Sea Shanties and online quizzes, with messages of support played from “Captain Climate”, actor Nicola Coughlan, champion cyclist Lara Gillespie and local authority Environmental Awareness Officers, who support schools during their participation in Green-Schools.

NEWS 21

THURSDAY, OCT 14 2021

Clare ClareisisAmazing, Amazing,

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take take ititALL ALL in... in...

Focus on things to learn in the Geopark Go History Hunting!

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HE Burren has a long and noble tradition of learning, from the medieval O’Dalaigh Bardic school of Finavarra, the O’Davoren Brehon law school at Cahermacnaughton and the monks of Corcomroe Abbey to the modern Burren College of Art, the Burren Outdoor Education Centre, Burrenbeo and our wonderful national and secondary schools.

The Burren and Cliffs of Moher UNESCO Global Geopark is committed to supporting education by conducting new research into our rocks, water and fossils with national and international researchers and working with local national and secondary schools and community-based citizen scientists.

course provides an introduction to the landscape, geology and caves of the Burren for the non-specialist. Dates and times for the next course in Spring 2022 will be announced towards the end of this year.

Clare has rich cultural heritage assets that tie the county back to the beginning of human history in Ireland. There are over 7,500 known archaeological sites in the county that will connect you to thousands of years of history.

HereResearch are a few to explore. Bunratty Castle and Folk Park New However, around Over thewith last so fewmany years,sites detailed fieldwork and Bunratty Castle, built in the 15th the county, heading to given research by it’s the worth Geopark geologistout have us century by the Earl of Thomond, newyour insights the fossils and geology of the find owninto discoveries! is Ireland’s most complete and Geopark. Some of these findings have been pubmedieval castle. You can lished in national and international journals.authentic The Geopark now has a new species of ancient explore fossil the iconic castle and, in crinoid (Heloambocolumnus harperi) knownBunratty only Folk Park, over 30 buildings from Doolin, previously unknown vertebrate fossils, in a recreated 19th-century village ancient shrimp burrows and more. The painstaking and rural setting - set on 26 acres. work continues, so expect some more announcements in the coming months.

Poulnabrone Portal Tomb

Poulnabrone is the oldest dated megalithic monument in Ireland and dates back to the Neolithic period. This iconic portal tomb is located in a field beside the CorofinBallyvaughan road on the high D R . T I E R N A N H E N RY ( N U I G ) D O W N L O A D I N G R I V E R D ATA T H E G E O PA R K P U B L I C AT I O N F R O M D ATA L O G G E R S AT L I S D O O N VA R N APoulnabrone Burren limestone plateau. ‘ S TO N E , WATFinds E R A Nin D ICE’ the tomb included a polished stone Clare Abbey axe, andStone, flint and chert arrowheads.

Water and Ice The abbey at Clarecastle was The Geopark publication, ‘Stone,founded Water and

by Donal Mór O’Brien in IceHillfort - a geology through the Burren’ supported Mooghan andtrip Woods 1189.

Some

by Geological Survey Ireland is available in local parts of the single-aisled date back to the 12th century, Mooghaun Hillfortthis church outlets. Bronze Ideal as anAge introduction, easy-to-read A NEW SPECIES OF FOSSIL CRINOID D I S - built and there are also two chapels and was at the beginning of the book provides locations, information and illustraQuin COVERED BY DR. EAM O N Abbey DOYLE. tions to guide you through the geology of the Burren a tower from the 15th century. In Late Bronze Age around 950 BC. I T I S O N LY K N O W N F R O M D O O L I N . landscape via our by Geosites.

Quin Abbey The site is enclosed woodland 1278, the monastery was the site of Located just 10km from Ennis, near Newmarket-on-Fergus.

There a massacre due to friction among Water Go with a Guide the Quin Abbey was founded in the 14th is a self-guided trail up to the Hillfort The Geopark team are delighted to be working One of the best ways to learn about thevarious Burren factions of the O’Brien with localand citizen scientistsby in the Aille Engaged- projised by as going a guide.

We are fortunate in havfamily. century inhabited Franciscan identifi thewith largest in Ireland. ect in collaboration with Earth and remain Ocean Sciences, ing passionate and learned local of guides living in the friars.

The cloisters, which The most spectacular hoard NUIG to measure rainfall and river levels in the Aille Burren that provide personalized, unique tours for one of the abbey’s most prominent prehistoric gold in Western Europe Kilfenora Cathedral and Crosses River catchment in the Lisdoonvarna area. This small groups. Archaeology, herbs, foraging, coastfeatures, constructed in theof predictwas found here in 1854. data will bewere used to estimate the impact al and marine life, Early Christian, farm Kilfenora tours, local Cathedral is dedicated 15th century.in rainfall due to climate change in the traditions and more, there is something ed changes to for St.everyFachtna, who founded his coming years. See data at www.burrengeopark. body or try something new. Find a local guide at monastery ie/learn-engage/rainfall-river-level-data/ www.burren.ie and combine your outdoor activity during the sixth century.

Ennis The original church was probably ThisFriary Aille Engaged project has generated a new with learning and food for thought. hydrological research on the who Gowlaun RivApart from the outdoor walking guides, the guides The present structure wooden.

The O’Briens of project Thomond, er, anruled important tributary of the Aille River. at the visitor centres at Caherconnell dates Fort, Aillwee from between 1189 to 1200. once much of north Munster, Cave, Doolin Cave, the Cliffs of Moher, Burren NaThe Cathedral contains some fine founded this medieval Franciscan Schools ture Sanctuary or the Doolin Ferry companies are carvings on grave slabs, windows friary. grew into a huge foundation, TheItGeopark geologist visits schools or provides all trained and happy to share their local knowledge. and doorways. Kilfenora also with 350 friars famed school online classes to and show aour younger generation the value studying ourbuilding fossils and rocks. boasts one of the most significant ofbeauty 600 and pupils byof 1375.

The We are delighted to be able to share some concentrations of high crosses in contains an exceptional wealth of of our latest fossil finds to the next generation who will Ireland, including the famed “Doorty fifteenthsixteenth-century look after theand Burren.

We are also very proud to D R . E A M O N D O Y L E , G E O PA R K G E O L O G I S T, M E A S U R I N G Cross”. sculptures carved in the local work with students participating in the annual BT WAT E R T E M P E R AT U R E AT A L I M E S TO N E S P R I N G Young Scientist of the Year competition.

Ennis Friary limestone.

Bunratty Castle and Folk Park Evening Course The Geopark geologist and the Burren Outdoor Education Centre have been running a very successful evening course for over 10 years. This

SHARING GEOLOGY WITH LOCAL SCHOOL C H I L D R E N AT C A R R O N N AT I O N A L S C H O O L

www.VisitClare.ie

22 FEATURES

Food for the soul

RONAN SCULLY

Thought for the week

I

WAS partaking in my daily swim close to where I live on a beautiful World Mental Health Day last Sunday when a lady who was also swimming in the same area along with others said to me, "It's great food for the soul and mind"!! It made me think right there and then that she was right for it was a glorious day and I was out partaking in its fullness. I reflected after my swim as I relaxed on the shoreline that the last year has already been the toughest, most worrying and upsetting of years.

As I was sitting there I was contemplating the fact that it was World Mental Health Day and while I recognized the importance and value of marking such a day, I realised that have been struggling at times with my own mental health for well over a year and especially in the aftermath of losing my beautiful young niece Aoife in a tragic car incident and losing other family members and very close friends over the past year and I really want to express to others that having an international world mental health awareness day is great and is so needed, but for everyone to also know that our mental health affects us in different ways for everyday of our year not just one day.

For the rest of this year, going forward and indeed as we enter into the darker days of the winter months, now more than ever we need to watch out for each other, for signs of stress or worry and they are there in all of us as we all make our journey through life. Even people who have all things in the right places and seem to have it all together are feeling underlying anxieties, worries and fears.

Some are even feeling much more.

I know plenty of family, friends, colleagues and neighbours who are suffering in silence and are overwhelmed by the enormity of what has happened to them since the Coronavirus arrived on our shores and knocked on our doors in terms of their businesses, their employment, family loss, illness, health problems, financial difficulties and many more.

Let's keep them all in our prayers today and including ourselves. It’s important to look out for each other but don’t forget to look out for yourself.

Tough Going

Life is awful tough going at times and trust me although you might not think it at times, I definitely truly know it is!! I am definitely not okay at times. At times I need help.

I need support. I need care. I need

love. I need forgiveness.

I need mercy. I need counselling.

I need prayers. I need guidance.

I need protection. I need care. At times I have felt and feel wrecked, lost, lonely, hurt, guilty, abused, bullied and abandoned. There I said it!!

We should all say it and have a good honest chat about how we feel at times. At times I am not okay.

I do get stressed, and I am a total worrier. I worry about my family.

I worry about my friends. I worry about my work colleagues.

At times I am sad and sometimes confused. I can be distant. At times I worry that I may not have the resources or wisdom to help my family and friends through the journey of life or do the work I need to do to help the poor, especially in Ireland and Africa.

Indeed there are times when I feel alone albeit that I am surrounded by loving, caring and the most amazing, brilliant people.

I get upset about things in life, in the past and in our world, particularly injustice and inequality in society. So at times I am not okay. At times we are all not okay. And you know what. That’s okay. Because I know I won’t always feel this way.

As my good friend David whom sadly passed away recently use to say to me regularly during our weekly get togethers, "This too shall pass."

Giving myself time, I will figure things out and I will pray for guidance and protection not to hurt myself or others. I will discover or rediscover my purpose or focus in life. I will be okay. I am lucky because feeling sad or down is temporary for me, and while I am regularly stressed and worried, I know I will be okay.

What I have found out as I approach my 55th year, is that sometimes society isn’t too keen on shows of weakness. We are expected to be the picture of health, fitness, beauty and knowledge and in my case to raise loads of funding for charity. There is a lot of pressure on each of us. We must be strong and determined. We put pressure on ourselves to be perfect all the time although that pressure may come from others, a family member, a friend, a colleague, although they might not even know they are doing it, but you know it and you feel it.

I personally find it exhausting trying to live up to that expectation.

At times I don’t know why I keep trying. As well as that, I have always been self-critical. I beat myself up over tiny things, the smallest mistakes.

I have a large blackthorn stick as my friend David would say to me,

that although it's imaginary I beat myself up with it daily. I’ll over analyze conversations and events, wondering if I said the wrong thing and what the other person thinks of me now.

I lose sleep over decisions even the ones I made years ago, wondering what I could have done differently or said differently. I have let people down, especially those closest to me at times. I often get wrapped up in trying to be perfect, in trying to please everyone around me except those who mean the world to me, my wife, my family, my friends, colleagues and neighbours. I have to regularly remind myself that it’s a fruitless cause.

Perfection doesn’t exist although at times you try to convince yourself it does. I keep doing the bad I don’t want to do rather than doing the good I always want to do and try so hard each day to do. You can’t make everyone happy all the time. And I’m learning that that’s okay even if I have already spent more than 54 years in this world of ours on this journey called Life trying to do exactly that!! I am learning to forgive myself for not being perfect. And I’m learning to forgive myself for not always being okay and for not always being a good friend to the people who are good friends to me.

Because right now as I write this piece, I’m not. But I also know that I have the ability to change that and that who I am makes a difference for good even if I doubt that a lot at times.

Thought for the week

As your thought for the week, remember, everything will be okay if we love and believe in ourselves, and understand that hope floats around us and when we can we should always spread that hope and love with others especially those who mean the most to us and to those most in need.

May you always feel the loving presence of those who hold you in their thoughts and prayers.

May your spirit find what it needs to sustain you in your quest for your goal in life and make you look before you leap and have faith in your leap and may you discover your inner strength and face all difficulties with dignity and grace. So today or this week if you can maybe do one small thing to brighten up a family member, a friend, a colleague or a neighbours day.

Get out in the fresh air for yourself if you can but do check in how you’re feeling and be gentle and kind with yourself too. You’re not alone, there is always hope and remember to nourish your soul and mind with all things good and kind.

As St. Teresa of Avila prays, "Let nothing disturb you; let nothing frighten you. All things are passing away; God never changes. Patient endurance obtains all things. Those who seek after God lack for nothing; God alone is sufficient. Amen."

THURSDAY, OCT 14 2021

Clare schools back bid to plant trees

SAVE THE TREES: Self Help Africa fundraiser Ronan Scully (centre) is pictured with, from left, Meath footballer Niamh O'Sullivan, 3 year old Sophie Tallon, his daughter, 11 year old Sophie Scully, Mary Magnier of the INTO, and Dublin all-Ireland winner Ciaran Kilkenny, at the launch of the One MIllion Trees Schools campaign

ELAINE TUBRIDY elaine.tubridy@clareecho.ie

S

CHOOLS in County Clare and the MidWest are being urged to sign up to support a nationwide campaign that’s aiming to plant tens of thousands of trees in a single day to combat climate change.

Schools that support the initiative will receive a native Irish tree sapling per classroom, and get the chance to support communities across sub-Saharan Africa, who are seeking to plant 100,000 trees in December and early next Spring.

The school's tree planting is part of development organisation Self Help Africa’s ‘One Million Trees’ campaign, which is planting a million trees in Africa and 100,000 new native trees in Ireland, each year.

The campaign is being backed by the Irish National Teachers Organisation (INTO), and by sports stars from the

Gaelic Players Association (GPA).

Self Help Africa's Business Development representative Ronan Scully said that schoolchildren were extremely passionate about the environment.

"They’re alarmed by the stories that they read and hear about global warming, and want change. Young people are already actively engaged with initiatives like Green Schools, they are frequently the champions of waste reduction and recycling in the home, and they understand how important trees are to removing damaging greenhouse gases from the atmosphere,” he said.

Self Help Africa will distribute tree seedlings and planting materials to hundreds of communities across 15 countries as a part of the initiative, and is aiming to plant 25,000 on December 3rd, and an additional 75,000 trees in Africa to support the schools initiative.

To read more and get involved, visit: selfhelpafrica. org/onemilliontrees

IT'S TIME TO SPLIT

STRENGTH TRAINING: Ezra Zane sessions at Clare Youth Service start on October 21. To book or find out more, contact Eve at depp@clareyouthservice.org

THURSDAY, OCT 14 2021

Community ENNIS

COMMUNITY 23 CONTACT

NEWSDESK 065 671 9021 news@clareecho.ie

ENNIS

RED CROSS FUNDRAISER

THE Irish Red Cross Clare will hold a fundraiser on this Friday at Geraghty Spar, Ennis & Saturday Homesaver Ballymaley, Ennis All funds raised is for our Training Unit & Ambulance Centre.

Please give generously.

ENNIS BRIDGE RESUMES

BRIDGE resumed at the Temple Gate Hotel in Ennis on October 3 after being closed from beginning of pandemic.

Thomond Bridge Club Ennis President Danny Liddy hosted his Presidents Prize.

All new directives were strictly adhered to under the watchful eye of Tournament Director Diarmuid Reddan.

Vaccination Certs, individually owned bidding boxes, masks worn between tables along with sanitisation were all adhered to.

Perspex screens on each table had been purchased by Clare Community Bridge Centre.

Twenty-three pairs played and enjoyed being back to the Bridge table and meeting friends again.

Winners of Presidents Prize were Marie Kennedy and Susan Ward.

Second place went to Danny Dillon and Danny Liddy.

Best Gross were Angela Galligan and Mairead Carroll Third place was claimed by Anne Lough and Bridie Keane.

lNO ROOM FOR RACISM: Kerrie, Mahdiyah and Teo from SARI.ie (Sport Against Racism Ireland) visited 5th and 6th classes of Ms Coughlan. Mr Garry and Ms Cullinan at Scoil Chríost Rí in Cloughleigh and delivered workshops to challenge discrimination, promote cultural integration and drive social inclusion throughout Ireland through sport.

ENNIS

MILTOWN MALBAY WAR OF INDEPENDENCE LECTURE

OIDHREACHT an Chláir presents a lecture, The War of Independence: events in Miltown Malbay and district, 1920-21 by Dr Pádraig Óg Ó Ruairc on Saturday, October 16 at 8.00pm in the Community Centre, Miltown Malbay.

The talk will examine some of the key events of the War of Independence in Milltown Malbay and the surrounding district, including "The Canada Cross Massacre" in April 1920, the Rineen Ambush, the murder of Charles Lynch, the assassination of Constable Stanley Moore and the IRA's execution and "disappearance" of two British soldiers from the Royal Scots Regiment.

Dr Ó Ruairc is a native of Meelick, Co. Clare.

He has a PhD in History and has published

half a dozen books on the Irish Revolution of 1913-1923, including Blood on The Banner - The Republican Struggle in Clare. He is a regular contributor to RTÉ Radio & History Ireland Magazine.

Admission is free. Fáilte roimh chách. Vaccination certificate required.

As part of this commemorative project, which is supported by the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media under the Community Strand of the Decade of Centenaries programme, through Clare Co. Council, we shall also make, as a historical record for future generations, a videorecording (with commentary) of the eight houses in Miltown attacked and burnt

by Crown Forces in the reprisals of 1920 and 1921.

THE BURREN BURREN FOOD FAYRE

lCELEBRATION: Nigerian Independence Day Celebrations in Ennis to mark 61 years of independence

THE Burren Food Fayre is returning for a series of unique food and farm visitor experiences this October bank holiday weekend.

The event, which is organised by the Burren Ecotourism Network, marks its 10th year in operation, with a return to in person events.

It takes place between October 23rd and October 24th and coincides with the Burren Winterage Festival which celebrates the ancient custom of out-wintering cattle on the upland areas of the Burren, and is organised

by Burren Beo. Small groups of visitors will be able to prebook different itineraries, which will take them on a food trail across the length and breadth of the Burren. Five different experiences have been created, featuring a variety of different producers.

These include Burren Gold cheese (produced by Aillwee Cave), St Tola Goat

Cheese, Burren Smokehouse and Taste the Atlantic, Flaggy Shore Oysters, Wild Kitchen, Stonecutters Kitchen, Burren Brewery and Burren Distillers as well as a Burren tasting menu at the Cliffs of Moher.

There will also be an opportunity to take part in a diverse range of farm tours, including the Burren Farm Experience in Boston, Linalla Ice Cream and dairy farm in New Quay and Caherconnell Fort and Sheepdog trials in the Burren, all highlighting the distinctive farming practices of the Burren region.

“We hope that these events organised in conjunction with the Burren and Cliffs of Moher UNESCO Global Geopark will result in bringing more tourists to the area in previous years as visitors tend to make a weekend of it. It is fantastic to be back with in person events this year” said Birgitta Curtin, chairperson of the Burren Food Trail.

Tickets are available at Eventbrite.ie.

24 COLUMNIST

THURSDAY, OCT 14 2021

SEAFOOD CHOWDER

Kearney Cooks

T

HE evenings are closing in now, and it’s getting a bit cooler now as well. This is the sort of weather that soups, stews and casseroles were made for.

Or even that my Super Simple Wild Atlantic Seafood Chowder was made for! I love Chowder, and have it regularly enough.

We have good quality fish in Clare, and we really should cook with it more. The below recipe feeds four, but it is one that I sometimes double and freeze half of so that I can have it at short notice.

YOU WILL NEED: • 250g mixed seafood. I recommend salmon, smoked haddock and hake.

• 2 streaky bacon rashers • 1 onion • 1 potato • 1 carrot • 1 bunch of chives • 1 garlic clove • 2 star anise • 500ml vegetable or chicken stock • 150 ml milk • 250 ml cream • Salt and pepper to season • Half a teaspoon cornflour Step 1 Chop all your veg into cubes and bacon into strips. Fry the bacon off in a hot pot and then set aside until later.

Then in the same pot fry off your onion, carrot and potatoes.

When they are beginning to brown add back in your bacon along with the garlic.

Step 2 Cover your fried veggies and bacon with your stock and milk. Add in your fish to poach. Also add in your star anise at this point.

Leave to simmer for 10 minutes. After 10 minutes add in your cream and stir it through and then leave simmer for another five minutes.

Step 3 Chop your chives and add them to the pot. Your chowder can be served now, but if you want it slightly thicker, then mix half a tablespoon of cornflour with some cold water, stir it through the soup and allow it to cook out and thicken your chowder.

R

Step 4 Season well with seasalt and black pepper. Serve it up with some sexy soda bread and some real Irish butter. And horse into it.

This is a recipe that you can play around a little bit with. I know one lad that adds cinnamon to his version and another friend of mine puts chillies in hers.

Don’t be afraid to experiment with flavours. Also, you can add many different fish as well, and shellfish such as mussels and prawns go very well in this.

As usual if you have any questions please feel free to dm me on Instagram. Also, keep an eye on The Clare Echo Facebook page and my Instagram page (stevekearney37) for the instructional video that goes with this recipe.

Enjoy

Steve K

Make the most of it

ebecca O’Neill

S

This week, beauty therapist Rebecca O’Neill shares her thoughts on taking ownershup over your own life

INCE last week was mental health week, I really wanted to discuss how structure plays a major part of how we

live.

It is so important to take ownership of your life rather than letting life take ownership of you.

It does pose questions like, what is my routine and what do I do to benefit myself everyday?

Some people tend not to realise why they could be feeling somewhat down and may pinpoint their sad feelings to one particular thing, but in reality this could also be down to their routine.

Analyse everything that makes you happy. Brainstorm the advantages and disadvantages of that negative voice in your head.

We tend to resort to comfort when we feel fragile, we also tend to have setbacks in our routine, but this is all part of how life works.

Setbacks can end with one thing positive like getting back on track and being motivated.

often don’t realise how much control we have over our own lives.

We can make as many changes as we want and have the blessing of creating a positive frame of mind.

CALENDAR: Creating a schedule will give you a sense of control

TAKING OWNERSHIP: How you view life is very important when it comes to setting a schedule. It is good to realise that this is part of taking care of yourself and to declutter the mind. When the mind is in overdrive it can create an overwhelming feeling and trigger your fight or flight response which can make things worse. But being able

to hack that part of your brain by staying organised and productive is very beneficial when it comes to your outlook on life itself.

I have eventually learned what should be important in my everyday life and it has made me prioritise my schedule a lot more than ever. Making these small changes is a step closer to ultimately being happy and less overwhelmed. We

MAKING THE CHANGE: So change can be scary. It can make you feel very uncomfortable especially if you don’t know if you’re making the right decision. Believe it or not making a positive change is the best thing you can ever do with your life. For example small daily habits like: a to do list in bullet points, morning affirmation, reading, exercise or going for a walk.

These are all things that can do nothing but good.

Another piece of advice that I have learned, is to start your day with one uncomfortable thing, so that any obstacle that may appear throughout, won’t effect you as much as it used to. The uncomfortable thing could be a cold shower or exercise. Productivity is key to viewing life in a positive way.

COLUMNIST 25

THURSDAY, OCT 14 2021

Eoin Neylon

An inside look at Clare’s political spectrum

Closing Date Extended to Friday 22nd October 2021

A blast from the past T UESDAY’S budget was a blast from the past for me. Not because of anything particularly nostalgic about the process, nor the fact that proceedings were back in Leinster House after the Covid enforced trip to the Convention Centre last year.

No, this year it was my approach to the budget, or more accurately the run up to it, that made it more reminiscent of the pre-social media age for me.

In the weeks preceding Paschal Donohoe and Michael McGrath presenting their suite of measures before the Dáil, I decided that I was going to avoid all leaks, all the kite flying and all the speculation in the press and online.

Not an easy thing to do in this day and age.

It was akin to a Netflix series that everyone else had already watched through, but I was waiting until the day, trying to avoid any spoilers along the way.

Despite the temptation, and via the blocking of tweets with certain terms temporarily, I managed to get to Tuesday with not a clue as to what exactly would be announced, in a bid to take it all in and judge the whole package in one chunk at the same time.

By Tuesday afternoon, my feelings were decidedly underwhelmed on a personal level.

Like everyone else, rising prices have been biting, especially due to the gas heating in my house. Inflation has taken a hard toll on any disposable income I used to have so it came as great disappointment when I weighed up the sum total of the packages being proposed by Government to deduce, via a helpful online calculator, that the entirety of the Finance Minister’s measures would leave me in the region of

just €415 better off for 2022.

However, with the bills rising, plus the added carbon taxes and other levies announced, this figure will be burned out not long into 2022 as it stands.

As Tánaiste Leo Varadkar said later in the day, he admitted that the tax cuts for workers would likely not cover inflation alone.

On reflection on the wider picture, it proved a relatively good budget for young people, parents and social protection recipients.

For parents, there is an increase in the back-to-school allowance and eligibility, school transport, extra teachers to bring down the pupil ratio and 1,165 extra SNA posts as well as a whopping €716mn investment in childcare which was badly overdue.

On social welfare, the combined increase for the year ahead for someone in receipt of a state support is in the region of €400 to €560 on average, depending on one’s individual circumstances and entitlements.

The social welfare budget is to increase by €558mn, the largest increase since the halcyon days of the Celtic Tiger and Bertie-nomics.

Political Economics Professor Aidan Regan of UCD calculated that the bottom 20% of earners fared best from the budget between the social welfare increased, as well as the rise in the minimum wage.

Yet, this is still far from a ‘giveaway’ budget as much pundits attempted to describe it.

The measures were curtailed with half price public transport and free contraception for women capped to those in their late teens and early 20’s and just a one-year increase in free GP care.

It’s clear the rising nation-

al debt and future bill for emergency Covid supports spending (roughly equivalent to that of the bank bailout ten years ago) has weighed on the mind of Paschal Donohoe.

Nevertheless, housing remained a glaring omission from the headline budget measures.

The Government will argue that the ‘Housing for All’ plan is the suite of measures that is designed to deal with the housing crisis and that these measures have already been announced and budgeted for.

That said, the main measure in the budget, the vacant site levy being reformed into the zoned site tax, was very disappointing.

Although the measure is, on the face of it, an improvement as it will be more targeted with fewer exemptions, the rate is to drop from seven per cent to three per cent and therefore below current site price inflation.

Although still a disincentive to land hoarding, it is a missed opportunity to light a fire under landowners to developed zoned and serviced sites around the country.

The flip side to this being, there simply is not enough labour nor building materials in the country to build on all these sites should they all go for construction.

This is another issue in the provision of housing the Government and Opposition alike still have no ideas or answers when questioned how they might address this shortfall.

So, a mixed budget with some sweeteners for many, but in the cold light of day, these increases will likely be eaten up with rampant inflation.

It will keep the Government treading water as we continue to rebuild post-pandemic.

Clare County Council is currently inviting applications from suitably qualified persons for the below competitions. Clare County Council will, following the interview process, form panels for the areas set out below from which future relevant vacancies may be filled subject to sanction approval from the Department of Housing, Local Government & Heritage.

• GENERAL OPERATIVE PANEL 2021 Applicants must: •

Have a good standard of general education.

•

Demonstrate previous relevant experience in any of the following areas roads, water, building, construction, landscaping, and/or related activities.

•

Hold a Current Full Class B Driving Licence.

Applicants should note that in the event of a large volume of applications being received, desktop short listing may take place based on the type, length, and relevance of previous experience.

Application forms and further particulars may be obtained by requesting same from the Human Resources Department, Clare County Council at 065-6846251, via e-mail: recruitment@clarecoco.ie or can be downloaded from the following website: www.clarecoco.ie.

Completed applications must be emailed to: recruitment@clarecoco.ie not later than 4.00 p.m. on Friday 22nd October 2021.

Clare County Council is an equal opportunities employer and welcomes applications from all sectors of the Community.

Scriobh chugainn as gaeilge más fearr leat.

Closing Date Extended to Tuesday 19th October 2021 Clare County Council is currently inviting applications from suitably qualified persons for the below competitions. Clare County Council will, following the interview process, form panels for the areas set out below from which future relevant vacancies may be filled subject to sanction approval from the Department of Housing, Local Government & Heritage.

• GRADUATE PLANNER Application forms and further particulars may be obtained by requesting same from the Human Resources Department, Clare County Council at 065-6846251, via e-mail: recruitment@clarecoco.ie or can be downloaded from the following website: www.clarecoco.ie.

Completed applications must be emailed to: recruitment@clarecoco.ie not later than 4.00 p.m. on Tuesday 19th October 2021.

Clare County Council is an equal opportunities employer and welcomes applications from all sectors of the Community.

Scriobh chugainn as gaeilge más fearr leat.

Closing Date Extended to Tuesday 19th October 2021 Clare County Council is currently inviting applications from suitably qualified persons for the below competitions. Clare County Council will, following the interview process, form panels for the areas set out below from which future relevant vacancies may be filled subject to sanction approval from the Department of Housing, Local Government & Heritage.

• TECHNICIAN GRADE 1 – CIVIL – ARCHITECTURAL/BUILDING Application forms and further particulars may be obtained by requesting same from the Human Resources Department, Clare County Council at 065-6846251, via e-mail: recruitment@clarecoco.ie or can be downloaded from the following website: www.clarecoco.ie.

Completed applications must be emailed to: recruitment@clarecoco.ie not later than 4.00 p.m. on Tuesday 19th October 2021.

Clare County Council is an equal opportunities employer and welcomes applications from all sectors of the Community.

Scriobh chugainn as gaeilge más fearr leat.

26 RECRUITMENT

THURSDAY, OCT 14 2021

2c

RETAIL AND PHOTO

LAB ASSISTANT

SAFE PASS CONFINED SPACE CHEMICAL AWARENESS MANUAL HANDLING Venue:

Bus Card_V1.indd 1

2d

02/03/2020 13:33

B2 Corcanree Business Park, Dock Road, Limerick



AMBER SAFETY

TRAINING & CONSULTANCY SOLUTIONS TO BOOK THESE TRAINING COURSES



www.ambersafety.ie

or call

061 302520 / 087 3356704



STAFF REQUIRED 2e

ENNIS

Delivery Driver x 2

AMBER SAFETY

TRAINING & CONSULTANCY SOLUTIONS

We are looking for two delivery drivers for our store in Ennis.

Approximately 10-16 hours a week, must have a full clean driving licence.

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Contact Kelly in store or call (065) 682 0914

A PPLY W I T H CV TO IN FO @FUJIEN N IS. IE

BROTHERS OF CHARITY SERVICES IRELAND CLARE REGION INTELLECTUAL DISABILITY SERVICES

BROTHERS OF CHARITY SERVICES IRELAND CLARE REGION INTELLECTUAL DISABILITY SERVICES

COMMUNITY MANAGER

SOCIAL CARE WORKER

Region Ennis

Contracts Available Permanent Full Time

Hours 78/78

Region Shannon

Contracts Available Permanent Full Time

Hours 74/74

Region Ennis

Contracts Available Permanent Part-Time & Relief Specified Purpose & Relief

Hours 46.8/78

Shannon & Newmarket on Fergus Kilrush

INSTRUCTOR Region Shannon

Contracts Available Specified Purpose

Hours 70/78

SUPPORT WORKERS

FINANCIAL ACCOUNTANT Region Ennis

Contracts Available Permanent Part-Time

Permanent Full Time & Relief

Hours 0/78 up to 60/78 0/78, 35/78 & 78/78 78/78 & 0/78

Further details available on www.irishjobs.ie Application via www.irishjobs.ie Applicants must, on date of Application, have a Full Clean Driving Licence

Further details available on www.irishjobs.ie Application via www.irishjobs.ie Applicants must, on date of Application, have a Full Clean Driving Licence

Please note you may be called forward for interview at short notice

Please note you may be called forward for interview at short notice

SHORTLISTING MAY APPLY ● PANELS MAY BE FORMED ● CANVASSING WILL DISQUALIFY ● EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES EMPLOYER

SHORTLISTING MAY APPLY ● PANELS MAY BE FORMED ● CANVASSING WILL DISQUALIFY ● EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES EMPLOYER

BUSINESS 27

THURSDAY, OCT 14 2021

AAG acquisition of Lufthansa Technik Shannon to save 300 jobs but result in 180 redundancies

by PÁRAIC McMAHON OVER 300 jobs in Shannon have been secured with Atlantic Aviation Group (AAG) acquiring Lufthansa Technik Shannon Ltd (LTSL) from its German parent Lufthansa Technik (AG) while 180 redundancies will be sought as part of the merger.

Under the terms of the deal, approximately 300 Lufthansa Technik Shannon employees will join the AAG group. This will bring AAG’s total workforce to approximately 740 people across sites in Shannon and Brize Norton in the UK. Approximately 180 roles are to be made redundant, the majority of which will be mechanics. The consultation process around the proposed redundancies will commence over the coming weeks and will be in management roles, direct roles in production, administration and support staff. LTSL will now enter a consultation period with employee representatives with the transfer of shares in LTSL to AAG is expected to be completed by 31 March 2022.

Terms of the sale will remain confidential, a spokesperson told The Clare Echo. The deal is subject to approval from the LHT Supervisory Board. In June, Lufthansa Technik began carrying out a strategic review of its Shannon operations which posed worries for the 300 jobs in the county.

Among the options it considered were a restructuring of its Irish operation, closing down of the plant and the selling of the business.

Prior to COVID-19, over 500 persons were employed by Lufthansa Technik in Shannon. However the onset of the pandemic resulted in this figure dropping to in or around

the 300 mark. An operating loss of €318m was recorded by Lufthansa last year, this compares with a €403m operating profit from 2019. Combined sales of €65m in 2020 were recorded by the German firm’s Shannon business, this was a 28 percent drop on the €90m in sales a year previously.

As a result of purchasing LTSL, AAG is now the largest MRO in Ireland and is on track to become one of the largest independent MROs in Europe. In February, AAG announced the acquisition of Flybe’s former aviation maintenance services operations at Brize Norton in Oxfordshire, England.

Chief Executive of AAG, Shane O’Neill said the development represented “a good day for Irish aviation”. He stated, In bringing Lufthansa Technik Shannon into the AAG family, we will be creating a platform for future success. We are proud to be able to secure approximately 300 jobs for the region – a majority of roles from the outgoing Lufthansa Technik Shannon business”.

CEO and MD of Lufthansa Technik Shannon Ltd, Pat Shine outlined that COVID-19 led to “an extensive strategic review of the business to determine its future. Every option was explored, the priority being to protect the maximum number of jobs and the specialist experience of the LTSL workforce. "

Ennis Tidy Towns scoop first of Business Excellence Awards STUART HOLLY

E

editor@clareecho.ie

NNIS Tidy Towns have been announced as the winner of the Voluntary/ Community Award at the 2021 Clare Business Excellence & Resilience Awards.

Ennis Tidy Towns are the first winner at the 2021 awards as finalists across 12 other categories have been announced ahead of the ceremony in glór on October 28.

The category, sponsored by St Francis Credit Union, is to acknowledge voluntary groups which have played a significant role in enhancing the quality of life in their local community. As winners, Ennis Tidy Towns will also be awarded a cash prize of €500.

The group which has more than 40 volunteers and a committee of 20, has achieved huge success historically at the Supervalu Ireland Tidy Towns Awards and are current

COMMUNITY: Cormac McCarthy (right)

holders of the Tidiest Large Urban Centre title.

Over the last 18 months Ennis Tidy Towns committee hasn’t been able to physically meet, yet despite this has managed to submit the same number of projects in their national submission as in a regular

year.

Cormac McCarthy has been chairperson of Ennis Tidy Towns for four years and a member for six. Having been named finalists in 2019, Cormac said to this year win the Voluntary/Community award at the Clare Business Excellence

& Resilience Awards is an honour.

“We’re absolutely honoured and I’d like to say a big thank you to all our volunteers who go out on a very regular basis to not only make the town look well – that’s how people mainly see Tidy Towns, as being out litter picking or weeding – but the awards really gave us a platform to show how we do work in the area of sustainability, biodiversity, heritage, social inclusion and all those other areas.

Cormac acknowledged continued efforts from volunteers despite disruptions from Government restrictions. “The strength of the committee was very evident during Covid. We managed to keep Tidy Towns on the road… We would arrange contactless drop-offs of litter-picking equipment to new volunteers and we got a tremendous uptake on that.”

Ennis Tidy Towns were also recognised for its work on social inclusion with new volunteers coming on board from local groups such as the Brothers of Charity.

“Everyone recognises that for everyone to be able to contribute to their local community is hugely important for their own self-esteem and wellbeing,” says Cormac.

Judges praised the dynamism of the Ennis Tidy Towns group along with its contributions which make Ennis a great place to live.

“This is a voluntary group that conducts itself with a level of professionalism typical of an ambitious business. A clear, dynamic strategy informs the work of Ennis Tidy Towns through grassroots community engagement, social inclusion and a respect for environment.

“They foster a sense of community, engagement and empowerment to help make Ennis a great place to live, work and visit.” The judges also commended their ability to deliver projects alone and in partnership.

Ennis Tidy Towns are currently planning their local annual awards which will return later this year after a hiatus in 2020.

Congratulations to Ennis Tidy Towns

on winning Best Voluntary/Community Group

28 RECRUITMENT

THURSDAY, OCT 14 2021

Finalists announced for Business Excellence Awards STUART HOLLY

T

editor@clareecho.ie

HE finalists of the 2021 Clare Business Excellence & Resilience Awards have been announced.

After a year’s absence due to the pandemic, the awards coordinated by Ennis Chamber of Commerce have returned with gusto in 2021 with a new title to reflect the variety of businesses which have not only survived the economic turmoil of the pandemic, but continue to pivot and prosper.

There are 13 categories this year and overall 40 businesses have been shortlisted for the finals, with all attempting to win the overall category which is sponsored by the event’s main sponsor Clare County Council.

Two new categories have been introduced to this year’s awards list to reflect the changing business landscape.

The ‘Resilience Award’, sponsored by Cup Print, recognises a business that pivoted in order to adapt to changed conditions and demands. Finalists in this category include glór, Western Herd (McHugh’s Bar), Julie Kilmartin Educational Services and Palm Free Soap.

The ‘Commitment to Training Award’, sponsored by Regional Skills Mid-West, celebrate businesses that leveraged training opportunities to ramp up management and employee skills. Fi-

RESILIENCE: Pictured at the at the Ennis Chamber Breakfast at the Old Ground Hotel are (l-r) Darragh McAllister, Ennis Chamber President, Margaret O’Brien, Ennis Chamber, An Cathlaoirleach, Clare County Council, PJ Ryan and Padraic McElwee, Head of Enterprise with Local Enterprise Office Clare

Photo by Arthur Ellis

nalists here are Bridget Haren Hair & Beauty, County Boutique, and Cliffs of Moher Visitor Experience.

Independent adjudicators Spotcheck Northern Ireland completed mystery visits for categories involving retail, hospitality, tourism and customer service.

The judging panel stated of the finalists, “Award competitions like Clare Business Excellence & Resilience Awards are only just coming back after a forced hiatus and we congratulate Ennis Chamber and County Clare for being amongst the first to put their annual busi-

ness awards back in the calendar.

Our mystery shoppers were particularly impressed by the excellent level of customer service on display, whether amongst retailers who had remained open throughout Covid lockdowns or those more recently re-opened.

THE FINALISTS

"It cannot be easy for any business to change their business model so significantly and yet retain a high level of service and outward friendliness which we witnessed consistently across County Clare.”

Organisers of the Awards Ennis Chamber commented, “We were delighted with the volume and most importantly the quality of entries received this year. We didn’t know what to expect when we launched the awards last June, everyone was so fatigued by Covid, but the response has been fantastic.”

Margaret O’Brien, CEO, Ennis Chamber said, “We would like to thank all of the business who entered this year’s awards, we only wish we had an award for each and every one, they deserve it for surviving such unprecedented times.

More than any other year we salute our finalists, the competition was red hot this year. Being named a finalist is a great achievement.”

The winners will be revealed on Thursday October 28 at the awards ceremony to be held at glór, Ennis.

MC on the night is comedian and author Colm O’Regan.

Ms O’Brien added, “We could not have run the awards this year without the support of our category sponsors and we wish to thank them all sincerely.

"We also wish to acknowledge and thank Clare County Council for its continued support as the overall sponsor of Clare Business Excellence Awards and we would like to take this opportunity to thank the team at The Clare Echo for being such great media sponsors.”

BUSINESS SUPPORTING COMMUNITY - sponsored by Essilor  Clare FM  EI Electronics  Top Industrial

CLARE PROFESSIONAL SERVICES EXCELLENCE AWARD – Sponsored by AIB  Sherry FitzGerald McMahon  Cashin Clancy Solicitors  Cahir Environmental Services

RESILIENCE AWARD  Glór  Western Herd (McHugh’s Bar)  Julie Kilmartin Educational Services  Palm Free Soap

BEST GREEN AND SUSTAINABLE PRACTISES – Sponsored by Rengen  Palm Free Soap  Falls Hotel  Cliffs of Moher Visitor Experience  Burren Ecotourism Network

BEST HOSPITALITY - Sponsored by Shannon Region Conference & Sports Bureau  Lahinch Coast Hotel  Mondo Coffee Shop (Ennis)  Shannon Springs Hotel

BEST USE OF DIGITAL MARKETING AND SOCIAL MEDIA - sponsored by Clare Echo  Ollie’s Tours  Hotel Woodstock  Lyon’s Garages (Miltown Malbay)  Doolin Ferry Company

BEST MICRO BUSINESS – Sponsored by LEO Clare  Wix and Wax  Palm Free Soap  Top Industrial  CSGL Electrical Wholesalers BEST TOURISM EXPERIENCE  Cliffs of Moher Visitor Experience  Ollie’s Tours  Aillwee Cave & Birds of Prey Centre  Doolin Ferry Company

COMMITMENT TO TRAINING – sponsored by Regional Skills Mid-West  Bridget Haren Hair & Beauty  County Boutique  Cliffs of Moher Visitor Experience CUSTOMER SERVICE EXCELLENCE - sponsored by McKeogh Gallagher Ryan  Bridget Haren Hair & Beauty  Lahinch Coast Hotel  O’Connor’s Bakery, Ennis Shopping Centre  Seoidin

RETAILER OF THE YEAR - sponsored by Ability IT Solutions  Gleeson Goldsmiths  County Boutique  Torpey Wood Products  O’Connor’s Bakery, Shannon

30

Celebrate Christmas at

M

ANAGEMENT and staff at Nora Culligans Bar in Abbey Street, Ennis are really looking forward to celebrating Christmas with their customers this year.

“We missed that so much last year and so now more than ever we are determined to ensure that everybody who comes to celebrate with us in Nora’s this year will have a super night and receive excellent customer service. We made lots of little changes and improvements in Nora’s during lockdown which we hope the customers will like and will contribute to an even more positive customer experience this Christmas,” said owner Barry O’Keeffe.

Nora’s has a number of areas suitable for staff Christmas parties or special celebrations such as the sophisticated Balcony bar upstairs with its own outdoor area or the comfortable and chilled out lounge area downstairs or its cosy whiskey bar

with its dramatic cabinetry displaying an impressive and growing collection of whiskies.

While Nora’s doesn’t serve food we are happy to arrange to bring in finger food options for Christmas parties and special celebrations and we will liaise with customers to find an option to suit their taste and budget.

As an extra bit of fun this year parties can opt to have a specially tailored mini cocktail or shot served on arrival to their party.

Anyone who has been to Nora’s will know that there is always great tunes playing there and this Christmas will be no different. Great tunes will be played by our house DJ and top quality bands will be raising the roof with great hits old and new.

The decorations are coming out of storage soon and we promise a WOW experience in Nora’s this Christmas. Contact us now to book in for some festive fun!

For enquiries contact Nora’s on 065-6824954 or dm on Facebook/Instagram.

NORA CULLIGANS

THURSDAY, OCT 14 2021

CHRISTMAS PARTIES 31

32

1

Plan the perfect party

Get planning – now!

It may feel like you’re only just dusting off your onesie ready for the winter, but the best venues get booked up, fast. You don’t want to be left with only the dodgy local as an option.

2

Get out of the office No one wants to spend their Christmas party in the cramped office break room, with a sad radio pumping out Cliff does Christmas in the corner. Find a venue which is easy to get to. If you do have to stay in-house, choose a room away from your normal work area and make it festive.

3

Send an invite Make it feel like a special event that people can look forward to. Make your invite fun and eye-catching to really get peo-

ple in the festive mood.

4

Decide on a Christmas party theme No party is complete without a theme to tie it all together. Here’s your chance to get creative. Perhaps it’s Christmas past, or novelty hats. Or you could even plan an activity to really get everyone involved.

5

Include a competition Whether it’s ‘best Christmas jumper’ or ‘best achievement of the year’, everyone loves a competition and it’s a fantastic ice-breaker. You could even take it a step further and include the competition as part of your theme.

6

Plan a great menu Whatever you do, remember to include enough food for

the day and night. Drinks will be flowing, so find out your budget and look for a menu which has something for everyone.

7

Treat everyone like guests to your own party Greet them at the door and make sure they know where to put their coat and get a drink. This is a great way to put people at ease, especially if you’ve chosen an unusual venue.

8

Take lots of photos Time to get the Christmas pudding sweaters out; Great for a giggle when sober January kicks in. You could even make a short video for real cringe-factor, just try and stay away from the photocopier…

in O’Connell’s

33

Boss that Kris Kindle gift

K

RIS Kindle gifts can be a nightmare to navigate. You want your gift to be memorable and useful, but you don’t want it to be boring.

You also want to hit the right tone if your workplace decides

to purchase novelty gifts. They should be amusing, but not offensive and the joke should never be at the expense of the person receiving the gift.

Our advice is to keep it simple and classy.

Do a little research on the person you need to buy a gift for and These Techmade bluetooth earbuds from THE KILKENNY SHOP are a win-win.

Gerry from IT services can listen to his podcasts away and you get a bit of peace and quiet.

A bargain at just €26. kilkennyshop.com

€26

go for something tasteful. Your Kris Kindle buddy will appreciate the time and effort you put into choosing your gift. We would also suggest putting a company wide price limit on the gifts.

Christmas is an expensive time of year and keeping the cost to a reasonable level is a must.

For those who like to live live on the boujie side, these soapstone whiskey stones from WILD ATLANTIC LIVING are a must. Pop them in the freezer two hours before use and they will keep your tipple cold without losing that neat taste. The whiskey stones will set you back €24.99. wildatlanticliving.com

€25

Perfume is a very personal choice and it can be difficult to get it right. This is where THE BURREN PERFUMERY Fragrances Discovery Pack comes in. The beautifully wrapped gift box contains testers of each of their eight fragrances, all blended and bottled by hand at their headquarters in Carran. Yours for €30. burrenperfumery.com

€30

If you really haven’t a clue what tp get for your Kris Kindle gift, then this slogan mug from DUNNES STORES is a good shout.

Besides, everyone needs a little bit of encouragement at times. Fill it with Cadbury’s Roses and you’re winning. A great budget option at just €5. dunnesstores.com

€5

34 CHRISTMAS PARTIES

THURSDAY, OCT 14 2021

THURSDAY, OCT 14 2021

CHRISTMAS PARTIES 35

36

Christmas Party Etiquette WE’VE all been there. You had one too many orange juices at the office Christmas party and said something you regretted/were sick into a Christmas tree/sang an awful rendition of Baby it’s cold outside with all of your colleagues watching on transfixed. They talked about nothing else for weeks after and your face was as red as Santa’s hat until Easter.

Nightmare. Avoid any shindig faux-pas this year with our handy Office Christmas Party etiquette guide.

Celebrate

magic happens!

Party Packages €35.00 per person

Christmas Lunches €25.00 per person

Festive Afternoon Tea From €22.00 per person

To book or for more information call 061.364047 or email: info@shannonspringshotel.com

The place to be for all your Festive Party

Dress appropriately

The office Christmas party is not the time or place to turn up wearing a “hilarious” slogan t-shirt or a thigh high mini skirt. Keep it classy, people. Having said that, if your Christmas party involves an outdoor activity or some kind of workshop, don’t show up wearing a ballgown or a tuxedo. These are extreme examples, but you get the gist.

Thank you, next

The mullet

Business in the front, party in the back.

We are all tempted to let our hair down once that first drop of Baileys hits, but be very careful. Go for half up, half down. As in, enjoy yourself, but keep an eye on how much you are drinking and don’t be under pressure to keep up with rounds. Sip water throughout the night too. The last thing you want is to be bundled into a taxi at 10pm.

Christmas 2021 at the Shannon Springs Hotel & The Old Lodge Gastro Pub SSH…This is where the

mind, so try and remember to not say the thing that feels like a great idea to mention.

Chances are it’s really not. Sharon from accounts will not appreciate you telling her that the email she sent you last week made you want to tear your hair out. Keep the conversation light and unrelated to work.

Celebrations this year…

061 364 047 | WWW.SHANNONSPRINGSHOTEL.COM BALLYCASEY, SHANNON, CO. CLARE

Hold your tongue

Another alcohol related pointer. Alcohol has an uncanny ability to make us speak our

Be sure to express your gratitude to the person or persons who organised the party. Trying to please everyone is no easy feat and they will appreciate you taking the time to thank them for their efforts. This is especially necessary if they were mindful of your special dietary requirements, for example.

What goes on tour stays on tour

Lastly, if someone does happen to make a holly show of themselves, let s/he who has not sinned cast the first bit of tinsel. Everyone makes mistakes and trust us, they are suffering enough on the inside without you adding to their embarrassment. Pretend nothing happened and they will be forever grateful, especially if it was your boss.

THURSDAY, OCT 14 2021

CHRISTMAS PARTIES 37

38

Why are Christmas parties important?

S

OMETIMES we forget why Christmas parties should be company policy when the festive season rolls around. A good office Christmas party can improve the team morale and benefit your company massiveky.

Recognize the hard work your staff and colleagues did over the past year and say thank you by giving them a brilliant Christmas party!

Parties are great for team building and bonding. Staff will be able to get to know each other better in a setting that is fun, relaxing and enjoyable.

Letting go after a stressful year will be a great motivator to work hard in the coming year and its also a way of thanking your staff for their hard work.

A company celebration will help staff remember what the company is all about and why team spirit is important to you and how you can improve team morale.

Being out of the office and a change of scenery will allow everyone to relax and enjoy themselves without the pressure and potential stress from work.

Most employees will show their true feel-

ings about the company at work. During a party, employees and managers can chat about things much more easily, giving you an opportunity to make improvements for the future of your office and ensuring it’s a better place to work overall.

Parties also emphasize team spirit and help to retain your company employees presenting an environment they want to work in.

Be cautious but not overly tight about how much money is spent on the Christmas party. Speak to the company accountants about how a party can “save money” used as expenses and even possible tax benefits.

Setting a good party says a lot about your own personality and reflects on what the company is really about. What kind of person and leader are you? It reflects general leadership of the company overall.

A Christmas party is a must. Make sure you host a Christmas party for your staff.

It will send a negative message in your company and your employees will not thank you for that. Remember it’s a way of showing your staff how much you appreciate them!

Lucas Bar PARTY TIME

74 Parnell St, Ennis, Co. Clare 087 626 3229

THURSDAY, OCT 14 2021

CHRISTMAS PARTIES 39

Beautiful homes all over the County

Property

MILTOWN ROAD KILKEE CO CLARE

ROSS, KILBAHA, LOOP HEAD PENINSULA CO. CLARE

40

THURSDAY, OCT 14 2021

€250,000

THIS well located, deceivingly spacious, 4 bedroom property comes to the market in excellent condition. Located within walking distance of the beach and all amenities and with some distant sea views, this property would make a fabulous holiday home.

Accommodation comprises 102 sq.m. and includes an open plan kitchen/living and dining area, bathroom, 4 bedrooms and a utility room. Externally, there is a lovely low maintenance patio area and a safe, enclosed garden to the rear. Rarely does such a well located property become available in Kilkee.

Viewings are highly recommended to appreciate what is on offer.

Contact: Danielle O’Connor SHERRY FITZGERALD MCMAHON Tel: (065) 686 7866 PSL 001212

€195,000

THIS four bedroom detached property is situated on a c 0.64 acre site with beautiful sea views.

The village of Kilbaha is approximately 3km away, where there are pubs, restaurant & post-office, etc. The property has been finished to an exceptionally high standard including solid wood flooring, solid fuel stoves, a high spec well fitted kitchen & a sun room with sea views.

Externally the front and rear gardens are in lawn with a gravelled driveway, stone-cut wall to the front of the property and a block-built garage.

Viewing is essential to appreciate this superbly situated coastal property.

Contact: Danielle O’Connor SHERRY FITZGERALD MCMAHON Tel: (065) 686 7866 PSL 001212

ARAN VIEW DUNMORE, DOONBEG CO CLARE

€249,000

THIS fine 4 bedroom detached property is ideally located within walking distance of the beach and all amenities. Accommodation is well proportioned, comprising 101 sq.m.

(1.076 sq.ft. approx) and includes an open plan kitchen, living and dining area, a sitting room, bathroom and 4 bedrooms.

Externally, the beautiful gardens are mainly in lawn with ample parking and a low maintenance yard to the rear. There are lovely water views to the rear of this property.

Due to the size and location of this house, and the views on offer it would make an ideal family or holiday home.

Contact: Danielle O’Connor SHERRY FITZGERALD MCMAHON Tel: (065) 686 7866 PSL 001212

22 DUN NA HINSE, LAHINCH ROAD, ENNIS, CO. CLARE €175,000

EDENVALE, ENNIS, CO. CLARE

FANTASTIC mid-terrace property presented in excellent decorative order by its current owners. The property underwent complete modernisation in the last number of years and offers excellent space and light with three bedrooms on the first floor all complete with built in wardrobes.

The property benefits from new triple glazed windows, front door and solid fuel stove with back boiler offering dual heating system to make this a warm modern home. Conveniently located within walking distance of all town amenities and within easy access to the Ennis by-pass with links to the M18 motorway.

There is a west facing maintenance free rear garden with communal parking to the front of the property with ample parking spaces. This would make a fantastic investment or owner occupier home with viewings highly recommended and strictly by prior appointment with sole selling agents.

PERCHED on a stunning mature tree bound elevated site with a sweeping tarmacadam drive as you exit the dry stone wall entrance. The drive which extends to the front of the property and to the side also leads to the rear yard and studio.

To the main house, the main entrance hallway features double connecting doors to the formal reception with further connecting doors to the formal dining and further into the kitchen/breakfast room.

Off the main kitchen is the utility which also connects to the main hallway where 4 double bedrooms, Master En-Suite, and main bathroom are situated. The property is finished to a very high standard throughout with extensive timber flooring, tiling, solid oak kitchen, solid fuel stove and coving featured throughout this home.

The amazing site boasts fantastic mature trees and vast lawn area making this an ideal family home in the much sought after link road between the Kilmaley Road and the Kilrush Road. Viewing is strictly by prior appointment with sole selling agents.

26 Boheraroan offers bright, modern and spacious living accommodation located in a development of mixed residential units in the village of Newmarket On Fergus.

Located on the ground floor, the property offers open plan living/dining/kitchen, 2 double bedrooms and a main bathroom.The development is within minutes drive of the Limerick/Galway M18 Motorway with Shannon and Ennis Town Centres easily accessible.

All local village amenities and services are within walking distance to include national school, church, sporting facilities, shops and public houses. Viewing strictly by prior appointment with sole selling agents.

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

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

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

€299,000

26 BOHERAROAN, NEWMARKET ON FERGUS, CO. CLARE

€125,000

PROPERTY 41

THURSDAY, OCT 14 2021

74 O'Connell Street, Ennis, Co. Clare Phone: (065) 684 0200

O’SULLIVAN HURLEY

DNG O’Sullivan Hurley sale agreed 50% of all homes sale agreed in Ennis Town & Suburbs in the last month

John Clohessy

Anne-Marie Daly

Cormac O'Sullivan

Sarah Foster

Douglas Hurley

Lauren McGuane

If you are thinking of selling contact Clare’s Leading Agent

Call us today on 0656840200

Ireland's Biggest Property Website

* Figures are based on 7/10/21

info@dngosullivanhurley.com

PSL No. 002295

Sport Clare Echo THE

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Breckans honour Frank Sheedy

by PÁRAIC McMAHON

THIS weekend, St Breckans GAA club will honour the memory of club great Frank Sheedy with a Memorial U14 football Tournament.

Many of the present players at this age group will have never met or known Frank but within the walls of the St. Breckans club, his name is still spoken of with pride and respect.

Frank was known all over the County for his tough playing style. He played with the old Lisdoonvarna team throughout the 1940s, 50s and 60s, he played with Dool-

in when there was no team in the Spa. A former teammate of his, Michael McGrath recalled, “You, always felt protected when Frank was on the field”. He was not known as a dirty player but he did not shy away from confrontation, traits that have been evident in the performances of his grandson Jack with the current senior side managed by Donie Garrihy.

When St Breckans was formed in 1971, combining the Lisdoon and Doolin teams, Frank was immediately involved.

He served as a selector

The late Frank Sheedy with his grandchildren Jack and Blathnaid

on many teams and was Club President for nearly two decades.

From U12 to se-

nior, Frank was a constant supporter of the North Clare side, he followed the local

Captain Cleary earns All Star nomination for the first time CLARE senior football captain, Eoin Cleary has been nominated for an All-Star award for the first time, writes Páraic McMahon.

Cleary made his first championship appearance for the Clare in 2014 and has become an integral part of their attack during eight seasons under Colm Collins.

Not alone is it Eoin’s first nominee but it represents the first time a footballer from St Josephs Miltown is on the shortlist.

He is the only Clare nominee in the 45 man shortlist. In this year’s championship, Collins’ side were eliminated in their first outing, a 3-22

1-11 loss to Kerry in which Cleary finished as the county’s top scorer with 0-06.

During the National Football League campaign, Cleary was to the fore in ensuring the Banner kept retained their Division 2 status once again. A superb point from a sideline kick against Laois was among his many highlights during the league run.

Corofin’s Jamie Malone in 2019 was the last Clare footballer shortlisted for an All-Star while Gary Brennan came very close to winning an All-Star in 2016 off the back of a season in which they reached the All-Ireland quar-

ter-finals. Malone’s clubmate, Seamus Clancy is the only footballer from the county to win an All Star, he collected the accolade in 1992.

Tyrone lead the way

with 15 nominees followed by Mayo (8), Kerry (7), Dublin (5), Monaghan (3), Armagh (2), Cork, Clare, Kildare, Donegal and Galway (all 1).

pg 42

secondary school side with Pat Harrington and was ever-present at the sports complex.

Frank passed away on December 2nd 2015 but his memory will not be forgotten by St Breckans members.

The U.14 Tournament scheduled for this weekend in his memory is a fitting tribute to a man that loved the young football teams in his club.

The trophies and medals are sponsored by Frank’s sons, John, Frankie and Damien.

Michael Howley is the event co-ordinator with Ennistymon, Doonbeg, St Josephs Miltown, Kilmur-

ry Ibrickane, Clann Lír and St Breckans the teams competing in the tournament.

Group stages will be played on Saturday 16th with the Plate Final on Sunday at 10am followed by the Shield Final.

At 12.30pm on Sunday, the club will unveil the dedication of the Stand to Frank Sheedy with a blessing from parish priest, Fr Rob McNamara.

This will be followed by the Frank Sheedy Memorial Cup Final.

The newly extended Sports Complex will also be blessed by Fr McNamara and will be open for refreshments.

McCarthy up for Young Hurler gong CLARE has received three nominations for the PwC All Star awards with Aidan McCarthy shortlisted for Young Hurler of the Year.

For the second year in a row, the trio of Rory Hayes, Tony Kelly and Cathal Malone are all included in the list of 45 nominees.

Off the back of a very impressive championship campaign, Wolfe Tones’ Rory Hayes is rewarded with an All-Star nomination once again. While Bruff’s Sean Finn is almost a certainty to take one of the corner-back All-Stars, the Shannon man earned plenty of plaudits this season and this may well be taken into account when the final fifteen is announced.

Tony Kelly is in the reckoning to collect his third All-Star award.

The Ballyea man is nominated in midfield and follows another championship in which he was to the fore for Brian Lohan’s side. He was Clare’s t o p

scorer once again, this year finishing with a personal tally of 3-41, scoring a goal in each championship outing except the qualifier win over Wexford.

Another industrious year for Ennistymon’s Cathal Malone sees him ranked among the top hurlers in the country again. Malone’s leadership and work ethic has been appreciated by Banner supporters, particularly in the past two seasons with the Sixmilebridge hurler regularly setting the tempo for his teammates to follow. He is one of six nominees for the two midfield positions.

Although not acknowledged with an All-Star nomination, Aidan McCarthy (left) is shortlisted alongside Kilkenny attacker Eoin Cody and Cork speedster Shane Barrett as Young Hurler of the Year. The Inagh/ Kilnamona has nailed down a starting position during Lohan’s tenure and is viewed as one of Clare’s

Semi final pairings decided

by PÁRAIC McMAHON Semi-final pairings are now known for the penultimate stages of the Clare senior and intermediate football championships.

Reigning champions Kilmurry Ibrickane face Lissycasey in a repeat of last year’s semi-final clash.

On that occasion, Aiden Moloney’s side had a point to spare over John Ryan’s charges winning 1-18 3-11.

Fresh from overcoming St Josephs Miltown in an impressive display, St Breckans now find themselves preparing for a last four tie with Éire Óg who sealed their place in the semi-finals for the first time since 2014 by defeating Ennistymon on Saturday/.

Intermediate favourites Corofin and Kildysart have avoided each other in the semi-finals, the North Clare side will play O’Currys while the men from the Estuary way must overcome Kilfenora in order to make the county decider.

Having come up short in the 2020 Junior A final which was played this July, Ballyvaughan/Fanore have an opportunity to atone for that loss when they meet Ennistymon in the upcoming decider.

Clare SFC Semi-Finals: Kilmurry Ibrickane v Lissycasey Eire Óg v St Breckans Clare IFC Semi-Finals: O’Currys v Corofin Kilfenora v Kildysart main attacking threats.

Limerick lead the way with a total of fifteen nominations while the trio of Cian Lynch, Sean Finn and Kyle Hayes are in the running for Hurler of the Year.

Beaten All-Ireland finalists Cork have nine nominees followed by Waterford (seven), Kilkenny (five), Clare (three), Tipperary (three), Dublin (one), Laois (one) and Wexford (one).

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Clare Echo THE

pg 44

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CLARE SENIOR FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP QUARTER FINALS

‘Experience’ got ‘Bricks over the line KILMURRY IBRICKANE 1-13 KILMIHIL 0-13 Venue: Cusack Park

AIDEN MOLONEY, KILMURRY IBRICKANE MANAGER: “I think Kilmihil put it up to us today, fair play to them, they played very defensive and it kept them in the game for long periods of time. No doubt a lot of aspects of our game weren’t good today, we didn’t take a lot of good chances that were presented, Kilmihil had a few as well. I’m a bit disappointed that up front we had a lot of quality ball and we didn’t put the game away.

“We had possession but we didn’t show enough patience in front of goals, a lot of wrong options, lads were rushing their kicks, I’d put it down to a lot of sloppy passing from our lads which hindered us and kept us back, we didn’t look as fluent as we normally do going forward, every time we turned the ball over we gave the ball away.

“There is no doubt we have that to keep us going (experience), it got us over today. I don’t think it will work going forward, there’s a big improvement required all throughout our team, we have issues to deal with but we’re in a county semi-final and we can’t complain, at least we can go work on those things now.

“We’ve a few iffy performances under the belt at this stage, obviously we can go back and talk about this, that and the other thing, injuries and other stuff but everyone has their issues

but there is no doubt we have to up our game and I think we can, there is definitely room for another 20 to 30 percent improvement and if we get that we will be a match for anyone.

“Keelan kept us in it today as much from frees as anything else, it was a game for frees more often than not and we’re looking for a better spread of scorers.”

GERRY DOWNES, KILMIHIL MANAGER: “We didn’t come here to make up the numbers, we believed in ourselves, Kilmurry Ibrickane have played in Cusack Park a good few times which was a bit of an advantage.

“I spoke after the Doonbeg game and I said if we had taken all the chances we created we should have been six or seven points ahead, unfortunately it was the same story again today, we got two goal chances that we should have taken but I thought the lads were fantastic, they left everything on the field and that is all you can ask of them.

“If you have a winning mentality and a real hunger to win, you will do those things (cynical fouls). They had more experience on that side of things, they’ve been there for the last seven or eight years, lads take them decisions on the field and it comes from experience. Our lads are not used to playing at this level and probably shied out of that but the guys with experi-

KILMURRY: Frees for: 14 (7/7) Wides: 8 (4/4) Spread of scorers: 5 Scores from play: 1-05 Top scorer: Keelan Sexton (0-10 7f) Bookings: Darren Hickey (22), Mark Killeen (34), Martin McMahon (Black) (65) Own kickouts won: 17 from 20 (85%)

Daniel Walsh and David Lernihan leap into the air to try win a Damien Lineen kickout Photo by Gerard O’Neill

KILMIHIL: Frees for: 21 (11/10) Wides: 7 (4/3) Spread of scorers: 3 Scores from play: 0-05 Top scorer: Ciaran Downes (0-09 7f 1’45) Bookings: Dan Keating (27), Own kickouts won: 10 from 22 (45%)

SCAN HERE FOR MATCH REPORT

ence will commit those cynical fouls when they come their way.

“Full marks to Kilmurry, they

deserved their victory and I wish them all the best.”

REFEREE: Jim Hickey (Cratloe)

Compiled by Páraic McMahon

‘Nothing achieved’ yet, says Madden ÉIRE ÓG 1-06 Ennistymon 0-05 Venue: Cusack Park

ÉIRE ÓG: Frees For: 19 (12/7) Wides: 9 (5/4) Spread of scorers: 3 Scores from play: 0-4 Top scorer: Mark McInerney (1-02 1’Pen) Bookings: Manus Doherty(42) Own kickouts won: 8 out of 11 (72%) ENNISTYMON: Frees For: 14 (5/9) Wides: 6 (2/4) Spread of scorers: 2 Scores from play: 0-1 Bookings: Cillian Rouine (27) Black card: Sean Rouine (59) Own kickouts won: 10 out of 16 (63%)

Compiled by Seamus Hayes

Ciaran Russell drives forward as Brendan Rouine gives chase Photo by Gerard O’Neill

PAUL MADDEN, ÉIRE ÓG MANAGER: “Getting to the last four was the target. We haven’t been able to do that for the last few years. We just about did it today. It was a tough battle. There was some pretty and some not so pretty football. I would have taken a one point win any day just to get to the semi-final. We are there now but there is nothing achieved but it’s important to be there.

“Ennistymon are a good strong up-andcoming team as well so there was never going to be loads of chances and loads of scores. A goal was always going to be important and we managed to get it and we probably had that little

bit of a cushion. We had a couple of frights near the end when they pushed forward. At the end we put some good defensive tackles in which helped to keep them out. It was energy sapping stuff out there, big hits and big tackles.

There were lots of turnovers on both sides.”

NOEL CROWE, ENNISTYMON MANAGER: “The goal was always going to be a huge score.

It came to Éire Óg and it gave them that cushion.

It was always going to be hard to break them down and get the number of scores we needed to peg them back. That was the difference.

“The ref thought he

was tripped and it’s the ref ’s view that counts at the end of the day and it doesn’t really matter what anybody else thinks. The result is disappointing and ultimately we have had five good games in the championship and that’s what you bring on to future years and a lot of younger guys have been integrated.”

REFEREE: Fearghal Gray (Feakle) SCAN HERE FOR MATCH REPORT

pg 45

14-10-21

Clare Echo THE

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Lissycasey honesty ‘top class’

LISSEYCASEY Frees for: 11 (5/6) Wides: 7 (3/4) Spread of scorers: 9 Scores from play: 1-09 Top scorer: Enda Finucane (1-01) Bookings: Seamus Collins (31), Martin Moran (42), Brian Cahill (45), Ryan Griffin (52), Matt O’Shea (58).

Own kickouts won: 9 from 15 (60%) ST JOSEPHS Frees for: 17 (6/11) Wides: 5 (2/3) Spread of scorers: 6 Scores from play: 0-07 Top scorer: Conall Kelleher (0-03 2f) Bookings: Peter Collins (51), Cathal Duggan (60).

Own kickouts won: 12 from 21 (57%)

LISSYCASEY 1-13 DOORA BAREFIELD 0-10 Venue: Cusack Park JOHN RYAN, LISSYCASEY MANAGER: “When I went back to Lissycasey I didn’t know [the players] really. I had to go and assess what was there, I knew there was talent there. Honesty was something we tried to get into the players, we tried to work with them as much as possible, get them into a system and we have done that. It doesn’t always work for you but I thought their honesty today especially in the last 15 minutes was top class, it was a fantastic win for us. Bringing on some of the younger players was great for us, Kevin Shivers made his championship debut so for players like that, it is fantastic.

“I think our half-back line played very well, I think their workrate was huge, any ball that went into the inside line for Doora/Barefield we dealt with it. Overall the workrate from one to 15 and the subs that came on was top class.

“I think we didn’t believe going into it (last year’s semi-final versus Kilmurry Ibrickane). It’s a semi-final and we’re here now, we need to assess last year and the feeling after losing that semi-final, put it into our locker, store it and use it in two weeks’ time. It’s another game, it’s another

hour’s football and hopefully we’ll be ready for it.”

KEVIN FREHILL, DOORA/BAREFIELD MANAGER: “We had some excellent periods in the game, I thought we really dominated the third quarter, we really pinned them into their half and outscored them to bring it back to a point. We were really positive going into the last break but it’s just sport and the goal went for them and all we can say is we didn’t rattle a goal ourselves so we have no qualms at the end of the day.

“Our expectations changed as the year went on and as we started getting more experience in games, we started lifting the bar a bit higher from what we were seeing from the players and the way they were reacting. I feel we are as good and have SCAN HERE FOR as good players as any other team has, MATCH REPORT the age profile is excellent so I think if it is a team that stay together that can do good things in the next couple of years.”

REFEREE: Niall Quinn (St Josephs Miltown)

Photo by Gerard O’Neill

Compiled by Páraic McMahon

Donie: ‘I’m never happy’

ST BRECKANS: Frees for: 17 (8/9) Wides: 2 (1/1) Spread of scorers: 5 Scores from play: 3-05 Top scorer: Joe McGann (2-00) Bookings: Maccon Byrne (23), Joe McGann (25), Own kickouts: 14 from 20 (70%)

ST BRECKANS 3-11 MILTOWN MALBAY 0-12 Venue: Cusack Park

ST JOSEPHS MILTOWN: Frees for:15 (12/3) Wides: 8 (3/5) Spread of scorers: 5 Scores from play: 0-09 Top scorer: Eoin Cleary (0-04 2f) Bookings: Seanie Malone (Yellow x2), Gordon Kelly SCAN HERE FOR MATCH REPORT (Yellow x2), Own kickouts: 10 from 16 (63%) Joe McGann celebrates scoring a goal Burren Eye Photography

Compiled by Páraic McMahon

Club Dangan

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DONIE GARRIHY, ST BRECKANS MANAGER: “The job is not done, we’ve won today, we’ve won matchday four and we’re happy with that but it’s a Donie thing, I’m never happy.

I was disappointed with some parts of our play in the first half, we passed the ball to them in the middle of the field; if Eoin Cleary was really on form it would be bang bang bang and back of the net. We’ve to figure out why that happened and I’m disappointed with that part but happy for the players but again, I’m never totally happy so that’s just me.

“Nobody that makes the first 15 for St Breckans will be injured, we’ve five guys out injured and I’ve never flagged that because what is it saying to the guys working incredibly hard if we’re talking about injured guys.

“We’ve a good squad, they love their football, they just love their

football. Tommy Howard said about the guys in Broadford a few years ago ‘hurling was the centre of their universe’. In Doolin, Lisdoonvarna and Kilshanny football is the centre of our universe”.

“I would think that managing hype in our club should be easy for God’s sake, look behind the counter and it’s very bare.”

MICHAEL NEYLON, MILTOWN MANAGER: “We came here, we knew it was going to be very tough, we thought it might be a 50-50 game but from the word go we were on the backfoot. Fair play to our lads, they kept coming back into it. I have to give huge credit to St Breckans, they were an outstanding team today from start to finish, we found it very hard to break them down, their running and passing game, they are a very together group, that is what wins

championship matches.

“We were walking a knife edge once we got a few cards in the first half and we knew something like that might happen (red cards) but it’s not really something you can plan for. We knew coming in that if you gave space to St Breckans, they make very good use of it with an excellent running game.

They took advantage of every opportunity they got and we’ve no complaints, we were definitely beaten by the better team, we have to regroup and come back stronger.

“They’re role model players in our club, they’ve brought a great culture and honour to our club, young people and old people look up to these boys and these boys will definitely keep on going.”

REFEREE: Chris Maguire (Wolfe Tones)

JOE McGANN St Breckans

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Corofin dominate in quarters SEAMUS HAYES THE quarter finals of the intermediate football championship at the weekend resulted in wins for the four sides that were tipped to progress to the semi-finals.

Last year’s beaten finalists Corofin had a big win over their North Claare neighbours Michael Cusacks but the other winners, Kildysart, O’Currys and Kilfenora were all made battle to the end for their wins.

when the second half got underway.

Diarmuid Cahill who top scored for them, was their second half goalscorer and he contributed 1-7 of the team’s tally. Robin Mounsey landed 2-1 while Gearoid Cahill kicked 0-4, Killian McGroary 0-2 with Gearoid Kelly, Fionn Clancy and Damian Ryan each scoring a point.

Aidan Forde was Ml. Cusack’s chief marksman with 0-4 to his credit while Hugh Kelly and Joey Droney each contributed a point.

STRONG FINISH FOR O’CURRYS O’Curry’s 1-10 Coolmeen 1-9 at Cooraclare A strong final quarter by O’Curry’s proved decisive as they edged past Coolmeen. The Doonaha based outfit carried the favourites tag into the tie but they were playing catchup for much of the game.

Behind by three points at half time, they quickly found themselves six down early in the third quarter thanks to a goal from Aidan Corry at a time when their opponents were down a man having had Joe Corry sent to the sin bin just before half time.

Despite being numerically disadvantaged Coolmeen continued to dictate matters in the second moiety and at the second waterbreak they led by four, 1-8 to 0-7 and they were looking good to cause a shock.

Noted for their battling qualities, O’Currys were not going to go down without a fight and with three minutes remaining they drew level when Cathal Downes goaled.

Team captain Thomas Clancy then put the men from the peninsula into a one point lead but Coolmeen weren’t finished and they rallied and levelled through Aidan Corry.

Six minutes of added time were signalled and with extra time looking likely O’Curry’s struck for what proved to be the winning point through Eoin Brew

KILDYSART’S DEFENSE LEADS WAY Kildysart 0-10 Shannon Gaels 0-7 at Doonbeg Hot favourites Kildysart were made to battle all the way in this quarter final clash with near neighbours Shannon Gaels.

In a game in which defences dominated they laid the foundation for this victory in the opening half at the end of which they held a five point advantage, 0-7 to 0-2.

The Gaels were dealt a big blow midweek when dual player Michael O’Malley was ruled out due to a broken thumb suffered when playing with his native Kilmaley in the Clare SHC a week earlier.

They enjoyed better success after the break and three points in succession saw them come to within two points of the winners.

Kildysart hit back with a brace to go four clear but the Gaels refused to give in and pulled two back to leave two between the sides going into the closing stages.

Kildysart for whom Diarmuid O’Donnell and Emmet McMahon scored 0-3 each, had the final say to seal victory and a last four place. Shannon Gaels came close to levelling the game when a Niall Ellis effort on goal was deflected behind for a ‘45.

Goalkeeper Robert Eyers converted two ‘45’s while Seamus Casey and Luke McGrath were the winner’s other scorers on a day while Thomas Kelly (5), Darragh Bohannon and Aaron Malone Smyth scored for Gaels.

COROFIN IN CONTROL Corofin 3-17 Michael Cusacks 0-6 at Miltown Malbay Beaten finalists last year and knocked out of the intermediate hurling championship last weekend, Corofin went into this quarter final against their North Clare neighbours Michael Cusacks, determined to get back to winning ways.

After an evenly fought first quarter, they took control and from here to the final whistle they dominated proceedings.

While getting to the semi-final was clearly the target, the return to action of Jamie Malone was clearly a major cause for celebration. Malone has been out of action since suffering an ankle injury while assisting Clare in the opening round of the Allianz National Football League in May. The injury which required surgery was slow to heal but his return is a massive boost to the side as they seek to go one better than last season.

Two goals in the space of three minutes in the second quarter from Robin Mounsey gave Corofin the upperhand in this tie. They led by 11 points, 2-9 to 0-4at the halfway stage and continued where they had left off

EXPERIENCE KEY FOR KILFENORA Kilfenora 0-7 Banner 0-4 at Corofin In a game which saw the return to action from injury for the first time this season of Banner’s dual star Shane Meehan, the Ennis side, competing at this level for the first time, bowed out to a more experienced Kilfenora outfit. Despite this loss, it’s been a good year for the Banner who in July claimed the 2020 Clare junior A crown.

The foundation for Kilfenora’s win was laid in the opening half at the end of which they held a five point advantage, 0-6 to 0-1.

The second half saw the winners confined to just one score but their defence held firm in this period and snuffed out the threat posed by a dangerous Banner forward line.

Kilfenora had seven scorers on a day when full back Paul Carkill impressed in what was, overall, a solid team performance.

Their scores came from the impressive Cian O’Dea and Jack O’Dea, Paudie Ireland, Aidan Malone, Micheal Duffy, Pat Connole and Gearoid Howley while Banner’s came from Shane Meehan (2), Danny O’Halloran and Dara Walsh.

Corofin’s Cian Doolan and John Rees with Michael Cusack’s Aidan Forde

Burren Eye Photography

Lissycasey top the billing amidst five Under 13 finals

by EOIN BRENNAN

IT HAD to take extra-time and a dramatic late winning goal to finally separate the sides as Lissycasey edged a thrilling Under 13 Division 1 Football Final derby over fellow parishioners Clondegad by 1-11 to 0-10 in Cooraclare on Sunday afternoon.

Level on eight occasions over the extended 80 minutes, the prolific Kris O’Callaghan grabbed a clinching goal to take his tally to 1-6 as Lissycasey edged a titanic battle.

O’Callaghan (1-6) and freetaker Shane Cotter (0-3) were matched by ever-impressive Clondegad duo Eoin O’Connor (0-3) and Dara Kennedy (0-5) as the neighbours wrestled for supremacy. That blow-forblow pattern saw Lissycasey lead by the minimum at the break. Clondegad held a one point advantage by the turn of the final quarter and it took a Bill Egan equaliser for Clondegad to force extra-time.

It was equally as tense in the additional periods but there was no way back for Clondegad after Kris O’Callaghan found the net in the dying minutes to cement the inaugural U13 Div 1 title for Lissycasey.

First half goals through Thomas Dillon and Zak O’Shea were instrumental in Doonbeg claiming the Division 2 Championship crown following a 2-8 to 1-7 victory over fellow Magpies Clarecastle in the first match of the Super Sunday double head in Cooraclare.

Goalkeeper Daniel Haugh repeatedly frustrated Clarecastle’s comeback hopes as a more clinical Doonbeg led by 2-7 to 0-6 by the turn of the final quarter, only for a

Sean Kelly goal to tee up an anxious finale before the West Clare Magpies prevailed.

Parteen had a little more comfort in securing the Under 13 Division 3 Football silverware in Ballynacally on Saturday thanks to a 4-7 to 1-6 win over Kildysart/ Coolmeen. Opening half goals through Cormac Barry (2) and Donal Connelly provided a 3-0 to 0-3 half-time advantage for the South East Clare side, a lead that they would stretch on the resumption with a powerful Gavin Marshall effort to the net ensuring a 4-5 to 0-6 scoreline by the turn for home. A well-deserved Liam Casey consolation goal epitomised Kildysart/Coolmeen’s never-say-die attitude but Parteen were the stronger team.

Goals were also a strong feature of the Under 13 Division 1 Shield decider in Miltown on Saturday afternoon as Kilrush/ Killimer overcame St Breckan’s by 6-16 to 4-4. Timely goals from Josh McInerney (2), Aidan Griffin, Jack Johnson, Bobby O’Driscoll and Stephen McInerney allied to some great point-scoring from midfielder Brian Wallace saw the West Clare amalgamation incrementally pull clear.

An all-North Clare decider drew a bumper crowd to Tubber on Monday night as Crusheen/Tubber edged out neighbouring combo Corofin/Ruan by 1-7 to 1-4 to cement the Under 13B Hurling Shield.

An Eoghan O’Donnell goal after only 15 seconds provided the home side with a lead that they would never relinquish despite a late backlash from Kevin Noonan.

pg 47

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Kilmihil & Banner Ladies keep on winning

by SEAMUS HAYES

F

OUR rounds into the Clare ladies football senior championship, champions Banner Ladies and their predecessors Kilmihil remain unbeaten.

They meet in the fifth and final round in the round robin stage this weekend. The top four teams will go through to the semi-finals with the top placed team facing the side that finishes fourth. Banner and Kilmihil will fill the top two spots with the outcome of their game this week deciding who will get the top spot.

CHAMPS RECORD ANOTHER WIN Banner Ladies 4-21 Cooraclare 2-3 Venue: Banner GAA Grounds

Banner Ladies made it four wins from four outings when they proved too strong for Cooraclare.

The champions were in control from an early stage when their goalscorers were Aoibheann Malone, Aoibhin Ryan, Grainne Nolan and Aoife Keane.

Megan Downes scored

both goals for Cooraclare converting from the penalty spot on each occasion and she also added a point to her tally.

Banner: Emma O’Driscoll; Siobhan McMahon, Claire Hehir, Sinead O’Keeffe; Laoise Ryan, Eva O’Dea, Sarah Ni Ceallaigh; Louise Woods, Laurie Ryan; Shonagh Enright, Aoife Keane, Grainne Nolan; Aoibhin Ryan, Aoibheann Malone, Louise Henchy. Subs used: Emily Cahill, Shannon Donovan, Leah Talty, Helena Hehir, Sinead Power, Mary Tierney, Alannah McNamara.

Cooraclare: Anne Marie Callinan; Aoibhe Hehir, Laura Quinlivan, Saskia Morrissey; Chloe Lillis, Aisling Morrissey, Katie Lillis; Orlaith Lillis, Roisin Looney; Anna Mae Killeen, Nicola Keating, Megan Downes; Aimee McNamara, Katie Cronin, Aoibhe Hehir.

Subs: Sadhbh O’Brien for Katie Cronin; Maeve Fennell for Chloe Lillis; Ashling Hehir for Aoibhe Hehir.

Referee: Pat Byrne O’Connell

KILMIHIL EDGE BATTLE

Kilmihil 1-9 West Clare Gaels 1-8 Venue: Pairc Eoin, Cross

Kilmihil were made to battle all the way for their latest victory as they had a single point to spare over West Clare Gaels.

The sides were level on a number of occasions throughout the hour and for much of the game a share of the spoils looked the likely

outcome.

Catriona O’Gorman was the winner’s goalscorer while Becky Mahon landed 0-4 with Edel McNamara and Katie Mullen each shooting two points while Ellie O’Gorman completed the Kilmihil outfit’s tally.

Having played with the aid of the breeze in the opening half, Kilmihil led at half time, 0-7 to 1-2, the home side’s goal coming from Caoimhe Harvey.

Kilmihil goaled early in the second half, a score that pushed them five points clear. West Clare took control after this and they landed the next six points to go one clear with less than ten minutes remaining. Kilmihil rallied and scored the last two points.

West Clare Gaels had a couple of chance in the closing minutes but failed to hit the target. In their final game this week they must beat St. Josephs Doora/Barefield to have any chance of making the play offs.

Kilmihil:

Micaela

Glynn;

Cathy

Keating, Megan Downes-Rigney, Rosie Currane; Elaine O’Halloran, Aoife McNamara, Kate Coughlan; Laura Egan, Dervla Higgins; Catriona O’Gorman (10), Catriona Callinan, Edel McNamara (0-2); Katie Mullen (0-2), Becky Mahon (0-4), Ellie O’Gorman (0-1). Subs: Chloe Devitt for C. O’Gorman; Sara Browne for E. McNamara; Carol Browne for A. McNamara West Clare Gaels: Emma McMahon; Sophie O’Callaghan, Sara Marrinan, Ciara McQuaid; Sorracha Griffin, Becky Madigan, Aine Moloney; Grainne Harvey, Siobhan Keane; Caoimhe Harvey (1-3), Roisin Brew, Colette Keniry; Niamh Lardner (0-1), Shauna Harvey, Fidelma Marrinan (0-4). Subs: Amber Thompson for S. O’Callaghan; Nell Walsh for R. Brew.

Referee: John O’Connell

ST. JOSEPHS KEEP PLAY OFF HOPES ALIVE

St. Josephs Doora/Barefield 1-12 Kilmurry-Ibrickane 1-8 Venue: Quilty

Doora/Barefield kept their hopes of making the play offs in the championship alive when they overcame Kilmurry-Ibrickane in a well contested tie.

Ashling Hannan was the winner’s goalscorer in what was their second win of the campaign. Sophie Daly struck for Kilmurry’s goal

Newmarket unlikely to advance

by BRÍD MacNAMARA

L

AST year’s beaten senior camogie finalists Newmarket-on-Fergus are unlikely to advance past the group stages following their final round robin game and Kilmaley’s defeat to Kilkishen/Bodyke.

KILKISHEN/BODYKE ON COURSE FOR SEMI-FINALS

Ryan, Eimear Murphy, Kate Lynch (0-03 2f), Caoimhe Kelly (0-02), Kate O’Gorman (2-03), Siobhan Lenihan (0-02f), Niamh O’Gorman, Shauna Doyle (0-01), Roisin Minogue, Aoife Ryan (0-01) Sub: Ciara Ryan for Hannah Minogue (inj) 20 mins Kilmaley: Chloe McAleer; Lisa Kennedy, Sarah Reidy, Rebecca Cahill; Emily Cahoill, Sarah ni Cheallaigh, Lauren Cahill; Shona Enright, Sinead O’Keeffe; Caoimhe Carmody, Aishling Cahill, Jodie Cahill; Caoimhe Cahill, Eilis Cahill, Grace Carmody Subs: Leona Grace for Lauren Cahill, Claire McMahon for Eilis Cahill, Chloe Neylon for Jodie Cahill, Helen McMahon for Shona enright Referee: Kevin Walsh

Kilkishen/Bodyke 2-13 Kilmaley 2-10 Venue: Fr McNamara Park,

NEWMARKET CAMPAIGN ALL BUT OVER

Kilkishen/Bodyke: Edel McNamara, Hannah Minogue, Eilish Whitney, Leah Minogue (0-01), Orla O’Brien, Alannah

A determined Newmarket-on-Fergus had fifteen points to spare over St Josephs Doora/Barefield on Friday evening but it doesn’t look sufficient to rescue their season following previous losses to Kilkishen/Bodyke and Scariff/Ogonnelloe.

In a nervy start, it was St Josephs Doora/Barefield that raced into a three point lead with Aisling McMahon firing over three frees in the first six minutes. However within four minutes, the Blues were back on level terms and did just enough to lead by a single point at the first water break.

On twenty two minutes, Ann Marie Hayes struck for goal which was just reward for Newmarket whose corner backs Aoife Crimmins and Áine O’Brien let very little through their defence. Hayes’ goal proved to be the turning

In what was deciding game in the Senior Championship, Kilkishen/Bodyke had three points to spare over Kilmaley on Saturday afternoon and placed one foot in a semi-final.

Once again the O’Gorman sisters were in fine form and they teamed up with Niamh passing to Kate for Kilkishen/ Bodyke’s first half goal which gave them a slender 1-06 1-05 half-time lead.

Kate O’Gorman hit the top right corner of Chloe McAleer’s net to collect her second goal just before the final water break.

Both sides were in need of a winning result and it was evident in their battling qualities during the last quarter.

Kilmaley hit their second goal on forty minutes but the East Clare amalgamation held firm to grind out a valuable victory.

inside the opening five minutes and the West Clare outfit had points from Chloe Moloney and Karen Galvin.

Ronya Baumann battles with Burren Gael’s Katie Connole Photo by Gerard O’Neill

Siobhan Lenihan battles through the Kilmaley defence. Photograph: Ruth Griffin

Kate Clancy; Niki Kaiser (0-4) , Laura McMahon (0-2) , Zoe McInerney (0-8 7F) ; Anne Marie Hayes (1-2) , Róisín McMahon (0-2) , Kaci Toomey. Subs: Aoife Griffin for Kate Clancy (44mins), Clodagh O Halloran (1.00) for Áine O’Brien (52 mins), Tara O’Neill for Caoimhe Lally (inj) (60mins) St Josephs: Karen McMahon; Meave O’Connor, Megan O’Btrien, Kate Dillon; Aisling Hannon, Chloe Towey, Aisling McMahon (1-5F); Aisling Reidy, Emer Casey; Ciara Whelan, Siofra ni Chonail, Louise Woods (0-1); Amy Lenihan, Ciara Duggan, Orla moloney Referee: Fintan McNamara

INTERMEDIATE CHAMPIONSHIP:

ClooneyQuin 1-12 Clarecastle/Ballyea 0-10 Tulla 1-15 Éire Óg 0-09 Whitegate 3-12 Corofin 0-09

Newmarket on Fergus 2-18 St Josephs Doora/Barefield 1-6 Venue: Tubber

JUNIOR A CHAMPIONSHIP

Ruan/Crusheen 8-8 Kilkishen/Bodyke 2-6 Inagh Kilnamona 3-10 Scariff Ogonnelloe 2-3

JUNIOR B CHAMPIONSHIP SEMI FINALS: point and pushed them into 1-10 0-04 half-time advantage.

The Blues pushed on in the second half even though they missed an abundance of chances in the third quarter, they added 1-08 in the second half while Aisling McMahon hit 1-02 for the challengers.

St Josephs had very impressive displays from Aisling McMahon, Síofra Ní Chonaill, Hannah Doyle and Sinead O Connor. While the McMahon sisters Róisín and Laura and Ann Marie Hayes impressed for Newmarket.

Newmarket on Fergus:Ciara McCarthy; Aoife Crimmins, Carol O’Leary, Áine O’Brien; Aimee McInerney (C), Ellen Casey, Caoimhe Lally; Katie O’Flanagan,

Parteen 1-8 Clooney Quin 0-10 Truagh/Clonlara 9-13 Newmarket-on-Fergus 0-02

JUNIOR C CHAMPIONSHIP

Banner 4-14 Kilkee Bealaha 1-0 Cratloe 3-11 Clarecastle/Ballyea 2-8 Broadford 2-8 Whitegate 1-3

U13A CUP FINAL

Newmarket on Fergus 3-4 Sixmilebridge 1-1

U13A SHIELD FINAL

Kilkishen/Bodyke 2-7 Ruan 1-1

U13A PLATE FINAL

Kilmaley 2-5 Inagh Kilnamona 2-3

U13B CUP FINAL

Feakle Killanena 7-1 Broadford 2-4

U13C PLATE FINAL

Banner 5-3 Kilkee Bealaha 2-2

St. Josephs Doora/Barefield: Caoifhlinn Ni Chonnaill; Sinead O’Connor, Megan O’Brien, Kate Dillon; Maedhbh O’Connor, Hannah Doyle, Roisin Cahill; Emer Hanrahan, Ciara Cahill; Siofra Ni Chonaill, Ashling Reidy (0-4), Chloe Towey (0-2); Ciara Guilfoyle, Ashling Hannan (1-1), Amy Lenihan (0-4); Subs: Lyndsey Clarke (0-1) for Emer Hanrahan; Shauna Moloney for Ashling Hannan; Caoimhe Hoey for Amy Lenihan; Aoibhinn O’Loughlin for Chloe Towey; Emily Barry for Roisin Cahill; Muirne Ni Chonaill for Ciara Guilfoyle; Alex Potter for Maedhbh O’Connor; Kilmurry Ibrickane: Katie McMahon; Jessica Doohan, Rebecca Doohan, Rachel Tubridy; Marie Garvey, Maeve Foley, Ellie Hanrahan; Siofra O’Dea, Joanna Doohan; Chloe Moloney, Sophie Daly, Amy Sexton; Caitlyn O’Connor. Karen Galvin, Karen Coughlan Subs: Roisin Montgomery for M. Garvey; Aoibhnait O’Dea for Jessica Doohan.

INTERMEDIATE: Liscannor recorded a 4-16 2-07 win over Doonbeg while what is tipped to be a potential final pairing saw Burren Gaels collect their third win in as many games. The North Clare side overcame Kilrush 1-11 1-09 in Carron in what was the Shams’ first defeat in this year’s championship.

O’Dea nominated for Player of Year

KILFENORA’S Niamh O’Dea has been shortlisted for the TG4 intermediate ladies football player of the year.

O’Dea is nominated alongside Sarah Dillon and Lucy McCartan, both of Westmeath. The winner to be announced at the 2021 TG4 All-Star Awards Banquet, in association with Lidl, which will be held at Dublin’s Bonnington Hotel on Saturday, November 13.

Currently out of action with a fractured foot, Niamh’s inclusion in the list despite Clare’s exit at the quarter-final stage is proof of the regard in which she is held by her opponents. Nominees in each category were selected by their fellow players, who could not vote for their own team-mates.

She finished the year with a personal tally of 3-13 and combined this with her commitments to the county camogie side. A secondary school teacher in St Caimin’s Community School in Shannon, Niamh plays her club football with Banner Ladies and camogie with Kilmaley.

Sarah Dillon was Player of the Match for Westmeath in the All-Ireland Final victory over Wexford, and the Intermediate grade’s top scorer in 2021, and she’s nominated alongside team-mate Lucy McCartan. Dillon led the way with 1-6 in the Final, while McCartan chipped in with 1-1 on September Photo by Gerard O’Neill 5 against Wexford.

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Ennis sides in control as Avenue form continues Lifford’s Jean Ganda in action against Shannon Hibb’s Mickey Wall Photo by Natasha Barton

by SEAMUS HAYES

S

OCCER fixtures were disrupted last weekend as all pitches in Shannon were waterlogged and thus unplayable which led to the cancellation of the games set for those venues.

Avenue United A continued their impressive early season form with a comfortable win over Mountshannon Celtic while Lifford proved too strong for Shannon Hibs.

ANOTHER WIN FOR LIFFORD

Lifford 3 Shannon Hibs 1 Venue: Tom Steele Park, Ennis

Lifford continued their move up the ladder with a deserved win over Shannon Hibs.

Goals from Lunga Balmann, Nathan Bonaventura and Ethan Harper steered the winners to this latest success.

Lifford went into an early two goal lead but Hibs hit back with a goal from a free kick from Mikey Wall. Substitute Ethan Harper sealed victory for the Adrian Walsh managed Lifford with the side’s third goal.

Lifford: Rhys Phillips; Jean Ganda, Dan Daly, John Maher, Eddie Killeen, Gary McNaboe, Matthew Kearney, Josh Ryan, Mattie Davenport, Nathan Bonaventura,

Lunga Balman. Subs: Josh Brack for Kearney; Ethan Harper for Balman; Michael Junaid for Ganda; Ruairi Norrby for Naathan Bonaventura; Nani for Ryan.

Shannon Hibs: Scott Whelan; Bobby O’Connell, Julian Woods, Pa Devanney, Ciaran McKee, Liam Delaney, Darragh McDade, Mikey Wall, Jack Hannah, Billy Connors, Conor O’Callaghan Subs; Aidan Ryan for L, Delaney; Stephen McInerney for M. Wall; Zygge Wall for Hannah; Lee Wall for C. McKee

KERIN’S HAT TRICK KEEP AVENUE ON WINNING TRACK Avenue United A 4 Mountshannon Celtic 1 Venue: Roslevan

Avenue continued their good form with a convincing 4-1 win over Mountshannon.

This win increases their lead at top of table to seven points, but they have two more games played than title holders, Newmarket Celtic.

Ronan Kerin scored a hat trick for the winners, finding the net in the 55th, 66th and 86th minutes.

Stephen Jordan was their other goalscorer, his goal coming in the final minute. Michael Barrett scored for the East Clare outfit.

Avenue United A; Paul Roche; Cullen McCabe, Simon Cuddy, Dylan Casey, Conor Hehir; Mark Roche, Mikey Dinan, Alan Roche, Shane Brown, Ronan Kerin, Eliaz Kunz. Subs: Jamie Roche for Cuddy; Dylan Barry for Dinan; Stephen Jordan for Brown; Conor Mullen for McCabe; Gary Roche for Kunz; Mountshannon Celtic; Andy O’Dwyer;

Will Kavanath, Oran Scanlan, Niall Dear, Shane Kavanagh;Michael Barrett, Martin cunningham, Harry Gaffey, John Scanlan, Paddy Fitzgerald. William Glass.

Subs: Stephen Hayes for Gaffey; Tiarnan Njis for W. Kavanagh;

BIG WIN FOR KILRUSH In the first division Kilrush Rangers had an excellent home win beating Turnpike 5-1. The Kilrush scorers were Jamie Griffin (3) and Fellip Rzymek (2).

Rhine Rovers won the East Clare derby clash with Kilkishen 3-0 with goals from Gary Hogan, James Ivors and Paddy Tiernan.

Rhine now look to be strong contenders for promotion.

Coole FC continued their good run with a home win over Bridge Utd B in Gort, Bridge scored early to take the lead but Coole were soon back level when Kieran Burke scored from a free kick. At half time, the game was tied at 1-1. In the second half Coole dominated and a goal each from Adriano Olivers and Adam Minogue ensured that their promotion hopes stayed on track.

FAI JUNIOR CUP Six Clare league sides will be in action in round two of the FAI junior cup on this Sunday with all ties kicking off at 2pm.

Avenue United will have home advantage against Kildimo while Bridge United will also be at home when they will take on Ballingarry. Newmarket Celtic travel to play Abbeyfeale while Coole FC will be away to Rathkeale.

Sporting Ennistymon will also be on the road as they travel to play Killarney while Ennis Town will make the journey to Clarina in Limerick to take on Breska Rovers.

In the Premier Divison, Shannon Town will travel to Scariff to take on Mountshannon Celtic while Lifford will have home advantage against Shannon Olympic.

Treacy & Ralph to stay on

BRIAN Lohan is expected to retain at least two members of his management team for next year.

Club delegates approved the decision by Clare GAA’s Executive to offer the two-time All-Ireland winner a three year extension as senior hurling manager. No details were provided on the look of his management team at the September meeting.

In his two seasons to date, Lohan has led Clare to the All-Ireland SHC quarter-finals while this year they exited in the qualifiers.

He has been joined in his management team by Tipperary native Ken Ralph who won two Clare SHC medals with Clarecastle and James Moran a National League winner with Limerick in 1997,

both of whom served as selectors to Lohan when he was over the UL Fitzgibbon Cup team, the highlight coming when they won the title in 2015.

Two-time All Star and former Galway full-back Sean Treacy has been coach to the team for the past two seasons.

The Clare Echo understands that Ralph and Treacy have committed to staying involved, their presence alongside Lohan at club games in the county reflective of this. Moran’s involvement has yet to be confirmed. Shane Hassett, Michael Carmody and Trevor Slattery all joined the set-up in the capacity of S&C coaches for last season, similarly it is not yet known if they will stay on.

SOCCER & GAA FIXTURES SOCCER Saturday October 16 Munster Youths Cup Second Rd Shannon Town v Newmarket Celtic, 2pm @ Corrib Drive Tulla United v St Pats, 2pm @ Cragg Tulla FAI U17 Cup 1st rd Ballingarry FC v Bridge Celtic, 2pm @ Ballingarry Almyers Rest Youths League Div 1 Bridge Utd v Lifford FC, 4pm @ Sixmilebridge Almyers Rest Youth League Div 2 Fern Celtic v Coole FC, 11am @ Tiermaclane Shannon Town B v Burren United, 2pm @ Corrib Drive Womens Senior League Burren United v Fern Celtic, 4pm @ Lisdoonvarna Bridge Utd v Hermitage FC, 4pm @ Sixmilebridge Sunday Oct 17 FAI Junior Cup 2nd Round (all 2pm) Avenue Utd v Kildimo Utd @ Roslevan Bridge Utd v Ballingarry FC @ Sixmilebridge Abbeyfeale FC v Newmarket Celtic @ Abbeyfeale Rathkeale FC v Coole FC @ Rathkeale Killarney Celtic v Sporting Ennistymon @ Killarney Breska Rovers v Ennis Town FC @ Clarina Maloney Hardware Premier Division (all 11am unless otherwise stated) Mountshannon Celtic v Shannon Town A @ Mountshannon Lifford FC v Shannon Olympic @ Steele Rock Park Anne Romer Florist First Division Avenue Utd B v Bridge Utd B @ Roslevan Moher Celtic A v Tulla Utd @ Lahinch Newmarket Celtic B v Kilrush Rangers @ McDonagh Park Turnpike Rovers v Hermitage FC @ Lee’s Rd Brian Pyne Tiles 2nd Division Cloughleigh Celtic v Kilkishen Celtic @ Lees Rd Shannon Hibs B v Inch Crusaders @ Riverside Shannon Connolly Celtic v Kildysart Celtic, 2pm @ Kilmaley School Manus Celtic A v Rhine Rovers, 3pm @ Lees Rd Brownies Barbership 3rd Division Shannon Town C v Manus Celtic B @ Corrib Drive Shannon Ennis Dons v Fern Celtic, 2pm @ Lees Rd (Astro) Moher Celtic B v Bunratty/Cratloe, 2pm @ Liscannor COISTE NA NOG PEIL Friday Oct 15th Tubridy’s Bar & Restaurant U17 Div 1 Kilrush V Wolfetones 8p.m. M Downes Tubridy’s Bar & Restaurant U17 Div 2-3 Cooraclare V Sh Gaels/Kilmihil/Kildysart/Coolmeen 8p.m. P Keane Doonbeg V Naomh Eoin/O’Curry’s/Kilkee 5.30p.m. J O’Connell Clarecastle V Corofin 5.30 . P Howard Saturday Oct 16th: 11am Tubridy’s Bar & Restaurant U17 Div 1 Ennistymon V Lissycasey. 4p.m. B Kelly Clondegad V Kilmurry IB. 10.30 G Wallace Tubridy’s Bar & Restaurant U17 Div 2-3 (11am) Cratloe V Eire Og. K. Harvey Clooney-Quin V Banner. D Keating Miltown V St Breckan’s. J Kelly.

Results on the day to 0872663718 Sat Oct 23rd. (11 am) U14 Div 1 Kilrush V Lissycasey Doora Barefield V Ennistymon Clondegad V Eire Og St Breckan’s Bye U14 Div 2 Cooraclare V Doonbeg Banner V Clooney-Quin Cratloe V Kilmurry Ib Wolfetones V Parteen Miltown V Clarecastle.

U14 Div 3.

Corofin V Kildysart/Coolmeen Sh Gaels/Kilmihil V N Eoin/O’Curry’s/ Kilkee

First named team has home advantage HURLING Saturday Oct 16 Clare Marts U13A final Ballyea v St Joseph’s Doora Barefield, 15:30 @ Clarecastle U13B Final Scariff/Ogonnelloe v Clooney Quin, 11am @ Clonlara

U13C Final Parteen v Whitegate, 11am @ Oggonelloe Kerry Group U17C quarter-final Newmarket-on-Fergus v Whitegate, 16:30 @ Newmarket Clare Marts U13 A Shield Semi-final Kilmaley v Clarecastle, 10am @ Clarecastle Sunday Oct 17 Kerry Group U17 Academy A Rd 5 Ballyea v St Joseph’s Doora Barefield, 10am @ Ballyea Eire Og Ennis v Sixmilebridge, 11am @ Eire Og Ennis U14A quarter finals Clooney Quin v Sixmilebridge, 10am @ Clooney Kilmaley v Inagh-Kilnamona, 10am @ Kilmaley Clonlara v Éire Óg, 10:30am @ Clonlara U14B quarter-finals Bodyke O’Callaghans Mills v Tulla, 10am @ Bodyke Broadford v Scariff-Ogonnelloe, 10am @ Broadford Clarecastle v Newmarket-on-Fergus, 10am @ Clarecastle Cratloe v Smith O’Briens, 10:30am @ Cratloe U14C Banner v Crusheen Tubber, 10am @ Banner Feakle/Kilanena v Parteen, 10am @ Feakle Tuesday, Oct 19 U14A quarter-finals Ballyea v St Joseph’s Doora Barefield, 17:45 @ Ballyea U14 Academy A Rd 1 St Joseph’s v Clooney Quin, Time TBC @ Gurteen CAMOGIE Fri 15th Oct Miltown GAA: Kilkishen/Bodyke v Inagh Kilnamona, 8.00pm Sat 16th Oct Senior Championship Clarecastle GAA: Scariff Ogonnelloe v Kilmaley, 1.00pm Referee: Kevin Egan Clooney GAA: Sixmilebridge v Feakle Killanena, 2.00pm Referee: Noel Quinn Shannon Camogie: Kilkishen/Bodyke v St Josephs, 3.00pm Fr McNamara Park: Inagh Kilnamona v Truagh Clonlara, 3.30pm Referee: Fergal O’Brien Intermediate Championship Clooney GAA: Clooney Quin v Eire, 1.00pm Whitegate GAA: Whitegate v Clarecastle/Ballyea Tulla GAA: Tulla v Corofin, 12.30pm Junior A Championship Broadford GAA: Broadford v Ruan/Crusheen Junior B Championship Final Fr McNamara Park: Truagh Clonlara v Parteen, 1.00pm Referee: Shane O’Loughlin Junior C Championship Broadford GAA: Broadford v Banner Clarecastle/Ballyea v Whitegate Sun 17th Oct Junior C Championship Kilkee GAA: Kilkee Bealaha v Cratloe, 12.00pm Tues 19th Oct Intermediate Championship Tubber GAA: Clooney Quin v Corofin, 8.00pm Sat 23rd Oct U16 Championship U16A Cup Final Fr McNamara Park: Inagh Kilnamona v Scariff Ogonnelloe, 11.00am Referee: Jim Hickey U16C Cup Final Clooney GAA: Eire Og v Corofin, 12.00pm Referee: Kevin Corry U16C Shield Final Fr McNamara Park: Cratloe v Smith O’Briens, 3.00pm Referee: Fergal O’Brien

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Sean Mullins and Ollie Curtin with Dana Point in Shelbourne

Gort syndicate toast to record breaking display in Shelbourne

BURNPARK Brae had a third career success in Galway on Thursday while the Mullins Curtin syndicate of Gort toasted to a record-breaking win in Shelbourne.

With Connacht in action on Saturday night it was Thursday and Friday night racing at Galway Track last week. In the A4 graded fifth contest on Thursday, the Marie Browne of Cree owned Burnpark Brae never saw a rival as he registered his third career success by a length and a half from Confused Hassett in 29.13. The son of Kinloch Brae and Seekers Vision who mistimed his start last time made no mistake this time as he poached a three length advantage over Confused Hassett and Ringroe Rally rounding the opening bend and remained in control throughout for a comfortable success.

In the opening contest of the night, Grandadsprincess out wide and Crokers Cody in the centre were away well and prominent racing towards the opening bend where the red jacketed Lillies Joy slipped through along the rails to take over in front entering the back straight.

Rounding the home bend it was anyone’s race with the Michael Corry and Michael Daly of Clarecastle owned Lillies Joy gamely sticking her neck out to score by a neck from Grandadspricess for trainer Stephen Murray of Sixmilebridge in 29.48 and initiate a double in the process.

Murray’s brace was completed in the S8 graded third contest which developed into a match from an early stage as Lady Blues was very smartly into her stride leading by two lengths from Knockdrum Lilly. Approaching the opening bend Knockdrum Lilly came through along the inside rails to lead for a couple of strides but on straightening for home the Rachel Murray of Sixmilebridge owned Lady

Blue Eyes rallied on the outside and the daughter of Laughill Blake and Playmistyforme prevailed by half a length in 19.56.

In race two on Friday, the Kieran and Bridget Nugent of Ballyea owned Dynamic Diva overcame trouble at the opening bend in this A6 graded contest as she opened her account with a two and three quarter length success over Springwell Stevo in 29.46.

The Sean Conlon owned Bumblebee Dylan never saw another rival in the S2 graded contest as the Stephen Murray of Sixmilebridge trained runner registered his sixth career success bye two and three quarter lengths over Caislean Joey in 19.21.

The SIS Mullingar Fair Warrior Open Sweepstake got underway at the Mullingar Track on Saturday night. In heat three victory went to the Noel Gavin of Ballyea owned Ballyea Scrutiny, boxed in trap six the Tom Flanagan of Ennistymon trained runner had three lengths to spare at the finish line in a time of 21.55. The Sweepstake which is over the 400 yards distance continues over the coming weeks.

The run of the weekend came in Shelbourne Park also on Saturday night when The Mullins Curtin Syndicate of Gort owned Dana Point (Sparta Maestro/ Blundel Spark) took the opportunity in the supporting Talking Dogs Online TV Open 850 to cement her status as Ireland’s very best ultra-marathon performer with a sensational record-breaking display.

Powering home, Dana Point struck the line seven lengths clear of Tinnock Solis in a brilliant 47.05, taking some six seconds off the previous best of Corporate Attack which had been set on Derby final night in 2009.

Captain Naoise Talty and the Ballynacally/Lissycasey U12s girls football team bring home a gold at the St Francis Credit Union Community Games National Athletics Finals in UL after defeating Daingean of Offally in the final. Meanwhile Newmarket-on-Fergus boys U12 Soccer were our only other medal winners after fighting hard to bring home the silver, they reached the final only to lose out to Malahide from Dublin

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Kelly wins Woodstock Masters competition

by SEAMUS HAYES WOODSTOCK GOLF CLUB: Mike Kelly (12) won the Woodstock masters competition at the weekend with 48 points. He had five to spare over John Dempsey (14) with third spot filled by Noel Casey (10) who also finished with 43 points.

The winner of the club singles competition at the weekend was Pat Keane (10) with 44 points while the category winners were Dickie Pyne (10) with 42 points, Cathal Clune (13) with 43 points and Kieran Frawley (18) with 44 points.

Brendan Keogh won the golfer of the year title.

Woodstock’s Colm Whelan has won the Clare junior golf short course shield. The competition was played over 27 holes in Woodstock, Shannon and Lahinch.

Meanwhile Indiana freshman golfer, Áine Donegan from Woodstock was named Big Ten Co-golfer of the week after she led Indiana to the team title in the 2021 Courtney Cole Invitational after shooting an even par 144 (71 and 73). Áine was two strokes clear of the field as she won her first collegiate tournament. In her first three collegiate tournaments, Áine has had three top 15 finishes including two top ten finishes. Her scoring averages of 72.53 is on pace to shatter the school record set by Mary Parsons in the 2017/2018 season.

The Costello cup versus Ennis will take place in Ennis on Sunday October 24. The tee-sheet has been reserved in Ennis from 8.30am to 1.30pm. The format is scotch foursomes (both players drive on every hole and then the pair play alternate shots until the ball is holed).

Names must be submitted by this Thursday.

LAHINCH GOLF CLUB: The annual Mass for deceased members of Lahinch Golf club will take place in the clubhouse on Friday October 22 at 7.30pm.

DROMOLAND GOLF CLUB: The three person scramble in association with Cahercalla Hospice was won by Barry Nugent, Alan Henstock and John Higgins with 54.5.

They had a shot to spare over Colette Torpey, Gabrielle Gardiner and Emma McMahon with

third spot filled by Seamus Cusack, Ian Mulready and Ed Crowe on 55.8.

Last week’s nine hole competition winner was Patrick McCoy with 17 points. The ladies 9 hole competition on October 6 was won by Joan Ryan with 18 points while the 18 hole competition on the same date was won by Katrina O’Neill

KILRUSH GOLF CLUB: The ESB cup was the competition at Kilrush at the weekend and it resulted in victory for Sean Moran (21) who returned 41 points to win by three from Terry O’Hare (11). Michael J. Hogan (18) was third with 38 points followed by Joe Linnane (11) with 36 points.

Declan O’Donovan (11) won division 1 with 36 points Gerry Duffy (19) captured the division 2 honours with 37 points while Pat Mulcahy (20) won division 3 with 36 points. The ladies Niamh Whelan classic was won by Peggy Mulqueen (33) with 34 points from Ailish Lorigan (18) with a similar score.

ENNIS GOLF CLUB: John Murphy and Michael Byrt were the winners of the men’s fourball competition at Ennis last week with 45 points. Jason Gallagher and Matthew Kennedy were second with a similar score followed by Fintan McEvoy and Paraic Cusack who also scored 45 points. There will be a men’s singles competition this weekend.

SHANNON GOLF CLUB: Last week’s green tee challenge at Shannon was won by Conor McPhillips (22) with 44 points from Sean O’Riordan (11) with 43 points. In third place, also with 43 points, was Colm Ryan followed by Dave Egan (22) with 42 points. Keith Buckley (4) won the gross with 38 points. The 9 hole singles competition was won

by Christopher Moylan (8) with 21 points.

SIXMILEBRIDGE SOCIETY: The Sixmilebridge society held its final outing of the 2021 season on Saturday when a big number of members travelled to Loughrea to play for the Kevin Whelan memorial prizes. Joe Murphy emerged as the winner from Chris Wason with Eoghan Maxwell in third spot. The nines were won by John Collins and Trevor Whyte.

Injury prompts Paddy Donovan to withdraw from next fight PADDY Donnovan’s seventh professional bout has been cancelled.

An injury in his left hand has led the cancellation of a planned fight for ‘Real Deal’ Donovan in New York.

This injury was a slight issue before his latest win over Turk Siar Ozgu in February but sustained further damage while sparring at the end of last week, prior to this another sparring

session six weeks ago indicated issues persisted with his hand.

“We are forced to withdraw from this fight and will undergo an operation to make sure I will have a long and successful career.

It’s a tough time mentally and physically inside and outside of the ring with the help of god with time I will be back better than ever,” the Ennis fighter stated this

week.

To date, Paddy has hit the ground running in his professional career with six wins from six fights. Prior to turning professionally, he was an eight-time All-Ireland champion.

Donovan has set himself the goal of becoming a world champion by the age of 25. Trained by Andy Lee, Paddy turned twenty two at the beginning of this year.

OUR NEW CUSTOM FITTING

ROOM IS NOW OPEN St. Mary's AC silver medal winners at the Clare Intermediate Cross Country held in Clarecastle recently. Pictured with coach Tommy Mc Carthy front (l-r) is Shane McCarthy, Keith Lynch, David Corry, Damien Carey. Back row: Fergal Grogan, John Keogh Kieran Dillon, Diarmuid Morissey

PLANNING 51

THURSDAY, OCT 14 2021

PLANNING NOTICES CLARE COUNTY COUNCIL ‘ROCKMOUNT, BRICKHILL EAST, CRATLOE, CO. CLARE Planning permission is sought at ‘Rockmount, Brickhill East, Cratloe, Co. Clare V95 D3K7 , on behalf of Karl Melvin and Treasa Minihane for the following items: an extension to the rear of the house, running the full length of the existing rear elevation, minor alterations to the existing dormer windows / roof to the rear of the house at first floor level to allow for more light and increase to the master bedroom and bathroom size, minor alterations to the existing established entrance way and driveway to make it safer, New fenestration to all facades as well as minor alterations to the south façade of the existing garage, and all associated site works on and under land.

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 MOUNTSHANNON EAST, LABASHEEDA, CO CLARE Take notice that Elizabeth Kern is applying for retention permission for the construction of an extension to an existing dwelling and extension to existing sheds along with all associated works at the above address. The plan-ning application may be inspected, or purchased at a fee not exceeding the reasonable cost of making a copy at the offices of Clare County Council during its public opening hours and a submission or observation in relation to the application may be made to the authority in writing on payment of the prescribed fee within the period of 5 weeks beginning on the date of receipt by the authority of the application.

CLARE COUNTY COUNCIL BALLINAGUN EAST, CREE, CO CLARE Take notice that Joe Garry is applying for retention permission for the construction of an extension to an exist-ing dwelling, relocation of the sewerage treatment unit and percolation area, revision of site boundaries and retention permission for the construction of a garage along with all associated works at the above address.

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

CLARE COUNTY COUNCIL TROMRA, QUILTY CO. CLARE Take notice that Henry Molohan is applying to Clare County Council for planning permission for the relocation of an existing farm entrance along with all associated works including setting back of the roadside boundary and closing up of an existing farm entrance at the above address.

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

CLARE COUNTY COUNCIL FURROOR KILMALEY Take notice that F. O’Sullivan intends to apply to the Planning Authority for permission to erect dwelling house, garage/storage area, foul sewer treatment system, percolation area and new site entrance 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 applica-tion.

The planning authority may grant permission subject to or without conditions or may refuse to grant per-mission.

CLARE COUNTY COUNCIL 18 MAIVILLE, KILRUSH RD., ENNIS, CO. CLARE. Take notice that MargaretAnn Killeen intends to apply to the Planning Authority for permission to retain and complete boundary walls and garden shed 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 hour. 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 71 RIVERDALE’ WESTBURY, CORBALLY, CO. CLARE Tony Smith seeks planning permission for a loft extension to an attic at 71 Riverdale, Westbury, Corbally Co. Clare. The proposed development consists of a (A) 16.5m squared bedroom with a (B) 4.2m squared en-suite bathroom (C) a new stairs and landing over existing stair (D) removal of existing bathroom (E) moving the water tank (F) and other ancillary works.

The planning application maybe inspected or purchased at a fee not exceeding the reasonable cost of making a copy at the offices of Clare County Council, New Rd. Cappahard, Ennis, Co. Clare V95 DXP2. 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 five weeks beginning on the date of receipt by the authority of the application.

CLARE COUNTY COUNCIL DROMARD, DRUMCLIFFE ROAD, ENNIS, CO. CLARE. Take notice that “Merlot Homes Limited” intends to apply to Clare County Council for planning permission to retain the following – Single storey rear extensions to houses (houses presently under construction, permitted under planning ref P19/804).

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 planning department, Aras Contae an Chláir, New Road, Ennis, Co. Clare during its public opening hours.

A submission or observation in relation to the application may be made to the Authority in writing on payment of the prescribed fee within the period of 5 weeks beginning on the date of receipt by the Authority of the application.

CLARE CO. COUNCIL MUNNIA, NEW QUAY, CO. CLARE Permission for the (1) retention of extension & alterations to existing dwelling house, (2) retention of domestic garage and (3) upgrade of effluent treatment system to EPA Standards is being sought by Catherine Sides. 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, Áras Contae an Chláir, New Road, Ennis, Co. Clare 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 of €20, within the period of 5 weeks beginning on the date of receipt by the authority of the application.

CLARE COUNTY COUNCIL KNOCKALASSA, MILTOWN MALBAY, CO. CLARE Take notice that Brian Foudy & Associates Ltd of Osprey House, Carmody Street, Ennis, Co. Clare 065 6893565 www. foudyconsulting.ie. intend to apply to the planning authority on behalf of John Cleary for permission to, a) remove existing container, b) construct a dwelling house, c)

upgrade existing wastewater treatment arrangement d) connect to existing services together with all associated site development works and services at the above address.

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

CLARE COUNTY COUNCIL COROFIN VILLAGE HOSTEL, MAIN ST., COROFIN, CO CLARE. Take notice that Marie and Jude Neylon intend to apply for PERMISSION to change the use of the existing Hostel Building to 2 no. individual Apartments, with resulting alterations to fenestration on the elevations, internal changes and all associated site and ancillary works at the above address. The planning application may be in-spected or purchased at a fee not exceeding the reasonable cost of making a copy, at the offices of the plan-ning 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 ENNIS ROAD, LEAGARD NORTH , MILTOWN MALBAY , CO CLARE Take notice that Derek Considine T/A Derek Considine Car Sales Ltd. intends to apply for PERMISSION to: 1. RETAIN the security fencing to the rear boundary of the premises & 2. P E R M I S S I O N to reduce the height of the security fencing to the rear boundary of the premises to 2m over the ground level of the subject site, with associated landscaping & 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 re-lation 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 BACK ROAD, KILRUSH, CO. CLARE PLANNING REFERENCE 21/239 Permission to convert & extend existing Convent structures, to upgrade existing stairways, relocate part of internal partitions, install 2No lifts, revise floor levels, revise part elevations, to include 30No apartments, to demolish part of existing outbuilding, reduce part of ground levels, to construct 20No semi-detached dwellings, service road, new entrance and to upgrade/ extend existing ancillary services at the above address.

The Convent is a protected structure (RPS 861).

Take notice that A. & M. Tubridy has lodged significant further information in respect of planning application reference P21/239.

This information and planning application may be inspected or purchased at a fee not exceeding the reasonable cost of making a copy, at the offices of the planning authority 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 au-thority on payment of the prescribed fee, within the period of 2 weeks after the receipt of the newspaper notice and site notice by the planning authority or in the case of a planning application accompanied by an EIS within 5 weeks of receipt of such notices by the planning authority.

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General Printing, Signage, Packaging Solutions, Design Services & Lots more!

065 684 4545

PHOTOGRAPHERS

Professional photographers wanted!

For all your training needs: * Manual Handling * Fire safety / Marshal * ergonomic assessments * learning english for Work * Presentation skills * online training ContaCt us at:

info@bridgetrainingservices.ie or 087 7092789 Web: www.bridgetraininingservices.ie

TYRES

Check out our new website! info@realprint.ie

TRAINING

087 9830736 065 671 0124 087 983 0736

TV

Mobile: 086 302 3311 Email: ormar747@gmail.com

STORAGE

- Must be good at working with groups and children.

- Professional full frame SLR required - Training & soft boxes supplied Job:

Taking family portraits in Santa's Magical Cabin

Location:

Ennis Town

Dates:

End Nov onwards

Please respond with your CV and contact details to

greg@santaexperience.ie

EASY TO USE SERVICE

PLACE YOUR PLANNING NOTICES WITH THE CLARE ECHO CALL 065 671 9021 EMAIL SALES@CLAREECHO.IE

PRAYERS THE MIRACLE PRAYER Dear Heart of Jesus, In the past, I have asked for many favors.

This time, I ask you This very special favour.

(Mention Favor) Take It dear Heart of Jesus, And place it within Your own broken heart Where your Father sees it, Then in His Merciful Eyes It will become your favour Not mine. Amen.

Say this prayer for 3 days.

Promise Publication.

Favour will be granted.

54 PUZZLEPAGE

THURSDAY, OCT 14 2021

THIS WEEKS PUZZLES OCT 14

SUDOKU 1

9

4

6

5

Commandos

2

3

7

7

3 4

4

6 2 1/1

7

1

Romance

How to play

Undemanding

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.

ANSWERS 5

1

8

2

3

5

9

6

5

4

8

9

6

7

2

1

3

8 4

3

2 3

7

6

4

1

1

5

7

9

2 1

8 4

6

4 9 8 2 3 5 7

5 2 9 6 7 3 1 4 8

1

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.

1

HOW TO PLAY

6

4

8

3

7

6

5

1

2

1/1

9 8

4

7

6 3

2

9

Salamanders

5

2

7

Permanent

8

9

9

Kilimanjaro

4

8

3

6

1

Humanly

3

2

Germanium

8

7

Egomaniac

8

2

Dismantle

4

Demands

9

9

Commander

How to play

Almanac

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.

WORD SEARCH

10/8/21, 9:57 AM

5

10/8/21, 9:57 AM

The Clare Echo Crossword

1/1

Daily Quick Crossword: 8 October 2021, 10/8/2021 Michael Curl

I

G

17

rple sweet course al

12

8 1

M

I

I

13

20

R

R

R E

L I

V

N N E R

U

U

E

B O T A N Y 2

3

11

A 9

O

16

14

B A S

I

I

L A N T

D E S S E R T

10

plant life y in chess

19

A S S A

S

it n country ly curt

18

15

I

F H A N D H I

C

N

T

M A G E N T A L 4

A

G A M B 5

6

H I

7

T

Michael Curl

Daily Quick Crossword: 8 October 2021, 10/8/2021

#supermacs heart of Ennis

Order Online www.supermacs.ie

n country

E

O F

order direct

Phone 065 6820914

L

For a quicker faster delivery service (065) 682 0914

R E V E

24

O'Connell Street, Ennis

athematics n of intended

22

N

23

E

22

E

21

A

20

21

19

terial

18

d

U

17

16

E

15

U

14

M A N G O

13

CROSSWORD ANSWERS Y R A N N Y

12

1 Constructs 2 North African country 3 Boldness 5 Branch of mathematics 6 Proclamation of intended marriage 7 Roofing material 9 Wedlock 13 Absence of sound 14 Learner 15 Without payment 16 Repulsive 18 Brink 20 Thigh bone

T

11

DOWN

sound

10

1 Science of plant life 4 Opening ploy in chess 8 Interior 9 Reddish-purple 10 Pudding or sweet course 11 Fundamental 12 Attacker 17 Make merry 19 Ungraciously curt 21 Despotism 22 Tropical fruit 23 Scandinavian country 24 Commands

O R D E R S

9

ACROSS

24

7

C

6

G

5

I

8

4

S W E D E N

3

23

2

ment

1

QUIZ 55

THURSDAY, OCT 14 2021

The Clare Echo Quiz

CLARE ROADS

M18 Motorway links Clare 1The with which County? a. Limerick b. Tipperary c. Galway

The Burren Beauty Drive in Clare 7 stretches for how many kilometres? a. 25km b. 48km c. 68km

and ____ town run along the Western Railway Corridor 2Ennis N18 primary road?

8The links Ennis to ____? a. Shannon b.

Newmarket on Fergus c. Gort

a. Doolin b. Galway c. Kilkee

The N19 linking Shannon Airport many rail services link Ennis 3 to Limerick-Ennis-Galway comes 9How to Limerick daily? in the form of a ___?

National Road N68 within 4The Clare runs from Ennis to ____?

Which of the following Bus 10 Eireann services does not link Clare to Galway?

a. Scariff b. Lahinch c. Kilrush

5

Every house on Bindon Street in Ennis contain ____ from the early 18thc?

a. 343 b. 51 c. 350

By Cian O’Broin

a. Stables b.

Vaulted coal stores c.

Oval windows

Ennis Outer ring Road is for6The mally known as? a. b. c.

The N85 Western Relief Road The N85 Relief Road The M18 Western Relief Bypass

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

The answers will be revealed in next weeks edition.

l QUESTION 10 : Which of the following Bus Eireann services does not link

Clare to Galway?

ANSWERS

6. The N85 Western Relief Road 7. 68km 8. Galway 9. 20 10. 343

a. 20 b. 25 c. 30

1. Galway 2. Gort 3. Dual Carriageway 4. Kilrush 5. Vaulted coal stores

a. Motorway b.

Dual Carriageway c.

Regional Road

Last weeks Answers . Straw missing . Salt and Vinegar Taytos changed . 2 phones missing . Bottle on wine different colour

. Light switch missing . Strap on facemask missing

Ruth Smith and Paula Carroll with Gary Pepper

AND GUTTERING CLARE

ROOF MOSS CLEANING