The Clare Echo 14/11/19

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14 Nov 2019

SHUT UP! Clare GAA’s message to online cowards

PÁRAIC McMAHON paraic@clareecho.ie

C l CLARE’S BEST WRAPPERS: Clare Rose Victoria O’Connell and

Cllr Mary Howard are joining with the Team Hope Christmas Shoebox Appeal and ask you to give a festive surprise to a child who is a victim of war or lives in enduring poverty. Filled shoeboxes can be dropped into locations all over the county until November 15 (please enclose €5 to help cover costs). Check out Clare Christmas Shoebox Appeal Facebook page for more details.

LARE GAA have asked the Gardai to investigate alleged continuous abuse of Board Officers, which one delegate said “would put a man to the edge of a rope”.

The Clare Echo understands it is primarily in relation to one anonymous person or group which operate social media channels on Facebook and Twitter.

The move arises as club delegates backed the decision to bring the case further following a discussion on the matter at their October meeting.

Newmarket-on-Fergus delegate, Pat Corry admitted he had some respect for people who stood up and criticised but put their name to their views, those that don’t he described as “cowards”. He continued, “If you can’t put your name to a statement, shut up”.

Former Board Chairman, Michael ‘Malty’ McDonagh believed the abuse “overstepped the mark”.

He stated, “It would put a man to the edge of a rope if it was continuous or sustained.” He voiced his and St Joseph Miltown’s full support for l UPSET: the County McDonagh Board and its said the officers. “They abuse was have started it over the and it has to be top given a finish, it has to be investigated. We are not Clare m e n if we don’t.”

2 NEWS

THURSDAY, NOV 14 2019

Index NEWS

O

2-15

ENTERTAINMENT

18

COMMUNITY

20-21

BUSINESS

22-27

PROPERTY

28-29

MOTORING

30-31

SPORT CLASSIFIEDS

FOUR DECADES OF YOUTH

34 35-37

The Square, Ennis, County Clare Telephone: 065 671 9021

NEWSDESK

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

SALES

Email: ger.naughton@clareecho.ie or niall@clareecho.ie

l OUTSTANDING VOLUNTEERS: Frances Downes and Fr Sean Sexton at the Clare Youth Service Lifetime Volunteering Awards dinner

VER 200 guests attended a special dinner hosted by Clare County Council to celebrate the work of volunteers as part of the 50th anniversary of the foundation of Clare Youth Service.

The CYS Lifetime Volunteering Awards were made to three people who have each given over 35 years’ service to the young people of the county – Nicky Brennan from Ennis, Seán Roche from Kilnaboy and Frances Downes from Sixmilebridge. A special award was also made to Fr Seán Sexton in recognition of his achievements and long service to the youth of Clare.

CEO of Clare County Council Pat Dowling, himself a former Development Officer with Clare Youth Service, said: “It’s incredible to think that these three volunteers have collectively given well over a century of voluntary service to the youth of the county.

“It’s fitting that Clare County Council recognizes their impact and that of the multitude of volunteers whom Clare Youth Service has supported over the years. I extend my sincere congratulations to Fr Seán Sexton and the early founders, the many staff down the years and the massive network of volunteers throughout the county.”

4 NEWS

THURSDAY, NOV 14 2019

‘Co Council doesn’t SOFA SALE – Up to 50% use recyclable paper’ off at KMC

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PÁRAIC McMAHON

R

paraic@clareecho.ie

ECYCLABLE paper is not used in the printing room of Clare County Council, "not even in the environment section," a horrified Cllr Roisin Garvey (pictured right) told a recent meeting of the local authority.

Her claim came during a discussion on a motion by Cllr Ann Norton requested details on the amount of paper used by the County Council and that they endeavour "to aim for a 50 per cent reduction in twelve months".

Ann Reynolds of Corporate Services in response highlighted that they in conjunction with Environmental Awareness Officer Karen Foley are working towards complying with the Green Government Initiative "to phase out single use plastic, separate more waste and becoming more resource efficient. Paper reduction is an integral part of this initiative". Subsequently recycling signage will be updated and a recycling workshop given to staff within the Council, "All waste paper is currently

confidentially shredded and managed in a sustainable manner".

"A number of organisational changes particularly around IT and record management would be required to reduce paper usage. There are ongoing efforts to optimise use of the council Staff Intranet and Councillor Extranet for circulation of reports, meeting agendas in an effort to reduce paper and increase efficiency. Some Councillors have opted to use electronic version of the Council meeting agenda and reports on the Extranet," Reynolds stated.

Cllr Norton encouraged her fellow councillors to embrace technology to cut down on paper. "The younger generation in this country are looking for change. It is only when you see the amount of paperwork that comes in our own letter box that you realise the amount of paper that is being used. “There isn't a day that passes that we don't get some information from Clare County Council, it might be something as

simple as a date or time of a briefing. The majority of us have a smart-phone, I appreciate some people like to see an agenda in a paper version".

As part of the request, Cllr Roisin Garvey asked that for any paper being used that it be at least recyclable.

"I passed by the printing room recently, they don't use recycling paper not even in the environment section because of the quality of paper. For step one of Ann's proposal, could we at least look at recycled paper. I don't want anymore paper from the Council, it is complete madness, it should be an opt-in".

For Trade Union meetings, "everything is sent through an app," Cllr Joe Killeen commented, "but most importantly everything is archived". Cllr Cillian Murphy backed the proposal, "Cork City Council have gone completely paperless, we wouldn't be the first the do it".

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6 NEWS

THURSDAY, NOV 14 2019

Doonbeg community reach out to Miltown asylum seekers 5 Courses

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HAVING left a favorable impression on the people of Doonbeg after a recent 10km run/ walk event, a local group has raised enough money to provide quality running shoes for the asylum seekers of Miltown Malbay.

In addition to the trainers, the group has also promised to provide for each of them a brand new running shorts, socks and base layer tops.

The trainers will assist the men in their soon to start running/walking club initiative.

The club which has been scheduled to take

place every Tuesday, is expected to cover about five kilometers, with Deirdre Fitzpatrick from Doonbeg as the running coach.

“Each training shoe cost about €80, an amount that would have taken a savings of about three weeks, from the state allocated weekly allowance of €38 to purchase,” Innocent Iroaganachi told The Clare Echo.

“This incredible act of generosity shall go a long way, to contribute to the physical and mental health wellness of asylum seekers in the Miltown community”.

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lREADY FOR ROAD: Some residents of Miltown Malbay Central Hotel emergency accommodation posing for photo after receiving their brand new Asics training shoes

Job situation not in crisis - Breen PÁRAIC McMAHON

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LARE does not need to apply for an EU globalisation fund in light of accumulated job losses throughout the county, Junior Minister Pat Breen has stated.

On Friday, a special meeting of Clare County Council was called by Cathaoirleach Cathal Crowe (FF) to discuss "the recent unexpected job loss announcement in Shannon and in view of ongoing concerns about the future risk of employment".

All of the county's five Oireachtas members were present with apologies sent in by IDA Ireland, no communication was issued by Enteprise Ireland prior to the engagement regarding their attendance.

Citing the loss of more than 500 jobs in Molex, 240 posts at Roche Clarecastle, potentially 114 departures

at Avara Pharmaceutical and "the ongoing uncertainty at Moneypoint", Crowe felt they had "the potential to have a devastating impact on this county's economy".

"Parallels can be drawn between what County Clare is experiencing now and what the people of Limerick endured in 2009 with the closure of Dell. In that very same year Waterford saw the closure of its world famous Waterford Crystal plant.

Following both of these closures the government of the day moved quickly to establish taskforces to address the haemorrhaging of jobs".

He praised Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation, Heather Humphreys for arriving in Shannon, less than twenty four hours after the Molex announcement.

Crowe in his capacity as Cathaoirleach recently wrote to Minister for Finance, Pascal Donohue TD, "formally asking that he would apply for European Globalisation Funding to help this region over the coming months.

As a South Clare man I saw how, a decade ago, this fund helped neighbours and friends of mine who had been made redundant at Dell to retrain and re-enter the labour market. Today I am asking our county's five Oireachtas members to throw their weight behind the proposal for European funding".

Minister of State Pat Breen insisted "It is not all doom and gloom".

"It is a very different situation than it was back in Dell when things were very bad, there isn't a crisis even though people would like to think there is. The economic climate is very different.

We're not at the stage of applying for a EU globalisation fund. 500 jobs is a blow but we have 15 months to do something".

Breen said 3,000 net jobs have been created within the county over the last three years. "CSO statistics say there is a 50% reduction in unemployment figures. The county is doing well.”

8 NEWS

THURSDAY, NOV 14 2019

Avara staff wait on redundancy PÁRAIC McMAHON

A

paraic@clareecho.ie

LL 114 employees at Avara have been redundant while the workforce has set up a new company to maintain its supply to pharmaceutical companies.

Three redundancy phases have been carried out in a phased basis - on September 30, October 6 and October 11 - as a new company called Eirchem was formed by employees. However redundancy payments have yet to be made.

Speaking to The Clare Echo, an employee representative outlined of Eirchem, “It will go forward and fulfil the needs of our customers, we had old customers that we supplied to, if those customers didn’t get those products they’d be in the same situation as ourselves, they would be closing down”.

United Metals now own the site but are renting the asset through Eirchem whose production plan will last between six to eight months manufacturing drug ingredients in particular for the use of Parkinson’s disease.

“Eirchem is going to operate on a specific production plan, everybody has got their finishing dates, the last person will leave here in July 2020, the first batch of people will leave at the end of March 2020, the sec-

ond batch the end of April, the third batch of June and the last people will leave in July”.

Employees have thanked two Clare TDs, Joe Carey (FG) and Timmy Dooley (FF) for their assistance. Deputy Carey has tried to expedite the RP50 claims so workers receive their redundancy payment before Christmas. Comments made by Pat Breen (FG) that no European Globalisation Fund is needed for Clare has annoyed the Avara workforce. “There are no jobs like we have in Avara out there, I can get a job but it won’t keep me in the situation I’m in with my mortgage payments, I wouldn’t be able to support the house I’m in now and it’s not an extravagant house by any means. I’m going to have review everything in six months when this ends. The globalisation fund would be a great help to me”.

In August, workers told The Clare Echo they had been treated “with contempt”. A representative told The Clare Echo on Wednesday, “The situation has got worse if anything.

We’re fighting for money that was removed from our wages for additional voluntary contributions (AVCs) for our pensions.

“We paid employee contributions and some of our people paid AVCs, those payments haven’t been made to our funds, not alone has that money not gone to our fund but we haven’t got the credit on our fund that it would built up over three months.”

l SUITED AND BOOTED: Shannon Springs directors John Gavin and Dermot Kelly with members of staff at the annual Midwest Tourism Ball

HOTELS CELEBRATE IN STYLE

THE Irish Hotel Federation 7th Annual Midwest Tourism Ball took place last Monday 11th November 2019 at the Fitzgeralds Woodlands House Hotel & Spa in Adare. 400 people from across County Clare, Limerick and North Tipperary attended this black-tie event to celebrate all we do as a region, hoteliers and tourist providers together.

Dermot Kelly, Chairperson of the Shannon Branch and co-owner of Shannon Springs Hotel opened up by thanking everyone for joining in such great numbers and saying the branch work hard fundraising to promote tourism in our region. The main sponsors on the night were King Laundry’s and Integrated Media Solutions (IMS).

John Burke from the Armada Hotel and The Elevate Foundation was the guest speaker on the night. The IHF Shannon Branch Employee of the Year was organised and coordinated by John Gavin – Shannon Springs Hotel, which was awarded to Debbie Nnaya (Front Office Supervisor) – Radisson Blu Hotel Limerick.

The Tourism Service Award was presented to the McManus Family for their contribution to tourism and the region – Sue Ann McManus was presented with an art piece on the night - Watercolour of “Lantern Lodge” by Ennis based artist Tomas O’Maoldonnaigh.

As one of Ireland’s largest indigenous industries, tourism supports some 266,000 jobs nationally 11% of total employment of which 70% are outside Dublin and generates over €9.4 billion in revenue and €2 billion in taxes annually. Locally, the industry makes a crucial contribution to the Shannon Region, supporting over 25,000 jobs and generating €565m for our economy each year.

10 NEWS

THURSDAY, NOV 14 2019

Clare GAA contact Gardaí over anonymous online abuse PÁRAIC McMAHON

A

paraic@clareecho.ie

N GARDA Síochána have been asked by Clare GAA to investigate continuous abuse of Board Officers and are said to be considering excluding members of the media from attending future meetings alongside club delegates.

On Saturday, Chairperson of Clare GAA, Joe Cooney confirmed to The Irish Independent that they have gone to the Gardaí over social media abuse directed at County Board officials by anonymous accounts.

“We’ve handed it over to An Garda Síochána now and we want a thorough examination to be carried out to find out who’s behind it and put an end to it”.

The move arises as club delegates backed the decision to bring the case further following a discussion on the matter at their October meeting. Several representatives voiced their disgust with comments online stemming from one account on both Twitter and Facebook.

Vice Chairman of Clare GAA, PJ McGuane’s initial views appeared to be directed

towards the media for tweeting from meetings and delegates feeding information to other sources. “This news is already gone out. Why can’t we wait? Why is everything we discuss out there before it becomes official,” he asked. He said that he had been involved in the GAA for 65 years and that it “has cost me an awful lot of money”.

McGuane highlighted, “A lot of the facilities in this county have been put in by people of my generation”. He said he was happy to take on anyone in a debate and be challenged but criticised personnel for spilling information to people not involved in the organisation. “This nonsense has to stop. Ye should be ashamed of yourselves.

Every committee we have is leaking like Mrs Brown’s milking bucket”. Upon concluding his remarks, PJ received a strong round of applause from delegates in the room.

Irish Officer, Flan O’Reilly stated, “I am glad PJ has said what he had to”. The Cratloe clubman felt of the social media sites, “people can say what they want like, it is out of control”. “We have seen it politically how it has influenced the world”.

“Some of the stuff out there is scurrilous, ridiculous and insulting,” Ruan’s Michael O’Regan commented. “I have been involved with the GAA for 45 years and have worked with decent, honest, honourable people.

Hearing what is being said about these de-

cent, honest, honourable people is disgusting”.

Retired referees Tom Stackpoole and Ambrose Heagney also spoke out against the actions. “It is pure disgraceful what is going on,” Stackpoole remarked. “I refereed for 20 years, abuse of match officials was

lFED UP: Clare County Board Chairman Joe Cooney has spoken out about the alleged online abuse

Photo by Martin Connolly

mentioned at every convention but it is disgraceful the abuse that has been levelled at club officers. This Twitter and Facebook is horrendous. I’d be gone from refereeing after two games if this was the abuse we got,” Heagney said.

John Meade of Kildysart was quite frustrated, “If you are passing on information to him, know what ye are fucking talking about”. Meade was referenced in an online post by one account for “saying a general rule”. He added, “Whoever is giving this idiot information needs to get it right”.

Former Board Chairman, Michael ‘Malty’ Donagh believed the abuse “overstepped the mark”. He stated, “It would put a man to the edge of a rope if it was continuous or sustained”.

Following any other business, members of the media present were asked to leave the room. A further discussion followed on the issue of media attendance at meetings. The Clare Echo understands that some of the more vocal critics of the online abuse were pushing for members of the media not to be present at meetings.

However The Clare Echo also understands that clubs reminded the meeting that there is a difference between social media and print media. It was also flagged that print and broadcast media play a valuable role in promoting GAA within the county.

THURSDAY, NOV 14 2019

Adopt-a-family scheme may be trialled here

A

N ADOPT a family scheme may be trialed to help tackle the housing crisis, writes Paraic McMahon.

"Such a radical approach" it is believed would be the first of its kind in the country. Cllr Gabriel Keating (FG) made the proposal at the October meeting of Clare County Council. Referring to a report based on 2011 Census figures relating to vacant houses in the county and published by the Council, he asked that an "adopt a family scheme" be implemented.

"The rational for such a radical approach to housing needs is to revitalise such areas in rural Ireland with the occupation of these vacant houses up to proper standards".

Keating added, "Supporting a family who have a housing need would in the first instance, in such circumstances, benefit not alone the family but provide a, human, social and economic boost for communities' schools, shops and sporting organisations, and provide a challenge to the local authority from which I requisition a preliminary report".

Quoting Nelson

Mandela (pictured below), the Cross native stated "It always seems impossible until it is done".

10,925 vacant homes were said to be in Clare as per the 2016 Census, the figure dropped to 6,104 once holiday homes were excluded. Geo-Directory figures from An Post show 2,700 unoccupied dwellings for the similar period. "These figures are being examined nationally to report on the disparity between the two figures and locally the vacancy properties are being confirmed using the Geo-Directory as the start point," Director of Social Development, Anne Haugh responded.

She said Ennis, Killaloe, Kilrush and Shann o n were t h e areas

under current review regarding vacant properties. "There is very limited success in securing vacant properties for social housing either as an acquisition or under one of the supported rented/ leasing schemes While it is considered there are many vacant properties in rural Clare these properties are invariably located in areas with minimal social housing demand. Further there are many reasons for this vacancy and invariably these properties are not available for social housing tenants as either they are unsuitable or the cost to return them to use is far in excess of the grant aid available under the various schemes".

Haugh welcomed Cllr Keating's motion and encouraged owners of vacant properties to contact the Vacant Homes Office within the Council "to ascertain the viability of such a property for social housing. If there is demand in an area then this Council will work with the property owner to advise on the most appropriate scheme".

Share of â‚Ź300m to help protect jobs CLARE is set to benefit from a share of the â‚Ź300 million fund established for the Human Capital Initiative (HCI) as part of the Government's Future Jobs Ireland policy to prepare businesses and workers for the changing employment landscape.

Clare Fine Gael TD Joe Carey said that the HCI would help protect jobs in Clare with the fund going towards higher education programmes targeted at meeting the future skills needs of the economy.

"Our enterprise economy is creating 850 jobs a week, despite the fact that we are still dealing with the consequences of a previous Government who adopted

a complacent approach.

"The world of work is changing, and we must respond by ensuring that we are re-training workers, creating alternative employment opportunities and maximising flexible work practises that can help improve our work-life balance.

"The HCI will consist of three main pillars – graduate conversion and specialisation courses; additional places on undergraduate courses, and an innovation and agility fund.

These measures will help Clare companies adapt and respond to a changing world and ensure that our economic success if future-proofed," Deputy Carey explained.

NEWS 11

12 NEWS

THURSDAY, NOV 14 2019

'Wakey wakey' Sweeney pens book on Clare FM PÁRAIC McMAHON

A

paraic@clareecho.ie

S THE first voice to ever be heard on Clare FM, it is fitting that Ger Sweeney is the one to pen a book 30 years on from the radio's foundation.

At midday on September 10, 1989, Ger introduced Spancil Hill as it was played on Clare FM, this being Jon Kenny's reggae version as opposed to the original. On November 12, 2019, Launching Clare FM was officially unveiled by Cormac MacConnelll at the Buttermarket Building where over 135 people were present..

Launching Clare FM tells the story behind those responsible for starting the radio station, their competition to secure the licence plus the legalising of Irish radio stations.

Memories are retold by members of the original team, among them Mike Gardiner, Rachael English, Alan Cantwell, Caimin Jones, Áine Hensey and Marty Morrissey.

Within the county, Clare FM is an institution so it's quite ironic that the idea of do-

ing the book first crossed Ger's mind while in another of the county's iconic locations.

"I was sitting in the lounge in Shannon Airport waiting to get on a flight, I was working through my head what was going to be happening for the next few months, when you're freelancing you have to do that. I'm good at remembering dates, events and anniversaries so it dawned on me that Clare FM was 30 years old.

"What are we thinking about after 30 years, we're remembering the launch so I started thinking about my involvement and how I get involved, one of the biggest questions I'm asked is 'whatever happened to so and so, where did so and so go' so there came the idea of a where are they now story, that's how it all began," he told The Clare Echo.

Born in Limerick City, radio has always been an obsession for Sweeney; even as a youngster he used to put a tran-

sistor radio under his pillow going to sleep.

Five days before his 14th birthday, he began working in Raidió Luimní.

Eight years later, the CBS Sexton St past pupil was one of the new recruits signed up

by Clare FM as it prepared to go on air for the first time. "I didn't have any intention of moving to Ennis but within a week of starting work I was living here. A gorgeous town so I fell in love with it straight away". It was at the Francis St studios that his profile soared, he fronted numerous shows but his stint as breakfast was where he did best, 'wakey wakey time to get up' his saying that listeners fondly remember. Doing breakfast turned out to be his favourite on-air slot.

"What I always used to say about breakfast was there was a reason to be on the radio, you were getting people out of bed, you were trying to start their day with a smile, give a bouncy kind of introduction to the day, make them happy. I did afternoon programmes and I'd often say to myself 'what's my purpose, what am I doing, what am I adding to someone's day here', I used struggle with that. Mid-morning heading into lunchtime, you're getting them over 11am and into lunchtime. With breakfast, there

was a reason to be there".

He has left Clare FM on three occasions and is now a freelance broadcaster working with TalkRadio Europe among others. Writing the book Sweeney described as "a phenomenal experience" and one which made him "long for thirty years ago at times".

Retailing at €15, Launching Clare FM is available to buy online (emeraldconnection. net) and in several stores countywide.

lUP AND AT 'EM: Ger Sweeney and (left) the cover of his new book, Launching Clare FM

Council may work from home in 2020 PÁRAIC McMAHON

paraic@clareecho.ie

A POLICY on remote working within Clare County Council is to be prepared for 2020 as the local authority contemplates letting some of its 970 plus staff carry out their daily jobs from hubs across the county and in their own home.

It comes following a motion by Cllr Cillian Murphy at the October meeting of the County Council. He asked that they "undertake the relevant research into the delivery of a remote or flexible work policy for its employees."

Last year Digiclare, an initiative by the Council saw digital hubs opened offering flexible, affordable and local office facilities and high-speed broadband connectivity in rural locations such as Feakle, Kilrush and Miltown Malbay. "The Council has developed key infrastructure which has opened up the periphery of the county to non-traditional jobs, encouraging those that visit rural Clare to come back to live here. It is not good enough for us to expect those hubs to be filled by external companies".

This May, details emerged of a 'Climate Action Charter' being put together by Minister for Climate Action, Richard Bruton. Under it, local authorities will be told to support employees to undertake changes to reduce their carbon footprint, develop a process for carbon-proofing major decisions, deliver a fifty percent improvement in energy efficiency by 2030 and ask suppliers for information on their carbon footprint.

Over 970 individuals are employed by Clare County Council in 150 roles delivering over 500 services. Part of the national steering group for Grow Remote, Cllr Murphy mentioned a survey they carried out which found "85 percent of millennials want to work remotely full time, 35 per cent of those would live their current job for one in a remote capacity". The Kilkee councillor added, "It is not for every employee and not for every role".

"This is a very innovative and forward thinking motion," Cllr Clare Colleran Molloy observed as she seconded the proposal, "It is most likely something we can foresee into the future".

Such positivity was not exuded by Cllr Gerry Flynn, "We're straying into an area that is none of our business really. The human resource department is an executive function". The Shannon representative did see merit in where Murphy was coming from but said he preferred being able to ring a person based at the Council offices "anytime there is an emergency" and felt "the current working practices work quite well".

Chief Executive of the Council, Pat Dowling also supported "the spirit" of the motion, "we do remote working, we have area offices, road depots, we have people all over the county"."We need to approve a policy of remote working for Clare. There has to be bigger context to it, we do not want to be isolating staff. " More and more of this is going to be the norm. While I'm not saying no, I would ask Leonard (Cleary, Director of Service in Rural Development) to prepare a policy on the issue for next year".

THURSDAY, NOV 14 2019

'Bunratty needs more marketing' PĂ RAIC McMAHON

A

paraic@clareecho.ie

S SHANNON Heritage plans to bring more sites under its control, Tourism Minister Shane Ross has stated its marquee attraction, Bunratty Castle requires extra marketing.

Now running eight sites across the country, Shannon Heritage receives no State funding. In recent years, it won contracts to operate sites at Malahide Castle, the 1916 exhibition at the GPO and Newbridge House.

Managing Director Niall O'Callaghan had previously stated their aim is to have 14 sites under its control by 2021. Such a move has prompted Bunratty residents to contact The Clare Echo outlining their view that Bunratty Castle and Folk Park deserves more attention and that Shannon Heritage is becoming more vested in its Dublin interests.

"I don't think that would be a good thing," Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Shane Ross told The Clare Echo of Shannon Heritage over-focusing on the capital. He did note that the visitor experience operator "is expanding in a couple of areas" and had been "successful" in Dublin.

Launched back in 1963, the medieval banquet at Bunratty Castle and Folk Park is one of the longest

running tourism attractions in the country. During peak season, 350 people are employed by Shannon Heritage with the figure dropping to 145 for fulltime staff.

In May, plans were lodged for an â‚Ź8m investment which aims to deliver the country's first ever 4D 270 degree visitor experience.

Minister Ross visited Bunratty Castle and Folk Park on Thursday last where he was briefed on the development plans. Speaking to The Clare Echo, he expressed the view that more marketing is needed for the attraction which welcomed its highest amount of visitors in 2017 when 369,275 came through the doors.

"I was in Bunratty this morning, I saw the vigour that is there, I had a wonderful time going through the street and seeing what things were like 150 years ago, it is very special what they have created, it needs more marketing and they have the energy to do that. Numbers are down slightly, it is still one of the iconic visiting places for tourists and I've no doubt Shannon Heritage will continue to flourish".

Brexit has impacted on the amount of tourists coming to Ireland in 2019, Minister Ross confirmed. "Shannon Heritage has had difficulties because of that and because British tourists aren't coming in the same numbers or spending in the same amount, that will come back. What Shannon Heritage has to offer is quite wonderful and it won't be lost".

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NEWS 13 lICONIC: Bunratty Castle visitor numbers have suffered due to Brexit

14 THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK

THURSDAY, NOV 14 2019

Ronan Scully

THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK Author spreading the word of positivity

Make the best of life L

IFE can be so unfair and heartbreaking at times.

My work in parts of some of the poorest places in the world made me realise that. But life can be good too, I have a loving and caring family and also some great and genuine friends that have and are helping me on my life’s journey.

I wish you who are reading this, a good family and friends too, because they really are a life blessing.

Friends all the same do come and go, but the real ones stay around or are part of your life when you really need them.

Go After your Dreams Go after your dreams at all times when you can, especially if it involves genuine love and care. Try to do and be what you love. Be aware and work on your problems if you have them and always look for a good and speedy resolution for them.

Always remember that we are responsible for what we do, no matter how we feel. Always keep trying and moving forward. Always consider the power of your words carefully as they can hurt for real. Look at things from every angle before you make a decision or a statement for they too can hurt.

Always pray for others intentions and if you’re like me always light a candle for someone. I believe that

prayer candles really work.

Candle lighting daily from me for everyone’s intentions.

Live for today and the present moment as it is special and real for tomorrow might never come. Make everyone of your days here on earth count for the good of yourself and for others. Choose life and love for something can be lost and gained in living life everyday.

Meditate Keep the Serenity prayer always close by so that you can have the courage and the wisdom to be the person you want and can be.

Always as much as possible express your thanks and gratitude to people who have helped you along life’s way.

To forgive or not to forgive is one of our life choices, I think from my experience in life it is always more freeing to forgive. When you say sorry or seek forgiveness always mean it and if people don’t accept your apology you can do no more and you ‘ve just got to do the best you can with your life and move forward with it.

Don’t give part time people in your life a full time position in your head. Also remember you can do something in an instant that will give you heartache for life but also remember if you believe enough in yourself you can keep going long after you think you can’t. Don’t spend time hating or being envious.

Sometimes the people you expect to kick you when you’re down will be the ones to help you get back up, while the ones you expect to help you are nowhere to be found.

Remember that sometimes when you are angry,you have the right to be angry, but that doesn’t give me or you the right to be cruel.

Know that no matter how good a friend someone is, they’re going to hurt you every once in awhile and you must forgive them for that.

Remember that you cannot make someone love you. All you can do is be someone who can be loved. The rest is up to them. Try to always look on the good and bright side of life. Take chances in a good sense. Know that heroes are the people who do what has to be done, when it needs to be done, regardless of the consequences.

Always remember that no matter what you do in life that there is no greater thing that you can do than to love someone or care for someone or be there for someone.

Be that someone, for that is what life is really all about at the end of the day! Real genuine Love is and will always be the answer to this life.

Thought for the week As your thought for the week, look at your life’s experiences and see what you are doing about them and as the saying goes, go after your dreams, for happy are

those that dream dreams but even more happier are those who try to achieve them.

Remember it’s not what happens to you and people that’s important. It’s what you and they do about it. Go after your dreams.

Go achieve them. For Life can be and is short! But Life although very short at times is very beautiful, just as roses are beautiful but it has challenges which are like thorns and have to be faced and overcome by all.

Those who accept these challenges and succeed, are the ones who know how to live life in its true sense.

Thus, enjoy life but also be prepared to bear the pricks of pain. Life is too short to judge a book by its cover.

Everyone has their own struggles and journey so never be mean to someone when you don’t know their story. This world needs more understanding, caring, loving, compassionate and sympathetic people.

Life is too short to be mad at someone forever. Forgiveness to those that have hurt you is a powerful way to let yourself feel free. Make the best of your life while you still can for life can be shorter than you think! So may every day be a thoughtful day for you. Let your word ignite the hope the world needs to bring to life your love and justice for all people everywhere, especially those most in need. Amen.

UP UP AND AWAY

Citizens Advice Centre to close if no funding given STUART HOLLY

M

editor@clareecho.ie

lTAKING FLIGHT: Pictured at Shannon Airport for the Embraer E2 Demo Flight on Friday was 12 year old Shane Naughton, Gort Co Galway, in the state of the art cockpit with Captain Peter Kruger, Embraer Instructor Pilot. Clare native John Slattery is president and chief executive of Brazil-based Embraer Commercial Aviation. Photo

by Arthur Ellis

INISTER of State Pat Breen has said he is satisfied that following ongoing discussions with his colleague Minister for Social Protection Regina Doherty, Citizen Information Services will remain in Shannon.

It comes after Mayor of Clare Cathal Crowe called on the government to intervene in what he called “the imminent closure” of Shannon Citizens Advice Centre.

Cllr Crowe told The Clare Echo that he had written to Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection Regina Doherty, urging her to allocate the necessary funding to keep the Shannon Advice Centre open. Cllr Crowe concluded by stating that there is an onus on the Minister Pat Breen, to ensure that this “fiasco” is resolved.

Minster Breen said, “Fears were expressed to me about the future of the Shannon Community Office. The Community Office, run by Clarecare, had provided a very important ser-

vice to the people of Shannon and surrounding areas for almost four decades, so I was equally concerned about the issue when it was brought to my attention.”

“Having raised concerns about the future of the services in Shannon with Minister Doherty, I am pleased that the Citizen Information element of the service is not only to remain in Shannon, but is to be reinforced, as two part time staff will be employed there directly by the Citizens Information Board for the very first time. These are permanent jobs, with all the possibilities of promotion and further development,” said Minister Breen.

“My main concern now are the part-time Clarecare positions at the centre. These part time positions covered the Citizen Information element of the centre, but also other aspects of services provided by the Shannon Community Centre which are not under the remit of the Citizen Information.

“Having contacted Clarecare I understand it is currently reviewing its operations at the centre as well as exploring other funding streams in order to retain aspects of its services. This includes Clarecare’s hopes of continuing with the popular Shannon Diary.”

Shannon Town Park to open next week

CLARE County Council will officially open Shannon Town Park Bóthar Linne, Shannon Tuesday 19th November at 09:00am.

Shannon Town Park is an exciting €1.5m project part funded under the Sustainable Urban Development Priority of the Southern & Eastern Regional Operational Programme 2014 – 2020, European Regional Development Fund, Southern Regional Assembly and Clare County Council Development Contribution Scheme 2017 – 2023.

Cathaoirleach of Clare County Council, Cathal Crowe stated “The development of the Shannon Town Park has provided an enormously valuable amenity for the entire community and now that it has been delivered and is open to

the public, it is important that the community themselves feel a sense of ownership and responsibility for playing a key role in ensuring Shannon Town Park remains an attractive amenity which everyone can enjoy for many years to come”.

The park design has been informed by an extensive public consultation process undertaken by Clare County Council. It provides an enormously valuable outdoor recreation amenity for the entire Shannon and South Clare community and will be a major component of the award winning Shannon Town Green Infrastructure Plan 2013, creating linkages with other key amenity areas including the Shannon Estuary Embankments cycle and footpath and the Shannon Wetlands Restoration Project.

The new Shannon Town Park caters for all sectors of the community and includes formal footpaths and cycle track, an adventure play area, a cycle pump track, formal and informal seating areas, picnic areas, lighting and signage, the creation of a natural water feature and new native woodland planting, and all ancillary works and services.

Designed by Nicholas de Jong & Associates (Urban Design) and Malachy Walsh & Partners (Engineers), and constructed by M. Fitzgibbon Contractors Ltd., the delivery of the project was managed by the Council’s Planning Department.

The new Shannon Town Park includes a distinctive bandstand providing a central focal point and an attractive outdoor venue for fes-

tivals and performances by local and visiting artists and musicians, which can be viewed from the informal semi-circular seating areas.

A new Toucan pedestrian/cycle provides safe crossing on Bóthar Linne from schools and other public amenities in the area A fully-lit central spine path meanders through the park, linking the Leisure Centre and St. Patrick’s School to the town centre, and with a new Toucan pedestrian/cycle crossing providing increased safety at the entry from Bóthar Linne.

Clare County Council invites the wider Shannon community to come along to the opening of the new Shannon Town Park, to help celebrate the opening of such a significant amenity for Shannon Town.

Design team for Gaelscoil announced A NEW building for Gaelscoil Donncha Rua in Shannon has moved a step closer to construction with confirmation that a design team has been appointed to start the architectural and planning process.

Clare Fine Gael TD Joe Carey was told by Education Minister Joe McHugh in the Dáil last week that a service level agreement has been signed with the Limerick and Clare Educational and Training Board (LCETB) who are responsible for delivery of the project.

"These are the first major steps in the design and construction stages.

The design team will now design the buildings, obtain the necessary statutory planning permissions and move the project onward to construction in due course.

As the project is at an early stage in the delivery process, it is not possible at this time to give a date for its completion.

However, Minister McHugh has assured me that he has been pressing the Department to ensure there are no delays in allowing the project proceed to the construction phase as quickly as possible," Deputy Carey explained.

"Gaelscoil Donncha Rua is one of the most successful schools of its kind in the country, despite the fact that classes have been held in prefabs for the past 35 years and the board of management have been paying more than €84,000 a year on rent.

"It is the only Gaelscoil within a 15 mile radius, serving children from the local area as well as Sixmilebridge, Newmarket-on-Fergus and Quin.

“It is also the only primary school in Shannon that has an ASD unit catering for 12 children with autism," Carey added.

16 COLUMNIST

THURSDAY, NOV 14 2019

Aoibhín Garrihy

LOVE

CLARE

Getting into the festive spirit THE NOTEBOOK

I

DON’T know whether I am subconsciously trying to get organised before another baby arrives into our lives in the coming weeks and we really won’t have time to shop, organise and plan for Christmas or is it the fact that things have already kicked into Christmas mode for people... either way it feels way earlier than normal.

While most years I would be allergic to the bombardment of commercialism, this year I’m just so excited to share magical moments as a family and so I find myself kind of embracing it!

We got our first taste of these magical moments at the weekend

when we spent a few days at Center Parcs in Longford and saw Hanorah’s face light up at a bunch of singing Reindeers! It’s those little scenes of sheer joy that you cannot help love about the festive season.

lDELIGHTED: BEO has been shortlisted for an Image Business Woman of the Year Award

Centre Parcs really is worth the hype for those with little ones. I was sold when we discovered a soft play area in every restaurant and now believe every family friendly restaurant should have one! It’s an ideal way to keep the smallies occupied!

It’s been a busy few weeks preparing to launch BEO Sleep Well and I’m delighted to say it’s nearly here. Tuesday saw us shooting the finished product and it was amazing to see our vision for this project (inspired by the Clare landscape) come to fruition. BEO has also been nominated for the best Start Up category at this year’s Image Business Woman of the Year Awards. Something we are incredibly proud of.

Speaking of awards, I’m delighted to be hosting this year’s Entrepreneur of the Year Awards alongside Darragh Moloney next Thursday night. It’s always an incredibly inspiring show featuring some of the nation’s brightest business sparks airing on RTÉ One.

lTOO CUTE: (Above) Little Hanorah meets Santa’s elves at Center Parcs in Longford and (below) I will be hosting this year’s Entrepreneur of the Year Awards alongside Darragh Moloney next Thursday

ADVERTORIAL

COVET IN

CLARE

COOL KIDS This oversized sweater complete with flip sequins from Mods and Minis in Ennis is both stylish and cosy. The colour makes it a winner with jeans this season while your little lady embraces the colder temperatures of lare. €44.95 FAMILY TRADITION This year more than ever the Late Late Toy Show will feel particularly poignant and marking it once again with a range of outrageous memorabilia is Penney’s.

Check out these jammies for just €15!

STREET STYLE This beauty from Brass sings stylish street style like nothing I’ve seen this season. The perfect addition to any winter wardrobe complete with faux fur detail. The variety of texture makes this a real head turner and the colour makes it super versatile. Thumbs up here!

GIFT IDEAS If you’re looking for a little holiday season inspiration, look no further than the treasure trove that is Sonoma in Ennis. My current faves are the La Bougie candles that come in a range of different fragrances, all divine as is the branding.

THE CLASSIC Peter O’Brien’s much anticipated AW19 collection has landed in Dunnes Stores and as expected it didn’t disappoint. This striking red number is ideal if you’re looking for comfortable classic elegance or extra room for a growing baby/food belly! €220

THE BEAUTY OF IPL PHOTOREJUVENATION

IPL Therapy—also known as a Photo Facial and Photorejuvenation—is a non-invasive treatment where a broad spectrum of light is safely delivered to treat skin imperfections. Conditions this treatment help treat include: • Rosacea • Broken facial capillaries • Diffuse redness • Fine lines • Dilated pores • Hyperpigmentation and melasma • Sun-damaged skin

HOW DOES IT WORK?

IPL treatments work by delivering concentrated light pulses to the deeper layers of the skin (the dermis), leaving the superficial aspects of the skin (the epidermis) untouched. The pulsed light is attracted to the browns and reds of the skin (known as chromophores), as well as the deeper collagen tissues.

When the laser goes into your skin, the heat from the light: • Vaporizes the browns, sloughing it off • Coagulates the reds, so it’s absorbed into your body • Thickens the collagen

WHY YOUR SKIN TYPE MATTERS

IPL treatments are safest on lighter skin types (types I, II, and III). Skin type IV can also be treated with the guidance of an experienced physician.

IS PHOTOREJUVENATION RIGHT FOR ME?

Intense pulse light treatments are ideal if you’re experiencing the following concerns on your face, neck, and chest: • Rosacea, flushing, redness, ruddy complexion, broken capillaries, or spider veins on the face • Sun spots, age spots, hyperpigmentation, melasma, pregnancy mask, unwanted freckles • Chronic sun damage, photo-aged skin, dull skin • Fine lines and dilated pores At Ennis Medical Aesthetics IPL or Photorejuvenation treatments are one of our most popular medical aesthetic procedure due to its non-invasive nature.

COLUMNIST 17

THURSDAY, NOV 14 2019

Top 5 Ways to hibernate this festive season As Winter’s blanket begins to drape over us, we should all embrace the power of Sleep and it’s positive effects on our wellbeing. Here’s some top tips to help you invest in rest during this period of hibernation!

1

REDUCE BLUE LIGHT EXPOSURE

Cutting back on screen time in the Evening by unplugging from your phone and other technological devices is crucial to good sleep.

The blue light exposure during screen time at night can directly effect your body’s production of the sleep hormone melatonin. Melatonin is responsible for making you feel sleepy, and blue light suppresses the production of this important hormone prohibiting a restful sleep.

3

DON’T EAT LATE AT NIGHT

Eating too late at night forces the muscles in your body that digest and metabolize food to keep working when they should be resting and in recovery. This then delays or prevents you from getting to the deep, slow-wave sleep you need to feel refreshed the next day. Caffeine after noon is also a huge no-no!

5

2

OPTIMIZE YOUR SLEEP ENVIRONMENT

Removing anything from your sleep space causing distraction in order to create a welcoming, clutter free space is another step towards a healthy sleep routine.

Try to remove anything that can be associated with work, stress, activity or other non sleep related triggers.

4

CLEAR YOUR MIND BY JOURNALING

Find your mind racing late at night, running through to do lists or anxious about the day ahead? Why not try jot it down 5 minutes before you hit the pillow. A “brain dump” is a good way to offload any thought eating away at you. You can also underline or circle the items you need to worry about the next day so your brain wont feel the need to remind you of them while you’re trying to turn it off. Reading or listening to relaxing music is also a great way to unwind.

TAKE A RELAXING BATH

Taking a hot bath or Shower will help ease the muscles and alleviate any aches or pains you may have caused by stress or tension. Using magnesium or other detoxifying bath salts will also assist to remove toxins encouraging a more sleep enhancing bedtime ritual. It’s also a lovely way to close the day!

Entertainment

Beyond Borders Book Club

T

he 14th Ennis Book Club Festival will take place from 6 to 8 March 2020. Book clubs have always been at the heart of the Festival’s programming and this year the Festival will once again recognise the diverse and new communities living in Ireland, with one of the key events of its programme – Beyond Borders Book Club.

The first of the Beyond Borders Book Clubs will take place in The Rowan Tree on Thursday 21 November and will feature Vietnamese born proud Kerrywoman Úna-Minh Kavanagh (pictured right) in conversation with Sarah Clancy.

Born in Vietnam, Úna-Minh was adopted at just a few days old. She has lived in Ireland since she was a baby and is a fluent Irish speaker. She has a BA in Irish and Journalism and is a journalist, food writer, and travel blogger, whose work has been featured in several publications and websites including Lonely Planet, The Times, TG4 and The Irish Times. She

was named social activist of the year in 2017 by U Magazine 30 Under 30 Awards and her work has been nominated for several blog awards.

In 2013, Úna-Minh was subjected to a vile racist attack in Dublin city centre. The incident was widely report in the press, not only because it was a despicable act which has no place in Irish society, but also because Úna-Minh chose to respond using her first language: Irish. In Anseo, her first book, she writes frankly and humorously about tackling trolls, flirting abroad, gaming and her passion for creating accessible content in Irish.

Sprinkled throughout with funny and relatable Frása an Lae, (phrase of the day),

Beat bleak November at Doonbeg One Act Fest

Y

ES, it can be a bleak month in ‘the long nights after Samhain’.

However, if you go to Doonbeg for their One Act Festival, now in its 31st year, you will be entertained by a feast of drama. Groups from around the country will descend on the village for the weekend starting 16th of November.

The Festival will take place on Saturday 16th, Sunday 17th and on Monday 18th.

Audiences will be treated to a total of nine performances over the three nights.

Groups will compete in both the Open and Confined sections with groups hoping to qualify for the 2019 All Ireland One-Act Finals in December to be held in Rossmore Co Cork (West Cork Drama Festival).

The groups cover a wide geographical area from Bray in the east to Roscommon and Mayo in the west, to

Wexford in the south east.

They also have four groups from Cork; Kilmeen, Conna, Palace and Blue Hat. Finally let us not forget Ennis.

The topics of the plays are as usual an eclectic mix: sci-fi, rural isolation, medical tribunals, the Wild West, the ‘Deep South’, lonely women, ADHD, Welsh women and the house guest from hell.

The adjudicator will be Tom Byrne, A.D.A., a Kildare man living in Leixlip. Tom has won numerous awards as a director and successfully qualified productions to the RTE All Ireland finals in Athlone in 2005, 2009 and 2010.

Performances will be adjudicated each night with Final Adjudication and presentation of prizes taking place at the end of the Festival on Monday night.

At the Doonbeg One-Act Drama Festival, refreshments will be served between the plays each night

with candle lit tables adding to the ambience and sense of occasion.

All this is included in the admission price of €12 for adults €6 children and €30 for a three night season ticket.

Doors open at the Festival each night at 7 30 p.m with curtain up at 8 00p.m sharp The Festival Club takes place each night in the Igoe Inn after the performance.

The food and beverage members of the committee have assured that the wine and cheese will be of excellent quality.

For a full line up of the Festival go to www.westclaredramafestivaldoonbeg.com or find them on Facebook at www.facebook.com/West Clare Drama Festival Doonbeg

this is the heart-warming and important story of a diverse and contemporary Irish life. Each Beyond Borders Book Club event will be chaired by Clare based poet and Community worker Sarah Clancy.

Bridget Ginnity, Chair of the Ennis Book Club Festival committee states: “We look forward to a stimulating evening that will broaden our horizons and deepen our understanding”.

Paul Perry, Artistic Director, welcomes the Beyond Borders Book Club’s development. “The diversity of our writing and reading public mean that the popularity of The Beyond Borders Book Club has grown from one year to the next. We’re really delighted that Úna-Minh will join us in November.”

The second in the Beyond Borders Book Club series will take place in January. More details at: www.ennisbookclubfestival.com

A Wake in the West of Kilfenora

l DEAD FUNNY: The Kilfenora Players will stage Mayo playwright Michael J Ginnelly’s black comedy “A Wake in the West” from Friday 15 to Sunday 17 November 2019 in Kilfenora Hall. The performance starts at 8pm and attendees are recommended to come early. Tickets are available on the door at €10 (also €15 family price and usual concessions).

COLUMNISTS 19

THURSDAY, NOV 14 2019

REELING IN THE YEARS

1993

with Cian O’Broin

T

HIS year we take a dive deep down into memory lane where we see the Shannon Estuary’s accommodation of maritime life through the maiden voyage undertaken by the Shannon Dolphin and Wildlife Foundation in 1993. We also relive sentiments of agrarian unrest at the Burren Landscape as farmers oppose tourist walking across their land uninsured. Finally, we take a look at an age-old snippet of pre-socially justified television broadcasting in Ireland, as the late Gay Byrne presents Clare’s Alison Neylon with the title of Housewife of the Year.

FARMERS PROTEST IN THE BURREN Ireland is renowned for its vast green lands and its deeply rich agricultural heritage. For most of us born here, this beauty in monotony goes unnoticed. But for those who travel from both far and wide, beyond the expanse of our not too distant borders, it means everything. The simplicity of rural Ireland and its inhabitants tickles the curiosity of those who dwell on wide painted streets, beneath city lights.

Today, greenways pave the way for a surge in eco-friendly tourism. The year 1993 was no different for the infamous Burren Landscape of County Clare. Thousands of adventure hungry tourists traipsed across the farmlands of the Burren, much to the dismay of a collection of once-genial local farmers. In an effort to combat the onset of rural tourism, farmers across both Co. Galway and Co. Clare began to erect hundreds of ‘No Trespassing’ signs across their land. This apathy was born out of what was originally considered good-will on the part of the farmers, to encourage local tourism in the Burren Region. This quickly began to dissolve during the controversial delay of the Burren Interpretative Centre, a building which generated lengthy protests in 1992 from prominent figures within the county. Its construction was seen as an infringement on the eco-system of the Burren. One farmer voiced his frustrations to local media saying, “When you have visitors coming, you have to have a visitor’s centre to welcome them.” The onus of occupier’s liability fell on the farmers, who were calling for immediate action for the government to change the law. In short, the farmers of the Burren felt they couldn’t continue to work the lands of the Burren region unless legislation changed and an interpretative centre set up in order to restore some law and order to the area.

HOUSEWIFE OF THE YEAR

Whether archaic and misogynistic or exemplary and feminist in nature, in the year 1993, Clare woman Alison Neylon took home the honorary title of ‘Housewife of the Year’ as presented by the late Gay Byrne on RTE. At the time, the Calor Houswife of the Year National competition was in its 25th successive year, taking place at the National Concert Hall in Dublin. There were six finalists in total; two from Dublin, two from Donegal, one from Kerry and one from County Clare. In a short highlight reel uploaded to RTE’s Archival footage online, we see the six contestants conversing with Gay Byrne about how they met their husbands, dubiously admitting that it wasn’t a Hollywood style ‘love at first sight scenario’. One woman tells Gay Byrne that, “at the time he was kind of a wild looking character”, while another recalls a slight mishap where body odour is concerned, admitting that “he could have done with a bath”. On April 17th 1993, Alison Neylon was inaugurated as ‘Housewife of the Year’. Considered patronising and dumbed down in hindsight, this competition ran until the year 1995, when times began to change and its one dimensional insight into the lives of ordinary housewives began to paint a picture of inequality and a top down male patriarchy within the confines of national broadcasting in Ireland.

FIRST DOLPHINS RECORDED IN SHANNON The Shannon Dolphin and Wildlife Foundation catalogues over 25 years of research trips into the Shannon Estuary to find bottlenose dolphins in their natural habitat. On 2nd May 1993, Project Manager Dr. Simon Berrow and and Brian Holmes headed west from Carrigaholt in search of dolphins.

After five long and testing hours, not a single dolphin was found. The following day the duo set sail again, this time locating three groups of 16 dolphins, successfully photographing and identifying ten of them by their dorsal fins. The respective dolphins were catalogued using a letter and number system.

Astonishingly, six of the dolphins that were discovered in 1993 were located again, twenty years later, in the Shannon Estuary and nine were seen three years previous. Simon and Brian faced an array of challenges in the early stages of their project, before a time when GPS was available and due to the leisurely pace of print film, photographs of dolphins often took up to two weeks to come back. In 2000, the Shannon Dolphin and Wildlife Foundation was formed. Research has shown that around seven calves are born in the estuary each year and that the dolphins reside in a fission-fusion social system with free-association amongst all dolphins. A small but significant population of around 100-130 dolphins reside in the Shannon Estuary.

Check back next time as we look at the year 1994 in Count Clare. Until then folks!

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR MANDATORY VOTING? Dear Editor, Last May 2019 my name was on the ballot paper of the Ennis Municipal Area where I contested the local election. I would like to share a few observations from that experience.

The Election Commission made changes to the electoral areas and we now have 5 electoral areas in Clare instead of the 4 we had in 2014. There was a one seat reduction in Ennis Municipal district leaving 7 seats.

The amount of people eligible to vote in Ennis reduced to 22,744, a drop of 1,053 voters. From this figure only 11,145 voters used the ballot paper.

Many residents in the Ennis electoral area are still not registered to vote despite efforts by the main political parties, Clare County Council and Clare Public Partnership encouraging them to do so. I found that along with those not registered a great many voters had moved address and were unclear about the polling booth at which they should vote.

Apathy to the local democratic process is

widespread. This was evident when I reviewed the marked register (this is the electoral register where a line is drawn across the voters names as they cast their votes). It was shocking to see the amount of voters who do not cast their vote.

We in the western world, having supposedly learned of the futility of war, tell ourselves that democracy is important for stability and quality of life. Why then is our society allowing this drift away from voting. Making it compulsory to cast your vote may seem harsh but it is used effectively in other countries like Australia and Denmark. Their right to vote is seen as worth protecting and severe fines are imposed on those who do not exercise this right.

The State needs to re-examine this critical question of citizens voting in elections. Would it be too much to ask to have the Citizen Assembly meet on the matter?

Yours sincerely, Dermot Hayes Ennis Co. Clare

www.cube.irish

Community 20 COMMUNITY

ENNIS CBS ENNIS PER CENT FOR ART SCHEME Celebrating the opening of their new school, CBS Ennis is delighted to issue a call to children’s writers and illustrators to take part in a exciting commission to mark this special event.

Funded through the Per Cent for Art Scheme associated with the construction project, Ennis CBS have decided to commission a writer or illustrator to engage with the school community in the creation of a children’s book.

Assistant Principal Colm Davoren explained that ‘The CBS primary has a long history of innovation and endeavour and this project provides us with an opportunity to work collaboratively to create an enduring piece of literature which will be treasured by the entire school community’ On completion of the book each child in the school will receive a complimentary copy, to encourage their love of reading and to further develop the special bond between the school and its pupils.

With over 600 students drawn from more than 30 nationalities, Ennis CBS reflects the diversity of the town of Ennis. The school would like this diversity to be reflected in the book, as well as references to the the town of Ennis. It is envisaged that the selected writer will work with the children in the school, engaging them in the process of writing and inspiring them to recognise their own creativity.

To accompany this initiative, the school is looking to develop a complimentary art project to accompany the book. Ideas such as a musical sound scape, an art project, an animation / film project have all been suggested but interested writers are very welcome to suggest artists and other art forms that they would like to work with also.

This exciting addition offers opportunities to children’s writers to consider other artforms and work with artists of other disciplines, an opportunity that is very unusual and unique but full of possibilities.

Writers interested in making a submission can dowload the full details at www.publicart.ie. Enquiries can be sent to hello@neart.ie. The closing date for applications is November 29th, 2019.

FUNDRAISING QUIZ Clare Community Games will be holding a fundraising quiz on this Thursday November 14th in The Grove Roslevan - Ennis at 9pm Teams of 4 / Cost 40 euro. Promises to be a great night with raffle prizes and a special draw for community games volunteers. For further information contact Paula 087 2880936.

NORTH CLARE ENNISTYMON CHORAL SOCIETY Ennistymon Choral Society will be starting rehearsals on Monday 18th November at 7.30pm in the CBS, Ennistymon for their April 2020 production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat. All welcome. For further info email ennistymonchoralsociety@gmail.com.

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COUNTYWIDE DCCOI CRAFTED PROGRAMME The Design & Crafts Council of Ireland (DCCoI) has issued a call out to local primary school teachers nationwide to engage professional craftspeople in Visual Arts Projects through their local participating Education Centres.

Funded residencies are available through DCCoI’s CRAFTed programme and primary school teachers can apply now using the application form available at learncraftdesign.ie. Completed applications should be submitted before Wednesday, 13 November 2019 to participating regional Education Centres who are then responsible for choosing the schools in their area to participate in the programme.

Planning meetings will take place in February 2020 with a view to the classroom projects taking place from February to May 2020.

The CRAFTed programme gives primary school children and teachers an exciting opportunity to explore their creative abilities and learn the skills of various craft disciplines by working with professional craftspeople.

Activities include ceramics, woodworking, textiles, animation, fashion design and silversmithing, with students throughout the country developing key skills which are explored through the wider curriculum.

THURSDAY, NOV 14 2019

CONTACT NEWSDESK

065 671 9021 news@clareecho.ie

MID-CLARE

l FRIENDS FOR LIFE: Pictured at the reunion of Presentation Brothers Class of 1963-66 (Greenmount, Cork City) at the Inn at Dromoland were: (Back row L to R) Eddie Lenihan, Crusheen, Vincent O’Rourke, Kildimo, PJ Guinnane, Kildimo, Eamonn Nihill, Ogonnelloe/Scarriff, Michael McGrath, Annaghneal (Organiser), Seamus O’Dwyer, Tulla, Joe Mongovan, Connolly, Joe Brady, Flagmount, Joe Casey, Ballina, (Front row L to R) Denis O’Leary, Cork and Tralee, Pat McNamara, Dan McCarthy, Kilflynn, Tralee and Ennis, Steve Donnellan, Kilkishen.

ENNIS CLARECASTLE OPEN NIGHT Clarecastle NS will hold an Open Night on Thursday, November 28th from 6:30 to 8:30pm. This is an opportunity to see the entire school-building including the library, sensory room and school hall.

Groups of pupils will attend alongside the School Learning Squads, Green Schools Committee and Student Council to provide demonstrations of many of the school’s curricular activities. The School Choir and Trad Group will also perform. The Parents Association and staff from the After School Group will also be in attendance. Parents / Guardians of children who have yet to start school and of pupils who are presently attending Junior and Senior Infants in the school are most welcome to attend.

Community

COMMUNITY 21

THURSDAY, NOV 14 2019

CONTACT NEWSDESK

065 671 9021 news@clareecho.ie

EAST CLARE

l SCIENCE RULES: Caoilinn O’Brien and Colin Hogan from Tuamgraney National School help Scientific Sue with her experiments at the Limerick Festival of Science. Organised by the Department of STEM Education at Mary Immaculate College (MIC), University of Limerick and Limerick Institute of Technology, the festival features a range of science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics (STEAM) activities in venues across Limerick city and county. This year’s events in Mary Immaculate College began in the Lime Tree Theatre where over 1,000 primary school students from across Limerick and Clare learned about the work of palaeontologists. The ‘Dippy the Dinosaur’ show, presented

by Sue McGrath aka ‘Scientific Sue’, explored how fossils are used by palaeontologists to unravel the puzzles surrounding the lives of dinosaurs. There are also number of events aimed at the wider public which will focus on understanding climate change and how science and technology can help us create a positive climate future.

EAST CLARE

l GREAT ACHIEVEMENT: Pictured at the Limerick School of Art and Design (LIT) conferring ceremony were MA by Research graduate Anne Stewart from Kilkishen with Prof. Vincent Cunnane, President LIT and Dr. Liam Brown, Vice-President for Research, Enterprise and Development LIT. Photo by Alan Place

TULLA & MILTOWN MALBAY

l FORMULA FOR SUCCESS: Pictured at University College Cork conferring of Bachelor of Pharmacy (Hons) were Ailbhe Kearney (Tulla) and Roisin Keane (Miltown Malbay)

ENNIS

l WORTHY CAUSE: Ennis man Michael Murphy who has lived with type 1 diabetes for over 20 years ran the Dublin city marathon in October to raise funds for local Clare and Limerick diabetes support groups. He presented a cheque to Diabetes Ireland at their World Diabetes Day event in Limerick (L to R) Grainne Flynn, Clare Diabetes Support, Micheal Murphy and Aisling White, Limerick Type 1 Adults

22 BUSINESS

THURSDAY, NOV 14 2019

BUSINESS

CONTACT US WE’RE ON FACEBOOK, TWITTER AND INSTAGRAM #CE

Bluebird Care fly away with this year’s Q Mark Awards

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HERE were smiles all around for Bluebird Care Clare at The Clayton Hotel on Dublin’s Burlington Road, where the National Q Mark Awards ceremony took

place.

The gala event was a chance for all those nominated to celebrate the high standards they’d achieved in rigorous audits by EIQA, the proud guardians of the Q Mark suite of Quality standards.

To make it onto the list, each enterprise had to earn a place in the top 6 per cent of the audits carried out across the island of Ireland.

Not only did the Clare based company earn a place in the top 6 per cent but were also shortlisted in the Outstanding Performance Category.

With quality, safety and excellence at the core of their business, team members at Bluebird Care Clare pride themselves on providing a professional, modern service, delivering high quality safe care in the home and community for people of all ages with varying needs.

Celebrating their fourth nomination for Home Care Company of the year, the business was also shortlisted in 2016, 2017 and

2018.

Bluebird Care Clare describes the nomination for the National Q Mark Awards as a

sign of quality, showing customers they are focused on providing an exceptional standard of care.

l QUALITY: Pictured at The National Q Mark Awards 2019 are (L-R) Soraid McEntee of EIQA, Eimear Sutton CNM2, Theresa Sexton Senior Co-Ordinator and Ruth Leamy CoOrdinator of Bluebird Care Clare

Photo by Conor McCabe

Managing Director Kay Leahy says the nomination “reflects the hard work and dedication of a committed team, the attention to detail personified by our carers and P.A.’s personalising our person-centred approach to each customer.”

The value of the Q Mark brand is also vital when it comes to attracting sponsors for the awards.

This year Solus, Ishka Irish Spring Water, BlackBee, The Irish Independent and Kelsius all signed up to have their brand aligned with the event.

The Awards night is also a great opportunity for the Q Mark Awards charity partner to make their pitch to the business community.

This year John and Jayne Glynn attended the event on behalf of the Gavin Glynn Foundation.

John spoke about his son Gavin’s journey through cancer and why he and his family were inspired to help others with children who have to travel abroad for cancer treatment.

Fundraising in aid of the Foundation raised more than €8000 on the night with all prizes generously donated by Q Mark customers.

Huge crowds turn out for Liffey Mills agri talk IN EXCESS of 250 farmers turned out to Liffey Mills in Ennis last Thursday night to hear a panel of top experts discuss the future of farming in a post Brexit era. Pat Ryan, MD of Liffey Mills, opened the discussion and gave a brief introduction and background to the company that is now 3 years in Ennis.

Moderated by a more than capable Darragh McCullough from Ear to the Ground, the topics centred around Climate

change, Veganism, Brexit, Cattle prices and Dairy.

Darragh introduced Thia Hennessy from UCC who spoke about geopolitical risk and the trade wars going on between the major powers in the world.

She outlined how the global economy is so connected now that and a disagreement in the global airline sector can have an impact on the welfare of farmers in Clare.

She also added that if our carbon targets aren’t met by 2020 there will be significant penalties served, e.g. For every ton of carbon the country is over the limit, they will have to purchase a carbon equivalent, and this could be in the hundreds of millions of euros.

Joe Burke from Bord Bia spoke about the dairy herd exceeding 1.5m this summer for the first time since the abolition of quotas, from what was 1.2m head of dairy cows prior to that. He also spoke about the gradual decline in the suckler herd, currently going below 1 million.

The positives from the night mainly came from China, as African Swine Fever sweeps across Asia ravaging pig herds, and leaves China urgently requiring a

supply of pork, beef and chicken.

Kevin Kinsella IFA said “it is predicted that the Chinese pig herd will be down by 50 per cent by Christmas. that creates a huge vacuum in the protein market and we have 19 plants cleared now for China”.

So there was a lot to talk about in Liffey Mills last week and most people stayed and mingled to discuss and tease out the future of agriculture in the years ahead.

l ON THE FARM: Ear to the Ground host Darragh Mc Cullough moderted the Liffey Mills expert panel discussion in Ennis

LEO Clare: Supports businesses seeking export opportunities Anke McKernan of McKernan Woollen Mills tells The Clare Echo about her association with the Local Enterprise Office on securing development grants

CIAN O’ BROIN

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cianobroin@clareecho.ie

ERMAN born Anke McKernan and her husband Eugene have been prominent figures within the knitting and weaving industry for over three decades. Operating out of Tuamgraney, County Clare along the famous route of Ireland’s Hidden Heartlands, McKernan Woollen Mills is a prestigious producer of scarves,selling to an international market that stretches throughout Europe and beyond to North America.

Returning from Germany in 1991, having tested the market abroad for six years, they decided to purchase one-hundred-yearold looms from the industrial revolution to get their business up and running.

Anke mentions the limitations associated with mass-producing scarves in the initial stages of the business, prior to external investment.

“After purchasing the looms ourselves, it gave us the opportunity to sell to wholesalers. We had an agent in Germany, and we were at this level where we made around 5,000-8,000 scarves per year and sold them to shops in Ireland and a lot to Germany, because of the connection there,” she says.

A substantial increase in orders led the McKernans to the doorstep of the Local Enterprise Office where they availed of both a TAME and a Business Expansion Grant, “In 2012, we bought a new knitting machine for €50,000 with the help from LEO and after that due to our already established connections with shops and agents, business went up tremendously.”

With reference to competition, Anke feels that there is none due to the flexibility and efficiency of McKernan Woollen Mills, with turnover quadrupling over the last six years, the business now tallying 40,000 scarves being produced each year. Anke pins this down to her innate ability to be someone “who sees opportunities within the market.”

Through the help of the Local Enterprise Office Anke and her husband have been able to expand their business exponentially and are fulfilling a lifelong dream of selling commissioned scarves to 20 museums in the United States. This influx in the market came about naturally, exclaims Anke, with little emphasis placed on marketing or reaching out for new customers, “the same customers that bought 500 scarves are now asking for 3,000 and we never really forced this. We went from one knitting machine to needing three more, with little to no marketing.”

As for the future, Anke wishes to firmly establish McKernan Woollen Mills as one of the leading stops along the reputable Wild Atlantic Way, with tours of the workshop and the entire creative process a keen interest of tourists both young and old.

“Nobody knows how things are made anymore. We love showing people and we really want to build on this.”

24 BUSINESS PROFILE

10 years at Charlie

THURSDAY, NOV 14 2019

STUART HOLLY

C

editor@clareecho.ie

lPOPULAR BUSINESSMAN: Charlie McEnery celebrates 10 years in business at the Old Mill Road this month

Photo by John Mangan

HARLIE McEnery is known in one circle as a rally co-driver however locally, it’s his ability to navigate his way to success in business that has made him a household name. There’s no doubt about it, Charlie has been at the wheel in driving on Charlie McEnery Motor Services Ltd over the last decade.

Earlier this month, Charlie and company celebrated 10 years in business, having first opened the gates to his shop on November 9, 2009. Some would say it was a stormy time to open up a business with recession setting in – but it was storms of a different kind that would make Charlie’s first month in business a memorable one, as severe flooding swept the country. Eight homes were evacuated in Clonlara, Iarnród Eireann rail services were suspended between Ennis and Limerick, and

the Irish Army was deployed to deal with rising floodwaters in the county town. “When we started, I couldn’t have been luckier with help from family and friends and support from my pre-existing customers. Then we had bad weather at the time, it was the flooding. The week I started I was out until one or two in the morning towing cars in. We had a busy start and it just took off, and thanks be to God every year it has improved.”

Charlie had steadily grown a loyal customer base through his previous 10 years working in the motor industry as a parts manager with Oliver Walsh Motors before working with Banner Quickfit. Arriving at the age of 30 in 2009, Charlie admits, “It was time for me to carve my own path. I had experience in dealing with customers, the day to day running, dealing with suppliers, banking … so I thought this is ideal.

“I was very, very fortunate that from day one, I hit the ground running. I was lucky, I wasn’t a complete stranger starting out trying to build a business. The biggest challenge was the newer technologies, diesel technologies, emissions, the constant investment whether it be diagnostics, tooling, training both your-

on the road McEnerys THURSDAY, NOV 14 2019

self and staff.”

Having started out with just one technician employed at his new premises at the Old Mill Road, Charlie has since grown the business to the point where up to 100 cars are passing through the gates every week. To deal with the level of demand, Charlie now employs four qualified mechanics, one apprentice, alongside Charlie and his sister Gráinne who came on board in 2014 having also previously worked as service manager at a dealership. Their dad Joe, a retired postman, is also on hand to help out. While Charlie admits with a smile that working with family can be fraught at times, he wouldn’t have it any other way. “She knows the job better, if anything I’m a hindrance to her!”

While Charlie is quick to admit that Gráinne is better at her job than he is, he’s at more pains to admit that she has had more success than him as a rally co-driver - both developed the hobby as youngsters when their dad took them as spectators on the circuit. “It has been a passion of mine, I competed in England, France, Belgium and places like that. I still love it but don’t do an awful lot of it. Gráinne my sister was a national champion co-driver as well, we’re steeped in it. But your priorities change when you have children; I don’t have that gung-ho recklessness anymore.”

Charlie McEnery provides for all servicing and repairs needs, including annual maintenance, suspen-

lCONTINUED SUCCESS: Proprietor Charlie McEnery with his team of experts at his busy premises this week. Having started out with one mechanic, Charlie now employs four qualified mechanics, one apprentice along with his sister Gráinne who works alongside Charlie in the office

Photo by John Mangan

sion and break work, emissions-related problems, diagnostics, air conditioning, electrical repairs and more. The Ennis native is well-known for his thorough approach in dealing with customers and going into detail to explain the mechanics of what exactly it is they are paying for. As Charlie says, “If I can, I explain things in layman terms… you can’t just say ‘we’ve serviced it, there’s your bill’, you can’t do that.

You have to explain why you did what you did. Customer service is the first thing.

“Quality should come over price, and that’s what we try to emphasise to customers, that we won’t be the cheapest but we’ll deliver a good service and use top quality parts.”

Going forward, Charlie is looking to embrace new technologies such as Electric and Hybrid vehicles as the motor industry goes through a transformative period. Currently two of Charlie’s senior technicians are trained to work on Hybrid and EV and he’s always looking to upskill his workforce.

However there is also time to reflect on his 10 successful years which have brought him to this point.

“I’ve been very fortunate with the support of local people and local businesses. There’s been great support, I wouldn’t swap it for anything. Like any business it’s been hard work but like any business there’s nothing easy but I’ve enjoyed it and hope we’ll get many more years like it to come.”

BUSINESS PROFILE 25

26 BUSINESS PROFILE

THURSDAY, NOV 14 2019

2 For Joy an enjoyable shopping trip STUART HOLLY

“I

editor@clareecho.ie

Have Nothing to wear!” - where have you heard that before? The spontaneous pleasure and anticipation of a special social event can often be dampened by anxiety when deciding what to wear. Of course not everyone experiences this dilemma but many people do. Before you make haste in search of that special outfit, make 2 for Joy your first port of call.

A County Clare fashion institution has opened its door with two sisters at the helm. Sheila Maher has joined her sister Annette Daffy in their new venture called 2 For Joy, a boutique which stocks up-to-date fashion, jewellery and gifts. Annette has been in the clothing trade sine 1990, driving the success of the popular Annette’s Boutique on the old Limerick Road located near Treacy’s West County Hotel. Annette’s Boutique has been replaced by 2 For Joy, still offering the same brilliant offerings in fashion with some extras.

Annette tells The Clare Echo that the idea came about when she mentioned to her sister Sheila that she was thinking of retiring, hoping to enjoy more personal leisure time. However when Sheila suggested they team up in business, the idea of 2 for Joy was born - a joint venture, where the workload is split between the two sister (it took approximately two minutes to get Annette’s sign of approval).

Annette will be bringing almost 30 years of experi-

ence to the new business, having first opened her boutique in Clarecastle in 1990. We asked Annette what kept her in the business over the past 30 years. “My loyal customers, who have now become my friends over the years have always returned as customers and supported the business; that has made the last 29 years such a joy.

“Over that time I have seen many changes in style and trends. I would definitely say that adaptability is the key to survival in the fashion industry. We are aware of our customer needs and our suppliers work well with us.”

Sheila concurrs with this and says clothes are more than fashion, they are “a way of life, an expression of mood and personality”. “Today’s busy lifestyle demands a more casual, laidback approach to fashion and style and value for money is extremely important,” adds Sheila, who has vast experience in the craft and design industry.

At 2 for Joy your guidance is always at hand to help choose a perfectly coordinated outfit.

You will find a large collection of Irish and international designs, occasion wear, weddings, smart/casual day and evening wear, jewellery, sterling silver by Kairne & Co. and Knight and Day jewellery, handbags, scarfs, custom-made Christmas hampers and Christmas gifts to suit all budgets.

2 for Joy is conveniently situated in the Limerick road, next door to In house (200 yards from Traceys West County Hotel). Free convenient parking on the doorstep.

For more information, call into 2 For Joy or visit their Facebook and Instagram pages. Phone (065) 684 1466.

THURSDAY, NOV 14 2019

BUSINESS PROFILE 27

lFAMILY RUN BUSINESS: Annette Daffy, previously of Annette’s Boutique, has teamed up with her sister Sheila Maher to create a one-stop shop for up-to-date fashion, jewellery and gifts Photos by John Mangan

Property

Beautiful homes all over the County

1 COIS NA MARA LAHINCH, CO CLARE

€135,000

OPEN VIEWINGS: Saturday 16th November and Saturday 23rd November from 10am - 10.30am

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HIS cosy 2 bedroom town house is situated within 5 feet of the prom in Lahinch! Accommodation comprises 56 sq.m. (603 sq.ft.) approx and includes an open plan living and dining room, kitchen, bathroom and two bedrooms. Rarely does such a well located property become available in Lahinch. Due to its size and location, it would make an ideal investment property for long or short term lettings or to use as a holiday home with the beach on your doorstep!

Viewings come highly recommended.

49 DUN NA MANACH QUIN, CO CLARE

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€195,000

HIS immaculately presented 3 bedroom semi detached residence comes to the market in excellent condition throughout. Ideally located within walking distance of Quin village and all local amenities. Situated in an established residential development, this would make a fabulous family home. Internally, accommodation is deceivingly spacious and comprises a sitting room, open plan kitchen and dining area, ground floor toilet, a living room/den, bathroom, 3 bedrooms (one of which is ensuite) and another that has been generously extended to create room for an office, games room or a nursery.

The property has been extensively refurbished in recent times and is ready to walk into! Externally, the property overlooks a green area and has ample parking spaces with a low maintenance tarmac driveway and side access to the rear garden. The back garden is completely private and not overlooked and has a storage shed and fuel store.

D2 SPANISH COVE KILKEE, CO. CLARE

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€125,000

PANISH Cove complex is ideally situated just 60m from the beach and adjacent to the Ocean Cove Hotel.

This three bedroom townhouse is excellently positioned within the development. The house is over two floors (first and second) and is very well laid out. Accommodation comprises an hallway, open-plan living/dining area, kitchen, three bedrooms (2 double, one single, one has en-suite) and a bathroom.

The Cove is within a minute's walk from the golf course and magnificent cliffs walks. Waterworld is 100m away and the picturesque village of Kilkee is a further 400m. Kilkee has a wealth of local attractions including golfing, cliff walks and horse riding. Some of the magnificent scenes in Ireland are in Clare which include the Cliffs of Moher and the Burren Region.

Viewing is highly recommended.

14 COIS TRA €295,000 SCHOOL ROAD, LAHINCH CO CLARE

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HIS fabulous, architect designed, 3 bedroom split level, semi detached property is located in the heart of Lahinch on the famous School Road, within walking distance of the beach, golf course and village centre. The property is offered for sale in excellent condition and comprises 100 sq.m. (1,076 sq.ft.) approx of contemporary living accommodation with two of the three bedrooms plus the bathroom on the ground floor and the living accommodation and third bedroom on the first floor.

This unique design along with the clever use of distinctive windows maximises natural sunlight throughout the house. External features include a private, secure, enclosed back garden, a tarmac driveway and a decked balcony which envelopes the rear of the property allowing guests to sit and appreciate the fabulous views afforded from this house. This would make an ideal family, retirement or holiday home.

Contact: Danielle O'Connor Sherry FitzGerald McMahon Tel: 065 686 7866 PSL 001212

Contact: Danielle O'Connor Sherry FitzGerald McMahon Tel: 065 686 7866 PSL 001212

Contact: Danielle O'Connor, Sherry FitzGerald McMahon Tel: 065 686 7866 PSL 001212

Contact: Danielle O'Connor Sherry FitzGerald McMahon Tel: 065 686 7866 PSL 001212

22A LAGHTAGOONA, COROFIN VILLAGE, CO CLARE AMV €229,000

MARYKNOLL, NEW ROAD, ENNIS, CO. CLARE €222,500

40 WILLSGROVE, CAHERCALLA ROAD, ENNIS AMV €345,000

DRUMCONORA HOUSE, €325,000 BAREFIELD, ENNIS

OCATION Location are delighted to present 40 Willsgrove to the market, extending to 179sqm, offering bright & well appointed rooms throughout with private site, a walled in front garden, private rear garden & extended side entrance.

Built in 2000, this detached home is superbly set in an exclusive low density development on Cahercalla Road, one of the leading residential locations in Ennis. Ennis town amenities are all within walking distance, whilst the By-pass interchange is within easy reach for commuters to Limerick/Shannon/Galway.

Features * Excellent location off Cahercalla Road * Positioned on an elevated site * 5 x Double bedrooms (2 x ensuite) / 2/3 Reception rooms * Solid wood flooring/ Ceiling Coving * OFCH * Floored attic * Excellent value for a detached home in this much sought after location

OPEN VIEWING THIS SATURDAY 16TH NOV AT 1PM

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5 BED / 3 BATH

OCATION Location are delighted to present this contemporary property, extending to 153.39 sqm (1651sq ft) this home offers stylish and modern living quarters and presents an ideal opportunity for anyone seeking a home or investment property. Offering the ultimate in luxurious fittings and finish this superbly finished property is presented for sale with an enviable interior design finish.

It`s very rare a house of this standard comes to the open market. 22A Laghtagoona, Corofin is a five bedroom detached family home that is presented for sale in impeccable condition.

Upon entering viewers will be instantly impressed by the superb finish & fittings, Accommodation comprising of an entrance hall, livingroom connecting to open plan kitchen/dining area with french doors to rear landscaped garden, utility, large wc & reception 2/bedroom.

The first floor has 4 double bedrooms, one ensuite, main bathroom & access to attic.

Contact: Location Location Tel: 065 672 9999 PSL 003928

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3 BED / 1 BATH

ELCOMING Maryknoll, New Road to the market, this stunning three-bedroom detached property comes to market in turn key condition and has been renovated to the highest specification throughout.

Accommodation is well thought out and offers a perfect balance of space and light throughout. As one steps beyond the entrance porch the feel of home is undeniable. Maryknoll offers an expansive open plan layout which extends the width of the property. This bright space takes full advantage of the properties aspect and seamlessly combines the kitchen, living and dining accommodation. The hallway leads to three double bedrooms, lastly, a large/modern family bathroom and utility room complete the accommodation. Privately enclosed by stone built walls, mature trees and hedging this is the perfect space for Al fresco dining in the summer months, there is also a detached garage for additional garden storage.

Contact: Location Location Tel: 065 672 9999 PSL 003928

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5 BED / 3 BATH

Contact: Location Location Tel: 065 672 9999 PSL 003928

4 BED / 2 BATH

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OCATION Location are pleased to offer to the market this stunning detached family home set on incredible mature landscaped gardens (approx 0.5 Ac) in this prime location, this property will not disappoint. A most private, leafy setting, this home is sure to appeal to families looking for ample space in this location. Hidden behind private walls and with ample parking, the special gardens are a true gem in such a convenient location providing an oasis of peace and tranquillity for potential owners of the property.

Without a doubt one of the finest family homes to come to the market in the area in recent times. While generously sized extending to 263.97sqm (2841 sq ft) and well maintained overall, this property will be popular for some modernisation, offering light filled well proportioned rooms.

Contact: Location Location Tel: 065 672 9999 PSL 003928

PROPERTY

THURSDAY, NOV 14 2019

52 GARDEN VIEW, CLARECASTLE, CO. CLARE.

€180,000

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OCATED in the popular village of Clarecastle, in the housing development at Creggaaun na Hilla, 52 Garden View is ideally located within minutes walk of the village and just a stones throw from the interchange to the M17 & M18 to Galway, Limerick and Shannon International Airport No.52 is a bright, spacious well-proportioned family home which was built in 2007 and has been finished to an exceptional standard throughout boasting a fantastic open plan living space, with the living room, dining and kitchen interconnecting (L-shaped). The home extending further to the rear gardens via the patio doors from the dining area. The separate utility and downstairs WC complete the convenient downstairs living accommodation. On the first floor there are three double bedrooms, all with built in wardrobes (with the master having an en-suite) and a main bathroom. This modern home has natural gas central heating. This is an ideal starter/family/retirement home in a village and yet just 5 minute drive to Ennis Town Centre. Viewing is highly recommended.

Contact: Helen Gallery Auctioneer & Valuers 68 Parnell Street, Ennis, Co. Clare.

Tel: 065 682 9481 PSL 002433

9 THE CLOISTERS, QUIN, CO. CLARE

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€260,000

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HE Cloisters is superbly located in the centre of the popular village of Quin within minutes walk of all local amenities including the Abbey, church, school, post office, shops, playground, pubs and tea rooms. The development comprises of just 9 quality homes set in a quiet cul de sac just off the main road. Quin itself is a picturesque village nestled close to the employment centres of Ennis (9 kms), Shannon (14 kms) and Limerick (24 kms). No. 9 is a detached family home featuring bright, spacious accommodation which has been recently redecorated and is finished to a very high standard. Accommodation includes entrance hall, living room, kitchen/dining room, utility room, bedroom/playroom and WC on the ground floor with three bedrooms (master en-suite) and bathroom on the first floor. The quality finishes include feature raised stone fireplace, fully fitted kitchen with integrated appliances, feature oak stairs and modern fully tiled bathrooms and light oak doors on the ground floor. The rear garden has a large patio area and there is also a large garden shed. Viewing of this fine home is highly recommended.

Contact: Helen Gallery Auctioneer & Valuers 68 Parnell Street, Ennis, Co. Clare.

Tel: 065 682 9481 PSL 002433

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elen Gallery presenting a €300 Voucher for InHouse Ennis to Aoife O'Brien, winner of Helen Gallery Auctioneers Giveaway to celebrate the launch of the new development Ballymacaula View.

MOTORING

MOTORING EXPERT NEIL BRISCOE GIVES HIS VIEWS

GALLIC COOL

PEUGEOT’S SLINKY ESTATE 508 MAKES YOU FEEL COOLER THAN MOST CARS

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PEUGEOT 508 SW

STATE cars are not cool. But they should be. French cars are not, in the eyes of many, cool. But they should be too. Sitting in the middle of that Venn diagram, we find this — the new Peugeot 508 SW (which kinda stands for Station Wagon, but which we can parse simply to estate for our purposes).

It’s based on the slinky, rather gorgeous, 508 saloon that was launched last year, and it’s a very different Peugeot estate from those you may remember from the dim and distant past (the 1980s).

Back then, Peugeot made the 505 estate, a car which I personally think drip with coolness, but then I’m odd. Actually, the primary role of the 505 estate was not to be cool, nor exciting (although the GTI version had its moments), but was instead to simply be cavernous. It was so big in the back that it was rather like driving around in a well-upholstered aircraft carrier.

The 508, even though it supposedly references the 505 in its makeup (have a look at the position of the bonnet badges of both cars to see the link) is simply not like that.

Just as have BMW, Mercedes, and Audi, Peugeot has worked out that few of us by an estate because it’s massive inside. Most of those of us who buy estates these days still want that slinky, sexy, styling that comes with a saloon car, but we just want enough practicality to get by. Sufficient space for a dog, some big suitcases, or to be able to help teenage offspring shuttle between home and

university maybe.

That, the 508 can do. Under that lowslung skin, it’s surprisingly roomy, if perhaps not a gargantuan as that 1980s 505.

It’s actually quite a large car, the 508. It may not look it but it’s actually a hair’s breadth away from being five metres long (that’s big, by family car standard). That stretchy length means that despite the sleek lines, the boot (with the rear seats up and the luggage cover pulled across) measures a very useful 530-litres. That, for reference’s sake, is more than you get in the Audi A4 Avant, and I’d aver that the Peugeot, right now, is the better looking of the two cars.

Fold the back seats down and you get 1,780-litres of space, which is fine but not quite as IKEA-friendly as some more upright rivals. Then again, those more upright rivals don’t get the gorgeous interior that the 508 has.

I know we say this every time we drive a new Peugeot, but not everyone likes the current small steering wheel, high-set dials layout of Peugeot’s so-called ‘i-Cockpit’ dashboard layout. It’s fine by us, and it’s certainly different to what everyone else is doing, but you can see why some wouldn’t like it.

You’d be hard-pressed not to like the 508’s cabin quality and comfort though.

The whole interior feels really well put together, and it shows why influential consumer ratings agency JD Power gave Peugeot its most reliable brand award last year. The style is also rather lovely — that big touchscreen, the row of ‘piano key’ shortcut buttons beneath it, the lashings of carbon-fibre trim. This is a seriously handsome cabin. Space in the back is fine — the roofline cuts into space slightly, and the shallow door glass makes it a little

claustrophobic for small kids, but it’s fine.

Power, for our pricey GT-Line spec test car, comes from Peugeot’s 1.5-litre BlueHDI diesel engine. Now, don’t panic — this engine conforms to the latest, strictest Euro6d-TEMP-EVAP regulations, so it’s about as clean as any combustion engine can be. It’s economical too, easily breaking through the 50mpg barrier in daily driving. It can be a little on the loud side at times, but the compensation for that comes from pleasantly punchy performance — for a 1.5-litre engine, 130hp isn’t bad, and 300Nm of torque is positively impressive.

As for handling, the small steering wheel can make the steering feel a touch over-sharp at times, but the 508 scythes through corners cleanly and neatly, with a touch of body roll and lean to let you know you’re overdoing it. It rides smoothly and comfortably, and is simply brilliant at knocking off a long journey, aside from

FACTS & FIGURES Model tested: Peugeot 508 SW GT Line 1.5 BlueHDi 130bhp 8-spd automatic Pricing: €42,080 as tested; 508 starts at €32,510 Engine: 1.5-litre turbo diesel four-cylinder Transmission: eight-speed automatic, front-wheel drive Body style: sports estate Co2 emissions: 135g/km (Band A3, €190 per annum)* Combined economy: 76.3mpg (3.7 litres/100km) Top speed: 208km/h 0-100km/h: 10.1 seconds Power: 130hp at 3,750rpm Torque: 300Nm at 1,750rpm Boot space: 530-1,780-litres Safety: Euro NCAP rating for Peugeot 508: Five-stars; 96 per cent adult; 86 per cent child; 71 per cent pedestrian; 79 per cent safety assist *Measured to WLTP standard. Tax charged at NEDC2 rate

a little too much road noise on some surfaces.

Most of all, though, it’s cool. I know, some of you still need convincing on both estates and French cars in general, but trust me on this — the 508 SW is very cool indeed.

MOTORING

MOTORING EXPERT NEIL BRISCOE GIVES HIS VIEWS

FORD UPDATES THE S-MAX AND GALAXY

F

SUBTLE CHANGES FOR FORD’S BIG SEVEN-SEATERS

ord has announced enhancements for the stylish S‑MAX sports ac‑ tivity vehicle and spacious Gal‑ axy people mover, delivering even more distinctive design, greater comfort and improved connectivity for drivers and passengers.

The new Ford S-Max and Galaxy mod‑ els are now more easily distinguished with unique front-end designs. Driver and front passenger seats available on S-Max can be adjusted in 18 ways for maximum support – contributing to even more comfortable journeys and earning the seal of approval from the leading spinal health organisation Aktion Gesunder Rücken e.V. (AGR) – the German Campaign for Healthier Backs.

FordPass Connect on-board modem technology is also now offered for both the S‑MAX and Galaxy for the first time. Ford‑ Pass Connect turns the models into mobile WiFi hotspots with connectivity for up to 10 devices, and enables new Local Hazard In‑ formation that can inform the driver of haz‑

ardous situations in the road ahead before they become visible to the driver or vehicle sensors.

“The invaluable connectivity delivered by our FordPass Connect technology helps make life simpler and less stressful for S‑MAX and Galaxy customers whether they’re driving, working or relaxing,” said Roelant de Waard, Ford’s European Market‑ ing, Sales and Service vice president.

Ford’s S-Max and Galaxy models were last year enhanced to deliver even greater fuel efficiency, performance and refinement, with Ford’s sophisticated 2.0-litre EcoBlue diesel engine offered in 150PS and 190PS outputs an advanced eight-speed automat‑ ic transmission option; and available driver assistance technologies including Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) with Stop & Go func‑ tionality.

Retaining their sleek front profiles, en‑ hanced S-Max and Galaxy models feature a revised upper front facia and unique combi‑ nations of grille and lower fascia designs for

more distinctive style.

Available for the Ford S-Max and Galaxy with 150PS and 190PS power outputs, the 2.0-litre EcoBlue diesel engine delivers the power, torque and driving performance of a larger capacity engine alongside the fuel efficiency and low CO2 emissions synony‑ mous with a smaller engine capacity.

The available eight-speed automatic transmission – controlled using a stylish and ergonomic rotary gear shift dial – has been engineered to further optimise fuel efficiency and deliver responsive perfor‑ mance and smooth, swift gearshifts. A sixspeed manual transmission is also offered for S-Max and Galaxy models.

Available advanced S-Max and Galaxy comfort and convenience technologies in‑ clude ACC with Stop & Go. Enabled by the eight-speed automatic transmission, the system helps drivers maintain a comfort‑ able driving distance from vehicles ahead, including bringing the vehicle to a complete halt in stop-start traffic and automatically

pulling away if the stopping duration is less than three seconds. In line with their large car Ford Mondeo stable mate, new Ford S-Max and Galaxy also offer Pre-Collision Assist as standard. If a potential collision is detected, an alert sound is emitted and a warning message displays in the message centre. If the driver’s response is not suffi‑ cient, Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB) will precharge to provide full responsiveness when the brakes are applied – culminating in brakes being applied in the absence of any corrective action.

Ford’s SYNC 3 communications and en‑ tertainment system is also offered, enabling S-Max and Galaxy drivers to control au‑ dio, navigation and climate functions plus connected smartphones using simple voice commands.

Supported by an eight-inch colour touch‑ screen that can be operated using pinch and swipe gestures, SYNC 3 is compatible with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto at no ad‑ ditional cost.

TEST DRIVE THE AWARD-WINNING PEUGEOT RANGE DURING THE KENNY GALWAY DRIVETIME EVENT - THIS SATURDAY NOVEMBER 16TH,

10.00AM-4.30PM, HOTEL WOODSTOCK, ENNIS

SEE KENNYGALWAYPEUGEOT.EVENTBRITE.IE OR CALL 091-783000 FOR DETAILS

WLTP (Worldwide Harmonised Light Vehicle Test Procedure) combined fuel consumption for 108, 308, 2008 and 3008 in l/100km ranges from 4.7 to 7.8. WLTP combined CO2 emissions (g/km)range from 85 to 175.

KENNY GALWAY www.kennygalway.ie, Main Peugeot Dealer, City North Business Park, Tuam Road, Galway. Tel: 091-783000

32 SPORT

THURSDAY, NOV 14 2019

Noelle determined to succeed in every sense with PÁRAIC McMAHON

This week, as part of our 20x20 series we meet one of the county’s most decorated stars Noelle Comyn, who after a sterling GAA career has gone on to referee men’s hurling

T

HERE have been many, but Noelle Comyn is certainly amongst the most decorated sports people to have emerged from Co Clare.

Not only has she won accolades but Noelle has picked up her share of bruises by knocking down so many barriers. She became the first ex-player to manage Clare’s ladies footballers at senior level in 2011. Last year, she was the first female referee to take charge of a men’s hurling game in America and also holds the distinction of winning All-Ireland titles for both Clare and Dublin in ladies football plus coaching teams in the GAA World Games.

Anyone that knows her will probably use the word determined when describing Noelle. This mentality was evident from an early age as she taught herself how to play camogie.

“I became a ciotóg in camogie because I selflearned and I never ever changed”. A county camogie player since the age of 16 and ladies footballer since 17, she played hurling with Tubber up until minor and also togged out for the club in a Junior hurling game.

A desire to enhance her knowledge has seen the Tubber native compete and play such a wide range of sports. She played racquetball in secondary school at Gort and did cross country running during the off season from camogie and football. Comyn has represented Galway in darts and has had Connacht trials for hockey, the boxing ring has also come calling where she trained alongside Katie Taylor.

Though Noelle has shown initiative on several occasions, she is keen to praise many of the mentors she has had along the way, especially those no longer with us, Johnny Hayes, Francie Mahon and Kevin ‘Trixie’ Toomey.

The quartet of Bernie Ryan, Davy Fitzgerald, John Torpey and Michael McDermott were “very influential” in her career while the generosity of Martin Donnelly to many Clare teams is something she hasn’t forgotten.

Donnelly’s name was across the Saffron and Blue when the county ladies footballers enjoyed a stellar 2001 campaign which included winning the senior Munster Final, Division 1 in the National League and was capped off by Noelle getting an All Star at corner back. “In my own opinion we were the best team in the country that year but we probably worked a bit too hard and when it came to the business end we might have had done too much.

“We had a lot of training done over two years, definitely we were the best team in the country that year so it’s probably a little regret. The following year, a lot of the players went their own way and started doing different things so it ended that era but it was good while it lasted. I won an All Star that year so it is special, it is the only Munster ti-

l LASTING IMPRESSION: Noelle Comyn competing in a Poc Fada event and (inset) with former GAA President Aogán Ó Fearghaíl

tle that Clare Ladies Football have won and it’s getting very hard to recreate those kind of scenes again”.

Speaking to The Clare Echo from New York City where she is refereeing and coaching full-time, Comyn admitted there was a massive change in pace required when she transferred to Dublin. She picked up an All-Ireland medal in 2010, her final year, but cruelly missed the final having done cruciate ligament damage in the quarter-final. Prior to that she was a staple at full back, then aged 41, and the year previous was named Dublin Player of the Year.

Not alone had teammates less years on her but their hours in the gym were minute in comparison with the hours the former Fergus Rovers defender was clocking up. “I literally lived in the gym for my last three to four years off and on season to keep the body right to compensate from getting injured.

As you get older from a mental and physical

aspect, you have to start thinking differently and have to put an awful lot more time in. I would put in three times more time into my career later on than I did when I was younger, people might say I was a slow player but I was actually quicker at 40 than when I was 30 or 20.”

During her years with Clare in the late 90s and early 2000s, Noelle was a dual-player.

She recalled on some nights staying in a hotel with Edel Arthur and Catherine O’Loughlin having played a game earlier that day, only to go off in the car to play another match the next morning. It wasn’t rare for her to train 16 times in 14 days. Though being a dual player nowadays is not impossible, she feels it relies on co-operation between managements.

Such co-operation would have been beneficial during her time in charge of the Clare ladies footballers eight years ago. They reached the Division 2 League semi-final under hers and Aiden ‘Horse’ Moloney’s watch but she

resigned in the aftermath of this. “Maybe I was coming from an environment where being a Dublin player there’s expectations and you have to put a lot of your other life aside to wear the jersey, looking back, I don’t know if players were willing to do that.

“I decided it was time to move on. Could I have stayed on? Yeah. I think I pushed the players while I was there. Could I have done a few things differently? Possibly, yes, absolutely. Maybe I was looking for results and wanted to kick on ... that’s a culture, you can’t change things overnight and that’s something I’ve learned, you have to have a bit of patience and bring things forward a little slower. My nature is to get things done, keep moving and ticking on. With Dublin you’ve got your squad training whereas with Clare at the time we did have a certain core who always trained, the older players, they were very good to train but getting a consistency with the dual players, there was a lot of tug of wars there at the time,” the two time All-Ireland club winner with Ballyboden St Enda’s said.

Wherever in the world she is whether it’s Boston Tubber or the Big Apple, sport will be a part of Noelle’s life. “Sport has been my life, it continues to be. What would you have done without sport, how would you have lived. I think a lot of people’s paths would have been very different”. The buzz of playing still draws the soon to be 51 year old who lined out in a recent tournament in the States, despite undergoing a discectomy in April, determined as ever while her refereeing career has now expanded to officiating soccer games.

When analysing her own career, she often ponders what it would be like to have all the opportunities the players of today have.

“You can’t ever have regrets but you’d often think if I was born in a different era like ten or 15 years later, you look at the Dublin ladies football team now, not just the success level but the preparation has kicked on another level. Of course I’m happy with what I got but you’re always going to say I’d love to have kicked on even further and maybe in a different era I’d love to have been involved in a sport in the professional side of it.

“I was at an ice-hockey game in Madison Gardens watching the Rangers play, there is a ladies pro league starting in ice-hockey in the States, that is massive and is a really good game, it’s like hurling on ice. Boxing, even rugby, Aussie Rules, there is so many different sports I’d love to have tried or have gone on to do something different.”

Noelle adds, “You always have to be happy with what you had, I’m very grateful for the career I’ve had. I got to play inter-county at the very top level and at the very top to age 41, I’m 50 now and still playing a little bit so I can’t complain”.

SPORT

THURSDAY, NOV 14 2019

33

Playing Munster club special for Cleary For Eoin Cleary, the turning point with the current St Josephs Miltown crop goes back to November 2013, writes Páraic McMahon.

On November 10, 2013, Hennessy Memorial Park hosted the Munster club intermediate football semi-final as the David O’Brien managed Miltown defeated Kerry side Currow 1-08 1-07, it was the first time the intermediate champions from the Kingdom had lost a game at the grade since 2005.

Leading by five points with ten minutes to go, Miltown conceded a goal and lost their composure along with it. John Buckley then slotted a placed ball to pile on the pressure. The damage they did in the opening

half by going six points clear in 25 minutes stood to them plus the work rate of Conor Cleary and Darragh McDonagh at midfield, roving sweeper Eoin Curtin and Niall Quinn’s kickout strategy and Miltown got over the line. The win was recalled

by Eoin Cleary following their extra time battle with Rathgormack on Sunday.

“I remember 2013 we played Currow here and this is where it all started for this team. We were relegated the year before, we hadn’t beaten anyone in the intermediate championship to be honest and beating a Kerry team in Miltown gave this team great belief. I’m sure a win like this will give us massive belief,” he reflected.

Shane Curtin, Enda O’Gorman, Eoin Curtin, Gordon Kelly, Gearoid Curtin, Conor Cleary, Brian Curtin, Eoin Cleary, Seanie Malone and Kieran Malone all featured in the Currow game and the Rathgormack win.

Ironically it was on November 10, 2019, in which they overcame the Waterford champions with David O’Brien back at the helm. Playing in Hennessy Memorial Park in the provincial championship “is something special,” Cleary admitted.

His first-half goal was worth its weight in gold in terms of securing the win. Surprisingly he was left free following a Padraig Hunt kickout which Miltown won and Seanie Malone laid an excellent ball in the di-

rection of the danger man.

“It was a great ball from Seanie Malone, I was free, I didn’t know myself, I had too much time, I saw the corner back coming across and I said I’d lash it in as high as I could to the keeper’s left, thankfully it went in.”

This Sunday they face Clonmel Commercials in Miltown, a side they know well from the 2015 senior semi-final where the Tipperary men won out 1-13 0-03 in Clonmel. “They had a massive win yesterday and we know they will be a formidable opposition. We played them in 2015, it’s another challenge and we’re looking forward to facing them”.

l EXCITED: Eoin Cleary and co face Clonmel this Sunday in Miltown Photo by Gerard O’Neil

Breckans boss Donie hoping for semi-final joy

C

HILD of Prague statues are more associated with trying to get divine assistance on the big wedding day but in Lisdoovnarna and Doolin those same statues may be seen as they pray for fine weather this Sunday on what is another big day, the Mun-

ster club IFC semi-final.

Moycarkey-Borris will come to Clare this Sunday, with the venue confirmed as Lisdoonvarna on Tuesday morning. St Breckans secured their place in the last four with a five-point win over Galtee Gaels on Saturday, one which stemmed from their third quarter

dominance where they returned 1-06 without reply.

It was all part of the plan as Donie outlined. “What we spoke about in the dressing room at half-time was ‘let’s finish the game here guys the game will be over, we’ll play the educated pass, we’ll close them down from the kickouts’..”

Improve your mental health through golf...

G

OLF isn’t all about lowering your handicap, the benefits for your mental as well as physical health are truly significant. So this week’s golf tip isn’t going to be swing related, instead I’m going to remind you to embrace the game of golf and teach yourself to relax while you are walking those lush green fairways in the countryside.

Our modern everyday lives seem to be mayhem, so much so it doesn’t surprise me that so many people are struggling with mental health.

I’m no expert and thankfully I’ve never struggled with it, however I do believe one of the main factors is that golf has given me the escape I need, to help cope with the everyday hectic schedules we are all dealing with. Nobody seems to be putting themselves first these days and after all, if you can’t take care of yourself you can’t fully take care of anybody else. The advice we get in the case of an emergency while on an aircraft is, “If the oxygen masks drop, put your own on first before you help take care of the person beside you”.

Golf gives us that head space we all need to look after ourselves, it gives you that same freedom you get when you walk a beach or take a stroll in the countryside. Sometimes a quick hour on the golf course is all I need to give me head space to find solutions to solve any issues I’ve had to encounter in any particular day. I guarantee the issues you thought you had will become less important and you will come up with solutions much faster once you’ve had the time to forget about them briefly. Golf gives you the escape for those few hours while you are focusing on your game, enjoying scenic views and the company.

The next time you head to the course, try to look at golf for the fun game it actually is and when your playing again actually spend time to

take in your surroundings and allow yourself to relax. You are surrounded by nature and fresh air so absorb it in, even if its pouring rain with the right attire on you can play in comfort. Be grateful for the game and don’t worry about whether you are playing poorly or not, there are plenty of PGA Golf Professionals out there willing to help you with your game, so call one if it’s going to help your enjoyment of the game. Instead of getting frustrated with your game, enjoy working on it and with the right help you will improve. Learn how to relax when you are on the golf course, after all this is your time to yourself. Who cares if the round takes 45 minutes more than it normally does, look at it as 45 minutes of extended fun.

Life is short and it’s not meant to be about working continuously. It’s about living and learning how you can improve your lifestyle and find yourself a balance between work and life.

Why not introduce a close non-golfing friend to the game and let them also see the benefits too.

I recently coached a 68-year young woman who took up golf and wishes she did it years ago, but it’s NEVER too late to start putting yourself first.

Life is short, maybe it’s time you start putting your own health ahead of everyone else’s. P.S. Some of the best views in the world are seen from golf courses.

Among their star men were Dale Masterson, Aiden Davidson and Joseph McGann. Garrihy confirmed that McGann has received a call up to the county senior panel by Colm Collins.

“Joe works really hard, Colm Collins has called him into the squad and that is good for us, I hope Joe McGann

PGA Golf Professional

steps up to the plate now with Colm, Joe deserves it and Colm deserves a top forward”.

Of the Munster run, the Doolin2Aran ferry operator stated, “It’s a new venture for us and for me, I really enjoy it”. A win on Sunday would see the enjoyment levels soar in North Clare.

#PadraigKnowsGolf

Padraig McGrath

GOLF ANALYSIS

The Scorecard in association with

EAST CLARE GOLF CLUB Men’s Seniors WINNERS Mick Ryan,Martin Quinn, Tom Larkin, 2ND Pat McNamara, W.Roche, S.Symes LADIES TUESDAY Pauline Nugent, Breda McCarthy,Mary Farrell Friday Scramble 1ST Paul Husband ,Ger Daly 2ND Willie Roche, Jim Bradley, John Farrell ENNIS GOLF CLUB Club Scramble 9th Nov. 2019 1ST Mary Woulfe, Padraig Cusack, Willie Moloney 64pts 2ND Della Burns, Ken Morrissey, Ger O’ Donovan 63pts 3RD Steve Burns, Andrew Mc Gloin, Tom Gallery 64-2 62pts Gent’s Singles 18 S/F 9th & 10th November 2019 1ST Richard O’ Connell(15) 42pts 2ND John Nevin(16) 41pts 3RD Martin Moran(6) 40pts 4TH Padraig Cusack(15) 39pts 5TH Frank Owens(21) 39pts 6TH Cyril Corry(13) 39pts 7TH Michael Kerin(19) 39pts 8TH Sean Rynne(12) 39pts 9TH Matt Flynn(20) 39pt 10TH William Donnellan(27) 38pts

ENNIS G.C. SENIOR MENS SOCIAL GROUP THUR. NOV. 7TH 2019 RESULTS 1ST FRANK SHEEDY,JOHN O’DONNOVAN, BRENDAN PYNE 75 POINTS 2ND MATT FLYNN, JOHN McENTEE, TOM GREENE 74 3RD JOHN GAVIN, TIM KELLY, WILLIE MALONEY 71 4TH TIM SCANLON, WILLIE DONNELLLON, JOHN VAUGHAN 70 5TH JOHN GUILFOYLE, J K CONSIDINE, KEN O’FARRELL 69 6TH MICHAEL CUMMINS, LARRY PARKS, KEVIN MURRAY 69 KILRUSH GOLF CLUB Nov 04 / 10 KGC Open Men’s Singles 1 Pat Shannon Ksh (14) 30pts 2 PW Glynn (31) 28 pts (Back 9) 3 Ml Ryan (9) 28 pts Tue Nov 05 Senior Ladies 1. Margaret Hehir, Ann Coen, Jean Lorigan, Loretta Browne, 38.25 2. Carmel Lillis, Mary Collins, Pauline Kirk, Ursula Lineen, 41.25 3. Imy Kerrigan, Loret Maher, Anne Hogan, 44.00 Tue Nov 05 Senior Men Scramble 1.Pat Shannon Ksh, Noel Thornton, Tom O’Dea, Jim Kelly 90 Pts 2.Michael McNamara, Matt Fitzpatrick, Terry O’Hare, Murt Collins 88.5 3.Gerry Duffy, Pat Shannon Cny, TJ Lyons, Finbar McMahon 88

Classifieds

CLASSIFIEDS 35

THURSDAY, NOV 14 2019

ACCOUNTANCY

CAR REPAIRS

CLEANING

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EDUCATION

CONTACT SALES

065 671 9021 sales@clareecho.ie

HEALTH CARE ASSISTANT

PAINTING

CAR REPAIRS CLEANING

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• Professional Masters of Education – University of Limerick – Current Student (Year 1) • Four Years Experience Tutoring Maths.

• Professional experience teaching Leaving Cert Higher Level.

Contact Dara at 086-7367654 or ryanchad@tcd.ie

The Clare Echo Classifieds

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PAINTING & DECORATING PAINTING DECORATING

- Indoor and exterior painting services - high quality only - spraying and traditional painting

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- Garden Maintenance - We offer a range of gardening services

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- Patio and walkway cleaning - Hard to reach gutters - Exterior house washing and more..

Fully insured. vat reg. All areas Covered www.freshlookpaintinglandscaping.com

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36 CLASSIFIEDS

SERVICES

PAINTING

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The Clare Echo Classifieds

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TARMACADAM

Contact 065 671 9021

THURSDAY, NOV 14 2019

CONTACT SALES

065 671 9021 sales@clareecho.ie

PLANNING 37

THURSDAY, NOV 14 2019

PLANNING CLARE COUNTY COUNCIL FURTHER INFORMATION/ REVISED PLANS Planning Ref: 19611 Planning permission is being sought by Tamera & Michael O’Dwyer for modifications to the existing dwelling which include the construction of single storey extensions to the sides and rear of the existing dwelling, construction of a new shed, new windows throughout and associated site works at Oakfield, Clonlara, Co. Clare.

Location: Oakfield, Clonlara, Co. Clare.

Take notice that Tamera & Michael O’Dwyer have lodged significant further information in respect of planning application P19611. This information and planning application may be inspected or purchased at a fee not exceeding the reasonable cost of making a copy, at the offices of the Planning Authority of Clare County Council, Planning Department, Áras Contae an Chláir, New Road, Ennis, Co. Clare during its public opening hours. A submission or observation in relation to the further information or revised plans may be made in writing to the planning authority on payment of the

prescribed fee, not later than 2 weeks after the receipt of the newspaper notice and site notice by the planning authority or in the case of a planning application accompanied by an EIS within 5 weeks of receipt of such notices by the planning authority.

CLARE COUNTY COUNCIL ADS-VGN VAUGHAN GARAGE LTD., CLOONBONY MILTOWN MALBAY CO. CLARE V95 PWK1 Take notice that, ADSVGN Vaughan Garage Ltd. intends to apply for Permission for the redevelopment of the existing service retail area, garage/workshop, fuel store, offices, storage area and toilets, comprising of alterations to the internal layout, fenestration and elevations of the existing buildings to a service retail area with a shop, deli service, seating area, new customer toilets within the main building, to include the reconfiguration of the fuel storage area, an extension the main building to include new toilets accessible from outside, the provision of new signage and all ancillary and site works associated with all of the above.

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 of €20.00, within the period of 5 weeks beginning on the date of receipt by the planning 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 permissions subject to or without conditions or may refuse to grant permission.

CLARE COUNTY COUNCIL KIWI COTTAGE, QUILTY EAST, QUILTY, CO CLARE V95 NW95 Take notice that, Mary and Paul Callinan intend to apply for retention permission to retain the existing boundaries of the site, which formed part of an original application to construct two no. dormer bungalows, proprietary waste water treatment system, entrance from public road and associated site works,

(ref P03/87).

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 of €20.00, within the period of 5 weeks beginning on the date of receipt by the planning 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 permissions subject to or without conditions or may refuse to grant permission.

CLARE COUNTY COUNCIL, BALLYALLA, KILSHANNY, CO. CLARE. Take notice that B. & A. O’Driscoll intends to apply to the Planning Authority for permission to construct a dwelling house, garage and proprietary waste water treatment system along with ancillary site works at the above address.

That the planning appli-

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

CLARE COUNTY COUNCIL, BISHOPS QUARTER, BALLYVAUGHAN, CO. CLARE Take notice that D. Fahy & M. Hume-Fahy intends to apply to the Planning Authority for permission to construct a dwelling house, new entrance road and proprietary waste water treatment system along with ancillary site works at the above address.

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

CONTACT SALES

065 671 9021 sales@clareecho.ie

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

CLARE CO COUNCIL DEERPARK, SIXMILEBRIDGE Planning permission is sought to construct 2 no. detached dwelling houses complete with detached domestic garages, effluent treatment systems, vehicular entrances, including all associated site works & services at Deerpark/ Corlack Cluster, Sixmilebridge (as defined in the Clare County Development Plan 2017–2023) Applicant Mr. Paul Stack The planning application may be inspected, or purchased at a fee not exceeding the reasonable cost of making a copy, at the offices of the planning authority during its public opening hours and that a submission or observation in relation to the application may be made to the authority in writing on payment of the prescribed fee within the period of 5 weeks beginning on the date of receipt by the authority of the application. The planning authority may grant permission subject to or without conditions or may refuse to grant permission.

CLARE COUNTY COUNCIL KNOCKATULLAGHAUN, MILTOWN MALBAY, CO. CLARE Take notice that P. Coleman & Associates on behalf of Coillte intend to apply to the Planning Authority for permission for the construction of a forest access road and entrance with all ancillary site works at the above address.

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

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The Clare Echo Crossword ACROSS 1 Mark as correct (4) (8) JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG3 Barely SEP adequate OCT NOV 9 Ruled (7)

10 Growing old (5) 11 Ernie (anag.) - girl’s

Solve (/games/best-daily-word-search/?

7 November: World name (5) now puzzleDate=20191107) Rivers 12 Cotton fabric (6)

14 Breathe in (6) 16 Loud piercing cry (6)

More Puzzles 19 Threefold (6) . Amazon ()

21 Italian sauce (5) . Arno () 24 Incorrect (5)

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QUIZ 39

THURSDAY, NOV 14 2019

The Clare Echo Quiz

2 a. b. c.

50 Miles 100 Miles 150 Miles

The term ‘Burren’ comes from the Irish for ______?

Rocky surface Stony place No grass

Which famous warrior from 3 Clare bore the colours of Saffron and Blue whilst in battle? a. b. c.

Brian Boru Art O’ Donnell Colonel Thomas Blood

Quigley was a famous 4 ______Hugh from County Clare? a. Politician b. Priest c. Musician

5

Born to a woman from Ennis, Brian Mc Dermott managed which of the following football teams? a. Arsenal b. Leeds c. Brighton

Michael Sonny Murphy from 6 Clare competed in which Olympics?

McTuige was a famous 7 ______Mike from County Clare? a. Architect b. Solicitor c. Boxer

The great grandparents of 8 which of these famous actors were from Clare? a. b. c.

Russel Crowe Brad Pitt Daniel Day Lewis

Benjamin Kidd from Clare 9 became renowned for his work in which academic discipline? a. Biology b. Physics c. Sociology

l QUESTION 2 : The term ‘Burren’ comes from the Irish for ______?

Anglo-Irish Thomas Blood of 10 County Clare was infamous for attempting to_______? a. b.

King c. pire

Murder the King of England Steal the crown jewels from the

Declaring war on the British Em-

By Cian O’Broin

6. 1932 7. Boxer 8. Russel Crowe 9. Sociology 10. Steal the crown jewels from the King

a. b. c.

b. 1932 c. 1960

ANSWERS 1. 150 Miles 2. Stony place 3. Brian Boru 4. Priest 5. Leeds

many miles does the 1 BurrenHowplateau stretch for?

a. 1920

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

The answers will be revealed in next weeks edition.

L-R Stacey Browne, Aer Lingus, Rose Hynes, Chairman Shannon Group, Reid Moody, Chief Strategy and Planning Officer Aer Lingus, Mary Considine, CEO Shannon Group and Lesley Murphy, Aer Lingus.

Pic Arthur Ellis

Last weeks Answers . Makeup around eyes missing on woman (left) . Childs hand missing (left) . Writing on hat (left) missing . Woman’s foot missing (left)

. Button missing on child hat (right) . Logo on childs shoe missing (right) . Woman (left) shoe strap missing