Issue 54: Nov 15 2018 by The Clare Echo

065 671 9021

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editor@clareecho.ie

15 Nov 2018

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€400m Ennis data centre plan unveilied PÁRAIC McMAHON

news@clareecho.ie

HE local authority is seeking to amend the county development plan to facilitate the development on a 51 hectare site close to the Tulla Road (exit 13) junction on the M18 motorway. It comes one year on after they sought expressions of interest from land owners for sites of 50 acres or more that would be suitable for data centre developments. The Clare Echo can reveal that 14 expressions of interest were received by the Council. 1,100 construction jobs would be created during the development with a further 200 permanent data centre positions including

that of engineers, 150 ancillary jobs would be generated around Date Centre Offices with 50 full-time maintenance jobs. It is envisaged that 600 induced jobs will follow in education, retail and leisure. It is also expected that the data centre would bring inward investment of between €400-500m. A Council delegation travelled to Luela in Sweden to examine a similar facility. While there, they met representatives from Facebook and other Data Centre representatives. According to a spokesperson for the local authority, the estimated size of the data centre is 1m square foot. In Athenry, Apple applied for 200,000 sqft though their intentions were for a much bigger plant. The estimated value of the development is up to €400m.

Full story PAGE 4

lCHECKING OUT THE GOODS: Fionn Garry checking out the goods at Home Gallery’s customer evening Photo by Martin Connolly

Strange sighting in West Clare Full story PAGE 8

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

NEWSDESK

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

SALES

Email: ciara.farrell@clareecho.ie or ger.naughton@clareecho.ie

l BREAKFAST OF CHAMPIONS: Bank of Ireland Ennis in conjunction with Ennis Chamber of Commerce hosted Tipp Senior Hurling Manager Liam Sheedy and Rugby legend David Wallace in conversation with Clare FM Sports Editor Derrick Lynch on Friday, November 9, at the Old Ground Hotel, Ennis. Pictured enjoying the event is (L-R) Nandi O’Sullivan, Head of Communications at Shannon Group plc, West Clare hotelier John Burke and rugby legend David Wallace Photo by Arthur Ellis

Ó Súilleabháin funeral ‘honour’ PÁRAIC McMAHON

news@clareecho.ie

KILMALEY undertaker was “surprised and honoured” to be the funeral director for the reposal, Mass and burial of iconic composer Mícheál Ó Súilleabháin. Ó Súilleabháin died last Wednesday after a long illness. His funeral took place at St Senan’s Church, Kilrush on Monday and PJ Murphy was the chosen funeral director. Speaking to The Clare Echo, Murphy whose business is now in its seventh year revealed that it was a previous large funeral that they oversaw which grabbed the attention of the Ó Súilleabháin family. “It was the first funeral we’ve done where we had the President in attendance. We treat everybody with the same level of care and respect, anyone who is bereaved to them the person they have lost is the number one person”. President Michael D Higgins was one of the many people to pay tribute to the founder and director at the Irish World Academy of Music and Dance. “His music and outstanding work will forever be enjoyed by countless people, celebrating his humour, his fearless sense of exploration and his talent for harmony, joy and mobilising the peerless power of music,” the Newmarket-on-Fergus native said. Arrangements for the funeral were car-

ried out based on the wishes of Mícheál. In preparing for the services, PJ had to field calls from Japan, Australia, America, Canada and the UK from people that wishes to pass on their sympathies to the family. “They were primarily from people who were students or understudies of his but wouldn’t be necessarily close to family so we were the point of contact in a lot of respects for people wanting to express their sympathies who wouldn’t have been able to make it. The family got great comfort in those messages that we did pass on, it reinforces the spread of people that he influenced.” Celebrant Dom Patrick Hederman, former Abbot of Glenstall Abbey described Mícheál Ó’Súilleabháin as a hero, a contemperory Orpheus who brightened our lives with his heart rending music. Many musicians and singers who knew Prof. Ó’Súilleabháin took part part in the mass including the Irish Chamber Orchestra, Seanós singers Iarla Ó’Lionáird, Lillis Ó’Laoire and Síle Denvir, as well as an ensemble of singers from the Irish World academy. Prof. Ó’Súilleabháin is survived by his wife Professor Helen Phelan and their son Luke, sons Eoin and Micheal [Moley] and their mother Dr. Nóirín Ní Riain and by his brother John.

NEWS

Ennis data centre a 'game-changer' PÁRAIC McMAHON

news@clareecho.ie

LANS for a data centre development in Ennis have been unveiled by Clare County Council that it estimates will result in an inward investment of €400 to 500m. On Monday, the local authority outlined it is seeking to amend the county development plan to facilitate the development on a 51 hectare site close to the Tulla Road (exit 13) junction on the M18 motorway. It comes one year on after they sought expressions of interest from land owners for sites of 50 acres or more that would be suitable for data centre developments. The Clare Echo can reveal that fourteen expressions of interest were received by the Council. 1,100 construction jobs would be created during the development with a further 200 permanent data centre positions including that of engineers; 150 ancillary jobs would be generated around Data Centre of-

fices with 50 full-time maintenance jobs. It is envisaged that 600 induced jobs will follow in education, retail and leisure. A Council delegation travelled to Luela in Sweden to examine a similar facility. While there, they met with representatives from Facebook and other Data Centre representatives. According to a spokesperson for the local authority, the estimated size of the data centre is 1m square foot. In Athenry, Apple applied for 200,000 sqft though their intentions were for a much bigger plant. Including construction and fit-out, the Council say the estimated value of the development is between €300400m. Speaking on Monday, Director of Economic Development, Liam Conneally declared it would be “A game changer not just for Ennis but for County Clare”. He admitted it was their intention “to attract someone like Amazon, Apple or Facebook” as possible investors for the site. Opposition to the development

came from Independent Cllr Gerry Flynn who felt it would “drain from Shannon”. Art Data Centres Ltd will make make the strategic infrastructure development application to An Bord Pléanala. Tom McNamara & Partners, Ennis is the development manager for Art Data Centres Ltd. If planning permission was secured, work could begin as early as September 2019. Fine Gael TD, Joe Carey has said he has asked Clare County Council to ensure there is no delay in facilitating their planning application. In a statement to The Clare Echo, he said, “We are all very much aware of the lengthy planning difficulties which ultimately led to the demise of the €850 million Apple data centre in Athenry. "By recognising data centres as strategic infrastructure developments in section 49 of the newly enacted Planning and Development (Amendment) Act 2018, planning applications for the development of new data centres will now be lodged directly with An Bord Pleanála”.

THURSDAY, NOV 15 2018

SIBLINGS STEP IT UP

ON THE PODIUM: Brother and sister Conor (inset) and Emma Fennell came close to the top national prize at the annual Oireachtas national sean-nós competition in the INEC, Killarney, recently broadcast live on TG4. The siblings came second in their 15-18 and 12-15 age groups respectively, a boost for the efforts of the Kilrush-based family. Clare in recent years has been sending strong contingents to the Oireachtas and it is hoped, the blue riband is only a few steps away

Photos by Seán Ó Mainnín

'Time is right' for Henry's Bistro... STUART HOLLY

editor@clareecho.ie

ENRY'S Bistro and Wine Bar opened its doors on Market Street this week with popular businessman Dermot Fetton at the helm. Dermot - well-known for running The Cloister restaurant on Abbey Street for the last six years with wife Noreen - says their new establishment will have a lovely casual bistro feel with a very professional delivery. "There's something for everyone. You look at places around the world - and I went to a few places to get some headers - and there's no reason Ennis can't have a place like The Wolseley in London or the Garden Rooms in the Merrion where someone comes in and sits in one corner and wants to order Dover sole or fillet steak and someone else wants to have really good fish and chips or a dexter cheese burger. There's no reason why that can't happen in Ennis," explained Dermot. Dermot, a Waterford native who worked at Dromoland for 22 years, says Henry's Bistro will look to attract the casual diner. The price point certainly is attractive, with a two-course option from the a la carte menu at €21.50 or three courses at €25. The lunch menu includes the likes of tagiatelle carbonara at €10.50, a cheese and bacon burger at €12.50 along with staples such as soup of the day for €5. Dermot teases that

there will also be a pork belly or roast beef sandwich on ciabatta bread with a cup of soup or fries for just €7.50. "We're going to have a lot of the same dishes [as from The Cloister] but we don't want to be pigeon-holed as somewhere you go for a two-hour dinner," says Dermot. "We want to be in the mix with anybody who wants to go in before the cinema, have a main course and glass of wine either in the bistro or wine bar and move on again. It's confident, it's casual, it's current." Dermot added that his loyal staff-base following him to Henry's Bistro from The Cloister including head chef Terry Connor has made the transfer a smooth one. "Everybody's come on board - all my chefs, all my front of house staff as well so everyone's very excited about doing something new, something different and we're working hard to nail down a concept here and once we bed in we'll have something pretty good. "I've been very lucky over the last six years with everybody I've worked with and in fairness they're trusting me as well to come up with something that's new and a little bit more competitive for want of a better word. "I think the timing is right for this sort of restaurant in Ennis."

Henry's Bistro is open Wednesday to Sundays for lunch and dinner. For enquiries, call (065) 689 9393.

NEWS

Clare father/son create app to save the postcard KATE O'GORMAN

news@clareecho.ie

A FATHER and son duo from West Clare have developed an extraordinary new smartphone app ‘PostASelfie’ which aims to revive postcards worldwide. Adrian and Sean McCusker, along with promoter Rebecca Hart, are the brains behind PostASelfie.ie which allows users to convert photographs and personal memories taken from their own smartphone into a physical postcard that can be sent anywhere in the world. Speaking to The Clare Echo, Adrian explained, “We got the idea for the app when I received a postcard among all my bills and realised it was the first time in a long time that I had gotten personal post of any kind and it really made me smile. We created the app hoping the

personal postcard will also bring a smile to a friend or loved one” stated Adrian. “It’s our very first venture into this realm of business”. First launched locally on September 1 at Diamond Rocks Café in Kilkee, PostASelfie.ie has already been used to send an impressive five-hundred postcards all over Ireland, England, France, Spain and Italy. The app was developed by a company called Storm Technologies in Galway and enables a smooth transfer between android and IOS smartphones. It is available to download from both the App and Google Play store and ensures a secure payment transfer with Limerick’s own Stripe. Alongside the evident increase in modern technology especially amongst the younger generation, the PostASelfie. ie app is hopefully going to encourage people to continue the age-old practice of postcards

lMIXING OLD WITH NEW: A postcard (front and back) received

at The Clare Echo offices sent by the PostASelfie team using their brilliant app, which was develoed by Adrian and Sean McCusker

with the personalised touch of sharing their very own cherished photographs with their loved ones from all over the world. Brand promoter Rebecca continued, “PostASelfie.ie is being liked and shared all over social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and also

€1m spent on Travellers in last three years PÁRAIC McMAHON

news@clareecho.ie

LARE County Council has forked out over €1 million on the Travelling community in the last three years. A total of €1,259,103 has been spent by the Council since 2016 and the local authority expects this figure to rise to €1,363,407 by the end of the year. The expenditure is towards accommodation, maintenance, waste collection, security, legal costs and illegal encampment. Legal costs against the Travelling community have more than doubled this year, at present it stands at €145,788 with the local authority anticipating it will be €160,000 by the end of 2018. It is a significant increase on the €53,580 paid in 2017. Accommodation fees have dropped this year by €14,990 but are still €38,566 more than the amount paid in 2016. Although illegal encampment didn’t cost Clare County Council a penny in 2016, the intervening years have resulted in fees of

€21,683 (2017), €30,720 (so far in 2018) and €43,000 (Council estimate for end of 2018). Waste collection costs are expected to hit €195,000 as 2018 concludes, so far this year €162,257 has been paid by the Council while it is a sizeable rise from €38,440 in 2016 and €66,570 last year. The outlay of security left a bill of €1,351 in 2016, the local authority estimate this will be €120,000 at the end of 2018. Maintenance expenses are forecast to also reach a three-year high, however the figures do not take into account the salaries of those involved in maintaining Traveller sites. Independent councillor, Gerry Flynn outlined his frustration with the amount of Council money being spent on travellers at a meeting of the local authority on Monday. “Where is this money coming from? There are a lot of other constructive ways we could be spending this money. It is a sizeable amount of money in the face of people accusing us of doing nothing”.

our very own website. "We also started putting out location points including Diamond Rocks Café and the Armada Hotel which has been great publicity." Rebecca added, “We started with scenic views around Clare and it’s been growing ever since”.

THURSDAY, NOV 15 2018

Homeless plan being evaluated COLD water has been poured on a proposal to purchase a site for sale in Ennis to accommodate the homeless in the area. At Monday’s meeting of Clare County Council, James Breen asked that they consider purchasing a building which is currently for sale at Carmody St in Ennis which can “accommodate 100 people”. He said this would be done “with a view to provide flats to help eliminate the housing crisis in Ennis”. In response, Director of Service, Anne Haugh outlined that they “are working closely with the Approved Housing Body sector to identify all viable options for housing in the Ennis area. "In this regard all existing properties which are available for purchase are receiving consideration including a detailed appraisal of the development/ refurbishment works required to meet building standards and compliances with unit cost ceilings set by the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government”. “It is up to us as representatives when we see property that could be used for the homeless that we highlight it”, Cllr Breen told the Chamber. His motion was seconded by Cllr Clare Colleran Molloy. Haugh then informed Breen “we are working with housing bodies but this may not be an option for us”.

NEWS

FESTS REDUCE CARBON FOOTPRINT

THURSDAY, NOV 15 2018

Did West Clare man see UFO?

'I know for sure I saw something' PÁRAIC McMAHON

news@clareecho.ie

CLARE festivals successfully have reduced their carbon footprint by up to 40 per cent as part of their involvement in Clare’s Green Festival Ambassador and Leader training programme. The organisers of 10 festivals held in 2018 were recently presented with their Certificates of Completion following their participation in the programme, which is the first of its kind in the country. The programme is an initiative of Clare Tourism and was fully funded by Clare Local Development Company through the LEADER programme. The programme was also supported by Clare County Council, Limerick Clare Energy Agency, Clare Volunteer Centre and the Southern Region Waste Management Office. The festivals that benefitted from localized and in-depth training Kilmurry Harvest Festival, Clare Garden Festival, Clarecastle Regatta & Clarecastle Tidy Towns, Great Irish Garden, Doolin Festivals, Bodyke Festival, Kilrush Traditional Music Festival, Mountshannon Arts Festival, Fleadh Cheoil An Chláir and Lissycasey Music Festival. Training was delivered by Raquel Noboa and Samantha Harding of Elevate Clare. Pictured (above L-R) Maurice Walsh, Clare Tourism, Deirdre Power, Clare County Council, Gloria Callinan, Clare Local Development Company, Martina Minogue, Clare Local Development Company, Raquel Naboa, Fifty Shades Greener, Karen Foley, Environmental Awareness Officer, Clare County Council Photo by Arthur Ellis

HANNON Air Traffic Control received reports from several pilots who spotted a UFO over Ireland on Friday, this time last year a Kilkee man had an encounter with a “red light” item that has left him puzzled to this day. In November 2017, John Reid was on his way to work in Whelan’s Garage travelling the same route he has done since taking up employment in Kilrush 12 years ago. At 6.40am, he was taken aback by what he came across. “I was coming out the road by Lisdeen, this red light passed me by on the left hand side, how far away from me it was at this time I don’t know but as I get out towards Lisdeen I lost sight out of it between the trees at Talty’s house and it was going away from me at this stage. When I went around [the corner] the light had gone over the bogs towards Shragh. I rang Clare FM at the time and they said they rang Aviation down in Shannon and they said ‘no there was nothing there at the time’, a plane landed from Canada at ten past nine but I definitely know something passed me by flying up the sky. “It would remind you of a truck with a box of lights around it, I’ve no idea how far away from me it was, it looked like it was only inside in the ditch but it was dark and I just caught it out of the side of my eye as it passed me. I was doing 60 miles an hour to keep up with it but it went away from me. I saw i n the paper this thing was doing

the speed of sound, this wasn’t doing the speed of sound that’s for sure." While John is adamant there was something, the Irish Aviation Authority denied there were any UFOs at the time. “It seemed to be just inside the ditch, if it was up too high I wouldn’t be able to see it through the roof of the car. The eyeline view was as I was sitting from the car looking out. Aviation in Shannon said there was nothing that night or that morning, there was no planes or anything out but I know for sure and certain I saw something. Somebody said one of the post men that was coming down from Kilkee to Kilrush saw something”. John told The Clare Echo that he has never seen a UFO before or wouldn’t label himself as someone with an interest in astronomy or science. On that particular winter morning, he did speak about what he saw but was met by sceptical replies. “I told plenty people about it and I think they thought I was mad or drunk”. Astronomers have claimed Friday’s UFO was indeed a meteorite but according to Reid what was in West Clare 12 months ago was not. “I can guarantee you this wasn’t a meteorite, this passed me by on the left hand side as I was coming by, I had no idea how far away from me in the ditch it was but it wasn’t too far away because I wouldn’t have been able to see it if it was too far in, if it was too far high I wouldn’t have been able to see it with the roof of the car and I lost sight of it when it went behind the trees. "As I passed the bend I could see this was gone over towards the windmills and that was it”. ADVERTORIAL

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NEWS

THURSDAY, NOV 15 2018

Britain going through 'midlife crisis'

Newmarket author Donnacha Ó Beacháin tackles Brexit in new publication

news@clareecho.ie

N E W M A RKET-on-Fergus native has launched the first book devoted to Irish government policy towards Northern Ireland from the division of the country in 1921 to the present day. Donnacha Ó Beacháin is Associate Professor at the School of Law and Government, Dublin City University (DCU) where he lectures on post-Soviet politics, unrecognised states, Irish studies and foreign policy. His latest book, ‘From Partition to Brexit’ was launched in Dublin on Tuesday by Bertie Ahern and will have a seperate launch night in the Old Ground Hotel at 6.30pm on Friday with RTÉ’s David McCullagh. A son of former Clare GAA chairperson, Brendan Vaughan and Deirdre O’Brien Vaughan who runs the Irish Traditional Music Institute, it comes as no surprise that Donnacha has carved out a successful career just like his sister Caoilfhionn who lectures in UL. Although Donnacha has worked all over Europe it was on the Ennis Rd in Newmarket that his curiosity was first piqued on the subject of the North. “I remember well walking with my father to Dromoland Castle from our house and it was 1981; I remember seeing in the newspapers everyday Bobby Sands MP may die today and I didn’t know what the term MP meant so I asked my father. "I was just thinking it was very odd at nine years of age - we learned at school that there was a War of Independence and things had lived happily ever after, or at least I understood it. It was the first inkling that I had that

things hadn’t finished as effortlessly as we had been led to believe." His passion for politics developed over his teenage years where lunches were spent at the River Fergus in Ennis with friends such as John Kelly and Michael Healy with politics always top of the agenda. “Growing up it was more a minority pursuit and I used to seek out like-minded people; it was much harder to find information, you were really searching for information, you used to be getting second hand newspapers and books to keep abreast of things that were already old by the time you got to them, you really relied on RTÉ and that was it, we didn’t have

any foreign channel, there was no BBC, no channels, cable TV or anything like that. Whatever was on RTÉ was the news and if you wanted to find anything else, you had to go searching. "That was also part of the attraction, people in their teenage years have different things that they find exciting and I guess I was one of those minority people who find politics very exciting and I kept with it. There was no great plan to end up where I am now and it’s a nice position to be in when you have made your passion

your profession as well. I read books about history and politics and I write about it and I enjoy doing that." Work officially started on the book in 2010 but it began much earlier than that with several interviews conducted in his college years referenced. Many of these people have since died while some including Jeremy Corbyn, now leader of the British Labour Party, have gone on to bigger things. “When I was in college I interviewed everybody from the grandmaster of the Orange Order to IRA to secretary of states for Northern Ireland. Then I lived abroad for many years in post Soviet coun-

tries and I wrote about that part of the world and that delayed me from getting back to this. The advent of Brexit was the final thing that made me focused on completing it”. Eight years ago, there was no such thing as Brexit on the horizon, it was not part of the original plan but has since formed an integral aspect of the story between both countries. The final chapter has been devoted to Brexit and Donnacha told The Clare Echo about the “extremely difficult” task of staying up-to-date on the complex issue. “With the publishers

I had to ask them to keep until the very last minute a few paragraphs at the end so that when we were going to the presses and something major happened so I could update it at the end... It has been a challenge”. He added, “The issues tend to be cyclical, the issue of the border in Ireland has been at the heart of this process for over a year, previously there were things like the Divorce Bill; how much Britain would have to pay the European Union to fulfil its obligations in leaving the EU and the rights of citizens living in Europe have been sorted. "[The border] has been left to the end because it is the most difficult issue for obvious reasons. If Britain wants to leave the single market of the European Union that obviously means there has to be a border of some kind to reflect that. There is no region in the world which has two different custom regimes and doesn’t have a border. The other problem is that the British haven’t been negotiating as a united front with the European Union in many respects, the main negotiations have been within the British Government, they’re negotiating with themselves. The EU has been relatively consistent throughout despite having 27 members." In his view, Britain “is a little bit like a nation going through a mid-life crisis". What Donnacha describes as a mutually comfortable relationship with the EU is now being "thrown away in search of these mythical partnerships with other countries in different parts of the world as if they’re going to be more attractive”. The type of deal they will go for is “difficult to predict” but he’s adamant “a no deal is bad for everybody but a no deal is far worse" for the British than it is for the EU.

l PASSION FOR POLITICS: Author Donnacha Ó Beacháin pictured with fellow Newmarket on Fergus man President Michael D Higgins and (left) the cover of his book From Partition To Brexit, which is out this week

‘‘

I remember well walking with my father to Dromoland Castle from our house in 1981; I remember seeing in the newspapers every day Bobby Sands MP may die today

Covering a century of modern Irish history is no easy feat. Approaching the issue of border negotiations, O Beacháin references the Treaty of 1921. “Now it’s an immeasurably different position that Ireland is in [compared to 1921], it’s the first time ever the Irish and British have been on opposite sides of a negotiating table where the Irish are on the stronger side and that’s the reason why despite many attempts from the British Government to get around this issue by having private discussions with the Taoiseach or having individual dis-

‘‘

PÁRAIC McMAHON

cussions with member states trying to get around Michel Barnier, they haven’t been able to get their way on the border it is a red line issue for the European Union and the EU position is the Irish position”. Those that attend the launch will get to avail of a special discount on the book. It will retail for €27 but on Friday copies will be on sale for €20 or two can be purchased for €30. Described by Bertie Ahern as being “meticulously researched”, ‘From Partition to Brexit’ is sure to be cited for generations to follow.

NEWS

THURSDAY, NOV 15 2018

'Women not represented well at Cliffs' Harty says balance is not right

STUART HOLLY

editor@clareecho.ie

LARE Independent TD Michael Harty said he is disappointed with the poor representation of women on the new board of the Cliffs of Moher. Of the nine members, six are men and only three are women, one of whom is already the Director of the Visitor Experience. “At a time when women are to the fore in Irish life and are asserting their voice in the public realm as never before, the new board would have benefited greatly from the wisdom and creativity of more women members,” Dr. Harty said. “The women’s movement is more vibrant and full of confidence now than ever before. I would be the first to admit that the percentage of women in politics is not at all what it should be. However, we do have an opportunity on state and local authority controlled boards to grasp this issue and

make a positive leap forward to reflect the thinking of modern 21st century Ireland. I know the members of the new board have many personal and professional qualities but I believe the balance is not right,” he added. He also said he was disappointed that no member of the new board comes from a heritage background or appears to have expertise in geology or bird and sea life. “We must be careful not to kill the goose that lays the golden egg. An overemphasis on the commerciality of the cliffs could well lead to a situation where people will be turned off by a unique land and seascape which can’t be properly appreciated because of throngs of people. “Over the next 10 years the cliffs will have to be managed with great sensitivity and care. I know of some people who no longer use the cliff walks because it is too crowded and those who do frequently have chats with visitors who also complain about overcrowding, especially during peaks in the season,” Dr. Harty said.

A NINE member Board of Cliffs of Moher Centre Ltd has been finalised. Clare County Council has announced the appointment of new members to the Board as part of its ongoing commitment to developing the world famous tourist attraction. The new members will be involved in overseeing the policy planning and governance of the Cliffs of Moher Visitor Experience in County Clare. Entrepreneur Bobby Kerr will chair the Board, he is also Chair of Insomnia Coffee Company. Members of the Board were chosen based on their knowledge of tourism industry/product development, marketing, commercial development, finance, local government, local community and governance. Pictured left to right is the new board: Donnacha Lynch, Acting Director, Cliffs of Moher Visitor Experience; Councillor Bill Slattery; Councillor Richard Nagle; Pat Dowling, Chief Executive, Clare County Council; Bobby Kerr; Lisa Walshe; Edmund O’Connor; and Leonard Cleary, Director of Rural Development, Clare County Council. Pictured inset: Geraldine Enright, Dr. Deirdre O’Loughlin and Paul Keeley. Photo by Eamon Ward

Entertainment

ENNIS JIVE WEEKEND

Arrive & Jive November 16th-18th The Jive craze that has hit Ireland in the last few years is coming to Treacys West County, with 19 Workshops starting Friday night, all day Saturday and Sunday morning for absolute Beginners and People already able to Jive with 3 of Ireland’s Top Dance teachers Top Country star Johnny Brady is appearing Saturday,night 11pm and Stuart Moyles on Friday plus a Jive competition with €300 to winner. Come along to 1 or 2 workshops @10 per class or get a full weekend all inclusive pass for €50 (includes Dances) for walk in customers Great gift for someone special. No partner or experience required for workshops. There is also Waltzing and Quickstep plus Linedance workshops throughout the weekend with more information on Facebook -Ennis Jive Weekend or phone 0873995877 Tickets also available for Dance only on Friday €10 and Saturday with Johnny Brady €15

CONCERTS AS NATIONAL CAMPAIGN GROWS AGAINST HUGE FRACKED GAS IMPORT TERMINAL ON SHANNON ESTUARY

FREE concert in Kilrush on Friday, November 16th, and a benefit gig in Scariff on Saturday, December 1st, are part of a growing movement against Shannon LNG, a project opponents say will threaten tourism and fishing jobs, as well as “locking Ireland into fossil fuels and climate change”. The concerts follow a big turnout in September at a concert in Kilkee to oppose the terminal, planned for Ballylongford in Co Kerry – directly across the Estuary from Kilrush. A case is currently before the High Court, seeking to overturn An Bord Pleanala’s decision in July to extend planning permission for Shannon LNG. Elsewhere, Leitrim County Council and national campaigning organisation Uplift, both this week publicly backed the campaign

against Shannon LNG. Anne Marie Harrington of campaign group Futureproof Clare said: “The latest report by climate scientists, released by the UN in October, spells out in stark terms that, to avoid a global climate catastrophe, all countries need to make a rapid transition away from fossil fuels. Shannon LNG will do the exact opposite - it will lock Ireland and the EU into climate-polluting fossil fuels for decades. “Climate change is the greatest threat in human history. And Ireland is heading for billions of euro in fines for missing our EU targets for climate emissions. Leo Varadkar talks the talk about climate change. Here is an opportunity to put that into practice and show leadership, by calling a halt to Shannon LNG, protecting Ireland from climate chaos and also protecting tourism jobs.

The free concert in Kilrush Community Centre on Friday, November 16th, from 8.30pm, will feature live music from internationally acclaimed Ennis singer Laura Mulcahy; spoken word from award-winning East Clare poet Mel White; mime by West Clare duo, Astrid Adler and Rob Hopkins; and music by Doonbeg pianist Emma Karran. A short slide show will explain why Shannon LNG would be terrible news for the Shannon Estuary, Ireland and the planet; how LNG is fuelling the plastic waste crisis; and what energy alternatives are available. “singer Laura Mulcahy; spoken word from award-winning East Clare poet Mel White; mime by

West Clare duo, Astrid Adler and Rob Hopkins; and music by Doonbeg pianist Emma Karran. A short slide show will explain why Shannon LNG would be terrible news for the Shannon Estuary, Ireland and the planet; how LNG is fuelling the plastic waste crisis; and what energy alternatives are available.

ENNIS PLAYERS PRESENT THEIR ANNUAL SUPPER THEATRE

NNIS Players will host their annual Supper Theatre in the Old Ground hotel from Monday 19th to Thursday 22nd November. Supper Theatre has been an institution in Ennis for 33 years and over the years audiences have been treated to great theatre and of course the Old Ground’s renowned supper. This year promises to be a wonderful year with a perfect mix of plays, the witty comedy Interior Designs by Jim-

mie Chinn and Malachy McKenna’s award winning The Quiet Land. Featuring Joe Moran as Him, Laura O’Brien as Amy, Gillian Davis as Holly and Ethel O’Mahony as Irene, Chinn’s witty and pithy dialogue makes this a highly entertaining piece of theatre. Supper Theatre runs nightly from Nov 19th – 22nd at 8pm in the Old Ground hotel and tickets are €18, available at the door.

14 COMMUNITY

Community ENNIS AREA SOROPTIMISTS HOST COMPASSION FATIGUE TALK On Wednesday, 28th November, Soroptimists International Ennis are organizing a Compassion Fatigue talk by qualified professional Jennifer Reidy of Compassion Fatigue Ireland (CFI). The talk is for anyone who is a carer in their daily life and also for healthcare professionals, frontline staff and teachers and SNA’s. Jennifer Reidy of CFI has hands on experience as a frontline staff member, and her talk is backed up with evidence based research. The talk will provide awareness and understanding of fatigue and burnout, help identify signs and symptoms, and look at effective strategies for building resilience. Finally it will help revitalise one’s sense of purpose and meaning. This informative talk takes place in the Old Ground Hotel, Ennis on Wednesday the 28th November at 7.45 p.m. Tickets for the event cost €5 and are available in advance by contacting 0863981325 with a few tickets available at the door on the night.. STORIES FROM WWI THIS evening, on Thursday 15th November at 8pm at the Old Ground Hotel a talk on ‘Stories from WW1-- Clare Men and Women in the Great War’ will be given by Gerard Browne. Stories include that of the Armies, Regiments and Corps that Clare men fought with in World War 1, the battles and events they died in, those who became POWs, those who had shell shock, some brothers who died, those shot at dawn, Clare politicians in WW1, Clare men court-martialled, and the awards and medals won by Clare men and women. The event will also recognise Clare people who participated in WW2.

COMMUNITY GAMES COMMINTY GAMES AGM REVIEW The St Francis Credit Union Clare Community Games was held on Tuesday 6th November in Treacy’s West County Hotel. The attendance was disappointing with only 13 of the 33 areas represented. President Cecilia O’Sullivan welcomed the delegates, County Executive and the National Director. She thanked all those who devoted many hours to the organisation over the past year. Her wish is that Community Games will grow and prosper and continue its task of nurturing sport and recreation amongst our young people. The Chairman John Wall welcomed everyone especially Tony Lee National Director. He thanked the Co-Executive, volunteers and most of all the participants who combine to make the Banner county one of the best in Ireland. He said some areas are fighting to survive and need help. The Secretary Mary Loughnane gave a very detailed report on all the activities at county, Munster & National level during the year. Five areas from Clare participated in the Steps To Health this year with both Ballynacally/ Lissycasey and Quin/Clooney getting Gold. They will receive €200, 315 points in area awards. Silver was achieved by Doora/ Barefield and Lisdoonvarna/Doolin/Kilfenora/Kilshanny they will get €100, 150pts. Tulla received Bronze will get €50 and 75pts. All five will have free affiliation for 2019. Over the two National Finals weekends Clare brought home 269 medals, 81 Gold, 57 Silver, 83 Bronze & 48 4th place medals. At the All Star Awards on October 19th 76 children from 24 areas received awards. The National Area and Volunteer Awards will be held on 1st De-

CONTACT NEWSDESK

065 671 9021 news@clareecho.ie

GORT

l THIRSTY WORK: The Scouts of troop 17 enjoying a hot chocolate and muffin courtesy of Centra in Gort after planting 1,000 daffodils along the proposed new River walk for Gort. Pictured are Frida, Dara and Enda Arcos Stephens and Milo McLoughlin Photo by Karen O’Neill

cember in Cavan. Clare will be represented by Doora/Barefield in large area, Feakle in small area, Brendan Cusack Adult volunteer and Mark Nestor Youth volunteer. Mary Thanked all the volunteers and participants for their contribution to Community Games. The Treasurer Charleen Dillon gave a very detailed account on all the Income and Expenditure of the past year. She thanked St Francis Credit Union and Clare County Council for their sponsorship and all our advertisers for their support.

NORTH/WEST CLARE CHORAL SOCIETY REHEARSAL Ennistymon Choral Society will start rehearsals on Monday 19th November at 7.30pm in the CBS, Ennistymon for their 2019 production of the musical Sister Act (taking place 1st - 5th May 2019). New members always welcome. Join your community. For further info - email ennistymonchoralsociety@gmail.com or find us on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.

THURSDAY, NOV 15 2018

l SNAP HAPPY: BA (Hons) in Fine Art Photography and Lens Based Media graduate, Mark Howard (right), Ennis with dad Brendan and Limerick School of Art & Design Dean Mike Fitzpatrick Photo by Alan Place

FEATURE 15

THURSDAY, NOV 15 2018

County is ‘indebted’ to retiring Chief Supt Kerin PÁRAIC

McMAHON

news@clareecho.ie

N A WEEK where a documentary on whistleblower, Maurice McCabe cast a dark shadow on An Garda Síochána, one member of the force has been hailed for his service to Co Clare. On Monday, a mayoral reception was held for Chief Superintendent John Kerin ahead of his upcoming retirement. Warm tributes were paid by elected members of Clare County Council to Kerin in front of his family, friends and colleagues. Welcoming Kerin to the Chamber, Cathaoirleach Michael Begley said, “His role as Chief Superintendent bears huge responsibility but John is not one to shirk from a challenge. He has invested a lot into his community, JPC, charities, fundraising efforts for Clare hurling, he is a community leader in every sense of the word. Above all I know you’re a family man, this county will always be indebted to you.” Cllr Ann Norton commented, “If we did have an issue, you were always available. As a person you’ve always been extremely approachable. I will miss the fact that you’re no longer in the station.” She advised him to “be careful on the bike” as he devotes more time to cycling on the roads of Clare. Her words were reiterated by

Cllr Paul Murphy, “Key to enjoying life is spending time with family. If you couldn’t answer the phone, you replied fairly quickly. I look forward to seeing you out on the bike”. Independent Cllr Gerry Flynn added, “You have been a great servant to the county, furthermore you have survived.” Cllr PJ Ryan recalled his two years working on the Joint Policing Committee with John, “He has common sense in abundance, a sense of humour, he always sees policing through a community perspective which is very important. In the future we’re going to miss him in Clare.” Fine Gael’s Mary Howard labelled John “the voice of reason”, adding “I’m going to miss you so much”. Fianna Fáil’s Clare Colleran Molloy stated he “had a fabulous career” while Cllr John Crowe said Kerin was “one of the most genuine people I have ever met, a real team player and a true Clare man”. “You have kept the people of Clare safe under your watch. Politics is always open after retirement, you would never know where you would end up” remarked Cllr Tom McNamara. Responding to the suggestion, Council CEO Pat Dowling joked “A small bit of advice, stay away from politics, I couldn’t stand sitting here looking at you. There is no doubt you will be missed in Clare”. Cllr Pat McMahon noted “It is highly unusual that the Chief of Police is so popular.”

Praise also came from Cllr James Breen, Cllr Christy Curtin, Cllr PJ Kelly, Cllr Gabriel Keating, Sinn Féin’s Mike McKee and Senator Martin Conway who also applauded the Belharbour native. Addressing the Chamber, John Kerin said, “I’m truly humbled and honoured with the reception and kind words that have been spoken which is truth that politicians can speak untruths. It is time for change, there is a new voice required in the dressing room, I have been around for 41 years, in Clare for 17 years”. In February 2010, he took on the role and it is a move he very much is thankful he made. “I never looked to come back to Clare, I was always happy where I was, the opportunity came up and I grasped it, it was the best thing I ever did.” Since joining the force in 1972, John was worked under 22 Garda Commissioners. Reflecting on his time in Clare, he spoke of his pride at seeing the rates of crime drop but he stressed that this was achieved by the entire Garda force throughout the county. He is worried about the lack of community involvement by Gardaí today as they are no longer live in the areas in which they work, “I was very anxious that as many guards as possible got involved in the community, it is sad to see so many Gardaí travel long distances to work from Galway and other places, it is a fact of life now that

lMAYORAL RECEPTION: Retiring Chief Supt Kerin was honoured at Clare Co Council HQ ahead of his retirement Photo by John Mangan

people commute”. Growing up he never expected to have the role in which he will soon retire from. “As a youngster coming to Ennis selling potatoes on a Saturday morning, I never thought I would end up as Chief Superintendent, my mother said the only reason I studied was to get away from picking potatoes. I’ve been really lucky throughout my life, lucky that I was born and reared in the Burren, I consider the people up there as the finest people God has put on this earth, I’m blessed with my friends and

blessed with my family”. He thanked his wife Joan for standing by him “through thick and thin” and moving with him wherever he was assigned whether it was Mallow, Clonmel, Templemore, Kerry or Limerick. “No matter where I have gone she has followed, if I had my life all over again I don’t think I’d have moved as much”. John said he intends to stay in Co Clare and hopes to have a healthy retirement. When he concluded, he received a standing ovation from all gathered at Áras Contae an Chláir.

16 THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK

THURSDAY, NOV 15 2018

Ronan Scully

THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK Author spreading the word of positivity

IN EVERYTHING GIVE THANKS

LBERT EINSTEIN once said: “There are only two ways to live your life, one is as though nothing is a miracle, the other is as if everything is.” Perhaps one of the greatest genius of the previous century, Einstein expressed so eloquently a life philosophy predicated upon gratitude and thankfulness. Great power comes into our lives when we choose to live with thankfulness and gratitude in our life. Gratitude means thankfulness, counting your blessings, noticing simple pleasures, and acknowledging everything that you receive. It means learning to live your life as if everything were a miracle, and being aware on a continuous basis of how much you’ve been given. Gratitude shifts your focus from what your life lacks to the abundance that is already present. Giving thanks makes people happier and more resilient, it strengthens relationships, it improves health, and it reduces stress. I am so thankful for all the wonderful people who allow me to share my life with them such as my family, my friends, my colleagues and people who help me with my charity work and many of whom have become friends. I am extremely thankful for the privilege of having all of you in my life. So rather than being resentful and worrying about what I don’t have or what I think I should have more of, join me and let’s focus on all the wonderful things we do have, especially our relationships with the people who enrich our lives every day! When we view our relationships and our life through the eyes of gratitude and thankfulness, our inner world becomes a place of peace, joy, happiness and tranquility and it then radiates out from our very core and influences our external reality. Gratitude and thankfulness provides a mindset that allows us to see the good in the people who make up our lives and this vision extends to the world at large. Thankfulness puts us in a place where we truly want to give back to the world for all we have and it injects

positive feelings into our relationships and allows them to expand from a place of love and abundance. In life, you will meet many people along the way. Each person who touches our life brings a gift. Some will touch you more than others, but each person comes into your life for a reason. Many times we don’t exactly know why. This person could be a teacher, a parent, a spouse, a sibling, a friend or a stranger. Maybe this person listens when we need to talk or cry. Maybe they help us financially when we are broke. Maybe they talk to us, when we need a different perspective. Maybe they hold us when we don’t deserve it. Maybe they sit with us when our grief is too much to bear alone. We all need to give something back to this world of ours that will help others along their paths. I think we all need to be more thankful. As this year comes to a close, stop, think, and remember all of the people who have crossed your paths and be thankful for them. Say it out loud, say it in silence, but say it. A thankful heart is one of the best things a person can develop. It turns situations around. When we are thankful for what we have, more will come. We reap what we sow, when we are appreciative, others will also appreciate us. Thankfulness is contagious. It creates an atmosphere that is more positive and makes you a more likable and pleasant person to be around. So if you’re feeling low, like things never seem to go your way, get up and say thank-you, search for things to be thankful for. Even when something bad happens you can find something to be grateful for, whether it is a lesson that you learned from the experience, or someone you met because of it. Learn to thank God, thank others, thank yourself, be thankful and learn to develop a thankful heart. As usual a story from my beautiful Nana Scully might provide further thought. Thought for the week

As your thought for the week, pray and try to become oriented toward looking

for things to be grateful and thankful for. You will find that if you do, you will begin to appreciate simple pleasures and things that you previously took for granted. Thanksgiving should not be just a reaction to getting what you want, but an all the time thankful attitude, the kind where you notice the little things and where you constantly look for the good even in unpleasant situations. Today, start bringing gratitude to your experiences, instead of waiting for a positive experience in order to feel grateful; in this way, you’ll be on your way toward becoming a person that knows real gratitude. “The Art of Thanksgiving” by Albert Schweitzers is a good philosophy to help us with our own living and it goes as follows. “It is thanking God for the gift of life by living it triumphantly. It is thanking God for your talents and abilities by accepting them as obligations to be invested for the common good. It is thanking God for all that men and women have done for you by doing things for others. It is thanking God for opportunities by accepting them as a challenge to achievement. It is thanking God for happiness by striving to make others happy. It is thanking God for beauty by helping to make the world more beautiful. It is thanking God for inspiration by trying to be an inspiration to others. It is thanking God for health and strength by the care and reverence you show your body. It is thanking God for the creative ideas that enrich life by adding your own creative contributions to human progress. It is thanking God for each new day by living it to the fullest. It is thanking God by giving hands, arms, legs, and voice to your thankful spirit. It is adding to your prayers of thanksgiving, acts of thanksgiving. Be thankful that you don’t already have everything you desire. If you did, what would there be to look forward to? Be thankful when you don’t know something, for it gives you the opportunity to

learn. Be thankful for the difficult times. During those times you grow. Be thankful for your limitations, because they give you opportunities for improvement. Be thankful for each new challenge, because it will build your strength and character. Be thankful for your mistakes. They will teach you valuable lessons. Be thankful when you’re tired and weary, because it means you’ve made a difference. It’s easy to be thankful for the good things. A life of rich fulfillment comes to those who are also thankful for the setbacks. Gratitude can turn a negative into a positive. Find a way to be thankful for your troubles, and they too can become your blessings.” Happy Thanksgiving everyone especially to my American friends and relations and thank you most sincerely to those of you who read this column for your kind compliments during the year about my thoughts and reflections. Happy Thanksgiving to all my American family and friends and relations and to everyone and remember when Life get’s sour, sweeten it with Thanksgiving!!

Motoring MOTORING EXPERT NEIL BRISCOE GIVES HIS VIEWS

lELECTRIC DREAM: Is it the electric car to break the barrier between where we are now, and the all-electric future? Maybe, yes

TAKE A LEAF OUT OF NISSAN’S BOOK

ROAD TEST: NISSAN LEAF 40KWH O, AT some point, electric cars are going to stop being electric cars and are going to become, just… cars. They’re going to stop being noteworthy for the way in which they are fuelled and powered, and are going to become notable for being simply good, bad, or indifferent. For lack of a better word, they’re going to become normal. The cars that we drive every day. To work. To school and back. To the shops. Even on holiday. That day just came an awful lot closer, with the launch of the new Nissan Leaf in Ireland. I mean, just look at it — it looks like (and basically is, in spite of the batteries) a totally normal car. In fact, there’s more than a passing resemblance between it and Nissan’s so-normal-it-hurts Pulsar. It’s only when you get up close to it that you start to see the clever surfacing and design tweaks that give it some seriously impressive aerodynamics. Those aerodynamics have a serious benefit, too, as we shall shortly see. Under all the stylistic normalness, the new Leaf retains much of the platform and battery setup of the old model. The batteries are all mounted down low, sitting under the floor effectively, which is good as they’re heavy and you want to keep the weight down low. Incidentally, anyone worried about professional village idiot Michael Healy-Rae’s recent comments about electric cars grinding to a halt every

time they hit a puddle need not worry — in fact, because electric cars need neither air intake nor exhaust, they’re actually better than conventional cars at dealing with floods. This new Leaf is also better at dealing with more normal driving conditions than its predecessor. The electric motor, which drives the front wheels, has been upgraded to 150hp, and there’s 320Nm of torque on offer — about what you’d expect from a good 2.0-litre diesel. With all of the torque delivered instantly, from 1rpm of the electric motor, step-off performance is more than brisk, although you do have to get used to the fact that electric motors, inversely to petrol or diesel engines, actually deliver less power the harder you press them. It’s an effect less pronounced than it was in the old Leaf, but you anyway soon learn to surf the torque wave and can make very brisk progress with the new Leaf. You can even get some hooligan-style wheelspin coming out of tight corners, although local residents will appear very confused at the sound of tortured tyres with no overlying soundtrack of high-revving boy-racer engines. Ah, but what about range? Well, actually, it just doesn’t seem to be a major problem anymore. OK, you will have to plan your journeys a little more carefully if you’re stretching the Leaf ’s maximum battery abilities, but according to the new, tougher WLTP economy and emissions test, the

Leaf should be able to put around 270km between charge-ups, and so it proves. Testing the car in and around city streets, main roads, motorways, and even back-country mountain roads, we were seeing an effective range of between 220km and 250km. Even with the wheelspin. Drive it gently and you should go even further than that. That’s not the best bit though. Is the cabin the best bit? No — although it is a big improvement on the outgoing Leaf ’s interior. Space is about the same (and there’s a practical 435-litre boot), but the seats are comfier (even if the driving position is a little spoiled by the lack of reach-adjustable steering) and the new mixed digital/analogue instruments are nice. No, what’s really good about the new Leaf, what makes it feel really special, is the silence. That clever aerodynamic sculpting of the body has quelled wind noise to the point where it’s almost entirely absent, and if the cabin looks plain then at least the Nissan engineers have been through it and silenced every single squeak, rattle, and clunk. It’s amazingly quiet in here, at almost any speed, and it’s that silence that makes the Leaf feel really special. It’s even pretty good to drive, with sharper steering and better handling balance than before. Meanwhile, the new e-Pedal (which means that when you lift off the accelerator, the car triggers maximum regenerative braking, using the electric motor to both slow the car and return some juice to the battery. By using a well-judged mix of both

FACTS & FIGURES:

Model tested Nissan Leaf 40kWh Pricing: From €26,290 Engine: 110kW electric motor Transmission: single reduction gear automatic Body style: five-door hatchback CO2 emissions: 0g/km (Band A0, €120 per annum) Claimed range: 270km (on new WLTP test cycle) Top speed: 144km/h 0-100km/h: 7.9 seconds Power: 150hp at 3,283 to 9,795rpm Torque: 320Nm at 1rpm Boot space: 435-litres EuroNCAP rating: Not yet tested

regeneration and physical brakes, it can slow you down at up to 0.2G of deceleration (so feels like firm-but-gentle braking) and can even come to a complete stop, and hold the car on a hill, without ever touching the actual brake pedal) makes the Leaf feel especially effortless. Is it the electric car to break the barrier between where we are now, and the all-electric future? Maybe, yes. It probably now depends more on the public charging network, and how that is now invested in and developed, but the new Leaf demonstrates that the most dramatic thing an electric car can do is to feel… normal.

YOUR NEW BABY IS READY FOR DELIVERY. ŠKODA KODIAQ available now from €379 per month.

Introducing the New KODIAQ, it’s not only ŠKODA’s largest SUV but it’s first car with 7 seats. It delivers on ŠKODA’s usual qualities of practicality, thoughtful design, as well as innovative connectivity solutions that are sure to make family life that little bit sweeter. Available now with 2.9% finance.

Al Hayes ŠKODA, Gort Road, Ennis, Co. Clare. Tel: 065 6822400 • www.alhayesskoda.ie Typical Example: KODIAQ 7 Seater 1.5 TSI 150 BHP Active OTRP €32,950. Deposit €10,123.28. 36 monthly payments of €329 including service plan of €12.99 per month. Optional final Payment of €12,880. Total hire purchase price €34,529.64. APR 2.9%. Total cost of credit €1,579.64. Minimum deposit is 10%. Subject to lending criteria. This oﬀer is made under a hire purchase agreement. Volkswagen Bank GMBH branch Ireland is authorised by the federal financial Supervisory authority (BaFIN) in Germany and is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland for conduct of business rules. Oﬀer available on all orders taken between 15th October to 30th November 2018 & registered before 31st January 2019. Picture for illustrative purposes only. Price includes delivery and related charges. CO2 from 163-129g/km. Combined fuel consumption from 8.5-4.5 l/100km.

MOTORING 21

THURSDAY, NOV 15 2018

SPECIAL OFFERS FOR 191 RENAULTS

RENAULT OFFERING 1.91 INTEREST FINANCE FOR JANUARY ORDERS

earing up for 191, Renault Group has announced its highly competitive offers across Renault cars, LCV and Dacia, available on all orders taken and registered before 31st January 2019. These complete offers are designed to deliver real value by lowering the cost of vehicle ownership and providing real savings to customers. On the ever-popular Renault KADJAR, customers can avail of savings of over €4,000 with a complete package with 1.91 per cent APR PCP or HP finance, €1,000 cashback and three years’ servicing. All other models (Clio, Captur, Megane Hatch, Megane Sport Tourer, Megane Grand Coupé, Scenic, Grand Scénic and Koleos) will come with a complete offer of 1.91 per cent APR PCP or HP finance, €750 cashback and three years’ servicing. If you’re planning on going electric in 2019, the zero-emissions Renault ZOE Z.E. 40, the only long-range EV on the market under €25,000, will offer zero per cent APR and 0 per cent BIK as standard for 191 making the switch to a zero emission vehicle even more attractive.

ALL-NEW 2019 MODEL

COROLLA

The shockingly affordable Dacia brand is offering 4.9 per cent APR across its no-nonsense range for 191, which includes the recently launched and more rugged and robust All-New Dacia Duster which customers can get their hands on from €149 a month. On Renault’s range of awarding winning vans Master, Trafic and Kangoo 3 per cent APR HP finance offer is available, complete with 5 years’ warranty and 5 years’ roadside assistance up to 31st January 2019 191 offers are available through Renault’s own bank, Renault Bank, offering customers lower interest rates and further savings versus high street commercial banks. A Renault Bank branch is available in all 26 Renault dealerships. For electric vehicle drivers, Renault has announced some exciting changes to the

ALL-NEW 2019 MODEL

HATCHBACK

RAV4

HYBRID

HYBRID EVENT

GREAT 191 OFFERS | NOVEMBER 8 TH-30 TH ALL-NEW 2019 MODEL

COROLLA

TOURING SPORT

ALL-NEW 2019 MODEL

ZOE line-up, with the Z.E. 40 long-range battery now standard across the range, starting at just €24,990 for the Expression R90, with R-Link navigation and heat pump climate control as standard. Dynamique and Signature versions now

feature a new R110 motor giving acceleration that leaves most petrol and diesel cars for dust! ZOE is also available at dealership for a 24-hour test drive. The stylish and ever popular Clio has been updated for 2019 with an all-turbo engine range. The 0.9 TCe engine comes in 75hp and 90hp formats, offering a big improvement in TOYOTA C-HR performance, fuel consumption and road tax compared to the previous 1.2 16V engine. Clio prices start from just €16,390. Captur remains a style icon among small SUVs and for 2019 and features a new line-up of trim levels. Renault is committed to making customers’ lives easier, and the equipment levels on Captur’s Play, Iconic and GT Line versions embody that commitment. Captur is powered by a range of efficient petrol and diesel engines, the 0.9 TCe 90 and 1.5 dCi 90. No matter which version you choose, your Join us for your chance to pre-order from our Captur comes with alloy wheels, exciting range of next generation hybrids at air conditioning and Bluetooth the Hybrid Now Event, November 8th-30th. connectivity, while the range still starts at just €20,290. UPGRADE IN TRADE IN For 2019, Megane’s 1.5 dCi Years HYBRID BOOSTER diesel engine is uprated to 115hp worth up to FOR LESS Servicing with Finance* and Renault has also introduced €3,000 a remarkable new 1.3 TCe petrol engine, producing 140hp in most variants. These new engines are CAMRY YARIS HYBRID HYBRID available across the range of Megane Hatch, Sport Tourer and Grand Coupé bodystyles. The Megane’s exhilarating performance is complemented by an exceptional level of equipment on the new Play, Iconic and GT Line trim levels. For 2019, the Megane range begins at €22,140.

DEALERSHIP NAME | ADDRESS LINE 1 | TELEPHONE *Upgrade to Hybrid for Less based on difference between monthly cost of Hybrid and Petrol models when financed via 3 year PCP by Toyota Financial Services Ireland DAC. Upgrade from model RAV4 Hybrid Aura. On the road price €36,700. Deposit €7,700. Finance Advance €29,000. 36 monthly payments of €457.65. Total Cost of Credit €3,757.38. GMFV €16,155. Fixed APR 5.5%**. Upgrade to model RAV4 Hybrid Luna. On the road price €38,390. Deposit €7,700. Finance Advance €30,690. 36 monthly payments of €457.57. Total Cost of Credit €2,824.50. GMFV €16,915. Fixed APR 3.9%**. †Includes delivery & related charges. Models are shown for illustrative purposes only. ††GMFV payable if you renew or retain the vehicle at the end of the agreement. Further charges may apply subject to kilometre limits/condition of vehicle. **Lending criteria, terms and conditions apply. Finance by way of PCP agreement provided by Toyota Financial Services Ireland DAC. Finance examples are based on fixed APR rates of 5.5% and 3.9% and are inclusive of a documentation fee and purchase fee of €63.49 each. Minimum deposit of 7% and maximum term of 37 months applies. Rates quoted are correct as at 18.10.18 and are subject to change. This offer is available on all new RAV4 Hybrid models registered/purchased from 01.11.18 to 31.03.19.

MOTORING

THURSDAY, NOV 15 2018

SEVEN YEAR WARRANTY FOR 191-REG FORDS INNOV8 CAMPAIGN KICKS OFF FOR FORD’S JANUARY REGISTRATIONS

S the 191 January new car market draws near, Ford has announced an exciting range of offers to woo customers during the busy new car registration sales period. Under the banner of Ford Innov8, the deals on some of Ireland’s best-selling cars, include the extra peace of mind of a seven year warranty; seven years’ roadside assistance and two years’ free servicing. Ford says that its Innov8 campaign “is underpinned by a manifesto of eight principles: Driving better

value; Smarter technology to reinvent the way we drive; Going further to make our vehicles and services better; Designed for drivers; One-stop flexible financing across the entire range; Class-leading roadside assistance & warranty assurance; Ireland’s largest dealer network; We are committed to moving Ireland for the next 100 years.” “The objective of our Ford Innov8 campaign is to bring better value to motorists who are in the market for a new car and to provide the car packed

lINNOV8-IVE CAMPAIGN: Ford aim to bring better value to motorists

NO CEED OF DOUBT

with the latest smart technologies”, said Ciarán McMahon, Chairman and Managing Director of Ford Ireland. “Highlighting Ford’s great after sales service, the Ford Innov8 benefits don’t stop when the customer leaves the showroom with the car. On the majority of our range, customers can avail of a seven year warranty and seven years roadside assistance and no vehicle servicing costs for the first two years”. Some of the Ford Innov8 deals include: A new Ford Focus Zetec priced from €22,495 with a range of new technologies including Pre-Collision Assist including vehicles, pedestrians and cyclists – assisting the driver to avoid an imminent collision; SYNC3 - the latest version of Ford’s cutting-edge interactive entertainment and communications technology – with 6.5-inch screen with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay; Cruise Control with lane keeping aid; and electronic parking brake.

Or, a Ford EcoSport Titanium, priced from €23,495 with Ford SYNC 3 Navigation with eight-inch touchscreen, DAB Radio, Emergency Assistance, Apple CarPlay Android Auto, Embedded Modem; Cruise Control with speed limiter; and rear parking sensors with rear view camera. Or what about a Kuga Titanium+ priced from €28,399 with SYNC 3 with eight-inch touchscreen DAB audio system with enhanced voice control and Emergency Assistance; and Automatic halogen headlights with LED day time running lights “These are just some of the great offers in our Ford Innov8 campaign. The offers extend across the range including great offers on our ST-Line range of models, really eye-catching cars matched with efficient powerful engines that are proving very popular with buyers. Our advice to anyone in the market for a new car in January is to check in with your local Ford dealer to avail of these great

HE Kia Ceed SW has, for a long time, been the best-selling small estate car in Ireland. Sadly, that’s not quite the boast that it might be in other countries as Irish car buyers, for whatever reason, tend to give estates a swerve. We’ve fallen head-over-heels in love with SUVs, right enough, but the estate car still seems to leave us cold. Still, that hasn’t stopped Kia effectively launching two new estate versions of the new Ceed. The Proceed, which ditches its three-door coupe layout in favour of a sleek quasi-estate body (think Mercedes CLA Shooting Brake but way more affordable) arrives later this year, but right now we’ve got the new Ceed SW, the bigger, more practical stretched Ceed. How practical? Very — that boot, when you load it to the windowline, measures a full 600-litres, which gives the Ceed SW the second-biggest boot in the class, beaten only by the Skoda Octavia Combi, and then only by handful of litres. 600-litres is, of course, something of an academic figure. What does it really mean in human terms? Well, let’s take a look. You swing the tailgate of the new Ceed SW up by hand, not with a more fashionable (but also expensive and heavy) electric mechanism. That’s fine, as the ‘gate is well-balanced on its gas struts and feels light. The retractable luggage cover can be, if you need to, removed and stowed under the boot floor, and with a little practice, that’s an operation you can actually carry out with one hand. You’re then presented with a 600-litre cube of space (or more if you’re prepared to load above the windowline) which can swallow essentially everything you need.

NEW HYUNDAI i20 IS HIGHLY SOPHISTICATED

HE Hyundai 191 range is arriving, and with it the new i20. Proudly featuring a bold new design for a sharper look, the New i20 embodies the sensuous sportiness which distinguishes the latest family of Hyundai cars. Smarter and safer with a wide range of advanced safety equipment, it offers sophisticated technologies and seamless connectivity. The front now features a boldly sculpted bumper and Hyundai’s signature Cascading Grille. The fog lights have been redesigned as well, tucked in next to the muscular air intakes, which have been designed for improve aerodynamic efficiency. With a wide range of bold body colours and a twotone roof, the New i20 can be personalised to meet every kind of style. The New i20 provides seamless connectivity. The new 7” touch screen Display Audio mirrors contents of the user’s smartphone thanks to Apple CarPlay™ and Android Auto™. A 7” integrated navigation system including these features is also available. LKA (lane keeping assist) provides steering intervention to assist the vehicle to stay in the centre of the lane. When the vehicle strays from the intended lane without indicators being activated, an audible and visual warning will be sounded. If the driver doesn’t react, then the system induces corrective steering to guide the vehicle back to a safe position.

From € 16,495+ or €182* per month

As the father of two growing boys, I personally take great joy in driving a car like this, into which all of the things that they need and want for a long journey can now be flung, without having to play Luggage Tetris when trying to squeeze everything in. Nowadays it’s backpacks, jackets, and shoes that seem to double as canoes, so big have they become. The Ceed swallows it all, and pretty effortlessly too. That’s the joy of a good estate car, and it’s worth noting that the Kia Sportage SUV, also updated and also on sale now, has to give away 125-litres of boot space to the smaller, more affordable Ceed. OK, so space in the back seat isn’t quite as good as that of the Sportage — in fact, it feels a touch tight by the standards of class, but it is at least adequate. Up front, things are much better. The Ceed has excellent front seats (supportive, but not pinchy, and with just the right amount of give) and a nicely laid-out dashboard. It’s not, perhaps, the most inspiring interior around at the moment, but it does get the basics right. The central touchscreen is simple and easy to use, and you won’t lament the fact that it’s a bit graphically simple, because you’ll just hook up your phone and use Apple CarPlay or Android Auto and ignore Kia’s home-grown software. Some of the plastics are a bit cheap, but things like the stitched leather on top of the dash look and feel nice, and give the Ceed’s interior a bit of a lift. To drive? Well, it’s neither as sharp nor as incisive as the new Ford Focus (nor even the old Ford Focus for that matter) but it’s not bad at all.

COLUMNIST 25

THURSDAY, NOV 15 2018

Jodie Finlay

lSTRUGGLING: My hair is something I really struggle with

JODIE'S HOUSE OF BEAUTY

TOP HAIR TOOLS & TREATMENTS M Y hair is something I really struggle with. For years I had really long thick hair that would look great on a night out but was too much to manage every day. Heated rollers were the easiest for me to use and had the best result by far – big bouncy curls with minimal damage. I never got the hang of GHD curls. Curling wands I could manage just not at the back of my head. I found with the heated rollers even if I applied them in uneven sections the result was still perfect. In April of this year I gave the cocochoco treatment a try and I haven’t looked back since!

HEATED ROLLERS

I have only ever tried the BaByliss ones and swear by them! The results are as good as a curly blowdry. I am the type of person who can’t straighten the back of my own head but I can manage these no problem! Everyone should give these a go! Sets cost approx 60€ but prices vary depending on how big a set is needed. I noticed little to no damage in my hair after using these at weekends compared to the effects of a curling iron or hair straightener.

COCOCHOCO HAIR STRAIGHTENING TREATMENT

This treatment involves the application of keratin which is the main protein found in hair, skin, and nails to improve your hairs texture, elasticity, and condition. A side effect of this treatment is that your hairs curl/ frizz is greatly reduced. I had very curly hair and it is now completely straight with a quick blow dry! The time spent blow-drying my hair has been cut from 45 mins to 15 mins and I have no need for a straightener. This treatment has saved me so much time in the mornings. It is effortless to look presentable before work in minutes! Before getting this treatment, my hair was such a chore that I dreaded. Curls are gorgeous, but I would rather straight sleek hair within minutes than curly hair which when left natural takes hours to dry and is still somewhat frizzy and untidy. I can’t recommend this treatment enough. If I feel like having my curls back, I leave it dry natural. I find my curl a lot less frizzy and more tamed since the treatment. This treatment is free from formaldehyde and ammonia, therefore, it does no damage to your hair. I have had two treatments this year and my hair is in perfect condition, especially because there is no need for a straightener anymore.

UNIQUE HAIR TREATMENT BY REVLON PROFESSIONAL

When my hair was really long it was next to impossible to brush and it tangled so easy! This spray with 10 benefits was the only spray that worked to untangle my hair. It comes in a 150ml spray bottle and is approximately 15€. Well worth it! It lasts ages too. Very little is needed at one time. It also provides heat and colour protection, controls frizz, and helps to repair dry damaged hair.

WETBRUSH DETANGLER

Since finding this hair brush it has been noticed that I do not scream anymore when brushing my hair. So, it must be good! With such a sensitive scalp and hair that tangles so easy a gentle brush is a must for me. I recommend these for children too.

26 BUSINESS

THURSDAY, NOV 15 2018

BUSINESS

Wonderful Willow is Ireland’s best ENNIS fashion boutique Willow has been announced as the winner of the 2018 National Retail Excellence Awards. Over 500 Retailers gathered in Killarney to witness as Willow, run by Ennis businesswoman Jean McCabe, was crowned National Store of the Year 2019 while two other Clare establishments were in the top 5. Retail Excellence, the largest Retail representative body in Ireland, has announced the winners of their annual Awards held in the Great Southern Hotel, Killarney on Saturday, November 10. The Awards, which are backed by AIB Merchant Services, were presented by energetic TV personality Hector Ó hEochagáin and attended by more than 500 Irish retail industry executives. Top5 Store Winners included Willow in Ennis, who took the National Store of the Year 2019, Mellerick’s Pharmacy, Fermoy, Bambino’s children’s store, Ennis, Shannon Airport Duty Free, Shannon, and

Fresh The Good Food Market, Grand Canal Square, Dublin. Group CEO of Retail Excellence David Fitzsimons said “We are delighted to recognize and award the very best in Irish retail all of whom have shown an unquestionable commitment to meeting and exceeding customer expectations as well as innovation in store and in-service delivery. We are particularly pleased that across all of our categories of awards Irish retailers, both big and small, urban and rural competed to deliver that exceptional standard of service to customers regardless of their size.’ “We look forward to working with the finalists, entrants and members into the future to assist in their endeavours and continue driving standards in Irish retail.” “Congratulations to all the winners. These retailers represent the best in retail industry in Ireland. AIB Merchant Services are proud to partner with Retail Excellence Ireland on such a prestigious event.”

Top wedding awards for Inn At Dromoland THE Brides of Limerick Wedding awards 2018 were held on Sunday at The Inn at Dromoland. Over 200 people from the local wedding industry attended this lavish annual event, which serves to recognise the best of the best within their field. From Wedding Planners to Hairdressers and Photographers to Wedding Venues, the cream of the crop were awarded for their achievements in the last 12 months. The Inn at Dromoland have invested significantly in their wedding product over the last few years and launched their new wedding brochure last month. They were delighted to pick up two awards on the night – Most Stylish Wedding Venue 2018 and Claire Coughlan picked up the most coveted award – Wedding Co-Ordinator of the Year, in recognition of all the hard work her and her team put into all of the weddings at The Inn at Dromoland. To book a wedding consultation with Claire, please contact 061 368161.

l WEDDY, LET’S GO: Pictured above is Inn At Dromoland Wedding Planner Claire Coughlan with her award alongside Inn At Dromolan sales and marketing manager Tom Shanahan

Making strides with Emu R

CARMODY shoes are making strides as the only supplier of the Emu shoe brand in Co

l PROOF IS IN THE PUDDING: R Carmody director Maria Carmody with Emu brand consultant Ellie Hughes who did a waterproof demonstration at the Ennis store and (inset) the slipper range only available at R Carmody Shoes

Clare. This week Emu brand consultant Ellie Hughes, who covers the UK and Ireland, visited the Ennis store to speak to customers about the brand and to put on a waterproof demonstration. The Emu brand is proud of its statue of having 95 per cent of their range fully waterproofed. Speaking to The Clare Echo, Ellie who regularly visits R Carmody, said, “We’re doing an in-store event on how the demonstrations show the boots are waterproof. “We’ve got a water tank so we’ll be putting the boots in the water tank showing the water bouncing off the boots and run through the waterproof technology. Where and how the boots were made, along with the slippers and accessories etc.” Ellie also explained that Emu has a very accessible pricepoint despite the high-quality leath-

er and wool used in the product, while the spillers range is becoming very popular as a Christmas gift. She added that the Emu boots mix style and practicality to allow use whether you’re walking the dog or going out for a meal. “They go up to about €200 depending on styles, while the slippers come in at €59 which are really good gift options.” R Carmody director Maria Carmod says that Emu has become very popular in the last number of years. “If you’re looking for something that’s good leather, that’s soft but also waterproof is a big thing. There’s a big range. “It’s also the therapeutic value of the wool.”

For information on Emu boots or slippers, call into R Carmody at Bank Place, Ennis or call Maria on (065) 682 1688.

BUSINESS 27

THURSDAY, NOV 15 2018

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

Home Gallery in festive spirits lCHRISTMAS GALLERY: Home Gallery staff members Evan Hennessy, director Des Curley, Ester Woods and Brian Alfred; (below) Simone Marcinauskyce alonsgside some impressive decorations at the store

THE Staff at Home Gallery, including director Des Curley, were in festive spirit last Friday as they welcomed the public to a customer evening at their store on the Kilrush Road, Ennis. Customers availed of a ‘20 per cent off Christmas stock’ sale at the stunning furniture store that lasted the weekend.Pictured above enjoying the wares on disply are Lauren, Chloe and Jessica McNamara while (below) waiting at the checkout were Martina Lynch, Melissa Malone and Sharon Kierce All photos by Martin Connolly

lCOUNTER TALK: Ruairi Brennan and Colm O’Neill having a friendly chat at Midwest’s open day Photo by Martin Connolly

Beautiful homes all over the County UNLOCK YOUR DREAM

Property

A-rated bungalows in Clarecastle

FITZGIBBON Contractors Ltd. have been building new homes in Creggaun na Hilla, Clarecastle for the past three years and are delighted to be handing over keys to the 100th family this week. Creggaun na Hilla is a well located, quality new development of spacious detached and semi-detached homes by M. Fitzgibbon Contractors Ltd. in the centre of the village of Clarecastle approximately two miles from Ennis town. Clarecastle which recently won an endeavour award in the tidy towns is a popular location for families and investors alike with its local primary school, church, shops, doctor’s surgery, pharmacy, high speed broadband and G.A.A. Sporting grounds. Clarecastle boasts one of the best Day Care Centres in Clare and is an ever expanding village just a stones throw from the interchange for the M17 & M18 to Limerick & Shannon and Galway.

Jason Fletcher & Karolina Wozna receive their keys to 41 Meadow View from Michael Fitzgibbon and Helen Gallery

M.Fitzgibbon Contractors. Ltd completed the popular development of bungalows in Haggart view in March 2018 and due to the high demand for these homes they have now commenced another ten bungalows in Park View. These two & three bedroomed bungalows have proved to be very popular with both young families and people wishing

to down size. The A rated bungalows are fully finished including timber flooring and tiling throughout, modern choices of built-in kitchen, stylish fireplace with multi fuel stove in living room, built-in wardrobes in all bedrooms, tiled bathrooms and air to water under floor heating. There are just a couple of two and three bedroomed bungalows still for sale in this development. Prices are from €212,500. M.Fitzgibbon Contractors are also now building three & four bedroomed semi detached family homes in Meadow View & Orchard View. The final phase in Meadow View comprises of just seven four bedroomed spacious homes and Orchard view is a development of just ten homes in a small cul de sac off Roughan Avenue. The homes have been energy efficiently designed and have an A3 BER rating. The properties are finished to the highest standard and offers bright, spacious family accommodation with lots of

open spaces in the development making it ideal for modern day living. Finishes including timber flooring and tiling throughout, modern choices of built-in kitchen, stylish fireplace with multi fuel stove in living room, built-in wardrobes in all bedrooms, tiled bathrooms and under floor heating on the ground floor. Prices start at €227,500 and they qualify for up to €14,950 in the government Help to Buy scheme. Viewing of this new development is by appointment with the selling agent Helen Gallery Auctioneers and Valuers (065 682 9481) or by attending the show house this Saturday between 2-4pm.

PROPERTY 29

THURSDAY, NOV 15 2018

Immaculately presented home

6 ST JAMES’ WALK, CHURCH ROAD, KILKEE

€195,000

OPEN VIEWING: SATURDAY 17TH NOVEMBER 10.30AM - 11.00AM SHARP

A town gem V95 CX8N COLLEGE ROAD, ENNIS

€350,000

HIS immaculately presented 3 bedroom, end of terrace property comes to the market in excellent condition throughout. The property is approximately 12 years old and has only been used as a private residence. It is ideally located within a stones throw of the beach - less than 300m and it is also very close to the pollock holes and magnificent cliff walks. The finish of this property is second to none, both internally and externally. The property is being sold with fixtures and fittings included. There may be an option to purchase contents separately if required. 108 sq.m. (1,162 sq.ft.)

Ideally located HENRY STREET, KILRUSH

€175,000

This is a 4/5 bedroom detached residence on it’s own site that faces the Colaiste Mhuire just across the road. It is two storey to the front with flat roof single storey extension to the rear. The house is in need of significant repair and modernisation but has fantastic potential to be a great town home again.

HIS fine 6 bedroom residence is ideally located on Henry street, within walking distance of all amenities. It is also complete with a separate commercial unit located next door. The residence is deceivingly spacious and comprises 255 sq.m. (2,753 sq.ft.) and includes a living room, drawing room, kitchen, dining room, bathroom, 6 bedrooms (1 ensuite), an office, toilet and a utility room. Heating is by way of Oil fired central heating and two solid fuel fireplaces. There is on street parking and a small yard to the rear with pedestrian access. The commercial unit comprises 36 sq.m. (388 sq.ft. approx) and would suit many commercial uses.

Contact: Diarmuid McMahon Sherry FitzGerald McMahon Phone: 065 6867866

Contact: Danielle Kavanagh Sherry FitzGerald McMahon Phone: 065 6867866

rare opportunity to purchase a town centre gem on the much sought after College Road. This property is just a short stroll from the town’s pubs, shops, cafes and restaurants.

Contact: Danielle Kavanagh Sherry FitzGerald McMahon Phone: 065 6867866

Stunning home 4

V95 X2Y5

€285, 000

18 VICTORIA COURT LAHINCH ROAD, ENNIS

O. 18 Victoria Court is an excellent four bedroomed family home located on the Lahinch road within easy access of Ennis town and all amenities. This fine property is superbly laid out and ideally located within the Victoria Court development. Accommodation on the ground floor comprises an entrance hall, living room, kitchen, sitting room, sun-room, utility, WC and a converted garage/work-room. On the

first floor there are three double bedrooms (one with an en-suite), a single bedroom and a bathroom. Externally there is a tarmacadam driveway to the front with ample parking, the front garden is partially in lawn with a combination of hedging shrubbery and trees. To the rear there is a large private back garden with lawn, a timber decking area, garden shed and the boundaries mainly comprise timber fencing, hedging and deciduous trees

Contact: Tiernan O’Malley Sherry FitzGerald McMahon Phone: 065 6867866

THINKING OF SELLING YOUR PROPERTY? Contact us today to book your FREE market appraisal.

SHERRY FITZGERALD MCMAHON, O’CONNELL SQUARE HOUSE, ENNIS T: 065 686 7866 E: ENNIS@SHERRYFITZMCMAHON.IE

PSRA NO. 001212

30 PROPERTY

THURSDAY, NOV 15 2018

Building Momentum

The new homes scheme coming this December

EVELOPER Galvin Construction is preparing to launch Cluain Fia, a development of three and four/five-bedroom detached and semi-detached homes, as well as three bedroom detached bungalows located in the heart of Crusheen village. Cluain Fia or ‘Wild Meadow’ was named after the wild flowers that grow on the hedgerows surrounding the site and all house types are named after wild flowers indigenous to Ireland such as the Foxglove and the Primrose. Future residents of Cluain Fia will benefit from its tranquil village setting while also experiencing the

convenience of a location which is just minutes from many large centres of employment. The village also provides a host of local amenities such as a convenience store, playground, national school, Roman Catholic Church and state of the art GAA facilities. Ennis and Gort are both nearby, and there are a number of well-established secondary schools in the area. The development will comprise of 42 homes and each home boasts a BER rating of A3. A total of nine house types are available in the development. The three bedroom semi- detached homes, such as the Bluebell and Bramble are sized from approximately 114.5sqm with accommodation laid out over two floors. These stunning homes benefit from a superb open plan layout ideal for family living. These well located homes combine the best of modern day living and a classic contemporary design and offer superb style, warmth and luxury. All homes feature wooden flooring in the dining and family area as well as tiled flooring to the kitchen and utility room. Buyers can choose from a selection of kitchen packages with various style options available for kitchen units, countertops, splashbacks and tiling. All homes in this development feature bespoke deigned kitchen and utility

rooms, with optional quartz worktop and splashback. Built in wardrobes in all bedrooms, energy efficient double-glazed windows, high quality sanitary ware and power showers in bathrooms as well as ample car parking. Each home has been carefully designed and will be built to exceptional standards incorporating all modern construction and energy efficient

technologies, while still retaining the classical charm of a premium home in the country. These spectacular homes will be launching December 1st 2018 from the offices of DNG O’Sullivan Hurley from 10am to 12pm.

Developer Enda Galvin & John Clohessy of DNG O ‘Sullivan Hurley on site in Crusheen

INTERACTIVE 33

THURSDAY, NOV 15 2018

A new era of

INTERACTION twitter.com/ ClareEcho

facebook.com/ clareecho

instagram.com/ theclareecho

www.clareecho.ie

Grandparent of the year

SINGER and grandmother of two, Mary Black, launched this year’s Grandparent of the Year Award. Specsavers Audiologists in Ennis, in association with Beaumont Hospital’s Cochlear Department is calling for nominations as they search for Ireland’s most exceptional grandparent. The award celebrates and recognises the extraordinary contribution that grandparents make to the lives of grandchildren and the community. Speaking at the launch of the 2018 Grandparent of the Year campaign, Audiologist at Specsavers Ennis, Bryan O’Connor, said: “We are encouraging grandchildren throughout Clare to

nominate their grandparent to give them the recognition they deserve. Many customers who come through our doors with concerns about their hearing have withdrawn from social situations leaving them feeling isolated and depressed.

Tweet of the week JOE O MUIRCHEARTAIGH @muirioch

“40 years ago this night 13 November, 1978. The night U2 failed to show for a concert in the Greengrove in Ennis.”

Many struggle to keep up with conversation and become tired or embarrassed of asking people to repeat themselves.” The winning grandparent will receive a trophy, a €750 hearing voucher and a weekend away. The lucky grandchild who nominated them will also receive an iPad. Regional winners will also receive a €215 eyecare voucher, a bottle of Champagne and an awards final certificate. Grandchildren of all ages can nominate their grandparents by filling out an entry form in Specsavers Ennis or online at specsavers.ie/hearing/grandparent. The closing date is November 30.

l PAYING RESPECTS: Alan Copley takes a photo of the name of a family member lost in WW1 at Sunday's memorial at Ennis Peace Park to remember the Clare men who died in the 'War to end all wars' Photo by John Mangan

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Dear Editor, I am frightened at the comments of Peter Casey who recently stood for Presidency. He used his position as Presidential candidate to the maximum effect by condemning Traveller minority who have been shunned by the state for over 50 years by virtue of the fact of not providing a sufficient education system or opportunities for training and jobs. After milking this to the desired effect he then turned on those us on welfare i.e. recipients of disability payments, old age pensioners and the unemployed. The total number of people last year who received a social welfare payment was 1.3million. Add businesses, large and small, who received subsidies for various aspect of their businesses from the public purse. This is our system and it works. There is however, lots of room for improvement. I am worried that a local councillor came out and supported the views of Peter Casey on local radio

and the national media. Remember Clare was one of the counties who nominated Peter Casey. Nigel Oarage of Ukkip party managed to do with his language of exploiting communities by dividing them. I am consoled to some extent by our President and his acceptance speech on the night of the election. He said “Words matter words can heal - words can divide - words can empower and words matter.’’ I question what is happening in the USA and other of parts of Europe where there been a significant upsurge in right wing views. Intolerance and hatred can fester and grow. There is a thin skin on democracy and it needs to be cherished. We as community activists have to be more vigilant and politicians have to lead the way. Words can also lead to violence and oppression. Surely history has shown us this.

Yours Dermot Hayes Ennis, Co. Clare

34 CLASSIFIEDS

THURSDAY, NOV 15 2018

Classifieds ACCOUNTANCY

BOOKKEEPING

CAR REPAIRS

mbs-clare-echo.indd 1

CONTACT SALES

065 671 9021 sales@clareecho.ie

CLEANING & POWER WASHING

17/09/2018 20:10:50

CONSTRUCTION

CAR REPAIRS DRIVING LESSONS

CLASSIFIEDS 35

THURSDAY, NOV 15 2018

Classifieds FIREWOOD

The Clare Echo

CONTACT SALES

065 671 9021 sales@clareecho.ie

PAINTING & DECORATING

Contact 065 671 9021 PROPERTY FOR SALE

RELIGION

FOR SALE ‘Stanley Tara’ solid fuel stove, non- boiler, black enamel. Ennis area. CONTACT 087 9707771

GERMAN GRINDS TEACHER REQUIRED German Grinds Teacher required Private additional lessons in German. German student (17 years old) is looking for a learning partnership near Ennis. TEL: 089-419-6050

GRINDS AVAILABLE - ENGLISH English lessons available for leaving cert and junior cycle students. Home Tuition. TEL: 0877793132

JOB OPPORTUNITIES

PAINTING

ROOFING

36 CLASSIFIEDS

THURSDAY, NOV 15 2018

Classifieds

CONTACT SALES

065 671 9021 sales@clareecho.ie

TARMACADAM

STONEMASON

TYRES

The Clare Echo Classifieds

SCHOOL OF MOTORING

Seán O’Keeffe

Contact 065 671 9021

School of motoring

tic Car Automa ilable Now Ava s n for Lesso

Car Lessons Our Aim Is A 100% Pass Rate Free collection to all areas 12 Lessons Theory test experts for Gift vouchers Price of 10

Jeep + Trailer Jeep / Trailer / Horse box training • R.S.A.A.D.I. qualified instructors • Manual or automatic vehicles • Your vehicle if preferred • Real mock tests on test routes

Lismulbreeda, Darragh, Ennis, Co. Clare seanokeeffeschoolofmotoring.com | Tel: 086 823 4582

STORAGE

The Clare Echo Classifieds Contact 065 671 9021

TREE SURGEON

THURSDAY, NOV 8 2018

Classifieds The Clare Echo Classifieds

The Clare Echo Classifieds

Contact 065 671 9021

Contact 065 671 9021 WINDOW SHUTTERS

CLASSIFIEDS 37 CONTACT SALES

065 671 9021 sales@clareecho.ie

38 CROSSWORD/HOROSCOPES

THURSDAY, NOV 15 2018

Your Horoscopes Nov 15 Just because you’ve been close to someone for years doesn’t mean you know them like the back of your hand. There are new depths to explore in your relationship. If you can’t understand their actions or changes, you must ask them. Open up communications. You will both turn a corner together, and what lies ahead of you is a lifetime of adventures and joy.

Taurus

Gemini

Suddenly you’ll start to see many things you never noticed before -- about yourself! There are great changes happening, and people have been noticing for a while now. Little do you know, but you’ve been the topic of some speculation (and possibly a twinge of jealousy). But overall there’s a strong support network around you cheering you on!

It’s a wonderful feeling to share in the successes of loved ones and, conversely, it can be quite a trial to watch them go through troubled times. If a friend or partner is having a tough time of it, your urge to cheer them up or solve all their problems is admirable -- but your influence over their life is minimal. Respect their need for space and let them make their own decisions.

Cancer

Leo

Virgo

Don’t be afraid to make use of all the resources around you, and that includes people too. Approach friends, coworkers, and family members and find out if they can help you get what you want -- a hot date, a new job, or maybe just an idea on where to go for dinner. Interacting with others (instead of going off and doing research on your own) will save you time and give you ideas you never would have been able to come up with on your own.

Capitalize on the energy of those around you -- get in close and you may find some of it pouring into you, giving you the extra ‘oomph’ you need to get through the day. It’s not that you’ll be tired without other people, it’s just that you need something (or someone) external to guide you in a more fulfilling direction. Stick to the group and feed off of the interpersonal dynamic of inside jokes and teasing. It will make an ordinary day much more enjoyable.

You may end up being the bearer of bad news, and if you are, then don’t feel pressured, because in the end, the information you withhold will be more helpful than harmful. It’s always better to be honest than to hold back -- white lies are still lies. Put yourself in the other person’s position -- wouldn’t you like to be respected enough to be told the truth? There is a good way to deliver bad news. All you have to do is respect the person you’re talking to.

Libra

Scorpio

Sagittarius

Capricorn

Aquarius

Pisces

A powerful person will come into your life bearing gifts, and there may be some big strings attached, so don’t let your gratitude fog your skepticism. Ask a few questions and get to the bottom of their newfound generosity. You’ll soon see that the responsibilities laid out in front of you are ones you could really sink your teeth into.

Be ready to have your regular routine turned on its ear -there is a storm brewing, and things are not going to go as planned. Fortunately, you’ll be delighted by the unexpected outcome. Stick with your current projects and be patient if they veer off track a bit. Be flexible, and you’ll find a new appreciation for the smaller things in life. Suddenly, beauty will be all around you and you’ll realize you have the best friends and family in the world.

1/1

Aries

Sometimes the best way to get something is to wait for it to come to you. Experiment with a more passive attitude about life -- give in a little more and let other people plot the course. Sitting in the back seat will give you a new perspective, and it will give some deserving folks their time in the sun. By the end of the day, you’ll be in a different place than you expected.

All your preparation is done -- the pieces are put together and now you just have to let it go and see how it runs. The response may be slow in coming, so don’t freak out if there isn’t a thunderous round of applause right away. While you wait, distract yourself with fun adventures with friends. Do some mindless activities and soak up the latest news about what other people are doing. Step outside of yourself and then check back in on results later.

The Clare Echo Crossword

ACROSS 1 OK, there’s nothing left (3,5) 6 A month, we hear, for Miss West (3) 9 Not up for Enid Blyton’s first novel? (2,3) 10 Decent sort of piano (7) 11 Regular advance carries forward head of state (7) 13 Racecourse for one north of the border (5) 14 Nine compositions? (6) 15 Small shelf for vehicle mounted on runners (6) 18 A lieutenant meeting the queen has to change (5) 20 Mother can turn the French fetter (7) 21 Pressing metal in the capital of Greece (7)

As you enter this day, there will be a lot of drama going on, and you may start to hear alarm bells ringing. Don’t worry -- you can easily avoid all the conflicts and hand-wringing. Simply stay focused on your own path. Eyes down and feet pointed forward and marching along. Your giving nature may tempt you to hop into the middle of the fray with a helping hand, but resist it.

Get out there among new people and work your charms -- meeting people just for the sake of meeting people will invigorate you now. It’s all about feeding off the energy of strangers and learning how to transition a relationship from small talk into deeper conversations. Every time you connect with someone a bolt of positive energy will warm your heart and give you yet another level of confidence in who you are and where your place is in the world.

22 Precise old law? (5) 23 Pinch a little drink (3) 24 Delicate material found when sorting some rags (8) DOWN 2 Country noble with an alteration (7) 3 Freed from pride (3) 4 Left in France? That’s awkward! (6) 5 Saint boarding moving train to get cover (9) 6 Conjuring soldier in coat (5) 7 One has a right to them in settlement, perhaps (12) 8 Colour given by me to painting (12) 12 Grand rite, perhaps, slowing down

(9) 16 After last month real reform for state (7) 17 I’m a long time providing pictures (6)

19 Pot or potty for a group of soldiers (5) 22 The name of a woman always in the van (3)

CROSSWORD ANSWERS

QUIZ 39

THURSDAY, NOV 15 2018

The Clare Echo Quiz CLARE FOLKLORE & HISTORY

The Ennis Turkish Baths stood Monument in Ennis 6 from 1869 for nine years. But why was erected on the site of what? 1 O’Connell did they close? The old Courthouse, The old prison, An old wooden ship

Financial difficulty, Smallpox, Frivolous behaviour

Clare’s ‘Men’s Beach’ – known 2 as Burns Cove where males have Every hill in Kilmaley contains the been known to bathe nude – is lo7 remains of what? cated where? Fanore, Liscannor, Kilkee

An ancient fort, A tribal chief, A victim of the Spanish Armada

Maid Of Erin statue in Ennis The Armada Hotel in Spanish 3 The was built to commemorate what? 8 Point was initially opened as The Atlantic Hotel in 1810. What was its her first husband’s death, 4 After Biddy Early married who?

The Vandeleur family who ran 9 Kilrush in the 17th century were of what descent?

Her cousin, Her stepson, The local priest

According to legend, why was O’Brien’s Tower built on the Cliffs of Moher by Cornellius O’Brien? To monitor invasions, to impress women to house servants

German, Jamaican, Dutch

on Fergus is home 10toNewmarket the oldest what in Europe? Donkey, Ringfort, Castle

l QUESTION 5: The legend of O, Briens Tower , Cliffs of Moher

ANSWERS 6. Financial difficulty 7. An ancient fort 8. Biggest Hotel in the British Isles 9. Dutch 10.Ringfort

boast?

Most westerly hotel in Ireland, Biggest Hotel in the British Isles, Fanciest hotel in West Clare

1.The old Courthouse 2. Kilkee 3. Biddy Early 4. Her stepson 5. to impress women

The first Rose of Clare, Three executed Republicans, Biddy Early

OLD IMAGES OF COUNTY CLARE

Church of St. Seamus, Ruins, Scattery Island, Co. Clare

Image NLI.ie / Collection: Lawrence Photograph Collection