The Clare Echo 17/02/22

065 671 9021

clareecho.ie

FEB 17 2022

MARTY’S HARTY PARTY ‘JP McManus key

to Shannon Ryder Cup success’ PÁRAIC McMAHON

paraic@clareecho.ie

L l Captain of the St Joseph’s Tulla Harty Cup winning team Ronan O’Connor, Marty Morrissey, goalkeeper Aaron Shanahan and his mother Breda during Marty’s trip to the school last week

Photo by Joe Buckley

IMERICK billionaire JP McManus is the man that can make Shannon Airport the go to destination for golfers and tourists planning on attending the 2027 Ryder Cup. Clare County Council have been urged to lead the way in bringing neighbouring local authorities together so that the use of Shannon Airport is maximised for the Ryder Cup which will be held in Adare in five years.

Dublin Airport’s attempts to market itself as the gateway to the Ryder Cup suggests its staff require a lesson in geography, Cllr Ian Lynch (IND) quipped.

Shannon’s proximity to Adare needs to be a major selling point, Cllr Pat Daly (FF) emphasised while suggesting, “JP McManus needs to be brought into it, he is the man that will dictate and set it up, he has the power, he needs to meet with management of the four local authorities”.

FULL STORY pg 14

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by PÁRAIC McMAHON

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

NEWSDESK

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

SALES

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

Irish Water briefs to be boycotted

 TAH-DAH: Duffy's Circus entertained crows in Ennis on Saturday

Photo by Chris Copley

RISH water briefings are to be boycotted by a Clare councillor until they agree to meet at a statutory meeting that can be attended by the media.

On Monday, Irish Water officials met with some elected representatives of Clare County Council in-camera.

Among those not to attend the meeting was Cllr Gerry Flynn (IND). “I chose to boycott the Irish Water meeting because it was held behind closed doors and I’ve done so since they’ve refused to attend a statutory meeting”. The Shannon representative said Minister Eamon Ryan (GP) was “shocked” to hear of Irish Water’s stance on only having engagements behind closed doors. “The media should be present to report on these meetings,” Flynn added.

Cllr Pat Hayes (FF) said senior officials in Irish Water were agreeable to another meeting in a fortnight to discuss extraction of water from Clare, wastewater schemes and water supply.

Monday’s briefing was described as “farcical” by Cllr Cillian Murphy (FF), “I’m being nice by saying that”. Further delays to the delivery of a wastewater project for Kilkee from 2024 to the end of 2025 annoyed the Cathaoirleach of the West Clare Municipal District.

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Increase in military flights through Shannon

by PÁRAIC McMAHON THERE has been a significant increase in number of aircraft transporting US military personnel through Shannon Airport en route to NATO countries in Eastern Europe this week.

A notable rise in Omni Air International US troop flights through Shannon Airport towards the Ukraine border have been observed this week but no formal request has been received by the Irish Government for increased activity at the International Airport.

Russia announced this week that it was pulling back some troops from exercises that heightened fears of a potential invasion of Ukraine. Russian President, Vladimir Putin said on Tuesday that Moscow was ready for talks with the US and NATO on limits for missile deployments and military transparency.

Shannon Airport is used for the US military to refuel their aircraft with four instances occurring in a two hour period alone this week.

Activity of US troops has been quiet at Shannon since their withdrawal from Afghanistan over six months ago. The uptake this week is due to the deployment of US military personnel to Eastern Europe.

On Monday, one flight through Shannon Airport flew within 100km of the Ukrainian border. Aircraft belonging to the US military have flown from Baltimore/ Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport to Poland, Germany and Romania via Shannon in recent days representing an increased frequency to the norm.

When contacted by The Clare Echo, the Department of Defence said matters relating to US troops was a matter for the Department of Foreign Affairs. A spokesperson for the Department of Foreign Affairs told The Clare Echo no request had been received for increased refuelling at Shannon Airport for the US military.

Similarly, the Department

of Transport confirmed that they had no requests from the US Government, with regard to increasing the frequency of US civil aircraft used to transport US military personnel. “Such flights require the issue of a flight authorisation and/or a ministerial exemption permitting the carriage of munitions of war by the military personnel onboard”.

Officials in the Department of Foreign Affairs have since Saturday advised Irish citizens not to travel to Ukraine, a total of 114 Irish citizens have registered with the Embassy in Kiev at present. Minister for Foreign Affairs, Simon Coveney TD (FG) stated, “it is urgent that Russia de-escalate, abide by international law and engage constructively in dialogue.

My Department’s advice in respect of Ukraine remains not to traveI. I encourage any Irish citizen in Ukraine who has not already done so to register with the Embassy. Citizens currently in the country should leave now using available commercial options”.

Council case versus Traveller family to go back to High Court

 HEARING: Clare County Council Chief Executive Pat Dowling Photo by Eamon Ward

PÁRAIC MCMAHON

paraic@clareecho.ie

A

FULL hearing in the High Court is to be held in an ongoing case between Clare County Council and an Ennis family.

At the end of January in what was a significant ruling, five Supreme Court justices ruled unanimously in favour of the McDonagh family from Ennis who had an appeal against their eviction upheld. Their case focused on their unauthorised presence on a Clare Council-owned site, having not been provided with appropriate accommodation by the Council elsewhere.

The ruling set out that it is ultimately for a Council to convince the courts in any future cases that they have fulfilled their obligations, and for the Courts to assess the proportionality of the Council’s actions.

Clare County Council had secured an injunction from the High Court requiring Bernard and Helen McDonagh, and members of their family, to immediately vacate council-owned lands at Cahercallamore, Ennis, Co Clare. The mandatory injunction, granted in 2019, was to remain in place pending the outcome of the full hearing of the dispute. The injunction was upheld on appeal by the Court of Appeal in 2020.

For several years, the McDonagh family resided as tenants of the Council in a small Traveller-specific housing development.

After the destruction of their home by fire they then lived in private housing for several years, but had to leave rented accommodation when the landlord required possession for the purpose of refurbishment.

In 2018, they subsequently moved to the Council owned vacant site that is the subject of this case.

Clare County Council’s initial action against the McDonaghs arose out of related proceedings where the local authority sought to have the McDonagh’s vacate another site in Ennis, which they had previously resided at before it was destroyed by a fire in 2012.

Speaking at Monday’s meeting of the County Council, Chief Executive, Pat Dowling detailed that the matter will be back before the High Court. He said there is a history of litigation between the local authority and the McDonagh family over the last five years.

Dowling remarked that the family initially tried to prevent the development of social housing by trespassing on a site in Ashline in 2017 with legal action taken by the Council to stop this with the McDonagh family failing with a subsequent counter-claim.

Their next location impacted on access to Ennis National School before they then moved to an “unauthorised Council site” under the flyover.

“It took us four years to get this far,” Dowling added. He said “it is only an interim application that has been heard and determined” while noting an admission from the family that they were trespassers without a planning application. “It will be argued before the High Court in a full hearing. The case has been referred back to the High Court for a full plenary hearing with oral evidence”. Proceedings have not concluded he advised elected representatives.

His statement was issued in light of motions tabled by Cllr Johnny Flynn (FG) and Cllr Clare Colleran Molloy (FF). Flynn asked for a report on the impact to the Council as a housing authority over the Supreme Court decision while Colleran Molloy sought the implications to all local authorities “granting the appeal discontinuing the injunction requiring Travellers to vacate the illegal encampment site on the Kilrush Road”.

The Chief Executive when finishing his address recommended no discussion take place on the matter with the legal proceedings still ongoing. Cllr Flynn asked that he be let have a discussion on the matter with the County Solicitor, “there are public safety issues pertinent to the case that I’d like to raise”.

Acknowledging that the matter was sub judice, Cllr Colleran Molloy said it was “very positive” that the High Court will hold a fullblown oral hearing on the matter, “hopefully the Council will prevail,” she stated.

THURSDAY, FEB 17 2022

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THURSDAY, FEB 17 2022

'Data centres are not evil'

by RONAN JUDGE

D

ATA centres are not "evil" and can play a role in providing Ireland with a "safe and secure" energy system, the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications has said.

Eamon Ryan was speaking at a public meeting in Ennis last Thursday night.

Amanda Major, a sustainable energy engineer, asked how the government's long term plans to link data centres to home heating would apply in Ennis where a major such facility is the subject of a planning application.

Art Data Centres are seeking planning permission from Clare County Council for a €1.2bn data centre on the outskirts of Ennis.

The proposed development, which would be one of the largest of its kind in Ireland, is currently the subject of a further information request from the council.

Minister Ryan did not refer specifically to the Ennis project but told the meeting that no new data centres would be approved unless they meet certain energy criteria.

"In this low carbon world we cannot afford any new sector to just grow and to be completely independent from the need for us meet our climate targets. Our data centre business has been increasing dramatically, without any doubt. There are plants which already have planning permission and will be built, new plants. One of the strengths of the country is that the rule of law applies and if someone has a contractual arrangement, it is recognised and their rights are allowed to continue. What we have said is that no new data centres will get approval unless they show that their waste heat goes to help heat

SUSTAINABILITY: Protestors stand alongside Minister Eamon Ryan as he speaks at a public meeting held in Ennis our homes or that their back up power generator systems give us some of the flexibility for those times when the wind isn't blowing.

We can use that to create a safe and secure system", the Minster said, He continued, "We're saying to those companies, you can't build, you cannot have new plants unless you are part of the solution. And in that world, data centres are not evil, are not something that we all shut down, ban, shame, because we are all using them,

Photo by Josh Prendeville

every minute of the day. What we want them to be is part of the solution and I think that is possible and that's what we'll do".

A range of issues from slurry spreading to mining licenses were discussed at the event, which was interrupted at the start by a group of seven activists who highlighted their concerns on environmental issues.

When the meeting resumed, the minister took questions from others in attendance.

This included west Clare farmer, Seamus

Shannon, who told the meeting farmers are being "vilified" while other sectors get a soft path when it comes to setting climate targets. "The focus is completely on methane emissions from livestock. I'm a farmer and I believe farming is being vilified in terms of the environmental climate strategy and I believe that other sectors of the economy, including aviation, including transportation, including electricity generation, are getting a softer path when it comes to some of the targets being set. Let me state one thing: farming and agriculture are completely crucial to every single person in this room."

On the granting of foreshore licenses and energy firm Equinor's decision to pull out of a €2bn wind farm development off the Clare coast, Minister Ryan said the foreshore system was "very unsatisfactory for everyone" - developers and protestors. He said that by creating a more "organised, rational, timely system" the government can address both environmental and economic concerns.

"Equinor left but there are numerous other developers who are keen to invest off the Shannon coast. We are slightly late but we are catching up. This is the centre of our new economic future", he added.

Clare wind farm developer, Padraig Howard sought an assurance the government is still committed to onshore wind energy and the Clare wind energy strategy.

In reply Minister Ryan said, "There are a couple of reasons we would go offshore. It's a stronger source and it's starting to become economical. Also, there is a limit to onshore because of community and other concerns.

We do have to be careful. It's not just the turbines, it's the grid support and there is real public opposition to wind development."

Futureproof Clare attempt citizen's arrest of Minister

by RONAN JUDGE A GROUP of protestors last night attempted to effect a citizen's arrest of the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications. The protest occurred in the Old Ground Hotel in Ennis where Minister Eamon Ryan was holding a public meeting.

The Minister had just started to speak when members of community action group, Futureproof Clare, made their way to the front of the room and stood either side of him Scariff woman, Sinead Sheehan, approached the Minister and said, "Minster Eamon Ryan, you are being placed under citizen's arrest, charged with the crimes of eco-cide against the people of Clare, against the people of Ireland, against humanity. You have the right to remain silent but anything you say can be used against you as evidence".

Ms Sheehan was joined by fellow protestors with signs highlighting a range of issues including the proposed Shannon LNG gas terminal, fracking and species eradication.

Clare Green Party senator, Róisín Garvey, urged the protestors to allow the Minister to respond and give others the chance to participate in the meeting.

"Other people have to speak as well, it can't be all about you. These are very important issues you are raising. This is not democracy, you are taking over the meeting. Please desist now. He can answer ye're questions. Please sit down. Other people have questions as well. All your issues are very valid but this not how you do a public meeting. This is a democracy", she said.

Minister Ryan said, "The issue of eco-ci-

de is real. We are in a world where we are at risk. Not just because of climate change but because of lack of biodiversity. That does have to be something that guides us, inevitably. We all make mistakes. No one is perfect. No one knows everything. But we will try our best to address the ecological crisis we see before us....I'll speak if I could about government and about what government can do. I think what we need to do is to apply the same urgency that we did in the covid emergency to the other existential challenges that face us."

The protestors remained in place for the duration of the 76 minute meeting and on several occasions attempted to interrupt or ask questions of the Minister as he responded to questions from the floor.

There were some exchanges between the group and others in attendance who urged the protestors to return to their seats and let the meeting proceed.

At the end of the meeting, Senator Garvey told the protestors, "I believe in what you believe in. I'm the same as you but there are ways of doing things and this was not the way. I'm sorry about that. I admire your passion".

Afterwards, the protestors told The Clare Echo they were members of Futureproof Clare. Members handed out flyers bearing logos for Futureproof Clare and Extinction Rebellion. Asked if she thought the protest had been effective, Sinead Sheehan said, "What we wanted to do was to try and tell the truth and get this information out there.

If we managed to educate a few people, it was worth it. Even if we're not popular".

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THURSDAY, FEB 17 2022

Plans to be lodged for 50MW wind farm in Broadford

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by PÁRAIC McMAHON

LANS for a 50MW wind farm with up to seven turbines in Broadford are to be lodged with Clare County Council next year.

More than 35,000 homes could be powered from the proposed Lackareagh Wind Farm. EDF Renewables Ireland are behind the development, the company is a wholly owned subsidiary of the French utility EDF Group which specialises in renewable energy production.

Lackareagh Wind Farm is to be based in the townlands of Killeagy and Shannaknock. EDF Renewables Ireland are to submit a planning application and environmental impact assessment report to Clare County Council in early 2023.

Subject to planning permission, the wind farm could be constructed and operational by 2026. A Community Benefit Fund commensurate with the size of the final project will be established to provide funding for local community initiatives and activities.

The project team is currently gathering wind data and mapping the environmental constraints on site which will be used to create a preliminary wind turbine layout. Detailed envi-

ENERGY: Windfarm ronmental studies will also be carried out at the site, including ecology, noise, landscape and visual assessments. The results of these studies, together with feedback gathered in consultation with local communities, will be used to determine the final wind farm layout and number of turbines.

The figure of seven turbines has been mooted already, The Clare Echo understands.

Developers behind the project have told The Clare Echo they are determined to keep locals informed about the project with a public consultation event to take place as the Lackareagh Wind Farm progresses.

Kevin Daly, Head of Development at EDF Renewables Ireland, stated, “With the effects of the climate crisis becoming ever more visible, projects like Lackareagh Wind Farm are more important than ever. Ireland has ambitious targets to deliver 80% of its electricity from renewable sources by the end of this decade, and onshore wind is the most efficient means of achieving this”.

He added, “The project will also deliver significant investment in the area in the form of the Community Benefit Fund and rates, which will provide funding for local initiatives and activities.”

ShannonDoc spend 'warrants questioning'

by PÁRAIC McMAHON SENIOR management of ShannonDoc are to be asked to come before a sitting of Clare County Council to address concerns regarding its existing services in the county.

Following a request by Cllr Tony O’Brien (FF), the local authority will invite senior management of the out of hours GP service “to address the council regarding their planned service provision for Co Clare going forward, and to answer any queries or concerns which the elected members may have”.

In 2020, ShannonDoc recorded an income of €8m, €1.9m of which came from GMS income.

This total income was up on the €7.3m of 2019, accounts show. This income was comprised of, HSE Out-of-Hours (€4,639,883), members’ contributions (€654,433), HSE Specimen Collection: (€258,319), HSE Methadone clinics and psychology services income (€176,297), private patients’ income (€154,384). HSE Other Income (€92,940) and HSE SATU (€49,275).

Calls handled by the company fell by 12% from 112,273 in 2019 to 98,178 in 2020. In-

come from the General Medical Card service (GMS) rose from €1,050,607 in 2019 to €1,900,655 in 2020.

“Huge profits were made,” Cllr O’Brien observed. “This is not an insignificant sum of taxpayers money that has been pumped into ShannonDoc services, I want senior management invited here so we can ask them some questions,” the Killaloe representative stated on Monday.

Clare’s Oireacthas members must be invited as the issues are of national importance, Cllr Ian Lynch (IND) believed. “We’re having an ongoing battle with them in West Clare, we brought them to the table but they only did it in-camera”.

Cllr Donna McGettigan (SF) stressed, “There has to be a face to face meeting with them to get the answers to the questions”.

Mayor of the Ennis MD, Cllr Ann Norton (IND) said ShannonDoc was proving to be an issue for “many years”.

She commented, “I don’t want them to be another Irish Water that only hold meetings behind closed doors. It is a huge important part of Irish society that we have an out of service doctor”.

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THURSDAY, FEB 17 2022

Getting redress will be 'like looking for a needle in a haystack'

F

by PÁRAIC McMAHON RESH hurdles have been thrown in the way of homeowners impacted by the presence of mica and pyrite.

Criteria set to be added to the new defective concrete blocks scheme is to make the process of securing redress all the more difficult for affected homeowners in Clare, Donegal, Mayo, Sligo, Limerick, Tipperary and Wexford.

Houses that were tested by IS465 qualified engineers and were deemed to show the presence of defective blocks now face the possibility of not fitting the bill under the new scheme which is being prepared by the Department of Housing.

The Clare Echo understands that so far 45 homes across the country that qualified for redress under the IS465 standard will now be rejected under the revised scheme.

A link between pyrite and oxidation must be proven, the new scheme is set to propose.

This means that the Depart-

ment’s interpretation will ultimately decide which properties will be entitled to redress rather than a standard test.

Under the IS465 testing, a positive link between pyrite and damage to property is required whereas the new scheme will look for a chemical reaction across two millimetres in houses whereby the amount of blocks can vary from 5,000 to 6,000.

“It will be like looking for a needle in a haystack, they will be core testing houses until they are like swiss cheese to try to prove this reaction,” Dr Martina Cleary founder of the Clare Pyrite Action Group told The Clare Echo of the fresh proposal.

“They are completely ignoring that the blocks are full of pyrite.

They are searching for something that is so difficult to find,” she stated. Crusheen-based Martina warned, “The ordinary man and woman won’t know what’s coming”.

Fears have been expressed by impacted homeowners in Clare that the move represents a tactic by the Department to exclude as many people as possible from the grant.

Harty victory car targeted

by PÁRAIC McMAHON DISAPPOINTMENT and disgust has been aired at attempts to dampen jubilant celebrations in Tulla.

Known as the windswept hill, Tulla was on the crest of a wave following the Dr Harty Cup success of the St Joseph’s Tulla hurlers.

Their victory has resulted in unforgettable memories and celebrations that will be treasured to last a lifetime but local voluntary groups were left horrified when one car decked in the blue and white colours was burnt out by vandals in the early hours of Sunday morning.

The Clare Echo understands that the incident has not been reported to Gardaí. It also remains unclear whether the vandals carried out the act to spite the Harty Cup success or a random act. The car had been a symbol of the success with the name of every panellist scribed onto the bonnet following the win.

“It was disappointing to see that someone would take that action but it won’t stop us or the pride and the support people have,” Chairman of Tulla Tidy

Towns, Tim Humphries told The Clare Echo.

Tim added, “The car was a focal point of the support, it was at the main crossroads, anybody going to the school or driving to the village would have seen it, to have it destroyed like that is very upsetting and disappointing. The general feeling was of disgust and disappointment but after that it was if nothing else it will only make us and the team stronger. Vandalism won’t take away from what the team have done or their spirit, that action speaks more about the person that did it”.

With the St Patrick’s Day parade to return to Tulla this year, it had been planned to include the car in the festivities to mark the exploits of the team captained by Ronan O’Connor.

The parade may yet be moved from March 17th depending on how the hurlers progress in the All-Ireland series.

Speaking to The Clare Echo, Chairperson of the Tulla Sports and Social Club, Deirdre Duff was at a loss to consider what

was the motivation behind the attack. “After so much positivity in the community, it was so disappointing to see this happen”. A spir-

it had been brewing in Tulla following the purchase of the bunting with the car adding to this atmosphere, she outlined.

 VANDALISED: The burned out car

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THURSDAY, FEB 17 2022

Wynne highlights need for more ambulances PÁRAIC MCMAHON

A

paraic@clareecho.ie

FTER having to give birth to her sixth child outside Kilrush Golf Club, Clare TD Violet-Anne Wynne (SF) has led the call for increased ambulance service resources and for the Dáil to become more family friendly.

Deputy Wynne who is only the third female TD in Clare following in the footsteps of Madeline Taylor-Quinn (FG) and Síle de Valera (FF), welcomed the arrival of her sixth child Collins and also affectionately known as Collie last Monday weighing 6.10oz.

Her due date was in March but Violet-Anne knew on Monday last when her waters broke that she would not make it to the Maternity Hospital in Limerick and informed the maternity department of her “very intense” contractions when she was advised to make her way to the hospital.

She recalled, “We actually

had all of the kids with us at the time, so we put them into the car and started the journey but as soon as I got into the car I knew myself that I wasn’t going to be able to make it to even the likes of Ennis, which would be 40 minutes of a journey from where we’re living in Kilrush”.

Wynne added, “The Limerick maternity hospital would be over an hour and a half from where we’re living. So, my partner rang the emergency services over the car speaker phone, just to inform them and to see if there was going to be any availability of an ambulance to be able to meet us on the road”.

An ambulance was nearby in Kilrush with paramedics meeting the Offaly native who assisted her with the delivery of baby Collins at the car park of Kilrush Golf Club.

“I was probably only in the ambulance two minutes and the baby was born. So, it was very time pressured I would say and thankfully it did all work out in the end”.

Her experience has highlighted the need for more ambulance resources. “I extend deepest gratitude and thanks

to the ambulance staff as their performance and service was impeccable. However, the experience has reminded me how remote many parts of Clare really are, which becomes all the more apparent when there is an emergency situation. People living in West Clare and the outer regions of the county have to wait excessive lengths of time”.

A new bill put forward by Dublin TD, Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (FG) to allow TDs and Senators to vote remotely is needed to make the Dáil more family friendly, Violet-Anne acknowledged.

“I won’t be able travel for the next while and it’s a nuisance I suppose. When you’re elected as a public representative for constituency, it’s a huge responsibility, it’s a huge honour and it’s one that I and others would take very seriously.

“Part and parcel, you want to be present for every vote, you want to be present to be able to contribute and to be able to speak up for your constituents in Dáil debates. It is difficult to live in that reality where you may not be able to attend,” she added.

Sarah McInernery selected as Ohio Rose

by PÁRAIC McMAHON CLARE flags will be flying at the Rose of Tralee this August but in support of an area outside the Banner County.

Newmarket-on-Fergus native, Sarah McInerney will be representing Ohio in the international festival which for the past two years has not taken place due to COVID-19.

Limerick’s Sineád Flanagan was crowned the Rose of Tralee in 2019 on the occasion of the 60th festival.

On Saturday, the Ohio Rose Centre announced that the Ballycar woman would be Ohio’s representative in the Rose of Tralee after 2020 Rose, Christine Smyth was unable to partake this year due to other commitments.

Sarah has recently received her PhD in Biomimicry from the University of Akron.

Her interest in conservation has led to focusing her career on promoting environmentally sustainable behaviour through education and innovation by looking to nature for inspiration.

Outside of work, Sarah plays gaelic football and camogie, enjoys horse-riding and rock-climbing and exploring the beautiful Ohio Metroparks.

Before moving to Ohio, Sarah was an active member of both the camogie and ladies football club in Newmarket-on-Fergus, winning several underage championships at U12, U14, U16 and minor level on the camogie field for the Blues.

Taking to the Dome in Tralee this summer will also give Sarah the opportunity to return home for the first time in two years where she will re-

ceive the warmest of welcomes from her parents Denise and Bob and older siblings Jeff and Aimee.

In 2013, Marie Donnellan also from Newmarket-on-Fergus became the first Rose of Clare since 2006 to make it to the Rose of Tralee International Festival with Victoria O’Connell of Kilrush appearing in the 2019 festival.

 FESTIVAL: Sarah will return home for the first time in two years for the competition

10 NEWS

University development A can generate €1.7bn a year

THURSDAY, FEB 17 2022

PÁRAIC MCMAHON

paraic@clareecho.ie

 SDZ: University of Limerick

DECISION regarding the potential creation of Europe’s first university town is expected to be made this

year.

It follows the submission of a joint application from Clare County Council and the University of Limerick to designate lands adjoining the north campus of the University as an Economic Strategic Development Zone.

Council Chief Executive, Pat Dowling and UL President, Professor Kerstin Mey have formally written to the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage Darragh O’Brien TD (FF) to seek the designation. The application was made through the UL and Clare Economic Development Agency Designated Activity Company (DAC) and was due to be completed by the middle of January.

Economic forecasts have suggested that the site which would become the first ‘university town’ in Europe could generate a gross added value of €1.795 billion annually to the Irish economy. The designation of the lands as an Economic SDZ will enable the site to generate upwards of 3,500 jobs with additional employment being generated in the construction phase

and subsequent spin-off developments.

“Talent is key to attracting Foreign Direct Investment, and creating attractive places is key to attracting talent,” Dowling stated.

“The South Clare/UL Economic SDZ will be an environment with high quality placemaking providing for a full range of education, research, living, working, and recreational spaces integrated within the University campus environment.”

Foreign and indigenous enterprises will partner with the University in designing and delivering dual, immersive education, advanced research and re- and upskilling. The project will establish UL as a European Centre of Excellence in dual education, advanced research with industry and knowledge exchange.

The establishment of the site as an Innovation District with enterprise partnerships, immersive academies of learning and necessary amenities will provide a considerable economic, social and cultural boost to the Limerick city region.

Professor Mey outlined, “The decision to seek the designation of the lands as an SDZ is a culmination of the joint will of both our organisations to facilitate the development of Academies of Learning and Centres of Excellence on the University campus in County Clare”.

Minister O’Brien is to consult with Limerick City and County Council, residents and other interested parties before making any decision in relation to designation. If this designation is granted, a two-

year consultation will take place with landowners and stakeholders in relation to the development of a masterplan.

The Clare Echo understands that both parties have been informed the Government will make a decision on the designation this year.

“It is intended that this zone would be accessible and integrated with Limerick city and have sustainable transport links, including the redevelopment of the Errina canal link,” said Professor Mey. “This is a world class, global location for industry of scale that will allow the University to expand over the next 50 years of its lifetime, and give us more space for student accommodation as well as advanced learning and research spaces. We do this hand in glove with our commitments to the city and the recent opening of the UL City Centre Campus is evidence of that. We have great ambition to grow our existing campus footprint and extend further into the city at the same time”.

Both UL and Clare County Council believe the designation of lands as the South Clare/UL Economic Strategic Development Zone would be a very significant step toward achieving effective regional development, enterprise and investment and would contribute significantly to the achievement of the objectives of the National Planning Framework – Project Ireland 2040 and the Regional Spatial and Economic Strategy for the Southern Region.

Impact on population flagged CONCERN has been voiced on the potential implications to Clare’s population projections of the Strategic Development Zone (SDZ), designation for which has been sought from the Government by Clare County Council and the University of Limerick, writes Páraic McMahon.

Under the RSES, population projections estimate between 129,500 – 131,500 will live in Clare by 2026 and 134,000 – 137,000 by 2031.

Acting senior planner with the Council, Helen Quinn detailed that the population aspiration for the SDZ under the upcoming County Development Plan is for 3,500 people with up to 123 housing units to be delivered from 2023 to 2029. She said the current allocation was “realistic” but was likely to be a discussion point in 2030 and 2040.

Across a 110 hectare site, Ms Quinn told a

briefing of the Rural Development SPC that the SDZ has “capacity to become a game changer both regionally and nationally, it has the capacity to generate employment both long-term and in the construction phase”.

Based on this data, 30 percent of the county’s population projections is earmarked for the SDZ. This raised the eyebrows of Cllr Cillian Murphy (FF) who queried, “is the rest of the county sacrificed on the altar for the plans of a place that may never happen”.

Officials are to “align to the housing supply targets not the population,” Quinn responded as she explained they were asked to divvy out the goal of 4,500 houses across Clare.

Chair of the SPC, Cllr Pat Hayes (FF) was hopeful the SDZ would come to fruition and maintained it would be “hugely beneficial” to the county.

NEWS 11

THURSDAY, FEB 17 2022

Numbers seeking housing support from County Council on the rise

A

by PÁRAIC McMAHON

TOTAL of 2,337 applications for housing support were received and approved by Clare County Council’s dedicated section over the past three years with the figure continuing to rise.

New figures show that no allocations using choice based letting (CBL) were allocated in Clare in 2019, from August 2020 until the end of that year 73 properties were allocated under CBL, last year 117 properties were advertised by the Council using CBL. Senior executive officer in the social directorate of the Council, Siobhán McNulty explained that the local authority in August 2020 “implemented CBL as a method for the allocation of social housing”.

Elderly person dwellings and wheelchair accessible dwellings are not advertised via CBL. Balance of tenancies relating to CBL include succession tenancies, Traveller specific accommodation, transfer tenants

where current accommodation was no longer meeting present requirements, properties acquired through the mortgage to rent process, properties acquired by the Council where occupants were later appointed tenants and applicants who have been granted refugee status from the Department of Justice.

Clare County Council’s housing section received and approved a total of 2,327 applications over the past three years with a growing number each year, 732 (2019), 771 (2020) and 834 (2021).

Representing less than a quarter of the applications (24%), 557 tenancies have been allocated and signed up over the past three years. Per year the figures are 198 (2019), 176 (2020) and 183 (2021) and include all social housing tenancies including leased properties but not tenancies with approved housing bodies or persons whose housing need was met through HAP/ RAS or other means.

A total of 127 home loan applications were made over the three years, 49 (2019), 38 (2020) and 45 (2021). Of this,

CBL: Social housing in Feakle Photo by John Mangan 82 (65%) were approved with funding drawn down for 60 (47%) of the applications. Of the approvals, 28 were granted in 2019, 21 in 2020 and 33 in 2021 while the comparisons for the respective years of funding drawn down are 27, 22 and 11.

Following a review by the local authority, a total of 818 persons were removed from the Housing Support List in the past three years. Broken down by year this equates to 325 (2019), 134 (2020), 359 (2021).

Chair of the Social Development SPC which is responsible for housing, Cllr Gerry Flynn

(IND) was hopeful increased information would be visible in further breakdowns such as location of demand and status of the applicant. “GDPR has reduced the information available to elected members,” he lamented. “The figures at the moment are very repetitive and housing is such an important issue,” Flynn added.

He noted that on December 13th, the gross need for people in need of housing support in Clare was 2,994 while delivery plan’s don’t have the adequate aspirations to tackle this number.

Sites transfer reliant on funds

by PÁRAIC McMAHON SHANNON Heritage operated sites are likely to be open for the coming summer season but their long-term transfer to Clare County Council will be reliant on the local authority securing adequate funding.

An annual subvention of €3m has been requested from the Government by Clare County Council for capital works at the sites, a briefing between senior officials in the local authority and the county’s Oireachtas members heard on Friday.

Bunratty Castle & Folk Park, Craggaunowen Bronze Age Park, Knappogue Castle & Gardens, and the retail unit within Cliffs of Moher Experience would also transfer under the ownership of Clare County Council if a deal can be agreed.

The sites have a total workforce of 150, 90 full-time and

60 part-time staff.

Taoiseach, Micheál Martin (FF) in the Dáil last week told Michael McNamara TD (IND) that the Council need to “get on with it” by acquiring the sites.

Engagement continues between the Council, the Government and Shannon Group regarding the potential transfer, Director of Rural Development, Leonard Cleary confirmed.

He said the Council has hired “experienced specialist services to examine a range of topics including Human Resource, Operational and Financial, Property and Assets, Capital Investment, ICT, Legal and Taxation relating to the Shannon Heritage properties”.

Site visits have taken place with the Council to commence the recruitment process for a small number of tourism roles.

12 OUT & ABOUT

THURSDAY, FEB 17 2022

DAVY FITZ OPENS NEW BROADFORD PLAYGROUND

 PLAY TIME: (Clockwise from above) A pupil of Broadford NS enjoys the new playground which was officially opened on Friday; 2 yr old Noah Hassett Schous checks out the new equipment; 8 month old Ayda O'Connell has her first swing; Special guest Davy Fitgerald cuts the ribbon alongside students Cillian Doyle, Amber Alloway, Lily Duffy and Sean O'Brien

Join our Retail & Security Teams at Shannon Airport for Summer 2022 Part Time and Full Time Opportunities – Seasonal Contracts Overview

Airport Search Security Officer

Qualifications, Skills and Experience

At Shannon Airport we are growing our team for the upcoming Summer Season, we are planning for a busy summer season as passengers dust off their bags and get ready to travel again. We have an exciting range of destinations such as New York, Boston, Budapest, Malta & Corfu and many more!

Key Areas of Responsibility:

The candidate should have:

• The main provision of aviation security screening is the use of advanced technological equipment

• A willingness to work in a team environment where flexibility is required for changing passenger demand

• Screening passengers and staff via our new state of the art security scanning area

To help with the smooth operation of the airport we have a number of vacancies. We are seeking to recruit dynamic and enthusiastic individuals to join us from March 2022. We have exciting roles as Retail Sales Associates in the Shannon Duty Free Shop and Airport Search Security Officers in our passenger and cabin baggage screening team.

• X-ray examination and targeted searching of hand baggage

Retail Sales Associates

• Provide the passenger with appropriate regulatory requirement information and assistance

Key Areas of Responsibility: Be an ambassador for the Shannon Duty Free brand and the values it represents Maximise sales by promoting the products and providing excellent levels of customer service Be proactive in identifying and responding to customer needs and requests for service and for the end-to-end passenger experience Ensure merchandising and promotional material are consistently displayed to the highest standards

• Control and secure access to a sterile area • Assist in delivering consistent levels of safety, security and services, and a quality user experience • Ensure safe, secure, smooth and timely processing of passengers

• A willingness to work a variety of shift patterns, from early mornings and late evenings to weekends, bank holidays and night duties

• A pleasant, confident, and outgoing personality with self-motivation and diplomacy skills • Excellent communication skills, fluent standard of English and a proficiency in a European language is an advantage • Candidates must be eligible to work in Ireland • Experience within a retail environment (Retail Sales Associates role)

• An ability to work in an environment where adherence to standard operating procedures is a significant feature of daily responsibilities • Experience in a service driven organisation • A professional, friendly, and helpful approach • Strong customer orientation and excellent interpersonal skills

• Divest passengers and staff, and load passenger items into trays and onto conveyor belts in preparation for screening • Resolve any security screening issues that arise with the Passenger & Cabin Baggage Screening Supervisor • Any other duties as assigned to meet operational requirements.

Be confident with cash handling/reconciliation process

How to Apply: Applications in the form of a cover letter and current CV (MS Word or pdf) should be sent to: recruitment@shannonairport.ie no later than 12 noon on Monday, 28th February 2022. Ensure your email and telephone number (including mobile) are included with your application.

OUT & ABOUT 13

THURSDAY, FEB 17 2022

Marty joins the Harty party PÁRAIC MCMAHON

S

paraic@clareecho.ie

T JOSEPH’S Tulla’s Harty Cup heroes have been hailed for bringing pride to Co Clare.

On February 5th, the East Clare school created history by winning the Dr Harty Cup for the first time overcoming hot favourites Ard Scoil Rís by three points in the decider. Captained by Feakle’s Ronan O’Connor, the side had also recorded the school’s first ever win in the competition earlier in the campaign while also progressing to their first semi-final.

Last Friday, RTÉ broadcaster Marty Morrissey joined the ‘Harty Party’ in Tulla with a celebration event held in honour of the victorious side to cap off a week-long period whereby their achievements were lauded.

“You’ve brought pride to our county,” Quilty’s Morrissey said when addressing the entire school with the panel of players behind him on stage. “As a Clare man, I want to thank this team and school, what you’ve done is more than just win a cup and win a Munster title, this is what a school dreams about, of aspiring to, all of you have an education and learn whatever your ambitions are in life but what you have above else is a sense of belonging to a community, you are from Clare, you are from East Clare but it doesn’t matter what part of Clare it is because you are Clare, that’s part of the community, you’re not just from Tulla, Broadford, the Mills, Crusheen or Clooney/Quin but St Joseph’s school in Tulla, isn’t that a wonderful thing the school has done for this group of players to bring a whole party together”.

Whatever paths the panel of players follow, they will always be connected by becoming the first St Joseph’s Tulla

team to win the prestigious post-primary hurling competition, Marty stated.

“This team, management and all of ye should be so proud of what you’ve done because this is a first, nobody is ever going to be the first team to ever do it but you. This team are history makers, in years to come, when Darragh (Keogh), Ronan (O’Connor) or Aaron (Shanahan) whether they are in Australia, Dublin, New York, Cork, Galway or Ennis, wherever we end up there will be one thing that binds them together and that is that they brought the Harty Cup to this school, this county and became only the third school to achieve that, it is remarkable”.

Clare County Council are to write to the school in lieu of their achievement following a proposal by Cllr Joe Cooney (FG) on Monday. Notably, the feat of St Flannan’s College in winning the Harty Cup in 2020 was not acknowledged by the Council.

Speaking in the Council Chamber, Cllr Cooney lauded the Tulla management, players, school and catchment clubs for their achievement. The former Chairman of Clare GAA asked that the local authority write to the school to congratulate them on their success. “It is a huge achievement,” Cllr Pat Burke (FG) commented in backing the request.

Clare’s first citizen, Cllr PJ Ryan (IND) who has two grand-children in the school admitted that they were pressurising him to make sure the Harty Cup success was marked by the Council. An event to celebrate Tulla’s breakthrough is worthy for “wonderful kids,” Cllr Pat Hayes (FF) believed.

A winner of a Dean Ryan with St Flannan’s College in 1973, Cllr Pat Daly (FF) told Monday’s meeting he was “delighted” for Tulla. “There is no harm to have a bit of competition in the county,” the Ennis native quipped.

 #WINNERS: (Clockwise from above): A student poses with the Harty Cup, Marty joins the St Joseph's panel; getting to grips with the cup; Marty made the students' day; the whole school celebrates the victory; Brian Torpey congratulates the team Photos by Joe Buckley

14 NEWS

THURSDAY, FEB 17 2022

SHANNON NEWS in association with

JP McManus ‘key’ to Ryder Cup success PÁRAIC MCMAHON

S

paraic@clareecho.ie

HANNON Airport needs to now be identifying itself as the gateway for the 2027 Ryder Cup with JP McManus (inset) identified as a key player in making this a reality.

Senior officials in Clare County Council are determined not to let the opportunity of a lifetime in promoting the county slip them by while calls to involve Limerick’s JP McManus in maximising the use of Shannon Airport for the Ryder Cup have been voiced.

Councils in Clare, Limerick, Tipperary and Kerry need to have a united approach “that will maximise the potential of Shannon Airport and the Shannon Estuary for the anticipated numbers of visitors and media attention this event will bring,” Cllr Ian Lynch (IND) proposed. He also asked that a cross directorate strategy be developed to

maximise the potential of cruise ships along the Shannon Estuary for the Ryder Cup. Acting Head of Tourism, Deirdre O’Shea said the Council will work with Fáilte Ireland and neighbouring local authorities “to make every effort in ensuring that the potential of Shannon Airport and indeed the County of Clare will benefit from one of the world’s greatest sporting event, being hosted in our neighbouring county”.

Referencing the impact of the 2019 Irish Open to the Clare economy, Cllr Lynch maintained the big challenge for the Ryder Cup would be to see the West of Ireland benefit more than other areas. “We have seen the marketing budget of Dublin Airport, once it was announced they were quick off the mark to claim they were gateway to Ryder Cup, by God they could do with a small lesson in geography”.

Scotland’s public transport benefitted when it hosted the Ryder Cup, the Kilrush representative noted while highlighting the potential it had for the mooted rail link at

Shannon Airport. He claimed that some homeowners are refusing to put their house up for rent until the Ryder Cup which “is killing our housing stock”.

Clare does not have the pier to deliver aspired benefits from the cruise industry, Cllr Cillian Murphy (FF) argued. “We need to be doing the marketing now, there is no point having stuff in Shannon when people get through the Airport” Dublin Airport was “totally wrong” to try claim the Ryder Cup, Cllr Pat Daly (FF) commented.

The selling point of a 30 to 40 minute trip from Shannon to Adare rather than two hours plus from Dublin needs to be flagged, he said. “JP McManus needs to be brought into it, he is the man that will dic-

tate and set it up, he has the power, he needs to meet with management of the four local authorities”.

Inability of Shannon Airport to reap the rewards of the Irish Open in Lahinch cannot be repeated, Cllr Clare Colleran Molloy (FF) stressed. Chief Executive of the Council, Pat Dowling said it was not their place to “tell Shannon Airport how to run their business”. He told the meeting they are due to sit down with the CEO and Chair of Shannon Group along with the Chief Executives of Limerick City and County Council, Galway County Council and Tipperary County Council.

“We are not going to let this opportunity go, having the Ryder Cup half an hour away from us, we will not let that go unexploited,” he said.

Gort Road traffic calming measures disputed

by PÁRAIC McMAHON A SHANNON councillor has disputed the need for further traffic calming measures on the Gort Rd despite a proposal from a fellow elected representative.

Cllr Gerry Flynn (IND) and Cllr Donna McGettigan (SF) were at odds when it came to additional measures in the Gort Rd estate in Shannon.

An appeal for the Shannon Municipal District to “look into traffic calming measures” on the Gort Rd was issued by Cllr McGettigan at a recent sitting of the local authority.

“This road is heavily used particularly during school hours, residents are concerned about traffic in the

area,” she stated.

If works are needed, a budget must be identified, senior executive engineer Tom Mellett said.

“An assessment of this road linking Drumgeely to Bothár na Rinne will be carried out to identify what issues are arising and potential solutions for them,” he added.

School traffic was at the crux of the concerns on “a very busy road”, Cllr McGettigan said. “There are cars parked everywhere,” the sole Sinn Féin member on Clare County Council commented while stressing the need for consultation with residents.

Although he seconded

BUMPY: Gort Rd Photo by Joe Buckley

the proposal, Cllr Flynn questioned the need for more measures. “I’m one of the residents, I’ve no issue with speed on the road because there is none”.

He outlined that on either side of the road lies St Tola’s National School and St Patrick’s Comprehensive School, “it is affectionately known as the bumpy road because there are so many bumps on it”.

Any measures to be considered will require consultation with residents, Flynn agreed. “People with their vehicles are very sensible dropping their kids to and from school, we will always have some people breaking the law, the roads are not playgrounds, they are for vehicles”.

15

THURSDAY, FEB 17 2022

in association with

Ennis to welcome ‘smart parking’ STUART HOLLY

A

editor@clareecho.ie

SMART parking initiative is to be rolled out in Ennis which will see parking censors installed across the town, providing motorists with real-time information on available parking spaces.

The Smart Parking initiative is to be deployed under the Cisco Country Digital Acceleration programme (CDA), which funds digitisation initiatives across the world to support countries, cities, and towns to realise the value of digitisation faster.

The Ennis Smart Parking Project came about through a collaboration between the Western Development Commission and Chambers Ireland. Ennis Chamber identified a series of parking challenges that could be positively addressed through the deployment of technology-based solutions.

The objective of the Ennis Smart Parking project is to provide intelligence to enable better management of traffic in Ennis town centre.

Improved traffic management across the town could reduce CO2 emissions from cars, increase shopper footfall, and deliver improved visitor sentiment.

The proposed solution will see Cisco work with its Dublin-based software partner Danalto to deploy a range of technology solutions including parking sensors, ISR routers, and Cameras throughout parking areas in Ennis town centre, including surface car parks controlled by Clare County Council, private car parks, and some on street parking bays.

The use of parking cameras and sensors in conjunction with a cloud analytics platform to analyse parking space availability, will allow the public to access real-time informa-

tion on parking availability. The project will also facilitate the introduction of dynamic digital signage to communicate parking availability to motorists as they approach Ennis.

Shane Heraty, Managing Director, Ireland and Scotland, Cisco said, “Smart, digital technology has the ability to help solve complex challenges in even the most unlikely of places. The smart parking and connected community solution to be implemented in Ennis will provide valuable data and insight into the broader impact of addressing an issue such as parking.

The historic town will be able to not only quantify improvements in traffic flow, but areas such as air quality and footfall for local businesses.”

He added “We’re delighted to be partnering with Ennis, the WDC and Danalto on this initiative through the Cisco Country Digital Acceleration programme.”

Margaret O’Brien, CEO Ennis Chamber said, “The work to be undertaken by Cisco and Danalto will result in clear, tangible benefits for the commercial heart of Ennis.

Improved traffic management, dynamic digital signage and real-time communication around parking availability will improve footfall and, also the user experience, which in turn will make Ennis an even more attractive destination for shoppers and visitors.”

Mayor of Ennis, Cllr Ann Norton said, “The elected members of Ennis Municipal District are delighted that Cisco chose to work with Ennis Chamber and Clare County Council on this Smart Parking initiative.

Parking can be a challenge in Ennis and a solution devised by global IT leader Cisco, to help improve traffic management and access to parking is most welcome.”

Leonore O’Neill, Senior Executive Officer, Ennis Municipal District, Clare County Council said, “We view this as a great opportunity for Ennis and look forward to

FASD Ireland opens new office to support families

by ELAINE TUBRIDY FOETAL Alcohol Spectrum Disorders awareness organisation FASD Ireland have established a new centre in Ennis, due to “significant” demand for family support and training.

It is estimated that at least 40,000 people live with FASD across Ireland. Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders are a range of lifelong conditions that result from exposure to alcohol before birth, often referred to as Prenatal Alcohol Exposure (PAE).

There is no cure. Alcohol can affect a developing baby’s brain and body and may result in a range of lifelong

physical, emotional and developmental difficulties.

FASD Ireland has three core aims; prevention, support and awareness. The new offices in Ennis will provide a base for the organisation to provide training, advice and the ability to link families who live with FASD. To launch the new training workshops, the first event “An Introduction to FASD” will be held online on the 11th March 2022 at 10am.

This is an opportunity for everyone to find out more about FASD, including the impact of FASD on children, young people and their families; barriers, signs and symptoms and navigating

education.

“The advice from the HSE is that no amount of alcohol is safe to be consumed if you are planning to get pregnant, if you think you might be pregnant or if you are pregnant. FASD is the most preventable neuro-developmental disability in Ireland.

FASD Ireland is here to help families that are living with FASD,” said a spokesperson for the organisation.

For further information visit www.fasdireland.ie or email office@fasdireland.ie.

You can also find them on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram by searching: fasdireland

SPACE: The technology will help motorists find available parking spots

working collaboratively with Cisco and Ennis Chamber on this exciting project to de-

velop an innovative digital parking solution for Ennis.”

16 NEWS

THURSDAY, FEB 17 2022

'I’m not in Laochra Gael' Tony Griffin on life, becoming an author, and his legacy in the saffron and blue.

This is an excerpt of a premium article which appears on www.clareecho.ie

STUART HOLLY

A

editor@clareecho.ie

UTHOR, former All-Star hurler, founder of a youth organisation, a reluctant mental health advocate, and a friendship with arguably the world’s most controversial athlete. It’s been a life less ordinary for a man who grew up hurling on the boreens of Ballyea as a child, acting as piggy in the middle to his big brothers.

Geographically speaking, Tony Griffin was at a disadvantage as a child with ambitions to hurl for Clare. Ballyea had never been represented in the Saffron and Blue and to compound matters, his father was from Kilmaley while his mother hails from Falkirk, neither a hurling stronghold (incredibly, Tony’s mother was one of four Scottish sisters to marry Clare men). While his dad Jerome didn’t hurl, he was a keen spectator and such was his determination to attend Christy Ring’s final game, he cycled from Kilmaley to Limerick to witness the spectacle.

A brief examination of Tony’s mindset as a 13-year old provides a windowed insight into his own determination to carve out his destiny.

“I went to first year in the CBS and then changed to St Flannan’s,” explains Tony, who recently celebrated his 41st birthday. “We played Flannan’s in a first year match and they hockied us. I couldn’t get over the fact they had matching tracksuits and we were like the League of Nations, we had Avenue United socks and Lifford shorts and a few Ballyea shorts thrown in there.

“I remember going home to my mother saying, ‘I’m changing schools’ and she said ‘that’s not the way it goes, we tell you where you’re going’ and I said, ‘I’m going to that school. I’m not going to get to play for Clare if I’m in the CBS’.”

After some back-and-forth, his mother agreed to young Tony’s demands on the condition that he meet with the St Flannan’s principal, Fr John Jones, and “sort it out” himself. That’s just what Tony did. “He asked why I wanted to move and I said for hurling.

He sat back in the seat and burst out laughing and said, ‘at least you’re honest’.”

Looking back on the slightly comedic ex-

 LONG READ: Tony Griffin

change, it turned out to be a crucial intervention as Tony went on to win two All-Ireland colleges with Flannan’s, learning about “what it would take to get to the top level of the game”.

Tony believes he has always possessed a knack for making instinctually positive life decisions. “Imagine being 13 and writing on your wall, ‘I want to win an All Star, I want to play for Clare, I want to win an All-Ireland. Imagine getting two of those, from a place where no-one had ever played for Clare, where it wasn’t done and people said ‘it won’t happen if you play for Ballyea’.”

Tony Griffin, the author

His recent culmination of life decisions has led Tony to a cottage in Ballymore-Eus-

tace, close to the Wicklow Mountains, where he lives with his wife Keira-Eva and two sons, seven-year old Jerome and Jessie, who will be two in May. The move came soon after Tony had just finished writing his best-seller, The Teenager’s Book of Life, the night on which he would suffer a collapsed lung for the second time in his life.

Tony was forced to undergo surgery to seal the lining of his left lung and remained unwell for some time, “but the book had been finished thank God so by the time I was fully fit and healthy, the book was launching in February last year and from then on, it’s been a bit of a runaway train.”

For the full article go to https://www.clareecho.ie/the-sunday-read-tony-griffin/

Clare Echo launches premium online model

by ELAINE TUBRIDY THE Clare Echo has launched a premium subscription model for online readers in a move to safeguard the future of invaluable, accessible local journalism.

Subscribers will have access to premium content, enjoy an ad-free experience, be able to comment on The Clare Echo website while also receiving weekly tailored newsletters relating to their particular area of interest.

Every week, The Clare Echo will publish more longform articles on the subjects close to the heart of people in Clare. Clare Echo editor, Stuart Holly, says that the premium subscribership will help The Clare Echo to develop an unrivalled news experience for local readers.

“Every new subscriber helps The Clare Echo to continue delivering trusted information to the public on a daily basis, with in-depth news, and informative articles and interviews that will not be available anywhere else,” he said.

“Local news is the

most important news and with readers’ support, we will create an unrivalled user experience while delivering important content to keep you informed on the community you live in.”

The first premium article, which was published on The Clare Echo website on Sunday, was “received really well” by readers garnering a number of new subscribers. Mr Holly continued, “I’m very encouraged to see readers signing up to the premium platform. I would like to thank those who have already subscribed; it shows there is goodwill for our brand along

with a demand for insightful articles on a local level. Our by-the-minute coverage on Covid-19, election coverage along with breaking news and sport has given us a platform to launch this product which will see our team invest more time in insightful, informative journalism.”

Páraic McMahon, Head of News & Sport, added, “Quality journalism can only be sustained by investment.

The development of this model is an exciting time for The Clare Echo. Our newsroom prides itself on having no agendas only a thriving commitment to deliver trusted, accurate and detailed coverage across news, sport, business and the arts to our readers at home and abroad. Both the people of Clare and its diaspora have an opportunity to support the future of journalism in the county by backing this new initiative.”

To access premium content will cost readers €2 per week, less than the price of a coffee, and readers who sign up now will receive an introductory offer of 75c per week for the first six months (billed at €3 per month).

Visit clareecho.ie/subscribe for more.

Arts & Entertainment 17

THURSDAY, FEB 17 2022

Eoin shows nation how to get it done

 FARMING: Eoin Collins

by ELAINE TUBRIDY

K

ILFENORA secondary school teacher Eoin Collins is about to show the nation the ups and downs of running a farming business in the West of Ireland.

‘Contractors’ is a fascinating seven-part documentary series exploring the working lives and personal narratives of 7 agricultural contracting families from diverse locations over a critical six month period from April to September: a unique practical and personal insight into contemporary life in rural Ireland.

Eoin is part of Collins Agri, a business his father started in 1994. Alongside his father and three brothers, they specialise in silage, baling, tillage and slurry.

“For the 137,000 families whose livelihoods depend on it, farming is a full-on, full-time job. But few farmers have the

time, the manpower or the expensive specialist plant required to do it. And so they call on the services of 1800 agricultural contractors from all around the country.

“Every year and in all weathers, these hardworking journeymen and women arrive with 20,000 tractors and harvesters, €150 million worth of agricultural machinery and 10,000 full and part-time operators to get the job done.

They are the ‘white knights’ of farming.

“In a single season, their crews will harvest five million bales of silage, spread 10 billion litres of slurry and handle a mammoth nationwide programme of hedge-cutting, reseeding, crop spraying, fencing, ploughing and drainage maintenance.

Along with this gargantuan workload, the contractors will deal with the immense pres-

sures of a seasonal industry requiring huge investment in equipment, long hours, unpredictable schedules and skilled workers and operators that are often hard to find.

“Time-frames are short, fuel is expensive, bad weather can derail a season and red tape can reduce a workforce to critical levels.

“These are real, hard working people. Some are full-time farmers who offer their skills and machines for hire come ploughing season and harvest time. Others are dedicated contractors who hire additional help for the busy months – among them, mums, dads and students earning money to cover the rent – a connected community in a no-nonsense world where time costs money and excuses count for nothing,” said a spokesperson for the show.

Catch contractors on TG4 at 9:30pm on Thursday the 24th of February.

Teen DJs storming industry

by ELAINE TUBRIDY PROMISING youngsters DJ Dave Falconer and DJ Shayne are excited to release their new track, Do you feel it, after signing with DaCosta records at the age of just 16.

Both from Clare, the pair began developing their talents in early 2020. They have gained a significant following online and have spun tracks on radio stations around the world. DJ Dave and DJ Shayne both host a show on Infinity Radio, Ireland’s newest online radio station.

Weekly live streams throughout the first lockdown was where Dave began to grow his fan base. He learned how to produce music and also gained thousands of views and plays on his remix.

His productions were featured on both OrganVibesUK and SessionFm. Dave has also previously hosted shows on Global radio cork where he hosted DJs such as dotsperinch, Callum Knight, James Hype and Tita Lau. At the end of last year Shayne signed two record deals with p1ay media in Dublin and Dacosta records in Derry.

He released Real love, Dance with me and We got no, with great acclaim from Marty Guilfoyle, Dylan McKee, Mark T, Mark McCabe, Louise DaCosta, Tony krisp, D.O.R, Foggy, The cheeky seal, DJ

 SPIN: DJ Shayne and (inset) DJ Dave Falconer

Aaron Kennedy and more.

Dave’s inspiration to begin djing and producing came from his inability to play any physical instruments due to contractures in his hands. Little did he know it would lead him to signing a deal with DaCosta Records. “18 months ago I couldn’t have imagined any of this happening,” he said.

Shayne revealed that the attention his music is receiving is “surreal”. “It's a passionate hobby now, I would like to see it as my job in the future,” he added.

Preview the track at https://www.junodownload.com/products/dj-shayne-david-do-you-feel-it/5455503-02/ before its release on February 28.

‘Huge spinoff for community’ SMOTHER’S production crew have returned to Co Clare days after RTÉ confirmed a third series has been given the green light, writes Páraic McMahon.

Season two of the popular drama starring Dervla Kirwan concluded on Sunday night. Filming of the next series is to commence in the next week with members of the cast due to arrive in Co Clare over the coming days.

Locals have bought into the series from the get-go by providing a warm welcome with others such as Ennistymon senior football captain, Sean Rouine assisting with security, the defender has remained tight-lipped on whether he could step in front of the camera for series three.

Shooting the drama in the county has brought a lift to morale and the local economy, co-owner of the Lahinch Coast Hotel, Brid O’Meara told The Clare Echo. Production company, Treasure Entertainment set up their base at the hotel including all offices with some suites dismantled and used as hospital settings during the show as well as the

bar and lounge for some scenes.

“It has been hugely beneficial for us, it is hard to put it into figures. It has helped hugely in extending our season.

Myself and John (O’Meara co-owner) reopened the hotel in 2019 with a big focus on growth and extension of the season, with the Irish Open in 2019 it helped to extend the season to December, then we secured the contract for Smother to go ahead in February 2020 when all of COVID-19 started,” she outlined.

Benefits have been already experienced from the show’s popularity, Brid said. “It has brought a huge spin-off for the whole community. All of the people working on the show are literally moving and integrating into the area, they are using the local shops, restaurants and pharmacies, some of them rented houses and had their families visiting, they integrated very well and the full area benefitted”.

Guests that have stayed at Lahinch Coast Hotel since the show began have approached Brid asking where scenes were shot so they could take pictures.

18 COLUMNIST

THURSDAY, FEB 17 2022

CRISPY SQUARES ON A BUDGET Kearney Cooks

I

’M VERY conscious of the fact that there has been a notable rise in the price of shopping lately.

Along with many other things food is becoming increasingly expensive. I am also aware that some of the recipes that I write can be on the expensive side. So this week I thought I would include a recipe that could be done for under a fiver. That would be buying everything you need for less than a fiver and not relying on ingredients that you may or may not have at home.

So to make this recipe affordable I hit up Aldi for my ingredients. Everything cost me €4.69, and this recipe would give me nine portions which would work out at 52 cent a portion.

YOU WILL NEED • 1 six pack of Aldi titan bars • 50g butter • 100g rice crispies • 1 200g bar of Aldi milk chocolate Step One Chop up your titan bars and put them in a bowl with the butter. Melt them over a pot of hot water or in a microwave. When the bars and butter are melted and combined, add the rice crispies and mix everything together until combined. Pour mix into a lined eight inch sq cake tin and leave it to set in the fridge for an hour.

Step Two Melt your chocolate in a microwave or in a bowl over hot water. Pour over your set crispies mix. Smooth it over until the chocolate covers everything and back into the fridge for another hour.

Step Three Take out of the fridge and remove from the tin. Portion into nine pieces and horse into it.

My kids go mad for this recipe. It’s so

simple but oh so nice. It’s a great one to do for birthday parties and get togethers as well, and it has become a party food staple in my house.

As usual if you have any questions about this recipe or others please feel free to message me on Instagram @ stevekearney37. Also keep an eye to my Instagram or the Clare Echo Facebook page for the instructional video that goes with this recipe.

Enjoy

Steve K

The Beatitudes of our love RONAN SCULLY

Thought for the week

L

ove has hopefully been in the air this week after the celebrations of Valentine’s day and also because the gospel readings for readers who go to church at the weekend were about the Beatitudes. We mainly think in general about love in glowing terms, as something that is associated with joy, happiness and comfort. While the love we experience in church is nearly also joyful, happy and comforting, it also calls us to engage in the hard kind of love, the kind of love that Jesus talks about in the Beatitudes. .

Perhaps Love

With nearly all Covid restrictions almost totally lifted, we need to ask ourselves what we can do right now with love in our hearts, to improve the beautiful country we live in, to help bring jobs, compassion, mercy and healing after all the negativity and loss of lockdowns and to bring hope, love and comfort where none seemed to be in the offering over the past year or so? We can’t just leave it to the politicians and others in various forms of power, we must, each one of us put on the country jersey and get out there and do something for the betterment of one another especially for our children, our homeless, our elderly and our sick and infirmed. Sounds like a tall order, and yes it is, but the answer is small, simple and sweet.

It’s a simple suggestion that came to me when I was listening recently to a church choir singing at mass as they sang one of the many John Denver classic’s, “Perhaps Love.” The melody is playing gently in my mind right now as I write this thought for the week. I don’t know all the

words, I just keep hearing, “Perhaps Love”, and maybe, just maybe perhaps love can help us all make a real difference for good, going forward in one another’s lives.

Re-Gift

This week, which was dedicated to St. Valentine and to the Beatitudes, when you look at your partner, your children, your parents, your friends, your colleagues please see them with the eyes of love. Remember that we are all just doing the very best we can at any given time, warts and all, but beneath it all, the current which runs within all of us is Love. That is the greatest gift we can receive and it is a gift we can re-gift!

We are equipped with a never ending supply of love.

When we look at those we care about with The Look of Love, we are dismissing that they left their towel lying on the floor (my wife forgives me regularly for this), we are ignoring that they left the fridge door open, we are looking at them with the eyes of love, we are remembering and connecting to the blessing we feel that they are in our lives.

The gratitude that they are sharing this journey with us right now! That they are here now! This is not something to take for granted, and yet we do so every single day, again and again.

So, let’s make our homes, our communities, our towns and cities and our country a better place than it has been in the past, one look at a time this week and well into the future. Take a moment to look at and appreciate the ones we love, the ones who are walking beside us, who are working beside us, who are living beside us and who are sharing this journey with us during these difficult economic, faithless and hard times. We all need to be seen with the eyes of love, to be reminded of our greatness and to be empowered by it. It is powerful soul food.

Do me a favor

Do one more thing for me, when you look in the mirror

this week, look at yourself with the eyes of love. Don’t look at the wrinkles, or slight imperfections, look, really look into your eyes, and love yourself. You are here now for a reason, and I for one am profoundly grateful that you are here, and that you are aware enough that you are willing to take the next opportunity to try out as the John Denver song goes, ‘Perhaps Love’ as the answer to all our ills and worries. If we can only remember to do this once this week, we are improving the world around us.

Love simply is

God has given each one of us a heart to love. It is through our hearts by which he comes to show love and compassion to the world. As God is generous beyond our imaginings, this gift of love is something we must extend not just to a worthy few, but to everyone regardless of our natural inclination or prejudices or racisms and reasoning to reject or exclude.

Thought for the Week

As your thought for the week, see what act of love you can do or give to someone that might need it most and sometimes it is someone very close to you that needs it! Just do it and live “The Beatitudes of Love”! Seek out opportunities to think about and remember those people who are often forgotten in our world especially those who are elderly, alone, abandoned, orphaned, ill, abused, lost, homeless or living on the edges of our society need our love too.

Remember them in your giving, actions, prayers, intentions and meditations. And may God bless you with discomfort, at easy answers, half-truths, and superficial relationships. So that you may live deep within your heart so that you may live out God’s Beatitudes of Love! May God bless you with anger, at injustice, oppression, and exploitation of people. So that you may work for justice, freedom and peace!

FEATURES 19

THURSDAY, FEB 17 2022

GREEN CLARE

Joined up thinking needed to encourage bee population

A

by NIAMH KINNANE LOCAL beekeeper has warned that our ecosystem will be threatened if the bee population continues to be dwindle, while secondary schools and youth groups across the county are making a difference by planting flower bulbs in a bid to save the bees.

The All-Ireland Pollinator Plan teamed up with Gaisce last autumn to celebrate Gaisce’s 35th anniversary, with a unique challenge, the #BulbsForBees project. That autumn, pollinator friendly bulbs were being handed out to centres all over the country for secondary schools and youth groups to collect and plant for free.

These bulbs included Crocus flowers and Grape Hyacinths which bloom in early spring, to help bees who

won’t be able to find food at that time of year, as well as Allium bulbs that will bloom by Summer.

One of the schools to take part in the challenge was the Ennistymon Vocational School. One teacher, Gabrielle Fahy, with the help of transition year students, planted bulbs in front of the school and in front of the Ennistymon Library.

Ms Fahy comments, “Our school is a Worldwide Global School and we are focusing on No 11, sustainable communities, and No 12, responsible consumption.

“We got in contact with the Clare local development company in Westgate Business Park and we planted [the bulbs]. Let’s hope we see some shoots soon.”

Noel Leahy, a local beekeeper, had this to say about the crisis. “There’s a big issue out there in regards to the

use of pesticides, intensive farming, and the removing of hedgerows are a big issue and without the bee, without insects in general, we’ll have a serious issue because 80 per cent of our food requires pollination and without the insects to pollinate a lot of our food, and a lot of our traditional foods that we would have would disappear.

“There needs to be more joined-up thinking going forward, now look there’s been a lot of changes, you look at a lot of the county councils even, they’re allowing the flowers to grow on the roundabouts and stuff like that.”

When asked about how the everyday person could help with the crisis, Noel told The Clare Echo that many flower centres have specific areas labelled for “bee-loving plants”. “Look around your garden, leave an area, it doesn’t have to be

a big area, if you don’t have a garden it can be a flower pot, but plant a few flowers in it and the bees will like it.”

The IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) has 7 species of bees categorised as critically endangered, 46 are classified

as endangered, 24 as vulnerable and a further 101 are near threatened.

The drastically increasing numbers of bees dying is concerning, as bees pollinate around 80% of our food supply. Honey bees alone create around $15 billion

dollars worth of agricultural crops in the U.S. annually.

While bees aren’t the only pollinators, beetles, butterflies, bats and moths also make up some of the global pollination. Bees do most of the work and are sadly the most endangered.

Beware of Bogus waste ColleCtors

Noel Leahy

You are responsible for your waste If your household or business waste is dumped you could face a fine of €5,000 Remember:    



Never use unauthorised waste collectors; Authorised waste collectors are required by law to have a National Waste Collection Permit and will clearly display the waste permit number on the vehicle; Do not avail of a waste collection service if this permit (16-25 pages long) cannot be produced; Any unauthorised waste collectors or suspicious activity should be brought to the attention of our Waste Enforcement Team. Providing a vehicle registration number will assist us in our investigations; Under the Waste Management Byelaws 2018 all householders and businesses may be requested to produce evidence on how waste is managed.

For more information on how to manage your waste responsibly visit www.mywaste.ie

Clare County Council Promoting a Greener Clare @GreenerClare Antilitter Hotline No.: 1800 606 706 Email: enviroff@clarecoco.ie | www.clarecoco.ie

20 COMMUNITY

THURSDAY, FEB 17 2022

Community TOOVAHERA

CONTACT

NEWSDESK 065 671 9021 news@clareecho.ie

BALLYNACALLY MUSIC ON THE GREEN MARKING Valentine’s Day, Ballynacally Development Association held a music session on the Green on Sunday. Spirits lifted to the sound of local musicians outside the Estuary Café. John Kelly, Brian Burke

and Bernie, Jack, Mike and Fiona Kirwan played flute, fiddle, saxophone, guitar and bodhrán delighting the Café clientele inside and out as they enjoyed breakfast. Songs by John Kelly and Joe Normoyle added to the entertainment.

NOTES FROM AROUND THE COUNTY RED CROSS COLLECTIONS CHURCH gate collections for the Irish Red Cross Clare branch will take place this Saturday, February 19 and Sunday, February 20. Saturday collections include Miltown Malbay Church at 6pm, Tulla Church at 6pm and Mountshannon Church at 7pm.

On Sunday, the Red Cross will be fundraising at Moy at 9.15am, Fanore at 9.30am, Carron at 9.45am, New Quay at 11am, Tulla at 11am, Whitegate at 11am and Miltown Malbay at 12.15pm.

Collections will also take place on Saturday February 26 at Inchovea Mass at 7pm and on Sunday February 27 at Kilfenora at 11am, Ballyvaughan at 11am and Doolin at 1pm.

QUIN: FARMER’S MARKET Malachy’s Farmer Market will be taking place in Quin this Sunday (February 20th) from 11am to 1pm. lOH HAPPY DAY: Fr Robert McNamara and Mr. Shaun Jordan cut the ribbon at the reopening of the Church of Our Lady of Lourdes, Toovahera and (inset) the newly renovated church. Renovations included a new concrete floor including insulation, new carpet and painting the inside of the building. Fr Robert McNamara thanked all involved with fundraising and those who contributed or helped in any way

COUNTYWIDE SOUTH FOR SUSAN AND ANTIONETTE A FUNDRAISING cycle from Malin Head to Mizen Head will take place during the first week of June in memory of two women who spent many years cycling and fundraising before passing to their eternal reward during the second half of 2021. On July 20th, 2021, Susan O’Neill, from Ballyea, died from cancer. On November 11th, 2021, Antoinette Pender from Quilty also died having contracted cancer. Both women had fought bravely before finally succumbing.

The fundraising event is titled ‘South for Susan and Antoinette’.

A limited number of cyclists will undertake the journey from Malin Head to Mizen Head between June 6th and June 10th. Overnight rest points are scheduled for Donegal Town, Claremorris, Ballyea and Blarney. Susan’s husband Michael O’Neill and Antoinette’s husband Jamsie have commenced training in preparation for the once-off event. Both men are experienced cyclists and the long miles are not likely to be too daunting.

Other cyclists who have volunteered for the trip are Marie, Claire and Sheila Hough (Coolmeen), Shane O’Neill from Ballyea (Susan’s son), Noel Keane (Kilmaley), Liam Duggan (Doora/Barefield), Michael Clancy (Lissycasey), Jason Ryan (Kilrush), Stevie Malone (Kilnaboy) and Martin O’Donoghue (Corofin).

A support team will travel with the cycle, taking care of repairs, transport of luggage and other logistics. The support team will be comprised of Noel Howard (Ennis),

Tom Haugh (Coolmeen) as well as Mike and Bernie Cusack from Doora. Susan’s daughters Michelle and Tara will cover social media input and Ballyea based support.

The selected charities are Sláinte an Chláir and Cancer Care West. Sláinte an Chláir is based in Kilnamona and has provided support to cancer patients for many years.

Cancer Care West is Galway based and has supported cancer patients along the western seaboard to access care as well as helping support new therapy development, research and education in cancer and leukemia care. Each cyclist and member of the road support team will cover the cost of their accommodation, meals and other expenses, thereby ensuring that all funds collected will be divided between the two charities. A permit to facilitate the fundraising has been granted by the Garda Síochána. A bank account has been set up, at AIB in Ennis, to receive all monies from people who wish to support the ‘South for Susan and Antoinette’ fundraising drive. The account IBAN details are – IE71 AIBK 9353 8757 1231 83 and the BIC is AIBKIE2D .

Online donations can be made on the GoFundMe platform (www.gofundme.com) search for ‘South for Susan & Antoinette’.

The cyclists and support team members would welcome and appreciate any contact.

If anybody wishes to find out more about the event or has a query, Michelle O’Looney can be reached on (087) 9979383, Tara Lynch at (087) 2105526 or Mike Cusack on (087) 6998788.

ENNIS: BRIDGE Bridge resumed on Valentines night in the Ennis Bridge Centre . It was an open night for all clubs hosted by the Ennis Club. Players were delighted to meet again.

The Ennis Club are hoping that more members from other Clubs will join next Monday. Play starts 7.45pm.

SPORTS CAPITAL FUNDING Over €4.6 million in Sports Capital Grant funding has been allocated to 69 clubs in Clare.

Minister for Sport Jack Chambers has today confirmed that his department will issues grants totalling €150m to clubs nationally under the latest round of funding of this programme.

“I’m delighted to see this huge investment in sports facilities throughout Co. Clare,” said Deputy Cathal Crowe.

“I have spent a number of months criss-crossing the county meeting sports clubs, community groups and a broad spectrum of people who enjoy using these fantastic facilities and I’ve worn a path to Minister Chambers’ office to try to secure funding for them.

“I love sports myself and played with my local GAA club in Meelick and also played rugby growing up.

“In more recent years, I’ve been involved in coaching hurling, football and rugby teams when I was teaching in Parteen NS and I’m proud to say that my children are now playing with a number of our local teams.

“Time spent involved in sports is golden time for young people and it’s only right that we invest in the facilities that improve participation.”

REGIONAL FESTIVAL & PARTICIPATIVE EVENTS PROGRAMME 2022 Clare County Council is pleased to announce that the Regional Festival & Participative Events Funding Support Programme 2022, funded under Failte Ireland, is open for online applications.

The aim of this Scheme is to support festivals and participative events in County Clare. The supported events must help to drive domestic and international tourism arrivals to Clare, win bed nights, stimulate local economic activity, and help to improve the visitor experience in the county.

Qualifying Conditions & minimum Eligibility Thresholds for 2022: • The project must have a minimum expenditure of €10,000.

• The Festival or Participative Event should help to attract domestic and international visitor arrivals to County Clare.

• The festival/events must generate a minimum of 300 visitor bed nights in paid accommodation.

• The festival or event must take place during 2022.

• The Festival & Events Programme must include high-quality content and design.

• The event must have appropriate insurance cover.

• The Festival/Event must have an online presence with up-to-date information.

• The Festival/Event will take into account the actions needed to minimise the impact on the Environment (e.g. minimising / eliminating single use materials etc).

Applications forms must be completed ONLINE. Online applications can be made from 9am on Thursday, 17th February 2022.

The Closing Date for submission of online applications is 5pm, on Friday, 4th March 2022.

The Online Application system and scheme guidelines can be accessed from the website at https://www. clarecoco.ie/services/community/grants/ Enquiries can be made by email to tourism@clarecoco.ie and telephone (065) 6846493, Tourism Department, Rural Development Directorate, Clare County Council, New Road, Ennis, Clare.

NEWS

THURSDAY, FEB 17 2022

WOULD YOU LIKE WOULD YOU LIKE

IN YOUR COMMUNITY?

IN YOUR COMMUNITY? Fill in an n for applicatio ssion your expre for of interest the Púca!

Fill in an n for applicatio ssion your expre for of interest the Púca!

21

22 RECRUITMENT

THURSDAY, FEB 10 2022

AAG announce senior appointments NEW ROLE: Susan Keating

S

by PÁRAIC McMAHON

HANNON based aviation specialist Atlantic Aviation Group (AAG) has announced the appointment of Eva O’Keeffe (inset) as Chief Aviation Services Officer and Susan Keating as Chief Commercial Officer.

Last year, the company announced the acquisition of Lufthansa Technik Shannon LTD (LTSL) and its aviation maintenance services operations. When the acquisition closes on the 31st of March this year, AAG will add over 300 staff to its existing 436 strong Irish and UKbased workforce.

Acquired by Patrick Jordan in April 2015, the business is now one of Europe's largest independent aviation solutions company’s offering services in Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul

(MRO), Aircraft Modifications, Continuous Airworthiness Management, Aviation Training and MRO Defence Services.

Eva O’Keeffe has been appointed as Chief Aviation Services Officer.

An experienced senior executive in multinational and SME sectors in aviation and financial services, Eva was previously vice president, divisional manager with financial services company Northern Trust in Limerick and CEO of leading private executive jet operator Private Sky. A graduate of Dublin City University, she holds a bachelors’ degree in Accounting and Finance and is a fellow member of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants. Eva started her career in Bank of Ireland and has since held senior roles in finance, operations, compliance, business development and

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

• PART-TIME RECEPTIONIST ACTIVE ENNIS, 2022 (OPEN COMPETITION) Completed applications must be emailed to: recruitment@clarecoco.ie not later than 4.00 p.m. on Thursday 3rd March 2022

• BRANCH LIBRARIAN PANEL, 2022 (OPEN COMPETITION) Completed applications must be emailed to: recruitment@clarecoco.ie not later than 4.00 p.m. on Friday 4th March 2022

• BEACH OPERATIVE PANEL, 2022 (OPEN COMPETITION) Completed applications must be emailed to: recruitment@clarecoco.ie not later than 4.00 p.m. on Thursday 10th March 2022

• LIBRARY ASSISTANT PANEL, 2022 (OPEN COMPETITION) Completed applications must be emailed to: recruitment@clarecoco.ie not later than 4.00 p.m. on Tuesday 8th March 2022 Application forms and further particulars may be obtained by requesting same from the Human Resources Department, Clare County Council at 065-6846251, via e-mail: recruitment@clarecoco.ie or can be downloaded from the following website: www.clarecoco.ie Clare County Council is an equal opportunities employer and welcomes applications from all sectors of the Community.

Scriobh chugainn as gaeilge más fearr leat.

business transformation with Worcester Investments plc, Bank of Butterfield, HSBC Bermuda and University of Limerick.

Susan Keating joins the company as Chief Commercial Officer. She has 20 years’ experience in commercial and executive leadership roles with leading aircraft and engine lessors.

She has expertise in international business development, development and implementation of revenue growth strategies and leading commercial teams in the negotiation and execution of complex cross-border aviation asset transactions.

In previous roles, Susan was Vice President Sales & Marketing and Head of Commercial at CFM’s Shannon Engine Support (SES). Susan is a graduate of the University of Limerick and holds a bachelor’s degree in Business and an MBA in Aviation Management.

Of the new additions, Atlantic Aviation Group Chief Executive Officer, Shane O’Neill, commented that the duo represented “high-calibre appointees”. He stated, “We are pleased to have someone with Eva’s proven senior leadership experience and experience of leading the growth of businesses with a strong focus on people and customers.

"We need to ensure we are sufficiently organised from a leadership and management perspective to support our people working in all areas of the business and ensure our customers’ needs are met.

“That’s why we are also delighted to welcome Susan Keating as our new Chief Commercial Officer. Susan will help to ensure all revenue streams of the business continue to thrive and that our brand continues to grow in the civil and defence aviation markets,” O’Neill concluded.

THURSDAY, FEB 17 2022

NEWS

23

Beautiful homes all over the County

Property

22 DUN NA MANACH QUIN CO. CLARE

12 THE SANDBANKS KILKEE CO. CLARE

THURSDAY, FEB 17 2022

€225,000

€189,000

24

BALLYINSHEEN MOR BALLYVAUGHAN ROAD, LISDOONVARNA CO. CLARE. €170,000

22 DUN NA MANACH is an immaculately presented three-bedroom semi-detached property overlooking the green. The property comes to market in excellent condition throughout. Ideally located within walking distance of Quin village and all local amenities. Situated in an established residential development consisting of 49 houses.

Built in 2006, the property has been tastefully maintained by its current owners over the last few years to give it an attractive, modern feel. On entering the main entrance hallway, the quality tiled flooring leads to an equally stunning main reception room where a feature solid fuel fireplace, solid oak timber flooring and a large front aspect bay window provide an unexcelled ambiance of comfort and homely feel.

THIS fine mid terrace property comes to the market in turn key condition. Ideally located within walking distance of the beach and all amenities. Situated in an established residential area of only 15 houses.

Accommodation is laid out over 3 floors and comprises a kitchen and dining area, living room, 3 bedrooms (2 ensuites) and a bathroom. Externally there is a tarmac driveway to the front and an enclosed, private rear patio area. Due to its size and location it would make an ideal holiday home or investment property for long or short term rentals. Viewings are highly recommended.

THIS charming 2 bedroom cottage is set on a 1 acre private site and is located less than one mile from Lisdoonvarna town. Constructed in 1908 and extended in the 1980s, this spacious property would make an ideal starter/retirement or holiday home.

Accommodation is deceivingly spacious and comprises an open plan kitchen/living and dining room, sitting room, toilet, bathroom and 2 bedrooms. The grounds are mainly in lawn with ample parking space available.

There are beautiful countryside views from the cottage and it is not overlooked to the rear.

Due to the size and layout of the property there may be potential to extend if desired. OFCH. Total Area 78.55 sq.m.

Contact: Jason Pyne SHERRY FITZGERALD MCMAHON Tel: (065) 686 7866 PSL 001212

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

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

ATLANTIC VIEW COTTAGE, DOOLIN, CO. CLARE 16 BED - 12 BATH - 511 M² - DETACHED

€950,000 STUNNING development of 6 luxury cottages. Set in the heart of the Burren National Park on a stunning elevated 7 acre secluded site offering incredible views of the Wild Atlantic, the Aran Islands and stunning cliff faces, Atlantic View Cottages are superbly maintained and presented with many old world charm features, with flagstone floors, open hearth fireplaces, traditional kitchens, sash style windows, just some of the many features worth mentioning.

Each home offers bright spacious and well proportioned living accommodation and each enjoys access to the landscaped and dry stone walled central courtyard, open green area, picnic patio, hidden adventure playground and ample carparking.

Located on the edge of the historic Burren in northwest County Clare, and within easy reach of the majestic Cliffs of Moher and the unique Aran Islands, Doolin’s dramatic landscape cannot easily be forgotten.

Doolin is the home of traditional Irish music and is a vibrant home to some of the region’s best accommodation, eateries, and beautiful local shops.

Atlantic View cottages would make a fantastic investment, family or group purchase with viewing highly recommended and strictly by prior appointment with sole selling agents.

PROPERTY

THURSDAY, FEB 17 2022

MEET YOUR LOCAL PROPERTY TEAM

JOHN CLOHESSY

CORMAC O'SULLIVAN

DOUGLAS HURLEY

25

26 PROPERTY

THURSDAY, FEB 17 2022

O’SULLIVAN HURLEY

(065) 684 0200 74 O'CONNELL STREET ENNIS

PSL No 002295

8 PINE GROVE, GORT ROAD, ENNIS, CO. CLARE

9 QUAY ROAD, KILDYSART, CO. CLARE

€245,000

7 RADHARC AN LOCHA, BALLYALLA, ENNIS, CO CLARE

R FO LE SA

R FO LE SA

R FO LE SA 4 Bed - 2 Bath - 117 m² - Semi-D

3 Bed - 2 Bath - 84 m² - Mid Terrace

€129,000

21 CLONLEA, SHANBALLA, ENNIS, CO. CLARE

€525,000

4 Bed - 3 Bath - 111m² - Semi-D

€249,950

55 BRAMBLE LANE, LIMERICK ROAD, ENNIS, CO. CLARE

43 ROS NA RI, SHANAWAY ROAD, ENNIS, CO. CLARE

€425,000

€250,000

33A BEAL AN INBHIR, KILRUSH, CO. CLARE

4 Bed - 4 Bath - 144 m² - Semi-D

€219,000

THE OLD PAROCHIAL HOUSE, KILMIHIL, CO. CLARE

R FO LE SA

R FO LE SA

R FO LE SA 5 Bed - 4 Bath - 177 m² - Detached

4/5 Bed - 2 Bath - 158 m² - Detached

R FO LE SA

R FO LE SA

R FO LE SA 5 Bed - 3 Bath - 302 m² - Detached

KILMALEY, CO CLARE

4 Bed - 3 Bath - 107 m² - Semi-D

€235,000

6 Bed - 6 Bath - 266 m² - Detached

€329,000

O’SULLIVAN HURLEY JOHN CLOHESSY

ANNE-MARIE DALY

CORMAC O'SULLIVAN

JOE LINEHAN

DOUGLAS HURLEY

LAUREN MCGUANE

17-02-22

Clare Echo THE

pg 27

instagram.com/ClareEcho twitter.com/ClareEcho facebook.com/clareecho clareecho.ie

NATIONAL HURLING LEAGUE DIVISION 1, ROUND 2: CLARE 1-20 WEXFORD 2-20 AT CUSACK PARK

Lohan: We have to take positives Compiled by Páraic McMahon

BRIAN LOHAN, CLARE MANAGER: “We have to take a couple of positives from the performance even though we lost the game.

“Rory Hayes won’t be happy with his first half performance, he had 1-04 scored off him and three frees conceded, it’s an awful lot to be conceded for a corner back so he won’t be happy with that, overall the backs did well.

“We’re asking an awful lot of those guys (Paddy Donnellan, Mark Rodgers, Patrick Crotty, Shane Meehan), they are young lads and we’re putting them under pressure, they shouldn’t have to be but it’s just the way injuries went against us for the last while. We shouldn’t be asking Shane to do 70 minutes against the strength of those guys but we are, he’s able to compete.

“We created chances and in fairness to Shane [Meehan] he usually takes them but we didn’t, that happens sometimes.

It was a great save. You would have to be happy with the workrate and responsibilities the inside line took, John Conlon showed endeavour for his first day back.

“We had 11 wides in the first half, you can’t afford that especially against this opposition, it looks bad when you’re hitting so many wides but we had three of those that were frees. We put responsibility on Mark and again he shouldn’t have to take that responsibility but that’s just the way it is.

“Last week we conceded 1-10 to no score in the 10 minutes before half-time, I

CLARE Frees for: 12 (6/6) Wides: 15 (11/4) Spread of scorers: 6 Scores from play: 1-09 Top scorer: Mark Rodgers (0-12 10f 1’65) Bookings: Rory Hayes (35) Own puckouts won: 28 from 36 (78%)

was happy after 23 minutes with the performance, I thought we had done well, after 31 or 32 minutes it was 1-12 1-09 so we would have been happy with it but it just looked so bad then when we conceded that full 1-19 in the first half, it looked worse than it actually was.”

DARRAGH EGAN, WEXFORD MANAGER: “Definitely happy with the end result, I would say we stuttered over the line to be honest. Clare with their wides in the first half had us in a position at half-time that we shouldn’t have been, we were slow starting in the second half but we dug it out, it was a great goal from Dee O’Keeffe which was the deciding factor really but we have lots to learn from that game.

We’ve lots to learn throughout February in our League games but no more so than today, we have to look at that right channel where Diarmuid Ryan was playing and Cathal Malone, they got an amount of ball and troubled us from there.

“I’m absolutely delighted to see Mark Rodgers and Patrick Crotty who gave us a lot of bother in the second half, there’s some top notch work going on in Scariff but all of East Clare, I was delighted for Tulla to win the Harty which will bring things on again, I really enjoyed my time in Scariff, I’ve lots of good friends there and lads I keep in touch with, I’d always be keeping an eye on how they’re getting on, sometimes I’d go down and do a session if I can at all.

“Mark is a top class forward, I remember watching him in a minor semi-final

WEXFORD Frees for: 10 (5/5) Wides: 14 (4/10) Spread of scorers: 8 Scores from play: 2-13 Top scorer: Jack O’Connor (0-09 6f 1’65) Bookings: Own puckouts won: 23 from 36 (64%)

SCAN HERE FOR MATCH REPORT Patrick Crotty impressed when introduced at half-time

against Tipperary, I was behind the goals that day and I thought his movement for an inside forward was brilliant, he has improved since that, he has had a tough few weeks with all the UL matches in the Fitzgibbon, hopefully he goes from strength to strength. It’s great for Patrick to come

in there, as an 18 year old he nearly commanded the game for the first 20 minutes of the second half, I’m delighted for the Scariff lads but ultimately now for me it’s about Wexford and we’re happy to have four points on the board”.

REFEREE: Colm Lyons (Cork)

Avenue advance but Ennis Town eliminated

by SEAMUS HAYES THERE was mixed luck for Clare clubs in the FAI Junior cup on Saturday.

Avenue United recorded an impressive win over Yellowstone in Dublin but Ennis Town bowed out of the title race at the same stage. Avenue manager David Russell told The Clare Echo that their win “is great for Clare soccer. “It’s been over 20 years since an Avenue team got further than the last 32 in this competition. We are the only Clare club to have contested the final of this competition”.

The Clarecastle native added “the average age of the team is 23 and this was a mature and professional performance.

There is a very good spirit within the squad all of whom have trained hard this season”.

AVENUE GO MARCHING ON Yellowstone (Dublin) 0 Avenue United 2 Venue: Drimnagh

Avenue United are through to the last 16 in the race for this season’s FAI junior cup.

They got off to a brilliant start with an outstanding goal from defender and captain Dylan Casey.

Five minutes into the game, Casey stepped up to a free kick in his

own half. Spotting that the Yellowstone keeper was six yards off his goal line, Casey drilled a powerful effort to the roof of the net.

Midway through the half the small band of loyal Avenue supporters who had travelled to Dublin for the game had their celebrations cut short when the Clare side had a goal disallowed. Good play between Elias Kunz and Thomas Hehir ended with Hehir finding the net only for the goal to be disallowed for offside.

For the last 15 minutes of the half Yellowstone piled on the pressure but James Tierney in the Avenue goal and the back four dealt well with everything that came his way in what was a very physical contest.

The home side continued to press for an equaliser on resumption but Avenue continued to deal well with the pressure. Midway through the half good play involving Jamie Roche and Kunz saw the ball crossed to Stephen Jordan (pictured) who found the net and from here to the finish the visitors were comfortable in control helped by the introduction of Cian O’Dea at midfield in place of Thomas Hehir who picked up an injury.

Avenue will be on the road in their next outing in the Junior Cup where they travel to Wexford to

Photo by Gerard O’Neill

play North End United on March 6.

Avenue United: James Tierney; Cullen McCabe, Conor Mullen, Dylan Casey (Capt), Jamie Roche; Mark Roche, Alan Roche, Eoghan Thynne, Stephen Jordan, Thomas Hehir, Elias Kunz Subs: Cian O’Dea for Hehir; Gary Roche for Kunz; Calum Barrett for Jordan; Mikey Dinan for Thynne

BALLYMUN STRIKE EARLY

Ballymun United 2 Ennis Town 0 Venue: Ballymun

Slow to settle a young Ennis Town team bowed out of this prestigious competition when going under to Ballymun at the Dublin club’s venue.

Having travelled to Dublin on Saturday morning, Ennis Town struggled in the early stages of this tie and the more experienced home side struck for two early goals which proved the difference.

As the game wore on Ennis Town matched their opponents and the second half proved to be an evenly contested affair. Ennis Town officials are confident that the experience gained from getting to the last thirty two will prove beneficial over the coming seasons.

Ennis Town: Aidan Jordan; Yashar Aliu, Sean Perril, Steven Horgan, Johnston Munumkun; Eoin Keenan, Conor Meaney, Conor O’Halloran, David Keenan; Dean Hegarty, Lee Clohessy; Subs: Donal O’Halloran for Meaney; Thomas Collins for Aliu; Peter O’Brien for E. Keenan

THREE CLARE CLUBS CHASE PROGRESS There will be more cup action for both clubs this weekend when they seek to progress to the last sixteen in the Munster Junior Cup. Avenue United will have home advantage for their meeting with Youghal while Ennis Town and Shannon Town will both be in Cork where they take on Avondale and Carrigaline respectively.

Newmarket keep grip on league Newmarket Celtic A 3 Shannon Hibs 1 Venue: McDonagh Memorial Park, Newmarket-on-Fergus

Champions Newmarket Celtic A kept up their strong challenge to retain the Premier Division title with this victory over Shannon Hibs on Sunday.

Shannon Hibs took the lead through Billy Connors but Newmarket were level before half time thanks to David McCarthy. Daithí O’Connell struck for a powerful lead goal in the second half and substitute Martin McCarthy a younger brother of David sealed the win with the team’s third.

Newmarket Celtic A; Shane Cusack; James Fahy, Paddy Purcell, Eoin Kelly, Cael Gaffney, Alan Kelly, Cathal Hayes, Dave McCarthy, David Lennon; Daithi O’Connell, Ciaran McCoy. Subs: Martin McCarthy for C McCoy; Conor McDaid for C. Hayes; Josh Orajuaba for O’Connell Shannon Hibs: Damien Casey; Darragh McDade, Sean Costello, Stephen Tuohy, Julian Woods; Pa Devanney, Dean Devanney, Jack Hannah, Lee Wall, Gary Leahy, Billy Connors. Subs: Adam Ryan for Lee Wall; Darren O’Loughlin for Costello; Ciaran McKee for Woods; Mikey Wall for D. McDade; Zygge Wall for Hannah.

BRIDGE UNITED A EXTEND WINNING RUN Bridge United A 3 Shannon Olympic 1

Bridge United A continued their recent good run with this victory over Shannon Olympic. Liam Buckley, Brian Corry and Adam Fitzpatrick were the goalscorers for the winners while Olympic’s goal came from Declan McDonald. Inclement weather led to the cancellation of Lifford v Sporting Ennistymon and Shannon Town A v Mountshannon Celtic.

CLARE CUP RACE BEGINS The three preliminary games in the Banner Flooring Clare cup are listed for decision this weekend.

Bunratty/Cratloe take on neighbours Bridge United A at 11am. At the same time Kilkishen Celtic will entertain Manus Celtic B while Manus A will host Fern Celtic at 2pm.

17-02-22

pg 28

ALL IRELAND SENIOR CAMOGIE SEMI-FINAL: SCARIFF OGONNELLOE VS OULART-THE-BALLAGH (WEXFORD) @ CLONMEL COMMERCIALS GAA, SUNDAY 1.30PM

‘This time it’s not fairytale stuff’ EOIN BRENNAN

M

AIREAD Scanlan has been leading the line for Scariff-Ogonnelloe since the amalgamation’s permanent inception a decade ago.

Four Munster crowns (two senior and two junior) have maintained a perfect provincial record for the proud East Clare history-makers but ultimately their All-Ireland experiences have all ended in heartbreak.

Despite being top-scorer in two All-Ireland Finals, joint-captain Scanlan is one of only a handful of players to have suffered defeat in the national junior deciders of 2013 and ’16 along with their two point reverse to Slaughtneil in the All-Ireland Senior semi-final two years ago.

Such agonising set-backs have only steeled Scanlan and Co. to make amends as deep down, she wasn’t even sure if this opportunity would ever come around again.

“The first time was really kind of fairytale stuff. That word was even thrown around a lot at the time and It did feel like that to a large extent whereas the minute we won the Munster Final this time, it was about focusing again on a new challenge and we’ve been here before.

“To be honest after the Slaughtneil match in 2019, I remember talking to the girls after and saying ‘bottle this feeling. It’s really hard but you might get a chance again’. I thought myself that my own chance was gone because there’s a lot of hurling to do to win Clare again, not to even mention get back to an All-Ireland Semi-Final,” she told The Clare Echo.

That determination will be required on Sunday against holders Oulart-the-Ballagh (Wexford) as it was essentially nerves that hampered Scariff-Ogonnelloe’s last venture in 2019. A slow start cost the newcomers dearly when they finally realised that the

Mairead Scanlan keeps the ball from Drom & Inch’s Aoife McGrath

then defending champions Slaughtneil were only human and eminently beatable.

“I still have regrets from that game because I feel that we really didn’t do ourselves justice against Slaughtneil. Maybe we kind of got caught up with the whole ‘we’re playing Slaughtneil who are going for four-in-a-row’ and the whole occasion whereas this time it’s just a pure focus. We haven’t mentioned Oulart, we’re just training away ourselves and we believe that we’ve a right to be here as this is our second time in three years.

“It’s not a fluke, we won it the hard way in Munster going down to Cork and then beat

Photo by Gerard O’Neill

the current Munster champions so we feel like we’ve every right to be there.”

Indeed, capturing a second Munster senior crown in three years, thanks in no small way to a last gasp Scanlan goal, is not only historic for a Clare club but has actually provided the additional confidence and assurance required for Scariff-Ogonnelloe to take that next significant leap to a first All-ireland Final.

“It does validate it because even the Clare championship itself is probably the hardest to win, it’s so competitive. I mean in almost every other county, the same teams are win-

ning every year whereas in Clare, there are even different finalists every year so once you got out of Clare, you really do have a great chance in Munster.

“In 2019 we had momentum but to do it twice and beat the hardest teams does justify it and nobody can say it was a flash in the pan. I don’t think a Munster team has even been in an All-Ireland final since 2015 so we also really want to put Munster back on the map.”

And yet with a sizeable transition of players and management at the start of 2021, few could have foreseen how Scariff-Ogonnelloe’s season would have unfolded.

“There was a couple of girls gone on Erasmus, Marian [Rodgers] had a baby while there were a few injuries too along the way so the minor girls coming through has been a revelation really. The new management coming in helped that process too as they are looking at the squad with fresh eyes and giving the young girls a proper chance.

“So it has really given everyone such a lift and also keeps you on your toes because there’s such competition for places now that I have to up my game every day I go out.

There’s no let up because if you’re not performing, there’s someone ready to take your spot.”

Ahead of Sunday’s showdown with the Wexford superpowers in Clonmel Commercials GAA grounds (1.30pm), it’s patently clear from Scanlan’s demeanour and performances that it’s all-or-nothing this year.

“Look, really want to make the most of Sunday and even though there is a strong conveyor belt of talent coming through, you’ll never get this group of girls together like this again. The older girls are key to that as we’ve tried to emphasise to the younger ones that these days are special and unique and that this is the last All-Ireland Semi-Final for this particular team so you’ve got to savour the opportunity.”

“So this time it’s not fairytale stuff, more the reality”.

Fresh voices within Clare camogie

by EOIN BRENNAN

AN EXCITING new chapter for Clare Camogie begins this weekend when the senior and junior sides play in the opening round of the National Camogie Leagues.

For the first time since Clare’s first tentative steps at senior in 2009, the adult panels have combined their managerial and training resources to form a dual alliance. The first evaluation of the new regime sees the juniors travel to Enniscorthy on Saturday to take on All-Ireland Premier Junior champions Wexford before the flagship side host All-Ireland senior finalists Cork 24 hours later in Cusack Park (2pm).

In keeping with the new integrated approach, there are joint-managers in Conor Dolan and John Carmody, joint senior captains in Clare Hehir (Inagh/Kilnamona) and Niamh O’Dea (Kilmaley) as well as joint junior captains Kate O’Gorman (Kilkishen) and Sinead Hogg (Truagh/Clonlara).

“It’s new and it’s something that

I’ve never experienced before anyway having the two panels together,” admitted Hehir who is captaining the senior side for the second successive season. “So it’s been brilliant, there are great numbers at training and with the joint-managers as well, there is that fresh voice there but also that familiarity with last year’s management. So, so far so good”.

That’s a sentiment echoed by Kate O’Gorman who is embarking on her third year as captain of the Banner’s second team. “The juniors have done pretty well in getting to the All-Ireland semi-finals for the last two seasons but there have been a lot of new players coming in and only a handful of survivors from the Kerry match in Cusack Park [in 2019] for instance so it’s all about development.

O’Gorman argues that now “that the two panels are combined, it’s a win-win for everyone really”.

“The intensity of training is unbelievable, the hits are going in and training at the weekend, you’d definitely know that the first round

Joint senior captain Clare Hehir with joint junior captain Kate O’Gorman

of the league is coming up this weekend. And that’s what is needed, for the junior players to push the seniors on and who knows you might even see them lining out at senior before the year is out.”

That’s exactly what could hap-

pen as soon as this weekend as with Scariff/Ogonnelloe contesting their All-Ireland Senior Club Championship Semi-Final against Oulart-the-Ballagh at the same time in Clonmel allied to a casualty list headed by joint-captain

Niamh O’Dea who will miss the league with a broken wrist, Hehir’s senior side may have to immediately delve into their extended pack.

“I think the performance is the main one for us... Cork on Sunday, it’s the first round of the league so there shouldn’t be any nerves there. So it should be about going out and giving nothing easy to them, especially as we’re playing in Cusack Park which is brilliant. At the end of the day, the main aim of the league is to find new players and anyone looking to step up won’t find any better tests in Cork, Kilkenny and Limerick”.

O’Gorman is just as ambitious of the juniors’ chances in 2022 if they can maintain their upward development graph. “By Saturday evening we’ll have a fair picture of where we are and how far we still need to go. That way we can take those lessons back into training and progress with the aim of trying to win the league first and then hopefully finally getting to Croke Park come the summer”.

pg 29

17-02-22

All-Ireland final fever at Coláiste Mhuire

by PÁRAIC MCMAHON

ALL-IRELAND final fever has descended on Coláiste Muire as they go in search of national glory this Friday.

Stradbally will host Friday’s All-Ireland Senior B decider between Coláiste Muire and Wicklow school Coláiste Bhríde with the encounter set to commence at 5pm.

It has been a memorable run to date for the Ennis school who collected provincial glory in Caherlohan when defeating St Mary’s Nenagh while they overcame Mountrath in the All-Ireland semi-final played in difficult conditions at Clarecastle.

Joint manager, Barry Donnellan told The Clare Echo they have a full panel to choose from for Friday’s final. With flags flying in the school, he said it has added to the excitement with confirmation of a venue earlier this week helping to focus the minds as they bid for All-Ireland glory.

Nine clubs are represented in the thirty six girl panel with the work done in this regard key to the school’s progression, Donnellan maintained. “The clubs in Clare are leading the charge, the improvement in schools and county teams is testament to the huge work going on within the club across Clare”.

He also acknowledged the contribution of staff colleagues both past and present such as Leo Quinlan, James Carmody and Niamh Ní Mhúire for their promotion of camogie in the Coláiste. Members of the current senior panel reached the Junior A

final in 2019 going down to Cashel who are contesting the Senior A final this year.

While their 0-04 0-02 semi-final win represented a different challenge, the O’Callaghans Mills clubman referenced the “great scores” built up by their side throughout this season’s run. “We learned a lot from the All-Ireland semi-final and Munster Final, we would rather nothing else than those tough battles heading into the final”.

Both Barry and his fellow joint manager, Aidan McGuane a former Clare U21 hurler travelled to Castlecomer for the Leinster Final so they are versed on what Coláiste Bhríde will bring to the table including several Wexford players in their ranks. “Our focus is on getting our own house in order and getting a performance from our girls,” he added.

Ennistymon CBS keep double dream alive

ENNISTYMON CBS are chasing a historic Munster double this weekend, writes Páraic McMahon.

On Saturday, Ennistymon CBS claimed the Corn Sheáin Uí Mhurchú (Munster U19.5 football championship) defeating Dungarvan CBS 3-12 1-05. Their win was made all the more impressive having done it without the talented Brendy Rouine who lined out for the Ennistymon senior footballers last season and is currently part of Colm Collins’ county senior panel. A hamstring injury kept the former Clare minor out of action.

Mark Kelleher raided

Woodstock presentation night

by SEAMUS HAYES

WOODSTOCK GOLF CLUB: The deadline for entry into the spring league at Woodstock has been extended to next weekend. Entries must now be in by 9pm on this Sunday, February 20. The league will begin on the weekend of February 26/27.

Last week’s modified team of four with two scores to count was won by Joe Hurley (12), Brian Keogh (9), Donal Lynch (17) and Michael O’Neill (20) with 93 points. They were followed

by Cathal Nagle (8), Noel Moloney (13), John Dempsey (14) and Eugene Killeen (14) with 87 points.

This weekend the competition will be a modified waltz where all players drive off, then pick the best drive and play your own ball from there on until holed. The scoring format will be one score to count at the first, two scores to count at the second, three scores to count at the third and repeat this sequence from there to the finish ENNIS GOLF CLUB: Betty O’Reilly (36) was the winner of the ladies 14 hole stableford competition at Ennis last

OUR NEW CUSTOM FITTING for the first of Ennistymon CBS’ goals with Diarmuid Fahy raising another green flag before half-time when they led 2-06 1-02. A close range finish from Niall Hogan sealed the win for Tara Rynne’s charges.

Part two brings them to

Mallow on Saturday where Presentation Secondary School Ballingarry (Tipperary) stand in their way of getting their hands on the Corn Risteard Uí Mhathúna (Munster U19.5 senior hurling championship). Throwin is at 12:30pm.

ROOM IS NOW OPEN

week with 23 points. Kitty Morris (15), also with 23 points was in second place a point ahead of Joan Murphy (32).

In the 9 hole competition Geraldine O’Mahoney (27) was third with 16 points followed by Alice Darcy (43), also with 16 points with Mary Leahy (30) in third spot with 15 points, In the senior ladies competition last week, the winners were Mary Lenihan, Carmel Cummins and Maureen Maloney with 52.3 and they were followed by Brid Cunningham and Liz Kelly with 57.3.

KILRUSH GOLF CLUB: This week’s spring weekly singles at Kilrush was won by John Stapleton (14) with 30 points from Noel Thornton (12) with 28 points. In third spot, also with 28 points, was Aeneas O’Connor (14).

SHANNON GOLF CLUB: Thomas Nelson (19) was the winner of the 15 hole singles at Shannon last week with 39 points. He had two to spare over second placed Liam Hovey (21). This week’s Winter league format is scotch foursomes.

17-02-22

Clare Ladies relinquish early lead Laois 2-12 Clare 2-7

DESPITE a blistering start, Clare’s intermediate ladies footballers suffered a five point defeat in the opening round of the Lidl Ladies National Football League.

Fidelma Marrinan had Clare leading 2-02 to no score but Laois posed questions of the Clare defence that they were unable to answer as the tie progressed.

Following on from the early exploits of the West Clare Gaels forward, Clare would be outscored 2-12 0-05 from here until the final whistle, Laois scoring 2-08 without reply during this spell of absolute dominance.

Leading forward Niamh O’Dea and captain Caoimhe Harvey were among the high-profile names on the injury list with Evan Talty’s side now in need of a win when they welcome Kerry to Doonbeg on Saturday if they are to progress to the knockout stages.

Scorers Laois: Mo Nerney (2-5, 2f), Erone Fitzpatrick (0-4), Rachel Williams, Emma Lawlor and Laura-Marie Maher (0-1 each).

Scorers Clare: Fidelma Marrinan (2-6, 1f), Ellie O’Gorman (0-1) Laois: Eimear Barry, Clodagh Dunne, Amy Potts, Aimee Kelly, Anna Healy, Ellen Healy, Rachel Williams, Orla Hennessy, Jane Moore, Emma Lawlor, Emily Corbett, Erone Fitzpatrick, Mo Nerney, Laura-Marie Maher, Shifra Havill. Subs Used: Fiona Dooley, Sarah Anne Fitzgerald, Alanna Havill, Sarah Quigley.

Clare: Micaela Glynn (Kilmihil), Orla Devitt (Éire Óg), Tara Kelly (Cúil Gaels), Grainne Harvey (West Clare Gaels), Lauren Griffin (Fergus Rovers), Laurie Ryan (Banner), Roisin Looney (Cooraclare), Ellie O’Gorman (Kilmihil), Aisling Reidy (St. Joseph’s Doora-Barefield), Joanna Doohan (Kilmurry-Ibrickane), Aoife Keane (Banner), Amy Sexton (Kilmurry-Ibrickane), Caitriona Callinan (Kilmihil), Chloe Moloney (Kilmurry-Ibrickane), Fidelma Marrinan (West Clare Gaels). Subs Used: Sinead O’Keeffe (Banner), Lizzy Roche (Burren Gaels), Gráinne Nolan (Banner), Emma McMahon (Cúil Gaels), Ciara McCarthy (Kilmurry-Ibrickane), Aoibheann Malone (Banner), Louise Griffin (Fergus Rovers), Sinead Considine (Liscannor).

Referee: Paul Burke (Louth).

Ennis sink Cobh to set up home quarter final

Ennis 15 Cobh 13 at Lee’s Rd Ennis U16s continued their winning ways with a gutsy display against Cobh Pirates to claim top spot in their U16 Pan Munster Phase 2 group.

With the wind at their backs in the first half, Ennis looked strong in defence but struggled to holding onto possession with both sides failing to build through the phases. However, a number of early penalties got Ennis withing stricking distance and Odhrán Flynn split the posts after 10 minutes to give Ennis a three-point lead.

Cobh were next on the scoreboard after a few missed tackles in Ennis’s midfield saw Cobh’s 13 cross for the visitors. Ennis had the lion’s share of the possession for the remainder of the half but failed to capitalise and the half ended Ennis 3 Cobh 5.

An error-strewn start to the second half resulted in a lot of scrums, however En-

Snug litter treble for Newmarket owners

by MICHAEL MAHER

NEWMARKET-ON-FERGUS duo Myles Cummins and Breda Casey (pictured below) were celebrating at Limerick greyhound track over the weekend as their three litter comrades all recorded victories.

In what is a rare achievement in greyhound racing, three winners from the same litter all galloped to victory on the name night, the litter is by Sir Paddy and Snuggie Whisper.

The first of the ‘Snuggies’ to crossover in

pg 30

front came in race two as Snuggie Brandy caused a massive upset to claim a second career win. Sent to traps at a huge 8/1, the fawn broke quickest wearing the white jacket and he showed lovely early speed to take a comfortable lead into the back stretch. Extending his advantage to four lengths at this point, Tractor Fred emerged a real challenger rounding the bottom two bends but Snuggie Brandy held firm to deny his rival. Just half a length in it at the winning line, the Myles Cummins-owned charge stopped the clock in 29.49.

Snuggie Jesse completed the double in race six in what was a second career win, remarkably crossing the line in an identical time to Snuggie Brandy. In a different style to her comrade however, she was only moderately into stride from trap one and had to settle for second place early on behind the fast-starting Riverdale Trudy in four. However, sticking tight to the rails, Snuggie Jessie made her move rounding the final turn and she overcame a two length deficit to get up in the shadow of the post. A neck in it at the winning line, the time was 29.49 for Snuggie Jesse who returned another big price at 5/1.

In race nine, Snuggie Jacksie put the icing on the cake for Casey and Cummins as like his sister earlier, he finished at speed to get up on the line. Running from trap five, Snuggy Jacksie didn’t come away too fluently from the outside and had to settle for a midfield position early on.

However, showing eye-catching speed down the back, Snuggie Jacksie coursed around runners and delivered a late surge to chin Inislosky Bosco on the line, by a neck. The winning time was 29.46 and incidentally, that returned a 242/1 treble for the kennel.

nis began to establish some dominance as they brought in some fresh legs from the bench. Despite this, Cobh struck again when a penalty was marched forward 10 meters for back-chat to the referee. Cobh’s outhalf spotted the opportunity to get the ball wide into the hands of their 13 who struck crossed the line again extending Cobh’s lead to 10-3.

With 15 minutes left, Ennis had it all to do. Strong carries from Jaccob Cassen Rennie, John and Michael Sweeney and Nicolas Roo were paying off and Cobh were pinned inside their 22. A strong carry from Eoin O’Gorman got Ennis to the five-meter line and Nicolas Roo picked and powered his way over for Ennis’s first try, leaving Ennis trailing by two heading into the final 10 minutes.

A penalty for Cobh directly from the restart just outside the Ennis 22 was converted, doing the home

side’s chances no favours as the referee had a job in keeping home supporters off the touchline. But Ennis stuck to their task and physical play by the forwards saw the ball make a rare visit to the wing of Luke Kennedy. His strong run got Ennis within touching distance but again it was Jacob Cassen Rennie, Nicolas Roo and the two Sweeneys that were making the biggest dents in the Cobh defence.

Finally it was Michael Sweeney diving from the back of a ruck to touch the ball down just on the line.

With the game in the final minute and the sides level, nerves of steel from Odhrán Flynn saw him casually slot the conversion putting Ennis into a two point lead which they wouldn’t relenquish on the final play of the game. It’s a home quarter-final for Ennis on March 6 with the draw being made on the 20th.

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THURSDAY, FEB 17 2022

Recent Deaths Michael Callinan Skeagh, Inagh, Clare Date of Death: Tuesday 15th February 2022 Tim Browne Grange, Ballybricken, Limerick / Cooraclare, Clare Date of Death: Monday 14th February 2022 Helen Moran (née Ryan) Derry, Rathcabbin, Tipperary / Knockalough, Clare Date of Death: Monday 14th February 2022 Francis Forde 1 Considine’s Terrace, Ennis, Clare / Carron, Clare Date of Death: Sunday 13th February 2022 Teresa Griffey (née Callinan) Ballybreen, Kilfenora,

Clare Date of Death: Sunday 13th February 2022 Joseph McGreene St. Patrick’s Terrace, Kilkee, Clare Date of Death: Saturday 12th February 2022 Francis Tierney The Hand, Miltown Malbay, Clare Date of Death: Saturday 12th February 2022 Patrick (Paddy) Conway Knockanulty, Ennistymon, Clare / Gorey, Wexford Date of Death: Friday 11th February 2022 Peter (Peadar) Daly Tuamgraney, Clare / Ballingarry, Limerick Date of Death: Friday 11th February 2022

Mary Mullins (née Moloney) Clohanmore, Cree, Clare Date of Death: Friday 11th February 2022 Teresa Concarr (née Mc Guire) Castlebank, Ardnacrusha, Clare Date of Death: Friday 11th February 2022 Seamus Moloney Capparoe, Scariff, Clare / O’Callaghans Mills, Clare Date of Death: Thursday 10th February 2022 Miceál McMahon Islandave, Boherbue, Cork / Kilfenora, Clare Date of Death: Thursday 10th February 2022

Anniversary Date of Death: Wednesday 9th February 2022 Tommy Griffin Querrin, Kilkee, Clare / Ennis, Clare Date of Death: Wednesday 9th February 2022 Michéal Flynn Ardcloney, Killaloe, Clare Date of Death: Tuesday 8th February 2022 Derek Cronin Dublin 7, Dublin / Newmarket-on-Fergus, Clare / New Inn, Tipperary Date of Death: Tuesday 8th February 2022

Sheila Hynes Templebannagh, Kilkeedy, Tubber, Clare

PLANNING NOTICES CLARE COUNTY COUNCIL MULLAGH VILLAGE, MULLAGH, CO. CLARE Take notice that J. Sexton intends to apply to the Planning Authority for permission to convert existing ground floor storage area to living accommodation at the above address.

The Planning Application may be inspected or purchased at a fee not exceeding the reasonable cost of making a copy, at the offices of the planning authority during its public opening hours. A submission or observation in relation to the application may be made in writing to the planning authority on payment of the prescribed fee, €20, within the period of 5 weeks beginning on the date of receipt by the authority of the application and such submissions or observations will be considered by the planning authority in making a decision on the application.

The planning authority may grant permission subject to or without conditions or may refuse to grant permission.

CLARE COUNTY COUNCIL SITE NO. 6 KNOCKADERRY GROVE, TULLA ROAD, ENNIS, CO CLARE Take notice that Liam Eustace intends to apply for Permission consequent on the grant of Outline Permission P21/ 1164 to construct a two

storey dwelling and garden shed on the vacant serviced site at the above address. The planning application may be inspected or purchased at a fee not exceeding the reasonable cost of making a copy, at the offices of the planning authority, during its public opening hours. A submission or observation in relation to the application may be made in writing to the authority on payment of the prescribed fee of €20.00, within the period of 5 weeks beginning on the date of receipt by the authority of the application.

CLARE COUNTY COUNCIL TOOMULLIN, DOOLIN, CO CLARE Take notice that Lorcan Shannon and Nydia Shahjahan intend to apply for permission to build a New Dwelling House, install a Wastewater Treatment System and all associated site and ancillary works at the above address. The planning application may be inspected or purchased at a fee not exceeding the reasonable cost of making a copy, at the offices of the planning authority, during its public opening hours. A submission or observation in relation to the application may be made in writing to the authority on payment of the prescribed fee of €20.00, within the period of 5 weeks beginning on the date of receipt by the authority of the application.

CLARE COUNTY COUNCIL BALLYLANNIDY, ENNIS, CO. CLARE Take notice that Brian Foudy & Associates Ltd of Osprey House, Carmody Street, Ennis, Co. Clare 065 6893565 www. foudyconsulting.ie. intend to apply to the planning authority on behalf of Darvin Trading Company Ltd for permission for a development which will consist of the following (a) 16 No. dwelling houses in total consisting of 2.No. detached two storey dwelling houses and 14. No. semi-detached two storey dwelling houses (b) all ancillary site development works and connections to public services at the above address. The planning application may be inspected or purchased at a fee not exceeding the reasonable cost of making a copy at the offices of the planning authority during its public opening hours. A submission or observation in relation to the application may be made in writing to the planning authority on payment of the prescribed fee within the period of 5 weeks beginning on the date of receipt by the authority of the application.

CLARE COUNTY COUNCIL TOOMULLIN, DOOLIN, CO CLARE Take notice that Cliodhna Leyden and Liam Shannon intend to apply for permission to build a New Dwelling House,

install a Wastewater Treatment System and all associated site and ancillary works at the above address. The planning application may be inspected or purchased at a fee not exceeding the reasonable cost of making a copy, at the offices of the planning authority, during its public opening hours. A submission or observation in relation to the application may be made in writing to the authority on payment of the prescribed fee of €20.00, within the period of 5 weeks beginning on the date of receipt by the authority of the application.

CLARE COUNTY COUNCIL DONNYBROOK, SIXMILEBRIDGE, CO. CLARE Take notice that Michael O’Grady intends to apply to the planning authority for permission to construct a new dwelling house and garage complete with a new entrance, sewage treatment system and ancillary works at the above address. The planning application may be inspected, or purchased at a fee not exceeding the reasonable cost of making a copy, at the offices of the planning authority, Clare County Council, Aras Contae an Chlair, New Road, Ennis during its public opening hours and that a submission or observation in relation to the application may be made to the authority in writing on payment of

SHANNON CHRISTY (5th Anniversary) In Loving Memory of a dear father, father-inlaw, grandfather,great grandfather, brother-in-law, uncle, friend & Scouter, Christy, of 86 Hermitage Ennis, who died

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

CLARE COUNTY COUNCIL BALLYARTNEY, LABASHEEDA, CO CLARE Take notice that Thomas McGrath intends to apply to the planning authority for permission to construct an extension to the rear of an existing dwelling house along with alterations to the existing house and ancillary works at the above address. The planning application may be inspected, or purchased at a fee not exceeding the reasonable cost of making a copy, at the offices of the planning authority, Clare County Council, Aras Contae an Chlair, New Road, Ennis during its public opening hours and that a submission or observation in relation to the application may be made to the authority in writing on payment of the prescribed fee within the period of 5 weeks beginning on the date of receipt by the planning authority of the application.

CLARE COUNTY COUNCIL KILRUSH ROAD/ CAHERCALLA ESTATE JUNCTION, ENNIS, CO. CLARE Take notice that Michael Keating Dip. Arch. (phone 085-8421780),

on the 21st February 2017. As we sit here with our memories, we think of days gone by, of times we had together, our ups, our downs, our joys. The home you left is lonely now and we are lonely too, those left behind are good and kind but no one replaces you. If we could visit heaven on this your special day, maybe for a moment our pain would go away. Rest in peace dear loved one and thanks for all you’ve done we pray that God has given you, the crown you’ve truly won. Will those who think of Christy today, a little prayer to Jesus say Sadly missed by your loving family. Anniversary Mass in the Cathederal on Friday18th February at 7.30pm.

on behalf of Patrick Kelly, intends to apply to Clare County Council for full permission to construct 2 no. Semi-Detached Houses, provide a low dry-stone wall to the East and South to enclose sites, provide new site entrances, connect to public sewers and services and carry out all ancillary site works at Kilrush Road / Cahercalla Estate junction, Ennis, Co. Clare.

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

CLARE COUNTY COUNCIL FURTHER INFORMATION/ REVISED PLANS CULLENAGH, ENNISTYMON, CO. CLARE Planning Ref: P21/707 Development Description: Permission to a) demolish existing workshop, office, store and remove temporary structures. b) Extend existing site boundaries c) Construct new larger replacement building to include workshop, offices, stores and welfare fa-

cilities with connections to existing services together with all ancillary site development works and signage Location: Cullenagh, Ennistymon, Co. Clare Take notice that Euro Plant & Machinery Sales Ltd has lodged significant further information in respect of the planning application P21/707. This information and planning application may be inspected or purchased at a fee not exceeding the reasonable cost of making a copy, at the office of the Planning Authority of Clare County Council, Planning Department, Áras Contae an Chláir, New Road, Ennis, Co. Clare during its public opening hours. A submission or observation in relation to the further information or revised plans may be made in writing to the planning authority on payment of the prescribed fee, not later than 2 weeks after the receipt of the newspaper notice and site notice by the planning authority or in the case of a planning application accompanied by an EIS within 5 weeks of receipt of such notices by the planning authority.

Continues page 32

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PLANNING NOTICES Continued from page 31 CLARE COUNTY COUNCIL UNIT 7 GORT ROAD INDUSTRIAL ESTATE, ENNIS, CO. CLARE Take notice that Minds Applied Ltd are applying to Clare County Council for retention permission for alterations already carried out to the existing industrial structure including new roof profile and planning permission to complete the works on the proposed offices, stores and ancillary rooms to include elevational, roof and fenestration changes

along with all associated works at the above address. The planning application may be inspected, or purchased at a fee not exceeding the reasonable cost of making a copy at the offices of Clare County Council during its public opening hours and a submission or observation in relation to the application may be made to the authority in writing on payment of the prescribed fee within the period of 5 weeks beginning on the date of receipt by the authority of the application.

CLARE COUNTY COUNCIL CARNACALLA, KILRUSH, CO. CLARE Take notice that Liam & Nicole O’Brien are applying to Clare County Council for planning permission to demolish a rear extension and outbuildings and construct a new extension and refurbishment of existing cottage along with all other necessary ancillary works at the above address. The planning application may be inspected, or purchased at a fee not exceeding the reasonable cost of making a copy at the offices of Clare County Council during its

public opening hours and a submission or observation in relation to the application may be made to the authority in writing on payment of the prescribed fee within the period of 5 weeks beginning on the date of receipt by the authority of the application.

CLARE COUNTY COUNCIL BLLYVASKIN NORTH, MILTOWN MALBAY, CO. CLARE Take notice that B. Hayden intends to apply to the Planning Authority for retention permission for the following; a) the alterations to the existing dwelling house

LEGAL NOTICES b) the garage/shed as constructed along with associated site works at the above address.

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

AN CHÚIRT CHUARDA THE CIRCUIT COURT SOUTH WESTERN CIRCUIT COUNTY OF CLARE IN THE MATTER OF: LICENSING ACTS 1833 TO 2019 AND IN PARTICULAR SECTION 8 OF THE INTOXICATING LIQUOR ACT 1988 (AS SUBSTITUTED BY SECTION 27 IF THE INTOXICATING LIQUOR ACT, 2000) NOTICE OF APPLICATION MEADOWS & BYRNE LIMITED APPLICANT TAKE NOTICE that the above-named Applicant Meadows & Byrne Limited of Blarney Woollen Mills, Blarney, Blarney, Cork intends to apply to the Circuit Court sitting at Ennis in the County of Clare at the Sittings thereof commencing on the 22-Mar-2022 at 10:30, or on such day thereafter as this Application may be taken in its order in the Court list for such a Certificate as is mentioned in Section 8 of the Intoxicating liquor Act 1988, entitling the Applicant to receive, on payment of the fee specified in Section 9 of the said Act, a Special Restaurant Licence in respect of the Restaurant Premises known as Meadows & Byrne and situate at Bunratty West, Bunratty, Clare as more particularly described and delineated on the maps and plans accompanying this Application.

Meadows & Byrne Limited Dated 09 Feb 2022 Signed Applicant

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33

34

PUZZLEPAGE

THURSDAY, FEB 17 2022

THIS WEEKS PUZZLES FEB 17th

4

1

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2/15/22, 10:46 AM

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HOW TO PLAY

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WORD SEARCH

2/15/22, 10:46 AM

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Daily Quick Crossword: 15 February 2022 ,2/15/2022 Michael Curl Creator Notes: A free daily online crossword that's not too difficult - just right for solving in your coffee break. http://bestforpuzzles.com

QUIZ 35

THURSDAY, FEB 17 2022

The Clare Echo Quiz

FAMOUS CLARE PEOPLE

album did Sharon Shanon 1What release in 2004?

A The Diamond Mountain Sessions B Liberango C Out the Gap

Dancer and performer Oskarina 6 O’Sullivan West End debut was with which musical?

A Too close to the sun B Thriller Live C Othello

club did Davy Fitz originally Barry Noel Cotter plays which 2What play with?

7 position for the Shamrock Rovers?

A6 B8 C 12

What year did Emma Barrett win 4 two gold medals in the special Olympics A 2015 B 2017 C 2019

The newspaper Michael Cusack 5 co run with Morrison Millar was called?

A The Sunday Sports Journal B The Celtic Times C The Sporting Times

Singer/songwriter Susan O’Neil 8 is playing alongside who this summer in Dublin?

A Mick Flannery B Róisín Murphy C Kian Egan

What character does Simone Kir9 by play in the hit T.V. show Peaky Blinders?

l What album did Sharon Shanon release in 2004?

A Lizzie Stark B Linda Shelby C Irene O’Donnell

Irish novelist and poet Enda 10 O’Brien won the Irish PEN award in what year?

A 2004 B 1998 C 2001

Quiz by Niamh Kinnane

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

The answers will be revealed in next weeks edition.

6. Thriller Live 7. A back 8. Mick Flannery 9. Irene O’Donnell 10. 2001

When did famous percussionist 3 Dermot Sheedy first pick up the bodhrán?

A A forward B A midfielder C A back

ANSWERS 1. Liberango 2. Sixmilebridge 3. 6 4. 2019 5. The Celtic Times

A Sixmilebridge B Newmarket-on-Fergus C Kilkishen

Last weeks Answers . Munster logo missing on ref jersey . Adidas logo missing on refs jersey . Sock different colour on player (front) . Post missing in background

. Flag different colour in background . Number on player missing (left) . Crest on players shorts missing (front left)

St Joseph’s Tulla teachers with Marty Morrissey and the Dr Harty Cup in Tulla Photo by Joe Buckley