The Clare Echo 17/08/23

SISTER SUCCESS AT FLEADH

Priest promises planner ‘blessings’ if car park granted

by Gordon Deegan news@clareecho.ie

A CLARE priest has promised a female Council planner that if she grants planning permission for a new Church car park it will bring her many blessings.

Parish priest of Lisdoonvarna, Kilshanny, Toovahera and Doolin, Fr Robert McNamara made the promise to the planner in an email where he stated that he is ‘perplexed’ why Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) would be objecting to his plans for a new car-park to serve “a little architectural gem’ of a Church in the Burren, Co Clare.

Fr McNamara has lodged plans with Clare County Council for the car-park to serve an historic 1878 church, Toovahera at Kilmoone West, Lisdoonvarna.

In his email, Fr McNamara said, “This seems so ironic as we are trying to enhance health and safety”.

Fr McNamara addresses a Council planner in an email and tells her “I really hope that you do the sensible and decent thing and please uphold our application. I can promise you that to do so will bring you many blessings”.

Earlier in the email, Fr McNamara stated that the

aim in providing the carpark “is to create a safe environment on a busy road by taking cars off the road during mass times and avoiding the necessity for dangerous situations and indeed, fatalities”. Fr McNamara adds that this safety issue has been thrown into even sharper relief by what he describes as the recent sad death of parishioner, Jerry O’Connor whose motorbike, he said, collided with a car driven by a French tourist with tragic results.

l Edel Cusack, winner in the Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann U18 concertina competition and Orla Cusack, bronze winner in the Fleadh and Munster championships

Photo by Ruth Griffin

Stars in their eyes

Philip claims three titles

TUBBER’S Philip

O’Connor claimed three U16 national track titles in Dublin on Saturday, writes Páraic McMahon.

At the Sundrive Velodrome in the capital, Philip was first home in the Scratch Race, 500m Time Trial and the Sprint Race.

Not alone did he secure gold but he also set a new national time record for U16 in two of the races (500m and the sprint), he has been cycling competitively for three years.

A member of the Dungarvan Cycling Club, Philip is coached by Mark Shannon from Burren Cycling Club who himself rode in the Rás this year.

Although his club is in Waterford, the bulk of Philip’s training is done on his own, on Thursday evenings he forms part of the Clare League which runs from Barefield over the summer months. He was selected to represent Ireland in Maribor in the European Youth Olympics recently

where he competed in the road race and time trail. An unfortunate pile-up crash hindered his success here where he lost a of time but still managed to finish out the road race. L A student at Gort Community School, he used to play a lot of hurling but has had to concentrate solely on hurling.

Members of the O’Connor family have expressed their gratitude to Landscape and Leisure owned by Gary Kiely who has been very generous in providing gear in support of Philip.

Ruling ‘not what we want’

A MOVE towards a centralised planning system is evident in a recent directive issued to Clare County Council over its County Development Plan, writes Páraic McMahon

As reported by The Clare Echo last week, Minister of State at the Department of Local Government and Planning, Kieran O’Donnell (FG) issued a directive to the County Council to reinstate 19 zoning objectives and amend one zoning objective as set out in the Clare County Development Plan 2023-2029 and to also delete a subsection of the plan.

Chairman of the Clare Social Democrats, Garry Miley told The Clare Echo this directive “is a further indication that we’re moving towards a centralized planning system. The way we’re going, ordinary people in Clare will soon have little or no say in how their communities are planned”.

In his correspondence to the County Council, Limerick TD O’Donnell said elements of the County Development Plan are “inconsistent with national policy objectives”.

Killaloe based Garry stated, “As a community, we need to decide if we want every aspect of planning to be controlled by a government minister. I’m sure I’m speaking on behalf of most people in Clare when I say that this is definitely not the way we want to go”.

Sporting stars, Aislinn Meaney, Linsey McKee and Amy Madden with the All-Island Cup parade

Photo by Joe Buckley

l Philip O’Connor

‘How many more people have to die’ - urgency needed to improve roads

by Páraic McMahon paraic@clareecho.ie

NORTH Clare locals blocked off access to Ballyvaughan for under half an hour for the second time in the space of a week as part of their efforts to seek better road conditions.

A campaign has been launched following the death of Lisdoonvarna’s Jerry O’Connor (72) at the end of July with his wife Helga Himmelsbach leading the charge to bring about safer conditions for the people of North Clare and visitors to the area.

Music was played by Eugene Lambe following the conclusion of the demonstration at the location where Jerry was killed after he was hit by a French tourist driving on the wrong side of the road.

Clare TD, Cathal Crowe (FF), Cllr Joe Garrihy (FG), Cllr Joe Killeen (FF) and Shannon based Cllr Donna McGettigan (SF) attended Thursday morning’s demonstration.

Speaking this week, Helga stressed, “it is time things change. I will get things moving, I will not have let Jerry die in vain. Jerry died to highlight this, this is a death sentence, we have to travel here for work, we don’t travel at speed in this Irish disneyland, we want to live our lives with meaning and dignity. How many people will need to did in this senseless manner before something will happen”.

She questioned the politicians on how they were representing the people that elected them. “The buses bringing the tourists here are not leaving a penny, the people walking and cycling here contribute more than ten buses. What can we do so more people are not shattered to bits”.

Deputy Crowe admitted improvements won’t happen within the space of a week. “A whole range of measures have to happen,” he acknowledged while describing the current situation as “insufficient”. “The Council have come to up with a safety plan, road design has to happen, the road signage can happen sooner,” he stated. Crowe referenced advertisements on RTÉ from families who have lost loved ones on Irish roads but added, “we can’t have mitigations for the idiocy of some drivers”.

Responding to this, Helga stated, “people driving on the wrong side of the road is not a single occurrence, it happens 100 times a day,” she claimed. “It just happened on a blind bend so Jerry couldn’t see it”.

Inagh based Giselle Harvey admitted on two occasions travelling to Ballyvaughan that morning buses had encroached on the wrong side of the road.

Plans are in place for a mobility strategy to assess the speed limit in North Clare, Cllr Killeen advised. “We are working on it and I

know it is too late in this instance,” he sympathised. With his work on a family farm in Fanore, he said he was well aware of “how dangerous” the roads are in Ballyvaughan and surrounding areas, “we are determined to get something done”.

Fanore woman Sheila O’Driscoll referenced previous comments from Deputy Crowe that funding for North Clare could not be waved like a magic wand. “The county engineer needs to be held accountable, there is barely a road marking visible from Fanore to Ballyvaughan but there is coach after coach”.

Sheila contacted Kerry TD, Michael HealyRae (IND) to obtain further information on the one-way system for coaches there, “he said it was an unofficial agreement and that people of Kerry are making it work”.

Neon lights are needed in North Clare to slow down traffic for the six months of high season, she argued. “The cash cow is the Cliffs of Moher, this needs to be fast tracked and immediately. 101 people have died on our roads

Odhran shines a light with countywide challenge

A CLARE primary school student is to kick a score and split a sliotar between the posts in every GAA ground in the county, all in aid of the West Clare Cancer Centre, writes Páraic McMahon

Nine year old Odhran Troy is completing the Shine A Light Challenge on Wednesday and Thursday of this week by attempting to score two points, one with

a hurley and sliotar, the other with a gaelic football in all fifty three official GAA pitches in Clare.

Odhran who is a student in Clarecastle NS commenced the challenge in Doonaha in the grounds of O’Currys at 9am on Wednesday and finished the day in Tubber shortly before 7pm.

On Thursday, he will start in Captain Tubridy Park in Kilrush at 9am and end the

before Jerry, you’re not going to hide from us, Jerry is the eighth person to die on North Clare roads recently”. Sheila urged the politicians to act, “unless you do it more people will die. This woman hasn’t had time to grieve, it’s not good enough, the people of North Clare have had enough. How many more people will have to die”.

Lisdoonvarna based Cllr Garrihy said the North Clare councillors will not be found wanting. “This is about focus, solutions have laid out. Thirty detailed submissions were made to the Cliffs of Moher strategy which have been completely ignored. We’re a home to local communities. Our experience is that it is so far down a priority list, it is not good enough”.

Support must begin to emanate from Clare’s Oireachtas members, Cllr Garrihy maintained. “there are actions taken and small wins that can be got, it is about communities supporting us. We have to do something, the local community involvement is needed to support

the things we are calling for, it is not today or yesterday that mass tourism has been in North Clare. It is a lonesome voice talking when you see the Cliffs of Moher in national promotion but aside that has to be the safety of people living here, it is not a popular one and when we speak it is not welcome, we need our local community behind us, we are doing measures but sadly it is no good for Jerry”.

Helga told the gathering, “buses are ruining our quality of life, we don’t need bus tourism, we need quality numbers”. She continued, “the Burren is of outstanding beauty. Our communities are gorgeous, the people that want to live their lives here should be let. We don’t need buses or fast track tourism or crazy drivers to come through here, we need quality. We want to feel safe in our community, we need a massive change to come into North Clare and beyond”.

A walk of remembrance for Jerry will be held on August 27th beginning at 3pm.

journey by hitting the target in Cusack Park at approximately 7:30pm.

He said of the challenge, “I decided to create a fundraiser and donate all monies received to that wonderful charity, West Clare Cancer Centre”.

To date he has raised €3,500 and further donations can be made online.

l CAMPAIGN: Helga Himmelsbach lays flowers at the site of her late husband’s accident Photo by John Mangan

lOdhran Troy

‘The quality is atrocious’ - Hermitage residents hit out at recent roadworks

by Páraic McMahon paraic@clareecho.ie

HERMITAGE residents have been left downbeat with the quality of works undertaken in the vicinity which they feel have downgraded the area.

Over a three day period last week from Wednesday to Friday, contractors resurfaced the road in Hermitage but the standard of the finished product has left a lot to be desired for local residents.

Ruan native Michael Leahy has been based in Hermitage for the past three years. For a quarter of a century he tarred roads with a local company and was at a loss with the methods conducted when resurfacing the Ennis area. “I can’t understand why they sprayed chip on top of concrete without some sort of base before it, I can understand them doing it on tar because it will take it but not the way it is. What they have left us with is swimming pools and a terrible looking place. It wasn’t prepared, it was smacked down. You’d have a base and you’d roll it, this was with a special machine but it didn’t have a roller on top of it. They have markings down and manhole covers, I presume they are coming back”.

He continued, “It is very poor, the sad thing about it is that was there beforehand was concrete and that was grand, they had finished it off nicely prior to it but then when they came along they made it a dog’s dinner. There was no one to turn to for us to complain about it, we got onto the Council and to be fair to them they said they were aware of it but that it was an Irish Water contract, someone else contacted Irish Water but they never got back to us”.

A former Chairman of the Munster Football Association, Michael stated, “There’s water forming in areas where it never was before. It was a matter for them to put it down, get out of here and go, they weren’t bothered if we were concerned about it or not”.

Speaking to The Clare Echo, Michael remarked, “It hasn’t done the community any good, no one seems to listen to them, it comes back to the attitude ‘oh it’s Hermitage they’ll take what they can get’ which is wrong. We’ve had councillors out to look at

it but that’s all we can do”.

Caroline Ryan will mark 62 years living in Hermitage this December. She was upset with the impact the works have had on the place she resides in. “The quality of work is atrocious, instead of improving the area they have destroyed it, there was plain concrete and they have just destroyed it with this, it isn’t even real tarmacadam, it is just a shoddy job. The Grotto has only just been painted and they have it all splattered with tar, it cost €2000 or €3000 to paint with the support of the community”.

She added, “We’re so disappointed, instead of trying to improve the area they have really brought it backwards, they could have done something else with the money. People have worked tooth and nail to get the Grotto looking so well, since COVID we don’t go door to door collecting so we have no funding”.

Conditions in the winter with frost on top of the road will pose further problems, Caroline warned. “That will be another story, there is an awful lot of elderly people living around, if you haven’t a good surface they will trip and fall, the way it is now it is lumpy, one wrong move and you are on the ground”.

Brid Dinan has been living in Hermitage for the last 58 years.She is a central figure involved in maintaining The Grotto, the focal point of The Tage but the recently painted exterior has been covered in splatters from the tarmacadam. “It is a disgrace, I live over there, we had a lovely concrete road and they came along and tarred it over, it is up and down now with water lodging on it, they have the Grotto wall destroyed,” she said.

She continued, “We’ve to work to get funding, to get people to paint it, to get the flowers done, to get the grass cut, the Grotto is coming to 70 years next year so it is dis-

contractor that we can talk to, it’s just Irish Water, they are not accountable, there is no name we can look to talk to and they don’t want to hear us. All we got was a letter to say there would be work on the road, we didn’t think they were going to do this”.

When contacted by The Clare Echo to justify the works undertaken, a spokesperson for Uisce Éireann claimed that the works were not completed by them.

In a statement to The Clare Echo, Clare County Council confirmed that Ralumac was the surface installed in Hermitage and that it was “an approved method for sealing and protecting roads in low trafficked areas with speed limits of 50kmph or less. This method is used extensively across the country and has been previously used in many areas across Clare including Ennis.

appointing the way it is now. The road is a show”.

“I don’t drive anymore, my walk isn’t great anyway, I’d be worried about losing my feet since the road has been done. Frost on top of it in the winter will be a big concern. It is so rough, uneven. Looking out my window I can see the lugs of water if it has rained, the lugs, the bumps, everything else,” Brid told The Clare Echo

Locals like Michael were not hopeful the situation would improve. “The honest truth is this is going to be here for the rest of our days,

“The purpose of the surface is to seal the existing road and thereby extend its lifespan. This type of surfacing is a cheaper alternative than a traditional road overlay. Residential areas in Ennis are very unlikely to receive funding for any other type of surface. This is especially prevalent in Hermitage as the existing roads are of a concrete structure. The only alternative in this scenario is to break up, remove and relay the existing concrete. This is not a financially viable option and such a methodology would likely cause damage to nearby structures.

nothing will be done because there is nothing you can do, they’re not going to dig it up unless they come back and completely tar the whole lot because I can’t see them doing that because it would cost a fortune. This isn’t just here, St Michael’s Villas has been ruined too and there is no comeback, the attitude is once it’s done give it a few months and they will forget about it altogether”.

“We can’t see anything changing, who do you go to, who do you ask, who is the

“Ralumac when installed does not look aesthetically pleasing and takes a number of weeks to bed in. However after a period of approximately 6 weeks it will be difficult to differentiate this surface from a traditional overlay surface. Excess road chipping will be swept once a sufficient amount of time has elapsed for the new surface to bed in. As outlined above the purpose of the product is to extend the lifespan of the road and to prevent further deterioration and eventual failure of the surface below.

“This increases the safety of all road users, especially pedestrians. Without intervention the existing road would continue to deteriorate. We also note that in late 2022 Clare County Council received representations on behalf of the residents in Hermitage with regard to the deteriorating road surface. As a result Ennis Municipal District included the concrete roads in Hermitage within the Schedule of Municipal District Works for 2023”.

l UNDERWHELMED: Michael Mahon, Brid Dinan, Caroline Ryan, Michael Kelleher and Michael Leahy

Photo by John Mangan

l COMMUNITY: Road resurfacing works Photo by John Mangan

They made it a dog’s dinner

PJ Murrihy takes to stage

WEST Clare singer-songwriter P.J. Murrihy together with Seamus Shannon, will be in concert at The Cornerstone, Woodford, Gurteeny, Co. Galway on Fri Aug 18th.

Hear P.J. sing all the favourites including My Father's House, Pat Murphy's Meadow, Drawing Little Men in the Ashes and Kevin Barry. Concert starts at 8pm. Tickets available by calling 087 979 1600 or through eventbrite.ie Tickets also available on the door on the night.

Notes

KILRUSH BLOOD DONATION CLINIC

THE next blood donation clinic will take place at Kilrush Community School on Wednesday 23rd August from 16:50 - 20:10. New Donors welcome. For appointment please phone 1800 222 111.

KDHS OUTINGS

National Heritage Week has rolled around again and we have two upcoming summer outings, one at home in Kilrush and the other across the water in North Kerry.On Sunday 20 August at 3:00p.m., members of the committee will be leading a FREE guided walking tour of Henry Street, Kilrush. Meet at the Square. Dress for the weather.

On Saturday 26 August we will have a bus tour to Ardfert, County Kerry. The bus will leave the Square in Kilrush at 10:30am SHARP. Places on the bus MUST be booked and paid for in advance, by no later than Wednesday 23 August. Payment can be made to any member of the committee on the Henry Street tour, or at O'Sullivan's shop in Moore Street or by PayPal to kilrushhistoricalsociety@gmail.com

The Town Hall Bistro

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

Tour de Munster crosses the finish line

The Poet's Corner Bar is a traditional Irish pub that opens its doors onto the main town street of Ennis. Perfect for a pint, a bite to eat or traditional Irish music session.

The 23rd edition of the Tour de Munster charity cycle, which raises funds in support for the Munster branches of Down Syndrome Ireland (DSI), came to a high finale in Cork City on Sunday evening, August 8. The Tour covered more than 600 kilometres across the six counties of Munster, along a route that took them from Killaloe to Ennis and on to the Killimer ferry. Munster Rugby is the official charity partner of Down Syndrome Ireland (DSI) Munster Branches and Tour de Munster. Since its inception in 2001, Tour de Munster has raised over €4.6 million for its beneficiaries, with a staggering €4 million for Down Syndrome Ireland’s Munster branches alone. To donate to this year’s Tour de Munster, visit https://www. idonate.ie/event/tdm23. To find out more about Down Syndrome Ireland, see www. downsyndrome.ie.

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

The Poets Corner Bar

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

The Brendan O’Regan Restaurant

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

Rose of Tralee ‘a light in the tunnel moment’ for Aisling O’Connor

by Paraic McMahon paraic@clareecho.ie

FEAKLE’S Aisling O’Connor will take to the stage in the Rose of Tralee International Festival this week.

Twenty five year old Aisling will fly the county flag at the Kerry Sports Academy at the Munster Technological University (MTU) for the five-day Rose of Tralee International Festival, which kicks off on Friday and remains as one of Ireland’s oldest and largest festivals.

For the first time, the Rose of Tralee will have co-presenters, Daithí Ó Sé’s 12 time hosting the festival sees him joined by Kathryn Thomas. Thirty two Roses will take part this year from across Ireland, Australia, the UK, the US, Canada and New Zealand.

A primary school teacher, Aisling is returning to East Clare from September having taught in Crumlin since graduating from Mary Immaculate College in 2020.

Speaking to The Clare Echo in her final interview before the start of the festival, Aisling admitted that the week on tour in advance has been “much more full on than I expected. We’ve been on the go every hour with different experiences at the different locations but it has been fan-

tastic getting to know all the Roses”. Whether Aisling will be on stage Monday or Tuesday has yet to be revealed. “My preference would be to

be on Monday night to get it out of the way but my family and the whole parish have tickets for Tuesday,” she said. RTÉ decide which Roses give a

performance and it is expected that Aisling will be doing ballet on stage if given the go-ahead from the State broadcaster.

She is the eldest of six children and an older sibling to Patrick, Eoin, Liam, Ronan and Oisin all of whom will be part of the Feakle faithful travelling to Kerry over the coming days. The O’Connor family have been through their share of hardship following the deaths of their parents, Pat and Denise five and two years ago respectively.

Support from the people of Feakle has been greatly appreciated by Aisling and her brothers, the acts of kindness shown by the community include cooking dinners for them, doing the grocery shopping and always being available on the other end of the phone . “We’ve got unbelievable support from the parish since Dad passed five years ago and two years ago since Mom passed they have really taken us under their wings, this has been no different and they organised a surprise party for me in Pepper’s on the Friday before I left”.

Partaking in the Rose of Travel has been given a lift to the entire family, Aisling said. “It would mean everything for me to win especially seeing as it has been a tough couple

of years, it feels like a light at the end of the tunnel moment, it would go deeper for my parish, family and county if I was to win”.

“It has been very emotional,” she said of the experience. “But everybody is emotional, I don’t think that is unique to me, we’re tired from all the going but it is emotional, for me I guess it is heightened by the fact that I won’t have my parents there with me on the night but I know that they will be looking down”.

Her younger brothers won’t get to sit in the designated areas but they have sorted the clothing and will be swapping the Feakle gear for the chinos and shirts.

Indeed success on the big day is not alien to the O’Connors with Ronan captaining St Joseph’s Tulla to win their first ever Dr Harty Cup last year while Oisin was also part of the panel.

“The Harty Cup was such a special experience for our family but also the parish and East Clare, it meant the world to us to have something to celebrate at the time, Ronan was instrumental in the success and Oisin was involved and did his bit”.

Clare’s contingent in the Festival also sees Cooraclare’s Damien Burke and Malachy Lynch of Ballyea lining out as escorts.

Town Centre First Plan launched in Sixmilebridge

CLARE’S first ever Town Centre First Plan was launched in Sixmilebridge recently, writes Elaine Tubridy Sixmilebridge was chosen as one of 26 towns across the country under the first phase of the National Town Centre First initiative.

Commenting on the plan, Cllr Donna McGettigan,

Cathaoirleach of Shannon Municipal District, said, “The Town Centre First approach is about bringing together local businesses, town teams and our local authority so that they are at the fore when it comes to planning for the future development of their communities. The town team in Sixmilebridge have played

a key role in driving this plan and I commend their enthusiasm and commitment to get to this point. I look forward to supporting them during the next phase of implementation.”

The Town Centre First initiative represents a new approach to the development of our towns, where the local

community is central to reimagining their own town’s future. Reflecting on the challenges and opportunities the town faces, the development of a Town Centre First Plan provides a platform for the community to create an action plan that will support the development of a viable and vibrant town centre for people to live, work, visit and socialise.

Over the past 12 months, Clare County Council has engaged with the community in Sixmilebridge, working collaboratively to establish a local Town Team and gathering feedback to understand what the community wants to see for their town in the future.

The Town Team is made up of representatives from all of the community, businesses, and public private stakeholders, who have played a key role in the development of the Town Centre First Plan and will support its implementation.

The plan sets a vision for the future development of Sixmilebridge, addressing key emerging issues including tackling dereliction and vacant properties, improving community facilities and public space and building on the town’s assets and positive attributes including the river and heritage.

Pat Dowling, Chief Executive, Clare County Council, said, “The Local Authority plays a vital role in assisting towns shape their futures. Through our Town Regeneration Officer, Rural and Community Development Officers and technical expertise across Clare County Council, we are committed to supporting the Sixmilebridge Town Team in implementing the actions identified by them in this plan.”

Taking account of the feedback received from the local community, the Town Centre First Plan identified opportunities for improvements by proposing strategies and projects in the short, medium and long terms. The Town Team, in collaboration with a multi-disciplinary team in Clare County Council and other agencies, will use the plan to implement enhancements and seek funding to deliver positive change.

A focus on job creation, place-making and an improved quality of life is key for the sustainable development of the town.

Gwen Bowen, Chairperson of the Sixmilebridge Town Team, added, “The positive engagement from all members of the public and stakeholders has really guided and informed the development of our Sixmilebridge

Town Centre First Plan. We have a wonderful community in Sixmilebridge and this plan reflects our shared vision and reinforces the pride of place we have in the town. On behalf of the Town Team, I wish to thank the local community and Clare County Council for the combined effort in bringing this plan to fruition.”

Linda Earlie, Town Regeneration Officer Clare County Council, commented, “The completion of this plan is a positive milestone for Sixmilebridge town. The plan brings together key actions and opportunities for investment that will support the enhancement of the town centre as an attractive location to live, work, visit and raise a family.

“The engagement and input from the public throughout the process has been key to shaping the final plan, and I would like to thank all those who took the time to feedback throughout the plan’s development process. The success of this Town Centre First Plan is now founded on its implementation, and we look forward to continuing to work closely with the town team to secure the necessary funding to implement the key actions set out in the plan.”

l FEAKLE’S HOPEFUL: Clare Rose Aisling O’Connor

lOUR TOWN: Pat Dowling, Chief Executive, Clare County Council, is pictured officially launching the Town Centre First Plan in Sixmilebridge Town Square with the Town Team

Priest promises Council planner that grant of permission for new Church carpark “will bring her many blessings”

by Gordon Deegan news@clareecho.ie

A NORTH clare parish priest has promised a female Council planner that if she grants planning permission for a new Church car park it will bring her many blessings.

Parish priest of Lisdoonvarna, Kilshanny, Toovahera and Doolin, Fr Robert McNamara has made the promise to the planner in an email where he stated that he is ‘perplexed’ why Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) would be objecting to his plans for a new car-park to serve “a little architectural gem’ of a Church in the Burren, Co Clare.

Fr McNamara has lodged plans with Clare County Council for the car-park to serve an historic 1878 church, Toovahera at Kilmoone West, Lisdoonvarna.

The car-park scheme is aimed at eliminating the on-road parking during mass times at the Church of Our Lady of Lourdes which has become ‘in demand’ for smaller weddings.

However, in a submission, TII has told the Council that the proposal is at variance with national policy in relation to control of front-

age development on or affecting national roads.

TII contend that the planned car

park by itself, or by the precedent which a grant of permission for it would set, would adversely affect

the operation and safety of the national road network.

TII further states that the proposal, if approved, would create an adverse impact on the national road.

Now, in response, Fr McNamara has told the Council that he along with the Parish Council and Parish Finance Committee is ‘perplexed’ by the objection of TII on the basis of health and safety.

In his email, Fr McNamara said, “This seems so ironic as we are trying to enhance health and safety”.

Fr McNamara addresses a Council planner in an email and tells her “I really hope that you do the sensible and decent thing and please uphold our application. I can promise you that to do so will bring you many blessings”.

Earlier in the email, Fr McNamara stated that the aim in providing the car-park “is to create a safe environment on a busy road by taking cars off the road during mass times and avoiding the necessity for dangerous situations and indeed, fatalities”.

Fr McNamara adds that this safety issue has been thrown into even sharper relief by what he describes as the recent sad death of parishioner, Jerry O’Connor whose

motorbike, he said, collided with a car driven by a French tourist with tragic results.

Fr McNamara stated that the Church serves a vibrant community “who meet for holy mass every Saturday evening, as well as for occasional weddings, funerals and christenings”.

Now, in response to TII concerns, the Council has placed the application on hold pending Fr McNamara submitting a road safety audit.

The council has also requested Fr McNamara to carry out an archaeological impact assessment as the proposed site is located in an area that has a particularly high density of recorded monuments.

When contacted for comment, Fr McNamara said, “We are trying to enhance road safety.”

Fr McNamara said that he remains confident that planning permission will be granted. He said, “Because it is a good endeavour at aiming to improve road safety, I trust in the Lord that everything will turn out okay”.

Fr McNamara also praised the generosity of local couple, Patrick and Frances O’Donohue at donating the site for the car-park.

lPARKING: Fr Robert McNamara

Donna McGettigan selected as Sinn Féin’s General Election candidate

by Páraic McMahon paraic@clareecho.ie

SINN Féin has selected Cllr Donna McGettigan (SF) as its candidate in Clare for the next General Election.

Controversy has clouded the selection convention after Ballyvaughan’s Noeleen Moran was not let forward as a candidate despite receiving the backing of the East Clare Cumann and North Clare

Cumann.

Recent rule changes introduced in May meant Moran who contested the 2016 General Election polling 7.4 percent of the first preferences, required a second nomination from one of the party structures which she did not receive meaning that she could not be nominated for the convention.

Chairperson of the East

Clare Cumann, Harry Duggan and Chairperson of the North Clare Cumann, Philip Fahy both contacted party leader Mary Lou McDonald (SF) appealing for an intervention to allow for a vote to be held but no response or acknowledgement has been issued by Mary Lou.

Thursday’s convention which was held in Cloughleigh heard no mention of the

controversy and indeed there was no mention of Moran.

Limerick TD, Maurice Quinlivan (SF) was joined at the top table by former TDs, Jonathan O’Brien and Martin Ferris with the trio issuing strong support for McGettigan.

When contacted by The Clare Echo, Cllr McGettigan said she would not comment until her selection had been formally ratified by party headquarters.

Co-opted onto Clare County Council following the death of Mike McKee, Donna took her seat in February 2020. She contested the 2019 local elections in the Ennis Municipal District where she received 277 first preference votes. She and her family moved to Shannon in the 1970s.

During her time on the local authority, Donna has become the first female Cathaoirleach of the Shannon Municipal District and has highlighted issues such as mental health, dental services, retained firefighters and issues on a local level in Shannon.

Speaking to The Clare Echo, Noeleen admitted her disappointment with the process followed. “The issue is that a rule has been passed

which has taken the decision making process away from the membership in the constituency which should be a cause for concern for all members”.

“This has to be played out, I’ve been a member of Sinn Féin for over 20 years so it will play out a bit longer but I’m waiting on a reply,” the Ennis based health activist said when asked if she saw

a future for herself within the party. “All we can do is give them a chance to respond, it is a cause for concern, the rule was only introduced since May, I didn’t anticipate it would be used in this manner”.

This is the second time that Noeleen has been left frustrated by party headquarters in finalising their General Election ticket.

lCHOSEN: Cllr Donna McGettigan (SF)

Photo by John Mangan

LAW and order doesn’t exist in Sixmilebridge, frustrated locals claimed at a tense public meeting, writes

Páraic McMahon

A crowd in the region of 200 people attended Monday’s public meeting in the Lios Anama estate in Sixmilebridge as locals put the pressure on politicians to remove an illegal encampment which has relocated from the car park of the train station.

It has emerged the occupants of the campervan now situated in the estate turned down the offer of a house in Newmarket-on-Fergus.

Speaking at the meeting, Senator Timmy Dooley (FF) said the offer was declined “on the basis that it was only a two bedroom house”.

One father of three told the meeting, “for the last three years these people and there is a small number of them and they have been running roughshot in this village, they’re doing what they like, this is just one symptom, they took over the whole train station. They are walking around the village doing what they like, there is no law and order whatsoever in Sixmilebridge We’re listening to this nonsense, talk is very cheap Joe (Cooney), you are here and you are talking but the people of this village need a bit of action now”.

Attempts were made to get An Garda Síochána to speak at Monday’s meeting, Mayor of Clare, Cllr Joe Cooney (FG) stated. “In fairness, I did ask An Garda Síochána if they would make a comment this evening, I went over to them, I spoke to them and they said no. The Superintendent asked them to come out to monitor this evening”.

This comment drew a collective response of “not good enough” from the annoyed crowd. “Hear me out, hopefully they will talk to their head people on what is happening,” Cooney stated to which the crowd replied, “We don’t need Gardaí to monitor us”.

Presence of Gardaí has been absent in the locality, one man highlighted. “The only Garda I have seen in uniform in the last six months was at Mrs Carey’s funeral in Kilmurry, Mrs Carey God rest her was 92 and there wasn’t going to be any issues there”.

Cllr Cooney answered back, “In fairness we came

here to listen to your concerns to try get that illegally parked caravan there above out of here, that is what we’re going to do, we’re not going into where the Guards are”.

A woman claimed between 10 and 11 cars are outside the campervan each night “and 20 children in our gardens, on our cars and looking in our windows. There’s four people to be housed, where is the other 30 to 40 coming out of that we have to put up with? They are tearing through up here in cars, a child is going to be killed”.

Senator Dooley admitted he was “shocked” the caravan was returned to the family so quickly after their removal from the train station.

“The Gardaí are doing their job, the Sergeant is there,” he said. This was met with a loud “they are not” by large cohorts of the Sixmilebridge locals.

“The Gardaí are doing their job by being here tonight, they are under instruction from the Superintendent,” Dooley responded.

“It is an absolute kick in the face to this community that nobody from the Gardaí or the Council could show up. They should be gone by the end of the week,” said one male resident.

Supply of drugs in the village was criticised by another member of the crowd and this was met with a round of applause.

Fear was expressed by one woman that they could face repercussions for speaking out at the meeting. Residents said they were kept awake at night and were intimidated.

“I don’t live in this estate but I am concerned for the people living here. We had an incident a couple of weeks ago, the Superintendent needs to be contacted that there is extra cover given to these people, that their children are safe at night time and that they can go to bed without cars coming up and down the driveway at 4am. The Superintendent is answerable to the safety of these people,” stated one woman.

Cllr John Crowe (FG) told the meeting, “I’ve already asked that the Gardaí would cover this place, I was assured that it would be looked after”.

A local business person said the law was on the side of Travellers. “The law is totally on their side”.

by Páraic McMahon @clareecho.ie

ARGE crowds turned out in Sixmilebridge on Monday evening at a heated public meeting seeking the removal of a campervan from a local housing estate.

Last month, an illegal encampment was removed from the car park of Sixmilebridge train station where it had been located for two years and five months.

Up to four caravans had been based at the train station since the arrival of the encampment in February 2021 when they had moved from the grounds of St Senan’s RFC in Shannon. This figure had reduced to three by March and since June just one caravan remained.

This caravan has since relocated to Lios Anama, a housing estate in Sixmilebridge and its presence is leading to rising tensions within the village.

Anger was palpable at Monday’s meeting which was attended by an approximate 200 people and heard vocal criticism of An Garda Síochána, Clare County Council and political representatives. Gardaí were in attendance to monitor proceedings from afar.

In the absence of a Chairperson for the meeting, Mayor of Clare, Cllr Joe Cooney (FG) attempted to chair the hostile gathering. Cllr John Crowe (FG), Cllr Pat O’Gorman (FF), Cllr Alan O’Callaghan (FF) and Senator Timmy Dooley (FF) were the politicians present while Clare TD, Cathal Crowe (FF) held a meeting with residents on Sunday.

Mayor of Clare, Cllr Cooney was the first person to speak on Monday. “There is a lot of concern about the caravan parked at the end of the housing development, we’re well aware of the concerns of the people have over the parking up there and the issues over what is happening, we are to listen to your views, we are well aware of your concerns, I know the local councillors have been working on the issues and the concern of the illegal parking up there, there has been what I say bollards put in place to prevent other parking but we are well aware that ye have serious concerns,

we’re well aware over what has gone in the Bridge over the last couple of years with illegal parking at the train station”.

‘Lack of law & order’ fuelling problems Sixmilebridge united in L

Pace at the action or inaction of getting things done was voiced from the crowd. A Section 24 notice has been given to the Gardaí by the County Council. “It means they will have to look at all the guidelines and see at some stage can they tow away the caravan but again they have to have all their paperwork in place,” Cllr Cooney explained.

One male local resident said this notice was issued last Thursday evening and that it has been breached, “24 hours elapsed and they had to be offered suitable accommodation, they’ve been offered a house in Newmarket-on-Fergus which they turned down.

“They had 24 hours to leave which was up last Friday evening, we were asked could the Gardaí monitor here but they don’t have the resources for that so we were told be vigiltant ourselves, keep an eye out, one of the hurdles for the section 24 is that it has to be vacant. It was vacant yesterday, several residents rang the Gardaí, we were told that they hadn’t the resources to handle it on a Sunday evening. We were told when it gets contested it can go to the High Court, the Council spent €800,000 contesting these alone in the High Court, would it not be in case of putting people on overtime for a couple of weeks on call to sort that out in a shorter timeframe than it dragging on, getting contested and going to the High Court costing another €800,000”.

A first round of applause followed comments by another man who said, “They are dictating to the Council. The station up there is blocked, why is it blocked?

Travellers dictating to the law”. A woman in the crowd stated, “We’re being held to ransom, it is ridiculous”.

That the matter is “a legal mess” has made matters more difficult, Cllr Crowe flagged. “This has been going on as everyone knows for the last three years, we were trying to get them out of the railway station and it was in a legal mess, the big problem in the railway station was that the County Council owned the

car park but in a situation like this, this is a private housing estate and the County Council don’t own it so I feel that is the ever that we have to use as regards getting them out”.

Views from Cllr O’Gorman that a dedicated Chairman was needed for the meeting were not well received, “We want to have a Chairman because everyone shouting and roaring isn’t going to solve anything either”.

This served as the Cratloe man’s only contribution as he cited his frustration with getting shouted down, “I spoke to the engineer last week on several occasions and have been in communication with some people living in the estate. The problem as I see it from talking to engineers and Gardaí is when the caravan is pulled out of here if it is”.

One woman stated in response, “This isn’t solely a Lios Anama problem so we can’t solely have someone from this estate chairing this, it is a community and village wide problem, it is not a blind problem, ye know the details, it was flagged on the 10th of March when the bollards went up in the railway station, it should have been a proactive approach when this was predicted but we were ignored by the Council.

“We should not be standing here tonight having this discussion, it is as simple as that, it’s not fair for people to live like that or for us to put up with that lifestyle when we don’t choose that lifestyle, it is not acceptable and I don’t think we should be subject to it or putting our individual names or faces out there to deal with the mess, it shouldn’t have happened”. Her comments were met with a round of applause.

Processes in place are not right, Cllr O’Callaghan maintained. “I’ll keep it very short and sweet. Everyone that knows me will know that my blood has been boiling for the last two and a half years along

l Gardaí were asked to monitor the meeting in Sixmilebridge

bid to remove illegal encampment

l Crowds attend the public meeting at Lios Anama in Sixmilebridge with John for that problem, I’ve stuck my neck out as often as I could, at the end of the day we have to go through a process, is the process wrong? 100 per cent it is wrong. Clare County Council have issued a Section 24 and it is up to An Garda Síochána to enforce it so they need to step up and say we have a problem so what we do”.

O’Callaghan added, “This encampment is using it as a lever to get a house out of the Council, people are entitled to whatever they do but they have to fight tooth and nail for it, this is used as a lever to get a house, they’ve been offered one if not two houses, everything was agreed, there’s a man above in the Council back from North Clare and I swear to God lads he has fought tooth and nail for the last two years to deal with this and he never met such an amount of stumbling blocks going down the route of legislation and that is the problem, the issue is with An Garda Síochána, the section 24 has been issued and they need to do something about it.

When questioned on who can enforce it, Cllr O’Callaghan responded, “Gardaí are here and they need to go back to the Superintendent. Look at all the angry people that are here, he can carry that back. The Council don’t enforce the law, it is not pass the parcel, it is now a An Garda Síochána issue.

Queries on if the caravan could be towed if left vacant, Cllr Cooney stated, “That is

correct, that is what we’re led to believe”. This prompted one resident to pipe up, “That caravan was vacant for seven hours on Sunday, several people rang the Guards who are telling them that they can’t move it and that they need a clear plan from the Council. Between the Guards and the Council, can ye come up with the same story”. O’Callaghans Mills native Cooney replied, “The Council were on standby today if they got the call today to go ahead and move it, unfortunately they didn’t get the call”.

At this juncture, children from the campervan attempted to video participants at the meeting but were cleared by Sixmilebridge locals. “This is what we have to put up with on a daily basis. Don’t stand there and trying to plamas me. I got on the phone to you (Timmy) when they first got in there and what did you tell me, oh they’ll be gone and two and a half years later they are now outside my front door,” one woman stated.

Senator Dooley acknowledged the frustration and annoyance within the community. He said the only solution was to house the persons in the vehicle. “I suspect the only solution now is to ensure it is comprehensive and long-term, by taking the caravan tonight fine if it happens, great and we’ll be happy but will it be up the road or in another green area and you’re back to the same process again”.

He recounted a similar occurrence at his

own estate in Tulla. “I know what this is like, I live in an estate in Tulla, about seven or eight years ago somebody who owned two houses, the houses were being taken back by NAMA and they just gave the keys to a similar group of people who put a horse in the back garden and were there for about six months, they caused absolute rumpus.

“I was just about getting in at night because the neighbours went absolutely ripshit with me and believing the law could be changed overnight, they thought I should be able to do something about it but you just can’t wipe the slate clean and call in all the guns overnight, we succeeded and they moved on. The solution here is to find accommodation for the family up there in a manner that meets the Council’s policy and gets them out of here as quickly as possible”.

Efforts by Senator Dooley and Cllr Cooney to have two to three representatives from the locality join a committee were rejected by the residents. “No we are standing united,” was the response from the crowd when this was put to them.

Queries were raised on whether it was “Council policy to negotiate with people on the social housing list? That is essentially what you are doing, she has been offered a house and has refused it, you are now going to go back and offer her a different house,” said one man.

In response, Senator Dooley comment-

ed, “The Council don’t negotiate with people for a house but it solves the problem by moving it this evening as what happened at the train station, it is the domino effect that it lands here, you solve the problem here and it goes across the road or is back a week later or in the green space, the only long-term solution as hard and all as it is to stomach is to get a house for the family”.

When Cllr Cooney asked if a representative of the residents was willing to speak at the meeting to give their views on what they feel the politicians should do, he was laughed at.

“Once there are witnesses and everything is being recorded, I’m not going to speak up. There is a fear factor,” one female resident stated.

A Sixmilebridge native told the meeting that urgency was needed to remove the campervan. “We were told to approach the Gardaí, the first night they came in here nobody knew, the second night I stood here at 10pm until 6am, the Gardaí were supposed to have an overnight presence but I didn’t see one car come in for the whole night, not one and I went to bed at 6am, that is the problem and it is the response times”.

This tense meeting ended with Cllr Cooney appealing for a contact person to come forward so that there could be a link with the higher authorities in an effort to remove the encampment from Lios Anama.

Musicians bring party to Feakle Festival

lFEW TUNES: Enjoying the Feakle Festival were (clockwise from top left): Brian Corry and Sandy Robinson; Patrick Andrews and Margaret Keefe; Johnny Walsh; Anya Petters; Tricia Hastings and Ristard Crimmins; Patrick Hayes and Eoin Lyons

Photos by Ruth Griffin

in association with

Public to row in behind firefighters with protest at station on Sunday

APUBLIC protest is to be held in Shannon this Sunday in support of the county’s retained firefighters, writes Páraic McMahon.

From 12pm, members of the public will gather outside Shannon Fire Station in a show of solidarity.

For the last 10 weeks around 2,000 retained firefighters nationwide, represented by SIPTU, have been engaged in rolling industrial action - with pickets placed across 200 retained fire stations.

In the latest escalation in the strike, crew members in Clare and across the country are no

longer communicating with local authority call centres except in relaying life saving information.

Clare’s firefighters currently respond to 840 calls on average each year, with 71% of the county’s force currently comprised of retained personnel.

Talks aimed at resolving a dispute over pay and conditions for retained firefighters are expected to take place at the Workplace Relations Commission.

Shannon woman Michelle Hickey Legge who is the mother of a retained firefighter explained why they will be joining the public protest this weekend.

“When the buzzer goes off, it

wakes the household, we all hear it. The sound is piercing and fills you with an ominous sense of what my son is about to face. Death, trauma, life threatening injuries. Is it a fire, is it a car crash, is it a false alarm, what time will he come home, will he come home. Has someone else’s family member died.

“The buzzer doesn’t respect time, it doesn’t respect dates, birthdays, Christmas, family events, the buzzer is the boss, it cannot be argued with. There are no exceptions. 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, it is relentless. No sick pay, no mortgage, no planning, no structure. This is the reality of the life of a retained firefighter”.

Shannon facility touted as solution to HGV ‘mayhem’

‘MAYHEM in Bunratty’ could be eased by the addition of parking facilities in Shannon for the heavy goods vehicles, local councillors have argued, writes Páraic McMahon

In a proposal before the Shannon Municipal District, Cllr PJ Ryan (IND) asked that a request be issued to Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) to provide HGV facilities on the M18 or N18 adjacent to Shannon Industrial Estate.

He explained, “these vehicles are parking in one of our

prime tourist areas and near housing estates in the Shannon area at present”.

Speaking at the Shannon MD meeting the Cratloe representative flagged, facilities at the Spar Express in Bunratty allow truck drivers to get a cup of tea, sandwich or go to the toilet which is leading to them parking in the area for a few hours to get some sleep while on their travels.

“Some vehicles are starting up at 4am and are disturbing residents and people staying at Bunratty Manor,

Sikh leader to visit Shannon

HIS Holiness Sri Satguru Uday Singh Ji, the head of the Namdhari Sikhs will be arriving to Shannon on 21st august at Shannon international airport. His holiness has Followship of over a million worldwide and 40 families residing here

in Shannon catchment area.

This is his holiness third visit to Ireland. Previous visits to Ireland were in 2015 and 2019.

it looks very bad when you drive into Bunratty and see all the HGVs parked around there”.

Cllr Ryan continued, “We need to put some pressure on TII to provide these facilities, TII took us up to the then Clare Inn and showed all these new plans to build a facility just south of Newmarket-on-Fergus and between Drumline roundabout for an in-line service station, it was a European standard facility and now there is no more about it”.

lHis Holiness Sri Satguru Uday Singh Ji

lSTRIKE: Retained fire fighters picketing in Shannon Photo by Joe Buckley

by Páraic McMahon paraic@clareecho.ie

OLÁISTE

Muire’s class of 1983 are to hold a reunion next month.

Coláiste Muire class of 1983 to hold reunion C

Work is underway on organising a reunion for ladies who sat the Leaving Certificate in Coláiste Muire in Ennis in 1983.

Some 40 years on from completing their second level education, the reunion will take place on the evening of Saturday September 16th.

Organisers are keen to hear from persons interested in attending.

Members of the committee can be contacted via email. They include Cllr Mary Howard (FG) (maryhoward2009@gmail.com), Meg Griffin (meggriffin@live.ie), Annmarie Crimmins (annmariecrimmins@gmail.com), Derval Glendon (dervalglendon1@gmail.com) and Annette Duggan (annettemduggan@gmail.com).

lCATCH UP: L-R Annette Duggan, Ann Marie Crimmins, Meg Griffin & Mary Howard

Candlelight Vigil held for 1981 Hunger Strikers

Members and friends of the Ennis Sinn Féin Cumann held a vigil last Saturday evening to commemorate the 10 men who lost their lives on Hunger Strike in Long Kesh prison in 1981, writes Elaine Tubridy

The vigil was part of a series of Sinn Féin events being run across Munster in the run-up to this year’s national hunger strike commemoration in Cork City which takes place on Sunday, 27th of August at 2pm. Cumann chairperson, Tommy Guilfoyle outlined the importance of the vigil.

“We gathered at the Daniel O'Connell monument in Ennis to commemorate the 10 republican volunteers, Bobby Sands MP, Francis Hughes, Raymond

McCreesh, Patsy O'Hara, Joe McDonnell, Martin Hurson, Kevin Lynch, Kevin Doherty TD, Thomas McElwee and Michael Devine who died on hunger strike in 1981 and to reaffirm our commitment to the political struggle to reunite our Country,” he said.

Tommy commented that the Cork City march is a family friendly, public event and extended an invitation to anyone who wants to join them.

“There will be private buses traveling to the commemoration and back, so please email Ennis Sinn Féin on ennissinnfein@gmail.com if you would like to join the trip to Cork," he concluded.

St Michael’s Villas team give thanks

Community Groups in Ennis were acknowledged by residents of St Michael’s Villas recently.

Fresh from celebrating 70 years of the Ennis residential areas, members of the SMV70 committee made a presentation in St Michael’s Villas to mark the work and importance to the community of three groups namely Ennis Brass Band who performed the SMV70 celebrations, SMV Grotto Committee and SMV Residents' Association.

Pictured are Patricia O’Neill Dixon, Bernard McAllister and Ann O’Loughlin receiving their presentation.

Front (L-R); Johnny Kearse, Anne O’Loughlin, Patricia, Bernard, Ann, Jackie Slattery and Cora Hahessy. Back (L-R): Paddy Hahessy, Eddie O’Loughlin, Patsy Kearse, Kathleen Kearse, Barbara Kearse & Fr. Tom Ryan, Chairperson of Grotto Committee.

lRemembering the Hunger Strikers

Starting Secondary School: A Survival Guide

So, the day has finally arrived.

It’s a rollercoaster of emotions from excitement to nerves and a bit of confusion. And that’s just the parents!! This is a great day and a rite of passage for children. Today they leave the sanctuary that was their classroom with one teacher in Primary School and head into 8 teachers per day in many different rooms following a timetable that, at first glance, look like the manual for the Starship Enterprise. Here are my tips for this great day.

• Nerves are normal, don’t worry. Reassure your child that the school they are heading into will look after them.

• The only things they need today are an A4 copy and a blue pen, red pen, ruler and pencil.

• Don’t drop them off too early. 20 minutes before the arranged time is more than enough.

• As soon as possible you need to go and let the move actually happen. If you feel your child may be on their

own go to one of the teachers present at the gate and they will get a buddy organised.

• Tell your child that they will be given a lot of information which they are not expected to remember. Most of it will be given in note form as photocopies.

• For the next few hours trust the school and try to take it easy. Your child is now on a journey of excitement and finding their feet. It’s a wonderful experience and they will enjoy it.

• Once you pick up your child bring them home to chill. Their heads will be spinning.

• Go through their timetable with them and if possible get them to write it into their homework journals.

• Now it’s time to listen to your child to see how they got on.

• Note concerns and if necessary alert the Year Head. Use the school email to do this. You will find a huge amount of information on your school’s websites.

• Emailing schools is the most effective way to communicate.

• That evening celebrate with your child and mark this big day. Perhaps a trip to the cinema or a meal out. But make them feel really special.

In next weeks edition I will be looking at “Settling In Problems”.

If you have a question email it to me at johnburnsstudy@gmail.com and I will answer it in the next column.

Best wishes to all boys and girls starting Secondary School.

John. Instagram johnburnstudy (Please follow and share).

Facebook at John Burns Study 0872766338 johnburnsstudy@gmail.com

Thought for the week: Only one life

Spreading the word of positivity

RONAN SCULLY

IS IT just me or is time flying by? How do we make the most out of our short time here on this beautiful planet?

I played a song on our local radio station a long time ago from the singer Doris Day while filling in for my Dad on his great radio show, Jukebox Saturday called, “Enjoy Yourself It’s Later than You Think!” and it got me thinking about how short life can be and how life can pass us by without us getting the chance to enjoy ourselves and suddenly realizing that we have missed out on so much, as the song goes, “You work and work for years and years, You’re always on the go, Never take a minute off, To busy makin’ dough, Some day, you say, you’ll have your fun, When you’re a millionaire! - But Imagine all the fun you’ll have In an old rockin’ chair, Enjoy yourself it’s later than you think, Enjoy yourself while you’re still in the pink, The years go by as quickly as a wink, Enjoy yourself, enjoy yourself It’s later than you think.”

THE THOUSAND MARBLES

This story is about two men Pat and Niall having a chat about their perspectives on their own priorities in life.

“Well, Niall, it sure sounds like you’re busy with your

job. I’m sure they pay you well but it’s a shame you have to be away from home and your family so much. Hard to believe a young fellow should have to work 60 or 70 hours a week to make ends meet. Too bad you missed your daughter’s dance recital. “Let me tell you something Niall, something that has helped me keep a good perspective on my own priorities.” And that’s when he began to explain his theory of a “thousand marbles”.“You see,” said Pat, “I sat down one day and did a little arithmetic. The average person lives about 75 years.

Now then, I multiplied 75 times 52 and I came up with 3,900, which is the number of Saturdays that the average person has in their entire lifetime. Now stick with me Niall, I’m getting to the important part.

“It took me until I was 55 years old to think about all this in any detail and, by that time, I had lived through over 2,800 Saturdays. I got to thinking that if I lived to be 75, I only had about 1,000 of them left to enjoy.

So I went to a toy store and bought every single marble they had. I took them home and put them inside of a large, clear plastic container right here in the shed next to my gear. Every Saturday since then, I have taken one marble out and thrown it away.

I found that by watching the marbles diminish, I focused more on the really important things in life. There

is nothing like watching your time here on this earth run out to help get your priorities right. Now let me tell you one last thing before I finish with you and take my lovely wife out for lunch. This morning, I took the very last marble out of the container. I figure if I make it until next Saturday then I have been given a little extra time. And the one thing we can all use is a little more time for one another now and then.”

THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK

As your thought for the

week, become a giver instead of a taker and I promise you that you will find comfort, contentment, and joy in your living. So, be a blessing and genuinely be a helper and a carer and a lover. Make every day count!!! Appreciate every moment and take from those moments everything that you possibly can for you may never be able to experience it again.

Talk to people that you have never talked to before, and actually listen. Let yourself fall in love, break

free, and set your sights high. Hold your head up because you have every right to. Tell yourself you are a great individual and believe in yourself, for if you don’t believe in yourself, it will be hard for others to believe in you. You can make your life anything you wish. Create your own life then go out and live it with absolutely no regrets.

May one of your purposes in life be to help someone today and give it your all always and enjoy yourself before it’s too late!!! Always remember that, “Success is

not just reaching the top, But also helping others go up!

Success is not being better than the rest, But helping others be at their best!

Success is not about having fame or fortune, But helping others avoid misfortune! Success is not about showing that you are superior, But helping others know that they are not inferior! Success is not about showing off your ability, But helping others enjoy stability!

Success is not getting what you want at every single word, But helping others get what they cannot afford! Success is about making people smile, Helping others live a life that is worthwhile will help you to live a life of joy!

So remember life is short. Too short to waste time. Too short to hate. Too short to live with regret. Too short to give up. Too short to give in. Too short to accept defeat. Too short to spend it pursuing things that don’t last. Too short to resist, reject, or obstruct the God given destiny that you have been given. Life is short. So live well. God’s promises are eternal. God’s blessings last forever. God’s love has no end. God’s favor is boundless. God’s goodness is limitless. The life that God has in store for you is not short because God is offering you a life that will last forever. So love God, love people, and do the things that God seems to be calling you to do everyday of your life no matter how short it will be.

Tá Seachtain Náisiúnta na hOidhreachta linn

National Heritage Week is here

Macalla an Chláir

LE MACDARA

COINNIGÍ súil ar ócáidí a bheas ag tarlú ar fud an chondae le linn Seachtain Náisiúnta na hOidhreachta. Bígí liom fhéin ag Caisleán Bhun Raite le taispeántaisí amhránaíochta ar an sean-nós ón 17ú -20ú Lúnasa / Keep an eye out for events happening around the county for National Heritage Week. Join me for a sean-nós singing presentation at Bunratty Castle from 17th-20th of August. Tuilleadh eolais/More information: www.bunrattycastle.ie/events/ heritage-week

Recommended Viewing on TG4 / Is Fiú Breathnú ar seo ar TG4: ‘’Báisteach’’, 19:30, Dé Máirt/Tuesday, 22ú Lúnasa/August, TG4. Sa ts-

raith seo caithfear súil ar chuid den mhistéir a bhaineann le báisteach agus an lorg a fhágann sí ar chultúir na cruinne, an tionchar atá aici ar

Imeachtaí/Events:

• INIS – CAINT AGUS COMHRÁ, chuile Dé Luain ag 11am sa gCopper Jug, Dé Céadaoin ag 11am in O’Brien’s, oíche Déardaoin sa Temple Gate (8pm), agus Dé Sathairn i nGlór, 11am-12pm

• RAIDIÓ CLARE FM - ‘’Cúl-chaint’’ le Domhnall Ó Loingsigh chuile mhaidin Dé Sathairn, 9am. Seol nuacht chuig: Donal@clare.fm

• INIS - Rith le Ruairí, chuile Dé Máirt ag 7.30pm, ag Local Motion, Sráid Uí Chonaill

• CILL INÍNE BAOITH - Ciorcal Comhrá san XPO, chuile Dé Céadaoin ag 7.30pm

ealaíontóirí, an rath a thagann ar chomhlachtaí mar gheall uirthi agus faoin mbeathú atá inti. Tabharfaidh Seán Mac an tSíthigh cuairt ar cheann de thoibreacha beannaithe na hÉireann. Gheobhaidh muid amach faoin mbealach a shuaimhníonn an bháisteach muid, agus feicfidh muid an bhfuil fírinne ar bith sna traidisiún a bhaineann le Leanbh Phrág! / ‘’Báisteach’’ delves into some of the mysteries behind this most commonplace

phenomenon, rain. We discover how rain affects cultures around the world: how it influences artists, allows businesses to flourish and how societies have always appealed to it’s life giving properties. Seán Mac an tSíthigh visits one of Ireland’s many holy wells, we find out about how rain affects our minds and calms us and we put the tradition of the Child of Prague to the test at an Irish wedding!

lSeachtain na hOidhreachta ag Caisleán Bhun Raite

l Make the most of every day

The Healthy Clare Working Group are promoting health and wellbeing across the County

menting both health promotion and prevention actions, and raising awareness of these opportunities.

For example;

Healthy Clare was adopted by Clare’s Local Community Development Committee (LCDC) in 2019. It is based on the national Cross-Governmental led initiative ‘Healthy Ireland’, which aims to improve population health and wellbeing. As a result, the Healthy Clare Working Group was established to support the local implementation of Healthy Ireland across County Clare. The membership of the working group includes

ing initiatives across the County through funding opportunities from the Department of Health, Pobal and recently Creative Ireland. These projects have had a particular focus on Mental Health and Physical Activity. Examples of some of the Healthy Ireland funded projects delivered include; Inclusive Athletics Camps, Cooking Classes, Woodlands for Health walks, Social Farming, Sustainable Gardening Workshops, Mental

- the ‘Not Around Us’ Towards a Tobacco and Vape Free Clare initiative launched in early 2021 is helping to protect children and young people from second hand smoke, and denormailising smoking and vaping for them too; while also reducing the environmental nuisance, the cost of cleaning and damage that discarded tobacco products creates. Another key aspect of this campaign is signposting those who do smoke to the HSE’s Quit MidWest services. I’m encouraging all our oraganisation’s particularly those hosting children and young people to sign up to the ‘Not Around Us’ initiative, increasing the number of smoke and vape free spaces in Clare. More details are available on our dedicated webpage https://yoursay.clarecoco.ie/ nau-campaign?tool=survey_tool

in the bathroom facilities. As this is a pilot project I wish to invite everyone who has seen or availed of the initiative to send in your feedback through our online platform https://yoursay.clarecoco.ie/ free-period-products?tool=survey_tool or by contacting me directly. Your contribution is important to helping us understand the impacts of this campaign in Clare.

health enhancing work organisations in Clare are delivering on. I myself have learnt loads these past few months from reading this page, and it is something I enjoy reading every Thursday morning and I hope that that is true for your readers too.

the Chief Officer of the LCDC, 2 elected officials, Clare PPN, Clare Libraries, Age Friendly Clare, Children and Young People’s Services Committee (CYPSC) Clare and representation from each of Healthy Ireland’s 6 themes (Mental Health, Sexual Health, Healthy Weight, Physical Activity, Tobacco Free and Reducing Drugs and Alcohol Related Harm). This includes the HSE’s National Office of Suicide Prevention & Health and Wellbeing Unit, the Clare Sports Partnership, Active Ennis, the Mid West Regional Drugs and Alcohol Forum and (GOSHH) Gender Orientation Sexual Health and HIV.

Since its inception in 2019 the Healthy Clare initiative has supported the delivery of a range of community health and well-be-

Wellbeing Webinars and the recent Health and Wellbeing Age Expo which was hosted by Clare’s Older People’s Council. Also, during the Covid-19 pandemic, the Keepwell campaign was also delivered under Healthy Ireland.

Dena Mc Grath, the Healthy County Coordinator for Clare explained that over the next 3 years Healthy Clare will be supporting actions and initiatives that promote ‘Positive Mental Health’ and a ‘Healthy Weight’. Expanding on the latter as having 4 pillars which are eating well, physical activity, sleep hygiene and stress reduction. The recent Healthy Clare Micro Fund reflected these priority outcomes.

Healthy Clare is focused on keeping people healthy for longer through developing and imple-

Also in 2021, Healthy Clare launched the ‘We’re Breastfeeding Friendly Clare’ campaign. It aims to help improve the health and wellbeing of breastfeeding mothers, babies and their families through the development and promotion of breastfeeding friendly businesses, organisations and communities. Research tells us the two things that make mothers feel comfortable when breastfeeding out and about are, a welcoming, helpful attitude from staff, and other patrons knowing and accepting that babies may be breastfed there. By signing up to ‘We’re Breastfeeding Friendly’ Clare, private, community and statutory organisations across County Clare can show they welcome and support breastfeeding mothers and families through some easy and no-cost actions. I’m currently mapping all of the ‘We’re Breastfeeding Friendly Clare’ locations which will be launched during National Breastfeeding Week in October on https://yoursay.clarecoco.ie/ breastfeedingfriendlyclare. By then I’d love to see even more family friendly spaces participating in this initiative.

Another important initiative Healthy Clare launched just 2 months ago is the Pilot Local Authority Free Period Products initiative. And I have to say I’m delighted with the response of our implementing partners, as we currently have 32 participating sites across Clare. This means that when visiting for example Clare Libraries, Active Ennis or the Municipal District Office buildings you can now avail of free period products

Another important piece of my work as Healthy Clare Coordinator is raising awareness of the existing Health and Well-Being supports and Services that exist both locally here in Clare and nationally. This year we’ve used a variety a platforms to do this, for example Healthy Clare created our first Health and Wellbeing Calendar. We also have a monthly Healthy Clare Newsletter that is available both online and in print version through our MD Offices and Clare Libraries. And of course here in the Clare Echo’s Weekly Health and Wellbeing Page. This page has facilitated a weekly knowledge sharing space demonstrating the amazing

If you are interested in keeping up to date with Healthy Clare, please do contact me, Dena Mc Grath by emailing healthyclare@ clarecoco.ie or calling 087 987 8785. www.clarecoco.ie/services/community/healthy-clare/

GREEN CLARE

Hunger & resources exist to extend River Fergus Greenway

by Páraic McMahon paraic@clareecho.ie

A HUNGER exists to extend the River Fergus Greenway into Clarecastle and efforts are underway to advance this project.

Citing the high volume of people using the walkway on a daily basis, Cllr Paul Murphy (FG) stated, “there is a hunger to extend the Greenway further to Clarecastle village. Last autumn, there was an outdoor recreation scheme allocation of €50,000 to conduct a feasibility study on the viability of potential of this extension”.

In a proposal before the Ennis Municipal District, Cllr Murphy asked that sufficient resources be made available to progress the

study “as a matter of urgency”.

Acting senior executive engineer in the Ennis MD, Paddy Tiernan confirmed that the project is to be advanced. “The funding granted for this project will allow for topographical surveys, environmental reports and site investigation works to be completed. Ennis MD together with our colleagues in Rural Development are currently preparing tender documents to appoint the necessary consultants and contractors. We can confirm sufficient resources are available to progress this project”.

Stage one of the project was heralded as “fantastic” by Cllr Murphy. Adding Clarecastle in the second phase will involve going

upstream “but that is up to the consultants to look at,” he stated.

Funding can always be sourced, an optimistic Cllr Tom O’Callaghan (FF) noted, “It is a great amenity and it will be wonderful if it is to be done. It has been a success. There will always be obstacles, if there is a wall we can go through it, around it or over it, find the funding required to get it over the line”.

Cllr O’Callaghan was adamant it was worth doing, “from a mind and family point of view it would be a win situation for all of the local-

ity within our town centre”.

Mayor of the Ennis MD, Cllr Pat Daly (FF) quipped, “the walk has been a great success from Doora Bridge to Clareabbey, it is vital that it continues to Clarecastle, we won’t amalgamate the two teams though”.

This prompted Cllr Murphy to question the record books, “Clarecastle’s first championship was won with the support of Ennis, we have 13 championships in Clarecastle but we actually have 13.5”.

Registration opens for Big Beach Clean

Clean Coasts, supported by Cully and Sully, is thrilled to announce the return of the Big Beach Clean initiative, writes Elaine Tubridy.

The programme is asking participants to sign up to receive a free clean-up kit and join a worldwide citizen science project. With almost 150 groups already registered, this promises to be an exciting opportunity for everyone.

In 2022, over 500 clean-up events took place and volunteers made an incredible impact by removing 42 tonnes of litter from the Irish coast and inland locations. As Clean Coasts celebrated its 20th anniversary in 2023, the aim is to make this year’s Big Beach Clean the most remarkable one yet.

Scheduled to take place from September 15th to 17th, the Big Beach Clean is part of the International Coastal Cleanup (ICC), organised by the Ocean Conservancy. This annual call to

action invites communities and volunteers to come together and host a clean-up after the bathing season ends. Additionally, it is an opportunity for volunteers to engage in a worldwide citizen science project. By collecting data on the amount and types of litter found on Irish beaches and filling out Clean Coasts’ Marine Litter Data Cards, volunteers contribute to raising awareness about the issue of marine litter. This data serves as an indicator of the problem’s scale and aids in shaping future policies and campaigns.

This year, Clean Coasts aims to emphasise the importance of submitting the information and data on the collected litter. The 2022 results have been shared with Ocean Conservancy, and in Ireland, they have influenced Clean Coasts’ campaigns targeting the top 10 litter offenders, including cigarette butts, plastic bottles, and food packaging. For example, the Clean Coasts’

Break Up with Plastic campaign was mostly based on results from the Big Beach Clean. Moreover, working with community groups, a new anti-smoking litter campaign was launched in May this year.

At Taisce National Spring Clean programme is joining the initiative again and registration for the Big Beach Clean is open to all residents of Ireland, regardless of their proximity to the coastline. Statistics show that urban litter is one of the main causes of marine litter, therefore, even those in non-coastal counties can participate and contribute to preventing litter from entering waterways and seas. By joining the Big Beach Clean, volunteers play a crucial role in addressing the problem at its source and making a positive impact on the environment.

People wishing to join the initiative can register at www. cleancoasts.org.

lThe Big Beach Clean in Seafield last year

Quin’s John Hehir retires from Dromoland Castle after 37 years

One of Dromoland Castle’s longest serving members of staff has retired after over three decades with the business, writes

Páraic McMahon

John Hehir took the position of Director of Sales & Marketing for the County Clare luxury hotel in 1986, having spent the previous six years with Shannon Development Company and Shannon Castle Tours in the US promoting leisure and incentive travel to Ireland.

A sociable person in every sense, John who now lives in Quin spent his 37-year tenure at one of the country’s most iconic hotels travelling to and from the US, hosting dinners, extolling the virtues of his homeland and converting those all-important sales. His easygoing nature and innate gift for forming strong relationships ensured that Ireland was put firmly on the map, particularly with regard to Incentive and Conference business from the States.

Speaking about his departure, John reflected, “I am extremely proud to have been part of the Dromoland team for so many years of my working life. The hotel consistently delivers a genuine and enjoyable Irish castle experience for its many guests and it has been a pleasure to have been involved in that.

“Selling Ireland overseas has never really felt like work – our worldwide reputation as fun loving, friendly and engaging people creates the perfect environment for visitors to experience everything that is good about Ireland such as our history, music, unique sports etc. I constantly met people abroad that recalled conversations and tall tales from years past, some not necessarily true, but always entertaining. It’s easy for visitors to be part of the banter and craic in Ireland. What we offer as a country is hard to beat”.

Proud Limerick man John has always been a keen hurler – previously taking home two Limerick county medals and All-Ireland club

Clare Youth Ser vice

Community Training Centre

Clare Youth Service, a community-based charity, is the leading provider of Youthwork programmes and services to young people in the county. The Community Training Centre (CTC) provides vocational training and education options to meet the needs of young people aged 16 to 21 years who have left mainstream education without adequate qualifications.

In compliance with the funder requirements, we are advertising publicly to invite applications from suitably qualified and enthusiastic persons for the post of:

General Learning Tutor

(Specialising in Health & Wellbeing)

Part time (17.5 hours per week)

This is a fixed term contract from September 2023 to August 2024.

Application form, job description and person specification are available from mslattery@clareyouthservice.org or www.activelink.ie/node/101890

Completed application forms should be returned to mslattery@clareyouthservice.org by: 12 noon on Thursday August 24th 2023

Application by e-mail only

Interviews will take place on Friday 1 September 2023.

Clare Youth Service is committed to a policy of Equal Opportunity. Appointment is subject to Garda Vetting. Shortlisting will apply

medals with Claughaun. Now aged 76, he intends to spend his well-earned retirement playing golf “badly”, taking walks with his wife Yvonne in the countryside surrounding their home in Quin and, of course, watching his beloved Limerick play.

Dromoland Castle Hotel Director Mark Nolan paid tribute to his now former colleague. “Starting three years before I even came into the hotel, John has been an integral part of our team for as long as I can

remember. He has always brought such life and warmth to the hotel and has a kind word and smile for everyone, not seeing him every day will feel like we’re missing our right arm! On behalf of everyone who works at Dromoland Castle, I’d like to thank John for his many years of exceptional service and wish him all the very best in this next chapter as he finally puts his feet up and hopefully allows his body clock to finally readjust to our Irish time zone”.

lPROUD: John & Yvonne Hehir and family

Shannon Airport duty-free launches new area showcasing Irish brands

SHANNON Airport Duty Free has launched a new beauty, living and wellness area, writes Páraic Mc-

Mahon

Curated is the brand new area which has been unveiled in the first and oldest duty-free shop in the world.

Irish beauty and wellness brands from across the country are to be championed in the duty free’s latest addition.

Clare brands such as Wix and Wax from Ennis and Wild Irish Seaweed based in Quilty are among the local brands featured plus Seabody from Kerry and Galway based skincare brand Mervue organics.

CEO of The Shannon Airport Group, Mary Considine said, “We have a rich history steeped in entrepreneurial spirit and innovation, and we are particularly delighted to be providing an opportunity for Irish businesses, startups, and talented artisans from across the country to showcase their products to an international market.

“Our dynamic offering of Irish products is proving popular amongst our international and domestic passengers, and we look forward to seeing all

of our Irish suppliers grow and flourish at Shannon Duty Free”.

Speaking about the unveiling of the Curated space, Alan Reynolds, Head of Retail at The Shannon Airport Group commented, “Our new Beauty, Living and Wellness area, housed under the new Curated space is a prime way to champion those amazing indigenous businesses out there in the beauty and wellness space to a worldwide customer base”.

“The Curated area was designed by renowned Irish Interior Designer Tess Stanford and features a nautical influence to reflect the beauty and authenticity of the West Coast of Ireland.

“This gives a real sense of place to our shoppers seeking Irish products with uniquely Irish ingredients and complements our other Irish themed sections across the store.”

The Beauty, Living and Wellness area now joins the Shannon Irish Design Store for jewellery, giftware, and textile, O’Regan’s food emporium for uniquely Irish food products, and Irish Liquor for premium Irish whiskeys and beveragesbecoming the fourth designated space at Shannon Duty Free

to help promote over 100 Irish suppliers spotlighted across the store.

Shannon Airport pioneered the concept of Duty-Free shopping in 1947, selling locally produced products initially from a kiosk,

and later providing a mail order service in 1954, mailing items to all over the world. Today, the Duty-Free concept has grown into a multi-billion-dollar

retail industry found in airports all over the world.

global

lCURATED: The sky’s the limit for local Irish brands in Shannon Duty Free’s new Beauty, Living and Wellness area called Curated. Pictured left to right is Yvonne Daly (Mervue), Evan Talty (Wild Irish Seaweed), Chantelle Keane, Danielle Kenneally and Aisling Kenneally (Wix & Wax Ireland) and Orla Kenny (Seabody), whose products are all featured in Duty Free’s new Curated section

Photo by Stephen O’Malley

‘Captivating’ mural unveiled in Doolin

Doolin Ferry recently unveiled a captivating new mural at Doolin Pier, writes Elaine Tubridy.

The colourful artwork portrays two charming Atlantic puffins, one with its wing outstretched in an inviting embrace, creating a unique interactive experience that invites passersby to step into the picture and become a part of the enchanting scene.

The second puffin proudly shows off his catch from a successful fishing expedition, his orange beak filled with shimmering silver herring. In the background, the wild Atlantic Ocean stretches out, its waves gently crashing against the base of the cliffs. The sky is painted with hues of soft violet and pink conjuring up images of summer sunsets at Doolin pier.

Renowned local artist, Marcus O’Connor of West Murals has skillfully captured the essence of the Atlantic puffins that frequent the Cliffs of Moher during the breeding season, bringing their playful and endearing nature to life in this larger-than-life artwork.

The mural not only celebrates the rich natural beauty of the Clare coastline but also invites people to forge a deeper connection with the wildlife that inhabits it.

“We wanted to create something that not only adds to the aesthetic appeal of Doolin Pier but also offers a memorable and interactive experience for everyone who visits,” said Liam O’Brien, owner of Doolin Ferry who commissioned the mural. “The idea of having one of the puffins extend a

wing of friendship will hopefully foster an appreciation of the incredible harmony that exists between nature and humanity and our collective responsibility to protect our seas and the rich marine life that it supports”.

Doolin Ferry proudly supports the work of Fair Seas which is campaigning for 30 per cent of Irish waters to be classed as Marine Protected Areas by 2030.

The areas surrounding the Cliffs of Moher and the Aran Islands are extremely important for biodiversity and one of the most important coastal areas of interest for seabirds in terms of diversity and volume, with roughly 65,000 birds breeding here.

The mural has already sparked enthusiasm and curiosity among locals and tourists alike with the playful puffins proving to be the perfect Instagram backdrop. Meanwhile Doolin Ferry’s social media pages are buzzing with name suggestions after a call-out by the company on what the pier’s newest residents should be called! The short-list includes names such as Moher and Aran, Huffin and Puffin and Fionn and Fionnuala. A prize of a Cliffs of Moher Cruise for 2 is up for grabs for the winning entry.

Doolin Pier has long been a gathering place for those seeking a connection with nature, the sea, and the local community. This mural further enhances the pier’s appeal, offering a space where residents and visitors can engage in conversations, take photos, and create lasting memories.

Key focus on Shannon during US Tourism promotion

A TOURISM delegation from County Clare will attend the world’s largest Irish cultural festival this week to encourage the US market to travel directly into the West of Ireland via Shannon Airport, writes Elaine Tubridy.

The recent resumption of daily direct flights between Shannon and Chicago O’Hare International, bringing to four the number of US destinations served by the Clare airport, will be at forefront of the County’s tourism showcase at the Milwaukee Irish Fest in Wisconsin.

The Clare delegation is being led by Clare County Council and members of the Clare Tourism Advisory Forum and will spearhead the promotion of the Banner County as a desirable visitor destination to over 120,000 festival goers.

Covering 74 acres of Lake Michigan’s shoreline the event showcases Irish music, history, dance, sports and culture, the annual festival also is attended by tourism agencies such as Tourism Ireland and Aer Lingus.

“Many US tourists fly into Dublin Airport before realising that there is an international airport on Ireland’s west coast,” stated Cllr Joe Cooney, Cathaoirleach of Clare County Council. “This represents a massive lost opportunity for the tourism sector in this region and our primary goal over the coming week is to get people to ‘Fly Shannon’ and to promote the airport as a gateway to the West of Ireland.”

“Thousands of US tourists have booked flights into Shannon Airport because of the Clare tourism delegation’s presence at Milwaukee Irish Fest down through the years. The expansion of Shannon Airport’s transatlantic routes offers new potential to grow the number of tourists from the Midwest and Northeast Regions of the United States,” added the Cathaoirleach.

Leonard Cleary, Director of Tourism Development with Clare County Council, said tourism operators in the West of Ireland cannot afford to be complacent about the transatlantic

services on offer at Shannon and must continue to take a leading role in driving holiday bookings through the airport.

He continued, “This week’s Milwaukee promotion complements the recent launch by Tourism Ireland of a marketing campaign to highlight direct flights from the United States to Shannon Airport. This initiative has been widely welcomed by the local tourism sector as it is an acknowledgement that Ireland

cannot continue to push all incoming visitors through Dublin Airport. Shannon is a gateway to the Wild Atlantic Way and, therefore, it is important Clare County Council and the local sector also play their role in encouraging US tourists to ‘Fly Shannon’.”

According to Seán Lally, Chair of the Clare Tourism Advisory Forum, “The resumption of direct flights to Chicago comes on foot of significant lobbying by the local tourism sector

based on our presence at last year’s Milwaukee Irish Fest where we encountered significant demand amongst festival goers for such a service.

“Shannon Airport recorded 240,000 passengers on its services to New York (JFK), Boston and Newark during 2022, and it is hoped that this figure will increase further during 2023 due to the reintroduction of daily non-stop flights to Chicago in May,” stated Mr Lally. “The local tourism sector has an important role to play in growing these figures and we look forward to showcasing Shannon and County Clare, including our rich heritage and culture, to prospective American visitors over the coming days.”

Joan Tarmey, Tourism Officer with Clare County Council, said the upcoming promotion brings representatives of Clare’s business, tourism and Local Government sectors together to proactively market County Clare and Shannon Airport to a key market.

“Every part of the County to include Ireland’s Hidden Heartlands in East Clare as well as the Wild Atlantic Way will be showcased at Milwaukee Irish Fest with newly developed promotional materials for local attractions being distributed at the Visit Clare stand located within the Irish Destinations section of the festival site,” she explained. “With the recent announcement of the Walker Cup to be hosted in Lahinch in 2026 as well as the Ryder Cup 2027 in Adare on the horizon, the wider MidWest tourism sector must continue to avail of international marketing opportunities to promote the Region as a vibrant destination with a strong ‘fly Shannon’ message throughout.”

The 2023 Milwaukee Irish Fest gets under way this Thursday (17th August) and continues through Sunday. Included in this year’s music line-up is a string of well-known Irish artists including The Coronas, Hermitage Green, Eileen Ivers, Derek Warfield and Gaelic Storm. Visit www.irishfest.com for more.

lCOLOURFUL: The mural was created by local artist Marcus O’Connor

lFLYING THE FLAG: Councillor Pat Hayes; Seán Lally, Chair of Clare Tourism Advisory Forum; Councillor Tony O’Brien; Siobhan King, Fáilte Ireland; Councillor Joe Cooney, Cathaoirleach of Clare County Council; Leonard Cleary, Director of Tourism Development; Joan Tarmey, Tourism Officer; Councillor Paul Murphy; and Melanie Lennon, Marketing Manager, Cliffs of Moher Visitor Experience.

4 The Green is a charming four-bedroom linked house overlooking the green area within the much sought after Cappahard development. The house has been maintained to an excellent standard and features a superb fully paved rear garden for enjoying the summer weather. Built in 2000 this residence is prominently located just off the Tulla Road in the heart of Ennis. It is within walking distance of all local amenities and just a four-minute drive to both Ennis Town Centre a two-minute drive to the M18 motorway. Viewing is highly recommended to truly appreciate the property.

Contact: Jason Pyne

SHERRY FITZGERALD MCMAHON

Tel: 065 686 7866

PSL 001212

This fabulous 3 bedroom detached residence is situated in the much sought after area of Ballyellery, Liscannor. Set on an imposing 0.44 acre site with striking landscaped grounds, this fantastic home is not one to be missed! Situated in an established, private residential development of only 8 houses, each on their own substantial site with impressive views, this property is ideally located within easy access of Lahinch beach and Golf Club & Liscannor village. Internally, accommodation comprises 102 sq.m. and includes a kitchen/ dining area, living room, utility room, bathroom and 3 bedrooms (one of which is ensuite). Special features include Quartz silestone counter tops, 100% wool carpeting, Karndean vinyl tiled flooring, recessed lighting and high ceilings.

Contact: Danielle O’Connor

SHERRY FITZGERALD MCMAHON

Tel: 065 686 7866

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Springfield House is a stunning private country home on circa 1.7 hectares (4.2 acres) (approx.) of grounds. The house is set on mature landscaped gardens accessed from the main road by a gravelled driveway. The property was built in 1996 and was finished to an excellent standard with generous living spaces.

There is an option to purchase an additional circa 1.2acres of land which includes a stables.

The house has been tastefully finished in a country style. From the entrance porch one enters a large hallway with a beautiful feature tiled floor. From the entrance hall there is access to the staircase, living room, drawing room, dining room, downstairs bathroom and study (currently being used as a downstairs bedroom). The ground floor internal teak doors are extra wide and the ceilings are extra high giving a really good spacious feeling. The dining room also has a living space with a stove feature. From here there is access to the utility room and the kitchen. The dining room also has French doors to the south facing private patio to the side.

The first floor consists of 5 bedrooms, 4 of which are ensuite. There is also a main bathroom just off the landing. All of the bedrooms are spacious. There is a large games room / work area to the rear of the property on the first floor.

Contact: Diarmuid McMahon

SHERRY FITZGERALD MCMAHON

Tel: 065 686 7866

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This beautifully updated 2 bedroom/2 loft cottage is located in the highly sought after area of Glascloune, Doonbeg known for its Blue pool fishing, Baltard Cliffs, sandy Beaches, and fabulous scenic walks. The cottage has breathtaking views of the Atlantic Ocean, Ballard Cliffs and distant views of the Cliffs of Moher, Aran Islands, Donegal point & the Kerry Mountains. Situated between Doonbeg & the seaside village of Kilkee two popular coastal villages offering beautiful Golf courses, charming pubs, and Irish cuisine. This wonderful house has been beautifully modernised and offers a contemporary cottage style. All of the features, character & essence of the original cottage have been maintained while maximising the wonderful sea views to its full potential.

Contact: Danielle O’Connor

SHERRY FITZGERALD MCMAHON

Tel: 065 686 7866

PSL 001212

4 THE GREEN, CAPPAHARD ENNIS CO

5 BALLYELLERY COTTAGES

DOONBEG

Looking for an all-electric family SUV? the Skoda Enyaq IV might be what you are looking for

IF you’re looking for an all-electric family SUV for daily living, the Skoda Enyaq iV is an excellent choice

Purchasing a family vehicle in this day and age can be confusing. The Government’s Climate action plan aims to have almost a million electric vehicles on Irish roads by 2030 – however many family buyers remain unconvinced that the move to battery power will fit seamlessly into their busy lives.

The Enyaq iV is Skoda’s first fully electric offering and stands among the new generation of electric vehicles that’s finally convincing the undecided. It is still a Skoda at heart, with great usable space, robust build quality, and decent levels of accessories that make it an appealing choice.

Impressive on-board technology and excellent safety features add to a very convincing family package, while any concerns about making the move to electric drive should be eased when you take into account the Enyaq iV’s fast charging options and reliable range.

With Skoda having built its reputation on producing affordable, family-friendly cars, it seems fitting that the Skoda Enyaq iV – the Czech firm’s first all-electric offering – is a large, practical SUV.

The Enyaq iV uses the same running gear as the Volkswagen ID.4 and Audi Q4 e-tron SUVs.

Buyers looking for an all-electric family car are becoming increasingly spoilt for choice and the Enyaq iV not only has to compete with rivals from its own stable, but also has to persuade customers away from the likes

of the eye-catching Hyundai Ioniq 5 and Kia EV6 which combine practical space with excellent range and charging capabilities.

Skoda has kept the Enyaq iV range simple to understand, with two battery sizes available – the 58kWh and 77kWh – and allwheel drive fit on top-spec models. The base model is called the Enyaq iV 60 and gets the smaller battery pack for a range of just under 400km. Upgrading to the mid-range Enyaq iV 80 boosts the official range up to nearly 550km.

If you’re looking for the reassurance of allwheel drive, the dual-motor Enyaq iV 80X fits the bill, although it costs more than the rear-drive iV 80 variant in the same spec and it offers less range, too. Finally, sitting at the top of the Enyaq line-up is the high-performance RS variant.

The entry-level Enyaq iV 60 model starts at around €48,479 but things soon get a little more expensive with the Enyaq iV 80 variant starting at €56,185 and the iV 80X at around €62,645. Meanwhile, the high-performance Enyaq iV RS comes in at €73,295.

Visit Al Hayes Motors to text drive today. Call (065) 682 2400

New members welcome as season of hope arrives for 100-year-old Ennis

by Stuart Holly editor@clareecho.ie

ENNIS RFC are welcoming new members as the new season approaches, and more significantly, the club celebrates 100 years in existence.

Brian Farrell took over as President of Ennis RFC on this momentus year for the club. "There's a lot going on," he acknowledged.

The club is undertaking a fundraising drive with a target of €500,000, all with the goal of ensuring a new vision for the club with state-of-the-art facilities can be achieved. A centenary committee is organising a range of events to celebrate 100 years of the club's existence, in what Brian describes as a legacy project "that would set the club up for the next 30 or 40 years".

The club has 680 playing members, a historic figure for the club which has been enhanced in recent years by the growth of girls' and ladies' rugby in the club. While there have been significant facility upgrades in the last 12 monthssuch as the addition of an electric scoreboard thanks to Clare Environmental; two new dugouts which was sponsored by C&C Travel; and new fencing, goalposts and paths - Brian remarks, "We've outgrown what we currently have with the four dressing rooms and one grass pitch," adding that the club also makes use of facilities at Lee's Road and the Showgrounds in Ennis.

Brian says the committee is

grateful for the generousity of new club sponsors Enda Galvin Construction and Specsavers Ennis, stressing that the support of the local business community will be key to the club recognising its ambitious vision.

A draw for a Kia Sportage car

sourced from Liam Cleary Motors will take place in the coming weeks, Other upcoming centenary events include a soon-to-be-published centenary book, a live Q&A breakfast which is being organised by Ennis Chamber; and a centenary ball which will go ahead in Novem-

ber 11 at the Inn At Dromoland. An integral reason for the club facility upgrades will be to facilitate ladies and girls rugby, which already accounts for about 20 per cent of the club membership. "Last year through the work of the Female Rugby Committee, we final-

ly fielded a senior ladies team and they won their division last year so they were promoted to Division 2, that's a great success story. We also had a number of girls, past players, involved with Munster in their win over Ulster at the weekend."

The club has identified that there is a great opportunity to develop girls' rugby in the county by getting minis players (U7-U13) involved from a younger age. He notes that the club is a whole-county club, with just 51 per cent of players are from the town itself, "We take in the whole of Clare really. I was involved in coaching two minis teams and we had players coming in from Ennistymon, Fanore and further afield."

Training at various age grades returns from this week and Brian is encouraging all players, new or old, to get involved.

Brian says, "If you look at it from U7s, when kids are entering into primary school, it's the ideal to get them involved. It's pure fun, it's getting to understand how to take instructions in a team environment, they're getting their basic ball skills or catching and passing, and there's no contact in it. It's a great introduction into rugby through fun games such as tag. It's a very fun way to start any sport."

For Boys & Girls Minis Rugby, contact John on 087 122 0583. For Boys Youths call David on 083 396 7432. For Girls Youths Rugby call Lorchan on 087 649 2026.

Ennis Chamber to host fundraiser breakfast for Ennis Rugby Club

ENNIS Rugby Football Club celebrates its centenary this year and to mark this milestone, Ennis Chamber will host a fundraiser breakfast on Wednesday, September 6th, at The Old Ground Hotel, with kind support from event sponsor CSGL Electrical.

Local journalist and Clare Echo contributor Eoin Brennan will interview four rugby players, all on the Munster panel, who learned their ruby skills with their first club – Ennis RFC.

It’s no coincidence that this event is planned for September 6th, two days before the Rugby World Cup kickoff. While Eoin will chat with Alana McInerney, Aoife Corey, Tony Butler and Ethan Coughlan about their rugby hopes and dreams, he will take the opportunity to

also chat to them about their Rugby World Cup expectations and predictions.

There’s a free to enter prize draw, open to all attendees, for a night away at 4-star hotel, ‘The Park Hotel Dungarvan’, to include use of bicycles, to allow the winners pedal their way along the stunning Waterford Greenway, at the doorstep of this fabulous Flynn Hotel.

All funds raised from this breakfast event go to Ennis RFC Centenary Fund.

Details: Wednesday Sept. 6th, 2023, Old Ground Hotel. 08.00 breakfast

Tickets: €25 (inc. €10 donation to Ennis RFC) Eventbrite: https://bit. ly/47kPzhv

l Ciara Clohessy, Orna Moynihan, Lyndsay Clarke and Grainne Burke of Ennis Rugby club celebrating the centenary earlier this year Photo by Natasha Barton

l Tony Butler (left) and Alana McInerney are among the former Ennis RFC stars who will speak at the fundraiser breakfast next month

'Nerves got us' - Clare comeback falls short

ALL-IRELAND INTER' LADIES FOOTBALL FINAL

Clare 2-10 Kildare 2-11

Venue: Croke Park, Dublin

Compiled by Páraic McMahon

STORY OF THE GAME

CLARE

Frees for: 16 (10/6)

Wides: 5 (2/3)

Spread of scorers: 5

Scores from play: 2-02

Top scorer: Fidelma Marrinan (1-05 5f)

Bookings: N/A

Own kickouts won: 16 from 20 (80%)

KILDARE

Frees for: 9 (4/5)

Wides: 7 (3/4)

Spread of scorers: 5

Scores from play: 2-06

Top scorer: Roisin Byrne (006 4f)

Bookings: N/A

Own kickouts won: 15 from 17 (88%)

REFEREE: John Bugler (Whitegate)

MANAGER COMMENT “

Wayne Freeman, Clare:

“I think we didn’t get to the pace of the game in the first half which was disappointing, we weren’t making contact early enough, we weren’t making enough tackles so our workrate wasn’t good enough in the first half and we were disappointed at half-time.

"We were putting them under enough pressure so we were letting their spare runners come in behind us a lot, the plan that we had for it didn’t work, that is my fault, we changed it five minutes into the second half

when we made the changes, we brought on Ciara (McCarthy) and changed the game plan, it started to work for us but it’s disappointing that we left a little too much.

“It’s difficult to analyse it this soon afterwards. We knew we would create chances eventually, the nerves just got to us, we looked heavier than them, we didn’t look fluid in our movement so a few players were trying to force themselves into the game rather than naturally getting into it.

"Kildare in the first half

looked fresher, both teams are extremely fit and there is no difference between them but they looked fitter than us. In the second half, we got to a new level and pace, we started playing much better, we got our match-ups and going to Plan B definitely worked because we got two goals off it and we

could have got more.

“A final is a final at the end of the day, we can do all the analysis in training but when you walk out onto the pitch in a final it can all go out the window through no fault of anyone, there is a lot of pressure and a lot of nerves. I think our defensive match-ups were good,

Siofra (Ní Chonaill) was unbelieveable, I thought she kept Roisin Byrne reasonably quiet, I thought Áine (Keane) did a reasonable job on Neasa Dooley even though she came into it in the second half.

“They packed 12 behind the ball, they were smothering the D so they were making it diffi-

cult to get in, the only way we could make it in was through aggressive running and trying to draw fouls... it is difficult to break down that structure, in the second half we found it more difficult to make passes, they got a bit tired and coming into the last ten minutes we looked fitter and that we could do it.

“I’ve so much admiration for the Clare girls, I can’t speak about them highly enough, I’m very proud of them and I think everyone in Clare is very proud of them. It’s been a fantastic year, we set out at the start to play every game as in fulfil all games in the calendar, we’ve done all three finals, we won one and lost two by a kick of a ball.

“It’s never win or bust, there’s always tomorrow, football is not going anyway anytime soon."

Search for Collins' replacement begins

by Seamus Hayes news@clareecho.ie

FORMER Clare footballers Ger Keane and David Tubridy are part of a four person committee along with board chairman Kieran Keating and Head of Operations Deirdre Murphy who are working on finding the next Clare senior football manager.

Responding to a question from Kildysart delegate John Meade at the August meeting of the board as to what stage the selection process was at, the chairman revealed the identity of the committee.

He told the meeting that “it would be unfair to go into detail at this stage as to who we have been talking to. The committee will be meeting tomorrow night (Wednesday) to discuss who is interested”.

“It’s been a few weeks and is that telling us there is an urgency”, Meade asked to which Keating replied “the process is progressing”.

“This is a massive appointment for Clare football. We are doing everything we can to make sure we get the best person for Clare football and to continue with the excellent job done by Colm (Collins). It’s a decision that has to be well made. It would not be helpful to get into detail in a public forum like this. It will be done in a fair and transparent manner,” Murphy told the meeting.

Collins thanks all for support

Outgoing county senior football manager Colm Collins’ end of year

report was read to this Tuesday’s August board meeting by Head of Operations Deirdre Murphy in which the Cratloe resident thanked all “too numerous to mention, for the incredible support received”.

He gave an account of the team’s performances in the McGrath Cup, Allianz National Football League and championship saying “the results in the Monaghan and Derry games didn’t justify staying on any longer and the management committee decided to step down”.

Under 21 championships;

It is hoped to start the under 21 hurling championship on the weekend of October 14/15 when it is expected that the football championship finals will be taking place.

A week later the adult hurling finals are scheduled to be played and the opening rounds of the under 21 football championship are pencilled in for that weekend.

According to board chairman Kieran Keating it is hoped to have the under 21 competitions completed by the end of November. “There is a tight window for this championship and we have to be mindful of the Harty Cup and Corn Ui Mhuiri competitions and we may have to play midweek games and play both over the October Bank holiday weekend. The format will depend on how many teams will be taking part and we will need to grade the teams in the coming weeks. Clubs will be getting an e-mail tomorrow asking them to confirm what teams

they have. We may not be able to give teams a second chance, we may have to look at having a shield competition for first round losers”.

Win A House:

It’s time for clubs to “get the finger out” in relation to the Win A House fundraiser, chairman Kieran Keating told this week’s county board meeting at Hotel Woodstock.

He said, “There are close on 2,000 tickets sold but clubs are very slow to make their returns. There are just over 100 tickets back from clubs and I am now calling on delegates here to go back to their clubs and get them moving on this. There are lots out there who don’t know about it”.

Head of Operations Deirdre

Murphy reminded all that clubs get a €20 or €30 return from each ticket sold.

Treasurer Brian Fitzpatrick told the meeting “we have huge needs for money to provide the proper infrastructure and there are benefits to clubs by promoting this”.

Confirming that the draw will take place “at the end of December”, the chairman said “we have to be mindful that clubs will be having fundraisers while Club Clare will also be collecting membership”. Work underway at Caherlohan

Work has commenced on the upgrading of pitches at Caherlohan but “the weather hasn’t been kind and we need a good number of dry days together,” Deirdre Murphy advised the meeting.

Sixmilebridge delegate P.J Fitzpatrick sounded a note of warning when he told the meeting “we did our second pitch in bad weather and we had to redo it. There is no point in going ahead if the weather isn’t correct. It was a futile exercise”.

Fitzpatrick went on to enquire as to when the board’s astro turf pitch will be available to which chairman Kieran Keating replied “hopefully in the second half of 2024 but it depends on funding. We will be applying for sports capital funding and we have a chunk of funding with the Munster Council that we can use for this project”.

“Only one county in a province will get €500,000 from the sports capital fund. The guts of 2 to 2 and a

half million is needed to do an astro turf properly”, Deirdre Murphy told the delegates.

“Clare GAA needs an awful lot of money and all involved need to realise that. The Win A House project is a starting point. We are going to have to get behind the people at the top table who are doing a great job,” commented Paddy Smyth who is the Planning and Training Officer with Clare GAA.

A big response:

There has been “a huge response” to the advertisement seeking a head groundsman for Clare GAA, Deirdre Murphy told this week’s board meeting. She went on to say that she is hopeful an appointment will be made before the end of October.

Ladies congratulated:

Chairman Kieran Keating extended congratulations to both the Clare ladies intermediate football team and the Clare junior camogie team on their performances over the past two weeks.

“The footballers were unlucky on Sunday while, a week earlier, the camogie team won and this will be great for camogie in the county,” he stated.

Clare ladies board and Clare camogie board benefitted to the tune of between €1,600 and €1,700 from Clare GAA as a result of sales of match programmes over two weekends in advance of the finals.

For more on the County Board Monthly meeting, visit www.clareecho.ie.

Laurie Ryan leads the way for Clare

Photo by Gerard O'Neill

l Colm Collins

Photo by Gerard O'Neill

A 'lucky' result for Éire Óg

CLARE SHC GROUP 4, ROUND 2

Éire Óg 1-17 Broadford 2-13

Venue: Dr Daly Park, Tulla

Compiled by Seamus Hayes

STORY OF THE GAME

ÉIRE ÓG

Frees For: 16(8/8)

Wides: 11 (5/6)

Scores from play: 0-6

Spread of scorers: 4

Bookings: Dara Walsh

Own puckouts won: 14 out of 21 (67%)

REFEREE: Joe Mullins (Clonlara)

Blues edge out dogged encounter

BROADFORD

Frees For: 13 (6/7)

Wides: 6(4/2)

Scores from play: 2-4

Spread of scorers: 5

Bookings: Damian Keniry, Cian Mulqueen, Eoin Donnellan, Craig Chaplin, Cian Cremins. Own puckouts won: 20 out of 29 (69%)

MANAGER COMMENT “

Ronan Cooney, Éire Óg selector:

“We had loads of chances in the third quarter to put the game away. We went five up at one stage and it felt like Broadford were hanging in there and hanging in there. Next thing they got the goal and they got a couple of breaks and really if the truth be told it was a lucky result in the end to nip out

with a one point win. We are delighted with the result. The focus is on football now for next week against Miltown and then we will turn out attention to our game with Clarecastle which is a local derby”.

“We certainly came here with absolute focus on getting a victory. We knew we had the hurlers, we knew we had the work ethic, we had the work done. Maybe a little bit of inexperience today cost us when we had a few chances in the second

STORY OF THE GAME

NEWMARKET-ON-FERGUS

Frees For: 5 (3/2)

Wides: 5 (3/2)

Scores from Play: 2-11

Spread of Scorers: 6

Top Scorer: Eanna Crimmins

(2-1)

Own Puck-Outs won: 19 from 29 (66%)

half. The focus now switches to our game with Feakle and we will prepare for that as we have done for the games to date. This is an interesting group and there is a lot to play for yet”.

Goals fire Scariff to win

CLARE SHC GROUP 1, ROUND 3

Scariff 4-18 Inagh-Kilnamona 0-23

Venue: Cusack Park, Ennis

Compiled by Eoin Brennan

STORY OF THE GAME

SCARIFF

Frees For: 12 (5/7)

Wides: 6 (4/2)

Scores from Play: 3-14

Spread of Scorers: 5

Top Scorer: Patrick Ryan

(3-3)

Own Puck-Outs won: 18 from 32 (56%)

REFEREE: Niall Malone (Éire Óg)

INAGH-KILNAMONA

Frees For: 9 (4/5)

Wides: 10 (4/6)

Scores from Play: 0-18

Spread of Scorers: 11

Top Scorers: Conner Hegarty (0-6 3f 2’65), Sean Rynne

(0-6)

Own Puck-Outs won: 18 from 27 (67%)

MANAGER COMMENT “

“We’re very pleased with that performance. Don’t get me wrong, there were times when it was very hard fought but we’re very proud and in particular I’m delighted with the way they finished.

“As I said the last day, we’d hadn’t won a first round since we went back up senior so to get over that hurdle was crucial. But we had to back that up today.

“The goals were obviously central to that, we got three goals in a short space of time against St Joseph’s the last day and it was the same today. It’s always brilliant to get them at the start to make sure that we had a strong foothold. Now in saying that, the way Inagh-Kilnamona worked the ball out of defence and started to find space coming up to half-time

and after it too, I think they hit eight points unanswered. But it was then that our lads’ character kicked in so that’s probably the most pleasing thing.

“We said to them at half-time that we were in a fight and to make the second half their best half hour and I think in the two games so far, that was certainly the case.

“Look, since the draw was made, we’ve had to put our heads down and work so hard and that doesn’t change now. We may have two from two but we’ve another two massive games coming up and when you’re taking on the county champions in two weeks' time, that’s a serious prospect.

"We’re in a good position but we certainly won’t be getting carried away”

“We came to win and we thought that we were ready but we were opened up for four goals by a good young and lively Scariff team, fair play to them because we had no answer for them on the day.

"We did pull it back a little but we couldn’t get a goal. We huffed and puffed and their goal-keeper made a few good saves but we didn’t get a goal and looking at their scoreline that was obviously the big difference on the day.

“Some of those goals were mistakes by us, another was a penalty but at the end of the day the better team won.

“Now we did manage to come back at them but in truth the difference was too much with those goals.

"We had to play two men back to cover their threat so ending up with two extra defenders isn’t the way we want to play hurling and obviously lessened our threat at the other end. It meant that we only really could pick off points but we needed the opposite as what we needed was goals.

“I think on the day Scariff were better and their players were more hungry and the bottom line is that’s why they have four points and unfortunately for Inagh-Kilnamona we’ve zero."

CLOONEY-QUIN

Frees For: 20 (9/11)

Wides: 10 (2/8)

Scores from Play: 0-11

Spread of Scorers: 7

Top Scorer: Peter Duggan (0-7)

Own Puck-Outs won: 13 from 23 (57%)

REFEREE: John Bugler (Whitegate)

MANAGER COMMENT “

Tomás Ryan, Newmarket-on-Fergus:

“It’s brilliant to get two wins on the bounce and the bonus that we’re through to the quarter-finals as a result is a huge relief. Usually you’re scrambling in the final round trying to get into the quarter-finals so to be in there with a game to spare is just great for the club.

“The game was kind of funny in that there was a strong breeze and was a dogged enough game. The fact that we had the wind in the first half meant that we did build up a bit of a lead and maybe we got lucky once or twice. So I think we did dominate the first half but the wind was very strong too. In the second half then, they [Clooney-Quin] inevitably came back at us but we held them at arm’s length until the end and then lost our way and shape in injury-time and nearly let the lead slip.

“The most important thing was that we held out though but it was a strange game.

“Even though we’re though to the quarter-finals now, we’ll be treating Wolfe Tones Luke any other championship match. We have our same routine prepared for the next two weeks just like all the other games so far so we’ll be treating it just as serious.

“There is a tight panel there but there is competition for places too so while we have one injury, we’ll be going at it with the same intensity.”

“It’s disappointing. I felt that we didn’t really get into the game for the first 25 minutes. They [Newmarket] were really up for it more than we were which was surprising but maybe that comes down to experience as we seemed a little shellshocked at times.

“This is a reality check for us now. We have a lot of young players and most of them are either in their first or second year at adult hurling so no matter how much you try and prepare them for what’s coming down the tracks, the practical reality of it is that until now, they didn’t really know what it was like to be in a really intense senior championship match.

“So while the Wolfe Tones result was huge for those young lads, I presume that they also thought that this is what senior hurling is all about but at the end of the day, you have to win your individual battle first before you win the match.

“That said, we’re still in with a shout of a quarter-final and in the group we’re in that’s all you could ask for. All four teams were in the quarter-finals last year so it was always going to be difficult. And while we would have loved to put it to bed after two games, we still have a 5050 shot against Cratloe to make it to the next stage.

“We’re down three marquee players in Ryan Taylor, Peter Duggan and Callum Hassett but in saying that we’ll have Shane McNamara and Ulick O’Sullivan back in the fold. It’s a squad game so while we’d love to have a full panel available to us, that’s not going to be the case so we just have to get on with it”.

l Fergus Madden celebrates scoring a goal for Scariff

Photo by Ruth Griffin

Jimmy Browne, Broadford:

Mark McKenna, Scariff:

l Hat-trick hero Patrick Ryan takes on Keith White Photo by Gerard O'Neill Louis Mulqueen, Inagh-Kilnamona:

CLARE SHC GROUP 3, ROUND 2

Newmarket-on-Fergus 2-16 Clooney-Quin 0-19 Venue: O'Garney Park, Sixmilebridge

Compiled by Eoin Brennan

Tommy Corbett, Clooney-Quin:

'Brilliant' reaction from Cratloe

Feakle eye up quarter final spot

CLARE SHC GROUP 3, ROUND 2

Feakle 1-21 Clarecastle 0-17

Venue: Wolfe Tones GAA Grounds, Shannon

Compiled by Seamus Hayes

STORY OF THE GAME

FEAKLE

Frees For: 8(4/4)

Wides: 13(7/6)

Scores from play: 1-16

Spread of scorers: 8

Own puckouts won: 16 out of 21 (76%)

Bookings: Adam Hogan

CLARECASTLE

Frees For: 12(6/6)

Wides: 4(3/1)

Scores from play: 0-6

Spread of scorers: 5

Own puckouts won: 25 out of 35 (71%)

Bookings: Patrick Kelly, James Doherty

REFEREE: Kevin Corry (Sixmilebridge)

MANAGER COMMENT “

Ger Conway, Feakle:

CLARE SHC GROUP 3, ROUND 2

Cratloe 1-19 Wolfe Tones 1-09

Venue: O'Garney Park, Sixmilebridge

Compiled by Eoin Brennan

STORY OF THE GAME

CRATLOE

Frees For: 13 (10/3)

Wides: 7 (5/2)

Scores from Play: 1-15

Spread of Scorers: 9

Top Scorer: Rian Considine

(0-7)

Own Puck-Outs won: 12 from 22 (55%)

eight point lead by the break.

“We’ve worked on our discipline and pressure and intensity and most importantly workrate. We didn’t have that the last day against Newmarket and it cost us so we knew that we had to improve on that and I think the lads did today.

WOLFE TONES

Frees For: 12 (9/3)

Wides: 12 (3/9)

Scores from Play: 0-6

Spread of Scorers: 6

Top Scorer: Cian O’Rourke (0-6)

Own Puck-Outs won: 17 from 26 (65%)

REFEREE: Gus Callaghan (Feakle)

MANAGER COMMENT “

“We’re much happier now to have finally got off the mark. We said before we went out that if we won the toss, we’d take the elements as we needed a good start after the last day and I

thought the reaction of the lads was brilliant.

“The players knew that themselves that with such a wind that we needed to get a good start and build up a seven or

“It’s winner-takes-all now between ourselves and Clooney/ Quin now. It will be a humdinger so we just have to get ourselves focused and right for that now.”

“We didn’t come out of first gear being honest about it and credit to Cratloe, they were com-pletely deserving of their victory. We have no complaints about Cratloe’s win, I mean if we can’t get up and raise a fight for a big derby like that, we’re in serious trouble.

“This is two days in a row that we’re saying the same thing. The lads effort in training has been fantastic but it looks like we’re just freezing on the big stage when it comes to championship. Any setback at all and we seem to fall apart on the field a bit so we obviously have to regroup fairly quick and get the heads back down because we’ve a serious battle up ahead of us in the next few weeks.

“We’re going to have to use the Newmarket game now as a stepping stone towards this relega-tion battle. Maybe change up our gameplan a small little bit in order to come up with a solution which is going to get us out of this mess”.

“It’s great to have a second win but it doesn’t put us into any play-offs yet. We have to face Broadford in two weeks time and we are still not qualified. We got some good scores in the second half but we struggled to get scores in the first half. We had a good share of wides but, yes, we got some good scores in the second half.

“If you look at the underage Clare teams, the minors and the 20s, there was a good few East Clare lads on the teams for a change. For the past five or six years it seemed to be that the players were from the middle or back west in the county, it is changing and it’s probably down to the work that is being done in coaching at club level.

“It’s one game at a time. That’s the way we have started this year and that’s the way we want to continue and hopefully in two weeks time we will be in a quarter final”.

Eric Flynn, Clarecastle:

“There was a lot more commitment today. It ended up being seven points at the finish but it could have been tighter. We didn’t have too many wides and we were clinical enough with our efforts. It was a lot more honest out of our lads and maybe if we had brought that the last day it might have given us a different result. There will be a lot to play for the next day. We haven’t played Éire Óg in a good few years.

“This game will bring our young players on. You would notice the physicality there today. Feakle are very conditioned, they are a lot further down the road than we are.”

Experience shines for champs Ballyea

CLARE SHC GROUP 1, ROUND 3

Ballyea 3-21 St Joseph's Doora-Barefield 2-16

Venue: Clarecastle

Compiled by Peter O'Connell

STORY OF THE GAME

BALLYEA

Frees for: 14 (7/7)

Wides: 7 (4/3)

Spread of scorers: 7

Top scorer: Niall Deasy (0-11, 7f, 1 65)

Bookings: 0

Own puckouts won: 66% (18/27)

MANAGER COMMENT

Leonard McNamara, Ballyea:

Shane O'Grady, Doora-Barefield:

ST JOSEPH’S DOORA/ BAREFIELD:

Frees for: 13 (6/7)

Wides: 9 (3/6)

Spread of scorers: 8

Top scorer: David Conroy 0-10 (0-6f, 0-1 ‘65)

Bookings: Cian Barron, Darragh

O’Shea

Own puckouts won: 49 % (15/31)

REFEREE: Chris Maguire (Wolfe Tones)

“They worked very hard. It was a tough game. In the second half, against the wind we worked the lines a bit more. It was a hard battle. St Joseph’s put it up to us particularly in the first half, but I think our experience showed in the last 15 minutes. Our lads kept the ball well. They love having the ball and running off the shoulder.

“They played their best hurling through the lines and always have done. We were trying to hit Tony in the first half, even though he was on one leg. He still scored 2-2. He was touch and go before the start. We have Scariff up next and you can see the Donal Moloney stamp on them all over the field. But that’s another day. We’ve one job done today”.

“In the second half they upped the intensity. In the middle third they took over and suffocated us. They drove on and their accuracy was the difference. That’s the learning our us. Today was poor by our own standards.

“Our boys are young and they’re learning every day. This was a huge step up in physicality compared to our previous outings. Every day is a learning day for where we’re at. We’ll take the learnings from today and we’ll go again. We’ve four weeks before Inagh/Kilnamona. We’ll use what we learned today and we’ll drive it on”.

John O'Gorman, Cratloe:

l Shane Neville is fouled by Evan O’Gorman

Photo by Gerard O'Neill

Conor Dolan, Wolfe Tones:

Victory over 'Bridge 'means a lot' to Clonlara

CLARE SHC GROUP 2, ROUND 2

Clonlara 0-24 Sixmilebridge 1-16

Venue: Cusack Park, Ennis

Compiled by Eoin Brennan

STORY OF THE GAME

CLONLARA

Frees For: 9 (5/4)

Wides: 10 (6/4)

Scores from Play: 0-20

Spread of Scorers: 8

Top Scorer: John Conlon (0-10)

Own Puck-Outs won: 17 from 25 (68%)

what he brings to the field either, it’s what he brings to our club. He’s a phenomenon and I’d put him up there as one of the greatest players to play for Clare.

“We won’t be getting carried away either though. Crusheen are waiting in the long grass and are waiting to have a hop off us so we have to be ready again. I saw them against the Mills and they were mightily impressive and are a serious side so if we lose to them we’re in trouble.

SMITH O’BRIENS, COROFIN & WHITEGATE MOVE CLOSER TO CLARE IHC QUARTER-FINALS

CHAMPIONSHIP

SIXMILEBRIDGE

Frees For: 7 (3/4)

Wides: 8 (5/3)

Scores from Play: 1-12

Spread of Scorers: 9

Top Scorer: Alex

Morey (1-6)

Own Puck-Outs won: 20 from 33 (61%)

REFEREE: Jim Hickey (Cratloe)

MANAGER COMMENT “

“We’re delighted as this means a lot. We’re training very, very hard and we’ve also had many bad days over the past few years and lots of things questioned about us but we love our hurling and we won so it’s a good day.

“That said, the ‘Bridge are not gone out of the championship either and if we lose the next day, today won’t mean anything but that’s the Clare Championship and it’s brilliant but it’s tough.

“We have good guys and they have a lot of work done. The culture in our club is changing so I’m very proud of them.

“Diarmuid Stritch scored four points today and is a great young fella and is going to be something else in a long career ahead of him while John [Conlon] is John, he’s a one in a million. It isn’t just

“We’re very disappointed with our display today. Clonlara broke away from us towards the end of the first half but we actually got it back to a point early in the second half and probably should have pushed on from there.

“Credit to Clonlara though, they played well so congrats to them, they had a powerful last 15 minutes, worked the ball smartly and their defence stood up so hats off to them.

“John Conlon has serious leadership qualities in him, has serious force and does all the right things. His work-rate is so honest but a lot of the Clonlara lads played really well and took the game to us from the start.

“You’ll get days like this but it’s how we respond now that’s most important. I mean it’s winner-takes all from here on in. We’re up against the Mills who also got a bit of a set-back again this weekend so we’ll see how it goes.

“It’s that what championship is all about though, it’s knock-out now the next day so hopefully that can put a bit off a different slant on things.”

Crusheen subtitutes made 'such a difference'

CLARE SHC GROUP 2, ROUND 2

Crusheen 3-17 O'Callaghan's Mills 0-16

Venue: Dr Daly Park, Tulla

Compiled by Seamus Hayes

STORY OF THE GAME

CRUSHEEN

Frees For: 12(7/5)

Wides: 12(5/7)

Scores from play:

3-12

Spread of scorers: 9

Bookings: N/A

Own puckouts won: 16 from 22 (72%)

O’CALLAGHANS MILLS

Frees For: 16 (10/6)

Wides: 6 (3/3)

Scores from play: 0-8

Spread of scorers: 5

Bookings: N/A

Own puckouts won: 23 from 32 (72%)

REFEREE: Joe Mullins (Clonlara)

MANAGER COMMENT “

“We got a couple of goals early on which was a huge bonus. We knew that the Mills weren’t going to lie down and in the first ten minutes of the second half they came out and hit us with everything and brought it back to two points. We were under serious pressure at that stage, taking wrong options, shooting from way out the field, all that kind of stuff but we brought on a couple of subs and they made such a difference.

“Today proved that it’s a panel game. The subs made a huge difference up front. I felt sorry for Diarmuid (Mullins) as he is just back from injury and he picked up an ankle injury but he will be okay. Breffni Horner really is a class forward and he showed it there today. If he gets any bit of space he really is a good player. It’s not about any one particular individual. This is about 18, 19, 20 players.

“These lads set out their stall at the start of the year and their aim was that they did not want to be the whipping boys as they have been for the past few years. They felt that they were capable of beating the Bridge and this shows that they weren’t that far off it. They are a good team. There are a lot of young lads and some older lads and isn’t it great to see Ger O’Grady putting in such an effort for the full hour and Cathal (Dillon) came on near the end. I know we will have a huge game the next day but we will enjoy this one for now”.

“We were under pressure after conceding the early goal but I felt that we got back into it and there was only the goal in it when we had a line ball in an attacking position and it ended up in our net. That was the game in my opinion and we were always chasing the game after that. We got it back to three in the second half but then got caught trying to push on and we then conceded another goal, maybe attacking too much.

“It’s disappointing after winning the league but sure no one remembers who wins the Clare Cup.

"The next few weeks will be tough for us but we just have to work hard. We need to focus for the next two weeks and perform against the ‘Bridge even if the result doesn’t matter and we know we are facing into a relegation battle. It’s tougher this year as there is no group of four”.

Kevin Stritch of Smith O'Briens in action

Photo by Gerard O'Neill

Donal Madden, Clonlara:

Sean Stack, Sixmilebridge:

Dylan McMahon and Alex Morey contest the dropping ball

Photo by Gerard O'Neill

SCAN HERE FOR MATCH REPORT

Michael Browne, Crusheen selector:

Sean McNamara, O'Callaghan's Mills selector:

O'Brien resigns as CDSL Fixtures Secretary

by Páraic McMahon paraic@clareecho.ie

LESS than a month after being elected as Fixtures Secretary of the Clare District Soccer League (CDSL), Martin O’Brien has resigned from the role.

Optimism had been in the air following O’Brien’s election at the AGM held on July 20th but the mood has taken a turn after the retired referee stepped down in the aftermath of last week’s delegate meeting.

The Clare Echo understands that the decision to begin the CDSL sea-

son with the League Cup was not discussed with the now former Fixtures Secretary before it was put to the floor at last Tuesday’s meeting.

Since his election, Martin had devised an entire fixtures masterplan which had been greatly impacted as a result of the decision to proceed with the League Cup.

Delegates voted by a big majority (21 to 4) in favour of having the League Cup competition before the Premier Division kicks off.

Raising the issue league secretary

Denis Collins told the meeting that six clubs had contacted him sug-

gesting that this happen. Opposition to the change came from Avenue United and Newmarket Celtic, the league’s two leading sides in recent seasons.

Current players and former CDSL officials are among those who have expressed disappointment at the exit of the respected O’Brien from the CDSL. His friendship with referees in the county and his lack of ties to all clubs had been seen as a strength that would add a fairness to the demanding role of Fixtures Secretary.

Efforts by The Clare Echo to

contact O’Brien on Tuesday and Wednesday for comment were unsuccessful.

Newly elected PRO, Dean Russell will serve as Acting Fixtures Secretary until a successor is appointed. The Shannon man is to contact clubs appealing to them to be patient and that he will not be responding to queries after 8pm at night. Russell is hopeful of commencing the League on September 3rd and wants to Youths League for the upcoming season to be monitored closely to give clubs regular games. The Acting Fixtures Secre-

tary can be contacted via email on deanruss98@gmail.com.

Golf: Lady Captain's Day in East Clare

by Seamus Hayes news@clareecho.ie

East Clare Golf Club

Lady Captain Rachel Whelan’s prize was played for last Sunday when Ciara Minogue (38) emerged as the winner with 38 points.

She had one to spare over Mary Brennan (27) with 37 points and they were followed by Maureen Clune (34) with 34 points and Noreen Skehan (24) also with 34.

The gross was won by Eileen Donnellan (16) with 19 points while the category winners were Kathleen O’Brien (22) with 34 points, Bernie Cox (29) with 34 points and Breda McCarthy (38) with 27 points. Catherine Minogue (23) won the past captain’s section with 34 points.

Other prize winners were Celia Moloney with 20 points (front 9), Evelyn Skehan with 27 points (back 9), Ciara Minogue (long drive), Mary Collins (nearest the pin), Hannah Guinnane with 13 points (9 hole competition) and Evelyn O’Brien (get into golf).

The lady captain's prize to the men was won by Teddy Murphy (17) with 40 points from Maurice Costelloe (17) with 38 points while Keith Farr (4) was third with 38 points and the gross was won by Eoin Magill (2) with 39 points.

The lady captain’s prize to the senior men was won by Teddy O’Hanlon (13) with 44 points from Brian Corry (24) with 41 points while Michael Heffernan (21), also with 41 points was third.

The ladies Wednesday competition was won by Breda O’Loghlin, Mary Farrell and Liz McMahon from Breda Reid, Mary Jo, Minogue and Jenny Ryan.

In the senior men’s competition last week, the winners were Brendan Moloney, Sean Jones and Ted Harrington from Michael Heffernan. Brian Corry and Kevin Burke with third place filled by Paul Husband, Jimmy Nagle and Denis Corcoran Ennis Golf Club:

President’s James P. Horgan’s, prize was played for at the weekend when there were 282 competitors across both gents and ladies sections. The winners were James Corcoran and Della Burns.

James Corcoran (14) won with 42 points from Paul O’Leary (37) with 40 points, Mark O’Connor (16) with 39 points, Paul Kenny (32) with 39 points, Enda Heaney (11) with 38 points, Damian Pilkington (14) with 38 points and Senan Ryan (11) also with 38 points.

The gross was won by Ronan

Herbert with 34 points. The category A winner was Tom Saunders (7) with 37 points from Diarmuid Meere (8) with 36 points. Category B was won by Andrew McGloin (12) with 37 points from Noel Normoyle (14) with 36 points. Category C was won by Ollie Kenneally (26) with 38 points from Gerard Hannon (26) with 36 points.

Other prize winners were, Past President: Steve Burns (16) with 37 points, Guests: Gearoid Barry (25) with 37 points, 9 Hole: Declan Hanley and the Putting competition was won by Conor Malone.

Della Burns (22) won the ladies section with 36 points from Kate Keohane (19) with a similar score. They were followed by Audrey McEnery (40) with 35 points and Phil Butler (30) also with 35 points.

The gross winner was Ann A Gallery with 20 points.

Category A was won by Mary Lenihan (18) with 34 points from Peg Hanrahan (17), also with 34 points. Category B was won by Mary Nagle (27) with 35 points from Patricia O’Reilly (36) with 34 points.

The 9 hole winner was Rita Meade.

Last week’s senior ladies competition was won by Mary Murray, Liz Kelly and Mary McMahon with 54 from Loretta Torpey, Maeve 0'Grady and Jean Moloney with 56.1.

Lahinch Golf Club:

The Lahinch men's President's prize (Ray Hennessy) will be played for on this Friday and Saturday, August 18 and 19. The President's prize to the senior men takes place on the Castle Course on Saturday between noon to 2pm.

On the inter-club scene, the men’s Jimmy Bruen team were defeated by Kenmare in their second round match at Limerick last week while the ladies Junior cup team won their quarter final match against Limerick but bowed out of the competition when losing to Ballybunion in the West Munster Area semi-final.

Woodstock Golf Club:

Last week’s open singles at Woodstock was won by Paul O’Shea (28) with 44 points from Brandon O’Connell (23) with 43 points with third spot filled by Kieran Quinn (16) with 41 points. Sean Myatt (+1) won the gross with 36 points.

The Michael Cullinan memorial trophy was played for at the weekend and resulted in victory for Martin White (21) with 43 points. He had one to spare over Declan

Reidy (10) with John Baker (23) a point further back in third place. Ross Kenny Junior (+2) won the gross with 34 points.

The categories were won by Jack Joyce (8) with 40 points, Steven Horgan (15) with 38 points and Pat McMahon (22) with 39 points.

The open singles continues on this Thursday and there will be a club singles off the green markers over the weekend.

There will also be a team of 3 Texas scramble strokeplay. Re-entry will be allowed on a different day with different partners.

Senior captain John O’Donovan’s prize will be played for on this Saturday from 1.30pm and a timesheet will operate Woodstock seniors had a team modified scramble over 15 holes on Tuesday when the winners were Dickie Pyne, Ollie McNamara, Michael O’Brien and John O’Donovan with 44 points. In second place with a similar score were Frank Garrihy, Michael Griffin and Paddy Kearse. Kilrush Golf Club:

The men’s Central Sports v par competition was won by Dominic Enright (14) with 8 up from Kenneth Hartigan (12) Ballyneety with 2 up with third spot filled by John Lillis Ennis (21) with 1 up.

Ross Cullinan (16) with 43 points was the winner of the Ennis Electrical prize on Wednesday from Malcolm McCarthy (9) with 40 points with third spot filled by Tom O'Dea (41) with 39 points. The category winners were Thomas Coffey (12) with 38 points, Pat Donnellan (18) with 36 points and Noel Cooney (25) with 39 points. The nines were won by Liam Griffin (Corrstown) (17) with 21 points and Finbar McMahon (22) with 20 points.

The KG&SC singles on Saturday was won by John Donnelly (18) with 35 points.

Sunday’s competition was for the Jason Hanrahan prize and was won by Michael Shannon Snr (25) with 42 points from Noel McMahon (10) with 40 points with Noel Kilkenny (20) in third place followed by Michael J Hogan (21) and they also had 40 points.

The category winners were

David Keane (10) with 38 points, Tony Lock (16) with 38 points and Paul McGibney (21) with 39 points while the nines were won by Dominic Enright (13) with 20 points and Pat Shannon (20) with 22 points.

The ladies competition for the Central Shoes prize was won by Anne Hogan (39) with 40 points from Marion Brennan (27) with 37 points and they were followed by Peggy Mulqueen (32) with 36 points and Anne Cooper (36) with 35 points. The category winners were Anne Brennan (12) with 34 points, Edel Crowley (26) with 33 points and Bernie Tubridy (44) with 35 points. The 12 hole winner was Hanora O'Dea-Kilkenny with 29 points.

The Hyland’s Burren Hotel scotch mixed foursomes was won by Anne Gallagher and Tom Clancy (6) with 61 from Michael J Hogan and Ursula Lineen (24) with 63 with third spot filled by Michael Studdert and Mary Downes (27) with 64.

The gross was won by Geremiah and Anne Brennan (13) with 80. Dromoland Golf Club:

Last week’s v par competition at Dromoland was won by Robert Bailey with 5 up, one better than Brian Maloney while third placed Frank Melody also had 4 up and they were followed by Tony Kelly with 3 up. The gross was won by Shane O’Brien with 1 down.

Brian Maloney won the 9 hole competition with 22 points from Ian Mulready with 19 and Andrew Kenny, also with 19.

Last week’s ladies competition was won by Mairead Toomey with 35 points from Carola Wixted with 34 and Ursula McManus with 31. Leslie O’Flynn won the gross with 22 points.

Siobhan Doohan won the 9 hole competition with 21 points from Joan Ryan with 30 points.

Gort Golf Club:

The August Bank holiday open singles at Gort was won by Peter Deegan (10) with 39 points.

Sean Crowe (7) from Woodstock won category 1 with 38 points, Martin O’Reilly (19) won category 2 with 36 points while category 3 was won by Joe Cooney (27) with 34 points.

The winner of the Friday open singles was Jack Losty (17) with 37 points while the ladies open singles on Friday was won by Noreen Doyle (19) from Esst Clare with 31 points.

l East Clare Golf Club's Lady Captain, Rachel Whelan, presenting the Captain's Prize to winner Ciara Minogue.

l Martin O'Brien Photo by John Mangan

Clare stars show off All-Island Cup following Galway Utd success

by Páraic McMahon paraic@clareecho.ie

THREE Clare players who were part of the historic All-Island Cup success with Galway Utd have been the guests of honour at special homecoming events in the county over the past week.

Shannon’s Lynsey McKee was captain of the Galway Utd side which claimed the inaugural Avenir Sports All-Island Cup with a narrow 1-0 victory over Cliftonville at the Showgrounds in front of 579 spectators at the end of July.

McKee was joined was by Barefield’s Aislinn Meaney on the starting eleven with teenager Amy Madden from Newmarket-on-Fergus part of the successful squad. It was first club final for Galway Utd since the 2015 EA Sports Cup defeat for the men’s side to St Patrick’s Athletic.

Lynsey started her career with Park Rangers before going on to play for Shannon Town Utd. She was capped for her country at U17 level and then secured a scholarship to the United States of America.

Aislinn started her career playing locally with Lifford Ladies, before joining the then Galway WFC in 2017 and had an almost immediate impact, she won league player

of the month in May 2018 and also made the league team of the year at the time. She joined Galway Utd at the beginning of this season following spells in both the Women’s Premier Division with previously Galway WFC and Treaty United before heading across to the United States to play with college team Akron Zips and IUP Crimson Hawks. She has also represented her country at underage level and played

with many of Vera Pauw’s side that competed in the World Cup.

It was also a first season with Galway Utd for Amy. She played with the Treaty Utd U17 squad in 2021 and made the step up to the senior team in 2022 where she had sixteen league and cup appearances. In February, she signed for Galway Utd for their first season in the League of Ireland Women’s League. A homecoming was held in Lynch

Ranger takes feature for Ennis Kilmihil Syndicate

by Michael Maher news@clareecho.ie

It was Wednesday and Friday night racing last week at Galway Greyhound Stadium due to a rugby game on Saturday evening and the feature event on Wednesdays card was the concluding A2 graded 525 yards contest.

In this race, the Mathew Harte trained Kilwest Ranger who came in as a reserve in trap five and the Keating Family Syndicate of Ennis and Kilmihil owned son of Droopys Sydney and Ballymac Sanjose was very smartly into his stride and rounding the opening bend he led by two lengths from Crokers Harbour and Claudegreengrass in third place. Turning down the back Kilwest Ranger set sail for home and extending his advantage from halfway coasted home seven and a half lengths clear of Crokers Harbour in 29.74.

The S4 graded contest went in all the way fashion to the Martin Griffin of Lissycasey owned prolific winner Room To Stop who flew from trans and made all to defeat Rockandrollmarty by three parts of a length at the line in 19.43. The son of Laughill Blake and Nebraska Scot headed Rockandrollmarty and Menmal King from the traps and approaching the opening bend he led by almost two lengths. Tracking well, Room To Stop led by two lengths off the home bed and although Rockan-

Clonlara's Dylan brings home gold

by Páraic McMahon paraic@clareecho.ie

CLONLARA’S Dylan Prenderville took home four gold medals at the World Dwarf Games in Cologne, Germany.

Held from July 28th to August 5th, the eighth Dwarf Games saw Dylan return home with a total of four medals to his credit.

A member of Limerick Swim Club, Dylan took gold in the 50m Butterfly, 50m Backstroke, 50m Freestyle and the 100m Freestyle.

It was his second time representing his country in the World Games. A past pupil of Scoil Seanáin Naof, Dylan picked up six medals in 2017 when competing in a number of different sports. Swimming is now his main focus and he competed in the Summer Nationals in Dublin prior to the World Games.

Park, the grounds of Shannon Town Utd for McKee on Wednesday with the club very proud of the achievements of their former player.

On Friday evening, McDonough Memorial Park in Newmarket-on-Fergus was the venue as the trio joined in for underage girls training at Newmarket Celtic.

PICTURED: Young Newmarket

Celtic players with Aislinn, Lynsey and Amy Photograph: Joe Buckley

drollmarty closed on the run in the winner was always in control.

Without a win in sixteen previous attempts, the Gary Pepper of Feakle owned Astro Sydney was another winner scoring for the first time on the card as the son of Droopys Sydney and Astro Abby collared long time leader Orbsen Olive close home to score by half a length in 29.76. Away well the winner was outpaced by Orbsen Olive and Killanin Grace racing towards the opening bend. Racing along the back the front pair matched strides all the way but from the crown of theme bend the winner was coming home two to the leaders one as he struck the front where it matters most.

Friday night’s Galway card was headlined by the A2 graded fifth contest over 525 yards and as the traps rose the red jacketed Lissatouk Dave was very smartly into stride and shaping plenty of early pace the James McMahon of Cooraclare owned son of Laughill Blake and Lissatouk Dolly led Joeys Girl by over three lengths rounding the opening bend. Turning down the back the leader quickly set sail for home and at halfway it was simply a case of how far as Joeys Girl was still a remote second . On the run home Lissatouk Dave was home and hosed scoring by four & three quarter lengths from Portumna Saphire in 29.08.

CLARE COUNTY COUNCIL FURTHER INFORMATION / REVISED PLANS PLANNING REF: P23/60166

O’CONNELL STREET/ BALLALLEY LANE, KILKEE

Development Description: to extend existing supermarket to include revised rear elevation, proposed rear entrance and service area, ground floor rear extension to include staff area, universal toilet, liquor off licenced area, kitchen/ prep area, storage area, over proposed basement area, to include office, storage and lift shaft area

Location:

O’Connell Street/Ballalley Lane, Kilkee

Take notice that Donal Hayes has lodged significant further information in respect of planning application P23/60166. This information and planning application may be inspected or purchased at a fee not exceeding the reasonable cost of making a copy, at the offices of the Planning Authority of Clare County Council, Planning Department, New Road, Ennis, Co Clare during its public opening hours. A submission or observation in relation to the further information or revised plans may be made in writing to the planning authority on payment of the prescribed fee, not later than 2 weeks after the receipt of the newspaper notice and site notice by the planning authority.

CLARE COUNTY COUNCIL KILMOON EAST, LISDOONVARNA, CO.CLARE

We, David and Claire Prince, wish to apply to the above named local authority for planning permission for the construction of a new single storey extension to the side of an existing dwelling, modifications to the existing dwelling, demolition of an existing shed, upgrading of the existing wastewater treatment system and all ancillary site works at Kilmoon East, Lisdoonvarna, Co.Clare

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

CLARE COUNTY COUNCIL FAHY MORE, KILMORE, CO CLARE:

We, Dermot & Niamh Twomey, are applying to the above authority for Permission for the following development on property at, Fahy More, Kilmore, Co Clare:

Permission for the construction of a detached single storey dwelling, detached domestic garage, new entrance, onsite wastewater treatment system, bored well, together with all associated ancillary and incidental site works

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 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 CARROWBAWN, OGONNELLOE, CO CLARE

I, John McKeogh, am applying to the above authority for permission for the following development on property at Carrowbawn, Ogonnelloe, Co Clare: Permission for the construction of a detached single storey dwelling, access from shared entrance, onsite wastewater treatment system, bored well, together with all associated ancillary and incidental site works

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 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 BALLYNAGUN EAST, CREE FURTHER INFORMATION / REVISED PLANS PLANNING REF: P23/60196

Development Description: to erect dwelling house, foul sewer treatment plant, percolation area and new site entrance

Location:

Ballynagun East, Cree

Take notice that J. O’Doherty has lodged significant further information in respect of planning application P23/60196. This information and planning application may be inspected or purchased at a fee not exceeding the reasonable cost of making a copy, at the offices of the Planning Authority of Clare County Council, Planning Department, New Road, Ennis, Co Clare during its public opening hours. A submission or observation in relation to the further information or revised plans may be made in writing to the planning authority on payment of

the prescribed fee, not later than 2 weeks after the receipt of the newspaper notice and site notice by the planning authority.

CLARE COUNTY COUNCIL

QUILTY VILLAGE

Take notice that M. Brody intends to apply to the Planning Authority for permission to extend existing single storey dwelling and to revise elevations 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

We, Clare Road Hotel Services intend to apply for permission to.

1) reconfiguration of second floor layout from granted planning ref 19/844 to create 1 no additional bedroom.

2) construct new dormer window to South-West elevation and all associated site works.

All located at Shannon Springs Hotel, Ballycasey, Shannon, Co Clare.

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.

CLARE COUNTY COUNCIL, DERRYGARRIFF, CRUSHEEN CO. CLARE

Take notice that Tracy Farren & Graham Walsh intend to apply for permission to retain (i) log cabin as constructed for use as permanent residence and all ancillary site works including connection to existing septic tank and (ii) permission for the change of use of existing substandard dwelling house for use as domestic shed/storage . This 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.

CLARE COUNTY COUNCIL ANNAGH, QUILTY, CO CLARE

Take notice that Mary Meaney intends to apply for permission to build a new dwelling, garage, install a wastewater treatment system & all other 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 FURTHER INFORMATION/ REVISED PLANS PLANNING REF: P23/288

Development Description: to build a new dwelling house, install a wastewater treatment system and all other assoiciated site and ancillary works.

Location: Killaspuglonane, Lahinch, Co. Clare

Take notice that Kyran Droney has lodged significant information in respect of planning application P23/288.

This information and planning application may be inspected or purchased at a fee not exceeding the reasonable cost of making a copy, at the offices of the planning authority of Clare County Council, Planning Department, Áras Contae an Chláir, New Road Ennis, Co. Clare during its public opening hours. A submission or observation in relation to the application may be made in writing to the authority on payment of the prescribed fee not later than 2 weeks after the receipt of the newsppaer notice and site notice by the planning authority or in the case of a planning application accompanied by an EIS within within 5 weeks of receipt of such notices by the planning authority.

CLARE COUNTY COUNCIL FURTHER INFORMATION/ REVISED PLANS PLANNING REF: P23/287

Development Description: to build a new dwelling house, install a wastewater treatment system and all other assoiciated site and ancillary works. Location: Killaspuglonane,

Lahinch, Co. Clare

Take notice that Jason Droney has lodged significant information in respect of planning application P23/287.

This information and planning application may be inspected or purchased at a fee not exceeding the reasonable cost of making a copy, at the offices of the planning authority of Clare County Council, Planning Department, Áras Contae an Chláir, New Road Ennis, Co. Clare during its public opening hours. A submission or observation in relation to the application may be made in writing to the authority on payment of the prescribed fee not later than 2 weeks after the receipt of the newsppaer notice and site notice by the planning authority or in the case of a planning application accompanied by an EIS within within 5 weeks of receipt of such notices by the planning authority.

CASE NO:

D:LIC:ENIS:2023:005622

AN CHUIRT DUICHE

PUBLIC HEALTH ACTS AMENDMENT ACT 1890

SECTION 51 COURTS (SUPPLEMENTAL PROVISIONS) ACT 1961

SECTION 33

THE DISTRICT COURT NOTICE OF APPLICATION FOR A PUBLIC MUSIC AND SINGING

LICENCE DISTRICT COURT AREA OF ENNIS DISTRICT NO. 12

Glor Music Designated Activity Company Applicant

TAKE NOTICE that the abovenamed Applicant, Glor Music Designated Activity Company, of Glor, Friar’s Walk, Ennis, Co. Clare intends to apply to the District Court at Ennis District Court on the 27 th September 2023 at 10:30 for the grant of a Licence to keep and use a certain place, to wit: glór situate at Glor, Causeway Link, Ennis, Co. Clare, in court area and district aforesaid, for public music, singing or other public entertainment of the like kind.

Dated this 28th day of July 2023

Signed MHP Sellors LLP

Solicitors for the Applicant

9/10/11 Bindon Street, Ennis, Co. Clare

To: the Garda Superintendent, at Ennis Garda Station, Ennis, Co. Clare

To: the Fire Officer, at Clare Fire Station, Ennis, Co. Clare

To: the District Court Clerk, Ennis District Court, The Courthouse, Ennis, Co. Clare

AN CHUIRT DUICHE CASE NO: D:LIC:ENIS:2023:006523

THE DISTRICT COURT NO. 86.3

PUBLIC DANCE HALLS ACT, 1935

NOTICE OF APPLICATION FOR A PUBLIC DANCING LICENCE

DISTRICT COURT AREA OF ENNIS DISTRICT NO. 12

Shannon Heritage Designated Activity Company Applicant

TAKE NOTICE that the abovenamed Applicant, Shannon Heritage Designated Activity Company (formerly Shannon Castle Banquets & Heritage Limited) of Bunratty Castle & Folk Park, Bunratty, Clare intends to apply to the District Court at Ennis District Court on the 27th September 2023 at 10:30 for the grant of an Annual Dance Licence to use a particular place, to wit: The Barn, situate at Bunratty Castle & Folk Park, Bunratty, Clare, in court area and district aforesaid, for public dancing.

Dated this 14th day of August 2023

Signed MHP Sellors LLP

Solicitors for Applicant 9/10/11 Bindon Street, Ennis , Clare

To the Garda Superintendent, at Ennis Garda Station, Ennis, Co. Clare

To the Fire Officer, at Ennis Fire Station, Ennis, Co. Clare

To Clare County Council, at New Road, Ennis, Co. Clare

To the District Court Clerk, Ennis District Court, The Courthouse, Ennis, Co. Clare.

AN CHUIRT DUICHE CASE NO: D:LIC:ENIS:2023:006525

THE DISTRICT COURT NO. 86.3

PUBLIC DANCE HALLS ACT, 1935 NOTICE OF APPLICATION FOR A PUBLIC DANCING LICENCE

DISTRICT COURT AREA OF ENNIS DISTRICT NO. 12

Shannon Heritage Designated Activity Company Applicant

TAKE NOTICE that the abovenamed Applicant, Shannon Heritage Designated Activity Company (formerly Shannon Castle Banquets & Heritage Limited) of Bunratty Castle & Folk Park, Bunratty, Co. Clare intends to apply to the District Court at Ennis District Court on the 27th September 2023 at 10:30 for the grant of an Annual Dance Licence to use a particular place, to wit: Knappogue Castle situate at Knappogue, Quin, Clare, Clare, in court area and district aforesaid, for public dancing.

Dated this 14th day of August 2023

Signed MHP Sellors LLP

Solicitors for the Applicant 9/10/11 Bindon Street, Ennis , Co. Clare

To the Garda Superintendent, at Ennis Garda Station, Ennis, Co. Clare

To the Fire Officer, at Ennis Fire Station, Ennis, Co. Clare

To Clare County Council, at New Road, Ennis, Co. Clare

To the District Court Clerk, Ennis District Court, The Courthouse, Ennis, Co. Clare

LICENCE APPLICATIONS

AN CHUIRT DUICHE

THE DISTRICT COURT DISTRICT COURT AREA OF KILRUSH

DISTRICT NO 12

CONFIRMATION OF TRANSFER

APPLICATION OF Megan Nolan of Kelly’s Bar and Restaurant Henry Street Kilrush in the County of Clare TAKE NOTICE that application will be made to the Judge of the District Court sitting at Kilrush District Court, Ennis Courthouse within the District Court Area aforesaid on the occasion of the sitting of the Annual Licensing District Court at 10.30am on the 19th of September 2023 on behalf of Megan Nolan of Kelly’s Bar and Restaurant in the Henry Street Kilrush County of Clare for a Certificate of Confirmation of Transfer of the ordinary seven day publican’s Licence attached to the premises known as Kelly’s Bar and Restaurant Henry Street Kilrush in the County of Clare and District Court Area aforesaid.

AND FURTHER TAKE

NOTICE that Application will be made at the same time in accordance with the provisions of Section 30 of the Intoxicating Liquor Act, 1927 for transfer of the said Licence freed and discharged from any indorsements against, or records of offences committed by the former Licence.

Dated the 9th August 2023. Signed Joseph A Chambers, Solicitor for the Applicants, Frances Street, Kilrush, Co Clare.

TO:

District Court Clerk, The Courthouse, Ennis, Co. Clare Superintendents Office, Garda Siochana, Ennis, Co. Clare

The Fire Officer, Clare County Council, New Road, Ennis, Co. Clare

AN CHUIRT DUCHE THE DISTRICT COURT DISTRICT COURT AREA OF ENNIS

DISTRICT NO 12

CONFIRMATION OF TRANSFER

APPLICATION OF Michael Garrihy of Cornerstone Bar and Restaurant in the County of Clare TAKE

NOTICE that application will be made to the Judge of the District Court sitting at Ennis District Court, Ennis Courthouse within the District Court Area aforesaid on the occasion of the sitting of the Annual Licensing District Court at 10.30am on the 27th of September 2023 on behalf of Michael Garrihy of Cornerstone Bar and Restaurant in the County of Clare for a Certificate of Confirmation of Transfer of the ordinary seven day publican’s Licence attached to the premises known as Michael Garrihy of Cornerstone Bar and Restaurant in the County of Clare and District Court Area aforesaid.

AND FURTHER TAKE NOTICE that Application will be made at the same time in accordance with the provisions of Section 30 of the Intoxicating Liquor Act, 1927 for transfer of the said Licence freed and discharged from any indorsements against, or records of offences committed by the former Licencee.

Dated the 31st July 2023.

Signed Joseph A Chambers Solicitor for the Applicants, Frances Street, Kilrush, Co Clare.

TO:

District Court Clerk, The Courthouse, Ennis, Co. Clare Superintendents Office, Garda Siochana, Ennis, Co. Clare The Fire Officer, Clare County Council, New Road, Ennis, Co. Clare

CASE NO: CASE NOT INITIATED AN CHUIRT DUICHE

THE DISTRICT COURT NO. 86.3

PUBLIC DANCE HALLS ACT, 1935

NOTICE OF APPLICATION FOR A PUBLIC DANCING LICENCE DISTRICT COURT AREA OF ENNIS DISTRICT NO. 12

Paul Madden as Nominee Applicant

TAKE NOTICE that the above-named Applicant Paul Madden as nominee of Temple Gate Hotel Limited of O’Connell Square, Ennis, Clare, Ireland

intends to apply to the District Court at Ennis District Court on the 27 Sep 2023 at 10:30 for the grant of an Annual Dance Licence a Licence to use a particular place, to wit:

Temple Gate Hotel Limited situate at O Connell Square, Ennis, Clare in court area and district aforesaid, for public dancing.

null

Signed Cahir & Co. LLP

Solicitor for Applicant

Solicitors, 36 Abbey Street, Ennis , Clare

To the Garda Superintendent, at CourtPresenters.Ennis@garda.ie, Ennis Garda Station, Ennis, Clare, V95 TR83

To the Fire Officer, at fireoff@clarecoco.ie, Clare Fire Station, Ennis, Clare, V95 CD74

To the Co Council Official, at corporate@clarecoco.ie, Clare County Council, Ennis, Clare, V95 DXP2

To the District Court Clerk, Ennis District Court

THE DISTRICT COURT LICENSING (IRELAND) ACT 1833

SECTION 6

INTOXICATING LIQUOR ACT, 1960

SECTION 29

DISTRICT COURT AREA OF ENNIS

DISTRICT NO. 12

The Monks Well Enterprise Limited Applicant TAKE NOTICE that the above-named Applicant The Monks Well Enterprise Limited of 5 The Grove, Melrose Park, Kinsealy, Swords, Dublin intends to apply to the Annual Licensing Court to be held at the Court at Ennis District Court on the 27th of September 2023 at 10:30am for the TRANSFER to the Applicant of the Publican’s Licence (7-Day Ordinary) attached to the premises at Main Street, Quin, Ennis, Co. Clare in the court area and district aforesaid.

Signed: William O’Donnell Solicitors, Solicitor for Applicant, 6 The Crescent, Limerick

CASE NO: AN CHUIRT DUICHE

THE DISTRICT COURT NO. 86.3

Public Dance Halls Act, 1935 NOTICE OF APPLICATION FOR A PUBLIC DANCING LICENCE

DISTRICT COURT AREA OF ENNIS

DISTRICT NO. 12

Abbey River Investments Limited Applicant TAKE NOTICE that the above-named Applicant Abbey River Investments Limited of 41 Abbey Street, Ennis, Clare intends to apply to the District Court at Ennis District Court on the 27 Sep 2023 at 10:30 for the grant of an Annual Dance Licence a Licence to use a particular place, to wit: LOCATION

Queen’s Hotel & Niteclub, Abbey Street, Ennis, Co. Clare

situate at Abbey Street, Ennis, Clare, . in court area and district aforesaid, for public dancing.

Dated this 15 Aug 2023

Signed Hassett Considine LLP

Solicitor for Applicant

Solicitors, 9 & 10 Carmody Street, Business Park Ennis, Clare

To the Garda Superintendent, at CourtPresenters.Ennis@ garda.ie, Ennis Garda Station, Ennis, Clare, V95 TR83

To the Fire Officer, at fireoff@clarecoco.ie, Clare Fire Station, Ennis, Clare, V95 CD74

To the Co Council Official, at corporate@clarecoco. ie, Clare County Council, Ennis, Clare, V95 DXP2

To the Health Service Executive Official, at pehoclare@hse.ie

CASE NO: CASE NOT INITIATED AN CHUIRT DUICHE

THE DISTRICT COURT

NO. 86.3

PUBLIC DANCE HALLS

ACT, 1935

NOTICE OF APPLICATION FOR A PUBLIC DANCING LICENCE

DISTRICT COURT

AREA OF ENNIS

DISTRICT NO. 12

John Connolly Applicant

TAKE NOTICE that the above-named Applicant John Connolly of Rathbaun Hotel, Lisdoonvarna, Clare intends to apply to the District Court at Ennis District Court on the 27 Sep 2023 at 10:30 for the grant of an Annual Dance Licence a Licence to use a particular place, to wit: Rathbaun Hotel situate at Lisdoonvarna, Lisdoonvarna, Clare, . in court area and district aforesaid, for public dancing.

null

Signed Cahir & Co. LLP

Solicitor for Applicant

Solicitors, 36 Abbey Street, Ennis , Clare

To the Garda Superintendent, at CourtPresenters.Ennis@ garda.ie, Ennis Garda Station, Ennis, Clare, V95 TR83

To the Fire Officer, at fireoff@clarecoco.ie, Clare Fire Station, Ennis, Clare, V95 CD74

To the Co Council Official, at corporate@clarecoco. ie, Clare County Council, Ennis, Clare, V95 DXP2

To the Health Service Executive Official, at pehoclare@hse.ie

To the District Court Clerk, Ennis District Court

AN CHURIT DUICHE THE DISTRICT COURT LICENSING (IRELAND)

ACT 1833 SECTION 6 INTOXICATING LIQUOR ACT, 1960

SECTION 29 NOTICE OF APPLICATION FOR CERTIFICATE OF TRANSER OF A LICENCE DISTRICT COURT AREA OF ENNIS

DISTRICT NO. 12

Premises: J Wilson Properties Ltd T/A Friels Bar Jonathan Wilson as Nominee Applicant

TAKE NOTICE that the above-named Applicant Johnathan Wilson as nominee of J Wilson Properties Ltd of Main Street, Miltown Malbay, Clare intends to apply to the Annual Licensing Court to be held at the Court at Ennis District Court on the 27Sept-2023 at 10.30 for the TRANSFER to the Applicant of the Publican’s Licence (7-Day Ordinary) licence attached to the premises at Mullagh Road, Miltown Malbay, Clare in the court area and district aforesaid.

Dated the 15 August 2023

Signed: Cahir & Co. LLP

Solicitors for the Applicant, 36 Abbey Street, Ennis, Co. Clare.

To: The Garda Superintendent, at CourtPresenters.Ennis@ garda.ie. Ennis Garda Station, Ennis, Co. Clare, V95TR83

To: The Fire Officer, at fireoff@clarecoco.ie, Clare Fire Station, New Road, Ennis, Co. Clare.

To: The District Court Clerk, Ennis District Court, Co. Clare.

CASE NO: CASE NOT INITIATED AN CHUIRT DUICHE THE DISTRICT COURT NO. 86.3

PUBLIC DANCE HALLS ACT, 1935

NOTICE OF APPLICATION FOR A PUBLIC DANCING LICENCE

DISTRICT COURT AREA OF ENNIS DISTRICT NO. 12

Dromoland Castle Holdings Limited Applicant

TAKE NOTICE that the above-named Applicant Dromoland Castle Holdings Limited of Dromoland, Newmarket on Fergus, Clare, Ireland intends to apply to the District Court at Ennis District Court on the 27 Sep 2023 at 10:30 for the grant of an Annual Dance Licence a Licence to use a particular place, to wit:

The Inn at Dromoland situate at Newmarket On Fergus, Ennis, Clare in court area and district aforesaid, for public dancing. null

Signed Cahir & Co. LLP

Solicitor for Applicant

Solicitors, 36 Abbey Street, Ennis , Clare

To the Garda Superintendent, at CourtPresenters. Ennis@garda.ie, Ennis Garda Station, Ennis, Clare, V95 TR83

To the Fire Officer, at fireoff@clarecoco.ie, Clare Fire Station, Ennis, Clare, V95 CD74

To the Co Council Official, at corporate@ clarecoco.ie, Clare County Council, Ennis, Clare, V95 DXP2

To the District Court Clerk, Ennis District Court

Prayers

The Prayer of St. Gertrude

According to tradition, Jesus told St. Gertrude in a vision that the following prayer would release 1000 souls into Heaven each time it is said.

Eternal Father, I offer Thee the Most Precious Blood of Thy Divine Son, Jesus, in union with the masses said throughout the world today, for all the holy souls in purgatory.

For sinners everywhere, For sinners in the universal church, those in my own home and within my family. Amen.

Recent Deaths

THE MIRACLE PRAYER

Dear Heart of Jesus, In the past, I have asked for many favours.

This time, I ask you This special favour. (Mention Favour)

Take it dear Heart of Jesus, And place it within Your own broken heart

Casey, Raymond Ennis

Clare

Clifford, Timothy Shannon

Clare

HALPIN, Larry Kilrush

Clare

Bleach, Eleen (Helen)

Scariff

Clare

Fitzgerald, Brian Ennis

Clare

McInerney,, Eoin Ennis

Clare

Walsh(née Tobin), Caroline Ennis

Clare

Molloy(née Ward), Christina (Chrissie) Ennis

Clare

Adams, Jean Ennis

Clare

Daly(née Moloney), Joanne Kilmore Clare

Guilfoyle, James Ennis

Clare

Coughlan, Martin Lissycasey Clare

Cahalan, Tim Ogonnelloe Clare

Egan(née Pender), Peggie Kilmihil

Clare

Kearney(née Murray), Martha Sixmilebridge Clare

LYONS(née SHERLOCK), CHRISTINE (CHRIS)

Kilrush

Clare

THIS WEEKS PUZZLES Aug 17th

Best Daily Word Search: 16 August 2023

WORD SEARCH

HOW TO PLAY

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

The Clare Echo Crossword

that's not too your coffee Yugoslavia(1-4)

ACROSS

1. Hypnotic state(6)

4. Unruffled(6)

8. Poised for action(5)

9. Water tank(7)

10. Country formerly part of Yugoslavia(7)

11. Horrify(5)

12. Toady(9)

17. Electronic communication(1-4)

19. Wagered(7)

21. Bishop’s territory(7)

22. Truehearted(5)

23. High regard(6)

24. Archer’s missiles(6)

DOWN

1. Three times(6)

2. Nonplussed(2,1,4)

3. Underground chamber(5)

5. Milan opera house(2,5)

6. Move furtively(5)

7. Hang freely(6)

9. Bubbly(9)

13. Educational institution(7)

14. Hunting cry(5-2)

15. Interfere(6)

16. Grown-ups(6)

18. More or less(5)

20. Middle-distance

CROSSWORD ANSWERS

runner(5)