The Clare Echo 18/02/21

065-6848612

065 671 9021

clareecho.ie

editor@clareecho.ie

twitter.com/ClareEcho

facebook.com/clareecho

FEB 18 2021

WE’RE ONLINE FOR DELIVERY Canvas Photos

O'Connell Square, Ennis

065 68 48 635

Personalised Keyrings

Personalised Slates

Personalised Jigsaw

Personalised Mugs

Printing Photos

AURIVO-DERCI! Ex-Aurivo boss axed as Shannon

Chair following ‘unacceptable’ tweets PÁRAIC MCMAHON paraic@clareecho.ie

A

l HORSE OUTSIDE: Gearoid Rodgers and his horse Blue Maverick in snowy Killaloe on Thursday.

Photograph: John Mangan

six hour turnaround which saw the appointment and then cancellation of the new Chairperson of Shannon Group plc has been coined as a “fiasco” and “a sorry saga”.

Minister for Transport Eamon Ryan (GP) announced the ex CEO of Aurivo Aaron Forde as Rose Hynes’ successor on Tuesday afternoon, later that night he confirmed he was not proceeding with the appointment.

Numerous tweets from Forde’s Twitter account prompted the reversal. Previous tweets criticised

the Traveller community, social welfare recipients and called the Tanáiste Leo Varadkar (FG) a leak.

In a statement to The Clare Echo, Deputy Joe Carey (FG) labelled the episode as “a sorry saga”.

Clarecastle’s Geraldine Gregan, a friend of Forde’s for 38 years told The Clare Echo that his dismissal was the wrong call. “He was just what’s needed for Shannon Group, he was a safe pair of hands, we’ve lost him now”.

Speaking in Dáil Éireann, Deputy Michael McNamara (IND) described it as a “fiasco” and said Forde has “no ostensible experience” to lead either Shannon Airport, Shannon Commercial Properties or Shannon Heritage.

Taoiseach Micheál Martin (FF) said three candidates were identified with Forde selected

following the public appointments service. “Then it emerged of tweets that were unacceptable and the Minister took very quick action to deal with that and the Minister will be dealing with the successor”.

CASH & CARRY COAL Opposite Francie Daly Motors, Limerick Rd, Ennis

089 2747493

Polish Coal Columbian Coal Smokeless & Stove Coal SPECIAL OFFER 3 bags of coal 10 bags of coal Blocks Turf Briquettes Calor Gas

€18 per bag €18 per bag €18 per bag €50 €170 €4.50 lrg bag €4.50 lrg bag €5.50 per bale €27 or 2 for €50

€20 OFF YOUR CAR INSURANCE WHEN YOU MENTION THE CLARE ECHO

Sullivan Insurances (Limerick) Ltd t/a Sullivan Insurances, Slattery Sullivan Insurances, Carey Corbett Sullivan Insurances is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland.

065 689 3540

2 NEWS

Index NEWS

THURSDAY, FEB 18 2021

HORSING AROUND IN SNOWY KILLALOE

2-11

GREENER CLARE

12

ENTERTAINMENT

13

SNOW PICS

16-17

BUSINESS

19-22

SPORT

23-24

FEATURE

25-27

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

NEWSDESK

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

SALES

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

l SLEIGHING IT: Gearoid Rodgers and his horse Blue Maverick in Killaloe on Thursday Photo by John Mangan

Council called on to begin preparing Meelick for LNDR PREPARATION work must begin in Clare to be ready for the first phase of the Limerick Northern Distributor Road (LNDR), writes Páraic McMahon.

To date, an approximate €17m has been spent developing part of this roadway, which will run from Coonagh to Meelick and Knockalisheen on the Co Clare side, into the Northern end of Moyross.

The route had been cast in doubt before Minister

for Transport Eamon Ryan (GP) performed a u-turn last Wednesday.

A total cost of €58m is earmarked for the entire LNDR. Speaking to The Clare Echo, Cllr PJ Ryan (IND) highlighted that he was putting pressure on Clare County Council "to take immediate steps" to begin improving facilities in order to be ready for the LNDR. Cllr Ryan outlined that the local authority must

now focus on "public lighting, safety improvements at Brennan's Cross, footpaths and development works necessary to merge public sewerage ESB, foul sewers, water mains, gas mains and telecoms and the provision of traffic signals and other ancillary works where Meelick will now be connected to many of the city services.

“This has to begin immediately as it must be ready in two years".

l INFRASTRUCTURE: A total of €38m is earmarked for the LNDR, which will pass through Meelick

Major development planned for Crusheen CIAN O’BROIN

P

cianobroin@clareecho.ie

LANS have been lodged for the development of 31 houses and four retail units in Crusheen.

Submitted to the planning department by Woodhaven Developments Ltd, a timeline of 30 months is expected if the development gets the green light. The application estimates that 35 jobs will ensue in the retail units as part of the €10.3m investment.

A mix of retail, commercial and office uses such as medical practice, specialist retail, leisure or restaurant facilities are intended for the site which has been zoned as mix use.

The land is located on the north side of the village, west of the R458.

The overall development includes plans for 31 dwellings including: a mixture of three-bedroom bungalows, three-bed two storey dwellings, 4/5-bedroom semi and detached dwellings as well as four retail units with their own doors and associated site works.

This equates to an overall density of 20 units per usable hectare or eight units per acre, falling under the ‘Sustainable Residential Development in edge of small town/ village -Guidelines for Planning Authorities.’

These guidelines recommend an average of 15 to 20 dwellings per hectare.

The future development will adjoin the key commercial centre of the village and

link the existing Cluain Fia Housing development currently under construction in the village centre. The front of the rectangular shaped site will be linked with a road within the 50km speed limit of the village.

The core strategy of the development fits within a target increase of another 59 households for the village up to 2023, with a target population increase of 163 in that period.

Several general objectives have been outlined by the design statement. These include supports to facilitate the expansion of the village by encouraging infill and the redevelopment of derelict and obsolete houses which will contribute to the creation of an identifiable village centre.

Another key proposal supports the re-opening of the Crusheen train station and the facilitation of a train stop in Crusheen.

This is to be achieved by safeguarding lands along the route of the railway line.

The design of the housing layout is structured as a series of four Home-zones, incorporating shared surface and shared facilities.

A neighbourhood approach aims to reinforce the town centre as the key location for living, working, leisure, shopping and service provision.

A modal shift towards walking and cycling is also expected through the development of good pedestrian connectivity between residential areas and the neighbourhood centre and other community services. Pedestrian and cycle connectivity is planned for two points within the development.

Detail on a decision from the planning authority will be known by the end of March.

THURSDAY, FEB 18 2021

NEWS 3

4 NEWS

THURSDAY, FEB 18 2021

Two vaccination centres confirmed for Clare PÁRAIC MCMAHON

T

paraic@clareecho.ie

WO vaccination centres will be in operation in Co Clare, the Department of Health have confirmed.

As first reported by The Clare Echo, vaccination centres will open in both the West County Hotel and the Radisson Blu Hotel. The West County will be for persons in Co

Clare while the people of Limerick will have to cross the border to receive their jab at the Radisson.

On Monday, Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly (FF) confirmed locations for 37 vaccination centres across Ireland for the COVID-19 Vaccination Programme following initial development by the HSE. While currently vaccines are being administered in healthcare settings and by GPs, many people will be offered their vaccination in these centres, having self-registered online.

All of the centres vary in size and operating hours and have been selected based on population density, ease of access, transport and parking. The design and layout of the centres also incorporates learnings from the COVID-19 swabbing centres. The centres will be of different sizes and operating hours will be based on vaccine supply and catchment area need. The operating hours for the West County or the Radisson have yet to be unveiled.

"These centres will be ready well in advance of vaccine supply when

24 per cent increase in breach of barring orders in Clare A 24 percent increase in barring order breaches in Clare has been recorded by An Garda Síochána, writes Páraic McMahon.

In 2020, Gardaí in Clare responded on 89 occasions to a breach of barring, safety or protection orders in the county. This was an increase of 17 compared with the equivalent of 72 instances dealt with in 2019.

Thirty more domestic disputes were dealt with by Gardaí last year, the eight percent increase saw 425 domestic dispute offences responded to in 2020 compared with the 395 in 2019.

Detail on the cases broken down by gender was sought by Senator Roisin Garvey (GP) at February's sitting of the Clare Joint Policing Committee (JPC). "Is there anything around the perpetrators to encourage them not to break the orders," she queried.

Policy is in place, Superintendent Brendan McDonagh whereby if a barring order exists "and the perpetrator is at the house we will pursue it and the person will be brought to Court".

Findings on the breaches and domestic disputes by gender were requested again by the Inagh native, "It would be interesting to see if there was an increase in domestic violence towards men".

Supt McDonagh informed the meeting

that a gender breakdown existed but "because of GDPR we can't put it out because it may identify a person, I could talk to a person privately but not on this forum".

"I'm not looking for any names just the figures," Senator Garvey responded to which Supt McDonagh stressed, "When figures are very low on one side it can identify people".

lSTATS: Superintendent Brendan McDonagh

Photo by Arthur Ellis

they will be used as part of our programme. People can expect to see these vaccination centres ready and waiting in their county. We have always said the vaccination programme would only be limited by the availability and reliability of supply in these early stages of the programme.

“In the coming months supply will increase substantially and we will see these centres operating to full capacity and administering vaccines to the general population," Minister Donnelly said.

lROLLOUT: Vaccine supply will increase substantially

Planning granted for 21 houses in Roslevan CIAN O’BROIN

cianobroin@clareecho.ie

PLANNING permission has been granted for 21 houses in Roslevan despite residents' concerns for child safety and issues surrounding a 13 year old environmental survey.

An application was lodged on at the beginning of March last year by J.J. Fahy to construct 22 houses as well as connections to public foul sewer, surface water, public water supply and the installation of public services (telephone and electricity). Permission was also requested to access the new development from the already existing housing estate Gort Leamhain.

An Ecological Assessment compiled by Keville & O'Sullivan Associates Ltd. was submitted to Clare County Council last March.

This report was dated August 2007 and was conducted for a previous attempt at planning permission on the site by Michael Fahy for 46 residential units that proved unsuccessful.

Padraig Howard, an adjacent landowner to the north of the proposed settlement offered his written consent to construct the units to Mr. J.J. Fahy on March 9th last year.

A report filed by the Environmental Assessment Officer Sheila Downes stated that

lSURVEY: Lesser Horseshoe Bat

"It is important that planning decisions are based on up-to-date ecological reports and survey data." Referencing the difficulties in setting a specific timeframe, the report stated that "anything over three years is unlikely to be valid". The Department of Heritage also raised concerns over conservation, outlining that the site is in close proximity to three Lesser Horseshoe Bat species roosts and that tracks indicate the site may be in use by badgers, which would require a derogation licence before planning permission is granted.

A large submission was filed by nearby residents of Gort Leamhain as part of their Residents Committee. The submission outlines that a cul de sac in their estate proposed as a transport link for construction vehicles between the new settlement and Gort Leamhain would pose significant risk to their children, of which 18 are under the age of 10 between houses 4 and 13. It also noted that none of the houses located at the cul de sac have boundary garden walls which would give children access to the roads. It also cited concerns over traffic congestion and safety as well as flagging that the ecological survey is outdated by 13 years.

A Further Information request was received on June 16, 2020 requesting the removal of residential unit number 22, to fix several units overlooking existing properties as well as requesting to update the ecological survey. Further Information was received on December 15, 2020 and despite several more observations submitted by residents of Gort Leamhain, planning permission was successfully granted on February 3, 2021 subject to 23 conditions.

These conditions outlined that permission was granted for 21 residential units and that access is not permitted through the cul de sac located in the adjacent estate Gort Leamhain.

It also found the updated ecological survey to be satisfactory, documenting that bat roosts on site were unaffected and that no badgers were successfully identified. Funding of €45,000 was requested for potential damage to roads and a further €116, 529 to be paid towards public infrastructure by Mr. J.J. Fahy.

NEWS 5

THURSDAY, FEB 18 2021

TAKE HOME THE OLD GROUND THIS WEEKEND

­

­

­

­

O R D E R O N LI N E or PHO N E 0 65 6 8 2 8 12 7

WWW.OLDGROUNDHOTELENNIS.COM

6 NEWS

THURSDAY, FEB 18 2021

'DIY Ash Wednesday' held amid Covid-19 lockdown PÁRAIC MCMAHON

P

paraic@clareecho.ie

RIESTS in the Killaloe Diocese have adapted to an Ash Wednesday with a difference and believe people's commitment to Lent will continue during the lockdown.

Ashes could not be placed on the foreheads of any individual that entered a church on Ash Wednesday. Instead priests blessed the ashes early on Wednesday morning and allowed individuals to avail of take-away ashes by leaving them in the porches of churches across Clare.

Fr Donal Dwyer parish priest of O'Callaghans Mills and Kilkishen observed, "people have been used to taking ashes home to their families and neighbours. This year I won't be going into the schools or going to the sick in the parish. People won't be celebrating a public mass here so it is a bit like DIY this year for the crowd".

As early as the 300s, the custom of placing ashes on the head's of people was adopted by local churches. Ash Wednesday officially begins Lent and the Easter cycle. A severe lenten discipline remained in force until 1966 when only one meal was permitted on days of Lent except Sunday for parishioners between the ages of 21 and 59.

Speaking to The Clare Echo, Fr Dwyer described Lent as "a season of renewal, fresh opportunities" and a chance to become "closer to God" and "make a special effort to give generously to others". When it comes to fasting and abstinence, the Templederry native explained, "It is all about discipline, are you able to give up something".

Living on their own in a life devoted to God gives priests a familiarity to quarantine, Donal noted, "I'm sitting in a house on my own so I've no trouble social distancing". He said that the restrictions have given "an insight into what it's like to be retired, you try keep some order in your life, you get up in the morning and say mass, you go for a walk some mornings, read the paper

and slack off until the afternoon. People pop in for mass cards and different things whether it is doing bits for their wedding, trying to organise christenings.

"I haven't found it too bad because guys like us are used to living on our own, we're used to quarantining, when I was in England in places like the West Midlands and you would have very few Catholics in the community, if you didn't get out of the house you wouldn't see anybody so it was up to you to go out and mix with the local community," Fr Dwyer who celebrates ten years in East Clare this September added.

Restrictions and the closures of churches has Fr Dwyer pondering about the future of religion. "I'm wondering about the pandemic, will people get used to not going to church and what will it be like next year". On what the Killaloe Diocese can do to mitigate against this, he stated, "It's very hard to plan for something that you don't know what it will be like, plans don't always work out, we might have to learn on the job".

US troops breached Covid-19 guidelines at Shannon Airport PÁRAIC MCMAHON

paraic@clareecho.ie

US TROOPS breached COVID-19 guidelines last month when they arrived in Shannon Airport.

An apology has been issued by authorities in the US to the Irish Government for the incident which involved US military going against COVID-19 guidelines. A review of the circumstances which led to the breach is to be undertaken.

Last month, the troops landed at Shannon Airport and stayed overnight at a Limerick hotel without the legally required evidence of negative PCR tests or passenger locator forms. The US Navy C40A aircraft arrived at Shannon Airport at 7.06pm on January 25 coming from Bahrain and carrying five crew and 48 military personnel. They stayed overnight in a Limerick hotel before taking off for the US at 11.35am the following day, in this interval they left the hotel to purchase food, The Irish Examiner have reported.

Minister for Foreign Affairs, Simon Coveney (FG) detailed that the breach happened "due to an error on the US side". He stated, "Once informed of this breach of regulations by An Garda Siochána, the issue was raised with the US authorities, both through the US embassy in Dublin and through our embassy in Washington.

Coveney described the failure to comply with public health guidelines as serious. "They have also confirmed that the passengers concerned were operating in a 'clean bubble',

were tested repeatedly during the period they were deployed in the location where the flight originated and, following instructions by An Garda Síochána, self-isolated in a hotel in Limerick overnight, only leaving once to purchase food, while masked, before returning to Shannon Airport the following day to travel onward to their destination".

Dublin Bay North TD, Cian O'Callaghan (SD) had tabled a parliamentary question on the matter. He felt the breach was indicative of the "lax" attitude held towards the US military by the Irish Government. "People are putting in huge effort and making massive sacrifices, anyone coming here must abide by public health measures and that extends to the US military. I'm not surprised by it at all — the entire attitude to the US military

has been completely lax in terms of monitoring or inspections throughout the years".

Shannonwatch peace campaigner, Edward Horgan said that permission for US military to land and refuel at Shannon Airport should be withdrawn. "We don't know the full extent of US military breaches of Covid-19 regulations at Shannon. But we do know that we cannot trust assurances from the US Government. Therefore, the only safe course of action is to withdraw permission for US military and military contracted flights to land and refuel at Shannon Airport. Such permission should never have been given in the first instance by any Irish Government, given our policy of neutrality. But now that the US military is presenting a clear risk to public health, there is no option but to end it".

lAPOLOGY: A US Military plane landing at Shannon Airport

Photo by John Burns

lUNUSUAL: Fr Donal Dwyer

Photo by John Mangan

375 families impacted by food and fuel shortage 375 FAMILIES in Clare are struggling from a fuel and food shortage, writes Páraic McMahon.

Clare's COVID-19 community response forum has come across a total of 375 families and individuals that are experiencing a fuel and food shortage during the pandemic.

The figure is anticipated to reduce with the continued roll-out of the vaccine. The forum is operational twelve hours a day seven days per week.

Speaking at Tuesday's meeting of the Rural Development Strategic Policy Committee, Bernie Haugh detailed that the situation was not unique to Clare and that €5k per month was required to "serve the needs emerging in the community". Elected representatives have assisted in raising this money through donations from their General Municipal Allocation.

She said an increase in heat and lighting costs has been experienced while the closures of schools and childcare have led to "additional food needs".

Since it began last March, the forum has responded to

more than 1,770 phone calls.

Over 30 persons have made themselves available to deliver, shopping, prescriptions and fuel as part of the efforts.

Chair of the SPC, Cllr Pat Hayes (FF) acknowledged that the vast majority of the population from students to older people were suffering.

"Some of the challenges will not go away when people get the vaccine. There are many challenges out there," he commented.

Cllr Joe Killeen (FF) noted "the necessity of the service continues while we are waiting for the vaccine". He encouraged people to ring a neighbour to keep them engaged in conversation, "the stress and anxiety continues".

Environmental representative, Anny Wise paid tribute to the persons involved in the community response forum.

"There is a general feeling that people are pulling behind the people in need during the pandemic, it is far beyond what we have seen.

"It is really heart-warming to see us supporting the elderly and people in need".

NEWS 7

THURSDAY, FEB 18 2021

Local reps seek city status for Ennis PÁRAIC MCMAHON

E

paraic@clareecho.ie

NNIS should be elevated to city status, local representatives have unanimously stated.

Cllr Pat Daly (FF) tabled a motion on the subject at the February meeting of the Ennis Municipal District and cited the "considerable benefits for tourism and economic development" that the Ennis MD advance the town's claim for city status.

Noting the proximity to Shannon Airport and with the M18 being "on our doorsteps," Cllr Daly put forward the case for the elevation of status. He maintained that it was a natural step following Ennis' growth "from a small town to a very large town". Quality of retail and restaurants "rival any city in the country," Daly stated.

LIT's expansion into Ennis with the opening of a Bindon St campus was referenced along with the potential of UL starting courses in the town. He continued, "We are 25 minutes from the Atlantic Ocean, 35 minutes from

the Cliffs of Moher and 15 minutes from Burren" while industrial parks have room for further growth.

Lack of industries setting up in Ennis for the past 25 years was lamented

by Cllr Daly.

Mayor of Ennis, Cllr Paul Murphy (FG) said he was "glad" to second the motion but reminded the proposer he omitted the proximity to the Shannon Estuary Way as another token. "The economic bounce it would bring to the town would be fantastic," he believed.

Cllr Clare Colleran Molloy (FF) questioned how the proposal would now progress, "we should be actively trying to pursue that it materialises". "I can definitely see the potential of Ennis having the city brand in bringing in more business," Cllr Ann Norton (IND) commented.

Referring to the Regional Spatial and Economic Strategy (RSES) completed by the Southern Regional Assembly, Cllr Johnny Flynn (FG) praised its emphasis as Ennis being the largest town in Munster. "There are 700 more people below in Kilkenny, we have similar attributes, I think we should be looking for this status. For Ennis to

grow we need to achieve city status".

Director of Services, Carmel Kirby described Daly's motion as "extremely interesting". She outlined, "Ennis was identified as a key town in the RSES which is a good thing, it does prioritise the town for investment. We're in the national development process now, it is a good time for members to put this forward". A meeting will be arranged with the planning department to discuss Daly's suggestion, she confirmed.

lPOTENTIAL: Ennis Cathedral

COVID-19 vaccinations are underway.

They’re already bringing hope to our communities.

As more people are vaccinated, this should help reduce the harm caused by COVID-19.

If you’re aged 85 or over, you will be offered a free COVID-19 vaccine next. This starts from 15th February 2021, continuing as vaccines are supplied to the HSE. You don’t need to register in advance. As soon as your vaccine is available, your GP will let you know.

After this group, people aged 80 and over, 75 and over, and 70 and over will be offered a vaccine in turn.

All vaccines are tested before they are approved for use in Ireland.

If you have questions about your COVID-19 vaccine, we have answers you can trust on hse.ie Or you can call HSElive on 1850 24 1850

Visit hse.ie

‘Door slammed in the face’ of communities FRUSTRATION is hitting fever pitch in two West Clare communities over the absence of adequate sewerage and wastewater treatment plants despite decades of efforts to rectify the matter, writes Páraic McMahon.

Separate respective plights of 40 and 69 years in Cooraclare and Carrigaholt were brought into focus by elected representatives of the West Clare Municipal District who are seeking a sit down meeting with the Minister for Housing Darragh O'Brien (FF) to find a remedy for the problems.

An investment of €1.4bn in water services was announced in the Department's €3.1bn housing budget. Inclusion of a Cooraclare sewerage scheme was requested as "a level one priority" to be constructed as a pilot project by Cllr Bill Chambers (FF). He said the scheme was ready to go to tender when it was axed previously Irish Water in a written reply to the motion detailed that "a multi-billion euro investment programme over many years" was required to build, repair and upgrade its treatment plants. "Irish Water has no statutory role where there is currently no infrastructure. Irish Water does

not have any plans to develop a new sewerage scheme in Cooraclare where there is currently no public wastewater infrastructure".

Similarly the spokesperson confirmed no plans to develop a sewerage scheme in Carrigaholt existed following an appeal by Cllr Gabriel Keating (FG). He maintained that the village was "an ideal project" for a pilot scheme.

"We're waiting for the last 40 years to get this job done," Cllr Chambers outlined. He said that half a million euros was spent on the preparation of the scheme "and then it was axed about 10 years ago, we're still waiting". He suggested that West Clare councillors and the county's Oireachtas members arrange a meeting with the Minister to bring an end to the matter.

Up to 51 villages in Clare are without sewerage schemes, Cllr Keating flagged. He questioned if the Council was being used

by Irish Water who are not upholding their end of the service agreement between both parties. The current situation in Carrigaholt was labelled "a desperate state" as he noted the village was without a public toilet and basic facilities."

8 NEWS

THURSDAY, FEB 18 2021

John continues to use his voice for the greater good PÁRAIC MCMAHON

A

paraic@clareecho.ie

DVOCATING for reform of the healthcare sector by expanding the criteria for the distribution of medical cards for terminally ill persons has helped John Wall deal with his diagnosis.

Since July 2018, the Quin man has been campaigning to extend the eligibility of medical cards for individuals with a terminal illness.

One year previous, he received a terminal diagnosis and from then he has been living with prostate cancer.

Currently 1,800 people who are certified as having 12 months or less to live are eligible for a medical card, last week Cabinet signed off on a proposal by Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly (FF) to increase the period people are certified as regards life expectancy to 24 months which is likely to double the amount of persons covered.

John described the move as

"extremely welcome" but added, "we're only part of the way there.

Whether I get to see it through I don't know but I will certainly give it my best shot for as long as I'm able to, chapter one is closed and chapter two is to extend medical card eligibility to all terminal patients that would be the ultimate aim for me". Financial security and assistance will be provided at a time "in people's life when they need it most" as a result. "It is not a huge burden to the State on overall cost but the impact it will have on the people that can avail of it is absolutely huge".

On Tuesday morning he rang the HSE to asses if information was correctly being filtered to the public and admitted he was happy with his findings. He will ring Minster Donnelly by early next week to see if it has been fully implemented.

Speaking to The Clare Echo, Wall shared his view that the system of applying for a medical card when a person has a terminal illness was "designed to frustrate, no matter how many times you engage with the system and try to help in the application process to streamline it and make it more user friendly

the more it frustrated".

His advocacy will help many people in years to come but he revealed that he is indeed a beneficiary of the campaign he started.

By November 2019 his medical card was revoked twice, it was due to expire last May but was automatically extended due to COVID-19, "because of the agreement last week I can say with certainty that my card will never be revoked again".

Driving the campaign for reform has not been easy, the father of two outlined. "I didn't realise what I was letting myself in for, it happened innocuously enough but once the issue gained traction the more I understood what it involved and is what I became very passionate about. I have to manage energy levels on a daily basis, the batteries aren't what they used to be for obvious reasons but it is also something I enjoy doing, it is not a case of complaining all the time and there is a lot of positives to be extenuated when you get a bit of traction online".

Support from the public and the media helped John on the difficult days. "This isn't just about me or terminal patients in the here and

l REFORM: John Wall

now, this is into the future, none of us ever know when we're going to find ourselves in a situation such as I find myself in, this is something that will help, it is part of our healthcare policy and how we deal with terminal patients with a prognosis of less than 24 months, it is a very good start and most welcome.

The support has been hugely welcomed by myself, it gave strength when the batteries were low and keep you going at times when you felt like giving up".

An air traffic controller, John had little experience when it came to advocacy but found that his late friend Laura Brennan of Ennis showed "what could be achieved by just using your voice, if you had a message that resonated with

Photo by John Mangan

people and used your voice respectfully then you can get places, Laura's message still reverberates".

Individuals such as Vicky Phelan, Stephen Teap, Lorraine Walsh and Rosie Condra, "inspire me to keep going," he said.

"You can use your prognosis to affect some good, a terminal diagnosis can be difficult to deal with but you can use it for the greater good. It is part of the process for me dealing with a terminal diagnosis that it is not all for nothing, you are living with this and doing what you can whilst you can with it". John added, "If you have a voice use it, some people don't have the willingness or strength to speak up, it's the position I find myself in and I'm very thankful to do it".

Minister Ryan defends appointing Hynes interim Chair of IAA MINISTER for Transport Eamon Ryan (GP) (inset) has defended the process that resulted in the appointment of North Clare woman Rose Hynes as interim chairperson of the Irish Aviation Authority, writes Páraic McMahon.

In January, Minister Ryan announced the appointment of the New Quay native as the

interim chairperson of the Irish Aviation Authority. She previously served on the boards of Bank of Ireland, Fyffes plc, Ervia, Aer Lingus Group plc, Mincon and Concern.

Now living in Limerick, Rose was first appointed as a board member of the Shannon Airport Authority in 2013, she headed up the Aviation Business Development Task Force

that led to Shannon's separation from the daa and was establishing chairperson of Shannon Airport and later, Shannon Group when it was formally established in 2014.

She remained in the role of Chairperson until August of last year.

Former Minister for Transport, Shane Ross (IND) revealed in his memoir that then Taoiseach Leo Varadkar (FG) played a pivotal role in ensuring her contract received a twelve month extension.

Limerick TD, Maurice Quinlivan (SF) in a parliamentary question asked the Minister on the background and process involved that led to Hynes' appointment as the interim chairperson of the Irish Aviation Authority.

Deputy Quinlivan sought detail on the recommendations that led to the post being filled by the former Chairperson of Shannon Group and queried why the Public Appointments Service "was bypassed in this instance".

According to the Green Party leader, "Ms Hynes was appointed, with the agreement of the Government, to help guide the IAA through a key period in a regulatory reform process that will result in significant

institutional changes.

“There are some important strategic and business decision to be taken in the early part of this year in order to prepare the ground for this, and I was unwilling to risk leaving a vacancy at the top of the Company which would in any way jeopardise progress".

He stated that the experience of the Clare woman in aviation "alongside her background in leading other State agency restructuring programmes was a key reason for her appointment as interim Chair while the Company undergoes these important institutional reforms".

"I fully intend to initiate a formal recruitment process under the State Boards Appointment guidelines later in the year to coincide with the passing of the Air Navigation and Transport Bill.

“At this point, formal processes will be put in place to recruit a permanent Chair and Board members for the newly established IAA and also a Chair and Board members for the new commercial air navigation company, which will be established as a result of the institutional reforms," Minister Ryan stated.

NEWS 9

THURSDAY, FEB 18 2021

Clare people at home and 'I don't wear red high heels when abroad invited to celebrate walking in Ballybeg Woods' St Patrick’s Day online groups. "We know there will be perfect if they don't want to get PÁRAIC new footpaths. It would be good their shoes mucky. I like the THIS year, Clare County Council is organising and presenting an online St Patrick’s Day event with the theme of ‘Connecting Clare’, and everyone can get involved.

The Council is inviting Clare people at home and abroad to celebrate St Patrick’s Day together, by actively participating in the online event or by joining in on the day as a member of our global audience.

The event is a wonderful opportunity for Clare people to showcase their talents across the globe.

To participate, we are requesting that you record an individual or group performance and submit it to us online (please see details below) on or before 1st March 2021. You might like to get members of your group to log on to Zoom and record all the individuals performing together as a group online. We are looking for variety so music, song, poetry, dance, backyard parade – the choice is yours. Please embrace the theme, ‘Connecting Clare’, in your performances.

A judging panel selected by Ennis Municipal District will review all entries. On St Patrick’s Day we will be releasing short videos every hour between 11:00am and 5:00pm. There will be prizes for winners in the following categories: Best interpretation of theme (€300), Best children’s performance (€300), Most imaginative entry (€300).

Winners in these categories will be announced during the video released at 5:00pm. All other performances that secure a place on the final videos released on St Patrick’s Day will be entered into a draw for two €100 Clare Gift Cards.

How to enter: 1. Record your performance (adhering to public health guidelines around Covid-19). The video should be recorded in landscape mode in MOV or MP4 with HD as standard and a maximum of three minutes in length.

Full details are available on the ‘video release information’ when you click on the link below.

2. Gain appropriate consent for each individual performing (parental consent for minors).

3. Go to https://yoursay.clarecoco. ie/stpatricksdayvideo 4. Follow the steps.

We will not be in a position to accept entries which: (1) are submitted without the appropriate consent; and (2) do not strictly adhere to public health guidelines around Covid-19.

The Clare County Council St Patrick’s Day online event is organised

by Ennis Municipal District and can be accessed globally on Clare County Council’s YouTube Channel and Facebook page.

Let’s make this an enjoyable and memorable St Patrick’s Day for us all.

MCMAHON

A

paraic@clareecho.ie

N ENNIS councillor has confirmed she does not wear red high heels when walking through Ballybeg Woods.

Parts of Ballybeg Woods "are quite mucky," Cllr Clare Colleran Molloy (FF) highlighted in her call for an examination on the feasibility of adding new gravel in Ballybeg Woods.

Paths will be examined, senior executive engineer in the Ennis Municipal District, Eamon O'Dea confirmed with required maintenance to be completed.

"An application may be considered under the lower level ORIS funding for repair of specific pathways in the Wood," he outlined. The walkway from the Water Tower has been delayed due to current restrictions, O'Dea confirmed.

A daily user of Ballybeg Woods, Colleran Molloy described them as "a fabulous amenity" used by individuals from a wide range of age-

to see an update on the lanes, a lot of them are really mucky and dirty".

Mayor of Ennis, Cllr Paul Murphy admitted he was supportive of the motion "but the country lad is breaking out in me. Unless there is a bad case of flooding, they aren't built for people to go out in their stilettos or high heels, if people wear the suitable attire there is no fear of them". He spoke with the landowner on the Rocky Rd who was doing his best to facilitate access, "do we want to tarmacadam the Rocky Rd for them," he jeered.

"The Western Relief Road is

l AMENITY: Cllr Clare Colleran Molloy

Photo by Eamon Ward

For full details and to participate go to https://yoursay.clarecoco.ie/stpatricksdayvideo

roughness of the Rocky Rd and Ballybeg and to a lesser extent Lees Rd which is more municipal than countryside".

"Nobody was looking the routes to be tarmacked. They were gravelled and have gone mucky. The surfaces on publicly owned trails need to be made safe, I've seen elderly people turn away from the trail in Lees Rd because of ponding," Cllr Johnny Flynn responded.

Cllr Colleran Molloy informed the meeting, "I don't use my red high heels from LK Bennett when walking in Ballybeg Woods, I have walking boots that I use even though that would be a comical image of me". She stressed, "Nobody is saying to urbanise the woods. The hills can sometimes be very mucky and slippy, we want to prevent people falling". On the issue of Rocky Rd, she said the landowner was not happy with the lack of co-operation from the local authority.

Cllr Murphy clarified that he was not referring to his colleague with the high heels remark, "I've seen you in the boots," he commented.

10 ADVERTORIAL

THURSDAY, FEB 18 2021

The Proof is in the Pudding A

Clare slimmers lose a whopping 2,998 lbs in January

WEIGHT has been lifted for slimmers in County Clare as they are an incredible 214 stone 2 lbs lighter since the beginning of this year. They refused to let lockdown stop their slimdown and they have lost weight while eating some of these delicious, satisfying, family-friendly meals. Slimming World’s flexible healthy eating plan, Food Optimising, makes losing weight easy and enjoyable. There

is no calorie counting and no tiny portions - just healthy, everyday foods that can be found at the supermarket.

With the current restrictions set to continue for some time, some people may be worried that their Slimming World group is currently closed. However, a spokesperson from Slimming World says, “While our in-person groups are temporarily suspended due to the Covid-19 restrictions, we're delighted to let

lDELICIOUS: The big daddy burger

Orla

Louise

ENNIS AUBRUN LODGE HOTEL TUESDAY EVENINGS

Louise

086-1381874

Elizabe

ENNISTYMON TEACH COIL WEDNESDAY MORNING + EVENINGS

Orla

you know that we can still bring you all the support, friendship and inspiration in our "Slim from Home" groups, which you attend from the comfort and safety of your own home”.

She added, “We’ll help you make changes to how you shop, cook and eat, so you’ll lose weight without ever feeling hungry or deprived.

These small, easy changes will benefit your health, help you slim and amaze you with the results they bring”.

These Slim from Home groups have proved to be a lifeline to many people who really struggled with their weight since the start of the pandemic. Geraldine, who joined a local group in Clare in January has already lost 1 stone 5lbs and is so glad she decided to join “I was going to wait until groups returned to normal” says Geraldine “but now I am so glad I didn’t wait.

There’s so much support, you never feel you are on your own. I adore the food, I’m never hungry and the family are all benefitting as they love the food too. I love my weekly Zoom groups, not all members do it, but for me it’s a lifeline and I have learned so much, as well as having a good laugh!”

Many people have found lock down challenging and gained unwanted weight. People are also

Fidelma

Maura

l lTASTY: TASTY: Enjoy Enjoy aa loaded loaded baked baked potato potato for lunch very aware of the detrimental impact carrying extra weight can have on your health. Some simple changes can help you with this, not just for lock down, but for life. The support of a consultant, and all of the group make the journey even more enjoyable.

To help members get off to the best possible start to their weight loss journey, Slimming World have a free gift of a brand new “Fresh Start” booklet for every new or re-joining member. It contains

Ru

KILRUSH COMMUNITY CENTER TUESDAY MORNINGS

Orla

085-8761334

085-8761334 ENNIS CBS PRIMARY SCHOOL SATURDAY MORNINGS

Orla

085-8761334

Fidelma

ENNIS AUBURN LODGE HOTEL WEDNESDAY MORNING + EVENING THURSDAY MORNING

Elizabeth

087-6729070

KILLALOE BALLINA PARISH HALL, BALLINA WEDNESDAY EVENINGS

ENNIS ST FLANNANS SCHOOL THURSDAY EVENINGS

Orla

085-8761334

087-4395322 SHANNON OAKWOOD HOTEL MONDAY EVENINGS

Ruth

CLARINBRIDGE BROTHERS OF CHARITY WEDNESDAY EVENINGS

Maura

087-2768935

087-4571411 We have virtual groups running throughout County Clare see

GORT GORT COMMUNITY CENTER THURSDAY MORNINGS + EVENINGS

Maura

087-2768935 for a group near you

28 days of meal plans and recipe ideas. They also have an offer launching on February 14th where every member who commits to a six-week countdown will receive one week’s membership free plus a copy of their latest recipe book, “Slimming World’s Passion for Pasta” completely free.

For more information on joining your local group visit www.slimmingworld.ie or contact your local consultant.

NEWS 11

THURSDAY, FEB 18 2021

Forde’s appointment as Shannon Group Chair is scrapped PÁRAIC MCMAHON

A

paraic@clareecho.ie

ARON Forde’s appointment as the new Chairman of Shannon Group has been scrapped.

Just over six hours after Minister for Transport, Eamon Ryan (GP) announced the ex CEO of Aurivo as Rose Hynes’ successor, he confirmed on Tuesday night that he was not proceeding with Forde’s appointment.

Numerous tweets from Forde’s Twitter account prompted the reversal. He has since deleted the account but tweets over recent years criticised the Traveller community, social welfare recipients and called the Tanáiste Leo Varadkar (FG) a leak.

In a statement on Tuesday night, a spokesperson for Minister Ryan confirmed the appointment was cancelled. “In a phone conversation this evening Mr Ryan indicated that Mr Forde’s use of social media was below the standard expected of the chair of a state board.

“This is an important time for Shannon Group which has to chart a way through the crisis caused by the pandemic and plan for recovery. The Department of Transport will work to appoint a chair as quickly as possible”.

Following a phone call between Minister Ryan and Mr Forde, the would-be Shannon Group Chair sent the Green Party leader a letter saying he had reflected on

his position and decided to withdraw his appointment. He wrote that he wished to apologise unreservedly for remarks he made on Twitter and in particular a post directed at the Traveller community. His correspondence also detailed the importance of balanced regional development.

“I wish everyone associated with Shannon Group plc every success. It is a crucial organisation with an important regional, national and international remit.

I will continue to be a strong supporter of the team’s efforts into the future.

“In conclusion, thank you for giving me the privilege of being selected to serve as a Chair of a State authority, I extend once more my regret and apologies,” the Cavan native stated.

For 16 years, Forde was Chief Executive of agri business, Aurivo which employed 650 people, holding the position up until December of 2019 when it recorded

lWITHDRAWN: Aaron Forde

turnover of €446m. He had been expected to formally take up the five-year appointment following an appearance before the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications Networks.

Minister Ryan had expressed his confidence that the chosen candidate “will bring the right mix of skills and drive to this new role”.

Forde had previously served as Chairman of Ornua from 2013 to 2019 while also working on the Sligo Economic Forum, IBEC, Mid-west radio and the external advisory Board of Institute of Technology, Sligo. He also is a Non Executive Director with a number of private companies and An Bord Iascaigh Mhara.

Clare TD, Cathal Crowe (FF) has deleted videos from his social media praising the appointment of Mr Forde in which he lauded the “impressive CV” of the former Chairman of Ornua which the Deputy noted was “bestknown for Kerrygold butter”.

CEO of Shannon Group, Mary Considine had previously outlined that Forde would be a strong asset to their team. “Mr. Forde, having led a Global company located in the West of Ireland, brings with him a wealth of experience that will be an asset to Shannon Group”.

Criticism of the appointment process which failed to screen tweets of a sensitive nature have been voiced by commentators.

A new chairperson will be appointed “as quickly as possible,” a Department spokesperson stated.

'Every effort' must be made to get Amazon facility over the line KEY leaders of Government must make "every effort" to get the potential of an Amazon distribution facility at Shannon Airport over the line, writes Páraic McMahon.

Earlier this month, it emerged that Shannon Group and Amazon were in ongoing talks on the possibility of setting up a significant distribution facility in Co Clare.

E-commerce giant, Amazon had record profits of $6.3 billion US dollars in the final quarter of last year.

Cllr John Crowe (FG) said it was "really encouraging" that Shannon Group and Amazon were in discussions. "If Shannon were to land a giant like Amazon it would give the entire Mid-West a huge boost in these difficult times".

He called on Clare County Council to write to the Taoiseach Micheál Martin (FF), Tánaiste Leo Varadkar

(FG) and Minister for Transport Eamon Ryan (GP) to seek that "every effort to assist Shannon Group secure this type of investment" be made.

On the possibility of Amazon establishing a base in the county, Cllr Johnny Flynn (FG) remarked, "I hope they look after their staff better than some distributor centres if they do come to Clare".

"If Amazon come to Shannon the potential for the Airport is enormous," Cllr Pat Daly (FF) believed.

lLUCRATIVE: Amazon

Potential for cargo hub 'needs to be exploited' POTENTIAL to develop a leading international cargo hub at Shannon Airport needs to be exploited, Clare councillors have declared, writes Páraic McMahon.

Consequences of Brexit were referenced by Cllr John Crowe (FG) in his bid for work to begin on developing "a leading European International cargo hub" at Shannon Airport. Numerous options have been "actively explored" by Shannon Group to attempt to increase the usage of the airport facilities," Director of Service Liam Conneally outlined. He said Clare County Council were supporting the initiatives.

CSO figures detailed that in the third quarter of 2020, Shannon Airport accounted for 11 percent of the country's freight traffic by air with Dublin Airport leading the way on 88

percent.

Ferry is transferring the "vast majority of products suitable for air cargo", Cllr Crowe stated. "We need to exploit the potential that Shannon has to offer to further develop air cargo in Shannon".

Brexit's consequences made Cllr Crowe's proposal very timely, Cllr Johnny Flynn (FG) maintained. He noted that Rosslare Point did "five times the amount of freight last month than it did in January 2020".

Not alone would such a move boost the region, it would also limit damage to the country's road network, Cllr Donna McGettigan (SF) believed. "Shannon Airport really needs something and this could be it.

A lot of the cargo comes in and it is then trucked out. It would save damage to the roads".

TAKE AWAY COCKTAILS

Each Cocktail Bottle Serves 4

12 FEATURES

THURSDAY, FEB 18 2021

GREEN CLARE

Reforesting our native woodland CIAN O’BROIN

N

cianobroin@clareecho.ie

ATIVE Woodland and forestry are under constant threat the world over. County Clare is no different, falling privy to the intrigues of industry, invasive species and a lack of incentive for landowners.

Environmental Scientist Ray O’ Foghlú believes that pockets of native woodland within West Clare are repositories of ecological riches but they face many salient threats.

“We are living in a severe climate and biodiversity crisis. Native woodland has a phenomenal role to play in that,” he states.

There are several threats to native woodlands, Ray outlines.

Firstly, deer are a massive threat due to overgrazing, halting the natural regeneration of the land.

Many foresters refrain from planting as deer have an immense appetite for native species. Invasive species such as rhododendron and cherry laurels also pose big problems, Ray states. Finally, farm policy fails to support the active reforestation of native woodlands.

“Despite pockets of emerging woodlands making a comeback, we are still losing out to grazing. Farmers are penalised for allowing scrub to emerge on their land. Scrub is the first stage of new woodland. By seeking out and clearing, they are removing the forests of the future,” he states.

Government grants to landowners fail to address the economic imbalance between planting native trees and planting spruce woodland.

Ray informs that native woodlands take between 80 to 100 years to mature, whereas spruce will take between 30 to 40 years.

“You get a return in your lifetime and you can get a pension with a spruce plantation.

With the native woodland, really you are planting it for the next generation. There are generous grants, but they are not enough. I think it needs to be looked at how can we adequately reward farmers for allowing native woodlands to grow.”

Ray alludes to hidden gems speckled about County Clare in the form of temperate rainforests. These are found in the nooks and crannies and steep hills of West Clare.

They are oak woodlands that are heavily influenced by high rainfall and moderate temperatures. They have heavy growths of mosses and ferns, he adds. Ray believes that the key is to incentivize landowners to allow these pockets to grow on their lands and connect them.

Reforestation has almost ground to a halt at the moment, due to blockages in licensing for both spruce and native woodlands.

Hometree are an organisation that assist individuals in planting on their land and even pay a small dividend for allowing them to do so.

“There are a lot of amazing individuals all over the county who are doing great work, but I think they need a lot more support from the government. One of the big problems is that it’s incredibly bureaucratic. If someone wants to plant a hectare of native woodland, they need to get a registered forester and go through a whole load of environmental certification. This is correct and proper, but it is a barrier for those who just want to get on with it.”

Huge opportunities are left untapped with regards to native woodlands, Ray states.

He points to water pollution in West Clare,

lRE-GREENING: Environmental Scientist Ray O’Foghlú would like to see a cohesive plan for native woodlands in West Clare

where trees along riverbanks can be a solution through the filtering and buffering of nutrients and bacteria, stopping them from getting into the water. Increasing biodiversity and protecting our coastal and river waters is the key here. “That’s a big area in my opinion. We need to be planting along the riparian or river zone.”

With regards to the future of native woodlands in Clare, Ray would love to see a plan that focuses on what we have already. This involves identifying forestry already there.

These are ecologically rich zones that would otherwise take 100 to 200 years to grow in a green field plantation.

Effective incentives to landowners are paramount and connection between these woodlands is essential. “They are much

more effective ecologically if they are connected, as opposed to dotted around once off,” he states. Red squirrels and pine martins are two mammals Ray has noticed that fall foul to this isolation.

Ray would like to see a cohesive plan for native woodlands in West Clare, touting them as a potentially huge tourist attraction.

“I am often the only person in these native woodlands when I am out exploring. People think they are just a load of scrub.

“There is one particular one between Lahinch and Rineen. It’s a beautiful, tall oak farm. If that were cleared in the morning nobody would notice.

“We need to connect with these places. If you don’t understand them, then how can you possibly protect them,” he concludes.

Arts & Entertainment 13

THURSDAY, FEB 18 2021

Louise O’Neill among those named for 15th Ennis Book Club Festival STUART HOLLY

T

editor@clareecho.ie

HE programme for the 15th Ennis Book Club Festival has been announced. This year’s festival will be an exciting hybrid of online events in March with live events taking place in April and September. As always Ennis Book Club Festival 2021 will offer opportunities to engage with your favourite authors and features an additional programme of events for younger readers.

On Friday 5th March, Ennis Book Club Festival kicks off with Naoise Dolan and Colm O’Regan.

Saturday 6th will see acclaimed Irish author Donal Ryan conduct an online meet and greet with book clubs. Kevin Barry, Laura Sheeran, Roddy Doyle and Patrick Freyne will also feature on Saturday.

At 7pm on Sunday, a collaboration of poets and visual artists join together to commemorate the Record Break Poetry Art Exposition'19. On 30th March, Festival Artistic Director, Dani Gill will be in conversation with Niall Williams in an event called Clare Reads, in association with Clare Library.

Ennis Book Club Festival, in association with Clare Library also features an extensive programme for younger readers, including the

chance to participate in Fighting Words, a creative writing workshop for Secondary Schools.

The Festival has teamed up with Music Generation Clare to present a Song & Music Production Workshop on Wednesday 3rd.

Acclaimed author Louise O’Neill will host A Secondary School Audience on Thursday 4th March where she will explore and discuss the themes in her novels for teenagers. In a special event for Transition Year students Louise O'Neill and Sarah Moore Fitzgerald will host a TY Book Clubs event on Friday 5th March On Saturday September 11th, Ennis Book Club Festival will present a series of live events.

Ennis Book Club Festival Ar-

tistic Director Dani Gill, says “We have had to re-imagine the festival several times this year with the changing circumstances, and while people are having to remain at home, we hope that at least, there have been some good books on the go, and that people will engage with our online offerings next month. A lot of work has gone into supporting writers and publishers in the past year, and we are keen to meet readers, and to give readers the space to link in with us again, even when things look a bit different.”

All events go live on www.ennisbookclubfestival.com from February 15th. See www.ennisbookclubfestival.com for full details on all events.

lBESTSELLER: Louise O’Neill

Fittest family ‘When dance was taken away, it was like I was there, but not fully living’ not to be for Kulczynskis CIAN O’BROIN

cianobroin@clareecho.ie

HOPES of Clare winners on Ireland's Fittest Family will have to wait another year, writes Páraic McMahon.

On Sunday, the Kulczynski family from Clarecastle exited the popular RTÉ show at the semi-final stage.

Mentored by Derval O'Rourke, the athletic clan found the going tough in the 100m trek through an energy-sapping bog.

This led to them ending up in the eliminator where the Mahoney family and Sixmilebridge's Davy Fitzgerald secured a better

time to send them out of the competition.

Although they admitted to being gutted, appearing on the eighth season of Ireland's Fittest Family was described as an amazing experience by the Kulczynskis.

Leroy, Nicola, Sabian and Luca left their mark on viewers throughout the series notching impressive times on various challenges while 15 year old Luca recorded the third best time for the hanging tough challenge in the show's history.

PROFESSIONAL Irish dancer Tess McGovern has created an artistic visual piece signifying a reconnection with her hometown of Doolin and her sense of place in the world.

Only by being surrounded by pure beauty throughout lockdown did Tess find the courage to lift herself out of a dark place, following the closure of her dance school of five years in 2020.

"I've only known from the age of about 15 onwards, that I'm a dancer and dance teacher. I was chasing this endless, unachievable goal, which is full of hard work and good things, but when it's gone, it's like it’s decimated. There was no word of it coming back.

Maybe if you worked in other creative outlets like fashion or writing, you could still do that.

When dance was taken away, it was like I was there, but not fully living," she stated.

Tess first began to dance at the age of three, where she attended the Michael Russell festival in 1995. She landed her first professional gig in 2014 and spent three months in Spain.

She then returned to UL to study Irish Music and Dance, making the vital connections that would lead to her teaching at Rising Stars Dance School, in Croagh school of music.

When the pandemic hit in March last year, Tess was in Milwaukee, in the United States. Returning home to a full lockdown, on March 19th, Tess decided to finish out the semester teaching classes over Zoom.

Then she decided to close the school permanently and moved back in with her parents in Doolin. What quickly ensued was a massive loss of identity. "I missed dance class-

es, teaching students and my friends," she stated.

Tess conceded that COVID reinfused a sense of community and tranquillity into the village of Doolin, having always felt that it was unsafe as a child due to the constant flux of tourism. "We all experienced the feeling of what can make Doolin really happy when it's not in the rat race."

After a six-month hiatus of finding-herself, she wanted to do something new, "I still loved to dance. Something had clicked in me in that I was con-

lPASSION: Tess McGovern

tent with who I am." This led to the creation of the video 'Immersed in Blue.' Tess wanted to show others the message that we can have everything and still be apart. "It's normal in 2020 to feel lost," she added. The video is directed and produced by Clem McInerny.

Tess stated that her career has taken a different spin and she hopes to promote a positive message of mental health going forward. She also hopes to recommence teaching, albeit with a more mature approach focused on the children and not just getting through the syllabus. She also empathises with other professional dancers, their voices lost beneath the waves of Covid-19.

"We all hear about the needs of musicians and singers during this time, but what about dancers? We all love to dance. I feel like there should be more financial support for dance schools," she stated.

14 COLUMNIST

THURSDAY, FEB 18 2021

Eoin Neylon

An inside look at Clare’s political spectrum With

With With

Farming columnist Joe Melody believes it is time to get reacquainted with the seasonality of food

T

HIS time of year with new births incessantly arriving on farms around the country whether it be lambs or calves, one would be forgiven for thinking that farmers turn nocturnal with all the night-time births and feeds for newborns.

However nocturnal would indicate they come alive and active at night but owing to the heavy spring workload the farmer often has to straddle both worlds, the world of night, a quiet dark world where most of the world is in a slumber and the world of day where the march onward of spring is evident through night ceding ground to day as with every passing day.

Farming beside one of Ireland’s busiest roads, it’s easy to see that trucks are one of the main users of the road. This got me to thinking recently during a late evening trip out to check some expectant cows what are we hauling? Where

from? Why? Some of this haulage is obviously non food related but a lot of it is foods that have been imported from foreign locations to satisfy our want for out of season fruit or vegetables. Do we need to look at our food miles and assess especially in this era of “sustainability” how historically abnormal transporting this fresh food produce thousands of miles is.

I submit that if it were not for cheap oil we would not or rather could not have this year round supply of produce. This kind of food system that is built on enormous food miles is not sustainable because it depends on cheap oil.

Transporting of beef, lamb or cheese is sustainable because these are nutrient dense foods with little water compared to blueberries, avocados and other fresh produce that are mostly made up of water. In the dairy industry most of our exports are in the form

FRESH: Strawberry season has been extended from a few weeks to nearly six months

of milk powders, cheeses and butters.

These are energy and nutrient dense hence leading to more efficient and sustainable distribution to foreign markets than fresh products like the avocado or blueberry.

How do we move from this reliance on cheap oil importing and moving all this fresh produce across continents and indeed between continents?

Well another S word that seems to have lost its place in our lexicon is seasonality. If we were to use some of that same cheap oil that is used to ferry this out of season produce around the world in a more creative way we could take back some more control.

For example, the Irish strawberry farmer in bygone times was dealing with a three week harvest in July to a harvest nowadays from May to October.

All this is thanks to season extending polytunnels which can be erected relatively cheaply and at least when their oil based coverings are put up they are used for years paying dividends for that oil that has been taken out of the ground.

Let’s create a comprehensive plan for extending our growing season of fresh produce and create jobs in rural Ireland along the way.

We as consumers need to get reacquainted with the seasonality of food and how to adapt to it in our kitchens and larders also.

We might have to preserve more of our fresh foods and look at cooking with the seasons. In years gone by graduates of a prominent Swiss Chef school would all have been taught how to cook eggs at different times of the year due to a change in the egg owing to the seasonality of a hen being outdoors.

This is all doable so let’s get seasonal.

An historic year for the political parties

L

AST week we examined the performance of Clare TD’s over the 12 months since the general election, but how have the political parties at large fared in the the 33rd Dáil?

An historic result saw FF pip SF to largest party in the Dáil while FG were lurking only a couple seats further back. In practical terms, the three parties were within a hair’s breadth when all was said and done.

Labour stagnated at 6 seats, which the Social Democrats also surged to, for their best result ever.

The king makers proved the Green Party, however, and their 12 seats. We all know what happened from there.

After the longest Government formation talks in the history of the state, we got a coalition with the most environmentally ambitious programme for Government Ireland has seen yet, alongside a commitment never to go down the route of austerity again, despite the economic impacts of Covid.

So far, this has been adhered to with Government borrowing at historic low interest rates to fund welfare and wage supports to the tune of over €1 billion a month.

On top of that, they are also investing in ambitious projects, including the largest social and affordable housing programme ever undertaken… Covid allowing! The Greens can also be happy with many concessions they have already seen enacted in the new administration; namely the ban on co-living, the ban on new oil and gas extraction licenses and a move to get budgets focus on quality of life measures, instead of the traditional macro-economic focus we have previously based the state’s finances on.

Nevertheless, FF and the Greens have struggled elsewhere on their return to power after almost a

decade in the wilderness.

FF members were the most numerous in opposing the deal, albeit still with almost 3 out of ever 4 votes cast in support. FF lost two Agriculture Ministers in breathtakingly quick succession, as well as suffering blow back from some serious gaffs from other FF ministers. Let’s not mention trampolines any time soon!

The Greens’ fracture was more pronounced.

Although fewer Green members opposed the coalition deal than in FF, those who did were of a far more militant nature to begin with. One suspects, the Green party was never a correct fit for them. Outside of wanting better environmental policies, there was little that bound those who have departed the Greens and their traditional middle-class base.

They represent a more eco-socialist outlook and one can see a few of these ending up joining forces with People Before Profit, who have been keen to flex their eco credentials over the past 18 months.

More will remain Independent and continue to work alongside Green members in the Just Transition Group. Government communications remain a massive bone of contention, as does their inaction to support several key industries to the correct levels as they teeter on the brink. For instance, Ireland remains one of the only European countries not to directly invest in the state airline during this crisis.

However, as an island nation, we are the most dependent on our air bridges and connectivity for our day-to-day economic needs.

This has been a key failure of Government over the past year, either side of coalition formation. They will live or die on vaccine roll out, despite the issues at EU level with this.

PBP have been the party that have remained the

least changed post the 2020 General Election. Their TD’s remain steadfastly Trotskyist and anti-capitalist at every turn, just as they promised to be.

They, and other hard left splinter groups, have objected to housing projects more than any other group in the state, seemingly arguing that the State should built 100% of all housing need and there is no need for private development.

Make of that what you will, but, as somone involved in the industry, I can safely say that there would be 0% chance of alleviating the housing crisis with such an absolutist approach.

Labour are beginning to find their voice once again. Emboldened with some fresh faces, particularly in the Senate, they are making ground in their messaging and finding an identity. Nevertheless, some of their more constructive policies are struggling for air in what has become a crowded centre left field in Ireland. Which brings us to the Social Democrats who, for me, have been the biggest disappointment since the election.

Not only did they run a mile from even entertaining Government formation, since then they have utterly failed to define themselves in Irish politics, save for their ongoing attempt to be the most “woke” party in the country.

Their policies seem to be what ever is trending on Twitter from day-to-day and remain committed to not selecting a leader, even after almost 6 years in existence.

If it were not for some excellent individual performances of their new TD’s, they would struggle.

Instead, they seem to have brought people to their individual causes. For their future, they need to get one of the new faces elected as a leader and set a defined policy position, otherwise they will waste some great potential.

COLUMNIST 15

THURSDAY, FEB 18 2021

THREE BEAN CHILLI CON KEARNEY Kearney Cooks

S

O I finished work last Thursday and decided to pop into the town centre in Shannon to pick up a few messages. To my surprise there was a lively little farmers market going on, with plenty of street food, crafts and fresh produce stalls.

The veg stall caught my eye though, lots of lovely colours on a bleak wintery day. I stocked up on squash, celery, carrots and more. With the day that was in it and the big bag of fresh veggies sitting beside me in my car, I decided there was only one thing for it, I was going to make my three bean, chilli con Kearney.

YOU WILL NEED: • 2 roughly chopped onions • 4 cloves of chopped garlic • 2 carrots • 2 bell peppers • 2 sticks of celery • 1 butternut squash • A good handful of mushrooms • 2 chilli peppers (add more if you’re a bit edgy) • 1 teaspoon of chilli, cinnamon, cumin, black pepper, paprika, smoked paprika • Three cans of beans (I used pinto, cannelini and kidney beans)

R

ebecca O’Neill

• • • •

2 little cartons of knorr veggie stock melts 2 cans of chopped tomatoes Few stalks of coriander Some parsley and yoghurt to garnish

Step 6 Serve over some rice and add a spoon of natural yoghurt on top (you can use a quark yoghurt if you want to keep it vegan). Sprinkle some parsley over the top and serve.

This is a highly flexible dish that goes well with rice, pasta, cous cous or even a baked potato. It is gluten free and vegan as well and is very healthy as it’s packed full of veggies and protein.

It freezes well too so you can make a big batch and reserve some for the following week. If you have any questions about this dish or others please feel free to message me on Instagram, just search KearneyCooks or stevekearney37.

Enjoy

Step 1 Roughly chop all of your ingredients.

Step 2 Over a medium to high heat, and add a little oil to fry your carrots, celery, onions, garlic, squash and spices until the veggies soften slightly.

Step 3 Bung in the rest of your veggies. That’s your chillies, bell peppers, the coriander and your mushrooms. Let them soften a little bit.

Steve K

Step 4 Wash your canned beans under a tap and horse them into the pot along with the two cans of tomato. You can add in your knorr veggie melts at this point too. Pour two cups of water in as well and give everything a good stir.

Step 5 Let this bubble away for a half hour on a low heat. The sauce should thicken nicely and leave you with a flavour packed pot of veggie goodness.

Creating healthy habits This week, Miss Clare Rebecca O’Neill explains how to develop healthy habits and the benefits they can bring

M

AKING healthy habits for yourself can be very challenging and difficult. Essentially making those changes in your life are always the hardest. Some people grasp change very well, others may find it hard to deal with.

My advice is always make these changes at your own pace. If you dive into making a few changes in your life all at once, it could potentially scare you off.

I realised I had to make changes when I started getting into a bit of a rut. Constantly tired and not up for doing anything. Thinking negatively and feeling very lazy. I slept in far too much which caused me to have very little energy throughout the day. I was starting to irritate myself knowing I needed to make changes to be happy and healthy. It all starts with my morning routine. I felt that how I start my day can really determine how I finish it.

STEP 1 First I started with what time I woke up.

I wanted to make a little goal for myself to wake up earlier than I usually would.

I started waking up at 8am. Being com-

pletely honest it was tough at the start but I got very used to it. I found myself going to bed earlier and waking up earlier really helped my routine. My energy levels increased and I felt very happy in myself once I began this change.

STEP 2 After my 40 minute read I make a cup of coffee and start to journal. Journaling really helps me offload everything onto a piece of paper with no judgment. I can’t stress enough how important it is to jour-

THE WRITE STUFF: Rebecca believes journaling is a powerful tool

nal. Even if you don’t love doing it. Writing down a few words every few days can really make a big impact. Writing down your everyday goals can make you even more determined to fulfil them.

STEP 3 Next I begin my 30-60 minute workout (depending on how I’m feeling). I always do @kikifit live workouts on Instagram. I find her so motivating and uplifting. These workouts are always different which I love. They range from full body, upper body, lower body and 20 minute HIIT workouts. There is so much variety so there really are no excuses. Always remember to take rest days. If you are only starting your fitness journey, working out three days a week is plenty. Don’t burn yourself out too quickly.

After my workout I have my breakfast and protein shake and I feel very energised and set for the day. I wanted to share my morning routine on this week’s column to give people motivation and ideas on how to make their days more positive and meaningful. This week’s motivational quote: “Wake up with determination, go to bed with satisfaction”.

16 COMMUNITY

THURSDAY, FEB 18 2021

Community

CONTACT

NEWSDESK 065 671 9021 news@clareecho.ie

lMINI: Shane and Ryan Justice from Shannon with lJUMP IN: 12 year old Michael Vaughan from Scariff takes a break from schoolwork

their snow baby

lBLACK AND WHITE: Sheppie the cat going for a stroll in the snow in Ennis

lTWINS: Seánie Hayes from Crusheen

lPURE JOY: The Cauley family from Ennis

l SNOW DAY: Pablo from Cathedral Court, Ennis

lPICNIC: Emilie enjoys the snow at Dromoland Castle

COMMUNITY 17

THURSDAY, FEB 18 2021

lSNOW STROLL: Peadar Óg McMahon Ballynacally

lGETTING STUCK IN: Ella Hayes from Crusheen

MID-WEST DORAS

THE migrant support and human rights organisation Doras are launching a new Community Sponsorship initiative in the Mid-West that will enable neighbours, friends or members of a local club or church community to come together to provide support for refugee families. Doras will begin engaging with communities in counties Tipperary, Limerick and Clare in the coming months, with the aim of organising and assisting groups to welcome and support refugee families, mainly from Syria. These families will be resettled from camps in countries such as Jordan and Lebanon as part of this exciting new venture.

“We are delighted to be a Regional Sup-

port Organisation (RSO) for new Community Sponsorship opportunities in Ireland’s Mid-West region, and can’t wait to engage with communities”, said John Lannon, Doras CEO. “Doras completed five years of successful refugee resettlement programmes at the end of 2019, and we are looking forward to applying that experience to Community Sponsorship, by engaging and supporting local groups to welcome new families to their communities.”

Doras are hosting an online event to launch the project at 6pm on 22nd February, where they will provide information for anyone who wants to learn more. Visit www.doras.org to register.

ENNIS FOOTPATH SAFETY

Increased gritting of footpaths within the environs of Ennis has been sought “to prevent future accidents” while elderly residents in the town have felt “trapped” on occasions when icy conditions deterred them from leaving their homes.

Citing the additional amount of persons out exercising in their own locality due to the Level 5 restrictions, Cllr Ann Norton (IND) appealed to the Ennis Municipal District “to make sure that footpaths are safe and maintained and with cold icy weather that footpaths are salted where possible to prevent accidents”.

“Finite resources” are available to the local authority, senior engineer Eamon O’Dea responded which make it “very difficult” to keep footpaths safe. He outlined that their larger gritting trucks are on “a strict rotation” for scheduled gritting under the Council’s winter maintenance programme.

“As cold spells in Ireland are normally of short duration it is difficult to structure a maintenance schedule for footpath salting or

gritting. Where cold weather conditions prevail the key access point within the town and steeper sloped footpaths around the town are salted or gritted.

Speaking at the February meeting of the Ennis MD, Cllr Norton commented that the possibility of cold weather and icy conditions in the county was “always there”.

She stated, “With so many people out walking, I was just wondering about the gritting of footpaths to prevent people having accidents.

“I understand where Eamon is coming from.

I would ask people out walking during icy weather to be cautious and conscious of the fact that some areas don’t get as much sunlight as other areas”.

Cllr Johnny Flynn (FG) described the matter as “a serious issue”.

He detailed, “I know of elderly residents in some of the older estates in town who are living alone and they felt very isolated and trapped in their houses because of the conditions. A day’s gritting can make a big difference”.

lALL SMILES: Ethan, Elliot and Grace Moloney from Scariff

lDOUBLE THE FUN: Twins Abbie and Toby Clancy in Lissycasey

WEST CLARE WATER DISRUPTION

Works on water network improvement is expected to cause disruption to supply in Miltown Malbay, Cooraclare, Creegh, Spanish Point and Mullagh next week, writes Páraic McMahon.

Installation of a 4.7km new water main to replace old mains that had been bursting frequently will be carried out by Irish Water in association with Clare County Council. A number of group water schemes will be supplied from the public mains.

Disruption to supply will be experienced next week as part of the works which began in October and are expected to be completed by the end of June.

From 9am to 6pm on Monday (February

22nd), water supply will be impacted on the entire Old Doolough Water Supply Zone, including Milltown Malbay, Mullagh, Corraclare, Creegh and all surrounding areas.

These works will also impact on all group schemes fed from the supply.

On Wednesday (February 24th) from 9am to 5pm works will impact water supply primarily to Mullagh village but will also impact on Milltown Malbay, Spanish Point and surrounding areas. These works will also impact on all group schemes fed from the supply.

“It may take two to three hours for normal water supply to return to all customers but it is important to continue to follow the HSE guidance on hand-washing,” a spokesperson for Irish Water explained.

18 FEATURES

Lent a hand

RONAN SCULLY

Thought for the week

L

ENT is upon us, a time of prayer, reflection, and unity with God. But sometimes we miss important aspects of this holy season while we are in the midst of it.

A Cross to carry

Each year the Lenten season offers us a moment in time to take the opportunity to consider the deeper meaning of life. We are all from time to time on our journey through life given a Cross to carry.

Many would say that this time of worry because of the Coronavirus where so many have lost their lives and so many are sick is a huge cross for us all and especially for people that have lost a loved one over the past year or at any time.

So let us during this Lenten season keep in our prayers all those who wake up this week who carry a heavy burden especially anyone affected by the Coronavirus.

Sometimes we can see clearly the Cross of sickness, bereavement, a broken relationship, other times some of us carry a hidden cross of pain, stress, loneliness, addiction, depression and if we look deeper into life we never really know what people are going through in silence. So let's make the rest of Lent be lending a hand, lifting a heavy load. Lent can be a smile on a cloudy day.

Lent can be a crust of bread to the poor, giving shelter from the storm. Lent can be a thought, a poem, a blessing, a prayer. Lent can be showing support, care and enthusiasm. Lent can be helping or caring our loved one who is affected by the coronavirus or by any illness at this time. Lent can be listening quietly while someone else has something important they’d like you to hear. Lent can be a friendly hug, a smile or a warm embrace. Lent can be offering your time. Lent can be sitting silently beside someone to watch the sun behind a silver sea. Lent can be wiping a tear. Lent can be chasing the moon at night. Lent can be a whisper, a word, a soft touch at the right moment. Lent can be a telephone call, text, email or a letter, closing the miles. Lent can be a kiss on a fevered brow. Lent can be the gift of a flower. Lent can be teaching with kindness and love.

Lent can be sharing the depth of a powerful silence. Lent can be wishing you were somewhere when you must be someplace else.

Lent can be a time of healing and a time of forgiving. Lent can be taking someone’s place when they must be somewhere else. Lent can

be walking, running or driving through the blazing brilliance of the seasons of nature.

A Fresh Look

Lent brings with it changes in weather, sending many of us outdoors hopefully all going well more regularly. We get to experience bright, sunny days that are often quickly followed by torrential rains and cooler temperatures and then sunshine a bit like four seasons in one day, a type of thing.

As we move to the interiors of homes and workplaces for refuge it’s also a good time to consider the interior of our hearts and minds.

God is present with us at all times, of course, but Lent invites a fresh look inside to see where God stirs.

As the leaves start to blossom on the trees, we are prompted to watch their slow ascent to the air, seeing how at times, a burst of strong wind can blow off half the leaves from a tree in an instant.

How well do we watch the movements of our spiritual lives and how often do we reflect on what the slow breezes or strong gusts of wind signal? Here is a beautiful humorous story that I found in my Nana Scully's prayer book called Repaint and Thin No More! "Paddy, the painter, often would thin his paint so it would go further.

So when the Church decided to do some deferred maintenance, Paddy was able to put in the low bid, and got the job. As always, he secretly thinned his paint way down with turpentine to save on costs and make more of a profit for himself. One day while he was up on the scaffolding -- the job almost finished -- he heard a horrendous clap of thunder, and the sky opened and its lashed rain.

The downpour washed the thinned paint off the church and knocked Paddy off his scaffold and onto the lawn among the gravestones and puddles of thinned and worthless paint. Paddy knew this was a warning from the Almighty, so he got on his knees and cried: “Oh, God! Forgive me!

I am sorry for thinning the paint.

What should I do?” And from the thunder, a mighty voice said out loud: “REPAINT! REPAINT! AND THIN NO MORE!”

Thought for the week

As your thought for the week, always remember that each one of us has a purpose and a place in the world. Each of us experiences pain, tiredness, loss, sadness, the effects of the Coronavirus, joyfulness, love, and hope and many other feelings and emotions associated

with our human conditions. If we look more intently this Lent at the people we encounter on a typical day, we will see who they truly are, persons loved by God and an opportunity for us to love God in them.

Regardless of appearance or situation, the woman, man, or child before you each of the days of our lives are brimming with holy possibility. Consider that you are gazing into the eyes of God and understand that Jesus comes to us in many faces and places and it's there we will find God in our lives.

Try doing something good to make things better for yourself and those in genuine need of love and care in our families, our communities and our world.

Therefore during Lent we should as the poet William Arthur Ward said, Fast from fear; Feast on Faith!

Fast from despair; Feed on hope!

Fast from depressing news; Feed on prayer! Fast from discontent; Feast on gratitude! Fast from anger and worry; Feed on patience! Fast from negative unkind thinking; Feast on kind and positive thinking! Fast from bitterness; Feed on love and forgiveness! Fast from words that wound; Feast on words that heal and give real Life! Fast from gravity; Feast on joy and humor! So this Lent in the face of so many wounds that hurt us and could harden our hearts, we are called to dive into the sea of prayer, which is the sea of God’s boundless love, to taste his tenderness. Here is a beautiful Prayer for Lenten Days I love to pray, "God of the seasons, there is a time for everything; there is a time for dying and a time for rising.

We need courage to enter into the transformation process. God of Lent and Easter, the trees are saying hello to their green, letting go of what has been. We, too, have our moments of surrender, with all their insecurity and risk. Help us to let go when we need to do so.

As we see the patterns of our own growth, may we learn from them.

God of misty days and harvest moon nights, there is always the dimension of mystery and wonder in our lives. We always need to recognize your power-filled presence.

May we gain strength from this.

God of Spring seeds wagons and fields of new sown grain, many gifts of growth lie within the season of our surrender. We must wait sow the seeds and then pray for a harvest in faith and hope. Grant us patience when we do not see the blessings. We yearn for insight and vision. God of flowers touched with spring frost and windows wearing white designs, may your love keep our hearts from growing cold in the various seasons of Life.

God of life, you believe in us, you enrich us, you entrust us with the freedom to choose life. For all this, we are grateful. Amen". Happy Lent everyone.

THURSDAY, FEB 18 2021

Clare students help to organise COVID conference PÁRAIC MCMAHON

T

paraic@clareecho.ie

WO Clare students are among the individuals organising a week-long conference which will hear from some of the key decision-makers involved in the country's response to COVID-19.

Clarecastle's Róisín Spriggs and Pádraig McKeown of Killimer are members of the Biomedical Science Society based in University College Cork, it is one of five societies that will be hosting the COVID conference. Both Pádraig and Róisín Spriggs study Biomedical Science in UCC and Munster Technological University and are in their fourth and third years respectively.

Speakers include HSE Chief Executive Paul Reid, Director of the National Virus Reference Laboratory Dr Cillian De Gascun and Dr Christina Dold, a Senior Postdoctoral Research Scientist at the Oxford Vaccine Group.

Róisín outlined that the conference's primary aim is to allow the speakers "share with

us what it was like to be at the centre of an extraordinary situation". It is the second COVID conference organised by the societies, the first was held in October.

She explained, "This conference was inspired by the fact that in a time of great uncertainty, while there were many incredible scientific and medical developments occurring each day, the narrative was often focused on the negative stories. Our frontline workers and scientists have been working tirelessly from the beginning of the pandemic and we wanted to provide a platform for them to share their experiences".

"Due to the pandemic, the conference is being held online, which gives us the opportunity to have people from all over the country and all over the world attend, to showcase the incredible talent and work being carried out by these individuals," she stated. Running from February 22nd to 26th, the event will take place via Zoom every evening from 6pm. The talks are free to attend but registration is essential, to register, contact Katie O'Brien (biomed@uccsocieties.ie).

lINNOVATION: UCC Biomedical Science students Róisín Spriggs and Pádraig McKeown

Adviser denies actions were 'Trump-like' AN EAST Clare man working as a special adviser for the Minister for Health has come under fire for trying to limit the amount of media personnel attend a press briefing this week, writes Páraic McMahon.

Kilkishen native Páraic Gallagher who was named News Broadcaster of the Year in 2006 recently succeeded Mullagh woman Colette Sexton as a special adviser to Minister for Health, Stephen Donnelly (FF).

A number of hand-picked journalists were selected to attend a briefing discussing the vaccine roll-out on Monday evening. When Gallagher attempted to stop non-invited

media organisations from attending the briefing, a stand-off ensued in the lobby of the Department of Health.

He denied comments from reporters that it was 'completely bureaucratic and nonsensical' to hand-pick who attended.

When it was put to him that it smacked of Donald Trumplike behaviour, he replied: 'The minister is having a briefing with invited journalists... that's not Trumpian at all."

Entry was only permitted to the entire press pack when RTÉ's health correspondent Fergal Bowers stated that RTÉ would not attend unless all journalists were granted entry.

RECRUITMENT 19

THURSDAY, FEB 18 2021

Recruitment

Sponsored by

Finding you the right candidate, Hassle Free

065 68 28100 info@key2recruitment.ie

Jobs in Clare

WowWee.ie take home LEO award CIAN O’BROIN

C

cianobroin@clareecho.ie

l GIFTS GALORE: WowWee.ie creator Aine Gleeson

LARE business WowWee.ie took home the Pivot Award at the annual National Enterprise Awards 2021 tonight.

Hosted by the national Local Enterprise Office, 30 finalists comprising of business owners representing each LEO within their county competed for eight regional and seven individual awards.

The new Pivot Award recognises businesses that have taken action to respond to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and to improve, sustain and grow their business during 2020.

Minister for Employment Affairs

and Retail Businesses Damien English TD (FG) announced WowWee.ie as the overall winner of the category.

The judges stated: "WowWee. ie demonstrated impressive implementation of LEAN and other programmes which resulted in an agile response to global business challenges. A robust business performance in a highly competitive market."

In 2004, Aine Gleeson launched the business and e-commerce website in Ennis, Co. Clare and introduced her personalised Christmas Stockings to the world.

Now an experienced entrepreneur, employing eight others, WowWee.ie source beautiful luxury personalised gifts and have them shipped locally or anywhere in the world. WowWee.ie is located on the Kilrush Road.

"All of our occasions were cancelled back in March, however we quickly realised that we had a pandemic resistant business.

"We could deliver joy and happiness anywhere in the world. So, our business scaled up during the pandemic.

"It was a gift to our gift business," WowWee.ie owner Aine Gleeson told the webinar.

When asked if the award is a silver lining, she replied: "It is. We had to look at our stock and see how we can use it differently.

"How we could tweak our marketing strategy and campaigns to reach new markets and really tap into the changes and the world we were all suddenly living in. 2020 was a great year for WowWee.ie."

The work of the Local Enterprise Office in Clare and Clare County Council was also commended.

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

Application forms and further particulars may be obtained by requesting same from the Human Resources Department, Clare County Council at 065-6846251, via e-mail: recruitment@clarecoco.ie or can be downloaded from the following website: www.clarecoco.ie Completed applications must be emailed to: recruitment@clarecoco.ie not later than 4.00 p.m. on Friday 26th Feburary, 2021.

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

Garda vetting may apply prior to any appointment(s) that are made.

Scriobh chugainn as gaeilge más fearr leat.

Location: Ennis, County Clare For further details and Application Form please e-mail info@bannerhousing.ie Banner Housing Association was established in 2002 as an approved housing body to provide housing primarily for people with an Intellectual Disability. The Association operates in the Clare region and currently has a stock of approximately 90 units.

The Association is recruiting a Housing Officer on a permanent full-time basis.

Closing date for receipt of Completed Applications is 5pm on Friday 26th February 2021.

Shortlisting may apply * A Panel may be formed from this recruitment drive * Canvassing will disqualify * Equal opportunities employer.

20 NEWS

THURSDAY, FEB 18 2021

THURSDAY, FEB 18 2021

NEWS 21

22 BUSINESS

BUSINESS

THURSDAY, FEB 18 2021

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

Advertising with The Clare Echo ‘reflects favourably’ on local businesses ELAINE TUBRIDY

A

elaine.tubridy@clareecho.ie

NEW survey has revealed that Clare Echo readers believe advertising with a local publication increases the profile of a business.

An online survey conducted by The Clare Echo which received 485 responses, found that some 95 per cent of readers perceive businesses to have an increased profile when they advertise with a local publication.

A further 93 per cent believe it reflects favourably on a business when seen advertising with local media. Some 80 per cent of respondents have shopped with a business they are aware advertises with The Clare Echo while two out of three say that an advert or editorial has encouraged them to shop with a local business.

It comes as The Clare Echo prepares to announce its position as officially the most read newspaper outlet in Clare. The re-

sults of our 2020 ABC readership audit will be announced in the coming weeks, which will reveal that The Clare Echo has a confirmed circulation in the region of 15,000 which is unrivalled in the county.

The Clare Champion stopped partaking in the ABC auditing process 10 years ago so no verified figures are available for the publication, however industry sources suggest it currently has a circulation in the region of 6,000 to 8,000 weekly sales.

The Clare Echo is funded almost entirely by advertising revenue from the business community in County Clare and with this in mind, the reader survey was conducted to better understand what the public is reacting to, in order to help businesses make decisions on their advertising campaigns.

The survey found that readers reacted most favourably to businesses which conduct mixed media advertising campaigns in The Clare Echo’s print and online products.

Of those questioned, some 48 per cent described themselves as consumers of The Clare Echo in both print and online.

A further 26 per cent were print-only

readers with the remaining 26 per cent online-only users.

Stuart Holly, Editor, said, “The most obvious finding from our survey is that the public cares about the welfare of local businesses. The response to the survey was overwhelming and notably, some 99 per cent of respondents said it was important to shop locally.

"While 87 per cent of these admitted to shopping online during the last 12 months, almost seven out of 10 have conducted online business with local companies.

Therefore, despite the current economic conditions it’s clear that it remains vitally important to promote your business at this time.”

For more information on the survey or to contact The Clare Echo about an advertising query, call 065 671 9021 or email sales@clareecho.ie.

l SUPPORT LOCAL: (right)Clare Echo Sales Director Ger Naughton and Sales Executive Niall O'Connor

Photo by John Mangan

Brexit is here and it will affect small businesses in Clare. If the UK is part of your supply chain, you need to prepare.

Local Enterprise Office Clare provides dedicated advice and range of supports to help you manage your Brexit response

Checkers and Checklists Use the checklists & think about how your business may be impacted.

Customs & Lean Training Prepare your Business for Customs, learn practical skills from expert consultants at various interactive workshops or participate in a LEAN Programme to deliver efficiencies in your business.

FREE Brexit Mentoring Clients work with an experienced mentor on a one-to-one basis to identify key areas of business exposure and devleop strategies around Brexit.

Financial Assistance Businesses can avail of a range of grants including:  LEO Financial Grants  TAME Grant  Website Grant

Local Enterprise Clare can help you manage your Brexit response today!

Visit www.localenterprise.ie/brexit or email localenterprise@leo.clarecoco.ie

Sport Clare Echo THE

GAA sub-committees take shape FOUR new sub-committees are to be established

by Clare GAA focused on Caherlohan, Finance, with an Underage Development group for both hurling and gaelic football.

Ex Munster GAA CEO, Inagh’s Simon Moroney is to head up the committee on Caherlohan. Lissycasey’s Ann Hayes will be secretary of the committee with Munster Council delegate John Fawl (Ennistymon), Gerry Lynch (Tulla) and engineer John Jones (Scariff) completing the group.

Clonlara’s Chris Ryan, a Director with Analog Devices will chair the finance committee. Sitting treasurer Michael Gallagher (Doonbeg), San Francisco based owner of Transat-

lantic Construction Leo Cassidy who is from North Clare, businessman Denis Cullinan (Ennistymon) and current Vice Chairman of Clare GAA Kieran Keating (Naomh Eoin) are to be appointed to this committee.

Managing Director of Trump International Golf Links and Hotel Doonbeg, Joe Russell has been approached to lead the football sub-committee that will deal primarily with underage development. The remaining membership of this group is to be finalised but current senior manager, Colm Collins (Cratloe), former captain Gary Brennan (Clondegad), senior footballer David Tubridy (Doonbeg), U20 boss Michael Neylon (St Josephs

Miltown), former senior selector David O’Brien (St Josephs Miltown) and ex minor boss Michael Considine (Kilmurry Ibrickane) are among the names touted to fill the working group.

For the hurling equivalent, retired Chief Superintendent of the Clare Garda Division, John Kerin will hold the role of Chairperson. Ex county managers Anthony Daly (Clarecastle), Davy Fitzgerald (Sixmilebridge), Ger O’Loughlin (Clarecastle) and Donal Moloney (Scariff) are said to have been contacted to join the grouping along with Brian Lohan, Brendan Bugler (Whitegate), Fergal Hegarty (Inagh/Kilnamona) and Fergal Lynch (Clooney/Quin).

18-02-21

pg 23

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

Seven new additions to Clare camogie panel as Hehir named captain PÁRAIC MCMAHON paraic@clareecho.ie

G

ER O’Connell has made seven additions to the Clare senior camogie panel for 2021 while Clare Hehir has been named captain.

GAA inter-county teams will not be permitted to return to collective training until April under current restrictions. Individual training programmes are being followed by members of O’Connell’s senior panel.

Last year they reached the All-Ireland quarter-finals for the first time since 2014 before suffering a 3-15 0-08 defeat at the hands of Cork.

Three members of last year’s Junior panel, Caoimhe Carmody (Kilmaley), Caoimhe Kelly (Kilkshen/ Bodyke) and Sarah Ní Cheallaigh (Kilmaley) have been called up to the senior squad by O’Connell. All-Ireland handball champion Doireann Murphy (Clarecastle) has returned to the panel.

Ex Clare minor Ziyan Spillane (Feakle/Killanena) will be hoping to make the step-up

Clare’s Clare Hehir and Linda Collins of Cork. Credit ©INPHO/Bryan Keane

to senior, she lined out at midfield for her club as they claimed intermediate honours at the expense of Clooney/Quin and progressed to the senior ranks for the first time.

Amy Russell (Éire Óg) who has been one of the top performers for her club in the intermediate ranks is also rewarded along with Clodagh O’Halloran (Newmarket-on-Fergus) who lined out in attack for the Blues as they fell short to Inagh/Kilnamona in last year’s county final.

County champions, Inagh/Kilnamona have not seen their presence on the panel expand despite their dominance within the Clare senior championship.

O’Connell will be without two regular member of his side last year for the upcoming season. Mairead Scanlan (Scariff/Ogonnelloe) who led her club to county and provincial glory in 2019 informed management of her decision to depart the squad prior to Christmas. Last year’s goalkeeper Aisling Corbett (Scariff/Ogonnelloe) has also departed the panel as has Sarah Loughnane (Sixmilebridge).

Meanwhile, Clare Hehir has been named as the new captain of the

Clare senior camogie team.

A four-time senior championship winner with Inagh/ Kilnamona, Hehir captained her club to glory in the 2020 decider when they accounted for Newmarket-on-Fergus 2-17 to 1-07 in the decider.

Hehir who turns 23 this year has been a part of the county senior panel since 2015 when then manager Patricia O’Grady called the defender onto the squad.

She succeeds fellow Ashbourne Cup winning captain Laura McMahon in the role of captaincy, the Newmarket-on-Fergus defender had been skipper for the past two seasons.

To follow up the Banner reaching their first All-Ireland quarter-final at senior level in six years last season, Hehir is adamant the panel will need to back themselves if they are to have any intentions of progressing further.

“I believe we have the hurling and the skills, it is probably the confidence to back ourselves and that starts from the county, it is good to see the support behind the county getting better but it can always get better, we hope to see that in this year coming and in years to come,” she outlined.

18-02-21

Clare Echo THE

pg 24

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

THE CUTTING EDGE

WITH MARK O’DONNELL

‘Children must associate fun with an activity in order to participate’

T

his week, Mark O’Donnell advises coaches how to tailor feedback and in turn maximise the retention of young sportspeople.

For many of us, our childhood revolved around sport. Mine was no different. I’ll never forget buying my first pair of football boots in T. O’Donnell’s (no relation), and being so excited to get home to play my “All Ireland” in the front lawn with my new boots. The care and warmth expressed by Tommy was everlasting, resulting in regular visits over the years. To this day he’s a total gentleman who has perfected his trade, exuding a grá for helping people.

Can we become exemplary like TO’D, and develop our coaching craft to facilitate lifetime participa-

tion in sport?

Children must associate FUN with an activity in order to participate. Something about the game must lure them in, if they are to become hooked for life. As adults we’re responsible to provide opportunities for our youth to experience joy when playing sport. I recommend including playground games to help players draw parallels from other fun environments e.g. schoolyard; back garden. It also helps to settle nerves when newcomers join our club. If sessions are fun, players will return.

Young players must be given the chance to explore and discover. This form of self-directed learning should be central to youth athlete

development, leading to skill proficiency and eventual mastery. Children are unleashed to emulate their heroes – Jamie Malone in full flight, or Tony Kelly’s hurling wizardry. Coaches are advised to encourage players to express themselves, and embrace the mistakes needed to improve. This will aid intrinsic motivation (player), thus furthering the rewards of participation.

Everybody can relate to the impact of isolation in the current climate, as it contradicts human nature NOT to interact with each-other. The sense of belonging in team sport is now more important than ever. Coaches have a huge responsibility to impart social

skills within their group e.g. accountability, empathy, resilience.

Albeit learned through sport, these skills aren’t limited to the field of play. When young people are exposed to social and team skill development they’ll not only become better athletes, but grow into better people, and thrive in sport for life.

If we wish to foster sports participation among youths, our feedback should be threefold – accurate, constructive and relevant (ACR). It’s advisable to generate coaching cues that are accurate to a particular body part, or movement/skill segment.

Aim to present the information in a manner that players will perceive constructive. Lastly, is it relevant to their development/ performance? If the answer is no – park that feedback! Players flourish when supported with ACR language.

Clare GAA Games Manager, Mícheál Duffy, often utilises this acronym – KPI (Keep Players Involved). Providing a meaningful games programme is a cert to keep players coming through our club gates. Games as opposed to drills, enable greater opportunities to play, move, score, fail and learn. The real excitement of competition for a young athlete is playing at an age and standard appropriate level. Less focus on beating our neighbours, or going undefeated at a GoGames blitz.

Children are not mini-adults and don’t need a scoreboard, in order to reach their true potential.

Why did I start playing GAA nearly 20 years ago? I wanted to play games I would grow to love, and connect as a team with my closest friends. Mol an óige agus tiocfaidh sí.

Angel delight in Galway

YOUR NEW

Best Friend

Contact the Irish Retired Greyhound Trust to welcome a former racing greyhound into your family Find us on Facebook

facebook.com/greyhoundsaspets.rgt.IRL

GORT owned syndicate, Kiss An Angel claimed the €1100 Paul McKenna Memorial A5 575 Stake on Saturday night in Galway.

Owned by the Mullins-Curtin syndicate, the daughter of Sparta Maestro and Blundell Spark was smartly away from her trap three berth as Flyers Job out wide also broke smartly but on the long trek to the opening bend Kiss An Angel led by over a length to Flyers Job as Port West Salmon joined the pursuit of the leader approaching the turn. Turning down the back though Kiss An Angel lived up to her name as she kissed her rivals goodbye as she set sail for home.

In race three, the John Collins and John Browne of Ballyea owned Brickhill Paulio never saw another rival in this S6 graded contest as he made all the running to defeat Both Barrels by two and a half lengths in 19.56.

The son of Laughill Blake and Rathmeehan Holly broke smartly to lead from Caislean Blitz and Aulton Zero racing towards the opening bend.

Rounding the bend the was bunching behind as Both Barrels closed on the leader. Despite running wide round the home bend though Brockhill Paulio asserted in the straight to win.

As the traps rose for the

S5 graded contest on Friday night card, the Brendan Browne of Kilkee owned Glasheen Covid was very smartly into his stride and showing plenty of pace led Gunner Leno by two lengths approaching the opening bend with Bucks Squeak four lengths further adrift of the leading pair on the wide outside. Between the two bends Glasheen Covid maintained middle berth as the daughter of Laughill Blake and Rathemeehan Holly had a length and a half to spare over Gunner Leno at the line in 19.29.

There was a thrilling finale to the A5 graded contest as the Scattery Syndicate of Kilrush owned Scattery Brae got back up close home to gain neck success over Some Cut Two with Misun-

derstood a head away in third place in 30.23. Rounding the opening bend, Scattery Brae just headed Missunderstood at the turn as Some Cut Two saved ground along the fence. Racing down the back the lead was two lengths until Some Cut Two and Misunderstood both took a turn in front between the final two bends before Scattery Brae rallied in the dying strides to claim the prize The Buttsys-Buckos-Syndicate of Shannon made the long trip to Curraheen, Cork on Saturday worthwhile as Buttsys Bengal put his early pace to good use with one of his typical front running displays in the third, an A0 event. The time, a quick 28.76 winning run, the quickest of the session.

pg 25

18-02-21

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

Clare Echo THE

50th Anniversary St Breckans GAA

A special year for St Breckans SEAMUS HAYES

T

HIS Friday, February 19, is a very special day in the life of St Breckans GAA club.

Fifty years ago on this date the club which caters for the Lisdoonvarna and Doolin areas was founded and there are many plans to celebrate this special year.

COVID-19 restrictions will be adhered to and, already, some of the planned celebrations have had to be altered.

Paul O’Loughlin, who is in his second year as club chairman, is confident, that the members will mark this very special year in the club’s history. One of five brothers who, in his own words, are all “football mad”, the chairman now sees his own children playing at underage level for the club.

Paul played at all levels for the club and was a member of the team which contested the 1996 Clare senior final when they lost out to Doonbeg. “That was in the year of our 25th anniversary. I went to the U.S. in 1997 before returning home after ten years and I immediately got involved again. After being a member of the executive in recent years, I was elected chairman last year and fill this position again this year. One never forgets their home club and when one emigrates you see both sides”, the chairman told the Clare Echo this week.

“Our original celebration plans included a dinner dance for this Friday night but that had to be cancelled due to Covid.

We hope to re-organise the event towards the end of the year. On this Friday we will be doing a lot of stuff on social media. Former players will be recalling high

points and this should prove interesting for all our members and followers”, explained Paul.

“The GAA club is such a huge part of parish life. We have a great underage structure in place, we have good numbers and there is a huge amount of work being done. We also have great structures in place at adult level”, according to the chairman.

Amongst those who are providing great assistance in the developing of these structures are senior panellists Mark O’Donnell and Conor Shannon. “Mark is the games development officer in Limerick I.T. while Conor is the games development officer with Laois GAA. We are getting the best out of these lads”.

It is hoped to produce a club history at the end of the year. “Kenneth Flanagan is currently working on this and he is also working on the compilation of a story board”. It is also planned to dedicate the stand at the club grounds to the late Frank Sheedy who gave many years of commitment to the club in a variety of positions. A memorial underage tournament is also planned in Frank’s memory.

“We also hope to re-open the sports complex which has been upgraded with the addition of new dressing rooms. A new gym has also been put in place. The complex was built in 1974 under the direction of our first chairman, Tom Tarpey.

A number of high profile challenge games are also planned”.

The chairman agrees that “A great way to mark this 50th anniversary occasion would be to win a major Clare championship. Our senior team, which came very close to winning last year, has a great age

profile and we have good management.

We have lots of players on the county senior and under 20 panels. It’s great for the young lads in the club to see so many of the older players on county panels”.

These may well be quiet times in the world of gaelic games and while it is unclear as to when action on the playing fields will return, the members and followers of St. Breckans will have plenty to discuss in what is a very special year for the North Clare club.

For the record first chairman Tom Tarpey was joined on the executive by the late Paddy Garrihy(secretary) and the late Jim Hillery (treasurer).

St Breckans Club President, Christy Hogan.

Photograph: Burren Eye Photography

INFO@DOOLIN2ARANFERRIES.COM +353 87 2453239 +353 65 7075949

www.doolin2aranferries.com

Congrats to St Breckans Gaa on your 50th anniversary

Congrats to St Breckans Gaa on your 50th anniversary www.russellsdoolin.ie 083 087 5511

Fiddle + Bow Hotel, Doolin, Co.Clare

18-02-21

Clare Echo THE

50th Anniversary St Breckans GAA

Air of excitement & enthusiasm still surrounds St Breckans PÁRAIC MCMAHON paraic@clareecho.ie

A

N air of excitement greeted the beginning of the St Breckans in February 1971, fifty years on enthusiasm still surrounds the club but intertwined with a hope that bigger days are on the horizon.

Lisdoonvarna and Doolin competed on their own until the formation of St Breckans on February 19th when both forces pooled resources to create the club that would cover both areas along with Kilshanny and Toovahera.

Kincora Hotel hosted the inaugural meeting of the club on this date when a huge air of excitement resulted in a packed venue.

The first hurdle would be the naming of the new organisation with St Endas, St Brendans and St Breckans among the names suggested from the floor. After a vote, St. Breckans was chosen through its connection to a ‘Well’ located between both areas as the fairest compromise.

Tom Tarpey, the club’s first chairman who was a chaplain at the Stella Maris Nursing Home and teacher at the Mary Immaculate Secondary School in Lisdoonvarna decided than maroon and white would be the club colours, following the example of his native Galway.

Tarpey is recalled by Eugene Garrihy as “a highly motivated and inspirational man, with foresight and energy in spades, which he drew on tirelessly for the benefit of the parishes of Lisdoonvarna . He was a coach, a mentor, and a leader. He was kind, decent and extremely generous with his time and expertise. His legacy to the parish of Lisdoonvarna and its people is immeasurable and still evident in so many ways”.

His legacy includes setting up the first Youth Club in the locality and also overseeing the building of the Community Sports Complex for Handball, Badminton and many other sports.

Doolin NS principal Paddy Garrihy and Jim Hillery joined Tarpey on the first Exec-

utive as the first secretary and treasurer of the club.

Individuals such as former long-serving secretary John O’Flaherty, ex Club President Frank Sheedy, former player and manager Francie Hawes, school coach Pat Harrington are also held in high regard by club members when reflecting on its history. The publication of a club history which is due to be released later this year will remember the many great contributors to St Breckans.

County titles have been secured at U18A, U21A, Intermediate, and Junior along with success in the Cusack Cup, Geraldine League and Kenny Cup. The club has reached two senior championship finals when managed by Pat Harrington (1985) and Tommy Curtin (1996) but has yet to get its hands on the Jack Daly.

Positive changes have been witnessed in the club with five representatives now on the Clare senior football panel. Johnny Mooney represented the club on the Clare panel which claimed Munster glory in 1992.

Off-field development is visible in the form of a clubhouse with new changing rooms and a gym, the main field has also been upgraded in recent years.

Former chairman Kenneth Flanagan is of the view that the levels of “semi-professionalism” brought in by current senior manager Donie Garrihy and his management have the current crop in a healthy position. “Players, mentors, executive and club members have all bought into the increased demands of competing at the highest level in the modern game. Breckans want success and now more than ever, they know they have a shot at winning numerous titles at all levels”.

Fifty year anniversary celebrations kick off on Friday with St Breckans set to mark the milestone on social media. Videos containing best wishes will be uploaded on Friday and throughout the month. A message from club president Christy Hogan will also go online with a special underage video collage.

Publication of a club history, a time capsule, live monthly podcast, storyboards unveiling, re-opening of the sports complex and a dinner dance are some of the events planned to mark the 50 years of the club.

Planning, Building or Buying your new home? … Talk to us!

Providing clients with a single point of contact for all engineering consulting services relating to planning, building or buying a new home or property.

Congratulations to St Breckans Gaa on your 50th anniversary post tel e-mail

Doolin, Co. Clare 087 9955689 aiden@afengineering.ie

pg 26

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

Francie Hawes a star player & mentor with St Breckans St Breckans jerseys.

Photograph : Burren Eye Photography

SEAMUS HAYES

T

HE Hawes name is synonymous with St. Breckans GAA club as Francie and his sons Neil and Mark helped steer the club to many successes both as players and managers.

Francie was a playing member of the club’s junior team from its formation in 1971. “We had some great teams throughout the seventies and, indeed, before St. Breckans was formed when the club name was Lisdoonvarna. We had great games in the ‘70’s in the junior league, the Kenny cup and the Geraldine league”, explained Francie who captained the club to the Geraldine league title in 1977.

Winning the 1979 junior championship was described as “a huge breakthrough for the club”. They defeated Clarecastle after a replay in Lahinch with Frank Sheedy, Jim Hillery and Peter Griffin among the selectors. “We were delighted for the selectors and particularly for Frank Sheedy who gave so much time to the promotion of football in the club. He gave a great speech at half time in that replayed final at Lahinch”, recalled Francie.

Three years on, St Breckans claimed the intermediate title beating Lissycasey in the final in Cusack Park and also claimed U21B honours that year overcoming Kilfenora.

When his playing days ended Francie turned his attention to training and managing teams. He was manager when St. Breckans won the intermediate title again in 1989, beating Ennistymon in the final. A year later after their return to senior ranks they met Doonbeg in the opening round of the senior championship and they emerged victorious. Six days later they lost narrowly to Kilkee in Cooraclare. St. Breckans qualified for the Cusack Cup final that year (1990) where they lost to Kilkee also.

St. Breckans also contested the Cusack

cup final in 1993 but defeat was their lot, going down to Kilmihil in a replay.

“Club teams were involved in a lot of very exciting and close games but getting over the line and winning the senior championship hasn’t materialised yet. Tommy Curtin managed and trained the team which got to the final in1996 where Doonbeg came out on top. Tommy led the club to under 16 A league and championship honours,” Hawes noted.

Francie was a member of the management team when the club won the minor A title in 2000. He was part of the club’s senior management team in 2002 along with Pat Vaughan and the late Patrick O’Leary when they lost out at semi-final stage to Liscannor.

Another highlight for Francie came in 2010 when St. Breckans were again crowned Clare intermediate champions, beating Clondegad in the county final. “We competed in the Munster championship that year when we hosted our first Munster championship game in Lisdoonvarna when we beat the Tipperary winners. After beating Waterford in the semi-final we lost out to Gneeveguilla from Kerry in the Munster final. The loss of Raphael Considine to injury and Mark Hawes who emigrated to Australia proved big blows to the team”.

Francie’s son Neil, a key player for club and county for many years, trained many club sides when his playing days ended. Teams trained by Neil lost narrowly to Kilmurry Ibrickane in the under 21 A final and to the Kilmihil/Shannon Gaels amalgamation in the semi-final in the same grade while they lost the minor B final in 2019 by a point.

“The GAA club is a huge part of life in every parish and its no different here. We have had some great teams over the years and we have suffered some heartbreaking defeats. We have some great teams at the moment”, concluded Francie who has given years of service as player and mentor to the club.

pg 27

18-12-21

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

Clare Echo THE

50th Anniversary St Breckans GAA

Showing of second level school has ‘You will always be able to strengthened St Breckans come home to your club’ SEAMUS HAYES

P

AT HARRINGTON came to Lisdoonvarna in 1969 when he took up his first teaching appointment at Mary Immaculate secondary school.

A native of Bandon in Cork, he transferred to St Breckans in 1972 and over the past fifty years he has played a huge part in the development of the North Clare club.

A dual player with Bandon and the divisional side, Carbery, Pat initially thought that he would be able to continue hurling in Cork while playing football with the North Clare club but he was informed that such a scenario would not be possible.

His transfer to St Breckans was seen as a major coup for the Lisdoonvarna club as he was a prominent senior club player in Cork at the time.

His services have proved to be invaluable to the Clare club, both as a player and mentor.

While the Cork native and Tom Tarpey did invaluable work for St Breckans, their work in promoting football in the school proved particularly important, not just to St Breckans but to the clubs in North Clare.

Having helped the club to a number of successes at junior level in the seventies, Pat stepped back from playing in the early eighties. However he was persuaded to return to the playing fields and in 1985 he played in and managed the club side that reached the Clare senior final where they lost to St Josephs Miltown.

He coached club teams to success at under 14, under 16, minor and under 21 A levels.

Many of the players involved in these successes were on the senior side which contested the county final in ‘85.

“If we had been able to hold on to all of these players I believe we could have made the breakthrough at senior level but within twelve months of that final three quarters of the panel had emigrated to America and Australia,”

Pat reflected.

“The importance of promoting football in schools cannot be stressed enough. There was no football in Mary Immaculate school prior to 1970 when Tom Tarpey and myself got it started.

In the early nineties we put in a huge effort and we had our first Munster success in 1997. At the time the club were playing underage competition at A level as were St. Fachtnas who were drawn from Kilfenora, Ml.Cusacks and Ballyvaughan.

Playing at A level was a huge help to the school team”, Pat explained.

Interestingly, when Ballyvaughan progressed through junior and gained senior status, they did not have underage teams representing the club. Pat believes that “they got to senior level on the back of their lads playing football with the school”.

He believes strongly that the successes enjoyed on the inter county front is in no small part due to the work that is done in the promotion of the games in schools.

Pat retired from teaching thirteen years ago but he continued to help with the coaching and preparation of the various teams at Mary Immaculate college. “Brian Conway who replaced me on the teaching staff at the school, takes charge of the football teams in the school now. The majority of the players in the present club senior team which reached the county senior semi-final last year, have come through the school. Their football has benefited hugely from playing with the school and meeting top class opposition from other counties. There was always big numbers at training and great spirit in school teams”, said Pat who continues to attend school games.

Pat had a special word of praise for the work put in by the late Frank Sheedy in the promotion of football both for the school and for the club. “He was a great clubman who went to every school game.

He was one of my selectors with every team I was involved with,” concluded the Cork native.

Alan Sweeney & Donie Garrihy speaking to Seamus Hayes.

Photograph: Burren Eye Photography

Breckans remains a beating heart in North Clare PÁRAIC MCMAHON paraic@clareecho.ie

O

NE life one club is how Donie Garrihy phrases it when reflecting on St Breckans celebrating fifty years.

Having reached the last four of the Clare SFC in 2020, expectation is growing that the club’s greatest day could yet be ahead of them. It follows their intermediate success of 2019 where they contested the provincial decider.

Garrihy showed that his success as a manager was not just confined to soccer or ferries as it was he who oversaw their intermediate glory and emergence as a strong senior force. In order for them to make the next level, the hard yards must be made. “We have to put in more work than other clubs because we have to make the breakthrough, it is entirely up to us, we can only control what we are doing ourselves. Last year people said we laid down a marker but it is up to us to push on, we can’t expect other clubs or teams to be less prepared this year, they will be more prepared and we have to be ready for that”.

Although he tasted U21 success and intermediate glory as a player, Donie admitted that every week and involvement with the club is a highpoint whether it be going to training or matches. “I always look forward and at the present. The highpoints are in the future, I know it’s a pandemic but that’s the case nationally and internationally so it’s no different for anyone else, it is how you behave in the pandemic,

JOE

there is always opportunity no matter what time of the year or decade it is”.

Held in high esteem throughout the county, Garrihy admires the efforts of volunteers over the past five decades who do their bit to better St Breckans.

“It has been kept together very solid now by the people now and the people before. Anybody that has worked there before has kept it together in lean times and good times, no matter what your club will always be your club, no other club will ever replace it no matter if you play for Kilmacud Crokes or Ballyhale Shamrocks, you will always have one club and be able to come home to your club. I’m in a privileged position in my club right now, I love what I do and it’s a work in progress, it gives me a lot of satisfaction”.

One man in particular earns praise for his input to the club, the late Frank Sheedy. “The man who kept the club going in tough times, the man who brought several people in his car around the county and country, he never looked for money, he would load up the car and go to matches, remembering Frank. It is also important to remember those who have managed, coached and administered before, they are out there looking in and we have to remember them because they kept things going”.

Speaking to The Clare Echo, Donie voiced his praise at how the club has raised money for Pieta House, assisted the vulnerable through the Burren Meitheal programme and kept things moving throughout the pandemic. “It’s important to be the hub in the community and St Breckans are, they are a busy club, a proactive board and committee even in pandemic times but there are always opportunities”.

GARRIHY Congratulations to St Breckans Gaa on your 50th anniversary

Thanks for the memories Phone: 086821 9624 Email: joegarrihy@eircom.net

28

CLASSIFIEDS

THURSDAY, FEB 18 2021

ACCOUNTANCY

Kellys Garage

CHIMNEY CLEANING

PLUMBING

Miltown Chimney Cleaning Open Fires, Stoves & Ranges All areas covered Call Pearse on 085 1187811 (PPE Used)

Plumbing and Heating Installations and Maintenance

CLEANING g Coverin y t Coun Clare

BOOKKEEPING

ROOFING

FIREWOOD ENNIS FIREWOOD KILN DRIED HARDWOOD FIREWOOD

  

   

GUTTER CLEANING FROM €49

CAR REPAIRS From Monday - Saturday CONTACT: JASON ON 089 2503590

CHIMNEY REPAIRS

087 797 9212 Anthony

089 490 8307

office@be4you.ie Cleaning -

Regular daily, weekly, bi-weekly or monthly Once-off deep cleaning After builders Before / After party Holiday Houses

Ironing Advanced carpet and upholstery cleaning Power washing

- backyards, footpaths, driveways, sheds, houses, walls

Fully registered and insured

Car wash on your property Handyman Services Garden maintenance Painting

... and many more

PAINTING

PHONE: 0894945628

PLANNING

THURSDAY, FEB 18 2021

PLANNING NOTICES Clare Co. Council Ballyconry, Carran.

Take notice that Maeve Barry intends to apply for permission for development, the development consists of the construction of stables and associated site works at the above address.

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

Clare County Council Tullaher, Doonbeg, Kilrush, Co Clare Take notice that Conor Downes and Deirdre Glynn are applying to Clare County Council for planning permission to construct a new dwelling house, regenerate an old shed on site as a garage, install a new sewage treatment system, new entrance and associated works at the above address. The planning application may be inspected, or purchased at a fee not exceeding the reasonable cost of making a copy at the offices of Clare County Council during its public opening hours and a submission or observation in relation to the application may be made to the authority in writing on payment of the prescribed fee within the period of 5 weeks beginning on the date of receipt by the authority of the application.

Clare County Council Islandavanna Upper, Drumquin Take notice that J. Kelly intends to apply to the Planning Authority for permission to retain upgraded entrance road and yard, to extend existing slatted unit and yard, to erect new slatted unit, 3No stables, storage areas, machinery shed + canopy for farm equipment 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.

COUNTY COUNCIL CLARE ROSLEVAN ENNIS CO CLARE. Take notice that TC Roslevan Stores Ltd intend to apply for Planning Permission to section off part of the existing shop for use as an ‘Off-Licence’ including all ancillary site services and site works at the above address.

The planning application may be inspected or purchased at a fee not exceeding the reasonable cost of making a copy at the offices of the

Planning Authority, Clare County Council, Aras Contae an Chlair, New Road, Ennis, Co. Clare during its public opening hours.

A submission or observation in relation to the application may be made to the Planning Authority, in writing, on payment of a fee of E20.00 within five weeks beginning on the date of receipt by the Authority of the Planning Application.

CLARE COUNTY COUNCIL QUILTY EAST QUILTY CO. CLARE Take notice that R. Johnston intends to apply to the Planning Authority for permission to extend apartment 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 Further Information / Revised Plans Planning Ref: P20/737 Development Description: Permission to (a) Demolish 2 No. sub-standard single storey town houses (b) extend adjoining dwelling house (c) construct 2 No. two story town houses together with all ancillary site development

The Garden Guy 087-090-4185 087-697-9775 STORAGE

works and services Location: Carmody Street, Ennis, Co. Clare Take notice that Patricia Collins has lodged significant further information in respect of the planning application P20/737.

This information and planning application may be inspected or purchased at a fee not exceeding the reasonable cost of making a copy, at the office of the Planning Authority of Clare County Council, Planning Department, Áras Contae an Chláir, New Road, Ennis, Co. Clare during its public opening hours.

A submission or observation in relation to the further information or revised plans may be made in writing to the planning authority on payment of the prescribed fee, not later than 2 weeks after the receipt of the newspaper notice and site notice by the planning authority or in the case of a planning application accompanied by an EIS within 5 weeks of receipt of such notices by the planning authority.

Clare County Council Newtown, Ballyvaughan, Co. Clare Take notice that Brian Foudy & Associates Ltd of Osprey House, Carmody Street, Ennis, Co. Clare 065 6893565 www.foudyconsulting. ie. intend to apply to the planning authority on behalf of James Droney for permission to (a) Part demolish, refurbish and extend existing derelict dwellinghouse (b) Install wastewater treatment system and soil polishing filter (c) Improve sight distances together with all associated site development works and services at the above address.

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

Clare County Council BALLYEA, DARRAGH, ENNIS, CO CLARE. Take notice that Patrick O’Connell intends to apply to the planning authority for permission to construct an agricultural slatted shed with ancillary slurry storage tanks and associated site works at the above address. The planning application may be inspected, or purchased at a fee not exceeding the reasonable cost of making a copy, at the offices of the planning authority, Clare County Council, Aras Contae an Chlair, New Road, Ennis during its public opening

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

Clare County Council CARROWBANE, KNOCK, CO CLARE Take notice that Colin Donnellan & Niamh Kelly intend to apply to the planning authority for permission to construct a new dwelling house and garage complete with an access road, sewage treatment system and ancillary works at the above address. The planning application may be inspected, or purchased at a fee not exceeding the reasonable cost of making a copy, at the offices of the planning authority, Clare County Council, Aras Contae an Chlair, New Road, Ennis during its public opening hours and that a submission or observation in relation to the application may be made to the authority in writing on payment of the prescribed fee within the period of 5 weeks beginning on the date of receipt by the planning authority of the application.

Clare Co Council Barrack Street, Clarecastle, Ennis, Co. Clare. V95 DW92 Planning permission is sought for ‘’a change of use’’ from existing storage rooms (currently ancillary to Kate O’Reillys Pub) to a small scale production facility for the manufacturing of non-alcoholic beverages and foods including all associated signage, site works and services at above address. Applicant Patrick Quinn and Alan Keogh.

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 DRUMQUIN, BALLYNACALLY, ENNIS, CO CLARE Take notice that Suzanne Scanlan intends to apply to the planning authority for permission to alter the design of the dwelling house granted under planning application P18/729 at the above address.

The planning application may be inspected, or purchased at a fee not exceeding the reasonable cost of making a copy, at the offices of the planning authority, Clare

THANKSGIVING

County Council, Aras Contae an Chlair, New Road, Ennis during its public opening hours and that a submission or observation in relation to the application may be made to the authority in writing on payment of the prescribed fee within the period of 5 weeks beginning on the date of receipt by the planning authority of the application.

Clare County Council We, Smith O’Briens GAA Club, are applying to the above authority for permission for the following development on property at Smith O’Briens GAA, Shantraud, Killaloe, Co Clare: Permission for construction of Multi Use Games Area (MUGA), associated side fencing and netting, artificial grass surface, floodlighting and all associated ancillary and incidental 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. Lacorroe, Feakle, Co. Clare RDF Architects & Planning Ltd on behalf of Pat Treacy are applying for Planning Permission for the construction of a new dwelling house which is single storey & part two storey, with ground floor garage attached to the dwelling, externally accessed green house, proposed wastewater treatment unit with polishing filter and percolation area, new site vehicular entrance and all associated site works at Lacorroe, Feakle, Co. Clare. This application may be inspected or purchased at a fee not exceeding the reasonable cost of making a copy, at the offices of Clare County Council during its public opening hours of 9am – 4pm, Mon-Fri, and a submission or observation may be made to Clare County Council in writing and on payment of the prescribed fee (€20.00) within the period of 5 weeks beginning on the date of receipt by Clare County Council of the application.

ANNIVERSARY

THANKSGIVING. ST. JUDE. Most Holy Apostle St. Jude faithful servant & friend of Jesus. The Church honours & invokes you universally as the patron of hopeless cases, of matters almost despaired of. Pray for me I am so helpless & alone.

Make use I implore you of that particular privilege given to you, to bring speedy help where help is almost despaired of. Come to my assistance in this great need that I may receive the consolation & help of Heaven in all my necessities, tribulations & sufferings & that I may praise God with you & all the Elect forever. I promise O Blessed St. Jude to be ever mindful of this great favour to always honour you as my special & powerful patron & to gratefully encourage devotion to you. Amen.

This prayer must be said for 9 consecutive days & published immediately & in 3 days the favour will be granted.

N.F

29

SHANNON Christy & deceased members of The Shannon Family (4th Anniversary) In Loving Memory of a dear father, father-inlaw, grandfather, great

grandfather, brotherin-law, uncle, friend & scouter, Christy, of 86 Hermitage Ennis, who died on the 21st February 2017 Those we love don’t go away, they walk beside us every day, unseen, unheard, but always near, still so loved, so missed and so very dear.

Will those who think of him today, a little prayer to Jesus say.

Sadly missed by your loving family.

Anniversary Mass in the Cathederal on Sunday 21st February at 11.30pm

30 PUZZLEPAGE

THURSDAY, FEB 18 2021

THIS WEEKS PUZZLES FEB 18 Best Daily Word Search: 15 February 2021

WORD SEARCH

Egg Cucumber Garnish Dressing

6

2

4

5

7

9

6

1

2

4

) 4 ( d ri ( d 4

) 4C 3( ) 5C 4(

) 8(

8

3

3

9

3 9

7

2

1

4

8

3

5

5

8

4

7

8 1

5

7

2 3 9

6 2

9

4

4 5 6 2 8 1

2 9 1 3 5 7 6

) 5 ( t 4 e di v e D,l e s e ( 5

2/15/2021

Reveal

6

Save

8

Check

00:01

7

Software © 2017 crossword-compiler.com

1

Italian

U G V R P L O F N S N F G Y R

8

Nicoise

7

O

1

Egg Italian Garnish Lettuce Mayonnaise Iceberg

N G V S A N O A T

Clear

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.

3

I

HOW TO PLAY

6

I

N S

ANSWERS

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.

5

D R E S S

I

How to play

Iceberg

C B O N P N T A U R L E V C R

4

4

O G G M W S O F U C A D S E R

5

8

8

L C C A A Y P C N C T U U B A

O R F R O D L A W E

1

9

9

B E E C

4

I

9

I

6

3

U S A

2

6

I

Cress Cucumber Croutons Dressing

N B C E H R B

2

5

E U E P R

I

3

7

S C L S O N N

Croutons

6

7

9

E R O E O A G N

1

1

4

I

G F

4

2

L U E R E T

I

9

2

Waldorf

1

A M R O C E A S U O T D

Coleslaw Cheese Cress Coleslaw

Romaine

8

U G S B

3

2

I

6

8

6

W B Y C O N H T H N

Rocket

5

E O O E

4

1

I

6

Radish

3

T E A K C O G C O S

Carrot Celery Celery Cheese

9

1

7

Carrot

S R G E L W H U H T P C O R T

2

Potato

1

How to play

A N N O Y A M C

2

5

1/1

I

8

Pasta

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.

Bacon Bacon Caesar Caesar

B P F H U L E T T U C E C A C W C D T E S

SUDOKU

1/1

Salads

2/15/2021

Solution

The Clare Echo Crossword 1

2

3

4

5

ACROSS

1 Aid (10) 7 Mariners (7)

Best Daily Word Search players also enjoy: 8 Suburban house (4)

10 Italy’s capital (4)

11 Period of unusually hot weather (4,4)

13 Item of neckwear (6)

https://puzzles.bestforpuzzles.com/games/best-daily-word-search15 Brigand (6)

17 Emphasised (8)

18 South American country (4)

21 Grassed area (4)

22 Copy (7)

23 Constantly (3,3,4)

6

7

8

9

2021

11

10

12

ficult - just

her (4,4)

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

) 4C 4( r e .t a e < t 5

DOWN

CROSSWORD ANSWERS

1 Proposition assumed to be self-evident (5) 2 Blackthorn fruit (4) 3 Female relative (6) 4 German shepherd dog (8) 5 Order (7) 6 Cut off socially (9) 9 Laboratory glassware (4,5) 12 Cradle (8) 14 Letters sent by plane (3,4) 16 City of canals (6) 19 Rub out (5) 20 Flightless New Zealand bird (4)

E S

M

S

E

T

See All I

T

W

A

T

I

M

E

H

T

L

L

A 32

C

E

I

N

I W

A

L

22

B

R

K

12

N

I

M

E

02

U

R

E

P

91

D

E

S

S

E

R

T

S

81

T

71

N

V

S

I

I

61

T

I

D

N

A

B

T

A

V

51

S

N

I

A

R

C

41

R

B

1/2 E M

31

.k

A

t s uj - tl u ciffi d o ot t o n s

21

E

V

A

W

T

A

E

H

O

R 01

11

T

M

A

T

S

S

E

O

T

1202 yraurbeF

9

I

M

E

R

O

L

I

A

S

8

O

7

L

I

L

X

O 6

E

C

N 5

A

T 4

S

I 3

S

S 2

A 1

ALL WEEK SPECIAL ANY LARGE PIZZA €13.99 COLLECTION/DELIVERED *From the menu or create your own up to 4 toppings. Extra charge for premium bases and extra toppings

f=evident (5)

1/1)4( =rt

OFFER ENDS FEB 28th 2020

71 Lower Parnell Street, Ennis

(065) 6840880

Opening Hours: Mon to Thurs: 4pm - late, Fri to Sun: 12 Noon - late. /DominosEnnis Call

dominos.ie

@Dominos_ROI Pop in

Tap the app

QUIZ 31

THURSDAY, FEB 18 2021

The Clare Echo Quiz KILLALOE QUIZ

Killaloe owes its origins to a sixth Which former US president’s 1founded century monastic settlement 6 roots can be traced back to Killalby what saint oe, to Brain Boru’s father, Cennétig

Another famous rugby play8 er from Killaloe was the great Anthony Foley. What team did he

captain to a Heineken cup victory?

Connaught Leinster Munster

How many bells are in the bell Which of the following Irish 4 tower at St Flannan’s Cathedral in 9 comedians used to own a house Killaloe? and a pub in Killaloe?

Killaloe was the home of Phin10 eas Finn, the fictional hero in two books by what famous English novelist?

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

The answers will be revealed in next weeks edition.

6. Ronald Reagan

Jane Austin Anthony Trollope George Eliot

1. Saint Molua

7 10 13

ANSWERS 7. Keith Wood

5

In late 18th century a seventeen-arch stone bridge was constructed across the Shannon in Killaloe. The number of arch’s in the bridge was later reduced. How many arches are currently in the bridge in Killaloe?

Anthony Foley. What team did he captain to a Heineken cup victory?

Pat Shortt Brendan Grace Tommy Tiernan

8. Munster

4 6 8

lQUESTION 8: Another famous rugby player from Killaloe was the great

2. Brian Boru

The Anchor Inn The Catholic Church The Church of Ireland

Brian O’Driscoll Keith Wood Jamie Heaslip

3. The Catholic Church

palace there. What building in Killaloe now stands where the palace once did?

from Killaloe. Who were they?

9. Brendan Grace

Between 1002 and 1014 AD Kil3 laloe was effectively the capital of Ireland as the high king had his

The first person to ever win the 7 international rugby board international player of the year award is

10 Anthony Trollope

Brian Boru Niall Noigiallach Roderic O’Connor

Donald Trump Ronald Reagan Andrew Jackson

4. 8

Which of the following former 2 High Kings of Ireland was born in Killaloe?

mac Lorcáin?

5. 13

Saint Molua Saint Ciarán Saint Patrick

Quiz by Tadhg Holland

Last weeks Answers . Crack on wall missing (right) . Logo missing on Annes top . Buttons missing on Jarlath’s jacket . Building missing in the background

. Skylight missing on building . Tree missing . Fence missing in background

Ei CEO Mick Guinee presents the cheque to Siobhán O’Driscoll