The Clare Echo 18/04/24

GOULD Dinny

A strong, independent voice for West Clare Vote No.

‘All I could do was run’

by Páraic McMahon paraic@clareecho.ie

A CLARE man has said his thoughts turned to his family as he was in the midst of the horrific scenes in Sydney last weekend.

Niall Naughton from Boston, Tubber was in Bondi Junction Westfield shopping centre when six people were killed following a stabbing attack near Australia’s Bondi beach. Their attacker was shot dead by a police woman responding to the incident.

Having gone to the shopping centre to get his hair cut, Niall was in a changing room when he discovered that something was amiss. “Next thing, somebody pulled back my curtain and said ‘get out, get out, get out, you need

to go, you need to go”. He hid with other customers and staff in the basement of the shop with the door barricaded and there was huge panic.

Niall continued, “Everyone was in such a state of panic. Everyone was in such distress and overwhelmed, everyone was screaming and crying. It wasn’t a very calm situation. It was just horrific. I was even thinking of my own family at the time. What if there is a possibility that something is going to happen to me and I’m going to die. I couldn’t even reach for my phone at this stage cos there was so many of us crammed into the room”.

SHANNON AIRPORT ROAD BROUGHT TO STANDSTILL

Council: we won’t be bullied by new Ennis illegal encampment

SENIOR HOUSING officials in Clare County Council have said they will not be bullied into housing people who break the law.

It follows the emergence of a new illegal encampment in the county in the past week which has left Ennis residents “stressed and sleepless in a state of trauma” according to Cllr Clare Colleran Molloy (FF).

Acting senior executive officer with the Council Padraig MacCormaic said “the housing section will not be bullied into moving people up on the housing list because of their illegal

activity, it is not right to house people for breaking the law”.

Elected members of the Council have said they feel their hands are tied when it comes to tackling illegal encampments in the county with Cllr Gerry Flynn (IND) criticising the decision to make Travellers an ethnic minority. Cllr Alan O’Callaghan (FF) commented, “the ethnic minority feel they can do whatever they want to do to get housed” when voicing their frustrations this week”.

More on p10.

l Protesters on the N19 in Shannon blocked cars from making their way to Shannon Airport. More on page 17

Photo by Joe Buckley

Clare man on terror of Sydney stabbings

IN SPORT

12-page preview as Clare kick off Munster Championship bid p31-42

‘Whip-round’ for Sinn Féin councillor criticised

by Páraic McMahon @clareecho.ie

SINN FÉIN’ may be the wealthiest political party on the island of Ireland but one of its local election candidates in Clare still had to conduct a collection over the weekend.

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A collection was held in Shannon Town Centre on Saturday for Cllr Donna McGettigan’s (SF) “expensive” election campaign.

When announcing details of the fundraiser, Cllr McGettigan said, “this will help towards the campaign to get elected to Clare County Council, I will be able to continue with the hard work that I have been doing and also to represent the voices of Shannon”.

Political figures within the county expressed their shock at what has been described as an unprecedented “whipround” for a politician. Sinn Féin members Billy Austin and Kieran Burke were accepting the donations outside Hillery’s Pharmacy on behalf of Cllr McGettigan who was out of the country.

Figures released in December revealed that in 2022, Sinn Féin received €80,190 worth of disclosed donations, the most amount of any political party in the county. Sinn Féin says it owns 19 properties on both sides of the island, including 16 constituency offices. The buildings include three head offices in Dublin and Belfast, collectively worth at least €2m, and

seven offices owned by local constituency organisations in the Republic.

Keith McNamara (IND) who is challenging Cllr McGettigan for a seat on the County Council told The Clare Echo, “I am very surprised to see a personal collection organised

for an individual councillor who has aspirations to be a TD within a large political party. Its is extremely unusual way to raise money for a campaign when there are clear rules and guidelines set out in the under the local Elections (Disclosure of Donations and Expenditure) Act 1999 and SIPO guidelines”.

Speaking to The Clare Echo, Cllr McGettigan stated that she had a Garda permit for the fundraiser. “Each area is responsible for its own candidates and funding, funding should be done through the year, we do national draws and have held table quizzes in the past, we haven’t been out the last few years and COVID had put a stop to them (fundraising events)”.

Sinn Féin were not expecting cash-strapped constituents to fork out for the fundraiser, she said, “If you don’t have the money you don’t need to give into it”.

Money raised “will go towards leaflets and posters,” Cllr McGettigan said. “The party wouldn’t be funding everything, if you’re stuck you go up to them, each area looks after their own finances”.

Teen robs boy’s €250 jacket at knifepoint at Fairgreen

by Gordon Deegan news@clareecho.ie

A 13-YEAR OLD boy had a €250 jacket robbed from him at knifepoint by another 13 year old at the Fairgreen in Ennis two years ago, a court has heard. At Ennis District Court, Judge Alec Gabbett said that the accused - now aged 16 - “had committed armed robbery when aged 13 and he was barely at the age of criminal responsibility”.

In the case, the teenager has pleaded guilty to robbing another male of a black padded Moncler jacket valued at €250 at Fairgreen, Lifford, Ennis at around 6pm on February 26th 2022.

The offence is contrary to Section 14 of the Criminal Justice (Theft and Fraud Offences) Act 2001.

The Ennis teenager has also pleaded guilty to while committing the robbery at the Fairgreen did produce a orange flick knife which was capable of inflicting serious injury and pro-

duced in a manner unlawfully to intimidate another.

This offence was contrary to Section 11 of the Firearms and Offensive Weapons Act.

Asked where the jacket is now, the teenager told Judge Gabbett “I lost it.”.

In evidence, Garda Roisin Collins said that the then 13 year old held the knife up to the chest of the boy.

A Garda search of the boy’s home recovered the knife from that property.

Judge Gabbett said that the robbing with a knife offence is so serious that when holding the knife to the victim’s chest “it could have gone through”.

Judge Gabbett told the teenager that sending him to Oberstown Detention facility would be a last resort.

Judge Gabbett said that he didn’t want to send the teenager to Oberstown.

Garda Collins said that when the accused was initially questioned on the robbery he told Gardai “I did not have a knife”.

The accused has no previous convictions but had been through the Garda Youth Diversion Programme.

Solicitor, Monica Roche for the teenager, told the court that her client hasn’t been in any trouble since the incident before the court.

She said that he has worked with the Extern Janus Justice Project.

The project provides an intensive individualised programme concentrating on development of pro-social skills, improved community involvement, provision of experiential learning opportunities, and family work to improve relationships within the home.

The teenager - accompanied by an aunt to court -also told Judge Gabbett that he is taking medication for ADHD and would like to enter a Youthreach programme.

Judge Gabbett adjourned the case for a Probation Report to June 26th.

lCOLLECTION: Billy Austin and Kieran Burke

Shannon man says ‘I’m sorry’ over alleged harassment of two men

by Gordon Deegan news@clareecho.ie

A 42-YEAR OLD Shannon man has stated “I’m sorry about how this turned out, it wasn’t my intention” after being charged under new harassment legislation.

At Ennis District Court, Martin Hannon of Traderee Court, Shannon, Co Clare has appeared after been charged with two new charges under Section 10 of the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act and new laws enacted only last year which deal with harassment.

Mr Hannon is to face trial at Ennis Circuit Court on the new charges and two other charges where he is already charged with threatening to kill or cause serious harm to two men via social media. Sgt John Burke told the court that the social media element to the case is adding complexity to the preparation of the Book of Evidence in the case.

In evidence of arrest, charge and caution before Ennis District Court, Garda Clare Burke of Shannon Garda Station told the court that after caution Mr Hannon replied

l Martin Hannon

Man assaulted partner when she refused sex

by Gordon Deegan news@clareecho.ie

A JUDGE has told a man that his ex-partner “is not your property’ and “no means no” after finding that the man punched and head-butted her after she refused to have sex him on different dates.

At Kilrush District Court, Judge Alec Gabbett found the man guilty of three assaults against his now ex-partner and three breaches of a Safety Order she had obtained against him.

The couple have a number of children together and in evidence the woman told the court “I do know that most of the arguments in the house were escalated by him because I was refusing to have sex a lot towards the end of the relationship.”

The woman told the court “violence escalated and it was all down to the fact that I couldn’t bear to have him near me anymore”.

The woman alleged that in September 2022 in two incidents, the man punched her in the back and head butted her after she refused to have sex. The couple were not married and now live apart and in evidence the man denied ever striking the woman. He said: “I love the girl - we have children together.”

The man in his late 30s and with no previous convictions said: “I never hit the girl. I never hit a man before. I socialised in Ennis for 20 years and

I was never in trouble.”

He added: “I never hit that girl, or pulled her hair or head butted her. If I head-butted her in the head, she would have two black eyes.”

The man said that the couple’s arguments were about money.

However, Judge Gabbett found that the woman’s evidence “was very credible”.

He said: “It is consistent and the common threads where initiating sex or money leads to a row and an assault.”

He said: “This was a semi-coercive or coercive relationship in my view.”

Addressing the man, Judge Gabbett said: “‘No’ means ‘no’ and consent comes into it.”

Judge Gabbett told the man: “This notion that you love her and that you can touch her is completely misguided. She is not your property.”

Judge Gabbett told the man: “There is a reason Gardai came to your home within 20 minutes because there is the history of you assaulting your partner quite seriously.”

Judge Gabbett told the man that there “are very serious criminal proceedings against you now” and said that he would order a Probation Report. Judge Gabbett suggested that the man engage with MOVE or (Men Overcoming Violence) before the next court date.

Judge Gabbett adjourned the case to June 18th for the Probation Report to be carried out.

“I’m sorry about how this turned out. It wasn’t my intention.”

In the new ‘harassment’ charges, Mr Hannon is charged with on dates between November 2nd and November 16th last that he did carry out acts without lawful authority that did cause Michael Hilliard and Devipyemaan Devipyemaan* to fear that violence would be used against them.

The charge states that Mr Hannon’s acts caused serious alarm or distress to the two that had a substantial impact on their day to day activities.

The new charges are contrary to Section 10 (2) of the Non Fatal Offences Against the Person Act and substituted by Section 23(2) of the Criminal Justice (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2023.

Solicitor, Stiofan Fitzpatrick for the accused said that it has taken a long period for the DPP to provide directions in the case.

In the case, Martin Hannon is already charged with a threat to kill or cause serious harm to the two males on dates between November 6th and

November 16th last.

In the case, Mr Hannon is charged without lawful excuse, making a threat to kill or cause serious harm to Devipyemaan Devipyemaan* and Michael Hillard.

The two charges are contrary to Section 5 of the Non Fatal Offences Against the Person Act 1997.

Those convicted of such offences in the district court face a prison term up to 12 months while more serious penalties apply in the circuit court where those convicted can face prison terms up to 10 years.

As part of his bail conditions, Mr Hannon is to stay off all social media platforms and not make broadcasts from any social media platform.

The bail conditions also require Mr Hannon to lodge €500 cash, sign on once a week at his local Garda station and have no direct or indirect contact with the alleged injured parties.

Judge Gabbett further remanded Mr Hannon on continuing bail to appear in court on May 15th.

Daylight attack in shop shakes

Clarecastle following Sunday mass

by Páraic McMahon paraic@clareecho.ie

A MACHETE is understood to have been among the weapons brandished in a Clarecastle store during an attack after Sunday mass.

An Garda Síochána have confirmed to The Clare Echo that they are investigating a series of incidents which occurred in Clarecastle on Sunday.

Two men were assaulted and one woman injured at Deasy’s Centra in Clarecastle.

Shortly before 1pm, two men entered the store and assaulted two males before fleeing the scene in a car. They followed the two youths into the store before exiting in a waiting vehicle.

Gardaí believe that the perpetrators were brought to the scene in a Blue Nissan X-Trail estate, driven there by a third male. They entered the retail premises wearing balaclavas, one male was wearing grey tracksuit bottoms and the second male was wearing dark clothes.

One of the injured males, aged in his 20s, is currently being treated for serious injuries in hospital. The other injured male, a youth in his late teens, received treatment in hospital for non-life threatening injuries and has since been released.

A female bystander was also injured during the course of the incident and received hospital treatment for nonlife threatening injuries.

An Incident Room at Ennis Garda Station has been established and an investigation is continuing.

The assailants fled the scene in this Nissan X-Trail, they drove up Patrick Street and after taking the back roads from Clarecstle came out at the grotto on the Kildysart Road. The blue Nissan X-Trail then took a left and after travelling up Barntick, took a right up to Newhall, Ballyea where the vehicle was abandoned.

Gardaí are appealing for any witnesses to come forward. Any road users who may have camera footage (including dash-cam) and were travelling in the Clarecastle area between 12:45pm and 1:15pm are asked to make this footage available to Gardaí. Any persons who were in Clarecastle at these times and observed any activity which drew their attention are also asked to come forward. Anyone with any information is asked to contact Ennis Garda Station on 065 6848100, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda Station. Sergeant Catriona Holohan outlined, “This incident occurred at 12.50pm, shortly after mass ended in Clarecastle. There would have been a large crowd of people in the area and Gardaí are appealing to anyone that may have been out walking, have a vehicle parked in the area or driving through Clarecastle on Sunday at 12.50pm”.

Clarecastle based Tommy Guilfoyle (SF) who is contesting the local elections said the incident has shook the community. “This disturbing event is unfortunately not an isolated incident, as Clarecastle and Ennis have seen sev-

eral serious incidents in recent years. The need for improved policing and law enforcement measures in the Ennis Municipal District has become increasingly urgent”.

He maintained a greater Garda presence is now needed across the Ennis MD and that immediate steps must be taken to enhance this in the village of Clarecastle. “It is essential that measures are put in place to prevent further incidents in Clarecastle and the wider region. The community stands united in its demand for improved policing and a stronger commitment to maintaining law and order in our area”.

Guilfoyle called for the armed support unit to be deployed to the area. “In light of recent events, it is clear that additional support for our local police force is crucial to ensure greater safety and security. Increased funding, resources, equipment, and personnel are needed to address the growing concerns and effectively combat crime in the community. To enhance public and police safety, the deployment of an Armed Response Unit in Ennis should occur immediately. Currently, Limerick has a unit serving the county, city, and parts of Kerry, while Galway’s unit covers County Galway, the city, and beyond, with both units assisting Clare when available. Ennis is a growing town and, along with County Clare, has a growing population, thus making it a matter of urgency that we have our own Armed Response Unit”.

Clare father found guilty of 25 counts of rape

by Eimear Dodd

A FATHER subjected his daughter to repeated sexual abuse starting when she was aged just three and it continued for over twelve years, a court has heard.

The 69-year-old man, who can’t be named for legal reasons, was found guilty following a Central Criminal Court trial of a total of 48 sample counts including 25 of rape and 23 of indecent assault.

The abuse took place at the family home between 1977 and 1989 when the victim was aged between three and a half and 16.

The man does not accept the verdicts of the jury and maintains his innocence, the court was told.

After hearing facts in Court, Ms Justice Siobhan Lankford adjourned the case until April 26 for finalisation.

A local garda told Dean Kelly SC, prosecuting, that the woman recalls the first incident took place when she was approximately three and a half years old.

She said her father brought her upstairs while her mother was out and put her hand on his penis. He then undressed her and bounced her on top of him, during which he raped her.

The abuse continued frequently and included the digital penetration of her vagina, forced kissing, oral sex and rape.

When she began to develop breasts, he would touch them as he passed her in the house. The abuse came to an end when she was 16.

The woman made a complaint to Gardaí in 2019. The man was arrested in July 2020 and answered some questions during interview, but denied the allegations.

The woman’s victim impact statement was read to the court by Mr Kelly. She said her father “stole” her childhood and she wonders what life might have been like if she grew up in “a normal household”.

She said she didn’t want to see her father prosecuted, but wanted him to take responsibility for his actions. The woman said his lack of acceptance has hurt her as much as the abuse. She urged other victims of sexual abuse to “take the first step”.

The local Garda agreed with Colman Cody SC, defending, that his client was co-operative with the investigation and has not come to recent negative garda attention. It was also accepted that he has a reputation as a hard-working man.

In his plea of mitigation, Mr Cody said his client was facing the prospect of

spending the rest of his life in prison and has been left a “broken man” as a result of these convictions. He said his client has “lost his livelihood, family and now his liberty”. His client has been in custody since conviction.

He asked the court to take into account his client’s work history and other mitigating features including his health issues. The man’s sons were in court to support him and a number of testimonials were handed in on his behalf.

Mr Cody noted that the victim accepted during the trial that her father offered her support and to give as much weight as possible to this and to his other personal circumstances. He also submitted that the man has suffered a loss of reputation and faces the stigma associated with this type of offending.

Cratloe man on board Titanic remembered

by Páraic McMahon

A COMMEMORATION was held in Cratloe on Sunday to mark the death of Daniel Keane who was on board the Titanic ship when it sank. 112 years ago this week, Daniel Keane, a thirty five year old from Gallows Hill in Cratloe was one of the passengers on board the Titanic. Daniel travelled as a second class passenger. He planned to resettle to the United States joining thousands of other Irish people in Manhattan. In the months preceding his departure and untimely death, Daniel worked as a tram conductor in Dublin.

Prayers were offered up to Daniel at mass in Cratloe on Sunday morning while some of his descendants including Pascal Keane and Michael O’Gorman travelled to Gullet Cross in Cratloe on Sunday morning to mark 112 years since his death.

Members of the Keane family including Tony Keane, Kenneth Keane, Alison Keane and Marian Keane Nolan still live locally.

Shannon Airport expands security team with nine new recruits

l Shannon Airport has expanded its airport security team ahead of the summer holiday season, as part of its commitment to providing a seamless passenger experience. Nine new recruits have received their official certification after completing an intensive aviation security training programme.

Limerick City and Niamh O’Brien, Ardnacrusha Co Clare

€2.5m in extra funding secured for Clare roads

by Páraic McMahon paraic@clareecho.ie

AN ADDITIONAL €2.5M funding boost has been secured for Clare’s roads, writes Páraic McMahon.

Speaking at Monday’s adjourned meeting of Clare County Council, Director of Service, Leonard Cleary revealed that the local authority had been informed an “additional €2.5m in funds of a capital nature” will be made available for the county’s road network. He told councillors, “it will not impact on the revenue budget for 2024, this is funding of a capital nature, of course we would like it to be much larger and the proposal is that it be divided into

the five local electoral areas. This is an investment of the development contributions collected in the county and re-invested in the county”.

Cllr Gerry Flynn (IND) reminded the Director that the Local Government Act states there are only four Municipal Districts under the Council’s umbrella and he questioned if he had “rewritten the policy”.

Cleary acknowledged that Cllr Flynn was correct on the amount of MDs in the county. “The proposal is looking at the scale and size of the county”.

Each of the electoral areas of Kilrush, Ennistymon, Shannon,

Ennis and Killaloe will now receive an additional €500,000 for road resurfacing and strengthening for the year ahead. Funding for the county’s road network was also brought to the attention of the Minister for Transport, Eamon Ryan (GP) when he visited Clare last Thursday. He held a meeting with a delegation on behalf of Clare’s twenty eight councillors, this included the Cathaoirleach of each Municipal District, Mayor of Clare, Cllr Joe Cooney (FG) plus Cllr Liam Grant (GP) and Senator Roisin Garvey (GP).

Pictured are recruits Rebecca Gubbins, Tipperary Town, Jatinder Singh,

Photo by Arthur Ellis

Man sexually assaulted son’s female friend

by Gordon Deegan news@clareecho.ie

A MIDDLE aged father who described himself in court as the ‘responsible adult’ at a teenagers’ house party sexually assaulted a female friend of his son’s on the night.

At Ennis District Court, Judge Alec Gabbett found that the ‘facts proven’ in the sex assault prosecution against the 45-year old Co Clare man at his home on January 8th 2022.

Judge Gabbett said that the female - a young adult - who made the complaint of sexual assault was “a very credible witness” in court.

In evidence, the young woman at the time was friendly with the man’s son and was attending her friend’s family home for a drinks party with friends.

In evidence, the young woman said that at she was coming back into a room at the property sometime after midnight her friend’s father “caught me off-guard and spoke inappropriately to me”.

She said that the man told her “I was looking at you all night. I couldn't get me eyes off you”.

She said that the man then pushed “his body against my body and pushed me against the sink and we were face to face, really close, and then he was saying that if he didn’t have a wife and kids 'would I get with him?'"

She said that she then said "No. Stop" and the man then put his hands on her backside and grabbed her by the waist so that she couldn’t move “and then he asked me how many people had I slept with and then he started to shift me and by that I mean he put his tongue into my mouth”.

She said: “I tried to push him off me and said ‘stop’ and he said that "no be quiet”."

She said: "I eventually pushed him off me and he said ‘you are friends with my son, that is what makes it weird’. I didn’t say anything to him. I was still in shock.”

In evidence when asked about the young woman’s allegations, the accused said “never happened”. In the witness box, the man said that he was the “responsible adult” on the night and was not drunk.

In evidence, the complainant said that she called her manager at work the next morning “and I told her I wouldn't be coming into work today and she asked why and I got emotional saying that I was sexually assaulted”.

In evidence, the manager told the court that she have taken a lot of phone calls over the years “but never a phone call like that”. She said she was concerned for her co-worker and told the court that the young woman's “voice was shaking and she found it hard to get the words out”.

The complainant said that a number of days after the sexual assault, the man approached her outside her workplace and she recorded the conversation with her smart phone that was in her pocket. She said she recorded the conversation "as I was scared that he would do or say something and I gave the recording to the Gardai”. She said the man “asked me if I told anyone and said that we should plan it again?” However, in evidence, the man denied saying that. A muffled recording of the exchange was played to the court.

After finding the facts proven in the case, Judge Gabbett told the young woman that she is now entitled to provide a victim impact statement for the sentencing hearing.

The court was told that the perpetrator is a working man and has no previous convictions.

Judge Gabbett said that he was mindful of the “very serious consequences’ for the man and remarked that it is likely that he will be convicted of sexual assault.

Judge Gabbett said that the man is entitled to a Probation Report and adjourned the case to July.

Boston, Tubber man Niall Naughton was in Bondi Junction Westfield shopping centre in Sydney, Australia when the stabbings took place last weekend

‘You turn around & think of your family

straight away’

Boston’s Niall on scare of Sydney stabbings

by Páraic McMahon paraic@clareecho.ie

A NORTH Clare man has described the scenes of a Sydney knife attack as “just horrific”. Niall Naughton from Boston was in Bondi Junction Westfield shopping centre when stabbings took place.

Six people died following stabbings at the shopping centre near Australia’s Bondi beach. Their attacker was shot dead by a police woman responding to the incident and several other people have been brought to hospital with serious injuries. Five women and a man were killed in the stabbing, New South Wales Police said.

Police said four women and a man died in the shopping centre. Since then, another woman passed away in hospital. A ninemonth-old infant has undergone

surgery and “about eight” people, including the child, are in hospitals around Sydney receiving treatment for “different injuries” as a result of the attack.

Having gone to the shopping centre to get his hair cut which was on the floor where the incidents occurred, Niall was in the changing room of Zara when he discovered that something was amiss. “I could hear what sounded like a stampede of cattle coming running through the shop. I had the curtain closed in the dressing room so I couldn’t see anything but I could hear everything”.

He continued, “Next thing, somebody pulled back my curtain and said ‘get out, get out, get out, you need to go, you need to go”. He hid with other customers and staff in the basement of the shop with the door barricaded

and there was huge panic.

Niall continued, “Everyone was in such a state of panic. Everyone was in such distress and overwhelmed, everyone was screaming and crying. It wasn’t a very calm situation. It was just horrific. I was even thinking of my own family at the time. What if there is a possibility that something is going to happen to me and I’m going to die. I couldn’t even reach for my phone at this stage cos there was so many of us crammed into the room”.

He said he and the other customers got out through an emergency door from the basement outside at the back of the shopping centre. “I could see hundreds and hundreds of people coming running across the road. There’s a two way street there and they were coming running across in front of cars. There was cars

like driving a full speed. It was like something you would see out of a movie. It was that scary. I just kept running. That’s all I could do was run as far away from the shopping centre as I could”.

Living in Australia for the past seven months, Niall said he is in shock after the events. “This has properly shook me to the core. I’ve never in my life thought I’d ever be in an incident where I’d be in in some form of attack like that. Ultimately you turn around and you think of your family straight away when you’re in an incident like that and it can make you quite homesick too.

“You want to be with your family. But thankfully I have a good group of friends here that are looking after me,” he added.

Expressions of interest sought from afterschool childcare providers

OGONNELLOE National School are seeking expressions of interest from before/afterschool childcare service providers, to run a before and afterschool service on the school site on a licenced basis.

The Board of Management of Ogonnelloe National School, subject to agreement of the Patron and Trustees, intends making part of the school premises available for provision of before and afterschool services by an independent, external, third-party operator. The successful applicant will be granted a licence to use a section of the school

premises for specified days and times for a period of one school year and shall be responsible for the independent operation of the facility and employment of all staff in the facility. The arrangement will be subject to a number of terms and conditions.

Interested parties should submit a written expression of interest, made by post to the Chairperson of the Board of Management of Ogonnelloe National School, Ogonnelloe, Scariff Co Clare, V94N599 no later than 06-05-24. Further information will be forwarded to all parties that submit

an expression of interest.

If any interested party has an objection to the above proposal, such objections should be: (i) made in writing; (ii) sent by post addressed to the Trustees of Ogonnelloe National School, C/O Chairperson of the Board of Management of Ogonnelloe National School, Ogonnelloe, Scariff Co Clare V94N599; and (iii) reach the school by 06 05 24. Any such submissions must be made on objective grounds.

Residents 'in a state of trauma' due to illegal encampment

by Páraic McMahon paraic@clareecho.ie

ENNIS RESIDENTS are “stressed and sleepless in a state of trauma” following the emergence of a new illegal encampment.

County councillors claimed “the ethnic minority feel they can do whatever they want to do to get housed” when voicing their frustrations this week.

Standing orders were suspended at Monday’s adjourned meeting of Clare County Council to debate an emergency motion where elected representatives called for an “effective coordinated approach” with other state agencies be established by the Council “to effectively address the ongoing illegal encampments occurring throughout our county”.

This motion was tabled by Cllr Clare Colleran Molloy (FF) and co-signed by Cllr Alan O’Callaghan (FF), Cllr John Crowe (FG), Cllr Rita McInerney (FF), Cllr Ann

Norton (IND), Cllr Mary Howard (FG), Cllr Paul Murphy (FG) and Cllr Pat Daly (FF).

Threats of arson, harassment, intimidation of the elderly, uncontrolled dogs, degradation of a beloved neighbourhood and “a sense of abandonment by the State, the Council and the Gardaí” are some of the feelings experienced by residents of Clancy Park since the arrival of an illegal encampment in the estate, Cllr Colleran Molloy flagged.

The Clare Echo understands that there are presently three caravans at different locations across Clancy Park, one of which is occupied by an individual who was in Limerick Prison but was released due to capacity issues.

A frustrated Colleran Molloy said she raised the issue last Monday with Council officials about the strong possibility of an illegal encampment setting up in Clancy Park. “The ineffectiveness demon-

strated by our Council” was “the last straw,” the Quin native admitted. She said she sought immediate action last Monday to have concrete blocks placed on the green area in Clancy Park on Tuesday morning but officials were reluctant “as the need for Garda presence to protect Council employees was mentioned”.

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2. OPT FOR QUALITY: Invest in high-quality items that will last. Look for clothes made from organic cotton e.g. from Name It or Babybol, which are gentle on a baby’s delicate skin and wash well. Quality blankets made from breathable materials are also great choices for keeping the baby cosy.

3. CHOOSE DEVELOPMENTAL TOYS: Soft toys that stimulate a baby’s senses and encourage development are always a hit. Look for toys with contrasting colours, different textures, and gentle sounds. Soft animals, and sensory toys like Sophie la Giraffe are all great options that can help babies explore the world around them.

4. INCLUDE MILESTONE CARDS: Milestone cards are a thoughtful addition to any baby gift. These cards feature significant milestones like the baby’s first smile, first tooth, and first steps. Parents can use them to capture and commemorate special moments in their baby’s journey. Including a

set of milestone cards with your gift shows that you’re celebrating not just the arrival of the baby, but also the exciting milestones to come.

5. SUPPORT LOCAL AND SUSTAINABLE BRANDS: Choose gifts from local Irish brands like Babyboo or LittleBowPip and that prioritise sustainability. Look for baby clothes made from organic cotton which is grown without harmful chemicals and pesticides. By supporting local and eco-conscious brands, you're not only giving a thoughtful gift to the baby but also reducing the carbon footprint associated with shipping and contributing to a healthier planet for their future.

By keeping these tips in mind, you can choose a thoughtful and practical gift that will be appreciated by the new parents and bring joy to their growing family.

Mods & Minis are running a Baby Event at 65 O’Connell St, Ennis from Thursday April 18th to May 2nd with special offers running for two weeks. They can help you choose a present either in store or over the phone and will provide complimentary gift wrapping with donations to The Jack and Jill Children’s Foundation.

Call: 065 684 8612.

Shop online: www.modsandminins.com

Since Tuesday a caravan has been located on the green area with an exposed wire across the public road, Cllr Colleran Molloy highlighted. She

said Gardaí have asked for it to be removed but it remains in place. She said required legal processes have been initiated by the local authority. She appealed for a dedicated phone number be established for scenarios where a councillor “based on sound evidence” that an illegal encampment is to occur so that they can initiate a process to have Garda back up to enable a rapid response from the Council.

“Towns, villages, estates and communities across our county are being held to ransom and that is the long and the short of it,” Cllr O’Callaghan stated. He said persons occupying illegal encampments are “moving about” to find green areas. “The Council are doing their best but their hands are tied, our hands seem to be tied, the very talk of one

of these with the potential of getting a house there seems to be an influx of people into the area and causing all sorts of mischief, there’s High Court cases going on and on, they are using this as a lever,” the Kilmurry representative added.

“It is a small minority, the ethnic minority who feel they can do whatever they want to do to get housed,” O’Callaghan claimed.

Cllr Johnny Flynn (FG) told the meeting he would have signed the motion had he been asked to do so.

“Serial offenders continue to breach the law,” he noted.

Sixmilebridge is well aware of the impact of illegal encampments, Cllr PJ Ryan (IND) said when issuing his support. “I also made representations, I’m extremely conscious litigation is going on, I am hoping some form of resolution is coming from the High Court to finalise some legislative power, it is an extremely hard burden,” Cllr Tom O’Callaghan (FF) said.

Director of Services, Leonard Cleary stated, “It is acknowledged that there is a problem and it is not acceptable”. He issued a commitment that the Council “will do everything possible to address this issue as soon as possible with Gardaí and support agencies”. He added, “this is a homelessness issue, it is not acceptable to reside the caravan in a public green area, it is a homelessness issue that has to be address”.

‘I always said I’d give it 10 years’

CLLR Ann Norton (IND) has said her decision not to seek re-election to Clare County Council is influenced by the health of her family members and a desire to devote more energy to the Clare Crusaders Clinic.

Two-time Mayor of the Ennis Municipal District, Cllr Norton confirmed what was long anticipated last week that she would not be putting her name forward for the local elections in June.

In 2014, the ballot paper in the Ennis MD was the longest in the country and Ann was the first candidate elected. Before devoting her time to disability advocacy, she had a business in Ennis from 1993 to 2003.

On her decision to leave politics, Ann admitted, “I always said I’d give it 10 years. I felt that when I ran initially it was great to have got elected and I obviously had a reason and a purpose, I wanted to highlight the changes that needed to be around disability.”

She added, “I really enjoyed the 10 years, I’ve made a huge amount of contacts over that time, there is a lot of work that I will continue to do but I have enjoyed it”.

Co-founder and Managing Director of The Clare Crusaders Clinic, Ann revealed that her decision is also influenced by the health of her daughter Nicole who has cerebral palsy. “I need to change what I’m at and I need to focus more on what is happening on the ground around the Clare Crusaders clinic and the parents I’m working with and dealing with their issues.

“We’ve had a lot of ups and downs with Nicole’s health, it is having an impact on the time I have to be able to give. Weighing everything up I felt it was the right decision and I always knew that I’d have to make the decision”.

This decision has “always been in my head since 2019,” the Barefield woman admitted.

At recent meetings the amount of money contributed by Ann through the Council’s General Municipal Allocation (GMA) towards the Clare Crusaders has been flagged. She said

Gould gets going on election campaign

by Páraic McMahon paraic@clareecho.ie

CREE’s Dinny Gould (IND) is set to shake up the election race in West Clare after officially confirming his candidacy.

Well-known businessman Dinny in an exclusive interview with The Clare Echo has announced he will be contesting the local elections in the Kilrush local electoral area. “I’ve a lot of experience, I’ve met and know a lot of people, that is why I decided to go for election to Clare County Council because I feel I have something to offer the people”.

she did not view this as a personal attack. “Clare Crusaders is a charity which was set up over 20 years ago, it provides therapy for over 450 children and we don’t get any Government funding”.

Support for the Clinic has been provided by Clare County Council “for numerous years,” she said. This year the manner in which the GMA was handled changed following a majority vote by Ennis MD councillors. “Prior to this applications were put in and we would have sat down as a group of councillors and looked at each individual application to support the application that has come into us, unfortunately this year the application system has changed, it wasn’t something I was in favour of”.

Her absence from the Chamber will likely result in less GMA funding for the Clinic but Norton insisted the seven elected councillors in Ennis MD will be lobbied to assist the Clare Crusaders. “Regardless of if I’m in situ or not, parents will be speaking up on behalf of the clinic, I’ve supported parents by speaking up for them, now I’ll have to get the parents to make the local councillors aware of the service they are getting and how invaluable it is”.

Ann is one of three members of the Ennis MD currently sitting on the Board of the Ennis 2040 DAC. When asked if she felt her departure posed a risk that the elected members of Ennis MD from June onwards will consist of a majority of councillors opposed to the strategy, she said, “To be honest I do believe that Ennis 2040 has a good strategic policy, at the beginning when it was being produced to Ennis MD councillors I was a bit apprehensive about Ennis 2040, at the time Liam Conneally who was the Director of Economic Development came in and explained the concept of Ennis 2040 and what it hopes to deliver. I’d hope that any councillor that comes into the Ennis MD gets the opportunity to get the detail behind Ennis 2040 and the reason why Ennis 2040 was set up, I do believe there is huge opportunities for Ennis.”

For a longer in-depth version of this article, visit www.clareecho.ie.

Born in Duagh in North Kerry in 1957, Dinny moved to West Clare in 1979, living in Kilmihil while he worked in Moneypoint, twelve months later he purchased a house in Cree and is still there forty four years later.

After working in Moneypoint for three years, Dinny spent over a decade working in the mobile catering business. “I went bookmaking then, we had a souvenir shop in the Cliffs of Moher, a trailer, and we acquired the shop off Clare County Council, we have it on a 35-year lease, my daughter runs it now”.

His work as a bookie has not alone strengthened his profile in the county but nationwide. “I was a sole-trader bookmaker working all the race courses in Ireland. I’ve slowed down a small bit since and sold some of my pitches, I’ve only five pitches left in the racecourse and a pitch in the dogtrack in Limerick.”

All three of his and Caroline’s daughters run businesses, Sarah runs Riverside Beauty in Cree, Karen operates their shop at the Cliffs of Moher and Tara oversees the takeaway in Cree. Pressures on businesses are not waning, he noted, “It is getting harder and harder, everything is getting more expensive with rates and everything. Being in business myself I’d be trying to help other business people”.

A member of Fine Gael since the 1980s, Dinny would have ran for the party had he been asked. “I thought I might be added to the Fine Gael ticket, I’m a member of Fine Gael for the last 30 years. I’m a personal friend of Joe Carey’s, I’ve worked with him and canvassed with him, I thought I had something to offer.”

He told The Clare Echo that he could have put his name forward for a Fine Gael selection convention but he opted against doing so. “I thought I might be asked, if they asked me I would have went but there was no pressure put on me to go so I thought they might have been happy enough to

run their own candidates, I didn’t want to rock any boats so I left them off”.

Attempts to secure a Fine Gael nomination in 2009 were thwarted, he admitted, “In 2009, when I went for the Council there was the members of the Fine Gael party who said there was a court case pending and that I couldn’t run, that is why I didn’t run, I let it go and I worked with Joe Carey, I thought this was my time because I retired last year and I said I’d have more time”.

This case was settled at the High Court and stemmed from a legal action over a failed drug test on a winning greyhound Boavista owned by a three-man syndicate, the members of which were Dinny, greyhound trainer Pat Curtin and former professional footballer turned actor Vinnie Jones. No adverse findings were made personally against the trio. A High Court sitting in January 2013 quashed the decision of the Irish Coursing Club (ICC) inquiry committee in August 2011 to disqualify Boavista.

On his election odds, Dinny stated, “I think I will get a good enough vote, I’d prefer if I was going for Fine Gael but now that I’m not I’ve no other choice but to go as an Independent, I’m happy enough to go Independent”. He added, “If I am elected I

Taylor steps down as PA of Clare

FINE GAEL member Mike Taylor as stepped down as the parliamentary assistant of Clare TD, Violet-Anne Wynne (IND), writes Páraic McMahon.

Taylor’s appointment as PA of the Clare TD caused a stir in November 2022 seeing as nine months earlier he led the call for her resignation when he stated, “the circus that has unfolded in Clare over the last two years since the Deputy was elected has completely distracted from the serious issues at hand in the constituency. Another day another sideshow, two years of ridicule. The best thing now would be for the Deputy to step aside”.

Mike’s decision to move on

means he is the third PA of Deputy Wynne’s to step aside in the space of four years. The duo have left on “excellent terms” according to Taylor, they ironically competed against each other in the 2019 local elections with both eliminated on the fifth count in the Kilrush LEA.

Speaking to The Clare Echo, 25 year old Mike said, “Sometimes it’s times for a new challenge, I’ve been involved in politics for a very long time

while I don’t intend to not be involved in politics but it is time for a new challenge, I’m proud of what we accomplished, we put a lot of pressure to bear on Colette Cowan which is to be lauded, we started a serious conversation about reinstating Ennis A&E, it is great to see so many political candidates and elected representatives now finally backing the decision for so long after not doing so”.

Reflecting on the experience of working as a parliamentary assistant,

lPOLITICS: Businessman Dinny Gould has

lLEAVING POLITICS: Cllr Ann Norton will not seek reelection

Photo by Eamon Ward

announced that he will run for a West Clare seat

will work hard for the locality and all of West Clare, every inch of it”.

Wastewater schemes need to come under greater focus, he maintained.

“The biggest problem in West Clare is that we’ve no sewerage in some of our villages, my own village of Cree is only a small village and it wouldn’t cost an awful lot to put sewerage in. Cooraclare have no sewerage but have been granted, that is going ahead. Carrigaholt, Labasheeda, Knock village none of them have sewerage, I can’t understand that”.

He added, “I have a big profile but I’m more interested in getting things done. The rural villages and towns of West Clare are falling asunder, something has to be done, we lost our post office in Cree, we lost one of our public houses in Cree, we’ve nothing in Cree only one pub, one shop and a takeaway”.

The decision of Cllr Bill Chambers (FF) to retire last November has influenced Dinny’s entry into the race, he commended Bill’s working in getting

Cooraclare included in a pilot for a wastewater scheme along with Broadford.

Gould stressed that more needs to be done to entice young people to live in West Clare, and tourists to spend more time in the area.

“We need new developments in West Clare, we need to keep the youth here, there is nothing happening, everything is dead back here. Then when the tourists come in we’ve no way of keeping them for a few hours, we need to get them stopping in different places but they come off the ferry, go up to Kilkee, up through Quilty and no stopping, buses and cars lines of them every hour.

“The amount of tourists that come up across the ferry and through West Clare straight up to the Cliffs of Moher and Doolin, we’ve nothing in West Clare to keep the people here, if we only got a third of them to stop it would be money for the area but there’s nothing there.”

TD Violet-Anne Wynne

Mike said, “It was interesting and different, I’ve never been coming from the opposition side before so it was important to take a constructive approach”. He added, “It was a very interesting experience, it highlighted to me an electorate or constituents that the Fine Gael vote or my vote would have missed over the years”. Opting to leave now rather than waiting to assist Deputy Wynne in preparing for a General Election has been flagged as strange timing in political circles. “I’m not jumping before the ship sinks,” he stressed. A Fine Gael member since 2011, he said rumours had circulated that he was tipped to be a special advisor in Government buildings but have been put to bed, The Clare Echo was unaware of these reports.

Mike said, “The General Election now is 11 months out as opposed to when Leo was Taoiseach and it could have been next week or next month, when you’re always working to a moving deadline you’re never really comfortable”. He continued, “now a line has been drawn in the sand, the Taoiseach has said it will be next March when he have a General Election and I can leave comfortable that she can build a rapport with new PA”.

He added, “We made history, from now on non-aligned Independent TDs will have guaranteed speaking time in the Dáil which didn’t exist up until now”.

Simon Harris (FG) succeeding Leo Varadkar (FG) as Taoiseach and Fine Gael leader was welcomed by Mike who attended the party’s Ard Fhéis this month.

County Clare hosts ‘Be a Tourist’ promotion

FREE and half price admission is being offered at local visitor attractions and sites across County Clare on Saturday and Sunday, April 20th and 21st as part of the second annual “Be a Tourist in Your Own County Clare” initiative.

The Tourism Department of Clare County Council, working in partnership with the Clare Tourism Advisory Forum and local tourism attractions, is inviting the public to become a tourist for the day in County Clare as part of ongoing efforts to tap into the growing domestic market ahead of the peak tourism season.

The wide range of experiences to be enjoyed at discounted prices include going full Willy Wonka at a real chocolate factory, taking a cave tour, stepping back in time at Craggaunowen and Bunratty, sailing to the Aran Islands, watching sheepdog demonstrations, and exploring a botanical tribute to Ireland's rich natural history in West Clare.

best of County Clare,” he added.

Clare is home to some of Ireland’s best known visitor attractions including Bunratty Castle and Folk Park, Cliffs of Moher Visitor Experience, Aillwee Burren Experience, Doolin Cave, Craggaunowen, Vandeleur Walled Garden & Visitor Centre, Shannon Aviation Museum and OPW Ennis Friary, all of which feature in the promotion.

Other participating attractions include Wilde Irish Chocolates, Loop Head Lighthouse, Irish Seed Savers, Doolin Ferry, Killaloe River Cruises, Caherconnell Fort & Sheepdog Demonstrations, Doolin Cave, Moher Hill Open Farm, Lahinch Leisure Centre, Charm Bee Studio and Café, Tulla Guided Walk, and Taste The Atlantic – The Salmon Experience.

Cllr. Joe Cooney, Cathaoirleach of Clare County Council said the success of last year’s inaugural initiative highlighted the benefits of promoting the rich and varied array of attractions and activities available on the public’s doorstep.

“The pre-season timing of the promotion is important as it targets consumers throughout Clare and the wider region, so they are aware of what is on offer here. I encourage everyone, particularly families, to take advantage of the half-price and free admission offers that are listed on www.visitclare.ie/wow and come out and enjoy the

Pat Dowling, Chief Executive of Clare County Council commented, “This initiative will provide much needed pre-season support to attractions and activity providers. Following on the success of this initiative last year, Clare County Council is committed to supporting the local tourism sector in building on the growth experienced in the domestic market throughout 2023.”

Sean Lally, Chair of the Clare Tourism Advisory Forum, commented, “The recent Tourism Together networking event at The Inn at Dromoland event brought Clare tourism operators together to explore how Clare could improve its share of the domestic market and, in doing so, counter the unprecedented challenges in the sector. This promotional campaign represents one of the key responses to this challenge and we are delighted that it has been so well supported by local operators.”

“We are encouraging local people to become a tourist in their own county and explore the hidden gems and captivating attractions that make Clare a must-visit destination,” stated Deirdre O’Shea, Head of Tourism with Clare County Council. “The people of Clare are the County’s greatest ambassadors when it comes to promoting the compelling array of adventure activities and remarkable experiences for visitors to the county to enjoy.”

Visit www.visitclare.ie/wow for more on “Be a Tourist in Your Own County Clare” and for details of the offers available on Saturday and Sunday, April 20th and 21st. Booking for some participating attractions is essential. Offers are valid only on the specified dates and may require online pre-booking.

l INITIATIVE: Caherconnell Stone Fort (above) and the Shannon Aviation Museum (below) are taking part in the initiative

Photos by Eamon Ward

“Be a Tourist in your Own County Clare”

50% OFF DISCOUNTS to Clare’s Top Attractions for ONE WEEKEND ONLY!

On Saturday and Sunday, April 20 and 21, 2024, we encourage you to become a tourist in your own County Clare and explore the parts of the County you are not so familiar with - the hidden gems and captivating attractions that make Clare a mustvisit destination. For this WEEKEND ONLY, take advantage of the BIG DISCOUNTS to Clare’s Top Attractions with our ‘Be a Tourist’ vouchers and promo codes.

ESSENTIAL TO KNOW:

Check offers online as some are valid only on specific dates and may require online bookings. See www.VisitClare.ie/wow.

One voucher per party suffices, but certain attractions require bookings with promo codes. For full details on date-specific availability, booking requirements, and promo codes, visit www.VisitClare.ie/wow.

Please follow all instructions closely.

The WEEKEND SUMMARY OFFERS on Saturday & Sunday, April 20 and 21.

There are brilliant experiences to be enjoyed at discounted prices, including going full Willy Wonka at a chocolate factory, taking a cave tour, having a hoot with an owl, enjoying a spectacular cruise beneath the Cliffs of Moher or on Lough Derg, climbing a lighthouse, rediscovering the Cliffs of Moher and Bunratty Castle and Folk Park, sailing to the Aran Islands, exploring a botanical wonder, watching sheepdog demonstrations and more.

50%

Important:

Get your vouchers and promo codes at www.VisitClare.ie/wow

Check this website for vital offer details and booking conditions.

Leas-Cathaoirleach Cllr. Gabriel Keating (front row, third from left), Mike Hanrahan, Age Friendly Ambassador (back row, centre), and members of the Clare Older People’s Council and the Rural Development Directorate of Clare County Council All photos by Paul Corey

Cllr. Gabriel Keating, Leas Cathaoirleach, and Maurice Harvey, Chair of the Older People’s Council, pictured with Kelly Slattery, Clare Age Friendly Programme Manager for Clare (back centre), and Bernadette Haugh and Helen Moloney of the Rural Development Directorate of Clare County Council

Award nominee Margaret Kelly and her guests at the Clare Older People’s Volunteer of the Year Award ceremony at Woodstock Hotel. Circled (right) The Forever Young choir performing at the award ceremony

Volunteer of the Year Award nominees pictured with Mike Hanrahan and representatives of the Clare Older People’s Council and Clare County Council

Dena McGrath and Karen Fennessy of the Clare Healthy Age Friendly Homes Programme

Volunteer of the Year Bríd Dilleen from Ennis pictured with family members and Councillor Mary Howard of Ennis MD and circled (right) are Monica Hannaford and Maurice Harvey of the Clare Older People’s Council

Over 170 people gathered at the Hotel Woodstock last Wednesday for the announcement of the Clare Older People’s Volunteer of the Year Award 2024. Bríd Dilleen from Ennis was awarded the overall Volunteer of the Year Award by Clare Age Friendly Ambassador, Mike Hanrahan, and Leas-Cathaoirleach Cllr Gabriel Keating. The function was hosted by the Clare Older People’s Council, with support from the Clare Age Friendly Programme in Clare County Council.

Protesters bring Airport access road to standstill

by Páraic McMahon paraic@clareecho.ie

UP TO 500 people took part in a demonstration organised by Shannonwatch on Sundayfrom which a “spontaneous” protest developed which saw over a dozen individuals conduct a sit-down protest on the N19.

Shortly after 1pm on Sunday, a strong Garda presence formed on the approach road to Shannon Airport in advance of the demonstration. Other groups involved included Mothers against Genocide, IPSC groups from Clare, Galway, Limerick, Kilkenny, Kerry and Cork, Múinteoirí ar son na Palestine, Pals for Palestine, People Before Profit, the Workers Party and members of

Clare PPN.

Groups marched from Drumgeely along the N19 as part of Shannonwatch’s protest which they later described as their “biggest demonstration in years”, this began at 2pm and lasted just under an hour. Politicians present included TDs, Catherine Connolly (IND), Brid Smith (PBP) and MEP, Clare Daly (I4C).

Soon after, persons attached to the demonstration then proceeded to block access for motorists trying to get to Shannon Airport until about 4:40pm. Passengers attempting to get flights were forced to leave their vehicles and travel on foot for 2km to the Airport while others were given lifts by An Garda Síochána positioned at the other side of the blockade. Gardaí were forced to physically remove protest-

ers who clung on to barriers. Strong levels of verbal abuse was hurled at Gardaí while they carried out their duties. At this stage, protesters shouted “Shut Shannon down” and “US military out of Shannon”.

London woman Hannah Hughes spoke to The Clare Echo while waiting in the queue of traffic to try catch her flight. She was unable to leave her rental car at Starbucks and encountered a 100 minute delay as a result of the protest. She supported the protest but not the manner in which they conducted their business, “I don’t agree with any of this stuff or the police chucking them around, I agree with supporting peace and being anti-war but there is nothing I can do about it”.

A spokeswoman for Shannon Airport con-

firmed that all flights operated as per schedule despite the protest.

Monaghan native, Aindriú de Buitléir who is now based in Connemara was one of the speakers on Sunday’s protest. He is currently on bail having been one of three people who attempted to block a US military plane in Shannon Airport last month. “People have come from all around the country, it is clear, we haven’t had a demonstration like this in Shannon since the

Iraq War, the level of oppression faced by the Palestinians calls for this level of action, I think we met it with a proportionate level of a rally”.

He told The Clare Echo, “The disruption was really important, the disruption came from the organisations that put a global call for action out, we have collectively answered the call, that is to disrupt the trade routes and to cause a level of disruption that needs to be felt, I think most people in the queue to-

day are behind us.”

Cratloe’s Eddie Punch (IND) who is contesting the European elections said the actions of the protesters will do nothing to alleviate the victims of Israel’s military action in Gaza. “Of course, protests at Shannon Airport are nothing new but all that blocking the N19 achieved was to inconvenience passengers wishing to access the terminal, it didn’t prevent the deployment of any Israeli military hardware.”

Record numbers out for Odd Socks Cycle

A RECORD number of 300 cyclists partook in the third annual Odd Socks Cycle. Held on Sunday, the Odd Socks Cycle saw participants embark on 50km and 100km routes starting in Shannon and taking in scenic views of East Clare along the way.

Down Syndrome Ireland’s Clare branch have paid tribute to Club Rothaíochta na Sionnaine who organised the cycle, bringing cyclists together with the common goal of raising an awareness of Down Syndrome and funds for the branch whilst wearing odd socks, symbolising the uniqueness of people with Down Syndrome.

Branch secretary, Maeve Crawford said, “We are immensely proud of the overwhelming response and support we have received

for the Odd Socks charity cycle and raffle”. She added, “It is heartening to see so many cyclists take part in the cycle and witness the support that the cycle received from all corners of the county and beyond”.

All proceeds from the event will be directed towards supporting the services and initiatives of Down Syndrome Clare, enriching the lives of individuals with Down syndrome and their families. The branch recently purchased a property in Ennis which will be its Clare base which is anticipated to be open and running this autumn.

Pictured at the event is Chloe Corry, Harry Brown, Ferdia Carey and Jake Corry at the Odd Socks Cycle in Shannon.

Photo by Joe Buckley

Scariff man appointed interim Chief of Staff to European Commission President

by Páraic McMahon paraic@clareecho.ie

ASCARIFF MAN has taken on a new role as the Chief of Staff for the European Commission President.

Fifty five year old Anthony Whelan has stepped up into the high-profile post on a temporary basis and will serve as Ursula von der Leyen’s chief of staff until early June.

Björn Seibert announced earlier this month that he was taking temporary leave from the post, to run Dr von der Leyen’s campaign to

secure a second term as commission president.

Anthony joined von der Leyen’s team in late 2019 as her adviser on digital policy. He has been tasked with dealing with large tech multinationals and holding meetings with executives from Microsoft, Google, Amazon, Stripe and Meta. He also held meetings with representatives of telecom companies including Huawei, Vodafone and Nokia, according to a register of senior EU officials’ meetings.

One of his roles in the cabinet had been to link in with Margrethe Vestager, the EU’s digital and competition commissioner, best

known in Ireland for pursuing Apple over its tax bill. Before joining her cabinet, he had been the commission’s director of electronic communications networks and services. He previously worked as head of cabinet for Neelie Kroes, a Dutch politician who served as commissioner for competition and for the digital agenda, between 2008 and 2013.

Originally from Scariff, he is a former pupil of Cistercian College Roscrea, the Tipperary fee-paying school. After school he studied law in Trinity College Dublin, where he was

heavily involved with the Hist debating society. He trained as a barrister but returned to Trinity for a stint as a lecturer in public law in his mid-twenties. His move to work within the EU institutions happened as a result of former Supreme Court judge Nial Fennelly’s appointment as an advocate general in the European Court of Justice.

After five years he joined the legal service of the commission, leading on a high profile case involving Microsoft in 2006, where the tech giant was fined a record €500 million over competition breaches.

Scariff Community College launch spring clean

by Páraic McMahon paraic@clareecho.ie

AS PART of their efforts to fund a €400,000 multi-purpose Astro-turf facility, Scariff Community College’s latest fundraiser is a spring clean.

Cash for clothing and scrap metal collections are now up and run-

ning with the school grounds the designated drop-off point.

From April 15th to 26th both collections are open with a drop-off in the school hall from 8:15am to 9am every morning before school, Wednesday evenings from 6pm to 7:30pm and on Saturday April 20th and 27th from 8am to 11am.

Planning permission for the

sports facility was granted by Clare County Council in April 2021. Development of the astro-turf includes a 80x40m playing pitch and a four lane athletics track, both of which will be floodlit.

To date an approximate 40 percent of the school’s target has been made for the facility. The 2021 Christmas Draw raised €18,790,

a fashion show held in October 2022 generated €21,007, a total of €133,268 has been allocated under the Sports Capital Programme Grant and ten percent of this grant will be matched by Limerick and Clare Education Training Board.

410 students are currently enrolled at Scariff Community College.

Scariff set for blood donation

THE Scariff community has teamed up with the Irish Blood Transfusion Service (IBTS) to host the first-ever blood donation clinic at the Scariff Community Hall.

This event, aimed at bolstering blood supplies and saving lives, is scheduled for Monday, April 29, from 4:50pm to 8:10pm.

Ger Rodgers, of Scariff GAA, stated, “Hosting the first blood donation clinic at our Community Hall is a proud moment for all of us in Scariff. It’s about community spirit and coming together for a cause that can save lives. All of us in Scariff are thrilled to partner with the Irish Blood Transfusion Service and encourage everyone who can, to donate.”

The blood donation clinic is open to anyone aged 18 to 65 who meets the health and eligibility criteria for blood donation. New donors can book an appointment by phoning 1800 222 111.

First time donors can check their eligibility at www.giveblood. ie .

‘More Garda resources will be key to making our communities feel safer’

FIONA Levie, the Social Democrats Killaloe LEA candidate, has called for adequate Garda resources in Clare so that local residents and business owners feel safe.

While out canvassing for the local elections, the issue of anti-social behaviour has been raised repeatedly with Fiona on the doorsteps. She heard of genuine fears in some areas where residents claimed to have faced threats and intimidation if they challenge those involved in anti-social activity.

While Clare is a wonderful place to live, there are small pockets of the county where residents do not feel safe, according to the feedback Fiona has received.

At the heart of this issue is the reduction of garda numbers in so many towns and rural com-

munities around the country. Despite recruitment drives, the number of new Gardaí joining is often negated by those leaving the force or retiring. If this trend continues, Fiona fears it will pose a very real challenge for Clare in the coming years.

Fiona believes there must be a stronger emphasis on the provision of community Gardaí. Preventative policing would allow for positive engagement between Gardaí and those most at risk at becoming involved in crime or anti-social activity, she says.

Local authorities must also use their existing powers to deal with anti-social behaviour when it arises in their tenancies. The Housing Act has a very clear definition of what constitutes anti-social behaviour, and this information can be found on the Citizens’ Information website

(www.citizensinformation.ie).

Those who engage in anti-social behaviour can be sent a tenancy warning notice by a local authority and, in some extreme cases, a warning may not even have to be given before action is taken.

As a society, Fiona feels it is our duty to look after our most vulnerable citizens. She believes that elderly people, sole parents and those living alone should not have to live in fear because of bad behaviour.

She added that local authorities, in collaboration with Gardaí, must ensure that complaints about serious or persistent anti-social behaviour are dealt with effectively and efficiently.

PICTURED: Fiona Levie with Social Democrats Party Leader Holly Cairns TD on a recent visit to Killaloe

l Anthony Whelan

Fórsa General Secretary to launch Festival of Finn New signs now display Lahinch’s correct spelling

by Páraic McMahon paraic@clareecho.ie

FÓRSA General Secretary, Kevin Callinan will launch this year’s Corofin Festival of Finn.

A former President of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions, Callinan will travel to Corofin on Thursday May 2nd to address the opening night of this year’s Festival of Finn/Féile Finne, on the issue of the past and present Irish experience of immigration as well as its likely future. He will also perform the official launch of this year’s festival.

Kevin, whose father Patrick was a Corofin native, is one of the most widely experienced trade unionists in Ireland and was the lead trade union negotiator with government on the recent national public service pay deal.

He is also chair of the ICTU Public Services’ Committee and is currently a member of the Irish National Economic and Social Council as well as being an executive member of the European Public Services’ Union.

At a recent ‘Ireland for All’ rally, Kevin stated, “We must speak out and challenge those who are peddling hate speech in our communities”.

Proud of his Clare heritage, Kevin is a supporter of the Clare senior hurling team.

Clare TD, Cathal Crowe (FF) and Senator Martin Conway (FG) have both indi-

cated that they will attend the address. This year’s Festival of Finn/Féile Finne takes place over the coming May Bank holiday weekend.

Organisers have promised it will be the biggest and best held Festival of Finn in Corofin to date, featuring many new events with a major emphasis on creativity and artistic awareness.

by Páraic McMahon paraic@clareecho.ie

LAHINCH’s incorrect spelling on road signage has been remedied on a minor scale.

Replacement signage erected in some parts of the North-West coastal town reads Lahinch as opposed to the Lehinch signs that exist in parts of the locality. The incorrect spelling of certain towns and villages on road signage in Clare is a bone of contention for proud locals in areas including Ballyvaughan, Corofin, Clonlara, Ennistymon, Kilnaboy, Lahinch and Miltown Malbay.

In 2012, the name of Lahinch on road signs was changed to Lehinch, the coastal spot has been known as Lahinch since the 1850s. The spelling of Lehinch relates to a 1914 Ordnance Survey Map.

Funds were due to be set aside in 2018 for a plebiscite to be held, this is the direct vote of all the members of an electorate on an important public question such as a change in the constitution. This local vote never took place.

Since his co-option to Clare

Roasted rhubarb & custard tart

County Council in October 2021, Cllr Liam Grant (GP) has tried to push the matter higher on the agenda within the local authority. “I’m happy to see some replacement signs going up with the correct spelling of Lahinch. Long before I was ever a councillor I was campaigning for this. The Council haven’t agreed to having a plebiscite but I’m still fighting for one,” he said.

“We need to get the names

officially changed back so we can have the correct road signs for Lahinch, Ballyvaughan, Ennistymon, Miltown Malbay, Corofin, Kilnaboy. There’s a few correct Lahinch ones gone up replacing damaged signs. Not stickers this time,” Cllr Grant added.

He said “Plan B” if signs are not improved “is to get Willie Daly to paint all the signs in Clare”.

This is a real showstopper and a beautiful way to use fresh rhubarb thats coming into season. Enjoy it as a dessert out in the garden when the weather improves.

You will need

For the pastry

n 225g plain flour, plus extra for dusting

n 3 tbsp icing sugar

n 140g unsalted butter, diced and chilled

n 1 medium egg yolk, plus 1 medium egg yolk beaten, for glazing (save the whites for meringues)

n 1 tsp vanilla bean paste

For the vanilla custard

n ½ vanilla pod or 1 tsp vanilla bean paste

n 250ml whole milk

n 1 large egg, plus 2 large egg yolks

n 100g golden caster sugar

n 25g cornflour

n 1 tbsp unsalted butter

For the roasted rhubarb

n 700g thin forced rhubarb (about 5 stalks), trimmed, rinsed and cut into 9cm/3 1/2 in-long pieces

n 175g golden caster sugar

n 1 vanilla pod, seeds scraped out, or 1 tsp vanilla paste

n juice 2 oranges

n 1 tbsp pistachio, chopped, to serve

Method

STEP 1

Put the flour, icing sugar and a pinch of salt in a large bowl and mix together. Add the butter and rub together until the mixture resembles breadcrumbs. Add 1 egg yolk, the vanilla and 1 tbsp cold water, and mix together until it just starts to come together as a dough. Tip the mixture onto a clean work surface and gently bring together with your hands. Wrap the pastry in cling film and chill for at least 1 hr before rolling out. Can be made 3 days ahead, or frozen for 2 months.

STEP 2

Put the vanilla beans scraped from the pod (or the paste) in a pan over a medium-high heat, add the milk and bring to the boil. Meanwhile, tip the egg, yolks, sugar and cornflour into a bowl and whisk together until smooth. Pour the milk over the egg mixture, whisking to combine. Pour the custard back into the pan and cook, whisking constantly, for 2-3 mins until thickened. Scrape into a bowl and add the butter, mixing until melted and combined. Press a sheet of cling film onto the surface of the custard to stop a skin forming, and chill for 3 hrs. Can be made and chilled 3 days ahead.

STEP 3

On a lightly floured surface, roll out the pastry into a large rectangle big enough to line a 30 x 20cm fluted rectangular tart tin. Roll the pastry onto the rolling pin and carefully drape it into the tin, carefully lifting

and pressing into the corners and edges. Roll your rolling pin over the tart tin, cutting off the excess. Chill for 30 mins or until the pastry is firm.

STEP 4

Heat oven to 180C/160C fan/ gas 4. Line the tart with a piece of crumpled baking parchment and fill with baking beans or rice and place on a baking tray. Bake for about 30 mins, then remove the parchment and the beans, and return to the oven for another 5 mins or until the base is golden brown. Brush the inside of the tart with the remaining beaten egg yolk and return to the oven for 1 min to set (this creates a seal, meaning the pastry won’t become soggy as quickly). Set aside to cool.

STEP 5

Heat oven to 190C/170C fan/gas

5. Put the rhubarb batons in a small roasting tin (so that they are in one flat layer) and sprinkle over the sugar, the vanilla pod and its scraped out seeds, and the orange juice. Roast for 15-20 mins, or until the rhubarb has softened but is still holding its shape and a vibrant pink syrup has formed. Remove from the oven, discard the vanilla pod and allow to cool.

STEP 6

Remove the custard from the fridge, beat to loosen, then pour over the pastry and smooth with a spatula. Top with the roasted rhubarb, brushing a little of the syrup on top, then sprinkle over the pistachios. Best eaten on the day its made.

l Kevin Callinan

l Cllr Liam Grant

Questions over protected snail stall Doonbeg pickle ball plan

by Gordon Deegan news@clareecho.ie

QUESTIONS around the impact on a tiny 2mm protected snail, the Vertigo Angustior is stalling plans by Donald Trump’s Doonbeg resort in West Clare for new pickle ball courts.

This follows Clare County Council writing to Mr Trump’s TIGL Ireland Enterprises Ltd requesting a report from the firm on the potential for the proposed works to impact on the EU protected Vertigo Angustior’s population at the Trump owned lands.

The Council has told the Trump firm that the report should include a full survey report on the snail. There are tens of millions of whorl snail at the course and at Shannon Airport in 2014 shortly after purchasing the resort, Mr Trump told reporters that he would be a friend to the Vertigo Angustior at the site.

The TIGL Ireland Enterprises Ltd planning application is seeking permission for

the pickle ball courts, basketball court, soft play areas and other improvements.

In relation to the Vertigo Angustior, a report lodged with the application states that given its location outside the terrestrial Special Area of Conservation (SCA) areas, the golf course proper, and the absence of the snail on the works areas, “there is no potential for the proposed development to adversely affect the integrity of Vertigo Angustior conservation objectives”.

However, the Council has stated that as no survey report on the Vertigo Angustior was received in the planning application, it can’t determine if surveys were carried out in all three of the 1km areas relating to the snail and requires further information.

The Council has requested the Trump Doonbeg firm to address seven separate items in the further information request.

In relation to the location of the planned outdoor recreation areas, the Council has told the Trump firm that “health and safety issues

l Trump International Doonbeg

may arise due to the potential for golf ball strike of patrons”.

The Council states that the location of the planned outdoor recreation areas is the rear yard at Doughmore House and is currently protected from golf ball strikes by existing overhead netting.

Prior to the Council seeking the items of further information, locals had written to the Council urging it to grant planning permission to the new application.

Diarmuid O’Donnell called for planning permission in order to help create more “badly wanted” jobs in west

Clare “when rural Ireland is collapsing around us”.

Doonbeg businessman, Hugh McNally told the Council that the continued operation of the hotel and golf course “has enriched the lives of many people locally and therefore all opportunities for growth and development must be embraced to allow this business to thrive”.

However, Joe Pender and Jenny Lynch told the council they are objecting concerning traffic from the proposed development. They stated that the local road was never intended for industrial use.

PJ honoured

LISSYCASEY honoured championship winning teams of the past and the village’s retiring county councillor at a function on Saturday evening, writes Páraic McMahon

Plenty of tales from days gone by and matches of yesteryear were recalled at Fanny O’Deas on Saturday night when Lissycasey GAA club honoured the 1971 junior championship and league winning teams along with members of the 1963 junior side which contested the championship final.

On the night, Chairman of Lissycasey GAA, Eamonn Finnucane made a presentation to former club secretary, PJ Kelly to mark his fifty years as an elected member of Clare County Council.

Cllr Kelly (FF) in February announced he would not be seeking re-election to the local authority and thus prepares to call the curtain on the longest present career in Clare politics which stretches back to his election in 1974.

PICTURED: Chairman of Lissycasey GAA, Eamonn Finnucane makes a presentation to Cllr PJ Kelly (FF)

‘Through voting, we as Irish people can strive for and promote change’

This article was written by Caoimhe and Aimee Fitzgerald, two Transition Year students in Colaiste Muire on work experience with Seanator Roisin Garvey

WE ARE two sixteen-year-olds who although can’t vote yet, believe that it is one of if not the most transformative action we as Irish citizens can do. Our right to vote should be cherished, appreciated and everyone should utilise it at every given opportunity, in every election and referendum. Through voting we as Irish people can strive for and promote change whether in our local areas or nationally across the country! Our voice is heard and listened to when we vote, meaning everyone is involved in actively changing, updating and improving how we run this country. We are fortunate enough in Ire-

land to live in a democratic country, where everyone over 18 years old can vote and freely express their views and opinions This is more than can be said for many other countries across the globe. It seems that some have forgotten that it has only been just over 100 years since Ireland achieved independence from centuries of British rule.

It is our duty to admire and respect all of those before us who helped Ireland get to where we are today. We must all vote in remembrance of them and cherish their honour by doing so. We must never forget that many men and women died for our right to vote.

Across the country every day young people witness bad examples from adults in their life when they choose not to vote. One proposal of ours, and that of many others, including the Green Party,

is to possibly reduce the voting age in Ireland to 16 years old. We think this would encourage an interest in politics to develop at a younger age

and importantly allow teenagers’ opinions to be considered when decisions are being made regarding the youth of Ireland. We know that

teenagers across the country have so much insight to offer in many well discussed and well-known topics.

However, we are aware that the voting age may not be reduced just yet, so for now, we would like to encourage anyone who can, to vote! Vote for those who can’t vote yet and vote to display your gratitude for the privilege it is to have your voice listened to.

You can vote in the Local Election on 7th June if you live in Ireland, are over 18 and are registered. If you are an EU citizen, you can vote in the European election. Register to vote on www.checktheregister.ie.

PICTURED: Caoimhe and Aimee Fitzgerald at the launch of Bridget Ginnity’s election campaign alongside Senator Róisín Garvey and Bridget

€280k funding boost for Galway under Community Monuments Fund

by Páraic McMahon paraic@clareecho.ie

EIGHT projects across County Galway have been awarded funding totalling €286,070 under the 2024 Community Monuments Fund, details of which have been announced by Minister of State for Nature, Heritage and Electoral Reform, Malcolm Noonan TD (GP).

Funding will facilitate conservation works at Issertkelly and Temple Jarlath in Tuam and the preparation of Conservation Management Plans for St. Grellan’s Ecclesiastical Site in Ballinasloe, Kilmeen Ecclesiastical Site, Loughrea and Moylough Castle.

St. Brendan’s Cathedral, Clonfert has received funding for the digital recording of its iconic doorway, which is noted for its sandstone detail and symbolism of its iconography.

The necessary works to conserve and make safe the Seefin Souterrain in Craughwell will also proceed. The important archaeological site features three large chambers built with limestone slabs encased within a mound of soil.

Galway County Council and Galway Community Archaeology Project also

have received funding to create story-maps of community monuments which have previously benefited from the Community Monuments Fund, including Kilcreevanty, Kilboght, Abbeygormican and St. Kerrills, Gurteen.

Reacting to the funding announcement, Cllr. Liam Carroll (FG), Cathaoirleach of Galway County Council commented, “The projects that have been successful under this year’s funding scheme will complement the wonderful conservation work that has been carried out on a voluntary basis by many communities throughout County Galway over the past number of years. I want to pay tribute to the many community volunteers who are working to record, conserve, restore and celebrate the distinctive qualities of their local heritage and communities”.

Liam Conneally, Chief Executive of Galway County Council said, “The Community Monuments Fund is a hugely popular scheme and is one which Galway County Council was delighted to be able to submit applications to on behalf of community groups. We are committed

l FUNDING: St Grellans

to working in partnership with community organisations across the county and supporting the aspects of heritage they and the wider public value”.

Bernie Doherty, Galway County Community Archaeologist stated, “This is wonderful news for the many communities and individ-

uals involved in preserving and promoting their archaeological heritage. It encourages heritage best practice and will assist in advising and promoting our archaeological sites and monuments. We are really grateful for this ongoing support from The National Monuments Service, the Department of

Housing, Local Government and Heritage and to the individuals and groups who worked really hard in the preparation of their applications”.

Marie Mannion, Heritage Officer with Galway County Council commented, “The Community Monuments Fund allocation is very

valuable as will support the conservation, maintenance, protection and promotion of a number of our local monuments and historic sites. The conservation of our historic buildings, monuments and heritage sites makes our towns and villages more attractive to tourists and locals alike. This vitally important work also can often act as a catalyst for further heritage projects in an area, as it enhances local awareness in our built heritage”.

First established in 2020, the Community Monuments Fund (CMF) aims to conserve, maintain, protect and promote local monuments and historic sites. Funding is available to allow conservation works to be carried out on monuments that are deemed to be significant and in need of urgent support. The aim is to encourage access to monuments and improve their presentation and also to build their resilience to help them withstand the effects of climate change.

Further Information is available from the Galway Community Archaeology website at www.field-monuments.galwaycommunityheritage.org.

Graveyards mapping project wins national award

by Páraic McMahon paraic@clareecho.ie

AN INNOVATIVE digital project which mapped over 40,000 graveyard memorial records across Co Galway and made them publicly available online has won national recognition.

On Thursday, the ‘Digitising Galway’s Graveyard Heritage’ project was named overall winner of the ‘Community Engagement’ category of Esri Ireland’s annual ‘Customer Success Awards’ held in Dublin’s Anantara The Marker Hotel.

Working with and supported by Galway Rural Development, Forum Connemara, The Heritage Council, The National Monuments Service and Galway County Community Archaeology Service, Galway County Council provided funding to local groups to employ experts to train local communities to use mobile technology and to undertake drone

mapping of graveyards resulting in a public release of 40,000 records from across the county via the Local Authority’s Open Data Portal.

This is the second national award to be

picked up by the project after it was named winner at the Public Sector Digital Transformation Awards last October.

Welcoming the award win, Cllr. Liam Carroll (FG), Cathaoirleach of Galway County Council commented, “The success of the Digital Mapping of Graveyards Project is the result of forensic research and cutting-edge surveying work by the Local Authority’s Heritage department and local communities across Galway. This award win is testament to the innovative nature of the project and its benefit to the diaspora and academia at home and abroad”.

Outlining the background to the project, Barry Doyle, Geographic Information System (GIS) project lead for Galway County Council said, “We have been working with various community groups and organisations to collect and collating valuable data relating to those who are buried in various

graveyards for several years”.

“Galway County Council, with funding from the Heritage Council, the Open Data Engagement Fund and its own resources developed and made available a mobile app specifically for use by surveyors at the local level for memorial surveys, along with associated data management and validation processes,” he added. “This technology, along with drone technology, was made available to local community groups to expand the number of graveyards in the project resulting in the 40,000 records that are now publicly available.”

Esri Ireland is the global market leader in GIS and their software is used widely in Ireland in both public and private sector organisations, including most local authorities.

The Galway County Digital Mapping of Graveyards Project may be viewed at galwaycoco.maps.arcgis.com and data.gov.ie.

Extended working hours for Ennis public realm work

by Páraic McMahon paraic@clareecho.ie

EXTENDED working hours have been agreed between Clare County Council and Shareridge Ltd to accelerate public realm works in Ennis.

An additional work shift from 7pm to 3am has commenced four nights per week (Monday to Thursdays) as of this week. It is hoped this will see the project concluded a month ahead of schedule as a result, the works are part of an €11.5m public realm regeneration project.

A spokesperson for the local authority confirmed, “Clare County Council and the appointed contractor Shareridge Ltd. will be putting in place specific arrangements and make every effort to minimise noise and any potential disturbance during these times. The work pattern is warranted given the specific conditions on pavements and it is noted that this will facilitate earliest completion of all works on High Street. We do appreciate your patience at this time, and look forward to delivery of the remodelled street in coming months”.

Senior engineer Seán Lenihan had told The Clare Echo that efforts were ongoing to “try and accelerate the works”. He explained, “They are in contract to us to carry out the works within the peri-

od agreed at the cost agreed. We have looked at the possibility of working late. The problem with doing that in an urban context is you might have residents affected by night time noise and lighting. In certain areas of the town we’ve done analysis and there aren’t people in residence there so it would lend itself to evening work there”.

He stated, “We did put a lot of thought into how we could deliver the programme with the least amount of impact on the business community, that’s why we have it phased. Some contractors asked if

we could shut down the town and we said absolutely not. We put in a moratorium during Christmas so the town could operate properly and we’ll do that again next Christmas. I don’t think there’s anything more we could have done at the time”.

Cllr Tom O’Callaghan (FF) said the move to proceed with works out of hours on High Street came “following significant representation”. He stated, “This development will support our trading community and speed up the project by a three to five week improvement”.

Ennis

Council in talks with owner of private billboard to promote positive Ennis message

by Páraic McMahon paraic@clareecho.ie

DISCUSSIONS are underway between the Ennis Municipal District and a private owner on exploring the use of a billboard in the heart of the town centre to advertise local businesses.

It follows a proposal from the Mayor of the Ennis Municipal District, Cllr Pat Daly (FF) requesting the local authority “to look at the possibility of leasing out the large billboard on the left-hand side of Daniel O’Connell monument until works are complete at O’Connell Street by advertising all the businesses on the street so that it will let people know that its business as usual in their street”.

Senior engineer, Seán Lenihan said staff in the Ennis MD are presently “considering various options for promoting and supporting business and optimising the commercial offering during the ongoing public realm works. These include our

recent media campaign in print and radio as well as the supports offered by our colleagues in Finance and Local Enterprise Office”. He admitted, “In fact, the use of the advertising billboard on the gable close to the Daniel O’Connell monument on O’Connell Square is one of the options being considered alongside others including street specific messaging and graphics. It is in private ownership, but preliminary discussions have already taken place with the owner of the billboard and a decision will be made in coming weeks as to the viability or otherwise of this option”.

Effectiveness, value for money and the “level of universal benefit achieved for business activity in the town centre,” will influence the decision, Lenihan advised. “Given the number of businesses operating in the town, if the billboard was to be used, the information on it would need to be of a more

general nature emphasising the towns welcome, vibrancy, and range of services,” he added.

Speaking at this month’s meeting of the Ennis MD, Cllr Daly commented, “the business people would love to see their names up there and tell the people of the

town that they are open for business”. He continued, “Anything that can help business people when the works are going on is good, there is a business people that is willing to help out on the finances”.

Better use of the billboard is necessary, Cllr Mary How-

ard (FG) insisted. “If you look up at the billboard that is there, it is just a mess, I’d love to see us taking over maintaining it. I think promoting the rugby was the last thing there”. “Unsightly” posters currently occupy hoarding and “signs up on the gates,” she said while noting “the open for business signs are very small”. She remarked of the Ennis 2040 signage on Francis Street, “the hoarding on Francis St looks good and is impactful. We need better signage to show the town is open for business”.

Art work could be projected onto the street work, Cllr Johnny Flynn (FG) suggested. “We’re going to be spending millions doing the square,” he calculated.

Also voicing agreement was Cllr Tom O’Callaghan (FF), “anything that can be of help to our businesses has to be welcomed”.

Some reluctance was issued by Cllr Clare Colleran Molloy (FF), “I’d like to say it is a good motion but it is a

privately owned space so let’s hope they are reasonable”. Images outside Ulster Bank on the what the public realm works will result in “are great but they are too small,” the Ballybeg resident felt.

Responding to councillors’ views, Lenihan stated, “everything comes down to cost, we’re looking to see everything we can do to alleviate the costs on the businesses. We can’t do hoarding similar to Francis Street because the town centre is very different”. He explained, “the fencing not as rigid and fixed as other types of hoarding”.

Larger signs are intended to be used, he advised. “We had a mad idea that we could have an interactive green screen on the billboard but if limited to a billboard with private ownership we had to deal with owner of the building and I must acknowledge the positive dealings so far. We’re limited with what we can do, I’d love to project something up there that is live and could be changing”.

Players presented Cahercalla Community Care with a cheque for €2,500 following the opening night production of Steel Magnolias in glór. Pictured (L-R) are Bernie Harten Director of Steel Magnolias, Eddie McCourt, Chairperson of Ennis Players, Sheryl Knowles, Fundraising Manager Cahercalla Community Care, Dr. Michael Harty, Chair of Cahercalla Community Care and Mary Curley, Ennis Players Committee.

Photo by John O’Neill

Ennis Players present €2,500 cheque to Cahercalla Community Care

TV Garden Experts join Clare Master Gardeners

The 10th Clare Garden Festival will be held on the last Sunday in April, the 28th of April and it will see an exciting range of expert speakers covering all areas of gardening. The festival will be headlined

the world on Amazon Prime. He also presents and co-produced the 6-part se-ries Food Matters on RTE 1.

Clare Master Gardener Jim Cronin will of course be speaking about and

to grow and eat their own produce. She will be joined by Lynn O Keeffe, Craft Gardener at Portumna Castle Gardens talking about Gardening and Growing food locally.

There is always plenty to do lGeranium

APRIL has arrived and it’s looking

by two TV Experts Gardeners and four local Master Gardeners. Best known for her RTE 1 series ‘How to Create a Garden’ and now on TV with ‘Homegrown’ Kitty Scully is no stranger to Clare Garden Festival, having been in Ennis for the first and also the fifth edition of the festival. She will be on-stage discussing the festival theme ‘Food from the Garden’ and also will be giving a demonstration in the festival demo area in the greenfield. The other TV expert will be GIY founder Michael Kelly, who has also been a friend to the festival having been onstage in Clare last in 2017. He will be on-stage and giving a demonstration of course around core GIY topics. Mick co-presented/produced 3 series of Grow Cook Eat for RTE which is now watched around

preparing window boxes and hanging baskets here in the garden center. They are growing away in the tunnels, and hopefully will be filled with color in a few weeks.

We use a slow-release fertilizer in our compost that feeds up to 6 months, and with the hanging baskets, we use a

product that helps them stay wet, such as a swell gel that keeps the plants from drying out too fast (no fear at the mo-

The variety of perennials is expanding every week, and it’s really nice to see all the new varieties available and the colors that will be coming into flower later on in the coming weeks. If you do want color in your pots, pansies and violas look fabulous and full of color; wallflowers have lovely color and can give your pot a bit of height too. Aubrieta and Campanula are also nice in bloom and low for the front of pots, so we can add/give you color to brighten your pots and your day now. We may be challenged with the weather, but there is always something to do in a garden or prepare. Hope the week goes well. If you have any questions, please send a message; we are happy to help.

demonstrating Organic Gardening exploring Filling a Raised bed and branching out into Growing a Nice Healthy Lawn. In his Masterclass, Jim will this year be exploring A Slugfree Garden. The second Masterclass will be with Carl Wright of Caherbridge Garden and Carl will be giving tips on Irish flowers in particular Daffodils.

“Masterclasses are booking well now and we are using a lovely new space at the Showgrounds in the Secretaries office this year. Anyone interested in joining one can email us to info@ claregardenfestival.com.” said festival manager Carmen Cronin.

Jo Newton will this year again be hosting the stage whilst sharing her extensive gardening knowledge and inspiring people

The festival will see 7 on-stage expert talks, 2 Masterclasses and 6 demonstrations and workshops in dedicated areas for avid Gardeners, some especially for Children and all of them open to questions and practical hands-on view.

In addition to Garden Talks and Demos, childrens entertainment and music, the festival will of course feature its huge Garden and Food Fair again with 80 stalls presently confirmed at the easily accessible Ennis showgrounds just off the M18 in Ennis town. Stalls will be from all over Ireland - Cork, Dublin, Limerick, Tipperary, Galway, Wexford and Clareincluding Specialist Nurseries, Garden Centres, Education and Charities, Crafts, Garden Accessories, Entertainment and Artisan Food.

Clare Garden Festival is running in partnership with Co Clare Agricultural Show Society and is held annually at Ennis Showgrounds this year on Sunday, 28th April. The festival is proudly supported by Fruithill Farm Organic Farm and Garden Specialists, Clare County Council, Healthy Clare, MyGug, Visit Caherhurley Nursery, Clare Echo, Ennis Municipal District, Pobal, LCDC and Garden centres Blossoms on the Go, BUD and Colourful Creations. For more information see our website www.claregardenfestival. com and for regular update join us on Facebook @ claregardenfestival.

COMPETITION

Win 2 Tickets + A special plant from Colourful Creations. Enter by emailing info@claregardenfestival com with your contact details. Winner will be contacted by 23rd April.

Win 2 Tickets + A special plant from Colourful Creations Enter by emailing info@clare d f i l i h details. Winner

There is always plenty to do

Challenging weather Conditions

APRIL has arrived and it’s looking like the weather has been a bit unpredictable at the moment, which can be frustrating for a lot of gardeners. I have to say it’s not stopping some of our keen gardeners; we can see that people are making full use of greenhouses, glasshouses, and even kitchen windowsills for starting seeds and growing plug plants.

Well we are challenged with the weather conditions and that’s all we will say. Have you noticed that the Syringa is started to flower ,commonly known as the lilac. It has the most beautiful scent and is a fantastic purple flower. It can be grown as a large shrub or a small tree in any well drained soil. If you don’t have one in your garden, they are a lovely attraction now.

Safe pair of hands

The summer bedding plants have arrived, and people are starting to pick up their favorites like geraniums or fuchsia trailing petunias, which come in a selection of colors. We are preparing window boxes and hanging baskets here in the garden center. They are growing away in the tunnels, and hopefully will be filled with color in a few weeks.

We use a slow-release fertilizer in our compost that feeds up to 6 months, and with the hanging baskets, we use a

The Japanese Maple are another beautiful showstopper and are starting to leaf up lovely. They are a lovely ornamental tree prized for their beautiful foliage and elegant habit. They are ideal for small gardens. They like to be sheltered from the strong wind and in a partial shady and do well in normal to acidic soil. They are a lovely selection available. The most spectacular trees foliage

product that helps them stay wet, such as a swell gel that keeps the plants from drying out too fast (no fear at the moment). The variety of perennials is expanding every week, and it’s really nice to see all the new varieties available and the colors that will be coming into flower later on in the coming weeks. If you do want color in your pots, pansies and violas look fabulous and full of color; wallflowers have lovely color and can give your pot a bit of height too. Aubrieta and Campanula are also nice in bloom and low for the front of pots, so we can add/give you color to brighten your pots and your day now. We may be challenged with the weather, but there is always something to do in a garden or prepare. Hope the week goes well. If you have any ques tions, please send a message; we are happy to help.

is Acer Palmatum Shirazz. Some other variety that are popular are Acer palmatum Bloodgold, Acer palmatum and many more are available .

Fionn Hegarty sporting the Clare colours while attending the Mikey Hynes memorial matches in Whitegate on Sunday

Photo by Ruth Griffin

Kitty Scully Master Organic Gardener

lGeranium

Syringa / Lilac

Japanese Maple

County Clare’s vision to become a climate leader is outlined

CLARE’s vision to be a national leader has been outlined, writes Páraic McMahon.

Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications, Eamon Ryan (GP) on Thursday attended the official launch event for the Local Authority Climate Action Plans in the Old Ground Hotel in Ennis.

All 31 local authorities, including Clare, have been preparing their local climate plans over the past year and all plans have now been adopted by the elected members. The launch was organised by CARO, Climate Action Regional Offices.

A day of study visits to interesting climate projects in Co Clare where carried out to give participants the opportunity to meet colleagues across all local authorities and share learning and experiences. Projects to be visited include the Falls Hotel, Hometree farm, Lahinch Leisure Centre, Lahinch Beach Coastal Defences. There were also talks from Geopark staff at the Cliffs of Moher.

Clare County Council set out its vision in its climate action plan to be a national lead-

er in climate action, supporting a sustainable low-carbon economy and climate resilient, biodiverse communities and businesses.

The local authority carried out an in-depth consultation with local residents and over 400 items of feedback were given by individuals, community groups, businesses and government agencies and departments during a two-phase public consultation process. 70% of respondents reported that they are worried about climate change and 76% believe they have a role to play. There was also a survey aimed at students to give them the chance to provide insights and recommendations. This showed that students are more worried about climate change than the general public but also more confident that their actions can make a difference.

Clare’s climate actions are set out in five strategic goals. Examples of actions include supporting the implementation of the Shannon Estuary Taskforce Report which includes developing a Maritime Training Centre of Excellence in Kilrush, developing feasibility

reports into district heating for Ennis and Shannon, supporting the delivery of an efficient and reliable public bus system for Ennis, and support an increase in the number of farmers partaking in the Teagasc Signpost Programme. It also commits to identifying potential biodiversity opportunities for tree planting and woodland creation with the local authority’s landbanks.

Its Decarbonising Zone is the Loop Head Peninsula and specific areas of opportunity and actions are set out for the peninsula in the plan. Clare County Council will also shortly launch a quarterly Clare Climate Action Newsletter which provides updates on climate action in the county and gives details on local events and guidance. It has also partnered with Tipperary Energy Agency to deliver accessible and informative online energy webinars.

Speaking about the event and local authorities’ role in climate delivery, Minister Ryan said, “The climate is changing more quickly and unpredictably than scientists expected. We can see the impacts all around us – flooding, heatwaves, droughts. Local government has a key role to play in tackling climate change. They act as local leaders, champions and work closely with communities on the ground across a range of key areas, from housing to transport. They use their extensive knowledge of the natural and built environments in their areas to make a real difference.

“The new local authority climate action plans will enhance local government’s ability to act. For the first time, all the climate-related actions have been brought together into one document, serving as a focal point and the manual for each local authority and their climate journey. These plans will, over time, help us as a country to meet our national climate targets and will bring extra benefits such as making our air cleaner, our streets and public spaces quieter, and bringing more biodiversity and green spaces into where we live.”

Pat Dowling, Chief Executive of Clare County Council stated, “Clare County Council understands that we must lead by example. The target of a 51% reduction in Clare County Council’s own emissions and a 50% energy efficiency increase by 2030 represents significant challenges to this organisation, challenges we are prepared to meet”.

Completing the local climate plans is a milestone for the local government sector. Collectively there are almost 4,000 actions set out across all the local plans. They list practical

lDECARBONISING ZONE: Loop Head

climate measures to be completed in each local authority area over the next five years. The plans demonstrate the ambition, focus and commitment of each local authority to reduce carbon emissions and improve the quality of life for people living, working and studying in each county.

Local authorities have worked over the past 12 months to engage with citizens, local businesses, public bodies and community organisations to inform their thinking around actions and priorities. Whilst working to national guidelines with set parameters, each plan is bottom-up and locally created; each plan is tailored to its local area.

Over the past two years each local authority has received funding to assist with developing local plans, totalling almost €8m, and this set to continue over the coming years.

The local authority climate action plans will help local authorities to address the mitigation of gas emissions and climate change adaptation and strengthen the alignment between national climate policy and the delivery of effective local climate action.

Each climate plan is built on a strong evidence base. To help inform the plans, all local authorities developed a Climate Change Risk Assessment which sets out the likely risks is terms of climate change, such as increased rainfall or flooding. They also did a Baseline Emissions Inventory which calculates the emissions within the local authority area and sets out emission by sector such as transport, the built environment and agriculture. he local climate plans will be closely monitored by the local authorities to ensure that their projects are on track and they will develop implementation plans with more detail on delivery. They will report to the local government sector and the supporting department, the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications, on key indicators.

Ennis to Limerick rail services to reopen as floodwater recedes

IARNRÓD ÉIREANN is planning to reopen the Ennis to Limerick rail line from 4pm on Saturday.

On Wednesday afternoon, Iarnród Éireann announced plans to undertake an inspection of the rail line. It has been closed for over a month since March 18th due to repeated flooding at the Ballycar section.

Ennis to Limerick and Limerick to Ennis train services have been replaced by bus transfers since the middle of March.

Flood waters have now receded, and final inspections and patrols will take place over the coming days prior to reopening on Saturday afternoon. Bus transfers will

remain in operation between Limerick and Ennis in both directions until Saturday afternoon.

Travelling by train has been a very popular method of reaching Cusack Park for Clare hurling supporters since the introduction of the provincial round-robin series. With Clare hosting Limerick in Ennis on Sunday, the potential return of rail services would provide a lift for businesses in the county town.

Speaking to The Clare Echo, Cllr Alan O’Callaghan (FF), “It will be a big help to the town with all the road works that are going on in Ennis, for people to be able to travel by public transport to Ennis would be a big help

and a boost for the town. The people travelling by train for matches in Ennis will stay around all day before the match, they will support the coffee houses, pubs and restaurants”.

On Saturday 20th April, the following services will operate: 18:15hrs Limerick to Galway, 19:50hrs Limerick to Galway, 20:30hrs Limerick to Ennis, 17:25hrs Ennis to Limerick, 17:50hrs Galway to Limerick, 18:45hrs Galway to Ennis, 21:10hrs Ennis to Limerick A full service will operate from Sunday 21st April onwards.

A report on flood relief options at Ballycar was undertaken by Consultant Engineers RPS for Iarnród

Éireann and stakeholder representatives from Clare County Council, the Office of Public Works (OPW), the Geological Survey Ireland (GSI) and the National Parks & Wildlife Services (NPWS). This study recommends a new preferred option of a technically viable drainage scheme that would (i) prevent flooding of the railway occurring whilst also (ii) including any flood mitigation measures downstream that would be necessary either directly or indirectly with this option.

The indicative costs for the proposed solution is €16.7M including VAT (2020 estimate). A funding source is yet to be identified.

lBACK IN ACTION: The Ennis to Limerick rail line had been obstructed by flooding

Lifestyle & comment

OVER the past four years working as a holistic therapist, something I have really noticed is the need women have for support from other women. And, the need for a safe space to be themselves, share their emotions, and meet like-minded women.

To essentially find their tribe. Many of the issues I deal with are women’s issues and find that sometimes the society we live in doesn’t allow us the space to share those issues.

In 2021 I decided to start running women’s circles. The goal of these circles being to provide a safe space for us women to be as we are, to be open and honest, and feel like we can share without being judged and not only that, but actually feeling lifted up and empowered by the other women in the circle.

What I have found is that women with similar interests, personalities, opinions and views are drawn to these circles.

And when one woman shares a story, she thought only she experienced, or emotions she thought she was alone in, often one or more of the women in the circle can relate to her. It is a beautiful experience and bond to witness these connections and the love that can be provided to one another, even if we are complete strangers.

These circles are purposefully held at the time of the full moon. A time for release,

Cooking for life - the experience

rest, letting go, stillness and healing. As women, we are deeply connected to the moon and her cycle.

Just like us women, the moon has a 28-day cycle and goes through different phases.

And the phase of the full moon is a time for us to release & let go of what is no longer serving us, and giving ourselves love, selfcare and kindness in the process. We chat, laugh, cry, share some cacao, do a guided meditation, everyone gets a card reading and we write down and release all the things we wish to let go of. It can be a powerful experience.

Ultimately, it is my belief that women need women. I have learned this in every aspect of my work.

Hundreds of years ago there were women's circles and women naturally and instinctively gathered to support one another.

Also, in history when women had babies it was their female ancestors and women in their villages that supported them and helped them through their birth and postpartum period.

I believe that we need more of this and go back to our old ways of supporting, empowering and holding space for each other.

“Tell me and I forget. Teach me and I remember. Involve me and I learn.” Benjamin Franklin

How many times you said: I know I could eat better or I have to start eating healthier and you ended up in the same place: choosing convenience over health? This is simply because your brain choses familiarity versus novelty and keeps you stuck in the same pattern just because it is safe.

At the beginning of this year, after Netflix launched their “You are what you eat” series, I got every single person who I got in touch in January to ask me if I won’t be doing cooking classes. And I was so impressed by people’s interest in starting to implement small changes in their food choices and eating style. Three months later, and I am after creating the most unique skill learning experience called COOKING FOR LIFE – A hands on cooking experience.

Because I am an educator at the core, and any educator senses

what is the best way to learn for their own students, when it comes to food and implementing changes in our eating styles I know that learning by listening to a talk or watching a DEMO only supports 40% of retention rate. The most effective way of learning a new information is to combine all our senses by listening, watching, and feeling/doing.

With that in mind and working with people from all paths of life, I knew if I am going to do a demo only or a workshop where I talk, it won’t be what people really need to start moving the needle towards a healthy eating style.

Sometimes, it takes a bit more than listening to a presentation or to watch a cookery demo. It takes both these things and a bit extra like cooking yourself using wholesome ingredients and being guided by a wholefoods experienced Chef that will guid you step by step and show you how to cook delicious meals from scratch in minutes.

If you think that this is a dream and no one is going to give you this type of experience unless you do a

full course or you retreat yourself for a few days, you are in for a nice surprise.

Nearly 40 people already enjoyed that experience in the last two months. People between 17 and 70 years of age were joining me and Chef Tanya Ranalow for this amazing Day Experience in Bia Innovator in Athenry, County Galway.

Cooking For Life – The Experience, was created with your very own needs in mind and wants to put your desire to learn how to transform your health using better eating habits.

Participant feedback from Cooking for Life – The Experience.

“Thank you for facilitating a wholesome, healthy, and practical class. I arrived with some anxiety and probably not the best breakfast but felt great after the delicious food. I found your talk inspiring and empowering. Everyone was helpful and I felt very accommo-

dated”.

“I learned so much during the presentation and brought my motivation of starting to cook from scratch back. Needed that to bring me back on the right track.”

And if that wasn’t enough, to convince you to take action and make your life easier when it comes to prepping food and eating healthy, let me tell you that the next three Cooking for Life Masterclasses are going to cover specific health challenges and brings accurate information and specific meal plans to help people to tackle high cholesterol, high blood pressure, high sugar levels, hormonal unbalance, chronic inflammation.

If you would like to take part in this unique experience, please send me an email on info@authentichealth.ie or WhatsApp me on

0851968088 and I will happily answer all your questions.

Lifestyle & comment

Reflexology Lymphatic Drainage

REFLEXOLOGY

Lymphatic

Drainage (RLD) is a unique reflexology sequence developed by reflexologist, researcher and author

Sally Kay.

She developed it over a number of years from the principles of reflexology and her extensive clinical practice. RLD may help the body efficiently remove toxins and this could support those with auto-immune disorders including rheumatoid arthritis, fibromyalgia and other inflammatory conditions. There are 7,000 nerve endings in the feet and that level of sensitivity enables the energy pathways to be opened and for congested energy to be unblocked. This is very useful with RLD. The lymphatic system drains wastes from the body’s cells with the help of lymph nodes which are situated throughout the body. Good lymphatic drainage is essential to help the body cleanse itself.

Anatomically, the lymphatic system is made up of a series of vessels and nodes that collect and

filter excess tissue fluid (known as lymph fluid) before returning it to the blood to be circulated and removed. There are lymphoid organs including the bone marrow, thymus, spleen and tonsils that contain lymphatic tissue and are involved in blood filtering and the maturation of lymphocytes. All of these parts play a vital part in the body’s immune system. Lymphocytes are found in the circulatory system but are also in the lymph organs where the initial immune response is likely to occur. RLD can benefit those who have primary or secondary lymphoedema, pregnancy related oedema, swelling and skin conditions. People with serious health conditions need to check with their GP before starting a course of RLD to see if

it’s appropriate for them and to get medical consent.

Reflexology is a gentle yet powerful, non-invasive treatment which is free from medication and encourages the body to heal itself naturally. The success of RLD is mostly down to the consistency and gentleness of the technique. Regular treatments will show results and these present as feeling lighter, pain relief, relaxation, increased energy and support in cancer care. I’ll elaborate more next week on this with a special piece about oncology reflexology.

To book a reflexology treatment contact Lorraine at 087 6595 417 or check out www.glenina-reflexology.ie for more details and a full price-list.

AS THE medical community grapples with the long-lasting effects of COVID-19, commonly referred to as "long COVID," attention has turned to hyperbaric oxygenation (HBOT) as a potential solution.

This treatment involves exposing people to high levels of oxygen under increased atmospheric pressure, aiming to alleviate symptoms stemming from vascular disruption and dysfunction caused by the virus.

Professor Jack Lambert, a respected figure in medicine from the UCD School of Medicine, advocates for the integration of HBOT into long COVID treatment regimens. Drawing from both personal observations and preliminary studies, Lambert highlights HBOT's efficacy in addressing neurological conditions similar to long COVID, indicating its potential benefits for affected individuals. He said:

"Very few treatments are available for long Covid (LC), a condition that is thought to represent brain inflammation, hypoperfusion of the brain due to micro clots, and certain autoimmune processes that are ongoing post COVID-19 infection. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy has been shown in a number of similar neurological conditions to provide benefits to patients. Preliminary peer reviewed studies have been published showing the benefit of hyperbaric oxygen therapy for Long Covid patients. Personal

observations by myself on patients who have used HBOT who have suffered from LC have shown benefit from this therapy.

As there are no current recommendations from the HSE on how to manage LC in Ireland, except for 'time' (time does not work ) and there are many HBOT centres in Ireland that are currently underuti-

lised, it would make sense to offer this treatment modality to support LC patients in Ireland."

Long Covid is characterised by persistent symptoms such as brain fog, fatigue, pain, and insomnia, often resulting from immune dysregulation, inflammation, and microvascular damage induced by the virus. HBOT operates by in-

creasing oxygen supply to tissues, promoting healing processes, and offering a multifaceted approach to addressing these complexities. HBOT fosters neuroplasticity, aiding in the recovery of brain function and reducing swelling, which is crucial for alleviating cognitive symptoms like brain fog. Additionally, by enhancing cellular me-

tabolism and tissue repair, HBOT reverses the vascular and cellular damage observed in long COVID. Its anti-inflammatory effects dampen the production of pro-inflammatory substances, while modulating the immune response restores balance and alleviates autoimmune processes contributing to ongoing symptoms.

Furthermore, HBOT stimulates angiogenesis, promoting the formation of new blood vessels essential for improving tissue perfusion and repairing microvascular damage. The recommended HBOT treatment protocol involves daily sessions, five times a week for two weeks, allowing for sustained exposure and maximising therapeutic effects.

Accessibility to HBOT can significantly improve the quality of life for long COVID patients and presents a compelling opportunity to address the current gap in long Covid treatment. OxyGeneration in Galway are leading the way in terms of long Covid recovery boasting many success stories of those who have achieved a full resolution from their long Covid symptoms. Contact

Inn At Dromoland unveils new-look Ballyhannon Suite

EAGER brides and grooms gathered at the Inn at Dromoland for a special Spring Wedding Showcase which unveiled their new look Ballyhannon Suite. Top Wedding Blogger Sara Kennedy, aka Irish Wedding Blog, was in attendance along with April Drew of Brides of Munster for engaging chat and discussion on all things wedding day prep. The newly refurbished Ballyhannon Suite was widely praised, decorated in a neutral palette with warm lighting and featuring direct connection into the Garden at the Inn perfect for Post-Wedding pictures and Pre-Receptions and also is the perfect Corporate event space – guests enjoyed some of Head Chef Fergal McGee and teams fine cuisine much of which

is an ode to local suppliers in the Clare area including CS Fish, St Tola’s Goats Cheese, Pat O’Connor Meats and more.

Nico Hernandez, General Manager at the Inn at Dromoland on the recent refurbishment; “We are delighted to unveil the new look Ballyhannon Suite – it’s a perfect modern take on a wedding function space with the very best of smart technology, surround sound features, and we look forward to our wedding couples and corporate companies alike experiencing this new space, this coupled with our fantastic team on the ground, its a great time to experience the Inn at Dromoland –one of Clare’s long standing hotel operations”

Beidh tuaisceart an Chláir ar TG4

North Clare to feature on TG4

Ceolaireacht, TG4, 1:05 am, Dé Domhnaigh (maidin Dé Luain), 21ú Aibreán

I dTuaisceart an Chláir a bheas Doireann Ní Ghlacáin an tseachtain seo le blaiseadh a fháil de stíl cheoil an cheantair. Ina teannta beidh Tony Linnane, James Cullinan, Siobhán Peoples, JJ Conway, Damien O’Reilly and neart eile. Beidh sé deireanach nuair a bheas sé air mar sin bí cinnte é a thaifead / Doireann Glackin’s musical journey continues in North Clare and she explores the area’s regional style with music from Tony Linnane, James Cullinan, Siobhán Peoples, JJ Conway, Damien O’Reilly and more. It’ll be on late so make sure to press record if you can! Bígí i dteagmháil linn agus leanaigí ar Facebook agus Twitter muid ag: @macallaanchlair R-phost: macallaanchlair@gmail.com

Imeachtaí/Events:

• Clare FM - Cúl-chaint le Domhnall Ó Loingsigh chuile Dé Sathairn, ag 9am ar Clare FM

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

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

• AN SCAIRBH – ‘’Lón i nGaeilge’’, 1-2pm, CHUILE DÉ MAIRT i gcaifé ‘’An Gáirdín’’, fáilte roimh chuile dhuine.

Be remembered for your kind deeds Spreading the word of positivity

RONAN SCULLY

“L

OVE is shown more in deeds than in words.” Many of us have heard this idea by St. Ignatius before, but what does it really mean? At the simplest level, it means that love is not simply about how we feel inside or what our good intentions are towards another person, but what we do, in action, to demonstrate love. God is already perfect love and lacks nothing. But God does still want us to love, because we are made by Love and for the purpose of loving. So how do we love God? In part, through loving one another. We can “pay it forward” through considering the ways we have received love, dwelling in gratitude, and deciding how we want to spread love in the world today.

BEING KIND

Think about the people you admire the most. They’re likely the kindest you know. In our divisive world, kindness stands out. Being kind is a simple yet significant choice you can make in any situation. It doesn’t take much effort to choose kind words and actions, but when you do, God’s love will flow powerfully through you to other people. In the process, you’ll experience wonder. When our time on earth comes to an end, we will not be remembered by our words, but by our kind deeds.

As I write this thought for the week with my special prayer candle lighting as it always does when I write, I wish you a week of ordinary miracles - A fresh pot of tea you didn’t make yourself! An unexpected phone call from an old friend! Sunshine as you walk your favourite walk! You see in this life, “It’s not what you gather, but what you scatter”, that tells what kind of life you have lived. As usual as story from my Nana Scully’s prayer book might help explain THE RED MARBLES I was at the shop buying some new potatoes. I noticed a small boy, ragged but clean, hungrily appraising a basket of green apples. I paid for my potatoes but was also drawn to the display of apples. Pondering the apples, I couldn’t help overhearing the conversation between the shop owner Mr. O’Grady and the ragged boy next to me. ‘Hello Barry, how are you today?’ ‘Hello, Mr. O’Grady. Fine, thank you. Just admiring your apples. They look good.’ ‘They are good, Barry. How’s your Mother?’ ‘Fine. She is getting stronger all the time.’ ‘Good. Anything I can help you with?’ ‘No, Sir.’ ‘Would you like to take some apples home?’ asked Mr. O’Grady. ‘No, Sir. I have no money.’ ‘Well, what have you got to trade me for some apples?’ ‘All I got is my prize marble.’ ‘Is that right? Let me see it’ said Mr O’Grady. ‘Here it is. It’s a beautiful one.’ ‘I can see that. Hmm, the only thing is this one is blue and I sort of go for red. Do you have a red one like this at home?’ Mr O’Grady asked.

‘Not exactly but almost.’ ‘Tell you what. Take this bag of apples home with you and next trip this way let me look at that red marble’. Mr. O’Grady told the boy. Mrs. O’Grady, who had been standing nearby, came over to help me. With a smile she said, ‘There are two other boys like him in our town, all three are in very poor circumstances. Jim just loves to bargain with them for apples, tomatoes, bread or whatever. When they come back with their red marbles, he decides he doesn’t like red after all and he sends them home with a bag of produce for another coloured marble, when they come on their next trip to the store.’ I left the shop smiling, impressed with this man. A short time later I moved to another part of the country , but I never forgot the story of this man, the boys, and their bartering. Years went by when just recently I visited some old friends in that town and while I was there learned that Mr. O’Grady had just died. They were having his removal that evening and knowing my friends wanted to go, I agreed to accompany them. Upon arrival at the O’Grady’s home we fell into line to meet the relatives. Ahead of us in line were three young men. One was in a Garda uniform and the other two wore nice suits and white shirts, all very professional looking. They approached Mrs. O’Grady, standing composed and smiling by her husband’s coffin. Each of the young men hugged her, kissed her on

the cheek, spoke briefly with her, and moved on to the coffin. Her misty eyes followed them, as one by one; each young man stopped briefly and placed his own warm hand over the cold pale hand in the coffin. Our turn came to meet Mrs. O’Grady. I told her who I was and reminded her of the story from many years ago. With her eyes glistening, she took my hand and led me to the coffin. ‘Those three young men who just left were the boys. They just told me how they appreciated the things Jim ‘traded’ them. ‘We’ve never had a great deal of the wealth of this country,’ she confided, ‘but right now, Jim would consider himself the richest man in Ireland.’ With loving gentleness she lifted the lifeless fingers of her deceased husband. Resting underneath were three exquisitely shined red marbles.

THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK

As your thought for the week, practice good deeds of kindness whenever and wherever you can for that is truly what you will be remembered for when your time comes! Our deeds direct our life in many ways. What we give out to the world, comes back to us in many ways. We might not be able to see it every time, but the universe makes no mistake in settling out our deeds.

Always be true, loving and kind towards others not because you look for a positive return but because that’s the only way to bring a positive change in this world.

Macalla an Chláir

l Nico Hernandez, April Drew, Sara Kennedy, Pauline Cassidy & Mark Nolan at the Inn at Dromoland Wedding Showcase and (right) the Ballyhannon Suite

Web award for Shannon

SHANNON Community Partnership (SCP) has been selected as a finalist in the Digital Newcomer category for the .ie Digital Town Award 2024. The website was first showcased four months ago at the launch of the newly formed SCP last November.

A core aim of the community development group is to facilitate information sharing and networking between individuals and groups in Shannon. This lack of a focal information point was an issue that was raised regularly during various consultations, particularly during the preparation of the Community Development Plan 2022-2024.

Of particular interest to many users of the site is the Main Events and Weekly Calendar, an up to date section where visitors to the site can easily get information on events. Local businesses and groups can avail of inclusion in the Directory free of charge. The Shannon Diary, a feature of Shannon stretching back many years, has received a very warm welcome back and is available both online and in print form. Organisers note that the development of such a robust website is not possible without ongoing communication and feedback from the people of Shannon. Visit the site at www.shannoncp.ie/.

FURTHER EDUCATION & TRAINING

ASSISTANT MANAGER

FET PROVISION & SUPPORT SERVICES

2 Year Fixed Term Contract

Initial Location: College of Further Education and Training, Raheen Campus, Limerick

Ref. No. 015301

Online

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

• Library Facilities Attendant

Please complete online application form available on www.clarecoco.ie under Careers Section.

Closing date: 12 Noon Friday 3rd May 2024

• Facilities Management Attendant

Please complete online application form available on www.clarecoco.ie under Careers Section.

Closing date: 12 Noon Friday 3rd May 2024

• Chief Technician

Please complete online application form available on www.clarecoco.ie under Careers Section.

Closing date: 12 Noon Tuesday 7th May 2024.

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

Scriobh chugainn as gaeilge más fearr leat.

The importance of professional installation in video surveillance systems

VIDEO surveillance has become an integral part of modern security systems, whether it's for residential, commercial, or industrial purposes.

While the availability of DIY surveillance kits may tempt individuals to undertake installations themselves, there are compelling reasons why professional installation is highly recommended. In this comprehensive guide, we'll explore the intricacies of video surveillance installation, the instances where self-installation may be feasible, and the advantages of entrusting this task to professionals.

WHY PROFESSIONAL INSTALLATION MATTERS

Expertise and Experience:

Professional installers possess the necessary expertise and experience to ensure the optimal setup of video surveillance systems. They understand the nuances of camera placement, angles, and coverage areas to maximize effectiveness.

Compliance and Regulations: Professionals are wellversed in local regulations

and compliance standards regarding surveillance installations. This ensures that your system meets legal requirements, preventing potential fines or legal issues.

Advanced Setup Options: Modern surveillance systems offer a plethora of advanced features and settings such as corridor mode and Wide Dynamic Range (WDR). Professionals can configure these settings according to your specific needs, enhancing system performance.

Quality Assurance:

Professional installers use high-quality equipment and employ industry best practices to guarantee reliable and durable installations. This minimizes the risk of malfunctions or system failures, providing peace of mind.

Customization and Integration: Professionals can tailor surveillance systems to integrate seamlessly with existing security infrastructure, including alarms, access control, and monitoring services. This holistic approach enhances overall security efficacy.

l Professional installation will ultimately save you heartache

Instances of Self-Installation

While professional installation is recommended for most cases, there are scenarios where self-installation may be feasible:

Simple Home Setups: Basic DIY surveillance kits may suffice for small residential properties with straightforward installation requirements. However, caution should be exercised to ensure proper placement and configuration.

Tech-Savvy Individuals:

Individuals with a strong technical background and understanding of surveillance systems may opt for self-installation. Nevertheless, thorough research and adherence to installation guidelines are crucial.

INSTALLATION

CONSIDERATIONS AND TIPS

Cable Management: Proper cable management is essential to prevent issues such as signal interference

and water ingress. Cables should enter junction boxes from below to avoid water accumulation.

Avoiding Interference:

Placing cameras near metal surfaces can cause interference, especially with TVI cameras. Maintaining distance from metallic objects minimizes the risk of signal disruption.

Professional-grade Equipment: Investing in professional-grade equipment ensures superior performance and reliability. This includes high-resolution cameras, robust cables, and weatherproof enclosures.

Adherence to Standards:

Following industry standards for cable routing, bending radius, and proximity to high-voltage wires is crucial for safety and optimal system performance.

ADVANTAGES OF USING A PROFESSIONAL

Optimized Coverage: Professionals utilize their expertise to strategically position cameras for maximum coverage and effectiveness, minimizing blind spots and vulnerabilities.

Enhanced Security Features: Professional systems incorporate advanced security features and settings to adapt to changing conditions and threats, providing comprehensive protection.

Reliability and Durability:

Professional installations are built to last, utilizing quality components and meticulous craftsmanship to withstand harsh environments and potential tampering.

Peace of Mind: Knowing that your surveillance system is installed and maintained by professionals offers peace of mind, allowing you to focus on other aspects of security and peace of mind.

In conclusion, while self-installation of video surveillance systems may be suitable for certain situations, the advantages of professional installation are undeniable. From expertise and compliance to reliability and peace of mind, entrusting this task to professionals ensures the optimal performance and longevity of your security investment.

NOW that you’ve embraced the role of an employer, let’s delve into the art of attracting the right candidates to complement your business while navigating around legislative requirements pertaining to recruitment.

In the wake of Covid-19, many businesses find themselves grappling with recruitment hurdles, both in terms of attracting suitable candidates and retaining them. As per Skillnet Ireland, enterprises are encountering difficulties in recruiting individuals equipped with the requisite skill sets. But what sets you apart as an employer? Are you perceived as a business or organisation that invests in the development of its workforce regardless of size?

Recent statistics reveal that over 67% of businesses have actively engaged in upskilling programmes in recent months, thereby ensuring they are proactively working on retaining their talent. Staff feel valued and appreciated when you invest in them, it is a win-win for both the employee and business owner.

Numerous factors play pivotal roles in making an employer appealing to prospective candidates:

1. Company Culture: A positive, inclusive company culture that values collaboration, diversity, and employee well-being is highly sought after. Employees want to

Navigating Recruitment Challenges: Attracting and Retaining Top Talent

feel valued, and a supportive culture can significantly impact their job satisfaction and productivity. We advise you to include your mission, vision and values when advertising your vacancies. This has proven to attract likeminded people. At ERA Ltd we can assist you in developing your mission, vision and values in line with your business strategy.

2. Remote Work Opportunities: The flexibility to work remotely or adopt hybrid work models has become increasingly desirable to potential hires, promising a better work-life balance. Remote work options widen the pool of potential candidates. Please ensure to implement the latest legislative changes ie. the Work, Life Balance and Miscellaneous Provisions Act 2023 and specifically the right to request flexible working and the right to request remote working. CIPD Hr Practices 2023 Report found that 42% of organisations had over half of their work force operating in hybrid manner.

3. Professional Development: Employers that prioritize the growth and development of their employees through skill-building opportunities, training programmes, and avenues for career advancement are particularly attractive. Investing in employees’ professional growth not only enhances their skills but

also fosters loyalty and long-term commitment to the business. Have your onboarding plan in place, ensure that you discuss this as part of the interview process on the first day. Recent survey shows that the onboarding process is amongst the top factors in the new employee deciding whether they want to stay with the company or not.

4. Competitive Compensation and Benefits: Offering competitive salaries and comprehensive benefits packages, including health insurance, retirement plans, and other perks distinguishes an employer in the eyes of potential candidates. Compensation plays a crucial role in attracting top talent, and companies need to ensure that their offers are competitive within the industry. While this can be difficult for a SME due to cost it is advisable to have some non-monetary benefits i.e., team lunches, employee of the month programmes, team building activities, reward through time off, offering eye tests etc.

5. Work-Life Balance: Companies that champion a healthy work-life balance are appealing to candidates seeking environments that support their well-being. Flexible work hours, generous leave policies, and initiatives promoting mental well-being contribute to a positive work envi-

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7. Sustainability and Social Responsibility: Candidates increasingly value companies that demonstrate a commitment to environmental sustainability and social responsibility, as reflected through corporate social responsibility initiatives. Businesses that prioritise sustainability not only attract socially conscious talent but also contribute to building a better future for society.

8. Clear Communication: Transparent and effective communication regarding company values, expectations, and future plans fosters trust and attracts candidates who appreciate openness. Employers should ensure that communication channels are open and accessible, allowing employees to voice their concerns and contribute to decision-making processes.

9. Recognition and Appreciation: Regular acknowledgment and appreciation of employees’ contributions contribute to a positive work environment and enhance an employer’s appeal.

10. Career Advancement Opportunities: Providing clear pathways for career progression, mentorship programmes, and internal mobility opportunities is instrumental in retaining talent seeking long-term growth within the company.

11. Inclusive Hiring Practices: Employers that prioritise diversity, equity, and inclusion in their hiring practices are increasingly attractive to candidates seeking a diverse and inclusive workplace.

Navigating recruitment challenges, meticulous planning and a strategic approach are indispensable for businesses aiming to thrive in the competitive landscape of the Irish market. By investing in their workforce, fostering a positive workplace culture, and embracing innovation and sustainability, employers can position themselves as employers of choice and attract the best talent to drive their businesses forward.

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IT’S that time of the year, Spring cleaning and the de-clutter season is upon us!

I recently decluttered my home office space and my wardrobe as I do a couple of times a year. This always results in bags of recycling moving from my house to the recycling bins and to the charity shops nearby. I bring all my clothes to the SCAR shop in Shannon which is a wonderful place to bring old clothing to, and to sometimes invest in ‘new’ pieces to bring life to the wardrobe again. Like anyone else, the sense of satisfaction I get from being able to see and use the spaces I have is second to none.

This led me to thinking about the “Lean-sigma ‘5-S” principles which I studied many years ago, when I worked in financial services.

The 5-Ss of Lean are: Sort – the process of separating out the necessary items away from the unnecessary ones

Set-in-order – going about organising the necessary items into an efficient arrangement for ease of access

Shine – This is all about having a clean workspace, for a safe and pleasant environment

Standardise – Meaning that the process becomes the ‘way of working’ and can be applied to all other processes and areas within the workplace

Sustain – Essentially, this means having ‘a place for everything and everything in its place’, and keeping this going over time

Lean methodologies were first introduced by Henry Ford in his motor car factories and went on to be enhanced by Japanese expert Taiichi Ohno who built the Toyota Production system after World War II. The term ‘lean’ itself was formed in the 1980s by John Krafcik and has been developed further and adopted by many industries, from manufacturing to call centres.

Decluttering your space

Decluttering a work or office space, has numerous benefits. I’m sure you can identify with the scenario of working away at your desk, looking for a certain type of envelope, paper or something

you’ve filed and saved on your desktop and not knowing where you stored it.

You might remember the craze that swept the globe around 2014 when Marie Kondo’s book sold millions of copies. Her book entitled The life-changing magic of tidying up: The Japanese art of decluttering and organising burst into our lives and we all went a bit mad decluttering our homes. Her theories suggest that we do the declutter in this order:

1. Tidy by category and not location (i.e. all coats and not

just ‘the wardrobe in the spare room’)

2. Discard first, then store (i.e. get rid of everything that doesn’t ‘spark joy’ and then store wat you have left)

3. Choose what to keep, not what to discard (this can help to keep the mind focused on the task at hand and not to get overwhelmed)

4. Work in a specific order (Kondo recommends starting with clothes, then books, papers, miscellaneous items and then sentimental items)

5. Give everything a home (clutter is often caused by

a failure to put things back where they belong)

We can see the similarities between the Lean 5-S model and Marie Kondo.

Taking the lessons and applying them to your life

In your professional life, these are the three things I would consider based on my experience of building a business, and running a home for the last 20 years:

1. Know your ‘why’, i.e. always check in with yourself ‘what is the purpose of this task, this item or this activity’ and does it align with a goal, or a strategy of mine? If the answer to the latter question is ‘no’ then, in my experience we need to connect with our inner Marie Kondo and thank it, release it and let it go!

2. When it comes to decluttering a space, set yourself achievable goals and start there. For example, I will take 1 hour on Saturday and 1 hour on Sunday to do XY and Z. This is more achievable than telling yourself you will get it all done on Friday, knowing well that after a week’s work, its probably the

last thing you will do.

3. Get to know and recognise your inner saboteur. What does your ‘inner failure gremlin’ sound like? You know that voice, the one full of doubt, second guessing you for your goals and desires. It helps if you give it a silly name and an even more ridiculous voice, like Daffy Duck. You don’t need to listen to and believe every thought you have.

Where will you start today?

In the words of the Japanese swordsman and philosopher, Miyamoto Musashi, ‘If you know the way broadly, you will see it in everything’. For me in this context, it means that once you make the initial painful start of applying Lean 5-S to your workspace, or Marie Kondo’s magical approach in one area of your home life, you begin to see how easily it can be applied to all areas. Not just your physical space, but your mental space also. And that, in my experience is where the true magic happens. The way becomes clear and suddenly success feels close at hand.

Bumper year for Lahinch Golf Club

BUMPER green fee revenues contributed to Lahinch Golf Club last year enjoying another record-breaking year as its operating surplus increased to €2.1m, writes Gordon Deegan Green free receipts of €3.19 million at Lahinch Golf Club resulted in overall revenues increasing by 5 per cent or €237,196 from €4.94 million to €5.18 million.

The golf club’s Golf Shop alone generated €1.4 million in revenues in 2023 from the sales of Lahinch GC branded clothing and accessories and other items, contributing a gross profit of €700,316 to the club’s finances.

In his report attached to the club’s 2023 annual report, chairperson of Lahinch Golf Club, John Gleeson stated

that “it was a record financial year for the club” with an operating surplus of €2.1 million.

The operating surplus tops the then record breaking surplus of €2 million for 2022.

Mr Gleeson said, “Golfing activity was at record levels by both members and guests which has allowed us to rebuild our finances as we engage on several major capital projects over the next few years”.

The golf club recently secured planning permission from Clare County Council for an upgrade of its ‘no longer fit for purpose’ clubhouse, which is now almost 60 years old, and Mr Gleeson that the project will cost in the region of €5 million.

UPCOMING PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT

POST OFFICE FIELD

Clare County Council together with Ennis 2040 DAC is commencing Public Engagement for the proposed development of an elevated boardwalk on the Post Office Field, Ennis, Co. Clare.

Ennis 2040 D.A.C. is a wholly owned special purpose vehicle established by Clare County Council, to develop key strategic sites for the purposes of enhanced employment and economic and environmental progress.

The Post Office Field development project is part of the Ennis 2040 Economic and Spatial Strategy and is integrated into the County Development Plan 2023 to 2029, both of which aim to deliver a range of strategic developments to make Ennis a better place to live, work, visit and invest in. The proposed development will consist of an elevated boardwalk designed around river biodiversity, habitat and wildlife. The boardwalk will also provide connectivity and spectacular views of the town’s historic heritage and create a new destination for people to meet and socialise in the centre of Ennis.

The purpose of this Public Engagement is to invite the public and interested stakeholders to view the plans of the proposed development and provide the comments and feedback on same. This information will be taken into consideration by the design team in the final design.

PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT

will take place in the Civic Room, Waterpark Campus, Drumbiggle Road, Ennis as follows:-

Date: Time:

24th April 2024 18:00 – 20:00

25th April 2024 17:00 – 19:00

If you cannot make any of the above events you can also view online via the following:-

• Clare County Council’s Have Your Say Portal from 24th April to 9th May 2024.

• Ennis 2040’s website www.ennis2040.ie

• Reception Area of Clare County Council Office from 29th April to 3rd May 2024.

Malone expects ‘massive week’ for Clare hurlers

CLARE’S senior hurlers are expecting a defining seven day period in their season when they begin their championship campaign at home to Limerick before travelling to Cork for the second round.

Midfielder Cathal Malone has labelled it as “a massive week” for the panel and management.

Speaking to The Clare Echo, the Ennistymon man noted that the growth of their panel so far in 2024 has been a big plus. “Our aim all season has been to develop a panel. Everyone is playing well. Our focus has been one game at a time. It was good to get the win over Kilkenny. We were under pressure in the last fifteen

minutes and it’s good to come out on top in those games. Everyone is playing well and there is serious competition for places”.

Based in Lisdoonvarna as a secondary school teacher, Cathal said of the start of the provincial championship, “we know from the last two years that you can’t get ahead of yourself. Every game in Munster is tough and there is nothing between the teams. After Limerick we have Cork and last year we only had a point to spare. We will take confidence from the league final win, it was great to win it and it came down to the wire. We know Limerick will provide a massive test”.

Beating Kilkenny in the Allianz National Hurling League final was the “first big game” for Conor Leen, Cian Galvin and Darragh

Lohan according to the Sixmilebridge clubman. “There is huge confidence amongst the forty that make up the panel”.

Malone was well aware that Clare will have to be on their toes for the threat posed by the five in a row chasing Limerick this weekend. “In the league final Kilkenny were better at the start and that is something we will have to improve on. Our total focus is on Limerick. There will be a massive atmosphere in Cusack Park and I am really looking forward to the game. There is always a serious atmosphere in Cusack Park. We love playing there”.

Acknowledging that winning the league title was important for the panel he stressed that celebrations were put aside as final preparations for the latest Shannonside derby are finalised.

While he readily accepted that the team is facing a huge test one could sense

that he is clearly excited about the fixture. “Everyone is playing well and

‘This is our big

there is a great air of confidence in the camp”.

game’ – Rodgers relishing visit of Limerick to Cusack Park

by Séamus Hayes news@clareecho.ie

SO FAR, the 2024 hurling season has been relatively successful for Mark Rodgers.

Yes, there was a slight hiccup when the University of Limerick team he captained suffered a narrow defeat to their neighbours Mary Immaculate college in the Fitzgibbon Cup (Third Level Colleges hurling championship) final. His performances throughout that competition earned him a place on the team of the championship.

For Clare throughout the Allianz National Hurling League, he delivered some man of the match performances and he made an impressive contribution when the Banner men captured the title against Kilkenny, the county’s fifth success in this competition. Sunday’s championship opener is their big game, the Scariff man stressed.

“We are not approaching the game thinking about favourite tags. It’s all about having the bodies right for the game. We are under no illusions that this is our big, big game and we are really looking forward to it. We are just going to get the bodies right and make sure we are as fresh as possible. We know the challenge that is ahead of us”.

Mark is among the players competing for a jersey in a very competitive Clare attack. “There is brilliant competition for places, so many players have put their hands up, so many have played considerable game time, it’s brilliant to see, there is a real appetite to training”.

His place in attack has moved from the inside line to starting at centre-forward approaching the closing stages of the league.

Whatever his exact role, Rodgers will be of the starting six forwards selected for Sunday’s championship

opener against Limerick. Matches in the league will serve Clare well, the All-Ireland winning handballer believed. “All seven games in the league have been like that Kilkenny are always hard to get over, a tough physical side with some brilliant hurlers, it was great to come out the right side of the result and this should benefit us going forward”.

l Cathal Malone

Photo by Gerard O'Neill

l Mark Rodgers Photo by Gerard O'Neill

Galvin hoping to overcome ‘savage competition’ to make starting championship debut

by Séamus Hayes news@clareecho.ie

CLARECASTLE’s Cian Galvin is five years on the county senior hurling panel but is still considered one of the ‘new kids on the block’ on the starting team.

That he would be called up to the team was never in doubt as far as followers of the game in the county are concerned. He first came to prominence when playing at juvenile level with his club, going on to impress at college level with St. Flannan’s College where he captained them to win the top Munster schools competition of the Dr Harty Cup in 2020.

He earned a call to the Clare minor panel and from there went on to represent Clare at under 20 level while also impressing in third level college competitions with University of Limerick.

This led to a call up to the senior panel and this year he has got a lot of game time in what is his fifth year on the panel. He lined out at wing back in both the league semi-final and final victories over Tipperary and Kilkenny respectively.

l Cian Galvin started the final six out of the seven league fixtures this year.

Galvin is fighting to retain his spot at wing back for the first round of the Munster SHC when Clare welcome All-Ireland champions

Cusack Park passes inspection to increase capacity for Clare vs Limerick

by Páraic McMahon paraic@clareecho.ie

CUSACK PARK’s capacity is to be increased following an inspection this week.

There is huge demand for tickets for the first round of the Munster senior hurling championship next weekend in Ennis as Clare welcome Limerick to Cusack Park.

As first reported by The Clare Echo, officials in Clare GAA informed delegates at the April meeting of the County Board that they were to undertake an inspection to determine if the capacity of 18,000 could be increased to allow for a greater amount of supporters to attend the fixture.

Chairman of Clare GAA, Kieran Keating

has confirmed to The Clare Echo that this inspection has resulted in an increase to a capacity of 20,100.

Subsequently, clubs are to receive an extra allocation with a predicted 700-800 to be distributed among Clare’s clubs.

An independent engineer completed the assessment before reporting their recommendations to the GAA authorities in Croke Park who advised Munster GAA of the decision and they relayed the message to Clare GAA.

Tickets are proving hard to come by for many supporters in both counties with clubs running fundraising draws which will include giving away tickets to the fixture.

He

that Clare

back up their league success by defeating John Kiely’s charges. “This

success will be quickly forgotten if we don’t perform against Limerick next week. They are four in a row champions for a reason and when they come to town next week the full focus will be on them”.

Cian continued, “the Allianz league is a great competition and loads of lads have got valuable game time this season which has helped greatly. Hopefully we can all continue that form into the Munster championship”.

As one of the players battling to make his starting championship debut, Cian is well aware of the competition for places in the squad. “There is savage competition for places in the starting fifteen. It’s a very healthy environment which is good. There are several players putting their hands up for selection each day”.

He believes and one of the reasons for their winning run this season is that their approach has been to focus on the next game. “That’s the way it is going to continue and right now the whole focus is on Limerick”.

“Everyone is looking forward” to the meeting of Clare and Limerick both within and outside of the panel, the University of Limerick student noted.

Limerick to Cusack Park, with six consecutive league starts to his name so far this year.

maintained

must

Photo by Gerard O'Neill

Clare management poised to make changes from victorious league side

by Páraic McMahon paraic@clareecho.ie

CLARE’s senior hurling management are anticipated to make changes from the starting fifteen crowned Allianz National Hurling League champions for Sunday’s first round of the Munster SHC.

Brian Lohan and his management will not name their team until later this week and even changes to what is announced then is possible.

Clooney/Quin’s Ryan Taylor continues his recovery from an ACL injury and remains out of the equation, for now.

Four-time All Star Tony Kelly has made strong progress with his recovery from an ankle operation before Christmas and could well be listed among the substitutes for the Limerick game.

Speaking following Clare’s league final success, Lohan said he was hopeful Kelly would be able to play some part against Limerick. “He is still working hard as he always does, we are hoping that he will get better”.

Eibhear Quilligan is set to be named between the posts with Conor Cleary anchoring the full-

l The Banner take on Limerick in the first round of the Munster Senior Hurling Championship on Sunday in Cusack Park at 2pm. Photo by Gerard O'Neill

back berth. Adam Hogan will be handed a corner back jersey while Conor Leen is battling competition from Rory Hayes and Paul Flanagan for the spot in the other corner. Both John Conlon and Diarmuid

Ryan are expected to be in the halfback line where they will be joined by either David McInerney or Cian Galvin.

Wolfe Tones’ Darragh Lohan is on course to make his first start in

the Munster SHC alongside Cathal Malone in the middle of the field.

Having made his first appearance of the year in the league final, Shane O’Donnell is on course to be included in the starting six for-

wards which is also set to include David Fitzgerald, Mark Rodgers and Aidan McCarthy with Ian Galvin and David Reidy also vying for inclusion.

'Result between Clare & Limerick won't define the championship for either county'

by Séamus Hayes news@clareecho.ie

WHITEGATE’s Andrew Fahey is well positioned to offer a view on how the Munster championship meeting of Clare and Limerick will proceed on Sunday.

A former member of the Clare panel, he has filled the goalkeeper’s role for Clare at all levels from under age to senior. He is currently a member of the Clare under 20 backroom team filling the role of goalkeeping coach while he has been busy in recent seasons coaching a number of teams at Scariff Community College.

“Both these teams have given us so many thrillers in recent times. Clare go into Sunday’s game on the back of a good league campaign while Limerick are chasing history. It’s set up for a great game. There won’t be much between them, probably another one score game”, he said this week.

Given that there will be a change in format for next year’s league, Fahey believes that “securing one’s status in this season’s campaign was the primary goal for the teams involved. Clare’s clash with Kilkenny in the final was the perfect preparation for the championship. They knew they had a two week gap to the championship and the fact that they were unlikely to meet again ‘til the latter stages of the All-Ireland

race was the perfect preparation for the Munster campaign”.

The Whitegate clubman noted that “Clare and Limerick have placed a lot of emphasis this year on building a big squad. They have given valuable game time to many young players such as Keith Smyth, Cian Galvin and Shane Meehan to mention some. Limerick have done the same. Both managements are awaiting news on the fitness of some established players. If they have them available it will be great but if not they will go with the next man up”.

Commenting

l Ex-Clare

ity of ing to defending champions without Tony Kelly,drew “Tony fanplayer will than

year. There has been a big focus on building a panel and they have found new players while it’s great to have Shane O’Donnell back”. Asked to predict the outcome he replied, “this is a hard one to call. Games between them in recent times have had everything, they have played phenomenal hurling and provided great entertainment. Of course I’m hoping for a Clare victory which would kick start the summer. Clare are in a good position and it would be great to get one over on our neighbours”.

Defeat for either side won’t be a major setback to Clare or Limerick so far as championship hopes in 2024 are concerned, he believed. “Last year Clare played Tipperary in the opening tie and lost but six days later they went to Limerick and won, whatever the outcome on Sunday, previous experiences for both will have them ready to go again a week later. Squads are there to deal with these situations”.

Clare & Limerick's most recent championship meetings

by Liam Moroney news@clareecho.ie

2023 Munster SHC final in TUS Gaelic Grounds

Limerick 1-23

Clare 1-22

Referee: Liam Gordon (Galway)

2023 Munster SHC round-robin in TUS Gaelic Grounds

Clare 1-24 Limerick 2-20

Referee: Colm Lyons (Cork)

2022 Munster SHC final in FBD Semple Stadium

Limerick 1-29

Clare 0-29

Referee: John Keenan (Wicklow)

Goalkeeper,

2022 Munster SHC round-robin in Cusack Park

Clare 0-24 Limerick 1-21

Referee: Colm Lyons (Cork)

2020 Munster SHC quarter-final in FBD Semple Stadium

Limerick 0-36

Clare 1-23

Referee: Fergal Horgan (Tipperary)

2019 Munster SHC round robin series in TUS Gaelic Grounds

Limerick 1-28

Clare 1-13

Referee: James Owens (Wexford)

2018 Munster SHC round robin in Cusack Park

Clare 0-26

Limerick 0-15

Referee: James Owens (Wexford)

2017 Munster SHC semi-final in FBD Semple Stadium

Clare 3-16 Limerick 2-17

Referee: James McGrath (Westmeath)

2016 All-Ireland SHC qualifier round two in FBD Semple Stadium

Clare 0-19

Limerick 0-15

Referee: James Owens (Wexford)

2015 Munster SHC quarter-final in FBD Semple Stadium

Limerick 1-19

Clare 2-15

Referee: Colm Lyons (Cork)

Senior

Andrew Fahey.Photo by Chris Copley

Moran says Limerick game poses 'real stick or twist issue' for Lohan & Clare management

WINNING the Allianz National Hurling League title could be “a blessing or a curse” for Clare’s hurlers, former Limerick hurler Niall Moran maintained.

Speaking to The Clare Echo, the Ahane native admitted, “As a Limerick supporter going to Ennis on Sunday five in a row is the furthest thing from my mind. Until I see the Limerick team that will take to the pitch, I can’t say how confident I will be”.

“If you take the form of recent weeks at face value then Clare will be favourites. Apart from the disappointment of losing the league semi-final,

Limerick had a very good league, they blooded a lot of new players. The teams have been close in recent years,” the Ard Scoil Rís secondary school teacher stated.

Niall wondered if winning the Allianz National Hurling League was “a blessing or a curse for Clare. Brian (Lohan) must now decide does he stick or does he twist when it comes to naming the starting fifteen. From the team that started the league final, there are a number of players to come back in. Conor Leen, Cian Galvin and Darragh Lohan are just some of the new players who played in the league final. Had Clare lost that game they had ready-made replacements. If you go and lose you are the world’s worst. The selection

decision could have a big bearing on the outcome”.

Ex Clare senior football captain, Gary Brennan has transferred to Niall’s club in Ahane this season and Moran said they are delighted to have the St Flannan’s PE and Irish teacher involved with them.

Moran stressed, “Brian and his management team have done an incredible job but they have got it wrong at critical times in the last few years so it’s a real stick or twist issue for them. John Kiely does tend to return to his tried and trusted”.

A Munster SHC winner in 2013, Niall admitted he has concerns in relation to the availability of some of the Limerick players for this game. “Dan Morrissey would

be a huge loss if he is out. In his absence Limerick have been vulnerable at the back. He has been carrying an injury and he would certainly be a huge loss if he is ruled out”.

A past pupil of St Flannan’s College, Niall played hurling with the school at all grades up to and including the Dr Harty Cup. “We got a great education out there. Nowadays the Ard Scoil Rís catchment area is on the border and a third of our students come from Clare. For years we sent Limerick lads, including myself, to St.Flannan’s College and we got a great education out there. They are getting that now here at Ard Scoil Rís”.

“There is great excitement here in the school this week, great to hear lads on

the corridors talking about the game. It’s great to have a staff member involved in Paul Flanagan who is on the Clare panel. It’s a real sign of the times in Limerick that a lot want to be hurling now. In Limerick City that was alien to us for a long time, heroes on both sides such as Diarmuid Ryan, Ian Galvin, Cian Lynch, the Caseys and Will O’Donoghue were in school here”.

Whether or not Limerick will retain the Munster title is something that Niall wasn’t prepared to comment on saying that he wasn’t “prepared to look beyond Sunday’s game or the one against Tipperary a week late. I am very wary of Cork this year. They are starting to win games. Look there is

danger for both Clare and Limerick on Sunday. If they over invest it could cost them thereafter. Yes there will be big hype, both could make fools of us and we could see a one sided game. It’s just impossible to call and I would be lying if I called it. As I said at the outset until I see the Limerick team that will take to the pitch. I can’t say how confident I will be”.

A number of players have been injured and a number have not had enough game time. We haven’t seen enough of them as a unit this year”, said Niall who concluded, “it’s fair to say never have we been as evenly matched as in recent seasons”.

l Clare's Peter Duggan is pulled by Limerick's Seán Finn as Diarmuid Byrnes and Tony Kelly spectate.

Photo by Gerard O'Neill

Fitzgerald & Clare aware but not fully fixated on Dungarvan difficulties of the past

by Páraic McMahon paraic@clareecho.ie

MARK FITZGERALD begins his first championship campaign as Clare senior football manager this Saturday as the Banner bid to reach a second successive Munster final.

Waterford fresh from recording their first championship win since 2010 provide the opposition in Fraher Field, Dungarvan, a venue which has often offered a tricky test for Clare teams.

Speaking to The Clare Echo, Mark admitted that it was a surprise to find themselves preparing for an away semi-final with Waterford rather than welcoming Tipperary to Cusack Park in Ennis.

“You’d be lying if you said you weren’t surprised that Waterford won, I was actually at the game, both teams didn’t cover themselves in glory in the first half but at the same token Waterford were still in it and were still in it and were only four points down, they had a fantastic second half and showed the quality they have. Momentum is a huge thing in sport, Waterford lads at the last minute looked a far different team than they did in the first minute, we have to be wary of it, we’re well aware of the difficulties going down there, Clare teams have struggled against them in the past, the U20s went down there in the 2021 and got well beaten, a lot of

those guys are playing with us now so we’re well aware of the difficulty of the task”.

“You could spend your life going back through history, the reality of it is that Waterford while they haven’t had a good league campaign they certainly got better as the league went on, they got that win under their belt and as I said momentum is huge so we just have to concentrate on ourselves and keep doing what we’ve been doing but do it a little bit better and be more consistent”.

Reflecting on Clare’s league campaign which saw them short of promotion in the final round, Mark stated, “The key takeaways was that we have to get better at doing things right over a consistent period, there has been games where we’ve been brilliant, there’s been periods where we’ve been absolutely awful, the big takeaway is that if you can try stay in a game, keep trying and keep playing, that is all I can ask of the lads, we did that in most of the games and it got us over the line in one or two of those games”.

Mixing the good with the bad was a far too common feature of Clare’s seven league outings. The learnings from this will need to be applied for championship. “When you take fifteen players out of a set-up it leaves a huge vacuum no matter what team you are talking about, it took a while for lads to find their feet in terms of stepping up to leadership

roles even though they are quite capable of playing in Division 3 or Division 2 but it just takes time, we hope that we have rectified some of it, it is not from the want of trying, the league is done and dusted now, we have to move on, whatever it was it was, it is all about championship now for us and championship for us at the moment is Saturday night in Fraher Field”.

Rewinding back to the autumn, Mark admitted “the fact that Clare rang me” was a big factor in enticing him to stay in inter-county management after his time in charge of Limerick ended. “I knew Declan Downes from before, that was one of the reasons why I wanted to keep Declan, it was one of the big things because he has a significant knowledge of Clare football, he has been brilliant for me and brilliant for the group. I would have been well aware of the qualities of Clare down through the years and what Colm (Collins) was building albeit I didn’t know the full extent of what was to go but I still felt when I looked around the dressing room, my own club had played Éire Óg in the Munster club two years ago, I saw the U20s against Kerry last year, Clare has a good footballing tradition so I felt it was an exciting project to take on”.

Immediately after his appointment in September, Mark became a regular fixture at knockout games in the Clare SFC, this helped him

to identify players, “For the most part those club games were very good, teams were well set-up, well coached, well put-together and that has to stand to Clare football in the grand scheme of things, I had seen Joe McGann and Cian Burke play really well for St Breckan’s, Diarmuid O’Donnell with Kildysart and a few more that we looked at that just need a bit more time, there’s plenty quality there and I just felt if we could get them in and give them a little bit more belief they could do something and that was reflected in some of our performances”.

“This year you’d no other choice but to throw them in at the deep end, that is what we needed but there is part of that, there is one on one stuff, there’s me talking with them, seeing how they are getting on, for a lot of these lads it happens naturally and you hope you survive but to be fair they have done really well, the push comes from the players they have been brilliant”.

Demands on players and mentors continue to rise, encouraging those involved to take time out has been high on Fitzgerald’s agenda. “The big thing is you do need a little bit of downtime to recharge the batteries, my wife takes on the brunt of it, I’ve three kids and they are busy so I try get to all their stuff, you do have to get a bit of downtime to recharge yourself and I do give the players a little bit of downtime

Stephen Ryan among new leaders setting the way for Clare footballers

by Páraic McMahon paraic@clareecho.ie

NOT ALONE has Stephen Ryan’s responsibility as a leader within the Clare senior football panel changed but so too has the role of the county’s first choice goalkeeper on the field.

Ryan’s rise to vice captaincy was arguably accelerated given the departure of twelve members of last year’s panel but he is not shirking away from the responsibility. “I’m enjoying it, we’re lucky in that we have plenty of leaders within the group, there’s a few lads that have stayed on that would be real leaders, I’m trying to do my bit for the team, there’s a lot of good lads around me”.

Another noticeable difference in Clare’s play is the greater involvement of their goalkeeper in direct play with the Kilrush man operating as an extra man even going as far as the middle third throughout Clare’s league run. “The game is developing that way, you see it that the keeper has been coming out a small bit more

so we’re no different and we’re trying to make use of that extra man, it is something that I’ve brought into my game a bit more than previous years,” the Dublin based AIB employee told The Clare Echo.

When Clare defeated Waterford by a point in the 2019 Munster SFC quarter-final, it was a game which marked Stephen’s championship debut between the posts. While he hasn’t experience of playing senior in Fraher Field, he expects a tough test from the Déise in Dungarvan. They’ll have a lot of momentum and a bit of positivity in the group after a good win against Tipperary. We know it is a tough test but we’re focused on ourselves and hopefully if we get our performance right on the day the performance will follow. My debut in 2019 was against Waterford here in Cusack Park, we just got over the line on that day, we would have played them a bit alright underage but it is always a tough test, they have a lot of good players, we know it is going to be a tough test but one we’re looking forward”.

Reflecting on Clare’s run in the National League, Stephen outlined, “We didn’t dwell on it too long, we took a lot of positives from it, we’ve had a good bit to work on for the last couple of weeks looking forward to the championship, overall it is positive but we’re disappointed with the way it turned out the last day, all eyes are on championship for the week ahead”.

“I didn’t focus on it too much,” Stephen admitted when asked what was his reaction to hearing Clare would be without twelve of the 2023 panel for Mark Fitzgerald’s first campaign in charge. “The lads have given serious time and effort to Clare football, they had really driven it on the last couple of years, they all had their own reasons for stepping away so we had to focus on the few lads we still had and the lads coming into the panel. We didn’t focus on it too much, they all gave so much to Clare football, all you can do is thank them for it”.

He continued, “we still had a strong bunch left and we knew that, the lads who came on really pushed us on another level,

we were close but came up a bit short in the end, it is something to focus on for next year but all eyes are on Waterford for the week ahead”.

and the management team, that is important because they have families outside of this, despite what we think this isn’t the be and end all for everyone. That is reflective of where the group is at the moment, I’m not saying there is anything wrong with what went before, this is just the style I bring to it, we’ll see where it takes us”.

Garry doubtful for Clare as Brennan & Bohannon return from injury

CLARE’S senior footballers will have their strongest selection to choose from so far this year for Saturday’s Munster SFC semi-final.

Captain Cillian Brennan and midfielder Darragh Bohannon are both available having missed all seven games in the Allianz National Football League. Cillian Rouine played the entire seventy minutes against Down a month ago having overcome a hamstring injury. His younger brother Brendy is back running after a frustrating spell with a groin problem.

Cooraclare’s Micheál

Garry who started all of Clare’s league games at corner back is the main injury doubt. He currently has a groin injury and a decision on his involvement will be made closer to Saturday’s game.

If available Micheál is set to make his championship debut but management could be forced to make a number of positional switches in his absence with Rouine potentially facing a move from the half-back line to

corner back in such a scenario. Éire Óg duo Lanigan and Doherty are expected to be included in the fullback line.

Bohannon is tipped to start in the middle of the park where he will be partnered by Brian McNamara or Gavin Murray. Emmet McMahon, Dermot Coughlan, Aaron Griffin and Cormac Murray are on course to form part of the Clare attack with Kilmihil’s Ciaran Downes and Joe McGann also battling for inclusion.

Speaking to The Clare Echo, Clare manager Fitzgerald outlined, “we’re as fit as we’ve ever been so we’re looking forward more so than looking back, we’ve looked in detail at the league campaign, while it was successful enough we would have liked another shot at Down, we didn’t do ourselves justice in that”.

He added, “There’s one or two niggles there but we’re as healthy as we’ve been, you will always have niggles but given where we were in November and December we’re in a far better place”.

l Clare Goalkeeper, Stephen Ryan Photo by Gerard O'Neill

l Clare Manager, Mark Fitzgerald Photo by Gerard O'Neill

Brennan basking in opportunity to be back in the mix for championship following injury ordeal

by Páraic McMahon

SINCE HIS appointment as Clare senior football captain in January, Cillian Brennan has not yet enjoyed the honour of leading his county into battle.

A groin injury first sustained last April kept Cillian out of Clare’s entire National Football League campaign and restricted his matchday involvement to that of the maor uisce.

Saturday’s Munster SFC semi-final with Waterford will be the first time he is available for selection for Mark Fitzgerald and his management team this year.

Speaking to The Clare Echo, Cillian recounted that he first started to get a “pinching” pain in his groin while playing in last year’s league but he was still able to get through games. “The first few initial games I was nearly playing better football than I did in a while I felt. When it came to the Munster semi-final against Limerick and when kicking a ball I felt a sharp pain down my groin, I went and got an MRI scan, it came up clear, I went on and played the Munster final but I wasn’t fully comfortable with it, I knew there wasn’t something fully right.

“I rehabbed it during the summer, I got it to a certain stage where I set it back again, again I was working off the understanding that there was no actual tear there and that it might be a case of nerve issues from the back, I said I’d chance playing one or two of the club games and I went into Santry at the end of September, start of October, they looked at the initial scan from April and they noticed there was a tear in the abductor there so they rescanned it and noticed it had got worse, there was a bit of backtracking to be done to make sure I rehabbed it fully and got back, they are just slow injuries unfortunately, we had enough of them with groins last year whatever it

was whether it was surface, load or what we were doing but they test the patience for sure,” he reflected.

Players want to be on the field and such a long spell on the sidelines was “very tough,” the Ballyea man admitted. “I’ve been fortunate that I haven’t been on the sideline too often in my career so it was something that was quite new to me but you want to try help the team in any way you can, you don’t want to be a negative influence around the place if you are tense when you can’t contribute on the field in the way you might like to that, you try give the lads their space and support them in any way you can. In those winter nights when we were training and rehabbing in the gym together it was nearly like a therapy group when we were all together, there’s lots of support there, the lads were all eager to get playing, my brother Shane is a physio and has been through plenty of injuries himself and has been a phenomenal support through it all”.

Now that he has come out the other side, Cillian is “absolutely raring to go”. He said, “Sharpness has taken a bit of time to get back, it is only natural, I’m only delighted to be back there and in the thick of it again, I’m trying to push myself on again and push on the lads around me”.

Brennan added, “It’s been a long journey since nearly this time last year when this injury initially started at me, I’m glad to be back on the field training now and trying to push lads on, put my hand up and try compete for a place in the twenty six or whatever role I’m good for”.

With a dozen of last year’s panel bowing out following Colm Collins’ departure as manager, Cillian has suddenly found himself as the most experienced member of the Clare panel. “That’s football, all the lads who went away have given great service to Clare and they didn’t owe Clare football anything, it is a testament to all those lads

that have stepped up this year that while they mightn’t have been getting chances over the past few years they were pushing standards and pushing those lads who were playing over the last few years, it is great that they have taken their chance with both hands and it is important to keep pushing things on again”.

An Assistant Professor in Physical Education, Cillian is a lecturer in DCU’s Institute of Education on the St Pat’s Campus. His move to the capital has been “an interesting change to go up and settle into life up there, it has been busy, I was spending more time than I’d like in the Santry Sports Clinic which was very close to me up that way while I was up there, the lads were very accommodating earlier in the year when I was rehabbing the injury, they said I wasn’t needed on a Wednesday evening to go down and go back up if I was only rehabbing, they were patient enough with me to give me my time and I’d be down on the weekends helping out in any way that I could”.

In his role he is lecturing first and second year primary school student teachers and it is one he is enjoying. “I had been in Scoil Chríost Rí for a while when I qualified initially, then the opportunity

with the aspects brought to the table by his teammates. “You can’t but be pleased with the character that the lads have shown across the league while some of the performances there was definite areas that we would like to develop and to improve on but there was character shown in the Offaly game, the fight shown there to work their way back into the game and to get a result out of it was phenomenal. It always comes down to and if there’s any team you’re with you want hard work and honesty, that was there in spades”.

came up to go to Mary I and do a PhD, I really enjoyed my time in the classroom but also in Mary I as well, I was part of a great PE team there and I get different type of experiences now in Dublin, it’s good to get different experiences and insights and push myself in different ways to see how I can develop”.

Given his vantage point from the sideline during the league, he was impressed

Leading up to the start of another championship bid is always a time to embrace within an inter-county set-up. “That’s always the main goal for the year is to be looking ahead to championship and to do as well as possible in the league but championship is where the real football is at and we’re only raring to go”.

On their aims and objectives, he detailed, “The same as any year for any league or any championship, it’s first round and that is all it is, it’s Waterford on Saturday and we have to be fully ready for

that, we know it is a huge challenge going down to Fraher Field, it is not an easy place to go and we have to be fully on the ball to try get a performance so we can get a result”.

Although Cillian has not played senior championship in Fraher Field, both of his older brothers Gary and Shane have tasted stern encounters away to Waterford in championship. “We’ve plenty of experience between Gary and Shane playing there over a number of years, I’ve never actually played there myself, it’s a tough play to go and if things don’t go your way it is a long journey home, we’ll be doing everything we can to make sure we’re ready for that battle next Saturday”.

Waterford “will look at it as a huge opportunity” to take down Clare, Brennan maintained. “They will have huge momentum from the Tipp game, they will see us as a chance to get into the Munster final and the All-Ireland championship, we have to do everything to earn the right to get into the Munster final and be ready for that”.

Clare & Waterford's most recent championship meetings

by Liam Moroney news@clareecho.ie

2019 Munster SFC quarter-final in Cusack Park

Clare 0-9 Waterford 0-8

Referee: Brendan Cawley (Kildare)

2014 Munster SFC quarter-final replay in Fraher Field, Dungarvan

Clare 3-11 Waterford 0-12

Referee: Maurice Deegan (Laois)

2014 Munster SFC quarter-final in Cusack Park

Clare 2-8 Waterford 2-8

Referee: Conor Lane (Cork)

2010 Munster SFC quarter-final in Fraher Field

Waterford 1-10

Clare 0-9

Referee: Aidan Mangan (Kerry)

2008 Munster SFC quarter-final in Cusack Park

Clare 0-9 Waterford 0-7

Referee: Aidan Mangan (Kerry)

2007 Munster SFC quarter-final in Fraher Field

Waterford 1-6

Clare 0-7

2005 Munster SFC quarter-final in Cusack Park

Clare 2-14 Waterford 2-10

2002 Munster SFC quarter-final in Fraher Field

Clare 3-10 Waterford 2-9

2000 Munster SFC quarter-final in Cusack Park

Clare 0-15 Waterford 1-7

1990 Munster SFC quarter final in Fraher Field

Clare 0-13 Waterford 0-9

paraic@clareecho.ie

l Clare's Cillian Brennan

Photo by Gerard O'Neill

Clare must play to their potential to reach second successive Munster final

to the panel.

by Séamus Hayes news@clareecho.ie

For the first time in over a decade Coolmeen’s Cathal O’Connor won’t be travelling to Fraher Field in Dungarvan on this Saturday as a member of the Clare senior football panel.

After delivering numerous outstanding performances for his beloved county throughout the past decade, he called time on his inter-county career at the end of last season.

That decision didn’t, of course, dampen his interest but he admits that he will “miss it and it will be different”.

While confident that Clare will win he noted, “Waterford have given Clare trouble in Fraher Field in the past. In the year that the late Páidí Ó Sé was in charge they turned us over in Fraher Field”.

Incidentally that was the year before Cathal got called up

“It’s amazing what a win can do for confidence and Waterford will have got confidence from their victory over Tipperary. They will be flying high and will be playing in front of their home supporters and will want to do well. Clare must make sure that their approach is right and if they play to their potential I believe they will win”, he said. Whoever wins on Saturday will secure a place in the Munster final. “Being involved in the Munster final is a great occasion. Munster finals don’t come around too often. We were there last year and while things didn’t go our way, it was great to be involved”. A winner of two Clare SHC medals with Ballyea, Cathal said the county were unlucky not to win promotion to Division 2 in the Allianz National Football League. “Clare did

well in the league, they have done better than what many predicted. Despite having lost a number of players to retirements they still have a very good spine to the team. The new lads that have come in have done well. They have played some great stuff and might well have been promoted”.

Victory at Fraher Field on Saturday evening not only leads to a Munster final date but also guarantees competing for the Sam Maguire cup. “Everyone wants to play for the Sam Maguire cup and that is a huge incentive on Saturday. It’s very important to get a victory in Dungarvan”, according to the man who continues to be a key player with his club Coolmeen who have won their opening games in this season’s league.

“Support for Clare is crucial. There is a loyal band of diehards who follow everywhere, and I believe they will be there on Saturday to cheer the team on to what I believe will be a second successive Munster final appearance,” Cathal conclud-

l Ex-Clare footballer, Cathal O'Connor Photo by Gerard O'Neill

'They gave it a great go. There was 40 points in it three years ago, so the gap is closing' - Fahy

O'NEILLS MUNSTER U20 HC ROUND 2

Clare 1-19 Cork 2-22

Venue: SuperValu Pairc Uí Chaoimh, Cork

Compiled by Denis Hurley

STORY OF THE GAME

CLARE Frees for: 11 (6/5)

Wides: 5 (3/2)

Scores from play: 1-11

Spread of scorers: 10

Top scorer: Conor Whelan (010, 8f's)

Bookings: None

Own puckouts won: 19 out of 38 (50%)

CORK Frees for: 11 (7/4)

Wides: 15 (5/10)

Scores from play: 2-16

Spread of scorers: 7

Top scorer: Jack Leahy (1-6, 2f's)

Bookings: None

Own puckouts won: 15 out of 25 (60%)

REFEREE: Nicky O'Toole (Waterford)

MANAGER COMMENT “

Terence Fahy, Clare manager

“We came down to win and we’re going home beaten.”

“When we went down to 14 men, it made it very difficult. Cork are excellent at using the ball and they hurt us for that period of the match.”

“We started great, I think we had a lot of points got by the tenth minute. But, the game goes on for 65, 66 minutes, so yeah, they built their lead and they got it up as far as seven. We got it back to three with three minutes to go and we’re very proud of our team.

“They refused to yield even when it was all going against them, playing into the wind with 14 men.

“They gave it a great go. There was 40 points in it three years ago, so the gap is closing.”

“Absolutely, there’s great character in our team. We’re very disappointed going home but there’s big learning to take from it.”

“We have a few knocks and we need that three weeks, it’s coming at a timely time for us. Hopefully we can reset and reboot and go again.”

“The only thing we’re interested in is round three of the round-robin. That’s nothing to do with Cork. We’re playing Waterford and we’ve a big job there. That’s where our focus will be, it’s very singular. The Cork game is over and we’re moving on.”

STORY OF THE GAME

MANAGER COMMENT “

“We’re delighted to come through that test. I mean there’s loads of apprehension and nerves on the first day out because it’s new to all these players and it’s also new for us with this group of players so therefore you tend to learn so much from this competition as it goes on.

“Realistically the longer you stay in the championship, the better you’re going to get so the main focus of this evening was mainly to get the basics right especially on such a wet evening; winning 50/50 ball and working hard so hopefully we can improve upon that in the next game and build from here.

“In terms of messaging, we don’t tend to move too far away from the script. I think Waterford got a good start to the game and again in the second half but we just stayed focused, concentrated on our own jobs and stuck to our principles and were able get back on top in both halves.

“There were a few scary moments there when they [Waterford] broke in behind our half-back line but in fairness the boys closed them off really well and Matthew [Crotty] made two good saves and

was solid throughout which isn’t easy for a goalkeeper on a wet evening.

“So we’re delighted with all of them and the fact that we’ve gotten a game under our belts, the players are only going to be bouncing after this evening and hopefully grow in confidence from it.

“The two home games are first so getting wins in those home games is really important before hitting the road to Tipperary and Cork so we’ll look forward to the Limerick game but for the mo-ment, I’m really happy”.

l Graham Ball delivers the ball into the Clare attack.

Photo by Gerard O'Neill

Dermot Coughlan, Clare manager

l Michael Collins

Photo by Gerard O'Neill

U16C Munster success for Clare All-Ireland title for Philpott

by Páraic McMahon paraic@clareecho.ie

CLARE’s U16C ladies football side claimed the spoils in the Sharon O’Keeffe Tournament finals held in Mallow on Sunday.

Clare recorded a 2-6 1-4 win over Waterford to come out on top.

Meanwhile, in the fifth round of the Munster minor championship, Clare lost out to Kerry when it finished 3-15 1-10.

Six Clare players on team of the league

SIX CLARE players have been included on the team of the league for Division 3. Fresh from winning Division 3 of the

Lidl Ladies National Football League, Clare have further reason to celebrate with six of their players included in the team of the league.

St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield duo Siofra Ní Chonaill and Aisling Reidy are named at full-back and midfield respectively. Laurie Ryan of Banner Ladies is included on the team of the league at left half back.

Captain Caoimhe Harvey who was named player of the game in the league final win over Roscommon is included at centre forward with top scorer across all divisions Fidelma Marrinan chosen at left corner forward and Ailish Considine who scored 1-2 in the league decider selected at left half forward.

Division 3 team of the league:

1: Helena Cummins (Roscommon)

2: Ellen Irwin (Roscommon)

3: Síofra Ní Chonaill (Clare)

4: Orla Boyle (Down)

5: Rachel Fitzmaurice (Roscommon)

6: Meghan Doherty (Down)

7: Laurie Ryan (Clare)

8: Amy Gavin Mangan (Offaly)

9: Aisling Reidy (Clare)

10: Laura Fleming (Roscommon)

11: Caoimhe Harvey (Clare)

12: Ailish Considine (Clare)

13: Aisling Hanly (Roscommon)

14: Kate Flood (Louth)

15: Fidelma Marrinan (Clare)

by Páraic McMahon paraic@clareecho.ie

Chloe Philpott from Kilkishen was crowned All-Ireland junior B ladies handball champion at the weekend. In the final she defeated Tyrone’s Clare Conway in straight sets, 21-7 and 21-9.

In the ladies intermediate final Leah Minogue from Tuamgraney lost out to Amy Brennan from Kilkenny, 12-21 and 12-21.

In the masters men’s B final, Shane Walsh from Tuamgraney had to give best to Paul Fitzpatrick from Cavan who emerged with a 21-2 and 21-8 victory.

Juvenile championships:

Clare players took part in Munster B championships at the weekend with U14 doubles and U16 singles and doubles boys competitions taking place.

In under 16 B singles Paddy Sweeney from Clarecastle won gold as he defeated both Waterford and Cork opponents.

In under 16 B doubles Ciaran Collins, Kilkishen and Jack O’Halloran, Toonagh paired up and played Waterford and Cork. The boys lost out on aggregate scores by 8 aces having beaten Cork in both their games with a win and loss against Waterford.

In under14 B doubles Clooney-Quin’s Cathal Brohan and Conor Brennan won both games against Waterford, while winning one and losing one against Cork which saw them ahead on aggregate.

The remaining Munster B finals will take place on the weekend of April 27/28.

Féile:

The remaining details for Féile have been cleared this week with boys teams of Clooney-Quin taking part in Division 1 in St. Coman’s Roscommon Town with Sean Considine, Jack Cahill, Eoin O’Connor, Nathan Killeen and Daniel McMahon-Collins making up the squad.

Clooney-Quin also play in division 5 in Abbeyknockmoy, Galway, where Sean McGee, Conor Brennan, Cathal Ryan, Tiernan Garvey and Sean Garvey will be in their team.

Kilkishen are in division 2 in Claremorris. They have Eoin Shanahan, Donnach Lenihan, Jamie Moroney, Lochlainn Collins and Michael Cooney in their team.

Toonagh are playing in Newport in Mayo in division 3 with Darragh Casey, Cillian Cummins, Colm Whelan and Cathal Bohan in their team.

l Caoimhe Larkin lifts the Sharon O’Keeffe Cup.

Photo by Burren Eye Photography

Indoor Community Games sides in Munster competitions this weekend

by Dearbhla Perry news@clareecho.ie

The St Francis Credit Union Clare Community Games participants in the Indoor Munster indoor team events this weekend.

Saturday 20th April in U.L. and Galvone.

Indoor Soccer Boys U10 –Cratloe.

Indoor Soccer Girls U10 – Newmarket – on – Fergus.

Indoor Soccer Boys U13 – Shannon.

Indoor Soccer Girls U13 – Corofin/Kilnaboy.

Basketball U11 Mixed – Doora/ Barefield.

Basketball U13 Boys – Doora/ Barefield.

Basketball U13 Girls – Ennistymon/Lahinch/Liscannor.

Basketball U16 Girls – Doora/ Barefield.

Badminton U15 Boys – Ennis St

John’s.

Badminton U15 Girls – Moylusa.

XRugby 7’s Boys – Newmarket –on – Fergus.

Futsal U13 Boys – Ennis St

John’s.

Futsal U13 Girls – Ennis St

John’s.

Futsal U15 Boys – Cratloe.

Futsal U15 Girls – Cratloe.

Sunday 21st April in Rathkeane

Draughts U10 – Crusheen/Ballinruan/Tubber.

Draughts U12 – Crusheen/Ballinruan/Tubber.

Draughts U14 – Sixmilebridge/ Kilmurry.

Chess U11 – Shannon.

Chess U13 – Ennis St John’s.

Chess U16 – Ennis St John’s.

The St Francis Credit Union Clare Community Games Talent competitions for U12 and U16 year olds weld held on Sunday 14th April in Quin Hall.

Results:

SOLO SINGING U12

1st Ailbhe Behan – Doora/Barefield

2nd Ellie-Eilis Griffin – Ennis St

John’s 3rd Jenny O’Brien – Quin Clooney

J/4th Heather Broderick – Quin/ Clooney, Aimee Coote – Ennis St

John’s

GROUP SINGING U12

1st Quin/Clooney 1 – Aidan and Katie Reynolds

2nd Quin/Clooney 2 – Jenny and Neasa O’Brien

SOLO SINGING U16

1st Siofra Hogan – Ballynacally/ Lissycasey

2nd Kyle Frawley – Ennis St

John’s

3rd Isabelle O’Doherty – Doora/ Barefield

4th Laura Flannery – Ennis St

John’s

GROUP SINGING U16

1st Ennis St John’s – Kyle Frawley, Katelyn Moloney, Holly Vaughan

2nd Quin/Clooney – Anna Brooks, Nina Mc Carthy

SOLO RECITATION U12

1st Ide Deans – Newmarket – on – Fergus

2nd Ailbhe Concannon – Clarecastle/Ballyea

3rd Holly Lynch – Ballynacally/ Lissycasey

J/4th Rachael Kelly – Quin/ Clooney, Neasa Mc Inerney –Clarecastle/Ballyea

Limerick all set for final of Con & Annie Kirby Memorial

by Michael Maher news@clareecho.ie

The two semi-finals of the 2024 Con & Annie Kirby Memorial 525 took centre stage at Limerick Greyhound Stadium on last Saturday night and they produced two exceptional displays from Knockeen Dazzler and Merits Inclusion.

Such is the theme of the €80,000 renewal, rarely has it been straightforward to select a winner and this so proved in two top-class semi-finals, which were landed in terrific but albeit unpredictable fashion.

Knockeen Dazzler came into the Kirby as a relative unknown, however, after landing both his opening round assignments, 17-year-old Castleisland trainer Daniel O’Rahilly’s charge is now firmly on everyone’s radar. Displaying explosive early pace, the 5/1 chance needed to produce one of his ping starts and he did just that to quickly reel in the fast-starting In Good Time in the opening yards.

Creating daylight between his rival by the time they reached the finish line, Knockeen Dazzler was two and a half lengths clear of Romeo Kingpin in second, while Epic Chick claimed the final qualifying position some six lengths further back. The time was an outstanding 28.23.

Merits Inclusion (Dromana Bucko & Million Dreams) shot to prominence last Saturday night when going quickest in the quarter finals and the Brendan Matthew’s runner made it back-to-back wins as he handed his Newry handler another Kirby finalist.

Despite winning in 28.31 one week prior, Merits Inclusion was still offered at generous odds of 7/2 as Scooby Pacemaker went off the 6/4 favourite from what looked a lovely makeup in trap one. However, one thing that was reasonably certain was that the Ian Reilly-trained Phoenix Tyson was going to take some leading and this proved accurate as he was on the receiving end of a lightning start from trap six.

The leader was nothing if not game for his Northern connections and he pulled out all the stops in the closing stages to hold off Scooby Pacemaker by a mere half length. The final qualifying position went to the gallant Phoenix Tyson, who was a further seven and a half lengths back in third. The time was an exquisite 28.24.

The concluding A3 graded Slan Abhaile 525 was the feature contest on Saturday night card at Galway Greyhound Stadium on a ten race programme. As the traps rose for the A3 graded finale Hit The Diss, April Rain and Derra Bear were all away well and were lined across the track passing the judge first time. At the opening bend Hit The Diss used the inside line to his advantage and racing down the back Hit The Diss opened a two length advantage over April Rain. Approaching the penultimate corner though the Master Robert Shanahan and Thomas Flanagan of Ennistymon owned April Rain moved up to deliver a challenge on the leaders outside and surging to

the front rounding the crown of the home bend the Tommy Flanagan of Ennistymon trained daughter of Romeo Recruit & Trembling Juliet drew right away in the home straight to defeat Hit The Diss by six lengths in 29.15.

Racing towards the opening bend in the A5 graded contest Rossies Flossy led the charge in the centre of the track to Evetheapple along the rails who close to join issue entering the back straight. Racing along the back the Joseph Kelly of Cooraclare owned Evetheapple opened up a three length advantage on her rivals. Rounding the home bend the leader began to empty and although all out the Stephen Murray of Sixmilebridge trained daughter of Burgess Bucks & Crokers Wish held Nanny’s Star at bay by a neck in 29.58.

Friday nights Galway card featured the three second round heats of the Ann Cheevers Memorial A4 525 Yards Stake .

In the opening heat of this Stake Brickhill Fayla was just about best away leading form Balroebuck Smokie and Springwell Kobe approaching the opening bend. Rounding the home bend the leaders stride began to shorten and the daughter of Good News and Twentylittletoes was searching for the line as Blacklabel Rose closed to within three parts of a length at the line in 29.04.

There was a thrilling finish to the third heat as the John Quinn of Gort owned Fast Fit Pennie arrived late and fast down the wide outside to collar the ace setting Lissatouk Peggy close home for a one length success in 29.35. Lissatouk Peggy broke smartly and led Kai and Fast Fit Pennie around the opening bend . Racing down the back Lissatouk Peggy and Kai went a couple of lengths clear of the eventual winner but rounding the home turn Fast Fit Penny(Doratos Wildcat-Fast Fit Maeve) swept down the outside to land the spoils for the inform kennel.

In the A3 graded ninth contest Creevy Bird and On The Radio disputed the lead racing towards the opening bend where Creevy Bird held a narrow advantage on the inner as Knockanoura Kate closed right up in behind to move into second place entering the back straight. Early in the back straight the Martin Williams of Quin owned Knockanoura Kate(Buegess Bucks & Crokers Wish) moved to the head of affairs and approaching the third bend she led by over three lengths and the Stephen Murray of Sixmilebridge trained lady drew further clear between the final two bends to score by six & a half lengths over Creevy Bird in 29.28.

The Donie Duggan of Tulla owned and trained Doughuisce Lad recorded his third career success in the S9 graded 325 yards contest as he proved two lengths too good for Springwell Henry in 18.67. The winner broke smartly on the wide outside as Springwell Henry shaped pace along the rails approaching the all-important opening turn. Rounding the bend Springwell Henry briefly led but regaining the lead on the cordwood of the home turn Doughuisce Lad eased away for victory.

Spanish Point Golf Club - A Coastal Gem:

by PÁDRAIG MCGRATH

Nestled along the Wild Atlantic Way amidst the rugged beauty of the Irish coastline, Spanish Point Golf Club stands as a testament to both natural splendour and sporting excellence. Located in the picturesque village of Spanish Point, this golfing haven offers enthusiasts a unique blend of challenging holes, offering panoramic breathtaking views of the wild Atlantic Ocean, and warm hospitality in their historic clubhouse. With its rich history, Spanish Point Golf Club has become a cherished destination for the golfers from far and wide. The course originated in 1896 and is among the oldest links golf courses in the country. Golf was played there before World War 1. The course in the early years was reserved for the upper class, but the club relaxed its memberships in 1960's allowing a more relaxed approach to memberships and the club thrived from an influx of new memberships since then. It has become an extremely popular course over the winter months in the past decade with the club opening a winter membership for insanely low prices, which has attracted golfers from the wet parkland courses in the region to flock to this dry links course.

Spanish Point Golf Club is a 2,665 yards long Par 34 nine-hole golf course and is challenging without having crippling long holes. As we all know shorter golf holes

aren't always the easiest to score on. In the past decade the club has won multiple All Ireland GUI & Golfing Union pendant's, showing the strength of golfers within the club.

Spanish Point is a true links and is playable all year round due to its natural sand-based turf. The club offers both a full all year-round membership, along with a winter membership which has become extremely popular among parkland golfers who take up this winter offer, seeking the dry soil. This rate is extremely competitive and it is a no brainer for anyone looking for dry golf from October to February.

The club has taken a significant stride in enhancing its offerings to golf enthusiasts with the inauguration of its cutting-edge Trackman golf simulator facility. This latest addition promises to revolutionize the golfing experience for members and visitors, providing an unparalleled opportunity to practice and refine their skills regardless of weather conditions or time constraints.

Nestled amidst the picturesque landscapes of County Clare, Spanish Point Golf Club has long been cherished for its stunning views and challenging course. However, with the unpredictable Irish weather often proving a hindrance to consistent practice, the introduction of the Trackman golf simulator facility marks a groundbreaking development for the club. "We are thrilled to introduce this innovative facility to our members and

guests," remarked the President of Spanish Point Golf Club. "Our aim is to provide a comprehensive golfing experience that caters to players of all levels, and the addition of the golf simulator aligns perfectly with this vision."

The versatility of the simulator extends beyond mere entertainment, serving as a valuable tool for improving technique and performance. With instant feedback on swing mechanics, clubhead speed, and ball trajectory, golfers can pinpoint areas for improvement and refine their skills with precision. There is a separate membership to join the Trackman studio which is definitely a facility which will help you to fully understand your own golf swing and help you to improve your own technique.

The addition also of the newly built short game area is also a further invaluable asset to the club. After all, the short game is the most important aspect to scoring in golf, so having a good short game facility is invaluable to a golf club and it will also benefit in attracting new members to the club. There is no doubt Spanish Point Golf Club is now one of the finest nine-hole courses in Ireland and it is a credit to everyone involved who have helped to build the club over the past number of years in raising the standards. Both the green fees and memberships are insanely reasonably priced and the future for this club looks to have an extremely bright future.

Garry & Brigdale win in Ennis Golf Club

by Seamus Hayes news@clareecho.ie

ENNIS GOLF CLUB

Patrick Garry and Philip Brigdale were the winners of the men’s fourball in Ennis at the weekend.

Garry (27) and Brigdale (20) were crowned winners with 47 points. In second place with 46 points were Jim Casey (18) and Flan Glynn (15) followed by James Broderick (10) and Philip McElroy (25) with 45 points.

The weekly qualifiers in the Pat O’Brien memorial trophy were Martin Moran, Cathal Ryan and Colin Reidy while the qualifiers in the ladies section were Patricia O'Reilly, Eileen Holly and Maureen Moloney.

DROMOLAND GOLF CLUB

Willie Fuller was the winner in group A of the seniors competition at Dromoland last week. He was followed by Bart O’Brien with Con Ryan in third spot.

In group B the winner was Frank Travers from Mark Skehan with Tim Crowe in third spot.

Seamus Cusack won the men’s 18 hole stroke competition at the weekend.

WOODSTOCK GOLF CLUB

Bernardo Kelly (8) won the weekend singles stableford competition at Woodstock with 33 points, winning o n a countback from Ruairi Breen (15).

EAST CLARE GOLF CLUB

The ladies Wednesday competition at East Clare last week was won by Brid Hayes, Mary Jo Minogue and Kay Grimes from Connie McKenna, Margaret Lynch and Siobhan Mulcahy. In third place were Marie A. Kelly, Ann Marie Ryan and Noreen Doyle.

The winners of the senior men’s competition were Ger Teefy and Nick Ryan from Terry Coughlan and Ailbe McDonnell with third spot filled by John Nihill and Willie Roche.

KILRUSH GOLF CLUB

The winner of the weekend singles at Kilrush was John Robinson (18) with 29 points. In second place with 28 points was Patrick Coleman (9) followed by Tom Browne (8) with 27 points.

CLARE COUNTY COUNCIL BALLYDUNEEN, LISSYCASEY, CO CLARE

Take notice that Daire and Siobhán McNamara intend to apply to the planning authority for permission to modify the extensions from those previously granted under Planning Application P211113 along with ancillary works at the above address. The planning application may be inspected, or purchased at a fee not exceeding the reasonable cost of making a copy, at the offices of the planning authority, Clare County Council, Aras Contae an Chlair, New Road, Ennis during its public opening hours and that a submission or observation in relation to the application may be made to the authority in writing on payment of the prescribed fee within the period of 5 weeks beginning on the date of receipt by the planning authority of the application.

CLARE COUNTY COUNCIL

1 CAPPA VILLAGE & 2 CAPPA VILLAGE, CAPPAGH, KILRUSH, CO. CLARE

Take notice that Donncadh and Anne Marie Nagle intend to apply for permission for alterations to the front façade of 2 no. residential properties, which comprise of: a) the proposal to reposition entrance doorway, b) enlargement of the ground floor window, c) the addition of raised plaster mouldings to the first floor window surrounds at 2 Cappa Village, d) the installation of a new shopfront spanning both properties, encompassing existing entrance doorway at 1 Cappa Village, entrance doorway and window at 2 Cappa Village, and including all ancillary site works at 1 Cappa Village & 2 Cappa Village, Cappagh, Kilrush, Co. Clare. The planning application may be inspected, or purchased at a fee not exceeding the reasonable cost of making a copy at the offices of 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 LISSANE

EAST, CLARECASTLE CO. CLARE

Take notice that Stephen O’Halloran & Orla Devitt intend to apply to the planning authority for permission to construct a new dwelling house and garage complete with a 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 COUNTY COUNCIL KILLERK WEST, DARRAGH, ENNIS, CO CLARE.

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

CLARE

I, John Burns, am applying to the above authority for permission for the following development on property at Hill Road, Knockyclovaun, Killaloe, Co Clare.

Permission for construction of two storey dwelling, detached domestic garage, new entrance, onsite waste water treatment system, connection to necessary services together with 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 DERRYFADDA, CLONLARA, CO

CLARE

I, John Hickey, am applying to the above authority for permission

for the following development on property at Derryfadda, Clonlara, Co Clare.

Permission for construction of detached agricultural storage building, together with 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 QUIN GARDENS, QUIN, CO CLARE

I, Martin Haran, am applying to the above authority for permission/ retention permission for the following development on property at Quin Gardens, Quin, Co Clare.

(i) Permission for construction of detached two storey dwelling house, onsite waste water treatment system, together with all associated ancillary and incidental works

(ii) Retention for landfill activities as already undertaken

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 MOUNTRIVERS, DOONBEG, CO CLARE

Take notice that Mary O Neill intends to apply to the Planning Authority for permission to retain existing Apartment, Sun Room and Sheds at Mountrivers, Doonbeg, Co Clare.

The planning authority may be inspected or purchased at a fee not exceeding the reasonable cost of making a copy, at the offices of the planning authority during its public opening hours.

A submission or observation in relation to the application may be made in writing to the planning authority on payment of the prescribed fee of €20 within the period of five (5) weeks, beginning onthe date of receipt by the Planning Authority.

CLARE COUNTY COUNCIL

ENNIS ROAD + MULLAGH ROAD, MILTOWN MALBAY, CO. CLARE

Take notice that Aoife O’Malley intends to apply to the Planning Authority of Clare County Council for planning permission for development at Ennis Road + Flag Road, Miltown Malbay, Co. Clare which is in an Architectural Conservation Area.

The development will consist of the installation of balconies to the first and second floors, solar panels on the roof, all to the rear/ east elevation and replacement sash windows.

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

KNOCKNAHOON, KILMURRY MC MAHON, CO CLARE V15K656

Take notice that Elaine Melican intends to apply for retention permission for the following: 1. The porch and sunroom extensions onto the existing dwelling, 2. The renovation of the original cottage on site into a self contained one bedroomed unit, for the ancillary enjoyment of the occupants of the main dwelling &

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

CLARE COUNTY COUNCIL COORE WEST, MULLAGH, CO CLARE V95 X6P4

Take notice that Caitriona and Seamus McMahon intend to apply for permission to extend and re novate existing dwelling, install a waster treatment system and all other site and ancillary works at the above address. This permission is in lieu of that which was granted under reference P23/446. The planning application may be inspected or purchased at a fee not exceeding the reasonable cost of making a copy, at the offices of the planning authority, during its public opening hours. A submission or observation in relation to the application may be made in writing to the authority on payment of the prescribed fee of €20.00, within the period of 5 weeks beginning on the date of receipt by the authority of the application.

Recent Deaths

Browne Geraghty, Edel Cratloe

O’GORMAN, Chris Clare

Bridgeman (née O’Riordan), Marion Ardnacrusha

Conroy (née Fitzgerald), Mimi Clarecastle

Kennedy (née Howard), Mary Kilfenora

SCANLAN, MARY Kilrush

SMITH (née Daly), Mary Clare

Tierney (née Cleary), Bridget Miltown Malbay

DONOGHUE, GERARD Whitegate

MULKERRIN, James Bell Harbour

Reidy, Senan Fintan Kilmihil

Walsh, Fr Jimmy Liscannor

Walsh, Fr Jimmy Ennistymon

Williams (née Linnane), Anne Kilshanny

Campbell, Jeannette Shannon

Egan, Micheal (Mickie) Corofin

Tierney (née Kilmartin), Bridget (Bridie) Ennistymon

Casey (née O’ Donoghue), Patricia Ruan

Kelleher, Michael (Noel) Broadford

Raftery (née Broderick), Hilda Bunratty

Smith, John Clare

Keane, Catherine (Kitty) Ballynacally

O’Leary (née Meehan), Pauline Newmarket-on-Fergus

PRAYER

THE MIRACLE PRAYER

Dear Heart of Jesus, In the past, I have asked for many favours. This time, I ask you

This special favour.

(Mention Favour)

Take it dear Heart of Jesus,

And place it within

Your own broken heart

Where your Father sees it, Then in His Merciful Eyes

It will become your favour

Not mine. Amen.

Say this prayer for 3 days.

Promise publication.

Jennifer

THE MIRACLE PRAYER

Dear Heart of Jesus, In the past, I have asked for many favours. This time, I ask you

This special favour.

(Mention Favour)

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

Where your Father sees it, Then in His Merciful Eyes

It will become your favour

Not mine. Amen.

Say this prayer for 3 days.

Promise publication.

M

The Clare Echo Quiz

CLARE VS LIMERICK PAST MEETINGS

in the Munster SHC round robin series and then attended his brother’s wedding celebrations?

A: Shane O’Donnell

B: Ian Galvin

C: John Conlon

7 How many times have Clare and Limerick met in the championship during Brian Lohan’s tenure as manager?

A: Three

B: Four

C: Five

3

4 How

5

6

8

Which Clare hurler received a red card in Clare’s 0-26 0-15 win over Limerick in the Munster SHC?

A: David Reidy

B: Jack Browne

C: Podge Collins

9

Which Limerick defender suffered an ACL injury in last year’s clash at TUS Gaelic Grounds?

A: Kyle Hayes

B: Seán Finn

C: Declan Hannon

10 Who scored Clare’s goal in their 1-22 0-18 win over Limerick in the 2013 All-Ireland semi-final?

A: Conor McGrath

B: Colin Ryan

C: Darach Honan

Spot the Difference

Chloe Corry, Harry Brown, Ferdia Carey and Jake Corry at the Odd Socks Cycle in Shannon Photo by Joe Buckley

lQUESTION8: Which Clare hurler received a red card in Clare’s 0-26 0-15 win over Limerick in the Munster SHC?

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