The Clare Echo 18/11/21

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NOV 18 2021 

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Clare TD insists IT’S BALLY-YAY! partner to contest drug summons A

By GORDON DEEGAN

CLARE TD has confirmed that her partner will contest a drug summons, after he appeared in court in connection with a minor drugs possession charge.

At Kilrush District Court sitting in Ennis, partner of Clare TD, Violet Ann Wynne, John Montaine appeared in connection with the alleged illegal possession of cannabis at the family home at Pella Rd, Kilrush on February 11th this year.

Mr Montaine (39) was not required to appear concerning the possession charge under the Misuse of Drugs Act and solicitor, Patrick Moylan

appeared on the man’s behalf before Judge Mary Larkin.

Deputy Wynne didn’t wish to comment further on the case as it remains before the court, however speaking generally on her partner’s use of medicinal cannabis to deal with his epilepsy, Deputy Wynne said that “come next March, John will be six years seizure free and that comes from him taking medicinal cannabis”.

During a phone interview, Deputy Wynne said there are positive effects for Mr Montaine in using medicinal cannabis and it has improved his quality of life “100% - without a doubt”.

FULL STORY pg 13

l Ballyea fans celebrate after their side won the Senior Hurling Championship in Ennis on Sunday

Photo by Natasha Barton

2 NEWS

Index NEWS

THURSDAY, NOV 18 2021

THE FUTURE OF THE CLUB IS IN SAFE HANDS

2-13

BLACK FRIDAY

14-17

GREENER CLARE

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RECRUITMENT

27-31

CLICK FOR CLARE

32-33

SHANNON FEATURE 34-40 SPORT

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

NEWSDESK

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

SALES

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

CELEBRATIONS: Young Clooney/Quin supporters get their hands on the Fr Liam Murray Cup after the watched their camogie side win the Intermediate championship Photo by Gerard O’Neill

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THURSDAY, NOV 18 2021

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4 NEWS

THURSDAY, NOV 18 2021

Inis Cealtra & The Burren shaping up for UNESCO status

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by PÁRAIC McMAHON

WO Clare locations are set to be included in Ireland’s latest application for UNESCO world heritage status.

Both Inis Cealtra (Holy Island) and The Burren are in the running to be designated by UNESCO as a site of cultural or natural heritage deemed to be of outstanding value to humanity. Currently, Ireland has two properties on the World Heritage List, Brú na Bóinne and Sceilg Mhichíl, both of which were inscribed in the 1990s.

Recommendations from the Expert Advisory Group (EAG) appointed by Minister of State with Responsibility for Heritage and Electoral Reform Malcolm Noonan (GP) in June, were finalised in the past week. The EAG had been tasked with reviewing applications to become part of a new Tentative List of potential World Heritage Properties for Ireland.

UNESCO will not consider nominations unless a property has been included on the Tentative List for at least one year prior to the submission of any nomination. The nomination process often takes a number of years and includes the preparation of a de-

at

tailed dossier to be officially submitted to the World Heritage Centre for evaluation.

Applications for a new tentative list were sought to replace the existing list formed in 2010, six valid applications were received by the June 2021 deadline. The EAG then undertook an extensive technical review of all applications and have advised that all six applications have the potential to demonstrate the critically important outstanding value to humanity which is a pre-requisite for any World Heritage consideration.

Additional work is needed on Inis Cealtra on the criteria for assessment, authenticity/integrity and the comparative analysis aspects of the application, the EAG found.

Cultural landscapes of The Burren Uplands have “the potential to fill a gap on the World Heritage List” once more work is done in the same areas as Inis Cealtra, the EAG stated.

Officials in the Department of Heritage intend to submit a new Tentative List to UNESCO in March 2022.

This list will include those applications which have addressed the relevant EAG recommendations by that time, other properties may be added at a later stage.

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WORLD HERITAGE: Holy Island

Calls to resume swimming lessons to increase amount of lifeguards across county

by PÁRAIC McMAHON SWIMMING lessons in Clare need to resume to increase the amount of lifeguards on patrol at beaches in the county, elected representatives have argued.

An appeal to resume swimming classes for the public “as a matter of urgency” was issued by Cllr Paul Murphy (FG) at the November meeting of Clare County Council. He felt this would allow existing classes to conclude and the promotion of swimming “as an important form of exercise for all age groups”.

Resuming swimming lessons would “provide much needed revenue for Clare

County Council, but far more importantly it will continue to provide a steady stream of trained swimmers, many of whom qualify as lifeguards that subsequently go on to patrol our Blue flag beaches and lakes making them safer places for the wider public,” Murphy stated.

Director of Service with the Social Development Directorate of Clare County Council, Anne Haugh outlined that Active Ennis Leisure Centre was “returning to ‘normal’ operations as COVID restrictions ease”.

Lessons will resume at the facility “as soon as the contractor can be re-en-

Riverside Business Park Quin Road, Ennis, Co. Clare

0656842388 WATER SAFETY: Ennis Leisure complex

gaged,” she added. These negotiations are “at an advanced stage” with the previous contractor likely to be utilised to deliver the swimming lessons, “it should be in train over the coming weeks”. Earlier training times for the swimming club has resumed, Haugh confirmed.

Cllr Murphy admitted his children were the motivation for the motion. “I’ve two young lads that are reasonable swimmers but they need to be trained further. What’s key is that we keep producing trained swimmers. I’m able to swim but I’m not good enough to coach children to do it, these children could go on to become trained lifeguards”.

Guidelines issued on the resumption of lessons need to be circulated to elected members, Cllr Gerry Flynn (IND) remarked as he seconded the proposal. “Swimming lessons and other sports are key for our health, we should explore what can be achieved during restrictions to carry out swimming lessons,” Cllr Liam Grant (GP) commented. Further support was voiced by Cllr Ann Norton (IND).

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THURSDAY, NOV 18 2021

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THURSDAY, NOV 18 2021

E-Scooters Updated COVID restrictions introduced as case numbers rise are ‘quite

frightening’

PÁRAIC MCMAHON

paraic@clareecho.ie

by STUART HOLLY

CLOSING time of midnight is to be reintroduced from Thursday for restaurants, bars and nightclubs.

Four weeks after allowing the hospitality sector to end the 11:30pm curfew, the Government is to introduce a closing time of midnight. This will apply to restaurants, bars and nightclubs but will not apply to guests staying in hotels.

Wedding guests staying at the venue will be able to remain on the premises after midnight - those who are not hotel residents must leave.

Plans agreed by Cabinet on Tuesday morning will see work from home advice take effect from Friday. Engagement has taken place between Government, employers and trade unions on updating guidance for employees working from home.

Cinemas and theatres will require COVID-19 certificates for entry but this will not apply at hairdressers or gyms.

A new policy agreed means that household contacts of a person with COVID will have to restrict their movements for five days and take three antigen tests.

SENATOR Martin Conway has called for E-Scooters to be banned from footpaths, admitting that he has found dealing with the electric vehicle a “frightening” experience.

While the Ennistymon Senator, who is visually impaired, has welcomed legislation to allow e-scooters on Irish roads, he has called on Minister Hildegarde Naughton and Minister Eamon Ryan to include added safety measures and protection for disabled & elderly.

Senator Martin Conway said, “As somebody with impaired vision, it is quite frightening, as it is for older people and others with impairments and disabilities, to have e-scooters flying by on footpaths. I have regularly had narrow escapes with scooters crossing my pathway.

“While I welcome the use of e-scooters as an eco-friendly transport, we must remember that the blind and visually-impaired community are the ‘original greens’ - we access public transport and walk to get from A to B more than most.

“I fully support the joint call by NCBI, Irish Wheelchair Association and Irish Guide Dogs for the blind on the need to ban scooters from footpaths & shared spaces, the need for audio alert system and proper parking infrastructure for scooters.

“We should be leaders in this country in terms of e-scooters ensuring that we do not disable the independence of people.”

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CRISIS: Taoiseach Micheál Martin There is no change in current arrangements for student attendance and on-site activities in school, further and higher education institutions in line with Covid response plans for those sectors. There is no mention of Third Level institutions returning to fully remote learning in the new guidelines.

On Monday night, the Government was presented with the prospect that rising Covid-19 numbers could mean that

up to 500 people would require ICU care next month. The best case scenario projected between 200 to 220 people needing ICU beds, with 1,100 to 1,200 requiring hospital care at a point next month.

The revised modelling says there is the potential for a large wave of infection, still peaking in late November, or early December, but higher than previous models due to waning immunity from vaccination.

Vaccine centre relocates Jacqueline O’Brien DENTAL Providing dental care for the whole family New patients welcome Nervous or anxious dental patients welcome

THE Clare Covid-19 vaccination centre is relocating on a temporary basis from from Treacy’s West County Hotel to the grounds of Ennis Hospital.

Vaccinations at the former outpatients department in the hospital grounds will commence on this Saturday, November 20th and it is expected the centre will move back to the West County in early 2022.

The planned move comes as the number of vaccine doses delivered by the UL Hospitals Group vaccination teams this week surpassed 400,000. This is in addition to the work undertaken by colleagues in HSE MidWest Community Healthcare, GPs, pharmacists and the National Ambulance Service.

The current national requirement is that Covid-19 vaccination centres will remain in operation until at least the end of March 2022. We anticipate that the new centre at

Ennis Hospital has the capacity to comfortably meet the demand for booster doses as the national vaccination campaign enters a new phase.

Our vaccination teams have in recent days begun delivering booster vaccines to fully vaccinated people in the 60-69 age group and healthcare workers. They continue to deliver additional doses to immunocompromised/ immunosuppressed patients in line with the national guidance and also to offer both Dose 1 and Dose 2 vaccinations at walk-in clinics who have yet to take up a vaccine.The new Covid-19 vaccination centre at Ennis Hospital will open on Saturday, November 20th. Parking availability on the grounds of Ennis Hospital has improved since the relocation of the outpatients department to the Kilrush Road. Disabled parking is available at Ennis Hospital.

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THURSDAY, NOV 18 2021

'Weddings are stressful enough without this' PÁRAIC MCMAHON

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paraic@clareecho.ie

KILLALOE bar and nightclub owner who is due to get married this Saturday has warned that the reintroduction of a curfew will have a strong negative impact on the sector.

Sixmilebridge native, Jayme Keogh is the owner of the Bóruma Gastro Bar which was one of the first establishments in the county to announce their closure in March of last year amid a rising number of COVID-19 cases.

Eighteen months on, much has changed with plenty of hardship and stress endured by those working in the hospitality sector with doors opening, closing and reopening again.

As per new Government guidelines, a curfew of 12am has been introduced for the hospitality sector.

Speaking to The Clare Echo on Wednesday morning, Jayme outlined, “It will have a strong impact because I have a nightclub downstairs, a lot of people want to come out later, enjoy live music and listen to DJ, this is killing that, it is reducing staff again, everyone has to be out by 12am, it is not last orders

 STRESS: The Bóruma Bar and (inset) Jayme Keogh with Ciara Collins

by 12am”. Currently there is a staff of twelve at The Borúma, ideally he would like this figure to be seventeen.

“They’re blaming hospitality again, the majority of bars and restaurants had been compliant again, the guidelines were fine if they were enforced properly. Minorities brought down the house on hospitality,” Jayme said of the new measures. “I think there could be

another circuit breaker the way things are going, I could see a seven day circuit breaker similar to what they’re doing in Australia”.

Business has been impacted in East Clare, he confirmed. “Our business was back to seventy five percent of normal levels. You can see that this time of year in Killaloe, the midweek is gone. Older people from the Continent would normally be here coming during

off-peak times, there would have been a lot of people from Belgium, Holland and Germany fishing in Lough Derg but they are not here now”.

On Saturday, Jayme is set to tie the knot to Ciara Colllins, his long-term partner. Not alone has this week’s development impacted on the business but it has affected their plans to get married with scant detail issued regarding the fine aspects that go hand in hand with the big day. “Weddings are stressful enough, this is a disaster to try stay organised on top of everything”.

He added, “We’ve been looking forward to it for a long time, we held tough to our original date, it was up and down all summer with numbers and whether we could have twenty five or fifty. Now we’re hit with this and no one knows, they could have announced it this week to come into effect from Monday but they’ve done it now and we’re days away from getting married but we’ve no clarification. We don’t know if we have to stop live music or what happens when the clock hits midnight.

Friends of ours were organising a mini-bus to go up and down to the venue and now they’re thinking of cancelling because they don’t want to be putting pressure on us. We’re trying to hear back from the hotel who are waiting for information, weddings were never mentioned in the announcement”.

Family restore farm-house of tragic 19th century rate collector

by JACK LEE AN EAST Clare family are restoring an ancient farmhouse once owned by a rate collector who was imprisoned and ultimately met his tragic end in the River Shannon, fuelled by alcohol.

Bryan Kennedy, a part time beef farmer, who also works at Northern Trust as a fund accountant, and his father, Patrick Kennedy, are restoring the old farmhouse with the help of funding from the Dept of Agriculture and Heritage Council. Having researched the history of the farm building in Toureen in Blackwater, South East Clare, the pair made a grim discovery of its storied past.

Once owned by the Hartigan family, the farm complex was inherited in the 1990s by an uncle of the Kennedys who purchased it in the 1950s.

“It's hard to tell how old it is the further back you go, it's harder

to tell if it’s the same building but there were buildings there since the early 1800s, we think they changed the use of the building in the late 19th century.

By using census records, Bryan and Patrick found that one of the names was James Hartigan.

He was recorded as the owner of land in one of the old valuations title books. Bryan explains, “This search returned an interesting news article from 1889…which appeared in the Limerick Chronicle.

It tells of the sad circumstances around the death of James Hartigan, rate collector, Toureen.

Hartigan may have been a victim of an alcohol addiction and the article goes on to state that he served 12 months in jail for misappropriation of rates, he was released on the 5th of November 1889.

It was believed that no one had enmity towards him. According to the Limerick Chronicle article, a witness had said that he had seen

 HERITAGE: The farmhouse

Hartigan drunkenly staggering up George Street alone and a Police Sergent said that at 8.30 that morning he had received a report of the body of a man lying in the river at Russel’s Quay. When he arrived at the river, he saw Hartigan lying face downwards under two feet of water.

They searched his pockets and found nothing but an empty purse.

A brother of the deceased said that Hartigan was 40 years of age and

unmarried, and he had not seen him in 14 months. He was informed that since he was released from prison he lived with his sisters.

During the Kennedy’s research, they also discovered a unique sense of humour of the Hartigans.

“The 1901 and 1911 census records tell of two sisters residing here with others living at the property with them such as a niece and a farmhand.

On these records the ages of

the residents were recorded by the enumerator. I found it hilarious that on the 1901 household return Anne Hartigan was 40 years old and on the 1911 household return she was 63 and had aged 23 years in those 11 years!

“Her sister Bridget, the head of the household had also aged considerably and gone from 45 years old in 1901 to 67 years old in 1911.

I have a feeling that they had a good sense of humour.”

8 NEWS

THURSDAY, NOV 18 2021

Independent arbitrator appointed to Doolin Coast Guard dispute

TD calls on Minister for Health to resign

by PÁRAIC Mc MAHON

PÁRAIC MCMAHON paraic@clareecho.ie

A

N INDEPENDENT arbitrator has been appointed to try find a resolution to the ongoing dispute with the Doolin Coast Guard.

Two weeks ago, the Doolin Coast Guard was stood down following the resignation of six long-serving volunteers. While the unit still had eleven members, the Irish Coast Guard said that the resignations prompted the standing down of the service.

As reported by The Clare Echo last week, the Government had committed to appointing an independent mediator in an attempt to resolve the ongoing dispute.

Kieran Mulvey, the Chief Executive of the Labour Relations Commission from its inception in 1991 and from 2015 the Director General of the Workplace Relations Commission until his retirement in June 2016 has been appointed as an independent arbitrator for the Doolin dispute.

Just last month, the Government appointed Mulvey to mediate talks aimed at bringing the dispute at the Irish Aviation Authority (IAA) to a close.

Senator Timmy Dooley (FF) suggested to Junior Minister, Hildegarde Naughton (FG) last week that the Sport Ireland Chairman be brought in to try tackle the ongoing tension in Doolin. “Mr. Mulvey

 RESOLUTION: The Doolin Coastguard and (inset) Kieran Mulvey will bring immense experience to the role cue operations on so many occasions. having been involved in the resolution of Sadly, much of its work involves the remany disputes over the years. I hope all covery of loved ones who have departed sides will engage”. through suicide from the Cliffs of Moher.

Dooley told The Clare Echo, “The Dool- The work is arduous and difficult. in Coast Guard is one of the best-known “I look forward to a resolution being coastguards not just in County Clare but found for the people who work in the serright across the country because it has vice and for those who depend on the serhad such a high profile in search and res- vice”.

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HEALTH Minister Stephen Donnelly’s (FF) position is no longer tenable, a Clare TD has said.

Management of the COVID-19 pandemic across the country has been described by Deputy Michael McNamara (IND) as an abject failure.

New restrictions were introduced by the Government this week with Minister Donnelly refusing to rule out the potential of further lockdowns over the coming months.

Speaking to The Clare Echo, McNamara said of the Health Minister, “I think at this stage, he has to go”.

The Scariff native outlined, “During the summer we had more restrictions than any other place in Europe and now our transmission rates are among

the highest in Europe, I am not blaming Stephen Donnelly or the Government for COVID-19 no more than I’d blame them for an earthquake but I am blaming them that there has been no increase in our health capacity”. He added, “enough is enough”.

Record-breaking numbers of patients waiting on trolleys at University Hospital Limerick were also referenced by McNamara, on Tuesday 95 patients were waiting for trolleys at UHL, the highest tally ever recorded.

“It is worse than ever,” he stated.

That Ireland had one of the highest vaccination rates in Europe was acknowledged by the former Chair of the Dáil’s COVID-19 committee.

Bike rental scheme can make Ennis a 21st century town

by PÁRAIC Mc MAHON CREATION of a bike rental scheme for Clare’s county town and its environs can help the lack of parking in Ennis, a county councillor has argued.

Prioritising the beginning of a bike rental scheme for Ennis and its environs was requested by Cllr Paul Murphy (FG) in a proposal before the Ennis Municipal District which was seconded

by Cllr Ann Norton (IND).

Leonore O’Neill, senior executive officer with the Ennis MD confirmed this appeal would be considered in the Ennis Town Mobility Plan.

Both Clarecastle and Barefield should be included in the scheme, Cllr Murphy felt. “The mobility plan is being worked on, provision of bike scheme should be a key component of that for a number of reasons, to improve mobility and give more options of travelling”.

Murphy continued, “This is a solution to the lack of parking in town, park in Clarecastle or Barefield and cycle in. It is something that should be considered and

supported, it is getting back to the wellbeing and smart travel. E bikes could also be included, not everyone is fit enough to be cycling their regular bike”.

“If we are to change what is a thirteenth century town centre to a twenty first century town to give priority to pedestrians then this is the way forward,” Cllr Johnny Flynn (FG) stated.

 THE FUTURE: E bikes could be included in a rental scheme

NEWS 9

THURSDAY, NOV 18 2021

Council’s smiley Púca survey ‘will give naysayers a veto’

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by GORDON DEEGAN

HE creator of the controversial Púca today expressed concerns that a Council online survey over the artwork “will give the naysayers an effective veto”.

Aidan Harte was today commenting after Clare Co Council launched the online survey to get the views mainly of the people of Ennistymon as to whether the Púca should be installed in the north Clare town.

In launching the survey that comprises of five questions about the Púca and its location, the Council state that its results “will guide Clare County Council and Fáilte Ireland in a final decision in relation to the proposed artwork”.

In May of this year, the project was paused after a local outcry including parish priest, Fr Willie Cummins denouncing the bronze two metre high Púca from the altar at Sunday mass.

The Council survey includes an option for participants to say how much they like or dislike the Púca by sliding a smiley face across a page.

If a participant in the survey really dislikes the Púca, the face has a sad face and can be seen shedding

a tear.

Mr Harte said today: “It would be a shame if the Púca is decided on a binary ‘yes or no’ happy or sad face because that is a simplistic approach. It is no kind of art criticism.

Imagine your favourite poem being put to that test? Would it have got published? Probably not.”

The survey also asks participants why they like or dislike the Púca and their thoughts on its proposed location across from ‘Blakes Corner’, the bridge that currently brings traffic out to Lahinch and the Cliffs of Moher.

The Púca is inspired by Ennistymon’s horse fair, equine heritage and Irish folklore and Mr Harte said: "The Puca is an unusual sculpture. I hope people will give it a chance.”

Two of the country’s best known entertainers, Dara Ó Briain and Chris O’Dowd have already voiced their support for the Púca and Mr Harte stated that his preference would have been to go to Ennistymon for "an honest and robust town hall debate" on the Púca.

He said: “I would have preferred to talk to people face to face and bring the little Púca model down and people could see that it is not a monster that is going to come for them in their beds.”

PROUD MOMENT SHARED

The sculptor stated that “unfortunately with a on-line vote I can’t think of a better way to empower a vocal minority”.

Mr Harte commented: “It is a very high hurdle now for the Púca to jump.”

He said: “Almost everyone agrees that art picked by committee or by a popular vote is not a good way to do it but that it where it has ended up.”

He added: “If you want inoffensive, crowd pleasing art, this is a way to get it if that is what you want.”

Mr Harte added: “‘No’ is always a little bit louder than ‘yes’. I do appreciate that Clare County Council is in a difficult position because

they need to represent the people and if a couple of loud voices have said no, they can’t ignore them.”

He stated that based on radio vox-pops “the feeling in Ennistymon appears to have moved on and most people think it was a silly post ‘lockdown' overreaction in the protest to it”.

He said: “I do hope that the people in Ennistymon who do want it there, this is the time to speak. If they don’t now, it is the naysayers who will get the veto.”

In launching the survey, the council refer to the Puca as being “provisionally" selected through its open competition as the artwork for Ennistymon.

However, Mr Harte described

this statement as “inaccurate” and an attempt by the Council to rewrite history.

He stated: “My piece was selected and commissioned. We signed a contract.”

Mr Harte stated that he has been paid €10,000 out of the €30,000 commission to date.

Mr Harte stated that the “hullabaloo” has brought "a forgotten character from Irish folklore into the national consciousness”.

Mr Harte said: “I am waiting patiently to see the outcome. It has been a long wait since the project was paused and there could yet be a happy outcome.”

The closing date for submissions is Tuesday November 23rd.

N19 SHANNON AIRPORT ACCESS ROAD IMPROVEMENT SCHEME UPCOMING PUBLIC DISPLAY OF THE PREFERRED OPTION Project Description Clare County Council is progressing the development of the N19 Shannon Airport Access Road Improvement Scheme in partnership with Transport Infrastructure Ireland and the Department of Transport. Fehily Timoney and Clandillon Civil Consulting Joint Venture are the appointed Technical Advisors to advance the project through the planning and design stages.

The project is located on the N19 national primary road between Drumgeely roundabout and Knockbeagh Point roundabout on approach to Shannon International Airport and is approximately 2.2 kilometres in length.

Public Consultation A Public Display of the Preferred Option for the N19 Shannon Airport Access Road Improvement Scheme is scheduled to commence on Monday 22nd November 2021 and will continue until Monday 6th December 2021. The purpose of this non-statutory public display is to inform the public and stakeholders of the preferred option developed for the project, the work undertaken to date and the programme for advancement of the project. This preferred option will be further developed as part of the next stages in the development of the project.

The public display event will also provide an opportunity for feedback to be submitted, which may inform the further development of the project in the next stages.

In consideration of continuing risks due to COVID-19, an online public display platform has been developed on the project website www.shannonaccess.ie which will go live from 3pm on Monday 22nd November 2021. This online platform will provide information boards, maps of the preferred option, interactive webmaps, a project brochure and an online feedback facility. The online platform will also include an online booking facility where the public and other stakeholders can schedule an online or telephone meeting with a member of the project team during the public display period.

It is understood that online information cannot be accessed by everyone. The project team is keen to engage with people throughout the public display period. Hardcopies of brochures and drawings can be requested by post, and telephone meetings can be booked by calling the dedicated phone line (065) 6866147 during office hours from Monday 22nd November to Monday 6th December 2021. Maps of the preferred option will be on display and brochures available at Clare County Councils Head Office at New Road, Ennis and at the Shannon Municipal District Office during the public display period.

HOW TO SUBMIT FEEDBACK Feedback can be made on the project website www.shannonaccess.ie, or by email to info@shannonaccess.ie, or by post addressed to Freepost ES104, N19 Shannon Airport Access Road Improvement Scheme, Clare County Council, Project Management Office, Buttermarket Building, Drumbiggle Road, Ennis, County Clare, V95RR72 during the public display period from Monday 22nd November to Monday 6th December 2021.

Clare County Council values the opinion of the community on this project and welcomes feedback from the public and interested parties. The Feedback received will be considered by the project team as part of the next stages.

 WE DID IT: Laura Griffey celebrates winning the intermediate football final for Burren Gaels at the weekend Photo by Burren Eye Photography

10 NEWS

THURSDAY, NOV 18 2021

2025 still the target for opening of the West Clare Greenway PÁRAIC MCMAHON

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paraic@clareecho.ie

HE earliest target for the opening of the first section of the West Clare Greenway is still 2025.

Stretching along the route of the old West Clare Railway from Ennis to Kilkee, a line of 85km, the Greenway is expected to extend to 120km when linkages to towns and villages are included.

In their efforts to provide “a world class Greenway,” the scheme has been broken down into four sections by senior officials in Clare County Council, Kilrush to Kilkee, Ennis to Ennistymon, Ennistymon to Miltown Malbay and Miltown Malbay to Moyasta.

Funding from the Carbon Tax Fund led to the appointment of Roughan O’Donovan in July to initiate the design and planning stage for section one (Kilrush to Kilkee). Feedback to the first round of public consultation was “mainly positive and is currently being used to inform the route selection following which, we will carry out a further Public Consultation in December/January which will include 4 or 5 possible route options and the emerging preferred route,” Seán Lenihan of the Council’s project management office advised.

This design is to be further developed and it is aimed to submit a planning application to An Bord Pleanála in mid 2022. “Assuming timely consents, no legal challenge and the availability of the necessary funding, the Detailed design, Land acquisition and Tender competition will follow immediately thereafter. All going well, it would be hoped that we could commence construction on site in late 2023 with the works expected to take 18 months for completion,” Lenihan outlined.

A tender competition is underway for the appointment of consultants for section two (Ennis to Ennistymon). Discussions are ongoing with the Department of Transport and Transport Infrastructure Ireland to try secure “necessary funding” to make this appointment, the closing date for receipt of tenders is this month.

Speaking at the November meeting of Clare County Council, Cllr Liam Grant (GP) referred to the success of the Limerick Greenway which has had “just shy of a quarter million visitors” as a positive example of what Clare can expect in the coming years.

“The benefit of a Greenway would be immense,” Cllr Paul Murphy (FG) agreed.

Ennis’ capacity for accommodation meant it should get “a greater push” when it comes to encouraging tourists where to stay. Working from the West first “won’t increase bed nights,” he predicted. “The trail head for the Greenway was always going to be Ennis,

 TRACKS: The West Clare railway

economic issues during recession meant it fell off table,” he added while pointing out he had been advocating for a Greenway since 2009.

An agreement was reached “to start at both ends and meet in the middle, it was a strategic decision,” Cllr Ian Lynch (IND) responded.

He noted that the dates set out were “positive, I hope they can be met”. He called on Council officials to engage with elected representative to “counteract” negative feed-

Remote working can help women secure leadership roles

by PÁRAIC McMAHON GREATER investment in remote working can help women access leadership roles across multiple organisations, an Ennis county councillor has said.

Both diversity and inclusion have been severely impacted as a result of the pandemic, Cllr Johnny Flynn (FG) highlighted. “A lot of women feel they are not able access leadership roles in organisations due to COVID”. He said an increased investment in technology to facilitate remote working would help women climb the ranks in the workplace.

Speaking at the November meeting of Clare County Council, he asked that the IT and communications equipment in the Council Chamber “be upgraded to enable a “new normal” or hybrid method of holding statutory, Municipal District and SPC committee meetings in the Chamber now and into the future”.

Already €1.5m has been spent on IT by the local authority from January to September of this year which the County Council have attributed to remote working, the expansion of DigiClare and an upgrade of its financial management system.

“It is accepted that an upgrade of the

back from the public consultation.

Assurances were issued by Cllr Cillian Murphy (FF) that the accommodation base “is solid in West Clare”. He added, “Kilkee has more overnight accommodation than Ennis”.

Connectivity and tourism alone form key pillars on the need for a Greenway in Clare, Cllr Joe Killeen (FF) believed. “Funding is key to everything, we have to make every effort to support the investment in our county”.

Clenagh Castle road a ‘rollercoaster’ TRAVELLING along a Newmarket-on-Fergus road leading to a historic castle been equated as “a roller-coaster ride”, writes Páraic McMahon.

Cllr Pat O’Gorman (FF) appealed for a stretch of road leading to the crossroads prior to Clenagh Castle in Newmarket-on-Fergus be included in Clare County Council’s roads programme next year.

He explained at a recent

sitting of the Shannon Municipal District, “a farmer took me on his tractor to show how bad it was, we described it as a roller-coaster ride”. O’Gorman predicted that surface dressing would not suit the road due to the “boggy land” at either side.

Senior executive engineer, Tom Mellett confirmed that the road would be included for assessment in the preparation of the 2022 programme.

Gardaí investigating €15,000 scam  INVESTMENT: Working from home

existing information technology in the Council Chamber is required to facilitate efficient hybrid meetings,” Director of Finance, Noeleen Fitzgerald replied to Cllr Flynn’s proposal.

Currently, a short-term measure has seen audio integrated with Microsoft Teams to facilitate hybrid meetings.

“Work is ongoing to procure an upgraded and fully integrated audio/visual system for the Council Chamber and

the upgrade will be scheduled in the coming months,” she confirmed.

Speaking virtually at the meeting, Cllr Flynn warned that the reality of living with COVID-19 could remain “for a significant time”.

He noted that “glitches” were frequent with the meetings under the current format as he stressed the need for an investment in “a proper sound and audio system”.

NEW approaches used by online fraudsters are under investigation by Gardaí in Ennis with €15,000 lost by one woman in a recent scam, writes Páraic McMahon.

Through the setting up of ghost or cloned Facebook accounts, online fraudsters are identifying actual friends leading people to think they are connecting with people that they know and trust.

Crime prevention officer, Sergeant Triona Brooks outlined that a woman re-

cently sent €15,000 via iTunes, vouchers and physical cash when she was informed that she won the lottery online on Facebook and that in order to release the winnings her ‘friend’ had to send monies to other parties.

“We want to advise people that the person behind the Facebook page may not be the person they think it is and to always refrain from divulging personal information or take part in any online cash windfalls,” Brooks advised.

NEWS 11

THURSDAY, NOV 18 2021

EPA Life Emerald Project to monitor Clare’s air quality

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he EPA’s Life Emerald project has been working with Clare County Council to install air quality monitoring stations in the County, to enable the monitoring of air pollution and generation of localised air quality information. The EPA has permanent air quality monitoring stations in Ennis, and Ennistymon.

Aiming to develop an operational national 3-day ambient air quality forecast; provide near ‘real-time’ mapping of the main air pollutants throughout the country and in our major cities and towns; and provide annual mapping of air pollutants across the country, LIFE Emerald is a 3-year project that will improve the level of air quality information available to the public and policy makers in Ireland.

LIFE Emerald which stands for - “Emissions Modelling and Forecasting of Air in Ireland’’, is part-funded by the EU LIFE Programme.”

LIFE EMERALD will develop the air quality and forecast models using Irish and European data from a number of sources, such as air quality measurements, weather, traffic, industrial emissions, geographical, citizen science, and more. Air pollutant monitoring surveys will also be carried out to get a better picture of the sources of air pollutants in Ireland.

Patrick Kenny, EPA, Air Quality Manager said: LIFE Emerald will provide a national 3-day air quality forecast for Ire-

land. This will enable everyone to make informed decisions about their daily activities and plan in advance. The daily walk, run or trip to the shops can be planned and undertaken based on the forecasted air quality in your local area.

While being an important health and air quality resource for all, this will be even more impactful for those of us who are particularly affected by poor air quality.

Pat Byrne, EPA Programme Manager said: Air pollution can seriously impact people’s health, particularly those suffering from respiratory disease and aliments such as asthma. Particulate Matter (PM) are fine particles in our air and are one of the main air pollutants in Ireland. Higher amounts of particulate matter in our air increase the likelihood of developing breathing and heart related diseases.

It is estimated that there are 1,300 premature deaths in Ireland each year due to particulate matter air pollution. Burning of solid fuels for home heating is the main source of particulate matter in Irish towns and cities. The EPA encourages people to consider alternative heating systems, to reduce the level of particulate matter.”

The Asthma Society of Ireland is a partner in the LIFE Emerald project.

Sarah O'Connor, CEO of the Asthma Society, said: "Ireland has the highest incidence rate of asthma in Europe with one in ten children and one in thirteen adults developing the condition - with

890,000 people likely to develop asthma in their lifetimes. The Asthma Society welcomes the opportunity to be part of the LIFE Emerald Project as the link between clean air and improved population health is clear.”

Real-time air quality results for Clare and the Air Quality Index for Health (AQIH) are available on the EPA website at www.airquality.ie. The AQIH is based on the link between concentrations of pollutants and the impact on heath. It was developed in partnership with the HSE. Results are updated hourly on the website, and Clare residents can log on at any time to check whether the current air quality near the stations is good, fair or poor. The Life Emerald will model the air quality data for the areas beyond the monitoring stations.

The Air Quality Index for Health represents current air quality across the country on a colour coded map of Ireland. The Index is divided into 4 bands: Good; Fair; Poor and Very poor, with health advice provided for each band.

A related Twitter feed @EPAAirQuality sends regular updates.

Ambient (outdoor) air pollution is recognised as a major environmental risk to health internationally. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), ambient air pollution accounts for an estimated 4.2 million deaths per year worldwide due to stroke, heart disease, lung cancer and chronic respiratory diseases, such as asthma.

'This isn't a Co Board meeting' Mayor informs councillors CLARE’S first citizen was forced to remind elected representatives that they were attending a meeting of the County Council and not the County Board at this month’s sitting, writes Páraic McMahon.

Concluding action in local club championships caught the attention of county councillors as they gathered for the November meeting.

In what was a hybrid meeting, some councillors were gathered in the Council Chamber with others attending virtually via Microsoft Teams, Cllr Pat Daly (FF) was first to the microphone and he used the opportunity to congratulate Éire Óg on being crowned Clare SFC champions for the first time in fifteen years.

“I am a former Chairman of the club and I was delighted to see people celebrating at the clubhouse,” Cllr Daly stat-

ed. “Great credit is due to Paul Madden, when Kilmurry Ibricakne came at them, they stood up to pressure”.

Corofin’s dramatic finish to secure the title of Clare IFC champions was referenced by Cllr Joe Killeen (FF) who also offered his commiserations to Kildysart.

Killaloe’s return to the top tier of the hurling championship in Clare was also lauded, Cllr Tony O’Brien remarked, “While I have the microphone I might as well congratulate Smith O’Briens, we won’t be left out or found wanting”.

Following the three contributions, all of which occurred in succession, Cllr PJ Ryan (IND), Cathaoirleach of Clare County Council piped up from the top table, “this isn’t a county board meeting,” he reminded his fellow elected members.

Your health and the air you breathe Heating your home and its impact on air quality and health

Worst choice for air quality and health

Best choice for air quality and health Burning waste in an open fire

I L L EGA

Burning very smoky solid fuel in an open fire

Burning less smoky solid fuel in an open fire

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Burning less smoky solid fuel in a stove

Burning less smoky solid fuel in an eco stove

Kerosene oil boiler

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Electrified heating supplied by power station

Solar, wind and heat pump technology

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Find out more about the LIFE Emerald project https://www.epa.ie/environment-and-you/air/life-emerald/

Funded by the EU LIFE Programme, the EPA is developing an Air Quality Modelling & Forecasting system for Ireland under the LIFE Emerald project.

The EPA in conjunction with Clare County council are measuring air quality in Ennis and Ennistymon; results are available at: www.airquality.ie.

12 NEWS

THURSDAY, NOV 18 2021

PÁRAIC MCMAHON

said Ennis’ selection was “a fantastic achievement and is the result of incredible work and dedication by the committee”.

A record number of 1,022 groups engaged in the competition this year.

Clare TD, Joe Carey (FG) described the award as “a monumental achievement”. He has called on Clare County Council to offer a civic reception to the “hard working volunteers” who he said “have selflessly given their time freely over the years. Today’s news is a huge boost to Ennis and an example to all of us around Clare as to what can be achieved through hard work and persistence”.

“To beat off stiff competition from 846 other entrants is no mean feat but a quick walk-through Ennis will show you exactly how they achieved it. It’s a regular occurrence to drive through the town on any given day and see the team of volunteers bending over backwards to pick up litter in the hi-vis vests, sprucing up the flower beds and pots and so on,” Deputy Cathal Crowe (FF) stated.

Crowe added, “Not only did Ennis manage to take the top prize, the town was also named the country’s tidiest large urban centre in the smaller prizes, meaning a total of €15,000 in prize money is coming back to the Banner.

Ennis named as Ireland’s tidiest town for 2021

E

paraic@clareecho.ie

NNIS has been named as the overall winner in the Tidy Towns awards.

At a live-streamed event to thousands of viewers on Friday, Ennis was named as Ireland’s tidiest town for 2021.

The SuperValu TidyTowns competition has been in existence since 1958 and Ennis, was judged to be the best from a number of 847 entries to the competition this year.

In 1959, Ennis first entered the Tidy Towns competition and was last named winners in 2005. Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys (FG) said Ennis has “been consistently achieving high standards in the competition at local, regional, national and European level”.

Speaking at Friday’s awards ceremony, Minister Humphreys commented on its selection as Ireland’s tidiest large urban centre and overall winner, “Given the tremendous interest in the competition and the increasing efforts made by all entrants, it is a wonderful achievement to take the national title

WELL EARNED: Left to Right: Antoinette Barry, Anne Hanraha, Denis Scanlon, Cormac & Neasa McCarthy (trophy), Peter Lynch, Brid Dilleen, Jaco Pretorius, Patrick Walsh, Mary Coote Ryan (trophy), Michael Richards, Mary Howard, Teresa McGrath, Don Cullinan for a second time; this really demonstrates that resilience and determination do reap rewards”.

Other big winners included Geashill, Co Offaly (Ireland’s tidiest village), Abbeyleix, Co Laois (Ireland’s tidiest small town) and Cobh, Co Cork (Ireland’s tidiest large town).

Minister Humphreys also announced a special allocation of €1.5 million in funding to support the work of individual TidyTowns Committees around the country to assist them in their continued efforts to enhance their towns and villages.

Managing Director of SuperValu, Ian Allen

Volunteer efforts lauded AN INVOLVEMENT with Ennis Tidy Towns has heightened volunteers love for the county town, writes Páraic McMahon.

Selfless dedication of the volunteers to their town was lauded by Chairperson of Ennis Tidy Towns, Cormac McCarthy. “Some people litter pick every single day and then you have people who turn up when they can, we’re very conscious that if you ever decide to volunteer with Ennis Tidy Towns we’re very aware that people either have jobs, family commitments or other issues they need to give their time to. We would love for new volunteers to join us if they have the time but don’t expect you will have to turn up every time we do, it is very much when you have the time. The volunteers proved that while Tidy Towns is a competition, the main driving force behind the movement nationally is that people want to make their town or village a better place to live. We had no

competition last year, there was no awards and yet we had volunteers out in force, we developed a range of projects on heritage with the Clare Roots Society, we did sustainability, biodiversity and public realm projects, all that happened during a time when there was no competition”.

Volunteer Mary Coote-Ryan pointed out that the Tidy Towns continues to instil a sense of pride of place. “I can honestly say it gives huge pride for our town, we have a wonderful Chairman in Cormac, he is absolutely wonderful, we’ve a marvellous committee, you wouldn’t be in it unless you wanted to be there. In the early stages we had prizes for all the residential areas, a lot of those were new areas at the time with new people, it helped people get to know each other, when we started they all came out and cleaned their areas, it was marvellous for their area”.

NEWS 13

THURSDAY, NOV 18 2021

TD’s partner faces drug possession charge

T

by GORDON DEEGAN

HE partner of a sitting Clare Sinn Fein TD has appeared in court in connection with a minor drugs possession charge.

At Kilrush District Court sitting in Ennis, partner of Clare TD, Violet Ann Wynne, John Montaine appeared in connection with the alleged illegal possession of cannabis at the family home at Pella Rd, Kilrush on February 11th this year.

Mr Montaine (39) was not required to appear concerning the possession charge under the Misuse of Drugs Act and solicitor, Patrick Moylan appeared on the man’s behalf before Judge Mary Larkin.

Legal aid was granted for Mr Moylan to act on behalf of Mr Montaine’s behalf after Mr Moylan said that he was a “suitable candidate”.

Mr Moylan said that the case could be adjourned to January 18th where the defence would either enter a guilty plea or seek a hearing date to contest the case.

Speaking on Wednesday, Deputy Wynne confirmed that Mr Montaine will be contesting the drug summons before the court.

Deputy Wynne didn’t wish to comment further on the case as it remains before the court.

Mr Montaine has epilepsy and speaking generally on her partner’s use of medicinal cannabis to deal with his epilepsy, Deputy Wynne said that “come next March, John will be six years seizure free and that comes from him taking medicinal cannabis”.

No plans for Lees Rd shelter

During a phone interview, Deputy Wynne said there are positive effects for Mr Montaine in using medicinal cannabis and it has improved his quality of life “100% - without a doubt”.

The couple are currently expecting their sixth child together and the TCD psychology graduate said: “Before we were having to go see the GP in between seeing the neurologist.

There was always some kind of issue - say John having a number of fits within the one month or losing teeth or suffering with severe migraine, but since John has been using the medicinal cannabis, he has had a better quality of life.

“It has also freed myself up. John would have been on disability allowance and I would have had to have been his carer but since using the medicinal cannabis, he doesn’t suffer from

any of those issues any longer.”

Deputy Wynne said that Mr Montaine “is only left with a handful of teeth at this stage” from his past seizures.

She stated: “It is a huge issue for John personally. That is something that has really affected his confidence. It has brought difficulties and issues for him and that is hard to watch for someone that you love.”

Deputy Wynne said that a prior medication that Mr Montaine was on reduced his calcium levels and bone density and that weakened his teeth.

She said: “When he would have a fit, the teeth would clash and break very, very easily and that brought about a lot of pain and trips to the dentist.”

Judge Larkin adjourned the case to January 18th.

TURNING ON OF THE CHRISTMAS LIGHTS Friday, 26th November, 2021 Abbey Street Car Park

Featuring MC Colum McGrath from Clare FM! FACILITIES: Lees Rd, Ennis NO PLANS are in place to “Much needed shelter” install dugouts or shelters would be provided if the around Lees Rd, writes Pára- structures were installed, ic McMahon.

Cllr Murphy argued. He refHead of Sports and Rec- erenced a recent Ennis RFC reation with Clare County game played at the venue Council, Tim Forde con- which saw “rain of biblical firmed that there are no proportion” falling from the existing plans to provide sky. dugouts or shelters at John “The elderly and people O’Sullivan Park in Lees Rd with mobility issues were which is owned by the local getting drenched to the skin,” authority. he recalled.

He said that costs would be Speaking at a meeting of sourced following a proposal the Ennis Municipal Disby Cllr Paul Murphy (FG) to trict, the Clarecastle repreprovide some form of shel- sentative stated, “Lees Rd is ters for spectators and sub- a beautiful facility but it is stitutes at the sports facility. wide open to the elements, Forde explained, “It should there is no shelter whatsoevbe noted the Park is an ‘open er on the pitches”. area’ and as such it presents As he seconded the proa number of challenges if we posal, Cllr Johnny Flynn decide to go ahead. These (FG) committed to raising type of structures are safest the matter at a meeting of and best suited if installed in the Ennis Purple Flag Workfenced off pitches”. ing Group.

5.30 p.m. Performance from Pantaloons Music from Clare Youth Service Creative Hub Laser Light Show Launch of Remembrance Tree (In aid of Cahercalla Hospice)

Performance by Irish Dance group Cairde Arrival of Santa Claus 6.30 p.m. Switching on of Christmas Lights Music from Damien Gormley Face Painting, Animation Puppets, Balloons and more!

Free parking is available in the Court House, Council HQ, Waterpark Campus Drumbiggle and Clare GAA/ Cloister car park until 8pm. Gates will close at 8pm sharp.

Patrons attending this event are advised to follow government Covid-19 guidelines applicable at the time of the event.

#ChristmasInEnnis for more details

14 NEWS

THURSDAY, NOV 18 2021

Rebekah’s best buys Style, Beauty and Lifestlye Rebekah Crerand

rebekah@clareecho.ie

BALLYCASEY PHARMACY AS we come closer to the festive season, I think people (including myself) are beginning to get organised for the big day! Ballycasey Pharmacy is the store you need this season for all things gifting! This year you can create your very own Beauty Box which is made to suit you, budget friendly, personal and unique!

The box can be filled with products of your choice and up to a value of your choice. The box itself costs €6 and it is beautifully wrapped. I popped in to the Pharmacy and picked out some of my favourite cult products that I think you will love this Christmas.

THE first product I added to my box was Bia Belle Golden Filter Face Tan Hydrating Mist in the shade Medium – Dark.

For anyone who knows me knows I’ve had my fair share of fake tan disasters!!

But I have to say since discovering the Bia Belle Tan both the face mist and the actual false tan for the body, my days of tan disasters are over! I fell in love with the Face Mist during lockdown and I have not looked back, the product is literal gold! It develops extremely even overnight and gives a blurring effect on the skin, not only does it add colour to your face it also has Anti-Ageing ingredients such as Arganyl, Seaweed Extracts, Pentavitin and multiple skin loving vitamins such as B3, B5, B6, C & E! I apply my face mist after I have cleansed my face at night, for a lighter colour I apply one layer and for those days when I want a darker colour I apply two! If you tend to have dry skin I would recommend a non-oil based moisturiser underneath and leave it for about 10 minutes to dry before applying the mist!

THERE were so many good hair products in store. I love the Luna By Lisa leave in conditioning spray. This spray is brilliant and works wonders in detangling and moisturising the hair. This spray also leaves my hair super shiny. The price point of the spray again is super at only €15.95 for the 200ml.

THE next product I added to my box was The Rebeluna Perfect Pair makeup brush set. I have used Rebeluna brushes for over a year now and for an affordable makeup brush brand I cant recommend these brushes highly enough. The perfect pair set includes my two favourite face brushes. The R09 is the perfect round top Kabuki Brush, this brush I find works better for a more full coverage finish. The R08 is my favourite concealer brush as its dense enough to get that more full coverage finish too for both under the eye and any blemishes you want covered.

THE final product I added was the Alfaparf Semi Di Lino Moisture Nutritive Mask- I honestly adore this mask as my own hair is thick but extremely dry and quiet coarse, (this of course is from nothing other than years of dying and highlighting my hair!) but I have to say this mask has worked wonders and keeps my hair full of hydration, super silky and soft. The mask is priced at €19.95 which is super affordable in terms of haircare!

ENNIS ELECTRICAL LETS TALK HAIR WITH THE DYSON AIRWRAP

Everybody knows that feeling of a fresh blow-dry and those big bouncy curls straight from the salon, I personally love a blow dry but found myself spending a bit too much money on them unnecessarily. So last Christmas I got The Dyson Airwrap and it changed my life for the better (and my bank balance too).

While I found myself admiring the Dyson for almost a year in Ennis Electrical, I couldn’t have imagined myself spending €499 on a product for my hair, but that changed when I first used the Airwrap. While the Dyson Airwrap is a luxury product and the price point is more than your average hair styling product I honestly can’t recommend it enough and here is why and how I get that Bouncy Blow Dry look.

After I have washed and conditioned my hair (conditioner helps to maintain a smooth style but if your hair is fine, be sure not to over condition), I ensure to style my hair from wet to dry. Starting the styling process when your hair is wet, means that your chosen style will last for far longer. The Dyson Airwrap comes with 6 attachments all giving you a different style of blowdry. For that big bouncy curl look that I adore. I start by partly drying my hair with the hairdryer attachment without taking a brush or comb to it (remember brushing wet hair can cause breakage), and then take small sections of hair into the Airwrap with the 40mm barrel attachment. To make sure I get the height and bouncy volume I love, I take each section of hair right up to the root. Alternating the way in which I style with the Dyson Airwrap, using both the clockwise and then anti-clockwise barrels, also ensures more volume as the curls sit against and on top of each other.

After I have curled all the sections of my hair I then separate the curls with my fingers or a wide tooth comb. Because the Dyson Airwrap doesn’t expose your hair to extreme heat and the damage it can cause, my hair feels free of frizz, unbelievably soft and has hardly any fly-aways, just styled to perfection. I add a hairspray to help hold my style in place and calm any sections that need a little extra TLC (I use the Kevin Murphy Session Spray Flex).

The Dyson Airwrap definitely takes time and practice to get that perfect curly blow dry look and I myself found myself questioning it for the first few weeks of use, but don’t give up on it. Watch plenty of YouTube videos on it and even Tik Tok videos! Most importantly The Dyson Airwrap uses air not extreme heat which is so important! So going back to the start of the article, knowing what I know now, I would have bought The Dyson Airwrap from the moment I had my eye on it! Don’t be afraid to pop into Ennis Electrical and find out more about The Dyson Airwrap, the team are always super helpful!

NEWS 15

THURSDAY, NOV 18 2021

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16 NEWS

THURSDAY, NOV 18 2021

John O’Sullivan Park wins Green Flag Award

WINNER: John O’Sullivan Park

JOHN O’Sullivan Park in Ennis has been awarded a Green Flag for 2021, writes Elaine Tubridy.

The 2021 Green Flag Awards were announced yesterday (Wednesday) by An Taisce Environmental Education, acknowledging Ireland’s best public Parks and Gardens.

International accreditation for public park excellence in Ireland has increased again this year, to reach over 100 accredited public green spaces. Ireland was awarded a total of 103 Green Flag sites, comprised of 84 formal public Green Flag Park sites, along with 19 volunteer run Green Community Sites.

The Green Flag Awards are judged every year by a peer jury of green space experts, who volunteer their time to visit applicant sites and assess them against eight strict criteria, including horticultural standards, cleanliness, sustainability, and community involvement.

Minister of State with responsibility for Heritage; Malcolm Noonan, commended the Green Heritage Accreditation and offered the following statement of support: “I am delighted that the National Parks and Wildlife Service of my Department supports and cofunds the Green Heritage Site Accreditation Programme. This scheme is a welcome and important complement to the existing Green Flag Award.

The Green Heritage Accreditation widens the pool of sites that can participate in the programme and highlights the multifaceted nature of our green spaces. The scheme brings together the human and natural aspect of a place. It celebrates best practice in engagement with multi-layered heritage and reminds us all of our responsibility to appreciate and preserve richness and diversity of the green spaces that surround us”.

NEWS 17

THURSDAY, NOV 18 2021

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Home Trends located on Parnell Street Ennis have reduced all their stock with massive savings of up to 50% off, Mattresses, Bed Frames and Bases. Whether you are upgrading your own bedroom, your child’s or guest room, we have what you are looking for and all at reduced prices. Home Trends Black Friday Sale features up to HALF PRICE on top rated brands that won’t be beaten on price.

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THURSDAY, NOV 18 2021

in association with

Lees Road being considered as new home for Clare Sports Partnership PÁRAIC MCMAHON

L

paraic@clareecho.ie

EES Rd is being viewed as a potential new home for Clare Local Sports Partnership (CLSP).

Plans have been drawn up for the provision of additional office accommodation to CLSP at Lees Rd. Costs and compliance issues are to be examined by officials in the social directorate of Clare County Council before this can progress.

The private company is presently based at Westgate Business Park on the Kilrush Rd in Ennis.

Mayor of the Ennis Municipal District, Cllr Ann Norton (IND) asked that Lees Rd be used to rehouse CLSP. She outlined that CLSP “provide such a great service to the people of Ennis and the whole county” and

believed having it based at Lees Rd “would be a real asset”.

Siobhan McNulty, senior executive officer in the Council’s social directorate confirmed that extra accommodation for CLSP at Lees Rd was under examination. She said local authority staff have been working with CLSP “for the past number of months with objective of providing additional supports to this limited company”.

Established in 2001 by the Irish Sports Council, now Sports Ireland, CLSP employs eight people on a full-time basis. CLSP is governed by a board of director’s representative of key agencies throughout the county including Clare / Limerick Education and Training Board, Clare County Council, Disabled People of Clare, An Garda Siochana, HSE, Clare Community Forum, Clare Local Development Company, Chamber of Commerce and sport representatives.

Speaking at a recent meeting of the Ennis

Councillors to meet with Limerick Milk Market to discuss Market Building

by PÁRAIC McMAHON ENNIS councillors are to meet with management of the Milk Market in Limerick with a view to maximise the potential of the Market Building.

Following a proposal

by Cllr Pat Daly (FF), staff and councillors in the Ennis Municipal District are to hold a meeting with officials from the Milk Market “with a view to seeking out positive ideas for the future promotion of the Market Building”.

Hosting an antique fair on Sunday mornings was one potential use for the building, Cllr Daly suggested, “TV shows in England on antique fairs are black with people”.

He outlined, “As far as the Market Building is concerned the potential is there, it is a glorified car park, it is making income but that wasn’t its intention”.

The present facility is “an eyesore,” he lamented.

Of the building which was built for €500,000 as part of a €1.75m redevelopment, Daly stressed, “we have to do something with it, we can’t leave it there with ten to fourteen cars each day.

Get serious about this building and do something about it”.

Trustees of the Milk Market met with Cllr Johnny Flynn before putting down a notice of motion thirteen years ago seeking a feasibility study for a covered market in Ennis. A model similar to the Milk Market

should be examined, he agreed, “it is important that we look at this asset as a market and look at the model of public or private trustees to run it with the expertise they have in the Milk Market”.

Flynn affirmed that if the building could be rented for €20,000 to €30,000 then the local authority “would be getting a good return on it”.

EYESORE: The Market Building (in 2018)

Photo by Eamon Ward

MD, Cllr Norton outlined that CLSP were “finding it difficult at this stage as they expand. They are having to look at moving to another premises due to an increase in staff ”.

She felt Lees Rd was “an ideal location”.

CLSP’s work was hailed as “invaluable” by Cllr Paul Murphy (FG). The Clarecastle na-

tive partook in the men on the move initiative during lockdown via Zoom, “the quality they provided in coaching and nutritional advice was fantastic”.

A board member for five years with CLSP, Cllr Johnny Flynn (FG) felt relocating to Lees Rd “would be a great move”.

IDEAL: The Lees Road office

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NEWS 19

20 NEWS

THURSDAY, NOV 18 2021

SHANNON NEWS in association with

Shannon Airport installs world’s first Rudolph Radar with direct link to North Pole ELAINE TUBRIDY

S

news@clareecho.ie

HANNNON Airport have installed the world’s first Rudolph Red Nose Radar to help beam entries to a special competition directly to the North Pole.

A special seasonal flight to the Arctic Circle will lift off this December from Shannon Airport, and to celebrate, the airport is launching a special competition for a fairy-tale trip for a lucky family on Thursday 2nd December to Santa’s home in Lapland over 4,000 km away.

“We are delighted that passen-

NOSE SO BRIGHT: The Rudolph Red Nose Radar

gers from Shannon will have the opportunity to enjoy a magical visit to Lapland. It will be a really special trip. I expect the excitement

and atmosphere on departure day will be palpable and, no doubt, a thousand stories told on return and a thousand memories made,”

said Mary Considine, CEO Shannon Group.

The lucky family will fly from Shannon to the Santa Claus Village in the North Pole. The fun filled prize for a family of two adults and two children includes a trip to Santa’s official residence and a private meeting with the man himself. Shannon Airport has teamed up with Santa and his elves for the competition which closes at 5.00pm on Thursday 25th November. The winner will be announced that evening.

Online entry forms are available on the Shannon Airport website www.shannonairport.ie from 17th November 2021. To win all you need to do is fill in the competition form and say why you would like

to win and what you would like for Christmas.

To ensure all competition entries get to their destination in warp time, the latest technology has been installed at the airport.

Thanks to this revolutionary technology entries will be beamed direct to the North Pole through the world’s first Rudolph Red Nose Radar system which has been specially installed on the roof of the airport terminal building.

Once all entries have arrived, Santa’s elves will pick the winner.

The radar, a large shining red beacon resembles Rudolph’s nose, and is particularly shiny at night-time.

A one-night visit to Lapland from Shannon Airport is available on 2nd December.

Town Centre management will be pressed to deliver aspects of Masterplan

by PÁRAIC McMAHON PRESSURE is to be put on the owners of Shannon Town Centre to deliver on aspects of the upcoming Shannon Town Masterplan.

Work is ongoing for the publication of the anticipated masterplan with councillors hopeful that drastic improvements have been made to the initial draft.

Speaking at Tuesday’s meeting of the Shannon Municipal District, Director of Services with Clare County Council, Liam Conneally assured elected representatives that “particular concerns” with regard to the Town Park were to be addressed.

Conneally met with owners of Shannon Town Centre in the past two months where vacancy rates were flagged by the Director.

“I outlined the significant work the Municipal District and Council are doing in respect of the masterplan, that it is not just a spatial plan and that there is a significant economic piece and we would be putting significant demands on him as owner to deliver”.

A willingness to increase retail floor space was committed to by the businessman, Mr Conneally noted. He said “clear implementation requests” were put to the owner. “Significant discussions” to entice retailers to Shannon continue.

Elected members “rescued” the initial document, Cllr Gerry Flynn (IND) affirmed.

“The first document was a very sparse eight pages, the next document is 48 pages, elected members should have been consulted at the outset. It is not far away from being reasonably acceptable but there are

some elements that would never be acceptable”.

Dynamic of the town centre has changed since the new owners arrived, Cllr Donna McGettigan (SF) commented as she made reference to the successful farmers market.

“We need unanimous agreement in relation to any planning issues, the masterplan will be the platform we make any URDF applications from, such is the importance of the masterplan to be signed off and agreed by the Municipal District. It will be a determining factor,” Conneally stated.

Owners of the town centre are ‘walking the walk, he agreed.

“There is a lot more to be done but it is great to see the private sector is coming to the table because the people of Shannon deserve all the services that are to be provided”.

PLANNING: Shannon Town Centre

NEWS 21

THURSDAY, NOV 18 2021

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22 Arts & Entertainment

THURSDAY, NOV 18 2021

Christy Killeen pens affectionate tribute to West Clare roots

C

by JACK LEE HRISTY Killeen has unveiled his new book, Musings Miscellany Clare, at a launch at the Bellbridge House Hotel last weekend.

An eight year labour of love, the 85-year-old from Clohanmore East, Cree, began writing the book - which is made up of stories, quotes, poems and more - in 2013 and the result is “an affectionate tribute to West Clare based on the memories of Christy Killeen,” according to Catriona Crowe.

Christy, a founding member of the Clare Association in Dublin, is deeply rooted in County Clare having attended Clohanbeg National School, Miltown Malbay Vocational School, before graduating in electrical engineering from Kevin Street. He joined Radio Eireann and later RTE television.

Married to Betty O’Connell, the father of seven details his deep love of Clare in the book: “I wrote this book for reasons of my deep affection for Clare and West Clare and the people there-in, the people

particularly, the people who are welcoming and warm. And really, I wrote it with a flavour and the people, places and the pride people have in their place in a way, those three Ps are the streamline right through the book.

“I wrote it through a system of stories rather than a book about reflections and memories I was able to break them up into a story system and I believed that a lot of what we learned through our ancestors and everything has been handed down to us through stories so I said I’d go with that structure.

I had fifty or sixty stories but with time constraints and everything, there’s forty-one stories in the book.”

Christy began writing his book as far back as 2013, and even wrote a portion of it while recovering in hospital. “I was ‘stealing’ green A4 sheets of paper from the nurses up the corridor. Down in my ward I was writing freely and prolifically. I eventually structured it into a story structure and put the skeleton of a book together with 50 or

60 stories, I thought, ‘This looks well worth pursuing!’”

Christy add that his children were very supportive during the writing process, “They are as proud of the book as I am, they’ve shown that in every way that I could possibly see.”

There are many different quotes littered throughout the book, while discussing them Christy had this to say, “My favourite quote in the book is ‘Sometimes you will never know the value of a moment until it becomes a memory’.

Maybe this quote is the reason behind the book if the moments are hard to value at the time, here I am trying to value them by writing about them in this book.”

The proceeds from the book go to autism treatment in Clare. “The pleasure was mine in doing it. I want any profits to go the development and the treatment for the ailment of autism, if the book can do that, I’ll be a very proud person,” Christy added.

Musings Miscellany Clare is available at Ennis Book Shop.

 MEMORIES: Christy Killeen celebrates the launch of his new book

Barry Murphy releases charity single ‘Alone You Stand’ to mark Axel Foley’s fifth Anniversary FORMER Munster rugby star Barry Murphy of Hermitage Green has written a tribute song and recorded it in time to coincide with the fifth anniversary of his friend, Anthony ‘Axel’ Foley’s untimely death.

He launched the single on Saturday at the Ireland v All Blacks game at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin.

Barry has kindly donated proceeds from the song entitled, ‘Alone We Stand’ to the year-long fundraiser Orla Foley has undertaken in memory of her beloved brother.

Orla, over a 4-month period cycled 3000km along the Atlantic Way raising Є9000 for her

fundraising initiative ‘Wildways’ where CRY Ireland (Cardiac Risk in the Young) was one of three selected causes that benefited as well as CARI and Mid -Western Cancer Foundation.So far, Barry has raised Є10,112 euro from the song as well as Є10,480 for Orla’s Wild Ways.

CRY Ireland (Cardiac Risk in the Young) is a self-supporting, Irish charity that supports families in Ireland, north and south, bereaved by the sudden cardiac death (SCD) of a loved one or those affected by inherited cardiac conditions. CRY offers access to free screening and emotional support ser-

vices to those affected including their new freephone service, The CRY Helpline. CRY Ireland also supports research into the prevention of sudden cardiac death.

Orla said she has been pleasantly surprised at the groundswell of generosity she has encountered everywhere as people join her in paying tribute to her brother in a charitable way: “It’s been a case of pushing an open door. People are only too happy to go out of their way to honour Anthony and to help raise money for these worthy charities. By doing so, they have honoured not just his family and friends but the memory of

all the games Anthony played on that pitch.

Staging it on the day the All Blacks are the opposition makes it a much more special occasion for us all. Dad was on the Munster Team that beat the All Blacks in 1978, Barry Murphy was on the Munster team that nearly beat the All Blacks in 2008 and the Irish Rugby Team did the very special Axel 8 after Anthony died for the historic win in Chicago in 2016.”

To donate and download the ‘Alone You Stand’ single, scan the QR code.

FEATURES 23

THURSDAY, NOV 18 2021

GREEN CLARE

Public encouraged to consider cleaner sources of heat STUART HOLLY

T

editor@clareecho.ie

HE public are being encouraged to think twice about the type of fuel they use to keep warm this winter.

The Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications, Eamon Ryan TD, has announced a public awareness campaign on the ‘ABC’ of Cleaner Air. For this heating season, people are being asked to focus on three simple steps to bring about better air quality and improved health for all by reducing air pollution from domestic fires during the winter ahead.

This campaign centres around three core messages – the ‘ABC’ for Cleaner Air. These can help to bring about significant improvements in air quality: A – Ask yourself: “Do I need to light a fire?” Use other cleaner heating sources instead if possible.

B – Burn cleaner, more efficient, low smoke fuels and make sure you use the right fuel for your appliance.

C – Clean and maintain your chimneys and heating appliances at least once a year.

Home fires are the main source of an air pollutant called fine particulate matter (also known as PM2.5). This pollutant is linked to approximately 1,300 deaths in Ireland each year. By taking these simple steps, people can help to safeguard the health of people who are at particular risk of problems caused by air pollution, such as people with asthma, children and the elderly.

Minister Ryan said: “When this Government was formed, we gave a commitment to tackle air pollution caused by domestic solid fuel burning, and we remain committed to doing so. We took a major step earlier this year, with a public consultation on the development of new solid fuels regulations for Ireland.

We received more than 3,500 responses across all strands of the consultation, with a wide variety of suggested regulatory approaches for solid fuels. Having considered

the submissions made by the public, health experts and advocacy groups, academia and industry, a framework for legislation has been developed and drafting of the regulations is underway.

“Our goal is to improve public health by ensuring that people switch to lower smoke rules and that the market is regulated nationally.”

The awareness campaign is being launched ahead of the introduction of the new Solid Fuel Regulations that will come into place

for 2022 heating season. Up to now, there were rules covering low smoke coal in some cities and towns across the country but not all. The new rules will apply nationwide and to a broader selection of fuels.

These regulations will be finalised in the coming months and will be in place for the 2022 heating season.

They have already been announced to allow those servicing the domestic solid fuel market to plan accordingly and to continue to invest in less polluting alternatives.

3 STEPS to improve air quality & protect our health ASK YOURSELF Do I need to light a fire?

Can I use cleaner heating sources instead?

BURN CLEANER more efficient, low-smoke fuels

CLEAN and maintain chimneys and heating appliances at least once a year

Be the Difference. Breathe the Difference. gov.ie/cleanair

WINTER WARMER: Home heating has come under the spotlight

Keep going

24 FEATURES

RONAN SCULLY

Thought for the week

A

T THIS present moment I am walking along the winding roads and byways on my Bay to Bay 350 Km charity walk from Donegal Bay to Galway Bay in memory of my beautiful niece Aoife Doyle Scully who tragically was killed on our roads last year. I try to organise a charity walk every year for some special cause and for various charities and have done it at this time of the year for the past five years and always remembered our loved ones gone before us during this special month of remembrance.

I have been walking and praying for about a week now for anyone that has asked me to pray for them, most especially for Aoife and some members of my family and close friends who sadly passed away, especially during the last 20 months of the pandemic.

Also I have prayed continuously for all the emergency workers, the carers, nurses, doctors, gardai, coastguards, teachers, ambulance people and first aiders and responders, religious and all people involved in any work that cares for those in need and especially for help and support to our homeless and those most in need in our country and world and for anyone sick or unwell at home or in hospital.

I also remembered all my colleagues in work and the people and children we work with and for in many countries in Africa and other parts of our world and especially in war torn countries and those affected by famine and drought. Though long distance walking might be considered just an athletic event by some, from my experience over this past week on the Wild Atlantic Way, I would refer to it as an allegory for life.

So, what life lessons can one learn from walking a 350Km charity walk or being a walker or pilgrim on the highways and byways of Ireland or any specific challenge that we do in life?

Keep Going

As I walked my Bay to Bay charity walk it reinforced to me the idea that in life, it’s about the journey, not the end result. I also realized that this might be the last time that I would ever take part in a charity walk like this, so I needed to savour the experience. I thought, “This is it, the moment I have worked so hard for.”

I needed to enjoy the walking experience, not wish it away and especially because it is along the Wild Atlantic way one of my favourite places in the whole world and what an experience it has been so far with

many epiphanies and very spiritual moments along with some hardships as I walked from Donegal to Galway and I enjoyed every minute of it. Sometimes keeping positive is difficult and prayer becomes very basic, ‘Bed please God’, ‘Please God get me to the top of this hill’, ‘Please God stop the pains in my legs and head’ or ‘Are we there yet God?’ But walking towards the goal of Galway Bay, following arrows, road maps and signs, remembering that for centuries others have walked on these paths and carrying prayers and intentions for everyone I know or who asked me and thinking of Aoife and all my ancestors and thanking them for the love they gave in their life so that I could be where I am today was a tremendous experience, allowing the physical experience to become the prayer, the weight of the backpack, the aches, blisters and pains, the warmth of the sun when it shone, the beautiful and bountiful wildflowers, tres, birds, choruses of frogs, bells ringing in my ears at times from bicycles, cows and churches, amazing scenery, sharing a meal, sharing a burden, realizing that the other many people I encountered along the way all have one thing in common, we were all walkers and pilgrims on the journey of life.

Often we wish our lives away, wanting to reach a certain place in life in order to be happy. However, oftentimes the satisfaction derived from setting an objective is not so much in attaining the objective, but in the anticipation and striving toward the objective.

So, as much as possible try to enjoy the journey as much as the end results as I did with my Bay to Bay attempt.

In a challenging walk like my charity Bay to Bay, as in life, the key is just to keep going, even if that means going slowly. No matter how hard things get, even if there are many hills blocking your view of the ending line, there is usually an end in sight, if we just keep going forward.

Life is difficult. We are pressured and stressed and pulled in various directions and especially with all that has been happening in our world with the pandemic. Amidst the rush and hustle of the daily grind, it can be easy to lose ourselves and forget what really matters.

We get steered off course and put all our energy toward things that ultimately, when it really gets down to it, don’t matter much at all. Every day and every hour now due to this awful virus, we are buffeted by mortality shocks, by life events so wildly

out of our control.

Sometimes, it is distant and troubling, sometimes close and heartbreaking. We all secretly know where our strengths lie, what we do enough of, what we leave by the wayside in favour of less wholesome pursuits. But all these shocks, all this trauma, only serves to enhance those quiet feelings we all suffer that we aren’t doing enough, that we’re not living right, that we can do it better if we can get to have a second chance at it. The exhaustion we feel right now is emotional discord: that mortality panic that we simply must live our best lives this instant because who knows when it will all end, coupled with the paralysis of this wild global virus. It’s like a single person trying to balance a seesaw by standing on one end.

It’s a game we cannot win. Aoife during her short life with us taught me a lot of things about living, but she also taught me that you don’t have to balance the seesaw on your own, if at all.

Aoife treated every friendship like a tiny miracle and I especially saw that in her friendship with my daughters and cousins and especially with her amazing friendship with her friend Cara and her grandfather Ricey.

Aoife held love and connection so gently in her palms as though they could shatter at any moment, as though she couldn’t quite believe she was so lucky as to have these beautiful things in her life.

Aoife taught me that living isn’t about doing more or working more or playing more or being more, it’s about the connections we make and the friendships we hold dear and the people we help. Remembering what really matters in life requires a conscious effort, and here’s to each of us trying to live a life that really matters and that always love’s and helps rather than hurts our fellow human beings!

Thought for the week

As your thought for the week, keep going forward no matter what challenges life throws at you. The following prayer has always helped me on my journey and maybe it can help you on yours!!!

“Will you let me be your servant?

Let me be as Christ to you. Pray that I might have the grace. To let you be my servant too. We are pilgrims on the journey. We are brothers and sisters on the road. We are here to help each other. Walk the mile and bear the load.

I will hold the Christ light for you.

In the night time of your fear. I will hold my hand out to you. Speak the peace you long to hear. I will weep when you are weeping. When you laugh, I’ll laugh with you. I will share your joy and sorrow. Till we’ve seen this journey through. When we sing to God in heaven. We shall find such harmony. Born to all we’ve known together of Christ’s love and agony. Amen.”

THURSDAY, NOV 18 2021

THANK YOU, READERS

VITAL SERVICE: Erin Malone of The Clare Echo presenting

the generous cash donations received as part of the Monster Halloween Fundraiser, to Dr Siobhán O’Connor of Clare Haven Services. A total of €3,115 was raised for the charity

Clare Haven to mark 16 days of activism against violence ELAINE TUBRIDY elaine.tubridy@clareecho.ie

C

LARE Haven Services are adding their voice to the annual international 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence by hosting a number of events throughout the county.

Their launch event for the 16 Days of Activism is a multi-media art exhibition entitled Hidden Truths: Behind Closed Doors. Using film, paint, sculpture and other media the installation explores the experience of domestic abuse in Clare. It is a project a year in the making, managed by Paul Corey and Rachel McManus. It will be launched by Broadcaster and Author Rachel English in Clare Haven’s Administration block. From then it will be open to the public, by appointment to comply with Covid restrictions, for the duration of the 16 days. The installation is both harrowing and hopeful and we encourage people to come and connect with the themes.

It is suitable from over 15 y/o.

Call 0656842646 to reserve a space.

For the last 14 years (with the exception of 2020), to re-

member the women who have been killed in Co Clare by their partners or ex-partners, Clare Haven Services hosted a Candlelight Walk. They are holding this walk again this year on Friday 10th December, departing from the Garda Station at 5.30 to the sound of a choir singing and reflecting as they walk towards the sound of a second choir in the Court house.

Clare Haven are bringing that reflection and remembrance, as well as public awareness of domestic abuse throughout the county in partnership with Clare County Library. Members of Clare Haven Staff will be in Kilrush library and Ennis library on the 25th November, Ennistymon Library on the 26th November, Shannon Library on the 29th and Killaloe Library and Scarrif Library dates tbc.

“We look forward to meeting people, answering queries and telling them about our work.

Each library will have a Candle or a lit up tree in the public facing window. This is the whole county paying their respects and remembering the lives of the women and children killed. It is also an endeavour to light the way to information and support to those who are surviving within it,” said the spokesperson.

Clare Haven is available 24 hours a day on 0656822435.

NEWS 25

THURSDAY, NOV 18 2021

EmployAbility Clare mark 20 years supporting jobseekers T HIS year marks a milestone in the work of EmployAbility Clare as they reflect on twenty years delivering their unique employment support service in the local community.

Many of the staff have been with EmployAbility Clare since the early days. Deirdre Ball, Employment Facilitator notes some of the biggest changes. “When the service was set up initially many of our jobseekers had an intellectual or physical disability and were looking for their first paid job.

A lot of our time was spent job coaching in the workplace. Now the people we support are diverse, as is the breadth of their health conditions. Mental health, ASD and hidden disabilities are more common. We also support a lot of people who acquire an illness or disability during their working life and need to make changes in their work or their careers. So, our role has changed to provide more guidance and help people explore different employment options and pathways to work.” EmployAbility works with people of all abilities and skill levels; from creating a customised two hour a week employment role to helping graduate and postgraduate job seekers negotiate the skills requirements of new and emerging industry.

Helen McQuillan, Manager of EmployAbility Clare reflects on some of the other changes in the EmployAbility service and the impact they have on employment opportunities

 EMPOWERING: The EmployAbility team and people’s career choices. “Often when people come to our service initially, they want a job, ‘any job,’ and have never had an opportunity to think about what job might suit them best, what different work environments are like, the specific skills required for a job,

how they might gain those skills and get an insight into the changing world of work. Our employment facilitators help each jobseeker to develop employment goals and make a plan to get a job that suits them best. We partner with a variety of County Clare based

community and statutory support organisations, education and training providers, Department of Social Protection and business networks to ensure that people have all the information they need before starting a new job or training course.”

In recent years, EmployAbility Clare has supported several people exploring self-employment and social enterprise options, linking them with local enterprise supports, with the help of family members or support staff if needed. Another initiative was the introduction of the Window to Work business support programme which asks businesses to provide an opportunity for an EmployAbility jobseeker to discover the world of work.

This is done by offering a workplace visit, a job shadow, a Q & A session with a member of staff, help with interview preparation or a short work experience. Unfortunately, COVID impacted a lot of employment opportunities for people looking for work and fundamentally changed the way EmployAbility supported jobseekers, with communication moving from face-to-face meetings to virtual and old-fashioned telephone, text, and post.

While it was challenging the service continued to support all their jobseekers and employers.

Twenty-year celebrations have been put on hold for now. Perhaps next year a twenty first birthday can be organised to mark the successes of this special service.

26 COLUMNIST

THURSDAY, NOV 18 2021

OATALLY AUTUMN BAKED APPLE Kearney Cooks

A

UTUMN has to be my favourite season. Not for the cozy fires, or the chance to wrap up in warm clothes, or the leaves changing colour, no, for me, autumn is about all the wonderful fruit and veg that becomes available.

Apples are possibly the most iconic autumnal fruit, and one of my personal favourites.

So today I am going to make a wonderfully easy, totally tasty, Autumnal Baked Apple and Oats dish.

YOU WILL NEED • 2 large Bramley apples • 60g porridge oats • 50g raisins • 250ml milk • 6g light brown sugar • 1 egg • 1 tsp cinnamon • 1 tsp baking powder Step 1 Peel and slice your apples into an eight inch baking dish. You can fire your oats and raisins into this dish as well.

Step 3 Bake in a preheated oven at 180c for 50 minutes to an hour. When it’s cooked serve it up with custard or ice cream and enjoy it.

Step 2 In a jug or mixing bowl, combine your milk, egg, sugar, cinnamon and baking powder.

Whisk the bejaysus out of them and pour over your apple and oat mix.

This is one of those dishes that eats better than it looks so don’t be alarmed if you pull it out of the oven and it looks a bit plain. Trust me, it will taste brilliant. This dish is also good in that it can be used for breakfast, brunch, or

Trans rights need support

W

HEN people think of Ireland’s record on human rights, we are, today, seen as a world leader due in no small part to the leadership shown in the transformation of Ireland over the past quarter century.

Gay rights and women’s rights especially have come on in leaps and bounds.

Yet this perception of Ireland as some form of pure republic is still far and away from the reality that many people here experience daily.

I’ve written previously in this column about the shocking treatment of refugees and asylum seekers in direct provision centres and as such, I was pleased to hear that there are no plans to turn the recently closed Rowantree hostel into another one of these blights against our national character.

However, there is still rampant bigotry prevalent against another section of Irish society that largely goes unchecked.

I came across this myself on Twitter the other day when I interacted on a rather bizarre Tweet from Irish Independent columnist Eilis O’Hanlon regarding transgender people in terms of the public consultation on Ireland’s draft State report to the UN

Committee on the Rights of the Child.

My simple reply reading “Trans rights are human rights”, elicited some choice replies, to put it mildly.

In the report, there is a section that deals with adolescents getting legal protection in terms of their gender in cases of being transgender, which is something O’Hanlon took great exception to, supposedly.

What followed on via our interactions on Twitter, and subsequently in her article printed in the Independent amounted to nothing more than naked transphobia, dressed up as concern for the vulnerable, using the same old tired, dangerous, and disproven rhetoric that somehow has not been consigned to the dustbin on bigoted history.

What TERF’s (Trans Exclusionary Radical Feminists, a term they themselves coined) always try to claim is that being transgender is an excuse for a man to pretend he is a woman in order to attack women in spaces such as public bathrooms and changing rooms, despite absolutely no evidence of this being an issue at all.

To put it simply, if a man wants to sexually assault women, it is sadly already all too easy for him to do so, and get away with, in Irish society today.

dessert.

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

Enjoy

Steve K

Eoin Neylon

An inside look at Clare’s political spectrum

For instance, newly released figures from Northern Ireland for last year show that from 1,664 suspects, 608 people were reported or charged with rape offences, of which only 8 produced convictions. A paltry 1.3 per cent conviction rate.

There is no need for a man to go through years of hormone therapy and invasive surgery in order to enable his attack.

The baseless linking of transgender identity to sexual crimes is a deliberate slur on an entire community designed to other them and paint them as deviants to be feared and shunned.

Shockingly, a quarter of all Irish trans people have reported being physically assaulted in public with 60 per cent saying they do not feel able to identify themselves as trans out of fear of reprisal according to an Oireachtas Library and Research Service study.

What is more disappointing in the publication of the above-mentioned offensive article in a national newspaper is the timing of it.

Saturday November 20th, is Transgender Day of Remembrance, a day which memorializes the victims of transphobic violence, which is proceeded by Transgender Awareness Week.

With the murder rate against the trans community astronomically higher than the national average in every western country (where statistics are kept), it is incumbent on us all to be more understanding and respectful to help promote acceptance, not fearmongering and hate.

Our society needs to step up to the plate hugely in terms of LGBTQ+ rights still, as marriage equality was not ever the end point in gaining full equality in the eyes of the law for members of the LGBTQ+ community.

The mere existence of trans people being, unfortunately, just one of many remaining issues to be solved, like the gay blood donation ban.

Here in Clare, we’re no better with a survey earlier this year by the Clare Public Participation Network (PPN), as part of the LGBTQ+ Clare project, finding a staggering 70 per cent of respondents faced discrimination because of their gender identity or sexual orientation.

The LGBTQ+ Clare project may originally have been envisaged as a short term one, but if attitudes like the above are still so widespread and prevalent in our society, I fear the work of promotion of basic human rights across our county is far from over.

BUSINESS & RECRUITMENT 27

THURSDAY, NOV 18 2021

Morey Movement aspires to be community centre of wellbeing PÁRAIC MCMAHON

paraic@clareecho.ie

S

IXMILEBRIDGE’S newest business owners are hopeful of creating a wellness community through the opening of a new gym.

First cousins Chloe and Seadna Morey are to open Morey Movement in Sixmilebridge this coming Monday (November 22) bringing a state-of-the-art facility to the O’Garneyside.

Individual training areas are a central part of the gym located in The Mill Yard, seconds away from the heart of Sixmilebridge. The duo visited gyms all over the country to get a sense of what they wanted to bring to the area while they completed a diploma in personal training from Setanta College.

Seadna explained of the facilities, “We’ve 14 squat racks, we’ll have 12 in the

classes so each person will have their own squat rack, their own set of dumbbells ranging from 4kg to 22.5kg and we have heavier weights for people wanting to lift stronger; they have their own barbell and set of weights going up to 150kg, they have their own cardio equipment too, we’ve kettlebells, slam balls, wall balls and wall ball targets, we’ve equipment for every aspect of fitness you can think of ”.

The equipment itself was an investment of €100k.

Teaching will be a fundamental pillar of their coaching style, the 2013 All-Ireland winning Clare hurler stressed. “When people come in they will be able to see why they have membership of Morey Movement, it is not just a mat on the floor with one kettlebell and doing circuits, we want to zone in on teaching people, they won’t just come in, do something and go away, if they’ve had a membership for a year they will learn how to squat and know ex-

actly what to do”.

Starting off there will be a limited timetable with no more than 12 people in the classes to keep high coaching standards while an open use area will be accessible to the public. Morning and evening classes will be the main focus for the early stages of the new enterprise.

The cousins will be the sole employees starting off and will attempt to balance running the gym with their roles as a secondary school teacher (Chloe) and dangerous goods safety advisor (Seadna).

Morey Movement will be an inclusive place for everybody, Chloe insisted. ”It is quite daunting for people going into new fitness spaces, it is something simple like knowing where the changing rooms are or where you go when you walk in. Seadna and I have planned it to an absolute tee, the open day was about showing people how it works and showing that this isn’t done anywhere else with the pod system

Best wishes to Chloe & Seadna on your new venture

l NEW FACILITY: Noel Marshall, Chloe and Seadna Morey

Photo by Joe Buckley

with your own squat rack, weights and cardio equipment, it is really individual but it is in a small team environment which Seadna and I have thrived off, we’re hoping to make it as comfortable and as safe for people to come.”

Small group personal training has never been in the area, Seadna flagged.

“We want to hit all aspects of the public whether they haven’t stepped foot in a gym before, we hope to be able to bring them through the beginning of their fitness journey...We want to create a good fitness community in The Bridge”.

Three different types of training session can be booked into at Morey Movement – the all-zone class works on every facet of fitness such as mobility, strength and cardio, the amber zone class is cardio based with heart rate monitors used while the red zone class is endurance based.

Having brought some of her Clare camogie teammates to visit the facility, Chloe quipped that it resembled “an adults playground, they were getting things, lifting weights, jumping over things, it is very like the sports camp but for adults. When we come down I’d be smiling looking at it, our family would be using the place, you will want for nothing here, there is nowhere like it around”.

Support has always flowed for the people of The Bridge for their camogie and hurling teams, Chloe is hopeful this venture will be no different. “People around here are used to doing a bums, tums or whatever class, 30 in the class with a dumbbell, kettlebell and that’s it. With women sometimes they say I don’t want to go to the gym because I’ll get big and bulky but that isn’t it at all, we’d love people to come up here and get really strong,

we want to really educate people and give them the autonomy in a few months that they know what they’re doing. For men, I find sometimes they don’t go to classes because they think they’re for women but here we’re offering every aspect of fitness so there is something for everyone here, we’ve good guiding principles, we’re trying to do something different and we’ll see if the people of Sixmilerbridge back us but they always do to be fair”.

Of his goals for Morey Movement, Seadna outlined, “I’m big into building a community of health and wellbeing with people looking after their bodies, last year was evidence of that with COVID and how precious our health is. A lot of people looked at aspects of exercise, it is not just a gym, I want to build a whole wellbeing part of The Bridge and surrounding areas through Morey Movement, hopefully we can do different community based events to help all ages. I want to build it as a community centre of health and wellbeing”.

A love of the gym for Chloe was fostered from watching her father Mike, both he and Seadna’s father Pat were working on applying finishing touches to the gym during the countdown to the opening day while the business expertise of Shannon Precision owner Don Murphy is greatly appreciated by the Moreys. “We’ve had amazing support from the family, hopefully we’ll get that from the community when we open up,” Seadna reflected.

OIL

Best of luck to the Moreys in their new venture

28

THURSDAY, NOV 18 2020

The Market Bar celebrates STUART HOLLY

editor@clareecho.ie

T

HE Market Bar in Ennis celebrates 10 years in business this weekend. A notoriously challenging industry, The Market Bar’s success is all the more impressive as a quick calculation will tell you that Barry Pilkington and Bohuska Zajacova opened their doors in November, 2011, deep in a global recession. Now, as they mark 10 years in business, economic turmoil has popped its head up again in the form of a global pandemic.

Gallow’s Hill native Barry recites a quote sent from his mother when surmising their against-the-odds success, “When you see a successful business, someone made a brave decision”. When observing the story of the Market Bar’s rise as a favourite local bar & restaurant, there’s no doubting the bravery that marked its success.

Bohuska, a Slovakian who has lived in Ennis for 18 years, was trying on a wedding dress in her native country in 2011 when she received a phonecall from Ireland - along with it, was the opportunity to purchase the business with her colleague Barry. The then owner of Rogue’s Bar &

Restaurant was closing shop - like so many did that year - but first decided to offer his bar manager (Barry) and floor manager (Bohuska) first refusal on the business.

“I was getting married in 2011,” Bohuska tells The Clare Echo. “I was in Slovakia trying on my wedding dress when I got the call. He said he was going to close the business and offered me the opportunity to buy it and then myself and Barry started texting about it. I was in Slovakia when we made the decision.”

Barry had worked in the industry since the age of 16, previously managing the Grove in Roslevan and the Brewery on Abbey Street before moving to the Merchant’s Square premises.

The pair have always maintained a strong working relationship and share similar business goals however Bohuska explains the pair have very defined roles within the business; Barry more likely to be found handling administrative duties while she meets and greets families and manages the floor. As we chat, regulars walk past the table and greet Barry and Bohuska by name.

It’s that personal touch which has helped them to make The Market Bar a household name in Clare.

Over the 10-year journey which started when they were just 27 and 29-years old respectively, a lot of parallels can be drawn between Bohuska and Barry. Both were married to their partners within a year of

each other around the time of The Market Bar’s opening, Bahuska to husband Milan and Barry to wife Helen. Now, they both each have two young children and even share the same child-minder, which Bahuska admits has led to a convenient car-pooling situation for the two families.

“It was 10 years ago, we were very young and didn’t know what to expect… it was a lot of added responsibility,” recalls Bohuska who describes the first two years in charge as a both a learning curve and a “quick wake-up”. “For the first year, we were constantly here, morning to finish, seven days.”

Barry continues, “It was very hard at the start but we started in the middle of a recession.”

To the observer, it may feel like The Market Bar has been there more than 10 years which is a tribute to its owners but it hasn’t been without its ups and downs, which the pair speak about with refreshing honesty.

Barry admits that there were some difficult moments in the early days, including being unable to pay the electricity bill. However a commitment to developing their food business and high levels of customer service saw them through the difficult recession years and they begun to see rewards as the decade progressed. They have strongly established themselves as a family-friendly restaurant during the day and a bustling eatery-turn-cocktail bar by night. It’s also a go-to destination for office Christmas

l Barry Pilkington and co-owner Bahusaka Zajacova celebrate 10 years of The Market Bar; (inset) The pair on opening weekend in November 2011 with then manager Trevor Chandler

THURSDAY, NOV 18 2020

10 years in business parties, birthday parties, and more recently, small wedding parties.

The pair are at pains to stress that all this would not have been possible without their partners, parents and dedicated staff members. “We wouldn’t be here without our families,” acknowledges Barry. “When we had no money, our parents or our partners were giving us loans. Now thank God everything is paid back.” They reserve praise for long-serving staff members including manager Mikey Dinan and Lisa McMahon, who is head chef having been part of the team for nine years.

Of course nothing is straight forward in business and the arrival of Covid has meant a number of closures and reopenings over the last two years, a decimation of staff numbers and complications around stock ordering and opening hours. Just as this article is prepared for publication, the Government has announced another change in opening hours for the food & drinks industry ahead of the vital Christmas period. A constant headache, which they have navigated thanks to their hands-on approach. Barry has trained as a chef and can now be found in the kitchen when called upon, while Bohuska continues to help oversee operations despite being on maternity leave.

Bohuska and Barry admit to taking great pride in what they’ve achieved, when asked to reflect on their decade in business. “It took a while to turn but once it did, we

couldn’t be happier,” says Barry. “We’re very proud of what we established and we have a great customer base. Without the customers we wouldn’t be here and they were very loyal during the good times and bad times, even during Covid they were getting takeaway and that was very successful.”

Such is their relationship with customers that they’ve been there for the happy and sad moments of many; in some cases hosting the afters of customer funerals, while also watching others’ children grow into teenagers and adults. Bohuska says, “What I notice, just because I love the kids, at the beginning some of this the kids were just babies and now they come in and are eight or nine or 10, and you can see how they’re growing.

They draw a picture, they put their name and age on it and I still have those pictures at home.”

Barry adds, “It’s all about customer service, you go out of your way to be friendly.

We pride ourselves on good service, and that shows when the customers come back and keep coming back.”

The Market Bar will be celebrating all this weekend with customer specials. Visit them at Merchant’s Square or call (065) 684 9935 to make a booking.

10 CELEBRATING

YEARS

THANK YOU! Merchant's Square, Ennis, Co.Clare Tel: 065 68 49935 Email: marketbarennis@gmail.com

29

30 BUSINESS & RECRUITMENT

THURSDAY, NOV 18 2021

Ennis-based company wins 2021 Pakman Award

waste management service providers in Irelands MidWest, was recognised at this editor@clareecho.ie year’s Pakman Awards for reinventing its commercial LOCAL com- waste collection offering to pany has been accommodate the different named as a needs of its commercial cuswinner of a tomers.

The company was also 2021 Pakman Award. Clean Ireland Re- singled out for introducing cycling, one of the largest a innovative ‘Waste Warrior’ team that provides advice to 2c customers on how to reduce waste, SAFE PASS helping CONFINED SPACE Ireland CHEMICAL AWARENESS meet its re c ycling MANUAL HANDLING targets set Bus Card_V1.indd 1 02/03/2020 13:33 Venue: by the EU. B2 Corcanree Business Park, This 2d Dock Road, Limerick year’s PaTRAINING & CONSULTANCY SOLUTIONS k m a n TO BOOK THESE TRAINING COURSES Aw ards www.ambersafety.ie took place at the Shelor call 061 302520 / 087 3356704

STUART HOLLY

A

AMBER SAFETY

2e

bourne Hotel and saw representatives from leading organisations and community groups come together in accordance with government guidelines, to recognise achievements in recycling and waste management over the last two years.

Speaking at the 2021 Pakman Awards, Michelle Nagle, Head of Administration of Clean Ireland Recycling added: “Winning The Pakman Award for Waste Recovery Operator of the Year – Commercial and Household Award is a testament to our team who have worked continually over the last 18 months providing an essential service. We are proud of the steps we have taken to ensure that our customers are producing some of the highest recycling rates in the country and that our operation is becoming more sustainable, by using 100% renewable electricity, investing in EV sales vehicles,

adding more CNG trucks and this is just the beginning!

“Repak are doing great work to ensure we meet EU Recycling targets and we are honoured to be recognised

for our efforts. It is always heart warming to represent a company with humble West Clare beginnings on a national stage and we hope to continue to do so by providing both our Commer-

cial and Household customers an unrivalled service.”

PICTURED: Brian Lyons, General Manager – Clean Ireland Recycling, Padraig Duggan, Director – Irish Waste Management Association.

AMBER SAFETY Airport Search Security Officer – Passenger & Cabin Baggage TRAINING & CONSULTANCY SOLUTIONS

Part Time and Full Time Opportunities – Fixed Term Contract Overview

Key Areas of Responsibility

Qualifications, Skills and Experience

At Shannon Airport we are growing our Airport Search Security Team.

Key tasks/responsibilities:

The candidate should have:

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

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

Successful candidates will help provide the security and protection needed for all passengers, staff and vehicles entering security restricted areas of the airport.

Role Purpose The Airport Search Officer, plays a key role in delivering consistent, targeted levels of safety, security and services, and a quality user experience.

The primary focus of the role is to ensure the safe, secure, smooth and timely inspection and screening of passengers and staff, cabin baggage and items carried to national and international standards as defined by the IAA, EU ECAC and ICAO. Full training will be provided, and national certification will apply.

In addition to regular work periods, we are looking to cover early morning and late evening rosters, weekends and public holidays and there may be an element of night duty. The Airport Search Officer will rotate between duties within the security function on a 20-hour or 40-hour roster basis. All duties require standing and bending. As these are shift positions, applicants must be over 18 years of age on date of application.

• Screening passengers and staff via our new state of the art security scanning area • X-ray examination and targeted searching of hand baggage • Control and secure access to a sterile area • Assist in delivering consistent levels of safety, security and services, and a quality user experience • Ensure safe, secure, smooth and timely processing of passengers

• Excellent communication skills, fluent standard of English and a proficiency in a European language is an advantage • Candidates must be eligible to work in Ireland

• A willingness to work a variety of shift patterns, from early mornings and late evenings to weekends, bank holidays and night duties • An ability to work in an environment where adherence to standard operating procedures is a significant feature of daily responsibilities • Experience in a service driven organisation • A professional, friendly, and helpful approach

• Provide the passenger with appropriate regulatory requirement information and assistance

• Strong customer orientation and excellent interpersonal skills

• Divest passengers and staff, and load passenger items into trays and onto conveyor belts in preparation for screening

• A pleasant, confident, and outgoing personality with self-motivation and diplomacy skills

• Resolve any security screening issues that arise with the Passenger & Cabin Baggage Screening Supervisor • Any other duties as assigned to meet operational requirements

How to Apply: Applications in the form of a cover letter and current CV (MS Word or pdf) should be sent to: recruitment@shannonairport.ie no later than 12 noon on Tuesday, 30th November 2021. Ensure your email and telephone number (including mobile) are included with your application.

BUSINESS & RECRUITMENT 31

THURSDAY, NOV 18 2021

General Practice Nurse BROTHERS OF CHARITY SERVICES IRELAND CLARE REGION INTELLECTUAL DISABILITY SERVICES

- General Practice Nurse required for busy Ennis based GP practice.

- Part time initially Apply to

practicenurseennis@gmail.com

Coach Driver Position We are hiring experienced Coach Drivers in Ennis, on a full-time and part-time basis.

Region

Contracts Available

Hours

Ennis

Perm Full Time, Perm Part-Time and Relief

0/78 to 60/78

Shannon

Permanent Part-Time, Specified Purpose and Relief

0/78 to 78/78

Killaloe/Ballina

Permanent Full Time and Relief

78/78 & 0/78

Various Locations

Permanent Part-Time, Specified Purpose and Relief

Various hours

Further details available on www.irishjobs.ie Application via www.irishjobs.ie Applicants must, on date of Application, have a Full Clean Driving Licence Please note you may be called forward for interview at short notice SHORTLISTING MAY APPLY ● PANELS MAY BE FORMED ● CANVASSING WILL DISQUALIFY ● EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES EMPLOYER

W E ARE H IR IN G - Support Pharmacist, minimum 2 days a week - Pharmacy Technician, minimum 2 days a week

Key Responsibilities of the role include: To drive the company’s vehicles to the highest of standards, making sure driving is performed in a safe and professional manner To drive in-line with a set timetable Use of ticket machines and issuing of tickets to customers Providing a high standard of customer service

The ideal candidate will have: An up to date Manual Handling certificate Good spoken English Please note that all successful applicants must be in possession of a full D-Category EU Driving Licence, Driver CPC card, and a Digital Tachograph card

If you wish to apply for a role with Dublin Coach please email your application to hr@dublincoach.ie

- Full time Front of Counter Assistant Flynns’s Life Pharmacy, Gort Road , Ennis The contac t d etails for any applications are as follows: sedaly@uniphar.ie

32 CLICK FOR CLARE

THURSDAY, NOV 18 2021

Carrygerry hampers a festive treat STUART HOLLY editor@clareecho.ie

C

HRISTMAS is a time when many businesses “make” their year, generating enough revenue to get them through the long winter months. Traditionally, Carrygerry Country House has not been one of these, as it attracts a strong US trade in the summer months. However the festive season is, more than ever, in sharp focus for the Newmarket-on-Fergus guest house and restaurant, due to the travel disruptions enforced by the Pandemic in 2021.

Carrygerry Country House, under the guidance of Gillian and Niall Ennis, developed the Carrygerry Range in 2010, a range of homemade artisan products including creamy seafood chowder, jams, chutneys, dressings, patés and more. Using many local ingredients, they are produced in the kitchen by Niall and his team.

It would prove to be an inspiring move as the Ennis family were able to diversify their business model when dealing with the Pandemic.

This range is available from either the on-site shop, their website, along with eight local retailers (Fruit & Veg shop in Shannon, Crowe’s in Minister’s Cross, Crowe’s in Kilkishen, Crowe’s in Quin, Coote’s in Ennis, Lynch’s Centra, Ryan’s Centra and O’Brien’s on the Tulla Rd, Ennis).

Gillian admits these local shops offered them a lifeline as they doubled attentions on the homemade range over the last 18 months.

“They’ve been hugely important to us. Without them, we would have had very, very little so it was great, even being able to keep some staff on our books. They’ve always been a huge part of our business since we started the Carrygerry Range.

“There’s been huge changes over the last 18 months. Our accommodation was hugely reduced but the positive was, we had all Irish business. So while the summer months were quieter than usual, within reason it was okay.

“We’re lucky enough in that we have the products and that stayed strong throughout the year, and for Christmas we have the hampers.”

The Christmas Hampers are sold from the House or can be ordered online from December 1. “We’ll

have our shop open in the House where all the products will be on display, and people can put together their own hampers or they can buy ones that are pre-made,” explains Gillian, adding that hampers generally range in price from €30-€200. In addition to the Carrygerry range, hampers also include Clare-produced cheeses, crackers, biscuits and wine.

Carrygerry Country House built in 1793 - last year developed an e-commerce website, with the help of Local Enterprise Board Clare and Gillian admits to being surprised by the customer uptake on the facility. “A lot of people are using the website to buy their hampers. We only went live last year with our hampers and products online; last Christmas there

was a huge uptake on it, a lot of local people ordered online and paid for them and then either collected them or had them delivered.”

While last year saw Carrygerry running successful weekend markets, it’s more a case of business as usual as they look ahead. “2022, I think will be a bumper year with tourists and the wedding business is very strong for next year. With the American flights coming back to Shannon in March, it’s all very positive and our American bookings are very strong so I think it will be very good, please God.” Gillian also moved to thank the support from the people of Clare who support Carrygerry Country House, “The continued support we get year-on-year from people that come to the restaurant, that come back and buy our produce every week, who buy our hampers, it is huge and we SCAN WITH PHONE really, really CAMERA TO VISIT appreciate it, CARRYGERRY HOUSE now more-so than ever.”

For more info call 061360500 or visit carrygerryhouse.com.

CLICK FOR CLARE 33

THURSDAY, NOV 18 2021

Yew beauty: Rowena Sheen unveils stunning new line STUART HOLLY

J

editor@clareecho.ie

EWELLERY designer Rowena Sheen has launched a new collection of handmade wooden jewellery in time for Christmas.

The Ennistymon native has, over the last five years, been carefully carving her position among Clare’s finest homegrown talents in the craft world having previously worked in Dublin as a costume designer in theatre and film, with period dramas such as Penny Dreadful and Ripper Street among her credits.

Five years ago, the pull of beautiful County Clare became too magnetic and she returned to put her creativity to use at Rowena Sheen Jewellery, a business borne out of her grounding at the National College of Art and Design in Dublin, where she gained a degree in Craft Design, specialising in metals and jewellery.

For the discerning shopper who wants a carefully crafted, unique piece of jewellery at an excellent price point that’s been made by hand – using native and natural materials – Rowena’s creations might tick all the boxes.

It was walks in the Burren during last year’s lockdown which inspired her latest collection, stumbling across skeletal remains of all the wildlife from sheep to dolphins and observing the fossils, plants and rocks, “basically

all the different things you come across out walking in the Burren”.

The line, as with much of her products, was created using native yew trees and even polished with beeswax from hives in the Burren, tended to by her Dad, Robin the beekeeper.

Having started her journey with her jewellery business four years ago at the age of 33, Rowena admits it’s been a decision she hasn’t looked back on.

In January 2020, her business was beginning to grow thanks in part to a Local Enterprise Office showcase event where Rowena expanded her network of stockists and wholesalers; little did she know that her business trajectory would be forced to evolve as Covid arrived less than two months later.

However, forced to find new ways to market her products, Rowena admits that while she finds the online aspect of selling “frustrating” at times, “when it works out really well, it’s fantastic.”

She credits the support of LEO Clare as vital in getting to grips with online marketing, while admitting that last year’s Click For Clare campaign run by The Clare Echo and LEO Clare, drove traffic to her website in the lead-in to Christmas.

In terms of the creative process, one of the wonderful quirks of wooden jewellery is that no two pieces are exact replicas due to the colour and grain of the wood being used. “It’s mostly yew that I work with, a beautiful na-

tive Irish wood. When I decided I wanted to set up a business making a product, I really didn’t want to be using any plastics or any manmade materials that would be polluting or damaging so the wood was something I could use that was available to me locally that was natural, and it looks and feels nice.”

Rowena puts painstaking work into each piece, cutting wood, sanding, designing the pieces digitally, laser cutting, ebonising (to turn them a rich black colour), and finally assembling the pieces with sterling silver and polishing them using Burren wildflower beeswax. “It’s nice, natural, locally sourced materials which is very important to me,” she adds.

Just like using natural materials, it is also important to Rowena that “normal people like myself ” can afford the pieces as gifts, or for themselves. The pieces start at €25 and go up into the hundreds, with the latest collection at a slightly higher price point due to its intricacies.

Rowena Sheen Jewellery retails at various locations in Clare including Laura Vaughan in Ennis, Olive & Crew in Lahinch, Foust Gallery in Ennistymon, Irish Crafts in Doolin, as well as at Rowena’s studio in the Courthouse, Ennistymon by appointment.

For more info or to shop online, visit rowenasheen.com.

SCAN WITH PHONE CAMERA TO SHOP AT ROWENASHEEN.COM

PICTURED: Kilnaboy-based model Alba Palma wearing ‘Lamina’ from the new range Photo by Aleksandra Skibniewska

CLICK FOR CLARE RETURNS THE Clare Echo has teamed up with Local Enterprise Office Clare to launch Click for Clare 2021.

This marks the return of the campaign which was hugely succesful in its first year in 2020. The initiative was designed to drive local website traffic to Clare businesses with an online store.

Last year’s Click For Clare campaign captured more than 62,000 online page views during its two-month run while reaching a print audience of in the region of 45,000 readers.

In again teaming up with Local Enterprise Office Clare, we acknowledge that consumer trends are continuing to evolve as shoppers migrate to online markets. However this year’s campaign will also remind shoppers of the exciting

physical retail offering available in Clare with the #LookForLocal hashtag.

Throughout the lead-up to Christmas and into the January sales, Click for Clare will connect online shoppers with businesses in County Clare. Businesses which sign up to Click for Clare will be added to our interactive business directory which is available on The Clare Echo website (see far right). The listing will be marketed extensively via online and print. This will run alongside an editorial campaign in the vital weeks leading into Christmas and the January sales.

Padraic McElwee, Head of Enterprise said, “In 2020, our local communities demonstrated fantastic support for our many local businesses. The Click For Clare campaign run by The Clare Echo

in partnership with the Local Enterprise Office played a key role in making it easy for people to find local businesses who offered an online service. This year we are renewing that partnership with The Clare Echo in once again promoting businesses in Clare and asking you to support them.

“Your support is vital to ensure our many important local businesses overcome the unprecedented challenge of Covid. This year you have the additional benefit of either buying on line, ‘click and collect’ or visit your favourite business.

Whatever option you choose, make sure you #lookforlocal.

The enquire about Click For Clare, email sales@clareecho.ie or call 065 671 9021.

SCAN WITH PHONE CAMERA TO START SHOPPING IN CLARE

34 SHANNON THURSDAY, APR 29 2020

THURSDAY, NOV 18 2021 NEWS 25

SHANNON IN FOCUS THURSDAY, APR 29 2021 THURSDAY, 18 NOV 2021

Aisling Lyons releases debut album Aistear PÁRAIC MCMAHON

M

paraic@clareecho.ie

ULTI-AWARD winning harpist and concertina player Aisling Lyons has released her debut album.

Original compositions are featured among traditional Irish tunes in Aistear, Aisling’s debut album which was released on Friday. The holder of eight All-Ireland titles, she has performed and taught masterclasses in the UK, Shetland, Norway, France, Germany, USA, China, Canada and Australia. Her family is steeped in music and song.

Music has been an important outlet for the Shannon woman during difficult times including the death of her father John in 2019. “Aistear is a collection of some traditional tunes I grew up playing, my own compositions and tunes of other composers I admire. Music is an incredibly important part of my life and the compositional aspect has allowed me to express and explore emotion during difficult times”.

She continued, “Aistear is an expression of my journey to date - including the death of my Dad in 2019 and experiencing grief through the Covid pandemic. Aistear is also an expression of the fun and humour that I enjoy in music, the playful elements as well as the profound”.

‘Tune for Dad’ which is a composition of Aisling’s on the album was written when her father was ill, “I played it for him as a sort

of get-well-soon tune really,” she recalled.

“If there had been no pandemic, I suppose I wouldn’t have composed many of the tunes that are now on the album. So, while grieving, I channelled a lot of my emotions through music and composing.”

Her debut album has been described by legendary fiddle player, Martin Hayes as “a really lovely recording that I think any fan of traditional music would enjoy very much”. In August 2021, Buíochas, the first single from Aisling’s solo debut album was released and featured Paul O’Driscoll (double bass), Fergal Scahill (fiddle & viola) and Seán Lyons (guitar).

A past pupil of St Patrick’s Comprehensive in Shannon, Aisling graduated with a first class honours degree in Irish Music from the University of Limerick in 2021 and also got first class honours from the Professional Master of Education course in 2021 & holds a Grade 8 award with Distinction from the London College of Music.

Aisling is currently working with acclaimed Irish artist Aideen Barry,on a work commissioned by Music Network and the Irish Traditional Music Archives. In 2021, Aisling performed with Tolu Makay on RTÉ’s ‘Ireland in Music’ and for Michael D. Higgins’ 80th Birthday Celebrations on TG4. She is the current harp tutor at University College Cork and at the Irish World Academy of Music at the University of Limerick.

Aistear was launched at Ennis Trad Festival and its release was supported by Clare County Council.

Begin a career in aviation with IAC

I

INTERNATIONAL Aerospace Coat- didates a real opportunity to learn practiings is the global leader in aircraft cal skills in our Shannon aircraft hangar. painting, interiors and graphics. With Many of these new graduates will become 11 state-of-the-art facilities across the vital team members within our company USA and Europe, IAC has capacity for potentially progressing to leadership po36 lines of aircraft and processes 1000+ sitions such as team leaders and graphic paint events per year. IAC works in all seg- designers. ments of the aviation industry, including The next training course will start in May OEM, commercial, military, and general 2021 and we are currently accepting apaviation. Its European headquarters are plicants. No previous painting experience based in Shannon, County Clare. is required to apply for this training proIAC/LCETB Traineeship Graduation gramme. We are also accepting direct enThe latest group of new graduates suc- try applicants for full time employment with cessfully passed through the IAC trainee- any previous domestic or industry related ship in Shannon this week. Eleven suc- painting experience. cessful candidates graduated through the All enquiries and applicants can send program with all of these graduates being their CV and details to careers@iac.aero. offered full time positions within the company. The current class is the sixth group that have passed through the IAC program in the last 4 years which has proved to be a real success.

The picture above shows the successBallycasey Co. Clare The program Craft is an Centre, intensive Shannon, course ful graduates along with John Mulqueen run in conjunction with the LCETB which (IAC), Scott Helm (IAC), James Power (061) 365990 | (086) 3862649 involves many different aspects of the (LCETB), Seamus O’Riain (LCETB ) and aircraft painting process and offers can- Emily Sammon (FRS training). amanda@angelflowers.biz

| Multi-award winning harpist and concertina player Aisling Lyons

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European Headquarters East Ramp, Shannon Airport, Co. Clare, Ireland

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SHANNON 35

THURSDAY, NOV 18 2021

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36 SHANNON THURSDAY, APR 29 2020

THURSDAY, NOV 18 2021 NEWS 25

SHANNON IN FOCUS THURSDAY, APR 29 2021 THURSDAY, 18 NOV 2021

Second Green Flag raised by St Patricks Comprehensive

BY PÁRAIC MCMAHON

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HOUSANDS of teenagers across Ireland and hundreds in Shannon are trying to do the right thing when it comes to the environment, a Clare Senator has outlined.

St Patrick’s Comprehensive School in Shannon was recently awarded a green flag for energy. The energy flag looks at the steps which can be taken to reduce energy consumption and raise awareness of climate change issues.

It is the second green flag secured by the Shannon school. In 2019, two teachers, Sally-Anne Hayes and Jane Kelleher set up the Green Schools Committee in The Comp.

Declan Ross is one member of their Green Schools Committee. He told The Clare Echo, “working to earn the flag, was a target to work harder and in a more environmentally friendly way in the school and the community. We planned initiatives like the Switch it Off campaign and the Zero Waste campaign

to cut back on energy and waste produced in the school. We worked hard on reducing our energy consumption and waste in the school and the work paid off ”.

Support and encouragement from teachers was acknowledged by Declan. The committee is now targeting getting their hands on a third flag which is for water conservation. “We have already done a survey of Shannon to check the water quality and any damage happening there. We also have several other plans in the works as of right now that we hope to implement soon. There are so many opportunities to improve what we do and how we use our resources,” he said.

Senator Roisin Garvey was at the school to raise the Green Flag. She told students, “I hope you are very proud of yourselves, up in the Government we need to listen more to young people because you are way ahead of the game, we were once young but we have forgotten what it is like so it is good to have people like ye to remind us how much ye care and how we can support ye to have a good

Begin Hardware aMaloney career in aviation with IAC Unit 56/57 Skycourt Shopping Centre, Shannon, Co.Clare Tel: 061-362263 E-mail: shannon@experthardware.ie Website: www.maloneyhardware.ie

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Christmas Lights & Trees INTERNATIONAL Aerospace Coat- didates a real opportunity to learn practiings is the global leader in aircraftincalStock skills in our Shannon aircraft hangar.

Now painting, interiors and graphics. With

11 state-of-the-art facilities across the USA and Europe, IAC has capacity for 36 lines of aircraft and processes 1000+ paint events per year. IAC works in all segments of the aviation industry, including OEM, commercial, military, and general aviation. Its European headquarters are based in Shannon, County Clare.

IAC/LCETB Traineeship Graduation The latest group of new graduates successfully passed through the IAC traineeship in Shannon this week. Eleven successful candidates graduated through the program with all of these graduates being offered full time positions within the company. The current class is the sixth group that have passed through the IAC program in the last 4 years which has proved to be a real success.

The program is an intensive course run in conjunction with the LCETB which involves many different aspects of the aircraft painting process and offers can-

Many of these new graduates will become vital team members within our company potentially progressing to leadership positions such as team leaders and graphic designers.

The next training course will start in May 2021 and we are currently accepting applicants. No previous painting experience is required to apply for this training programme. We are also accepting direct entry applicants for full time employment with any previous domestic or industry related painting experience.

All enquiries and applicants can send their CV and details to careers@iac.aero.

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planet to live on. We’ve been working hard on a Carbon Plan where we will be getting every sector to reduce their carbon emissions, it’s always been left for the environmental section to tick the green boxes but from this year on we’ll be asking the Department of Education, the Department of Agriculture, the Department of Finance, every single Department across the country will have to look at their carbon emissions and reduce them”.

“Green Schools is the most successful environmental movement in the whole country, we started with two schools twenty years ago and now we have 3,700 schools taking part in the Green Schools programme, whether it is saving electricity or saving water or cycling to school which is awesome, together you are making a huge difference. There are 700 students in this school, the staff can say all they want but if the pupils take action ye can make a much bigger impact in reducing your environmental footprint. I always think it is good to be hopeful about things, I still think we can turn it around,” the Inagh woman outlined.

IAC is the global leader in aircraft painting, interiors and graphics

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The picture above shows the successful graduates along with John Mulqueen (IAC), Scott Helm (IAC), James Power (LCETB), Seamus O’Riain (LCETB ) and Emily Sammon (FRS training).

Garvey said she was already looking forward to returning to The Comp to raise their third Green Flag. “I was a teacher and then I worked in Green Schools, I thought that the programme was brilliant but it needed more support so the first thing when I got elected was to get more funding for more staff to help with schools to get funding for things like solar panels, we’re trying to get all the Government parties and not just the Green Party to care about this, it’s not just up to a few of us.

Each grain of sand is quite boring on its own but together it makes a beautiful beach, if we can bring everyone on board we can make a huge difference”.

She concluded, “There are thousands of teenagers all over Ireland together that are bothering to turn off the right switch, they are putting things in the right bin and hopping on the bike, all these things add up and make a huge difference, you are part of something positive affecting change”.

Celebrations this year…

European Headquarters 061 364 047 | WWW.SHANNONSPRINGSHOTEL.COM BALLYCASEY, SHANNON, CO. CLARE East Ramp, Shannon Airport, Co. Clare, Ireland Tel: +353 (0)61 471 800

SHANNON NEWS 37 25

THURSDAY, THURSDAY,NOV APR18 292021 2020

SHANNON IN FOCUS THURSDAY, APR 29 2021 THURSDAY, 18 NOV 2021

Baked treats back on the menu for Fairy Queen

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ESPITE the pandemic, it’s been a busy year for the award winning, Shannon based wedding cake supplier, The Fairy Queen, owned and operated by baker Barbara Kimber in Ballycasey Design and Retail Centre in Shannon. Barbara has been running the Fairy Queen since 2016 and offers a bespoke service in wedding and occasion cakes.

The pandemic and lock down had an immediate impact on the business last year.

Barbara says, “Everything was cancelled – weddings, communions, confirmations - and I was left having to think fast to try to find a way forward. So, I started offering warm, freshly baked cinnamon rolls and waffles.

People liked and supported the idea, and that provided the impetus then to offer that

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Begin a career in aviation with IAC

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weekly from the shop in Ballycasey. We’ve added to our list of treats since, and we’re still going strong every Saturday morning.

It’s great to have weddings and occasions back, and to be able to be part of people’s celebration. People are always on the lookout for something unique for their special moment. Customers come to me with so many different visions for their special occasion, whether it’s for their child’s first birthday, a communion, or the centrepiece for their wedding day. I love that creative challenge - working out how I will design a specific element, or how to best express the visual idea or sentiment the customer is looking for.”

Contact Barbara at The Fairy Queen on 061 703577, or on Facebook or Instagram @TheFairyQueenShannon.

Saturday bakeshop runs from 10am to 2pm

IAC is the global leader in aircraft painting, interiors and graphics

At The Fairy Queen we offer handmade, custom wedding and occasion cakes, personalised to you and your big day. Aerospace CoatINTERNATIONAL

didates a real opportunity to learn practiings is the global leader in aircraft cal skills in our Shannon aircraft hangar. painting, interiors and graphics.

Whether it’s a small intimate With Many of these new graduates will become 11 state-of-the-art facilities across the vital team members within our company wedding or a big gathering USA and Europe, IAC has capacity for potentially progressing to leadership po36 lineswe of can aircraft and processes 1000+ sitions such as team leaders and graphic create a cake to match. paint events per year. IAC works in all seg- designers. ments of the aviation industry, including The next training course will start in May OEM, commercial, military, and general 2021 and we are currently accepting apBallycasey Design & Retail Centre aviation. Its European headquarters are plicants. No previous painting experience Shannon based in Shannon, County Clare. is required to apply for this training proIAC/LCETB gramme. We are also accepting direct enCo ClareTraineeship Graduation The latest group of new graduates suc- try applicants for full time employment with cessfully passed through the IAC trainee- any previous domestic or industry related ship in Shannon this week. Eleven suc- painting experience.

703 577graduated through the cessful 061 candidates All enquiries and applicants can send program@TheFairyQueenShannon with all of these graduates being their CV and details to careers@iac.aero. offered full time positions within the company. The current class is the sixth group that have passed through the IAC program in the last 4 years which has proved to be a real success.

The picture above shows the successFreshly Baked,course Warm Cinnamon Rolls and Treats The program is an intensive ful graduates along with John Mulqueen run in conjunction with theSaturday LCETB which Scott Helm (IAC), James Power every Morning(IAC), from 10am - 2pm involves many different aspects of the (LCETB), Seamus O’Riain (LCETB ) and aircraft painting process and offers can- Emily Sammon (FRS training).

European Headquarters East Ramp, Shannon Airport, Co. Clare, Ireland

Tel: +353 (0)61 471 800

38 SHANNON THURSDAY, APR 29 2020

THURSDAY, NOV 18 2021 NEWS 25

SHANNON IN FOCUS THURSDAY, APR 29 2021 THURSDAY, 18 NOV 2021

‘People of Shannon don’t want bollards at junction linking Cronan & Inis Ealga’ PÁRAIC MCMAHON

paraic@clareecho.ie

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HANNON councillors “got awful stick” from the public on the potential of bollards being introduced at a busy junction in the town.

Following a recent proposal from Cllr Donna McGettigan (SF) to make the road junction linking Cronan, Inis Ealga and Rineanna View “safer”, senior executive engineer in the Shannon Municipal District, Tom Mellett said that bollards were set to be introduced at the location “to improve safety for cyclists. This will tighten the junction slowing vehicle movements and so improving the overall safety of all road users at this junction”.

Speaking at Tuesday’s meeting of the Shannon MD, Cllr Gerry Flynn said that since these views were published in local media, both he and Cllr McGettigan “got awful stick”. He added, “this particular junction has been a bone of contention for

many years, it is one of the main arteries for Shannon, it is one of our busier roads, we’ve a lot of busy roads and we like to see them busy”.

Flynn was adamant that the junction for Cronan, Inis Ealga and Rineanna could not become “another Bóthar na Rinne”. He flagged that the junction links to two primary schools and one secondary school in Shannon.

Criticism was not just confined to the Shannon Town councillors, McGettigan revealed, “Cllr O’Gorman also got calls. People are reluctant to have bollards but they want a better safer junction”.

“A red flag went up when bollards were mentioned,” Cllr Pat O’Gorman (FF) outlined. “We want to make it safer, the people of Shannon don’t want bollards”.

An intention to improve road safety formed the rationale for suggesting bollards, Mellett advised. A mobility survey for Shannon Town is due to be rolled out next year which will give members of the public a chance to share their views, he added but said he would not have concerns on capacity issues.

Begin a career inA hugeaviation thank you to our customers with IAC

| Busy junction in Shannon. Criticism on the introduction of bollards at the busy junction.

Photograph: Joe Buckley

IAC is the global leader in aircraft painting, interiors and graphics

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The picture above shows the successThe program is an intensive course ful graduates along with John Mulqueen run in conjunction the LCETB (IAC), Helm085 (IAC), James Power Ennis &with Shannon, Phone:which 061 364517, 065Scott 6866579, 1119993 involves many different aspects of the (LCETB), Seamus O’Riain (LCETB ) and Email:info@grettalspetals.com www.grettalspetals.com aircraft painting process and offers can- Emily Sammon (FRS training).

European Headquarters East Ramp, Shannon Airport,

Co. Clare, Ireland

Tel: +353 (0)61 471 800

SHANNON NEWS 39 25

THURSDAY, THURSDAY,NOV APR18 292021 2020

SHANNON IN FOCUS THURSDAY, APR 29 2021 THURSDAY, 18 NOV 2021

Quality supports from Shannon Chamber Skillnet empowering people and companies in Shannon and beyond

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HANNON Chamber has been operating a Skillnet network since 2015 and in that time has been helping a large cohort of companies and their employees in Shannon and the wider Mid-West region to enhance their operations and their careers through

training.

The programmes offered are determined by the companies themselves as, each year, Shannon Chamber Skillnet asks its

member companies to complete a learning needs analysis for the year ahead. They are required to identify the type of training they feel their company will need and that their employees will benefit from. The feedback from this survey then informs the Chamber’s training offerings for the year.

Ben Whelen, founder and CEO of Shannon Technical Services endorses this approach and believes the training his company has availed of has been of tremendous benefit to

Begin a career in aviation with IAC

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The latest in training

INTERNATIONAL Aerospace Coatings is the global leader in aircraft painting, interiors and graphics. With 11 state-of-the-art facilities across the USA and Europe, IAC has capacity for 36 lines of aircraft and processes 1000+ paint events per year. IAC works in all segments of the aviation industry, including OEM, commercial, military, and general aviation. Its European headquarters are based in Shannon, County Clare.

IAC/LCETB Traineeship Graduation The latest group of new graduates successfully passed through the IAC traineeship in Shannon this week. Eleven successful candidates graduated through the program with all of these graduates being offered full time positions within the company. The current class is the sixth group that have passed through the IAC program in the last 4 years which has proved to be a real success. the workforce Supporting The program is an intensive course development of businesses run in conjunction with needs the LCETB which within different the Mid-West region involves many aspects of the aircraft painting process and offers can-

didates a real opportunity to learn practical skills in our Shannon aircraft hangar.

Many of these new graduates will become vital team members within our company potentially progressing to leadership positions such as team leaders and graphic designers.

The next training course will start in May 2021 and we are currently accepting applicants. No previous painting experience is required to apply for this training programme. We are also accepting direct entry applicants for full time employment with any previous domestic or industry related painting experience.

All enquiries and applicants can send their CV and details to careers@iac.aero.

for individuals and businesses in the Mid-West region

The picture above shows the successful graduates along with John Mulqueen (IAC), Scott Helm (IAC), James Power (LCETB), Seamus O’Riain (LCETB ) and Emily Sammon (FRS training).

his company.

“Shannon Technical Services is very grateful to collaborate with Shannon Chamber Skillnet. The Skillnet network team has proven to be responsive with their quality industry-based ideas and supports. Intuitive to our company’s needs for training and development and offering funding solutions to correspond,” he states.

Commenting of the value of the Skillnet network to this region, Shannon Chamber CEO Helen Downes adds: “This year to date, we have delivered 182 training programmes to over 130 companies, involving over 1,100 trainees, as well as enabling almost 150 unemployed people to upskill in readiness for new employment opportunities.

“We are already well ahead of our 2020 figures, which saw us deliver 170 online training programmes, involving over 1,300 participants, in 250 companies. This shows the increased value companies are placing on training, which is now centre stage as a means of equipping employees with the skills necessary to enable them to remain competitive in what has become a fast-changing economic environment.

“We would encourage individuals and companies to check out the training section of our website www.shannonchamberskillnet.com which is continually updated with training programmes on offer via Shannon Chamber Skillnet.”

IAC is the global leader in aircraft painting, interiors and graphics

Career enhancement and Business advancement Over 1,100 people from 130 businesses have benefitted from training courses provided by Shannon Chamber Skillnet in 2021.

Most have gained new qualifications from enrolling on accredited courses; all have been energised by gaining new knowledge and insights into topics of interest and value to them as individuals and as members of teams within their organisations.

Find a course that suits you/your company’s needs at

www.shannonchamberskillnet.com Avail of training that will give you and your company competitive advantage.

European Headquarters East Ramp, Shannon Airport, Co. Clare, Ireland

Tel: +353 (0)61 471 800

40 SHANNON THURSDAY, APR 29 2020

THURSDAY, NOV 18 2021 NEWS 25

SHANNON IN FOCUS THURSDAY, APR 29 2021 THURSDAY, 18 NOV 2021

Pop into Avokado’s pop up shop in Shannon

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VOKADO & CO. has been creating gifts that bring people closer since 2014. It’s a unique Irish Brand that captures Irish expressions of endearment and transforms them into gifts that are fun, creative & above all, reminds you of home. The focus is on creative designs and personalised gift products made in their workshop, which have now found their way all around the world. Avokado & Co. is a family run business, made up of husband and wife, Claire & Shane Bannon.

Over the past 12 months, Claire has spent a great deal of time generating a range of brand new personalised products, designing and making them in their workshop. Claire is always coming up with new ideas and the 2021 range of personalised gifts add to the delightful existing Avokado & Co. collection.

After spending most of 2020 attracting an online audience through social media, Claire felt it was time to take on the retail world once again and she is delighted to tell us that an Avokado & Co. Pop Up Shop is now open in Shannon Town Centre until Christmas. The Pop Up Shop offers a wide variety of Irish gifts, including personalised Christmas gifts. Avokado & Co.

thrives on creating the best possible retail experience for their customers, offering personalisation and bespoke gift ideas. You can be sure to find the perfect something for everyone after a trip to their shop in Shannon Town Centre. Promoting shopping local this Christmas they have also stocked Irish gift products from some other well-known local businesses from County Clare and across various parts of Ireland.

In the first week of the shop opening, Claire tells us there has been a fantastic reaction to the new retail space in the shopping centre and this has been reflected in footfall to the store. A lot of their visiting customers have remarked on the beautiful array of Christmas gifts, both personalised and also unique Irish gifts, providing humour and endearment for loved ones abroad!

For more information check out www.avokadoandco.com which ships worldwide. One can order online and also choose click and collect at their store or better still Claire & her staff would love to see you pop into their Pop Up Shop at Shannon Town Centre from now until Christmas, where you will be greeted by a welcoming member of the team!

Begin a career in aviation with IAC

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INTERNATIONAL Aerospace Coat- didates a real opportunity to learn practiings is the global leader in aircraft cal skills in our Shannon aircraft hangar. painting, interiors and graphics. With Many of these new graduates will become 11 state-of-the-art facilities across the vital team members within our company USA and Europe, IAC has capacity for potentially progressing to leadership po36 lines of aircraft and processes 1000+ sitions such as team leaders and graphic paint events per year. IAC works in all seg- designers. ments of the aviation industry, including The next training course will start in May OEM, commercial, military, and general 2021 and we are currently accepting apaviation. Its European headquarters are plicants. No previous painting experience based in Shannon, County Clare. is required to apply for this training proIAC/LCETB Traineeship Graduation gramme. We are also accepting direct enThe latest group of new graduates suc- try applicants for full time employment with cessfully passed through the IAC trainee- any previous domestic or industry related ship in Shannon this week. Eleven suc- painting experience. cessful candidates graduated through the All enquiries and applicants can send program with all of these graduates being their CV and details to careers@iac.aero. offered full time positions within the company. The current class is the sixth group that have passed through the IAC program in the last 4 years which has proved to be a real success.

The picture above shows the successThe program is an intensive course ful graduates along with John Mulqueen run in conjunction with the LCETB which (IAC), Scott Helm (IAC), James Power involves many different SHOP aspects of ONLINE the (LCETB),OR Seamus O’Riain IN (LCETB ) and A CALL FOR aircraft painting process and offers can- Emily Sammon (FRS training).

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pg 41

18-11-21

Clare Echo THE

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

Ennis’s Butler joins Munster Academy

Avenue Utd dump Newmarket Celtic

CLARE’S Tony Butler has been included as one of the three new signings for the Munster Rugby Academy.

Formerly a captain of underage sides with Ennis RFC, he has also progressed through the Munster Youths system. In September he captained the Munster Development XV against Ulster. He made his debut for the Munster A side against Connacht on Friday last.

Among his teammates with Ennis RFC was Ethan Coughlan, also a Barefield native, who is also a member of the Munster Academy.

Butler lined out with Garryowen in the All-Ireland league this season with the out-half scoring forty points across four games.

A past pupil of St Flannan’s College, Tony is currently studying Construction Management and Engineering at UL. Before focusing solely on rugby in the past year, Tony was a member of the Clare minor hurling panel and was wing back on the St Flannan’s side crowned Harty Cup champions in 2020.

Tony joins the Greencore Munster Rugby Academy at the same time as Patrick Campbell and Edwin Edogbo.

AVENUE SEND NEWMARKET CRASHING OUT OF MUNSTER

by PÁRAIC McMAHON

by SEAMUS HAYES

AVENUE Utd have maintained their recent edge over Newmarket Celtic by sending the League and Cup champions out of the Munster Junior Cup.

Avenue United 3 Newmarket Celtic 1 Venue: Roslevan

Avenue United sent Newmarket Celtic crashing out of the Munster junior cup when the sides met in this re-fixture at Roslevan on Sunday.

The original fixture had been abandoned two weeks earlier when one of the match officials had taken ill.

At the time the sides were level at 1-1. The teams have met on a number of occasions already this season and apart from the league cup final, Avenue have held the upperhand.

Newmarket Celtic took the lead when Alan Kelly scored with a left footed shot which went to the net via the post after fifteen minutes.

Avenue hit back inside ten minutes and levelled through Eoghan Thynne and just before the half time whistle they hit the front when Mark Roche scored. The home side had their third goal from substitute Cian McDonagh in injury time.

The result means that for the first time in a number of years, Newmarket Celtic are

out of both the FAI and Munster junior cups at this early stage of the season. Avenue United will host Bunratty/ Cratloe in the next round of the Munster competition on this Sunday.

Avenue United; James Tierney; Cullen McCabe, Conor Mullen, Dylan Casey, Conor Hehir; Steve Jordan, Cian O’Dea, Alan Roche, Eoghan Thynne, Mark Rochem Eliaz Kunz.

Subs: Cian McDonagh for Thynne; Thomas Hehir for Kunz; Calum Barrett for Jordan; Shane Brown for M. Roche.

Newmarket Celtic; Shane Cusack; David O’Grady, Darren Cullinan, Paddy Purcell, Eoin O’Brien; Cathal Hayes, Alan Kelly, David McCarthy, Eoin Hayes, Kevin Hartnett, Aaron Rudd.

Subs: Stephen Kelly for A. Kelly; Daithi O’Connell for A. Rudd; Conor McDaid for C. Hayes.

HACKETT’S BRACE EARNS SHANNON TOWN THE POINTS Shannon Town 2 Shannon Olympic 0

This rearranged game was a very tame effort, as both teams had an eye on next weekend’s Munster Junior game.

Town went in front in the 20th minute after the Olympic defence failed to clear a cross from the right and Kieran Hackett was able to score from 8 yards.

Olympic defended well, but in the 40th minute Hackett was on target again with a shot from just inside the area, to give them a 2-0l half time lead.

In the second half the Olympic defence kept a clean sheet with Daniel Clair in top form.

The Shannon neighbours renew rivalry this Sunday

when they meet in the Munster junior cup.

Shannon Town: Shane Russell; Aidan Leahy, Stephen Carroll; Darren Griffin, Colum Treacy; Rob Wall, T. J. O’Dwyer, Gary O’Connell, Brian Monaghan, Brian O’Connor, Kieran Hackett.

Subs: Charlie Morrisson for O’Connor; Nathannial Nyakujara for O’Dwyer; Cody Waller for Carroll.

Shannon Olympic: Zolt Lakos; Zbigniew Barszczynski, Benjamin Cantillon, Dan Clair, Wayne Regan; Rachid Amallah, Sean McDonald, Ray Quigley, Jay Regan, John Keogh, Declan McDonald.

ENNIS TOWN V TULLA UNITED Ennis Town will hope to continue their early season

good form this Sunday when they make the short journey to the Cragg in Tulla to play Tulla United in the Munster Junior cup.

Meanwhile, in the Premier Division, Bridge United A will host Lifford while Mountshannon Celtic will welcome Sporting Ennistymon to Scariff.

PICTURED: Mark Roche was among the goal-scorers for Avenue Utd

Buckley nets the winner as Shannon Town progress SHANNON Town Utd’s U14s edged out Limerick club Shelbourne Utd in the National Cup with Aidan Buckley slotting home the all-important goal.

With the bulk of possession in the opening half, Shannon Town’s perseverance paid off with Billy Kelly floating the ball to Aidan Buckley who made no mistake after beating his man to find the net and put the hosts in front.

Vital saves from Flinn Carrig ensured Shannon Town were able to survive from unrelenting Shelbourne pressure.

Carrig’s display was

rewarded with a clean sheet while it also helped the Shannon side advance to the next round.

There was also success for Clare’s Kennedy Cup side who recorded a 3-0 win against Carlow.

They’ve qualified for the Kennedy Bowl semi-final which takes place on the weekend of December 5th/6th with home advantage secured.

Aidan Buckley nets the winner for Shannon Town Photo by Joe Buckley

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Clare Echo THE

pg 42

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

CLARE SENIOR HURLING CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL

‘Penalty a turning point’ for Ballyea BALLYEA 1-17 INAGH-KILNAMONA 1-16 Venue: Cusack Park

Compiled by Seamus Hayes & Páraic McMahon

BALLYEA: Frees for: 15 (6/9) Wides: 17 (9/8) Scores from play: 0-08 Spread of scorers: 7 Top scorer: Niall Deasy (1-09 7f 1’Pen 1’65) Own puckouts won: 22 from 25 (88%)

ROBBIE HOGAN, BALLYEA MANAGER: “We were behind, we were hitting wides, things weren’t sticking for us but that shows the spirit of the lads, they never give up. They kept plugging away and it was a savage result in the end”.

“The lads kept their composure and those wides could drain the life out of you when they don’t go over. It was pure resilience that kept us going”.

“You have a team that starts and a team that finishes and we highlighted that before we left Ballyea. The team that finishes is just as important. The panel of players are an excellent group of lads”.

“The penalty was the turning point, we had a couple of wides before it and another one after it. It shows the composure of the lads that they stuck with it. The backs were immense. The freseshness of the subs helped as well”.

EUGENE CULLINAN, INAGH/ KILNAMONA MANAGER: “It went right down to the wire. There were a lot of twists and turns. I thought it could have gone anyway We had the momentum and they got the goal from the penalty and it brought them back into it. Fair play to them they saw it out after getting the goal”.

“We were hoping when they were awarded that last free that we would get a draw. Fair play to the boys, they probably made the right decision with the free as it was that bit far out. They tried to work it in and got closed down”.

“Great credit to Ballyea, they worked really hard there, they died with their boots on as our lads did”.

“We can’t fault anybody, there was a huge effort from our lads and I want t thank them from the bottom of my heart. They put in a huge effort and left everything on the field and that’s all you can ask no more. When the dust settles we will have to get on with it. We have lost and hopefully there will be another day for Inagh-Kilnamona”.

INAGH/KILNAMONA: Frees for: 9 (3/6) Wides: 8 (6/2) Scores from play: 1-10 Spread of scorers: 8 Top scorer: Aidan McCarthy (1-07 4f 1’65) Own puckouts won: 15 from 35 (43%) SCAN HERE FOR MATCH REPORT

(clockwise from above) Ballyea’s management and players react with joy to the final whistle; Ballyea’s manager Robbie Hogan and Selector Diarmuid O’Sullivan celebrate; Tony Kelly embraces Stan Lineen; Niall Deasy’s penalty gets past Pa Kelly Photos by Natasha Barton

REFEREE: Johnny Healy (Smith O’Briens)

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pg 43

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Clare Echo THE

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CLARE SENIOR HURLING CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL

We’ve proved we’re not a one man team, says sharpshooter Deasy

by SEAMUS HAYES

CLAIMING a third Clare SHC title in six years has proven Ballyea’s ability but winning their latest championship without Tony Kelly has shown they are not a one man team according to Niall Deasy.

Deasy with 1-09 to his name was Ballyea’s top scorer as they overcame Inagh/Kilnamona to get their hands on the Canon Hamilton for the third time in their history.

Winning his third senior championship “is an unbelievable feeling and we are struggling for it to sink in at the moment. We were down most of the way throughout the game. We just wanted to get there in the end,” the full-forward reflected.

Ballyea’s character is fueled by the high amount of footballers on the panel, he believed. “We have

a lot of footballers who don’t give in. That’s what we have built all our teams on, hard work, never give up. We have managed to grind out

another one point win. We have won most of our games this year by a point. We keep grinding out results”.

His penalty on the fiftieth minute was a crucial moment in the game.

Niall told The Clare Echo that he had been studying Inagh/Kilnamona goalkeeper Pa Kelly when he saved Danny Russell’s penalty in the closing stages of their semi-final clash with Éire Óg.

“I was watching Pa in the semi-final. He does a lot of movements on the line. I have my spot picked well in advance of the game. It’s just a matter of repeating what I have been doing all week. That brought us right back into the game. We never give up and that’s our team all over. We are just so ignorant and tough, we keep going at it and we manage to get results that we shouldn’t even get”.

A solid backline was highlighted by the former Clare minor and U21 hurler as a key factor for their success. “When you are winning

games by a point all the way, it all goes down to your defence being on top. We missed a lot up front but we were rock solid at the back all year, Flanagan and Jack, even the new lads that came in. I could not fault any of the backs”.

Tony Kelly’s absence stirred a determination among many of the Ballyea hurlers to prove a point, Deasy admitted. “Tony’s loss is a huge thing. We have been referred to as a one man team and Tony gets to the end of a lot of moves.

It gave lads a lot more determination to prove that we can win games without Tony. We are not a one man team, we are an all round team.. Its unbelievable to see what a team effort can do. Look we can’t wait to have Tony back again next year”.

PICTURED: Niall Deasy with his County Medal and nephew Eli Photo by Natasha Barton

Cathal savours first senior medal AS SUPPORTERS pushed their way through the crowds to extend congratulations, Cathal O’Connor wore a broad smile, writes Seamus Hayes.

The Clare senior inter county football midfielder of the past decade had just contributed two points to help Ballyea to victory and win his first Clare senior hurling championship medal.

Having played underage hurling with the club, the Coolmeen clubman had concentrated on football with club and county for much of the past decade before returning to hurling Robbie Hogan celebrates with his daughters

Photo by Natasha Barton

‘An extra special win’

JAMES Murphy has been ever-present at wing back on the three Ballyea teams to taste senior championship glory, writes Seamus Hayes.

Their 2021 success was special, the defender noted. “Losing Tony (Kelly) was a big thing but back along, we have always had the culture in Ballyea that we hurl what is out in front of us. The hurlers got better as we progressed over the years and everybody stood up today to make up for Tony’s loss. It’s extra special, doing it without Tony and doing it for Tony at the same time”.

A track record of clawing back games stood to Robbie Hogan’s side in the dying moments, James believed. “We have been in an awful lot of tight games down the years. Look at what happened against Thurles a couple of years ago, coming back from there with so little time left. We knew that we can always dig it out. When we are there or thereabouts in the last quarter we know we can put it in. It’s a bit of a thing that other teams have on us that we know we are there till the last whistle”.

this summer “In my wildest dreams I could not have envisaged this. They had asked me to play over the past few years but for different reasons I had said no. This year I said that if I didn’t do it I’d never do it and thanks be to God that I said yes, I’d give it a go while I could.

It’s a great way to finish the year”.

Continuing he said “it’s unreal. Any day you win a championship is unbelievable but to win it the way we did, coming from behind. It was an unreal feeling at the end”.

A scorer of 0-02, O’Con-

nor felt Ballyea “were wasteful enough in possession and I had hit a number of those wides while we hit a number of balls down on top of their sweeper. We stuck in there like we have all year and ground it out by a point. It’s not over till the final whistle”.

Leaders stood up when they needed to, Cathal stressed. “We have unbelievable leaders all through the middle, Jack, Paul, Gary, Deasy, Pierce, all stood up, everyone was brilliant the defence was unreal. It was a wonderful team performance”.

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CLARE SENIOR CAMOGIE CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL

‘Truagh-Clonlara gave us hell’ TRUAGH-CLONLARA 3-08 SCARIFF-OGONNELLOE 1-14 Venue: Clarecastle

TRUAGH-CLONLARA Frees For: 13 (5/7/0/1) Wides: 3 (2/1/0/0) Scores from Play: 2-5 Spread of Scorers: 5 Top Scorer: Eimear Kelly (1-5) Own Puck-Outs won: 15 from 23 (65%)

BOB CAULFIELD, TRUAGH-CLONLARA MANAGER: “Finishing up, we were a little unlucky that we didn’t sneak it but while it must have been a tense match to play particularly in the latter stages of normal time and those extra-time periods, it was a brilliant match to watch from the sideline anyway.

“While we were four points up there in the final few minutes, looking back over the entire game, after the first quarter we had, we’d have definitely taken a draw.

“I suppose it didn’t help that it was our first senior final and we were a bit jittery but it wasn’t all about us and any nerves, I mean Scariff-Ogonnelloe are a very good team they don’t give you very much time on the ball.

“The goals were vital, we badly needed them to settle into the game and they nearly got us over the line in the end. But that game should improve us a lot for the replay. Provided we’ve no injuries between now and then, that experience of a county final as well as realising the standard of challenge that awaits us means that we have to improve and be ready for any ferocious contest.”

SCARIFFOGONNELLOE Frees For: 23 (5/13/2/3) Wides: 9 (2/6/1/0) Scores from Play: 1-7 Spread of Scorers: 6 Top Scorer: Mariead Scanlan (1-4) Own Puck-Outs won: 5 from 14 (36%)

DAVID SULLIVAN, SCARIFF/OGONNELLOE MANAGER “Both sides gave it everything and to be honest, it would have been devastating for whichever side lost out. It probably wasn’t the most skilful spectacle you’ve ever seen but just in terms of heart and quality and 34 or 35 girls wanting to win for their club, it was just unbelievable.

“We kind of looked good for the first 20 minutes and they took over for the next 20 and then the last 20 was just nip and tuck. It was the same in extra-time with one side taking the lead and the other pegging them back. In fairness to my players, they never gave up and were four points down there at one stage near the end but they still managed to find a way back.

“Truagh were fantastic as well today. We’re all great rivals and we’ll want to beat each other more than anything in two weeks time but I have to give them great credit for their performance today. They really settled down after the first 20 minute period and they gave us hell. I didn’t expect anything else so I’m glad that we get another chance to learn from today and have another go in two week’s time”.

REFEREE: Jim Hickey (Cratloe)

SCAN HERE FOR MATCH REPORT

Jennifer Daly of Truagh Clonlara takes on Scariff Ogonnelloe’s Áine O’Loughlin Photo by Gerard O’Neill

Compiled by Eoin Brennan

Where the war was drawn - a timeline of camogie final

by EOIN BRENNAN A RETROSPECTIVE review of the many highlights and key junctures of a seesaw county senior camogie final derby between Truagh-Clonlara and Scariff-Ogonnelloe through the eyes of respective joint-captains Eimear Kelly (Truagh-Clonlara) and Amy Barrett (Scariff-Ogonnelloe) First Water Break Scariff-Ogonnelloe 0-5 Truagh-Clonlara 0-0

EK - “It was our first county final and we were floored at the start to be honest. For the first fifteen minutes, they [Scariff-Ogonnelloe] were phenomenal. Their ball distribution and touch was almost perfect and I think they scored five out of the first eight shots they took whereas we had zero shots, we didn’t even have a wide.

So that’s a massive area for us to get right for the next day”.

30+3m: Aine O’Loughlin Penalty

Scariff-Ogonnelloe 0-5 Truagh-Clonlara 1-0

Michelle Caulfield hits the ball into the Truagh/Clonlara attack Photo by Gerard O’Neill

AB - “We should have been more ahead by that stage but it was probably nerves on the day. We’ve a young panel, with a mix of both experience and newer players and we had a lot of missed opportunities on the day but the two weeks gives us a chance to completely perfect everything, minimise the goals opportunities and en-

sure that we do not come away with any regrets from the replay”.

Second Water Break Truagh-Clonlara 2-2 Scariff-Ogonnelloe 0-6

EK - “It was a credit to our girls to come back. Being five points down in a county final is no joke so we were delighted to be able to fight back from that. Begs’ goal was huge just before the water break. To be honest our goal threat this year has been massive and we’re just hoping to build on that and be more clinical the next day. For once, we probably didn’t have that many wides but that largely down to the fact that we didn’t have as many scoring opportunities as in previous matches. So we’ve loads to improve on”.

65th minute

Mairead Scanlan free to force extra-time

AB - “There was great character shown and we never panicked.

From the games we’ve played this year, we’ve always been ahead. We’ve probably been on top of teams all the way through so to be in a county final and come from behind like that is fantastic and I couldn’t be prouder of them”.

74 minute - Eimear Kelly goal

Truagh-Clonlara 3-08 Scariff-Ogonnelloe 1-10

EK - It’s tough to look back on

those final few minutes now because I suppose we thought we had it but there were times that Scariff-Ogonnelloe thought they had it too, it just kept flipping like that. It’s our first county final and you hear that anything can happen on county final day and we’ve seen that now.

81 minutes - Abby Walsh point to ensure a replay

Truagh-Clonlara 3-08 Scariff-Ogonnelloe 1-14

AB - “It was a savage score, I’m so proud of all the girls. We always believed that we could come back, one hundred per cent, I’ll back every single girl on this team and I think we really showed what a good side we were today to never give in and keep fighting to the end. I thought both teams put absolutely everything on the line and it showed, It was a fantastic game with great character shown by both teams so to come away with a draw was good overall”.

EK - “Look, to let slip a lead so late is disappointing but we’ll take so much from the game. I mean we’ve never played in a senior final before and suddenly we will have played two in the one year and we’ve nothing to fear now. We’ll be ready for the next day and I’m looking forward to it already”.

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CLARE INTERMEDIATE CAMOGIE CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL

‘We will celebrate for the winter’ CLOONEY QUIN 0-14 WHITEGATE 1-08 Venue: Clarecastle

CLOONEY/QUIN Frees for: 17 (9/8) Wides: 8 (5/3) Spread of Scorers: 4 Scores from play: 0-10 Top Scorer: Orlaith Duggan (0-06) and Emma Considine (0-06 4f) Bookings: None Own puck outs won: 10 from 12 (83%)

RONAN MCMAHON, CLOONEY/ QUIN MANAGER: “After losing last year by a point to get over the line today and be crowned champions is just unreal, it means so much. Since we started back last March with individual programmes to getting back together as a group our aim was to be here today. We knew it was going to he a tough battle and that it would go down to the wire but it was so pleasing to see all our efforts pay off in the last five minutes.

“It was who wanted it more and if you’re going to win what’s better than winning a tough battle, nobody wants to win an easy county title and today was certainly not easy. Orlaith Duggan sets the standard for us, she was awesome scoring six points from play. We will enjoy the celebrations for the winter and look forward to senior camogie next year”.

JARLATH GARVEY, WHITEGATE MANAGER: “It’s disappointing to lose but I’m so proud of our efforts. We are a small proud club in Whitegate and we are proud of our hurlers and our camogie players in equal measure.

“We battled bravely all day and showed unbelievable character. Susan Fahy’s goal was unstoppable, neither Eoin Murphy or Brendan Cummins would have saved it because they wouldn’t have even seen it.

“The intermediate Championship is so competitive and we came up against a great side in Clooney/Quin. They lost

WHITEGATE Frees for: 16 (8/8) Wides: 10 (5/5) Spread of Scorers: 3 Scores from play: 0-2 Top Scorer: Susan Fahy (1-6 1-6f) Bookings: None Own puck outs won: 12 from 22 (54%) SCAN HERE FOR MATCH REPORT

Clooney-Quin players celebrate with the cup last year’s final and maybe it’s that cliche of having to lose one to win one. We will

Photo by Gerard O’Neill

use this as a motivation for next year and hopefully we will be back”.

Compiled by Derek Dormer

Éire Óg & Ennistymon advance to U21 semi-finals SEMI-FINAL spots have been secured by Ennistymon and Éire Óg in the U21A football championship while all of the last four places are known in the B championship.

BLISTERING START SENDS ENNISTYMON ON THE WAY

Ennistymon 3-14 Wolfe Tones 1-7 Dr Hennessy Memorial Park, Miltown

A blistering start which yielded 3-2 without reply in the opening five minutes, set Ennistymon on the way to this victory over Wolfe Tones in the opening round of the under 21 football championship.

The game was played under lights at Hennessy park in Miltown on Sunday evening and the win has sent Ennistymon into the semi-final where they will face Corofin or the Shannon Gaels/Kilmihil/Kildysart/Coolmeen combination.

The early goals for the winners came from Diarmuid Fahy, Cillian Rouine and Niall Canavan and Ennistymon led 3-5 to 1-3 at half time. Craig Riordan was the Shannon club’s goalscorer but that early blistering start by Ennistymon proved too much for Tones

Ennistymon: Conor Gallagher; Dara Rouine, Dara Conneally, Micheal Vaughan; Liam Cotter, David McNamara, Ciaran McMahon; Eoin Rouine, Brendy Rouine; Diarmuid Fahy, Cillian Rouine, John Murphy; Niall Canavan, Darren McNamara, Dara McInerney.

Subs: Niall Hogan, Rory Murphy, Colm Kearney, James Ahern, Christopher Organ.

Wolfe Tones: Liam O’Dwyer; Aaron Kelly, Eoin Casey, Alan O’Connor; Mark O’Sullivan, Daithi Lohan, Daniel Riordan; Dara Treacy, Liam Murphy; Ben O’Neill, Darragh Lohan, Darragh O’Neill; Gavin Carigg, Stephen Donnellan, Craig Riordan.Subs: Conor Callaghan for A. O’Connor; Luke O; Neill for S. Donnellan

14 MAN ÉIRE ÓG STEP UP

Éire Óg 2-9 St. Josephs Miltown 0-10 Éire Óg GAA Grounds, Ennis

Despite being reduced to fourteen men before half time when Frank Roche picked up a second yellow card, Éire Óg got the upperhand in the second half of this under 21A clash to record a merited win which has

seen them progress to the semi-final where they will face either St. Josephs, Doora/Barefield or Kilmurry Ibrickane.

The visitors edged a hard fought first half and led by the minimum margin at half time but Éire Óg stepped up a gear in the second half.

Substitute Andrew McElwee scored both goals for the town side. During the course of the game the winners moved goalkeeper Niall O’Donoghue to their attack when the introduced Peadar O’Keeffe who took over the goalkeeping duties.

Éire Óg; Niall O’Donoghue; Cuan O’Glascain, Manus Doherty, Frank Roche; Hugh Connolly, Ronan Lanigan, Gavin D’Auria; Oran Cahill, Jarlath Collins; Jack Joyce, Philip Talty, Ivan King; Stephen Talty, Stephen Dolan, Keith Moloney; Subs: Andrew McElwee for Moloney; Pat O’Keeffe for S. Dolan; Sean Mullooly for Joyce.

St. Josephs Miltown: Mark Cunningham; Damian Devereaux, Euan Reidy, Tadhg Flynn; Padraig Devitt, Cian Flanagan, Cormac Devitt; Micheál Murray Oisin Looney; Liam Hehir, Cian Mahony, Zak Whelahan; Conaill Meade Jason Griffin, Euan Lineen; Subs: Eanna O’Connor, Padraig Frawley SeanNeylon,Ronan Meade, Evan Crowley.

ALL SO EASY FOR COROFIN

Corofin 5-15 Kilrush/Killimer 0-2 Captain Michael Tubridy Park, Kilrush

Corofin recorded a runaway win over Kilrush/Killimer in this under 21 A championship first round game on Sunday.

The winners were well on their way to the quarter final when they held a 3-5 to 0-0 lead at the first waterbreak, the goals coming from Killian O’Connor (2) and Robin Mounsey while Josh Ryan (2) and Gearoid Cahill (3) were the points scorers at that stage.

The winner’s other goalscorers were Cian O’Loughlin and Cian Doolin on a day when Corofin lined out without Diarmuid Cahill due to injury while they replaced Gearoid Cahill and Robin Mounsey at the first waterbreak.

Kilrush/Killimer lined out without any member of their minor team which qualified for the minor A championship final on the

previous day.

Corofin: Luke Neylon; Gearoid Hanrahan, Mark O’Loughlin, Michael Cahill; Ashley Brohan, Gearoid Cahill, Adrian Shannon; Killian McGroary, Shane Punch; Cian Doolin, Robin Mounsey, Cian O’Loughlin; Josh Ryan, Killian O’Connor, Shane O’Brien; Subs: Padraic Cleary for G. Cahill; Eoin Fitzgerald for R. Mounsey; Kilrush/Killimer: Sean Grogan; Evan McInerney, Sean Purtill, James Browne; Kevin Hassett, Cathal McMahon, Norbert Kunicki; Dean Neary, Liam Culligan; Filip Ryzmek, Jamie Griffin Stephen Grogan; Eoin Fitzgerald, Luke Callinan, Joe Meehan.

Philip Talty was captain of the Éire Óg side Photo by Gerard O’Neill

WAY IS CLEAR FOR U-21 B SEMI-FINALS Meanwhile the way is clear for the semi-finals of the under 21 B championship after the weekend’s quarter final ties.

Extra time was required in Kilkee before the combination of Naomh Eoin/O’Currys and St. Senans saw off the challenge of Cratloe. The Westerners emerged with a 3-8 to 1-8 victory after the sides had tied at 1-7 each at the end of normal time.

Three goals from Shane Griffin, two from the penalty spot, steered Lissycasey to a 3-10 to 1-11 victory over Banner at the latter’s venue. The winners led by a goal, 1-7 to 0-7, at the interval Clondegad made the journey to Cooraclare without a couple of players who were involved with the Ballyea senior hurlers and they emerged with a 3-7 to 1-10 victory over the home side.

Despite being short a number of first choice players, St. Breckans managed a

comfortable 0-17 to 1-3 win over Parteen at the South Clare club’s venue.

The semi-final pairings are Lissycasey v Naomh Eoin/O’Currys/St. Senans and St. Breckans v Clondegad.

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CLARE LADIES SENIOR FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL

‘This is the sweetest one of them all’ BANNER LADIES 3-09 KILMIHIL 1-05 Venue: Shanahan McNamara Memorial Park, Doonbeg

BANNER LADIES: Frees for: 20 (13/7) Wides: 3 (1/2) Spread of Scorers: 6 Top Scorer: Grainne Nolan (1-3 3f) Scores from play: 2-6 Bookings: None Own kick outs won: 6 from 9 (66%)

JJ O’DEA, BANNER LADIES MANAGER: “This is the sweetest one of them all I have to say. In tough weather conditions against a tough Kilmihil team, to win a twelfth title it’s no mean feat I tell you. They came at us early, tried to throw us off our game plan.

“We like to move the ball fast here in the Banner and they crowded the middle to slow us down but when we got to half time level I felt we were on course.

“Now you still have to do the work and in that second half we took over with the wind at our backs. In the Banner the ball is moved fast and always given to the player in the best position no matter young or old as Laurie Ryan demonstrated the player in the best position will receive the ball to score. I’m fierce proud, a historic twelfth title and I’ll celebrate tonight I can tell you”.

KEVIN CALLINAN, KILMIHIL MANAGER: “We came with a plan, we stuck to it and it worked for a long time but the Banner are a great team. You have to hand it to them.

“The sin bin hurt us badly and that period really was tough but in fairness we came back at them and fought to the end. We never gave in, we are a proud senior club, we are always competitive, we were competitive today, we will compete again and we will be back. I am immensely proud of our players my management team and the support from the people of Kilmihil. We will be back”.

KILMIHIL Frees for: 11(7/4) Wides: 3 (1/2) Spread of Scorers: 5 Top Scorer: Edel McNamara (1-0) Scores from play: 1-3 Bookings: Dervla Higgins (45) Own kick outs won: 10 from 15 (66%)

SCAN HERE FOR MATCH REPORT

(above) Megan Downes Rigney is tackled by Shonagh Enright; (below left) Dervla Higgins and Louise Woods collide; and (below right) the Banner’s Laura Egan moves past the challenge of Kilmihil’s Grainne Nolan Photos by Gerard O’Neill

Compiled by Derek Dormer

‘Incredible heart’ sees Banner sink Kilmihil

by DEREK DORMER “INCREDIBLE heart” was referenced by player of the match, Laurie Ryan as Banner Ladies were crowned Clare senior ladies football champions for a twelfth time in fourteen seasons.

Despite a hard-fought opening half, Banner Ladies gave a commanding and clinical second half display to defeat 2019 champions Kilmihil on a score of 3-09 1-05.

Speaking to The Clare Echo, midfielder Laurie Ryan noted, “It's actually amazing, to come out on top here today without Niamh O Dea and losing Louise Henchy so early, the heart the girls showed was incredible”.

It took the Banner a while to match Kilmihil’s intensity, the former Clare captain outlined. “We didn't feel like we played well in the first half and we just couldn't match Kilmihil’s early

intensity. We settled into it though and pulled it out in the end”.

“It's a massive win for us as a club and it puts to bed what happened here two years ago . A word of mention for Louise Henchy, nobody has given more to this club and when she went down today we said we would do it for her,” Laurie added.

pg 47

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Cullaun Sailing Club hosts GP14 Munster Championships FORTY sailors arrived in Kilkishen and surrounding areas for the GP14 Munster Championships last weekend, writes Páraic McMahon.

Ordinarily all dinghy sailing events conclude in October with only the hardiest of sailors competing in what is known as the frostbite series. However, sailing like most sporting events has been impacted by COVID-19 with the GP14 Munster championships due to take place in May instead being held last weekend.

A tumultuous event with wild

and mild weather greeting the forty sailors that arrived in Kilkishen in the event hosted by Cullaun Sailing Club. Saturday saw wild winds gusting strongly across the lake challenging all competitors to their limits and providing the fleet with some of the best heavy weather sailing of the season. This was followed on Sunday by lighter trickier winds, and sunshine which changed the dynamic of the regatta as well as the leader board as the sailing went from survival of the fittest to a serious tactical battle.

In the end it was won by Alan Blay from Sutton with Katie Dwyer from Sutton coming a close second and JP and Carolyn McCaldin from Lough Ern finished third. Sam and Matthew Street from Blessington took junior honours. There was a difference of nearly six decades between the oldest and youngest in the same fleet.

Gallagher’s Pub in Kilkishen and Carmel Cronin ensured the fleet were looked after following the action on the water.

Kilrush’s Danny named on Irish Taekwondo team

KILRUSH’s Danny Gallagher is part of the Irish team competing in the Junior European Taekwan-Do IFT Championships.

Training is currently undrway in La Nucia, Spain for the European championships with the past pupil of Kilrush Community School among the forty nine members of Team Ireland.

Danny (pictured left above) previously represented his country in the 2019 European Championships which took place in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina.

This year’s European Championships take place from Tuesday November 23rd to Sunday November 28th.

CLARE LADIES INTERMEDIATE FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP FINAL

‘Unbelievable day for Burren Gaels club’ BURREN GAELS 3-13 ST JOSEPHS MILTOWN 1-10 Venue: Doonbeg BURREN GAELS Frees for: 31 (17/14) Wides: 10 (7/3) Spread of Scorers: 5 Top Scorer: Sally King (1-7 4f) Scores from play: 2-7 Bookings: Caoilinn McCormack (51) Own kick outs won: 12 from 17 (70%) ST JOSEPHS MILTOWN: Frees for: 26 (12/14) Wides: 8 (2/6) Spread of Scorers: 5 Top Scorer: Abbie Downes (1-5 1pen 5f) Scores from play: 0-5 Bookings: Fiona Lafferty (38) Own kick outs won: 13 from 20 (65%)

Burren Gaels’ Norah O’Dwyer, Laura Griffey and Blathnaid Sheedy celebrate

Burren Eye Photography

Compiled by Derek Dormer

PATRICK O’NEILL, BURREN GAELS MANAGER: “It is unbelievable for the club, we have suffered a long time but today was our day, it was just unreal. It’s all down to the girls, the commitment they put in, we started back last December and anything the girls were asked to do they did it.

“We are unbeaten all year, challenge matches league and now championship, that doesn’t happen by chance. Unbelievable achievement to be Senior next year and we will give that a go”.

GER MALONE, ST JOSEPHS MILTOWN MANAGER: “A tough day, it’s the third year in a row we find ourselves in this position but look the group is young and even today we had four or five minors out on that field. We will dust ourselves down and we will be back but fair play to Burren Gaels, they are a serious outfit and they will more than hold their own in senior next year. We battled hard,

chances didn’t come our way but we will be back. The commitment these girls show playing camogie on a Saturday and football on a Sunday it’s incredible. Hopefully we will get over the line next year”.

SCAN HERE FOR MATCH REPORT

18-11-21

pg 48

Fast Fit Paddy is Clare hope for St Leger FAST Fit Paddy handled

by Liscannor’s Declan McDonagh is the only Banner hope of winning this year’s Matchbook Betting Exchange Irish St Leger.

On Monday evening last there was a twelve graded race card at the Limerick Greyhound Track and for Tulla native Donnacha McNanara, Rockalong Mikado kept his kennels recent good form intact when he duly obliged in an A6 contst in 29.22 – this son of Droopys Cain and Sues Stout broke smartly and always led comfortably to cross the line three lengths to the good of his competitors.

The concluding race of the evening brought joy to David Hogan from Quilty when Tromora Champion landed the spoils, this daughter of Droopys Sydney and Brogan Tic Tac recorded her 4th career victory in a personal best in 28.89 On Thursday evening, the first-round heats of the Limerick Clare GOBA A3 took centre stage, there was Clare success in Heat four when the ever-consistent Fergus Lady made it win number seven for Mellick’s Patrick Cronin, a daughter of Laughil Blake and Ballyelan Comet recorded a person best in 28 91.

And for the bumper race of the evening an A4 contest, Tim Keane from Shannon was smiling when Lissatouk Ben ran gallantly to win in 29.22, this was a sixth career win for this son of Holdem Spy and Lissatouk Dolly.

Saturday night’s action at the same venue featured four quarter finals of the The Matchbook Betting Exchange Irish St Leger. The Banner hopes of capturing this classic now rests with

Fast Fit Paddy owned by John Quinn of Gort and handled by Declan McDonagh of Liscannor. Paddy defied the long odds of 12/1 to finish a credible second a length behind hot favourite Deerjet Sydney. Bling Bling Paul owned by John Meehan of Newmarket-on-Fergus bowed out of the stake after finishing fifth in his quarter Final.

At the Galway Track on Friday night, there was some excellent racing and prize money on offer for the Rasiocht Le Cheile initiative The chief supporting contest on the night was the A2 graded eighth contest over 525 yards in which all six runners came away as one and were lined across the track as they approached the all important opening bend. At the bend Master Of Magic railed well to lead fractionally as Lingrawn Junior tracked him round on the outer as the pair kicked clear turning down the back. Racing down the back Lingrawn Junior went to the front and leaving the back straight he led by three lengths from Master Of Magic. Rounding the home bend though the leader began to come back to his rival as the Thomas O’Connor of Lahinch owned Master Of Magic lunged late to grab a neck verdict on the line in 29.26.

There was an exiting finish to the A8 graded second contest as the Kieran and Aaron Nugent of Ballyea owned Killerk Black got up close home to deny the pace setting Sports Party by a neck in 29.85. From traps Sports Party showed pace to lead on the outer from Killerk Black who ran off the rails rounding the opening bend and found himself

three lengths adrift of the leader entering the back straight. From the halfway mark though Killerk Black began to gradually reduce the deficit and rounding the home bend ot was less than a length as the son of Ballymac Best & Dynamic Cool Sky wore down Sports Party to lead on the line.

In race six the inform kennel of Kilmihil native John Collins and Ballyea native Albert Long were on the mark once again in this A3 graded contest as Brickhill Daisy recorded her seventh career success as she defeated Crokers Billy by a comfortable five lengths in 29.11.

James Carey and Fionnoula Moloney Carey with retired greyhounds Ariana and Vic at Limerick Greyhound Stadium for the Ag Rásaíocht Le Chéile night and Matchbook Irish St Leger

IRISH ST. LEGER Semi-Finals this Saturday 20th November

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A healthy crowd turned out to enjoy the Quakerstown Point to Point on Sunday

pg 49

18-11-21

Night of champions marked at Dromoland Members honoured by club as Donnachas battle it out for U12 County Matchplay crown

by SEAMUS HAYES DROMOLAND GOLF CLUB: Dromoland Golf Club recently held its night of champions while there was a duel between the Donnachas in the U12 county matchplay final.

David O’Brien was the winner of the weekend singles at Dromoland with 46 points. He had one to spare over Ryan Enright with third spot filled by Stephen O’Donoghue with 42 points. Seamus Cusack won the gross with 36 points while David Reidy was the winner of the section for those over 18 handicap with 40 points.

In the ladies 9 hole stableford turkey/ wine/chocolate competition the win ner was Mairead Toomey with 20 points. In second place was Leslie O’Flynn with a similar score followed by Julie Fitzgerald with 19 points with Joan Ryan in fourth spot, also with 19 points.

The U12 County matchplay final took place at Dromoland Castle on Sunday contested between Donnacha Mahon and Donnacha Halpin in splendid conditions for golf.

Donnacha Halpin was victorious on the day The club’s night of champions took place on Thursday last when the following were honoured.

Club Mixed winners: Mark Reynolds and Fran Feighery Scotch Foursomes winners: Seamus Lawlor and Eoin Hayes Claret Jug winner: Donnagh Murphy Seniors Matchplay winner: Brendan Spicer Scratch Matchplay winner: Jason O’Leary Fred O’Flanagan winner: Brian Arthur Golfer of the Year winner: Denis Mulqueen Junior Student Matchplay winner: Harry McEnery KILRUSH GOLF CLUB: Last week’s Winter turkey weekly competition at Kilrush was won by Damien Carey (13) with 33 points from John K. Ryan (10) with 31 points with third spot filled by Pat Mulcahy (13) with 28 points.

ENNIS GOLF CLUB: The ladies October league, sponsored by Helen Gallery Auctioneer, has been proving hugely successful at Ennis.

In week one, forty nine golfers played and the winner was Mary McMahon (25) with 31 points from Sinead Hegarty (17) with 30 points. Berry O’Reilly (35) with 29 points was third followed by Lourda Fox (25) with 29 points, Rose Enright (28) with 29 points and Ethna Murphy with 27 points.

Rose Enright (28) was the winner in week two with 32 points from Ann A. Gallery (18) with 31 points with Lourda Fox (25) in third place with 30 points. Bridie Hanrahan (20) was fourth with 28 points followed by

Yvonne Keohane (18) with 28 points and Barbara Foley (21) with 27 points. Forty eight members played.

Week three resulted in victory for Patricia Moroney (20) with 31 points with second spot filled by Kathleen Frehill (39) with a similar score. Brid Cunningham (24) was third with 30 points and she was followed by Lourda Fox (25) with 30 points. Suzanne Deane (15) was fifth with 29 points with Peg Hanrahan (18) in sixth spot with 28 points. Forty seven members played.

Kate Keohane (20) was the week four winner with 29 points from Carmel Verling (23) with 28 points. Maeve Hoey (31) was third with 27 points followed by Patricia Moroney (20) with 25 points with Geraldine O’Rourke (33) in fifth spot, also with 25 points. Twenty nine members played.

Lourda Fox (25) was the winner in week five with 28 points with second spot filled by Ann Pyne Gallery (29) with 26 points. Patricia Moroney (20) was third with 25 points followed by Anne Casey (28) with 24 points.

Twenty eight members played.

Based on the best three cards, the overall winner was Lourda Fox (25) with a total of 89 points while the winner based on the best two cards was Rose Enright (28) with 61 points.

In the weekly seniors outing last week the winners were Mary Glynn, Eileen (T) Corry and Phil Butler with 40 points from Carmel Verling, Maureen Moloney and Mary Gardner with 35 points while third spot was filled

by Nuala D’Auria, Bríd Cunningham and Liz Kelly who also scored 35 points.

In the November spirits 14 hole entry competition the week one winner was Helen Gallery (25) with 32 points from Ann A. Gallery (18) with 31 points. Claire Ruane (19) was third with 29 points followed by Mary Nagle (27) with 28 points with fifth spot filled by Mary McMahon who also scored 27 points.

Mary McMahon (12) won the 9 hole competition with 16 points from Flor Coffey (11) with 15 points with third spot filled by Phil Butler (13), also with 15 points.

SHANNON GOLF CLUB: Mark Linnane (16) won the men’s 15 hole turkey singles competition at Shannon last week with 38 points. He had two to spare over Paul Ryan (27) with third spot filled by Eoin Hoctor (16) also with 36 points. Brendan Healy (18) was fourth with 35 points while Ian Fox (1) won the gross with 31 points.

(top) those honoured at the night of champions took place on Thursday last in Dromoland and (above) Donnacha Halpin and Donnacha Halpin who battled out the U12 County matchplay final

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PLANNING 51

THURSDAY, NOV 18 2021

PLANNING NOTICES CLARE COUNTY COUNCIL BUNRATTY WEST, BUNRATTY, CO. CLARE Take Notice that Gallagher Seafood Restaurant Ltd intends to apply to the Planning Authority for Planning Permission for internal changes, replacement of thatch roof with natural slate and to retain external dining area with retractable roof and windows 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 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 CLOGHAUNDINE, LISCANNOR, COUNTY CLARE Take notice that Mr Peter Connolly, intends to apply to the Planning Authority for permission to retain the flat roof and all internal finishes to the existing sensory garden and to retain the existing garden shed 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 public opening hours.

A submission or observation in relation to the application may be made in writing to the planning authority on payment of the prescribed fee within the period of 5 weeks beginning on the date of receipt by the authority of the application and such submission or observations will be considered by the planning authority in making a decision on the application.

CLARE COUNTY COUNCIL LITTLE LEARNERS, SMITHSTOWN, KILSHANNY, CO. CLARE. EIRCODE V95 TH77 Take notice that Majella Foy intends to apply for permission to RETAIN the CHANGE OF USE OF PART OF THE PRIVATE DWELLING HOUSE AS A SESSIONAL PRESCHOOL & all associated ancillary site works at the above address. The planning application may be inspected or purchased at a fee not exceeding the reasonable cost of making a copy, at the offices of the planning authority, during its public opening hours. A submission or observation in relation to the application may be made in writing to the authority on payment of

the prescribed fee of €20.00, within the period of 5 weeks beginning on the date of receipt by the authority of the application.

CLARE COUNTY COUNCIL FURTHER INFORMATION/ REVISED PLANS P21/695 DRUMQUIN BAREFIELD ENNIS CO CLARE. Take Notice that Drumquin Construction Ltd has lodged significant further information/ revised plans in respect of planning application P 21/695 The application seeks Planning Permission for the following: 1) The construction of 2 nr. detached Dormer Bungalows ( 4 bedroom) House Type A 2) The construction of 6 nr. semidetached Dormer bungalows ( 4 bedroom) House Type A1 3) The construction of 4 nr. Detached 2 storey dwellings with Attic accommodation ( 5 bedroom) House Type B 4) The construction of 8 nr. Detached 2 storey dwellings ( 4 bedroom) House Type C 5) The construction of 2nr semidetached two storey dwellings ( 3 bedroom) House Type D 6) The construction of on street public parking ,footpaths and Street lighting 7) The connection to the Exiting public mains Sewerage and water network facilities at this location and the extension and amendment of same.

8) All associated site boundary walls, gates and fences 9) All associated and ancillary site works and services This information and planning application may be inspected or purchased at a fee not exceeding the reasonable cost of making a copy, at the offices of the Planning Authority of Clare County Council, Planning Department, Áras Contae an Chláir, New Road, Ennis, Co. Clare during its public opening hours. A submission or observation in relation to the Further Information/ Revised Plans may be made in writing to the planning authority on payment of the prescribed fee, not later than 2 weeks after the receipt of the newspaper notice and the site notice by the planning authority or in the case of a planning application accompanied by an EIS within 5 weeks of receipt of such notices by the planning authority.

CLARE COUNTY COUNCIL BREAFFY SOUTH, MILTOWN MALBAY CO. CLARE Take notice that D. O’Connor intends to apply to the Planning Authority for permission to erect dwelling

house, foul sewer treatment plant, percolation area and new site entrance at the above address.

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

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

CLARE COUNTY COUNCIL LIMERICK ROAD, ENNIS, CO. CLARE. Take notice that Michael Keating Dip. Arch. (phone 085-8421780), on behalf of Kelly Guerin, intends to apply to Clare County Council for permission to construct 1 no. Dwelling House, new site entrance, connect to public services and carry out all ancillary site works at Limerick Road, Ennis, Co. Clare.

Previous Planning Ref. No. P21/ 283.

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

CLARE COUNTY COUNCIL KILMURRY, ENNIS, CO. CLARE Take notice that Jonathan Hayes & Sarah Coughlan intend to apply to the planning authority for (a) permission to demolish an existing sunroom to the rear of an existing dwelling house, (b) permission to construct extensions to the front and rear of the existing dwelling along with alterations to the existing dwelling including changes to the roof to include flat roofed sections and (c) permission to move the existing entrance, 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 author-

ity, 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 BLEAN, KILDYSART, CO. CLARE Take notice that Gearoid O’Connell 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. CLOONAGOWAN, CRUSHEEN, CO. CLARE. Take notice that Diarmuid Keane + Associates Ltd. (065-9083667, www.diarmuidkeane.ie) intend to apply to Clare County Council on behalf Deirdre Sexton & Micheal Rosengrave for planning permission to construct a new dwelling house, private garage, site entrance, access road and on-site wastewater treatment system along with all other associated site works and services at the above address. The planning application may be inspected, or purchased at a fee not exceeding the reasonable cost of making a copy, at the offices of the planning authority during its public opening hours. A submission or observation in relation to the application may be made in writing to the planning authority on payment of the prescribed fee, €20, within the period of 5 weeks beginning on the date of receipt by the authority of the application, and such submissions or observations will be considered by the planning authority in making a decision on the application.

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

CLARE COUNTY COUNCIL RHYNAGONNAUGHT,

DOONBEG, CO. CLARE. Take notice that Diarmuid Keane + Associates Ltd. (065-9083667, www.diarmuidkeane.ie) intend to apply to Clare County Council on behalf of Enda Doyle for planning permission to construct a new dwelling house, private garage, site entrance and on-site wastewater treatment system along with all other associated site works and services at the above address. The planning application may be inspected, or purchased at a fee not exceeding the reasonable cost of making a copy, at the offices of the planning authority during its public opening hours. A submission or observation in relation to the application may be made in writing to the planning authority on payment of the prescribed fee, €20, within the period of 5 weeks beginning on the date of receipt by the authority of the application, and such submissions or observations will be considered by the planning authority in making a decision on the application.

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

CLARE COUNTY COUNCIL. QUERRIN, KILKEE, CO. CLARE. Take notice that Diarmuid Keane + Associates Ltd. (065-9083667, www.diarmuidkeane.ie) intend to apply to Clare County Council on behalf of Querrin Pier and Community Development Group for planning permission for the following development at the above address; a) construction of a bird hide; b) proposed picnic area on existing concrete slab; c) proposed road side accessible parking; and d) all associated site works at the above address. The planning application may be inspected, or purchased at a fee not exceeding the reasonable cost of making a copy, at the offices of the planning authority during its public opening hours. A submission or observation in relation to the application may be made in writing to the planning authority on payment of the prescribed fee, €20, within the period of 5 weeks beginning on the date of receipt by the authority of the application, and such submissions or observations will be considered by the planning authority in making a decision on the application.

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

LEGAL NOTICES AN CHUIRT DUICHE THE DISTRICT COURT GAMING AND LOTTERIES ACT 1956 SECTION 15 APPLICATION FOR A CERTIFICATE DISTRICT COURT AREA OF ENNIS DISTRICT NO. 12 MYSTIC TIDE LIMITED APPLICANT TAKE NOTICE that the above-named Applicant Mystic Tide Limited of 67 Parnell Street, Ennis, Clare, V95NH01 will apply to the Court sitting at Ennis District Court on the 08 Dec 2021 at 10:30 for a certificate under section 15 of the Gaming and Lotteries Act, 1956 (No. 2 of 1956), authorising the issue of a licence permitting gaming at an amusement hall or funfair, namely Imperial Entertainment (formerly Silver Dollar) situate at 67 Parnell Street, Ennis, Clare, V95 NH01 in said court area, subject to such conditions as may be imposed in accordance with section 15(4) of the said Act. The number and kinds of games proposed to be carried on are as follows:Number of Machines: 50 Gaming Type Details: Video roulette, assorted fruit machines, video and slot gaming machines The period in the particular year to which this application relates for which the licence is sought is 2022 AND FURTHER TAKE NOTICE that the applicant will rely on the following matters in support of the application:1. The forms of entertainment other than gaming to be provided are as follows: Forms of Entertainment other than Gaming on the Premises: Assorted video games, TV entertainment, tea and coffee refreshments Other Forms of Entertainment restricted to: Dated 09 Nov 2021 Signed Michael Houlihan & Partners Solicitors LLP Solicitor for Applicant 9/10/11 Bindon Street, Ennis, Clare To the District Court Clerk at Ennis District Court And to the Superintendent of the Garda Síochána at Garda Ennis and Kilrush, at C ourtPresenters.Ennis@ garda.ie, Ennis Garda Station, Ennis, Clare, V95 TR83 And to the Fire Officer of fireoff@clarecoco.ie, Clare Fire Station, Ennis, Clare, V95 CD74 And to (Local Authority) County Council Clare

AN CHUIRT DUICHE THE DISTRICT COURT NO. 66.1 GAMING AND LOTTERIES ACT 1956 SECTION 15 APPLICATION FOR A CERTIFICATE DISTRICT COURT AREA OF ENNIS DISTRICT NO. 12 CHRISTOPHER MURPHY AS NOMINEE OF COALQUAY LEISURE LIMITED APPLICANT TAKE NOTICE that the above named Applicant of 21, Academy Street in the City of Cork, T12 CV02, will apply to the Court sitting at The Courthouse, Ennis, Co. Clare on the 15th day of December, 2021 at 10.30am for a certificate under Section 15 of the Gaming and Lotteries Act, 1956 (No.2 of 1956) authorising the issue of a licence permitting gaming at an amusement hall or funfair namely at property situate at Part of Ground Floor, Merchants Square, Curtins Lane, Parnell Complex, Parnell Street, Ennis, Co. Clare, in the said court area, subject to such conditions as may be imposed in accordance with Section 15 (4) of the said Act. The number and kinds of games proposed to be carried on are as follows: • 30 Gaming Machines • The other forms of amusement to be provided are as follows: - 2 Video Games.

The Applicant is not disqualified by Section 8 of the said Act from the promotion of gaming under Section 6 or Section 7 thereof.

Dated this 9th day of November, 2021 Signed: Murphy and Condon Solicitor for the Applicant 69 Shandon Street North Gate Bridge Cork.

TO: The District Court Clerk., The Courthouse, Lifford Road, Ennis, Co. Clare

AND/ Corporate Affairs Department, Clare County Council, New Road, Ennis, County Clare.

AND/ Chief Superintendent, An Garda Siochana, Ennis Garda Station, Abbey Street, Lifford, Ennis, Co. Clare AND/ The Chief Fire Officer, Clare County Council, New Road, Ennis, Co. Clare

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54 PUZZLEPAGE

THURSDAY, NOV 18 2021

THIS WEEKS PUZZLES NOV 18 5 7

5 2

Dirt

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1 1/1

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Tarnish

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

4

Taint

ANSWERS

HOW TO PLAY

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

9

Sully

How to play

9

How to play

Stain

5

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

Spot

7

2

Spatter Speck

9

3

Cloud

8

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3

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Blend

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Blemish

11/15/21, 4:51 PM

The Clare Echo Crossword Daily Quick Crossword: 15 November 2021, 11/15/2021

1/1

Michael Curl

(5) ancy (7)

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11/15/21, 4:51 PM

QUIZ 55

THURSDAY, NOV 18 2021

The Clare Echo Quiz THE GENERAL ELECTION OF 1973

Fáil had been in power for Michael Corley was the first can1tionFianna how many years when the elec6 didate to be eliminated. This was was called? his first General Election bid, when A: Eight B: Sixteen C: Twenty Two

was he second?

A: 1977 B: 1992 C: 2002

What was the name of the Two candidates were succeeded 2 pre-election pact agreed upon 7 on the ballot paper in subsequent

by Fine Gael and Labour to try oust years by their daughters. Name the Fianna Fáil?

A: Six B: Ten C: Thirteen

A: Madeline Taylor Quinn and Síle de Valera B: Madeline Taylor Quinn and Mary Howard C: Madeline Taylor Quinn and Roisin Garvey

8

Who topped the poll in Clare?

A: Patrick Hillery B: Sylvester Barrett C: Donal Carey

Three parties ran candidates in Which Clare candidate became a 4 Clare, Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and 9 TD for the first time following this who? election?

A: Sinn Féin B: Greens C: Labour

A: Brendan Daly B: Frank Taylor C: Michael Corley

Of Fianna Fáil’s three candidates, Jack Lynch became the first 5 two were running for the first 10 Taoiseach to do what on Irish time, Brendan Daly and whom? television during coverage of the A: Sean Ó Ceallaigh B: Martin Cahill C: Bill Loughnane

l QUESTION 9: It was the first time Brendan Daly contested a General Election in Clare

Photograph: Eamon Ward

6. 2002 7. Madeline Taylor Quinn and Mary Howard 8. Sylvester Barrett 9. Brendan Daly 10. Concede defeat live on-air

There were three seats in Clare 3 for this election, how many candidates stood for election?

daughters.

ANSWERS 1. Sixteen 2. The National Coalition 3. Six 4. Labour 5. Martin Cahill

A: The National Coalition B: The New Coalition C: The Niche Coalition

election?

A: Curse on-air B: Concede defeat live on-air C: Criticise the support of his party

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

The answers will be revealed in next weeks edition.

Last weeks Answers . Line on a jersey missing (front 2nd from right) . Writing under crest on sleeve missing (front 2nd from right) . Writing on sock missing (front right)

. Crest missing (back right) . Line on white boot missing . Crest missing (front middle) , White sripe missing on left arm (front right)

Supporters shield their eyes from the strong November sun in Cusack Park Photograph: Natasha Barton

AND GUTTERING CLARE

ROOF MOSS CLEANING