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21 Nov 2019
Ennis journalist challenges racist online abusers CIAN O BROIN cianobroin@clareecho.ie
E l LOVE IS IN THE AIR: Ireland’s first female steeplejack, Angela Collins O’Mahony, from Kilkishen, has a moment with her husband John Collins before she attempts the abseil down Thomond Park to raise much needed funds for the Children’s Grief Centre and the Redemptorists Christmas Hamper Appeal at Thomond Park, Limerick.
Pic Sean Curtin True Media
NNIS journalist Zainab Boladale has publicly responded to a group of anonymous racist bullies who have aimed racial slurs at her over a prolonged period. The 23-year-old Irish speaker who works with RTÉ decided to bring the issue to public light after admitting to becoming “really fed up and irritated”. “Whenever people of colour or from minority backgrounds are in the public eye, they undeniably get a lot of racism. You see it all the time,” she told RTÉ’s Nuacht.
A number of anonymous Twitter users relentlessly pursued Ms Boladale, admonishing her to, “get out of Celtic Lands”, whilst another commented, “Consider yourself Irish all you want but you are Nigerian.” Zainab’s decision to speak out publicly came from a decline in her mental health over the last two years, in the face of the incessant abuse she received.
Full story Page 6
2 NEWS
THURSDAY, NOV 21 2019
Index NEWS
ALL BOOKED UP
2-19
COMMENT
20
COMMUNITY
22-23
FESTIVE SHANNON
25-34
REELING IN 1994
36
PROPERTY
37
BUSINESS
38-39
CLASSIFIEDS
43-45
The Square, Ennis, County Clare Telephone: 065 671 9021
NEWSDESK
Email: editor@clareecho.ie or news@clareecho.ie
SALES
Email: ger.naughton@clareecho.ie or niall@clareecho.ie
l A NEW CHAPTER: Community members came together in celebration of Ennistymon Vocational School’s 1book1community project at The Fall’s Hotel last Wednesday, November 13 where guests had afternoon tea and got to meet and share their thoughts on the book Wonder. Pictured at the event are the Ennistymon Vocational School team members; Halimah Heaslip, Orla Gannon, Evelyn Griffin, Shane Griffin and Aine Meehan, along with local library staff, The Fall’s Hotel representatives, members of Ennistymon Library book club, members of Ennistymon Vocational School’s art school, along with members of the public
Concerns at EPA report
F
IANNA Fáil Election candidate Rita McInerney says Irish Water needs to invest more money to protect our beaches and ensure a quality water supply. In its latest EPA waste water treatment report, the environmental agency listed eight towns and villages in Clare which they have classified as “priority areas”. “This report is damning in its criticism of our treatment of our water supply. It must act as a wake-up call to government to ensure that it is adhering to the recommendations contained in the Future Funding of Domestic Water Services report, which it signed off on back in 2017”, said McInerney. “This summer alone saw the closure of two of our beaches Lahinch, because of increased levels of bacteria, and Kilkee, after a ‘discharge of wastewater’ into the sea, and unless Irish Water begins investing much needed resources into waste water treatment, this will become a feature of summers to come. “Irish Water needs to take this report seriously and ensure that the priority areas in Ballyvaughan, Clarecastle, Kilkee, Kilmihil, Kilrush, Lahinch, Liscannor and Shannon are allocated the necessary resources to carry out the required works to ensure that they meet environmental standards”.
3
4 NEWS
THURSDAY, NOV 21 2019
Woulfe to run HANG IN THERE! in next election
CHAIRMAN of the Clare Beef Plan, Joseph Woulfe (insert) has confirmed he will be contesting the next General Election as an Independent candidate, writes Paraic McMahon. In May of this year, the Quilty farmer ran in the local elections and polled 1,034 first preference votes. He narrowly missed out on the final two seats in the West Clare Municipal District, coming up short against Cllr Cillian Murphy (FF) and Cllr Ian Lynch (IND). Since then, Joseph has been heavily involved with the Beef Plan Mov e m e nt including taking on the role as Chairman in Clare. He confirmed his intention to put his name
on the ballot paper during an interview with Clare FM. “I want to give a new voice, a young voice, a voice of passion and hope, to bring more fruition to Co Clare. I want to work more for the community, I do volunteer work ... as it is. I want to break some of the things that people say you can’t do, that it’s too big a task, that you have to be part of a party. I want to get more people active, by showing leadership.” Subsequent to the local elections, he has spoken with political parties but has not become a member of any of them. He was confident getting to canvass a bigger area would lead to a better outcome in his bid to become a County Councillor. “I have this idea that a party looks at the bigger picture of
what’s in every single county, your interests in a particular county would be different to a county with a city in it. There is more of a push for city counties and less for rural counties. I like history, I went back to olden times when you elected someone from an area, you had someone from Co Clare. I focus on Clare as a county and we should have a politician for the county. I will be looking to Clare first.” For over a decade, he ran a mobile barber unit in West Clare but over 100 of his customers emigrated forcing him to close the business. “My priorities are pulling back this idea that you have to leave Clare if you want to have a better future. I’m 37, when you leave secondary school you have to leave for education to go to college, we don’t have one here in Clare and we’re used to leaving, when we finish college we stay gone and I want to pull that back.”
lFIT AS A FIDDLE: Ireland’s first female steeplejack, Angela Collins O’Mahony, from Kilkishen, abseiling Thomond Park to raise much needed funds for the Children’s Grief Centre and the Redemptorists Christmas Hamper Appeal. At the age of 76, Angela said it Photo by Sean Curtin / True Media was likely to be her “last climb”
6 NEWS
THURSDAY, NOV 21 2019
Zainab calls out racism in Ireland CIAN O’BROIN
E
cianobroin@clareecho.ie
NNIS native and RTÉ presenter Zainab Boladale has spoken out against racist abuse she has suffered both online and in person, since she started working with RTE in 2017. Born in Nigeria and a resident of Ennis since the age of four, Zainab’s rise in the world of journalism since her graduation from DCU two years ago, has been juxtaposed by an onset of racial slurs across various social media platforms. Speaking out against her attackers, the 23-yearold who now works on the Nationwide programme has decided to bring the issue to public light. Speaking on RTE News At One, Ms Boladale admitted, “I just felt really, really fed up and irritated that we were still having this conversation, because I felt like we’re constantly having the conversation about what is racist and what isn’t. It’s very clear what is and what isn’t. Why are we debating about how people feel? Whenever people of colour or from minority backgrounds are in the public eye, they undeniably get a lot of racism. You see it all the
time.” A series of online videos began to surface a few months ago, whereby the RTE presenter was chastised for the colour of her skin and ethnicity. The account has since been deactivated. Several Twitter users have relentlessly pursued Ms Boladale, admonishing her to, “get out of Celtic Lands”, whilst another commented, “Consider yourself Irish all you want but you are Nigerian.” Zainab’s decision to speak out publicly came from a decline in her
mental health over the last two years, in the face of the incessant abuse she received. The Clare journalist’s response to her abusers came in the form of a short clip she released online, whereby she challenged the validity of her online attackers’ comments concerning her Irish background, all in the Irish language, having been a fluent speaker from a very young age. Her retort garnered great media attention and support from thousands of Twitter users online, commending her bravery in the face of adversity. RTE has called for improved protection of victims of online abuse following Zainab’s case and in a statement, Managing Director of RTÉ News and Current Affairs Jon Williams informed the public of their decision to stand behind the young journalist in support. “All of us in RTÉ are disgusted that anyone should have to put up with such vile behaviour. Zainab’s grace and dignity stands in sharp contrast to the cowardice of the bullies who’ve abused her... All of her RTÉ family stand with Zainab and abhor any kind of racism.”
34 Clare clubs receive €1 million in Sports Capital Grant scheme STUART HOLLY editor@clareecho.ie
CLARE Fine Gael TD Joe Carey has confirmed that 34 Clare sports clubs are to receive €1,051,538 in Government funding through this year's Sports Capital Grant scheme. "I'm delighted that the funding is going to benefit so many clubs involved in a wide range of sporting activity throughout the entire county. Active engagement in sports not only helps keep young people healthy, but also builds confidence, independence and promotes team building," Deputy Carey said. "The Sports Capital Programme was re-instated by Fine Gael in 2012, after it was cut by Fianna Fáil in the wake of the economic crash. It is a real lifeline for teams, clubs and organisations here in Clare." Among the bigger Clare allocations were €70,368 to Kilkee Golf Club for an upgrade of its course and clubhouse; €65,714 to the Crusheen Community Centre and Sports Hall; €59,489 to Newmarket-on-Fergus
GAA Club for the Cora Caitlin Restoration project; €58,590 to Lisdoonvarna Fáilte for a walking/jogging gym circuit and €56,696 to Active Ennis for the refurbishment of dressing rooms as well as a further €17,176 for resurfacing the Cloughleigh astro turf pitch. "I know that the clubs and organisations receiving this funding will make great use of it to the benefit of local communities. "It is so important to encourage people to play sport. Not only is it good for their physical health but it benefits their mental health too. Supporting sports teams, clubs and organisations is also tantamount to supporting community engagement and helps to foster strong community spirit. "Investment in sport is also a really worthwhile policy objective for Government from a health point of view. Society reaps the rewards through improved health of the population. This is more important than ever with the rise in obesity," Deputy Carey added. The latest round of the programme saw the highest level of interest ever with 2,337 individual applications received. A total of €37 million was allocated to 994 different projects with 37 different sports benefitting.
HGXmasFPG-2019-Echo.qxp_Layout 1 12/11/2019 13:32 Page 1
20% OFF
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‘It’s not Christmas until You’ve Been to Home Gallery’ Open Monday to sat, 9.30 to 6, sun 1 to 5 | Kilrush Rd, Ennis Ph: 065 6797040
8 NEWS
THURSDAY, NOV 21 2019
CLARE'S WAR VICTIMS HONOURED
HSE spent €95k on taxis for hospital patients PÁRAIC McMAHON
A
paraic@clareecho.ie
lPOIGNANT: Fr Tom Ryan (inset) speaking at the WW1 memorial service held in Ennis on Sunday. It comes as the vandalised WW2 panel has also been replaced Photos by John O'Neill
The Galway Clinic will hold an
Orthopaedic Open Evening On Thursday the 28th of November in Treacys West County Hotel, Ennis, Co Clare.
7.30pm:
Tea/Coffee & Refreshments
8pm:
Ms Kate Gavin – Charter Physiotherapist Galway Clinic “Am I too Old To Exercise”
8.30pm:
Mr Joe Sparkes Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon “Managing Neck & Back Pain”
9pm – 9.15pm:
Questions & Answers
This event is free for the public to attend. Please RSVP by emailing Claire.henry@gmail.com or texting 087 6780000
L M O S T €95,000 was spent on taxis by the HSE transp or ting Clare patients to different hospitals for treatments such as dialysis. Prior to his retirement from politics, James Breen tabled a motion to Clare County Council seeking details on the cost of rental accommodation in the county plus the amount of money spent on taxi services for transporting patients and blood samples to various hospitals in the region. In February, Cllr Pat Daly (FF) claimed “€1000s is spent every week” on giving
transport to dialysis patients in Clare who have to travel to Galway and Limerick for treatment. Breen described the fees as “enormous”. The pair plus Cllr Pat McMahon (FF) had requested a dialysis centre be set up at Ennis General Hospital but were told by UL Hospitals Group that they have no immediate plans to do so. The Clare Echo has seen correspondence from the HSE and UL Hospitals Group to Clare County Council which confirmed taxi costs for the county in 2018 were €94,794. This includes “the cost for patients, laboratory and blood samples”. There were no accommodation costs relating to acute services in Co Clare last year.
NEWS
THURSDAY, NOV 21 2019
Wood lauded in new book
A NEW book, 100 Great Irish Rugby Moments (pictured right) written by John Scally pays tribute to Clare rugby legend, Keith Wood. Scally writes: "Wood though was no ordinary hooker. He kicked like a fly-half, linked like a centre, jinked like a winger and was always inspired by his father's words, ‘never be ashamed at being proud of what you are good at it.’ The bald wonder first made his name with Garryowen but in 1996 he crossed the channel and joined Harlequins. The following year he became the club's captain
and remained with the club until his retirement except for the 1999-2000 when he returned to play with Munster, leading them to the narrowest of defeats in the European Cup final. He first captained Ireland against Australia in November 1996 and immediately established himself as an inspirational leader." The book also pays a moving tribute to the late great Anthony ‘Axel’ Foley. 100 Great Irish Rugby Moments by John Scally is published by Black and White Publishing and is available in all good bookshops now.
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THURSDAY, NOV 21 2019
North Clare congregates for concert CIAN O’BROIN
cianobroin@clareecho.ie
ON NOVEMBER 28, the Ennistymon Vocational School will host their annual concert in aid of the friends of Ennistymon Hospital. The concert takes place at the Falls Hotel, where an eclectic mix of both students and surprise personalities within the traditional music scene in North Clare will come together in what Principal Elizabeth Flanagan calls, “the continuum of community liaise”. Doors will open at 7:30 sharp.
This special amalgamation comes off the back of a lunchtime performance at the World Academy of Music, in the University of Limerick. Spraoi agus Spleodar took place on November 13, for the fifth year in a row. Principal Flanagan commends the congeniality shown by the World Academy in accommodating Ennistymon Vocational School and its troupe of traditional adolescent talent, “Because we have an interest in trad in North Clare and the fact that a lot of our students are very good trad musicians, we wanted to give them a forum to explore this. It gives them an opportunity to perform in a professional theatre which is a fantastic
experience for them. They really rise to the occasion and we are very grateful to UL for facilitating us. We then schedule our local concert for two weeks after this, so that the kids are fresh, whereby one automatically leads to another.” The concert is akin to longstanding communal customs in the heart of North Clare, home of traditional music, with the involvement of, “students from first year right up to leaving cert. These students in final year performed in their first year so it’s a long tradition. What we have noticed is that students would help one another, critique one another and support one another. We have a great
mix of dancing, we have traditional dancing as well as brush dancing, and we love seeing past pupils coming back to perform.” One of the most important elements of the concert is its ties to the Friends of Ennistymon Hospital and community spirit and engagement. In the eyes of the principal, it’s about giving something back to the community. “Every year we raise up to €3,000 for the hospital and we are very happy to do that. I would see it as part of the community from the very young to the very old, it’s all a part of the cycle of life and everybody is a valued member of the community.”
Family fun on the way with Christmas festivities
A
BBEY Street Car Park in Ennis is the place to be from December 13-15 for what promises to be a spectacular Christmas event. A specialist team who have organized some of the biggest Christmas Markets in the country are working alongside Clare County Council and Ennis Municipal District on a fun, family event which they hope will become a staple in Ennis's Christmas Calendar! Stuart Montgomery said he's excited about coming to Ennis in the lead up to Christmas, work with local producers and businesses and create an experience that will encourage the people of Ennis and beyond to shop locally this Christmas Visitors will be able to relive their Childhood memories with Funfair attractions including a beautiful Vintage Carousel which people of all ages will enjoy, treat themselves to something sweet or savoury from a wide range of foods stalls and find that perfect present for someone special with many unique gift ideas to browse and buy from or simply enjoy a Hot Chocolate and soak up the Festive atmosphere! That's not all, Mr. & Mrs Claus will also be making a visit from the North Pole to check their lists and they're so looking forward to meeting all the Families in Ennis! Another highlight of the event will be an Illumination Show where a building on Abbey Street Car Park will be taken over as a backdrop for an unmissable Light Show on the final night of the event (Dec. 15th) which will really get you in the Festive spirit! There are less than a handful of Exhibitor spaces left so if you're interested in participating then email bespokeadvertising@gmail. com right away for further info. So cancel any plans you may have and head to Abbey Street Car Park in Ennis from Dec. 13th to 15th for a fun filled Family event!
Keep up to date on Facebook.com/EnnisXmasVillage
12 NEWS
Sports facilities will be audited PÁRAIC McMAHON
A
paraic@clareecho.ie
N AUDIT of the sporting facilities in the county are to be carried out. Such a move was requested by Cllr Joe Garrihy (FG) at the October meeting of Clare County Council "with a view to clear identification of our key and hub assets natural and built in the area. I propose that this audit explores the potential of adding value to these assets and developing a county wide standards of practice and management targeted at getting maximum benefit in the context of delivering the objectives of the Healthy Clare and Healthy Ireland Strategies". He asked that Clare Sports Partnership conduct the audit. Eleven years ago, €16,703.28 was spent on a financial audit of facilities in the county done by Clare LSP and
the Council. "At that time, there was no comprehensive database of facilities in the County," a joint written reply from Directors Leonard Cleary and Anne Haugh outlined. "Presently Clare Sports Partnership does not have the resources or remit to carry out such an audit. However it is accepted that Clare LSP are best placed to undertake such an audit subject to accessing funding to ensure that a robust audit is carried out". "We're all aware of the social importance our sport amenities have. They are the hubs of our modern lives. They are now the centres where we all meet," Cllr Garrihy stated. He felt strong sporting facilities would encourage people to live in the county. "An audit of our facilities is preparing for success. For people to come and settle in rural Ireland, we need to have a cohesive and strong infrastructure around our school and sporting communities. We're competing with the east coast, we need to have the facilities". Seconding what she labelled an
"absolutely vital" motion, Cllr Roisin Garvey (GP) referenced the process of schools getting a Green Flag, "the first step is a review, what Cllr Garrihy is suggesting is a review". "We have to know what we have before we can progress. We aren't in Dublin or Copenhagen where people can walk and cycle safely the whole time, we rely on these facilities to keep our young people safe". "It is building on what has been a common theme with Cllr Garrihy's motions over the past few months," Cllr Shane Talty (FF) observed of the proposal. Cllr Joe Killeen (FF) felt there was "a lack of facilities in certain areas" and asked the Council to look at the proposal "favourably" by putting in supports. "This is another very strategic motion," Cllr Cillian Murphy (FF) acknowledged. Pat Dowling, Council Chief Executive "It is already my intention to bring some proposals to you as part of our budgetary process for next year. The audit is one thing that has to be done".
THURSDAY, NOV 21 2019
SNOW IS FALLING
lWONDERFUL: Saoirse Ryan Friel age 8 from Shannon pictured on Limerick’s O’Connell Street for the traditional turning on of the city’s Christmas Lights, which officially launches the festive season in Limerick. Special guest of honour Rose of Tralee Dr Sinéad Flanagan joined Mayor of Limerick Cllr Michael Sheahan at the Light Up Limerick ceremony, as well as special guests Santa Clause and the North Pole Elves. The crowds, estimated at just under 20,000, were entertained by street performers and special Photo by Brian Arthur guests in the build up to the main event
Christmas at Crescent Shopping Centre
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WITH the spectacular Christmas lights now on at The Crescent Shopping Centre, it’s a Christmas paradise at the Crescent to get you into the festive mood while starting the Christmas list for loved ones. The most popular man at Christmas, Santa, will be arriving in eco-friendly style at the Crescent Shopping Centre on Sunday November 24th at 1pm in his three carriage electric train to the Crescent. Santa will meet all the kids and families at the Garryowen Mall entrance (next to River Island) before making his way through the Malls with musical accompaniment, stilt walking drummers, Christmas characters, Jorge the Christmas Bear, Princess Bella, Jolly Jingles and lively activity with Limerick Pantomime Society with treats for the kids. Join the parade to lead Santa down to his new North Pole Santa Station located out on the Civic Plaza outside the City Mall and enjoy a variety of hot food and explore Christmas crafts at the Crescent Shopping Centre’s Christmas Market. For fashionistas and families alike, Black Friday takes place on 29th Nov. with over 90 retailers, you’re sure to find great value on everything you need for Christmas! Check out Crescent social media in the lead up for flash sales and special offers! Munster's leading Shopping Centre will start its Christmas late opening hours from Saturday 07 December. The Crescent Shopping Centre has over 90 stores and services as well as boasting top brands, great value and free parking. See Crescent social for late night openings and Santa Grotto Opening Hours and events like “Crooners at the Crescent” with Liam
O Brien. Crescent Shopping Centre Manager, John Davitt, said: “The Crescent Shopping Centre is synonymous in Limerick and the surrounding counties as the shopping mecca for Christmas, and this year is no different. We are excited to welcome Santa back to his Santa Station, along with some lovely food and craft offerings as part of the Christmas Market here at the Crescent from Friday to Sunday throughout the month of December plus intermittent musical performances, for an ambient fun filled family Christmas at the Crescent.” “The centre offers great gift ideas along with the Crescent Gift Card for those that like to pick their own present, eateries and the 12-Screen Cinema to entertain young and old this festive season” he added. For more information on Opening Hours, see www.crescentshoppingcentre.ie or like the Crescent Shopping Centre page on Facebook or Instagram for regular updates.
lHO HO HO: Santa will arrive at the Crescent this Sunday
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From November 24th
14 NEWS
THURSDAY, NOV 21 2019
Moneypoint taskforce has not held a single meeting
PÁRAIC McMAHON paraic@clareecho.ie
F
OUR months on from the request of its foundation, a taskforce designed to support staff at Moneypoint has not held a single meeting. Following a one hour special meeting of the West Clare Municipal District in July, it was decided to form a Council delegation which was comprised of Cllr Ian Lynch (IND), Cllr Cillian Murphy (FF), Cllr Joe Garrihy (FG), Cllr Joe Killeen (FF) and Cllr Roisin Garvey (GP). They along with the County’s five Oireachtas members had intended to meet with Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation Heather Humphreys, Minister for Communications, Climate Action and the Environment Richard Bruton, the ESB, IDA Ireland and Enterprise Ireland. No meeting of the taskforce has been convened. Speaking at last week’s specially called meeting of Clare County
Council to discuss employment, Harty reiterated his view that the potential of Moneypoint as “a deep sea port needs to be managed”. Cllr Garvey told the meeting the Moneypoint taskforce was yet to hold a meeting. “I wondered was I dropped off that email list for the Moneypoint Taskforce,” Senator Conway responded. “We talk about regional imbalance for the county but it exists within Clare. Moneypoint has been the counterbalance in West Clare and provided a lot of economic opportunities,” Cllr Murphy outlined. “We need to stop talking about it and start doing something. Moneypoint is probably the last zoned industrial site on the Shannon Estuary, we have to hammer home the opportunity that it provides,” he added. Speaking on Moneypoint removing the “counterbalance” as referred to, Cllr Johnny Flynn (FG) maintained supporting the Ennis 2040 plan would help other parts of the county. He continued, “To sustain West and North Clare, we need to have significant job growth in the county”. Chief Executive of Clare County Council, Pat Dowling said of future plans at Moneypoint, “We are very much in-
volved in that space”. Deputy Joe Carey wrote to the Chief Executive at the end of July following representations made to both Bruton and Humphreys, “There is huge potential in relation to Moneypoint, we can put together a meaningful taskforce”.
lCHANGES: The future of Moneypoint staff remains uncertain Photo by Pat Kelly
‘If you pull in you mightn’t be able to pull out’ - Cllr critical of Broadford passing bays AN EAST Clare road “in poor condition” will not be considered for resurfacing or the introducing of additional passing bays in the next two years. Fermoyle is a wooded forestry area in Broadford, the road connecting the townland to the village, the L700 was described as being “in very poor condition” by Cllr Joe Cooney at the Killaloe Municipal District’s November meeting. Cooney also said it was “very narrow which makes it difficult for road users to pass through. I propose that passing bays are constructed at different locations on the road allowing cars to pull in also that complete re-surfacing of the road is carried out”. Cllr Alan O’Callaghan (FF) seconded the motion. “This road is currently not on the 2019-2021 roadwork’s programme and so it is not proposed to carry out resurfacing. A number of passing bays currently exist along this road, there are currently no plans to create additional passing locations. Any essential repairs will be carried out, subject to budgetary constraints,” senior executive engineer, Tom Mellet outlined in response. Such a reply did not please Cllr Cooney. “I am not one bit happy with the reply and I will not be accepting it. The road hasn’t seen any work in years, there is a lot of traffic and houses on it. Passing bays are there but you can’t pull in to them because they are full of muck and dirt, if you pull in you mightn’t be able to pull out”. He said the gullies need to be cleaned “before the winter is out” and felt the area “has been neglected”.
NEWS 15
THURSDAY, NOV 21 2019
Laws for illegal encampments too lenient, claim councillors PÁRAIC McMAHON
P
paraic@clareecho.ie
ROSECUTIONS for illegal encampments within the county are not working, elected representatives in Clare have claimed. During the month of June and into early July, “upwards of 30 caravans” were on site in close proximity to the Skehanagh Roundabout off the M18 motorway on the approach to Ennis. Once Clare County Council issued legal notice to personnel at the illegal encampment the 35 caravans departed. For the second time in the space of four months, Cllr Paul Murphy (FG) flagged the issue at a meeting of Clare County Council. Back in July, senior executive officer Leonore O’Neill stated a multi-agency approach was required for dealing with illegal encampments and that is what the Clarecastle representative requested at their October meeting plus the introduction of by-laws to prohibit overnight parking that could lead to similar occurrences. He wished to see Clare County Council, the Chief Superintendent of the Clare
Division of An Garda Síochána, the Public Health Office of the HSE, Tusla and the Department of Education included in the multi-agency response taskforce. Council Directors Anne Haugh and Carmel Kirby highlighted in a written response that the local authority works closely with the groups mentioned but is open to “a more formal engagement” to address illegal encampments in Clare. “This Council enact the available legislation to address illegal encampments and have resolved a number of such matters in the recent past. There are a number of encampments remaining, one of which is the subject of high court action. In relation to the other encampments this Council are working to find a housing solution for the families however engagement of the social housing applicant is proving difficult”. They flagged that current overnight parking restrictions only apply to designated parking space. Routes on national motorways fall under the remit of Transport Infrastructure Ireland. “At one stage, there was upwards of 30 caravans on site. The well-being and safety of kids came to my mind, they were playing by ponds, running out onto the roads and had a high absenteeism from school. "They were down from Laois or Offaly, they had Council houses up there and were
down on their holidays,” Cllr Murphy stated and praised the local authority for the cleanup on site. As he seconded the motion, Cllr Johnny Flynn (FG) pointed out the dangers of an encampment of that scale. “The issue with
lCLAMP DOWN: Clare County Council want a multi-agency approach to dealing with illegal encampments
public sanitation is a big issue. It was a very large encampment that had fire risks associated with it”. “It’s important that the element of the children needs to be first and foremost. An awful lot of parents don’t seem to recognise the impact it is having. It’s very frustrating not alone for the schools but for the Council that has to follow up on things,” Cllr Ann Norton (IND) lamented. “These people are moving around, they are claiming and are in different counties. It is very difficult for all agencies. Something has to change and somebody has to take responsibility. It is up higher up the chain to put procedures in place to stop this from happening”. She felt change was needed to stop such children being “at risk”. Laws in place are far too lenient, Cllr Gerry Flynn (IND) felt and praised Cllr Murphy for starting a “healthy debate”. “The elephant in the room is that our Government down through the years whether it is Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael, Greens, Labour, they are failing to grab the thorn but it is a big issue. "They are entitled to go holidays but they had a designated Council home where they were. It can be difficult to apply the laws to travellers that are applied to settled people. The litter there was at a ferocious rate. They should have to book holidays like the rest of us”.
16 NEWS
Landowners and bats delaying Killaloe bypass PÁRAIC McMAHON
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paraic@clareecho.ie
ONVERSATIONS in parts of East Clare on the long awaited Killaloe Bypass are a daily occurrence, landowners using their right of going down the arbitration route and East Clare bats have slightly delayed the project. In September, Clare County Council told The Clare Echo that late 2022 remains the target for completion of the proposed Killaloe Bypass, Shannon Bridge Crossing and R494 Improvement Scheme. While this remains the case, new detail on what has stalled progress has come to light at the November meeting of the Killaloe Municipal District. An update on the Killaloe Bridge/Bypass was sought once again by Cllr Pat Burke (FG) who outlined, “There is a hardly a day that goes by when people don’t ask what is the story with the Killaloe bypass. When will it be completed, will it ever be done? People are commuting to Limerick via Ogonnelloe and Whitegate for work”. Senior engineer, Sean Lenihan confirmed the tender short-listing process would begin
by the end of 2019 with the scheme going to tender in summer 2020 following the completion of detailed design in March. “We would expect to award the contract in late 2020 subject to Department approval. The construction period is expected to take three years”. Lenihan said there were 103 separate landowners across the scheme, both farmers and homeowners. €34m was allocated for the project last January under the Government’s Capital Plan Review with the Department being regularly updated by Clare County
Council on the progress. He added, “Negotiations are at various stages with the 103 landowners, the valuation is captured on the day to treat which is 2016. Of liaisons with the landowners, discussions with 39 have concluded, 31 “are about to be completed” and another 30 remain to be concluded. 13 of the 103 landowners opted to go
down the arbitration route, “we’ve no difficulty in dealing with that”. Cooney then queried if it was “highly unlikely” works would commence in 2020. “There is no point being over ambitious and no point me saying we’ll definitely have one out by a certain time. There are a lot of trees and e c o l o g i - cal issues, we have a season for hedge cutting, we are working in the water and are dealing with the bats,” the engineer replied. “ I didn’t realise we had bats,” Cllr Pat Hayes (FF) commented. “We have about five, we need to make provisions for everything,” Lenihan answered. “The communities of East Clare are getting anxious about it. The fact that there are only two property arbitrators in the country doesn’t sound great. Now we’re adding in bits of detail we didn’t know about like the extraction of water, I don’t think anyone was aware there were bat issues. “It is important you keep us updated here,” Hayes added.
THURSDAY, NOV 21 2019
Fears over dereliction in Tulla THERE are 26 vacant properties within Tulla village and a further 23 in the parish. Such figures were presented to councillors at the November meeting of Killaloe Municipal District following a request from Cllr Pat Hayes (FF) to get the County Council’s plans on vacant and derelict properties within the area. In a comprehensive reply, Director of Service, Anne Haugh flagged that Census and Geo Directory figures on property vacancy were showing big differences. Of the 26 vacant properties in Tulla village, ten are not registered on land registry, four are under planned refurbishment, four are occupied, three have been sold, the occupation of two is presently being examined, one is for sale, the owner of another is deceased while one property is in use as a community facility. The 23 properties outside the village are scattered so would not fall in the criteria required for social housing. A similar detailed analysis is to be conducted for Sixmilebridge, Tuamgraney and Broadford, Haugh confirmed. “We will continue to maximise the number of vacant units that can be returned to use and a full report on the outcome of this exercise will be presented to the Municipal District elected members when complete”. Cllr Alan O’Callaghan (FF) praised the Director for the report and suggested it be carried out more often.
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Shannon Group Chair contacts Cllr Flynn over “critical comments” on Airport PÁRAIC McMAHON
paraic@clareecho.ie
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N elected representative in Clare received correspondence from the Chairperson of Shannon Group outlining their disappointment with ongoing critical comments regarding Shannon Airport. Cathaoirleach of the Shannon Municipal District, Cllr Gerry Flynn (IND) told Monday’s meeting of Clare County Council he had been contacted by Rose Hynes, Chairperson of Shannon Group. “She is not happy with of the critical comments made by elected representatives at local and national level on Shannon Airport”. “They should have resilience, they are in the public eye to be questioned. The political voices speaking on it are there with the full interests of Shannon Airport at heart,” Cathaoirleach of the Council, Cllr Cathal Crowe (FF) responded. Chief Executive of the local authority, Pat Dowling stated, “As elected members, everybody here has the right to comment on public
issues of relevance. What has been concerns on the future of the Airport, nothing more than that”. He outlined that they have ongoing engagement with Shannon Airport, Shannon Commercial Properties and Shannon Heritage. “We should have a real meaningful partnership,” Dowling said in reference to the lack of a Council representative on the board of Shannon Group, he confirmed he would be meeting with Shannon Group CEO Mary Considine in the near future. Their discussion materialised when a motion by Cllr Cillian Murphy (FF) seeking the establishment of “a multi agency task force to provide an external support network and assist” Shannon Airport with future development and marketing. The Kilkee representative admitted to being shocked when now CEO Mary Considine said they hadn’t a budget to market during The Irish Open. He felt the German market were “pitch perfect for this county” and felt boosted connectivity at Shannon would see more visitors from Germany. “We’ve always been positive in our efforts to improve the Airport. I hope and pray the new routes work, this is the fourth time the Paris route has been reinvigorated,” Cllr Pat McMahon (FF) said when seconding the motion. The long-standing Newmarket-on-Fergus councillor revealed that several parents with students going to university in Scotland are flying out of Dublin because Shannon “is too costly” in comparison. Cllr PJ Ryan (IND) felt the local authority was being “ignored” by not having some representation on the board of Shannon Group. He blamed groups such as Dublin Chamber of Commerce who have “stymied” Shannon Airport since it’s separation from the daa. Cllr Roisin Garvey (GP) flagged that the requested taskforce would be reliant on engagement from Shannon Group.
Staff at Molex hopeful 100 jobs can be kept PÁRAIC McMAHON
paraic@clareecho.ie
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TAFF at Molex are hopeful 100 posts can be maintained at its Shannon plant. Recently filed accounts for Molex detailed that losses at the plant rose to €7.9m in 2018. Turnover last year fell 6.6% to €87,357,000 while the gross margin dropped from 16% in 2017 to 5% in 2018. The company attributed the decreases to an adjustment in the sale price of products. Distribution expenses stayed at similar levels while administrative expenses fell by €1.945m. Employees insist the medical section of the Shannon plant is “booming” with “continued growth” from its main customer Aerogen. Staff have told The Clare Echo that this product line generates a revenue of €1.5m plus on a monthly basis. They believe that if the Aerogen link is kept in Molex at Shannon, 100 jobs can be maintained with “the potential for continued growth and employment”. Support from the IDA and local authorities is needed according to Molex workers to get “a suitable contractor” on board to keep the Aerogen unit in Shannon. Staff claim a move away from Co Clare
would pose “massive disruption” to Aerogen. With their global headquarters in Galway, medtech firm Aerogen specialise in creating aerosol based drug delivery systems that are more efficient than traditional ways of delivering medication. They had been a customer of Molex for the past eight to nine years. In March of this year, they announced their plan to create 50 posts in research and manufacturing after landing €30m from the European Investment Bank. Senior Vice President of Engineering and Operations at Aerogen, Brendan Hogan speaking to The Clare Echo on Wednesday outlined they were currently assessing future plans. “The information to us is Molex plan to close the operation and close it by the end of next year. We’re in discussions with them about our product line and there are various options being discussed”. On the impact to Aerogen of Molex announcing they had planned to close their Shannon plant and with it 500 job losses, Hogan said, “It will be very significant, we’re in the medical devices business, we supply products for life supporting applications, the industry is highly regulated so there is a lot of testing, verification, validation, regulatory approval required of any change so we’ll have to work through that with Molex so we can get the product
which we need on time and be able to supply our customers”. They were informed of the planned closure at the same time as Molex staff. Hogan admitted that their preference would be to remain in Shannon as he outlined their present options. “Molex have other plants in Ireland and overseas, they also have competitors. We also do some manufacturing in house. Our preference is to do something out of Shannon with Molex but this news only broke a short time ago, it came as a surprise to all parties, we’re working our way through it so it’s going to take several weeks or maybe even a few months before there will be clarity on this”. However should an alternate contractor be found for the Molex plant, he highlighted, “We’d have to look at their business plan, their culture, their experience, their financial situation e.t.c we would have to look at all that, we couldn’t say yes or no to it”. At a specially convened meeting of Clare County Council held earlier this month, Cllr PJ Ryan (IND) had attempted to raise the need for a suitable contractor to be found. The Cratloe representative had spoken with staff but had gone over time in his address according to Cathaoirleach of the County Council, Cllr Cathal Crowe (FF) and subsequently was denied the opportunity of making the point.
18 COMMUNITY FEATURE
THURSDAY, NOV 21 2019
CLARECASTLE TAKING HOLISTIC APPROACH WITH ITS STUDENTS Parents encouraged to visit national school open night
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LARECASTLE National School open night takes place on Thursday, November 28 from 6.308.30pm. Principal Martin Moloney told The Clare Echo that the night will give parents a good opportunity to get a feel for the school and understand the range of activities and policies in place at Clarecastle. Clarecastle National School serves the village and its hinterland. It has 20 teachers and provides five special needs assistants (SNAs), along with a caretaker and secretary. Currently 360 pupils attend Clarecastle National School however Mr Moloney says that all parents are welcome to attend the night with places available for children preparing to enter primary education. “The purpose of the open night is to allow prospective parents to see the activities that go on in the school. They will be met by the student council, school staff, myself as principal along with members of the school’s Parents Association. On the night they’ll be entertained by the school choir and the trad music group,” said Mr Moloney, who has been principal at Clarecastle National School since 2009 having previously held the same post at Stonehall NS in Newmarket-on-Fergus. According to the principal, Clarecastle National School takes a holistic view of learning and of the learner. “We emphasise the need for pupils to develop a broad range of skills, competencies and values that enable personal well-being, active citizenship and lifelong learning. We aim to build pupils’ self-confidence so that they are unafraid to take the risk of attempting new challenges. We help them blossom and grow as individuals and give them the academic, social and emotional skills to enable them to realise their full potential,” says Mr Moloney in his parent’s welcome message. “Every day I have the privilege of witnessing wonderful children grow and develop into individuals who are confident and assured of their worth. They are helped by the loving and guiding presence of parents, teachers, special needs assistants, ancillary staff and other members of the school community. “In our school there is a true sense of community, where each member makes their own unique contribution, and where all experience the joys and struggles of working and growing together. It is this that makes Clarecastle National School a truly special place.”
IT’S FULL STEAM AHEAD CLARECASTLE National School uses the STEAM educational approach to learning that uses Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts and Mathematics as access points for guiding student inquiry, dialogue, and critical thinking. It is a method of teaching and learning that intertwines these disciplines in a handson, active and discovery led way and is engaging, fun and rewarding for children. Research has shown that children learn more from doing, exploring and problem-solving. In a successful STEAM lesson or project, the subjects are not taught in isolation, but in an integrated manner with a focus on skills development. STEAM is becoming more and more prevalent in schools and being discussed more and more in the media, as it is widely acknowledged that in order to prepare our children for the future workforce,we need a focus on skills development in these areas, rather than simply imparting knowledge to children.
What STEAM looks like at Clarecastle National School: At Clarecastle National School all students shall participate in STEAM education. Classes utilise technology in the form of ipads, lego Wedo kits, sphero robotic ball, beebots and accessories to support same. A timetable identifies when each class has their STEAM allocation with the above resources. Learning Squads: Children from 3rd to 6th are invited to become part of a Learning Squad. The whole idea of this is to train children and help them learn about new
Pupils participate in GAA 5-star initiative
THIS year Clarecastle National School will be participating in the GAA 5 Star initiative. The aim of the initiative is to support and recognise Primary Schools that provide pupils with 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous Gaelic Games activity per week in a manner that ensures the children will experience fun, friendship, fairness and ultimately improve their fitness. This initiative is being implemented by teachers with the continued support of Clare GAA Games Development Personnel and Clarecastle GAA Club.
purchases of Beebots, Sphero, Lego Wedo 2.0 and Ipads. When the Learning Squads have enough knowledge each group will visit a class be it Junior Infants for Beebots or 6th class for Lego Wedo, to impart their knowledge and help the children get started on the various pieces of equipment. This is a huge opportunity for children to not just learn about coding and technology but to develop leadership skills and collaboration skills also.Currently there is a group of 18 children in the Learning Squad.
l PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT: Children who attend Clarecastle National School are encouraged to develop a broad range of skills, competencies and values that enable personal wellbeing, active citizenship and lifelong learning Photos courtesy Clarecastle National School
COMMUNITY FEATURE 19
THURSDAY, NOV 21 2019
What else is Ex-Comp pupil urges girls to pursue physics career happening in Clarecastle?
SCIENCE Clarecastle National School was awarded the Plaque of Stem 2019 from the Science Foundation of Ireland. This award is given to schools where a whole school effort has been made to engage with science, technology, engineering and maths. It would not have been possible without the support of parents and funding support of Roche Ireland. Students from Clarecastle NS sixth class came in first place in the Inter Mini Scientist Competition for their project Wireles Energy Transfer. GAEILGE Last term, Ms Nugent’s 6th Class took part in Gaeilge24. Pupils had a great time conversing in Irish for the day. Gaeilge24 is a challenge which encourages pupils to speak only in Irish exclusively for 24 hours: at home, in school and everywhere else. The challenge, which began in 2012, is organised by Conradh na Gaeilge. GREEN FLAG Clarecastle National School this year have achieved their 6th Green Flag for cultural diversity. As part of science week and in support of Climate Action the school’s Green Schools Committee planted a new tree in our school garden under the watchful eye of Carmel Nugent (Green Schools co-ordinator) and the school caretaker Liam Hayes. MUSIC Clarecastle school choir was established in 2010 and is made up of children from 3rd to 6th class. The children rehearse every Tuesday after school and also during lunchtimes when they are preparing for an upcoming competition or concert. They perform every year for the Christmas concert, for the elderly in the local Daycare Centre and at various other events such as school award ceremonies, school masses and for special visitors to the school. Each year the choir undertake an additional choral experience ranging from community events, Peace Proms, fun choral workshops or local concerts in addition to competitions. The Trad Group have a busy program througout the year providing lively music at various events including at Clarecastle Day Care Centre, the Christmas Nativity and more. SPORT With thanks also to Clarecastle GAA’s generous provision of their facilities, the school have a busy sporting programme. Pupils from Senior Infants to Fourth Class practise and develop their hurling skills every week in the school hall. Fifth and Sixth Class have also been enjoying Tag Rugby with Ben from Munster Rugby during the term. Pupils from Third to Sixth Class have an opportunity to attend five weeks of swimming lessons at Ennis Leisure Centre during the months of September to November. Children are given the chance to begin swimming lessons or improve their swimming skills while also enjoying themselves.
FORMER student at St. Patrick’s Comprehensive School in Shannon, Elora McFall is looking to buck the trend of the low number of female students studying physics at third level. The fourth year applied physics student at UL had always shown a passion for Physics while in school and has credited ‘the Comp’ for its “amazing support and encouragement” in getting to where she is today. The SOPHia project took form when Elora expressed shock at how few girls were doing physics in University - a three to one ratio of males to females. She and a group of fellow students worked with staff in UL to come up with the SOPHia school visit workshop. From there it has grown to a regional project, funded by Science Foundation Ireland. The SOPHia project comprises a school visit programme, along with a student competition and a showcase event to inform teachers of the
issues with regards to addressing the gender imbalance in physics. This month the ‘SOPHia Project’ is running a showcase event in UL on November 23, to provide teachers with support and ideas to encourage young people to take up physics. The free showcase is open to secondary school STEM teachers, primary school teachers and career guidance teachers. Officials from St. Patrick’s Comprehensive School said, “We are incredibly proud of Elora and her involvement in this incredible programme. The Comp has a firm commitment to STEM subjects and it in very encouraging to see this dedication continue in future generations. We are especially delighted that she continues to enthuse about her love of Physics and is promoting this to so many more students. We wish Elora and her colleagues in the project all the best in their work and hope to welcome Elora back to The Comp to impassion future students.”
20 COLUMNISTS
THURSDAY, NOV 21 2019
Eoin Neylon
EDITOR’S OPINION Stuart Holly
A true role model
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OMETIMES a society must take a step back to really move forward. That’s the only way the revolting abuse levelled at Zainab Bolandale can be viewed. The Ennis native, purely by the virtue of her black skin, this week has admitted she has suffered at the hands of racists in a tirade of scathing, hateful online abuse since being appointed to work for RTÉ in 2017 when she was aged just 21 (turn to page 6 for the full story). These anonymous perpetrators are sorry people who thrive on belittling others in the most deplorable way and in this case they attempted that by personally attacking a young, successful black female. Well, as it turns out, they picked on the wrong Clare woman - one who I believe has demonstrated perfectly with defiance and grace, how to take the power back and channel it into a thing of beauty. A former pupil of Scoil Chríost Rí Ennis and the Gaelcholáiste, Zainab has endured what no young woman in Ireland should be subject to in their bid to fulfil their potential and career ambitions. However it’s not the abuse she suffered which is the most notable thing here; it’s her response. These bullies might have inadvertently triggered a forward step in society by awakening a young role model for not just young women of colour in Ireland, but for young people across the board. Speaking on RTÉ’s Nuacht programme, Zainab responded so eloquently to those who denied her Irishness in our native tongue. I’m not suggesting that an ability to speak the
Expect parties to put boot to Independents
T INSPIRING YOUTH: Zainab on set at RTÉ language makes her ‘more Irish’, however it does demonstrate her understanding of the importance of our rich culture and certainly sends an exclamation mark (and maybe even a middle finger) to her online detractors in the most gracious means available. Whether it was her intention or not, Ms Boladale has paved the way for thousands of young Irish girls across the country to believe in themselves, firstly through her achievements in the ultra-competitive world of broadcasting, and secondly through her defiance and grace in the face of adversity. A modern day Irish role model no doubt, I will watch on with interest as Ms Boladale’s career blossoms.
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR ASYLUM SEEKERS IN MILTOWN MALBAY: WE ARE LUCKY Dear Editor, Much of what is said about asylum seekers and those staying in direct provision or emergency accommodation centres have been so much of the negative. No doubt, events leading to such negativities can only be particular to the respective centres, people, and communities concerned. This is because a different kind of positive feeling has been the case, for a group of all-men asylum seekers who are residing in Miltown Malbay, County Clare. While managers and staff of some direct provision and emergency accommodation centres have been alleged to be maltreating asylum seekers in their care, in Miltown, Mr Pat Kelly - the manager and the staff, are doing their best to make asylum seekers in their care happy, such as taking them for a mystery tour in Galway. While some communities reject accommodating asylum seekers for sake of overstretched medical facilities and school system, Miltown residents are happy to share their small medical centre with them, and individuals are volunteering to be private tutors for some asylum seekers in their midst. While some communities are protesting for lack of social amenities like transport system, Miltown community is pleased to share the only one bus, in and out of the community and even volunteering their personal vehicles to offer lifts to these asylum seekers. While asylum seekers in some communities complain of poor relational approach
An inside look at Clare’s political spectrum
towards them, Miltown residents use various social media groups, the weekly and monthly coffee/tea chats in the community centre to enhance communication with the asylum seekers. When others are shutting their doors against asylum seekers, Miltown residents, with their new home – to – home cooking activity, are inviting and hosting asylum seekers in their private homes to come cook, eat, and drink to their fill. To assist in the cost of living, Miltown community have been donating brand new quality shoes, clothes, jackets and other basic possessions, which ordinarily would have taken savings of a life time to purchase. After reading an announcement from Eileen (a Miltown resident), about getting some new warm and waterproof jackets for the asylum seekers in the community, Paul, in excitement said “it seems like every week comes with a new magic from Miltown community. We are highly favoured here.” Being lucky, may not be a phrase many asylum seekers in Ireland can say with great sense of pride. This is because of the unfavourable utterances making rounds about communities resisting having temporary accommodation for asylum seekers. But it is a different case for a group of all – men asylum seekers, currently residing at the Central hotel, in Miltown Malbay. Innocent Iroaganachi
HE declaration of West Clare Beef Protest leader, Joseph Woulfe, that he will seek election to Dáil Éireann at the next General Election is a clear signal to the type of election we might be facing into. The Independent candidate did very well in this year’s local elections, polling over 1,000 votes and narrowly missing out on one of the five seats in the Kilrush Local Electoral Area. With Brexit looking likely early in the New Year, on the back of a Tory victory in the UK General Election, the fall-out for the agriculture sector will certainly become an election issue in rural areas here. With prices for farmer produce so low presently, that was a guarantee already, but Brexit will push it right up towards the top of the list of issues in Clare. The move was an unwelcome one for Dr Michael Harty’s re-election ambitions. With Woulfe and he sharing the same geographic area and Independent title, this could well end up splitting the vote on both candidates, thereby denting both men’s ambitions. On a grander scale, though, this could all prove immaterial should Independents find themselves squeezed out in the coming national poll. The current 32nd Dáil has been dubbed the “do nothing Dáil” on a count of the fact that the fractured
nature of the house has seen a dearth of legislation passed. Many commentators put this down to the record number of Independents elected in 2016, making a Government majority ultimately impossible to form as it turned out. The minority Fine Gael/Independent Government has managed to limp on for over three and a half years but, given the worsening relations between FG and FF, whose abstention in key votes has allowed it continue, it seems that its day has definitely come. Expect all parties, big and small, to put the boot into Independents claiming they’re election is stopping them getting a proper legislative programme through. There is, possibly a kernel of truth in that, but the fact remains the public chose to elect a record number of Independents last time out. It was up to the major parties to offer them a programme for Government to make things work; that’s a failure on their part. Historically it can be said that some Independents are good, but on the evidence of this Dáil, perhaps there is an upper limit on how many creates an effective number, given current Dáil rules. We’ve seen how the likes of Tony Gregory and Jackie Healy-Rea have delivered in their constituencies in the past when Government numbers were very tight and the odd number of floating TD votes made up the num-
bers. Last time, there were just too many Independents needed to deliver that scale of investment in individual areas. Some may call that kind of horse trading politics bad for democracy but the area that benefits rarely complains. Will the voters of Clare ultimately look for a more stable Government going into the future, a future that will, as it stands, see the UK out of the EU? Or will they hope that a tight election with FF and FG gaining ground will need a small number of Independents and hope the Banner can cash in with an Independent voice? Elections are hard to predict and neither may transpire. It could come to pass that we get a comfortable Government majority without the need for Independents in which scenario, Clare voters would love to see Banner feet under the cabinet table. Historically, having two members of Government parties elected from Clare has been a prerequisite for that to occur. Nevertheless, we are still none the wiser as to the date of the election. With four by-elections next week, the Taoiseach may find his hand forced should his FG party not win any of the four seats on offer. It’s risky business and Leo may well regret not going with his previous instinct to call a full General Election for this month yet. Who wants a Christmas guessing if it’s canvassers or carollers at the door!
Yours sincerely, Innocent Iroaganachi Miltown Malbay
Email editor@clareecho.ie or send your letters to Editor, The Clare Echo, O’Connell Square House, Ennis, Co Clare. Only letters including name and location will be printed.
PRECARIOUS POSITION? Independent TD Dr Michael Harty could come under pressure
Entertainment
Tale of the Colleen Bawn
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N THE 200th year following her death Rob Hopkins and Jacinta Maloney’s Full Moon Theatre presents the tale of the cultural icon, Ellen Hanly, the Colleen Bawn. An engaging beauty of 15 years, orphaned of her mother, lives with her uncle, the country cobbler, John Connery until she falls under the spell of dissolute Squireen John Scanlan of Ballycahane Castle. They elope with uncle‘s considerable leather work wealth, £100 in paper money and 10 gold guineas and she is then catapulted into a world of lust, avarice and greed redolent of a present-day Mediterranean refugee and similarly left to flounder in a watery grave. The truth of this doomed love affair was obscured for years by a famed novel, Ger Griffin’s Collegians, Dion Boucicault’s play, Sidney Olcott 1911 film and an opera of international acclaim Julius Benedict’s Lilly of Killarney; these creative fantasies took the bare bones of the tragedy and gave them a glamorised “rags to riches” makeover. The “theatrical manifestations” crept further and further away from “the reality of her downfall” (to quote the play) absolving the squire of any guilt, blaming the servant, some even resurrecting the colleen from her watery grave and having her live “happily ever
after”. Boucicault’s version was staged at Glin in 1906 and its performance so incensed the girl’s surviving relatives, their protestations brought the production to a standstill and it had to be abandoned. No such unruly behaviour lies in store for the audience of this production. “Full Moon’s “eyewitness accounts” presents the unvarnished accounts through a number of first hand narrators, primarily Parson Dick, himself a blue blood cousin of the chief magistrate in the case, the Knight of Glin. Looking back on a chance encounter with Ellen Hanly and her wayward Leutenant from a late middle-aged memoir, the quaint delicacy of his manner puts a humorous distance between ourselves and the torrid encounters he describes. “It really was a rather ticklish situation” he understates, caught between an intoxicated army deserter brandishing a loaded musket and his terrified teenage bride. Though the child bride no doubt imagined a more conventional fairytale ending, two weeks after her marriage, conducted by the disguised servant-half brother to Scanlan, Stephen Sullivan, the brutal reality of her downfall comes to pass. Again this production spares us the graphic horror by transporting us in the finale, to
the era of silent movies with its stylised atmospheric ending. The standing ovations the production earned over the summer were well earned. These “eyewitness accounts” a patchwork of testimonies, memoirs and reports are drawn from research guided by Adare native Pat Fitzgerald whose authoritative opus “Colleen Bawn” unpacks conjectured fact from fiction. The cast in turn is drawn from the drama, musical and seinos traditions which flourish around the West Clare peninsula and present a fitting commemoration of this venerated tale, cooking up a slice of West of Ireland reality plucked from 1819 and served up on the shore of 2019 County Clare. Showing at glor Ennis, November 28. l TRUE STORY: Aobh Keating plays the Colleen Bawn
SUPPER THEATRE AT THE OLD GROUND
THE annual supper theatre takes place again this year at the old ground hotel. This year the Ennis Players have again come up trump’s with two brilliant plays packed with drama , humour, sadness and edge of your seat suspense. The first play written is “ Lucy in the sky” written Tony Layton and directed by Geraldine Greene. It tells the story of three women’s in a homeless shelter on one particular evening.Their very different reasons for what has brought them there becomes apparent as the play progresses. A wonderful play with a touching and heartfelt ending. The second play “ Wanda’s Visit” is a comedy . Written by Christopher Durang and directed by Paul Corey, it tells the story of an ordinary couple leading an ordinary life when an old girlfriend ‘ Wanda rocks up and causes havoc on the unassuming couple. Tickets are available at Glor priced at €18 including supper. The supper theatre runs from the 25th to the 28th of November.
Ar Scáth a Chéile for the RNLI 'AR SCÁTH a Chéile', a rare recording of stories, songs and music by Joe O'Connor (insert) and friends will be launched in Cois na hAbhna on Saturday 23rd November at 7pm. Lovers of traditional singing, recitation and storytelling will gather from near and far for what promises to be a very special night with all proceeds going to the RNLI to help fund the Lifeboat service. For many years, Joe O'Connor, has been the driving force behind the very successful Singing Sessions Programme at Fleadh Nua in Ennis, where some of the best known and respected singers from Ireland and Britain have taken part. Joe has a great passion for poetry, and he is in great demand at Fleadhs, festivals and singing sessions up and down the country. Finally giving in to constant requests over the years from friends far and wide, Joe decided to put this album together,
calling on some of his closest friends to help with songs and tunes. Contributions from singers Séamus Brogan, Bridget Delaney, Orla Murphy, Ann Mulqueen and Elle Marie O'Dwyer, and music by Martin Breen and Frank Whelan have complimented Joe's rendition of some old and familiar poems as well as one of his own compositions 'Lament for Robbie McMahon'. Born and reared in Miltown Malbay, it's no surprise that Joe has a great affinity with the sea, and this is evident in his own choice of recitations and in the songs and music he selected for the CD. Joe has dedicated the album to the memory of Irish Coast Guard volunteer, Caitriona Lucas, a highly experienced member of the Doolin Coast Guard, who was assisting the Kilkee unit in the search for a missing man when her boat capsized on September 12th, 2016. She was the first Irish Coast Guard volunteer to die in service.
Joe Queally, a fundraiser for many years for the RNLI, has described this 16 track CD as "a pure gem, a must have for anyone with even a passing interest in poetry and songs". The launch will be performed by Owen McMahon, son of Listowel writer Dr. Bryan McMahon, whose poetry is reflected in the CD. 'Ar Scáth a Chéile' is available from Cois na hAbhna, w w w. c o i s nahabhna.ie 065 6824276, Joe O'Connor 086 3985875 and Joe Queally 087 626 0301.
Community 22 COMMUNITY
EAST CLARE
THURSDAY, NOV 21 2019
CONTACT NEWSDESK
065 671 9021 news@clareecho.ie
ENNISTYMON
HANDBALL AWARD Kilkishen handball club were honoured by GAA handball president Joe Masterson at the national handball club forum in Croke Park recently. Club vice chairman Tim Custy and assistant secretary Liz Murphy received the award on behalf of the club for having the largest membership of any handball club in Ireland. The club caters for players in O Callaghan’s Mills, Kilkishen, Oatfield, Kilmurry and Sixmilebridge. The club membership is just over 150 at underage and adult level. Meanwhile the handballs clubs annual fundraising poker classic will be held at Jacks place Kilkishen on Friday the 6th of December at 10pm. Tickets are available from the officers, club members and on the night. O CALLAGHAN’S MILLS INDOOR CHRISTMAS FAIR The Christmas Fair will be held in the O Callaghan’s Mills Community Centre on Sunday the 1st of December from 4 to 7pm. It is free entry and plentiful free parking. There will be a fabulous selection of stalls on the day for Christmas shopping. All are welcome. We hope to see you there. EAST CLARE OPEN FEEDBACK FORUM Tourism East Clare is hosting its first open feedback forum to members of www.visiteastclare.ie and the public working in, or interested in Tourism in the East Clare region, on Thursday December 5 a 7.3opm in Scariff Community Centre. Representatives from every community in the region is welcome to attend and record observations. This informal meeting is intended to give a brief overview of the outcomes achieved by TEC thus far and the plans for 2020 (20 to 30 minutes), and allowing time for focussed feedback (45 minutes). Light refreshments are available throughout the evening. All are Welcome. For further information, contact tourismeastclare@gmail.com.
WEST CLARE KILRUSH CLOTHING COLLECTION Kilrush Youth Missionary[Taize] and Missionvale are holding a Clothing Collection up to Christmas 2019 as a fundraiser (clothing, curtains, towels, paired shoes, belts, handbags, blankets welcome). Please place them in Black plastic bags and drop them to the Kilrush Community School on Wednesday afternoons.
ENNISTYMON VOCATIONAL SCHOOL ANNUAL CONCERT For the fifth year in a row the students of Ennistymon Vocational School present their Annual concert on November 28th in the Falls Hotel. Doors Open at 7.30pm. The concert includes a cross-section of young people who enjoy performing the tunes, songs and dances of North Clare. Ennistymon is situated in the heart of the North Clare music tradition. The students regularly perform in their local community and beyond, including Fleadh Cheoil na hEireann. More recently, on Wednesday 13th November, the students from Ennistymon Vocational School were delighted to return once again to The Irish World Academy in University of Limerick to present an eclectic mix of Irish traditional tunes, song and dance, some with a very modern twist, at this lunchtime performance. The concert show-cases the talent of our young musicians who love to share their talents with the community and wider audiences.
NORTH CLARE DEMENTIA SUPPORT GROUP Dementia Support Group for carers takes place Wednesday 27th November at 7pm in the Stella Maris Lisdoonvarna. If you are caring for someone with Alzheimer's/Dementia this is an opportunity to meet with others also caring for a loved one. We will have someone from the Alzheimer's Society to offer advice and support please drop in for a chat and a cuppa. For further information please contact Fiona 0868347195 or Paula 0876184985.
Community THURSDAY, NOV 21 2019
HAPPY GRADUATION
Pictured at the Limerick Institute of Technology Thurles Campus Conferring Ceremony were, B.Sc (Hons) in Environmental and Geographical Sciences graduates, Grace English, Broadford Co. Clare, Eoin Fogarty, Roscrea Co. Tipperary, David Finane, Ballyshane Co. Offally and Lisa Sweeney, Castletroy Co. Limerick. Photo by Alan Place
GORT
Teachers Sharon Connolly and Aisling Collins from Gort Community School with JA Europe CEO Caroline Jenner (L) and Joao Santos (R) Deputy Head of Unit in the Directorate General for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion, European Commission
COMMUNITY 23 CONTACT NEWSDESK
065 671 9021 news@clareecho.ie
ENNISTYMON / KILLALOE Two President’s Award Leaders from Clare celebrated at Gaisce’s Civic Merit Awards Ceremony On Saturday 16th November 2019, Gaisce – The President’s Award held a special Civic Merit Award Ceremony, in recognition of 28 President’s Award Leaders from all over Ireland who have graciously supported young people to achieve their potential. The Civic Merit Ceremony took place at Farmleigh House in the Phoenix Park, Dublin. Among those being presented with their Civic Merit Award was Áine Meehan from Ennistymon Vocational School and Grace Kearney from St Anne’s Community College, Killaloe. Gaisce’s Civic Merit Award Ceremony honours President’s Award Leaders who have supported young people to take part in the Gaisce programme for more than five years. The ceremony was MC’d by Gold Awardee Jamie Moore and the guest speaker on the night was Irish sports commentator Mícheál Ó Muircheartaigh. Speaking about the Civic Merit Awardees, Yvonne McKenna, CEO of Gaisce – The President’s Award said, “Gaisce are delighted to celebrate the work of our President’s Award Leaders. We could not empower young people to realise their potential without them. Our President’s Award Leaders truly are the lifeblood of the Gaisce programme.”She continued, “Five years is a big milestone, and the time and hours given by you all collectively is enormous. Incalculable, however, is impact you have all had on the lives of young people in Ireland, an impact that will continue to be felt long after they have received their Gaisce award”. A special message from the President of Ireland, Michael D. Higgins was read by Chair of Gaisce – The President’s Award John Cunningham, “I thank you for the generous support you offer to the many young people who, every year, undertake the Gaisce journey. That is a greatly empowering journey on which you all play an important part, impacting positively on the development of so many of our younger citizens. Since its inception in 1985 over 178,000 young people have completed a Gaisce Award, including Rose of Tralee Maria Walsh and rugby star Robbie Henshaw. GORT COMMUNITY SCHOOL RECOGNISED AS ONE OF EUROPE’S BEST FOR ENTREPRENEURSHIP The Entrepreneurial Schools awards recently took place in Helsinki as part of the European Vocational Skills Week. For the fifth edition of the Entrepreneurial School awards, 34 innovative (academic and vocational) schools from 22 European countries have been selected at national level for their cutting-edge vision and outstanding implementation of entrepreneurship education programmes. Gort Community School has been announced as the overall winner at Junior Achievement Ireland’s (JAI) inaugural ‘The Entrepreneurial School Awards’ (TESA). The local second level school was recognised for its outstanding commitment to entrepreneurship education at the TESA Summit hosted by Microsoft. They scored the highest against key indicators promoting the sustainability of entrepreneurship education: the quality of the school’s strategy, the allocation of appropriate resource, the existence of relevant teacher training, the engagement of local and business communities, and the extent of the school’s best practice network. Sharon Connolly, one of two teachers from Gort Community School representing their school in Helsinki, commented, “Well done to all our fabulous, innovative, creative and dedicated students and teachers who work so well together. Together we create not just an excellent academic environment, but by sharing opportunities & experiences, we develop valuable life-long skills. This was made possible through the hard work and commitment of entrepreneurial students in Gort Community School, with support from so many dedicated parents and the local community.”
24 THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK
THURSDAY, NOV 21 2019
Ronan Scully
THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK Author spreading the word of positivity
The art of gratitude
‘Life is both Roses and Thorns!’ Sandra felt as low as the heels of her shoes as she pushed against a November gust and the florist shop door. Her life had been easy, like a spring breeze. Then in the fourth month of her second pregnancy, a minor automobile accident stole her ease. During this Thanksgiving week she would have delivered a son. She grieved over her loss. As if that weren’t enough, her husband’s company threatened a transfer. Then her sister, whose holiday visit she coveted, called saying she could not come. What’s worse, Sandra’s friend infuriated her by suggesting her grief was a God-given path to maturity that would allow her to empathize with others who suffer. “She has no idea what I’m feeling,” thought Sandra with a shudder. Thanksgiving? Thankful for what? She wondered. For a careless driver whose truck was hardly scratched when he rear-ended her? For an air bag that saved her life but took that of her child? “Good afternoon, may I help you?” The shop clerk’s approach startled her. “I....I need an arrangement,” stammered Sandra. “For Thanksgiving? Do you want beautiful but ordinary, or would you like to challenge the day with a customer favorite I call Thanksgiving “Special?” asked the shop clerk. “I’m convinced that flowers tell stories,” she continued. “Are you looking for something that conveys ‘gratitude’ this Thanksgiving?” “Not exactly!” Sandra blurted out. “In the last five months, everything that could go wrong has gone wrong.” Sandra regretted her outburst, and was surprised when the shop clerk said, “I have the perfect arrangement for you.” Then the
door’s small bell rang, and the shop clerk said, “Hi, Barbara...let me get your order.” She politely excused herself and walked toward a small workroom, then quickly reappeared, carrying an arrangement of greenery, bows, and long-stemmed thorny roses; Except the ends of the rose stems were neatly snipped: there were no flowers. “Want this in a box?” asked the clerk. Sandra watched for the customer’s response. Was this a joke? Who would want rose stems with no flowers! She waited for laughter, but neither woman laughed. “Yes, please,” Barbara replied with an appreciative smile. “You’d think after three years of getting the special, I wouldn’t be so moved by its significance, but I can feel it right here, all over again,” she said as she gently tapped her chest.
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A
lbert Einstein once said: “There are only two ways to live your life, one is as though nothing is a miracle, the other is as if everything is.” Perhaps one of the greatest geniuses of the previous century, Einstein expressed so eloquently a life philosophy predicated upon gratitude and thankfulness. Over the past year or so I have been giving a lot of thought about personally needing to develop a deeper gratitude for those things which I am truly thankful for.
Praise Him for your roses, thank Him for your thorns
“Uh,” stammered Sandra, “that lady just left with, uh....she just left with no flowers!” “Right, said the clerk, “I cut off the flowers. That’s the Special. I call it the Thanksgiving Thorns Bouquet.” “Oh, come off it, you can’t tell me someone is willing to pay for that!” exclaimed Sandra. “Barbara came into the shop three years ago feeling much like you feel today,” explained the clerk. “She thought she had very little to be thankful for. She had lost her father to cancer, the family business was failing, her son was into drugs, and she was facing major surgery.” “That same year I had lost my husband,” continued the
clerk, “and for the first time in my life, had just spent the holidays alone. I had no children, no husband, no family nearby, and too great a debt to allow any travel.” “So what did you do?” asked Sandra. “I learned to be thankful for thorns,” answered the clerk quietly. “I’ve always thanked God for good things in life and never to ask Him why those good things happened to me, but when bad stuff hit, did I ever ask! It took time for me to learn that dark times are important. I have always enjoyed the ‘flowers’ of life, but it took thorns to show me the beauty of God’s comfort. You know, the Bible says that God comforts us when we’re afflicted, and from His consolation we learn to comfort others.” Sandra sucked in her breath as she thought about the very thing her friend had tried to tell her. “I guess the truth is I don’t want comfort. I’ve lost a baby and I’m angry with God.” Just then someone else walked in the shop. “Hey, Phil!” shouted the clerk to the balding, rotund man. “My wife sent me in to get our usual Thanksgiving arrangement, twelve thorny, long-stemmed stems,” laughed Phil as the clerk handed him a tissue-wrapped arrangement from the refrigerator. “Those are for your wife?” asked Sandra incredulously. “Do you mind me asking why she wants something that looks like that?” “No...I’m glad you asked,” Phil replied. “Four years ago my wife and I nearly divorced. After forty years, we were in a real mess, but with the Lord’s grace and guidance, we slogged through problem after problem. He rescued our marriage. Jenny here (the clerk) told me she kept a vase of rose stems to remind her of what she learned from “thorny” times, and that was good enough for me. I took home some of those stems. My wife and I decided to label each one for a specific “problem” and give thanks for what that problem taught us.” As Phil paid the clerk, he said to Sandra, “I highly recommend the Special.” “I don’t know if I can be thankful for the thorns in my life,” Sandra said to the clerk. “It’s all too...fresh.” “Well,” the clerk replied carefully, “my experience has shown me that thorns make roses more precious.
We treasure God’s providential care more during trouble than at any other time. Remember, it was a crown of thorns that Jesus wore so we might know His love. Don’t resent the thorns.” Tears rolled down Sandra’s cheeks. For the first time since the accident, she loosened her grip on resentment. “I’ll take those twelve long-stemmed thorns, please,” she managed to choke out. “I hoped you would,” said the clerk gently. “I’ll have them ready in a minute.” “Thank you. What do I owe you?” Sarah asked. “Nothing; nothing but a promise to allow God to heal your heart. The first year’s arrangement is always on me.” The clerk smiled and handed a card to Sandra. “I’ll attach this card to your arrangement, but maybe you would like to read it first.” It read: “My God, I have never thanked You for my thorns. I have thanked You a thousand times for my roses, but never once for my thorns. Teach me the glory of the life I bear; teach me the value of my thorns. Show me that I have climbed closer to You along the path of pain. Show me that, through my tears, the colors of Your rainbow look much more brilliant.” Praise Him for your roses, thank him for your thorns. Thought for the week As your thought for the week, pray and try to become oriented toward looking for things to be grateful and thankful for. You will find that if you do, you will begin to appreciate simple pleasures and things that you previously took for granted. Thanksgiving should not be just a reaction to getting what you want, but an all the time thankful attitude, the kind where you notice the little things and where you constantly look for the good even in unpleasant situations. Happy Thanksgiving everyone especially to my American friends and relations and thank you most sincerely to those of you who read this column for your kind compliments during the year about my thoughts and reflections. Happy Thanksgiving to all my American family and friends and relations and to everyone and remember when Life gets sour, sweeten it with Thanksgiving!!
Skycourt in festive mood
Skycourt reveals festive programme as Omniplex prepares to open
STUART HOLLY editor@clareecho.ie
S
KYCOURT Shannon Town is gearing up for the Christmas season with a series of exciting announcements for the coming weeks. The Clare Echo can confirm that developments for the planned 6-screen are almost concluded, with Skycourt Centre Manager Dan O'Flynn confirming that the first screenings at Omniplex will take place in the first week of December. The Cinema will be located on the first floor in the former food court. With 6 screens and daily showings and a capacity of up to 153 in some screens, SkyCourt Shannon will be the new much needed hub of entertainment in Shannon. Omniplex cinemas offer a fully immersive cinema experience with leather seating, all the latest sound and visual technology along with the best offering of popcorn, treats and drinks. Mr O'Flynn told The Clare Echo, "I think it will change the dynamic of Skycourt, there's going to be six screens there and I believe it will draw more tenants in terms of food outlets for evening trade and weekends will be very busy too with kids clubs and things like that." Mr O'Flynn, who came on board as the new manager of the centre in May, says he's excited by the potential of Skycourt following positive developments within the centre, such as the arrival of Hook & Ladder and the upcoming Omniplex. Meanwhile, with Christmas less than five weeks away, the festive schedule is ready to be ramped up in Skycourt. A blessing of the
life-sized crib will take place on November 29 while from 11-1pm the school choirs will provide entertainment alongside the 20ft Christmas tree at the town square. Santa's Grotto will be arriving on November 30. Free to visit, families are being encouraged to meet Santa while browsing around the centre. There will be no fee to meet the man in the suit while professional photographer and a gift are optional extras. Santa's train will also be in operation in the mall every weekend leading up to Christmas, helping families and their little ones around the centre and adding to the fun. The ever-popular confessions at the Mall will take place on Friday, December 6, where local priests will be on hand to reach out to parishioners and take confessions. Meanwhile, a customer appreciation day will take place later on that day from 5-7pm. Mr O'Flynn explains that the customer appreciation day will offer families an enhanced and enjoyable shopping experience in the most festive of manners, "Shops will be giving special discounts, there will be free hot chocolate and mince pies in the mall, there'll be free sweets for kids around the place in the different shops. The retailers will have staff in the mall and handing out goodies and offering discounts." This will be followed by busking sessions on December 13-14, rounding up a very festive programme of events. "We're trying to reach out to the community and draw them back into the centre as a town centre rather than a shopping centre. Supporting local is very important, and we have a lot of independent traders here; pharmacies, independent shoe-shop, jewellers, Hook & Ladder is an independent operation, so keeping it local is a big thing."
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Tantalizing new dishes at award winning Gastro Pub
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ESIDENTS, visitors and foodies alike will delight in the refreshing flavours and tantalizing dishes from our new exciting menu at The Old Lodge Gastro Pub at Shannon Springs Hotel. Showcasing over 10 brand new dishes that feature only the freshest and best seasonal ingredients the cold months have to offer, The Old Lodge Gastro Pub, one of County Clare's favourite dining destinations, is set to please with exquisite contemporary cuisine with a nod to tradition, from seasonally inspired dishes to selection of tapas. The menu embraces the colder season by incorporating lamb, pork, rabbit, along with the traditional steaks, burgers, pasta and chicken dishes to name but a few. In addition, our mouth-watering desserts are a must, plus a sharing plate has been introduced to the menu if you are unable to choose between them all. Designed by our head chef Anthony Walsh, Anthony has developed a menu that delivers restaurant quality food in a pub setting. "The new menu showcases the exceptional range of dishes, on offer here at The Old Lodge Gastro Pub . The highlight of this menu is not only its innovative use of great, fresh flavours, but also its commitment to seasonality and responding to the growing trends and demands of our diners." Awarded our first AA Rosette in 2018 and retained for 2019 puts us on the map and recognised as a venue worth travelling to for its food. With Christmas fast approaching make us your preferred party spot for the festive season, offering party packages for as little as ₏29.95 per person. This includes mulled wine on arrival plus a delicious 4 course festive dinner with all the trimmings. Not forgetting our very popular Christmas Break-Up Lunches, Festive Afternoon Tea in "The Snug" or for a more casual affair we have Festive Finger Food packages to choose from. Sshhhh....This is where the magic happens. For an elegant and relaxed environment, our gastro pub here at The Old Lodge Gastro Pub at Shannon Springs Hotel, is the place to be and be seen at this winter. Offering live entertainment 4 nights a week – Thursday to Sunday nights. For reservations and further information call 061.364047 or email info@shannonspringshotel.com
. . . h h h SSh
! u n e m w e n r u O It’s here…
Come to our foodies paradise at The Old Lodge Gastro Pub at Shannon Springs Hotel. Enjoy the embracingly warm atmosphere and exquisite contemporary cuisine, with a nod to tradition. Our menu features a range of seasonally inspired dishes and tapas to choose from.
for Culinary Excellence
2019
Full Gastro Menu – Early Diner Specials – Costa Coffee Serving food daily from 12 noon to 9.30pm Ballycasey, Shannon, Co. Clare, V14 A336 T: 061 364 047 W: shannonspringshotel.com
New Town Park has officially opened
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HANNON'S new Town Park has been officially opened this week, with the Mayor of Clare Cllr Cathal Crowe branding it "an enormously valuable outdoor recreation amenity for the entire Shannon and South Clare community". The €1.5m development includes formal footpaths, a cycle track, an adventure play area, a cycle pump track (the region's first), seating and picnic areas, lighting and signange, the creation of a natural water feature and new native woodland planting. Designed by Nicholas de Jong & Associates (Urban Design) and Malachy Walsh & Partners (Engineers), and constructed by M. Fitzgibbon Contractors Ltd., the delivery of the project was managed by the Council's Planning Department. The new Shannon Town Park includes a distinctive bandstand providing a central focal point and an attractive outdoor venue for festivals and performances by local and visiting artists and musicians, which can be viewed from the informal semi-circular seating areas. A new Toucan pedestrian/cycle provides safe crossing on Bóthar Linne from schools and other public amenities in the area At the official opening on Tuesday, Cllr Crowe stated, "What a fabulous place this is! "I hope that in the many years to come it will be a place of play, relaxation, joy and solitude for the people of Shannon and beyond.
"A huge amount of work has gone into making this park possible and I want to acknowledge the efforts of some of the people who have been driving forces in this project - firstly I want to pay tribute to the Chief Executive of Clare County Council; Pat Dowling, the Director of Service Liam Conneally, Brian McCarthy, Helen Quinn, Candace Ingram and ALL of the personnel in our County Councils Planning Department for leading and delivering the park project. "I want to thank the builders and landscaping teams who have sweated and toiled to make this thing of beauty." The Fianna Fáil councillor continued, "The new Town Park provides an enormously valuable outdoor recreation amenity for the entire Shannon and South Clare community and will be a major component of the award winning Shannon Town Green Infrastructure Plan 2013, creating linkages with other key amenity areas including the Shannon Estuary Embankments cycle and footpath and the Shannon Wetlands Restoration Project. Cllr Crowe encouraged residents to respect the park to make sure it's a valuable amenity for years to come. "Shannon Town Park users are encouraged to respect this amenity and minimise impact on the environment by taking their litter home, keeping dogs under control and generally being considerate of other park users.
"This is Shannon's Town Park and from the get-go the people of Shannon need to take positive ownership of it. "This park is sparkling new on this winter's morning but it will beautifully evolve with the changing of the seasons. "I want to conclude by thanking the people of Shannon and beyond for joining us here today. Whether you are young or old, interested in high-energy activities or deep-relaxation I hope that Shannon Town Park will match all of your dreams and expectations in the years to come! A fully-lit central spine path meanders through the park, linking the Leisure Centre and St. Patrick's School to the town centre, and with a new Toucan pedestrian/ cycle crossing providing increased safety at the entry from Bóthar Linne. From a permeability and public safety viewpoint there
are a series of other access points into the park and walkways connecting the main activities, and enhancing the connectivity between recreational areas, schools, residential areas and the town centre amenities. The park is located within mature existing woodland and its design enhances the natural setting by retaining existing trees whilst creating additional features such as areas of wildflower meadow, the creation of a semi-natural pond feature with aquatic planting, 30 semi-mature trees, around 1,700 young trees and 250 metres of hedgerow, enhancing both the amenity and bio-diversity of the area. Shannon Town Park users are encouraged to respect this amenity and minimise impact on the environment by taking litter home, keeping dogs under control and generally being considerate of other park users.
Shannon businessman plays vital part in roll-out of HPV jerseys
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HPV vaccine jersey fitting day will take place at Clare County Council this Friday, with a Shannon businessman continuing to play a central role in the roll-out of the awareness campaign. There was unanimous backing to a motion from Cllr Paul Murphy (FG) to the local authority earlier this year to hold such an event. The jersey fitting day runs from 10am to 2pm this Friday at the Council offices on the New Rd in Ennis. Fittings and orders will be taken on the day, there will be a selection of five jerseys each for sale at â‚Ź17. Shane Collins, the man behind Smithstown-based BorĂş Sports, the sports company who has designed thousands of jerseys sporting the HPV vaccine logo, told The Clare Echo they have been "honoured" to be involved in the campaign. "At Boru Sports we were honored to be given the task of designing a jersey for this worthy campaign. For a small company with only five
or six employees it made a massive difference to our business, it afforded us the opportunity to produce sportswear for clubs throughout the country and beyond for whom we hadn't previously worked with". He added, "We are very grateful to Niall O'Connor, Kevin Brennan and the Brennan family for linking up with us for this initiative. It certainly went way above all our expectations and the volume of jerseys sold is a mark to Laura's legacy". According to the Newmarket-on-Fergus native, jersey sales have dipped with the GAA season winding down. However Shane pointed out, "The initiative continues in other ways with Liscannor and Cratloe underage teams recently getting quarter zip tops incorporating the HPV logo. Various local businesses have come on board kitting out their staff while the Clare Ladies Cycling Club currently have an order in for cycling tops".
Promote Your Business Contact us for ideas Shannon
Tel: 061 364750
Email: info@borusports.ie
Limerick
Confession, a chat or a blessing. Mercy on The Mall first took place in Skycourt Shopping Centre in Shannon for the first time in 2015 at the start of the Jubilee Year of Mercy. The
another success from both shoppers and management who have received requests from shoppers for Confessions on the Mall for Christmas. The initiative comes from the call of Pope Fran-
rience as “liberating”, a other remarked that it w a “new beginning”. Priests will be located different locations in t Mall if people wish to e gage with them.
l BEST IN MARKET: The St Senan's National School Christmas Market will take l BEST IN MARKET: Michelle Lambert, Sinead Kelly, Trina Alford, Linda O Conne place on Thursday, 5 December 2019 from 4-9pm. Pictured at last year's event is and Gillian Carrigh, members helping at the annual Shannon Christmas Michelle Lambert,committee Sinead Kelly, Trina Alford, Linda O'Connell and Gilligan Carrigh, members helping atSchool the annual Shannon Christmas Market held in St Photo by Joe Buck Marketcommittee being held in St Senans
Senans School.
Photo by Joe Buckley
Sparkling sale as Rita Gleeson bids farewell to Skycourt STUART HOLLY editor@clareecho.ie
T
HE longest-serving unit in Skycourt Shopping Centre is preparing to close its doors after more than three decades in business. Gleeson Jewellers will next Thursday, November 27, celebrate 32 years to the day since they established their business at Skycourt. To celebrate this, and in preparation for the retirement of its proprietor Rita Gleeson, Gleeson Jewellers are having a monster sale to thank their customers for years of support. With Christmas coming up, shoppers will be able to avail of 50 per cent off all gold jewellery and watches, and 25 per cent off all giftware. Speaking to The Clare Echo, Ms Gleeson admits that moving on from the shop which she marshalled over the years is a bittersweet feeling. A Tipperary native, Rita admits her heart is now in Clare. "I'm here since November 27, 1987. At that point in time there was no roof on our
l GRAB YOUR UNIQUE GIFT: Retirement Sale now on at Gleeson Jewellers
age A Mess from n Shanno r e b Cham As the business representative organisation for the greater Shannon area, our focus is on encouraging the development and sustainability of enterprise across all sectors, including retail. That’s why we would encourage everyone, the 8,000 people employed in the 170+ companies operating from Shannon and the community within Shannon itself, to think local when shopping for family and friends this Christmas. Investing in your local community is what makes it thrive. In the highly technological age we now live in, our call to you this Christmas is: take time out to stop and shop in Shannon. Tel: 061 475854 Email: admin@shannonchamber.ie www.shannonchamber.ie @SNNChamber Shannon Chamber of Commerce Shannon Chamber 003757 Shannon Chamber Advert.indd 1
Top 5 Reasons to SHOP LOCAL this Christmas
1. Support local enterp rise 2. Reduce climate change
3. Invest in your local community
4. Encourage local prosperity
5. Sustain local jobs
20/11/2019 14:36
shopping centre but we had great times. There's been great years trading, it's been a fantastic journey for me. I've loved every single day I've been here at Gleeson Jewellers. Now my journey is going to end, it has been fantastic but after 32 years I have to go out and finish off my bucket list of things to do in life. I will be sad in many ways because it's like my baby. I nurtured it, minded it and kept it together for that period of time. It hasn't always been a bed of roses but for the most part I love my job." While Rita has presided over Gleesons for positive days such as the Skycourt indoor redevelopment, the challenges she alludes to include the shop being destroyed by flooding in 2011, just one of the obstacles she overcame to make sure Gleeson Jewellers has been an ultimate success. Rita recounts, "We were flooded in 2011, that very bad winter. The pipes next door froze, it was St Stephens Day when I got a phone call at home when I was with my parents for Christmas Dinner and all of that and I came back and I was up to my knees here in water. That was a huge undertaking. Can you imagine on Stephens day to empty out this place. The shop front was destroyed, everything in here was destroyed. We relocated for two months in the centre which this place was being revamped. It was a huge cost to me. "I'm the longest trading tenant here. I swam upstream many times to keep this place going and it has worked out fantastically. I'm a very positive person in terms of when adversity comes my way, I always seem to find a way out of it. Many times in the early days, it was beans on toast. It wasn't always money in the till until we were established which took quite a few years, to be known, liked and trusted which is very important in this business. If you're handing in your engagement ring for me to repair, obviously you have to trust me and have the confidence in me to know what I'm doing so that's the way this shop built its reputation." Crafty shoppers will be interested to know what to look out for in the current sale, and Rita says that everybody from brides-tobe to Christmas shoppers will get great value to match the high quality products on offer. Gleeson Jewellers stock everything from Newbridge Silverware, Genisis Fine Art, Waterford Crystal, Tipperary Crystal to English Ladies, all of which are 25 per cent off, while a wide stock of watches and jewellery have seen even greater reductions. "It's Christmas time, and all our gold jewellery is down by 50 per cent, our watches are all down by 50 per
cent, our giftware is down by 25 per cent like the Waterford Crystal and the English Ladies. If you're intending getting engaged and you'd like a nice diamond come and talk to me, you'll get it at 50 per cent off. So we're going to really look after people on our way out." While Rita has yet to confirm a closing date, she added that she is eternally grateful for the support given to her by loyal customers over the years, "We are extremely busy, the sale is working very well. Fundamentally we could be gone Christmas Eve but we could be here 'til mid-February, that's my personal cut-off point. "I'd like to thank everybody for supporting us throughout the years that we've been here. There's been great goodwill, the amount of people that have come in or sent cards saying 'oh you're not going to close are you?' And it is a shop that shouldn't close because it's one of the best shops within the centre, because we carry all the best of giftware and all our services and Shannon people could certainly keep a jeweller here." Gleeson Jewellers in Skycourt Shopping Centre operate six days and offer in-house services such as engraving, while they also offer a horologist service for watch repairs a n d their own goldsmith for jewellery adjustment and repairs.
leeson Goldsmiths win 'Jeweller of the Year 2019' last Sunday night at G 'Brides of Limerick – Wedding Industry Awards'. Pictured here are Brian & Geraldine Gleeson.
FLAN O’NEILL BUILDING SUPPLIES & TOOL HIRE LTD. Tel: 061 362 822
Email: oneillsupplies1@gmail.com Sand, Agg, Colour Stone, Top Soil, Paving Stone etc.
Sheet Material Cut to Size
Smithstown Industrial Estate, Shannon, Co. Clare
36 COLUMNISTS
REELING IN THE YEARS
with Cian O’Broin
1994
BLOODY MURDERS SHOCK THE NATION
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PENING up the record books, the year reads 1994. Beside it lies the headline, ‘cold bloody murders’. Next to that, a face. The dark sullen eyes of a man that knows no remorse. A trail of bodies lay behind him. Young, old, innocent. It didn’t matter. In the eyes of a killer, human life holds little value. Brendan O’Donnell shocked the nation in 1994, through the darkness he threw over County Clare in the senseless killing of a mother, her infant son and the local priest, Father Joseph Walsh. But how did he do it and why? Let’s find out. Welcome to Reeling in the Years in Clare 1994. Imelda Riney of Dublin had two children in 1994, Oisin and Liam, ages seven and three respectively. After the breakdown of her marriage with Mr Val Ballance in 1992, Imelda moved back to Ireland to live in Co Clare. Despite the breakup, Imelda and Val remained in close contact. On April 24, 1994, he came back to Ireland to visit Imelda and her sons at their cottage in Scariff. Five days later, Mr Ballance took on some refurbishing work at a nearby school, taking the eldest boy, Oisin, to a neighbour’s house, leaving Imelda and Liam alone at the house. Imelda had planned to visit the school he was working on, but never arrived. Returning home, Mr Ballance found the gas to be still on and his ex-partners tobacco pouch on the counter, but no sign of her or her youngest son, Liam. He subsequently reported Liam and Imelda missing a day later, when his worries began to rise. Several witnesses gave account of sightings relating to the whereabouts of Imelda Riney on that very day. One man saw a car around midday being driven by Imelda, with a male passenger in the back seat behind her. Another woman gave an account of a woman matching Imelda’s description and car, with a man in the back. On April 30, a burned out car was found in the woods after Ms Riney’s disappearance. Several days later, the evidence revealed the dark, cold truth. It was her car. Imelda Riney was shot in the left eye socket at point blank range, along with her three year old son, Liam, who was shot in the side of the head. Both bodies were then buried in a wood in County Clare, the jury heard. Brendan O’ Donnell was only getting started. Father Joseph Walsh was last seen going to his house at Eyrecourt, Co Galway, on May 3 after midnight. The next day he was reported missing, having failed to attend a local sermon that he habitually gave. On May 5, a man told the jury that he saw O’Donnell driving Fr Walsh’s Opel Astra. On May 6, in the parish of Whitegate, a car matching Fr Walsh’s was found burnt out. Forensic teams later uncovered the body of Fr Walsh not far from the bodies of Brendan’s previous victims, Imelda and Liam. The clergyman was also shot in the left temple from close range, similar to the fate of young Liam Riney. Brendan’s erratic, frenzied and incongruous bodycount tested fate itself and his subsequent capture, seemed like a blatant inevitability. On May 6, after burning out Fr Walsh’s vehicle, O’Donnell was spotted in Williamstown where he abducted a Ms Fiona Sampson, whom he forced to walk barefoot along boggy ground at the length of a gun. His next move was to take a car belonging to a Mr Cleary who, after stalling the car whilst being held at gunpoint, allowed the Gardai to close ranks on O’Donnell and his captives. Mr Cleary then succeeded in grabbing the gun from Brendan who discharged a shot into the roof. When Gardai captured O’Donnell they found his pocket lined with .22 bullets, matching the same harbingers of fate that took the lives of Imelda, Liam and Father Walsh. O’Donnell denied all three counts of murder following his rampage in 1994, showing little remorse. Why did he do it? What was his motivation? The Clare native suffered from psychosis and at the age of 23, he met perhaps a timely demise, suffering a major cardiac arrest and death at St.Vincent’s Hospital in Dublin after a bad reaction to his anti-psychotic medicine.
THURSDAY, NOV 21 2019
WITH CIAN O’BROIN
Holy Family eliminates use of 120,000 bottles each year
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HE Holy Family primary school in Ennis serves as an exemplary example on its stance and response to climate change and environmental issues. Conscientious, concerned and enterprising, the children of the senior school ranging from second all the way up to sixth class, have a hand to play in restructuring our approach to environmentalism from the ground up. David Moroney is currently operating as the Green Schools Co-ordinator within the school, with the hope of achieving a highly reputable fifth Green Flag for ‘Global Citizenship of Litter and Waste’ in 2020 and in the process, hopes to reach out to the inner activist within all of his fastidious pupils. David has taken over as Co-Ordinator from Eilis Faherty, who has fought ardently over the last seven or eight years to achieve four green flags for the Holy Family primary school. Their first green flag was achieved for litter and waste management, a second for water consumption, a third for environmentally friendly travel including programmes such as ‘Walk on Wednesdays’ and the fourth and final Green Flag was awarded in May 2017 for Biodiversity. Already acclimatising to the splendour of a national podium in environmentalism, David wishes to ensure the work of previous years is not undone in looking too far ahead, “We have four green flags already, our policy isn’t just in getting a flag for the sake of it, we prefer to embed what we do rather than look for the next flag. Once it becomes part of the culture here, only then are we happy to look to our newest venture.” Culture, positive affirmation and responsibility is tantamount to the Green Schools structure within the Holy Family, with a specialised Green Schools Committee set up involving two representatives from each classroom who meet bi-monthly, to discuss where the school is at and future movements. David lauds the fact that “each and every student loves the responsibility. They thrive on it. Oftentimes, the children that are put forward for the roles would be children that don’t necessarily look for the limelight but assume the role because they actually do care for the environment. This culture has been brought across to the Holy Family Junior School.” Whilst running for a fourth flag for biodiversity, each class had their own role to play in conducting research. Each representative from every class held their respective jobs such as litter wardens, travel officers, water monitors and light sherrifs. “All of the children work together towards the goal of the flag, that way we are consciously embedding the procedures and when you achieve the flag it’s an acknowledgement of work completed.” Small tweaks in consumption and waste make all the difference environmentally. In pursuit of this year’s flag relating to global citizenship of litter and waste, the Holy Family has introduced reusable water bottles for all children, eliminating the influx of plastic water bottles on campus. Previously, through a free lunch scheme incorporated by the school, which included a plastic bottle for each child every day, amounted to a total of 120,000 bottles per year. This has now been completely eliminated and large 25 litre water dispensers have been installed in the school. The installation of a community garden has been a huge factor in achieving and educating around the topic of biodiversity, with children becoming more aware of the dangers of deforestation such as commercial forestry at a local level. “We have a beautiful new garden, where one of our parents Monika Beau, is adding a poly tunnel extension which will be fully fenced in. She is trying to develop a community garden that pupils can use but also local groups can use. There will be over 20 raised beds, little orchards, a poly-tunnel and a sensory garden to accommodate all children. It also incorporates waste management with various composters while the parents association work with the children to weed the garden. Being in an inner town school, we take it for granted that we had a garden, a lot of children nowadays living in apartments don’t have gardens. It can be very therapeutic for them.” The youth of today are certainly the key to a sustainable future and Holy Family primary school hold this philosophy dear to their heart. As a final note, David Moroney spoke of the resounding effects of the work being carried out by the green schools, “In today’s meeting one of the children said, “well if I tell my Mom, Dad and Nana about this, then there is three people’s lives that I could change.” This is what we are looking for, a knock-on effect. If you see a child picking up litter on the street you would be more likely to do it yourself, as you’re aware that this child knows what is right and what is wrong.” David would also like to thank and mention the hard work of school principal Sarah Barnes as well as HSCL, Barbara Buckley.
Property
Beautiful homes all over the County
DRUMQUIN €195,000 TIERMACLANE, ENNIS CO CLARE
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17 ANNAGH DUN INAGH, ENNIS CO CLARE
€205,000
4 CUL DAIRE LISSYCASEY, ENNIS CO. CLARE
€225,000
26 WATERSIDE CAPPAHARD ENNIS, CO CLARE
€172,500
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O. 4 Cul Daire is a superb 4 bedroomed detached home situated in the heart of the village of Lissycasey. It is situated to the front of the development with access onto the N67 Ennis to Kilrush road and is within easy reach of Ennis town and the M18 motorway that connects it with Limerick and Galway. The ground floor comprises an entrance hall, living room, reception room, kitchen, sun/dining room, utility room and a downstairs WC. On the first floor there are four bedrooms (one with en-suite and a walk-in wardrobe) and a bathroom. Externally to the front there is a tarmacadam driveway with ample space for parking, mulched shrubbery beds and a stone-cut wall with mature hedge. The property boasts an private back garden that is mainly in lawn with a paved patio area and hedging and shrubbery on the boundaries. The garden can be accessed at both sides of the house. Viewing of this superb family home is highly recommended.
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HIS property is a quality 4 bedroomed semi detached home situated in the Waterside development on the Tulla Road in Ennis. Accommodation on the ground floor comprises an entrance hall, WC, kitchen/dining area and a living room. On the first floor there are 4 bedrooms (all with fitted wardrobes, one with an en-suite) and a bathroom. Accommodation is bright and spacious throughout. To the rear of the house the back garden is part gravelled with a paved patio area and a large raised shrubbery bed that is mulched and has a sleeper boundary. Externally to the front there is a tarmacadam driveway with off-street parking, a gravelled bed and it overlooks a green area. The town centre is 20 minutes walk. Viewing is highly recommended.
Contact: Danielle O'Connor Sherry FitzGerald McMahon Tel: 065 686 7866 PSL 001212
Contact: Diarmuid McMahon Sherry FitzGerald McMahon Tel: 065 686 7866 PSL 001212
Contact: Diarmuid McMahon Sherry FitzGerald McMahon Tel: 065 686 7866 PSL 001212
€160,000
CAPPAGH LODGE, €399,000 CAPPAGHBEG, BAREFIELD ENNIS, CO. CLARE
ERRIBUL, €45,000 LABASHEEDA, KILRUSH CO CLARE
MOYRIESK, QUIN ENNIS, CO. CLARE
HIS fine 4 bedroom detached residence is ideally located in a small established residential development situated within close proximity to Kilkee. The property is finished to an extremely high standard and would be suitable as a family or holiday home. Accommodation is spacious and comprises 120 sq.m. (1,291 sq.ft. approx) to include a living room, kitchen and dining area, 2 bathrooms and 4 bedrooms. Externally the property has the benefit of a large garden to the rear and a maintenance free, pea gravelled driveway to the front. All local amenities and the beach are within walking distance. Viewings are highly recommended.
HIS is an idyllic detached family home in an extremely sought after location. This magnificent home is located just 2km from Barefield Village and the M18 Limerick to Galway motorway. Barefield benefits from an active local community including the "Tidy Village Association". Their efforts are evident to visitors in their planting, flower beds and litter control. The area also benefits from a strong community watch programme. The ground floor comprises an entrance hall, reception room, double bedroom, shower-room, openplan kitchen/living/dining area which opens into a sun-room. On the first floor there are three double bedrooms (one with en-suite and a walk-in-wardrobe) and a bathroom. This fine property also has the benefit of two attic-rooms on the second floor which could have any number of potential uses. Externally to the front of the property there is a stone-cut wall, the front garden and rear gardens are in lawn with semi-mature trees dotted through the site and mulched shrubbery beds with stone-cut surround. There is a tarmacadam driveway to the front that wraps around the house to the block-built garage.
HIS is an attractive two bedroom cottage set in a countryside location just a short distance from the Shannon Estuary and 5.7km from Labasheeda Village. The property is in need of some repairs and modernisation works and is set on an attractive 0.5 acre site. Accommodation includes a central kitchen/living/dining area, 2 bedrooms and a bathroom. There is some water damage to one of the bedrooms. There is a small shed to the rear of the house. The property is made up of folio CE24334. An excellent opportunity to purchase a private get away in a beautiful location
HIS magnificent family home is ideally located in the extremely sought after Moyriesk area in Quin, 10 minutes from the M18 motorway and 15 minutes approx. from Ennis town centre. The property is presented superbly and stands on a landscaped site of circa 0.5 acres (0.21 hectares). Accommodation on the ground floor comprises an entrance hall, living room, kitchen/dining area, utility room, two double bedrooms and a shower-room that can be accessed from one of the bedrooms and from the utility room. On the first floor there are three spacious double bedrooms (one with en-suite) and a bathroom. Externally there is a tarmacadam driveway to the front with ample space for parking that wraps around to the side of the house. The gardens are mainly in lawn with hedging, and fencing on the boundaries of the site with a cut-stone wall to the front. There is a paved patio area, a concrete base for a garage and a shrubbery and mature trees dotted throughout the edges of this fine property. Viewing of this superb family home is highly recommended.
Contact: Danielle O'Connor Sherry FitzGerald McMahon Tel: 065 686 7866 PSL 001212
Contact: Diarmuid McMahon Sherry FitzGerald McMahon Tel: 065 686 7866 PSL 001212
Contact: Diarmuid McMahon Sherry FitzGerald McMahon Tel: 065 686 7866 PSL 001212
Contact: Diarmuid McMahon Sherry FitzGerald McMahon Tel: 065 686 7866 PSL 001212
fine 3 bedroom detached residence located in Drumquin, on the main Ennis to Kildysart road R473. Accommodation is spacious and well laid out comprising an entrance hall, living room, kitchen/dining area, utility room, hall, three bedrooms (one with ensuite) and a bathroom. Upstairs there is a large open-plan "studio" that spans the entire first floor and provides access to attic storage to the front and rear. The front garden is in lawn with a tarmacadam driveway and two entrances. There is a large garage to the side of the house with ample storage and two roller doors. There is a paved area to the rear of the house and a slabbed patio area with great privacy. Ideal family home, viewing is highly recommended. Contact: Diarmuid McMahon Sherry FitzGerald McMahon Tel: 065 686 7866 PSL 001212
11 THE BROOKS KILKEE CO CLARE
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HIS beautifully presented 3 bedroom detached property comes to the market in excellent condition. Located in an established residential development, close to all local amenities with the added advantage of being within a 10 minute drive of Lahinch. Accommodation is spacious and comprises 120 sq.m (1,291 sq.ft.) approx and includes an open plan kitchen and dining area, utility/ shower room, ground floor toilet, sitting room, bathroom and 3 bedrooms (one of which is ensuite). The gardens are mainly in lawn with a pea gravel and tarmac driveway and an easy to maintain rear garden with patio area. Due to the size and location of this property it would make an ideal family home. Viewings of this fine home come highly recommended.
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€289,000
38 BUSINESS
BUSINESS
THURSDAY, NOV 21 2019
CONTACT US WE’RE ON FACEBOOK, TWITTER AND INSTAGRAM #CE
A hat-trick of awards for Clare-based Beckman Coulter
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NE of Clare’s largest employers is celebrating after being recognised with three major awards at the IDA’s annual Invest in Ireland Awards 2019, held in Dublin’s Intercontinental Hotel last Thursday. Biomedical device maker Beckman Coulter employs 390 people at its site near Tulla, east Clare and it was the hardworking staff who were singled out for praise by delighted Site Director Orlaith Lawler who was on hand to receive the awards with some of her management team. 2019 is the second year of
the Invest in Ireland Awards which are used to demonstrate excellence in all areas of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) activity in Ireland, and to celebrate businesses impact on the economic, social, environmental and cultural life of the country. Beckman Coulter won the award in the categories of Excellence in Regional Investment and for Commitment to Sustainability. The company capped a highly memorable evening by also being awarded the top honour of the night – the Overall Grand Prix Award winner. Commenting, Site Director Orlaith Lawler said: “We were
delighted to win both the environmental sustainment and regional investment awards and then the Grand Prize award really was the icing on the cake. It is great to see the hard work and dedication of our team, both past and present recognised in this way. To be presented a hat trick of trophies is such a huge triumph for us all.” The company last month received the Crefog award for environmental sustainability from the American Chamber of Commerce for the MidWest Region. For more information, please contact StoryLab: 086 173 9523
l LEARNING
ON THE JOB:
Clare locals James O’Callaghan (Munster Group) and Kate Walsh (Munster Group) Photo by Colin Gillen/ framelight.ie
Clare Insurance Graduates
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FTER three years of studying and on-the-job training, Clare locals James O’Callaghan and Kate Walsh graduated last week from The Insurance Institute’s first ever Insurance Practitioner Apprenticeship. They along with 31 other apprentices from all over Ireland, graduated at an awards ceremony in IT Sligo. The Insurance Practitioner Apprenticeship is the first of its kind in Ireland and the first apprenticeship to award a Level 8 honours degree. It is delivered by The Insurance Institute in partnership with IT Sligo and LIA, and supported by SOLAS and the HEA through funding. Apprentices gain their qualifications through a three-year programme of distance learning and on-the-job experience in insurance companies. Apprentices receive professional qualifications after both their first and second year, graduating with a degree following their third year. Further information on the Insurance Practitioner Apprenticeship is available at: www.earnandlearn.ie
Clare eco-friendly business to feature at Gifted Cork
Beckman Coulter Site Director Orlaith Lawler pictured receiving one of the company’s three awards at the Invest in Ireland Awards in Dublin, from IDA CEO Martin Shanahan. Also pictured is Beckman Coulter’s Senior HR Manager Karen Kelly; Financial Controller Paul Henry (left), Environmental Health & Safety Manager Bryan Tobin and Senior EH&S specialist Vinnie Blake. Picture courtesy IDA
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N eco-friendly family-run Clare business will be in the spotlight at Gifted Craft and Design Fair Cork at City Hall Cork from November 29 to December 1. Killaloe-based Palm Free Irish Soap Ltd is cleaning up in both environmental issues and in business where sales of a new deodorant bar are projected to reach 20,000 next year. Over 8,000 of the new Deo-Bar have already been sold since it was introduced in January, and two new variations have been added to the range to meet demand, according to company director Tony Hoynes. “The Deo-Bar has been very well received so far, especially with the growing awareness to excess plastics, harmful aluminium salts and the negative effects of the aerosol sprays,” he said. “The bars have been such a big hit that we are now introducing another two variations, one of them being unscented for those with more sensitive skin or for use post-surgery where essential oils would not be suitable.” Palm Free Irish Soap has grown hugely since its foundation in Killaloe five years ago to produce rainforest friendly palm oil free soap and natural cosmetics. The company are about to move into a new 5,000 sq ft unit locally which will be fully insulated and kitted out with LED
low energy lighting and up-cycled furnishings. Eco-friendliness and climate change are at the heart of Palm Free Irish Soap Ltd and the company recently sponsored the planting of 1,000 trees in the area. Formerly known as the City Hall Crafts Fair, Gifted Cork is the traditional start to the Christmas shopping season and is home to over 100 stands packed with original gifts from food to fashion, jewellery and beyond. This year sees the launch of Art Source Cork, featuring the best of contemporary Irish artists, which will run alongside Gifted Cork and will feature 20 of Ireland’s top artists and galleries showcasing affordable contemporary art for the home. Gifted Cork also features The Spectacular Christmas Food Emporium with over 25 local artisan food producers, tempting visitors with the best of the season’s fare. “There will be a huge concentration on sustainable gifts at Gifted Cork, with some of Ireland’s most original sustainable fashion, beauty and homeware brands,” said organiser Patrick O’Sullivan. Gifted Craft and Design Fair Cork and Art Source Cork take place at the City Hall Cork from November 29 to December 1. Full details can be found online at giftedcork.ie
BUSINESS 39
THURSDAY, NOV 21 2019
One of the Best Irish Welcomes found at Moher Hill Cottage STUART HOLLY
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editor@clareecho.ie
ne of Ireland’s Best Irish Welcome’s is in Clare for the second year in a row. Moher Cottage, a small gift shop and coffee shop in Liscannor, wins the accolade from the Irish Independent Reader Travel Awards ( pictured below). The business is joined by four of Ireland’s top large hotels; The Adare, Manor; Hay-
field Manor, Mount Juliet and The Renvyle House Hotel. Caitríona Considine, who owns the business with her husband Kevin near the Cliffs of Moher said she was “delighted to be a finalist for the second year, especially as Moher Cottage only opened its doors two and a half years ago. But to be listed with four of Ireland’s most renowned five star and four star hotels who are really amazing at what they do, is just so uplifting. “We believe we have something special here in Moher Cottage in the human touch, and so far, thankfully our customers are enjoying the experience which is so important to us”, she added. Caitriona, who gave up her job in the corporate world to pursue her dream, notes: “We are still a relatively new small family business, built up from our old cow shed and pigsty on our farm in the most wonderful location in north Clare beside the majestic Cliffs of Moher”. She attributes her success to a lot of hard work and support from other businesses in Clare and the community in Liscannor right from the very beginning. “With some of our neighbours working with us it really is a team and community effort.” she commented. Moher Cottage has in the last year brought
Hat-trick for Beckman Coutler at IDA Awards
A TRIO of awards for Clarebased Beckman Coulter at the IDA's prestigious annual Invest in Ireland Awards. One of Clare's largest employers is celebrating after being recognised with three major awards at the IDA's annual Invest in Ireland Awards 2019, held in Dublin's Intercontinental Hotel. Biomedical device maker Beckman Coulter employs 390 people at its site near Tulla, east Clare and it was the hardworking staff who were
singled out for praise by delighted Site Director Orlaith Lawler who was on hand to receive the awards with some of her management team. 2019 is the second year of the Invest in Ireland Awards which are used to demonstrate excellence in all areas of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) activity in Ireland, and to celebrate businesses impact on the economic, social, environmental and cultural life of the country. Beckman Coulter won the
the business online following requests from many of their visitors. Their online store mohercottage.com now ships internationally their range of unique Irish hand-made craft and design products, many of which Caitriona sourced after meeting fellow entrepreneurs on the ACORNS programme. ACORNS is a government led initiative, sponsored by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine to help women starting out in business in rural Ireland and Caitriona notes the ACORNS programme has been another driving force of invaluable support. She is hopeful that Moher Cottage will help to secure the future of the couple’s other business, Considines Bar’, which is located across the road and run by her husband Kevin. The bar has been in the family for over four generations, its first licence on record from 1868. She said: “At one time the bar also had a shop, which stocked local produce from the area, so in a way we have come full circle with Moher Cottage.” “We plan to continue working hard to keep moving forward to secure the future of the two businesses and are very much looking forward to the new decade, meeting locals and visitors from around the world.”
Caitriona also noted that there should be also “big congratulations to the Cliffs of Moher also listed for the second year in a row as finalist for the Best Visitor Attraction. Having won this category last year they are so deserving of this recognition going into 2020.” Pól O’Conghaile, travel editor of Irish Independent’s Weekend magazine and independent.ie, is one of the judges of these awards. He notes of the full finalist list “Think of it as a ceád míle fáilte for the 2020s... right now, we’re booking the first holidays of a new decade. These are the heroes you trust to take you there”.
l CÉAD MÍLE FÁILTE: Moher Hill Cottage has been recognised for its welcome for the second year in a row
PUT YOUR PALMS UP FOR CORK
award in the categories of Excellence in Regional Investment and for Commitment to Sustainability. The company capped a highly memorable evening by also being awarded the top honour of the night – the Overall Grand Prix Award winner. Site Director Orlaith Lawler said: "We were delighted to win both the environmental sustainment and regional investment awards and then the Grand Prize award really was the icing on the cake”.
l #WINNING: Beckman Coulter Site Director Orlaith Lawler pictured with IDA CEO Martin Shanahan. Also pictured is Beckman Coulter’s Senior HR Manager Karen Kelly; Financial Controller Paul Henry, Environmental Health & Safety Manager Bryan Tobin and Senior EH&S specialist Vinnie Blake.
l ECO FRIENDLY: Tony, Sorcha, and Jade Hoynes as well as Oscar the Poodle of Palm Free Irish Soap who will feature at Gifted Craft and Design Fair Cork at City Hall Cork from November 29 to December 1. Killaloe-based Palm Free Irish Soap Ltd is cleaning up in both environmental issues and in business where sales of a new deodorant bar are projected to reach 20,000 next year. Over 8,000 of the new Deo-Bar have already been sold since it was introduced in January, and two new variations have been added to the range to meet demand, according to company director Tony Hoynes. The company are about to move into a new 5,000 sq ft unit locally which will be fully insulated and kitted out with LED low energy lighting and up-cycled furnishings. Eco-friendliness and climate change are at the heart of Palm Free Irish Soap Ltd and the company recently sponsored the planting of 1,000 trees in the area.
MOTORING
MOTORING EXPERT NEIL BRISCOE GIVES HIS VIEWS
DRIVING MAZDA’S GREAT PETROL HOLY GRAIL
DOES THE CLEVER NEW SKYACTIV-X ENGINE TRULY DELIVER IN MAZDA’S NEW CX-30 CROSSOVER?
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MAZDA SKY ACTIV X
AZDA’S new SkyActiv-X engine is, in many ways, supposed to be something of a holy grail of engineering — an engine that takes the best of both diesel and petrol ignition and combustion systems, combines them in one engine, and hopefully, theoretically, serves you up an engine that’s cleaner and more efficient. Mazda, if you know your motoring history, has form in the oddball engine arena. The Japanese company kept rotary engines going well past their sell-by date (to the delight of enthusiasts, if not necessarily of all owners), and more recently has (successfully) ploughed a furrow of using large-capacity, naturally-aspirated engines to achieve the sorts of fuel and emissions savings that everyone else turns to turbos and downsizing for. SkyActiv-X is something different again. Technically it’s a spark-controlled compression ignition engine, or SCCI, and that means, in the broadest possible terms, that it burns petrol, but does so like a diesel engine. Of course, it’s not that simple. Diesel engines operate by compressing the fuel and air squirted into their cylinders, pressing and pressing and pressing, increasing the pressure until — following the Gay-Lussac law — the pressure increase causes the temperature in the cylinder to exceed the flame point of the fuel, and then the whole lot explodes, pushing the piston back down.
It’s a hugely efficient way of burning fuel (hence why diesel engines are, generally, so economical) but it’s noisy, the fuel itself is smelly and unpleasant, and as we are increasingly aware, it’s very dirty, spewing both particles of soot and noxious gasses, such as nitrogen dioxide. These then have to be dealt with using expensive exhaust filters and injections of urea fluid, and so diesel engines, to be clean enough to use, are becoming increasingly expensive. The Sky-Activ-X doesn’t simply put petrol into a diesel compression cycle. It uses a little more finesse than that. Basically, at first, it is very diesel-like. The compression is high, 16.3:1 which if you’re an engineering nerd is way, way higher than anyone else squeezes their petrol mixtures. That’s not enough to generate combustion, though. The SkyActiv-X uses a massively lean mixture — far, far more air than petrol in the mix, like those 1990s ‘Lean Burn’ Toyota engines but turned up to 11 —so it needs a final kick to explode. That comes in the form of a tiny, final, extra squirt of fuel that is ignited by a small spark plug. That doesn’t ignite the entire mixture, but it is enough to increase both pressure and temperature (which we now know are inextricably linked) to tip the whole mixture over into combustion. It sounds incredibly nerdy. It is incredibly nerdy, really, but it’s also fascinating, and it has taken two decades of patient research to bring it to the market. So, was it worth the effort? To find out, we’ve taken two mostly identical versions of Mazda’s handsome new CX-30 crossover. One has the basic 2.0-litre SkyActiv-G 122hp petrol engine, the other the new SkyActiv-X. A long drive in the basic car proves several things — that it’s impressively refined and fun to drive,
but it’s short on torque, which means you need to be patient when you’re waiting for power, drop a gear, and accelerate harder than you will have been used to in your turbocharged diesel heyday. Still, even doing that, it’s quite economical — 6.3-litres per 100km is hardly bad from a 2.0-litre petrol being driven briskly. The SkyActiv-X engine feels instantly different, but not wildly so. It’s a little noisier at tickover, not enough to cause aural offence, but enough that you’d notice it hopping straight from one car to the other. You also immediately feel the extra torque. The standard 2.0-litre engine develops a meagre 213Nm of torque, and the SkyActiv-X develops just 224Nm. Normally, I’d suggest that no driver could ever detect so small a difference on the road, but you do feel it. The torque of the X engine isn’t much higher, but it is developed at lower rpm than that of the conventional engine, and the torque curve is flatter, so it hangs around longer. You certainly notice that you can hook a higher gear earlier in the X-engine car, and keep it there. Even so, performance is not what you’d call electric. The SkyActiv-X engine is, in spite of 180hp, quite a languid performer, but it’s nice — refined and smooth at a cruise, and with a very sweet-shifting sixspeed gearbox, it’s never a chore to go and hunt for its sweet spot, performance-wise. What about fuel economy, though? Surely the whole point of paying out the extra cost of the SkyActiv-X engine is Mazda’s claim that it can be as much as 30 per cent more economical in certain circumstances than the standard engine. Well, this is where my wife’s work comes into play — more research is needed. Questions have beget more questions still. Our test route was relatively brief in the
FACTS & FIGURES Model tested: Mazda CX-30 SkyActiv-X 2WD GT Sport Pricing: €36,965 as tested; CX-30 starts at €29,495 Engine: 2.0-litre four-cylinder spark-compression ignition petrol Transmission: six-speed manual, frontwheel drive Body style: family crossover CO2 emissions: 133g/km (Band B2 €280 per annum) Combined economy: 47.9mpg (5.9 litres/100km) Top speed: 204km/h 0-100km/h: 8.5 seconds Power: 180hp at 6,000rpm Torque: 224Nm at 3,000rpm Boot space: 430-1,406 litres Safety: Euro NCAP rating for Mazda CX30: Not yet tested
X car (although, cheekily, we took two goes at it) and on unfamiliar roads, but there just might be something to this X malarkey. Overall, we scored fuel economy of 6.2-litres per 100km (or 47mpg). That’s only 0.1-litres per 100km better overall than the standard car, so that seems like a bit of a defeat, right? Well, perhaps not. After all, we are talking about an engine that has almost 60hp more power than that standard car, and yet has proved — if only fractionally — more economical in roughly the same conditions. I think there’s more to come here. I think, potentially, once we get this engine onto roads at home and start driving it under more familiar conditions, that it might just be able to stretch its economical legs, a little. Quite apart from the specifics of the clever new engine, the CX-30 crossover is an utter star. It’s a touch pricey, but it gets stunningly handsome looks, partially lifted from the Mazda 3 hatchback, a gorgeous interior (ditto) and a truly sharp and rewarding chassis (ditto ditto). If you’re not bothered by all the SkyActiv-X tech, you can choose from a less complex 122hp 2.0-litre petrol mild-hybrid engine, or Mazda’s new (and very impressive) 1.8-litre diesel.
MOTORING
MOTORING EXPERT NEIL BRISCOE GIVES HIS VIEWS
FORD SHOWS OFF NEW TRANSIT CAMPER
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TRANSIT CUSTOM NUGGET HAS ITS OWN WIFI HOTSPOT
HE Ford Transit Custom Nugget is officially on sale now (although Irish prices are not yet confirmed) following its public debut at The Motorhome and Caravan Show 2019. Transit Custom Nugget creates a Wi-Fi hotspot for up to 10 devices, enabling campers to stream a movie, catch up with work online and keep the kids amused with their favourite TV shows, thanks to the Ford Pass Connect on-board modem providing Wi-Fi availability up to 15 metres. “The connected Transit Custom Nugget enables people to roam and relax while staying in touch with friends, family or work when – or if – they choose,” said Hans Schep, general manager, Commercial Vehicles, Ford of Europe. The onboard Wi-Fi is good news for a growing tribe of “digital nomads” - those who travel and work online full-time, while the rise of the hashtag #vanlife has reflected the increasing popularity of life on the road.
According to the Caravanning Industry Association, a record 125,000 motorcaravans were sold in Europe in 2018, with sales of the more compact one-tonne campers growing 13 per cent, according to Ford data. Booming sales are forecast to continue well into the next decade. The onboard modem is introduced as part of a package of enhancements to the latest Transit Custom Nugget that improve performance, fuel efficiency and driver comfort. The Nugget’s three-room layout includes a kitchen area separated from the rear seating, which combined with the rear-tilting roof creates a wider space with more headroom. Dual side-opening doors and the ability to walk-through from front to back contribute towards easy access around the airy cabin, which sleeps up to four people. The Transit Custom Nugget is powered by Ford’s 2.0-litre EcoBlue diesel engine. The EcoBlue diesel has been further optimised to deliver fuel efficiency improve-
ments of up to nine per cent, according to Ford engineering data based on a real-world driving cycle. The new Nugget features further advanced driver assistance technologies that include Intelligent Adaptive Cruise Control, Lane Keeping Aid and Blind Spot Information System with Trailer Tow. Active Park Assist helps steer the Transit Custom Nugget into and out of parallel and perpendicular parking spaces, while the driver controls acceleration and braking. As before, drivers can access their music on the road using Ford’s available SYNC 3 connectivity and entertainment system. SYNC 3 allows drivers to con-
trol audio and navigation functions plus connected smartphones using simple voice commands. The Ford Transit van has been a popular vehicle for camper conversions since its launch in 1965.
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42 SPORT
THURSDAY, NOV 21 2019
‘Camogie players need to focus on themselves, not county hurlers’ County Board member says ‘too much looking to see what GAA guys get’ PÁRAIC McMAHON paraic@clareecho.ie
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LARE’S senior camogie players need to be more focused on their own game instead of viewing the sponsorship offers and gear given to their male counterparts, the Vice Chairman of the County Board has said. Sixmilebridge’s Joe Robbins spent five years as Chairman of Clare Camogie and is now in the role of Vice Chairman. During his term in the hotseat, the official opening of Fr McNamara Park took place and with it camogie in the county was
given a new home with a playing pitch, dressing rooms, gym plus meeting facilities to boot. “Since the building went up, we’ve done the lighting of the perimeter, we’re getting a scoreboard. Mr Robbins continued, “The big thing I’m involved with now and I’m hoping to hear about it soon is we’ve put in for €300,000 sports capital grant, if we get this it will be truly brilliant so we’ll convert a practice area into an all-weather practice pitch with floodlighting, we’ll have a wall ball and lighting, it’s going to be better than many GAA centres of excellence so that will really get the girls to the next level”. On the playing field, he
is critical when asked by The Clare Echo why the county has been struggling to make the knockout stages of the All-Ireland senior championship. “This might be a little bit controversial but what I’ve said the whole time, the girls need to focus on themselves. There is too much looking over their shoulder to see what the GAA guys are getting, the gear or the sponsorship whatever. “The investment and everything we’ve done at county board level with Fr McNamara Park, my company sponsors the seniors, I don’t think we’re getting the return from the girls themselves or the management. “In fairness there has
been some serious injuries to key players that have really knocked them back, the minor set up is coming on really well. If you’re looking over your shoulder at what other people are getting then you’re not seeing what is ahead, the girls need to focus on themselves alone and improve themselves. “If they do that, they will get there in the next three to four years they have to, we have the players. The skill levels are coming up, the county final this year was superb, we need the girls to be more dedicated, focused and really drive on.”
Treacy on board as Clare hurling coach
T
WO time All Star, Seán Treacy is succeeding fellow Tribesman Gavin Keary as coach of the Clare senior hurlers, writes Páraic McMahon. Treacy was introduced to panellists on Sunday as the squad met up for the first time under Brian Lohan for an early morning training session. The Clare role will be Treacy’s highest profile coaching post and comes off the back of his involvement with Tipperary club, Kiladangan. The North Tipp outfit lost one senior championship game in 2019, the county final against Borris-Ileigh. He made his senior inter-county debut for Galway in 1989 and continued to line out in defence until 1996. His club career with Portumna continued until the late nineties. Seán is not the only Galway addition to the management. Keith Carr who was strength and conditioning coach to Kevin Walsh’s Galway senior footballers this year replaces Kelvin Harold who called time on his five year involvement following Clare’s exit from the Munster championship. Ken Ralph and James Moran were announced as Lohan’s selectors when he was ratified at the October meeting of the Clare County Board. Meanewhile, Tto Clare corner backs are part of Brian Coffey’s county minor hurling management for 2020. Tipperary native Coffey was in charge of the Clare U15 side that won the Arrabawn Title in 2018, becoming the first outfit to do so since
1999. A member of the Banner Club in Ennis he was proposed to the post ahead of outgoing manager Fergal Lynch at the October meeting of the Clare County Board. On Saturday last, the first trial took place as the process begins on putting the 2020 county panel in place. In Clonlara, a first look was given at the management team Coffey has put in place. 2016 National League winner Oisin O’Brien will be coaching the side along with Éire Óg’s Niall O’Connor. O’Brien was involved with the Clonlara minor hurlers that reached the county semi-final this year while O’Connor who is the son of ex Clare joint manager Gerry has previously been trainer of Wolfe Tones and Killanena. Current Crusheen boss, James Carrig who also led Wolfe Tones to the 2015 Munster club intermediate title is on board as a selector. Ex Clare U21 hurler, Alphie Rodgers who was in charge of the Scariff/Ogonnelloe side that won the 2018 Minor B title is also a selector as is Sixmilebridge’s Terence Chaplin, he was manager of the Bridge’s intermediate side in 2018. All-Ireland winning U21 captain, Paul Flanagan is also part of the management. The Ard Scoil Ris teacher is currently travelling but will link up with the management closer to championship time.
l OPINION: Joe Robbins
The Scorecard in association with
EAST CLARE GOLF CLUB Ladies Tuesday Eileen Donnellan,Helen Downey,Mary Farrell
SPANISH POINT GOLF CLUB 17th November - Ladies Weekly 13-Hole S/F Winner: Ann White 24 pts
ENNIS GOLF CLUB Saturday Scramble 16th Nov. 2019 1st Carmel Verling, Joe O’ Brien, Pat Rutherford 69pts 2nd Jimmy Kearns, To Heath, Tom Gallery, Tony Mc Inerney (69-3) 66pts 3rd Ann Dunne, Michael Cummins, Ken Morrissey 64pts
15th November - Men’s 9-Hole Singles S/F 1st Christy Cusack 17 pts 2nd Ger Doran 15 pts 3rd Oliver McNamara 15 pts
Gent’s 4 Ball B/B(9/10hdc) 18 Holes Sat. 16th Sun 17th Nov. 2019 1st Liam Barry(16) & John Brack(15) 45pts 2nd David Rushe(13) & Stevie Keane(14) (46-2) 44pts 3rd David Pender(9) & John Lillis(17) 43pts 4th Jim Felle(16) & Seamus Frehill(18) 43pts 5th Garry Tyrrell(16) & Ml Kearney(8) 43pts KILRUSH GOLF CLUB Weekly Nov 11 / Nov 17 Open Men’s Singles 1 Martin Morrissey (9) 30 pts 2 Tom O’Dea (35) 28 pts 3 Michael Bolton (31) 26 pts Nov 14 Senior Men’s Scramble 1 Peter Glynn, Matt Fitzpatrick, Michael Hogan, Tom Coffey 90.5 pts 2 Tom O’Dea, Pat Shannon Cny, John McGrath, Bernard Coleman 83.5 3 Murt Collins, Sean Moran, Tom Cleary, Michael Ryan 83.5 Upcoming Event 18 Nov / 24 Nov Weekly Turkey Men’s Singles with Re-Entry Nov 14 Senior Ladies’ Scramble 1 Rebecca Brew, Agnes Shannon, Margaret Hehir, Loretta Browne, 40.75 2 Marie Bartlett, Imy Kerrigan, Freda Moran, 42.89
14th November - 9 Hole Competition S/F 1st Michael Waters 20 pts 2nd Oliver McNamara 17 pts 3rd Tommy Power 17 pts 14th November - Actively Aging Group (Mixed) 13-Hole Scramble Winners: John Daly, David Eastham, Les Seal 40.9 nett 12th November - Seniors Open Singles 18-Hole S/F 1st Michael Waters 37 pts 2nd Billy Clarke 36 pts 3rd Brian O’Loughlin 33 pts 10th November - Ladies Christmas Hamper 1st Yvonne O’Keeffe 20 pts 2nd Geraldine Reddan 25 pts 3rd Val Ross 21 pts 2019 Golfer of the Year Fiona O’Boyle receiving trophy from Lady Captain Karen White 5th November - Seniors Open Singles 18-Hole S/F 1st Brendan Reddan 39 pts 2nd Billy Clarke 38 pts 3rd Danny Meehan 37 pts 2019 Club Mixed Result Congratulations to Mary & Michael, who won the final match on the 18th hole. Finalists of the 2019 Club Mixed competition were Mary McNamara/Michael Waters & Aoife O’Malley/Maurice Murphy
Classifieds
CLASSIFIEDS 43
THURSDAY, NOV 21 2019
ACCOUNTANCY
CAR REPAIRS
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PAINTING
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CAR REPAIRS CLEANING
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085 110 2001
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PAINTING & DECORATING PAINTING DECORATING
- Indoor and exterior painting services - high quality only - spraying and traditional painting
LANDSCAPING
- Garden Maintenance - We offer a range of gardening services
Contact 065 671 9021
POWER WASHING
- Patio and walkway cleaning - Hard to reach gutters - Exterior house washing and more.. Fully insured. vat reg. All areas Covered www.freshlookpaintinglandscaping.com
Classifieds
44 CLASSIFIEDS
SERVICES
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TARMACADAM
Contact 065 671 9021
THURSDAY, NOV 21 2019
CONTACT SALES
065 671 9021 sales@clareecho.ie
THURSDAY, NOV 21 2019
PLANNING CLARE COUNTY COUNCIL LAKYLE, ARDNACRUSHA, CO. CLARE I Barbara Mackey and I Martin Cahill intend to apply to Clare County Council for the following to be carried out at Lakyle, Ardnacrusha, Co. Clare: Full planning permission for the construction of a link corridor at the rear of the dwelling to connect the dwelling and garage, conversion of a garage into an en-suite bedroom and construction of a garden and fence to the front of
the dwelling. Retention permission is also being sought for the replacement of a door and window with a single window to the front of the dwelling. The planning application may be inspected, or purchased at a fee not exceeding the reasonable cost of making a copy at the offices of Clare County Council during its public opening hours and a submission or observation in relation to the application may be made to the authority in writing on payment of the prescribed fee within the period of 5 weeks
beginning on the date of receipt by the authority of the application. Please contact me at your convenience on 0874114584 to arrange payment.
CLARE COUNTY COUNCIL PÁIRC NAOMH MHUIRE, QUILTY WEST, CO CLARE Take notice that, Kilmurry Ibrickane GAA Club intends to apply for permission for the construction of a new building for the use as a gym/ indoor training and equipment storage area and all asso-
ciated site and ancillary works at the above address. The planning application may be inspected or purchased at a fee not exceeding the reasonable cost of making a copy, at the offices of the planning authority during its public opening hours. A submission or observation in relation to the application may be made in writing to the planning authority on payment of the prescribed fee of €20.00, within the period of 5 weeks beginning on the date of receipt by the planning 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 permissions subject to or without conditions or may refuse to grant permission.
of St Joseph’s Secondary School intend to apply to the Planning Authority of Clare County Council for planning permission for development at St Joseph’s Secondary School, Spanish Point, Miltown Malbay. The development will consist of the installation of a solid underground supplementary CLARE COUNTY static water storage tank COUNCIL for fire-fighting purposST JOSEPH’S es, with site works and SECONDARY services. This tank is to SCHOOL, SPANISH replace the flexible overPOINT, MILTOWN ground tank approved MALBAY, CO. CLARE by planning permission Take notice that The P17-656. Board of Management That the planning appli-
PLANNING 45 CONTACT SALES
065 671 9021 sales@clareecho.ie
cation 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
› Word › Best Daily Word Se… (http://puzzles.bestforpuzzles.com/category/word/)
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46 PUZZLEPAGE
Best Daily Word Search
THIS WEEKS PUZZLES NOV 21 Best Daily Word Search: 14 November 2019
WORD SEARCH
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QUIZ 47
THURSDAY, NOV 21 2019
The Clare Echo Quiz St. Flannan’s College Rice College Gaelcholáiste an Chláir
In what year did Marty 2 Morrisey join Clare FM as News Editor? a. 1986 b. 1989 c. 1996
Clare journalist Brian O’ 3 Connell recently released a _____ called ‘The Personals.’ a. Documentary b. Podcast c. Book
4
Brian O’ Connell now works as a full-time reporter for?
a. The Irish Times b. The BBC c. RTE
Ger Colleran formerly held 7 the position of editor of which national newspaper in Ireland? a. b. c.
The Irish Daily Star The Irish Sun The Evening Herald
2017, Ger Colleran 8 now Since works as the editor of? a. b. c.
The Irish Examiner The Cork Echo Kerry’s Eye
Clare journalist Aisling O’ 9 Loughlin was formerly a presenter of which big TV-Show? a. Xpose b. A place in the sun c. Winning Streak
Clare Echo journalist Paraic When did Rosita Boland win 10 McMahon hurls for which team 5 the award for ‘Journalist of the in Clare? Year’? a. 2009 b. 2012 c. 2018
a. b. c.
Wolf Tones Newmarket On Fergus Eire Og
At which prestigious Ameri6 can University did Rosita Boland achieve a fellowship from?
By Cian O’Broin
Spot the Difference Can you spot the difference? Spot the 7 differences. The answers will be revealed in next weeks edition.
Pictured L-R are Peter Murphy, Galway, Andrew Murphy, Managing Director Shannon Airport and Ollie Moran, Limerick. Pic Arthur Ellis
l QUESTION 2 : In what year did Marty Morrisey join Clare FM as News Edi-
tor?
6. Harvard 7. The Irish Daily Star 8. Kerry’s Eye 9. Xpose 10. Newmarket On Fergus
a. b. c.
a. MIT b. Harvard c. University of Berkeley
ANSWERS 1. St. Flannan’s College 2. 1989 3. Book 4. RTE 5. 2018
Which secondary school in 1risey Clarestudy did presenter Marty Morat?
Last weeks Answers . Lemon wedge missing in Paella . Shannon Airport sign missing . Writing + Flag on plane missing . Woman’s badge missing (right) . Woman (in pink) nails different
colour . Aerial (right) missing . Tail of plane missing (left)