The Clare Echo 22/02/24 by The Clare Echo

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Feb 22 2024

Housing issue leading to staff shortages in Shannon by Páraic McMahon paraic@clareecho.ie

“THE lack of housing is having too big of an impact to be ignored,” the President of Shannon Chamber has told the Minister for Housing. 87% of companies attached to Shannon Chamber have said the lack of housing is a having “a significant impact” when it comes to recruiting staff and future investment. This statistic was read aloud by Shannon Chamber President Eoin Gavin when addressing the Minister for Housing, Darragh O’Brien (FF) in Dromoland Castle. Ireland’s “housing crisis and infrastructure prob-

lems represent a risk to investment,” the Sixmilebridge haulier stated. Meanwhile the Minister has put pressure on Clare County Council to submit applications for affordable housing schemes in the county. Responding to queries from The Clare Echo on the lack of housing options available to persons living in the fifty plus towns and villages in Clare that are without adequate wastewater infrastructure, the Minister said the current housing climate was “still difficult for younger people and not so young people but it is improving”.

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l Darragh O’Brien, TD, Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage at Dromoland Castle on Friday Photo by Eamon Ward

Inquiry into death of teen girl in UHL by Páraic McMahon

paraic@clareecho.ie

ANOTHER INQUIRY is underway at University Hospital Limerick (UHL) following the death of a sixteen year old girl. There were 113 patients on trolleys in corridors and wards at the hospital on January 29th, the day the girl died. It is understood that the girl is from Co Limerick.

It is the second internal inquiry into the death of a teenage girl at UHL in as many years. Shannon’s Aoife Johnston who developed meningitis, died after waiting on a trolley in UHL’s emergency department for twelve hours in December 2022.

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Thursday, Feb 22, 2024 THE CLARE ECHO

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CONTENTS

NEWS .............................2-21 GREEN CLARE.............12-23 COLUMNISTS ..............24-27 BUSINESS ...................28-29 SOCIALS ...........................31 SPORT..........................32-34 PLANNING ........................35 CLASSIFIEDS ..............36-37

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

Fianna Fáil tipped to run four candidates in West by Páraic McMahon @clareecho.ie

FIANNA FÁIL are to select their field of candidates in the Kilrush local electoral area for June’s local elections. On Sunday, the party will hold a selection convention to finalise its ticket in the Kilrush LEA for the 2024 local elections. In 2019, Fianna Fáil returned three candidates in the Kilrush LEA with Cllr PJ Kelly (FF), Bill Chambers (FF) and Cllr Cillian Murphy (FF) securing 23.4%, 15.6% and 12.10% respectively of the first preference vote. Chambers retired from politics in November with a co-option held in December to fill his seat, this saw Cllr Rita McInerney (FF) prevail over Michael Shannon (FF) and Martin Dooley (FF). Kelly has confirmed that after fifty years of service on the local authority that he will be bowing out of politics meaning that Cllr Murphy is the only of their three successful candidates in 2019 to go forward. Four candidates are nominated for Sunday’s selection convention. They are Cllr Mur-

lLOCAL ELECTIONS: The Kilrush LEA phy, Cllr McInerney, Michael Patrick Keane (FF) had been Shannon and Alan Troy (FF). one of his key advisors for his Political sources have told The successful six week campaign Clare Echo that the expecta- in advance of his 2019 election. tion is headquarters will in- The co-founder of Loop Head struct that all four candidates Tourism is a respected tourism be put on the ballot paper. consultant. Now living in Doonaha, Cllr Co-opted to the Council in Murphy had resided in Kilkee January, Cllr McInerney has prior to this where he remains said it is an “absolute honour” an active member of the com- to represent the people of West munity. Retired councillor Clare on the local authority.

The Doonbeg woman contested the 2020 General Election where she received 4,136 first preferences and her transfers proved crucial to the party retaining a TD. She is also a former CEO of Ennis Chamber. Annagh based Shannon was just seven votes off McInerney in the December co-option. The clerical officer with Aer Lingus contested the 2004 local elections where he polled 612 first preferences. For the 2004 elections, 132 of his votes transferred to the then Cllr Chambers after he was the third candidate eliminated while the first candidate eliminated was a certain Cillian Murphy then flying under the Green Party banner. Also in the mix for Sunday’s convention is Lissycasey based Alan Troy. The Querrin man has formerly been manager of the busy Talty’s Stores in Lissycasey and currently serves as Operations Manager in glór. He is expected to pull a strong amount of votes from SouthWest Clare. A prominent member of the greyhounds community, Alan appears on Clare FM’s Sideline View on a frequent basis.

Gardaí appeal for Miltown Malbay crash witnesses GARDAÍ are appealing for witnesses to come forward following a serious road traffic collision in Miltown Malbay on Sunday, writes Páraic McMahon. Five people were injured in the two vehicle collision which occurred at 6:30pm on the N67 approach to the Quilty side of Miltown Malbay. None of the injuries sustained are life-threatening. To allow Garda Forensic Collision investigators examine the scene, the N67 was closed from Sunday evening until Monday morning. Engine fluid and a large amount of debris was also removed from the road by emergency services. Gardaí are appealing for any motorists or witnesses in the area at the time to come forward and make contact. The incident is being investigated from Ennistymon Garda Station and they can be contacted on 065-7072180. “This was a serious collision and any assistance from the public would be greatly appreciated,” explained Sergeant Dominic Regan. lSERIOUS: The collision happened on Sunday evening

Thursday, Feb 22, 2024 THE CLARE ECHO

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Thursday, Feb 22, 2024 THE CLARE ECHO

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‘Housing climate is improving’

DESPITE over 50 towns and villages in Clare being prohibited from the construction of housing developments due to inadequate wastewater infrastructure, the Minister for Housing insists the climate is improving for young people to build homes, writes Páraic McMahon. Confirmation was issued last week from Clare County Council that a €7.7m social housing development in Ennistymon for 30 houses had been paused. This setback is due to a wasterwater system currently at capacity in North Clare. While it was the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage that first granted the Ennistymon development, it was also the same Department which forced it to stop given that it oversees Uisce Éireann. Minister O’Brien said he has met with Uisce Éireann to avoid such scenarios as what happened in Ennistymon from occurring. “Ennistymon and the provision of wastewater treatment services is something that we are very focused on, we’re investing about €6bn a year, if you take Clare in particular we had two villages Broadford and Cooraclare that I met with both Timmy (Dooley), Cathal (Crowe) and colleagues a number of years ago and was able to approve separately to the Uisce Éireann capital programme to provide the infrastructure that is there, I engaged with Uisce Éireann in ensuring projects are brought forward that can allow us to provide developments like what you’ve mentioned in Ennistymon”. Employment opportunities exist for young people living from Ennistymon, Lahinch, Kilfenora and Miltown Malbay but options to build and live locally in these areas don’t appear to be coming on the horizon in the next decade. This has heightened the worry that young people in these areas will continue to emigrate. However Minister O’Brien felt the signs for first-time buyers were improving. “Nationwide we’ve more firsttime buyers than we’ve ever had since 2006, it is still difficult for younger people and not so young people but it is improving, progress is there but not everybody is feeling it, if you look at the overall housing output last year over 33,000 new homes were delivered which is way above our target for two years in a row, we’re playing catch-up but we are seeing first-time buyers because of the schemes we’ve brought forward like the help to buy grant €33,000 of people’s own tax back in their pocket which the main opposition party would abolish, the first home scheme which is the shared equity scheme which on average is giving €77,000 in equity to people that applies to self-build homes as well. “We’ve had applications here in Clare, another scheme that is working with 800 households applying and registering for it and another scheme that the main opposition party is abolishing, there is still challenges certainly and unquestionably but how we tackle that is increasing the supply and thankfully that trajectory in relation to supply since we’ve come into Government and I’ve been appointed Minister for Housing is increasing substantially, we’ve a good pipeline here for this year in Co Clare too and we intend to deliver on it and exceed our targets”. Cllr Joe Killeen (FF) warned the Minister that in Ruan, Lahinch and Miltown Malbay upgrades are taking so long “which is causing investors to look elsewhere” when it comes to the provision of housing. Uisce Éireann will receive a €6bn investment “which is the highest capital investment they’ve had,” the Minister responded.

lPRESSING ISSUE: Shannon Chamber President, Eoin Gavin Photo by Eamon Ward

‘Impact of lack of housing in Shannon too big to ignore’

by Páraic McMahon paraic@clareecho.ie

INVESTMENT in Shannon and the wider Mid-West region remains under threat due to the shortage of housing, the President of Shannon Chamber has flagged. Minister for Housing, Darragh O’Brien (FF) was the keynote speaker at a lunch organised by Shannon Chamber which took place in Dromoland Castle on Friday. Addressing the Minister, Shannon Chamber President Eoin Gavin detailed that the dearth of housing in the region was continuing to pose a serious risk and turning off potential investors. A survey completed by member companies of Shannon Chamber found that 87 per cent of respondents said the lack of housing in the area was “having a significant impact”. CEO of Shannon Chamber, Helen Downes outlined that the invite was issued to the Minister in July. She said housing scarcity remained a “pressing issue” in the region. Referencing these figures, the Shannon Chamber President commented, “the impact of the lack of housing is having too big of an impact to be ignored”. “We are too familiar with the impact of a lack of housing on our society,” he stated. Positive announcements are proving to be “futile for our existing workforce never mind an expanding one”. Ireland’s “housing crisis and infrastructure problems represent a risk to investment,” the Sixmilebridge man commented. Shannon Chamber have held many meetings with their members on the subject of housing and its lack of, Gavin outlined. “Members outlined issues and offered solu-

tions such as a flexible mechanism to transfer unoccupied units to residential”. How Atlantic Aviation Group have had to acquire property in Sixmilebridge to develop it as housing for its staff was referenced by the haulier. He said he was aware of another company currently in discussions with Clare County Council “to take serviced lands to build houses”. During his address, Eoin also noted how Shannon proved to be an industrial powerhouse for raising standards in the country since it became Ireland’s first new town in the 20th century. He said a “major investment programme” is ongoing to reinvigorate the Shannon Free Zone. Support needs to be given to the upcoming application from Clare County Council for Shannon in the Urban Regeneration and Development Fund (URDF). “We have expressed concern that in spite of 10,000 people living in Shannon and 10,000 people working in Shannon and that it accounts for 30 percent of the rates in Clare that Shannon lacks a natural town centre and streetscape and an absence of public buildings which are normal in most town centres”. Turning to the subject of offshore energy, Eoin admitted he couldn’t understand why the first development of this nature in Ireland would occur off the south coast and not where the work of the Shannon Estuary taskforce was focused. “In a short presentation Eoin has given me a long list of things to do for this region,” Minister O’Brien remarked when he took to the floor. Commitments to invest €5bn on housing over the next five was given by the Minister for Housing. “In 2022 we delivered

more social homes than we did in the last 50 years,” he added. Praising his work as Minister, the Dublin Fingal TD said he has delivered the “largest overhaul” of the planning system in Ireland which will see An Bord Pleanála fully resources “to the level that they haven’t been before”. URDF funding is expected to be opened in the next two to three months, Minister O’Brien highlighted. “I’ve seen the work in Ennis and it has been to the forefront”. On the subject of businesses buying properties to house their staff, Cllr Pat O’Gorman (FF) commented, “that is all good and nobody is against but when these business are bought up by the companies, it would be small hotels or guesthouses bought up and the bednights are gone for people visiting this area, this is a holiday hotspot, every big business that buys up a restaurant or pub to put it into housing for staff is bednights gone from the system”. He appealed to the Minister to look at land use in Co Clare. “That is the whole challenge about increasing supply,” Minister O’Brien replied. There has been a 77 percent increase in new homes in the region since 2020, he said. “There is a balance, we changed legislation in that regard to have an owner occupied guarantee but the challenge is to deliver more private homes”. Clare County Council have “led the way with social housing but we need to see more private housing and I’d love to see more affordable housing applications from Clare,” the Minister added. “We’re going in the right direction in Clare but the outlook is good for this region”.

Thursday, Feb 22, 2024 THE CLARE ECHO

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Thursday, Feb 22, 2024 THE CLARE ECHO

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Minister puts pressure on Council to speed up submission of schemes by Páraic McMahon paraic@clareecho.ie

AFFORDABLE housing schemes will be approved for Clare if further applications are submitted by the County Council according to the Minister for Housing. Ennis will be the location of the county’s first affordable housing scheme. The Francis St block of six cottages which were acquired by Clare County Council in October 2022. 39 apartments will be constructed as part of the Francis St project. Last May, the local authority was granted approval in principle for affordable housing schemes in Ennis and Shannon by the Department of Housing. In March 2023, the Council made a submission to the Department seeking the inclusion of both towns. Data included in the submission was sourced from an expression of interest survey ran by the Council which had over 500 submissions. However speaking in Ennis on Friday, the Minister for Housing, Darragh O’Brien (FF) claimed, “on affordable housing, I’ve yet to receive an application from Clare County Council in relation to it, I can only assess the applications as they come in”. On the squeezed middle who earn too much to qualify for social housing and an insufficient amount for an affordable housing

scheme, he said, “I increased the social housing income limits in Clare for the first time in eleven years to make sure more people could access social housing”. He continued, “We’re providing up to €100,000 of State support to the local authority so we can be selling homes and we are across the country in the range from €166,000 up, I’ve approved over 4,500 homes so far, what I would encourage our local authority and our councillors to ensure that those affordable applications come up to me and I won’t be found wanting for support. In relation to income brackets, we’ve set no lower threshold at a national level, Clare have passed their scheme of priorities which the councillors pass and they have done so here in Clare but there’s no minimum income floor on that, I’ll have to wait scheme is coming forward, I’m aware that there are two in particular that have been worked on by the local authority and I really want to receive them because I want to make sure that the young people have an opportunity to buy a home here in Clare, many are accessing the vacancy grant we’ve seen nearly 300 applications”. Shannon initially did not qualify for the affordable housing scheme but efforts by Council officials in pushing for its inclusion were a success. It means that only two areas

in the entire county are eligible with 51 towns and villages hindered from development due to inadequate wastewater treatment plants. Such a scenario has been slammed by councillors in Clare who feel there was “outside interference” from the Office of the Planning Regulator and officials in O’Brien’s Department to their County Development Plan. Minister O’Brien said, Whilst there are challenges, it has to be recognised where the progress is too, my and the

Government’s commitment to Clare is absolute, the Development Plan is a reserved function of the councillors and the local authority. I was a councillor myself, the law is that the development plans are a reserved function of the local authorities, they are guided by the National Planning Framework, when we talk about affordable housing I will be very supportive of an application that I receive from Clare for affordable housing”. When asked if he’d commit to allowing affordable schemes in parts of Clare that don’t meet the criteria of having a population of 10,000 plus, the Minister said, “Once an application comes in I’d be very positive to it, I want affordable housing schemes that we’re funding to get underway here in Clare, I can’t approve a scheme unless I get an application”. l Minister for Housing Darragh O’Brien (FF)

Photo by Eamon Ward

Man arrested & released Preliminary assessment without charge in alleged underway following death of teenage girl at UHL assault investigation

AN ARREST has been made in relation to an alleged assault of a male child which occurred in Sixmilebridge in October, writes Páraic McMahon. Serious injuries were sustained by the boy at a premises in Sixmilebridge on October 5th of last year and on Monday, Gardaí arrested a man as part of this investigation. The boy who was twelve years old at the time of the incident was brought to University Hospital Limerick (UHL) for treatment for the injuries which were reported as serious but not life-threatening. Aged in his forties, the man was detained

at a Garda station in Clare under the provisions of Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984. He has since been released without charge and a file is being prepared for the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions. Once this investigation file is submitted, the DPP will have to determine if there is sufficient evidence to refer criminal charges against the suspect. Gardaí are continuing to appeal to anyone with any information in relation to this incident to contact Shannon Garda Station on 061 365900, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda Station.

AN INQUIRY has commenced following the death of a sixteen year old girl at University Hospital Limerick (UHL) three weeks ago, writes Páraic McMahon. A “preliminary assessment” was carried out into the death of the teenage girl at UHL, hours after she was taken to the region’s main hospital. On the day she died, a total of 113 patients were on trolleys at UHL. Breathing difficulties were the complaint of the girl when she was admitted on Monday January 29th accompanied by a family member. Earlier in January she had been admitted to UHL with a severe chest infection and she was confined to hospital for two weeks. It is understood she had an underlying condition. She was initially admitted to a resuscitation area but was later transferred out of it after suffering distress. When her condition deteriorated, she was returned to the resuscitation area where she later died. Family of the young girl

are due to receive the results of her post-mortem which will inform any decision on whether to formally investigate the death, Officials who are examining the care given to the girl during her stay at the hospital plan to talk to staff who treated her, some of whom were on leave last week. In a statement, UL Hospitals Group offered its “sincere condolences” to the family on “their devastating loss”. The spokesperson outlined, “We can confirm that a preliminary assessment has been carried out in line with the HSE Incident Management Framework and the findings from this assessment will be shared with the family pending the results of a post-mortem examination”. Under the HSE Incident Management Framework, all major incidents are initially put through a preliminary assessment which will then assist in classifying the seriousness of each incident. This is the second tragedy under review at UHL following the death of Shan-

non teenager Aoife Johnston in December 2022. The 16 year old had to endure a 12 hour wait on a trolley in an overcrowded emergency department at UHL. When a patient suffers harm it is regarded as a Category 1 incident and will be subject to a review. In the case of Aoife Johnston, a review into her death at UHL has led to an independent judge-led investigation. Aoife died from sepsis complications of bacterial meningitis after waiting 12 hours in a severely overcrowded emergency department on December 19, 2022. An HSE internal review found overcrowding in the hospital was “endemic”. The “boarding” of patients who are deemed ill enough to be admitted to a ward in the emergency department “is a planned part of patient flow” in UHL, the review said.

THE CLARE ECHO Thursday, Feb 22, 2024

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Thursday, Feb 22, 2024 THE CLARE ECHO

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West Clare to come out in force for Damien Carmody tournament

WEST CLARE is expected to come out in force for a tournament in memory of Damien Carmody this Saturday. On what would have been Damien’s 40th birthday, a gaelic football tournament will take place at Shanahan McNamara Park in Doonbeg in memory of the Moveen man and is anticipated to become an annual event. Action will commence with Doonbeg playing Naomh Eoin at 12pm, this is followed by the meeting of O’Currys against St Senan’s Kilkee at 1pm before an U13 game takes centre stage at 2pm with the final scheduled for a 3pm throw-in. “People in West Clare are nice and genuine people, everyone will work together, there will be 100 players or more there, if one or two come along with them you will have a fine crowd. Between the four clubs there is rivalry there, it’s a community day. We’d like all the parishes to have a good community day, it is about the parishes at the end of the day, all the parishes know and remember Damien, it will be much appreciated if all parishes can support their own and meet us in Doonbeg,” said Damien’s brother Matthew. Damien died on January 21st 2021 at the age of 36 in a tragic farm accident that occurred in Doonaha. His loss has been keenly felt around the Loop Head Peninsula but most particularly by his wife Elaine, sisters Ann, Lourda, Collette and Catriona, brothers Matthew and Michael, extended family and wide circle of friends. Damien was captain of the O’Currys team to win the Clare IFC in 2012, the last time the club won the intermediate championship. Michael Curtin who presented the Talty Stores Cup on that jubilant occasion 12 years ago

previously told The Clare Echo, “It was the greatest honour I ever had to present the cup to Damien, a fellow Moveen man and a neighbour, it was one of my great honours ever being involved with the club”. Organised by Damien’s family, his wife Elaine and the O’Currys club, the tournament is set to draw a big crowd to Doonbeg and is

manager of the U16 O’Currys/Naomh Eoin with the late Ger Crotty and he also managed the U21s for four years. “His teammates would always say he’d have your back on and off the field, Damien always had a big smile on his face, he played with the Clare Juniors for a year or two. He was a good family man and husband to Elaine, he

was turned back six times and he said on the seventh time he wasn’t going to abandon it, he was a good friend”. On and the off the field, Damien was an exemplary clubman, Matthew told The Clare Echo. “He was brought up in a footballing family, he was the captain of the 2012 team on the day they won the intermediate final for O’Currys, he won at every age-group up along, he won two intermediate finals, he was a

was a good dairy farmer, he won a dairy award in 2020 for his milk. He achieved a lot in his time that he was with us”. “It is a dark hole, there isn’t a day that goes by that someone doesn’t say something about him, as time goes by you have to learn to live life without them and that is just it, there is no doubt about it that it is hard but it is what it is, life goes on, nobody can stop it and it comes to everyone’s door. As a family you

l The late Damien Carmody

done to acknowledge his “love of the GAA”. While it be an outing to remember an immensely popular figure, it will also be an emotional occasion, his older brother Matthew admitted, “There isn’t a day that doesn’t go by that you don’t mention him, there is always some fella in the farming industry that does be talking about him, people are still saying ‘sorry for your loss’, it’s three years later and they are still sympathising, I suppose

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

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it’s because it was a COVID funeral, that is what he had so he didn’t get the three or four hours where people would come to the church and pay their respect but still people lined the ditches from Hurler’s Cross in Limerick all the way to Moveen, some amount of people came out. On the day of his funeral, a fella came from Loughrea, he

have to stay going, we’re all family men, brothers and sisters we all have families, we are a good family, we try to make the occasions as good as we can,” he added. Prior to his death, Damien was milking 45 cows and herding 90 animals on the family farm in Moveen, a commitment his older brother Matthew has taken on in addition to his own farm in Carrigaholt. The pair and their brother Michael shared a bond through football and farming. “As the three brothers we were always together, where you’d see you would see three,” Matthew remarked. Their father Matthew better known as Sonny brought two of them to the All-Ireland football final every year while the following week two other siblings were brought to the Listowel races. “They were good days, my father used to bring two of us to Croke Park and two more were brought to the Listowel races the following week. My father used to always head to Kerry for the county semi-finals and finals, we were always brought down there so we knew more about Kerry than Clare. As the youngest boy of the house, he was always a little bit more spoilt, it isn’t easy to do them days when they come by”. His death was just five days after he and Elaine celebrated their first wedding anniversary. The memories from that day are even more special to the Carmody and Marrinan families now. “Damien was a big man of the O’Currys club, the rivalry with Kilkee and he married a Kilkee woman, it was a brilliant day, his best man was Eoin Murray, they were top men and well able to speak, great men. The family days are the best days because when you get to meet up they are brilliant,” Matthew said.

University Concert Hall announces exciting Spring Concert Series UNIVERSITY Concert Hall (UCH) Limerick has announced a series of four springtime Sunday concerts that will fill the Mid-West venue with the sounds of opera arias and the works of some of the world’s greatest composers. Commencing on Sunday March 3rd, the Limerick Classical Concert Series will have an afternoon concert of operatic delights in association with The Veronica Dunne International Singing Competition. Accompanied by Dearbhla Collins and Mairead Hurley and presented by Lyric FM’s Liz Nolan, the varied programme brings together Limerick singers, Mairead Buicke

(soprano) and Owen Gilhooly-Miles (baritone), alongside 2022 VDISC winners, Aebh Kelly (mezzo-soprano) and Aaron Godfrey – Mayes (tenor). Acclaimed string quintet The Vanbrugh & Friends will be welcomed to the venue on Sunday 21st April. This will see Keith Pascoe and Marja Gaynor (violin), Simon Aspell and Ed Creedon (viola) and Christopher Marwood (cello) perform the works of Boccherini (String Quintet in E major G.402), Beethoven (String Quintet in C minor Op.104) and Dvorak (String Quintet in E flat major Op.97). This Spring Concert Series is complemented by a special, family-fun performance on

Sunday April 7th. Soo-Jung Ann and Fiachra Garvey on two pianos alongside members of the Irish Chamber Orchestra and UCH Panto star Richie Hayes narrating, will bring Saint-Saens much loved ‘The Carnival of the Animals’ to life. A humorous musical suite of fourteen movements including ‘The Swan’, Tortoise and wild donkeys, there will be something for music and animal lovers of all ages. On Sunday April 14th, the annual Rising Stars concert will continue the classic programme at University Concert Hall. These will include Alice Abreu (violin), Aimee Banks (Soprano), Declan Murphy (Piano), Megan O’Neill (So-

prano) and Mickey Thomas (Piano). UCH Director Sinead Hope commented, “we are really excited to present this series of Spring and Sunday afternoon concerts and we look forward to welcoming people from across the Mid-West and beyond in the coming weeks. The Irish classical music scene is thriving, and we are proud to provide a platform for new and established musicians and singers and to continue to promote University Concert Hall’s longstanding artistic ethos”.

Visit www.uch.ie for ticket details and more information on UCH’s Spring Series of Concerts.

Thursday, Feb 22, 2024 THE CLARE ECHO

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Nominate a local club to win a new set of underage Jerseys* when you buy/renew a policy from Munstergroup Insurance. Munster Insurance and Financial Ltd, trading as Munster Group Insurance is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland. Terms and Conditions apply, to view *T&Cs go to munstergroup.com/jerseycompetition

Thursday, Feb 22, 2024 THE CLARE ECHO

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Council and Clare GAA agree to lease Cloister car park

CLARE County Council have agreed to lease the Cloister Car Park from Clare GAA which is to result in the delivery of 200 car parking spaces in Ennis town centre, writes Páraic McMahon. Fresh from announcing plans to develop Waterpark House in Drumbiggle to provide over 136 car parking spaces in Ennis, a memorandum of understanding has been signed by the Council and Clare GAA to see both parties enter into a commercial arrangement on the use of the car park adjacent to Cusack Park. Officials are hopeful development works will be completed by the end of 2024 with works set to commence later this year. Chief Executive of Clare County Council, Pat Dowling said any development costs would be offset with the income generated. “It is a commercial arrangement, it is a lease arrangement where we are leasing the car-park from the GAA, we will then be redeveloping the car park from the income, I’m satisfied that it will be a sustainable project and the income will cover the costs of redeveloping the facility, it has been carefully chartered out with financial and legal advice so I’m happy that it is a sound agreement going forward”. Dowling stated, “Parking is an important issue, we have to make provision to develop the town into the future and this will be a significant contributor to that objective”. Public access to the car park is expected to be off limits on weekends when Cusack Park is playing host to matches. The Council Chief Executive said

04 MAR

05 MAR

CLAUDIA BUCKLEY

DECLAN NERNEY

& BAND

lDEVELOPMENT: Council Chief Executive Pat Dowling and Clare GAA Chairman Kieran Keating “a flexible arrangement” has been agreed. Chairman of Clare GAA, Kieran Keating outlined that they had been discussions with the local authority on the proposal since last year. “Obviously the site we have adjacent to Cusack Park at the Cloister is a prime site in terms of park-

06 MAR

CIARAN ROSNEY

07 MAR

ROBERT MIZZELL

Photo by Brian Arthur

ing for the town and for our facility in Cusack Park, commercially it is something that we’ve wanted to progress so that we could get a steady source of income from it for the years ahead and for our own matchdays in particular we’d like it to be better paved and laid out better with more space”.

10 MAR

NEILY O’CONNOR

11 MAR

PETER BURKE

12 MAR

TEDDY & CATHAL BARRY

Notes

MEMORIAL RUN THE 19th annual ‘Patricia Corbett Memorial Walk/ Run’ will be held in Labasheeda on Sunday March 3rd starting at 1pm. This year, all funds raised will be donated to the upkeep and development of St. Kieran’s Community Centre. The course is 6 miles/10km around the Labasheeda peninsula. Registration starts at 12.30pm before the start of the walk/run. Changing facilities are available and refreshments will be provided for everyone afterwards. The entry fee is only €10 and donations can be made on the day or through Paypal @Liam WoulfeLab. SCHOLARSHIP Alana Brigdale, from Clare and a student at Mountbellew Agricultural College has been awarded the FRS Memorial Scholarship 2024. Alana was one of five candidates in the running for the annual scholarship during the Teagasc Ag Colleges Challenge Day. Alana now has the opportunity to complete a 3-month internship within FRS Network to gain hands-on work experience in an area she is keen to explore.

13 MAR

DECLAN AUNGIER

14 MAR

CHECKERS

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Thursday, Feb 22, 2024 THE CLARE ECHO

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Thursday, Feb 22, 2024 THE CLARE ECHO

News

Relay For Life coffee morning ‘a really special event’ says Clare Rose by Stuart Holly editor@clareecho.ie

CLARE Rose Aisling O’Connor has urged people living with cancer to join the Relay For Life community by attending an upcoming Survivors’ Coffee Mornings. At last year’s Rose of Tralee final, the 25-year old primary school teacher from Feakle brought host Kathryn Thomas to tears and touched the lives of people across the world when recounting her family’s story. Aisling lost her father Pat in a tragic accident six years ago, while her mother Denise sadly passed

Speaking to The Clare Echo this week, Aisling recounts, “My whole message throughout the Rose was primarily about my family and then the community. The support of the community really pulled us through our tragedy. Relay For Life is a very powerful community where people can rally around each other, share, have a laugh, have a cry, and hopefully come out of these events feeling a bit better than they did coming in.” The Relay For Life Clare ambassador will attend a Survivors’ Coffee Morning this weekend in Tulla and is hoping to meet people who are living with cancer. “It’s a community of survivors, a community of families who’ve gone through something. It’s an opportunity to get together and support one another. I think it’s a really special event and I know the coffee mornings aim to do the same thing, providing a space for people going through cancer outside a hospital setting, some place relaxed where they can reflect and chat, have a laugh. I think it’s really special.” Aisling admits that her family would have benefitted from the supThe Brendan O'Regan Restaurant port network that is Relay For Life is ideal for special occasions. Clare, along withThe themenu Irish Cancer features traditional cuisine with which a modern Society services are supported by the charity. “Mam dealt day creative twist. with things maybe differently from how other people would,” Aisling says. “She distanced herself from

away in 2021. Denise received her first breast cancer diagnosis when pregnant with her sixth child, Oisín, and “completely beat the odds” despite being given a slim chance of survival. Unfortunately, she received her second diagnosis in 2020 and as Aisling told Kathryn Thomas, “fought the most incredible fight up until 2021 when she passed away with us all around her”. Aisling and her five brothers, the youngest of whom is now 19, all still live at home in Feakle and she says they have “never been alone” thanks to their neighbours and friends in the East Clare village.

l INSPIRING: Clare Rose Aisling O’Connor Photo by Tom Micks

the word cancer in general so she have a good idea of what a lot of didn’t reach out and chose not to family members are going through, become part of those communities I saw first-hand what my mam went but now looking at it from the other through and I think whilst mam’s stoside, having been involved this year ry was ultimately such a sad ending, with a lot of the charities and a lot of she really did defy the odds a lot on these groups, I have witnessed so this journey and there’s an awful lot many benefits. I see people going of hope in her story and our story. in feeling a bit dejected and an hour “Sharing that with people that I’ve later coming out with a smile on their met at these events has given them faces with a new lease of life. If we a bit of a boost. When I see womwere given the chance to go again, en going through what they’re going it’s something I would have encour- through with such bravery and such aged her more into.” vigour is also inspiring to me so I Reflecting on her own journey think any way I can give back to anysince appearing in the Rose of one going through what mam went Tralee, Aisling has enjoyed opportu- through, I’m always just so happy nities such as appearing on the Ray to help. It’s one of my missions this D’Arcy Show and Ireland AM. How- year for sure.” ever the highlight for the Clare womRelay for Life Clare invites all inan has been witnessing the impact dividuals navigating cancer treather story has had on other people’s ment, living with cancer or cancer lives. survivors, along with their spouses The Poet's Corner Bar “People have reached out to me or carers, to attend the upcoming is a traditional pub that Coffee opens Mornings. This is and said ‘I’ve experienced this lossIrishSurvivors' or I went through this and hearing an opportunity to of gather with others its doors onto the main town street how you and your brothers have going through a similar journey. Ennis. Perfect for a pint, bite to eat24th or at Cnoc na pulled through, it has really given • aFebruary traditional Irish music session. me motivation’. Those messages Caoimhe, Tulla at 10amhave been so overwhelming, it’s so 11:30am humbling to know that something I • March 2nd at Armada Hotel said or have gone through could at 10:30am-12pm inspire to help someone else to get • March 9th at Shannon through something, that’s the most Springs Hotel at 10:30amspecial part of the year, the impact I 12pm might have had on people.” Ahead of the first Relay For Life Survivor’s Coffee Morning, Aisling The Clare Echo is proud media adds, “I don’t know exactly but I partner of Relay For Life Clare.

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Thursday, Feb 22, 2024 THE CLARE ECHO

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Thursday, Feb 22, 2024 THE CLARE ECHO

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Tourism operators unite to find answers

AN UPCOMING tourism networking event at The Inn at Dromoland will discuss the urgent need for increased collaboration and the development of new initiatives to bolster the local sector in light of the unprecedented challenge posed by the reduced accommodation supply in the county. Tourism interests from across Clare gather at The Inn At Dromoland on March 6th for the annual ‘Tourism Together’ Networking Event 2024, which features a keynote address by travel writer and Irish Independent Travel Editor Pól O’Conghaile.

With 33% of bed nights in Clare currently contracted to the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth (DCEDIY), the Clare Tourism Advisory Forum and Visit Clare are issuing a rallying call to the wider sector to attend the event and share their ideas on how Clare can position itself to meet current challenges and attract new business. “This event is as much about reimagining our approach to tourism development in the county as it is about identifying current challenges faced by our sector,” explained Sean

Shannon Gaels come through for CSBS

Members of Shannon Gaels GAA Club recently presented a cheque of €6,250 to Clare Suicide Bereavement Support Group, in appreciation of the service they provide. This money was raised through a GoFundme page. Pictured are Eoin Keane, Jack Reidy, Lottie Kenny Treasure CSBS, Darragh Bohannon, Thomas Kelly, John O’Connor CSBS.

Lally, Chair of the Clare Tourism Advisory Forum. “County Clare’s tourism operators are resilient and have a lengthy track record of adopting a collaborative approach to the development of the local sector. Proactive thinking and the implementation of new initiatives are required now more than ever as we seek to overcome reduced available accommodation by enhancing County Clare’s appeal to the growing domestic visitor market,” he added. Leonard Cleary, Director of Tourism Development for Clare County Council, said, “Investment in the Clare’s existing tourism infrastructure and cross-sector collaboration are key to addressing current challenges.” He continued, “2023 saw the transfer of the management of some of Clare’s best known visitor attractions to Clare County Council and the commencement of a comprehensive capital investment programme in key tourist sites across the county. Close collaboration with smaller tourism operators to ensure these investments deliver for the wider sector and local communities is a priority for the Local Authority.” “The upcoming networking evening presents Clare tourism operators with a valuable opportunity to explore how Clare can improve its share of the domestic market, embrace the benefits of a truly sustainable approach to tourism, and capitalise on the growing wellness tourism sector as set out in the County Clare Tourism Strategy 2030,” added Mr. Cleary. The ‘Tourism Together’ Networking Event takes place at a time of considerable change within international tourism which is experiencing an increased focus on sustainable

tourism development. Deirdre O’Shea, Head of Tourism with Clare County Council, commented, “Irish tourism is facing challenges that are having an impact on the sector, many of which are beyond our control, but local operators are steadfast in their resolve to innovate and identify new opportunities to develop our overall offering. The forthcoming networking event, which will be facilitated throughout the evening, is aimed at harnessing this collaborative approach to establish a fresh approach to the development and marketing of County Clare’s diverse and quality tourism product.” Clare’s journey to becoming Ireland’s first certified sustainable destination will be the subject of a presentation by Dr. James Hanrahan and Fiona McKenna of ATU Sligo who will provide a progress update on efforts by the recently established County Clare Destination Green Team to secure Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) Destination certification, which is recognised as a global leader in managing standards for sustainable travel and tourism. Towards the later stage of the evening, Irish Independent Travel Writer Pol O’Conghaile will moderate a local experts panel and discussion. All attendees will also be provided with detail of the Strategic Marketing Plan and Collateral for promoting the County of Clare for 2024. Registrations for the ‘Tourism Together’ Networking Event 2024 at 5.00pm on Wednesday, March 6th at The Inn At Dromoland, Newmarket-On-Fergus can be made www.visitclare.ie/tourismtogether. The registration closing date is Friday, 23rd February 2024 at 5.00pm.

Thursday, Feb 22, 2024 THE CLARE ECHO

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Thursday, Feb 22, 2024 THE CLARE ECHO

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CLIFFS OF MOHER AND CLARE RETAIL EXPOSITION 2024 More than 75 retail buyers and local artisan food and craft producers gathered at the worldfamous Cliffs of Moher Experience on Monday for the Cliffs of Moher and Clare Retail Exposition 2024. Supported by the Clare Local Enterprise Office, Clare County Council and the Burren & Cliffs of Moher UNESCO Global Geopark, the second annual event provided producers and craftspeople with a unique opportunity to showcase their

products and network to consumers and to national and regional buyers. Buyers had a chance to “Meet the Maker” and touch, taste and see some of the award-winning and internationally renowned products from cheeses to jewellery, whiskey to designer clothing and from wild salmon to art. The event also includes a ‘Taste of County Clare’ Geo-food event showcasing the award winning and globally renowned food produce of the Burren.

Patricia Farrell of Wilde Irish Chocolate (Tuamgraney)

Pictured above Paul O’Dwyer of Irish Slate Craft (Lahinch) and circled left Birgitta Hedin-Curtin of Burren Smokehouse (Lisdoonvarna)

Members of the Bunratty Castle Entertainers at the Cliffs of Moher and Clare Retail Exposition 2024

Aidan and Carol Cuddihy of MacCóda Hurleys (Inagh)

Caoilfhionn Conway-Morrissey and Caroline Sheedy of JJ Corry Whiskey (Cooraclare) and circled above is Sean Fitzgerald of Cratloe Hills Sheep’s Cheese (Cratloe)

Thursday, Feb 22, 2024 THE CLARE ECHO

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Thursday, Feb 22, 2024 THE CLARE ECHO

Ennis: Talk of the Town

Eighteen social homes officially opened by Minister for Housing

by Páraic McMahon paraic@clareecho.ie

MINISTER for Housing, Darragh O’Brien (FF) was on hand to officially open Inis Housing Association’s latest development, An Cosán Gheal, in Ennis. Residents of the 18 ‘A2’ rated social homes first moved in back in November of last year which is situated within The Hawthorns estate on the Limerick Rd in Ennis. Among the new residents is Amanda Major who contested the 2019 local elections as an Independent candidate and unsuccessfully attempted to get a nomination from Fianna Fáil for this year’s local elections. Ennis based Gildoc Ltd were the main contractors for the construction of the properties which were designed by Hassett, Leyden and Associates. Addressing the official opening, Emer Watson, CEO of Inis Housing Assocation stated that it was her “utmost pleasure and privilege to stand here today as we gather to celebrate our newest housing estate”. An Cosán Gheal formed part of their “commitment to quality housing, this estate has offered sanctuary and security to families”. Reaching the official opening was described by Emer as a journey “of perseverance”. The East Clare woman said, “the true significance of what we have accomplishment is the heart and soul from its residents, each and every person who calls it home”.

lSANCTUARY: The ribbon is cut at the official opening of An Cosán Ghael in Ennis

Photo by Tom Micks

She continued, “our work does not end with the completion of construction, it is only beginning”. A commitment to further investment in its infrastructure was given by Emer. Inis Housing Association is a tier two approved housing body which is headquartered

in Mountshannon. Emer said its board made a “strategic decision in 2020 to focus on the Clare area, we now have approximately 90 properties which are called home by over 220 residents, over the last three to four years we have nearly doubled our properties”.

Trudy Kay who chairs the board of Inis Housing Association stated “this housing estate represents far more than a collection of buildings”. Addressing the gathering, the Minister for Housing stressed that the State was “right back in the middle of providing homes”. He stated, “it is not my first time in Clare and it won’t be my last, there has been a 74 per cent increase in housing across all tenures”. “We have 609 new social homes in Clare and we’ll add a lot more,” Minister O’Brien added. “Progress and momentum is building, we’ve exceeded our targets,” the Dublin Fingal TD said while praising Clare County Council. On more than one occasion, the Minister made the mistake confusing the Council’s Chief Executive Pat Dowling with Pat Daly, whether the Daly he was referring to was the Mayor of the Ennis Municipal District or the Chief Executive of Limerick City and County Council is unclear. A whole heap of politicians were present for the official opening. They included Clare TD, Cathal Crowe (FF), Senator Timmy Dooley (FF), Senator Roisin Garvey (GP), Mayor of Clare, Cllr Joe Cooney (FG), Mayor of the Ennis MD, Cllr Pat Daly (FF), Cllr Clare Colleran Molloy (FF), Cllr Ann Norton (IND), Cllr Tom O’Callaghan (FF), Cllr Mary Howard (FG), Cllr Paul Murphy (FG) and local election candidate Antoinette Bashua Baker (FF).

‘Vibrant programme’ at Ennis Book Club Festival THE 18th annual Ennis Book Club Festival takes place this year at various venues throughout Ennis and Clare. This year’s Festival will offer a vibrant programme of live events and activities for book lovers of all ages, as well as the introduction of Fringe Events for the first time. Festival events kick off on Friday with the launch of We Are Human Too, a ground-breaking book which delves into the dark reality of the deprivation of liberty faced by disabled people in Ireland. Join the EBCF team and Artistic Director Martina Durac for a warm welcome at the Festival Opening taking place in the foyer at glór, a perfect opportunity to meet friends old and new. Writers From the West brings together Una Mannion, Mike McCormack and Sarah Gilmartin in conversation with Derek Hand as they discuss their compelling

and powerful novels, followed by author Brian Leyden and multi-instrumentalist Seamie O’Dowd marrying stories and music from across the decades in a lyrical evocation of romance and courtship. Rounding off Friday’s events, EBCF showcases some of Crime Fiction’s most notable authors Denise Mina, Andrea Mara and Doug Johnstone in conversation with Andrea Carter. Saturday morning sees Mark O’Connell, author of A Thread of Violence in conver-sation with Theo Dorgan whilst Ten Books you Should Read features contributions from Rónán Hession and Liam Ó Maonlaí with Cónal Creedon. Debut Novelists joins authors Lauren Mackenzie, Michael Magee and Colin Barrett in conversation with Peter Murphy. The Beyond Borders Book Club celebrates literature from India,

South Africa and Greece with guest panelists Sree Sen, Nandi Jola and Natasha Remoundou in conversation with writer Sarah Clancy. Clare Youth Theatre perform a piece in glór’s studio whilst at 4pm Dani Gill and Alice Kinsella explore maternal lineage in their work in an event taking place in the Courthouse. Ennis Book Club Festival celebrates Clare-based writers - John Lillis, Darragh McKeon and Tara Smith in conversation with Festival Director Martina Durac and In Memoir, Eimear Ryan – winner of the 2023 Sports Book of the Year will give a sharply observed exploration of gender and sport and asks questions about identity, status, competition and self-expression, whilst Martin Doyle, Books Editor of The Irish Times offers a personal intimate story of the Troubles in his exquisite memoir, Dirty Linen. On Saturday night Ennis Book Club Festival is delighted to welcome Pulitzer Prize Finalist Rebecca Makkai to this year’s festival where she will be in conversation with Belinda McKeon.

The closing day of the festival sees Mary Ellen Hodgins Reading and Poetry Collective Open Mic take place in the Record Break Café whilst Sweet N Green hosts Hush Hour, a reading party that redefines social gatherings for book lovers. The ever-popular Sunday Symposium will discuss the topic Breaking the Cycle of Poverty: A Crisis of Imagination? with guests writer and broadcaster Justine McCarthy, joined by lecturer and commentator Dr Rory Hearne. At 2pm, Festival goers can move to The Old Ground for a Literary Lunch, this year with guest of honour, poet, librettist, documentary writer, essayist, novelist and translator, Theo Dorgan. In 2024 Ennis Book Club Festival introduces a new element to the festival with EBCF Fringe. This presents a chance for a variety of artists to bring their talents to the festival with storytelling, music, poetry, song, and collaborative performances, as Gaeilge agus Béarla. Fringe events include storytelling with author, storyteller, lecturer, broadcaster and practicing

seanchaí, Eddie Lenihan (inset) in Scéal Eile Bookshop; a concert with songwriter, vocalist and producer Elaine Howley in The Old Ground; writer and broadcaster Michael McCaughan presenting The Cuban Revolution in 7 Stories and Songs on Saturday afternoon, followed later that evening by a magical concert featuring Rónán Ó Snodaigh and Myles O’Reilly, along with some surprise guests. Fringe events conclude on Sunday with an intimate afternoon session in Fawls’ pub with Siobhan Peoples, Conor Crimmins and Alan Reid. As always, there are lots of other terrific events taking place across the festival weekend including the beloved Books n ' Bun’s event on Saturday morning, testing your knowledge of all things literary and fascinating Walking Tours with Jane O’Brien. For further information and booking, please see www.ennisbookclubfestival.com Please note that some events are of limited capacity, early booking advised. See www.ennisbookclubfestival.com for full details on all events.

THE CLARE ECHO Thursday, Feb 22, 2024

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Shannon

SHANNON NEWS in association with

Colman Garrihy remembered as ‘gentleman of the highest order’

ORMER Head of Communications with Shannon Development, Colman Garrihy has been remembered as a gentleman of the highest order writes Páraic McMahon. Many respects were paid to Colman at his reposal on Wednesday and funeral on Thursday of last week with the common description for the Moy native and Shannon resident being that he was a gentleman of the highest order. Born in 1949, Colman left CBS Ennistymon early to assist in the running of the family farm. He played underage football for Ennistymon and held a deep passion for Clare teams, supporting them all over the country. As a teenager, he took on a senior role with Muintir na Tíre and was actively involved with Moy Youth Club. This helped to ignite a love of writing as he became a regular correspondent with The Clare Champion penning a youth column. When he became Chairperson of the local branch of Muintir na Tíre, he became acquainted with Fr Harry Bohan and this led to him beginning to work for Shannon Development in 1970 at the age of 21. He moved to Shannon for this role and headed up the communications department of Shannon Development, he took early retirement and exited his role in 1997. From here, he set up his own editorial service business and remained actively working right up until his death. Within the Shannon community, he was involved in the Shannon Archaeological and Historical Society while he served as PRO of Wolfe Tones GAA club and a Minister of the Eucharist. In 2018, Colman received lifetime membership of the National Union of Journalists, he was an active and encouraging member of the NUJ’s local branch in the Mid-West. His input to these organisations was evident in the fact that a guard of honour was provided by Shannon Development, Wolfe Tones and the NUJ. Speaking at his funeral mass, Colman’s daughter Jessica admitted, “it is a bit daunting to put pen to paper about Colman because he was such a wordsmith himself and such an accomplished speaker”. During a short spell in Galway Clinic, he gave the Garrihy family plenty of guidance on how he wanted his funeral to be organised “being the detailed focused planner that he was”. Addressing the mass, Colman’s son Damien noted, “The last time I spoke at a crowd as big as this was Limerick Chamber for AIB in front of a crowd which also included the Taoiseach. This is another privilege but one I would prefer not to have to do. Dad would have loved the big crowd, not because he was vain but because he loved making connections”. In Shannon Development, Colman “found his calling,” Damien noted. The most important connection Colman made was with a certain Lily O’Brien. “While his career in Shan-

1995 win coincided with my brief inter-county involvement,” the sub-goalkeeper to Davy Fitzgerald noted. “He was ecstatic with Wolfe Tones’ winning our first Clare title and we followed up with trip to Croke Park”. In recent years there has been the added dimension of Colman’s grand-children joining them at games. “My own crew have been swayed by the success of John Kiely’s Limerick,” Damien admitted, “I’ve shown some signs of being upset by it, at 2022 Munster final I threatened they’d have to walk home from it”. He continued, “Dad was telling me he had strong sense that 2024 was going to be our year, I know he’d be celebrating up in heaven with his Clare flag when Brian (Lohan) who is here and the boys get over the line so I’m sorry to my friends from Limerick the drive for five can wait”.

l Colman Garrihy

non Development was taking off he made other connections, he met Lily O’Brien at a dance in Miltown Malbay. It was love at first sight by all accounts, so much so that they both tried to find each other the next weekend. Mum went to Ennistymon thinking that’s where she would find the man from Moy and Dad went to Kilkee thinking that is where he’d find the woman from Doonbeg”. He continued, “They went back to the traditional method of contacting via post. He invited her to a Clare Champion dinner dance and romance blossomed”. When it came to the family farm in North-West Clare, Colman had “a deep sense that it was his place”. There was a sense of delight when the next generation of Garrihys started travelling there for family holidays and he was ecstatic when Jacinta and Dermot refurbished property there before making it their home. Members of the Garrihy family were brought around the country following Clare’s teams in hurling and football by Colman, Damien recalled. “He was particularly thrilled that the

Damien added, “He was the family rock and we are really going to miss him”. He believed it was poignant that Liam Clancy’s ‘Waltzing Matilda’ played in the background as Colman moved on to his eternal rest, given the efforts Donal had made to be with the family, “Donal flew over and back and over again to be with us over the last two weeks, Dad was delighted you could make it back”. He told his sister that their father would be very proud of her organisational and planning skills as evident in helping to plan the funeral. “To Mum, you were two sides of the one coin, you worked brilliantly as a team, you were selfless,” Damien stated. The couple were married fifty years and renewed their vows to mark the occasion, “I reckon Dad consciously said there was no way he wasn’t going to make it, it took deep faith and strength to get there,” Damien said.

Thursday, Feb 22, 2024 THE CLARE ECHO

Gort & North Clare

Golfer Jamie receives ‘VIP treatment’ at Lahinch, breaking 130 year tradition by Stuart Holly editor@clareecho.ie

LAHINCH Golf Club has been praised for its royal treatment of a former Special Olympics golfer – after allowing him to use a buggy on the course for the first time in the Old Course’s 130-year history. Starter Tony Molloy and caddie Dave O’Brien have been singled out for their kindness in giving a 32-year old with special needs the VIP treatment on his visit to Lahinch Golf Club. American golfer Jamie Bérubé, who has Down Syndrome, visited Lahinch last summer with his dad Michael to play the famous Old Course. After booking their round, Michael spotted a notice on the website stating that “golf carts/buggies are not available for hire” in Lahinch, which is a “walking course”. Recounting the pair’s experience on leading golf website golf.com, Michael admitted that a round at the Old Course would be

physically challenging for his son. They were greeted on the first tee by well-known starter and former Ennis businessman Tony Molloy, to whom Michael explained, “if Jamie can’t manage it after a few holes, we’ll understand. We don’t want to hold anybody up”. Having been directed to follow Tony to the club’s offices, Tony re-emerged and told Michael, “I’ve made an executive decision… Here’s what we’re going to do. Your son will have a buggy and his caddie will drive it. I’m going to get you the most experienced caddie we have available. We’re going to make sure he can play this course.” Recounting the experience, Michael wrote, “What struck me immediately, forcefully, was that Tony’s reaction was not tinged with any sense of pity or condescension. “Our caddie, Dave O’Brien, a tall, lean man who seemed to be in his late thirties or early forties… assured me that he understood how Jamie would play and would make sure that

l FAIR PLAY: Caddy David O’Brien with American golfer Jamie Bérubé and (left) Tony Molloy

he enjoyed his round. As Jamie took his seat in the buggy, Tony said again, ‘all right now, Jamie, this is the VIP treatment. You go and have a good time and play some great golf, now’.” Following the article on golf.com, Tony admits his phone has been “hopping” with well-wishers congratulating him on his treatment of Jamie and Michael. He confirmed that it was his first time to make an exception by allowing a golfer use a buggy on the historic course, which has been played by top professionals including Phil Mickelson, Jordan Speith and Tiger Woods, and celebrities such as Michael Jordon. Tony, who previously ran Tony’s Fashions in Ennis and is married to local Fianna Fáil councillor Clare Colleran Molloy, told The Clare Echo, “I said to myself ‘this golf course is going to be a real challenge for him’ so I asked Dave to caddy for him and it worked out perfectly. “You get emotional when you

see a young lad like that, mad to play in Lahinch. There’s no way I wasn’t going to let him out on the golf course. They had a ball of a day. When he came around the following morning he thanked me. I swelled up a little bit, I saw the joy in his eyes, and I told him he’s welcome back any time.” Michael reserved praise for both Tony and Lahinch native Dave O’Brien, adding that the day prior to catching their flight from Shannon Airport to JFK New York, “all we wanted to do was to circle back to Tony and tell him how much we loved our round at Lahinch. Our VIP round. “Tony greeted us warmly, congratulated Jamie for playing the full 18 and playing so well, and insisted on taking our picture at the goat statue behind the first tee.” He added, “I will simply always be grateful, for the rest of my days, that Lahinch Golf Club welcomed Jamie — and gave him the VIP treatment.”

THE CLARE ECHO Thursday, Feb 22, 2024

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Gort & North Clare

Tony Kirby North Clare tractor to explore run in memory of John ‘folklore and mythology’ Brennan raises €21,167

A CHARITY event held in Lahinch in memory of the late John Brennan has raised much needed funds for Embrace FARM, a national organisation set up to support farm families in the aftermath of a sudden accident or trauma on the family farm, writes Páraic McMahon. Members of the North Clare Tractor Run organising committee presented the national farm accident support network with a cheque for €21,167, which was raised during the event held at Lahinch Promenade in late December. John Brennan from Ennistymon was tragically killed in a farm accident in April 2020 at the age of 13. Embrace FARM, which provides a caring and supportive network for all those affected by farm accidents in Ireland, assisted the 13-year-old’s family in the aftermath of the tragedy. All monies fundraised for Embrace FARM help to provide practical and emotional support

l FOR JOHN: David Brennan and Sharon O’Halloran, parents of the late John Brennan, pictured (front) with John’s sister Shauna and North Clare Tractor Run committee member Bill Slattery presenting a cheque to Catherine Kenneally, Business Development Manager, Embrace Farm at Lahinch Promenade

services for farm families affected by sudden loss or injury as well as the administrative functions of the charity. The organ-

isation’s ‘Encircle’ Programme has been borne out of the experiences of co-founder, Brian Rohan who lost his father Liam

Photo by North Clare Tractor Run

on the family farm in 2012 in a tragic accident. See www.embracefarm.com for more.

X-PO’s next heritage takes place on Thursday February 29th at 8.00 p.m. It is entitled “Supernatural Burren – Folklore and Mythology in North Clare”. The guest speaker is Tony Kirby. The illustrated talk will look at how people in the past interacted with the natural world and archaeological monuments in order to not only negotiate daily life but also to commune with the otherworld. The lecture will feature an allstar paranormal cast including petrified people, fairies, wild horses and pseudo-historical warriors. An informative and entertaining exploration of the Burren as a landscape rich in folklore and mythology is promised. Tony Kirby is a full time walk leader in the Burren. He is also the author of the critically acclaimed book "The Burren and the Aran Islands A Walking Guide" published by The Collins Press 2009. Revised edition published 2014. The event is free of charge. Donations to X-PO welcome. X-PO is an intimate venue so please come early to guarantee yourself a place. It is a community hub based in the former post office in Killinaboy, North Clare. A wide range of social and cultural events take place at the venue. Visit https://www.facebook. com/XPOKillinaboy/live for more.

Thursday, Feb 22, 2024 THE CLARE ECHO

GREEN CLARE

‘We’re getting shiny brochures on wind farms but not engagement’ by Adam Maloney news@clareecho.ie

ELECTED representatives have criticised energy companies for producing “shiny brochures” but failing to engage with politicians on their proposals. More comprehensive engagement from developers of wind energy sites in SouthEast Clare was sought by Cllr Alan O’Callaghan (FF). Both residents and councillors remain dissatisfied with the lack of knowledge and

information on the proposed wind farms, in total 66 wind turbines could be constructed in six different developments. Wind farms have been a talking points in East Clare for a year with members of the public holding a series of meetings in various localities. Cllr Alan O’Callaghan (FF) demanded the wind energy sites to engage with the East Clare locals and Council members to acquire clarity on the dispute. “In light of all these wind energy sites been proposed from Bal-

lycar, 12 O’Clock Hills, Oatfield, Caherhurley and surrounding area, that a more robust consultation with residents, councillors and the MD office be held as people are not happy with same,” he stated in a proposal before the Killaloe Municipal District. Senior executive planner with Clare County Council, Gareth Ruane explained that third-party views regarding the development in question will be made in relation to windfarm applications submitted directly to the Planning Authority during the appropriate time periods which is outlined in the Planning Regulations. He outlined, “the Planning Authority has no statutory role in the level or extent of consultation to be provided by individual applicants”. Ruane stated, “The adopted Clare County Development Plan (2023-2029) incorporates a renewable energy strategy and a wind energy strategy. These documents together with the plan itself set out the overall planning framework for renewable energy developments within the County. Certain windfarm applicants (25 no. turbines or output of 50MW or more) are required to be made to An Bord Pleanála as Strategic Infrastructure Developments”. Although he acknowledged the reply from Ruane, Cllr O’Callaghan questioned why the energy companies were not engaging. “I’m not against wind turbines. People in the area need to be better briefed, some peo-

lCONSULTATION: 12 O’Clock Hills

ple don’t even realise some of these turbines are up to 180 m high. The whole thing is very frustrating”. Public consultation has been “bulldozed,” the Kilmurry representative commented. “There isn’t even any communication when they are going from door to door with the brochures. I’ve seen CCTV footage where a person pulls up and throws in a public consultation, and there gone. It’s being bulldozed and trying to take it all in is very mind boggling”. All elected members of the Killaloe MD backed the motion from O’Callaghan. Cllr Joe Cooney (FG) was frustrated that public consultation for the Oatfield wind farm took place in Castleconnell and not in Co Clare. “Communities are very concerned about this topic. I actually did put venues in place for several consultations, but they weren’t taken up and it’s a disgrace the consultation to be taken at a venue outside of our own county”. “We do get these shiny brochures in the post but it doesn’t really justify what’s going on,” Cllr Pat Burke (FG) remarked. “We did meet one company in Kilbane, but it is very frustrating and confusing for people over in that area that weren’t there and for the rest of East Clare. We don’t have the knowledge because we’re not getting these briefings from the company. They need to explain what’s going on and give a true explanation”.

THE CLARE ECHO Thursday, Feb 22, 2024

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GREEN CLARE

Uisce Éireann fined for ‘ecological tragedy’

by Gordon Deegan news@clareecho.ie

AN IRON sludge discharge from a ’no longer fit for purpose’ water treatment plant operated by Uisce Éireann was the cause of an ‘ecological tragedy’ that wiped out all fish life over a 2.6km river, a court has heard. At Ennis District Court, Judge Alec Gabbett fined Uisce Éireann the maximum fine allowed of €5,000 for each of the two pollution discharges from the Ballymacraven Water plant near the North Clare town of Ennistymon on May 2nd and May 18th last. Before Judge Gabbett imposed the combined €10,000 fine, solicitor for Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI), Dermot O’Donovan said that what occurred on the Ballymacraven River on May 2nd last was “an ecological tragedy”. Uisce Éireann has also agreed to pay IFI’s costs of €5,477 in connection with the fish kill. In evidence, Fisheries Environmental Officer with IFI, Jane Gilleran said that the discharge from the plant on May 2nd resulted in “a very significant fish

kill” with an estimated 2,000 dead fish. Asked to outline the extent of the fish kill, Ms Gilleran said, “Everything below the water treatment plant in terms of fish was wiped out”. Ms Gilleran said that the fish kill continued over a 2.6km stretch of the Ballymacraven River before it meets the confluence of the River Inagh downstream of the Falls Hotel in Ennistymon. Ms Gilleran said that the vast majority of fish, including salmon, eels and trout died from suffocation. Ms Gilleran told Judge Gabbett, “You can see photos of dead fish with their mouths open and that would indicate suffocation. The iron sediment clogged their gills and kills them”. Ms Gilleran told the court that the fish kills wiped out three age classes of salmon on the Ballymacraven River and she said “for the salmon the river may never recover because we have lost the three age classes”. Ms Gilleran said that the river had a heavy discolouration on May 2nd from the discharge resulting in a rusty brown colour.

The plant serves a population of almost 7,000 people in the wider North Clare area including Ennistymon, Lahinch, Kilfenora, Doolin, Fanore and Ballyvaughan. Ms Gilleran said, “The EPA has said that it is operating 55 per cent above capacity but it is also undergoing works at the moment to increase capacity”. Ms Gilleran said that the plan has been on the remediation action list by Uisce Éireann for sometime and the incident occurred during a bank holiday weekend when there was extra pressure on plant with the population locally. On behalf of Uisce Éireann, Aoife Sheehan BL told the court that “this was a very serious incident and Uisce Éireann takes its responsibilities very seriously and it is here to meet those charges”. Ms Sheehan said, “There were a number of issues that unfortunately gave rise to the incident on May 2nd but it is important to note at the outset that fundamentally this is an old plant with old infrastructure, inadequate and no longer fit for purpose”. She said, “That was recognised

l Uisce Éireann water plant, Ennistymon Photo by John Mangan by Uisce Eireann who took over the running of the plant in 2014 and was one of the plants earmarked for major investment needed to upgrade”. Ms Sheehan said, “That investment has been made and the upgrade programme is an advanced stage”. Ms Sheehan said that an inspection of the plant “was carried out on the day in question and this didn’t raise any flags”. Ms Sheehan said that Uisce Eireann has “a new operating procedure

in place to prevent a re-occurence of what went on”. Ms Sheehan said that the plant is now de-sludged five times a week with 45 tonnes of sludge removed weekly. Ms Sheehan said that the upgrade works commenced in 2022 and is due to be complete in Autumn of this year representing a €7.5m investment. She said that €3m has been invested in the residual treatment aspect of process that was the difficulty in this case.

Thursday, Feb 22, 2024 THE CLARE ECHO

Lifestyle & Comment

750 homes install solar panels SPRING is in the air and the days are getting longer. That means it’s a good time to turn our thoughts to getting energy from the sun by installing solar panels. Almost 750 households installed them in Clare last year and the installation rate so far this year is much higher. The returns are great both in terms of our finances and the climate. With solar photovoltaic (PV), the energy from the sun is converted directly into electricity. Any electricity you don’t use immediately can be either sold to the electricity grid or stored in a battery for when you need it. Your electricity bill plummets and the savings pay for the system in about 5 years. A grant of up to €2100 is available through SEAI for all houses occupied before the end of 2020. That typically works out at about a third of the cost of a 3kW system. A list of suppliers is on the SEAI website and they look after the paper work, so you just sign on the dotted line. Installation is generally straightforward and done in a day. You no longer need planning permission for

lSOLAR: Green Party representative Bridget Ginnity

typical household systems, VAT has been removed and there is no limit to the rooftop area that can be installed. Batteries are typically an extra €2500 and are not included in the grant. With a battery, typically 80 per cent of your electricity needs are met by your own panels but selling directly to the grid saves the cost and precious resources of a battery. Not everyone has money available to install a solar system but low interest home energy upgrade loans will be available shortly that might fit the bill. Perhaps also family members could step in with a personal loan or gift. It’s certainly one of the most useful presents they could ever give – one that gives savings from day one and also helps to reduce carbon emissions. A 4kW system saves the emissions from about 10,000km of driving. That’s a much more useful carbon offset than many of those offered by airlines and other companies. Contact your Green Party representative or see www.seai.ie for more information.

Distraction: Staying focused behind the wheel

IN TODAY’S fast-paced world, the temptation to multitask is ever-present, even when driving. However, what may seem like harmless actions can quickly turn deadly when they lead to distractions behind the wheel. From mobile phones to external stimuli, various factors can impair a driver’s focus, posing significant risks to road safety. MOBILE PHONES: One of the most prevalent distractions is the use of mobile phones. Whether it’s texting, talking, or checking notifications, the allure of staying connected can be irresistible. However, taking your eyes off the road for even a few seconds can have catastrophic consequences. Studies have shown that texting

while driving increases the risk of a crash by up to 23 times.

FOOD AND DRINKS: Another common distraction is food and drinks. While it may seem innocent to grab a quick snack or sip on a drink while driving, these actions require taking your hands off the wheel and diverting your attention from the road. Spills or dropped items can further exacerbate the situation, leading to sudden maneuvers that endanger everyone on the road. PASSENGERS: Passengers, especially children, can also be significant sources of distraction. Engaging in conversations, managing their needs, or attending to their behavior can take your focus away from driving.

It’s essential to establish ground rules for behavior in the car and ensure that children are properly secured in appropriate car seats or

lMobile phones

restraints.

IN-CAR TECHNOLOGY: In-car technology, such as ad-

justing the radio or programming GPS systems, may seem innocuous, but they can still divert attention from driving. Similarly, external distractions like admiring scenery or rubbernecking at accidents can draw your eyes away from the road, increasing the risk of a collision. CONCLUSION: To combat these distractions, drivers must prioritize safety above all else. This means resisting the urge to engage in distracting activities, keeping mobile phones out of reach, and focusing solely on the task of driving. By staying vigilant and minimizing distractions, we can all play a part in making our roads safer for everyone. Remember, it only takes a moment of distraction to change lives forever. Stay focused, stay safe.

THE CLARE ECHO Thursday, Feb 22, 2024

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THIS really easy recipe for butter chicken, is always a family favourite and can be kept in the fridge for a couple of days. The curry is sweet and mild so if you aren’t a big fan of spices this is a great starting recipe. It’s perfect for the wet cold days we are having at the moment. All spices and the Tandoori marinandes can be bought at most supermarkets but I would suggest taking a look in the ethnic store on the Mill Road in Ennis where they have a great selection of spices and wonderful fresh breads.

For the chicken

n 6 chicken breast each cut into 6 pieces

n 150g Tandoori paste n 250g yogurt

n 4 tablespoons tomato puree n 3 cloves garlic, minced n 2.5 cm (1inch) cube fresh ginger, peeled and grated very finely n 1 cup cream n 1 teaspoon garam masala n 3/4 teaspoon salt n black pepper, to taste

n 1/4 teaspoon sugar n 1 fresh hot green chilli, finely chopped n 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper n 1 tablespoon chopped fresh coriander n 4 teaspoon lemon juice n 1 teaspoon ground cumin n 4oz of butter

For the sauce

Lifestyle & Comment

Method

1) Mix the Tandoori paste

yogurt well together and then add the large diced chicken breast. Cover and leave in the fridge for 24 hours to marinate. 2) The following day remove from the marinade and place on a grill tray and grill under a hot grill. You want little bits of char on the chicken for the slight smoky flavour. Cook through turning under the grill. 3) To prepare the sauce, put the tomato puree in a large clear measuring jug. Slowly add water, mixing as you go to make up 1 cup tomato sauce. Add the remaining sauce ingredients and mix well. 4) Heat the butter in a wide saute pan or a large frying pan. When the butter has melted, add the spiced sauce. Bring to a simmer and cook on medium heat for a minute, mixing in the butter as you do. Add the chicken pieces. Stir once and put the chicken on a warm serving platter, spooning extra sauce over the top. 5) Serve with rice and naan.

Pollinator plants to aid biodiversity

lHyacinth

HOPEFULLY everyone has had a chance to venture into the garden over the last few weeks and is working on tidying up and cutting back any dead wood on shrubs or perennials. For me, I just had to add some color to some of my pots and breathe some spring into my home. The dwarf daffodil is one of my favorites, and the primroses give off a lovely glow. Well, my day is brighter, and hopefully, it can give you the same feeling. Now I am looking ahead, particularly at pollinator plants for this year, to see what I can add to my beds and pots to help biodiversity in my garden. There are a lot of choices when it comes to the garden. I saw a few bees at my Hellebore, which are in full bloom. Some other good pollinators are

Snowdrop bulbs, offering a lovely display of white, and Crocus bulbs, which come in a mix of colors and have a lovely display. The primrose comes in a variety of colors and is another good one to have, brightening up any border or pot this month. And here are a few more that you possibly may have or can add to your own garden to help the bees and the birds: Heather, Hyacinth, Muscari, Bluebells. As we go into the later months, there are many more like Lilac, Phlox, Geranium, Echinacea, and Nepeta, just to name a few. There are many more out there, and as the season progresses, we will come back to them, but it’s nice to plan ahead, I find. I do hope that the garden is starting to show you its beauty, and with the buds appearing on lots of plants and shrubs. Spring has arrived.

Thursday, Feb 22, 2024 THE CLARE ECHO

Columnists

EVERY TIME I run a workshop or coach a client on a 1:1 basis, I refer to the ‘comfort zone’, or rather, stepping out of it as we embark on our learning journey together. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy the perks of the comfort zone as much as the next person. I.e. not having to think much about what I am doing, a feeling of ease and knowing everything there is to know about what I am doing to the point that it causes me no consternation whatsoever! However, as you can guess, nothing really new or exciting tends to happen when we camp out in the comfort zone. I am not talking about doing things like bungee jumping in our spare time, even though I can imagine that taking a jump off the edge of a cliff would be one hell of a way of taking a step outside of our comfort zone in .5 seconds flat. I am talking about the everyday opportunities we have to do something different, just for the heck of it. Taking a different route to work, having green tea instead of coffee (some may argue that life is simply too short for a change as drastic as this!) and going for a short jog instead of a long walk, are all examples of things we could do from one day to the next when it comes to stepping out of our comfort zone. But, ‘Why bother?’, I hear you ask. “Life is good, why would I want to go out and make things uncomfortable for myself?”. Because, I say, what if you die with your song still inside you, unsung? What if you never knew that you actually love riding horses, or that you’re a great poet, or that you can actually paint a canvas with the pretty flowers you pass by each day on your walk? What if that promo-

tion was the job you were looking for? Surely, there is a part of you who is curious about living a life with more purpose and more joy? When we scratch the surface of it, most of us would admit that there are more things we could do to feel more joy and contentment in life. What if I was to say to you that stepping out of your comfort zone could lead you into a whole new unexplored aspect of yourself. Part of yourself that you may never have become acquainted with, had you not taken the leap, felt the fear, and gone ahead and booked the horse-riding lesson anyway?! When I speak to my course attendees or my ‘coachees’ about coming out of the comfort zone, I am encouraging them, as leaders, as managers and as business owners to do something different. As the saying goes ‘nothing changes, if nothing changes’. Here are three tips for stepping out of the comfort zone:

one, and that I saw them through. Doing so proved to me that I have mental toughness and tenacity that I may never have gotten to explore otherwise. 3. See ‘failure’ as ‘learning’ rather than a sign to quit. A good friend of mine often says that there is no failure, only learning. We’ve all probably heard this and maybe thought that it’s a bit of a cop-out. But I’ve taken this on as being true for me, and it makes a huge difference. For

me, if there is no failure, then what is there to fear? A fear of being ridiculed perhaps, or being made to look foolish in front of others if things fail. But am I really so invested in the opinions of others that I would let that drive a decision for myself, about my business, my life or the ways in which I choose to spend my time. I can safely and happily say that the answer to that, is no! If you’d like to explore any of these topics further with me, please send me an email at denise@obrienlearningsolutions.ie

1. Just because it makes you feel uneasy doesn’t mean you should avoid it! Personally, I would not be writing this article now if I let fear make my decisions for me. When I started my own business I thought I would give it a year and if it failed, I would go and get a job. Here I am 8 years later sitting writing about my experiences. 2. Trying new things can be a process of elimination! I ran a marathon once, and I did a sky-dive once. For me, they were bucket list things and I am happy they are done and I don’t feel the need to do these again. I am glad I stuck with the process of preparation for each

A NEW pan-European study from the EIT Food consumer Observatory reveals that consumers across Europe are concerned about the impact of ultra-processed foods on their health. But what is even more concerning is that the study reveals a lack of awareness, understanding and means that are preventing people from making informed and healthy choices. The term ‘ultra-processed foods’ comes from the NOVA, Food Classification System developed by researchers at the University of São Paulo, Brazil. “The ultra-processed food products are not variants of the natural foods and meals. They are formulated from industrial ingredients and contain little or no intact foods. By their nature they are unhealthy, and should be grouped together, and avoided.” The NOVA system places food into four categories. 1. Unprocessed or minimally processed foods: This includes produce such as fruit, vegetables, milk, fish, pulses, eggs, nuts and seeds that have no added ingredients and have been little altered from their natural state. 2. Processed ingredients: This includes foods that are added to other foods rather than eaten by themselves, such

as salt, sugar and oils. 3. Processed foods: These are made by combining foods from groups 1 and 2, which are altered in a way that home cooks can do themselves. They include foods such as jam, pickles, tinned fruit and vegetables, homemade breads and cheeses. 4. Ultra-processed foods: Ultra-processed foods typically have five or more ingredients. They tend to include many additives and ingredients that are not typically used in home cooking, such as preservatives, emulsifiers, sweeteners, and artificial colours and flavours. These foods generally have a long shelf life. Unprocessed or minimally processed foods are whole foods in which the vitamins and nutrients are still intact. The food is in its natural (or nearly natural) state. These foods may be minimally altered by removal of inedible parts, drying, crushing, roasting, boiling, freezing, or pasteurization, to make them suitable to store and safe to consume. Unprocessed or minimally processed foods would include carrots, apples, raw chicken, beetroot, and raw, unsalted nuts. It is essential to understand the difference between the three categories of foods: unprocessed, processed and ultra-processed because that will help us to make a better choice when we do our weekly grocery shopping or to make

better choices for our meals and be healthy. A recent study presented at the European Society of Cardiology Congress in August 2023, tracked 10,000 Australian women for 15 years. Those with the highest amounts of ultra-processed food in their diet were 39 per cent more likely to develop high blood pressure than those with the lowest. Several other studies have shown that eating higher amounts of ultra-processed foods is linked to a greater risk of high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, heart attacks and strokes and early death. And this is only from a heart health perspective. The damaging effects of ultra-processed foods start in the gut by altering the gut microbiome and go all the way to the brain following the gut-brain axis. Subsequently, our mental health is impacted by ultra-processed food consumption as well. After reading this article you may think, “what can I eat then?” and I totally understand the concern and the anxiety coming from having a busy life and getting overwhelmed by the thought of cooking everything from scratch. My best advice is to start replacing what is obvious and easy: replace sodas with water, replace juices with fresh fruits and vegetables, replace snacking on cookies with nuts and seeds. Another step is to ask for help from a health coach or a nutritionist to show you how to tailor your own diet to become more unprocessed. Don’t go for a 360 degrees change in your diet overnight as that will sabotage your chances of success and you will become unmotivated and frustrated. Learning how to prepare simple meals that don’t require lots of complicated steps but using whole foods is the secret.

THE CLARE ECHO Thursday, Feb 22, 2024

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I FIRST discovered reflexology as a teenager and it was a gift. I was 17 years old, stressed out and nervous before my Leaving Certificate practical music exam. My mother had sourced a nearby reflexologist and she was trying her best to convince me to go but I probably thought it was too ‘airyfairy and touchy-feely’ for me. I finally (but still reluctantly) agreed to go for one treatment and it was amazing. I didn’t fully understand the rationale behind reflexology at the time but afterwards I came home and fell into a trance-like therapeutic sleep. I woke up a different person and had a really positive experience the next day at my exam (I used to play the trumpet by the way!).

It was a gift and I continued to get reflexology treatments over the years as a preventative maintenance tool for sleep, depression, sinusitis and digestive issues. It was the beginning of my own journey with healing modalities. I continued to explore several other things for my health and wellbeing – yoga, massage, sound healing etc. Each layer of healing is connected and all of the modalities work hand in hand with a healthy lifestyle. Having had the experience of reflexology as a teenager helped me so much to open up to ideas around positive healing energy and self-care. I noticed that my body remembered each time I returned to something after a small break, it just seemed to take up where I left off which was very reassuring.

Columnists

Now as I work with teenage clients myself it’s really inspiring to think that this might be the beginning of their exploration of complementary therapies. I love having the opportunity as a reflexologist to help teenagers switch off from the distractions of modern life in a safe space and experience a gentle yet powerful, non-invasive treatment which encourages the body to nudge itself back into balance and heal itself naturally. It’s helping with poor concentration, mood fluctuations and sleep issues. Reflexology and the world of positive healing energy aim to encourage the body to relax and the great thing is the body continues to heal whenever you get the chance to resume your healing journey.

How can changing oestrogen levels impact our co-existing conditions?

Menopause expert and awareness advocate Nicola Ryan discusses the effects of menopause and peri-menopause on other co-morbidities

IN THIS week’s article I will highlight the influence that the changing of oestrogen levels can have on a wide variety of our organs and how this can potentially impact the management of co-existent medical conditions. These conditions require careful evaluation by their healthcare professional when advising women about the risks and benefits associated with starting hormone therapy and most importantly the form that they receive their therapy, for example, through the skin, orally or vaginally and is there any interaction with their current medications. Cardiovascular disease Did you know that cardiovascular disease is the most common cause of death in women in Europe and might I add that this is relatively very uncommon before menopause and as you transition into menopause cardiovascular events increase. Actually, menopause transition is considered an independent risk factor for heart disease, as highlighted by the British Menopause Society. Hypertension (high blood pressure) is very common in women in their 50s and

up and the hormone shift is a known factor. I see ladies regularly in the pharmacy and they are on different types of blood pressure tables and still struggle to keep the levels low. It is im-

portant that women about to enter the menopause transition to get regular blood

pressure checks. There is no evidence that oestradiol-based hormone therapy increases blood pressure, if anything hormone therapy can help reduce blood pressure. These therapies can be

taken alongside antihypertensive medication, provided of course that the blood

pressure remains within controlled levels. Transdermal oestrogen would be the preferred choice for women with any cardiovascular issues as the oestrogen is absorbed through the skin and avoids going through the liver where our clotting cascade exists. This also stands for people who are at high risk of getting a VTE (venous thromboembolism or a clot). There is some consideration to be given to women who have a genetic predisposition to forming a clot. Factor V Leiden can further increase the risk of VTE in women receiving oral hormone therapy and so in my view this needs specialist care. Diabetes mellitus is increasing as the population ages. When our oestrogen levels are low, biochemical changes occur in our bodies and this results in metabolic changes such as increased insulin resistance, abdominal fat persistence and the risk of becoming a type 2 diabetic. Studies have shown that hormone therapy can decrease the incidence of type 2 diabetes, as well as improving glycaemic control. Migraines are more common in women than men after their periods occur.

Migraines are very common in perimenopause years. In my experience, I see lots of women whose migraines worsen in their 40s but they would have never associated this with perimenopause. They would be collecting anti-migraine medication monthly. I often find myself as a pharmacist being the giver of the good news and explaining that these migraines often worsen when our hormones start to shift. Some women will be very grateful for this knowledge, and understandably some will not be so grateful. It is also not one size fits all here, some women’s migraines may ease up at this time and some may only start to experience migraines for the first time or since their younger years. Using hormone treatment may help to reduce these troublesome migraines but depending on several individual factors the treatment may have to be tailored to everyone. In terms of Epilepsy and the use of hormone therapy, unfortunately, the research is limited. Seizure frequency may increase in the perimenopause and this may be due to sleep deprivation or due to fluctuating hor-

lHEALTH: Nicola Ryan

mones. Some data has suggested that hormone therapy can increase the seizure frequency in postmenopausal women. In my opinion, this is a very specialised area and this cohort of women needs specialist care from both neurologists and menopause specialists. Here is just a quick synopsis of some co-morbidities and the menopause. There are many more examples but this gives an idea of how menopause can impact many of us in very different ways. If you have any co-morbidities and are thinking of starting hormone therapy, please discuss your options with your healthcare professional.

Thursday, Feb 22, 2024 THE CLARE ECHO

Recruitment

Fifteen events announced for Clare’s Local Enterprise Week 2024

SMALL businesses and budding entrepreneurs will have the opportunity to sample 15 events aimed at helping them to start or grow their business as part of this year’s Local Enterprise Week. The initiative of the Local Enterprise Offices nationwide, supported by Enterprise Ireland and the local authorities, takes place from the 4th to 8th March. While there are hundreds of events taking place nationally, including two National Spotlight events that are available for free online, there are plenty of events in Clare open to all. These events will focus on Exporting, Sustainability, Leadership & Women in Business networking. A flavour of those taking part in Local Enterprise Week includes Sarah Naylor & Bridget Haren of Bridget Haren Hair & Beauty Salon, Ennis will form a panel of speakers at our sustainability event for the hair, beauty & wellness sectors on Monday 4th March; Gerry Reynolds of Takumi, Nick Cotter of Cotter Agritech & Kieran McSharry of Straix will speak at our Export event on Tuesday 5th March; James McCluskey will present our Leadership event on Wednesday 6th March; & Sinead O’Brien of Sinead’s Curvy Style will host our Women in Business networking event on the Thursday 7th March. Cathaoirleach, Clare County Council, Cllr Joe Cooney said “Local Enterprise Week offers a great opportunity for anybody who wants to start or grow their business to get inspired and motivated. Events during the week

lTHRIVE: Head of Enterprise Padraic McElwee & Cathaoirleach of Clare County Council Cllr Joe Cooney will give you insights and add to your knowledge on important topics that can make a real difference to your business competitiveness. The week also puts a spotlight on the range of supports, advice and information available to businesses through their Local Enterprise Office. We would urge everyone to make the most of the week and to remember that your Local Enterprise Office is also available yearround to help your business to thrive.”

The two National Spotlight events are open to everyone and can be accessed online. The first, “Understanding and leveraging future trends for your business” on Wednesday 6th March looks at what are the trends that will be emerging in the short and long term and how they will affect business. The session will also delve into how you can adapt and leverage these trends for business success. The second spotlight event focuses on the

Making it Happen

area of sustainability. The “Sustainability imperative for business success” session on Thursday 7th March will look at how sustainability is becoming a bigger and bigger factor in business survival and success. Headlined by renowned broadcaster and science and environment expert, Liz Bonnin, it will show how the small changes in your business can make a big impact and most importantly how you can start. Padraic McElwee, Head of Enterprise said “Local Enterprise Week is a fantastic marker in the road for any business. It’s an opportunity to take stock of where you are, see where you can grow, where you can innovate or maybe become more sustainable and see what resources are available on your doorstep. There is something for everyone and those who maybe always had that ambition to start on their own, or a great idea, this is the week to see how to get started and make it happen. “There are hundreds of events taking place all over the country covering everything from exporting and digital to going green or growing that idea. We also have two National Spotlight events taking place online and open to everyone that include experts from a range of industries. So online or on your doorstep, I would encourage everyone to check out the schedule of events and get involved.” Details for all the events taking place across the country during Local Enterprise Week, from March 4th to 8th, are available at www. LocalEnterprise.ie/Week

THE CLARE ECHO Thursday, Feb 22, 2024

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Recruitment

Clare an Chláir PANEL OF MUSIC GENERATION TUTORS CO. CLARE Ref. No. 014901 Applications are invited from suitably qualified and experienced Music Tutors to form a panel for Music Generation Programmes in Co. Clare. We have requirements for the following subject areas in 2024/2025 academic year: • Musician Educator in Creative Schools Programmes • Concertina • Harp • Guitar

• Fiddle • Banjo • Accordian • Music Technology and Production

Online application form and further details are available on www.lcetb.ie/recruitment Closing time and date for receipt of applications is 12 noon Monday, 11th March 2024. Limerick and Clare Education and Training Board is an Equal Opportunities Employer. Canvassing will disqualify.

CLARE TOURISM DEVELOPMENT DAC

Clare Tourism Development DAC is a subsidiary company of Clare County Council that oversees the management, development, and promotion of a portfolio of signature visitor attraction sites throughout County Clare. Clare Tourism are now seeking to hire the following experienced professionals with the appropriate skills.

JOB OPENINGS – CLARE TOURISM • Assistant Finance Manager

• Horticultural Manager

• Procurement Officer – Fixed Term Contract

• Digital Marketing Executive

• Sustainable Destination Development Officer – Fixed Term Contract

• Finance Administrator – Fixed Term Contract

HOW TO APPLY / FURTHER INFORMATION: If you are interested in applying, or want to know more about the individual position, contact careers@claretourismdev.ie or email your CV with cover letter to careers@claretourismdev.ie. Closing date for applications Friday, 15th of March 2024 at 5pm.

Thursday, Feb 22, 2024 THE CLARE ECHO

Columnists

Thought for the week: Believe & Trust Spreading the word of positivity RONAN SCULLY

HERE are times when we believe in everything and everybody but ourselves. There is a constant search for mentors and role models when they exist within us with the Holy Spirit of Jesus being the best one ever. The most brutal hardship that we take is the one that we inflict upon ourselves. We make one mistake and using a boxing analogy we count ourselves “out”. TRUST IN GOD There are times when people disappoint you, say unkind things to you and let you down but those are the times when you must remind yourself to trust your own judgments and opinions, to keep your life focused on believing in yourself and all that you are capable of and totally put all your trust in God. There will be challenges to face and changes to make in your life, and it is up to you to accept them. Constantly keep yourself headed in the right direction for you and pray to God constantly and lovingly to guide you and protect you. It may not be easy at times, but in those times of struggle you will find a stronger sense of who you

are and how much God really loves you and cares for you. So when the days come that are filled with frustration and unexpected responsibilities, remember to believe in yourself and all you want your life to be and turn to God and trust him with your journey of life, because the challenges and changes will only help you to find the goals that you know are meant to come true for you and to always keep your trust and your faith in God. CLAY VESSELS It’s like that with people. We look at someone and even look at ourselves, and we see the external clay vessel. It doesn’t look like much from the outside. It isn’t always beautiful or sparkling so we discount it. We see that person or ourselves as less important than someone more beautiful or stylish or well known or wealthy. But we have not taken the time to find the treasure hidden inside that person or ourselves by God. There is a treasure in each and every one of us. If we take the time to get to know that person or get to know ourselves, and if we ask God to show us that person or ourselves the way He sees us, then the clay begins to peel away and the brilliant gem begins to shine forth. May we not come to the end of our lives and find out that we have thrown away a fortune in love for ourselves

and for our friendships and for others because the gems were hidden in bits of clay. May we see ourselves and the people in our world as God sees them. Jesus came in a meek and lowly form so it shouldn’t surprise us that most of His treasures are hidden in obscurity, out of sight to the proud. THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK As your thought for the week, ask God to give you faith, courage and strength in yourself, not only on the days when you are going great and winning and nothing seems impossible, but on days when you wonder if you are brave enough, smart enough, caring enough, loving enough, faithful enough or strong enough. Don’t quit on you, not ever. Keep faith in yourself and keep trusting in God. No matter how many people discourage you, doubt you, laugh at you, warn you, be unkind to you, judge you, cancel you, think you are a fool, please don’t listen to them. Hear another voice within you telling you, God’s voice telling you, “You can do it, and you will!” If nobody else in the whole world seems to care or believe in you, believe in yourself because God is with you always and will never give up believing you and loving you. I know there will be times when you doubt your own ability, you will be discour-

lClay pot

aged and on the verge of despair. Don’t give up, hang on to you and always trust in God. Fan the fires of your faith so that you will try even harder. Give yourself even more faith in yourself and in God. You are the source of your abilities and your faith. You are you, believe in yourself and love yourself and know that God will always love you and be there for you. Let me finish this thought with one of my favourite prayers called “Patient Trust,” by Fr. Pierre Teilhard

de Chardin and it goes as follows, “Above all, trust in the slow work of God. We are quite naturally impatient in everything to reach the end without delay. We should like to skip the intermediate stages. We are impatient of being on the way to something unknown, something new. And yet it is the law of all progress, that it is made by passing through some stages of instability and that it may take a very long time. And so I think it is with you; your ideas mature gradual-

ly—let them grow, let them shape themselves, without undue haste. Don’t try to force them on, as though you could be today what time, that is to say, grace and circumstances acting on your own good will, will make of you tomorrow. Only God could say what this new spirit gradually forming within you will be. Give Our Lord the benefit of believing that his hand is leading you, and accept the anxiety of feeling yourself in suspense and incomplete. Amen.”

Dúchas agus Dóchas an deireadh seachtaine seo a bheas an coirmcheoil seo san Áiléar (The Attic), ag 8pm, ar an

25ú de Feabhra. Costas: €20

Imeachtaí/Events:

• SRÁID NA CATHRACH – Scéalta agus rannta do ghasúir 0-5 mbliana d’aois, sa Leabharlann, ón 10:30am go 11am, Dé Céadaoin, 28ú lá de Feabhra. • Clare FM - Cúl-chaint le Domhnall Ó Loingsigh chuile Dé Sathairn, ag 9am ar Clare FM • Ciorcal Comhrá san XPO, i gCill Iníne Baoith, chuile Dé Céadaoin ag 7.30pm • INIS – CAINT AGUS COMHRÁ, chuile Dé Luain ag 11am sa gCopper Jug, Dé Céadaoin ag 11am in O’Brien’s, oíche Déardaoin sa Temple Gate (8pm), agus Dé Sathairn i nGlór, 11am-12pm Déan teagmháil leo ag: caintaguscomhra@outlook.com • DÚLAINN – Dúchas agus Dóchas, san Áiléar, 8pm, €20

Macalla an Chláir

LE MACDARA Ó CONAOLA

EIDH sibh millte an Dé Domhnaigh beag seo nuair a bheas scoth na n-amhránaithe agus na gceoltóirí le cloisteáil ag canadh agus ag casadh sean-amhráin Chondae an Chláir a bhailigh an siamsóir ildánach, Diarmuid de Faoite don togra iontach seo, Dúchas agus Dóchas. I measc na n-amhránaithe a bheas le cloisteáil beidh Diarmuid, an t-eagraí é fhéin, Therese McInerney, Emer O’Flaherty, Gráinne Cotter, Edel Vaughan, Enda Haran, Nuala Kennedy, agus Quentin Cooper. Is mar chuid d’Fhéile Dheireadh Seachtaine Russell in ómós dhreatháireacha Russell

Gluais/Glossary: • • • •

l CROCH SUAS É: Micho Russell

• • • • •

Irish

English

Dúchas agus Dóchas – Heritage and Hope Beidh sibh millte – you (plural) will be spoiled an Dé Domhnaigh beag seo – this coming Sunday scoth na n-amhránaithe agus – the finest singers na gceoltóirí and musicians an togra iontach seo – this wonderful project eagraí – organiser an siamsóir ildánach – the versatile entertainer in ómós – in honour of Croch suas é – Sing out loud!

THE CLARE ECHO Thursday, Feb 22, 2024

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Sport

Feakle/Killanena celebrate U21A success

l FEAKLE/KILLANENA celebrated their U21A hurling success of 2023 on Friday

night at Hotel Woodstock. Pictured (anti-clockwise from top right) Oisin Clune and Claire McNamara; Captain Liam O'Connor and Keith Smyth with the U21A trophy; Feakle/Killanena Jerseys; Clare Senior Hurler Adam Hogan alongside Ruth and Michael Hogan; Josephine and Podge O'Callaghan; Aishling O'Connor and Ronan O'Connor; Pat McNamara providing a speech at Victory social Feakle/Killanena U21A Champions Balloon; Darren McMahon and Aoife Naughton.Photos by Tom Micks

Thursday, Feb 22, 2024 THE CLARE ECHO

Sport

"We got lucky to be fair" - Mark Fitzgerald comments following win against Offaly SCAN HERE FOR MATCH REPORT

ALLIANZ NFL DIVISION 3 ROUND 3 Clare 2-10 Offaly 1-12 Venue: Glenisk O'Connor Park, Tullamore Compiled by Páraic McMahon

AARON GRIFFIN (FULL FORWARD)

Minutes played: All Possessions: 7 Shots: 4 (2/2) Scores: 0-1 Wides: 3 (1/2) Passess: 2 (1/1) Foot Pass: 0 Hand Pass: 2 Turnovers for: 0 Turnovers against: 1 (1/0) Tackles: 5 (3/2) Frees Won: 0 Frees Lost: 0

STORY OF THE GAME CLARE OFFALY Frees for: 14 (7/7) Frees for: 15 (9/6) Wides: 10 (4/6) Wides: 2 (2/0)) Scores from play: 1-7 Scores from play: 1-5 Spread of scorers: 8 Spread of scorers: 6 Top scorer: Diarmuid Top scorer: Nigel Dunne O'Donnell (1-2) (0-4, 3f's) Bookings: Mícheál Garry Bookings: Dylan Hyland (25), Manus Doherty (11), Lee Pearson (36), (35), Daniel Walsh (61) John Furlong (58) Black Cards: Diarmuid Own kickouts won: 15 O'Donnell (74) from 22 (68%) Own kickouts won: 11 from 15 (73%) REFEREE: James Molloy (Galway)

“

SCAN HERE FOR MATCH REPORT

GOAL BLITZ SEES GALWAY BLOW CLARE INTERMEDIATES SCAN HERE FOR AWAY MATCH REPORT

MANAGER COMMENT

Mark Fitzgerald, Clare manager

“It “There’s a good bit of experience gone out of the group, I think we saw Emmet stood up in the second half, Alan Sweeney stood up and Brian McNamara is beginning to develop into a leader so it bodes well for the long-term but we need to go back to ground zero and get ready for next week”. “It is a brilliant competition because it is so competitive, Offaly have no points but you wouldn’t think it for fifty minutes there, they were awful unlucky against Antrim and we were unlucky against Westmeath but we’re happy to be where we are but there is still a long way to go for us”. “We went two up and we were controlling the game but then we proceeded to get into an awful phase of complacency, Emmet had a chance but he kicked it wide from their post, Danny hit the post then Ciaran kicked it wide, that started a spiral and it is hard to come out of that, to be fair the lads battled away”. “I think we kicked two or three wides at the start of the first half where

GALWAY DISH OUT NINE POINT DEFEAT TO NEW-LOOK CLARE SENIORS

SCAN HERE FOR MATCH REPORT

PLAYER WATCH

l Manus Doherty celebrates with Emmet McMahon and Ronan

Lanigan. Photo by Burren Eye Photography we were on top but we weren’t putting it on the scoreboard. You would have just felt if you got one or two but it became obvious then that we needed a goal, we got lucky to be fair with the goal that came back off a ricocheted and we haven’t been getting that luck all along so it evens itself out”.

Considine's goal steers Clare to top of the table LIDL NLFL DIVISION 3 ROUND 4 Clare 1-09 Offaly 0-08 Venue: Cusack Park, Ennis Compiled by Eoin Brennan

SCAN HERE FOR MATCH REPORT

STORY OF THE GAME CLARE Frees for: 19 (10/9) Wides: 8 (4/4) Scores from play: 1-8 Spread of scorers: 6 Own kickouts won: 7 from 10 (70%) Bookings: None

ALLIANZ NFL DIVISION 3 ROUND 3 Clare 0-8 Galway 0-17 Venue: Cusack Park, Ennis Compiled by Eoin Brennan

STORY OF THE GAME CLARE Frees for: 12 (7/5) Wides: 5 (2/3) Scores from play: 0-6 Spread of scorers: 6 Top Scorer: Áine O'Loughlin (0-3, '45) Own puck-outs won: 14 from 18 (78%)

GALWAY Frees for: 12 (7/5) Wides: 1 (0/1) Scores from play: 0-11 Spread of scorers: 7 Top Scorer: Carrie Dolan (0-7, 5f's) Own puck-outs won: 12 from 13 (92%)

REFEREE: John Dermody (Westmeath)

OFFALY Frees for: 17 (9/8) Wides: 2 (2/0) Scores from play: 0-6 Spread of scorers: 4 Own kickouts won: 13 from 18 (72%) Red Card: Roisín Cockram (55)

REFEREE: Eoghan O'Neill (Kildare)

“

MANAGER COMMENT

Wayne Freeman, Clare manager “We are delighted with the result and it’s about getting results. We weren’t perfect again today but you can see we are making improvements. Once we get our shooting boots going, we will start getting bigger scores. We are creating opportunities which is the most positive thing. We are working the ball to good areas and we are getting lots of shots off. Sometimes you just get those days when the shooting boots aren’t firing. It’s still good to get the result and we finished the game really strong which is very positive”. “We kicked a lot of wides again today but if we weren’t creating the opportunities I would be more upset, the fact that we are creating the opportunities and doing a lot of good stuff”. “It’s important to finish stronger and that has been evident in

l Ailish Considine

Photo by Burren Eye Photography

the four games to date. We have put a lot of work into fitness our conditioning is excellent. Our subs in the last few games have giving us great energy. We are delighted with the squad as a whole. We have used 23 players in the opening games. We are using our squad quite well”. “It’s all about championship and we want to go back to Croke Park and that’s our ambition. There is a trophy on the line and that is all we are concentrating on at the moment. The longer we can stay unbeaten, the better it is for us, it gives us a chance of being in all finals. Each game gives us something to fight for”.

THE CLARE ECHO Thursday, Feb 22, 2024

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Sport

How golf benefits your Mental Health by PÁDRAIG MCGRATH I'm looking to have some close friends in the medical industry and they often mention to me to get across the message to people how great the game of golf is for people's mental health. In fact, a lot of mental health doctors are prescribing their patients to take up the sport to assist them with their mental health issues. I have to say golf is one of those sports that has so many positives you are out in fresh air, you are mentally challenged at every shot when playing well and even more so when you aren't playing well, you get to meet new friendships on the golf course. I started playing pitch & putt first at Ballykilty Manor at the age of six and a few years later I joined Dromoland and my golfing journey had begun. I remember playing with my dad at Dromoland that summer and I was hooked right from the start. I'm blessed to say my childhood was one of the best and I've so many fond memories looking back of cycling to Dromoland to the practice ground where I self-taught myself to play. The best childhoods are definitely the ones that are spent in an outdoors environment. I honestly can't recommend enough for kids to take up golf it has so many benefits. Team sports are also important and I'm a huge advocate of playing multiple sports until you decide which sports are the ones you love the most. But playing an individual sport where you have nobody there to back you up when you are having a bad day turns

you mentally into a stronger individual and that benefits you in other sports and also in life. Golf also teaches etiquette to kids and as they develop as player's they eventually get to play with adults in the men's competitions which helps to mature them. Kids get bored easily because they have so much energy they don't like been stuck inside and golf is incredible to keep them busy and active for up to five hours. "Recent studies have highlighted the positive impact that golf can have on mental health. Engaging in a round of golf is more than a physical activity; it is a mindful pursuit. The game demands concentration, and strategic thinking that gives you a respite from the chaotic pace of modern life. The sport's outdoor setting also exposes players to natural sunlight, promoting the production of vitamin D which is crucial for enhancing your mood. Regular participation in the sport has been linked to improved sleep patterns, reduced symptoms

of depression, and enhanced overall mental resilience". We currently live in a world where mental health is increasingly on the rise. I personally analyse mental health as being such an issue because we are working our lives away and not truly living. Mothers also need a break away from the stresses of motherhood and I'd love to see more mothers give golf a try. You always hear the same excuses, sure "Where would I find the time". Life is short don't work it away and wait until retirement to start living because your best years are gone by then. It's time to put yourself first and give yourself some time alone to recharge your batteries. I guarantee that you will reap the benefits and be a healthier person physically and mentally through taking up golf. There are no limits or restrictions when it comes to putting yourself first. I've been lucky enough to not suffer from mental problems, however I like everyone else have stressful days, but on those day's, I usually head for a few

holes after putting the kids to bed and it's amazing how revived and clearer my thinking is after. Afterwards then I'm more relaxed and I can usually find solutions and rectify those challenges. In my life I've realised how amazing golf is as it challenges you, it takes you to the best landscapes and views

around the world, it takes you on journeys through nature that are truly unforgettable, it relaxes you and helps to remove any stress you have all while calming your mind and soul. "Why not give it a go and start living the life you deserve".

Toner wins club singles in Woodstock by Seamus Hayes news@clareecho.ie

WOODSTOCK GOLF CLUB Kevin Toner (10) won the club singles, played over 15 holes, at Woodstock at the weekend with 36 points. He won on a countback from Paddy Meehan (10) with third place filled by Eugene Quinn (22) with 33 points. There will be a similar competition this week In the Ozone Health and Fitness League, the format was Texas Scramble over 15 holes. The winners were Kieran and Michael Crosby with 44 points. The league continues this week when the format will be modified fourball betterball. The top sixteen teams will qualify for two divisional finals of eight teams in each division. ENNIS GOLF CLUB The men’s singles at Ennis on Sunday was won by Brendan Nevin (33) with 49 points. He had five to spare over Neil Cremin (28). Gerry Bredin (16) was in third place with lDromoland Castle 42 points followed by Patrick Garry Photo by Brian Morrisson

(31) with a similar score. The winner of Saturday’s scramble were Valarie Wall, James Corcoran and Con Daly with 79 points, three more than Colin Reidy, John Shannon and Pauric Larkin with third spot filled by Carmel Verling, John Kearse and Ferdie O'Donohue with 66 points. The weekly qualifiers in the Pat O’Brien trophy competition were Dermot Doheny, John Coleman and Damon Murphy with 89 points. GORT GOLF CLUB Sean Hanbury (12) was the winner in category 1 at Gort at the weekend with 41 points. Paddy Prendergast (16) won category 2 with a similar score. Mark Kavanagh (20) was the category 3 winner with 37 points while Gary Keane (23) won category 4 with 44 points. KILRUSH GOLF CLUB Week 3 in the Johnson’s bar league at Kilrush saw Tom Dillon (8) emerge with victory, He won on a countback from Noel Thornton (11) with Derek Garvey (9) in third place followed by Michael Miniter (10). All four returned scores of 29 points.

Avenue Utd will be without Hehir for trip to Tipp by Michael Maher news@clareecho.ie

AVENUE UTD will be without full-back Conor Hehir for Sunday’s Munster Junior Cup semi-final. David Russell’s side make the trip to Tipperary this Sunday to take on St Michael’s AFC in the penultimate stage of the competition. The tie takes place in Cahir Park at 3pm. Left-back Conor Hehir will miss Sunday’s semi-final. A nasty tackle on the data analyst during their Ennis derby with Lifford FC has left him with a leg injury that is likely to keep him sidelined for the remainder of the season. Since making the step-up from the club’s B team, the two-time Clare Cup winner has been a first choice starter in Avenue’s defence. His absence is likely to result in both Cullen McCabe and Jamie Roche filling the full-back berths this weekend with the spine of the defence to be anchored by the reliable duo of Conor Mullen and Dylan Casey. Steven McGann’s addition to Avenue has really strengthened their side, this evident by

his man of the match display in their dominant quarter-final win over Togher Celtic. Vice captain Elias Kunz will also be crucial to their chances of success with Nnabuike Nneji, Mark Roche and Mossy Hehir pivotal cogs in their wheel. The side is captained by Ronan Kerin who will help to offer some physicality to their attack. St Michael’s have won the Munster Junior Cup on eight occasions, the most recent win was in 2016. The Tipp Town team were defeated in last year’s FAI Junior Cup final by Newmarket Celtic, they have won the national competition on two occasions and remain in the hunt for this year’s title, they face Waterford side Villa FC in the quarter-finals. Over the weekend, they recorded a 9-0 win over Wilderness Rovers in the Clonmel Credit Union Premier League. Winger Jimmy Carr is a player with experience of representing his country, their team has been strengthened by the signing of defender Sean Guerin from Treaty Utd. Paul Breen and Russell Quirke are among their survivors from the 2016 FAI Junior Cup winning side.

lConor Hehir Photograph by Gerard O'Neill

Thursday, Feb 22, 2024 THE CLARE ECHO

Sport

Clare owners continue to soak up success in Limerick by Michael Maher news@clareecho.ie

WHILE all Clare clubs may be out of th LIMERICK GREYHOUND Stadium is set to host the national racing awards night and the venue proved a happy hunting ground for Clare owners and trainers in the past week. It has been confirmed that the National Greyhound Racing Awards for 2023 will take place on Friday, April 12th, 2024, at Limerick Greyhound Stadium. The event promises to be an exciting celebration of excellence within the greyhound racing community. Nominees for various categories will be revealed in the coming weeks, showcasing the top contenders who have demonstrated outstanding performances and contributions to the sport. At the Limerick venue on Thursday night last the Quin based Guzzley Pints Syndicate which includes Seamus and Aidan Duggan were in the winning enclosure with Two Pints trained and bred by Myles Cummins of Newmarket-on-Fergus, the son of Paddys Magic and Miles Girl recorded his tenth career victory in 28.92. Donie Duggan from Rylane, Tulla duly obliged with Knappogue Blue in an A4 contest, a daughter of Magical Bale and No Time to Talk, this was career win number three in 29.11. The Cooney Clan from O'Callaghan Mills under the stewardship of Donal, recorded a ninth career success with Killuran News, she’s the daughter of Good News and Anthid Classic, her winning time was 29.42. Ger Garrihy a Kilrush native was victorious with Bethan who recorded her first career success in 29.38. She is a daughter of Broadstrand Bane and Straight Tully. Galway Greyhound Stadium staged a student night on Wednesday last. In the A4

graded 550 yards fifth contest Wilbrook Sydney broke smartly on the wide outside to lead on the run towards the opening bend from Bumblebee Hayley with Abigails Sinead also close up as they approached the opening bend. Rounding the bend the Martin Meaney of West Clare owned Wilbrook Sydney led by over a length on the wide outside with Bumblebee Hayley within a length entering the back straight. Passing halfway the lead went out to three lengths as the Stephen Murray of Sixmilebridge trained Wilbrook Sydney (Droopys Sydney and Killinan Reina) set sail for home and although Moneygall Aaron arrived with a wet sail off the final bend Wilbrook Sydney was still a length to the good at the line in 31.03. In race two, the Tommy Flanagan of En-

Another great win for Ennis’ Senior Men’s Team against Carrick-on-Suir

by Dearbhla Parry

JUNIOR 3 MEN’S LEAGUE: ENNIS RFC 29 – 14 CARRICK-ON-SUIR RFC The senior men’s team continued their winning streak with a dominant 29 - 14 start against Carrick-on-Suir. Within the first five minutes, Brendan Keane took a great pop pass from Oisín Mangan and ran a great line to score under the posts, converted by Colm Kearney. Soon after, Cian Guilfoyle received the ball down the line, beat the defenders and ran in a try, but Kearney missed the conversion. Guilfoyle, again, ran a great line from the opposition’s side of the field to score in the corner, unconverted. Sustained pressure from Carrick-on-Suir yielded a seven-pointer to them from numerous crash balls. A good forward ball resulting from solid scrummaging from Ennis allowed Mangan to make a break from the halfway. This led to an offload to a strong inside line runner and Keane scoring left of the post, unconverted. Ennis went into the halftime with a 22 – 7 lead. There was much tension

between the forwards in the second half. Calum Barret got a brilliant box kick while Guilfoyle ran down the touch-line to score untouched, converted by Kearney. However, another crash ball run resulted in Carrickon-Suir scoring left of the post, which was converted. Toward the end of the match, Ennis managed to bring it home and get a bonus point, making them win 29 – 14 The next match for the senior men is an away game against Ardscoil in Limerick. U12 BLITZ Ennis’ U12 team hosted a home blitz against Newport RFC and Kilrush RFC on Sunday. Both of Ennis’ red and black teams performed exceptionally, with tries from Liam Frawley, Gearoid Carey, and Oran Mangan. Good performances were seen from the defence with Donnacha Dunne, Ros McInerney, and Jacob Reid in the red team, and Culann Fitzgerald, Calum Currid, and Fionn Egan in the black team. ADDITIONAL RESULTS: U16 Boys Cup Competition: Ennis v Kilrush – Won 36-10

Fixtures:

U16 Girls Munster Cup Competition: Ennis V UL Bohemians; Saturday 24th February; Kick-off at 11am in Annacotty. U9 Blitz: Sunday 25th February; Kick-off at 10am in Drumbiggle. U15 Boys Competition Friendly: Ennis V Ballina; Sunday 25th February; Kickoff at 11am in Lee's Road. U14 Boys Pan Munster Competition: Ennis V Clonmel; Sunday 25th February; Kick-off at 12pm in Clonmel. U14 Girls Munster Cup Competition: Ennis V Ballincollig; Sunday 25th February; Kick-off at 1pm in Ballincollig. U16 Boys Pan Munster Competition Quarter-Final: Ennis V Mallow; Sunday 25th February; Kick-off at 1pm in Musgrave Park. Senior Men's Junior Plate Competition: Ennis V Dolphin; Sunday 25th February; Kick-off at 1pm in Musgrave Park. Senior Women's Competition Friendly: Ennis/Kilrush v TBC; Sunday 25th February; Kick-off TBC in Drumbiggle.

nistymon trained Ballyhealy Star made a fine winning debut in this Novice Sprint contest, the John Vaughan owned daughter of Doratos Wildcat and Blundekl Bridie proving three and a half lengths too good for the wide running So It’s Trouble in 18.25. The winner trapped well from her trap two berth and led by almost two lengths approaching the opening bend. Between the bend So It’s Trouble closed right up but he ran very wide on the crown of the bend and this allowed Ballyhealy Star to race clear for a comfortable success on the run in. In the concluding A4 graded contest on Friday night’s card Springwell Denny and Denny and Millroad Penny were both away well and they matched strides towards the opening bend where Springwell Denny took a narrow advantage along the inner. Racing down the back Springwell Denny held a narrow advantage over Millroad Penny on his outside with Astro Kevin beginning to

creep closer as they passed halfway. Racing around the final bend less than two lengths covered the front three but as they charged to the line it was the Damien and Gary Pepper of Feakle owned Astro Kevin (Droopys Roddick & Teecee Clipper) who stuck his neck out to prevail by a length and a half over Springwell Denny in 29.62. As the traps rose for the S8 graded contest Doughuisce Lad was just about best away ahead of Distal Lady along the rails and this pair were closely attended to by Flyers Tornado as they approached the opening bend. Rounding the bend there was some bunching with Flyers Tornado the main sufferer and this saw Doughuisce Lad (Ballymac Best-Believer) kick clear but the Donie Duggan of Tulla owned and trained Doughuisce Lad was all out to see off the renewed effort of Flyers Tornado by a length in 18.84. Fast times were the order of the day on Saturdays night’s card, the Maria Browne of Cree owned Burnpark Jaytee is certainly a dream to own as the son of Jaytee Jet & Seekers Vision made it seven wins from seven career starts by a neck over Barntick Midget in 17.96 . The winner is gradually inching up the grades trapped in his usual slick fashion and approaching the opening bend led by two lengths from Barntick Midget and Mounvoor Lady. Off the home bend Barntick Midget began to close with every stride but Burnpark Jaytee knows where the line is and he made it just in time. In the early strides of the S5 graded contest Birr Bomber and Ballyea Jet both shadowed pace towards the inner with Strideaway Messi prominent towards the outer as they approached the opening bend. Rounding the bend, the Noel Gavin of Ballyea owned Ballyea Jet shot to the front and approaching the home bend the son of Jaytee Jet & Seekers Vision led by three lengths . Continuing to extend his advantage all the way to the line the Albert Mullins of Gort trained runner scored by seven and a half lengths from Meteoric

O'Grady smashes two Irish records by Páraic McMahon paraic@clareecho.ie

KILMURRY’s Oisin O’Grady broken two Irish records when competing in the national pool lifesaving championships. First Oisin broke the Irish record for the junior 100m Mankin Carry with a time of 48.47 at Water Safety Ireland's National Pool Lifesaving Champion-

l Oisín O'Grady

ships on Saturday. He is the first person in Ireland to have a sub 50 time. Within twenty four hours, the teenager smashed another record, this time in the junior 100m tow with fins. He finished in a time of 57.91. Clare’s masters ladies team also set a new national record in the 200m obstacle relay.

THE CLARE ECHO Thursday, Feb 22, 2024

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CLARE COUNTY COUNCIL SITE NO. 15, SPANISH POINT, LEAGARD SOUTH, MILTOWN MALBAY, CO. CLARE Take Notice that Kieran Walsh and Cathriona Carey intend to apply to the Planning Authority for Planning Permission to construct a dwelling house and proprietary waste water treatment system along with ancillary site works at the above address. The planning application may be inspected, or purchased at a fee not exceeding the reasonable cost of making a copy at the Offices of the Planning Authority during its public opening hours and that a submission or observation in relation to the application may be made to the Authority in writing on payment of the prescribed fee within the period of 5 weeks beginning on the date of receipt by the Authority of the application. CLARE COUNTY COUNCIL NO.117 CLUAIN AIRNE, SHANNON, CO. CLARE Pat Kelly Chartered Building Surveyors 061/719582 on behalf of Michelle Moloney wish to apply to Clare County Council for retention

permission to retain a complete single storey garage to the rear and a complete single storey extension to the side of existing semi-detached bungalow all at No.117 Cluain Airne, Shannon, Co. Clare, V14 EV67. The planning application may be inspected, or purchased at a fee not exceeding the reasonable cost of making a copy, at the offices of the Planning Authority during its public opening hours and that a submission or observation in relation to the application may be made to the Authority in writing on payment of the prescribed fee within the period of 5 weeks beginning on the date of receipt by the Authority of the application. CLARE COUNTY COUNCIL LISROE, KILMALEY, CO CLARE Planning Ref P22/862 Application received 23/09/23 for the renovation and extension of existing cottage, wastewater treatment system and all associated site works. Take Notice that Patrick Hehir is applying for retention planning permission to retain the above as constructed and to complete the above together with wastewater treatment

system and all associated site works as per particulars submitted. This information and retention planning application maybe inspected or purchased at a fee not exceeding the reasonable cost of making a copy, at the offices of the planning authority, Clare County Council, Aras Contae an Chlair, New Road, Ennis during its public opening hours and that a submission or observation in relation to the application may be made to the authority in writing on payment of the prescribed fee within the period of 5 weeks beginning on the date of receipt by the planning authority of the application. CLARE COUNTY COUNCIL WOODBINE HEIGHTS, SPANISH POINT, CO CLARE Take notice that Leagard Homes Co. Ltd intend to apply for; a) Retention Permission to retain the existing side boundary fence as constructed at No. 12 Woodbine Heights. b) Planning Permission to erect a low level security fence across the front of the open area, complete with access gate, to extend from the waste water treatment fence to the

side boundary of No. 12 Woodbine Heights c) Outline Planning Permission to construct 2 No. semi-detached dwelling houses, connect to the existing waste water treatment system including all ancillary services and works at the above address. The planning application may be inspected or purchased at a fee not exceeding the reasonable cost of making a copy at the offices of the Planning Authority, Clare County Council, Aras Contae an Chlair, New Road, Ennis, Co. Clare during its public opening hours. A submission or observation in relation to the application may be made to the Planning Authority, in writing, on payment of a fee of €20.00 within five weeks beginning on the date of receipt by the Authority of the Planning Application. CLARE COUNTY COUNCIL 4 CAPPA COVE, KILRUSH, CO CLARE Take notice that Michael Keane is applying to Clare Co Council for planning permission to carry out alterations to an existing dwelling

Planning

house at the above address. The works will consist of the construction of zinc-clad box dormers to the front and rear elevations of the property to increase the first floor living space. 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 mat be made in writing to the authority on payment of the prescribed fee of €20 within a period of 5 weeks beginning on the date of receipt by the authority of the application.

Thursday, Feb 22, 2024 THE CLARE ECHO

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Thursday, Feb 22, 2024 THE CLARE ECHO

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

PRAYER THE MIRACLE PRAYER

Dear Heart of Jesus, In the past, I have asked for many favours. This time, I ask you This special favour. (Mention Favour) Take it dear Heart of Jesus, And place it within Your own broken heart Where your Father sees it, Then in His Merciful Eyes It will become your favour Not mine. Amen. Say this prayer for 3 days. Promise publication.

GOONEY Thomas, Kincora Park, Ennis, Co Clare. Died January 28th 2024. Tom’s devoted wife Maureen, his family and extended families, would like to express our deep gratitude for your kind and thoughtful expressions of sympathy on our recent very sad loss of a wonderful husband and father. Tom was an amazingly devoted family man and will be extremely sadly missed by all his family who loved him dearly. Thank you to all who sent their sympathies and attended the removal and the funeral mass, led graciously by Father Carrol. A special thanks for the singers and musicians on the day who made it very special, and all the family, friends and neighbours who helped and supported us throughout those difficult days. Thanks to Tom’s home carers, all the staff at UHL, Kennedy’s Funeral home, the grave diggers and The Grove for all the assistance we gratefully received. Months mind mass: St Joseph’s Church Ennis, 7pm Saturday 24th Feb 2024.

T.O.R

Classifieds

Recent Deaths Crowe, George Clonlara Clare Keenan, Marie Scariff Clare McKenna (née Comerford), Claire Doonbeg Clare Curry, Tracy Kilmihil Clare Cusack (née Kirwan), Leona Shannon Clare Mc Carthy (née Naughton), Margaret (Mag) Shannon Clare Byrnes (née Mc Kenna), Phyllis Tulla Clare Byrnes (née Mc Kenna), Phyllis Ogonnelloe Clare Holloway (née Wall), Philomena (Rita) Clarecastle Clare

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Thursday, Feb 22, 2024 THE CLARE ECHO

Puzzle

THIS WEEKS PUZZLES Feb 22

SUDOKU 7

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7 4 6

Golf

How to play

ANSWERS 7

1 2 6

2 6

3 1

7 4

9 1

3 8

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

HOW TO PLAY

8 5

1/1

1 3 2 6 4

9/7/22, 9:28 AM

The Clare Echo Crossword

nets (6)

H O R D E

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8 1

S C

N C E R E

O N

T R

E 3

N S E

T A N T E

E S 14

R O W A N

O N F

C I

N S

E 10

ild (6)

P O

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A 4

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N F A N T 6

Daily Quick Crossword: 7 September 2022 ,9/7/2022 Michael Curl Creator Notes: A free daily online crossword that's not too difficult - just right for solving in your coffee break. http://bestforpuzzles.com

DOWN

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M M E R

CROSSWORD ANSWERS E

ACROSS 1 Husband or wife (6) 1 Conflict (6) 2 Ruled (7) 4 Very young child (6) 3 Receiver of stolen goods 8 Edible bulb (5) (5) 9 Colonist (7) 5 Not artificial (7) 10 Heartfelt (7) 6 Permit (5) 11 Mountain ash (5) 7 Despot (6) 12 Followers (9) 9 Make germ-free (9) 17 Throng (5) 13 Emblem of royalty (7) 19 Immediate (7) 14 Marine animal (3,4) 21 Surprise (7) 15 Pursues (6) 22 Balance (5) 16 Greek capital (6) 23 Boil slowly (6) 24 One of the planets (6) 18 Kingdom (5) 20 Excellent (5)

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Shinty

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9/7/22, 9:28 AM

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THE CLARE ECHO Thursday, Feb 22, 2024

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Quiz

The Clare Echo Quiz Clare musicians

The deceased fiddle player Paddy 2 Canny was a founder member of which band? Tulla Ceili Band Kilfenora Ceili Band Aslan

What is the name of Martin 3 Hayes’ critically acclaimed 2014 album? The Gloaming The Gloating The Gloomy

The Willie Clancy festival is held 4 in Miltown Malbay every year, but which city did the man emigrate to when unable to make a living through music locally?

London New York Helsinki

was the Kilfenora Ceili 5When Band founded? 1809 1909 1959

What was it called?

Sharon Shannon The Heart of Shannon Squeezebox silliness

Maura O’Connell is one of Clare’s 7 finest musical exports, but what shop did her mother’s family own in Ennis?

Fish shop Butchers Blacksmiths

Founding members of The Stun8 ning, brothers Steve and Joe Wall are from which Clare town? Ennis Miltown Malbay Ennistymon

l QUESTION 6: Sharon Shannon’s debut album was the best selling album of traditional Irish music ever released. What was it called?

Which of the following musi9 cians is not mentioned in Christy Moore’s hit song Lisdoonvarna Micho Russell Jackson Browne Sharon Shannon

Rap trio Rusangano Family 10 boast two Clare natives in their ranks. John Lillis from Ennis and

6. Sharon Shannon 7. Fish shop 8. Ennistymon 9. Sharon Shannon 10. God Knows

Fiddle Flute Concertina

Sharon Shannon’s debut album 6 was the best selling album of traditional Irish music ever released.

ANSWERS 1.Concertina 2. Kilfenora Ceili Band 3. The Gloaming 4. London 5. 1909

West Clare native Noel Hill is 1which famous for his association with instrument?

Munyaradzi Jonas from Shannon. What’s Munyaradzi’s knickname? God Knows God Doesn’t Know God almighty!

SPOT THE DIFFERENCE Can you spot the 7 differences

Last weeks answers . Switch on the wall missing . Part of writing on black sign missing . Dot missing after www. . The word ‘at’ missing on sign (bottom . Love heart different colour in background right) . Line on tiles missing . ‘S’ missing on black sign (right)

Left to right, Liam O’Doherty (Gildoc) Damien Quigley(HBFI) Max Kraus (Hassett Leyden & Associates, Mike Flynn (Hassett Leyden & Associates) Liam Hansbury, David Williams (JW Williams & Co) at the official opening of An Cosán Gheal in Ennis, an 18 unit social housing development. Photo by Tom Micks