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23 Jan 2020
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Sport ‘STARS ALIGNING’ FOR Clare Echo THE
WEST CLARE GREENWAY
PÁRAIC McMAHON
news@clareecho.ie
P
LANS are progressing for a proposed West Clare Greenway with “positive feedback” reported from Council officials on their negotiations with landowners in Kilrush and Kilkee. An 85km Greenway is envisaged for Co Clare that will run from Ennis to Kilkee. Elected members of the West Clare Municipal
District received a briefing on the project at a meeting last week with an update given on a recent trip to Waterford which saw officials and councillors cycle 23km along the popular Waterford Greenway. Officials are keen to “cherrypick” the strongest features from the Waterford Greenway which did cost €450,000 per km. If such a model is to be followed the cost of such a scheme in Clare will be in the region of €38,250,000. As calculated by Cllr Cillian Murphy (FF), a co-op
bike hire renting 200 bikes over the course of 250 days can yield a €3.5m turnover with other councillors and officials confident if the project can get off the ground that it will be a massive success for the county. Such a sentiment was expressed by Cllr Gabriel Keating (FG), “If we grab a hold of this, it will be done and done right. There are good people at the helm that can do it”. Past mistakes must be learned from, Cllr PJ Kelly (FF) warned as he discussed the “wonderful idea”, he said “A word always follow desir-
able and that is attainable, between them is a very rocky road”.
Full story Page 6
Asylum seeker outlines four-star treatment
pg 31-43
l Innocent Iroaganachi
Photo by John Mangan
CLARE’S newest Direct Provision centre has been described as “a four star hotel” by residents living there. Writing in this week’s Clare Echo, Innocent Iroaganachi gave an account of how asylum seekers were settling into Clare Lodge on the Mill Rd in Ennis. From August to December, Innocent had been living at The Central Hostel in Miltown Malbay. He previously wrote in this paper about how they were embraced in West Clare
with the local community offering to provide lifts to the men whenever they needed to go somewhere. Innocent says that he is “having a great time in Ennis”. Born and raised in Nigeria, he and fellow asylum seekers have found their experience in the county town to be very enjoyable. Their rooms at Clare Lodge offer comfort and include a bunk, single bed, six foot wardrobe and a plasma television. Three men are in
each of the bedrooms. “I can tell you that most of us are happy with the independent living the new centre is affording us, especially as regards the kitchen, cooking, access to food items, training facilities and employment opportunities. “In appreciation of the lodge, a fellow resident...likened the lodge to ‘a four star hotel’.”
Full story Page 13
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2 NEWS
THURSDAY, JAN 23 2020
Index 2-7
NEWS
ELECTIONS
PLENTY TO CHEER ABOUT IN KILMIHIL
8-14
SHANNON NEWS
19
ENTERTAINMENT
21
COMMUNITY
24-25
MOTORING
28-29
SPORT
31-43
CLASSIFIEDS
44-45
36C Abbey Street, Ennis, County Clare Telephone: 065 671 9021
NEWSDESK
Email: editor@clareecho.ie or news@clareecho.ie
SALES
Email: ger.naughton@clareecho.ie or niall@clareecho.ie
l TALENTED FAMILY: Eoin, Ronan, Monica, Catriona and Kevin Callinan at the Kilmihil /
Shannon Gaels social, celebrating the U21 A footballers and senior ladies gaelic footballers’ championship successes in 2019
Photo by Gerard O’Neill
Park won’t be named after McKee
S
HANNON councillors have stated they are not in favour of renaming the newly opened Town Park in memory of their late colleague, Mike McKee. Local Sinn Féin cumann members have been amassing hundreds of signatures in a petition to rename the Park after McKee but it appears they are set to be meet a stumbling block following Tuesday’s meeting of the Shannon Municipal District. “Most people are happy with the name” as it is Cllr PJ Ryan said. “I would like to make a proposal at some stage, that we put in a bandstand with Cllr McKee’s link to music that we add his name and a plaque to the bandstand.” Cathaoirleach of the Shannon MD, Cllr Gerry Flynn (IND) revealed the Town Park was one of the “last real discussions” he held with McKee prior to his death. He stressed the importance of Shannon being included in the name to help with the town’s identity and seconded Cllr Ryan’s proposal. Both Cllr Cathal Crowe (FF) and Cllr Pat McMahon (FF) were absent, neither Cllr John Crowe (FG) or Cllr Michael Begley (IND) commented.
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4 NEWS
THURSDAY, JAN 23 2020
Extra flight to Manchester PÁRAIC McMAHON
R
paraic@clareecho.ie
YANAIR are to increase the frequency of their Shannon Airport to Manchester service.
On Tuesday, Ryanair confirmed that as of March 31st they would be flying to Manchester from Shannon six days a week. Currently the service is in operation five times a week and the extra flight will take off on Tuesdays at 2:10pm.
Managing Director of Shannon Airport, Andrew Murphy felt the extra day offering was "a vote of confidence in the region by the airline and will further enhance our offering to our customers, adding an additional 12,000 seats on this popular route in the peak season". Murphy added, "We
are also delighted to have the Lauda twice weekly Vienna services on our summer schedule
starting on April 1st this year, a service that will boost business for our tourism industry along the Wild Atlantic Way.
“We look forward to working closely with Ryanair and its sister company Lauda to make the expanded Manchester and new Vienna service a success." Commenting on the Manchester announcement, Mary Considine, CEO, Shannon Group said: "As we move closer to the UK's departure from the EU on January 31st, this is a very important and timely boost for Shannon and the wider region. “It increases capacity on a UK route that serves business and tourism sectors in our region post Brexit."
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6 NEWS
New Greenway likely to cost €450,000 per km PÁRAIC McMAHON
W
paraic@clareecho.ie
enway.
ATERFORD'S Greenway is being used as the template in the development of the West Clare Gre-
Elected members of the West Clare Municipal District were briefed on plans for the Greenway at a meeting last week. Executive engineer with Clare County Council, Gráinne Reddan gave a presentation to councillors following a recent trip to Waterford where officials, Cllr Gabriel Keating (FG), Cllr Roisin Garvey (GP) and Cllr Joe Killeen (FF) cycled 23km from Dungarvan to Kilmacthomas along the Greenway. "We're going to learn from Waterford," senior engineer Sean Lenihan told the meeting. He outlined that the Clare Greenway will run from "Ennis to Kilkee via Corofin and Ennistymon down along the coast to Lahinch, Miltown Malbay,
Quilty, Doonbeg and then veers inland at Moyasta with the option to go to Kilkee or Kilrush". Of the recently announced €4.5m funding for Greenways by Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Shane Ross, Lenihan remarked, "The stars are aligning where we can process funding to progress it further". He added, "It's not cheap.
The Waterford Greenway cost in the region of €450,000 per km. “Waterford was still owned by CIE, their line closed in the 90s, ours closed in the 60s. We don't want to interfere with anyone's farming practice. “Trains needed to run in straight lines, cycleways don't. The scheme is a countywide scheme starting
lDEVELOPMENT: The Clare Greenway will pass through Moyasta junction Photo by Martin Connolly
in Ennis and running along North Clare into West Clare. This fund and RRDF fund will bring us a little bit closer". A delivery plan was sought by Cllr Ian Lynch (IND), "We're looking at €9m from Kilrush to Kilkee from what Sean has said. Tremendous work has been put into it". He urged Fine Gael councillors to contact outgoing Minister of State for Jobs, Pat Breen (FG) to back the project. "It doesn't benefit the people here to hear of another jobs announcement for Shannon. These are the jobs we need in Clare. Can ye talk to the Minister, I don't care if it is electioneering. Farmers are more open now to consider the use of their land. We need proper backing to get the plan done". Director of Service, Leonard Cleary said that the Local Enterprise Office could do a feasibility study on such a scheme. "We are receiving positive feedback from landowners between Kilrush and Kilkee at the moment," Reddan confirmed.
THURSDAY, JAN 23 2020
Shannon Estuary ‘under utilised’ CONSIDERATION is to be given for water based tourism along Shannon Estuary in the soon to be published Clare Tourism Strategy. A draft of the countywide strategy will be available for public consultation during the first week of February with a finalised version expected in spring 2020. Acting Head of Tourism with Clare County Council, Deirdre O’Shea stated, “This Strategy will identify a comprehensive assessment of the current situation in Clare. “It wii provide the context for its strategic direction to include capitalizing on the existing strengths of Clare such as the Estuarine Waterways and trails as well as the Coastal and Inland water-way islands. Cllr Lynch labelled the description as “a bit vague”. He added, “The Estuary is completely under utilised. I don’t think the tourism strategy will cover it because the infrastructure is there. There is a lot of discussion about Moneypoint. People are asking why we haven’t asked cruise ships there”.
Brexit could aid Moneypoint
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CLARE'S longest serving councillor has declared all members of the County Council, both elected representatives and staff, were "asleep at the wheel" with regard to planning Moneypoint's future. At a meeting of the local authority, Cllr PJ Kelly (FF) called on the Government "to construct a trans-shipment port at Moneypoint". Director of Economic Development, Liam Conneally noted in response the Shannon Estuary "with its considerable deep water resource and location on the western edge of Europe, is in my opinion well placed for the potential development of a trans-shipment port feeding into the near European, Baltic and Scandinavian Ports. It would allow large trans-shipment vessels to avoid the busy shipping lanes in the English Channel and is immediately accessible from the main Atlantic route".
"Sadly Moneypoint is not what it used to be," Cllr Kelly lamented. He stressed that it was "incumbent on us to look for an alternative". Kelly recalled that three years ago, he got information somebody from Britain was looking at property outside the river, "I began to make inquiries, wondered why the interest in trans-shipping, [it] dawned on me that it was Brexit". Cllr Kelly claimed there was a "two day delay" at Milford Port Haven, a three to six day wait at the Port of Rotterdam "costing ship owners €60,000 a day, there is no such problem in Moneypoint, there is no congestion and it has the deepest water, there is 600 acres of land on the Moneypoint property and 200 zoned nearby, we have plenty of skilled workers in West Clare. It wouldn't need an awful lot of work to do and ESB want to get the monkey off their back".
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8 ELECTIONS
Cathal plays part in victory for Munster
A NEWMARKET-on-Fergus youngster lined out with Munster as they concluded their Champions Cup campaign on Sunday. Eight year Cathal Commane (right) was the official team mascot as Munster hosted the Ospreys and had the privilege of leading the side alongside Peter O’Mahony, one of Cathal’s favourite players. Cathal is in first class at Scoil na Maighdine Mhuire and took the occasion in his stride and managed to sing along with the crowd during the game. After the game, hooker Niall Scannell presented his jersey to Cathal. His parents, Susan and Darragh told The Clare Echo how proud they were of their son.
THURSDAY, JAN 23 2020
Irish Freedom Party will seek Dáil seat PÁRAIC McMAHON
P
paraic@clareecho.ie
ROVIDING the private sector with incentives to develop rural areas has been declared as the key election issue of Michael Leahy. An architect and planner living in Corofin, Michael will be running under the banner of the recently formed right-wing Irish Freedom Party. "The primary objective of re-establishing the national independence and sovereignty of Ireland and restoring its national democracy by leaving the European Union," is listed as what the party represents. "A tax against freedom of speech which is coming increasingly from Government at a cultural level," is what Leahy pinpointed as the main reason for adding his name to the ballot paper. "There is an increased centralisation of administration of power within the country, areas like Clare are increasingly being forgotten. There is an over-reliance on bureaucratic structures with regards to the housing crisis, the intent of Government seems to be to solve it purely by social housing, there is a great opportunity to incentivise the private
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sector with housing and the regeneration of our towns and villages, so many towns and villages are falling apart in Co Clare". Born in Kerry, Michael moved to Kilrush at the age of 14. The Nice Treaty in the early 2000s was when he first became a "Euro sceptic". "With the Lisbon Treaty I felt there was an effort being made to centralise power and concentrate power in the bigger states. I was also opposed to the institution of the
lIREXIT: Corofin’s Michael Leahy steps up for GE 2020
Garvey plans for better childcare STUART HOLLY editor@clareecho.ie
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ENERAL election candidate Roísín Garvey says childcare supports must improve. The Green Party councillor says we need a sustainable solution before we hit a full-blown crisis. “I’m a single mother myself and I’m well aware of the importance of quality childcare to both children and parents. There are loads of excellent, highly qualified staff in the industry but they’re not getting the support they deserve,” says the Green Party
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Euro currency as I felt it would not work very well, we later discovered the banking crisis was directly attributable to the Euro currency and the enormous debts imposed on Ireland date from that decision". In "the long-term" he is in favour of Ireland leaving the European Union but maintained Irexit is not possible at this moment. "We're tied into the currency, it would make it almost impossible to break from it. We have to start looking at repatriation of some powers, particularly I've fisheries in mind". From 1993 to 1995 Leahy was President of Ennis Chamber. Roughly 60 people in Clare are members of the party. The father of one said their objectives also include reducing taxation and the rate of bureaucracy. "Take the weight of bureaucratic inspection off farmers, many farmers are finding it difficult to deal with the inspection regime imposed by the Department of Agriculture. With regard to health care, we feel that in a rural county like Clare it's very important in the first instance to support the GP structure which is the first line of health care at the moment. When the A&Es were closed in Ennis and Nenagh provision wasn't made for an upgrade in Limerick and that has made for a catastrophic trolley crisis".
lVISIT: Cllr Róisín Garvey, with Anne McNamara, Natalie Quane & Limerick Cllr. Sean Hartigan
Councillor. She made the comments after visiting Sunny Lane Crèche in Westbury where she discussed her ideas to boost support for early childcare with owner/managers Anne McNamara and Natalie Quane. These plans include: “Early intervention should mean just that – early intervention. Well supported early intervention leads to better quality of life for children and their parents. Let’s make it available sooner.” “Working in early childcare needs to be recognised properly as a profession. Many staff working in early childcare hold higher level degrees, others have the experience that comes from working in the field for years. Yet often, budget limitations mean they are only employed for 38 weeks of the year and many are only paid minimum wage. This needs to change.” “There are four different national agencies that oversee the running of crèches and preschools. This should to be streamlined to minimise paperwork so staff can concentrate on children first.” “Staff development is given zero funding while more and more training is being demanded. It’s not sustainable.” “Our children are our greatest resource,” says Garvey, “We need to treat them that way – support them, their parents and the people who look after them properly.” Garvey’s calls come as childcare providers across the country prepare for a national protest on the 5th of February in Dublin.
10 ELECTIONS
THURSDAY, JAN 23 2020
Clare’s first ever PBP candidate PÁRAIC McMAHON
F
paraic@clareecho.ie
OR the first time in their history, People Before Profit are to run a candidate in Clare. Theresa O'Donohoe made the decision to add her name to the list of General Election candidate on Wednesday morning and brings the total amount of individuals on the ballot paper in Clare to ten. Living in Lisdoonvarna for the last four and a half years, Theresa's father hails from Gleninagh in Ballyvaughan. She was born in Dublin and went to primary and secondary school in Terenure. Co-ordinator of the Clare Environmental Network, the fifty year old is also a member of Futureproof Clare, Extinction Rebellion Clare and Transition Clare. A former member of the Economic Development Strategic Policy Committee on Clare County Council, she has been critical of the measures taken by the local authority
to deal with climate change. "I see a closed book when I talk to the Council. I've been in meetings where I've brought it up with the IDA. “They were giving a presentation about developments along the Shannon, I asked the guy 'what about rising sea levels and the consequences of flooding along the Shannon', everybody on Clare's Economic SPC nearly died at the table like how could I bring up something that might portray a risk to investment in the Clare or Shannon region. "This to me shows a lack of foresight and risk assessment. What's the point in inviting economic activities to the area if you aren't actually looking at the risks and incorporating them into the whole assessment for the business. “It shows how out of touch the Council are with reality yet the businesses are thinking this flooding is coming so while we're setting up business here or keeping business here we will make an effort to fight”.
Trudy Leyden puts her hat in the ring
TRUDY Leyden has become the first Ennis candidate to enter the race for the upcoming General Election, writes Paraic McMahon. A prominent activist with Fine Gael, Trudy will be running as an Independent. She had expressed her desire to run under the party banner but the trio of Pat Breen, Joe Carey and Martin Conway, all present Oireachtas members were selected. For the 2016 General Election, Trudy was a canvasser for Cllr Mary Howard. She has identified race relations are the key issue on which her campaign will be based. Leyden has been the social and inclusion representative for Clare PPN on the Social Development Strategic Policy Committee of Clare County Council. She has a Masters of Arts in Politics and has qualifications in Cultural Studies and Literature.
As well as holding several roles with Fine Gael, Trudy has been secretary of the Quin Community Text Alert Service. Afghanistan news anchor, Sayed Farid Sanai has been enlisted as Trudy's campaign manager. The 31-year-old is living in the Clare Lodge Direct Provision centre. Meanwhile, an Australian born engineer, David
Barrett has confirmed he will be contesting next month’s General Election. Living in Ireland since 2013, David and his wife are based in Cooraclare. Last year, he announced plans to set up The Moderate Party but it is not fully registered meaning he will run as an Independent. Renua confirmed Conor O’Brien will be representing them in Clare.
lHOPEFUL: General Election 2020 candidate with her campaign manager Sayed Farid Sanai
Crowe Cathal
Mayor of Clare | General Election Candidate
A youthful, experienced voice for Clare Dear Voter,
lling day o p n io t ec el l a er en g e h With t nsider o c o t u o y g in k s a m a approaching fast I ote. giving me your No. 1 v spoken and t u o n ee b e v a h I e r la As Mayor of C most t a h t es u s is e h t n o ed solutions-orientat and its people. impact on our county ters t a m y n a n o u o y t is s s My office is there to aet in touch. so please feel free to g MĂle buĂochas, Cllr. Cathal Crowe Mayor of Clare Contact Cathal: (087) 1368882 / cathalcroweoffice@gmail.com
Please continue your preference for Timmy Dooley & Rita McInerney
12 ELECTIONS
THURSDAY, JAN 23 2020
Wynne gets selection for Sinn Féin STUART HOLLY
editor@clareecho.ie
V
IOL E T- A N N E Wynn (inset) has been selected as Sinn Féin’s General Election candidate for Clare. Born in Offaly but Dublin raised, Violet-Anne has lived in Kilrush since 2011. On Saturday, she got the backing of Sinn Féin members. Commenting on her nomination, Wynne said:"I have a plan to make Clare better for all of us. Equality, climate change and basic rights will be to the core of my election campaign. Sinn Féin TD's, working together in Government have a programme to end exclusion in jobs, healthcare, housing and to safeguard rural communities." "For me this election is about c h oi c e s ,
this election is about the future and what kind of Clare we want to live in - My message is this, Sinn Féins message is this; we need immediate action and not rhetoric; we need immediate action in the health service. Increased frontline resourcing; Sinn Féin will invest in Nurses, Doctors and Midwives; by opening hospital beds and ensuring Clare has proper home care packages. No excuses." Wynne claimed that people in Clare are “living with less” because Fine Gael and Fianna Fail have not been working for them. "We want to give people a break. We oppose punishing ordinary people through regressive taxes and policies which the Government call 'hard choices'. Sinn Féin will take low income workers earning below
€30,000 out of the USC. "Government plans to increase the right to a state pension to 68 years is disgraceful. In France, workers are opposing an increase to even 64 years but the Irish Government has no qualms of forcing older people to work to their graves. We need to end this injustice," Wynne concluded. Meanwhile, Noeleen Moran has confirmed she will not be seeking a nomination from Sinn Féin to contest the General Election. Both Noeleen and the late Mike McKee had originally been chosen by the party as candidates but were deselected in October of last year. Noeleen was the highest polling female candidate in Clare for the 2016 General Election with 4,216 first preference votes. “I will not be putting my name forward at the Sinn Féin selection convention for the forthcoming General Election. Sinn Féin has had since last August to select a candidate in Clare, yet they chose to leave it until this very late stage to do so,” Moran told The Clare Echo.
‘Raising the pension age must be reviewed’
roisin.garvey@greenparty.ie E
CLARE Fianna Fail General Election Candidate Rita McInerney believes the raising of the pension age must be reviewed. "I do not believe in forcing people to retire or forcing people to work beyond a certain age because every job is different and the effect on your health and well-being means that retiring or continuing to work is different for everyone. “My party is committed to delivering a secure, fair and sustainable pension system, that is able to cater to changing demographics." Ms McInerney said. Ms McInerney commented that Fianna Fail are in favour of a review of the State Pension age in-
creasing to 67 in 2021 and 68 in 2028 “The party recognises that we need to consider workers with demanding occupations, and who for health considerations may make it unreasonable to expect them to work longer,” Ms McInerney added. The General Election candidate claimed that deferring or reversing the planned increase in the State Pension age has unknown consequences. “If in government, Fianna Fail want to undertake a review to ensure that we have all the relevant information to hand on this issue; including the numbers affected and the wider ramifications of such a move.
lREFORM: General Election 2020 candidate Rita McInerney
My Priorities for Co Clare: •
Open more Hospital beds in Ennis and the Mid-West to solve the A&E crises.
•
Hire more Consultants, Hospital Doctors and Nurses.
•
Build more social and affordable houses.
•
Secure employment for the jobs lost in Molex, Avara & Moneypoint.
•
Update aviation policy to level the playing pitch between Dublin and Shannon.
•
Introduce policies to protect and improve the viability of suckler beef production.
•
Tackle climate change & introduce state supports to develop off shore wind energy projects to reach our climate change targets and create much needed jobs.
•
Support families with child care costs and reduce class sizes further.
•
Properly resource quality Early Years child care as proposed by the BigStart campaign.
•
Provide adequate funding for people with disabilities
•
Broadband and Mobile coverage across Clare needs urgent upgrading.
•
Investment in Tourism infrastructure such as Holy Island on Lough Derg and the Greenway in the west of the County.
•
Tackle the insurance rip of culture.
•
Protect State Pension Entitlements.
•
Provide extra staff for the Mental Health Service.
Vótáil
Please continue your preference for Cathal Crowe & Rita McInerney
14 COLUMNISTS
REELING IN THE YEARS
with Cian O’Broin
2000
A
S WE strike our fifth decade of Reeling in the Years here in Clare, we notice significant changes in Irish society, beliefs and traditions. The salient sixties silently slip away, where matchmaking, religion and old-fashioned Irish obstinance are left behind, giving birth to a secularity of freedom, thought and expression. Information, interconnectivity and seemingly infinite resources cements our society. The internet, luxury of travel and an avaricious capitalist society weaves its way through this newfound Irish psyche. In the year 2000 in County Clare, we look at the benevolence of the ESB in France, Clare’s first fast for famines afar and the hysteria around a friendly little creature enticing locals in Doolin to join her in the sea. Welcome to this week’s edition of Reeling in the Years. ESB TO THE RESCUE In the early throes of a new millennium, the French people were hit with one of the worst storms to strike the sovereign nation in decades. Storm Martin caused havoc in France and central Europe from the 26th to 28th December 1999, leaving thousands of French households without electricity. Six men from County Clare made their way to France to repair broken poles and electricity lines that were affected by the damage of the storm. Each ESB worker was accompanied by an interpreter and a local member of the French EDF utility company. The banner brigade was highly skilled due to their hardened experience back home in storm restoration procedures. Motorcycle escorts ensured that each member of the ESB arrived safely and an honourary courtesy was paid to each by a representative of the President of France. Isolated villages were astonished to see Irish workers sacrificing their New Year celebrations to come to their rescue. Each day the villagers handed a packed lunch to their selfless saviours. So much was the gratitude shown by the French people that, some of the ESB members received celebrity status in their short time in areas such as La Rochelle, Bordeaux and Normandy. A cohort of 185 men, endeared as the ESB Emergency Unit returned home two weeks later after setting off on New Year’s Day to lend a helping hand to those in need. CLARE’S MILLENIUM FAST Following along a compassionate line in County Clare, Trocaire issued its first fasting challenge of the new decade, which took place from March 3rd to 4th, raising funds for impoverished countries such as Somalia, Honduras and East Timor. Hinged on over a decade of success and the generation of over 4 million pounds for third world countries, Trocaire challenged the Banner County to surpass its record of over £16,000 pounds raised in the 1999 Fast. The motive for the twenty-four hour fast was to support those who were not able to celebrate the coming of the new millennium of which, 35,000 children died from hunger, war and preventable diseases. This amounted to one death every 3.6 seconds on New Year’s Eve, a breath taking statistic. A total of 1.3 billion people were surviving off a dollar per day at this time. In 1998, Honduras was a victim of Hurricane Mitch, one of the worst disasters to every strike the Central American nation. In the subsequent year, Trocaire provided support to over 250,000 people. The proceeds of the millennium fast in Clare contributed towards the rejuvenation of the homes of 500,000 people in Honduras. DOOLIN DOLPHIN In August, word of a jovial bottle-nosed dolphin was doing the rounds in local and national media outlets. For over a year, the female dolphin had been espousing great joy and hysteria from locals off the west coast of Doolin. Heritage and Wildlife Services warned of the repercussions of swimming and petting the melancholy mammal, whereby human contact could endanger her feeding and breeding ground. These words of warning fell on deaf ears. The dolphin, which was believed to have strayed from a school of dolphins within the Shannon Estuary, spent her days entertaining onlookers within the many coves between the village of Doolin and the Cliffs of Moher. In recent years, ground-breaking research has identified dolphins as intrinsically intelligent marine mammals, showing signs of self-awareness and possessing a complex linguistic system which still baffles scientists to this day. In addition, dolphins are known to operate within intricate social structures, with each dolphin having its very own unique frequency. Research and expeditions involving dolphins frequently takes place off the coast of Clare!
That’s all for this week. Check back next week as we take a look at Reeling in the Years in Clare, 2001. Until then, take care!
THURSDAY, JAN 23 2020
Eoin Neylon
An inside look at Clare’s political spectrum
McNamara and Garvey set to be very competitive
W
ITH just two weeks to go to the 2020 General Election, the candidate list for the ballot paper has been finalised. With candidate declarations closed as of Wednesday, a number of people decided to put themselves forward in the past week. At the time of writing, there are now 14 confirmed candidates; 2 less than in 2016. The 14 candidates will represent 7 parties along with Independent candidates. But who will be in the running for the four seats on offer when the almost 85,000 Clare electors choose their representatives on February 8? A couple of surprising announcements in the last week were Sinn Féin choosing Violet Anne-Wynne ahead of their newest Councillor, Donna McGettigan as their General Election candidate. Neither performance in last year’s local elections would act as a credible springboard to challenge for a Dáil seat. The thought process may be that allowing Wynne a run may boost her profile ahead of local elections in four years’ time. This is a false narrative though. It didn’t work for Clare SF before, as Noeleen Moran failed last year to win a seat on Clare County Council despite the very good vote she received in 2016. Wynne’s campaign got off to a very poor start also when she tried to launch a day of action in Ennis back on January 11. She asked people to join her in the car park at the junction of Station Road and Friar’s Walk. The only problem was that no-one turned up; not even her fellow Sinn Féin members. It was a bold move to try something new but it clearly fell flat on its face. For Sinn Féin, it looks like they are going backwards in Clare and will see a huge drop in their vote between 2016 and 2020. The other surprise of the week came from the Fine Gael camp when party activist Trudy Leyden decided to break ranks and run as an Independent. This isn’t great news for the Government party who are already feeling the strain with poll numbers suggesting that they’re potentially going to lose a seat in Clare. The idea that
Leyden may take some FG voters with her on her quest for the Dáil is going to cause Pat Breen and Joe Carey some headaches. They will need every vote they can get in a fortnight’s time. Paddy Power though disagrees. As of this moment, the betting firm suggests both Government TDs will be returned behind Timmy Dooley and Cathal Crowe of Fianna Fáil, who will take the first and second seats according to the odds. Michael McNamara (IND), Martin Conway (FG) then Róisín Garvey (Green) and Rita McInerney (FF) make up the order of candidates according to Paddy Power. A lot of these odds will be driven by opinion polls published over the weekend and Monday night. However, the results of those polls look dubious for a number of reasons. Firstly, the poll on Sunday had FF 12 points ahead of FG nationally but on closer inspection, this included FF getting half of all votes in the Munster region. This would be a stretch to believe. The poll on Monday also had a few curious results as well with SF said to be on double the levels of sup-
port in the Leinster region as they are in Dublin. At the end of the day, polls, at best, are a snapshot in time. At worst, poor sampling or methodology can give them wildly outlandish results. These are called outliers in the business of statistical analysis. As all politicians will tell you though, there’s only one poll that really matters; the election itself. With that in mind, seeing Róisín Garvey originally listed at 9/1 was an enticing bet. She has since shortened to 11/2 at the time of writing. I’m not a gambling man but that could be worth a euro or two. Michael McNamara though for me may well be the one to benefit for the opening in the market here in Clare. Transfers from McNamara to Carey ensured the Clarecastle man won re-election in 2016. This time could see the men go head to head for the fourth seat. With FG on the wane nationally, it could well be that the Scariff man is the safe bet.
THURSDAY, JAN 23 2020
‘DP centre worthy of commendation’ Innocent Iroaganachi fills us in on how life is settling into Clare’s newest Direct Provision centre INNOCENT IROAGANACHI
A
FEW days after we moved into the Clare Lodge, some community residents who visited us told us that the news around Ennis was that we were not allowed go outside. We were shocked but thankfully this story turned out to be false. In this piece, I set out to inform those who are unsure about how the single men are living and faring in the new accommodation centre, especially as it relates to me. The size of the room is big enough, comfortably containing a bunk and a single bed to accommodate just three people. There is also enough space for me and my roommates to do some quick indoor exercises. Each of the beds has a six-feet tall size wardrobe and a locker for each. There is a conducive toilet and bathroom in each
room and two large windows for good ventilation. There is also a self operating heater which allows us to warm the room as we deem fit, and a plasma television to watch our desired channels. In the lodge, there is a conducive common room, which we also use to entertain our visitors. Each resident has a personal key card that allows him unrestricted access into the lodge and individual rooms. We also have access to a laundry room, fast Wi-Fi internet access and a large kitchen that houses the store and the dining. In the kitchen each room has
an allocated refrigerator, locker and some basic kitchen utensils and cutleries. We have unrestricted access to use the kitchen and cook our local dish. Each of us are provided with a credit card to use in making purchases from the store. In the circumstance that something we desire is not in the store, we make a list of requests to management and have the food items brought for us. It is interesting to know that the credit cards are recharged weekly. This is excluding the €38.80 weekly cash allowance. From our few weeks here, most of us are happy with the independent living the centre is affording us, especially as regards the kitchen, access to food, training facilities and employment opportunities and most importantly, the staff of Bridgestock Care Limited, which manage the centre. In appreciation of the lodge, a fellow resident, during the course of our discussion, likened the lodge to “a four star hotel.” The improvements in Clare Lodge is very impressive and worthy of commendation.
ADVERTORIAL
Bereaved by Suicide – You are not alone
CLARE Suicide Bereavement Support will hold a Healing Programme for Family members, relatives and friends whose lives have been affected by suicide. The Introductory Night is on Monday, February 3rd at The Clare S.B.S. premises, Innovation House, (near Liddys), Roslevan Shopping Centre, Tulla Rd. Ennis EIRCODE: V95VK5H. The programme will start at 7.30 pm and lasts about two hours each evening, and will continue each Monday for eight consecutive weeks. The aims of the Healing Programme are; To help adults who have experienced a death by suicide to find healing and support in a safe and caring environment; To provide an opportunity of meeting others who have experienced loss through a death by suicide; To provide healing through talking and listening in small groups. Mutual help is received and given through sharing. In addition to the Healing Programme Clare S.B.S volunteers respond to ap-
proaches made by a bereaved family or individual and can arrange to meet them in the family home or in their premises at Roslevan, Ennis. All meetings are conducted in complete confidence and are free of charge. The aim is to help people talk about their loss and the whole process of bereavement. There is no set formula for a bereaved person’s feelings or reactions. Different people react in different ways and in different order. There can often be a sense of confusion and aloneness. While neighbours and friends can be very helpful at the time of the death and funeral, there can later be silence about the event partly because people are not sure what to say or are afraid of saying the wrong thing. The bereaved person needs to talk about how she or he feels but is hesitant in case others are getting tired of listening or may have inadvertently made an unhelpful response. Through talking and sharing in the safe environment of the
Healing Programme meetings the pain is eased and healing is allowed to begin. A spokesperson for Clare S.B.S said “If you have experienced a death by suicide either in your family or that of a friend please feel free to come along to the Healing Programme on February 3rd. The death may have been recently or a long time ago. In whichever situation you are very welcome. It may help you to meet and talk with others who are going through a similar painful journey. Those who attended previous healing Programmes have found it very helpful. “If instead, you would prefer to talk privately with a volunteer this can be arranged. If you require further information, regarding individual, or family support or the Healing Programme phone or text the support co-ordinator at 086-0565373 or 0873698315 or leave a message and the co-ordinator will get back to you.” www.claresuicidebereavementsupport.com
NEWS 15
Family first as Lynch withdraws GETTING to spend time with his children during their formative years has prompted Cllr Ian Lynch (IND) not to contest the General Election. A member of Clare County Council since 2014, Ian had been weighing up entering the race following the withdrawal of Dr. Michael Harty (IND) stressing the need for “a strong voice to represent West Clare” On Tuesday night, Lynch confirmed he would not be putting his name forward. “There is no doubt that for the sustainability development of West Clare, our towns and communities we now more than ever need a strong voice to represent us. “However, there also comes a time to reflect on what is right for me and my family. To get elected would be no simple achievement but if successful I would have to sacrifice some of the most precious moments in my life and my children’s lives, there are some things in life you just don’t get a second chance at but elections will come around again and present another opportunity” 2016 saw the Kilrush man contest the General Election where he polled 1,494 first preference votes. He commended candidates for going forward but issued a word of warning to the elected four. “I also want to make it very clear to those that are successful, I may be out of this race but I still hold my seat in public office and I will make sure you don’t forget those who are most vulnerable and need assistance from our state and I certainly won’t let you continue the abandonment of West Clare in to the future”.
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18 THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK
THURSDAY, JAN 23 2020
Ronan Scully
THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK Author spreading the word of positivity
Sit down, be humble N
OW that we’ve all gone through the ritual of making and in a lot of cases probably already abandoned our New Year’s resolutions for the umpteenth year in a row, there may be a more appropriate self-improvement project to consider: Humility. Unfortunately in modern times we’ve developed some false connotations for the word, Humility, such as blind obedience, self abasement, shyness, not standing up for ourselves or taking credit for our success. In a highly individualized, competitive world where we must promote our
selves constantly to get jobs, be popular and succeed in many areas, the old fashioned notion of humility seems to only hold one back. Acceptance As the song goes, “Oh Lord, it’s so hard to be humble when I am perfect in every way”, but to be truly humble we must learn to acknowledge that we are wrong and imperfect sometimes. We must accept positive feedback from others with grace and gratefulness, trying our best to learn from our mistakes rather than ignoring any suggestions that we don’t want to hear. Rather we must learn to accept help and advice with gratitude. We must also take full responsibility for our failures and the consequences of these and not turn the blame on others. A large part of Humility is forgiveness. When we learn to forgive those who have wronged us and also to apologize to those we have wronged we step off our soapbox and learn that it is not our role to judge others. We must also endure unfair treatment with patience and grace, knowing that the world is not always fair but we can do our best to be so. A humble Person can be happy for others; can rejoice in their successes and achievements without feeling that they are any less because of them. Gratitude Grateful ness is another key element to humility. To not merely be successful and happy and beautiful, but grateful for every blessing we are given and
every reward we work for. Also to be thankful to everyone who helps us along the way, no matter how small or great their aid may be, even having those that support and believe in you is immensely fortunate. Give credit where it is due and show gratitude. A humble person is never above helping others. In fact they should look for opportunities to be of service and assistance to friends, family and strangers. However, to do so humbly is to not shout it from the rooftops, but rather do good deeds without any recognition or reward, to even remain anonymous in this charity. Live each day to the fullest Don’t undermine your worth by comparing yourself with others, It is because we are different that each of us is special. Don’t set your goals by what other people deem important, Only you know what is best for you. Don’t take for granted the things closest to your heart, Cling to that as you would your life, for without them life is meaningless. Don’t let your life slip through your fingers by living in the past or the future. By living your life one day at a time, you live all the days of your life. Don’t give up when you still have something to give. Nothing is really over ... until the moment you stop trying. Thought for the week As your thought for the week remember to keep a healthy dose of humility in you lives. By doing so you are constantly keeping yourself in check with others around you, and at the same time you are opening yourself up to continue
learning and growing as a person. Let me finish with a favorite prayer I pray about trying to be a humble person that always tries to show real humility. “Dear Lord, Your truth runs counter to our self-exalting world: humble service is the path to a life well lived. This truth isn’t weak or foolish as the world would think, but is a blessed and honorable gospel garment donned by those who love You, the One who exalts the humble and brings down the proud. Oh, that the entire world would live in humility before You and each other! While I aspire a life of godly humility, the pull of pride seems too strong to overcome at times. I so often desire to sit on your throne instead of bowing before You. I think highly of myself and my accomplishments and forget I am a human being made of dust who at best can be called a servant. Oh, Lord, rescue me from foolish pride and help me learn from Your gentle and humble heart! Gracious Father, reprogram my soul with your Word to remember the world is all about Doing good and kind acts for others in Jesus name and not myself. Help me not think more highly of myself than I ought, but to delight in regarding others as more important. Rescue me from the self-deception of pride by giving me a realistic view of my life, talents, and relationships with others and with you; always looking to the cross which reveals both the wrath I deserve and Your costly grace. May my entire being bow before You in loving allegiance, confessing you as Lord over all of my life and all of creation, to the praise of Your glory. Amen.
Donna takes over from late friend Mike McKee on Council PÁRAIC McMAHON
I
news@clareecho.ie
T WAS a night of mixed emotions for Donna McGettigan on Friday with only ratification the next step to her becoming a county councillor. Eight months ago, she put her name on the ballot paper with the aim of being elected to Clare County Council and she received 277 first preference votes, not enough to win a seat. However, the sudden passing of long-serving Shannon representative, Mike McKee ensured a co-option would follow to see what party member would take his place on the local authority. On Friday, a selection convention saw McGettigan put forward as the sole nominee to take the seat, she was
proposed by Eileen McKee, Mike’s widow and Gary Fitzgibbon, his campaign manager for LE19. Speaking to The Clare Echo as the convention concluded, Donna outlined, “It’s a very weird feeling tonight because I’m proud, my family were there they were proud, Mike’s family were there they were proud but there is that tinge of sadness that the only reason we are here is because we lost our good friend Mike, it’s strange”. Ratification from Ard Comhairle is the next step before the Belfast native becomes Cllr McGettigan. A long-time friend of Mike McKee’s, Donna told The Clare Echo that he asked her to replace him on the Council before he died. “He asked me himself to put my name forward, he expressed to his family and other members of Sinn Féin that he wanted it to be me, he couldn’t have it that way unless the Cumann themselves fully endorsed me, I was the only name going forward so it just shows the whole Cumann
CHARITY CONSCIOUS KIDS
lWORTHY CAUSE: St Senan’s National School raised vital funds for MidWestern Cancer Foundation at ther annual Christmas Market. Pictured at the cheque presentation are Foundation Director Gerry O’Doherty, with school Principal Sally O’Neill, parents Nicola Lonergan, Trena O’Mara and Siobhan Punch, with pupils Robbie and Rhiann.
were behind me”. Mike had also offered some advice to McGettigan were she to be successful in the co-option. “Mike was a very quiet man and if he did give advice it was very good advice. He told me to go in, do what he did by working with others for the betterment of the community, the betterment of Shannon but stay true to my republicanism, don’t forget where I’m from”. Donna confirmed that the first motion she will table at County Council level will be in memory of Mike. “Our first motion will be to put forward to name the park after Mike McKee that will be our first motion”. As well as being in the Shannon MD, Donna will sit on the Social Development SPC where housing is one of the key items of the Directorate. “I’m dealing with families at the minute that are squashed into houses they can’t move, there is serious issues with the houses that are there at the minute”.
lBITTERSWEET: Eileen McKee and Donna McGettigan
Shannon Group confident about the year ahead SHANNON Group CEO Mary Considine has said that 2019 has confirmed both the strength and resilience of the Group. Reflecting on the performance of the Group and its individual businesses across 2019, Ms Considine said that Shannon Commercial Properties and Shannon Heritage both recorded strong growth and while Shannon Airport experienced its first drop in passengers since 2013, it finished the year out on a high with a number of new route announcements. “The year has illustrated Shannon Airport’s strength and resil-
ience as we were able to close it out with the announcement of three new services to Paris, Barcelona and Vienna. This has left us quite positive about the year ahead as they will help us return to growth again in 2020.” A major plus on the aviation, investment and job creation side was that last year 15 new indigenous and overseas aviation businesses located in Shannon. The past 12 months saw Shannon Group forge ahead with its ambitious investment strategy, investing over €33 million on capital projects during the year.
These included the delivery of the first aircraft hangar in Ireland in almost 20 years, and the commencement of construction of 150,000 sq ft of new property solutions on a 12 acre site at Shannon Free Zone. Ms Considine envisages a year of growth across all the group operations in 2020. “Shannon Group is one of the single biggest and most important growth engines outside the capital region. As a Group, we support 46,500 jobs, generate an economic impact of €3.6 billion per year and contribute €1.1 billion in Exchequer returns.”
GREEN CLARE
30% of all food is wasted
CIAN O BROIN
tion into food waste at the Fleadh Cheoil na hEireann in Ennis has allowed her to accrue various methods to help prevent food waste in Clare, both on an individual and collecOOD waste prevention is one of tive level. the key issues in creating a sustainThe EPA Stop Food Waste programme able future and an economically falls under the EPA National Waste Prevenbalanced society. Whether in first tion Programme and provides tools and inworld or third world countries, formation to businesses, households and the public sector to influence behavioral change and support sustainable choices. The motive of this programme is to enlighten householders on the various ways in which their food waste can be minimised or prevented entirely. Sarah is heavily involved in the operation of the website, www.stopfoodwaste.ie and social media channels for this programme. Food waste is oftentimes overlooked as one of the most crucial environmental issues at this time, with our uncharitable relationship with food lying in harmony with our lack of care and attention being afforded to our environment. On food waste, Sarah tells that, “it is a huge problem globally. Between 25-30 percent of all food produced • Is the most successful mammal on the for any consumption in the world planet after humans! is wasted. In the developing world, • Normally lives where humans live this food waste occurs early in the particularly in urban areas. process due to poor infrastructure If you are putting scraps • Can breed throughout the year if such as inadequate storage, lack of conditions are suitable, a female refrigeration, poor practices on the of bread and other food farm. In developed countries, it ocproducing up to five litters a year. scrapings from plates and curs further down the food chain at • Has a pregnancy period of only 21 days saucepans out on green areas, shop level, restaurant level, at our and litters can number up to fourteen, homes. This, in fact, has a worse enfootpaths and roads, you are (seven is common). vironmental impact as it has more supplying food for the local • Can breed from the age of 12 weeks! embedded resources, it takes more energy, fuel, transport to get to your rat population. fridge to sit there for two weeks and then to go to the bin than for food loss to occur at the farm directly.â€? The Irish climate is replete with food waste and preventative meaIf living in a population area of greater than 500, or your collector sures must be taken all the way provides you with a brown bin, then you must dispose of your food waste down to the individual level. in the brown bin provided or alternatively home compost your food Sarah outlines the approwaste. All other householders can compost their food waste or if this is priate methods to acnot possible food waste may be placed in the general/landfill bin knowledge and prevent food waste within each For more information on managing your food waste and to check if you are in area and evthat requires a food waste bin visit www.mywaste.ie. For more information on home ery Irish household, composting visit www.stopfoodwaste.ie. “the first thing is to start paying Clare County Council Promoting a Greener Clare attention @GreenerClare yourself to Antilitter Hotline No.: 1800 606 706 the types of Email: enviroff@clarecoco.ie | www.clarecoco.ie food you’re buying and throwing out. Our
cianobroin@clareecho.ie
F
the correct application of our resources could prevent millions of tonnes of food waste worldwide each year. Sarah Broderick works in an environmental consultancy and research-based company called the Clean Technology Centre, based in Cork Institute of Technology. Her extensive research in various programmes such as the EPA Stop Food Waste Programme and an investiga-
ARE YOU FEEDING THE LOCAL RAT?
DID YOU KNOW THAT THE BROWN RAT
DISPOSE OF FOOD WASTE CORRECTLY:
general approach is to spend a little bit of time looking in your food bin, seeing what goes to waste and what you can change bit by bit. Once you start identifying that you are wasting food or leftovers then you can start looking at approaches such as planning your meals and looking in the fridge before you do this and basing it off that. Creating a shopping list and not getting carried away is another great approach. It’s important to have a little bit more value in the food that you buy, a heightened appreciation into what’s actually gone into producing that food and bring it to you.� Restaurants and the food industry are perhaps most culpable in the generation of global food waste. In an investigation conducted by Sarah last year, forty businesses had their back kitchens examined, with all of their daily food waste being accounted for. This included hotels, restaurants, cafes, canteens and some shops. “Down to the last pea, we scraped and measured it all up. That then really detailed information we could feed back to the businesses themselves. Because of the complication of food waste, there’s no easy fixes,we can just call out to a business or household that can be applied. It relates so much to culture and emotion tied up with food. Telling one business that they need to reduce their portion of chips may be perfectly fine but another business could have a reputation built upon their amazing chips. We try to encourage a business to measure their food waste and from that their solutions will arise.� For any businesses wishing to tackle food waste which would inherently bolster their sustainability and work economic wonders, Sarah informs of a “Guidebook called Less Food Waste More Profit, including tonnes of tips on what to do with the overarching message of pay attention to it yourself and measure it, whereby you can make the small changes then that can work for you. � Businesses can obtain this free guidebook by emailing greenerclare@clarecoco.ie. For more information preventing food waste visit www.stopfoodwaste.ie
Arts & Entertainment 21
THURSDAY, JAN 23 2020
Ennis Book Club Fest returns
T
HE full programme for the 14th Ennis Book Club Festival, which runs from Friday March 6 to Sunday March 9, has been announced. On Friday 6, Sharon Cahir will be in conversation with Carla White, Danne Reed and Niamh Ennis on why change can be a good thing. Also on Friday, Caroline Foran will talk about how to make anxiety your ally. Éilís Murphy, a visual artist and bookbinder living in Corofin, will conduct a book making workshop. Ennis native Brian O’Connell will discuss his latest book, The Personals. In Ireland, Brexit and Europe, Bobby McDonagh will join Martina Devlin for a discussion on Ireland’s relationship to Great Britain, Brexit, and the European Union. Rosita Boland and Madeleine Keane will explore Rosita’s 30 years of travel. Co-authors of the series of Aisling books, Emer McLysaght and Sarah Breen will close Friday’s events. Kick off Saturday morning with a walking tour of Ennis with Jane O’Brien or yoga
with Paula McGrath, followed by a visit to The Old Ground Hotel to join Michael Murphy and Ciana Campbell. Michael will recite poetry from his new work, The Ministry of Dreams. Test your knowledge in the always brilliant fun Books and Buns: The book quiz in The Rowan Tree Café. Saturday morning will see the return of another festival favourite - 10 Books You Should Read. Or let Reamonn O Ciarain inspire you during a bilingual talk on the spirit of Cuchulainn. This year’s pop-up Festival Book Club Meeting will celebrate Margaret Atwood’s Booker Prize winning novel The Testaments. Clare Youth Theatre will perform two plays in glór’s studio - Don’t Judge the Book by the Cover and to The Changing Moon. In Minor Monuments, Ian Maleney questions the impact of Alzheimer’s disease on family,. On Saturday also, the Festival welcomes the return of Lemn Sissay reading from his acclaimed one-man play, Something Dark. Or you could listen to Hilary Fannin and Rachael English talk about their new books.
The Beyond Borders Book Club is in its third year and celebrates diversity and inclusivity in all things books and society. This year’s event will launch Correspondences, an anthology which gathers together writing, photography and visual art by those in direct provision. Poetry lovers can join The Seven Sisters Poetry Reading in Record Break Café and Gerry Hanberry in nearby Sceal Eile. Clare Voices with Mike Hanrahan will take you on a journey in music, food and friendship. Saturday night means the welcome and popular return of Seán Rocks. On Sunday 8th March, Sunday Miscellany comes to EBCF 2020 and glór for a special recording. Top it off with a Literary Lunch featuring Éanna Ní Lamhna. The Festival has commissioned writer Mia Gallagher to curate a special exhibition from the Arts Council collection, showing at glór from Friday 7th February and until Saturday 21st March and to write a short story inspired by the artwork. Mia and EBCF Artistic Director, Paul Perry, will discuss the process of the project.
Mia will also read her short story in 3 special durational performances on Saturday evening from 5 to 7pm in glór. The Festival also has an extensive programme for younger readers, including favourite children’s rhymes and an interactive workshop with children’s writer, Sarah Webb; Brian Conaghan chatting about his books and inspiration; What’s Your Everest, with John Burke; a Bi-lingual writing workshop with Meadhbh Ni Eabhra taking place in DeValera and Scariff Libraries, a Children’s Book Club with author Cat Doyle, and Rosita Boland and Zainab Bolande in conversation on their career paths. With many other events, including, award winning Walking Tours of Ennis with Jane O’Brien and Tony Kirby, wine tasting at The Wine Buff, as well as a Festival Club, offering a chance to catch up on all the day’s events and mingle with authors and readers alike, Ennis Book Club Festival 2020 has something for everyone. All events are now on sale at glór Box Office on 065 6843103. See www.ennisbookclubfestival.com for details.
SMS presents the Irish Amateur Premier of Shrek the Musical SHREK the Musical arrives in Shannon on Sunday February 16 at St. Patrick's Comprehensive School. The rehearsals for this exciting colourful family musical are going exceptionally well under the dynamic direction of award winning producer Oliver Hurley, musical director Carmel Griffin and dance captain Karen Barrett. Shrek is played by gentle giant Pa Hayes with Jessica Bray joining him as princess Fiona. Lee Dillon and Cian O'Donnell (Donkey and Pinnochio) are both new to the Shannon Stage but are fitting in like old hands. Lord Farquaad is played by Aodàn Fox. The Irish Amateur Premier of Shrek the Musical runs in Saint Patrick's Comprehensive School Shannon from Sunday, February 16 to Saturday 22.
The booking office (beside the Post Office in Skycourt Shopping Centre, Shannon) opens on Thursday February 6. Telephone bookings from this date at 086 2142554. “This wonderful show simply could not happen without the very generous support of our
sponsors EI Electronics Shannon, The Shannon Springs Hotel, The Goalpost Bar and The Beauty Rooms. The wonderful support of our patrons and sponsors can never be sufficiently highlighted. So from all involved in Shannon Musical Society, a huge thank you,” a spokesperson said.
lTHAT’LL DO, DONKEY: SMS are ready for the stage
Reformer pilates arrives in Shannon 22 BUSINESS FEATURE
THURSDAY, JAN 23 2020
Excel Physiotherapy plans to replicate Ennis success STUART HOLLY
E
editor@clareecho.ie
XCEL Physiotherapy has opened the doors to a second clinic in County Clare to meet the growing demand for its reformer pilates classes. Looking to replicate the success of its Ennis business based on the Kildysart Road, Excel Physiotherapy is offering free introductory sessions for all newcomers to reformer pilates at its new Smithstown base in Shannon. Director Seán O’Meara tells The Clare Echo that they have developed a space to enable Excel to deliver the same high-quality services available in the popular Ennis facility. “The unit is a nice, big open space so there’s plenty of room to do the exercise classes and we’ve built on a physiotherapy treatment room and added three changing cubicles for people who might be coming to do a class during work hours, or just before or after work in Shannon,” Seán explains. Seán credits the addition of reformer pilates to his Ennis practice as a key component of growing his business, which now hosts 35 pilates sessions a week and employs five full-time physios along with a receptionist. Reformer pilates will be a first for Shannon and Seán believes its popularity can be replicated there, particularly among workers hoping to fit in an enjoyable exercise session around their working day. Seán has been team physio to Clare’s Senior Football team since his return home in 2009 upon finishing his degree course in physiotherapy in Northumbria, England. Having opened Excel Physiotherapy in Ennis in 2011 when Seán was the practice’s sole physiotherapist, the business steadily grew in the proceeding years. It was a working holiday to Australia in 2014 with his wife Audrey which inspired the former Éire Óg footballer to buy a reformer pilates machine on his return. “It was extremely helpful in growing the business,” Seán admits. “That came about after myself and my wife decided to go to Australia for eight months in 2014. We had one physio on board by then and we had another physio come in as a locum so we went to Melbourne and I worked for six months and we did a bit of travelling. “The clinic I worked with there had a few clinics in Melbourne and Sydney and all of them would have had reformer pilates associated with the clinic - it seems in Australia that most physiotherapy clinics have pilates incorporated with them. So I did some courses in pilates when I was over there and I was using it every day and I really
lGROWING BUSINESS: Seán O’Meara at his newly-opened clinic in Smithstown, Shannon; and (below) with physiotherapists Christer Vik Smetana, Tina Meaney and receptionist Sharon Kelly Photo by John Mangan
liked it, and I liked the idea of the exercises and I liked the link it had with physio; rehab, injury prevention and recovery so I wanted to bring that back as soon as we came back to Ireland.” Seán continues, “Kind of like starting off again, we got one reformer to start with and then soon after we got another two, that progressed to six reformers in a pilates studio and we then eventually did up a bigger space and we have 10 reformers in the studio in Ennis. “It’s surprised me with how busy it is, people are really enjoying it and giving it really positive feedback ... so that was the whole reason why we decided to set up in Shannon, it will give us the opportunity to offer this form of exercise and our physiotherapy services, just in a different location.” Sean explains that reformer pilates has benefits relating to injury prevention and ties in with physiotherapy as “it’s a very low weight-bearing exercise so it’s relatively safe and there isn’t too much load going through the joints”. “So even somebody recovering from an injury or an operation, it’s a safe way to exercise. It does help with coordination, flexibility, control, stability, those kind of aspects rather than gym-based machine exercises which might focus moreso on strength.” While his Ennis business is flourishing with five treatment rooms, Seán is hopeful that Shannon will grow organically in line with demand of his new client base. “If people haven’t used a reformer before, we get them in to do a free introductory session. We run 1-3 of them every week at different times where we take people’s details and explain the concept and learn if anybody is carrying an injury or prefer to do one-toone, we can do that as an introductory option as well. Then they’ll be able to see the class times with the app (Excel Physiotherapy & Pilates). We currently have about 35 classes a week in Ennis. Because Shannon is starting off we’ll start with somewhere between 5-10 for the first few weeks but hopefully as the weeks go on we’ll be able to add times as demand grows.” Having just opened this week, Seán is excited by the challenge that lies ahead despite also juggling his existing business, a newbuild and two young children aged seven months and two years old. Seán adds, “Like the case with a lot of things, when you’re setting up a new business you’ll always find a reason that it’s not the right time so we just said we’ll take the plunge, get set up and see how it goes. It’s a little bit daunting but we have the experience of Ennis so it’s not brand new to us. The feedback from clients in Ennis is good so hopefully we can replicate that in Shannon.” To book an appointment or a free introductory class with Excel Physiotherapy in Shannon or Ennis, call (065) 686 4000.
Sean O'Meara, MISCP Chris Vic Smetana, MISCP Damien McMahon, MISCP Tina Meaney, MISCP Enda Collins, MISCP
Tel: 065 686 4000
Chartered Physiotherapy clinic & Reformer Pilates studio Kildysart Road Ennis & Smithstown Industrial Estate Shannon
Services provided are up to date research based interventions that include: . Detailed Physiotherapy Assessment & Treatment plans . Massage . Dry Needling . Kinesio Taping & Rocktaping . Sports Therapy . Post Surgical Rehabilitation . Dry Needling
. Elite Level Rehabilitation . Orthotic Assessment & Prescription . Injury Prevention . Reformer Pilates . Neurological Rehabilitation . Provide Presentations & courses . Hour long consults . sports clubs and corporate clients
Excel Physiotherapy Chartered Physiotherapy & Sports Injury Clinic Kildysart Road Ennis, Co. Clare
Community 24 COMMUNITY
WEST CLARE
THURSDAY, JAN 23 2020
CONTACT NEWSDESK
065 671 9021 news@clareecho.ie
NORTH CLARE
PUBLIC LECTURE Wild About Miltown Malbay biodiversity group will hold a free public lecture on Farming, Conservation and Biodiversity with guest speaker Vincent Keane, Burrenbeo and Burren Farmer, on Wednesday January 29th, 2020 in Miltown Malbay Community Centre from 7.30pm to 9pm. Free event - All welcome. LOCAL HISTORY MILTOWN MALBAY Free Local History/Heritage classes commencing at the Further Education and Training Centre, Ballard Rd, Miltown Malbay on Friday the 24th of Jan from 11 - 1 for 9 weeks. To book a place or for more information contact Breda 065 6843732/087 4137189. LOCAL HISTORY KILRUSH Free Local History/Heritage classes commencing at the Further Education and Training Centre, Cooraclare Road, Kilrush on Monday the 27th of Jan 2 – 4.00pm for 9 weeks. To book a place or for more information contact Breda 065 6843732/087 4137189.
NORTH CLARE LOCAL HISTORY LISDOONVARNA Free Local History/Heritage classes commencing at Mary Immaculate Secondary School Lisdoonvarna on Monday the 27th of Jan from 7 – 9pm for 9 weeks. To book a place or for more information contact Breda 065 6843732/087 4137189.
ENNIS SQUASHY COUCH SEXUAL HEALTH PROGRAMME Clare Youth Service will be running a six-week programme for girls from 15-17years. Squashy Couch is a Sexual Health Programme for young people, providing a safe space for them to learn about sexual health and positive relationships. The programme will be run in The Junction Youth and Community Building, Cloughleigh Road starting 04th February from 6-7.30pm for six Tuesdays. Spaces are limited and interested people should contact Helena on 085-8047580 to sign up or for more information.
JUST FOR FUN
l HATS OFF: James Crotty sporting a very fetching Christmas hat made from Clare Echo pages. Mum Clare Crotty even took it to the next level by using the quiz page. We love it! Have you come up with ways to reuse our paper? We would love to hear from you!
l BEAT IT: Transition year students at the CBS Ennistymon got a master class on making and learning to play the Bodhran. Michael Vignoles showed the students his craftsmanship and they really enjoyed the experience from beginning to making music with the finished product.
COUNTYWIDE HOUSING INFORMATION EVENING The Housing Agency will on Wednesday 26 February 2020 hold an information evening for volunteer directors of owners' management companies of apartment developments / managed estates in the Mid-West region. This free event takes place from 6.45pm in the Castletroy Park Hotel, Limerick City.
Community THURSDAY, JAN 23 2020
COMMUNITY 25 CONTACT NEWSDESK
065 671 9021 news@clareecho.ie
EAST CLARE
l A HAPPY TUNE: Musicians from St. Joseph’s Secondary School Tulla, who performed at the 2020 Cycle Against Suicide Annual Student Leaders’ Congress. From left, Cushla Murphy, Callum Corry, Aisling Clarke, Eoin Donnellan, Abbey Heffernan and Dearbhla Creaven. Created to discuss and raise awareness of mental health and wellness issues faced by young people in Ireland today, 4,000 pupils from more than 150 schools attended the conference.
WEST CLARE
WEST CLARE
KIZOMBA DANCE CLASS In the bid to support the group of asylum seekers currently residing at the Central Hotel in Miltown Malbay to be comfortable, the community have generously opted to sponsor whatever great ideas any of the men wish to venture into. It is in the above light, that Esmeraldo Antonio, an asylum seeker in the community, has volunteered to provide a free Kizomba dance class. The dance originated from Angola. The first class of the dance which took place on the January 15, 2020, had in attendance residents of Miltown community and some asylum seekers in the community. This new dance class is an addition to the drumming/ dance lessons and other numerous social activities already going on in the community. The dance is slated to take place every Wednesday in the Miltown community centre. While expressing his feeling about the class to The Clare Echo, Esmeraldo Antonio said “I feel so happy to teach this dance.”
SCARIFF PARKING Parking has been highlighted as "a serious problem" in Scariff with businesses flagging that they may have to close if it is not solved. An update on a car park within the town of Scariff was sought by Cllr Joe Cooney (FG) at the January meeting of the Killaloe Municipal District. While construction works were taking place in the main street, a temporary car park had been in situ at The Scariff Hotel for businesses and their staff. "Upon substantial completion of the works in November 2019 and with a view to creating additional parking space during the Christmas period this office approached the hotel agent and requested an extension, which was agreed. This arrangement will end on the 31st January," senior executive engineer Tom Mellett confirmed. He added, "A long term solution to parking in Scariff is separately being explored and in this regard housing lands purchased by Clare County Council in 2018 which run to the rear of main street are being examined as an option". Praise was extended to the local authority and its staff for "the fantastic work done" along the main street by Cllr Cooney. He did warn the meeting that "parking in Scariff is a serious concern". The O'Callaghans Mills representative continued, "I have been talking to business people, there is serious concern that if we don't do something about parking it could lead to the closures of businesses. The temporary car park while construction was going on did help the situation, it was a success". Long-term solutions needs to be looked at, Cooney insisted. "Make it simpler for the people themselves and easier for the businesses. The belief of the businesses is that some people aren't coming into Scariff on some days because it is so difficult to get a parking space". He suggested, "There is different locations around the town of Scariff and could be used. If we're waiting long-term it will affect businesses, people are finding it tough enough in business at the minute". A further extension of the temporary car park while planning continues was sought by Cllr Pat Hayes (FF). "Give that support to the town," he stated. "It was an asset to the town and we should seek to try keep that for the year going forward until we have a formal plan for the other site".
l SHAKE IT: Esmeraldo Antonio with his Kizomba students in Miltown
26 BUSINESS
THURSDAY, JAN 23 2020
BUSINESS
CONTACT US WE’RE ON FACEBOOK, TWITTER AND INSTAGRAM #CE
Record numbers visit Cliffs STUART HOLLY
V
editor@clareecho.ie
ISITOR numbers at the Cliffs of Moher Visitor Experience (pictured right) increased by 1.58% to 1,605,131 in 2019, another record year for visitors to the iconic attraction. The positive visitor figures reveal that the Fully Independent Traveller (FIT) market showed greater growth than the group market with 56% of all visitors being FITs (up 38,225 on 2018) and group tour business is down 1.86% (-13,104) for the first time since 2010. “Visitor numbers represent the strength of an international brand and delivery of a consistent world class experience” said Leonard Cleary, Director of Services at Clare County Council. Cliffs of Moher Visitor Experience online value tickets for morning and evening visits, 8am -9pm opening times in peak season and visitor shuttle have yielded a 15% redistribution of total visitors into the off-peak times, resulting in improved onsite visitor experience and traffic management. The shuttle served the North Clare towns and village of Ennistymon, Lahinch, Liscan-
nor, Doolin and Lisdoonvarna, enabling improved economic benefit to the North Clare economy. New licensing criteria for group tours, includes over nights in Co. Clare, visiting another paid visitor attraction or visitor experience and visiting on off peak times. Cliffs of Moher Visitor Experience employs 75 staff during the peak season and is a significant employer in rural North Clare. Additionally, more than 85 staff employed by tenant companies is supported at the site. Meanwhile, the Failte Ireland supported Cliffs of Moher Strategy 2040 is being developed by Clare County Council appointed consultants Haley Sharpe to shape the future of the natural attraction. The Board of the Cliffs of Moher Centre Ltd have a key strategic role in shaping the new sustainable tourism direction envisioned for the future. The strategy guided by an appointed steering committee will take over a year to prepare the comprehensive plans for the site and visitor experience expected to be delivered early 2021. “Popularity and growth is down to providing a wholistic experience, from safe pathways and viewing areas, a genuine welcome from staff, to interpretation, retail, dining and visitor services,” commented Geraldine Enright, Director of Cliffs of Moher Visitor Experience.
Clare nominees sought for EY Entrepreneur Of The Year 2020 NOW in its 23rd year in Ireland, the EY Entrepreneur Of The Year 2020 programme is officially open for nominations. Clare entrepreneurs are encouraged to put themselves forward to follow in the footsteps of well-known Clare business people. Louis Keating, L&M Keating and Michael O’Dwyer, Tyrecheck, were finalists in the programme, while CupPrint’s Terry Fox was the eventual winner in the Emerging category in 2014.
This year’s 24 finalists will engage in a strategic growth programme over a 10-month period which includes a week-long CEO Retreat to South Africa. The programme is open to entrepreneurs from all sectors and growth stages in the Republic and Northern Ireland. Those nominating someone else must do so with the entrepreneur’s consent. Anyone interested can find out more or complete an online nomination form at www.eoy.ie.
Cork airport generated €1 billion euro in 2019
CORK Airport generated €904 million for the Irish economy in 2019, according to findings in an economic impactstudy. The report revealed Cork Airport also contributed to the employment of 12,180 people in Ireland, earning a total of €457 million. The findings of the study come as Cork Airport recorded a fourth consecutive year of growth in 2019, with passengers growing by 8% to 2.6 million. It is now entering its fifth consecutive year of growth, with 2.7 million people forecasted to travel through the airport in 2020, up a further 5% on last year. Speaking on the role Cork Airport plays in the local economy, Cork Airport's Managing Director Niall MacCarthy said: "It is fantastic to see the airport's positive contribution to the Irish economy is continuing to grow significantly. "In total, Cork Airport directly supports 2,200 jobs at the airport itself with DAA employees, airlines, ground transport, handling, maintenance, food and beverage, logistics companies, Government agencies and hotels. Of the total Gross Value Added by Cork Airport to the economy, €173 million of that is a result of these direct jobs, and
each one of those 2,200 people have made Cork Airport the success it is today as it continues to be Ireland's fastest growing airport." InterVISTAS Consulting's economic impact study also found Cork Airport's connectivity score — an indicator of an airport's access to the global air transport network — is the second highest in the country. There are over 50 routes on offer from Cork Airport to the UK and Continental Europe, along with multiple daily longhaul connections worldwide through major European hub airports served from Cork. Among the three new routes already announced for Cork Airport for 2020 is KLM Royal Dutch Airlines' new daily service to Amsterdam Schiphol, from March 30 offering connectivity to the airline's extensive network of 170 destinations worldwide. Additional new flights for 2020 announced to date also include Ryanair's direct flight to the Croatian coastal city of Zadar; and a twice-weekly service to Katowice, Poland. The latter is an extension of the airline's winter schedule route which is currently operating.
Local Enterprise Office Clare With uncertainty ahead regarding Brexit, Irish SMEs need to safeguard themselves and prepare for all possible eventualities. Local Enterprise Office Clare provides dedicated advice and a range of supports to help you manage your Brexit response:
Brexit Scorecard & Checklists The Brexit Scorecard is a first step online tool helping small businesses self-diagnose how prepared they are for Brexit.
FREE Customs Workshop Free prac�cal workshop organised for 13th February on how export & import customs will impact trade with the UK; how tariffs work and classifying your goods. Book on localenterprise.ie/clare
FREE Brexit Mentoring Clients work with an experienced mentor on a one-to-one basis to iden�fy key areas of business exposure and develop strategies around Brexit.
Financial Assistance Businesses can avail of a range of grants including: • LEO Financial Grants • TAME Grant • Website Grant • Agile Innova�on Fund
Talk to Local Enterprise Office Clare about managing your Brexit Response today! Visit www.localenterprise.ie/Clare/Financial-Supports/BREXIT/ or contact Tel 065 68 21616
MOTORING
MOTORING EXPERT NEIL BRISCOE GIVES HIS VIEWS
SO CLOSE TO PERFECTION IT HURTS…
CAN YOU FIND A BETTER ALL-ROUND CAR THAN THE BMW 3 SERIES TOURING? NO, YOU CAN’T
I
BMW 320D TOURING M-SPORT
T’S not easy being perfect. Look at Hermione Grainger in the Harry Potter books and films. Poor Hermione, essentially, is perfect — talented, intelligent, hard-working, a loyal friend, a talented wizard. Yet she is shunted, unceremoniously, to the side by that glory-hog, Harry. #MeToo should have started with Hermione, if you ask me. Does that make the BMW 3 Series Touring the Hermione of the car world? It kind of does, yeah. How so? Because this is a car that puts barely a foot wrong in any performance metric, yet which will be routinely shunned because, sitting across the showroom, is a similarly-priced SUV to which the crowds will, lemming-like, flock. Is it a perfect car? Well, it’s ever-dangerous to flirt with the word ‘perfect’ (philosophically an unattainable concept — discuss in an essay) when discussing any car, no matter how good it might be. But, yeah, pretty much — taking all things into account and accepting the current car market for what it is, rather than what it could be, the 3 Series,
especially the Touring, gets arguably closer to perfection than any other. How does it do that? Well, having the BMW badge, all on its own, gets things off to a good start. After all, with the original 3 Series, BMW was the first premium car maker to really try and bring its products to a more affordable (relatively speaking) market. To bring those buyers who were at the top end of the Cortina market into the luxury German fold. It’s a process that has led us to today — where everything has to be premium just to survive. It’s also a Touring, which means it’s an estate, and yes I know that means that many of you will dismiss it out of hand, hidebound by some old-school memory that estates are only used by commercial travellers. Well, get over yourself. You know that versatility and practicality that you’re always looking for in an SUV? You’ll find it here, in an estate, at a lower price, and with lower running costs. Seriously. The 3 Touring’s boot is a very healthy 500-litres, which expands to 1,510-litres if you fold down the back seats and load it to the roof. There’s also a standard-fit electric tailgate, and — best of all, and a 3 Series Touring tradition stretching back to the 1980s — the rear window opens separately, so you can just flip that up to throw
small items into the boot. Love that, and can’t understand why more car makers don’t offer the same. Up front, you’ll find a diesel engine. It’s BMW’s 2.0-litre ‘20d’ unit, with 190hp and 400Nm of torque. It is quiet, it is exceptionally punchy, and it’ll return an easy 50mpg all day long. Are you reluctant to buy a diesel? Well, I can understand that, given all the bad publicity about diesel engines of late, and yes, we are moving steadily towards an electric future. However, that future is not here quite yet, and for many of us (those with regular long journeys to make, especially) diesel still makes a lot of sense. Certainly, it’s far more economical than any petrol alternative, and it’s also far better when it comes to emissions of Co2 — carbon dioxide, the primary driver of climate change. Worried about the nasty pollutive effects of NOX, nitrogen dioxide, which has been at the centre of the diesel debate since 2015? Don’t be — recent independent tests by Germany’s equivalent of the AA, ADAC, found that the BMW 520d (which uses the same engine) had real-world driving NOX emissions of 1mg/ km. The legal limit, mandated by the EU, is 80mg/km. Even on the strictest WLTP emissions and fuel economy test, the 320d Touring does pretty good, scoring a 121g/km Co2
FACTS & FIGURES Model tested: BMW 320d Touring M-Sport xDrive Pricing: €59,634 as tested; 3 Series starts at, €44,248 Engine: 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder diesel Transmission: eight-speed automatic, four-wheel drive Body style: sports estate CO2 emissions: 121g/km (Band B1, €270 per annum) Combined economy: 61.4mpg (4.6 litres/100km) Top speed: 225km/h 0-100km/h: 7.4 seconds Power: 190hp at 4,000rpm Torque: 400Nm at 1,750- to 2,500rpm Boot space: 500- to 1,510 litres Safety: EuroNCAP rating: five stars; 97% adult, 87% child, 87% pedestrian, 76% safety assist
emissions rating, which means it’ll cost €270 a year to tax. If you’re still not sure, just be patient — BMW will launch its 330e plugin-hybrid in Touring form later this year. Here’s the thing, though. The 3 Touring is practical, it’s economical, it’s roomy, it’s beautifully made, and has a gorgeous cabin. But it’s also fun. Remember when driving was fun? Well, it still is, at least if you’re driving one of these. The steering bursts with feel and communication from the front wheels, and the chassis has the sort of deft handling setup that can, surely, only be achieved by a company with such a deep grounding in motor racing. If there is a flaw in the 320d’s makeup, it’s that on poor roads, the firm suspension is inclined to fidget in an annoying manner, but holding back from going for the largest alloy wheel option will dial a good deal of that out. The price tag? As-tested, the 320d Touring M-Sport we drove cost €59,634 which is a hefty chunk of money, right enough. Then again, you’d have to buy two or three other cars to match the varied abilities of this singular one, especially if you wanted to get something with this sort of driver involvement. Perfect, then? As close as we’re going to get, I suspect…
Property
Beautiful homes all over the County
€375,000 CARRAIGOIR, BALLAGHBOY, ENNIS, CO. CLARE
H
FROM €252,500 DETACHED HOME -
€130,000
4 BEDS - 3 BATHS ELEN Gallery Auctioneers and Valuers are delighted to bring this very substantial home over three floors at Carrigoir, Ballaghboy, Ennis to the market. This fine home with own door granny flat stands on an elevated, private, well landscaped site of over half an acre and is ideally located on a quiet country road enjoying lovely countryside views but yet just a short drive to Ennis town and the M17 & M18 to Shannon, Limerick and Galway. Accommodation includes living room, family room, kitchen, utility, WC, main bedroom and en-suite on the ground floor and three double bedrooms and bathroom on the 1st Floor. There is also a very large basement garage with direct access to the property. Contact: Helen Gallery, 68 Parnell Street, Ennis. Tel: 065 6829481 & 086 250 4671 PSL 002433
BEECHPARK, CAHERCALLA, ENNIS CO. CLARE
T
0.5 ACRE SITE WITH PLANNING
HIS elevated site is ideally located within an established residential location in Beechpark with strong demand for residential dwellings in the immediate locality. The site has easy access to Ennis town and all amenities including St. Flannnan’s College, Ennis National School, Ennis Golf Club and access via the ring Road to the M17 &M18. The site enjoys both full P18/219 and outline planning permission P16/765 to construct a dwelling house with garage and on site waste water treatment system. The site enjoys lovely countryside views and has front and rear entrances. Contact: Helen Gallery, 68 Parnell Street, Ennis. Tel: 065 6829481 & 086 250 4671 PSL 002433
BALLYMACAULA VIEW, CAHERCALLA, ENNIS, CO. CLARE
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NEW SEMIDETACHED HOMES 3 BEDS – 2 BATHS
ALLYMACAULA View is a new development currently under construction with the first homes being available for occupancy in April, 2020. These A rated homes offer bright spacious accommodation including all modern finishes and will immediately impress you with its exceptional finish that has become synonymous with M. Fitzgibbon Contractors Ltd. Finishes include choices of well designed, modern kitchens, quality timber and tiled floors, stylish fireplace with multi fuel stove in living room, wardrobes in all bedrooms, tiled bathrooms, under floor heating on the ground floor, high output radiators on first floor and much more. Qualifies for the Help to Buy up to €12,625
Contact: Helen Gallery, 68 Parnell Street, Ennis. Tel: 065 6829481 & 086 250 4671 PSL 002433
FORT VIEW
CREGGAUN NA HILLA, CLARECASTLE ONLY 4 RE M AINING
New Developments of Modern 3 Bedroom Homes by M.Fitzgibbon Contractors Ltd. Qualifies for up to €11,625 in the ‘Help to Buy’ Scheme Come and see the fantastic M.Fitzgibbon Contractors finish on
the final phase of these homes in Creggaun na Hilla in Clarecastle.
Price: €232,500 113.5 sq.m (1,220 sq.ft.)
Fort View is ideally located at the back of the development with
stunning open countryside views. Similar Homes now released in Ballymacaula View, Cahercalla, Ennis, Co Clare.
68 Parnell Street, Ennis, Co Clare
Sport Clare Echo THE
23-01-20
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Out of cold storage
lA TOUCH OF FROST: Ryan Taylor training at Caherlohan this week ahead of Clare’s league opener against Carlow Photo by John Mangan
2020 season begins in earnest as Banner men take to field for national league campaigns
Aaron returns Shannon man Aaron Cunningham tells The Clare Echo that he knows he has a mountain to climb to return to the high levels he set prior to his two-year hiatus from the Clare hurling set-up as he travelled the world
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All-Ireland final in sight
Flannan’s fly
Collins ready for battle
Scariff-Ogonnelloe visit County Meath this Sunday as they bid to reach their first All-Ireland senior Camogie final. We catch up with captain Mairead Scanlan ahead of the Slaughtneil clash
St Flannan’s College basketball team made history at the National Basketball Arena at the weekend as they became All Ireland champions, defeating Ballymakenny College from Louth on a score of 43-53
Colm Collins has been here before, but this time he will be vying to remain in Division 2 of the NFL without the services of Gary Brennan. We look ahead to Clare’s league campain in detail
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It’s like I never left, says Aaron Pà RAIC MCMAHON
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EFORE even pucking a ball, the return of Aaron Cunningham to the Clare panel has provided a mas-
sive lift. He’s sharp on the field and equally as quick off it so the humour of the Shannon man has lifted the spirits of his teammates. Supporters are well aware of the damage Aaron can do on the pitch netting two goals against Tipperary in the 2017 All-Ireland quarter-final in his last outing. Speaking to The Clare Echo ahead of their National Hurling League opener at home to Carlow, Aaron admitted, “It’s great to be back with the lads, I’ve been away for a while, I’ve gone back a good bit in fairness so I’ve a load of work to do, it’s good being back in around them, it’s like I never left in one way�. “There’s a few new people I wouldn’t have known before so making the effort to get to know
them, I feel older now than when I left, I was hanging onto one of the young lads tags when I left and now I’m definitely one of the more older mature lads in the dressing room. I feel like I’ve slipped back in seamlessly enough, I know pretty much everyone there, the craic and banter is good so it hasn’t been too hard to get back into it�. No “major� changes are observed regarding the standard and commitment expected of inter-county players while he has been gone. During the two and a half years when he was travelling, Cunningham was reliant on GAAGO and Twitter to be kept in the loop for matters Clare hurling. “The first year they got back to Croke Park, I was actually in a pub in San Francisco with Gudgy O’Connell and Bobby Duggan watching them play Galway, it was weird because the three of us would have been involved and we were there looking on. They were a margin away from being back in the All-Ireland final in Croke Park, I reckon they would have given Limerick a fair crack of it that year, I don’t think Limerick would have wanted to see
Clare win that game either, that was a serious chance and they seemed to be back performing at their best. “Last year was a bit of a flop, that has been the problem in Clare the last number of years the consistency, going up and down. Hopefully this year we can get back to Croke Park again and try take it higher from there. It was strange watching it, I fell into the supporter zone, I had a group of friends from different counties, we’d meet up and watch the
games, it was enjoyable but I’d be lying to say I didn’t miss it.� As his teammates were training away in Caherlohan during the final two years of the Donal Moloney and Gerry O’Connor era, ‘Hammy’ was living the good life. “I had an amazing time away, it was something I always said I’d do but I kept putting it on the long finger, it was in the plans for many years and eventually I decided it was time to go. It was probably the best thing I ever did, I don’t regret a minute of it.� When he returned to Ireland in December, linking back up with Clare wasn’t on his agenda. “Part of me was saying I had my shot and it had passed. Coming
home this Christmas I wasn’t sure if I’d stick around but a few things fell into place and I decided I’d stay around for a while. When the opportunity came I thought it was a good time being a bit older to give it a lash and see if I was able for it and if I could contribute anything.â€? After his sister Kelly got married, Brian Lohan approached Aaron about returning to the panel. “Brian being Brian would entice anyone in. Growing up watching him and listening to him, he is one of the heroes of Clare hurling, to have him at the top job is exciting for everyone, you always want to see someone who has lived it and done it. He didn’t have to say too much, I was surprised more than anything that he was willing to have a shot on me.â€? Now part of the teaching staff at Scoil Na TrĂonĂłide Naofa in Doon, Aaron adds, “I have a mountain to climb if I’m going to be anywhere near inter-county hurling this year... I can see a big improvement in the last two weeks so hopefully I can keep going that way and maybe towards the end of the League I might get a look inâ€?.
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Ryan happy to be utility man PÁRAIC MCMAHON
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ERSATILITY can be a curse for some players, Diarmuid Ryan isn’t complaining with being one of the utility men in the Clare hurling panel. His focus this week is split between Mary Immaculate College’s involvement in the Fitzgibbon Cup and Sunday’s National Hurling League opener at home to Carlow. The breakthrough player at senior level during Donal Moloney and Gerry O’Connor’s time in the helm is quick to acknowledge how respective managers Jamie Wall and Brian Lohan have done their best to keep players fresh. Ryan told The Clare Echo, “The managers are excellent with us, there is no sense of burnout on my part, you’re feel-
l GEARED UP: Diarmuid Ryan Photo by Martin Connolly
ing fresh going to training and the boys are so understandable, if you have a match - they will let you nip away if you have a match and you might not have to do the running at the end of a session. That means a lot to us because when we go to a session we’re giving it everything because we might not be able to do the full session.” For Mary I he was dominant at centre back while with the Clare seniors Diarmuid is being used in the half-forward line. So far as county is concerned, he hasn’t been given a clear indication as to which part of the field he’ll be located in. “The year before I was in the backs, last year I was in the forwards. It just depends on what way lads are going, you might have one lad taking another position in the forwards, the best fifteen will get the jerseys and it’s up to the lads to come on and fill the position. As long as you’re getting game time you don’t care but the team winning is the main thing”. Often this versatility can lead
to a player missing out on the fifteen because they haven’t nailed down a particular spot but the Harty Cup winner with Ardscoil Rís is not complaining. “Sometimes you might have so many positions that they can’t pick one. To be honest I love playing whatever position I’m in whether it’s with Mary I or Clare, wherever they put me I will try do a job, if I can great and if I can’t I’m sure someone else will try and do the job for me”. There is excitement around the Clare set-up, Diarmuid says, with players itching to get into competitive action. “It’s a tough slog from November to the end of January, when the League comes the matches are coming thick and fast so you can’t rest on your laurels. Everyone loves that, when you have a two week break lads are annoyed because they want the match coming every week and I’m sure we’ll have a big test against Carlow as we will in the rest of the games”.
Cooney hopes to make mark
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GARY Cooney is juggling preparations for the beginning of the Allianz National Hurling League with Mary Immaculate College’s Fitzgibbon Cup run, writes Páraic McMahon. On Thursday, Mary I face Waterford Institute of Technology with the winner securing a home quarter-final while at the weekend, Gary is hopeful to get game-time as Clare welcome Carlow to Cusack Park. Now in his third year on the panel, Cooney has shown promise but has yet to become a regular member of the starting fifteen. His form on Sunday where he scored 2-03 from play for the college is sure to have increased his chances of being handed some extra responsibility during the course of the League. “You’d have some days where you get a few scores, I wasn’t great the last day so it’s good to get a few scores,” Gary said when reminded of his impressive scoring tally against LIT. Scheduling the two commitments around each other is a positive complaint and one made easier by the communication between Brian Lohan
and Jamie Wall, the O’Callaghans Mills attacker said. “The League is coming around quick, it’s one of those things where the League and Fitzgibbon clash and it’s hard to be training and playing matches everyday, you have to balance it and get a few runs in the League to try and impress”. “It is difficult to mange the two, both managements are understanding, they know what the workload is and try to be as fair as possible with you, if you’re playing a match you don’t train the day before which is good so I hope the same is happening for every other county as well”. Cooney is in the final year of his studies at Mary I and is grateful to have learned under Jamie Wall during his time playing Fitzgibbon. “This is my fourth year with Jamie, he is an inspirational guy is what he is, he knows an awful lot about hurling, he was very good when he was playing himself. He has a good knowledge, goes to so many games, he nearly knows everyone playing for us and with the opposite team, it’s good to have a manager like that, the boys that are with him are serious as well”.
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LEAGUE VERDICT
Clock against Clare to develop spine of team CLARE V CARLOW
Sun, 2pm, Cusack Park
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FTER A tumultuous off-season for Clare, we are now able to look forward to the year’s hurling. Brian Lohan cast a wide net for the Munster League campaign which saw Clare face off against Tipperary and Limerick. There were many new faces tried in training and Munster League games and the Clare public will be hoping that Brian and his management team can unearth some new talent in the county. It is hard to read too much into those games and they do not give us a real indication as to how Clare will set out their stall this year. If there was anything that we could deduce from the games though, it would be that Brian seems to be targeting a more physical and direct approach to the game. Clare’s half forward line featured several physically imposing players with the like of Niall Deasy, Aron Shanagher, Diarmuid Ryan and Colin Guilfoyle all tried out. Clare will need some of these players to step up to the mark after the huge loss of Peter Duggan. Peter has arguably been Clare’s best hurler over the last three years and was a constant threat under puck outs while always contributing hugely on the scoreboard. Now that Peter will be missing this year’s campaign, Lohan will need to find other players to fill that void. The change in the hurling league format for the current year sees Clare start the campaign at home to Carlow. They will also face off against Laois, Wexford, Kilkenny and Dublin. This structure may give managers more opportunity to experiment than in previous
years. New management will have to balance experimenting to find new players and building a team which is settled. As such it will be notable who Brian selects through the spine of the team. He will try to keep the spine constant as much as possible and build around that. Having had a late start to his time in charge of the team he will need to establish all of this in a shorter period than he would have hoped. As a result, it was extremely surprising to see that there was talk at county board level of playing club championship in April this year. Rounds of club championship at this time of the year could have a disruptive effect on our county team’s preparations. When I was involved in the county setup, the idea of club games being played while the county team was preparing for Munster championship would not have been entertained by the management and as such, the issue was never raised. The county board and our clubs should get behind Brian and our county team and give them every opportunity to have the best preparation for this year’s Munster Championship. The idea of a split championship does not do the club players any favours either. In Clare, I believe we have stumbled upon a really good format for our club championship. As a club player, it is very hard to prepare oneself and be at peak fitness for championship in April, then take a break of four months only to peak again, August through to October. Of course, the GAA needs to do more for the club player but I do not believe that a club month in April is the best approach. Most inter-county sides view this month as critical
in their team’s preparations for the championship. As a result, April is often used for training camps and the demands of the county side are high. This leads to very restricted access of clubs to their county players and is not a meaningful club month. If the GAA are really looking for solutions to the issues which face clubs today, they need to shorten the inter-county season. The inter-county game is our organisation’s flagship competition, but the club game is its lifeblood. The inter-county season should be shortened to a maximum of seven months of the year with All Ireland finals being played in July. This would allow clubs to develop a fixture list which is set in stone and allows players to plan around it. You could also guarantee that the club game would be played on good pitches in good conditions and this would lead to a higher quality product. For now though Clare have to focus on their opening game against Carlow at home. Carlow at this time of year will be a formidable opponent and no walkover for the lads. They play a defensive game and look to pack the defence. As a result, their forwards can sometimes be left isolated. If Clare can keep their discipline and not concede frees it will make it very hard for Carlow to score. On the other end Clare will need to use the ball well. When trying to pick apart the crowded defence that Carlow will likely set up with, it will be down to Clare to use the ball well and deliver a good quality ball to our forwards. Clare will be looking to get off to a good start and get a win at home. I expect that they will win and hopefully start the year off on a positive note.
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CLARE’S NFL FIXTURE LIST Rnd1: Clare v Carlow on 26/01/20 in Cusack Park, Ennis Rnd2: Clare v Wexford on 02/02/20 in Wexford Park Rnd3: Clare v Laois on 16/02/20 in Cusack Park Rnd4: Clare v Kilkenny on 23/02/20 in Nowlan Park Rnd5: Clare v Dublin on 01/03/20 in Cusack Park *all throw in at 14:00
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l READY TO GO: Grainne Nolan and Ellie O’Gorman Photo by Gerard O’Neill
PÁRAIC MCMAHON paraic@clareecho.ie
CLARE V ARMAGH
Sunday, 2pm, Doonbeg NFL Division 2 (Round 1)
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LARE’S newly appointed ladies football captain will be playing with extra self-belief this year off the back of a breakthrough season for her club. Ellie O’Gorman has just three medals in her possession from over a decade’s action with her native Kilmihil, the latest addition to the collection being the sweetest of all following their senior championship success in 2019. “You think you’re putting in all
this work the last nine or ten years and you’ve no reward but then when it comes and you see what the reward does for the parish it drives you on that extra little bit, it gives you an extra bit of belief that it can be done,” she said of trying to emulate the club success at county level. Whether her clubmate Ailish Considine will return to the panel come championship is “unknown”. “Their season ends in May or June so hopefully we can make contact with Ailish and try get her back, it’s always a plus to have experienced players like Ailish on the panel”. Since September, the maths teacher has been based at Claregalway having spent the previous three years in the capital. Being closer to home is “more ideal for football” but also brings with a big transition to her working
life. “They are different types of schools, same size of schools, the school I’m currently in is a big GAA school, big into their hurling, ladies football, camogie and handball so that keeps me busy. It is ideal being so much closer to home for football and other commitments”. With Laurie Ryan taking an extended break from the panel due to PhD studies and concussion, it left manager James Murrihy with the task of appointing captain, where he opted to go with another defender. “I was shocked and surprised, it was a massive honour. He had said Laurie had other commitments this year and she might be taking a step back and the fact Kilmihil achieved so well this year he felt it was the way to go. I was delighted, I didn’t realise that I am one of the
Kilmihil ace Ellie eyes up county success
older girls, I’m only twenty five but our panel is quite young. It took me by surprise but when I thought about it, it was a massive deal and I was delighted to accept it,” O’Gorman commented of becoming the skipper. Additional duties have not led a change in her approach. “I’d like to think I’m doing things the same, it would be in the back of your mind that you might have to be that little bit more organised and keep girls on their toes, it does stay in the back of your mind that you’re one of the leaders on the team, you have to be setting a good example everytime you come to training and doing what you’re supposed to be doing outside of training whether it’s eating right, going to the gym, running and recovery”. A key part of her preparation also includes making sure her two
beloved cocker spaniels, Bally and Cassy are catered for whenever she is off training or playing games. “The dogs go from post to pillar these days between Clarinbridge and Kilmihil, they have their fair share of holiday making in homes, they’re used to going in the car all over the country at this stage”. “They take first priority when it comes to matches and seeing who is going to organise them,” Ellie told The Clare Echo. “My life sounds very exciting with the two dogs, they bring you to places you wouldn’t have been before with walks and stuff. The fact that they do have to be walked is good because it allows you to switch off, I would have never been a person for walking before the dogs, it does give you the opportunity to switch off ”.
League holds extra importance
NO MUNSTER Intermediate Championship in 2020 means Clare’s ladies footballers are putting extra emphasis on their league bid which kicks off on Sunday. Enda O’Halloran is in his second year as a selector to James Murrihy, he pointed out that their work to date has been pointing to Sunday. “We kicked off in early November and got a block of work done before Christmas, the girls had a few days off before Christmas and now it’s time to knuckle down, we’ve had a few good challenge games and it’s all geared towards [Sunday]”. “There is no Munster championship so it’s important we gather a bit of momentum
and get points on the board to try get in the shake up of it, this year there is no semi-final which I think is unfortunate because it is a straight final, there is extra pressure there and the demand is higher to win as many games as you can to get into that top two positions,” the insurance broker with Campion Insurance commented. Manager of the Kilmihil men’s team that won the Clare IFC in 2017, he has been involved with teams since retiring from gaelic football following their 2012 final defeat to O’Currys. He confirmed that ex-Irish soccer underage international, Chloe Moloney is one of the new additions to their panel while
Áine Kelly has retired with Sarah Bohannon heading overseas. Performances in the club championship also determined who else received the call up. Of the need to keep adding youth, Enda stated “It is hugely important, they won the minor a couple of years back which is backboning the intermediate team at the minute, a lot of the panel from then are with us now, the constant roll over is hugely important”. Last year’s captain Laurie Ryan is not back with the panel as of yet. Management have no timeframe as to when the Banner defender may return. “The ball is in our court at the moment, we obviously want her to
come back, she is a big part of what we’re trying to do but she will come back when she is ready and has less pressure with college”. A father of two, Enda usually brings his daughter and son to training and matches. Subsequently he has seen how much his daughter Katie looks up to members of the panel. “She’s 13 so she is on the bus with us most days, she plays with Kilmihil and the small lad comes more forcefully every so often. It’s great for her to get the inside line on the expectations of what is involved at that level, it’s no harm for her to see what’s required if she wants to go down that road, she’s learning every day and taking it all in”.
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Scariff girls are ‘working like dogs’ PÁRAIC MCMAHON paraic@clareecho.ie
Scariff Ogonnelloe v Slaughtneil All Ireland club semi-final Sunday, 2pm, Ashbourne, Co Meath
SCARIFF/OGONNELLOE have had the dream campaign from winning their first county senior championship to matching it with a provincial equivalent, sixty minutes on Sunday will decide if they can progress to the All-Ireland final. Their base of supporters has built with every milestone reached, signs are decked out across the two parishes. “It’s a nice place
to be, I don’t feel any pressure, the lads try keep distance from us and the talk that is going on. It adds a little bit of expectation but it’s a nice expectation but we’ve brought such happiness so we know it’s all good and that everyone is behind us,” captain Mairead Scanlan told The Clare Echo. “We’re mad for road, training has been going unreal, everyone is excited, there is a real buzz there. Everyone is so relaxed, people are working really hard and really want to be on the team, everyone is pushing everyone, we know what’s at stake. Getting to an All-Ireland final would be absolutely class and something we wouldn’t have thought of, we’re going all out to get there”. At centre forward, the Limerick-based accountant has been to the fore in the East Clare’s side run to the last four in Ireland.
TALKING POINTS: LADIES FOOTBALL Ex Republic of Ireland underage international, Chloe Moloney has been added to the panel, her father, Aiden ‘Horse’ Moloney won a Munster championship with the Clare footballers in 1992. Of the eight teams in Division 2, five are senior sides. 2009 All-Ireland intermediate medallist Áine Kelly has retired meaning the last link to the squad is gone. Kilmihil duo Becky Mahon and Laura Egan have returned to the Clare squad. Former Clare senior footballer and selector to Mick O’Dwyer and Colm Collins, Ger Keane is coach of the side this year. Conor Shannon, a Clare IFC winner with St Breckans is the squad’s sports scientist while selector Enda O’Halloran was in charge of the Kilmihil side that won the competition in 2017. Irish hockey international, Naomi Carroll is back from a cruciate ligament injury and will be hoping to line out with her county during the League. Six members of the starting team from the 2016 All-Ireland final loss to Kildare are part of the Clare squad in 2019.
On Sunday in Co Meath, they face their biggest test yet in the guise of three in-a-row All-Ireland champions, Slaughtneil. “We’re expecting a massive battle, they are going for four in a row, to win three in a row they obviously have serious hunger and desire. We know they play a running game with real intensity, they are a small parish so they’re really tight, we’ve done a little bit of work in training on their game”. Mairead referenced their workate as being key to causing an upset at the weekend. “We’ve a serious set of backs but the forwards are working like backs, we’re not thinking about results or who scores, everyone works super hard for every ball which makes us a very hard team to beat, we know the skill is there. The workrate is nearly contagious, everyone is talking about it and we
feel we’re living up to our reputation, girls are working like dogs in training, there is never a lull at this stage”. She was a regular in the county side in the year gone but Scanlan admitted it is unlikely she will return to Ger O’Connell’s Clare panel when their club run comes to an end. For now, focus is fully on the weekend ahead where they will bring with them a huge East Clare backing. “I’m a bit more insulated from the buildup because I’m living in Limerick, I’d be more relaxed than some girls living at home. We’re urging everyone to go, the date has been set for a while and with very little happening sporting-wise in January I think people are mad for a match, we’re hoping that everyone that can travel will travel, we’re really feeling the support from clubs within the county”.
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Connolly sink last year’s finalists PÁRAIC MCMAHON paraic@clareecho.ie
Connolly Celtic 3 Newmarket Celtic B 1 McDonagh Memorial Park
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ONNOLLY Celtic staged a dramatic comeback to send last year’s beaten Clare Cup finalists Newmarket Celtic B out of the competition. It’s the beauty of the Cup that teams in the bottom division can have their day in the sun and although temperatures were close to freezing, Connolly Celtic’s second round win over Newmarket Celtic B was just that. Last year, it was Newmarket Celtic B that put together a memorable cup campaign as they reached the final teeing up a historic clash with Newmarket Celtic A. Six members from the B team that appeared in that 3-0 defeat lined out on Sunday. Last year’s manager Mark O’Malley and assistant Kieran Ryan have stepped up to the A team and brought with them Alan Kelly and Ronan McCormack who
were they key men in leading them to the Cup decider. Such a run would be the dream for Connolly Celtic, Aidan Kennedy put in a wonderful second half display, his pace proved to be a nightmare for his opponents but was crucial to them coming out of Newmarket-on-Fergus with their place in the third round. Ronan McAuley put the hosts in front with the game a mere six minutes old. His volley left Kieran Dillon with no chance, the winger was quickest to react to a breaking ball in the danger area. Of the two sides, they looked the more likely to add another goal, but strong defending and poor finishing ensured this didn’t happen. Goalkeeper Kieran Dillon was tested when a chip from Jamie Cronin was just about held in his hands to leave the score at 1-0 as the half-time whistle sounded. A different Connolly side emerged on the restart and from the get-go began causing problems. Aidan Kennedy tested Brian Tierney on 48 minutes, it was a sign of what was to come with the former Clare Youths player light-
ing up the second half. On the hour, they equalised with a through ball putting Kennedy past the Newmarket defence, he rounded Tierney before slotting the ball home. At the other end, Dillon pushed a Martin Mulqueen free over the crossbar in what was their best opportunity of the half. Inside the final ten minutes, Connolly nudged in front. Having defected from the Clare senior hurling panel, Mikey O’Neill has lined out for Connolly for the last two weekends. He was brought down inside the box and the resulting penalty was converted by Eoin Fitzgerald on 83 minutes. Any hope of Newmarket grabbing an equaliser were dashed when Kennedy’s pace once again saw him leave the opposing defence for dead before putting the ball past Tierney and sealing their place in the next round. Elsewhere in the Banner Carpets and Flooring Clare Cup second round, Shannon Olympic had too much for Moher Celtic B (4-1), Inch Crusaders held off the challenge of Hermitage A (3-2), Bridge Utd B saw past Rhine Rovers (2-1)
while Bunratty Cratloe edged out Rineanna Rovers (2-1). As expected Shannon Town A had the bragging rights when they met Shannon Town C. A Colin Scanlan hat-trick and a Gary O’Connell double along with goals from Kai Khetan, Rob Wall and Chris Dunning saw them stroll to an 8-0 win. Newmarket Celtic A received a walkover from Hermitage B in the first round while the clashes of Bridge Utd A versus Kilkishen Celtic and Tulla Utd against Lifford A were postponed. Second round fixtures involving Mountshannon Celtic and Lifford B were called off as was Turnpike Rovers against Shannon Town B.
l MADE THE DIFFERENCE: Aidan Kennedy was the star for Connolly Celtic Photo by Oliver Fitzpatrick
Connolly Celtic: Kieran Dillon, Cathal Fitzgerald, Colm McGann, Brian Connor, Noel Casey, Brendan Dillon, Mikey Pyne, Ken Kennedy, Aidan Kennedy, Kevin Tubridy, Mikey O’Neill. Subs: Stephen Moloney for Pyne, Paraic McNamara for B Dillon, Eoin Fitzgerald for Tubridy. Newmarket Celtic B: Brian Tierney; Jamie Cronin, Liam Harkin, Brendan Harkin, Gearoid O’Connell, Eoin Kelly, Jason O’Neill, Gavin O’Donnell, Kieran Eyers, Martin Mulqueen, Ronan McAuley. Subs: Conor McCarthy for O’Connell, Cian Foley for Harkin, Lee Cronin for McAuley. Referee: Dylan Shannon
Sweet success for Allowdale Shelley Your
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HE did it the hard way which made Allowdale Shelley’s January win in Tralee all the sweeter. Off the track controversy heightened the interest in the final of 525 sweepstake ON3 class. Following her semi-final win, Shelley was thrown out as her qualifying time had improved by more than 1.2 seconds with her unbeaten run extended. An appeal was soon launched and it was found that a mistake was made in eliminating the bitch. Subsequently, she was allowed race in the final where she started from trap one. Ardrahan Justice applied the
pressure early on the back straight but lost momentum approaching the third bend leaving Shelley four lengths ahead of Brindle Beauty. A strong finishing thrust from Beauty wasn’t enough to get ahead of Allowdale Shelley who was first home in a time of 28.85 and got to clinch the €2,200 prize. Allowdale Shelley is owned by a syndicate comprised of Clare men, Gary Pepper (Feakle), Tommy Hegarty (Clarecastle) and Seanie McMahon (Newmarket-on-Fergus). She had been trained by Kerry based Áine McCarthy for the final.
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Flannan’s crowned All Ireland champs Ballymakenny College Drogheda: 43 St Flannan’s College Ennis: 53
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T FLANNAN’S College put in a stunning second half display performance at the National Basketball Arena in Tallaght on Tuesday to help drive home to a memorable All Ireland U19 C Boys Schools Cup title. A massive team performance in the third and fourth quarters from the Ennis school was the foundation for victory, as they bounced back from a tough second quarter to outscore Ballymakenny College 18-12 in the third, and a huge defensive display in the fourth quarter saw them hold the Drogheda school to just five points, to win out 43-53. There were stars all over the court for the Clare side, including an MVP display from Kevin Nugent, while Aodhan O’Shea, Conor Kelleher and Cian Roughan were all stand out performers throughout the second half. A close and cagey affair captured the first quarter with Conor Kelleher getting St Flannan’s off the mark early, before a big three from Kingsley Akinbode settled Ballymakenny. Akinbode was to the fore for the Louth school throughout the period, and despite a massive 10-point quarter from Kelleher at the other end, it was Ballymakenny who were edging ahead as the quarter ticked
down. A huge three pointer from Nugent though just before the buzzer tied the game up at 17 points apiece. Ballymakenny had the better second quarter period, as they edged ahead with just over three minutes to go behind big scoring from Tony Bonki Ilonky, Akinbode and Nathan Parris. Good work from St Flannan’s Luke Fitzsimons and a massive three pointer from Colm Kearney though kept the Clare school right in the mix, and they trailed by just three points at the half, 26-23. The opening five minutes of the third quarter remained nip and tuck, with Parriss and Akinbode bagging some super scores for Ballymakenny with Akinbode again knocking down two big threes – but St Flannan’s had a reply at every turn, with Aodhan O’Shea and Cian Roughan leading the charge, the latter replying with a big three pointer. Akinbode continued to dominate for Ballymakenny, but as the clock wound down, St Flannan’s picked up their defensive intensity and ran some superb offensive plays to scores from O’Shea, James Gorman and a big three from Nugent edged St Flannan’s in front, 38-41 going into the last. Momentum stayed with Flannan’s in the final quarter, with Kelleher and O’Shea leading the scoring. Despite good work from Bonki Ilonky and Akinbode, Ballymakenny
Swimmers on form
A TEAM of 60 swimmers from Ennis Swimming and Life-saving Club travelled to the University of Limerick for the first big gala of the long course season last weekend. Swimmers also had their first opportunity to gain qualifying times for upcoming national competitions. Fourteen year old Leo Liu was one of the stars of day coming fourth in the 400IM and 200 free, later adding a bronze medal in the 50 backstroke in a time of 33.59 a silver medal in the 200 backstroke in 2:30.88 and bronze medal in the 100 back in a new personal best time of 1:10.57. John Tuohy (also 14) swam the tough 1500 freestyle event gaining a bronze medal for his 20 minute swim. Twelve year old Graham Ball was fourth in the 50 backstroke and 200 freestyle he then added a gold medal in the 100 butterfly, dropping almost three seconds off his entry time in 1.24.17. Tadhg Conway (also 12) picked up a bronze in the 50 backstroke in a personal best time of 38.81, and a 4th place finish in the 200 backstroke. Leanna Liddane was in inspiring form, bringing home two medals and a fourth place despite a shoulder injury that hit her in the 50 butterfly mid race. On Saturday she won the 400 freestyle in a 5 second personal best, then narrowly missed a medal in the 50 butterfly. She came back on Sunday securing a silver medal in the 50 freestyle in 29.83.
Pyne, Stephan Wang, Ferdia Hayes, Rhys Flynn, Poitr Mazurek, Kate Moran, Sabian Kulczynski, Sean McGrath, Ronan Kilroy & Graham Ball. Division 1 Leanna Liddane, Leo Liu, Dylan O’Brien, Sergei Pantic, John Tuohy and Darragh Ball.
A number of Ennis swimmers qualified for the Division 1 and 2 nationals. Division 2: Elin (clockwise from top) Graham Bell, Tadg Blake, John Blake, Aoibh Blake, Ella Holly. Sean Conway, Leo Liu, John Touhy and Leanna O’Connor, Oisín O’Grady, Sam Purcell, Cian Liddane
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l TOP MAN: St Flannan’s captain
Kevin Nugent celebrates his MVP award Photo by Brendan Moran / Sportsfile
were held to just five points in the quarter, as Kelleher, O’Shea and Nugent dominated the closing minutes to see St Flannan’s become All-Ireland champions. Speaking following the win, St Flannan’s coach Darren Scully said he always believed the players were talented enough to taste success at this level. “Go back to the start of the year I thought we had a chance, after the first game I thought we had a chance and you keep thinking you have a chance then all of a sudden you’re hear fearing the worst but then everything works out, this is unreal. I’ve won stuff in other sports but this is one of my favourite wins, I’ve never won anything as a coach this is unbelievable”.
Scully who is from Nenagh is confident their exploits will boost the popularity of basketball in Clare. “It’s great, it’s really going to build the popularity of basketball in Clare. It puts a bit of pressure on us to come out next year with another good team, the lads have been working really well, they helped me and I think I helped them a little bit, it’s been wonderful and I’m delighted for the lads because they deserve it”. ST FLANNAN’S COLLEGE: Cathal Hastings, Aodhan O’Shea (12), Luke Fitzsimons (2), Cian Roughan (5), Kevin Moloney (3), Adam Deegan, Kevin Nugent (12), Conor Faulkner, Conor Kelleher (14), Ben Cosgrove, James Gorman (2), Colm Kearney (3). MVP: Kevin Nugent (St Flannan’s College)
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KILRUSH GOLF CLUB Jan 13 / Jan 19 KGC Men’s Singles 1 Tony McMahon (16) 30 pts Jan 15 Senior Men Scramble 1 John McGrath, Michael McNamara,Michael Hogan,John Stapleton 87 2 Pat Shannon Ksh, Noel Thornton, Pat Shannon Cny, Matt Fitzpatrick 86.5 3 Tony McMahon, Seamus O’Doherty, Sean Moran, John McNelis 86 Dec 19 Captains’ Drive In Scramble 1 D O’Donovan, TJ Lyons, Pat Mulcahy, Marie Bartlett 34.08 2 Mary O’Sullivan, D Nagle, Bill O’Reilly, G Nolan 35.17 3 Loretta Maher, PW Glynn, Tom McGrath, Ml Shannon 35.58 4 Sean Moran, Ger Brennan, J O’Malley, MG Nolan 36.08
Ladies Wednesday Winners Breda McCarthy, Joan Kinsella, Connie McKenna Friday Scramble Terry Coughlan, Jim Bradley,Connie McKenna ENNIS GOLF CLUB Gent’s 4 Ball B/B(9/10hdc) 14 Holes Sun. 12th January 2020 1ST Ml Kearney(8) & Fergus O’ Brien(16) 38pts 2ND Liam Pyne(6) & Eamonn Kelly(21) 37pts 3RD Seamus Mann(20) & John Mc Carthy(17) 35pts
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‘Clare are favourites to go down every year’ PÁRAIC MCMAHON paraic@clareecho.ie
NFL DIVISION 2
O
F ALL the present gaelic football managers in the country, Colm Collins is the second longest serving of them all. Only Mickey Harte has been in the position longer, the Tyrone man has been in situ since 2003, winning three All-Ireland titles, five Ulster titles, one National League and nine Dr McKenna Cups during that period. Colm for his part has guided Clare from the basement tier in the Allianz National Football League to Division Two while a one point loss to Meath in July prevented them from making the Super 8s for the first time. 2020’s League campaign on the outset appears to be his toughest test as Clare will be without the greatest player of this generation, Gary Brennan, All-Star nominee Jamie Malone, midfielder Sean O’Donoghue and centre back Aaron Fitzgerald. Éire Óg’s Eimhin Courtney and Conor Finucane of Lissycasey have also opted against returning to the panel. His seventh campaign com-
mences on Sunday as they travel to Cusack Park in Mullingar. He has been around the senior set up since 2014 but as he chats with The Clare Echo shortly after 08:15 on Sunday morning in Caherlohan, Colm remains as cheerful as ever. “There is great energy around the place, the players are a pleasure to deal with, they are very driven and very professional. You can see now they are all here at quarter past eight on a Sunday morning, looking forward to it and getting the most we can out of this group”. Talk of those who have gone is of little interest to the Kilmihil native when asked will this league run be his toughest so far. “We’ve gained players as well, on the face of it there are a couple of players gone but there are also players we didn’t have last year when we played Meath so it’s not too bad. We lost some players but that was balanced out I think by the players we got back. We hadn’t Keelan Sexton, Ciaran Russell or Pearse Lillis against Meath, we have them now so it’s good”. “Facts are that every year when we start Division 2 we’re favourites to go down, we’ve confounded that so far so I don’t see any difference this year. We’ll be well prepared, we’ll take each game as
it comes and get the most of what we can from each one”. “I wouldn’t say that,” is his response when asked if Clare’s main target is to retain their Division 2 status. “The way I’d be looking at the whole thing would be that we take each game as it comes and get the most we can out of each game. I don’t think you can approach it in any other way, it is a very competitive league, the way we’ve always looked at it is that way, we’re trying to get the most out of each game and that’s the way we do it, I don’t think you can do it any other way”. Collins is hopeful new panellists will continue to improve but maintained their primary objective has to be forming a strong squad. “You’ve got to get to a point where you have twenty one to twenty six competitive players that can give you an option to improve things on the day so hopefully we will get that”. Seven years have passed since the Cratloe clubman first walked the senior sideline. He has not felt the need to change his management style during this time. “The most important thing in any walk of life is to be true to yourself. You are what you are and you’ve got to be like that to players. That is the way it is, so far so good”.
l UPSETTING THE ODDS: Manager Colm Collins Photo by John Mangan
Russell raring to go
ON AND off the pitch, Ciarán Russell has had an eventful few months. As several key men exited the Clare senior football panel, manager Colm Collins made an approach to the Dublin based Garda as plans of him making a return to the squad for the second time were put in place. More significantly in his life, Ciarán and his partner Amy welcomed the arrival of their first child together, Rían prior to Christmas. “There are five of us in Dublin at the minute, we can travel down together but with me being on shift work I’ve to do a lot of the commute myself up and down. It’s difficult but there are inter-county players all over doing it...it’s something you get used to,” he told The Clare Echo. This time on the road has been made easier by the fact Amy and Rían often stay in Ennis when Clare are training over the weekend. “I’m lucky enough that Rían can come to Dublin and Ennis, I’ve plenty of time to spend with him”. Despite being a new parent, Ciarán admitted his sleep pattern is not overly affected. “I don’t think my sleep pattern was ever great because of the shift work. The only benefit is I’m up early for training like this morning, I was up well on time, normally I’d be trying to pull myself out of the bed for training whereas this morning I was already up and ready to go.” First added to the panel in 2014, he opted out in 2016 and 2018. The words of manager Colm Collins were key in getting the ex Element Six employee on board, “I met with Colm, we had a chat and I realised it was something I wanted to get back into”. Playing his club football with Kilmacud Crokes last year has him primed to acclimatise back to inter-county life. “The championship up there is competitive...first year in you were trying to get to know lads and then you’re playing with or against lads that have four or five All-Irelands, there is a good standard there but nothing that playing inter-county for the last four or five years wouldn’t have you prepared for”. He is set to return to his native Éire Óg for this year's championship. He may have been away from the squad since 2017 but Russell is now viewed as one of the more senior figures in the dressing room. “I’ve been impressed getting to know some of the younger lads, a lot of them are fairly mature for their age and well able to play football, they can handle themselves but at the same time I do have a broad range of experience so if anyone does need it I’m there to give them a hand out”.
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GAA brotherhood packs bigger punch than boxing for Sexton
K
EELAN Sexton was away for Clare’s championship run in 2019 but it’s as if he was never gone, such is the ease at which he has assimilated back into the squad, writes Páraic McMahon. On completion of his interview with The Clare Echo, Sexton is put through his paces not on the pitch but posing for photographs. One such example takes place in the gym of Caherlohan where Kevin Harnett is quick to joke “this is the first time I’ve seen you in here Keelan” while prior to the interview Colm Collins issued a piece of advice, “your biggest problem will be getting him to stop talking”. That’s the way it has been with the Kilmurry Ibrickane attacker ever since he has been on the panel, capable of taking a slagging but well able to dish it out too. He had the distinction of playing minor, U21 and senior for Clare all in the one year when initially bursting onto the scene. Gaelic football is not the only sport at which Sexton has excelled. On the soccer front, he was a star man for Moneypoint AFC with League of Ireland side Bohemians expressing an interest in him, he also played underage hurling with Inagh/Kilnamona and county development squads. But it is the boxing ring that he really made an impression. That comes as no surprise as like gaelic football, boxing is in his blood. Martin Burke, his grandfather boxed in London during the ‘60s and ‘70s. In his youth, Keelan won five national titles and represented Ireland in Europe and internationally. Having companions in the dressing room that he will go to war alongside with him but who he will also make bits of when it comes to slagging is one of the reasons why Sexton has opted to focus on gaelic football. “I was lucky enough to have success underage, boxed for Ireland a couple of
times in a couple of Europeans, it was a good platform for me sporting wise... I got to do a bit of travelling too. “When I hit 17 I was getting good at football and more people were asking me about it, Colm picked me young and pulled me in, I’ve been here since that age being in and a part of it. It’s a great asset to have, any sport that you do play growing up is a great foundation for your life and gives you life skills. There’s a great group of lads here, it’s like a brotherhood or a family as such, there’s always someone there to be chatting to, everyone is bubbling off each other, you’re playing for this group of people and that’s who you are representing, that is what drew me to the GAA over boxing, the whole collective whereas it’s more individual based in the boxing”. After playing the League last year, Keelan informed management of his wish to go to Boston on a J1. An opportunity he was very thankful to have. “It’s a great experience in your life and nice to live over there, I picked up a lot of things and came home to Kilmurry with the batteries recharged.” “I’m not going to say everyone should go in case everyone ups and leaves but I think it’s a great outlet that you can avail of. The great thing about the GAA is that it connects a lot of lads, people are absolutely invested in one thing which is football out there, you’re coming out and they’re welcoming you in as one of their own, it’s like a piece of home but just a bigger city and a bigger platform to look, learn and enjoy yourself. It was really enjoyable and I’d say if you were looking into it, do a bit of research and if it was the right time in your life definitely do it because I’m glad I did”. On successful completion of his final year exams in UL, he’ll start a training contract with global multinational law practice Eversheds Sutherland in Dublin. This and wishing
l MAGIC MOMENT: Sexton celebrates his crucial goal against Tipp last year Photo by Martin Connolly
Liverpool win the Premier League will be his aim over the coming months but for now the 22 year-old admitted he is adjusting to being seen as a more senior player in Collins’ set-up. “The good thing about our set-up is that it doesn’t matter if you’re in the door the first day or there ten years, Colm will always voice that it is player driven and that is what’s great about that structure. “If you see something or don’t understand it’s easy to ask or voice your opinion, you’re not trying to cut anyone you’re just trying to better the team. If you think you have a point to make, just make it and that is one of the things he always emphasises and it’s one of the great things about his managerial skills, he can get the young lads to do it and they blend in with the older lads”.
CLARE’S NFL FIXTURE LIST Rnd1: Clare v Westmeath on 26/01/20 in Cusack Park, Mullingar Rnd2: Clare v Kildare on 02/02/20 in Cusack Park, Ennis Rnd3: Clare v Roscommon on 09/02/20 in Dr Hyde Park Rnd4: Clare v Laois on 23/02/20 in Cusack Park Rnd5: Clare v Cavan on 01/03/20 in Breffni Park, Cavan Rnd6: Clare v Fermanagh on 15/03/20 in Cusack Park Rnd7: Clare v Armagh on 22/03/20 in Cusack Park
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Where do Clare go now Brennan is gone? 79% ASSISTS
MARTIN DALY SPEED
68%
WESTMEATH VS CLARE Sunday, 2pm, Mullingar
A 88%
NOTHER footballing year begins and we are faced with that same question; can our football team remain in Division ACCURACY 2? Since promotion in 2016, my answer has been the same… we have struggled and this year I feel will even be more difficult. However Colm Collins, his management team and of course the players have secured the results time and time OVERALL again to prove to me wrong. Yes, staying in Division 2 hasn’t been easy but they still find a way to get the results when it matters most. Clare’s battling qualities are second to none and they showed this in the 2019 Championship when just one score separated us from making the Super 8s. Why will this year be harder? There are four big factors, Gary Brennan, Jamie Malone, Aaron Fitzgerald and the Yank (Seán O’Donoghue). These key players, especially Gary and Jamie, have been a massive reason for our continuing ability to compete with the top teams. Their attacking runs, scoring prowess and fielding will be a palpable loss. My next question is can we replace them? From the Meath game last year we now have Keelan Sexton, Ciarán Russell and Pierce Lillis back (you could also include Dermot Coughlan who returned for that game and only played about 10 minutes).
61%
These are all very welcome additions and will be crucial components for the year ahead. We also have some new blood with the two standout youngsters being young Cillian Rouine and Emmet McMahon. Let’s break this down a bit more. In midfield until now we have had the powerful partnership of Gary and Cathal O’Connor, very seldom were they beaten. In the 2019 Championship the added presence of the Yank in the middle third freed up Gary to take up residence in full or centre forward which greatly strengthened our attacking line. Now what do we do? Firstly, let me say that most counties (let alone Clare) would struggle to replace Gary Brennan. It couldn’t be counted the number of games that he has played a huge part in dragging us over the line to get a result. In my view, it’s better he has become. Ciaran Russell will more than likely be given Gary’s role and he has a different way of playing; much more likely to plug the defence - which he does very well – but he won’t fill the gaping hole left by Gary’s fielding competitiveness. When our backs were to the wall against Westmeath last year, who did we land our last two kickouts on? Gary Brennan. Both won. Cathal had an excellent campaign last year and we will need another massive year from him. Ciaran has been playing his club football at a high level in Dublin so I’m not too worried about him being up to county pace. But I would worry that Pierce Lillis may be thrown into the thick of it at centre back. Aaron Fitzgerald has quietly gone about his business for the past few years and without taking the limelight has gotten better and better each year, making the number 6 jersey his own. Lillis has been out of the scene for over a year and I hope he’ll be up to the pace from the word go.
Up front Jamie is out. He is travelling, for the league at least. His running game has punished so many teams with both scores and getting taken down for frees. He’ll be a big loss. Eoin Cleary would be the first to admit his county campaign wasn’t up to his usually high standards last year. He looked like he’d lost a bit of his mojo. Let’s hope he has since found it because we need the Miltown man firing on all cylinders. Back from his American adventure is Keelan Sexton, who had a good club championship on his return. Keelan will bring plenty of energy and some experience too. He’s well able to score but at times shoots on sight, a flaw in his game which can be corrected. Dermot Coughlan on the other hand has maturity far beyond his years but has a habit of drifting in and out of games and again I hope to see more of him looking for the ball because when in his hands, he has all the skills to do the right thing with it. So Westmeath at the weekend! There are games in this campaign we need to win to have a chance of staying up and this is one of them. We scraped by them in the Championship and if I’m honest they missed a lot the same day to give us that win. They have good forwards and we will need to be tight at the back but I do believe our experience and ability to get results at this level will stand to us. A good start is crucial this year above any other year because it will bring confidence. Going out without a few big players will bring nerves and a seed of doubt so a win will sort out those problems - but a loss will make each game harder. Colm will have his troops well drilled and he’ll want to start his seventh year in charge on the right footing. And no better man to do so. Verdict: Clare win by 2 points
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PLANNING 45
THURSDAY, JAN 23 2020
PLANNING CLARE COUNTY COUNCIL BALLYSALLAGH, DOOLIN, CO. CLARE.
Take notice that Shane O’Dea intends to apply for permission to build a new dwelling house to replace the existing derelict ruin, install a waste treatment system, improve the entrance onto the public road and all associated site and ancillary works at the above address. The planning application may be inspected or purchased at a fee not exceeding the reasonable cost of making a copy, at the offices of the planning authority, during its public opening hours. A submission or observation in relation to the application may be made in writing to the authority on payment of the prescribed fee of €20.00, within the period of 5 weeks beginning on the date of receipt by the authority of the application.
CLARE COUNTY COUNCIL LISDOONVARNA POST OFFICE, MAIN STREET, LISDOONVARNA, CO. CLARE , V95 PP82
Take notice that Maria Murray intends to apply for permission to retain the change of use from Pharmacy to Post Office and all associated site and ancillary works at the above address. The planning application may be inspected or purchased at a fee not exceeding the reasonable cost of making a copy, at the offices of the planning authority, during its public opening hours. A submission or observation in relation to the application may be made in writing to the authority on payment of the prescribed fee of €20.00, within the period of 5 weeks beginning on the date of receipt by the authority of the application.
CLARE COUNTY COUNCIL 4 HILLCREST, DOUGH, LAHINCH, CO. CLARE, V95 Y9Y3
Take notice that Ailish Linnane intends to apply for permission to retain the change of use from Domestic Garage to additional Montessori School Area and all
associated site and ancillary works at the above address. The planning application may be inspected or purchased at a fee not exceeding the reasonable cost of making a copy, at the offices of the planning authority, during its public opening hours. A submission or observation in relation to the application may be made in writing to the authority on payment of the prescribed fee of €20.00, within the period of 5 weeks beginning on the date of receipt by the authority of the application.
CLARE COUNTY COUNCIL KOSTAS WOOTIS
Declan and Carmel Bracken intend to apply to Clare County Council for permission to construct a dwelling house with packaged wastewater treatment system and polishing filter, and associated ancillary works. The planning application may be inspected or purchased at a fee not exceeding the reasonable cost of making a copy at the offices of the Planning Authority during its public opening hours. A submission or observation in relation to the application may be made to the Authority in writing on payment of the prescribed fee within a period of five weeks beginning on the date of receipt by the Authority of the application.
CLARE COUNTY COUNCIL OLD CHURCH HILL HOUSE, CHURCH HILL, ENNISTYMON, CO. CLARE, V95 PT0H
Take notice that Martina and Patrick Nagle intend to apply for permission for change of use of the premises known as Mimi’s Hairdressers to an Air BnB unit at the above address. The planning application may be inspected or purchased at a fee not exceeding the reasonable cost of making a copy, at the offices of the planning authority, during its public opening hours. A submission or observation in relation to the application may be made in writing to
the authority on payment period of 5 weeks beginning of the prescribed fee of on the date of receipt by the €20.00, within the period authority of the application. of 5 weeks beginning on the date of receipt by the CLARE COUNTY authority of the application. COUNCIL
CLARE COUNTY COUNCIL LOONNAGARNAUN, DOONBEG, CO. CLARE
Take notice that Colm & Catherine Killeen are applying to Clare County Council for planning permission to construct a new dwelling house, private garage, entrance and sewerage treatment facilities along with all associated works at the above address The planning application may be inspected, or purchased at a fee not exceeding the reasonable cost of making a copy, at the offices of 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 KILRUSH HOUSE, FRANCES STREET, KILRUSH, CO. CLARE
CARROWNCALLA SOUTH, KILRUSH, CO. CLARE
Take notice that Martina Kenyon is applying to Clare County Council for (1) retention permission for the demolition of a derelict shed, (2) retention permission for the construction of the foundation, walls and associated works completed to date, and (3) planning permission to complete the construction of the proposed shed along with all associated works at the above address. The planning application may be inspected, or purchased at a fee not exceeding the reasonable cost of making a copy, at the offices of 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 KILCARROLL, Take note that Padraig & KILRUSH, CO. CLARE Julie Neylon are applying to Clare County Council for planning permission to install additional windows on the western elevation, to carry out alterations to the existing roof of the dwelling, install 2 number dormer windows on the front elevation & to reopen stone arches previously built up, install entrance gates along with all associated works at the above address. Kilrush House is a Protected Structure (RPS No. 859). 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
Take note that Patrick Keating is applying to Clare County Council for planning permission to demolish an existing farm shed and planning permission to construct a slatted house along with all associated works at the above address. The planning application may be inspected or purchased at a fee not exceeding the reasonable cost of making a copy at the offices of the Planning Authority of Clare County Council Planning Department, Áras Chontae an Chláir, New Road, Ennis, Co. Clare during its public opening hours. A submission or observation in relation to the application may be made to the authority in writing on payment of the prescribed fee of €20 within the period of 5 weeks beginning on the date of receipt by the authority of the application
CLARE COUNTY COUNCIL NO. 3 COLLEGE ROAD, ENNIS, CO. CLARE
Take notice that Brian Foudy & Associates – Architects & Chartered Engineers of Osprey House, Carmody Street, Ennis, Co. Clare 065 6893565 www. foudyconsulting.ie. Intend to apply to the planning authority on behalf of Sinead Slattery for permission to construct a new rear extension and alterations to existing dwelling house together with all associated site development works and services at the above address. The planning application may be inspected or purchased at a fee not exceeding the reasonable cost of making a copy at the offices of the planning authority during its public opening hours. A submission or observation in relation to the application may be made in writing to the planning authority on payment of the prescribed fee within the period of 5 weeks beginning on the date of receipt by the authority of the application
CLARE COUNTY COUNCIL CAHILLY, LISCANNOR, CO. CLARE
Take notice that Paul Conway Architects, Knockbrack, Ennistymon intend to apply to the Planning Authority of Clare County Council on behalf of Debbie Kelly for planning permission for development at Cahilly, Liscannor, Co Clare. The development will consist of changes to the approved Planning Permission P19385, being the deletion of the approved front extension, relocation of approved chimney and reconfiguration of approved windows, with alterations to site works and services. That the planning application may be inspected, or purchased at a fee not exceeding the reasonable cost of making a copy, at the offices of the planning authority during
CONTACT SALES
065 671 9021 sales@clareecho.ie
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
above address. The planning application may be inspected or purchased at a fee not exceeding the reasonable cost of making a copy at the offices of the planning authority during its public opening hours. A submission or observation in relation to the application CLARE COUNTY may be made in writing to COUNCIL the planning authority on GARRAN NA COILLE, payment of the prescribed CLAUREEN, ENNIS, fee within the period of CO. CLARE 5 weeks beginning on Take notice that Brian the date of receipt by the Foudy & Associates authority of the application. Chartered Consulting Engineers of Osprey House, CLARE COUNTY Carmody Street, Ennis, Co. COUNCIL Clare SHANACLOON, 065 6893565 www. ENNIS CO. CLARE foudyconsulting.ie. & Intend to apply to the LAHINCH ROAD, planning authority on ENNIS, CO. CLARE behalf of Pat & Mary Take notice that Brian Barry for (A) permission Foudy & Associates – consequent on the grant Architects & Chartered of outline permission Engineers of Osprey House, (Planning Ref 17/916) to Carmody Street, Ennis, Co. construct a dwelling house Clare (B) planning permission 065 6893565 www. to construct a domestic foudyconsulting.ie. garage including all Intend to apply to the associated site development planning authority on works and connections behalf of Valour Homes to public services at & Developments Ltd for the above address. The permission to (a) Demolish planning application may existing dwellinghouse, be inspected or purchased garage & sheds (b) Replace at a fee not exceeding the dwellinghouse with access reasonable cost of making onto Lahinch Road (c) a copy at the offices of the Construct 4 No. semiplanning authority during detached 2 storey dwelling its public opening hours. A houses with access via submission or observation existing entrance to the in relation to the application Shanacloon Estate together may be made in writing to with all associated site the planning authority on development works and payment of the prescribed connections to public fee within the period of services at the above 5 weeks beginning on address. the date of receipt by the The planning application authority of the application. may be inspected or purchased at a fee not CLARE COUNTY exceeding the reasonable COUNCIL cost of making a copy at 20 LISSANISKA, the offices of the planning LAHINCH ROAD, authority during its ENNIS, CO. CLARE public opening hours. A Take notice that Brian submission or observation Foudy & Associates - in relation to the application Architects & Chartered may be made in writing to Engineers of Osprey House, the planning authority on Carmody Street, Ennis, Co. payment of the prescribed Clare fee within the period of 065 6893565 www. 5 weeks beginning on foudyconsulting.ie. the date of receipt by the Intend to apply to the authority of the application planning authority on behalf of Declan Devitt for permission to retain rear shed together with all ancillary site development works and services at the
› Word › Best Daily Word Se… (http://puzzles.bestforpuzzles.com/category/word/)
Game (http://puzzles.bestforpuzzles.com)
46 PUZZLEPAGE
THURSDAY, JAN 23 2020
Best Daily Word Search
THIS WEEKS PUZZLES JAN 23 Best Daily Word Search: 17 January 2020
WORD SEARCH
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QUIZ 47
THURSDAY, JAN 23 2020
The Clare Echo Quiz
Timmy Dooley is a member of 2 which party? a. Fine Gael b. c.
Fianna Fail Labour Party
Which of the following 2020 gen3 eral election candidates does not belong to a party? a. b. c.
Trudy Leyden Rita McInerney Roisin Garvey
TD’s represent how many constit4 uencies in Ireland? a. 20 b. 30 c. 40
Eamon de Valera was first elected 5 as a TD in County Clare in which year? a. 1921 b. 1923 c. 1925
In what year was Clare granted 4 7 seats as a parliamentary constituency? a. 1948 b. 1969 c. 1981
Clare is historically a _______ 8 stronghold? a. Fianna Fail b. c.
Fine Gael Labour Party
Sile De Valera, a former TD, is the 9 _______ of Eamon de Valera? a. Niece b. Granddaughter c. Second Cousin
Mosajee Bhamjee was the first 10 _____ TD in County Clare? a. Hindu b. African c. Muslim
By Cian O’Broin
How many times in a row has Pat 6 Breen been voted in as a TD for County Clare?
l QUESTION 5 : Eamon de Valera was first elected as a TD in County Clare in
which year?
6. 1923 7. 1981 8. Fianna Fail 9. Granddaughter 10. Muslim
b. 2016 c. 2017
b. Four c. Six
ANSWERS 1. 2016 2. Fianna Fail 3. Trudy Leyden 4. 40 5. 1921
The last General election in Clare 1a. 2015 took place in what year?
a. Two
Spot the Difference Can you spot the difference? Spot the 7 differences. The answers will be revealed in next weeks edition.
Shannon Hibs v Tolka Rovers
Photograph by Joe Buckley
Last weeks Answers . Christmas Tree missing . Lies missing on the grass . Little red sign (missing) . Mans hat different colour
. Light pole missing (left) . Woman’s jacket different colour (left) . part of fence (left) different colour *apologies as this was difficult to see once printed