The Clare Echo 23/07/20

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JULY 23 2020

19/06/2020 12:46:27

‘BUNRATTY CLOSURE NOT AN OPTION’ Over 100 protest in Shannon PÁRAIC McMAHON

T

news@clareecho.ie

HE fight to keep Shannon Heritage sites open has intensified with the planned closing date of August 31st edging closer.

Speaking at a Dáil sitting yesterday, An Taoiseach Micheál Martin (FF) hinted that Shannon Heritage would benefit from the July Stimulus Package. Deputy Michael McNamara (IND) claimed “Shannon Group appear not to want Shannon Heritage”.

Management have said up to €4m is required to keep the sites open following a sharp decline in

l Photo by Joe Buckley

international visitors and a poor uptake in domestic tourists thus far. They plan to keep their Dublin attractions including Malahide Castle while Knappogue Castle and Craggaunowen remain shut with Bunratty Castle & Folk Park and King John’s Castle to close next month.

West of Ireland Tourism Matters is the slogan of a newly created action group comprised of local business operators that have stated “closing Bunratty is not an option”. Among its members include PJ Keogh of PK Travel, CEO of Renaissance Resorts, Emelyn Heaps, Maurice Walsh of Durty Nellys and transport operator, Eoin Gavin.

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2 NEWS

THURSDAY, JUL 23 2020

Index NEWS

2-12

ENTERTAINMENT

13

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17 20-22 23-43 28-29 47

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

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

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PLEASE SAVE OUR SHANNON HERITAGE

Email: ger.naughton@clareecho.ie or niall@clareecho.ie

O

l PASSION: Protesters wave signs and flags at the Save Shannon Heritage protest ver 100 people attended a protest on Monday demanding that Shannon Heritage sites in the Mid-West be kept open beyond August 31st, writes Páraic McMahon.

Traffic on the Shannon Airport approach road was blocked off for a brief spell on lunchtime on Monday as workers with Shannon Heritage operated sites were joined by political

figures including all four Clare TDs along with individuals involved in the hospitality, heritage, tourism and construction sectors.

Tuamgraney's Sean Kilkenny who last week took his horsedrawn carriage to the Dáil seeking insurance reform was part of the protest. Fr Harry Bohan was also among the supporters.

Shannon Group insist they require funding to the tune of €4m to keep the sites open

Photo by Joe Buckley

without the influx of international visitors.

Addressing the crowd, Dolores Broderick who works at Bunratty Castle & Folk Park spoke of the commitment given by employees over the past four decades. "There is a passion among staff for the sites we work at, a genuine love for the bricks and the mortar.

“It is unusual for any company in this modern world to have staff remain loyal for such a

long period of time, any company dealing with history and heritage needs continuity of staff to maintain its integrity".

"With such longevity comes knowledge, an intricate knowledge of the sites and what they truly are about, an in-depth knowledge of the customer and an intrinsic knowledge of the business, we're hear today to ask you to please listen," she stated.

FOR MORE SEE PG 4

Swiss company in talks with IDA about Avara investment PÁRAIC MCMAHON

paraic@clareecho.ie

A SWISS company is involved in talks with the IDA on the potential of investing in the Avara plant in Shannon after over 20 workers completed their service with the company in recent weeks.

It is over a year since The High Court ordered that Avara Pharmaceutical Services be wound down after it emerged the Shannon based company had losses of €9.5m with 115 people employed at the site.

United Metals came on board as an investor in January which guaranteed the short-term future of the site. Workers set up a company, Eirchem to finish out commitments made for the production of pharmaceutical products for their clients.

In recent weeks, a batch of workers believed to be 21 lost their jobs at Avara with 50 more positions anticipated to go by September. It is planned to keep 20 workers at the plant until October.

Clare TD, Cathal Crowe (FF) has confirmed to The Clare Echo that the IDA is now involved in talks with a Swiss company about the prospect of investing in the facil-

ity. Deputy Crowe has described the development as a potential lifeline.

He outlined, “The workers who are left at Avara have spent over a year now in constant worry for their jobs – many of them have spent decades working at this plant”.

Discussions are focusing on buying out operations, Crowe revealed.

“If this comes to fruition, it could be a lifeline for those jobs at the eleventh hour.

I welcome this news and will do what I can from my end, at a political level, to ensure that something positive comes from this and that these upcoming job losses are averted”.

l HOPE: The Avara plant in Shannon

Photo by Páraic McMahon

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4 NEWS

THURSDAY, JUL 23 2020

‘Huge compliance’ with new facemask regulations

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LARE business owners are now enforcing the mandatory wearing of face masks in all shops as of Monday July 20th, writes Cian O’Broin.

Taoiseach Micheál Martin has outlined that face coverings must be worn by retail staff unless there is a partition in place or a space of two metres between them and customers.

With the exception of very small children as well as some individuals with health conditions and disabilities, all customers are obligated to wear face masks when entering businesses.

It’s important that we all sing from the same hymn sheet and we will all be fine, tells Maeve Culligan of County Boutique in Ennis.

Since reopening on June 8th, County Boutique has recommended that customers wear a face covering and Maeve remarks a huge compliance from the Clare public since the government’s announcement on July 15th.

Maeve feels that the wearing of face coverings in drapery stores adds an extra element of safety and security, adding to the consistent steam cleaning that has been taking place in store. People feel safer and this is only a small price to pay, admits Maeve.

On the public’s response to the mandatory wearing of face masks, Maeve comments, “We are giving people masks to try on here and

it has made them feel much safer from the get-go.

“People have taken it on board, we are quite impressed. In fairness, I think a lot of older people would have been happy to wear masks.

“With regards to the younger generation, I have two daughters, 21 and 19, they are both wearing masks. They are very good. It’s important that all

the businesses stick to this, especially in light of a lot of tourists coming to Clare due to our low infection rate. We are a hot spot. It’s a lovely county and we have so much to offer here. For this reason, we have to be so careful.”

County Boutique stocks a range of face coverings in store, from cheap disposables to sustainable cotton masks.

lCOVERED UP: Meave Culligan of County Boutique wears a visor while she works

Photo by Cian O’Broin

Family frustrated by regulation flouting CIAN O’BROIN

cianobroin@clareecho.ie

A FAMILY who spent four months self-isolating have expressed their disappointment with the lack of distancing measures in place following their first outing last week.

Carrigaholt resident Tony Head had been isolating along with his wife Carole and stepdaughter for the last four months.

Carole suffers from a heart condition and so the couple say they have been lucky that isolation is natural in the small village of Carrigaholt.

Apprehensive at first, the family decided to set out for Lahinch on Tuesday last, having avoided seaside resorts like Kilkee over the lockdown due to what Tony described as subversive flouting of measures.

Tony noted a lack of clear signage and distancing measures at Lahinch and has called for a deeper respect to be shown towards other people in public. The extended family

set out for Lahinch with the guidelines and respect in mind, taking separate cars was the first port of call. Upon arriving, Tony noted his discomfort at three specific locations, with some restaurant workers failing to sanitise whilst handling food and others not wearing any facemasks.

The family soon sought to mitigate their discomfort after no clear signage meant that shops were overpopulated and a lack of crowd control and distancing sparked a great deal of worry for the fate of Covid-19, in Tony’s opinion.

He added, “There was a complete lack of any signage in Lahinch. Kilkee is brilliant in comparison. They have signs up that limit the number of people in shops. There were no restrictions at all in Lahinch, you could wander in and out.

“It’s important to respect other people.

Not everyone is fit and healthy. We spent 12 weeks isolating and I don’t think it’s fair that other people should be ignoring it. I would ask these people to respect others and their health and wellbeing.”

Hope offered for Hertiage PÁRAIC MCMAHON

C

paraic@clareecho.ie

OMMENTS from An Taoiseach Micheál Martin (inset) have provided hope that Shannon Heritage will receive Government support this week and subsequently allow Mid-West attractions to remain open beyond August 31st.

Multi-billion euro worth of supports are to be unveiled by the Government this week as part of the July Stimulus Package.

Speaking at a Dáil sitting on Wednesday, Clare TD Michael McNamara (IND) questioned the Taoiseach on what he and Government officials were doing with regard to Shannon Heritage and Shannon Group.

Martin outlined that the Stimulus Package is planned to be "of some assistance" to heritage sites including those operated by Shannon Heritage such as Bunratty Castle & Folk Park, Knappogue Castle and Craggaunowen.

Deputy McNamara asked, "Will we see legislation to move Shannon Heritage from a group which clearly doesn't want it anymore to a better home where it might be looked after and where the tourist potential of these sites will be exploited and not for the profit of the sites themselves but for the businesses around them, the small family owned businesses around them that are dependent on them". He also questioned if a new Board would be appointed to Shannon Group to "bring the strategic vision and direction necessary to this very important group to move forward".

"Detailed examination" would be required according to the Taoiseach to move Shannon Heritage "to a better home". The leader of Fianna Fáil also confirmed he would be sitting down with Minister for Transport, Eamon Ryan (GP) regarding the future of the Board of Shannon Group. "I do note that you are very concerned about its current operations in terms of the low level of activity, the

low level of employment and I would hope there might be opportunities arising out of the stimulus package that may be of interest and use to Shannon Heritage. I will speak to the Minister for Tourism in relation to the issues raised and in relation to the Minister for Transport in relation to the wider issues of Shannon Airport and on the appointment of the Board".

A spokesperson for Shannon Group told The Clare Echo, "Visitor numbers to Shannon Heritage's sites have been devastated by the Covid 19 Pandemic and have seen little sign of recovery in recent weeks. In this period, we have availed of all possible supports, including the wage subsidy scheme, to support our employees. We will continue to avail of this scheme and we have sought an additional support package from Government to cover the cost of keeping sites open". The support sought is to the tune of €4m.

Shannon Heritage workers criticised Shannon Group at a protest on Monday and even held a minute's silence to represent the silence they have received from officials. Sligo native, Dolores Broderick who works in Bunratty Castle & Folk Park told The Clare Echo of staff 's concerns that there is no plan in place.

"We've been trying to get engagement from Shannon Group and it has proven impossible even when we met finally with them a few weeks ago, there was no plan about what happens after August 31st, have they a plan to take care of these sites if they do close. Everybody mentions a temporary closure but we also get hopefully they will reopen next year, our entertainment staff have been told that they may not be back until 2022, it is a huge expectation to be expected to live on employment benefit for that length of time and wait for a phone call. By closing these you lose staff that have the knowledge and the professionalism that is required, it is going to take months if not longer to put the sites back together. We want to know exactly what the plan is and we don't feel there is one".

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6 NEWS

THURSDAY, JUL 23 2020

Ennis Mobility Plan updated with public feedback

C

LARE County Council is delighted to announce additional measures to the Temporary Ennis Town Centre Mobility Plan., writes Cian O’Broin.

The update is founded on feedback from the public and builds on

previous implementation of click and collect spaces, priority parking spaces and additional planters.

The mobility plan is a corollary of a highly credited collection of organisations and stakeholders that have assisted the Council in making Ennis a safe and accessi-

ble town for business. Alan Flynn reiterates that health and safety is paramount in the new mobility plan and that the new measures will take effect this August.

The update addresses three new changes to promote better business within the town. Retractable

bollards will be implemented at six different locations: Abbey Street, Francis Street, Salthouse Lane, Cabeys Lane, Bank Place and O’ Connell Street. The purpose of retractable bollards is to enhance visitor experience, improve aesthetics at the entrances to the centre of town and to keep people safe throughout the pandemic.

New signage is another element of the updated plan, with directional signage to be placed at the inner ring route around the town in early August.

The purpose of these signs is to identify specific markers within the town and to adequately denote ample parking. The final component to the plan is a parklet that will be installed on a temporary basis. This is a sidewalk extension that will provide more seating and an amicable

place to sit and watch the crowds pass by.

Alan Flynn, a member of the Chamber of Commerce, offers his thoughts on the new mobility plan, “A lot of people have been giving feedback to the Council, a lot of traders have been giving feedback.

I often ask customers here about how they feel about the town and they always tell me that they feel safe.

“The parklet is something that has been introduced into cities all over Europe. It is something that is being done to increase the realm of the town. I welcome that. What is being done, is being done on a temporary basis. It has all been brought about as a result of Covid. If people feel better in the town and it provides better movement throughout the town, then it is a good thing.”

Isolation facility to become day service in Parteen PÁRAIC MCMAHON

A

paraic@clareecho.ie

PARTEEN facility is planned to be used as a mental health intellectual disability day service.

Formerly a nursing home, a planning application was lodged in November for a change of use to be sanctioned for Inis Gile so that it would become a mental health intellectual disability day service.

The Health Service Executive also sought permission for additional car parking on site.

Reference to the facility was heard at last Monday’s meeting of Clare County Council. Cllr Michael Begley (IND) questioned health officials on “the current use of the facility and what its planned use is going forward”.

No mention was given to the current application at the meeting. Maria Bridgeman of Mid West Community Healthcare stated that Inis Gile was currently set up as an isolation facility for confirmed COVID-19 cases but cautioned “it has very narrow corridors within it so its use is limited”.

Clare County Council are due to

make a decision this week on the planning application from the HSE. Flooding issues due to drainage associated with the Parteen facility were concerns raised by locals in Gortagogher who expressed their desire to see the facility be in operation. Their concerns were shared by the planning department of the local authority.

As per the planning document, it is intended to employ 10 to 14 health professionals at the South Clare site, staff will be “primarily community based off site teams”.

The Inis Gile facility will only hold a maximum of 10 to 14 people at any time and this will be for the purpose of multidisciplinary team meetings which typically would take place twice a week.

Staff will be comprised of two consultant psychiatrists both of whom will hold clinics on site, two non consultant hospital doctors that will work on and off site, two psychologists will engage with two to three clients per day, three clinical nurse specialists whose majority of work will be community based.

Two occupational health therapists will have minimal clients at the facility. Others expected to be on site include one basic grade psychologist, two trainee psychologists and two social worker students.

S OCIALLY DISTANCED ENT ERT AINMENT ON THE MALL

l PLANNING: The Inis Gile site in Parteen

NEWS 7

THURSDAY, JUL 23 2020

Planning granted for new injury unit at Ennis General PÁRAIC MCMAHON

R

paraic@clareecho.ie

ESUMPTION of services is "the biggest challenge" for health services in the Mid-West while planning permission has been granted for a new injury unit at Ennis General Hospital.

Addressing Monday's meeting of Clare County Council, Group Chief Executive of UL Hospitals Group, Colette Cowan detailed their efforts in responding to COVID-19. The Mid-West was one of the first parts of the country hit by the pandemic which required the creation of "a hospital within a hospital" to cater for COVID-19 and non COVID-19 patients.

Attendance in emergency departments dropped during the height of the restrictions.

"We are trying to work up a plan to come up with a different option for patients that won't have to come to emergency departments," she said of the anxiety some individuals have in travelling to the hospital at the current time.

Staff were deployed across UL Hospitals Group due to "a worry of a critical care surge". She stated, "We will never be able to repay staff for what they have done, a lot of them don't want to leave critical care now. We've the best critical care unit in the country".

Gratitude was extended to The Clare Echo from Ms Cowan over the "great media coverage" of staff from Ennis General Hos-

pital whom she described as "real champions". She added, "They had a lot of surge going on with a lot of patients going in. We are very proud of them. Thanks to the media for giving them that profile".

She confirmed that planning permission for an injury unit at Ennis General Hospital has been granted and will be going for tender. Funds did not come from the Group's annual budget of €370m, Cowan confirmed.

"They need a theatre upgrade, that will be the next capital build. We are also looking for more space for a medical assessment unit".

Capacity challenges in the Mid-West still exist, Colette admitted. "The biggest challenge for us is the resumption of services.

Staff fatigue is something we have to watch very carefully, all staff are tired including managers, they are exhausted. For a long time they had their heads down and felt health service was a negative story, they feel proud now".

lUPGRADE: Ennis General Hospital

'Big shoes to fill' as Corry departs PÁRAIC MCMAHON

paraic@clareecho.ie

A CLARE civil servant has been lauded as the model in which to carry out public service.

Cooraclare's John Corry has concluded an eleven year term working as town clerk of Kilrush Town Council and later meetings administrator with the West Clare Municipal District on Clare County Council. He has left his post as in the West Clare MD to take on an expanded role in the roads department of the local authority.

Speaking at the AGM of the West Clare MD, Cllr Ian Lynch (IND) criticised the re-

lFAREWELL: West Clare MD Cathaoirleach Joe Garrihy gives a presentation to John Corry

organisation of Council positions, "It sticks in my throat that John Corry is leaving us".

He worked alongside Corry on the Town Council and later the County Council. The Kilrush man recalled that John was nominated for the Cissie Roughan award in recent years. "He does his job so well, he can send replies at 11pm at night, I'm not sure who is taking up the role but they have big shoes to fill".

Councillors that were first elected in 2019 noted how Mr Corry assisted in their transition to public office. "As a new councillor it is always difficult to get your feet under the table and get up and running, John Corry was great to include everybody, he was always very patient and get us all working to the best of our ability," Cllr Joe Killeen (FF) stated.

"I would have failed in my role as a county councillor if it wasn't for John Corry, if I could keep John Corry all to myself to run my life I would," Cllr Roisin Garvey (GP) confessed. Cathaoirleach of the West Clare MD, Cllr Joe Garrihy (FG) acknowledged the support shown by Corry and gave a small presentation to him on behalf of the councillors and staff.

Corry thanked councillors and officials for their "kind words" and presentation.

"It has been a pleasure to work with you all during the last number of years," he said and wished all in the West Clare MD for the future.

8 NEWS

Pat Burke becomes Deputy Mayor of Clare PÁRAIC MCMAHON paraic@clareecho.ie

I

N THE space of a matter of hours, Cllr Pat Burke’s (FG) tenure as Cathaoirleach of the Killaloe Municipal District concluded and he also became Deputy Mayor of Clare for the second time.

At the Annual General Meeting of Clare County Council, Cllr Gabriel Keating (FG) proposed that Cllr Burke succeed Cllr Alan O’Callaghan (FF) as Leas Cathaoirleach (Deputy Mayor) of the local authority.

Keating outlined, “Pat is an extensive farmer out in Whitegate, he comes from a strong political background, his grandfather being a member of the Oireachtas for many years. He served the last two years as Chair of the Killaloe Municipal District and comes with experience, energy and knowledge”. He was confident Cllr Burke would form “a strong force” alongside Cllr Mary Howard (FG).

Burke’s background in farming and politics “will be a massive help,” Cllr Pat Hayes (FF) stated in seconding him for the role. “He is a man in great standing in his community”.

Recalling her first Council meeting in 2014, Cllr Ann Norton (IND) admitted, “The first thing I did was take Pat’s seat, I was unaware of the fact seats were allocated to all of the councillors, we sorted it out”. Having served alongside the East Clare councillors on the HSE Forum for five years, she said they had “many an adventure travelling around the country” which also included a meeting with former Minister for Health Simon Harris (FG) in Dublin last year.

l ELECTED: Councillor Pat Burke (FG)

Funds needed to finish memorial for Kilrush WW1 soldiers FUNDS to complete a memorial in honour of the Kilrush men that fought in World War One are needed, writes Páraic McMahon.

For the past three years, Kilrush and District Historical Society in partnership with Kilrush Tidy Towns have been fundraising to erect a memorial to those Kilrush men who fought in the First World War. At least 476 men enlisted, the number of casualties was high, 95 died and 24 more deaths were unrecorded.

They hailed from all parts of Kilrush, The Glen lost 10 men with 21 wounded. Pound St/Hector St. lost 18 men with 27 wounded, Moore St. lost 13 men with 8 wounded. Grace St. lost 10 men with 11 wounded. Burton St. lost 11 men with 9 wounded.

A spokesperson for the Kilrush and

District Historical Society outlined, “The Glen, a street with 55 dwellings, provided an amazing 69 soldiers.

Mothers lost sons, wives lost husbands, children lost fathers. The loss of so many young Kilrush men was devastating”.

Megan Grennan stated, “The memorial is nearing completion, but we need

additional funds to bring it over the line.

We are appealing to Kilrush residents and diaspora to help us erect this important and timely memorial to the men who gave their lives so that we may live in peace”.

Over €1,600 has been raised through GoFundMe with a total of €5,500 needed to complete the works.

l APPEAL: The memorial is nearly complete

Photo by Eamon Ward

Addressing councillors, Cllr Burke commented, “I feel a bit like Christy Moore on stage in glór”. He highlighted that it was the first time Fine Gael held both the positions of Mayor and Deputy Mayor, “I’ve reminded by friends in Fianna Fáil that they were holding both positions for decades”.

He remarked of the Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil coalition in Government, “I’ve been encouraged to bury the hatchet and move on, as I look down on my Fianna Fáil colleagues I tell them I have the hatchet put down but it’s not buried”.

Tributes were extended to the Dromaan man at the AGM of the Killaloe Municipal District where his back to back terms as Cathaoirleach came to an end. Cllr O’Callaghan praised him for an “outstanding” tenure with Cllr Tony O’Brien (FF) acknowledging his efforts over the past 24 months. “Pat has done an exceptional job, he has been very helpful and consulted with us all which is very important,” his successor Cllr Hayes said. Burke did a “fantastic job,” Cllr Joe Cooney (FG) believed and added, “he was very fair in the Chair”.

Director of Services, Anne Haugh complimented Cllr Burke on behalf of Council staff.

“From an Executive perspective we always found you to be a very balanced individual and you were always able to see the argument from both sides”.

THURSDAY, JUL 23 2020

Protests if trolley numbers spike again MID-WEST Hospital Campaign have vowed to hold "major demonstrations" if overcrowding levels return at University Hospital Limerick, writes Páraic McMahon.

Representatives of the MidWest Hospital Campaign have described the increase in patients being left on trolleys in the past month as "an alarming spike".

Speaking to The Clare Echo, Noeleen Moran pointed to COVID-19 as an example of "careful planning" showcasing the ability "to eliminate overcrowding" in the emergency department of University Hospital Limerick.

"Given that this pandemic is not over and a second wave is still imminent this situation simply cannot be allowed to continue, trolley numbers cannot be permitted to return to pre COVID-19 levels," the Ballyvaughan woman stated.

She believed the intermediary field hospital at the University of Limerick was not adequate to cope with overcrowding from UHL. "For far too long requests for appropriate bed capacity and the recruitment and retention of additional staff have been put on the long finger, they must not be deferred any longer.”

Norton warns of sustained closure of disability services PÁRAIC MCMAHON

L

paraic@clareecho.ie

ONG-TERM closures of disability centres will leave a lasting effect, a Clare disability advocate has cautioned.

Criticism of the disability allowance, continued closure of centres to cater for individuals with disabilities and the lack of clarity provided has been voiced by Cllr Ann Norton (IND) in recent weeks.

At Monday’s meeting of Clare County Council, she declared that there was “huge upset” that disability centres had not reopened with parents “told it could be January before they reopen”.

Ann felt Tanáiste Leo Varadkar (FG) struggled to brush off questions when pressed during the past week and disagreed with his stance that they remained closed ‘due to safety’.

“People with intellectual disabilities are being cared for 24/7 by people who are unable to provide the service,” the Barefield woman cautioned.

The manager of the Clare Crusaders Clinic said that parents were get-

ting “no supports” and that households were under financial pressure as a result.

She urged management of UL Hospitals Group to hold the necessary conversations with figures in power to put supports in place.

“Services need to be resumed as quickly as possible. These people are not used to being home full-time”.

Maria Bridgeman, Chief Officer with Midwest Community Health-

care admitted, “We are challenged on standing back on all of those day services”.

She outlined that the same amount of numbers pre COVID-19 can no longer be catered for, “we need to ensure they can’t come in the same numbers”.

Transporting individuals will be an issue, Bridgeman noted and assured Cllr Norton, “We are trying to prioritise people”.

l ADVOCATE: Councillor Ann Norton (IND)

Photo by Eamon Ward

10 NEWS

THURSDAY, JUL 23 2020

Hotel business ‘decimated’ CIAN O’BROIN

T

cianobroin@clareecho.ie

HE Old Ground Hotel has felt the impact of the postponement of phase four and an inherent disruption to the wedding trade, which in any normal year would be flourishing right about now.

Phase four was initially proposed to take effect on Monday July 20th, with an expansion from 50 to 100 individuals permitted at any social gathering.

Owner Alan Flynn expresses his dismay at the leisurely and inadequate period of notice given to hoteliers and publicans with regards to the lifting of restrictions and return to work.

The wedding trade is a huge part of business at the Old Ground Hotel, with up to 70 weddings and functions accommodated each year. Alan admits that business has been decimated since March 12th and that The Old Ground has been feeling the loss of the American market.

Typically, occupancy in July and August tops around ninety-four per cent and due to Covid-19, Alan

notes occupancy for the month of July this year, currently sits at a devastating 20 per cent. Understanding that we are living in a crisis time and that health and safety must take precedence, Alan calls for better and more timely guidelines, which would mean a better economic roadmap for hoteliers and publicans alike.

“The fact that there were no guidelines issued in advance for pubs, made everything so difficult for people that were planning on reopening. If pubs had known that, it would have made everything so much easier. They had bought in their stock, taken their staff off the Covid payment, they were preparing it, they were cleaning it, they were all getting ready.

“Now, all of the staff have to go back on the Covid payment. It has just increased an awful lot of workload and definitely lots of worry for publicans. We are already in quite a lot of turmoil as it is. Capacity in our bar has dropped by 40 per cent so as to implement social distancing. This is what we have had to do to provide good health and safety to our customers.

“We are all behind it. If we had known better clarity on the guidelines from day one, we would have been able to plan better for the

wedding business.”

Alan is grateful that the hotel has been able to rebook the majority of weddings for 2021, empathising with couples that are feeling dis-

tressed amidst a great deal of uncertainty.

The Old Ground has been liaising with couples to restructure the logistic of upcoming weddings, with

lUNCERTAINTY: The Old Ground hotlier Alan Flynn

some looking to restrict numbers and push ahead with their original wedding date in August.

Alan feels that clarity has not been issued with regards to the guidelines, with weekly changes failing to outline that a social gathering of one hundred individuals includes all of the hotel staff on the day as well as members of the band.

Each change in parameter puts people in an uncomfortable position, Alan admits.

Alan and The Old Ground Hotel remain optimistic that the wedding trade will blossom once again and that working with couples through open and honest communication has helped soften the blow, “What I would say to any couples that are worried, is to continue dialogue, we are here 24/7 and we have a dedicated wedding co-ordinator and we are dealing with couples on a daily basis to help them out, however we can.

“This relates to any part of their wedding, be it their band or if they are having a civil service in the hotel. We are working around everyone’s requirement because we know how special their day is.

“Communication is the key in all of this and all the wedding couples we have dealt with have been happy to re-book for next year.”

Illegal encampment in Ennis vacated PÁRAIC MCMAHON

paraic@clareecho.ie

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Post your answer followed by your name and contact details to The Clare Echo, 36C Abbey St, Ennis, Co. Clare, V95 FP44 Competition ends 30th July

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AN ILLEGAL encampment in Ennis has been vacated with pressure mounted by elected representatives and residents in recent weeks over the health and safety concerns associated with the site.

Located near the Castle Rock estate on the Tulla Rd, the encampment was vacated on Tuesday night. It was the subject of a cross-party debate at a meeting of Clare County Council earlier this week.

For the second week in a row, Cllr Johnny Flynn (FG) brought the matter to the attention of Clare County Council. Speaking at Monday’s adjourned meeting of the local authority, he detailed that the site was an environmental, traffic and COVD-19 hazard. “Residents are concerned the illegal encampment is breaking all guidelines on social distancing,” Flynn stated. He said that a collective decision was made to only send three representatives of the residents to the public gallery at the meeting but that over 100 residents wanted action as the location was becoming “filthy”.

Mayor of Clare, Cllr Mary Howard (FG) highlighted that the site on which they were on is privately owned and may be a matter for the HSE as opposed to Clare County Council. She commented, “I have

spoke to people who have witnessed people at the encampment going to the toilet in broad daylight”. She described the encampment as appalling and said as of Monday evening no reports had been made to Gardaí. “It is wrong and horrible that ye have to go through this,” she said to residents.

A visit to the Castle Rock Estate was paid

by Cllr Mark Nestor (FF) on Sunday evening. “The photos are very distressing. This is a private site, how did they get in? I can’t imagine they just rocked up with what they have. Are the private landowners facilitating this type of behaviour,” he questioned.

Ennis “seems to be a town that draws in Travellers wherever they are going,” Cllr Ann Norton (IND) remarked. Cllr Pat Daly (FF) called for a meeting of An Garda Síochána, the HSE, Clare County Council and the landowner “to get rid of these people”. Cllr Paul Murphy (FG) stated that the behaviour could not be tolerated.

Personnel living in illegal encampments must be monitored to see if they have social housing, Cllr Joe Killeen (FF) maintained.

Cllr Joe Garrihy (FG) noted it is “a situation around the county. It has become very pertinent during COVID-19. It needs a multi-agency approach. It has potential to become an enormous problem if it is not dealt with”.

Speaking on behalf of the Council, Noeleen Fitzgerald said the matter was a trespass issue. “Clare County Council wouldn’t have any right on the site,” she commented.

NEWS 11

THURSDAY, JUL 23 2020

'We are delighted we are open' CIAN O’BROIN

A

cianobroin@clareecho.ie

ILLWEE Caves has been unlocking the secrets of the Burren underground since its first cave tour began in

July of 1976.

A resource of education for the beautiful natural landscape, Aillwee Caves prides itself on sustaining careers and bringing business to North Clare.

Acting Managing Director Nuala Mulqueeney talks to The Clare Echo about the rich history and enterprising evolution of a second generation family run business, how Covid-19 has impacted the day to day running of the caves and of how the North Clare facility holds community and the loyalty of intergenerational family visitors near and dear to its heart.

Nuala’s father Michael, a teacher by trade, later became an original director and shareholder of the company. After meeting Roger Johnson, a mining engineer, they decided to set up a co-op in Kilfenora to bring the tourism industry to North Clare. Both men encoun-

tered a hydrologist from Trinity College who was familiar with the Aillwee Caves system, armed with the knowledge that it does not flood so easily. Nuala quips that although the trio all brought something different to the table, they were the perfect mix.

Since 1976, the Aillwee Caves has seen the building of an award-winning Access building built into the landscape. In 1985, Aillwee Caves began to champion their own cheese making factory, with produce sold on site in various flavours. The idea was to allow people to stay longer on site.

Diarmuid, the cheesemaker, is a multi-talented man, tells Nuala, a shining example of flexibility that is required to survive in rural Ireland.

In essence, a man of many hats.

Next up, was Santa’s Workshop which is now on its 20th anniversary and Nuala feels that this really cements the Aillwee Caves as an all year-round attraction.

Finally, the Birds of Prey Centre opened its door in 2008 and now houses 35 different birds, a mixture of owls, hawks and vultures.

Nuala remarks the Birds of Prey Centre as a real hit with all generations, something that really brings the whole family together.

On the impact of Covid-19 on the Aillwee Caves, Nuala comments, “On the 12th of March we closed for 14 long weeks. It was a very lonesome place. A place that would ordinarily have been very welcoming to the public at that stage.

"There was myself here and the falconers. We had the birds well groomed, well fed and well cleaned.

They don’t just go into storage.

There was just a small team here for the 14 weeks. We are delighted that we are open. It’s not the same.

"We are working and welcoming our visitors alongside Covid-19.

Our Access building has been emptied to uphold the logistics of our cave tours.

"Our cave tours have been halved from 30 to 15 to allow for two metres between groups. We can keep the tours flowing in one direction with an entrance and exit.

"We have lots of hand sanitizing stations throughout the buildings.

We have asked people to wear face coverings. It is going well. Like everything, if you take a lead, people are grateful, comfortable and safe and get to enjoy their well-deserved holidays.”

Aillwee Caves prides itself on sustaining careers in the local community. A total of 35 full time staff

are now back working on the 26 acre site. Normally, this would double in the busy season and Nuala tells of one hundred and ten elves that take up residence alongside Santa during the winter months.

"Sustaining careers has always been part of our ethos here at Aillwee Caves," tells Nuala and it pays dividends, with other businesses in North Clare able to rely on Aillwee Caves to give people a good time.

Like most businesses this summer, Nuala is missing out on international visitors, however; unlike many places which are heavily, if not solely reliant on foreign travel into the country, Aillwee Caves has maintained a 48 per cent domestic visitor rating and a 52 per cent international visitor rating.

Nuala finishes on the loyalty and reverence shown by intergenerational families and of how the staycation has really bolstered business since the Aillwee Caves reopening, “From day one, we have always wanted to be part of the community and North Clare. I think we have managed that.

"If you are part of that, the locals would have brought visiting family with them. The staycation has really gripped the imagination of the Irish people.

PUBLIC NOTICE APPLICATION FOR A FORESHORE LICENCE Notice is hereby given pursuant to Section 19 of the Foreshore Act, 1933 that ESB, Moneypoint Power Station, Carrowdotia South, Co. Clare has applied to the Minister of Housing, Planning and Local Government for a licence under Section 3.3 of the said Act for subtidal benthic sampling.

The purpose of the sampling is for compliance with an EPA IED licence and the location is at Ballymacrinan Bay, Co Clare.

A copy of the application and the relevant maps, plans and drawings are available for inspection for the next 30 calendar days, free of charge, at Kilrush Garda Station, Ennis Road, Kilrush, Co. Clare between the hours of 9am and 6pm daily and Kilrush Library, O Gorman Street, Kilrush, County Clare.

The documentation is available on the Department’s website: https://www.housing.gov.ie/planning/foreshore/applications/esb-moneypoint-ecological-survey-ballymacrinan-bay Any person who wishes to make an objection to, or a representation in respect of the grant of the licence sought should do so in writing, giving reasons, between the dates of 23rd July 2020 and 22nd August 2020 (quoting ref: FS007141), to the Marine Planning, Policy and Development Section, Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government, Newtown Road, Wexford or foreshore@housing.gov.ie. The closing date for submissions is close of business on 22nd August 2020.

All objections and representations received during the consultation period will be forwarded to the applicant for comment prior to any decision being made in the matter. Material upon which the Minister shall determine this application may be published on the Department’s website.

In this regard the Department wishes to draw attention to its policy on defamatory material that may be contained in submissions it receives, which may be found at: https://www.housing.gov.ie/planning/foreshore/public-participation-foreshore-consent-process Dated this 23 day of July 2020 ESB, Moneypoint Power Station, Carrowdotia South, Co. Clare

12 NEWS

THURSDAY, JUL 23 2020

Shannon hurt by ‘dismantling’ of local community office PĂ RAIC MCMAHON

S

paraic@clareecho.ie

HANNON is without “valuable support services� following the continued reduction to the offering of the local community office.

In November, cuts were first introduced to the Shannon Community Office at a time when the Citizens Information Board stated they would offer service which included a five day offering, a stance which raised eyebrows in the town from the get-go.

Answers are now being sought

from a national level with Cllr Gerry Flynn (IND) calling on the Office for Social Inclusion within the Government “to address the loss of the valuable support services provided by Shannon Community Office�.

Changes introduced last year were called a “dismantling of the community office structures� while he commented that the co-location of the Citizens Information Board and ClareCare services have ceased.

No response was received when Cllr Flynn as Cathaoirleach of the Shannon MD invited the incoming CEO of ClareCare to address councillors last year. “The need for support and communities was never greater than it was but un-

fortunately ClareCare have cut the office hours to two hours a week�. He said all staff complete in this time is the Shannon Newsletter, a publication in which he used to advertise but which he now described as “a cut and paste job�.

Cllr Donna McGettigan (SF) outlined of the reduction in hours and operations, “It is well-missed service�. She added, “When they first cut the services they tried to hold clinics in SkyCourt so you had people telling information that was private in a public setting, that was a no go for me�. “It is an absolute disgrace that it has gone to this,� Cllr John Crowe (FG) stated. “With the population in Shannon Town alone an office like this should be open for five

days a week�. Cllr PJ Ryan (IND) highlighted the public from the entire Shannon area attended the office, “we need to get it reopened�.

l VITAL: The Shannon Community Office

Photo by Joe Buckley

Aer Lingus staff ‘let down badly’ CIAN O’BROIN

C

cianobroin@clareecho.ie

LARE Councillors are calling on Aer Lingus CEO Sean Doyle (inset) to reinstate flights in and out of Shannon, citing that a single Aer Lingus aircraft has not left the ground there since April 5th.

Pat Mc Mahon (FF) raised the motion at a council meeting in GlĂłr, on Monday 13th July, stating that the Aer Lingus workers have been let down badly and that the loyalty to Aer Lingus and the airport has been killed in one stroke. The motion draws on a stark comparison of the sterility of Aer Lingus at Shannon Airport, noting that the major airline is already operating flights between Belfast, Cork and Dublin, disregarding Shannon and ultimately perceiving the airport as weak.

Councillor Johnny Flynn (FG) alluded to the horrendous impact on local jobs and international tourism that the cessation of Aer

Lingus flights and Covid-19 has caused, referring to a survey that was conducted on Covid, Aer Lingus and the impact on Shannon, as striking.

Ennis has about 500 hotel beds and 500 hostel and B&B beds, with 90 per cent of business dependent on international tourism.

Councillor Flynn reported that one particular hotel was at four percent occupancy at the moment. Further reports suggest that some of the hotels are at 15 per cent occupancy this month in comparison to 90 per cent last year.

Touching on an optimistic note for the future of Shannon and a call to action, “I am very hopeful that the new Taoiseach and the new Minister will do better. We got very little recognition from the last Minister; I don’t think he even knew where the place was. “I don’t like the idea that an international airport is lobbed in with Knock and Donegal, I have a problem with that. Both of those airports

are being funded by the taxpayer, whereas Shannon is not. We certainly don’t want Shannon to be known as a regional airport.� “The North American route needs investment and to be redeveloped. If Shannon does well, it will be of benefit to all the west of Ireland. It has been rejected by several governments. “We need to know why Aer Lingus staff have been laid off. The same thing hasn’t been reflected in Dublin and Cork to the same extent. There are 33 million passengers coming into Dublin Airport each year. We need to go back to a situation where some of the traffic is redirected to southern airports and Shannon is one of those.

My motion calls specifically on the Taoiseach and the Minister to take some action and I am requesting that we write to them and Sean Doyle, asking when are services coming back to Shannon. “

‘Shannon always came first’ PUTTING the Shannon region as the top priority was singled out by councillors as they paid tribute to Cllr Gerry Flynn (IND) following the conclusion of his term as Cathaoirleach of the Shannon Municipal District, writes PĂĄraic McMahon.

At the end of June, Cllr Flynn’s tenure as Cathaoirleach came to an end, the Miltown Malbay native was 24 months in the role having served back to back terms. He referenced the former slogan endorsed by Bertie Ahern (FF) during his time as Taoiseach ‘a lot done, a lot more to do’ which he felt was applicable to the Shannon MD and stuck with him at the time.

Examples of this progression cited were the extension to Illaunamanagh Cemetery, soon to be completed garden allotments and work on riverwalks in Shannon.

Maintenance remains to be an issue and he was adamant it needed to be addressed properly in the context of COVID-19. Cllr Flynn also mentioned the approval of flood defences for Shannon Embankments and ongoing planning regarding the Shannon Airport relief road. “I believe there is a need for balance in housing and a mix of housing in Shannon, there is a very strong need and demand for private housing and sites, it needs to be looked at,� Cllr Flynn stated.

Greater consideration towards Shannon Airport is needed by the Government comprised of Fianna FĂĄil, Fine Gael and The Green Party, he believed. “Our Airport is filling up a lot of our time, it is our Airport, it and the industrial estates are crucial to all our lives. It needs the focus of this incoming Governmentâ€?.

Fellow elected representatives and Council officials were described as “brilliant� and “easy to work with�.

He concluded, “I’m hoping the progress in the Shannon Municipal District will continue�.

Flynn’s co-operation was praised

by Cllr PJ Ryan (IND). “We had many arguments but in fairness it was forgotten when we walked out of the room. The Shannon region always came first�.

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Arts & Entertainment 13

THURSDAY, JUL 23 2020

Lisdoonvarna Matchmaking Festival cancelled due to Covid ELAINE TUBRIDY

O

elaine.tubridy@clareecho.ie

RGANISERS of the Lisdoonvarna Matchmaking Festival have confirmed the festival will not be going ahead this year due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.

The festival which takes places in September attracts crowds of more than 80,000 annually and this year’s headline acts would have included country music stars Nathan Carter, Derek Ryan, Mike Denver and Cliona Hagan. It is the last big festival of the year to be cancelled.

The announcement comes following the government’s postponement of phase four of “Reopening Ireland” which would have permitted indoor gatherings of 100 people and 500 people outdoors – this has now been deferred to August 10th.

“After careful consideration and following the government’s latest recommendations we have decided to cancel the event. It is regrettable but our primary responsibility is to protect the health and safety of the local community as well as staff, artists, suppliers and visitors” said Marcus White Managing Director of the White Hotel Group.

The iconic festival which is over 160 years old attracts tens of thousands of people from Ireland and overseas who flock to the event to enjoy socialising and find love.

“Social distancing would be impossible to implement at festivals like Lisdoonvarna where pubs and clubs are crowded and intimate dancing is one of the attractions for visitors.

“There are a lot of singles and couples, from all generations who are going to be very disappointed, but I think everyone will understand that the risk is simply too high.

“I know a lot of people were hoping it would go ahead this year,

despite as every other major social event being cancelled. The festival brings so much joy to people, who come to find love or and reconnect with friends before the long winter months roll in.

“The lack of social events this year is devastating and I think the mental health repercussions will be huge, especially in rural Ireland.

Since the lockdown began loneliness and isolation is now affecting more people than ever before. People thrive on social connections and that is why Lisdoonvarna has kept its appeal for so many years.”

The cancellation of the festival will also be felt deeply by many businesses in the area as it brings in more than €2.5 million annually to the local economy. This includes B&B’s, hotels, pubs, shops, restaurants, cafes and tourist attractions in the North Clare area.

“It is devastating for many local businesses who depend on the festival every year for their survival. 2019 was our busiest and most successful Lisdoonvarna festival

TG4 talent show looking for families ARE you Clare’s most talented family? Are you the next Clancy Brothers, The Corrs or Jedward even? If so Adare Productions wants to hear from you.

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For more information and to apply please contact Adare Productions by phoning Bríd at (086) 0542486 or emailing realta@adareproductions.ie.

lLOVE DOCTOR: Famous matchmaker Willie Daly

Photo courtesy of matchmakerireland.com

ever. This year was gearing up to be equally as good, with very strong bookings coming in from Ireland and overseas particularly for our country music weekends,” he said.

However despite the current uncertainty, Mr White said he was re-

maining positive for 2021.

“Next year we have booked the same acts which include international DJs, country music performers and show bands. The plan is to make next year’s festival bigger and better than ever,” he concluded.

Let Baz be your Wingman SEIZE the moment and do something extraordinary for yourself, or for someone close to you in your life!

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Having guided farmer Jimmy onto the stage in front of a local sell-out crowd, helped Emma overcome her fear and battle her way into the octagon and brought Conor and Joe on the Ultimate Lads Lads Roadtrip, Baz (inset) is looking for new participants to take under his wing and fulfil their ultimate dream in a new series of Baz Ashmawy: Wingman.

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step of the way to encourage you, to mentor you, to push you across that achievable finish line.No dream is too big or too small.

Tell the team what your dream is and why you need help making it happen.

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Due to the current Covid-19 pandemic, the new series of Wingman will be filmed in Ireland in accordance with Government and HSE guidelines for travel and filming.

For more information or to apply to take part in the series and have Baz take you under his wing, log onto rte.ie/wingman or e-mail info@ mahymedia.com.

14

COLUMNISTS

2007

THURSDAY, JUL 23 2020

Flying in the night sky...

Cian O’Broin picks three significant stories that made the headlines in Clare in 2007

CIAN O’BROIN History

CLIFFS OF MOHER VISITOR CENTRE The Cliffs of Moher is a world-renowned natural landscape, registering over 1.5 million visitors per year. One of the central elements to the experience outside of the picturesque landscape and eighteen-kilometre cliff walk, is the underground visitor centre.

Opened on February 8, 2007, by the then Taoiseach Bertie Ahern, the UNESCO world heritage site’s cutting-edge interpretive centre ran up a bill of €31.5million, since the beginning of its construction in 2005.

Constructed below ground in the interest of conservation and minimising visual impact, the blueprints for the project date back to an international design competition in 1993, where the would-be centre was adorned as a winning entry. The centre was built into a hillside approaching the cliffs, with environmental sensitivity in mind, resulting in geothermal heating and cooling, solar panels and grey water recycling. Natural stone was used in the floor and walls of the centre and a concrete shell was the central design framework put in place. Educational exhibits can also be found within the visitor centre, with interactive media displays enlightening visitors on the geology, flora, fauna and history of the site.

Two unique digital displays offer visitors a bird’s eye view from the top of the cliffs as well as an aquatic outlook which can be found underwater, deep within one of the caves beneath the cliffs. The visitor centre, a first point of contact for most enthusiastic tourists has won a host of national and international awards since its grand opening in 2007.

SUPERBUG INFECTS HOSPITAL In 2007, a bacterial superbug swept across the wards at St Joseph’s Geriatric Hospital in Ennis, after a number of patients tested positive for Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA). This infection is anti-biotic resistant and outbreaks within hospitals are commonplace. It can live harmoniously on the skin, in the nose, in wounds and in leg ulcers. Like many highly contagious infections as we have now come to know, as a general rule of thumb, hand hygiene is essential and the most effective way of treating MRSA. Tiredness, weakness, confusion, chills and a high temperature are some of the most common symptoms.

MRSA tends to take hold of individuals who are already ill and this is where complications arise. Blood poisoning is perhaps one of the most adverse side effects. One in three do not display any symptoms at all. Concerns around publicly documenting MRSA counter measures within the hospital were raised by Clare Independent Deputy James Breen. Mr Breen had previously lost some of the power in his left arm after contracting MRSA in the past. The HSE were chastised by Deputy Breen for not informing the public or family and staff about the number of MRSA infections that had taken place within the hospital grounds. He alluded to a veil of

lComet C/2020 F3 NEOWISE, flying over the mystical, Poulnabrone Dolmen, Burren secrecy being imposed within the hospital and flaws within the system as a whole, pointing to Mary Harney’s nationwide failure to curtail the spread of the deadly bug within the Irish health system.

KILRUSH MAN ROBS BANK IN USA A Kilrush man pleaded guilty in 2007 to robbing a bank in America. The then, twentysix-year-old Niall Clarke, who comes from Killimer Road and graduated from Trinity College Dublin, was found guilty of robbing a Bank of America branch in Bangor Hall in Maine, the previous October.

Mr Clarke made his way into the bank on October 4, exiting shortly after with $11,000 dollars in a black mesh bag. Also in his possession was a loaded .38 caliber handgun, which was used in the robbery along with a box of ammunition which state troopers pulled from his 1997 Chevy Lumina shortly after his arrest.

Branded a genius back home, Mr Clarke attended St Joseph’s College in Spanish Point, winning a 2002 Enterprise Ireland Student Award for the creation of a language independent software licensing model. He also won a Technology Innovation Award for his unique invention. Funnily enough, his prize money amounted to the same sum he would eventually decide to take in a spur of the moment bank heist in the United States, four years later. Mr Clarke purchased the handgun the day before at the Maine Military Supply Inc. on Wilson Street, later admitting in court that he lied on his application form, stating that he was indeed an American citizen. To his dismay, Mr Clarke was unaware of a police training regiment that was taking place beside the bank while he performed the unlawful act. He received a ten-year jail sentence.

Mr Clarke was released in 2015 having spent nine years in a US prison and was deported to Ireland. Unfortunately, he tragically died in June, 2017.

That’s all for this week folks, check back next week as we take a look at what made 2008 a special year in County Clare.

Photo by Roy Stewart

FEATURES 15

THURSDAY, JUL 23 2020

Opinion

Get in contact Become part of the conversation. Submit your letters to the editor by emailing editor@clareecho.ie or via post addressed to 36c Abbey Street, Ennis, County Clare

Council far Sad capitulation of EU from pedestrian to Poland and Hungary on mobility plan EOIN

F

STUART HOLLY Editor

A

COUPLE of months on from the introduction of pedestrianisation in Ennis (or the so-called ‘Temporary Covid-19 Town Centre Mobility Plan’), the move has dominated many conversation amongst shoppers and business people.

I walk the main streets of Ennis from our offices in Abbey Street Car Park and looking at it purely from a social distancing perspective, the powers that be in the business community, Ennis Chamber of Commerce and Clare County Council were on the money in implementing the regulation.

News has landed this week that Clare County Council will subsequently instal retractable bollards at entry points to the pedestrian zones, introduce new signage and most significantly, develop a parklet on O’Connell Street which will act as a pilot scheme which will be replicated in other areas if deemed succesful. A parklet is essentially a mini seating area or mini park on the street and in the case of Ennis will be located on a loading bay. Last month, the County Council also agreed to waive street furniture licence fees to help businesses reopen and facilitate the use of public spaces in town. This brings the viability of a pedestrianised setting in Ennis to another level again.

Of course, a pedestrian system has never before worked to everyone’s satisfaction in Ennis. A few days of pedestrianisation leading up to Christmas every year serves to create fantastic atmosphere on the streets however it doesn’t give a true sense of the project’s long-term viability.

Winston Churchill once said, “The era of procrastination, of half measures, of soothing and baffling expedients, of delays is

coming to a close. In its place we are entering a period of consequences.” The sentiment of entering a period of consequences rings true in this case.

It is not possible to do things in half measures and it’s entirely understandable that many businesses are against the long-term implementation of pedestrian streets in the town - some have disclosed that it negatively impacts their bottom line and that’s enough of a deterrent for any business owner. However Ennis is currently not designed to cater for the pedestrian and trial periods will never do the real thing justice.

The county town has always been set up in a way to allow shoppers to hop out, pick up what they need and hop back into the car. With the upcoming implementations, we are now beginning to see the potential for pedestrianisation in Ennis as a working model and a town that’s functional and attractive for rambling visitors. If this is to become a long-term situation, some long-term thinking is needed and certainly it looks as if the waters are being tested now.

There are still some issues to iron out such as creating additional parking which will feed footfall through the town, along with developing a truly functional green space.

The advent of Covid-19 means the fast forward button has been pressed on a number of issues. There’s been a dramatic shift towards online shopping, a temporary tourism vacuum has been created, along with a significant shift towards remote working.

Ennis can now take advantage of all these conditions by embracing pedestrianisation and starting now, to develop a reputation for street entertainment, street dining and an enjoyable shopping experience.

OR the majority of people, the most money they’ll ever deal with is the mortgage they sign up to if they’re fortunate to be able to buy their own home. In Ireland at the end of 2019, that is an average of €250,766, including apartments.

A mortgage takes on average 30 years to pay off. With these figures in mind, it’s still hard to fathom the sheer scale of the Covid 19 Recovery Fund and EU budget agreed at the EU Summit in the early hours of Tuesday morning.

Four long and tough days of talks eventually signed off on a whopping €1.8 trillion package to cover the seven-year duration of this budgetary period. In an Irish context, that’s enough money to buy 7.2 million homes. This staggering amount of money is broken up as €750 billion in Covid Recovery Funds; €390 Billion in grants and €360 billion in loans. The rest of the money, a little over €1trillion will form the basis of the regular EU budget for items such as climate change, the common agricultural policy, research and innovation Horizon funding, capital projects and the rest of the EU’s ‘day-to-day’ spending.

One item of note on the Covid fund though was the disappointing capitulation of the EU to the Polish and Hungarian Governments. The original draft of the deal committed funds to be contingent of member states to abide by the ‘Rule of Law’; an agreement to follow the shared values of the EU, democracy and respect for the courts. Both Governments have been accused in recent years of eroding the basic principles of human rights and separation of powers. Hungarian PM Viktor Orbán has been accused of stoking xenophobia, of attacking opponents with unfair legal probes ceasing their infrastructure and shutting down academic institutions that have been the source of opposition to his regime and invoking, since revoked, draconian laws centralising power in his executive when the pandemic hit.

The Polish Government on the other hand have been accused of recent human rights violations by declaring ‘LGBT free zones’; areas where open attacks on member of the LGBT community have been tolerated. Recently re-elected President Duda has also been criticised for attacking the power of the courts, making them subservient to the legislative branches of Government.

These are worrying erosions of human rights and the rule of law in Europe. But they’re now confined to just these two countries.

What has transpired in the UK and US recently has also raised many eyebrows with illegal outside interference in elections and referenda being tolerated as it’s been to the benefit of the victors. More worrying is the deployment of unmarked, unidentified Federal troops by President Trump on the streets of US

NEYLON Politics

lThe original draft of the EU Covid recovery fund committed funds to be contingent of member states abiding by ‘rule of law’ however Hungarian PM Viktor Orbán has been accused of stoking xenophobia cities in recent days, to lift peaceful protestors into, as yet, unidentified locations. This is in direct contravention of US law and there is a serious worry that he will use these powers to target Democratic voting areas in key swing states ahead of November elections. He has also commented in recent interviews that he can’t guarantee that, should he lose November’s elections, that he’ll hand over power to Joe Biden. The principals of liberal democracy are facing their largest threat since the rise of fascism and communism in the mid-20th century.

At that time, Ireland stood apart by enacting Bunreacht na hÉireann, a constitution that guaranteed the sovereignty of the people and curbs the power of politicians. Only a vote of the people can change the constitution, the first such written document approved by popular vote in the world. Other countries don’t have the safeguard of such a document to defend the rule of law and the rights of citizens. Identity politics though is the root of such division and allows for extremes to filter in and spout hatred to divide and concur. This is what led to the Brexit vote, the rise of Trump and the other

far right parties across the western world. Ireland is not immune, however. The weekend before last saw far right Irish groups stage a sickening demonstration at Leinster House. They brandished nooses on plaques and attacked peaceful counter demonstrators. The basis of their protest was a homophobic smear campaign against new Children’s Minister Roderic O’Gorman. I refuse to give the smallest credence to the horrific smears that were levelled against him. Nevertheless, they found traction on social media among far too many people taken in by misquotes, photoshoped images and blatant out and out lies. We must remain vigilant that we as a country avoid the worst in political discourse.

Unfortunately, social media has allowed it ferment in the last decade. Before you repost anything, please do your own research.

Otherwise, you might find yourself unwittingly engaging in a vile bigoted smear campaign aimed at destroying a person all because of their sexual orientation. Think, and do your own research, before accepting anything you read on Facebook or Twitter.

16 FEATURES

Gossiping hurts

RONAN SCULLY

Thought for the week

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AST year I was involved in helping to organise two very successful charity dinners for various charities that each began with the beautiful voices of the Ignite Gospel Choir.

While listening to the many beautiful voices of the Ignite choir blending together and noticing the different makeup of the people involved in it, people from all walks of life, from all shapes, sizes and colour, from all sides of the community, from various political parties and none, young and old and yet when they all sang together it reminded me of the glory of unity and what unity can do when done right and it sounded amazing.

These people had put all their differences aside to bring to those present something special and it showed to me what unity was all about. It made think after all that has happened in the last six months or so where we have in the middle of a pandemic voted to elect a new government, that I again thought of that sound of unity of those two nights when a large group of people came together under the name of The Ignite Gospel Choir in a common goal and left their differences aside and sang their hearts out to make life better for people and children in dire need in our world and helped to truly make a difference.

I am just wondering if all the political parties put their differences aside for a few years to work in real unity to truly care about the poor, the needy, the sick, the infirmed, the homeless, the abused, the lost, the frontline workers, those affected physically, mentally and spiritually by the pandemic, the abandoned, the downtrodden, the lonely, the unemployed, the mentally unwell and the suicidal?

I wonder what sort of a country would we have if we did that, if we all helped one another instead of talking, gossiping, slandering or being unkind to one another. Gossiping and slandering are something so many of us do on a daily basis. Gossip and slander seems harmless on the surface, but it can cause a lot of negative things in people’s lives. Gossiping and slandering are certainly not giving love, it’s the exact opposite. I have found at times on my journey through life that the saying, “Sticks and stones may break my bones but names will never hurt me,” could not be further from the truth.

Each one of us has at one time or the other been on the receiving end of hurtful and unkind words. Make no mistake about it, those painful

unkind words not only hurt, they also change us forever. While broken bones can heal in time, words filled with rage, bullying, belittling and unkindness never heal. Even with therapy, time and knowledge – hurtful and unkind words remain for a life-time.

As the writer Frank Outlaw used to say, “Watch your thoughts; they become words. Watch your words; they become actions. Watch your actions, they become habits. Watch your habits, they become character. Watch your character; it becomes your destiny.” We should always as much as possible try to build people up rather than trying to tear them down.

Keep Custody of your Tongue

If they who speak an unkind word in gossip against another could feel for themselves the pain, the anger, the humiliation and hopelessness that resulted, perhaps gossip would then begin to subside. But that is the nature of gossip; it is entered into in exactly the kind of way that offers the perpetrator a good measure of isolation and protection from having to feel as I know the real and all too often devastating outcome of their actions.

Just look at the results recently in the lives of some people who were bullied and gossiped about. In the Benedictine monastic tradition, there is a spiritual practice called keeping custody of your tongue.

The idea is to consciously pay attention to what you say at all times. It’s okay to speak your mind and even to express anger, but you must do so with awareness that harsh words can be very harmful.

Keeping custody of your tongue is not an easy practice. Be patient with yourself.

The only way to break a habit of careless and harmful words is to work on it day by day with honest intention. Just consider the consequences of not paying attention to what you say! As the words of Leo Buscaglia says, “Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around.”

An Old Irish Story

In a small community, one fellow is known as the town gossip.

He has thoughtlessly told and retold some stories that have caused others to feel pain and shame.

When his local curate confronts him about the damage he has

done, the man is sorry for being so hurtful. He asks what he can do to make amends. The curate tells him to take some pillows out into a field, to cut them open, and to shake all the feathers out into the field.

The man thanks the curate and runs off to do what he said. Later, he returns and reports that the wind has taken the feathers to all parts of the field. The curate tells him this is good and now he must go back to the field and collect all the feathers. The gossip knows that is an impossible task. Hurtful words once spoken cannot be retrieved. It’s better to take custody of your tongue in the first place.

Thought for the week

As your thought for the week, remember that sometimes the strongest people are the ones who love beyond all faults, cry behind closed doors and fight battles that nobody knows about and yet they are gossiped about or are the receivers of some of our harshest, slanderous and unkind words!

A prayer I like to say to give me strength at times goes as follows, “Lord, Praise You for godly friends who hold us accountable.

Thank You for illuminating the deceitful power of gossip, that we all entertain within earshot daily.

Forgive us for listening to it instead of walking away. We confess that often we don’t speak up out of fear of rejection, and pray that you help us to have the courage to honor others with kind words when their character is being publicly slain.

Bless and heal those who have been mangled by gossip, and others enslaved by it’s addictive habit. Heal our insecurities, and help us learn to turn to you for affirmation.

Make us busy serving others in love to give You glory, instead of sitting in circles of babble and participating in chatter-filled phone calls. Empower us with Your Holy Spirit to heed Your warnings, and steer our conversations with Your love. Grant that I may never fall into the sin of slander and gossip.

Help me to think charitably about my neighbor and to never spread lies or rumors about them. May I always remember that my neighbor is made in Your image and is deeply loved by You, the same as me. May I treat them as I would treat You. If there is a situation in which my friends or coworkers are gossiping, give me the courage to change the subject, bring up the person’s good points, or walk away entirely. Help me to hold my tongue when the occasion warrants, knowing that my every word is recorded and I will be judged according to Your justice.

For the times I have failed in this charity, forgive me Lord, and grant that I may not fall into that sin again by Your grace. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.”

THURSDAY, JUL 23 2020

‘No houses at risk of flooding’ PÁRAIC MCMAHON

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paraic@clareecho.ie

OUSES in Kilbaha on the L2002 are not at risk of flooding, Council officials have said in response to requests for coastal protection works.

At a recent meeting of the West Clare Municipal District, Cllr Gabriel Keating (FG) appealed for coastal protection works from the L2002 from Cloghan Loughbridge to the village of Kilbaha “including the area south of the bridge at the grave of the Yellow Men”.

Keating outlined that the roads and bridge were damaged by coastal storms “and then by coastal erosion and while a new bridge was built coastal protection works were

never carried out”.

He felt the road was “dangerous and requires urgent attention”. Cllr Ian Lynch (IND) seconded the motion.

In response, senior executive engineer Alan Kennelly acknowledged that an application to funding could be made to the Office of Public Works but cautioned, “as there are no houses at risk of flood along this road an application for funding for large scale coastal protection works which is unlikely to succeed”.

Visitors to the Wild Atlantic Way traverse the route, Cllr Keating reminded the engineer and highlighted that it was subject to coastal erosion.

He suggested that he bring Mr Kennelly to the location in question.

“The new engineer may not be familiar with that side of the county but I aim to familiarise him in due course”.

lSAFE: Kilbaha village is not a flood risk according to Council officials

CELTIC’S BIGGEST FANS

lSERIOUS SUPPORT: The Purcells, Harry, Katie-Jane and

Emily at McDonough Memorial Park on Saturday supporting Paddy Purcell and Newmarket Celtic Photo by Joe Buckley

FEATURES 17

THURSDAY, JUL 23 2020

GREEN CLARE

Healthy hedgerows are vital for biodiversity CIAN O’BROIN

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cianobroin@clareecho.ie

EDGEROWS and biodiversity are two peas from the very same pod. A recent Scottish study showed that 90% of biodiversity occurs in hedgerows, and it is the same in Ireland.

Hedgerows are thriving wildlife communities, providing food, shelter, and a place to nest for birds, pollinating insects and small mammals, such as hedgehogs. Dr. Frances Giaquinto, a local ecologist tells The Clare Echo that healthy hedgerows support biodiversity, and without biodiversity humans cannot survive.

Mentioning the Wildlife Act 2000, which makes it an offence to cut hedgerows between March 1st and August 31st except under specific conditions, Dr. Frances tells of the pernicious repercussions that occur as a result of improper maintenance of hedgerows in relation to biodiversity, soil erosion, and the risk of introducing invasive species.

Hedgerows are incredibly important habitats, Dr. Frances insists, because they contribute towards our ecosystem services. “We need to take a step back and understand a little bit about what is known as ecosystem services which is a term devised by economists. It means all the benefits that nature freely gives us, including all our food and warmth, which all comes from the natural environment. “We survive because we breathe in oxygen and breathe out carbon dioxide; plants do the opposite, they breathe in our waste carbon dioxide and breathe out oxygen, which we depend on. Without plants we can’t survive, they give us oxygen. Water is a finite resource on the planet and it is kept clean for us to drink by the continuous work of millions of microbes. “Nature is biodiversity, and biodiversity means all the species on the planet, plus their homes, and the relationships and interactions between them. Biodiversity forms our natural environment, which creates our ecosystem services. Without healthy ecosystem services, we cannot survive. So, we need to keep our hedgerows and we need to keep them healthy.�

Improper hedge cutting spurs a number of unhealthy consequences for our ecosystem services. Dr. Frances warns that we are losing our biodiversity at an incredibly fast rate. Many plant, animal, and insect species are at risk of extinction in Ireland and, even though we cannot see it yet, these losses are causing us harm, including an increased prevalence of plant, animal, and human diseases.

Under the Wildlife Act 2000, there is an embargo on the cutting of hedges between March 1st to August 31st.

This embargo has been widely flouted in recent months, which has resulted in a proliferation of tragedies in relation to many birds who nest in hedgerows, including the lovely songbirds many of us enjoyed during the shutdown. Dr. Frances remarks that birds will continue to sit on their nests to protect their eggs or fledgling chicks, so when a hedge is cut by machinery they may suffer appalling injuries.

Dr. Frances tells of the three most serious implications of improper and unlawful hedgerow maintenance, “Three things are happening here. The first is that we are destroying biodiversity. The second one is that we cause soil erosion. They showed this so well in the UK, back in the 1980s and 1990s, when the farmers took out all the hedgerows in order to make the fields bigger. “Now, they are planting their hedgerows back again as fast as they possibly can because winds swept the soil away. Hedgerows absorb huge amounts of water and can help to prevent flooding and they provide shade for grazing animals in times of hot sun and drought. “You are messing up a healthy ecosystem when a hedgerow is grubbed up. The third thing is, if you take out the hedgerows, you are increasing the risk of invasive species and disease. Invasive species will pop in whenever your land is disturbed. Also, many of the birds and insects that live in the hedges are actually protecting farmers from diseases which could get into their crops.

The rich biodiversity of a healthy hedgerow protects us.�

Pointing to a number of helpful and informative resources with regards to proper hedgerow maintenance, Dr. Frances hopes that contractors will respect the embargo and that homeowners will be more conscious of the need to protect the abundant biodiversity contained in our hedgerows.

Good management should lead to less work, Frances tells. “The best thing to do is to cut them on a two to three-year rotation. If you go messing with a hedgerow too much, you will end up with a whole load of new problems. Teagasc has good information on how to manage hedgerows, so too do the Heritage Council and Crann.ie. When you cut on a rotation, you ensure that some part of the hedgerow is always providing food and shelter for wildlife.� “Another problem is the purchasing of hedgerow trees from suppliers that sell ‘native trees’, but they are not selling native Irish stock. This is how ash dieback disease arrived; from a batch of ash saplings imported from the Netherlands. “Last week, the dreaded oak processionary moth made its way into Ireland from a batch of trees that arrived from Belgium.

What we do know is that if we purchase trees that are being imported into Ireland, there is a very, very grave risk of introducing an invasive alien disease which could rapidly spread across the country.�

lESSENTIAL: 90% of biodiversity occurs in hedgerows

ARE YOU FEEDING THE LOCAL RAT? DID YOU KNOW THAT THE BROWN RAT • Is the most successful mammal on the planet after humans! • Normally lives where humans live particularly in urban areas. • Can breed throughout the year if conditions are suitable, a female producing up to five litters a year. • Has a pregnancy period of only 21 days and litters can number up to fourteen, (seven is common). • Can breed from the age of 12 weeks!

If you are putting scraps of bread and other food scrapings from plates and saucepans out on green areas, footpaths and roads, you are supplying food for the local rat population.

DISPOSE OF FOOD WASTE CORRECTLY: If living in a population area of greater than 500, or your collector provides you with a brown bin, then you must dispose of your food waste in the brown bin provided or alternatively home compost your food waste. All other householders can compost their food waste or if this is not possible food waste may be placed in the general/landfill bin For more information on managing your food waste and to check if you are in area that requires a food waste bin visit www.mywaste.ie. For more information on home composting visit www.stopfoodwaste.ie.

Clare County Council Promoting a Greener Clare @GreenerClare Antilitter Hotline No.: 1800 606 706 Email: enviroff@clarecoco.ie | www.clarecoco.ie

18 FEATURE

THURSDAY, JUL 23 2020

Breaking Free from OCD Connolly man Michael Casey talks about his experience of living with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder

CIAN O’BROIN

C

cianobroin@clareecho.ie

LARE man Michael Casey understands what it’s like to live with a disorder.

With a mental health crisis looming on the horizon, Michael urges speaking out, whether to a friend, family member or someone you can confide in.

The World Health Organisation ranks Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) in the top 10 debilitating illnesses worldwide.

Throughout the pandemic, Michael spends his days working at the Clarecare over 65s Day Care Centre, delivering meals to the elderly.

Underneath all this, Michael battles his own bout with OCD and acknowledges the pain and hardship caused by ‘the doubting disease.’ Michael tells The Clare Echo about his journey with OCD, the confusion and misconception in the media around the disorder, the impact Covid-19 has had on those suffering and the power and importance of reaching out and asking for help.

Michael began to realise that something was different at five or six years old. At school, he began to rub words out, not just when he was mistaken but simply because they did not look perfect.

A year later, Michael remembers kicking the ball in the air a certain amount of times, telling himself that if he didn’t something bad would happen. It slowly began to get worse at secondary school and people began to notice.

Michael would step between the cracks in the pavement on his way to lunch and handwashing became a huge feature during exams.

Turning on and off light switches a specific amount of times also began to disturb him and he would often turn off taps so tightly that it was sometimes too difficult to turn them on again. “I didn’t realise that I had it until about 17 or 18. I didn’t get help until I was 20, when it got really bad. I had it mixed in with depression. It spiralled out of control in college when I didn’t go in for a whole month. There was more relief than anything else when I found out that I had it.

“There was still a lot of shame and guilt.

Two of the main traits of OCD are doubt and guilt. “I felt guilty for having it. My family were confused. I had hid it really well. OCD is extremely stereotyped in the media. It is the reason why people with OCD keep it quiet. “If you are neat and tidy, it doesn’t mean you have OCD, it just means you are neat and tidy. My family had a lot of confusion when they found out. “For someone who doesn’t have it, it’s very hard to wrap your head around it. It’s one of the more misunderstood illnesses. If you have OCD, it’s not just about being neat and tidy, there are deeper levels.�

Varying levels of intensity bely the disorder and Michael admits that OCD finds that one thing you are most afraid of and highlights it. There are mild to severe cases across the spectrum.

Some people won’t hug their children, fearing that they may contaminate them. Michael points to how religion exacerbated OCD decades ago, whereby people enveloped their innermost thoughts in sin, causing an awful lot of distress.

Michael’s research into the debilitating illness showed him how people’s thoughts have destroyed their lives. “Nobody wants to come forward and admit their deep and most destructive thoughts.

Covid-19 has also impacted OCD in a dangerous way. Michael admits that the impact really relates to the intensity that someone is suffering at. “For me, the coronavirus has made my OCD a bit more relaxed. For people with OCD, we have always felt that if we don’t wash our hands, something bad is going to happen. We didn’t know what that bad thing was going to be. It felt like we were preparing for the worst. Now, the thought is, if I don’t wash my hands, I might get Covid. This just gave us way more security as OCD is the fear of the unknown. “Covid is known now and this has given us some reassurance in these times. It has relaxed me a lot because I see people washing their hands. “Before this, I would see someone coming out of the bathroom without washing their hands and I wouldn’t be able to leave the bathroom without using a tissue to open the door on my way out. I always felt like the

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lBRAVE: Michael Casey wrote a book about 16 different conditions and disorders

germs people had on their hands could lead to something worse. For me, now, I am able to put those thoughts out of the window. “People will develop OCD because of this virus and I know there are some cases where people are afraid to leave their houses, for fear of catching the virus. Instead of washing their hands they won’t leave the house without performing rituals. “Rituals are like turning off the light, washing your hands the correct number of times, arranging something or not being able to pass into the next room without performing a ritual like going in and out three times, before leaving the room. They think, if I don’t turn on and off the lights 10 times, I will get Covid. For some people, this will cause a lot more anxiety in turning moderate OCD to severe.�

Last year, Michael undertook a personal project to understand OCD and various other mental illnesses and conditions. He penned a children’s novel, entitled ‘Breaking Free’, that looks at 16 different conditions and disorders in a fictional sense, whereby a young protagonist comes to realise that they are not like everyone else.

Michael admits that the project enabled him to break free of ignorance, making him more aware of the different mental illnesses that people suffer with.

One particular chapter relays Michael’s own journey of realising that he has OCD. On the project itself, Michael feels that it did not benefit his OCD in any way but did have a positive impact on his overall mental health

and awareness of others.

Each chapter contains traces of individuals he sought out online or in person, leaving the textbooks aside and instead opening himself up to the real everyday experiences of people who were suffering, just like him.

On the future for those living with OCD or suffering from any other mental illness or depression, Michael imparts some hard earned and earnest advice, “I would just say talk about it. People with OCD will feel ashamed of feeling this way. They would be avoiding people because they would be terrified of giving someone Covid. “Reach out and ask for help. OCD, in my experience, is something that you will need the help of a professional for, it is not something you want to go through alone. It can get very severe, very fast. Try to arrange an appointment with a psychologist or psychiatrist. “Tell someone and don’t go through it alone. Even when Covid is gone, your OCD thoughts will live on. When I was a kid, I thought that if I ever asked for help, I would be taken away. “If someone tells you, don’t downplay their experience by comparing your own. Simply listen and don’t treat them as an outcast because someone suffering with OCD already feels like they are an outcast.�

Contact info@ocdireland for more information on OCD. Breaking Free is available to purchase online at Amazon and in the Ennis Bookshop.

Sport Clare Echo THE

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Spike in lower hamstring injuries PÁRAIC MCMAHON paraic@clareecho.ie

A

TIGHT window of time has left GAA clubs across the county scrambling to get up to championship speed and has resulted in injuries hitting every single team.

Brian Enright (pictured right, photo

by Gary Collins) of the Cryotherapy Clinic in Ennis, one of only a handful of such facilities in the country has observed that treatment for lower hamstring injuries is up eighty percent in the past month on a typical year.

He explained to The Clare Echo, “Teams made a return in early June back to small group training, my own business opened at the same time and from that moment on there has been a marked increase in injuries. You would assume to see these injuries when the

year is spread but when management teams have to compress nearly a six month pre-season into a one month pre-season injuries are going to occur”.

Most prevalent has been lower hamstring injuries. “These would be injuries primarily associated with an overload on the muscle which transcends to the tendons and the tendons starts taking the load and it’s not able for it, that is when the injury occurs. It’s down to players coming back from training at different levels of fitness, with the compressed training schedule that they are under where there is a lot of games because of increased panel sizes, a lot of challenge matches and the compression of management trying to do skills as well as aerobic so players are beginning to break down...a definite trend in the lower hamstring injury in particular”.

Other injuries cropping up include bruised ribs, broken fingers and slight dislocations of collarbones which are normal in a given season, “but the big one this year has been the lower hamstring by up on eighty percent I would say,” the

Keen contest in Kilrush

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HERE was a keen contest for the highly anticipated Young Trophy in Kilrush Golf Club over the weekend, writes Séamus Hayes.

The Young Trophy is one of the big attractions for male members at Kilrush Golf Club so it wasn’t any surprise that there was a big entry for the 2020 competition.

A count back was required to separate the top three after they all returned scores of 64.

John McGrath (11) emerged as winner with a better back six from Rory Lillis (15) whose better back nine saw him finish ahead of third placed Geremiah Brennan (12). John M. Cuggernan (14) was in fourth with 65 while Shane Lillis (2) won the gross with 66.

Jim Young senior (8) won category 1 with 67, Robert Kirwan (15) was the category 2 winner with 66 while Michael O’Reilly (15) won category 3 with 65. Pat J. Shannon (14) won the front 9 with 29 with the back 9 honours going to Donncadh Nagle (5) with 32.5.

The winners of the Shannonside team of three competition were Nigel Ryan, Colin Gorey and Emmet Long with 90 points followed by Pat, Geremiah and Christopher Brennan with 88. In third spot with 84 points were Pat J Shannon, Michael J Hogan

Newmarket-on-Fergus native calculated.

“The actual hamstring injuries that I’m seewww.pmgolf.ie With no J1 visas or foreign holidays, Enright ing while they may not be acute injuries, they flagged that bigger panel sizes and the short are nothing beyond a grade one injury which time-frame of preparation are adding to the would be stiffness and soreness and maybe a injury risk. “Most teams have their S&C per- slight strain. The problem is the time to recovsonnel so they’re in a good position with those er is quite short because you cannot go back people but when you hear a draw and you’re if you’ve a game in two weeks if an injury is maybe playing your next door neighbour or seven days before a return to action you must playing a club you played last year suddenly allow yourself time on the field to build up adrenaline kicks in, management teams and your strength again before the game, the tight players up the ante, intensity gets bigger and time limit is the problem really more so than bigger leading to injuries, there is no way to the extent of the injury”. avoid them. You have larger panel sizes, for Like many business owners, the Cryotherthe first time in maybe years panel sizes apy Clinic which is in operation since 2009 could have increased by anything up spent three months shut. “Ironically enough to ten players with everyone being I opened my doors on March 13 2009 and I around and no one going on holi- closed them this year on Friday March 13 for days, there is a greater intensity to the first time in 11 years and I was closed for training.” three months, not knowing if I would reopen Closed gyms also factored into or not. Since I’ve reopened there has been the rise in injuries. A former coach physical changes to the clinic...I’m fortunate to the Clare senior camogie team, that hands-on isn’t necessarily a must-do Brian outlined that while the spike treatment, the treatment is pretty much hands of lower hamstring injuries is off which is a huge advantage but I lost three different, the recovery time months as did many businesses, I’m fortunate should remain this the same. and delighted to be back.”

and Finbarr McMahon while fourth place was filled by Pat Mulcahy, Brian Scanlan and John Saunders with 83 In the Wild Atlantic Opticians ladies singles the winner was Margaret Clancy (15) with 35 points from Ailish Lorigan (16) with 36 points, Anne Gallagher (19) with 35 points, and Peggy Mulqueen (29) with 35 points. The winner of the 9 hole competition was Carmel Lillis (29) with 11 points.

EAST CLARE: Martin McInerney (18), David McNamara (23) and Brendan McInerney (17) were the winners of the men’s team of three at East Clare with 63 points. They were followed by Kieran Kennedy (14). John Duffy (17) and Tony Duggan (17) with a similar score.

The gross was won by Redmond Walsh Jr. (7), Redmond Walsh Snr. (9) and Daven Condren (11) while the seniors section was won by Paul Truss (16), Terry Coughlan (17) and Paul Husband (22) with 60 points.

In the ladies 18 hole stableford competition the winner was Noreen O’Grady (28) with 37 points from Mary Mannion (19) with 35 and Margaret Lynch (28) with 34 points. Brid Hayes, Ann Harte and Mary Jo Minogue won the ladies team of three 9

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hole competition with 29 points. They had one to spare over Mary Hogan, Bridget Minogue and Mary Buglar with third spot filled

by Evelyn Skehan, Breda Reid and Daphne Henderson with 27 points.

ENNIS: The lady captain’s (Nuala D’Auria) prize to the men was played for at Ennis at the weekend when Cian Guilfoyle (15) captured the honours with 42 points from Fergus O’Brien (16) with a similar score.

They were followed by Aron Greene (16) with 40 points, Conor Malone (13) with 40 points, Gary Whelan (13) with 39 points, William Donnellan (25) with 39 points, Philip Brigdale (19) with 39 points and Ronan Herbert (8) with 39 points. Sean Myatt (1) won the gross with 34 points. this Friday’s open singles was won by Andrew Whelan (6) with 40 points from Darragh Murphy (8) with a similar score. Tom McDonald (17) was third with 38 points followed by John O’Connor (18) with 38 and Matthew Whelan (5) with 38. Brian Gilligan (scratch) won the gross with 69.

In the EBS Ennis sponsored Duggan Cup,

an 18 hole v par competition, the winner was Enda Heaney (11) with +4 from Alfred Jones (9) with +3. Niall Hannon (11) with +3 and Adrian Rushe (14) with +3. Kieran Fox (5) won the gross with -2 while the category winners were Darragh Murphy (7) with +3, Michael O’Brien (17) with +2 and Frank Owens (20) level. Gerry Daly won the back 9 with +4 DROMOLAND: Calvin Power won the Friday open singles with 41 points from Eoin Hayes with 40 and Conor O’Flynn with 38. Gordon O’Neill won the gross with 34 points.

In the weekend singles, Conor Ryan was the winner with 43 points from Declan Devitt with 40 and Patrick Moylan with 39.

In the mid week competition, Gary Russell was the winner with 21 points from John O’Donnell with a similar score. Adam Mungovan, also with 21 points, was third. In the ladies 18 hole competition, Sandra Smyth was the winner with 40 points from Leslie O’Flynn with 36 and Fran Feighery with 34 The 9 hole competition winner was Cathy Casey with 21 points from Mairead Toomey on 17 points.

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Munster titles for Ennis Tennis club

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WO Ennis teams battled in the Munster Winter League finals on Saturday at the Rushbrooke Lawn Tennis Club in Cobh. Finals Day should have taken place in March, but clubs closed and competition was furloughed along with everything else as the country went into lockdown.

Ennis Lawn Tennis and Badminton club had their Grade 6 Men’s and Grade 6 Mixed teams competing for the silverware this year. 2020 is the sixth year in a row that Ennis has made it to Munster League finals and won titles. For many players, it was their first time playing league making their feat all the more impressive.

Play started at 2pm with each team having to play four matches and both teams were 2-0 up after the first matches, putting them in a good position going into their second games.

The mixed team started off with their first leg at 2pm, playing their men’s and

Grade 6 Mixed LR Sean Maloney, Ken Breen (Captain), Shane Cooke (President of Tennis Ireland), Ann Twomey & Tara O’Loughlin

ladies doubles first. The ladies, Ann Twomey and Tara O’Loughlin had a strong win and the men, Ken Breen and Sean Moloney won 10-8 in the third set tie-break after 2 and a half hours.

They then had only 20 minutes to settle the nerves and head out for the mixed doubles. They just needed to win one of these matches to win outright and the managed this with aplomb, and another 3-setter, giving Ennis the win 3-1 versus Lower Aghada.

Meanwhile the men’s team were on another two courts against Causeway.

They too were up 2-0 after their first round of games, putting them in a great position for the second matches.

Brian Moore, Declan Cusack, Eamonn McGuinness and Maurice Young all set a high standard and again, victory came down to a 3-set match to give them the win 3-1. This team had lost out previously on a finals day. were there to present prizes to our teams, compliTennis Ireland president, Shane menting the standard and spirit of play. Ennis TenCooke and Munster Tennis officials nis Club acknowledged those who helped along the

way, Ann O’Hanlon, Caroline Guthrie, Patrick Treacy, Sean Carroll, Brian Arthurs and club coaches Ann-Marie Darcy & Danny Comerford.

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CLARE greyhounds continued their good run of form with more success recorded in weekend runs in Limerick and Galway.

The first round heats of the Michael Tobin Memorial Tri Distance was the feature event of the weekend at the Limerick Track and there were some very smart performances during the five heats.

The most eye-catching performance came in the very first heat as the Pat Buckley trained, Doolin Princess followed up on her impressive display at HQ last time out with a convincing victory from trap two. Going to traps the 11/10 favourite, the daughter of ‘Barcia Bale Droopys Smasher’ took a ping break from blue and showed a terrific turn of pace to the opening corner to soon take this contest by the scruff of the neck. Never under any threat thereafter, the Austin Whelan of Lisdoonvarna owned bitch was striding out in front and came home a six length winner.

Veteran owner trainer Tom Gallagher of Cooraclare recorded a nice double at the same venue, first up was Girl Be Slick in the A3 525 race to record one and halflength win in a time of 29.41. Litter brother Joe Be Slick made it a night to remember for the West Clare handler when in the ninth race after having to check at the third bend rallied for a one length success.

Saturday night’s A1 graded ninth contest over 525 yards was the feature contest of the weekend at Galway and the Siobhan Garrihy of Moy owned Cloneygan Flash scored a win by three lengths.

The opening A8 graded contest went in superb style to the David Hogan of Quilty owned Tromora Dasher (Good News-Tromra Sonic) who romped home

nine and three quarter lengths clear.

Hogan completed a double when his Tromora Danny (Ballymac Best-Tromora Best) scared in the N3 Sprint by four and quarter from Brickhill Lulu in 19.35. Only fourth best from traps the winner came through approaching the opening bend to head Grangeview Lucky and Sues Blue as Brickhill Lulu made ground on the rails.

Turning for home the winner kicked clear extending his lead all the way to the line.

Dough Dancer owned by Kilfenora’s Conor Davoren-Sheehan registered his third career victory in the A5 graded eighth contest as the daughter of Kinloch Brae and Tiermana Brandy swept through late to collar Spin The Coin by two and a half lengths in 29.83.

On Friday, Mr Logan owned by Martin and Eve Crowe of Roslevan was well fancied to make a winning debut for the Donie Duggan kennel in the Novice 350 and he duly did by five lengths from Cree Wonder in 19.47.

Rockmount Haeley owned by Ennis’ Shane Flanagan had an authoritative six length success in the Novice 525 contest.

The winner broke smartly and led from Grangeview Buck on the run towards the opening bend and railing well he extended that advantage to six lengths at halfway. Leaving the back straight the winner was home for all money as Turn The Page stayed in well to take second place.

There was an exciting finish to the A5 graded eighth contest as the Sean O’Riordan and Rachel Murray of Sixmilebridge owned Second Half just held the renewed effort of Notimewasted by a diminishing neck at the line in 29.54.

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THE GAME CENTRE SOCCER

Martin Donnelly MyClubShop.ie Clare & District Soccer League Fixtures Saturday 25th July 2020 FAI Youths Cup Quarter-Final Bridge Utd v St Mary’s Park in Killcully in St Mary’s Park at 14:00 Maloney Garden Machinery Premier Division Lifford A v Shannon Town A in Cassidy Park at 19:00.

Referee: Brian Punch Shannon Hibs A v Newmarket Celtic A in Riverside at 19:00. Referee: Julian Sandford T Sheils & Company First Division League Moher Celtic A v Hermitage A in Lahinch at 19:00.

Referee: Michael Rock CSGL Electrical Youths League B Division Newmarket Celtic v Manus Celtic in McDonough Park at 14:30. Referee: Sean Kenneally Jim Casey Trophies U17 League Group B Burren Utd v Tulla Utd in Lisdoonvarna at 19:00. Referee: Frankie Coote Sunday 26th July 2020 Maloney Garden Machinery Premier Division Bridge Utd A v Sporting Ennistymon in Sixmilebridge at 15:00. Referee: Brian Punch T Sheils & Company First Division League Mountshannon Celtic v Ennis Town in Scariff at 11:00.

Referee: Sean Kenneally Avenue Utd B v Tulla Utd in Roslevan at 11:00. Referee: Dylan Shannon

Campion Insurance Second Division League Coole FC v Rineanna Rovers in Gort at 14:00. Referee: Frankie Coote Bridge Utd B v Shannon Town B in Sixmilebridge at 11:00. Referee: Paudie Hayes Moher Celtic B v Kilkishen Celtic in Liscannor at 14:00.

Referee: Museliu Bashua Monday 27th July 2020 Jim Casey Trophies U17 League Group A Bridge Utd v Avenue Utd in Sixmilebridge at 19:00.

Referee: Pa Gleeson Wednesday 29th July 2020 Maloney Garden Machinery Premier Division Bridge Utd A v Shannon Town A in Sixmilebridge at 19:00. Referee: Mark Rellis T Sheils & Company First Division League Hermitage A v Mountshannon Celtic in Fairgreen at 19:00. Referee: Trevor White Tulla Utd v Ennis Town in The Cragg at 19:00. Referee: Dylan Shannon Moher Celtic A v Avenue Utd B in Lahinch at 19:00.

Referee: Pa Gleeson Suttons Lighting Third Division League Shannon Town C v Cloughleigh Celtic in Corrib Drive at 19:00. Referee: Paudie Hayes Jim Casey Trophies U17 League Group A Ennis Town v Manus Celtic in Lees Rd at 19:00. Referee: Frankie Coote Thursday 30th July 2020 Campion Insurance Second Division League

Bridge Utd B v Rhine Rovers in Sixmilebridge at 19:00.

Referee: Pa Gleeson Shannon Town B v Manus Celtic A in Corrib Drive at 19:00. Referee: Julian Sandford Jim Casey Trophies U17 League Group B Burren Utd v Shannon Town in Lisdoonvarna at 19:15.

Referee: Sean Kenneally SOCCER RESULTS: Sunday 19th July 2020 Campion Insurance Second Division League Coole FC 4-4 Shannon Town B Bridge Utd B 2-1 Manus Celtic A Moher Celtic B 1-3 Rineanna Rovers Suttons Lighting Third Division League Shannon Hibs B 1-3 Ennis Dons Inch Crusaders 2-3 Cloughleigh Celtic CSGL Electrical Youths League B Division Tulla Utd B 2-2 Ennis Town Saturday 18th July 2020 Maloney Garden Machinery Premier Division Newmarket Celtic A 3-1 Avenue Utd A Shannon Hibs A 4-3 Bridge Utd A Lifford A 5-2 Shannon Olympic T Sheils & Company First Division League Newmarket Celtic B 1-0 Avenue Utd B Moher Celtic A 2-4 Ennis Town

HURLING

Senior Club Hurling Championship p26-41

Short and sweet for Newmarket

NEWMARKET Celtic have gone five points clear at the top of the Maloney Garden Machinery Premier Division following the shortest game in the history of Clare soccer at McDonough Memorial Park, Newmarket-on-Fergus.

A ten month wait to find out the winner of an abandoned contest between two clubs in the Clare District Soccer League (CDSL) Premier Division ended on Saturday evening as Newmarket Celtic not alone maintained their lead but added to it to go top of the table, winning 3-1.

An injury to an Avenue player in their September meeting prompted the game to be called off with six minutes remaining. The highly awaited refixture which was called “a shambles” by some supporters also saw a brief half-time interval take place with only three minutes played.

With less than two minutes on the clock,

Newmarket Celtic had reason to celebrate as an excellent free-kick from Ronan McCormack ended up in the back of James Tierney’s net. Mark Rellis was forced to award the free when David McCarthy was brought down by Dylan Casey.

In need of the three points, Avenue Utd played with only three men at the back but were unable to test Shane Cusack throughout the duration of the game. Their opponents managed by Mark O’Malley not alone upset them on the scoreboard but also by slowing things down for the few breaks in play.

O’Malley was joined on the sideline for the first time by Donal Magee. The twotime Premier Division winning manager has joined Newmarket’s set-up following on from his departure from Ballynanty. It’s the start they were looking for as competitive action resumes and it tees them up to

maintain their bid for three league titles in succession.

Phillip Talty in action against Ronan McCormack and Kevin Harnett. Photograph: Joe Buckley There was further joy for Newmarket Celtic as their B team also overcame Avenue Utd on Saturday evening. Ciaran McCoy’s header on the forty first minute kept them on top spot of the T Shiels & Company First Division League, the Ennis club are just one point adrift with a game to spare.

Newmarket Celtic A: Shane Cusack; David O’Grady, Paddy Purcell, Eoin O’Brien, Darren Cullinan; Kevin Harnett, Colin Smyth; Ronan McCormack, Kieran Mahony; Eoin Hayes, David McCarthy.

Avenue Utd A: James Tierney; Mikey Dinan, Simon Cuddy, Wayne Browne; Alan Roche, Dylan Casey; Gary Roche, Conor Mullen, Mark Roche; Phillip Talty, Ronan Kerin.

Referee: Mark Rellis

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Phillip Talty in action against Ronan McCormack and Kevin Harnett Photo by Joe Buckley

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pg24

23-07-20

CLARE INTERMEDIATE HURLING CHAMPIONSHIP: TEAM PROFILES INAGH/KILNAMONA

SMITH O’BRIENS

MANAGEMENT: Sean Tobin (manager), Christy Rosney, Kevin McCarthy CAPTAIN: Keith Stritch TITLES: 1 MOST RECENT: 2004 KEY PLAYER: Cian Nolan FRESH BLOOD: Oisin Maloney, Adam Maloney, Dean Lawlor.

MANAGEMENT: Paul McInerney (manager), Dermot Gannon and Pat Barry CAPTAIN: TBC TITLES: 0 MOST RECENT: N/A KEY PLAYER: Brian Foudy FRESH BLOOD: Jason Griffin

ST JOSEPHS DOORA/ BAREFIELD

MANAGEMENT: Jamesy Hassett (manager), Niall Gilligan, Adrian Hogan, Kevin Walker, John Lynch, Martin Kiely.

CAPTAIN: Danny Morey and David O’Connor TITLES: 5 MOST RECENT: 1990 KEY PLAYER: Sean Lynch FRESH BLOOD: N/A

SIXMILEBRIDGE

MANAGEMENT: Sean McMahon (manager), Jamesie O’Connor, Fintan Lahiffe, Donal Cahill, Davy McCormack (coach), Sean Conroy.

CAPTAIN: Alan O’Neill TITLES: 3 MOST RECENT: 2016 KEY PLAYER: David Conroy FRESH BLOOD: Eoghan Thynne

NEWMARKET-ON-FERGUS

BODYKE

MANAGEMENT: Eric Minouge (manager), George Waterstone, Frank O’Meara, Johnny Howard CAPTAIN: Paddy Fitzgerald and Ian Murray.

TITLES: 5 MOST RECENT: 1996 KEY PLAYER: Paddy Fitzgerald FRESH BLOOD: Sean Wiley, Seanie Doyle.

KILLANENA

MANAGEMENT: Francis McNamara (manager), Jason O’Brien, Brian McNamara, Noel McNamara CAPTAIN: TBC TITLES: 1 MOST RECENT: 2010 KEY PLAYER: Mark Flaherty FRESH BLOOD: N/A

TULLA

MANAGEMENT: Raymond McInerney (manager), Ray Stewart, Michael Browne, Donal Madden, Declan Curran, Dave Moloney.

CAPTAIN: David McInerney TITLES: 1 MOST RECENT: 1979 KEY PLAYER: David McInerney FRESH BLOOD: Andrew Conheady, Liam McInerney, Daniel Withycombe, Jimmy O’Gorman.

SCARIFF

MANAGEMENT: Mark McKenna (manager), Johnny Markham (coach), Mike Long, Michael Moroney, Paul Hayes CAPTAIN: Michael Scanlan TITLES: 1 MOST RECENT: 1982 KEY PLAYER: Mark Rodgers FRESH BLOOD: Seamus McCaul, Patrick Ryan, Éanna O’Brien, Tadhg Kavanagh

TUBBER

MANAGEMENT: Iarla Tannian (manager), John Clancy, Ivan Conway, Eoin Ruane, Matthew Fitzsimons, Mike Finn, Rosaleen Monahan (physio).

CAPTAIN: TBC TITLES: 2 MOST RECENT: 1976

KEY PLAYER: Patrick O’Connor FRESH BLOOD: N/A

CRATLOE

MANAGEMENT: Jack Chaplin (manager), Kevin Browne CAPTAIN: Phillip Gleeson TITLES: 3 MOST RECENT: 1994 KEY PLAYER: Jamie Costigan FRESH BLOOD: Sean Ryan

CLARECASTLE

MANAGEMENT: Brian Russell (manager), Kieran Lynch, Alan O’Loughlin, Anthony Griffey.

CAPTAIN: Tommy Howard TITLES: 1 MOST RECENT: 1931 KEY PLAYER: Briain Lynch FRESH BLOOD: Dylan Browne, Conor Halpin.

PARTEEN

MANAGEMENT: Mike Flynn (manager), Willie Banks, PJ Flanagan, Nick Madden.

CAPTAIN: Nathan Fox TITLES: 1 MOST RECENT: 1956 KEY PLAYER: Joe O’Connor FRESH BLOOD: Jack Kirwan, Daniel Cooney, Darren McGleenan, Michael McEvoy, Sean O’Connor, Korey Browne

MANAGEMENT: John Guilfoyle (manager), Eamon Curley, Seamus Meehan, Derek Clancy.

CAPTAIN: TBC TITLES: 1 MOST RECENT: 1967 KEY PLAYER: James Freeman FRESH BLOOD: Niall Enright, Cian Foley.

COROFIN

MANAGEMENT: Patsy Fahy (manager), Martin O’Connor, Mike O’Dell CAPTAIN: Luke O’Loughlin TITLES: 2 MOST RECENT: 2002 KEY PLAYER: Gearoid Cahill FRESH BLOOD: Diarmuid Cahill, Conor Leen.

RUAN

MANAGEMENT: Niall O’Connor (manager), Cyril Lyons (coach), John Punch (coach), Jonathan Clohessy, Alan Bell, Mattie McDonagh.

CAPTAIN: TBC TITLES: 4 MOST RECENT: 2012 KEY PLAYER: Robin Mounsey FRESH BLOOD: Jack Lyons, Shane Punch, Michael Barrow

CLONLARA

MANAGEMENT: Dermot McMahon (manager), Paul Collins, Ger Begley, John McGuinness CAPTAIN: Fionnan O’Brien TITLES: 4 MOST RECENT: 2007 KEY PLAYER: Pat O’Hare FRESH BLOOD: Louis McCormack, Tommy Walsh, Tommy Lynch, Patrick Conlon, Jason Murphy, Ryan Morris.

COMPILED BY PÁRAIC MCMAHON

23-07-20

pg25

Let the games begin PÁRAIC MCMAHON

W

paraic@clareecho.ie

H A T seemed highly unlikely in weeks gone by is now coming to pass as GAA championship action returns to Co Clare.

Action commences this weekend in the Clare SHC and IHC, Ruan’s Ger Lyons put it well at the June meeting of Clare County Board, “this will be known as the COVID-19 championship” and it will be referred to as this in the decades ahead.

It will be different and it will be peculiar. Matches will be held behind closed doors and instead of heading to the siopa at half-time, supporters will just head into their own kitchen and flick the kettle if they are availing of streaming options from Clare GAA TV. Club managers may breathe a sigh of relief as they will not be heckled by

passionate fans from the stand but the absence of an atmosphere will be one of the striking elements of the COVID-19 championship.

The same will also apply to match officials, so often under-appreciated but who will have less grief to contend with from vocal spectators.

During the height of the restrictions, sporting clubs across the country particularly in Co Clare showed themselves to be real “community leaders” as Fr Harry Bohan would say. It was the representatives from the GAA and soccer clubs that led fundraisers to aid local charities and organisations. They were the pride of the parish and now they return to doing what they love best and that is donning the club jersey.

Indeed it was the club players that admirably led the way in a multitude of initiatives during April, May and June. It adds to the sense of disappointment that these said individuals have once again been let down by Croke Park. 2020 and the condensed season should have

lBACK IN ACTION: Joe Neylon and David Mescal in action last season Photo by Martin Connolly

been set aside as a club only season, if ever there was an opportunity for the top ranking GAA officials to put the club as pride of place this was the year, instead some competitions will be run off with county teams and the organisation’s financial coffers once again prioritised over its loyal members.

GAA grounds have been open for just over a month, prior to that clubs utilised school grounds, soccer pitches, community spaces and even farmers fields to get the ball rolling. This weekend, they will find out if they are at a desired championship pace.

So too will The Clare Echo, our cham-

pionship special represents the paper’s biggest spread on the commencement of a local GAA campaign. With two of the county’s most respected sports reporters in Seamus Hayes and Eoin Brennan on board we will endeavour to bring you to the heart of the action in “the COVID-19 championship” both online and in our weekly newspaper with thanks to a quality pool of photographers. Instead of waiting a week for match reports, they will be available online on the day of games with a fresh outlook to follow in Thursday’s paper.

Updates will be consistent across Twitter, so it is advisable to make sure you are on the ball in this regard.

Nothing beats being there is a GAA slogan that has come into being during the past decade and is most often heard in relation to ticket sales. With only a tiny minority of club members granted access to games, they are now as sought after as a golden ticket to Willie Wonka’s Chocolate Factory or a tea pass for half-time in Cusack Park.

The wait is almost over and the sound of a clash of the ash can almost be heard, local rivalries have added spice to proceedings in the first round.

Loyalties will be split across the county but the one goal remains the same across the board, for no health consequences to arise following the running of fixtures. Let the games begin!

‘Championship format does Club games set not serve Clare hurling well’ for pay-per-view

MANAGER of the reigning Clare SHC champions, Tim Crowe has warned that teams involved in fixtures on Saturday evening and Sunday afternoon may throw results to gain a more favourable draw in the second round, writes Páraic McMahon.

Tim Crowe has criticised officials in the CCCC that have put forward the format which will be used for the 2020 Clare senior and intermediate hurling championships.

Speaking to The Clare Echo, the Sixmilebridge manager commented, “At the outset, I want to clearly state that my views in no way undermine the future champions of 2020. As a hurling man’s viewpoint, I’m frustrated and dissatisfied with the system, the CCCC in Croke Park recommended that the first weekend in October be the end date for county finals for counties playing on the 24th and 25th of October which Clare are”.

Sixmilebridge put forward the concept of four groups of four for the Clare SHC as there was no Clare Cup this year before the June meeting of the County Board. He explained their reasoning was “in the best interests

of hurling and the club players. I thought they needed a minimum of three matches to justify the effort being put in. All counties in Munster plus Galway and Wexford have the groups of four, for some reason we were told at the meeting in Cusack Park that it was illegal on score differences, how come all the other hurling counties have adopted it, I think there is an explanation needed by the person who made the statement because he had a huge influence on the delegates”.

Crowe said club delegates gave “a vote of confidence in the Government” as opposed to backing “the best system for the senior championship”.

He also questioned why clubs such as Sixmilebridge had a say in the format of the football championship and likewise why the likes of Liscannor and Michael Cusacks got an input for the proposed hurling structure.

“The proposed system is very weak with the first round providing a challenge match situation, it doesn’t really matter if you win and you’re better off losing because you go into the second round as an underdog and we all love that. The teams

playing in the seventh and eighth fixture have a huge advantage because they know the make-up of the pools at that stage, for eight clubs with this system they will only get one meaningful match and I don’t think that is good enough, it won’t serve Clare hurling well”.

When questioned on whether he felt teams would not go all out to win, Tim said, “I don’t think every team will be giving 100 percent because you don’t give 100 percent in a challenge match, you only give it when it’s vital. Teams will approach this first round match as a challenge match situation. The eight matches are quite even, you will have two very strong pools, you’re not going to go full blooded for a situation that d o e s n’ t re a l ly matter”.

CLARE GAA are to stream games in the Clare SHC and IHC this weekend on a pay-per-view basis.

All games will be recorded with contests taking place in Cusack Park to be streamed live online while deferred showings will be broadcast of all other encounters taking place. Live games on Clare GAA TV will cost viewers €7.80 to stream with €3.50 set as the price for deferred outings.

Four first round senior games, Friday’s opener between Clooney/ Quin and Inagh/Kilnamona, Sixmilebridge’s first game in defence of their title against Éire Óg, the derby contest between reigning intermediate champions Broadford and O’Callaghans Mills plus Sunday’s encounter between Ballyea and Crusheen will all be streamed live.

All remaining contests in the Clare SHC plus the full amount of games in the Clare IHC will be available as deferred showings. A link to purchase and view games can be obtained from Clare GAA’s official website. A similar format will be in place for the Clare SFC and IFC which kick off next weekend.

The Clare Echo understands that Clare GAA has invested up to €20,000 in the project. The organisation has purchased their own equipment for the venture which they say will provide a “top quality service” to patrons.

With games taking place behind closed doors, the decision to stream matches and bring them to as big an audience as possible was made by Clare GAA. They are also hopeful the county’s diaspora abroad will take up the opportunity to avail of the coverage which they view as an option to keeping the service viable in the long-term.

Michael O’Connor, Clare GAA PRO stated, “Clare GAA TV will be showing the largest number of games in the country on live or deferred showing for any county in Ireland”. An online match programme is to be produced, the Crusheen man confirmed. It will be provided to every club and media outlet and will be made available to every supporter who visits Clare GAA’s website or Twitter page, the links to purchase games will be included in the official programme.

“With the current health climate and regulations in place that predetermine the attendances at games this offers supporters of teams an opportunity to view our games in a safe environment and still follow all the action as it happens,” Chairperson of Clare GAA, Joe Cooney said. He added, “In the space of 12 short months the GAA in Clare have progressed to giving spectators and supporters of our games all over the world a sense of togetherness with their native community”.

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O’CALLAGHANS MILLS

Mills aim to bounce back MANAGMENT Donach O’Donnell (manager), Donal Cooney, Marty Baker, Tom Crehan CAPTAIN Bryan Donnellan TITLES Seven KEY PLAYER Gary Cooney FRESH BLOOD Cormac Murphy

EOIN BRENNAN

W

HILE it’s nearly next to impossible to accurately assess any team in this year’s senior championship, that arduous task is arguably doubled when evaluating O’Callaghan’s Mills.

From the undoubted high of contesting a first top flight semi-final in 21 years in 2018, 12 months later they were simply relieved to even cling to their senior championship lives after becoming embroiled in the ultimate test of nerves amidst a relegation final derby with Tulla.

Thankfully there’s no threat of relegation in 2020 but the truth is that they never should have found themselves in that position in the first place, a mandate echoed by new manager Donach O’Donnell who formerly trained the Limerick senior hurlers to a Munster crown in 2013. “Consistency and more importantly consistent work-rate is what I’m looking for from our guys.

O’Callaghan’s Mills’ Ciarán Cooney pays close attention to Tony Kelly

“From day one, our focus has been to organise this team, get them playing in a frequent system, get them to know and trust each other, work very hard and try and improve every day you go out.

And even from training session to training session, improve a little bit all the time and that’s a simple but effective way of looking at it.

“Being honest, considering the situation that has presented itself

Photo by Martin Connolly

this year, we’re as happy as we can be at this stage. “It’s been a very unusual season really, especially for a new management team as I haven’t had a lot of time with the squad. But in fairness, the players

are open, eager to learn and they’re working very hard at it and in addition, the club have been very supportive so all in all, things are going fairly well to be honest.

“That said, injuries are inevitable in this kind of condensed situation so we’ve tried to manage them as best we can. We’ve been very conscious of monitoring training sessions so we’re not doing too much and watch the load on players. We’ve played three challenge matches over the past few weeks so we’ve tried to recover properly.

“We’ve three of four players with niggles but none that are definitely out of contention but I feel it’s very important to look at and assimilate our young fellas coming through as well.

There are a lot of them but they’re pushing the older guys and that means competition for places which is the way you want to have it.”

Mallow native O’Donnell, who also steered Nenagh CBS to a prestigious Croke Cup success in 2012, is acutely aware that he’s facing a baptism of fire for his competitive bow as manager on Saturday as the Mills face a derby duel against intermediate champions Broadford who will be keen to make their mark after a five year absence at senior level.

“Any championship match that’s a keen derby like that is always going to be tight. Broadford will be tough and determined to hit the ground running but all we can do is look at our own performance, try to get the best out of our guys and work extremely hard. And if we can achieve that, I think we’ll be okay”.

23-07-20

pg27

BROADFORD Optimism for returning Broadford EOIN BRENNAN

T

HE five year gap between their relegation from the top tier and last year’s relieving redemption signifies exactly how difficult and frustrating Broadford found life at Intermediate level.

Back-to-back final reverses were followed by successive quarter-final exits before their persistence was finally rewarded with a revenge title victory over St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield who had arguably inflicted the deepest cut when Broadford were at their marauding best in 2016.

Considering that getting up was such an arduous task, staying up in

the senior ranks was simply a prerequisite that was duly guaranteed by means of a moratorium on relegation in 2020 due to the Coronavirus.

It’s perfect timing as a bedding in period for Broadford but in truth that assimilation process had already begun as the bedrock of Broadford’s promotion was their ability to compete admirably against senior opposition in the Clare Cup in recent seasons as their promotion to Division 1A in 2019 was bolstered by reaching the last four.

It’s a competition that was sorely missed by new manager Jimmy Browne (current LIT Fitzgibbon Cup manager and former Clare Under 21 and Senior Selector) as a means of getting to really know the character and make up of his troops.

“Playing in the top tier of the Clare Cup and facing quality teams day in and day out was going to significantly bridge the gap between intermediate and senior in terms of pace, physicality and just the structure of hurling that happens at that level consistently. Certainly that proved the case last year when they had a very good run in the cup but this year is completely different now for everyone. After all, no team has hurled in anger since last October or November so that’s a huge gap and makes it totally unpredictable in terms of individual and collective form.

“As a new management team, it has been very fragmented and even though individually I’d know a lot of the players by virtue of county panels or colleges teams I’ve been involved with, it’s completely different evaluating them

BROADFORD V O’CALLAGHAN’S MILLS Saturday July 25 at 4pm, Cusack Park, Ennis

by Eoin Brennan HAVING managed to put out one East Clare fire in last year’s relegation showdown, O’Callaghan’s Mills are now faced with Tulla’s replacements Broadford who possess their own blaze of enthusiasm, having finally ended their Intermediate hex.

Having scaled the heights of a first semi-final appearance since 1997 only 12 months previously, few, including themselves, would have anticipated such a downturn in the Mills’ fortunes in 2019.

But while relegation isn’t a consideration this time around, they will still be determined to get back competing regularly in the right side of the championship.

The removal of the senior trapdoor however is perhaps more significant to Broadford who, having struggled to regain their senior status over the past five seasons, certainly won’t want to be anywhere near that grade again at all costs.

Instead, the 2020 campaign offers Broadford the opportunity to get reacquainted with their new surroundings and with nothing to lose and experience to gain, they can throw everything at this novel championship campaign and see where it takes them.

Broadford’s freedom is an unquantifiable threat

that the Mills won’t relish as normally a more seasoned senior side can play upon any newcomer’s inexperience or underlying doubts.

While it has been six years since their last championship meeting, it won’t have been forgotten in Broadford’s camp at least that the Mills’ 15 point victory in 2014 greased the wheels of their subsequent relegation.

That said, the derby factor alone, while without any impassioned support from the sidelines, brings its own unique flavour to this contest as despite the otherwise logic to hold back any player carrying knocks for a winner-take-all second round, with two new management teams on board, neither will want to concede any ground this Saturday.

After all, in such a condensed championship, momentum could be a huge driving factor and therefore with local bragging rights at stake, the result here could make or break their season.

The Mills will enter as slight favourites considering their greater assuredness and experience throughout their spine but it’s a punt made without any great conviction.

PREDICTION: O’Callaghan’s Mills

in their own environment at club level. I’d have gone to a few of the Broadford matches last year in the Intermediate Championship but in that scenario you have a different set of eyes completely.

“However, in saying all that, there’s no doubt that the effort, commitment and the focus has been superb. It does bring with it a couple of niggles and injuries as normally in a championship week, you’d have a fair idea what your structure and team would be at this point. But that’s still a matter of debate and with the additional injuries (Stiofan McMahon and Shane Taylor are carrying knocks), we’ll just have to wait and see closer to the game really.”

There are murmurings throughout the county of clubs possibly holding back players and just holding back in general for the opening round, what are your thoughts on that? “There’s a lot of talk about the championship, the format and the value of the first game but ultimately a local derby means that all t h at debate goes out the window.

“I’d know a lot of the Mills lads, having being involved with them back at the end of the last decade and would also have had a good few of them at third level in the Fitzgibbon Cup so I think the local derby element alone brings its own level of interest and intensity.

“It’s a steep learning curve for

MANAGMENT Jimmy Browne (manager), Kieran Corcoran, Paraic Boland, John Corcoran CAPTAIN Not selected TITLES None KEY PLAYER Shane Taylor FRESH BLOOD Davy Boland

us as we’re facing a real battle-hardened senior outfit and the Mills will be looking for a bounce of their own from their performances last year in relation to where they were in the previous year. So there is a bit of extra focus for both this weekend and in general there’s great optimism I think in both clubs in terms of what the season may hold.”

Broadford’s Paddy Donnellan

pg28

23-07-20

NEWMARKET-ON-FERGUS

Blues braced for toughest opener MANAGMENT John Tuohy (Manager), John McInerney, Marty O’Hanlon, Seanie McMahon, Pa McEvoy (S&C) CAPTAIN Sean O’Connor TITLES 23 (Most recent, 2012) KEY PLAYER Colin Guilfoyle FRESH BLOOD Peter Power, Kieran McMahon, Stephen Casey

EOIN BRENNAN

W

ITH the exhaust fumes of the 2012 title winning juggernaut fading inexorably into the distance with every passing season, Newmarket-on-Fergus’ priority list has understandably altered significantly towards moulding a whole new generation of flagship hurlers in recent times.

Reliant on an ageing cohort, The Blues have had no choice to begin blooding new players. Transition was the initial intention of new manager, John Tuohy who guided Limerick to a first Munster senior camogie title in 2017. Relegated to Division 1B of The Clare Cup during Bob Enright’s final season, his successor had viewed the league as an ideal platform to introduce fresh players.

“We’ve just had to made do, we’ve no excuses, lads have been training and working hard so while we do have a few injuries. A hamstring injury has quashed the availability

Newmarket-on-Fergus’ John Feehily in action in 2018 against Bradley Higgins of Kilmaley

Photo by Martin Connolly

of centre-forward Mikey McInerney while doubts remain over the fitness of Niall O’Connor and Colin Ryan.

“Being honest, it’s just great to be back on the field and to have

everyone coming back training with a smile on their faces and enjoying the whole camaraderie and the social aspect of hurling too. It’s a strange time for players but at the same time, they’ve embraced

it quite well. I mean the younger players in particular have been very frustrated over the past few months but look, they’re back now and we’ve had three or four challenge matches that they’ve enjoyed.

“Currently, we have 11 or 12 Under 21’s being blended into a senior panel and that inevitably takes time so trying to give guys game-time has been difficult but we’ve done our best to give as many of them games as possible.”

And while their championship opener this weekend is their first competitive outing of 2020, youth will still get its fling for the Blues as the relegation trapdoor has been removed from the equation this season. “In fairness to the county board, taking away the relegation factor was a fantastic gesture and a very, very clever thing to do. It takes the pressure off clubs and allows them to blood players and play their championships without having to look over their shoulders at relegation plus they’ve kept the Senior B Championship which is another very, very good idea. With so few matches this year, it’s another trophy to play for. Obviously everyone will be looking to try and win the A but who knows what the form guide will be this year as Clare is always very, very competitive.”

The draw threw up a repeat of the 2008 senior decider which Clonlara edged, only 12 months after coming up from intermediate level. And while 12 years have passed since, Clon are still the team to beat in the race for ultimate glory.

“You couldn’t ask for a tougher start. Clonlara have some very, very good hurlers on their team, have a lot of players who played for the county between minor, Under 21 and senior. So they certainly have been standard-bearers in Clare for many many years and while they mightn’t have reached their full potential on occasions, they’re still an extremely hard team to beat. That said, we’re looking forward to the challenge on Friday to see how it goes”.

23-07-20

pg29

CLONLARA

Clonlara bid to turn fortunes around EOIN BRENNAN

A

SK any of the current Clonlara squad about the key early influencers in their hurling careers and outside of

MANAGMENT Eddie Horgan (Manager), Paul Nihill, Darach Honan, Dave Clohessy, Aaron Hogg CAPTAIN Cathal O’Connell TITLES Two (Most recent, 2008) KEY PLAYER Colm Galvin FRESH BLOOD Colm O’Meara, Cillian O’Brien YOU DIDN’T KNOW The Canon Hamilton Cup, is named after a Clonlara native Monsignor Hamilton who was born 200 metres from the current GAA grounds. As a young priest, he posed in the photo of Clonlara’s 1919 winning team

their parents, they are more than around the county due to players tition for places within the squad all guns blazing to topple anyone likely to reference national school coming back from their own train- while last year’s Junior A success that tries to hinder their progresteachers Eddie Horgan and PJ ing regimes and not being used to has also aided the cause. But while sion”.

Fitzpatrick at the top of their lists. contact training on hard grass at Horgan is more than pleased with Horgan’s involvement in the this stage of the year. So our squad his side’s response in recent weeks, The loss of development of hurlers in the lo- would be suffering from minor it’s still a big step into the unknown John Conlon is a major cal school for over 30 years finally injuries that we’d be hoping will this Friday against an experienced setback for came to an end following his re- clear up in time for our first game Newmarket outfit.

Clonlara tirement last year. But far from be- against Newmarket on Friday. But “It’s a very, very difficult chaling idle, he has taken up the man- there would be some concerns be- lenge for us to begin our champitle as Clonlara senior manager this ing honest.” onship campaign this Friday. We year in a bid to turn their fortunes One unquestionable leader that would have loved to have had with regard to finally getting back is definitely out is 2018 All-Star a few markers against some into the championship winning and 2020 Clare captain John Con- of our opponents in the enclosure. lon who suffered a cruciate liga- Clare Cup. So we’re dancDespite three further county fi- ment injury just before the lock- ing in the dark but nal appearances and five semi-final down. “We were really looking what we do know is finishes since, a fully merited sec- forward to having John as one of that we’re going in ond title hasn’t arrived to accentu- our talismans again for the coming against an opponents that ate that sole 2008 triumph. So after year. So he is a huge loss to us and are one of the Blue Ribtrying a number of different ap- we’re just hoping that other players and teams in this competiproaches, perhaps this year’s lack of now step up to the mark and fulfil tion. We certainly won’t be preparation time might just work the role that John was so good at taking anything for granted. and unlock the key to success. for our team.”

There’s always at least one serious Not that 2020 has been anywhere Winning the 2018 Minor A performance in Newmarket every near ideal for Horgan and his new crown has increased the compe- year so I’d imagine that they’ll have management team.

“Preparations have been just as diffiNEWMARKET ON FERGUS V CLONLARA cult for Clonlara as everyone else afFriday July 24 at 7pm, O’Garney Park, Sixmilebridge ter the lockdown.

by Eoin Brennan There have been THEY haven’t been frequent opponents in the champi- of their exchanges with Newmarket, Clonlara have been quite an amount of onship but when Clonlara and Newmarket-on-Fergus do unable to add to their 2008 Canon Hamilton success deniggles and little inlock horns, it tends to be at a critical juncture. Of course, spite reaching the last four stage in eight of the next nine juries in our camp their most memorable clash was the unique county final seasons including final reverses in 2009, ’15 and ’16. as I’m sure there of 2008 that boasted an average age of 23 across both However, an unthinkable brush with relegation danger have been in all sides. Newmarket felt they had paid their dues in the 2006 found themselves in the same boat as Newmarket in 2018 other camps as well equivalent but would be usurped by an even more fresh- while additional early exits last year mean that both require faced Clonlara side that didn’t know what it was like to take a back step following county and provincial intermediate club success the previous year.

Clonlara would suffer their own heartbreak 12 months later at the hands of new incumbents Cratloe but only after defeating the Blues once more in the semi-final. While Newmarket had to wait until 2012 to finally break their Clonlara hoodoo, it was more than worth the weight as they edged out Clonlara by the minimum in the semi-final before ending their 31 year famine against Cratloe in the final. Indeed, Bob Enright’s side would complete the double that year as they also overcame Clonlara in the subsequent Clare Cup decider.

Their last championship clash came at the quarter-final stage in 2015 but it would go very much in Clonlara’s favour at 0-19 to 0-10. While they have largely had the better

a kick in the right direction on Friday evening.

The loss of Clare captain John Conlon through injury is a major setback to Clonlara’s hopes but their greater powers of regeneration offers renewed hope following a first ever Minor A triumph in 2018.

Equally Newmarket will look to youth as a potential springboard as last year saw the Blues go all the way to a replay in the Under 21B Final before securing the Minor B honours last October.

Still, with their greater sprinkling of inter-county performers at minor, Under 21 and senior levels in recent years, Clonlara will be expected to maintain their indian sign over Newmarket, with the carrot for the winners being the fact that their prior championship clashes have all resulted in the winners reaching a county final.

VERDICT: Clonlara

pg30

23-07-20

KILMALEY Kilmaley not encumbered by tag of favourites Daire Keane of Kilmaley

SEAMUS HAYES

O

NE look at the line out of the Kilmaley senior hurling management team and it’s easy to understand why the club is short listed for honours in 2020.

Manager Kieran O’Neill was a key member of his native St Joseph’s Doora-Barefield team when they won Clare, Munster and All-Ireland club honours. He coached Kilmealey when they last won the Canon Hamilton trophy in 2004.

Niall Romer, the current Clare senior hurling kit man, has managed a number of Kilmaley teams to underage success. He captained Clare to the All-Ireland junior hurling title in 1993.

Donie Buckley may be better known as a football coach having been part of the Mayo and Kerry senior management squads in the past decade but all GAA people agree that his appointment to the Kilmaley backroom set up is a major coup for the club. An All-Ireland club football championship

winner with his native Castleisland, Buckley has coached a number of Clare senior football club sides to honours There is little doubt but that they have a very talented panel which is led by current inter county player Conor Cleary from Miltown Malbay. Starters Mikey O’Neill, Michael O’Malley and Aidan McGuane have all had stints with Clare in recent seasons.

Daire Keane, Cian Moloney, Colin McGuane and Paraic McNamara are others who have been prominent in recent seasons. Having missed out on last season due to injury, Brian Cahill is back challenging for a place in the team.

“Playing Cratloe is a big challenge but it’s a great opportunity for Kilmaley. Cratloe have beaten Kilmaley in the championship in the last two years. They are a great side and we have no illusions about the enormity of the task we are facing. Cratloe are a fantastic team”, manager Kieran O’Neill said.

While the first round “might be like a challenge game”, Kilmaley will be chasing a victory. “When you win you have confidence going into the next round. Success breathes success. We know that we are facing an enormous challenge.

Photo by Martin Connolly

We have a good bit of work done.

We want lads to enjoy their hurling, we want them to play with a smile”, he said.

O’Neill replied that there was no pressure on the team given that they have been shortlisted for honours each year in recent seasons.

“We just want lads to go out and win win their patch. That’s the way we operate. If it doesn’t go for someone on a given day, we will make a change”, said O’Neill, a noted dual player in his playing days and a member of Clare’s Munster championship winning senior football team in 1992.

There is keen competition for places in the Kilmaley panel as the club, unlike many clubs in

MANAGMENT Kieran O’Neill (manager), Niall Romer, Martin Cahill, Martin Enright, Dereck Williams CAPTAIN Conor Cleary the county, does not suffer from a shortage of numbers. This is reflected in the fact that they have three adult teams in competition.

Their underage section is strong and over the past decade they have been able to field two teams in most underage grades.

Just as they are at senior level, they are also amongst the favourites for the under 21 A title this

TITLES Two (Most recent, 2004) KEY PLAYER Conor Cleary FRESH BLOOD James McGuire year. In fact they are the holders of this title having scored a comfortable win over Crusheen-Tubber in the 2019 final.

For now the focus is very much on the senior championship and a win on Saturday would certainly strengthen the view held by many that they can win the title in 2020.

23-07-20

pg31

CRATLOE

Cratloe not reflecting on past as focus switches to new campaign SEAMUS HAYES

A

STELLAR lineup of games are on the cards in the opening round of the Clare SHC, Cratloe’s first outing against Kilmaley is certainly among them.

The successes achieved by Cratloe in both hurling and football in the last decade and a half are well documented. With practically the same pool of players, they have been at the business end of both senior championships almost every year in that period and have carried home the spoils twice in both disciplines.

There are many who believe that they should have won more titles than they did and those people argue that the demands of competing in both proved costly. The Collins brothers, Sean, Podge and David, Conor McGrath, Cathal McInerney, Liam Markham, Martin ‘Oige’ Murphy, Enda Boyce, Michael Hawes, and Sean Chaplin are just some of the players who have been regulars on both the hurling and football teams throughout the past decade.

Cratloe will again be looking to these players to lead their charge for honours this season, Gearoid Ryan has filled the goalkeeping position on the hurling team while Diarmuid Ryan, Rian Considine and Billy Connors have been regulars in recent years and they are again expected to fill key roles in

the upcoming campaigns.

Tubber native Conor Earley who joined the club a few seasons back, has taken over the manager’s duties this year and he has assembled a strong backroom team that includes former manager Joe McGrath along with Jody O’Connor, Aaron Carroll and John O’Gorman, all of whom have served the club in a variety of positions over the years. Trevor Slatery is an experienced strength and conditioning coach with both the hurlers and footballers.

Speaking ahead of this w e e k’s opening tie, manager

Conor Earley said. “We are happy to be playing.

Last year’s championship format was good and it was our preferred opt ion but this is what is there now and we are looking forward to the challenge.

It’s great to get back playing, a game of any sort will be a help and we are all looking

forward to this”.

Earley agreed that “Cratloe have had a couple of tight games with Kilmaley in recent times. They have a strong panel with lots of young players coming through”.

Asked if it is difficult to manage and prepare a team that has so many dual players, he said that isn’t a problem. “We have a great relationship with Colm (Collins, the club’s football manager) and we work very closely”.

He wasn’t interested in reflecting on results from recent years. “We are only looking forward to what is in front of us. There has been no league games, no inter county games, nothing. It’s all about what is in front of us”, according to the Cratloe manager In common with other team managers, he says that Cratloe will be chasing victory in this week’s opening round. “It will be a quick c h a mp i o n ship and it will be quicker for some more than others.

We are hopeful of getting a big performance on Saturday and we will be looking to go up a notch for round two”, he concluded.

Podge Collins

MANAGMENT Conor Earley (manager), Jody O’Connor, John O’Gorman, Aaron Carroll, Joe McGrath, Trevor Slattery (S&C) CAPTAIN Conor McGrath TITLES Two (Most recent, 2014)

KEY PLAYER Conor McGrath FRESH BLOOD Sean Gallagher, Jamie Costigan, Luke Healy YOU DIDN’T KNOW xx

CRATLOE V KILMALEY Saturday July 25 at 7pm, Cusack Park, Ennis

by Eoin Brennan WITH hurling matches as rare as exotic holidays this year, Kilmaley have had plenty of time to pour over the manner of their championship exit to Cratloe in Round 3 last September.

Having soared to a first Clare Cup crown in 18 years in July, it appeared the perfect boost for a real shot at also bridging a 15 year gap to their last senior championship title. But it didn’t quite work out that way as despite being floored by 15 points in that Clare Cup final, Inagh-Kilnamona would bounce back to reach the penultimate stage whereas Kilmaley perished in the last 12.

A blistering start saw Kilmaley deservedly move six points clear by the end of the opening quarter but amazingly would only score another five points for the remainder of the contest as Cratloe never reached for the panic button and duly found their feet to produce a 13 point turnaround at 1-16 to 0-12.

For Kilmaley, that defeat only compounded the frustrations of being pipped at the post by the same opponents in the previous year’s semi-final, a nervy shoot-out of more wides than scores that saw Cratloe also emerge on the right side of the result by the minimum.

Unfortunately, Cratloe’s highs haven’t been garnished by more silverware as aside from the memorable title wins in 2009 and ’14 (a senior hurling and football double), they have also suffer decider defeats in 2010, ’12, ’18 and ’19.

Both recent losses will have cut to the bone as Ballyea sprung to life in the 2018 version to blitz Alan Neville’s side while last October’s reverse to their nearest and dearest rivals Sixmilebridge doesn’t need to be further outlined.

Cratloe won’t want to be on the end of a third successive county final result but getting there would be a huge achievement in itself considering their dual ambitions in such a short space of time.

The question is how much Kilmaley have learned over the past two meetings with Cratloe? They have the ability to take a worthy scalp but Cratloe still enter as favourites.

PREDICTION: Cratloe

pg32

23-07-20

BALLYEA

Ballyea bouyed by county men PÁRAIC MCMAHON

B

paraic@clareecho.ie

ALLYEA are buoyed by the presence of their key men as they fine-tune preparations for their opening outing of the Clare senior hurling championship, it’s an experience they haven’t been used to.

Ordinarily, Ballyea would be without several of their go-to leaders for the bulk of their training block before the first round due to county commit-

CRUSHEEN V BALLYEA Sunday July 26 at 1pm, Cusack Park, Ennis

by Eoin Brennan hand, won’t want to be labelled

EXPECT the unexpected is the only way to sum up Crusheen and Ballyea’s history over the past seven years. It began with the shock of the 2013 championship when then Senior B side took out the 2010 and ’11 champions thanks in the main to a ten point haul from Tony Kelly.

They would clash again in two more quarter-final bouts, sharing the honours evenly as Ballyea came back from a six point first quarter deficit to win by eight on their way to a first ever Canon Hamilton in 2016 whereas last year, Crusheen were the ones to spring a surprise and dethrone the champions when digging very deep to prevail by the minimum and reach a first semi-final since 2015.

Ballyea won’t need any extra motivation to face the same opponents again but this time they will be very wary of Crusheen’s threat, man-marking tactics and ability to work relentlessly in packs.

Having soared to titles in 2016 and ’18, Ballyea, on one

with Sixmilebridge’s two year curse but their age profile suggests that there are potentially a lot more titles in them if they can negotiate their way through the tricky waters of the Clare Championship, especially in such a fragmented and uncertain season such as this one.

Crusheen’s injection of young talent last year proved hugely beneficial but they will need more new blood to fully replace the warriors of 2010 and ’11 and really challenge for honours.

The ambush factor is also gone from Crusheen’s armoury this time around so expect Ballyea to come out all guns blazing in the hope of avoiding another dogfight as they did come out second best in the physical stakes in last year’s version.

Tony Kelly and Niall Deasy’s scoring prowess will be central to Ballyea’s sole focus as the hunger and sharpness should be there in abundance for another anticipated rollercoaster championship ride.

VERDICT: Ballyea

ments. It has always been the way since Tony Kelly and Paul Flanagan joined the Clare senior panel in 2012, Jack Browne two years later not to mention their involvement with U21 teams around that period.

Manager Kevin Sheehan admitted that the regular presence of the trio has lifted the entire atmosphere and application at trainings. “It has definitely added another dimension, the relentless level they train at all the time is beginning to rub off on our lads and having them there has been hugely positive, it’s been excellent”.

Challenge matches have been played against Ahane, Gort, Newtownshandrum and Turloughmore in advance of the weekend. “We got a good fist of everything in those, we were happy with how they went, high quality matches with plenty of eagerness to get out, there was plenty of mistakes, bangs, belts and bruises but all and all it was good to get out, we were happy enough with what we saw,” Sheehan said.

A handful of players are expected to overcome slight injuries, Brian Carrig a constant part of their defence is ruled out for the weekend.

2020 would have marked the first year in the history of the club that they competed in Division 1A of The Clare Cup. It had been viewed by the management team as an opportunity to bring the entire panel up to a higher standard.

“It would have been ideal. Last year we felt we came up a little bit short and we had things to find and figure out, to be honest we started with the U21s in late November to give them a serious go and try build them in for the Clare Cup, it all fell down around us but that was no fault of anyone, we were all on the same boat,” the 2016 championship winning goal-

keeper stated.

Indeed for Sheehan it was a case of putting down the goalkeeper hurleys to instead don the bainisteoir bib. He answered the call to fill the vacancy as senior manager and became a championship winning boss in his first season back in 2018.

He outlined that the presence of capable netminders has made life away from playing that bit easier.

“There’s some times you would miss it for definite, there’s the odd game that you’d love to have been in the mix but on a personal level it was almost an answer to the call to go as a goalkeeper, I played a lot outfield and then picked up a serious back injury. It didn’t feel like it was a ten year career at senior hurling itself, maybe it was the right thing to do, we’re lucky to have Barry Coote and Oisin Hennessy, they are at a fairly high level, Oisin Griffin is coming after them and he’s one to watch”.

Sheehan highlighted that the management team and support from club officials makes the task much easier. “They are an incredible bunch to deal with, the hardest point at times is just putting it altogether, that hasn’t been an issue this year. The more experienced guys are a pleasure to deal with, they drive things on, it’s just a mat-

MANAGMENT Kevin Sheedy (manager), Barry Coffey (coach), Mike O’Neill, Jacko Griffin CAPTAIN Tony Kelly TITLES Two (Most recent, 2018) KEY PLAYER Tony Kelly

ter of facilitating everything to get it right”.

Crusheen eliminated the men in Black and Amber from last year’s championship. “Last year I don’t think we got going to the level we wanted to for different reasons that we couldn’t put our finger on. We came up against a team on that day that was much more up for the battle and deservedly took it, we’ve a lot to find to get to that pitch, they have some serious hurlers from new lads to older statesmen, they will be a huge test and with regard to the format it is absolutely ideal,” the manager reflected.

Training under the watchful eyes of Barry Coffey has been lifted by the constant presence of their main men, their standards have risen which bode very positively for Ballyea.

PICTURED LEFT: Niall Deasy

FRESH BLOOD Stephen Casey YOU DIDN’T KNOW Ballyea were eliminated in the quarter final each year after winning the county final. They will be hoping their trend of winning the championship every second year continues.

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pg33

CRUSHEEN

Crusheen take cautious approach in preparing for championship opener Crusheen’s Cilléin Mullins Photo by Martin

MANAGMENT James Carrig (manager), Bryan Williams, Pat Freeman, Gerry McIntyre, Kenny Rodgers, John Fitzgibbon, Darragh Howley, Cyril Killeen (S&C).

CAPTAIN Cian Dillon TITLES Two (Most recent, 2011) KEY PLAYER Ross Hayes FRESH BLOOD Diarmuid Mullins, Murrough McMahon

Connolly

PÁRAIC MCMAHON

C

paraic@clareecho.ie

RUSHEEN dumped Ballyea out of the 2019 Clare SHC and are wary for the backlash as the sides get reacquainted this weekend.

A cautious approach has been adopted by manager James Carrig as the Blood and Bandages aim to minimise the amount of sustained injuries in the short window of time to get up to speed for the Clare senior hurling championship.

Having held one of the older age-profiles of senior teams, Crusheen have also brought with that an experience and stubbornness, traits their opponents from all over Clare are well aware of.

Given their demographic, Car-

rig outlined that the questions on their fitness won’t be answered until the first round.

He surmised, “Most clubs are back in the last three weeks and it’s hard to know until you come up to the intensity of championship hurling or try to get up there. It’s hard to know if teams will reach

the heights of last year. The biggest problem is coming back and picking up little knocks or injuries from going back training which is worrying, it’s very hard to judge bringing up the intensity in a short window of time”. They are without corner-back Alan Brigdale for their first competitive clash of

2020.

Crusheen for their sake have played two challenge matches and Carrig admitted that he was wary to be piling on games. “We’ve been worried about getting on the field and getting back training. How to judge the window and short period of time without picking up injuries was our main concern. The age profile of some of our team to get them up to speed was the plan as opposed to playing a load of matches, some clubs played four or five matches, some played one, it varies and depends on opinion and the profile of your panel”.

Ahead of his third championship campaign with Crusheen, the Newmarket-on-Fergus native has freshened up his management team with fellow Blue Pat Freeman and Gerry McIntyre of Shannon joining the set up in place of Johnny Markham. “The year has been stop start, every year is on the same boat, it’s hard to know the impact of a different management in a short period of time”.

James is clear on what he wants to achieve with the two time champions. “Since I’ve taken over, I’ve gone back to the principles of what is good about Crusheen hurling and start developing a building a squad for the future. Every year we’ve added to it, Ross Hayes, Breffni Horner, Éanna McMahon, Ian O’Brien, Tadhg Dean, Gavin O’Brien we’re building each year.

For this year, the way it has panned out, we want to keep building and keep measuring ourselves against the best teams in the county”.

On top of his club commitments, the former Wolfe Tones

boss is also a selector with the Clare minor hurlers. Of the change in schedules, he remarked, “It went from doing five or six nights a week to doing nothing which was a big shock to the system and a big shock to my family to see me around a bit more”. He maintained manager Brian Coffey has a talented panel at his disposal and young players that they aim to develop to play senior for their county.

With the proposed format in place, Carrig believed the draw they have been given for the opening round is a positive in that it will be far from easy. “The Clare championship is wide open, you’ve a lot of teams at the same mark.

You’ve five or six teams that could win the championship. Ballyea are a strong, physical team, they won the championship two years ago and we had a great battle last year.

There are no easy draws. Ballyea will test us without a doubt and we will test them. For a neutral it’s a great draw, with the way the format is you want to be tested in the first round, Ballyea are going to test us, it’s a strong challenge and hopefully we’ve prepared properly for it”.

Character is never questioned in Crusheen, how they adapt with the condensed window of preparation will be be crucial to how they progress in this year’s campaign.

pg34

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INAGH/KILNAMONA

Inagh/Kilnamona in contention EOIN BRENNAN

2

019 was a massive jolt in the right direction for Inagh-Kilnamona, having finally made the leap from dark horses to genuine contenders following an interminably extended period of transition.

Two Under 21A and a Minor A crown in the space of three years from 2016-18 ushered in a new crop of talent to an already impressive squad that were brimming with confidence and eager to make their mark at senior level.

That promise was quickly capitalised upon as Inagh-Kilnamona first contested the Clare Cup final before embarking on a rollercoaster championship run that was only halted at the death in the semi-final to eventual champions Sixmilebridge who produced a remarkable seven point final quarter turnaround.

Even though it was their last competitive outing, that penultimate stage clash seems like a lifetime away now for manager Fergal Hegarty who feels that they will be starting from scratch this Friday.

“We had a reasonably good run last year and it was disappointing obviously that we didn’t get over the line in the semi-final. So having the Clare Cup this year would have been nice to see exactly where we would have been as we were hoping to blood a few new players again as we have talent coming through but unfortunately we have been unable to do that. But look, that’s the same for every team but with no Clare Cup or anything to prepare or build upon, what happened last year is now null and void essentially.

“On the plus side, we’re just delighted to be back playing at all this year and hopefully the games will go ahead as scheduled for the next few weeks.

“Fellas were mad keen to get back at it and I suppose we’ve been guided by the rules and our COVID Officer Paul Gannon has been excellent with us so we were conscious of doing things properly and we have abided by that and the players have been comfortable with that approach. We have four challenge games played so we think we’re doing okay but we won’t really know until Friday night how exactly we’re progressing.

“I mean challenge matches are fine but with the water breaks, they tend to peter out in the last quarter so from a fitness perspective we don’t fully know where we are either but come Friday, hopefully these things will come together. We’re just looking forward to it now albeit that we are missing a few key players. We think we’re okay but we’re up against a strong team so we’ll see how it goes.”

Their opponents Clooney-Quin have contested a county final in the past three seasons however and do have the edge from their last championship meeting in 2016.

“From what I recall it was a very tight game in Shannon but Clooney-Quin got a lot of goals that day and deservedly won it. As a management team, we’ve met Clooney-Quin twice and we beat them last year while they beat us the year before so it just shows how thin the margins are between us.

“That’s the only form guide we can go on but they are a big physical team and were very unlucky not to win a championship as we all know in 2017 and most of that team are still around. And they’ve some very experienced backs so they’re a wily team, they’ve a good

Inagh-Kilnamona’s Aidan McCarthy attempts a shot

Photo by Martin Connolly

spirit about them and therefore we’ll have to be at our best to be able to get in there and compete with them.”

MANAGMENT Fergal Hegarty (manager), Ronan O’Looney, Mark Rynne, Brian Vaughan, Dermot Lynch, Steve Cusack (S&C), Francie O’Halloran (goalie coach) CAPTAIN Kevin Hehir

TITLES None KEY PLAYER Aidan McCarthy FRESH BLOOD Conner Hegarty

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CLOONEY/QUIN Every game treated as knockout EOIN BRENNAN

2

017 was a year in which the stars aligned perfectly for a momentum-filled Clooney-Quin to take full advantage of as they almost pulled off the perfect coup.

Three years on from that agonising near county final miss against Sixmilebridge and the bulk of that team are still in situ while their underage system is currently booming.

Granted, the loss of 2018 AllStar Peter Duggan is a considerable blow but it does present a glorious opportunity for others to step up to the mark as they look to replicate that 2017 constellation following early exits in the past two campaigns.

On the flip side, Clooney-Quin’s new management team haven’t even had time to get their feet under the table as the unprecedented lockdown has severely shortened their first championships preparations. However, having cut their cloth accordingly, there will be no

Fergal Lynch arrives for the team photo ahead of the 2017 final Photo by Martin Connolly

excuses emanating from the camp this Friday when they take on last year’s semi-finalists Inagh-Kilnamona according to Noel Harrison. “Being a new management team, obviously it would have been preferable to have had a Clare Cup campaign behind us to fully assess what we have in the squad and be more assured of our options. So like everyone else we’ve had to rely on the few challenge games and

INAGH-KILNAMONA V CLOONEY-QUIN Inagh-Kilnamona’s

by Eoin Brennan THEY’VE shared honours evenly over the past two championship encounters in 2014 (Inagh-Kilnamona 2-12 Clooney-Quin 1-13) and 2016 (Clooney-Quin 4-13 Inagh-Kilnamona 1-19) but a lot of water has flowed under the bridge in both camps since.

12 months later, Clooney-Quin bridged a 73 year gap by reaching the county final and should really have added to their sole 1942 title success when also snatching the whip hand against Sixmilebridge in that decider. The ‘Bridge somehow got out of jail though and the element of surprise had vanished by the replay as Sixmilebridge’s superior winning know-how came to the surface to cement a third title in five years.

greatest occasion was also spoiled by the men from Garneyside as last year’s semi-final saw Fergal Hegarty’s young side lead by four points entering the final quarter only to be outflanked by a resurgent Sixmilebridge who managed to hit six unanswered points on their way to a 0-18 to 0-15 win that again yielded Canon Hamilton success.

Sixmilebridge aren’t providing the obstinate stumbling block this Friday thankfully as Inagh-Kilnamona and Clooney-Quin bid to recapture those previous heights.

Inagh-Kilnamona, thanks to Under 21A triumphs in 2016 and ’18 which bookended a Minor A title to boot in 2017, are undoubtedly maturing with every passing season.

And while that flooring semi-final defeat

  contact : 065 6825525 www.abbeytavernquin.com

in-house matches we’ve played over the last few weeks in that regard. We’re really happy with the attitude and application to training since we’ve been back but we’ll know a lot more come Friday evening. “I suppose the fact that every team is trying to fit a lot of training into such a short time, players appear to be picking up a lot of hamstring and calf injuries and so on.

Main Street Quin Co. Clare

Michael Corry has a bad shoulder injury which is not looking good at the moment and we seem to keep picking up niggles. Cillian and Martin Duggan have had constant niggles but both should be okay we’re hoping. “Regardless, we have to get on with it. We’ve a few players that would have played junior last year that we’d hope can make the step up to senior and hopefully we can also integrate a couple of the minors later in the campaign if we can get an extended run.�

With the mindset of treating every match as knock-out, Clooney-Quin will first have to contend with an ever-improving Inagh-Kilnamona side that not only reached the last four in 2019 but also contested the Clare Cup final.

Look, we think we’re in a relatively good place anyway but in saying that we’re under no illusions as to the challenge we’re facing against Inagh-Kilnamona. All the success they’ve had at Under 21 level in recent years and they probably should have been in a county final last year as well so we’re fully aware of the big challenge that awaits us. “We know enough about each

MANAGMENT Noel Harrison, Mike Duggan, Liam Clancy (Coach), Sean Smyth (Goalkeeping Coach), Victor O’Riordan (S&C) CAPTAIN Shane McNamara TITLES One (1942) KEY PLAYER Ryan Taylor FRESH BLOOD Paul Hogan, David Sheedy, Ulick O’Sullivan, Cathal O’Halloran other having played them regularly in the Clare Cup and a few times in the championship so it’s not as if either team is going to come out with a rabbit from their hat on Championship Friday. But we do know their strengths, both from a county perspective as well as their strength-in-depth. They have a huge pick with all the underage success they’ve had so we’re probably up against it but we’re looking forward to it at the same time.�

Friday July 24 at 7pm, Cusack Park, Ennis ten months ago was ironically their last competitive outing, it should still be a keen motivational tool to go one significant leap further in 2020.

There will be plenty of minefields to come in an unprecedented championship journey that has ensured far less preparation time than ever before. However, getting off to a winning start will be essential for their continued development.

Clooney-Quin have also reaped the rewards of a sustained resurgence at underage level but perhaps it is a year or two too soon to see any major benefits at adult level. Instead, Peter Duggan’s year away has dominated the pre-championship conversations at both club and county level, having soared to three top scorer awards in

as many years, twice in the county championship in 2017 and ’19 while also having the greatest honour of being the country’s top championship marksmen in 2018 on his way to an All-Star.

Bridging that gap at club level is monumental but in Jimmy and Mike Corry, Ryan Taylor, Fergal Lynch and Martin Duggan, they are not short of firepower or leadership for that matter.

Only a puck of a ball has separated Inagh-Kilnamona and Clooney-Quin in their recent meetings but if they pick up where they left off in 2019, the Combo possess the greater strength-in-depth to be able to negotiate their way into the winners half of the Round 2 draw.

VERDICT: Inagh-Kilnamona

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EIRE ÓG

Eire Óg not lacking belief PÁRAIC MCMAHON

L

paraic@clareecho.ie

MANAGMENT Matt Shannon (manager), Ronan Cooney (selector), Gerry O’Connor (selector). Backroom Team: John Williams, Ethan Nugent, Darragh O’Rourke, Niall Malone.

CAPTAIN Liam Corry TITLES 15 (includes Faughs & Ennis Dalcassians; Most recent, 1990) KEY PLAYER Shane O’Donnell FRESH BLOOD Gavin Cooney

ESSONS from 2019 have to be put into practice if Éire Óg are to progress as a unit.

After taking the scalp of both Kilmaley and Newmarket-on-Fergus in last year’s championship, Éire Óg were on their way to a quarter-final victory over Sixmilebridge only to lose Aaron Fitzgerald to injury and subsequently concede three goals during a Bridge blitz. Fitzgerald is still “a few months off ” away from a return to action but fellow Clare senior football panellist Ciarán Russell has returned to their defence.

This lapse in concentration is referred to by manager Matt Shannon as the biggest learning from his first year involved with the Ennis club. “You’re learning all the time, the further you get in the championship if you switch off against the top teams you will get punished, we saw that against Sixmilebridge last year in the ten or fifteen minutes when we conceded three goals, that was a big learning point to take from last year”.

He doesn’t view their positive run as adding extra self-belief to the squad. “I do think on any given day in the Clare championship that any team is capable of beating each other on a given day, I wouldn’t say it brought extra belief because there was belief there anyway. You have to be tuned in all the time, it’s not just Sixmilebridge, there are several other teams that would punish you when you get to

the closing stages of the championship”.

Losing to eventual winners, Sixmilebridge not alone ended their involvement but also marked the fourth year in succession where Éire Óg exited at the quarter-final stage.

Every team has had a short window of preparation for the campaign but the Townies also have to contend with a sizeable chunk of dual players. “There is great honesty in the group, they have a great rapport among themselves, we’re hoping to build on the foundations laid last year, it is a short timeframe. From a dual point of view, we’ve very little time with the players but all you can do is focus on the basics and see where that takes us,” Shannon outlined.

“We’re looking forward to the challenge over the next few weeks.

It’s about getting the players right from week to week in Éire Óg, we’ve football and hurling every second week, we want to have a cut off the two championships and see where it takes us”.

Conor O’Halloran and Mikey Moloney have returned from long-term injuries to add further options in the Éire Óg defence but they are without a key man in the guise of former Clare minor captain, Dara Walsh who is now working in the United States.

Off the field, the Corofin man has added former Clare joint manager, Gerry O’Connor to his management team. Matt said of the decision to bring in O’Connor, “I did know he was held in high regard by the group. After being involved at the top level for so long, Gerry in his own head was probably looking forward to an extend-

ed break and a few extra rounds of golf, from my point of view I would have questioned myself if there was a man of his experience in the club and I hadn’t approached him to get involved in the club, he brings a wealth of experience at the top level, he has been a great mentor to have so far. We have a small enough management but myself Ronan and Gerry are very happy with the group we have”.

They may have the self-belief within their squad and have proven their worth in taking down big names but for Éire Óg to really rank 2020 as a successful run, they need to get past the last eight and go from there.

EIRE ÓG VS SIXMILEBRIDGE Saturday July 25 at 1pm, Cusack Park, Ennis

by Eoin Brennan AS RECENT history has repeatedly reinforced, when opportunity knocks against Sixmilebridge, one has to be ruthless in their execution. That was a lesson that Éire Óg certainly learned to their cost at the quarter-final stage last year but they weren’t the first and certainly won’t be the last to possess regret against the ‘Bridge.

Instead, Sixmilebridge rolled with the punches to dig out a 3-16 to 1-19 result before producing an even greater rope-a-dope feat against Inagh-Kilnamona in the last four on their way to claiming a fourth senior title in seven years over Cratloe.

In such an ultra-competitive championship that has thrown up seven different winners in the past 13 seasons, Sixmilebridge’s ability to eke out four titles has made them unquestionably the team of the decade. Granted, their championship defences has been less than impressive but if you were to offer any team a championship every second year, they would take your hand off without consultation.

Ending that biennial curse would be Sixmilebridge’s greatest feat this year though as not since Crusheen in 2010 and ’11 has any club in the coun-

ty been able to put back-to-back titles together.

They certainly have the personnel, strength-indepth and vast winning know-how and they can’t fall back on any hangover or exhaustion from the previous year’s exploits either as they haven’t had a competitive match since being humbled by Ballygunner on their own home patch almost ten months ago.

And yet they won’t have wanted to face the Townies in their first defence as aside from the obvious revenge factor, Éire Óg know that they are still to reach anywhere near their full potential.

Four successive quarter-final appearances have failed to be capitalised upon despite having an inter-county spine at their disposal.

Grinding out an opening victory on Saturday could well be the perfect tonic to fulfilling that undoubted promise but with David Reidy a doubt, it’s still hard to bet against a Sixmilebridge side that invariably come up trumps when needed most.

PREDICTION: Sixmilebridge

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SIXMILEBRIDGE

Bridge wary of target on their back PÁRAIC MCMAHON

F

paraic@clareecho.ie

EW can argue that Sixmilebridge were the top team of the decade just gone in Co Clare but one glaring statistic jumps out, their inability to complete back to back titles.

One has to go back to 1992 and 1993 for the last instance in which Sixmilebridge managed to successfully defend their title as Clare SHC champions. Since overcoming Newmarket-on-Fergus in the 2013 decider, they have brought

Sixmilebridge joint captains, Noel Purcell & Seadna Morey lift the Canon Hamilton trophy in 2019

Photo by Willie O’Reilly (Burren Eye Photography)

the Canon Hamilton back O’Garneyside in 2015, 2017 and 2019.

Trainer of the first Sixmilebridge side to win the Clare SHC back in 1977, Tim Crowe returned as manager last year in what was most definitely a successful comeback. He is of the view that the task in getting to the summit is so arduous that teams such as The Bridge are unable to retain their championship.

“With the exception of Crusheen in 2010 and 2011, you’ve to go back to St Josephs Doora/Barefield in 1998 and 1999 for someone to have defended the

championship, it is just so competitive, it takes so much out of you that you tend to lose that ten percent that can be decisive in winning that second title, most clubs suffered that problem and it has appeared to be almost impossible for any club. With the exception of Kilkenny at inter-county, nobody has defended their title in Ireland at a national level”.

Training in “a bog field” was par for the course back in 1977, Tim recalled. Prior to the reopening of GAA pitches, they were training on a farmer’s field plus a South Clare astro turf in what represents an ode to the olden days.

An ankle injury to Paidi

Fitzpatrick means rearrangements will have to be made to their defence which overcame Cratloe to claim their fourteenth senior championship last October. The strength and depth of their panel has always been an integral part of their armoury with non-county players like Alex Morey, Brian Corry and Evan McInerney among the standout performers in recent successes. Their ability to blood at least one new player in championship per year may be in question for 2020 owning to the absence of the Clare Cup campaign.

Crowe is once again joined by Davy Fitzgerald in the management team along with Seoirse Bul-

fin, both former members of the Clare senior hurling management.

Ahead of Saturday’s fixture, Tim expects the addition of ex Banner boss Gerry O’Connor will boost their opponents.

“I think Éire Óg and Inagh/Kilnamona should have beaten us last year but the freshness we had going in helped us but we may not have that this year. I believe the appointment of Gerry O’Connor would have added a lot to the preparations of Éire Óg this year. I think we’re there to be shot at, we’ll try and do our best, we’re wary of it”.

Their last competitive outing was a twelve point loss to Ballygunner in the Munster club. The Bridge followers may be unable to pack into Cusack Park but they will expect a response, albeit nine months later. They have had more time than ever to recover from the excursions of winning back the Canon so the argument of fatigue associated with trying to defend a title goes out the window and it’s why now is their best opportunity to win back to back honours.

MANAGMENT Tim Crowe (manager), Davy Fitzgerald (coach), Seoirse Bulfin (asst coach), Martin Conlon (asst coach), Timmy Crowe (physical trainer), Noel Considine (goalkeeper coach) CAPTAIN Shane Golden & Derek Fahy TITLES 14 (Most recent, 2019) KEY PLAYER Alex Morey FRESH BLOOD N/A

pg38

23-07-20

CLARECASTLE

15 years ‘too long’ without senior title SEAMUS HAYES

C

LARECASTLE captured the last of their eleven county senior hurling titles back in 2005 and fifteen years is too long to be waiting for the Canon Hamilton trophy to return to the village.

That’s according to this year’s team manager Roger McMahon, a man who has played at every level for the club and who has also served in a variety of positions on the club executive over the years.

Roger returned to the role of team manager for 2020 and also fills the role of under 21 A manager, a title that many have predicted will be won by the magpies.

“For the last few years we have been fighting relegation. We have a very young squad, fourteen of whom are under 21. We are going into the unknown. There have been no Clare Cup games, we have had no competitive games at all so it’s been very difficult to blood young fellas”, commented Roger.

He agreed that Clarecastle and

Wolfe Tones have had “some good contests at under age level over the past decade” but he noted that the Shannon side “can call on inter county men in Aaron Cunningham, Aron Shanagher and Rory Hayes” for this campaign, “that’s a lot of experience”, he added but while Clarecastle’s panel is relatively young, in team captain Bobby Duggan, Stephen O’Halloran and Jonathan Clancy they have players who have also worn the saffron and blue of Clare.

Darragh Healy and Cian Galvin excelled for St. Flannans at the end of last year when the famed Ennis nursery won the Dr Harty Cup and went on to account for St Kierans from Kilkenny in the All-Ireland (Croke Cup) quarter final before all competitions were suspended.

They are likely to see some game time in the upcoming campaign.

“Whatever the outcome of games in the first round, clubs will have to win their second round game to stay in contention for championship honours. Win or lose the opening round, clubs will still be in the championship but all will want to win their opening round tie”, he added In the opening round in 2019 the Magpies suffered an eighteen

point loss to the eventual winners Sixmilebridge. In the losers section they lost out by sixteen points to Clooney-Quin which left them battling relegation. Here they had seven points to spare over Tulla who ended up losing their senior status.

The manager has assembled an experienced backroom team.

Fergie O’Loughlin who has been in charge of many Clarecastle teams in the past decade is training the side. He has also coached senior teams in Ballyea and Clooney-Quin while he has been in charge of a number of clubs in Galway, Tipperary and Limerick.

John Casey has managed the club’s minor and under 21 teams in recent years while Alan O’Lough-

lin and Brian Russell complete the backroom team and they look after the club’s intermediate team which will begin their championship campaign when they face Parteen on Sunday.

Clarecastle may not be on many punters short list for honours at senior level this year but they will carry the favourites tag into this opening round tie at O’Garney Park on Saturday.

MANAGMENT Roger McMahon (manager), Fergie O’Loughlin (coach), John Casey, Brian Russell, Alan O’Loughlin CAPTAIN Bobby Duggan TITLES 11 (Most recent, 2005) KEY PLAYER Bobby Duggan FRESH BLOOD Cian Galvin, Cian Broderick YOU DIDN’T KNOW 14 members of the Clarecastle squad are under the age of 21

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pg39

WOLFETONES

Wolfe Tones want flying start against Magpies SEAMUS HAYES

W

olfe Tones are not viewing the opening outing as a dead rubber. Ray Diviney has represented Wolfe Tones at all levels from under 12 up to and including senior but he wasn’t fortunate enough to have been part of either of the club’s two senior championship winning teams (1996 and 2006). Managing the senior side for the first time this season, he is looking forward to next week’s opening game in the race for the Canon Hamilton trophy.

“Clarecastle and ourselves are fairly similar at this time. Like them, we have been struggling in recent years also. This is a 50/50 game”, he said of their upcoming clash.

He readily acknowledged that “this is a strange year. Before everything was suspended back in March, we had our strength and conditioning done. Look, it’s the same for everybody now and we just have got to get on with it. Unfor tu nately we have

had no league games which would have been ideal to help blend in some new players with the regulars”.

According to the Shannon club side’s manager, “we are fortunate in that we do not have any major injury worries at this time, just the usual few knocks and bruises.

Training has been going well for the past few weeks and we have managed to have had a couple of challenge games”.

The Shannon side can call on a core of experienced players that include Daithi and Gary O’Connell and Barry Loughnane who captained the side to its last championship success in 2006.

The experience of that trio allied to the ability of the aforementioned Cunningham, Shanagher and Hayes should ensure that Clarecastle won’t get anything easy.

Team captain Jamie Roughan is another exp erienced campaigner while Jack Cunningham and Kevin McCafferty are others who have caused problems for many opponents in the past There has been a lot of talk about the first round games being “a dead rubber” but Diviney doesn’t necessarily agree. “Momentum is great and it will be easier to approach the second round on the back of a win. A team

gets positivity from a win and there will be just two weeks from the opening round to the next outing”.

Wolfe Tones is just one of an increasing number of clubs that will be calling on a big number of dual players. “We have about eight dual players and we have a very good working arrangement with the football management which ensures that we both have the players for training when we want them while also ensuring that they are not burned out. We are all one club”.

Back in the eighties and nineties, Wolfe Tones were a dominant

force in underage GAA in Clare, winning titles on a regular basis.

They are the only club to have won every underage title on offer in both hurling and football, all at A level, in the same season.

It’s been a far cry from that in

MANAGMENT Ray Diviney (manager), Paul Hogan, Barry Keane, Paul O’Shea, Fearghal Lawlor (S&C) CAPTAIN Jamie Roughan

recent seasons with the club struggling to field teams in some grades.

It had a knock on effect at adult level and they lost their senior status in both codes but they quickly bounced back to the top grade in hurling where they aim to stay.

TITLES Two (Most recent, 2006) KEY PLAYER Aaron Cunningham FRESH BLOOD Liam Murphy and Mark O’Sullivan

CLARECASTLE VS WOLFE TONES Saturday July 25 at 6.30pm, O’Garney Park, Sixmilebridge have welcomed and equally will be eying up as the

by Eoin Brennan ONCE a great heavyweight rivalry that was highlighted by Wolfe Tones’ first championship triumph in 1996 and Clarecastle’s last crown in 2005, the mask has slipped somewhat at both sides of the divide in the intervening period.

The Magpies did contest semi-finals in 2007 and 2014 while Wolfe Tones last triumph came in 2006 but unfortunately the other end of the championship divide has provided more concern in recent years.

Clarecastle would be in the perilous scenario of relegation deciders in 2015 and ’17 while also brushing with the demotion series last season while Wolfe Tones actually went through the trapdoor in the senior championship culling of 2014 albeit that they did bound back at the first attempt with the welcome addition of provincial intermediate silverware to boot.

There won’t be any talk of danger for this championship campaign at least and therefore while this draw might have been an anxious nervy opener in normal circumstances, the new championship format does allow both to throw off the shackles and play with some degree of unburdened abandon.

And therefore it’s a draw that both sides would

ideal way to get the ball rolling for 2020.

The return of Aaron Cunningham is a huge boost to the Tones this year as his scoring threat alone will offer them an inter-county dual threat with Aron Shanagher that will be difficult to contain. In Cunningham’s absence, opposition teams could focus the majority of their attentions on Shanagher, even double marking him on occasions. However, the Tones, despite murmurings of injuries to Cunningham and Ben O’Gorman, will be a much more confident unit fronted by those twin dangermen.

Clarecastle meanwhile will look to continue their assimilation of youth into the senior ranks in order to end their long period of transition as having contested five of the last eight Minor A finals, the time is ripe to blood a new crop of Magpies.

They still have Bobby Duggan, Jonathan Clancy and Stephen O’Halloran leading their spine but perhaps the freshness and enthusiasm of an injection of youth could yield some encouraging signs for the future this year.

Especially if the rumours surrounding the involvement of Aaron Cunningham and Ben O’Gorman prove true, Clarecastle could shade a narrow contest.

VERDICT: Clarecastle

pg40

23-07-20

WHITEGATE Whitegate delighted to be back SEAMUS HAYES

“T

HE reality of the situation is so fluid that one can only look at the first game. We are delighted to be back hurling. Nobody knows what way things will be in a month’s time.

We are all delighted there is hurling, as the community revolves around the GAA club”.

So says Whitegate manager Terence Fahy as he completes preparations with his panel ahead of Saturday’s clash with Feakle in the senior hurling championship.

It’s all of fifty nine years since the club from the Galway border won the last of their two Clare senior hurling championship titles.

Over the years Whtegate have produced many o u t standing players from the Solan brothers to Naois e Jordan, t w o time All Star Brendan B u g l e r, Mickey Burke who was part of Clare’s league squad in a golden spell for the county in the mid seventies and current captain Eoin Quirke who led Mary Immaculate College Limerick to a prestigious Fitzgibbon Cup title and who is a member of the current Clare senior squad.

Terence Fahy, in his second season as team boss, also wore the saffron and blue of Clare in a number of grades having put his hand up when helping St Flannans College to success in the Dr. Harty Cup. A member of the teaching staff at St. Josephs Secondary School in Tul-

la, he has helped steer a number of school teams to provincial glory in recent years.

Looking ahead to the clash with Feakle on Saturday, he said, “The reality is we have been in the relegation frame for five of the last six

years. It is always our ambition fast establishing himself as one of chael Hynes, Paddy, Paul and Colto progress the leading players in the county. in Burke and Ronan Hayes to mento the con- Andrew Fahy, a surprising omis- tion some to give them an edge. c l u d i n g sion from the county senior squad Feakle will carry the favourites stages but this season, is one of the game’s tag but Whitegate have shown on a we have leading goalkeepers. This trio will number of occasions in recent seafailed to do make it difficult for any opposition sons that they can match the best that in mod- to build up a match winning tally. on a given day. It will take a big efern times” Elsewhere they will be looking fort to deny them a win.

He agrees that to Colm Madden, Ian Fahy, Mi“it’s an unusual format in unusual times but anybody KEY PLAYER MANAGMENT serious will be ‘all in’ Eoin Quirke Terence Fahy (manager), John in the first round. It’s FRESH BLOOD O’Brien, Patrick Minogue, been a long time since Luke Sugrue Kenneth Doyle we won a senior comYOU DIDN’T KNOW petition”.

CAPTAIN Manager Terence Fahy and T h e proud Whitegate man Eoin Quirke defender Brendan Bugler admitted that they have injury TITLES coached opposite sides this worries “but every team has. We Two (Most recent, 1961) year in the Dr Harty Cup hope that some players who probably won’t be fit in time for the first round, WHITEGATE VS FEAKLE will be back for Saturday July 25 at 3.30pm, O’Garney Park, Sixmilebridge round two. Inby Eoin Brennan juries are part OUTSIDE of the understandable local rivalry, there’s a real edge between Whitegate and parcel of and Feakle that’s difficult to quantify for anyone outside of East Clare. every hurling The 2013 Intermediate decider between the pair certainly played a large part in that and football residual competitive edge on a day that Whitegate edged the honours by 1-13 to 1-10. competiSo while Feakle joined them in the senior ranks 12 months later after beating Parteen, tion. We that defeat still lingers in the memory. just hope It does make for a very intriguing opening contest on Saturday, one which both sides that players will relish to kickstart their 2020 seasons as with relegation off the table, there should be who pick up no holding back from either camp. injuries make a After all, the threat of demotion has always been in the back of these sides’ minds, with Whitegate consistently staving off danger and almost thriving under the pressure quick recovery gauge whereas Feakle have reached greater heights including a semi-final appearance to full fitness”. in 2016 but did succumb to the drop 12 months later.

Brendan BuAn immediate return to the senior ranks was bolstered by the experience of contesting gler, coach to a Munster Intermediate Final in 2017 and Feakle built upon that bounce last year by only the St.Flannans going out at the quarter-final stage to Inagh-Kilnamona after extra-time. side which won Their collective ability to punch above their weight is a trait that Feakle admirably the Harty cup possess as numbers are continuously limited while the return of Martin Daly this year title last year, will be a considerable boost. brings a wealth Don’t get me wrong, Whitegate are certainly not blessed with a huge pick either and they seem to perform best when their backs are to the wall which makes them a key of experience threat here. to the side and Still, with Shane McGrath, Oisin Donnellan, Steven Conway and Gary Guilfoyle prohe will feaviding the firepower, Feakle do have a sharper edge up front and it, along with the ture in defence obvious motivational factor, could be decisive in an expectedly intense derby contest. along with team captain Eoin PREDICTION: Feakle Quirke who is

23-07-20

pg41

FEAKLE

Feakle look to achieve with squad that’s hitting its peak MANAGMENT Michael Guilfoyle (manager), John Touhy, Stevie Moloney CAPTAIN Oisin Donnellan TITLES Six (Most recent, 1988) KEY PLAYER Shane McGrath FRESH BLOOD Enda Madden YOU DIDN’T KNOW Feakle stopped plaing challenge games in the lead up to the first round due to injury concerns

SEAMUS HAYES

A

S THEY complete their preparations for Saturday’s clash with Whitegate at O’Garney park in Sixmilebridge, Feakle manager Mike Guilfoyle is under no illusions as to the task his side is facing.

“Look Whitegate beat Feakle in the intermediate finals of 2009 and 2013. They have relegated St. Josephs Doora-Barevield twice.

They know how to battle to the end and they have caused a number of shocks at senior level in recent

Feakle overcame Clooney-Quin in a very entertaining game last year Photo by Martin Connolly

times”, the former Clare player said this week.

It’s thirty two years since the blue riband of Clare hurling last came to Feakle who were crowned county senior champions for the sixth time back in 1988. “That’s a long time. From ‘99 to 2014 we were intermediate. We won promotion but went back down before regaining senior status in 2018”, Guilfoyle explained.

Indeed the East Clare outfit went within a whisker of winning the Munster intermediate title later that year but were pipped by Cork champions Charleville in a cracking contest at the LIT Gaelic grounds in Limerick.

In last year’s senior championship Feakle started with a victory over Newmarket-on-Fergus before losing out to Crusheen in Round 2. They needed to win in Round 3

and they obliged, recording a two point win over Clooney-Quin in a very entertaining game.

That win earned them a quarter final date with Inagh-Kilnamona who managed a two point victory (1-28 to 1-26) in the quarter final.

Asked for his view on this year’s format Guilfoyle promptly replied “I do not want to lose in the opening round and that is my message to the players at training. It will be

hard to lift lads to play a winner in round 2 if they are defeated in the opening game. The second round game is crucial and teams will have to perform in that round if they are to remain in the race”, he said.

Guilfoyle went on to say that “there is a certain amount of pressure gone because of the fact that there is no relegation this year. We are at an age with a bunch of guys that are at their best and we are trying to achieve something with them”.

There are injury concerns. Fiachra Donnellan is out due to a cruciate injury while both Martin Daly and Justin Nelson are battling to be back in action following cruciate injuries At the time of the lockdown back in March, Eibhear Quiligan was challenging strongly for the goalkeeper’s position on the Clare senior team. He is a key figure for Feakle who will also be looking to Evan McMahon, Con Smyth, Eoin Tuohy, Steven Conway, sharpshooter Shane McGrath and Oisin Donnellan.

They were all prominent as they helped Feakle-Killanena to success at various underage levels up to and including under 21. They are a very close knit group which is reflected in their play.

Manager Guilfoyle is a passionate Feakle man as are his selectors John Tuohy and Stevie Moloney.

There is a strong determination within the squad to avenge those intermediate final losses of ‘09 and ‘2013 and if they can manage to strike their best form they should be narrowly ahead when the final whistle sounds.

pg42

23-07-20

CLARE SENIOR CAMOGIE CHAMPIONSHIP: PROFILES COMPILED BY SEAMUS HAYES

KILMALEY

MANAGEMENT: Kieran Dillon (joint manager), Danny Cabey (joint manager), Eoin O’Malley (coach), Siobhán Maher, Marie Hehir.

CAPTAIN: Niamh O’Dea TITLES: 4 MOST RECENT: 2014 KEY PLAYER: Niamh O’Dea FRESH BLOOD: Grace Carmody

GROUP A NEWMARKETON-FERGUS

MANAGEMENT: Brian Enright (manager), Martin Conlon (S&C), Joe Brett, Páraic McMahon (coach), Alan Hehir (coach) CAPTAIN: Aimee McInerney TITLES: 8 MOST RECENT: 2015 KEY PLAYER: Aine O’Brien FRESH BLOOD: Kaci Toomey

KILKISHEN/ BODYKE

MANAGEMENT: Sean Hehir, Jim Lynch, Liam Doyle CAPTAIN: Kate Lynch TITLES: None at senior level.

2018 intermediate champions MOST RECENT: N/A KEY PLAYER: Kate Lynch FRESH BLOOD: Orla McInerney, Chloe Philpott, Rebecca Burke and Eimear Murphy.

GROUP B ST JOSEPHS DOORA/ BAREFIELD

MANAGEMENT: Martin Moloney, Tomás Kelly, Micheál McMahon, Mary Whelan, Siobhan Hoey CAPTAIN: Louise Woods TITLES: 0 MOST RECENT: N/A KEY PLAYER: Ashling Hannon FRESH BLOOD: Caoilshian Ni Chonáil

SIXMILEBRIDGE

MANAGEMENT: Kevin Phelan (manager), Conor Dolan, Yvonne Purcell, Orla Chaplin, Richard Drake CAPTAIN: Chloe Morey TITLES: 8 MOST RECENT: 1990 KEY PLAYER: Chloe Morey FRESH BLOOD: Ailise Roche

TRUAGH/CLONLARA

MANAGEMENT: John Fennessy (manager), Colm Fitzgerald, Shane Whyte, Kieran Foley, Bob Caulfield, Darren Cunningham (S&C) CAPTAIN: Sarah Sherlock TITLES: None MOST RECENT: N/A KEY PLAYER: Eimear Kelly FRESH BLOOD: N/A

INAGH/KILNAMONA

MANAGEMENT: Eugene Foudy (manager), Mikey Barrett, Joe Ryan, Marie Kenneally, Shauna Crowley, Flan Barry CAPTAIN: Clare Hehir TITLES: 3 MOST RECENT: 2018 KEY PLAYER: Clare Hehir FRESH BLOOD: Tierna Hegarty, Danielle Griffin

SCARIFF/OGONNELLOE

MANAGEMENT: Jim Minogue (manager), Pat Minogue, Charlie Power, Sarah Skelly, Matthew Horan CAPTAIN: Mairead Scanlan TITLES: 1 MOST RECENT: 2019 KEY PLAYER: Mairead Scanlan FRESH BLOOD: Labhaoise O’Donnell, Aoife Kelly, Abby Walsh Reigning champions Scariff Oggonneloe in a team hudle Photo by Tommy Dickson; (right) Aimee McInerney of Newmarket on Fergus Photo by

Veronica McMahon;

(far right) Maria Redmond gives chase after Grcae Russell

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46 PUZZLEPAGE

THURSDAY, JULY 23 2020

Best Daily Word Search

THIS WEEKS PUZZLES JULY 23 Best Daily Word Search: 7 February 2020

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QUIZ 47

THURSDAY, JULY 23 2020

The Clare Echo CO.CLARE QUIZ

statue in Ennis was gifted In the 1800s, what was located 1PeatIcarus to Ennis Town Council by Guinness 6 inpresent day Abbey Street Car Aviation in 1990 to mark what?

Park?

Ennis’ 750-year celebration 50 years of Shannon Airport A record year for peat sales

An outdoor theatre Roman baths A brewery

The statue is often referred to What is the area known as Cora 2 as another mythical Greek figure 7 Chaitlín (Caitlín’s weir) in Irish? named Daedalus. He was what relation to Icarus?

Son Father Second cousin once removed

Lisdoonvarna Newmarket on Fergus Cooraclare

was once known simmonument on Frances Street 8Clarecastle ply as...

3The in Kilrush is dedicated to what?

Manchester Martyrs Easter Rising The Peru Two

Castletown Clare Maggieluf

According to a recent survey, In 1881, two men digging a drain 4 which Clare town has the most 9 near Lissycasey discovered what? pubs per head in Ireland (one for ev-

old is the sign hanging over 5How the door of Knox’s Pub in Ennis?

118 years 218 years 15 years

The name Scariff is derived 10 from the Gaelic “Scairbh” which means what?

A rocky ford House of Scars House of Scarfs

Spot the Difference Can you spot the difference? Spot the 7 differences.

The answers will be revealed in next weeks edition.

6. A brewery 7. Newmarket on Fergus 8. Clare 9. A box full of gold coins 10. A rocky ford

Lahinch Scariff Liscannor

A box full of gold coins A bear’s skeleton The book of Kells

ANSWERS

1. Ennis’ 750-year celebration 2. Father 3. Manchester Martyrs 4. Liscannor 5. 118 years

ery 26 people!)

Last weeks Answers . White patch missing on ground . Phone cover different colour . Zip missing on Pink jacket . Flag missing in background . womans hairband missing

. Womans top under coat different colour . Woman with phone’s ring missing

Ronan McCormack’s free gets past James Tierney.

Photograph: Joe Buckley