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MAR 24 2022

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A TRUE PATRIOT

Young people at risk as mental health waiting times spiral

PÁRAIC McMAHON

paraic@clareecho.ie

N Kathleen Guilfoyle, better known across Co Clare as Mrs Guilfoyle, stands outside her home in Feakle waving the Irish flag on St Patrick’s Day

Photo by Ruth Griffin

UMBERS of young people in Clare awaiting mental health appointments have risen by 34% in three years, with some youths on the waiting list for up to two years. At the end of 2021, 82 people from the county were waiting on appointments with the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS). Not alone is the amount of persons on the list growing but so too is the waiting times, last year 10 individuals were left waiting between one to two years for an appointment with CAMHS. This compares with 74 at the end of 2020 and

61 for 2019. Annual figures for 2022 are not yet available, the HSE stated in response to a query from Cllr Cillian Murphy (FF) at Tuesday’s meeting of the Regional Health Forum. For 2019, the amount of persons waiting up to three months for an appointment was 43 compared with 14 (3-6 months), 3 (6-9 months) and 1 (9-12 months). Numbers rose in 2020, the 0-3 month period included 31 persons with 10 (3-6 months), 7 (6-9 months), 8 (9-12 months), 4 (15-18 months) while a total of 14 people were waiting over a year for an appointment. Last year, 33 individuals were on the waiting list for between 0-3 months, 19 (3-6 months), 14 (6-9 months), 6 (9-12 months), 2 (1518 months), 5 (18-21 months) and 3 (21-24 months).

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

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

l FACE VALUE: There was colour aplenty along the streets of Ennis as the St Patrick’s Day parade returned after a two-year absence Photo by John O’Neill

AHEEN Community Hospital’s new ward extension is to be fully operational by the end of June, the HSE has confirmed. Construction is ongoing on the €2m ward extension at Raheen Community Hospital in East Clare. Work includes the provision of seven long-stay replacement beds and will be completed in April, in line with the target set of Q2 2022. Once construction is complete, the ward will be equipped and an opening of June will then open by the end of June. Scariff native, Michael McNamara TD (IND) stated, “The HSE has informed me that following equipping and the registration of beds by the Health Information & Quality Authority (HIQA), the ward extension will become fully operational. It is anticipated that the facility will open by the end of June”. Deputy McNamara said the news will be very much welcomed by the people of East Clare who have “battled hard for investment” in the small community hospital. “When I was first elected as a TD in 2011, there was a proposal to close smaller community hospitals, such as Raheen,” he said. “After a focus was brought to this vital community resource by the visit of the then Junior Health Ministers, Alex White and Kathleen Lynch, which I initiated, the HSE implemented substantial capital investment plans in the intervening years. I look forward to the opening of the new extension”.

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Lisdoon-based Ukrainian refugees call for end to war

THURSDAY, MAR 24 2022

PÁRAIC MCMAHON

paraic@clareecho.ie

KRAINIAN refugees staying in Lisdoonvarna have called for world leaders to put an end to the ongoing war. It is a month to the day since Russian forces invaded Ukraine with the United Nations stating that 13,100 to 13,300 people have been killed during this period. Co Clare has welcomed in under 1,000 refugees to date with 500 alone in Lisdoonvarna, just shy of 100 are now based in Kilkee. Homeowners in Ennis and Tulla are among those that have volunteered to take in Ukrainian families fleeing their war-torn country. Liam O’Dwyer, Secretary General of the Irish Red

Cross, said that they have received 21,000 pledges of accommodation, “which is astonishing”. “Just under a thousand” were received during the Syrian crisis, he noted, speaking before the Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs and Defence, which was discussing the humanitarian crisis in Ukraine. More than 200 Ukrainian refugees who are staying in the Hydro Hotel in Lisdoonvarna have called for world leaders to stop the war in Ukraine. The refugees who arrived last week, called for peace in a statement issued to The Clare Echo. “All Ukrainians and all people of the world, one peace now. Please stop this senseless war. World leaders help us to stop this war. Kindness and compassion to all humanity,” the statement read. Up to 40,000 Ukrainians could arrive in Ireland by the

l APPEAL: Refugees staying in the Hydro Hotel end of April, Government officials said. The Tánaiste, Leo Varadkar (FG) said this would result in a 1% increase in the country’s overall population, which will place pressure on many services. More than 10,000 people have arrived in Ireland so far. There is an intention with-

Jacqueline O’Brien DENTAL Providing dental care for the whole family

in Government to provide every Ukrainian with “owndoor self-catering accommodation” in the long-term, but he said it will be a challenge and in the short-term they will largely be housed in hotels and B&Bs. A search for potential housing is continuing across Government departments and local authorities with planning laws expected to be set aside to find homes quickly. Gardaí will soon be able to carry out vetting within seven days on perspective homes pledged by the public. This will only be required in cases where

a child or a vulnerable adult is being placed in shared accommodation. The Cabinet was told on Tuesday that the cost of accommodating 1,000 people in a hotel for a year is €33 million with some supports included. However, this cost does not include social protection payments. Latest figures show that 7,326 people arriving from Ukraine have been issued with PPS numbers, 88% of those are women and children. In Kilkee, two fundraisers on Saturday in aid of its newest residents displaced by war has raised €12,230. A

Opening date in view for Holy Island visitor centre PÁRAIC MCMAHON

New patients welcome

paraic@clareecho.ie

Nervous or anxious dental patients welcome Emergency appointments available

119 O'Connell Street, Limerick City Centre 061 413263 - info@obdental.ie

www.obdental.ie

coffee morning organized by the Pier Pressure Swim group at the Dive Center brought in nearly €6,500 and this was followed by a car wash organized by Loop Head Together that raised €5,730. Kilkee Fire Brigade and St Senan’s GAA club handed over their annual car wash day for the cause. Clare TD, Joe Carey (FG) has appealed to the Taoiseach, Micheál Martin (FF) to provide immediate financial assistance for cystic fibrosis support organisations near the EU borders with Ukraine. “These vulnerable people are living in bomb shelters, often without water and food and with no basic medical supplies. A request has been made by CFI to the Department of Foreign Affairs for immediate financial assistance that could be channelled through CFI to other cystic fibrosis associations near the border with Ukraine,” he explained. The Taoiseach said , “I can only imagine how difficult it is for people with cystic fibrosis because of the added complexities arising from their condition and the difficulties arising from that.”

“STEADY progress” has been made on the Inis Cealtra project with plans on foot to open the Old Rectory building in Mountshannon as a visitor centre by the third quarter of next year. In October, Clare County Council purchased the Old Rectory building for an undisclosed sum which is seen as a step forward in creating a strong tourism product at Holy Island/Inis Cealtra. Tourism officer with the local authority, Joan Tarmey outlined that “steady progress” has been made on the Inis Cealtra project “to repurpose and refurbish the Old Rectory site in Mountshannon into a new visitor centre”. Works aimed at guiding the detailed design stage which are to be completed by the end of this month include an asbestos survey and site investigations, once concluded they will enable statutory approvals. Ms Tarmey said that efforts on con-

cept interpretation and branding “is also continuing apace”. She expected detailed design to be finished by the third quarter of this year with a tender procurement process to follow which is to result in the appointment of a contractor by the end of 2022. “Construction on site will then commence with a view to being in a position to have the building operation by Q2/ Q3 2023”. Locals had been curious regarding the progress since the purchase of the Old Rectory, Cllr Pat Burke (FG) observed. “It’s a bit far away but things don’t happen overnight, this is sensitive work,” he said while praising the initial progress. Having a tourism plan centred around the project is very important, Cllr Pat Hayes (FF) commented. “There isn’t anyone here that has the answers on a RRDF application or if the funding is already in place to proceed. It might be worth having a discussion with Joan and team to update us on where we are,” he maintained. On the ongoing efforts, Cllr Joe Cooney (FG) remarked, “This is fantastic news for tourism going forward in East Clare, we all know it will happen over time”.

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Crowe accused of using Dáil privilege Criticism of to criticise architect behind objection Kilfenora parade stunt PÁRAIC MCMAHON

paraic@clareecho.ie

URTHER controversy is brewing surrounding a planning application made by Clare TD, Cathal Crowe (FF). Yesterday, Clare County Council requested more information in relation to Deputy’s Crowe application to construct a private dwelling house at Heathmount in Cratloe. Two objections were submitted to Clare County Council against the plans of Crowe and his wife Maeve Fehily; by Liscannor based, Audrey Healy and Matthew Broggy from Meelick. The Clare Echo has also learned that Clare’s most experienced councillor, Cllr PJ Kelly (FF) also made a representation in relation to the application. As previously reported by The Clare Echo, the Crowe and Broggy family have been involved in a 43 year land dispute. Leahy Planning submitted the objection on behalf of Mr Broggy, the Ennis based company was founded by Michael Leahy in 1986. He is

also the Chairman of the Irish Freedom Party and contested the General Election against Crowe

that does not yet have a seat in this chamber, the Irish Freedom Party,” he said. “It practises hate

posal], because any form of rallying people or inciting hatred in that regard will be illegal,” the ex Mayor of Clare added. In a statement to The Clare Echo, Michael Leahy called on Deputy Crowe to withdraw his “scurrilous remarks”. The Corofin man challenged the Clare TD to give examples of official statements from the party which promoted hate speech or advocated undue discrimination. “This is an astonishing attack against a registered political party, and is also remarkable in that it rejoices in the proposal to outlaw legitimate political discourse”. Speaking to The Clare Echo, Deputy Crowe expressed disappointment with the conduct of Mr Leahy. “I’ve nothing further to my Dáil comments and I’m disappointed he is trying to conflate what are two very separate matters and that he is crossing over his political and professional words”. A decision on the application for the 236 sq metre home four-bedroom dwelling house was to be made on Wednesday evening.

ORGANISERS of a St Patrick’s Day parade in Kilfenora have received strong criticism for allowing a float which appeared to mock the death of a Carlow pensioner earlier this year, writes Páraic McMahon. Peadar Doyle’s (66) death in January of this year garnered international headlines when it emerged his corpse was carried into a Carlow post office by his nephew Declan Haughney (40) while trying to withdraw his pension. Haughney has since admitted the pensioner may have died in transit as his body ‘went a bit slumpy’ while the trio were en route to the Post Office. He later appeared in court charged with a number of offences, he is charged with deception, whereby he is alleged to have attempted to withdraw the pension of his deceased uncle on two occasions on January 21. He was granted bail, on a number of conditions. A postmortem has determined there was no foul play in Mr Doyle’s death but was l WAR OF WORDS: Cathal Crowe and (inset) Michael Leahy only able to estimate the time of death as some time on that Friday morning. messaging, and it is how it opin 2020. Parodies relating to Peadar’s death feaThis objection was received erates. Its members message on tured in St Patrick’s Day parades in Kerry, by Clare County Council’s plan- topics of gender, transgender and Donegal, Mayo and also in Kilfenora. Fr Tom Little who said Peadar’s funeral ning department on March 1st, immigration. They are the issues mass, said respect for the dead was lackspeaking in the Dáil a week later on which they campaign.” ing and the floats were “a bad reflection” on (March 9) during a debate on a “If its members believe they those involved. European Commission proposal have a right to speech, they will In Kilfenora, the float was made up of a on hate speech, Deputy Crowe have less of a right to make their makeshift post office, a clerk and desk with took aim at the Irish Freedom statements when we sign up to two men propping up a third male while a Party. “There is a political party this [European Commission provan pulled the float along with the slogan ‘no pulse no pension’. Organiser of the Kilfenora St Patrick’s Day Parade, Orla Vaughan declined to speak with The Clare Echo when contacted. She did however appear on Clare FM’s Morning Focus where she has been a regular contributor over the past decade to the Friday panel segment. She issued an apology on air to Peadar’s family and confirmed that a letter expressing their sentiments was posted on Monday, four days after the parade. “I can understand, retrospectively which is never a good thing, the hurt that it has caused them over the last few days and to bring back what is very difficult times for them after the death of their brother and brother in law, is terrible”. A decision to contact the Doyle family was reached in light of rising online criticism of the persons involved, this began on Friday but after the matter was discussed on Newstalk’s Lunchtime Live, “all hell broke loose and it seems to have gathered moss,” Orla noted. As a co-organiser of the parade, she acknowledged that the float was “tone-deaf”. Ms Vaughan added, “We shouldn’t have done it, but that is no good for them, I have apologised in writing, I would love to speak directly because I don’t know who is driving this online campaign, I don’t know the people but I know there is a family behind this still grieving the death of their relation and what followed”. Floats and persons on them are not vetted for the Kilfenora parade, she confirmed. “We’re 25 years doing the parade, we are a very small village, we’re in a competition with a lot of large towns around, the criteria is please turn up with a float, there is no vetting of floats or looking at floats before they take off in a parade”. This approach is likely to change, she admitted. “I think moving forward we will definitely have to look into that, this has caused a lot of hurt to Peadar’s family and I can’t imagine what Noeleen is going through, we’ll definitely have to look into that. There has been no criteria for the Kilfenora parade, it is very much a parade that acts off what has happened in the news over twelve months and stuff like that, it’s unfortunate”.

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8 NEWS

THURSDAY, MAR 24 2022

Lahinch bids farewell to Tomsie O’Sullivan

By PÁRAIC McMAHON

LAHINCH has bid farewell to one of its most popular natives. Long-serving community activist, Tomsie O’Sullivan died at his residence in Doonboy, Station Road, Lahinch, on St Patrick’s Day. His resposal and funeral took place at Lahinch Church before burial on Saturday in the Old Cemetery, Ennistymon. Last September, Tomsie was presented with a long-service award for reaching 58 years with the RNLI. He served as secretary of the Lahinch RNLI for close to six decades. The crew of Rescue 115 paid tribute to O’Sullivan in Lahinch on Friday evening, the Sikorsky S92A hovered in the area while his remains were removed from his home to Lahinch Church. Tomsie turned 90 last year, he was born on Main St in Lahinch. After his father Thomas, a carpenter fell off a roof in the 1950s and never recovered fully, he was forced to leave Ennistymon CBS at the age of 16 where he became an appren-

lSADLY MISSED: Tomsie tice to take over the O’Sullivan carpentry business, this would be the first of his many careers. Upon completion of a part-time course, he commenced employment for the Lisdoonvarna based McNamara Builders and was involved in building a scheme of

houses in Spanish Point. After completing a part-time course in carpentry, he worked for McNamara Builders, Lisdoonvarna building a scheme of houses in Spanish Point and progressed over the years to become a foreman and later clerks of works. In 1952, he got involved in An Tostal, a Bord Fáilte venture to extend the tourism season and set up a local group to run this event. Tomsie also got involved in numerous community organisations in North Clare such as social services in Lahinch that later set the seeds for Clarecare, helped set up the Friends of Ennistymon Hospital, which prevented its closure and over the years raised for a major upgrading and provision of a daycare centre in 1979 after collecting an estimated €3 million during a 28-year period. He spent six years on the board of the National Combat Poverty Agency. He also founded Lahinch Sea Shore and Inland Rescue unit and was a former OC, “B”. Compa-

ny 22nd Infantry Battalion of the F.C.A. (Lahinch camp). Tomsie pioneered ship to shore communications locally and was noted as a dab hand when it came to CB and marine radio, taking charge of a base in Lahinch for many years, he also sponsored the training of guide dogs for the blind and was an active member of Fianna Fáil where he revelled in election canvassing, he was also Lahinch’s Peace Commissioner. Lahinch hotelier, Michael Vaughan described his neighbour Tomsie as “a serial entrepreneur” who experimented with various new business ideas. “He developed the family shop on Main Street from a small grocery to a laundry, cafe and added bike rentals. He developed a set of holiday homes on Station Road, a caravan park and later upgraded it to ‘penthouse’ suites”. Vaughan re-

St Patrick’s Day offers lift for Clare publicans PÁRAIC MCMAHON

paraic@clareecho.ie

UBS were the real winners of the additional St Patrick’s Day bank holiday with an increase in footfall noted across the country as the public got the opportunity to celebrate the patron saint of Ireland. Retail and hospitality did not experience a similar bounce with the dry weather leading to coastal locations welcoming more visitors. Comedian Oliver Callan noted that the original thinking behind the extra bank holiday was to reward frontline workers for their efforts throughout the pandemic but quipped that the gratitude resulted nurses and healthcare staff dealing with more intoxicated patients than usual. Miltown Malbay was among the busy parts of West Clare with the Cheltenham Festival and St Patrick’s Day celebrations leading to a profitable week according to one local publican. Owner of Knox’s Bar & Storehouse Restaurant, Mike Dennehy told The Clare Echo they recorded a considerable increase in business compared with St Patrick’s Day of 2019. “There was a big uptake, it started early on the week with tourists arriving in. We had traditional music early in the week and there was an uptake from that. With St Patrick’s Day you’re not sure what to expect, you never know what will happen. This year, it changed largely because the Queens Nightclub did an early gig so we were full at 5pm, it settled down later on and kept going all night until we finished between 12:30am and 1am. Located in the heart of Ennis on Abbey St, Knox’s benefited from the following day off and the weather, “the way it

Brian Nugent enjoys the parade in Feakle Photo by Ruth Griffin

fell was fantastic”. While he acknowledged pubs were the real winners, he flagged that the quieter fortnight before and after the festivities ensures that the accounts level off. In the county town, it was the pubs closer to the Queens that felt the real benefit, “there was 1,100 or so people going there, that’s people coming into town that wouldn’t normally”. Mike referenced ‘Puente’, a holiday in Spain which is the day off to bridge the time between the weekend and a holiday, thereby creating a long weekend, as something to be possibly considered going forward. A puente typically occurs when a holiday falls on a Tuesday or Thursday, workers will then take the

Monday or Friday as a Puente. While the uptake in trade is a positive, Mike noted that Ukraine and COVID numbers are still in people’s mind and is keeping some of the public away from pubs, “people are pulling back because of Ukraine and you might not think it. With it, you also have the cost of living going up so with rising costs of oil, petrol and diesel, people have to sacrifice something”. Also the owner of Gallagher’s of Bunratty, the Ennis man said the boost in business was not as similar for the popular restaurant. “The tourists haven’t really arrived for Bunratty yet, we did okay but in Bunratty the people are not drinking as much”. Given the strong crowd, they normally have on a Thursday night, Ger Shortt of Shortt’s Bar in Feakle admitted there wasn’t a very visible increase in their activity for St Patrick’s Day. “St Patrick’s Day fell on a Thursday, we normally have a traditional session on a Thursday night so we have a big crowd for that, there was no surge as such”. The pub opened for the parade but shut in the afternoon until 7:30pm where it remained lively until closing time. Speaking to The Clare Echo, Ger believed a conservative approach has been maintained by his regulars. “I personally didn’t find it busier, the last two years we were closed, prior to that, I didn’t see it as any busier than 2019 or 2018, a lot of people are conservative about going into crowds. People coming into me are of a more senior nature, they are more apt and cognisant of the virus still at this stage whereas some of the other pubs would have a more youthful crowd”. Other spots in Feakle would have been busier, Ger noted, “the parade in Feakle was a fantastic one for such short notice there was great turnout. Feakle is a great community and has great support for an occasion like that”.

called, “He had a vintage Model T car for a while and he always had the latest model of the up and coming car brand. He was a director of Lahinch Development Association where he gave countless hours in the interest of the community. He organised parking and proper circulation of traffic in Lahinch on countless Sundays and he was a familiar figure to anyone visiting Lahinch for years. Tomsie is predeceased by his loving wife Marie, deeply regretted by his loving family, son Owen, daughters Selina, Joan, and Helen, grandchildren Alannah, Jack, Susan, Milly, Siabh and Ellsie, sonsin-laws, daughter-in-law, nieces, nephews, relatives and extended family.

ENNIS PUBLIC REALM REGENERATION PROJECT B (O’CONNELL SQUARE, BANK PLACE, O’CONNELL STREET, HIGH STREET, OLD BARRACK STREET AND BARRACK SQUARE) PUBLIC INFORMATION EVENING Clare County Council and appointed Design team invite you to a Public Information Evening on the construction phasing and scheduling of the Public Realm Regeneration works in Ennis due for commencement this year. This follows on from recently completed Public Realm Regeneration works at Parnell Street and bow-ways throughout the Town Centre. The scheme will significantly improve accessibility for pedestrians through the introduction of shared surface arrangements and by increasing footpath widths where possible. The Squares (Barrack Square and O’Connell Square) will be significantly enhanced to improve their amenity value and to facilitate their use as civic spaces. The completion of these projects will result in the rejuvenation of the Town Centre environment, making it more accessible and a destination to spend time. Advance enabling works involving the replacement of water mains by Irish Water and the upgrading of ESB underground cables are scheduled to commence in May 2022. The Public Realm Regeneration project works will follow thereafter. It is recognised that the project will result in the need for road closures and for extended traffic diversions during construction and any inconvenience is regrettable but unavoidable. The Project Team, comprising of Clare County Council, Nicholas de Jong & Associates Urban Design and Tom McNamara & Partners would like to invite you to this Public Information evening to present project phasing plans and to outline preliminary scheduling. There will be an opportunity for discussion with representatives of the Project Team, Clare County Council and Irish Water and to view the project plans and provide feedback on proposed preliminary scheduling. The details are as follows: Thursday 31st March 2022 17.30 – 20.00 Civic Room, Buttermarket Building, Clare County Council, Drumbiggle Road, Ennis, Co. Clare, V95RR72.

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THURSDAY, MAR 24 2022

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Road to nowhere can ease congestion

NNIS’ ‘road to nowhere’ is key to easing peak traffic in different parts of the county town, a Clare TD has stated. Completion of the Ennis North Inner Relief Road could see peak traffic periods on the Tulla Rd and Gort Rd significantly eased, Deputy Michael McNamara (IND) maintained. In a written proposal, he has urged Clare County Council to revisit the proposal to link the roads, which he said would divert traffic away from the centre of Ennis and the Fair Green area and improve traffic flow on the northern and eastern sides of the town. Originally, it was intended that the Inner Relief Road would link the R458 Gort Road to Oakleigh Wood and The Maples Distributor Road and onwards to the Cappahard and Roslevan Roundabouts on the R352 Tulla Road. There has been no progress on the road since 2018 when phase one, comprising a 520m road link from the Gort Road to the Clare Technology Park, was officially opened. This opening came almost eight years of the road laying idle after up to €4m was spent on the project. Deputy McNamara outlined, “While the Council has confirmed to me that that the Draft Clare County Development Plan

The ‘road to nowhere’ off the Gort Road

2023-2029 contains an infrastructural safeguard identifying the route, I am concerned that the eventual linking up of the Gort and Tulla Road could take many years rather than being positioned as an essential infrastructure project for the town”. He continued, “Clare County Council has indicated to me that progression of this project will initially be driven by the natural and authorised extension of the Oak-

Calls for Ennis Hospital upgrade must be addressed PÁRAIC MCMAHON

paraic@clareecho.ie

ISAPPOINTMENT has been expressed by the Mid-West Hospital Campaign over the absence of UL Hospitals Group’s CEO from Tuesday’s Regional Health Forum meeting which resulted in the deferral of a motion relating to Ennis hospital. A reversal of the decision to close emergency units at Ennis Hospital, Nenagh Hospital and St John’s Hospital was sought in a proposal to the Forum from the Mid-West Hospital Campaign. The proposal was to be raised on their behalf by Lahinch based Cllr Liam Grant (GP) and Cllr Seamus Morris (IND) from Tipperary. The proposal stated that “the reconfiguration strategy which centralised trauma care at University Hospital Limerick has failed in its objective to provide safer

care to patients”. It maintained that “consistent overcrowding” at UHL would be addressed by reversing the closure and upgrading them to model three hospitals. Due to the absence of UL Hospitals Group CEO, Colette Cowan from the meeting, the proposal was deferred. Ms Cowan’s attendance had been confirmed until it emerged during the meeting that she would not be present. The proposal will be discussed at the next forum sitting in the summer. Noeleen Moran (pictured) of the MidWest Hospital Campaign in a statement said the group would not be deterred from the minor setback. “This issue is too important to ignore and it deserves a hearing and to be properly addressed. We are disappointed but we won’t be giving up on this. We hope that Ms Cowan will make herself available to be present at the next meeting”.

leigh Wood / The Maples Distributor Road facilitating residential developments. Such a position means the project does not have a specific timeframe, nor does it adequately consider the significant traffic levels that could be diverted away from the middle of Ennis by linking the northern and eastern sides of the town. This is particularly disappointing considering the Clare Technology Park on the Gort Road is only half a kilo-

metre from Oakleigh Wood / The Maples on the Tulla Road”. McNamara encouraged elected members of the Council and staff within the Physical Development Directorate to “examine the potential for progressing the project sooner and applying for the necessary government funding. I also would suggest that consideration be given to linking up the Gort Road at the Business Park with the Lahinch Road, which was initially proposed some years ago by Clare County Council as part of the Ennis North Inner Relief Road project”. In response to Deputy McNamara’s representation on the proposed Ennis North Inner Relief Road, Clare Co Co stated that it has NTA funding approval for a Mobility Plan for Ennis which “would identify the need and justification for the provision of transportation infrastructure projects within Ennis. As such, the need and timeframe for a project like the Ennis North Inner Relief Road will be assessed through this process. The methodology proposed for the development of a Mobility Plan for Ennis is an Area Based Transport Assessment (ABTA). It is anticipated that the ABTA for Ennis will commence in 2022 and it is expected that this process will take approximately 18mts to complete”.

NEWS 11

THURSDAY, MAR 24 2022

108 weekly departures from Shannon

HANNON Airport continues to rebuild services with the launch of its summer season heralding a schedule which includes 108 weekly departures with flights to 26 destinations. Within a 36 hour period next week, Shannon Airport will kick off its summer schedule with four destinations to the UK, US and Europe taking off. Ryanair in February announced that its summer schedule at Dublin and Cork Airports would be its biggest yet. On Sunday (March 27), Aer Lingus services from Shannon to London Heathrow will see the return of the daily 7.40am flight. This will mark the full restoration of Heathrow services, providing 20 flights per week. At 10.55am that day passengers will see the return of the popular Ryanair service to Palma Mallorca

which will operate three flights per week (Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays). And later that afternoon the exciting first flight to Mal-

ta will depart Shannon. This new Ryanair service will operate twice weekly (Thursdays and Sundays). The following day, Monday

‘Disgraceful’ treatment of older drivers slammed PÁRAIC MCMAHON

paraic@clareecho.ie

HANNON councillors say the Road Safety Authority is in need of a geography lesson while strong criticism has been voiced at staff within the National Driver Licence Service (NDLS) for their treatment of older drivers. “Many issues and problems” have been experienced by the Clare public when accessing the delivery of their driver licences, a joint proposal from all elected members of the Shannon Municipal District to the March meeting of Clare County Council detailed while calling for action from the Government and Minister for Transport, Eamon Ryan (GP). They outlined, “The location of the Road Safety Authority branch office in the shopping centre in Ennis is proving very difficult to gain access and members of the public find the service delivery very poor from a customer engagement and manner of service”. Local authority offices had been responsible for the services up until 2013, since then “a substantial amount of Clare residents living in towns and villages bordering Limerick find that their new address has them in Limerick”. Cllr Gerry Flynn (IND) suggested “a geography lesson would be in order” for the RSA and NDLS. He claimed there was “public outrage” with the standard of

service. He described the current arrangement with lengthy queues and struggles to access as “a total shambles”. An 83 year old “very independent man” after making an appointment with the NDLS was “berated” at their office in Ennis, an annoyed Cllr Tony O’Brien (FF) told the meeting. “There is no excuse for rudeness when dealing with the public, we all deal with the public. This gentleman was left belittled and small, he was hunted out of the office, he was instructed by the office that his licence was extended but he doesn’t know how long for...He was only treated like this because he was in his eighties”. Taking the service from Clare Co Co has been a mistake, Cllr Michael Begley (IND) believed, while difficulty has also been experienced in paying online for some older motorists, Cllr John Crowe (FG) flagged. County pride is at stake, Cllr Pat O’Gorman (FF) stressed, “It’s down to our identity. The boundaries debate raises its head every now and again, we fight tooth and nail to keep Clare united, they have tried to take Shannon Banks and Meelick”. Chief Executive, Pat Dowling stated, “When the driving licence was taken off local authorities we regretted that happening but it is history”. He suggested to Cllr Flynn the motion be revised as the commentary and narrative on the needs of older people was not reflected in the wording. “We didn’t pigeon hole, we’ve called them out and I couldn’t be more happy with support from elected members,” Shannon Town resident Flynn replied.

March 28, the much-anticipated New York/Newark service with United Airlines will make its welcome return after almost two years, with services running seven days a week. All US bound passengers at Shannon will be able to avail of US preclearance ensuring they arrive in the US as domestic passengers and avoid long queues. These services are just some of the 26 destinations on offer from Shannon Airport this summer, with options to Budapest, Corfu, Marseille, Barcelona, Faro, Lanzarote, Edinburgh and more. Welcoming the launch of the airport’s summer schedule, Shannon Group CEO, Mary Considine said, “It’s a great pleasure for us to welcome passengers at the airport, as we continue to rebuild our air services after the pandemic. “We know our loyal business passengers will be happy to see

the recommencement of our early morning service to Heathrow, which provides vital hub connectivity for our entire region. The commencement of these services also follows our new route announcement to Marseille with Ryanair. We have been working extremely hard with our airline partners to provide exciting and varied destinations for the MidWest and are delighted to be able to offer our airport customers those all-important sun getaways, city breaks and USA trips,” she added. To coincide with the boost in services, Shannon Group has launched an extensive airport marketing campaign which will reach 97% of the airport’s target market and is expected to appear 19 million times across consumer screens.

12 PICTURE SPECIAL

THURSDAY, MAR 24 2022

ST PATRICK’S DAY RETURNS WITH A BANG Photo by Ruth Griffin

Photo by Joe Buckley

(above) The Bridge Utd contingent, Ben Sarcy, Lee Gavin, Darren Gavin and Sean Finnin; (right) Kieran & Darren Rochford at the Feakle parade; (below) Clarecastle brothers, Chris & Bernard Hanrahan acknowledge the crowd in Ennis

Photo by Joe Buckley

lTASTING THE ACTION: (above) Casper Quinn, Elsie Quinn, Tara Gleeson, Amanda Gleeson and Holly Quinn in Sixmilebridge; (right) Brian Nugent sips a cold one as the parade passes through Feakle; (below) Ennis Tidy Towns members embrace the atmosphere Photo by John O’Neill

Photo by Ruth Griffin Photo by John O’Neill

Photo by Ruth Griffin

lHATS OFF TO HIM: Fresh from banishing the snakes, a proud Mike Noonan parades around Feakle

Photo by Joe Buckley

lEXPERIENCE & YOUTH: (left) Clem Garvey and Canon Brendan O’Donoghue in Shannon; (right) Little Blue Hero Aoibhín O’Connor, aged 4, enjoys watching the parade in her hometown, Ennis

Arts & Entertainment 13

THURSDAY, MAR 24 2022

Clare Drama Festival returns

ELAINE TUBRIDY

elaine.tubridy@clareecho.ie

T’S ‘drama time’ in Scariff for the 73rd time when the Clare Drama Festival begins on Friday 25th March in Scariff Community College Hall. Groups from Clare, Mayo, Cork, Waterford, and Wexford will compete for the honour of winning at this prestigious festival. Executive Director of the Lime Tree Theatre in Limerick, Louise Donlon will officially open the festival. The Ogonnelloe woman has been working in the arts for over 30 years, including the role of General Manager at Druid Theatre Company, Galway at a time when the company was finding international acclaim. She was recently appointed to the Export Advisory Committee of Culture Ireland by Minister Catherine Martin. The first play ‘Sive’ by John B Keane will be presented by Clann Machua Drama Group from Kil-

timagh, Co. Mayo. In 1959 ‘Sive’ created theatrical history and its performance and win in Scariff is credited by John B as launching his playwrighting career. Saturday night sees Skibbereen Theatre Society perform ‘Brighton’ by Waterford playwright Jim Nolan. On Sunday March 27th Brideview Drama Group will bring ‘The Beauty Queen of Leenane’ by Martin McDonagh. There will be no show on Monday 28th March. Corofin Dramatic Society present ‘Betrayal’ by Harold Pinter on Tuesday 29th. Pinter who won a Nobel Prize for literature is regarded as one of the most influential dramatists with a writing career that spanned five decades. Wednesday sees Tulla Drama Group perform ‘Big Maggie’ by John B. Keane. The organising committee are delighted to see their near neighbours treading the boards on the Scariff stage after a lengthy absence. On Thursday the Ray Leonard Players, Claremorris also present

‘The Beauty Queen of Leenane’. Friday night sees Camross Drama Group from Wexford deliver ‘The Kings of the Kilburn High Road’ by Jimmy Murphy. On final night Kilmeen Drama Group from West Cork bring ‘Conversations on a Homecoming’ by Tom Murphy. The results of the festival will also be announced on the Saturday (April 2nd). Clare Drama Festival Chairman, Eamon Moroney said it is great to have drama back after a gap of three years. He said the committee are looking forward to meeting old and new patrons in Scariff. The festival adjudicator, Mr. Walker Ewart A.D.A. will give a public adjudication each night after the performance. He will also have a private adjudication with each group where he will discuss the finer points of each play. Walker is an internationally recognised adjudicator who is making his third appearance at the Clare Drama Festival. Regular patrons are all adjudicators and can enter a

competition to predict the festival winners. Curtain up is at 8.00pm each night and there is no need to prebook your seat. Come early to enjoy what promises to be a feast of theatre. Clare Drama Festival is one of 37 preliminary festivals all over

Ireland which form the Amateur Drama circuit. The All-Ireland Confined Finals rotate around the provinces and will take place in Ballyshannon Abbey Arts Centre this year. The All-Ireland Open Finals are held in the Dean Crowe Theatre in Athlone in early May each year.

supported by Clare Arts Office through the previous schemes,

with over 1,200 days of employment generated for the sector. Performances took place in venues such as St Flannan’s Cathedral in Killaloe and the Teach Cheoil in Kilrush as a result of the scheme which was administered by Clare County Council’s Arts Office. Traditional music events took place countywide with contemporary music gigs happening from Doolin to Ennistymon. Outdoor live entertainment took place as part of Busking in the Banner throughout the county and Bualadh Busk in the Shannon region. One of the final events of 2021 saw Fidget Feet produce an outdoor air spectacle in Scariff Harbour while a fireshow lit up

the skies of Killaloe, Ennis and Shannon. County Arts Officer, Siobhán Mulcahy explained, “The beauty of the scheme is that it enables the wide array of local talent in the county to demonstrate their skills and creativity at a local level. It is hoped that, with restrictions lifted, audiences across the county can now experience fabulous performances in the coming months as we prepare for the return of local summer festivals and events”. April 4th 2022 is the closing date for applications with details on how to apply and participate available on https://yoursay.clarecoco.ie/

Live performance scheme opens for Clare musicians

by Páraic McMahon

CLARE Arts Office has opened a call for musicians and promoters to submit ideas for live music performances throughout the county in May and June 2022. The third phase of the Local Live Performance Scheme, made possible with the support of the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, is now open for applications following on from two previous schemes in 2021. These schemes were part of the Covid-19 response from the Department aimed at supporting the live music sector that was decimated during the pandemic.

Shannon singer Adam Moloney performing in Sixmilebridge Photo by Joe Buckley

In Clare, more than 300 musicians, performers and crew were

14 FEATURES

THURSDAY, MAR 24 2022

Cherish your mother today RONAN SCULLY

Thought for the week

HIS Sunday is Mother’s Day and is an extraordinary day for all of us to honour our mothers who have blessed us with the gift of life and have supported us in so many ways, oftentimes unacknowledged. Even though we have the fear and worry of the Coronavirus for another Mother’s Day all around us and indeed the worry of the war in Ukraine where millions of mothers are carrying their children across the border in the hope of been safe, it’s a time to give our love to the most precious creation of God - our Mother! No matter how, please do it. For those whose mothers and grandmothers are still alive, cherish them today. Hug and kiss them. Honor them. Thank them. For those whose mothers have gone home to the Lord, remember them. Our mother’s gave us life and birthed us into the network of relationships which gives that life meaning, the family. They taught and nurtured us on the way, by offering wisdom, example and practical experience. They picked us up when we fell and unconditionally loved us back when we strayed. There is no-one like a mother, no substitute for her place, no equal to her love and placement in our own formation and is an ongoing relationship of love and care. For her, we will always remain the small child, but this is the day to visit our Mother if we can, spend time with her and reassure her of our love and care. Mothers bear the hardships and the joys in bringing up a child. A Mother is the epitome of love, serenity and forgiveness. So this weekend celebrate Mother’s Day and have a beautiful time on this day as much as you can. As usual a story might help us understand better. Creation of Mothers When God was creating mothers, He was into His sixth day of “overtime” when the angel appeared and said, “You’re doing a lot of fiddling around on this one.” And God said, “Have you read the specs on this order? She has to be completely washable, but not plastic. Have 180 moveable parts...all replaceable. Run on black coffee and leftovers. Have a lap that disappears when she stands up. A kiss that can cure anything from a broken leg to a disappointed love affair! And six pairs of hands.” The angel shook her head slowly and said. “Six pairs of hands.... no way.” It’s not the hands that are causing me problems,” God remarked, “it’s the three pairs of eyes that mothers have to have.” “That’s on the standard model?” asked the angel. God nodded. “One pair that sees through closed doors when she asks, ‘What are you kids doing in there?’ when she already knows! Another here in the back of her head that sees what

she shouldn’t but what she has to know, and of course the ones here in front that can look at a child when he or she goofs up and says. ‘I understand and I love you’ without so much as uttering a word.” God,” said the angel touching his sleeve gently, “Get some rest tomorrow....” I can’t,” said God, “I’m so close to creating something so close to myself. Already I have one who heals herself when she is sick...can feed a family of six on one pound of hamburgers...and can get a four year old to stand under a shower.” The angel circled the model of a mother very slowly. “It’s too soft,” she sighed. “But tough!” said God excitedly. “You can imagine what this mother can do or endure.” “Can it think?” “Not only can it think, but it can reason and compromise,” said God. Finally, the angel bent over and ran her finger across the cheek. “There’s a leak,” she pronounced. “I told You that You were trying to put too much into this model.” “It’s not a leak,” said the Lord, “It’s a tear.” “What’s it for?” “It’s for joy, love, kindness, sadness, empathy, disappointment, pain, loneliness, and pride.” “You are a genius,” said the angel. Somberly, God said, “I didn’t put it there.” A Mother’s Day Prayer A lovely prayer that I like to pray about mothers and now in these worrying times more than ever goes as follows, “Let us praise those mothers who have striven to balance the demands of work, marriage, and children with an honest awareness of both joy and sacrifice. Let us praise those mothers who, lacking a good model for a mother, have worked to become a good mother. Let us praise those mothers who by their own account were not always there for their children, but who continue to offer those children, now grown, their love and support. Let us pray for those mothers who have been wounded by the neglect and hostility of their children. Let us praise those mothers who, despite divorce, have remained in their children’s lives. Let us praise those mothers whose children are adopted, and whose love and support has offered healing. Let us praise those mothers who, as stepmothers, freely choose the obligation of motherhood and earned their step children’s love and respect. Let us praise those mothers who have lost a child to death, and continue to hold the child in their heart. Let us praise those women who have no children, but cherish the next generation as if they were their own. Let us praise those women who have “mothered” us in their role as mentors, guardians and guides. Let us praise those women who are about to become mothers; may they openly delight in their children. And let us praise those mothers who have died, but

live on in our memory and whose love continues to nurture us.” Thought for the week As a final thought, even if we have great worries all around us at present, make your Mother feel the most special woman in the world by showing your care, love and affection, especially during these our most worrying times. Spend as much time as you can loving and caring for the people who truly love you. Enjoy each moment with them before it’s too late. There is nothing more important than family. Make your mother and the mother of your children feel the most special woman in the world by showing your care, love and affection. Mother’s Day is a time to pause, remember, give thanks to God, and share our gratitude with those who have shaped us. A very Happy Mother’s Day to all our Mother’s both living here on earth and those who, like Jesus, have been lifted up from the earth, forever to be with us in our hearts. For all of them mothers by blood, mothers by heart a special blessing on this Mother’s Day, Blessing our Mothers, who are our first sanctuary. Who fashion a space of blessing with their own being: with the belly, the bone and the blood or, if not with these, then with the durable heart that offers itself to break and grow wide, to gather itself around another as refuge, as home. Who lean into the wonder and terror of loving what they can hold but cannot contain. Who remain in some part of themselves always awake, a corner of consciousness keeping perpetual vigil. Who knows that the story is what endures, is what binds us, is what runs deeper even than blood and so they spin them in celebration of what abides and benediction on what remains: a simple gladness that latches onto us and graces us on our way. Loving God, we thank you for the love of the mothers you have given us whose love is so precious it can never be measured, whose patience seems to have no end. May we see your loving hand behind them and guide them. We pray for those mothers who fear they will run out of love or time or patience. We ask you to bless them with your own special love. We remember mothers struggling to feed their children and keep them safe, especially those in refugee camps and poorer areas of our world. We remember mothers with newly born children who do not have the support of family and friends at this time. We remember women who long for motherhood but are unable to bear children. We remember mothers grieving the loss of children. We remember mothers trapped in abusive situations struggling to keep the peace and shield their children from harm. We remember mothers stretched and stressed, fatigued and fraught but still smiling and giving, tending and loving. For all these Mothers and more today, we bow to you, we celebrate you, we love you, we thank you and we pray for you. We ask this in the name of Jesus and Our Blessed Mother Mary.

Mary Grogan (centre) flanked by Con Woods are two central figures of the parish walk in Newmarket-on-Fergus.

Tributes at famine footpaths of Newmarket

PÁRAIC MCMAHON paraic@clareecho.ie

HE Road from Kilmaleery Cross to Reynolds Cross, constructed in famine times was the route taken lately by Newmarket-on-Fergus walkers in a recent parish outing. Locals were present to impart their traditions as they clocked up the miles. GAA standard bearers Con Woods, Seanie McMahon, Vera Arthur, John Power and Mary B McMahon led the tributes to local hurling star Michael Considine and Dal Cáis footballers, Michael Philips, the O’Grady brothers Brian, Pat and Michael, and Padraig Monahan. Representing local families were Noreen McInerney, Joan Reynolds, P J and Martin Reidy, John and Mary Frawley O’Leary while Mary Grogan, Sheila McGrath, John

O’Meara, John Ryan and Molly O’Donnell held the banner of The Parish Walk now in its twenty sixth year. From Reynolds Cross, the home stretch via Kilnasoolagh Road to Ballysallagh West, offered a view of a heap of stones on McMahon land. It was here that Thomas McInerney choked on a chicken bone as he celebrated with his workmen the work they were doing on his new house. The curse of a Saint Catherine or Kathleen whom Thomas had denied a site for a convent was fulfilled. Ever afterwards the unfinished house was called “Cabhail Chlochair”or Cowlclogher. The recorder of this valuable legend dating to the Middle Ages places the maledictress in the name Cora Chaitlín. The late Canon Reuben Butler in The Story of Newmarket-on-Fergus does not agree. The outing was pleasant and the forecast of rain unlike the saint’s failed.

FEATURES

THURSDAY, MAR 24 2022

GREEN CLARE

Hedge cutting remains a thorny subject in East Clare

PÁRAIC McMAHON

paraic@clareecho.ie

OME 135 East Clare landowners were contacted over a three month period last year reminding them of their obligation to hedge cutting while the local authority had pledged to commence legal process for personnel that neglect their duties in this area. Arguably one of the most thorny subjects dealt with by elected representatives of Clare County Council, hedge cutting has proven to be a prickly issue when it comes to compliance from landowners. Section 40 of the Wildlife Act 1976, as amended by Section 46 of the 2000 Amendment Act, prohib-

its the cutting, grubbing, burning or destruction of vegetation, with certain strict exemptions, from 1 March to 31 August, meaning hedge cutting can only take place from the months of September right through to the end of February. Senior executive engineer in the Killaloe Municipal District, Niamh Madden confirmed that their office issued a total of 135 letters from September to December of last year to landowners and occupiers “outlining their obligations under Section 70 of the Roads Act 1993 and requesting that overgrown vegetation be cut where required”.

She explained, “where issues persisted and the landowner/occupier failed to act, follow-up letters and/or notices were issued by this office. A number of landowners did revert to the Municipal District upon receipt of the letters and informed the office that hedgecutting had been carried out or was scheduled to take place. Unfortunately, not all landowners or occupiers who were requested to liaise with the Municipal District office did so and despite the best efforts of the Municipal District, there remains a number of landowners/occupiers in the area who have failed in their legal and moral obligations to attend to overgrown vegetation and hedges”. Speaking at a recent sitting of the Killaloe MD, Cllr Pat Burke (FG) affirmed that 135 letters “seems like an awful lot”. He queried, “These people who ignored the notices, are they left off the

Photo by Chris Copley

hook for this year or will it be next Sept until they are followed up on and in the meantime, the hedges stay overgrown. Hedges that don’t get cut in the winter time will be the guilty ones again, at least if they are trimmed back it takes a while to recover or grow, the wildlife people won’t like to hear me say that”. In response, Ms Madden said on top of the 135 letters, the Killaloe MD was in regular communication with Coillte to “ensure their hedges were cut back where necessary”. She stated, “Are we letting them off the hook? Absolutely not, we have a process to follow as outlined in the Roads Act 1993, we have to issue the notice and be fair to people, we have done that by sending out letters, warning letters and notices, we’re following the process. Where we as a local authority have to come in cut a hedge where we shouldn’t have to, we will be pursuing people for costs, unfortunately the only recourse for net costs is to go to reports so it could be the case that we will be facing court cases this year, we hope people will fulfil their obligations under the legislation but there is nobody being let off the hook, absolutely not, people

are being requested to fulfil their obligation and where that fails we commence legal process”. This stance was praised by Cllr Burke, “I welcome that you are following up and nobody will be getting off lightly but the downside is the time, landowners can’t cut their hedges after February, some hedges may not get cut this year despite the best efforts as the calendar may not allow, will visit this again at the end of the year. An improvement had been visible in the effort of farmers this year to cut their hedges, Cllr Alan O’Callaghan (FF) believed. “I saw a lot more hedge cutters, I suppose the weather was favourable as well and I felt a lot of areas near me had achieved a lot of good work”. Engagement with Coillte was welcomed by Cllr Pat Hayes (FF), “I think we have some issues with private forestry where responsibility is not taken”. Efforts of the Council officials was acknowledged by Cllr Joe Cooney (FG) who noted some landowners had “done fantastic work”. He added, “this year I think a lot of hedges have been cut and Coillte. I think the message is getting out there”.

Community

16 COMMUNITY

Killanena tractor run in aid of baby Leon by SARAH MURPHY St Flannan’s Student

THERE is a tractor run being held on April 3rd in Canny's Bar, Killeana in aid of baby Leon. Leon was born on the 10th of May 2021, after his mother Michelle Lyons went into spontaneous labour at just 25 weeks. The money raised will help towards the provision

THURSDAY, MAR 24 2022

CONTACT NEWSDESK

065 671 9021 news@clareecho.ie

TULLA PARADE

of the intensive physio that Leon needs both inside and outside the home. It will also help provide a sensory room for Leon within his home and enable him to get the required equipment for the challenges ahead that Leon will face. Since leaving the Neonatal unit, Leon still faces many hurdles. Living with Ceberal palsy, difficulty feeding, muscle weakness, inconsistent vision and developmental delay are some of his daily challenges, according lALL SMILES: Mary Stack in full costume at the Parade in Tulla; (right) Rita O’Keeffe to one of the event organisers, Aine Courtney entertains the crowds Photos by Ruth Griffin Murphy. He is currently awaiting further eye treatment in Dublin, and although this will help the structure of his eyes, his vision issues are because of the damage to his brain. Due to Covid and other constraints, Leon receives community physio only once a month and has only had on OT session since leaving the hospital. He attends private physio but this is quite costly, and he attends two to three times a month. Ms Courtney Murphy says the tractor run can help Leon in so many ways as he has fought such a battle to be where he is today by sheer strength and determination. The GoFundMe, which was set up by Leon’s uncle, Alan Lyons, has already raised over 3500 out of its goal of 4500. Michelle and Barry O'Mahoney from Larchill in Ennis, Leon’s parents are incredibly grateful for all past and future donations. To donate, go to https://gofund.me/f7a6efa3.

GORT

ENNIS FLEADH CHEOIL RETURNS

Fleadh Cheoil an Chlair returns after a lapse of two years of competition. The 2022 Fleadh County Fleadh will be held from June 11th to June to June 19th at Cois na hAbhna, Ennis. The Clare Fleadh was cancelled for 2020 and 2021. At the moment the usual school venues are not available therefore competitions will have to be over a 10 day period and Comhaltas Headquarters in Cois na hAbhna. The closing date for entries is Friday April 1st. Branch members are asked to enter through their branch secretary while non members are asked to enter through County Secretary Anne Hayes at 0872663718. Entry forms available on the CCE website www.clarecomhaltas.com <http://www.clarecomhaltas.com> or Clare Comhaltas facebook page.

O’CALLAGHAN’S MILLS GAA CLUB DINNER DANCE

O’Callaghan’s Mills Junior A Team won the county Junior A Hurling Championship in 2020 defeating Kilmaley in Newmarket-on-Fergus. Due to Covid 19 restrictions the medal presentation did not take place. On Saturday night March 26th a club dinner dance and medal presentation will take place in Woodstock Hotel, Ennis at 7pm. Tickets are €40 and can be purchased from the officers and are also available on Monday nights at the club house from 9pm10pm.

COMMUNITY COUNCIL AGM

The annual general meeting of O’Callaghan’s Mills Community Council which was to be held on Wednesday 23rd of March at 8pm has been rearranged for

Wednesday March 30th at 8pm in the community centre. Anyone interested in community development in O’Callaghan’s Mills and the surrounding area is invited to attend.

GAA CLUB MEMBER’S DRAW

The new O’Callaghan’s Mills GAA Club member’s monthly draw begins on Monday March 28th at 8pm in the Clubhouse at Hamilton Park Kilkishen. There will be guaranteed prizes of 4600, €200 and 4100 to be won each month. If you are interested in joining the club contact the Chairman Joe Cooney at 087 2500227, Secretary Patrick Hogan at 086 3692296, Club Treasurer Nigel Davy 086 4107768 or Club PRO Pat O’Brien at 086 2616302.

James Ruane, Corofin with his 1948 Triumph Roadster which was adjudged the Best Vintage Car at Gort ST Patrick's Day Parade Photo: Hardiman Photography,Gort

LARGEST PARADE TO DATE

Gort enjoyed its largest and most varied St Patrick’s Day Parade since it started in the millennium year. Following two years of restrictions, there was a large turnout of commercial, community, youth and sporting groups as well as drivers of vintage cars and tractors. The parade was led by the Grand Marshall, Ciara Doran of Gort followed by flag bearers and special guests Dylan and Dean Casey from Shanaglish. The prize for the best overall entry was awarded to Kilbeacanty National School with their brilliant re-production of Kilmacduagh Round Tower and Monastery promoting tourism in South Galway Category Winners: • Most Humorous: Keane’s of Gort with their float “Fishing for Freedom” • Best Children’s Entry: Busy Bees Playschool • Best Commercial: Giblin Financial Services, “You’re in safe hands” • Best Community: Gort River Walk, “Take a walk on the wild side” • Most Topical: The Forge Works, “Working from Home” • Best Vintage Car: James Ruane, Corofin, Co Clare with his 1948 Triumph Roadster • Best Vintage Tractor; Eamon

Dempsey, Tierneevin, Gort with his 1960 Fordson Dexta • Best Entry to Theme which was Gort ’22: Gort United FC, displaying present day Cultural Diversity in Gort • Best Sports Team: St Colman’s Camogie Club • Best Window Display: Kitty Gillane, The Square • Best Environmental: Gort Cycle Trails • Best Costume: Wild Swan Theatre Company Colm Farrell introduced each participating group and individual as they passed. The parade was reviewed by Councillors Gerry Finnerty, Geraldine Donohue, Joe Byrne and Chairman of the Parade Committee, Adrian Feeney. The attendance enjoyed entertainment on The Square with music by Colie Moran, Willie Doorhy and Fr Tommie Marrinan PP. A large troupe of the Gavin Dance Academy performed on the specially constructed floor in the marquee. Jenna Coughlan and Triona Nolan were buskers for Ukraine. The Parade Committee, this week, thanked all who took part, the Gardai, sponsors, stewards, Tidy Towns Committee and all who helped to make the day a success.

THURSDAY, MAR 24 2022

MOTHER’S DAY 17

Make Mother’s Day a Special One The origins of Mother’s Day Mother’s Day will be celebrated across the county this Sunday but what is the history behind it?

EMEMBERING Mother’s Day can be tricky as the date changes every year. It always falls on a Sunday in March - but when exactly varies depending on when Easter falls. This year, the day celebrating our mothers, grandmothers and mothers of our children, arrives this Sunday,

March 27. The origins of the celebration date back as early as the ancient Greek times, when an annual spring festival was held to honour maternal goddesses. Ancient Romans also celebrated a spring festival called Hilaria which was for a mother goddess called Cybele. Ireland, Mother’s Day is always the fourth Sunday of Lent, the 24-hours marks the maternal bond that exists between a mum and child - as well as other maternal figures such as grandmothers, mothers-in-law and stepmums. What are the origins of Mother’s Day? Mothering Sunday is a Christian celebration that has now become a worldwide event where we show mums how much we appreciate them. It is traditionally a celebration to observe and celebrate mums, grandmothers and stepmums with flowers, breakfast in bed, gifts and cards - but you can be more imaginative than that. A Sunday lunch or dinner in the many wonderful hotels and restaurants in Clare is our suggestion – a simple treat that will allow your mother to spend time with the people she loves the most. As previously mentioned, Mother’s Day can find its origins back in the ancient Greek times but we celebrate it today in a way which the Americans started in the early 20th Century. More recent origins of Mothering Sunday date back to the 1600s when it was held on the fourth Sunday of Lent. It was originally a day for Christians to visit their ‘mother church’.

18 MOTHER’S DAY

THURSDAY, MAR 24 2022

Banner Beef ribs this Mother’s Day

Kearney Cooks

E ARE very lucky in the County of Clare to have some of the best beef producers in the world. Irish beef is a fantastic product with amazing flavour and doesn’t get the recognition it truly deserves. I was in Shannon the other day and popped into Morrissey’s Butchers in the Town Centre for a bit of beef. Morrissey’s never disappoint me, because as well as the regular high quality fair such as roasts, mince and steaks they often stock some amazing lesser cuts that are not as popular, such as cheeks, ribs and oxtails. It was the Beef Ribs I was after this week and I got myself a lovely portion to take home for my Sunday dinner this Mother’s Day. For this recipe you will need • 1 large beef rib per person • 1 onion diced • 2 stalks of celery diced • 1 carrot diced • 3 garlic cloves crushed • 2 bay leaves • 1 tsp chopped thyme • 1 tsp chopped rosemary • 1 tsp paprika • 1 tsp smoked paprika • 1 tsp Worcester sauce • 1 tsp tomato puree • 1 litre of beef stock ( 2 stock cubes dissolved in a litre of boiling water • Salt and pepper for seasoning

Step 1 Cover your ribs in salt,pepper and cooking oil and sear well in a hot pan before placing in an oven dish or slow cooker. Add your chopped veg , herbs , spices and stock to the beef dish and cover. If using an oven dish, cook on low at 150c for four to five hours or until tender. If using a slow cooker cook on low for five hours or until tender. Cooking times will vary depending on the size of the ribs and appliances used. Step 2 Once the meat is tender and falling off the bone , take out of your cooking dish and keep warm until ready to be used. Strain all the cooking liquor from the oven dish into a pot.

Spoon off some of the fat from the cooking juices and then boil it hard for ten to twenty minutes until it’s syrupy and thick like a gravy. The sauce should reduce in volume by at least half Step 3 Serve your beef ribs either on the bone or off it (up to you) over some creamy mash and with some buttery carrots on the side. Pour some of your gravy over the top and enjoy the intense beefiness of the whole experience. Enjoy,

Steve K

THURSDAY, MAR 24 2022

MOTHER’S DAY 19

It’s all in the name... Martin Daly Autos has a new home

HE word is out… The name that has become synonymous with quality tyres and auto services (plus an impressive sporting career) here in Clare brings great news to Ennis. Martin Daly Autos has moved and taken up a new home in Quin Road – offering a full range of car repair services and conveniently, centrally located for local drivers and businesses. “We’re really excited to move into our new home at Quin Road Business Park and take this next step of our business journey – continuing the Daly name and reputation for quality auto services,” says owner Martin Daly. “We’re taking with us our good name for straight-up customer service and excellence in auto repairs. People see our name and they know what they’re getting – it’s as simple as that.” A PEDIGREE ENNIS COMPANY The company’s story began back in 1989 when Martin’s father estab-

lished a business selling car parts. The business has evolved over the years, growing ever-stronger - and today Martin Daly Autos offers a full suite of auto services – from new tyre and tubes, digital wheel aligning and diagnostics, to full servicing and pre-NCT checks. The fully experienced team comprises two auto mechanics, two tyre technicians and an office manager, and is well-known for providing an expert, knowledgeable, professional service complemented by great customer care. The company believes that one of its greatest points of difference is that is has fully-qualified and experienced mechanics working on all cars – not fitters. This means the business’s go-to approach is always to look at repair, rather than replace – which can mean valuable cost-savings for customers: “Our honest approach truly sets us apart. We supply a quality service, we tell it like it is, we charge accordingly and we stand-by our word. If we can save a customer money by repairing a part rather

than putting in a new one, we’ll do that,” says Daly. Martin Daly Autos also aligns itself with some of the best names in the business – stocking quality brand name tyres including Cooper, Infinity, Bridgestone, Michelin, BFGoodrich, Pirelli, Continental, Kleber, Kenda, Uniroyal and Firestone. The company has excellent weekly offers available, adding value all the way. A REPUTATION OF RELIABILITY “80 Per cent of our business consists of loyal, long-standing customers – and that speaks volumes about what we offer in terms of service and price. And our customers send their friends and family to us: just the other day someone came in who’d been told ‘if you want looking after, go to Martin Daly.’ We’re really proud to have that reputation.” Of course, the name Martin Daly might also call to mind many other achievements! Probably Clare’s greatest footballer ever, and certainly their greatest-ever forward,

Daly is most notably remembered as ‘the fella who scored that miracle goal’ against Cork in 1997 in Cusack Park, changing football forever. Today Daly is pleased to be encouraging young up-andcoming players in the sport and trains the Lissycasey Under 17’s team. He’s an active member of his community and a champion for local business.

For more information, please contact Martin Daly Autos on 065 6867336

Clean Ireland Recycling creating STUART HOLLY

editor@clareecho.ie

HE Government’s climate action plan aims to have one million electric vehicles on Irish roads by 2030 - the proposed cut-off point for the sale of fossil fuel engines. However, doubts remain over the country’s charging infrastructure, the expense of EVs along with range anxiety. The same action plan has also challenged the transport sector to cut emissions by about 50 per cent by 2030, with particular attention on CNG (compressed natural gas). It is one of the most difficult sectors to decarbonise with HGVs and buses generating 30 per cent of road transport emissions despite accounting for just four per cent of vehicles on Irish roads. Gas Networks Ireland has been the key player and are on a mission to get as much green gas into the national gas grid as possible. Last year they launched a €2.9 million CNG Vehicle Grant scheme to support the purchase of up to 400 natural gas-powered trucks. Two Clare companies have already begun the process of convert-

ing their HGV fleets from diesel to CNG, local haulier CargoKing and Clean Ireland Recycling, who have an Ennis office in the Quin Road Industrial Estate. We caught up with Clean Ireland to see how they are dealing with the unprecedented rising gas prices, a situation being exasperated by the Ukranian invasion by Russia, a major gas supplier to Western Europe. One of the earliest partnerships Gas Networks Ireland developed was with Clean Ireland, who developed a private CNG filling station in Shannon which opened on May 21, 2018, in what was a first for Ireland. Overall it was a €750,000 investment between the purchase of CNG Scania trucks, a compressor and refuelling station. Brian Lyons, General Manager of Clean Ireland Recycling, noted at the time that there would be a fuel saving of up to 30 per cent per vehicle when compared with a diesel equivalent. Today, he tells The Clare Echo, “Unfortunately until things settle down again in the market, I can’t see many making the move from a price point of view.” Brian admits that Clean Ireland Recycling were lucky to “be in early” as European funding and support from Gas Networks Ireland made the project possible. “The advantage we have here

SERVICES

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Phone: 087 356 3868 Email: info@dpcardetailing.ie

- WINDOW TINT - LIGHTS WRAPPING - PAINT CORRECTIONS - CERAMIC COATINGS - HEADLIGHTS RESTORATION - PAINTLESS DENT REMOVAL - WATER LEAKS REPAIRS - INTERIORS - WHEELS REFURBISHMENT Block C, Unit 6, Quin Road Business Park, Ennis, Co. Clare

clean habits with gas-powered fleet is we’re buying the gas at the wholesale price Brian calculates that they will need in the region so we’re not buying it through a retailer like of 10 gas-powered trucks before the move to Circle K. But it did take a lot of investment and biomethane becomes viable. Brian caveats this infrastructure and land. Certainly, there was a by noting their West Clare facility will never long-term view. It’s important to note, it wasn’t be serviced by gas trucks due to an absence of just financial motives... that wasn’t the primary refuelling facilities in the area. motive for going for CNG,” says Brian, who Despite arguing that the Government needs believes gas prices will again find their “equilibto introduce stronger incentives to encourage rium” soon. companies to make the switch, Brian “absolutely “There are huge environmental benefits to would” recommend the move to CNG. using gas over diesel. It has far less CO2, it has 22 per cent less CO2, 70 per cent less nOX, 60 per cent less sulphur dioxide, and the big one is 99 per cent less particulate matter. That’s the fine solid sooty particles that might come from the exhaust of a diesel or petrol engine, so that’s a clean air policy from a health and societal level that’s huge.” However the company, which was founded 31 years ago in Cree by brothers Michael and John O’Donoghue, takes a much longer-term view to the project. Clean Ireland Recycling sees CNG as a gateway to biomethane, a 100 per cent renewable transport fuel which will some day be generated by their own collected waste material and processed at an AD (Anaerobic Digestion) plant in Limerick. “That’s ultimately our aim of where we need to get to,” says the West Clare man who resides in Ennis. Brian Lyons at the Clean Ireland Currently, four of Clean Ireland Recycling’s Recycling refuelling station in 40-strong HGV fleet are powered by CNG. Shannon

Doing up the home? Interior design and renovations can be daunting - so we bring you five tips before visiting the Quin Road

Fail to prepare, prepare to fail: Don’t go hell for leather into ripping your home apart without taking the time to really consider what you want. Sit down with your partner (and kids if you have them) to see what your family really needs from the nest. Do you really need that second

sitting room? Is it really a good idea to colour theme can really add a touch Ommmmm: Your home should be put the kids’ playroom next to your chill of class to your home. Keep paint your haven. A refuge from the outside space? muted and add a pop of colour to world where all your daily stresses melt your soft furnishings. Think ivory away. So with this in mind, try and creAsk around: Similarly, it’s walls throughout and dot teal cushate a space in your home where you always a good idea to get ions, lamps and blankets in different can totally chill out. a quote from a few different rooms around your home. Treat yourself to a ginormous bathtub, or contractors. Get some recomwhy not make yourself a little meditation spot? mendations from friends rather Go for quality: It’s all well than hiring a company you have never and good picking up a cheap Dunnes heard of. flat pack cabinet that will do Clare Stores Where possible, go with a local conthe job for a few years, but Mart QUIN tractor. They need the business and it doesn’t take a genius to the money will go back in to your local figure out that you are better off to area. Stick with your head rather than invest in something that will stand ENNIS your heart and if an offer seems too the test of time. Investing in a few QUIN ROAD good to be true, it definitely is. quality pieces will save you money BUSINESS in the long run and they will age a lot PARK Theme it up: For that expen- better, too. sive interior design feel, try to keep a constant theme going throughout your home. Something as simple as a constant Parking is free at Quin Road Business Park

LIMERICK

HE Quin Road Business Park is the quintessential stop for all your home interior needs - but before diving into splashing out on a beautiful table or luxurious curtains you’ll need to consider what will suit your home. It’s always worth starting out by browsing what’s on offer before returning to the drawing board. Here are five tips well worth following when shopping for your home at the Quin Road Business Park.

Ennis Electrical still reaping benefits of Quin Rd move two decades later STUART HOLLY

editor@clareecho.ie

NNIS ELECTRICAL Supplies Ltd. has been providing the people of Clare and beyond for more than 46 years. A family business to the core, it’s headed up by Eric Flynn while his two sisters are also involved, Audrey and Paula. Ennis Electrical’s story goes back to 1976 when Eric’s father Paul opened the first electrical retail store at Woodquay in Ennis before moving the business to Parnell Street, where they still operate a shop today. The Flynns expanded their operations in 2000 when they opened their flagship premises in the Quin Road Business Park. “Initially we just moved the trade counter side of the business to the Quin Road and then we decided to open a Retail Showroom there also, so now they’re both operating from the same location.” Today they employ 30 staff. Eric tells The Clare Echo that the move was key in growing the business and broad-

ened their customer base. “We were one of the first businesses to do so after Market Hardware who were first to relocate there, we followed soon after. Quickly after that, people realised the business park was the place to be located because it was a lot more accessible from a parking point of view, and now we have tile shops, furniture stores , carpet stores, DIY stores, electrical , heating and plumbing stores . One can pretty much do all their shopping for your new home in the Quin Road Business Park. “We are seeing increased customers from outside the county coming to the business park. This is a credit to all businesses in the park as customers are obviously impressed with the quality and selection of stores in the park” . “The move allowed us to showcase more of our product while locating to more modern showrooms. We proudly stock all the brands that are available from entry level to mid-level to high end so we have a good selection for the consumer.” Ennis Electrical, who also operate a third store in Nenagh for the last 15 years, stock a full range of market-leading brands from AEG, Bosch, Siemens, Neff, Miele, Whirlpool to mention just a few. From cookers

(both built in and range style) , American fridges, kitchen appliances, washing machines to vacuum cleaners, televisions , laptops and much more . Emerging from a pandemic, the electrical supplies specialist says that while they continue to be very busy its not without its challenges. A noted increase in customers purchasing items like Sage coffee-making machines hasn’t been the only felt impact - they are like many businesses navigating their way through choppy waters of price inflation and supply chain issues. Electrical wholesaling has been an integral part of the business and local contractors are reliably supplied with a comprehensive range of high-quality products including everything from switches, sockets, cable, light fixtures, to showers, bulbs and more. Customers come from Clare and beyond to visit Ennis Electrical, and Eric notes that their online store (https://www.enniselectrical.ie/) which was recently upgraded, continues to attract a new market with clients from all corners of Ireland. Eric adds, “We have well trained and very loyal staff, some of whom have been with Ennis Electrical over 40 years. Customers

enjoy coming back to meet familiar faces in the store from who they would have purchased a previous appliance or kitchen fitout before.” Ennis Electrical is open 9am until 6pm five days a week (and until 5:30 on Saturdays). Ennis Electrical is open 9am until 6pm five days a week (and until 5:30 on Saturdays). Tel: 065 6829684; Email: info@enniselectrical.com Web: www.enniselectrical.ie

DigiClare hubs providing better quality of life for remote workers STUART HOLLY

editor@clareecho.ie

IGICLARE’S newest hub in the Quin Road Business Park is helping to provide suitable working conditions for remote workers in the region. With a noted increase in footfall in recent weeks, the hub is expected to operate at full capacity this summer, offering flexible, affordable office facilities and high-speed broadband connectivity to remote workers in Ennis. Urban McMahon is Head of Information Systems, Digital & Broadband with Clare County Council. In his role, he manages Clare County Council’s digital and broadband services with particular emphasis on the promotion of broadband and community remote working under the rural development. Clare County Council has been in this space since pre-Covid times. The first DigiClare remote hub was opened in Kilrush in 2018. “At that time, that was done with a view to addressing the absence of broad-

band in the area so we provided a digital hub facility that people could use in the area that had high-speed broadband and all the facilities that complement it.” Five further hubs were opened before the onset of Covid-19 and there are now 10 DigiClare hubs - including Ennistymon, Ennis, Miltown Malbay, Corofin, Sixmilebridge, Feakle, Cross, Kilkee, Kilrush - with a further hub currently being developed. “Our 10 hubs located throughout the county are geared towards providing remote working spaces, hot desks, meeting rooms, flexible office space and they’re all available to the public,” Urban tells The Clare Echo. Urban, who has been with Clare County Council since 1995, heads up Clare County Council’s DigiClare team. The Ennis hub in the Quin Road Business Park opened 12 weeks ago, and alongside the hot desks, meeting rooms and flexible office space is a large training room and three permanent business units, which are currently fully operational. The digital hub attracts a variety of clients from sole traders, to remote workers, students, training groups and individuals

working for multinationals. “For example, if an individual required their own individual workspace for a short or long-term period, it’s available to them in the Ennis hub and the requirement for facilities with higher levels of privacy to facilitate Zoom and similar communications tools are also available in this facility.” Urban adds that across the county, DigiClare caters for a number of individuals who have relocated from Dublin or other larger urban centres. “The quality of life, they’re finding, is substantially better than the life they had with long commute times and also the whole financial aspect of city living.” He says that workers who are trialling remote working from their hubs are “finding it works quite well”. “Once people find out that the hub is there and it suits their requirements, they become frequent users of the facility.” While the DigiHub centres exist to serve the local community, Urban notes that they are becoming popular during the summer with staycationers. “West Clare would be a highly desirable location for holidaymakers and staycationers, with the hubs of Kilkee, Kilrush and Cross meeting their requirements. They’re calling it a ‘workation’. They start work early and finish early and they’ve the rest of the day to spend in West or North Clare. “While we are approaching it with a view to attracting enterprise and various types of remote worker to the region, it’s very much a community focussed project… trying to retain local people, and trying to encourage people to relocate and indeed visit and work in Clare.” Throughout the county, DigiClare which is part-funded by grants from the Dept of Rural & Community Development and Clare County Council - has in excess of 100 hot desk spaces, up to 15 flexible office spaces and 10 business units. Despite the increased need for remote working spaces in Clare, the Ennis hub is not yet running at full capacity but Ur-

ban notes a substantial increase in footfall in recent weeks. “Out of the Ennis hub this morning we had in the region of 20 people working which is quite good considering we’re only established three months. I have no doubt that we will be completely full for the summer,” he added. The affordable spaces start at €10 a day for a hot desk, with a five day rate at €40. The flexible office space - which is a private lockable space - costs €20 a day with a weekly rate of €80. “We have meeting rooms that are very reasonably priced from €30 up to €90 and we have a large training/conference centre in Ennis that can be availed of for €180 a day. This will accommodate 40-60 people and has full audio visual equipment, all the equipment that a full training centre requires.” All the hubs contain toilet facilities and either canteen facilities or in some cases ‘tea station’ facilities which includes fridge, microwave, kettle, dishwasher etc. The 11th hub is being planned for Flagmount in conjunction with the Flagmount Community Group while Urban adds that DigiClare are exploring other locations if the demand exists. All bookings can be made at www.digiclare.ie.

MFC contractors settle into new home

BUSINESS 29

THURSDAY, MAR 24 2022

BUSINESS AND RECRUITMENT

Lisseycasey woman leaves HR job to become performance coach

MMA Lynch, resides in Lissycasey and set up her business, The Optimal Performance Coach in September 2021. Emma is a qualified Positive Psychology Coach and organisational wellbeing facilitator and focuses her work on helping career driven individuals to find clarity, direction and goals that put them on a pathway to a flourishing life. As a Positive Psychology practitioner, she is passionate that through her 1-1 work, which is grounded in the science of optimal human functioning, individuals should be able to achieve whatever goal they have in mind without sacrificing any other area in their life. During sessions coaching psychology techniques are applied, which is the psychology of behaviour, cognition and

emotions, combined with Positive Psychology Interventions which are activities that are theoretically grounded and the results have been confirmed to enhance wellbeing for a period of time beyond the completion of the activity. Sessions are either delivered via zoom or face to face depending on the requirements of the client. The business also works with organisations to provide wellbeing workshops that are based around the science of Positive Psychology. The workshops are designed to be delivered in two and a half hour sessions and focus on areas such as character strengths awareness in teams and Recharge wellbeing sessions for leaders and managers. The workshops are specifically designed to address some of the wellbeing and retention challenges currently being experienced in

LTTS Engineer Visit 15th March 2022

are recruiting

Repair Processors

FACTS Location Shannon

Employment Level Direct Entry

Reporting to

Terms

Team Leader

Permanent and Fixed Term

Person Specification:  Good attitude, willing to learn and pursue a career in the aviation industry  Experience of working in a manufacturing/mechanical or motor maintenance environment would be an advantage  Should be pro-active and eager to learn and take on responsibility  Attention to detail and a high level of manual dexterity are essential  A good understanding of the English language is essential  Ability to work as part of a team and get along well with other team members  Full training will be provided Skills that would be advantageous to the role      

Fabrication experience Tube/Pipe bending or forming Oxy acetylene brazing TIG welding CNC machine operating Non-Destructive Testing

Extensive benefits package includes      

Private Health Insurance Pension Subsidized Canteen On-site Gym Further educational support and opportunities Airline flight concessions

GROUP WATER SCHEMES ANNUAL SUBSIDY FUNDING TOWARDS OPERATIONAL COST OF GROUP WATER SCHEMES Clare County Council is inviting and encouraging Group Water Schemes to apply for subsidy funding towards the operating costs (incurred in 2021) of providing domestic water to households supplied by the schemes. The maximum subsidy available towards operational and management costs is: • €115.00 for each house supplied from a public supply • €231.00 for each house supplied from a private supply

Join us :

Application forms and subsidy conditions / details can be downloaded from the Councils website www.clarecoco.ie and are available at the offices of the Rural Water Programme, Clare County Council, Waterpark House, Drumbiggle Road, Ennis, Co Clare. Phone No: 065-6866115 / 6866119. Email: ruralwater@clarecoco.ie

Lufthansa Technik Turbine Shannon, originally founded in 1992, is a member of Lufthansa Technik and specializes in the repair of aircraft engine components. See more @ www.lufthansa-technik.com

Completed applications should be submitted no later than 30th June, 2022.

If you are interested in this position, please forward your CV to hrdept@ltts.ie or post to HR Department, Lufthansa Technik Turbine Shannon, World Aviation Park, Shannon, Co. Clare

the post pandemic era. Emma having previously spent over 13 years working as a Human Resource Manager within the recruitment and hospitality sectors, took some time during the pandemic to reflect on where she was in her life. She had a good permanent full time role but as a busy Mum with two girls realised she had lost sight of her own goals and direction. With the support of a coach and in the midst of a pandemic she found that courage to begin a journey that changed her life, resulting in her leaving a full time job, returning to education to complete her Masters in Applied Positive Psychology and Coaching Psychology, becoming an EMCC accredited coach and starting her own business. The Optimal Performance Coach offers free introduction sessions to individuals looking to find their direction, and are interested in having a chat to understand how positive psychology coaching could help them.

These can be booked on www. theoptimalperformancecoach. com or by emailing emma@theoptimalperformancecoach.com

30 PROPERTY

O’SULLIVAN HURLEY

THURSDAY, MAR 24 2022

(065) 684 0200 74 O'CONNELL STREET ENNIS

PSL No 002295

8 PINE GROVE, GORT ROAD, ENNIS, CO. CLARE

17 PRIMROSE GARDENS, CLARECASTLE, CO CLARE

KILMALEY, ENNIS, CO CLARE

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7 RADHARC AN LOCHA, BALLYALLA, ENNIS, CO CLARE

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O’SULLIVAN HURLEY JOHN CLOHESSY

ANNE-MARIE DALY

CORMAC O'SULLIVAN

JOE LINEHAN

DOUGLAS HURLEY

LAUREN MCGUANE

THURSDAY, MAR 24 2022

PROPERTY

All-Ireland glory for Nash

Diarmaid & Jim Nash in Kingscourt Photograph: Gordon Daly

PÁRAIC MCMAHON

paraic@clareecho.ie

U A M G R A N E Y ’s Diarmaid Nash has been crowned an All-Ireland champion. Nash upset the odds defeating number one seed and fourtime champion Robbie McCarthy Jnr from Westmeath 21-8, 17-21, 11-8 at this year’s All-Ireland (40x20) four-wall Handball Championships finals in Kingscourt on Saturday. After two previous final defeats against the same opponent (2014 and 2019), Nash’s first Senior Singles title is also the first for the Banner county since the great Pat Kirby in 1980. The legendary Kirby was also from Tuamgraney handball club. It was the first 40x20 final played in three years. With kill shots aplenty coupled with passing shots and a dominant serve, Nash dominated the opening game with a tighter contest following in the second game. A series of unanswered points from the lefthander in the third game proved crucial as he closed out the win. There have been just fourteen different winners of the championship in its 43 year history and Diarmaid is just the second Clare player after six time winner Pat Kirby (1975-1980) to claim victory in the 40x20. Members of the Nash family including his parents Jim and Mary, sisters Dervla and Clodagh were among the proud spectators to witness Diarmaid make history. Jim has been an integral coach in the Tuamgraney club while Clodagh has All-Ireland titles at schools, Féile and Community Games to her name plus minor and intermediate doubles competitions, world success at U17 and U23 doubles. His late brother, Barry had claimed world titles at U13 and U15 level and an All-Ireland minor doubles title before his untimely passing in 2014. A graduate of UCD, Diarmaid

is also a member of the Scariff senior hurling team, lining out at midfield on the side crowned intermediate champions in 2020. He has also lined out for his county at minor and U21 level. Fellow Tuamgraney clubman and Scariff native Paul Rodgers on Sunday in Kingscourt won the All-Ireland Under 14 Boys Singles title, defeating Monaghan’s Calum Sherry in an excellent final (15-8, 15-12). There was no joy for Clare’s other juvenile All-Ireland finalists as Cliona Rodgers (Tuamgraney) lost out to Kilkenny’s Katie Jordan 11-15, 11-15 in the Under 15 Girls Singles final, while there was also defeat for the unlucky Danny Rodgers and Liam Murphy (Tuamgraney, Kilkishen) in the Boys Under 14 Doubles final against Kilkenny (Andrew Brennan and Matthew Murphy, 15-9, 13-15, 9-15) and for Aoife Frost and Ellen Collins (Kilkishen, Newmarket-on-Fergus) in the Under 16 Girls doubles decider, also versus Kilkenny (Katie Brennan and Holly Byrne). There were two other All-Ireland Singles champions from Clare crowned in Kingscourt over the weekend as Kilkishen’s Con Collins, representing Antrim, won his Over 40 B Singles final 21-20, 21-11 against Wexford’s David Stanners and there was also success for Newmarket-on-Fergus native Conor Maxwell, who claimed Over 45 B Singles silverware for Dublin when he beat Kieran Hanley of Galway 21-4, 21-3. This Saturday, Diarmaid Nash is back on court as he and Colin Crehan begin their bid for a three-in-a-row of All-Ireland Senior Doubles titles with a first-round fixture against either Kilkenny or Wexford this Saturday (fixture tbc). Clare’s other victorious Munster Doubles finals winners await their All-Ireland semi-final dates, Shane Hayes and Darren O’Neill (Clooney, Mens Over 35B) and Chloe Philpott and Orla O’Brien (Kilkishen, Ladies Junior).

24-03-22

pg 32

Easy Cup wins for Mountshannon & Lifford by SEAMUS HAYES

ACTION continued in the Banner Carpets and Flooring Clare Cup over the weekend with Mountshannon Celtic and Lifford sealing their places in the second round. MOUNTSHANNON CELTIC 4 SHANNON TOWN C 0 William Glass scored a hat trick nd Oran Scanlon also got on the scoresheet as Mountshannon Celtic recorded a comfortable first round win over Shannon Town C in the Banner Carpets and Flooring Clare Cup. The East Clare side now advance to face Ennis Town FC in the last sixteen. Mountshannon Celtic; Andy O’Dwyer; Sean Browne, Oran Scanlan, Michael Barrett, Niall Dear, Guy Vigurs, Ronan dooley, Niall Minogue, Ciaran Keenan,

All-Ireland final heartache for Ennistymon CBS

Paddy Fitzgerald, William Glass; Subs; Luke Sugrue for Vigours; Ben harrington for S. Browne; Ethan Madden for N. Minogue BRIDGE UTD B 1 LIFFORD 6 Premier outfit Lifford proved too strong for Bridge United B in this Clare Cup first round tie on Sunday. Scorers for the winners who led 5-0 at half time were Niall Guinnane (2), Keith Shea, Paul Martyn, Dylan Ryan and Matthew Davenport. Lifford: Rhys Phuillips; Jean Ganda, Eddie Killeen, John Maher, Darragh Kerins; Paul Martin, Guillermo Bazic, Niall Guinnane, Ruairi Norrby, Dylan Ryan, Keith Shea Subs: Dan Daly for Maher; Zac Guilfoyle for Guinnane; Nathaan Rezende for Guillermo; Matthew Davenport for Norrby; Juan for Ryan RACE CONTINUES

The race for the Banner Carpets and Flooring Clare Cup continues this weekend with six games listed for decision. In round 1, Avenue B will host Kilkishen Celtic while Shannon Town B will have Kilrush Rangers as visitors. Holders Newmarket Celtic A will travel to play Kildysart Celtic in a round 2 fixture. Also in round 2, Moher Celtic will have Shannon Hibs A as visitors to Lahinch while Avenue United will hope to put the disappointment of losing in both the FAI and Munster junior cups in the past two weeks behind them when they face Manus B on this Thursday with the winners travelling to play Corofin Harps on Sunday. In an all Premier Division clash, Shannon Town will have home advantage when they entertain Lifford A

SCAN HERE FOR MATCH REPORT

Alex Kavanagh gets away from Marc O’Loughlin Photograph: John Sheridan

A week to remember for Cratloe’s Mark McDonagh

by PÁRAIC McMAHON CRATLOE’s Mark McDonagh ensured there was a clean sweep for Irish trained horses on Gold Cup day

at the Cheltenham Festival. Mark had his first ever winner at the prestigious horse-racing festival on Friday when Banbridge claimed the closing race for the Clare jockey, trainer Joseph O’Brien and owner Ronnie Bartlett. Banbridge already had three wins under his belt this season, all in novice company, the point to point graduate was well beaten on his only other handicap outing which took place last Christmas at Leopardstown. The cause was boosted when favourite Langar Dan fell at the second flight but Banbridge powered home at the hill, winning by a length and a half. A grandson of trainer, Michael McDonagh, Mark has ridden twelve winners so far this season including the feature chase at Down Royal on Thursday. Claiming the Martin Pipe Conditional Jockey’s Handicap Hurdle in Cheltenham is certainly a highpoint for the Cratloe jockey. Speaking afterwards, Mark savoured the special win, “The standing start suited me as my horse was sharply away. There were loose horses all around me. I was wondering what had happened behind. Joseph told me to hold on to him as long as I could. I wasn’t confident until ten strides after jumping the last. The feeling is unreal. I’ve never witnessed anything like it”. He continued his winning streak to cap off a memorable week at Downpatrick on Sunday when Spades Are Trumps proved the ace in the pace running out a convincing winner of the Randox Ulster National Handicap Chase. Nine year old Spades Are Trumps is owned by JP McManus and trained by Gavin Cromwell, he led at the final fence before speeding away from his rivals.

pg 33

24-03-22

Grand Slam glory for Clare trio BAREFIELD DUO, Tony Butler and Ethan Coughlan and Kildysart’s Conor Moloney are Grand Slam winners following Ireland’s success in the U20 6 Nations. Both products of the Ennis RFC underage ranks, Butler (Garryowen FC) and Coughlan (Shannon) have had quite the season which included making their debuts for Munster in the Heineken Champions Cup alongside Conor Moloney from Kildysart.

Clare’s Grand Slam winners, Conor Moloney, Tony Butler and Ethan Coughlan

Photograph: Maura O’Dwyer Coughlan

Clare v Meath Meath 0-10 Clare 0-09 Venue: Cusack Park, Ennis

Compiled by Páraic McMahon

SCAN HERE FOR MATCH REPORT

Cillian O’Sullivan finds a way past Emmet McMahon and Cian O’Dea Photograph: Gerard O’Neill

MEATH: Frees for: 15 (11/4) Wides: 9 (3/6) Spread of scorers: 7 Scores from play: 0-05 Top scorer: S Walsh (0-03 2f) Bookings: G McGowan (48 / Black), J Morris (67), M Costelloe (71 / Black) Own kickouts won: 14 from 17 (82%)

CLARE: Frees for: 21 (10/11) Wides: 8 (4/4) Spread of scorers: 4 Scores from play: 0-05 Top scorer: K Sexton (0-04 3f) Bookings: C O’Dea (8), E Collins (17), D Tubridy (54), C Jordan (59), J Malone (71 / Black) Own kickouts won: 15 from 19 (79%)

Ireland’s Grand Slam glory was almost certain before a kick to touch on Sunday but Richie Murphy’s side sealed the success in a commanding fashion overcoming Scotland 59-5 running over nine tries at Musgrave Park. They have become the first Irish U20 side to win a Grand Slam while taking down France and England away and amassing 29 tries. Four of their five games resulted in try scoring bonus-point wins. Introduced from the bench

on the fifty fifth minute, the Clare pair took to the field at the same time with Butler slotting three conversions from three attempts. Coughlan had a key role to play in the eighth try, he found hooked Josh Hanlon with the vital pass before he ran over the line. Kildysart’s Moloney though not part of the matchday 26 was introduced as a substitute in the second round to help close out the vital win over France in Aix.

14 Clare hurlers part of Ardscoil Rís’ Croke Cup All-Ireland glory by PÁRAIC McMAHON ARDSCOIL RÍS have been crowned All-Ireland Post Primary Schools Senior A Hurling champions resulting in fourteen Croke Cup medals for Clare hurlers. Beaten by St Joseph’s Tulla in the Dr Harty Cup, Ardscoil Rís bounced back in the All-Ireland series defeating Gort CS in the semi-finals before taking down Kilkenny giants St Kieran’s College 1-17 0-17 in the decider. St Kieran’s eliminated St Joseph’s Tulla from the semi-finals on a scoreline of 3-16 1-11. They have won the Dr Harty Cup on five occasions but the St Patrick’s Day win marked the first occasion that Ardscoil Rís got their hands on the Croke Cup. It is also the first time since 1966 that a Limerick school has won the All-Ireland competition, Sexton St taking the honours, almost six decades ago. This time there was a strong Clare contingent involved with the North Circular Rd school with Ballyea’s Paul Flanagan,

Cormac O’Donovan of Clonlara and Meelick’s Niall Crowe part of the management alongside former Limerick hurler Niall Moran from Ahane. Broadford’s Niall Farrell was top scorer for the winners finishing with 0-08 to his name while corner forward David Kennedy from Sixmilebridge raided for the all-important goal and chipped in with a further three points from play. Lining out between the posts Clonlara’s Séimí Gully kept a clean-sheet with Colm Flynn of Sixmilebridge starting at corner back. Cratloe’s Rian McNamara, Diarmuid Stritch from Clonlara and Dean Ryan captain Sean McMahon from the Smith O’Briens club all entered the fray on 38, 58 and 59 minutes respectively. Completing the Clare involvement were Denis Fahy (Broadford), Eoin Deegan (Cratloe), Sam Sheehy (Cratloe), Seadhna Liddy (Newmarket-on-Fergus), Dara Casey (Sixmilebridge), Morgan O’Connell (Sixmilebridge) and Noel Flynn (Sixmilebridge)

Cusack Cup & Garry Cup roundup

Clare v Galway Galway 0-25 Clare 1-20 Venue: Pearse Stadium, Galway Compiled by David Connors

GALWAY: Frees for: 13 (7/6) Wides: 12 (6/6) Spread of scorers: 8 Scores from play: 0-16 Top scorer: Conor Cooney (0-12 7fs 2’65) Bookings: Éanna Murphy Own puckouts won: 16 from 28 (57%)

CLARE: Frees for: 11 (8/3) Wides: 7 (5/2) Spread of scorers: 5 Scores from play: 0-12 Top scorer: Tony Kelly (1-09 6f 1’Pen 2’65) Bookings: Patrick Crotty & Shane Golden Own puckouts won: 21 from 37 (56%)

SCAN HERE FOR MATCH REPORT

Sean Haugh holds onto the ball under pressure from Martin O’Leary

Photograph: Gerard O’Neill

Unbeaten Slaney Mags Wins Moet Final by MICHAEL MAHER

THE LIMERICK AND CLARe GOBA were responsible for sponsoring the entire card at Limerick Greyhound Stadium on Saturday night last. The newly elected committee under Chairman Seanie McMahon of Newmarket-on-Fergus deserve high praise for putting this card together, getting sponsorship for the twelve races on the night in these tough times was an achievement in itself and great credit goes to all involved. The first final of the night was the MOET Accountants A6/A7 525 and it went to script as the even money favourite, Slaheny Mags, maintained her unbeaten run in the stake to land the €1,250 winner’s prize. Owned by Peg Lenihan from Newmarket-on-Fergus, Slaheny Mags had won both prior rounds by an aggregate of fourteen and a half lengths and she went into the decider as the hot favourite to land the spoils. Running from trap four, the daughter of Dorotas Wildcat and Drumcrow Clara broke well from the middle but was headed early

Gower Jet winner of the Liffey Mills A5 final. Anna Carey accepting the trophy. Photograph: Joe Buckley

on by the blue jacket of Ready For Adam, the strong-running Slaheny Mags displayed her staying power to the winning line in a time of 29.51. The Final of the Liffey Mills A5 525 was the fifth race on the card which went the way of veteran performer Gower Jet owned by Anne Carey of Cooraclare as he sprang a 4/1 upset in landing the €1,250 decider. Approaching his sixth birthday, Gower Jet landed his semi-final assignment in off-thepace fashion and deployed similar tactics on this occasion as he took charge off the second turn to seal back-to-back wins. Gower Jet stopped the clock in 29.50, three lengths better off than Blastoff Roisino in second. Long time supporter of the Limerick Track, Joe Collins of Parteen got the Banner boys off to a flying start winning the opening race sponsored by Mace Shannon /McKeoghs Hardware Ballina, Joe handles the winner Freyas Paradis for the Shanakyle-Syndicate of Parteen, boxed in trap one the winner broke well and held on to win in a time of 32.60 for the 575 trip. Race six sponsored by Greyhound & Petworld Supplies went to another lifelong supportor of the Track, Mary Crotty of O’Briensbridge, Mary was in the winners enclosure after her Inislosky Urchin was an impressive winner in a time of 29.36 for this A3 contest over the 525 yards journey. Fast Fit Paddy owned by John Quinn of Gort and trained by Declan McDonagh of Liscannor made it win number nine in Shelbourne Park on Saturday night last, Paddy was an all the way winner running from trap one.

IT’S BACK!

24-03-22

Aideen to represent Ireland in European Nations Championship

Golf captains at a recent function in Dromoland

by SEAMUS HAYES AIDEEN WALSH who has been selected to represent Ireland at the European Nations Championship hosted by Real Club de Golf Sotogrande, Spain between March 30th and April 2nd. Aideen is a member of both Woodstock and Lahinch clubs and she has represented both with distinction in recent seasons This is the first time in the tournament’s history that Ireland will be represented by both a men’s and women’s team. WOODSTOCK GOLF CLUB: In the Spring league modified scramble at Woodstock at the weekend the winners were Kevin Toner and Matt O’Brien with 51 points followed by Kieran Quinn and Pat McMahon with a similar score. In third spot, a point behind were Ray Casey and Frank McEnery followed by Alan Markham and Joe McInerney with 48 points. Kieran Quinn, Ray Grogan, Pat O’Brien and Pat McMahon lead at this stage with 226.6 from Ray, Eddie and Stephen Casey and Frank McEnery with 218.8 with third spot filled by Kevin Toner, Seosamh O’Riordailn, Matttie O’Brien and tom O’Donoghue with 217. There will be no Spring League this week due to the Costello Cup between Ennis and Woodstock taking place in Ennis and the course being hollow tined. In the modified fourball for club members the winners were Tony Neville and Henry Butler with 49 points The Stand with Ukraine team of 4 scramble winners were Joe Green, Michael Foley, Peter Cosgrove and Ger Ward with 53.4 nett from Paddy Vaughan, Mike Liddy, Cian and Briain Dillon with a similar score. The winners in the ladies section were Chaye Kelly, Fran Feighery, Mary Howard and Mary Morgan with 60.4 nett. The event raised €2,400 which will be be passed on through the Ennis Lions club. The prizes for the competition were sponsored by the men’s committee.

Join in the fun at LIMERICK GREYHOUND STADIUM Starts this Saturday 26th March For more information visit www.LimerickGreyhoundStadium.ie

Join the chat on social media using #Kirby2022

www.LimerickGreyhoundStadium.ie

pg 34

OUR NEW CUSTOM FITTING

ROOM IS NOW OPEN

Photograph: Paddy Higgins

The Spring League will resume on the weekend of April 2 and 3. This will be the final round before the 8 teams qualify for the knockout matchplay section. The format will be a team of four with two scores to count at each hole. There will be a similar competition for club members not taking part in the league. This week’s seniors scramble was won by Eugene Conroy, Brendan Arthur and Sean Howard with 48 points. Woodstock have been drawn to play against Dromoland in the first round of the Jimmy Bruen shield. The match will be held in Woodstock and has to be played by Sunday May 8. Members who wish to trial for the Jimmy Bruen team can contact the team managers Seamus Kelly or Liam O’Connor below by Thursday March 31. KILRUSH GOLF CLUB: The Spring singles at Kilrush on Sunday was won by Matthew Dillon (22) from John K. Ryan (10) with third spot filled by Pat Mulcahy (13). All three returned scores of 28 points. The winners of the St. Patrick’s Day mixed scramble were Gearoid Williams, Pat J Shannon, Leroy Crowe and Loretta Maher with 35 points from Paddy Coghlan, Loretta Browne, Kathleen Murphy and Roy Capon who had a similar score. CLARECASTLE GOLF SOCIETY: At a recently well attended AGM of Clarecastle golf society in Powers the following committee officers were elected for the 2022 golfing year - Liam Barry (Captain), Gerry Mc Mahon (President), Frank Barry (Secretary), Pat Healy (Treasurer), Mike Foley (PRO) and Bernard Hanrahan (Assistant. PRO). Peter Cosgrove was the winner of the society’s first outing held at Nenagh on Saturday last. Ollie McNamara was second, Don Ryan third and Noel Connellan fourth. The nines’ were won by Seamus Murtagh and Padraig Larkin. The next outing is to Gort on Saturday, April 16.

THURSDAY, MAR 24 2022

Recent Deaths Denis O’ Halloran Church Road, Tulla Date of Death: Tuesday 22nd March 2022 Desmond (Des) Scanlan Duntaheen, Fermoy, Co. Cork, late of Killaloe Co. Clare. Date of Death: Monday 21st March 2022 Sean Naughton Caher, Feakle, Clare Date of Death: Tuesday 22nd March 2022 Anastasia O’ Hara (née Keane) Briarwood, Laghile ,Cratloe, Clare Date of Death: Monday 21st March 2022 Fr Senan O’ Mahony Pella Road, Kilrush, Clare Date of Death: Tuesday 22nd March 2022 Bridget O’ Shaughnessy (Née Muhirty) Circular Road, Ennistymon, Clare Date of Death: Tuesday 22nd March 2022 Finbar and Susan Carrol (née O’Connor) Ballinlough, Roscommon/Doolin,Clare Date of Deaths: Monday 21st March 2022 Kathleen Casey (née Moroney) Shannon road, Sixmilebridge, Clare Date of Death: Sunday 20th March 2022 Sr Catherine Corry Sisters of Marie Reparatrice, Reparation Convent, South Circular Road, Limerick / Kildysart, Clare Date of Death: Sunday 20th March 2022 Barry Deegan Church Street, Sixmilebridge,Clare Date of Death: Thursday 17th March 2022

Anniversary

Thomas McNulty Killnasoolagh Pk., Newmarket-on-Fergus, Clare Date of Death: Monday 21st March 2022 Martin Tubridy Dromellihy West, Cree, Clare Date of Death: Monday 21st March 2022 Mannix Berry Cappaghmore, Ennis, Clare / Galway City, Galway Date of Death: Friday 18th March 2022 Paul Kavanagh West End, Kilkee, Clare / Limerick / Dublin Date of Death: Saturday 19th March 2022 Patrick (Paddy) Murphy Formally of Laois and Manchester/ Cois na Sccoile, Kilmihil, Clare Date of Death: Saturday 19th March 2022 Pauline Collins (née McGann) Dromoher, Kilnaboy, Clare Date of Death: Saturday 19th March 2022 Thomas Copeland Ennis, Clare / Arklow, Wicklow Date of Death: Friday 18th March 2022

Raymond Smyth 31 Tradaree Court, Shannon, Clare Date of Death Saturday 19th March 2022 John Joe Hegarty Westfield, Castletown, Laois / Inagh, Clare Date of Death: Friday 18th March 2022 John (Locky) McLoughlin St Peter’s, Carnane Upper, Doolin, Clare / Howth, Dublin Date of Death: Thursday 17th March 2022 Mary O’Leary (née Conolin) Ballymacraven West, Ennistymon, Clare Date of Death: Thursday 17th March 2022 Kevin Walsh Caherfeenick, Cree, Clare Date of Death: Friday 18th March 2022 Tomsie O’Sullivan Doonboy, Station Road, Lahinch, Clare Date of Death: Thursday 17th March 2022 Veronica Whelan (née Lahiffe) Leana, Kilnaboy, Clare Date of Death: Tuesday 22nd February 2022

Mary Hallinan (née Hayes) Corlac, Hill Road, Bunratty, Clare / Mungret, Limerick Date of Death: Friday 18th March 2022 P.J. Normoyle Burren, Ballynacally, Clare Date of Death: Friday 18th March 2022 Danny O’Shea Lavalla North, Ballynacally, Clare Date of Death: Thursday 17th March 2022

Obituaries

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GLYNN, PAUL (6TH ANNIVERSARY) In loving memory of Paul whose 6th Anniversary occurs on 25th of March. May he rest in peace. Will those who think of him today a little prayer to Jesus say. It is not the tears that are shed at the time that tell of the hearts that are broken, it is the silent tears in the after years each time your name it is spoken. Remembered Always by Peggy, Barry, Orla, Joanne, John, Michelle and their families. Mass in memory of Paul on Sunday 27th of March at 11:45 am in St Joseph’s Church, Ennis.

An Appreciation Kevin Crowley BY GERARD O’NEILL THE parish of Kilmihil was in shock on hearing the news of Kevin’s sudden death and everyone you would speak to echoed the same sentiments, Kilmihil has lost one of its great characters. He was a member of the U14 Championship winning team in 1973 and was a lifelong supporter of Kilmihil GAA Club. He was always willing to help out whenever he was asked and was great company. You would of course have to be on your guard as he was constantly trying to wind people up but there was never anything malicious in his intentions.

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PLANNING NOTICES

CLARE COUNTY COUNCIL 16, OCEAN VIEW, LAHINCH, CO CLARE V95 KN97 Take notice that DEBORAH & KEN FITZGERALD intend to apply for permission to RETAIN the Conservatory to the front of the existing dwelling house & all other associated site and ancillary works at the above address. The planning application may be inspected or purchased at a fee not exceeding the reasonable cost of making a copy, at the offices of the planning authority, during its public opening hours. A submission or observation in relation to the application may be made in writing to the authority on payment of the prescribed fee of €20.00, within the period of 5 weeks beginning on the date of receipt by the authority of the application.

CLARE COUNTY COUNCIL SEAFIELD GRAVEYARD, QUILTY WEST, CO. CLARE Take notice that Kieran O’Boyle and Family intend to apply for permission to construct a vault & all other associated site and ancillary works at the above address. The planning application may be inspected or purchased at a fee not exceeding the reasonable cost of making a copy, at the offices of the planning authority, during its public opening hours. A submission or observation in relation to the application may be made in writing to the authority on payment of the prescribed fee of €20.00, within the period of 5 weeks beginning on the date of receipt by the authority of the application. CLARE COUNTY COUNCIL

BALLYLANNIDY, ENNIS, CO. CLARE Take notice that Brian Foudy & Associates Ltd of Osprey House, Carmody Street, Ennis, Co. Clare 065 6893565 www. foudyconsulting.ie. intend to apply to the planning authority on behalf of Darvin Trading Company Ltd for permission for a development which will consist of the following (a) 16 No. dwelling houses in total consisting of 2.No. detached two storey dwelling houses and 14. No. semi-detached two storey dwelling houses (b) all ancillary site development works and connections to public services at the above address. The planning application may be inspected or purchased at a fee not exceeding the reasonable cost of making a copy at the offices of the planning authority during its public opening hours. A submission or observation in

relation to the application may be made in writing to the planning authority on payment of the prescribed fee within the period of 5 weeks beginning on the date of receipt by the authority of the application. CLARE COUNTY COUNCIL CASTLETOWN, DOORA, ENNIS, CO. CLARE Take notice that we, Adriana Bunowska & Lukasz Skorupa intend to apply for planning permission consequent on the grant of outline (Reference No. P21/886) to Clare County Council for the construction of a dwelling house, treatment system, stables, bored well, create new entrance to public road and carry out ancillary site works. We also intend to apply for full planning permission for Stables, Hay Store and Dungstead at above address. The Planning Applica-

tion may be inspected or purchased at a fee not exceeding the reasonable cost of making a copy, at the offices of the planning authority of Clare County Council, Planning Department, Aras Contae an Chlair, New Road, Ennis Co. Clare during its public opening hours. A submission or observation in relation to the application may be made to the authority in writing on payment of the prescribed fee of €20 within the period of 5 weeks beginning on the date of receipt by the authority of the application. CLARE COUNTY COUNCIL BALLINAGUN EAST, CREE, CO. CLARE Take notice that Joe Garry is applying for retention permission for the construction of an extension to an existing dwelling, relocation of the sewerage treatment unit, revision of site boundaries and the

construction of a garage and planning permission to install the percolation area granted under P 00/1309 and construction of the northern and part of the eastern site boundaries in sod and stone along with all associated works at the above address. The planning application may be inspected, or purchased at a fee not exceeding the reasonable cost of making a copy at the offices of Clare County Council during its public opening hours and a submission or observation in relation to the application may be made to the authority in writing on payment of the prescribed fee within the period of 5 weeks beginning on the date of receipt by the authority of the application. CLARE CO. COUNCIL KELLS, TUBBER, CO. CLARE. Take notice that Dermot

and Kate Taaffe intends to apply for permission for development, the development will consist of a material change of use from a school, currently not in use to part of new dwelling house, the construction of a new dwelling house onto existing school building with new waste water treatment system with percolation area and associated site works at the above address. The planning application maybe inspected or purchased at a fee not exceeding the reasonable cost of making a copy at the offices of the Planning Authority during its public opening hours. A submission or observation in relation to the application may be made to the authority in writing on payment of the prescribed fee within the period of 5 weeks beginning on the date of receipt by the authority of the application.

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Supporting Journalism in Clare

QUIZ 39

THURSDAY, MAR 24 2022

The Clare Echo Quiz

In 1881 John Philip Holland, from Where was Patrick Hillery the 1successfully Co. Clare was the first person to 7 6th president of Ireland from? launch what? Helicopter Submarine Airplane

Doolin Scarriff Spanish Point

Ché Guevara’s plane was forced 8 to land in Shannon Airport in 1961, what seaside town in West

Tyson Fury Deontay Wilder Muhammad Al

Lahinch Kilkee Spanish Point

What world heavyweight boxing champion has strong ties to co, Clare?

Clare did he stay in?

‘Smother ‘, RTE’s drama series Cusack is a founding fa9 is based in Lahinch, what is the 3 Michael ther of which Irish organization? name of the actor who plays Val

1995 1991 1998

How long was Eamon DeValera president of Ireland for?

Niamh Walsh Seana Kerslake Dervla Kirwan

Keith Wood from Killaloe is a 10 former professional athlete in which sport?

lQUESTION 4: How long was Eamon DeValera president of Ireland for?

Golfer Boxer Rugby Player

7 years 14 years 10 years

6 When is Tony Kelly’s Birthday?

Quiz by Sarah Murphy

December 15th July 23rd April 9th

Spot the Difference Can you spot the difference? Spot the 7 differences. The answers will be revealed in next weeks edition.

ANSWERS 6. December 15th 7. Spanish Point 8. Kilkee 9. Dervla Kirwan 10.Rugby Player

did Sharon Shannon re4 When lease her first album?

Ahearn?

1. Submarine 2. Muhammad Ali 3. GAA 4. 1991 5.14 Years

GAA IRFU FAI

Last weeks Answers . Hand missing in background (left) . Peak on cap different colour . logo missing on cap . Nike logo missing on shoe (right)

. Logo missing on top (right) . Hat different colour (left) . Logo on jacket missing (centre right)

Thomas Kelly, Emmet McMahon and Cian Murphy at Hotel Woodstock for the Cill Cúil Gaels victory social. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill