The Clare Echo 24/09/20 by The Clare Echo

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SEP 2419/06/2020 2020 12:46:27

Introducing

Cooks Lane Tapas & Wine

Opening early October from 6-11pm

Opening early October from 6-11pm Contact 0871083366 or visit us on Facebook/Instagram to reserve seating.

operations will Daytime operations Daytime will continue as normal continue as normal

‘Pubs must set good example’ STUART HOLLY editor@clareecho.ie

LARE publicans must set a good example if they are to prosper against the backdrop of Covid-19, it has been

claimed. This week hundreds of ‘wet’ pubs reopened their doors after six and a half months of enforced closure due to Government restrictions. Opening their doors on Tuesday, Taylor’s Bar in Ennis said that it is now up to the publicans to prove that they can operate responsibly and effectively implement social distancing measures.

Pat and Susan Taylor of Taylor’s Bar

Patrick Taylor of Taylor’s Bar in the Market in Ennis says his business will be doing everything

“by the book” in terms of complying with government measures, adding that there is great responsibility on local publicans to set a good example. “If everybody does that we’ll get out of this quicker. The last thing I want is to reopen after six and a half months and then Clare being shut down three weeks later because we haven’t behaved, so we’re going to do our bit and do it properly.” While Patrick is critical of the government’s stance on pubs, he added, “All we wanted was to get open and be given the chance and I know we’ll be able to prove that we can do it right.” FULL STORY PAGE 2

with mention of this Clare Echo advert

MARY CELEBRATES 100TH BIRTHDAY

Photo by John Mangan

Mary Fealey Nee Higgins from Newmarket on Fergus celebrating her 100th birthday at home

FULL STORY PAGE 8

2 NEWS

THURSDAY, SEP 24 2020

Index NEWS

2-12

ENTERTAINMENT

GREENER CLARE

SCULLY

EDITORIAL PROPERTY MOTORING SPORT

CHEERS TO NEW BEGINNINGS AS PUBS REOPEN

16 18-21 24-25 26-43

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

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

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

l THE BLACK STUFF: Pat and Susan Taylor with the first pint pulled at Taylor’s Bar in Ennis on Monday afternoon

STUART HOLLY

ROOFING CONTRACTORS

TEL: 085 2134025 OR 065 6705970

editor@clareecho.ie

UBLICANS across County Clare have opened their doors for the first time in almost seven months following the lifting of restrictions. After a couple of false dawns earlier in the summer, the highly anticipated reopening of ‘wet pubs’ occurred on Monday. Patrick Taylor of Taylor’s Bar in the Market in Ennis says his business will be doing everything “by the book” in terms of complying with government measures, adding that there is great responsibility on local publicans to set a good example. “If everybody does that we’ll get out of this quicker. The last thing I want is to reopen after six and a half months and then Clare being shut down three weeks later because we haven’t behaved, so we’re going to do our bit and do it properly.” While Patrick is critical of the government’s stance on pubs, he added, “All we wanted was to get open and be given the chance and I know we’ll be able to prove that we can do it right.” Patrick adds there’s great excitement as they reopen the doors to their family-run business. Joined by his wife Susan with whom he runs the premises, Patrick told The Clare Echo, “We’re excited to open our doors, very nervous about how people are going to react about how we run our business now because it’s completely different to the way it was before. “We’re going to expect people to behave in a different way. We’re going to expect people to wear a mask going to the bathroom so everything is different about the business now. We’re nervous about that but hopefully after a few weeks we’ll get settled in.”

Pubs across the country will be operating under strict guidelines which includes social distancing measures, wearing of masks when not seated, enhanced sanitising, table service and contract tracing. While Patrick and Susan say it will take a few weeks to get a handle on the new measures, they have been “very heartened by the people that have been ringing wishing us good luck and good will and booking tables”. Taylor’s closed in March almost five years to the day of their initial opening and Susan adds, “It’s like starting a new business again now.” The pair have invested heavily during the lockdown months, redecorating and reconfiguring inside the premises while increasing their outdoor seated offering. Taylor’s have installed an extra bathroom outside so that patrons don’t have to enter the premises. For the foreseeable future, people will not be permitted to approach the bar counter so table service will also mean added investment in staffing. Patrick adds, “I don’t know what the future holds for the industry to be honest with you, all we can do is do our best and hopefully if everybody complies we’ll get out of it quicker.” Taylors are encouraging customers to book in advance. For information, call 086 826 5151.

l EXCITED: Taylor’s Bar in Ennis

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4 NEWS

THURSDAY, SEP 24 2020

Updated Mobility Plan implemented in Ennis today PÁRAIC MCMAHON

paraic@clareecho.ie

N UPDATE to the temporary COVID-19 Town Centre Mobility Plan for Ennis will be implemented from

Thursday. As part of a review into the plan, it has been decided by the stakeholder group responsible for its introduction have announced changes to the plan focused on the re-routing of traffic. From this Thursday, the hours of operation of the traffic re-routing measures will change. The new hours are from 11:00am to 6:00pm, Monday to Saturday. Delivery times remain unchanged. This is to facilitate persons with reduced mobility to access the town using their vehicle. Businesses are also encouraged to facilitate this vulnerable group during these hours.

From 11:00am to 6:00pm, in the interest of pedestrian safety, parking in the affected streets is not permitted and will be strictly enforced from the outset. Parking enforcement will also be increased in the Market Street, entrance to Cabey's Lane, and Summerhill areas of town. Clare County Council has confirmed that the Cloister/GAA car park is now open, providing over 100 additional car parking spaces. Business parking permit holders are encouraged to avail of the parking in this area. The car park is also available for use by the general public. Changes may be altered pending changes to Government restrictions relating to COVID-19. A spokesperson for Clare County Council has stressed that the plan was introduced solely in response to COVID-19. "The plan is designed to support residents, the business community and all citizens to access Ennis town in a safe, socially distanced environment as

the town centre is characterised by narrow streetscapes and interconnected laneways with restrictive footpath widths". Ennis Chamber of Commerce, Retail Excellence Ireland, Vintners' Federation of Ireland, Older Persons Council, Ennis Tidy Towns, disability advocates, glór, Promote Ennis, HSE and An Garda Síochána currently sit on the stakeholder

group which was formed in early May. "The remit of the stakeholder group is specifically and only for the purpose and duration of the Covid-19 crisis, to advise Clare County Council. The membership of the stakeholder group has been expanded to include all Elected Members of Ennis Municipal District to reflect the views of every-

l NEW NORMAL: Abbey St, Ennis

Photo by John Mangan

one," a local authority spokesperson confirmed. The mobility plan remains a living document "and will be updated and amended in line with risk assessments," the spokesperson added. Its recent review examined traffic flows, footfall activity, the progression of the Covid-19 pandemic, and took account of all submissions to Clare County Council. The results of the review have been communicated to both the Elected Members and members of the stakeholder group and will result in changes to the hours of operation of the plan. Clare County Council wishes to re-confirm that the Temporary Covid-19 Town Centre Mobility Plan for Ennis is not intended to be a permanent measure. The Council further confirms that if, in the future (and outside of Covid-19), there is any proposal around permanent pedestrian-friendly measures for any streets in the town, this would be subject to full public consultation.

‘Please leave parking spaces for shoppers’

Cllr. Paul Murphy T: 087 8396757 E: barntickfarm@yahoo.ie

MAYOR of Clare Cllr. Mary Howard (FG) is pleading with business owners within the town of Ennis to utilise the Clare GAA/Cloister Car Park and leave premium parking spots for shoppers and vulnerable customers to do their shopping throughout the day, writes Cian O’Broin. The 100-car capacity space, along with free weekend parking at Holy Family Primary School can assist in making the town more accessible during business hours, Mary feels. Cllr. Mary Howard has welcomed the recent pedestrianisation as part of the Ennis mobility plan, referring to the plan as a "well-publicised reaction to a pandemic in order to make the town safe." In a recent survey conducted over social media, Cllr. Howard concedes that she received over 400 personal engagement, both of a public and private nature. The survey was open to everybody, Mary tells, "with responses gathered from traders, workers, students,

parents and business owners throughout the town." The general consensus has arrived at opening the streets to traffic until 11am which will come into effect today (Thursday September 24th ) as part of the new updated Ennis Mobility Plan. Mary hopes that shop owners will incorporate vulnerable shopping hours in line with this new development. Cllr. Howard alludes to the recent closures of national fashion retail outlets nationwide such as Debenhams, Zara, Next, Oasis and Laura Ashley, affirming that as a boutique town, the multitude of clothes retail outlets in Ennis have offered little to no resistance to the recent pedestrianisation. "The reality is that you have people that own shops in town that are not giving out as they have upskilled by going online, they are blogging or have changed their stock. They have adapted to the current situation. In all honesty, the pedestrian experience in town has gone way up. My

own view is that Ennis is a medieval town and that the problem with medieval towns is the narrow streets. “They will not allow for social distancing. If you look at Bank Place, that is where you have lots of crowds lining up for the ATMs. “That is why parking has been taken out of there to allow for social distancing. It is important to acknowledge that this pedestrianisation is a reaction to COVID-19. “Our most fragile in our communities could get it. The numbers are going the wrong way to even be having this conversation of lifting it completely. This is an end to a means." Cllr. Howard suggests that government will have to provide some sort of financial assistance to businesses, with sales documented as being substantially decreased nationwide and that on a local level, talks are being held over designing a special website to market all businesses within the town.

M A RY JO D UFFY P HARMACY Tesc o Shopping Centre, E n n i s

Health Needs

L arge s el ecti on of m ul ti v i tam i ns and heal th s uppl em ents

He a d L ice Tr e a tment

6 NEWS

THURSDAY, SEP 24 2020

l RIVER DEEP: The River Fergus in Ennis

‘Fewer river levels in Ireland examined more than Ennis’ PÁRAIC MCMAHON

paraic@clareecho.ie

IVER levels in Ennis are among the most examined in the country, a senior engineer in the county has declared. Eamon O’Dea made the remarks at the September sitting of the Ennis Municipal District when responding to a request from Cllr Mary Howard (FG) to alter the storm water gates at the Maid of Erin. She questioned the feasibility of letting the gates open automatically when

water levels rise above the fish pass. “Failure to do so allows land to flood behind it,” she highlighted. The Mayor of Clare stated that an automated switch for the system was “standard practice around the country”. In a written reply, acting senior executive engineer Ian Chaplin noted, “There are requirements to uphold a level of flow at the fish pass by Inland Fisheries Ireland therefore frequent monitoring and intervention by the MD outdoor staff is required”. If the requested system is found to be feasible, Chaplin outlined that an extensive design with manual overrides in the event of failure or power disruption would be essential.

Recent rainfall left one landowner very stressed, Cllr Howard outlined, “His land was beginning to flood”. She questioned if an automated switch would negate the need for staff to be sent out to open the gate. The motion was seconded by Cllr Clare Colleran Molloy (FF). Gates were open on the day Cllr Howard received the phonecall, senior engineer Eamon O’Dea clarified. He stated that the flow from the Claureen River was higher on that instance than the River Fergus, he said that the elevated flow caused the land to flood. “There is a monitoring system there, I can guarantee you there are not more examined river levels than in Ennis”.

Clare Library to offer sign language programme LIBRARY management in Ennis are hopeful of introducing sign language classes, writes Páraic McMahon. An interest in sign language classes being held in the County Library prompted Cllr Ann Norton (IND) to request the feasibility of their introduction be examined by management. Approximately 1,000 activities are organised throughout the year as part of the County Library Service programmes. "A proportion of these are in the areas of health promotion and well-being and the offer of sign language training to the public is certainly one that can be added to this programme," county librarian Helen

Walsh stated. She explained that services in libraries across Clare are slowly reopening due to COVID-19 restrictions. "Programming of library events has stalled and will be reviewed again in the autumn with a view to including the classes in the programme for the latter part of the year or in early 2021," Walsh added. Seconding Cllr Norton's motion, Cllr Clare Colleran Molloy (FF) acknowledged the clear response from the County Librarian. "The library is involved in so many activities for the people of Clare. “The provision of sign language is very important".

DONNELLANS BACK SIOBHAN

l BEST FOOT FORWARD: Miss Clare finalist Siobhan Fitzpatrick with her sponsors

Edwina and Gerry Donnellan outside Donnellan’s Centra on the Lahinch Road in Ennis. Donnellan’s is an award winning family business which has been retailing for over 32 years. “I am very grateful for the support I have received from Edwina, Gerry, Joan and the staff at Centra,” Siobhan said. Tickets for the Miss TLC final, taking place on September 26-27, are available on eventbrite.ie

NEWS 7

THURSDAY, SEP 24 2020

High local property tax levels to remain nicipal Allocation (GMA) were made by councillors as they agreed to DowlPÁRAIC ing's recommendation as proposed by MCMAHON Cllr Gerry Flynn (IND) and Cllr Pat paraic@clareecho.ie Hayes (FF). Cllr Cillian Murphy (FF) calculated that for every €1 spent on LEVATED rates of local the GMA it brought €3 back into local property tax will remain in communities while the Chief ExecuCo Clare next year while tive said finance officials in the Councalls for the Government to cil estimate the GMA has "a fivefold refund the Council's spend benefit". One representative, Cllr Donna Mcon COVID-19 measures have also Gettigan (SF) sought a reduction in been made. At a special sitting of Clare County the LPT. "I feel there are a lot of people Council this week, councillors backed facing uncertainty, a lot of people are the recommendation of local authority facing mortgage distress. It is not just management to maintain higher prop- a couple of cents a week," the Shannon erty tax bills. Last year, councillors vot- councillor stated. There was also worry expressed by ed to increase the property tax by the maximum amount of 15 per cent and Cllr PJ Kelly (FF) over a vote being this rate will be kept following agree- passed without a guideline on the annual Budget. "We don't have the budment by elected representatives. Chief Executive of Clare County get before us and we're asked to see Council, Pat Dowling declared, "We something that will have an influence are facing into an uncertain future either positive or negative on the budregarding our finances and income to get". All money spent by the Council on the County Council," as he appealed to councillors to retain the rate decided COVID-19 measures must be refunded by the Government, Cllr Kelly outlast year. lined.1 "That money is09:28 going to have an Calls toTopincrease the General MuPart Ennis & Shannon 20200916.pdf 22/09/2020

CMY

impact on the budget, I don't want to see a situation where this is retained and that is retained but the following is removed. We can't have the status quo until the Government refunds what we have paid on COVID. Have we made any noise, are we shouting, have we made any demands? I don't see why the people of Clare or any part of the county should be deprived because of a Government position". Responding to the views expressed, Dowling clarified that the GMA was part of "the general budgetary progress which we will be engaged with in the coming weeks". He agreed with the remarks of Cllr Kelly. Money being taken from the county's LPT income to fund other counties' shortfall has to stop, Cllr Alan O'Callaghan (FF) stressed. "In hard times, the Council ran its books to the letter of the law, we were top of the class and abided by everything we had to, we had a few pound taken off us to support other local authorities that were more flaithulach in the budgetary processes. We're being punished for it. We need to get that €2m back.”

Boston's Breege resigns from Fáilte Ireland over trip A NORTH Clare woman has resigned from her role on the board of Fáilte Ireland, writes Páraic McMahon. Boston native, Breege O'Donoghue (inset) handed in her resignation to Minister for Tourism Catherine Martin (GP) in recent weeks having stayed at her holiday home in Spain in July and August. Ms O'Donoghue is the former executive director of the Primark retail giant at its Dublin offices. She retired from the role in 2016. Spain was not included in Ireland's Green List of Countries. Breege became the second Fáilte Ireland board member to resign over a foreign holiday this summer, chairman Michael Cawley stepped down from his role after it emerged he went on a family holiday to Italy. Minister Martin thanked the Clare woman for her service to the

tourism board and singled out her "important contribution to the work of promoting tourism in Ireland during this time. I have accepted her resignation as I believe it would not be tenable for her to continue in the role, given all of the circumstances," the Green Party Deputy Leader said in a recent statement. In addition to her work at Primark, Ms O'Donoghue has held board positions with State companies including An Post and Aer Rianta and was Chairwoman of the Labour Relations Commission for seven years. In 2016, the 77 year old was awarded the Chevalier (Knight) of the Ordre National de la Legion d'Honneur, which was presented to her by then French president Francois Hollande.

8 NEWS

THURSDAY, SEP 24 2020

‘100 years old? I’m hardly a day over 60!’ CIAN O’BROIN

cianobroin@clareecho.ie

l GLAM: Mary Fealey

recently celebrated her 100th birthday and Mary in the 1950s (inset)

N E W M A R K E T- on - Fe rg u s woman who this week celebrates turning 100 says the secret to a long life is long walks, oranges, vegetables and plenty of water. “Whats this, 100 years old? I’m hardly a day over 60!,” Mary adds. The ever-glamorous Mrs Mary Fealey nee Higgins of Ballysallagh West, Newmarket-on-Fergus celebrated her 100th birthday on Monday, September 21. Mary received her centenary bounty of €2,540, personally addressed to her from President Michael D Higgins, wishing her a happy birthday and congratulating her on her longevity. On reaching the centenary milestone, her grand-daugh-

ter Laura professes, "She is in good health and her secret to a long life is plenty of walking, eating lots of vegetables, oranges and drinking water. The biggest potion is fun, laughter and keeping glamorous. To this day Mary still loves to put on make-up and getting her hair done. Her days now are spent relaxing watching all her favourite TV programmes especially Mrs Brown's Boys. She loves listening to music and her favourite song is O Danny Boy and would often sing it." "We wish Mary, mam, nana, great-grandmother and great great-grandmother a very happy 100th birthday and many more to come. Her own mother Delia lived to be 104 years old and hopefully Mary will too." Born on the 21st of September 1920, Mary is the daughter of the late Jim and Delia Higgins. Mary is a grandmother to 12, a great grandmother to 35 and a great-great grandmother

to 9 children and adores all her family. Mary had two sons, Tommy and James. Tommy died tragically at a young age. Mary's oldest son James is her carer and lives with her whom she absolutely adores. Mary received her education in Kilrush convent, at that time, operated by nuns. She also attended Clonmoney National School. In her younger years Mary worked in Limerick as a nanny and then went on to work for the late Doctor Fitzgerald in Ballycar, Newmarket-on-Fergus. Mary also became a carer and looked after her brother for many years. Mary loves to sing and was a part of the Newmarket church choir for a very long time. She enjoyed every minute of it. Her father Jim was in the Irish army and he hurled with the 1932 team for County Clare, winning a Munster Championship and reaching the All-Ireland final in the same year.

At club level, Jimmo Higgins was known as a local legend, winning two championships with Newmarket in 1916 and 1925. His photo can be found today at St. Finbarr's Clubhouse in Cork, where he hurled for a time, winning a club championship. Jim also hurled with the Army Metro Club in Dublin during the 1920s. Jim could have played for Dublin or Cork, but his heart was always at home in County Clare, stating that, "the only All–Ireland medal worth winning for was one with Clare." Mary's late brother Tom was a Sergeant teaching in the army's school of music. Ambrose, her second brother, served in the army for 27 years and served in a United Nations unit in the Congo. Jim, her third brother, held a position in Clare County Council and growing up, was a close friend of President Michael D. Higgins. Her dear sister Nan was a housewife.

COVID-19 cases recorded at two Ennis schools PÁRAIC MCMAHON

paraic@clareecho.ie

CONFIRMED cases of COVID-19 have emerged in two Ennis secondary schools, The Clare Echo has learned. On Sunday, parents and guardians of students at Coláiste Muire received confirmation that one positive test of COVID-19 had been recorded in the Ennis secondary school. Close contacts of the case received notification and were given advice from the HSE to restrict their movements. Department of Public Health officials with the HSE Mid-West also received notification of a confirmed case associated with Rice College in the county town. On Tuesday, parents and guardians were informed that a positive sample belonging to an individual connected with the school was recorded. Public health risk assessments were carried out at both secondary schools. It is unclear if the cases are connected. Three primary schools in the county had already been dealing with confirmed cases

of COVID-19. As part of the Living with COVID-19 framework, schools will remain open even if the country returns to the lockdown measures that were in place earlier this year.

l PUBLIC HEALTH: Both Rice College

and Colaiste Muire in Ennis have had confirmed cases of COVID-19

THURSDAY, SEP 24 2020

Timber felling license delay 'will affect all Clare households' PÁRAIC MCMAHON

paraic@clareecho.ie

EVERE job losses are feared to hit the forestry sector if a backlog in the allocation of timber felling licenses is not dealt with while Clare councillors have maintained the estimated two year delay will affect all households. Charlie McConalogue (FF) is the third Minister for Agriculture in Taoiseach Micheál Martin's (FF) Cabinet and he has been called on by Clare councillors to intervene in the allocation of timber felling licences. Construction companies across the country are unable to get supplies as a result of the backlog in licenses being awarded, Monday's adjourned meeting of Clare County Council heard. Cllr PJ Ryan (IND) had requested Minister McConalogue tackle the matter as he cited "a very long delay" in the acquiring licences. Cllr Ryan stated, "Not alone is it a countywide but a nationwide problem, it is virtually impossible to get a felling licence for timber".

He said that 700 applications were currently with the Department of Agriculture but that the majority had been objected by Peter Sweetman, "he likes the idea of objecting to these things," the Cratloe representative remarked. Legislation on the topic is before the Dáil but Cllr Ryan believed the process was "very slow". He felt it was sustainable to manage plantations at present and also warned that sawmills will have to close down if the issue is not addressed. "I know several people in jeopardy if this doesn't get priority," he cautioned. Seconding the motion, Cllr Clare Colleran Molloy (FF) referenced recent correspondence councillors received from Gerry O'Leary. "We will all pay the price. “These delays are now up to two years and it will affect us all on the cost of construction and heating. This is counter the Green agenda," she commented. Further support to the call to action was voiced by Cllr PJ Kelly (FF). "The problem is creating difficulties for many people producing timber in West Clare at the moment," he observed.

NEWS 9

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MICHAEL

l LEGEND: Piper Andrew Newland followed by “Michael Cusack” and those

attending the inaugural Michael Cusack Day in Carron, located in the heart of the Burren, at midday on Michael Cusack’s 173rd Birthday, Sunday, 20 September. A Shane Gilmore sculpture representing the central role played by Gaelic Games in communities across the island of Ireland was unveiled exactly 173 years on from Cusack’s birth Photo by Eamon Ward

Prepare Your Business for Customs From January 1st 2021, new rules for importing and exporting with the UK will apply. Get ready for that change and prepare your business for customs now. Book your place at a ‘Prepare Your Business for Customs’ workshop with your Local Enterprise Office Clare - it’s open to businesses of all sizes and in every sector. Learn about export and import procedures, how tariffs work and how to correctly classify goods. Change is coming - get ready.

15th October - Time: 9am-12pm or 1pm-4pm Book your place today at localenterprise.ie/clare

10 NEWS

Lack of support ‘an awful burden’ STUART HOLLY

editor@clareecho.ie

HE National Collective of Community based Women's Networks is calling on the Government to ease COVID-19 restrictions in maternity services and allow birthing partners to be present at all pregnancy related appointments, scans, full labour and births as soon as possible. “This request has come on foot of many of the 17 NCCWN projects nationally being contacted by upset and vulnerable pregnant women/people being left completely alone during their pregnancy appointments, labour and in some cases giving birth with no support. There have been instances where people have had to receive the devastating news that their pregnancy is not viable and miscarried without a loved one present,” said a spokesperson for the network. NCCWN Clare Women's Network staff, who work on the ground with

women experiencing multiple forms of marginalisation and disadvantage, are concerned for the wellbeing of anyone currently pregnant or who becomes pregnant in the near future and is left with the added stress and fear of having no support when engaging with maternity services. “Clare Women's Network are asking concerned members of the public to get involved in a letter writing campaign and contact their local TDs via post or email to let them know that this treatment of pregnant people is unjust and should not be tolerated,” the spokesperson added. Information on this campaign and a template letter can be found on the

l BUMP: Women are attending hospital on their own

NCCWN website and on their social media platforms. NCCWN Clare Women's Network Coordinator, Elaine D'Alton, said, "Expecting pregnant women/people to go through their entire pregnancy without the supports of a birthing partner present is adding stress, fear and anxiety to an already delicate and emotive situation. Every single pregnant woman/person in this country should be allowed to have the support of a loved one by their side as they go through this journey. We are calling on the Government to ease the restrictions around maternity services as soon as possible." A pregnant woman who contacted the Clare Women's Network and wanted to remain anonymous said, "I have had to go to my appointments alone, I am always fearful that I could get bad news or something might happen and I have no one with me whose job is just to support me. It's not fair that people can gather in houses and meet in pubs but I have to go through my entire pregnancy without anyone. It's an awful burden to have to carry."

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THURSDAY, SEP 24 2020

Make Way Day back for virtual day of local action CLARE'S Make Way Day is back for 2020 with a national day of local action. Mayor of Clare Cllr Mary Howard will host representatives and guest speakers from a number of disability organisations such as Clare Leader Forum, Shine and the Irish Wheelchair Association in a virtual meeting on 'Make Way Day', on Friday, 25th September, at 11am. This year's event will ensure that the voices of people with disabilities are heard as they raise public awareness around access issues in public spaces from their lived experience of disability. Welcoming this year's event, Cllr Howard said: "Everyone has a role to play in Make Way Day and it is so important that people with disabilities have this opportunity to inform the public about the impact obstacles and access issues have on them as they navigate public spaces in their daily lives. “The majority of these issues are attributable to a lack of awareness and that's what

makes Make Way Day so impactful." Ann Marie Flanagan, a member of the Clare Make Way Day planning group, said: "Unfortunately, too many people with disabilities live in a permanent lockdown as a consequence of societal barriers. When we go out of our homes and try and go about our business there are a whole range of extra obstacles that, day after day, year after year, normalise the idea that our euro holds less value than non-disabled citizens. “In a time of fiscal crisis, we want to remind everyone that we contribute to the economy in the same way as others. So, we're glad to get direct meetings with our local authority and others across the county to ensure we are equally valued." The virtual event is open to everyone to view online. Register your interest by emailing makewayday@clarecoco.ie Have your say on Make Way Day 2020 by sharing posts on social media using the hashtag #MakeWayDay20.

NEWS 11

THURSDAY, SEP 24 2020

l POTENTIAL: The Shannon Estuary

PÁRAIC MCMAHON

paraic@clareecho.ie

ISCUSSIONS are underway surrounding the development of a Blueway Plan for the Shannon Estuary. Maximising the potential of water based recreation at the Shannon Estuary underpinned a recent motion to the West Clare Municipal District by Cllr Ian Lynch (IND). He asked that a master plan be completed with a view to focusing on "future community engagement events to be held

Blueway Plan under consideration for Shannon Estuary

in Clare communities along the northern banks". Officials in Clare County Council have already began discussions with the potential of a Blueway Plan being introduced for the Shannon Estuary. Acting senior executive officer, John O'Malley detailed that the offerings of water based recreational facilities would now be factored into the talks as a result of Lynch's proposal. Planning, rural development and tourism sections of the local authority are also involved with the West Clare MD on the plans. Speaking on the topic, Cllr Lynch admitted that it was the reaction and commentary on

The Clare Echo's social channels to a motion by Cllr PJ Kelly (FF) that prompted the idea for the proposal. "I'd like to start a simple consultation process, the people that use the water know what is best for it, there are loads of different opportunities. We need to have a separate strategy. "You can sail the Estuary in most weathers. Start with a public consultation and put it into an overall strategy". Water resources remain vital to West Clare, Cllr Cillian Murphy (FF) stressed. "I have a feeling water and power is what people want not the big project, it's the simple stuff ".

Last of Avara and Eirchem workers to leave next week PÁRAIC MCMAHON

paraic@clareecho.ie

FRIDAY week will see the last of employees leave the Avara pharmaceutical plant in Shannon after talks between the IDA and United Metals to find a buyer failed. Up to 114 people were employed at Avara in the Shannon Industrial Estate when the High Court in July 2019 ordered that the company be wound down after it emerged that it was insolvent with losses to the tune of €9.5m and was unable to pay its workers. The staggered basis of redundancies which followed prompted staff to set up their own company Eirchem Pharmaceuticals Services which took over the running of operations from Avara. United Metals came on board as an investor in January of this year guaranteeing the short-term future of the site as Eirchem finished out commitments made for the production of pharmaceutical products for their clients. Speaking in July, Deputy Cathal Crowe (FF) had expressed hope following confirmation that a Swiss company had entered into talks with the IDA about acquiring the

facility. "It could be a lifeline for those jobs at the eleventh hour. I welcome this news and will do what I can from my end, at a political level, to ensure that something positive comes from this and that these upcoming job losses are averted," he stated at the time. Twenty-one workers lost their jobs at Eirchem in July with 50 more following suit in September. The final 20 employees will leave the plant on October 2nd after attempts to secure a buyer failed to materialise.

Brigid Haren goes Behind the Mask IN THE last few months, everyone has adjusted to wearing a mask in public but for many women they have worn a mask to hide signs of domestic abuse, writes Stuart Holly. Behind the Mask is a free online training for salons and beauty therapists to help them spot the signs that someone may be experiencing domestic abuse and how they could respond in the best way. Bridget Haren Hair & Beauty is delighted that all of their team have completed this training. Bridget Haren explained, “Many women use the services of a hairdresser and beauty therapist and tell them things that they wouldn’t say to anyone else. We may notice injuries or the consequence of them or notice behavioural changes in our regular clients. "Our Salon may be seen as a safe and relaxing space to our clients and it may be one of the few opportunities they have to reach out for help or be open to it. It’s not about intervening or interfering, it’s simply suggesting the services of those who are specially trained to help in a way that’s informed and meaningful. Our listening ear along with a kind word may change or save a life.” Given that domestic abuse includes a wide range of behaviours, it can be hard to spot and injuries may be masked by clothing or makeup. With some insight,

a therapist’s unique relationship with their clients may reveal what’s hidden behind their ‘mask’. Behind the Mask is available free of charge and the content will be reviewed annually. Participant of the programme will be invited to revisit the training to refresh their knowledge every 2 years. “I think this is a really important issue so I have completed the training as a participant, the Academy and I have become a Behind the Mask Champion. All of the staff have completed this training and I have also made this part of our Apprenticeship training for the next generation of stylists training in our salon,” concluded Bridget. For more information on this course, please visit their website at www. behindthemask.online

l SUPPORT: The team at Brigid Haren Hair & Beauty

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l JOB LOSSES: The High Court ordered the closure of Avara Pharmaceutical Services last year

12 NEWS

THURSDAY, SEP 24 2020

Chambers of Commerce express confidence in Transport Minister PĂ RAIC MCMAHON

paraic@clareecho.ie

HAMBERS of Commerce in the Mid-West have expressed their confidence that the Minister for Transport is committed to improving connectivity into Shannon Airport following a one hour meeting this week. Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment and Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport Eamon Ryan (inset) and Minister of State at the Department of Climate Action and Transport Hildegarde Naughton (FG) facilitated a virtual meeting on Monday with the joint chambers at short notice in light of growing concerns about Shannon Airport and the impact COVID-19 has on air travel and access to western regions. During the one hour meeting the four

chambers highlighted the critical importance to business in the regions of access to European and transatlantic markets. They urged the Government to work with the airlines to protect slots and asked for conditions to be attached to any funding packages for Aer Lingus and Ryanair that routes into regional airports be restored and further strategic routes be developed. They believed the Ministers were in favour of addressing aviation policy in line with the goals of Project Ireland 2040. "Engagement at the meeting was strong; the Ministers were both very aware of the challenges that Shannon faces in the short-term because of COVID and in the longer term around route development and aviation policy," Helen Downes, CEO of Shannon Chamber commented. Connectivity into the country can be revised in

the midst of the pandemic, CEO of Ennis Chamber, Margaret O'Brien outlined. "With the Mid West and West so heavily reliant on tourism and hospitality sector, it begs the question why 96% of all new airline routes developed for the country go into Dublin." Limerick Chamber CEO, Dee Ryan believed the meeting demonstrated "the seriousness" with which both Minister Ryan and Junior Minister Naughten are treating the current situation at Shannon Airport. "This was an urgent meeting for the Chambers on a matter of critical importance to our members and the regional economy. It was encouraging that the Ministers prioritised the issue and coordinated their diaries to take the meeting together at short notice". Introducing policy change to aid the growth of the region was agreed upon, Kenneth Deery,

CEO of Galway Chamber reflected. "The Ministers were very aware of the direct link between airport growth and regional growth and we really impressed on them the need for policy change in the long term to ensure that, unlike the situation that prevailed as we emerged from the crash, the recovery is not just for Dublin Airport and the Dublin Region. We were very encouraged by their commitment on this and look forward to ongoing communications with them." Meanwhile, the Chambers welcomed the decision to adopt the European Union traffic light system for aviation as an important initial step for getting Ireland back flying but that a lot more needs to be done. Ryan stated, "The Chambers urge government to be strategic in measures to support the recovery of the aviation sector. As an island nation heavily dependent on air access to the European market, we can not afford to allow airlines to fail or to miss this opportunity to reset regional connectivity for the benefit of the entire country".

Reidy departs role on Dermot & Dave show PĂ RAIC MCMAHON paraic@clareecho.ie

SHANNON'S Sean Reidy has departed his role on the production team behind the flagship Today FM show, Dermot and Dave but will remain involved on the national airwaves. For the past three and a half years, Sean has been involved in researching and producing the biggest mid-morning programme on commercial radio in the country alongside Maria Devereux. The show is presented by Dermot Whelan and Dave Moore.

Clare matters have been discussed regularly during Reidy's time with the show. Some of the items brought to national attention include activity at Shannon Airport, unique Clare County Council motions and the impact of The DDF Irish Open being held in Lahinch. According to the most recent JNLR figures which were released in February of this year, the show's listenership of 164,000 marked them as the most listened to radio show for audiences aged between 20 and 44. Prior to joining Today FM, Sean worked in Spin 103.8 making the move to the capital following a

stint with Clare FM. Announcing his exit on social media, Reidy said his experience at Today FM was "unforgettable". "It's been a pleasure to represent Shannon and Clare on the national airwaves". A past pupil of St Caimin's Community School in Shannon, Sean takes on the post of producer for Newstalk's Lunchtime Live which is also broadcast from Marconi House. Newstalk recently reshuffled their weekday schedule which resulted in Andrea Gilligan taking over presenting duties. The show is broadcast from 12 to 2pm (Monday to Friday).

lSO LONG: Shannon native Sean Reidy is leaving his role at Today FMâ€™s Dermot and Dave show for a lunctime slot on Newstalk

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Arts & Entertainment 13

THURSDAY, SEP 24 2020

When All is Ruin Once Again Beardsworth and Walsh documentary catalogues journey along the road of life

lON THE ROAD: A still from Jill and Keith’s documentary

CIAN O’BROIN

cianobroin@clareecho.ie

ILL Beardsworth (inset) and Keith Walsh's 2018 documentary When All is Ruin Once Again recently received its TV premiere, featuring on RTÉ One on September 14th,

2020. The unique story traces the lives of ordinary individuals in South Galway and Clare over an eight-year period whilst the M18 was being built. An area of tradition, storytelling, music, song and dance, local lives are put under the microscope and the space between life and death is explored on a personal, emotive level. Producer and former Crusheen resident, Jill Beardsworth talks to The Clare Echo about the importance of storytelling and the pro-

cess of filming family, friends and neighbours in a touching story set for the silver screen. Looking back fondly, Jill recalls growing up in a visual household. Her mother ran a B&B, where people from different countries were always coming and going. Her brother went on to study photography and her mother always had a fascination with arts and design. Jill attributes her childhood to 'develop- ing a sensibility outside of a small rural town', having grown up in Enniscrone. She went on to study Film and TV at DIT, subsequently working her way up as a camera assistant, producer and editor in the industry.

She credits her natural storytelling ability to working in a local pub growing up, where she learned to listen and create a comfortable space for others to open up. Her previous filming ventures touched on sensitive humanitarian issues in Children of Allah, set in an orphanage in India and Apples of the Golan, depicting a sinister strife between Syrian villagers and Israeli neighbours. Along with her professional and personal partner, Keith Walsh, the couple have always set about to tell a story with honesty, empathy and no agenda but plain and simply; the cold, hard hitting truth. On a yearning desire to get to the truth of humanitarian matters, Jill confesses, "I find people infinitely

more interesting than myself." These two previous ventures allowed the pair to receive funding to pursue a documentary on their local area of Crusheen, entitled When All is Ruin Once Again. "We were living in Crusheen around the time that it was being made. We were total blow-ins to the area. In some ways it can be an advantage when you are telling a story because you don't have that historical connections or ancestral baggage. People feel more comfortable opening up and making space in their life. The documentary had its first premiere in 2018 at the Galway Film Fleadh. It was made over a period of eight years. When the N18 from Crusheen to Gort started off, we decided to make a film." "We started filming our neighbours and friends. Then the recession hit, which affected everybody's life, really.

“Then my father died during the filming and Keith and I had two children together. These big scenes and moments in our lives went into the film as well. We finished filming then when the next piece of the road was finished from Gort to Tuam. “It turned out that the opening of the film coincided with one stretch of road and the closing with another stretch of road at the end of the film. The action of the film then takes place, in the in-between. It's about peoples lives, life and death and where we are going, with some climate change in there. It’s a multi-character story." When All is Ruin Once Again received a 10/10 rating from RTÉ, 4/5 from The Irish Times and 8.6/10 from IMDb.

The documentary is available to stream online on RTÉ Player, YouTube and iTunes.

Duala a ‘lyrical and meditative exploration’ of traditional music IN 2018 an open call was put out by the Irish traditional music archive (ITMA) and the Clare arts office for artists and performers to “reflect/respond creatively to collections and materials that are of relevance or reference to County Clare held in the ITMA,” writes Tadhg Holland. Applicants ranged from dancers to traditional musicians and from opera singers to photographers. The first “Duala: creator in residence scheme” was awarded to the joint applicants Jack Talty, a traditional musician, producer, composer, and researcher from

Lissycasey in county Clare and Limerick documentary filmmaker Maurice Gunning. They proposed an audio-visual installation drawing on ITMA multimedia collections of the music and musicians of County Clare. Two years later on culture night, Friday last their film finally premiered at Glór and it’s pretty interesting. The 25-minute documentary, simply titled Duala is a lyrical and meditative exploration of traditional music in Clare mainly in an historical context. The film examines how the landscapes, the environment, the place and

the people of Clare inform and influence traditional music in the county. Duala combines archival footage of Clare from years long past with original videography, which very naturally slots into the film as an extension the old video-recordings. The meatiest parts of the film however are the audio recordings of interviews with traditional musicians both native and foreign to the county reflecting on their relationship to both Clare and trad music and how those relationships are inherently intertwined. The film is very much more than the expected

string of old recordings of trad performances it is actually a fairly intelligent and layered look at music in Irish culture. Duala is a film made by Clare trad music fans for Clare trad music fans. It most likely won’t have a mainstream appeal but for those who have the same passion and fervour for the culture and history of Traditional music in Clare as the creators of Duala, this film will be an absolute gift.

Duala is available to watch on ITMAVideos on YouTube.

14 FEATURES

THURSDAY, SEP 24 2020

GREEN CLARE

Clare has â€˜extraordinaryâ€™ wind energy CIAN Oâ€™BROIN

cianobroin@clareecho.ie

HE Limerick Clare Energy Agency (LCEA) is an agent of Clare and Limerick County Councils, working with community groups, local authorities and state companies to come up with advice on energy strategy and policy. The agencyâ€™s energy efficiency solutions help organisations along their very own journey of sustainability. Established in 2005, the mission of the LCEA has diversified from close correspondence with third level institutions into supporting local authorities and organisations contribute to the circular economy through renewable energy and de-carbonisation. LCEA manager Pat Stephens has a background in the building service and engineering, having worked in the private sector, providing heating, lighting and ventilation as well as waste energy management reports. Talking to The Clare Echo Pat discusses the agencyâ€™s association with local authorities, Clareâ€™s robust renewable energy strategy both past and present as well as looking towards the future of a Greener Clare. Community groups approach the LCEA for advice on energy strategy and policy. Issues arise relating to energy efficiency and benchmarking, with companies looking to grasp how efficient is efficient and how to measure their efficiency. The LCEA provide general advice to the Chamber of Commerce as well as informing organisations about climate change and renewable energy potential. The agencyâ€™s most indispensable work coincides internally with local authorities in Clare and Limerick. Pat mentions the work that the agency does with the planning department on shaping strategies and policies to reflect renewable energy strengths within the county. An essential element, Pat asserts, is helping the local authorities address their own energy needs. This takes the form of upgrading public lighting, analysing their own transport fleet as well as setting an obligation on buildings to incorporate renewable energy. He notes that Clare has done more than any local authority in this area, with 24 per cent of all building being retrofitted for greater energy efficiency. â€œClare County Council was one of the first local authorities in the country to produce a robust renewable energy strategy, now forming a strategic part of the county development plan. In terms of renewable energy, the West Coast of Ireland has some good options. â€œThere has been some potential for solar energy, despite the summers we get in facing

the west into the Atlantic. â€œWind energy is a big one. We have extraordinary onshore wind resources in County Clare. In addition, offshore wind is being touted as one of the great areas of development. There has been interest expressed. â€œThis will bring jobs and go towards de-carbonising our energy use and increasing our energy security. What we have always had was hydro energy and indeed Clare is essentially the county that brought Ireland Ardnacrusha and brought Ireland from an agrarian society into the modern age into the very early days of the foundation of the state.â€? â€œIt was, at its time, one of the largest engineering projects in the world and Europe. To be fair to the people at that time, their courage and foresight was incredible. â€œIt enabled Ireland to move immediately into rural electrification and placed Clare at the beginning of the renewable energy revolution. â€œWe still have some potential for hydro energy from rivers and the Shannon. â€œWe also have forestry resources here and although they are in around 11 or 12 per cent we are still quite well placed and adding more all the time.â€? Pat also believes that Clare has great biomass potential, which would contribute towards heating buildings and energy generation. He posits that Moneypoint will not be operational in its current format after 2024, with the county looking at a renewable means of continuing on the transition line as an important conduit of electricity serving the East Coast. For the LCEA and the Clare Local Authorities, the mission objective is how Clare can establish a low carbon counterbalance to the East Coast and Pat firmly believes that the resources are in our hands. This would inevitably attract foreign investment from large, high value data centres such as Apple and Google. Pat and the LCEA will ensure that the Clare County Council will secure low carbon renewable energy sources and that these resources will be leveraged so that jobs will follow. On a final note, Pat Stephens deliberates on the upcoming pressing projects on the horizon for the LCEA, â€œOur future hopes and plans are first of all to enable the local authorities to build on their energy management and energy efficiency practices, with a view to achieving our targets. â€œWe will be looking at upgrading our lighting, buildings, making our transport fleet more efficient and looking at assisting community facilities. â€œAnother thing we will be doing is contributing to the revised development plan to ensure that our existing renewable energy strategy is maintained and enhanced, and that County Clare is at the forefront in terms of renewable energy.â€?

lBREEZE: Wind energy will be a big part of our renewable future

FEATURES 15

THURSDAY, SEP 24 2020

Volunteers Appreciate blessings have been RONAN ‘phenomenal’ SCULLY Thought for the week

OR the last couple of weeks I have been finding nourishment for my life and soul in a wayside Church along the coast, which has become one of my favourite places of prayer. As the title of the Poor Clares best selling book says it is definitely a place to “Calm the Soul”. One morning on the way there recently as I listened to my radio in the car, the news spoke about the 20 million people or so that have been affected by famine and drought in East Africa caused partly by the Coronavirus and the effects of Climate Change particularly in Ethiopia, South Sudan, Kenya and Somalia where many of the Irish aid agencies and Irish missionaries are trying so hard to save children’s and people’s lives and then another broadcast shortly after revealed about the atrocities in Syria and Yemen where lots of people lost their lives by various evil acts and again famine being one of the fall outs of the war there and then it was announced about the shocking numbers of homeless people and children living in our own country of Ireland that had reached an all time high again another partly fall out from the affects of the virus. Also the fact that Dublin has been put into lockdown again and that the Coronavirus was beginning to take a hold of our country again. It made me feel unbelievably sad and heartbroken about how little some people appreciate life.

A Single unfolding Moment

And this week closer to home, as I type these words, one of my dearest friends is waiting in vigil with family members at the bedside of a close family member who has been slipping away peacefully day by day. But they are thankful for his life and this special time that they are having with him now. Also many people have asked me to pray for loved ones who are unwell or going through a hard time in life at present, and who knows when we ourselves might be in that situation in the future. I titled this thought “Appreciate what you Have,” because in that short time of driving from my house to the place where I “Calm my Soul” and indeed hearing personal stories from people who ask me to pray for them, I was vividly reminded of how much life can change for any one of us by a single unfolding moment. We sometimes get so caught up in our routines and in the business of living that we take it for granted that we will

be here tomorrow or next week or next year. We put things off, little, but important things like spending time over a cup of tea with a friend; writing e-mails or letters or making phone calls to family members who live far away; building bridges of forgiveness with loved ones and friends, thanking people of all ages who do nice things for us; appreciating the blooming and the nurturing of nature that lovingly supports our lives. Sometimes, we forget how each new day is a gift to us to learn and grow and share again, to put aside the regrets and the evil of yesterday and move united forward with a renewed spirit for living and loving and forgiving and caring more fully. For all we know, today, this present moment, is all we really have. Many people nowadays don’t know how to hold on to “today.” They do not value the opportunities right in front of them but worry about the future or what happened in the past. No matter what, all people can have is today and this moment and especially during these worrying and strange times. As usual a story might help to explain.

Find Happiness by Caring for others

“Once a group of 50 people were attending a training work conference. Suddenly the speaker stopped and decided to do a group activity. He started giving each attendee one balloon. Each one was asked to write his or her name on it using a marker pen. Then all the balloons were collected and put in another room. Now after a while these delegates were let into that room and asked to find the balloon which had their name written within 5 minutes. Everyone was frantically searching for their name, colliding with each other, pushing around others and there was utter chaos. At the end of 5 minutes no one could find their own balloon. Now each one was asked to randomly collect any balloon and give it to the person whose name was written on it. Within minutes everyone had their own balloon. The speaker then began, “This is happening in our lives. Everyone is frantically looking for happiness all around, not knowing where it is. Our happiness lies in the happiness of other people. We are or should be in this together and should be doing things to help one another out. Give them their happiness; you will get your own happiness. And this is the purpose of

human life, to help, appreciate, love and care for one another no matter who they are as much as we can.” As the reading I heard at a recent mass said, Everything under the sun has been prearranged and there is a season for everything and no one can hurry things up. Truly managing today and caring for others and appreciating life well is the correct attitude toward life. There is no need to wait for tomorrow, because tomorrow consists of a lot of uncertainty. No one knows for sure what will happen in the environment around them or how it will change especially from the fall out of the Coronavirus. It will be hard to predict or even to understand. When you are wholeheartedly waiting for tomorrow, you are wasting today. Giving up today is giving up your best opportunity. Only today is real and valid. In the journey of life, tomorrow seems pale and dim compared to today. Today, you can heal wounds, help and care for one another, wipe away tears, pray for each other, build bridges, look after your family, friends, culture and way of life and help those in need of help and justice and fulfill dreams from yesterday. Holding on to today, you have mastered the secret of time. Appreciating today is cherishing your life. For me in our world today I feel that most of us don’t fully appreciate our lives here until a vital part of them is taken from us. We take things and people for granted. We go through our days rushed and stressed without gratitude or love. We don’t thank God for this glorious gift of life we have been given and for all of the loving people in it. Learn this lesson now. Love God and Love People always. Take it into your soul. Make a home for it in your heart. Appreciate your Life today and be thankful for it.

Thought for the week

As your thought for the week, reflect and pray on this loving poem by Jenny Crespo called, ‘Cherish Time.’ “Time, such a precious word. It gives us the gift of moments. Moments so beautiful that change our lives forever. But those moments turn into memories that can never be recaptured. We are left with footprints in our minds and in our hearts. Longing to recapture time, hoping it will last forever. To be left with the reality of the passing of time; So precious and so fleeting. We can’t bring it back or relive. Only be grateful that it happened. So cherish every moment, never taking anything for granted, Because some day, that will be the moment you’ll want to relive. Love with all your heart. Let your loved ones know how much you care. Smile even when you want to cry. Live life to the fullest, Because you never know when your time will pass with the wind.”

STUART HOLLY

editor@clareecho.ie

ATIONAL Volunteering Week officially kicked off with the launch of How Irish Communities Stepped Up To The Mark: Stories Of Irish Volunteering During COVID-19. This collection of stories showcases the impact of volunteering on all corners of society in recent months. According to Sharon Meaney, Manager of the Clare Volunteer Centre, “Volunteers have been nothing short of phenomenal this year and that’s why we felt it was important to showcase their efforts in this collection of stories. From delivering shopping, making face masks or phoning those in isolation for a simple chat – volunteers made sure no-one was left behind. “This collection of stories provides just a snapshot of the incalculable positive impact that the volunteers of Ireland made during the COVID-19 pandemic. Volunteer Ireland and the network of Volunteer Centres saw over 20,000 people sign up to volunteer in response to COVID-19, and provided guidance, training and extra support to organisations engaging volunteers.” Across the country, young and old alike wrote letters to residents in nursing homes who couldn’t receive visitors. In every community, volunteers made a difference. The Send A Letter campaign is still running in Clare, and if any individual or group would like to get involved, they should contact Dolores O Halloran at

dolores@volunteerclare.ie Joe O’Brien TD, Minister of State for Community Development and Charities, added “I’m delighted to be involved in launching what I hope will be a week when volunteers across the country feel especially valued and recognised. “This week is all about volunteers and this collection of stories showing the impact of volunteering in recent months is another way of highlighting the tremendous work that has been done. Take time for yourself and remember that this week is all about you and your well-being.” Along with the launch of the story collection, this week will see a host of free wellness events for volunteers across the country to thank them for their efforts. The organisers are pleased once again to partner with Healthy Ireland who share their passion for the health and well-being of communities. Frank Feighan, Minister of State for Public Health, said “As we launch this collection of unique volunteering stories today at the start of National Volunteering Week 2020, I feel that it’s important to state as the Minister with responsibility for the ‘Healthy Ireland’ programme, just how important volunteers and volunteering are in our communities. Volunteering plays a critical role in supporting healthy, resilient communities. This reality has become even more clear since the onset of the COVID19 pandemic. Organisations and volunteers across the country are being encouraged to share their own stories of volunteering on social media during the week using #NVW2020.

l LOCAL HEROES: The front cover of How Irish Communities Stepped Up To The Mark: Stories Of Irish Volunteering During COVID-19

16 COLUMNISTS

Opinion

THURSDAY, SEP 24 2020

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

Mobility plan could be glimpse of future Ennis

ITH news that Clare County Council have changed the mobility plan for Ennis, cars will be able to travel the town centre streets until 11am. This change has been welcomed in some quarters, particularly disability rights advocates. However, certain traders in the town are still calling for a full end to the pedestrianization of Abbey Street, O’Connell Street, Lower Parnell Street and Bank Place. It’s true to say that these have been stressful times for traders, as they have been for every profession. Nevertheless, blaming the pedestrianization for the downturn in trade is clearly not the case. At present, unemployment is still at 16.7%. This is down from 23.1% in June, but the figure is still stubbornly high. The pandemic is raging into a second wave, with the capital city in level 3 restrictions with more counties set to follow soon. The truth of the matter is that people are scared to spend. The country’s economy is currently dependent of the Government’s ability to borrow cheaply on the international markets as people are reticent part with their money. This is not a phenomenon unique to Ennis. All urban centres in the country, and indeed across Europe, are seeing a huge downturn in footfall, even after their economies opened back up from lockdown. At the outset of the pandemic, high street chain stores across the UK and Ireland shut their doors permanently. Many pointed to Covid-19, but the truth is, these businesses were already on life support before the pandemic hit. Many of the stores that shut before the Government ordered them to,

EOIN NEYLON Politics

will never re-open. It’s a similar situation in aviation where already struggling airlines like Flybe folded at the very outset of the pandemic but in truth, they would likely have folded regardless. As online retail continues to soar, so will the number of shut doors on the country’s high streets. During lockdown, many who were previously slow to buy online have embraced the process. To underline this, Jeff Bezos, the Billionaire owner of Amazon saw his personal net worth increase 65% since St. Patrick’s Day. Ennis is not unique in seeing dwindling sales in, and visitors to, stores. Furthermore, pedestrianization is not the cause. You would be hard not to sympathize with the plight of the business owners protesting to Clare County Council. If they’re not doing well, the whole town is suffering. However, there is a core group among them that have opposed pedestrianization for decades. For as long as I have been on this Earth, the pedestrianization of Ennis town centre has been debated. Yet, now that it has happened, chats in Ennis Facebook pages sing the praises of the venture. It does make the town more attractive to be around and more comfortable to walk through. Detractors point to previous experiments with pedestrianization that saw the closure of

l Pedestrianization has split opinion among local businesses

certain street to cars on several Saturdays in the run up to Christmas. They point to the fact that their sales on pedestrianization days are less than those without it. What they fail to add to that, however, is that roughly half of those pedestrianization days coincided with some of the worst winter storms we’ve seen over the past decade. I would propose that the inclement weather is more of a deterrent to shoppers than car free streets. The big argument that is put forward against pedestrianization is lack of parking. I will agree that parking in Ennis can be very problematic, however, that is true with or without pedestrianization. This current mobility plan only removes seventeen car parking spaces from Ennis town, while the Cloister car park’s opening will cater for more than 100 spaces. I’ll put my hand up as to being one of the huge number of Clare people that has never once parked in the multistorey car park in the Market. I parked in the multistorey at Dunnes Stores for the first time this Summer. There is very little impact to parking under the current mobility plan. That said, speaking as an engineer, there are several issues I do have with the pedestrianization. My issues though revolve around signposting, particularly towards multistorey and larger car parks, and street furniture that would further increase the appeal of Ennis as a shopping destination. The temporary nature of the bollards and other furniture have some people confused but proper, permanent sign posting, giving electronic updates on numbers of spaces available and where to go to find them, would eliminate that problem overnight. I’ve long been an advocate of pedestrianization for our county town, coupled with a large countrywide tourist drive to promote Ennis as a shopping town with a great cafe culture that’s safe and green; the very way the town was founded and grew originally. The market town can return, modernized to cater for 21st century living. How good would Abbey Street look with tables and chairs full of people having a coffee as they lay down full shopping bags? It’s a very possible future if we all buy in and invest in it.

NEWS 17

THURSDAY, SEP 24 2020

â€˜People not just sleeping on couches but living thereâ€™ PĂ RAIC MCMAHON

paraic@clareecho.ie

MORE households are exiting homelessness services in Clare since the introduction of a Homeless Action Team, Council management have stated while a Shannon councillor has highlighted that individuals in the county are living on relatives couches. At the September sitting of the local authority, Cllr Donna McGettigan (SF) tabled a motion requesting â€œtrue figuresâ€? for homelessness in the county. â€œAre those living on families or friends couches, hubs, hostels, hotels or B&Bs or where you donâ€™t have your own front door considered on the homeless list,â€? the Shannon representative questioned. McGettigan also sought a plan from the Council to end homelessness and asked if there was a timeframe for such an objective. Homeless figures provided in the Councilâ€™s monthly management re-

port relate to emergency accommodation, Director of Service Anne Haugh confirmed. A breakdown of this detail by area was â€œnot possibleâ€?, she stated. Fifty households have exited homeless services to own door accommodation since the introduction of the Homeless Action Team at the beginning of February last year, Ms Haugh outlined. This included 33 adults and 36 dependents from February to December 2019 while from January 1st to September 1st of this year it comprised of 27 adults and 24 dependents It would be disingenuous to say that Clare County Council can eliminate homelessness in the county as there are a range of issues that cause homelessness,â€? Haugh responded. Speaking at the meeting, Cllr McGettigan highlighted that homelessness was â€œone of the biggest issues I have to deal withâ€?. She detailed one current living situation where a male â€œis not just sleeping on his sisterâ€™s couch but living on itâ€?.

'Calamity' ahead at UHL warns TD PĂ RAIC MCMAHON

paraic@clareecho.ie

CLARE TD has warned that "a calamity" is on the cards with just 23 critical care beds provided at University Hospital Limerick since the onset of COVID-19. Questioning the Taoiseach in DĂĄil Ă‰ireann, Deputy Michael McNamara (IND) pointed out that just over half of the promised amount of critical care beds had been put in place at Univer-

sity Hospital Limerick (UHL) despite the urgency of a global pandemic. "At the start of the year, this country's permanent adult critical care capacity was 255 beds. Funding was provided in March for an additional 40 adult beds and two paediatric beds. Have those beds and units now been built? Are they ready for this autumn as we face into winter," McNamara asked. Referencing previous engagements with former Minister for Health Simon Harris (FG) where it was acknowledged that overcrowding "would be a disaster this winter" if additional capacity

lWINTER READY?: University Hospital Limerick

was not found or if surrounding tier two hospitals such as Ennis General Hospital, Nenagh General Hospital and St John's Hospital were not allowed to facilitate more procedures, "Instead of that happening, all surgeries were cancelled a couple of weeks ago at Ennis Regional Hospital". He warned that the cancellation of all elective procedures at UHL last week put further pressure on waiting lists and would led "to deterioration of quality of life, as well as affecting life expectancy in many cases". He also insisted it was time for public health dentists, speech therapists and other trained professional now involved in taking swabs for COVID-19 tests to return to their traditional posts. Latest figures according to the Taoiseach stated that 278 adult critical care beds were open and staffed across the country. "There are, without question, significant pressures in University Hospital Limerick and the Mid-West," Martin stated.

Â Â? Â?

Please note the car park will not be available on Saturday, September 26, due to GAA match day.

T: 065 682 1616 W: www.clarecoco.ie

HOLLYS

Property

Beautiful homes all over the County

6 BEECHWOOD, CLARECASTLE, CO CLARE

€210,000

5 BRUACH NA HABHAINN, ENNIS, CO CLARE

€189,000

25 GORT NA ABHANNA , TULLA ROAD, ENNIS, CO CLARE

€249,000

POSITIONED on the front row in the popular and conveniently located Beechwood housing development just 500 metres from the village centre of Clarecastle and within easy reach of all surrounding amenities and is an excellent commuter home for those commuting to Ennis, Galway, Shannon and Limerick. This 4 bedroom semi-detached home is approached by a dry-stone wall front boundary with ample off-street tarmacadam drive and gated side access leading to the equally spacious rear gardens which are fully landscaped with patio areas and have the added benefit of not being overlooked.

LOCATED in the Bruach na Habhainn housing development, just off the Quin Road, 1.5 kms east of Ennis Town Centre and within easy access of public transport links and M18 Motorway. The property has been tastefully decorated throughout by its current owner, offering bright, spacious and well proportioned living accommodation and quality fixtures such as extensive tiling and timber flooring, quality fitted kitchen, wood surround feature fireplace, built in wardrobes to two bedroom, to mention just some of the features. The interior finishes are complimented by a spacious rear garden with patio and garden shed and boasting the added advantage of not being overlooked.

CONVENIENTLY located in the Gort na hAbhanna housing development, just off the Ennis to Tulla Road, 600 metres from the M18 Motorway, 800 metres from Rosleven Shopping Complex and within a 5 minute drive to Ennis Town Centre and surrounding amenities. Number 25 is a bright and spacious semi-detached family home presented for sale in very good condition, boasting extensive timber flooring and tiling, solid oak kitchen, built in wardrobes to all bedrooms and en-suite and main bathroom fully tiled ceiling to floor to mention just some of the interior finishes.

Contact: DNG O’Sullivan Hurley Tel: (065) 684 0200 PSL 002295

1 VICTORIA TERRACE, KILKEE, CO CLARE

KNOCKLISCRANE, MILTOWN MALBAY, CO CLARE

12 TOBARKEEL, ENNIS, CO CLARE

€379,000

€229,000

€239,000

1 VICTORIA TERRACE is an end of terrace former school house that dates back to 1860. It commands a pivotal site overlooking Kilkee’s bandstand just approaching Kilkee’s famous West End. There is a large front garden area with decorative cut stone walls enjoying magnificent views of the beach, the bandstand, Kilkee’s West End and George’s Head. The property is in need of modernisation and upgrade works but has excellent potential and may be converted into 2 more than 1 unit, subject to planning permission. It is an end of terrace 2 storey property located at the start of Kilkee’s famous West End with large front garden area directly overlooking Kilkee’s famous Bandstand with the sea wall only 20 meters away.

VERY well presented and upgraded property presented for sale in excellent condition in a sought after area of Knockliscrane, which is nestled between the town of Miltown Malbay and Spanish Point with the town less than 2 km and the beach approximately 3 km away. This has the potential of having a separate unit on the split level. The property boasts 4 bedrooms with a south facing manicured lawn area with beautiful views of the surrounding countryside. Natural cut stone wall and gravel driveway with ample space for 4/5 vehicles and mature hedging on both sides for privacy.

LOCATED in a small development of only 13 houses, this large 4 bedroom property offers private off street parking to the front with tarmac driveway, block wall boundaries with maintenance free garden area and overlooks the communal green area to the front of this popular estate. The property is located within easy access of Ennis By-Pass which links to the M18 Limerick/Galway Motorway while being a short walking distance from Ennis Town Centre and all local amenities. This property has been modernised over the past number of years with upgraded bathrooms, new kitchen, new inset stove fireplace and general cosmetic improvements throughout.

Contact: DNG O’Sullivan Hurley Tel: (065) 684 0200 PSL 002295

THINKING OF SELLING? CONTACT US TODAY FOR A FREE MARKET APPRAISAL

1900 – 2020

120 YEARS IN

CO. CLARE YOUR TRUSTED PROPERTY ADVISOR. THANK YOU FOR PUTTING YOUR TRUST IN US. 4 GENERATIONS AS YOUR LOCAL AGENT.

Michael McMahon

Gerry McMahon

Dermot McMahon

Diarmuid McMahon

O’Connell Square House, Ennis, Co. Clare Tel: 065 686 7866 | Email: ennis@sherryfitzmcmahon.ie PSRA No. 001212

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Another successful, quality development by M Fitzgibbon Contractors Ltd. SHOWHOUSE OPEN FOR VIEWING BY APPOINTMENT From: €265,000 NET OF HTB: €238,500

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ONLY 3 REMAINING CALL NOW to set up your private appointment HELP TO BUY NOW UP TO 10% - €26,500. · Outstanding location- within walking distance of Ennis town centre yet being ideal for those commuting to Shannon, Limerick & Galway. · Energy efficient homes with A3 BER rating. · Superb finishes with choices of quality kitchen, wardrobes, tiled bathrooms and flooring. · Underfloor heating on the ground floor from air to water heat pump. · Multi fuel insert stove in living room as standard.

MOTORING

THURSDAY, SEP 24 2020

MOTORING MOTORING EXPERT NEIL BRISCOE GIVES HIS VIEWS

BIG SKODA GETS BIG ELECTRIC RANGE

PLUGIN-HYBRID SUPERB IS AN IDEAL ELECTRIC CAR STEPPING STONE

SKODA SUPERB IV STYLE

HE thing is that the Superb’s petrol engine is so quiet these days, that it actually becomes pretty difficult to tell when this iV plugin-hybrid version is running on electrons or hydrocarbons. Skoda’s big four-door saloon (and staggeringly capacious estate) has already been updated this year in its conventional diesel and petrol forms (new lights, upgraded interior, some new options) but this is our first chance to drive the plugin-hybrid version; Skoda’s first ginger steps on the path to an electric future. So, just as the Superb is, mechanically speaking, a Passat in an XXL jacket, so too this Superb iV is a Passat GTE with extra space in the back. It uses the same 1.4-litre 156hp TSI petrol engine, combined with a 13kWH battery, snuggled under the back seats. That battery drives an 85kW (equivalent to 115hp) electric motor, which is sandwiched into the six-speed DSG gearbox mechanism. Actually, that DSG nomenclature is a bit wrong this time — instead of a dual-clutch gearbox, this one is actually a triple-clutch unit, with the third clutch engaging and disengaging the electric motor. On the new WLTP economy and emissions test, the Superb iV scores a potential 62km driving range on a fully-charged battery, and Skoda reckons that on a combined full battery and full tank of petrol, you could potentially go for more than 900km. That, though, would probably require you to go match the claimed 1.9-litres per

100km (148mpg — cough, splutter) fuel economy figure. A more realistic assessment would suggest a combined range of around 650-700km, with average fuel economy of around 6.0-litres per 100km. Running the Superb on just electric power is a silently enticing process. A refined car at the best of times, with only the volts providing the velocity, driving the iV as an EV becomes positively sepulchral. Performance is still decent. OK, so with the petrol engine locked out, you have 115hp to play with, rather than the headline petrol-and-electric-combined 218hp, but that hardly seems to matter, to be honest. It’ll haul up to 60km/h from rest in a brisk 5.0secs, and will easily run at 120km/h on the motorway, although you’ll be running the battery down rapidly at that point. Driven gently, the Superb iV will likely manage a realistic 45-50km on battery power alone; driven with a bit more vim, that will fall to more like 35km. Still, for anyone with a county-to-city commute, and especially those who can plug-in at work, that means you could conceivably get from Monday morning to Friday evening without a single millilitre of petrol being burned. Which is, of course, the point, and the reason that many car makers still argue that plugin-hybrids such as these — more affordable and potentially more flexible in their performance than battery-electric cars — can make a huge dent in a nation’s Co2 emissions. If they’re used to their full capacity, of course, which does rather require their owners to be fairly conscientious about plugging in regularly. The battery will charge from flat in three-to-five hours, depending on how much wattage you can pump into it, and you can charge

it on the go too — we managed to top up the battery from flat to 56 per cent in only about half an hour’s driving. As a cruiser, the Superb deploys its full resources of nominative determinism. It is comfortable, quite, and rides with a fluid compliance. It is not a sports car, though, and the extra weight of the iV version (the battery weighs 135kg all by its lonesome) means that the standard car’s languid steering responses are further blunted by weight. It will corner briskly, if you make it do so, but it won’t enjoy it and neither will you. Just sit back and relax and let the Superb do its thing. Those in the back, as ever, will enjoy copious legroom and, on ritzy versions, even have little extra foot-rests lurking in the floor. At this point we would normally rhapsodise about the Superb’s un-matched boot capacity and practicality, but this time around we can’t. Because the battery and associated high-voltage gubbins take up so much space, the boot has had to give way, to the tune of around 100-litres, falling to 485-litres. That’s still pretty roomy, but anyone trading out of a regular Superb will notice the slightly reduced luggage/ pet/IKEA capacity. The Combi estate suffers similarly — its normally gargantuan boot has dropped to 510-litres. Again, this is hardly practicality purgatory, but it’t not quite the paradise of loadspace to which we’ve become accustomed. Other upgrades for the iV model include standard-fit automatic transmission, and the biggest of the available infotainment touchscreens. Prices start from €40,770 for the saloon version in Ambition trim — a useful saving over the price of the VW Passat GTE plugin, albeit the Passat GTE is effectively the top-spec version, where-

FACTS & FIGURES Model tested: Skoda Superb iV Style liftback Pricing: €44,270 as tested; Superb iV starts at €40,770 Engine: 1.4-litre turbo petrol fourcylinder + 85kW electric motor Transmission: six-speed dual-clutch automatic, front-wheel drive Body style: large four-door liftback saloon CO2 emissions: 35g/km (Band A1 €170 per annum) Combined economy: 148mpg (1.9 litres/100km) Top speed: 224km/h 0-100km/h: 7.7 seconds Power: 218hp at 5,000-6,000rpm Torque: 400Nm (system total) Boot space: 485-1,610 litres Safety: Euro NCAP rating for Skoda Superb: Five-stars. 86 per cent adult; 86 per cent child; 71 per cent pedestrian; 76 per cent safety assist

as the iV plugin tech is available on all Superb trims and versions, aside from the base Active. The only dilemma, really, is whether you’re locking yourself in for years of ownership of technology that’s, possibly, fast being overtaken by pure battery-electric models. My gut feeling, though, is that this isn’t the case. In fact, more than one emissions expert has calculated that — given the limited resources and constricted battery-building capacity at the moment — hybrids and plugin-hybrids such as this, if used to their utmost, can actually make a bigger dent in Co2 emissions than pure electric cars for now. Whether this is or is not the case, this new dual-fuel Superb is as (quietly) impressive as the rest of the range.

Sport Clare Echo THE

24-09-20

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‘This is your county, Munster and All-Ireland rolled into one’ SEAMUS HAYES Sixmilebridge v O’Callaghans Mills SHC final, Cusack Park, Sunday, 3pm SIXMILEBRIDGE are anxious to get rid of what they call “the second year jinx”. Champions in 2013, 2015, 2017 and 2019, there is disappointment at the fact that they failed to retain the Canon Hamilton trophy after any of those successes. “This year has been different”, joint captain Shane Golden (pictured right, photo by Gerard O’Neill) maintains. “The fact that we didn’t play too many games, we had that bit of freshness. We were mentally and physically fresher because the competition has been run off over a shorter period of time which allowed us to focus and that suited better. It’s great to be back in the final and we are hoping to make the most of the opportunity”. A member of the county senior panel, Shane brushed away commentary over Sixmilebridge’s inability to score a goal en route to the final. “It doesn’t bother us too much, we are winning and we probably have scored a lot of points. There are times when it can be a little annoying as we get a big of slagging from the backs but the main thing is that we are winning. It would ease the pressure if we got a few goals but, as I’ve said, we have got through to this stage”. Operating between midfield and attack at club level this season, Shane admitted that

this year’s championship has been bizarre. “It’s been a strange sort of preparation. Everything up to game day is the same as normal but game day is quite strange. You are togging out in the car and lads are spread out. It’s not the usual routine where we would be in the dressing room forty five minutes before a game. However, once you get inside the gates at Cusack Park, you are in championship mode and one doesn’t pay too much attention to anything after that. Yes, i t ’ s

been a strange year but we have come this far and we are very happy to be heading into the final on Sunday”. “It’s been very noticeable playing to empty stadiums, especially when games are tight. We have definitely been able to hear the subs and the backroom team

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as they have been more vocal. It would have been nice to have had a few more in attendance but that’s the way things are at this time and clubs have to work with that”. The Sixmilebridge joint captain is adamant that “the Mills have quality and we are not in any way under estimating them. Look at the teams they have beaten. They will be coming into this final as underdogs but a lot of neutrals will be supporting them. We don’t see them as underdogs. They have a lot of talent and a good blend”. He continued, “Two years ago they lost to Ballyea in the semi-final. We haven’t played them in a while but when we met, the games have been close. This year they have been very impressive. They beat a good Broadford team and then went on to beat Inagh-Kilnamona and Ballyea, two of the fancied teams

for honours this season. It would be foolish to take a team lightly just because they haven’t won the title for some time”. With Covid-19 cases rising, the physiotherapist is anxious that all involved with Sunday’s county final make the most of the occasion. “For the vast majority of lads, this is it for 2020. Even things are looking dodgy for inter county. In terms of the club its the be all and end all. This is your county final, your Munster and All-Ireland rolled into one. This is the biggest prize”.

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24-09-20

Clare Echo THE

SHC FINAL 2020

pg 26

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O’Donnell believes Mills can cause upset PÁRAIC MCMAHON

paraic@clareecho.ie

ECURING the services of Donach O’Donnell as manager and coach for this year was a definite coup for O’Callaghans Mills but the biggest prize of all is up for grabs when they face neighbours Sixmilebridge on Sunday. Coach of the Limerick hurlers that were crowned Munster senior hurling

champions in 2013, the county’s first in seventeen years, Donach is in his first year involved with a Clare club as O’Callaghans Mills have reached their first senior championship decider since 1993. Full-back Conor Cooney made the first approach to O’Donnell to gauge his interest in getting involved with the East Clare club and succeeding Pat Loughnane as manager. “I didn’t know what to expect, I had heard they were a decent team that hadn’t a huge amount of recent success but were there or thereabouts and that they were an honest bunch which is what you are looking for and you’re hoping you can bring something different to the table and bring them on,” he recalled of his initial knowledge about the Fireballs. COVID-19 presented an unforeseen challenge for management teams across the country. During the lockdown, “we didn’t do anything extraordinary,” he confessed. “We had various fitness tests, a few TikTok challenges which the boys weren’t do fond of, we kept in contact. It was a very uncertain time because you didn’t know if you were going to play or not. The only positive thing that came out of COVID from a hurling point of view was the fact that hurlers had a set season, they knew when their matches were coming, how long they had to their matches, it

was quite easy to focus them”. Born in Dublin, Donach has lived most of his life in Mallow but for the past two decades has been based in Nenagh. He was coach of the Nenagh CBS side that won the Dr Harty Cup in 2012 and began studying a Masters in Applied Coaching at UL last year. Selflessness is pinpointed by O’Donnell as a key trait he looks for in teams and the Masters has proven to be a challenging but rewarding experience. Video analysis sessions are conducted every Tuesday after the Mills play a match, the manager has noticed a change as the year has progressed in how players approach them. “I’m on the phone on Sunday night after a game to Alan Duggan who gets the videos ready for us and discusses the clips. We do a half hour to forty minute video session depending on the match on the Tuesday night, it is to get the players to understand what we want to achieve and what we are doing, as they have gone on I’ve become less vocal and they’ve become more vocal, it is almost at this stage discussion based whereas at the start I was pointing out a lot of things”. “It is an extremely important learning tool. One big advantage is it doesn’t drain the players physically, that Tuesday night session is invaluable, we can work on our game without physically hammering the guys and have them focused and under-

KILKSHEN, QUIN, NENAGH, MOUNTSHANNON BEST WISHES TO O’CALLAGHAN’S MILLS IN THE COUNTY FINAL THIS WEEKEND

standing. If they can’t understand what we want to do then they won’t be able to do it”. Sunday will see Donach cross paths with Davy Fitzgerald on a sideline for the first time since the 2013 All-Ireland semi-final in Croke Park when Clare prevailed over Limerick. It was the clash of neighbours and rivals on that day in Jones’ Rd and the same applies in Cusack Park this weekend. “As a coach you have to put your opposition aside, my philosophy is to concentrate on what we are doing. Davy is an exceptional coach with an exceptional record and so have the Bridge, we have to concentrate on what we are doing”. O’Donnell added, “It sounds very simple but I think if our guys perform they will get the result, that is how we’ve approached other games. The players are very focused, they are almost too focused at times, some players need to be geed up and focused a little bit, other players need to relax a little bit but in general the mood is very good and upbeat, we trained last Thursday night with the Juniors in what was their last session with us, it was lovely to finish their season with a group of 40 altogether where we started”. Their Juniors finished the year with championship glory overcoming Kilmaley after extra time, that level of fight will be needed in abundance as O’Donnell’s side vie to bring the Canon Hamilton back to East Clare.

24-09-20 10-09-20

Clare Echo THE

pg 28

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SHC FINAL 2020

O’Callaghan’s Mills AIDAN FAWL

AIDAN O’GORMAN

CIARAN COONEY

COLIN CREHAN

CONOR COONEY

CONOR HENRY

CORMAC MURPHY

NIALL DONOVAN

GARY COONEY

GERRY COONEY

JACOB LOUGHNANE

JOHN COONEY

KILLIAN NUGENT

KEVIN O’CALLAGHAN

SEAN O’GORMAN

BRYAN DONNELLAN

MIKE COTTER

MIKE MCGRATH

NIALL MCNAMARA

PATRICK DONNELLAN

RONAN KELLY

SEAN COTTER

SEAN MURPHY

MARTY BAKER

DONACH O’DONNELL

TOM CREHAN

DONAL COONEY

MANAGEMENT

pg 27 29

10-09-20 24-09-20

Clare Echo THE

instagram.com/ClareEcho twitter.com/ClareEcho facebook.com/clareecho clareecho.ie

SHC FINAL 2020

Sixmilebridge

ADAM BREEN

SHANE GOLDEN

ALAN MULREADY

SEADNA MOREY

ALEX MOREY

BRIAN CAREY

BRIAN CORRY

CAIMIN MOREY

CATHAL LYNCH

CATHAL MALONE

CHRISTY CAREY

CIARAN HASSETT

COLM FITZGERALD

CONOR DEASY

NOEL PURCELL

DEREK FAHY

EVAN MCINERNEY

JAMIE SHANAHAN

JASON LOUGHNANE

KEVIN LYNCH

BARRY FITZPATRICK

PAIDI FITZPATRICK

PA MULREADY

PAUL CORRY

TIMMY CROWE

NOEL CONSIDINE

DECLAN MURPHY

PADDY MEEHAN

MARTIN CONLON

JAMES SCANLAN

MIKE DEASY

SEAMUS CARR

SEOIRSE BULFIN

DAVY FITZGERALD

TIM CROWE

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Clare Echo THE

SHC FINAL 2020

Battle-hardened Donnellan & Mills strengthened by relegation scare PÁRAIC MCMAHON

paraic@clareecho.ie

N HIS youth dreaming of soccer finals occupied the mind of Bryan Donnellan but the sole focus this week is their shot at destiny and taking on Sixmilebridge in the Clare SHC final. An ex-League of Ireland footballer with Limerick FC and an Oscar Traynor winner with Clare in 2004, Bryan admitted that hurling was never his number one priority growing up. “Back then it was World Cup finals I was dreaming of, I wasn’t the most gifted of underage hurlers so any thoughts of playing in hurling finals were a long way from my mind back then.” Finding a work-life balance made club hurling more enticing for the O’Callaghans Mills captain. “A lot of the League of Ireland games were midweek, once I qualified and had my finals done in the accounting it wasn’t really an option to be heading to Dundalk for a Monday night game with a 7pm kickoff or Monaghan of a Thursday, hurling was at weekends and was a bit easier to fit in around a normal working life”. His senior debut for the Mills was back in 2002 against a St Josephs Doora/Barefield outfit that included the likes of Ollie Baker, Seanie McMahon and Jamesie O’Connor. Eighteen years on, he finds himself 60 minutes away from leading the Mills to their first senior championship success since 1937. “It’s great the way things have gone for us. Two years ago we were in a semi-final and missed our chance to get to a final and going

SHC ROAD TO FINAL SIXMILEBRIDGE: Round One: Sixmilebridge 0-17 Éire Óg 0-12 on 25/07/20 at Cusack Park

Scorers: A Morey (0-13 11f), A Mulready (0-01), P Mulready (0-01), D Fahy (0-01), C Morey (0-01 1f).

Round Two: Sixmilebridge 0-20 Whitegate 1-13 on 08/08/20 at Cusack Park

Scorers: Alex Morey (0-11, 6f, 1’65); Seadna Morey, Jamie Shanahan, Shane Golden (0-2 each); Brian Corry, Jason Loughnane, Pa Mulready (0-1 each)

Quarter-Final: Sixmilebridge 0-21 Broadford 0-12 on 22/08/20 at Cusack Park

Scorers: A Morey (0-07 7f), J Shanahan (0-03), P Fitzpatrick (0-02), C Deasy (0-02), C Malone (0-02), S Morey (0-02), B Corry (0-01), J Loughnane (0-01), S Golden (0-01).

Semi-Final: Sixmilebridge 0-17 Éire Óg 1-13 on 12/09/20 at Cusack Park, Ennis

Scorers: Alex Morey (0-10, all frees); Brian Corry, Jamie Shanahan (0-2) each; Jason Loughnane, Cathal Malone, Alan Mulready (0-1) each.

Bryan Donnellan in action against Clooney-Quin Photo by Martin Connolly

to relegation last year we thought it was gone but the way things have worked out this year we’ve managed to string a few wins together and we’re delighted to be there,” the chartered accountant said of their run to the final. O’CALLAGHANS MILLS Round One: O’Callaghans Mills 2-13 Broadford 0-17 on 25/07/20 at Cusack Park Scorers: Jacob Loughnane (0-07 6f), Sean Cotter (1-01), Colin Crehan (1-01 1f), Cormac Murphy (0-02), Aidan O’Gorman (0-01), Conor Henry (0-01).

Round Two: O’Callaghans Mills 3-17 Crusheen 0-17 on 09/08/20 at Cusack Park Scorers: Colin Crehan (0-7, 4f); Gary Cooney (1-2), Bryan Donnellan, Cormac Murphy (1-0) each; Jacob Loughnane (0-3, 2f) Aidan O’Gorman (0-2), Ciaran Cooney, Sean Cotter, Aidan Fawl (0-1) each.

He continued, “When we came into the first game against Broadford both ourselves and them had nothing to gauge form on, we had no idea how we were going and we were going in hoping you were right and not too far behind other teams. Winning that Broadford game was huge for us, last year the only game we won was the relegation final, getting the win the first day out was big for us”. Two years ago, the Fireballs lost the county semi-final to Ballyea and within the space of twelve months found themselves narrowly fighting off relegating as they demoted Tulla. It is the experience from the relegation

final as opposed to not taking their chance in 2018 that Bryan referenced as a factor that entered his head as they prepared for their recent semi-final redemption over Ballyea “The relegation final last year was playing on my mind, we haven’t spoken about it as a team but it was definitely a situation I wouldn’t like to be in again, that was real pressure. Lots of people around the club have worked to get us up from intermediate back in the seventies, we really didn’t want to be the team that went down. We had plenty of hurt from losing two years ago but the relegation final was the real thing on our minds.” Now lining out at centre-forward, the 38 year old has enjoyed the new role. “I would have played most of my hurling at wingback or midfield, I wouldn’t get in the team now for either of those positions! As you get older, if you can change it up there is probably no harm in that because it gives you a new lease of life to try something different and see how you get on, it doesn’t always work out but it’s going okay this year.” Building up for their first SHC final since 1993 has been “low-key” on account of Covid-19. “It has been a strange one, in other parishes in previous years there has been a lot more excitement but people have to stay away from each other now, you can’t be getting together in groups, there is no one around here only us if there is a training session on, it has been fairly low key, there has been more colour around the village than there normally would be in September, other than that it has been pretty low key which is unfortunate in some ways but at the same time, it’s the way of the world at the moment.” Clare hurling folklore will forever remember Patrick Donnellan as the man that captained the county to All-Ireland glory in 2013. Sixty minutes on Sunday will determine if his older brother Bryan is afforded the honour of bringing as much pride back to O’Callaghans Mills by returning with the Canon Hamilton under his arm.

AIDAN O’GORMAN AGRI SERVICES

Quarter-Final: O’Callaghans Mills 2-16 Inagh/Kilnamona 0-13 on 23/08/20 at Cusack Park Scorers: Colin Crehan (1-6, 3f); Jacob Loughnane (1-4, 1-2f, 1’65); Gary Cooney (03); Bryan Donnellan (0-2); Sean Cotter (0-1)

Semi-Final: O’Callaghans Mills 2-17 Ballyea 1-17 on 13/09/20 at Cusack Park, Ennis

Scorers: Jacob Loughnane (0-08 7f), Colin Crehan (1-04 2f), Conor Henry (1-00), Bryan Donnellan (0-01), Aidan O’Gorman (0-01), Gary Cooney (0-01), Mike McGrath (0-01), Patrick Donnellan (0-01).

BEST OF LUCK TO O’CALLAGHAN’S MILLS IN THIS SUNDAYS COUNTY FINAL

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SHC FINAL 2020

Like father like son for Tim and Timmy PÁRAIC MCMAHON paraic@clareecho.ie

HEN Sixmilebridge claimed their first Clare SHC title in 1977, they were trained by Tim Crowe and defeated O’Callaghans Mills. As the two clubs meet in the county decider once again, Tim is back this time as manager while his son Timmy is one of their trainers. Not alone has Timmy followed

in his father’s footsteps in coaching, he has also done likewise in athletics and now in business with stores across East Clare and Nenagh including one outlet in Kilkishen where trade has not been affected despite the neighbouring clubs doing battle this weekend. 43 years may separate the repeat county finals but similarities exist all the same despite an “astronomical” change in how teams prepare. Being one of the first PE teachers to graduate in the country, Tim introduced the ‘Bridge who suffered a six-point final loss to Newmar-

ket-on-Fergus a year previous to interval training and hill running in 1977. He said of their breakthrough success, “I managed to get them extremely fit in preparation, they probably had an advantage over most teams in fitness, hurling-wise I think we were limited enough but there was such a desire to win our first championship, a savage hunger and a great underage scene in Sixmilebridge at the time. The minor club had been formed and we won our first A championship, things had been progressing. The

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senior win gave us the confidence to develop ourselves as a club, it was a huge moment in the history of the club to win that first championship and things have progressed along, the numbers have increased enormously, the structure of the club and the coaching has come on but so have other clubs”. Time has passed on but Timmy outlined that the foundation of hard work and pushing the limits remains key. “Similar to when Dad was training the team in 77, we haven’t asked the lads to do anything we haven’t done in our training. We know how they feel running up and down the hills; it is not expecting the lads to run up the side of Cratloe Woods 200 times and not know how they feel, we’d both bring our experience of interval training.” Working side by side on the

in the moment of triumph.” Remarkably Sixmilebridge have yet to raise a green flag in this year’s championship. Tim gave his tuppence worth on the statistic. “A lot of people say we set up defensively not to concede goals and that has borne itself out too, it is something we would like to overcome but when you play with five forwards against seven defenders it is a price you have to pay, it is a difficult one. Galway won an All-Ireland two years ago without scoring a goal in the championship, it is possible to do it. It’s not that we set up not to score goals, it is just that it hasn’t happened...there is no pressure on anybody on Sunday to score goals”. During his underage days lining out for the ‘Bridge, Timmy was noted for rattling the net from the edge of the square. He is hopeful of making a return to action in the

management team has strengthened an already strong relationship between the pair. “He is roaring at me down at the field three or four evenings a week for better reasons than making a mess in the house. Any time you get to spend with your father is a good time so I can’t complain about that,” Timmy noted. His father added, “It is a very unusual relationship because throughout his career at international and club level I’ve been at his races and we’ve travelled overseas together, we’ve had a more coach-athlete relationship than a father-son, they have complimented each other. We have been very close as a parent and son through his sporting career, without being too imposing I was always there as a support for him. In any sport even watching the golf on Sunday, the first thing Bryson DeChambeau said was to thank his parents. It’s okay on the glory days but it is the U6, U8, U10 sessions that we’re brought to by our parents that we tend to remember

future but remains focused on his athletics career. Covid-19 has given him sufficient time to aid the recovery of an Achilles injury. “It was nearly a blessing in disguise that everything was pushed back a year for me.” Also part of the Wexford backroom team, the sprinter is keen to also build a successful coaching career. “Right now it is about learning as much as I can, I can say in my second year of a coaching career that I’ve been with two of the best coaching set-ups in the country with Sixmilebridge and Wexford”. His father is quick to lay down a target, “His experience of the coaching scene in Wexford will be valuable to him over the coming years and hopefully he will be around in 43 years training the Bridge team, no pressure.” Like father, like son, the Crowes are hopeful that Sixmilebridge will be able to do enough to stem the rising tide that is O’Callaghans Mills.

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IHC FINAL 2020 (scan barcode for match report)

Nash savours Scariff success PĂ RAIC MCMAHON

paraic@clareecho.ie

ETURNING to senior hurling will benefit the rising starts set to join Scariff â€™s panel in the coming seasons, midfielder Diarmaid Nash maintains. Ranked as the second best handballer in the country, Diarmaid and Colin Crehanâ€™s bid to secure a historic third All-Ireland doubles title in a row is on hold. In the interval, he has collected an intermediate hurling championship with Scariff while Colin will line out for

Oâ€™Callaghans Mills on Sunday as they aim to win a first Clare SHC title since 1937. Joint top scorer alongside Patrick Ryan as Scariff recorded a precious two point win over Tubber, Nash savoured the occasion. â€œHandball is an individual sport, it is great to win in it but you win and you lose on your own, this is an amazing feeling to win together. Iâ€™ve won a few different things in hurling at college and county, my last club medal was U16 which was 14 years ago and ironically it was also against Tubber. Itâ€™s a long time since I won with Scariff, it is great to be back up in senior and hope-

Scariff 1-14 Tubber 0-15 Venue: Cusack Park, Ennis Scariff Frees For: 9 (7/2) Wides: 7 (3/4) Scores from Play: 1-09 Spread of Scorers: 8 Top Scorer: Patrick Ryan (1-02) Diarmuid Nash (0-05 4f 1â€™65) Own Puck-Outs won: 14 from 25 (56%)

fully where the club belongs,â€? the investment analyst stated. Nash is in the middle age profile of players on the Scariff panel but is firmly of the view that men of all ages made invaluable contributions as they returned to the senior ranks. â€œWe have a strange mix, we have a couple of really old late 30s lads and a couple in their late 20s and then a lot in their early 20s. We really need the experienced lads and the nick they are in is unbelievable. On a day like today when it isnâ€™t a great hurling match and itâ€™s about seeing it out thatâ€™s when you canâ€™t beat the experience.â€? He added, â€œThis was our sixth year intermediate, for the last couple of years weâ€™d been making semi-finals and we just snuck over the line last weekend against Killaloe so we were thinking it was a free hit and this is great.â€?

Tubber Frees For: 11 (4/7) Wides: 10 (3/7) Scores from Play: 0-09 Spread of Scorers: 6 Top Scorer: Blaine Earley (0-07 6f) Own Puck-Outs won: 13 from 22 (59%)

Mark McKenna, Scariff manager: â€œIt is just relief, the height of that relief is just phenomenal, it is not that you lift a weight but when you see young lads, old lads, supporters here and supporters at home it is worth every minute. That match and the performances on both sides, it was an intermediate final that was absolutely fantastic, credit to everyone. Iâ€™m so happy and so proud, Iâ€™m around long enough now but I never thought I would say Scariff intermediate champions for 2020. This is going back years, a lot of people have put time into Scariff hurling, we are privileged, Iâ€™m so proud of the players, you couldnâ€™t ask for anymore. â€œWe havenâ€™t been in too many adult finals and we didnâ€™t even know the protocol for coming in here today, I know it is different times but for Scariff to come in, to play in a county final and come out as winners is magic. We had to take ownership and responsibility and be the team that came to the Park and won, thankfully itâ€™s the way it worked. 2021 will take care of itself, that is a whole different ball game. That step-up to senior will be very serious, a lot of things will have to change, other teams may or may not like to pick us but for now, for tonight and tomorrow this win is for the people of Scariff.â€?

Diarmuid Nash challenged by James Howard Photo by BurrenEye Photography

Celebrations will take priority for the coming weeks but Diarmaid is hopeful they can follow in the footsteps of recent intermediate winners Feakle and Broadford by making a mark in the top tier. â€œBroadford showed this year that they are well capable, I think the

way the senior is having restructured it a few years ago, there are a few very strong teams and the bottom of the senior is very even... Weâ€™ll fancy our chances to stay up and after that you wouldnâ€™t know what would happenâ€?.

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SFC FINAL 2020

Close-knit Cratloe focus entirely on pitch SEAMUS HAYES Cratloe v Kilmurry Ibrickane SHC final, Cusack Park, Saturday, 4.30pm OSCOMMON native Fearghal Carroll has been part of the Cratloe club since 2012 and believes this year has been an eye-opening one for the GAA with the focus predominantly on clubs. A native of Kilmore in Roscommon which is on the Leitrim border, the finance director with CupPrint in Ennis joined the Clare club having come to live in Cratloe two years earlier. Fearghalâ€™s wife hails from Cratloe and they set up home in the South Clare parish in 2010. â€œI continued to play with my home club for a couple of years before joining Cratloe in 2012. Itâ€™s great to be involved with the local GAA club when you move to a new parish, it helps one to get to know peopleâ€?, he explains this week. Fearghal was a member of the Cratloe panel which won back to back Clare senior titles in 2013 and 2014. In addition to his involvement with the senior panel, he started to help with the coaching of some underage teams before accepting an invitation from Colm Collins to join the senior club management in 2017 and he is now the team coach. â€œWe have got to the last three semi-finals and have come up against either Kilmurry-Ibrickane or Miltown. I would have come up against them at under 16 and minor levels before that and quickly learned that they were forces to be reckoned with. â€œItâ€™s been a strange year for everybody not just in sport but in every facet of life and we had our problems here. The lads were great and they refocussed when they got an opportunity to get back on the pitch. We are grateful to the county board for working with the club. Lads were happy to get back on the pitch againâ€?, explained Fearghal. The Roscommon native is full of praise for the players that make up the Cratloe panel. â€œThese guys are great no matter what is

David Collins and Darragh Sexton clash in 2016 Photo by Martin Connolly

thrown at them. Playing both hurling and football hasnâ€™t been anyway daunting to them. A few weeks ago they played three games in eight days which was a bit like a normal year for them. Irrespective of what comes at them they have a good attitude. Itâ€™s all about being on the pitch. â€œThey are a close knit group, committed no matter what team they are part of. If you have commitment and honesty from the guys, you take it as it comes after that, they are a focussed bunch of guysâ€?, the Cratloe coach added.

Email: patogorman@eircom.net Phone: 087 685 9122

He is expecting a fierce test from Saturdayâ€™s opponents, Kilmurry Ibrickane and confirmed that Cratloe have a clean bill of health with a full panel to pick from. â€œWe hold massive respect for them. Its the level you have to get to. They have enjoyed great success in the club, they keep coming every year and they are bringing new guys through. Some are part of the county scene as wellâ€?. â€œKilmurry know how to win and one has to respect that and the level they are at. They will be hard to stop but we have prepared well and the task now is to get a performance

from the ladsâ€?, he concluded. Carroll is of the belief that the standard of club football in the county is rising. â€œClare senior football is at a good high level. There are a lot of strong teams now and there are no easy games in Clare senior football any more. The county team is playing at a high level and the players are coming back into their clubs which is a huge help. Clubs have benefited from having the inter county players available more often this year. Itâ€™s the same across the country, the focus is on the clubâ€?.

OIL Wishing the Cratloe

Footballers the best of luck in this weekends County Final

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Replay needed in last decider by SEAMUS HAYES

CRATLOE and Kilmurry-Ibrickane last met in the Clare senior football final in 2016 when a replay was needed to produce a winner. The drawn game attracted an attendance of 4,450 spectators to Cusack Park and after the sides were level on eight occasions ,the final scoreline was 1-9 to Cratloe and 0-12 for their West Clare opponents. There were missed chances by both sides on a day when the first half ended with a mass brawl involving most of the players and some of the substitutes. The teams had exchanged points on three occasions before Kilmurry took a one point lead through Keelan Sexton at the turn of the second quarter. Three minutes later Cratloe put a great move together which ended with a Cathal McInerney goal. Kilmurry dominated the final five minutes of the half and landed four unanswered points to lead at the break, 0-8 to 1-4. It was score for score throughout the second half and the teams were level at 1-7 to 0-10 entering the final quarter. wice Kilmurry-Ibrickane took the lead, both scores coming from frees by Keelan Sexton but on each occasion Cathal McInerney responded for Cratloe.

Cratloe; P. De Loughrey; S. Chaplin, B. Duggan, . McFaddan; M. Murphy, M. Hawes, L. Markham; C.Ryan (0-1), J. Galvin; P. Collins (0-1), S.Collins C. Cooney; C. McInerney (1-5, 0-3f), S. McHugh, D.Collins (0-1); Subs; E.Boyce for McFaddan (inj), S. Hynan for Cooney (inj), S.Gleeson (0-1) for McHugh; Kilmurry-Ibrickane; I. McInerney (0-2, f); M.Killeen, D. Hickey, C. Morrissey; S. Hickey (0-1), M. McMahon, D. Sexton; M. McCarthy, K. King; N. Hickey (0-1), M. O'Dwyer, M. Hogan (0-1); D. Callinan, E. Coughlan (0-1), K. Sexton (0-5,2f); Subs; N. Downes (0-1) for N. Hickey; S Moloney for Hogan; P. O'Dwyer senior for McCarthy. Referee; R. Hickey, Eire Og, Ennis.

A powerful second half performance steered Kilmurry-Ibrickane to the title when the replay took place two weeks later. This time the attendance was down a little to 3,722. Kilmurry-Ibrickane led by two points, 0-8 to 0-4, at half time before a goal from Martin McMahon, nine minutes into the second half turned this tie in their favour. After this score Kilmurry took control in most areas and went on to record a 2-13 to 0-6 victory, limiting Cratloe to just two points in that second half Cratloe were reduced to fourteen men when Conor Cooney picked up a second yellow card in the final minute, Keelan Sexton found the net from the penalty spot for the winners to seal victory. Darren Hickey, Ciaran Morrissey, Darragh Sexton, Michael Hogan, Enda Coughlan and Keelan Sexton were prominent throughout for the winners while, for a disappointing Cratloe, Sean Chaplin, Liam Markham, Conor Ryan and Cathal McInerney did best. The team line outs in the replay were

Kilmurry-Ibrickane; I McInerney (0-2 f); M.Killeen, D. Hickey, C. Morrissey; D. Callinan, M.McMahon (10), D. Sexton; M. McCarthy (0-2) K.King; M. O'Dwyer (0-1), S. Hickey (0-2), M.Hogan (0-1); K. Sexton (14, 1-1f), P. O'Dwyer (0-1),E.Coughlan Subs; N.Downes for Callinan; N. Hickey for Downes (inj.), E. Talty for Morrissey, T. O'Connor for McCarthy; J. Daly for M. O'Dwyer; Cratloe; P. De Loughrey; S. Chaplin, B.Duggan, L. Markham; M. Murphy (0-1), M. Hawes, E.Boyce; C.Ryan, J. Galvin; A. McFadden, S. Collins (01), S. Gleeson; C. McInerney (0-4,3f), P. Collins, D. Collins; Subs; C. Cooney for McFaddan (inj); S.McHugh for Gleeson, Referee; P. Cosgrove,Corofin;

Clare Echo THE

SFC FINAL 2020

Hogan hoping to finish Bricks career on high PÁRAIC MCMAHON

paraic@clareecho.ie

FTER almost two decades of service to his club at senior level, Michael Hogan will sign off on his Kilmurry Ibrickane career and sixty minutes separate him from having a fairytale ending. A championship winner in his first season in 2002, Michael is captain of the Bricks this year as they bid to get their hands on the Jack Daly for the first time since 2017, indeed the man that raised aloft the coveted trophy for Hogan’s first senior title was Aiden ‘Horse’ Moloney who is now the manager. Conversations regarding retirement took place in the aftermath of last year’s four point replay defeat to St Josephs Miltown. “I thought about it and talked with the family and said there was another year left in me. It is nice to leave on a high and done what you have done rather that falling back into being a sub and going back the line, I would rather finish on the starting team doing what I do best”. As Kilmurry Ibrickane tune their preparations at Pairc Naomh Mhuire ahead of Saturday’s final with Cratloe, Hogan is some bit braced for life after football and evenings spent on the Quilty sod. “I’m only living over the road and you’re looking over at the football field. This year with the COVID, when we were off training for two or three months, you would be looking over saying it would be nice to be training with the boys and doing something, it is only when you can’t do it that you realise how much you miss it. It was a little taster of what it will be like, it will be a bitter pill to swallow but with age, everything comes to an end and this will be it for me, I’ll always be around and support the boys”. Bringing an end to his club career as the winning captain would be a fairytale finish for the 37 year old. “These are things you dream about. Playing in your last year and to lift the cup in Cusack Park would be a beautiful way to sign off but there is one hour between me and that, hopefully come Saturday evening that is the way it will be but we won’t know until the time”. Michael’s work-rate has been a notable characteristic whenever he takes to the field for the West Clare club. “My game has always been my game from wing-forward. Not that I was given the job at the start but I like to be involved in the play, at wing-forward if the ball was back with our backs I’d go back and help out, I wasn’t told to really do it at the start but then it built in and you got good at it so managers would tell you to go back and help out. The fitness was good so I was able to get up and down the field no problem whatsoever, as the years go you struggle a bit more but I

Michael Hogan won a championship in his first season in 2002 and is hoping to Photo by Gary Collins bookend his career with the same accolade this weekend

still feel I’m able to do it, it’s not like I’ve struggled with it this year, I’ll give it everything I have on Saturday and hopefully we will get a result out of it”. Added to this in 2020 has been his role as captain, a position that he has embraced with open arms. “I’ve a lot of service given and I felt it was my time and Horse agreed with me on it when we talked about it and he asked me if I was up for it. We’ve had a great year to be fair, we’ve played some good teams and come out on top and we’re back in a county final again so I can’t complain. To be captain of these guys and of Kilmurry Ibrickane on county final day is a nice feeling”. Labelling both of this year’s county

semi-finals as “cracking games,” Hogan believes the two finalists are there on merit. “I think the two best teams are in the final this year, sometimes you might think someone got caught along the line but Cratloe are playing cracking football at the moment which is end to end, they are a fit team and with the way the hurling went they haven’t had too much to play, they are really zoned in and will be gunning for it”. Indeed Cratloe will be gunning for glory but Hogan and his Kilmurry Ibrickane teammates will do everything in their power to see him sign off on a high.

B ui l di ng C ons t r uc t i on Wishing the Kilmurry Ibrickane Senior Footballers the best of luck in Saturday’s County Final michael73considine@gmail.com . 086 845 0848 Clonahinchy, Quilty, Co.Clare

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Clare Echo THE

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SFC FINAL 2020

Cratloe SEAN GALLAGHER

DONAL ORGAN

JACK DANAHER

DIARMUID RYAN

CONAL O’HANLON

SHANE NEVILLE

SHANE MARKHAM

MICHAEL MUNDY

DEAN DELOUGHREY

CATHAL MCINERNEY

DAVID COLLINS

DAMIEN BROWNE

JACK MCINERNEY

SEAN COLLINS

KILLIAN PHAIR

MARTIN OIGE MURPHY MIKE BRENNAN

MIKEY HAWES

PADRAIG CHAPLIN

CONOR MCGRATH

PIERCE DE LOUGHREY PODGE COLLINS

SEAN RYAN

RIAN CONSIDINE

SEAN CHAPLIN

SEAN HYNAN

FEARGHAL CARROLL

SEAN O’DEA

BRIAN MCMAHON

JODY O’CONNOR

DEIRDRE CHAPLIN

DEREK CROWLEY

COLM COLLINS

TREVOR SLATTERY

ENDA BOYCE

BILLY SHEEHAN

pg 36

SHANE GLEESON

GER CROTTY

LIAM MARKHAM

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SFC FINAL 2020

Kilmurry Ibrickane

AIDAN MCCARTHY

DARREN HICKEY

ANDREW SHANNON

CIARAN MORRISSEY

DANIEL WALSH

DARRAGH SEXTON

DARYN CALLINAN

DAVID SEXTON

DERMOT COUGHLAN

DIARMUID KING

ENDA COUGHLAN

EVAN TALTY

KEELAN SEXTON

KEITH KING

IAN MCINERNEY

MICHAEL HOGAN

SHANE HICKEY

MARK KILLEEN

NIALL HICKEY

NOEL DOWNES

PAUDIE MURRIHY

AIDEN MOLONEY

KEVIN SEXTON

ERIC MURRIHY

BARRY GIBBONS

DEREK CONSIDINE

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Hickeys armed for another shot at title kids to the field at a young age and when you see that success, it keeps them going”. He felt the club has been blessed to have star players such as Odran O’Dwyer and Keelan Sexton in their ranks. The influx of U21 players in recent seasons has been a major plus, Niall believed. A primary school teacher in Doonbeg where he is teaching children of ex Magpies players that he faced off with when starting his senior career, Niall is of the view that Miltown’s resurgence in recent years “has brought the best out in us”. “After losing last year, there would be a bit of extra motivation for us, I know the circumstances are different this year but we won’t be treating this county final any different to one before because the same thing is at stake,” he continued. When Kilmurry Ibrickane and Cratloe last met in the county final of 2016, Shane picked up the man of the match accolade following their replay win. As they lock horns once again, the Hickey brothers will once again be called upon to play major roles for The Bricks.

PÁRAIC MCMAHON

paraic@clareecho.ie

ELATIONS are plentiful throughout the Kilmurry Ibrickane senior squad, it adds to the existing family atmosphere which is underpinned by the Hickey

brothers. Full-back Darren, utility man Shane and attacker Niall may all have to settle for different roles in Saturday’s senior decider but they remain united in their goal to keep Jack Daly in West Clare for the sixth year in succession. A member of the senior panel since 2003, Shane’s service is longer than that of his younger siblings Darren and Niall who made the respective step-up in 2006 and 2010. With a combined tally of 17 senior championship medals, it comes as little surprise that football has and continues to be a regular part of the discussion among the brothers whey they assemble at the Hickey household in Seafield. Darren explained, “We’re a very close bunch of people, I work with Michael Hogan, there are a rake of cousins on the panel, our uncles are over the team, we all know each other on and off the field, it helps an awful lot that we are so close to each other, it is like anything, you do whatever you can do together as a group. You’re coming here and it’s the same thing everyday, you’re talking football the whole time”. Bad performances are quickly commented upon by family members, he noted. Similar views were echoed by Shane. “If you listen to Paul Hickey after a game, you will know exactly if you did good or bad and you will be told straight out, you will always have more bad games than good”. There is agreement among the trio that Niall is the best footballer of the Hickeys. “Probably the best and most skillful footballer of the lot of us is Niall and he is probably going to be a sub. Darren is probably a bit more brute force which is needed when it comes down to the real gritty championship games,” Shane remarked prompting Niall to

SFC ROAD TO THE FINAL

Shane, Niall and Darren Hickey this week Photo by Gary Collins respond, “Shane is the one that plays all around, in goals is probably the only position he hasn’t played the last couple of years, he talks about it a lot too”. Less of a consensus exists when the brothers contemplate which one of them is the most craic. “When Shane gets a few drinks it is probably him, he tends not to be able to handle it like the rest of us,” Niall surmised. With a tag for two of the three brothers, the middle man isn’t left behind, “Darren is the enforcer,” Shane quipped. “Darren always gets the raw deal, he has always been thrown in at the deep end, any marquee forward in the other clubs himself and Mark Killeen would have to share the priority with whoever they are marking. He is sacrificed in comparison to Shane who is let up the field a bit more. He is a real old fashioned fullback as we like to say around here,” Niall added.

Giving perspective on his and Mark Killeen’s roles, Darren outlined, “We have to go and do a job, the rest of them get to play football”. He admitted that piling extra research into the man-marker role is not part of his preparation. “It’s all on the day, you take it up on the day. Players like Podge Collins you never know what you are going to get with them, you have to play off the cuff, everyday is different and you can’t look at what they did the last time, it doesn’t work like that. I just go into the game and do whatever I can do, mostly it is trying to stop someone from playing rather than playing myself ”. Fortunately for the Hickeys, Kilmurry Ibrickane have always been a top team in the county during their time on the panel. A Garda based in Limerick, Shane gave his view on why this is the case, “Once it hits winter time in Quilty all that is going on is football. Most people will bring their

jured for much of 2017 and then decided to transfer to Cratloe with whom I have been playing for the past three years”, Conal told The Clare Echo. How football is treated was one of the initial observations that struck O’Hanlon. “They take football seriously when the championship comes round and once they kick in they are a serious outfit. Transferring to Cratloe has given me a new lease of life. I am not under pressure rushing to training a few hours away. I am really enjoying the game. I just couldn’t keep going with all the travelling”. Cratloe and Kilmurry Ibrickane have developed a rivalry in the past decade but it is one Conal is not overly familiar with. “The lads have had a good few games against them in recent years but last year was the only time I played against them and they beat us by a point in the semi-final. It’s a score that has to be settled. He has watched the South Clare club vie to win dual honours in recent seasons but has welcomed the sole focus on football in

recent weeks. “It’s great to have the whole squad focussed on football. It’s great to have a full squad at training each evening”. “We had an exciting semi-final. I wouldn’t have known anything about St. Breckans but they are a great young side. We were lucky to reel them in. It was a great goal from Podge Collins and we had good experience come off the bench. We have added a couple of players this year and this has given a bit of depth to the panel. There have always been options off the bench and they have always added something”. Minus the services of O’Callaghans Mills duo Conor Cooney and Sean O’Gorman, Conal points to this as an example of the “great group” that exists within Cratloe in strengthening the panel. “This is my first senior final and it’s great to have such an occasion to look forward to. I can’t wait for it. The lads have been in a final, either hurling or football, almost every year but this is my first one. It would be great to capture the title”, concluded the Louth native.

O’Hanlon savours build-up SEAMUS HAYES CONAL O’Hanlon has been one of Cratloe’s star performers in this season’s senior championship campaign. A native of Co Louth, he joined the Clare club three years ago having moved to Cratloe two years earlier when he took up an appointment as an air traffic controller at Shannon Airport. “For the first few years after moving to Clare I continued to play with my home club of St. Josephs in Dundalk. We won the intermediate title in Louth in 2016.”, the midfielder and half-forward recalled. “With shift work it became increasingly difficult to commute to Louth and I was missing out on training and games there. Colm Collins allowed me to train with Cratloe but it was difficult to get back home for games and to attend training with the team. I was travelling up and down but I was missing games and training. I was in-

KILMURRY IBRICKANE Round One: Kilmurry Ibrickane 0-12 St Josephs Miltown 0-09 on 01/08/20 at Cusack Park Scorers: Keelan Sexton (0-3, 3f), Dermot Coughlan (0-2), Ian McInerney (0-1, 1f), Daryn Callinan (0-2, 1f), Michael O’Dwyer, , Shane Hickey and Michael Hogan (0-1 each).

Quarter-Final: Kilmurry Ibrickane 3-06 Éire Óg 0-10 on 16/08/20 at Cooraclare

Scorers: Keelan Sexton (1-04 1f 1’45), Dermot Coughlan (1-01), Daniel Walsh (1-01).

Semi-Final: Kilmurry Ibrickane 1-18 Lissycasey 3-11 on 12/09/20 at Cusack Park

Scorers: Keelan Sexton (1-5 3f);Dermot Coughlan (0-3) Shane Hickey Noel Downes, Aidan McCarthy (0-2) each, Daniel Walsh, Ciaran Morrissey, Darragh Sexton, Daryn Callinan (free) 0-1 each

CRATLOE: Round One: Lissycasey 2-09 Cratloe 0-13 AET on 01/08/20 at Cusack Park, Ennis

Scorers: Podge Collins (0-05 1f), Liam Markham (0-03), Rian Considine (0-01), Killian Phair (0-01), Jack McInerney (0-01 1f), Damien Browne (0-01), Billy Sheehan (0-01).

Round Two: Cratloe 2-11 Clondegad 0-09 on 28/08/20 at Cusack Park, Ennis

Scorers: Diarmuid Ryan (2-0); Cathal McInerney (0-5f); Conal O’Hanlon (0-3, 2f); Podge Collins (0-2); Conor McGrath (0-1)

Quarter-Final Cratloe 0-16 St Josephs Miltown 2-08 on 30/08/20 at Cusack Park, Ennis Scorers: Cathal McInerney (0-8, 5f); Conal O’Hanlon (0-4f); Podge Collins, (0-2); Liam Markham, Michael Brennan (0-1 each)

Semi-Final: Cratloe 2-16 St Breckans 1-15 on 13/09/20 at Cusack Park, Ennis

Scorers: Cathal McInerney (1-09 6f 1’Pen), Podge Collins (1-03), Conal O’Hanlon (0-02 1f), Shane Neville (0-01), Conor McGrath (0-01).

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IFC FINAL 2020

Senior football is the place to be says Corofin manager Clancy

ENIOR football is where it is at and the present is the ideal time for an emerging Corofin side to return to the grade if they perform on the big day. That’s the view of Corofin manager Colm Clancy as he puts the final touches to plans for this Saturday’s intermediate football final, writes Seamus Hayes. A key member of Clare’s 1992 Munster championship winning team, Colm is joined in the Corofin backroom team by Pat Curtis, Geoff O’Sullivan and Peadar O’Brien. Senior championship quarter finalists two years ago, Corofin were relegated last year and all involved are keen to make a quick return to the top division. There is concern about the fitness of key forward Gearoid Cahill who picked up a hamstring injury twenty minutes into their semi-final win over Kildysart. “We won’t know until later this week whether or not he has a chance of playing a part”, the manager explained. At the time of writing there was concern about the availability of Gearoid’s younger brother Diarmuid and Conor Leen. They are both key members of the Corofin/Ruan minor hurling team which has qualified for the Minor A final, a game that is provisionally listed for this weekend. “We would love to have both Diarmuid and Conor as both are key members of the squad”. The manager acknowledged, “there is a lot of serious work being done at underage level in the club. We are trying to work on that and achieve what they are potentially capable of”. Being a dual club “has its challenges but it has its benefits also. It’s great for young lads to be able to compete for both. It has challenges regards training and managing players to make sure they don’t get an overload. Generally people are understanding”. This year, “Covid presented its own problems, not knowing at the start what way it was going to go. The shorter season is a plus, lads can focus more and set minds on goals. A longer season drags out”. “Having lads around this year is a boost, every player is a boost, you need other players driving lads on. One would hope to have 25 pushing and improving each year and making a step up. It was good for the bond. That’s what a club is about, training hard and feeling good”. Clancy who managed St Josephs Doora/Barefield in re-

Corofin manager Colm Clancy Photo by Burren Eye Photography cent seasons is well aware what their final opponents will bring to the table. “They are a good club, good lads. Usually when one is with your own club and looking at others you

don’t realise what they have. Doora/Barefield have good players, a lot have played for the county. They are always confident and capable and will provide a tough challenge”.

Promotion always target for St Joseph’s SEAMUS HAYES

Cathal Brannock of Doora Barefield

Photo by Burren Eye Photography

TWO years ago, following a motion to county convention, Clare GAA decided to reduce the number of senior football teams from sixteen to twelve and St Josephs Doora/Barefield were one of the teams to make the drop as a result. Last year they got to the intermediate championship semi-final where they lost out to eventual winners St. Breckans. From the outset this year their aim has been to win back senior status and they are now just one step away from achieving that target.

Managed by Kevin Frehill, their back room team includes Mike Millane, Donagh Vaughan and Morgan Rowland while they are captained by Eoin Hanrahan, son of Doonbeg native Pat who was a member of Clare’s senior selection committee when the county won the Provincial senior championship in 1992 “It’s been a difficult year with Covid and a number of players didn’t commit due to the pandemic and the tight time frame for the running off of the various championships”, selector Mike Millane said this week. There are a number of dual players involved but not as many as in previous years. Amongst the dual

players who are part of the football panel are the Hannan twins, Tom and Jack, Darragh O’Shea, Peter Collins. Eoghan Thynne and Donal O’Halloran. Millane who is a member of the teaching staff at Ennis CBS outlined, “We are under no illusions about the massive task we are facing against Corofin. They have a lot of serious talent”. The Doora-Barefield selector admits that “the club has been strong at minor level for the past few years. There are a number of players involved that have won championships at under 14, under 16 and minor A levels. We are still in this year’s minor A championship and we have two minors in-

volved with the intermediate side in Alan Killeen and Dara O’Callaghan”. The clubs clashed in a league fixture last season but Millane doesn’t place any emphasis on that. “It was at the end of the league and there will be much changed teams in opposition this week. We have a relatively young panel and many are under 25. They are hitting the right age to compete at this level”. “There are a couple of niggles but we expect to have a full panel to call on come the final. We are keen to get back to senior ranks but we know we face a difficult challenge”, he concluded.

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Clare Echo THE

LADIES FOOTBALL FINAL 2020 (COMPILED BY EOIN BRENNAN)

Banner Ladies 3-21 West Clare Gaels 0-07 Venue: Shanahan McNamara Park, Doonbeg Banner Ladies Frees For: 12 (6/6) Wides: 11 (6/5) Scores from Play: 2-19 Spread of Scorers: 6 Top Scorer: Niamh O’Dea (1-09) Own Kick-Outs won: 13 from 14 (93%) JJ O’Dea, Banner Ladies manager: “After what happened last year, I’m fairly happy because we were hurt last year, really hurt. When you lose a final, it’s an awful lonely place to be so it’s just great to get the title back. I don’t know what happened last year to be honest but you learn more in defeat than victory so this year, we’ve a lot of work put in. Orla Kilkenny our is a lot to do with that. She has been a brilliant addition for us. Now I had a job to get her in the first place but the first night she came in, she knew every girl’s name and she has just been a real breath of fresh air for the girls. Our experience is massive. You look at Niamh Keane and Louise Henchy, without them, we wouldn’t be where we are today. They’re just great and I don’t know what drives them on but they’re the first to training and if they can’t make it, they’re the first to text. We’d find it difficult to cope without them if they every decided to hang up the boots and to be honest, we’re finding it difficult enough to cope without Michael McInerney at the moment. He knew every player in the club along with their father and mother. He was a fabulous man and we loved him. Every one of the girls loved him and he’s an awful loss to us, irreplaceable really”.

PHOTO: Gerard O’Neill

West Clare Gaels Frees For: 17 (9/8) Wides: 8 (2/6) Scores from Play: 0-06 Spread of Scorers: 3 Top Scorer: Becky Madign (0-04) Own Kick-Outs won: 19 from 34 (56%) Michael Carmody, West Clare Gaels manager: “That’s a serious Banner team that are in their prime. I said it in the build-up that if you had the pick of the players in the other five teams in the competition, would they even give them a good game? That’s the long and the short of it. They’re outstanding. Even their older players’ level of fitness is unbelievable. Louise Henchy and Niamh Keane were going as strong in the last minute as they were in the first. And as for Niamh O’Dea, I just don’t know how any side could handle her. Look, they’re essentially an inter-county side and were obviously the better team today as you can see from the result. Our team in awful young though, there are 11 of that team that are Under 21 with a sprinkling of older players around the spine. So this is a building block for us just to contest a final. We needed a good start to have any hope but their goalkeeper pulled off a great save to deny Fidelma Marrinan in the opening minute. A goal at that stage might have helped to build confidence and take the game to the Banner but it wasn’t to be unfortunately.Our own goalkeeper Ciara Harvey was absolutely brilliant, I couldn’t say more than that. She kept us in touch but we were always facing an uphill battle against such an experienced side”.

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Nolan embraces sweet success EOIN BRENNAN IF CLINCHING an 11th senior ladies football crown in just 13 seasons wasn’t sweet enough, the fact that Banner Ladies Captain Grainne Nolan was lifting the coveted cup for the first time certainly piped the celebratory icing on the cake in Doonbeg on Sunday. Following in the footsteps of Michelle Delaney (2008), Soyna Maher (2009), Laurie Ryan (2011), Louise Woods (2012), Niamh O’Dea (2013), Niamh Keane (2014-16), Niamh Cavanagh (2017) and Louise Henchy (2018), Nolan joined that pantheon of Banner Ladies legends to become the club’s ninth senior championship winning captain. No motivational words were required by Clare’s Vice-Captain either as having been dethroned in their historic nine-ina-row bid by a vengeful Kilmihil in 2019, there was an unstoppably determined air about Nolan and Co. to reclaim their crown over West Clare Gaels. “I can’t put into words how good that felt. It’s amazing what a year can do as this time 12 months ago was a very different feeling so it’s great to come out on the right side of the result this time. We looked at ourselves after last year. Some people said that we might have gotten complacent and when you do win that many in a row, it is hard to keep that intensity and enthusiasm going, there’s no point in saying otherwise. “But after experiencing that final loss last year, we did not want to feel that again so that has made even more driv-

en this year and to be honest, I think we played some of the best football we’ve ever played in the last few weeks so it’s been great.” A change of format also helped as having been handed a bye directly to the semi-finals last year, the Banner only had two championship matches whereas a momentum-fueled Kilmihil had five. “Whatever way the structure went last year, we only had two games and that’s not great preparation for a final at all. You can play all the challenge games you want but it’s not the same intensity as a championship match. So I think the new format this year really suited us and hopefully they stick with it going forward.” That pent up hurt allied to a new coaching addition to the backroom team in Galway’s former Camogie All-Star Orla Kilkenny ultimately made for a cocktail much too intoxicating for a young West Clare Gaels side to handle on Sunday. “It’s amazing what a new voice can do in a camp too. And it’s about proving yourself to that new coach too as the lads like JJ and Cian O’Dea have done great work in recent years but knowing them so well, some girls may get a bit complacent. But when there’s a new voice there, you want to prove to her as well why you want to be named on that starting 15 because there were battles there for places and no-one knew where they were going to be playing or anything so that’s what we needed back.” Going on Sunday’s devastating 3-21 to 0-07 victory, there was never a doubt about their desire to get their senior crown back either. “I suppose as you get that little bit older as well, you appreciate them all the more so this was very sweet.”

INTERMEDIATE FINAL

Kilmurry Ibrickane 6-07 St Joseph’s Miltown 1-11 Venue: Shanahan McNamara Memorial Park, Doonbeg

Sexton hat-trick leads Kilmurry Ibrickane back to top flight

Clare Echo