The Clare Echo 24/10/19

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24 Oct 2019

2019

STATE OF THE ART

Molex compiles job misery

PÁRAIC McMAHON paraic@clareecho.ie

T

HE announcement of 500 lost jobs in Clare has been described as catastrophic and traumatic.

On Tuesday, Molex announced it would be closing its Shannon factory in 2020 resulting in the loss of 500 jobs.

Molex’s longest serving employee Joe Burke said at the gates of the Shannon plant on Tuesday, “It is a good company, it’s just a sad day.”

Dr Michael Harty TD (IND) described it as a “traumatic” and “catastrophic” day for the county. “I would call for the immediate setting up of a high powered task force including En-

terprise Ireland, IDA, Dept. of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation and Shannon Group to seek a buyer for the plant or seek a replacement industry. The loss of 500 jobs at Molex when added to the loss of jobs at Roche Pharmaceuticals, Moneypoint and potentially Avara in Shannon is a huge loss of well paid employment in the Mid West.”

Mayor of Clare, Cllr Cathal Crowe (FF) voiced his sadness. “It’s crucial that the workers are taken care of. Adequate redundancy packages must be put in place, the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection must be ready to step in and I am also calling on the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation to work with the Local Authority to establish a taskforce.”

Full story Page 16

l ENJOYING THE EXHIBITION: Sarah O’Brien (9) and Moddy Day (10), both

from Ennistymon, admiring Phillip Morrison’s work at Foust Gallery Ennistymon last weekend Photo by Arthur Ellis

2 NEWS

THURSDAY, OCT 24 2019

Index

READY TO CONQUER DUBLIN

2-17

NEWS

ENTERTAINMENT

18-19

COMMUNITY

20-21

WINTER WEDDINGS

23-42

COMMENT

43

MOTORING

44-45

SPORT

48-50

CLASSIFIEDS

51-53

The Square, Ennis, County Clare Telephone: 065 671 9021

NEWSDESK

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

SALES

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

l FANTASTIC CAUSE: Bishop of Kllaloe, Fintan Monahan (second from the right standing) appearing with the Director of the Clare Crusaders Clinic, Ann Norton and marathon runners from the Clare Crusaders along with children with special needs who avail of a range of therapies at the clinic at the runner’s KBC Dublin City Marathon ‘send off’ breakfast at the Old Ground Hotel in Ennis. The marathon runners have raised €700,000 for the Clinic since 2005 Photo by Eamon Ward

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4 NEWS

Bare knuckle boxing on streets ENNIS retailers have witnessed bare knuckle boxing occur on the doors of their premises.

Public order offences in Clare are down 18 percent from 236 in 2018 to 194 for the same period in 2019, the latest Joint Policing Committee meeting was told by Chief Superintendent Seán Colleran.

Despite the figures, Cllr Mary Howard said that the issue is still ever present in the county town. “The presence of Gardaí is a deterrent of crime”. She said that during a recent fundraising event for Rape Crisis Midwest in Ennis where she was at two different locations for two hours, “I saw no foot patrol”.

“I was speaking to a woman working in retail and she has seen an increase. Outside the doors of her shop, a man was refereeing a bare knuckle boxing match between two men. If people know Gardaí could appear, there will be no bare knuckle boxing or drinking on the street,” she said.

Superintendent Brendan McDonagh urged members of the public to contact the Gardaí in such instances. “Anytime we have people to spare we do have people on the streets. We don’t always have the people but when we do we put them on the beat. There is not much point in people giving out unless they ring us, there is no point ringing councillors and not us. If more people come on stream, we will have more people to deploy”.

Cllr Pat Daly (FF) flagged that anti-social behaviour remains a problem at the Daniel O’Connell monument. “Tourists visited a restaurant on Abbey St and had to be escorted home because they were afraid to leave after their meal”. On his way home from the Clare SHC final, Daly came across three people drinking at the monument.

“It is the same three or four guys at the O’Connell Monument,” Supt McDonagh confirmed. “The clergy in their wisdom moved them on and unfortunately it has moved to the monument. This is an addiction and a social problem”.

THURSDAY, OCT 24 2019

Dooley asked to step down from Front Bench PÁRAIC McMAHON

C

paraic@clareecho.ie

LARE TD, Timmy Dooley has been temporarily suspended from his position on the Fianna Fáil front bench.

Deputy Dooley and Niall Collins, a TD for Limerick have been asked by party leader Micheál Martin to stand down from their respective roles as Spokesperson for Communications, Climate Action and the Environment with Collins responsible for Foreign Affairs and Trade. It emerged this week that Dooley voted six times despite not being in the chamber of Dáil Éireann with Collins voting on his behalf.

The Limerick TD admitted to vot-

FOR REACTION SEE P43

ing on Dooley’s behalf and without his prior consent.

“It’s not commonplace, but often someone might be taking a phone call or somebody might be having a conversation at the other side of the chamber and you might say to somebody ‘press the button’, or they might be sitting in the wrong seat.”

Following a report in The Irish Independent, Ceann Comhairle Seán Ó Fearghaíl ordered an investigation with Minister for Justice Charlie Flanagan urging the Ceann Comhairle to “act swiftly and decisively to protect the integrity of the parliamentary voting system”.

In a statement earlier this week, Dooley outlined, “I understand from Niall Collins, that under the mistaken belief that I was at the back of the chamber on the phone, he pressed my voting button. I have spoken to the Ceann Comhairle today, to explain what happened and apologise for the misunderstanding”.

On Sunday, Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin said he requested both Tds to step down from their front bench roles.

“I don’t think it’s acceptable. I

think I agree with the Ceann Comhairle that the integrity of the voting situation in Dáil Éireann is of the utmost importance be protected and must be respected at all times.

I spoke the both deputies this morning and I asked them without prejudice and pending the outcome of the report that the Ceann Comhairle has initiated into this, that they would step down from the Fianna Fail bench, and they both agreed.

“And I think that underlines the s er iousness with which I take this issue. I think it’s importa n t that the C e a n n Comhairle inquiry now gets underway.”

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6 NEWS

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THURSDAY, OCT 24 2019

ShannonDoc turning people off West Clare PÁRAIC McMAHON paraic@clareecho.ie

F

lBIN YOUR GUM: The annual nationwide Bin It! campaign continues with visits to schools across the country in a bid to educate and raise awareness of issues surrounding litter and correct litter disposal amongst students. The campaign arrived in Clare this week with a visit to St Josephs Secondary School in Tulla. The workshop incorporates a theatre-in-education session which encourages students to dispose of gum litter, and litter more generally, in a responsible manner.

AMILIES have been put off moving to West Clare because of the shortage in availability of health services, a Kilrush councillor has claimed.

Working scheme permits for non EU doctors working in Ireland were highlighted by Cllr Shane Talty (FF) during a recent meeting of Clare County Council.

He called on Minister for Justice Charlie Flanagan to review the terms of the permits issued by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service.

Twice in August, Shannondoc’s redeye shift was not in operation due to “an unprecedented shortage of locum GPs” largely caused by the full impact nationwide of the Atypical Working Scheme permit rules. Subsequently, West and North Clare was left without emergency medical cover at night.

“We’re looking outside the EU to cover the red-eye shift,” Cllr Talty commented as he referred to the “number of nights when we weren’t served by the Shannondoc”.

He added, “Trying to manage this service is next to impossible when doctors

have to go through this. The scheme is vital to communities”.

A qualified barrister, Cllr Clare Colleran Molloy (FF) recalled a case when she was representing a doctor affected by the permit, the medical professional had been “coming and going” to and from Ireland until “Revenue cracked down”. “We are running out of doctors, they are retiring at such a high rate. We are projected to have one million more people by 2040 and an extra two million by 2050,” she warned.

“It’s one of several spokes to the out of hours service or lack of service,” Cllr Ian Lynch (IND) remarked.

“A lot of stuff was removed from West Clare, we can’t get doctors or locums because of this. Now a lot of doctors are using ShannonDoc as a get out clause, the doctors’ conditions aren’t right. The current set up of Shannondoc is not fit for purpose, Loop Head people can’t go to Miltown. The issue with GPs is very concerning where people aren’t taking up the posts”.

“We saw Dr Harty being elected to the Dáil on this topic, it still hasn’t been sorted”. He continued, “Part of our remit is rural directorate, I have had three people onto me with an interest in moving back to West Clare but they pulled out when they found out about our health services”.

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8 NEWS

McKee bows out of election SINN Féin’s only sitting councillor in Clare will not be contesting the next General Election.

“Health reasons” have prompted Cllr Mike McKee to announce he will not be seeking a party nomination.

The Shannon resident had been considered by Sinn Féin as a very strong contender for the next General Election given his increase of 267 first preference votes in the local elections held in May. Both McKee and Noeleen Moran were previously selected as General Election candidates for the party but both have been de-selected automatically “as the time period had lapsed” since they were selected, Sinn Féin PRO Peter Flannigan explained.

Violet-Anne Wynne has expressed an interest in seeking a party nomination. The Dublin native who lives in Kilrush lost out in the local elections earlier this year.

Moran confirmed she had been de-selected as per the standard process. However it was only when contacted by The Clare Echo that she was made aware Violet-Anne was putting her hand up for selection.

Noeleen has yet to outline if she will be putting her name forward to Sinn Féin’s general election convention.

THURSDAY, OCT 24 2019

Ifunaya continues the fight against poverty PÁRAIC McMAHON

A

paraic@clareecho.ie

NIGERIAN born Ennis campaigner has reminded Ireland’s MEPs to maintain their promise of fighting poverty.

Ifunaya Nwaudoh is the Clare Youth Ambassador with ONE, a global movement campaigning to end extreme poverty and preventable disease by 2030, so that everyone, everywhere can lead a life of dignity and opportunity.

Before the European elections in May, she canvassed Irish candidates to ensure the European Union upheld its promise to fight extreme poverty. Co-founded by Bono, ONE has to date secured €33.2bn for “historic health initiatives” including the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria, and Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance.

Twenty four year old Ifunaya has lived in Ennis since the end of last summer. Her first awareness of ONE came during the Nigerian Presidential Election.

“For a very long time, we had really old Presidents, with age comes experience and wisdom we know that but we just wanted change so One started this campaign ‘vote for the future’ to put our voice out there and be involved to let the candidates recognise that what we need should also be considered”.

“We’ve done a lot of work in countries like Ghana, Senegal, I won’t say we had one big achievement, there is one of many because it’s a fight against poverty and advocating for health. What we do in the more developed countries is trying through them to help the others. So many people have different problems and we can never stop helping”.

She graduated from Babcock University with a degree in international diplomacy. From there,

Ifunaya pursued a masters at the University of Limerick in peace and development studies.

“I didn’t initially plan to come to Ireland, somehow I found myself here and there was an opportunity to become an ambassador, I may not be back at home but I still can make a difference”.

Her sister, Nkeiruka is a psychiatry registrar with the HSE in Ennis. The youngest of five children, Ifunaya has developed a fondness for Co Clare.

“I love Ireland.

I didn’t think I was going to at f irst.

I don’t like t h e cold a n d was put-

ting me off when I applied. It is cold but it just felt really different, it took a while to adjust.

There is something the cold does to your skin”.

As a young child, it was the afternoons after Sunday service giving out old clothes belonging to the Nwaudhohs to families less well off or foodstuff that sparked influenced Ifunaya’s career path of wanting to give back.

“We were low middle class, I knew what it felt like not being able to go to school some days, sometimes my parents would say ‘you’re not going to school today’, I obviously knew why but I couldn’t do anything about it. I saw how my parents struggled, they really wanted to do their best and make sure I could get to do what I wanted.

The aim for Ifunaya is to use her education to help others, “The whole point of following my education was to improve, my knowledge, my skills and to be able to continue with a career”.

THURSDAY, OCT 24 2019

Chief Supt keen to remain at post

C

LARE'S latest Chief Superintendent is keen to stay in charge of the Division as it merges with Tipperary in 2020.

Galway native Sean Colleran became the county's third Chief Supt in the space of six months when he was named as Michael Gubbins' successor in June. New Quay native, John Kerins retired from the post at the beginning of the year.

Attending his first meeting of the Clare Joint Policing Committee since taking office, Colleran told members he would like to remain in the role ahead of the planned merger of the Garda Division with Tipperary. "As the third Chief Superintendent here in six months, I'm sure it's very unusual. My plan is to stay here. In the short period I've been here, I've been blown away by the relationship between An Garda Síochána and the public". A decision on who will lead the new Division has not been made as of yet by the Commissioner.

Senator Martin Conway said it was fit-

ting Colleran's first meeting as Chief Supt was held in Ballyvaughan with the home of John Kerin close by. Regarding Ennis being chosen as the headquarters for the Clare and Tipperary Division, the Fine Gael representative detailed a meeting he held with Commissioner Drew Harris in September.

"I painted it that we were the home of an international airport and Ireland's second biggest tourism attraction. I commend the work done on the ground by An Garda Síochána. Logic prevailed and the right decision was made".

"A lot of work was done behind the scenes but the decision was made by the Commissioner. It reflects very positively for Clare as a county and a strategic location.

I'm delighted Ennis has been chosen as the headquarters but if we were Tipperary we'd be saying something completely different.

It will not reduce services in Tipperary, it should be said. This is about streamlining the administration practices and it will result in more Gardaí being freed up" Colleran replied.

AN INNOVATIVE new course aimed at preparing individuals to work in the maritime industry held its certification ceremony in Kilrush Marina last Friday. Run by the Further Education and Training Division of LCETB, the Kilrush Maritime Course was operated as a pilot project one day a week over the past year and was offered free through the ETB’s Active Inclusion Support Service to people with an interest in starting a career in the marine sector. Clare native, Captain Sinéad Reen of the National Maritime College, and Ireland’s first female master mariner, was the guest speaker and presented certificates to the graduates. It was also attended by Minister of State Pat Breen and Brian McCarthy, Senior Planner, Clare County Council.

Designed to provide learners with the essential accreditation and skills required to gain employment within the growing maritime sector around the Shannon Estuary, the course was designed and delivered by ETB tutor Diarmuid Whelan who has extensive experience in the maritime sector.

He said: “Learners developed the solid maritime foundation required to work on passenger vessels, work-boats and fishing vessels, as well as gaining the certification required by the HSA and the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine.”

Modules delivered included: traditional boat-building, safety at sea, diesel engine maintenance, navigation mathematics, rope-work/splicing, boat handling and VHF radio operations. On completion of the course, learners achieved extensive certification including: ISA Coastal Navigation Cert, ISA National Powerboat Cert, ISA Safety Boat Cert, SOLAS Safe Pass, BIM Sea Survival Cert and the Marine Radio SRC licence, as well as a strong foundation in practical boat work.

A second iteration of the course will start at the end of October. It will be offered free to those who are employed and want to upskill. There are a limited number of places remaining.

For more info call Kala on 065 905 2131, or email kala.moloney@lcetb.ie.

Maritime Course launches careers

l ALL ABOARD: Diarmuid Whelan - Course Tutor, Niamh McGinley, Capt Sinead Reen - Nat Maritime College Ireland and Pearse Hannon pictured at the LCETB Launch of the Maritime Course Showcase at Kilrush Marina

Photo by Brian Arthur

NEWS 11

12 NEWS

THURSDAY, OCT 24 2019

Ennistymon project to boost literacy CIAN O’BROIN

cian@clareecho.ie

ENNISTYMON Vocational School have teamed up with Clare County Library to launch an exclusive project, ‘One Book One Community’, which looks to promote reading for pleasure and enhance literacy amongst young people.

Lead Co-ordinator Halimah Heaslip drew inspiration from the National Well-Read Award in setting up the project, looking to bolster to an already firmly established reading culture within the school. She expressed a strong desire to launch a community outreach project for years, feeling that a love of reading and community provided the perfect platform to do so.

“It’s a community initiative, it’s a coming together and getting to know one another. Talking about something they have in common with one another and building bridges as well as hav-

ing the craic.

The library and ourselves were represented at the launch.

Some of our students gave presentations about the book itself.

We invited the local primary schools, members of the parent’s council, book clubs, different bookshops as well as some of our sponsors.”

The One Book One Community project runs until November 22 and focuses on R.L Palacio’s novel Wonder. Despite its absence from the curriculum, Halimah urges those in Junior Cycle to pick up a copy of the book, defining it as a sublime piece that touches on some very real issues in society.

“It deals with a lot of relevant themes for the Junior Cycle such as friendship, kindness, bullying and international diversity. It’s written in such a lovely way from the perspective of many different characters. It’s an excellent book for building empathy and it’s very relatable.”

The book is available to rent from the county library, cafés within the community and Supervalu in Ennistymon.

Ennis radiology best in Ireland

E

NNIS General Hospital’s radiology department has been found to be the best in Ireland, writes Paraic McMahon.

Following a public vote, the radiology department of Ennis Hospital has been honoured as the

Medray/IIRRT Diagnostic Imaging Department of the Year 2019.

The awards also honour individuals and departments that go the extra mile to offer comfort and exceptional services to patients.

First opened in the 1950s Ennis’ Radiology Department is one of the

lULTRA SOUND: (from left): Beatrice Kerins (Radiographer); Siobhan Tuttle (Clerical); Shauna Moylan (Radiographer); Helen Finucane (Radiography Services Manager); Mairead Rouine; and Lydia Chaila (Radiographer)

hospital’s longest established services, it provides general X-Ray in addition to CT and ultrasound scanning. Six radiographers are staffed in the department and are supported by nursing and administrative staff.

It is another award for Ennis which also gave a winning performance in the National Patient Experience Survey for 2018 going into 2019.

Operational Director of Nursing at Ennis Hospital, Patricia O’Gorman believed the award was “a wonderful acknowledgement”.

She said: “This is very much a local hospital, and we go on the premise that when you look after staff, they will look after the patients.

“The Radiology Department is a particularly stand-out example of staff truly going the extra mile with their patients...It is a wonderful acknowledgement that our radiology department has been found to be the best in the country, and certainly a very welcome honour. Coming on the back of the NPES achievement, it very much confirms that our hospital is leading nationally with excellence in patient care,” she added.

Painting Ennis Town Centre Purple!

E

NNIS, the first town in Ireland to achieve Purple Flag designation, has successfully retained the prestigious Purple Flag status.

This follows a rigorous overnight assessment by the UK governing body, the Association of Town and City Management (ATCM), which took place in August.

The award is in recognition of the towns’ thriving evening and night-time economy. Purple Flag – similar to the Blue Flag for beaches – is an international award to raise the standards and broaden the appeal of town and city centres from early evening

until late (5pm to 5am).

Purple Flag accreditation is the result of an in-depth year-round process, with a biannual assessment by trained international assessors. Run by the ATCM, Purple Flag is regarded as the benchmark for good night time destinations in the UK and Ireland.

Areas awarded with a Purple Flag are recognised for providing a diverse and vibrant mix of dining, entertainment and culture while promoting the safety and well-being of visitors and local residents. Or, to put it more simply, Purple Flag status indicates that Ennis is a good and safe place to go for

a good night out!

Not just for pubs and clubs but for a wide range of activities including arts and culture, leisure, eating out and events.

It’s not difficult to see why Ennis town centre tick all the boxes with a growing number of restaurants, cafes and attractions, plus major cultural events at glór and other venues, attracting visitors and residents of all ages.

A number of local agencies, led by Ennis Chamber, including members of Ennis Garda Station, Ennis Municipal District (both elected members and staff), Civil Defence,

Active Ennis, Taxi organisations, Queens Night Club, glór plus other representatives from the business, community and voluntary sector sit on the Ennis Purple Flag working group. Chaired by Cllr. Johnny Flynn, Mayor of Ennis, with Margaret O’Brien, CEO Ennis Chamber as Purple Flag Coordinator, this working group meets throughout the year with the aim to ensure the town continues to provide great entertainment, exceptional hospitality and a safe night out for visitors.

For further information about the coveted award, visit www.atcm.org/purple-flag.

Considine appointed Shannon Group CEO

T

HE Board of the Shannon Group plc has today announced the appointment of Mary Considine as the company’s new Chief Executive.

With over 25 years’ experience in industry, Mary is currently the Deputy CEO and CFO for the Group and has been Acting CEO since June 2019.

Rose Hynes, Chairman of Shannon Group, said: “I am delighted to announce Mary’s appointment as the new CEO of Shannon Group plc. She brings to the role a deep knowledge of the aviation industry and significant experience across the diverse sectors within which the Group operates.

Given her extensive experience, Mary is well positioned to address the current challenges we face, and to seek and develop new opportunities as she leads the Group into the next phase of our development.

“Since 2014, Shannon Group has been on a transformative journey not only for the organisation but also for the region. I am

pleased to say that we have made real progress.

“Over the last five years, Shannon Group has improved its profitability and sustainability. During that period, the Group has proved to be a catalyst for growth for the region, supporting over 46,500 jobs annually, generating an economic impact of €3.6 billion per year, and contributing €1.1 billion to the Exchequer.

“Mary has played a vital role in that journey to date, driving our first phase of growth, and I am confident that as she takes up her new role, she will successfully spearhead the delivery of the next phase of growth for the Group and the region. I congratulate her and wish her every success.”

Commenting on her appointment Mary Considine said: “I am privileged to lead Shannon Group as we enter the next phase of our development. The Group is uniquely placed to act as a catalyst for further economic growth through our mix of business activities. The Group’s strategic plan, 2019-

2023, positions us for further growth over the next five years which will bring substantial benefits to the local, regional and national economy,” Welcoming the appointment, Shane Ross TD, Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport said: “Ms Considine will bring experience, passion and energy to the role of CEO at an important time for the Company.

As deputy CEO Mary has played a major part in the many achievements of Shannon Group since its establishment in 2014.

“Passenger numbers at the Airport have increased by a very impressive 34%, since its separation from DAA back in 2012; over 650,000 sq ft of new or upgraded office, manufacturing and warehouse facilities has been delivered in the Shannon Free Zone; visitor numbers at the Group’s heritage sites have doubled, and the cluster of aviation companies at Shannon has grown to 80.

Mary, who is a native of Lissycasey, takes up the position of CEO with immediate effect.

lTOP JOB: Shannon Group’s new CEO Mary Considine

Shannon Airport bring magic to life for Aine SHARE a Dream have been making dreams come true for hundreds of children all over Ireland fighting terrible life threatening illnesses and today was no different, when brave 12 year old Aine Ryan from Raheen, Limerick, got a dream come true to visit the Harry Potter Experience in London.

lUP UP AND AWAY: Pictured on the flight deck of the Airbus A320 at Shannon Airport are Aine Ryan and Captain Thomas Regan

Photo by Arthur Ellis

“Each time we are heartbroken reading the letters and trying to imagine what life must be like for the child and parents when given awful news,” said Shay Kinsella Founder of Share a Dream.

On Monday Aine and Mum arrived with a Garda Escort to Shannon Airport where they received a VIP welcome fit for a Queen from the Airport management and staff. To help create a magic atmosphere, there to meet them was an airport staff member dressed in a Harry Potter costume, and two Shannon Castle Entertainers dressed in their medieval costumes who presented Aine with an annual family pass to Shannon Heritage’s Bunratty Castle and Folk Park attraction.

“Shay Kinsella, Ciara Brolly and all the team at Share a Dream do such amazing work bringing happiness to sick children and their families when they most need it. We were delighted to come on board to give Aine and her mum the VIP treatment at Shannon Airport and we hope that we added to their special trip,” said Andrew Murphy, Managing Director, Shannon Airport.

The VIPs were escorted to the Shannon Duty Free where they were presented with a gift.

From there they were escorted to the Presidential Suite for some pampering where they enjoyed specially designed Harry Potter cupcakes.

There was another treat in store for Aine when she was escorted aboard the Aer Lingus plane for a chat with the captain of the plane and a VIP tour of the cockpit, before taking her seat to London Heathrow.

On arrival at Heathrow Aine and her mum will be chauffeured to her fabulous hotel where she will be wined and dined for two nights. On Tuesday they will be chauffeured once again to the Harry Potter experience where she will be treated like a VIP. “For amazing young children like Aine fighting terrible life threatening illnesses we will move heaven and earth to make their fondest dream come true and give them and their family a memory they will never forget, ” said Shay Kinsella.

We would like to thank everyone who have helped make this special dream a reality for Aine; Shannon Airport, The Holiday Inn, An Garda Siochana, UBER and Shannon Heritage.

NEWS 15

THURSDAY, OCT 24 2019

Shannon Airport announces first direct Vienna service STUART HOLLY

L

editor@clareecho.ie

LAUDA, the low-cost Austrian airline, has announced a new service from Shannon Airport to Vienna which will begin next year.

The announcement will see the first scheduled Vienna service ever at Shannon and the first time that Lauda will have operated at Shannon. Flights will run twice weekly from the end of March 2020 on Wednesdays and Saturdays.

“This is very positive news for Shannon as not alone do we get a scheduled service to one of Europe’s most visited cities and a strong inbound market for tourists to Ireland, but we are also getting a new carrier on the runway here as well. We have been working closely with Lauda and their parent Ryanair, to deliver this service and are looking forward to the airline commencing operation in the New Year,” said Andrew Murphy, Managing Director, Shannon Airport.

“This will be the first summer service connecting Austrian holidaymakers directly to

the Wild Atlantic Way, and as such provides an opportunity to attract more visitors to this breathtakingly beautiful part of Ireland,” he said.

Lauda’s CEO, Andreas Gruber said: “Lauda is pleased to launch a new Shannon route to Vienna, commencing in March, which will operate twice weekly as part of our summer 2020 schedule. Customers in Shannon can now book flights to Vienna as far out as October 2020 flying on the lowest fares and with the greenest/cleanest airline group in Europe, with the lowest CO2 emissions.”

Commenting on the significance of the new service for Shannon, Mr. Murphy said: “The decision by Lauda is a vote of confidence in the region by the airline and will deepen Shannon’s impact on tourism in the region. We are delighted to have Vienna on our summer schedule for 2020, a service that will boost business for our tourism industry along the Wild Atlantic Way. We look forward to working closely with Lauda to make the new service a success.”

The new Shannon service has been secured with the assistance of Tourism Ireland and the increased route development fund

ENTRY PACKS AVAILABLE FOR CLARE'S FITTEST SUPERSTARS

ENTRY packs for Clare's Fittest Superstars team challenge are now available to pick up from The Clare Echo offices.

Brought to you by the creators of Ireland's Fittest Family, Clare's Fittest Superstars challenges teams of four to take on Davy Fitzgerald's toughest obstacle course yet on December 8 at the Showgrounds in Ennis.

Entry packs include details on what's entailed in the course and sposorship cards for participants, who are required to raise €250 each to take on the course. All money raised will go towards Sláinte An Chláir which offers essential cancer support services to people from across the county.

Further details of the event have also been announced, with the event being streamed into two categories; the first category will see teams compete for Clare's Fittest Superstars Mixed Team Champions. Teams in this category will consist of both male and female competitors spread across four different age categories (details in the entry pack). There will also be an 'Open team champions' category, which will allow a any mixture of age and sex compete on teams together.

To collect an entry pack, call into The Clare Echo offices at O'Connell Square (above Sherry Fitzgerald), or call the Fittest Superstars team on 083 363 3244.

l BREAKING THE NEWS: Brendan Griffin, Minister of State; Andrew Murphy, Managing Director Shannon Airport and Pat Breen, Minister of State for Trade Photo by Arthur Ellis

for regional airports announced in Budget 2020 is a significant factor.

Said Shannon Group CEO, Mary Considine; “Shannon Group is an important driver of economic activity, and integral to that is providing airline services to the

region. Securing this so soon after the announcement of the Budget 2020 increased Tourism Ireland route develop fund shows what can be achieved through this type of partnership and we thank Tourism Ireland for its continued support.”

16 NEWS

THURSDAY, OCT 24 2019

'Solidarity' with Molex employees SHANNON is standing “in solidarity” with Molex employees who on Tuesday were given the devastating news that the factory is to close next year with 500 jobs to go as a result.

Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation, Heather Humphreys chaired a meeting in Shannon on Wednesday morning with representatives from enterprise agencies, the Regional Enterprise Plan Committee, Shannon Chamber and Clare County Council. Clare TDs, Pat Breen (FG) who is Minister of State for Employment and Dep Timmy Dooley (FF) were present at the meeting.

Ms Humphreys said their discussions were on “how we can help the workers transition and find a new investor for the site”.

Fr. Arnold Rosney, Shannon parish priest expressed his shock “at the terrible and devastating news” regarding the job losses. “We express our solidarity with all the employees and their families. It’s not just a devastating blow to our community and surrounding parishes, but also for all families affected.

Molex has been a great friend to Shannon for many years and the news is tragic. We as a parish urge and demand government agencies, elected politicians who are elected to represent us, and all stakeholders to start putting our parish on the investment frontline with replacement industries."

'Just a sad day' in Shannon PÁRAIC McMAHON

T

paraic@clareecho.ie

UESDAY’S announcement that 500 jobs were to be lost in Clare has been described as catastrophic and traumatic, the latest industry setback has prompted elected representatives to call for the establishment of a taskforce.

On Tuesday, Molex announced it would be closing its Shannon factory in 2020 resulting in the loss of 500 jobs. It follows the ordered liquidation of Avara close by in the Shannon Free Zone where 110 employees are set to be made redundant, over 100 jobs are also being cut at Moneypoint, while since 2016 120 workers have been laid off

by Roche as no potential buyer of the site could be found.

Molex opened in the Shannon Free Zone in 1971 and has been ever present in the county since. Joe Burke is believed to be the company’s longest-serving employee in the world having worked for Molex over the past 46 years, “It’s a sad day, it is a good company, it’s just a sad day”, he said leaving the Shannon factory on Tuesday. Other employees have also experienced

l JOB LOSSES: Molex will see the loss of 500 jobs by next year

such devastation before having been part of the 1,900 let go by Dell in Limerick ten years ago.

Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation, Heather Humphreys received a phonecall from the Molex CEO, Martin P. Slark on Monday evening to inform her of the announcement and he told the Minister the decision was “irreversible”.

The Minister held meetings alongside Minister of State for Employment, Pat Breen in Shannon on Wednesday.

IDA Ireland Executive Director, Mary Buckley told The Clare Echo, “Over the years, we have worked with the company to secure continued investment. Un-

fortunately, the outcome of a global strategic review by the parent company has led to the announcement of the Shannon operation closure in 2020.” She confirmed they would continue to work with the company to market the Shannon site to potential investors.

“Securing investment for Clare and the Midwest region is a continuing priority for IDA Ireland”.

Shannon Chamber President, Helen Downes lamented “a very sad day” for the region. She described Molex as “an exemplary company”. “While we hear the term full employment used so frequently now, this will mean nothing to the people who have been told they are to lose their jobs. As

a Chamber we will most certainly be linking with Molex to assess opportunities for the tremendous skill sets that staff have amassed, and which we have witnessed first-hand in the Chamber, and will assist in any way we can to assess opportunities for these employees to gain new employment.”

Joe Carey TD (FG) confirmed he was making representations to colleagues in the Departments of Business, Enterprise and Social Protection along with the IDA. "There may also be a case for support from the EU in that the initial indications are that the fallout from the trade war between the US and China was a critical factor in the decision to close the Shannon facility.

Dr. Michael Harty TD (IND) described it as a “traumatic” and “catastrophic” day. "I would call for the immediate setting up of a high powered task force including Enterprise Ireland, IDA, Dept. of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation and Shannon Group to seek a buyer for the plant or seek a replacement industry. The loss of 500 jobs at Molex when added to the loss of jobs at Roche Pharmaceuticals, Moneypoint power station and potentially Avara in Shannon is a huge loss of well paid employment in the Mid West and is a seriously worrying development”.

Ennis Showgrounds, Ennis, Co. Clare

Tickets €26.50 | Tel 028 8225 2800 | Web ajspromotions.com

€75k HAS ENNIS GOLF CLUB MOTORING CIAN O’BROIN

cian@clareecho.ie

ACTING Club Manager at Ennis Golf Club Gerry Hannon has revealed the club has availed of a €75,000 grant to purchase two new mowers.

Speaking about the importance of sports capital funding, the knock-on effect of the Irish Open and future plans for the club, Gerry said that the club recently availed of a grant from the National lottery.

“We applied last year for a sports capital grant and were approved then

in April," he told The Clare Echo. "The money was used to buy two new mowers for the course, a rotary mower for the rough and a greens mower. We would have great difficulty in funding the mowers without the grant.

The amount we received equates to about thirty-five new members at the club.”

Despite the necessity of financial assistance, golf in Clare has seen a spike in interest in the aftermath of the Irish Open in Lahinch in June. The ripple effect has spread to Ennis and the surrounding area, with Gerry admitting, “the Irish

Open and Shane Lowry’s win in Portrush has done wonders for golf in the West of Ireland for sure.

We’ve felt that through the signing up of fifty-two new members since July.”

Gerry hopes to see a similar trend going forward in terms of further investment in the club both through funding and a rise in membership. He feels the club has ambition which can be seen in the blueprints of a five-year plan, “the plan looks at the next five years and includes further improvements both to the clubhouse and to the course as well.”

3 PAIRS OF TICKETS TO BE WON!

We’ve teamed up with Jamboree Oktoberfest to offer three lucky people the chance to WIN a pair of tickets for the biggest ever Jamboree Oktoberfest!

to be in with a chance of winning a pair of tickets: Clare Echo, name the headline act of this years The O'Connell Square House, jamboree oktoberfest Ennis, Co Clare T&Cs apply.

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CLOSING DATE: 10AM, WEDNESDAY 30TH OCTOBER 2019

PHOTOCOPIES WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED

NEWS 17

THURSDAY, OCT 24 2019

Burren chefs and food producers serve up treat STUART HOLLY

W

editor@clareecho.ie

HAT do chefs cook when they have friends and family around for dinner?

Aw ard - w i n n i ng author Trevis L. Gleason asked just that of the renowned chefs and artisan food producers of one of Ireland’s most famous foodie destinations, The Burren. Influenced by their rugged surroundings, local ingredients and generations-old passion for communal dining, the leading voices in the Burren food scene share recipes for their most treasured meals.

From everyday favourites like smoked haddock and potato chowder, farmhouse lamb and barley stew and Doolin bog pie to special-occasion dishes like roast Glencarn suckling pig with herb and apple pan sauce, Folk Festival jambalaya and Irish whiskey and sherry trifle, these creative, passionate and hard-working lovers of food offer us a small taste of this uniquely beautiful and intriguing place.

Trevis L. Gleason is an awardwinning chef, writer, culinarian, consultant and instructor, diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 2001. His memoir, Chef Interrupted, won the

Prestige Award of the International Jury at the Gourmand International World Cookbook Awards, and Dingle Dinners represented Ireland in

the 2018 World Cookbook Awards.

Gleason is an ambassador of the Blas na hÉireann Irish Food Awards, a senior judge and panel chair of the Irish Quality Food Awards, judge of the Irish Hotel Awards and senior judge for the Yes Chef Magazine Awards.

Celebrity chef Neven Maguire writes the foreword, commenting, ‘This wonderful book … tells you more about the food and people of the Burren than I ever could. These recipes feature the interest in food, the landscape, the fine local produce and the seasonality of this wonderful part of the world…

"There are so many quality, passionate producers and chefs in the Burren who work their magic! I always enjoy eating food from the local chefs, where the use of wild berries, seafood and meats of the area is influenced by the changing seasons. These are chefs who understand how special the place and its produce is…The Burren has it all."

Burren Dinners will be officially launched at the Burren Food Fayre 2019 in Lisdoonvarna this weekend as an off shoot of the Burren Winterage Weekend.

Transition fund set for Moneypoint

A JUST transition fund for Moneypoint has been promised by An Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar with details to be confirmed at “a later date”, writes Páraic McMahon.

On the same day, it was announced that up to 500 jobs were to be lost with the phased closure of Moneypoint, Varadkar confirmed to Dr. Michael Harty in the Dáil that a fund would be established to set workers losing their jobs in Moneypoint.

Referring to the 2020 Budget and the proposal to set up a just transition fund of €6m “to help communities to move away from high carbon sources of energy to low sources,” the Independent TD requested it be applied to Clare. “The fund is to be used to mitigate the significant affects on workers and local communities as the transition happens. However, it is to be confined to peat burning stations in the midlands and will not apply to the Moneypoint plant in West Clare. Will the Taoiseach and the Government consider extending the just transition fund to the Moneypoint plant and surrounding communities and workers who will also experience the economic shock as we move to low carbon energy production”.

Varadkar confirmed a just transition fund would be required for Co Clare. “It is intended, by the middle of the decade, to close the Moneypoint plant and remove coal from the grid when it comes to electricity generation. The sum of €6 million announced in the budget is for the Midlands, more specifically, the peatlands, including places such as counties Kildare and Longford. It is part of our response to the fact that peat that is being phased out in electricity generation.

“We will need a separate but just transition response for the Moneypoint plant. The ESB is able to redeploy staff, but there will be a loss of income in that part of Co Clare, thus we will need a just transition fund for there."

He said the funding will be announced "at a later date”.

Entertainment

Small Town Decline: Rural Patterns of Decay on display

G

LÓR is delighted to present a mixed media exhibition featuring the work of both established and emerging artists. glór launched its open call exhibition asking artists nationally to respond to the theme of Small Town Decline: Rural Patterns of Decay.

The work was selected by an independent panel of Curators and includes print, drawing, sculpture, ceramics and textiles as well as photography and painting and showcases the diverse range of work being made both locally and nationally.

Featured artists include Eoin Mac Lochlainn; Conor O’Grady; Brian Gallagher; Lucy Peters; Joanna Hopkins; Suella Holland; Catherine Delaney; Miranda Blennerhassett; Sophie Kate Curran; Rajinder Singh; Hilary Morley; Anne Kiely; Stephen Doyle; Ana Colomer; Caitriona Moloney; Christopher Banahan; Evelyn Sorohan Daly; Rita Scott;

Christine Mackey and Verona Stellet.

The exhibition will be opened by Conor McGrady, Dean of Academic Affairs at the Burren College of Art on Friday 18th October at 6.30pm. glór is home to a wonderful gallery space that presents high quality exhibitions in a county where visual art is alive and thriving. glór’s policy is to present work in context and to exploit thematic or artistic links between our visual and performance artists.

Work from emerging artists features along with that of more established artists, with a focus on artists whose work reflects the unique landscape and culture of Clare.

The exhibition is open now and runs until January 11 2020. For further information please see www.Glor.Ie or contact glór at 065 6845 370.

l LOCAL TALENT: (top to bottom) Nothing Left (diptych) by Ana Colomer; Still image from The Myth of Progress by Caitriona Moloney; Let there be Light by Evelyn Sorohan Daly; Back of the Shops, Kilrush by Rita Scott. These works feature in the Small Town Decline: Rural Patterns of Decay exhibition currently on display at glór

ENTERTAINMENT 19

THURSDAY, OCT 24 2019

If Only returns before hitting New York STUART HOLLY

editor@clareecho.ie

S

ET in a small town in the West, If Only is a throwback to the showband era which juxtaposes modern-day Ireland with nostalgic bygone times.

Produced by Shake Productions in association with Wild Swan Theatre Company, If Only tells the story of Jack McMahon, a college graduate who is forced to return home to run the family business.

“We were looking for a play to do for the winter and we couldn’t find one to suit all the characters we had

at the time. I was in the pub one day with Shane and he said, ‘do you know what, we should write one to suit the cast’ so we said we’d kick around a few ideas.”

Stories from the classic ballroom in Gort from “back in the day” began to emerge as they chatted in the pub that day, which the pair agreed would be a perfect fit for what they were trying to achieve. “So we started getting these characters, there were so many of them and we decided to make them part of an old show band and as we were writing them, the characters started developing.”

Set over a three-day time period, Jack presides over the bar as locals and visitors arrive in for an unplanned reunion. Co-writer of the play, Kevin Glynn tells The Clare Echo, "The business was a rural pub which sold everything from a needle to an anchor. Of course Jack

Painting to be auctioned to support birds of prey THE BURREN and Cliffs of Moher UNESCO Global Geopark engaged seven local artists to visit popular tourism centres across the Burren as ‘Artists in Residence’.

“It was great to be part of this initiative that has bought new links between the artist community and businesses in the Burren and Cliffs of Moher UNESCO

Global Geopark,” said gallery owner and artist Sara Foust.

Burren based artist Kaye Maahs who visited Aillwee Cave Birds of Prey Centre was very taken with her experience there and the conservation work they do.

Kaye has donated a painting in support of their raptor and vulture conservation efforts.

The exhibition will be opened by Hotelier, businessman and Elevate Foundation founder John Burke who will also launch a silent auction for the painting titled Night watcher (Jon Snow). The auction will run for the two weeks of the exhibition, (16-27 October).

For auction enquiries contact the Foust gallery at sarafoust@yahoo.com

l TAKING FLIGHT: John Burke, Kay Maahs, Artist and James Irons, Burren Birds of Prey Photo by Arthur Ellis

has no interest in the family business, all he wants to do is his music. All the guys in the band from 25 years ago meet at a funeral indirectly.

“It stirs up the old differences and regret of what happened back in the day and they speak lively about the showband era. What's key to this is the young fella is trying to bring them all together for music.

"Will they or won't they put the band back together for one night for the young fella, that's the crux of the story."

The thirteen member cast and crew have contributed to making this show including set, lighting, sound and of course the nine actors, three of whom hail from Clare including Peter Daffy, Bernie O'Shea and Maria Lockett (also a staff member at The Clare Echo).

Kevin also hints that the audience will be on their feet before the night is over, as they're invited to join in a dance – "we break the fourth wall of the theatre and use the audience as extras, we have a dance."

With the theatre group planning to bring the show to New York next April where the Irish community will be encouraged to attend, the group are focussing their energy on their Ennis and Galway dates this coming month.

"There's a great buzz. This started about three years ago and when we got together for this run, the enthusiasm and fun in rehearsals is still great. Everyone is enjoying themselves and it's evident, we'll keep doing it while we're enjoying it.

If Only will appear at glór Theatre on Saturday, November 9. For tickets contact glór box office.

l OLD TIMES: (L-R): Peter Daffy, Kevin Glynn, Bernie O’Shea, Maria Lockett, Helen Leech, Imelda Counihan, Niall Finnegan, Shane Counihan star in If Only

Community 20 COMMUNITY

NORTH CLARE CLARE SURNAMES TALK The North Clare Historical Society continues its current lecture series on Tuesday 29th October with a talk on Clare Surnames and Sources 'The Cult of Ancestral Searching' by Lorna Moloney.

This talk explores west of Ireland ancestry and focuses on Clare surnames and sources and especially the cult of ancestral searching.

Many online sources as well as traditional sources can be employed to reveal your familial ancestral legacies. How variants and family names have changed over the ages, protean surnames and hybridised names can all lead us in our fascinating journey in our ancestral past.

Lorna Moloney producer and presenter of 'The Genealogy Radio Show' will demonstrate by case studies how family surnames can help solve and find your family sources.

Lorna Moloney works at UCC and is part of the Adult Continuing Education department team working on educational course coordination and development of genealogy seminars. Outreach is the main focus of her objectives and she works on developing upskilling and reskilling initiatives. Lorna is a professional genealogist and a member of the Association of Professional Genealogists. She worked on the George Boole 200 genealogy project for UCC, The Aldworths of Newmarket Court in a county Cork film and genealogy project and is currently working on James E. Casey founder of UPS family lineages & O’Kief Coshe Mange Project. Lorna convenes international family history events focusing on family research, Irish roots, workshops and fieldtrips for those visiting Ireland on ancestral research and works on showing Ireland's hidden treasures connecting the roots of the past to the findings of ancestral legacies.

Lorna produces the successful show: 'The Genealogy Radio show' aired each Thursday at 4p.m. from beautiful Kilkee, Co. Clare at Radio Corcabaiscinn and Podcasts are available at http://www.clansandsurnames.com/the-genealogy-radio-show/. She is also the resident genealogist of Dromoland Castle in County Clare.

The talk will take place at the Courthouse Gallery, Ennistymon at 8pm.

All are welcome.

WEST CLARE OLD KILFARBOY SOCIETY Alf Monaghan will be returning to present the second lecture in the Old Kilfarboy Society Autumn -Winter 2019/2020 series-"Sacred Island-Before Christianity" tracing the origin and spread of Pre-Christian eastern religious beliefs to Ireland, and their impact here.

During the Neolithic and Bronze ages, the sea was a corridor for trade, communication, ideas and beliefs - easier, faster and more economical than overland routes. The seagoing Irish had cultural affinity and contact with communities along this long seaboard, resulting in shared maritime heritage, language and beliefs. This talk will trace the origin and spread of Pre-Christian eastern beliefs to Ireland and their impact here. In this context too, the influence of Egyptian Christianity on the early Irish Church, is easily understood.

Taking place on November 12th starting at 8PM at The Malbay, MIltown Malbay. Event admission is €5, new members are also welcome to join for the season.

WE’LL MEET AGAIN By special request, Crack’d Spoon Theatre Company presents We’ll Meet Again. Songs, personal memories and ballads from the two world wars. Vera Lynn, Flanagan & Allen, Dad’s Army, John McCormack among others. Final show taking place in glor, Ennis on Wednesday, November 13 2019. Admission costs €10. Tickets available at the door. Doors open from 7.30pm. Proceeds to West Clare Cancer Centre Support Centre and Slainte an Clar Cancer Support Centre.

ENNIS SCHOOL REUNION Coláiste Muire 35 year reunion. Saturday November 23rd 2019. If you attended the Colaiste between the years 1979 and 1984 and would like to get together with your former class mates please contact 085 1295844 or 086 2474006

THURSDAY, OCT 24 2019

CONTACT NEWSDESK

065 671 9021 news@clareecho.ie

WEST CLARE

l ALL SMILES: Maureen Hayward, Marion Kelly, Margaret Galvin, Yvonne Harrison, Fr.

Brendan Koyne pp and Ann McMahon at the Ballynacally Future Planning Group open day. The group was set up early in 2019 with the help of Clare Local Development company (CDLC). The group’s function was to serve as an umbrella group for all clubs and voluntary organisations in the greater Ballynacally area and to take on the roll of planning for Ballynacally’s future. A community survey was sent to all households to gain ideas and suggestions from all concerned and a Community Development plan was devised as a result. This plan will help in future planning and help groups to secure grant aid especially where CLDC is involved. This Plan was launched at the open day.

The open day also showcased the work of the 14 local groups who do so much in and around the village.

NORTH CLARE THE CHASER Can you beat The Chaser? Inagh Kilnamona Hurling Club are hosting this fun event at Treacy’s West County Hotel on Saturday, November 9, starting at 8pm. TIckets cost €20 or four for €60.

Tickets pre-purchase only. Call 087-2379699 for tickets. Six contestants will be picked at random from the audience to take on the Chaser for their chance to win €1500.

Community THURSDAY, OCT 24 2019

COMMUNITY 21 CONTACT NEWSDESK

065 671 9021 news@clareecho.ie

COUNTYWIDE

l SUMMER SUN: Clare Polio Survivors on a summer outing earlier this year. Today, Thursday October 24, marks World Polio Day and thousands of Rotary

clubs around the world will hold events and fundraisers to recognize progress in the global fight to end polio. Polio Survivors Ireland has branches across the country including Clare. The Rotary Club of Ennis is a small part of the huge End Polio Now drive of Rotary International. The Clare Group of Polio Survivors Ireland endeavour to meet 3 or 4 times a year at various events organised to suit participants. Our most popular is the annual Christmas lunch the first Saturday in December which is looked forward to with enthusiasm by members. Fortunately, few people qualify for membership in this Co. Clare group while nearly any adult can become a member of Rotary International and specifically the Ennis Rotary Club which is actively seeking new members to continue their many projects locally and internationally. If having fun while helping others suits you, contact current President, Michael Shepherd, at paroshep@gmail.com or see their Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/Clare-Rotary-367636557160350/. For information about supporting memberships in Polio Survivors Ireland contact them through their web site: https://polio.ie/

WEST CLARE EDUCATION Digital Skills for Farmers starting Monday evenings at Kilrush FET Centre 11th Nov - 16th Dec from 6.30pm-9.30pm. Includes up-skilling in farm record keeping, using email and internet, smartphones, farming apps. Contact LCETB Maire Dempsey 086 7807940 for more info

COUNTYWIDE MACRA CONFERENCE The October Bank Holiday weekend is fast approaching for Avondhu Macra as they put the finishing touches together for the Annual Macra Conference Celebrating 75 years of Macra na Féirme. The Avondhu Rally Committee have been working tirelessly since 2018 to ensure they leave no stone unturned to host a Rally to remember, the Co-Op Superstores 'Let's Avondhu It' Macra Rally.

Avondhu have put together a jam-packed weekend which begins on Friday October 25th. The first event of the day is in Corrin Marts Fermoy and is the Official Opening of the Conference followed by the National Conference. This starts at 1.30pm and will finish at approximately 5pm. The title of this year's conference is 'Disruption in Irish Agriculture – Thinking Smart.'

The conference is FREE to attend but booking is essential through www.macra.ie/macra-skillnet.

The first of the weekend's entertainment will take place following the quiz. On Saturday morning we'll be getting ready to leave the Radisson to go on our Farm Tours at 10.30am. Farm tours are €25 and should be booked through www.macra.ie/macra-skillnet. The fourth tour is to Midleton Distillery and departs at 11am, costing €30.

Saturday afternoon see's the Imagine Club of the Year and Best New Member competitions with the Red FM Roadshow at the Radisson from 3pm while Saturday night we will have the results of both Club of the Year and Best New Member. The final night of the Rally sees the Gala Banquet where we will celebrate 75 years of Macra with past Presidents! Weekend entertainment packs tickets are available for €30. These are available from www.macra.ie/skillnet. Further details can be found on the Clare Macra Facebook or Instagram.

COUNTYWIDE #WEARAHATDAY Irish charity Brain Tumour Ireland (BTI) are calling on the people of Clare to don their favourite hat in support of its annual fundraising campaign #WearAHatDay on Friday, 25th October 2019. The annual campaign raises funds for the charity's vital support and information services for people diagnosed with brain tumours and their families.

A €4 donation can be made by simply texting BTI to 50300.

Over 400 people are diagnosed with a brain tumour in Ireland each year with many contacting Brain Tumour Ireland for support when they receive their diagnosis. As well as the practical supports and information, Brain Tumour Ireland also raises awareness of brain tumours and their symptoms among the public and the medical professions and contributes funding to brain tumour research initiatives.

This year, Brain Tumour Ireland has partnered with milliner Deb Fanning, who is donating a bespoke head piece as a prize for the 'Best Selfie' posted with the hashtag '#WearAHatDay'.

"We receive no State funding so our #WearAHatDay campaign is essential in funding our services year-roundFor further information, please visit: https://braintumourireland.com/news/brain-tumourawareness-week/ MEMORIAL WALK The Clare Association Dublin will host the the Martin Corry Memorial 10km Walk on Sunday, November 3 at 12pm at Clasac, CCE Building, Alfie Byrne Road, Clontarf, Dublin 3. The walk is in aid of Elevate.

The Elevate Foundation funds youth mental health and well being experts to deliver programmes, talks, workshops, campaigns and events for young people throughout Co Clare.

22 THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK

THURSDAY, OCT 24 2019

Ronan Scully

THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK Author spreading the word of positivity

A face full of love A

ll of us, with different dreams, different goals and different perspectives, wake up each morning with a purpose or a new goal or idea and continue on our journey of life.

All of us are unique and distinctive from one another, yet there are similar things which brings us all together irrespective of all the differences and contrasts we have. We all strive for love, care and mercy alike. The recipe for love, care and mercy in fact, is simply there in our hearts, waiting to be brought out in each one of us through our eyes, face and actions, to be shared, to be given, to be felt and to be expressed, without greed, without selfishness, without judgement, without jealousy, without hate and without negativity.

Our Face There is a wonderful, old story about the great Leonardo Da Vinci that I love. When Leonardo was painting the Last Supper it took him several years to complete it. He had decided to use live models for Christ and each of the twelve Apostles.

He chose the model for Jesus first when he found a man whose face radiated both beauty and unconditional love.

As the years went on Leonardo completed each of the Apostles except for Judas Iscariot. Finally, he found a man whose face seemed full of avarice, viciousness, deceit, and hypocrisy. After he finished painting the man as Judas, the man asked if Leonardo knew who he was. When Leonardo said no, the man replied, “I am the same man you painted years ago as the figure of Christ.”

This story reveals a spiritual truth and that is, no matter how old or young we are, the appearance of our faces can often show the condition of our souls. I have seen rugged, scarred, weather beaten faces that when they smiled still showed the beauty of angels and eyes full of love. I have also seen young, wrinkle free faces with eyes as cold as ice and bitter

smiles full of both fear and hate. The good news, however, is that it is never too late to change your face, your heart, and your life.

Thought for the Week As your thought for the week, don’t lose sight of what’s important. Don’t lose hope when life gets tough. Don’t give up on your dreams for the future.

Don’t sell yourself short in life. Don’t forget how to hug, to laugh, to smile. Don’t be too proud to cry. Don’t be hateful or hurtful. Don’t forget to say “thank you”, “I am sorry” and “I love you” each and every day. Don’t expect there will always be a tomorrow. Don’t forget that one small kindness pays you back two fold. Everybody has something to offer.

Indeed, most of us have many things to offer and, in a lot of cases, special expertise is not required. A face of love cures all ills. We are all capable of giving that which people need most of all: Love. Love translates into time, service and the sharing of oneself. Don’t give up. Share the love, share your love. Be a face of love. And remember that there is no better thing that you can do in life than to love someone or care for someone or be there for someone.

Do all the good you can, by all the means you can, in all the ways you can, in all the places you can, at all the times you can, to all the people you can, as long as you can. I pray that each of you that have read this thought for the week today and on other occasions, may be blessed always and in all ways.

This week when you look at your partner, your children, your parents, your friends, your colleagues see them with the eyes of love. Remember that we are all just doing the very best we can at any given time, warts and all, but beneath it all, the current which runs within all of us is Love. That is the greatest gift we can receive and it is a gift we can re-gift! We are equipped with a never ending supply of love.

Love more, forgive more, embrace more, help more, love more intensely and leave the rest in God’s hands.

Amen.

Tips for planning your wedding 1

THINKING of getting engaged but overwhelmed with all that is involved and this is making you nervous before the ring is ever picked? Please

4

don’t be, here wedding planner Kate Deegan is on hand to give her expert opinion.

What type of style would you like your wedding – so this would then depend on what type of venues you have in mind as nowadays it is not just the hotel wedding and if it is a hotel wedding a lot of hotels are offering different things as they know that couples are looking for their weddings to be different and unique. But lots are opting for converting areas such as barns, bespoke country houses that are gearing to just weddings each week, pub that have a restaurant and then a night club area for dancing later.

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Budget – the dreaded word but it is real and you have to work at this because you do not want to be going in over your head in debt because everything costs money. Work out what are the important parts to you for the wedding and then cost out what you can spend on each. If things are tight ways to work around it is to postpone the wedding for another year so you can save more – or have a shorter engagement and see what suppliers are available that would give you a better rate as with the short lead in time they will not fill their date. I often see advice that ‘get a friend to do the photos’ or ‘do the flowers/cake/decor yourself ’ and honestly I think this advice is not good. Photos are for life and there is a huge difference between a professional photographer and a friend doing a few snaps. Flowers, cake and décor can only be done last thing and it makes no sense to see a bride in her function room setting the room with her bridesmaids the night before when she should be enjoying their company elsewhere and relaxing before the big day as this work is time consuming and exhausting! Include everything into the budget so there are no big surprises – even stamps for invites are Eur1 now!

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How many guests are you wanting to invite. This is a huge factor to the type of venue that you have because if you are wanting a Manor/country house then a lot of these venues do not cater for large weddings. How are you going to decide on your plus ones? If letting everyone have a plus one then your guest list in soaring so think about this wisely.

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Take It One Step at a Time Put together a wedding planning schedule and do things one by one, in a logical order, so you don’t take on too much too fast and end up with everything snow balling around you. Do not hire any suppliers before you’ve confirmed your date, don’t put the deposit down on the venue until you see that you celebrant and venue for the ceremony are available – once you get your dress, a lot of the design can flow from this from invites to cakes, flower and decor.

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Enjoy it all!!!! Every single second. Don’t get stressed or caught up on silly things – big picture is you are getting married to the love of your life. It will be one of the best days of your life so take it all in and breathe!

Ceremony – again lots of options on this now which we are going to do a full feature on because there are so many possibilities open to you from Church, civil, humanist, spiritual, non religious, semi religious, pagan blessing.

Keep as much info about the wedding to yourselves. This is always something I tell my brides whether I am coordinating or styling the wedding. The only time I see a bride upset on the run up to the wedding is when ‘aunty Mary said I shouldn’t be going with those flowers or that I should have my hair up not down’ or she thinks we should pick a different band to suit everyone’. It has nothing to do with Aunty Mary and she doesn’t mean any harm but once you start talking about the different elements of your wedding to everyone they will all give their opinion and then you head will start to sway and you will start to doubt your own decisions. Also the other side to this is if you are going on and on about your wedding all people will want is for it to be over as they are sick of listening about it!

Not too many can do this but if you can…… book your venue and church, photographer and band before you get engaged – I know this can not work for some people but for others who are planning on their engagement it can work out very well if you can do this because a lot of the stress for a wedding comes the minute you get that ring on your finger because people are asking – have you picked a date yet, where is the venue, what are you going to do etc – so if you have quietly done this already then you are going to really enjoy your engagement as the pressure is off already.

Kate Deegan

Tel: +353 (0)65 68 33774 / +353 (0) 86 8220 300 Email: info@co-me.net

www.perfect-details.com

Weddings at West County A T Treacy’s West County Conference & Leisure Hotel, we understand that this is a special time and our ambition is to create one of the most amazing days of your lives. The feedback from our recent couples encourages us in the strides we are making and we are delighted to have picked up industry awards along the way.

But why be surprised? For generations, Treacy’s West County Conference & Leisure Hotel has offered couples the most versatile wedding venue in Clare catering for wedding gatherings up to 500 guests.

Our stunning Ballroom will undergo a full make over in June 2020 ensuring that it radiates elegance, grandeur and style, illuminated by magnificent chandeliers that amplify the décor and atmosphere of your wedding ballroom. Our mood lighting can be adapted to match your wedding colour scheme, while the ballroom offers two bars for your guests to celebrate your day in style.

Picture yourself in our gorgeous wedding garden on your most special day! Now in full bloom our stunning wedding garden

offers the perfect backdrop for those photo opportunities that will remind you of your dream day forever. Have your amazing family and bridal party photos in front of our signature Moongate entrance; so romantic underneath the stars, against the spectacular blade waterfall, magnificent ornate garden pergola or feature fountain with step stone paths.

Our bridal suite is a tranquil retreat that has been completely refurbished offering a kingsize bed, beautiful room décor, living room with upholstered couches, flatscreen tv and minibar. The bridal suite boasts a stunning bathroom with shower, Jacuzzi bath and romantic LED lighting.

We have a team dedicated to making sure you enjoy the most amazing day of your lives. Led by our wedding planner, Nicole will assist in personalising all the details of your special day. Our head chef delivers delicious food, while our banqueting team is skilled in making everything run smoothly.

Book an appointment with our experienced wedding planner today and allow us the opportunity to create the day you thought you could only dream of.

Hot tips for Clare grooms

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OUR Mrs to be is more than likely doing most of the wedding planning (and most of them prefer it that way), but there’s no harm in getting yourself prepared for the big day. We’ve got you, grooms. Check off every item on this list and you will be the best husband ever, in their eyes at least.

1There Buy her a gift are the classic gift options such as a nice piece of jewellery, her favourite perfume or lingerie. But we think you need to dig a little deeper here and put some major thought into this. Is there a place/time of year/restaurant etc. that’s special to both of you? Incorporate it into the gift and she will be mighty impressed.

Take a trip to Ennis and check out Manix, Club Dangan and Patrick Bourke’s, who will have you kitted out in no time. Two months before the wedding should be plenty of time to get the suit sorted, but the sooner you check it off the list the better.

4Fellas Grooming for the groom generally have it easy when it comes

to looking good, as they don’t have to put a huge amount of effort into their appearance.

Your wedding day is one occasion where you want to look (and feel) your best, so it won’t hurt to put in a little prep work. Start taking care of your skin regularly before the wedding, step away from the burgers and hit the gym. You will thank us. Also, make sure to get a haircut a couple of days before the big day.

2ForFlowers for the mothers 5 Look after your groomsthe love of all that is holy, do not for-

get the mothers on your wedding day. Make sure you have a bouquet of flowers to present to your own mother and the mother in law to be. It’s a lovely gesture and to be fair, we would be lost without them.

3ThisThe suit is one area where you have (almost) complete control, so make the most of it.

men

It may seem obvious, but it’s your job to make sure your best man and groomsmen are sorted for the wedding. Help your best man with his speech, give them a game plan for their various responsibilities (making sure the band is paid etc) and show your appreciation with a gift. Have their back and they will have yours on the wedding day and beyond.

Gail Travel,making holiday dreams come true

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AIL Travel is a family-owned, well-established travel agents in Ennis, with over 25 years’ experience in providing the people of Clare with their dream holidays.

At Gail Travel, we pride ourselves on quality, affordable holidays and travel packages. We cater for individuals, families, groups and we arrange flights, hotels, car hire, insurance, package holidays, worldwide holidays, honeymoons, weddings abroad, ski holidays, ferry bookings, sports tours, round the world trips, tailor-made holidays, city breaks, lakes and mountains.

We also offer a fantastic range of cruise holiday packages. There is no better way to view the world than from aboard a cruise ship. No other holiday offers the opportu-

nity to wake up in a new destination almost every other day. Whether you lounge on the sandy beaches of the Caribbean, take in the breath-taking scenery of the Norwegian Fjords, astonishing beauty of an Alaska cruise or the exciting and colourful ports of the Mediterranean, the possibilities are endless.

Our experienced team are happy to help and advise you on your ideal itinerary.

We also pride ourselves on our customer service, with highly experienced, knowledgeable, friendly and helpful staff to assist with all enquiries.

Gail Travel is a fully licensed and bonded travel agent, so your money and your holiday are totally secure with us.

ENNIS BUSINESS WINS AT IRISH WEDDING AWARDS

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ELLA’S Baking, a couture cake shop specialising in bespoke wedding cakes took home the title of “Cake Designer of the Year” at this years Irish Wedding Awards.

Now in their third year, the prestigious awards celebrated excellence in the wedding industry with a glamorous evening at the Crowne Plaza in Dublin. Bella’s Baking opened on Parnell Street in Ennis just last October, and owner Fionnuala Crowe was delighted to receive the coveted award for Cake Designer of the Year.

“I’m absolutely delighted, it’s very overwhelming, I really didn’t expect to win and was happy just to be shortlisted. The competition was fierce, so I really can’t believe it - moving the business from my parent’s kitchen to my own premises in Ennis last year was a huge leap of faith and I’m so excited to be recognised in such a competitive industry.”

Bella’s Baking began as a small side business for Fionnuala, who has a degree in Sports Science but taught herself cake design - “I have always loved the creative side of baking so began by making cakes for friends and family - I must have been doing something

right as people kept asking for more so I decided to try it as a business, and Bella’s was born. Over the past couple of years I’ve been working out of my long suffering parents’ kitchen, so as business grew I knew I wanted to look for my own premises. I found the shop in Ennis and it was perfect, and we opened towards the end of last year.”

One aspect of the business Fionnuala is hoping customers will enjoy is the private cake consultations: “Couples can enjoy a private 90-minute consultation in the shop during which we discuss design ideas and sample some delicious cake flavours along with tea, coffee or prosecco. It’s a really nice way to get to know the couple and helps me understand what they want for their dream wedding cake.” Consultations are €30 per couple, which is then deducted from the price of the wedding cake if ordered.

Fionnuala is looking forward to becoming a well known business in Ennis and in joining the town’s business community. “I love Ennis and there is great support for small businesses in the town so I’m really looking forward to becoming part of that over the coming year and beyond.”

Your perfect day at The Inn at Dromoland

When you select The Inn at Dromoland, you will experience a highly personalised service and we look forward to guiding you through the run up to this special event.

From lavish arrival receptions, to the highest quality menus which are locally sourced, our aim is to exceed every expectation, with the renowned service for which the hotel has long been known.

Our Ballroom is elegantly dressed with ivory Drapes and our packages include room décor with well known local supplier, Grace Events. A wide array of table centrepieces, along with chair covers or Chivari chairs with silk or organza bows complete your perfect wedding day look. Everything we offer is tailored to your wishes, and our Promise to You both is that we only cater for one wedding a day.

In addition to our Packages, our couples can enjoy the majestic backdrop of Dromoland Castle and Lough for those all-important wedding day shots, exclusive to our Bridal Parties. Our Ballroom also benefits from its own Private Garden, which may also be used for arrival receptions or outside Civil Ceremonies.

Call today to arrange a show around with your dedicated Wedding Co-Ordinator.

Wedding trends for 2020 Décor/Floral

Think big and bold. Centrepieces oversized beauties amongst regular centrepieces with tons of candles.

Table scape - everything is thought of from the elaborate centrepieces dotted in the room to napkin, menus – even a change of colour in the water glass. Touches such as napkin décor – the simplest of things make the big impact.

Hanging features are huge for 2020 - If you can get something hanging in the room as a feature this is all the rage for 2020. Whether it is drapes, fairylights or flowers and greenery feature what people want to see is something floating in the sky.

Dress

The princess fairytale dress is back and with also the veil making a statement too. Then for later it is a change to simplify it down and so you can party the night away.

Stationary

Not just the invite anymore – a full suite of stationary from save the date to invite to welcome note to menu – all accentuating the table décor so really personalising it for the couple.

Food/Drinks

More grazing - clever, imaginative, food served at the drinks reception – chocolate fountain are again filling the gap.

Dessert buffet with tons of options for people to help them selves. Sweet and savoury and more brought out after you think there can be no more options!

Irish/Bailey coffee stations. Gin bars with all the trimmings and large glasses with tons of ice from early till late.

Kate Deegan

Tel: +353 (0)65 68 33774 / +353 (0) 86 8220 300 Email: info@co-me.net

www.perfect-details.com

WEDDINGS AT CASTLE OAKS

WEDDING SHOWCASE SU NDAY, 17 TH NOV, 1- 5PM

MA J EST IC W E DD I N G S O N T HE R I V E R S H AN N O N We would be delighted to meet with you to discuss your perfect wedding day. + 353 ( 61) 377666

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W ED D I N GS @ CASTL E OA KS . IE

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ASTLE OAKS House Hotel, now part of the Só Hotel Group is hosting their next Wedding Showcase on Sunday, 17th November from 1pm – 5pm.

Located in the picturesque village of Castleconnell, the Castle Oaks House Hotel & Estate is a unique and charming Georgian Country Manor House set in 26 acres of manicured gardens and a romantic woodland, with walks that sweep down to the banks of the Majestic River Shannon making an ideal setting for your photographs or even a stunning outdoor ceremony in our gardens. The hotel combines the highest possible standards of locally produced food and superb service with traditional charm and true Irish hospitality.

With over 34 years’ experience co-ordinating weddings and providing the most memorable days, The Castle Oaks ensure that every wedding is sheer perfection. Each wedding is tailor made to suit the individual requirements of all couples that walk through the doors.

Test out the Manor House Arrivals, view the stunning Stradbally Suite fully set up as well as experiencing everything The Castle Oaks has to offer.

With carvery lunch from €10 served in the Coolbawn Basement Bar, and stunning walks along the River Shannon The Castle Oaks House Hotel Wedding Showcase is a day not to be missed!

Happily ever after at the Woodstock

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EAN and Elaine Lally joined Hotel Woodstock in November 2016 as Co-owners with Choice Hotels Ireland.

When they joined the Hotel they soon realised the uniqueness of the venue to host a wedding.

The Lallys developed a package to suit all couples, the most popular package is the All-Inclusive package the Happy Ever After, with no hidden extras.

The Happy Ever After Package at â‚Ź47 per person including a 4 course meal, a drinks reception on arrival, a half bottle of wine and an evening buffet as well as a host of extras the package is very competitive.

The couple then wanted to get the message across of what they and the Hotel had to offer couples wanting to get married and proceeded to make a wedding video with a difference which truly shows you what Sean and Elaine are all about, which has since gone viral with over 300,000 views across all social media platforms.

Your first step across the thresh-

old of Hotel Woodstock is like stepping into a fairy-tale and we just know how to make your day truly special. Lovingly crafted by the Lally couple make planning your day all the easier.

From the time you meet with Elaine & Sean until the time you leave the Hotel to begin your life as a married couple you only deal with Elaine and in her absence Sean. Continuity is the secret to a non-stressful wedding.

On the day of your wedding Sean and Elaine are on the steps on the Hotel meeting and greeting all your guests ensuring that they receive the welcome that Hotel Woodstock has become famous for. Throughout the day the Lally couple oversee every aspect of your day to ensure that it runs smoothly and to deliver you the day of your dreams.

Our stunning Liscannor Suite with its magnificent Waterford Crystal Chandeliers is the perfect venue for a truly magical wedding for you that will promise you and your guests a day of elegant tradition, sophistication and superb food.

Hotel Woodstock is a real a hidden gem, family run with a natural warm welcome for you and your guests to host your wedding and the Lally family will ensure that they deliver as they promise for the day of your dreams.

The Hotel is also fully licenced for on-site ceremonies and can cater for outdoor ceremonies at the Hotel weather permitting.

Hotel Woodstock has also hosted numerous Blessings, Humanist and Spiritual ceremonies and welcome home celebrations for couples who got married abroad and want to host less formal gatherings on their return home.

Situated on the grounds of Woodstock Golf Club there are ample photograph opportunities around the Hotel.

Hotel Woodstock has won numerous awards over the last numbers of years such as; Best European Ascend Hotel Choice Hotels Europe 2019 Best Hospitality provider in Clare at the Clare Chamber of Commerce Awards in 2018 Most Romantic Wedding venue

at the Brides of Limerick awards 2018 Best Wedding personalities and also the Best Family Run Wedding Hotel Venue in 2017.

Should you wish to make an enquiry for a wedding show around please contact Elaine on elally@hotelwoodstock.ie or call 065 6899800

The honour of being a bridesmaid Kate Deegan Tel: +353 (0)65 68 33774 / +353 (0) 86 8220 300 Email: info@co-me.net

www.perfect-details.com

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OW helpful will your bridesmaids be to you on your day? It may not be something that you think about as you automatically think they will be there for you but this is not always the case.

Being a wedding planner I have seen them all – bridesmaids that run to the brides ever need, they get ready early so that are there for the bride when she is getting ready, ensuring she is carrying tissues - in case the bride needs one to dry those happy tears, carrying the brides lippy for the

touch up through out the day, running to the loo to help with that long trail and fixing the bride when she may need it to ensure that she looks radiant throughout the day. This is what you would like and really what you should do if you have been asked to be a bridesmaid BUT this does not always happen.

Unfortunately I see more of the opposite, the bridesmaids that thinks more about the way they look on the day, spends a long time getting ready that morning, asking the bride and other bridesmaids where her makeup and accessories are and not being ready to help the bride to get ready, or even be there to ‘ahh’ and ‘oow’ the bride as she put on her dress and turns into a princess. They spend too much time wondering who will be there at the wedding that they can go off and chat to.

Some are very fond of socialising around the bar/drinks reception and are nowhere to be seen when the photos are to be taken, so a bride wanting to get these over with, is waiting for her bridesmaid to come back!

I have often been the bride’s friend/maid on the day, as-

sisting her with removing her veil, going to the bedroom so that we can bustle the dress, letting her know when leaving the house that she has lip stick on her front tooth.

Being the wedding planner of course I do not mind assisting the bride with this (as we have built up a great relationship while working together) but really it is an honour to be asked to be a bridesmaid and when it comes to their turn to be the bride they would be shocked to think someone could act like this – a bridesmaid having to go to bed during the meal as she drank too much all day and can not hold herself up at the top table – this has happened and it was the brides best friend. Perhaps it is just awareness that bridesmaids do not realise what they should be doing and what an important job they have being at the bride side for all the girlie things.

If you are a bride reading this ask your bridesmaids to read this article so they know - just in case they were to be the ‘self-centred’ bridesmaid without realising it. Choose your bridesmaids wisely as I think it is sad when the bride is left to look after herself on her big day.

Oakwood Hotel Shannon

“Turning your dreams into reality” Choose from one of our exceptional wedding packages starting from just €44 per person

“The Romantic”, “The Magical” and “The Enchanting”.

Proudly announcing for 2020 & 2021 “The Green Package” for our Eco-Friendly couples.

Take our virtual reality tour on our website www.treacysoakwoodhotelshannon.com Our dedicated Wedding team led by Brian McMahon are on hand to walk with you through the planning of your perfect day.

Call today to arrange your show around and lunch with our compliments.

Airport Road, Shannon, Co. Clare T: 061-361500 E: sales@thshannon.com

www.treacysoakwoodhotelshannon.com

Wedding Advice

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N n our wedding supplement we thought we would launch what we are going to have as a knew addition to the paper – A wedding Advice Column. As it is our first one we to get real questions from real people for our first issue, we put it out there on our Instagram and facebook what are the questions they want answered that so from here on you can either contact us through the newspaper if you need any help or advice.

Question 1.

Where to start….

We have been chatting about getting engaged but the talk fizzles out and we both don’t have a clue where to start and what needs to get done so we get excited about it and then leave it as it scares us at the same time – what do we do??? Suzie in Cratloe.

Dear Suzie, this is completely normal – so normal you wouldn’t believe and that is why I wanted to feature this as the first question as you wouldn’t believe the others that were asking similar questions to yours – so much so that I changed some of the editorial around just to talk through the different steps in ‘where to start’ please see page _ and I hope this helps and you can both relax and start getting the ball moving in getting engaged and planning your wedding.

Question 2.

My Family My Family are not normal so this scares us both for the wedding day. My parents are divorced and my mother has a new partner how do we work this out for seating in the ceremony and at the meal etc. as we don’t want to upset anyone including us if they are not happy with the set up. Anon Dear Anon, first to say what is normal? Modern Ireland has brought with it many changes and ones which we have moved with and embraced and we don’t let these seem as problems. What I suggest is firstly what way do you see this working, how is your relationship with them both? They both know it is your day so they should realise this as to not make you feel uncomfortable. What I would do is chat to them and see what you are suggesting suits them. Also let the celebrant, photographer/video know what is going on so no one is put into a difficult position. For me to give me definite answers I would need to know a little more info as every family in your situation is so different – you may get on so well with your mother’s partner that you may want him some how involved or it could be that your Dad and him have to be seated on different sides of the room. If you want more info on this please email me directly for me to help out with seating plans when I know more info.

Question 3.

Surprise for the bride

I am engaged to a fantastic girl and we are getting married next year. She is loving the planning of the wedding with a dedicated folder. I do give my little input but really she has everything in hand. I would love to surprise her with something on the day and would love to know what you suggest – I don’t want to ask her sisters or mother as they can not keep anything secret and I want it to be a total surprise. Stefan in Ennis

Kate Deegan

Tel: +353 (0)65 68 33774 / +353 (0) 86 8220 300 Email: info@co-me.net

www.perfect-details.com

Dear Stefan, this is exciting and well done to you. There are different levels of surprises, which of course bring different budgets. I have seen some great gifts being given to the bride the morning of the wedding which included scrap books of photos and memories and is a super thing to do. Other surprises during the meal such as singing waiters or singing chef always go down really week and get the crowd going. I have seen it with American couples but not Irish ones yet where the groom and his groomsmen have a dance choreographed – but you need to be good on your feet for this one! or I suppose the ultimate surprise is fireworks at the break of the band when no one is expecting any more and they think everything has been done. Make sure you let your photographer/video know as these are way too expensive to go uncaptured!!!

Timeless perfection at Castletroy Park Hotel

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XPERIENCE timeless perfection at the Castletroy Park Hotel on your Wedding Day. A wedding is a very important day in the lives of a couple and is the first day of a long and happy life together, which makes choosing the venue all the more important. First impressions last a life time; hence the beautifully ornate new front gardens as well as the courtyard complete with water feature, perfect for summer weddings or even as the space to host your civil ceremony. Once inside you will find a bespoke design entailing luscious carpets, striking colours and intricate wood panelling, combining to create distinct elements of sophistication and modern chic, all superbly complemented by the essential warm welcome and excellent cuisine and service delivered to every guest.

The Ballroom can host weddings of up to 300 guests comfortably and with 107 bedrooms and the new Suites adjacent to the hotel, your guests can be hosted overnight too so they can relax and enjoy the celebrations all night.

Proud winners of Hotel Wedding Venue of the Year Limerick & Wedding Co-ordinator of the Year with Brides of Limerick as well as Best Limerick Wedding Venue at the WeddingDates.ie Awards in 2018, it’s easy to see why. The dedicated wedding team work closely with the bride and groom through every step of the way to ensure their day is exactly as they imagined and more.

The team at Castletroy Park Hotel would be delighted to meet with you, show you around the venue and walk you through the wedding planning process. The next Wedding Showcase takes place from 5.00pm on Thursday June 27th. To book an appointment to meet the team and take a look around, call 061 335566 or email sales@castletroypark.ie.

WEDDINGS AT CASTLETROY PARK HOTEL WH E R E EXPERI ENC E, EL EGANCE AN D E X PE RT IS E COMBIN E TO MAKE YOUR W ED D I NG DAY TR U LY U N FOR G E TTABLE .

061 3 3 5 5 66 | weddin g s @c as tl etroyp ar k.ie | www. castletroy park . ie

Find your fairytale dress at Lace Boutique

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ELEBRATING five years in business this week, the Lace Boutique at High Street in Ennis is the perfect starting point for local brides to be on their journey towards the Big Day. Jordanna O’ Loughlin established the business at the raw age of 24 and spoke to The Clare Echo this week about Lace Boutique’s hands-on approach when treating a bride-to-be with first class customer service.

“The one thing I would say is it’s by appointment only so there’s plenty of room if the bride-to-be wants to bring as many bridesmaids as they want. The style of the shop is quite fashion forward in a bridal sense so the stock we have is probably a little bit different. The bonus is that it’s probably because I’m younger I’m a little bit ahead on things – a lot of people in the industry would be older than me. Ennis is renowned for having amazing shops and we just want to keep it that way.

“We provide very hands-on attention.

We generally leave 1hr and a half per appointment just so we don’t have to rush, it’s very relaxed.”

Jordanna established the business at the age of 24 and hasn’t looked back since; she says it’s all she ever wanted to

do and the fact that brides-to-be come into her in great form makes “every day that little bit easier to go to work”.

Stocking brands from all over the world including Amsterdam, the USA, Turkey and London, Lace Boutique is open by appointment from Tuesday to Sunday, 10-8pm. “We have evening and weekend appointments available just to make the experience as easy for people as possible.”

For recently engaged brides, Jordanna recommends that they pay her a visit a year in advance of their Big Day if possible. “We generally say order time is 6-8 months depending on the brand.

You obviously want to allow time either side of that, quality control, fitting, etc, so if you could start looking 12 months before the big day it’s ideal. But obviously there are rush orders and things like that, it’s entirely up to the person.

I would generally say don’t look until you’re ready to look because there’s so many other things to do. It’s nice to enjoy the engagement stage and not run into planning just so you can sit back and enjoy the little moments in the middle.”

The average cost of a wedding dress is about €1,600 in Ireland however all budgets can be catered for at Lace Bou-

tique. The same can be said for sizes, with Jordanna encouraging brides to focus on getting a beautiful dress that’s right for them.

“I will never order down a size no matter what; we have an alteration service as well. As a general rule, someone will lose a lot of weight or gain a little bit so you order on what their size is right now. Most wedding dresses can come in two sizes and go out one size without anyone breaking a sweat.

“I recommend trying on the wedding dress six weeks before the wedding and altering it three weeks prior, so you do it right once rather than having to go at it loads of times because obviously the less a dress is handled, the better.”

To make an enquiry with The Lace Boutique, contact Jordanna on 087 964 8255 or visit www.thelaceboutique.ie.

Aoibhín’s P icture Perfect Locations for your Wedding P hotography

Top 5

It’s all about weddings in our house at the moment so here are the ultimate picture perfect locations Co Clare provides as the perfect backdrop to your shot!

1 Corcomroe Abbey: Set in the heart of the Burren... this early 13th Century monastery in its ruined raw state, needs no embellishment and makes for a stunning majestic setting for your wedding ceremony or that epic photo. You will also capture stunning images on the limestone flags of the surrounding rugged landscape...it’s movie set worthy!

3 Ballybeg Woods, Ennis: Nestled away amongst the green trees and earthy woodland, this wedding shot sings romance and the contrast in colours makes it all the more stunning. That little moment immersed in nature, just the two of you, will surely stand out as a wedding day highlight and the picture will forever remind you of that precious time on your precious day.

2 Cliffs of Moher: Are you even married in Clare without a token shot at the Cliffs of Moher?! There’s a reason it’s a must on the photographers shot list and now with the advances in technology and a lens’ ability, drone shots etc the results are breathtaking. With views and a backdrop this good it’s hard to say no. Avoid the hustle and bustle of the visitor centre and access the Cliffs from Nagle’s car park in Liscannor or get right to the highest point at Guerin’s Path. It’s worth the trek up though, believe me!

4 Doonagore Castle: Majestic castle, tick, stunning views, tick, romantic country bohereen, tick! Overlooking the Aran Islands and the quaint village of Doolin, Doonagore Castle is nestled on a height and provides a picturesque focal point for a bride and groom taking a casual stroll towards wedded bliss!

Boutique WINNER

Best Bridal Boutique THE

Huge Selection of Bridesmaids Dresses Now In Store.

5 Lakes of Killaloe: Is there anything more tranquil than the stillness of a lake? Arrive by boat and you’ve got “Notebook” romance status right there! Wait until evening for that beautiful light, framed by nature and you’ve got the perfect Kodak moment.

as seen on Ireland AM

85 O’Connell Street, Ennis, Clare Tel: 087 210 9800 w:Ennisbridal.com

COLUMNISTS 43

THURSDAY, OCT 24 2019

REELING IN THE YEARS

with Cian O’Broin

Eoin Neylon

An inside look at Clare’s political spectrum

1991 L

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HIS year we look at the opening of Bushypark Treatment Centre in Ennis in a bid to embrace those suffering in silence with addiction issues. We take a look at a Clare scientist’s involvement in the biggest case of scientific misconduct ever seen in the United States as well as a close call for a large fishing vessel carrying 500,000 tons of oil as it runs aground off the coast of Clare. Shall we begin.

BUSHYPARK TREATMENT CENTRE Addiction thwarts the lives of everybody involved. Those susceptible to compulsivity are often disregarded within society, whether that be through alcohol, drug or gambling addiction. Support networks are multitudinous in nature in the 21st century, with mental health and wellbeing becoming a top priority in today’s world. In the previous century, things weren’t always as transparent. The quiet cries of those in need fell on deaf ears as those struggling with addiction issues were ostracised and considered unscrupulous. In 1991, the statistics bore the truth, “Twenty-five per cent of admissions to psychiatric hospitals are addiction related, and a similar percentage to general hospitals.” The very same year Bushypark Treatment Centre opened its doors in Ennis. For over a decade Clarecare had been operating a non-residential programme to help addicts and their families.

The charity had aided over 500 people, however; there was an overarching need for residential treatment. The new treatment centre operated a 30-day treatment scheme for 12 residents at a time, allowing a total of 144 people to receive drug and alcohol-free support every year.

The helping hand provided by Bushypark Treatment Centre stretches far beyond the boundaries of Clare, reaching into Limerick and Galway to provide support. The cost of renovating the property was IR£200,000, which was covered by a fundraising committee of semi-state bodies and voluntary organisations. Finally, the people of Clare no longer suffered in silence, seeking solace in the sanctity of a small residential unit in the outskirts of Ennis.

CLARE SCIENTIST A HERO

In 1991, Dr. Margot O’ Toole was hailed as a hero on the cover of the New York Times. The Dublin born scientist was the daughter of Elizabeth Ryan of Cratloe and James O’ Toole of Lissycasey. Six years previous, Dr. O’ Toole lost her job after contesting the validity of her superior’s scientific research data. In 1986, she was working as a junior researcher in molecular biology, and a postdoctoral fellow at the prestigious Massachusetts Institute of Technology. The work conducted by Margot and her supervisor allegedly led to a significant advancement in the area of immunology. The experiments took place for over a year leading up to the discovery. Shortly afterwards, Dr. O’ Toole uncovered a large document from her supervisor acknowledging the discovery as invalid. Her subsequent approach to both another scientist and the university ended in vain. Her supervisor, Dr. Imanishi-Kari exiled her from the laboratory and ensured that Dr. O’ Toole would not find any important work for the following years.

Downtrodden and dejected, she spent the next few years working remedial jobs as a clerical officer. Internal investigations continued to take place, with no avail to contentions of falsifying documents made

by Dr. O’ Toole. The matter soon came to the attention of Congressman John Dingell of Michigan. Dingell requested a forensic examination in conjunction with the Secret Service, in turn vindicating Dr. O’ Toole who had become a scapegoat within the scientific community in the late eighties and early nineties. The New York Times led with the headline, “the most celebrated investigation of scientific misconduct in the United States.” Dr. O’ Toole’s reputation was restored and the woman with a deep connection to County Clare was hailed as a hero.

CLOSE CALL FOR BALLYVAUGHAN We are all aware of the irreparable damage oil spills have on marine life.

Take for example the oil spill in Kuwait during the Gulf War in January of 1991 or the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico in April of 2010, considered the largest accidental oil spill in recorded history. On April 5th, 1991 a French fishing ship named ‘Captaine Plevin II’ ran aground off the cost of Ballyvaughan. Stormy conditions led the ship astray as it made its way to Galway.

The huge factory ship was carrying an estimated 500,000 tons of oil as well as 50 tons of fish, of which 170,000 tons of oil had to be carefully extracted from the ship as it was towed to Blackhead and anchored for underwater examination. The European Parliament in Strasbourg congratulated the rescue services which managed to save the lives of sixty crew members in spite of extremely haphazard weather conditions.

Check back next week as we dust off the history books and delve into what happened in County Clare in 1992.

Denial of wrongdoing in ‘votegate’ a joke

AMENTABLY, one thing that is never too far away from politics is scandal. However, what we were met with over the weekend and into this week was the type of political scandal more akin with a scene from Fr. Ted rather than reality. I refer of course to ‘votegate’ which saw Fianna Fáil Limerick TD Niall Collins vote six times for his colleague, Clare TD Timmy Dooley (below), in the Dáil when Dooley had exited the chamber. To preface the remainder of this article, I must air my own opinion that their behaviour was unethical, unprofessional and not to the standard that we expect from our elected politicians.

Their subsequent denial when exposed in an Irish Independent article was farcical when you consider that the Dáil chamber is one of the most video recorded rooms on public record in the State. Not only was their behaviour reprehensible, it was downright stupid.

Of course they were going to be found out, as the video clearly shows Dooley in conversation with Collins pointing out his seat and its voting mechanism, right before heading up the steps and out of the chamber. It doesn’t take a genius to figure out what was going on.

What irks me most about this affair is rush by all and sundry to deny any wrongdoing and for their political opponents to fall over one another to decry it. Those of us who have seen the attitude of TDs to voting in Dáil Éireann knew it was only a matter of time for what was going to come next. Low and behold, within 48 hours of the article appearing in the Irish Independent, politicians from other parties who had raced out of the traps to call for inquiries and immediate sanction had themselves gone very quiet when it was pointed out to them that their own colleagues have been guilty of the same practise, just not the scale and blatancy of that of Collins and Dooley. Gerry Adams of Sinn Féin voted for the holding of the repeal the 8th referendum in his then colleague, Peadar Toibin’s seat, prior to the latter leaving SF over the policy. Fine Gael Justice Minister Charlie Flannigan also admitted to voting on his colleagues’ behalf in the chamber on occasion when pressed on it on Monday. In truth, all parties and even Independent’s are guilty of this practise on some level or another. What it underlines is a gross disregard for the constitutional duty that TDs are charged with performing in the Dáil chamber.

TDs rarely, if ever, are elected or re-elected based on their voting record on legislative matters.

Often, it is constituency matters and individual reps made on constituents’ behalf that win them a seat in Leinster House. Think back to why you voted for a particular election candidate over

the years and chances are you voted for them because of their work in the community or on a personal issue. The dual mandate of TDs holding County Council seats ended in 2003, however, the practise of TDs doing what is essentially councillors’ work to safeguard their seat persists. For that reason, TDs sometimes see votes in the chamber of the Dáil as a hindrance, especially when they are a foregone conclusion as the votes in ‘votegate’ proved to be; Fianna Fáil losing those votes by a wide margin in face of Government securing the backing of certain other opposition parties. It may well be that TDs thought it was better use of their time making phone calls for constituents, or giving media interviews, or hosting community groups or business groups for meetings instead of “going through the motions”. Nevertheless, that is not a TDs prime constitutional role. They are there to enact and vote on legislation and Dáil motions and the sanctity of that process is the corner stone of our representative democracy.

I’ve been in other Parliament buildings from Hungary to Catalonia to the USA, Finland, the UK and the European Parliament among others.

One commonality in the electronic voting system I witnessed in most of these is the need for a Parliamentarian to use their unique ID badge or swipe card to

activate their voting station before they can actually cast their vote. This system is not complicated, nor relatively expensive to install, so why does Leinster House not have these? All the more perplexing is that both houses of the Oireahctas have, in recent years, undergone overhauls and improvements yet this system was omitted. A careless oversight or a careful decision to make life easier for TDs and Senators to allow them be in two places at once within the Leinster House complex? Who knows! Credit where it is due though to Míchéal Martin for asking two of his closest allies on his front bench to stand down the very next day. This is the kind of swift action we need to see more of in politics and, in the past, indecisiveness was one of the biggest criticisms of Martin. Not so now after his handling of ‘votegate’. Will it matter when people go to the polls? Most likely not. The timing could not be worse for FF all the same.

With Brexit possibly solved, the chances for a snap election here have greatly increased and the last thing Martin would want to be doing in this climate is playing the Bishop Brennan to Collins and Dooley’s Fr. Ted and Dougal routine.

Ultimately, it won’t cost either man their seat, but it has dented their reputations and their collective chances of Government Ministries in the aftermath of any election.

MOTORING

MOTORING EXPERT NEIL BRISCOE GIVES HIS VIEWS

KIA’S SHARP-LOOKING XCEED ARRIVES IN IRELAND

PRICES FROM €26,245 FOR THE SEMI-SUV HATCHBACK

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HE Kia XCeed is new urban crossover utility vehicle (CUV) from Kia Motors which combines compact SUV practicality with the sporty packaging and engaging handling of a hatchback has gone on sale in Ireland.

A sporty alternative to traditional SUVs, the new CUV nevertheless offers comparable levels of space for occupants and luggage. The Kia XCeed engages drivers with its sporty handling and a comfortable, assured ride, while providing a more commanding view of the road ahead than a conventional hatchback.

The XCeed’s suite of advanced safety, connectivity and infotainment features make it one of the most high-tech cars in the CUV

class. Powered by a range of fast-revving, turbocharged engines, it is also one of the most efficient.

At the launch of the new car Aidan Doyle, Head of Marketing at Kia Motors Ireland commented : “The Kia XCeed addresses the growing desire for cars which offer more emotion and dynamism than an SUV, both in terms of the way a car looks and drives.

Yet these customers don’t want to lose the practicality that a larger car offers them.

Our new CUV meets these needs, with a distinctive and modern design wrapped around a spacious, versatile body. Merging the strengths of both hatchback and SUV, the Kia XCeed offers a refreshing and different alternative for Irish motorists.”

The Kia XCeed urban crossover will be

manufactured at the brand’s European production facility in Zilina, Slovakia alongside the Ceed five-door hatchback, Ceed Sportswagon, and ProCeed five-door shooting brake.

Kia Motors Ireland will initially offer xCeed in three trim levels ( K2,K3 and K4 ) and two power units – one litre gasoline and 1.6 litre diesel . Other power units may follow based on customer demand . Also in the pipeline will be a plugin hybrid PHEV version expected to arrive in Ireland in late January.

The entry level 1.0-litre turbo petrol K2 model at €26,245 is generously equipped with standard spec that includes 16-inch Alloys ,LED lights front and rear, rear privacy glass, eight-inch touchscreen with An-

droid Auto and Apple Car Play and a host of safety features including lane keep assist, forward collision avoidance, high beam assist and speed limit assist.

The K3 (which starts at €28,145) adds additional features including 18-inch Alloys,10.25-inch touch screen with Sat Nav / Tom Tom and rear view camera, half leather upholstery, and electronic parking brake and wireless phone charger. The K3 will also be available with a 115hp diesel engine.

Indicative pricing for this model will be €31,000 (which is still to be confirmed).

The K4 1.0 ( €30,045) completes the range for now with added features such as heated front seats, a 12.3-inch ‘supervision’ digital instrument cluster, smart key with push button start, climate control.

46 BUSINESS

THURSDAY, OCT 24 2019

BUSINESS

CONTACT US WE’RE ON FACEBOOK, TWITTER AND INSTAGRAM #CE

‘Largest ever programme of events’ at Women’s LEO day

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he largest-ever programme of events for National Women’s Enterprise Day has taken place across the country.

An annual initiative of the Local Enterprise Offices (LEOs), including LEO Clare, the theme for this year’s event was “Making It Happen” with the aim of inspiring more women in Ireland to start and grow their own business.

Organised by the Local Enterprise Offices in Clare, Limerick and Tipperary, the networking event for entrepreneurs took place in Dromoland Castle. Over 160 local entrepreneurs and businesswomen participated and speakers included: Jean McCabe – Willow, Fiona Steed – former Rugby International and Sonya Lennon – Designer, Broadcaster and Entrepreneur. MC for the event was Ciana Campbell.

Other special guests on the day were Birgitta Curtin of the Burren Smokehouse, Caroline Mitchell of Caroline Mitchell Knitwear and Florrie Purcell of The Scullery. The networking on the day was facilitated by Jackie Gowran of Business Weaving.

National Women’s Enterprise Day was officially opened by Minister of State Pat Breen who attended the Dublin event in Fingal. He

l WOMEN IN BUSINESS: “Making it Happen” on National Women’s Enterprise Day at Dromoland Castle, Newmarket on Fergus

Photo by Arthur Ellis

said: “It is important for Ireland as a country that there should be a far greater participation of females in our entrepreneurial landscape and it is very positive to see the stats moving in the right direction.

“Today is about celebrating those who have already done it and encouraging others to take the first step. I would encourage all budding female entrepreneurs to contact their Local Enterprise Office and check out

the range of supports that are available.”

Padraic McElwee of Local Enterprise Office Clare, said; “Now in its thirteenth year, National Women’s Enterprise Day is an important milestone in the Local Enterprise Office calendar.

It gives us the opportunity to highlight the success stories of women in Clare who continue to do amazing things in business, across every sector. The day itself is also an opportunity for businesswomen to network, engage, share tips and advice and to find out what supports are available for their business through their Local Enterprise Office.”

National Women’s Enterprise Day has grown year-on-year with 17 events taking place across the country and over 1,700 female entrepreneurs in attendance. This growth in popularity has been reflected in national growth in female entrepreneurship.

There was an 18 per cent increase in female entrepreneurs taking LEO training programmes last year as almost 22,000 female entrepreneurs and businesswomen engaged with their LEO on supports in 2018.

Latest Global Entrepreneurship Monitor figures for Ireland show that nearly 40 per cent of new business owners in 2018 were women.

SOLAS shines a spotlight on further education and training opportunities in Clare and beyond A NEW campaign has been launched by SOLAS, the Further Education and Training Authority in partnership with ETBI, to showcase further education and training (FET) and to promote FET opportunities in Clare and around the country.

The ‘This is FET’ campaign is centred around a new website, thisisfet.ie, which tells the stories of learners, graduates and employers about the positive impact FET has had on their

careers and businesses. Information about the diverse range of FET courses can also be found on the website.

As part of the campaign, images from the website have been projected and hung from some of Ireland’s most iconic buildings, including Liberty Hall in Dublin and the Rock of Cashel.

Commenting at the launch of ‘This is FET’, Nikki Gallagher, Director of Communications and Secretariat at SOLAS, said “it is brilliant to hear so many FET success stories. We know the positive impact FET can have on the lives of individual learners, businesses and communities in Clare and around Ireland.

We’re calling on the people of Clare to check out This is FET to get a flavour of the type of courses available to them, whether through Limerick and Clare ETB or surrounding providers. No matter where you are in your education or your career, FET courses offer flexible, life-long learning.”Nessa White, General Secretary at ETBI said: ‘Through the extensive ETB network, we can ensure that FET has a presence in every town and every community in Ireland. Not only does this mean that FET is easy to access, it also means that we are close to and responsive to the needs of the community.”

Thisisfet.ie is a collaboration between SOLAS and the ETBs and aims to be an information hub as well as showcasing the achievements and success of FET learners.

An example of some of the success stories featured on thisisfet.ie are - Danay Berhane, who has always wanted to be a chef.

Following a ‘Professional Cookery’ course in Cork College of Commerce, he graduated from CIT and was crowned the 2019 Dairy Chef of the Year competition in Paris, and now works in Adare Manor; Kate Stitt, who following a degree in Fine Art, worked in retail. Following a ‘Nationwide’ episode on the costume design, she enrolled at Inchicore College of Further Education and has just graduated top of her class. Former event manager Laura Mulkeen, always had a passion for craft-focused work. She completed welding courses in Donegal ETB and now works as a coded pipe welder.

Further information on the ‘This is FET’ campaign can be found at: www.thisisFET.ie, #ThisisFET, @thisisfet

Property

Beautiful homes all over the County

Are you a First Time Buyer seeking a new Home in Ennis?

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T DNG O'Sullivan Hurley, we have spent many years working with first time buyers to find their dream home and get on the property ladder. We know that you will be faced with a lot of questions such as how does buying a new home differ from an older family home, what is actually included in the cost of the home and what will be extra? Can my Help to Buy allowance be used as part of the deposit? What is a PC Sum? How does buying a New Home differ from buying a standard family home?

Big Plus – no negotiating. The prices of New Homes are set in line with market prices and no negotiating or bidding is necessary.

Most new homes developments come with a 10-year Home Bond guarantee, new wiring and plumbing which will significantly reduce maintenance costs for years to come.

Purchasing a brand-new home means that you are not part of a moving chain that could threaten the completion date of your property purchase What is the HTB scheme?

The Help to Buy (HTB) incentive is a scheme for first-time property buyers. It will help you with the deposit you need to buy or build a new house or apartment. You must buy or build the property to live in as your home.

For more information visit the Revenue website on https://www.revenue.ie/en/property/ help-to-buy-incentive/index.aspx.

Can I use my Help To Buy allowance towards the deposit for my home?

Yes, your solicitor will be able to advise you on the best steps to take to arrange this.

What is a PC Sum? A prime cost sum (PC or PC sum) is an allowance given by a developer to a purchaser usually calculated by the cost consultant, for the supply of work or materials to be provided by a contractor or supplier that will be nominated by the client (that is, a supplier that is selected by the client to carry out an element of the works and imposed on the main contractor after the main contractor has been appointed).

What does this mean for a purchaser?

Usually you are given a set figure towards your 'fitted furniture' which sounds great until you realise that this figure isn't for TV units and bookshelves, this is the amount you have to spend on your kitchen and utility and wardrobes if there is any left over.

Not all New Homes Developments are created equal!

We recommend that new homes purchasers shop around and ask as many questions as possible to make sure that they know exactly what is included in the price of your new home and what is not, as a purchaser it is likely you will need to outlay additional money to finish your home in some developments as the asking price does not include a fully finished home. It may be worth investigating a turn key home. A fully finished home, which has been customised to your choice of tile/flooring/colours from an interior designer chosen palette.

While everyone's idea of the ideal residential location will differ, it is worth investigating the proximity of the development to schools/ shops etc, also is development within walking distance of the town centre or will I al-

ways need to drive? Something purchasers often overlook but is a very convenient feature for an after-lunch stroll on a Sunday or walking back from Friday drinks.

For example: Let's take a look at what is included in the price of a Sycamore Drive home Development: Sycamore Drive, Limerick Road, Ennis Developer: Keogh Homes Price: €270,000 Phase Two three-bedroom semi D (€266,000 Phase 3 semi D with no conversion option)

ST JOSEPH'S, COLLEGE ROAD ENNIS, CO CLARE V95 TPW6 €195,000

30 GORT LEAMHAN, ROSLEVAN ENNIS, CO CLARE V95 EN8F €289,000

29 DUN NA RI, TOBARTEASCAIN ENNIS, CO CLARE V95 T9X6 €195,000

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HIS fine property is situated on a prime site in a much sought after established residential area of Ennis town. While the property would benefit from modernisation, it would make an ideal family home. Internally, the rooms are well proportioned and accommodation is deceivingly spacious comprising 100 sq.m. (1,054 sq.ft.) approx and includes a kitchen, dining room, living room, shower room, wc and 4 bedrooms.

Externally the gardens are mainly in lawn with a tarmac driveway, ample parking facilities and a detached garage. Rarely does such a well located property become available.

Viewings are highly recommended.

Contact: Danielle O'Connor Sherry FitzGerald McMahon Tel: 065 686 7866 PSL 001212

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OPEN VIEWING:

Saturday, October 26th - 12.00pm - 12.30pm

ORT Leamhan is an exclusive development of fine family homes located just off the Tulla Road at Roslevan.

The location is particularly close to the Tulla Road interchange of the Ennis By-pass and local facilities include the Roslevan Shopping Centre, just a 750 m walk away.

No. 30 is a beautifully presented detached home that has spacious, well proportioned living accommodation. The ground floor comprises an entrance hall, living room, downstairs bedroom, open-plan kitchen/dining area, utility room and a WC. On the first floor there are 4 bedrooms (one with walk-in wardrobe and en-suite) and a bathroom.

Contact: Diarmuid McMahon Sherry FitzGerald McMahon Tel: 065 686 7866 PSL 001212

What finishes are included as standard • Solid Wood Kitchen with a choice of colours and door styles, pantry & housekeeping cupboard • A choice of quality counter tops & double width island with integrated sink • Quality branded kitchen appliances (double oven, hob, extractor, integrated fridge/freezer) • Supply and fitting of all wooden floors • Supply and fitting of tiles in all bathrooms • Fully painted internally and externally • Large paved private driveway with parking for two cars • Block Build homes with concrete upper floor fitted with underfloor heating (the only development in Clare offering this invaluable noise reducing feature) • Highest standard of airtightness • Future proof electrical specification including wiring for electric car charges

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• The Highest standards of energy efficiency Keogh Homes don't offer PC sums as every Keogh Home is delivered with the highest quality finishes included as standard.

With the extension of the Help To Buy scheme and many New Homes developments, new 'Green' mortgages for energy efficient 'A' rated homes there has never been a better time to get yourself on the property ladder.

Talk to our New Homes experts on 065 6840200 or email info@dngosullivanhurley.com.

59 BRUACH NA HABHAINN QUIN ROAD, ENNIS, CO CLARE V95 X6C8 €179,000

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UPERB three Bedroom semi-detached property available for sale in Dun Na Ri, Ennis, Co Clare. This property is superbly located within minutes of St Flannans College and within walking distance of Ennis Town Centre.

Accommodation on the ground floor comprises an entrance hall (with toilet under the stairs), living room, kitchen/dining area, utility room and a sun-room. On the first floor there is a landing, three spacious double bedrooms (one with ensuite) and a bathroom.

There is a stunning, private back garden to this property with Indian sandstone patio, gravelled beds, raised concrete beds with cutstone caps, willow screening on the boundary walls and a "Steeltech" shed with power supply.

HIS fine 3 bedroomed semi-detached home is situated in a quiet cul-de-sac development on the Quin road in Ennis.

Accommodation well proportioned and comprises an entrance hall, WC, living-room, kitchen/dining area and a utility room. On the first floor there are three bedrooms (one of which has an en-suite) and a bathroom.

Externally to the front there is a tarmacadam driveway and the garden is in lawn. The back garden is in lawn with a paved patio area and a garden shed.

Contact: Tiernan O’Malley, Sherry FitzGerald McMahon Tel: 065 686 7866 PSL 001212

Contact: Tiernan O’Malley, Sherry FitzGerald McMahon Tel: 065 686 7866 PSL 001212

Viewing is highly recommended.

EchoSport

Time for bravery in final replay Martin Daly GAA ANALYSIS CLARE SFC FINAL

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ST JOSEPHS MILTOWN 0-09 KIB 0-09, CUSACK PARK

HIS year’s senior county football final is going to a replay and there’s reason to believe that’s a good thing. Hopefully, the shackles will be thrown off and we’ll see a riveting contest because that’s far from what we got last Sunday, when Kilmurry Ibrickane and St Joseph’s Miltown Malbay - the county’s two best teams - produced a forgettable contest. The fear of losing took grip on the day and because of that, we got a very poor standard of football. Case in point was the Kilmurry Ibrickane attack which registered only one point from play over the hour courtesy of Michael Hogan. Officially they scored two from play but you couldn’t credit them with the other, which was slotted home by Miltown defender Seanie Malone in a failed attempt to pass it to his stunned goalkeeper.

Despite the poor showing, I’m giving both sides the benefit of the doubt as I know the potential to deliver lively football exists; however the local rivalry, bragging rights, it seemed to weigh heavy on their shoulders. In many ways, their similar playing styles and use of the sweeper made for a tight game of football however it was the lack of genuine endeavour which stymied both attacks. Now that both sides have seen what they’re up against, I expect more confident and competent approaches to be taken in the Park this Sunday.

While both sides can be happy to come away with a draw, Miltown looked stronger as this game drew to a close; they might rue how long it took them to wear down the legs of a Kilmurry side that lined out with eight of their starting 15 aged on the wrong side of 30. In fact by the time the final whistle blew, Bricks had used five men aged over 35. An ageing side, but the longer the stayed in the contest, the harder Miltown found it to shake them off.

I expected Miltown to come out all guns blazing and test the Quilty engine, but they didn’t. It was Kilmurry who came out firing much like Ennistymon did last year, running at Miltown through the middle and that gave them success and a 0-4 to 0-1 lead. But Miltown showed their composure and stuck to the game plan. Brian Curtin was sweeping with great affect and profited from loose ball as the Miltown defence swarmed the Kilmurry attacks. They kept patient and kept tipping away to bring the scores level at half time.

Well into the second half, Miltown did begin to stretch their neigbours and gaps appeared; Kieran Malone’s running game exposed them on the wings and he profited with an excellent point, but it seemed he was the only person in claret capable of creating a spark. Eoin Cleary and Cormac Murray may be disappointed they didn’t have their kicking boots on, they have a chance to right that wrong this weekend.

I wrote last week that Marty McMahon would play a vital role but he was slower to turn defence into attack than his trademark self. Maybe age is beginning to show in the former county player, but it’s hard to be critical after all he’s given to Clare football. Brian Curtin on the other side played the role with great impact, cutting out more ball and setting up attacks; unfortunately some of his teammates didn’t take full advantage. Ciaran Morrissey did a great job on Eoin Cleary which kept him quiet, but you’d expect a player of Cleary’s level to hit a few of the frees he missed; confidence seems a bit low there, whether he can recapture it next week we’ll see.

Sexton at the other end, while he failed to score from play, was a livewire. He contributed more than six placed scores, he was showing the whole time, a genuine threat when given the chance. He probably was ready to celebrate a goal when he was through on goal in the second half only for the experienced head of Gordon Kelly, only too happy to concede a yellow card and free in exchange for his professional foul.

If Miltown can shake off their fear of losing and start with endeavour and pace – refuse to give KIB’s defence a chance to reorganise – the Bricks will lose their legs earlier. That’s only if Miltown Malbay believe in themselves and play with more bravery.

The SFC final replay takes place Sunday, 2pm at Cusack Park.

l WELL MARSHALLED: Keelan Sexton made the most of his limited space on Sunday

Photo by Gerard O’Neill

Sleep deprived in West Clare

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XPERIENCED heads helped Kilmurry Ibrickane secure a draw and another chance at becoming the 2019 Clare SFC champions, manager Aidan Moloney maintained but he also revealed the meeting with their neighbours has caused many sleepless nights, writes Páraic McMahon.

“We’re happy to get out of jail at the end of the day. In the first half we didn’t make enough of our possession, we were the better team in the first half. We expected Miltown to have their time on top and they did put us under pressure in the second half, we lost our shape a little bit and certain things didn’t work for us. We hung in there, we’re happy that we didn’t play well in the second half and are still in it,” Moloney surmised in the moments following Ian McInerney’s sixty second minute equaliser on Sunday.

Once Conor Cleary kicked the ball between the posts to put St Josephs Miltown one point ahead in stoppage time, ‘Horse’ Moloney knew his charges needed just one attempt on goal. “These

guys have the experience so our lads were cool in the head, we kept possession and didn’t panic, we didn’t just kick the ball down the field, we worked in down and we got our free. It was a great kick, he had a couple of shots from that area so he was bound to get one right”.

He always expected one kick would separate the teams and the two time Clare SFC winning manager said he was looking forward to the replay. “Both teams will be happy enough, it was a fair result overall, there was no team that deserved to win, I don’t think anyone would go out of here saying we played to our potential or even close to it. Both teams have a lot to improve on and it makes for a good game the next day”.

Away from the football field, Aidan told The Clare Echo that the permutations of the game is keeping people awake at night. “A lot of people lost sleep over the past two weeks since we knew it was going to be this final. It’s amazing the stress it has caused on both teams, both families and supporters but they have to endure it for another week and here we go again”

BRECKANS BACK IN THE BIGTIME ST BRECKANS have sealed their return to the senior ranks of Clare football, 12 months after being relegated, by defeating Kildysart 2-04 to 0-09 at Cusack Park.

When in comes to sport, the result is the most important outcome. That will be the mantra applied by St Breckans as they look back on their fourth Clare IFC success as despite only registering one point in the second half, they held on to complete the task at hand.

Their first half foundation included goals from Colm O’Brien and Padraig Kelly, both of which were created from Joe McGann passes.

On paper, St Breckans would be considered the better team, they did not play to their best but still came out on top. Joe McGann, Dale Masterson, Padraig Kelly, Jack Sheedy and Conor Burke stood out for the men from Doolin and Lisdoonvarna.

SPORT

THURSDAY, OCT 24 2019

Clare basketball BUGLER JOINS update WEXFORD SET-UP CLARE 2013 All-Ireland winner, Brendan Bugler will be linking up with his former boss Davy Fitzgerald in 2020.

On Tuesday night, Bugler was confirmed to be a new member of Fitzgerald’s Wexford management team. Former Clare goalkeeper coach Seoirse Bulfin, Keith Rossiter and JJ Doyle are returning to the Model County setup.

Whitegate’s Bugler was involved with the Loughrea senior hurlers this year but the

role with Wexford will be his first time in a management team at inter-county level. The two time All Star brought the curtain down on his Clare career following the All-Ireland quarter-final loss to Tipperary in 2017.

Bugler has also been heavily involved with hurling teams at St Flannans College since joining the teaching staff in recent years. Clare hurlers Jack Browne and Tony Kelly are also teachers at the Ennis second level institute.

CABB U14 Boys Blitz A full day for U14 with 8 teams playing round one of the CABB League in the Shannon Leisure Centre Hall – Shannon Jets and Quin Abbey Lakers opened up events with the Lakers taking a narrow lead. This was followed up by:

n Cooraclare Bluestars T1 def Abbey Lakers n Ennistymon Cascaders def Shannon Jet Clare Comets def Cooraclare Bluestars n Cascaders def Kilrush KBC n Panthers def Cooraclare Bluestars T2

n Panthers def Kilrush KBC.

Cascaders & Panthers are tied at the top of the table on 6 points, followed by Lakers on 4, Bluestars T1 & Comets on 3 points and Jets, KBC & Bluestars T2 all tied at the bottom on 2 points.

A Basketball Introductory Referees Course for new Clare refs is taking place this weekend and has a few places left. If you would like to get involved contact Vinnie Leigh or any member of the Cascaders Club members.

49

CLARE HANDBALL LEAGUE DIV 1

Wins for Clooney and Kilkishen

KILKISHEN was the place to be for Round 3 as the local battle of Kilishen A (Christy Philpott Jnr, Brendan Hannon, Mark Crehan, Henry McGrath) v Kilkishen B (John Cooney, Conor Cooney, Kevin O’Callaghan, Barry McMahon) taking centre stage. All friendships were cast aside as both teams played at full tilt to gain a win. It was the Kilkishen B team who were to win out on an overall score of 70-65.

Clooney Quin (Fergal Coughlan Jnr, John Cawley, Shane Hayes, Pat Nolan) returned to winning ways as they travelled to Tuamgraney (Conor Downes, Fionn Slattery, Patrick Crotty, Tiarnan Slattery) and took victory on an overall score of 77-64.

The match of Round 5 will be the clash of Tuamgraney v Newmarket on Fergus. Tues Oct 29th at 8pm – Clare Handball League – Division 1, Round 5. Venue: Clooney - Match: Clooney v Kilkishen A. Meanwhile, this year Clare Handball will be running a Clare Open 2019 tournament. The aim of this tournament is to have Clare Handball’s top adult players competing against each other over the course of one weekend. The tournament will see 12 players split into four groups of 3 players. The group stages of the tournament will take place on Saturday October 26 in Newmarket on Fergus and Clooney with play starting at 11am. The quarter finals, semi-finals and final will take place on Sunday October 27th in Newmarket on Fergus with play starting at 11am.

Success for Clare greyhound owners in Galway

S

ATURDAY night fever in Galway brought with it success for some Clare greyhound owners.

In the A6 graded contest for bitches over 525 yards, Clever Me owned by Frank Casey of Newmarket-on-Fergus, stayed on well to defeat Mustang Kaya by a length and a quarter in 29.64.

Race two in the S7 graded contest saw Rathkerry Rose lengthen her stride down the outside to take a narrow advantage, she extended the gap as she raced round the home bend drawing further clear with every stride to eventually defeat Orbsen Charm by six and a quarter lengths in 19.41 to please her Kilmaley owner Rachel Hehir.

Fast Fit Buddy won race number three by half a length in 19.62, John Quinn from Gort was the happy owner.

Three A3 contests also took place with Domino Burke taking the spoils in race number eight.

Newhall Torpedo came up just short in race nine, an A5 graded contest as the Pat O’Connor

owned Killanin Venture took the spoils in 29.25.

Bumblebee Jason looked to be buzzing his way home in the second A3 race of the night only for Badgerfort Tommy owned by Paddy Kennedy cut through his rivals at the penultimate bend to sweep to head of affairs before kicking clear between the final two bends

to defeat Hanover Power by a length and a half in 29.15.

Clare Coursing Club members had their ban lifted over the weekend with dates for various meetings in the county to be finalised this week.

Shannon’s Lynch signs The Scorecard contract with Galway in association with

S

HANNON’S Jack Lynch has signed a new contract with Galway United keeping him with the club for the 2020 SSE Airtricity League season, writes Páraic McMahon.

Lynch joined Galway midway through the 2019 season and became a regular in the starting eleven at right back making nine appearances after overcoming injury problems. He also lined out at centre-back and as a central midfielder.

Galway Utd manager, Alan Murphy said he was pleased to keep Jack on board for 2020. “Jack had a great introduction to Galway United. He was injured for a period of time and you could still probably look at him and say he was one of the finds of the season and a really consistent performer for us.

“He’s not just a performer, he’s exactly what I’ve been looking for. The individual, the application, the attitude and the type of character that we want to move forward with. He has that in spades. He’s really ambitious and has played in the League of Ireland and won things before. Jack is really looking forward to the setup that we’re going to have at Galway United next season, we’ll be really ambitious, driving forward to see what we can achieve together.”

Murphy has backed Lynch to build on the progress he’s made in the 2019 season and to become an established performer in the SSE Airtricity League. “Jack is only 21, he’s got a full career ahead of him. There is a huge amount of potential there.

Last season he gave us that attacking platform

EAST CLARE GOLF CLUB Men’s Singles 1st Bryan Tobin (11) 41 pts 2nd Terry Coughlan (17) 36pts Ladies Masters Winner Rachael Whelan. 72 nett 2nd Bridget Minogue 75 nett Men’s Seniors Winners Tony McNulty,Brian Torpey, Willie Roche Ladies Wednesday Mary Bugler, UrsulaHogan, Brid Hayes Friday Scramble Dave Condren,Evelyn Skehan,Terry Coughlan

from right-back. He’s calm on the ball, but yet very intelligent and he knows his job well. 2020 is going to be a big season for him.

“That little injury he picked up last season probably inhibited him in terms of playing a few more games and really becoming a fan favourite for us.

He’s well on the way to doing that because at such a young age, he’s already such a visible leader and a great guy to have around the club in terms of his demands and his standards. I’m glad he’s with us for another season.”

Galway Utd have yet to confirm if Ennis duo Maurice Nugent and Joe Collins will be sticking with the club, Nugent was named club player of the year last week. Striker Jeff McGowan from Newmarket-on-Fergus left the Tribesmen towards the end of last season with a recurring hamstring injury hindering his progress.

ENNIS GOLF CLUB Friday Open Singles Oct 18 1st Kieran Ryan (19) 40pts 2nd Cillian O Connor (9) 36pts 9 Hole open singles 1st Jim Griffin (16) 17pts 2nd Sean Hayes (19) 16pts SATURDAY SCRAMBLE Oct 19 1st Una O’Reilly, Willie Delaney & John Donovan 70pts 2nd Ann Casey, Johnny Kearse & Carmel Verling 68pts Gent’s Singles 18 S/F 19th & 20th Oct 1st John Mc Namara(12) 42pts 2nd Martin Moran(6) 38pts 3rd Ronan Herbert(8) 38pts 4th Joe Carmody(16) 37pts 5th Seamus Frehill(18) 37pts 6th Leo Herbert(10) 37pts 7th Fergal Croke(15) 37pts 8th Eddie Glenny(18) 37pts 9th Noel Kenny(12) 36pts 10th Liam Pyne(6) 36pts Ladies 9 hole s’ford (Sun 13th/Wed 16th) 1st Ann Dunne (21) 15pts (back6)

2nd Anne Pyne Gallery (23) 15pts 3rd Mary Glynn (31) 13pts Seniors Oct 15th 1st Della Burns, Margaret Flanagan & Carmel Cummins 45.5 2nd Carmel Verling, Mary Lenihan & Bernie Brooks 49.33 3rd Eileen Corry, Phil Butler & Margaret McEnery 52.5 KILRUSH GOLF CLUB Oct 19/20 KGC Open Men’s Singles.

1 Declan O’Donovan (8) 29 pts 2 Finbar McMahon (17) 28 pts Back 6 Wed Oct 16 Senior Men 1 Michael Hogan,Michael Ryan, Matt Fitzpatrick, John Robinson.67.5 pts 2 Tom Coffey, Sean Moran, Bill O’Reilly 59 pts 3 Finbar McMahon, Tom Cleary, Dermott Hammond, PW Glynn 58 pts Tue Oct 15 Senior Ladies 1. Marion Brennan, Margaret Griffin, Colette Glynn, 39.44 pts 2. Margaret Clancy, Agnes Shannon, Loret Maher, Loretta Browne, 39.92 pts 3. Rebecca Brew, Freda Moran, Pauline Kirk, 42.11 pts 4. Marie Bartlett, Kathleen Haugh, Anne Cooper, 44.33 pts SPANISH POINT GOLF CLUB Oct 20 Ladies Singles 13-Hole S/F 1st Valerie Shannon 20 pts 2nd Maura Killackey 17 pts 3rd Kathleen Haugh 16 pts Oct 15 Snrs Open Singles 18-Hole S/F 1st Eamonn Murphy 40 pts 2nd Maurice Murphy 38 pts 3rd Harry Crowe 35 pts

50 SPORT

THURSDAY, OCT 24 2019

Helping people trumps any trophy for Irene with PÁRAIC McMAHON

This week, as part of our 20x20 series we meet former Irish international Irene Hehir, who says helping people through her coaching is more important than success on the pitch

F

OOTBALL, soccer, the beautiful game, call it what you want, for Irene Hehir getting lost in the sport was also how she found herself once again.

Usually Irene is on the go six evenings a week with various teams; October is her quiet time when she has two nights to herself. In a typical week, she’ll be on the pitch for ten to 12 hours. The same time if not more is spent on planning drills, going to games or scouting players. Though when helping teams at Lifford as a teenager may have felt like a chore, now the challenge is one she savours.

“I think I pay the bills at home but I don’t warm the couch too much. People don’t realise the impact sport can have on that person. For me, if I can change one person’s life through coaching and sport the way it did for me, that is better than any medal, trophy or accolade that can be handed down. A text from a parent to say their daughter absolutely loves what you’ve done for them or how another who first started had anxiety, no self esteem or confidence but has completely changed and is loving it, getting that message makes me happy”.

Currently, the Ennis woman is manager of the Limerick FC U17 women’s side, assistant manager to their senior team, assistant to the coach with the Republic of Ireland U17 girls and somehow finds time to assist with the Clare Emerging Talent programme. Getting involved with a national team came as a pleasant surprise.

“When it was put to me, it was the dream and where you want to be when you’re coaching. You do aspire to do better in the role but when a position like that becomes available you have to jump on it, give it a go and see where it takes you, I was absolutely honoured and thrilled to get it”.

Over the summer, she completed the UEFA B coaching licence as part of the only group in Ireland to do the female only licence. The next step is getting the A licence. “I’m loving what I’m doing in the women’s national league so definitely looking to stay going with that, I’m hoping they keep me on with Limerick for the U17s team next year, maybe someday aspire to take over a senior team myself. With the national team, I’m happy to see where it goes for the moment but I’d be a fool to say I wouldn’t like it to go further. I’d love to see how far I can go with that, whether I’d be good enough to go for a professional team maybe it is something to aspire to and I’ll keep taking it one step at a time and see where it goes”.

On the field, Hehir has been capped four times for her country, this coming at a period when international games were a rare occurrence. She trained with the Republic of Ire-

l ASPIRATIONS: Irene Hehir, pictured at Abbey Street Car Park this week, is hoping to progress her career as a soccer coach Photo by John Mangan

land for four years, picking up a serious knee injury during that time. “There was very few opportunities at the time, when they came along you most certainly took them. It was great to be part of it and look back on it, I still have one of the jerseys, just hanging onto it,” she recalled.

As a vital cog of the all conquering Lifford Ladies side, Irene won national honours at underage and senior level. The striker memorably scored in a penalty shootout as a 16 year old when the club became national champions. She remains grateful to all the coaches that were over teams of hers and has picked

up many learnings from their methods.

But when it comes to life lessons, Irene has plenty. The 44 year old has been vocal sharing her story on depression, how systematic bullying during her schooldays put suicidal thoughts into her head. Two years ago, she reached a crisis point and made the simple but life-saving choice of contacting Pieta House.

Today, Irene is a much better place. “Everyday isn’t a great day but there is good in all days, I try work on all that and keep as positive as I can, take it on the chin when things aren’t going as good and know going through

my therapy and sessions I’ve learned to work on it and know it’s not the end of the world.

It will pass and I’m not afraid to talk about it which is huge whereas I would’ve bottled it up or went to the gym to work it off which was just beating it down. I’m not afraid to turn around and tell someone if I’m having a shit day and all of a sudden that weight is lifted off and I feel much better. It had a huge bearing on me as a coach and a manager, it’s not so much about the game, it’s about the person, I try keep that in the back of my mind. I’m a hell of a lot better than I was this time two years ago.

“You can walk into a dressing room and straight away you can change the tone in that dressing room not even by saying a word, it’s how you act, how you appear. Sometimes it’s just a simple ‘hello’, you don’t have to be bouncing around the place. I tried to make sure that I have the positive energy. I could be having a crap day and turn up at a session but the last thing I want is for the players to know I’m having that day, me going in and having that manner might mean I’ll actually be good by the end of it, they in turn might have put that back on me because we’ve bounced off each other. I will never dread going to a session because I’m almost certain I’ll walk away from it feeling pretty good afterwards”.

During an Irish trip to Lithuania, she conducted a positive mindset workshop where members of the U17 squad were encouraged to dispel negative thoughts from their mind whenever they made a mistake, “That hour with the girls was absolutely empowering”.

Widening those workshops out to coaches of all codes would be a positive, “A little bit of awareness around it won’t go astray, I don’t think anyone deliberately goes out to upset anyone but sometimes the game can mean so much to you that you get a little lost in it. It should be part of coaching courses”.

A shift supervisor at EI Electronics, Irene used to play camogie and ladies football but the beautiful game has always remained her greatest love. “At training you forget about everything else going on, you don’t have to worry about school, you can lose yourself in the game for that hour and have some fun. I used to love everything about match day, getting up in the morning, getting ready, packing the bag, the anticipation of the game, the taking part and the high or low afterwards.

What I’ve gained out of the sport is invaluable”.

In 2016, her father Flan published a book documenting the history on the Turnpike.

However it’s the eldest of his and Bella’s five children that is continuing to make her mark in the sporting world and will be remembered in the history books, so far as women’s soccer in Ireland is concerned.

CLASSIFIEDS 51

THURSDAY, OCT 24 2019

Classifieds ACCOUNTANCY

CAR REPAIRS

EDUCATION

CONTACT SALES

065 671 9021 sales@clareecho.ie

PAINTING

Maths Grinds Available

Leaving Certificate & Junior Certificate.

Ennis Qualifications & Experience • B.A Hons in Mathematics - Trinity College Dublin 2018.

• Professional Masters of Education – University of Limerick – Current Student (Year 1) • Four Years Experience Tutoring Maths.

• Professional experience teaching Leaving Cert Higher Level.

Contact Dara at 086-7367654 or ryanchad@tcd.ie

CLEANING

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52 PLANNING

THURSDAY, OCT 24 2019

Classifieds SERVICES

mbs-clare-echo.indd 1

STORAGE

TARMACADAM

The Clare Echo Classifieds Contact 065 671 9021

18/12/2018 22:08:41

PLANNING Clare County Council.

Lakyle, Ardnacrusha, Co. Clare.

I Barbara Mackey and I Martin Cahill intend to apply to Clare County Council for the following to be carried out at Lakyle, Ardnacrusha, Co. Clare: 1) full planning permission for the construction of a link corridor at the rear of the dwelling to connect the dwelling and garage, 2) replacing existing door/ window with single window to the front of the existing dwelling, 3) conversion of a garage into an en-suite bedroom and 4) construction of a garden and fence to the front of the dwelling.

The planning application may be inspected, or purchased at a fee not exceeding the reasonable cost of making a copy at the offices of Clare County Council during its public opening hours and a submission or observation in relation to the application may be made to the authority in writing on payment of

the prescribed fee within the period of 5 weeks beginning on the date of receipt by the authority of the application.

Please contact me at your convenience on 0874114584 to arrange payment.

Clare County Council.

Doolin Tld., Doolin, Co Clare. Eircode V95 A0XD. Take notice that, Marian and Frank Sheedy intend to apply for permission to RETAIN the following items which differ to that previously granted by P16/541: 1. Revised location and finished floor level of main building 2. Revisions to elevations of the main building 3. Revised locations of Waste Water Treatment System, Percolation area and car parking area 4. Retention of storage shed and wall surrounding Car park area to North West of Building And all ancillary site works associated with the development on site

at the above address.

The planning application may be inspected or purchased at a fee not exceeding the reasonable cost of making a copy, at the offices of the planning authority during its public opening hours. A submission or observation in relation to the application may be made in writing to the planning authority on payment of the prescribed fee of â‚Ź20.00, within the period of 5 weeks beginning on the date of receipt by the planning authority of the application and such submissions or observations will be considered by the planning authority in making a decision on the application. The planning authority may grant permissions subject to or without conditions or may refuse to grant permission.

Deirdre Foran, BEng (Civil) Lisdoonvarna Co Clare 087 675 0327, thank you.

CONTACT SALES

065 671 9021 sales@clareecho.ie

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54 PUZZLEPAGE

THURSDAY, OCT 24 2019

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QUIZ 55

THURSDAY, OCT 24 2019

The Clare Echo Quiz

The Muhammad Ali Monu1what mentyear? was unveiled by the boxer in a. 2005 b. 2009 c. 2011

tion in Ennis?

a.

750th Anniversary of Ennis b.

The first transatlantic routes from Shannon Airport c.

Ennis inauguration as the capital of Clare

The statue of Icarus was

The monument dedicated 7 uprooted in 2006 to which current 2 to the boxer is located on which location? road in Ennis town? a. b. c.

Lahinch Road Kilrush Road Turnpike Road

a. b. c.

Clareabbey Roundabout Rocky Road Roundabout Cappahard Roundabout

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In what year was the statue 3 Square before the Daniel O’ Con8 of Michael Cusack unveiled outnell monument? side the county grounds? a. 1990 b. 2008 c. 2017

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a. Granite b. Marble c. Limestone

5

In what year was the Daniel O’ Connell monument erected in Ennis? a. 1825 b. 1865 c. 1895

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The statue of Icarus was a commemoration of what celebra-

The Great Hunger Memorial is located in which Clare Town?

l QUESTION 4 : From which rock type is the Daniel O’ Connell monument

made up of?

a. Shannon b. Kilkee c. Ennistymon

The Manchester Martyrs Me10 morial is located in which town in County Clare? a. Kilrush b. Ennis c. Lahinch

By Cian O’Broin

Spot the Difference Can you spot the difference? Spot the 7 differences.

The answers will be revealed in next weeks edition.

Pictured L-R Catherine Duffy, AmCham Board Member and Mid-Western Chair, Anne-marie Tierney-Le Roux, Head of Regional Development, IDA Ireland, Carin Bryans, 2020 AmCham President and Mark Redmond, CEO AmCham Ireland.

Photo by Arthur Ellis

6. 750th Anniversary of Ennis 7. Rocky Road Roundabout 8. 2017 9. Ennistymon 10. Kilrush

From which rock type is the Daniel O’ Connell monument made up of?

ANSWERS 1. 2009 2. Turnpike Road 3. Courthouse 4. Limestone 5. 1865

a.

Town Hall b. Courthouse c.

Market stalls

Last weeks Answers . Letter ‘a’ missing in t shirt . apostrophe missing in IT’S . chair to left is now green . woman in backgrounds skirt is has

changed colour . woman (left) foot is missing . Woman (centre right) lock of hair is missing . clothes left of pic have changed colour

Christmas Events

Dec 21 st

Dec 22 nd

Dec 28th

Jan 5th

Santa’s Grotto ₏25 Arrives December 6th incl. booking T: +353 (0)65 686 9600 www.treacyswestcounty.com

25th October