The Clare Echo 27/07/23

ANYTHING YOU CAN DO...

4 out of 10

hotel rooms used by asylum seekers

Clare tourism chiefs write to Minister

by Páraic McMahon paraic@clareecho.ie

CLARE has experienced a 37% reduction in the amount of bednights available in the county due to the repurposing of hotels, B&Bs and guesthouses for accommodating International Protection Applicants.

This has prompted the Clare Tourism Advisory Forum to write to the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, Roderic O’Gorman (GP) expressing “serious concern” on the impact to the local tourism and hospitality sector.

Repurposing of hotels, B&Bs and guesthouses to accommodate asylum seekers “has resulted in a significant loss to the local tourism economy and has, consequently, impacted County Clare’s competitiveness”.

Hotel operators in Clare last year shared out a €21.27m bonanza for accommodating Ukrainains, White’s Hotels which owns hotels in Lisdoonvarna received €6.49m alone in 2022.

Meanwhile in Shannon, officials in the Department of Integration have yet to comment on reports that a vacant unit in the Industrial Estate will now

accommodate 600 asylum seekers. The Clare Echo had first reported in February that an approximate 300 individuals would be housed at the site.

Speaking to The Clare Echo, Cllr Gerry Flynn (IND) said the potential of 600 International Protection Applicants in the one unit was “off the charts”. He added, “We’ve seen too much of a focus on Co Clare, the Government seem to be insisting on pushing more and more on areas that can’t support it, It is like a population explosion”.

lOver 2,500 cyclists made their way across much of the Banner County on Saturday, taking in breathtaking views at the annual Škoda Ring of Clare Cycle which is worth an estimated €1m to the local economy. Pictured is 4 year old Jack Graham and his sister Eibhin (2) outside their home in Killimer watching the bikes go by

Photo by Arthur Ellis

lGerry Flynn Photo by Chris Copley

Email: editor@clareecho.ie or

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History buffs of Ennis CBS

Mr. Spring’s class have also just been announced as winners in the All Island Decade of Centenaries History Competition for schools. Their project Danger on the Streets of Ennis focused on the Civil War and the national election of 1923.

Pictured are: Back Row (L to R),James Coffey, Ignas Kairys,

Jack Dee, Liam McDermott, Eythan Mickus, Zack Kelly, Szymon Koznicz, Bushra Jaed, Deanie Mongans, Adriens Stefenbergs, Teagan Hall, Rían Maxwell, Luke Connellan and Enzo Brandeburgo. Front Row (L to R), Caden Flanagan, Emily Nolan, Jagoda Neubauer, Lily Guerin, Sienna Connellan, Serah Thengil, Aqsa Amatul Baseer, Liam Naughton, Aiden Cordeiro Assuncao, Croíadh McNamara, Alicja Dubiel, Emily Cunningham, Grace O’Brien and Rowan O’Neill.

M18 junctions ‘a real danger’

REPEATED criticism with the “sub-standard” motorway exits in Co Clare has been voiced, writes Páraic McMahon.

Speaking at the July meeting of Clare County Council, Cllr Pat Hayes (FF) affirmed that the junction exits of the M18 in Co Clare were “not meeting the standards required, they sub-standard compared with all other exits”. He stated, “This Council should demand change, I would urge the Chief Executive to be urgent in taking action on this you don’t want blood on your hands”. Junctions 13 (Ennis/Tulla Rd), 14 (Barefield) and 15 (Crusheen) were described as “a real danger on a continuous basis” by the Maghera native. “We don’t want a tragedy or an accident, it needs a matter of urgency to get TII in here”.

Chief Executive of the Council, Pat Dowling said he was aware of the “sensitivity and gravity” of the matter. He committed to continue raising the concerns with Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII).

Prior to this February was the most recent occasion when Cllr Hayes flagged the matter in the Council Chamber. “I have requested a number of times for TII to review safety aspects at Tulla and Barefield, when you look at other exits around the country these are not fit for use”.

Ennis representative, Cllr Johnny Flynn (FG) outlined that he opposed speed limit plans by junction 13 due to the quality of speed ramps.

In February 2019, TII confirmed that

initiated a

ty review of the three junctions following a motion by Cllr Hayes at the December 2018 meeting of the County Council.

they

safe-

Mr. Spring’s 3rd Class from Ennis CBS was among the winners in the ÉIRÍ schools history and folklore competition. The project was based on the sun goddess Gráinne who is associated with Tuamgraney.

Questions remain over use of Shannon Industrial Estate unit for asylum seekers

by Páraic McMahon paraic@clareecho.ie

A REPRESENTATIVE group of Shannon Residents have circulated plans that a vacant unit in the Shannon Industrial Estate is set to house up to 600 International Protection Applicants.

In February, The Clare Echo reported that an approximate 300 asylum seekers will be accommodated at a State owned property in the Shannon Industrial Estate, this was later confirmed by the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth.

Work commenced prior to Christmas on the fitting out of the building in the Shannon Industrial Estate which is on 7.3 acres of land and was made available by the Office of Public Works to the Department for the purposes of providing emergency accommodation.

Following a heated public meeting held in Shannon Town Park in January, a Shannon Residents Association group was formed, its creation led to some backlash within the town from other groups including the Cronan Residents Association.

Efforts from the Shannon Residents Association to hold a meeting with elected representatives is ongoing. A private social media group of the Residents Association has shared documents on the conversion of the building which it says is now capable of accommodating 600 persons.

Neither the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth or the Shannon Residents Association have responded to attempts by The Clare Echo to contact both parties on the matter, specifically the figure of 600 persons.

Speaking to The Clare Echo, Cllr Gerry Flynn (IND) stated, “If those

numbers do arrive then they are off the charts but with this Government I’m not surprised, they have become fit to do anything”.

Shannon based Flynn added, “I’ve no problem supporting people that need support.

“The people in Clare have shown great generosity and hospitality in dealing with the high numbers being placed throughout the county by the Government. The impact in

various communities is being felt where there is a deficiency in services to support the existing local community.

“We’ve seen too much of a focus on Co Clare, the Government seem to be insisting on pushing more and more on areas that can’t support it, it is like a population explosion with what our county has experienced in terms of accommodating people fleeing the war in Ukraine and

Garda contests drink- driving and careless driving prosecution

by Gordon Deegan news@clareecho.ie

A SERVING member of An Garda Síochána appeared in court charged with drink-driving and careless driving in Ennis town centre last year.

In total, David Kenneally (41) of The Maples, Oakleigh Wood, Tulla Rd, Ennis is contesting three separate charges being brought against him that are alleged to have occurred at Abbey Street, Ennis on February 5th last year.

At Ennis District Court on Tuesday, counsel for Mr Kenneally, David Staunton BL, instructed by solicitor, Daragh Hassett told Judge Mary Cashin that “obviously this is a very serious matter for Mr Kenneally”.

Mr Staunton said, “Mr Kenneally is a serving member and he is currently suspended and there are a huge number of difficulties and ramifications with respect to that”.

In the case, Mr Kenneally is

charged with drink-driving at Abbey Street, Ennis on February 5th 2022 contrary to Section 4 of the Road Traffic Act. Mr Kenneally is also charged with driving without due care and attention at the same location on the same date contrary to Section 52 of the Road Traffic Act. Mr Kenneally is also facing a summons of consuming intoxicating liquor with the intention to frustrate a prosecution under Section 4 of the Road Traffic Act at Abbey Street, Ennis on February 5th 2022 contrary to Section 18 (3) of the Road Traffic Act.

The contested case was specially fixed for today and State Solicitor for Co Limerick, Aidan Judge told the court that the State is to call 12 witnesses in the case.

Mr Judge said that his application was to seek an adjournment in the case as one of the prosecution witnesses is unavailable due to the death of his mother. Mr Judge said

housing international protection applicants,” Cllr Flynn added.

Cllr Donna McGettigan (SF) said she was hopeful “that facilities are put in place for those coming and that they settle in and are given a warm welcome that the people of Shannon are known for”.

Clare TD, Violet-Anne Wynne (IND) has written to Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, Roderic O’Gor-

that “the defence is insisting that I produce this witness and I have no option but to seek an adjournment”.

Mr Staunton said his instructions from Mr Kenneally are very clear that the witness is an essential witness.

Judge Cashin remarked that it was pushed by the State to have the case put on for today and Sgt Louis Moloney said that the case had prioritisation as a first case and was due to take two hours. Judge Cashin remarked “with 12 State witnesses, two hours is conservative”.

Mr Judge said that “it is a case I believe should be given half a day” and Mr Staunton said “I wouldn’t disagree with that”.

Judge Cashin adjourned the case to Ennis District Court to September 20th to fix a date and Judge Cashin remanded Mr Kenneally on continuing bail and said that Mr Kenneally is excused from attending court on that date.

man (GP) on twelve occasions seeking a public meeting in Shannon.

Deputy Wynne has been vocal over the past seven months on the matter and criticised its location prior to having visited the site and the lack of information relayed to the community. “The location of that unit has been a concern for me, it’s so far away from services, that is what people from Shannon themselves have mentioned”.

One arrest & one hospitalisation following stabbing

A GARDA investigation is underway following a reported stabbing in Kilrush, writes Páraic McMahon

One man has been hospitalised and another male arrested after a stabbing took place on Moore Street in the West Clare town on Tuesday afternoon.

Gardaí discovered a man with head injuries after being alerted to an incident in Kilrush. A man in his thirties was taken to University Hospital Limerick to receive treatment shortly after this.

Another man in his twenties was arrested by Gardaí and he is currently detained at a Garda

station in the county. Investigations into the incident are continuing, a spokesperson for An Garda Síochána confirmed to The Clare Echo

l REFUGEES: The Shannon Industrial Estate Unit Photo by Joe Buckley

‘Significant loss to Clare’s tourism economy’ with bed repurposing

by Páraic McMahon paraic@clareecho.ie

CLARE’S tourism economy has experienced “a significant loss” with the repurposing of hotels, B&Bs and guesthouses for accommodating International Protection Applicants.

Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, Roderic O’Gorman (GP) has been contacted by the Clare Tourism Advisory Forum which is the representative body for the tourism industry in Co Clare, on the matter.

“Serious concern” has been voiced by personnel operating within the local tourism and hospitality sector which has prompted the Clare Tourism Advisory Forum to contact Minister O’Gorman.

In the correspondence obtained by The Clare Echo, Vice Chairperson of the Clare Tourism Advisory Forum, Maurice Walsh appealed to the Minister “to explore all possible opportunities for ensuring accommodation provided to International Protection Applicants and those seeking

temporary protection is more evenly dispersed across the country, instead of being heavily concentrated in western counties such as County Clare that are reliant on tourism”.

According to the Clare Tourism Advisory Forum, there has been a 37 per cent reduction in the number of available bed nights in County Clare due to the repurposing of hotels, B&Bs and guesthouses.

Walsh stated that this “has resulted in a significant loss to the local tourism economy and has, consequently, impacted County Clare’s competitiveness”.

He added, “The County Clare tourism sector is robust, and the lengthy track record of local operators working together to promote and develop our industry has been instrumental in partly offsetting the impact of reduced bed nights in County Clare”.

Maurice who is the General Manager of Durty Nellys in Bunratty outlined, “With a view to easing the accommodation shortage in the Clare hospitality sector and in support of the Government’s

programme of sourcing appropriate accommodation for international protection applicants and those seeking international protection, the Clare Tourism Advisory Forum respectfully requests your government to intensify efforts to audit and repurpose Stateowned properties for accommodation. This includes all properties under the remit of the Defence Forces, the Office of Public Works, Department of Transport, Department of Education along with other governmental departments and State Agencies”.

“While Clare tourism operators acknowledge the unprecedented crisis facing Europe and Ireland’s international obligations to accommodate International Protection Applicants and those seeking temporary protection, we feel that the County Clare hospitality sector has contributed more than most other parts of Ireland and that efforts to reduce the dependence on accommodation providers in tourism-reliant counties would be welcomed,” he added.

lHotel room

Illegal encampment removed from Sixmilebridge train station

by Páraic McMahon paraic@clareecho.ie

AN ILLEGAL encampment has been removed from Sixmilebridge Train Station after two years and five months.

Up to four caravans had been based at the train station since the arrival of the encampment in February 2021 when they had moved from the grounds of St Senan’s RFC in Shannon. This figure had reduced to three by March and since June just one caravan remained and it was removed on Saturday morning.

Members of An Garda Síochána had an enforcement notice with them as they instructed the occupants of the encampment to leave. It is not known where the individuals have since relocated to.

Since March, Iarnród Éireann had instructed their drivers to proceed at caution through Sixmilebridge due to the presence of the encampment in what is called “a series of safety measures”. Delays of up to five to 10 minutes have been experienced for all services at Sixmilebridge as a result but on some occasions the length of time has been greater.

Barriers had been placed at both platform ends by Iarnród Éireann while Clare County Council who owned the car park had placed restrictions at the entrance to the car park.

A spokesperson for Iarnród Éireann told The Clare Echo that the delays are now hoped to become a thing of the past. “Following the resolution of this issue by Clare County Council, we are doing a final review of the site - we expect the speed restriction which had been in place due to trespass issues to be removed in the coming days, ensuring improved punctuality for Limerick to Ennis/Galway services”.

Speaking to The Clare Echo, Cllr Alan O’Callaghan (FF) admitted that the departure of the encampment comes as “huge relief”.

He explained, “it was a public car park owned by Clare County Council which made it a bit more difficult to deal with, as a housing authority the Council has been working with them to sort it out. Enough was enough at this stage, Iarnród Éireann’s hands were tied, they had to cut back the speed of the trains coming in because it was a huge health and safety is-

sue with the encampment and kids, the train station is not a place for kids to be running up and down by platforms”.

He added, “it is going to be a relief to a lot of people, huge relief. Everyone in Sixmilebridge felt they were breaking the law and they were,” he claimed. The Kilmurry representative continued, “people were annoyed that they were seen to be breaking the law, older people were afraid of the potential of intimidation so they weren’t using the station.

“With accommodation so tight in universities, we have a lot of students using the station and there is a lot more people commuting for college in Limerick and Galway, the mothers and fathers dropping and collecting their children had to make sure they were there before the train to pick up their son or daughter. People were afraid to park their cars there, I know a few elderly people who had to time their walk to get out there because they didn’t want to be there waiting for the train,” the former Leas Cathaoirleach of Clare County Council stated.

Services had been curtailed, he said as he pointed to the over a million people using the rail line from Limerick to Galway. “It wasn’t a nice environment for people using the train,” he commented of the encampment.

Repeat scenarios will not occur in Sixmilebridge, O’Callaghan flagged. “There is provisions put in to not allow caravans in there anymore, there will be a height restriction put in and blocks to stop in at the moment, it may be an inconvenience for buses who may need to service the station going forward. It is not a place for an illegal encampment, it is going on two and a half years”.

Local authority housing standards in Ireland were found to be “inadequate” and that the State’s treatment of Travellers is “violation of their rights,” a report by the Council of Europe published in 2021 found.

Activists within the Traveller community have previously told The Clare Echo that the families who had been living in Sixmilebridge had been on the housing list “for several years” and that they had never been offered accommodation by Clare County Council.

Primary care centre begins priced offer process

EXPRESSIONS of interest have been sought by the HSE from third parties for the provision of a new primary care healthcare centre in Sixmilebridge, writes Páraic McMahon

A priced offer process will be undertaken in the third quarter of 2023 for the primary care centre. Planning had been approved for the primary care centre but an issue with the sale over the identified land at

Ashview Drive had halted development resulting in an over-year long delay. Years of uncertainty have clouded the project due to the legal issues between the HSE and its developer. Planning was first lodged in March 2019 for the 1,600 square metre two-storey care centre.

When the Primary Care Centre is operational, it will provide a full range of Primary Care Services including Public Health Nursing,

Child Health, Speech and Language Therapy, Dietetics, Physiotherapy, Podiatry and Occupational Therapy. These services will be provided by staff who are currently located in existing HSE sites, including Sixmilebridge and Shannon Health Centres.

HSE officials confirmed in response to a parliamentary question from Clare TD, Michael McNamara (IND) that it has sought expressions

of interest from third parties in the provision of the centre.

Deputy McNamara said the delivery of the new facility was essential to help to ease pressure on the Mid West Region’s main hospital at UHL. “The Capital and Estates department of the HSE has informed me that the delivery of the facility is being carried out via its Primary Care Centre Operational Lease Mechanism. The location was

re-advertised seeking expressions of interest from third parties in the provision of Primary Care Centres via Operational Leases”. Delays with the project were referenced by Cllr PJ Ryan (IND). “In our own neck of the woods, we have been trying to get a health centre in Sixmilebridge for the last five years,” he stated while criticising the funding models within the HSE.

l Photo by Joe Buckley

Chipboard Factory Exhibitions brings life to old stories in Scariff

by Páraic McMahon

TALES from the past of Ireland’s first chipboard factory located in Scariff will be shared at an upcoming exhibition.

The story of Chipboard Factory in Scariff begins in the late 1950s, when its German parent company Aicher Chipboard (Rosenheim) established a plant on the Drewsborough site. At a time of economic hardship, unemployment and mass emigration, it was to have a major impact on the lives of people in East Clare and become the first chipboard factory on the island of Ireland.

An exhibition of current photographs and stories from a representative selection of employees throughout its evolution over a 60year period, will be open for public viewing on site from 2-5pm on Saturday and Sunday of the August Bank Holiday weekend. Chipboard People, Images & Stories of a Rural Manufacturing Industry will reflect the memories of eleven people including specially commissioned photographs by John Kelly.

When Aicher Chipboard was seeking to expand its business in Ireland in the 50s, local interests in Scariff had identified the need to bring a rural manufacturing industry to east Clare. Led by builder, Tom McInerney and JB (Barney) O’Driscoll, an industrialist associated with the Kil-

laloe Slate Quarries, the plant was established in late 1958.

“All of us in Scariff grew up with an awareness of the factory and the strong presence it had in the community,” said Harry O’Meara, of the Harbour Festival Committee. “This exhibition acknowledges the contribution of its many employees and

we are grateful to EKO Integrated Services for initiating and funding the project and including it as part of our festival programme,” he added.

Marie McInerney’s grandfather Tom was a founding Director of Aicher Chipboard (Scariff) and founder of McInerney Properties. Under the joint direction of his sons, Amby &

Dan, the firm became the first ‘volume builders’ in the state. In 1971, the company went public with Amby as Chair and McInerney Holdings expanded into the Gulf States and into Spain & Portugal. Amby remained loyal to Scariff and when the factory went into receivership, he became Chair of Chipboard Products Ltd, to save it from closure. Marie joined the office workforce in 1962 and remained there until retirement. She went on to become the first lady GAA club secretary in Ireland and is the last direct surviving member of the McInerney family in Scariff.

Like many other employees of Chipboard, Paddy Fleming came to work in Scariff through word of mouth. Liam McInerney, a General Foreman who also came from O’Callaghans Mills, asked him to join the workforce. Paddy didn’t come from a farming background, he had left Scariff Vocational School and worked for a time in Shannon, before starting what was to become a life-long career as a forklift driver and foreman. Paddy was also a member of the Action Committee to protect jobs at the factory in the early 1980s. He rostered workers to man a caravan day and night at the entrance and helped raised funds for a Dublin protest on the Dáil in 1983.

Over 350 people were employed at the factory, most of whom came

from the towns and villages in East Clare and many with farming backgrounds. Local shops and businesses flourished and the impact on family farms was significant with improved farm buildings, better machinery and increased stock numbers.

However, uncertainty emerged about the future viability of the plant. The company went into receivership and Chipboard Products Ltd, was formed to save it. When the Spanish-owned company Finsa Forest Products took over operations in 1984, production experienced a resurgence. Although the manufacturing of chipboard ceased at the site in 2012, a small financial and administrative Finsa team remains to complement its large warehousing base in Drogheda, Co Louth.

The Scariff site is now one of EKO Integrated Services managed investments. ELYE distribution marks the first phase of its redevelopment. Its vision is to establish a mixed-use, eco-friendly park with a strong focus on the provision of net zero energy and biodiversity protection. It plans to attract more business and enterprise to Scariff, adding production and processing facilities to the site, creating employment and positively impacting local economies.

The Exhibition is funded by EKO Integrated Services. Design is by Edmond Krasniqi and it is curated by Anne Jones.

Sustainability shines as judges complete inspection

ENNIS’ sustainability stood out to international adjudicators as the county town underwent an inspection this week by Communities in Bloom judges, writes Páraic McMahon

An evaluation of Ennis Town took place from Sunday to Tuesday of this week as it partook in the 29th edition of the international challenge. The community will be rated from 1 to 5 ‘Blooms’, based on the scoring obtained. Ennis will also aim to obtain Bronze, Silver, or Gold levels in its 5-Bloom

rating, it is competing alongside Brooks Regional, Alberta, Canada, and Monfalcone, Italy in the medium category.

Judges Berta Briggs from Canada and Dr. Andrea Bocsi’s report will be released with the announcement of the awards at the end of September.

“The outreach to community and the community involvement in everything that is happening in Ennis, it really comes together as a well put together community,” Berta Briggs indicated of her initial reaction.

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lLOOKING BACK: Marie McInerney

paraic@clareecho.ie

Tributes to Derek Troy as he moves on from Killaloe

by Páraic McMahon paraic@clareecho.ie

QUERRIN native Derek Troy received plenty of plaudits when attending his final meeting of the Killaloe Municipal District.

After 15 months as acting senior executive engineer in the Killaloe MD, Derek will be leaving the post to take up a new role with Galway County Council where he will work out of the Athenry area office.

In the current Council term (2019-2024), he becomes the third senior engineer to leave the Killaloe MD, Tom Mellett moved on to the equivalent role in the Shannon Municipal District while his predecessor Niamh Madden transferred to the housing section of the local authority.

A Bachelor of Engineering graduate from University College Dublin, Derek also holds a masters in environmental science from Atlantic Technological University. Well known in gaelic football circles, he has played at all levels for his club O’Currys including when the Peninsula outfit were competing in the Clare SFC when he was then an outfield player, he will be lining out

between the posts when Dinny McMahon’s charges begin their bid for honours in Group 1 of the Clare IFC.

Cathaoirleach of the Killaloe MD, Cllr Tony O’Brien (FF) acknowledged at the sitting in Scariff that it was Derek’s final meeting with them. “I would like to acknowledge his contribution to the Municipal District over the last few years, I would like to thank you personally and on behalf of the Municipal District for the help and contribution to us. I wish you the very best, I am sorry you are going because you always went above and beyond the call, you were always available on the phone day and night, thanks for what you have done”.

Mayor of Clare, Cllr Joe Cooney (FG) said Derek was “a pleasure to work with. He came out and met communities or individuals whenever he was asked. You have achieved a lot in your short time with us. I am disappointed to see you go, you might be back to us if we’re around long enough”.

Galway will be benefitting from the addition of the West Clare man, Cllr Pat Hayes (FF) maintained. “Our loss is some-

body’s else gain, I hate to see people leaving when they are only getting into it but it is an individual decision” and added that the “common sense approach” of the engineer was always clear.

Hayes used the opportunity to urge Clare County Council to consider their process of appointments and was critical of the fact that their area engineer was left with the title of ‘acting’ for over a year.

Responding to the well-wishes, Troy advised Cllr O’Brien that he was only in the Killaloe MD since last April and not years even though “it may have seemed longer”. He added, “everyone was an absolute pleasure to work with, there is a great team with the councillors and the executive, I am only moving up the road by a small distance but I will still be available on the phone if you ever need me”.

The Town Hall Bistro

Providing a welcoming environment with great value food championing local ingredients.

The Poets Corner Bar

A traditional Irish pub that opens its doors onto the main town street of Ennis. Perfect for a pint, a bite to eat or traditional Irish music session..

The Brendan O’Regan Restaurant

Ideal for special occasions. The menu features traditional cuisine with a modern day creative twist.

lENGINEER: Derek Troy in action for O’Currys

Photo by Burren Eye Photography

The Poet's Corner Bar is a traditional Irish pub that opens its doors onto the main town street of Ennis. Perfect for a pint, a bite to eat or traditional Irish music session.

The Brendan O'Regan Restaurant is ideal for special occasions. The menu features traditional cuisine with a modern day creative twist.

by Páraic

@clareecho.ie

HOPES FOR a growth in Liscannor’s population and available services is growing following the addition of a €7m wastewater treatment plant, writes Páraic McMahon

For close to three decades, Liscannor has been trying to improve its wastewater infrastructure and now the discharge of untreated water to the sea is a thing of the past giving locals optimism that the North-West Clare location will experience a bounce in development.

Patrick Blake who ran the Captain’s Deck restaurant and Liscannor Village Hostel alongside his wife Eilish were very pleased to see the investment.

“We’ve been trying to get this project off the ground for over 10 years, a thing that helped a number of years ago was when the pipe burst and it blew into the air, we called it the geyser.

“It highlighted exactly what the problem was, before that it was hidden because it was underwater, you couldn’t see it unless you were a surfer or fisherman. Today is a fantastic day for Liscannor, there has been €7m spent on a project for a small village like Liscannor, we’re very proud of the fact that Irish Water contributed this project to us”.

Damage had been done to Liscannor’s reputation with previous inaction on the project, Patrick admitted.

“It was horrendous, it affected everything, Liscannor was a no go, it damaged tourism, it damaged every-

thing, nobody wanted to come here.

The geyser was known, there was a backlash, some people I shouldn’t have said anything but I was on a mission to get it sorted.

“This is a marvellous help, you will only see growth, development and people talking positively about Liscannor from now on, people will be back in the harbour at Liscannor and swimming, it had disappeared for 30 or 40 years, people wouldn’t come near the place”.

In August 2015, Liscannor garnered national headlines when the geyser of sewage was spotted gushing from a pipe, “the geyser went 24ft high and it was 24ft of raw sewage,” Patrick recounted.

Eilish noted, “It was the first thing that greeted you in the village was the smell”.

Patrick added, “Along this road when you entered the village you got the smell, the wind as we know it blows directly from the septic tank, it was only a septic tank for a whole community with two hotels, four pubs and all the houses there, it did a lot of damage”.

Liscannor native Patrick is confident that the investment will be the start of a new era for Liscannor.

“There’s bound to be an increase in Liscannor’s population now and people will come to live here now, there will be houses built and people will live here.

“The population will increase, the services and everything will become better”.

€7M investment has resulted in the addition of a new wastewater treatment plant in Liscannor.

Population lift predicted for Liscannor €7m investment ends untreated wastewater A

An official event to mark the addition of the infrastructure took place outside the pumping station adjacent to Liscannor Bay in glorious sunshine on Tuesday morning.

Working in partnership with Clare County Council, Uisce Éireann constructed the new wastewater treatment plant and associated infrastructure which has ended the discharge of raw sewage into Liscannor Bay.

EPS Group carried out the works on behalf of Uisce Éireann. The project included the construction of a new wastewater treatment plant which will serve a population equivalent of 1,790; the construction of a storm water storage tank as well as a new pump station with emergency storage; the construction of approximately 1.3km of sewer pipelines; the connection to the existing outfall pipe to safely discharge treated wastewater into Liscannor Bay.

Programme Manager with Uisce Éireann, Esther White said the strategic investment “puts an end to the discharge of untreated wastewater into Liscannor Bay. It will also support social and economic development, while also protecting the integrity of our environment”.

She acknowledged that Liscannor was famed nationally and internationally for its marine environment. “The completion of the Liscannor Wastewater Treatment Plant will also ensure compliance with wastewater discharge regulations as well as improving water quality. Furthermore, it will protect and enhance the local marine environment which Liscannor is famed for nationally and internationally”.

Mayor of Clare, Cllr Joe Cooney (FG) commented that the addition of the infrastructure was “long overdue” and that he was hopeful for continued investment in wastewater across the county. “It is vital to provide a platform for future growth into the community, stopping the discharge of raw sewage in Liscannor has long been a goal of Clare County Council”. He added, “the provision of adequate wastewater infrastructure needs to be planned and implemented now so we are ready to meet the opportunities of the coming years”.

Along with Cllr Cooney, other political figures present at the event included Cathal Crowe TD (FF), Michael McNamara TD (IND), Senator Roisin Garvey (GP), Senator Timmy Dooley (FF), Cllr Joe Garrihy (FG), Cllr Shane Talty (FF) and Cllr Liam Grant (GP).

Acting Director of Services with the Council, Siobhan McNulty acknowl-

edged the local authority staff who “for years have worked diligently in managing the very poor wastewater infrastructure we have in Liscannor”. She was confident the investment would protect “beautiful assets” like Liscannor Bay.

Wastewater delivery manager with Uisce Éireann, Michael Tinsley told the official opening that the utility company’s creation in 2014 saw it inherit “a long history of underinvestment”. Soon after

50 locations where raw sewage was being discharged into the sea were identified, Liscannor was among them and is the twenty fourth in the list to now have a treatment plant.

Daniel O’Gorman who lives locally worked on the treatment plant from the early design stages right to its completion in his role as a senior resident engineer. “As someone who has lived in the area for over 10 years, I’m very hon-

Uisce Éireann to spend €200m on

STATUTORY processes have been blamed by Uisce Éireann in stalling the pace at which it can roll out wastewater improvements across the county and has said its current programme of works in the county is a quarter of a billion euro but works on construction of a new plant in Lahinch will not begin until 2026, writes Páraic McMahon

Currently in Clare, 52 towns and villages are without adequate wastewater treatment plants, representing two

thirds of all settlements in the county.

On Tuesday, the state-owned water utility company officially marked the opening of a €7m wastewater treatment plant in Liscannor.

Wastewater delivery manager with Uisce Éireann, Michael Tinsley spoke to The Clare Echo on their plans for future investment in Co Clare.

“There was five locations in Co Clare with untreated sewage, Clarecastle we completed that earlier in the year, we

opened Liscannor today, Kilrush the plant is nearly complete and we’ll be turning that on before the end of the year, in Ballyvaughan the planning application is going in this month and then in Kilkee the planning application is going in for about two months time, all things going well with the planning we would hope to be on site for both of those in 2024”.

Over the next seven years, he estimated in the region of €200m will be spent

McMahon

lWATER WORKS: Pictured at Liscannor Bay to mark the completion of Uisce Uisce Éireann Wastewater Senior Portfolio Delivery Manager; Esther White, Uisce O’Gorman, Senior Resident Engineer l NEW START: Patrick Blake and his wife Eilish

Photo by Eamon Ward

discharge of into bay

€7m

oured to have been involved in delivering this project for Liscannor. I have gotten great joy out of surfing in Liscannor Bay. I am thrilled that this infrastructure has ended the discharge of raw sewage to Liscannor Bay and am proud that our team’s collective contribution will have a very positive effect on the

environment of the bay and our beautiful county.

“In recent years, in particular, I’ve noticed a real appetite to conserve the sensitive waters of the area and a lot of work has been done by voluntary groups through beach clean-ups and other great community based initiatives so it’s fantastic that

this is another major step in protecting the environment of the place we love. Also, the wastewater treatment plant is sized to a significant capacity to allow for future social, housing and economic development within the area, so this is also a source of great satisfaction,” he added.

wastewater infrastructure

on wastewater infrastructure in Clare in areas such as Kilfenora, Lahinch, Newmarket-on-Fergus, Ennistymon, Miltown Malbay and Doonbeg.

“We have a large programme of work across the country and a large programme of work in Clare, on a rough calculation it is about a quarter of a billion euro. The projects are at varying stages, Kilfenora is under construction and is nearly finished, Newmarket-on-Fergus we have the planning application in for that and we hope to go to

tender with a view to starting next year.”

He continued: “We’re hoping to bring our plans to the public next year, we’re looking at 2025 for a planning application and 2026 for construction, it’s near the top of the list but it’s two years into a seven year period, we would love to accelerate it but we have statutory processes that we have to get through. It is there and it going to be done.

“Newmarket-on-Fergus will be done first because it is in the planning process but it is next for Co Clare after that”.

Éireann’s

investment in wastewater infrastructure in Liscannor were: Michael Tinsley, Éireann Project Manager; Cllr Joe Cooney, Cathaoirleach Clare County Council and Daniel

Photo by Eamon Ward

Ennis Community School responsible for new pedestrian crossing says engineer

by Páraic McMahon paraic@clareecho.ie

AN APPLICATION has been lodged with ESB for the operation of flashing lights at the pedestrian crossing for Ennis Community College.

Cllr Mary Howard (FG) flagged at the July meeting of the Ennis Municipal District, “the pedestrian crossing that was recently installed in front of the school at Ennis Community College is not working and has not been for some time.

“There are no flashing lights operating on it”.

Senior executive engineer in the Ennis MD, Paddy Tiernan outlined that the pedestrian crossing was intalled as part of the extension of Ennis Community College.

“The installation of this crossing is the responsibility of the applicant for the development.

“Ennis MD are currently liaising with the applicants representative with a view to resolving this issue as quickly as possible”.

He advised the meeting that they were informed an application has been lodged with the ESB to provide an electrical connection to the lights.

Installation of further pedestrian crossings should be considered at the Maid of Erin roundabout, Cllr Howard argued.

“I believe that two crossings would be desirable, one from the school

side towards the Mill and the other towards the Lahinch Rd”.

Management in the school have

put forward the case that “the vast majority of students walk to school while some cycle”. Over 560 stu-

dents currently attend the Ennis secondary school.

To monitor traffic at Harmony

Row/St Anthony’s Terrace as part of a sustainability project, a new system has recorded that from January 1st to May 5th of this year a total of 460,000 cars and 78,000 heavy goods vehicles have passed the location.

Three elected members of the Ennis MD, Cllr Howard, Cllr Ann Norton (IND) and Cllr Clare Colleran (FF) sit on the Board of Management for Ennis Community College. “It is a great school which has taken on a lot of Ukrainian students, it is a Deis school and it is located on a very busy junction.

“There is a population of 560 students traversing the road so it is incumbent on us to ensure the area is made safer, the lights haven’t worked on the safety crossing for some time,” Cllr Howard added.

Seconding the bid for improvements, Cllr Paul Murphy (FG) advised his colleagues that the councillor app was “a good way of logging local street lights” and issues that needed fixing.

Growth of the school was welcomed by Cllr Tom O’Callaghan (FF). “560 students is quite a lot, we’re highlighting something which is important. A lot of people are going here at certain times of the day”.

Acknowledging that it was “an important issue,” Cllr Colleran Molloy reminded the meeting that she also brought up a similar motion on the topic “over six months ago”.

Company behind Experience Ennis to cease operations

EXPERIENCE Ennis, a company formed in the last two years aimed at promoting the county town is to cease trading, writes Páraic McMahon

Promote Ennis which trades as Experience Ennis was established on April 26th 2021 and lists TTM Healthcare Ltd as its registered address.

High quality social media videos had been a feature of Experience Ennis. The company was behind the Piping Heaven Piping Hell music festival held in April which was its last event and also the ArtWays of Ennis mural project,

Queries had been raised by elected representatives at recent sittings of the Ennis Municipal District on the future of Experience Ennis.

Speaking at the July meeting of the Ennis MD, Cllr Johnny Flynn (FG) reminded the top table that councillors had sought clarity on whether Experience Ennis was still trading.

Addressing the meeting, senior executive officer, Leonore O’Neill stated, “We

have been notified by the Board of Directors that they are currently winding down the company and a report will be issued to Clare County Council and the elected members”.

In response, Cllr Flynn suggested, “in light of the difficulty of voluntary bodies and the company in promoting the tourism of Ennis, we might have an agenda item at the next meeting on how the new Tourism Directorate could take responsibility for this”.

This recommendation was quickly shot down, “I would respectfully suggest we have a discussion first,” Ms O’Neill replied.

Further questions were then raised by Cllr Tom O’Callaghan (FF), “Was there public monies involved and will there be a report on that issued,” he asked.

General Municipal Allocation funding had been issued to Experience Ennis “in previous years,” Leonore advised.

“A report is submitted in respect of each years funding as is standard practice

for all recipients, those are on file”.

€200,000 was previously allocated for a festival to be ran by Experience Ennis that has not taken place.

“Those monies hadn’t been paid across and won’t be, that money will be available for allocation,” she confirmed.

Cllr Clare Colleran Molloy (FF) queried if the final report from the entity would be issued to the local authority.

“They are preparing a booklet which will be circulated to all members of Promote Ennis and we have a requested a copy for all councillors,” O’Neill outlined.

Both Colleran Molloy and Cllr Mary Howard (FG) had been nominated by the Ennis MD to attend meetings of the Experience Ennis Board but both confirmed to The Clare Echo that they had been unable to attend any such gatherings this year due to scheduling clashes.

lSCHOOL SAFETY: Ennis Community College

SHANNON NEWS

in association with

Clock ticking for property developers

PROPERTY developers have less than a week to submit their expression of interest for the delivery of an affordable housing scheme in Shannon, writes Páraic McMahon.

In May, Clare County Council received approval for the inclusion of both Ennis and Shannon for affordable housing.

The county originally did not make the cut as the housing needs and demand assessment conducted by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage “did not meet their affordability constraint threshold”.

A detailed submission was then made to the Department by the County Council and approval in principle was granted to the local authority to submit detailed applications to the fund for specific developments.

Acting senior executive officer in

the housing section of the County Council, Padraic Mac Cormaic outlined that an expressions of interest campaign will run until the end of July for “seeking proposals from developers to deliver afford able homes in Ennis and Shannon”.

Proposals from developers will be reviewed by the Council before their submission to the Depart ment.

“Any proposed development will require its own definitive scheme proposal and business case to be submitted to the Depart ment,” he explained.

“While each scheme will have its own unique set of circumstances and will be assessed on its own merits, schemes as they are designed and developed must continue to meet the criteria set out in the Afford

able Housing Act 2021.

“Each definitive scheme proposal and associated business case must provide a structured framework whereby compliance with

Speaking at the July meeting of the Shannon Municipal District, Cllr Gerry Flynn (IND) who sought an update on the scheme’s progression, remarked, “A considerable number of people in Shannon are in need of housing and the construction of this scheme should have a positive impact on the community”.

Cllr Flynn who Chairs the Social Development SPC of the Council with responsibility for housing flagged, “I have always been shouting on for serviced sites in Shannon, there has been none since Clare County Council took over the running of the town from Shannon Development in 2004”.

all cohorts and for all size of people in a one size fits all approach”. He welcomed the continued development on the first private housing scheme in Shannon in 15 years which is located at the back of the Oakwood Hotel.

Part of the application includes “positive discrimination,” Flynn said and this includes a criteria that 30 per cent of the property developed be retained for local residents. “The whole idea for putting an application in was to make housing available for those on lower to middle income,” he said.

Cathaoirleach of the Shannon MD, Cllr Donna McGettigan (SF) seconded the proposal.

Cormaic added.

Shannon based Flynn continued, “You cannot deal with housing for

SHANNON Airport this year has had its busiest six months in over a decade, writes Páraic McMahon.

From January to June of this year, Shannon Airport has recorded 902,603 passengers in what has been a big increase on demand for overseas travel.

When compared to the same period in 2022, this is a 41 per cent increase on last year and a six per cent increase on 2018, which was the next highest record for passenger traffic during the same months since 2009.

CEO of The Shannon Airport Group, Mary Considine stated, “The first six months of this year have been our busiest for this period, in over a decade. With the highest number of passengers recorded for this period since 2009, we are thrilled to witness the resounding success of our 2023 Summer Schedule, and our network of 35 destinations to the UK, Europe and the US for this year”.

She continued, “The addition of new services such as our five new routes with Ryanair for this Summer, our daily service to Chicago O’Hare with United Airlines

“One of the common things said by all the managers of the companies in Shannon is that they are having issues getting houses for their staff in the locality. Housing is a big issue in Shannon and this will have a positive impact”.

and our recently announced Paris service to Charles De Gaulle with Aer Lingus, will play a pivotal role in continued growth for Shannon, opening exciting possibilities for travellers from around the globe”.

Last month, passenger figures for Shannon Airport were 32 per cent higher for June 2023 compared with June 2022 and 10 per cent higher than June 2019.

Whilst also in June, the airport recorded its busiest day in seven years with 8,565 passengers traversing

through Shannon on Friday the 23rd of June.

In May, there was a significant up lift in passenger traffic of 27 per cent compared to the same period in 2022.

“We remain committed to offering world-class services and an easy, seamless travel experience for our passengers. The future looks bright as we rebound strongly in the aftermath of the pandemic, and this is driven by our committed staff, and the support and trust of our passengers and partners alike,” Ms Considine added.

‘Busiest first six months of the year in over a decade’

lGROWTH: Shannon Airport

East Clare reps to meet management in resources battle

by Páraic McMahon paraic@clareecho.ie

ELECTED members in East Clare are to seek a meeting with Clare County Council’s HR department over ‘staffing deficits impacting on service delivery’.

A review on the staff numbers of general operatives in the Killaloe Municipal District was sought by Cllr Tony O’Brien (FF) in a proposal before its July meeting in Scariff.

Killaloe based O’Brien wished that this be done “as a matter of urgency as I believe the shortage of workers will have a serious negative impact on our service delivery”.

Pauline McNamara, administrative officer in the Council’s human resources department stated in response that all current general operative posts were “filled in accordance with the current workforce plan and department sanction for Killaloe Municipal District. The human resources department leads the strategic workforce planning remit and engages with each of the directorates regularly for this pur-

pose”.

She said, “the current staffing model and resource allocation including reprioritising is sufficient to deliver on the Council’s corporate objectives presently. Future resourcing is currently evolving and forms part of ongoing workforce planning”.

Speaking at the July meeting, Cllr O’Brien praised the ongoing work of general operatives in East Clare to provide the existing services. “In certain areas there is a deficit, to say I’m annoyed with a response by HR is an understatement,” he stated. O’Brien questioned if senior management shared the view of the response. He then asked that a meeting be arranged with the top table of Council management, its HR department, him as Chair of the Killaloe MD and Cllr Joe Cooney (FG) in his role as Mayor of Clare.

O’Brien added, “I’m of the opinion that there is a deficit in certain areas that need to be addressed, it is having a seriously negative impact on service delivery”.

Seconding the proposal, Cllr

Cooney said he had no problem sitting down with senior management to see what could be done. “With circumstances outside of control we have members on sick leave,” he acknowledged.

Workers need to be better supported financially, Cllr Pat Hayes (FF) believed. “The whole recruitment process needs a full review, I don’t think we’re recruiting general operatives, we actually need workers on the ground and to prioritise that and ensure workers are supported financially better”.

Acting senior executive officer, Padraig Mac Cormaic told the meeting, “I know there is a workforce plan agreed by all directorates that was agreed by the Council, every Director had an input into that plan. It is a battle and everyone wants extra resources, it was discussed recently by senior management”. Mac Cormaic outlined that there was national regulations around payment of staff, “it is possibly an issue across local authorities nationally that the public sector is not paying as much as people expected”.

Ballygriffey bake-off

Ballygriffey was busy with the smell of home baking last Saturday, 22nd of July when Down Syndrome Clare member Matthew Cahir (age 8), with his big brother Michael and Mum Laura held a drive-by fundraising bake sale outside their home, in conjunction with the D.S.C. annual upcoming Tour de Munster Cycle fundraiser. They want to thank all those who supported their little event and made it a delicious success where just over €1,300 was made for their branch to help pay for essential therapies for their fellow members, proving that where there’s a whisk, there’s a way!Their helping hands will be put to use again when they will be part of the bucket-shaking team in Ennis on Tour de Munster day, Aug 11th and anyone else who would like to give 2 hours to help on the day can get in contact with the organisers through their Facebook page.

Permanent parking focus for Scariff

ADDITION of a car park in Scariff has yet to come to fruition with Clare County Council yet to fully acquire the proposed site, writes

Páraic McMahon

In January 2022, the Scariff Regeneration Project was allocated €524,000 in an application for the Rural Regeneration Development Fund.

A key aspect of this project is the development of a car park plus public realm works in the Market Square and the construction of a multi-service innovation and engagement hub.

An update on the car park was once again sought by Cllr Joe Cooney (FG) at a sitting of the Killaloe Municipal District.

Senior planner with Clare County Council, Brian McCarthy who is also the Killaloe MD coordinator said they were “working through”

the matter with “some progress made on the legal side” regarding the acquisition.

McCarthy confirmed, “we don’t have it in our full ownership” and said they were anticipating a call for RRDF funding in September or October and plans for the car park would be part of that.

Whether or not a temporary car park for Scariff was “on or off the agenda” was the next query raised by Cllr Cooney.

In response, McCarthy said they would need to “work out the location” for a temporary car park over the next two years.

He explained that their primary focus was on utilising the field as a permanent car park which was granted part eight planning approval and that they are now working on its legal acquisition.

Rebels and rivals at Bunratty Castle this weekend

ON SATURDAY, the origins of 1000 years of settlement at Bunratty Castle will be brought to life when the visitor attraction is transformed into a Norman village.

Bunratty Castle and Folk Park and the An Gaill Glais re-enactment group host “Rebels and Rivals”, a day-long event during which members of the public can witness life in a Norman encampment up close and personal, experience the sights, sounds and smells of Norman knights on campaign, and hear their

stories of how they fought and sought to conquer the island of Ireland.

Foundations of Bunratty can be traced back to Norman times when Robert De Muscegros built the first defensive fortress, an earthen mound with a strong wooden tower on top, in 1250.

Stephen Hanley, General Manager of Clare Tourism East, commented, “We can’t wait for the lawns of Bunratty Castle to be taken over by An Gaill Glais who live the history of the

period and not just the conflict. They also show what day-to-day life was like for warriors and their families, as well as the gallant Gaels who stood against the Normans and defeated them on many occasions”.

According to Marie Brennan, Events Manager at Bunratty Castle & Folk Park, “Gaill Glais, or ‘The Grey Foreigners' was the name given by the Irish to the Invading Normans in 1170. The An Gaill Glais group of re-enactors live the history of the Norman period”.

Ms Brennan added, “During the Normans visit to Bunratty this Saturday, the public will be able to enjoy medieval mirth and merriment, educational demonstrations, arts and crafts, and get a true insight the life of the Knights of old, ladies and warriors of An Gaill Glais as they bring the past to life for one day only”.

Online bookings for Rebels and Rivals (standard rates apply) can be made on www. bunrattycastle.ie.

lScariff

Corofin North Clare Agricultural Show

lSHOWTIME: Enjoying the Corofin North Clare Agricultural Show were (clockwise from top left): Seanog O’ Leary and his mom; Mary McMahon minds the turf; Jessica Cregan makes the jump; Rafe Morgan and Daithi Mulcory; Gerry Hanrahan and Cllr Joe Killeen; Elliot from Bellharbour gives his furry friend a cuddle Photos by Joe Buckley

GREEN CLARE

Green Business Hub to build on Plastic Free initiative

by Páraic McMahon paraic@clareecho.ie

KILKEE has been selected as one of the country’s first My Waste Green Business Hubs.

Necessary steps to protect and improve the environment will be easier for both businesses and visitors to Kilkee by the coastal West Clare destination becoming a Green Business Hub.

This partnership is with the Environment Section of Clare County Council in conjunction with Kilkee Chamber of Commerce, Kilkee Tidy Towns and My Waste Ireland. The aim of the Green Business Hub is to work with businesses and support staff, as well as customers, to firstly prevent and reduce waste generated, including food waste, as well as to separate waste into general waste, recycling, and food waste.

John Saunders, Kilkee Chamber of Commerce, explained, “Preventing and recycling waste will not only help reduce cost associated with waste disposal but it also supports climate action in the community”.

“This initiative is a great example of a circular economy initiative where there is a focus on keeping waste out of the general waste bin by preventing and reducing waste in the first instance and then recycling what cannot be reused,” said John Williams of Kilkee Tidy Towns.

Sustainable Development Goals such as responsible consumption and production, climate action, life below water, life on land and partnership for the goals are all supported by the project, Cllr Cillian Murphy (FF) flagged.

“Participating businesses will support sustainable tourism development in the region. Sustainable tourism reflects social, economic, and environmental wellbeing and in essence aligns to the Sustainable Development Goals”.

Executive engineer with Clare County Council, Maria Carey acknowledged, “By businesses looking at and taking steps to reduce their single use packaging it will help to reduce littering, particularly during busy periods”.

Work of The Green Business Hub will build on the Make Kilkee Plastic Free initiative, Karen Foley, Environmental Awareness Officer, Clare County Council believed.

“This initiative is relevant to all businesses in Kilkee including cafes, bars, hotels, B&Bs, caravan parks and holiday homes. We look forward to building on the Make Kilkee Plastic Free initiative, working with and learning from business over the coming years”.

All participating businesses will receive a window sticker and will be listed on Clare County Council’s dedicated community engagement page. MyWaste.ie are making free signage available to help businesses separate waste into general waste, recycling and food waste.

Clare County Council will further support businesses with waste audits and provide any necessary advice or guidance.

For more information on this initiative email: enviroff@clarecoco.ie

l GREEN TEAM: Pictured (left to right): Mary Redmond, Kilkee Tidy Towns; John Saunders, Kilkee Chamber of Commerce; Maria Carey, Clare County Council; Karen Foley, Clare County Council; Councillor Cillian Murphy; and John Williams, Kilkee Tidy Towns.

Discussions ‘reasonably advanced’ on EV charging points in Killaloe l

DISCUSSIONS are ongoing with ESB and Clare County Council on the installation of what would be the first electric vehicle charging points in East Clare at a public site, writes Páraic McMahon.

Speaking at the July meeting of the Killaloe Municipal District, Cllr Tony O’Brien looked for an update on plans for EV charging points in the town of Killaloe.

Acting senior executive engineer with the Killaloe MD, Derek Troy confirmed that they remained in discussions with the ESB “to tie down the details of the connection”.

Such conversations are “reasonably advanced,” he outlined.

Funding can be sourced, Troy flagged and said the playground site in Killaloe was viewed as the best site for the charging points.

As well as EV charging points, Cllr O’Brien sought further information on what has been done regarding the installation of speed control ramps in the town.

In response, the engineer explained that speed surveys were to be arranged, “on the basis of those results, we will make a decision, if speed is detected we will forward to road design for inclusion”.

At the May meeting of the Killaloe MD, Cllr O’Brien had asked that the speed surveys be treated with a matter of “urgency”.

Killaloe

Local supports spark breastfeeding boom in Clare

by Stuart Holly editor@clareecho.ie

BREASTFEEDING mothers in Clare are on the rise, with an almost 10 per cent increase in the last five years.

Some 57 per cent of mums in Clare are now breastfeeding, according to the latest data, which indicates a nine per cent increase in the last five years. While this figure still falls short of the national average of 62 per cent, the HSE is encouraged by the upward trend in the Banner County. Behind this trend lies a number of important initiatives and services.

Laura McHugh is the HSE National Breastfeeding Coordinator, and from her base on Francis Street in Ennis is spearheading the National Action Plan for breastfeeding which aims to increase breastfeeding rates and improve people’s experience of breastfeeding.

Laura worked with Clare County Council on implementing their ‘We’re Breastfeeding Friendly’ initiative in Clare two years ago, which encourages communities, businesses and organisations to support the health and wellbeing of breastfeed ing mothers, by implement ing breastfeeding friendly policies such as displayed a ‘breastfeeding friendly’ poster. Clare was the sixth county to implement the ‘We’re Breastfeeding Friend ly’ initiative and so far, 46 businesses and organisa tions are taking part in the scheme which Laura says is an important step in nor malising breastfeeding in Clare.

“I think sometimes mothers can feel a little bit nervous in the early days when they’re feeding in public so it’s important to have businesses and organisations recognising that breastfeeding is welcome here, you can feed your baby wherever you like,” explains Laura.

Globally, a plummet in

breastfeeding rates was experienced in the mid-20th century which coincided with the rise of commercial milks. Some countries recovered quicker than others, “Ireland would be in that space where we haven’t recovered,” notes Laura.

Mum-of-three Laura breastfed her own three boys and has been National Breastfeeding Coordinator for five years. Speaking about the nine per cent increase of breastfeeding mothers in Clare, she notes, “That’s a higher increase than in other parts of the country but still, a lot of people are not breastfeeding because either they can’t or choose not to.

Formula feeding is still very prevalent and we have to respect that but also promote what optimum infant feeding is all about.”

Restrictions around online advertising for infant formula are being progressed in Ireland and Laura admits to being frustrated by commercial milk advertising. “We need formula but we don’t need its deliberate advertising which is playing on the vulnerability of mothers in those early days, creating doubt, and they are making false claims around, for ex

baby to sleep better, and they are spending billions on advertising these products.”

Laura notes that the components and ingredients of breast milk “can’t be replicated”. Studies have proven the health benefits of breastfeeding to babies and mothers, including reducing the risk of infections among babies, supporting their brain and growth development, and reducing the risk of obesity in later life. Evidence also points to the prevention of some female cancers among mothers, while breastfeeding also helps with bonding attachment with babies.

Separately, new legislation has also been introduced to support mothers breastfeeding when they return to work, whereby mothers are now by law to be offered expressing breaks throughout the day, which are important to retain supply and reduce any risk of infection.

Laura also praises the Government’s approach to supporting breastfeeding mothers and notes that there are now specialised breastfeeding posts in every maternity hospital public health nurses in Ireland.

“Gobnait Murphy is our PHN lactation consultant in Clare, and no doubt the increase in rates is related to having someone in a fulltime role here. Nationally we’ve seen a seven per cent increase in five years. The national average is about 62 per cent.”

A breastfeeding group takes place in the Ennis Scout Hall every week while virtual supports have become increasingly popular in recent years. “There is a weekly meeting on Zoom that mothers dial into. We also run a national online support service on mychild.ie, you can email your question in at any time of the day and the lactation consultant will reply, or you can livechat with them 10am-3pm Monday to Friday. People who use those supports say it keeps them go-

ing. Where good support is there, it really does make a difference.”

Laura refers to mychild. ie as the one-stop evidence-based information source and encourages mothers to use the site as their primary information source. She also stresses the importance of expecting mothers to attend the HSE’s breastfeeding preparation classes as key to starting their

journey on the right footing.

Breastfeeding support is also provided by HSE funded volunteer organisations La Leche league and Friends of Breastfeeding in Shannon, Ennis and Killaloe/Ballina - contact details for all groups are on https:// www2.hse.ie/services/ breastfeeding-supportsearch/. A list of Clare’s ‘We’re Breastfeeding

Friendly’ locations is available at the https:// www.clarecoco.ie/ website and all businesses and community groups are being encouraged to get involved.

Head to Clare County Council’s dedicated webpage on https://yoursay.clarecoco. ie/ to sign up to the initiative or for more info.

Laura McHugh is the HSE National Breastfeeding Coordinator

Corofin show

Thought for the week: Protect our kids

Spreading the word of positivity

RONAN SCULLY

WHILE I appreciate the importance of highlighting the current RTE crisis and ensuring the public are informed appropriately with regard to these financial matters, it really does give me cause for concern as to why a far more shocking story has received little coverage since first reported at the end of June 2023.

The recent explosive report ““Protecting Against Predators: A Scoping Study on the Sexual Exploitation of Children and Young People in Ireland” is a damning account of our failure to keep safe many children in the care of our state, yet where is the PAC committee calling to account those whose responsibility it is to ensure the protection of our most vulnerable children? You would have to question the need for the number of politicians involved in questioning witnesses in the RTE scandal over many hours, while this other crisis is left without question by our politicians.

PROTECTION NEEDED

The paper report by Dr. Mary Canning and Ruth Breslin of UCD, found that vulnerable children in care in Ireland are clearly being targeted for sexual exploitation and abuse by “gangs of predatory men.” It reported numerous cases where children in the care of Tusla,

the State’s child and family agency, were “being coerced or enticed to provide sex acts to multiple men in exchange for a variety of goods” including clothes and jewellery.

Predatory gangs of men would identify residents where children in care are being accommodated and would wait around accommodation centres, even going so far as to wait in hotel lobbies where under-age girls were staying. In one shocking revelation, the paper report revealed that men were “hanging around hotel lobbies” in order to sexually exploit children that were being accommodated there as a temporary State care solution.

The report expressed fears that sexual exploitation of children is going “under the radar” in Ireland. I am totally heartbroken for the children that are mentioned or referred to in this report and if I sound outraged, it’s because I am. I have teenage daughters. Many of you reading this will have children and young teenagers.

The thought that this can be happening to children the same age as our own children should transfix us in horror and anger. It’s clear that these men work together to groom vulnerable young children, who are often led to believe they are in a romantic relationship before then being exploited and abused.

HELP NEEDED NOW

Urgent action needs to happen now. There can be no delays or excuses.

These children need to be protected. Those responsible for ensuring their protection need to be called to question and the state needs to be assured that our children are safe. Why is nobody shouting about this issue?

CHILD POVERTY IN IRELAND

The number of children experiencing poverty and social exclusion in Ireland is appalling and it is a damning reflection of poor policy choices and decisions.

Child poverty is not inevitable; it is often a result of an agenda that protects and favours the wealthiest to the detriment of the most vulnerable in society and those who have the least to give. It is simply unacceptable

that children now represent almost 40% of all people in consistent poverty in our country of Ireland – this equates to close to 154,000 children. Too many children are growing up in hotel rooms; going to bed hungry and living in households struggling on inadequate incomes. In effect too many children are being denied a childhood.

Children growing up in poverty tend to experience the same fate as adults and that is why it is imperative that we tackle child poverty now to prevent the further entrenchment of a two-tier society where the rich get richer and the poor get poorer.

We have and especially the people in power have an opportunity to move away

from the austere, punitive and regressive policies that were the hallmarks of people in authority and in power in the past and implement a more progressive humane approach that will make real inroads into child poverty and social exclusion.

THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK

As your thought for the week, look after your greatest treasure which is your children as this is a crucial time for them and for us and for all our children in Ireland and in our world.

My prayer that I write now is a prayer for children in our communities - “Dear Lord, I pray now for children who live without either of their parents: children whose parents have died, chil-

dren taken away from their parents because of abuse or neglect, children that have been abandoned or have experienced being unloved and uncared for and children who have run away from home. You care for these little ones God, and not one of them is lost from your sight.

Guide, guard and protect these children as they move in with relatives or caring families, as they live with foster parents or adopted parents into new families or as they struggle on the street or in homeless shelters.

Comfort each one who feels unloved, unwanted, uncared for and afraid. Give wisdom to people, especially those in power who make decisions about children’s lives that they will make a difference for good in children’s lives. Empower those who care for them to be loving, caring, trustworthy and compassionate. Instill in our government leaders a passion and a will for protecting the most vulnerable especially our children in most need.

Help us to reach out as individuals, parents and as a community to those who live without the protection and love of parents or family or indeed friends. We also pray for parents and children who have been wrongly separated, that you will end their agony and help them to be reunited. We pray for everyone’s needs but especially for our children and the world’s children that they may be cared for, loved and given the chance and right to life that every child deserves. Amen.”

l Child protection

lALL SMILES: Enjoying the Corofin North Clare Agricultural Show were: Barbara Bourke, Collene Gallagher, Neina Nealon and Marion Killene; Cora Clancy judges the apple tarts

Photos by Joe Buckley

EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES IN THE OFFICE OF PUBLIC WORKS

DRIVER/GENERAL OPERATIVE BAND 2 (RURAL) at Hydrometric Section, Mungret, Co. Limerick

Competition Reference: 2023/063

Applications are invited for the above positions. Competition details and application forms are available at www.gov.ie/opw

The closing date for receipt of completed applications is not later than 5:30pm on Thursday 17th August 2023.

The Office of Public Works is committed to a policy of equal opportunity.

Council get first right of refusal on Roche site

Clare County Council is currently inviting applications from suitably qualified persons for the below competitions. Clare County Council will, following the interview process, form panels for the areas set out below from which future relevant vacancies may be filled subject to sanction approval from the Department of Housing, Local Government & Heritage.

• CIVIL DEFENCE OFFICER

Completed applications must be emailed to: recruitment@clarecoco.ie not later than

12 noon Wednesday 16th August 2023.

•

INTEGRATION SUPPORT WORKER

Completed applications must be emailed to: recruitment@clarecoco.ie not later than

12 noon Monday 21st August 2023.

•

INTEGRATION SUPPORT COORDINATOR

Completed applications must be emailed to: recruitment@clarecoco.ie not later than

12 noon Wednesday 23rd August 2023.

•

LIBRARY FACILITIES ATTENDANT PANEL

Completed applications must be emailed to: recruitment@clarecoco.ie not later than

12 noon Tuesday 29th August 2023.

Application forms and further particulars may be obtained by requesting same from the Human Resources Department, Clare County Council at 065-6846250, via e-mail: recruitment@clarecoco.ie or can be downloaded from the following website: www.clarecoco.ie

Clare County Council is an equal opportunities employer and welcomes applications from all sectors of the Community.

Scriobh chugainn as gaeilge más fearr leat.

EXPRESSION OF INTEREST FOR DEVELOPERS AND BUILDING CONTRACTORS FOR THE PROVISION OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING –EXTENSION OF DEADLINE

Clare County Council is extending the deadline for the receipt of expressions of interest for the provision of turnkey housing developments by Housing Developers and Building Contractors for delivery of affordable housing in the following locations:

• Ennis

• Shannon

Further details of this scheme and a guide to making a submission are available on the Clare County Council’s website under www.clarecoco.ie or by emailing affordablehousing@clarecoco.ie

The revised latest date and time for receipt of submissions is 4.00pm on Thursday 31st August 2023.

Please note that Clare County Council is not obliged to purchase any turnkey housing development submitted as part of this process.

Dated 27th July 2023.

Signed: Adrian Headd, A/Senior Engineer, Housing Department.

FIRST right of refusal for future uses of the Roche site in Clarecastle has been offered to Clare County Council, writes Páraic McMahon

With the first two phases of the remediation of its 88-acre site in Clarecastle, Co. Clare now complete and the final environmental remediation phase now underway, Roche Ireland has commenced discussions with key stakeholders on the potential future for this prime site in Co. Clare.

An event at Roche’s Clarecastle site on Wednesday marked the first step in this process with the presentation of a letter from Roche senior management to Clare County Council offering the Council ‘the benefit of a right of first refusal in respect of the Roche site in Clarecastle after the remediation works are complete’.

Remediation works will take a number of years to complete. Given this timespan and the many stakeholders involved, detailed planning for the site’s future will now begin.

Representatives from Roche Global Headquarters in Basel, Roche Products Dublin, Clare County Council, the Clarecastle community, IDA Ireland, Enterprise Ireland, and the Environmental Protection Agency, together with elected representatives, attended the on-site event. Guests were taken on a guided tour of the site to showcase the remediation work undertaken by Roche to date and the plans for the completion of the project.

Recognised as a key strategic site

in the Ennis 2040 Economic and Spatial Strategy, the redevelopment of the Roche site is expected to play a key role in the economic development of the county in the years ahead.

Addressing visitors to the site, Dr. Georg Singewald, Head of Global Manufacturing Science, Engineering & Sustainability, Roche Basel, said: “The Roche remediation project is the largest project of this nature being undertaken in Ireland and represents a significant investment by Roche to leave a site that can enable a future investor to create sustainable employment. Our objectives in decommissioning the 88-acre site are twofold - to deliver a site suitable for the creation of sustainable jobs into the future and to leave a positive legacy for the local community, Clare, and Ireland. This process is now well underway. Today’s event is the start of planning a future for the site. Roche will leave the site once the decommissioning is complete”.

Cathaoirleach of Clare County Council, Cllr Joe Cooney (FG) outlined that the local authority has worked closely with Roche as a major employer in the region over many years and more recently in supporting the decommissioning project. “Today marks the next phase on this journey and it is important that the local authority plays a key role in shaping the future development of the Clarecastle site”.

A full masterplan of the site will be completed by the Council, Chief Executive Pat Dowling confirmed.

l FUTURE: Dr. Richard Huerzeler, Roche Chief Environment & Remediation; Alison Muir, General Manager, Roche Pharma Ireland; Carmel Kirby, Director of Economic Development, Clare County Council; Dr. Georg Singewald, Head of Global Manufacturing, Science, Engineering & Sustainability, Roche Basel; Isabel Boissonnas, Global Legal Counsel and Company Director, Roche Ireland; Joe Murphy, Project Owner/Site Head, Roche Ireland Clarecastle; William McNamara, Head of Global Project Delivery, Roche; Pat Dowling, Chief Executive, Clare County Council; Cllr Joe Cooney, Cathaoirleach, Clare County Council; Cllr Pat Daly, Mayor of Ennis Municipal District; and Linda Earlie, Town Regeneration Officer, Clare County Council

Photo by Eamon Ward

The Summer Show stops off in North Clare

THE Summer Show, start- ing on RTÉ on Sunday 30th July, explores the hidden history, fantastic food, native nature and luscious locations in Ireland, starting with Coounty Clare in episode one, writes Elaine Tubridy

Chef Paul Flynn is in the dramatic surroundings of the Burren to try his hand at becoming a goat farmer for the day. He meets Siobhán Ni Ghairbhith, a former teacher, who is the driving

force behind St Tola’s Goat Cheese Farm. Paul is challenged with herding and milking the goats before attempting the strange task of giving the goats a pedicure. In the cheese house, Paul gets a hands-on experience with the cheese-making process before whipping up a delicious goat’s cheese inspired dish for his new friends on the farm.

Former jockey Nina Carberry also re-visits Kinvara. Freedom is Nina Carberry’s

biggest memory from her long-ago childhood holidays.

She says: “Every summer, my family and I, we’d head to Kinvara in North Clare, all the way from County Meath, a long trip, with no motorways.”

As she drives past open fields, stone walls and countless sheep grazing, she has a flashback to sitting in the back of the car as a child with her brothers, counting the stone walls to pass the time as the miles rolled by.

Scariff a 'happy camp' after opener

CLARE SHC GROUP 1, ROUND 1

Scariff 3-17 St Joseph's Doora Barefield 1-16

Venue: Dr Daly Park, Tulla

Compiled by Derek Dormer

STORY OF THE GAME

SCARIFF:

Frees for: 13 (8/5)

Wides: 11 (5/6)

Top Scorer: Mark Rodgers (0-6 5f), Liam Crotty (1-3)

Scores from play: 3-12

Spread of Scorers: 8

Bookings: Diarmaid Nash (47), Daniel Treacy (55), Michael Scanlan (58)

Own Puckouts Won: 13 from 23 (56%)

REFEREE: Joe Mullins (Clonlara)

DOORA BAREFIELD: Frees for: 16 (8/8)

Wides: 6 (3/3)

Top Scorer: Davy Conroy (0-10 8f)

Scores from play: 1-8

Spread of Scorers: 7

Bookings: Cian Barron (38)

Own Puckouts Won: 19 from 31 (62%)

MANAGER COMMENT “

“That's our third time since we came up senior and it's our first time winning the opening round. It's a huge victory to be honest. We put in an absolute monumental second half performance full of grit determination and I'm extremely proud of them”.

"We spoke at half time about changing our approach because when you have a player like Mark Rodgers inside and no supply going into him you have to change it up and it turned for us when we went more direct. The goals put us on the front foot and we got over the line”.

“It was a delight to see our young players perform and our experience shone through. I know it's a bit cynical but those three frees late on that got us three yellows were conceded by three different players and that's experience. I know St Joseph’s wouldn't be happy about it but

MANAGER COMMENT “

“We fell asleep at the back there at the start of the second half and once they got the goal they gathered momentum and got a run at us. The second goal was the changing of the game but we feel a bit unlucky to be fair, there were several deliberate pull downs and we probably should have had a couple of penalties.

“However there's no point in knit picking now, the game is done and dusted and fair play to Scariff. We will dust ourselves down and we will use tonight to analyse it but from tomorrow on we will focus on Kilmaley.

it is what it is.

“We can now regroup and we have a break before we go again. We are off the ground which is important. We are under no illusions at how tough the next three matches will be but we are a happy camp tonight”.

"On the positive side there was alot of lads making their senior debut, nine in total I think and they stood up to the physical challenge that is senior hurling.

“It was a baptism of fire and we are proud of their efforts. It's a five team group and we hope to get a few bodies back and we will go again.”

SCAN HERE FOR MATCH REPORT

'Workrate the difference' for Kilmaley

CLARE SHC GROUP 1, ROUND 1

Kilmaley 2-20 Ballyea 0-14

Venue: Cusack Park, Ennis

Compiled by Seamus Hayes

MANAGER COMMENT

Conor McMahon, Kilmaley selector:

“We weren’t happy with the work rate in the first half. It wasn’t what we had focussed on all year.

"In the second half we worked harder, we worked like we had trained and that showed on the scoreboard. We missed chances in both halves but the workrate was the big difference.

“We got a bit of momentum when we upped the workrate and it seeps through the team. We got a few scores at crucial times. We always looked at this as being a block of two games as we have a break of a month

STORY OF THE GAME

KILMALEY

Frees For: 14 (6/8)

Wides: 12 (5/7)

Scores from play: 2-14

Spread of scorers: 7

Top scorer: Michael O’Malley (1-08 6f)

Bookings: Daire Keane (47)

Own puckouts won: 16 from 22

after that. We are halfway on the block. We have two points on the board, We have a big challenge next week. Doora/Barefield after being beaten by Scariff will come with all guns blazing, fighting for their lives so will just focus on that game now.”

MANAGER COMMENT

Leonard McNamara, Ballyea:

“I thought we could have been six or even points up at half time. We let them back into it before the half time whistle when conceding three or four frees. We were still going well in the early minutes of the second half but from then on they won the breaking ball, they won the battle really. That’s it and it’s back to the drawing board. We have a short time to prepare for next week’s game now and if we are beaten then we are gone."

Michael O'Malley

SCAN HERE FOR MATCH REPORT

BALLYEA

Frees For: 14 (6/8)

Wides: 8 (6/2)

Scores from play: 0-9

Spread of scorers: 5

Top scorer: Tony Kelly (0-09 6f 1’45)

Bookings: Brandon O’Connell (47); Gearoid O’Connell (24 and 56)

Own puckouts won: 12 out of 30

REFEREE: Fergal O'Brien (Broadford)

Mark McKenna, Scariff:

l Fergus Madden celebrates scoring a goal for Scariff

Photo by Ruth Griffin

Shane O'Grady, St Joseph's Doora-Barefield:

is fouled by Gearoid 'Gudgy' O'Connell

Photo by Gerard O’Neill

Time to deliver for perennial title contenders Inagh/Kilnamona

INAGH-KILNAMONA

MANAGEMENT: Louis Mulqueen (Manager/ coach) Hugh Paddy Byrne (selector); Joe Ryan (selector) Stephen Cusack (S&C); Shane O’Connell (Physio); Paul McInerney and Brian Vaughan (kitmen)

CAPTAIN: TBC

KEY PLAYER: David Fitzgerald

ONE TO WATCH: Sean Rynne

FRESH BLOOD: Cathal Ryan, Jamie Wynne

DEPARTURE GATE: Kevin Hehir, David Mescall, Eoin Fitzgerald (all ruled out for the season with long term injuries)

by Eoin Brennan news@clareecho.ie

INAGH/KILNAMONA may be making their first appearance in the championship this weekend but could potentially knock out reigning champions Ballyea.

Ballyea suffered a twelve point defeat at the hands of Kilmaley on Saturday with Inagh/Kilnamona getting a bye in the first round of Group One. A backlash is expected from Ballyea but it is a chance for Inagh/Kilnamona to garner a bit of attention from fellow rivals across the county.

On the back of a lot of success at underage level, Inagh/Kilnamona have come close to capturing the Canon Hamilton trophy on a couple of occasions in recent years, the most recent being in 2021 when they lost out to Ballyea in the final.

They go into this season’s campaign without a couple of players who would have been expected to fill key positions in their starting line up. Kevin Hehir and David Mescall are out for the season with cruciate knee injuries while inter county man Aidan McCarthy isn’t expected to play in the early rounds due to a quad injury which kept him out of the Clare side in the All-Ireland quarter and semi-final games.

Experienced mentor Louis Mulqueen is in his first season in charge of the mid Clare outfit which finished mid table in Division 1A of the Clare Cup. Last year, the Rice College principal guided Blackrock to the Cork senior final while previously he was part of the Clare senior management team with Davy Fitzgerald when Clare won the All-Ireland senior title in 2013.

Muqueen is well versed on what it takes to win a county title having been part of the management set up with St. Joseph’s Doora/Barefield when they captured the Canon Hamilton trophy as well as guiding Liam Mellows to win the Galway SHC. He is not looking past the team’s opening game which is against defending champi-

TITLES WON: None

LAST SEASON’S RUN: Lost in quarter final to Éire Óg

SCHEDULE: Round 1 Bye Round 2 v Ballyea Round 3 v Scariff Round 4 v Kilmaley Round 5 v St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield

ons Ballyea. “We had a very mixed Clare Cup campaign. The loss of Aidan McCarthy and David Mescall is a big blow”, the Inagh/Kilnamona boss said this week Mescall delivered a number of impressive performances in the league campaign before suffering a serious knee injury while McCarthy’s quad injury means that two of the team’s main score-getters will be absent when their challenge for championship honours begins.

On the plus side McCarthy’s brother Jason recently returned after a serious leg injury suffered last year. He and current All Star David Fitzgerald are experienced members of the side and followers of the club will be looking to them to lead the charge.

Sean Rynne, Eamonn Foudy and the Guyler brothers, Josh and Keelan are others that Inagh/Kilnamona will be looking to as they chase a winning start to their championship season.

“We are in a very serious group and it’s important that we hit the ground running. We have the title holders Ballyea in the first round

then we have the under 21 champions Scariff followed by our neighbours and rivals Kilmaley who gave us a fair trimming in the league and our final game is against my former club St. Joseph’s. At this stage we are not looking past our opening game against Ballyea who are chasing a third title in a row,” Mulqueen told The Clare Echo

Achieving victory in the opening game is the target of all teams taking part and Inagh/Kilnamona know that all five teams in their will believe that they have what it takes to get to the knock out stages of the competition.

They will have got an indication of the challenges that lay ahead as the other four teams in their group were in action last Saturday in their first round games and no doubt the mid Clare combination has representatives at both of those games.

It remains to be seen if they will have bad time to devise a plan that will see them overcome the defending champions in their opening tie and proceed from there to the knock out stage of the title race.

l Jason McCarthy has recovered from a serious leg injury to return to the Inagh/Kilnamona side Photo by Gerard O'Neill

l Ballyea were defeated by Kilmaley in their opening round last weekend and the defending champions will be eager to rectify this against Clonlara this weekend

Photo by Gerard O'Neill

Mills look to back up Clare Cup

by Eoin Brennan news@clareecho.ie

TO SAY that the recent Clare Cup triumph was a welcome jolt for O’Callaghan’s Mills would pehaps be one of the understatements of the year as expectations levels certainly didn’t reflect the reality.

Without the pace and power of Colin Crehan, Gary Cooney, Jacob Loughnane and Ciaran Cooney to name but a few, the Mills only had seven of the side that lined out in the 2020 County Senior Final at their disposal for the business end of the Clare Cup but still managed to prevail against Scariff and Clooney/Quin to soar to a first title in 28 years on home soil.

Winning a Clare Cup is one thing though as almost every team is severely understrength whereas the real acid test comes with championship and whether the Mills can rise accordingly is the question that Paul Keane is looking to answer in his first year in charge. “Look, silverware is always good as it gives confidence to the players,” begins the Adare native.

“But as a new management team, the way we’ve looked at it from the very start is just to only take things from week to week by getting the best out of ourselves at training and also in the next match that’s coming up too. That’s no different for this championship but there’s no doubt that the Clare Cup win has given the players that we got to see over that campaign huge confidence.

So being his first taste of Clare hurling,

what are Keane’s impressions of the group that his side have been handed?

“Being honest, all the senior teams in Clare appear relatively even and there’s real quality there throughout the championship so wherever you turn, there’s no easy game."

Already down those aforementioned core players - albeit that Clare’s 2013 All-Ireland winning captain Patrick Donnellan returns after missing the latter stages of the Clare Cup - former county senior Gary Cooney is also rumoured to be flying home from Australia, and new injury concerns have hit the squad ahead of Saturday’s opener against Clonlara in Sixmilebridge (5pm) with Bryan Donnellan (broken finger) ruled out.

O’CALLAGHANS MILLS

MANAGEMENT: Paul Keane (Manager); PJ O’Connell, Seanie McNamara, John Cooney (Coaches/Selectors); Declan Noonan (S&C)

CAPTAIN: Aidan O’Gorman

KEY PLAYER: Gary Cooney

ONE TO WATCH: Darragh Moroney

FRESH BLOOD: Cathal McNamara

DEPARTURE GATE: Colin Crehan (transfer), Gary Cooney, Ciarán Cooney, Jacob Loughnane, Cathal Lenihan (abroad); Bryan Donnellan, Sean Murphy, Sean Cotter (Injured)

TITLES WON: 8 LAST SEASON’S RUN: Group Stages

SCHEDULE

Round 1 - v Clonlara at O’Garney Park Sixmilebridge, Saturday 5pm

Round 2 - v Crusheen (Weekend of August 11/12/13th)

Round 3 - v Sixmilebridge (Weekend of August 25/26/27th)

MANAGEMENT: Donal Madden (Manager); Niall Hogan, Mike Stritch, Ger O’Connell, Alan Murnane (Coaches/Selectors); Eric Finn

(S&C); Claire Gilligan, Clem Nihill (Physios); John-ny McGuiness (Kit Man)

CAPTAIN: Jathan McMahon

KEY PLAYER: John Conlon

ONE TO WATCH: Daniel Moloney

FRESH BLOOD: James Carmody, James McCormick, Diarmuid Stritch, Tommy Walsh

DEPARTURE GATE: Cillian Fennessy (Transfer to Kilkenny); Oisin O’Brien

(retired); Kieran Galvin, Paul McNamara (abroad)

TITLES WON: 2

LAST SEASON’S RUN: Senior B Champions

SCHEDULE

Round 1 - v O’Callaghan’s Mills at O’Garney Park Sixmilebridge, Saturday 5pm

Round 2 - v Sixmilebridge (Weekend of August 11/12/13th)

Round 3 - v Crusheen (Weekend of August 25/26/27th)

Safety is Clonlara's first priority

by

TURNING a Senior B title (or three) into a Canon Hamilton certainly isn’t an easy transition as Clonlara have discovered.

From the breakthrough winning side of 2008 and with less than half of the team still in situ from subsequent final appearances as late at 2016, Clonlara have had to usher through their historic Minor A winning side of 2018 as they look to finally emerge to the other side.

Consequently, while garnering a hat-trick of Senior B crowns may not have been their goal, it’s still infinitely better that being embroiled in the relegation series, something that again concerns manager Donal Madden, particularly with two more clubs facing the drop in 2023.

“Being totally honest, the only thing that’s in our heads at the moment is trying to avoid the dreaded relegation,” admits Madden.

“That’s where our focus is for the moment and that won’t change until we get a few results under our belts”.

“John [Conlon] is now the only one left from the 2008 winning squad that will be lining out on Saturday and that’s a fair testament to him so it’s a completely new

team. Talk of the 2008 team is finished now."

Conscious of the strength of the group, Madden, who is in his second stint in charge of Clonlara, feels that his side will need to upset the odds in order to prosper in the group stages.

“Sixmilebridge are the stand-out team in it as they’ve won numerous county championship in the last 10 years and have so much experience. Crusheen too have Michael Browne back over them this year and he has brought in a lot of past

players into his management team who are all good guys so they will be well organised this year. And the Mills too have obviously had their own big success recently with the Clare Cup win so we’re probably coming in as the underdog in the group.

With the Mills in a similar survival-first siege mentality, it puts an extra emphasis on Saturday’s showdown in Sixmilebridge as the winner can breathe a little easier for the remainder of the group whereas the loser is in knockout mode from there on in.

Eoin Brennan news@clareecho.ie

l Stephen O’Halloran will be lining out in a central role for Clarecastle Photo by Gerard O'Neill

l Clonlara’s Dylan McMahon Photo by Gerard O'Neill

Championship brings out best in Tones

by Eoin Brennan news@clareecho.ie

IF ANYONE can epitomise the contrasting distinction between Clare Cup and Championship it’s Wolfe Tones who have struggled in the league but prospered when it came to the Canon Hamilton race.

Take the last two years as a prime example as without their inter-county spine of Rory Hayes, Aron Shanagher and the Lohan brothers Darragh and Daithi, the Shannon side have had to scrap for a final round result just to remain in Division 1B of the Clare Cup whereas they have grittily rolled with the punches in their championship groups to ensure back-toback quarter-final finishes.

The introduction of new manager Conor Dolan has offered a fresh voice to the Tones whom he feels have the potential to go much higher provided that they can perform to their optimum.

“Without taking away from the last couple of years, the players know themselves that the groups were on the more favourable side but they also realise that the opportunity is there for them now to push on.

“People look at the Clare Cup results but we only had three senior players for the first few games but once we got the bulk of our players back for the last three or four games, we won two of the last three and started to put the foundations in place for what is going to be the

WOLFETONES

MANAGEMENT: Conor Dolan (Manager); Gary Fitzgibbon, Jamie Roughan, Colm Hanley, Ja-mie Walker, Alan Cunningham, Francis O’Halloran (Coaches/Selectors)

JOINT-CAPTAINS: John Gulfoyle, Rory Hayes

KEY PLAYER: Aaron Cunningham

ONE TO WATCH: Oisin O’Rourke

FRESH BLOOD: Brian Murphy, Oisin O’Rourke, Colin Riordan

DEPARTURE GATE: Dylan Fraw-

starting team for Saturday.

“We’re obviously not looking beyond the Clooney/Quin game because that’s our county final to start with but in the championship itself, with Ballyea being beaten last Saturday, the championship is wide open. I’ve been saying that to the Wolfe Tones lads from the get-go that it’s anyone’s championship and it maybe an old cliche about who wants it the most will win but I feel that it’s the team that does the basics the best will come out on top”.

The problem that all of Group 3 have is that Wolfe Tones, Clooney/ Quin, Cratloe and Newmarket all reached the business end in 2022 but that simply isn’t possible this time around as only two can emerge from this neighbouring pool.

“There’s an awful lot of pride at stake in those games especially be-

ley, Ben O’Gorman (abroad).

TITLES WON: 2

LAST SEASON’S RUN: Quarter-Finalists

SCHEDULE

Round 1 - v Clooney-Quin at Cusack Park Ennis, Saturday 6pm

Round 2 - v Cratloe (Weekend of August 11/12/13th)

Round 3 - v Newmarket-on-Fergus (Weekend of August 25/26/27th)

cause you would have a lot of the Cratloe and Newmarket lads coming into Shannon to go to school in either St Caimin’s or the Comp so not alone have these guys hurled together in school but they’ve hurled against each other coming up along so there are a lot of bragging rights at stake in this group”. So how are Wolfe Tones fixed for their championship opener against Clooney-Quin in Cusack Park on

Saturday evening (6pm)?

“We have a couple of injuries but at the end of the day, we’re going to have 15 Wolfe Tones lads taking to the pitch. Unfortunately Aron Shanagher has a hand injury at the moment, Kevin McCafferty is out with a foot injury while Oisin O’Rourke who was looking forward to his first year in goal unfortunately picked up a hand injury at work.

"Every team is in the same boat so we just need to get the best 15 available to us on Saturday to perform. From working with the players all year, overall when it comes to optimism for the future for Wolfe Tones, I really fancy their chances

as with the talent of players that we have, you’d have to be expecting good things from this bunch.

Clooney/Quin young guns ready to fire

by Eoin Brennan news@clareecho.ie

THE stars appeared to be aligning perfectly for Clooney-Quin’s latest championship assault until a major spanner was thrown into the works in Croke Park three weeks ago.

Having gathered momentum in the Clare Cup, thanks initially to the Clare minor class of ’22 (Sam Scanlan and Dannan Fox) before a further boost of county U20 returnees (Jack O’Neill, John Cahill, John Conneally, Evan Maxted, Darragh Keogh) catapulted them into a first Clare Cup final in 79 years, it was envisaged that the boost of county senior Peter Duggan

and Ryan Taylor would provide the final pieces of the championship jigsaw.

However, Taylor’s knee injury that forced him to retire before half-time in the All-Ireland semi-final against Kilkenny turned out to be a cruciate injury that ends his season and is a real hammerblow to his side’s plans.

However, with such exciting young talent at their disposal, manager Tommy Corbett is looking forward to seeing where Clooney-Quin can go over the next few weeks. “Getting to the Clare Cup Final was a bit of a bonus as it wasn’t something that we set out to do from the start of the year. We had

MANAGEMENT: Tommy Corbett (Manager); Barry Corbett (Coach); Ronan McMahon, Tony McMahon, Brian McAllister (Selectors); Victor O’Riordan (S&C); Maureen Duggan (First Aid); Danny Palache, Liam Keating, Jerry O Connor, Damien Guilfoyle (Video/ Stats); Aidan Daffy

CAPTAIN: Peter Duggan

KEY PLAYER: Peter Duggan

ONE TO WATCH: Jack O’Neill

FRESH BLOOD: John Cahill, David Considine, Dannan Fox, Darren Frain, Lorcan O’Connor, Cillian O’Gara, Jack O’Neill, Sam Scanlan,

hoped to get promoted alright but really, like most teams, the aim of the Clare Cup is to kind of blood a few players and really just get a look at who you have, see who responds best to senior hurling and hope that it follows on to the championship.

“The lads coming back from the Clare U20s was a big boost and then with Peter [Duggan] and John Conneally rejoining us too it has added a further impetus into things but unfortunately Ryan Taylor is gone for the year so it’s a big loss for us.

“We’ve great numbers at training which is a huge boost but realistically you

DEPARTURE GATE: Keith Hogan, Ulick

O’Sullivan, Ruaidhri McNamara (abroad); Bryan McIn-erney, Ryan Taylor (Injured)

TITLES WON: 1

LAST SEASON’S RUN: Quarter-Finalists

SCHEDULE

Round 1 - v Wolfe Tones at Cusack Park

Ennis, Saturday 6pm Round 2 - v Newmarket-on-Fergus (Weekend of August 11/12/13th)

Round 3 - v Cratloe (Weekend of August 25/26/27th)

can’t just throw six or seven 17 or 18 year old into a senior team straight away.

"You really don’t know how that’s going to pan out until you cross the white lines and perform in the championship because the Clare Cup and the championship are worlds apart really,” he told The Clare Echo

How big the Clare hurling solar system actually is will only be realised over the next month but with shockwaves ringing through the championship already af-

ter only two matches last weekend, if anything it has only helped focus players on seizing the day especially in the opening round. “All four teams reached the quarter-finals last year so while there’s never any easy game when it comes to championship anyway, there’s definitely no easy game in our group. It’s a bit of a group of death so we certainly won’t be taking anything for granted one way or the other and we can’t afford to either”.

Kilmaley’s 12 point de-

feat of back-to-back county champions Ballyea not only reopened the door of possibility and romance for the remaining 16 teams but also demonstrated the importance of hitting the ground running.

PICTURED: Daithi Lohan

Photo by Gerard O'Neill

Two for joy? Broadford eye second win in-a-row against Magpies

by Seamus Hayes news@clareecho.ie

BROADFORD had four points to spare over Clarecastle when the sides met in last year’s championship, the East Clare club will be targeting back to back wins over the Magpies to get their campaign off to a flying start.

Now in his fourth season in charge, Broadford manager Jimmy Browne says his side goes into this weekend’s senior hurling championship on the “back of a difficult and mixed Clare Cup campaign”.

The vice president of TUS Midwest, the new sponsors of the Clare senior and intermediate hurling and football championships told The Clare Echo that the absence of Diarmuid Moloney and Shane Taylor who have taken time out to travel represents “a big loss to the panel given their experience”.

When appointed to the position Browne, who is from Clonlara, said one of the aims of management was to deepen their panel.

Moloney and Taylor have been two

of the team’s key players during Browne’s term in charge so it is understandable that he sees their absence as being a big loss.

In the recently concluded senior hurling league, Broadford were in Division 1A. Despite winning two of their last three games, it wasn’t enough to secure their place in the division for next season when they will compete in Division 1B.

Browne believes “the younger players are making a significant contribution to building the next generation of Broadford hurlers”.

Eoghan Gunning captained Clare to the All-Ireland minor hurling title this year. His outstanding displays resulted in he being one of six players named on the All-Ireland minor team of the season while he picked up the player of the year accolade. Because of the rule which prevents under 17 players from playing at adult level, the East Clare club will have to wait another year before he can line out.

Clare’s U20s reached the Munster final where they were narrow-

Clarecastle bid to solidify senior status

by Seamus Hayes news@clareecho.ie

CLARECASTLE are closing on a decade since they reached the knockout stages of the Clare SHC and with growing experience in their ranks they are quietly confident of causing an upset to get back to the quarter-finals.

Having flirted with relegation in the past two seasons, Clarecastle don’t want to be in that situation again and they know that a winning start to this campaign will take away a bit of pressure.

According to team manager Eric Flynn relegation is a word they don’t mention. “The focus is on our first game. We have a young squad which contains a lot of teenagers. Other teams are further down the line with the development of their squads”, he said last week when looking ahead to their opening game this week against Broadford.

Clare’s All-Ireland winning

midfielder from 1997 Colin Lynch, twice an All star, is the team coach with Colin Higgins and Kieran McDermott as selectors while the experienced Trevor Slattery is the team’s S&C coach.

Of course they want to get out of the group and get into the knock out stage of the competition but the total focus is on Saturday’s clash with Broadford. “Clarecastle is a very proud club and we aree proud of our history. We are conscious we are going through a drought, we haven’t won a championship since 2005, that’s seventeen years without a championship,” Flynn who was part of the 2005 side stated.

He added, “this is a different generation which included a lot of not traditional village names. A lot of new families are coming to live in the area and we are trying to develop these lads and hopefully they will win a championship for us. The game has changed

MANAGEMENT: Eric Flynn (Manager); Colin Lynch (coach), Colin Higgins, Kieran McDermott (selectors), Trevor Slattery (S and C) Bernie Regan (Physio) Ken Hickey (stats) James McMahon (kitman)

CAPTAIN: Colin Brigdale

VICE CAPTAIN: David Tuohy

KEY PLAYER: Stephen O’Halloran

ONE TO WATCH: Oisin Whelan

FRESH BLOOD: Conor Griffin, Fionn Morgan, Oisin Whelan, Lee and Josh

Brack, Sam Browne, Cian Donnelly, Filip Wiechcinski DEPARTURE GATE: Bobby Duggan (Canada), Marc McAuliffe (London) Kevin Hartigan (transferred)

TITLES WON: 12

LAST SEASON: Bottom of group. Beat Whitegate in relegation play-off.

SCHEDULE: Round 1 v Broadford Round 2 v Feakle Round 3 v Éire Óg

a lot”.

Clarecastle remain competitive at underage level, he flagged. “There is a lot being done at underage level, we won the Féile this year and we have a reasonable minor squad, we are competitive. We want all our teams to be competing”.

Experience gained by players at adult level for the club is likely to benefit them in the coming seasons.

That said, the Magpies go into the race for the Canon Hamilton without former county man Bobby Duggan who has emigrated and is now based in Canada. Corner back Marc McAuliffe has also left the country and is now living in London.

They will be without a couple of players for the earlier rounds as they are in the U.S. for the summer and these include Killian McDermott who was one of their key performers in the Clare Cup.

Patrick Kelly and Stephen O’Halloran, both of whom spent time with the Clare senior team in recent years, are two of the team’s more experienced players and followers will be looking to this duo to provide leadership.

Gearoid Ryan, Cian Galvin, Cian Broderick and Darragh Healy are others that the Magpies will be looking

ly beaten by eventual All-Ireland champions Cork and Niall O’Farrell from Broadford was a member of that squad. Paddy Donnellan has been part of the Clare senior panel this past year and both O’Farrell and Donnellan are seen as key men.

Browne has played a key role in the success enjoyed by TUS (formerly LIT) in third level hurling competitions in recent years when he has also served as a selector at U20 and senior levels with Clare.

MANAGEMENT: Jimmy Browne (manager), Damian Ryan (coach), Emmett Browne (S&C), Darragh

O’Sullivan, Kevin Ryan (selectors), Darragh Kennedy (Physio), Pauric Boland and Ailbhe Browne (analysis)

JOINT CAPTAINS: Eoin Donnellan and Stiofan McMahon ,

KEY PLAYER: Paddy Donnellan

ONE TO WATCH: Niall O’Farrell

FRESH BLOOD: Mark Gunning and Peter O’Farrell

The Chaplins, Craig, Cathal and Darren along with joint captains Eoin Donnellan and Stiofan McMahon, the O’Briens and Oisin Kavanagh are members of the team that will be striving to get their championship campaign off to a winning start on Saturday.

The manager knows that a win over Clarecastle would be a great boost to the team’s hopes of qualifying from the group for the knock out phase of the competition.

DEPARTURE GATE: Diarmuid Moloney, Shane Taylor (both travelling)

TITLES WON: None

LAST SEASON’S RUN: Failed to get out of their group, got to senior B semi-final

SCHEDULE:

Round 1 v Clarecastle Round 2 v Éire Óg Round 3 v Feakle

to for leadership this week as they seek a winning start for the 2023 campaign.

Oisin Whelan, Oisin Casey and the Brack brothers are others who are expected to be in the line up while James Doherty, a talented teenager, is expected to play a part.

Despite a bright start to the Clare Cup, the Magpies ended up finishing in mid table in Division 1B. Their supporters are confident that the experience gained in the league will help them make a winning start to their championship campaign this week.

l Broadford’s Darren Chaplin will be a vital player Photo by Gerard O'Neill

Cratloe want to hit the ground running

by Eoin Brennan news@clareecho.ie

IT’S nearing a decade now since Cratloe’s last taste of senior championship glory and while they should have added to their historic 2014 county hurling and football double, four county final defeats (two in hurling and two in football) along with a host of agonising semi-final exits have only accentuated their determination to admirably keep bouncing back every year.

Granted, the main pack aren’t getting any younger but one thing's for certain, no-one will take Cratloe lightly.

The waters are a little more blurred this year however as familiar foes (Newmarket-on-Fergus, Clooney/Quin and Wolfe Tones) make up an intriguing first shot at the Canon for new manager John O’Gorman who was part of the 2009 and 2014 successes.

“It’s some group alright. I mean Clooney/ Quin and Wolfe Tones were in our division in the Clare Cup and both actually beat us while Newmarket had actually replaced us in the top flight this year and we got a serious test against them in last year’s quarter-final.

So we’re all fairly familiar with each other but in such a group of neighbours you can only take it game by game so all our focus has been on the opening round against Newmarket on Friday evening.

In last year's quarter final, Cratloe’s superior firepower saw them edge out their nearest and dearest neighbours before going out themselves in an underwhelming semi-final showdown with champions Ballyea whom they had beaten at the group stages.

Cratloe wouldn’t have expected to meet the Blues again so soon but their attacking

armoury has been dented somewhat in the intervening period according to O’Gorman.

“From last year, Shane Gleeson is traveling this year and is a huge loss to us. Rian Considine is also away at the moment while one of our great stalwarts Oige Murphy is living in London so won’t be available to us.

"But we have a few players coming through this year. Fellas like Riain McNamara and Cathal Lohan are a great addition to our panel throughout the Clare Cup and I’m sure they will be blooded at some stage”.

Still possessing the match-changing ability of attacking forces such as Conor McGrath, Podge Collins and captain Cathal McInerney, not to mention the versatility and engine of county senior Diarmuid Ryan, Cratloe are eager to finally get off the mark on Friday evening.

MANAGEMENT: Tomas Ryan (Manager); Alan Duggan, Cathal Fleming (Coaches); James Car-rig (Selector); Derek Morris (S&C); Brian Clancy (Analysis); John Earls (Physio)

CAPTAIN: Mikey McInerney

KEY PLAYER: Enda Barrett

ONE TO WATCH: Mark Delaney

FRESH BLOOD: Darragh Jones

DEPARTURE GATE: Jack O’Connor (abroad); James McInerney, Liam O’Connor

(Injured) TITLES WON: 23

LAST SEASON’S RUN: Quarter-Finalists

SCHEDULE

Round 1 - v Cratloe at Cusack Park Ennis, Friday 7pm

Round 2 - v Clooney/Quin (Weekend of August 11/12/13th)

Round 3 - v Wolfe Tones (Weekend of August 25/26/27th)

Mix of experience and youth in Newmarket

by Eoin Brennan news@clareecho.ie

IT’S definitely been a case of so far, so good for Tomas Ryan and his management team who were handed the unenviable task of transitioning the senior winning side of 2012 with a crop of new talent mainly emanating from the Minor B and Under 21A sides that contested county finals in the last four years.

Coming within a whisker of taking down champions Ballyea at the semi-final stage in 2021 was backed up by last year’s quarter-final appearance that saw neighbours Cratloe prove the more consistent side on the day.

With the same opponents up first, Ryan certainly won’t need to reach for a hairdryer or any other electronic motivational implements and is

happy with how the squad has evolved. “Of course, we’d be disappointed to have gone out on both occasions but overall you’d have to say that progress has been made over the last two years. Lads are developing

well so we’re just hoping that we can build on it.

“It’s also encouraging to see our most experienced lads still as eager as ever to play. Okay James [McInerney] is actually injured at the moment but Colin [Ryan] and Enda [Barrett] are probably the lads at that other end of the spectrum but are still chomping at the bit.

“That’s great as it provides that leadership and stability and helps the younger lads that are now in their second and third years at senior."

While other groups vary in terms of ambition, Ryan is quick to point out that the expectation levels among all of Group 3 are high as Newmarket, Cratloe, Wolfe Tones and Clooney/Quin look to replicate their feats of 2022 when all four teams made the quarter-finals.

MANAGEMENT: John O’Gorman (Manager); Timmy Danagher, Barry Duggan, Dermot Quain, Thomas O’Connor (Coaches/ Selectors); Oscar O’Dwyer (S&C); Physio: Ger Crotty (Physio); Aidan Browne (Team Doctor); David Foley (Stats)

CAPTAIN: Cathal McInerney

KEY PLAYER: Diarmuid Ryan

ONE TO WATCH: Riain McNamara

FRESH BLOOD: Michael Flanagan, Cathal Lohan, Riain McNamara

DEPARTURE GATE: Rian Considine, Martin Oige Murphy, Shane Gleeson (abroad)

TITLES WON: 2

LAST SEASON’S RUN: Semi-Finalists SCHEDULE

Round 1 - v Newmarket-on-Fergus at Cusack Park Ennis, Friday 7pm Round 2 - v Wolfe Tones (Weekend of August 11/12/13th)

Round 3 - v Clooney-Quin (Weekend of August 25/26/27th)

l Podge Collins Photo by Gerard O'Neill

l Peter Power is pushing for a place Gerard O'Neill

Éire Óg out to avenge last year's county final heartbreak

by Seamus Hayes news@clareecho.ie

A SINGLE point separated ÉIRE Óg from Ballyea in last year’s county final and the Townies are one of the hotly tipped sides to claim the Canon Hamilton this season.

With just two wins from nine outings in the recently concluded senior hurling league (Division 1B) Éire Óg were relegated and will play in Division 2 next season

A quick glance at that stat might suggest that their chances of success in the championship are slim but, in fairness to the Ennis club it must be stressed that of all the clubs in the county they were most severely hampered for the league because of the absence of so many key players due to their involvement with a number of Clare teams.

Shane O’Donnell, David Reidy, Aaron Fitzgerald and Oran Cahill were part of the Clare senior hurling squad while Ciaran Russell and Gavin Cooney were with the senior football panel along with Kilfenora native Cian O’Dea who, earlier last year, received clearance to assist Éire Óg’s hurlers. Having recently moved to New York to take up an appointment as a GAA coach with New York GAA, he will not be part of the town club’s hurling panel this season.

The availability of those inter county players will strengthen the Éire Óg squad in a huge way and will give their supporters every reason to be confident that their favourites can progress a step further than the final where their season ended last year, going down to Ballyea.

In addition players such as Danny Russell, Darren O’Brien and David McNamara will be expected to cause problems for any opposition.

Éire Óg also reached the semi-final in the previous season going

down to Inagh/Kilnamona.

It’s now thirty three years since Éire Óg last captured the Canon Hamilton trophy and all involved with the club are keen to end that wait.

Matt Shannon, a native of nearby Corofin, is in charge for a fifth season and his selection committee of Gerry O’Connor, Ronan Cooney and Barry Nugent is unchanged from recent seasons with the addition of former Clare coach, Liam Cronin a teacher in Ard Scoil Rís.

In 2021 Shane O’Donnell was dogged with injury concerns but during the recent inter county season he was at his brilliant best and on that form he will pose serious problems for all opponents.

Liam Corry has been the team captain in recent seasons but he missed quite a number of games last year due to injury. Now fully fit, it’s expected that he will be a key figure as the town side chases success this season.

“The focus is on our opening game against Feakle. There are no guarantees so it has to be game by game”, he said this week.

Managing the dual player situation hasn’t been a major problem for the club. “There is great communication between the managers

Mattie Shannon and Paul Madden. None of the dual players are overworked while the players look after themselves”, according to Corry who has been part of both senior panels in recent seasons.

Acknowledging that the hurlers have been close to success Corry says they are “hopeful that we will be in that situation again this year. We must respect all opponents so we have to go game by game”.

He believes that being short so many players for their league games due to their inter county involvement, “provided others with the opportunity to step up and gain valuable experience which will benefit the club”

Éire Óg will go into the football championship in two weeks time as defending champions chasing a third title in sucession so another busy and long campaign is likely.

ÉIRE ÓG

MANAGEMENT: Matt Shannon (Manager), Gerry O’Connor, Barry Nugent, Ronan Cooney (Selectors); Liam Cronin (coach), Neil McCarthy (Physio) Bob Loftus, Tadhg McNamara Anthony O’Halloran (Stats).

CAPTAIN: Liam Corry

KEY PLAYER: Shane O’Donnell

ONE TO WATCH: Luca Cleary

FRESH BLOOD: Luca Cleary, Bruce Piggott, Liam Kavanagh,

Luke Pyne

DEPARTURE GATE: Cian O’Dea (emigrated)

TITLES WON: 6

LAST SEASON’S RUN: Beaten in county final by Ballyea

SCHEDULE: Round 1 v Feakle Round 2 v Broadford Round 3 v Clarecastle

l Éire Óg captain Liam Corry and his team will feel a Canon Hamilton is within their reach this season

Photo by Gerard O'Neill

SIXMILEBRIDGE

MANAGEMENT: Ger Conway (Manager); Ciaran Callinan (coach) Stephen Moloney, Donie O’Grady (selectors); Brid Canny (Medic).

CAPTAIN: Oisin Donnellan

KEY PLAYER: Shane McGrath

ONE TO WATCH: Adam Hogan

FRESH BLOOD: Eoghan Daly

DEPARTURE GATE: Austin McMahon and James Noonan (both travelling), Ger

Hanrahan. TITLES WON: 6 LAST SEASON’S RUN: Failed to get out of their group, got to senior B final

SCHEDULE: Round 1 v Éire Óg Round 2 v Clarecastle Round 3 v Broadford

Feakle targeting quarter-final spot

by Seamus Hayes

FEAKLE are tired of “hard luck stories” and the East Clare club are targeting a return to the knockout stages of the TUS Clare SHC for the first time since 2020.

It’s 35 years since Feakle won the last of their six senior hurling titles and for a club with such a proud hurling history, that is a long time.

In recent years they have threatened a breakthrough, not least when they won the Clare Cup title two seasons ago. In the recently concluded Clare Cup, they just missed out on a place in the play-offs having recovered from a poor start in that campaign when they lost their opening three games.

Being without county panellists in the league proved costly but the addition of goalkeeper Eibhear Quilligan and Adam Hogan off the back of his debut season with the county seniors gives them a big boost ahead of their championship opener against last year’s beaten finalists Éire Óg.

Ger Conway is in his first season as manager and his backroom team includes Ciaran Callinan from Ardrahan as the team coach. Selectors Stephen Moloney and Donie O’Grady are proud Feakle men who played for many years with the club and they will expect a committed performance from this

year’s

“[Éireteam.Óg]

in the first round is a big undertaking. They were in hard luck last year. Physically they are very strong and they have lots of experience with a big number of players who have been part of the county senior hurling and football teams”, team manager Conway explained.

“Our target is to get out of the group and get to the quarter final. There is a while since we got there. We have had enough hard luck stories”, the manager added.

Shane McGrath has been one of the leading players in the club scene and his form has been central to positive outcomes for Feakle.

Oisin Donnellan, this year’s club captain, Martin Daly, Eoin Tuohy, Gary

Guilfoyle, Steven Conway, Con Smyth and Evan McMahon are others who have been ever present in the side which returned to senior ranks after winning the intermediate title in 2018.

That they face a serious test in the opening round is without question and they will have to be at their best if they are to limit the contributions expected from Shane O’Donnell and David Reidy to mention some.

Hurling fans expect that this will be one of the most exciting games in this weekend’s fixtures programme and while Éire Óg will carry the favourites tag a Feakle victory would not be a major surprise.

Gary Guilfoyle is one of Feakle’s most experienced players. Photo by Gerard O'Neill

MANAGEMENT: Sean Stack (manager); Jim Fitzgerald, Michael O’Halloran Adrian Chaplin, (selectors) Shane Hassett (S&C); Rachel Kelly (Physio), Kevin Wallace (Stats), Dr. Conor Moloney (Medic)

CAPTAIN: Noel Purcell

KEY MAN: Seadna Morey

ONE TO WATCH: Luke

O’Halloran

FRESH BLOOD: Seamus

O’Connell, Oisin Breen, Fionn Hayes, Dylan Downes, Adam Murray, Darragh Fitzgerald, Adam Breen, Fiachra

O’Broin

DEPARTURE GATE: Pa

Mulready (Australia) Christy

Carey (long term injury), Cathal Lynch (emigrating), Jamie Shanahan (injury)

TITLES WON: 15

LAST SEASON’S RUN: Lost semi-final to Éire Óg

SCHEDULE: Round 1 v Crusheen Round 2 v Clonlara Round 3 v O’Callaghans Mills

'Bridge in the mix

by Seamus Hayes news@clareecho.ie

WITH five senior titles in the last decade, Sixmilebridge are the only side to have achieved more success than the three in a row chasing Ballyea but down by the O’Garney River they are determined to obtain more silverware.

Since they made the breakthrough to win their first Clare senior title in 1977 Sixmilebridge have been shortlisted almost every year for honours.

Managed for the second successive season by Sean Stack, one of the stars of their successes in the late seventies and in the eighties, the former club captain is adamant that they cannot afford to look past their opening round clash with Crusheen.

“We are just looking at the first game, it is so vital. Our sole target is to get over Crusheen, otherwise the mindset changes”, one of hurling’s outstanding centre backs told The Clare Echo “Crusheen have a good crop of players and are never easy opposition”, he added.

“The first round takes on a life of its own" he said. “A lot of luck goes into keeping vital players healthy. We ran into serious bad luck last year losing top players including Alex Morey and Cathal Malone and we are hoping that won’t happen this year”.

The Morey clan continue to fill key roles for Sixmilebridge and Caimin, Alex and Seadna will be hoping to cause plenty of problems for Crusheen this

Game at a time for Crusheen

FORGING a winning start is vital for all teams and for Crusheen they’ve turned to a management with history of success to guide their efforts.

Speaking this week ahead of the team’s opening game, Manager Michael Browne noted, “For us to be talking about winning the championship is stupid. We have to take it a game at a time. Our first round opponents, Sixmilebridge, could have been in the county final last year. They played us in the Clare Cup and beat us well and that is an indicator of what we are facing this week,” the former Clare senior selector said.

Injury has ruled Cathal Dillon out for this Saturday.

Former Clare captain Cian Dillon will again captain a club side that is expected to include Donal Tuohy, Jamie Fitzgibbon, Conor O’Donnell, Fergus Kennedy, Ross Hayes and Clare under 21 star Oisin O’Donnell.

week. The aforementioned Cathal Malone along with Páidí Fitzpatrick and Shane Golden are others will a lot of experience having represented Clare at senior level in recent years. Goalkeeper Derek Fahy has been the team’s regular netminder for a number of years while another experienced member of the side is this year’s captain Noel Purcell.

Despite missing a lot of experienced players at different times this season, Sixmilebridge got to the semi-final of the Clare Cup and in the process they managed to give valuable game time to a number of players at senior level and that is sure to stand to them as they begin the chase for a 16th Canon Hamilton title.

CRUSHEEN

MANAGEMENT: Michael Browne (manager), Paddy Vaughan, Gearoid O’Donnell, Alan Tuohy, Cronan Dillon (selectors), Niall Griffin (stats), Kieran O’Donnell (Stats); Pa McEvoy (S&C); Aidan Harte (Coach), Conor Stack (Physio) Tom Culligan (kitman);

CAPTAIN: Cian Dillon

KEY PLAYER: Cian Dillon

ONE TO WATCH: Murrough McMahon

FRESH BLOOD: Eoghan McMahon, John and Glen O’Sullivan, Cian Fogarty, Ronan Kearney.

TITLES WON: 2

LAST SEASON: Failed to get out of group

SCHEDULE:

Round 1 v Sixmilebridge

Round 2 v O’Callaghans Mills

Round 3 v Clonlara

news@clareecho.ie

Intermediate hurling championship preview

Group 1:

Tulla

Management: Jim McInerney (manager), Mike Cummins (coach), Declan Hogan (selector), Paul Kelleher (kit), Ned McSweeney (kit), Val Tuohy (kit), Noel Mulconroy (stats)

Captain: Paul Lynch

Key player: David McInerney

One to watch: Éanna Culloo

Fresh blood: None

Departures Gate: Sean Torpey (regraded)

Last year’s run: Beaten in the county final by St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield

“It is a tough group, Tubber have been in three or four finals in the last few years, Smith O’Briens have just been relegated from senior, Bodyke are a serious outfit, they are a young team and if they don’t make a breakthrough this year they certainly will in the next few years and Killanena are Killanena, they are always a tough team to play”.

“That said, we’d be hoping to get out of the group seeing as three teams qualify”- Jim McInerney (manager)

Smith O’Briens

Management: Alex Simpson (manager), Finbar McCarthy (coach), Derek Conway, Stephen

Howard

Captain: David Gough

Key player: Cian Nolan

One to watch: Sean McMahon

Fresh blood: Eoin Heffernan, Sean McMahon, Shane Geraghty, Departures Gate: Tommy Reddan (emigrated), Mikey O’Shea (emigrated), David O’Shea (emigrated), Mark Stritch.

Last year’s run: Relegated from the senior ranks.

“Any team’s wish is to bounce straight back to senior once they’ve been relegated but we know how hard it is to win the intermediate hurling championship, it is a lot easier said than done, we have to take it one game at a time” – Alex Simpson (manager)

Bodyke

Management: Sean Doyle (manager), Patsy O’Donnell (selector), Liam O’Donnell (selector), Ger McNamara (selector)

Captain: Sean Wiley

Key player: Cian Minogue

One to watch: Cathal McKenna

Fresh blood: Daryl O’Donnell, Michael O’Brien, Tadhg Kilkenny

Departures Gate: Fionn Slattery (emigrated), Paddy McNamara (emigrated)

“We’ve still eleven U21s playing this year so we’re very young, the oldest player on our team is 27 so if all these guys can stick around they will be building for the future. We have three players coming back from long-term injuries so we’re hoping to have both Kevin Drost and Cian Minogue available for the weekend”.

“We’re in a fierce tough group and you’d have to say Tulla, Smith O’Briens and Tubber would be the three teams expected to qualify but both ourselves and Killanena will certainly be willing to put up a fight”. - Sean Doyle (manager)

Killanena

Management: Martin Smyth (manager), Jason O’Brien (coach), Alan McNamara (selector), Mikey Noone (selector), Enda Collins (selector), David Noone (selector)

Captain: Cathal Noonan

Key player: Ian Macnamara

One to watch: Seamie O’Donnell

Fresh blood: Seamie O’Donnell

Departures: Mark Flaherty

Last year’s run: Retained their status beating Inagh/Kilnamona in the relegation semi-final

“After the disappointment of not qualifying for the quarter-finals last year and getting a few beatings along the way the big focus for us is to win the first round and see where it takes us” – Martin Smyth (manager)

Tubber Management: Mike Finn (manager), Michael Coen (selector), Justin McMahon (selector), Darragh O’Connor (selector), Declan Ryan (selector).

Captain: Pat O’Connor

Key Player: Ronan Monahan

One to watch: Pappy Taaffe

Fresh blood: Tom Taffee, Alan Lee, Lorcan

Doolin

Departures Gate: N/A

Last year’s run: Exited at the quarter-finals with defeat to Corofin

“They are a very ambitious bunch of players, they know themselves that they are capable of winning. The intermediate championship is very competitive, there are six or seven sides that on any given day are capable of winning it out, you just need to have a bit of luck, you need to get to the knockout stages and arrive there without carrying any injuries. It’s just about qualifying” – Mike Finn (manager)

Group 2:

Corofin

Management: Joe Cahill (manager), Matt Shannon (selector), Pat Curtis (selector), John Fitzgerald (selector), Joe Killeen (logistics), Tony Killeen (kit), John Williams (kit), Kevin Kelleher (kit), Donal O’Loughlin (kit), Thomas Whelan (stats), Darren Malone (stats), Eoin Leen (stats), Geraldine Cahill (first aid)

Captain: Damien O’Loughlin

Key Player: Diarmuid Cahill

One to Watch: Marc O’Loughlin

Fresh Blood: James Organ

Departures Gate: Kevin Heagney, Donnacha

Kelleher

Last year’s run: Beaten in the semi-final by eventual winners St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield after extra time.

“We’d be hoping to be involved in the business end of the championship. We had a successful league campaign, we were missing a lot of key players but it gave us a chance to develop our panel. As a dual club, we will lose players to injury so we need to be ready and have a panel for that. Winning the league was grand but more importantly we found out a lot about our players." – Joe Cahill (manager)

Whitegate

Management: Terence Fahy (manager), Eric Minogue (coach/selector), Jarlath Garvey (selector).

Backroom Team: Dermot Hayes, Adrian Hynes, Padraig Hynes, Barry Fahy, Fiona Sampson, Cathy Colbohm

Captain: Conor McDermott

Key player: Conor Whelan

One to watch: Cian McDermott

Fresh blood: Cian McDermott, Mark Bugler, Peadar Hynes.

Departures Gate: Eoin Quirke, Tomas Quirke, Reuben Noyes, Paul Burke, Donal Burke, Oisin O’Rourke, Eoin Quinn, Conor Hogan, Tommy Hogan.

Last year’s run: Relegated from senior, lost playoff to Clarecastle.

“We’re hoping to have a very strong championship, we’ve had a good year with a very strong Clare Cup campaign. We’ve a new team in many ways, we’ve lost a lot of power but at the same time we still have a mix of young players and very seasoned experienced players, it’s a fresh kind of team”. - Terence Fahy (manager)

Ruan

Management: Leon Quirke (manager), Pakie Roughan, Mike Daffy and Martin Minehan (Coaches), Pat Meaney and Gearoid Roughan (Selectors), Stephen Dolan (Physio), Alan Quirke (Video Analysis).

Captain: Killian Ryan

Key Player: Robin Mounsey

One To Watch: Piaras Ó Sé

Fresh Blood: Frankie Lyons and Piaras Ó Sé

Departures Gate: None

Last year’s run: Failed to make it out of the group.

“We’re concentrating on our first game but we want to get out of the group, for us it’s the first round that is key.

“We’ve a new management and there’s plenty of motivation within the panel. A lot of our players have tasted success at underage level and they

are looking to push on with the intermediates and get to the business end of the championship. We’re really looking forward to the championship and can’t wait to get going”. – Leon Quirke (manager)

St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield

Management: Shane O’Grady (manager), Fintan Lahiffe (coach), Denis Maher (selector), Sean Williams (selector), Dave Morrissey (selector), Sean Duggan (selector), Darragh O’Driscoll (selector)

Captain: Darragh Murphy

Key Player: Luke Carmody

One to Watch: Conor Kearns

Fresh Blood: Ian Williams, Aaron Landy, Departures Gate: Emmet Whelan (injury), Gearoid Neylon (injury) back in a month.

Last year’s run: Won the Junior A championship to secure promotion

“Getting up to intermediate was an achivement, we’re playing a Whitegate team that were unlucky to be relegated and probably wouldn’t have been if they took their chances last year. We’ve Corofin in the group too so it’s a baptism of fire for us in the intermediate championship, they have shown great spirit and will need all of that to be competitive this year” – Fintan Lahiffe (coach)

O’Callaghans Mills

Management: TJ McNamara (manager), PJ O’Connell (selector), Killian Nugent (coach), Dermot Moroney (selector), Joe O’Gorman (selector)

Captain: TBC

Key player: Jamie Keane

One to watch: Liam Boyce

Fresh blood: Cathal McNamara, Liam Boyce, Alan O’Dea, Henry McGrath, Dan Burke, Mark Crehan, Billy Scanlon, Stephen Marsh. Departures Gate: Darragh Moroney, Stephen Donnellan, Keith Donnellan, Mikey McMahon

Last year’s run: Eliminated by Newmarket-on-Fergus

“In the intermediate championship, there’s 15 teams and 10 of them are the first-team for their club so their ambitions are very different to us which is to maintain our status. It is more like a development platform for us rather than to have aspirations of winning the championship. The first teams are at a different level, Corofin are a fine team, they are well coached and their aspirations are to be a senior club. Our good friends from East Clare, Whitegate have proven to be a handful for our senior team.” – TJ McNamara (manager)

Sixmilebridge

“We’ll try get out of the group first and take it from there. We’re in it to win it but we have to get out of the group first and foremost”

“We were very happy with the league, we wanted to get into the playoffs and wanted to get a tough quality match which we knew we would get from Corofin and we did”. – Pat Keane (manager) Inagh/Kilnamona

Management: Paul McInerney (manager), Flan Barry (selector), Pat Barry (selector)

Captain: Paul O’Looney

Key player: Brian Foudy

One to watch: Keith Barry

Fresh blood: Gerry Coote (regraded), Departures Gate: Likely to lose players to senior.

Last year’s run: Defeated Clonlara in the relegation final to consolidate their intermediate status.

“It is going to be a big challenge for any second team in this championship with Sixmilebridge being the exception, they manage their resources very well, Ogonnelloe are very strong and so are Parteen/Meelick so we’ll be up against it to qualify”.

“We want to survive, we will rely on our grit and determination to put us in a position to do just that” – Paul McInerney (manager)

Parteen/Meelick

Management: Denis Barry (manager), Noel Ryan (trainer), Paul Harman (S&C), Michelle Caulfield (psychology), Roddy McDermott (selector), Benny McEvoy (selector)

Captain: TBC

Key player: Jack Kirwan

One to watch: Donal Kenny

Fresh blood: Adam Sherlock, Greg Daly, Joe Sherlock, Danny Williamson, Rory McDermott, Darragh Nolan, Donal Kenny, James Glynn. Departures Gate: Evan Fitzgerald (transferred), Kevin McGlennan (emigrated), David small (emigrated).

Last year’s run: Topped the group but lost out to Tulla in the quarter-finals

“We’ve got to know the players a bit better so far this year. Last year we had a very good run in the group stage, time will tell if we’ve learned our lessons from last year, we were beaten by a better Tulla team on the day when it came to the quarter-finals.

“We’d be hoping we get that right in terms of peaking at the right, whether we didn’t peak last year or Tulla were better it’s hard to know” – Denis Barry (manager)

Ogonnelloe Management: Michael Sheedy (manager), Martin Conlon (coach), Johnny McMahon (selector), Billy Cunnane (selector), Aidan Lynch (selector).

Captain: Henry Vaughan and Barry Kiely

Key player: Gearoid Sheedy

One to watch: Matthew Cunnane

Fresh blood: Matthew Cunnane, Michael Dinan, Micí Sheedy, Steven Grady

Departures Gate: John O’Brien (retired), Dan Cunnane (injury), Sean Kikkers (emigrated), Peter English (transferred), Colin Harte (travelling).

Last year’s run: Reached the quarter-finals where they lost to St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield.

“We were very happy last year but we were disappointed with our quarter-final performance, I know we came up against eventual winners. It was our first year back up at intermediate and we took the scalp of Tulla before they regrouped very well. The challenge for us this year is to get back to the same place and do ourselves justice, it might be a stretch with all the players we are missing.” –

Michael Sheedy (manager)

Newmarket-on-Fergus

Management: Neil Ryan, Donagh Keogh, David Barrett, Pat Freeman, Bob Enright

Captain: James Liddy

Key player: Ronan Good

One to watch: Cathal Cullinan

Fresh blood: Darragh Jones, Eoin McInerney, Liam Harkin, Cathal Cullinan, Cathal Crimmins, Ronan O’Rourke, Alex Byrne, John Lynch, Cathal Noonan, Jack Jennings, Aaron Moroney, Brian Molloy

Group 3:

Management: Pat Keane (manager), Eamon Healy (selector), Tom Howard (selector)

Captain: Cathaoir Agnew

Key player: Aidan Quilligan

One to watch: Fionn Hayes

Fresh blood: Fiachra O Braoin, Darragh Fitzgerald, Fionn Hayes, Daniel Chaplin, Alan Mulready, Christy Carey, Paul Corry, Departures Gate: Jordan Downes (senior), Leon Kelly (senior), Lorcan Fitzpatrick (senior), David Kennedy (senior), Tiernan Agnew (emigration), Ciaran Hassett (emigration), Kevin Fennessy (work commitments).

Last year’s run: Reached the semi-final and lost to Tulla.

Departures Gate: Darren Duggan (regraded), Shane O’Brien, Alan O’Flanagan (emigrated), James Warren (emigrated)

Last year’s run: Reached the quarter-finals but lost out to Sixmilebridge

“From my perspective as a second team we’re looking to consolidate our status, our primary focus is to remain an intermediate team, that is always our focus at the start of the year. We’re one of three second teams in the group so then you think maybe we will come out but it will take an awful lot of luck. Sixmilebridge are a good bit more further down the road as a well consolidated second team, we want to build on what we achieved last year”. –

Neil Ryan (manager)

l Diarmuid Cahill on the attack for Corofin in their 2022 quarter-final win over Tubber

Photo by Mark Hayes

'We had belief' - Ladies in All Ireland final

ALL-IRELAND INTER' LADIES FOOTBALL SEMI-FINAL

Clare 2-14 Antrim 1-13

Venue: Glennon Bros Pearse Park, Longford

Compiled by Derek Dormer

STORY OF THE GAME

CLARE

Frees for: 14 (4/10)

Wides: 4 (3/1)

Top scorer: Chloe Moloney (1-4 2f)

Scores from play: 2-10

Spread of scorers: 6

Bookings: Ciara McCarthy (44)

Own kickouts won: 15 from 18 (84%)

ANTRIM

Frees for: 21 (8/13)

Wides: 4 (3/10

Top scorer: Orlaith Prenter (0-5 1f)

Scores from play: 1-11

Spread of scorers: 6

Bookings: None

Own kickouts won: 13 from 20 (62%)

MANAGER COMMENT “

Wayne Freeman, Clare:

“It’s a little bit overwhelming to be honest about it. At the start of the year people wouldn't have given us much of a chance but we had belief. Internally we knew this was a team capable of going all the way. They have worked really hard all year and I'm over the moon for them. I really am thrilled. It's just absolutely fantastic for everyone concerned”.

"They've been so close over the last few years. The talent was always there but we've

worked really hard on the mental side of things. It's about game management and the big moments in games where we tend to react emotionally to things, that needed working on and we are a very honest group so we've worked really hard on that side of the game and growing our inner belief. At half time we knew we were going out playing into a gale but we spoke about it and we again we didn't panic. We showed how good we can be and again I'm

Siofra savouring the journey with Clare's ladies footballers

SIOFRA NÍ CHONAILL is in her sixth season with the Clare intermediate ladies footballers and is now preparing for a first All-Ireland final with the side, writes Derek

Dormer

Described by Clare boss Wayne Freeman as “a Rolls Royce” of a footballer, Siofra has had a magnificent season to date with the county reaching the National League final, winning the Munster B title and now advancing to the All-Ireland decider.

Full-back Siofra spoke to The Clare Echo following another impressive display, this time a four point win over the then unbeaten Antrim. "I just can't believe it. I'm so happy, I can't stop smiling. It's the best day ever,” she admitted.

In what was a hugely entertaining battle Ní Chonaill was thrilled spectators in Longford were treated to a good game.

“I'm delighted it was good to watch. Thankfully we had a great start but teams are always going to come back at you and enjoy their own purple patch. It's about limiting the damage during that period”.

“We have great forwards and they got the scores so then it was up to us to do our jobs and defend. Thankfully we did and we are in the final" she says out of breath but beaming from ear to ear.

On her defining battle with Antrim star Orlaith Prenter, the beating heart of the Banner defence is as always gracious and complimentary of her teammates and her opponent. “The girls are an absolute credit. You couldn't feel safer with them. Every single one of them deserves to be

on that field. We feel so locked together that we know whoever comes in will do the job.

“Orlaith Prenter is some footballer. I've never played Antrim before so I didn't know what to expect but I won't forget her in a hurry . Right leg, left leg the girl had it and she is quality,” she added.

When Clare were reduced to fourteen with the sin binning of Ciara McCarthy, it was squeaky bum time but showing tremendous resilience they never panicked.

“When we got the sin bin our character shone through. At times you wouldn't even know we had fourteen. We pushed up on the kickouts and got it out of the danger areas. We just battled on for the ten minutes and crucially we didn't concede a goal which was vital”.

A first appearance in Croke Park awaits the St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield clubwoman and she is eagerly anticipating this encounter with familiar foes Kildare.

“I just can't wait, it's going to be unbelievable. The atmosphere, the crowds, I'm even getting nervous just thinking about it," she laughs.

"It doesn't matter who we will face, Aisling Reidy said this journey wasn't going to end until Croke Park. I remember her saying at half time if you're tired you're not tired. You just have to keep going. It will be one unbelievable occasion but we will get ready for it. These girls will give their all. I cannot wait to be honest, I just cannot wait. We will be ready and we will give everything for each other and for the county,” Siofra stated.

just so proud of them. We are in an All-Ireland final and that's just an amazing feeling. It's the best feeling in sport”.

"It really is an unbelievable achievement but we are not done yet. We are not going to Croke Park for a holiday. We are going to do a job and win an All-Ireland.

Croke Park plays big but Ennis is just as big if not bigger and we have shown that the bigger pitches suit us. I can't wait to be honest. It will be a huge battle but it's what we put in all the hard work for”.

WHEELY GREAT SHOT

l Chloe Moloney and Fidelma Marrinan of Clare celebrate their side’s victory Tom Beary / Sportsfile

l Cyclists pass the cliffs of Kilkee as over 2,500 cyclists made their way across much of the Banner County on Saturday, taking in breathtaking views, braving some challenging weather and enjoying some dry spells, too, at the annual Škoda Ring of Clare . The cycle is worth an estimated €1m to the local economy

Photo by Brian Arthur

Clare Juniors fulfil dream of reaching Croke Park for All-Ireland final

by Páraic McMahon paraic@clareecho.ie

CLARE’S JUNIOR camogie side came from four points down to record a dramatic one point win over Armagh and seal their place in the All-Ireland final.

Sixty minutes now separate Clare from getting their hands on the Kathleen Mills Cup with Tipperary their opponents in the decider which has been confirmed to take place on August 6th at 12:50pm in Croke Park.

John Carmody’s recorded a 0-22 2-15 win over Armagh in Ashbourne on Saturday to advance to their first final at the grade since 2008 when it was then Clare’s first team managed by the Hanley brothers Colm and Eoghan alongside John Nihill that secured All-Ireland glory defeating Offaly.

On Saturday, Clare hit the last two points via freetaker Sarah Loughnane of Sixmilebridge and midfielder Grace Carmody to edge out the women from Armagh.

An ability to claw back was evident earlier in the game with Clare hitting the last four points of the first half to draw level and make it 1-08 0-11 at the sounding of the half-time whistle.

Clare produced a strong finish with the midfield pairing of Car-

mody and Broadford’s Niamh Mulqueen stepping up along with the lively Caoimhe Cahill in attack.

Speaking after the game, Grace Carmody who received the player of the match award noted that their efforts to reach the decider had been ongoing for some time. “We’re so happy to get over the line, we’ve been quite close the last three years so we’re very happy to get over the line and give it a go in the final”.

She added, “Once you keep performing and performing you will get the results, thankfully we got over the line, it will stand to us in the final to have had such a good battle”.

An opportunity to play in Croke Park is one to appreciate, the Kilmaley player noted, “You dream of going to Croke Park, we don’t always get these opportunities so we’re delighted to get the opportunity and have a right go at it in the final”.

“We’re training with the seniors every night of the week with the likes of Clare Hehir, Orlaith Duggan, Niamh O’Dea, Chloe Morey, they really drive us on in training and you don’t want to run into them,” Grace concluded.

Lahinch Juniors win Fred Daly pennant for first time

by Seamus Hayes news@clareecho.ie

Lahinch Golf Club: IT WAS another historic day for Lahinch junior boys at Ballybunion Golf Club on Sunday when they won their first ever Fred Daly pennant defeating Killarney 4/1 in the West Munster area final.

The team performed extremely well in windy conditions and they now join their boys inter-club team in the All-Ireland finals which will be hosted by Castletroy golf club on August 28 and 29.

The members of the panel are Gabriel Considine, Danny Lyne, Bob Casey, Mikie McMahon, Niall Kelly, Jack Clarke and Matthew Braja, their team managers are Kevin Glynn and Johnny Reynolds, and their coaches are Shane Carey and Donal McSweeney.

There was disappointment for the club’s Barton shield team who were defeated in the West Munster area final by Limerick (4 holes) at Castletroy. After victories over Dooks (2 holes) and Tralee (3 holes) on Saturday, both pairings got off to a poor start in the semi-final and while they clawed their way back into both matches, making up the early deficit proved a bridge too far.

Meanwhile at Ennis, the club’s ladies senior foursomes team came up against a very strong Castletroy team in the West Munster area semi-final. While the first match finished all square after 18 holes, Castletroy were always ahead in matches two and three winning both 3&2 before going on to win the Munster pennant.

This year’s Pierse Motors VW Ireland sponsored South of Ireland amateur open championship got underway yesterday, Wednesday July 26. Lahinch has a strong representation which includes Stephen Loftus, John Dillon, Jonathan Keane, Ciaran Murphy, Patrick

Adler (overseas member) and TJ Ford, the club’s operations manager Kilrush Golf Club:

The lady captain Stephanie Roughan’s prize was played for at Kilrush on Saturday when Loretta Maher (35) captured the honours with 69.

Sheena Mahony (24) was two strokes better but she wasn’t eligible for the main prize. Third place was filled by Sheila O’Grady (20) with 70 and she was followed by Martina Fox (36) with 71, Geraldine Burke (16) with 71 and Mary Lyons (21) with 72. Anne Brennan won the gross with 87 while the nines were won by Edel Crowley with 32 and Martina Walsh with 36.

The lady captain’s 9 hole competition was won by Dolores Miniter from Anne McMahon with third spot filled by Claire Murphy followed by Lucy Blake.

The lady captain’s prize to the juniors was won by Laura McGibney from Laura Nagle with third place filled by Alice Gavin. In fourth spot was Sadhbh Killeen with Lucy Murphy-Downes in fifth spot.

The men’s competition on Sunday was for the Patrick Bourke Outfitters prize and was won by Leroy Crowe (16) with 41 points. He had two to spare over Martin P Brennan (24) with third spot filled by Thomas Downes (9) with 35 points.

Division 1 was won by Feargal S Crowley (12) with 35 points, division 2 by Patrick Coleman (15) with 34 points while division 3 was won by Finbarr McMahon (23), also with 34 points.

Ennis Golf Club:

The ladies 18 hole Bogey cup, sponsored by CoCo Restaurant, was won by Ann Casey (29) with +4 from Ann A. Gallery (18) with +1 while the gross was wn by Sinead Hegarty (19) with -12.

The overall winner in the ladies 9 hole stableford competition was Mary O’Halloran (16) with 18 points. Bridget Hoey (11) won division 1 with 14 points, Mary Gardiner (17) won division 2 with 17 points and Sined O’Sullivan (26) won division 3 with 17 points.

Dromoland Golf Club:

David Reidy won the July medal, a golfer of the year competition, at Dromoland last weekend with 64. He had a stroke to spare over Philip Alldritt with Cathal Boyce in third spot with 66. Cillian O’Connor won the gross with 73 while the winner in the 22 and over handicap category was Matthew Cooney.

The men’s 9 hole midweek competition was won by Gordon Daffy with 27 points from Derek McCoy with 20 points and Patrick McCoy with 19 points.

Mary Arthur was the winner of the ladies 18 hole stableford competition with 44 points from Patricia Piccolo with 38 and Geraldine Ryan with 33.

Frances Bergin was the winner of the ladies 9 hole competition with 21 points from Patricia Piccolo with 20 points and Joan Dunne, also with 20 points.

East Clare Golf Club:

East Clare golf club hosted the Olive Fahy Memorial day last week when Noreen Doyle (19) emerged as the winner of the ladies section with 36 points. She had one to spare over Celia Moloney (28) with Brid Hayes (18) a point further back in third spot. Imelda O’Hanlon (8) won the gross with 24 points.

In the men’s section the winner was Colm Kelly (17) with 39 points from Brian Corry (24) with 38 with Batt Skehan (19) in third spot with 37 points. Finn Looney (10) won the gross with 36 points.

The overall winner was Ray K McInerney (11) with 49 points.

Last week’s senior men’s competition was

won by Tom Larkin, Brendan Magill and Danny Minogue from Brendan Moloney, Sean Jones and Pat Duggan with third spot filled by Batt Skehan, Jonathan Walsh and Chris Davis.

The men’s Thursday open winner was Ronan Molloy with 40 points. Pat Melody was second with 32 points followed by Teddy O’Hanlon who also had 32 points

The men’s open day continues on Thursdays while there will be a ladies open team of three competition over the upcoming August bank holiday weekend.

Gort Golf Club:

Niall O’Shaughnessy (10) was the winner of the Friday open singles stableford at Gort with 41 points.

A similar competition on Saturday and Sunday was won by Jimmy Hannigan (21) with 41 points while Paul Brennan (4) won the gross with 33 points.

Michael Ryan’s captain’s prize was played for at Gort on Saturday and it proved to be a great day for Clare members. Captain Michael hails from Tubber and his prize was won by his namesake Michael Ryan who is from Kilnaboy. He completed the 36 holes in 135 strokes to win from another Clare man, John Williams from Corofin who had the best score with 132 but he wasn’t eligible for the main prize as he didn’t have the required number of qualifying rounds played.

Third place was filled by Anthony Burke with 139 and he was followed by Brendan McDonagh with 139 and John Kelleher with 139. David Quirke won the gross with 71 while Martin Flaherty won the nett with 60. The past captain’s prize was won by Frank Higgins with 148 while the seniors section was won by Stephen Dervan with 148. The category winners were Bernard Byrne with 139, Seamus Noone with 140 and Gary Kavanagh with 145.

l Clare's Sinead Hogg and Niamh Mulqueen celebrate at the final whistle

'Clare soccer on rise' says returning Chair Ryan

by Eoin Brennan news@clareecho.ie

THERE was no smoke or fire as the deferred Clare District Soccer League AGM in Treacy’s West County Hotel re-emphasised that the code is in rude health in the county.

Postponed from its original date the previous week due to not having its account completed in time, the matter was quickly cleared up by treasurer Tony Downey’s explanation of falling seri-ously ill, thus delaying the finalisation and subsequent signing off of the accounts as by then their accountant was on holidays.

With Jason Ryan (Chairman), Denis Collins (Secretary) and Downey (treasurer) returned once more to the main positions on the CDSL Executive, they looked to build on the positivity of a memorable 2022/23 season.

“Clare soccer is on the rise.” outlined Kilrush Rangers Clubman Ryan who was elected unop-posed to the chair for the third consecutive year. “And it’s with your help that we can keep im-proving it. We’re working hard in the background to try and improve the county grounds and im-prove Clare Soccer.

“On the field, this was a historic year for Clare Soccer with Newmarket Celtic winning the FAI Jun-ior Cup, becoming the first Clare club to do so and as a result opening the door for other teams to follow. There’s great credit due

to Newmarket’s players and management for achieving their dream”.

It wasn’t all good new though as Ryan then spoke of his frustrations at the recent damage inflicted on Frank Healy Park property. “Myself and the committee were very disappointed with the vandalism that went on in the County Grounds. We’re currently working on trying to put more se-curity measures into it so that we’ll be on the ball going forward. It is costing the league a lot of money so hopefully these measures can ensure that we can knock it on the head and get to the other side of it”.

Treasurer Tony Downey echoed that disappointment when reporting a €20,000 annual profit for the season, up €16,000 on last year’s surplus. The Ennis Town clubman estimated that the over-all cost of repairing the doors and installing CCTV cameras and other security measures could amount to €8,000-€9,000.

Former referee Martin O’Brien was universally welcomed to the top table as the new Fixtures Secretary while the interim Fixtures Secretary from last year Dean Russell takes over as PRO for the coming season.

While the positions of Women’s Officer and Youth Liaison/Child Protection Officer are yet to be filled, other new members to the committee included Michael Leahy and Jimmy O’Brien.

With regards to the recommencement of the leagues, the new season will start on the week-

end of August 19/20th it was confirmed with the Premier League and First, Second and Third Division league cups.

In addition, it was reported from provincial level that his year’s Munster Junior Cup will be con-densed to only include teams from the Premier and First Division while a separate Munster Junior Shield will be initiated to facilitate clubs from the Second and Third Divisions.

Finally, it was outlined that the construction of ladies dressing rooms, the next phase of devel-opment in Frank Healy Park, will be completed by the end of the 2023/24 season.

CDSL Executive Committee 2023/24

Honorary Presidents: Robert Clancy, Michael McInerney, Michael Leahy

Chairman: Jason Ryan

Vice-Chairman: Ronnie Pyne

Secretary: Denis Collins

Treasurer: Tony Downey

Registrar: Eddie Crowe

Fixtures Secretary: Martin O’Brien

PRO: Dean Russell

Munster FA Delegate: Michael Guilfoyle

Munster FA Delegate: Donal Magee

Grants & Compliance Officer: Richard Cahill

Women’s Officer: Vacant

Youth Liaison/Child Protection Officer: Vacant

Committee Member: Michael Leahy

Committee Member: Jimmy O’Brien

Braces for O'Connors and Donal Cooney

by Michael Maher news@clareecho.ie

A GALWAY brace was recorded by the O’Connors from Ennistymon while Donal Cooney had a double success in Limerick.

The concluding A2 Graded 525 yards contest was the feature event on Friday night’s eleven race programme at Galway Greyhound Stadium. Racing towards the opening bend in the A7 graded third contest Rathkerry Anne,Abigails Buster and Nominator disputed the lead with the Thomas and Oisin O’Connor of Ennistymon owned Nominator taking a definite advantage on the outside rounding the opening bend. Racing down the back the son of Out Of Range Ash and An Bhean Cheile opened up a four length advantage over Rathkerry Anne and although that rival kept on well in the straight the gap was still two and a half lengths at the line in 29.57.

The Kennel and Litter double was complete in the A6 graded fifth contest over 525 yards where Da Ultimate who had met trouble in running on his two most recent starts made no mistake at the fourth attempt as he made all to defeat Nivea Blue by a length and a half in 29.56. Very smartly away in the wide outside the winner led by two lengths approaching the opening bend where some crowding behind saw the lead extended to five lengths racing down the back. Striding out well Da Ultimate was always in command although Nivea Blue stayed on well in the straight.

The semi-finals of the Irish RetIred Greyhound Trust A3 525 Yards Stake were the twin features on Saturdays card at the College Road Venue with the concluding A1 graded 525 yards contest the top graded of the eleven races.

In the second semi-final of the IRGT A3 Stake Flyers Kirsty was away very smartly along the inner and racing towards the opening bend the Michael Fitzgerald of Kilrush owned lady as Balroebuck Dream and Springwell Eddy showed pace further out on the run up. Rounding the bend, the leader railed superbly and entering the back straight the daughter of Ballymac Cashout and Ballymac Arminta set sail for the judge. Exiting the back straight, Flyers Kirsty was in control as she stayed omen well on the run home to defeat Springwell Eddy by three and a half lengths in 29.03.

Racing towards the opening bend in the

A5 graded contest less than two lengths covered the field with Hundo Max the fractional leader. At the bend though the red jacketed Derra Dolly muscled his way through along the rails to take a one length lead entering the back straight. Racing along the back the Rachel Murray and Sean O’Riordan of Sixmilebridge owned daughter of Droopys Sydney and Astro Abby gradually extended her advantage to over six lengths as the Stephen Murray trained lady recorded her second career success by seven and a half lengths over Brickhill Buster in 29.57.

In race four, the Michael Browne of Cree owned Burnpark Layla took her career stats to three wins from just five career outings as she made virtually all the running to defeat Drombeg Diego by one length in 19.26 . The daughter of Newinn Taylor and Burnpark Leanne was very smartly into her stride and racing towards the opening bend she led from Drombeg Diego and Caislean Honcho. Despite drifting to the centre of the track rounding the bend Burnpark Layla was on control trining for home as she stayed on well to score.

On last Thursday night at Limerick Greyhound Stadium, O’Callaghans Mills’ Donal Cooney kept the Clare flag flying with a

when

double – Dardis Whitepaws, a son of Dorotas Wildcat and Urban Fashion, who Donal owns in partnership with Darren Cooney made it two wins on the trot and seven in total with a 29.40 victory in an A4 graded contest. Their training double was completed

John Boy Dylan took the honours in 29.35 for an A5 contest, owned by young Dylan O’Donoghue from Fanore, this a fifth career success for this daughter of Droopys Sydney and Ballistic Nina.

CDSL Chairman, Jason Ryan

Photo by John Mangan

Pictured with his winning hounds John Boy Dylan & Darris Whitepaws in Limerick on Thursday was Donal Cooney with Leo McNulty Photo by James Treacy

Ennis Tennis Club celebrates 135th year with Open success

ENNIS Lawn Tennis and Badminton Club held our first Tennis Ireland tour 200 affiliated Open tournament in July. This is a first for our club and indeed a first for Co. Clare.

The five days, five courts, five events tournament finished on 22nd July with a super finals day. The tournament attracted 116 entrants including players from Killaloe-Ballina tennis club, Limerick Lawn TC, Galway LTC, Hazelwood TC, Leinster cricket club, Loughrea TC, Puckane TC, Borrisokane TC, Portumna TC, Dromahane TC, Mallow TC,

Nenagh LTC, CIAC, Monaleen TC, Glenageary LTC as well as a fantastic entry from Ennis club members.

The origins of the club date back to 1888 with an amalgamation in 1982 with the Ennis Badminton Club. This enabled significant work on the site including the building of two new tennis courts, raising the courts to avoid flooding and a new clubhouse. The history of the club has been well documented thanks to Ger Browne. The Open was a fitting tribute to the 135th anniversary of the club’s

founding.

A spokesperson for the club said, "Membership in 1985 was 306 and this year we are experiencing a bumper membership of more than double that number. We now have 5 all-weather, floodlit tennis courts and 2 badminton courts. It is fantastic to have such a resource in the centre of Ennis, Ireland’s friendliest town!"

The Club extends its gratitude to our sponsor, Linda Kochar of Eye Candy Opticians on Abbey Street.

Congratulations to all the finalists. The winners

on the day; XD 1(2) Nick Lester and Lena O’Connor, XD 3 Elaine O’Grady and Aidan Foley, XD 4 Agata Baczkowska and Pat Grace, XD 5 Jess Dagnall and Enda Grennan, XD 6 Shirley O’Neill and Efisio Cocco.

The runners-up were: Ann-Marie Sheehan and Paul McDonagh XD 1(2); Gemma Hassett and Stuart Holly XD 3; Lesley-Ann Walsh and Eoin Brennan XD 4; Dervilla Moloney and Eamonn McGuinness XD 5; Karen Walsh and John O'Connor XD 6.

l Clockwise from top right: Aideen Farrell in action; Grade 1/2 winners Nick Lester and Lena O'Connor receive their prizes from sponsor Eye Candy Opticians; St Flannan's teacher John O'Connor and his partner Karen Walsh, who were runners up in the Grade 6 section; Jess Dagnall and partner Enda Grennan who won Grade 5; Club members Aisling Dillon, Joe Fitzpatrick and Peter Wise take a break to soak up some action; Shirley O'Neill and Efisio Cocco, winners of the Grade 6 section; Agata Baczkowska and Pat Grace, winner of the Grade 4 section; and (below centre) Aidan Foley and his partner Elaine O'Grady who won the Grade 3 final

CLARE COUNTY COUNCIL MAIN STREET, KILLALOE, CO. CLARE V94AYH5

Take Notice that Tagwood Limited intend to apply for planning permission for change of use of coffee shop to it’s former use as a residence and associated site development works at the above address. The planning application may be inspected or purchased at a fee not exceeding the reasonable cost of making a copy at the offices of 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 (€20) within the period of 5 weeks beginning on the date of receipt by the Authority of the application and such submissions or observations will be considered by the Planning Authority in making the decision on application. The Planning Authority may grant permission subject to or without conditions or may refuse to grant permission.

CLARE COUNTY COUNCIL MAIN STREET, KILLALOE, CO. CLARE V94F3C4

Take Notice that Tagwood Limited intend to apply for planning permission for change of use of coffee shop to it’s former use as a residence and associated site development works at the above address. The planning application may be inspected or purchased at a fee not exceeding the reasonable cost of making a copy at the offices of 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 (€20) within the period of 5 weeks beginning on the date of receipt by the Authority of the application and such submissions or observations will be considered by the Planning Authority in making the decision on application. The Planning Authority may grant permission subject to or without conditions or may refuse to grant permission.

CLARE COUNTY COUNCIL 44 ABBEY STREET, ENNIS, CO. CLARE

Take notice that the Clare Language Centre intends to apply to the Planning Authority for the change of use from a mixture of residential and commercial office space to an educational centre at the above address (Building is a protected structure, reference RPS No. 741 and NIAH No. 2000148).

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, New Road, Ennis,

during its public opening hours. A submission or observation in relation to the application may be made to the planning authority in writing on payment of the prescribed fee of €20.00, within the period of 5 weeks, beginning on the date of receipt by the planning authority of the application.

CLARE COUNTY COUNCIL FURTHER INFORMATION/ CLARIFICATION

Planning Ref: No. 22/796

Development Description:

1. The construction of 15 No residential dwellings comprising 11 No 4 bed detached dwelling houses, 1 No x 3 bed detached dwelling house,

2 No x 2 Bed and 1 No x 3 Bed terraced dwelling houses

2. All associated infrastructure and services including 1 No vehicular access point onto Holland Drive, 1 No pedestrian access points onto Lower Quay, parking, lighting, amenity open space, boundary walls, drainage and all ancillary works.

Location:

Housing Development at lands (0.9322 hectares) bounded by Lower Quay and Holland Drive, Liscannor, Co Clare

Take notice that “Yellow Bay Limited” has lodged significant further information/clarification in respect of planning application Planning Ref. No. 22/796. This information and planning application may be inspected or purchased at a fee not exceeding the reasonable cost of making a copy, at the offices of the Planning Authority of Clare County Council, Planning Department, Áras Contae an Chláir, New Road, Ennis, Co. Clare during its public opening hours. A submission or observation in relation to the further information or revised plans may be made in writing to the planning authority on payment of the prescribed fee, not later than 2 weeks after the receipt of the newspaper notice and site notice by the planning authority.

CLARE COUNTY COUNCIL KNOCKALOUGH ENNIS CO. CLARE

Further Information

Planning Ref: P23/223

Development Description: permission to carry out alterations and extension to the existing dwelling, add a storage shed, along with all associated works at the address below.

Location: Knockalough

Ennis Co. Clare

Take notice that James Downes has lodged significant further information in respect of planning application P23/223. This information and planning application may be inspected or purchased at a fee not exceeding the reasonable cost of making a copy, at the offices of the Planning

Authority of Clare County Council, Planning Department, Aras Contae an Chlair, New Road, Ennis, Co. Clare during its public opening hours. A submission or observation in relation to the further information or revised plans may be made in writing to the planning authority on payment of the prescribed fee, not later than 2 weeks after the receipt of the newspaper notice and site notice by the planning authority or in the case of a planning application accompanied by an EIS within 5 weeks of receipt of such notices by the planning authority

CLARE COUNTY COUNCIL CARROWMORE NORTH, DOONBEG, CO. CLARE

FURTHER INFORMATION –NATURA IMPACT STATEMENT

Planning Ref: P23/161

Date planning application

Received: 15/03/2023

Development Description: the construction of a new dwelling house and garage complete with a new entrance, sewage treatment system and ancillary works.

Location of Development: Carrowmore North, Doonbeg, Co. Clare

Take notice that following a requirement of the Planning Authority, Cian O’Mahoney & Denise Lynch will be lodging a Natura Impact Statement (NIS) in respect of planning application P23/161. This NIS will be available for inspection or purchase, at a fee not exceeding the reasonable cost of making a copy, at the offices of the Planning Authority, Clare County Council, Aras Contae an Chlair, New Road, Ennis, Co Clare during its public opening hours. A submission or observation in relation to the NIS may be made in writing to the authority on payment of the prescribed fee €20.00 within the period of 5 weeks beginning on the date of receipt by the Authority of the Natura Impact Statement and a copy of this public notice.

CLARE COUNTY COUNCIL CRAGGAUN, QUILTY, CO. CLARE

Take notice that J. Brody intends to apply to the Planning Authority for permission to demolish part of structure, to extend existing dwelling, erect garage and to connect to Co Council foul sewer mains 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, €20, within the period of 5 weeks beginning on the date of receipt by the

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 permission subject to or without conditions or may refuse to grant permission.

CLARE COUNTY COUNCIL FURTHER INFORMATION –NATURA IMPACT STATEMENT

Planning Ref: P22-1039

Date planning application received: 17th.November

2022

Development Description: a) Construct 8 No. Semi-detached Dwelling Houses (16 houses in total)

b) Amend access road and ancillary services permitted under ref. P16/630

c) Provide temporary access road from the public road at Ballyhannon North (Road ref. No. L 7194) for building purposes only in order to prevent machinery and builder providers accessing the site via the existing Maigh Dara housing estate Location of development: Maigh Dara & Ballyhannon North, Quin, Co.

Clare

Take notice that following a requirement of the Planning Authority, Abbey View Quin Property Development Limited c/o Connellan & Associates, Ennis, will be lodging a Natura Impact Statement (NIS) in respect of planning application P221039. This NIS will be available for inspection or purchase, at a fee not exceeding the reasonable cost of making a copy, at the offices of the Planning Authority of Clare County Council, Áras Contae an Chláir, New Road, Ennis, Co. Clare during its public opening hours. A submission or observation in relation to the NIS may be made in writing to the Authority on payment of the prescribed fee €20.00 within the period of 5 weeks beginning on the date of receipt by the Authority of the Natura Impact Statement and a copy of this public notice.

CLARE CO. COUNCIL LOUGHRASK, BALLYVAUGHAN, CO. CLARE

Permission for the retention of Boiler House, Storage Shed and Green House is being sought by John McGann. 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 Clare County Council, Áras Contae an Chláir, New Road, Ennis, Co. Clare 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 €20, within the period of 5 weeks beginning on the

date of receipt by the authority of the application.

CLARE COUNTY COUNCIL, DERRYGARRIFF, CRUSHEEN CO. CLARE

Take notice that Tracy Farren & Graham Walsh intend to apply for permission to retain (i) log cabin as constructed for use as permanent residence and all ancillary site works including connection to existing septic tank and (ii) permission for the change of use of existing substandard dwelling house for use as domestic shed/storage . This planning application may be inspected, or purchased at a fee not exceeding the reasonable cost of making a copy, at the offices of the planning authority during its public opening hours and that a submission or observation in relation to the application may be made to the authority in writing on payment of the prescribed fee within the period of 5 weeks beginning on the date of receipt by the authority of the application.

CLARE COUNTY COUNCIL RINUNA, BALLYBEG, ENNIS, CO. CLARE

Planning permission being sought by Gerry & Orla Barry to renovate and extend existing private dwelling house and all associated site works at the above address. The Planning application may be inspected, or purchased at a fee not exceeding the reasonable cost of making a copy, at the offices of the planning authority during its public opening hours. A submission or observation in relation to the application may be made 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. Opening hours 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

CLARE COUNTY COUNCIL CARNAKELLA, NEWMARKET-ONFERGUS, CO. CLARE Planning permission being sought by Gordon & Shirley Earle to renovate and extend existing private dwelling house, construct detached garage and all associated site works at the above address. The Planning application may be inspected, or purchased at a fee not exceeding the reasonable cost of making a copy, at the offices of the planning authority during its public opening hours. A submission or observation in relation to the application may be made 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. Opening hours 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

CLARE COUNTY COUNCIL THOMASTOWN, KILRUSH, CO. CLARE

Take notice that Tommy Clancy is applying to Clare County Council for planning permission to restore, refurbish & extend an existing derelict dwelling and outbuilding, installation of new sewerage treatment system, construct new entrance walls, along with all associated works at the above address. The planning application may be inspected, or purchased at a fee not exceeding the reasonable cost of making a copy at the offices of Clare County Council during its public opening hours and a submission or observation in relation to the application may be made to the authority in writing on payment of the prescribed fee within the period of 5 weeks beginning on the date of receipt by the authority of the application.

CLARE COUNTY COUNCIL BALLYVULLAGAN, DARRAGH, ENNIS, CO.

CLARE

Take notice that Tomás Gavin is applying to Clare County Council for planning permission to construct a new dwelling house, new entrance, access road, private garage and install a new wastewater treatment system along with all associated works at the above address. The planning application may be inspected, or purchased at a fee not exceeding the reasonable cost of making a copy at the offices of Clare County Council during its public opening hours and a submission or observation in relation to the application may be made to the authority in writing on payment of the prescribed fee within the period of 5 weeks beginning on the date of receipt by the authority of the application.

CLARE COUNTY COUNCIL LISDOONVARNA ROAD, KILFENORA, CO CLARE

Take notice that Thomas Connole, T/A Connoles Garage, intends to apply for permission to build a new shed for the storage of vehicles and machinery with an office and staff welfare facilities & all other site and ancillary works at the above address.

The planning application may be inspected or purchased at a fee not exceeding the reasonable cost of making a copy, at the offices of the planning authority, during its public opening hours. A submission or observation in relation to the application may be made in writing to the authority on payment of the prescribed fee of €20.00, within the period of 5 weeks beginning on the date of receipt by the authority of the application.

permission to construct a dwelling house, effluent treatment system and associated site works and for retention of landfill activities 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, New Road, Ennis, during its public opening hours. A submission or observation in relation to the application may be made to the planning authority in writing on payment of the prescribed fee of €20.00, within the period of 5 weeks, beginning on the date of receipt by the planning authority of the application.

CLARE

COUNTY COUNCIL. CLONREDDAN, COORACLARE, CO. CLARE

Take notice that Diarmuid Keane + Associates Ltd. (065-9083667, www.diarmuidkeane.ie) intends to apply to Clare County Council on behalf of West Clare Sports & Fitness for planning permission to construct a new 400mm running track and training pitch to include flood lights and all associated site works and services at the above address. The planning application may be inspected, or purchased at a fee not exceeding the reasonable cost of making a copy, at the offices of the planning authority during its public opening hours. A submission or observation in relation to the application may be made in writing to the planning authority on payment of the prescribed fee, €20, within the period of 5 weeks beginning on the date of receipt by the 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 permission subject to or without conditions, or may refuse to grant permission.

CLARE COUNTY COUNCIL QUIN GARDENS, QUIN, CO.

CLARE

Take notice that M Haran intend to apply to the Planning Authority for

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CHIMNEY

ACKNOWLEDGMENT

KING NORA (NÉE HARNEY)

Tradaree Court, Shannon, Clare Died 30th June

Nora’s daughters Martina, Gwen, Rhona and Nora’s sister Anna and the wider family, wish to acknowledge the many expressions of sympathy and support shown to us following our heart-breaking loss. Our sincere thanks to our extended families, work colleagues, dear friends and mums exceptional neighbours for the continued kindness and support. We offer our heartfelt thanks to all who sympathised travelled long distances, sent mass cards, wreaths, posted condolences on RIP.ie Professor Margaret O ‘Connor and her team, Dr. Conroy (UHL)who treated mum with dignity, kindness and compassion. Thank you sincerely. A special thank you to Dr. Rizwan from the Walk-in Centre Dooradoyle Limerick, Dr. Williams Medical Centre Shannon for their kindness and care. To Shane Hillary and all the team at RX Pharmacy for

there help and understanding. Our sincere thanks to Fr Tom Ryan Fr Garrett Desmond, Fr Vincent Brennan, Fr Arnold, Fr James for celebrating a beautiful funeral mass. Fr O Shea from Mungret /Crecora for his kindness to mum. Clodagh Lawlor for the beautiful music. Richard and the staff of McMahon funeral home for their professionalism, understanding and support at our time if immense loss. As it would be impossible to thank everyone individually we hope this acknowledgment will be accepted by all as a token of our sincere gratitude. Mums month mind mass will be celebrated on Saturday 29th of July in Mary immaculate church Shannon. We will also be celebrating our beloved fathers (Frank) 8th anniversary at this time.

Cullinan (née Brooks), Frances Ennis Clare

O’Connor, Jacqueline (Jackie) Quilty Clare

Madden, James (Shay) Ennis Clare

AHERN (née Brosnan), Shirley Shannon Clare

Curtin, Mary Ennistymon Clare

Delahunty, Teresa (Tessie) Feakle Clare

Gallagher, Noreen Ennistymon Clare

Gallagher, Noreen Ennis Clare

HARVEY, Thomas (Tommy) Doonbeg Clare

Ryan, Declan Quin Clare

Doherty, Tommy Ennis Clare

Reidy, Michael Joe Cree Clare

Couch, Darren Scariff Clare

FINNEGAN (née Newman, Helen KilrushClare

Eustace, Bernard Kilkee Clare

Flannery (née O’Riordian/Mc Carthy), Joan Clare

Healy (née Curtin), Bernadette (Bernie) Cratloe Clare

PRAYER PLANNING

THE MIRACLE PRAYER

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 35

CLARE COUNTY COUNCIL.

BALLINAGUN

EAST, CREE,

KILRUSH, CO. CLARE

Take notice that Diarmuid Keane + Associates Ltd. (065-9083667, www.diarmuidkeane.ie) intends to apply to Clare County Council on behalf of Kevin O’Donnell for retention permission for the following development at the above address:

The Prayer of St. Gertrude

According to tradition, Jesus told St. Gertrude in a vision that the following prayer would release 1000 souls into Heaven each time it is said.

brought

by

(a) construction of front and rear extension to the existing dwelling house;

(b) attic conversion to the existing dwelling house including new Velux window to front elevation; (c) alterations to outbuildings and change of use of outbuildings to residential accommodation ancillary to main dwelling house; (d) all associated site works. The planning application may

be inspected, or purchased at a fee not exceeding the reasonable cost of making a copy, at the offices of the planning authority during its public opening hours. A submission or observation in relation to the application may be made in writing to the planning authority on payment of the prescribed fee, €20, within the period of 5 weeks beginning on the date of receipt by the 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 permission subject to or without conditions, or may refuse to grant permission.

CLARE CO. COUNCIL BURRANE LOWER, KILLIMER CO. CLARE

Take notice that Michael & Stephen Grogan intend to apply for permission for development, the de-

velopment consists of the construction of a milking parlour and associated site works at the above address. The planning application maybe inspected or purchased at a fee not exceeding the reasonable cost of making a copy at the offices of the Planning Authority during its public opening hours. A submission or observation in relation to the application may be made to the authority in writing on payment of the prescribed fee within the period of 5 weeks beginning on the date of receipt by the authority of the application.

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