The Clare Echo 27/08/20

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AUG 2719/06/2020 2020 12:46:27

FURORE OVER CLARE’S LATEST LINK TO TRUMP Daughter of Ennis man Guilfoyle makes international headlines with feisty speech CIAN O BROIN

C

cianobroin@clareecho.ie

LARE’S latest link to POTUS Donald Trump - his senior fundraising official - has been making headlines this week.

Kimberley Guilfoyle, the daughter of an Ennis man, rattled the mainstream media on Monday night when addressing the 2020 National Republican Convention, splitting open the opposition of Democratic Presidential Candidate Senator Joe Biden and Vice-Presidential nominee Kamal Harris. In a personal attack on the Democratic Party’s ‘victim culture’, Guilfoyle utilised her diverse background as a ploy to

No homework among restrictions as pupils return to school

CONCERN and anxiety has dominated the narrative as schools reopen their doors this week and next but there has been “a small win� for students with confirmation that no homework is to be issued for the month of September at least.

In order to minimise the potential spread of COVID-19 in school settings, the Department of Education have recommended that no homework be given

to pupils. This has been instructed to limit the risk associated with items being transferred from homes to the classroom.

Personal health is also expected to be given a greater focus on the curriculum with the importance of proper respiratory etiquette when it comes to coughing and sneezing plus social distancing certain to be addressed in new-look classrooms.

There is concern among teachers in

Clare on the potential transmission of the virus while parents have been reminded not to let their child attend school if they have a temperature or a cough.

Speaking this week, Acting Chief Medical Officer, Dr Ronan Glynn admitted “it won’t be a surprise� if positive cares arise in school-aged children but stressed that the challenge will be the response.

FULL STORY PAGE 8

appeal to non-white voters, asserting that if her parents could realise the ‘American Dream’ enabled by Donald Trump, then so too can you.

Kimberley mentions her father Anthony Guilfoyle who emigrated from the town of Ennis, County Clare in 1957 at the age of 21.

The Clare Echo traces back her family lineage to the Clare capital, where her father helped to raise his five siblings, working at a blacksmith’s shop and as a farm hand to help put food on the table before finally taking up residence in the Golden Gate City, where he became a prominent political figure until his death in 2008. We piece together some of her fondest moments of summers spent in County Clare, working in Dalcassian Printers at the age of 11, where a sense of hard work and responsibility was instilled, in her opinion.

FULL STORY PAGE 6

Golfing in Golf g Clare Clare

pg 23 - 28

2 NEWS

THURSDAY, AUG 27 2020

Index NEWS

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ENTERTAINMENT

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SHANNON NEWS

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GREENER CLARE BUSINESS FEATURE PROPERTY GOLF FEATURE SPORT

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

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

SALES

ANOTHER FIRST FOR SCARIFF BAY RADIO

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

l ACTION: Scariff Bay Community Radio will air a new co-production between the award winning Sliabh Aughty Drama Group and Scariff Bay this Sunday.

S

CARIFF Bay Community Radio is set for another first this weekend, writes Párraic McMahon.

On Sunday it will air a radio play that was rehearsed, recorded and edited during COVID-19 all the while participants adhered to social dis-

tancing.

Mr McGuffin’s Plot Device and Writer Unblocking Emporium is a co-production between Scariff Bay and the award winning Sliabh Aughty Drama Group.

It will prmiere this Sunday at 2pm with a repeat at 7pm that day.

Named ‘Best Newcomer’ at the 2014 Blog Awards Ireland, Tara Sparling is the writer behind the play that is directed by Ruth O’Hagan.

Eoin O’Hagan produced, engineered and edited the production.

He told The Clare Echo that the example set by Scariff Bay

could lead to a boost in radio plays on the airwaves.

“With the cancellation of the amateur drama festival circuit in Ireland due to COVID-19 this was an opportunity for the Director, Writer, Producer and Actors who were missing the stage and an outlet for their craft”.

Scariff facility is a major storage unit for PPE PÁRAIC MCMAHON

paraic@clareecho.ie

A SITE that was previously home to one of East Clare’s largest employers is now being utilised as one of the country’s “major” storage units of personal protective equipment (PPE).

Finsa Forest Products Ltd employed 160 people at its Scariff chipboard factory in 2009, the figure dropped over subsequent years.

The manufacturing of chipboard ceased in December 2010 while the remaining production activity concluded in early 2012 following the sale of the production line.

At its peak, 350 personnel were employed at the facility which had a history in East Clare dating back over 50 years.

Just two facilities in the country are being used for the storage of PPE, the Finsa facility is one of them. Speaking at Wednesday’s session of the Dáil COVID-19 committeehief Executive of the HSE, Paul Reid did not reference Scariff during the session but confirmed, “We’ve two immediate stockpiles both of which are major warehouses”.

Speaking to The Clare Echo on Wednesday, Deputy McNamara said he was “glad to see something positive” in relation to the Finsa site. “I am not saying it is a magic bullet but it is positive,” he added.

A supply of 50 days worth of PPE is currently at the Scariff warehouse.

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4 NEWS

Mental health Inquiry sought PÁRAIC MCMAHON

A

paraic@clareecho.ie

N INDEPENDENT inquiry into mental health crisis services in the Mid-West has been sought by Clare members of Sinn Féin and the Haven Hubs.

Figures compiled by the National Suicide Research Foundation for the years 2014 to 2016 found that per 100,000 of population, Clare had a high suicide rate of 15.7 with Limerick recording a figure of 23.7 which was the most in the Republic of Ireland.

Male suicides in Co Clare were among the highest in the country for the same time period.

"Serious focus and investment" into mental health services has been lacking for many years, Clare TD Violet-Anne Wynne (SF) stated.

"The vision for change of strategy is now 14 years old and is far from implemented.

This fact is shameful. Any new government must prioritise real mental health reform that improves access to services and commits to a 24/7 community service which has

been called for".

Shannon native Gary Fitzgibbon who has spoken to The Clare Echo about his negative experiences of dealing with mental health services extended his support to the calls for an inquiry, "It is evidently clear that our system is regularly failing some of the most vulnerable in our community. In particular, we urgently need to address the fact the substance use/ abuse is commonplace among a high number of people who find themselves in suicidal crisis.

“It is not acceptable that an intoxicated person cannot access treatment, we must start to think outside the box and deliver a system that will keep these people safe until they can be treated," the Sinn Féin member outlined.

Cllr Donna McGettigan (SF) referenced protests organised by the party to highlight the failings when it comes to the provision of mental health services.

"For too long the Midwest has suffered from a lack of Mental Health services and these recent figures back that up. It is time now for the Midwest to have the services that are so badly needed for our most vulnerable in our communities".

THURSDAY, AUG 27 2020

Cloister Car Park to open to aid space shortages THE Cloister Car Park is to be opened as an additional car park as part of the temporary COVID-19 town centre mobility plan for Ennis, writes Páraic McMahon.

Officials in Clare County Council have confirmed that the Clare GAA/ Cloister Car Park will be operational in the coming weeks and will have capacity for approximately 100 parking spaces.

Currently used on weekends by Clare GAA to accommodate one set of teams competing in games at Cusack Park, the site has also been utilised by the local authority during the leadin to Christmas to incentivise more shoppers to use the county town.

Concerns had been voiced since the implementation of the plan over the reduction in car parking spaces in the town centre. The use of the Clare GAA/Cloister Car Park is "an emergency measure," a spokesperson for the County Council told The Clare Echo.

Motorists have told The Clare Echo that traversing in the town on Friday afternoons is proving problematic in Ennis due to the shortage in parking spaces and

increased traffic as a result of the mobility plan.

As reported by The Clare Echo, some business owners in Ennis town centre have voiced their anger with the mobility plan. Noel Tierney of Tierney Cycles claimed the Council were using COVID-19 as an excuse to make pedestrianisation a permanent fixture in the town centre.

A spokesperson for the Council insisted the mobility plan was "introduced solely in response to Covid-19

and in line with Government guidelines on social distancing".

"Clare County Council can confirm that the Temporary Covid-19 Town Centre Mobility Plan for Ennis is not intended to be a permanent measure. The Council further confirms that if, in the future (and outside of Covid-19), there is any proposal around permanent pedestrianisation of any streets in the town, this would be subject to full public consultation".

lBACK UP: The Cloister car park

Clare County Council, the OPW and their consultants welcome all information and feedback from all interested parties that, in turn, can be used to advise the Flood Relief Scheme.

We invite residents, businesses and interested parties to visit our website at www.kilkeefrs.ie to view our Public Information Video which provides information on the ongoing study to develop and design an effective Flood Relief Scheme in Kilkee.

To enable feedback Questionnaires are available at the website to allow the public and other stakeholders to express any concerns and share local knowledge and experiences with regard to flooding problems.

Questionnaires are also available in The Sweeney Memorial Public Library in Kilkee which can be returned to JBA Consulting by email, info@kilkeefrs.ie, or mail.

Alternatively, please contact the Project Office by telephone (061 345463) or post; Kilkee FRS Project Office JBA Consulting Unit 24 Grove Island Corbally Limerick

You can find out more about the project at www.kilkeefrs.ie or follow us on Facebook.

NEWS 5

THURSDAY, AUG 27 2020

Harty sorry for #golfgate PĂ RAIC MCMAHON

K

paraic@clareecho.ie

ILMIHIL GP, Dr Michael Harty has issued an apology for attending a controversial Oireachtas Golf Society dinner in Galway on Wednesday last.

Dr Harty was among over 80 people who attended the sitting in Clifden which is now the subject of a Garda investigation having breached COVID-19 regulations.

On Saturday, Michael confirmed in a statement that he attended the dinner on Wednesday and called the decision "a serious lack of judgement" and one which demonstrated "very poor deliberation and leadership".

"My attendance undermined the commitment and sacrifice that everyone has made in controlling the spread of Covid 19 while keeping our population safe, reopening our schools and trying to keep the economy functioning. This was a breach of social cohesion and trust.

In recent days, Dr Harty confirmed he has

returned to his West Clare surgery despite breaching public health guidelines.

The outgoing Captain of the Oireachtas Golf Society admitted that the first instance whereby he became aware the gathering breached public health advice was when he received a call from Irish Examiner journalist Aoife Moore seeking a comment on his presence at the function.

"I fully acknowledged that it should have not gone ahead, I should have been aware when I walked into the room that it was in breach of the guidelines. I should have applied common sense, one of the lessons I have learned from this is to think about every situation I enter into and apply public health accordingly, I didn't do that on this occasion," he added.

Harty explained, "It didn't look overcrowded. I walked into a trap basically, I walked into a room which looked fine, I didn't see any difficulty, I hadn't been in a hotel in the last six months".

Since attending the over-crowded dinner, the former Clare TD has returned to work at his Kilmihil surgery. Harty detailed that the surgery has been "virus proofed" since the beginning of the pandemic as measures have been put in place to protect patients.

The revised opening hours for the Ennis Motor Tax Office will be 9:00am to 1:00pm

Motor tax queries can be directed to 065-6844661

Customers who do not wish to use the Motor Tax Online service at www.motortax.ie may also drop or post completed applications to the Ennis Motor Tax Office, Ă ras Contae an ChlĂĄir, New Road, Ennis

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THURSDAY, AUG 27 2020

Working in Ennis ‘instilled a sense of responsibility’ CIAN O’BROIN

K

cianobroin@clareecho.ie

IMBERLEY Guilfoyle (inset) made international headlines on Monday August 24th, stealing the show with a brawny and vociferous speech on the first night of the 2020 Republican National Convention.

Wrapped in the parabolic red of the Republican Party, the former Assistant District Attorney of San Francisco and partner of Donald Trump Jnr. addressed the empty ballroom with words of contempt for the Democratic party, stating that Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden and running mate Kamala Harris had taken California, “a place of immense wealth, immeasurable innovation [and] an immaculate environment” and turned it into “a land of discarded heroin needles in parks, riots in streets and blackouts in homes.”

Guilfoyle also pandered to a mul-

ticultural populace, alluding to her Puerto Rican mother and her Irish father, Anthony Guilfoyle, who emigrated from Ennis in 1957.

Her strong Irish roots can be traced back to the story of her father’s emigration at the age of 21.

Anthony Christopher Guilfoyle, affectionately known as ‘Tony’, by all who held him dear, was born on December 23rd, 1935.

According to his obituary in the San Francisco Chronicle, Tony was self-made, tough, wise and compassionate, and started working at a blacksmith’s shop at the age of nine, later becoming a farm hand to provide for his family.

He took responsibility for the raising of his five younger siblings.

He then emigrated to the city of San Francisco at the age of 21, to work in the family construction business and later in real estate. Entreating the city he termed ‘God’s

half-acre’, with love and benevolence, it wasn’t long before Tony became a prominent figure within the political circle of San Francisco. A founding member of the San Francisco Coalition for Responsible Growth, he played a pivotal role in the political campaigns of Mayor Gavin Newsom and even acquired the nickname of ‘The Godfather’ within his inner circle. Anthony Guilfoyle also spent four years in the U.S Military, reaching the rank of Sergeant and proudly served in Germany.

Back home, K i m b e r l e y ’s grandfather ran Dalcassian Printers of 61 O’ Connell Street, Ennis. During the summer months, Kimberley would

come over from San Francisco and spend time working in the Guilfoyle family business. On her father and time in his native town, she recollects, “I grew up partly in Ireland. Every summer from the age of five, I lived in Ennis where my Guilfoyle relatives had a business on O’Connell Street — a gift shop called Dalcassian House, and Dalcassian Printers. I worked in the shop, which sold lovely china and Waterford Crystal. I was about 11 or 12 and I got about IR£10 a week.

It instilled a sense of responsibility in me, putting in the hours, and earning the money.”

Staying around to study Law at Trinity College Dublin, Kimberley’s journey took her to new and anomalous heights, going from Deputy District Attorney to Fox News Host and now, most contentiously, as partner to Donald Trump Jnr. And Senior Fundraising Official for Trump’s 2020 election campaign.

On Monday, she gripped all the headlines, disinterring the failures of the Democratic Party and looking to rally support for current President Donald Trump.

In her speech she extolls the escapades of the 45th President of the United States, saying that “In President Trump’s America, we light things up, we don’t dim them down.

We build things up, we don’t burn them down. We kneel in prayer and we stand for our flag. From the beginning when President Trump was speaking about making America great again, he was speaking about that shiny city on a hill and restoring that beacon of light that once shone so bright. His promise was to put America first and he has.

President Trump commanded the defeat of Isis, took out al-Baghdadi and Soleimani, and paved the way for peace in the Middle East. America, it is all on the line. He believes in you and emancipates you to lift you up and let you live your American Dream. Like my parents, you can achieve that American Dream.

You can be that shining example to the world.”

When asked for an interview, the Guilfoyle family in Ennis respectfully declined, saying that they did not wish to comment on Kimberley or her past without her permission.

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8 NEWS

THURSDAY, AUG 27 2020

No homework for September at least as schools reopen PÁRAIC MCMAHON

S

paraic@clareecho.ie

CHOOL children in Clare are adjusting to an alternative way of learning as the new academic term begins in first and second level settings right across the country.

Different approaches are being adapted by schools in the county where teachers will wear face coverings or shields while personal protective equipment (PPE) is also be worn. The manner in which schools will operate will be in stark contrast to six months ago when their sudden closure was announced.

One-way systems of movement will be utilised in some settings with signage erected on doors and walls all over schools to remind students and staff on the need to continuously practice good respiratory etiquette on coughing and sneezing.

Children starting off their time in primary school have already had their first day in school while for others this momentous occasion will arrive in the coming days.

There will be no homework given in schools for the month of September at least. Principals in Clare have confirmed to The Clare Echo that they will be following this advice with others issuing a note of caution that “outlier schools” may breach the recommendations.

A potential risk of spreading COVID-19 by bringing books from the home to school and back has been indicated as the reason for the decision that is expected to remain in place for the first term of the academic year. Classrooms are to be sanitised at the end of each day.

Parents have been urged not to let any child with a temperature or a cough go to school when they return later this week. Speaking this week, Acting Chief Medical Officer, Dr Ronan Glynn acknowledged that people were “concerned” and “anxious”.

He said “it won’t be a surprise” if cases arise in school-aged children but that the challenge will be the response. “The vast majority of children who get COVID have very mild if any symptoms,” he cautioned.

He referenced evidence from the ECDC and international experience to date which “suggests that children do not commonly transmit COVID-19 to other children or adults in school settings. Internationally, where schools have been

reopened, schools have not been a significant driver of community transmission”.

Vigilance is required from parents when it comes to symptoms, Dr. Mary Favier, President of the Irish College of General Practitioners stressed and she listed fever, cough, shortness of breath, flu like symptoms, loss of taste or smell as particular examples. “Parents should also remain aware of asymptomatic transmission – like some adults, children may not present symptoms but can still carry the virus.

“If you have vulnerable people in your limited network, ensure physical distancing is adhered to and encourage regular hand washing habits with your child.” €376m in funding has been set aside by the Government to facilitate the reopening. An unspecified amount has been allocated for a hand sanitiser and PPE grant.

Trust is needed in schools as they reopen, Cathal Crowe TD told The Clare Echo. “Most principals

MALONEY G ARD EN MACH INERY

and caretakers have been in their schools for most of August putting up signage, fixing hand sanitizers to walls and preparing bespoke Covid plans for their own school setting.

The Department of Education has given detailed guidance to all schools but it’s almost certain that we will hear of coronavirus outbreaks in Irish schools in the coming weeks.

“When a school has a confirmed case, a call will have to be made in terms of contract tracing and if the entire building needs to be shut down. This of course adds a degree of uncertainty to the school year ahead but it’s indicative of the times we live in,” he stated.

A primary school teacher up until February, Cathal this week handed back the keys to Parteen NS where he taught for 13 years, he will return there on Monday alongside his wife Maeve as their eldest son Sam begins primary school. lHANDS UP: (left) School will be a different experience this year

Opportunity to deliver ‘spectacular’ coastal walk in Kilkee l STUNNING: Kilkee Cliffs

Photo by Brendan Falvey

Smithstown Shannon Co. Clare

061 364 300

A WEST Clare councillor has suggested that a coastal walk be developed in Kilkee akin to the popular Liscannor to Doolin trail, writes Páraic McMahon.

Citing "proper regional tourism development," Cllr Gabriel Keating (FG) called on Clare County Council to begin exploring funding opportunities alongside Fáilte Ireland to create a coastal walk from Byrnes Cove in Kilkee via Chimney Bay to Coosheen.

He outlined, "This walk would mirror the Liscannor to Doolin Coastal walk via the Cliffs of Moher and with equally spectacular views and vistas would really deliver on the untapped potential of the Wild Atlantic Way. It would greatly enhance the tourism potential of this part of Kilkee and would anchor the walk to Kilkee while making the surrounding countryside and seascape accessible to visiting tourists and the local population as a fantastic recreational walk".

Acting Head of Tourism, Deirdre O'Shea

confirmed that the local authority would examine the feasibility of the opportunity. She said the idea would be "explored in terms of sustainable development in addition to relevant local and stakeholder consultation" Speaking at a recent meeting of the West Clare Municipal District, Cllr Keating described the views on the walk as "spectacular". He believed Kilkee is already established as "a wonderful destination for tourists" and that the coastal walk would serve as "a major asset". Cllr PJ Kelly (FF) seconded the motion.

Kilkee representative, Cllr Cillian Murphy (FF) agreed that it was "a phenomenal walk". He cautioned, "the crux of the matter is that Fáilte Ireland and any other Government agency have nothing to do with this until the landowner gets involved". The tourism consultant stressed the landowner and Kilkee Golf Club must be spoken to beofre Fáilte Ireland are approached.

Routine eye tests now available at Specsavers Ennis We’re ready to welcome you back in store, but we’ve made some changes to our normal practices to make sure it’s always as safe as possible for all our customers and colleagues.

Book an eye test at specsavers.ie Need a hearing check too? You can get one free in store Ennis 1 Market Place, Caby’s Lane Tel 065 682 1212

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10 NEWS

THURSDAY, AUG 27 2020

Review of graveyards ordered A REVIEW of the maintenance and operation of all burial grounds in Co Clare is to be undertaken for the first time since the recession.

It follows recent criticisms regarding the maintenance of burial grounds across the county plus instances of vandalism and items being stolen from graves.

Confirmation was issued at a recent meeting of the West Clare Municipal District that a review was to commence. Cllr Joe Garrihy (FG) had sought that the

maintenance and operation of graveyards in the MD be re-assessed.

Resource implications and "the reactionary approach to maintenance" were referenced by Joe Spellissy who outlined there was to be countywide review.

“The senior staff officer in the Council's environment section detailed that the current charging regime has been in existence since 2009. Future policy would be influenced by "the issue of how non-operational/

non-revenue generating burial grounds are maintained".

Cllr Garrihy described burial grounds as "some of our most sacred places and also some of the most visited places in our county".

Critiques of Clare graveyards is now an annual occurrence, Cllr Shane Talty (FF) noted. "You can set your clock on the Monday after every Mother's Day or Father's Day or certain events that there will be disappointed relatives.”

RTÉ to air Burren documentary CIAN O’BROIN

T

cianobroin@clareecho.ie

HE Silver Branch will feature on RTÉ One this coming Monday, August 31st, at 22.45.

The documentary directed by Katrina Costello, tells the story of Patrick McCormack who farms in the Burren County Clare. His deeply seeded affinity to the beauty of the Burren brought tears to the eyes of audience members when the 2018 production made its debut tour in theatres around the country the very same year.

The award-winning piece, fetched a first prize at the Salem Film Fest in the U.S in 2019 for cinematography as well as winning best cultural film at the Banff Mountain Film Competition in 2018.

Envisaged by Katerina Costello and produced by her husband Ken O' Sullivan of Sea Fever Productions, life as seen through the philosophical lens of farmer-poet Patrick McCormack touches on a human story subjugated by a battle with the Supreme Courts in a bid to preserve his land.

A member of the Burren Action Group opposing the commercialisation of the Burren and the potential disruption to the

natural landscape, Patrick eventually wins the right to have the Burren untouched by the rapacious claws of capitalism.

The fallout from the victory caused an immediate split within the community, where locals saw the destitution of a lack of development as detrimental to the lives of those looking to survive in North Clare.

The narrative encapsulates Patrick's closeness to the natural world, where he emotes, "My decision was to walk the land, to be as close to nature as possible, that is my own humble pilgrimage, if you like."

Catch it on RTÉ One on Monday August 31st, at 22.45.

lPILGRIMS: The Silver Branch

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THURSDAY, AUG 27 2020

16,700 laptops for students MINISTER for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, Simon Harris TD, has announced up to 17,000 laptops will be distributed to third level students to assist with online learning.

A fund for student devices worth €15 million was part of a €168 million package for further and higher education sectors to deal with the impacts of COVID-19.

“COVID-19 has disrupted many aspects of our lives. For students in third level, it has resulted in a changed college experience.

“This new academic year will mean many students will be attending courses online and will need access to devices. This investment will allow us to help 16,700 students access laptops and will ensure they can keep up to date with their studies.

“It will also go some way to bridging the digital divide, support students and ensure equality of access to education,” Minister Harris said.

The €168 million funding package includes an additional €10 million for access supports which complements the IT support package. Students in higher education institutions experiencing exceptional financial need can apply for support via their local access office.

The devices will be distributed through targeted lending schemes run by the institutions. In the higher education sector, this will be overseen by Student Access Offices. In the further education and training sector, this will be overseen by the Education and Training Board (ETB) management.

“The focus will be on ensuring disadvantaged students will have access to the devices. But we must also recognise many students and their families have fallen on hard times as a result of COVID-19. We must ensure they don’t fall behind in their studies and ensure they can access this support fund also," Minsiter Harris added.

NEWS 11

Leahy speaks at anti-mask rally PÁRAIC MCMAHON

A

paraic@clareecho.ie

FAILED Clare General Election candidate was among the speakers of a large-scale anti-mask rally which took place in Dublin over the weekend.

Michael Leahy who is Vice President of the Irish Freedom Party spoke for a quarter of an hour at Saturday's protest. Other attendees at the organised demonstration included Jim Corr and Professor Dolores Cahill.

National media have reported that hundreds attended the rally at Custom House Quay, organisers claim the figure was in the thousands. It was organised by the Health Freedom Ireland (HFI), which says it is a non-political organisation, with support from Yellow Vest Ireland.

Gardaí are now investigating the anti-face mask rally with regard to breach of COVID-19 regulations pro-

hibiting the organising of events. A file is to be submitted to the Director for Public Prosecutions on the matter.

Earlier this year, Leahy ran for the IFP in the General Election and was eliminated on the third count, he polled 704 first preference votes.

Speaking at the rally, the Corofin resident declared, "There is no doubt that today, Irish liberty and Irish freedom is under threat as never before since our Independence". He criticised the country's membership of the European Union and labelled Black

l PROTEST: ​Michael Leahy

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Lives Matter "a viciously racist organisation".

Leahy claimed that the public health guidelines "attack" rights on the freedom of movement, to earn a living and to bodily integrity. "There is every evidence that the egregious and unnecessary actions taken in the lockdown and ongoing in the health sector that will be the real killer not the pandemic. It might be our view that the lockdown was justified for a brief period of time when we didn't understand the virus but we know now the level of mortality was very low," the Ennis architect and planner stated.

Previously the President of Ennis Chamber of Commerce, Michael hit out at the Government, the media and the Church during his address. "I detect as I look around me the rumblings of a sleeping giant, let us hope that sleeping giant wakes with an almighty roar for freedom".

Mr Leahy has failed to return multiple calls and emails from The Clare Echo since Saturday to explain his attendance at the event.

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12 NEWS

Newmarket sees surge in Tidy Towns volunteers PÁRAIC MCMAHON

N

paraic@clareecho.ie

E W M A R K E T- O N - F E R G U S have recorded "a surge in volunteerism" with a greater focus placed on pride of place.

Within a two year window, nine workers focused on the maintenance and upkeep of public spaces in the village of Newmarket-on-Fergus were not replaced due to cuts introduced to the Community Services Programme. With just one individual carrying out the duties of what was previously done by a group of ten, the Tidy Towns have made a considered decision to increase the role they are playing in the community.

Coinciding with this, Husqvarna have donated an industrial grade mower that will enable Tidy Towns volunteers to tackle grass cutting in prominent locations. The lawnmow-

er was officially presented to a group of volunteers in the village over the weekend.

One long-standing volunteer with the Newmarket-on-Fergus Tidy Towns told The Clare Echo that the village "went wild" during the height of COVID-19 restrictions which prompted more people to get involved to improve the appearance of the locality. Since the pandemic, over a dozen new volunteers have joined the ranks and the core of 30

volunteers that clean the area at least twice a week.

Speaking to The Clare Echo, Chairperson of Newmarket-on-Fergus Tidy Towns, Tom Neylon outlined, "People have realised that resources allocated to the upkeep and maintenance of Newmarket-on-Fergus has reduced so it is great to see the initiative in people looking after their own areas to enhance the look of the parish".

New volunteers include a Polish

lCOMMUNITY: Newmarket-on-Fergus Tidy Towns

Photo by Gary Collins

couple that have relocated to the village and a New Zealand native that has been hailed as "an outstanding addition".

Particular emphasis was placed on the planting of trees, the overhauling of rosebuds and the addition of new signage in the village in recent months which has been assisted by €2,000 in Grant Aid .

Public area enhancement in 'The Green' is cited by volunteers as a project which is of particular pride.

A new green area was developed outside Our Lady of the Rosary Church, 20 semi-mature trees were planted in the vicinity, paving work was completed and parking was realigned to include the addition of increased wheelchair accessible spaces.

Despite concerns over the decline in commercial activity in the main street of the village on the Ballycar Rd, Neylon believed aesthetically it was positive.

He stated that "eight to nine key residents" on this road availed of the village paint scheme while others were unable to get a contractor.

THURSDAY, AUG 27 2020

Jump in Coillte visitor numbers COILLTE has released new figures revealing that there was a large increase in visitor numbers to one of their forests. Ballycuggaran recreation forest recorded 10,483 visitors between June and August.

This was a significant increase on visitor numbers in April and May, during the height of COVID19 restrictions.

During March and April 2020, Coillte saw a large drop in visitor numbers as non-essential travel was restricted.

However, since travel restrictions were lifted on June 19, visitors have begun returning to Coillte's forests.Coillte is Ireland's leading provider of outdoor recreation activities in Ireland with more than 3,000 kilometres of trails, 260 recreation sites and 12 forest parks across the country.

Imelda Hurley, Chief Executive of Coillte said: "Access to nature is very important for the body, mind and spirit.”

Arts & Entertainment 13

THURSDAY, AUG 27 2020

BEN commission 60 short films CIAN O’BROIN

T

cianobroin@clareecho.ie

HE Burren Ecotourism Network is looking to showcase its special status as a unique area of outstanding beauty through the commissioned filming of over 60 new short films, with the hope of enticing tourists and visitors to visit the Burren and Cliffs of Moher Geo Park region over the winter months and into the 2021 season.

Members of the Burren Ecotourism Network include hotels, B&B's, restaurants, shops and visitor experiences who all adhere to the Burren and Cliffs of Moher Geopark Code of Practice.

The films which are being shot and edited by a professional camera crew will be an opportunity for each of the members to showcase their services and products on the network's website www.burren.ie and digital media platforms.

Each business within the network will have the opportunity to spend three to four hours with a film production crew, where they will be filmed in action and interviewed, with the final cut being edited down to 1.5 minutes each.

Drone footage and interior shots are two interesting instruments in the film making toolkits of Paul Corey and Julie Carr, which will be put to use over the coming months.

Julie is the Marketing coordinator of the Burren Ecotourism Network and Paul is a

well-known photographer and filmmaker in Clare.

"We are going to get a bank of footage.

Each business will get its own film. All this footage together will be used for different purposes to help promote the area. There will be different themes such as the people of the Burren, the food of the Burren, the landscape.

“It's unique in that we are getting footage to share with all the different members of the network. We are filming every angle of these businesses. Some are big and others are much smaller. We were in the Stone Cutters Cottage today. We are trying to give each place equal amount of time to showcase what they have", tells Julie.

This initiative is co-funded by LEADER as part of the Destination Marketing Programme with support from the Clare Local Development Company.

The hope of the project is to assist many of the members who have had a busy July and August due to staycations, and will require further footfall heading into the autumn months. The 60 short films, along with government support, will be enough to keep these businesses open.

CEO of the Burren Ecotourism Network, Jarlath O'Dwyer, concluded with the following statement, "All of this promotional activity is happening but we still don't know what will happen in 2021, we can only strive to ensure that the businesses operate safely, and that we let the markets know that the North Clare area is an open, compliant and safe destination."

lACTION: Sean Davoren of Caherconnel Fort does a piece to camera with Paul Corey

Clare projects benefit from WRAP fund PÁRAIC MCMAHON

paraic@clareecho.ie

CLARE projects are to benefit from the WRAP fund that is expected to generate a €16m spend in the West of Ireland. €2m has been allocated to the Western Region Audiovisual Producer’s Fund (WRAP fund) which will guarantee commercial investment for the remainder of the year to encourage production activity across the film, television drama, animation and gaming sectors in Clare, Donegal, Galway, Mayo, Roscommon and Sligo.

A substantial €12 multiplier on every €1 invested is the goal that has been set.

Located in Francis St in Ennis, animation studio Magpie6 Media had a new project, The Wee Littles, announced as part of the funding.

Feature film, Swallows developed

by Ennistymon based Newgrange Pictures and written by Clarecastle’s John O’Donovan (inset) is to benefit in the WRAP fund.

Clare children’s writer Emma Hogan will see her efforts rewarded also. Tails At Animal Airport, an animated

television series which she wrote will avail of the WRAP fund and additional support from Screen Ireland. Studio Meala located in Roscommon developed the series.

Lahinch production Smother which is planned for broadcast on RTÉ One and inclusion in the BBC Studios catalogue for international sales has been hailed by personnel involved in the WRAP fund as an example of the “significant year of growth” regarding high-profile productions. Dervla Kirwan and Seana Kerslake are to star in the series, the filming of which has been impacted by COVID-19.

Sarah Dillon, Development Manager of the WRAP Fund stated, “We have many more exciting productions in the pipeline.

The impact of COVID-19 has been hard felt in the Region and we are relying on the Irish government to look favourably on the request of the Western AV Forum to extend the Regional Film Development Uplift.

“This would be a very positive measure to jumpstart production and send out the message that the West is open for business again once it is safe”.

‘Stay positive and hold out hope for reconciliation’ CLARE based band Irial Jones have released a new single entitled 'Wait and See', which was recorded in the quiet countryside of Clare this summer and subsequently released online via YouTube and Spotify, writes Cian O’Broin Cian Kelly both sings and plays guitar for the band, who bolster a unique style stemming from strong influences of the Indie/Alternative music scene of the early 2000s.

Irial Jones formed out of a few previous groups that Cian was involved with.

During a brainstorming session a few futile attempts were fused together to form

a fitting name for the band.

Eventually they arrived at Irial Jones, which Cian quips forms part of his actual name. The writing process begins with Cian, who then takes it to others to develop further.

This can be anyone from friends, family or other musicians from Clare or London. Most importantly, Cian works with his producer Sean Montgomery Dietz to finalise his projects. It was in this way that Irial Jones' debut single, Wait and See, came to fruition.

"We recorded here in Clare in Studio Ekala, out in the countryside, near forests and streams and many

other calming things which is the perfect environment for recording, if you hit any speed bumps you can reset yourself and begin again.

“The song deals with the breakdown of a relationship and the inability of each party to see where the other is coming from. I guess the main message is to stay positive and hold out hope for reconciliation."

Birthed in a time of restrictions and the inability to publicly perform to an audience, Cian hopes that the band can play live gigs in Clare in the future, having been denied the opportunity to bring their new single to the public in physical form.

14 NEWS

THURSDAY, AUG 27 2020

Royal Aeronautical Society honour Eddie Ryan PĂ RAIC MCMAHON

F

paraic@clareecho.ie

OUNDER of the Shannon Aviation Museum and Atlantic Air Adventures, Edward Ryan has been honoured by the Royal Aeronautical Society.

A native of Tipperary, Eddie joined the Irish Air Corps some 71 years ago.

From there, he moved to the United Kingdom and worked on iconic aircraft including the Lightning, Victor, Vulcan and Valiant as well his treasured Buccaneer and TSRII. Ryan founded the Shannon aviation museum in 2008 but the first idea of establishing such a facility dawned on him in 2001 when he retired from a longstanding career in aviation and decided to kickstart a project that would recognise Shannon’s impressive aviation history.

Last week, Eddie proudly received the Royal Aeronautical Society Distinguished Service Award for a lifetime dedicated to aviation excellence and inspiring many young people.

He had further reason to smile as the Shannon Aviation Museum collection received a new exhibit from the Irish Air Corps, that being the recently retired Cessna FR.172’s.

The aircraft served with the Irish Air Corps since 1972 when nine Cessna FR.172’s were delivered and they remained in service until October 2019.

Five aircraft were still active on the retirement date and they flew a total of 63,578 hours in Air Corps service.

Gratitude to General Officer Commanding Air Corps Rory O’Connor, the Department of Defence and Clare TD Joe Carey (FG) was voiced “for making this donation to Shannon Aviation Museum which will help inspire and educate the next generation and many more after that,� by a spokesperson.

l INSPIRING: Eddie Ryan receives his award from the Royal Aeronautical Society

‘A horrendous five months’ – PK Travel TRANSPORT industries in Clare have admitted the impact of COVID-19 on their business has been “absolutely devastatingâ€?, writes PĂĄraic McMahon.

Data from the Central Statistics Office has revealed that the volume of cars on Irish roads at the beginning of August was 12.6 percent lower in regional locations compared with 2019.

The CSO have also said the impact of COVID-19 restrictions on rail journeys was more significant than that on journeys by bus or Luas Speaking to The Clare Echo, owner of PK Travel, PJ Keogh admitted that the pandemic has devastated their business, “We’re all parked up with nothing whatsoever happening�.

Based outside Shannon Airport, PK Travel currently has a fleet of between eight to 10 buses which primarily cater for local groups, schools, organisations and tour groups.

Keogh confirmed, “All our people are sitting at home depending on the COVID payment�. “It has been devastating, we’ve had five horrendous months, what lies ahead we don’t know,� the Clarecastle man confessed.

Shannon Group dispute Wynne’s remarks Pà RAIC MCMAHON paraic@clareecho.ie

CLARE TD, Violet-Anne Wynne (SF) has said Shannon Airport staff have been given a one week window to sign their redundancy offers.

Redundancy offers were issued to staff at Shannon Airport on Friday August 21st. In July, workers rejected plans by management to seek voluntary redundancies from its 230 staff and cut pay by 20 per cent until 2023.

In a statement to The Clare Echo, Deputy Wynne criticised a "lack of

engagement" with staff and said workers were given a period of one week to sign on the dotted line if they wished to accept a redundancy. Trade unions have insisted that any severance package would have to be in line with the semistate aviation package available in the DAA and that they would not agree to the pay cut which is due to come into effect on Monday.

She commented, "The severance package on offer within the SAA is nowhere near as generous as the one currently on offer in the DAA with the staff in Shannon feeling left behind in comparison to the package being offered to former colleagues in both the DAA and also of their colleagues who were

offered a better deal just last year by the SAA".

"All this is happening at the same time that Minister Eamon Ryan and his officials are carrying out an internal review of the Management/operational structures of the (Shannon) Group. I really feel this is not fair on the staff at the Airport, the time constraint alone does not allow the staff to fully weigh up all their options on what will be a life changing decision. I am calling on Minister Ryan to instruct the SAA to extend the deadline beyond Friday to allow for meaningful engagement between his Department, the unions and the staff at the Airport," the Kilrush Deputy added.

CEO of Shannon Group, Mary Considine disputed remarks from the Sinn FĂŠin representative. "In early July we presented a range of available options to staff, among these career breaks, reduced working hours, short time working, temporary pay cuts and a voluntary severance scheme (VSS).

The terms of the VSS were clearly communicated at that time. We communicated these measures to unions and since then have put an extensive programme in place to ensure that staff were fully briefed regarding the necessity for this intervention".

Considine said that there had been ongoing engagement over the past seven weeks including writ-

ten communication with staff and unions, full briefing of staff across two separate days in socially distanced town-hall meetings at the airport, telephone conversations and board meetings and calls.

She added, "Our HR team has also worked exhaustively with the very large number of staff that expressed interest in the scheme to set out the specific individual outcomes for them. During that period, we sought to meet with trade unions on the VSS, but the offers were declined, the latest of these was last week. The measures we have had to put in place are certainly not what we envisaged as we set out on what would otherwise have been a year of growth.�

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FEATURES 15

THURSDAY, AUG 27 2020

GREEN CLARE

Project donates bikes to Gambia kids

CIAN O’BROIN

T

cianobroin@clareecho.ie

HE Rotary Ireland School Bikes Africa project is a joint venture led by Clare County Council and the Ennis Rotary Club that looks to bring a local initiative to a global stage, recycling and repurposing unwanted bikes to children in Gambia.

An after-effect of the anti-dumping initiative, the project hits a number of noteworthy nails on the head, allowing the public to participate in the education of children in Gambia, the rehabilitation of prisoners in Ireland as well as partially placating the environmental impact of unwanted bikes making their final journey to landfill in our local communities. Annie Walsh of the Ennis Rotary Club tells The Clare Echo about the birth of the project, the journey the bikes take in making it from Inagh dump to schoolchildren in Gambia as well as the feel good factor to be found in participating in the project.

Annie admits that the project allowed for a rejuvenation of the Ennis Rotary Club, aligning closely with its vision to unite together to take action to create lasting change.

As a first initiative back on track, the rotary school bikes to Africa mission is a perfect fit for the Ennis Rotary Club, which specialises in business, profession and community.

The project is a grant funded scheme through the anti-dumping initiative by the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment. After liaising with a priest, Fr. Sean Devereux of Wexford, the project has been sending bikes to Gambia for a number of years. The pertinence of the

project takes into account the humanitarian issues of the West African nation, where 60 per cent of the 2.28 million population survive on less than â‚Ź1 per day. “The buy in from the local authorities is pivotal to the success of the scheme. A lot of the groundwork there is being done by Clare County Council, in particular Maria Carey who is one of the engineers there. They sourced the container there for the bikes and have personnel at the waste management site in Inagh who are totally in tune with the project. “The honorary Mayor of Ennis Mary Howard was at the grand opening on Wednesday August 19th. We are unable to take all types of bikes for this project. We can only take mountain bikes or those that are heavy and sturdy enough to navigate dirt tracks and bad roads in Gambia with a wheel size of greater than 24 inches and no rust. “In alignment with the council and their various other environmental initiatives, Mary was saying to me that they will actually look to take the unwanted bikes and provide them to people in Clare that are in need, such as those bikes with smaller wheels or hybrids. There are families that are looking for kids’ bikes. Mary says she knows families that can avail of these. There is a big buy in from the council here.â€?

Members of the public are welcome to leave their unwanted bikes at the facility in Inagh for free. When 310 bikes have been deposited, they will be moved to Loughan House Prison, Co. Cavan and Shelton Abbey Prison, Co. Wicklow, where the prisoners will refurbish and repair the bikes as part of a FETAC bike maintenance course, feeding into their rehabilitation and job prospects.

The bikes are then shipped out to Gambia from the shipping depots in conjunction with the Irish Army. The cost and repair

for each individual bike, as well as shipping amounts to â‚Ź21.10. All funding received will cover these expenses for 310 bikes, for which the initiative has received a total of â‚Ź10,000.

Annie feels like the project covers all corners with the government funding, the part played by Rotary Ireland through the fellowship of business and community as well as the local authorities’ involvement.

Annie hopes that the local community will get involved too, finishing off on the benefit of chiming in on the provision of school bikes as a means of transport for school children in Gambia, “People do see their fellow man in need out there, especially during this time. We do appreciate that there are others out there less well off than ourselves. We see the effects of climate change in the weather and in our daily lives. This is something

tangible that you can do. There are people in need, near and far. You are giving these children a leg up, not a hand-out. “People can build their own resilience then. It brings to mind that you are making a difference and have a better purpose in life.

We are actually making a difference to the environment through recycling and reusing.

The younger people are driven to make a difference in a big way and I feel that they are the ones to drive initiatives like these in the future. Hopefully this will spur on other similar initiatives.�

Members of the public can donate their unused and unwanted bicycles at the Central Waste Management Facility in Ballyduff Beg, Inagh. Opening hours are: Tuesday to Friday – 8.30am to 4.30pm and Saturday – 8.30am to 1.00pm.

ALL LOCAL AUTHORITIES ARE ADOPTING SIMILAR BYE-LAWS ENSURING A CONSISTENT APPROACH TO MANAGING WASTE ACROSS IRELAND. In order to comply with the new Bye-Laws: • You need to demonstrate that you are disposing of your waste in a responsible and legal manner; • You must segregate your waste correctly.

YOU MUST USE ONE OF THESE OPTIONS

OR KERBSIDE COLLECTION

lRIDE ON: Annie Walsh, Ennis branch, Rotary Ireland; Michael Sheppard, Clare branch, Rotary Ireland; Pat Meaney, Community Warden Clare County Council; Connie Ovesen, President, Rotary Ireland; Cllr Mary Howard, Mayor of Clare; and Maria Carey, Executive Engineer Clare County Council Photo by Eamon Ward

Find out more at www.mywaste.ie

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16

COLUMNISTS

2012

THURSDAY, AUG 27 2020

Love recognises no barriers...

Cian O’Broin looks at the stories of 2012, some of which left their mark on many communities

CIAN O’BROIN History

T

HIS year we see the framework for national success in the All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship being laid, as Clare beat Kilkenny to the U-21 crown. We look at the altruistic acts of two prominent Clare firemen as well as a whole host of other special tradespeople from the county in going out to Mombasa, Kenya for a Building of Hope project, which helped with the building of schools and homes. Finally, we look at a heart-wrenching human-interest story told through a documentary made by a Crusheen based couple.

The pair, eager to tell the story of Syrian Arabs trapped between Israel and Syria, spent several years filming the people of the village of Golan, hoping to show the entire world what the plight of occupation does to the soul. Let’s get started.

UNDER 21s DO THE BUSINESS In 2012, Clare’s U21 hurling panel beat Kilkenny 2-17 to 2-11, to win the All Ireland U-21 Hurling Championship. 9,250 stalwart supporters made their way to Semple Stadium on the 15th of September to watch the pair battle it out. Defeating Antrim in the semi-final, Clare’s starting line-up was packed with senior stars such as Patrick O’ Connor, Seadna Morey, Colm Gavin, Tony Kelly and Captain Conor McGrath. Going into the game, Clare’s defence had maintained an impressive system, conceding only a single goal at the hands of Tipperary’s John O’ Dwyer throughout the campaign. Joint bosses Donal Moloney and Gerry O’ Connor were leading the Banner boys from the side-line.

The referee was Diarmuid Kirwan, a proud Cork man. Clare found the net first, when O’ Connell beat goalkeeper Dylan Walsh. Clare got off to an excellent start and were leading 1-8 to 0-2 after the first eight minutes. Twenty minutes later and Kilkenny drew level with a goal, subsequently adding another then, when Ger Aylward gave the Cats a threepoint slender lead. A cool, composed and comfortable finish from Clare saw the game out, meaning that Kilkenny had lost their twelfth U-21 All-Ireland Hurling Championship. This success would then spur the team on to a Senior All-Ireland Hurling Championship against Cork the following year, filling the county with great pride.

FIREMEN BUILD HOME IN MOMBASA The benevolence and kind-hearted hysterics of the people of Clare is second to none, or so they say. In 2012, two firemen from Clare set out to Mombasa to help with the construction of a new home for blind children.

Popular Kilkee Fire Station Officer Charlie McGrath and Danny Keller were working behind the scenes in the weeks leading up to their trip to sponsor the project. The Building of Hope project sent Charlie and Danny as well as 200 individuals from Clare and other counties to Kenya to help with the building of schools and homes. A highly skilled roster was acquired for the job with block layers, carpenters, electricians, tilers, painters and

lFergal and Norma Griffin (nee O’Mullane) overcame the current restrictions to celebrate their wedding day on Friday, August 14 at The Inn At Dromoland Hotel; (inset) Clarecastle native Fergal and ‘groomsman’ Aoife Guilfoyle who discovered a copy of The Clare Echo on the grounds during the wedding shoot. Photo by Evelyn O’Connor

plasterers all on board. The 200 were split into four separate groups of 50, each group leaving and working at different times. A total of €3,000 was raised by each member of the group, with every penny going towards the project that offers education, practical help, support and care for the third world. St. Joesph’s training school for the blind voluntarily offered to oversee specialised duties, such as assisting the blind children in the acclimation to the new building. Allen Flynn, hotelier and businessman, offered his hotels in Ennis and Kilkenny for the services of the committee members, at no cost. Fundraising was incredibly successful for the firemen, who surprised children in their uniforms, managed to raise substantial funds for blind children in Kenya.

FROM CRUSHEEN TO GOLAN HEIGHTS A Crusheen based couple developed a powerful documentary entitled, Apples of the Golan, in 2012.

The couple, Keith Walsh and Jill Beardsworth had been living in the Clare village for five years. The documentary was a passion project put together over a period of five years and numerous trips to Golan Heights, in Syria. It focuses on the life of several individuals there, telling the tale of their lives throughout the occupation and resistance. The key theme of the documentary is identity, its fragility, entanglement and subse-

quent destruction through occupation.

Families featured are cut off from crossing the border to see their loved ones as Israel and Syria are still at war. There are only three conditions for crossing the small border. The first is for students studying in Damascus.

The second is when brides are marrying in Israel. They can cross but they may never return. The final condition is for apples, the only economic resource that is traded between the two warring nations.

The documentary also featured a ‘shouting hill’ where cross-border communication becomes a temporary possibility. At weddings and funerals families shout across the border with a megaphone or speaker. The couple found the Syrian Arabs of the Golan quite accommodating but noted that once the cameras were on, locals wanted to get their message across, informing the world aggressively that they were under occupation. The Crusheen based couple wanted an unbiased raw documentary that didn’t set an agenda, allowing audiences to make up their own mind. Upon completion they were delighted that the Apples of the Golan had made it into a cinema on Parnell Street Dublin as well as the Dublin Film Festival.

That’s all for this week folks, check back next week when we look at what made 2013 a special year in Clare’s recent history!

YOUR LETTERS FIGHTING BLINDNESS Dear Editor, I would be grateful for the opportunity to let readers of The Clare Echo know about Fighting Blindness’ forthcoming virtual Living with Sight Loss course.

We know, according to the most recent statistics available to us, that there are 1,275 people in County Clare who are living with vision impairment or blindness.

Our free course for people with sight loss will begin online on Thursday, September 17 and run every Thursday from 11am to 3pm. The course will finish Thursday, October 15.

Living with Sight Loss is designed to

increase the confidence and independence of people who are living with any form of sight loss.

The informal course will provide information and practical advice on a range of essential everyday topics such as getting out and about, information about welfare rights, and how technology can make life that bit easier.

Places are limited and must be booked in advance by contacting Fighting Blindness on 01 674 6496 or needtotalk@ fightingblindness.ie.

To find out more, visit fightingblindness.ie.

Yours sincerely, Peter O’Toole Head of Support and Counselling, Fighting Blindness

FEATURES 17

THURSDAY, AUG 27 2020

Opinion

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

Outrage over ‘golfgate’ a release of pent-up anger

“

IN A seismic event, there is no way to know off hand what will stand and what will fall. It all depends on how good the foundations are on which the structure stands.”

These were the words of world leading earthquake engineering expert Dr Nenad Bićanić (RIP) under whom I had the privilege of studying while a student at Glasgow University. This applies to politics as much as it does to construction. August is the time when seismic shifts in politics begin. However, with ‘Golfgate’, we got a seismic event on the scale of the Stephen’s Day Indian Ocean earthquake. How quickly things can change, especially when the pressure has been building up over time. The fallout from this event is still ongoing with a report on Phil Hogan’s movements now being furnished to the EU Commission and the judiciary commencing a review of the conduct of Justice Seamus Wolfe. There will be more aftershocks yet.

Nevertheless, the scale of the anger this event and the number of resignations that have come with it, did take some by surprise. Tweeting on Monday evening, Elaine Byrne, the woman who wrote the book on the history of political accountability in Ireland, stated that this event is pretty much unprecedented; “I cannot think of any controversy in Irish history that has merited this amount of resignations and consequences.

We are at an incredible turning point for Irish political, judicial and media culture.”

Before continuing, it must be reiterated that the holding of a golf society dinner, attended by 81 people, was inherently wrong. That is not in question. I should also caveat that former Minister Dara Calleary is

EOIN NEYLON Politics

someone I have known for 14 years.

Throughout that time, I have found him to be a top class politician, an honest broker, someone who has always strived to bring about a better society and an approachable and kind person. He himself stated in his swiftly furnished resignation statement how badly he let everyone down. That includes himself it must be said. Taoiseach Martin and Táinaiste Varadkar were also swift to sanction the six senators in attendance. That said, I don’t believe anyone within the political bubble was quite prepared for the scale of the anger of the Irish people that followed.

For five months, Irish society has made huge sacrifices, endured through horrendous events, separated from their loved ones, losing livelihoods, cancelling events and worse, losing loved ones without being able to properly say goodbye.

It’s not rational to fly into a rage at a microscopic virus and as such, the frustration and anger people have felt has been building, like the pressure between tectonic plates.

Golfgate was the release of all that pent-up anger, focused like a lightning rod on the participants at the Oireachtas golf society dinner.

There have been consequences for many, yet the intransigence of Hogan and Wolfe stands out. Honestly, I didn’t see the level of anger coming either. Some have asked me why.

lFormer Minister Dara Calleary was among those to bear the brunt of a backlash over golfgate, an event which broke Covid-19 restrictions

Firstly, if you examine large scandals, involving arguably much more nefarious or incompetent actions in the past, the scale of anger was less, or at most, equal to that seen this past week. The Esat Digifone license award, Irish Water, the Banking fiasco and Troika, parties caught printing their own fraudulent currency, planning tribunals, not to mention paramilitarism, bank robbery and murder. There is a long list of actions by politicians of all colours that have elicited the ire of the public, all, in my opinion, much more serious. Yet the scale of resignations and apologies here is far greater than several of those examples put together.

There’s another reason this caught me by surprise. The event in Clifden involved current and former politicians from Fianna Fail, Fine Gael, Labour and the Independents. Nevertheless, FF are feeling the greatest brunt of the public fury. In the days leading up to and following the revelation, it transpired that current politicians from the Social Democrats and Sinn Féin also broke Covid regulations regarding foreign travel without sanction. Let’s also not forget SF inviting members from around the country to attend a Belfast funeral in paramilitary regalia for a fake burial (Storey was in fact cremated). In all, 1,800 attended and broke multiple guidelines on the day, previously signed off by SF Deputy First Minister Michelle O’Neill. People Before Profit also got in on the act by organising a march against Government formation at the height of the pandemic.

So why, when it involved these parties is it sudden public outrage, when the other events went off without the widescale anger?

We’re back to earthquakes. The pressure is getting too much for so many people and this was seen as an appropriate means to vent that anger and frustration at those who are in positions of authority making the rules, we’re all following.

Speaking with FF people, they’re equally livid at the actions of the dozen current and former members, which, alongside other recent gaffs, look to have undercut a decade of hard work by the grassroots to get the party back in Government. Ten years’ effort undone in less than two months. More look to the future of the embattled Government and ask will it stay standing. After this earthquake, it’ll all depend on how solid the Government foundations are.

18 BUSINESS PROFILE

THURSDAY, AUG 27 2020

D”Barber Shop still a cut STUART HOLLY

E

editor@clareecho.ie

NNIS barber Micheál Malone is celebrating 25 years in business at D”Barber Shop on Francis Street.

Recounting his quarter of a century journey in a sit-down interview with The Clare Echo, it’s strikingly obvious that Micheál’s personality has played a key role in his success. D”Barber Shop has been a way of life for Parnell Street native Micheál and the shop has borne many fruits such as supporting his family and building close bonds with customers, both young and old.

Micheál could be described as easy-going, friendly and jovial however many years of hard work, consistency and sacrifice have been the key ingredient to D”Barber Shop becoming a household name. A seemingly constant presence in the shop, among Micheál’s lingering memories of his working life include long days without breaks. Early in his career Micheál was called out by a customer for eating a sandwich at the same time as cutting the client’s hair. Another memory includes handing back his newborn son Ian to his wife Maria just minutes after she gave birth in the delivery room and then promptly returning to work, where he would spend the rest of the day tending to clients.

Recounting his youth on a bustling Par-

lBARBER SUPREME: Ennis business man Micheál Malone and (pictured right, l-r) with staff members Karen Greer (also below) and Michelle Fuller Quigley

nell Street, the now 53-year-old recounts that during Fleadheanna his mother would get up in the morning and fry up breakfast for revellers who had slept in the adjoining bow way during the night. His favourite ever Christmas present from Santa Claus was a toy cash register - no doubt an indication of business being in Micheál’s blood.

His parents, Tom from Barefield and Galway native Nora were business people in the town. “They used to have a supermarket on Parnell Street called VG for over 50 years,” explains Micheál. “I always liked the buzz of the cash register and the shop. That’s all I knew. We lived over the shop and we worked, filled the potatoes, stocked the shelves, went to the cash and carry, washed the floors.

That’s what I saw when I came home from school, my mother was working in the shop and cooking dinner for the five of us, I don’t know how she did it. In 1994, my parents retired and sold the shop and bought a little house. My mother died in ’95 so she didn’t get much chance to enjoy retirement.

“The business was always there in my head. We also owned a pub in Crusheen, the Riverside Tavern in Ballyline. We had that for many years so there was always business in the family. They ran the two at the same time, it was hard work.”

Micheál – who at one stage believed he would end up in the priesthood – attended Rice College in Ennis before completing a hairdressing course in Shannon following

GERAGHTY'S SPAR TURNPIKE

WISHING MICHEÁL & ALL THE TEAM IN D’BARBER SHOP CONTINUED SUCCESS 065 684 5487 8 Francis Street, Ennis, Co. Clare

SPAR, TURNPIKE ROAD, ENNIS, CO CLARE (065) 682 4544

BUSINESS PROFILE 19

THURSDAY, AUG 27 2020

above on 25th anniversary

his Inter Cert. “In Ennis that time there was only three barber shops, Brendan Mulcaire, Sean Spring and Walter Hackett. They weren’t taking on apprentices at the time so I went to Limerick working in my first shop which was called Pat McLoughlin in Quin Street and I stayed there for a couple of years before going to Eddie Morrossey’s barber

shop in Little Catherine Street. In and out to Limerick every day on the bus, I never had a sick day in 11 years.� Micheål admits the pay was poor and he finally saved up for his first vehicle, a LiteAce van having also worked as a part-time barman in the Roslevan Arms, so bus trips were replaced with car journeys paid for by tips built up during a day’s work.

MicheĂĄl’s wife Maria is also a former business woman, having ran a salon in the premises above Dâ€?Barber Shop until 1996 and the birth of the couple’s first child Laura (24), who would be followed by Ian (20) and RoisĂ­n (17). The building was previously home to The Pearl Boutique which was run by Maria’s mother Margaret Staunton, and later the back was occupied by ET Cabs by Maria’s father, the late Det Gda John Staunton. “Maria’s mother retired in ’95 and the shop was vacant so I took over the shop in October ’95, and opened a little two-seater barber shop and worked it on my own for a year and a half, six days a week. It is hard going. I remember one Saturday I was cutting a gent’s hair and I was hungry the same day, let me tell you. I was eating a sandwich and cutting his hair at the same time and the customer said to me, ‘You’ve all day tomorrow for eating’. So I thought then, I need to get help here. That was when I took on my first member of staff.â€?

Fast forward 25 years and much has changed, not only recent investments to cope with Covid-19 restrictions. There’s also been the noticeable increase in barber shops in the town of which Micheål has lost count. Micheål has built his reputation on a friendly, reliable service and one thing that’s remained a constant is the customer service. Micheål understands his responsibility to his business and staff, who he suggests have been his most important invest-

ment. His core staff boast almost 150 years of experience with the scissors and brush. “I have great staff. Michelle Fuller Quigley is with me 20 years, Karen Greer is with me 15 years, Joe Woulfe is with me on and off I don’t know how many years and Nigel McCarthy stands in when we need relief work so I’ve been blessed with staff. Of all the barber shops in the Midwest I’d say, I have the longest staff employment. Between the four or five of us we have 150 years’ experience.�

MicheĂĄl recounts cutting hair for some famous faces such as Bertie Ahern, however one thing that stands out for him is his relationship with customers - some of whom would sit inside the window of his shop for a chat before going to Mass in the Friary. “I built up a friendship with a lot of them and that has touched me. Those who passed away, they all had a story. You do build up a relationship of trust with customers and people that want to talk and I see that a lot lately, people who want to talk and get something off their chest. You go through a journey with a lot of people.â€?

Other rewarding experiences, MicheĂĄl notes, include home visits to those in need or Christmas visits to nursing homes cutting hair as a goodwill gesture. Hoping to stand proud in Francis Street for many years to come, MicheĂĄl adds, “It’s been a good 25 years. It’s helped raise my family and I was able to give employment to local people.

We’ve been very lucky.�

Sweet N Green

Wishing D’Barber Shop continued success Friary Car Park, Ennis 065 682 1734

Carmel’s Health Store “For Service You Deserve from a Company You Can Trust�

9 Francis St, Lifford, Ennis, Co. Clare

(065) 686 8686

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20 PROPERTY

THURSDAY, AUG 27 2020

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22 FEATURES

THURSDAY, AUG 27 2020

Autumn leaves

RONAN SCULLY

Thought for the week

W

ALKING is a form of prayer for me. Each morning I head to a nearby walking route and practice being absolutely present to the world.

Here I listen for the wisdom that the seasons offer my life. Each of the seasons offers a great deal of wisdom for the spiritual journey.

Autumn is a season of transition when the leaves start to fall from their trees, reminding us that our lives are constantly in flux. Of course change is always with us, but autumn brings us to a deeper awareness that we live in a continual cycle of dying and rising.

As Albert Camus says “Autumn is a second spring when every leaf is a flower.” God is quite an artist this time of year. God hues hints of hope and a purpose to the changes we often struggle with on our path.

I used to fight autumn, dreading the coming winter. Now in the second half of my life, I am learning to embrace its beauty as part of the transforming process and rhythm of life. Autumn calls us to remember our own fragility and cherish this beauty.

Living a life of detachment, letting things go when their season is over, brings life! To let things go when their time is up is not failure, it is not to not appreciate what has been, it is simply to acknowledge that seasons change and a new one is about to begin. I recently spent my staycation walking around parts of the west where finally the season of autumn has shown itself in full bloom and it gave me a sweet taste of the colours of autumn before the grey days of winter arrive.

Walking as I said is a form of prayer for me and In the midst of my prayer during the season of Autumn, I hold the great tension between the beauty of our earth with the delight that it offers and the great destruction humankind has inflicted upon her. It reminded me of the moving poem by Irish poet, Seamus Heaney which captures the beauty and the terror we hold...”Wind shakes the big poplar, quicksilvering, The whole tree in a single sweep. What bright scale fell and left this needle quivering?

What loaded balances have come to grief?”

Seize your Autumn

But amid all these Autumn changes a thought that came to me during my prayer walk recently is that I love and adore the season of autumn. Autumn for me is the season of the harvest, when we reap

what we planted in the spring and summer just gone before us. It is the time to gather nature’s bounty, the fruits and vegetables, the grains and nuts. We eat them with gratitude; and we can preserve them for the coming cold winter months.

The colours change brilliantly all around us, and the sky and the sea are at their bluest against the awesome autumnal colours especially in the leaves. The air is cooler and drier; and there seems to be more clarity of vision, both externally and internally as well as spiritually.

To me, autumn has always felt as if a new year is beginning: the glorious somewhat restful summer months come to an end, and we return to our more rigorous rituals and routines at school, at play or at work. This can be the perfect time to make resolutions for the coming last quarter of the year. We remember the past few months and look critically at our lives: at the good things we choose to nourish and attend to, and at the negative or destructive habits and behaviours we resolve to eliminate.

It is the opportune time to re-evaluate our lives, to pray and reflect more and create a strategy for moving forward. Autumn reminds us that flexibility and adaptability are crucial for staying healthy and balanced during the winter months ahead. During this time we will want to prepare for the challenges of winter by completing unfinished projects, clearing away clutter and debris, setting extra food and fuel like turf aside, and making sure that we are physically, emotionally and spiritually prepared for the cold, dark and wintry months to come.

It amazes me how the evenings start to shorten to their shortest and how the coldness comes back into the air. For me, autumn is the symbolic season that reminds one to grab hold of all that life has to offer. Autumn is the fulfillment of a hopeful spring and glorious summer. To make the most of autumn is, for me, to make the most of all that is good in life. Gone are thoughts of winter despair or a chilling and wet spring or an uneventful summer. Everything around us now in this autumn season is alive and vibrant and is at the end of full maturity.

If I seize an autumn day, I believe I seize life itself and find in it all that gives pleasure and meaning. But nothing is as beautiful as all the trees, flowers, shrubs and bushes that are in full colour. It is truly a beautiful, magical and wonderful time of our year. It makes me think about the many blessings

that autumn gives to us, such as the coolness and freshness in the air, the soft warm sun on our skin, wonderful warm to cool breezes, singing of the birds, animals of all kinds fully emerged and matured, fresh and sea waters flowing, trees, plants and flowers fully blossomed in an array of numerous colours.

We all need to be positive and embrace abundance, love, care and joy into our lives, treasuring each moment as it comes. We get so wrapped up at times, well I know I do, with thinking about the past, a lot of the time trying to control the future and forgetting to enjoy and be at peace in the present moment of now. In this world there is strife.

There is hardship, and there is suffering. There is inequality. There is injustice. There is also abundant beauty amidst it all. And within that beauty there are reminders tucked away everywhere, encouraging us to persist, to strive, and to bring our dreams for a better world to life.

Thought for the week

As your thought for the week, I pray that as the signs of autumn begin to show themselves all around us, that you will remember that each new day is like a cleared field after harvesting. Your thoughts, attitudes, and actions are the fruit and crops of what you planted.

This autumn choose only the fruits and crops that produced a bountiful harvest of love, joy, health, kindness, care, prosperity, mercy, compassion and peace and let that which held you back drift away. And may you give thanksgiving not only for the autumn time around you, but also for the autumn time within you.

Let me finish with a Prayer I wrote about Autumn Harvest Time. “In the setting of the Autumn sun, In the shortening of days, In the cooling of the breeze,In the flight of migrating birds, In brightness of the rays of moonlight, In the browning and decay of leaves once green and full of life, In the beauty of morning mists and wintry chills, In the beauty of the fruit that falls, In the coldness of nature’s first frost, We see the Creator’s Hand.

“So our God of the harvest, Our Farmer and Harvester supreme, Please place us we pray at the centre of all that is good during this Harvest time. Feed us, nurture us, prune us, strengthen us, harvest us and provide for us, Then look to a different harvest, a fruitfulness of our lives in service to you and others. That our lives might bring glory to you. We bless you, God of Seed and Harvest, And we bless each other, That the beauty of this world, And the great love and care that created it, Might be expressed through our own lives And be a blessing to others, Now and always.

Amen. Enjoy a beautiful autumn!

Killaloe teen climbs highest peak eight times in a week

lAMAZING: Fourteen year old Yeshuah O’Brien-Bayer

CIAN O’BROIN

K

cianobroin@clareecho.ie

ILLALOE teenager Yeshuah O’Brien-Bayer has completed an extraordinary feat in a fundraising venture entitled #IrishEverest, climbing Carrauntoohil eight times in seven days in order to raise funds for Derg Athletic Club, the Mater Foundation and a fellow athlete from Nenagh Olympic AC, who is currently battling Ewing Sarcoma.

A student of St. Anne’s in Killaloe, Yeshuah remembers venturing on his first hike at the age of seven, admitting that he was hooked right from the beginning. Satiating a yearning desire to move, he joined Derg Athletic Club three years ago and has been collecting silverware ever since.

The 14 year-old specialises in track and field events, winning the Irish Nationals in the long jump for minors at school level. Last April, Yeshuah and his father Hergen first set foot together on Carrauntoohil. On his first experience, Yeshuah elucidates that, “it was amazing. We were in the Gap of Dunloe, camping at the passage there. When we got up, it was quite misty, almost like a fog.

“Once we got to the base of Carrauntoohil it was like the curtains on a stage had just opened up. We got to the top and it was astonishing.” On the way down that day, Yeshuah and his Dad decided that they would attempt the #IrishEverest challenge, climbing Carrauntoohil eight times in

GOLF CLASSIC

seven days.

Training was tough, and in the winter, Yeshuah and Hergen would run Moylussa. In addition, the Killaloe teen took part in the Mater 100, running 100 miles to raise money for the foundation. Every morning for three weeks, he would get up at 5:30am and head out for a two-mile jog.

On the #IrishEverest endeavour, Yeshuah recounts, “We found the challenge brilliant, but the mental side was a challenge. When we were going up it was raining badly, so we thought we could either lay here or get up and just do it, for people who wish to climb it, but can’t.

“It was one climb per day and once we got to the Saturday, we climbed it twice in one day. We started at 3am, the first time and 11am the second time. Over the course of four days, we managed to help 21 people down the mountain.

A GoFundMe has been set up called #IrishEverest, where €2,133 has been raised out of a goal of €10,000. The money is going towards Derg Athletic Club’s high jump and pole vault area, coinciding with the building of a new track.

In addition, Yeshuah is raising money for a fellow athlete, Shaun Himli, who was recently diagnosed with Ewing Sarcoma, a tumour that forms in bone or soft tissue. Funding will also go towards the Mater Foundation The GoFundMe account will be kept open until the first week of September and Yeshuah, his father Hergen and mother Margaret, are grateful to anyone that is able to donate towards a number of great causes.

O’CALLAGHAN’S Mills GAA golf classic which will take place on Friday and Saturday 28 and 29 of August in the East Clare golf course in Bodyke. The winners will receive the Fr Conor McNamara cup. There will be 4 team prizes on offer. Prizes will also be presented for the winner of the longest drive and nearest to the pin. Teams of 4 with 3 to score. Joe O’Gorman is in charge of the time sheet. Contact Joe on 087 7374877.

Golf g Clare

23

Clare’s stunning golf offering flourishes despite Covid-19 T HE recent restrictions have created uncertainty across all industries, no less the sporting world.

In recent months, The Clare Echo has reported on the upheaval felt by numerous sporting organisations as they adjust to the ‘new norm’ which has hampered the day-to-day running of clubs from GAA and soccer to tennis and golf.

With the backdrop of the 2019 Dubai Duty Free Irish Open, golf in the region was set to benefit from a renewed interest from local members along with an injection of overseas visitors who saw some of the world’s best golfers take on the glory of the Old Course at Lahinch Golf Club, which was beamed to

millions of people across the world in July of last year.

However clubs have now been dealt with a hand of missed opportunities due to the cancellation of competitions, open weeks, society outings and golf classics along with travelling restrictions.

This week, our golf insider Seamus Hayes conducts a health check on every club across the county to see how they are continuing to grow despite the recent challenges, with many in fact reporting a surge in new members and the accompanying green fees.

We also break down the stats for each club, bringing you information on membership, club honours, unique features and course length.

The 11th hole at Lahinch Golf Club’s old course

SEAMUS HAYES All articles and stats complied by Seamus Hayes

Spanish Point ready for 125th year

S

PANISH Point golf course is among the oldest in the country and members are currently busy making plans to celebrate the club’s 125th anniversary in 2021.

Golf was played there before World War 1. Amongst the factors that made the game popular at this West Clare venue included that it is a links based golf course playable all year while the West Clare Railway passed nearby. There were fine houses owned by the Moroney Estate that accommodated the gentry. The club was formed in 1896 and was affiliated to the Golf Union of Ireland (‘GUI’) in 1915. Class and social distinctions were quite marked in the early years but from the 1960’s there was a more enlightened attitude to membership and it allowed a dramatic rise in numbers.

There is a membership in excess of 500, club PRO Mervin Hehir stated. “We have seen about 100% rise in membership in the last two years while Covid 19 has brought in an extra few also. We are currently running a ladies get into golf programme which has 48 participants. We are working with the CGI (Confederation of golf in Ireland) on this project and Martin Ward is the teaching professional. Local lady Sinead Sexton who has won two senior cup titles with Lahinch is helping with this programme. Our junior section is going from strength to strength�. “Our motto is that we are ‘affordable and accessible and all are treated the same’.

There is always a good welcome for new

The club regularly competes in inter club competitions and have won the Munster country clubs cup, a competition for 9 hole courses, on six occasions. The club’s Pierce Purcell team has qualified for the Clare area final of this year’s competition against Woodstock. Spanish Point have won the national title in this competition on two occasions, 2013 and 2014.

Success in the club is due in a large part to the superintendent Denis Gallery who has been with the club for the past 30 years, Mervin maintained.

One of the club’s most famous members is Paddy Leyden, a winner of the famed South of Ireland amateur championship title at Lahinch. Spanish Point native, the late Dr. Patrick Hillery, former President of Ireland is a former officer of the club.

members. We have regular weekly competitions which include a 9 hole singles on Fridays and a fun scramble on Friday evenings, while we have a senior open every Tuesday open to men and ladies.

We have recently completed a short game area for which we received sports capital funding of ₏36,000 and this facility is due to be officially opened next year,� Mervyn detailed.

Length of course: 5,330 yards Captain: John Lewis and Yvonne O’Keeffe Unique features of course: the 8th hole known as ‘the Terror’ Most difficult hole: 5th hole Major club honours: 2 National Pierce Purcell titles; 6 Munster country club titles Lowest handicap of a member: Sinead Sexton at +3 Course structure: Six par 3s, 10 par 4s, two par 5s

Golf g Clare

24

Dromoland a must for all golfers

G

OLF is one of the safest sports a person can play. Players are outdoors all the time. At Dromoland Castle we have everything in place to ensure people are in a safe environment where they can enjoy golf and a meal in the Fig Tree restaurant. Our aim is to ensure that visitors to the club have ‘a Dromoland Castle Experience’.

That’s according to the club’s director of golf, Eamonn O’Donnell. Speaking this week to The Clare Echo, he explained that “Dromoland was originally a 9 hole course which moved to 18 holes in 2003. Our membership is 550 which includes men, ladies and juniors�

Eamonn agreed that the club suffered a loss of revenue when it was closed back in March. “It was closed for seven weeks but our greenkeeping team remained at work and complied with the protocols.

The international market has dried up but we have seen a large surge in our own members’ play and we have taken on a lot of new members since re-opening in May�

Members competitions are held every week and the

timesheets have been full every day. “We would always have had a lot of societies but we have had to manage the situation and to keep within the protocols. Our junior section has been more active this year and we hold junior competitions on Tuesdays and Thursdays. We are currently in our second week of coaching which is being conducted under head professional Ian Kearney assisted by Mark McGowan�, explained the club’s director of golf.

The club’s academy is very busy. “All members of the club are members of the Academy while there is also a facility for people to join the Academy without joining the club and strict protocols are in place for those using that facility also as we are limited to the amount of people we can have at the Academy at any one time.

There are very few facilities like this in the country and we are continuing to invest in this facility�, explained Eamonn.

He went on to thank “all who have visited the club since we re-opened after the lockdown and as the year goes on we look forward to welcoming all back to the club�. The course was designed by Ron Kirby and J.B. Carr.

Length of course: 6,824 yards Captain: John Casey and Karina Doyle President: William Fitzgerald Unique features of course: Backdrop of Castle and lake features on a number of holes Most difficult hole: Hole 16, par 4 Major club honours: Munster Boys junior foursomes and Munster mixed foursomes; Munster ladies cup winners. Holmpatrick cup winners; Lowest handicap of a member: Brian Shally at +1 Course structure: Four par 3s, four par 5s and 10 par 4s

Domestic uptake at Doonbeg W ITH international travel almost at a standstill, there has been a noticeable drop in the number of overseas visitors to Trump International Hotel in Doonbeg in 2020.

This has resulted in a big increase in the number of people from the domestic market playing the links course which opened in July 2002.

Originally designed by Greg Norman the course was re-designed by Martin Hawtree in 2015.

Currently the club has close on 400 memberships which includes a lot of family memberships. “We lost a lot of income due to the lockdown but our members stayed true and all kept their memberships�, explained Brian Shaw, head professional at Doonbeg since the club opened just under twenty years ago. “We have seen a huge increase in local green fees and guests play. The hotel has been extremely busy during July and August. September would

normally see a lot of international visitors and that’s not going to be there this year. We would have visitors from the US, from Europe and from the UK which provides a big part of our business. Hopefully things will pick up and that people will be back in their droves�, commented Brian.

He believes that “the break was good for all golf courses as it took away some of the pressure and, hence, all courses have been in superb condition in recent times�.

Length of course: 7,026 yards Captains: David Eastham and Irene Neylon President: Gearoid Williams Unique features of course: Start and finish holes, Most difficult hole: Hole 4, par 5, index 1 Lowest handicap of a member: Donncha Nagle (4.7) Course structure: five par 3s; five par 5s, eight par 4s

Golf g Clare

25

Member influx at Woodstock F OUNDED in 1993 and designed by Arthur Spring, Woodstock features a tough opening hole, a loop of holes (6-8) around a lake that can spoil a card early, and six excellent finishing holes. The course is protected by natural lakes, a river, and mature woodlands.

The par-4 seventh features a tee-shot from an elevated position across a lake to an island fairway. The second shot requires a fairway-wood or long iron across the same meandering lake to a large two-tiered green protected by bunkers. The next is a par-3 that requires a full carry across water to a green protected on both sides.

Holes six, seven and eight are known as Woodstock’s ‘Amen Corner’. “I knew on my first visit to Woodstock that we had an outstanding site on our hands.

Woodstock will quickly become a magnificent test of skill and shot making for players of all handicaps�, the designer previously stated. “The exciting features of the site including the gentle rolling landscape, the river, the lakes and the splendid scenery will give pleasure to golfers throughout the 12 months of the year. I have no doubt that Woodstock

will be capable of housing championships, both amateur and professional in the not too distant future�, Dr Spring predicted.

The club has close on 600 members and benefited hugely this year with an influx of 257 new members. “We have a very busy junior section with almost 150 members. Junior conveyor Ross Dermody and his team do an excellent job with coaching and competitions for the juniors who meet on Monday and Thursday mornings. There are lessons for beginners on Tuesday evenings organised by Aidan Mulcahy, Ray Hallahan, Mike Conroy and Kevin Hayes and their team. The junior girls are coached by Irish internationals Aideen Walsh and Aine Donegan on Wednesdays�, explained club manager Anne Marie Russell.

There are weekly competitions for men and ladies while the senior men hold Tuesday outings. The club competes in the various inter club competitions and are still in the race for Bruen and Purcell shields. Woodstock previously won the National Pierce Purcell title.

Since golf resumed following the Covid 19 lockdown, there have been full timesheets each day.

Length of course: 5,912m(while metres); 5,051m(ladies) Captain: Liam O’Connor and Fiona Landy President: Matt Power Unique features of course: Holes 6, 7 and 8 (Amen corner) Most difficult hole: 7th hole, index 1 Major club honours: National Pierce Purcell title win in 2011 Lowest handicap of a member: Tony Cleary +1, Aine Donegan +3 Course structure: five par 3s; eight par 4s; five par 5s

East Clare: Volunteerism to fore

T

HE proposal to develop a golf course in East Clare kick started in 1992 and after several meetings the project got the go ahead.

The founding five were John Joyce, T.J. McNamara, Micheal Hogan (RIP), Tom Murray (RIP) and Michael Fahy (RIP).

The facility was first developed as a 9 hole course but enough land had been purchased for 18 holes and the development of the second nine came quickly after the opening.

This Dr. Arthur Spring designed championship parkland course is idyllically situated in the rolling East Clare landscape just a stone’s throw from Lough Derg.

According to club president Mary Mannion, “there is huge volunteerism involved. Everybody is doing everything and happy to do it.

It is a beautiful place. We went through a few lean years. A group took over the club some time ago but it didn’t work out. The members

took back the club and it has gone from strength to strength�. “Since Covid 19 we have got huge numbers of new young members, and we needed them, many of them are hurlers from the different parishes in East Clare. It has benefited the club hugely. We are in good shape and going nowhere but up. We have between 400 and 500 members. Our seniors section is very very strong. We have a lovely clubhouse. It’s a real positive story�.

The breathtaking panoramic views particularly from the 6th and 12th greens together with the natural beauty of numerous oncourse water features combine to make this one of the most talked about courses in the region The course hosted the 1998 West of Ireland Seniors championship when both touring professionals and PGA officials alike, marvelled at the quality of the greens.

Length of course: 6,031 metres Captains: Enda Donnellan and Anne Harte President: Mary Mannion Unique feature: Wildlife and the par 3’s, 2nd, 8th and 17th all over water Most difficult hole: 9th hole index 1 Major club honours: J.B Carr senior men’s winners in 2019, Ladies reached Mary McKenna All-Ireland in 2018, National Mixed winners.

Lowest handicap of a member: Eoin Magill at 2, recent winner of the Munster Boys title in Roscrea Course structure: five par 3s: four par 5s, nine par 4s

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Gort looking to youth

ESIGNED by Ryder Cup star, Christy O’ Connor Junior, and officially opened in August 1996, Gort Golf Club is an 18 Hole Championship golf course, set in 160 acres of picturesque parkland on the edge of the world famous Burren.

The course lies 200 yards from the monastic settlement of Kilmacduagh. Christy Jnr himself was particularly excited by the new course at Gort where he regarded the par 3s as amongst the best on offer in Ireland.

Club chairperson Joe Byrne explains, “We moved to the current location in Castlequarter in 1996 from a 9 hole course in Ballybawn which had been the venue for about 25 years. Prior to that our club was in Rockfield. At

the moment our membership is at about 500 made up of male and female members from age eight to 90.�

The Covid pandemic posed problems for Gort like it did for many other sporting organisations. “We lost some members as we were closed for a number of months but on the other hand, we gained over 100 new members�, the Chairman outlined. “Because of the pandemic, we suffered a big loss of revenue due to the loss of societies and green fees while the clubhouse revenue was also down. Most of our members come from the South Galway and North Clare areas while we also have good membership from Corofin, Ennis and parts of East Clare. “Our focus at the moment is on maintaining our stan-

dards. We have got a lot of young members and our priority is to encourage them. Our junior membership ranges in age from 8 to 17 and this is an area we will be focusing on over the next 12 months�, according to the chairman.

Continuing he said “We have a very attractive 18 month membership package on offer from September 1 and full details can be had from our treasurer John Melville at 087-9332033. Members are able to get out on the course on a regular basis and this is proving very popular with all. The connectivity of the motorway makes membership of our club very attractive. Tuam is just half an hour up the road, Shannon is just 35 minutes away�.

Length of course: 5,974m Captains: Paddy Coghlan and Patricia Skehill President: John Dempsey Unique features: The course is in a Karst region and the vegetation is a major feature.

Most difficult hole: 7th hole, dog leg par 4 Major club honours: Gort won the Ulster Bank fourball in 2000, the club’s first national pennant, the team was captained by Kathleen Reeves. The club won the junior foursomes in 2014 when the team was captained by Maureen Brennan. Gort won the national Pierce Purcell title in 2003 under the captaincy of the late Michael Cunningham. Gort won the National Seniors Fred Perry trophy in 2018.

Lowest handicap: Eanna Melville 3 Course structure: five par 3s; five par 5s and eight par 4s

Investment pays off at Ennis

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NNIS Golf Club is a private members club which was founded in 1907. The club has a membership of 820 which includes 491 males, 154 females and 175 juniors.

According to club captain Ollie O’Loughlin the club attracted 78 new members this year after the Covid 19 pandemic struck. “Covid 19 brought in a generation of players who may not have entered at this stage of their life. A lot have a sporting background. As a club, when Covid came in we worked our way through it. We made a decision to run all competitions and we rescheduled our diary. We have all competitions going ahead and these include the Friday singles, Tuesday fourball and seniors every Thursday. The senior’s weekly outings attract an average of about 100.

It’s interesting to note that there are more seniors playing since Covid-19 struck�.

Over the years many members have won selection on a variety of provincial and national teams. Ennis native Vincent Nevin, a South of Ireland amateur title winner, started his golf at Ennis before taking up membership in Limerick when he moved to work in that city.

Former club captain and President Noel Pyne qualified for and played in 50 successive South of Ireland championships at Lahinch, a feat unlikely to be equalled. He went

on to represent his province and his country as did another prominent club member, Valerie Hassett. Trish Mangan and Sarah Cunningham are other club members who have brought honour to the club while a number of the club’s junior golfers have represented the Province. “Some years ago the club invested heavily in the course and this has stood to us and the course is now playable all year round because of the drainage work carried out,� according to the club captain. “Our annual open week is one of the best supported in the region and the numbers playing each week are well up. This puts a lot of pressure on the club but there is a huge voluntary imput which helps make sure we can sustain this demand.�

The club’s comfortable clubhouse includes a golf shop, ladies and gents locker rooms, bar, restaurant and snooker room while there is also a putting green, practice nets and a compact practice area.

Nuala D’Auria, lady captain at Ennis is very proud of how the members coped with the Covid 19 protocols. “We have a very active ladies section at Ennis of about 120 members. It’s been a very strange year and we have been lucky to get out and play casual golf. When the courses re-opened after the lockdown it was a case of from the car to the first tee and back afterwards.

There was no entry to clubhouse

of dressing rooms. Signs were up everywhere on the course and all were determined to obey the regulations.�

Last Sunday was lady captain’s day but due to regulations the presentation

was postsponed. “I hope we will be able to have this at a later date but we await the next announcement from Goverment on September 14. The main thing is that we can play. It’s important for people’s mental health�.

Length of course:5,724m Captains: Ollie O’Loughlin and Nuala D’Auria Unique features of course: Small greens, good iron play is required Most difficult hole: Hole 12, par 4, index 1 Major club honours: All-Ireland J.B Carr senior winners; All-Ireland Mixed champions Lowest handicap: Sean Myatt & Sarah Cunningham at 1 Course structure: Four par 3s; 12 par 4s and two par 5s

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Shannon to host inter pros E STABLISHED in 1966, the John D Harris designed Shannon course has been tested by golfers from all over the world including European professionals and a host of US stars.

The club has hosted both the Irish and European amateur championships as well as the men’s amateur Irish close championships. The staging of an annual PRO-Am tournament in the eighties proved a huge atraction when players of the calibre of Seve Ballesteros and Greg Norman were amongst the stars to play the course. A special stone was erected on the 18th fairway to mark the drive of Norman during one of those Pro-Am tournaments According to the chairman of the Shannon club’s board, Neil O’Brien, the club has almost 1,000 members, “The late Dr. William Flynn was the club founder and driving force and his grandson, Dr Robert Flynn is currently on the board of management at the club�.

Continuing the board chairman said “we have a strong junior section currently headed up by the club’s men’s captain, Keith Buckley with lady captain

Length of course: 6,763 yards Maura McMahon in Captains: Keith Buckley and Maura charge of the junior McMahon ladies. The club’s assistant professional President: Christy Moylan Paul O’Neill has come Unique features of course: 17th through the junior hole is the club’s signature hole, section at the club as 220 yards par 3 across the Shannon has Shane O’Sullivan Estuary who is the Callaway Most difficult hole: Index 1, 9th representative in hole, 455 yards of the medal tees Ireland. Shannon native Daniel Brennan Major club honours: All-Ireland Pierce Purcell champions in 1980 also came through the club junior section Lowest handicap of a member: Ed and he is currently Hickey at 1 in the U.S. where he Course structure: Four par 3s, four has won a number of par 5s and 10 par 4s collegiate titles�.

Like all golf clubs Ginley and Anika Sorensen as “we have been severely imhonorary life members while pacted by Covid 19 as our revclub member Heather Nolan, enue streams, competition, bar an Irish international, is also and restaurant, societies, were an honorary member. Club affected. However membership members Niamh McMahon of the golf club has benefited and Lisa O’Shea are also Irish and we have got in the region internationals of 100 to 150 new members�, Water hazards are a feature explained Mr. O’Brien. of the 6th, 7th, 8th, 14th and The board chairman went on 17th holes. to point out that the club has Golfing history will be made “a driving range that is open in 2021 when the annual inter to non members and this is a Pro competitions will be held great facility and has proved in Shannon in August as this a huge success for the club. will mark the first time that the We compete in all inter club men’s and ladies events will be competitions�. held together.

The club boasts Paul Mc-

Warm welcome in Kilrush

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ESCRIBED as a club of a hundred thousand welcomes, Kilrush Golf Club is another of the courses designed by Tralee man Dr. Arthur Spring.

An All-Ireland football winner with Kerry in the early 1960s, Spring’s first love became golf when he was in UCC studying medicine.

He represented Munster and won a Barton shield medal with Killarney in 1980 before turning professional in 1995 when he reached the age of 50.

Two years later he earned his card on the European seniors tour. Having launched Spring Golf Design he designed a large number of courses in his native Kerry, in Clare, Limerick, Tipperary and Cavan to mention some Kilrush has a membership of between 400 and 500 catering for men, ladies, juniors and distant members. The club competes in all inter club competitions and this week are preparing for the Clare area final in the Jimy Bruen shield. Last week the Pierce Purcell team was narrowly beaten

by Spanish Point. “The club was established in 1934 and we went to an 18 hole course in 1994.

Because we were closed for a number of months due to the Covid 19 pandemic we lost a lot of revenue in loss of green fees, societies and competition fees. We also lost some members due to being closed�, according to the men’s captain Kevin Clancy “Since the course re-opened we have gained roughly 100 new members made up of juniors, beginners and distance members

Length of course: 6,075 yards Captains: Kevin Clancy and Anne Marie Donnerllan Presidents: Pat Shannon and Anne Brennan Unique features of course: Our feature hole, the par 3 9th over water.

Most difficult hole: Par 4 11th hole, second shot over water Major club honours: Got to Munster final of junior foursomes in Clonmel last year beaten narrowly by Faithlegg in under 18 junior foursomes Lowest handicap of a member: Shane Lillis 1 Course structure: five par 3s, three par 5s, 10 par 4s

while some former members returned. The course has been very busy since re-opening and we have done well in relation to members playing and also with green fees and societies�, the captain explained.

Continuing the captain said “the course has benefited as a result of being idle for a few months and it is currently in great shape. We have always had a very strong volunteer input at the club. We only have

two full time staff so a huge amount of volunteer work goes into the club. Covid has brought the members more together in an effort to keep things going�.

The captain went on to stress the important of the junior section to the club. “We have a very strong junior coaching system and coaching takes place on Sunday evenings with competitions on Wednesdays.

Our juniors regularly compete in Munster

competitions at under 14, under 15, under 16 and under 17 levels. Seamus O’Doherty, Jim Young Jr and Donnacadh Nagle take charge of this section�.

The club boasts a strong senior section and competitions take place on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. The competitions on Saturdays and Sundays are open competitions and the club hosts two open weeks during the summer.

Long serving member Greg Young senior was runner up in five South of Iereland finals in 1965, 1966, 1968, 1970 and 1972.

Another Kilrush man, Joe McDermott won the Irish senior open in Woodbrook in 1998, recording a hole in one at the 13th. He spent many years as a professional golfer in the US.

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Major plans for Kilkee

ILKEE Golf Club is an 18 hole course on the Wild Atlantic Way. The old 9 hole course, which was built in 1886, has been developed into a challenging 18 hole course that the members are very proud of. The 18 hole course was opened in 1994.

The views in Kilkee are breathtaking, with first and second tees looking out onto the Atlantic Ocean and the third tee overlooking Chimney Bay with a spectacular clifftop view.

It is ideally situated with Trump Doonbeg Golf Links only 9km, Kilrush Golf Club 12km and the world renowned Lahinch Golf Links 30km away.

Some work has been done on a â‚Ź270,000 development programme which will see the clubhouse and course upgraded along with the development of a 6 hole

course which is set to benefit the club’s junior section. “Our junior section is very healthy but it has been difficult to promote this section this year due to the various regulations associated with Covid 19. We provide coaching for secondary school pupils. The pandemic affected us hugely initially as there were no green fees coming in as people couldn’t travel. Green fees are a huge part of our annual budget�, explained club secretary Paddy McInerney.

The club did get some 75 new members this year and there is now an overall membership of 450. “We run a full programme of competitions for men and ladies and summer is a particularly busy time of year for the club�, explained the secretary who is joined on the executive by John McGuire (treasurer) and Sean Neylon (President)

Kilkee will make history next year when the club will elect a female president for the first time when Grainne Mulryan succeeds Sean Neylon. “We are working towards a greater female involvement at executive level and we are now progressing towards a 50-50 situation of male and female members at executive level. We value the role the ladies play in the club and the work they do�.

Work on the next stage of the development plan is expected to get underway by the end of September. Already upgrading work has been carried out in the clubhouse. New windows have been fitted in the clubhouse while facilities for people with disabilities are incorporated in the project. “We are receiving funding from the Sports Capital Grants and we are also working with Leader

through the Clare Local Development Company.

We are also examining other potential avenue streams while we will also be putting up money ourselves towards the project,� according to the secretary.

Length: 5,515m (off white tees) 4,526 (ladies) Captain: John Garvey and Kathleen O’Carroll President: Sean Neylon Unique feature: Incredible views Most difficult hole: 5th par 5

Major club honours: Munster Country Clubs Cup 1982 Lowest handicap of a member: 2 (numerous) Course structure: five par 3s, eight par 4s and five par 5s

Famous Lahinch continues to make strides

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ENTION of golf anywhere and Lahinch is sure to come into the discussion. The famed North Clare links is known the world over and attracts thousands of overseas visitors each year.

In March 1892 Alexander Shaw, Richard Plummer and a number of officers from the Black Watch Regiment of the British Army went to west Clare in search of sand dunes that would be suitable for the development of a golf course. They discovered Lahinch and during a second visit in early April, laid out a links golf course. The first game of golf was played at Lahinch on Good Friday April, 15, 1892 and earlier that day the first meeting of the club took place in Sharry’s Hotel on Main St Lahinch.

In 1894 Alexander Shaw invited Old Tom Morris, the celebrated Scottish golfer, to design a new links course. In 1926 the services of world renowned Golf Course Architect Dr Alister MacKenzie were sought

and plans for a new 18 hole course were agreed.

In 1928 local man John Burke won the South of Ireland Championship for the first time. He went on to win four-in-a-row and 11 titles in all. He won his first Irish Close Championship at Lahinch in 1930 and also won that title four times-in-a-row. The 1946 South of Ireland Championship Final between John Burke and Joe Carr was perhaps the most famous ‘South’ final.

It ended with Burke winning on the 39th green. It was his 11th and final ‘South’ success.

Brud Slattery was Honorary Secretary/Secretary Manager at Lahinch from 1954 to 1984. He presided over enormous changes at the Club including the construction of the first nine holes on the Castle Course and major renovations on the clubhouse.

The club’s five acre Martin Hawtree designed shortgame area consists of a Short Game Range with a large undulating grass tee to simulate the rolling links experience with three target greens ranging from 40

Length: 6,613 championship course; 5,488 Castle course (off white tees) Captains: Johnnie O’Brien and Margaret Cooney Presidents: Eugene Giligan and Yvonne Morisson Unique features: Old Tom Morris designed 4th and 5th holes, untouched in over 100 years Most difficult hole: 15th par 4 on the championship course; 12th par 4 on the Castle course Major club honours: National titles include Barton shield, senior and junior cups and the boys championship to 100 yards.

The new Indoor Lowest handicap: Mark Power, 4 Performance Course structure: Four par 3s; four Centre opened in par 5s, 10 par 4s on championship June 2019 and course; six par 3s; three par 5s and is a unique, 3000 nine par 4s on Castle course sq feet state-ofthe-art indoor golf facility. “Because of Covid 19 the high number of overseas guests who travel here annually have been unable to travel this year. On the other hand there has been a huge increase in the number of younger and former members back playing the game. We have been very busy since the course re-opened�, explained general manager Paddy Keane. “The club was recently awarded the Covid 19 safety charter by Failte Ireland which reflects the manner in which all Covid 19 guidelines are adhered to around the clubhouse.�

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Spoil him with a P&M Gift VoucherOpen Ennis at Greenpark

Mark Tiernan (sponsor), Anne Tuohy (tournament referee), and winner Róisín Moore of Ennis Tennis and Badminton Club

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REENPARK Senior Tennis Open 2020 was held in Catholic Institute Tennis Club Limerick over the last week with finals day last Saturday.

Ennis Tennis & Badminton Club was well represented, and 18 members took part in both singles and doubles. On finals day Róisín Moore (Premier/WS1), Shauna Woods (WS3) Nick Lester (XD3), Tara O’Loughlin & Angela O’Sullivan (WD5) competed for titles.

Both Róisín and Nick both won their respective matches bringing their combined total to five senior titles in the last few weeks, between the 143rd Senior South of Ireland Tennis Championshionship and the Greenpark Senior Tennis Open 2020 both held in Limerick.

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Róisín, who first won this senior title when she was just 14 years old, retained the Premier/Grade 1 Women’s Singles title for the fourth consecutive year in the Greenpark Senior Open 2020 in the most challenging conditions for tennis with strong gusts of wind and swirling rain. After narrowly conceding the first set, Róisín went on win 12 out of the next 15 games.

Nick Lester also continued his great winning streak claiming victory in the Mixed Doubles 3 with his partner Annmarie Sheehan winning in straight sets over a strong pairing from Killaloe/Ballina. Nick and Annmarie had won the same title in the 143rd Senior South of Ireland Tennis Championship two weeks earlier.

Shauna Woods had a lengthy

battle in women’s singles 3 (WS3) for over two and a half hours on the adjacent court to Róisín, with tennis balls like lead, puddles on the court and strong gusts her opponent coped slightly better on the day narrowly winning in the third set.

Finally Tara O’Loughlin & Angela O’Sullivan competed in the women’s doubles 5 (WS5) against a very experienced pairing from Monaleen. This was Tara’s and Angela’s first debut at grade 5 and a great achievement to reach the final, however their opponents proved to be strong for them on the day.

Sarah McSwiney, Tennis Captain commented “Congratulations to both Róisín & Nick on such a great achievement and to everyone else who competed in both these tournaments”.

Success for O’Donoghue and Whelan in Pres Prizes

By Seamus Hayes RACHEL Whelan won the Lady’s Captains Prize at East Clare Golf Club while Shane O’Donoghue won the William Fitzgerald Prize at Dromoland Golf Club.

EAST CLARE GOLF CLUB: At East Clare golf club the lady captain’s (Anne Harte) prize was won by Rachel Whelan (26) with 44 points from Eileen Donnellan (17) with 38 points and Bernie Cox (3) with 38 points.

In round 2 of the men’s player of the year competition the 18 hole stroke competition off the white tees was won

by Ray McInerney (19) with 68 nett from Redmond Walsh Senior (9) with 70 nett while Eric McNamara (6) won the gross with 77.

In the 18 hole stableford competition off the yellow tees, Donal O’Grady (20) won with 43 points from Shane McGrath (9) with 42 points and Brendan Magill (8), also with 39 points.

The ladies team of three competition was won by Maureen Clune, Breda McCarthy and Rachel Whelan with 92 points from Eileen Donnellan, Brid Hayes and Mary Mannion with 88 points.

Men’s and ladies open singles competitions take place every Thursday.

DROMOLAND GOLF CLUB: William Fitzgerald’s prize was played for at Dromoland at the weekend when the winner was Shane O’Donoghue from Adam Merriman with Darragh McCoy in third spot. They were followed by Matthew Cooney, Frankie Garrihy, Conor Barry, John O’Neill, Alan Neville and Liam Hayes.

Danny Mungovan won the gross while other prize winners were Martin O’Mahoney (past president), Callum Hayes (junior), Darragh O’Shea (student), Mark Lennon (over 18 handicap category), Mike Daffy (front 9) and Cathal King (back 9) The president’s prize to the ladies was won by Dolores Fox with 36 points from Ellie Cotgreave with 35 points, Frances Bergin with 35 points and Niamh McDermott with 34 points.

Mairead Bergin won the gross with 20 points while the nines were won by Mary Arthur with 16 points and Maeve McMahon with 21 points. Anne Fahy Cosgrove won the 9 hole competition with 15 points.

In the mid week 9 hole competition Stephen Bergin was with winner with 21 points from Ben Mungovan with 20 points and Brendan Lennon with 20 points.

Niall Melody won Friday’s open singles with 42 points from David Murphy with 39 and Daniel O’Sullivan with 38 while Brian Shally won the gross with 38 points.

GORT GOLF CLUB Monday’s singles stableford competition for men at Gort was won by Donogh McDonagh (7) with 43 points from Liam Perkins (19) with 41 while Eanna Melvile (4) won the gross with 36 points.

Captain Paddy Coghlan’s prize to the ladies was played for on Sunday when Joan Fogarty (20) was the winner with 40 points from Marcella Killeen (28) with 39 points, Mary Dervan (29) with 34 points, Charlotte Kelly (34) with 34 points and Teresa Mahon (29) with 34 points.

Siobhan Forde (12) won the gross

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with 22 points while the nines were won by Josie Cummins (22) with 17 points and Josie Collins (18) with 20 points.

SPANISH POINT GOLF CLUB 23rd August: Ladies Weekly 18-Hole Singles S/F Multiday 1st Kathleen Haugh 33 pts 2nd Fiona O’Boyle 30 pts 3rd Val Ross 30 pts Men’s Weekly 18-Hole Singles S/F 1st John Gleeson 40 pts 2nd John O’Brien 38 pts 3rd Noel Connellan 37 pts 21st August: Men’s 9-Hole Singles S/F 1st Niall Hickey 11 pts 2nd Evan Talty 10 pts 3rd Gerard Talty 8 pts

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18th August: Seniors’ Open Singles 18-Hole S/F 1st Gerry Meade 39 pts 2nd Michael A Hennessy 38 pts 3rd Harry Crowe 38 pts

Dromoland Golf Club President William Fitzgerald presents his prize to the winner Shane O’Donoghue. Photo by Paddy Higgins

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Back to the future in senior camogie semi-finals EOIN BRENNAN

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AMILIARITY certainly isn’t an issue as McMahon Cup winners of the last decade - Newmarket (4), Inagh-Kilnamona (3), Kilmaley (2) and holders Scariff-Ogonnelloe contest Saturday’s Senior Camogie Championship Semi-Finals in Clare Headquarters.

Newmarket-on-Fergus v Scariff-Ogonnelloe @ Fr. McNamara Park Ennis, Saturday 1pm (Aaron Hogg, Clonlara)

A third championship clash in 14 months provides the perfect backdrop for the latest wrestle for supremacy between Newmarket-on-Fergus and Scariff-Ogonnelloe. Of course, it’s a repeat of last October’s novel county final that pitted Newmarket-on-Fergus’ vast experience against Scariff-Ogonnelloe’s breakthrough expedience.

However, while it wasn’t as comprehensive as their 2-14 to 1-06 opening victory over the same opponents, final debutants Scariff-Ogonnelloe would still possess too much hunger, balance and firepower for the

Blues to handle.

The rest is history as following three successive semi-final reverses, Scariff-Ogonnelloe’s first county senior crown seemed a release to subsequently garner provincial honours, the county’s first in 30 years, before their remarkable momentum-fuelled journey ended at the All-Ireland Semi-Final stage to three-in-a-row champions Slaughneil.

In contrast, it was a fourth successive final defeat for Newmarket, with an inevitable period of introspection once more throwing up further uncertainty as to the Blues’ status, having dominated matters previously with eight crowns amidst 14 final appearances since the turn of the Millenium.

That uneasiness could only have resurfaced when beaten by Kilkishen/Bodyke in Round 2 a few weeks back. But while it teed up an anxious final round, Newmarket’s character was back in abundance when needed most to overcome Kilmaley and top Group A on score difference.

A final group stage victory was also a prerequisite for Scariff-Ogonnelloe following a first championship defeat in almost two years against Inagh-Kilnamona. The champions did prevail against Truagh-Clonlara but the acid test of where they currently lie undoubtedly comes on Saturday.

With much the same personnel available on both sides, Scariff-Ogonnelloe will require a repeat of that ravenous final display to double the dose and really kickstart their first ever title defence as Newmarket unquestionably won’t require any additional motivation.

Verdict: Scariff-Ogonnelloe

Inagh-Kilnamona v Kilmaley @ Fr. McNamara Park Ennis, Sat 5pm (Kevin Walsh, Wolfe Tones)

IT’S like old times again as neighbours Inagh-Kilnamona and Kilmaley lock horns in the business end of the senior championship once more. The emergence of Inagh-Kilnamona as a threat to then big guns Kilmaley and Newmarket was finally realised in the 2014 semi-final when Kilmaley were relieved to edge out their neighbours by 0-10 to 1-05 on their way to the title, their fourth in seven years.

12 months later, that warning sign wasn’t heeded as Inagh-Kilnamona oversaw a changing of the local guard with a 2-11 to 0-09 semi-final triumph over the holders.

And it would prove a decisive day as contrasting development paths have seen the derby priorities diverge ever since.

Inagh-Kilnamona were beaten after ex-

tra-time in that year’s decider but subsequently garnered a three-in-a-row of senior crowns (2017, ’18 and ’19) while also contesting two Munster Finals. On the flip side however, that semi-final would be Kilmaley’s last until this season as relegation worries preoccupied much more of their time rather than winning back the McMahon Cup. That period of transition appears to be finally coming to an end though as along with the experience of Claire McMahon and Niamh O’Dea, an exciting new crop of young talent have emerged to get Kilmaley on the right side of the championship divide with two wins in their three championship outings.

It will mean Kilmaley can throw everything in their armoury at Inagh-Kilnamona on Saturday but in terms of snatching back the bragging rights, it may be a year too soon as a scorned Inagh-Kilnamona who themselves have an axe to grind following their premature semi-final exit last season.

Following three years at the helm, Inagh-Kilnamona looked decidedly war-weary and sorely out of sorts in 2019. But the hunger is definitely back and after exacting revenge on Scariff-Ogonnelloe at the group stages, they will be determined to get back to the winners’ enclosure again.

Verdict: Inagh-Kilnamona

Ballyea Brownes steal show in Galway

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THE Browne’s of Ballyea stole the show in Galway over the weekend with three of their dogs, Own Spice, Karakal Jon and Rathmeehan Hill racing home in first position.

In Friday’s feature contest at the Collage Road Venue, the €2000 Welcome Back To Sport A4 525 Yards Stake sponsored

by John Grimes and as they went to traps the red jacketed Astro Abby was a shade of odds on to life the prize.

As the traps rose the “jolly” was away well as was the wide seeded Ougham Tubber and the pair led the charge towards the opening bend with their rivals closely grouped behind. Rounding the bend there was a slight coming together of the leading pair but Astro Abby still held the call entering the back straight.

Straightening up down the back though the complexion of the race changed as Own Spice who is owned by Cooraclare’s Thomas O’Doherty found space along the rails and the John Browne of Ballyea trained runner swept to the front at halfway. Quickly setting sail for home Own Spice led by two lengths on the crown of the home turn and although Astro Abby stayed on well again Own Spice had a length to spare at the line in 28.99.

In the A2 graded seventh contest the Michael Costello of North Clare owned Pinnacle Rio who came in as a reserve never saw another rival to record a sixth win from just eleven starts by a length from Springwell Sully in 29.45.

The opening contest of the night was an A7 contest in which Tromora Tiger showed pace along the rails to lead from Merciful Charlie on the run towards the opening bend and turning down the back

Traceys Tiger was three lengths clear of Karakal Jon who improved to track the leader into the third bend. Rounding the home bend the Jack Browne of Ballyea owned Karakal Jon loomed up on the leaders outside before edging away in the straight to prevail by three and a quarter lengths in 29.72.

The John Browne of Ballyea owned Rathmeehan Hill finally enjoyed some luck in running in the A5 graded fifth contest as he recorded a four three quarter length success over Sues Panda in 29.52. Ringroe Rally showed pace to lead the field early and with trouble towards the outer the leader kicked clear around the opening bend as Rathmeehan Hill moved into second place. Leaving the back straight Rathmeehan Hill loomed up on the leaders outside and from this point there was only going to be one outcome.

There was a dead-heat in the S7 graded seventh contest as the Martin Tucker & Stephanie O’Brien owned Mountcashel Jet got right on the line to share the spoils with the David Browne owned Garryfine Grace in 19.52. Garryfine Grace showed early pace to lead by two lengths on the crown of the home bend but once Mountcashel Jet found room at this juncture he flew up the straight to force the dead heat.

Less than two lengths covered the field approaching the opening bend in the S4 graded ninth contest as Rathin Rover led Springwell Bobby but right round the wide outside the Maria Browne of Cree owned Burnpark Pluto took command of the contest. Clear off the home bend the son of Tommy Brislane and Ballyea Beauty proved two and a half lengths too good for Foulkscourt Yank in 19.37.

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Four teams vie for last SFC semi-final spot Barry Toner of Clondegad tackled by Sean Crowley in their defeat to Kilmihil

Photo by Gerard O’Neill

EOIN BRENNAN

W

ITH Kilmurry Ibrickane, Lissycasey and St Breckan’s safely into the final four of the senior football championship, the semi-final line-up will be completed this weekend as four teams vie for just one solitary spot in in a two match blitz, writes Eoin Brennan.

Cooraclare v St Joseph’s Miltown @ St Michael’s Park Kilmihil, Thursday 7pm At the time, it seemed the dawning of a new era. The 2015 county final meeting between Cooraclare and St Joseph’s Miltown was the first since their back-toback deciders in 1964 and ’65 that both went the way of the Milesians, and more pertinently offered a golden opportunity for a new power to emerge.

After all, Kilmurry Ibrickane (2008, ’09, ’11, ’12) and Cratloe’s (2013, ’14) strangehold on the Jack Daly left little room for another breakthrough. However, with both knocked out unceremoniously at the quarter-final stage, It was Miltown and Cooraclare that would snatch the whip hand in 2015.

The romance and novelty factor for the marquee occasion was heightened by the fact that Cooraclare’s last triumph was in 1997 while you’d have to go back 25 years for St Joseph’s Miltown’s previous title charge.

However, while the final was firmly in the balance and indeed level entering the final quarter, the 2015 spoils eventually went Miltown’s way after a four point burst finally put clear daylight between the sides.

They weren’t to know it at the time but would a crossroads as Miltown have contested every semi-final since and impressively added two more crowns whereas Cooraclare, despite getting back to the last four in 2016, never reached those 2015 heights again.

Indeed, it won’t go unnoticed in Cooraclare that it was Miltown that nudged them down the pecking order too as a 16 point trimming in Quilty severely dented their confidence in 2016 while Miltown would complete a third successive victory over the Milesians in as many years, this time at the quarter-final juncture 12 months later.

Championship survival is again the carrot in unique circumstances this Thursday evening as the winner only has less than three days to recover and refocus for another winner-takes-all clash against either Cratloe or Clondegad for that coveted semi-final redemption.

Back-to-back champions St

Joseph’s Miltown are clearly the favourites to achieve that goal but certainly won’t be taking Cooraclare likely as they have had to reshuffle their championship winning pack so far. Without Darragh McDonagh, Kieran Malone, Gearoid Curtin and the last day Enda O’Gorman, new manager Maurice Reidy accelerated the injection of youth, most notably the lively Cian Mahoney. However, while they came up short against Kilmurry Ibrickane, the holders appeared to be much more settled and balanced last time out when taking out Doonbeg thanks in the main to goals through Ger Malone and Cormac Murray.

The Cleary twins Eoin and Conor, Gordon Kelly, Cormac Murray, Sean O’Brien and captain Seanie Malone provide an irrestistable spine to aid any transition on the flanks. And it’s that consistency and experience that, on paper at least, appears to hold the edge over their immediate opponents.

Cooraclare, started with only six of the 20 players that contested

the 2015 decider for their opening two ties albeit that three more made their 2020 championship bow off the bench last time out in Thomas Donnellan, Caoimhin Donnellan and Conor Marrinan.

Micheál Garry, in his first adult season, is a very exciting prospect as are brothers Ciaran and Padraic O’Donoghue, Colin McNamara and Shane Lillis but as their displays against St Breckan’s and Kilrush have evidenced, they are yet to put a 60 minute performance together.

Pearse Lillis and Jack Morrissey will inevitably lead the Cooraclare charge but with the champions’ backs to the wall, necessity should dictate their passage back to a seventh consecutive quarter-final since returning to the top tier.

Verdict: St Joseph’s Miltown Cratloe v Clondegad @ Cusack Park Ennis, Friday 6pm Championship glory may seem a long way off at the moment but where’s there’s life, there’s hope for Cratloe and Clondegad whose priorities have unquestionably

shifted in recent seasons.

Currently, stopping the rot is equally as significant as potentially bounding back into the semi-finals. Cratloe of course were backto-back winners as recently as six seasons ago and even contested another county final in 2016. However, Kilmurry Ibrickane would prevail following a replay before retaining the Jack Daly against first time finalists Clondegad.

Far from being the building block to future success as first perceived, Clondegad’s development graph has been on the wane since as they’ve only won two out of seven championship ties in the intervening three campaigns and even found themselves in the unwanted territory of brushing off relegation in 2019.

Indeed, you’d have to go back two full years for their last championship win, a comprehensive Round 3 dispatch of Kilmiihil that has since been avenged in this year’s opening round. It means that a loss to Cratloe tomorrow evening would be their fifth consecutive senior defeat, simply

an unthinkable position, even in the aftermath of the 2017 Final reverse.

Two of those subsequent losses came at the hands of Cratloe, who haven’t endured the same fall from grace that their opponents have but still have been left thoroughly frustrated by becoming a perennial bridesmaid, having started the decade in both codes on the senior alter as the centre of attention and celebration.

Since falling to Kilmurry Ibrickane in the 2016 final replay, Cratloe have exited at the semi-final stage in football along with losing back-to-back finals in hurling with predominantly the same group of players.

Successive defeats against Lissycasey, and Éire Óg in last Sunday’s hurling knock-out clash, have left all their eggs in the footballing basket as they look to put recent COVID-19 worries and attention firmly behind them.

That’s easier said than done as in both their most recent ties, they appeared as war-weary as if it was their tenth weekend in a row switching from one code to another and certainly not their usual electric selves.

The return of Cathal McInerney last week is even better news for their footballers who sorely missed his targetman and poaching skills against Lissycasey over a titanic 80 minute endurance test. Sean Collins and Enda Boyce were also missing against Lissycasey but while all three are back in the mix for Friday’s showdown, Mikey Hawes looks to be almost certainly out following a hamstring injury against Éíre Óg.

A lack of potency up front cost Cratloe after extra-time and also dogged Clondegad who incredulously dominated everything but the scoreboard against Kilmihil last time out. Ten points and 12 wides summed up Clondegad’s opening afternoon of regret as they were pipped at the post by the minimum albeit that they were without Brian Carrigg and Podge McMahon. Again, both are expected to return for Friday’s last chance saloon tie that will require vast improvement in clinicalness for Clondegad.

Being a third meeting in as many championship seasons, it was Cratloe that made the statement of intent on both previous occasions as they led by nine entering the final quarter in the 2018 Round 2 Winner Group before just prevailing by the minimum while 11 points separated the sides in last year’s opener. 1-8 of their 1-18 tally stemmed from Cathal McInerney so his return couldn’t come soon enough for Cratloe to salvage their 2020 season.

Verdict: Cratloe

* The winner of both these ties will clash in the play-off on Sunday at Cusack Park to determine who advances to the Clare SFC semi-finals.

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Compiled by Páraic McMahon, Eoin Brennan & Seamus Hayes Sixmilebridge 0-21 Broadford 0-12 Venue: Cusack Park

Sixmilebridge: Frees For: 13 (8/5) Wides: 7 (4/3) Scores from Play: 0-14 Spread of Scorers: 9 Top Scorer: Alex Morey (0-07 7f) Own Puck-Outs won: 14 from 23 (61%) Tim Crowe, Sixmilebridge manager: “There is no doubt the cream has come to the top in this championship, don’t tell me that anybody will have an asterix beside that this is the COVID championship, this is the Canon Hamilton whether it is the Bridge winning their fifteenth or whoever is left, they will take the cup the day it is played and celebrate it”.

Matt Shannon, Éire Óg manager: “It was a good win and I suppose we’d been waiting a few weeks for that. During the game, we had a few wides and I was hoping that we’d be able to get back on track so thankfully in the second half, we got it right and finished fairly strong. Since I came in with Éire Óg last year, every game has been a big draw and I said at the start of the campaign that any team can beat another on a given day in this championship, it’s that tight. So we’ve had a lot of big games and thankfully we came through this test today by finishing strong. It’s only one win on the wheel, we have a lot to work on as we had a few misses today and we still have a big game to come next against Feakle. They were very impressive against Clarecastle in the last round and put up a big score so look, it’s a different test and we’ll have to start focusing in on that now for the next week”.

Conor Earley, Cratloe manager: “Being honest, we were just delighted to get back on the pitch. We knew it was going to be a tough ask but we’ve no excuses, Éire Óg seriously battled when the chips were down and started to win all of the hard balls that we’d been hoping to win. We struggled to win our own puck-outs against the wind and struggled to get on any ball and take them on in the last quarter. We were up six nearing half-time and if we had kept that advantage by the break, we could have had a nine point cushion going into the last 20 minutes. But that’s how it goes in hurling, it can all change in the blink of an eye. But look, we’ll take it on the chin, we’ve a serious bunch of players and a serious club in Cratloe and there’s a lot of hard work going on so it was a bit of a kick today but it will drive us on for another day”.

Broadford: Frees For: 9 (4/6) Wides: 11 (8/3) Scores from Play: 0-08 Spread of Scorers: 8 Top Scorer: Stiofan McMahon (0-03) Own Puck-Outs won: 21 from 28 (75%) Jimmy Browne, Broadford manager: “We used 20 lads today, we have depth on the panel but ultimately the performance was short of where we needed to be and we knew that. We were playing the county champions so we needed to be at our best and we needed a few things to go our way but neither worked out for us. It is a good step forward from the club’s point of view, it is a very young team, we had six teenagers on the field at the final whistle and today is a big learning experience, today is no good unless we learn from it and use it as a platform for next year. We have a lot of marquee players who have been really important in our previous performances, while we didn’t beat the Mills I think we gave a very good performance on the day and those threats were very well nullified by the Bridge, when that happens other things unravel a little bit. If you don’t perform it’s a disappointment and I’m disappointed for them because I know how much hurling means to this group and Broadford means an awful lot to this group, that is the disappointment today that they didn’t demonstrate what they are capable of ”.

Eire Og 0-14 cratloe 1-08 Venue: Cusack Park, Ennis

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Ballyea 1-20 Kilmaley 1-14 Venue: Cusack Park Ballyea: Frees For: 14 (8/6) Wides: 14 (8/6) Scores from Play: 1-13 Spread of Scorers: 7 Top Scorer: Niall Deasy (0-06 5f) & Tony Kelly (0-06 2f) Own Puck-Outs won: 10 from 20 (50%) Kevin Sheehan, Ballyea manager: “The semi-finals are where we set out to be at the start of the year and we’re very happy. I’m happy with how we worked, I thought we could have been a bit slicker but we’ll get there. Last year we spoke openly that we felt at times we couldn’t get off the ground and weren’t making an impact from the bench, Martin O’Leary came off the bench and worked really worked hard, Aaron Griffin is another huge forward, they’ll have a big two weeks now with Morgan Garry and Tadhg Lynch to shoot out for those two positions. The way the results are going you don’t know what will happen. Everyone coming through and Feakle are a tough team so it will definitely be tough going in the semi-finals”.

O’Callaghan’s Mills 2-16 Inagh-Kilnamona 0-13 Venue: Cusack Park, Ennis

Éire Óg Frees For: 13 (8/5) Wides: 13 (7/6) Scores from Play: 1-11 Spread of Scorers: 6 Top Scorer: Danny Russell (1-11 7f) Own Puck-Outs won: 12 from 19 (63%)

O’Callaghan’s Mills Frees For: 9 (5/4) Wides: 8 (5/3) Scores from Play: 1-10 Spread of Scorers: 5 Top Scorer: Colin Crehan (1-6 3f) Own Puck-Outs won: 19 from 30 (63%)

Cratloe Frees For: 10 (3/7) Wides: 4 (4/0) Scores from Play: 0-10 Spread of Scorers: 8 Top Scorer: Rian Considine (0-4 4f) Own Puck-Outs won: 16 from 31 (52%)

Inagh-Kilnamona Frees For: 12 (7/5) Wides: 17 (7/10) Scores from Play: 0-09 Spread of Scorers: 7 Top Scorer: Aidan McCarthy (0-5 4f) Own Puck-Outs won: 16 from 25 (64%)

Kilmaley: Frees For: 11 (6/5) Wides: 5 (1/4) Scores from Play: 1-08 Spread of Scorers: 3 Top Scorer: Cian Moloney (0-08 6f) Own Puck-Outs won: 18 from 35 (51%) Kieran O’Neill, Kilmaley manager: “Ballyea are totally concentrating on hurling this year and you could see their main players were coming to the fore and it will take some team to beat them. They were physically way stronger than Kilmaley, they are totally focused on winning the championship this year and I wish them well, they are a great club and it isn’t too long ago that they were in Croke Park, a lot of their players are raising the bar more and more. There’s some great young lads back in Kilmaley. Maybe I’m making excuses but we hadn’t an awful lot of time, we only played two challenge matches, my management team only came in this year, I only knew a few of the lads back there. There was a foundation that won the U21 last year and the Clare Cup, I thought that would come to the fore but Ballyea just over powered us with their physique in the last 20 minutes, they had the strength of more power and hunger to finish us, I thought we were lacking in that physical presence which you need in the last ten minutes but it wasn’t there, there was no kick there”.

Donach O’Donnell, O’Callaghans Mills manager: “We’re very happy with that. We started quite slowly really and it took us a while to get into the game. Maybe that could be put down to a bit of fatigue, I think the fact that we’re out every two weeks is hard on guys to get the intensity up straight away. But I thought we finished the last quarter very well and pulled away for a finish. Colin Crehan’s goal was crucial but again it all comes down to the ball coming into you and Bryan Donnellan brought it all the way in and laid it on for him and it was a super finish. It’s great to be preparing for a semi-final and the application of the lads and their willingness to learn and be open to new ideas is a testament to the players themselves and the club”.

Fergal Hegarty, Inagh/Kilnamona manager: “It was a huge disappointment, we just never got to the pitch of the game at all and in fairness to the Mills, I’d seen their two previous games and they showed that form and hunger again today. They’re all good hurlers and they came with a good plan and being honest, the writing was on the wall by half-time. We weren’t playing well but we just started to find a foothold for the first and only time in the game and went four points up. And we felt that if we had got another one or two at that stage with the breeze, something could have happened. But the first Mills goal came at totally the wrong time for us and it gave them the platform to get right back into it, go in level by the break and it was always going to be a huge task in the second half. We had a lot of opportunities with the breeze but for some reason we lost our nerve. That’s been the story of our championship campaign, we had a lot of wides against Clooney-Quin and Newmarket but got away with it. But when you move up the gears in this championship, those frailties will be found out.”

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Corofin 3-10 Cratloe 0-07 Venue: Fr Murphy Memorial Park, Newmarket-on-Fergus Corofin Frees For: 14 (7/7) Wides: 8 (3/5) Scores from Play: 3-5 Spread of Scorers: 7 Top Scorer: Diarmuid Cahill (2-1) Own Puck-Outs won: 5 from 11 (45%) Cratloe Frees For: 20 (11/9) Wides: 4 (0/4) Scores from Play: 0-2 Spread of Scorers: 2 Top Scorer: Sean Gallagher (0-5 5f) Own Puck-Outs won: 9 from 20 (45%)

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Kevin Browne, Cratloe joint manager: “It’s well documented at this stage that we’re after coming off the back of two hard weeks there. We dug our heels in to stay in competitions and it’s important for the development of players, many of which are subs in the senior panel, to get out there and play again. Okay, we came out on the wrong side of the result today but it’s just great to be back on the hurling field, although conditions were tough out there.

The two Cahills are great hurlers and they have a great ability to find space and link together. And when Diarmuid gets the ball in his hand, he’s deadly. He’s a great up-andcoming hurler for Clare and I’m sure he’s going to score goals at a higher level going forward”.

Patsy Fahey, Corofin manager: “It was a fantastic performance to get in these conditions which were gruesome out there today. Ultimately the green flags tipped the scales really and we were the ones fortunate enough to get them. The wind had a big bearing on the game, we had it in the first half and managed to hold onto the lead. We applied the sweeper system in the second half to alleviate the pressure and I thought it worked very well. We had no game in a month and being a dual club as well, you have to balance training and the workload on players. But knock-out matches are good for the lads and I’m sure that the knock-out football game they have next week will be good for them as well.

For us, we’ve a huge task ahead of us in the quarter-final against Smith O’Brien’s who are always in the shake-up for the intermediate championship every year”.

Scariff 1-14 Tulla 1-11 Venue: Wolfe Tones GAA, Shannon

Scariff Frees For: 12 (3/9) Wides: 7 (4/3) Scores from Play: 1-08 Spread of Scorers: 5 Top Scorer: Mark Rodgers (1-04 2f 1’SC) Own Puck-Outs won: 13 from 20 (65%) Mark McKenna, Scariff manager: “They are learning all the time, they are a seasoned team in this competition, when you learn from defeats like the last couple of years to pick up and respond like today it is massive.

We were defeated the first day by Tulla and we had the work to do to get back at them, we put in a savage amount of work against them, we were comprehensive against Parteen and that was what we needed, we had to show that. You test yourself against teams like this, if we can perform in that environment, of course going forward you do learn”.

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Tulla Frees For: 20 (8/12) Wides: 8 (5/3) Scores from Play: 1-03 Spread of Scorers: 5 Top Scorer: Niall Bolton (0-08 8f) Own Puck-Outs won: 13 from 23 (57%) Ray McInerney, Tulla manager: “If your year comes down to just wins and losses as a club that is a very arbitrary yard stick and you could wipe away most of the clubs in the county in a season if your measure of success is just wins and losses. Our clubs are built on traditions and those traditions are built over a number of years, they are built on the story of how we performed in games be it U8, school games, minor, senior or intermediate games, you weave a tapestry over a period of time, this is another part of the story. We had a number of successes throughout the year but people won’t see that because they see the scoreboard, we had 31 lads on a sideline there today, we’ve had them for practically every single training session this year, that is a massive personal commitment, lads have choices as to what they are going to do in life, they don’t have to choose GAA but these lads are choosing GAA, we came out on the wrong side today but it is not a disaster. We want a team to be able to represent our club next year, the year after and the year after that”.

Seanie McMahon, St Josephs Doora/Barefield manager: “The most important thing is that we won the game and got through to a semi-final. We played well at times and didn’t play so well at other times and in fairness to Bodyke, they brought a great battle to it as well and stayed going to the very end. We always knew that we were going to have a tough battle and we certainly did but we won so while we have a lot to improve upon, it’s great to be back in a semi-final. We had a comfortable lead but we didn’t help ourselves really for a finish as we let in a few sloppy goals and had a lot of wides at the other end. But our lads stayed at it and we got there in the end. These lads have shown great character since I’ve been involved and have already come through difficult tests with Smith O’Briens and Newmarket this year that shone through again today. However we have to be better for a semi-final as if we’re not better we won’t win it so we’ve a lot to work on but it’s good to be a position to be in a semi-final and we’ll look forward to the challenge”.

Eric Minouge, Bodyke manager: “We had a bad enough start so I think they showed real spirit to come back into it and get within touching distance. We never got their lead down under three points but to come back from 11 down at all was a big boost. We got a few goals and were on a roll and maybe the water break came at the wrong time as we seemed to have all the momentum by that stage. But look, I’m delighted with the lads because crucially we’ve closed the gap. They beat us by 11 points last year so our aim at the start of the year was to close the gap on the main contenders in the Intermediate championship. We weren’t good last year but we feel that we’ve improved as a team. Bodyke are in a good place I feel so they’ve laid good foundations and that’s what we wanted. They’re a very young team and could have really benefited from the Clare Cup to give the younger lads a bit more gametime. It didn’t work out in the year that’s in it but they’ve next year to come and hopefully matches like today will stand to them”.

St Joseph’s Doora/ Barefield 3-14 Bodyke 3-11 Venue: Dr Daly Park, Tulla Bodyke Frees For: 17 (6/11) Wides: 6 (5/1) Scores from Play: 2-6 Spread of Scorers: 5 Top Scorer: Paddy Fitzgerald (1-8 1-5f) Own Puck-Outs won: 18 from 31 (58%) St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield Frees For: 8 (3/5) Wides: 14 (3/11) Scores from Play: 3-12 Spread of Scorers: 6 Top Scorer: Davy Conroy (1-4 1f) Own Puck-Outs won: 10 from 20 (50%)

Tubber 5-14 Sixmilebridge 0-12 Venue: Éire Óg GAA Grounds, Ennis

Sixmilebridge Frees For: 15 (7/8) Wides: 9 (1/8) Scores from Play: 0-04 Spread of Scorers: 4 Top Scorer: Sean Lynch (0-08 8f) Own Puck-Outs won: 25 from 35 (71%)

Eoin Ruane, Tubber selector: “We were primed for today. We hadn’t been playing well so far and we knew if we didn’t put in a performance today that we were on our way out. We had targetted this game. We are very happy with our performance today. The one thing we have in this Tubber team in the last few years is goal threats. We can score goals.

They have kept us in games in the past. We have concerns about our wides tally both the last day and again today. We have to be a bit more patient to work the ball into the scoring zone”.

Tubber Frees For: 9 (4/5) Wides: 14 (9/5) Scores from Play: 4-10 Spread of Scorers: 5 Top Scorer: Domhnall McMahon (2-04) Own Puck-Outs won: 16 from 21 (76%)

James Hassett, Sixmilebridge manager: “Tubber are a strong team. We had ten under 21’s in the team and that is a good breeding ground for them for championship hurling. Its a learning curve for them. They are a big strong team and conditions probably suited them.

They got two early goals which we could never pull back. They had the experience in Pat O’Connor, Domhnall McMahon and the Earleys. It’s going to take a good team to beat them”.

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THE GAME CENTRE HURLING

Results Senior hurling championship quarter-finals: Sixmilebridge 0-21 Broadford 0-12 Ballyea 1-20 Kilmaley 1-14 O’Callaghans Mills 2-16 Inagh-Kilnamona 0-13 Senior hurling championship second round: Éire Óg 1-18 Cratloe 0-15 Senior B hurling championship quarter-finals: Clarecastle 1-17 Whitegate 2-10 Newmarket-on-Fergus 1-14 Wolfe Tones 1-12 Crusheen 1-25 Clooney/Quin 3-17 Intermediate hurling championship quarterfinals: St. Josephs Doora/Barefield 3-14 Bodyke 3-11 Scariff 1-14 Tulla 1-11 Tubber 5-14 Sixmilebridge 0-12 Intermediate hurling championship second round: Corofin 3-10 Cratloe 0-7 Junior A hurling championship: Clooney-Quin 1-8 Ogonnelloe 0-10 Clooney-Quin 4-17 Eire Og 1-11 Junior B hurling championship quarter-finals: Tulla 3-19 Whitegate 3-17 Newmarket-on-Fergus 1-11 Smith O’Briens 2-6 Banner 2-19 Corofin 1-7 Meelick 0-14 Feakle 0-7 Junior C hurling championship quarter-finals: Bodyke 2-12 Killanena 1-8 Banner 1-9 Tulla 0-11 Broadford 4-12 St. Josephs 3-10;

FOOTBALL

Results Junior A football championship: St. Senans, Kilkee 2-13 Cratloe 1-6

SOCCER

Results Clare & District Soccer League Results

Banner Carpets and Flooring Clare Cup QuarterFinals Shannon Olympic 0 Avenue Utd B 4 Sporting Ennistymon 7 Manus Celtic A 3 Newmarket Celtic A 7 Shannon Hibs A 3 Bridge Utd B 2 Avenue Utd A 5 Banner Carpets and Flooring Clare Cup SemiFinal: Newmarket Celtic A 4 Avenue Utd A 0 Clare U17 Cup Semi-Final Ennis Town 2 Shannon Town 2 (AET) - Ennis Town won 4-2 on penalties Campion Insurance Second Division League Moher Celtic B 1 Shannon Town B 4 - Shannon Town B are promoted Jim Casey Trophies U17B League Final Newmarket Celtic 4 Burren Utd 2 Michael O’Gorman Youths Cup Semi-Finals Tulla Utd A 1 Shannon Town 2 Avenue Utd 0 Bridge Utd 8 CSGL Electrical Youths League B Division Title Play-Off Ennis Town 1 Newmarket Celtic 2 (AET) FIXTURES Martin Donnelly MyClubShop.ie Clare & District Soccer League Fixtures Thursday 27th August 2020 Michael O’Gorman Youths Cup Final Frank Healy Park: Shannon Town v Bridge Utd 6.45pm Mark Rellis (Referee), Paudie Hayes, Pa Gleeson Saturday 29th August 2020 Clare U17 Cup Final Frank Healy Park: Bridge Utd v Ennis Town 5pm Michael Rock (Referee), Dylan Shannon, Brian Punch Sunday 30th August 2020 Banner Carpets and Flooring Clare Cup Final Frank Healy Park: Newmarket Celtic A v Avenue Utd B or Sporting Ennistymon 2.30pm Pa Gleeson (Referee), Mark Rellis, Julian Sandford, Sean Kenneally (4th Official)

CAMOGIE

Fixtures Sat 29th Aug McMahon Cup Semi Finals Fr McNamara Park: Newmarket on Fergus v Scariff Ogonnelloe, 1.00pm Referee: Aaron Hogg, Clonlara Fr McNamara Park: Inagh Kilnamona v Kilmaley, 5.00pm Referee: Kevin Walsh Glenomra Shield Semi Finals Clooney GAA: Kilkishen/Bodyke v Sixmilebridge, 1.00pm Referee: Fergal O’Brien, Broadford Clooney GAA: Truagh Clonlara v Sixmilebridge, 5.00pm Referee: Andy McMahon, Cratloe Wed 02nd Sept Minor A Kilksihen/Bodyke v Inagh Kilnamona Scariff Ogonnelloe v Feakle Killanena Minor B Truagh Clonlara v St Josephs Ruan v Clooney Quin Sixmilebridge v Whitegate Newmarket on Fergus v Kilmaley Minor C Banner v Tulla Corofin v Cratloe U14A Sixmilebridge v Inagh Kilnamona Clooney Quin v Newmarket on Fergus Scariff Ogonnelloe v Truagh Clonlara U14B Kilmaley v Eire Og Clarecastle v Feakle Killanena Crusheen v St Josephs U14C Ballyea v Whitegate Banner v Cratloe Ruan v Tulla Broadford v Corofin Smith O’Briens v Wolfe Tones Kilkee Bealaha v Parteen

Intermediate camogie: Eire Óg secure semi-final spot ÉIRE Óg secured their place in the semi-finals of the Clare intermediate camogie championship overcoming Tulla on Saturday evening.

A strong opening half from the Ennis women laid the foundations for their 4-14 4-05 win. Five of their forwards raised white flags as Éire Óg raced into an early six point lead. Orla Devitt with 1-04 finished as the side’s top scorer with Sarah Redmond, Jodie Russell and Orla McMahon

also hitting the back of Siobhan Torpey’s net. Their reward for coming out on top is a semi-final encounter with Clooney/Quin.

With semi-final places already in the bag, the meeting of Feakle/Killanena and Clooney/Quin was more a case of trying not to reveal too much with both clubs fancied to advance to the intermediate decider in the coming weeks.

Nothing separated the sides in their fifth round encoun-

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ter with it finishing Feakle Killanena 2-17 Clooney/Quin 3-14. Clooney/Quin held a three point lead as the teams headed for the final water break but scores from Regan Conway and Meabh Brady allowed the East Clare outfit to get a share of the spoils.

Clarecastle/Ballyea registered a 2-05 1-04 victory Whitegate with a tally of 1-04 from Doireann Murphy determining the result.

pg 35

27-08-20

Clare Echo THE

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

Ballyea to face Mills Shannon Town PÁRAIC MCMAHON

C

paraic@clareecho.ie

HA M P ION SH I P favourites Sixmilebridge and Ballyea have avoided each other in the semi-final draw of the Clare senior hurling championship (SHC).

Only five teams remain in the hunt for the Canon Hamilton following the weekend’s action. Reigning champions Sixmilebridge await the winners of the quarter-final tie between Feakle and Éire Óg.

The Ennis side already clashed with Tim Crowe’s men in the opening round and will get a second chance to overturn them should they overcome a

fancied Feakle outfit.

O’Callaghans Mills laid down a marker by eliminating Inagh/ Kilnamona on Sunday. As they return to the semi-finals for the first time since 2018, they now face the side that defeated them on that occasion. Two time champions Ballyea will meet the Mills in what is expected to be a very tough encounter.

After knocking out intermediate favourites Tulla, Scariff will meet the victors of the Corofin versus Smith O’Briens quarter-final. The other side of the draw pits St Josephs Doora/Barefield against Tubber, the two clubs met in last year’s quarter-finals and it took extra time for Seanie McMahon’s men to prevail against the North Clare club.

Clare SHC semi-finals: Sixmilebridge v Feakle or Éire Óg Ballyea v O’Callaghans Mills Clare IHC semi-finals: Corofin or Smith O’Briens v Scariff Tubber v St Josephs Doora/ Barefield Senior B semi-finals: Crusheen v Clonlara or Cratloe Newmarket-on-Fergus v Clarecastle Junior A semi-finals: Crusheen v Kilmaley O’Callaghans Mills v Clooney/Quin Junior B semi-finals: Banner v Meelick Newmarket-on-Fergus v Tulla Junior C semi-finals: Broadford v Banner Clonbony v Bodyke

Newmarket on track for ninth Cup in a row PÁRAIC MCMAHON paraic@clareecho.ie

Newmarket Celtic A 4 Avenue Utd A 0 Frank Healy Park, Doora NEWMARKET Celtic A kept their ambitions of winning a historic ninth Clare Cup in succession alive following a facile semi-final win over Avenue Utd A. Before a half an hour was gone in the contest, it was effectively game over in the first of the Banner Carpets & Flooring Clare Cup semi-finals. By this juncture, Newmarket had put the ball in the Avenue net on three occasions and were left a foolproof task of seeing out an encounter against a side that are capable of putting up a much better challenge than what they demonstrated.

Having dispossessed Avenue Utd on the right wing, Eoin O’Brien and Ronan McCormack combined to find Kevin Harnett who was left one on one with only James Tierney to beat and he made no mistake in finding the target on ten minutes.

Indeed, the Clare senior footballer exhibited one of the more impressive performances of the

last four clash, jinking past players with ease while also linking up well with his teammates to build attacks.

Three minutes had passed and Celtic had doubled their advantage. A move which arose from an Avenue free being cleared with ease from the Newmarket defence ended as Eoin Hayes outpaced Conor Mullen before sticking the ball past Tierney to deflate the Ennis side.

A clumsy foul by Jamie Roche on Kevin Harnett left Mark Rellis with no option but to award a penalty. Up stepped Ronan McCormack who scored in the same fixture which lasted for six minutes earlier this year and he calmly finished the ball to the bottom right corner of the net on twenty five minutes.

Slack marking on Avenue’s behalf was also punished before the half-time whistle as Stephen Kelly was afforded too much space to get his head to a Celtic cross and the towering defender made no mistake to seal the deal with only thirty nine minutes on the clock.

Celtic focused on snuffing out any danger in the second half having already won the game, they just needed to see it out which they did. They almost added to their tally but Sean O’Callaghan got to the ball in the nick of time to stop Eoin Hayes

fall short in u16 National Cup

bagging a second goal.

Avenue were unlucky not to be awarded a penalty on sixty three minutes for what appeared to be a handball in the Newmarket box. Little else caused excitement in the second half as Avenue slumped out of the competition to ensure their top team would obtain no silverware from this season.

For Mark O’Malley’s Newmarket they won’t get too carried away with the result as the priority is now on Sunday’s cup final.

Their opponents will be known following Wednesday evening’s clash between Sporting Ennistymon and Avenue Utd B.

Newmarket Celtic: Shane Cusack; David O’Grady, Paddy Purcell, Stephen Kelly, Eoin O’Brien; Callum McNamara, David McCarthy, Colin Smyth, Kevin Harnett, Ronan McCormack; Eoin Hayes.

Subs: Aaron Rudd for McCarthy (HT), Cathal Hayes for Harnett (58), Ian Collins for McCormack (70), Daithí O’Connell for E Hayes (70), Alan Kelly for McNamara (76).

Avenue Utd: James Tierney; Dean D’Auria, Sean O’Callaghan, Dylan Casey, Conor Mullen; Phillip Talty, Alan Roche, Jamie Roche, Gavin Cooney; Gary Roche, Mark Roche.

Subs: Simon Cuddy for Mullen (21), Mikey Dinan for G Roche (HT), Cian McDonough for J Roche (54), Richie Fitzgerald for Talty (64).

Referee: Mark Rellis

Gavin Carrig in actoin in Shannon Town’s 2-1 defeat to Carrigaline

Photo by Joe Buckley Report by Ruairi Price

Carrigaline United AFC 2 Shannon Town Utd 1 Venue: Lynch Park, Shannon

A DOGGED Shannon Town Utd came up short in their historic U16 National Cup semi-final.

Horrendous conditions clouded the tie as Carrigaline United booked their place in the SFAI Sketchers National Cup U16 Final despite being pushed to the limit by Shannon Town on Saturday afternoon.

Shannon Town played into a gale and driving rain in the opening half so it was Carrigaline who settled better and they came close to breaking the deadlock but a free kick went narrowly wide of Colin Riordan’s post.

More pressure was applied on the Shannon defence with a Carrigaline corner causing chaos but the hosts settled led by Riordan.

They appeared to be given a new lease of life after taking the lead. Cian Johnson played in Charlie Morrison who beat two defenders and calmly slotted the ball into the corner of the net. Stephen Dolan’s side would then dominate the tie up until half-time.

Passing the ball became even more difficult on the resumption as the weather conditions continued to de-

teriorate.

Carrigaline came out of the blocks in the second half, their message at the break appeared to be very effective as Shannon Town had to play with their backs to the walls from here on. The pressure paid off when the Cork side drew level with a Jamie Moore header from a Ciaran Crotty cross on forty four minutes.

Five minutes later, the visitors took the lead. A mix up in the Shannon Town defence following another Crotty long ball was punished by the danger man, Jamie Moore.

Shannon Town threw everything at Carrigaline in the final minutes but the visitors held out to secure their place in the final.

Credit is due to Shannon Town for reaching the last four in Ireland, their efforts in the clash were commendable, the Cork side just shaded it and it was unfortunate that an error would prove to be the difference.

Charlie Morrison, Craig Riordan, Colin Riordan, Cian Johnson and Colin Curran impressed for the Shannon side.

Shannon Town: Colin Riordan, Aaron Kelly, Darragh O’Callaghan, Gavin Carrig, Craig Riordan, Kevin Kelly, Colin Curran, Charlie Morrison, Alex Meaney, Jamie Doyle.

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PLANNING 37

THURSDAY, AUG 27 2020

LICENCE APPLICATIONS

PLANNING NOTICES CLARE COUNTY COUNCIL OLD GORT ROAD, LIFFORD, ENNIS, CO. CLARE Take notice that John Kearney has lodged significant further information in respect of the planning application P19/840. This information and planning application may be inspected or purchased at a fee not exceeding the reasonable cost of making a copy, at the office 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 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 CO. COUNCIL LEHAKNOCK, KILMALEY, CO. CLARE Take notice that Geraldine & Donie Neylon intend to apply for Permission to upgrade an existing agricultural entrance to serve as the primary entrance to an existing dwelling 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 Clare County Council, Aras 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, €20, within the period of 5 weeks beginning on the date of receipt by the authority of the application.

CLARE COUNTY COUNCIL CAHERSHAUGHNESSY, SPANCILHILL, ENNIS, CO.CLARE Take notice that David McInerney and Andrea Costello intend to apply for permission to demolish the existing dwelling in the same location along with a new garage together with all ancillary site development 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, within the period of 5 weeks beginning on the date of receipt by the authority of the application.

CLARE COUNTY COUNCIL CAHERFEENICK SOUTH, COORACLARE Take notice that S. Browne has lodged significant further information in respect of planning application P20/372.

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, 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.

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.

CLARE COUNTY COUNCIL LEADMORE EAST, KILRUSH, CO. CLARE. Take note that Ellen Stack, intends to apply to Clare County Council for Planning Permission for the retention of change of use of the existing linked private garage to residential bedroom with en-suite with all necessary ancillary services. 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 five 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 CLARE COUNTY decision on the application.

COUNCIL The Planning Authority CROSSMORE AND may grant permission DERRYNAGEEHA, CO. subject to or without CLARE. conditions, or may refuse to Energia Renewables grant permission.

ROI Ltd intend to apply for permission for CLARE COUNTY development at this site in COUNCIL, the townlands of Crossmore CLOONEYOGAN and Derrynageeha, Co. SOUTH, MOY, CO Clare.

CLARE The Development will Take notice that N & S consist of: Forster intend to apply to Planning permission is the Planning Authority for sought for an increase in permission to retain the the blade length of the following changes made previously-consented 7 no. to their existing dwelling wind turbine, consented house; a) the additional under planning application first floor area and changes ref: P09/123, from 44 to the internal floor layouts metres (90 metre diameter) b) first floor windows to up to 57.5 metres (115 and rooflights c) changes/ metres diameter) with additional windows and an associated reduction doors on the ground floor in turbine hub height of elevations along with up to 12.5m to maintain associated site works at the the previously approved above address. overall turbine tip height That the planning of up to 125m (the application may be previously approved hub inspected, or purchased height was 80m). Junction at a fee not exceeding the improvements at the site reasonable cost of making entrance and widening a copy, at the offices of the of the site access road are planning authority during also being applied for to its public opening hours facilitate movement of the and that a submission or turbine components, along observation in relation with all associated cabling, to the application may be services and ancillary made to the authority in works. writing on payment of the The planning application prescribed fee within the may be inspected or period of 5 weeks beginning purchased at a fee not on the date of receipt by the exceeding the reasonable authority of the application.

AN CHUIRT DUICHE (The District Court) District Court Area of Ennis District No. 12 PUBLIC DANCE HALLS ACT, 1935 Section 2 NOTICE OF APPLICATION FOR A PUBLIC DANCING LICENCE APPLICANT/ Eamon Fitzgerald as Nominee of Sunny Bay Limited TAKE NOTICE that the above named Applicant of The Claremont Hotel, Lahinch in the County of Clare as Nominee of Sunny Bay Limited intends to apply to the Court sitting at Ennis in the County of Clare at 10.30 a.m. on the 25th day of September 2020 (being the sitting of the Annual Licensing District Court for the said Court area) for the grant of a Licence to use a particular place to wit The Claremont Hotel situate at Lahinch in the court area and district aforesaid, for public dancing.

Dated this the 17th day of August 2020 Signed/ Nicholas, Nolan, LLP, Solicitors for Applicant, Parnell House, 50/52 Parnell Street, Ennis, County Clare.

AN CHUIRT DUICHE (The District Court) District Court Area of Ennis District No. 12 PUBLIC DANCE HALLS ACT, 1935 Section 2 NOTICE OF APPLICATION FOR A PUBLIC DANCING LICENCE APPLICANT/ Michael Dennehy as Nominee of Western Public House Limited TAKE NOTICE that the above named Applicant of Knox’s, Abbey Street, Ennis in the County of Clare intends to apply to the Court sitting at The Courthouse, Ennis in the County of Clare on the 25th day of September 2020 at 11 a.m. for the grant of a Licence to use a particular place, namely Knox’s situate at Abbey Street, Ennis in the County of Clare in Court area and district aforesaid, for public dancing.

Dated this the 21st day of August 2020 SIGNED: Nicholas, Nolan, LLP, Solicitors for Applicant, Parnell House, 50/52 Parnell Street, Ennis, County Clare.

TO/The District Court Clerk, Courthouse, Ennis, County Clare.

TO/ The District Court Clerk, Courthouse, Ennis, County Clare.

AND/ The Superintendent, Garda Siochana, Kilrush and Ennis, County Clare

AND/ The Superintendent, Garda Siochana, County Clare

AND/ The Chief Fire Officer, Clare County Council, New Road, Ennis, County Clare.

AND/ The Chief Fire Officer, Clare County Council, New Road, Ennis, County Clare.

CLARE COUNTY COUNCIL CAHERBANNAGH, ENNIS Further Information/ Revised Plans Planning Ref: P120-114 D e v e l o p m e n t Description: The development will consist of the Construction of a 142sqM single storey freestanding storage structure, and 10sqM single storey extension to the rear/north of the existing office, and for the Retention of 56sqM extension to the east/ side and front/ south of the existing office and new front site boundary wall, fencing and gate, and alterations to site works and services.

Location: Caherbannagh, Fountain, Ennis, Co. Clare Take notice that Jada Projects Ltd has lodged significant further information in respect of planning application P120-114.

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

Ennis,

AND/ The Secretary, Clare County Council, New Road, Ennis, County Clare.

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 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.

APPLICATION FOR THE CONFIRMATION OF TRANSFER OF ONLICENCE AN CHUIRT DUICHE DISTRICT COURT DISTRICT COURT AREA OF ENNNIS DISTRICT NO 12 IN THE MATTER OF THE LICENSING ACTS 1833 TO 2000, SECTION 6 AND THE INTOXICATING LIQUOR ACT 1960, SECTION 29.

AND IN THE MATTER OF AN APPLICATION OF DAVID FITZGERALD, AS NOMINEE OF CASTLECRINE ASSET MANAGEMENT LIMITED APPLICANT TAKE NOTICE that David Fitzgerald, as Nominee of Castlecrine, Asset Management Limited, Sixmilebridge, Co. Clare intends to apply to the Ennis District Court on the 25th day of September 2020 at 10.30 in the forenoon or as soon as thereafter as this application may be taken in its’ order in the court list for an Order pursuant to the Statute in the Rule mentioned above for a Certificate by way of Transfer entitling the Applicant to receive a Publicans On Licence (Ordinary) in respect of the premises known as The Spinnaker Bar & Restaurant, Lahinch, Co. Clare in the Court Area and District aforesaid.

Dated this 19th day of August 2020.

Stiofan Fitzpatrick Solicitors, Solicitors for the Applicant Garna House, Main Street, Sixmilebridge, Co. Clare.

To: District Court Clerk, District Court Office, The Court House, Ennis, Co. Clare.

And To: The Sergeant in Charge An Garda Síochana, Ennistymon Garda Station Ennis Road, Ennistymon, Co. Clare.

And To: The Superintendent An Garda Síochana, Ennis Garda Station, Ennis, Co. Clare.

And To: The Chief Fire Officer, Central Fire Station, New Road, Ennis, Co. Clare.

AN CHUIRT DUICHE THE DISTRICT COURT NO. 66.1 GAMING AND LOTTERIES ACT 1956 SECTION 15 APPLICATION FOR A CERTIFICATE DISTRICT COURT AREA OF ENNIS DISTRICT NO. 12 CHRISTOPHER MURPHY AS NOMINEE OF COALQUAY LEISURE LIMITED APPLICANT TAKE NOTICE that the above named Applicant of 21, Academy Street in the City of Cork will apply to the Court sitting at The Courthouse, Ennis, Co. Clare on the 16th day of September, 2020 at 10.30am for a certificate under Section 15 of the Gaming and Lotteries Act, 1956 (No.2 of 1956) authorising the issue of a licence permitting gaming at an amusement hall namely at property situate at Part of ground Floor, Merchants Square, Curtins Lane, Parnell Complex, Parnell Street, Ennis, Co. Clare.

The number and kinds of games proposed to be carried on are as follows: • 15 Gaming Machines • The other forms of amusement to be provided are as follows: - 5 Amusement Games.

The Applicant is not disqualified by Section 8 of the said Act from the promotion of gaming under Section 6 or Section 7 thereof.

Dated this 11th day of August, 2020 Signed: Murphy and Condon Solicitor for the Applicant 69 Shandon Street North Gate Bridge Cork.

TO: The District Court Clerk., The Courthouse, Lifford Road, Ennis, Co. Clare AND/ Corporate Affairs Department, Clare County Council, New Road, Ennis, County Clare.

AND/ Ennis Municipal District, Clare County Council, New Road, Ennis, Co. Clare.

AND/ Chief Superintendent, An Garda Siochana, Ennis Garda Station, Abbey Street, Lifford, Ennis, Co. Clare

AND/ The Chief Fire Officer, Clare County Council, New Road, Ennis, Co. Clare.

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38 PUZZLEPAGE

THURSDAY, AUG 27 2020

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28 November: More Five- 6 End of the day (7) rectly (5) now puzzleDate=20191128) 12 Cancer or Capricorn Letter Fellows 7 Not all (4)

(6) 8 Dies down (6) 14 Game bird (6)

13 First showing of a More Puzzles 16 Bigger (6) . Miles () film (8) 19 Stinging plant (6)

. Monty () 15 Alfresco (4-3) 21 Musical note (5)

17 Nearly (6) 24 Intended (5) . Moses () 25 Antagonistic (7) 18 Male relative (6) . Nigel ()

26 Reject (4,4) 20 Carried (5) . Nolan () 27 You (archaic) (4)

22 Whinny (5) O () 23 Fail to include (4)

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QUIZ 39

THURSDAY, AUG 27 2020

The Clare Echo Quiz History and Geography 2 3 4

What year did Ger Loughnane 2 take over the senior hurling team?

colors of the Clare flag was 7 The believed to be carried by who?

many years did Davy Fitz3 How gerald manage Clare for?

to the 2016 census the 8 According population in Clare is?

4

9

ster title?

Michael D. Higgins Patrick Hillery Douglas Hyde

6. 4

Can you spot the difference? Spot the 7 differences.

The answers will be revealed in next weeks edition.

1. 1914

Spot the Difference

7. Brian Ború

The rose motif The tau cross The stag’s head

ANSWERS 2. 1995

In the county coat of arms what year did the Clare football 5 Inteam win their first Munster title? 10which symbol stands for the heritage?

1905 1912 1917

lQUESTION 5: In what year did the Clare football team win their first Mun-

8. 118,817

18,000 25,000 28,000

What former president did not live in Clare?

9. Douglas Hyde

What is the capacity of Cusack Park?

118,817 123,291 109,579

3. 5years

3years 4years 5years

Fionn mac Cumhaill Brian Ború Oisin from Tír na n-óg

10.The tau cross

1994 1995 1996

4. 18,000

1914 1924 1934

How many All-Ireland junior titles 6 have the Clare Camogie team won?

5. 1917

year did Clare hurlers 1 Infirstwhat win an All-Ireland title?

Last weeks Answers . Badge missing on both men . Roisin’s bag strap missing . Jan’s mask different colour . Roisin’s sandles different colour . Little yellow sign behind Roisin missing

. Saddle on bike missing

A new lawnmower is presented to Newmarket-on-Fergus Tidy Towns. Photograph: Gary Collins