The Clare Echo 29/07/21

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Pyrite nightmare & heartache for Sixmilebridge family Couple devastated over pyrite infestation of their home PÁRAIC MCMAHON paraic@clareecho.ie

PAGES 29 -43

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SIXMILEBRIDGE couple have described their devastation with the ongoing uncertainty surrounding the infestation of pyrite into their home.

Michelle and Steve Mansfield

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have lived on the outskirts of Sixmilebridge on the approach to Broadford for less than seven years but have been left stunned when the property which was constructed in 2006 was deemed to be infected by pyrite and in category three meaning it is damaged from the presence of defective concrete blocks.

Originally from Limerick, Michelle has been a front-line worker since returning to Ireland from the UK in 2004. Her husband Steve a former musician is a native of Bedfordshire and has struggled

to find work since being made redundant. The pair met at the Cork Jazz Festival when Steve was one of the headline acts.

After longing for a move to the countryside, the pair were smitten with the Sixmilebridge property.

Of the two of them, Steve was more keen to move into more peaceful surroundings and this ticked all the boxes. He admitted to having a longing guilt for choosing the home which has caused so much heartache for them.

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2 NEWS

Index NEWS

THURSDAY, JUL 29 2021

A GREAT NIGHT OUT

2-15

GREENER CLARE

16

ENTERTAINMENT

17

BUSINESS

22-23

BINDON ST

25-28

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by PÁRAIC McMAHON

FOOTBALL FEATURE 29-43 SPORT

44-49

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

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

SALES

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

Minister opens new hubs

lOUTDOOR FUN: Ann and Colm McInerney at Bunratty enjoying the sounds of Bualadh Busk

Photo by Joe Buckley

ROSS’ Digital Hub and the Ennis Digital Hub are to be officially opened today (Thursday) by the Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys (FG).

Minister Humphreys is to also visit the Vandeleur Walled Gardens in Kilrush, which has received significant Rural Regeneration and Development Funding (RRDF), the Clár funded Lissycasey playground for its official opening and Gnoc na Gaoithe Comhaltas Cultural Centre in Tulla, which also received RRDF funding to aid its development.

Seven digital hubs operated by DigiClare are currently open around Clare.

The addition of the Cross hub is of “huge significance”, Clare TD Joe Carey (FG) believed in helping the village in the Loop Head peninsula to become an option for remote working year-round.

Deputy Carey said: “While thousands of people visit the area during the summer months, it is important that we create the option for remote working in villages like Cross”.

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NEWS NEWS 33

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4 NEWS

THURSDAY, JUL 29 2021

Mixed bag in litter survey CIAN O’BROIN

T

cianobroin@clareecho.ie

WO Clare coastal areas have been described as ‘clean to European norms’ whilst one popular tourist spot was labelled ‘moderately littered’ in a report published today (Thursday).

In its latest nationwide survey, business group Irish Business Against Litter (IBAL) found that 40 per cent of 32 areas surveyed were clean, but there was a rise in areas branded ‘littered’ or ‘heavily littered’.

Beaches, harbours, rivers and their immediate environs were monitored by the Environmental Education Unit of An Taisce in June and July.

According to the report, Lahinch and Mountshannon were commended for their cleanliness, which was categorised as ‘clean to European standards.’ It referenced that at Lahinch, “the promenade was excellent with regard to litter and there was a virtual absence along the beach area,” whilst Mountshannon was depicted as, “very freshly presented and well-maintained environment, with a virtual absence

of litter throughout”.

Doolin featured in the less desirable category of ‘moderately littered’, despite the report emphasising that improvements have been made with regards to litter in recent years. The pier car park and the overflow car park were both areas of concern identified.

It was also noted that “cigarette butts were particularly prevalent, with lower levels of a variety of food-related items most notably fast-food wrappers and sachets of ketchup/vinegar. Red and white plastic industrial tape was tied around a pole and flapping about, creating a poor impression. The most obvious blot on the landscape was the building related materials in the car park and long-lie pieces trapped in the rocks levels of which were quite significant”.

The report, which was last completed in 2019 due to the pandemic, concluded by highlighting that many coastal areas had slipped from ‘moderately littered’ to ‘littered.’ There were no Clare coastal areas included in this final category.

l IBAL: Mountshannon was commended for cleanliness

WWW.SAFETYONTHEWATER.GOV.IE

STAY AFLOAT STAY IN CONTACT Before you commence any coastal or open water activity check weather and tides and observe local conditions.

If conditions are unsuitable or if in any doubt cancel your trip and stay safe.

• Plan your activity carefully and never participate alone.

• Let someone ashore know where you are going and when to expect you back.

• Carry a means of communication for raising the alarm should you get into difficulty (e.g. VHF Radio, PLB, Flares, fully charged mobile phone in sealed bag) • Check the Safety on the Water website www.safetyonthewater.gov.ie for information and safety guidelines.

NEVER EVER SWIM ALONE In an emergency, call the Coast Guard on Marine VHF CH. 16 or call 112 / 999

Crawford resigns seat on County Council

by PÁRAIC McMAHON LOCAL politics in Clare has been rocked by the shock resignation of one county councillor.

On Wednesday morning, county councillors were informed that the newest addition in terms of elected representatives to the local authority had resigned for personal reasons.

Co-opted to Clare County Council in September of last year following Roisin Garvey’s (GP) nomination to the Seanad, Cllr Susan Crawford (pictured below) will serve for less than one year on the local authority following her decision to leave the role which will become effective from August 31, after which someone will be co-opted into her seat.

In 2020, the Miltown Malbay woman was named Clare Person of the Year after she and her son Tomás ran across the Wild Atlantic Way over a distance of 2,500 km in 88 days to enhance awareness about autism. Along the way, Susan held Autism Awareness Training workshops in venues in each county.

A two-time Fulbright Award winner for her work on the development of autism aware-

ness programmes, the Inagh native spoke at the most recent meeting of the County Council criticised officials and called for them to address the principles, process, practices and perspectives of its communication.

She said she had been “let down” by the communication within the local authority. “Is there really good communication channels open up to us, in my experience to date there is something not quite as acceptable as there should be about this process,” Susan added.

Councillors outside of the Ennis Municipal District were “poorly informed” when it came to the controversial Ennis 2040 plan, she believed. “I was invited to a meeting, like many of my colleagues I logged on at 4pm and at 4:40pm we eventually got on. An individual who is part of the company said they had to go and we were handed over to someone else.

The connectivity at the meeting was appalling, we were dropping in and out all of the time”.

The voting used to adopt the plan made her “uneasy”, she admitted. “I did feel that the whole piece was entirely inappropriately handled, because of that we went on to find ourselves with fractured piece of work going on.

All of this could have been avoided for want of delivering communication. Communication is a two way process, it engages all stakeholders equally, voices are heard, they are distributed with appropriate feedback, outcome is shared learning”.

“We are all entitled to have an equal say and entitlement to be heard,” Crawford concluded.

Cathaoirleach of Clare County Council, Cllr PJ Ryan (IND) told The Clare Echo he was upset to see the Green Party councillor resign. “I am sad in a way to see we are losing someone of her calibre,” he stated.

NEWS

THURSDAY, JULY 29 2021

7

Days Out in Clare that our Readers Loved

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Some of the comments from our readers Wonderful Experiences on what they have to enjoy at enjoyed around Clare…

Craggaunowen We recently asked readers what they loved most during their trips around Clare. Here is just some of their feedback.

Clare’s lesser-known 12 O’Clock Hills, Belvoir, treasures are great for days Sixmilebridge is wonderful out if you want to avoid the beaches to visit at any time, on your own or and the busier areas, just for now. group. I love the variety it offers, HIDDEN gem located in a quiet cornerwith of aCo Clare, Craggaunowen – The Living Past with ExperiWe took a stroll through Mooghaun its forest walks, its fairyland, picnic ence, brings to on lifeFergus, the people, aniWoods, Newmarket and homesteads, areas, and different loop walks and mals and artefacts of our Celtic of over afterwards visited the beautiful Quin ancestorstrail routes. Lots of parking available 1,000 ago and showcases how they have touched Abbey,years stopping at Quin for takeaway too. It is very well maintained and is and shaped how weIt live coffee and treats. wastoday. a really constantly being improved. I love it.

Evelyn, from West Clare enjoyable afternoon.

The Craggaunowen Crannóg Teresa, from South Clare

A 1

Gain a fascinating insight into how the Celts made their homes on a Crannog. Crannogs were found in Ireland during the Iron Age and early Christian periods. Though some homesteads were inhabit- We loved the wonderful ed during the Late Bronze Age and in most cases they were still being Cliff Walks in Kilkee. The Gleninagh Loop occupied as late The as the 17th century. panoramic views were breathtaking.

Visiting Clare and Need to Keep in Contact with your Work?

Walk in the Burren was We followed this up with a delicious a host of Colourful Characters aMeet straightforward track to the posttakeaway What makes a visit to Craggaunowen so memorable is the won-lunch from the Pantry on lockdown paradise. The extraordinary derful costumed animators who bring the whole experience to – where we got the O’Curry Street landscape of Burren was like a life as they entertain and enthrall visitors with tales andnicest demonstrahomemade soup we’ve had restorative balm for theand soul, and theof our early ancestors. tions of the crafts, lifestyles traditions in years. contrast between the silvery landscape Explore Ringfort & Souterrain Trudy, from Ennis and blue the water was particularly soothing.

2 3 4

Use a DigClare Hub! Hot Desks Meeting Rooms Privacy Booths

Explore ringfort a true reproduction of a farmer’s house, datAnce, fromthe Ennis ing from the 4th or 5th century complete with a souterrain, an underground chamber used as places of refuge during attack.

My trip from Doolin to The Brendan Boat I had a fantastic day out in Visit the ‘Brendan Boat’, a hide boat in which Tim Severin sailed Inis Oirr with other mums started out kids was amazing. We from IrelandClare. to theWe United States inwith 1978, enactingand thetheir voyage a Brendan flight simulator Shannon visited of St to prove at that the saintAviation and his monks could havethe dis-island’s M E Ewonderful T A H O S Tsandy OF COLOURFUL CHARACTERS covered America 900to years before without Columbus. The boat,playground, made from and took a horse and cart Museum, flying Stansted ox-hide a frame oak andWe ash,then reached Newfoundland in 1977 the island. We had a picnic ever on leaving theofground! went trip around and now resides at Craggaunowen. for a walk in Cratloe Woods, stopping on the fabulous white sandy beach at the lake to takeCastle in the views. We overlooking the turquoise Atlantic Craggaunowen Standing defiantly a crag overlooking the Craggaunowen ended our day byon enjoying an outdoor ocean, lake, with the Island of Ireland in the climb the winding stairs of this 15th century towerdistance! house and lunch at Durty Nellys.

It is surprising that more enjoy stunning views over the surrounding Clare countryside. Enjoy Sarah, from Ireland don’t weaver experience this day out. I would spinning and weaving demonstrations by the castle’s resident recommend it to anyone. and marvel at a wonderful array of artefacts contained within.

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Laura, from Ennis

Discovery Trails and Woodland Tales Poulnabrone Dolmen The groundsThe around Craggaunowen offer the most wonderful is myand favourite woodland walks trails forplace. those Iincan search of some solitude.

As visit you wander these charming trails it againalong and again, and every timeone will stumble upon Keeping it simple, the family many archaeology featuresStanding including the Fulacht Fia, Togher loved spending the day at theancient experience is different.

- an Iron Age road, a Ringfort dating from the 4th or 5th Century the beach in Lahinch, followed up by the amazing Burren landscape, andagainst much more. fresh fish and chips and ice cream there are so many secrets it could tell desserts from Spooneys.

Rare Breeds Animals if stones couldoftalk.

Craggaunowen also home to a variety of animalsStephen, who would from West Clare Soo Ling, from EastisClare have roamed the Irish countryside in days gone by including wild boar and soay sheep. Pop by and say hello to these rare animal breeds as you wander through the tranquil surrounds of this idyllic woodland.

Although I’m a Clare man (well, a blow-in!), exploring the County during lockdown was an eye-opener to the simple things we can do without travelling far. This included taking a trip to West Clare for the “catch of the day“ from the food truck at Spanish Point to enjoying the ‘far’ east of the county and Forthe more information majesty of Slieveon Bearnagh and kayaking on Lough Derg.

Craggaunowen or to book tickets Tim, from East Clare visit www.craggaunowen.ie

7

Clare is a wonderful place to holiday, relax, and V I S I T C R A Gforget G A U N about O W E N the CRA NNOGS pressures of modern life. However, if you need to keep in occasional contact with work or clients- use one of our DigiClare Hubs.

We have a network throughout County Clare.

Visit our website for locations, facilities, and services or to book your space online.

SCAN ME

www.DigiClare.ie V I S I T T H E B R E N D A N B O AT

www.Clare.ie

5

6 NEWS

Cancelling surgery is 'outrageous'

by PÁRAIC McMAHON

THURSDAY, JUL 29 2021

'Tubridy's contributions must be appreciated'

A CLARE TD has called the decision by UL Hospitals Group to cancel outpatient and elective procedures at University Hospital Limerick (UHL) as “outrageous”.

Activity at other hospitals operated by UL Hospitals Group such as Ennis are not impacted by the decision to cancel all elective activity and outpatient clinics at UHL from Wednesday July 28th to Friday July 30th.

Emergency care will also continue.

A spokesperson for UL Hospitals Group said the decision was necessary to manage risk and stabilise the UHL site in advance of what is anticipated to be a busy Bank Holiday weekend. In the 24-hour period to 8am on Tuesday morning, 265 patients attended the department. This is far in excess of the 195 average attendances the ED recorded in 2019, the last full year pre-pandemic.

Deputy Michael McNamara TD (IND) was fearful of what the winter would bring based on the decision. He labelled it “an outrageous attempt by an inept hospital system to normalise its ineptitude.

“The excuse this time isn't Covid but a "busy Bank Holiday weekend". What can we expect next winter, if, despite dedicated medical personnel and no lack of funding, this is what is happening in summer,” the Scariff native added.

PÁRAIC MCMAHON

W

paraic@clareecho.ie

EST Clare councillors have expressed their desire to hold a civic reception in honour of Clare footballer, David Tubridy.

In June, Tubridy became the alltime top scorer in the 96 year history of the Allianz National Football League.

With a personal tally of 22-142 (478), the Doonbeg publican bypassed Mickey Kearns of Sligo to become the all-time scorer in the competition.

At the adjourned July meeting of the West Clare Municipal District, Cllr Ian Lynch (IND) said the achievement needed to be acknowledged by the local authority.

He suggested a virtual civic reception be held or that from September onwards a formal civic reception take place at Áras Contae

an Chláir.

Tubridy’s contributions to the county must be appreciated, Lynch added, “his point and goal scoring has helped to revive Clare football”.

Cathaoirleach of the West Clare MD, Cllr Cillian Murphy (FF) added, “We should recognise people in our community that do extraordinary things”.

Ex Chairman of the Clare football board, Cllr Gabriel Keating (FG) also voiced his support for the call.

“I’ve seen David develop his skills, he is always on top of his game, it is great to see him do well”.

He noted that Trump Doonbeg recently granted Tubridy lifetime membership of Doonbeg Golf Club.

l LEGEND: David Tubridy

Photo by Gerard O'Neill

Gloria steps down from CLDC PUP may give families Back to School allowance

by CIAN O'BROIN

by PÁRAIC McMAHON PERSONS in receipt of the COVID PUP payment may be entitled to the Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance (BTSCFA).

The Department of Social Protection are currently issuing correspondence in relation to the BTSCFA. Families who have received a letter by 21st June will be paid automatically.

Those that think they may be entitled to the allowance but did not receive a letter or are a new applicant are advised to apply online at MyWelfare.ie or request a paper application form from the Department of Social

Protection.

Anne Marie O’Reilly Information Officer Ennis Citizens Information Centre explained, “There is some additional information regarding the BTSCFA that many people may not be aware of, for example, people who are in receipt of the Covid PUP payment may be entitled to the BTSCFA if their household income is below a certain threshold for their family size; where there is a child who is 18 or older and still in second-level education, an application must be made and evidence provided that they are still in secondary school, even if the payment is going to be automatically paid for other children in the family”.

A NORTH Clare woman lauded for two decades of deep community work has decided to step down from her role within the Clare Local Development Company.

Hailing from a farming background and the same village as Michael Cusack, Gloria Callinan knew from a young age that her heart lay with rural communities and their development.

A key figure in the instrumental work performed by the LEADER programme over the last 30 years in Clare, the mother of two joined the team in 2002 after graduating from NUIG with a degree in Community Development.

"Even from an early age, I remember my father asking me to ring up the LEADER office to see if there was any funding available for self-catering or to do up old cottages.

There was such a small budget when I started. The last programme had a budget of €9m before Christmas. The availability of cash flow for Clare communities has been a huge part of LEADER,” the Carron native stated.

Funded by the EU and Irish Government, Gloria’s role as LEADER Co-ordinator revolved around funding, training, guidance to community groups and supports for rural business. The most interesting element of her work was liaising with groups on all sectors of society in areas such as social inclusion, small and large scale tourism, creating jobs and environmental initiatives with the SEAI where she mobilized geographical communities in a bid to live more sustainably through renewable energy generation.

Casting a retrospective eye over two decades work with over 50 parishes in Clare, when asked to select one of her proudest

l LEADER: Gloria Callinan achievements she likens it to “picking out your favourite child.” One recent project that comes to mind is the work performed

by Obair in Newmarket-On-Fergus where The Tradaree Arms was renovated and became a social food enterprise providing thousands of meals throughout South Clare.

After failing to secure funding through the Rural Generation Fund (RGF), LEADER was able to contribute €500,000.

Only now, since stepping down, has Gloria been able to truly assess the “breadth and wow factor” of the LEADER Programme.

“Like everybody, COVID has played a huge role in life choices. I felt a small disconnect for the last 18 months and decided to take some time out to spend with my two boys who are busy with hurling and football.”

Unsure of what the path ahead may bring, one thing that Gloria is sure of is that Clare communities are in safe hands with a “fantastic LEADER team and programme.”

NEWS 7

THURSDAY, JUL 29 2021

Clare GAA to break ground by holding autism Cúl Camp PÁRAIC MCMAHON

H

paraic@clareecho.ie

ISTORY is to be made next week as Cusack Park opens its gates for a Cúl Camp for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD).

From 10am to 2pm across Tuesday to Thursday next week, Clare will become only the third county in the country to host a Cúl Camp specifically for children on the autism spectrum following in the footsteps of Wexford and Offaly.

Speaking to The Clare Echo, JSports Inclusion Disability Officer James Murrihy admitted that it is something he always wanted to see come to fruition. “It is great to be a leader rather than a follower and not to be the fifteenth or sixteenth county but to be the third county to do it”.

He outlined, “Initially we targeted looking at 120 kids and do sixty

l INCLUSIVE: James Murrihy in the morning and the afternoon but we’ve settled on the mid fifties, there is an air of trepidation with parents”.

www.localenterprise.ie/clare www.localenterprise.ie/lookforlocal

“It is a pilot to see how we go, hopefully it will grow and expand as the country gets back to full normality in 2022 and the numbers

will increase. It’s a pilot with the GAA but it is something that would be rolled out to other sports,” the Kilmurry Ibrickane clubman com-

mented.

All children to participate will be on the autism spectrum. The location of Cusack Park for the camp is a significant one, he believed. “The opportunity for the kids to participate in the camp in Cusack Park is massive.

From the parents perspective a lot of the kids would be flight risks being that they would go outside a venue and not have the understanding of the rules of the roads or that.

"In Cusack Park, you’re looking at a situation where everything is enclosed, it is a safe ground, it is a very spacious and parents can stay if they want to stay, there will be opportunities for social distancing whereas if we were going to a club ground it will be a lot harder to manage logistically”.

Games Development Administrator with Clare GAA, Micheál Duffy outlined, “We want to be as inclusive as possible. When James got in touch in March we were 100 percent behind it. It is really nice to be able to do it in Cusack Park”.

8 NEWS

THURSDAY, JUL 29 2021

Two separate bike thefts over weekend

by PÁRAIC McMAHON CLARE Gardaí have issued renewed security advice for bicycle owners in the county following two separate thefts.

A Black Raleigh Trek bike was stolen in the space of 20 minutes when it’s owner left it at Cullenagh Bridge on the Ennis Road out of Ennistymon between 8 p.m. and 8.20 p.m. on Saturday evening, 24th July.

This was a busy time on the road with people travelling to and from Lahinch and we are appealing to anyone who may have seen this theft taking place to contact Ennistymon Garda Station on 7072180.

At some time between June 24th and July 21st, a racer bike was stolen from the rear of a house on Cahercalla Road, Ennis.

Crime Prevention Officer, Tríona Brooks has outlined that bike owners should spend between ten and twenty percent of the value of a bike on two locks. “Owners of valuable bicycles should consider having an electronic tracking device covertly inserted within the frame,” she stated.

Locks should be kept off the ground and the bike should be locked tightly to an immovable object. Brooks said that bikes should also be locked when at home.

Property marking was also recommended by the Garda who said that taking a photograph and knowing the serial number of the bike was also important.

Special indoor gathering to mark Joan’s 90th birthday in Scariff

l BIRTHDAY WISHES: Scariff played host to a very special gathering on the week that indoor dining was permitted to return. McNamara’s

Restaurant in Scariff hosted the celebration of Joan Giblin’s 90th birthday on Wednesday afternoon. Former colleagues and friends of Joan’s from her time as a teacher at Scariff National School were present for the momentous occasion. Tim McGillicuddy, Martin Scanlan, Anna McGillicuddy, Bridget Cahill, Phil Fenwick, Mary Slattery, Bríd Whelan and Loretta Brody were among those present to mark Joan’s special day.

Contracts signed for design of Limerick to Scariff Greenway

by PÁRAIC McMAHON

Please do not grieve alone We listen and support You are welcome to contact us by call or text

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086 0565373 087 369 8315 www.claresuicidebereavementsupport.com

CONTRACTS have been signed for the design of the Limerick to Scariff Greenway.

Waterways Ireland are leading the project in conjunction with the ESB, Clare County Council, and Limerick City and Council.

The signing of the contracts will allow the entire project proceed to the planning stage.

Senator Roisin Garvey (GP) expected the whole project including construction to last three years.

She stated, “This contract will bring the entire project to planning stage, including all the necessary environmental studies on what is a corridor of exceptional beauty”.

She was confident the Greenway would make “a real difference to the region” and added that it “will be great for tourism, great for

locals and great for the rural economy”.

It will be a Greenway of over 40km in length and will be “an important sustainable commuter route from East Clare into UL and the city as well as showing the best of our natural and industrial heritage,” the Inagh woman stated.

The route will stretch from Scariff to Killaloe and onto the Ardancrusha Headrace along the historic Errina Canal, O’Briensbridge and Clonlara.

The Greenway will then cross over the Black Bridge near UL, which will be restored as part of this project, and then travel along the existing path along the River Shannon and the Park Canal to Limerick city centre.

Clare TD, Cathal Crowe (FF) predicted the project could be “transformational” for south and east Clare.

“There are really good road linkages between south and east Clare and Limerick City but a greenway will take people off the beaten track and allow them to experience the natural wonders of our county.

“The old Errina Canal was once one of the busiest waterways in Ireland but has fallen into a state of dereliction over the decades”.

Footfall to smaller villages will increase, Deputy Crowe said.

He believed it emphasised the need for a village renewal scheme for Clonlara “to make it attractive for people to stop for tea, coffee or lunch before proceeding on along the route.

“The greenway will terminate at Scariff and I hope that this will lead to possibilities of people going further afield and exploring Inis Cealtra/Holy Island and all that Lough Derg has to offer”.

NEWS 9

THURSDAY, JUL 29 2021

'We had an opinion on something we knew nothing about'

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l MUM AND ME: Orla and Harry

CIAN O’BROIN

O

cianobroin@clareecho.ie

NE Clare family has stressed that joining the Down Syndrome Ireland Branch in the county has opened up a whole new world of support at a time in which they “were fearful for the future.”

Ennis native Orla Clohessy lives with her husband and three sons in Clarecastle. She remembered receiving the news leading up to the birth of her youngest son Harry (4), that he would be born with Down syndrome.

“We were completely devastated. We hadn’t a clue of what we were facing. There was sadness mixed up with a bit of fear. We had a lack of knowledge. Looking back, we had an opinion on something we knew nothing about,” she told The Clare Echo.

His birth was met with hesitancy, and at first, a lack of assurance in what to do.

Prompted by her local health nurse to join the Down Syndrome Ireland Clare Branch, Orla decided to make contact. She now accredits this as a saving grace that has offered an unrivalled support and clarity.

She recalled the Branch’s Christmas party in 2017 where “for the first time we walked into a room and nobody looked at us differently. We were part of a community, with something in common with others. There were no sympathetic smiles and everyone asked the normal questions,” she added.

The Clare Branch has allowed Orla and

Harry to avail of subsidised speech and language therapy and also offers services like horse riding and swimming lessons amongst many others. The therapy has been instrumental in helping Harry pass through developmental stages. Fundraising is done from the ground up and is an essential component to the overall success of the Branch, which is closely aligned with The Clare Crusaders, that offers a number of support services.

From August 5th to 8th, Orla will be out bucket shaking in Ennis with her husband at the Tour de Munster, which is the main fundraiser that supports the branch throughout the year. This annual tour comprises of a 600km charity cycle, which is now in its 21st year of existence and since 2010, has provided Munster branches of the DSI with over €3m in funding.

One of the main incentives to get out and donate, Orla informed, was that any funds raised will stay within its respective county and help out the local branch. For children like Harry, this means the continued support of vital speech and language therapy and other professionals that help push him along the developmental stages.

“For anyone that may have a child with Down syndrome, I encourage you to reach out. It certainly lifted a huge weight off our shoulders. The main element of the Branch is both support and communication. Children with Down syndrome have their difficulties but they are more unique. Once you get over the shock you can embrace it all. It helps having a community of parents of all groups and ages that can offer advice and feedback,” she concluded.

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10 NEWS

THURSDAY, JUL 29 2021

Indoor dining rules ‘a torment’

Speedo Mick visits Clare

by CIAN O’BROIN

CIAN O’BROIN

O

cian@clareecho.ie

NE Clare business has labelled the new indoor dining guidelines a “torment” and “contradiction” while stressing that it will not facilitate the changes until clearer guidelines are issued.

Over 3,000 pubs reopened and 25,000 people signed off the Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP) across the country on Monday, July 26, as indoor dining resumed.

The Igoe Inn Bar and Restaurant, located in Doonbeg, has issued a stark cry that it will not progress with indoor dining, despite a large restaurant with capacity for over 60 people sitting idle in the interim. Owner for the last 22 years Caroline Kennedy stated that the complicated guidelines are a torment and too much of a headache to enforce.

“It all looks great on paper, but these new guidelines are very complicated. How are we going to keep tabs on who is vaccinated and allowed inside and outside, whilst also factoring in issues like going to the toilets and having staff man our three doorways. We don’t have the manpower to do that as well as giving great service at the same time,” the fourth-generation owner stated.

Marked as a day of relief for many business owners that have been closed for almost 500 days,

l NEW RULES: The Igoe Inn Bar and Restaurant in Doonbeg the final regulations were signed age of 18 and accompanied by a into law by Cabinet on Sunday vaccinated adult. night ahead of the reopening.

One West Clare man criticised A late change in the details re- the lack of notice given to memsulted in only one adult needing to bers of the public surrounding the provide contact information per clarity of the reopening of indoor group. The guidelines mean that hospitality. each individual must show their He told The Clare Echo insufDigital COVID Certificate (DCC), ficient information was given to either proving full vaccination the public, “they left it to the last or recovery from the disease in minute” the last six months in order to sit Caroline asserted that she will inside. Those who are currently continue to operate outdoors from unvaccinated will be forced to sit their highly successful beer garoutside unless they are under the den until safer guidelines that can

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accommodate their staff, who are not all fully vaccinated, are issued.

“I know they are doing their best to keep this variant at bay, but they are not joining the dots on how to do it physically.

“The real trouble will be when there is an outbreak and they come looking for all that information. That is when it will come down to what is done right and what is done wrong. We will wait and see how others get on over the coming weeks before acting,” she imparted.

A LIVERPOOL man who triumphed over adversary to beat drug and alcohol dependence passed through Clare this week on a walking tour, as part of a fundraiser for mental health services.

Michael Cullen, now colloquially known as ‘SpeedoMick’ (pictured below), began his five-month walking journey of the UK and Ireland on May 31 in an effort to give back to communities and charities that offered him a helping hand at his most vulnerable time.

In 2017, the Evertonian walked 700 miles from Everton’s Goodison Park ground to the French city of Lyon, raising funds for Liverpool’s Alder Hey Children’s Hospital. And in 2019 he completed a 1,000-mile walk from John O’Groats to Land’s End and raised half a million pounds, far exceeding his initial target of £100,000.

SpeedoMick made his way through the Banner County wearing his Everton speedos, swimming cap and walking boots. A video released by the Kinvara Farmer’s Market on Facebook shows him busting moves to a traditional Irish Céilí in the South-Galway village. Speaking from Cratloe on Monday, Mick stated, “I want to thank all you Irish folk, you’ve played a blinder. You’ve set the bar so high”.

‘Second widest street’ should make most of outdoor dining options

by PARAIC McMAHON KILRUSH is home to the second widest street in Ireland but the West Clare town’s potential as an outdoor dining space has not been capitalised on.

A “robust and inclusive strategy to develop the second widest street in Ireland” namely Frances St in Kilrush and the Market Square was sought by Cllr Ian Lynch (IND).

Doing so would “enhance the public space for commercial, visitors and the local community alike”.

Director of Service with Clare County Council, Leonard Cleary in response to Lynch’s proposal before the West Clare Municipal District detailed that it was a key part of the plan of priority projects.

“A cross-directorate engagement has taken place between the MD and Social Directorate looking at possibilities in this area.

“An in-house team within the MD and Rural Directorate has

been convened to look at such a project and to prepare a plan particularly in the architectural services area,” he stated.

An influx of tourism has brought increased potential to the county, Cllr Lynch believed.

“It struck me when I drove through Kilrush, we only have one area to facilitate outdoor dining. We’ve the second widest street in Ireland and only a lump of concrete to allow for outdoor dining. It is important the space is used correctly and wisely”.

There is “an amazing streetscape” in Kilrush, Cllr Cillian Murphy (FF) maintained. The Cathaoirlach of the West Clare MD was adamant this asset was not utilised fully, “it’s just a car park with all due respect to it”.

Alterations made in the heart of Kilkee has “completely transformed the feel of the street,” he added.

NEWS 11

THURSDAY, JUL 29 2021

‘This was supposed to be our home to live happily ever after’ PÁRAIC MCMAHON

O

paraic@clareecho.ie

N FIRST inspection, they noticed settlement cracks, they were assessed by an engineer prior to making the purchase but no issues were detected.

However in the past two years, cracks began to reappear. “There are probably more people who will make the same mistake we did and buy a house thinking it is just a settlement crack,” Michelle reflected.

Costs will prohibit people from knowing whether or not a house is infected by pyrite before they buy it, Steve felt. “The only way you can tell for certain is by having the tests done and that is going to cost €7000 or €8000 and not many people buying a house will have that lying around, if you push that onto the person selling the house they won’t have the extra either before they sell the place, it is an impossible situation”.

One occasion when they realised how big the problem was is vividly recalled by Michelle. “I’ll never forget it, Steve had a handful of this grey bit that just crumbled and he said I think it could be more sinister than plaster. For a while, we hoped it would be a bad plaster job. He brought it in and we were stunned, it was the smaller bits crumbling but it just came away after a tap. Somebody at the time was talking about how their blocks were like Weetabix. That night we contacted Martina Cleary from the Pyrite Action Group. He came in but I just didn’t want to think that the home we love and built around us with things that we love is going to start crumbling as we look at it, that started the ball rolling then”.

She continued, “We sat down a few weeks

later and we said whatever happens we have to stay sane, try take care of our physical and mental health because I just felt the rug was pulled from underneath us, where we thought we were going to retire and live happy ever after but it now had the potential to not be there at all or we wouldn’t be able to afford whatever needed to be fixed because we were in the position where one of us was working, I’m in my fifties, Steve is close to retirement, he has been made redundant and hasn’t been successful in trying to find work and it’s not for the lack of trying but at a certain age it is challenging. You become obsessed by it, there was days when I went down and I was nearly seeing a crack before it appeared. You’re looking and waiting for it inside”.

Unable to have children, the bond between the pair has become more important than ever as it faces its biggest test. Michelle added, “It was really important to me to sit down and say if worst things come to worst and the house falls down that we still have each other, we’re not getting any younger and I was worried with the stress because when you get angry you take it on the person closest to you. It’s only the two of us so Steve is my number one punching bag if something goes wrong. I thought if we don’t stay united with this, we will fall apart and not only will we have lost a house but we will have lost each other”.

Whether the property will collapse and when this could occur is unknown. “The unknown certainty is there the whole time but a part of me is saying we get one shot at life and we have to continue living even though this is going on so we have to try and do the normal things together. Everybody has had such a tough year and a half with COVID so getting out and meeting family and friends without this shadow hanging over us the whole time,” Michelle said.

Steve equates the potential to change as like the song ‘life is a rollercoaster’. “I’m down in the garden, I’ve raked, dugged and have beds down there, all put in this year, I’ve broken my back down there and I’m halfway through the day and I’m thinking what the hell am I doing this for, the whole lot could be gone. If the place has to be demolished they have to get lorries in and they are not going to get through those gates so they will have to take those gates off, all that work I’m putting in”.

l PYRITE: (below left) The house has

been badly affected and by mica and (right) Michelle and Steve Photo by Joe Buckley

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12 NEWS

THURSDAY, JUL 29 2021

‘We are sick of the lip service’ PÁRAIC MCMAHON

E

paraic@clareecho.ie

ARLY signs on the resumption of international travel are ominous for Shannon Airport, a Save our Shannon rally heard.

On Saturday, the third rally organised by the Save our Shannon (SOS) action group was held at the Daniel O’Connell Monument in Ennis.

Speakers included Violet-Anne Wynne TD (SF), Cathal Crowe TD (FF), Joe Carey TD (FG), Senator Timmy Dooley (FF), Cathaoirleach of Clare County Council, Cllr PJ Ryan (IND), former President of the Irish Hotels Federation Michael Vaughan and world famous matchmaker Willie Daly.

Addressing the rally, SOS Chairman Denis Vaughan stated that warning signals are already emerging that airports outside of the capital are set for an even greater challenge for survival than they were prior to COVID. “We’re sick of the lip service,” he declared as he called on the county politicians to stand up for Shannon.

Less than a week after the lifting of the non-essential travel ban, Mr Vaughan commended Shannon Airport for already winning back some of its services.

However, he said that there is a huge uphill battle for Shannon and other airports.

“You can’t but be worried for what lies

ahead and the signs are already ominous.

All we have to do is read the figures from the week just gone.

“Ryanair, which is making a great commitment to Shannon and we would ask the public to support the airline, had 176 flights in and out of Ireland on Monday and 150 of them were at Dublin.

“That’s over 85 per cent. We do accept this is a very difficult time for the industry and for government to deal with but unless it acts, Shannon and other airports in the regions will be under serious threat and regional economies will be undermined,” Denis commented.

Recovery in the aftermath of the pandemic must be seen as an opportunity to correct the disproportionate imbalance in the market.

“Prior to COVID, Dublin was winning 96% of all new passengers into Ireland, which is clearly unsustainable in the context of balanced regional development. The maths speaks for itself.

“With every one-million of new passengers, 960,000 of them would be flying in and out of Dublin, leaving just 40,000 passengers divided amongst Shannon, Cork, Kerry and Knock airports.

“Not alone is that denying economic growth in regions that are lagging way behind the east coast but it’s no stretch of the imagination to think that half of those passengers are actually destined for the catchments of the other airports.

“It is also environmentally unsustainable to have people arriving into Dublin and travelling across the country to their destination”.

lSUPPORT LOCAL: SOS Chairman Denis Vaughan speaking at Saturday’s rally

Photo by Eamon Ward

New home for Killaloe Coast Guard

by PÁRAIC McMAHON A NEW site is in the pipeline for the Killaloe Coast Guard with two options currently under assessment.

In November of last year, a structural assessment of the existing building in Killaloe noted that it may require substantial intervention or possible demolition but that the site itself is in an excellent location to meet the Coast Guard’s requirements.

The Office of Public Works (OPW) has confirmed that they are currently at the early stages of the potential acquisition of a site in Killaloe for the Irish Coast Guard.

The OPW were requested by the Irish Coast Guard to seek a new site for operation based in Killaloe. The existing location has been deemed not suitable for their long-term requirements.

With increasing numbers visiting Lough Derg in recent weeks, the confirmation from the OPW is very timely, Junior Minister Anne Rabbitte (FF) believed.

“I’ve been told that OPW are in regular contact with the Coast Guard with a view to assisting with the provision of cost estimates and developing proposals for the next round of priority projects.

“Once the current prioritised projects are underway, the OPW will then be better placed to progress the Killaloe station,” the Galway East TD stated.

‘We are failing to back a winner’

by PÁRAIC McMAHON

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FRUSTRATION has been expressed among West Clare councillors on the inability to progress a potential trans-shipment port at Moneypoint.

Little progress has been made by officials within the planning department of Clare County Council on the creation of a trans-shipment port at Moneypoint following proposals by elected members of the West Clare Municipal District.

Speaking at a virtual meeting of the West Clare MD, Cllr PJ Kelly (FF) quipped that his technology was sulking, “I’m not sure if it’s the weather or a subtle suggestion to go for early retirement”. The Lissycasey man was not pleased with the lack of attention paid to the proposal. “I am disappointed that the powers that be have not taken up an opportunity. Had it been on the east coast, they would be working 24 hours a day to get it going”.

Kelly signalled that it was a major asset lying on their door step, “We are failing to put our own money on winners”. He struggled to comprehend why the pow-

lPLANNING: Moneypoint ers that be were not coming together to drive it forward.

No expert group have been questioned on the viability of the proposal which was concerning, Cllr Ian Lynch (IND) felt. “We’ve plenty consultants and money paid out to them, surely we could ask someone whether it would work”.

He was adamant that the jetty should not be removed from Moneypoint in ESB’s future plans for off shore energy.

A presentation with details on work done to progress the proposal can be

arranged for September, acting senior executive officer John O’Malley stated.

“There is nothing wrong with having the information, if it doesn’t work we can put it to bed or we will know what needs to happen,” Cathaoirleach of the West Clare MD, Cllr Cillian Murphy (FF) commented.

Jobs will be retained in off-shore wind energy, Cllr Joe Killeen (FF) stated. “After an investigation it might seem like a very good idea to further develop the project,” he said of a trans-shipment port for Moneypoint.

NEWS 13

THURSDAY, JUL 29 2021

Springfield flood protection scheme set to begin in August PÁRAIC MCMAHON

S

paraic@clareecho.ie

PRINGFIELD’S long awaited flood relief scheme is expected to commence construction in early August.

Advance works and mobilisation is planned to be completed in the coming days while the flood relief scheme will provide protection for 18 properties in the area, and involves the construction of a flood protection embankment, land raising, penstock/ sluice, pump station and associated works at the townlands of Springfield, Cappavilla North, Cottage and Illaunyregan, Clonlara.

A Natura Impact Statement, together with plans and particulars relating to the application, was submitted to An Bord Pleanala in July 2020, with the Board confirming approval for the proposed €1.2m works in November 2020 under Part 10 of the Planning and Development Regulations 2001.

The works are expected to be substantially complete in 2022 and the construction scheme will be formally launched on Friday morning in Clonlara. Planning for flood protection works began in early 2016, after more

l RELIEF: Springfield than 10 families had to evacuate their properties and a further five had their access roads completely cut off.

Flooding in Clonlara has regularly affected residents of Springfield as far back as 1995 with more recent events occurring in 2009, 2016 and 2020 Clare TD, Joe Carey (FG) said the due start for works served as “a relief for local residents”. He stated, “Having been through multiple flooding events, which has had a devastating impact on their lives and on their homes, it is a relief for local residents

that construction is due to begin”.

Carey acknowledged that the start date was delayed but flagged that this was for additional ground investigations. “Minister of State with responsibility for the Office of Public Works, Patrick O’Donovan, has visited the area previously to meet with concerned residents and is aware of the stress that flooding and the threat of flooding has had on the local community,” the Clarecastle native said.

O’Donovan will launch the scheme this Friday morning in Clonlara.

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Council committed to giving Crusheen a second bus shelter CLARE County Council have said it remains committed to providing a southbound bus shelter in Crusheen, writes Páraic McMahon.

A fresh request for a second bus shelter in Crusheen was made by Cllr Pat Burke (FG) at the July meeting of the Killaloe Municipal District. He suggested a site adjacent to the railway bridge “on publicly owned lands with ample space for parking”.

Senior executive engineer, Niamh Madden said the feasibility of a bus stop adjacent to the bridge would be assessed but admitted they had concerns relating to the “distance from the village centre and the need to cross the road at the bridge”.

She detailed that the local authority was committed to find a site for the southbound bus shelter in Crusheen.

“The Council was unable to reach an agreement in relation to land adjacent to the existing southbound stop.

As a result, an alternative site was proposed within the village centre and its location was approved by both Bus Éireann and the National Transport Authority (NTA).

The Council was unable to get consensus in relation to this proposed location”.

Speaking at the meeting, Cllr Burke recalled the controversy caused previously but praised the Council’s commitment. “I would have thought they wouldn’t be crossing the road at the bridge but further up the street,” he added. “With the motorway adjacent to it, it is a much sought after location, the services must match that”.

Bus shelters in Crusheen “are on the agenda for a long time,” Cllr Pat Hayes (FF) observed. “The older residents have been looking for a bus shelter since I’ve been representing the area”. He continued, “A second site is important but we have to be mindful of the population and the houses being built”.

Morgan Lahiffe, senior executive officer agreed that the centre of Crusheen would be “an ideal spot for two bus shelters but that is not going to happen”. He cautioned that widespread consensus won’t be met for any proposal so instead the majority of the village’s support was needed.

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14 NEWS

THURSDAY, JUL 29 2021

Warm reception for start of Bualadh Busk PÁRAIC MCMAHON paraic@clareecho.ie

A

SUMMER series of outdoor performances featuring local talent has kicked off to a warm reception.

Titled Bualadh Busk, the series is funded through the Outdoor Live Performance Scheme, Clare County Council and the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media. It is ran in partnership between the Shannon Municipal District, Clare County Council and the Clare Arts Office.

Damien O’Rourke of Cuppa Tea TV is an integral figure in the organising of the events locally which are taking place every Thursday and Saturday in Shannon, Newmarket-on-Fer-

gus, Bunratty and Sixmilebridge throughout the months of July, August and September.

Mikey Wall performed at the band stand in Shannon Town Park on Saturday and was followed by Eoin O’Neil and Colleen Shanks who also travelled to the square in Newmarket-on-Fergus for a further performance.

Shannon’s Adam Moloney who previously featured on The X Factor was by the O’Garney River in Sixmilebridge for a riverside rendition and he was also the musical act by the Creamery in Bunratty with Kathleen Malone and Pat Dowling the final acts on show.

High praise has been extended on social media for the events which attracted modest crowds to each of the venues.

Lineups and times are to be confirmed for the upcoming performances in the coming days.

lJIG TIME: Divided loyalties from Freddie Curtin at Shannon Town Park (left) and Adam Moloney performing in Sixmilebridge (above)

Photos by Joe Buckley

OLED and PPG to bring more jobs than originally expected to Shannon

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Marquee is Dining Only and reservations required Beer Garden & Car Park Areas will be a Walk in System Full Takeaway Menu available Daily Order online: www.shannonspringshotel.com or by calling 061.364047 / 083.0703662 Offering Deliveries: Thursday to Sunday 12.30pm to 9pm.

by PÁRAIC McMAHON AN INCREASED amount of jobs than originally forecast are to be created in Shannon as part of the development of a new manufacturing site.

The Clare Echo was the first to report in March of this year that up to 60 jobs would be created as Universal Display Corporation (UDC) and PPG jointly establish a manufacturing site. It is to be located at what was formerly the Avara pharmaceuticals plant and will produce energy-efficient, high-performing materials for the LED light market demand.

On Thursday, the companies confirmed they were embarking on a multi-million euro capital investment which they said would create up to 100 high-tech jobs in Shannon. The facility aims to broaden the global footprint and increase the production of Universal Display Corporation’s (UDC) energy-efficient, high-performing UniversalPHOLED® materials to meet growing organic light emitting diode (OLED) market demand and evolving

industry requirements.

Director of OLED Material Manufacturing Limited, Austin McCabe said they were “excited about the new Shannon facility”. He outlined, “Together with our long-term partner, PPG, this multi-million-euro investment will expand the global manufacturing footprint for UDC’s proprietary state-of-the-art phosphorescent emissive materials to meet the substantial growth forecasted for the OLED market”.

PPG Plant Manager, Gerry Cahill was confident the project would bring “a broad spectrum” of jobs to the Mid-West. “The expansion into Ireland with the addition of the Shannon facility shows confidence in not only the UDC-PPG partnership but also in Ireland as a place in which to invest and do business,” he stated.

CEO of Shannon Chamber, Helen Downes was pleased to see a technology of the future breathing new life into Shannon.

“The significance of a decision of this nature is manifold. Not only does it

bring new investment to Shannon but it provides opportunities at a much wider level, through the delivery of high-calibre employment and the attraction of new skills in a technology-driven sector”.

Clare TD, Cathal Crowe (FF) felt the economic difficulties of this year and last emphasised the importance of the investment, “The Shannon area is the jewel in the Midwest region’s crown and is one of the main drivers for investment and employment here”.

Deputy Crowe added, “It goes without saying that having the presence of an international airport just beside these facilities is a major plus for any firm looking to the Midwest region.

“This is among many reasons as to why we need to ensure continued investment for Shannon Airport”.

Addition of extra jobs to Shannon represented a huge boost to the region, Deputy Joe Carey (FG) flagged. “This is excellent news for Clare and the midwest and comes following a very testing period for the regional and national economy”.

15

THURSDAY, JUL 29 2021

in association with

Integrity of Des O’Malley marked in Clare PÁRAIC MCMAHON

D

paraic@clareecho.ie

ES O’Malley’s contribution to Irish politics has been remembered all across the country following his death on Wednesday of last week.

In Clare, former members of the Progressive Democrats also paid tribute to the Limerick native.

O’Malley served as a TD for Limerick East from 1968 to 2002. He was a prominent Fianna Fáil TD and minister in the 1970s and 1980s, before he founded the Progressive Democrats and led the party from 1985 until 1993. He was appointed Minister for Justice by Taoiseach Jack Lynch (FF). He took a tough line with the IRA, establishing the Special Criminal Court and introducing the Offences Against the State Act. In 1985, the Fine Gael-Labour government introduced a bill to repeal the ban on contraceptives for the unmarried. He broke ranks with Fianna Fáil who opposed the bill

lRIP: Tom Meaney and Tom Casey remember Des O’Malley

and was expelled from the party. He founded the Progressive Democrats and the new party won 14 Dáil seats in 1987.

Two years later the most unlikely of coa-

Road to Ennis Golf Club is ‘full of potholes’

by PÁRAIC McMAHON ROAD surfacing from Ennis Golf Club towards Drumbiggle Rd has been scheduled but will not receive an asphaltic overlay until a footpath is constructed.

An appeal for a continuation of road upgrading was made by Cllr Pat Daly (FF) at the July meeting of the Ennis Municipal District. He was keen to see the works extend “right down” to Showgrounds Cross on the Drumbiggle Rd. Senior executive officer, Eamon O’Dea confirmed that road from the Golf Club to the Drumbiggle Rd would be surfaced using a thin coat surfacing material, “this work is being scheduled with a specialised contractor,” he stated.

Provision of a footpath along the same stretch was listed by the Ennis MD in the NTA Active Travel funding for 2021 but it

lWORKS: Ennis Golf Club

was not listed in the works programme.

O’Dea added, “The proposed works are a priority for the Ennis MD and the design work will be undertaken in 2021-2022 so the road can be included in the submissions for pedestrian works in the 2022 NTA Active Travel call. The road will be included in the Road Works Programme for asphaltic overlay when the footpath is constructed”.

Constituents flagged the matter with councillors prior to the 2019 local election, Cllr Mary Howard (FG) recalled. “One side of the road is beautifully done and the rest is full of potholes. It is unsightly and is there for quite a while”.

Funding had been set aside under the Schedule of Municipal District works, Cllr Johnny Flynn (FG) noted. “I used to cycle the road myself when I was playing as a junior golfer,” he added.

litions was formed when Charlie Haughey (FF) and O’Malley agreed to form a Fianna Fáil-PD government.

Ex colleagues of O’Malleys in Clare,

Tom Meaney of Ennis and Tom Casey of Newmarket-on-Fergus put together a placard in memory of the former politician. It paid tribute to his courage and to his uncle Donogh “who gave the labouring man’s children free education and free transport”.

Speaking to The Clare Echo from his Ennis home, Meaney who contested the 1987 and 1989 General Elections in Clare for the Progressive Democrats said that Des was “a man you were proud to be involved with”.

“He was a man to a certain extent that changed politics in Ireland. He insisted on integrity, he stood up to everyone. Only he would have left the party that would have made him Taoiseach because of his principles, he was a man of great integrity” Meaney added.

There was no desire on O’Malley’s part to become a rich man by entering politics, Meaney believed. “He never became a rich man, I was in his house in Limerick, the house showed that he didn’t make money like Charlie Haughey nor did he want to”.

Casey who ran in the Shannon area for the 1991 local elections outlined that the O’Malleys were in politics “for the good of the people”.

16 FEATURES

THURSDAY, JUL 29 2021

GREEN CLARE

Biodiversity enhancement plans put in place for Clare farmers CIAN O’BROIN

C

cianobroin@clareecho.ie

LARE farmers are benefiting from specialised Biodiversity Enhancement Plan Training which looks at the benefits of improved grassland and plant management.

The project, which is operated through the Clare Local Development Company (CLDC), offers bespoke biodiversity enhancement training through an assessment and survey of each farm, whereby subsequent proposals are put in place in the hope of improving all aspects of biodiversity.

A total of 21 farmers from across the county are participating in the project, which is being conducted

by Environmental Scientist and Agricultural Consultant Damien

Coyne. The onus, he stated, is on good grassland management involving more rotational patterns.

“The project is mainly about how they manage fuel and how they graze their land. We educate them on the most efficient methods to bring about a greater variety of plant. We focus on smaller areas being grazed on for a shorter period of time. When you move the animals around, they graze more evenly throughout,” the Tuam native stated.

The project looks at zero cost methods of improving biodiversity. Much of this involves meeting new guidelines and policies set out by the Government. There is an emphasis “on getting people paid for results” but the real battle is in “getting a verifiable method to quantify the amount of carbon being sequestered in agriculture”.

Damien alluded to stereotypical proclamations held within public perception, whereby farming has a bad name for huge carbon emis-

lRESULTS: The project focuses on biodiversity in grassland areas

sions through the likes of methane production from cows but “there is no acknowledgement of the carbon being stored in these soils already.” He cited a need for a balanced view between the two.

An opening was identified in Clare, where, Damien explained, little to no recruitment effort was necessary. Farm sizes vary widely within the project, from large intensive farms in the East of the county, to smaller part time enterprises elsewhere.

Training and intervention is provided without any impact on the output of the farm. With the expansion of dairy farms over the years, Damien has noted the growth in more intensive farming but conceded that the smaller, more typical part time farming families are unable to sustain a viable income in the current economic and agricultural climate. “At the end of the programme landowners will have a clear knowledge of why certain actions are being proposed

and how to implement them,” he added.

Damien Coyne Agri, which is the farming consultancy business run by the NUIG graduate, who has over 15 years’ experience working for himself, looks at providing plans and advice to farmers in the West of Ireland. With most availing of farm advisors today, Damien reiterated the importance of adhering to GLAS programme

requirements, which is the agri-environment scheme under the Rural Development Programme 2014 – 2020 where priority will be given to farmers with essential environmental assets and to farmers who undertake specific actions.

“Nitrate regulations are the rule book for most farmers, and agricultural advisors work heavily with their clients in this area,” he concluded.

Arts & Entertainment 17

THURSDAY, JUL 29 2021

Fionnathan Productions receive awards from Genesis Programme PÁRAIC MCMAHON

A

paraic@clareecho.ie

CLARE social enterprise has been awarded business supports under Rethink Ireland’s Genesis Pro-

gramme.

Fionnathan Productions were the successful Clare organisation that will now attend an intensive two day workshop that will focus on building the skills and knowledge needed to develop a sustainable social enterprise and to be successful in future funding opportunities.

Fionn Crombie Angus and his father Jonathan are the brains behind the production company. The Mountshannon duo are master surfers on the wave toward Inclusion. Between them, they have interviewed over 600 people including Angela Lansbury, Coolio and Brian Eno. To date, they have had

22 films commissioned and have had 17 art exhibitions including one in New York City.

Fionn was one of the first people in Ireland with cognitive impairment (Down syndrome) to create and manage his own supports.

With help from family, he explored the programs of traditional service providers, formed a limited company, proposed his own plan, and, in 2015, agreed to start a pilot project for the HSE. ​As a film maker and musician, Fionn has appeared on RTE’s Saturday Night Show, Today with Maura and Daithi, and Nationwide; TG4’s Dúiche; and IrishTV’s Clare Matters and Offaly Matters.

He has served as Public Relations Officer on the National Advisory Council of Down Syndrome Ireland and has given presentations to the Irish National Teachers Organisation (INTO) and the Anthropological Association of Ireland.

Through placements as a Heritage in Schools Expert and Slingshot Academy Mentor, Fionn has

lWORKSHOP: Fionn Crombie Angus and Jonathan Angus

taught thousands of primary and secondary school students. He has also given dozens of guest lectures and conference presentations in colleges around Ireland and in seven other countries.

His father, Jonathan, has over 20 years’ experience in education with children and adults, through mainstream and learning support, in Ireland and America. He co-authored a government report on the public response to disability service reform initiatives, as well as Good Lives: Perspectives of People with Disabilities and Families published by the Centre for Disability, Law and Policy at NUIG. He is researching a PhD thesis on these themes.

Congratulations were voiced by Chief Executive of Clare County Council, Pat Dowling. “Coming out of an extremely challenging period for Irish society and Irish businesses, we’re delighted with this good news story for Clare.

Social enterprises have an important role to play in guiding Ireland

to become a more inclusive and equal society. Organisations like Fionnathan Productions, are lead-

ing the charge by not only creating jobs but working towards bringing about positive social change.”

FIDDLE AND BOWIE

lCOCKTAILS: Fiddle + Bow will host ‘An Evening in Conversation with Doireann Healy’ in collaboration with Clare based Whiskey Bonder J.J. Corry tonight (Thursday). The Whiskey brand has taken up residence in Fiddle + Bow Hotel’s outdoor space, ‘The Meadow’, with their pop up Highball Tent, offering cocktails classes and refreshments Wednesday through Sunday weekly to the end of September 2021.

Hosted by Louise McGuane, founder and CEO of J.J. Corry Irish Whiskey, the event will feature a candid discussion with the founder and chief designer of Irish Fashion brand, Begley & Bowie. Throughout the evening they will have an open conversation on women in business, whiskey, design and all things local. The event will kick off at 6pm on Thursday, July 29. Tickets are available to purchase via Eventbrite, priced at €12.50 (which includes one complimentary J.J. Corry cocktail). Scan the QR code to find out more.

18 FEATURES

Help one another

RONAN SCULLY

Thought for the week

T

HEY say real love is about touching hearts and souls, so let's try and touch as many 'Hearts and Souls' with real love and compassion as we can in our daily living and try to bring real change to the World for the good of everyone especially those most in need in our world at this time such as the unwell and the sick at home and in hospital and those in great need at this time.

When we allow ourselves to understand the impact our actions have on ourselves and on other's, we realize the necessity to take loving action.

We each have the power to correct conditions within us as well as to affect the world we live in. There are so many ways to apply love in our everyday lives.

Yet, if we do not take care of ourselves and one another, it is virtually impossible to feel and share love with the world around us. As an act of self-love, we can begin to educate ourselves and learn to take care of our physical bodies as well as keep our thoughts and feelings positive and loving. Nurturing ourselves also teaches us how to nurture life around us and lend each other a helping hand. I believe in helping others as much as I physically and mentally can. Whether it is something big or small, I think that one simple act of kindness can make a huge impact. As usual a story from my Nana Scully's prayer book might help to explain.

Take care of one another

"A young aid worker named Robert was travelling down a street in Luanda, the capital of Angola in Africa. He was going a bit too fast in his sleek, white jeep, which was only a few months old. He was watching for street kids darting out from between parked cars and slowed down when he thought he saw something.

Just then, a brick sailed out and wallop, it smashed into the jeep’s shiny white side door leaving a huge dent. Immediately, he screeched to a stop, slamming on the brakes and gearing into reverse. His tires spun madly, as he brought the jeep back to the spot where the brick had been thrown. Robert jumped out of the jeep, grabbed the street kid and pushed him up against a parked car.

He shouted at the street kid, "What was that all about and who are you?

Just what the heck are you doing?!"

Building up a head of steam, he went on.

"That brick you threw is going to cost you a lot of money. Why did you throw it?" "Please, mister, please...I'm sorry! I didn't know what else to do!" pleaded the street

kid. "I threw the brick because no one else would stop!" Tears were dripping down the boy's face, as he pointed around the parked car. "It's my brother, mister," he said. "He rolled off the curb and fell out of his wheelchair and I can't lift him up."

Sobbing, the boy asked the young aid worker, "Would you please help me get him back into his wheelchair? He's hurt and he's too heavy for me."

Moved beyond words, the young aid worker tried desperately to swallow the rapidly swelling lump in his throat. Straining, he lifted the young child back into the wheelchair. He took out his handkerchief and wiped the scrapes and cuts, checking to see that the boy was OK. He then watched the young street kid push him down the path toward their home in the shanty area of Luanda.

It was a long walk back to the sleek, white, shining, jeep. Robert never did fix the dent in the side door of his jeep. He kept the dent to remind him not to go through life so fast that someone has to throw a brick at him to get his attention and care."

Acts of Kindness

Practice constant acts of kindness if you can and you will then bring kindness upon yourself. Forgiveness can be tough to carry out but it is the most powerful act of kindness you can make. Both for you and for others, this activity promotes unity and harmony. Our lives are filled with opportunities to experience love, tolerance, peace and joy.

When we, as individuals, realize our potential to love unconditionally, we transform ourselves and one another and the world we live in at the same time.

The choice is ours to create a world of joy and happiness, love and goodwill. Every moment of every day is a new beginning. The meaning held in these words opens us to a new way of living and experiencing life. Start each day and each week as a new journey of self discovery. Let go of yesterday and tomorrow and embrace the power of now. Remind yourself daily of the newness of life in the moment and learn to lend each other a helping hand through daily acts of kindness, care and love.

Touch souls and change the world for good!

Lending a helping hand

"Paddy died and passed onto the next life. When he appeared before God, he passed all the questions and was allowed to enter heaven.

He thanked God, but before he left for Heaven he made one request - a rather curious one at that. “May I visit Hell to see what it looks like”?

The request was granted and Paddy stood at the fiery gates of Hell. The sights and the sounds stirred him to his depths. There was the weeping and wailing that he heard about. But there was something else that he had not heard about.

Food lay all over the place in abundance. Despite the evident great supply of food everybody was suffering the agonies of starvation.

Paddy was puzzled. Each person held a knife and a fork in their hands. There was plenty of food, so why the starvation? As he observed the plight, Paddy noticed that each one was able to pick up the food with their knives and forks, but were unable to get the food into their mouths because the knives and forks were too long.

And the one unalterable rule of Hell was that each person must hold the knives and forks at the very end. This was Hell. Each one was completely centered on his or her own needs and were unable to satisfy themselves. Then it was time for Paddy to go to heaven and when he got there, there was the joy and glory and happiness that he had heard about. But like hell there was something in Heaven that he had also not heard about. Here he found a strange similarity to the conditions that prevailed in hell. There was the same pair of unusually long knives and forks.

The exact unalterable rule was in effect, that each one must hold the knife and fork at the very end which again made it impossible for each person to reach their own mouth. But there was one big difference. Each person was feeding their neighbor and each in turn was being fed by their neighbor. This was definitely Heaven. Each person was completely concerned about the needs of their neighbor. In this concern for their neighbor, their own needs were completely satisfied."

Thought for the week

As your thought for the week, have a look at the following prayer poem and if you can, put it into action in your life, "Heaven is really about being able to lend a helping Hand when Beautiful Hands are those that weave, bright threads of joy in lives that grieve.

Beautiful feet are those that run, on errands of mercy from sun to sun. Beautiful lips are those that speak to comfort the mourner and hearten the weak; Beautiful eyes are those that glow with the light of a spirit pure as snow. Beautiful faces are those that seem with the very love of God to beam. Beautiful forms are those that grace with gentle service the lowliest place.

Beautiful lives are those that bear for other lives their burden of care.

Beautiful souls are those that show The Holy Spirit of God wherever they go. You see, beautiful Love is really about touching others' hearts and souls!! So touch hearts and souls for the good of everyone and change the world for good! Amen"

THURSDAY, JUL 29 2021

Three Clare men go way above for BUMBLEance

lPEAK FITNESS: Joe Robbins of CareerWise Recruitment

presenting a cheque to Vinny McInerney flanked by Fionn and Neil Mac Giolla Cearra with John Cleary Photo by Joe Buckley

CIAN O’BROIN cianobroin@clareecho.ie

T

HREE Clare men have completed an arduous challenge comprising of climbing 26 peaks in 109 hours in support of a vital children’s charity service.

Sixmilebridge’s Vinny McInerney, along with father and son Neil and Fionn Mac Giolla Cearra, successfully hiked all 32 county high points over five days, raising over €3,000 for Bumbleance, the Children’s National Ambulance Service.

The feat, which consisted of 1,800km of driving, 160km of hiking and 10,000m of elevation gain which equates to more than Mount Everest was birthed by Vinny’s “desire to catch people’s imagination” and “donate to a worthy cause.”

The Zimmer Shannon employee first became acquainted with the challenge through the hiking community and decided to achieve the accomplishment in four and a half days as opposed to the standard two to three years.

“I like to come up with idiotic things to do and particularly challenges that I don’t know if I can complete,” he told The Clare Echo.

Day one included starting out at Mweelrea in County Mayo, to Benbaun, Arderin and then Moylussa which is “just in our backyard” and where the trio have been training with weighted ascents as preparation for the challenge.

Day two involved Carrauntoohil, Knockboy, Galtymore and Knockmealdown.

The third day contained nine peaks starting at Brandon Hill in Kilkenny and finishing up in Seltannasaggart on the

Roscommon/Leitrim border.

The last two days saw them defeat a total of eight peaks, finishing up in Errigal in County Donegal.

The biggest challenge faced by the three Clare men was the heat, factoring in their approach of maintaining a constant pace throughout.

This wasn’t Vinny’s first rodeo, having completed the Zimmer plant cycle over Christmas where members of the Shannon plant cycle to Oranmore and those in the Galway facility head to the Banner County.

“Bumbleance is my workplace’s chosen charity, so I wanted to do something for them, seeing as it seemed like nothing official was going to be done this year due to restrictions and health concerns.

"It wasn’t chosen for any real personal reason, but children’s charities are the purest as they are the innocent of society. I’m delighted that my former employer CareerWise Recruitment were able to sponsor us with donations,” he concluded.

Co-founder of CareerWise Recruitment, Joe Robbins explained why they got behind the fundraiser.

“We’re delighted to be able to support these local guys, who live and work locally. We’re big supporters of Bumbelance at CareerWise.

"It was a massive effort from the guys in very hot weather and they deserved to be supported”.

To contribute, please visit ‘bumbleance-5-day-countyhigh-points-challenge’ on www.idonate.ie.

THURSDAY, JUL 29 2021

Community BALLYVAUGHAN

COMMUNITY 19 CONTACT

NEWSDESK 065 671 9021 news@clareecho.ie

LOUGH DERG HOLY ISLAND TOUR

THE ‘Tour of Holy Island’ starts with a minibus leaving the Ring of Lough Derg Tourist Office in Killaloe at 12.30 on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

This mini-bus brings people to a Mountshannon pier where Ger Madden (a very experienced local guide) drives a boat to and from Holy Island.

The tour concludes with a lunch at 'Flanagans On The Lake' (a bar and restaurant near Killaloe) around 15H following the minibus trip back from a Mountshannon pier.

Bookings need to be made in advance via 0851086497. Tour and lunch costs €40.

COUNTYWIDE BIG BEACH CLEAN

lNUMER ONE: A CLARE student from the National College of Art and Design (NCAD) - along with her Cavan teammate - has hit the

right note with their design for a new trophy that will be awarded to music artists with a number one single or album, on the IRMA Official Chart. Katie, 21, hails from Ballyvaughan and previously attended Mary Immaculate Secondary School in Lisdoonvarna before taking up a place on the Bachelor of Science Product Design degree course in NCAD.“The trophy design was based on the ask from Universal (Music Ireland) that it would be simplistic as well as symbolising being the best in music. It does mean a lot to win this because it is the first of our designs to ever be produced, as well as being presented to major artists,” Irish rock band Inhaler were the first recipient of the award when their new album “It Won’t Always Be Like This” went to number one in the Irish charts last week.

COUNTYWIDE SOFT POWER EDUCATION

A NUMBER of Clare people involved in volunteering in Uganda over the past three years have come up with a very unique and novel idea to help raise funds for a charity based in Uganda. The volunteers have been busily preparing a virtual Race To Uganda beginning on August 1st – August 14th involving a total distance of 6,900km.

The African continent has recorded a 43% week-on-week rise in COVID-19 deaths, as hospital admissions increase rapidly and countries face shortages in Oxygen and intensive care beds. Fatalities increased from 6273 in the week ending July 11 from 4384 in the previous week.

Uganda has many economic challenges to deal with. Only 95 out of 100 children born in Uganda survive to age 5. Undernutrition is high and stunting affects 29% of children in Uganda aged 5 years and below. At 3%, Uganda’s annual population growth rate is amongst the highest in the world.

Uganda’s population of 42 million is expected to reach 100 million by 2050, while the annual urban growth rate of 5.2% is among the highest in the world and is expected to grow from 6.4 million to 22 million by 2040.

The medium – term outlook for Uganda had worsened considerably due to the impact of COVID-19 and risks are tilted heavily to a downturn in the economy. If the impact of COVID-19 lasts longer globally, or the virus spreads more widely in Uganda this could have a negative impact on the Ugandan economy and its people.

Uganda is sadly gripped by an aggressive third wave of the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Between May and June 2021, there was a 2,800% increase in the number of COVID cases and Uganda was put into a strict 42 day country-wide lockdown to try to curb the rise of infections. COVID -19 deaths increased from 361 to 1,193 in just 2 months and sadly only 2.2% of the population has been vaccinated.

The new restrictions potentially threaten to arrest an already fragile economic recovery from the blow inflicted by last years lockdown. Schools are once again closed and there is no public transport. The majority of Ugandans survive on a daily income and with such restrictions in place, they are struggling to earn daily to provide for their families.

It is a strange parallel to draw as Ireland

leaves lockdown and makes great strides in vaccinating the population, Uganda is suffering through their strictest COVID-19 lockdown and a rise of new cases and an increasing death toll.

The effects of the pandemic in Uganda reach far beyond children not being able to go to school. A significant increase in young girls being married off as families look for ways to earn money to support their families.

Teenage pregnancies are on the rise and there are concerns about how many of the young girls will be able to return to school when they are able to reopen again. It is possible that schools don’t reopen this year and this will mean that many children will have lost an entire two years of their education. Those important first years in education, which build the foundation for future learning, have been lost.

Help the volunteers reach the target of 6,900 km. Join the challenge through Umbali.org.

Cash donations for the challenge can be dropped into Frank and Siobhain at SweetnGreen Café next to the Friary in Ennis.

Log your Kms as you do them and please donate to support these wonderful warm people who need your help.

AFTER a break in 2020, the Big Beach Clean initiative is back, and Clean Coasts are calling people in county Clare to register to receive clean-up kits and join the world biggest clean-up.

In 2019, the campaign reported record breaking numbers with over 300 clean-ups taking place around all of Ireland, engaging approximately 8,000 volunteers who removed at least 45 tonnes of marine litter across the country.

In Clare, 15 clean-up events were organised, where approximately 350 volunteers got involved, removing over 2 tonnes of litter all over the region.

The Big Beach Clean is an annual call to action and this year it will run from 17th to 19th September, as part of the International Coastal Cleanup (ICC), operated internationally by Ocean Conservancy.

This call to action invites communities and volunteers around the country to remove litter from around the Irish coast after the end of the bathing season.

This initiative is also an opportunity for volunteers to get involved in a worldwide citizen science project, which entails collecting the amount and types of litter on Irish beaches and filling in Clean Coasts’ Marine Litter Data Cards.

This will help heighten awareness about the issue of marine litter serving as an indicator of the magnitude of the problem.

The Big Beach Clean also takes place over the same weekend as World Clean Up Day, which normally unites more than 20 million people in 180 countries, who come together to tackle litter.

For this reason, in 2021, with the involvement of the National Spring Clean programme, registrations will again be open to all residents of Ireland, no matter how far from the coast they are based.

Statistics show that the number one cause of marine litter is litter dropped in towns and cities. Getting involved in the Big Beach Clean is a way for residents of non-coastal counties to help prevent litter entering our waterways and seas by holding a clean-up no matter where they are in the country and tackling the problem at source.

As sea lovers and sustainability supporters, Cully and Sully are joining Clean Coasts again and are very excited to be supporting the Big Beach Clean by providing volunteers with clean up kits.

Cully and Sully will also be hosting flagship events which will be announced in August.

To register visit the Clean Coasts website at www.cleancoasts.org

20 COLUMNIST

THURSDAY, JUL 29 2021

Kearney Cooks

ONE POT WONDER STEW

I

LOVE a 10 minute recipe. A little one pot wonder that you can have cooked at the drop of a hat. I usually would have a few items in my store cupboard such as canned beans and cans of tomato so that I can whip something up if the need arises.

By accompanying these store cupboard essentials with some fresh herbs and veg that are often lying around the house,you would be surprised at the feasts you would be able to produce at short notice.

So after a week of the hottest weather I had seen in years, I finally got a day off work and was looking forward to hitting some outdoor dining. IT POURED RAIN. My outdoor lunch was scuppered and I had to produce lunch for four (my family) at short notice. So this is what I came up with.

YOU WILL NEED: • 1x 200g Chorizo Ring • 1 can of cannellini beans • Half a bell pepper diced • Half an onion diced • 2 crushed garlic cloves • A couple of sprigs of fresh thyme • A tsp of smoked paprika • 100g of chicken stock • A can of chopped tomatoes Step 1 Peel the skin off your chorizo ring and chop it up into chunks. Horse the chorizo, onion, garlic, pepper and

R

ebecca O’Neill

T

thyme into an oiled hot pan. Leave them cook for a few minutes at a medium to high heat.

Step 2 While the meat and veg is cooking, strain your cannellini beans and wash them. Then fire them into the pan along with the smoked paprika.

Step 3 Add your chicken stock and the can of chopped tomatoes to the pan. Leave it bubble away for five minutes, then taste and adjust your seasoning. Your stew should be ready to serve.

I served this dish with rice, but it would go great with couscous, barley, pasta or even fried potatoes. And if you’re feeling like a big hard bustard, you could really ramp up the heat with this dish by adding chillis or hot sauce.

As usual if you have any questions please feel free to dm me on Insta (stevekearney37).

Hopefully by the time this is printed the weather will have picked up again.

Enjoy

Steve K

Social dilemma

This week, beauty therapist Rebecca O’Neill discusses the impact of social media on young people

HE impact of social media has been regularly highlighted since the beginning of the pandemic last year.

Social media can have major positives and major negatives when it comes to an individual’s development from a young age.

This topic intrigues me and made me want to research more about what the actual effects social media can have on younger people that are navigating through life.

A survey completed this year by Common Sense Media among 1,500 teenagers found that half of respondents were in favour of social media with some referencing it as very important to get support and advice, feel less alone, stay in touch with friends and family while social

SOCIAL LIFE: Influencers are role models for young people

distancing and also for expressing their creative side.

This I completely understand. In terms of being able to have the luxury and freedom of expressing yourself and contacting friends and family whenever you please.

This is something that really helps people feel like

they are allowed do what they want to do in terms of expressing themselves and interacting with others.

According to the survey participants, 43 per cent said that using social media makes them feel better when they are stressed, depressed or anxious.

Fifty-two per cent of the

LGBTQ youth said that social media helps them feel better when experiencing certain emotions.

On the other side of this, it shows a significant effect on teens when depressed and anxious, that they feel worse after being on social media.

One-third of teens with depression reported constant social media use, as compared to 18 per cent of teens who did not have depressive symptoms, according to the survey.

This shows that some teens can rely on this to make them happier but instead, it can fuel their depression and anxiety by comparing themselves to others and occasionally feeling very lonely.

This is more common than we think, and can have a serious effect on self reflection and emotional intelligence in younger

people.

Young girls with low self esteem can find this to drop even further through their usage of social media.

They can compare their lives to others and gradually look at their personal lives, finding things they might think are wrong.

In my personal experience with social media, I like to say that one picture is only a snapshot of one single moment this person is having in their day, without highlighting the negatives which everyone goes through.Social media is great for marketing and expressing yourself.

But I also think it can cause unrealistic expectations for people. Influencers nowadays show every side to them including the negatives, and this is a very positive change in our society.

COLUMNIST 21

THURSDAY, JUl 29 2021

Eoin Neylon

An inside look at Clare’s political spectrum With

With

In this week’s column, Joe Melody reflects on safety requirements on Irish farms

F

ARM Safety Week has just passed and for all the progress we have made in terms of efficiencies in the industry this is one area that our record is a sorry one.

Twenty one people on average lose their lives on our farms every year. The number of farm fatalities tells a grim story but that’s even without speaking of the number of accidents and those who are left with disabilities and trauma from some terrible farm accident. Farmers work long hours, often alone with powerful machinery and large animals. All of these factors can create a multitude of occupational hazards. The profile of risks on farm are so diverse that it makes it very difficult to regulate farm safety effectively.

In full disclosure I’m very much of the mindset that too much regulation in industry is a bad thing and it prohibits creativity and progress. However when it comes to farm safety certain simple areas could be regulated to improve the lot of the farmer. One glaring

RED ALERT: Farm safety

example is the quad bike.

These are common across the country. They are an acceptable mode of getting around the farm or to access places indeed where other machinery dare not venture due to terrain and conditions.

Unfortunately in this jurisdiction there is no requirement for a roll bar to prevent injury or death by being crushed should the quad over turn. The government should in fact mandate that any manufacturer of quad bikes provide a roll bar with every quad sold onto the Irish market.

The quad bike is only one risk but it is illustrative of how simple regulation can save lives.

With every operation we plan on farm we need to plan on doing it safely.

How can you plan anything if you’re not rested or healthy?

A recent collaborative study involving UCD and Teagasc found that 62% of male farmers are overweight. As one could infer and as the study showed, farmers experience five times more cardiovascular and three times more

cancer in the working age demographic than white collar workers in other sectors. To me this is evidence that ‘Farm Safety’ alone will not improve until we take a holistic approach by encompassing health into the conversation.

Stress is hugely detrimental to one’s health and is the cause of many health issues both physical and mental. Today’s farmer has to endure much bureaucracy and time spent doing non productive form filling. There are only so many hours in the day and perhaps in some cases the farmer is being pressed too hard. I would commend any legislator or civil servant that asks the question, “How will this regulation affect the farmer as a human being?”.

I fear for our older farmers who are not as excited about our move to the online world. Our government agencies need to allow for them and not heap more stress upon them while they are fulfilling their duties to cross compliance. Empathy and common sense can go a long way to improving farmer welfare.

Summer silly season T HE Summer recess is usually a time of relative political quiet throughout the year in which parties take stock, brainstorm, connect with the grassroots members and then return refreshed for the new Dáil term in September to renew battles.

It’s during this period that backbenchers and local Councillors see an opportunity for them to steal a few headlines, given the lack of daily Dáil debates to hog the headlines. This Summer has proven no exception, in one of the more dramatic damp squibs seen in quite some time.

An early contender into the category of “most embarrassing attempted heave of the decade” will go to the Social Democrats and their members, including two Councillors, who tried to oust co-leaders Murphy and Shorthall in the most half-assed manner I’ve ever seen. Not only was it poorly advised to ask the governing body of the party to call a leadership election, without the expressed support of a single member of the national executive, but in their letter outlining their desire, they went as far as to call the leadership duo out for doing “exceptional work”.

That is a direct quote from their letter. The rest of it is fluffy language about “the next phase” and trying to “look forward” but doesn’t outline any problems a change in leadership is aiming to fix, or any policy points that the party should change to for which a change of leadership would be required. I would call this student union politics, but that would be a disservice to students’ unions all over the country to accuse them of being on a par with this mess of a

situation.

To underline the ridiculousness of it all, the Parliamentary Party of the Social Democrats shut the idea down extremely quickly.

Seeing as they would be the only ones with a vote in a leadership election, a rarity in Irish politics these days, the fact they unanimously backed the current leaders all but ended the conversation. Amateur hour is the best description that can be found for this fiasco that will undoubtedly hurt those who signed the letter in the long run.

Not content with the Soc Dems getting press for Silly-Season frivolity, Sinn Féin decided to make haste with the lack of Dáil de-

“

Amateur hour is the best description that can be found for this fiasco

“

With

bates to distract and focus a huge portion of their social media platform, time effort and expense on one issue.

This wasn’t Covid, the health system, the economy, housing or social care, nor was it transport, aviation, rural broadband or the environment. No, what Sinn Féin tried to push front and centre this Silly-Season has been the plight of the poor beleaguered authoritarian dictator. Yes, it seems friend of SF, Miguel Díaz-Canel, the hand picked successor to the Castro brothers as President of Cuba, is having a spot of bother with the locals. The people of the Caribbean island have engaged in unprecedented protest at the Communist Party’s poor handling of

the pandemic and overall state of the island nation.

SF, being a self styled party of the people, looked on at these images of people standing up for their rights and calling for free and fair democratic elections and.... called them agents of the CIA is a US plot to overthrow Díaz-Canel. I’m not really sure of CIA operating procedures but last time I checked, it didn’t include hiring 80 something year old grandmothers as agents provocateurs.

An odd position when viewed in isolation, but not that odd when you consider that, in very recent times, SF have voiced support for, or voted in the European Parliament in favour of the interests of despots and dictators in Cuba, Russia, China, Belarus and Venezuela. It’s a pattern at this juncture.

Nevertheless, one thing the party does require praise for is their leader Mary-Lou McDonald coming to Clare to voice support for those suffering building defects due to pyrite.

Clare had been long forgotten in the midst of all the conversations regarding the mica and pyrite controversy but this looks to be changing. In a social media post on Monday, local TD Cathal Crowe confirmed that Clare County Council is to apply to have all houses affected locally put on the redress scheme and have their property tax waived. Let’s hope he has the ear of his party colleague, the Minister for Housing and that people can get full redress sooner rather than later. Nothing less would be acceptable.

In the interim, Silly-Season will undoubtedly rumble on. It would almost make you miss the childish cross floor bickering in Dáil Éireann.... almost.

22 RECRUITMENT

BUSINESS AND RECRUITMENT

THURSDAY, JUL 29 2021

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

Modular Automation seek students to join engineering team and earn as they learn PÁRAIC MCMAHON

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paraic@clareecho.ie

lOPPORTUNITY: Learning on the job

HANNON based Modular Automation have partnered with IT Sligo on their Mechatronics Work-Based Engineering Degree.

Located in Smithstown Industrial Estate, the engineering technology company design and build innovative automation equipment for leading medtech blue-chip manufacturers such as Stryker, Johnson & Johnson, Boston Scientific, Medtronic, and Edwards Lifesciences.

They are now looking for students to join their engineering team.

The new programme is designed to develop a highly skilled Mechatronics Engineer with multidisciplinary automation experience. It gives students the opportunity to get into the workplace quickly and earn as they learn, all while training to become a highly skilled Mechatronics Engineer.

They will be learning from and working alongside Modular’s skilled team carrying out the design, assembly, testing and val-

idation of automation equipment for the medtech sector. They will gain experience on a wide range of technologies and robots, and there will be a different challenge and something new to learn every day.

Three days a week working at Modular’s Shannon campus is part of the programme. This includes rotations across their Engineering Departments, while studying online 2 days per week on the Bachelor of Engineering in Mechatronic Systems with IT Sligo. Once qualified as a Mechatronics Engineer there will be an opportunity to progress to Modular Automation’s Graduate Programme or be supported further to complete an Honours Degree in Mechatronics.

Modular is searching for students with a strong academic record that includes project work in STEM subjects, and strong results in Leaving Certificate Maths is a must. The programme is a great option for those who have a keen interest in Engineering and quickly getting into the workplace.

More information on the Mechatronics Work-Based Engineering Degree is available at www.modular-global.com/careers.

International Aerospace Coatings is the global leader in aircraft painting, interiors, and graphics. With 10 state of the art facilities across the USA and Europe. Our European head office is based in Shannon, Co. Clare. We are continuously growing and currently have openings in our Shannon facility for:

Spray Painters (full training provided) Experienced Production Team Leader Experienced Interiors Technician Environmental, Health & Safety Officer Trainee Production Manager (graduate) Trainee Financial Accountant (graduate) HR Business Partner (maternity cover)

For more information and to apply go to https://iac.aero/careers/ or email careers@iac.aero

BUSINESS 23

THURSDAY, JUL 29 2021

Espresso Bar moves into new premises in Kilkee PÁRAIC MCMAHON

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paraic@clareecho.ie

QUIRKY family friendly cafe on the Wild Atlantic Way has moved into bigger premises on the pier

in Kilkee.

Originally set up by owner Judi Kinnane in the summer of 2018, The Espresso Bar was planned to last for three months but became a permanent fixture as part of the Oceanlife Dive Centre.

Their new location has seen them take up residence in a newly refurbished larger unit with added outdoor seating beside their previous premises, just a stone's throw from the pier and with views gazing out across the beautiful bay. To mark the move, they’ve launched a new ‘Grab & Go’ beachside menu.

Where possible The Espresso Bar

lNEW DIGS: Judi Kinnane pictured outside The Espresso Bar

Photo by Kirsty Lyons

sources its produce as locally as it can to help support other small businesses. In addition to speciality coffee being supplied by The Old Barracks artisan roastery in Bird-

hill, its teas come from another Tipperary-based business, Tea4You, 100% Irish reared meats from Butchers, Shane Hickey (Kilkee) and Noel Ryan (Kilrush), bread

from Considine’s Bakery (Kilrush) and freshly baked baguettes from Our Daily Bread in Limerick.

Judi expressed her delight with the new space in Kilkee. “We are delighted with the new space. With a team behind the scenes working through the winter and with great support from suppliers and the local community, we have pulled it off. It has been great fun creating the new menu in this gorgeous space with the beautiful view and we are thrilled with the reaction from our customers”.

Born in Limerick, Judi left behind a 17 year career in HR most recently as a globe-trotting Talent Acquisition Director - to move to the west coast and build a brand new life for herself in Kilkee. In doing so she swapped a morning commute that regularly involved a seat on the ‘red-eye’ to Heathrow and beyond for a short stroll across the beach from her home to The Espresso Bar.

Over the course of 2019 and 2020, at the same time as running the cafe, Judi found the time to complete a Post Graduate in Food Management & Innovation at the Limerick Institute of Technology, a move which has enabled her to grow her fledgling business and take it to the next level.

Throughout the whole of the pandemic, and despite the massive drop in footfall to Kilkee during that period, The Espresso Bar remained open the whole time, providing locals with some sense of normality, routine and most importantly, human interaction.

For the remainder of the Summer season (July & August) The Espresso Bar will be open Monday to Thursday, 9am - 6pm, and Friday to Sunday, 9am to 8pm (6pm to 8pm is served from the hatch only). Come Autumn, the opening hours will revert to Monday to Thursday, 10am - 4pm, and 10am - 6pm Friday to Sunday.

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Beautiful homes all over the County

Property

BER No: 108356197

BER No: 114147721

24 THURSDAY, JULY 29 2021

THE WHITE HOUSE, BALLINACRAGGA, NEWMARKET ON FERGUS, CO. CLARE

€595,000

LISSANE WEST, CLARECASTLE, ENNIS, CO. CLARE

€275,000

“THE WHITE HOUSE” is one of the finest properties to come to the market in Newmarket-on-Fergus in recent times.

The long sweeping driveway which is bound by mature trees, hedgerows and post and rail fencing, leads you to the magnificent opening amongst the trees which leads you to the 3,200 sq ft detached private residence.

Before entering this home there are so many features worth mentioning to the exterior of the property, with the automated sliding gate leading to the eight foot wall bound courtyard, gated post and rail paddocks, concrete yard leading to the 4 stable building along with magnificent gardens, patios and wonderful views of the surrounding countryside.

On the entering the main entrance hallway, the feature staircase with the void landing between ground and first floor leads to the opulent main reception drawing room which further connects to the kitchen/ breakfast and formal dining room. A recreational room, ground floor WC ad separate utility round up the ground floor accommodation.

SET on a site extending to circa 0.75 acres, this is truly a home to be viewed to truly appreciate both the amazing interior and exterior spaces on offer.

On arriving at the property the dry stone entrance wall is bound by mature hedgerow which leads to an extensive tarmacadam drive that leads to both front, side and rear. From the entrance hallway with the ceramic tiled flooring are doors into main reception and inter connecting kitchen/dining/family room and sun lounge, boasting a mix of quality floor finishes and two solid fuel fireplaces.

Off the kitchen is a separate utility room with further connection into the entrance hallway which has the archway to the main hall.

Off the main hall are 4 bedrooms (currently configured as three) and main bathroom with 2 x WC facilities. The garden is an area to be explored to truly appreciate the outstanding finishes and maturity, along with privacy and an outstanding selection of shrubbery, trees and hedgerows. The extended play area, vegetable plots, hidden garden and extensive patios are just some of the many features worth mentioning.

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

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

BER No: 113787469

MAIN STREET, CLARECASTLE, ENNIS, CO. CLARE

AMV: €120,000

FOR SALE BY ONLINE AUCTION 12TH AUGUST 2021- 12PM SOLICITOR: DAVID CASEY, JOHN CASEY & COMPANY SOLICITORS, BINDON STREET, ENNIS, CO.CLARE. Located in the heart of Clarecastle, fronting onto the Main Street and Quay Road in Clarecastle village, this property is within walking distance of all local amenities including shops and services, with public car parking area and bus stop located directly across the road from the property. Having been vacant for a number of years the property requires refurbishment but offers excellent potential for return on investment with commercial unit and three separate apartments in the building.

There is a communal entrance hallway on the ground floor with access to private rear courtyard garden area and stairs to first floor. There are two units on each floor level all complete with electric storage heating.

Register for auction bidding or to look over legal documents on the following link; https:// osullivanhurley.dngauctions.ie/lot/details/49807 Contact: DNG O’Sullivan Hurley Tel: (065) 684 0200 PSL 002295

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THURSDAY, JULY 29 2021

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John Casey & Company, offer first class legal services since 1941

S

INCE 1941, John Casey & Company has acted for clients in all manner of private and commercial transactions. Our goal today as then is to provide solutions in a timely, professional and cost effective manner.

Our solicitors possess a high level of expertise in all major areas of legal practice. This range of experience guarantees a comprehensive approach to the issues facing our clients.

It also enables us to identify and assess potential opportunities and difficulties, and to furnish appropriate advice.

Elevated standards of professionalism lie at the core of John Casey & Company’s ethos and integrity is our by word in all dealings.

Follow through and follow-up are vital indicators of our commitment to professionalism. The handling and protection of the

confidential information which arises in the course of the solicitor/client relationship is of paramount importance to us.

The maintenance of a good working relationship requires strong lines of communication between the parties. Clarity and focus of advice are in plain English are our guiding principles when communicating with our clients so that what is said or written is appropriate and understandable by non-lawyers.

A strategic understanding of and balanced approach to the issues which our clients encounter, the wealth of experience and advanced skill sets of our solicitors, and a dedicated and motivated support staff enables John Casey & Company to offer a first class legal service combined with the highest standards of professionalism.

Since 1941, John Casey & Company has acted for clients in all manner of private and commercial transactions. Our goal today as then is to provide solutions in a timely, professional and cost effective manner

www.caseylaw.biz

26

THURSDAY, JULY 29 2021

MHP, The right team on your side

D

RIVEN. Pioneering. Professional. Action-takers and community leaders. Fighters, teachers, learners. This is the MHP team - the right team on your side.

Instantly recognisable by the bright yellow doors of our Georgian buildings, MHP Solicitors LLP, previously Michael Houlihan & Partners, has provided legal services from Bindon Street since our establishment in 1933.

Today, our four partners, each specialising in a different field, allow us to provide advice and representation in many legal areas: • Commercial Law • Data Protection and Risk Management • Employment Law • Family Law • Litigation and Alternative Dispute Resolu-

tion • Local Authority Law • Personal Injury* • Probate and Administration of Estates • Property Law • Wills and Succession Planning Our large and diverse support team means we can handle projects of scale, but our service is always defined by a personal and proactive partnership approach.

Led by Managing Partner Gerry Flynn, and Partners John Shaw, Helen Rackard and Sinéad Nunan, our attitude has always been one of straight talking and no nonsense. Our style is personal and we strive to get to know our clients.

At MHP we believe our commitment to excellence, commercial expertise and common sense are key to helping our clients

thrive. This outlook saw us nominated as finalists in the 2019 Irish Law Awards in the category of Munster Law Firm of the Year and winners of the Professional Services Excellence Award for 2019 at the Clare Business Excellence Awards.

With a heritage rich in expertise and experience, MHP is built on an established tradition of sound, specialist skill offered by solid professionals. It’s about using our history to protect your today. Contact us today to see how we can help you.

*In contentious business, a solicitor may not calculate fees or other charges as a percentage or proportion of any award or settlement.

Providing trusted legal services since 1933 9-11 Bindon Street, Ennis, Co. Clare, V95 K2DT 065 6846000 info@mhp.ie

THURSDAY, JULY 29 2021

27

Louise Merrigan joins one of the longest legal practices in Clare at Kerin Hickman & O’Donnell

K

ERIN,Hickman & O’ Donnell is proudly one of the longest esta blished legal practices in Co. Clare with offices located centrally in the heart of Ennis at 2 Bindon Street.

The practice was founded in 1886 and grew throughout the years with present principal Solicitor John Halpin acquiring the practice in June 1990 .

John provides an excellent legal service to the people of Clare with extensive knowledge of all area of practice including conveyancing, wills,probate a nd litigation matters.

John has recently been joined in the practice by Louise Merrigan. Louise practised as a Barrister-at-Law in Clare and Limerick for over 12 years in a variety of a reas of civil law before converting to practice as a solicitor in the office of Kerin, Hickman and O’Donnell. Louise brings extensive court and litigation experience with particular experience in the

areas of Personal Injury law, Family Law, Employment Law, Debt Collection and Licensing Law. John and Louise are dedicated to providing the long distinguished tradition of providing a professional, efficient and personal service to all our clients. We have developed a reputation for providing prompt advice to clients who are at all times treated with confidentiality and integrity. In addition to Louise and John, Elaine and Laura are legal secretaries in the office a long with Bernie who runs the front of office.

As we continue to navigate through the covid period, we are delighted to offer in-person appointments at our offices on Bindon Street or online, if required. Should you wish to avail of their legal services, call Bernie at reception today on 065 682 8712.

Pictured left is Louise Merrigan and right is John Halpin

28 NEWS

THURSDAY, JULY 29 2021

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29-07-21 pg 29

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29-07-21

DOONBEG

Tough group but Doonbeg not deterred in championship aspirations Management: Mark Rafferty (Manager), Eddie Killeen, Gerry Killeen Captain David Tubridy Key Player David Tubridy One To Watch Tadhg Lillis Fresh Blood Luke Conway Players Gone Colm Dillon, Enda Doyle Titles Won 18 Most Recent Title 2010

SEAMUS HAYES

E

IGHTEEN time Clare SFC champions Doonbeg are keen to pick up an opening round win this weekend to ease pressure in Group 3.

“Championship football, no matter what county one is from, is hard and every game is difficult.

Clare is no different in that respect.

It’s hard to win here”. That’s the view of Doonbeg manager, Mark Rafferty, a Derry native whose home club is Glenullan.

In his first season in charge at Doonbeg, he is joined on the management team by Doonbeg men, Eddie and Gerry Killeen, both well versed in what is required to win championships.

“Coming in cold with new management was difficult and Covid

Ronan Good has lined out at full-back for Doonbeg during the recent Cusack Cup.

didn’t help. We weren’t able to meet until May and while lads were doing their own thing in terms of training, it was not the same as meeting up so we were a few months behind. The Cusack cup was a bit hit and miss. We were a few months behind and other clubs had continuity”, the Magpies manager said Doonbeg picked up a number

of injuries in the Cusack Cup and they will be without Luke and Sean Conway and Eoin Killeen this week. They have been helped in recent weeks by the return of players from the county U20 and senior squads.

Since moving to Clare, Rafferty has been involved with the St. Josephs Doora-Barefield club both as a player and mentor. He believes

that “every team in action this weekend will be trying to get off the mark and win their opening game. A win brings a good feeling into the camp and clubs who don’t win will be under pressure” What led to his involvement with the famed West Clare club?

“The main thing for me is that they are a football club and I come from football club which doesn’t do any-

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Photograph: Burren Eye Photography

thing else. All in Doonbeg are pulling the one way” He felt that Doonbeg have been drawn “in a tough group where anyone is capable of beating the other. It will be very tight and we just have to take each game on its merits”.

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ENNISTYMON Ennistymon to wait in the long grass for an extra week PÁRAIC MCMAHON

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paraic@clareecho.ie

HIRTEEN teams will compete to win the 2021 Clare SFC but this weekend only one of them will not be in championship action.

Ennistymon are paired in Group 1 but find themselves with a bye in the opening round. The extra time on their hands will be used to allow short-term injuries to heal and also to gain a better insight into their opponents over the coming weeks.

A selector in 2018 and 2019, Noel Crowe has succeeded Kieran Kelleher in charge of the Ennistymon outfit. “We’ll be keeping an eye on the games on Clare GAA TV with a particular focus on the four teams in our group which is very competitive, we’ll be watching those particular teams with a view to playing them all over the coming weeks,” Noel outlined of their plans for the coming weekend.

On Saturday week, they will face reigning county champions Kilmurry Ibrickane who will be well warmed up from their encounter with St Josephs Miltown this weekend so any prospect of the North Clare side coming in cold will most likely be punished.

“Every football championship every year is very competitive, it is a real test to be playing the teams that have been playing county championships over the last number of years, we’re looking forward to that particular challenge, we have played them in the past so they know us and we know them, we’re looking forward to the challenge,” Crowe said of their position in the group of death.

He continued, “The championship format is very fair, for any year you go out you have to play well and perform to come out of your group, if you get to the knockout stages then it is about refocusing to see who the opposition are. We know who we are playing for our first four games, we just have to focus on us”.

They have no complaints with receiving the bye in the first round.

“You can look at it various different ways, it might suit some teams at the start and some in the middle but you have to take it the way the draw goes and play the games as they are presented. We have the bye at the start so we have to plan for one week later than the other teams and be ready to prepare for that. They will have an advantage playing a game the week before us but that is an obstacle we have to try overcome”.

Having contested three minor finals in as many years from 2017 to 2019 and with a high contingent of players on county panels, there is a feeling in Clare football circles that Ennistymon are not fulfilling their potential at senior level.

Getting the mix right is key according to Crowe in order for the Magpies to hit the notes they are capable of reaching. “Senior championship football in Clare is very competitive, it is a matter of trying to blend together the group of players that are there, that is our outlook for this year to try get the best performance of each player on the field on any given day and hopefully that performance is good enough then”.

Positive showings at underage level don’t necessarily always translate to senior level but if Ennistymon can qualify from Group 1, it will be a massive lift for their championship aspirations.

Management Noel Crowe (manager), Odran O’Dwyer (coach), Donagh Fawl (selector), Denis Hynes (selector).

Captain TBC Key Player Cillian Rouine One to Watch Darragh Coneally Fresh Blood Cathal Reilly, Diarmuid Fahy, Brendan Rouine, Conor Gallagher Players Gone None Titles None Most Recent N/A

Experienced Ennistymon defender, Lawrence Healy.

Photograph: Burren Eye Photography

Best wishes to the Ennistymon footballers in 2021 from Alan & all the team in The Atlantic and Shamrock Hotels

065 708 1049

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29-07-21

KILRUSH 34 years without a title is a long time for Kilrush Clare goalkeeper Stephen Ryan will be lining out for Kilrush Shamrocks.

Photograph: Gerard O’Neill

SEAMUS HAYES

K

ILRUSH lead the Clare senior football roll of honour with twenty one titles to their credit, their last having been achieved all of thirty four years ago in 1987.

While supporters of the Shamrocks long to see the West Clare side return to winning ways, the focus for those involved is on this Saturday’s senior championship first round meeting with Kilmihil.

“Look it’s great to be back playing, great for young lads to be playing ball,” team manager Aidan Daly outlined. “For a lot of our players, this weekend’s game will be just their third ever championship game at this level”.

In his second season back in charge of his home club, Daly and his backroom team introduced a big group of young players to senior football at the start of 2020. “We will be taking it game by game and we will see where it brings us. Nobody is looking past the first round, one can’t look past that. The league was squashed into four or five weeks and we were all trying to keep lads fit and healthy. It’s all about the first round game at this stage”.

For Kilrush, this will be their third meeting with Kilmihil in recent times. “They have beaten us in those three meetings so we can’t afford to look beyond this game,” Daly said.

He added, “We have learned a lot about the players during the league even though we were missing a few for each game. They have learned a lot about what we expect from them”.

This has the makings of another close contest between the sides who, despite being in the same division, avoided each other in the recently concluded division 2 league.

O’SHEA SALES & HIRE Wishing the Kilrush Senior footballers the very best of luck

087 418 6128

Management Aidan Daly (Manager), Kevin Shalloo(trainer),Noel Ryan, Michael Griffin, Tom Dillon(Performance coach), Patrick Rominosky(physio) Captain Gearoid O’Brien Key Player Mark Shannon

One To Watch Ross Phelan Fresh Blood Jamie Griffin Players Gone None Titles Won 21 Most Recent Title: Title 1987

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EIRE ÓG

Éire Óg aiming to build championship credibility in opening tie PÁRAIC MCMAHON

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paraic@clareecho.ie

ITH the guarantee of three group games, Éire Óg’s senior footballers are eager to build quickly and compactly to try progress from Group Three.

Beaten quarter-finalists for the past four seasons, the Ennis outfit are not even looking at the knockout stages at present, manager Paul Madden insisted. Instead, they are fully engaged with the task of taking down Lissycasey.

Although he hasn’t been to see Lissycasey in action this year, Madden admitted to being impressed with their style and movement in 2020, “they worked hard on and off the ball which is the minimum requirement at senior level. They pushed Kilmurry all the way last year and maybe had chances to win it but for a bit more experience on the day, they are seeded in our group, they are there on merit and just completed a successful Garry Cup campaign, they won that and are a successful team at the moment, they are winning and will go into this game with the favourites tag, when we’ve met in the last couple of years they have had the upper hand on us so we know we’re in for a battle”.

Speaking to The Clare Echo, the Ennis hotelier stressed the importance of getting their championship off to a winning start. “I think every team going into the championship wants to win their first game and to get momentum, the reality here with the groups is that you have three games guaranteed

Management Paul Madden (manager), Seanie Buckley (coach), Peter Cosgrove (selector), Shane Daniels (selector), Tom Russell (backroom), Rory O’Brien (backroom) Captain TBC Key Player Ciarán Russell One to Watch Gavin D’Auria

Fresh Blood Gavin D’Auria, Eoin Guilfoyle, Micheál Foley, Niall O’Donoghue, Jarlath Collins Players Gone Colin Smyth Titles Won 18 (including titles won as Ennis Dalcassians & Faughs) Most Recent Title 2006

at a minimum this year versus last year which is better, last year you had one guaranteed and you didn’t know after that. This year it is back to groups and you have a number of games to try and build, clearly building starts with a win on day one”.

“Round one is crucial to get up and running and get started, we’ve had very little turnaround time from the Clare hurlers exiting last week so obviously it has come upon us but I think players are looking forward to getting going and as I said a lot more established teams with more established players know their best fifteen whereas there is still an element of maybe trying lads for the first time this weekend”.

Lessons from the Cusack Cup for younger panellists will be important when it comes to championship, Paul believed. “I always take the league games very serious when we are playing them. This year while we went out to win every game we realistically were missing so many players for games that it was more about giving game time to lads who haven’t played adult football before. There is a good learning experience there, will these guys step up and play senior championship this year?

Maybe some will and maybe others won’t but they will definitely use this experience when they go forward in years to come because they are very young”.

Former Limerick forward Se-

Éire Óg’s Ikem Ugwueru will bring great strength to the middle third for the Townies.

Photograph: Gerard O’Neill

anie Buckley is a new addition to Madden’s management and has impressed to date. “From a playing perspective he has been there and done that at all levels with club and county, from a coaching perspective he has a good background through the Academy in Limerick and with his own club. A difficulty for someone like Seanie coming in this year is he hasn’t had as much time to prepare the team as he would have liked because of the COVID restrictions but the same applies to all clubs. He has added a fresh pair of eyes and new ideas, he has settled in well”.

For Sunday, they are without the services of Shane O’Donnell, Liam Corry and Cathal Darcy.

The return dates of O’Donnell and

Corry are uncertain while Darcy, centre-back on the side in recent years is ruled out for the year with a cruciate ligament injury.

Now in his fifth year as Éire Óg manager, the former Club Clare Chairman detailed that the buzz of championship is lingering around the air in the county town. “You want to go out and give the very best for your club at all times, it is where you started and will probably finish, whether you are a player, selector, backroom team member or manager of the team being in the club is the most important thing, while it is great to represent your county at any stage, club is the end all and be all for me”.

Web: strikesport.ie Phone: 087 8055306 Email: Kieran@strikesport.ie

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29-07-21

CRATLOE Danger group will prime Cratloe for championship tilt PÁRAIC MCMAHON

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paraic@clareecho.ie

CARS remain from Cratloe’s three point county final defeat to Kilmurry Ibrickane last year but the two time champions are determined to make the most of their placing in the toughest group of them all will have them primed for a renewed attempt for honours.

Clare corner back Kevin Harnett will make his first appearance for Cratloe this weekend following his transfer from Meelick to Newmarket-on-Fergus earlier this year. The primary school teacher is living in Newmarket and can play for Cratloe as an isolated player.

While Harnett joins their ranks, Conal O’Hanlon has returned to his native club St Josephs in Louth. The forward had been a regular for Cratloe for three seasons having worked as an air traffic controller at Shannon Airport since 2015.

An abundance of niggles have to be manoeuvred past before Colm Collins can select a starting fifteen to take on Cooraclare in the opening round. The usual suspects of Podge Collins, Cathal McIn-

erney, Sean Collins, Liam Markham, Conor McGrath, Diarmuid Ryan, Pierce DeLoughrey and Rian Considine are all expected to occupy key roles.

Collins is expecting a very stern test in Cusack Park, “Cooraclare have plenty of very talented players and a great tradition, there will be nothing between the two teams this weekend and I think that all of the games in the group will be extremely tight, I expect nothing less only a real tight game at the weekend. Hopefully if we play well we can come out on top”.

Reflecting on their county final defeat to Kilmurry Ibrickane which included the controversial denying of an O’Hanlon goal early in the second half. For Collins, the display on the day was not sufficient to get their hands on the Jack Daly. He reflected, “We didn’t play well the day of the county final I thought, credit to Kilmurry Ibrickane they played better and deserved the win but when you get to a county final you have to perform, they aren’t handed out to you so you have to play at your best and I don’t think we were at our best on the day”.

Their presence in the danger group will make or break Cratloe, Collins felt. “It is a very good group, there is a

lot of competition there but any progress in any championship depends on beating good teams. I’d much prefer to be in a group like this, I think there are some very good games and it doesn’t mean you’re going around the country looking for challenge games because you are getting really top quality games so I’d be happy out, there are three to come out of it which some people forget and if you’re not good enough to be in the top three then you don’t deserve to be progressing anyway”.

He continued, “It is great to be in a strong group and that all the matches are going to be really competitive, I’m looking forward to it. The key thing I think is the team that keeps all their starting team on the pitch or as many of them as possible are the team that’s going to win it, that would be my view but it is easier said than done because the compressed season brings a lot of challenges in that area”.

Liam Markham remains one of Cratloe’s essential dual-players.

Photograph: Gerard O’Neill

Management Colm Collins (manager), Fearghal Carroll (coach), Sean O’Dea (selector), Shane Markham (selector), Ger Crotty (physio) Captain TBC Key Player Podge Collins One to Watch Jack McInerney Fresh Blood Kevin Harnett Players Gone Conal O’Hanlon Titles Won Two Most Recent Title (2014)

OIL

Wishing the Cratloe Footballers the very best of luck

29-07-21

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LISSYCASEY

Lissycasey feeling the pressure to build on last year’s positive run to semi-finals PÁRAIC MCMAHON

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paraic@clareecho.ie

Lissycasey’s lightning fast forward, Aaron Griffin.

Photograph: Gerard O’Neill

FTER advancing to a first semi-final since 2013 last year, Lissycasey will be anxious to build on the progress shown during John Ryan’s opening campaign as senior manager.

Based in Cratloe since 2006, Ryan led his native Limerick to All-Ireland Junior Ladies Football glory in 2018. Last year, he oversaw Lissycasey’s march to the last four where they suffered an agonising one point loss to eventual winners Kilmurry Ibrickane.

An inability to take their scores and wild shooting in front of goal was referenced by John as slight regrets from that outing. “It was a learning curve for everyone, the management and the players last year, this year we’ve learned a bit more, everyday is a school day, we have to go out and do our best, hopefully it will be good enough on Sunday”.

He acknowledged that there was a sense of pressure to replicate the positives from last season. “There is always pressure especially when you do so well the year before but the year before is history, we can’t look back, we have to look forward. It will be a totally different ball game come 2:45pm on Sunday in Cusack Park, Seanie Buckley is coaching Eire Óg so they will be very well coached and organised, it is a big task for us”.

Ryan had no doubts about returning to Lissycasey, “it is a great set-up there, the club are A1, they are a football club, the players gave

a great commitment last year and there are no problems there”. Along with a largely positive season, the performances of Aaron Griffin saw him added to Colm Collins’ Clare panel while the half-back line of Oisin Hanrahan, Seamus Collins and Brian Cahill were arguably among the best in the county.

After claiming the Garry Cup title in recent weeks, the absence of any promotion or relegation in the leagues in Clare this year ensures they will stay in the competition next year rather than the Cusack Cup. “Last year we won the O’Gorman Cup, this year we won the Garry Cup, it is frustrating a small bit but it is what it is, it is creative times in football and sport so we have to take what is there. I’d prefer if we were playing first team football but that is not going to be the case because you would be playing against strong teams, it was great to win a bit of silverware for the players and managers,” he said.

Silverware will help but Ryan and his management are trying to grow the self-belief within the Lissycasey ranks. “We’re trying to instil a bit of self-belief, they are one of the top club football teams in Clare but there is only one way you will sort that out and it is on the pitch on the day, it is an hour’s football so you can prepare as much as you want and play as much as you want but it is down to one hour’s football, preparation is most important but it comes down to that given hour”.

Lissycasey return to Cusack Park for the first time since the county semi-final loss when they meet Éire Óg on Sunday. This time round, they are more determined to come home with a win under their belt.

“We’re using this as a once-off game. There is no safety net or anything like that, you go out to win every game, we’re unbeaten so far this year in our campaign and in challenge games but that is no good come Sunday, we have to be prepared, we’re not lucking beyond Sunday, everything is down to this and nothing else matters beyond that”.

Management John Ryan (manager), Liam O’Connell (coach), Darragh Kennedy (S&C), David Pyne (selector), Jimmy Collins (selector), Noel Finucane (selector), Seamus O’Donnell (goalkeeping coach), Danny Pyne (kit man).

Captain Matt O’Shea Key Player Aaron Griffin

One to Watch Shane Griffin Fresh Blood Harry Keane, Michael Madigan Players Gone None Titles Won One Most Recent Title 2007

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KILMIHIL Championship will show Kilmihil’s true colours David Ryan of Kilmihil tackles Niall Kelly of Lissycasey.

Photograph: Gerard O’Neill

SEAMUS HAYES

T

RUE COLOURS will shine when it comes to championship and that is the motto echoed around Kilmihil as they prepare to take on Kilrush Shamrocks in the opening round of the Clare SFC this weekend.

Championship’s cut and thrust is the real test, Kilmihil manager Gerry Downes outlined. “The championship is what everyone looks forward to. That’s where you test your metal. The championship brings extra intensity and bite. That’s when the true colours shine out”.

Downes has this week been leading the final preparations for his native side’s first round tie with Kilrush Shamrocks, a game that will be played at Cooraclare on Saturday.

“We beat Kilrush in the 2018 intermediate final in Miltown. It was a great day for the club. Both teams are much changed since then. We have lost a lot of that team. In an amalgamation with Shannon Gaels, we won

the under 21 title in 2019 and we got a great sprinkling of young players from that,” he recalled.

Kilmihil have lost a number of players from the squad in recent years. “David Lernihan, captain of the under 21 team, has played just one game since then due to injury. He had keyhole surgery on a knee injury just last week and is out of action at the moment,” the manager confirmed.

David Egan is not on the panel at present while Clare inter county hurler Jack Browne hasn’t played any football in over a year as he has concentrated on hurling with his club Ballyea and with Clare. “We are hoping to get him back. We have had big problems with numbers and we are tidy on numbers and if you lost two or three you are under pressure,” he added.

On the plus side the club is delighted to have Stan Lineen back in their ranks after a spell in Australia. “It’s great to have a quality player with loads of experience back in the squad. He is a steadying influence”.

“The first round is the focus and we are not looking beyond that game. It’s a big game for ourselves and Kilrush as the losers will be under pressure so it’s very important,” he concluded.

Martin O’Leary will be a key attacking threat for Kilmihil.

Photograph: Gerard O’Neill

Management Gerry Downes (manager), Timmy Ryan (trainer), Colm O’Gorman, Philip Ryan Captain Dan Keating Key Player Ciaran Downes One To Watch Sean Crowley Fresh Blood Gearoid O’Grady Players Gone David Egan, David Lernihan Titles Won 1 Most Recent Title 1980

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CLONDEGAD

‘New drive’ in Clondegad can bring them forward Management Flan Enright (manager), Kevin Walsh (coach) Mark Quinn, Bernie Gavin, Michael Callinan (Goalkeeper Coach), (Backroom: Benny Duggan, Aidan Cahill, Kevin Tighe) Captain: Captain Gary Brennan Key Player: Player Gary Brennan One To Watch: Watch Evan Wall Fresh Blood Eoin Gavin, Evan Wall, Players Gone None Titles Won None Most Recent Title: Title None

SEAMUS HAYES

A

BSENT from the knockout stages of the Clare senior football championship for the past two seasons, a new drive exists within Clondegad that can help propel them forward.

“The championship is what teams train for, especially in a year like this. We haven’t gone well in the last two but there is a new

Clondegad captain, Gary Brennan.

Photograph: Gerard O’Neill

drive there again”.

That’s according to Clondegad manager Flan Enright who, after a sterling career as a leading light in the side, has taken on the responsibility of managing the side and

is now in his second season in this role.

“In fairness, the lads are easy to motivate. It’s been week to week this year and it’s been busy since the season started”, the manager

told The Clare Echo this week.

Enright agrees that managing a team with so many dual players “is difficult but all sides work together. You have to have respect for the dual players and we must

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try and keep them as fresh as possible” The Clondegad boss believes that “this group looks to be very evenly matched. There is no team that you can take for granted.

Our opponents in the first round, Doonbeg, are a team well decorated with titles and they are always up for the championship.

Everything we have been doing is geared for this game and no one in our camp is looking past this first round game”.

Dual players such as Tony Kelly and Paul Flanagan didn’t play football last season as they concentrated on hurling with their club Ballyea and it’s likely that this will be the case again this year, at least for the early stages of the championship.

Brian and James Murphy, the Brennan brothers, Gary, who is the team captain, Cillian and Shane, Podge McMahon and Conor Gavin are players the Ballynacally based outfit will be looking to to get them over the line against a Doonbeg side that failed to achieve a victory in the recent Cusack Cup. Clondegad will carry the favourites tag but they know that come championship time, one of the most difficult opponents for any team are the Magpies and if victory is to be achieved, Clondegad will have to be at their best.

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St BRECKANS St Breckans chasing a winning start SEAMUS HAYES

S

EMI-FINALISTS in 2020 and intermediate champions the year previous, St Breckans are not looking past the opening round of this year’s Clare senior football championship.

For St Breckans boss Donie Garrihy, “the championship is everything”. Speaking ahead of the commencement of the new campaign, the Doolin man said, “our only focus at this time is our first round opponents, St. Josephs, Doora/Barefield”.

Having guided St. Breckans back up to senior level with victory in the intermediate championship in 2019, Garrihy came within a whisker of competing in the senior final last season, losing narrowly to Cratloe in a lively semi-final in Cusack Park.

Commenting on their first round opponents this weekend he said, “they are last year’s intermediate champions, they have a huge pick and they have won a huge amount of underage titles in the last few years. It’s the meeting of the intermediate champions of the last two years and we are looking forward to the challenge”.

Asked about predictions which have St. Breckans as one of the favourites to challenge strongly for this year’s senior title he said “I can’t control what others say. We are taking it one game at a time and all we are focussed on at this time is our meeting with St. Josephs this weekend”.

According to the manager of the Lisdoonvarna based outfit, “there are a lot of good experienced teams in the Clare championship. The fact that the Clare senior team has been doing so well in recent times is adding to the excitement ahead of the club championship. Look at the results in the top counties and Clare are up there. The club championship in our county is intense. The place to be is at the top table”.

St. Breckans carried last year’s championship form into this season and despite being without a number of regulars due to their involvement with the Clare senior and under 20 panels, they suffered just one loss in the recently concluded Cusack Cup. With players of the calibre of Alan Sweeney, Maccon Byrne, Dale Masterson, Jack Sheedy, Joe McGann, Aiden Davidson and the O’Briens to mention some, they will carry the favourites tag into this week’s game with St. Josephs. They won’t get it easy but they should get their campaign off to a winning start.

St Breckans sharpshooter Aiden Davidson.

Management Donie Garrihy(Manager); Declan O’Keeffe (coach) John McDonagh (trainer) Jersey O’Loughlin, Pat Haugh; John Earls (physio) Captain Alan Sweeney

Key Player Jack Sheedy One To Watch Maccon Byrne Fresh Blood Oisin O’Loughlin Players Gone

Photograph: Burren Eye Photography

Stephen Tierney Titles Won None Most Recent Title None

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COORACLARE

Cooraclare keen to get back in the business end of senior championship PÁRAIC MCMAHON

T

paraic@clareecho.ie

HERE is a desire to see Cooraclare competing among the top teams in Clare football and that aim is occurring quicker than anticipated.

A strong management team has been assembled by Michael Garry which includes ex Laois senior football boss Mick Lillis and former Clare senior selector Tom Queally. This had been formed long before any championship opponents were known and with the objective of seeing the Milesians involved in the latter stages of the senior championship.

It comes as Cooraclare failed to make the knockout stages in 2019 for the first time in a decade and last year were denied a quarter-final place following a play-off defeat to St Josephs Miltown.

“We want to get the club back to where it should be and knocking at the door. We said we would get involved and try rebuild it, we are rebuilding a team. We’ve quality men involved,” manager Michael Garry told The Clare Echo of their intentions.

Of being paired alongside St Josephs Miltown, Kilmurry Ibrickane, Ennistymon and Cratloe, Garry stated, “It is the toughest group you can be in, you’re meeting all the top teams and no disrespect to the rest but that is the cream of it that we’re up against. It is a challenge we’re looking forward to and we’re only focusing on Cratloe”.

Last involved with the seniors in 2014, Michael admitted it was

disappointing that the club have not returned to the county final since 2015 when Miltown proved too strong. “It is disappointing that we didn’t drive on from that but we had a lot of lads that retired so we’re trying to rebuild the team with younger lads coming into it”.

Broken legs rule Jack Morrissey and Sean Browne out of contention while there is much discussion in West Clare on the possibil-

ity of former Clare footballer Sean O’Donoghue known commonly as ‘The Yank’ lining out with Cooraclare in this year’s championship.

The promising midfielder moved back to Chicago with his family in 2019 and was part of Colm Collins’ Clare squad for two seasons.

Manager Garry remained tight lipped when asked if O’Donoghue would be featuring for Cooraclare.

“Talk is talk isn’t it. There’s ru-

mours going around but we’ll wait and see”.

Their meeting with Cratloe on Sunday is the first in a triple header at Cusack Park. Consistency goes out the window when these clubs meet. “We won’t be afraid of them, the last time I was involved they beat us well but we beat them the following year. They are a very experienced team, they know the Park very well. We’re only focusing

on them Sunday,” Garry commented.

With a bye in round two, Cooraclare are more determined to get a win under their belt before they get a break. “Championship is championship, whatever is in front of you, you have to win, it’s as simple as that”.

Micheál Garry will be a central figure for Cooraclare in his second year on the panel.

Photograph: Burren Eye Photography

BEST OF LUCK TO THE COORACLARE TEAM IN THIS YEARS SENIOR FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP

Management Michael Garry (manager), Paddy Keane (trainer), Mick Lillis (coach), Tom Queally (coach), Niall Murphy (selector), David O’Brien (stats), Frank Roche (kit man), Mike Weaving (physio) Captain Pearse Lillis Key Player Pearse Lillis One to Watch Brian McNamara Fresh Blood Brian McNamara and Sean Browne Players Gone None Titles Won 10 Most Recent Title 1997

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MILTOWN

Miltown not looking to past glories & disappointments in new campaign PÁRAIC MCMAHON

T

paraic@clareecho.ie

HREE in a row aspirations for St Josephs Miltown were scuppered last year with neighbours Kilmurry Ibrickane taking responsibility for the residence of the Jack Daly instead.

Now the neighbours and rivals face off in the opening round of this year’s Clare senior football championship in the very difficult Group 1.

Michael Neylon has returned to the hotseat in Miltown Malbay succeeding Maurice Reidy, the Clare U20 boss was in charge when they claimed the honours in 2018, the title was retained a year later under David O’Brien.

Both Neylon and O’Brien are part of this year’s management.

The crop of players in the squad and the work ethos that exists within in were cited as his reasons to settle back into the role.

Already they have achieved success by winning this year’s Cusack Cup. “It wasn’t a normal Cusack Cup and it wasn’t something to achieve in but we were happy that it gave games when we needed games and it gave some good games but we realise championship is so many steps above what those league games are about. A lot of the games in the Cusack Cup were without the county players, it’s a whole new dynamic when you have four or five county players added into a team, that is what we’re facing at the weekend, this is the

first taste of reality and the challenge for everyone is to be ready for this reality and I don’t think anyone knows where they stand until you have fifteen or thirty minutes of football played at the weekend,” the Miltown boss outlined.

Last year’s disappointment in not making the semi-finals has not been referenced so far in 2021, Neylon said. “There is great freshness there this year, we actually haven’t talked about any year gone by. With coming out of lockdown and coming into games and training, it has been week by week and day by day, we just focused on each game as it came and now suddenly it is all happening quick and we’re at championship. We’re only looking at the weekend ahead, there is no discussions whatsoever about any years gone by, that is the way it needs to be for a group that wants to make progress, we realise were at the bottom of the ladder like everyone else and we want to start climbing step by step, the first step is this weekend”.

Taking that first step begins on Saturday evening when they renew rivalries with Kilmurry Ibrickane. “It brings out the best in both sides, there is never anything in it, we hope it is going to be a fifty fifty game, we think it is and with the year that is in it, it is a bit of unknown, both teams will be trying to spring a few surprises and have new ways of playing when it comes to Saturday evening. It is going to be very interesting, for the neutrals and everyone in the county, it is going to be one of interest, for

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every team all over the championship this weekend, they are focusing on themselves, it is one game but it is very important to both teams involved,” the ex Clare selector noted of the fixture.

There is an excitement for Miltown that they will face off with the county champions, Cratloe, Ennistymon and Cooraclare even before a knockout stage commences. “There is no doubt that being in a group with both of last year’s county finalists is going to be a huge challenge for all teams but it is also a challenge for the teams that were in that county final, we’re all up against it and every game is going to be very tight in this group”.

St Josephs Miltown’s main man, Eoin Cleary.

Photograph: Gerard O’Neill

Management Michael Neylon (Manager), David O’Brien, Martin Guerin, Eoin Murray (S&C).

Captain TBC Key Player Eoin Cleary One to Watch Cian Mahoney Fresh Blood Damien Devereux, Cor-

mac Devitt, Liam Hehir, Conall Meade, Andrew Skeritt.

Players Gone None Titles Won 15 Most Recent Title 2019

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KILMURRY IBRICKANE Kilmurry Ibrickane keen to gain confidence & catapult past St Josephs Miltown PÁRAIC MCMAHON

C

paraic@clareecho.ie

OUNTY champions Kilmurry Ibrickane are well aware of the target on their backs as they begin a new season.

For the second year in a row, Kilmurry Ibrickane and St Josephs Miltown will meet in the first round while they also met in the 2019 senior decider which had to be settled after a replay. As both clubs will attest to, meetings have not always been as plentiful.

It was a sentiment echoed by Kilmurry Ibrickane manager, Aiden Moloney. “Martin Flynn said recently that up to last year we hadn’t met in almost thirty years in the championship but now for some reason we seem to be joined at the hip lately and can’t avoid each other. Miltown, ourselves and definitely a number of other teams are up there. We’re looking forward to playing Miltown and I think the team that comes out with a victory is going to be on the front foot going forward in the group”.

Long-term injuries rule Dermot Coughlan, Shane Hickey and Noel Downes out of their bid to retain the county title. It is not all doom and gloom however as esteemed coach Mick Bohan is part of their set-up along with ex Clare footballer David Russell with James Murrihy returning in a coaching capacity.

According to the Munster SFC winner, their pairing in the five team group is among the most difficult he can recall. “It is unusual, we have to look at four games in quick succession and that is go-

ing to create its own issues with injuries mounting as such, it will test your panel out and I think the teams with the strongest panel will do the best in that group”.

“First and foremost we’re drawn in a group of five and it is a tough

group with a lot of quality teams in it and no tougher than Miltown in our first game, Cratloe, Ennistymon and Cooraclare, they are all quality teams. Everyone that gets out of that group will be happy to drag their heels out of it,” Moloney

added.

With two wins and two losses from their Cusack Cup, Moloney believed that their League was a bit disappointing. “We’re always looking for a few players and at this stage the Cusack Cup is the

Ciaran Morrissey will form a key part of the Kilmurry Ibrickane defence.

Photograph: Gerard O’Neill

number one for recruitment, we didn’t have a Cusack Cup last year so at least we got some game-time in and we had a look at some new players, hopefully that will be the benefit of the Cusack Cup this year”.

Whoever can prevail in Saturday’s clash will be rightly confident, the 2002 Clare SFC winning captain maintained. “We’ll have a cut off Miltown and see where we stand. We’ve some new players coming on the scene and it will be interesting to see how we do, whatever team gets two points on the board is definitely moving forward anyway and can approach the group with a bit of confidence after that”.

Management Aiden Moloney (manager), Eric Murrihy (selector), Kevin Sexton (selector), Derek Considine (selector), Diarmuid Whelan (selector), David Russell (coach), Mick Bohan (coach), James Murrihy (coach) Captain TBC Key Player Keelan Sexton One to Watch Andrew Shannon Fresh Blood Joe Campbell, Niall McGannon Players Gone Keith King, Ian McInerney and Michael Hogan (all retired) Titles Won 16 (three titles won by Quilty) Most Recent Title 2020

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Doora Barefield Consolidating senior status the main target for St Josephs Doora/Barefield SEAMUS HAYES

I

T’S a big year for St. Josephs, Doora/Barefield senior footballers as they seek to consolidate their senior success.

Manager Kevin Frehill is looking forward to facing St Breckans in the first round of the Clare senior football championship. “We want to build on our intermediate success of last year and build for the future. We have quite a young panel and there are an awful lot of young players coming through”.

He expects a stern challenge from the North Clare outfit this weekend. “There are three or four players coming out of minor grade who are challenging for places this week. The quality of those coming though is excellent but, that said, we know we are facing a very tough challenge this week.

St. Breckans were very unlucky last year against Cratloe in the senior semi-final”, the Doora/Barefield club manager said.

“I suppose there is a small bit of rivalry there. They beat us in the intermediate semi-final two years ago. It’s a meeting of the last two intermediate winners. We ae well aware of their quality, they are one of the best young panels in the county”.

Like his opposite number Donie Garrihy, the Parish boss says “the way the championship is set up we are not playing again for a few weeks so the complete focus is on this match. Getting a win to start in the group would set us up for the championship. It’s a vital match for us”.

As a manager of a dual senior

club, he acknowledged, “it’s tricky as there are a good few starting on both teams. Look, communication is excellent between the hurling and football managements. We are all trying to work together to mind the players and maximise the fitness of the players and their potential. We are working hard to make sure they are not over trained and that they are looked after. We had problems in the past”.

Management Kevin Frehill (manager); Mikey Millane, Donagh Vaughan, Morgan Rowland Captain Eoin Hanrahan Key Player Jack Hannan One To Watch Tom McDonald Fresh Blood Fionn Kelleher Players Gone David O’Brien Titles Won None but St. Josephs were part of the Faughs panel with Eire Og in 1994 when they won the Clare senior title Most Recent Title None

Picture Right: Doora/Barefield goalkeeper, Tom O’Brien.

Photograph: Gerard O’Neill

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CLARE INTERMEDIATE FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP: TEAM PROFILES GROUP 1 KILDYSART

MANAGEMENT: Noel O’Grady (manager), John O’Sullivan (coach), Terry Murphy, John Murtagh, Kieran Doohan, Jacko Cleary CAPTAIN: Keith O’Connor KEY PLAYER: Emmett McMahon ONE TO WATCH: Kieran O’Brien FRESH BLOOD: Fergal Guinnane PLAYERS GONE: Conor Moloney TITLES WON: 3 MOST RECENT TITLE: 2003

MICHAEL CUSACKS

MANAGEMENT: Brian Reilly(Manager/ trainer), Michael Sweeney, Eoin Farrell, Michael Hynes; CAPTAIN: Ruadhri McMahon KEY PLAYER: PLAYER Domhnall McMahon ONE TO WATCH: Aidan McNamara FRESH BLOOD: BLOOD Thomas Roche, Pappy Taffee PLAYERS GONE: GONE Robbie Cassidy, Tadhg Geoghegan TITLES WON: 1 MOST RECENT TITLE: 1983

Daithi Lohan is a new addition to the Wolfe Tones attack this year.

LISCANNOR

MANAGEMENT: Michael Foley (Manager) Neil Hawes (coach) CAPTAIN: Brian Considine junior KEY PLAYER: Stephen Murray ONE TO WATCH: Kevin Scales FRESH BLOOD: Cian Guerin PLAYERS GONE: Niall Considine TITLES WON: 2 MOST RECENT TITLE: 2000

KILFENORA

MANAGEMENT: Aidan O’Keeffe: CAPTAIN: Cian O’Dea KEY PLAYER: Cian O’Dea ONE TO WATCH: Daniel Egan FRESH BLOOD: Declan Brennan PLAYERS GONE: David McNamara, Aidan Long TITLES WON: 6 MOST RECENT TITLE: 2016

GROUP 2 COROFIN

MANAGEMENT: Douglas Hurley (manager), Geoff O’Sullivan (Coach), Vincent McCarthy, Peadar O’Brien, Donnacda Kelleher, Eoin Keane CAPTAIN: Rotating Captain KEY PLAYER: Jamie Malone ONE TO WATCH: Diarmuid Cahill FRESH BLOOD: Mark O’Loughlin, Conor Leen

Photograph: Burren Eye Photography

PLAYERS GONE: John Keane TITLES WON: 3 MOST RECENT TITLE: 2015

NAOMH EOIN

MANAGEMENT: Barry Harte (Manager), Martin Haugh, Mick Shiels CAPTAIN: Conor Magner KEY PLAYER: Eoin Lynch ONE TO WATCH: Adam Haugh, FRESH BLOOD: Eoin Daly PLAYERS GONE: Pa Geaney TITLES WON: None MOST RECENT TITLE: None

COOLMEEN

MANAGEMENT: Sean McMahon (manager), Frank Kennedy, Michael Hehir, David Neenan CAPTAIN: Gary Meaney KEY PLAYER: Cathal O’Connor ONE TO WATCH: Mark Meaney FRESH BLOOD: Adam Wallace PLAYERS GONE: Kevin ‘Val’ McMahon TITLES WON: 2 MOST RECENT TITLE: 1966

WOLFE TONES

MANAGEMENT: Frank Casey and Matt O’Connor (Joint managers), John Riordan, Mark O’Sullivan, Terry O’Neill, Pa Carigg, Kevin Greene

CAPTAIN: Jayme O’Sullivan KEY PLAYER: Jayme O’Sullivan, ONE TO WATCH: Dean Devanney FRESH BLOOD: Eoghan Casey, Cody Waller, Daithi Lohan, Ciaran McCoy PLAYERS GONE: None TITLES WON: 5 MOST RECENT TITLE: 2014

GROUP 3 SHANNON GAELS

MANAGEMENT: Michael Crehan (manager), Daniel Ryan (coach) Frank Kelly CAPTAIN: Darragh Bohannon KEY PLAYER: Darragh Bohannon ONE TO WATCH: Tadhg Kelly FRESH BLOOD: Eanna Moloney PLAYERS GONE: Stephen Keogh TITLES WON: 2 MOST RECENT TITLE: 2002

O’CURRYS

MANAGEMENT: Dinny McMahon (manager), Ger Quinlan (coach), Andrew Curtin, Stephen Rowan CAPTAIN: Thomas Clancy KEY PLAYER: Cathal Downes ONE TO WATCH: Shane Browne FRESH BLOOD: Darragh Keane PLAYERS GONE: Damian Carmody (RIP)

TITLES WON: 2 MOST RECENT TITLE: 2012

ÉIRE ÓG

MANAGEMENT: Brian Fitzpatrick (Manager), Eoin Glynn, Michael O’Regan, Cathal Shannon, Marty Whelan CAPTAIN: Sean Corry KEY PLAYER: Shane Daniels ONE TO WATCH: Niall O’Donoghue FRESH BLOOD: Gavin D’Auria PLAYERS GONE: None TITLES WON: 1 MOST RECENT TITLE: 1995

BANNER

MANAGEMENT: John Burke (manager), Paddy Hogan, Flan O’Halloran, Martin Griffin, Pat Crotty; CAPTAIN: Cian Rynne KEY PLAYER: Ronan O’Halloran ONE TO WATCH: Thomas Meenaghan FRESH BLOOD: Eoin Walsh PLAYERS GONE: None TITLES WON: None MOST RECENT TITLE: None

COMPILED BY SEAMUS HAYES

Sport Clare Echo THE

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

There’s silverware in this Clare team Darach Honan’s CHAMPIONSHIP ANALYSIS

WHILE it ended in agony, the last five minutes of this game put Clare supporters through the full range of emotions.

At six points down with the clock running down, most despaired that this game was gone from us. When Rory Hayes burst through to fire over and reduce the deficit to five, it produced only a murmur of approval from Clare fans as it seemed to be too little too late. However, belief was restored after Tony Kelly caught a great ball and was hauled to the ground. Cork were reduced to 13 and we were in for a grandstand finish after Tony slammed the resulting penalty to the net.

The ref was going to allow one more passage of play and everyone in Clare hoped we could somehow get Kelly on the ball again close to goal.

Clare would have to win the resulting puckout. Diarmuid Ryan hit direct ball into the Clare full forward line, but it looked like Cork had it under control as ironman Robert Downey burst out with the ball. Aidan McCarthy then came in with a superb dispossession and was able to put through Tony on goal. It looked like the finish was a formality as we were prepared to rejoice at one of the great GAA comebacks but… Enter Patrick Collins to break Clare hearts with a fantastic save and the game was over.

After the agony, there was a deep sense of pride which was palpable amongst the Clare supporters in the stand. The players had given it everything and just came up short against a very good Cork team. Sure, there were areas where we could have done better but, in that moment, the Clare supporters honoured the team with a standing ovation.

There was particular encouragement for Brian Lo-

han audible from the gallery, as the struggle which he has had with the county board, starting before he was even appointed, was on the minds of many. While it was an excellent game and Clare gave a good account of themselves, moral victories are not the goal for anyone involved and they will have to analyse what went wrong and what we could do better.

Cork structurally looked the better of the two sides in the first half. While the scoring was close, Cork created scores much more easily and had a platform to hit better quality of ball to their forwards. The forward unit of Cork was dynamic and free flowing as they switched positions regularly. No matter what the positioning, they were always able to create space to run into and had the skill level to score once winning possession in those positions. They started sharply as Patrick Horgan scored two good points from centre forward, including one exceptional point from his knees.

Conversely, Clare were often reduced to taking pot shots from out the field and added to their tally in a more laboured fashion. We did not utilise the cross field ball which Shanagher and Ian Galvin would have relished inside as a lot of our deliveries were aimless and down the line. Ian, in my opinion,

was somewhat harshly taken off after he had scored a good point early, the quality of ball he received after that made it hard for him to get into the game and I would have thought a move out the field for him would have brought him into the game and helped Clare overall. Similarly, Shanagher and Rodgers found it tough to make headway in the inside line.

Our full backline was stoic in there battle as under severe pressure on very good players, Conor Cleary, Paul Flanagan and Rory had added another solid performance to a very good season. Cork did make progress through the middle of our defence and hit us for a hammer blow as Kingston scythed through the middle to finish to the net just before half-time.

Clare were left with an uphill battle in the second half now that they had a deficit to claw back Cork utilised Niall O’Leary to do a man marking job on Tony Kelly. O’Leary rarely looked at the play and was solely focused on reducing Tony’s impact on the game.

However, after Tony got his first point from play in the 23rd minute, he went on to give a virtuoso display of hurling that included some of the most incredible scoring I have ever seen. In a sign of things to come, he scored an almost impossible shot to

start the second half after a pass from Ryan Taylor. The highlight though, came in the 44th minute when he won possession in front of the Mackey Stand, faked a shot then when around O’Leary to score from midfield with the defender swinging out of him.

Cork began to pull away at this point though. There was a huge momentum shift when Ryan Taylor put Gary Cooney in for a great goal chance. The Cork fullback got his body in the way of the shot and Cork advanced the ball up field. Cork again ran at our half backline and created an overlap for a sixpoint swing. It left a huge

mountain to climb for Clare and they came up just short for a finish.

There was good progress made this year under Brian Lohan. Players like Ryan Taylor, Rory Hayes, Conor Cleary and of course Ennistymon’s Cathal Malone came to the fore and improved as individuals. It will be important for continuity that he is kept on. It is equally important that his re-appointment is done in such a way that it conveys full support for Brian going forward.

The county executive have made his job difficult at every turn and he needs co-operation and support going forward.

With a few tweaks I believe that there is silverware in this group of players. I may be an outlier in this opinion but I did not agree with the positioning of John Conlon at centre back. I think it reduced our attacking threat and he did not look comfortable there, this could be re-assessed next season with what should be a less interrupted season. The addition of Shane O’Donnell and the development of younger players like Rodgers means this group have good potential to go on and achieve success. This should be done with Brian at the helm for another season.

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ALL-IRELAND SENIOR HURLING QUALIFIERS: ROUND 2

Compiled by Páraic McMahon

‘They’ve given us everything’ - Lohan Clare 1-23 Cork 3-19 Venue: LIT GAA Grouds PLAYER WATCH ARON SHANAGHER (CLARE) Minutes: 64 Tackles: 0 Possessions: Turnovers 3 (1/2) Lost: 1 (0/1) Passes: 0 Frees For: 1 Shots: 2 (0/1) Scores: 0-00 Frees Wides: 2 Against: 0

BRIAN LOHAN, CLARE MANAGER “We were beaten and we have to lick our wounds and come back again”.

“Cork got a couple of chances and got their goals, we got a couple of chances and we didn’t take them. I wouldn’t be criticising anyone for that, they took their shots and you would have to say good defending and excellent goalkeeping from Cork, you would have to give credit to the Cork lads and their defence rather than saying it was our lads”.

“We’ve got good guys there (on the panel), they’ve worked very hard all year, they have given us everything we’ve asked for from them whether it is in the gym or out on the field, they’ve really represented themselves and their clubs well, I couldn’t ask anymore from them”.

“There’s very little between the teams, you’ve good teams, good quality and every step you go you meet better quality, this was a step up from where we’re at and quality if you’re looking at it with Cork the graph seems to be going one way, every single result you look at they seem to be winning whether it be U14, U15, minor, U20 All-Ireland champions last year, in the Munster Final this year, they are doing a lot of things right and credit to them they are a good county”.

“We’ve got exceptional guys. Certainly as a supporter when I was looking at them you would be very proud of them as exceptional guys and then when you go in and work with them, you only have more regard for them because they are really exceptional guys, they do everything to try and produce big performances which generally speaking they do, I couldn’t make any complaints about them”.

CLARE Frees For: 9 (5/4) Wides: 19 (10/9) Scores from Play: 0-14 Spread of Scorers: 9 Top Scorer: Tony Kelly (1-11 8f 1’Pen) Own Puck-Outs won: 17 from 30 (57%) CORK Frees For: 7 (4/3) Wides: 10 (6/4) Scores from Play: 3-12 Spread of Scorers: 9 Top Scorer: Patrick Horgan (0-10 4f 3’65) Own Puck-Outs won: 24 from 43 (56%)

KIERAN KINGSTON, CORK SENIOR HURLING MANAGER “The overriding emotion is relief because that game ebbed and flowed.

We weren’t sure how our guys were going to react, as we’d three weeks off.

Was that going to be a good thing?

With the rest we’d be fresh. Clare had momentum. There was a lot of uncertainty coming into it from our point of view. We were apprehensive as to how that would work out.

“Fierce proud in the way the lads reacted and the character they showed for a very young team. Clare coming at us in waves, that was a real test of our character and I thought the lads reacted really well to that. The bench were really good even though they were young. We didn’t have a lot of experience on the field but it was great to see them finishing the game.

“We didn’t have a lot of experience on the field besides Patrick Horgan, I think. Everyone else was 24 or under.

That was obviously going to be a big concern as to how they would finish the game but it was great to see them finishing the game. But even still with that and 13 players on the pitch, we still needed a super save to get us out of there.”

SCAN HERE FOR MATCH REPORT

Tony Kelly breaks a tackle and (below) Brian Lohan watches on

Photos by Gerard O’Neill

LOHAN UNDECIDED

BRIAN Lohan has yet to decide on whether he will continue as Clare senior hurling manager, writes Páraic McMahon.

The Clare Echo understands that the two-time All-Ireland winner is to take some time before deciding whether he wants to remain in charge of the Banner. Sources close to the Shannon man have said he has not made a decision on his inter-county future.

Lohan succeeded joint managers Donal Moloney and Gerry O’Connor in the role. He has had to deal with severe disruptions to preparations during his two years in charge.

The Shannon man guided Clare to a quarter-final in 2020 while this season’s campaign ended in the qualifiers to Cork, a side that they have only defeated once in championship since the 2013 All-Ireland final.

Speaking to The Clare Echo, Fergal Hegarty a former teammate of Lohan outlined that the County Board must act quickly to have the former UL Fitzgibbon Cup boss on board for 2022.

“Overall I think Brian Lohan has done a fantastic job. We all know there has been a lot of challenges on and off the field, a lot of sideshows but he has behaved impeccably, when he is interviewed, he shows class, he is tried to be drawn into sideshows but he doesn’t go there, he constantly backs his players and you can see they are playing for them, that is the big thing. The big thing for me now is that the County Board move to secure Brian for at least another year or however long he wants to stay with them, Brian has a young family and a lot of other interests, if they could secure Brian for at least another year and it is important to keep the group together,” the Kilnamona man said.

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Banner’s great day ‘a long time coming’ SEAMUS HAYES John Burke has put many hours of work into the development of football at the Banner GAA club whose headquarters are at Shanaway Road in Ennis and supporters of the county’s newest club were, understandably, delighted for the team manager when the team graduated to intermediate ranks at Hennessy Park in Miltown on Saturday.

“It’s a great day for the Banner and t’was was coming for a while” he said as supporters cheered the team members off the pitch after victory over Ballyvaughan in the 2020 county junior A final.

The team manager continued, “We waited a few months, maybe six or eight, for this.

We were really ready after the Ennistymon game (semi-final). We thought we may have lost momentum but we built it up again over recent months, Getting twenty two or twenty three at training, you had to have a day like this at the end of it, otherwise you would be doing something wrong”.

Burke has been involved with the club since the early days. “I took a break for a while but I am back with the lads for the last five years. There is something there, they are a special group, they are disciplined and this

is the proof of it. They react to everything you ask them to do. No matter how high you set the bar they reacted”.

“They are a young group. We are heading into intermediate now and hopefully we will get a run at it. They are young and eager and they have a belief in themselves. Communication on the field was a big thing for us. We wanted them to learn how to play the game on the field. We did the work on the line but our imput on the field was very little, they worked on the field”.

Looking ahead to the weekend and their intermediate championship debut, the manager said “We will be rusty enough at the weekend but look, we are here today.

Hopefully we will stay up at intermediate and SCAN HERE FOR not go back down. That’s MATCH REPORT where we need to be,” he concluded as team captain Cian Rynne raised the Michael Toner cup to loud cheers from the large Banner following.

THE BANNER Frees For: 16 (8/8) Wides: 6 (3/3) Black Card: Darragh Gleeson Yellow Card: James Coakley

BALLYVAUGHAN Frees For: 13 (6/7) Wides: 8 (4/4) Black Card: Philip Queally Yellow Card: James Hynes

The 2020 Junior A champions celebrate their win

Burren Eye Photography

Feakle bridge 33 year gap for Clare Cup following dramatic finale

by EOIN BRENNAN FEAKLE secured a first Clare Cup title in over three decades with a memorable nine point win over Kilmaley.

Clare Cup Division 1A Round 5 Feakle 2-17 Kilmaley 1-11 With their fate very much in their own hands, Feakle were never going to pass up such a golden opportunity to win back the Clare Cup for the first time since 1988.

However, determination aside, it was the serendipitous manner of how they did so that will live long in the memory as knowing that they needed as handsome a victory as possible, they took full advantage of the first quarter dismissal of Mikey O’Malley to make their dreams come true in Kilmaley on Friday evening.

With Shane McGrath expectedly steering the ship with a double figure haul, a paltry 0-3 to 0-2 first quarter advantage was bolstered by a Raymond Bane goal on the restart albeit that Daire Keane kept 14 man Kilmaley in touch to trail by 1-6 to 0-7 by the break.

That major would remain the divider until Kilmaley responded in kind on the restart through Gearoid O’Grady, only to see their

hopes dashed in the next passage of play when Oisin Donnellan found the net at the other end.

It was the defining moment as the home side never recovered as Feakle grew in stature and on the scoreboard to complete a fairytale win by nine and most significantly a slender three point advantage on score difference from joint-leaders Cratloe to secure much-needed early silverware.

Feakle: Stevie Moloney; Ger Hanrahan, Evan McMahon, James Noonan; Killian Bane, Eoin Tuohy, Adam Hogan; Shane McGrath, Con Smyth; Martin Daly, Oisin Donnellan, Enda Noonan; Steven Conway, Raymond Bane, Oisin Clune Subs: Gary Guilfoyle, Fiachra Donnellan, Colin Nelson, Austin McMahon Kilmaley: Bryan O’Loughlin; Tommy Barry, Colin McGuane, Brian Cahill; Aidan Griffey, Aidan McGuane, Sean Kennedy; Mikey O’Neill, Daire Keane (0-6); Eanna McMahon, Mikey O’Malley, Tom O Rourke; Peter Ronan, Sean O Loughlin, Gearoid O’Grady Subs: Aidan Kennedy, Cian Moloney, Noel Casey, Joe Carmody Referee: Jim Hickey (Cratloe)

CRATLOE HOLD THE EDGE Cratloe 1-18 Sixmilebridge 1-16 Cratloe kept up their end of the bargain by rolling with the punches to edge the Garneyside derby honours but it would be the only spoils the home side would ultimately receive on Friday.

Cratloe’s six point second half turnaround ensured that Feakle

had to win by seven or more to win the Clare Cup in Kilmaley, a feat that PJ Kelleher’s side surpassed, much to the deflation of a sizeable attendance in Cratloe.

Well, half of them at least as there was plenty of interest in this pre-championship clash that could have gone either way and was level no fewer than 11 times.

The Morey’s, brothers Caimin and Alex along with raiding wingback cousin Seadna accounted for 11 of Sixmilebridge’s total while the inspirational Conor McGrath, despite being man-marked throughout, was aided by Rian Considine as the sides would go blow-for-blow eight times by the 26th minute. Late points from defenders Caimin and Seadna edged the visitors 0-13 to 0-11 in front by the break while Jason Loughnane and Jamie Shanahan duly stretched that cushion to four on the restart, only to be met by a strong home resistance that outscored their neighbours by 1-7 to 1-1 for the remainder.

1-4 without reply capped off by an opportunist goal for Daithi Colllins saw Cratloe soar into the ascendancy, only to be grounded within two minutes when Sean MacNamara regained parity with a placed finish at 1-15 apiece.

A draw seemed inevitable but

with potential silverware on the line, McGrath and Considine inched Cratloe over the line.

PERFECT JOLT FOR CLONLARA Clonlara 1-13 Clooney-Quin 0-15 It was Clonlara that received the perfect pre-championship jolt after holding off resurgent hosts Clooney-Quin on Thursday.

Leading for the majority, the visitors would power seven clear by the 30th minute, helped by a flicked Cilian Fennessy goal before the full-forward had to succumb to injury. Despite a determined second half backlash from Clooney-Quin through freetaker Darragh Keogh to reel in their opponents entering the final ten minutes, Clonlara deservedly shaded it, fittingly through scorer-in-chief Micheál O’Loughlin.

STRONG THIRD FROM BROADFORD Broadford 3-17 Inagh-Kilnamona 1-18 A powerful third quarter ensured that Broadford’s return to the top flight finished on a high in Inagh on Friday evening.

The home side were a little more experimental but it was only in the second period that Broadford established control when building upon a 0-11 to 0-08 interval

advantage with goals from Oisin Kavanagh, Mark Moloney and Cathal Chaplin to soar 11 clear by the turn of the final quarter.

Inagh-Kilnamona did get a boost from their bench through Clare U20s Conner Hegarty and Keelan Guyler, with the former raiding for 1-2 but it could only slash the final margin to five.

VICTORY FOR CRUSHEEN Crusheen 4-11 Ballyea 0-13 With Crusheen and Ballyea set to clash again in Round 2 of the championship, there was a veritable phoney war in Crusheen that was lit up by four timely goals.

Breffni Horner’s third minute strike helped the home side to a 1-6 to 0-5 interval lead over a Ballyea side that lost chief marksman Niall Deasy to injury. In what seemed an increasingly one sided affair, Cian Dillon added a second goal on the restart on his side’s way to a seven point lead by the two-thirds mark. Ballyea did \ respond, predominantly through Mossy Gavin placed balls to cut the arrears to four by the turn of the final quarter.

However, Crusheen resumed with goals, this time a brace from Tadhg Deane and Breffni Horner to cement the final points.

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ALL-IRELAND INTERMEDIATE LADIES FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP: ROUND 3 Compiled by Eoin Brennan

Last eight date for clinical Clare Clare 5-08 Fermanagh 3-06 Venue: Glennon Bros Pearse Pk, Longford

CLARE Frees For: 10 (4/6) Wides: 10 (3/7) Scores from Play: 5-3 Spread of Scorers: 4 Top Scorer: Niamh O’Dea (2-3) Own Kick-Outs won: 9 from 13 (69%) EVAN TALTY, CLARE MANAGER “Games like that are high pressure games because it’s win or go home so it’s knock-out championship football where performances mean nothing.

We’ll obviously have to be much better than that the next day in the quarter-finals but I put it to the girls that they’ve fallen at the final hurdle in a lot of big games this year and last year so today was about winning at all costs and they did that.

“I would say that we’re a little bit better today but we’re still miles off where we need to be and we’re still not bringing what we’re doing in training onto the pitch but we’re getting there.

“It’s very frustrating for me because I see every day and evening in challenge games and training their ability to perform to that standard for 40 or 50 minutes. And yet, we saw it against Leitrim for about five minutes and saw it for

FERMANAGH Frees For: 36 (16/20) Wides: 4 (3/1) Scores from Play: 1-2 Spread of Scorers: 2 Top Scorer: Joanne Doonan (2-5) Own Kick-Outs won: 16 from 22 (73%) maybe 15 today and then switched off again. So ultimately we have to reach that level on a more consistent basis.

“We used another 20 players today and some girls that started the last day, didn’t even get a run today. So there’s huge competition on the panel to get game-time and we’ve 37 on the panel and everyone needs to fight for their place because it’s what the subs do in training that make the first team better.”

SCAN HERE FOR MATCH REPORT

Chloe Moloney and Clare players celebrate Burren Eye Photography

‘Poxy goal’ was the catalyst for Galway defeat SEAMUS HAYES

Robyn Conway on the attack for Clare

Photo by Veronica McMahon

CLARE have been dumped out of the camogie championship at the hands of Galway following a sixpoint defeat at the weekend.

Conor Dolan, Clare senior camogie coach, said after the game that a poxy goal was the catalyst for Galway’s win: “We went in five to four down at half time and we had a good few chances but we left them. We dominated the first half. We started fairly well in the second half but they got a poxy goal, one of these where the ball got caught in the sun and ended up in the back of the net and Galway grew in confidence on that score.

They got 2-2 in 12 minutes.

“We emptied the bench but unfortunately we had to finish the last fifteen minutes with fourteen players because Roisin Begley had to leave the field due to injury”.

Despite the loss, Dolan was full of praise

for his side which he says continues to improve.

“You can’t fault the girls, they brought it back to a three point game before Galway tacked on the last few points. We got two good goals. Look they are on an upward curve, they are improving and they are learning every day and we are closing the

gap but it takes that little bit more”.

“When I got involved two years ago I wasn’t thinking about just coming out of the group. It’s about trying to get to an All-Ireland final, that’s it plain and simple and if you are going to get there you have to beat the best.

Yes the draw was tough, maybe if you got one of the weaker groups and built and built confidence up. We are after playing in two championships and losing to Tipp, Cork, Galway and Kilkenny in the last two years. They are the kingpins. They are the only teams that have beaten us in championship. If we are going to close the gap, we need to keep showing the same character that we showed today and a little bit more with it”.

He added that Clare will need to refocus

for their clash with Westmeath on Saturday.

GALWAY 2-12 CLARE 2-06 GALWAY Frees For: 12 (8/4) Wides: 13 (5/8) 45s: 1 Spread of scorers: 6 Scores from play: 2-08 Top scorer: Niamh Kilkenny (1-02) & Siobhán McGrath (1-02 1f) CLARE Frees: 10 (7/3) Wides: 7 (4/3) 45s: 0 Spread of scorers: 4 Scores from play: 1-03 Top scorer: Chloe Morey (1-04 1-03f)

SCAN HERE FOR MATCH REPORT

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Difficult test facing minor footballers SEAMUS HAYES

C

LARE face into this Friday’s Munster minor football championship semi-final against Limerick without two of the survivors from last year’s team.

Michael Nash from Doora-Barefield suffered a cruciate knee injury with the minor hurlers while Doonbeg’s Dara Burns is also ruled out due to injury.

There are just three survivors from last year expected to be in the starting line up. Dylan McMahon from Kilrush is the team captain and he is likely to line out at midfield while Odhran Cunningham from Killimer is expected to fill a defensive role with Wolfe Tones man Craig Riordan lining out in attack.

Twelve of the team will be starting in a Munster championship game for the first time. Cian Corry from Killimer is expected to get the nod to fill the goalkeeping position with James Cullinan from Ennistymon expected to be at midfield. Sean Rynne, the team’s vice captain will be in attack along with Lissycasey’s Conor Meaney who has recently recovered from a hand injury.

Manager of the Clare side Dermot Coughlan told The Clare Echo they recently watched Limerick’s clash with Tipperary. “Tipperary, with a lot of last year’s team were fancied for that one but Limerick were stronger physically. They have been together since under 15 when they won the Dermot Earley cup. They have a championship game under their belt which is a big advantage”.

Clare have played a number of challenge games in the lead up to this Friday’s outing and amongst their opponents were Connacht sides Roscommon and Galway.

“We had an in house game last week when a number of the minor teams of the last two years came in and it was a good workout,” the Kilmurry Ibrickane clubman added.

Coughlan’s management team includes Sean Haugh (O’Currys), T. J. Carey (Liscannor), Dermot Gavin (Clondegad) and Barry McGroary (Corofin). Peter O’Dwyer from Kilmurry-Ibrickane is the goalkeeping coach, Martin Davis in charge of strength and conditioning, Aidan Slattery is the team physio while Dermot O’Mahoney from Kilrush is in charge of video analysis.

Dermot Coughlan

Photo by Gerard O’Neill

Underage roundup: Clarecastle U15s secure first silverware of 2021

by EOIN BRENNAN

CLARECASTLE secured the first underage silverware of 2021 on Monday evening in what was a thrilling Under 15A Hurling Shield Final with neighbours Éire Óg that would go all the way to extra-time before prevailing on home soil at 2-19 to 2-18.

Having completed a sizeable victory in their group meeting a fortnight earlier, the Townies entered as firm favourites and despite an early Darragh O’Callaghan goal for the hosts, Éire Óg appeared set to repeat the dose when a goal either side of the break through Roan McDermott and Conor Perill catapulted their side 2-12 to 1-10 clear by the final water break.

With outstanding duo Rian Hickey and Evan Price both tallying 12 points apiece,

Clarecastle captain Price would add a crucial goal in the final quarter to turn the tide once more, only for Hickey to force extra-time at 2-14 to 2-14.

The scores weren’t as plentiful but the quality was maintained as these sides went toe-to-toe for the additional 20 minutes before the impressive Harry Doherty fittingly arrowed over the winner from 60 metres to clinch a memorable title.

The marquee honours in the U15A Championship will be contested between Inagh-Kilnamona and Sixmilebridge in Cusack Park on Monday week.

A repeat of last year’s compelling U14A decider that also went to extra-time before the ‘Bridge prevailed, Inagh-Kilnamona were the first to confirm their place as

keeping a rejuvenated Clonlara at arm’s length by 3-19 to 3-10 in their semi-final clash in Gurteen on Monday.

Exceptional displays from both number 9s, James Hegarty and Michael Collins lit up the contest, with Hegarty’s first half brace of goals ensuring a 2-10 to 0-05 interval cushion before Collins’ switch to full-forward was also garnished by two goals before John Barry made it safe for Inagh-Kilnamona.

The following evening in Clarecastle, Sixmilebridge lived up to expectations to hold off St Joseph’s Doora/ Barefield in a worthy penultimate stage clash that finished at 4-12 to 3-09. Four well timed goals through Niall Liddane (2), Michael Morey and substitute Ben O’Connell kept the ‘Bridge on track for the ultimate final showdown.

The shake up for U15B and C honours is also underway, with the B championship down to 10 candidates and the C left with just six after the final round of group matches. The winners of Friday’s U15B Play-Offs between Broadford and Scariff/Ogonnelloe and Whitegate’s home tie against Tulla will go forward to Monday’s QFs which are comprised of: Cratloe v Kilmaley; Ballyea v O’Callaghans Mills/Bodyke; Clooney-Quin v the winners of Broadford and Scariff/ Ogonnelloe and on Tuesday evening, Newmarket play the winners of Whitegate v Tulla.

Wolfe Tones and Crusheen/ Tubber advance to the U15C semis where they will be joined by the winners of Monday’s quarter-finals between Parteen and Smith O’Brien’s and Banner v Ennistymon.

Mixed fortunes for Clare Olympians BALLINA’S Finn McGeever dove into the history books on Tuesday as part of Team Ireland’s first ever 4x200m freestyle relay quartet to compete in the Olympics and described it as the “coolest thing I’ve ever done”.

Ireland finished eighth in their heat and 15th overall on Tuesday with Great Britain, Australia and the United States taking the top three positions. They finished in a time of 7:14:58 which was 12:23 seconds adrift of the top three after starting strongly.

A past pupil of St Anne’s Community College in Killaloe, Finn was second into the water for Team Ireland. His teammate Jack McMillan was first and set a new Irish senior

record at 200m clocking a time of 1:46:66.

Finn reflected, “It was crazy, most insane race I’ve ever swam. I was so blown away by it. It’s massive, coolest thing I’ve ever done”. Lahinch’s Paul Talty led preparations of Team Ireland’s swimmers in Tokyo.

Ballyvaughan’s Liam Jegou exited at the semi-finals of the canoe slalom on Day Three of the Tokyo Olympics after he received two time penalties of 100 seconds each.

Cratloe’s Naomi Carroll continues to line out for the Irish hockey side as their dreams of making the quarter-finals are still alive.

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Full sail for new Killaloe clubhouse WORK has begun on new clubhouse facilities at Killaloe Sailing Club.

Located on Lough Derg near Ogonnelloe, the club marked a major milestone this week by turning the sod on the site for its new facilities. The development is set to cost over €700,000 and is part-funded by the LEADER program, through the National Development Plan and by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development supported by the Clare and Tipperary LEADER Development Companies. Tomar Trust and Sports Capital have also helped to fund the project.

Jim Ryan, a long standing member, outlined that the new facilities would greatly enhance Killaloe Sailing Club’s offering its members, but will also provide a wonderful amenity for the wider area.

He stated, “Until now, the club has been somewhat limited in developing its true potential due to the very poor on-shore facilities at the club. With the building of the new clubhouse, running hot and cold water, showers, kitchen, changing rooms, indoor teaching facility and much more, will be available.”

Cllr Tony O’Brien, Sue Concannon and Jim Ryan, Killaloe Sailing Club Development Committee; Cllr Phyll Bugler; Caroline Rice, Killaloe Sailing Club PRO; John Callanan, Killaloe Sailing Club Commodore

Club commodore, John Callanan highlighted, “The sailing conditions on the lake are second to none, and offer some of the best inland leisure sailing and inland racing in Ireland. The sailing community love to travel and compete in different locations around the island, and overseas. With these new facilities, Kil-

because

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Find out more about Jackie and other amazing greyhound stories on grireland.ie/thisrunsdeep

laloe Sailing Club looks forward to welcoming many visitors to the area in the years to come.”

New members and visitors to the club are welcome to visit on any Thursday evening or Sunday morning, or drop a line to: info@killaloesailingclub.com.

Progress in soccer league cup ACTION is continuing weekly in the Clare soccer league cup competitions and the way should be clear for finals by the middle of August.

The finals will take place on the October Bank holiday weekend and are all planned for Frank Healy Park.

In the third division league cup, Fern Celtic will play Bunratty Cratloe this Friday evening at Frank Healy Park (7pm) while at the same venue on Sunday, Cloughleigh Celtic and Kilkishen will play in the second division league cup at 11am.

Dean Russell is reported to have put a strong squad together at Bunratty Cratloe and they are being tipped by many for honours. Another club serving notice that they will be contending this year is Rhine Rovers.

The race for the league titles (premier, first, second and third) divisions will get underway on August 21/22.

The battle for the premier title has produced some great contests in recent seasons. Newmarket Celtic have shown in their outings in the league cup in recent weeks that it will take a big effort on the part of the other teams to deprive them from retaining the crown. They recorded an 8-0 win over Shannon Hibs at the weekend.

Avenue United have also been going well and will be expected to make life difficult for the premier champions, along with Shannon Town.

Away from the playing fields, this is a special year for Tulla United and Lifford. Tulla are 50 this year while Lifford will celebrate their 60th anniversary.

Galway a charm for Griffin

CLARE greyhounds continued their good form over the past weekend at the Galway Track with Lissycasey’s Martin Griffin having the extra charm on his counterparts.

Racing towards the opening bend on Saturday night in this S9 sprint contest, Besloe Katie showed pace along the inner in company with the white jacketed Charmed and the pair raced as one until just shy of the turn where the Martin Griffin of Lissycasey owned Charmed took command of the contest in the centre of the track. Rounding the crown of the bend Mousy Megan closed on the leader inside but in straightening for home Charmed asserted again to score by two lengths at the line in 19.74.

In the early strides of race 2 Alluno was first to show but she was quickly joined and passed on the run towards the opening bend by the Killian Browne of Ennis owned Seekers Magic. At the opening bend Seekers Magic led by a length but with bunching among the chasing pack daughter of Kinloch Brae and Seekers Vision found herself six lengths clear turning for home and at the line she had seven and a half lengths to spare over West Clare Lass in a time of 19.58.

As the traps rose for the opening heat of the A3 525 yards sweepstake the wide seeded Wishful Ben was very smartly away on the wide outside and showing plenty of pace he led by three lengths from Drombeg Diva and Springwell Janey as they rounded the opening bend. Cutting the corner well entering the back straight Wishful Ben led by four lengths passing halfway as Springwell Janey and Drombeg Diva continued to give chase. Approaching the home bend, the Niall Arthur and Bernard Farrell of Inagh owned son of Ballymac Vic and Wishful Flyer began to tie up but he lasted home by half a length from

Springwell Janey in 29.10.

The S6 graded contest developed into a match from an early stage as the John Collins and John Browne of Ballyea owned Brickhill Paulio and Fast Jake were both very smartly into their stride and racing towards the opening bend Brickhill Paulio held a half length advantage over Fast Jake on his inside.

Rounding the bend, Brickhill Paulio extend the advantage to just over a length but once in line for home the son of Laughill Blake and Rathmeehan Holly eased away to score by three and a half lengths in 19.23.

On Friday night at the College Road venue there was a thrilling finish in heat three of the A4 525 Sweepstake as the pace setting Lillies Joy just held the challenge of Confused Hassett by a neck at the line in 29.52. The winner showed pace on the run towards the opening bend in company with Remarkable Lady and Millrose Minnie. Railing well around the opening bend the Michael Corry and Michael Daly of Clarecastle owned daughter of Baallymac Vic and Brookeville Dash opened up a three length advantage racing to halfway as Confused Hassett began to improve out wide.

Off the home bend Lillies Joy looked in trouble but the Stephen Murray of Sixmilebridge trained lady dug deep to hold on close home.

In the second round heats of the Bar One Irish Sprint Cup at Dundalk on Saturday night, the Gerry Holian trained Buttsys Bengal was first into action, making every inch after a flying start from trap three in the opening heat. Brodys Magic was the hot favourite but he missed the start and lost further ground on the turn as he was forced to check wide. Owned by the Buttsy Syndicate of Shannon, Buttsys Bengal made it win number 14 and brought his earnings to just over €10,000 for the Clare lads.

29-07-21

Clare Echo THE

pg 50

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

Aideen Walsh continues winning form

by SEAMUS HAYES

ENNIS’ Aideen Walsh won the Leinster championship in Mullingar at the weekend.

Aideen was level par after 18 holes and finished 3rd in the qualifier (reduced from 36 holes due to heat). She beat Rachel McDonnell from Elm Park in the matchplay final. A member of LAHINCH GOLF CLUB, Aideen won the Ulster equivalent in June.

The primary school teacher will play in the ISPS Handa World Invitational from today (July 28) to Sunday. Courses being played are Galgorm Castle and Massereene.

After winning the Ulster Stroke Play championship Aideen has qualified for this event covered by Sky Sports. The ISPS event is part of the European Tour, LPGA Tour and the Ladies European Tour.

WOODSTOCK GOLF CLUB This is captain’s prize weekend at Woodstock and a big turnout is expected to play for Liam O’Connor’s prize. The competition runs Friday to Sunday with the leading players qualifying for Sunday’s play off.

Last week’s open singles was won

by Niall Reynolds (14) with 44 points followed by Chris Bravender (10) with 43 point with third spot filled by Seamus Kelly (21) with 42 points with David M Barry (14) in fourth spot with 51 points. Tony Cleary (+1) won the gross.

The July monthly medal was won

by Barry Scanlan (15) with 67 nett from David White (16) with 68 with Eugene Morrissey (19) in third spot with 68 followed by Dermot Melody (13) with 69. Tony Cleary (+1) won the gross with 78.

There will be a team of four scramble on the August Bank Holiday Monday.

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LAHINCH GOLF CLUB The 119th South of Ireland Amateur Open Championship, sponsored by Pierse Motors from Tipperary concluded on Sunday with TJ Ford (County Sligo) defeating Alan Fahy (Dun Laoghaire) 5&4 to be crowned our 2021 champion.

TJ became the first man from Rosses Point to win the South of Ireland championship, producing a brilliant display including seven birdies at a sun-baked Lahinch.

Stephen Loftus (Lahinch) and Eoin Magill (East Clare) narrowily missed out on getting to the matchplay stage of the competition.

Feedback from competitors and visitors was extremely complimentary with regards to the condition and presentation of the Old Course and welcome they received.

The Inter-Club season continues and this Friday July 30, the Valerie Hassett and Aedin McCarthy managed senior cup team will play Killaraney in the Munster West final.

The club’s Junior Girls team, managed by Maire Falvey will defend their 2019 Munster title when they compete in the Munster Girl’s Inter-club championship which takes place at Adare Manor commencing this Thursday.

Johnny O’Brien’s captain’s prize takes place this weekend. The qualifying rounds take place on Friday and Saturday with the 27 best nett scores, over the two days, qualify for a 9-hole playoff on Sunday while the senior men’s competition takes place on the Castle Course on Saturday. Following completion of the 9-hole playoff on Sunday, the presentation of prizes will take place on the first tee.

DROMOLAND GOLF CLUB The men’s 18 hole monthly medal was won by Denis Mulqueen with 70 nett from Brian Hickey with 71,

To book an appointment call us on 065 684 0844

Declan Cusack with 71 and Billy O’Mahony with 72. Killian Howard won the gross with 72.

Carola Wixted won the ladies monthly medal with 69 from Suzanne McConway (70). Mairead Toomey won the gross with 89.

Adam Merriman won the Friday open singles with 41 points from Cathal King who had a similar score. Anthony Egan was third with 40 points while the gross was won by Ross O’Flaherty, 34 points.

Donnacha Mahon won both junior competitions off the white tees last week with 39 and 40 points respectively. Aaron Piccolo with 44 points and Conor Clancy with 46 points were the winners off the black tees while Sive Timmons won the girls comp with 34 points.

The 9 hole competition last week was won by Kenneth Arthur with 22 points from Alan O’Flanagan and Adrian Glynn (both 21). Majella Cotgreave won the ladies 9 hole stableford with 20 points.

KILRUSH GOLF CLUB Sunday’s Shannon Ferries singles was won by Gerard Hehir (23) with 48 points from Richard Williams (15) with 43 with third spot filled by Thomas Downes (12) with a similar score. Pat Shannon (19) was fourth, also 43 points. The category winners were Michael F. Ryan (12) with 42 points, Bernard Coleman (19) with 42 points and Patrick O’Dea (21) with 42 points.

Saturday’s winner was Barry McMahon (18) with 45 points.

The ladies Nia Natural Beauty sponsored competition was won

by Ursula Lineen

(29) with 44 points from Ann Marie Donnellan (17) with 41 points with third spot filled by Clare Pyne (21) with 38 points. Ann McMahon won the ladies 12 hole competition.

ENNIS GOLF CLUB The annual St. Flannans College past pupils competition was staged at Ennis at the weekend when Michael O’Reilly (23) emerged with the honours with 39 points. He won from Conor Malone (9) who had a similar score with Eoin Ryan (22) in third spot with 38 points followed by Sean Daly Senior (16), also with 38. Kieran Fox (4) won the gross with 33 points.

In the Ennis members section, John Cahill (10) won with 41 points from Ger Harnett (15) with 40 points and Kieran Patton (20) with 40 points. Sean Myatt (1) won the gross with 34 points. 117 persons took part in the competition.

The Friday open singles, sponsored by Martin Ward golf, was won

by Adam O’Brien with 39 points from Patrick Rutherford with 39 and Aaron Burke with 37 points.

Colm Hanley (3) from Shannon won the gross with 33 points.

Last week’s Tuesday fourball was won by Ronnie Guinanne and Pat Murphy with 38 points from Noel Connellan and Paul Higgins with 34. In third spot with 33 points were Vincent and Tommy Corbert followed by Brian Kelly and Walter O’Brien with 33 points.

The ladies Eileen Murphy foursomes was won by Brid Cunningham and Carmel Verling with 40 points from Valerie Hassett and Jeather Scovell with 37 and Mary McMahon and Una O’Reilly, 36.

Winners in the ladies improvers 9 hole stroke competition were Sinead O’Sullivan (26) with 42 nett and Siobhan Costello (20) with 13 points. In the 9 hole stableford Liz Kelly (21) won with 22 points from Ann O’Loughlin (9) with 20 points and Kathleen Frehill (19) with 19.

Kitty Morris and Yvonne Keohane were 3rd in the Australian

Spoons and have qualified for the National Finals.

Last week’s ladies seniors competition was won by Maeve O’Grady, Frances 0’Reilly, and Ann White with 50.4 from Annette Keane, Claire Kennelly and Anne Casey with 51 5/6 with third place going to Ann Kelly, Margaret Flanagan and Alice D’Arcy with 55.1.

In the lady captain’s (Deirdre Molyneaux) mixed foursomes, Kieran and Lauren Fox were the winners from Una O’Reilly and Dave Pender with Della and Steve Burns in third spot.

Walter O’Brien was the winner of the lady captain’s prize to the men and other prize winners were Rita O’Brien (past captain), Bridie Keane (best Granny), Jean Molony (back 9) Marie Dilleen(front 9), Sinead O’Sullivan (improver) and Peg Hanrahan (nearest the pin).

Ethna Murphy was the lady captain’s prize winner from Suzanne Deane with third spot filled by Nuala Healy. They were followed by Carmel Cummins, Helen Gallery, Mary Lenihan, Anna Marie Darmody, Noreen Courtney, Liz Kelly, Kate Keohane, Patricia Kerwin and Marian Irwin while Claire Ruane won the gross.

EAST CLARE GOLF CLUB There was a turnout of 88 players for the Olive Fahy memorial cup competition at East Clare last week.

The overall winner was John Duffy (17) with 44 points. In the men’s section Ger Shortt (17) was the winner with 42 points from Dominic Stuart (17) with 40 points with third spot filled by Michael McMahon (15) with 40 points.

Margaret Egan (38) won the ladies with 43 points from Catherine Minogue (22) with 41 points and Imelda O’Hanlon (8) from the Charleville club with 41 points.

The annual play in pink day for the NBCRI will take place on Wednesday, August 4. This will be a team of three event and tee times can be booked at 061-921322.

GORT GOLF CLUB John Daly’s captain’s prize was won by Colm Moylette (18) with 96. He had two strokes to spare over Ritchie Glynn (20) and Ronald Ryan (18). Joe Moran (5) won the gross with 75 while Tony Naughton (32) won the nett with 65. Niall Finnegan (140) won the past captain’s section with 103. The senior winner was Kevin Mulkerrins (17) with 109 while the student winner was Aidan Helebert (20) with 72.

The captain’s prize to the ladies was won by Niamh Carr (42) with 41 points.

PLANNING

THURSDAY, JULY 29 2021

PLANNING NOTICES CLARE COUNTY COUNCIL CAPPAMORE, BAREFIELD, CO. CLARE. Take notice that Enda Garvey is applying to Clare County Council for planning permission for the construction of a slatted unit and loose shed with associated site works at the above address. The planning application may be inspected, or purchased at a fee not exceeding the reasonable cost of making a copy at the offices of Clare County Council during its public opening hours and a submission, or observation in relation to the application may be made to the authority in writing on payment of the prescribed fee within the period of 5 weeks beginning on the date of receipt by the authority of the application.

CLARE COUNTY COUNCIL GEORGE’S STREET, LEVERSTOWN, SIXMILEBRIDGE, CO. CLARE. Take notice that Michael Keating Dip. Arch. (phone 085-8421780), on behalf of Ronan Murphy and David Dunne, intend to apply to Clare County Council for permission for change of use of industrial building no. 6 (previously granted permission under P19/860) to gymnasium and include signage on gable of building and carry out all ancillary site works at the above address.

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

CLARE CO. COUNCIL BARNTICK, CLARECASTLE Permission for the construction of a dwelling house, garage, treatment unit and all associated site works is being sought

by Trina Galvin. The planning application may be inspected or purchased at a fee not exceeding the reasonable cost of making a copy, at the offices of the planning authority Clare County Council, Áras Contae an Chláir, New Road, Ennis, Co. Clare during its public opening hours. A submission or observation in relation to the application may be made in writing to the planning authority on payment of the prescribed fee of €20, within the period of 5 weeks beginning on the date of receipt by the authority of the application.

Signed: Grealish Glynn & Associates, 1 The Punchbowl, Ennis Road, Gort, Co. Galway.

CLARE COUNTY COUNCIL O’BRIENS BRIDGE, CO CLARE I, Michael Crotty, am applying to the above authority for permission for the following development on property at Ardataggle, Bridgetown, O’Briens Bridge,Co Clare: Permission for detached single storey dwelling, detached domestic garage/home office, onsite wastewater treatment system and percolation area, bored well, new entrance together with all associated ancillary and incidental site works The planning application may be inspected, or purchased at a fee not exceeding the reasonable cost of making a copy, at the offices of the planning authority during its public opening hours and a submission or observation in relation to the application may be made to the authority in writing on payment of the prescribed fee within the period of 5 weeks beginning on the date of receipt by the authority of the application.

CLARE COUNTY COUNCIL COOLMEEN, LABASHEEDA, KILRUSH, CO. CLARE Take notice that Ríona Cleary & Thomas Flynn are applying to Clare County Council for planning permission to construct a new dwelling house, access road, entrance,

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

CLARE COUNTY COUNCIL CORBALLY, KILKEE, CO. CLARE Take notice that Lorna O’Shea intends to apply to the planning authority for permission to construct a new dwelling house complete with a sewage treatment system and ancillary works at the above address.

The planning application may be inspected, or purchased at a fee not exceeding the reasonable cost of making a copy, at the offices of the planning authority, Clare County Council, Aras Contae an Chlair, New Road, Ennis during its public opening hours and that a submission or observation in relation to the application may be made to the authority in writing on payment of the prescribed fee within the period of 5 weeks beginning on the date of receipt by the planning authority of the application.

CLARE COUNTY COUNCIL NEWHALL, ENNIS, CO. CLARE Take notice that Brian Foudy & Associates Ltd of Osprey House, Carmody Street, Ennis, Co. Clare 065 6893565 www. foudyconsulting.ie. intend to apply to the planning authority on behalf of Jamie & Laura O’Connor for outline permission to construct a dwelling house with granny flat, domestic garage, wastewater treatment system and soil polishing filter together with all associated 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 BALLYMACLINAUN, LISCANNOR, CO CLARE. Take notice that Eimhin O’Connor and Jonny Miller intend to apply for PERMISSION to revise the site boundaries previously granted under Ref: P19/502 at the above address. The planning application may be inspected or purchased at a fee not exceeding the reasonable cost of making a copy, at the offices of the planning authority, during its public opening hours. A submission or observation in relation to the application may be made in writing to the authority on payment of the prescribed fee of €20.00, within the period of 5 weeks beginning on the date of receipt by the authority of the application.

CLARE COUNTY COUNCIL. NEWPARK, SIXMILEBRIDGE, CO. CLARE. Take note that Stephen Creamer & Sarah Counihan are applying to Clare County County for Planning Permission to construct a dwelling house, separate garage, site entrance, sewer treatment unit with percolation area including all ancillary site works as previously granted under Planning application P13-39 at the above address.

That 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 and that a submission or observation in relation to the application may be made to the authority in writing on payment of the prescribed fee within the period of 5 weeks beginning on the date of receipt by the authority of the application.

CLARE COUNTY COUNCIL MOYFADDA, LABASHEEDA, CO. CLARE Take notice that Brian Foudy & Associates Ltd of Osprey House, Carmody Street, Ennis, Co. Clare 065 6893565 www. foudyconsulting.ie. intend to apply to the planning authority on behalf of Gerard & Mary McNamara for permission to (a) retain additional habitable floor area and carport (b) demolish existing attached cottage (b) construct a side extension to existing dwellinghouse (c) upgrade wastewater treatment arrangement together with all associated site development works and services at the above address.

The planning application may be inspected or

51

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.

LICENCE APPLICATIONS Case No: Case Not Initiated An Chuirt Duiche The District Court No. 86.3 Public Dance Halls Act, 1935 NOTICE OF APPLICATION FOR A PUBLIC DANCING LICENCE District Court Area of Killaloe District No. 12 Flexiteam Limited Applicant TAKE NOTICE that the above-named Applicant Flexiteam Limited of Penrose Wharf, Penrose Quay, Cork, Cork intends to apply to the District Court at Killaloe District Court on the 07 Sep 2021 at 10:30 for the grant of an Annual Dance Licence a Licence to use a particular place, to wit: LOCATION Knockyclovaun, Killaloe, Co. Clare Signed McMahon O’Brien Tynan Solicitor for Applicant

Case No: Case Not Initiated An Chuirt Duiche The District Court Licensing (Ireland) Act 1833 Section 6 Intoxicating Liquor Act, 1960 Section 29 District Court Area of Killaloe District No. 12 Flexiteam LimitedApplicant TAKE NOTICE that the above-named Applicant Flexiteam Limited of Penrose Wharf, Penrose Quay, Cork, Cork intends to apply to the Annual Licensing Court to be held at the Court at Killaloe District Court on the 07Sep-2021 at 10:30 for the TRANSFER to the Applicant of the Publican’s Licence (Ordinary) Hotel - BF - 1902 Act (Public Bar) licence attached to the premises at Knockyclovaun, Killaloe, Clare in the court area and district aforesaid.

Signed McMahon O’Brien Tynan Solicitor for Applicant

52

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54 PUZZLEPAGE

THURSDAY, JULY 29 2021

THIS WEEKS PUZZLES JULY 29

WORD SEARCH

SUDOKU

7/23/2021

bacon

shoulder

brisket

spam

beef

3

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5

3

2

6

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4

veal

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1

venison

7

gammon

2

5

1

3

1/1

gigot

2

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5

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6

1/1

1 3

How to play

ANSWERS 7

3

4

2

7

6

8

1

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9

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1

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1

ribs

9

pork

6

pastrami

8

Sudoku is a logic puzzle where you have to populate the grid with numbers. A number can appear only once in each row, column and house. Each puzzle can be solved using logic from the given information and requires no guesswork.

2

HOW TO PLAY

Sudoku is a logic puzzle where you have to populate the grid with numbers. A number can appear only once in each row, column and house. Each puzzle can be solved using logic from the given information and requires no guesswork.

mutton

5

liver

6

How to play

5

lamb

Sudoku is a logic puzzle where you have to populate the grid with numbers. A number can appear only once in each row, column and house. Each puzzle can be solved using logic from the given information and requires no guesswork.

ham

7/23/2021

m (6)

The Clare Echo Crossword

not too difficult - just k.

July 2021

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1 Complete failure (6) 2 Skin-tight garment (7) 3 Throw out (5) 5 High level ground (7) 6 Decree (5) 7 Gypsy (6) 9 Lingerie (9) 13 Meadow (7) 14 Invigorate (7) 15 Russia’s capital (6) 16 Thinly scattered (6) 18 Male singer (5) 20 Minister (5)

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1 Meat or fish with bones removed (6) 4 Seem (6) 8 Make up for (5) 9 Radioactive element (7) 10 Mapped (7) 11 Devoured (5) 12 Setting out (9) 17 Sworn promises (5) 19 Enfold, surround (7) 21 Vanquish (7) 22 Lid (5) 23 Custodian (6) 24 Colour of the spectrum (6)

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QUIZ 55

THURSDAY, JULY 29 2021

The Clare Echo Quiz

BUS ROUTES OF COUNTY CLARE 1

6

2

7

Known colloquially as the commuters bus, the 343 connects Ennis to ______?

Kilrush Limerick Galway

3

Which of the following stops at Doolin County Clare?

35 X35 350

4

The 333 goes towards _____?

Kilnamona Quin Kilkee

5

Local Link Clare Bus service accommodates _____ seats on each vehicle?

16 26 36

Dublin Coach traveling from Ennis to Dublin displays the number _____ at the front of the vehicle?

300 500 800 The penultimate stop on the Dublin Coach to Dublin City Centre is?

Kildare Village Red Cow Luas Portlaoise

8

Which of the following does not stop at Shannon Airport?

343 X51 350

9 10 20 30

A Leap Card offers savings of up to ___ % on a single ticket

10

The new local link 337 champions the _____?

Old West Clare Railway The Shannon Estuary Way The Wild Atlantic Way

l Bus Eireann bus travelling throught the Burren

ANSWERS

6. 300 7. Red Cow Luas 8. 350 9. 30 10.The Shannon Estuary Way Can you spot the difference? Spot the 7 differences.

The answers will be revealed in next weeks edition.

51 Limerick 350 Kilkee 16

Spot the Difference

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

The bus route that passes through County Clare from Galway to Cork is called?

51 41 31

Last weeks Answers . Missing pole (top right) . Window missing . Foot missing on player . Tuft of grass missing

. Letter on jersey missing . Sliotar missing . Downpipe missing

The Guilfoyle twins Eoin and Padraic enjoying the sunshine cheering on the Clare team Photograph Joe Buckley

AND GUTTERING CLARE

ROOF MOSS CLEANING