The Clare Echo 31/12/20

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DEC 31 2020

Little Daisy saved me from home as it burnt to ground lLUCKY ESCAPE: Bernard Hanrahan holding Daisy outside his home

PÁRAIC McMAHON

A

paraic@clareecho.ie

CLARECASTLE man survived a devastating fire which burnt down his home in the early hours of Sunday morning thanks to his life-saving dog.

Bernard Hanrahan, a former county councillor was awoken shortly after 5am by his dog Daisy alerting him to a fuelling blaze within his home in Barntick. They managed to escape from the house with the wall separating his bedroom from the sitting

room and kitchen ensuring the blaze did not reach them before then.

Fortunately no persons were injured but as the household was the Hanrahan family home for three generations, the countless memories and photographs stored all over the walls plus the memorabilia of prizes from his time involved in horses went up in smoke among the devastation.

Without the input of Daisy, the tragedy could have been far greater. “She started barking about 5am and usually she’d start at around 7 or 8 to get up and do her business but I said to her it was too early and to go back to bed, next thing I heard a bang and thought someone was trying to break in. I got

up out of the bed, came up along the corridor and opened the door into the kitchen and the flames and smoke put me back on my arse onto the ground. I thought I would be able to get in to quench it a bit but I couldn’t. Myself and herself took off to my brothers to try do something, she stayed with me all the time.

We rang the fire brigade and all I’m left with now is a shell,” he recounted.

Undoubtedly grateful to still be alive ‘Bomber’ is heartbroken to have witnessed the damage caused to the family home and would always have been vigilant when it comes to fire safety. “It is the last thing anybody would want to have in their life, a major fire like this. I don’t know how it

Photo by John Mangan

happened or where it started, it is a mystery at this moment in time and it is a nightmare.

It is the last thing that I wanted at this stage of my life to have a major fire like this to burn out my home”.

Six years ago, his beloved wife Margaret died suddenly, “I thought that was the end of the world because she was my life saver, for this to happen now you’d often wonder is there a man up there at all”.

They spent their lives together and reared a family in the home which adds to the sadness.

“Everything I had, memories belonging to my mother and father that I had held onto...

FULL STORY P9

2 NEWS

Index NEWS

THURSDAY, DEC 31 2020

STEPPING INTO THE NEW YEAR

2-12

EOIN NEYLON

14

YEAR IN REVIEW

15

RONAN SCULLY

18

BUSINESS

22

MOTORING 2021

23-29

SPORT

29-35

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

NEWSDESK

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

SALES

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

l BRUSHING UP ON THEIR SKILLS: Liam Casey and Fergal Ginnane dancing as part of the Kildysart Wren on St Stephen’s Day

Photo by Darren Hardiman

Belharbour still waits on flood work funding after 21 months PÁRAIC MCMAHON paraic@clareecho.ie

E

FFORTS to secure a suitable source of funding for flood management works in Belharbour have been ongoing for the past 21 months.

Numerous houses at Mortyclogh in Ballyvaughan along with the N67 are prone to flooding resulting in the regular closure of the public road and addition of detours.

Steve Lahiffe, acting senior executive engineer with capital projects in Clare County Council explained, “The source of flooding is from the Ballyvelaghan Lough and the local groundwater table. Ballyvelaghan Lough is considered to be a turlough which virtually dries out except for a small section of permanent lake each summer and which generally peaks gradually in the winter flood period coinciding with the elevated groundwater table. This Lough is generally found to be slow to rise and slow to recede”.

Representations from public representations led to the local authority commissioning Hydro Environmental Ltd to carry out a feasibility study in 2016 which identified two potential solutions.

A scheme was then designed by Malachy Walsh & Partners to prepare an application to An Bord Pleanála, Lahiffe recalled. The proposed development was approved subject to conditions. In February of last year, Clare County Council submitted an application for funding under the minor works scheme to the Office of Public Works.

Lahiffe added, “The Office of Public Works have indicated to Clare Co Council that they will provide finding for the element of the scheme that relates to the flooding or risk of flooding to dwelling houses. Clare County Council are currently investigating securing a suitable source of funding to advance the scheme”.

Cllr Joe Killeen (FF) who sought an update on flood management in Belharbour at the November meeting of the West Clare Municipal District maintained a feasibility study would have to be undertaken Transport Infrastructure Ireland are responsible for the N67 as it is a national secondary route. “I wonder about the TII, the flooding does affect the main road and did cause a long detour to the mast. The TII should be contacted to see if they would subscribe towards remediation works,” Cllr Killeen commented. Cllr Joe Garrihy (FG) supported the views of Killeen, “We were all contacted earlier in the year when flooding occurred”.

THURSDAY, DEC 31 2020

NEWS 3

4 NEWS

Countywide ‘blitz’ on dog fouling to be carried out

THURSDAY, DEC 31 2020

PĂ RAIC MCMAHON

A

paraic@clareecho.ie

SIXMILEBRIDGE councillor has called for a countywide “blitz on dog fouling� to be conducted.

Three additional staff will be authorised to help address dog fouling across the county following a proposal

by Cllr John Crowe (FG).

He requested Clare County Council to “carry out a blitz on dog fouling through out the county by employing extra wardens on a short term basis�.

Currently, seven wardens are authorised under the little pollution act dealing with the prosecution of dog fouling, senior engineer Cyril Feeney confirmed. “We

have continually promoted dog owner responsibility throughout the year through The Clare Echo newspaper, social media channels and ground awareness campaigns. Dog fouling is the responsibility of dog owners,� he stated.

According to Cllr Crowe, “every councillor in the country has been approached about dog fouling�. He added, “We all know it is the dog owners responsibility to clean up after their dog but it isn’t being done.

Parents have the wheels of buggies destroyed after walks. There is nothing as bad as going into the house and seeing shoes covered in

it�. The Chair of the Physical Development SPC was hopeful the increase in staffing would sort the matter. “Until some of the people who walk their dogs and don’t bother to clean up after them, until these people are exposed and named or shamed the advantage is with

the dog owner. Until that is done, we’re banging our head off the wall,� Cllr PJ Ryan (IND) maintained.

Popular dog walking routes in towns and villages of the county should be facilitated with bins on the routes to allow dog owners dispose of the waste, Cllr Johnny Flynn (FG) suggested. “We should be supporting people w h o

l CONCERNS: Cllr John Crowe

want to do the right thing�.

Health risks must also be considered, Cllr Donna McGetti-

gan (SF) said. She referred to the condition of toxocariasis and how it can be infected to humans as simply as picking up a soccer ball that has rubbed off faeces. “There is a serious issue with this,� the Shannon representative felt.

Small sections of the population are causing the problem, Cllr Joe Cooney (FG) argued. “It is like the hedge cutting, there is some people

Photo by Martin Connolly

carrying out their duties 100 percent�. Joining the discussion, the Mayor of Clare, Cllr Mary Howard (FG) outlined that during an awards delivery with Ennis Tidy Towns on Saturday “anywhere we went there was green areas that dogs were let go and foul on. I’ve always said it, there is no thing as a bad dog, it is a bad dog owner�.

‘It is not all about driving a car’ - need for focus on sustainable transport PĂ RAIC MCMAHON paraic@clareecho.ie

 �

CREATION of a post focused on active and sustainable travel in Clare would reduce the dependency on cars in the county, the Mayor of Ennis has said.

Clarecastle representative, Cllr Paul Murphy (FG) has issued an appeal to both the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage plus the Department of Transport and Climate to make funding available to local authorities in order to facilitate the creation of an active and sustainable travel officer in county and city councils across the country.

A commitment to promote and deliver active and sustainable travel is already prevalent within Clare County Council, senior engineer John Leahy stated in response to Murphy’s motion.

Air pollution would fall if the post was established, Cllr Murphy told a recent meeting of the local authority. He suggested increased pedestrian crossings and segregated cycling paths would also assist in the endeavour. “From Latoon Bridge, you have a quite cycle path all the way to Clarecastle but you suddenly end up on top of traffic before you know it. Clare can become a great place to walk and cy-

cle,� he maintained. The Mayor of Ennis also requested that the motion be circulated to the county’s Oireachtas members and local authorities across the country.

There has been a visible difference in the amount of cars on the road in the past two decades, Cllr Ann Norton (IND) commented. “We are seeing more elderly people in their little mopeds, that is fantastic to see because it is giving them their independence. Wheelchair users have to be encouraged, they have to feel comfortable when they are out and about. People with disabilities have as much right to be on the road as a car. People need to be patient and open up their minds, look around and see what is happening, our world is changing in so many ways. We need to be able to allow people to change and become patient and accept it is not all about driving a car,� she said.

An sustainable travel officer previously existed within the County Council, Cllr Johnny Flynn (FG) recalled, “It is disappointing if the position has fallen away�.

He has highlighted the importance of the planned Ennis Town Bus to the Minister of State for International and Road Transport and Logistics, Hildegarde Naughton (FG). “Clare Youth Service have surveyed young people in Clare and one of the key issues is the lack of access to sustainable transport,� he added.

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

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

©2020 Specsavers. All rights reserved.

6 NEWS

THURSDAY, DEC 31 2020

‘Incredibly slow’ vaccine process can be accelerated with GP assistance PÁRAIC MCMAHON paraic@clareecho.ie

R

OLL-OUT of the COVID-19 vaccine in the Republic of Ireland has been described as “incredibly slow” by an

Ennis GP. On Wednesday, Minister for Health in Northern Ireland, Robin Swann (UUP) stated that Coronavirus vaccinations have been carried out in 80 percent of all care homes in the North. While the roll-out is not expected to begin in the Republic until Monday January 11th.

Summer-time has been identified as the time when the country can hope to return to some semblance of normality. This is reiterated by Dr Máire Finn who struggled to comprehend why the roll-out of the vaccine was moving at a slower pace in the Republic. “We would be all very hopeful that by summer time we should be considering ourselves back to normal because by that stage the majority of people in

the country should be vaccinated.

“I have to say that the roll-out is very slow and I’m not entirely sure why, I wish the HSE would be a little bit more transparent but there seems to be very few vaccines coming into the country but they are making it seem like it is the logistics of the roll-out. In normal circumstances, every year GPs give out a million vaccines without any fuss, it just happens, it is part of our normal work and I do believe we would be able to do this without any problem but the HSE seem to think they need four people to give a vaccine. It seems to be incredibly slow, the whole process and I don’t understand why”.

Urgency with regards to the vaccine is lacking in some regards, the doctor with Ennis Medical – Centric Health believed. “This is a crisis and we’re in a real problem situation, the number of COVID-19 cases are going way up and we’re seeing it in Clare and all around the country so it is a priority, now we have something to protect people, it is a crisis and it should be seen as that. We could have 24 hour clinics running vaccines and GPs are willing to do this because if we had the

vaccine our work would be significantly improved because the last year has been an absolute nightmare for us”.

Medical professionals like Máire saw their surgeries close down at the beginning of the pandemic before adapting to consultations over the phone. Patients returned to surgeries in the summer with medical issues that had been delayed and ensued an otherwise quieter time of the year became very busy for doctors. The workload for GPs has

tripled, she maintained.

Little information has been provided to GPs from the HSE regarding the vaccine, Dr Finn admitted.

She expressed her surprise that their role in administering the vaccine has not been utilised. “The logistics are there in our surgeries to do this, we do it all the time, when the flu vaccine comes out we go to the nursing homes and do the flu vaccine and we help the people that are the most vulnerable. I have no idea why this isn’t being given to

GPs as a priority job. We can do this without little fuss and very little extra financing”.

Speaking to The Clare Echo, the Wexford native described the approach of the HSE as “bureaucratic”. She outlined, “The decision making is made by the people at the top who haven’t been as harshly affected by the realities of COVID-19, the bureaucracy always slows things down and at the very beginning of this crisis, the HSE came good and changed things quickly, we’ve seen it go back to its normal slow pace and bureaucracy taking charge which is disappointing because we want this to be done quickly and we’re willing to do it”.

Were the HSE to alter their approach and get GPs to administer the vaccine, Máire believed the ‘return to normality’ would occur much sooner. “The problem again is down to supply. If we had enough supply to vaccinate a significant cohort of the population then we could see an end to this COVID nightmare sooner than late summer. If supply is the issue, then the HSE should be honest about this and not say it is down to the logistics”.

PAPER CHASE SELLS €500K EUROMILLIONS TICKET AN ENNIS lotto player is to ring in the New Year €500,000 richer.

Tuesday night’s winning €500k EuroMillions Plus top prize was sold at The Paper Chase store in Ennis town centre, the National Lottery have confirmed. It is the 28th time the prize has been won in Ireland.

Ennis residents have been urged to check their Quick Pick numbers after acquiring the ticket on Tuesday. The all-important winning EuroMillions Plus numbers which are worth a half million euro to one lucky player are: 01, 02, 06, 09 and 19.

First opened in 1992, The Paper Chase newsagents are ecstatic to have sold the winning ticket. Current owner, Sharon Casey started her career as a shop assistant when the store first opened before becoming manager and then taking over the business in 2008.

It is her first big National Lottery win as the store’s owner. “It’s absolutely incredible, we still cannot believe it! I got the call from the National Lottery late last night and it still feels like a dream.

Knowing that one of our customers is a half a million euro richer is just fantastic. We are absolutely over the moon for the winner and we hope that they enjoy this incredible win,” she said on Wednesday morning.

The winning ticket holder is advised to sign the back of their ticket and to get in touch with the National Lottery claims team on 1800 666 222 or email claims@lottery.ie and arrangements will be made for them to claim their prize.

Sharon Casey outside Paperchase yesterday after receiving the news that her shop sold the Euromillions Plus winning ticket

THURSDAY, DEC 31 2020

NEWS 7

8 NEWS

Supermacs says €10m plaza to create 120 jobs

THURSDAY, DEC 31 2020

Wheelchair lift for Ennis train station PÁRAIC MCMAHON paraic@clareecho.ie

AN INVESTMENT in the region of €1m is to see a wheelchair friendly lift and cross track bridge open at Ennis Railway Station in 2021.

Iarnród Éireann have made the investment which is set to make use of public transport easier for wheelchair users, individuals with mobility issues and those using buggies.

It is expected that the opening will take place after the Christmas period, in early 2021.

Speaking to The Clare Echo, Cllr Johnny Flynn (FG) outlined

PÁRAIC MCMAHON

P

paraic@clareecho.ie

LANNING permission has been granted for a €10m Supermacs plaza outside Ennis off the M18.

Clare County Council have given the green light for the plaza development which will be located in Kilbreckan, Doora adjacent to junction 12 of the M18.

Supermacs first lodged plans for the motorway plaza in Clare in January 2016. Another application was marred in controversy when it emerged in 2018 that bogus letters of support were submitted to the local authority. Plans were withdrawn last year following a request for further information. Fresh proposals were submitted this winter.

A handful of Ennis business had objected to the plans previously but the County Council have proposed that the

fourth application go ahead.

Some 120 jobs will be created within a year of the development, Supermacs have confirmed to The Clare Echo. The €10m plaza will not be to the same scale as the Barack Obama Plaza in Moneygall.

As part of the plans, a service station building with convenience shop, food court, staff facilities, canopy, fuel facilities, parking and circulation space, children’s play area, picnic area and access provision will all be constructed.

It also includes infrastructural works, public lighting, signage, landscaping, internal fencing, electrical substation, 16 electric car charging points, roof mounted solar panels, storm water runoff, petrol interceptors and attenuation system, on-site wastewater treatment plant, pumping station and connection to public foul sewer, drainage improvement works, underground fuel storage tanks, rain water harvesting system, connection to public water supply, underground storage tanks for fire-fighting

that he has been campaigning for improved accessibility at the station for the past decade.

“This will make rail transport to and from Ennis more accessible to all by having accessible use of both platforms at all times and improve travel times by eliminating current occasional delays of up to fifteen minutes when simultaneous safe wheelchair user access is required from platform one to both Galway and Limerick trains,” the Ennis representative stated.

purposes, underground rain water harvesting tanks, works to improve visibility at access point, upgrade to adjacent roundabout and ancillary works.

Managing Director of Supermac’s Pat McDonagh said the company sees the decision as affirmation of the commitment of the Local Authority to the people of Clare.

He said Supermac’s will do everything to respond generously in job creation and all it takes to ensure that this development will contribute significantly over decades to the economic and social development of Ennis and the whole county. He said there is no substitute for tangible investment and that the creation of 120 jobs within a year will be a huge boost to Ennis.

He detailed a commitment in particular to additional part-time employment directed at young people whose participation in Higher Education will be facilitated by the income they will earn and whose future careers will be enabled by the work ethic of the company.

Call for paint scheme CLARE has a chance to “lead in the west” by bringing the ‘paint re-use scheme’ into operation, the sole Sinn Féin representative of the local authority has said.

The December meeting of Clare County Council heard a proposal from Cllr Donna McGettigan (SF) that the local authority “bring the paint re-use scheme to Clare”.

Cllr Susan Crawford (GP) seconded the motion.

She outlined, “This is a relatively new scheme which aims to divert paint from disposal or incineration and to provide if possible an affordable, good quality paint for reuse in the local community or to be reused through the councils maintenance department”.

Under the scheme, paint is made available for free use for various community projects. Mungret Civic Amenity Centre

in Limerick offers a paint reuse scheme, which allows users to leave any unused tins of paint and pick up ones that they might use themselves. Environmental officer, Karen Foley is listed as the Clare point of contact for the initiative.

Senior engineer, Cyril Feeney noted that the initiative was supported by the Local Authority Prevention Network with projects starting recently in Cork and Dublin. “We will contact Cork County Council to develop a better understanding of how the system operates and examine the feasibility of introducing a similar scheme in County Clare,” he responded.

Speaking in glór, Cllr McGettigan detailed that the amount of paint tins used in Ireland each year was unknown and added, “in general 50 per cent of waste point is still usable”.

THURSDAY, DEC 31 2020

107 Clare people fail to show for tests FOURTEEN percent of Clare people scheduled for a Covid-19 test failed to attend for a scheduled swabbing over the Christmas period.

From December 24-28, excluding Christmas Day, a total of 780 persons from Clare were scheduled to have a Covid-19 test but 107 of these failed to attend.

Confirmed cases of the virus have increased in the county over the festive period. Clare previously had the second lowest 14 day incidence rate per 100k of the population in the country but this has now risen to the ninth lowest.

Any New Year’s celebrations must be shelved with the Department of Public Health Mid-West expressing concern over the impact of Christmas celebrations on the spread of Covid-19 in the community.

There have been more than 800 Covid-19 cases in the Mid-West over the past two weeks, the vast

majority of which were recorded in Limerick.

An increased level of social gatherings intensified in the lead up to the Christmas break with preliminary evidence indicating that gatherings among extended families, in private households, organised events, and in the hospitality sector have been contributing factors in outbreaks locally.

Director of Public Health Mid-West, Dr Mai Mannix stated that an “extra layer to what is already a complex situation locally” has been added due to the actions over the festivities. “We do not want a situation whereby new household cases bring undetected Covid-19 to new settings in the community over the coming days. This would make complex outbreaks increasingly more difficult to manage. Every effort to follow public health guidelines can and will prevent serious illness and will protect our most vulnerable.”

NEWS 9

‘Everything I had is gone up in smoke’ CONTINUED FROM P1

...were all inside and there was a lot of memories from what Margaret and I built up over the years, they are all gone up in smoke and there is nothing I can salvage in there.

The new part of the house is all damaged by smoke and you can’t use anything from it, everything I have is gone”.

Since Margaret’s death, Daisy has slept in the bed beside him. “Only for Daisy I wouldn’t be around today to tell the story. She saved my life.

You might say I would have heard the fire but I wouldn’t because I’m a deep sleeper, when I go to sleep I go to sleep but she stayed at me to wake up and stayed barking until we got out. As someone said to me yesterday, she should be knighted”.

It is the second time that his canine has stepped up in an hour of need. “I was sick two years ago, I was inside in the room and got a weakness and fell hitting my head off the chest of drawers and she

lGOOD DOG: Clarecastle man Bernard Hanrahan outside his home which went up in flames on Sunday holding his beloved dog Daisy

Photo by John Mangan

stayed barking and licking me until she woke me. She is a life-saver, they are great company and the best company you could have if you’re living alone is a dog like I have been for the last six years. She has travelled with me in the car and gone everywhere”.

Regarded as a pillar of the

community given his involvement with the GAA and local Bingo, ‘Bomber’ is overwhelmed with how the people of Clarecastle and beyond have rallied behind him.

“I’ve never met so many generous offers from people, it is only when something like this happens that you realise

how many friends you have. I would like to thank each and everyone of them for their offers of help or support. It is unreal, even this morning at 8:30am I got an offer of an apartment, the goodness of people is great”.

by Paraic McMahon

10 NEWS

Children ‘gathering on roof’ RENEWED calls have been voiced for the surrounds of Shannon Town Utd to be made safer.

Removal of trees and a cleaning of footpaths around the ESB substation beside Lynch Park, the home of Shannon Town Utd formed a request issued by Cllr Donna McGettigan at a recent meeting of the Shannon Municipal District.

The Sinn Fein councillor outlined, “The substation is openly accessible and children tend to gather on its roof accessing it through the trees�.

An examination of the area is to be completed, senior executive engineer Aidan O’Rourke confirmed. “As soon as resources permit,� any necessary maintenance work will be done, he stated.

A similar motion was previously tabled

by Cllr Pat O’Gorman (FF), Cllr McGettigan acknowledged. “If there was a fall, there is a possibility of a claim�.

There is a responsibility on ESB to solve the matter, Cllr Michael Begley (IND) felt. “The onus should be on ESB to ensure there is no access. They are a hazard, we all know kids are adventurous and like to explore so this needs to be addressed,� he said.

ESB and the Shannon MD already have an active link, Cllr Gerry Flynn (IND) outlined. “They have been proactive,� he said as he seconded the motion.

West Clare set for greater connectivity

THURSDAY, DEC 31 2020

PĂ RAIC MCMAHON

T

paraic@clareecho.ie

RANSPORT connectivity in Co Clare is to be improved as part of Bus Éireann’s plans to add three million kilometres a year.

120 jobs are to be created as part of what Bus Éireann have described “its most significant single enhancement of services in more than 15 yearsâ€?. The services are to be rolled out in the coming weeks.

Better connectivity for Co Clare is included along with a greatly upgraded town service for Navan, greater frequency in Cork & Limerick cities.

Funded by the National Transport Authority through the Government’s July Stimulus, it includes both new services and increased frequency on existing services, that when combined will contribute to Bus Éireann providing an additional three

l ROLL-OUT: Ennis to West Clare will see more regular services million kilometres of journeys per year nationwide.

In total 120 driver posts will be created as a result of the enhancements being delivered through the July Stimulus, with half requiring external recruitment in the areas of Ballina, Cork, Drogheda, Dundalk and Limerick.

Weekend services will be introduced on Scariff-Limerick routes for the first time; and in West Clare there will be a significant increase in frequency between Ennis and West Clare and the towns of Kilkee, Doonbeg and Lahinch will be linked directly for the first time.

Service enhancements on the

West Clare Network which connect to rail at Ennis, will enable passengers to travel between West Clare and Dublin in a single day for the first time using public transport. And in the Greater Dublin Area, all major commuter timetables have been revised to improve punctuality and reliability.

In Limerick city, the frequency of route 303 will double to every 15 minutes, and more services will be offered in the evenings and weekend than has been available to date. “This is the largest single investment by government in Bus Éireann services in more than 15 years. These new and improved services will mean that public transport will be a viable option for more people outside Dublin than ever before. By providing more choice and frequency we will connect more communities and encourage the switch from cars, while also reducing traffic, air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions,â€? Minister for Transport Eamon Ryan (GP) stated.

Medical Assessment Unit to be expanded PĂ RAIC MCMAHON paraic@clareecho.ie

A

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BUSINESS case for a major expansion at Ennis Hospital has been approved.

Clare Oireachtas members have received confirmation from UL Hospitals Group that the level of services at Ennis Hospital are to be increased.

The National Treatment Purchase Fund has approved funding which will result in the recruitment of new staff and the expansion of the Medical Assessment Unit (MAU) in Ennis Hospital by 48 slots per week, from 156 to 204 per week. The effect of the changes means the service in Ennis will have effectively doubled in the space of a year. â‚Ź286,000 is said to be the amount approved.

MAUs provide assessment, diagnosis and treatment of patients referred with medical conditions including chest infections, COPD, pneumonia, urinary tract infections, fainting episodes, clots in the leg, anaemia or non-acute cardiac problems.

Approximately 10% of cases may require admission to hospital and the majority will be discharged with a follow-up review in the unit within 48 hours.

Speaking to The Clare Echo, Clare TD Michael McNamara (IND) stated, “Since my election to DĂĄil Éireann in February, I have repeatedly pressed HSE manage-

ment and successive Ministers for Health Simon Harris and Stephen Donnelly on the need to increase services at Ennis Hospital. I want to acknowledge them for following through on commitments given to me that a business case would be prepared, submitted and reviewed by the end of 2020 with a view to immediately begin expanding the level of services provided in Ennis. This move provides considerable benefits for the people of Clare while it also will help to alleviate pressure on admissions to University Hospital Limerick, something which I have repeatedly highlighted during 2020.�

Deputy McNamara added, “The MAU service in Ennis, which saw a 4% increase in referrals in 2019, is well-established and is the only such service in the UL Hospitals Group that has been open on a seven-day basis since 2016. Its hours of operations during weekdays are also longer than in either Nenagh or St. John’s. The expansion of services, which will be very much welcomed by the people of Clare and the GP community in the county and beyond, is being carried out on a phased basis and commenced last week with additional four MAU slots per day.�

To support the expansion, the UL Hospitals Group has commenced a recruitment process for a number of positions, including in nursing (2 W.T.E.), medical (1 W.T.E. Senior registrar), allied health (1 W.T.E. radiographer, 0.5 W.T.E. physiotherapist), medical scientist (1 W.T.E.) and clerical support (0.5 W.T.E.) staff.

WAS €100

NEWS 11

THURSDAY, DEC 31 2020

✨ Homewares ✨ Storage ✨ Household ✨ Furniture ✨ Textiles ✨ Friendly Staff ✨ WAS €100

Detroit Sideboard WAS €110

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Detroit TV Unit

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€18

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Flamers Smokeless Firelog 700g

NOW

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10 for

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Faux Leather Ottoman

.50

WAS €5 Artificial Fern in a Pot WAS €10.99

€3

.10

€3

Miami Faux Suede Photo Frame 8 x 10"

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€8

A5 Page a Day Diary 2021 - Red

.99

€10

Large Clear Storage Box with Lid 60L

.09

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Extra Large Storage Box with Lid 80L

.39

2 pack Dumbells 1.5KG

Yoga Mat Print/Plain

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€2

A4 Page a Day Diary 2021 - Black

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Phone Armband

3 pack Fitness Bands

€3

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Anti Burst Ball

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.50

Training Gloves

Toning Tube

€3

Ankle Weights X2 - 1Kg

.75

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€2

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We would like to thank our Ennis customers, our hard working and dedicated staff in that store, and the local community for their support.

We would like to wish you all a very Happy New Year!

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12 NEWS

THURSDAY, DEC 31 2020

Staff to return on rotation

Ryanair staff will return to its Shannon Airport base on rotation.

Following confirmation that the airline is to reopen its base at Shannon Airport in April, Ryanair said the move would support between 300 to 330 jobs directly and indirectly.

Responding to questions from The Clare Echo, CEO of Ryanair DAC, Eddie Wilson outlined that 30 of the jobs would be from their base at Shannon Airport. He said the airline has a staff “just short of 100� at Shannon and that they would “spread the work as best we can� among their entire cohort.

Wilson stated that workers at their Shannon Airport base enjoy working for the airline and in Co Clare.

Deals have been reached with some members of staff. He flagged that more aircraft would have to be restored to provide more support for the workers.

He said the decision to reopen the base was “a good start�. Wilson acknowledged that some staff will decide to take further time off but was hopeful they would remain with the airline.

One Ryanair craft will be based at Shannon Airport when its base reopens in April. 14 routes will be operational from the International Airport for summer 2021.

Ryanair predict 450k passengers flying out of Shannon in 2021 lFLYING IT: Shannon Airport CEO Mary Considine with Eddie Wilson, CEO of Ryanair announcing the good news

Photo by Arthur Ellis

Cratloe safety fears A COUNCILLOR has warned that “a major accident� is on the cards if a slip road joining the dual-carriageway is not extended.

Volume of traffic was referenced by Cllr John Crowe (FG) in his efforts to extend the slip road joining the N18 at the Sixmilebridge side in Cratloe towards the direction of Limerick. “If this isn’t extended there will be a major accident at this section,� he cautioned.

Senior executive engineer with the Shannon Municipal District, Aidan O’Rourke committed to raising the matter with Transport Infrastructure Ireland.

Speaking at a recent meeting of the Shannon MD, Cllr Crowe outlined, “It is the sliproad going onto the dual-carriageway in Cratloe. The volume on both sides from Bunratty were full. Cars ran out of space because that little piece of road is too short, a lorry had to swerve out of the road because the cars coming from Sixmilebridge hadn’t enough room to pull out, all it needs is an extension. This particular lorry went all over the road to avoid cars�.

There has been a ‘major’ increase in the volume of traffic using the section identified, Cllr PJ Ryan (IND) commented. “It is an accident waiting to happen. The traffic on the dual-carriageway is all doubled up�. Motorists have “no chance� due to the length of the slipway, he said. “The TII needs to look at this very soon, it is ongoing for a long time.�

PĂ RAIC MCMAHON

R

paraic@clareecho.ie

YANAIR have expressed their hope to grow their operations at Shannon Airport over the coming years.

On December 22, the airline confirmed it would reopen its base at Shannon Airport in April just in time for the 2021 summer season.

This subsequent restoration of the base will see one Ryanair aircraft based at Shannon Airport, 14 routes and 32 weekly flights. Destinations include, Faro, Lanzarote, Malaga, Mallorca, Manchester, London, Kaunas, Warsaw and Wroclaw.

CEO of Ryanair DAC, Eddie Wilson said the reopening of the Shannon base

allows the airline “to have a plan and a template to grow at Shannon Airport�.

He maintained there is a basis to grow their operations at the International Airport.

Wilson estimated that Ryanair would have up to 450k passengers flying out of Shannon Airport in 2021, a figure which previously would have been 750k.

He said the airline had no plans at present to make passengers prove they had received a vaccination for COVID-19 before travelling with them. Wilson outlined that they were receiving their advice from the ECDC and wanted to see a co-ordinated approach between airlines.

Meanwhile, discussions are ongoing with a number of airlines regarding lower air charges at Shannon Airport in a bid for them to resume operations at the International Airport.

Ryanair’s announcement that their base at Shannon Airport would reopen

in time for summer 2021 was described as “an early Christmas present� by CEO of Shannon Group, Mary Considine.

A commercial deal between both Shannon Group and Ryanair led to the decision of the airline to resume operations in April. Negotiations between both parties have been ongoing for eight months.

Speaking on Tuesday last, Ms Considine confirmed that they are “in discussions with other airlines� on the possibility of similar lower air charges being applied. She noted the importance of Ryanair to Shannon. “We are delighted Ryanair has already engaged with us�. “We have an incentive from the Airport who have lowered their charges,�

CEO of Ryanair DAC, Eddie Wilson explained. He cited the absence of an equivalent deal from Dublin Airport Authority as a factor in their decision not to reopen at Cork Airport.

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FEATURES

THURSDAY, DEC 31 2020

13

GREEN CLARE

Waste enforcement team deal with more than 2,000 complaints in 2020

CIAN O’BROIN

T

cianobroin@clareecho.ie

HE role of the Environment Section of Clare County Council is to improve, preserve and enhance the environment in the interests of present and future generations.

Karen Foley, Environmental Awareness Officer with Clare County Council, breaks down the highlighs of 2020 for The Clare Echo. “Our Waste Enforcement Team dealt with 2675 complaints to date this year. 1136 of these complaints related to illegal dumping and litter complaints; with 82 relating to dog fouling. Our Community Wardens responded well

to the additional challenges posed by the Covid 19 pandemic and maintained this essential service throughout the year. We had numerous incidences of dumping of bulky waste across the county and these clean ups were supported by the relevant Clare County Council Municpal District crews. Our Waste Enforcement Team engaged with householders requesting information on how they manage their waste in accordance with the Waste Management Bye-Laws. “We received â‚Ź90,000 in grant funding under the Anti-dumping initiative from the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment. This fund sup-

ported the clean up at a number of illegal dumping sites as well as the Rotary Ireland School Bikes Africa project where people were invited to bring unwanted bikes for FREE to any of our Clare County Council Recycling Centres around the County. This grant also funded a FREE household hazardous waste collection day which took place in October. The event elicited a huge response with over 300 householders availing of the opportunity to do so. Large quantities of paint, ink, empty oil cans, detergents, medicines, pesticides, aerosols, oil filters, vegetable oil, and mixed fuels were collected by the hazardous waste disposal company, Enva. Inter-agency Roadside checkpoints were carried out with An Garda Siochana in areas where unauthorised dumping was known to be a problem. This led to good inter-agency co-operation in investigating incidents. “Our Recycling Centres and Waste Transfer stations at Shannon, Ennis, Central Waste Management Facility (Inagh), Lisdeen and Scariff continued to operate throughout the COVD 19 restrictions. In addition our Waste Management Team continued to manage and monitor 50 bring banks located around the County. This time of year our bottle banks can get full very quickly. We would like to remind people to call back another time or go to another bottle bank if the nearest one is full. We would like to reassure people that we are monitoring the banks on the ground over this busy period.

Our Water and Scientific Service team received and investigated a total of 146 complaints and as required under the National Inspection Programme of Domestic Wastewater Treatment Systems (DWWTS-Septic Tanks) thirty five inspections were carried out in West, East and North Clare catchment areas “During 2020 our Laboratory & Technical Support team collected and analysed over 1,700 samples at our Environmental Laboratory located at Aras Contae and ChlĂĄir, The samples collected included bathing water, rivers, lakes, drinking water, waste water samples. “Our Beaches and Water Safety team worked to ensure that criteria relating to Blue Flag and Green Coast criteria were met. We were delighted to achieve nine Blue Flags and four Green Coast awards for Clare beaches during 2020. We

lYEAR IN REVIEW: Karen Foley, Environmental Awareness Officer with Clare County Council

continued to provide lifeguards at all designated bathing areas during the bathing water season.

Our Waste Enforcement Team also patrolled the beaches in Co. Clare throughout the summer months to monitor compliance with the Beach Bye Laws. “The Gardening Section continued their annual planting and maintenance programme as well as supporting communities. National Tree Week which had been postponed earlier in the year due to Covid 19, was carried out in Clare during September with a total of 32 groups collecting trees from the Gardening Depot, Gort Road, Ennis. These native trees were planted by volunteers and community groups at various public and open spaces around the County in the coming weeks. “Dog control and control of horses also falls under our environmental services. During 2020 the Dog Warden and Kennel Assistants became authorized officers who can now, in addition to our Environmental Enforcement staff, issue fines under the Litter Pollution Act. “Our Greener Clare programme continued to be active throughout 2020. Supporting locally led environmental awareness initiatives is at the core of the Greener Clare programme. Supports include the provision of advice, information and material resources as well grant aid to help get a community

project off the ground.

During 2020, 35 community led waste prevention received funding with the vast majority completing these projects by the end of November. Throughout 2020 we continued to work closely with An Taisce through supporting and promoting their Green School. Clean Coast, National Spring Clean, Blue Flag, Green Coast School initiatives and campaigns. During 2020 38 primary and secondary schools from across Co. Clare received an An Taisce Green Flag. “During February 2020 the Clare Green Festival and Event initiative received silver in the Best Waste Management Programme at the All Ireland LAMA awards 2020. This exciting initiative currently funded by the Clare Local Development Company through LEADER programme also received during 2020 from the EPA Local Authority Prevention Network for a Green Festival Kit. This is an exciting initiative for the fourteen participating festivals. It is currently being led by Clarecaste Tidy Towns and delivered by the Green Festival trainer and network co-ordinator Raquel Noboa, Fifty Shades Greener. “A Waste Awareness Week took place for the first time to provide information and tips that will help the public reduce its waste production. It took place from 16th to 20th November, 2020. This week was a five-day virtual event organised by Clare County Council, in association with the Southern Regional Waste Management Planning Office, to highlight the role of the county’s five civic amenity facilities, inform citizens on what they can do to correctly dispose of their waste and provide up-to-date information on reusing, reducing and recycling. “Throughout 2020 our Greener Clare team were delighted to support The Clare Echo Green Page.

The Clare Echo journeyed with us throughout the year supporting and covering all campaigns both national, regional and local while at the same time highlighting fantastic community led initiatives throughout the county.

Promotional campaigns included MyWaste.ie; Clean Coast; Smoky Coal; Dog Owner Responsibility, Stop Food Waste; Stop Illegal Dumping; Buring of Waste; Think Before You Flush; Love Your Place(Leave No Trace); Waste Prevention and Recycling.

14 COLUMNIST

THURSDAY, DEC 31 2020

Eoin Neylon

An inside look at Clare’s political spectrum

Arrival of Brexit opens great local opportunity

W

ITH MPs in the UK approving the Brexit deal, it brings to an end one of the most protracted and difficult political entanglements in the history of the EU. Ever since the June 2016 vote threw up the largely unexpected result, the potential of a deal through which the UK could continue to trade with the remaining EU 27 has been subject of much debate.

That debate is now at an end, and the world can now get on with things. Britain leaving the EU is, of course, not the best thing for Ireland. However, the fact that a deal has been struck is the best case scenario for our island. The ability to continue to trade goods, largely tariff free, will come as a huge relief to the agri-food industry and manufacturing industry here. The lack of a service union post Brexit has also opened up the door to entice many businesses currently located in the UK to relocate to Ireland in the New Year. A century on from the Rising, England’s difficulty is once more Ireland’s opportunity.

Shannon Airport and Commercial Properties really should be looking at this also (as I’m sure they are). As businesses that operate on a trans-Atlantic basis will look to re-align in order to continue to trade freely in the EU, those with European headquarters in Britain will need at least a satellite hub in the EU to continue to trade freely in the remaining 27 EU member states.

Shannon and its environs provide an ideal base for such operations, to act as a connecting regional hub between North America, the EU and the UK. The location is perfect, the runway long enough for stop overs for the largest airliners, and ample property to accommodate demand. What’s more, Tánaiste Leo Varadkar confirmed this week that duty free will return from January 1st for flights between Ireland and Britain. Where better to utilise this fact than the home of duty free air travel shopping, Shannon airport.

Any development plan for the region based on this attraction of satellite offices for North Ameri-

can and British companies to the area will need significant Government backing and pressure.

If the coalition is serious about regional development, there has never been better opportunity to prove their credentials. It’s time for them to put their money where their mouth is and invest heavily in the County Clare town and its environs. As such, the roll out of the national broadband plan should be prioritised from Shannon airport out. In Covid times, large cities are proving less attractive for large tech companies that have moved wholesale to remote working. Where better for this than the West Coast of Ireland, should the fibre infrastructure be in place. With an underutilised international airport, amazing scenery, the best in organic fresh food, golf courses and hiking trails, the potential to market Clare as a new tech centre with the best of outdoor pursuits right at the doorstep is huge. The Silicon Docks of Dublin are old news, and an old style model that is quickly falling out of fashion.

Expensive city centre properties will no longer pay for themselves into the future.

With the dawning of a new

year, it will bring with it a new era in which we do business, even with the vaccine roll out over the next few months. Pandemics have always changed society throughout history and this occasion will be no different. We’ve learned that the world has never been as small as it is now. And with trade deals coming thick and fast, this process will only accelerate. Our challenge will be to present and preserve what makes us unique in this new global context; our way of life. It has long been the envy of many yet we’ve seldom presented it as something attainable for businesses setting up here. Sean Lemass famously said, “A rising tide raises all boats.” He was right, as long as Government ensure that the same tide is felt by all. By encouraging a rural, yet connected way of life, with international access nearby, the potential for Clare and the rest of rural Ireland is immense. Coupled with the largely untapped potential for truly green, renewable, sustainable energy off our west coast and Ireland could be world leaders in sustainable living in a modern technological world. All that’s lacking is the ambition... so far.

2020 YEAR IN REVIEW 15

year in review 2020 Clare Echo editor STUART HOLLY delves into the archives to bring you the biggest stories from a year which will only be remembered for one thing

JANUARY

FEBRUARY

MARCH

Royal Irish Constabulary (RIC) was deferred.

It came after a number of Ministers of State and opposition politicians stated they would be boycotting the event. The first of those to announce they would not intend such an event in protest was then Cathaoirleach of Clare County Council, Cllr Cathal Crowe (FF), who has since become a TD. Originally due to take place in Dublin Castle at the end of January, the commemorative event had drawn widespread criticism leading to Minister for Justice Charlie Flanagan (FG) announcing its deferral. In November it was confirmed that this event would not be commemorated in any form and plans were completely off the table. In other January news, the race for the General Election kicked off with a number of candidates throwing their hat in the ring including first-time parties in the county such as People Before Profit’s Theresa O’Donohoe, Renua’s Conor O’Brien and Michael Leahy of the Irish Freedom Party. Clare Echo columnist and Fianna Fåil party member Eoin Neylon predicted 55 seats for FF, 40 for FG, and 23 for Sinn Fein. The Cliffs of Moher announced record visitor numbers from 2019 of over 1.6 million while Storm Brendan caused significant damage at Doughmore’s sand dunes.

his seat at Dåil Éireann having been first elected in 2007. Sitting TDs, Timmy Dooley (FF) and Junior Minister Pat Breen (FG) were the biggest casualties in the constituency.

Sinn FĂŠin’s national rise reached Co Clare with Violet-Anne Wynne (SF) becoming the first TD from the party since 1922 and the third ever female TD to come from Clare. Wynne was the poll topper but was elected in second place after Michael McNamara (IND). First time candidate, Cllr Cathal Crowe (FF) succeeded in entering national politics at the first attempt. Back in electoral politics for the first time since his defeat at the 2016 General Election, Michael McNamara (IND) was the first candidate elected in Clare. The Scariff farmer proved to be extremely transfer friendly throughout the duration of the two day count, obtaining 4,873 in distributions alone. “Never underestimate the Careys,â€? was the message reitÂŹerated

by Joe Carey (FG) who defied the odds once again despite collecting his lowest first preference vote in a General Election. Carey gained more on his transfers than his party colleague, Pat Breen and ultimately it was transfers from the Junior Minister that put him ahead of Timmy Dooley in the race for the final seat. The outcome of the election was described by pundits as “a political earthquake� with others observing “a seismic shift� in the voting patterns of the public from the Banner County.

It was also revealed in February that the uptake of the HPV vaccine in Clare had surpassed 90 per cent with much of the credit going to the advocacy work done by the late Laura Brennan.

‘new normal’ with the arrival of Covid-19 in Ireland. On Wednesday March 4, The Clare Echo was first to report that four cases of coronavirus in the West of Ireland are in fact a Clare family. Four school closures are announced in North-West Clare, two of which remain shut until March 18. RTÉ News reported that a vaccine to stop the virus may not be available until the end of the year and nine cases are confirmed to be on the island of Ireland.

By March 12, The Clare Echo ceases printing as national lockdown measures come into effect.

R.I.C EVENT ELECTION SPRINGS A SURPRISE CLARE elected its four TDs to the thirty second DĂĄil following a 21 hour count at The CANCELLED Falls Hotel on Sunday and Monday, Feb 9-10. Just one TD was returned in Clare. Deputy A PLANNED commemoration for the Joe Carey (FG) retained

JUNE

CLARE MOVES TO PHASE 2 THE Clare Echo restarts its print operation

CORONAVIRUS IN CLARE March signalled the beginning of the

APRIL-MAY

LOCKDOWN HITS While The Clare Echo stops print op-

erations, it continues to operate in its online production. The website www. clareecho.ie welcomed more than two million page views in the 12 weeks when printing was halted as the Clare public sought out reliable and trustworthy information on the pandemic. While reporting on Covid-19 information, The Clare Echo also shone a light on the fantastic community initiatives which took place in the intervening months while hosting a virtual talent contest which was viewed by hundreds of thousands on our Facebook page.

JULY 065 671 9021

clareecho.ie

KEATING CEASES OPERATIONS Keating Construction, The Clare Echo first reported, is hit by financial difficulties

editor@clareech

o.ie

faceboo

k.com/clareecho clare-echo-FP-top.indd 1

twitter.com/Clar eEcho

JUNE 25 2020

19/06/2020 12:46:27

on June 11 three days after the Government moved into Phase 2 of the Government’s accelerated roadmap for reopening society and business. Clare went a Clare woma full week without recording a single case ‘SHOP STAFF gratitude in hern extends dying weeks DESERVE STA of Covid-19 for the first time since March RECOGNITIONTE ’ 9-16.

However the stress being placed on businesses begins to emerge with Shannon Heritage announcing that workers at three of their sites are to be laid off for much of the remainder of 2020. At this point in the pandemic, Clare County Council’s Covid-related bill has already surpassed half a million euro. Meanwhile, Clare’s tourism industry turns its attention to the domestic market as it becomes clear that international tourism will not feature in 2020.

O'Connell Squar e, Ennis

A THANK YOU to our nurses

065 68 48 635

PĂ RAIC McMAHON

l LOCAL Gala store owner Laurenc that frontline e O’Brien believes workers who outlets through continued to recognition from the Covid-19 pandem work in grocery ic deserve more the Governm Praising his ent. that went to staff, Mr O’Brien said, “Retail any additiona work throughout the pandem employees ic didn’t future plans l support from the State – like a tax break and there are get their efforts either. no – to recognis e them for pandemic paymen The rest of the country was getting a “I just think that t for staying at home. all the employe and superma es in convenie nce stores in keeping therkets should be recognis ed for their effort drink. They did country supplied with essentia a fantastic job.� l food and

FULL STORY PAGE

23

During an conversation with off-the-record this writer, the lady requested ie be withheld that her identity but appealed some ARLIER this year, one extendesort of gratitude to for Clare woman express be d to the her appreciation ed that managed tomen and women leave for positive the care and effect on her life.a lasting warmth she was receivin As g from Echo a weekly reader of The Clare nurses in Univers , Limerick. “They ity Hospital one in this publication was the as if you were look after you messagwhich she chose to see her e of appreciation one of their own family,� she stated. extended to a wider audienc was made with e and so contact this writer to help

E

news@clareecho.

CONTINUES PAGE

Aoife O'Gorm an Podiatrist/Chiropodi st

6 Carmody St. Busin Ennis, Co.Cla ess Park, re clarepodiatrycentr e@gmail.com (083) 439-3263 www.theclarepod

iatrycentre.ie

AUGUST

PUBLICANS DEALT ANOTHER BLOW

6

l Photo by John

while management at Shannon Airport seek redundancies and pay cuts. E-Whizz bike tours in Kilfenora make national headlines for refusing to accept a booking from American tourists who did not self isolate after entering Ireland. Meanwhile there is growing concern for plans to close Bunratty during the pandemic with public demonstrations held outside the heritage site.

Mangan

Publicans are dealt another blow as it is announced that the reopening of ‘wet pubs’ is delayed for a second time, with David O’Brien of Michael A’s pub in Miltown Malbay describing the situation as a nightmare. Tightened restrictions are announced with some resistance from the public including former Clare hurling captain Anthony Daly, who took to Twitter to label the tightening as a disgrace. Meanwhile Aer Lingus admit that they are reviewing the viability of its base at Shannon Airport. One upsetting consequence of the pandemic is a freak rise in dog thefts, with Clare’s warden admitting they were up by 40 per cent. Dr Michael Harty, former TD, apologises for his attendance at the notorious ‘golfgate’ event in Clifden. In brighter news, the new running track at Cooraclare is officially opened by Olympian Thomas Barr.

16 2020 YEAR IN REVIEW

SEPTEMBER

OCTOBER

HURLING HIGHS REMEMBERED

Clare’s 1995 All-Ireland winning senior hurlers are celebrated in a special edition of The Clare Echo, looking back on the day that ended over eight decades of waiting.

Meanwhile, the Ennis mobility plan, which sees the temporary pedestrianisation of Ennis town centre to ensure safe social distancing, causes fiery debate among Ennis businesses and councillors with some unhappy with the move. Pubs are given the green light to reopen on September 21. Clare music legend and former Clare Person of the Year, Chris Droney passes away, aged 95.

WILD ATLANTIC OPTICIANS KILRUSH EXCEPTIONAL EYECARE IN THE HEART OF WEST CLARE

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NO.2 FRANCES STREET, KILRUSH

BRAVE & BOLD Special edition commemorating our ‘95 heroes

HISTORIC EVENT: The victorious Clare team parade Liam McCarthy as their bus is greeted by ecstatic supporters in September, 1995 Photo

by Joe Buckley

PÁRAIC McMAHON

T

paraic@clareecho.ie

ODAY marks exactly 25 years to the day since Clare won the 1995 All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship, finally ending the 81-year famine.

To celebrate the event, The Clare Echo sits down with captain Anthony Daly, Ollie Baker, Frank Lohan and more members of the storied panel to recount their memories

of the sun-drenched summer which has gone down as Clare’s greatest sporting success in living memory.

We meet the musician behind ‘The Banner Roar’ song along with some of the supporters who joined in the celebrations. Also included inside are never-before published photographs of players and supporters celebrating as Liam McCarthy - the “missing person in Clare” - crossed the River Shannon back into the Banner County.

PAGES 19-46

WEST CLARE GREENWAY TO ‘FAR SURPASS’ WATERFORD’S LEADING officials behind the planned West Clare Greenway have declared that the project will “far surpass” its counterparts in Waterford and Mayo.

Planned to be an 85km route, the West Clare Greenway will take in parts of the Wild Atlantic Way and coastal locations along the county as it travels from Ennis all the way to Kilkee.

Minister for Transport, Eamon Ryan (GP) is said to be impressed with the plans for the Clare project particularly with the emphasis on returning investment to local communities along the Greenway.

“What we can offer in Clare will far surpass anything Waterford or Mayo can offer,” senior engineer with Clare County Council, Sean Lenihan stated this week. He expressed the belief that the Greenway will match the Cliffs of Moher in terms of the annual visitors it attracts to the county. €40m had previously been calculated as the cost for developing the West Clare Greenway but Council officials have admitted that the figure is likely to be closer to €80m. There is also the potential that the distance of the Greenway will be extended to 110km.

Speaking this week, Cllr Shane Talty (FF) noted that it was likely to be a decade before “the bigger picture” of the Greenway is visible for the public.

Communication with private landowners is ongoing with regard to progressing the West Clare Greenway.

CLARE’S INCIDENCE RATE AMONG WORST Homesavers opens in Ballymaley Business Park creating 55 new jobs, however it’s not without controversy with a number of local objectors claiming it was launched without adequate planning permission, something which Homesavers management have disputed. Clare moves to Level 3 of the Covid-19 plan after the Government rejects NPHET recommendations to move to Level 5. Clare’s incidence rate per 100,000 moves to fourth highest in the country while Covid-19 is estimated to have left a dent of €12m in the council’s coffers. Both Aer Lingus and Ryanair announce that they are pulling services from Shannon Airport temporarily. In entertainment news, Ennis actor Mark O’Halloran wins two IFTAs.

NOVEMBER

WEST CLARE HOTELIER LOSES OUT IN US ELECTION

Kilnamona mum Ciara McGuane leads a campaign to give more supports to women giving birth in the maternity hospitals who continue to be without family support for the majority of their hospital stay. Across the pond, ‘West Clare hotelier’ Donald Trump is defeated in the US presidential election. Meanwhile there is mass local objection to a planned biomass energy plant in Stonehall.

DECEMBER

POSTHUMOUS AWARD FOR MICHEÁL RYAN’S HUMANITARIAN WORK The family of Micheál Ryan continue their fight to get justice

for the beloved Clare man who was killed with seven colleagues when a Boeing 737 Max crashed just minutes after taking off from Ethiopia last year. Micheál is also posthumously awarded Humanitarian of the Year by the Red Cross for his work and dedication in improving the lives of people overseas. Legendary East Clare author Edna O’Brien turns 90.

FULL STORY PAGE 2

lA STORMY YEAR: A family takes shelter on the promenade in Lahinch during the wild weather seen during Storm Denis in February Photo by John Mangan

2020 YEAR IN REVIEW 17

TOP 10 MOST VIEWED ARTICLES ON WWW.CLAREECHO.IE IN 2020 1 Live Clare General Election Count – Feb 9 (122,991 page views) 2 Bruce Springsteen in Feakle hideaway for Covid 19 lockdown – April Fools Day (94,668) 3 VOTE: Clare’s greatest soccer team – May 16 (72,053) 4 Sixmilebridge family horrified at being falsely linked to UK Covid-19 death – April 6 (63,724) 5 Reports: Coronavirus in Clare – March 4 (50,438) 6 West Clare hotelier loses out in US presidential election – November 9 (33,070) 7 Reports: Clare construction company Keating to close – July 10 (29,905) 8 Armada Hotel adopts entirely new business model in face of Covid-19 – May 1 (26,864) 9 Covid 19 live updates page – March 14 (26,606) 10 Washed up dolphin at Doughmore is not Fungi – October 25 (25,291)

lRUNNING TO STAND STILL: (left) the Gort 5k in March was one of the last community events in the locality before Covid-19 struck and (above) The Clare Echo went behind the Photos by John Mangan scenes to document the testing process at Cusack Park in May

18 FEATURES

Recipe for a Happy New Year RONAN SCULLY

Thought for the week

H

APPY New Year! We are grateful to God for seeing us over the threshold of a new calendar year, and we pray that 2021 will be one that will see the end of our current Covid-19 pandemic and the return to a somewhat normal way of life.

A new year will now unfold, like a flower with petals curled tightly concealing the beauty within. Every new year brings a time of reflection of what we’ve accomplished, what our new goals will be and for what we are grateful for. Lord, let this new year be filled with the things that are truly good, with the comfort of warmth in our relationships, with the strength to help those who need our help and the humility and openness to accept help from others. As we make our resolutions for the year ahead, let us go forward with great hope that all things can be possible.

You see every time a new year begins it brings new opportunities to meditate, to think in a positive way, to wish we were better and to give best wishes to everyone we care for.

A lot can happen in a year - just look at what has happened with the Coviid-19 Pandemic and between the good, the bad, and the ugly, this may seem like an understatement for most. Everyone has a message for the year ahead, which comes from the depths of our hearts. So as we look forward to another new year, it is a time for giving thanks for blessings received, asking forgiveness and mercy for transgressions committed, forgiving those who have aggrieved us, and asking for mercy, grace and strength for the future. Already, just as the New Year is about to begin, we are aware of needing to make decisions about both our past and future. We cannot reject the past, but we can allow it to be redeemed. We cannot determine the future, but we can allow it to be permeated with the love and the mercy of God. I can look back on 2020 and the resolutions or new beginnings that I made and see how often I have failed to live up to those. I can look forward then in hope to trying to live my resolutions or new beginnings better in 2021, but, most of all, I can decide, here and now, to try to live today as it should be lived, because ‘today’ is all we ever really know. So, for me, 2021 will seek a renewed sense of purpose about what I am called to be and to try and love deeply from my heart.

New Beginnings for 2021 In 2021 try to rise with the sun to pray. Pray alone. Pray with others.

Pray often. God will listen, if you only speak. Be tolerant of those who are lost on their path and pray that they will find guidance. Search for yourself, be yourself. Do not allow others to make your path for you. It

is your road and yours alone. Others may walk it with you, but no one can walk it for you.

In 2021 go after your dreams at all times when you can, especially if it involves genuine love and care.

Try to do and be what you love. Be aware and work on your problems if you have them and always look for a good and speedy resolution for them. Always pray for others intentions and if you’re like me, always light a candle for someone.

Live for today and the present moment as it is special and real, for tomorrow might never come. Make every one of your days here on earth count for the good of yourself and for others. Choosing life and love for something can be lost and gained in living life every day. Go to your doctor for checkups and look after your health, no one else will.

Dwell, pray, breathe and listen to music. Enjoy nature and the fresh air as much as you can. Walk or run or do both. Be active physically, mentally and spiritually if you can.

Life can surprise you. Meditate and keep the Serenity prayer always close by so that you can have the courage and the wisdom to be the person you want and can be.

Always, as much as possible, express your thanks and gratitude to people who have helped you along life’s way.

Nurture the Good Nature is not for us, it is a part of us. It is part of our worldly family.

Children are the seeds of our future.

In 2021 plant love in their hearts and water them with wisdom and life’s lessons. When they are grown, give them space to grow. Avoid hurting the hearts of others, especially those of children. The poison of your pain will return to you.

Be truthful at all times. Honesty is the test of one’s will within this world. Keep yourself balanced. Your Mental self, Spiritual self, Emotional self, and Physical self - all need to be strong, pure and healthy. Work out the body to strengthen the mind.

Grow rich in spirit to cure emotional ails. Make conscious decisions as to who you will be and how you will react. Be responsible for your own actions.

Do not force your beliefs on others. Share your good fortune with others. Participate in charity.

Nurture what is good and true.

Thought for the week As your thought for the week and for the New Year, don’t ever forget for even a second how very important and how very special each and every one of us Are. Here is a story to finish this thought from my Nana Scully’s prayer book about a person asking God what he would wish for each one of us for the new year. “As God, what would you ask your children to do for the

new year?” He said, “To learn that what is most valuable is not what they have in their lives, but who they have in their lives. To learn that a rich person is not one who has the most, but is one who needs the least. To learn that they should control their attitudes, otherwise their attitudes will control them.

To learn that it only takes a few seconds to open profound wounds in persons we love, and that it takes many years to heal them. To learn to forgive by practicing forgiveness.

To learn that there are persons that love them dearly, but simply do not know how to show their feelings. To learn that money can buy everything but happiness. To learn that while at times they may be entitled to be upset, that does not give them the right to upset those around them.

To learn that great dreams do not require great wings, but a landing gear, to achieve. To learn that true friends are scarce; he/she who has found one has found a true treasure.

To learn that it is not always enough that they be forgiven by others, but that they forgive themselves. To learn that they are masters of what they keep to themselves and slaves of what they say. To learn that they shall reap what they plant; if they plant gossip they will harvest intrigues; if they plant love they will harvest happiness. To learn that true happiness is not to achieve their goals, but to learn to be satisfied with what they already achieved. To learn that happiness is a decision.

They decide to be happy with what they are and have, or die from envy and jealousy of what they lack. To learn that two people can look at the same thing and see something totally different. To learn that those who are honest with themselves without considering the consequences go far in life. To learn that even though they may think they have nothing to give, when a friend cries with them, they find the strength to appease the pain.

To learn that by trying to hold on to loved ones, they very quickly push them away; and by letting go of those they love, they will be side by side forever. To learn that even though the word “love” has many different meanings, it loses value when it is overstated.

To learn that they can never do something extraordinary for Me to love them; I simply do. To learn that the shortest distance they could be from Me is the distance of a prayer.”

God bless and Happy New Year to each and everyone of you that reads or shares my column and may the future be bright and safe for you and all your family, friends and colleagues. Please try to love deeply from your heart in 2021 for the good of everyone, especially those most in need in our communities and the world. So in these first days of 2021 keep in mind those 18th century words: “I shall pass through this world but once. Therefore any kind act that I can perform for any fellow-creature, let me do it now.

For I shall not pass this way again.”

‘Le Cúnamh Dé’, may 2021 be a better and good year in our lives. The blessings of God and a happy New Year to one and all.

THURSDAY, DEC 31 2020

Enabling works commence at Vandeleur Garden STUART HOLLY

editor@clareecho.ie

C

LARE County Council officials and project stakeholders recently attended a socially distanced site visit to Vandeleur Walled Garden in advance of the enabling works getting underway for the restoration and renovation of the old stable block.

The tendering process is complete and Custy Construction Ltd, a Clare-based construction firm, has been appointed to this project. The project is funded by the Rural Regeneration and Development Fund, Project Ireland 2040, under the Department of Rural and Community Development with additional match funding by Clare County Council.

The main works, due to commence in early 2021, will include an interpretative museum and new gardeners’ building along with the development of a new visitor experience design and approach for the complex.

The design for the scheme, brought to planning stage by Clare County Council Architectural Services, is being developed for construction led by P. Coleman and Associates along with Moloney Fox, consulting engineers, and Rogerson Reddan, quantity surveyors. John Ruddle Consulting completed a comprehensive visitor experience strategy for the site earlier this year and specialist interpretative designers will be appointed to develop wayfinding and the content of the museum interpretative centre.

The Mayor of Clare, Cllr Mary Howard, said: “I very much welcome these enabling works for the restoration and renovation of the old stable block. This ad-

dition of an interpretative museum, along with the new visitor experience, will enhance this wonderful location. The completed project will be a great asset to the local community and tourism in the area.”

Pat Dowling, Chief Executive, Clare County Council, said: “This investment in Vandeleur is part of an overall visitor development strategy and could not have come at a more pertinent time given the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on our tourism sector. The investment will not only contribute to recovery in the tourism sector and assist with rural regeneration in the town of Kilrush, but it is also anticipated that it will create opportunities for economic growth and employment in the region.”

Leonard Cleary, Director of Services, Rural Development, Clare County Council, said: “During the Covid-19 pandemic, the Vandeleur Walled Garden and the Woodland Bistro has proven its popularity and adaptability, providing an important amenity for the town and supporting local employment. This adaptability highlights the importance of local amenity and recreation to the people of Kilrush and only serves to reinforce further the merit and relevance of ongoing investment in Vandeleur Walled Garden.”

A number of improvements have been taking place in recent months in the Coillte-owned Vandeleur Estate in conjunction with the West Clare Municipal District, and these works all align with the overall strategy to improve use of the woods and the Vandeleur Centre as part of the ongoing development of the visitor attraction.

For further information, visit: www.vandeleurwalledgarden. ie Photo by Eamon Ward

COMMUNITY 19

THURSDAY, DEC 31 2020

Christmas joy at the King Thomand Centre CIAN O’BROIN cian@clareecho.ie

T

HE residents and staff of the King Thomond would like to thank all the volunteers, charity groups and local organisations who supported them through 2020. The residents have truly been embraced into the town and now it’s a real home for them.

Over the festive season residents and staff came together to create a gingerbread themed installation for locals and residents to enjoy. ”It’s the perfect place for photos with friends and family “ say a young 11 year old resident. Locals are welcome onto the property to enjoy the festive garden and take photos with the art work.

The residents did a great job creating the art work and they want it to be enjoyed.

Speaking on behave of the residents

and team Megan White, General Manager said; “Once again this year the local community through its many brilliant local organisations, Charities and volunteers have been so welcoming in so many ways to our residents and we can’t thank everyone enough for their kindness, especially this year which has been especially tough.

This year we have received so many donations for children and adults and its really made Christmas extra special at the King Thomond” Ms White said the residents wanted to extend their sincere thanks and gratitude to all the local organisations who have donated so much of their time and money to help the residents this year and it is greatly appreciated.

“The local community have always made sure that our residents have a real sense of home in Lisdoonvarna and this year has been no different. Myself, our staff and our residents want to wish everyone a very happy and peaceful Holiday Season.”

FESTIVE CHEER

Brothers Tom & Patrick McDonagh enjoying the Christmas party at the Brothers of Charity

20 CLICK FOR CLARE

THURSDAY, DEC 31 2020

8 in 10 now likely to ‘look for local’ in Clare STUART HOLLY editor@clareecho.ie

RESEARCH carried out on behalf of the Local Enterprise Offices as part of their “Look for Local” campaign has shown that 79% of Clare consumers were now more likely to buy local, either online or instore, this year, compared to 2019, as a result of recent campaigns to highlight local businesses.

Of those surveyed 8 out of 10 said that they were aware of campaigns, including that of the Local Enterprise Offices, encouraging individuals and businesses to look locally when buying goods or services.

Nationally, 85% of those surveyed felt there were more local businesses trading online than in 2019, while 83% plan to support more local businesses in 2021. The Local Enterprise Offices have approved over 11,000 Trading Online Vouchers this year, an increase of over 800% from 2019. The

Voucher enables small businesses to get established online or improve an existing online presence.

The “Look for Local” campaign is being activated by each of the 31 Local Enterprise Offices nationwide including Local Enterprise Office Clare and the Look for Local hub on LocalEnterprise.ie/LookforLocal now has over 4,400 businesses listed, including almost 200 from Clare from a range of sectors that enables consumers and businesses to search for goods and services within their area.

The research was released this week to coincide with “Look for Local Day” on December 14th, where the Local Enterprise Offices, Enterprise Ireland and the Local authorities put an increased online focus on local businesses.

This included online promotions, offers and giveaways as part of the Look for Local campaign.

The research by Amarach Research, sampled over 1,900 Irish

SCAN WITH PHONE CAMERA TO START SHOPPING IN CLARE EAST CLARE ArraTek www.arratek.ie Bia Folláin Healthstore www.biafollain.ie Bridge House Studios bridgehousestudios.ie East Clare Yoga www.eastclareyoga.com Glendara Art www.glendaraar.com Happy Out Forest School happyoutforestschool.ie Inward Bound Mindfulness inwardboundmindfulness.ie Palm Free Irish Soap palmfreeirishsoap.ie Planet Tri www.planettri.ie The Greene Room www.greeneroom.ie Wilde Irish Chocolate wildeirishchocolates.com ENNIS & SURROUNDS BEO Wellness www.beowellness.ie Berka Solutions www.berksolutions.com Blackbird Jewellery www.blackbirdennis.ie Brass Boutique www.brassboutique.ie Bridget Haren Hair www.bridgetharen.com Buckets.ie www.buckets.ie Carestore www.carestore.ie Carmel T Madigan Art carmeltmadigan.com Carries Bakery www.carriesbakery.ie Candles With Character candleswithcharacter.ie

Club Dangan & CD2 clubdanganmenswear.com Cornucopia www.cornucopia.fashion County Boutique www.countyboutique.ie Ela Maria Boutique www.elamaria.ie Ennis Art School ennisartschool.com Ennis Blinds www.acmeblinds.com Ennis Electrical www.enniselectrical.ie Ennis Gourmet Store gourmet-hampers.ie Ennis Home Furniture ennishomefurniture.com Fitness4Fun www.fitness4fun.ie Fun Kidz Klub www.funkidzklub.ie GA Sports www.gasports.ie Gift Works giftworksstore.com Jackson’s Pig & Poultry www.jacksonspp.com K2 Hair www.k2hair.ie Kilkenny Shop www.kilkennyshop.com La Jolie Femme www.lajoliefemme.ie Laserderm Clinic www.laserderm.ie Maureen Grogan Therapies maureengrogantherapies.ie Max Business www.maxservices.ie Meya Boutique meyaboutique.com Mods & Minis www.modsandminis.ie

consumers, and highlights the surge across Ireland for consumers and businesses to support those in their own area.

The Local Enterprise Office’s Look for Local campaign is being run with Enterprise Ireland and the Local Authorities. It is backed by the Government of Ireland.

Minister for Business, Employment and Retail, Damien English TD, said; “It has been a year like no other for many small local businesses who employ over one million people in Ireland. The Look for Local campaign has provided a significant boost to many companies across the country and builds on the upsurge of support by consumers for local businesses when looking to buy goods or services.

It’s great to see that people across the country are supporting local businesses at the heart of our communities by shopping locally and safely in store, by phone or online; for home delivery or collection.

Small businesses have risen to the challenge of trading during Covid. Many changed their business models, created new products and gone above and beyond to maintain links with their custom-

NAIIAD Designer Jewellery www.naiiad.com Neighbourfood www.neighbourfood.ie Nozomi Shoe Boutique www.nozomishoes.ie Quin Art Shop https://quinartshop.com/ Old Ground Hotel oldgroundhotelennis.com Ollie’s Tours www.olliestours.com Pamela Scott www.pamelascott.com Patrick Bourke Menswear patrickbourkemenswear.ie Physio Recovery Room physiorecoveryroom.connect. tm3app.com Rena Casey Lewis art renacaseylewis.net/ Rochfords Pharmacy rochfordspharmacy.ie Risk Assess It www.riskassessit.com Salon Glow www.glow.ie Siar Photography www.siarphotography.ie Smelly Bees www.smellybees.com Strike Sport www.strikesport.org Sweet N Green www.sweetngreen.ie The Candle Emporium www.candleemporium.ie The Record Break therecordbreak.com The Woollen Market thewollenmarket.com The Wine Buff www.thewinebuff.com Tomas O Maoldomhnaigh www.tomasartist.ie/ Vigour www.vigour.ie Water Online www.wateronline.ie Western Herd www.westernherd.com Wix & Wax wixandwaxireland.com Wonder Photo Shop www.fujiennis.ie

ers. This is a testament to their resilience and now their local customers are backing them.

Padraic McElwee (pictured), Head of Enterprise, Local Enterprise Office Clare, said; “This research reflects the level of support of local businesses we have seen this year and particularly now coming up to Christmas. With so many campaigns ongoing to try and support local businesses, the impact has been significant and the response from businesses has been outstanding. Many have had to completely change the way they do business this year and it’s great to see people across communities supporting them.

We have helped over 400 businesses this year with Trading Online Vouchers and they can now trade 24 hours a day as opposed to just 9-6pm. Those who Look for Local can be assured that if they are buying locally they will get a premium product that can be delivered at short notice and with that they are supporting their local economy. Hopefully this continues long into 2021 and beyond” Pat Dowling, Chief Executive, Clare County Council: “Local au-

Wowwee.ie www.wowwee.ie YOU Therapies www.youtherapies.ie 2 For Joy https://www.2forjoy.ie/ NORTH CLARE Airmid Natural Handmade Skincare www.airmidsoap.com Anam Coffee www.anamcoffee.ie Banner Books http://bannerbooks.ie Burkedale House & Cottage burkedalehouseandcottage.com Burren Smokehouse www.burrensmokehouse.com Celtic T-Shirts www.celtictshirts.ie Climb It www.climbit.ie Doolin2Aran www.doolin2aranferries.com Doreen Drennan Art doreendrennan.com Doolin Ferry company https://doolinferry.com/ Eko Tree Cashmere ekotreeknitwear.store Folded Leaf www.foldedleaf.ie Glas Grazing www.glasgrazing.ie Healing Hearths healinghearths.com Hitching For Hope hitchingforhope.com Irish Crafts Online irishcraftsonline.com Irish Hand Weaves http://www.irishhandweaves.ie/ Irish T-Shirts www.irishtshirts.ie Kenny Woollen Mills kennywoollenmills.com Lahinch Art Gallery lahinchartgallery.com Lahinch Surf Shop lahinchsurfshop.com Moher Cottege www.mohercottage.com Morrisson Gallery phillipmorrison.com Nature’s Pocket https://naturespocket.ie/

thorities are delighted to throw our support behind ‘Look for Local’ Day. As Christmas draws closer and we enter one of the busiest shopping periods in the year, it’s important we encourage everyone in our counties to back small businesses and retailers in their communities. Local authorities are doing everything they can to support businesses, and we know from research from the Local Enterprise Office Network that there is a strong desire among the public to shop locally this year. We would urge consumers across the country to Look for Local when they shop, and invest in local jobs and enterprise in the weeks and months ahead.”

The campaign will run for several weeks on traditional and online media and profiling of businesses will continue until the end of the year to help spotlight local businesses across the country and encourage people to Look for Local.

For more information go to www.

LocalEnterprise.ie/LookforLocal and agencies, businesses and consumers will be encouraged to use #LookforLocal on social media to help support the campaign.

Nordic Fitness Ireland www.nordicfitnessireland.com Olive & Crew www.oliveandcrew.ie Rowena Sheen Jewellery www.rowenasheen.com Ruth Vaughan Photography ruthvaughanphotography.com Secret Fashion Fixes secretfashionfixes.ie St Tola Goat Farm www.st-tola.ie Susan Quirke Meditation www.susanquirke.com The Design Lodge www.designlodge.ie The Russell Gallery www.russellgallery.net The Salmon Bookshop www.salmonpoetry.com Tunes From Doolin tunesfromdoolin.com West Clare Flowers westclareflowers.ie SHANNON AREA Ann McBride Design www.annmcbridedesign.com/ Avokado and co avokadoandco.com Back Baller www.backballer.com Carrygerry Country House carrygerryhouse.com Creative Clay creativeclayireland.com Genisis Beauty www.genisisbeauty.net Gleeson Goldsmiths gleesongoldsmiths.ie KMF Eco www.kmf.ie Lavender Beauty www.lavenderbeauty.ie Shannon Springs shannonspringshotel.com The Inn At Dromoland theinnatdromoland.ie Torpey Hurleys www.torpeyhurleys.com SOUTH EAST CLARE Galanta Jewellery www.galanta.com Hungry Soul hungrysoulplantpower.com

I-Spy Clothing www.i-spy.ie JC Safety www.jc-safety.ie ONS Site Support www.onsitesupport.ie WEST CLARE Anchor Crafts anchorcraftskilrush.ie Armada Hotel www.armadahotel.com Carsten Krieger Photography irelandsnaturestories.com Cocolemon Hair www.cocolemon.ie Cottage Garden Centre cottagegardencentre.ie Daisy Days www.daisydays.ie Irish ICE Cards www.irishicecard.ie JJ Corry Irish Whiskey www.jjcorry.com John O’Dwyer Concrete johnodwyerquilty.ie Kilbaha Gallery www.kilbahagallery.com Loophead Alpacas loopheadalpacas.ie Malone’s Pharmacy malonespharmacy.ie Nevsail Watersports nevsailwatersports.ie Nia Natural Beauty nianaturalbeauty.com Riverside Hair & Beauty www.rsbeautyshop.ie Sallyann’s Handmade Bags sallyannsbags.com Sew Irish www.sew-irish.ie Smaointe www.smaointe.com SMT Consultants www.smt.ie The Family Store www.thefamilystore.ie The Pantry Cafe www.pantrykilkee.ie Perfect Touch Beauty Salon www.theperfecttouch.ie Wild Atlantic Living wildatlanticliving.com Wild Irish Seaweed wildirishseaweeds.com

BUSINESS 21

THURSDAY, DEC 31 2020

BUSINESS AND RECRUITMENT

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

Potential for global floating offshore wind hub at Shannon Estuary

CIAN O’BROIN

A

cianobroin@clareecho.ie

N UNPRECEDENTED renewable energy opportunity for Ireland, the Shannon Estuary and the west coast of Clare has been unveiled in a major study link.

The Offshore Wind Potential Study - commissioned by Shannon Foynes Port Company - by specialist geotechnical engineering consultancy Gavin & Doherty Geosolutions Ltd. (GDG) identifies the potential, through capitalising on our unique wind resource and deep-water port, to turn the State into an exporter of energy and generate unprecedented job creation in the process.

As the floating wind sector is currently in its infancy, there is no well-established supply chain and this represents an opportunity for Ireland to be first movers in the floating wind sector, the report states. The report estimates €12billion investment into the Estuary by 2050 under a medium growth scenario and without including export potential to other markets.

The opportunity is a confluence of the emergence of floating offshore wind technology as the biggest growth area for renewables globally, the Irish west coast – including off Clare - having among the best wind resources in the world and the unrivalled deep waters of the Shannon Estuary – a key asset and component for the manufacturing and industrial ecosystem necessary to support the global scale floating offshore wind farms The report, which also focuses on the Moneypoint facility, estimates that the available wind resource can generate up to 70GW of floating offshore wind energy and identifies not alone the export opportunity from excess electricity generated but also for green hydrogen produced from the offshore wind farm sites.

“With investment into the Shannon Estuary, there exists huge potential to develop world-class and innovative facilities aimed at growing the floating offshore renewable energy (ORE) sector allied to the manufacturing potential in the

Shannon Estuary. Therein exists the potential of dramatically reducing the Levelised Cost of Energy (LCOE),” the report states.

It finds that Shannon Foynes is best placed to service the future offshore floating wind market.

This is due to the proximity to resource and market; availability of the deepest watercourse in Ireland and one of the deepest and most sheltered estuaries in the world; extensive future landbank availability; and the existence of Shannon Foynes Port Company as a statutory authority with National Tier 1 port status and European Commission, Trans European Transport Network (TEN-T) core corridor status on North/South and East/West corridors and existing 1.6 GW connectivity to our own national grid.

“Offshore Floating Wind is rapidly expanding and therefore now is the time to capture the potential from this early-stage sector. Given the timelines to develop the required infrastructure, now is the time to commit the investment and ensure Ireland Inc. capitalises on the global opportunity as first movers in this exciting space.

Shannon Foynes Port is the vehicle to maximise the benefits to Ireland Inc. from the floating wind market.”

Closer to home, the report identifies the potential to create between 10,000 – 20,000 jobs in manufacturing and a further 10,000 industry jobs arising from four distinct supply chain opportunities – Manufacturing, Staging and Installation, Operations and Maintenance by 2050.

Manufacturing could also extend to the preparation and export of component parts further afield to the East coast of USA and into European developments, both onshore and offshore.

The study, which was carried out this year, found that the Shannon Estuary is best placed to service the future offshore floating wind market, both the domestic market and as a global exporter of energy and technology. It is, the report states, no surprise that the first Offshore

lOPPORTUNITY: Pat Keating, CEO of Shannon Foynes Port and Paul Doherty, MD Gavin & Doherty Geosolutions’ at Foynes Port Pic: Sean Curtin

Wind Farm sites in Ireland were all situated on the east coast, as they have fixed foundations. However, as the offshore floating wind technology becomes more efficient and the associated supply chain develops, the west coast of Ireland will become much more favourable.

“The total potential capacity on the West coast dwarfs the East coast opportunity,” it adds.

However, while floating wind presents an opportunity for Ireland to become a world leader, investment is needed in infrastructure. A large constraint will be the ability of Ireland to connect this resource to the grid and export the excess to other markets, it acknowledges. It also acknowledges the uniqueness of the Shannon Estuary and its potential for Green Hydrogen production, Interna-

tional ship refuelling and export potential of hydrogen and green ammonia.

“To facilitate taking a lead in the global market, Ireland needs to apply significant investment in research & development to solve this market barrier along with looking to reduce the cost of floating wind technology,” it states.

To this end, the planned International centre of Excellence for Floating offshore wind and its connectivity to our university’s offers a very rare opportunity also.

Among the individual challenges that need to be overcome are lack of an overarching Government policy identifying the export opportunity, weaknesses in the planning and consenting process, the construction of new port infrastructure, lack of an integrated

approach and other competing countries are getting a head start, such as Scotland, Norway, Denmark, Holland, Belgium, France and Portugal.

Gavin & Doherty Geosolutions’ report pinpoints huge potential for manufacturing facilities to be established in Shannon Estuary.

It proposes Foynes Port as a Supply Chain Enterprise Park and the other local authority designated strategic development locations consisting of a total of 1200 hectares on the Shannon Estuary for device and component manufacture and assembly. It states that opportunities also exist for the production of green hydrogen using electricity produced from the new Atlantic offshore wind farms.

22 BUSINESS & RECRUITMENT

THURSDAY, DEC 31 2020

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Clare hoteliers braced for bleak start to 2021 season PÁRAIC MCMAHON

H

paraic@clareecho.ie

OTELS and guesthouses in Clare are facing their harshest ever start to a new year due to a collapse in room occupancy figures according to the latest industry survey from the Irish Hotels Federation (IHF).

In the Mid-West, booking levels for hotel rooms of just 8% are being reported for January, dropping back to a mere 6% for February. This follows already historically low occupancy levels of 29% reported for December.

Chair of the IHF Shannon branch, Mr Dermot Kelly is calling on the Government not to renege on its budget commitment to the sector, urging it to review the operation of its Covid Restrictions Support Scheme

(CRSS) which currently excludes hotels.

He outlined that the easing of inter-county travel led to “a marginal increase” in bookings but compared with last year’s figures represented “a dramatic fall in business levels”.

“Traditionally, the four weeks of Christmas trading are absolutely vital to hotels in terms of sustaining them during the first few months of the following year, when business levels tend to be lower. Business has been effectively wiped out this year due to Government restrictions while continued uncertainty over Covid restrictions is having a devastating effect on bookings for the start of next year,” the Ruan native stated.

Dermot added, “Yet, due to an anomaly2 in how the Government has structured the Covid Restrictions Support Scheme, hotels are now being excluded despite a record fall in revenues,

even where they meet the required 75% drop in turnover. We are calling on the Government to review the operation of the scheme as a matter of urgency”.

Clare County Council’s rates waiver is due to lapse on December 31st prompting the IHF to seek an six month extension. “The time-period should coincide with business interruption due to Covid. After that, payment of local authority rates should be based on reduced levels of activity due to the crisis and until the industry has recovered. Businesses cannot be expected to pay rates on historical turnover figures that do not reflect the significantly lower levels of business that hoteliers are experiencing.

Pre-Covid, tourism in Clare, of which hotels are a key component, supported 12,000 jobs and generated €266m in local revenues,” the co-owner of the Shannon Springs Hotel added.

l CONCERNED: Dermot Kelly, co-owner of Shannon Springs Hotel and Chair of the IHF Shannon branch

Photo by John Mangan

‘Hybrid’ of online & street presence a success for Clare businesses

SENIOR financial officials in Clare County Council have said the “hybrid model” of having an online and street presence is proving to be a success for businesses in the county, writes Páraic McMahon.

Just shy of 400 businesses availed of the trading online voucher scheme to develop and/or enhance their online sales capability as of the beginning of December. An investment close to €1m has been made by Clare County Council to support the scheme.

An impact to the finances of the local authority “in view of the increasing popularity of online shopping and the recent department circular regarding commercial rates,” was requested by Cllr Pat McMahon (FF) at a recent sitting of the Council.

In a written response, Director of Finance Noeleen Fitzgerald and Director of Economic Development Liam Conneal-

ly detailed that the trading online voucher scheme has enabled Clare communities to support local businesses online during the pandemic. “Many local businesses are advising that their trading performance has surpassed what they would normally experience through traditional physical sales channels”. €42.1m is the commercial rates income for Clare County Council, this forms 32 percent of its annual revenue budget of €131m in 2021. Local retail properties represent €2.2m (5% of the 2021 commercial rates budgeted income).

They noted a successful move to online for many enterprises in the county. They outlined that initial “evidence from businesses is that the hybrid retail model of both an on street and online presence successful,

in using the online presence as an effective marketing tool”.

Future plans such as the Ennis 2040 Plan and Shannon Town Master Plan include ambitions to make their areas “more attractive to visit and shop”. The pair acknowledged, “Online retail is one of the competitions facing the retail sector, economic challenges, local competition and other factors are also competing factors in business success”.

Speaking at the meeting, Cllr McMahon criticised the Mayor of Clare, Cllr Mary Howard (FG) for failing to him contribute to discussions on numerous occasions.

He referred to his retail background when elaborating on the motion. “There are many wonderful businesses out there in Clare, for different reasons we overlook them”.

He believed that online activity will not result in as many jobs as physical stores.

“Online is a huge factor. The downside of online is it doesn’t create enough jobs, it is a minus factor. Amazon had a different meaning when I was growing up, it meant seeing the world, it is a negative now”.

In seconding the motion, Cllr Alan O’Callaghan (FF) commended the local authority for how they dealt with rates throughout 2020.

Compensation for businesses unable to adapt to online was worth considering, Cllr Pat Daly (FF) suggested. “The allocation of €1m was very welcome for online trading, it made a huge difference to so many people. There were also many businesses that wouldn’t go online, there was several reasons why they couldn’t and I think there should be some compensation for them. It has been a very difficult year for business”.

MOTORING

THURSDAY, DEC 31 2020

23

MOTORING MOTORING EXPERT NEIL BRISCOE GIVES HIS VIEWS

KIA’S NEW PLUGIN SORENTO HITS 38G/KM OF CO2

K

IA Motors have revealed the all-electric range and CO2 emissions data for the new Kia Sorento Plug-in Hybrid as the model enters production in Korea.

The full-size, seven-seat SUV will deliver an equivalent all-electric range (EAER) of up to 57 kilometres (on the WLTP test) from a single charge of its 13.8 kWh battery pack. Furthermore, in urban environments it is capable of travelling up to 70 kilometres on a single charge (EAER city) before its turbocharged gasoline engine starts up.

Drivers are therefore able to complete many journeys, such as their daily commute, on zero-emissions electric power alone.

Its plug-in hybrid powertrain also promises the lowest CO2 emissions ever offered by the Kia Sorento. With emissions of just 38 g/km (WLTP, weighted combined**), the new model is one of the most efficient vehicles in its class.

Furthermore, Kia Sorento PHEV customers will be eligible to access the brand’s new KiaCharge service. This provides access to a pan-European integrated public charging network of around 160,000 charge points via a single card and app. KiaCharge offers attractive charging tariffs to EV and PHEV owners based on their individual charging needs, with a single monthly invoice and no need for multiple vehicle charging accounts

or subscriptions.

The Kia Sorento Plug-in Hybrid features a powerful 1.6-litre T-GDi (turbocharged gasoline direct injection) engine, which on its own produces 180 ps and 265 Nm of torque.

Combined with an electric motor producing 67 kW and 304 Nm of torque, the Sorento Plug-in Hybrid delivers a combined 265 ps and 350 Nm of torque, making it the most powerful Sorento ever sold in Europe.

The engine and motor are paired with a high-capacity 13.8 kWh lithium-ion polymer battery, enabling the Sorento Plug-in Hybrid’s substantial all-electric range. For longer journeys, the powertrain combines electric and combustion engine power.

Drive is sent to the front wheels or all four wheels, depending on road conditions, via a quick-shifting six-speed automatic transmission.

Drivers can keep track of the powertrain’s status via the 12.3-inch fully-digital instrument cluster. This enables them to check the battery’s state of charge and monitor the flow of electric and gasoline power through the powertrain. Drivers can also easily locate nearby charging points on-the-go via the 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system, powered by Kia’s innovative UVO Connect ‘connected car’ system.

The Kia Sorento Plug-in Hybrid’s powertrain has been intelligently packaged to

ensure it offers the maximum possible cargo capacity and cabin space for up to seven occupants. The electric motor is mounted between the engine and transmission, enabled by the neat packaging of the downsized turbocharged engine beneath the bonnet. The Sorento’s battery pack is been positioned beneath the driver and front passenger seats.

In the Sorento’s all-wheel drive configuration, the ‘saddle-shaped’ battery pack lays over the top of the propshaft.

The Sorento PHEV’s 67-litre fuel tank is located beneath the floor underneath the second row of seats, while the 3.3 kW onboard charger is situated beneath the cargo floor.

The location of these components means

all passengers – including those in the third row of seats – still enjoy plenty of legroom and a comfortable seating position. This layout also means the battery pack doesn’t intrude on the Sorento’s cabin or cargo space in the same way that it might in many other plug-in hybrid models, where the battery often takes up valuable boot space.

The new Kia Sorento Plug-in Hybrid has started production this week at Kia’s Hwasung manufacturing facility in Korea. It will go on-sale across Europe in early 2021, with all models covered by Kia’s 7-year, 150,000-kilometre warranty. The warranty also covers the car’s electric motor and battery pack. Irish sales will start in the spring of 2021.

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MOTORING

THURSDAY, DEC 31 2020

MOTORING MOTORING EXPERT NEIL BRISCOE GIVES HIS VIEWS

MADE FOR IRELAND? THE NEW SKODA OCTAVIA MIGHT JUST BE...

AS SENSIBLE AS IT GETS, BUT THE OCTAVIA DELIGHTS, TOO

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SKODA OCTAVIA COMBI

OU know that feeling that you get when you first drop your kid off at school, and you start worrying that no-one will appreciate them, or like them? Well, I have that feeling about the new Skoda Octavia Combi estate.

Why? Well, it’s like this. The Octavia and I began our careers in motoring at around the same time — in the late nineties — and I’ve always had a bit of a soft-spot for the Czech car ever since. I’ve always like its solid sensibleness and it’s ethic of putting practicality above style. And this new Octavia, the fourth generation, continues that tradition.

It’s a handsome car, sure, but one that is resolutely more concerned with what’s inside than what’s outside.

Which is a problem. Because people don’t buy cars that way. People buy cars on appearance, and style, and even colour. It’s why so many of us end up buying SUVs — we get drawn in by the style, and don’t bother looking at the substance.

OK, first off, you’re going to have to put down the SUV. That’s it. Leave it there. Just forget about it. You don’t need it. Never did, in fact. You just got suckered in by the marketing hype. What you actually need, if you’re in the market for a family car, is this, the Octavia Combi. It’s literally all about the substance.

I know, you think it’s a commercial travellers’ car, and that you need an SUV to have something practical. You’re wrong. Come around the back and squeeze the little button that opens the electric boot-lid. Behold, the space. 640-litres of it. By comparison, a Nissan Qashqai has 430-litres. If you’re try-

ing to pack buggies and strollers, shopping and schoolbags in, that’s a massive difference. There’s more lounging space in the back seats than there is in most SUVs too, and the Octavia pulls out a major environmental advantage too, with CO2 emissions starting at under 120g/km even on the tough new WLTP ratings.

On the outside, it’s handsome, but perhaps very quietly so. The front end basically copies the Scala, and like the Scala looks a touch anonymous, but the Octavia’s plain and simple panel treatments, at a time when some car makers seem determined to make their products appear ‘precrashed’ in an effort to stand out, are very refreshing.

The cabin is simply laid out and clustered around two screens. One is right in front of you, a big ten-inch one, acts as your instrument panel. The second, also ten inches in our Style-spec test car (an eight-inch version is standard) does everything else. And we mean everything, from climate control to music and radio to setting up various functions such as ambient lighting and more.

Under the bonnet of our test car was the latest ‘Evo’ version of the 2.0-litre TDI diesel engine, with 150hp. And I know I’m going to get flack on social media for saying this, but it’s lovely. Smooth, refined (except for a touch of growl on a cold start) and exceptionally efficient. We averaged 4.9-litre per 100km. That’s 57mpg overall, including long motorway runs and some mooching around town. Skoda claims that the engine’s ‘twin-dosing’ AdBlue system removes any conscience-prickling over NOX emissions, and its rated CO2 emissions are 122g/km. We know that such claims have proven baloney in the past, but we’ll have to take them on face value for now. It works well with the seven-speed DSG automatic gearbox too, although

again we found that the new ‘toggle switch’ gear selector could be rather fiddly, and doesn’t bring any major benefits in terms of storage space. Still, the sheer relief of being able to drive a car powered by easily-refuelled liquid, having spent quite a bit of time lately in electric and plugin-hybrid models, was quite something.

If the Octavia has a weakness, it’s dynamically. It doesn’t drive badly, or anything, but it lacks the incisive, entertaining steering of its cousin, the Seat Leon. Now, clearly that’s yet another fag-paper wall that VW places between the two cars, in an effort to differentiate them, but it is a bit of a shame. You can feel that the Octavia’s chassis has good, solid responses, but there’s not enough feedback for you to exploit or enjoy it. You could sit back and relax, but our test car had 18-inch alloys fitted, which add too much thump and fidget to the ride quality. Who needs big alloys on a family car?

And that’s kind of the point. The Octavia

FACTS & FIGURES Model tested: Skoda Octavia Combi 2.0 TDI 150 DSG Style Pricing: €43,148 as tested; Octavia starts at €23,950 Engine: 2.0-litre turbocharged diesel four-cylinder Transmission: seven-speed DSG automatic, front-wheel drive Body style: five-door estate CO2 emissions: 122g/km (Band 121-130 €200 per annum) Combined economy: 52.3mpg (5.4 litres/100km) Top speed: 220km/h 0-100km/h: 8.8 seconds Power: 150hp at 3,000-4,200rpm Torque: 360Nm at 1,600-2,750rpm Boot space: 640-1,700 litres

Combi is a family car. Big, useful, comfortable, reliable, solid. The SUV across the showroom floor will draw more admiring glances, maybe, but the Octavia is one hundred per cent where the substance is.

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MOTORING

THURSDAY, DEC 31 2020

MOTORING MOTORING EXPERT NEIL BRISCOE GIVES HIS VIEWS

SEAT LEON GETS TOP SAFETY AWARD

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FIVE STARS FOR NEW LEON, EVEN WITH TOUGHER TESTING REGIME

HE all-new Seat Leon has been awarded a five-star safety rating from testing organisation Euro NCAP. The result is testament to the work completed during the Leon’s development to create a car that is one of the safest vehicles on the market, especially as Euro NCAP’s testing methods have become even more challenging in 2020.

A key change for 2020 Euro NCAP’s testing procedures is the introduction of the moving barrier to moving car frontal crash test, replacing the moderate offset-deformable barrier test. The test helps the organisation to evaluate the protection of occupants inside the car, but also assesses how the car’s front-end structures contribute too.

That isn’t the only change in the testing procedure. Side impacts have been updated to include adjustments to the nearside barrier test speed and mass, increasing the strictness of the test. And for the first time, Euro NCAP evaluates far-side impact protection, focusing on driv-

er protection and the potential interaction between driver and front seat passenger.

Euro NCAP has also placed further emphasis on the latest generation of crash prevention and driver assistance systems and has implemented new scenarios to rate AEB technology including back over situations and turning at a crossing. There is also a system to evaluate Driver Status Monitoring systems, designed to detect driver fatigue and distraction, as part of the Safety Assist assessment.

“We’re extremely proud that the new Seat Leon achieved Euro NCAP’s top rating in its different variants, 5-Door and Sportstourer body types, combustion engine and PHEV powertrains, by excelling through even the reimagined and incredibly challenging safety tests for 2020.This five-star rating is a reflection of the emphasis we place on safety, and our openness to integrating the latest technologies, whether active or passive, to achieve this goal,” said Dr Werner Tietz, Seat’s Vice-President for Research and Development

THURSDAY, DEC 31 2020

MOTORING

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Bugler and Baker take on roles in Offaly club scene PÁRAIC MCMAHON paraic@clareecho.ie

TWO Clare All-Ireland winners have taken on roles with hurling clubs in Offaly.

Wing back on the 2013 All-Ireland winning side, Brendan Bugler has been announced as the new manager of the Birr senior hurlers.

The four-time All-Ireland SHC champions last won the Offaly SHC in 2008, their most recent county final appearance was in 2019.

Bugler was part of the Wexford senior hurling management team in 2020 and guided St Flannan’s College to their twenty second Dr Harty Cup title. The Whitegate na-

tive was the recipient of two All Star awards in 2012 and 2013, he called time on his Clare career in 2017.

Clarecastle’s Noel Considine is set to join Bugler’s management team as goalkeeping coach. Considine also departed Fitzgerald’s Wexford set-up but is set to stay on his role with the Sixmilebridge senior hurlers. Former Roscommon GAA head of athletic performance David Mannix has been announced

by Birr as the side’s strength and conditioning coach.

He succeeds Barry Whelehan in the role with newly appointed Laois manager Seamus ‘Cheddar’ Plunkett previously tipped for the gig until Eddie Brennan’s departure from the O’Moore County

prompted Plunkett’s return.

Meanwhile two-time All-Ireland winner Ollie Baker has been announced as the new manager of the Belmont senior hurlers. Midfielder on the victorious Clare teams of 1995 and 1997, the St Josephs Doora/Barefield clubman has re-entered the world of management.

Baker was manager of the Offaly senior hurlers for two seasons with Shannon’s Alan Cunningham serving as a coach alongside him. Prior to this, they worked together as part of Anthony Daly and Mike McNamara’s management teams with the Clare senior hurlers. Ollie was in charge of the Kilmacud Crokes leading them to glory in the 2014 Dublin SHC.

Devitt agrees deal with Cobh Ramblers

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Lee Devitt has signed a new deal with Cobh Ramblers to keep him at the Cork club until the end of next season.

Newmarket-on-Fergus native Devitt committed to the club for 2021 after signing a new deal with Cobh Ramblers in the past week.

In 2020, Lee was one of only two Cobh players to feature in every single game across all competitions for the club (21) alongside cen-

tre-half Charlie Lyons. The St Caimin’s Community School past pupil scored two goals for Ramblers this season, both of them in their 4-0 victory at home to Wexford FC in August.

Devitt first came to prominence with Shannon Hibernians before lining out at U17 and U19 level for Limerick FC. He made his senior debut for the Blues in 2019 and moved to Cobh for the 2020 League of Ireland campaign.

“I’m delighted to have signed back for the coming season and I can’t wait to get going again. It was disappointing last year to miss out on the play-offs but we were all eager to build on it and put it right next year. I’m looking forward to the challenge ahead and the first game of the new season just can’t come around quick enough,” Lee said of his new deal with Cobh.

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O’Connell commits to third season with Clare camogie PÁRAIC MCMAHON

paraic@clareecho.ie

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ER O’Connell has committed to a third season in charge of the Clare senior camogie team.

An All-Ireland winner with the Clare minor hurlers in 1997, O’Connell has informed the Clare Camogie Board and senior panel of his intention to continue in the position.

Following his first season in the role, members of the management team including Laura Linnane, Liam Clancy, Cillian Fennessy and Gemma Quinlan departed the setup.

Conor Dolan, Stephen Cusack,

Éanna Mulvihill and Eileen Gleeson are expected to continue in their roles from the 2020 set-up.

During this year’s campaign, Clare recorded a memorable National League victory over eventual All-Ireland champions Kilkenny in Nowlan Park. A first All-Ireland quarter-final appearance since 2014 was secured but Clare fell short in a disappointing clash with Cork.

Returning to the knockout stages of the All-Ireland series will be a key objective for the Clonlara man and the panel of players for the 2021 campaign. He has called for clarity from the Camogie Association on a schedule of games for the year ahead and expressed his preference for the inter-county games to be concluded ahead of the club championships.

Ger O’Connell

Photo by Bryan Keane / INPHO

Camogie membership numbers continue to grow in Clare – Kaiser CLARE’S outgoing camogie secretary has described the County Board’s efforts in running off competitions in 2020 as “a resounding success” with membership numbers continuing to grow, writes Páraic McMahon.

In her final address as Clare Camogie secretary, Marie-Louise Kaiser chronicled the year in a month by month report presented to delegates at its recent AGM which was held remotely.

She detailed that nine monthly board meetings were held in 2020, three of which were via Zoom, three referees courses were organised along with one administration workshop, four foundation coaching courses and one level one course.

Membership of camogie clubs in Clare “rose again,” the Switzerland native confirmed. The figure is now over 4000. “Our girls played 300 matches in 13 different championships and in the U12 league organized by the Clare Camogie Board”.

“I think we have to summarise the year as a resounding success. Although some competitions, such as the league and the U21 competitions had to be cancelled

due to the pandemic, we managed to play our full Senior, Intermediate and Junior Championships, and have reached semi-final or final stage in the U14, U16 and Minor championships. We have also run go-games and blitzes for the 12-and-unders. This means that all girls who wanted to and were able to play had game time during the year. A lot of this is thanks to the Trojan work done by the Fixtures Committee, scheduling and rescheduling games to fit the very restricted playing time allowed. I would also like to thank all the club officers, club & county team managers and mentors, covid officers, volunteers and parents who made sure that the girls could continue to play in a safe environment, as well as the players themselves,” she stated.

Marie-Louise paid tribute to the Board’s sponsors CareerWise Recruitment and acknowledged the co-operation of Hotel Woodstock in facilitating meetings earlier in the year. Kaiser added, “Another success from 2020 is Fr McNamara Park, which is in outstanding condition and hosted not only our own

Marie Louise Kaiser. Photo

by Burren Eye Photography

County finals, but a number of inter-county games. Huge thanks to the Field Committee, led by Jimmy Kenny and Mike Duggan”.

Having pleaded with delegates to appoint a new secretary in 2019, the Newmarket-on-Fergus woman expressed her delight to see two nominees, Ann Sanz of the Banner was elected. “I will miss working with club secretaries but looking forward to working on fixtures only following a plan of six years,” Marie-Louise said.

Chairperson Joe O’Donnell was the first to compli-

ment her contribution, “Every time I see what you are doing I get tired,” he revealed.

Public relations officer Brid MacNamara noted that Marie-Louise joined the county executive ten years ago.

“In that time you’ve gone through 3 Chairpersons and 4 Treasurers but your commitment, focus and drive has been inspirational to watch...I would like to say a sincere word of thanks for contribution over the last decade”.

On behalf of the Executive, Denise Brookes completed a presentation to Marie-Louise.

Finances of Clare Camogie in decent health

A REDUCTION in income close to almost €100k has been experienced by Clare Camogie this year who also saw their costs fall, writes Páraic McMahon.

Primarily as a result of COVID-19, the coffers of Clare Camogie took a serious hit in 2020 but board officials have outlined that the finances were in a healthy position at the end of the financial year. Addressing the recent Clare Camogie AGM, Martin Kaiser stated, “My second year as treasurer of Clare Camogie has been heavily influenced by the impact of Covid-19 onto our sporting and fundraising activities. The governance structure implemented the year before allowed us to keep control of our finances in a very different year”.

He outlined that their total income reduced by almost €100k. Of this, close to €50,000 was due to “heavily curtailed fundraising activities” and virtually no gate income, €20,000 was from lower capital grants and the remaining difference “came from lower members contributions and sponsorship”. Brid MacNamara’s fundraiser ‘Walk to Croker’ brought in almost €16,000.

“The postponement of most county team activities and the cancellation of some others have automatically reduced cost by €70k, but very stringent cost controls have allowed another saving of €20k, resulting in a total cost reduction of €90,000. While the surplus of income over cost has reduced by €10k we were still able to invest close to €30k into field improvements and the new scoreboard and at the same time kept reducing our debt by €20k.”

Paying tribute to the Treasurer, Joe O’Donnell said it was “a source of great comfort as Chairman to have the finances looked after the way Martin does it”. He added, “The bottom line is that our debt is down €18,000 from last year and we will get it down further”.

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‘I’ve given everything I have’ - Cooney praised as tenure as GAA Chair ends PÁRAIC MCMAHON

Dermot Coughlan & Joe Cooney

Photo by Gerard O’Neill

paraic@clareecho.ie

F

ORMER Clare GAA Chairman Joe Cooney has been praised for his “tireless” efforts during his five year term.

Cooney’s tenure as Chairman came to an end at County Convention earlier this month with Cratloe’s Jack Chaplin elected as his successor.

During his address to Convention, Joe sympathised with anyone impacted by COVID-19 and loyal supporters who were unable to travel to games. He commended GAA clubs in Clare for playing “a vital role in helping to maintain social life in the country” in the height of lockdown. He outlined that Clare GAA was also active in this regard by visiting isolated individuals, delivering meals and leading the community response.

He said it was invaluable that both club and county championships were held in 2020. “Since the foundation of the GAA in 1884 as an organisation we played our championships through periods of political unrest, rebellion and World War. It was vitally important for the organisation to add the names of the 2020 winners to the roll of honour”. He also applauded the GAA’s efforts in commemorating Bloody Sunday.

Players continue to be “the lifeblood of the GAA”, the O’Callaghans Mills man said. He acknowledged officers’ “significant personal

sacrifices to make Clare GAA the great organisation that it is today”. The continued support of Pat O’Donnell was lauded by Cooney.

Support from clubs throughout his tenure was a highlight for the Fine Gael county councillor who noted the “thousands of

dedicated men and women” promoting the GAA in communities across Co Clare.

Joe admitted he was “proud and appreciative” to receive the support of clubs. “In return, I promised to work tirelessly for the greater good of Clare GAA. I can say without fear of contradiction that I have given

everything that I had to give regardless of circumstances over those five years for the betterment of Clare GAA”.

Ex Chairman of Clare GAA and Munster Council, Robert Frost was among the first to praise Cooney on conclusion of his tenure and described him as “a great worker”.

An “enormous” level of work was completed by Cooney according to county secretary, Pat Fitzgerald. “Whether it was day or night anytime you were called on you were there.

On a personal level, you have been most courteous to me and my family”. He added, “No journey was ever too long, no task ever too onerous and there was no problem that couldn’t be solved. I’d like to think those three things would have summed you up”. He was hopeful the outgoing Chairman would form part of a sub-committee of the County Board.

Newly elected Munster Council delegate Bernard Keane echoed the comments of Fitzgerald that Cooney must not be lost to the Association. “I hope you stay with the cause. You will be badly needed”.

“This won’t be the end of Joe Cooney, he will be back bigger than ever,” Chairperson of Bord na nÓg Iomaint, Neil O’Brien declared. Youth officer Sean O’Halloran said Joe was “a credit to Clare GAA”. Further plaudits were voiced by Treasurer Michael Gallagher, Doonbeg’s John Keane, James Meere of Lissycasey, Tulla’s Brian Torpey.

In response, Cooney thanked delegates for their kind words and added, “We get on with the job we’re elected to”.

Sheehan takes Crusheen job, Hogan back in Ballyea PÁRAIC MCMAHON paraic@clareecho.ie

KEVIN Sheehan has been appointed as the new manager of the Crusheen senior hurlers.

In November, Sheehan called time on his three year tenure in charge of the Ballyea senior side. During this time, he managed the men in Black and Amber to their second ever Clare SHC title in 2018. He had been goalkeeper on the side that won their first ever senior championship in 2016.

He is to follow up his first foray into adult management by taking charge of Crusheen.

He succeeds Newmarket-on-Fergus native James Carrig in the post who has taken on a more prominent role in the Clare minor management where he will work alongside Barry Coffey who worked side by side with Sheehan and Ballyea over the last three years.

“We are delighted and excited to have what shall be an exciting partnership with Kevin,” Crusheen chairperson Michael O’Connor said of the appointment.

As Sheehan exits the Ballyea position, Robbie Hogan returns to the hotseat. Hogan was in charge of the 2016 side that claimed county and provincial honours having worked with numerous underage outfits in the club. He previously stepped down following their All-Ireland club final defeat to Dublin powerhouse Cuala.

“Robbie returns to the role following a three year absence after the memorable heights of winning the club’s first Senior county title in 2016, our historic Munster title win in early 2017 and the never-to-be forgotten All-Ireland club final appearance on that memorable St. Patrick’s Day that year. In the coming weeks we will be working with Robbie to add to his coaching team in readiness for the year ahead when we can all hopefully look forward to watching matches at our pitch again,” a spokesperson for Ballyea stated.

Robbie Hogan

Photo by Martin Connolly

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Delight as golf gets green light while O’Connor takes Knox Cup SEAMUS HAYES

The Clare Echo’s sales executive Niall O’Connor, winner of the Knox Cup at Ennis Golf Club on Monday

TWO long standing competitions at Ennis golf club, the Knox and Koley Cups, concluded on Monday.

The Knox Cup, the club’s main matchplay competition, has been running since the early days of the club. Over the years this prestigious competition has attracted huge entries and produced many great contests Because of COVID-19 restrictions, there was a slight change to the format this year when the top 32 in the captain’s prize qualified for matchplay. After four rounds of matchplay, Niall

O’Connor and Paraic Cusack qualified for Monday’s final which ended in victory for O’Connor who won on the 17th.

The Koley Cup, for golfers over 16 handicap, also concluded on Monday.

Niall Guinnane beat Tom McDonald, the match also finishing on the 17th.

Shannon Golf Club: Shannon members were busy with a selection of singles and team competitions taking place over the holiday period.

The competition format at Shannon from December 26 to 28 was a scramble., The winners on course 1 were Jamie (10), Vinny (13) and Ryan Hodge (13) and Tom Clancy (21) with

23.4 while the winner on course 2 were P.T.(Snr) (13), Aaron (23), P.T. Lynch Jun. (18) and D. Finnegan (20) with 22.6 In a modified team of 4 competition played between December 21 and 24, the winners on course 2 were Niall O’Connor (7), Billy (14), Karen (42) and Gerry Dunne (18) with 44 points. In a similar competition on course 1 the winners were John (13) and Conor McPhillips (21), Dave Egan (21) and Conor Cusack (24) with 54 points.

In a modified team of four scramble played between December 14 and 16 the winners were Declan Breen (16), Brian Quane (11), Sean O’Callaghan (25) and Tom O’Brien (25)

with 57 points.

The 9 hole singles competition on course 2, played between December 14 and 16 was won by John Monaghan (28) with 24 points from Billy Dunne (14) with a similar score.

Liam Markham (15) was third with 23 points while Colin Ryan (8) won the gross with 18 points.

In a similar competition on course 1, the winner was Shane Geary (24) with 25 points from Eamonn Carroll (23) with 24 points. They were followed

by Alan Watson (26) with 24 points, Thomas Nolan (24) with 23 points, and Paul O’Connor (9) with 23 points while the gross was won by Ed Hickey (9) with 23 points.

32 2020 YEAR IN REVIEW

2020

Sports Awards

Clare Echo’s head of News & Sport PÁRAIC MCMAHON dishes out the gongs in the inaugural Clare Echo Sporting Awards

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OUNTLESS milestones, memories and gatherings were taken from our reach in 2020 but once again sport came up trumps in providing joy and solace with many organisations also leading the way when it came local community responses during the pandemic, Head of Sport Páraic McMahon dishes out the gongs in the inaugural Clare Echo Sporting Awards.

CLARE SPORTSPERSON OF THE YEAR: PADDY DONOVAN ENNIS boxer Paddy Donovan has seen his reputation in the boxing sphere get stronger with every punch during 2020. His professional record is now five wins from five bouts. His eye-catching form of 2019 where he collected three wins, continued in 2020. The 21 year old who is trained by Andy Lee was regularly spotted during the first lockdown partaking in intense training sessions on Lahinch Beach. His support for the Limerick hurlers is not enough to dent his challenge in securing the accolade as Clare sportsperson of the year.

MANAGER OF THE YEAR: MARK CULBERT As the man in charge of a very impressive Bridge Utd youths outfit, Culbert led his side to glory within Clare but also saw them reach the Munster Youths semi-final and the last eight of the FAI Youths Cup. There was a touch of class surrounding their efforts with fine players also doing well for the Clare Youths, for this Culbert is deserving of praise.

UNSUNG SPORTING HERO: FIONNUALA WALSH

In December it was announced that the Kilrush swimmer would be inducted into the Irish Long Distance Swimming Hall of Fame. Despite her many achievements including becoming the first Irish female and 89th individual in the world to complete the Triple Crown of Open Water Swimming by successfully completing the English Channel 2012, Catalina Channel 2013 and Manhattan Island Swim 2014, Fionnuala’s accolades appear not to have received enough prominence or appreciation in her native county. The Cappa woman will deservedly enter the Hall of Fame and with that hopefully earn greater recognition for an outstanding career.

TOP PERFORMER AWARD: TONY KELLY

Dubbed by two-time All-Ireland winner Fergal Hegarty as “the greatest Clare hurler of all time” during a Clare Echo video special, Tony Kelly was in scintillating form for the county hurlers in the 2020 championship.

The Ballyea sharpshooter amassed a tally of 1-53 in Clare’s four championship outings and was named player of the month for November.

Injury lessened his contribution in the All-Ireland quarter-final versus Waterford but Tony was to the fore as Brian Lohan’s side battled with Limerick, Laois and Wexford in the championship.

The Clare Echo was the first to predict in print that Kelly would receive an All-Star for his exploits on the field, with no selection announced as of yet, the secondary school teacher will have to settle for now with recognition from the county’s most read newspaper.

ACHIEVEMENT OF THE YEAR: RORY CHESSER

A memorable weekend in September saw Ennis Track Club claim gold and silver in the 3000m steeplechase at the National Athletics Championships. A time of 9:39:62 saw Rory Chesser claim his seventh national title with Mark Hanrahan close behind taking silver in a time of 10:04:78. Winning All-Irelands are no easy feat and the fact that Rory made it number seven certainly is worthy of applause.

RISING STAR: DYLAN HOGAN

Recognition in the form of a Lester Award started the Christmas celebrations for the Newmarket-on-Fergus jockey. He won in the ‘flat ride of the year’ category for his victory on Wanaasah in Wolverhampton back in January.

Based in the UK, Dylan had ridden 23 winners prior to receiving the Lester nomination.

2020 YEAR IN REVIEW 33

COACH OF THE YEAR: NOEL McNAMARA

Having guided the Irish U20s to Grand Slam glory in the 2019 6 Nations, the O’Callaghans Mills man was on course to repeat the feat until COVID-19 interrupted matters. Ireland were the only side to have won all their games thus far, with three wins from three games. Appointed the Academy Manager of Leinster Rugby last year, he is also Head Coach of their A team, he is not the only Clare connection to the province with Newmarket-on-Fergus’ Ryan Corry part of their communications staff. McNamara’s coaching reputation continues to rise.

TEAM OF THE YEAR: ST FLANNAN’S COLLEGE HARTY CUP TEAM

The wind’s they are a changing at the county’s biggest secondary school.

A renewed focus seems visible when it comes to the sporting world and the results are bearing dividends. An excellent video on female participation has been released by the school while the U19 All-Ireland C basketball winners were in contention for this award. It is the hurlers captained by Conner Hegarty and Cian Galvin who take home the honours though.

Coached by Brendan Bugler and Kevin O’Grady, they were by far the best drilled team to represent the county in 2020 and as a result ended a fifteen year drought to claim the Dr Harty Cup title for the twenty second time in their history. Their glory also provided badly needed hope that quality hurlers are still ready to come through the ranks in the county, the key to them reaching their potential being sustained quality coaching.

LEADERSHIP AWARD: COMMUNITY RESPONSE TO COVID

The manner in which sporting organisations rallied together during the pandemic is to be commended.

Numerous notable and worthy fundraisers were held and for the majority it was sporting organisations that led the way.

There is far too many to mention but the endeavours must be saluted.

2020 WORST JERSEYS: CLARE SENIOR CAMOGIE

TOP GEANSAÍ: CLARE LADIES FOOTBALLERS

Beo Wellness were announced as the new sponsors of the Clare ladies football intermediate side prior to the resumption of games and what a gem of a jersey they produced. It’s not a traditional design of a Clare jersey, while keeping the county colours they managed to add a new dimension which made them look the part.

Saffron and Blue are said to be the county colours of Clare but a different memo must have been issued prior to Clare’s Liberty Insurance All-Ireland camogie quarter-final with Cork. What appeared to be more of a bright yellow rather than saffron didn’t help the cause as Ger O’Connell’s charges bowed out of the championship.

INNOVATOR OF THE YEAR: GERRY McNAMARA Supporters were dent a lousy hand so far as physically attending games in 2020 were concerned. It didn’t stop St Josephs Doora/Barefield supporter from leaping to new heights.

Ladders became the musthave accessory of GAA supporters with McNamara leading the trend while supporting The Parish to scale Dr Daly Park in Tulla. His efforts to follow Brian Lohan’s Clare hurlers were not as successful as attempts to watch the Banner versus Wexford from an apartment adjacent to O’Moore Park in Portlaoise just came up short.

DISTINCTION AWARD: MARCUS RASHFORD

No Clare connections can be claimed for the Manchester Utd striker but nonetheless his continued campaign to tackle child hunger does impact families in the UK with links to the Banner County. His drive against child food poverty and ability to put the UK Government under pressure and hold them to account has deservedly led to Marcus being hailed as an inspiration and a crusader. This example is the definition of a sporting role model.

34 2020 YEAR IN REVIEW

2020

Sports Awards

ADMINISTRATOR OF THE YEAR: BRID McNAMARA

More glittering awards already grace the mantlepiece of her Ruan home for her continued promotion of camogie throughout the county.

Acknowledged by the Camogie Association as PRO of the Year in 2012 and 2013, Brid has been part of the County Executive for the best part of two decades. Her ability in securing increased media coverage for the sport is well known but this summer, she went the extra mile or 267 miles to be precise with a virtual walk to Croke Park and back. By travelling to each camogie club in Clare and doing a walk in the locality, she brought a buzz with her and in the process raised €16,000 for Clare Camogie in a year when all fundraising efforts dried up.

BIGGEST FASHION STATEMENT: DONAL COONEY

Initially the commitment of the Clare ladies footballers and camogie panel members to sporting fake tan in front of no crowds was the front-runner but an East Clare reader put forward a strong argument in favour of Donal Cooney. The O’Callaghans Mills selector was commended for his “selection of Armani shirts” on the sideline, it added a splash of flair as the Fireballs reached a first senior decider in twenty seven years. There is debate among the Mills following on the branding of the shirt with some suggesting Ralph Lauren, Dunnes Stores or Armani.

BEST BAZ: CILLIAN McGROARY Watching games of years gone by became a habit for many sport deprived fans in March, April and May of this year. Who’s to know if it inspired Clare minor dual player Cillian McGroary when it came to his ‘different’ hairstyle.

The Corofin youngster would not look out of place at Mexico 86 as he combined the old with the new.

He stood out from the crowd with his ability on the field too and as such does enough to hold off the challenge of Clare GAA TV presenter Michael O’Connor who despite not having access to hair and make-up ensured he didn’t have a hair out of place for their expansive coverage of local championships.

SACK THE BARBER: DAVID RYAN

Closures affected barbers of the county throughout 2020 leading to many relationships being pushed to breaking point as scissors were placed in the hands of the nearest and dearest. Kilmihil’s Ryan could have done with a razor or clippers, fortunately for him limited numbers could attend crowds. Clare footballer Cian O’Dea can count himself lucky not to take the top spot in this category.

BEST BOOTS: KEELAN SEXTON

While collecting his third Clare SFC medal, the Kilmurry Ibrickane attacker did so while sporting a fetching pair of Nike Mercurials. During Clare’s National Football League campaign in early 2020, Adidas was the go to choice for the UL graduate. Form can be difficult to maintain for any player but when it comes to his boot game, Keelan is generally hard to beat.

OLOUR IN THURSDAY, DEC 31 2020

THURSDAY, 31 2020 COLOUR ME DEC IN 35

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THURSDAY, DEC 31 2020

PLANNING 37

PLANNING NOTICES Clare County Council, Ballyvara, Doolin, Co. Clare.

Take notice that A. & D. Moloney intend to apply to the Planning Authority for permission to construct/install a structure for the serving of food/beverages ancillary to the existing Doolin Inn complex along with associated site works 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, Cronagort East, Doolin, Co. Clare Take notice that G. & J. Lodges Ltd. intend to apply to the Planning Authority for retention permission for the following a) the side and rear extensions to the existing house as constructed b) change of use from an existing house to commercial that allows for short-term accommodation c) the wastewater treatment system and polishing filter d) modifications to the site entrance, front boundary walls and internal roads along with associated site works 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.

CLASSIFIEDS

THANKSGIVING THANKSGIVING. ST. JUDE. Most Holy Apostle St. Jude faithful servant & friend of Jesus. The Church honours & invokes you universally as the patron of hopeless cases, of matters almost despaired of. Pray for me I am so helpless & alone. Make use I implore you of that particular privilege given to you, to bring speedy help where help is almost despaired of.

Come to my assistance in this great need that I may receive the consolation & help of Heaven in all my necessities, tribulations & sufferings & that I may praise God with you & all the Elect forever. I promise O Blessed St. Jude to be ever mindful of this great favour to always honour you as my special & powerful patron & to gratefully encourage devotion to you. Amen.

This prayer must be said for 9 consecutive days & published immediately & in 3 days the favour will be granted.

THURSDAY, DEC 31 2020

THIS WEEKS PUZZLES DEC 31

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QUIZ 39

THURSDAY, DEC 31 2020

The Clare Echo Quiz

October 8th the FBI arrested On November 2nd what video 1to On 13 men in connection with a plot 6 became the most watched on storm the capitol building and YouTube with 7.04 billion views Michigan Wisconsin Washington

‘Baby Shark’ by Pinkfong Kids’ Songs & Stories ‘Despacito’ by Luis Fonsi ‘Shape of You’ by Ed Sheeran

On October 6th Rock Guitarist 2 Eddie Van Halen died of throat cancer at age 65. Which of the fol-

On what date was Joe Biden de7 clared the winner of the 2020 US presidential election?

Jump Pour some sugar on me Hot for teacher

what date was it announced 3On Ireland would move to level 5?

1st October 19th October 4th November

4

On October 29th a terror attack in which French city left 3 people dead Paris Nice Marseille

On October 31st famous Scottish 5 actor Sean Connery best known for his role as James Bond died at age 90. What was the first Bond movie he appeared in?

Thunderball Goldfinger Dr. No

November 1st November 4th November 7th

On November 25th Diego Mara8 dona died at age 60 from a heart attack. For what country did Maradona play?

Spain Italy Argentina

On December 1st what song did 9 Spotify announce was it’s most streamed of the year?

Don’t Start Now - Dua Lipa Dance Monkey - Tones And I Blinding Lights – The Weekend

what date did Ireland exit 10On level 5 for a second time?

November 30th December 1st December 3rd

Quiz by

l ELECTED On what date was Joe Biden declared the winner of the 2020

US presidential election?

ANSWERS

6. ‘Baby Shark’ by Pinkfong Kids 7. November 7th 8. Argentina 9. Blinding Lights – The Weekend 10. December 1st

lowing is not one of his song’s?

1. Michigan 2. Pour some sugar on me 3. 19th October 4. Marseille 5. Dr. No

kidnap the governor of what US state

TADHG HOLLAND

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

The answers will be revealed in next weeks edition.

Photo by John Mangan

Last weeks Answers . & missing on window . Part of Rainbow different colour . Shoes different colour . White lat on window missing

. Feathers different colour . Part on door line door frame missing (bottom) . Haning lights missing (left)

Front row Joe Garry, Ger Cullen, Maria Lynch, Paul Crehan, Back row Alan fairweather, Carmel Brodrick, Noel McDonagh, Martin McDonagh, Davy McDonagh and John McDonagh