The Clare Echo 14/08/25

THE MIGHTY QUINN

Last blast of summer sun

by Páraic McMahon paraic@clareecho.ie

CLARE is getting another blast of sun with the county recording the hottest temperatures in the country this week.

On Tuesday, Shannon Airport recorded the country’s highest temperature at 28.1°C at 5pm. High temper-

atures will build again this weekend with settled conditions to last into next week. is much-welcome hot spell has boosted numbers visiting the coast with seaside spots recording an increase in activity o the back of a quite summer.

Connolly native,

Mark Dunphy of weatheire.com, told e Clare Echo, “ e warmth is expected to build again by the weekend, with highs of 26 or 27 degrees away from the coast.

“Generally settled conditions are likely to persist into early next week.”

Madden appointed as Clare boss

by Páraic McMahon paraic@clareecho.ie

PAUL MADDEN has been appointed as the new manager of the Clare senior footballers on a three-year term.

Clare GAA officials moved swiftly to appoint a successor to Peter Keane after the Kerry man confirmed his resig-

nation on Sunday.

Having led Éire Óg to a first Clare SFC title in 15 years in 2021, Madden finished his term as manager of the Townies with three Clare SFCs. His appointment has been strongly welcomed across football circles with his management team to be put in place in

the coming weeks.

“He is a lot more than a manager, he is a leader. He is held in the highest esteem by players, mentors and supporters in Éire Óg. I expect that all players around the county will be delighted with this appointment,” Éire Óg delegate Bob Loftus said.

Campion Insurances Limited trading as Campion Insurance, PIB Global and Bestquote.ie is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland

Elsie Quinn gets her flag signed by Kieran Ryan at the Munster Rugby open training session at Ennis RFC on Tuesday

Photo by Natasha Barton

Dermot Fetton reopens Considines Pub

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

Email: denise@clareecho.ie

or kieran@clareecho.ie or ross@clareecho.ie

Unit 9, The Mall, Clare Road Business Centre, Ennis, County Clare Telephone: 065 671 9021

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

Munster fans out in force at Ennis RFC

Extra funding granted for Clare roads but LIS backlog still won’t be cleared

by Páraic McMahon paraic@clareecho.ie

CLARE has received an supplementary allocation of €788,498 under the local improvement scheme (LIS) for rural roads and laneways. Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht, Dara Calleary TD (FF) announced a further €14 million investment in rural roads and laneways across the country.

In Clare, a supplementary allocation of €788,498 was approved for Clare County Council which on top of the original allocation of €869,901 brings the county’s total funding for LIS to €1,658,399 in 2025. This total is behind the amount approved for Kerry, Cork and Tipperary in Munster.

Of the twenty five counties included in the LIS, Clare received the sixth highest total. The county allocations are based on the level of works that each local authority indicated they could complete before the end of the year

Eligible roads under the LIS are non-public roads providing access to parcels of land, of which,

two or more are owned or occupied by different persons, one of which must be for agricultural/harvesting purposes, and non-public roads leading to important community amenities such as graveyards, beaches, piers, mountains.

Under the LIS, local authorities are responsible for identifying and prioritising roads for improvement works under the scheme, in consultation with residents/ landowners.

Cllr Gabriel Keating (FG) told The Clare Echo the supplementary allocation was “long overdue”. He stated, “there should be no extra allocation, we should be getting the full amount at the beginning of the year because getting an allocation late in the year means you have to try spend it before the bad weather comes in. At the moment, we must have up on 90 applicants on a waiting list, it is a known fact that when we get an allocation of €800,000 or €900,000 it might only do a couple of roads in each of the Municipal District, it is never enough when you have a waiting list. At the same time I’m delighted we got it

and we pushed hard to get it, very hard and it has come, the more the merrier”.

More focus is needed by Clare’s Oireachtas members on improving the quality of the county’s road network, he maintained. “I’d be calling on our Oireachtas members when they are looking at their budgets to look at the roads and the condition of them, our national roads, the N67, N68, our regional and local roads all need an injection of funding, if they don’t get funding soon they will be gone beyond redemption”.

A backlog of LIS applications still won’t be cleared by the additional funding, Cllr Rita McInerney (FF) flagged. “It is important to be clear; the LIS backlog in Clare is already years behind, and we are continually playing catch-up due to historic underinvestment. Even with this doubling of funding, we are still far from where we need to be to address the long list of applications from rural households and landowners”.

Amelia Malone and Rachel Farrell from Ennis attend the Munster Rugby open training session at Ennis RFC on Tuesday

Photo by Natasha Barton

Clare learner drivers stuck in neutral as waiting times for driving tests rise

by Páraic McMahon paraic@clareecho.ie

LEARNER drivers in Clare are stuck in neutral with waiting times for driving tests continuing to climb.

Average waiting times at all three driving test centres in Clare have increased over the last twelve months.

Despite growing lists and the RSA’s commitment to introduce an action plan, activity has not ramped up at the testing centres. From May 22nd to July 9th, only one testing centre (Kilrush) was in operation for a Bank Holiday weekend while only three Saturdays saw any test activity, all of which took place in Shannon.

For Category B car test invitation, the average waiting times have increased from June 2024 to June 2025 from 14 to 21 weeks in Ennis, from 12 to 17 weeks in Shannon and from 13 to 14 weeks in Kilrush.

On May 22nd 2025, the RSA’s Action Plan came into effect and committed to expanding testing hours to include weekday evenings, Saturdays and bank holidays, with test slots running from 7.25am to 7.00pm.

From May 22nd to July 9th, Shannon operated on 23 of a pos-

sible 42 working days. Ennis operated on 29 days, while Kilrush was active on just 13 days during the same period.

A total of 600 driving tests were carried out across the county during this time. This included 332 in Ennis, 188 in Shannon and 80 in Kilrush. Based on the average number of tests conducted per day at each centre, which was 11 in Ennis, 8 in Shannon and 6 in Kilrush, the missed operating days could have allowed for an additional 469 tests.

Only two driver testers assigned to Clare are qualified to carry out car and trailer (BE), small truck or van (C1), and truck (C) tests. None are permanently based in the county.

Figures show that the number of applicants waiting for BE, C1 and C tests in Clare rose from 71 in January 2025 to 82 in June.

Clare TD, Joe Cooney (FG) who tabled a parliamentary question on the matter said learner drivers in the county are being left behind as waiting times for driving tests continue to climb, despite commitments from the Road Safety Authority under its latest Action Plan.

He believed the figures confirm that learner drivers in Clare are being short-changed and that the RSA’s delivery is falling far short of

lDRIVING TEST: learner driver plates

what was promised in May as part of its new Action-Plan. He said this shortfall represents hundreds of missed opportunities for learners in Clare and called on the Minister to intervene.

Officials in the RSA told Deputy Cooney that testers can be moved between centres to meet demand, he said this is not addressing the scale of the backlog.

Deputy Cooney said the growing delays are having real consequences for people in rural areas who rely on

Lidl’s appeal to build Ennistymon store is rejected

by Páraic McMahon paraic@clareecho.ie

LIDL’s appeal to construct a two-storey foodstore on the Lahinch Rd in Ennistymon has been rejected by An Coimisiún Pleanála.

An Coimisiún Pleanála rejected the appeal on two conditions, namely a threat to the water quality of the Inagh Estuary and the impact of the proposed development on the towns within the Ennistymon catchment area.

Clare County Council in March of this year refused the development over concerns about pedestrian connectivity as well as possible negative effects on local traffic and on the vitality and vibrancy of Ennistymon.

In their application for the two-storey unit, Lidl included a mobility management system to deal with traffic in the area and an environmental impact statement addressing concerns over potential light pollution.

Their proposed development had a gross floor area 2261.4 sqm with 87 car parking spaces. Lidl had estimated construction would be completed within twelve months and that there would be 25 to 30 trips to and from the site daily at its peak.

Outlining reasons for rejecting the appeal, An Coimisiún Pleanála stated, “The existing public wastewater treatment plant serving Ennistymon Town does not meet its emission limit values as required in its licence and, therefore, poses a threat to the water quality of the transitional waterbody of the Inagh Estuary”.

Declan Moore in his planners report for the Commission also flagged the need for an

additional store in Ennistymon “has not been justified”. The town already has an Aldi and SuperValu store. He referenced the linked service town designation of Ennistymon and Lahinch in the Clare County Development Plan 2023-2029 and the Retail Planning Guidelines for Planning Authorities (2012).

Moore stated, “It is considered that the Retail Impact Assessment submitted with the planning application has not assessed the impact of the proposed development on the towns within the Ennistymon catchment area, as identified in the Retail Strategy for the county, and that the need for an additional convenience store for Ennistymon Town at this location has not been justified and has not assessed its impact on the vitality and viability of the Ennistymon catchment area, which would be contrary to the Retail Planning Guidelines.

The proposed development would, therefore, be contrary to the proper planning and sustainable development of the area”.

full licences to access jobs, apprenticeships and further education. He pointed to one young woman in Clare who applied for her test in March and has been told she may not get an appointment until October or November. He called on the RSA to increase staffing in Clare and ensure test centres operate to full capacity. He also urged the Minister to oversee delivery of the RSA’s Action Plan and ensure that Clare learners are not left behind.

Clare TD, Donna McGettigan

(SF) said 1,300 learner drivers are waiting for an invitation to book a test slot. “The number of people currently waiting is not acceptable. Behind each of these figures there are learner drivers who are trying to move on with their lives. I am constantly contacted by people who can’t start a new job because they don’t have a full driving licence and some have waited months. During the waiting period, they can forget some of the skills they have learned and have to take refresher lessons when they are eventually able to get an appointment. Many apprenticeships require a full driving licence, so students can’t even start their studies due to the backlog. There are also employers who struggle to recruit staff, all of which have knock on economic effects”. She raised concern on the lack of testing centres in the county. “We also have a situation where there is only one dedicated testing centre for the county, in Ennis. In Shannon, learners have to meet the tester at a local hotel and in Kilrush they meet in the carpark of the local golf club. This means there is a lack of services in North and East Clare, and there are no permanent testers outside Ennis, so testers have to travel from there to carry out tests in Shannon and Kilrush”.

Golf tourism ‘putt’-ing up passenger numbers at Shannon Airport

by Páraic

AN INCREASE in golf tourism has boosted passenger numbers at Shannon Airport.

Management at Shannon Airport have con rmed that a “steady increase” in passengers are travelling to the International Airport solely for the purpose of gol ng in the West of Ireland.

While the exact numbers were not quanti ed by management, trans-Atlantic ights in particular have witnessed a noticeable increase in golfers on board.

In response to the growing numbers of golfers heading to Shannon Airport, an additional baggage belt specically for golf clubs will be installed by the end of this year.

Speaking to e Clare Echo, Airport Director at Shannon Airport, Niall Kearns explained, “Golf tourism has always been really important from a regional perspective in Shannon, we’ve wonderful golf courses on the west coast of Ireland and obviously with the Ryder Cup that has peaked, we’ve seen a steady increase in the number of golf tourists who have come through.

“Part of the signi cant infrastructure works that we’re doing over the next number of months will be to increase our baggage capacity for processing golf clubs upon their arrival so it will really improve the facilities for the arriving passengers with the golf clubs and set them o on a really good gol ng holiday in the west coast of Ireland”.

Niall con rmed that this additional baggage belt will be installed in the baggage

hall of Shannon Airport “towards the end of this year”. He added, “we will be well positioned for the winter but going into next summer and we’ll be ready for 2027 with the Ryder Cup”.

Passengers are o en arriving in Shannon Airport and heading straight to the golf course, he agged. “On a lot of the transatlantic ights we’d have between thirty and y sets of golf clubs which gives an idea for any of the ights arriving in the early hours of the morning. We see buses and taxis picking people up and bringing them o to the various golf courses with golfers very eager to start hitting their rst ball in Ireland”.

With Trump Doonbeg the leading contender to host next year’s Irish Open with Lahinch Golf Club becoming only the third Irish venue to host e Walker Cup next September plus Dromoland’s rising reputation o the back of the Women’s Irish Open and Adare Manor getting set for the 2027 Ryder Cup, there is further potential for golf tourism to grow in the region, Niall maintained.

“We’re the gateway here to the Wild Atlantic Way in terms of the gol ng tra c, the access to connectivity and the transatlantic routes, making it easy for those passengers to set o on their way and have a great gol ng holiday in Ireland”.

Munster Rugby visits Ennis

McMahon paraic@clareecho.ie

GOLF: Sean Desmond during the Semi Final of the 2021 South of Ireland Championships at Lahinch Golf Club

Photo by: Brian Arthur

 Richard Murphy, Chairman of Ennis RFC along with former Ennis rugby players Ethan Coughlan and Tony Butler at the Munster Rugby Open Training Session in Ennis on Tuesday August 12

by Páraic McMahon paraic@clareecho.ie

PLANS to build a home in Heathmount, Cratloe have failed for the Crowe family for a third time.

In March, Clare County Council had granted planning permission to Eimear Crowe, a sister of Clare TD, Cathal Crowe (FF) to construct a dwelling house, detatched garage, wastewater treatment system, associated site works and retain permission for an embankment as constructed in Cratloe.

This decision was appealed by Meelick native Matthew Broggy to An Coimisiún Pleanála who have ruled against the Council’s decision and are refusing the development.

There has been a long-running feud between the Crowe and Broggy families which resulted in a case going before the High Court. The row over the right of way has been the subject of Circuit Court and High Court orders with a High Court judge, Mr. Justice Michael

Hanna telling Noel Broggy in 2012 “to stop digging”.

Matthew Broggy was also named in court as featuring in the right of way dispute with the Crowes.

In 1979, Noel Broggy objected to plans of Michael and Irene Crowe to build their own dwelling home in Meelick. He opposed the application over a disputed right of way concerning a strip of land adjacent to the Crowe family home.

Over four decades on, Noel’s son Matthew objected to plans from Cathal Crowe and then his sister Eimear to construct a home in Cratloe. His objection was drafted by Ennis-based planner, Michael Leahy who clashed with Cathal Crowe as a General Election candidate in 2020 and 2024. His objection stated that the Council rural housing settlement policy has been introduced to protect areas under pressure from urban, random and un-co-ordinated development “and it should be implemented in this case”.

Following Crowe’s election to the Dáil in February 2020, Noel Broggy contested the co-option to take the former Mayor of Clare’s seat on Clare County Council but the majority of Fianna Fáil members in the Shannon Comhairle Ceanntair gave their backing to Cllr Pat O’Gorman (FF) prompting his return to the local authority.

Planning commissioner, Tom Rabbette in his recommendation outlined that the housing need of the applicant at the location was not “satisfactorily demonstrated”. He noted the site was within an area “under strong urban influence as identified in the Clare County Development Plan 2023-2029”.

Sustainable rural housing guidelines for planning authorities issued by the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government in April 2025 were referenced in the recommendation. They “seek to manage the growth of areas that are under urban influence to avoid over-de-

velopment and to ensure that the provision of single housing in such rural areas are provided based upon demonstratable economic or social need to live in a rural area, it is considered that it has not been satisfactorily demonstrated that the applicant comes within the scope of the housing need criteria as set out in the Development Plan for a house at this location”.

He stated, “In particular the development sought under this application due to it being accessed from a designated scenic route and when taken together with forming part of an area under strong urban influence is considered to be ‘Areas of Special Control’ under the said County Development Plan. It is therefore a requirement for applicants for a rural house at this type of rural location to demonstrate compliance with Objective CDP 4.14 of the County Development Plan. Under this objective a new single house for the permanent occupation of an applicant will be

required to demonstrate compliance with one of its specified categories and their criteria. On the basis of the information provided, the applicant has not adequately demonstrated an identified locally based economic, social or in this case exceptional medical need for a rural dwelling house at this rural locality and that this requirement for a dwelling house cannot be met at a less sensitive to change rural locality and/or in a settlement”.

Rabbette stated that the development would “contribute to the encroachment of random rural development in the area and would militate against the preservation of the rural environment and the efficient provision of public services and infrastructure. The development sought under this application would therefore be contrary to the proper planning and sustainable development of the area”.

These were the considerations cited by the Commission in its decision to

overturn the Council’s decision.

Plans were first lodged by Crowe in January 2022 for the house in Cratloe. He withdrew the application and then re-lodged plans under his Irish name, C. MacConcradha in July 2022.

An Bord Pleanála refused planning permission to his application in September 2024 after Deputy Crowe disclosed that he owns another house in the area. The planning authority ruled that his need to live in the local area “can be met by property and land in his ownership”. The board concluded that Deputy Crowe has not demonstrated that he meets the necessary ‘economic need or social need’.

This March, planning documents lodged with the application of Eimear Crowe to build on the side detailed that Cathal was to gift the site to his sister and that he owns a house elsewhere on the farm that belonged to his uncle who passed away in 2023.

17 AUGUST 2025 10am - 5pm

Join Bunratty Castle and Folk Park, and the Irish Native Rare Breed Society (INRBS) celebrate Ireland’s native livestock breeds during Heritage Week with breed displays, craft demonstrations, finished products like garments and artworks, plus food tastings from rare breeds.

€150.5m Roche clean up bill for Clarecastle site

by Gordon Deegan news@clareecho.ie

THE clean-up bill for Swiss pharma giant, Roche’s former County Clare manufacturing site now totals €150.5m in what the company describes as “one of the largest remediation projects of its type in Europe”.

New accounts show that Roche Ireland Ltd recorded losses of €54.9m in 2024 as its decommissioning and remediation spend concerning its decision to exit manufacturing here continued to mount and now totals €150.5m over ve years.

e €54.9m loss for 2024 includes a combined spend of €48.26m on environmental and demolition costs which is the highest spend on environmental costs across the project that has been ongoing since 2020.

e plant was once one of the most prestigious places of employment in the Midwest and the pharma giant announced its decision in 2016 to shut down its Clarecastle plant with the loss of 240 jobs.

A er the rm failed to secure a buyer for the pharma site, it set about decommissioning the site and demolishing its ne chemical manufacturing plant “to a brown eld status” and capable of attracting new investment.

e €54.96m loss for 2024 followed losses of €42.93m in 2023 and losses of €26.15m in 2022 and the losses chie y relate to the environmental spend.

e new accounts show that the

company’s ‘environmental’ spend last year totalled €44m which was an increase on the €38.66m spent under that heading in 2023. e company’s demolition costs last

year totalled €4.5m.

A spokeswoman for Roche Ireland said on Wednesday, “ ve years into the project, the nal phase of decommissioning, the remediation

of three speci ed areas on-site, including the removal of a legacy land ll is now underway and is scheduled to be completed by yearend 2027”.

Brand new delivery time for The Clare Echo

THE CLARE ECHO will be hitting shelves at a new time – with an increase in our bulk delivery also taking e ect to meet unprecedented demand from County Clare customers.

Readers of e Clare Echo will notice some changes in our distribution network beginning next week, with the publication of our edition dated August 21, 2025.

e Clare Echo print edition will now hit shelves every ursday evening (between 2-7pm) instead of ursday mornings. is is due to our award-winning printing partners, Webprint, consolidating their print operations to one production plant in Dublin having previously operated from two premises. To coincide with this, e Clare Echo

e Irish unit during last year received a €55m capital contribution from a connected Roche entity to fund the programme and this followed a capital contribution of €43m in 2023.

e Roche Ireland spokeswoman described the remediation scheme as “gold standard, over and above Roche Ireland Limited’s statutory environmental obligations in Ireland”.

She said, “ e project is one of the largest remediation projects of its type in Europe, providing employment for, on average, 100 people”. She added, “ e funding committed to the project by a company exiting manufacturing activities in Ireland is unique”.

She said, “With decommissioning well advanced, Roche Ireland Limited is now focused on working with key stakeholders to identify new investors for this strategically positioned site in Co. Clare”. She said that when the remediation project is complete, the company will have met its two objectives delivering a brown eld site with the potential to deliver sustainable jobs under a new investor and leaving a positive legacy for the local community, Clare and Ireland. Excavation at the rst area of environmental concern was completed in January 2024, with 17,500 tonnes of contaminated soil transported o -site in 674 sealed containers to a licensed thermal treatment facility in Holland. Groundwater puri cation of that area is currently underway.

our domestic door-todoor deliveries which will be removed due to the change in our print time. Since our rst edition on October 19, 2017, e Clare Echo has been a stalwart and trendsetter in the Irish local news industry – becoming the most distributed newspaper in County Clare while also becoming the rst free newspaper in Ireland to successfully implement a premium paywall for our online customers.

e Clare Echo looks forward to continuing to serve readers across the county, along with businesses who have come to trust e Clare Echo as their Number 1 choice of advertising in the county

Shannon: hottest spot in Ireland this Tuesday

by Páraic McMahon paraic@clareecho.ie

SHANNON was the warmest place in the country on Tuesday. Met Éireann’s synoptic station at Shannon Airport recorded the country’s highest temperature on Tuesday, with the mercury reaching 28.1 degrees at 5pm. e reading was just 0.1 degrees warmer than those reported at Mount Dillon in Co Roscommon and Oak Park in Co Carlow. is warm weather came exactly three years to the day since Oak Park set the August temperature record for Ireland when the temperatures hit 31.7 degrees on August 12th, 2022. Mark Dunphy of

weatheire.com stated, “It was the warmest day in Shannon since 30.2 °C was recorded at the Met Éireann synoptic station in mid-July.

“Wednesday evening’s heavy showers will give way to sunshine today ( ursday). Temperatures will dip slightly, but the warmth is expected to build again by the weekend, with highs of 26 or 27 degrees away from the coast. Generally settled conditions are likely to persist into early next week, before a change to less settled weather becomes more likely beyond midweek as high pressure weakens”.

CLARECASTLE SITE: Roche Ireland ltd.

Late-summer gardening tips and colour boosts

AUGUST is half way gone and this month can y by but we should still do our best to enjoy it and keep busy in the garden.

With a lot of special occasions coming up in households its lovely to keep the pots or container topped up with colour. Whether it Debs time in the house or a special birthday we can keep our pots and basket looking well this time of year.

Yes, its been a challenge with the weather going from one extreme to the next but patience, as we learn from gardening, can rep lovely rewards. at being said I have been doing a mix and match with colour and shrubs, so my baskets are not as as full as usual. I have added lovely

trailing ivy and put in some bizzy Lizzy to boost the fullness and colour, which came up trumps.

e tall pots with owers are gone a bit leggy so I have added some grass carex ever gold, giving a lovely over ow colour and added a Cordyline Charlie boy for height then topping up with some purple petunia that are glowing with owers at the moment. If you need to add a boost the summer owers we have lovely bits that can help . It’s been a busy week here with keeping up with the watering and soaking some plant try to keep the watering to early morning or late evening at home if possible. We are cleaning plant like lupin and nepeta as

owers are nish owering. ey will hopefully have another lovely spread in a few week.

e roses are lovely as they come into flower but also need a bit of cleaning and feed to help boost the owers.

Tall perennials that look good now are Rudbeckia and Lobelia starship and verbena bonariensis showing lovely colour and are long owering into the autumn. Alstroemeria or Peruvian lily as they are commonly known are one of the most fantastic perennials come in tall or low variety suit all gardens and will spread each year. Whether it’s a small garden or a container garden its worth it to spend some time there enjoy the beauty you have created, its just a joy to enjoy at this time of year.

Have a gorgeous week gardening.

Kieran raises the roof for the last time on Céilí House

by Páraic McMahon paraic@clareecho.ie

AFTER THIRTY years

Ennis’ Kieran Hanrahan has retired at the helm of popular RTÉ Radio One traditional music show Céilí House.

Kieran’s nal show was aired on Saturday evening live from the Gig Rig at Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann in Wexford. e show featured the best of Wexford musicians, including a quartet of Wexford pipers, music from some of the weekend’s award winners and special guests.

His family members were among those in the audience in Wexford to mark the end of an era including his wife Pat, son Conor who travelled all the way from Hong Kong and his daughter Niamh who ew in from Brussels and his siblings Mike, Gabriella, Ger, Joe and John.. ousands were in attendance to say thank you to a giant of the Irish traditional music scene.

Appearing on the show for only the second time, Mike dedicated a rendition ‘We Had It All’ to his sibling, “We’re all so proud of you and what you do,” Mike told his brother.

In 1992, Kieran rst joined RTÉ initially presenting Fleadh Club and Both Sides Now before assuming hosting duties of Céilí House in 1995.

Céilí House has been on air on RTÉ Radio since the 1950’s but over the past thirty years Hanrahan has made the show his own. His warmth, knowledge and passion for music and real interest in the stories being told have rmly established the show as a stronghold for weekend listeners on RTÉ Radio 1. Every Saturday, listeners are guaranteed to hear the best of Irish traditional music played in halls, houses and theatres all over the country.

Re ecting on his three decades in the hotseat, Kieran said, “It has been an honour and a joy to present Céilí House on RTÉ Radio 1 for the last thirty years. For me, every night was a highlight whether we were in someone’s home, the local pub, the parish hall or the National Concert Hall. I am deeply grateful to our loyal listeners, and to the countless musicians, singers and dancers, whose talent and generosity brought the

music to life. ank you for making this phase of my life so rich, rewarding, memorable, and truly special”.

“It’s been fantastic, I’ve enjoyed every minute of it, every night we go out with Céilí House is a highlight for me,” Kieran said on his nal show. “ anks to RTÉ for the opportunity, it has been amazing, our audiences have been amazing, our listeners who are out there in their drovers, I met some of them during the week and they were more emotional than myself about what was happening, thanks a million to all of you for being part of the whole Céilí House story for the last thirty years, I do appreciate it”. He continued, “ ere’s a very special woman in the audience who is about to be morti ed now and that is my wife Pat, she’s been the support and rock for the last thirty years, we’ll have a few weekends together now. Conor was mentioned, he has come from Hong Kong to be

here, he ew in with his partner Liana to be here for the programme. My daughter Niamh came in from Brussels with her partner Jordan to be here tonight. Sisters and brothers, Ger, Joe, John, Gabriella and whoever else is out there, the Clearys are here from Dublin, we’re delighted you’re all here”.

Tara Campbell, Head of RTÉ Radio 1 stated, “Céilí House under the masterful stewardship of Kieran Hanrahan for the last 30 years has represented public service broadcasting at its best. It’s such a privilege for Radio 1 to be so warmly welcomed by musicians and performers in the heart of their communities and to be able to share their amazing talents with our loyal listeners. We wish Kieran the very best in whatever comes next and thank him most sincerely for his signi cant contribution to Radio 1 over more than three decades”.

Speaking on Saturday’s show, producer of Céilí

Fleadh Ceoil medals for Clare dancers

by Lisa Mullaly lisa@clareecho.ie

THE INIS Cathaigh Comhaltas branch enjoyed outstanding success at the recent All Ireland Fleadh, held in Wexford last weekend. e branch secured numerous medals across a range of traditional Irish music and dance categories, highlighting the talent and dedication of its members.

Conor Fennell continued his remarkable streak by winning a gold medal in Sean Nós dancing. Notably, Conor has now claimed all four age group titles over the years, U12, U15, U18, and senior marking a signi cant achievement in the traditional arts community. Jack Reeves also took gold in the U12 Sean Nós section.

e St Maura’s Under-12 Ladies Set Dancers and St Mary’s Under-15 Ladies Set, both trained by Emma and John Fennell, won gold medals, further cementing Inis Cathaigh’s reputation for excellence in set dancing.

Inchicronan Grupa Cheoil, featuring Bronagh Gri n, Emily Hick, Colin Slattery, and Raghnaid Gri n, secured rst place in the 12-15 Grupa Cheoil competition, adding to the branch’s medal haul. Silver medals were awarded to the St Brendan’s Mixed Set Under-15 and St John’s Senior Mixed Set. Individual silver medalists included Colm Browne in Sean Nós dancing and Raghnaid Gri n in harp. Bronze medals were earned by St Mary’s Senior Ladies Set, Raghnaid Gri n in Harp Slow Airs, Ciara Tighe in Senior Accordion, Caitlin Shannon in English singing, and Aoife Shannon in lilting.

Kilrush Traditional Music & Set Dancing Festival e Kilrush Traditional Music & Set Dancing Festival committee extended thanks to everyone who contributed to the success of the 2025 festival.

House, Dublin-born ddle player Aoife Nic Cormaic said, “On behalf of everybody here including the RTÉ team and everyone here, I want to say congratulations to you on a remarkable thirty years of broadcasting, I did catch him out, it’s been such a pleasure working with you and you bring so much to every programme you do”.

For over forty years, Kieran has worked in the Traditional Arts as a performer, promoter and educator. As the co-founder of Stockton’s Wing, he took to national and international stages for over a decade with the folk-trad group.

He is the current Director of Scoil Éigse, the premier education programme administered by Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann. In 2012, he received the DIT Gold medal for academic achievement. In July 2019, he was appointed as the Chair of the Culture Ireland Expert Advisory Committee.

 CÉILÍ HOUSE: Kieran Hanrahan

 Connor Fennel

 St Maura’s Under-12 Ladies Set Dancers

 Jack Reeves

Shannon man pleads guilty to stalking two innocent man he falsely identified as ‘sick paedos’

by Gordon Deegan news@clareecho.ie

TWO men becamen a target of online hate a er they were falsely identi ed as ‘sick paedos’ in a Facebook post, a court has heard.

At Ennis Circuit Court, the author of the ‘malicious’ Facebook post from November 2023, Martin Hannon (43) of Tradaree Court, Shannon has pleaded guilty to a stalking o ence from November 2 to November 16 2023 against the two innocent men.

In the post, a carpenter, Mr Hannon o ered a €1,000 reward for information about the owners of two cars over what he claimed was an attempted abduction in Shannon of a 13 year old girl known to him.

Counsel for the State, Sarah Jane Comerford BL (instructed by State Solicitor for Clare,

Aisling Casey) said that on November 7 2023 Gardaí became aware of a Facebook post where Mr Hannon posted “Lads, these are the sick paedos who tried to grab a 13 year old girl into a car yesterday evening along with other young girls. If anyone sees these scum in Shannon or anywhere and if you can get me to them, then there is a €1,000 reward. Ye will be looked a er by us”.

“Cable ties and baseball bats are at hand and if the Gardai have a problem with my post, then do something about it and be pro-active”.

Ms Comerford said that the post was accompanied by photos of cars and their registration plates along with a photo of the home of one of the men.

Ms Comerford said that both men became aware of

the photos shared through their friends and work colleagues and immediately contacted the Gardaí.

Ms Comerford said that the background to this commenced on November 2 2023 when a mother and girl known to Mr Hannon attended at Shannon Garda Station to report that cars had passed the two and shouting from a car had put the girl in fear.

Ms Comerford said that the only description was that one

car was white and one was black.

Ms Comerford said that on the same day, the two innocent men who did know each other stopped at di erent times at a Texaco lling station in Shannon and one owned a black car and the other owned a white car.

Ms Comerford said that photos of the cars at the Texaco lling station were passed onto Mr Hannon who posted the photos on his Facebook

page where he labelled them as the men involved in the alleged attempted abduction incident calling them paedophiles and o ering a reward of €1,000.

Garda Claire Burke agreed with Ms Comerford that this caused an outpouring on social media and people believed that these men were involved in this incident with the child.

In a victim impact statement read out in court by Garda Burke, one of the men falsely accused by Mr Hannon said that arising from what he described as Mr Hannon’s “malicious” actions, “almost overnight I became a target of online hate and public suspicion”.

e man said that the reward “only increased the sense of danger”. He said, “I was afraid to leave my home or to travel to work”.

e man said that the false accusation “turned my daily life into a waking nightmare”.

He said, “ is reward felt like a bounty on my head. I felt terri ed not only for myself but for my family”.

He said, “I stayed o the streets, stayed o public transport and essentially

locked myself in for weeks”. He said that Mr Hannon’s accusation “was completely unfounded.”

e man said that Mr Hannon’s actions also had severe and lasting nancial impact as he urgently sold the car that was posted on Mr Hannon’s Facebook page for €2,000 and he had purchased it for €6,500 leaving a loss of €4,500.

He said that arising from Mr Hannon’s Facebook post he was unable to attend work for a period “and I lost time and money and progressional standing”.

He said, “I ask the court to recognise the severity of the harm I have endured due to Mr Hannon’s malicious actions”.

In the victim impact statement provided by the second victim to court and read out by Garda Burke, he said that he had to “ ee in terror from the town I was living in” due to “the false accusations and threats made against me online”.

He said, “I had been followed to my home and there was a call out online for help to catch me”.

He said, “I was absolutely terri ed and rather than go back to the house, I ed from the Garda station in my gym gear to my family home three hours away without any of my belongings”.

e man from a Leinster county said, “ is is where I hid out for weeks, too scared to go back to my apprenticeship and work placement in Shannon and too scared to be seen anywhere in my car”. He added, “I missed several weeks of work at a crucial time of my apprenticeship”. He said, “I will never forget how this man made me feel.

“To be threatened, stalked and falsely accused of the worst thing you can ever be accused of - a paedo - is so hard for me to comprehend and I wouldn’t wish it on anyone”.

Garda Burke said that Mr Hannon didn’t know either party in the case, and that neither party knew each other.

Counsel for Mr Hannon, Aaron Desmond BL (instructed by solicitor, Stiofan Fitzpatrick) said his client wishes to apologise to the two men. When charged with the offences under new harassment legislation, Mr Hannon told Gardaí “I’m sorry about how this turned out, it wasn’t my intention”.

Judge Francis Comerford has adjourned the case to the autumn for sentence and Mr Hannon has been further remanded on bail.

STALKING: Marty Hannon

Photo by: Joe Buckley

Mary Considine steps down Airport Group CEO for Irish

by Páraic McMahon paraic@clareecho.ie

MARY CONSIDINE is stepping down as CEO of the Shannon Airport Group to become CEO of Iarnród Éireann (Irish Rail).

On Tuesday, the Shannon Airport Group con rmed that Mary was stepping down “after six transformative and successful years” where she led the growth of Shannon Airport.

West Clare does indeed have a storied history when it comes to rail but with Lissycasey native Mary succeeding Cooraclare born Jim Meade it is certainly a unique occurrence for one West Clare person to be replacing another in a state owned enterprise.

Meade will step down from his role at the end of this year, Iarnród Éireann have conrmed.

Deputy CEO, Ray O’Driscoll will become Interim CEO of the Shannon Airport Group with a recruitment process to appoint Con-

sidine’s successor to now begin.

During a three-decade career in aviation, Mary has climbed the ranks going from senior roles including Shannon Airport Di-

rector, Chief Financial O cer, Deputy CEO – before becoming CEO of e Shannon Airport Group in 2019. She was instrumental in the creation of the Shannon Group in 2014.

Her leadership was marked by strategic investment, resilience during the COVID-19 pandemic, and a strong focus on regional development, with e Shannon Airport Group’s activities, including its signi cant property portfolio, supporting over 20,000 jobs and contributing €4 billion to the Irish economy.

Mary’s tenure saw Shannon Airport in 2024 record a een-year high in passenger numbers at 2.1m. So far this year, passenger numbers have exceeded 1.04m which is a seven percent increase on the same time last year. e transformation and improvement during her time will be remembered.

Speaking on behalf of e Shannon Airport Group, Chair, Conal Henry, thanked Mary for her exemplary service and wished her well. “In her time at Shannon, Mary has been central to all that has been positive. In her six years as CEO, she has established e Shannon Airport Group as the national force for regional balance that it is today. She has shown that she is a leader with vision, courage and integrity and she will be sorely missed”.

Re ecting on her time as CEO, Mary Considine said: “Leading e Shannon Airport Group has been an extraordinary journey. Together, we’ve navigated challenges, embraced innovation, expanded global connectivity, enhanced passenger experience, and strengthened our role as a gateway for trade and tourism.

“I’m incredibly proud of the progress we’ve made and deeply grateful to our talented employees whose dedication, creativity, and resilience have been the driving force behind our success. I also want to thank our Chair, Board, partners, stakeholders, and communities for their unwavering support. I leave with immense gratitude and full con dence

in the exceptional team that will carry this legacy forward,” she added.

Of her new role, Mary stated, “It is an honour for me to be taking up the role of Chief Executive of Iarnród Éireann. Our railway, at the heart of Ireland’s sustainable transport network, as well as Rosslare Europort, are critical national assets, and I look forward to meeting and working with the team at Iarnród Éireann to deliver on the company’s huge ambition during such a transformative era. I

am excited for what the future holds, across the company’s passenger and rail freight services, its unprecedented investment programme, and its role as Port Authority for Rosslare Europort”.

A board member of Ibec and national council and President of IBE Mid-West Regional Committee, Mary is also a member of Ibec’s Experience Economy Committee and a member of the Board of Trustees and the governing authority of Mary Immaculate

Considine’s vision praised for putting Shannon back on �irm footing

by Páraic McMahon

MARY CONSIDINE’S vision during her six year tenure as CEO of the Shannon Airport Group has been lauded.

On Tuesday, it was con rmed that Mary was stepping down from her current post to become the new CEO of Iarnród Éireann.

Clare TD, Cathal Crowe (FF) said “Mary Considine has led Shannon Group with great vision over the past six years, most

notably through a very dicult time for the aviation sector during COVID-19. Mary’s vision as Shannon Group CEO has seen signi cant developments not only for Shannon Airport but for Shannon town, County Clare, the Mid-West region and the businesses and industries who are supported by Shannon Airport and the Shannon Group’s wider portfolio”. He maintained that Shannon Airport’s o ering, infrastructure and passenger experience “has all

hugely improved” under her leadership. “Many people said that, post COVID, the airport wouldn’t bounce back but it certainly has and it now has passenger numbers that are at a een year height. ere are many welcome new routes in the past few years and more new routes coming again in 2026”.

Deputy Crowe who is Fianna Fáil’s spokesperson Aviation & Logistics, and the Chairperson of the Shannon Airport Oireachtas Group acknowledged how the

Lissycasey woman placed Shannon on a “ rm footing and upward trajectory”.

Crowe continued, “I want to wholeheartedly Mary on her appointment as CEO of Irish Rail.

Of course, she is taking over from another great Clare person, outgoing Irish Rail CEO Jim Meade, who is from Cooraclare and I wish Jim all the very best in his retirement.

“As an avid public transport user myself, who travels by train every week to the Dáil, and who

has long lobbied for increased rail services and connections in Clare, I look forward to continuing to work closely with Mary in her new role. ere are many projects which I hope to see advanced during Mary’s tenure as CEO of Irish Rail. Most importantly for Clare would be the re-opening of the Crusheen train station, the Shannon Airport rail spur, which Mary will understand very well, and the opening of new stops between Sixmilebridge and Limerick”.

Mary Considine speaking at the exhibition to Irish Air Corps at the Shannon Aviation Museum Photo by Joe Buckley

paraic@clareecho.ie

as Shannon Rail role

College. She is also on the board of Limerick Chamber, a past president of Shannon Chamber and a member of the Shannon Estuary Economic Taskforce. She is a fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Ireland; she holds a Certificate of Professional Competence from the Chartered Institute of Transport in Ireland and a Certificate Airport Economics & Finance, from the University of Westminster, London; and completed The Director As Strategic Leader, Cranfield School of Management; and AVIRA (Global Executive Leadership Programme) INSEAD.

In June, she was named as the Clare Person of the Year for 2025, an award she will accept at the Clare Association Dublin’s awards night and dinner dance next month at The Falls Hotel in Ennistymon.

Steve Murphy, Chairperson of Iarnród Éireann, said Mary’s appointment comes “at a crucial time in Ireland’s and Iarnród Éireann’s sustainability journey. The calibre and experience of Mary as a strategic leader and a key advocate for a sustainable future, at a local, national and international level, will be invaluable to Iarnród Éireann. Mary will lead our 5,300-strong team at Iarnród Éireann to realise our ambition of delivering an €8bn nationwide programme of capital investment projects which will almost double the current passenger numbers by 2030, delivering safe, customer-focused rail services daily, as well as developing our port development and Offshore Renewable Hub plans at Rosslare Europort”.

Paying tribute to Jim Meade, Murphy praised “his vision and leadership of the Iarnród Éireann team during a time of unprecedented opportunity and transformational change. His leadership has been exemplary over his more than four-decade career in Iarnród Éireann and in particular the last seven years as CEO. Working with regulatory and government stakeholders, he has developed and implemented the long-term strategy and secured record investment which will leave a true legacy of sustainable, customer-focused expansion of the role of rail in Ireland’s economy, society and environment. He has also been at the helm through some challenging times such as the Covid pandemic, and enabled Iarnród Éireann to emerge from these as a stronger, better organisation. I have witnessed firsthand just how welcome and respected Jim is when he visits the IÉ teams around the country, befitting someone who joined the railway as an apprentice, and charted a career to ultimately lead the organisation. He has been a strategic, people centred leader and his legacy will be long felt. I wish Jim well for the future”.

CEO of the Shannon Airport Group, Mary Considine, then Taoiseach Simon Harris (FG) and Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelensky.

Mary Considine

Regional News

North Clare

Two free river events in Ennistymon this August

by Páraic McMahon paraic@clareecho.ie

RESTORE BALLYMACRAVEN River Association (RBRA) will lead guided nature walks in North Clare exploring local biodiversity and searching for otter poo.

As part of Heritage Week, RBRA are hosting two free events in North Clare. e rst takes place this Saturday (August 16th) from 11am to 1pm and is titled ‘In search of otter poo: otter identi cation on the Inagh River’.

A family-focused event organised by RBRA and the Local Authority Waters Programme (LAWPRO), it will examine the world of otters through a guided discovery of their river habitat, and signs of their activity, like otter poo.

Led by volunteer members of the RBRA and LAWPRO such as Ruairí Ó Conchúir, the event will highlight the importance of local biodiversity and the unique characteristics of the otter, a protected species,

and a mammal at the very top of the food chain, when it comes to rivers and coastal areas.

Ruairí who has been surveying otters for 15 years, will outline the role of otter poo in otter identi cation, and discuss otter habitat, diet, instream and riparian biodiversity, and the importance of good water quality. e volunteer members of the RBRA will outline their ongoing work to improve water quality, in both the In-

agh and Ballymacraven rivers. en on Sunday (August 24), the biodiversity of the Inagh and Ballymacraven rivers will be explored in a two-hour event running from 11am to 1pm with the river path in front of the Falls Hotel serving as the meeting point. e guided nature walk will end up in the beautiful Glen of the Ballymacraven River with participants asked to wear appropriate footwear and clothing.

First place at Fleadh Ceol

Irish Blood Transfusion Service teams up with Crusheen community

THE IRISH Blood Transfusion Service (IBTS) is proud to announce a new partnership with the Crusheen community to host a local blood donation clinic at Crusheen Community Centre on Monday, 18th August from 4:50pm to 8:10pm. "We are thrilled to be working with the Crusheen community," said a spokesperson for the IBTS. "As families enjoy their well-earned summer holidays, we’re asking people to take just an hour to give a

gi that can save lives."

Clinic Details: Crusheen Community Centre V95 YT32

Monday, 18th August 4:50pm – 8:10pm Appointments: 1800 222 111

New and returning donors are warmly welcome. Book appointments by phoning 1800 222 111.

Inchicronan musicians, first place winners of grupa cheoil competition

RIVER EVENT: otter

East Clare

Flagmount public meeting to focus on protection of East Clare’s natural heritage

by Páraic McMahon paraic@clareecho.ie

PROTECTING East Clare’s natural heritage is the focus of a public meeting in Flagmount next Wednesday (August 20).

‘Tackling Invasive Plant Species in East Clare’ is hosted by Waters of LIFE in partnership with Clare Local Development Company in Lough Graney Community Centre at 7:30pm.

e evening begins with a talk by Clare-based botanist Phoebe O’Brien on how to identify species of concern. Waters of LIFE catchment ecologist Ruth Bennett Coady will outline the links to local water quality while CLDC will share plans to tackle invasive plant species in the Graney sub-catchment.

Locals will also be asked to share what they know about the presence of invasive plant species in the area.

“Community knowledge is the most valuable tool in tackling invasive plant species,” says Ruth Bennett Coady of Waters of LIFE. “We’re working with Clare Local Development Company on a

ground-up approach to species management. It can be as simple as pinning a spot on a map where you may have seen one of our species of concern. And if you’re not

familiar what they look like, it’s a great time to learn”.

e National Invasive Species Database has records of Japanese Knotweed, Himalayan Balsam and Rhododendron in the Graney sub-catchment. Waters of LIFE’s partnership with CLDC will also look to identify areas of self-sown conifer trees. 53% of the area is forested and the EPA have identi ed forestry as local pressure on water quality.

Ruth continued, “ e evening will be very interactive. It will be really visual and anyone with an interest in preserving our natural heritage won’t be walking away empty handed”.

e event is under the umbrella of National Heritage Week. Over 80 events are taking place in Clare alone to celebrate cultural, built and natural heritage from August 16th to August 24.

Waters of LIFE have also

recruited over 25% of eligible East Clare farmers into their agri-environmental programme pilot. e programme rewards farmers for the nature value of their land and funds actions to improve the health of rivers and streams. Entry into year two of the programme is currently open at www.watersolife. ie/eoi. e deadline for expression of interest is August 31 2025.

Musicians from Mozambique & Maghera play at Feakle Festival

MUSICIANS from Mozambique and Maghera were among those to entertain the masses at the thirty eighth annual Feakle Traditional Music Festival.

Feakle’s annual festival concluded on Monday evening and had began the previous Wednesday with large crowds travelling to East Clare to soak up the atmosphere.

It began with a tribute concert to accordion player and former Tulla Céilí Band member Charlie Harris to celebrate his contribution to Irish traditional music and ended with an Evening Céilí with the Sliabh Aughty Céilí Band.

On Saturday, the Kilfenora Céilí Band performed a gala concert with the Tulla Céilí Band performing a grand nale céilí on Sunday night. Among those to launch CDs during the course of the festival were Brid O’Gorman, Eimear Coughlan, Francis Cunningham, Máirín Fahy and Patsy Broderick.

Adding a new twist to the festival was an outdoor concert on Sunday where East Africa met East Clare as traditional musicians from Mozambique played in concert with a group of east Clare musicians. Members of the Xiquitsi Mozambique Youth Orchestra were invited to this year’s festival in Feakle by the Cnoc na Gaoithe cultural group. e initiative followed a trip to Mozam-

bique by the group of East Clare musicians last year, and was supported by the Irish embassy and the Mozambique and South African ambassadors.

Speaking in Feakle, Humberto Tandane Junior from Mozambique said it was a great privilege for the group to come to Ireland. “It’s my rst time in Europe, it has been an amazing experience. Beside learning from a new culture in this small town in Ireland, where the culture if very rich, we are also ambassadors for our own culture. We are really proud to learn Irish music and also to share some of our own culture with the Irish people”.

Gary Pepper, chairman of the Feakle traditional music festival said that the African musicians have hugely added to this year’s festival. “ ey have played with some of our local musicians and they are really good. ey have also sang our national anthem - which they learned o by heart before coming to Ireland and they have been really impressive”.

festival. “ ey have played musicians and they are re-

Ireland and they have been a music session was held to

Also, at this year’s festival, a music session was held to highlight the plight of the

people of Gaza and Palestine more widely. Manager

Clare FM presenter Paula and they were joined by

at numerous events in

people of Gaza and Palestine more widely. Manager of Cuimhneamh an Chláir Oral History Project and Clare FM presenter Paula Carroll chaired the event. Around 25 musicians played for three hours for the crowd in the Fair Green and they were joined by the Clare choral group Éisteacht, who raise awareness of Palestine through song. ey have performed at numerous events in Clare and other counties and performed at Electric Picnic last year.

person and Cllr Pat Hayes of

ian land in the West Bank, and called on people to keep campaigning for aid

Claire Ni Grianna spoke on for their generosity in giving their time and sharing talents

Paula Carroll as chairperson and Cllr Pat Hayes (FF) of the Feakle Festival committee, both spoke of the ongoing genocide of Gaza and the of Palestinian land in the West Bank, and called on people to keep campaigning for aid to be delivered and an end to the lsraeli onslaught. Claire Ni Grianna spoke on behalf of the Clare branch of the Ireland-Palestine Solidarity Campaign and thanked all the performers for their generosity in giving their time and sharing their talents for free. She also thanked the audience for attending and the Feakle Festival committee for supporting the initiative.

PUBLIC MEETING: Ruth Bennett Coad and Peter Slattery

by Páraic McMahon paraic@clareecho.ie

 FEAKLE FESTIVAL: Musicians and crowds at Feakle Festival

Kilrush first to benefit from Bank of Ireland’s new ATM rollout

by Páraic McMahon paraic@clareecho.ie

KILRUSH’s Bank of Ireland

branch is the first in Clare to receive a new state-of-the-art ATM.

As part of a €60m nationwide investment in ATMs and branch improvements, Bank of Ireland has commenced the replacement of its entire ATM fleet including both external and internal machines.

In Clare, Bank of Ireland’s branch in Kilrush is the first to benefit from the rollout with three new ATMs recently installed. The new ATM fleet has greater cash processing capacity and will slash energy use by more than half. The ATMs can be used for both withdrawals and lodgements and the majority will ‘recycle’ cash (i.e. cash deposited can be used for withdrawals). This maximises ATM availability, supporting customers with better access to cash when they need it. The investment also covers five years of servicing and maintenance.

To support customers with visual impairment in the Kilrush branch, all the new devices have high-contrast screens and provide customers with the option of plugging into an earphone socket so they can be guided through their transaction by voice assistance.

New ATMs have also been installed in branches in Cork, Dublin, Kildare, Mayo, Roscommon, Tipperary, Westmeath and Wicklow.

A rolling programme of works between now and the end of 2027 will see in the region of 650 ATMs installed in Bank of Ireland’s branches across the island of Ireland, this is the Bank’s largest single investment in ATMs in the last decade.

Commenting on the investment in branches and ATMs, Hilda Dolan, Kilrush branch manager said, “As a full-service retail bank with a presence right across the island of Ireland, we are committed to continually improving our services and our customers’ financial wellbeing. This means investing

lThis is my place

purposefully in branches, contact centres, technology, ATMs and other infrastructure to ensure we have the most modern and efficient banking services available”. She added, “Our new ATMs in Kilrush have greater cash processing capacity, are more energy efficient, and have additional accessibility features. Renewing the entire fleet is a major investment but it will enhance our customers’ access to cash. We are excited to see the first new ATMs now installed in the Kilrush branch and we’re pressing ahead with the rollout to the rest of our branches”.

NOTICE TO OWNERS AND OCCUPIER ROADS ACT 1993 ROADSIDE TREES, DITCHES & HEDGES

Clare County Council wishes to give notice that under the terms of the Roads Act 1993, landowners and occupiers of land are obliged to take all reasonable care to ensure that the trees, ditches, hedges and other vegetation growing on their land are not or could not become a danger to people using or working on a public road.

Examples of hazards might be dead or dying trees, ditches or hedges interfering with traffic, blocking footpaths, obstructing road signs or obscuring a view of the road ahead. You are required to fell, cut, log, trim or remove such trees, ditches and hedges –for a distance of 1 metre horizontally and 5 metres vertically from the edge of the road. Adequate signposting should be provided and the Council notified before works commence.

Hedgecutting operations, should only be undertaken outside the critical bird nesting period of 1st March to 31st August, unless exempted under Section 40 of the Irish Wildlife Act 1976 (as amended).

Liability for damage or injury resulting from such hazards will rest with the landowner/occupier.

When cutting your hedges, care should be taken when dealing with scheduled invasive species subject to the European Communities (Birds and Natural Habitats) Regulations such as Japanese Knotweed, Himalayan Knotweed, Himalayan Balsam, Rhododendron, Giant Hogweed and many more (full list of ‘Third Schedule’ plant species available at https://yoursay.clarecoco.ie/invasive-species-clare). Please refer to Clare County Council’s dedicated Invasive Alien Species (IAS) page to identify, record and report problematic invasive species at https://yoursay.clarecoco.ie/invasive-species-clare

If you do find invasive species such as Japanese Knotweed and other ‘Third Schedule’ invasive species on your property, the most important thing that you can do is prevent any further spread of the species. Do not strim, cut, flair or chip the plants. Tiny fragments can regenerate new plants and cause the Japanese Knotweed to spread. It is also advised not to dig, move or dump soil which may contain plant material as this will contribute to its spread. Please note that it is a legal offence to plant, disperse, allow or cause the dispersal of invasive species listed on the ‘Third Schedule’ subject to Regulation 49 of the European Communities (Birds and Natural Habitats) Regulations 2011 (as amended).

Report it! The location and extent of the infestation should be reported to your local Municipal District Office/Area Office.

Duty to Facilitate Drainage of Water From Public Roads:

Landowners/occupiers are also reminded of their duty under the Roads Act, 1993 to facilitate the drainage of water from public roads and also to prevent water, soil or other matter from flowing or falling onto public roads especially at entrances to fields and farmyards.

Failure to comply with these obligations is an offence liable to prosecution.

Unauthorised Advertising on Public Roads:

Please take notice that it is an offence under Section 71 of the Roads Act 1993, to erect, place or retain on a public road, a sign, vehicle including a vehicle with ‘For Sale’ signs, or other structure or thing used for the purposes of advertising, the sale of goods, the provision of services or other similar purpose without lawful authority or the consent of the Roads Authority.

This includes placing variable message signs on public roads, footpaths, or hard shoulders for the purpose of advertising events.

Clare County Council may without notice arrange for the removal and storage of any such unauthorized signs, vehicles or other structures or things and may recoup the removal and storage costs from the person claiming the unauthorised item. In certain circumstances, following a period of storage, the Council may arrange for the disposal of the unauthorised item.

The person who erects, places or retains the sign or advertisement and the person on whose behalf the sign or advertisement is exhibited shall be guilty of an offence and is liable to prosecution.

Further Information:

Further information outlining the obligations placed on landowners and occupiers under the Roads Act 1993 is available at the address below:-

Clare County Council, Roads & Transportation Department, Áras Contae an Chláir, New Road, Ennis, Co. Clare, V95DXP2

Tel: 065 6846333

Email: roads@clarecoco.ie

Labasheeda hosts 28th Dan Furey Weekend of set-dancing

LABASHEEDA is readying for the 28th Dan Furey Weekend of Set-Dancing to be held in the village from August 22 to the 24. This annual is one of the longest continuous festivals of its kind.

This year’s weekend will be officially opened by Maureen O’Neill/Regan, President of the County Clare P, B&S Association of New York

on Friday 22 at 8.30pm. Music for the first céili at 9pm is by the Tulla Céili Band.

Saturday nights céili is with the legendary Kilfenora Céili Band while Johnny Reidy and his céili band brings the dancing to an end on Sunday 18 starting at 2.30pm.

Other events happening over the weekend include a talk on ‘Ex-

ploring the foundations of Christianity in the Labasheeda area’ by Paul Markham and Stephen McDonagh starting at 1pm and a Trad Disco for children at 3pm both on Saturday. The annual parade will start at 1pm on Sunday. A junior Seisiún will start at 5.30pm and then an open Seisiún for adults bring events to a close.

Carmel T Madigan celebrates 30 years of creative success with new exhibition “This is my place” in Halla Eoin, Church of the Little Arc, Kilbaha Loop Head

l Peter and Genevieve Corcoran viewing paintings at the opening of This Is My Place

l Marion Magner at the opening of This Is My Place

lATM: Sorcha Roche, Declan McMahon and Karen Marrinan

Ennis Dons FC fundraiser in memory of Dylan White

ENNIS Dons FC will host a fundraiser this Saturday in honour of former local soccer player Dylan White.

Popular Ennis native Dylan passed away following a brain tumour diagnosis in April of this year, his passing marking a dark day for those in the wider Ennis community along with his teammates in Ennis Town FC and Éire Óg GAA.

Many members of Ennis Dons FC had a close relationship with Dylan. e former St Flannan’s and Ennis National School student continued to attend Ennis Dons matches following his diagnosis to support his friends from the sidelines.

Dylan’s passing has been commemorated in a number of ways over the past 4 months.

Following Dylan’s passing Ennis Dons held a minute’s silence in their match vs Shannon Town, held in St. Flannan’s.

“ e game was to be called o for ooding on the pitch but a cohort of Dylan’s friends raced home, and in typical Sunday League fashion, returned with brushes and buckets to ensure the game went ahead,” explains Caoil inn McNelis of Ennis Dons. “ ere were over 100 peo-

ten- dance on the line, including Dylan’s girlfriend Ellen, and his own family. We won the match 2-1, even with Dylan’s best friend Mladen Vujnovic missing a penalty!”

Since his passing, Dylan’s girlfriend Ellen Lenihan has raised well in excess of €10,000 by running the London 10k in

“We felt it would be nice for Dylan’s family and his close friends both in our club, but also supporting, to enjoy a day out in his memory, doing e 7-a-side tournament will kick o on August 16 at 10am at St Flannan’sSchool. ere are 16 teams registered, and over 130 players in

his memory. what he enjoyed.” attendance. donations.

Organisers would like to thank local businesses who have been “incredbly generous” in their sponsorship of food and drinks, spot prizes, and

Following the tournament’s conclusion, there will be a rendevouz in Lucas’ Bar on Parnell Street.

Ennis traders Dunnes with barrier dispute

by Páraic McMahon paraic@clareecho.ie

A GROUP of Ennis traders took on the might of Dunnes Stores and managed to secure a resolution.

Last month, an electronic barrier was erected by new management of Dunnes Stores at the entrance to its loading bay. e addition of this barrier prevented businesses on Cook’s Lane and O’Connell Street from gaining access.

Businesses had used the route for deliveries for the last forty years with trucks accessing through this point to drop-o items.

In response, Retailers of Ennis manned a protest at the barrier and their e orts led to a meeting with representatives of Dunnes Stores management which resulted in a resolution.

is resolution allows business

owners that use the loading bay to call a number to have the barrier li ed when needed.

Chairperson of Retailers of Ennis, John O’Connor, who owns Custy’s Music Shop at Cooks Lane met with two representatives from Dunnes Stores’ head o ce at a meeting at Mondo in Merchants Square. He stated, “ e white smoke of harmony and compromise is wa ing over the barrier at this stage”.

A spokesperson for Clare County Council con rmed, “ is barrier was not sanctioned or erected by the Local Authority. However, the pedestrian access is still being maintained at this location, as required under the parent planning permission”.

O’Connor warned that if the resolution was not agreed that business closures in Ennis could have been a consequence.

Ennis

Photo by: Jeff Harvey

 DUNNES: Retailers of Ennis protest at the barrier

Photo by: Barry Sutton

Shannon Airport’s new photo exhibition brings 2024’s big moments vividly to life

by Páraic McMahon paraic@clareecho.ie

SHANNON AIRPORT

has launched an exhibition of photographs from some of the top photographers in the country.

On Tuesday, the Press Photographers Ireland CLG Exhibition was o cially launched in Shannon Airport and it runs until August 26th on the rst oor of the departures area.

A photograph at Spancil Hill Fair by Mullagh native John Kelly who is a sta photographer with e Clare Champion is included in the exhibition. e AIB Press Photographer of the Year Awards honour the nest in Irish press photography. is exhibition showcases all winning and shortlisted entries, over 100 captivating images that powerfully narrate Ireland’s story throughout 2024

across a variety of categories.

World renowned sports photographer James Crombie of INPHO claimed his third AIB Press Photographer of the Year title this year. His powerful portfolio on display includes Clare hurlers Tony Kelly and John Conlon celebrating on the grass of Croke Park following their All-Ireland success last July. It also features Katie Taylor winning Olympic gold, Limerick’s Kyle Hayes in action and a planned image for Pieta’s Darkness Into Light campaign.

Inis Cealtra is also included with an aerial shot by Niall Carson for the funeral of Tuamgraney born Edna O’Brien.

Limerick photographers, Brendan Gleeson and Keith Wiseman who were awarded second and third in the news

and public relations categories respectively also have their work in the exhibition. Other categories showcased include news, daily life, people, sports, politics plus arts and entertainment.

Niall Kearns, Airport

Director at Shannon Airport said the exhibition o ers “a contemporary vision of modern Ireland”. He noted the “power of enduring images is something we at Shannon Airport understand very well” while referencing the

Shannon Chamber welcomes Phoenix House student housing

SHANNON Chamber welcomes the announcement that planning permission has been granted to convert Phoenix House, the former Shannon Development building, into student accommodation.

As stated by CEO, Helen Downes: “We sometimes forget that Shannon is a university town, with the Shannon College of Hotel Management educating 400 students in all aspects of hotel management. In fact, over 3,000 students have studied in Shannon since the College’s foundation and can be found in all corners of the world, all proud to be part of what is known as the ‘Shannon Family’. is is an amazing track record.

“To now be able to provide accommodation for these students so near their college will be a bonus, not just for the college but for Shannon.

To have a cohort of young people living in the Town Centre will boost footfall and

bring new life to the heart to Shannon.

“Shannon College of Hotel Management is an intrinsic part of Shannon’s infrastructure, yet its location makes it

somewhat invisible. Having a presence in the centre of the town will elevate its recognition for the contribution it makes to Shannon’s economy,” added Ms Downes.

time spent by passengers studying photographs of famous faces in the departures lounge. He added, “ ey say a picture paints a thousand words and that’s certainly true here, with 2024 coming vividly to life as you move

among these images. Congratulations to all the award-winning photographers. I encourage everyone travelling through, or visiting Shannon Airport, to take the time to experience it”.

President of Press

Photographers Ireland CLG, David Branigan admitted they were honoured to be hosted by Shannon Airport. He outlined that the exhibition “tells the story of Ireland in 2024”. He continued, “not only does it tell the Irish story as we almost see every day but this story is absolutely accurate in era when generative AI is forming part of our everyday language”. David continued, “there is no generative AI here, these are images which actually happened by photographers who nd the most unusual of images be it sport, culture or grittier side of life with news stories we’d rather not see happen but our members put their security and safety on the line”.

New CEO for Shannon Region Conference & Sports Bureau

CAOIMHE MOLONEY has been appointed as the new General Manager of the Shannon Region Conference & Sports Bureau.

Caoimhe (pictured below) joins the Bureau from Limerick Chamber where she spearheaded event management, chamber communications and member engagement since April 2016.

She succeeds Karen Ronan who at the end of March was appointed the CEO of Galway Chamber.

Commenting on her new role, Caoimhe stated, “It has been an honour and privilege serving the business community through my time at Limerick Chamber, working alongside such passionate members and colleagues to champion growth and connection across the Mid-West region.

“As I step into the role of General Manager with the Shannon Region Conference & Sports Bureau, I’m excited by the opportunity to continue serving this region I care so deeply about. I look forward to building on the strong momentum established by the Bureau and ensuring our work continues to showcase the Shannon Region as a world-class destination for conferences and sporting events”.

this

She will work closely with Danielle Devaney, Business

Development Executive, to continue the Bureau’s important work promoting the Shannon Region to international conference organisers and sports event planners.

Denise Brazil, Treasurer of the Shannon Region Conference & Sports Bureau and Director of the Bedford Townhouse said Caoimhe “brings energy, insight, and a proven ability to connect people and ideas to meaningful outcomes. Her leadership will ensure the Bureau continues to deliver value to our partners, members and to the region. We look forward to working with her as she builds on the strong foundations already in place”.

A public private partnership, the Shannon Region Conference & Sports Bureau is the official events bureau for Ireland’s Shannon Region. The Bureau is focused on positioning the Shannon region as a premier destination for international conferences and sporting events. By attracting high-calibre events to the region, the Bureau aims to deliver lasting economic impact and strengthen the MidWest’s reputation on the global stage.



PHOTO EXHIBITION: Niall Kearns, Airport Director at Shannon Airport and David Branigan, President of Press Photographers Ireland CLG review this years PPAI brochure as photograpers John Kelly, Ray McManus, Brendan Gleeson, Kieran Ryan Benson and Liam Burke watch on as Press Photographers Ireland CLG Exhibition Opens at Shannon Airport.

Photo by: Don Moloney

STUDENT HOUSING: Shannon College of Hotel Management

Close to 500 people attended affordable housing information event

by Páraic McMahon paraic@clareecho.ie

CLOSE TO 500 people attended an affordable housing information evening in Knocknacarra on Thursday.

Held at the Clybaun Hotel, Knocknacarra and hosted by Galway City Council, the event ran from 4pm to 8pm and welcomed a wide range of attendees eager to learn more about homeownership opportunities in Galway City.

“There was a consistent flow of attendees for the full four hours while open,” a spokesperson for Galway City Council told The Clare Echo. Just shy of 500 people attended, the local authority confirmed.

O’Donnellan & Joyce Auctioneers provided valuable guidance on the home-buying process. Attendees also had the opportunity to speak directly with representatives from Galway City Council’s Affordable Housing team and leading banking institutions, who were on hand to offer mortgage advice and answer questions.

Detail was given on the upcoming An Tobar development in Rahoon to be delivered by Cairn Homes. The scheme is scheduled

for completion in the first quarter of 2026 and will include fourteen new homes comprising of four 2-bedroom and ten 3-bedroom houses which will be available for purchase under the Affordable Housing Act 2021 and associated regulations.

Applications for these homes will open at 12 noon on Monday, 8 September 2025, and close at 12 noon on Monday, 29 September 2025. Interested applicants can register and apply via the online portal at affordable-housing.ie at 12 noon on Monday, 8th September 2025. Applications will be prioritised based on the date and time of submission, in accordance with Galway City Council’s Scheme of Priorities.

A spokesperson for Galway City Council told The Clare Echo that it extended “its sincere thanks to all who attended and contributed to the success of the evening. The strong public interest reflects the growing demand for affordable housing solutions and the Council’s commitment to supporting sustainable homeownership in Galway city”.

Walks, talks & guided tours for Heritage Week offering in Galway

OVER 20 free family-friendly events are to take place in Galway City for National Heritage Week from Saturday (August 16) to Sunday August 24.

Galway’s rich cultural, natural, and built heritage will be celebrated in the programme which includes guided walks, historical talks, exhibitions, storytelling sessions, and nature-based activities.

Some events require advance booking, so early registration is encouraged to avoid disappointment.

A special highlight this year is a guided walking tour of Rahoon led by Galway West TD John Connolly (FF), offering unique insights into the area’s history, people, and cultural significance.

Other programme highlights include; Galway’s Places and Spaces by Bike – a cycle through Galway City’s pas led by Galway City Council’s Architectural Conservation Officer, Menlo Castle Biodiversity Walk a walk and talk on Conservation, Flora and Fauna of Menlo Castle led by Vincent Carragher, Conservation Ranger of National Parks & Wildlife Service and Roscam Graveyard, Church and Round Tower Walking Tour, a guided tour of the history, archaeology, folk-

lore and maritime heritage with a historian,

This year’s Heritage Week also marks the first celebration under the newly launched Galway City Heritage Plan 2025, which was

officially unveiled in March 2025. The plan outlines a strategic vision for heritage conservation, education, and community engagement over the coming years. Mayor of the City of Galway, Cllr Mike

Cubbard (IND) stated, “Heritage Week is a celebration of the stories, places, and people that make Galway unique. It’s a chance for us to reflect on our shared past and look forward to a future where our heritage continues to inspire and connect us. I encourage everyone to take part in the events and discover something new about our city”.

Chief Executive of Galway City Council, Leonard Cleary described the offering in Galway as an “exceptional programme”. He said, “Galway’s heritage is a cornerstone of its identity and a driver of community pride and sustainable development. Heritage Week 2025 reflects our commitment to preserving and promoting the city’s legacy while engaging citizens of all ages in meaningful ways”.

Dr Jim Higgins, Heritage Officer, commented, “This year’s programme is the result of collaboration across communities, institutions, and volunteers. Heritage Week is not just about looking back—it’s about understanding how our past informs our present and shapes our future. We’re proud to offer events that are inclusive, educational, and deeply rooted in Galway’s spirit”.

For the full programme of events and booking details, visit www.GalwayCity.ie/ HeritageWeek

lAFFORDABLE HOUSING: Caitriona Lawlor, Marcus O’Brien, Leanne O’Connor and Michéal Cormican

Jacinta Kiely

by Páraic McMahon paraic@clareecho.ie

lHERITAGE WEEK: Millers Lane Rahoon

Clare farms open to the public as part of ‘Inside The Gate’ sustainable farming showcase

NATURE-FRIENDLY

farms across Clare will open to the public on August 31 for a oneday event organised by Farming For Nature, a non-pro t initiative that works with farmers to promote sustainable agricultural practices.

e ‘Inside e Gate’ event is designed to boost public understanding of the importance of nature-friendly farming, including practices that support healthy soils, clean water, diverse habitats, and sustainable food production.

ree Clare farms are taking part in the event:

Glendree Organic Farm in Feakle; Burren Farm Expeirence in Tubber, and Moyhill Farm in Lahinch.

Moyhill Farm is hosting two events, morning and a ernoon, with capacity for up to 80 people to tour its mixed farming operation. Burren Farm and Glendree Organic Farm will cater for up to 30 people each.

Glendree Farm will o er visitors the opportunity to see potatoes being harvested with horse-drawn machinery and hear a talk on the role of the horse in a modern nature-friendly farm, while Burren Farm Experience

will give attendees the chance to taste and purchase some of its locally produced Burren Premium Beef.

Events are free to attend but capacity at the individual farms will be limited. Tickets are available on a rst come, rst served basis, so those wishing to attend must book online on www.tickettailor. com/events/farmingfornature For more information and to register for the events, visit the Farming for Nature website on www.farmingfornature.ie

Inside the Gate is supported by RTÉ Ear to the Ground presenter

Ella McSweeney, who is encouraging as many people as possible to sign up for a visit on August 31, adding that the day is a “really valuable opportunity for young and old, from all backgrounds across Ireland, to spend time on some of the most nature-rich farms in the country”.

Farming For Nature was set up in 2018 as a non-pro t project established under the Burrenbeo Trust. Last year, the group launched the Farming For Nature Handbook, a practical guide to protecting and restoring nature. e handbook featured contributions from more

than 50 Irish farmers, who shared their experiences of how working with nature can help reduce their overheads and boost incomes.

Authored by Farming For Nature co-founders Brigid Barry and Dr Brendan Dunford, as well as conservation scientist Dr Emma Hart, the book received praise from President of Ireland Michael D Higgins, who described it as a “timely and essential contribution to the ongoing discourse on how we, as a society, must respond to some of the most pressing challenges of our time”.

Cathal O’Rourke of

Burren Farm Experience says:

“Both Brónagh and I are very excited to welcome people to the farm and share the story of this unique landscape, it’s a chance to connect with nature, see sustainable farming in action and enjoy the breathtaking beauty of the Burren.”

Brigid Barry, co-founder of Farming For Nature, says:

“I’m delighted to today launch Farming For Nature’s Inside e Gate, a one-day event taking on August 31. Hosted on 21 farms in 12 counties across Ireland, the 26 di erent events will

give our participating farmers the opportunity to showcase the importance of farms which produce food with nature in mind.

“In the past many people in Ireland would have grown up with access to a farm through their extended family. With the dwindling number of small-hold farms and farmers, that’s not really the case anymore, so this is an opportunity to give urban and indeed rural people access to not just a working farm, but one that approaches food production in a sustainable and nature-friendly way.

Green Clare

CLARE FARMS: Cathal and Brónagh O’Rourke from Burren Farm Experience

Clare residents encouraged to join big Clean Coasts beach clean this september

by Lisa Mullaly

THE ANNUAL Clean Coasts Big Beach Clean returns from September 19 to 21, calling on communities across Clare to help clean local beaches, waterways, and towns.

Volunteers in Clare are invited to register now to receive free clean-up kits and join thousands across Ireland in this nationwide effort. Last year, more than 600 groups took part nationwide, collecting 95 tonnes of litter , the largest clean-up to date.

Local beaches like Lahinch, Spanish Point, and White Strand are popular spots where volunteers will be tackling plastic waste, cig-

arette butts, and other rubbish that threaten marine life and the environment.This year, participants are also asked to take part in a marine litter survey by recording the types and amounts of litter they find. This can be done using Clean Coasts Marine Litter Data Cards or the Clean Swell App. The data collected helps scientists and policymakers understand the scale of marine pollution and supports campaigns to reduce plastic waste, such as “Bin the Butt” and “Break Up With Plastic.”

Bronagh Moore, Clean Coasts Manager with An Taisce, said:

“Last year, 15,000 volunteers helped remove 95

tonnes of litter from our beaches, rivers, and streets. Every piece of litter collected and recorded helps raise awareness and influence policies to protect our oceans. We encourage everyone, whether in Clare or elsewhere, to get involved and record what they find to make a real difference.”

Cathal Kealey, Head of Marketing and PR at Kia Ireland, added:

“Kia Ireland is proud to sponsor the Big Beach Clean again this year. Our goal is to increase the use of recycled ocean plastics in our vehicles to 20% by 2030. Supporting clean-ups like this aligns with our commitment to sustainability, and we urge

as many people as possible to sign up and take part in their local beach clean this September.”

The Big Beach Clean is part of a global effort known as the International Coastal Cleanup, led by Ocean Conservancy, where volunteers worldwide collect and document marine litter. Data from past events have helped push for bans on plastic bags and straws, and smoking restrictions on beaches.

People interested in joining can register for free clean-up kits and find more information at [cleancoasts. org/our-initiatives/bigbeach-clean](https://cleancoasts.org/our-initiatives/ big-beach-clean/).

lisa@clareecho.ie

lBEACH CLEAN: Fanore beach

Arts & Culture

Patrick Kenneally’s ‘Connection’ opens at KAVA

by LISA MULLALY

CRUSHEEN-BASED artist Patrick Kenneally will unveil a new collection of work in Kinvara this month, exploring Ireland’s deep relationship with the ocean and the coast.

His exhibition, Connection, opened at KAVA on Tuesday, August 12, and runs daily until Monday, August 19.

As an oil painter with a love of colour and coastal landscapes, Kenneally has spent much of his life inspired by Ireland’s shoreline. Growing up in Crusheen a er an early childhood in Ennis, he was encouraged by his mother, “a talented artist in her own right” to pursue his artistic interests. Many of his earliest memories involve sketching scenes of the Clare countryside or painting small cottages on beach stones to sell to tourists.

Another formative in uence was his art teacher at St Flannan’s College, Jim Hennessy. Hennessy, who has since passed away, o en painted in class and o ered constant encouragement. Kenneally credits him as a major reason he went on to become an art teacher himself.

e show explores Ireland’s enduring bond with the sea through a journey from the Skellig Islands in Kerry up along the west coast. reecting on the solace, peace and cultural heritage found in Ireland’s maritime landscapes. e work seeks to capture not just Kenneally’s personal connection to the coast, but a shared national bond rooted in memory and nostalgia.

“It explores that connection that people have, us being an island nation, with the sea and it looks at those places that we go to for solace and peace,” Patrick says. “Not just the connection that I have but the connection that everyone has through

things like nostalgia, memory. And hopefully people will form connections with my work as well.”

Known for working predominantly in oils, he resists the perception of the medi-

um as dark or muted, instead choosing to focus on light and vibrant tones. e blues and greens of the sea are a constant feature in his work, o en shaped more by emotion and perception than by

direct representation.

“ e perception of oil painting is dark murky colours but I always try to nd the light, bright colours… You don’t always paint exactly what you see but what you perceive or what you feel,” he explained to the Clare Echo.

For the past 25 years, Kenneally has taught art at Seamount College in Kinvara, nding in the classroom both inspiration and community. “As a teacher you inspire but you also get to be inspired by your students as well,” he says. “When you are an artist you aren’t always in a community of artists, but when you are a teacher and you have young artists around you, it’s actually really encouraging.” Surrounded by young artists, he continues to paint alongside his teaching, keeping creativity central to his daily life.

His connection to Kinvara’s artistic life extends beyond the classroom. He designed this year’s Crinniú na mBád poster, celebrating the movement and heritage

Clare County Council unveils packed events programme for 20th National Heritage Week

by Lisa Mullaly lisa@clareecho.ie

A COUNTYWIDE programme of events for the 20th instalment of National Heritage Week has been announced by Clare County Council.

National Heritage Week is an initiative by e Heritage Council which aims to bring together communities, families, organisations, cultural institutions, academics and enthusiasts, to build awareness about the value of heritage and support its conservation. e initiative which began in 2005 is supported by Fáilte Ireland and the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, is part of European Heritage Days, a joint initiative of the Council of Europe and the European Union.

Events will be held throughout the county, including in Quin, Labasheeda, Fountain, Bunratty, Kilrush, Scattery Island, Loop Head, Kilkee, Ennistymon, Kilfenora and Miltown Malbay. Activities include community gatherings, open days, lm screenings, folklore and music sessions, workshops, exhibitions, traditional skills demonstrations, guided trails, walks and biodiversity events.

In addition to the wide range of activities already announced, a number of new and unique local events have been added to the programme. ese include an evening of Clare folklore at the Bogdale Inn in Kilmaley

on August 16, where the public is invited to share stories and traditions from their own parishes. In Kilfenora, the Burren Visitor Centre will host ‘Always a Journey, Never a Destination’, a cultural heritage experience re ecting on the local landscape and traditions. Guided tours of the Ardnacrusha Hydro-Electric Station will run from August 18 to 22, o ering visitors insight into one of Clare’s great feats of industrial heritage. Nature and biodiversity will be explored through events such as the butter y identi cation workshop in Carran on August 23, and two separate bat walks, one in Dromoland on August 20 hosted by An Taisce, and another at Dromore Woods on the same evening led by the Vincent Wildlife Trust. Families and heritage enthusiasts can also take part in clay pot making workshops in Kilrush on August 20, while a unique digital archaeology event titled ‘Digital Cli s: Exploring Loop Head in 3D’ will take place at Cultúrlann Sweeney in Kilkee on August 19. Community archaeology will also be featured at Clare Museum on August 20, and Inchiquin House in Corro n will open its doors for a self-guided tour on August 24.

e Clare Cillíní Survey will be launched at Clare Museum, while Ennis and Ennistymon will host the Wonder Wander built heritage trail. Visitors can

also learn about community archaeology, explore Ennis Friary, and discover the traditional mud houses of Shannon and Querrin. Biodiversity events include seaweed foraging, whale and dolphin watching, butter y identi cation, bat walks, heritage seeds and a Hen Harrier talk.

Clare’s leading living history experiences that celebrates Ireland’s cultural, built, and natural heritage; Craggaunowen and Bunratty Castle & Folk Park

will host a joint programme of events.

New events are being added daily to the Clare Heritage Week programme. For more information and to register events, visit www.heritageweek.ie. A full list of Clare events is available at www.heritageweek.ie

For more information on the National Heritage Week events taking place at Bunratty Castle & Folk Park and Craggaunowen, please visit: www.bunrattycastle.ie

of the Galway hooker. “I love the contrast between the red sails and the sea… ey really make such an impact and they are so important to our heritage and culture.”

e artwork, featuring the distinctive red sails of a Galway hooker against the sea, is currently on display at the Pier Head and will move to KAVA as part of Connection. Kenneally values the role of KAVA as a not-for-pro t, community-run gallery, offering artists a platform outside the commercial gallery circuit. Patrick has shown work at KAVA before, including his 2023 exhibition Coastline. He values the gallery’s role in supporting artists. “A place like KAVA gives such opportunity for you to be able to show your work. It’s community-owned, it’s not-for-pro t… it really gives members the opportunity to get their work out there.”

Visitors can view Connection at KAVA each day until August 19.

Kilrush celebrates heritage week with a 9 day programme

KILRUSH is the hub for Heritage Week celebrations in Clare this year, with events of all kinds, and for all ages, taking place every day from the 16th to the 24th of August. Under the banner of ‘Kilrush Heritage Quarter’ community groups and small businesses have come together to create an exciting programme, with events taking place throughout the town and beyond to Scattery Island.

Highlights include music from Peadar McMahon, and from Keith Donald of the Moving Hearts; a hands-on pottery workshop with local archaeology consultants AMS, and a magazine-making session at Vandeleur visitor centre, both open to kids, parents and grandparents; traditional music sessions and an Irish Language singing circle; and traditional skills demonstrations on Scattery Island, and at the Thursday farmer’s market. Plus, of course, there will be a host of heritage talks and tours, including an evening with Joe Whelan and Joe Queally at the Museum of Irish Rural Life, and a chance to visit Mrs Crotty’s Kitchen and parlour to see the great work being done to renovate this iconic building.

Supported by Kilrush and District Historical Society and by Clare County Council, Kilrush Heritage Quarter began as a pilot project in 2024, with a programme over just three days. This was a great success, so the decision was made to expand to the full nine days this year with many more groups and businesses getting involved. Collaborating in this way makes it possible to really showcase the rich history and community spirit of this designated Heritage Town.

Almost all of the events are free of charge, and full details can be found on the events calendar at www.kilrush.ie, or on the Facebook page Kilrush Heritage Quarter.

NATIONAL HERITAGE WEEK: Pictured at Liscannor for the launch of Clare County Council’s National Heritage week programme are L-R: Carol Dollery, Vice Chair Liscannor Development Group; Ann Daly, Atlantic Way Gallery; Cllr Paul Murphy, Cathaoirleach, Clare County Council; Siobhán McNulty, Director of Services for Tourism, Clare County Council; Jan Godfrey; Thomas Quinlan; and Congella McGuire, Heritage Officer, Clare County Council.Photo by: Eamon Ward

CONNECTION: Patrick working on his painting ‘Crinniú’

New magic recipe at Considine’s Pub

Delicious cocktail of drinks & bites on menu for new owner Fetton

by Stuart Holly editor@clareecho.ie

POPULAR Ennis businessman

Dermot Fetton has reopened the iconic Considine’s Pub on Parnell Street, bringing with him a passion and ambition to reinvigorate the historic public house.

Dermot’s reimagination of the traditional Irish pub sees the Waterford native bringing a European flair to the Parnell Street pub which is fondly known as Faffas, after its one-time publican and still owner Frank Considine.

Fetton has had a number of successful ventures including Henry’s Bistro, which still successfully operates today in the Market in Ennis, however he is possibly best-known for his time in charge of The Cloister Restaurant on Abbey Street. Dermot also had two stints with the world-famous Dromoland Castle and most recently spent a year at the five-star Ashford Manor where he worked as director of Food and Beverage.

Dermot tells The Clare Echo after worked in hotels & restau rants for decades, he’s excited to tackle something “a little more casual”.

“I want it to be a really nice pub experience for people with a few other items; cheese, charcuterie, good wines, good cocktails, really good Guiness and for it to be welcoming,” Dermot explains.

“Ennis has supported me great ly in my previous businesses; I was away for the last year and I missed the place terribly, actually, and I missed the people. I know there’s a lot going on with all the works around the town and businesses are suffering. I’m sorry to see that. I suppose the long-term gain and long-term goal is that Ennis will look more beautiful than it ever did before and I think it’s looking very well already in certain parts.”

sponse has been fantastic. So many people called in to see us, to wish us well, to have a drink or a bite to eat. We’ve started off strongly but it’s going to get better and will develop, and will become more interesting.”

Reflecting on ‘opening weekend’ after the doors opened at 7pm on Friday, August 1 of the Bank Holiday weekend, Dermot says the reaction from customers has been “fantastic”.

Dermot recruited his team at Considine’s from a post he put up on social media. “I went for a bit of experience but more for the person and the personalities so I have some wonderful people here now and I can see them interacting really well with people who come in the door.

“We did four days and the re-

His research in developing the offering in Considine’s took him from Galway to Cork and even to London. Speaking about the inspiration for his new pub, Dermot explains, “I love to go to Paris and seek out these places that do really good cheeses and charcuterie and breads, that is something we’re doing.”

While it’s a European twist, the produce is very much local. The terrines and pork roulades on offer are from Castlegregory in Kerry, the salami is a Gubbine salami from Fingal Ferguson in West Cork while one very good Coppa is being imported from Italy. Also on offer is the St Tola Ash Log goats cheese from Inagh, Cashel Blue cheese, a

camembert and Durras cheese from West Cork. “These are all high quality products and I feel I’m pricing them very fairly because I want people to come in and enjoy them…This is first and foremost a pub with those offerings so we’ll develop it, this is a perfect start.”

Dermot reserves praise for his son Sam, a Transition Year student, who has played a vital role in establishing this now family business.

“I’m very lucky that my son Sam, who is 15, is heavily involved in it with me; he helped in the preparation, in the not-nice work leading

up to it, he really worked hard. For the opening weekend, he hit the ground running. To see him meet people, greet ex-customers of mine, see how he deals with them and how easy he goes about it, he’s quite good at it. That’s a big part of it on a personal level and one of the reasons I wanted to do this and I really feel the time is right for something like this in Ennis.”

On the drinks front, Considine’s offers all the standards. A perfect pint of Guinness was top of the agenda for Dermot and he admits he put pressure on Diageo to ensure

this was done to the highest standard. Dermot’s wine supplier has given Considine’s access to wines “you won’t find them anywhere else in Clare” while his team of bar staff have been trained up on cocktail making. “We have eight whites, eight reds, four of each by the glass, very good prosecco, Rosé, then a full spirits offering.

Dermot adds, “Considines was always a very traditional pub and I want that to remain.

“It’s very welcoming, there’s no formality. I’ve had 30+ years of formality and now I want something more casual.

“I think the experience people will have and the connection people will have to the team members, that’s what is going to make us stand out here. The aim of anything I’ve ever done is to do the simple things exceptionally well and that’s what I want to do here as well. I think we’re not reinventing the wheel but when people come in they will get a vibe, you can feel it when you come in the door. The atmosphere is good, the music is good, the offering is good. After that it’s just the follow through on our part and I believe we do that very well.”

Cooleney

l Considine’s proprietor Dermot Fetton is inviting customers to sample his European take on a traditional pub; (left) the newly-furnished seating area and (below) a cheese & charcuterie board Photos by Tom Micks

Parnell Street could

by Stuart Holly editor@clareecho.ie

THE new proprietor of Considine’s Pub believes Parnell Street can undergo a resurgence which will see it become Ennis’s answer to the Left Bank - Paris’ famed area known for its historical, intellectual, and bohemian atmosphere.

Dermot Fetton’s journey into hospitality began as a glass collector in Dooley’s Hotel in Waterford, and most recently brought him to his “dream job” at Ashford Castle in County Mayo.

Opening his own business at Considine’s Bar on Parnell Street in Ennis, Dermot is now armed with more than just experience. He’s driven by a vision – not just for his pub but for the street where he’s based.

“This is my third business. The other two [the Cloister and Henry’s Bistro] were great and successful –one of them is still thriving actually – but I wanted something different and I wanted the town to have something different.”

Considine’s is offering a cosmo-

politan twist to the traditional pub fare with the introduction of cocktails, a bespoke wine list, charcuterie and cheese boards. Despite the change in offering, Dermot never considered changing the name over the door. “It’s a wonderful name and it’s synonymous with Parnell Street and Ennis, and Ennis Rugby I understand. This building has been in the family for 200 years, it’s always been Considine’s. It wasn’t always a pub, it was a family home before that so I had no inclination to change the name to something else.

Dermot admits that he is “really focussing” on Parnell Street and its potential.

“This is the big thing in my head. There were 10-12 pubs here not so long ago. Now there was just one, Dylan in Lucas’s and now two with Considine’s. Then Ollie and his wife opened their café down the street and have seats outside and all of a sudden you see this energy on the street, the footfall here is incredible. There was an amount of people looking in the windows when we

l NEW BEGINNING: The

were doing the works and I was delighted, I had the blinds open that they knew something was going on.

“The potential on this street is fantastic and then it’s up to us to give the people something they’ll want to come out for.

be Left Bank of Ennis

well-known ‘Faffa’ Considine’s is entering a new chapter under the stewardship

“I like the sense of tradition on the street. I love the street, I love the buildings on the street, Ennis’ first pedestrianised street I think and unfortunately least successful in that regard so I’d be all for a resurgence down here. I’d encourage anybody to come down and look at the units available because the potential on this street is just remarkable.”

Dermot added, “This street could easily be the Left Bank of Ennis, it has the vibe, it has the pedestrianisation. In our first evening here I got some tables and chairs and put them outside and they were full all evening and

when I walked up the street and looked down, it had a real European, café vibe. And I just said, ‘yeah, this is the way forward’. If you’re giving people that atmosphere, that you can go out on a nice evening and you could be anywhere and you’re happy to be out.”

of Dermot Fetton (below)

Photo by Tom Micks

Thought for the WeekFinding Peace in the Storm

Spreading the word of positivity

RONAN SCULLY

HOW ARE you - really?

Not the polite answer you give in passing, but in the hidden places of your heart and soul.

In a world pulsing with con ict, noise, and uncertainty, are you at rest or barely hanging on? Busyness has become a badge of honour. Anxiety, a constant hum beneath our days. We live in a culture that shouts for our attention yet leaves our souls starving. Even as people of faith, we are not immune. Many of us struggle to nd time to read the Word or sit quietly with our Saviour. And while we might appear calm on the outside, our inner world is o en anything but peaceful.

Life brings storms. Sometimes they sweep in suddenly, the loss of a job, the ending of a relationship, the diagnosis you never expected, the empty chair at the table where a loved one once

sat or war and con ict breaks out in one’s home or in one’s homeland.

In those moments, the waves feel high and the wind relentless. Storms will always come but what’s important is how we weather them.

No matter our language, culture, or skin color, we all harbor the same hopes, the same fears. We crave love, compassion, forgiveness, acceptance, and mercy.

How powerful it would be if we, together, committed to pray for peace, not just as a eeting thought but as a daily act of faith and love.

But peace is fragile, a gi that requires constant tending. It is like a delicate plant, le unattended, it withers. Peace demands vigilance, hard work, and endurance. It is not a task we can set aside at the end of the day. Peacemaking is a lifelong commitment. is work of peace is deeply personal and profoundly communal.

Many who labor daily to build peace do so quietly, in small acts of kindness and courage, o en amidst su er-

ing. Let us dedicate ourselves to banishing violence from our words, thoughts, and actions, building communities rooted in nonviolence and care for our common home.

Peace is not merely the absence of con ict; it is a way of being, rooted in justice, liberty, equality, and solidarity. It calls us to embrace all life as sacred and to recognize the needs of others as our own.

e truth is stark: nearly two billion people live in countries riven by con ict and violence, struggling just to survive. e inequality between rich and poor, the sel shness of unbridled capitalism, and the hunger for power continue to fuel discord and pain.

Thought for the week

As your thought for the Week, re ect on how you can protect our precious peace. As Mother Teresa said: “ e fruit of silence is prayer; the fruit of prayer is faith; the fruit of faith is love; the fruit of love is service; the fruit of service is peace.”

Agus díreach mar sin…

And just like that…

Macalla an Chláir

LE MACDARA Ó CONAOLA

BHÍ AN t-aisteoir cáiliúil óna cláracha teilifíse Sex and the City, And Just Like That, 30 Rock, agus The Gilded Age, Cynthia Nixon, i gCondae an Chláir le deireanas lena bean chéile agus a gcuid gasúir. Thug siad cuairt ar Ailltreacha an Mhothair, Dualainn agus Inis Mór, agus ar Chaisleán agus Páirc Oidhreachta Bhun Raite, áit ar chas mé fhéin leo. Ba dheas labhairt leo faoi chúrsaí Gaeilge agus Gaeltachta, agus cúpla amhrán a rá dhóibh. Bhí siad lách agus lán le spraoi agus fiosracht. Is féidir físeán a dhéan sí dá turas go hÉirinn a fheiceáil ar Instagram.

Imeachtaí/Events:

SIONNA – Gaeilge le Chéile, Ionad Siopadóireacht Skycourt, 11am, chuile Dé Domhnaigh

CILL ROIS – Preab-Ghaeltacht chuile oíche Dé Ceadaoin ag 8pm i mBuggles Bar

SIONNA – Siúlóid Dúlra/Nature Walk, Dé Domhnaigh, 11am, Community Room (Gaeilge le Chéile ar Facebook)

LUIMNEACH – AIFREANN GAEILGE, chuile Dé Domhnaigh, 10.30am, Mainistir an tSlánaitheora, Sráid San Doiminic, Luimneach

CLARE FM - Cúl-chaint le Domhnall Ó Loingsigh chuile Dé Sathairn, ag 9am ar Clare

FM  CILL INÍNE BAOITHE - Ciorcal Comhrá san XPO, chuile Dé Céadaoin ag 7.30pm  INIS – CAINT AGUS COMHRÁ, chuile Dé Luain ag 11am sa gCopper Jug, Dé Máirt ag Zest 11am, Dé Céadaoin ag 11am in O’Brien’s, oíche Déardaoin sa Temple Gate (8pm), Dé hAoine The Market Bar 11am, agus Dé Sathairn i nGlór, 11am-12pm. LUIMNEACH – Ciorcail Comhrá. Chuile Dé Céadaoin ag 10.30am, Bialann Eden, Ollscoil Luimnigh.

AN SCAIRBH – Lón i nGaeilge, 1-2pm, CHUILE DÉ MAIRT i gcaifé An Gáirdín

 Ó CENTRAL PARK GO BUNRATTY FOLK PARK: Cynthia Nixon (Miranda ó SATC) agus mé fhéin i bPáirc Oidhreachta Bhun Raite le deireanas

GORT ROAD, ENNIS, CO CLARE

LIFFORD, ENNIS, CO. CLARE

MOUNT ALVERNA, CLON ROAD, ENNIS, CO. CLARE

UILLIN, SPANISH POINT ROAD, MILTOWN MALBAY

CLON ROAD, ENNIS, CO. CLARE

5 Clare producers make it to Blas na hEireann finals

FIVE Clare producers have made it through to the nal stages of e Irish Food Awards 2025.

e event will return to Dingle this October, where the very best of Irish food and drink will be celebrated from ursday October 2 to Sunday October 5, with the Blas Village, Showcase, Eat Ireland in a Day market and the awards themselves all running on Friday October 3.

Now in its 18th year, Blas na hÉireann continues to grow, with more than 3,000 entries submitted from across the island, and a record number of new producers taking part. e 2025 awards also see the biggest ever expansion in categories, now totalling 190, including

signi cant growth in fast-evolving areas such as alcoholic drinks and their non-alcoholic alternatives.

e judging, which took place over May, June and July in partnership with UCC and TU Dublin, is blind-tasted

and scored by a network of expert judges, including chefs, buyers, academics, restaurateurs, and industry leaders.

e nalists shortlisted from Clare across a wide range of categories are Burren Smokehouse Ltd., Leo At Home,

Lúnasa Farm, Óir Lifestyle T/A Óir Tonics and Sweet N Green. “I would like to extend my warmest congratulations to Burren Smokehouse, Leo at Home, Lúnasa Farm, Óir Lifestyle T/A Óir Tonics & Sweet N Green

Shannon Region Conference & Sports Bureau appoint Caoimhe as CEO

– Co. Clare’s incredible nalists of Blas na hÉireann 2025.” said Padraic McElwee, Head of Enterprise at Clare County Council. “ e achievement of these businesses re ects not only their talent & hard work, but also the deep pride they take in their cra & communities. It is always inspiring to see local producers from across the countymany of whom we have had the privilege to support through the Local Enterprise O ce - gain the recognition they so richly deserve. eir passion & innovation are what make Ireland’s food & drink sector truly world-class. We are proud to stand beside these businesses on this journey & look forward to celebrating their continued success.”

Ennis woman wins Drapers Award

by Lisa Mullaly lisa@clareecho.ie

CLARE-BASED children’s footwear specialist ‘My First Steps’ has become the rst Irish brand to win the highly coveted ‘Drapers Independent Footwear Retailer of the Year Award’ for the UK and Ireland.

Established in 1887, ‘Drapers’ is a leading authority on fashion retail in the UK, and its annual Drapers Awards have been celebrating outstanding service, design, and innovation in fashion retail across the UK and Ireland for more than three decades. is accolade is regarded as one of the most prestigious honors in the footwear industry.

Founded in 2022 by Quin native and mother of two, Alison McGrath, My First Steps has rapidly expanded from its base in Ennis, County Clare, to become a nationally recognized and multi-award-winning brand. With physical stores in Ennis and Galway, and a growing online presence through www.myfirststeps.ie, the company has earned a strong reputation

for combining expert shoe- tting knowledge with high-quality children’s footwear. e brand is dedicated to merging foot health, fashion, and family- rst values — now recognized at the highest level with the Drapers award.

“ is award is a dream come true, and being the rst Irish brand to receive it makes it even more special,” said Alison McGrath. “It acknowledges our dedication to prioritizing children’s foot health and comfort, without compromising on style, quality, or customer service.”

Innovation at the Forefront

In keeping with its

commitment to innovation, My First Steps recently became the rst Irish retailer to introduce ‘SizeWise’, an advanced foot scanning tool that enables parents to measure their child’s feet accurately using just a smartphone. is technology brings expert tting advice directly into homes across Ireland.

“We’ve combined trusted in-store expertise with award-winning digital technology to make nding the perfect t simple and accessible, whether you’re shopping in Ennis, Galway, or from your kitchen table in Cork,” added McGrath.

e brand’s online growth is supported

by Ennis-based eCommerce and digital marketing rm Little Rock Digital. Founder Breige Grogan praised the achievement, stating, “ is award re ects Alison’s unwavering commitment to delivering exceptional customer experiences for families, both o ine and online. It’s fantastic to see such a progressive Irish retailer recognized by Drapers.”

Back-to-School 2025

As the back-to-school season approaches, My First Steps is o ering free in-store foot checks at its Ennis and Galway stores, along with the AI-powered SizeWise tting tool available online. e company also provides same-day

dispatch for all orders placed before 1 PM, featuring exclusive collections from well-known brands such as StartRite, Bobux, Ricosta, and Froddo.

Important Facts About Children’s Shoe Buying

Research by Glasgow Caledonian University highlights a worrying trend: 83% of children starting school wear shoes that are too small, yet only 6% of parents measure their child’s feet when buying new shoes. Additionally, one in ten parents admit their children continue to wear shoes that no longer t properly, while half only purchase new shoes once their child complains of discomfort. Only 40% of parents take into account whether shoes are well- tting and supportive at the time of purchase.

As My First Steps continues to set the standard for children’s footwear in Ireland and beyond, this historic Drapers award marks a new chapter in their commitment to healthy, happy feet for every child.

by Páraic McMahon paraic@clareecho.ie

CAOIMHE MOLONEY has been appointed as the new General Manager of the Shannon Region Conference & Sports Bureau.

Caoimhe joins the Bureau from Limerick Chamber where she spearheaded event management, chamber communications and member engagement since April 2016.

She succeeds Karen Ronan who at the end of March was appointed the CEO of Galway Chamber.

Commenting on her new role, Caoimhe stated, “It has been an honour and privilege serving the business community through my time at Limerick Chamber, working alongside such passionate members and colleagues to champion growth and connection across the Mid-West region.

“As I step into the role of General Manager with the Shannon Region Conference & Sports Bureau, I’m excited by the opportunity to continue serving this region I care so deeply about. I look forward to building on the strong momentum established by the Bureau and ensuring our work continues to showcase the Shannon Region as a world-class destination for conferences and sporting events”.

She will work closely with Danielle Devaney, Business Development Executive, to continue the Bureau’s important work promoting the Shannon Region to international conference organisers and sports event planners.

Denise Brazil, Treasurer of the Shannon Region Conference & Sports Bureau and Director of the Bedford Townhouse said Caoimhe “brings energy, insight, and a proven ability to connect people and ideas to meaningful outcomes. Her leadership will ensure the Bureau continues to deliver value to our partners, members and to the region. We look forward to working with her as she builds on the strong foundations already in place”.

A public private partnership, the Shannon Region Conference & Sports Bureau is the official events bureau for Ireland’s Shannon Region. The Bureau is focused on positioning the Shannon region as a premier destination for international conferences and sporting events. By attracting high-calibre events to the region, the Bureau aims to deliver lasting economic impact and strengthen the Mid-West’s reputation on the global stage.

COMMUNITY HEDGECUTTING GRANT SCHEME 2025

Clare County Council is inviting applications under the Community Hedgecutting Scheme 2025. The grant scheme provides financial assistance to landowners and community groups to maintain hedgerows and meet their obligations under Section 70 of the Roads Act 1993. Application Forms for the Community Hedgecutting Grant Scheme and details regarding same are available on our website at www.clarecoco.ie or by contacting: Clare County Council, Transportation Department, Áras Contae an Chláir, New Road, Ennis, Co. Clare.

Tel: 065-6846333

e-mail: roads@clarecoco.ie

Closing date for receipt of applications is September 30th, 2025.

FOOD AWARDS: Brigitta of Burren Smokehouse

DRAPER AWARDS: My First Steps owner Alison McGrath and staff celebrating Draper

TJ’s Online School helping students to Breakthrough Maths

Five years ago, TJ Hegarty was standing in a draughty community hall in Glanmire, teaching just eight students with nothing but a whiteboard, a few folding tables and a sense that Maths could be taught differently. He wasn’t setting out to build a business.

“At the time, it was just about helping a few kids who were struggling. That was it. There was no brand, no team, no real plan,” Hegarty says.

One student stood out. A teenager named Fionn who had been told college was off the table. His parents explained he had autism and had been written off academically. But Hegarty saw it differently.

“We just made steady progress. Week after week. The belief followed and the results started to come. Fionn is now finishing his Engineering Masters in MTU, which is inspiring.”

That one breakthrough — watching a student go from

shutting-down to showing up — laid the foundation for what would become Breakthrough Maths.

From Cold Halls to Calm Homes

Breakthrough Maths runs four live online classes each week for each group. Every session is recorded so students can rewatch them as often as they need. It’s all done from home, with no commuting and no stress.

“Parents tell us the relief of not sitting in a car park at 7pm in the rain is worth it alone,” Hegarty says.

Each week, two topics are covered in a focused, structured way. That consistency is what helps students stay on track — not just for grades, but for confidence.

Beating the Fear of Maths

For Hegarty, the real mission isn’t just higher marks. It’s shifting how students feel about Maths.

“So many students have already decided they’re not

a Maths person,” he explains. “But usually, they’ve just had one bad experience. Or they were too afraid to ask ques-

tions in class. We flip that.”

“At Breakthrough, students are encouraged to say they don’t get it. The atmosphere

is low-pressure but focused. According to our most recent results, 96% of Leaving Cert students surveyed reported

grade improvements after joining our programme.”

A Bigger Team. A Bigger Mission.

What started as one man band is now a full team of tutors, teachers, tech developers and support staff. Hegarty credits the team with making it all work.

“Maths anxiety is a real thing. But it’s fixable. With the right help, the right structure, and the right explanations, we see students transform week after week.”

Breakthrough Maths now works with students from Dingle to Donegal and has recently expanded into the UK. But the goal remains the same — to help students to Breakthrough Maths. With 3,000 students and counting, the company shows no signs of slowing down.

The next term kicks off with a free 3-day Back to School course starting August 20th.

To sign up, visit breakthroughmaths.ie.

Madden appointed Clare senior football manager for three years

PAUL Madden has been appointed as the new manager of the Clare senior footballers, writes Páraic McMahon

He has been appointed on a three-year term at the August meeting of the County Board. His backroom team is to be finalised in the coming weeks.

“It is often said what an honour it is to manage an inter-county team team, never more so when it is your own county. There will be many challenges ahead, however there is no doubt that through hard work, a positive attitude and above all a fantastic group of footballers in Clare we will meet the challenge head on,” Paul said.

A three-time Clare SFC winning manager with Éire Óg, Paul was an immediate contender to replace Mark Fitzgerald last season but was quick to rule himself

out of the race.

However, Clare GAA’s top brass have moved quickly to appoint Peter Keane’s successor with the Ennis man top of their list of preferred candidates.

Last September, the Madden family sold the four-star Temple Gate Hotel. His father, John founded the enterprise in 1996 with Paul overseeing operations for more than two decades.

At the beginning of January, he stepped down as Éire Óg manager, he had been appointed in 2017 and helped guide the Townies to become county champions for the first time in fifteen years.

With hotel and Éire Óg commitments no longer in the equation, the time was right for Madden to step up to the inter-county player. Éire Óg won the Jack Daly back to back in 2021

and 2022 while he saw out his tenure with Clare SFC glory in 2024. They exited in the semi-final stages of the Munster club in 2021, 2022 and 2024 to St Finbarr’s by eight points in 2021, to Kerin’s O’Rahillys by a single score in 2022 and to Loughmore-Castleiney by five points in 2024.

During his eight seasons at the helm, Éire Óg tasted league success in 2018 and 2024 while they also won a Senior B title.

As a player, he won a Clare SFC in 2006 and was part of the Éire Óg sides defeated in county finals in 2004 and 2007.

Currently a member of the Clare Football Supporters Club, Paul previously served as Chairperson of Club Clare. He is held in the highest of esteem by those that have played un- der him for Éire Óg.

While Clare GAA were caught on the backfoot once again with no manager in place while the club championships are underway, Madden already has a strong knowledge base of the majority of footballers in the county and has been in attendance at games involving multiple clubs for the first two rounds of the Clare SFC.

There has been no detail provided on the process followed to appoint Madden to the role. Chairman of Clare GAA, Kieran Keating told this week’s County Board meeting, “We started talking over a number of days and we started a process fairly urgently in terms of appointing a successor. We have a consensus as to who we would like to manage Clare and that is Paul Madden. He has confirmed that he is interested”.

Champs survive Burren Gaels scare in first round

ACTION BEGAN in the Clare LGFA adult championships with senior holders Kilmurry Ibrickane held off a stubborn fight from Burren Gaels.

League champions Doora/Barefield blitzed St Joseph’s Miltown scoring 10-16 and holding their West Clare opponents to just three points in sixty minutes.

Group 2’s big clash saw Kilmihil overcome Banner La- dies by nine points while intermediate champions Éire Óg came out second best against Fergus Rovers.

Senior C'Ship Rnd 1 Group 1: Kilmurry Ibrickane 3-17 Burren Gaels 5-6 Fergus Rovers 3-17 Éire Óg 1-4

Group 2: Kilmihil 4-11 Banner 1-11

Doora/Barefield 10-16 St Joseph's Miltown 0-3

Hayes reappointed as minor football boss

JOE HAYES and his management team will continue in charge of the Clare minor footballers for a second season, writes Páraic McMahon. Lissycasey native Hayes was re-appointed at Tuesday’s meeting of the County Board.

His management team is unchanged and includes Cratloe’s Fearghal Carroll and ex Clare footballers Ger Keane, Alan Clohessy and Cathal O’Connor with Tom O’Brien as goalkeeper coach.

His re-appointment was unani-

mously accepted on the proposition of board chairman Kieran Keating seconded by Wolfe Tones delegate, Joe Kelly. The chairman went on to wish the management team well. Clare reached the Munster minor football semi-final after recording wins over Limerick and Waterford. They lost to Tipperary in phase one of the provincial championship and in the Daryl Darcy final before contesting the Munster semi-final against Kerry where they lost 3-16 1-6.

Clare GAA opt against keeping Walsh as U20 manager

by Páraic McMahon

MAURICE WALSH will not continue as manager of the Clare U20 footballers.

Walsh took on the reigns following Michael Neylon’s resignation last November.

Initially Neylon had been appointed to continue for a sixth season but left the role in the wake of Peter Keane’s appointment as Clare senior football manager.

Miltown Malbay’s Neylon

had been in the mix to succeed Mark Fitzgerald in the top job and had been the initial preferred choice of senior officials in Clare GAA until they opted to go with Keane who was the last person to apply for the job and did so after the deadline had passed.

A former manager of the Clare minor footballers, Maurice was interested in returning to the minor job last year but didn’t proceed with putting a ticket together when

Joe Hayes had formed a management to succeed Dermot Coughlan.

At Tuesday’s meeting of the County Board, Chairman of Clare GAA Kieran Keating announced that Walsh would not continued in the post for 2026 and that they hoped to put a proposal before the September meeting for approval of the delegates.

He stated, “We started some work at the weekend on putting an under 20 management

team in place. We had a meeting at the weekend, myself and a few including former players that we consult with to guide us”.

Keating thanked Maurice and his management team for their efforts in the season gone by. He said he had informed the outgoing manager that “we are looking at putting a management team in place. In fairness to him he took the 20s last year quite late in the day and I sincerely thank

him and his team for taking the role. We will proceed with the process over the next few weeks, speaking with the candidate or candidates we feel are best equipped to lead that group for the coming year. We aim to have a proposal at the September meeting”.

Walsh was joined in his U20 management by ex Clare footballer, Kildysart’s Ger ‘Bobby’ Kelly, Daniel Ryan of Kilrush Shamrocks, Lissycasey’s Declan Conway and Shane Mc-

Neilis from Kildysart with Mike Brennan on video analysis, Nathan McNicholas responsible for S&C and Ruth Hassett as physio. During phase one and two of the Munster U20 football championship this year, Clare played six games, winning one and losing five.

Paul Madden Photo by Gerard O’Neill

Lending is our Business

Tenth consecutive QF for Éire Óg

TUS CLARE SHC GROUP 3 ROUND 2

ÉIRE ÓG 1-26

WOLFE TONES 1-12

Venue: Fr Murphy Memorial Park, Newmarket-on-Fergus

Compiled by Seamus Hayes

STORY OF THE GAME

ÉIRE ÓG

Frees For: 9 (4/5)

Wides: 7 (7/1)

Scores from play: 1-15

Spread of scorers: 9

Top scorer: Danny Russell (1-13 9f 1’65 1SC)

Bookings: Aaron Fitzgerald (31)

Own puckouts won: 17 out of 22 (77%)

WOLFE TONES

Frees For: 10 (5/5)

Wides: 9 (4/5)

Scores from play: 1-6

Spread of scorers: 5

Top scorer: Cian O’Rourke (0-6 5f 1’65)

Bookings; S Donnellan (23); Evan O’Gorman (31); John Guilfoyle (44); Cian O’Rourke (50); Aron Shanagher (50 & 58)

Red: Stephen Donnellan (51) Own puckouts: 18/34 (53%)

REFEREE: Kevin Corry (Sixmilebridge)

“

MANAGER COMMENT

Gerry O’Connor, Éire Óg:

“We made good use of the wind in the first half and we were well up at half time. We came out for the second half and got the opening few scores. They hit back with a goal but we played great hurling against the wind”.

“We have been trying to build a panel throughout the past year and create a subs bench. To be fair the young lads

who got game time today were good but they have a number of Clare Cup campaigns behind them. We have had an A v B games in training and these lads have been pushing the A team all the way. A few of those that came on today could be considered a little unlucky not to have been in the starting team”.

Kilmaley on the march after goalfest

TUS CLARE SHC GROUP 4 ROUND 2:

KILMALEY 5-17

CRATLOE 0-20

Venue: Zimmer Biomet Páirc Chíosóg, Ennis

Compiled by Eoin Brennan

STORY OF THE GAME

KILMALEY

Frees for: 11 (8/3)

Wides: 7 (3/4)

Spread of scorers: 12

Scores from play: 4-13

Top scorer: Mikey O’Malley (1-5 1’Pen 4f)

Bookings: None.

Own puckouts won: 16 from 24 (66%)

CRATLOE

Frees for: 18 (8/10) Wides: 4 (3/1)

Spread of scorers: 9

Scores from play: 0-11

Top scorer: Rian Considine (0-7 7f)

Bookings: Conor Ryan (26), Enda Boyce (33), David Collins (37), Podge Collins (44). Own puckouts: 18/29 (62%)

REFEREE: Joe Mullins (Clonlara)

“

MANAGER COMMENT

Brian Culbert, Kilmaley:

“We’ve won and we’re delighted to do that but we’d two wins last year too and it meant nothing so we’re happy to have gotten two performances and four points but we were in the exact same spot 12 months ago.

“Look, we said that we’d better the first half from the last day [against Ballyea] and I think we did that to be level at the break having played into the breeze and after that we just drove on in the second half, got the breaks and a few goals to come through...That said, with ten minutes to go, there was only six points between the teams and a Cratloe goal at that stage would have changed the game again. But the subs that came on made an awful difference as thy brought a new energy and freshness to the whole thing.”

“They got five goals, four in the second half and that’s not like us normally. Conor Cleary caused us problems today and we found it difficult to handle him. We had Diarmuid [Ryan] dropping back for frees but in general play you

don’t want to be tying him down at full-back either. Look, it wasn’t just Conor Cleary either, we just seemed to be second to the ball all over the field really today for whatever reason.

“They appeared to be winning the majority of the breaks and were hungrier to do so and hunger wins most matches.”

Easy win for Clonlara

TUS CLARE SHC GROUP 1 RD 2: CLONLARA 3-21

DOORA-BARFIELD 0-12

Venue: Sixmilebridge

Compiled by Seamus Hayes

MANAGER COMMENT “

“If the ‘Bridge beat Crusheen, and Crusheen beat us you could have three teams on the same points. We have to beat Crusheen the next day to come through. I’m a maths teacher and I have the sums done”.

“It’s hugely disappointing and a hard one to take. We started really well, lads were hurling well. Those two goals, we believe they were soft and we thought totally avoidable. Once those goals went in, we never

recovered. That’s the honest truth. We were beaten by a better team on the day and there is no excuse”.

STORY OF THE GAME

CLONLARA

Frees For: 18 (10/8)

Wides: 13 (8/5)

Scores from play: 2-13

Spread of scorers: 10

Top scorer: Ian Gallvin (210, 1-0 pen. 0-7 frees)

Bookings: Oisin O’Brien (4), Páraic O’Loughlin (26)

Own puckouts won: 10 from 22 (45%)

DOORA/BAREFIELD

Frees For: 13 (7/6)

Wides: 10 (5/5)

Scores from play: 0-5

Spread of scorers: 5

Top scorer: David Conroy (0-6 6f)

Bookings: Darragh Ball (14), Ian Williams (19), Jarlath Colleran (26)

Own puckouts won: 29 out of 37 (78%)

REFEREE: John Bugler (Whitegate)

PLAYER OF THE WEEK

Ian Galvin - Clonlara

IAN GALVIN led by example for Clonlara to secure the nod as the St Francis Credit Union/The Clare Echo player of the week.

Galvin gave a captain’s display for Clonlara scoring 3-10 as they recorded successive victories to have one foot in the knockout stages of the Clare SHC.

His ability and skill is well known but it was the manner in which Ian stepped up as a real leader for the South-East Clare club in the absence of the hugely influential John Conlon, their Clare SHC winning captain of 2023 Jathan McMahon along with Cathal ‘Tots’ O’Connell, Micheál O’Loughlin and David Fitzgerald.

Clonlara manager, Donal Madden said of Galvin’s display in round two, “Ian is a leader, a great comrade and loyal friend. After John’s injury he wanted to stand up today and show leadership and that’s what captains do”. Ian will be presented with a €50 voucher for the Old Ground Hotel courtesy of St Francis Credit Union, sponsor of our senior club hurling championship coverage.

l Superman Shane O’Donnell shrugs off the challenge of Stephen Donnellan and Darragh Lohan Photo by Gerard O’Neill

l Darragh Dillon and Fionn Kelleher battle it out Photo by Gerard O’Neill

Donal Madden, Clonlara: SCAN

Maurice Walsh, Kildysart:

l Kilmaley’s Tommy Barry breaks the ball past Tadhg Lohan of Cratloe

Photo by Gerard O’Neill

John O’Gorman, Cratloe

l Cathal Doohan and Liam Crotty collide

Photo by Gerard O’Neill

Lifeline for Ballyea

TUS CLARE SHC GROUP 4 ROUND 2:

BALLYEA 1-21 SCARIFF 2-16

Venue: Zimmer Biomet Páirc Chíosóg, Ennis

Compiled by Eoin Brennan

STORY OF THE GAME

BALLYEA

Frees for: 11 (6/5)

Wides: 15 (8/7)

Spread of scorers: 7

Scores from play: 1-16

Top scorer: Tony Kelly (1-8 3f)

Bookings: Niall Deasy (37). Own puckouts won: 16 from 29 (55%)

SCARIFF Frees for: 8 (2/6) Wides: 11 (6/5) Spread of scorers: 8 Scores from play: 1-11

Top scorer: Mark Rodgers (2-4 1-2f 1’65)

Bookings: Scott Cairns (25), Seán Collins (37), Liam Crotty (37), Seán Minogue (46) Own puckouts: 25/37 (68%)

REFEREE: Jarlath Donnellan (Wolfe Tones)

“

MANAGER COMMENT

Robbie Hogan, Ballyea:

“It was always going to be a battle because there was a huge amount at stake for both clubs. Fair play to Scariff, we knew that it was going to take everything to overcome them but we just got there in the end.

“We conceded a goal at the end to leave just a point between us but we just showed a bit of composure there at the end to get back and track and kill their momentum.”

Donal Moloney, Scariff:

“It was always going to be a tough group and our boys battled to the end in both games but missed out by only a puck of the ball twice. They did some very good things and also made some mistakes along the way so when these type of games are so marginal, you always point to ifs and buts. We had a couple of goal chances and when we did get the goal at the end, we had five chances to equalise but didn’t take any of them and that ultimately was the difference.”

l Corofin’s Kevin Keane and Conor Leen get caught in a tangle

Corofin crumble

TUS CLARE SHC GROUP 2 ROUND 2:

BROADFORD 5-25 COROFIN 4-10

Venue: Zimmer Biomet Páirc Chíosóg, Ennis

Compiled by Eoin Brennan

STORY OF THE GAME

BROADFORD

Frees for: 21 (11/10)

Wides: 16 (9/7)

Spread of scorers: 8

Scores from play: 5-10

Top scorer: Niall O’Farrell (3-14 13f)

Bookings: N/A

Own puckouts won: 14 from 20 (70%)

COROFIN

Frees for: 8 (4/4)

Wides: 6 (6/0)

Spread of scorers: 6

Scores from play: 3-6

Top scorer: James Organ (2-1) and Gearoid Kelly (1-4 1-4f)

Bookings: Killian O’Connor (25), Damien O’Loughlin (41), Diarmuid Cahill (43). Own puckouts: 23/46 (50%)

REFEREE: Eoghan O’Leary (Whitegate)

“

MANAGER COMMENT

Ger Hickey, Broadford:

“After the game against Clooney/Quin, we were disappointed with the result as we thought that we’d probably done enough in the game to pull through. They took us out at the end which was hard to deal with but the bottom line is that we performed well against Clooney/Quin which meant that we were positive going in against Corofin.

“Now they took us for four goals in the first half and

we probably had a bit of rejigging to do but we’re really proud of the way we responded in what was a great second half performance.

“Corofin are a well drilled team and I knew that at first hand as when I was with Dromin Athlacca I came across them in the Munster Intermediate campaign so I knew the quality that they had.”

Clooney-Quin victorious again

TUS CLARE SHC GROUP 2 ROUND 2:

CLOONEY-QUIN 1-27 INAGH-KILNAMONA 2-23

Venue: Zimmer Biomet Páirc Chíosóg, Ennis

Compiled by Seamus Hayes

STORY OF THE GAME

CLOONEY/QUIN

Frees for: 10 (4/6)

Wides: 10 (7/3)

Spread of scorers: 8

Scores from play: 1-19

Top scorer: Peter Duggan (0-11 7f 1’65)

Bookings: N/A

MANAGER COMMENT “

Fergal Lynch, Clooney-Quin:

“We knew this game was going to go right down to the wire towards the end because they [Inagh-Kilnamona] were a little more seasoned and developed than us so to win a battle like that was huge.

Spread of scorers: 9

Own puckouts won: 22 from 31 (71%) INAGH/KILNAMONA Frees for: 5 (2/3) Wides: 6 (2/4)

Scores from play: 2-18

Top scorer: Aidan McCarthy (2-9 4f 1’65)

Bookings: David Fitzgerald (26), Tomás Kelly (53) (manager) Own puckouts won: 30 from 38 (79%)

REFEREE: Niall Malone (Éire Óg)

SCAN HERE FOR MATCH REPORT

“We trained really hard throughout the Clare Cup campaign with the aim of trying to get out of this group. In years gone by, Clooney would have been in positions like this and come out on the wrong side of it so thankfully so far against Broadford and InaghKilnamona we coming out on the right side of tight games and battles.

l Lorcan Fitzpatrick of Sixmilebridge maneuvers away from Crusheen’s Jamie Fitzgibbon

TUS CLARE SHC GROUP 1 ROUND 2:

SIXMILEBRIDGE 1-20 CRUSHEEN 1-17

Venue: Gurteen

Compiled by Eoin Brennan

STORY OF THE GAME Injury-hit Bridge prevail

SIXMILEBRIDGE

Frees for: 12 (5/7)

Wides: 9 (4/5)

Spread of scorers: 7

Scores from play: 1-11

Top scorer: Alex Morey (1-10 9f)

Bookings: Conor Deasy (61)

Own puckouts won: 19 from 32 (59%)

REFEREE: Jim Hickey (Cratloe)

CRUSHEEN

Frees for: 9 (5/4)

Wides: 14 (11/3)

Spread of scorers: 7

Scores from play: 1-12

Top scorer: Breffni Horner (0-5 1f)

Bookings: Ross Hayes (41), Alan Tuohy (51) (selector

Own puckouts won: 18 from 30 (60%)

MANAGER COMMENT “

Tommy Liddy, Sixmilebridge: Michael Browne, Crusheen:

“Every game we play against Crusheen it seems to go right down to the wire and today it was no different. They’re two teams that are physically well matched and have plenty of hurling and in the heat of battle, neither team is found wanting so obviously we’re just delighted to come out on top.

TUS CLARE SHC GROUP 3 ROUND 2:

FEAKLE 1-19 NEWMARKET-ON-FERGUS 1-17

Venue: Zimmer Biomet Páirc Chiosóg, Ennis

Compiled by Eoin Brennan

FEAKLE Frees For: 12 (8/4) Wides: 10 (4/6)

Scores from play: 1-12

Spread of Scorers: 5

Top Scorer: Shane McGrath (0-11 7f) Yellow Cards: Steven Conway (41), Fiachra Donnellan (Mentor) (57) Own puck-outs: 14/31 (45%)

NEWMARKET Frees For: 11 (4/7) Wides: 14 11/3)

Scores from Play: 1-9

Spread of Scorers: 8

Top Scorer: Eanna Crimmins (0-8 5f 1’65) Yellow Card: Mikey McInerney (25) Own Puck-Outs won: 19 from 30 (63%)

REFEREE: Fergal O’Brien (Broadford)

“We had no idea of the injury problems they had and it just goes to show how strong a club they are that they were able to replace the big players they had to cover for so effectively and in the end they ground out the win and you have to admire them. We’ve no complaints, the better team in that second half won because when the game was there for both sides, they were just able tov find that extra gear.”

l Adam Hogan snatches the sliotar from Newmarket’s

Photo by Gerard O’Neill

Photo by Gerard O’Neill

SCAN HERE FOR MATCH REPORT

SCAN HERE FOR MATCH REPORT

Rose outduels Fleetwood as Ryder Cup dreams come alive

This past weekend at TPC Southwind in Memphis, Justin Rose demonstrated once again that grit paired with skill can still triumph.

In a dramatic conclusion to the FedEx St. Jude Championship, Rose clawed his way back from a three-shot deficit on the final five holes, eventually prevailing in a tense playoff against U.S. Open champion J.J. Spaun. The veteran produced two clutch birdies in sudden-death to seal his first victory since the 2023 Pebble Beach Pro-Am and earn a hard-fought return to the winner’s circle .

While Rose’s resurgence made headlines, the story of the weekend was equally defined by Tommy Fleetwood’s latest near heartbreak. The Englishman entered Sunday holding a slim lead, but a late bogey at 17 and errant shots

on the final holes kept him from joining the playoff, finishing tied for third . It marked yet another chapter in an astonishing narrative : Fleetwood now holds a PGA Tour record 43 top-10 finishes without ever claiming victory.

Clare Camogie championship

by Seamus Hayes

news@clareecho.ie

THE race to be crowned Clare Credit Unions senior camogie champions gets underway on this Friday evening with four games down for decision.

Ten clubs are competing for the title divided into two groups of five. Newmarket-on-Fergus and Clareastle/Ballyea have received first round byes and won’t begin their challenge for honours until round 2 which is scheduled for two weeks time.

First round games in the intermediate, and junior grades will also take place this weekend.

Defending Clare and Munster champions, Truagh/ Clonlara open their senior campaign against St Josephs, Doora-Barefield in Newmarket-on-Fergus.

Last year’s beaten finalists Inagh/Kilnamona will take on Kilkishen at Clareabbey while Scariff/Ogonnelloe, winners three years ago, will face Tulla at Fr. McNamara Park.

The remaining first round game sees Feakle/Killanena take on Kilmaley and this game will take place at Clarecastle.

While all clubs will have hopes of being in contention, the popular view is that it will be one of the ‘big three’, Truagh/Clonlara (holders), Inagh- Kilnamona and Scariff/Ogonnelloe that will be celebrating come final day on Saturday October 18. Truagh/Clonlara and Scariff/Ogonnelloe have been drawn in Group 1. With a new county senior manager due to be appointed to replace John Carmody who recently announced his retirement from the position, players will be keen to put their hands up for selection.

Nominations for the position of Clare manager close later this month.

The championship groupings are: Group 1: Truagh/Clonlara, St. Josephs, Scariff-Ogonnelloe, Tulla and Newmarket-on-Fergus Group 2; Inagh-Kilnamona, Killkishen, Feakle-Killanena, Kilmaley and Clarecastle-Ballyea

*For team profiles of all senior teams, visit clareecho.ie

Fleetwood’s plight is made even more remarkable when you consider the consistency of his performances. He has amassed over $31 million in PGA Tour prize money, all without a win to show for it, is a testament to both

his persistent contention and the cruel slippage at the very end. Despite this, Fleetwood remains a popular figure: his professionalism and positive outlook strike a chord across the golfing world.

In a twist both compelling and gratifying, the conclusion of the weekend delivered cause for celebration for both players. Their performances secured automatic qualification for Team Europe at the upcoming Ryder Cup, set to unfold from September 26th – 28th at Bethpage Black in New York . It will mark the latest chapter in an esteemed partnership between Fleetwood and Rose affectionately dubbed "Tommy and Justin" who last stood side by side representing Europe in the 2023 edition of the tournament.

The prospect of Rose and Fleetwood teeing off together

once again at such a prestigious event that is the Ryder, will excite the masses. Rose, now 45, may indeed be nearing the final pages of his Ryder Cup journey. Yet his unwavering commitment to fitness powered by infrared saunas, regular steam room sessions, and a disciplined approach to longevity hints that he may still have more to offer. Could the Irish golf world see him on the greens again in Adare in 2027 ? Only time will tell, but having both players qualify again for this years Ryder Cup does bring some additional excitement to the event for sure. If Tommy and Justin do get paired together I feel like it would be a similar relationship to the one Tommy had with Francesco Molinari back in 2018. There is one thing for sure it will be an epic battle this year at Bethpage Black between Europe and the USA.

Ennis teen Lyne signs for Manchester Utd

by Seamus Hayes news@clareecho.ie

ENNIS teenager, Ben Lyne has signed for Manchester United. Several Premier League clubs were interested in signing the highly rated attacker but he has put pen to paper on a deal with one of the biggest clubs in the game.

Fifteen year old Ben joins Man Utd from Wolves, a versatile forward he is equally comfortable playing on the

left and through the middle. His new manager is former Man Utd midfielder, Darren Fletcher.

While Brexit rules have prevented many young Irish footballers from signing with clubs in the UK until they turn eighteen, Ben has been able to navigate over this obstacle through the fact he was born in the Cayman Islands.

A son of Seanie and Maeve, Ben joined Wolves from the

Cayman Islands football academy, Total Soccer Cayman, where he caught the attention of Wolves scouts in an English youth tournament.

In May, he scored both goals for St Flannan’s College to help them win the FAI Schools First Year Boys National Cup 2-1 against Scoil Dara, Kilcock on a scoreline of 2-1.

He was named as a Community Games All Star for

O'Grady appointed as CDSL Fixtures

NINE-TIME Clare Cup winner with Newmarket Celtic, David O’Grady has been appointed as the new fixtures secretary with the Clare District Soccer League (CDSL), writes Páraic McMahon

Delegates were informed at a CDSL meeting on Monday night that O’Grady was to take on the mantle as fixtures secretary. The role is considered to be one of the most demanding in Clare soccer.

Ciarán Keane of Shannon Hibs was initially appointed to the role following the CDSL AGM but work commitments forced him to step down from the post after a matter of weeks. Keane will stay involved on the CDSL as a Committee Member.

Chairman of the CDSL, Donal Magee told The Clare Echo their efforts to appoint a PRO are ongoing. The position has been vacant since the AGM in June when Denis Collins stepped down. Flan Hehir who bowed out as secretary two months ago has committed to stay on the Committee as assistant secretary.

Magee was hopeful further additions would also be made to the CDSL Committee to assist with new projects.

O’Grady was last year part of Eoin O’Brien’s management with Newmarket Celtic as they won the Clare Cup for the twentieth time. O’Brien has since stood down from the role.

It was his first season not lining out with

Celtic where he had been a regular presence at full-back, injury prompting him to retire.

He was right-back on the Newmarket Celtic team which won the FAI Junior Cup in 2023, his performance on the day saw him curb the influence of the highly rated

Secretary

In

St Michael’s winger Jimmy Carr.

September 2020, O’Grady alongside O’Brien, Eoin Hayes and Darren Cullinan made history when they won a ninth Clare Cup medal in a row as Celtic defeated Avenue Utd B 2-0 in the Cup final.

U12 soccer in October 2022. He is a former player with Ennis Town FC.

PLANNING

CLARE COUNTY COUNCIL

We, Power Capital BESS Developments Ltd intend to apply for permission for development at this site within the townland of Coolshamroge, County Clare.

The development will consist of a 10-year permission for a Synchronous Condenser and Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) across a site of approximately 2.97 hectares. The development will have an operational capacity of c. 50 MW and will consist of the construction of battery energy storage system units, power conversion units, a synchronous condenser, control modules and rooms, transformers and bunds, cooling equipment, a generator circuit breaker, an emergency diesel generator with associated fuel tank, water tank, underground cabling, fencing with access gates, CCTV and lighting posts, and a temporary construction compound. The development will also involve new and upgraded access tracks, and all associated landscaping, and ancillary works. Construction is expected to take approximately six months and be in operation for up to 30 years. A

NOTICES

Natura Impact Statement (NIS) has been submitted with this application.

The planning application may be inspected or purchased at a fee not exceeding the reasonable cost of making a copy, at the offices of the planning authority during its public opening hours.

A submission or observation in relation to the application may be made in writing to the planning authority on payment of the prescribed fee, €20, within the period of 5 weeks beginning on the date of receipt by the authority of the application and such submissions or observations will be considered by the planning authority in making a decision on the application. The planning authority may grant permission subject to or without conditions or may refuse to grant permission.

CLARE COUNTY COUNCIL 7 GIRROGA HEIGHTS, GORT ROAD, ENNIS, CO CLARE V95 PDX9

Take notice that Kay Magdeburg intends to apply for Retention Permission to retain the existing basement area, cov-

ered storage area and balcony at the rear of the existing dwelling house including all ancillary services and works at the above address.

The planning application may be inspected or purchased at a fee not exceeding the reasonable cost of making a copy at the offices of the Planning Authority, Clare County Council, Aras Contae an Chlair, New Road, Ennis, Co. Clare during its public opening hours.

A submission or observation in relation to the application may be made to the Planning Authority, in writing, on payment of a fee of €20.00 within five weeks beginning on the date of receipt by the Authority of the Planning Application.

CLARE COUNTY COUNCIL GURRANE, ENNISTYMON, CO CLARE.

Take notice that Debbie Gilroy and Gearoid White intend to apply for planning permission to build a dwelling house, garage, install a waste water treatment system, create a new entrance onto

(AN CHUIRT DUICHE)

THE DISTRICT COURT DISTRICT COURT AREA OF ENNIS DISTRICT NO. 12

AN CHUIRT DUICHE

THE DISTRICT COURT District Court Area of Kilrush District No. 12

PUBLIC DANCE HALLS ACT, 1935 SECTION 2

NOTICE OF APPLICATION FOR A PUBLIC DANCING LICENCE

TIGL IRELAND ENTERPRISES LIMITED APPLICANT NOTICE OF APPLICATION FOR A PUBLIC DANCE LICENCE

TAKE NOTICE that TIGL IRELAND ENTERPRISES LIMITED having its registered office at Trump International Hotel and Golf Links, Doonbeg, in the County of Clare intends to apply to the Annual Licensing District Court at Kilrush in the County of Clare on the 16th day of September 2025 at 10:30 a.m. for the grant of a Licence to use a particular place, to wit: the “Function Venue/Wedding Pavillion” adjacent to the Trump International Hotel and Golf Links, Doonbeg County Clare in the Court Area and District aforesaid for public dancing.

Dated this 11th day of August 2025. Signed: - Houlihan Burke & Company Solicitors for the Applicant, Suite 1, Áras Smith O’Brien, Bank Place, Ennis, Co. Clare.

IN THE MATTER OF:THE PUBLIC DANCE HALLS ACT, 1935 SECTION(s) 2, 8 AND IN THE MATTER OF:THE FIRE SERVICES ACT, 1981 THE LICENSING ACTS 1833 TO 2010 THE INTOXICATING LIQUOR ACT, 2000 AND IN THE MATTER OF:THE LICENSING (COMBATING DRUG ABUSE) ACT, 1997 THE DISTRICT COURT RULES, ORDER 86 IN THE MATTER OF AN APPLICATION OF:TIMBERTOES ULC APPLICANT NOTICE OF APPLICATION FOR A PUBLIC DANCE LICENCE

TAKE NOTICE that TIMBERTOES ULC having its registered office at Clare Road, Ennis, Co. Clare intends to apply at the Annual Licensing Court sitting at The Courthouse, Lifford Road, Ennis in the County of Clare in the Court area and District aforesaid, on the 26th September 2025 at 10:30 a.m. or so soon thereafter as this application may be taken in its order in the Court list, for the grant of a Licence to use a particular place to wit: “TREACY’S WEST COUNTY HOTEL” and situate at Clare Road, Ennis, in the County of Clare in the District aforesaid, for PUBLIC DANCING.

Dated this 11th day of August 2025.

Signed: Houlihan Burke & Company

Solicitors for the Applicant

Suite 1,

Aras Smith O’Brien, Bank Place, Ennis Co. Clare

the public road and all associated and ancillary site works at the above address.

The planning application may be inspected or purchased at a fee not exceeding the reasonable cost of making a copy, at the offices of the planning authority, during its public opening hours.

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

CLARE COUNTY COUNCIL BALLYCONNOE SOUTH, LISDOONVARNA, CO CLARE.

Take notice that Aisling Hogan intends to apply for planning permission to build a new house, garage, install a waste water treatment system and all associated and ancillary site works at the above address.

The planning application may be inspected or purchased at a fee not exceeding the reasonable cost of making a copy, at the offices of the planning authority,

during its public opening hours.

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

CLARE COUNTY COUNCIL FAIRYFIELD, LEMENAGH MORE, NEWMARKET-ONFERGUS CO. CLARE. I Ann Ryan intend to apply to the above authority for permission for retention of a shed to the side of the dwelling house at Fairyfield, Lemenagh More, Newmarket-on-Fergus, Co. Clare, V95 Y4A0. The planning application may be inspected or purchased at a fee not exceeding the reasonable cost of making a copy, at the offices of the Planning Authority, during its public opening hours. A submission or observation in relation to the application may be made to the Authority in writing on payment of the prescribed fee of €20 within the period of 5 weeks beginning on the date of receipt by the authority of the application.

Continues page 37

Courts Licence No: LIC-12234

Revenue Licence No: ENP0349

Case No: D:LIC:ENIS:2025:006457

An Chuirt Duiche The District Court Licensing (Ireland) Act 1833

Section 6

Intoxicating Liquor Act, 1960

Section 29

NOTICE OF APPLICATION FOR CERTIFICATE OF TRANSFER OF A LICENCE

District Court Area of Ennis District No. 12

Seamus and Margaret Bohan Applicant TAKE NOTICE that the above-named Applicant Seamus and Margaret Bohan of Main Street, Feakle , Clare intends to apply to the Annual Licensing Court to be held at the Court at Ennis District Court on the 26-Sep-2025 at 10:30 for the TRANSFER to the Applicant of the Publican’s Licence (7-Day Ordinary) licence attached to the premises known as Bohan’s Bar Feakle and situate at Feakle, Feakle, Clare in the court area and district aforesaid.

Signed Hassett Considine LLP

Solicitor for Applicant

Solicitors, 9 & 10 Carmody Street, Business Park Ennis, Clare

Dated 12 Aug 2025

To the Garda Superintendent, at CT.Clare. CE@Garda.ie, Ennis Garda Station, Abbey Street, Ennis, Clare, V95 TR83

To the Fire Officer, at fireoff@clarecoco.ie, Clare Fire Station, Ennis, Clare, V95 CD74

To the Health Service Executive Official, at pehoclare@hse.ie

To the District Court Clerk, Ennis District Court

CLARE COUNTY COUNCIL We, LGHF Mc Limited, intend to apply for planning permission for development at 11 O’Connell Street, Kilkee, Co. Clare V15RW13. The development will consist of the change of use from retail use to retail with ancillary use as an off licence and associated works. The planning application may be inspected, or purchased at a fee not exceeding the reasonable cost of making a copy, at the offices of the planning authority during its public opening hours and 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. WESTPOINT, KILRUSH ROAD, ENNIS, COUNTY CLARE.

Take notice that Tempside Ltd. (T/A Polonez) is applying to Clare County Council for permission for change of use from retail warehouse to convenience store incorporating off-license at part of the Westpoint building (unit1), Kilrush Road, Ennis Co. Clare, together with the provision of associated signage. The area of the proposed change of use measures 476 square metres.

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

CLARE COUNTY COUNCIL DEAMUR HOUSE, DRUMQUIN, BAREFIELD, ENNIS, CO CLARE

Take Notice that Liam Murphy intends to apply to the planning authority for permission for development at this site at Deamur House, Drumquin, Barefield Ennis Co Clare.

The Permission seeks to demolish the existing storey and a half house at this address and to construct in its place a similar storey and a half type dwelling. The application also seeks permission to relocate the existing onsite effluent treatment system and all other associated and ancillary site works .

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

CHIMNEY CLEANING

WINDERS

D/D1 Licence Needed Top Rates Paid Plus Holiday Pay

. Domestic & Commercial . Only top quality paints used, giving a high quality nish . Thorough and reliable service guaranteed.

. C2 & VAT Reg. All areas Covered Call Mark on (086)-0561995 winderspaintinganddecorating.ie/ Follow us on Facebook

The District Court No. 86.3 Public Dance Halls Act, 1935 NOTICE OF APPLICATION FOR A PUBLIC DANCING LICENCE

District Court Area of Ennis District No. 12 Camison Limited Applicant

TAKE NOTICE that the above-named Applicant Camison Limited of Auburn Lodge Hotel, Galway Road, Ennis, Clare, Ireland intends to apply to the District Court at Ennis District Court on the 26 Sep 2025 at 10:30 for the grant of an Annual Dance Licence a Licence to use a particular place, to wit: LOCATION Auburn Lodge situate at Gort Road, Ennis, Clare, in court area and district aforesaid, for public dancing.

Signed MHP Sellors LLP

Solicitor for Applicant Solicitors 9/10/11 Bindon Street, Ennis , Clare

The District Court No. 86.3 Public Dance Halls Act, 1935

NOTICE OF APPLICATION FOR A PUBLIC DANCING LICENCE

District Court Area of Ennis District No. 12 Sunny Bay Limited Applicant

TAKE NOTICE that the above-named Applicant Eamonn Fitzgerald as nominee of Sunny Bay Limited of 28 Pine Grove, Ennis, Clare, Ireland intends to apply to the District Court at Ennis District Court on the 26 Sep 2025 at 10:30 for the grant of an Annual Dance Licence a Licence to use a particular place, to wit: LOCATION Claremont Hotel, Lahinch, Clare situate at Lahinch, Lahinch, Clare, in court area and district aforesaid, for public dancing.

Signed MHP Sellors LLP

Solicitor for Applicant Solicitors 9/10/11 Bindon Street, Ennis, Clare

AN CHUIRT DUICHE

THE DISTRICT COURT District Court Area of Kilrush District No. 12

PUBLIC DANCE HALLS ACT, 1935

Continued from page 35

AN CHUIRT DUICHE

THE DISTRICT COURT DISTRICT COURT AREA OF KILRUSH DISTRICT NO. 12

PUBLIC DANCE HALLS ACT, 1935

TAKE NOTICE that an Application will be made by us the undersigned Solicitors on behalf of Gerard Haugh (Ennis) Limited, having its registered office at O’Curry Street, Kilkee, in the County of Clare, to the District Judge sitting at Kilrush District Court on Tuesday the 16th day of September 2025 at 10.30 a.m., being the Annual Licencing Court, for Renewal of a Public Dancing Licence in respect of the premises known as Loop, Myles Creek, O’Curry Street, Kilkee, Co. Clare.

Dated this 13th day of August 2025

Signed: O’ Kelly Moylan Solicitors, Solicitors for the Applicant Market Square Kilrush Co. Clare

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

And: The Superintendent, Garda Siochana, Ennis Road, Kilrush, Co. Clare.

And: The Chief Fire Officer, Clare County Council, New Road, Ennis, Co. Clare.

AN CHÚIRT DÚICHE (The District Court) DISTRICT COURT AREA OF ENNIS DISTRICT NO. 12 LICENSING ACTS 1833 TO 2011 THE LICENSING (IRELAND) ACT 1833

SECTION 6

SECTION 2

NOTICE OF APPLICATION FOR A PUBLIC DANCING LICENCE TIGL IRELAND ENTERPRISES LIMITED APPLICANT

NOTICE OF APPLICATION FOR A PUBLIC DANCE LICENCE

TAKE NOTICE that TIGL IRELAND ENTERPRISES LIMITED having its registered office at Trump International Hotel and Golf Links, Doonbeg, in the County of Clare intends to apply to the Annual Licensing District Court at Kilrush in the County of Clare on the 16th day of September 2025 at 10:30 a.m. for the grant of a Licence to use a particular place, to wit: Trump International Hotel and Golf Links, Doonbeg County Clare in the Court Area and District aforesaid for public dancing.

Dated this 11th day of August 2025. Signed: - Houlihan Burke & Company Solicitors for the Applicant, Suite 1, Áras Smith O’Brien, Bank Place, Ennis, Co. Clare.

As Amended by Substitution in the First Schedule to the Courts (No2) Act 1986 INTOXICATING LIQUOR ACT 1960 SECTION 29 THE DISTRICT COURT RULES 1997 ORDER 79 NOTICE OF APPLICATION FOR CONFIRMATION OF TRANSFER OF SEVEN DAY ORDINARY ONLICENCCE MORADAVIEW LTD.

APPLICANT THE GOOD HOUSE, INAGH, CO. CLARE NAME OF PREMISES

TAKE NOTICE that Moradaview LTD of Main Street, Kilfenora, Co. Clare intends to apply to the Annual Licensing District Court on the 26th day of September 2025 at The Courthouse, Ennis in the County of Clare at 10.30a.m. for the TRANSFER of the seven day ordinary on-licence attached to the premises known as The Good House, Inagh in the County of Clare in the Court area and District aforesaid.

Dated this 11th day of August 2025

Signed: Houlihan Burke & Co, Solicitors for the Applicant Suite 1, Aras Smith O’Brien, Bank Place, Ennis, Co. Clare

The Clare Echo Quiz

1. The Kilmaley Inn was originally known by what name? Tobin’s O’Brien’s

2. Kilmaley last won the Clare senior hurling championship in what year?

3. What Kilmaley man was part of the All-Ireland winning Clare teams of 1995 and 1997? Alan Markham Conor Clancy Diarmuid McMahon

4. Which Saint is the parish church in Kilmaley named after? St Martin St Dominic St John

5. Approximately how tall is Mount Callan? 391m 400m 515m

6. Kilmaley born playwright Máiréad Ní Ghráda wrote which famous play? Juno and the Paycock An Triail An Laisir Choille

7. How many kilometres west of Ennis is Kilmaley? 10 8 15

8. What year did Lisroe national school close? 1969 1970 1971

9. The townland of Cloontabonniv is in which village? Connolly Kilmaley Inch

10. Who are the current sponsors of the Kilmaley Senior Hurlers?

McGraths’ XL

McNamees’ Londis Carney’s Bar

McNamees’ Londis

An Triail 8 1970 Connolly

Spot the Difference

ANSWERS

weeks Answers

PPAI Photographers, Ray McManus, Kieran Ryan Benson, David Branigan, President of Press Photographers Ireland CLG, Niall Kearns, Airport Director at Shannon Airport, Brendan Gleeson, Liam Burke and John Kelly pictured as Press Photographers Ireland CLG Exhibition Opens at Shannon Airport Photo by Don Moloney

WORD SEARCH

The Clare Echo Crossword

Airman

Apprentice

Author

Censor

Champion Citizen

Dictator

Director

Doctor

Member

Seaman

Showman

1 Section of a book (7)

2 Of a pope (5)

3 Assuaged (7)

4 Idea (6)

5 Inflexible (5)

Alike all over (7) 7 Wood nymph (5)

Deserved (7)

One of the senses (7)

Calmed with drugs (7)

Sickness (6)

Capital of Bulgaria (5) 19 Floating markers (5) 21 Take an oath (5)