The Clare Echo 26/02/26

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Feb 31, 26,2024 2026 THE CLARE ECHO Thursday, Oct

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Ennis TOUGH MUCKER Hospital granted €3.6m

by Páraic McMahon paraic@clareecho.ie

ENNIS HOSPITAL has been granted €3.6m in a major expansion while a public meeting is to take place as County Clare ramps up its fight to secure a new hospital.

Under the HSE’s Capital Plan for 2026, health projects in Clare have received an allocation of €6.25m.

The biggest of these sees €3.6m set aside for the building of a 48-bed ward

block, a new theatre block with two theatres, a central sterile services department, accommodation and four recovery bays for Ennis Hospital.

Minister for Health, Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (FG) has been invited to attend a public meeting in Ennis on Monday where the public will be encouraged to share their views on healthcare in the region.

Full Story p6

Jodie Cahill navigates her way through the tricky terrain in The Toughest Tribe in Kilmaley on Saturday

Future of Shannon region is ‘limitless’

by Páraic McMahon paraic@clareecho.ie

SHANNON’s future “is limitless” but action needs to be more visible on implementing the Town Centre Masterplan and putting a rail link in place with the Airport.

As it celebrates thirty years, Shannon Chamber is looking to a stronger future for the Mid-West region.

Pre s i d e nt of Shannon C h a m b e r, Mark Nolan has pinpointed delivery on the

Shannon Town Centre Masterplan which was launched four years ago and increasing the retail representation of the Chamber as key goals during his tenure.

He told The Clare Echo, “The future for the Shannon region is limitless. If you brought someone in who never knew anything about Ireland and told them, there is Shannon, an international airport with infrastructure they would be calling it a golden nugget and asking why more wasn’t being done to develop its infrastructure”.

More on p.17 - p40

Photo by Tom Micks

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THE CLARE ECHO Thursday, Feb 26, 2026

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Shannon Chamber Celebrate 30 Years

Search underway to find Clare’s most inspiring young people

P. 17-40

NEWSDESK

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

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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.

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NOMINATIONS have opened to find Clare’s most inspiring young people in the eighth Clare Garda Youth Awards.

An Garda Síochána Clare Division, in partnership with The Shannon Airport Group, are calling on communities across the county to help identify young people whose kindness, courage, leadership, or resilience deserves recognition.

These awards honour young people aged 13 to 21 who make a positive impact in their community, whether through individual acts of volunteerism, collaborative youth initiatives, exceptional personal

achievements, or efforts that help improve safety throughout their community.

Nominations are open to the public and can be submitted by anyone, family, friends, teachers, neighbours who sees the value in a young person’s contribution. Nominations must be completed by a nominator. The closing date for nominations is March 23rd, 2026.

Entry forms for the competition are now available and can be accessed on the Garda Siochana website: www.garda.ie/en/crime-prevention/community-

engagement/an-garda-siochana-youth-awards/ or on The Shannon Airport Group website: www.snnairportgroup.ie/clare-garda-divisionyouth-awards-open-for-2026/.

A copy of the nomination form can also be requested by emailing Ennis.community@garda.ie.

Forms are also available from local Garda stations.

Pictured L-R Chief Superintendent Aileen Magner, Interim CEO of The Shannon Airport Group, Ray O’Driscoll, Tara Moroney, Colaiste Muire Ennis and Eorann Edwards, St Caimins Shannon Photo by Arthur Ellis

Driver issued penalty points after telling four courts she didn’t receive over 50 FCPNs

by Gordon Deegan news@clareecho.ie

A total of 52 Fixed Charge Penalty Notices (FCPNs) have been issued in the post to a Clare motorist for alleged driving offences and has no penalty points, before now, a court has heard.

This follows Judge Francis Comerford telling Shannon care assistant, Sarah Jane McInerney (29) “I don’t believe a word you are saying” after she said that she didn’t receive a Fixed Charge Penalty Notice (FCPN) in the post for holding a mobile phone while driving her 241 D registered car on the R471 at Tullyvarraga, Shannon, Co Clare on April 21st 2025.

At Ennis Circuit Court, State Solicitor for Clare, Aisling Casey told the court that this was Ms McInerney’s fourth time in court since 2022 to give sworn evidence in different cases from the witness box to say that she didn’t receive FCPNs in the post for alleged driving offences.

On previous three occasions, judges struck out the driving prosecutions against Ms McInerney and any resulting penalty points based on her sworn evidence that she didn’t receive the FCPNs. Ms Casey asked Mc McInerney how many times she has come to Ennis courthouse before now to

tell judges that she has not received FCPN for driving offences.

Ms McInerney replied, “I am not sure to be honest,” and Ms Casey told her three times.

Ms Casey told McInerney that this excuse of not receiving a FCPN in the post “has run out. The postal service is not that bad”.

Ms McInerney said that all of the 48 houses in her Inbhear na Sionna estate in Shannon “are all identical” and her house at No 36 has no number on it.

Ms McInerney said that that have been mix-ups in the post in her estate where she has received the post addressed to neighbours.

Ms McInerney told the court that she was no penalty points and Ms Casey told the court that a total of 52 FCPNs have been issued in the post to Ms McInerney arising from alleged driving offences.

Ms McInerney was before the court appealing a €300 district court fine for holding a mobile phone while driving and Judge Comerford has affirmed the order of the District Court and doubled to fine to €600 and said penalty points apply.

He said, “I just can’t regard her as a credible witness at this point”.

Judge Comerford said, “This case shows why people the FCPN system isn’t good

because people can take gross advantage of it and I am satisfied that Sarah Jane McInerney is taking gross advantage of the system.”

He said, “The system works by and large because the vast majority of people are honest when they receive their penalty notice”.

He said, “That is why the Government won’t change it because the vast majority of people are honest and it is not economically sensible to put a different system in place”.

Judge Comerford said that the case “is a classic example of why the system is not good” of relying on ordinary post to send out FCPNs. In evidence, Garda Michael Daniels said that Ms McInerney was “a bit irate” when he stopped her on April 21st 2025.

He said, “She told me I should have better things to be doing on a bank holiday and she should be entitled to answer her phone. She said I should be instead stopping drug dealers”.

Ms McInerney said that took a work call when she answered her mobile phone.

In an exchange in court with Ms Casey, Ms McInerney said that it was “bit of inconvenient for me to be even be here today…I don’t want to be coming to court”.

Ms McInerney said that she should be at work.

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THE CLARE ECHO Thursday, Feb 26, 2026

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THE CLARE ECHO Thursday, Feb 26, 2026

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Prison support sought for Carrigaholt robbery accused who has been in same clothes for a month

by Gordon Deegan news@clareecho.ie

A SOLICITOR for one of the four Clare men accused of robbery of Carrigaholt Post Office has asked for prison support for his client stating that the man is in the same clothes as he was four or five weeks ago.

At Ennis District Court today, John Casey said that his client, Darragh Pender (30) of Dun na hInse, Ennis is currently getting no support in Limerick prison.

Mr Casey asked for the social worker to intervene after saying that Mr Pender “is literally in the same clothes he was four or five weeks ago”.

Mr Casey told Judge Alec Gabbett, “He has no outside support and can you direct a social worker to help to make his life somewhat easier”.

Mr Casey said, “He can’t get his clothes on the outside because there is no one to get them for him”.

Judge Gabbett asked, “This is because his family has backed away”.

Mr Casey said, “Yes, for the moment anyway”.

Mr Casey said that Mr Pender is on remand in custody with consent to bail from the High Court but is unable to

take up bail currently as he cannot currently provide a bail address to court.

Mr Pender’s three co-accused all remain on remand at Limerick prison and all appeared via video-link from Limerick prison on Wednesday.

Co-accused Michael McMahon (38) of Plunkett Drive, Kilkishen, also appeared and Judge Gabbett said that the High Court has refused Mr McMahon bail and further remanded him in custody to March 11th.

Judge Gabbett first refused bail to all four at Ennis District Court last month.

Sgt John Burke said that the four are charged with “a serious offence” and said that the file in the case is at completion stage and asked for an adjournment to March 11th in all four cases.

Martin Downes (36) of Seafield Park, Quilty also appeared via video-link and his solicitor, Tara Godfrey said that Mr Downes secured bail in the High Court on condition he can provide an address but he remains in custody as he has been unable to provide a bail address.

Ms Godfrey told her client that if he does obtain bail be-

fore the next court date he is to show up in person in court on March 11th.

Judge Gabbett also further remanded co-accused Darren Cassidy (38) of Lifford Mews, Lifford, Ennis in custody and noted that there was no High Court bail application in his case.

In the case, Mr Downes, Mr Cassidy, Mr Pender and Mr McMahon are each charged with robbing Maura McKiernan, the post-mistress of An Post Carrigaholt, The Square, Carrigaholt of cash, coins and a cheque to the value of €8,944.63, contrary to Section 14 of the Criminal justice (Theft and Fraud Offences) Act 2001 on January 21st.

At a contested bail hearing last month Sgt Shane Graham on behalf of the Gardaí successfully opposed bail and told the court that it is the Garda belief that the four men before the court charged with robbery were part of a four person joint enterprise “who acted in concert and colluded in order to carry out a cold and calculated robbery”.

Opposing bail for the four, Sgt Graham said that it will be alleged that the

four-member strong gang “involved two getaway drivers and two members of the gang that entered the premises where the post mistress was violently and viciously assaulted with iron bars by both males”.

Sgt Graham was one of the members of An Garda Síochana who was involved in a high speed car chase across West Clare that ended on the outskirts of Ennis where the four suspects were apprehended by members of the Garda Armed Response Unit (ARU) at 3.45pm, January 21st.

Sgt Graham said that during the case, items were thrown from the alleged second getaway car, a BMW, and he said that Gardaí later recovered €6,500 in notes and coins from the road.

Sgt Graham said that it will be alleged that Mr Pender and Mr Downes were the getaway drivers involved in the alleged robbery and confirmed to the court that both men have no previous convictions.

Judge Gabbett remanded all four in custody to appear before Ennis District Court to March 11th.

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THE CLARE ECHO Thursday, Feb 26, 2026

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Man appears in court Health Minister concerning possession of invited to attend 1,725 images and 947 videos public meeting in Ennis

by Gordon Deegan news@clareecho.ie

Patrick Madden, from Castleconnell, County Limerick, meets Minister for Health Jennifer Carroll MacNeill and HSE CEO Bernard Gloster on Ward 9C, University Hospital Limerick Photo by Don Moloney

by Páraic McMahon paraic@clareecho.ie

HEALTH MINISTER, Jennifer Carroll MacNeill (FG) is among the invited guests for a public meeting in Ennis this Monday.

Organised by Friends of Ennis Hospital, the public meeting titled ‘The Future of Healthcare in the MidWest’ takes place at The Old Ground Hotel, Ennis on Monday at 19:30.

All TDs and Senators in

the region have been invited to attend the meeting along with the Minister for Health.

Members of the public have been encouraged to attend by organisers to participate in the conversation.

Chairperson of Friends of Ennis Hospital, Angela Coll stated, “The meeting aims to bring together members of the public, healthcare professionals and community stakeholders to discuss the current challenges facing healthcare services in

the Mid-West and to consider what is needed to ensure safe, sustainable and accessible care for the region into the future”.

She added, “The organisers believe it is vital that elected representatives have the opportunity to hear directly from the community and to engage in open and constructive discussion on the future direction of healthcare services”.

A CLARE man has appeared in court charged with the alleged unlawful possession of 947 videos and 1,725 images of child pornography at an Ennis address on different dates over a two year period.

At Ennis District Court, the 45-year old of currently no fixed abode appeared in connection with 14 child pornography and child exploitation charges and Judge Alec Gabbett further remanded the man in custody.

In nine of the fourteen charges, the man is accused of knowingly publishing and encouraging distribution of child pornography for the purpose of distribution, publication exportation, sale or show contrary to Section 5(1) of the Child Trafficking and Pornography Act, 1998.

The date range for seven of the distribution charges is from January 1st 2023 to May 17th 2023 with the other two distribution and publication charges concerning April 23rd 2025 to May 10th 2025.

The man has not made any application for bail and Sgt Frank O’Grady said that the Director of Public Prosecu-

tions (DPP) has directed that the case is to go forward to the Circuit Court.

In one charge, the man is accused of on April 9th 2025 at an Ennis address of having in possession 1,559 images and 794 videos of child pornography on a ZTE Axaon Mini mobile device contrary to Section 6(1) of the Child Trafficking and Pornography Act, 1998.

A number of weeks later, the man is accused of on May 10th 2025 at the same Ennis address of having in his possessions 22 images and 26 videos of child pornography on a Samsung galaxy A14 mobile device contrary to Section 6(1) of the Child Trafficking and Pornography Act, 1998.

The man is also facing child pornography possession charges from two years previous at the same Ennis address.

On May 17th 2023, the man is charged with knowingly have in his possession 92 images and 82 videos of child pornography on a Samsung Galaxy mobile device at the same Ennis address contrary to Section 6(1) of the Child Trafficking and Pornography Act, 1998.

On the same date at the

same address, the accused of having in his possession 52 images and 45 videos of child pornography contrary to Section 6(1) of the Child Trafficking and Pornography Act, 1998.

The man is also charged on a date unknown between May 12th 2023 and May 13th 2023 at his Ennis address did by means of information and communication technology communicate with another person, including a child, for the purpose of facilitating the sexual exploitation of a child under the age of 17 years, by that person or any other person.

This charge is contrary to Section 8(1) of the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act 2017.

In the case, the man is represented by solicitor, John Casey and Judge Alec Gabbett further remanded the accused in custody via video link to appear at Ennis District Court on March 4th for a Book of Evidence in the case.

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THE CLARE ECHO Thursday, Feb 26, 2026

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Shannon Airport flying high with inclusion in €45m Regional Airports Programme

by Páraic McMahon paraic@clareecho.ie

SHANNON AIRPORT has been included in the new Regional Airports Programme which will split a €45m capital investment between four airports.

After welcoming 2.3m passengers in 2025, a sixteen-year high, it was feared that Shannon Airport’s high performance could preclude it from securing funding in the programme.

However, the scope of the Regional Airports Programme 2026-2030 has been broadened to now include airports with up to three million passengers per annum.

Following the recent National Development Plan review, the Sectoral Investment Plan for Transport will provide almost €45 million capital investment over the period 2026-2030 under the Regional Airports Programme for airports that meet the new criteria, namely Shannon, Ireland West Airport (Knock), Kerry and Donegal.

Funding from the programme is aimed at helping airports maximise existing capacity, invest in infrastructure and support continued passenger growth. It is designed to support connectivity and balanced regional development, while ensuring airports can meet European Union safety and security obligations. Projects focused on sustainability and carbon reduction, in line with the Climate Action Plan, will also be eligible for support.

Interim CEO of the Shannon Airport Group, Ray O’Driscoll said they were “very pleased” to be included in the new programme. “This represents a strong endorsement of Shannon’s strategic importance to

balanced regional development and our role in supporting sustainable connectivity for the West and Mid-West. It will support essential upgrades and ongoing investment to ensure our airport infrastructure remains resilient and future‑ready.

“Inclusion in this programme is something we have consistently highlighted as essential to ensuring that Shannon Airport can continue to deliver on its full potential for the country. We would like to thank Minister O’Brien and the Department of Transport, and we look forward to working closely with them as we advance these important initiatives for the region and the communities we serve,” O’Driscoll added.

Junior Minister, Timmy Dooley (FF) labelled Shannon Airport’s inclusion as a significant boost and one which recognises the

airport’s regional and national importance.

“Shannon is Ireland’s second largest longhaul airport after Dublin and plays a critical role for the Mid-West and the wider western region. Its inclusion in this Programme provides additional certainty as it continues to expand its route network and grow passenger numbers”.

Dooley continued, “Shannon operates 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. It supports thousands of jobs and provides vital connectivity for tourism and international business. This funding framework recognises that strategic role”.

Clare TD, Cathal Crowe (FF) stated, “Owing to its passenger growth figures Shannon was losing out on millions of euros of funding each year - funding that would enable to airport to undertake vital but financially bur-

densome capital improvement works. I have been successful in my efforts as Chairman of the Shannon Airport Oireachtas Group and Fianna Fáil Spokersperson on Aviation in trying to get the threshold of passenger numbers raised so that Shannon would qualify for the Regional Airports Programme. Now airports with annual passenger figures up to 3 million will be eligible to draw on this guaranteed state funding”.

Since January 2023, Shannon Chamber has formally called for an expansion of the Regional Airports Programme to include Shannon Airport urging its inclusion on a permanent and sustainable basis in future programme structures.

This advocacy was articulated through its submission to the Mid-Term Review of the Regional Airports Programme 2021-2025, where the Chamber highlighted the benefits of extending eligibility under EU State Aid rules for airports handling fewer than 3 million passengers. Throughout 2024 and 2025, Shannon Chamber reinforced this position in its Programme for Government submission, Pre-Budget 2026 submission, and ongoing policy engagement.

CEO of Shannon Chamber, Helen Downes stated that the strong evidence-based care for Shannon Airport’s inclusion was listened to.

“This announcement is a testament to the sustained advocacy that has been done, not just by Shannon Chamber, but by the regional business community. Permanent inclusion will unlock long-term investment opportunities, strengthen connectivity for the MidWest and broader region, and underpin future economic growth”.

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THE CLARE ECHO Thursday, Feb 26, 2026

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Permanent partial pedestrianisation for O’Connell Street comes into effect on Monday

by Páraic McMahon paraic@clareecho.ie

PERMANENT partial pedestrianisation of O’Connell Street in Ennis will come into effect from Monday (March 2nd).

Vehicular access will be permitted on O’Connell Street from 6am to 11am daily to facilitate business deliveries, drop offs and refuse collection. After 11am, the street will operate as a pedestrian-only zone until 6am the following morning.

Clare County Council are introducing the measures under Section 38 of the Roads Act following public consultation. A Section 38 of the Roads Act allows a local authority to introduce or alter road layouts such as pedestrianisation, cycle lanes, or traffic calming by public consultation, without needing a full planning application process.

Temporary pedestrianisation was first introduced in Ennis Town Centre from March 2020 to September 2021 to enable social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Following a pedestrianisa-

tion survey in October 2021, the Ennis MD advertised a temporary road closure to run from April 8th 2022 to March 19th 2023.

Long-running public realm works in the town centre which lasted from October 2023 to November 2025 led to the closure of Ennis to vehicular traffic.

Mayor of the Ennis Municipal District, Cllr Mary Howard (FG) said the partial pedestrianisation “hails a new era and new opportunities for the town of Ennis. The pedestrianisation of O’Connell Street also builds on the Ennis Public Realm Works and the Ennis Streetscape Enhancement Scheme 2026. It forms part of Clare County Council’s broader commitment to positioning Ennis as an attractive place to live, work, visit, and socialise”.

Director of Service for the Ennis MD, Jason Murphy stated that it was “designed to balance the operational needs of local businesses with the public’s call for improved pedestrian spaces.

Our goal is to create a lively town centre, support the night-time economy, and

open new opportunities for businesses along O’Connell Street and the wider town centre”.

Senior engineer in the Ennis, Paddy Tiernan com-

mented, “This decision is grounded in extensive engagement with the public and local businesses through online and in-person surveys. We also considered

submissions received during the Section 38 process. The majority of participants expressed support for pedestrianisation of some form, with more than half favouring full

pedestrianisation and 90% supporting at least partial pedestrianisation”.

Picutred O’Connell Street, Ennis

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THE CLARE ECHO Thursday, Feb 26, 2026

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€6.25m in health projects includes Ennis Hospital expansion

by Páraic McMahon paraic@clareecho.ie

€6.25m in health projects has been allocated to Co Clare for 2026 including a major expansion of Ennis Hospital.

As part of the HSE Building and Equipment Capital Plan 2026, seven different projects in Co Clare have received funding to the tune of €6.25m.

University Hospital Limerick has been allocated €61.5m and University Maternity Hospital Limerick €1.9m as part of the €1.3 billion national allocation for healthcare infrastructure.

A major expansion at Ennis Hospital has received a boost after receiving €3.6m. The proposed development includes a 48-bed ward block, a new theatre block with two theatres, a central sterile services department, accommodation and four recovery bays, it now moves to design feasibility stage.

Bushy Park has been allocated €446,490 for a new residential addiction treatment facility to replace the existing centre.

Funding of €1.1 million has been provided to progress the proposed replacement of

St Joseph’s Community Nursing Unit to detailed design stage. This aims to provide modern long stay and short stay beds for older people.

Refurbishment works at Inis Gile in Parteen for dual diagnosis and child and adolescent mental health services will be completed at a cost of €849,298.

Fire safety upgrades at St Senan’s Nursing Home in Kilrush will receive €50,000.

A planned extension to Scarriff Health Centre will undergo appraisal with €56,140 allocated.

A dedicated area for an Enhanced Community Care hub at Ennis Primary Care Centre will be equipped at a cost of €101,052.

Included in UHL’s €61.5m allocation is phase one of a second hospital block under the Acute Inpatient Bed Capacity Expansion Plan, a new blood science and pathology facility, reconfiguration of the radiology department with a second MRI, completion of a 16 bed inpatient emergency ward and a second 16 bed inpatient ward unit, and advancement of a third 16 bed ward unit. A further €1.9 million has been ap-

proved for appraisal of a proposed Early Pregnancy Assessment Unit at University Maternity Hospital Limerick.

Minister of State with responsibility for Fisheries and the Marine, Timmy Dooley (FF) said the funding represents continued and tangible investment in local healthcare services. “This €6.25 million allocation will support critical projects across our hospital, community and primary care services in this county”.

Additional beds and theatres in Ennis “are essential to meeting growing demand and reducing pressure on acute services,” the Junior Minister stated. “This programme reflects a clear commitment to strengthening healthcare delivery in Clare. Each project, whether at design, appraisal or construction stage, is a step towards expanding capacity and improving the patient experience locally”.

Clare TD, Joe Cooney (FG) said the announcement would help bring services closer to home and better meet the needs of patients and families. “It has been clear for some time that capacity must increase

in the region. The commitments set out in this plan are an important step and I will continue to work with colleagues to ensure that these projects move forward without delay”.

Deputy Cooney said the investment would support better services and outcomes for patients across the MidWest and that he would continue to press for further improvements.

HSE Capital Alloca-

tions 2026 - Co Clare: Ennis General Hospital: Ward block (48 beds), new two theatre block with recovery bays and Central Sterile Services Department; Design Feasibility; €3,639,122 St Joseph’s Community Nursing Unit, Ennis: Replacement Community Nursing Unit for Older Persons Services; Detailed Design; €1,110,000 Hub 08, Ennis Primary Care Centre: Equipping of dedicated area for En-

hanced Community Care Hub; Complete; €101,052 Inis Gile, Parteen: Refurbishment of community nursing unit for Dual Diagnosis and CAMHS teams; Complete; €849,298 Residential Addiction Treatment Facility, Ennis: Replacement facility for Bushy Park; Construction; €446,490 Scariff Health Centre: Extension to health centre: Appraisal; €56,140 St Joseph’s Commu-

nity Nursing Unit, Ennis: Replacement Community Nursing Unit for Older Persons Services; Detailed Design; €1,110,000 St Senan’s Nursing Home, Kilrush: Emergency infrastructure fire safety upgrades; Construction; €50,000 Total Allocation for County Clare: €6,252,102

Doonbeg’s Rita elected Vice Chair of new Regional Health Forum

by Páraic McMahon paraic@clareecho.ie

CLLR RITA McInerney (FF) has been elected as the first Vice-Chairperson of the new Regional Health Forum.

Doonbeg’s Rita was elected Vice-Chairperson at the inaugural meeting of the Regional Health Forum covering the HSE Mid-West region.

Newcastle West based, Cllr Michael Collins (FF) was elected as the Forum’s first Chairperson with Cllr Francis Foley (FF) from Abbeyfeale appointed chair of the Forum’s committee meetings.

Regional health forums w e r e established in 2006 as a means of facilitating representations and feedback on public health and social care services from nominated members of local authorities.

Senior HSE managers are present at forum meetings to answer questions from councillors. Since 2006, local authority members from Clare, Limerick and North Tipperary had attended meetings of the HSE West Forum in Galway. The establishment of the Regional Health Forum Mid West follows the realignment of the HSE into six health regions. The members currently nominated for the Mid West area will now attend the new forum within their own designated region.

Joining Cllr McInerney as the four Clare representatives on the Forum are Cllr Antoinette Baker Bashua (FF), C l l r James R y a n ( S F ) and Cllr M a r y Howard (FG).

In total, there are fourteen county councillors serving on the Forum. Representatives from Limerick

City and County Council include, Cllr Sharon Benson (SF), Cllr Bridie Collins (FF), Cllr Michael Collins (FF), Cllr Greg Conway (FG), Cllr Francis Foley (FF), Cllr Liam Galvin (FG) and Cllr Elisa O’Donovan (SD).

Tipperary County Council has three councillors on the Forum, Cllr Phyll Bugler (FG), Cllr Seamie Morris (IND) and Cllr JP O’Meara (FF) Ms Maria Bridgeman, Integrated Healthcare Area Manager, Clare, Limerick and North Tipperary, HSE Mid West, and Executive Chair Regional Health Forum Mid West stated, “Since the establishment of the regional health forums, the people of Limerick, Clare and North Tipperary have been ably represented by elected members seeking answers on a range of health and social care services relied on by the people of our region. With the new geographical alignment, I expect a more keenly trained regional focus with benefits both for our elected members and for the HSE Mid West alike”.

Maria Bridgeman, Michael Collins and Rita McInerney

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THE CLARE ECHO Thursday, Feb 26, 2026

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ADVERTORIAL

Rental Reform in 2026: A Crucial Moment for Clare’s Housing Market

By Diarmuid McMahon

Managing Director, Sherry FitzGerald McMahon

FROM 1st March 2026, significant changes to Ireland’s residential rental system will come into effect. While the headlines often focus on Dublin, the impact here in County Clare will be just as meaningful — particularly for the many small, individual landlords who form the backbone of our local rental supply. It will also have a very significant impact on the many tenants that are desperately trying to find accommodation in a market starved of supply. But will this solve the problem of retaining landlords in the market which is key to providing supply to tenants.

At Sherry FitzGerald McMahon, we deal daily with those seeking homes and with property owners trying to navigate an increasingly complex regulatory environment.

One clear trend has emerged over recent years: a steady exit of smaller landlords from the market which is being accelerated by the introduction of these new changes from the 1st of March.

A Market Under Pressure Clare’s rental market remains tight. Demand continues to outstrip supply, and good quality homes attract strong interest. However, behind the scenes, many smaller landlords — those with one or two properties, often accidental landlords or families investing for retirement — have grown increasingly concerned about constant regulatory change.

Over the past decade, landlords have adapted to Rent Pressure Zones, evolving tenancy laws, tax adjustments, registration requirements and enhanced compliance standards. While many of these measures were introduced with positive intent — to improve standards and protect tenants — the cumulative effect has created fatigue and uncertainty.

For some landlords, the reforms due on 1st March 2026 feel like the final tipping point.

What Changes from March?

The new framework will replace the existing RPZ system with a national rent control model. For new tenancies created after 1st March 2026, rent increases will be linked to inflation, capped at 2% per

annum during periods of higher inflation.

There will also be strengthened security of tenure for tenants under new long-duration tenancy arrangements for up to six years. While landlords will retain the right to terminate in defined restricted circumstances, the process of getting vacant possession to facilitate a sale is much more restricted for new tenancies.

Additionally, rents may be reset to market value at the start of a new tenancy. While this is intended to maintain investment incentives, it introduces another layer of complexity.

For professional investors with larger portfolios, these changes may be manageable. For smaller landlords, however — particularly those managing properties alongside full-time jobs — each additional compliance requirement adds cost, administration and perceived risk.

The Small Landlord Challenge It is important to recognise that in counties like Clare, the majority of rental homes are not owned by institutional investors. They are owned by local individuals — teachers, tradespeople, retirees — who have provided long-term accommodation to local families.

Many of these landlords have told us they feel the rules have changed repeatedly, often with little lead-in time.

Rising maintenance costs, increasing insurance premiums and uncertainty around taxation have compounded the issue.

For some, the reforms taking effect on 1st March represent “the last straw.” We are already seeing properties being placed on the sales market rather than remaining in rental use. While some of these homes will be purchased by first-time buyers — which is positive — others may not re-

turn to the long-term rental pool at all.

The unintended consequence could be further reduction in rental supply, placing additional upward pressure on rents despite regulatory caps. Less landlords in the market is not good for already hard pressed tenants.

Short-Term Letting and Further Reform Later in 2026, attention will turn to the letting short-term sector, including platforms such as Airbnb.

New registration and planning requirements are expected in certain urban areas to ensure that

homes intended for longterm residential use are not permanently diverted to tourism accommodation.

While this may help return some units to the long-term market, the scale of impact in Clare remains to be seen.

Tourism plays a vital role in our local economy, and balance will be key.

The Need for Stability The core issue now is confidence.

Tenants need stability and affordability.

Landlords need clarity and predictability. Communities need supply.

F re q u e n t legislative change — even w h e n well-int e n tioned —

creates hesitation. Housing investment is long term by nature. If smaller landlords continue to exit, the rental sector risks becoming increasingly concentrated in the hands of larger operators, reducing diversity in the market.

As we approach March 2026, my hope is that this new framework will mark not just another change, but a period of sustained stability. Clear communication, practical implementation and recognition of the role responsible small landlords play in counties like Clare will be essential.

At Sherry FitzGerald McMahon, we remain committed to supporting our clients through this transition. The success of these reforms will ultimately be measured not just by regulation, but by whether they help create a rental market that works for our local communities for the long term.

Diarmuid McMahon, Managing Director of Sherry FitzGerald McMahon

10

THE CLARE ECHO Thursday, Feb 26, 2026

News

Gerry Murphy gets the nod MD of Trump resort Joe as Grand Marshal in Shannon Russell selected as Grand Marshal for Doonbeg parade

by Páraic McMahon paraic@clareecho.ie

by Páraic McMahon paraic@clareecho.ie

GENERAL MANAGER of the Trump owned resort in West Clare, Joe Russell has been selected as the Grand Marshal for the St Patrick’s Day parade in Doonbeg.

Taoiseach, Micheál Martin (FF) will visit US President Donald Trump in The White House on March 17th in what has been described as a potential minefield.

Scenes in West Clare will be less tense and more celebratory that weekend when long-serving Managing Director of Trump International Golf Links & Hotel, Doonbeg, Joe Russell gets to act as Grand Marshal for the St Patrick’s Day parade in Doonbeg which will take place on Sunday March 15th from 15:30.

A native of Templemore in Tipperary, Joe has been General Manager in Doonbeg since 2003, the five star resort was purchased by the Trump family in 2014 with Donald going on to be elected US President on two occasions in the last twelve years.

His selection as Grand Marshal is in honour of the resort hosting the 2026 Amgen Irish Open in September. Before settling in Co Clare, Joe worked extensively in London and in The Berkely Court Hotel in Dublin, Jury’s Ballsbridge in Dublin and Thistle Marble Arch.

‘Legends’ is the theme of the 2026 St Patrick’s Day parade in Doonbeg. Community groups, businesses, clubs and families have been encouraged to get creative in celebrating local heroes, sporting greats,

Joe Russell

historical icons and folklore favourites. With €1,000 in prize money and trophies on offer, a strong and imaginative turnout is anticipated.

Fresh from celebrating ninety years, the Tulla Pipe Band will feature in the Doonbeg parade. A second marching band from Limerick will also add to the atmosphere. The parade line-up will also include a vintage tractor and car rally, face painting, a children’s disco and a community dog show.

Branded ‘the Pawrade, the dog show will take place earlier on the day. Registration is from 12:15 in the outside area of the Comerford Bar, Doonbeg. The Pawrade will then commence for the public showcase at 1pm.

Categories include best small, medium and large dog, best dress, veteran dog, best

dog of the show, any variety puppy, terrier, rescue dog, child handing, teenage handling, adult handling, best fancy dress, dog with the waggiest tail and best dog show.

PRO of the Doonbeg St Patrick’s Day committee, Rita McInerney told The Clare Echo, “The Doonbeg St. Patrick’s Day Parade continues to be a cornerstone community event, made possible through the dedication of volunteers, local businesses and community organisations working together to create a memorable celebration. The committee warmly encourages community groups, sporting clubs, schools, businesses and families from across West Clare to participate and support what promises to be an outstanding weekend of celebration”.

EI Electronics stalwart, Gerry Murphy has been selected as the Grand Marshal for the St Patrick’s Day parade in Shannon.

In March 2024, Gerry retired as Purchasing Manager with Ei Electronics following a 51 year career with the Shannon company.

He has remained involved with Ei since then and has been a leading figure in helping the company generously support and back a number of initiatives in the locality helping countless organisations.

Murphy a Shannon resident was a co-founder of Love Shannon, the now defunct community council. Clare TD, Cathal Crowe (FF) previously described Gerry as “the friendly face of the company”. He stated, “Ei Electronics have been second to none in terms of supporting community projects like buying a brand new Order of Malta ambulance, providing equipment for Milford Hospice and financially donating to countless sports clubs and youth organisations. Mick Guinee is the outstanding Chief Executive of the company who has so generously donated to all of the above and in nearly all instances, Gerry Murphy has been the point of liaison for the community”.

Shannon Community Partnership said his selection as Grand Marshal was

Gerry Murphy with Bernie Murphy and Sharon Egan Photo by Joe Buckley

a fitting honour. “A true champion of Shannon, Gerry has played an enormous role in the growth, innovation and employment opportunities in our town through Ei Electronics. His leadership, commitment to our community in Shannon, and unwavering support of local initiatives make him a fitting and deserving Grand Marshal for 2026”.

This year’s parade in Shannon will take place on Monday March 17th from 14:30 with a jam-packed festival also on the cards.

Organised by Shannon Community Partnership,

they said the parade “promises to be bigger, brighter and bursting with colour”.

A spokesperson added, “We want floats. We want music.

We want colour. We want creativity. We want you.

Whether you’re a school, club, business, community group, sports team or just a gang of friends with a brilliant idea, get involved. Let’s bring the streets of Shannon alive again and make this parade one to remember. The more the merrier.

The louder the better. The brighter the float, the bigger the cheer”.

Woman granted Protection Order from brother who placed knife on Bible in threat

by Gordon Deegan

PUBLIC CONSULTATION ON DRAFT INIS CEALTRA (HOLY ISLAND) & KNOCKAPHORT PIER BYE-LAWS 2026.

Clare County Council in exercise of the powers vested in it by Section 199(1) and 199(2)(a) of the Local Government Act 2001 (as amended), Section 101 of the Road Traffic Act, 1961, (as amended), and all other enabling powers hereby gives notice of its intention to make bye-laws to regulate and control camping at Inis Cealtra (Holy Island), to control certain activities on Inis Cealtra (Holy Island) and for the purpose of regulating the parking of vehicles at Knockaphort Pier.

A draft set of bye-laws, entitled the “Inis Cealtra (Holy Island) & Knockaphort Pier Bye-Laws 2026” has been prepared and may be inspected during normal opening hours from 26th February 2026 to 26th March 2026 at the following offices of Clare County Council: • Áras Contae an Chláir, New Road, Ennis.

• Shannon Municipal District Office, Town Hall, Shannon.

• West Clare Municipal District Office, Town Hall, The Square, Kilrush.

• Ennistymon Area Office, Ennis Road, Ennistymon.

• Killaloe Municipal District Office, Mountshannon Road, Scarriff The draft bye-laws can also be viewed on yoursay.clarecoco.ie Submissions or observations with respect to the draft bye-laws may be made by email to tourism@clarecoco.ie, or in writing to the Senior Executive Officer, Tourism Department, Clare County Council, Àras Contae an Chlàir, New Road, Ennis, Co. Clare, V95 DXP2 on or before 4.00pm on 2nd April, 2026.

news@clareecho.ie

A CLARE woman has been granted a Protection Order against her brother who lives with her in their family home.

The Protection Order was granted by a judge after the woman showed him a video of her brother in a church placing a carpet knife on a bible threatening that he would ‘slaughter her’ if she proceeds to marry her fiancé in the same Church.

At Ennis District Court, Judge Alec Gabbett told the Clare woman that she needs to go to the Gardaí with the video that the woman’s brother uploaded to a social media site.

Judge Gabbett said, “I would like you to go and talk to the Gardaí and play that to the Gardaí”.

The woman said, “He

has been on social media this morning in the church where I am supposed to get married and he has put a carpet knife on the Bible”.

The woman in the witness box handed her mobile phone to Judge Gabbett to show the video of her brother in the Church.

Judge Gabbett played the video in court and the man can be heard saying “I swear on that bible and I swear on my children I am cutting lumps out of you, you will not get married inside in this church”.

He goes on, “See this Church? You will not be getting married in it because I will come and slaughter you and whoever wants to stand in front of you I will slaughter them”.

Judge Gabbett told the woman that she may also need to apply

for a Restraining Order against her brother.

Judge Gabbett said that the circumstances in which the woman was seeking the Domestic Violence Protection Order “are very unusual”.

The woman said that she lives with her brother in the family home.

The woman told Judge Gabbett that as she was coming to court, her brother passed her in a car and was banging on the window of the car.

The woman said that her wedding is due to take place later this year.

Judge Gabbett said, “Effectively he is threatening you with violence because you are getting married to someone he doesn’t like”.

The woman said that her brother doesn’t know her fiancé.

The woman secured the Protection Order without the other side present and Judge Gabbett has adjourned the hearing of the case to June where the brother can contest or consent to the making of a Safety

11

THE CLARE ECHO Thursday, Feb 26, 2026

Support journalism in Clare by subscribing to www.clareecho.ie/subscribe

News

Trump’s ballroom gets green light but plan required for protected snail

by Gordon Deegan

area and provide long term sustainable employment which is so badly needed”.

On the plan to replace existing “outdated” tem-

news@clareecho.ie

CLARE COUNTY Council has given the green light for a new ballroom at the US President Donald Trump-owned Trump Doonbeg golf resort.

However before work can commence on the permanent ballroom structure that will have capacity for 320 persons, the Council is requiring Trump Doonbeg firm, TIGL Ireland Enterprises Ltd to draw up a Management Plan for the protected snail, the 2mm Vertigo Angustior.

In one of the fourteen conditions attached to the permission, the Council has requested Trump Doonbeg to submit the Vertigo Angustior Management Plan to the Council for approval and the plan is to include conservation management actions to restore favourable status of the Vertigo Angustior on the Trump Doonbeg lands.

The rare snail is protected under the EU Habitats Directive and along with the Management Plan, Trump Doonbeg is to also draw up a programme of monitoring of the Vertigo Angustior to be agreed with State agency, the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS), for the maintenance of favoura-

porary events structures, including a marquee, with the new permanent ballroom, planning consultants for Trump Doonbeg, Cunnane Stratton Reyn-

olds stated that the need for the ballroom “is reinforced by the socio-economic role of Trump International Golf Links and Hotel within West Clare”

EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST TURNKEY HOUSING DEVELOPMENTS/HOUSING SCHEMES AND/OR LAND FOR THE PROVISION OF SOCIAL HOUSING TO CLARE COUNTY COUNCIL.

ble conservation status.

The Council state that the reason for inserting the condition concerning the Vertigo Angustior is to provide for adequate protection measures for areas of conservation importance and to ensure compliance with the EU Habitats Directive.

As part of a raft of reports lodged with the planning application by the applicant firm, a report concluded that the proposed works “will

have no impact on Vertigo Angustior, and no mitigation or further action is required”.

The Council granted planning permission for the proposal after concluding that the ballroom proposal would not seriously injure the amenities of the area or of property in the vicinity.

The planning authority has granted planning permission for the ballroom and other upgrade works at the resort after a wave of local support

resulted in several local organisations, including Doonbeg GAA, Doonbeg’s Men’s Shed, and Doonbeg Community Development Ltd lodging submissions in support of the proposal.

The Council received 17 third party submissions and 13 were in favour of the proposal and Doonbeg GAA told the council that if granted, the proposed works “will significantly increase and enhance the tourism product on offer in the

Clare County Council is seeking expressions of interest from Developers, Contractors and landowners for the provision of turnkey housing developments, housing schemes and lands for social housing purposes in the towns and villages in County Clare.

Turnkey housing developments/housing schemes/lands to be considered must be close to services and within walking distance of shops, schools, and local amenities.

Housing Design Standards should at a minimum meet the requirements and criteria set out in the Department of Housing Local Government & Heritage publication, ‘Quality Housing for Sustainable Communities’ and other relevant statutory planning and construction standards including current Building Regulations. In this regard, it is preferable that Turnkey Housing Proposals are presented to Clare County Council in advance of obtaining planning permission.

Land to be considered must, where land zoning applies, be residentially zoned.

All submissions made under this expression of interest will be considered.

Please note that Clare County Council are subject to the Freedom of Information Act 2014.

Please visit www.etenders.gov.ie or request an information pack from Mr. Barry Conway, Housing Department, Clare County Council, Áras Contae an Chláir, New Road, Ennis, Co. Clare or email bconway@clarecoco.ie Submissions will be accepted up to and including Tuesday, 30th June 2026.

Clare County Council is not obliged to purchase any housing scheme or land submitted as part of this process.

12

THE CLARE ECHO Thursday, Feb 26, 2026

News

Seachtain na Gaeilge 2026 brings county-wide programme of events to communities across Clare CLARE County Council, in partnership with An Clár as Gaeilge, Clare GAA, Clare Libraries and Conradh na Gaeilge, has announced a co-ordinated county-wide programme of events for Seachtain na Gaeilge 2026, celebrating the Irish language across communities throughout Clare.

This year’s programme emphasises collaboration, bringing together public bodies, community groups and individuals to deliver one shared calendar of events for the entire county, ensuring that people of all ages and levels of Irish can take part.

Events will take place in towns, villages, libraries, sports settings and community spaces throughout Clare, with activities ranging from conversation circles (ciorcail chomhrá) to musical and family events. Full details of Clare-based events are available on the Council’s dedicated Seachtain na Gaeilge page, while the most up-to-date event listings can be found on Scéal.ie, the national Irish-language events platform.

As part of the programme, businesses in Clare are invited to take part in the Inis Dom Seachtain na Gaeilge Window

Competition, which encourages shops to decorate their windows using Irish. Participants are asked to create eye-catching displays that celebrate the Irish language and enhance its visibility in the town between 1 and 17 March.

Businesses can register via An Clár as Gaeilge before 17 March, joining others in placing Irish at the heart of Clare during Seachtain na Gaeilge and in the lead up to St. Patrick’s Day. Ruairí Henchy, Irish Language Development Officer/ Communications Officer, Clare County Council, said, “This year we are making a conscious effort to move away from isolated events and towards one shared programme for the whole county.

By working in partnership with An Clár as Gaeilge, Clare GAA, Clare Libraries, Conradh na Gaeilge, and most importantly with local communities and individuals, we are helping to create more opportunities for people to use their Irish and connect with other Irish speakers in their area.”

Leah Ní Thailtigh, Language Planning Officer with An Clár as Gaeilge and Irish and Cultural Officer with Clare GAA, added, “Seachtain na Gaeilge is an ideal opportunity to show how the

Irish language can live naturally in everyday community life, including in our clubs, libraries and public spaces. Initiatives that increase the visibility of Irish in towns and villages, alongside community-led events, help to make the language more accessible and more visible to everyone.”

Clare County Council continues to support the promotion and normalisation of Irish, with Seachtain na Gaeilge forming an annual focus for partnership and public engagement. Members of the public and community groups are encouraged to register their events on www.sceal.ie. They are further invited to attend events, support local initiatives and check online listings regularly, as new events continue to be added.

Further information on Seachtain na Gaeilge 2026 in Clare is available at: www.clarecoco. i e /c ou n c i l /o i f i g - n a - g a e i l g e / seachtain-na-gaeilge-2026 and the live schedule of events can be viewed at: www.sceal.ie/imeachtai To register for the Seachtain na Gaeilge Window Competition, businesses are asked to register at: https://forms. gle/SiijkyTdYP6KdXtt6 or to contact An Clár as Gaeilge at: anclarasgaeilge@gmail.com

Ó chlé go deas) Sa phictiúr ag Músaem an Chláir, Inis: Teresa Carmody O’Shea, Oifigeach Oideachais agus For-rochtana, Músaem an Chláir; Ruairí Henchy, Oifigeach Forbartha Gaeilge/Oifigeach Cumarsáide, Comhairle Contae an Chláir; Leah Ní Thailtigh, Oifigeach Pleanála Teanga, An Clár as Gaeilge, agus Oifigeach Gaeilge agus Cultúir, CLG an Chláir; agus Teresa Ní Riain, Oifigeach Forbartha Gaeilge, An Clár as Gaeilge.

13

THE CLARE ECHO Thursday, Feb 26, 2026

Support journalism in Clare by subscribing to www.clareecho.ie/subscribe Aoife Shanno with her award

National award for Clare woman People involved in ground-breaking research projects around the country were honoured at the Irish Cancer Society Research Awards on Thursday, February 19 at Irish Cancer Society Head Office in Ballsbridge, Dublin.

The event, hosted by the Irish Cancer Society’s Head of Research, Dr Claire Kilty, celebrates some of the amazing work in cancer research being carried out by nominees around Ireland, funded by the Irish Cancer Society.

Among those to claim honours was Clare’s Aoife Shannon, who scooped the Support Staff of the Year Award title. This award is to recognise an individual who, on a daily basis, goes above and beyond the call of duty to support the cancer research being carried out across the country.

Aoife joined Cancer Trials Ireland (CTI) in 2009 and now leads the radio-

therapy clinical research portfolio, alongside other non-drug studies including surgical, translational, and lifestyle-focused research.

She is also a member of the CTI Start-up Team, supporting the development of new ideas into active clinical studies.

Aoife Shannon, from Cranny and now living in Ennis, Co. Clare said: “My decision to pursue a career in cancer research was inspired by my two aunts, both named Bríd, who were diagnosed with cancer and sadly passed away from the disease. I went on to complete my PhD and post-doctoral research in this field before joining Cancer Trials Ireland 17 years ago.

“Receiving this award is a wonderful recognition of the work I’ve done to help make innovative radiotherapy research more accessible for cancer patients.

My role includes helping to

shape study plans, making sure patient information is clear and understandable, and supporting hospitals around the country to open these clinical research studies. Much of this work happens behind the scenes, so it means a great deal to have it recognised in this way, and I’m very grateful for the honour.”

Irish Cancer Society Head of Research Dr Claire Kilty said: “Cancer research in Ireland has a huge impact on the lives of people affected by cancer.

It is a driving force in improving not only treatments and outcomes, but in quality of life beyond cancer. It was fantastic to get an appreciation of the amazing cancer research projects currently happening right across the country at the Irish Cancer Society Research Awards, and to be able to recognise the great strides that are being made in cancer research.

Regional

PARTEEN’S QUIZZERS TAKE TOP PRIZE

Limerick & District Credit Union Quiz, Competition A winners Parteen NS, (l-r) Donnacha McNamara, AJ Flynn, Harvey Bedford & Evie Tucker, who won the event at Greenhills Hotel, Limerick

Final preparations in full swing for West Clare Drama Festival in Doonbeg DOONBEG is gearing up for the return of the West Clare Drama Festival.

Final preparations are in full swing for the West Clare Drama Festival which will see a range of full-length plays performed in the Community Hall, Doonbeg from March 7-15.

Under the auspices of the Amateur Drama Council of Ireland, (ADCI), featuring a variety of plays from comedy to tragedy, from hilarity to serious drama, presented by theatre groups from across Ireland. The West Clare Drama Festival was founded in 1962.

All nine nights of dramatic performances will be critiqued each night by Adjudicator, Tom Byrne, A.D.A., a member of the Association of Drama Adjudicators, Ireland. He has been involve with amateur drama for over forty five years, he competed in his first festival in 1979.

Along with winning numerous awards as a director, he holds the unique record of qualifying productions in six successive All Ireland Open One Act Finals, directing the winning productions in 2005, 2009 and 2010.

Allen Flynn, owner of the Old Ground Hotel, and Co-managing Director of the Flynn Hotel Collection, with hotels in Ennis, Kilkenny and Waterford, will officially open the Festival on Saturday March 7th.

Since his return from New York in

l MUNSTER CHAMPIONS: Inis Cathaigh Comhaltas members won three Munster titles at the Munster Finals of Ceol an Gheimhridh which was held in Cashel on Sunday last.

Wind u14: Muireann Purtill. Singing 11-14: Alyiah Donnellan. Amhranaiocht 11-14: Caitlin Shannon. Deagan Considine was placed 2nd in the singing under 11.

Kilrush Music Feis: The Inis Cathaigh Music Feis was held at the Adult Education Centre on Saturday last. Over 350 competitors attended from all parts of Munster. The winners were as follows.

Tom Rynne Accordion Shield: Rebecca Horan: Limerick. Mick Eustace Fiddle Shield: Aisling White. Sixmilebridge. Peig Martin Singing Shield: LIlly Mescall. Kilrush. Inis Cathaigh Tin Whistle Shield: Muireann Purtill. Moyasta. Noel Bermingham Banjo Shield: Cait Reid. Inch. Peadar Crotty Slow Aires Shield: Rachel O'Gorman. Doonbeg. Elizabeth Crotty Concertina Shield: Ellen Crowley. Kilmihil. PJ Crotty Flute Shield: Rachel Townsend: Cree. Inis Cathaigh Harp Shield. Grace Quinn. Ballybeg. Kilrush Credit Union Overall Feis Champion: Aisling White: Sixmilebridge.

1995, Allen has been actively involved in the tourism and hospitality sector. He also has a huge personal interest in the Arts, particularly with Ennis Players, The Drama League of Ireland, glór, Ennis Arts Festival Ltd., and Teac Damsa.

This year’s Festival welcomes five groups competing in the Confined Section, hoping to reach the finals which take place in Carrickmore, Co. Tyrone. Cooraclare Drama Group will perform ‘A Wake in the West’ by Michael J. Ginnelly.

Four groups, Holycross / Ballycahill Drama Group, Corofin Dramatic Society, Kilmeen Drama Group and Ballycogley Players in the Open Section will vie for points to try reach the RTÉ All Ireland Drama Festival Finals. The winner of the Confined Finals in Carrickmore will open the RTÉ All Ireland Drama Festival on the 30th of April.

Andrew Killeen, Chairman of the Festival Committee said Doon-

beg is looking forward to welcoming all nine groups to the long village. “We have a programme that has something for everyone each night. As well as the groups that love to return to us each year, we extend a warm West Clare welcome to Dooega Drama Group from Co. Mayo and Memory Lane Theatre from Co. Kerry. Come along and enjoy a feast of drama, and indeed our hospitality. And of course, bring a friend”.

Audiences can look forward to a different play each night, highlighting the talent of amateur theatre groups in Ireland.

Season Tickets cost €90 each with Nightly Tickets costing €15 for Adults and €8 per child or student. The doors are open each night at 7.15pm and curtain is up at 8.00pm, except on Sunday 15th, the final night, when the doors will open at 6.45pm and Curtain is up at 7.30pm, followed by the final adjudication and Awards Ceremony.

14

Thursday, Feb 26, 2026 THE CLARE ECHO

Regional news

Kilmaley’s finest get down & dirty for Toughest Tribe

l Brian Culbert is still smiling despite the efforts of navigating the 8km Toughest Tribe test last Saturday, across water, road, bog, and forest for Kilmaley GAA

l (above centre) Martin O’Connor displays wheely good technique; (right) Thomas Maguire and Tommy Barry show off the fruits of their labour with the Toughest Tribe trophy on display All photos by Tom Micks

l In high spirits despite the test were Kilmaley ladies Claire McMahon, Siobhan Maher, Fiona Burke, Shonagh Enright, Sinead & Helen McMahon Photos by Tom Micks

l (L-R) Padraig Talty, Brain McDonnell, Anthony Cahill & John Clohessy after completing the Toughest Tribe; braving the rain to cheer on family and friends were Muireann O’Neill, Holly Carmody, Sharon Carmody & Roisin Killeen; (right) Shonagh Enright navigates deep waters on the course Photos by Tom Micks

15

THE CLARE ECHO Thursday, Feb 26, 2026

Support journalism in Clare by subscribing to www.clareecho.ie/subscribe

News

Investing in Imagination: Kilrush Credit Union Proudly Sponsors Knook Books Across 17 Primary Schools

THERE are certain moments in community life that remind us why local organisations matter.

Recently, as we visited the first of 17 primary schools in our common bond to deliver personalised Knook Books, we witnessed one of those moments. The excitement in the classrooms was unforgettable. Seeing children open a book and discover that the story was about them

— their class, their teacher, their school — was something truly special.

At Kilrush Credit Union, we believe that education is one of the most powerful investments we can make in our community. Reading builds confidence, imagination and curiosity. It encourages children to dream bigger and to see possibilities for themselves.

Through our sponsorship of Knook Books, we are proud to support literacy in a way

Primary school students from Gaelscoil Uí Choimín

Photo by Tom Micks

that is creative, inclusive and deeply personal.

What makes the Knook Books initiative unique is the collaboration at its heart. Teachers work closely with the programme to create personalised stories featuring their own students.

That means every book reflects the personality and spirit of the class. We want to sincerely thank the teachers involved for the time, energy and care they put into writing these stories. Their commitment ensures that each child receives something meaningful and lasting.

As a community-based financial co-operative, Kilrush Credit Union exists to serve our members and to strengthen the area we call home. Unlike large financial institutions, we are owned by our members and rooted in the towns and villages we support. When we invest in local initiatives — whether

that’s education, sport, community projects or youth programmes — we are reinvesting in our own community.

Supporting 17 primary schools through this sponsorship is about more t h a n p r o viding books.

It’s about encouraging a love of learning. It’s about showing young people that they are valued. And it’s about working alongside schools and families to create opportunities for growth and development.

The response so far has been heart-warming.

From the smiles as books were opened, to the pride in classrooms as stories were read aloud, it has

St Senan’s Primary school receiving their personalised Knook Books Photo by Tom Micks

been a privilege to witness such enthusiasm. If you could bottle that excitement, you would.

Over the coming weeks, we look forward to visiting each of the remaining s c h o ol s a n d meeting many more bright, curi-

ous young minds. Initiatives like Knook Books reflect the very essence of the credit union difference — people supporting people, locally and for the long term.

At Kilrush Credit Union, we are proud to play our part in helping our community grow — one book, one classroom, and one young reader at a time.

For more information you can visit app.knook.io & www. kilrushcreditunion.ie

16

Thursday, Feb 26, 2025 THE CLARE ECHO

Ennis

Thief jailed after telling victim he could have bike back ‘for a tenner’

Students bring roaring 20s to life at glór THIS March, the spotlight will shine brightly on Ennis as students from Gaelcholáiste an Chláir and Ennis Community College take to the stage with a dazzling production of Chicago: The Musical School Edition at Glór.

Following last year’s sell-out success of The Addams Family, anticipation is high for two nights of music, drama, and high-energy choreography on Tuesday, March 3, and Wednesday, March 4 at 7:30pm. Directed by Tony Cusack, with choreography by Grace Burke and music direction from Eimear Glancy and Anne Cullen, the production promises to showcase the remarkable artistic talent of more than 100 students.

Rehearsals have been intensive, with students balancing demanding daily practice schedules alongside their schoolwork.

Choreographer Grace Burke has been guiding the performers through the show’s iconic routines, praising their discipline, creativity, and enthusiasm. Behind the scenes, students are also gaining invaluable experience in set design, stage management, and technical support, ensuring every detail meets professional standards.

The Art and Woodwork departments have played a pivotal role, dedicating hours to creating stunning sets that will

transport audiences straight into the roaring twenties.

Over recent weeks, the corridors of both schools have been alive with the sounds of “All That Jazz” and “He Had It Coming,” reflecting the excitement and dedication that has gone into preparing the production.

School Principal James O’Shaughnessy expressed pride in the collaboration: “Our annual musical has become a landmark moment in the school calendar. Productions like this allow students to develop confidence, teamwork, and artistic skills.

We are immensely proud of the dedication shown by our students and staff, and we

cannot wait to share this experience with the wider community.”

In addition to the evening performances, the schools are welcoming over 400 primary school students for a special matinee on Wednesday, 4th March at 10:30am. This event offers younger pupils a first glimpse of the opportunities available at Gaelcholáiste an Chláir and Ennis Community College, inspiring the next generation of performers.

Tickets for the public performances are priced at €17.50 for adults and €9 for children and can be purchased from the Glór Box Office or online at Glór.ie.

A JUDGE has jailed a bicycle robber who told his victim that he could have his €100 mountain bike back “for a tenner or a fag”, writes Gordon Deegan.

At Ennis Circuit Court, Judge Francis Comerford imposed a two-year twomonth prison sentence with the final four months suspended on Declan Sherlock (30) of no fixed abode in Ennis for the robbery of the bicycle.

Mr Sherlock pleaded guilty to the robbery of a bike from Prince Shonibare on August 12 2025 at Turnpike Rd, Ennis.

Mr Sherlock high on a cocktail of crack, prescribed methadone and alcohol, was armed with a bottle and threatened violence on the owner of the bicycle, Prince Shonibare.

Prince Shonibare was not physically hurt during the five minute incident during which Mr Sherlock told him he could have bike back if he gave him “a tenner or a fag”.

Judge Comerford said that it was a serious offence as Mr Sherlock had

used an improvised weapon and threatened violence. The bicycle was not recovered.

Counsel for Mr Sherlock, Amy Nix BL said Mr Sherlock who has 137 previous convictions has completed a Crime Awareness course while in prison.

Ms Nix said that now “is make or break” for Mr Sherlock and that her client’s life has been blighted by chronic addiction.

She said that Mr Sherlock is “very ashamed” of his actions on the day and wasn’t able to remember the incident as he was intoxicated at the time. Ms Nix said that Mr Sherlock “has had six long months in Limerick prison to reflect on the events of that day”.

Ms Nix said that dad-offour Mr Sherlock, one of 14 siblings, has experienced multiple tragedies including the death of his mother Tina when he was just 13, his brother Jimmy in 2013, and the death of his older sister Charlene at the age of 29 in 2020. Mr Sherlock started taking heroin at the age of 18.

Ennis Lions Club tradition roars into action as homes across Clare fuelled up Fuel delivery has been a signature project for Ennis Lions Club for a very long time. Lions member Michael Neylon can remember it throughout his 47 years-plus years in the club while Eamon O’Dea and John Logan recall delivering the logs as far back as 1977.

A couple of weeks ago Ennis Lions undertook yet another round of deliveries to local families who are finding it tough to keep fuelled up during winter.

Members got busy bagging dry timber, loading it into vans (supplied by Ennis Electrical) and delivering to households across Ennis identified by St Vincent de Paul as needing some additional fuel.

Three vans went out manned by a driver and two helpers each. Almost 100 homes got 3-4 bags of wood and a box of firelighters.

The weather was miserable that weekend but it didn’t put the team off - with the mighty Ger Sheedy on lGOOD DEED: Geraldine Sheedy serves up the tea to those hard at work preparing the bags of logs hand with some hot drinks and re- which the Lions Club delivered to homes around the county in recent weeks

freshments they pushed through and got the job done. Great work by all those involved.

It may seem like a small thing for a family to get four bags of logs – but the preparation involved, from acquiring the timber, transporting it, storing it, splitting it and finally bagging and delivering it is quite protracted.

“Starting in spring and ending in the depths of winter it’s a very physically demanding activity. Multiply the 4 bags by 100 households and that project is quite a big one,” said a Lions Club statement.

“During all of that time there is just one goal in the minds of Ennis Lions Club members - to provide for families in need. That was achieved once again in 2026 and no doubt will continue to be achieved until the fires stop burning altogether!”

Project Leader Michael McGrath expressed his thanks to all involved and acknowledged Noel Kelly who generously gives the use of his specialist machinery for a day to split the logs and Ennis Electrical for the use of two vans.

Feb 26 2026

Feb 26 2026

Chamber Master MEET HELEN DOWNES, the WOMAN behind Shannon Chamber’s success story

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WORDS STUART HOLLY PHOTO EAMON WARD

HANNON Chamber of Commerce CEO, Helen Downes has carved her own path through every step of life.

Born into a publican family in the village of Hospital, County Limerick, Helen is one of seven children – four girls and three boys. She was the last of her siblings to leave the homestead when she got her first job in Shannon with Wright Investor Services (later Thomson Financial) in 1988, while there also completing a Diploma in Business from University of Limerick before receiving a Law diploma.

Conducting a series of interviews with members in recent weeks for this supplement, Helen’s name has inevitably come up on multiple occassions. As one member put it affectionately, “You don’t say no to Helen!”

Lending is our Busin ess

Persuasive qualities she is not short of, however it’s her ability to move with the times and constantly listen and evolve that make Helen a good companion for business in Shannon and the Midwest.

Going back to her childhood, Helen recounts pulling pints of Guinness in the thriving family-run pub. “One tap, and it was only Guinness. Everything else was sold out of cans and bottles,” she recounts.

Along with the pub, her father Joseph, better known as Joe, worked for Limerick County Council and ran a small farm while her mother Margaret managed the bar. “I suppose that’s where I got my interest in business.”

“They were such hard workers,” Helen recounts fondly. “They were really people-orientated, always very caring and always solving problems. It was a busy household and I suppose for me, they had brilliant listening skills, they were always there for us, and we never wanted for anything.”

Unsure of what she was destined for after sitting her Leaving Cert locally at Presentation De La Salle, Helen equates the experience to “falling out of an aircraft with no parachute on”. Helen surely never expected that she would then go on to see so many aircrafts in her lifetime – and through hard work, she made sure to always land on her feet.

Congrats on 30 years to Shannon Chamber from all the Lending Team at St Francis Credit Union.

Locations

065-682 8305 loans@stfranciscu.ie www.stfranciscu.ie Head Office: Friars Walk, Ennis, Co Clare St Francis Credit Union Ltd is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland.

Ennis, Clarecastle, Kildysart, Kilmihil, Lissycasey, NewmarketOn-Fergus, Shannon, Sixmilebridge & Tulla

Having begun life as an analyst, Helen moved into a secretarial role working alongside her general manager. She then established the HR department at Thomson Financial in their offices in Shannon, Dublin and Cardiff – before the Shannon offices closed.

Whether she knew it or not at the time, it was all building towards a role which would define her, Chief Executive Officer with Shannon Chamber of Commerce.

“The then-CEO Triona McInerney – who laid a great foundation for Shannon Chamber – was out on sick leave and I was invited to come on board as CEO on an interim basis.

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outside Sixmilebridge. When I moved into Clare and started working in Shannon is still just Shannon, the difference between what it is now and what it was in 1988 is for me, a massive change in how it looks and feels, the spread attracting new significant of industry sectors now is quite amazing.” industry with Helen is on the board of the Midwest Simon Community, a cause she is about, while she was recently elected to the Board of Directors “Then when the full-time CEO recent arrivals passionate of the Canada Ireland Foundation. Asked how she will describe Shannon decided to resign, the board offered me the the business community on her next visit to Canada, Helen says, “The full-time position of CEO.” including Frontiers toingredients that you experience here are for me best in class. Shannon is attracting new industry with recent arrivals including Frontiers ScienHelen notes the vision of Shannon Chamber’s Scientific Solutions, still tific Solutions, SK tes, MeiraGTx all chosing to locate to Shannon because founders, Chris Taylor, Arthur Hanly, Austin the ingredients are here. The infrastructure, transport, pipeline of talent, Collins, Michael Fitzpatrick, Risteard Crimmins, SK tes, MeiraGTx culture and the lifestyle.”

Mick Guinee, George O’Carroll, Paddy O’Rouke and Aidan Quish. “They set it up on the basis that Shannon needed and deserved a Chamber all chosing to locate A mother-of-four, one would be forgiven for forgetting Helen has a busy life outside of the Chamber. Asked where she finds the energy to balance of Commerce because of the amount of industo Shannon it all, the Limerick native is quick to note that collaboration has been key try that was based here.

“So, I set up my own business and took on that role as a sole trader for several months and that journey for me was quite interesting because I really began to understand how the Chamber worked.

throughout her life and continues to be.

“For me it was a significant change as I’d worked for a multinational with huge resources for 19-and-a-half years and now I was in an office on my own with one other part-time person. But it was also an opportunity, so I took this as an opportunity to see what I could do to differentiate what we were doing on the ground as our own chamber, and what we were going to do in the region where there were other chambers established, Limerick, Ennis, Galway and of course Tipperary. I needed to put my own stamp on Shannon.”

“I’ve always had a great chair and that’s important. It’s a great board and they’re my health check in some ways because if there’s a problem child it’s easy to talk to them collectively and also individually. But the energy is driven by the membership as well. If you love your job and you wake up every morning and want to go in and keep doing what you do and do it better every day, I think that’s my motivation - and working with a great team.

Helen set about meeting as many of the Chamber’s 100-plus members in her first few months at the helm to get a better understanding of what the Chamber’s role was in Shannon, and what was expected from member companies. “I got a mixed bag of feedback based on those conversations but there was a lot of loyalty.”

“My value is to serve my employer. My employer is Shannon Chamber of Commerce and I want to fulfil that role and if I wake up one day and I’m not feeling that, there’s a problem there for me and also for the board - but It’s not landed there and I don’t think it will.”

That theme of Helen carving her own path in life rings true in how she runs a chamber of commerce. Shannon Chamber of Commerce is unique in that it encompasses the Midwest Lean Network, the Midwest Sustainability Network, the HR Forum and the CEO Forum, all of which were established under her watch with the idea of supporting all their members’ various needs. Shannon Chamber Skillnet has also been integrated into the chamber, offering tailored training to boost skills and support business growth in the region.

Helen insists it’s all part of the bigger picture, which is attracting business and university talent to the region. “We had 127 member companies when I took on the role. I remember distinctly because when I engaged to introduce myself, we did have a number of responses back which showed there was a little bit of disconnect with members, which I set out to resolve. Today we have over 340 member companies employing over 20,000 employees.”

Despite this growth, Helen continues looking for ways to upscale Shannon Chamber and create a dynamic, collaborative presence for local business – thereby helping to nurture County Clare as a cutting edge location for forward-thinking businesses across a wide spectrum of industries. A recruitment fair taking place at West Park on the Innovation Campus next month is an embodiment of this endeavour to attract talent to Shannon. It also aligns with the Chamber’s committment to engage with young people in the region.

Helen notes that the Chamber’s links with local secondary schools underpins this value. “Our engagement with secondary schools has been such an important part of what we do and I think for me as a mom of four, having students come to the events and having students participate and ask questions during the keynotes address when the keynote people finish their presentations, they have unfiltered questions. They have been such a phenomenal addition to the lunches that we have. And it’s a model that we will continue.”

A genuine love for the Midwest helps Helen to maintain motivation. “I’ve always worked in Shannon. The region is my home. I work in Shannon and live in Kilmurry

Feb 26 2026

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Continued success to Shannon Chamber of Commerce!

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Nolan aims to unlock WORDS PÁRAIC MCMAHON PHOTO EAMON WARD

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ROGRESS for the Shannon Town Centre Masterplan and a rail link to Shannon Airport are two key parts of infrastructure that can bring the town to the next level, the President of Shannon Chamber has said.

After 36 years and 29 years as General Manager and Managing Director respectively at Dromoland Castle, Mark Nolan is keen to replicate success in his role as President of Shannon Chamber which he took on last April.

Taking over the reins from ex officio Eoin Gavin when the Chamber was mid-way through the delivery of its Strategic Plan 2023-2026, Mark has a clear vision for what he wants to see achieved during his tenure.

for since 2019.

“We have not yet seen the type of results we need on other areas we are lobbying on, for example, the level of critical infrastructure that Shannon needs to improve the liveability aspects of the town, which is essential to attracting, retaining top talent and foreign direct investment in the area.

“We have ongoing linkages with our local authority and elected representatives on progressing plans for developing Shannon, particularly the OneShannonHub element of the Shannon Town Centre Masterplan, which, although launched in 2022 has not progressed.

“We will maintain proactive discussion until such time as we see positive outcomes for Shannon. I guess having spent my working life in the private sector, working closely with the six-member Board to maintain Dromoland Castle’s sterling reputation as one of Europe’s finest resorts, my benchmark for progress is successful and quantifiable deliverables.

Let’s see what the future could bring for the Shannon region, to me it is limitless

Shannon Chamber has always been active in supporting industries in the region and serving as a strong lobbying group, he maintains.

Its “proactive relationship” with local councillors, TDs and Ministers is a strength but he stressed the importance of successful outcomes to the Chamber’s lobbying efforts as a key barometer of the value of its advocacy activity.

Citing the announcement this week that Shannon Airport is now included in the new Regional Airports Programme 2026-2030, as most welcome, he says that this is something that the Chamber has been relentlessly lobbying

“That environment was one I got a little bit spoilt in, I’ve experienced it before in other elements when I was sitting on the board of Shannon Airport. I found that inability to make decisions with layers and layers, I’m not used to dealing with layers and layers

so maybe that is why the lack of progress for making Shannon a better place to live frustrates me, as I’m sure it does for everyone in Shannon.

“Shannon has so many wonderful attributes including a great golf course sitting on the estuary. That’s why we proactively contribute to consultations on the Shannon Town & Environs Flood Relief Scheme. The timeline to its delivery is the mid-2030s, which, in terms of impacting other elements of Shannon’s infrastructure, such as housing, is considerable. Given the impact of recent flooding on the east coast, we would now place this at an urgent level for Shannon and will maintain our lobbying effort to ensure its speedy and effective delivery.”

The reality of a rail link to Shannon Airport is also something that exercises Mark and the Chamber’s board of directors’ minds.

“The extension of the rail line

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Shannon’s potential drive more accommodation, deliver the flood relief plan, get more housing into the region, create the catchment area and pull people back into the whole region because there is so much to do.

“It is an under-utilised area, and I think the Chamber could have an active role in terms of getting that over. I’m sure Helen will continue to keep the Shannon agenda to the fore.

“We’ve great local support and they all come on board when we need something so we will maintain dialogue with all strata in Shannon in planning for the future.

to the Airport would deliver so many additional benefits to Shannon. It is great to see the Airport getting back on its feet.

“A lot of extra routes have been announced, which is very encouraging. Everybody in Shannon will always try to support Shannon when they can; there’s a lot of goodwill going for Shannon. It is a great airport, a fabulous facility and we must be supportive of Ray (O’Driscoll) and his team who are getting it back to a very attractive proposition. The addition of a rail link would make the commute to the Airport so much easier, not just at a local level but from the region and beyond. Shannon’s catchment area would expand.”

Growing the membership base of Shannon Chamber to include more retail representatives is another aim for Nolan during his Presidency. “We’ve a super group of members; we’ve a membership of 300400 businesses. I’d like to see a bit more balance. We really

have no representation in terms of retail on our board; we don’t seem relevant, yet the shopping centre in Shannon has really come on, we’d love to have them more actively involved and unfortunately, we don’t. We’d like to be representative of every sector operating from and contributing to Shannon’s growth.”

Having become semi-retired in stepping down as MD of Dromoland Castle, becoming Shannon Chamber President was not on the radar for Mark.

“Helen is a very persuasive lady, when she asked me I said I was semi-retired, I wanted to step back but I thought about it, she said maybe do it for a year and I bit that bullet, I suspect Helen has planned that I’ll be around a bit longer than the year, I’ve enjoyed it. I’d love to be responsible for a bit more successes because the ability is there to do it.”

Shannon’s future is “limitless,” he feels. “There is a lot of extra capacity there for Shannon Airport, if we could

“The future for the Shannon region is limitless. If you brought someone in who never knew anything about Ireland and told them, there is Shannon, an international airport with infrastructure they would be calling it a golden nugget and asking why more wasn’t being done to develop its infrastructure.”

Innovation has always been to the heart of Shannon’s great minds and tapping into the creativity of the past is required in the present day, he said.

“Shannon has over the years been populated by wonderful very future-thinking people, Liam Skelly, Brendan O’Regan, people with a vision as to what it should be, setting up the Shannon Free Zone. It took people with a vision and people who wouldn’t take no for an answer, they made Shannon what it is now. I always feel very tangibly that I am only passing through; there is a legacy issue, and we need to do something to be as creative as they were and to leave our mark in a fabulous Chamber and try to get more of our goals over the line.”

Feb 26 2026

plants, Zimmer has made an investment of capital equipment and facilities of more than €120m since 2023. “Zimmer Biomet has seen fit to invest in us and they believe in us, we’re a key player in the Zimmer Biomet world,” Tom noted.

“Shannon is one small region within a wider Irish economy but I think it really punches above its weight in that respect”.

Shannon ‘punching above its weight’

Páraic McMahon speaks to the Director of Manufacturing with Zimmer Biomet, Tom O’Carroll

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He continued, “Shannon is a great location to do business, there is a lovely community feel about doing business in Shannon, there’s over 300 companies with 10,000 people.

“We take part in a lot of events during the year, a lot of them hosted by Shannon Chamber. It is really easy to do business in Shannon, it is very accessible, a lot of our employees walk to work, there’s a lovely community feel to doing business in Shannon.” The challenges of doing business in Shannon are the rising operational costs, but most notably the lack of accommodation - “but that is a national problem”.

When it comes to dealing with challenges in Shannon, Tom said Shannon Chamber have been a massive support and called CEO Helen Downes “a tour de force”.

HANNON is ‘punching above its weight’ when it comes to its economic output on a national scale.

that has enabled their continued growth. Last year, Zimmer was named as Best Manufacturer at the Clare Business Excellence Awards, which is hosted by Ennis Chamber of Commerce, while in May it was accredited “Helen is a great advocate and a great listener to take in all of those frustrations, she provides a lot of Director of Manufacturing with for the first time as a great place to work. opportunities to lobby with the politicians, the Zimmer Biomet since July 2023, Tom O’Carroll labelled American Chamber are excellent too, the IDA and Shannon as “a great location to do business” and one With a staff count of 500 in Shannon, Zimmer Biomet Enterprise Ireland are fantastic, we liaise with all the is one of the big employers in bodies but Shannon Chamber are very local, they get the town and adds another and understand our problems, they are great partners”.

500 to its workforce from its Oranmore base in Galway.

“That is seated in the context of the wider business which is 18,000 globally so five percent of the staff count comes from Ireland”.

Living in Meelick, Tom works between both of Zimmer’s plants. “There is a nice bit of leverage and cross-population, on any given weekend there might be a Munster vs Connacht game or Galway vs Clare and of course Limerick and Clare so there is nice banter and rivalry there”. The value of production between both sites is €300m.

Zimmer, a medical company which is a leader in musculoskeletal healthcare has been in Shannon since 2008, where they manufacture persona knee product. “Knees contribute to about 42 per cent of the company’s overall revenue,” notes Tom. Between both of the Irish

He added, “Shannon Chamber punch above their weight in terms of performance which is down to people, it is down to Mark Nolan, Helen Downes who drive it with a passion which is clear in every event, we’ve benefitted from being a member of the Chamber, we’ve had an opportunity to give knowledge, share expertise and give a problem solving ethos to the smaller companies in the area”.

On future plans for Zimmer in Shannon, Tom outlined, “Our industry is growing at five to six per cent globally a year. The investment in our sites is an indicator of the growth we have seen, we constantly have positions open from product builders on the floor to the traditional functional support in HR, finance, supply chain, engineering and operations so we do have a very healthy and well-established employee development programme.

“Over the last five to seven years, we’ve about 62 per cent, almost two thirds of employees who have done further education, it can be apprenticeships etc, with us and have had some sort of job change so they have changed role into the field they have studied or they have had a promotion. People are the secret sauce of any organisation, we’ve a very strong culture, it is a very positive, open and inclusive culture where we listen to employees, take their feedback and build it into their processes and in turn we get a very happy and engaged workforce, it is a great place to work”.

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Feb 26 2026

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Made in Shannon...

Take a moment to consider the quality, scale and nature of business undertaken every day in Shannon...you’ll be surprised at just how much Shannon impacts our lives.

The next time a colleague, friend or family member heads to catch a flight from Shannon, tell them to glance at the many name plates in Shannon and know that there is a good chance that a Shannon-based company is involved in their life in some way. n If someone they know needs open-heart surgery, Edwards Life Sciences’ innovative delivery systems will enable them to be mobile within one day, compared to 6-12 months after traditional open-heart surgery. n Arriving back to our chilly wet climate, their heating system might be controlled by a Tekelek / Rochester Sensors Europe device, and the level of oil or gas in their storage tank is probably monitored made by a Tekelek / Rochester Sensors Europe sensor...both designed and made in Shannon. n If they need medical gases, like oxygen or an anaesthetic during a hospital stay, these gases will, most likely, have been quality checked before use by instruments made by AGC Instruments in Shannon. n The smoke and carbon monoxide alarms in their homes, made by Ei Electronics, are keeping them safe every day from fire, carbon monoxide, and mould risks. n From the air they breathe and the water they drink to the food they eat and the medicines they rely on Fabricated Products Shannon Ltd. supplies components for leading multinational companies in these sectors. n The composition, additives and properties of

the aviation fuel used on their flight, and the effectiveness of the wastewater treatment from the airport, may have been identified and verified using Reagecon’s chemical and physical standards or certified reference materials.

The engine cleaning solutions and aircraft cleaning agents may have been purchased from Reagecon. n Element Six’s synthetic diamond technology, used to power critical applications in energy and mobility to telecommunications and water purification, is making their everyday lives brilliant. n The John Crane mechanical seals, made in Shannon, are in the pumps that feed aviation fuel to aircraft, the refrigeration units of all Thermo King units ensuring that food and medicines are transported safely, the cryogenic pumps on the truck that delivers gas to their home and in many of the pharmaceutical and chemical plants worldwide. n Some of the engine turbine parts that ensure they arrive safely at their destination have probably been inspected and repaired by Lufthansa Technik Turbine Shannon. n The aircraft they are traveling on could be owned and leased by AerCap, and maintained

by Atlantic Aviation Group, or Ryanair, all based in Shannon. n If they must visit a hospital emergency department or intensive care setting, the gold-standard aerosol drug delivery system – The Aerogen Solo – used in respiratory patient

care (paediatric and adult ICUs, emergency departments and respiratory wards) is made by Aerogen in Shannon, using pioneering vibrating mesh technology. n Whether it’s a car, bus, or an aircraft they travel on, or a phone they use, the technologies that power all these products are designed, engineered, and developed by Siemens Industry Software (SISW). n The products that are an enabling technology critical to the efficient deployment of renewable energy installations as well as the supply of strategic mined raw materials required for the global energy transition away from fossil fuels are designed and manufactured by Mincon. n The next-generation genetic medicine which will have the potential to cure devastating diseases is being developed by MeiraGTx in Shannon.

n Whether they are drinking a glass of water or milk, Chemifloc has provided the chemistry to ensure it is safe for consumption. n If someone they know requires orthopaedic joints or contact lenses, coronary stents or uses surgical instruments, the automation equipment used by world renowned MedTech companies to manufacture these products are designed and built by Automated Industrial Robotics (formerly Modular Automation). n Zimmer Biomet’s joint replacement and surgical solutions – developed in Shannon – may have restored mobility and improved the quality of life of their friends or family members. n The fuel-efficient, reliable aircraft engine that will enable them to arrive timely and safely at their destination may have been leased to the airline by Shannon Engine Support. n The aircraft they may travel on may have been painted externally or reconfigured internally by International Aerospace Coatings and Eirtech Aviation Services (IAC) Group, global leaders in aviation solutions, including aircraft painting, interiors, graphics, engineering, and technical services. n When they drive an electrified, connected or autonomous vehicle, the critical components within the vehicle may have been developed by Jaguar Land Rover’s engineers in Shannon. The software may have been tested in Future Mobility Campus Ireland’s smart-mobility testbed in Shannon, in which JLR is the lead partner.

And, the story continues...

investing in people is investing in the future of our region.

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Feb 26 2026

How Chamber is helping to upskill Shannon firms

Shannon Chamber Board

Mark Nolan, Board member and shareholder Dromoland Castle Resort - President Eoin Gavin, Managing Director, Eoin Gavin Transport Helen Downes, Chief Executive, Shannon Chamber Kevin Thompstone, Managing Director, The Thompstone Group Ian Barrett, Managing Director, Care About You Ltd. Edmund Jennings, Managing Director, CREGG Group Ray O’Driscoll, Interim CEO, The Shannon Airport Group Adrian Sylver, Head of School, Shannon College of Hotel Management Marlo Kearney, Head of Operations, PPG Shannon Colin MacDonald, Founder and Chief Executive, Fine Grain Property Eoin Hoctor, former Managing Director, Eason Shannon David Keating, Group Chief Operations Officer, Ei Electronics 11

Dromoland Castle Resort warmly congratulates Shannon Chamber on

30 Incredible Years of connecting, supporting, and championing the local business community.

We are proud to be part of Shannon’s thriving network and look forward to the continued growth and success of our vibrant business community. dromoland.ie

For Shannon Chamber of Commerce CEO Helen Downes, the future is about creating a set of skills for the local workforce for the future.

That is where Skillnet Ireland comes in, the national talent agency for workforce development. Since 2015, Shannon Chamber has acted as the promoter for Skillnet in the region, a partnership that has grown from a modest allocation into a beacon of professional development nurturing 100s of local businesses.

To the uninitiated, Skillnet might sound like just another acronym. To Helen, it is a vital lifeline. "We essentially applied in 2015 to become one of what has now grown to over 70 Skillnets in Ireland," she explains.

By securing government and European funding, the Chamber can offer high-level training at a significant subsidy to its members. This makes reskilling not just a corporate ambition, but a financial reality for companies of all sizes.

"We’re able to deliver this training at a subsidy that is more attractive for companies to encourage upskilling and reskilling. It has grown substantially... we’ve now secured funding for the next three years up to 2029," Helen confirms to

The Clare Echo.

Helen manages two distinct funding streams that cater to different needs: TNP (Training Network Programme) which supports Lean operational excellence, or basic supervisory management skills. ESF Plus (European Social Fund), meanwhile, offers a higher level of subsidy focused on certified training across all sectors, providing a powerful boost for companies looking to meet international standards.

The engagement has been nothing short of significant with businesses in Shannon "exhausting" these funding streams, indicating the appetite for knowledge in the MidWest.

Even with funding secured for the next several years, Helen is already scanning the horizon for the next opportunity.

"We’re always looking to differentiate ourselves," she says with the quiet determination that has come to define her leadership. Her current focus is on Brussels. "I’m exploring that at the moment," she admits, "to see how we can develop a strategy that supports businesses through anything that comes out of Europe." It’s this 'what’s next?' attitude that has seen the Chamber thrive for 30 years.

Feb 26 2026

M

ICK GUINEE is one of the nine founding members of Shannon Chamber but has stretched his influence across generations in the Mid-West in leading a buy-out which resulted in the formation of Ei Electronics, one of the county’s biggest employers.

Alongside Chris Taylor, Arthur Hanly, Austin Collins, Michael Fitzpatrick, Risteard Crimmins, George O’Carroll, Paddy O’Rourke and Aidan Quish, Mick helped to set up Shannon Chamber in 1995.

At the black-tie 30th celebrations for the Chamber at the end of November, Mick was presented with a bespoke sculpture by Irish Natural Stone (INStone) sculptor Colin Grehan, titled ‘Pools of Light’, in recognition of his outstanding contribution to the region.

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accessible manner and culture we have, we do treat people with respect so I haven’t changed my method of management over the years...I saw Leo as someone who could continue that way of managing people”.

Magic Mick

Lifelong contributions and loyalty of staff such as Mike Flynn, Tom O’Loughlin, Kay McCormack and the late John O’Looney saw individuals in the area spend their entire working lives in Ei. The days of keeping people in the one place of employment are much rarer now, Mick noted while added, . “There are more opportunities now... For production people, there’s a lot of opportunities so you get some turnover of people but for professional people we don’t have any great turnover, people get in and make a career here. Once you are treated with respect, have a voice it is a nice place to work”.

When it comes to doing business in Shannon there are challenges, he acknowledged. This includes its perception as being a place where an airport is and not much else, “Shannon still has that image. There isn’t good housing here which is one of the negatives but once people realise you can live in Ennis or Limerick, that goes away, it is one of the challenges of Shannon and it is one of the reasons I got involved with the benefit of State support, Mick worked with Dr Mike the Chamber of Commerce back in 1995... I remember Byrne and Jim Duignan to conclude the buyout, and The our first meeting saying Shannon doesn’t have a town Ei Company became Ei Electronics. Mike Byrne remained centre, it has a shopping centre so it has no soul or spirit with Mick at Ei over the next three decades until his but that is still the case 30 years on. I know it is one of the retirement in 2020 and Jim still works with the company. ambitions of Helen (Downes) and the Chamber that we continue to work on trying to develop that.

Showing Shannon’s viability at the time of the buyout was a big motivation then and it has proven itself, Mick “The Shannon Chamber and Helen since she became CEO reflected. “In 1988 when we did the management buyout has done a great job at positioning Shannon Chamber as a the question came up, would we move production primary chamber in the country”. offshore and I said no, we’re making a life safety product and I wanted it made here and to be able to assure the After concluding a three year term as President of quality and service. There was no question in my mind Shannon Chamber in 2003, Mick began to step away from that Shannon would be the location and will be the the grouping he helped to establish. To be honoured by location forever in the manufacturing side. It has proven Shannon Chamber with an outstanding contribution itself, one of the reasons we did the buyout was because award was a real honour, he said. Other notable accolades the workforce was always very flexible and adaptable, you include a honorary doctorate from UL, a business alumni could bring any product to this workforce and they would award from UCC, a civic reception from Clare County adapt to make it, that adaptability is there to this day and Council and a lifetime achievement award from Ennis is part of the spirit. It is a first class place, we’ve access to Chamber. “I got a lot of recognition last year, I haven’t got first-class people within a hinterland of 20 miles around a big ego and I don’t notice what people think of me but in us, Shannon is now so accessible by road that people are the last year I began to realise that people do think quite travelling from Galway and Tipperary, access to talent is a lot about what Ei has contributed to the local economy, not a problem in Shannon so it is an ideal environment”. we’ve up to 1,000 jobs here and it’s huge. What we did in

Mick Guinee tells Páraic McMahon why saving Ei Electronics paid off for Shannon & the economy’

‘Pools of Light’ currently has pride of place in the boardroom of Ei Electronics’ Shannon headquarters.

Last March, Mick stepped down as CEO of Ei Electronics.

In April 1983, he was appointed Managing Director of the then GE-owned EI Company. In March 1988, he led a management buyout, founding Ei Electronics as a fully Irish-owned company. Under his leadership, it has grown from a small start-up to a global leader in fire and home life safety technology, now employing in the region of 1,000 people at its Shannon headquarters and 1,250 worldwide. Last year, it had turnover in excess of €400m and ranks as one of Ireland’s largest indigenous manufacturing and exporting electronics companies, occupying a 30,000 m2 campus in Shannon.

Speaking to The Clare Echo, Mick admitted he is still adjusting to stepping away but his role as Board Chairman ensures his involvement. “I’m coming in here nearly every day as it is, I’m getting used to it but I will always be involved because I founded the place, it will always be a part of me and it is very hard to look at anything going on without keeping away from it”.

Looking forward requires a glance at the past which makes Mick confident for Ei’s future under CEO, Leo Clancy. “It goes back to our history, Ei has been here since 1963 in one form or another, we’ve reinvented ourselves many times over the years, not least since the management buyout in 1988. There’s a spirit of resilience very much in the people in Ei, I’m totally confident the place will keep going and reinventing itself, Leo is geared towards growing the business. We’ve grown it organically over the last 40 years, we didn’t do any acquisitions but Leo is going to head into merging and acquisitions for growing the company. We have the resources to do it, it is onwards and upwards from here”.

GE in 1986 announced plans to close its Shannon facility.

Mick managed to delay a public announcement on this so that he could negotiate a management buyout. Without

Treating people with respect stands out as one his most successful traits in management, he felt. “I joined Ei in 1981 and became MD in 1983, my way of managing was to keep people informed and keep communicating directly with people. That paid off in the years when Ei was closing. There was a year when I was negotiating with GE, keeping people informed as to what was going on was very important. Right through my era as MD, it was my style to keep people informed.

“I was always involved in the sport and social activities, we didn’t have layers of managers so I was always accessible, that is part of the culture so managers are known here and known by name, people wander into my office and there’s no questions asked whereas in another place they might have guards protecting people. The

1988 in saving Ei has really paid off for the economy, the town and the region”.

Cork native Mick quips that Ei is “probably the biggest company that you’ve never heard of”. “Our profile has increased, locally our profile is very high because not only the jobs but the role we play in the local community and we’re acknowledged as a leader in that field”.

Indeed the contribution of Ei and now the Michael Guinee Charitable Foundation in supporting groups and organisations across the county is legendary. “I believe I can circulate more into the communities through the foundation and we can continue that work. It was always one of my goals to set up a charitable foundation and do community work”.

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Feb 26 2026

Feb 26 2026

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‘The Comp a microcosm WORDS PÁRAIC MCMAHON PHOTO JOE BUCKLEY STAFF and students of St Patrick’s Comprehensive School in Shannon continue to be inspired by the innovation and entrepreneurial spirit of Ireland’s newest town.

Mary Costello returned from Donegal to become principal of St Patrick’s Comprehensive in November 2018. A Shannon native, she speaks with immense pride about the town.

In her eight years as principal, Mary has observed a ‘quite significant expansion’ in enrolment numbers which now stands at 765 students.

She is joined on the management team by deputy principals, Sharon Brooks and Ciara Golden.

Having been content as deputy principal of The Rosses Community School in Dungloe, Donegal, it was always going to be a special role that

would entice Mary to come home and she was in Shannon when her beloved father, well-known musician Pat passed away in April 2020.

chet regime and came to Shannon.

He actually worked in Mincon which developed the bit which saved the Chilean miners back in 2010.”

Mary views The Comp as a microcosm of Shannon. “You come to Shannon and you have this burgeoning town with what looks like massive employment but within Shannon there is such diversity in our socio-economic situation so that you have the full spectrum in a school here. The biggest single difference is the diversity in The Comp and The Comp is a microcosm of Shannon itself. I grew up in Shannon where we had multi-culturalism, inclusion and diversity when those words weren’t part of the national vernacular but they were always here in Shannon.

Of the 750 students in The Comp, there are 25 different nationalities.

Teachers Ivana Zupa and Helena O’Sullivan set up the ‘Language Ambassadors’ programme which is believed to be the only such programme in existence in an Irish school. “They invited students who wouldn’t have English as their first language or whose parents wouldn’t have English as their first language. When we have school events like Open Nights or an induction, the language ambassadors meet the families coming in the door and they will speak in their own language and can answer questions.

It reflects the diversity in the school, we’ve socio-economic diversity, language diversity, different ethnicities, different religions and no religions, everyone is in the melting pot in The Comp, it reflects the broader town of Shannon.”

“I was talking to a parent this morning, we’d be a similar go and I remember growing up in Shannon in Cronan Lawn and we knew Cronan Park as Chilean Park because the Chilean people were fleeing the Pino-

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Feb 26 2026

of Shannon’s diversity’ Sitting in her office, Mary’s pride for her native town is infectious. “The innovation and all that happens in Shannon, you think of the Free Zone, the work of Shannon Chamber, all of that is reflected here in The Comp. The first principal was Diarmuid Ó Donovan, through him the curriculum development unit was set up here in The Comp out of which came The Leaving Cert Applied programme which is an alternative Leaving Cert programme still on offer and recognises the main Leaving Cert didn’t suit everybody, that came from Shannon.

“I remember when I was appointed Deputy Principal in Donegal, I had to do the timetable and I knew nothing about Leaving Cert Applied, the joy I had in ringing Sile O’Driscoll down in The Comp in Shannon to arrange a meeting to find out about LCA and that it had come from Shannon, it is that kind of innovation and that is what’s happening above in The Industrial Estate, it is what Shannon Chamber are doing too by co-ordinating, supporting and leading.

The school journeys alongside all of that, so many of our parents are working up there or are a part of it,” she added.

Now living in Lissycasey, Mary’s first role was as a English and economics teacher at the now closed Cahercon in Kildysart, before spending 20 years in Donegal.

Forty years ago, Mary was among the first batch of students in St Caimin’s Community School as Shannon’s second post-primary school opened its doors, The Comp had opened previously in 1966. “Growing up in Shannon, there wasn’t an accent because everybody was from everywhere, if anything the most dominant accent was a northern accent because we had so many people coming down from the North.

What was very interesting to me when I went to Donegal was, the Donegal people were saying ... ‘you wouldn’t know what it was like during The Troubles’ but I could remember growing up in Shannon, the time of the Hunger Strikes so as a town we’re hugely part of the history of that and how it has evolved, there’s fierce depth to this town and as a result in the school”.

Uniforms are not worn in The Comp but the school crest has two airplanes, an ode to Shannon Airport and its surrounds.

Strong links with Shannon Chamber have enabled development in the school, which otherwise would not have happened. A careers fair in February 2019 organised by teacher Siobhan Hickey saw Shannon Chamber play a pivotal role and create relationships that have been maintained and benefitted the school. “We’ve fantastic contacts with Ei Electronics who are out on their own in terms of supporting the community.”

Mary recounts how Ei funded a new astro turf pitch in her first year in charge, while the Mick Guinee Charitable Foundation has since given two “incredible” full scholarships to Comp students.

Students are also regular attendees at the business lunches hosted by The Chamber in Dromoland Castle. This has led to collaboration between The Comp and Cook Medical and Berka Solutions to assist with potential cost-saving measures in the school on systems and infrastructure, both companies have offered invaluable assistance to the school.

“To have a company come in and give us private sector insight is phenomenal...to get access to that expertise and adapt it to support what is going on in the school is incredible”.

From the hills of Donegal back to the energy and diversity of Shannon, there is nowhere else Mary Costello would rather be. “I’m a very proud Shannon person, I’m really proud of it, I don’t think we celebrate enough how unique a town it is, it was and still is a new town, we had to develop a personality and a community forged from the likes of Wolfe Tones GAA, the Scouts, the Shannon Musical Society who have staged every musical in The Comp, those partnerships have helped the town evolve.

Shannon Chamber are giving a safe space for all the companies to come together to help someone with an idea look for support and for mentoring. In a climate where you could be despondent, we’ve the housing crisis and all that is wrong with the world but I’m very proud to be from Shannon and be part of The Comp where the future leaders and innovators could be coming from”.

Precision Engineering where quality is everything Congratulations to Shannon Chamber on marking 30 years We provide contract manufacturing and precision engineering solutions to the top medical device and orthopaedic companies globally.

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Feb 26 2026

14

Airport connectivity is ‘a big plus’

S

WORDS PÁRAIC MCMAHON PHOTO EAMON WARD HANNON’s commercial potential is endless with over 135 acres available for development in the town’s biggest business park.

because it has got so expensive to develop, we’re one of the few companies Already boasting the highest concentration developing specof FDI companies outside of Dublin, the ulatively. If some600-acre Shannon Airport Business Park includes over body comes and 300 buildings offering two million square feet of comthey’re looking for mercial space, making it one of Ireland’s largest mulspace we generally ti-sectoral business parks. have something readily available for Ground has been broken on the next stage of development them or if not readin the Business Park. Blocks Y and Z are 100,000 sq ft ily available then it over two blocks and signals a €14m investment, which it’s is in the pipeline over the next few months.” expected will be ready by the end of this year.

She added, “The real win would be to have them pre-let Commercial Director of The Shannon Airport Group, before we have the buildings completed, we’d be confident Vanessa McTigue confirmed to The Clare Echo there has to be in a position to have them let by the end of this year been strong interest in both blocks. “There’s really good or Q1 of 2027.” interest in those units because there’s very few developments going on regionally at the moment bar ourselves Over the last 18 months, Block S and Block R were let to

Frontier Scientific Solutions and Embryonics respectively.

Frontier are a US company involved in cold-storage distribution of pharmaceutical products while Embryonics are Galway based “involved in developing the internet in space,” she outlined. Shannon was identified by Frontier as a good place to do business due to the strength of the pharmaceutical industry in Galway, Limerick and Cork, “on a more macro-level, we’re the only English speaking country in the EU now, companies gravitate towards that and it was really important for the US market, we’ve flights between Shannon and North Carolina supporting the pharmaceutical sector”.

Building an average of 100 to 150,000 sq ft of multi-sector industrial space each year is the aim of the Shannon Airport Group. “We’ve 98 per cent occupancy in our business park, the team is working very well with a solid strategy in terms of what is happening in Shannon and that is a good barometer for the region’s economic strength”.

Within Shannon Airport Business Park East is where

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Feb 26 2026

the most of the undeveloped land is, she noted. “We’ve about 135 acres over in our East Park and over a million square feet of development so we’re a long way away from being at capacity”.

that messaging, it is really key that the message gets out internationally”.

According to Vanessa, Shannon Chamber “have been the driving force” for a lot of what is going on in Shannon with the majority of the clients in the Business Park attached to the Chamber. “Helen (Downes) is a super advocate for Shannon as an area and place to do business, she is constantly championing what we’re doing in Shannon, she’s a voice for us in Shannon Airport but she’s a voice for all the businesses in Shannon. She is a real champion for Shannon for the innovation and talent that is here in Shannon, she is a fantastic advocate for everything good about Shannon”.

Ennis native Vanessa explained that Shannon Airport’s international connectivity “is a big plus” when pitching to prospective businesses. “Shannon has been synonymous with innovation since day one, the first free trade zone, the first duty free in an airport, people gravitate to the innovation within Shannon.

“The diversification of sectors within the business park is really positive, historically there would have been a lot of aviation companies due to the link with the airport. We now have 300 companies and about 10,000 employees, a third of those are aviation related so two-thirds of the companies are from other sectors like life sciences, space, logistics, automotive”.

Comparisons between the hassle-free experience at Shannon Airport and setting up a base in the Free Zone are made

by McTigue, “We say Shannon Airport is very easy to fly through but when it comes to setting up business in Shannon, it is a very easy place to come and meet us, we understand what clients’ requirements

are and we can develop a property solution based on their requirements”.

This year, there are 40 routes from Shannon Airport, the largest network in 17 years, the extra routes will enable further business, she predicted. “We’ve a lot of new routes announced in the airport, one key one from the business perspective is Frankfurt starting at the end of April with Discovery Airlines, the hub connectivity will support a lot of onward traffic to 60 destinations from Frankfurt, people will be able to go on a leisure or business break in Asia from Shannon to Frankfurt and onwards, it is a very positive route.

On other route announcements, we’ve new routes for Rome, extensions for Madrid, Warsaw and Poznan”.

An investment of €40m is planned for Shannon Airport this year including the redevelopment of the terminal building.

There is also a strong focus on maximising a return from the Ryder Cup, Irish Open and Walker Cup in 2026 and 2027.

“We’ll be seeing a lot of improvements in the passenger experience as people go through the airport over the next 15 months...we’re seeing Shannon as the gateway to golf, we’re working with the Ryder Cup team and Tourism Ireland on

Breaking away from the DAA has enabled Shannon to place a stronger focus on its property portfolio, the chartered accountant maintained. “Over 10 years ago there was a focus on the potential that the property portfolio could add to the region for economic development, there was a plan put in place back in 2014 that investment was required in the Business Park, that became very evident in 2017, 2018 and 2019 when Jaguar came on board. It is really positive to see a global player like Edwards Lifesciences go into a refurbished building, it gave us confidence to look at refurbishment as opposed to demolition”.

Feb 26 2026

16

‘Country Boy’ driving the Lean machine

J

WORDS STUART HOLLY PHOTO JOE BUCKLEY AMES Martin has spent a quarter of a century in the cavernous hangars on the grounds of Shannon Airport, where the scent of hydraulic fluid and precision engineering define the workday.

But while his surroundings haven’t changed much, his perspective has undergone radical development.

Once an aircraft mechanic, James now works as a Continuous Improvement Facilitator with Atlantic Aviation Group (AAG) and is also the Chair of Shannon Chamber’s Midwest Lean Network. As the Chamber of Commerce celebrates 30 years of supporting local enterprise, James’s journey from a New Zealand farm to the forefront of Irish industrial efficiency serves as a perfect microcosm of Shannon’s own transformation.

A self-described “simple country boy”, James’s path to Shannon was anything but linear. An 11-year spell in the New Zealand Air Force fixing planes came to an end in 2001. “Then I made that one mistake that everybody makes: she was from Cork!”

James quips.

The move to Ireland landed him at Shannon Aerospace. It was here, around 2005, that he witnessed a shift in the industry. “We started moving airplanes around in pulses,” he recalls.

“What we were doing was world-leading.” This was his introduction to Lean, a philosophy that would eventually see him prototyping fuel tank solutions for Boeing in Seattle and earning US patents.

For many, ‘Lean’ sounds like corporate jargon. For James, it’s as practical as a kitchen drawer. “The easiest way to explain it is: we are looking at the

business from the point of view of the customer to get rid of waste. If I walk into your kitchen, the top drawer probably has a rack to separate knives, forks, and spoons. That’s 5S—one of the foundational tools of Lean.”

is the vision of the leadership. If you have a small company with a leader that’s really, really engaged - ATC up the road is a relatively small company but one of the best in the country on Lean with a dedicated leader who is really pushing for it.”

James is quick to point out that Lean isn’t just about tidy workstations or data-heavy spreadsheets. To be sustainable, technical systems, management infrastructure along with mindsets and behaviors must work in tandem to achieve desired results. “A lot of academic stuff focuses on the tools,” James explains, “but if you ignore the behaviours, system won’t last.”

As Shannon Chamber hits the 30-year mark, James’s focus remains on the ‘Continuous’ part of Continuous Improvement. While new technologies loom on the horizon, he remains a firm believer in the human element. “AI can crunch data,” he says, “but I don’t know if it can engage with people to change mindsets. That’s where the real work happens.”

As Chair of the Midwest Lean Network, James oversees a community of over 140 member companies. He highlights Shannon Chamber as the “secret sauce” that makes the region’s Lean initiatives so successful, which is itself marking 10 years in operation.

“I was on a call recently with Lean chairs from across the country,” he says. “They were talking about struggles with community engagement that I just don’t experience. We have the Chamber behind us. It makes the whole thing work.”

The most heartening success story James shares involves Shannon Comprehensive School. At a recent Midwest Lean conference, students were invited to present real-world problems to a room of Lean experts which resulted in local companies like Berka Solutions and Cook Medical stepped up to mentor the students, applying Lean principles to school canteen processes and site safety tracking. It’s a full-circle moment for a man who believes Lean is about people more than machines. “They were just the most amazing example of what youth can do, they were incredible. Since then, the two companies have been working with the students to work on the solutions. Feedback from the school is that the principal is delighted with the collaboration, and the projects intend to be completed by the end of the academic year when we intend to have an event at the school where our network of people who were at the conference can now come back and see the results of the collaboration that happened.”

‘The biggest obstacle to Lean is the vision of the leadership’

This collaboration isn’t just aimed at the big players like AAG or Cook Medical. In fact, James is adamant that SMEs are “beginning to be where it’s really happening”. From multinational aerospace firms to local gift-packaging companies, the goal remains the same, to stop doing things just because they’ve always been done, and start doing what the “There’s nothing better for the next generation than customer actually values. “The biggest obstacle to train them to take over your job,” James adds.

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Feb 26 2026

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Feb 26 2026

18

In an Ai world, people at

A

WORDS STUART HOLLY PHOTO EAMON WARD

RTIFICIAL intelligence can not be a replacement for the human workforce, however it does have a role to play in an efficient, modern workplace, according to a Shannon-based human resources expert.

No, I think you need to be kind of careful of that rhetoric because at the end of the day, yes it probably will have a place to play in business but what is that place? Because you will need people, you definitely will still need people.”

The main challenges companies will face around Ai centre around legislation. “It’s more in general from Fears around Ai making humans a HR perspective because there’s obsolete in the workplace are legislation coming in and if companies becoming more commonplace with the are going to be using AI there’s going rapid advancement of Ai tools such as to be policies around it,” explains Dee. ChatGPT, Grok and Gemini. However “You can’t just sit and do things the Deirdre Bennett, Chairperson of the same way you’ve done them for the last Shannon Chamber’s HR Forum, says 10 years, you know you always have to we should tread carefully when having have an eye on the future and how we discussions around the popular tool. build our workforce.”

Dee Bennett, Chief People Officer at CSG and Chair of the HR Network

When asked if she feared jobs would be replaced in Shannon’s 10,000-strong workforce, Deirdre urged, “I mean, I don’t sit there and think it’s going to replace me. But it might, who knows.

Better known as Dee, the Portmarnock native crossed the banks of the Shannon and made County Clare her home in 1995 when she took up a position with CFI, which would

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become GE. Dee has made a career out of specialising in people - so it seems fitting that she arrived when the people of the Banner County were at their liveliest in living memory, that famous sweltering summer.

“I moved down in the January and then Clare won the All-Ireland and literally the place just erupted,” recounts Dee, who has since become an integral part of the fabric of Shannon’s business community.

“We had brilliant weather. I think the day we got married was the hottest day of the year, because we got married that year as well in Dublin.

So I moved down, we got married and then we bought our house in Ennis and everything was down here.”

Some 30 years later, Dee now serves as Chief People Officer with the rebranded CSG, formerly Chemifloc, a company which offers specialist

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Feb 26 2026

centre of Shannon success chemistry expertise across potable water, wastewater, environmental and hygiene applications across Ireland and the UK. Its products are used to ensure clean water, safe food and some of life’s essential products.

She has also taken on the role of Chairperson of Shannon Chamber’s HR Forum this year, having been approached by Shannon Chamber CEO Helen Downes. Dee notes, “The team at Shannon Chamber are fabulous. It’s really one of the great Chambers, I’d say there wouldn’t be a lot to rival it within the country. And Helen Downes, really, she does a fabulous job.”

The gender pay gap CSG has been in existence for 45 years and have sites reporting in Shannon and Foynes, employing about 100 people. ... was a big Dee notes that CSG is very employee centric with change for “excellent culture” and her role entails encouraging and protecting that. companies Dee explains that the “We started last year doing engagement surveys to get feedback from the staff and what we can improve on, because it’s always a two-way street.

You can’t just be sitting here deciding ‘I think we’ll do this’. You need to get the feedback from everybody. So that’s really critical.”

HR Forum gives HR professionals a vital outlet to share information and stay upto-date in a trusted space on legislative changes and a space “where people can go and talk about issues or challenges they are having and hearing from colleagues about how they might have dealt with that in their business”.

“It’s real world learning, it’s peer-topeer sharing and it’s trusted so people feel that they can speak and it’s the information that they get will help them grow or help them support their business no matter what the size is because with the Chamber it’s dealing with multinationals, SMEs, indigenous companies.”

at the conference. And there’s been so much legislative change within the last few years with regards to policies on family leave, well-being, and as a HR professional you have to react to that and then see how they fit into your business and how we’ll implement these within the business.”

On March 25, the HR Network will host their first ever conference at Dromoland Castle in conjunction with Adare Human Resource Management, where items such as legislation around Ai and gender pay gap reporting are expected to be discussed.

Dee is also known for her singing credentials as a member of the Cantare choir, a space where she counterbalances a busy work schedule to find mindfulness. Looking ahead, she hopes to play a vital role in ensuring all businesses in the HR Network are singing off the same hymn sheet.

“The gender pay gap reporting, I mean that was phased in, bigger number companies were doing it initially and now it’s gone down to smaller level companies. So that was a big change for companies. The pay transparency will be another big one as well, so we’ll have people talking about that

“It’s really that just trying to keep abreast of what’s happening and then giving everybody a forum to be able to talk and discuss it really openly, that’s the key thing and to make sure that we have that network so we have that connection and people feel they have that a support on a day-to-day basis.”

Feb 26 2026

Bridging the gap BARRY Gavin explains why Sustainability is Shannon’s competitive edge

F

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Barry Gavin (centre) pictured at the Mid-West Sustainability Network launch event in Ei Electronics Centre of Excellence

WORDS STUART HOLLY PHOTO EAMON WARD or many, the world of highlevel finance and the landscape of renewable energy might seem like parallel lines that should never meet.

But for Barry Gavin, a Dublin-based accountant whose parents hail from West Clare, finance is simply the “bridge” that turns a green ambition into a physical reality.

As the Chair of the Mid-West Sustainability Network and a seasoned veteran of the clean energy sector, Barry is helping to steer Shannon toward the bold target of becoming the most sustainable region in Ireland. His journey to this role is a blend of professional rigour and a deep-seated grá for the Banner, which sees him visit the county every year for the Rose of Clare Festival and the Blessed Well in Dromelihy, Cooraclare on August 15.

Barry’s professional life began with numbers, but it didn’t stay confined to spreadsheets for long. Over the last 25 years, he has been a key player in the infrastructure of the future — wind farms, utility power, and sustainable transportation. Having worked with pioneers like Gaelectric and currently lecturing at UCD Smurfit and NUIG, Barry understands that for any sustainability project to work, the math has to work.

“Finance kind of takes you into operations,” Barry explains. “It’s a natural progression. Finance is the bridge between a plan and bringing the project to fruition.”

This hands-on experience has seen him take seats on the boards of SEAI and An Post, but it was a conversation with his first cousin, Eoin Gavin (then President of Shannon Chamber), and

CEO Helen Downes that anchored his expertise back in Shannon.

Barry tells The Clare Echo, “Talk is cheap. Helen and her team are taking action when very few chambers have taken initiative in this area. They have helped to create a culture where companies in Shannon are ‘just doing it’—they see it as normal practice.”

According to Barry, sustainability is now a critical business tool for several reasons, such as cost reduction while noting security of supply as an issue that has impacted all businesses in recent years following the invasion of Ukraine, which highlighted how volatile global energy can be. “Sustainability is also important to young people now on a personal level,” Barry notes. “To get the best graduates, companies must prove they are socially and environmentally responsible.”

Despite his international experience, with both parents hailing from Clare, Barry spent his formative summer months near Doonbeg. This personal connection fuels his desire to see Shannon thrive. Through the Mid-West Sustainability Network, established in 2022, he helps oversee a group of companies who share knowledge on everything from auditing sustainability to national climate targets.

While many regions are still debating their next steps, Barry believes Shannon has already pushed the envelope. Through Sustainability Week and a constant stream of IDA and LEO-supported events, the Chamber has moved past the “planning” phase. “Shannon can have an edge on other regions because it’s taking action,” he says. The goal is to be proactive to change rather than reactive.

As the Shannon Chamber marks its 30th year, the focus is firmly on the future. For Barry, the mission is simple: keep checking in with members, keep providing the education they need, and keep proving that a sustainable business is a successful business.

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Feb 26 2026

GROUP TRIPS FOR 2026

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Celebrating 30 Years of Shannon Chamber.

Congratulations to Shannon Chamber on 30 years of supporting businesses, building connections and strengthening our region.

As proud Chamber members, all of us at FROSCH Ireland are delighted to celebrate this milestone with you. Being part of such a vibrant and forward-thinking business community has been an important part of our journey , and we look forward to many more years of collaboration.

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Feb 26 2026

22

A University town...

T

WORDS STUART HOLLY PHOTO EAMON WARD

HE Shannon College of Hotel Management is, perhaps to many, an unusual location for a third level institution in Ireland.

As it celebrates its 75th year in existence, it comes then as no surprise that it bears the fingerprints of the great Brendan O’Regan, the Clare businessman responsible for developing Shannon Airport, inventing the concept of the duty-free shop and transforming the Shannon Region.

O’Regan was known for his vision and he was able to identify that with its strategic location at Shannon Airport and near world famous hotels such as Dromoland Castle, the college would attract international students and thrive for decades to come, with it currently catering for 400 students and 35 staff.

“It was a challenge” coming into the position at the tailend of Covid, with student numbers experiencing a significant decline due to travel restrictions and a drop-off in international students. “Thankfully, for the last three years our student numbers have rebounded to where they were pre-Covid.”

Adrian Sylver with Helen Downes

Adrian says that the team at Shannon College of Hotel Management are teaching students life and development skills, alongside the professional skills required to run a hotel.

dad-of-three Adrian Sylver, a man steeped in Galway GAA “We’re teaching students to be the hotel managers of the future, but now there are so many niche roles now in the as a member of the senior hurling backroom team. hospitality industry such as revenue managers, facility managers, event managers, so we’re now training stuA Masters Graduate from NUIG in Accounting, he moved dents for a variety of career options in the hotel industry to the Shannon College of Hotel Management in 2006, following a stint lecturing accounting for Dublin Business and part of what we do here in Shannon is develop the person.

School.

Founded in 1951 as Ireland’s first designated college of hotel management, the college was set up with input from In Shannon, he started his journey as a lecturer in AcAer Rianta and since 2015 it has been fully incorporated counting & Finance before working his way up to becominto the University of Galway. ing Head of School in 2022, replacing Phillip Smyth who had held the position for 32 years.

Today it is being run by Ardrahan native and married

“What I’ve noticed in recent years, a lot of other industries are coming to look at trying to recruit our students because very much, our ethos is to develop the student, develop the person. Our students are very confident walking into a room and can hold a conversation, meet guests,

23

Feb 26 2026

greet guests, and that is a skill that’s valuable in a lot of industries so now we’re seeing graduates going on tangents into different areas because of the skills they’ve learned here in Shannon.”

The College has an excellent reputation worldwide, with more than 3,000 alumni who have gone on to excel in the industry. “For example, Gerald Lawless is a graduate from the 1975 class, he’s currently the chair of our school advisory board and Gerard has had a distinguished career in the hospitality industry as part of the Jumeira Group in Dubai.”

The link between Shannon College and local hotels is underpinned by the number of alumni who have gone on to serve in the industry here. “It’s crucial. All of our programmes have a placement element, for that placement to be successful we have built up strong links with hotels locally, nationally and internationally. A lot of our students go on placement in the local hotels, they’re available for working at the weekends and evenings in the local hotels. Also a lot of the hotels have a strong connection with the college. Mark McSorely in Dromoland Castle, Brendan O’Connor in Adare Manor, John Burke in the Armada, John Gavin in Shannon Springs and the Temple Gate, they are names that just come to mind and are all graduates of the college.”

Adrian was approached by Shannon Chamber CEO Helen Downes to join the board of the Chamber in 2023, a role which he concludes is vital to the college’s link to the town. “I was delighted and honoured to be asked, it’s really good for the college to make the link with local industry. For example we have a module in first year called Life Skills and part of that is where students go out and do volunteering in the community. My links with Shannon Chamber have helped develop links with Tidy Towns and local charities.”

And here’s to 30 more years of success...

Shannon Chamber CEO Helen Downes, pictured with the current Chamber President Mark Nolan and former Presidents - Mick Guinee, Mary Considine, Stephen Keogh, Kevin Thompstone, Damian Gleeson, Eoin Hoctor, Edmund Jennings, Eoin Gavin and Ian Barrett at the 30th anniversary celebrations in Dromoland Castle Hotel. Photo by Eamon Ward

Feb 26 2026

Upskill Your Workforce Invest in your people.

Empower your business.

Shannon Chamber Skillnet offers a wide range of subsidised training programmes designed to help companies in the region build stronger, more future-ready teams.

Whether you’re an employer looking to develop talent or an employee eager to grow your skills, our programmes provide practical, industry-relevant learning opportunities across areas such as: • • • • • •

Leadership & Management Digital & IT Skills Project Management HR & People Development Finance & Business Excellence Digitalisation

Employers… Supporting staff training isn’t just a benefit; it’s a business advantage. Skillnet funding makes it easier and more affordable to upskill your workforce, improve retention, and stay competitive.

On offer in 2026…

The comprehensive suite of training programmes scheduled for delivery in 2026 is wide-ranging: • Change Management • Circular Economy • Communication Skills • Conflict Management & Resolution • Leadership Development • EV Technology • Interview Skills • Lean & Continuous Improvement • Digitalisation & Technology Skills • Cybersecurity • Project Management …and more.

Programme details are continually updated at: www.shannonchamberskillnet.com/ events-training

Employees… Do you want to progress in your role or explore new career opportunities? Our courses are designed to help you gain recognised skills that make a real difference.

Contact Aisling Ryan (aryan@shannonchamber.ie) for further information.

24

THE CLARE ECHO Thursday, Feb 26, 2026

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‘Shannon-Canada route must be explored’

by Stuart Holly editor@clareecho.ie

His Excellency, Mr Dennis King, Ambassador of Canada to Ireland has described the Canada-Ireland relationship as being at a pivotal moment, calling for both countries to lean into their shared history and economic partnership amid growing global uncertainty.

Addressing an event organised by Shannon Chamber, hosted by Ei Electronics, the Ambassador, who was accompanied by Ms. Adeline Grenier, senior trade commissioner at the Embassy of Canada in Ireland, emphasised that Canada and Ireland must build more deliberately on their strong foundations to unlock future growth opportunities.

“Canada and Ireland have the history, values, and economic alignment to deepen our cooperation significantly.”

lH.E. Mr. Dennis King, Ambassador of Canada to Ireland, Mick Guinee, founder Ei Electronics, Cathaoirleach of Clare Co Council, Paul Murphy; Shannon Chamber CEO Helen Downes and Adeline Grenier, senior trade commissioner at the Embassy of Canada in Ireland Photo by Eamon Ward

Praising Shannon’s historic foresight in establishing the world’s first free zone, describing it as a model of innovation that continues to attract international in-

vestment, he highlighted the importance of Ireland’s enterprise architecture, particularly Enterprise Ireland and IDA Ireland, as globally unique assets in driving in-

ward investment and export growth.

Encouraging Irish businesses and regional stakeholders to continually tell their story internationally, positioning Shannon and the wider region as competitive gateways to European markets, a presentation given by Ms Grenier showed that bilateral trade between Canada and Ireland reached approximately €8 billion ($13 billion CAD) in 2020, with significant opportunity for further expansion. Over 70 Canadian companies supported by IDA Ireland employ approximately 27,000 people across Ireland, both directly and indirectly.

Discussion at the meeting pointed to an interest in re-establishing and expanding direct air connectivity between Canada and Ireland as a critical enabler of business growth, tourism, and edu-

Funding will help Shannon parenting peer group expand SHANNON Family Resource Centre (Shannon FRC) has received funding of €5,000 towards the delivery, promotion and development of its already established ‘Parenting Peer Support Group’ set up by Family Support Worker Cathal Dillon in 2023.

The funding was announced at the end of January as part of the Department of Children, Disability & Equality Parenting Peer Support Fund national allocation.

The Shannon Parenting Peer Support Group meets monthly at Shannon Family Resource Centre and provides parents with a regular safe and comfortable space to come together and support one another in their parenting journey.

In November 2025 Cathal surveyed the parents involved in the group to ask them how the parenting peer support group has made a difference to them and their families and he was overawed by the responses.

One parent, Shazia stated “It is an invaluable and resourceful platform, and

l Cathal with new psychotherapist Cathy O Byrne

honestly speaking, it’s a haven for many parents. We are learning new skills and coping mechanisms in this group. I find other parents very helpful, and there’s so much to take away home from these interactions and friendly support”.

Another attendee Mary commented “This group has helped me and my family in many ways I could never have imagined. It has strengthened our bond”. It is because Cathal sees the value in

the group that he applied for the funding and is delighted that the application was successful. He is now busy planning with Shannon native Cathy O Byrne, Child and Adolescent Psychotherapist and founder of The Swallows Trail Parent Support. In consultation with parents they are working to develop a calendar of themed and accessible workshops, webinars and training supports for the group for 2026.

Cathy is excited to get

involved this year and is really looking forward to the opportunity to support this group, “ I was delighted that Cathal reached out to me and I’m really looking forward to working with the parents in the area to facilitate workshops on themes identified by the parents through the survey including ‘understanding emotional regulation for parents and children’ & ‘understanding behaviour as a form of communication’.

The next meeting of the Shannon Parenting Peer Support group takes place today on Thursday, February 26 from 9:30 to 11:30am at Shannon Family Resource Centre.

The group is open to parents in the Shannon, Newmarket on Fergus, Cratloe and Sixmilebridge areas and is a great place to just get out of the house, meet with other like-minded parents and support one another.

Parents can get more information on the group website www.shannonfrc.com/parentingpeersupport or by contacting Cathal 087 1232489.

cation links. While Toronto-Dublin is currently served by four airlines, the Ambassador acknowledged the need to explore expanded routes, including greater connectivity involving Shannon and other regional airports.

Shannon Chamber CEO Helen Downes, welcoming Ambassador King to Shannon said: “The engagement brings together senior leaders and key stakeholders from across the region to strengthen business and economic ties between Canada and Ireland, with a particular focus on collaboration, trade and investment opportunities within the Shannon region.”

Ms Downes said that she was particularly delighted to welcome the delegation to Shannon given her personal connection with Canada via board membership of the Canada Ireland Foundation.

Shannon

41

Get lost in Shannon library EVERYONE is invited to get lost in a good book this Saturday for Ireland Reads Day - it doesn’t matter what, where or how you read. Just read.

Reading helps you relax, lowers your heart rate, eases muscle tension, improves your mental health and can reduce stress by up to 68%.

Shannon Library is encouraging its youngest members to experience the joy of books and reading with a special Baby Book Club event on Saturday February 28 from 10am-12pm. There will be stories, songs, toys and games for babies and toddlers to enjoy and, for older children, LEGO free play, colouring and games.

Everyone is invited to drop in. For info contact Shannon Public Library on 061 364266 or shannonlibrary@ clarecoco.ie.

Engineering showcase FOR the fifth consecutive year, the Departures Hall of Shannon Airport will be transformed to host an engineering showcase.

2,000 senior secondary school students, teachers, parents, professionals and industry leaders will be in Shannon on Thursday, March 5 for the Explore Engineering Showcase 2026.

Established in 2015, this annual event provides a unique platform for students and emerging engineers to speak directly with over 60 engineering companies in the Mid-West and gain insights into the latest technological advancements.

Key educational institutions from across the Mid-West will come together to showcase the pathways open to students, from apprenticeships and training bodies to third-level programmes.

Eimear Brophy, Chairperson of Explore Engineering said the event is “about inspiring future engineers and connecting them with real training and career opportunities close to home”.

Ray O’Driscoll, Interim CEO of The Shannon Airport Group added, “It’s a real honour for us to host the Explore Engineering Showcase in Shannon Airport. Engineering and aviation go hand in hand and several of the companies participating are an integral part of the Shannon Airport Business Park, where innovation and creativity thrive. ”.

Admission and parking are free. Pre-registration is not required. Doors open from 5pm.

42

Thursday, Feb 26, 2026 THE CLARE ECHO

Gort & South Galway

€496k contract signed for civic amenity facility in Gort A €496,763 public works contract has been signed for the construction of a new civic amenity facility in Gort.

Located one kilometre from Gort town centre and the R458, the facility will accept a broad range of household recyclable material from households across South Galway.

The facility is due to be operational by the end of the year and will operate under an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) licence.

Galway County Council have signed the contract with Kenny Civils & Plant Ltd for the construction of the facility. The new centre will bring the number of civic amenity sites in the county to four, adding to existing facilities in Tuam, Ballinasloe and Clifden.

Cllr David Collins (FG), Cathaoirleach of the County of Galway, said the development was “a positive step for South Galway and a welcome investment in local services. The new Civic Amenity Facility will make it easier for households to recycle, reduce waste and play their part in protecting our environment. It reflects the local authority’s commitment to balanced provision right across the county”.

need and provides for and maintains an equitable spread of Civic Amenity sites across County Galway, which is one of the objectives of the Galway County Development Plan. It will also contribute to higher recycling rates and reduce the amount of waste sent to landfill, a key aim of the National Waste Management Plan for a Circular Economy 2024 to 2030. We look forward to seeing it operational by the end of the year”.

Eileen Ruane, Director of Services with Galway County Council commented, “The completion of this new Civic Amenity Facility in Gort by year’s end will ensure that, for the first time, there is a Civic Amenity site serving each region of the county. This represents a strategically important step in delivering balanced, countywide access to essential waste and recycling infrastructure”.

Ballinasloe-based contractor Kenny Civils & Plant Ltd will commence construction on the Gort Civic Amenity Facility in the coming weeks.

Liam Conneally, Chief Executive of Galway County Council, said the contract marked “an important

milestone in delivering improved recycling infrastructure for the people of Gort and the wider South Galway

area”.

He stated, “This facility supports national policy, meets a clear local

Ennis teenager (14) remains on bail following Gort car thefts

by Gordon Deegan news@clareecho.ie

EXTERN have been appointed to monitor an Ennis teenager while he is on bail for a spate of car thefts in Scariff and Gort.

A judge has told a 14 year old Ennis boy charged in connection with a spate of car thefts “please don’t say ‘Grand Theft Auto’” after asking the boy what are his favourite games to play on Playstation.

At the Ennis District Children’s Court, Judge Alec Gabbett made his ‘Grand Theft Auto’ comment after the boy told him that he enjoys playing games on his Playstation.

The boy replied that another Playstation game was his favourite and not Grand Theft Auto.

In the case, the boy currently on bail appeared in court in connection with a spate of alleged car thefts in East Clare and south Galway earlier this month.

The boy is charged with the unlawful taking possession of three cars and attempting to get into a fourth from Gort in south Galway and Scarriff in east Clare on February 4th.

The schoolboy is also charged with two burglaries and the criminal damage of one of the cars he is alleged to have unlawfully taken.

When Judge Gabbett asked the boy at a previous court hearing this month why he was in court the teenager replied “stealing cars”.

At the previous court appearance, the boy said that he had not returned to school as he did not have runners after the Gardaí took them from him as part of their investigation.

Now, Judge Gabbett asked the boy, “Do we have the runners sorted out? Did you get a new pair you did go to school”.

The boy said that he has returned to school and showed the judge the new runners.

Judge Gabbett has appointed Extern, a service which assists young people before the courts to help monitor the boy while on bail.

The boy is living elsewhere in Clare currently and Judge Gabbett said that Gardaí and TUSLA would need to be canvassed about the boy returning to live in Ennis.

Judge Gabbett said that he would have no objection in principle to the

l Judge Gabbett asked the 14-year-old boy if his favourite computer game is Grand Theft Auto boy returning to Ennis.

In the case, the 14-year old is charged with the unlawful taking possession of 231 G, 06 G and 141 LS registered vehicles from Gallaghers Lane, Glenbrack, Gort, Co Galway; from Keehan Cleaners,

Ennis Rd, Gort, Co Galway and from Church Street, Scarriff without the consent of their owners on Wednesday, February 4th.

The alleged offences are contrary to Section 112 of the Road Traffic Act, 1961.

The boy is also charged with attempting to get into another vehicle at Cloonahaha, Gort on February 4th.

The young teenager is also charged with burglary from Keehan Cleaners, Ennis Rd, Gort Galway and at a property at Church Street, Scariff and the criminal damage of a 141 LS registered vehicle from Church Street, Scariff on February 4th.

Judge Gabbett further remanded the teenager on bail to appear before court on April 15th.

As part of the bail conditions the boy must observe a 8pm to 8am Garda policed curfew, stay out of Galway and Scariff, not travel in a vehicle unless accompanying by his parents or grandparents and sign on at Ennis Garda Station on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday

43

THE CLARE ECHO Thursday, Feb 26, 2026

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Training cows by music in The Burren

by Páraic McMahon paraic@clareecho.ie

FIFTEEN local farmers in The Burren have been provided with ‘no-fence’ GPS collars which are emitting musical tones and training cows by music.

In what is one of the first projects supported

by CIÉ Tours’ Sustainability Action Fund, ReFarm Burren has given an approximate fifteen local farmers with new GPS collars allowing them to manage grazing zones virtually through a mobile app.

When livestock approach a virtual boundary, the collars emit musical tones to alert the animals, followed by a very mild electrical pulse if they continue. The cattle quickly

learn to respond to the music following initial training, enabling targeted, low-impact grazing without the need for physical fencing.

Many farmers graze cattle outdoors on winterages from October onwards. Grazing cattle on the winterages ensures that the species-rich grass is grazed down to give the unique flowers such as gentians and orchids, found in the Burren the opportunity to bloom each year. The terrain of the Burren makes traditional fencing difficult and time consuming. The musical ‘fences’ created by the solar powered collars worn by the cattle, gives farmers certainty as to the safety and location of their an-

imals on what are often very remote, inaccessible holdings.

“It’s hard not to smile when you hear about cows trained by music, but this is exactly the kind of forward-thinking, community-rooted project our Sustainability Action Fund was designed to support,” explained Stephen Cotter, Managing Director of CIE Tours. “It’s a perfect example of how small investments in local innovation can have a big impact on preserving the places our guests love to visit”.

The Sustainable Action Fund is part of CIE Tours’ wider commitment to responsible tourism, supporting the communities, cultures, and natural en-

vironments that make travel meaningful for its guests. ReFarm Burren exemplifies that mission, using smart technology to strengthen biodiversity, sustainable traditional farming, and preservation of cultural heritage in one of Ireland’s most distinctive regions.

Tim O’Connell who co-ordinates ReFarm Burren explained, “It’s the grazing that makes the Burren amazing and CIE tours funding has allowed local farmers to graze their winterages more efficiently and effectively, helping future proof Burren habitats and farming systems”.

Developed in partnership with Trinity College Dublin, Burrenbeo Trust, and oth-

Ken Lyons, Sustainability Manager, CIE Tours, Michael Davoren (Burren Farmer), Sinead Nagle (Burren farmer) Tim O’Connell (ReFarm Burren co-ordinator) and Conor Wall, Head of Product, Contracting, and Sustainability, CIE Tours

ers, ReFarm is part of a growing national effort to promote “farming for nature” practices across Ireland. To date, more than €1.5m has been raised to support biodiversity initiatives such as

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wildlife ponds, hedgerows, woodlands, and research. The project also addresses challenges facing the agricultural sector in rural Ireland making farming more efficient and appealing

to a younger generation through accessible, appbased too

44

THE CLARE ECHO Thursday, Feb 26, 2026

News

Thought for the Week - The Hope, Nourishment and Awakening of Spring

Spreading the word of positivity RONAN SCULLY For me Spring is a season of renewal, reflection, and compassion. After the long, cold months of winter, there comes a moment, sometimes quietly, sometimes almost without noticing when the earth exhales. The frost melts.

Crocuses and daffodils push through the soil. Trees begin to dress themselves in fresh green leaves. Birds resume their songs, and the cooing of birds fills the air once again.

“For the flowers appear on the earth; the time of the singing of birds has come.” (Song of Solomon 2:12). Spring does not arrive with force or fanfare. It comes softly. Faithfully.

Tenderly. And yet, it changes everything. For many of us, winter has not only been a season on the calendar. It has lived in our bodies, our memories, our prayers. It has carried grief and loss, anxiety and loneliness, disappointment and unanswered questions. It has held the exhaustion of a world that feels fractured, where storms, literal and emotional, have

shaken communities, strained relationships, and left many hearts weary. And still, spring comes. “Weeping may linger for the night, but joy comes with the morning.” (Psalm 30:5). Spring is God’s quiet whisper to a weary world, I am still here. I am still at work. I am not finished yet.

A GENTLE INVITATION TO BEGIN AGAIN As the season arrives, we instinctively open windows, letting fresh air rush in. We shake out the dust of winter, clear away what has grown heavy and stale, and make room for light. But spring asks us to go deeper. It invites us to spiritual spring cleaning, not just of homes, but of hearts, minds and souls. Our spiritual house is the sacred space where body and mind shelter the soul God lovingly formed.

“Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit?” (1 Corinthians 6:19).

Over time, even the most cherished homes become cluttered. So too do our inner lives. Fears, resentments, harsh self-judgments, old wounds, and habits that once

protected us may now quietly imprison us. Spring invites holy honesty. “Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts.” (Psalm 139:23).

What grief have we never fully named? What bitterness have we justified? What fear shapes our choices? What have we been carrying that God never asked us to bear alone? This is not shame.

It is mercy. It is preparation for new life, just as the earth prepares for blooms beneath frozen soil. “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” (John 1:5).

CLEANING THE WARDROBES OF THE HEART Spring asks us to release what no longer belongs such as old grudges, quiet resentments, jealousy and bitterness, harsh words we replay and limiting beliefs that steal joy. “Let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles.” (Hebrews 12:1). And in this clearing, we are clothed anew: “Clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humil-

ity, gentleness, and patience.”

(Colossians 3:12). Letting go is not weakness, it is preparation. No gardener plants seeds in soil choked with weeds. Likewise, spring asks us to create fertile ground in our hearts for love, mercy, and hope.

we too can rise, renewed, guided by God’s hand. “They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles…” (Isaiah 40:31).

Spring reminds us that the world recovers, hearts can heal, hope can rise.

SPRING IS A CALL TO COMPASSIONATE ACTION Spring is never only about personal renewal. It calls us outward, to hold tightly to the fragile, protect the vulnerable, nurture the young, honor the old, and stand beside those on the edges of our communities. “Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.”

(Galatians 6:2). “The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it.” (Psalm 24:1). When we place our hands in the soil, pause to watch a bird build its nest, or truly see the face of a stranger, creation becomes prayer. Spring preaches resurrection without words. It is Easter whispered through blossoms and birdsong. It is God reminding us that even after suffering, even after loss, life is still being born. “If anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: the old has gone, the new has come.” (2 Corinthians 5:17). As E. L. Marsh beautifully wrote: “There piped a piper in the wood, Strange music— soft and sweet…The wood grew green, and flowers sprang up, For the piper’s name was—Spring.”

SPRING HOPE AND SPIRITUAL AWAKENING Spring nourishes more than soil, it also nourishes hearts, souls and minds. It calls us to reflect on what truly matters.

Release thoughts and behaviors that dim joy. Grow in love, faith, and service. Recommit to being a light in a world that often feels dark. “Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?” (Isaiah 43:19). Like the first robin or the gentle crocus or daffodil, small acts of faith, love, and kindness can blossom into hope for others. Here are some practical ways to embrace spring spiritually that I use. Go for a spring nature walk every so often to reconnect with God’s creation. Observe buds, birds, and blossoms. Offer thanks.

Do some spiritual decluttering such as cleanse your heart, mind and soul through prayer, confession, daily eucharist and letting go. Do some prayerful planting such as sowing seeds of faith, love, and kindness in your life and community. Take part in some sunrise prayerful meditation such as to greet Christ’s light each morning and invite renewal into your life. Also try if possible to do some gratitude journaling where you can reflect daily on God’s blessings and God’s words in Holy Scripture and the new growth in your soul. And don’t forget your daily examen at the end of each day.

LESSONS FROM NATURE Nature teaches resilience and hope. Every tree that loses its leaves, every seed buried in darkness, every bird building its nest from scattered twigs, shows us that life perseveres.

I once glimpsed an eagle soaring, calm and majestic, on a spring’s road. For a fleeting moment, it was as if God placed that bird there to lift my spirit. Like the eagle,

already at work. Notice one small sign of new life each day. Release one burden you were never meant to carry.

Offer one act of compassion, especially where it costs you something. Speak one word that heals rather than wounds.

Pray one honest prayer, without polishing it first. “Whatever a person sows, that they will also reap.” (Galatians 6:7).

Your thoughts are seeds. Your words are seeds. Your actions are seeds. Plant wisely. Plant gently. Plant hope. Let me leave you with a prayer poem I wrote about Spring called ‘A Prayer for Spring Awakening and Compassion’ - “Loving and faithful God, As the earth turns again toward the light, turn our hearts toward You. Breathe fresh air into weary souls. Clear away what no longer gives life. Heal what winter has wounded. Soften what has grown hard within us. Create in us clean hearts, O God, and renew a right spirit within us. Teach us to hope again, not with fragile optimism, but with courageous, resurrection faith. Make us gentle with one another.

Make us brave in love. Make us generous in compassion.

Where there is despair, plant hope. Where there is bitterness, plant mercy. Where there is fear, plant love. Thank You for the nourishing gift of spring. Thank You for new beginnings. Thank You that even now, You are making all things new. Hold us. Guide us.

Send us forth as signs of Your healing in a wounded world.

Amen.” Spring is here. Let it awaken your heart, renew your spirit, and guide your hands in acts of love and kindness. Life, no matter how long the winter, always blooms again. Happy Spring season to everyone, especially you the reader.

THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK As yout thought for the week, live as though resurrection is

Icons & legends the theme for Tulla parade

by Páraic McMahon paraic@clareecho.ie

‘ICONS and legends’ is the theme for the 2026 St Patrick’s Day Parade in Tulla.

Entry is free for the parade in Tulla which takes place on Monday March 17th beginning at 16:30. St Mochulla’s NS in Tulla is the assembly point from 16:00.

Leading the parade will be the Tulla Pipe Band who

held celebrations to mark ninety years since their foundation at Cnoc na Gaoithe, a fortnight ago.

Chairperson of the Tulla parade committee, Deirdre Duff said, “We would love individuals, groups, floats and vintage to take part.

The parade will be led by the Tulla Pipe band. The parade route is from school, up the main street, past the library”.

She has appealed to people

to send photos from past and present parades in Tulla to tullaparade@hotmail.com.

“We are delighted to have secured the Liam Mc Carthy Cup for our parade. It will be available in St Mochulla’s national school from 3.30pm to 4.30pm if you want to get a photo with it. Facepainting is also available in the school at this time,” she added.

THE CLARE ECHO Thursday, Feb 26, 2026

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Business & Recruitment

45

Five star Dromoland Castle secures green light for ‘Ryder Cup’ inspired rooms increase

by Gordon Deegan news@clareecho.ie

FIVE STAR luxury Dromoland Castle Resort has received the green light for an additional 25 guest rooms that will add millions or euro in annual revenues to the resort when operational.

This follows Clare County Council granting planning permission to the second phase of the planned expansion and upgrade of facilities at the Co Clare castle resort set on a 388 acre estate outside the village of Newmarket on Fergus.

The new permission comprises the construction of a part four storey extension to provide 17 guest rooms and the loss of five other guestrooms resulting in a net gain of 12 bedrooms.

The permission also includes a new restaurant and the permission follows the Council granting planning permission to a separate planning application earlier this month for the renovation of stables to provide 13 new guest rooms.

The luxury hotel currently has 96 guest rooms and the planning permission for the new guest rooms represents a 26 percent increase in room capacity.

The two phase planning application also includes a cellar speakeasy bar, lakeside sauna cabins, a new wet spa facility, the creation of a new ‘Palm Court’ to contain an internal guest bar and dining space- and a new roost for the protected Lesser Horseshoe Bat. The hotel last year reported average nightly room revenues of €650 and the new accommodation has the potential to deliver almost €6m per annum in potential room revenues alone when operational.

The 2027 Ryder Cup is being staged at the Adare Manor and in a planning report lodged with the application states, Tom Phillips + Associates report “the timing of these works is driven by the Ryder Cup’s return to Ireland in 2027, when Adare Manor Golf Course in neighbouring County Limerick will host

lDromoland Castle Resort has received permission from Clare County Council to build an extension which will add 25 new guest rooms

one of the world’s most prestigious sporting events”.

In the report, Associate Director at Tom Phillips, Lizzie Donnelly says that “Dromoland Castle’s long-standing

Supports for Clare businesses during local enterprise week

Local Enterprise Week returns to Clare with a series of events aimed at boosting the county’s start‑ups and small firms, including a major exporters fo‑ rum and a Women in Business networking session.

Running from Mon‑ day to Friday next week (2-6 March), the initiative is supported

by Enterprise Ireland and Clare County Council and is hosted

by Local Enterprise Office Clare. The programme includes business advice clin‑ ics in Kilkee, Shan‑ non, Scarriff, Ennis and Ennistymon, as well as workshops on social media, produc‑ tivity, cyber security and exporting.

A two‑day Pho‑ tography for Artists course, delivered with Creative Ireland and Clare County Council Arts Office, will help artists im‑ prove how they doc‑ ument and promote their work.

One of the centre‑ pieces of the week is the Women in Business Network‑

ing Event at The Inn at Dromoland on 4 March from 10am to 1pm. Speakers in‑ clude Sarah O’Sulli‑ van (pictured) of SOS Cookies and Caroline Keeling, former chief executive of Keel‑ ings, who will discuss their business jour‑ neys and leadership experience.

The Beyond Bor‑ ders: The Mid-West Export Drive event will take place at the Castletroy Park Ho‑ tel in Limerick on 5 March from 9.30am to 1pm. It will feature export agency panels and networking op‑ portunities for busi‑ nesses in Limerick, Clare and Tipperary seeking to expand into international markets. Represent‑ atives from LEO, the Irish Exporters As‑ sociation, Enterprise Ireland and the En‑ terprise Europe Net‑ work will take part.

A national event, the Development Summit at Google’s European headquar‑ ters in Dublin, will ex‑ amine how technolo‑ gy can support Irish businesses.

reputation in golf tourism and its strategic location near Adare position it perfectly to play a leading role in welcoming these visitors and ensuring that County Clare

shares in the international spotlight”.

Ms Donnelly states that the proposed improvements and upgrades “will further strengthen the positive eco-

nomic and social impacts the hotel brings to the county and wider region”.

Ms Donnelly added that the proposed development has been sensitively designed to ensure no unacceptable adverse impacts from a built heritage, environmental or transport perspective.

Resort General Manager, Mark McSorley welcomed the planning permission for the second phase. “This decision represents an important step in ensuring Dromoland Castle continues to uphold its position as one of Ireland’s leading luxury hospitality destinations”.

He added, “As a heritage property of national significance, it is a future we care deeply about. We will now progress the next phase of the project in a strategic manner, and we look forward to delivering a refurbishment that further strengthens Dromoland Castle’s offering to both Irish and International guests”.

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Other events include a food webinar deliv‑ ered by food and retail adviser James Burke and a lunch‑and‑learn session outlining the productivity supports available through LEO Clare.

Bernadette Haugh, Head of Enterprise at LEO Clare, said the Local Enterprise Week programme of events is de‑ signed to offer prac‑ tical support to any‑ one with a business idea or an ambition to grow. “This annu‑ al initiative is a use‑

ful vehicle for en‑ couraging start‑ups and SMEs to share and learn from each other’s experienc‑ es as well as learn about the training, expert advice and financial supports available from LEO Clare to anyone seeking to set up a new or invest in an existing business”.

Registration is re‑ quired for all events at www.localenter‑ prise.ie/clare or by contacting LEO Clare on 065 6821616. All events are free, with early booking advised.

• Fully fitted and operational cafe • Superb town-centre location • Established loyal customer base • Proven café model • Immediate trading opportunity As an O’Briens franchisee, you will be supported by a highly experienced team in all aspects of the business, including training, marketing, operations and supplier management.

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46

Thursday, Feb 26, 2026 THE CLARE ECHO

Business & Recruitment

Clare GAA renews partnership with Future Ticketing for software & ticket services

by Stuart Holly editor@clareecho.ie

Future Ticketing, the leading provider of ticketing software and services, is announcing a partnership renewal with Clare GAA. Clare GAA first teamed up with Future Ticketing in 2023 and the extended multi-year collaboration between the Banner County and the Offaly-based company underscores the successful relationship.

A Future Ticketing statement to The Clare Echo said, “Thanks to Future Ticketing’s cutting edge, Irish-developed software, Clare GAA attained full control of its ticketing three years ago and quickly saw the benefits of the system, including enhanced revenue access, ease of ticket purchase for supporters and data ownership.”

Future Ticketing said the flexibility of its technology enables the implementation of custom-built solutions for individual County Boards.

Greg Walker, Client Success Manager, Future Ticketing, said: “In Future Ticketing we are proud of our deep understanding of Gaelic games so we were delighted last year to create

Greg Walker, Client Success Manager, Future Ticketing, pictured at the partnership extension announcement with Ann Marie Moran, Head of Operations, Clare GAA

and implement a seating plan for the Clare county finals, thereby ensuring an even better experience for supporters on the showpiece days for clubs in football and hurling.”

“GAA fans were able to buy their tickets instantly online, and for the County Board, access control on match day was robust with quick and easy entry to the ground thanks to the Future Ticketing handheld scanners.”

Future Ticketing has been a sponsor of hurling and football leagues in Clare through the willwego.com Clare and Cusack Cups with this year’s competitions beginning in March.

For 2026, Clare GAA has introduced a Season Card for the club leagues and championships. The Season Card, which includes a head and shoulders picture of the holder to facilitate identification, will ensure easy access to all club matches in the county, adult and underage.

Ann Marie Moran, Head of Operations, Clare GAA, said: “Future Ticketing greatly assisted us with our online ticketing in 2023 and since then we have been very impressed with

the level of support from the company and Future Ticketing’s awareness of our needs here in Clare.

“We have been able to improve our offering to supporters year on year and Clare GAA recording gate receipts of over €1m for the first time last year was a significant milestone and we acknowledge Future Ticketing’s role in helping us achieve that.

“Now, with our photo ID Season Cards, available at Adult and OAP price points, Future Ticketing has facilitated another important step forward for the county.”

Future Ticketing has a growing cohort of GAA partners and the agreement with Clare GAA follows recent confirmation of a new partnership with Laois GAA and deals with other County Boards across the country.

Burren Smokehouse joins Tourism Ireland sales mission to US Tourism Ireland, together with a delegation of 14 tourism companies from Ireland – including Burren Smokehouse – and four American tour operators, is undertaking a sales blitz in the United States this week.

The ‘Best of Ireland’ sales mission is visiting key cities, including Houston, Los Angeles, Portland and Seattle.

The busy schedule includes a B2B event in each location, as well as interactive presentations showcasing Ireland – with the delegation promoting and selling their products and services to the hundreds of American travel agents in attendance.

Amongst those giving presentations includes Birgitta Hedin-Curtin (front right), of Burren Smokehouse in Lisdoonvarna.

Hundreds of commercial meetings are taking place this week, to drive

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

• Executive Architectural Conservation Officer Closing date: 12 Noon Thursday 2nd April 2026

• Permanent Lifeguard/Instructor (Active Ennis Leisure Complex) Closing date: 12 Noon Thursday 2nd April 2026

Please complete online application form available on www.clarecoco.ie under Careers Section.

partnership and tourism growth from the United States in 2026 and beyond.

Alison Metcalfe, Tourism Ireland’s Head of North America, said: “Our ‘Best of Ireland’ sales mission this week

offers a valuable platform to showcase Ireland to key US travel professionals.

“It gives our tourism partners from Ireland and the US an important opportunity to inform and influence the travel agents they meet in

Houston, Los Angeles, Portland and Seattle – highlighting what makes Ireland special and encouraging them to feature the destination in future programmes and recommend it to their clients.”

The United States re-

mains an extremely important market for tourism to Ireland. This summer will see direct flights from a record 23 gateways across the US, making it easier than ever for American holidaymakers to visit Ireland.

Only applications completed online will be accepted.

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

Scriobh chugainn as gaeilge más fearr leat.

THE CLARE ECHO Thursday, Feb 26, 2026

Support journalism in Clare by subscribing to www.clareecho.ie/subscribe ADVERTORIAL

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Business & Recruitment

47

48

Thursday, Feb 26, 2026 THE CLARE ECHO

Sport

Madden frustrated by how Clare used extra man

by Páraic McMahon paraic@clareecho.ie

PHYSICALLY Clare’s footballers will be able to match any county according to manager Paul Madden.

Powerful hits in successive weeks from Brendy Rouine and Ikem Ugwueru lifted the Clare supporters on their way to victories over Fermanagh and Laois to reignite the side’s National Football League campaign.

Such moments also resulted in all-important turnovers. Manager Madden believed they demonstrated how Clare are capable of matching the strongest sides. “Physically I think we’re a match for most people, they are huge moments in games and the crowd gets behind you when it happens, it gives the lads a lift. We don’t practice it at training, it happens”.

Without question, Clare made hard work of Sunday’s win, their second in Division 3 under Madden but claimed the coveted two points.

“The last two have been wins and we’ve needed them. We made hard work of it, we really did, I thought we played excellent stuff, we really did, we improved our kickouts and were winning our breaks, doing everything we wanted to do against the breeze”.

Brian Byrne’s dismissal on a straight red card on twenty one minutes didn’t spur Clare to life. Granted, they kicked the next two points via Mark McInerney, they fell behind until the forty fourth minute.

Speaking to The Clare Echo, Mad- tic in the middle of the pitch. In the den voiced his frustration with how modern game effectively what you they failed to deal with having an need is eleven attackers against ten extra man. “The minute their man defenders, their goalkeeper Killian got sent off it was like we switched (Roche) is a big man and he came off. To be honest I wouldn’t be hap- out a lot, he made it eleven versus py with how we finished, I’d be very eleven”. happy with the last three minutes but Hitting a tally of 0-24 was pleasing, the second half we switched off, the Ennis man noted. “Galway the black card made it even, I were up eleven points on Satthought it would help us acurday and lost the game, that is tually being man on man but the nature of the modern game credit to Laois because they now, it is end to end, twenty came out and seemed to be five points is the magic numable to find an extra guy in ber and we had twenty four the forward division. We were today, I wouldn’t be happy with very fortunate for a finish conceding the goals, they were because they had poor”. some misses and His main message to Stephen had a the panel following the great save from game was to praise the penalty, it their character. “I was wasn’t great to saying to the lads if I be honest but had to credit them it was a win”. on one thing it is the He addcharacter, in the past ed, “I don’t if we went behind know if you like that we’d have can replilost. I thought our cate fully substitutions made that scea huge impact, nario, you even the last steal can work from Jamie, the around and man came out we have with the ball but done a bit Jamie is a brilClare football manager, Paul Madden around it, I liant tackler, he is don’t know as hard as nails, it Photo by Gerard O’Neill if you can was a great start replicate it and finish but there when it is a bit hecwas a lot in between that

Ennistymon lead the way in O’Gorman Cup with back to back wins

by Seamus Hayes news@clareecho.ie

AFTER TWO rounds in this season’s O’Gorman Cup, Ennistymon top the table with successive victories.

Promoted by Doonbeg GAA in memory of the late John O’Gorman who served the club and county for many years, the football tournament has six competing clubs this season.

Ennistymon are leading the charge for honours, having won both of their opening games. They lead the way St Joseph’s Miltown, Doonbeg and Kildysart.

Doonbeg have a game in hand as their round two fixture with Parteen/ Meelick only takes place on this Sunday In the opening round in this, the twenty first running of the competition, Ennistymon were 2-12 to 0-7 winners

over Miltown and they followed that up with a 0-13 to 0-5 win over Kildysart last week.

Doonbeg had an easy first round win over Shannon Gaels when the final score was 5-16 to 1-7 while Kildysart were 3-15 to 1-10 winners over Parteen/Meelick who are taking part in the competition for the first time this year.

Miltown got their first win of the campaign when accounting for Shannon Gaels on a 1-19 to 1-11 scoreline last week.

All teams were understrength in the opening games due to players being involved with county hurling and football squads Round 3 in the race for the title is set for the weekend of March 22. In the meantime, clubs will take part in the opening two rounds of the domestic leagues.

we won’t be happy with. We’re alive and heading to Limerick on Saturday evening for a big local derby”.

It was a strong final push where Clare kicked six points in the final eight minutes that served as the winning of the game, inspired by Stephen Ryan’s penalty save. “It is down to character but it is down to conditioning too, I feel like we’re in a decent place conditioning wise although there is a few lads creaking there near the end, I think it was more of a fact that they couldn’t believe they were in that position”.

Leading the way in this spell was the experienced Eoin Cleary who kicked 0-10 in Sunday’s game. “He was outstanding, he has super qualities, you just need to get him in the right place on the right ball. We had

to take Mark McInerney off, he took a knock early, he tried to run it off but he couldn’t, Cormac Murray then kicked three, not a bad replacement”.

Sunday also marked the first occasion where the hooter was used in Cusack Park. “When it went off at the end I didn’t know what was going on, I thought it was a fire alarm, I forgot we had the hooter in Cusack Park. It does give certainty, as long as the clocks are working and they stop them when they should be stopping them, it can work for you and SCAN HERE FOR against you,” he MATCH REPORT said.

Clare v Laois

ALLIANZ NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE DIVISION 3 ROUND 4

Clare 0-24 Laois 2-15 Venue: Zimmer Biomet Páirc Chíosóg Compiled by Páraic McMahon

STORY OF THE GAME CLARE Frees for: 13 (8/5) Wides: 8 (5/3) Spread of scorers: 6 Scores from play: 0-17 Top scorer: Eoin Cleary (0-10 1TPf 2f) Black Card: Cillian Brennan (52) Own kickouts won: 16 from 25 (64%)

LAOIS Frees for: 14 (4/10) Wides: 8 (3/5) Spread of scorers: 7 Scores from play: 2-7 Top scorer: Evan O’Carroll (1-5 3f) Red Card: Brian Byrne (21) Own kickouts won: 20 from 32 (63%)

Local derby is must-win for Clare & Limerick

by Páraic McMahon paraic@clareecho.ie

PLENTY OF spice surrounds Clare’s derby with Limerick in the fifth round of the Allianz National Football League.

A third successive win for Clare’s footballers would push them towards the top half of the table and reignite hopes of promotion. On the other end of the scale, a victory would starve off any relegation worries.

For Limerick, their third round win over a then unbeaten Wexford was followed by a three point loss to Sligo last weekend which also leaves them in mustwin territory.

Hamstring injuries are likely to leave Clare without midfielder Darragh Bohannon and captain Cillian Rouine for the second week running. Defender Fionn Kelleher is closer to a return to action, he was also sidelined with a hamstring injury.

Similar to Kelleher, midfielder Seán McAllister is edging back into contention, the Clondegad clubman has been unavailable for selection for the most of the year but partook in the warm-up prior to Sunday’s win against Laois. The amount of hamstring injuries within the panel is a concern, more than five footballers

have been sidelined with such knocks in the past month.

Mark McInerney is a doubt but is expected to feature in Mick Neville Park, Rathkeale on Saturday evening. “We had to take Mark McInerney off, he took a knock early, he tried to run it off but he couldn’t,” Clare manager Paul Madden said of his clubmate’s potential involvement.

Madden confirmed a decision on Bohannon, Rouine and Kelleher would not be made until later this week. “It’s in the hands of the medical team. Hamstring injuries generally don’t recover too well, Connor Meaney in his first full game did very well and carried ball, he is a good player, he played last year too so it is not like we’re bringing a novice in but any novices we do bring in tends to do well”.

A tough test is on the cards this weekend regardless of who takes to the field, the Ennis man outlined. “We’ll be going to Limerick as a local derby and we know exactly what we’re going to get, they are play- ing

well, they are three years there as a management team so they’ve been working hard, it is going to be a tough game and it is always is when you go to Ratkheale whether it is a club or inter-county match, it is a tough place to go but I’m much happier going there with four points than no points”.

Within the Limerick camp are men with plenty of intel on Clare football. Quilty’s Evan Talty is in his second season as skill acquisition coach with Limerick, the nine-time Clare SFC winner was coach of the Anthony Cunningham managed St Brigid’s who lost out in an entertaining All-Ireland club final last month.

Labasheeda’s Dylan Kenny is also part of the Limerick setup. The Shannon Gaels footballer is their strength and conditioning coach and

has previously worked with the Clare senior footballers. So too has Limerick’s head coach, Micheál Cahill, the Mungret man was Clare’s S&C coach in 2012, 2013 and 2023.

Speaking to The Clare Echo, Talty’s Kilmurry Ibrickane clubmate Dermot Coughlan who is Clare’s vice captain admitted the involvement added an extra element of spice to proceedings. “We’re the best of friends when we’re at club level but we’re down there to do a job and he will be the same with Limerick, they won’t fear us and we certainly can’t fear them either, we’ll both be going to try get two points on the board”.

Elsewhere in Division 3 this week, table-toppers Down face a winless Fermanagh in Newry on Saturday evening, Laois will be looking to bounce back from their disappointment in losing to Clare when they face second place Westmeath in Portlaoise while the only Sunday fixture sees Wexford host Sligo, the two sides that Clare have yet to play.

Mark McInerney Photo by Gerard O’Neill

49

THE CLARE ECHO Thursday, Feb 26, 2026

Support sports journalism in Clare by subscribing to www.clareecho.ie/subscribe

Sport

‘The bottom line is we need to find new players’ - Lohan

by Eoin Brennan news@clareecho.ie

CLARE’s hurlers have no choice but to find players for the attrition of the modern game, manager Brian Lohan has stressed.

Four wins from four has Clare on the cusp of an immediate return to the top tier of the Allianz National Hurling League.

Lohan stressed that none of the games in Division 1B are easy. Diarmuid Stritch, Dylan McMahon, Senan Dunford, Niall O’Farrell and Shane Meehan are among the non-established players getting their opportunity in the second tier but the jump required for Munster championship will be a big one.

Kildare certainly put it up to Clare on Saturday evening and led by four points at either side of the half-time break. Tony Kelly’s eight point haul coupled with the half-time introductions of Cathal Malone and David McInerney helped to stem the tide in the Banner’s favour to leave Newbridge with a 0-27 3-14 win.

Results are of most importance to Clare, Lohan outlined. “The aim is to get back up to the top division so it’s all about getting results at the moment. These are tough games in tough conditions against tough opposition so it was put up to us to see if we could respond and thankfully we did. It’s in games like that, that you

do learn about your team so we definitely learned a bit this evening and we have to take those lessons and move on because the next game is just around the corner”.

He maintained such encounters were useful in finding new talent.

“The bottom line is that we need to find players. It’s a very attritional game in these conditions so we’re carrying a lot of injuries at the moment so we need everyone available to contribute. “Hopefully we can get a few guys back on the field in the next few days and keep building up our options as we inch closer towards the championship”.

Introducing David McInerney at half-time was planned in advance of the game, he confirmed. “Tony Kelly was excellent tonight while David McInerney and Cathal Malone came in at half-time and did very well. Look we have quality and those guys are serious quality. It was great to get David Mc [Inerney] back on the field. It was planned that he come in at halftime so we were delighted to see him back out there”.

Brian added, “We can’t do anything about the weather or refereeing decisions, things that we have no control over but it was great for our lads to answer how did. Keep the scoreboard ticking over, keep their heads down and keep working and we eventually turned the tide to get the result in the end”.

Thomas O’Connor celebrates scoring a goal for St Flannan’s Photo by Gerard O’Neill

Support and backing from the Clare faithful was acknowledged by the two-time All-Ireland winner. “We had great support tonight again so fair play to anyone that came out.

This team have always had brilliant support. We had a great crowd above in Antrim and it was the same this evening as it was great to see so many Club Clare hats in the stand on what was a wet Saturday evening in Kildare. So the crowd do respond to them, they give us great support and we really do appreciate that. None of these games are easy and it’s under lights next Saturday again so we look forward to taking on Carlow in what should be another tough test again.”

Clare v Laois

Clare 0-27 Kildare 3-14 Venue: Cedral St. Conleth’s Park, Newbridge Compiled by Eoin Brennan

ALLIANZ NATIONAL HURLING LEAGUE DIVISION1B ROUND 4

STORY OF THE GAME CLARE Frees For: 10 (3/7) Wides: 9 (5/4) Scores from Play: 0-21 Spread of Scorers: 8 Top Scorer: Tony Kelly (0-8) Own Puck-Outs won: 15 from 30 (50%)

KILDARE Frees For: 12 (8/4) Wides: 14 (5/9) Scores from Play: 2-10 Spread of Scorers: 8 Top Scorers: Jack Sheridan (2-4 1-3f 1’65) Own Puck-Outs won: 27 from 35 (77%)

Clare senior hurling manager, Brian Lohan Photo by Gerard O’Neill

St Flannan’s ‘have Clare growing in confidence with the leadership in them to sort things new style of play out on the field’

by Seamus Hayes news@clareecho.ie

by Eoin Brennan news@clareecho.ie

St Flannan’s College v CBC Kilkenny ALLIANZ NATIONAL HURLING LEAGUE DIVISION 1B ROUND 3 St. Flannan’s College 2-12 Venue: Bansha, Tipperary Compiled by Eoin Brennan

CBC Kilkenny 0-13

STORY OF THE GAME ST. FLANNAN’S COLLEGE Frees For: 17 (10/7) Wides: 15 (8/7) Scores from Play: 2-4 Spread of Scorers: 6 Top Scorer: John Barry (0-6) Yellow Card: Harry Doherty (39) Own Puck-Outs won: 17 from 23 (74%)

CBC KILKENNY Frees For: 12 (6/6) Wides: 11 (6/5) Scores from Play: 0-7 Spread of Scorers: 6 Top Scorer: Patrick Lacey (0-8) Yellow Cards: James Bergin (39), Kealan Barcoe (48) Own Puck-Outs won: 12 from 28 (43%)

REFEREE: Eamonn Stapleton (Limerick)

ST FLANNAN’S COLLEGE showed their character to put themselves within sixty minutes of reaching the Croke Cup final in Croke Park.

An unanswered tally of 2-3 saw St Flannan’s come from ten points down to defeat CBC Kilkenny 2-12 0-13 in Bansha on Saturday.

Speaking to The Clare Echo, St Flannan’s mentor Mike Kelly noted their resilience has been evident throughout their campaign. “It’s not the first time that we’ve had to come back this year but they just have that in them that they are able to sort things out on the field themselves and it was sufficient to see us pull through again today. It seems to be a bit of a characteristic now. Look I felt that we were comfortable enough in the first half until we started giving away a bit of ball and they [CBC Kilkenny] grabbed momentum and pushed their lead from two to five”.

Leinster finalists CBC Kilkenny led 0-9 0-4 when the half-time whistle sounded but Kelly and the management team of Brendan Bugler, Shane McCarthy and Seán Minogue remained upbeat at the break. “We still weren’t overly worried at half-time but on a day like today with the conditions as they were, scores were hard to come by so we needed a big second half. And look, it’s a 35 minute half now so we knew we did have time but it still came down to character really”.

Newmarket-on-Fergus native Kelly felt Graham Ball’s goal was a real turning point in the tie. “The first goal was really the turning point really as points were hard to come by and on a day like today and on an occasion such as this, a goal was massive. That really gave us the momentum then and once we got back the lead we never let them back in which was important I felt”.

Taking over the mantle as freetaker was Inagh/Kilnamona’s John Barry who really stepped up, Kelly maintained. “John Barry’s free were also important too though. It wasn’t an easy thing for him to do either as Harry [Doherty] is our free taker and we have great trust in Harry. Just today we felt that we needed a change and with John coming back into the team today, his experience of taking them for the Clare minors provide invaluable as he really stepped up in that second half”.

A Croke Cup semi-final awaits with Pres Athenry. “We’re playing Pres. Athenry now whom we know fairly well. We played them this time last year and we always play them in a challenge every year too so we’re under no illusions as to the extent of the challenge we face in a fortnight’s time. They’re a very serious team with a very serious forward line so playing the Connacht champions is going to be another big challenge. But once we’re still in the hat for the final, we don’t mind who we play so we’ll look forward to that match on Saturday week and see if we can get to Croke Park”.

CLARE’s camogie side are growing in confidence on the ball when under pressure which has helped them to stay unbeaten following the first two rounds of the league.

Coach of the senior side, Aaron Considine outlined that their focus has been on allowing players to be composed and comfortable in possession. It has been evident in their two outings of the year where they drew with Dublin in round one and then accounted for Wexford on Saturday.

Considine said, “We have been trying to work on a style of play which includes moving the ball really quick.

We are confident with the ball when under pressure.

In the first half today we saw everything that we are trying to work on. We are happy with this performance”.

Speaking to The Clare Echo, the Clarecastler native commented, “the pitch was in great condition for this time of the year and credit to the Meelick club for that but, given all the rain we have had there were some sticky patches. Despite that and dealing with a wet ball, the way we moved the ball in the first half was high quality stuff. Our first touch was very good, which is surprising for this time of year. Our fitness

levels are really impressive, there was a support player every time we went up the field”.

Goal chances were missed in the opening half by the hosts. “Some might say we missed three or four goals but the Wexford goalie did really well. She came of her line and narrowed the angle a few times, We might save the goals for another day,” he quipped.

Like all who attended the game Considine was impressed with the performance of full forward Lorna McNamara. “She is a huge addition this year.

She has a presence, anytime you hit the ball into the full forward line, opposing defenders get worried, she can score off both sides, she is great to trap the ball and win it”.

Concluding the team coach said “there is a very competitive panel this year, there is great competition for places, everyone is really fighting for positions which is superb”.

Clare travel to play neighbours Limerick this Saturday (venue to be confirmed) and a victory here would, almost certainly, give Clare a place in the division 1 B league final.

50

Thursday, Feb 26, 2026 THE CLARE ECHO

Sport

Coláiste Muire chasing All-Ireland camogie glory

by Seamus Hayes news@clareecho.ie

COLÁISTE MUIRE chase All-Ireland honours this weekend.

All roads lead to the St. Rynagh’s GAA grounds in Banagher in Offaly on this Saturday for supporters of the Colaiste Muire junior camogie side.

They take on their namesakes from Johnstown in Kilkenny in the All-Ireland colleges junior B (under 16.5) final at 1p.m..

As the venue will be subject to a pitch inspection later this week, patrons are advised to check before travelling.

Coláiste are jointly managed and coached by Aidan McGuane, Kilmaley and Barry

Donnellan from O’Callaghans Mills, they have played six matches en route to this final.

When the team lost their opening game in the Munster championship by a margin of ten points to Clonakilty from Cork few would have predicted that they would now be preparing for the All-Ireland final.

Wins over Loretto, Fermoy and Ursilines from Waterford saw the Ennis side emerge from their group and qualify for a Munster semi-final meeting with their Ennis neighbours St Flannan’s College, a game they won after extra time in Clarecastle.

This set up a final against their first round opponents Clonakilty and here Colaiste turned the tables and record-

ed a four point victory.

Their opponents in the All-Ireland semi-final were Our Lady’s from Terenure in Dublin whom they overcame to set up Saturday’s final when they will be attempting to win the title for a fourth time having been successful in 1999, 2005 and 2023.

“We have trained twice a week and we came together during the recent Mid-Term break to prepare for this final.

Our panel is made up of players from twelve clubs and our joint captains are Katie Conlon (Eire Og) and Blaithnaid Hegarty (Inagh-Killnamona)”, joint manager Aidan McGuane told The Clare Echo this week.

They were due to finalise their preparations for Saturday’s final by having two teams

Ennis RFC win big in U14 and U16 Girls Cup

by Dearbhla Parry news@clareecho.ie

U16 Girls Munster Cup: Mallow RFC 17 – 40 Ennis RFC The Ennis U16 girls travelled to Mallow for the first round of the Munster cup and won 17 – 40.

They played with the wind and a sloping pitch in the first half, starting off exceptionally well. They pulled off three tries early on and went 0 - 19 up. Mallow then pulled off three well-deserved tries. By halftime, the score showed 17 - 19 to Ennis.

Ennis continued on fighting the elements and the sloping pitch in the second half. The girls played some exceptional rugby, offloading the ball and playing as a team.

All players were involved in the tries, moving the ball from one wing to the other.

They kept Mallow scoreless in the second half and pulled off another three converted tries, resulting in a final 17 – 41 score for a well-deserved, great team win.

take part in a Clare junior blitz on Wednesday. “All of the panel will be getting some game time in this blitz”, according to Aidan who will have a full squad to select Saturday’s team from.

“The majority of the panel are junior cert students while there are also some TYs and some second year students”.

Asked about their final opponents he said “Kilkenny camogie is strong and they won all of their games by comfortable margins and they beat Seamount from Kinvara in the All-Ireland semi-final. They have players from Kilkenny, Tipperary and Laois and we know we are facing a tough challenge”, he concluded.

The members of the Colaiste Mhuire panel are

Aimee Glynn Crusheen Aisling Kelly Eire Og Aoibhin Daly St Joseph’s Doora Barefield Aoibhinn Barry Kilmaley Aoife McGann Newmarket On Fergus Blathnaid Hegarty (JC) Inagh

paraic@clareecho.ie

spectacular third quarter.

Three unanswered tries killed off the game as a contest, and although Nenagh came back strong at the end, Ennis’ destructive defence closed out the game with the home side left on their heels. Even without the ball at the end, their strong defensive game was enough to secure their 31 – 38 victory at the final whistle.

Fergus Katie Conlon (JC) Eire Og Laoise Moore St Joseph’s Doora Barefield Laura Coffey Banner Lily Considine Banner Maebh Cullen Clarecastle Mairead McNamara Clarecastle Mairead Queally Inagh Kilnamona Maisie O’Malley Ruan Mary McMahon Crusheen Rachel Kerins St Joseph’s Doora Barefield Roisin Murphy St Joseph’s Doora Barefield Siofra Quinn Clarecastle Sophie McNamara Newmarket On Fergus Sophie O’Sullivan St Joseph’s Doora Barefield Sarah O’Grady Sixmilebridge Sarah Warren Kilmaley

Only two games in Clare survive weather washout

by Páraic McMahon

U14 Girls Cup: Nenagh Ormond RFC 31 – 38 Ennis RFC All of Ennis’ U14 girls contributed to a great 31 – 38 victory in Nenagh at the weekend.

After travelling with the base minimum plus one sub, the team worked hard in a stiff wind to control the game.

An even first half turned into a

Kilnamona Cait McCarthy St Joseph’s Doora Barefield Cara Hegarty Inagh Kilnamona Ciara O’Leary Newmarket On Fergus Clodagh Griffin Inagh Kilnamona Croia Corcoran Broadford Croidhia Hassett Inagh Kilnamona Criodhe Murray Newmarket On Fergus Eabha O’Reilly Banner Eadaoin Barry Crusheen Emily Frawley St Joseph’s Doora Barefield Emily Sue Daly Ballyea Emma Jones Newmarket On Fergus Eryn Moroney Ruan Eva Whelan Eire Og Grace O’Loughlin Inagh Kilnamona Hollie Earls Newmarket On

ONLY TWO soccer games in survived a weather washout this weekend.

Bridge Utd’s Munster Junior Cup quarter-final where they lost in extra time to Aisling Annacotty took place outside the county.

Within Clare, the only two ties to proceed were the Premier Division meeting between Newmarket Celtic and Ennis Dons at McDonough Memorial Park in Newmarket-on-Fergus while Lahinch was the setting for the First Division clash between Moher Celtic and Fern Celtic.

Tulla’s chance to go joint top of the Premier Division was put on hold after their match with Kilrush Rangers was called off.

Lees Rd was unplayable

which hresulted in the postponement of the second round Clare Cup clash between Fair Green Celtic and Sporting Ennistymon. It has now been refixed for this coming Sunday.

Elsewhere in the First Division, the games between Bunratty Cratloe and Connolly Celtic, Shannon Olympic and Newmarket Celtic B plus Manus Celtic and Mountshannon Celtic were all pulled.

Top side in the Brian Pyne Tiles Second Division, Hermitage FC A ended up with a free weekend after their match with Coole FC fell foul to the elements. Corofin Harps were due to host Ennis Dons B while Avenue Utd B versus Bridge Utd B was also off.

All games in the Third Division were pulled, namely the meetings of Shannon Town B v Shannon Town C, Shannon

Hibs B against Bridge Utd and Callan Utd against Tulla Utd B. Neither of the two scheduled games in the Ladies League took place. Bridge Utd were scheduled to host Tulla Utd while Ennis Dons were to welcome Moher Celtic to the county town.

Widespread cancellations on a frequent basis this year due to the weather is opening a debate on whether the CDSL needs to consider moving to summer soccer but is also highlighting the need for clubs to have their own well-maintained facilities. The slow pace of potentially making Frank Healy Park an astro-turf surface is also coming under the microscope with the continued cancellations.

Utd beaten at the Ennis’ Cotter signs for Derry City FC Bridge death by Aisling Annacotty ENNIS’ Barry Cotter has signed for Derry City FC. Currently sitting fourth in the Premier Division of the League of Ireland, the Candystripes will be able to call on Cotter for Friday’s game against Waterford after he received international clearance.

Barry joins Derry on a permanent deal after his recently agreed release from Barnsley who he joined from Shamrock Rovers in January 2023. The 27-year old had been on loan at Notts County this season.

Comfortable at right back or wing back, Barry helps to boost Derry City’s defensive options.

His career began with Avenue Utd and Ennis Town FC before signing for Lim-

erick FC in August 2015. He put pen to paper on a deal with Ipswich Town in January 2018 and made his debut under Mick McCarthy.

After leaving Portman Road, he had an unsuccessful trial at Leyton Orient and also spent time training with Swedish side GAIS. Cotter moved to Dublin and signed with Shamrock Rovers in August 2021. The following summer, he linked up with another Dublin side in St Patrick’s Athletic on loan before heading to Barnsley.

Derry City FC manager, Tiernan Lynch is hopeful Barry will strengthen their defensive structure. “Ideally we want two quality players in each position because we’ll always have to contend with injuries and

suspensions as the season progresses. Barry’s CV speaks for itself- he’s played at Shamrock Rovers and St Pats before getting his move to Barnsley in 2023. It’s no secret that we’ve been in the market for a right back and we’re really delighted to get working with him”.

Cotter said the standard in the League of Ireland has gone to another level in three years. “The standard of the league has improved again since I last played and when I saw the squad that the gaffer has assembled, it looked very strong.

It’s something that really appealed to me and I know I can help the team to challenge for trophies this season. I’m very much looking forward to getting started”.

in Munster quarter-final

Bridge Utd’s Jack O’Halloran

Photo by Gerard O’Neill

SCAN HERE FOR MATCH REPORT

51

THE CLARE ECHO Thursday, Feb 26, 2026

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Sport

Donegan debuts down under in first professional outing

By Daragh Small

ENNIS’ Áine Donegan makes her Þrst outing as a professional golfer this week, driving into her debut down under.

The nuances can often get lost in the outcome but when a record 16 Irish players stepped out at Carton House for last year’s KPMG Women’s Irish Open, it was the latest landmark achievement.

There have many in recent years, Lauren Walsh’s heroics in Alabama last December helped her secure an LPGA card while Morocco is fast becoming a beacon for Irish success.

Annabel Wilson, Anna Foster and Sara Byrne all bagged their LET cards there in December 2024, and more recently Áine Donegan followed up at Lalla Aicha Q-School.

The Lahinch golfer, who is also the Þrst graduate of the Golf Ireland Professional Pathway, is one of eight Irish professionals who will play on Tour this year. This week she makes her Þrst appearance as a professional at the Ford Women’s NSW Open in Wollongong Golf Club, Australia.

However, like many of her predecessors, this has been the product of years of hard work and occasions where failure on the world stage could have derailed a budding talent.

Donegan, Anna Foster and Beth Coulter formed an Irish team who Þnished bottom of the standings at the World Junior Girls Championship in Ontario in September 2019.

“We came dead last and we talk about it a lot because it’s funny how much we’ve progressed since,” said Donegan. “I remember being so excited about Canada, I’d never been there. I was in Þfth year or Leaving Cert in school, and then it was just so bad, how we played. Golf is so Þckle that you have just got to stick with the bad times to get to the good times, and that’s kind of a year-on-year process. Unless you learn from these things, they’re not really beneÞcial, but for example, I missed the Þrst stage in Q-School in America last year, and I totally learned from that.

“If anything, that was the best thing that ever happened to me but it didn’t feel very nice last September, it felt awful, but I had a good reßection with my coach, and we knew the driver wasn’t there, and mentally I wasn’t good enough. I went and got those things sorted in the couple of months I had before Morocco. It was one of the best things that ever happened, but in September it felt like the end of the world.”

Donegan joins Foster on LET this year, with Coulter likely to be in her last year as an amateur, and there

is a common thread in the group, with that trio also part of the team that played at the 2021 European Amateur Team Championships in Royal County Down.

“Two matches in the quarter-Þnal against Italy went down 19,” said Donegan.

“We came Þrst or second in the stroke play and thought we had a really good chance of winning. It was similar in Spain two years ago, where we had a really good chance of winning Europeans, it just didn’t happen. It’s mad when you look back at that team, by next year everyone will be pro and have played on the Tour”.

Walsh was also part of that side, as was Byrne and Wilson, they have also gone to play professionally and feature in multiple KPMG Women’s Irish Opens since.

Donegan burst onto the mainstream in 2023 when she played in the US Open at Pebble Beach and was just one shot off the lead after a blistering Þrst round.

The 23-year-old has shown a steady progress in recent years, a leading light at Louisiana State University while she won a Curtis Cup with GB&I in 2024, along with Home Internationals with her Irish teammates.

Professional golf was always the likely route and she advanced to the Golf Ireland Professional Pathway with her good friend, Coulter, last year.

That paved the way for her

tilt at an LPGA Tour card for 2026 and while she came up short there, she was emphatic as she secured her place on the LET, when she Þnished in T5 at Lalla Aicha.

“It meant a lot,” said Donegan.

“Going into Morocco, there was no way I could have prepared any better than how I did and then to see the results was really nice. It just shows that what I was doing that two months before was working, and I can build on that now”.

It means the Irish contingent will continue to grow on Tour while the latest addition will have plenty of expertise to call upon.

“The girls we’ve grown up with, a lot of them are on Tour now, and we all went out over the Christmas,” said Donegan.

We were talking about it, and the girls who had already been on Tour, they said if you need anything don’t be afraid to ask. I’ve already learned so much. There’s so much more to it, we are very fortunate that there are this many of us out here because being the Þrst, it’d be more difÞcult.

“I’d say, Leona (Maguire) and Olivia (Mehaffey) didn’t know much about it. They obviously had help, but it’s nice for us, especially our group, we’ve grown up together and we all know each other so well. None of us would be scared to reach out to ask anything and Anna’s been really good, we were in Spain three days and I learned

a lot.”

The Ennis native, who had trials for the Irish soccer team when she was in early teens, opted for golf instead and turned professional last year.

She will be part of the Golf Ireland Professional Scheme as she tackles the paid ranks and knows the importance of initiatives like that as she looks to follow in the footsteps of the likes of Walsh.

“We started with the ILGU and Munster coaching, I played a couple of inter-pros and then in my late teens I got onto the Irish team and it’s been brilliant,” said Donegan. We had Chris Jelly in the girls’ and Donal Scott in the women’s team. Donal has helped me a lot this year, understanding the bigger picture and not thinking too deeply about golf.

“Neil Manchip’s been really helpful and his communication has been good, so I know that if I need anything I can call him and he’ll be able to tell me what direction to go in or give me any advice. He’s been in this kind of industry a long time.

And the professional scheme is brilliant. There’s not a lot of countries that do it, I know that, and just even to have that helping hand starting off is amazing. A lot of us who get it are extremely grateful for it and it’s a huge, huge help”.

Lissycasey golf society prepare for warmer shores as rain continues to interrupt schedule

by Seamus Hayes news@clareecho.ie

KIERAN Ryan and Cyril Corry claimed the men’s competition at Ennis Golf Club last week with fairways and schedules across the county impacted by the ongoing heavy rainfall while the Fanny O’Deas society are preparing to head for warmer shores with an upcoming trip to Spain.

The ongoing very inclement weather conditions continues to impact sporting fixtures with golf competitions across all clubs being severely impacted. The scheduled competitions at a number of clubs last weekend were all cancelled due to the ongoing heavy rainfall.

Officials at all clubs are keeping their fingers crossed that conditions will improve to allow this week’s schedule to go ahead.

ENNIS GOLF CLUB: Last week’s men’s competition at Ennis was fourball stableford which was won by Kieran Ryan (21) and Cyril Corry (13) with 42 points. In second place with a similar score were John Murphy (21) and Michael Byrt (10) followed by William Donnellan (19) and Michael Irwin (23) with 41 points. William Donnellan (19) and John McInerney (23) were fourth with 41 points followed by Peter Quinn (16) and Michael Sullivan (14), also with 41 points.

The winner in round 1 of

the ladies 13 hole singles Spring league sponsored

by Michael and Fiona McMahon MMEL, Kilmaley was Anne Gallery (11) with 29 points.

The overall winner in the ladies 8 hole singles was Marina Varden (25) with 18 points.

Division 1 was won by Mary Nagle (12) with 16 points, division 2 was won

by Josephine Tone (17) with 15 points while Mary Curley (28) won division 3 with 16 points.

Meanwhile 54 members played in last week’s senior men’s competition which was won by Senan Ryan, Pat P McInerney, Conor Murphy and Mike Irwin with 66 points. In second place with a similar score were Johnny

Kearse, Matt Flynn, Joe O Brien and Michael Clancy and they were followed by Pat Murphy, John Gavin, Ronnie Guinnane and Brian Tuohy also with 66 points.

In fourth place with 65 points were Andrew McGloin, Tom Gallery, Eamonn Kelly and Ollie Kennelly followed by Vincent Corbett, Tim Scanlon, Liam McCannon and Paul Kenny with 64 points with sixth place filled by Tony Lawler, Steve Burns, Damon Murphy and Ferdie O Donoghue also with 64 points.

KILRUSH GOLF CLUB: The Johnson’s Bar Spring series qualifier continued at Kilrush last week when the winner

was Nevan Prendeville (6) with 27 points. He had one to spare over Ruairi Young (5) with third place filled

by Sean Moran (11), also with 26 points. The gross was won by Jack Foley.

SPANISH POINT GOLF CLUB: The weekly ladies 13 hole stableford competition at Spanish Point was won by Eileen Murrihy with 30 points from Bernie Kelleher with 23 points with third place filled by Chris Woodland, also with 23 points.

EAST CLARE GOLF CLUB: Last Wednesday’s ladies competition at East Clare was won by Breda McCarthy, Mary Jo Minogue, Brid Hayes and Phil Burke with second

place filled by Noreen Skehan, Deirdre O’Neill, Marie A. Kelly and Breda Reid.

The final of the Winter League will take place on this Sunday (March 1st).

FANNY O’DEA’S SOCIETY: Fanny O’Dea’s golf society, Lissycasey kicked off 2026 with an outing to Spanish Point on Saturday where captain Alan Carmody got proceedings underway with his drive-in followed by Tom Monahan with his vice captain’s drive-in.

The day was sponsored by Jamesie Meere and the captain made his first early call on the day when confining the competition to 9 holes due to poor weather conditions.

During the presentation of prizes captain Alan welcomed new members to the society, Gerry Lordan, Gerry Griffin, Mark Jackson, and Sam Shanahan.

The winners of the scramble were Alan Carmody, Declan Kelly, Tom Monahan and Peter O’Leary from Brian Kilker, Gerry Lordan, TJ Monahan and Liam Kelly with third place filled by Brian Conway, Brendie McMahon, Paddy Corcoran, and Ger Griffin.

The next outing for the members is their away trip to Spain on March 6th.

52

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Plannings

PLANNING NEWSPAPER NOTICE CLARE COUNTY COUNCIL FURTHER INFORMATION / REVISED PLANS Planning Ref: P25/60758 Development Description: Permission to carry out reclamation works and filling of lands with imported inert soils, stone and overburden materials to enable the beneficial use of the agricultural lands together with all associated site development works.

Location: Clonlaheen Middle, The Hand, Mullagh, Co. Clare Take notice that Josephine Talty has lodged significant further information in respect of the planning application P25/60758. This information and planning application may be inspected or purchased at a fee not exceeding the reasonable cost of making a copy, at the offices of the Planning Authority of Clare County Council, Planning Department, Áras Contae an Chláir, New Road, Ennis, Co. Clare during its public opening hours. A submission or observation in relation to the further information or revised plans may be made in writing to the planning authority on payment of the prescribed fee, not later than 2 weeks after the receipt of the newspaper notice and site notice by the planning authority or in the case of a planning application accompanied by an EIS within 5 weeks of receipt of such notices by the planning authority.

CLARE COUNTY COUNCIL LOUGHBURKE, KILMALEY CO. CLARE. Take notice that Christina McDonnell intends to apply to the planning authority for permission to construct a new dwelling house and basement garage complete with a wastewater treatment system and ancillary works at the above address.

The planning application may be inspected, or purchased at a fee not exceeding the reasonable cost of making a copy, at the offices of the planning authority, Clare County Council, Aras Contae an Chlair, New Road, Ennis during its public opening hours and that a submission or observation in relation to the application may be made to the authority in writing on payment of the prescribed fee within the period of 5 weeks beginning on the date of

receipt by the planning authority of the application.

BALLYCONRY HOUSE, BALLYVAUGHAN, CO CLARE H91 WDP4 Take notice that Brid Fitzgerald and Owen Carton intend to apply for permission to alter and extend the existing dwelling house & all other associated site and ancillary works at the above address. The planning application may be inspected or purchased at a fee not exceeding the reasonable cost of making a copy, at the offices of the planning authority, during its public opening hours. A submission or observation in relation to the application may be made in writing to the authority on payment of the prescribed fee of €20.00, within the period of 5 weeks beginning on the date of receipt by the authority of the application.

MOYMORE SOUTH, LAHINCH, CO CLARE V95 K2FD Take notice that Mari Liis and Cathal Hanly intend to apply for retention permission for the existing temporary structure on site for permanent use as a home office space & all other associated site and ancillary works at the above address.

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

LISDOONVARNA ROAD, KILFENORA, CO CLARE Take notice that Thomas Connole t/a Connoles Garage intends to apply for permission to build a new shed for the storage of vehicles and machinery associated with the recovery and garage business operations, office area, staff welfare facilities & all other associated site and ancillary works at the above address.

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

servation 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 DEIRE NA SLÍ, CAHERCALLA ROAD, ENNIS, CO. CLARE, V95 T9WT. Planning permission being sought by William & Maureen Moloney to demolish existing single storey annex, construct single storey Ancillary Living Accommodation extension to existing private dwelling house and all associated site works at the above address. The Planning application may be inspected or purchased at a fee not exceeding the reasonable cost of making a copy, at the offices of the planning authority during its public opening hours. A submission or observation in relation to the application may be made to the authority in writing on payment of the prescribed fee within the period of 5 weeks beginning on the date of receipt by the authority of the application.

Opening hours 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

CLARE COUNTY COUNCIL I, Colin Varley, am applying to the above authority for permission for the following development on property at Clarisford, Killaloe, Co Clare V94 5P65: Permission to construct a single storey extension to the side of the existing dwelling (Previously Granted Retention Permission, planning ref 25/60497) together with all associated ancillary and incidental site works.

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

CLARE COUNTY COUNCIL. REANAGISHAGH KILMALEY

CO. CLARE V95P651 Take notice that Diarmuid Keane + Associates Ltd. (065-9083667, www.diarmuidkeane.ie) intend to apply to Clare County Council on behalf of Brendan Moloney & Megan Downes for planning permission to construct a detached independent living unit and to upgrade the existing wastewater treatment system along with all associated site works and services at the above address. The planning application may be inspected, or purchased at a fee not exceeding the reasonable cost of making a copy, at the offices of the planning authority during its public opening hours.

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

CLARE COUNTY COUNCIL LACKANNASHINNAGH, KILDYSART, ENNIS, CO CLARE. Take notice that Oliver Garry intends to apply to the planning authority for permission to construct an agricultural machinery shed along with associated site works at the above address. The planning application may be inspected, or purchased at a fee not exceeding the reasonable cost of making a copy, at the offices of the planning authority, Clare County Council, Aras Contae an Chlair, New Road, Ennis during its public opening hours and that a submission or observation in relation to the application may be made to the authority in writing on payment of the prescribed fee within the period of 5 weeks beginning on the date of receipt by the planning authority of the application.

CLARE COUNTY COUNCIL KINCORA ROAD, LISDOONVARNA, CO CLARE. Take notice that Mrs Bridget Kerin intends to apply for planning permission to

1. extend the existing dwelling house and 2. retain the extension to the rear of the existing house and all associated site and ancillary works at the above address.

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

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

CLARE COUNTY COUNCIL, KILDEEMA NORTH, MILTOWN MALBAY, CO. CLARE Take notice that A. Hensey & D. McMahon intend to apply to the Planning Authority for permission to construct a front porch to their existing dwelling house along with ancillary site works at the above address.

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

CLARE COUNTY COUNCIL FURTHER INFORMATION/ REVISED PLANS Planning Ref: __P25/60755 _____________ Development Description: The construction of a new dwelling house, wastewater treatment system + percolation area, new entrance and all associated site works at Carrowgar, Quin, Co. Clare Location: _CARROWGAR, QUIN, CO. CLARE. ___________________ Take notice that Deborah Kelly and Gary O’Neill has lodged significant further information in respect of planning application P25/60755. This information and planning appli-

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

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Meteor Comet Universe Milky Way Constellatio Earth Moon Eclipse Nebula Gravity Nova Meteor Milky Way Orbit Moon Planet Nebula Pulsar Nova

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How to play

N T A L Y S D M D E C L D N C

Black Hole

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3 6 5 4 | Puzzle: Mon Feb 26 2024 2 1 9 6

E E Y P L A N E T G M A E U E

Asteroid Gravity Space

Sudoku is a logic puzzle where you have to populate the grid with numbers. A number can appear only once in each row, column and house. Each puzzle can be solved using logic from the given information and requires no guesswork.

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The Clare Echo Crossword

Solution

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DOWN 1 Unauthorised passenger(8) 2 Tender(5) 4 Noon(6) 5 Possessed(5) 6 Characteristic(7) 7 Short narrative poems(4) 8 Strata(6) 13 Bronte heroine(4,4) 15 American whisky(7) 17 Handsome Greek god(6) 18 Resides(6) 20 By and by(5) 22 Approaches(5) 23 The two of them(4)

CROSSWORD ANSWERS

ary 2024

ACROSS 1 Tardy(4) 3 Undying(8) 9 Ungraciously curt(7) 10 Cold(5) 11 Concur(5) 12 Kidnap(6) 14 Waylay(6) 16 Spanish rice dish(6) 19 Bird with a long curved bill(6) 21 Light weight(5) 24 Path of a planet(5) 25 Cradle song(7) 26 Shunters (anag.)(8) 27 Capri, for example(4)

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THE CLARE ECHO Thursday, Feb 26, 2026

Support journalism in Clare by subscribing to www.clareecho.ie/subscribe

Quiz

The Clare Echo Quiz Which club is the most decorated senior football club in Clare?

Doonbeg St Josephs’ Miltown Malbay Éire Óg

2.

What year was the Clare Senior Football Championship named “The Jack Daly Cup”?

1969 1979 1989

3.

Which club is the most decorated senior hurling club in Clare?

Sixmilebridge Newmarket-On-Fergus Éire Óg

4.

How many clubs participate in the senior hurling championship?

15 18 16

5.

How many clubs from Clare have won the Munster Senior Club Hurling Championship?

4 7 6

6.

Who did Clare beat to win the 2016 National Hurling League after a replay?

Wexford Waterford Cork

7.

How many clubs from Clare have won the Munster Senior Football Championship?

3 2 5

8.

When was Clare’s first Munster Senior Camogie title won?

1938 1964 1944

9.

In what year did the GAA celebrate its Golden Jubilee (50th anniversary)?

1934 1944 1924

Scan here to see what’s on

10. How many years were between Clare’s first and second Senior Hurling All-Ireland titles?

51 years 61 years 81 years

ANSWERS

Waterford 5 1944 1934 81 years

Spot the Difference

Can you spot the difference? Spot the 7 differences.

The answers will be revealed in next weeks edition.

Movies to see this week

Éire Óg 1969 Newmarket-On-Fergus 16 6

1.

36 Parnell St Ennis, Co. Clare ennis.arccinema.ie

Last weeks Answers . Line on floor missing . Balloon different colour . Mary’s Badge missing (right) . Light missing on ceiling

. Design missing on Linda’s top . Kamila’s necklace pendant missing . Buckle on Linda’s boot missing

L-R Ray O’Driscoll, Interim CEO The Shannon Airport Group, Grainne McInerney, Head of Group Capital Projects, The Shannon Airport Group, Peter O’Connell, MD OCC, Tara Leech, Health and Safety OCC, Gearoid O’Leary, Project Manager, The Shannon Airport Group, John O’Connell, Senior Contracts Manager OCC and Niall Kearns, Airport Director of Shannon Airport Photo by Arthur Ellis

FEBRUARY

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