ENTERPRISE Minister Richard Bruton will come to Shannon on Friday morning and it is expected that 300 new jobs will be announced.As previously reported, an investment by US company Zagg will result in the creation of 160 jobs by the end of 2012, with another 140 over the next four years.It is expected that they will occupy the building previously used by Tyco Electronics.Zagg make accessories for electronic products such as screen protectors and cases. They are expected to serve customers in Europe, Asia and Africa from Shannon. In 2010, the company recorded revenue for the year of US$76.1m, with a gross profit of $37.4m. The announcement comes after a year in which the overall level of employment at the Shannon Free Zone declined by 4%.Six-hundred-and-sixteen jobs were lost but this was offset by the creation of another 362 jobs.In a statement, Shannon Development said, “Three-hundred-and-sixty-two new jobs were created at Shannon Free Zone during 2010. Among the job highlights …

THE long-running saga concerning the boundary extension into South-East Clare is back in the political spotlight this week after new Environment Minister, Phil Hogan, started a consultative process on the Brosnan Report.Clare Against the Boundary Extension (CABE) and other community groups have vigorously opposed plans to transfer over 3,000 people from Shannon Banks, Westbury and parts of Clonlara in to a new expanded Limerick City.This was one of the recommendations of the Limerick Local Government Report, chaired by businessman Denis Brosnan. The report also proposed that Limerick City and County Councils be amalgamated to form one local authority with an estimated saving of €20 million.Minister of State at the Department of Trade and Development, Deputy Jan O’Sullivan, said she expected that Minister Hogan would make a decision in the near future.Speaking to The Clare Champion, Minister O’Sullivan pointed out Minister Hogan is well aware of the sense of identity and county attachment of people living in South-East Clare as a …

A South Galway teenager has outshone 2,000 others to make it to the final of a national competition, it was announced this week. Niall Perrill from Gort No Name Club will participate in the No Name Club National Youth Awards Final in Kilkenny on Saturday. Fellow Galway teenager Shauna Naughton from Mountbellew No Name Club also made it to the final 12. Travelling to the event to support Niall and celebrate their involvement with the national youth organisation will be over 50 teenagers and adult committee members from Gort No Name Club while 30 will make the journey from Mountbellew.Almost 200 teenagers and adult leaders from Galway will travel to Kilkenny, with Athenry, Claregalway and Headford No Name Clubs also taking part. No Name Club teenage members are known as hosts and hostesses and Niall and Shauna were selected as the representative hostess for the Mid-West Region to compete in the national final. At the regional final in Claregalway, County …

The economic and social benefits of heritage and culture can only be realised with astute management, according to speakers at the Burrenbeo Trust’s gala evening held recently. At the event, entitled Landscape, Memory and Friendship, the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Jimmy Deenihan, said, “The Burren is a remarkable area, which needs to be protected and managed in a sensitive way that respects and benefits the local community and wider society. Conserving our natural and cultural heritage provides real economic returns and we are fortunate indeed to have the Burrenbeo Trust. “Since the Trust was formed in 2008, it has trained hundreds of Burren schoolchildren to become ‘Burren experts’, developed a portal Burren website, a resource centre in Kinvara and also a Burren Business Network, which promotes businesses within the Burren. The Burrenbeo Trust has already had a major impact both locally and nationally and hopefully it can serve as a model for other regions of the country …

PRESIDENTIAL candidate, renowned Joycean scholar and civil rights campaigner, Senator David Norris has been confirmed to open the 16th annual Iniscealtra Festival of Arts.The annual festival, held in Mountshannon from May 28 to June 6, has a host of events lined up, not least the visit of Senator Norris and this year it is themed on The Voice.Among the special guests to attend the festival will be an unusual character that stands 30 foot tall.In a magnificent afternoon event at Mountshannon Harbour, Small World Theatre from Wales will bring Bran the Blessed, a 30ft puppet, the biggest ever human powered giant in the world, to the festival.Bran is an ancient Welsh hero, as well as a mythological god of bards and poetry and is said to have brought Christianity to Britain following his captivity in Rome. There are many tales of Bran’s links with Ireland, where he met his death fighting alongside Irish princes and his body scattered far and …

THE skills that an East Clare contract manufacturing company have to offer will be showcased on a new programme entitled Dragons Den on Tour.The programme, which airs on Sunday night on RTÉ Two at 9.30pm, will feature a product known as the water guardian, which is being manufactured in Tuamgraney by AJ Precision Components Ltd.The product is designed by Mayo father and son team, Kevin and Tony Rickard. The two featured on series two of Dragons Den last year but were unsuccessful in their bid to secure a €90,000 investment for a 10% stake in their company.Kevin explained that on investigating the amount of water needed to water hanging baskets by Sligo County Council, he discovered that 12,000 litres of water were needed to water 70 hanging baskets and this required 40 man hours. However, with the use of the water guardian, which supplies a regulated amount of water, namely one drip every nine seconds, there is a vast reduction …

Organisers of this summer’s Feile Sona Festival in Kilrush will hold a 5km family walk/run and an egg hunt on Sunday, starting at 3pm from Kilrush Marina.The event is being organised to raise funds for this year’s Feile Sona Family Festival to be held from July 1-3 in the town.“We organised last year’s festival so that families could have a fun event in Kilrush, one which would provide entertainment for all generations. “We recognised that everyone’s pockets are feeling the pinch of current times and the festival was about having fun with out that burdening cost,” festival organiser Ian Lynch said. “We have been thinking of events throughout the year that stick to the ethos of the family festival, which bring families together to have fun without a huge financial cost. We decided to organise next Sunday’s activities as a way of encouraging families to do stuff together, have some fun and also raise some funds for Feile Sona 2011,” …

Raidió Corca Baiscinn has been working with children in 11 South West Clare national schools to produce the series The Place Where We Live. Since 2009, fifth and sixth class pupils have researched their home townlands and the names of the places where their schools are. Each half hour programme involves the children presenting their local area through stories, history, songs and music. Eight of these programmes have been broadcast already but to celebrate the completion of this series, all 11 programmes will be broadcast during the month of April. The programmes will be broadcast on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays at 3.30pm.The following are the broadcast dates for the remaining schools: Shragh National School, Monday, April 18; Querrin National School, Tuesday, April 19; Kilkee National School, Wednesday, April 20; Carrigaholt National School, Monday, April 25; Gaelscoil Uí Choimín, Tuesday, April 26. These are fascinating programmes, delving into the history and folklore of South West Clare and are sure to appeal …