A former Gort Community School student who sold his Leaving Cert notes on Internet auction site eBay, is now collaborating on another online project in an effort to support himself through college. Website mocks.ie, founded by entrepreneurs and brother and sister team Ailish (30) and Eoghain (33) Ryan in late 2009, has enlisted the help of two students who racked up straight As in their Leaving Certs, to provide comprehensive study notes for second-level students. Cillian Fahy (pictured with his Leaving Cert results) from New Quay in North Clare is studying English and mathematics at Trinity College Dublin after receiving seven As in his Leaving Cert which he sat last year. He, along with Dubliner James Esses who earned 590 points in his Leaving Cert in 2010, is now collaborating with mocks.ie in an effort to provide comprehensive, up-to-date, grade-A standard revision notes.Fahy shot to fame in August 2010 when, after receiving straight As in his Leaving, he came up …

The South Galway and North East Clare regions will come together again this May for the 2011 Aughty Gathering. Caher House on the shores of Lough Graney, famed in Brian Merriman’s Midnight Court, will this year provide the backdrop for the sixth Annual Aughty Gathering, which takes place on Saturday, May 7.  The event was previously held in Crusheen, Kilchreest /Castledaly, Woodford, Tuamgraney and last year in Gort. The gathering is informal and is dedicated to hospitality. Everyone is welcome to attend and to share their knowledge and interest in the heritage of the Sliabh Aughty region.The Aughty Gathering itself has been gaining momentum over the past five years and each year in a different location aims to celebrate our wonderful heritage. Heritage takes many forms; ancient, built, cultural, artistic and literary and living heritage projects to include some hugely valuable initiatives, being undertaken at community level right across Sliabh Aughty Communities.The Gathering will welcome world-renowned musician Martin Hayes to …

ENNIS Community College has partnered with Shannon company Avocent to introduce its pupils to work-life skills.

CARRIGAHOLT was particularly busy last weekend and should be equally packed this coming weekend for the four-day May Bank Holiday Weekend Oyster Festival. The festival will open in Keane’s at 9.30pm where the festival queen will be crowned. Saturday will feature a shell craft competition, for children, on the beach from 12 noon. A children’s puppet show, an escorted family cycle, raft race, a Carrigaholt’s Got Talent karaoke competition in Morrissey’s and dolphin watch trips will also feature on the Saturday. A food and craft market will be located in the village square while on the Sunday, oysters will be prepared and served in the marquee. Sunday will also feature traditional music sessions, a guided family walk, an angling competition and the oyster opening championships at 3.30pm. Street entertainers will be trying to win prize money. Judging will be carried out during the festival and winners will be announced from 6 to 9pm on Sunday. Stalls will also be available …

IN death, murdered PSNI officer, Ronan Kerr created a united Ireland – a unity of spirit among people north and south of the border in expressing their utter revulsion at an act of barbarism and terrorism.

THE West Clare Kidney Support Group will hold their annual fundraising walk on Sunday. The route will be from Kilrush to Cooraclare, departing the town square at 3pm. This year, the proceeds from the walk will be donated to the Clare branch of the Irish Kidney Association. The figure collected in 2010 amounted to over €22,000, which was presented to the Clare branch of the Irish Kidney Association.All walkers are asked to have registered prior to the event. They can do this by collecting a sponsorship card from committee members. There will also be an opportunity to register on the day of the walk. This can be done at the square in Kilrush or at the church gate in Cooraclare village. Christy Curtin, Mayor of Clare, who has participated in the walk over the years, will cut the tape at 3pm. All registered walkers will be supplied with a t-shirt and a cap.At 2.20pm in Cooraclare, a bus will collect …

Most of the traders in the southern part of Killaloe town have suffered a drop in business since the re-introduction of double yellow lines on Main Street and Royal Parade, according to a Clare Champion investigation.Some of the worst affected businesses are in Royal Parade, opposite the historic Church of Ireland Cathedral where Clare County Council removed up to eight parking spaces for safety reasons and replaced them with two set down areas a few months ago.Sue and Joe James, who sell antiques and other goods in Royal Parade, are extremely concerned about the lack of a public car park in the town.Sue James claims there has been a 40% drop in business since the removal of car parking spaces in the vicinity of their shop. Having been in business in the town for the last 14 years, she said they have never experienced anything like this before, which saddens her greatly as they have done a lot of work …

HOW far have we come since Easter 1916? The simple answer to that question is, of course, 95 years.