JOE Hayes’ on-field input at Dr Cullen Park lasted all of 18 seconds. Carlow’s first attack culminated with corner-forward Derek Hayden contesting a dropping ball with the Lissycasey man.

HUNDREDS of secondary students descended on Ennis recently for Buntáiste Breise na Gaeilge, a series of Irish language careers seminars. Comhdháil Náisiúnta na Gaeilge are hosting the seminars for secondary school students all over Ireland. To date, An Chomhdháil has held 16 ‘Buntáiste breise na Gaeilge’ seminars all over Ireland in the past three years. An Clár As Gaeilge welcomed the seminar to Ennis with Breandán MacFhionnghaile describing it as a great success. These seminars cater for second level students all over Ireland.  Guest speakers and well-known personalities will speak on the advantages which the Irish language has afforded them in their chosen careers. Among the guest speakers in Ennis were cathaoirleach Kevin de Barra, RTÉ newsreader Siún Nic Gearailt, musician Conor Keane, Emer Ní Flaitheartaigh, Irish officer for Clare County Council and Dónal Ó hAiniféin, principal of Gaelscoil Mhichil Chiosóig, Ennis.As part of the seminar, questions from the students are welcomed, which give rise to lively debate about such …

With Mothers’ Day taking place this weekend, The Clare Champion takes a look at some of the presents on offer for the county’s yummy mummies.There are some gorgeous items available this year and the great news is that there are presents on offer for every budget. As with any celebration, a handbag, a purse, a bottle of high-end perfume or a nice piece of jewellery is a particularly welcome gift but there are plenty of other things out there. A carefully thought-out top or scarf is usually a winner but remember to include a gift receipt, in case your taste isn’t as good as you think it is. A relaxing gift set sends the right message to an exhausted mammy and perhaps an offer to do some house work might make a nice complement to this offering her the time to chill out and enjoy her present.Given the straightened times, another option is to give the mother in your life …

Clare      0-20Antrim  0-12Having struggled to stay ahead of visitors Antrim in the first half of this Division 1B hurling tie at Cusack Park on Sunday, Clare took command of the game in the second period and emerged as deserving winners

YEARS of selfless service will be acknowledged this Thursday night when an award is bestowed on Mary Finnegan at Cois na hAbhna.Originally from Galway, Mary has been in Ennis for decades now and throughout that time has been involved with Comhaltas, taking charge of catering for countless events year after year.At her home last Friday afternoon, she was joined by Pat Liddy, treasurer of Cois na hAbhna and its chairman, Frank Whelan, both of whom were quick to praise her work.Pat recalled the beginnings of the Fleadh Nua and said Mary has been a constant presence since the festival was first mooted. “In November 1973, the first meeting was held to decide that we would take the Fleadh Nua in 1974 and Mary provided the catering at the meeting. She’s been with it since.”Inevitably, there were challenges to be overcome in the early days but when there were difficulties with catering Mary always sorted them out. “In the early years …

ONE of the world’s most respected and popular film critics Barry Norman, will give a talk about his favourite movies at Glór on Thursday, April 5.Norman became famous as the regular presenter of the BBC Film programme, which started in 1972 with Film 72. By the time he left after Film 98, he was a household name.In 1998, he was wooed and ultimately won over by Sky Premiere who recognised his value to them when launching their new movie channels and he would present Barry Norman’s Movie Night for the next three years.He has presented many other flagship BBC and ITV documentaries and programmes including Tonight and Omnibus. In the ’70s and ’80s he wrote and presented four acclaimed series on The Hollywood Greats and one on The British Greats as well as the 10-part BBC series Talking Pictures, each of which was backed up by a bestselling book.As a journalist, he contributes to The Guardian as an occasional leader …

PAINTINGS by Dara Ennis will go on display of the County Museum on St Patrick’s Day and the exhibition will continue until April 10.This is the artist’s second solo exhibition, showcasing paintings of vistas by the sea. The paintings included are large in scale and are based on the theme of Seeking Calm. The work is monochromatic, giving a sense of space within the frame, which blends naturally with the contrast of light and dark tones in the paintings.Dara has had group exhibitions in Galway and Dun Laoghaire in 2000 and 2001. She is a graduate of GMIT college of Art, IADT in Dun Laoghaire and the Crawford College of Art and Design in Cork.She gained a scholarship in 1999 from Paderborn University in Germany. Her work has been purchased by the National Council for Education Awards (NCEA) and displayed in the Millennium Art Exhibition at Merrion Square.She says art is a hugely important part of her life. “I paint …

VISITORS entering a South-East Clare village this week could be forgiven for thinking they had been transported to Kilkenny as black and amber flags are at full mast.