Quite a number of mid-morning voters combined shopping or a coffee break with trip to their polling station today (Friday).With their decision on the 16 Clare constituency candidates under seal, they can now relax and enjoy the rest of the day. The polling stations remain open until 10pm tonight and the count  will begin at the Falls Hotel, Ennistymon tomorrow (Saturday) at 9am.

Kilmaley native, Eamonn Meehan from Trocaire is calling on people to remember the extraordinary mothers across the developing world this Mother’s Day. This weekend people across Ireland will celebrate the mothers in their families and honour the women in their lives. The ‘Irish Mammy’ is a blessing to be cherished, but having worked and lived in the developing world I always also remember the ‘Global Mammies’ I have met who, despite struggling against unimaginable poverty and injustice, are making sure their children have a brighter future. Mothers across the developing world are struggling to feed their children and earn enough money to send them to school. The sacrifices mothers and families are making is extraordinary and highlights their strength and determination. This week Trocaire is celebrating the women the organisation has been able to support thanks to donations from county Clare and across Ireland particularly during the Lenten campaign. The Trocaire Box is our biggest fundraising campaign and provides the …

Polling stations around the county opened at 7am this morning (Friday) for voting in General Election 2016.   The stations, which accommodate 146 ballot boxes, will remain open until 10pm tonight. There are 16 candidates in the field in the Clare constituency, with four seats to be filled. A total of 82,965 people are eligible to vote. Based on the statistics of the 2011 General Election, when there the was the same number of candidates, on a 70% turn out of voters, the quota will be in the region of 11,600. The count will take place in the Falls Hotel, Ennistymon, on Saturday, with proceedings starting at 9am. The North Clare venue was selected because the All-Ireland darts competition is taking place at Treacy’s West County Hotel this weekend. However, in an amusing twist, the Falls Hotel function room will share a wedding and the General Election count on the same day. The Friday wedding is scheduled to run into the early hours of …

The National Youth Council of Ireland (NYCI) has welcomed that 1,101 people in Clare have been added to the supplementary register in advance of tomorrow’s general election, and is calling on young people to ensure they cast their vote. The NYCI is the representative body for youth organisations with 1,400 staff and 40,000 volunteers who work with over 380,000 young people nationwide. James Doorley, NYCI deputy director, said, “The figures from the local authority indicate that 1,101 people in Clare added their names to the supplementary register before the February 9 deadline, which is to be welcomed. “Now, however, the focus must turn to getting out the vote. NYCI is encouraging 18 to 25 year olds in particular to make sure they make their voices heard tomorrow. We’ve been working to increase the number of young people on the register for the past number of referendums and elections, and we’re delighted that the local media have been supportive of our campaign this time round. This campaign, along with registration drives …

ON the brink of General Election 2016 polling day, a former Clare TD has revealed how Fianna Fáil paid a heavy price for a wrong call on fixing a date for the 2011 election. Fianna Fáil election strategists cost the party up to 30 additional seats over the timing of the 2011 General Election, former Defence Minister Tony Killeen has claimed. In an interview during a Clare Champion-hosted General Election 2016 discussion, Mr Killeen laid bare for the first time the main factors that led to the dramatic meltdown for Fianna Fáil, which went from 78 to just 20 Dáil seats in the last election. Mr Killeen, who had been principal at Kilnaboy National School prior to entering politics, also revealed he would be dead if he had contested a snap election in December 2010, instead of February 25, 2011, as he was battling cancer at the time. Mr Killeen announced his retirement from politics on health grounds ahead of …

Local Enterprise office Clare held the first of a series of women in business networking events on Tuesday. Special guest Maria Kelly, spoke to a large group of focused and successful business women.The network, which has grown in numbers over the last number of years, is testimony to the fact that female specific supports have been successful in increasing the number of female entreprenuers in Ireland. The Leo Clare women in business network has a diverse range of female entrepeneurs across varying sectors including; hospitality, retail, manufacturing, craft, food, tourism and new comers at early stage start up. The network welcomed back loyal members and greeted new members to the group. Collectively the business that were in attendance at this event employ in excess of over 450 people collectively, and this figure continues to grow. The presentation highlighted the importance of developing a business growth strategy. “Most small business owners are too busy or are too close to their business to …

A public demonstration relating to the shock closure of six childcare centres in West Clare and the subsequent loss of 53 jobs, will take place in Kilrush town square on Wednesday (February 24) at 12.30pm. News of the closures were relayed to staff by text message, following a West Clare Early Years board meeting, on February 13. In a statement to The Clare Champion, parents and former staff of West Clare Early Years outlined their reasons for the demonstration, which will be held two days before the 2016 General Election. “We the parents and former staff of West Clare Early Years have been devastated by the closure of the childcare facilities in West Clare. Fifty three workers and 400 families have been affected by the closures. The parents and staff met with Pobal last week at which time we were assured that everything that could be done would be done to re-open the facilities urgently. To date we still have …

A motorist was taken to hospital late on Monday night following a single vehicle accident on the Miltown Malbay to Lahinch road. The man was taken to University of Limerick hospital where he is being treated. The N67 road was closed and a Garda investigation into the accident is continuing. Motorists travelling from Miltown Malbay have been diverted to the L2124, while motorists travelling from Lahinch are diverted to the L6236.