A repeat of last year’s Clare senior football final between Miltown St Josephs (winners) and Cooraclare is one of the attractions in the second round of the Clare senior football championship. The draw for both the winners and losers sections was made at a meeting of the CCC this Monday evening but dates have yet to be set and will be influenced by inter county fixtures involving the county senior hurlers and footballers who are in qualifier action over the next two weekends. West Clare neighbours Doonbeg and St.Senans, Kilkee should prove another interesting tie along with the meeting of Lissycasey and Cratloe. The full draw is; Winners section; Doonbeg v St. Senans, Kilkee; Miltown St. Josephs v Cooraclare; Lissycasey v Cratloe; St. Breckans v Kilmurry-Ibrickane. Losers section; St. Josephs, Doora-Barefield v Wolfe Tones; Ennistymon v Kilrush; O’Currys v Eire og; Corofin v Clondegad. By Seamus Hayes

COORACLARE county councillor Bill Chambers (Fianna Fáil) has been elected cathaoirleach of Clare County Council, succeeding Councillor James Breen (Independent) in the role. Councillor Chambers is the first person from Cooraclare to assume the chairmanship of the 28-member council which unanimously backed his appointment at its AGM in Áras Contae an Chláir on Monday. Councillor Paul Murphy (Fine Gael) from Clarecastle was elected leas cathaoirleach, replacing his party colleague Councillor Mary Howard in the position. “The role of cathaoirleach is one that goes back many decades and it is an honour for me to follow in the footsteps of so many great servants of this county. I will work hard during the next 12 months to promote Clare through leadership and partnership in my new role as Clare’s first citizen,” Councillor Chambers said in his maiden speech.

NUI Galway Students’ Union has secured funding for an on campus sexually transmitted infections (STI) clinic, which will commence operation at the start of the new academic year. From now on, NUI Galway students will be able to get tested for STI’s for free at the clinic in the Student Health Unit. Funding for the clinic was secured by the Students’ Union through the university’s Student Projects Fund. This means the 17,500 NUI Galway students will have easier access and shorter waiting times for STI tests. The rates of STI’s in Ireland is still greatest among the under 25 age bracket. There are 25 different types of STIs. Many people with STI’s do not display symptoms which is why it is so important to get tested regularly if you are sexually active. STI’s can have long term complications such as infertility and can be passed on even when you don’t display any symptoms. NUI Galway Students’ Union seeks to educate students …

The unveiling of an artwork in Ennis commemorating the 100th anniversary of the 1916 Rising was attended by members of the Defence Forces joined, politicians, musicians and the local community. Located at Club Bridge adjacent to the Easter Rising Memorial Stone installed in 1966, The Centurial Sphere’ and its unveiling marks the centrepiece of an 80 event Centenary Programme in Clare. Commissioned by Clare County Council, Kilkee-based sculptor Paddy Murray’s artwork is an internally-illuminated steel sphere that has been galvanised and lacquered to appear verdigris, while it is placed on a plinth provided by Pat McInerney and Noel O’Halloran of Ballykett Quarry. The Sphere carries lines from poems and songs about and from different parts of Clare celebrating the county’s cultural tradition, a tradition cherished by the men and women of 1916. With the support of Ennis Civic Trust the surrounding site, which was developed in 1966 using stones from all over the county representing the involvement of all areas of …

Ennis insects are living it up with five-star treatment in a “bug hotel”, thanks to the efforts of local national-school children. Up to 200 students and 20 teachers in the Holy Family Junior School have created a hotel for insects, as part of the school’s bid for a fifth Green Flag. Creepy crawlies have what can only be described as luxury accommodation in a timber house, made from recyclable wooden pallets, under the direction of teacher, Triona Waters. Measuring approximately six-feet high by two-feet wide, the insect house is full of leaves and old pots to provide an ideal home for a variety of bugs. This environmentally-friendly initiative is one of the main planks of a project, which aims to teach young children, from the ages of four to eight, more about biodiversity and the wonders of nature. Teacher, Fiona Power explains that this latest project started last September and will continue up to June 2017. Because the children involved …

RESTAURANTS that have tables outside their premises will be hit during the Fleadh, as it has been confirmed that all street furniture in Ennis will have to be removed. Adrian Jackson from Safety Solutions, who is managing his sixth Fleadh, said they had to address a number of concerns from statutory agencies, such as the gardaí, medical personnel and local authority, in adddition to the 20 conditions attached to the event licence. A safety officer will also be provided during the event, while an event control room will be established in Clare County Council’s headquarters in New Road, Ennis, to respond to any emergency. This room will be manned by gardaí, advanced paramedics and stewards, who will be watching with the help of closed circuit television cameras. “Crowd management is the biggest challenge for the Fleadh. Everyone’s safety is the most important thing. If people are not safe, it is not a good event for anyone. “There will be changes …

The way is clear for the semi-finals of the junior A hurling league (division 4) and both games will be played next Sunday (July 3). Broadford have finished on top of the league table after the completed their  programme of games with victory over St. Josephs, Doora-Barefield. Ballyea finished in second place thanks to a comfortable win over Tubber this Saturday evening. Despite going down to O’Callaghans Mills, Meelick remain in third spot with the Mills filling the final play off position. In next week’s semi-finals Broadford will play O’Callaghans Mills while Ballyea will face Meelick. Meanwhile, in the junior B hurling league (division 5), Newmarket and Wolfe Tones 1 have qualified from division 5 A, Parteen are through from division 5 B while the qualifier from division 5 C will be confirmed after Wolfe Tones 2 play Broadford on Tuesday. Wolfe Tones must win to stay in the race and then it will come down to score difference between …

THE importance of collaboration among enterprises was one of the main points spelled out at the launch of the 2016 FBD Clare Business Excellence Awards. A large attendance of business people from around the county, including past finalists, attended the formal launch of the awards by Minister of State for Employment and Small Business Pat Breen in the Temple Gate Hotel. To address the issue of access to credit for small businesses, Deputy Breen took the opportunity to highlight the work of the Credit Review Office and also to make an announcement in relation to Microfinance Ireland. As and from July 1, the microfinance lending rate for businesses will be reduced from its current rate of 8.8% to 7.8%, with an additional 1% reduction for client businesses of a Local Enterprise Office, including Clare. Deputy Breen also stated his commitment to the Advisory Group for Small Business, for which he is the chair. He referred to the fact that the group has …