SUPERMAC’S have agreed to sponsor Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann Inis 2016 in a six-figure deal. The well-known food company has come on board as a gold sponsor, contributing towards the organisation of what promises to be one of the most successful musical events that Ennis, and the wider county, has seen to date. At the launch Pat McDonagh, Supermac’s founder said, “Sponsoring the Fleadh Cheoil here in Ennis was an obvious choice for us, as we are a 100% Irish brand, working with over 250 Irish suppliers. We have strong ties with sports and music throughout our history and as a company that was born here in the west, we are delighted to be able to engage with such a huge event as the Fleadh Cheoil. “We have no doubt that it will have huge benefits for not only the county but for the entire region.” “Opening in Ennis was one of the key stepping stones in Supermac’s becoming a …

THE Canadian Ambassador to Ireland, who controversially hit the headlines earlier this year after grappling with a protester at a 1916 memorial ceremony in Dublin, is set to visit Clare next week. Ambassador Kevin Vickers will be special guest at Quilty’s Star of the Sea Church where Summer Music on the Shannon (SMS) will be hosting a fundraising concert on August 3. The incident at the wreath-laying service in Dublin’s Grangegorman Military Cemetery for British soldiers killed during The Rising was not the first time that Ambassador Vickers has taken action. He was hailed a hero in 2014 after stopping a terrorist attack by shooting and killing a lone gunman who was attempting to storm the Canadian parliament building. The ambassador has accepted an invitation to attend the concert in Quilty and another in Limerick on the previous day, from fellow Canadian and the driving force behind SMS, Bob Creech. According to Mr Creech, the international summer school and festival …

CLARE midfielder Cathal O’Connor is available to play in Sunday’s All-Ireland quarter-final game against Kerry at 2pm. O’Connor travelled to Dublin on Wednesday, accompanied by Clare selector David O’Brien and GAA secretary Pat Fitzgerald, where they attended an appeal hearing at Croke Park in relation to his red card in Saturday’s round four qualifier win over Roscommon in Salthill. The Coolmeen man was sent off shortly after half-time for what what referee Pádraig Hughes deemed ‘dangerous play’ in his match report. Clare received a copy of the match report on Tuesday and immediately filed an appeal, which was heard by the Central Competitions Control Committee on Wednesday night. The appeal was successful. This is a huge boost to Clare ahead of their biggest championship match in 24 years. They have not played championship football in Croke Park since the 1992 All-Ireland semi-final, when they were beaten by Dublin. Peter O’Connell

TEN new jobs have been created at Atlantic Aviation Group in Shannon, adding to an existing workforce of over 200 employees. HR and training director, Caoimhe O’Donnell said, “We are creating a new project team of licensed B1 and B2 engineers and aircraft mechanics, who will add extra strength and flexibility to our existing aircraft maintenance workforce, as the company continues to grow over the coming months and years.” The company are performing well, with expansion coming, according to CEO, Connor Flanagan. He added, “This is an exciting time to be joining our company. We are in discussions with a number of major airlines for multi-aircraft contracts for the rest of the year and beyond. In order to meet the increased demand for our services, we are looking to recruit talented and ambitious individuals, who will add to the experienced team that we currently have.” Formerly Transaero Engineering Ireland, Atlantic Aviation Group, purchased by Patrick Jordan in April of last …

Gardaí in Ennis are continuing with their investigations into a number of burglaries in the town during the past week. At around 4am last Thursday morning, a hooded man was seeing trying the windows of houses in Ivy Hill on the Gort Road. This person was then seen inside an adjoining apartment of a house, was disturbed and fled the scene on foot. Gardai say the man wore a grey hooded top and was a small man approximately 5’2” or 5’3” in height and had a sallow complexion. On the same day , at around 1.45am, a house in Glenina on the Gort Road was entered through the patio door. Items stolen included a red “Hello Kitty” purse, a purple HP notebook and a silver Packard Bell laptop. Between 12.30am and 2.30am last Sunday, a shed was broken into which was adjoining a house in Radharc na Locha. Items stolen in the burglary included a red Marugana hedge trimmer, a green Florabest chainsaw, a yellow 300 Karcher power washer, a red strimmer and two wind deflectors from a Ford Galaxy car which was parked at the rear. Two  burglaries were also committed in the Ard Aoibhinn estate on the Limerick Road and Springfield estate, near St. Flannan’s college. A man was arrested for these crimes and is helping the Gardai with their enquiries.

A total of €4.71 million in funding for the Ennis South Flood Relief Scheme has been approved by the Office of Public Works. The money will be made available to Clare County Council when it addresses some technical aspects of the scheme. The scheme will involve extensive flood alleviation work to the St Flannan’s and Ballybeg streams in the Clonroadmore, Ballybeg and Clareabbey areas of Ennis and Clarecastle. “There are some residual matters that require further consideration by the council and its consultants prior to implementation of the scheme. The offer of funding has been made on the basis that the council addresses and satisfies itself in relation to these matters prior to entering into any binding contractual commitments,” explained Clare TD, Joe Carey. Responding to a parliamentary question from Deputy Carey last month, Public Expenditure Minister Paschal Donohue acknowledged that discussions relating to technical aspects of the scheme had impacted on progress but he expected that the OPW would …

Over 160 cyclists were recovering their weary limbs but with a great sense of satisfaction after undertaking a 110km round trip straddling Clare and Galway in the Aer Lingus Charity Cycle out of Shannon Airport, which raised €10,000 for Shannon Group’s designated charities. Cyclists from Clare, Dublin, Galway, Kerry, Limerick, Tipperary and Wicklow geared up for the event at Shannon on Saturday morning, having been set off on their merry after the starter flag was raised by Rose of Clare Leah Kenny and Shannon Group Chairman Rose Hynes just after 9am. And in a new addition this year to the popular charity cycle, another 100 participated in relays on static bicycles at Shannon Airport to help raise additional donations, among them airport employees, airport passengers and local businesses. The cycle, now in its third year, is organised by Shannon Group staff in aid of their designated charities, which this year are the Irish Children’s Arthritis Network (iCAN) and Abalta Special …

Clare County Council has welcomed the announcement by Minister for Housing, Simon Coveney that between 50 and 60 new social housing units are to be delivered in Shannon through Public Private Partnership (PPP). Welcoming the announcement, Councillor Bill Chambers, Cathaoirleach of Clare County Council said, “Clare County Council will do whatever is necessary to support the delivery of these proposed housing units in Shannon.” The announcement has been made as part of the Government’s housing action plan, called ‘Rebuilding Ireland – an Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness’ which will see €300 million in social housing provided through the PPP model. Junior Minister Pat Breen described the announcement as a really positive development for Clare people and families on the social housing list. “The announcement comes as part of the Government’s comprehensive housing action plan, called ‘Rebuilding Ireland – an Action Plan for Housing and Homelessness’. The plan delivers on a key commitment in the Programme for Government to prioritise …