AS HEAD of the students’ union in UCG, Michael D Higgins was not too far removed from the showband scene and a town closely associated with that famous era. More recently, and now as President of Ireland, he was brought down memory lane and reminded of what the showbands meant to places like Tuam. Names of famous showbands and musicians were recalled when he visited the Galway town, at the invitation of a local committee, to honour a person who, more than anybody else in the town, was responsible for sending hundreds of musicians on the road. All were well capable of playing with the best, whether it was with  showbands, garda or army bands from the late 1950s. President Higgins also attended the launch of a new CD, featuring the best of local showbands. Since receiving a copy, the precints of his residence, Áras an Uachtaráin in Dublin’s Phoenix Park, echo to the sounds of some of the famous  …

A report commissioned by the Doonbeg Coastal Erosion Group has estimated that it will cost €5.31m to carry out the necessary repair work in storm damaged areas in Doonmore (€1.7m) Farrihy (€1.85m) and Cloghaunincy (€1.76m), all of which lie within the west Clare parish. The report was carried out by Fergal Coughlan BE CEng MIEI and has been submitted to Clare County Council outlining the damage caused by the early year storms. The report said that proposed works in Doonmore, where the road surface and a number of houses were badly damaged, will involve the construction of a wall along Killard Road and also the construction of stone revetment to the sea side of same at an approximate cost of  €750,000. Other work deemed necessary in Doonmore is the strengthening of the banks of the Doonbeg River and edge of Killard Road with earth embankments at an estimated cost of €180,000. “These works would also involve the construction of a …

AS the controversy surrounding the garda telephone recordings plays out nationally, Clare’s chief garda superintendent said he is “110% satisfied” no calls” were recorded between solicitors and their clients in Clare garda stations. Speaking to The Clare Champion, Chief Supt John Kerin said Ennis Garda Station is the only station that was equipped with phone recording facilities, up to their decommissioning late last year. He said while 999 calls continue to be recorded, the only phones which had recording capabilities prior to November 2013 were located in the first floor communications office at Ennis. “The public or prisoners don’t make calls from the communications office. Any calls made by a prisoner to a solicitor would have been made to one of the downstairs offices and none of those had recording facilities. I’m 110% satisfied that no calls were ever recorded between solicitors and people who were detained,” he said. He said while anyone who dialed into or out of the …

ANTI-SOCIAL behaviour by groups of young people on the streets of Ennis’ town centre is having a “serious negative economic impact” on the county capital. 75 local businesses have signed a petition calling for a greater garda presence on Ennis’ streets amid concerns that people do not feel secure in the town. Members of the business community this week presented the petition to Ennis’ Joint Policing Committee, which includes members of Ennis Gardai, local elected representatives, local authority officials and community representatives. One business owner described how an elderly lady was sprayed with shaving foam on St Patrick’s day outside of his shop by two young people. Another stated that shoppers and business owners are being intimidated, young people are running in and out of shops and pathways are being blocked off by large groups. According to the business owners, “We consider that the anti-social behavior from underage groups in town are a serious offence to local businesses, local community …

By Nicola Corless A CLARE stonemason has been awarded a prestigious British craft fellowship. Eoin Madigan was named as one of three Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings (SPAB) William Morris Craft Fellows. Three to four fellowships are offered by the society each year, depending on funding and are aimed at talented, young craftspeople involved in repairing historic buildings. Eoin is a sixth-generation stonemason and has previously worked on repairs at O’Brien’s Tower at the Cliffs of Moher. The fellowship involves a six-month conservation tour of the UK involving site, workshop and studio visits, allowing the young craftspeople to work alongside master craftsmen on heritage projects. It recently started at Hampton Court Palace in Surrey.  According to the Ennistymon man, the fellowship is both an honour and an opportunity. “I am hoping to learn from some of the best craftsmen. I am passionate about the conservation of our buildings at home and I have seen so much needless destruction …

CLARE concertina-player, Chris Droney is to be honoured with the TG4 Lifetime Achievement Award at TG4 Gradam Ceoil 2014, which takes place a the University Concert Hall on Saturday, April 12. This year’s Gradam recipients range over a wide spectrum of talents. As well as the venerable North Clare concertina-player Chris Droney, they include the Limerick-born doyen of Irish musicology in North America, Mick Moloney; one of Connemara’s most versatile sean-nós singers; a member of the latest generation in a Sliabh Luachra musical dynasty; and a trio of musicians whose musical collaboration has brought to life again a unique musical manuscript trove from Munster that had lain dormant for 130 years. Chris Droney has been selected for this year’s TG4 Lifetime Achievement Award. Born in 1924, Chris is a noted concertina stylist from Belharbour, who has followed in the footsteps of his father, James, and grandfather, Michael (1829-1927), who also played concertina. Chris learned to play by ear and parental …

Oklahoma! comes to Lahinch this week, when Ennistymon Choral Society stages the popular musical from Wednesday until Sunday. “Oklahoma! is a wonderfully fun show full of diverse characters, beautiful, familiar music and roaring dance numbers. Cast and crew have been working very hard since last October to put on a great show for our local community. “Set against a colourful backdrop of cowboys and farmers fighting for their rights in the changing state of Oklahoma at the turn of the 20th century, this show is packed with romance and danger, hilarious moments and roaring dance numbers,” outlined Emma-Jane Brown, secretary of Ennistymon Choral Society. The performances will take place at Seaworld Hall in Lahinch from 8.15pm each day. “Familiar and new faces will tread the boards this year and the society is deeply grateful for the wonderful local talent that our part of Clare has to offer,” she added. “This year marks a new era for the society. We have …

A €5,000 reward has been put forward by animal rights group, ARAN for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for the deaths of animals found at the base of cliffs in Doonbeg. Carcasses of at least 16 animals, including horses and cows, were discovered at the base of Baltard Cliffs earlier this week leading Clare ISPCA warden, Frankie Coote to describe the incident “as sinister”. The carcasses, believed to have been at the base of the cliffs for up to two months, were spotted by a passerby. The Department of Agriculture along with An Garda Siochana, Clare County Council and the ISPCA are investigating. ARAN’s spokesperson John Carmody said, “. As a nation we should hang our heads in shame that we’ve reached a point where animal abuse has now gone so out of control that those who are involved in it, simply don’t have anything to fear.” However, Minister for  Agriculture, Food …