Breaking News

A unique celebration of the harp and its special place in Irish folklore and culture will take place at Bunratty Castle and Folk Park on September 2 and 3. The inaugural two-day celebration features harpists and harp music experts from across Ireland with a series of exhibition, talks and performances marking the instrument’s unique position in the medieval banquet offering at Bunratty Castle. ‘A Celebration of the Irish Harp’ coincides with the 60th anniversary of the Bunratty Castle Medieval Banquet and the recent launch of a new exhibition chartering the history, evolution, and popularity of one of Ireland’s oldest running evening entertainment shows. The celebration is hosted in collaboration with Deirdre O’Brien Vaughan, Director of the Irish Traditional Music Institute. The internationally renowned harpist, musician and music teacher has nurtured thousands of musicians over the last 30 years, toured and taught across the world, and has performed with Comhaltas Ceoltoirí Éireann, The Chieftains and Liam O’Flynn. “The celebration will bring …

TWO men have been arrested by gardaí as investigations continue into a shooting incident and criminal damage in North Clare at the weekend. Gardaí have confirmed the arrests were made on Monday and the men detained at Ennis Garda Station under Section 30 Offences against the State Act. Gardaí at Ennistymon Garda Station are investigating a number of incidents including a discharge of a firearm and criminal damage that occurred in Ennistymon on Sunday. A man in his 50s was taken to hospital for treatment after a firearm was discharged in the Deepark area of the North Clare village. Sergeant Triona Brooks outlined, “Shortly after 6pm, a number of persons were in the Deerpark area of Ennistymon in possession of a number of weapons including at least one firearm. Extensive damage was caused to a number of domestic residences and vehicles. “A firearm was also discharged and a man in his 50s was later taken to University Hospital Galway with …

GARDAÍ are seeking the public’s help in tracing the whereabouts of a Clare teenager who has been reported missing from his home. 17-year-old Ivan Ryan is missing from his home in Tulla since Saturday, August 26. Ivan is described as being 6 foot tall with a slim build. He has black hair and brown eyes. It is not known what Ivan was wearing at the time he went missing. Gardaí and Ivan’s family are concerned for his welfare. Anyone with information on Ivan’s whereabouts is asked to contact Ennis Garda Station on 065 684 8100 or the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda Station.

A MAN was taken to hospital with injuries following a number of incidents in North Clare at the weekend including the discharge of a firearm. An appeal for witnesses has been launched by investigating gardaí who are urging anyone with information to come forward. Gardaí have confirmed they are investigating a number of incidents including a discharge of a firearm and criminal damage that occurred in Ennistymon on Sunday, August 27. Shortly after 6pm, it’s reported a number of persons were in the Deerpark area, Ennistymon in possession of a number of weapons including at least one firearm. During the course of a number of reported incidents in the area, extensive damage was caused to a number of domestic residences and vehicles. A firearm was also discharged and a man in his 50s was later taken to University Hospital Galway with non-life threatening injuries. A number of scenes have been preserved for technical examination. Investigations are continuing at Ennistymon Garda …

THE annual survey of coasts and inland waterways by business group Irish Business Against Litter (IBAL) shows Lahinch and Doolin both deemed ‘littered’, with Mountshannon also slipping, to ‘moderately littered’. According to the An Taisce report for Lahinch while the main beach area was “generally fine” it was the prom, rock armour and carparks which brought down the overall litter grade. “Heavy levels” of litter including drinks cans, fast food wrappers, cigarette butts and dog fouling were reported. Marine litter such as fishing crates, nets, ropes etc along with food items was found trapped in the rock armour near the promenade. An Taisce adjudicators found a filled black sack discarded by a ‘Big Bell’ bin with other items accumulated on top. While older bins looked “tired” with a risk of their contents being taken out by birds highlighted. The report also noted the “freshly presented” dog fouling facility was in “very good order”.  Meanwhile the An Taisce report for Doolin pier …

As more than 1,200 Clare students picked up their Leaving Certificate results this morning, three North Clare secondary schools were completing their very last official acts as places of study. There were large gatherings of students at the Ennistymon CBS, Scoil Mhuire Ennistymon and the Ennistymon Vocational School today, as the last Leaving Certificate classes from each school collected their results. The schools, which will officially amalgamate on Monday to form the Ennistymon Community School, collectively represent 362 years of education in the region. Schools across Clare have reported generally positive results this year, and the same was true of the students in the thee Ennistymon schools. “It’s a very special day for our school. We’ve had such a long history of Leaving Cert results going right back to the 1920s, and what a great group to finish with. They are outstanding students at all ability levels,” said Seosaimhin Dhomhnallain, principal of Scoil Mhuire. “We are very pleased with how …

The Blue Flag is flying over Lahinch Beach once again today as an advisory notice, placed on the popular North Clare tourism hotspot earlier this week, was lifted this morning. Following additional tests carried out on the water quality in Liscannor Bay, Clare County Council, acting in accordance to HSE advice, has lifted the advisory notice. Several notices were put in place on the Lahinch Prominade earlier this week, warning beach users about possible issues with the water quality. However, at no time was there a full swimming ban in place. This restriction was introduced after the results of routine bathing water samples showed elevated levels of bacteria in the water. Run-off from the catchment area of the Inagh River and Liscannor Bay, following exceptionally heavy rainfall in recent days, is one possible cause for the elevated levels of bacteria in the water. This is the latest in a series of advisory notices which have been put in place on …

Detailed imaging of a massive steam ship, which sank off the Clare coast 125 years ago, have been revealed as part of the most detailed underwater survey ever undertaken in Ireland. On November 26, 1898, the SS Premier was undertaking the final leg of its voyage from Hamburg in Germany to Limerick when it sank just off Scattery Island. The ship, which was on charter to the Limerick Steamship Company at the time, was carrying a cargo of 600 tonnes of sugar when it went down. The SS Premier sank after it was involved in a collision with the paddle steamer, The Mermaid, between Scattery Island and Kilcredaun Point. The vessel sank within fifteen minutes of the collision and its crew took to the boats and were picked up by a passing steamer. The Mermaid’s bow was badly damaged and was forced to return to Limerick for repairs. This new imagery of the SS Premier has been compiled as part …