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BACK in 1934 and 1935 three lifelong friends were born in Mullagh, Patrick Clancy, Joe Sexton and Pat Sexton (also known as Paddy Jim Dan). Many years ago Joe moved to England, Pat setted in Canada, while Patrick has lived all his life in the area where they grew up. Despite the distances between them, the three have managed to remain in contact and have all been in Mullagh this week, with Joe and Pat meeting up in person for the first time in 54 years. The trio met with the Clare Champion at their alma mater, Mullagh National School on Tuesday afternoon. Asked what school was like when they attended in the 1940s, two of the three, Pat and Joe answer in unison. “Tough,” as they recall the daily hardships of school life in their childhood. However all three remember having a teacher called Mrs O’Connell who they say was a lovely woman, while Patrick recalled taking drastic action …

THE fine weather has taken its toll on the water supply in North Clare with residents in Ennistymon, Lahinch, Fanore, Kilfenora and Ballyvaughan asked to conserve water in the days ahead. According to Uisce Éireann, some water supply schemes across the north of the county are currently experiencing water shortages and reduced pressure due to low reservoir levels brought about by the high demand for water and the ongoing low rainfall levels. “We are appealing to customers to conserve water to give the reservoirs time to replenish. We have had a very dry period and with the warmer weather currently being experienced and more forecast, supplies will come under further pressure,” said Duane O’Brien, regionals lead for Uisce Éireann. “Any reduction that customers can make in their usage can collectively result in significant supply improvements for all customers. I would ask that everyone in these areas, and in Clare in general, play their part to help conserve water this summer. …

UL Hospitals Group and HSE Mid West Community Healthcare have asked the public in the region to know their available healthcare options ahead of the forthcoming Bank Holiday Weekend. With the Emergency Department at University Hospital Limerick open for emergency care, and treatment available for less acute conditions in the Injury Units and Medical Assessment Units at the region’s Model 2 hospitals, ULHG and Mid West Community Healthcare (MWCH) have rostered additional staff to ensure patient flow and access is maximised across the long weekend. Over the coming days, standard acute hospital care pathways at the ED and injury units will be supported by an expansion of Community Intervention Team services to run 8am-8pm over the weekend, to ensure timely access through GP out-of-hours referral and improve hospital avoidance, and maximise discharges and transfers. An additional complement of triage staff will support UL Hospitals Group efforts to reduce time between presentation and discharge or the decision to admit. Additional staff …

CLARE County Council this week signed a contract with Lambert Smith Hampton to undertake an in-depth review of the Clare-based assets of Shannon Heritage. The property condition survey of Bunratty Castle and Folk Park, Craggaunowen Bronze Age Park, Knappogue Castle and Gardens, and the retail unit at the Cliffs of Moher Experience will guide all future investment in maintenance, remedial and conservation works at the sites. The results of the technical audit will be presented to the local authority before the end of the year. “In order to commence our programme of investment in the assets, it is of critical importance that a detailed technical audit be carried out to determine the scale and nature of appropriate repairs and retrofitting measures that may be required,” said Pat Dowling, Chief Executive of Clare County Council. “Clare County Council is committed to investing in the future development of these sites for the benefit of the tourism sector and the wider economy, as …

  The body of a young man has been recovered from the River Shannon in Killaloe on Wednesday evening following a major multi-agency search and recovery operation. It is understood a 19 year-old man from Limerick City fell from a jet-ski into the water, drifted for a while and then went underwater close to the ESB Mill Yard near an area known locally as Between the Waters. There are unconfirmed reports that other people on the jet-ski managed to swim ashore to safety. The young man was recovered by the Killaloe Ballina Search and Recovery Dive Unit at 6.45pm and was pronounced dead at the scene. Following early enquiries, An Garda Síochána are currently treating this matter as a tragic accident. Killaloe Coast Guard was tasked at 5.05pm on Wednesday afternoon and launched two vessels -a D-class and Rib in the lake at around 5.25pm. Two ambulances from the National Ambulance Service arrived to the incident – one remained Between …

Premier Division Avenue United 3 2 Newmarket Celtic A 17th game will be required this Saturday to finally decide the destination of the Premier Division after holders Avenue United secured a dramatic 3-2 victory over leaders Newmarket Celtic in resplendent sunshine in Roslevan on Wednesday evening, writes Eoin Brennan. With the FAI Junior Cup champions leading by three points in the table ahead of this final round showdown, nothing but an Avenue victory was sufficient to extend the title race. And that seemed a mere formality as the home side stormed into the contest with a sixth minute solo goal from Nnabuike Nneji bolstered by a further brace from the excellent Elias Kunz to soar 3-0 clear by the 33rd minute. With a depleted Newmarket appearing ragged and warweary, Avenue might have capitalised further while down the other end a glorious back post opportunity for Jack Kelly cleared the crossbar while an injury-time Stephen Kelly scrambled effort managed to ricochet …

  A major search and recovery operation is underway in Killaloe after a young man fell from a jet-ski into the River Shannon and failed to come back up to the surface. It is understood the alarm was raised on Wednesday afternoon at about 5.20pm when a man, who is believed to be from Limerick City fell into the water just off an ESB building a short distance from Killaloe Bridge. Killaloe Coast Guard arrived quickly on the scene and launched a vessel on to the water near an area known locally as Between the Waters, which was cordoned off from vehicular traffic to facilitate the arrival of a Clare Fire Services fire tender and fire truck with local fire service personnel. Two ambulances arrived to the incident – one remained in a car parking space Between the Waters and the other vehicle was stationed near Ballina public toilets for a period of time. The Rescue 115 helicopter from Shannon …

The TUS Gaelic Grounds is set to host the eagerly anticipated Munster SHC Final between Clare and Limerick on Sunday, June 11. Páirc Uí Chaoimh was on course to stage the game until an eleventh-hour intervention from Clare. The venue was due to be announced on Monday evening but Clare requested the Munster Competitions Controls Committee to postpone the decision so they could explore the possibility of the TUS Gaelic Grounds hosting the game. Clare go in search of their first Munster title since 1998 while they seek revenge for last year’s defeat at the same stage to Limerick. Brian Lohan’s men secured a vital win over Limerick in their second game of the Championship at the TUS Gaelic Grounds in April. These sides have met in seven Munster SHC Finals with only one of those staged at the TUS Gaelic Grounds. That clash occurred in 1955 with Limerick prevailing on the day. Clare have only defeated Limerick in one Munster SHC …