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I’m a big fan of St Patrick. Anyone who gets rid of those nasty snakes is alright by me. I really wanted to celebrate St Patrick’s Day in style this year so I got onto my favourite couturiers, AG Dog Fashion and had them send me a lovely dress for the occasion. As a special surprise, they included a second dress so I was really well set up for the celebrations. But where to go? Of course there was only one destination – Bunratty Castle and Folk Park, where they were putting on a special Shamrocks and Shenanigans event. Being photographed is hungry work so I made sure to build up my strength by insisting on a visit to my favourite eatery, The Buttery in Limerick, before we headed back to Bunratty. And what a time I had in Bunratty. I met all my friends, including St Patrick himself so I’d be safe from snakes. I also met the Seanachaí, …

A NEW path is “urgently” needed for the safety of the public at the entrance to the Clonroad Business Park, according to a local councillor. However, while the Ennis Municipal District has said it recognises the need, a funding application to the National Transport Authority for the works has been unsuccessful. Speaking at the monthly meeting of the Ennis Municipal District Councillor Tom O’Callaghan said that the path is vital due to the high numbers of pedestrians entering and exiting the business park describing it as an “extremely busy stretch”. He pointed out the site is home to an adult education campus, Enable Ireland and other businesses. He added, “I believe a new roundabout is justified because of increased traffic from Dunnes, glór, Clonroad road plus the Clonroad business park and now a new library. This is a very busy juncture that certainly requires a traffic management review in my opinion.” He voiced concerns that the location is “not very …

ENNIS town centre has been suggested as the focus of a government pilot project aimed at bringing buildings back into residential use. Clare Independent TD Michael McNamara, who presented the proposal to the Taoiseach Leo Varadkar in Dáil Éireann this week, said that many business premises which once had families living over them now lie empty over ground level for a variety of reasons including particularly building regulations and insurance costs. Addressing the Taoiseach in the Dáil, Deputy McNamara said, “Ennis, like other market towns in Clare and like market towns all over the country, has streets full of fine old buildings where there is a retail unit at ground level and in many but not all cases, they are vacant over ground level. A century ago, there were families living in them.” “I don’t underestimate the difficulty of converting those back into residential use. There are regulations, there are issues around financing, but it would offer many benefits not …

THE Shannon Airport Group has today been allocated €4.62 million in Government funding, announced today by Jack Chambers TD, Minister of State at the Department of Transport. In total almost €17 million in exchequer funding for regional airports was announced by Minister Chambers at a media event held at Shannon Airport this morning. Speaking at Shannon Airport, Minister Chambers commented: “I am pleased to be back in Shannon Airport today. Shannon Airport is the State’s third busiest airport, welcoming over 1.5 million passengers last year, which represents an 88% recovery on 2019 passenger traffic. I am delighted to hear that the airport is well on track for another busy year in 2023. Already this year, the number of passengers travelling through Shannon Airport during January and February were up by 21% and 17% respectively compared to the same periods in 2019. This demonstrates the effective delivery of services, by the dedicated staff and management team who deliver for passengers on …

The results are in from the 2023 Model Council of the European Union debating competition. Six teams rose above 21 other secondary schools across Ireland for their convincing portrayal of the positions taken by EU Ministers for Energy while discussing how to accelerate the EU’s Renewable Energy Transition. The debate mirrors the format of a real meeting of the Council of the European Union (also known as the Council of Ministers) so students can explore how the EU decision-making process works. The Model Council has been organised by the European Commission Representation in Ireland every year since 2007. The 2023 event was held in City Hall in Dublin. Scoil Muire agus Pádraig from Mayo won first place for their representation of Poland during the debate. Second place went to Christ King Secondary School from Cork, and third place to Deansrath Community College from Dublin. Those schools role-played Slovakia and Hungary respectively. Honourable mentions were given to the following schools: Ardscoil Rís …

IRELAND’S first national hub to support individuals, families and carers living with Foetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) launched this week in Ennis. FASD Hub Ireland will provide a compassionate, confidential helpline offering advice, support and signposting. The Hub is run by FASD Ireland, a not-for-profit social enterprise based in Ennis, and is part funded by Social Entrepreneurs Ireland.  FASD is Ireland’s most prevalent neuro-developmental disability, with an estimated 240,000 people across Ireland living with the condition. Ireland has the third highest prevalence globally, following only South Africa and Croatia*. Despite the significant numbers of people living with the condition in Ireland, there is still no formal diagnosis pathway for people who think they may have FASD, and very little supports for people who live with the condition. Welcoming the launch of the Hub, Minister of State for Disabilities, Anne Rabbitte TD, said, “As the Minister for Disability, I am delighted to support the launch of the FASD Hub. We need …

Munster Under 20 Hurling Championship Round 2 Clare 1-19 Limerick 1-19 A never-say-die Clare again spring to life in injury-time to rescue a draw, this time rallying with the last three points to halt Limerick’s perfect start to the Munster Under 20 Championship in the TUS Gaelic Grounds on Wednesday evening, writes Eoin Brennan. Perversely having been overturned twice in injury-time in their two group matches in 2022, the shoe has been on the other foot for this campaign as it took the last puck of both games to eke out a share of the spoils. How valuable two draws will be is debatable but it’s infinitely better than last year’s heartbreak so while Clare have still only secured one victory at this level since 2015, the fact that they are still unbeaten with two matches to play and have their fate in their own hands is a major positive. It seemed as if their chance had vanished as a …

A GOAL to develop a new community and recreation park, including a full sized all-weather playing pitch and walking track and trails, is being realised in Clarecastle. Clarecastle Community Amenity Company have turned the sod on the park which will be located on lands donated by Clarecastle GAA. The park is part of a wider phased programme of development that will include a spectator viewing area, floodlighting and female changing rooms. It will feature the first full-sized all-weather pitch in County Clare. At the sod turning, Tadg Collins, chairman of the Clarecastle Community Amenity Company said, “Today is the culmination of a number of years’ work to develop a facility that has been long identified by members of our community as filling a gap in terms of facilities for young and old. It will provide a community resource that we hope will encourage more year-round physical activity and participation in a safe environment. Our partnership approach with Clarecastle GAA provides …