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CHAIRMAN/PRO of the Ennis Sinn Féin cumann Tommy Guilfoyle has defended its being named after Peadar Clancy and Mairead Farrell, following criticism from Clare TD Cathal Crowe. Deputy Crowe had claimed that relatives of Clancy were opposed to his name being adopted by the Cumann, but Mr Guilfoyle said that some people connected to him are proud of the association. In a statement to the Champion, Mr Guilfoyle said, “Ennis Sinn Féin is proudly named the ‘Peadar Clancy Mairéad Farrell Cumann’. We have held this Cumann name for over a decade and we honour both Republicans by remembering them in our Cumann name with fraternal pride and the utmost respect. “Our members and their families have attended the Cranny Community ‘Peadar Clancy Festival’ and we would like to congratulate the community on a fantastic festival and on the very fitting memorial monument to Peadar in the heart of the community. “Our Cumann Officers have attended the ‘1916-1921 Committee’ commemoration to …

THE “poor condition” of both sides of the road adjacent to Hermitage’s Grotto was highlighted at a meeting of Ennis councillors, with a senior engineer suggesting a thin surface overlay may provide a solution for residents. The condition of the road was raised by Councillor Pat Daly at the Ennis Municipal District meeting. “The road is seriously in need of upgrading, it has not been done in many, many years.” Paddy Tiernan, Acting Senior Executive Engineer informed the meeting that the Ennis Municipal District will put forward this road for inclusion in the Schedule of Municipal Works for 2023. “Subject to inclusion and associated funding this road will be upgraded in 2023.” Councillor Daly welcomed the response, saying the grotto is “a hugely popular area in the middle of the ‘Tage.” Seconding the motion, Councillor Mary Howard said an upgrade is “long overdue”. The road is made of concrete, with Councillor Howard saying there are a lot of older residents …

DESPITE the very high level of inflation seen over the last year, the economic outlook is still quite strong as 2023 begins. While lay-offs in the technology sector have raised concerns, Joe Robbins of Careerwise Recruitment feels those are not reflective of the overall health of the local and national jobs market. “We’re still effectively at full employment. We’re still finding it very hard to find people at all levels. I think we’re very lucky that we have a very diverse economy. “The technology companies are down right now and they’re letting a lot of people go, but if these people can migrate into the medical device/pharma-type companies then there are loads of opportunities still. It’s very buoyant right now.” While inflation is very high, in many cases workers have seen their incomes rise significantly. “Because it’s such a competitive economy the wages have increased. It’s a messy environment as well, people might have two or three opportunites to change …

NATIONAL policy is the biggest factor holding back the development of rural Clare, in the view of Council CEO, Pat Dowling.  Speaking at the January meeting of the local authority, Mr Dowling commended the work and commitment of Clare’s councillors and executive, but said rural development would remain “a lonely road” unless there is greater support from central government. Mr Dowling made his comments on foot of a motion from Councillor Joe Garrihy calling for a review of the Council’s “commitment to focus on and resourcing of Rural Development”. There was widespread support for Councillor Garrihy’s comments on rural development and his assertion that Clare’s strategy document represented “a landmark and trailblazing initiative”.  Commenting on what he said was a “very balanced” motion, Mr Dowling said Council staff were dedicated to rural development. He noted that significant government funding had been successfully drawn down and that there was a positive relationship with local communities.  “But I still look at our …

IN a note in last week’s parish newsletters, people attending mass were urged to consider wearing masks once more. Parish priest Father Arnold Rosney said that while people are not being compelled to wear masks, it is wise to do so. “All I’m doing is trying to encourage people to wear a mask again, just inviting them to think of their own safety and the safety of everyone else when we gather for mass. “Crowds do attend mass, especially at the time of funerals. I feel its responsible on my part to alert them to the fact that there are huge Covid numbers and a lot of people with flus and sickness, and there’s the situation in our hospitals.” Priests and eucharistic ministers at local masses will be wearing them while giving out communion, he added.

CLARE’S Dáil and Seanad members have been urged to back the re-opening of the region’s smaller Emergency Departments, even if it means going against the wishes of their parties. Normal business of this week’s meeting of Clare County Council was deferred for a time to discuss an emergency motion on the ED crisis. On behalf of Fine Gael, Councillor Joe Cooney proposed the urgent motion in light of the “ongoing crisis” at University Hospital Limerick (UHL). He called on on the HSE and the Minister for Health “to immediately open Ennis, Nenagh and St John’s as full Accident and Emergency Departments on a full-time basis, 24 hours, seven days a week”. “We call on all Oireachtas members in the Midwest region to support and work for same,” he said.  Councillor Mary Howard, a member of the HSE’s Regional Health Forum West, urged Oireachtas members to implement the motion, even if it meant losing the party whip.  “Today there are 489 …

SENIOR medics in Ennis Hospital will conduct a review of what additional resources are required in the Ennis Medical Assessment Unit (MAU) after one week of the new trial transferring all non-critical Clare patients by ambulance to Ennis Hospital. Non-critical patients can now be transferred directly by ambulance to the Ennis MAU from Monday to Friday as part of a new pilot project to ease chronic overcrowding at University Hospital Limerick. Paramedics previously had no option but to transport all Clare patients directly to UHL via ambulance following the controversial removal of 24-hour casualty cover from Ennis and Nenagh Hospitals in April 2009. The unexpected change by the National Ambulance Service (NAS) in the controversial protocol, which started in Clare on Monday, is seen as a boost for the Mid-West Hospitals Group campaign to secure the return of round-the-clock cover in Ennis and Nenagh Hospitals. Pressure is growing on the UL Hospitals Group to provide additional resources to Ennis Hospital …

Tiered Senior and Intermediate Hurling Championships for 2024 are set to be rubber-stamped at the February meeting of Clare GAA, it was agreed at Tuesday’s Structures Meeting in the Temple Gate Hotel in Ennis. With eight motions put forward for discussion, it was the four pertaining to the format of the county senior and intermediate hurling championships for 2024 that garnered the most debate. Sixmilebridge and Feakle are seeking a return to the pre-covid championship structure of knock-out with a back door while Broadford (senior) and Newmarket-on-Fergus (intermediate) opted for a tiered approach. In the end, Sixmilebridge’s proposal was defeated, with clubs looking more favourably on Broadford’s motion to divide the 16 participating teams into Senior A and B sections (two groups of four in each) with the top three teams from each group at Senior A advancing to the Canon Hamilton Cup quarter-finals alongside the group winners at Senior B. Clubs’ Senior A or B status depended on where …