Lifestyle

The morning before a training accident which could have ended her life, Ruan cyclist Imogen Cotter was finally seeing the fruits of her hard labour. She spoke with Ivan Smyth from her base in Girona. The struggle and sacrifices Clare cyclist Imogen Cotter has made to earn a professional contract were rewarded when Belgian based team Plantur Pura signed the 28-year-old this year after a rapid upturn in her form towards the latter half of 2021. Enduring the 3.30am starts which came with working for the Belgian postal service or completing eight-hour shifts at a bakery all led her to fulfilling her dream. She moved to Spain at the start of the year as her career looked destined to reach new heights in the upcoming months. On the morning of January 26, Cotter moved in to her new apartment in Girona and in that moment, it felt as if her life couldn’t be more perfect. At roughly 2pm that afternoon …

EVERY year the town of Ennis transforms itself into a field of golden yellow for Daffodil Day as the county capital embraces the annual fundraiser for the Irish Cancer Society, writes Jessica Quinn. Volunteer fundraisers can be seen on almost every corner selling bunches of the spring flowers as well as other items in aid of the charity’s flagship fundraising day which is always generously supported locally. Behind this monumental effort has been a dedicated volunteer committee, many of whom have been involved with the charity for more than 30 years. After decades of service to the community, the organising committee are taking a well deserved retirement and they are encouraging others to take up the mantle to ensure that Daffodil Day in Ennis continues to be as successful as ever for the charity. Daffodil Day was brought to Ennis in 1989, one year after its initial launch in Dublin, by Michael Guerin Snr and following his passing, that baton …

SAINT Enda’s National School in Lisdoonvarna launched its first newspaper, The Lisdoon Leader, this week after months of preparation and teamwork, writes Conor Clohessy. Brian Carty, principal at St Enda’s, emphasised that the past few years have been a tough time for children, and the staff wanted to make the process a little bit more fun through team learning. Throughout the academic year, the students learned how to present broadsheet newspapers, and became more familiar with media office vernacular. Roles were also assigned within the class group to give the students a clearer impression of how a press office works, with teachers only giving a final glance over the copy otherwise. Brian said, “They’ve been brilliant, and they deserve to have something at the end of it. There was a lot of learning in it, but it was nice to be a fun environment. The children attacked it with gusto and got stuck in with the work.” He added that …

THIS year marks the 175th anniversary of the birth of Michael Cusack, founder of the GAA, and the Burren-based Centre named in his honour has big plans, writes Conor Clohessy. Born on September 20, 1847, Cusack’s love for education, Irish culture and sport led to the foundation of what is today the world’s largest amateur sporting organisation. Situated in Carron in the heart of award-winning Burren and Cliffs of Moher UNESCO Global Geopark, the Michael Cusack Centre is inviting the public to explore the heart and soul of the GAA in the valley where Cusack was born, as part of their commemoration to his legacy. Sheila Keane, Education Officer at the centre told the Champion they will be dedicating all of 2022 to “Cusack 175”, hoping to run the “Camán to the Burren” Team Building Weekends, where wellness and wellbeing are a key component of the mentally and physically stimulating experience. This initiative takes place at the centre and select …

WORKING as a guidance counsellor Fiona Christie is used to supporting students as they navigate their way through life’s journey. However, the Ennis woman took on a navigation of a very different kind recently when she set sail across the Atlantic ocean. A keen sailor Fiona had long hoped to take part in the ARC (Atlantic Rally for Cruisers) race from Gran Canaria to St Lucia, however with work keeping her busy she didn’t have the time. Finding herself between positions last August she decided to listen to that little voice inside her telling her to go for it, and she is delighted she did. Now returned from her travels and working with students in St Caimin’s Community School in Shannon, Fiona tells us, “I always thought I’d love to do the race some day, but being a guidance counsellor in a secondary school I was always working in November when the race is on. It was something I thought …

A PROMOTIONAL video and photographic resource showcasing East Clare will shortly be unveiled, with the aim of highlighting the region’s tourism offering.  The innovative project has been spearheaded by Tourism East Clare (TEC) and saw photographer Ruth Griffin capture the area in its best light. Feakle-based Ruth has travelled the highways and byways to capture images of TEC members and their businesses. She has also documented a vast range of attractions, that surprised even her, as someone who has lived all her life in North-East Clare.  In the coming months, a video containing drone footage and other images shot by Ruth will be launched. The exact contents are still under wraps as Aoife O’Mara, Marketing Executive with TEC, collaborates with Ruth on the final cut. What the TEC committee can reveal is that the piece will feature music from trad girl band Cailíní Lua, as well as some stunning aerial video over Lough Derg.  Christine O’Brien of Ardboula House and …

CYCLING enthusiast Joe Noonan leads a group of cyclists on Wednesdays mornings from the Old Lodge, as they head out to Quin and back. The cycles go at 10am and Joe says he wants to give people the chance to share his passion for cycling. “It’s going well, usually there’d be six or seven people. It’s open to everyone over 18. “I took up cycling as a hobby in 2010, I didn’t really have a hobby before then, I’d have played hurling when I was younger but I had stopped playing sport. “I bought a bike through work and joined a cycling club, the Clare Crusaders in Ennis, a guy called Ollie Hayes helped to get me into it, and he was kind of doing what I’m doing now.” He is delighted to be helping people to get more exercise and to develop their fitness. “I was looking online and I saw there was a course you can do. I …

AS tensions between Russia and Ukraine continue to escalate, an East Clare tour operator planning a “dating tour” to Kiev has said he is not unduly concerned, writes Fiona McGarry. Scariff’s James Treacy told The Champion that he is keeping a watch on the situation ahead of the planned tour and will stick to whatever advice is issued by the Department of Foreign Affairs. Mr Treacy, who previously insisted that there will be no risk to the safety of the 50 men he aims to bring to Ukraine, said he doesn’t see the current crisis along the Ukrainian border as a particular cause for alarm. “Like all other destinations where there has been war, we cannot travel there unless the Department of Foreign Affairs allow us to travel,” he said. The experienced tour operator, who also runs pilgrimages to religious sites around the world, said he has already encountered situations where conflict has necessitated a change of plan. “I remember …