Lifestyle

Kevin Corbett spoke with members of the Burren Sub Aqua Club about their fantastic experience with Clare’s famous dolphin Dusty on a dive off Miltown. See our video below TEN days on from their magical underwater encounter with one of Clare’s most famous marine residents, Jennifer and Jessica Smith are understandably still buzzing. The sisters, from Sixmilebridge, found themselves on RTE news last week after their interaction with Dusty the Dolphin was filmed while on a dive off Miltown Malbay with Burren Sub Aqua Club. Escaping the exam pressure that May typically brings, Jennifer, in her first year of mechanical engineering in Galway, and Jessica, a Leaving Cert student in St Caimin’s, Shannon, took to the pristine waters for a bit of relaxation with dad Finbar and other members of the club. Then, quite literally out of the blue, who should appear but Dusty the Dolphin. Jessica told The Champion, “We’ve only ever seen her once prior to this, the …

A GORT student is set to create a storm in the music world having being named a winner in a global song-writing competition. Jenna Coughlan, a sixth year student at Gort Community School is one of six young musicians from across the world to be included on a new album with her award winning song ‘Smoke Storms’. The recording is being released by Future Youth Records,  a non-profit record label dedicated to helping youth create and distribute music promoting social justice based in California. In previous years winners of the song-writing competition would have been flown to LA to record their track, however due to Covid-19 this was not possible. Speaking to the Clare Champion, Jenna reveals that she managed to record her song for Think Earth Vol 1 from her very own bedroom in Gort. The Leaving Cert student says, “It would have been a nice experience to over there, but at the same time it’s a busy time …

THE town of Ennis has been making waves with a new artistic initiative which has proven to be anything but a drain. Reports of something fishy happening in the town began to emerge last week, with sightings of sea creatures on Ennis’s streets. While robots and dinosaurs were also spotted hanging around the drains of the county capital. However there was nothing to fear from these colourful creatures which have been the result of a new ‘drainart’ project of public art instigated by Ennis Chamber. The artwork has already proven to be a massive hit, with the hashtag Everybody Loves Ennis, trending as people from around the world shared photos across social media of the designs. The images were shared on RTÉ’s social media, with Margaret O’Brien of Ennis Chamber telling us that according to the national broadcaster it was one of the most positive engagements they had across all their platforms that day. The paintings were created by artists …

FILM MAKERS in Clare will have the opportunity to produce their own documentaries as part of a newly-launched scheme in the Mid-West. A training and production scheme for emerging documentary film makers has been launched by Innovate Limerick through Film in Limerick. ENGINE Docs, supported by Limerick and Clare Education and Training Board and delivered in partnership with the Sheffield DocFest in England, will train and support regional up-and-coming talent to work as documentary directors and producers. Up to 12 shortlisted teams will receive training from Irish and international documentary experts to develop their project ideas leading to four teams being awarded production funding of up to €10,000 each to produce a short 10-minute documentary film. Shortlisted directors and producers will also receive accreditation for the Sheffield DocFest’s 2021 online programme running from June 4 to 13. Paul C Ryan, regional film manager at Film in Limerick, said, “This new scheme will offer aspiring and emerging documentary talent a professional …

Farmer Aoife Forde sings the praises of agriculture schemes tailored to their areas, such as the one in The Burren AOIFE Forde feels privileged to be born and raised in the Burren in the middle of a such a unique landscape. The 24-year-old agricultural science graduate and suckler farmer loves working on the family farm, which is is situated about three miles from Carron, just a stone’s throw from Mullaghmore, Sliabh Rua and Knockanes, most of which is owned by the state through the Burren National Park. Aoife describes the Burren as a magical place and really appreciates growing up surrounded by the rocky limestone outcrop. “You can get a sense of people that came before you. You see stone walls that are standing there for hundreds of years. You can see the ring forts and all the old cattle pens. I just feel privileged about where I was born and raised.” She agrees that efforts must continue to protect …

CLARE people are being asked to “share the load on the road” in an effort to bolster mental health in the community. Cycle Against Suicide is running a virtual cycle from this Saturday, April 24 until May 31 to highlight its “Community Buddy” programme that prioritises peer to peer support as a means to identify and help those who may be vulnerable. Cycle Against Suicide is working to prioritise mental health support by training mental health support ‘Buddies’ into communities across Ireland. Unable to undertake their usual fundraising cycle this year, the group is encouraging Clare people to get out on their own and cover the miles in their county to help raise money to train the buddies. The Cycle Against Suicide ‘Community Buddy’ programme trains and equips participants with practical, hands-on skills and knowledge they need to deliver local support to those in mental health distress. It costs €400 to train a Buddy, and the group is aiming to …

AN APPRECIATION of what is local is one of the (few) upsides of lockdown. Being restricted last year to a 2km, and later a 5km radius for exercise, certainly proved productive for Newmarket-on-Fergus author, Colm Liddy. As a self-confessed “stroller,” Colm, a pharmacist by profession, began to see his native place in a new light. Fascinated by traces of past hidden in ruins and monuments dotted around the area, his inquiring mind led him to research colourful characters, locations and incidents dating from the 1600s to the 1980s. The result is a treasure trove of history in Colm’s latest book, Long Ago in Newmarket-on-Fergus. “I suppose it was the total collapse in sporting activities that forced me to find something to occupy the time,” Colm told The Champion. “I’m fairly obsessed with sport and would normally be playing it and training kids. Covid put an end to all of that. So, my wife and I did a lot of walking …

BANANA importers Fyffes has issued an invitation to mums, dads and children throughout Clare to join in a search to find Ireland’s ‘Best Banana Dessert’ creation. Fronting the search to find this year’s winning creations is Ireland’s well-known television cook, Donal Skehan whose programmes are a favourite amongst viewers and wannabe cooks. The popular presenter hopes to repeat the success of last year, when his task was to judge Ireland’s most creative banana bread bakers. Reward will go to the overall winner and best junior baker with recognition for originality in a number of other areas. Entries are open from April 14 to 19, with winners announced on National Banana Day itself, April 21, an initiative devised to support the national drive to encourage healthy eating, especially amongst young and growing children. Details and entries online at Facebook – facebook.com/FyffesIreland/ and Instagram – instagram.com/fyffes_ireland/ using #FyffesGBBO21