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Clare primary school children have just 18 days left to submit their entries for this year’s Primary Science Fair, which takes place at the 2024 BT Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition in January. Clare students from 3rd to 6th class are encouraged to come together and turn their curiosity into projects for the opportunity to represent their school at the 2024 Primary Science Fair. Class sizes of up to 30 students are eligible to enter and schools must submit their entries by Monday, October 23, at 5pm. The projects can explore a wide range of interesting scientific areas from living things, environmental awareness and care, energy forces to the make-up of materials. Participating schools will find out in November if they will be showcasing their projects at the fair. “The Primary Science Fair is an opportunity for curious young minds to explore and participate in the world of science in a fun way and to ignite a lifelong passion in …

MANY residents of certain Newmarket housing estates have had to start taking psychiatric medication to deal with the stress being caused by the anti social behaviour of their neighbours. Some of them met with The Clare Champion last week, but none were prepared to be named, so concerned were they about the threat of a backlash from the problematic neighbours. They also requested that their estates not be named either. One man said that hundreds of complaints have been made to Clare County Council about the problems, which have emerged over the last year. “Residents are so concerned that they contacted the CEO of Clare County Council recently, just to make him aware of the ongoing issues. Anti social behaviour, drugs, that kind of thing, and he has been asked to intervene to sort these issues. It’s a huge concern for the majority of the residents in the estates,” he said. However, he said nothing has been done to help …

THREE Clare cancer patients who were recently included in a Clare Champion photograph with statements made about the Clare 250 Cancer Centre have received an anonymous letter containing a prayer card. All the letters were addressed with the person’s name care of the Clare 250 Cancer Care Centre, Ballygriffey, Ruan, Ennis, County Clare. There was nothing included in the letters that would suggest the sender is connected with the Clare 250 Cancer Care Centre. They included a card with the following prayer “Oh Holy Spirit, please help and guide me, say this prayer three times plus per day”. Lorraine White, Ruan, who is a breast cancer survivor, expressed her surprise with receiving this letter and wondered why the sender hadn’t provided their own name and address. She believes it is linked to comments she has made about the provision of services at the centre. Tara Madigan, who is a breast cancer patient, described the letter as “disappointing”. “I could do …

THE war of words between Ennis 2040 DAC and Save Ennis Town has heated up in recent days with Ennis 2040 DAC responding to claims made by the voluntary group about the Abbey Street Car Park in Ennis. The claims came at the start of an archaeological dig at the car park last week, ahead of controversial plans to develop the area. The Save Ennis Town group had described the re-development plans as “destructive” to the town. The ‘big dig’ as it is being referred to locally, are excavations undertaken by Archaeology and Built Heritage Ltd, under licence, to investigate the ground at the site and obtain archaeological and heritage information. It is hoped the findings will shed light on the archaeological heritage of the site before any proposed development, and will inform the design process of a landmark building. Ennis 2040 Designated Activity Company (DAC), the entity responsible for delivering nine transformational projects for Ennis town, has rejected a …

THE unmarked graves of at least four people have been discovered inside the Ennis Cathedral. The graves, which are located beneath the floor of the main cathedral, are understood to be more than 100 years old, and may have been the resting places of local priests and bishops. The burial sites were uncovered during ongoing works to remove a vinyl floor covering from the cathedral. This covering was installed in 1973 and it is unclear if the graves were known about before the covering was installed. Each of the four graves were identified by a distinctive cross pattern in the original tile floor, located beneath the vinyl covering. Land for the Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul was donated to the diocese in 1828 and the building itself was constructed in various stages between 1828 and 1894. Mass was first celebrated in the church in 1842, and it is not clear exactly when during this period the original tile flooring …

The battle for the leadership of the Irish Farmers’ Association (IFA) comes to Clare this week with all four candidates for the presidency and vice-presidency speaking at an event in Dromoland. The race to become the next leader of the IFA is a direct shoot-out between Francie Gorman from Laois and Martin Stapleton from Limerick. This could be an historic election for the organisation, with Alice Doyle from Wexford hoping to make history and become the first ever female Deputy President of the IFA, when she takes on Pat Murphy from Galway. Clare IFA chairperson, Tom Lane, is encouraging farm families to attend the IFA President and Deputy President Election Debate next Wednesday, October 4, in The Inn at Dromoland, Newmarket-on- Fergus at 8pm. “Farmers, like everyone, are very conscious there is an issue with climate change, and are playing their part to reduce emissions, protect water quality and safeguard biodiversity. As set out in Food Vision 2030, there must …

THERE was great cause for celebration at the Rineen Ambush centenary events on Sunday as Joseph O’Neill, the great-grandson of Comdt. Ignatius O’Neill of the Mid Clare Brigade, proposed to his partner, Megan Roots at Spanish Point. A large crowd had gathered that morning at Miltown Malbay for the unveiling of a plaque to his great-grandfather, and Joseph’s father, John delivered an address at the remembrance ceremony. Asked where the proposal happened, Joseph said: “It was when we got back to the Armada Hotel and everybody was getting settled and chatting… it was pretty bad weather and I could see there was a break in the clouds so I took Megan outside on a three-minute walk along the coast. “I had the engagement ring for three months now and I kept it with me pretty much at any given point for a month and a half and I was waiting for the right moment.” Ahead of the special moment the …

Clare Champion journalist, Jessica Quinn, was the toast of the Local Ireland Media Awards last week, winning the award for the National Lottery Best Community Story of the year. Jessica won the award for her story about Mná ag Gáire, the Ennis women’s community hub, and their work connecting women in the Ennis area. The feature, which is entitled ‘Mná-some place of welcome for all’ was published in The Clare Champion in September of last year. It focussed on the work of the Mná ag Gáire group, including media training for local women, which allowed two friends to connect online for the first time in 50 years. Speaking after winning the award, Jessica said she was delighted to have won and stress the importance of the local media in highlighting community efforts and local stories. She also thanked the Mná ag Gáire group in Ennis for sharing their experiences with her. The National Lottery Best Community Story of the year …