Ennis

THIS Friday,  The Pat Kenny Show will be in Ennis to broadcast live from the Temple Gate Hotel. This will be the first time that Pat Kenny will broadcast from Clare in front of a local audience since joining Newstalk last year. As well as bringing you analysis of news and current affairs, Pat will be speaking to Ciana Campbell, chairperson of the Ennis Book Club Festival as well as local authors and book club members. After each serving 15 years on death row for murders they did not commit, Sonny Jacobs and Peter Pringle will be discussing their incredible story of strength and survival, while well -known priest Fr Harry Bohan will be looking at the problems with rural isolation. The show, which will air from 10am, will also hear from local families, businessmen and farmers about the recent flooding, coastal erosion and the effects these have had on day-to-day life. Musical entertainment will be provided by  Kate Purcell.

AS the 100th anniversary of the start of the First World War approaches, a booklet commemorating those with Clare roots who lost their lives in the Great War has been created. The booklet, ‘The Great War 1914-1918 – The Clare War Dead WWI’ will be officially launched at the Ennis Book Club Festival. And it is hoped that the booklet will raise awareness, and assist plans, for the establishment of a memorial in the Friars Walk area of Ennis honouring Clare’s war dead. The publication, prepared by Ger Browne in association with the Clare Roots Society is now available but will be officially be launched during the Ennis Book Club Festival on the Saturday, March 9 at 2.30pm in St Columba’s Church. John Bradley of Clare Roots Society explained, “This year marks the 100th anniversary of the start of the First World War and with it comes four years of commemorations. The official commemorations will begin in Sarajevo with a …

SUPPORTING an amazing 55 charities since its foundation in 1964, the Ennis and District Soroptimist Club have been at the forefront of charitable fundraising for five decades. A celebration of the 50th anniversary of the organisation was held in Ennis at the weekend, with current president Deirdre Power O’Donnell describing it as a “wonderful occasion.” Guest speaker at the event in the Old Ground Hotel was Minister of State for Housing and Planning Jan O’Sullivan, with an address by Soroptimist National President Noreen Walshe. There were attendances not only from local members, past and present, but also representatives from ten other Soroptimist clubs around Ireland. Deirdre, daughter of founding member Maura Power, recalled how her mother and the other founders Peg Ruttle, Tras Honan, Marie O’Gorman and Ann O’Driscoll started the organisation 50 years ago. And she said that the spirit that encouraged the founders to work for the good of the local community continues on in the organisation’s current …

IN 2008 Paul Callaghan ran a successful plastering company, often having to turn down work in the height of the Celtic Tiger. But that all changed when the recession hit and he was forced to close his business, eventually leading to him suffering depression. However, Paul, who lives in Barntick has turned his life around through cookery and he has launched his first book, Calso Cooks:Real Food Made Easy which is getting nationwide attention. The 34 year old who is originally from Armagh moved to Clare after making the tough decision to wind down his plastering business. “Work had been flooding in in the boom, but in 2008 around March the phone stopped ringing so I wound down the business. My sister lives in Kildysart so I was used to the area visiting her. I thought a fresh start and change of scenery would be good and I decided to move down here and do any kind of odd jobs …

PEOPLE in Ennis will be putting their best foot forward this weekend in a bid to raise funds for the Burren Chernobyl Project. A fun run/walk will be held on this Saturday, starting at 11am at The Junction in Cloughleigh. The event is being organised as three local creche workers prepare to head to Belarus this August to volunteer at an orphanage. Hazel O’Connor, Bridget Punch and Lisa Cullinan, who work at the Lifford Childcare Centre, will volunteer at the Gorodishche orphanage, joining others from the Burren Chernobyl Project. And in order to raise funds for the worthy cause, the fun run / walk has been organised with hopes that hundreds of people will take part. With a choice of two routes, five kilometres and ten kilometres, the event is something that anybody can take part in. And there will also be some special guests making an appearance. “We will have Clare goalie Pa Kelly signing jerseys and also Mickey …

GARDAÍ are investigating a fatal road traffic collision which occurred on Francis Street, Ennis, this Sunday afternoon  at approximately 1.40pm. A female, 74 years, was fatally injured when she was struck by a car. The deceased was pronounced dead at scene and was brought to Limerick Regional Hospital. The road was closed at scene to facilitate Garda Forensic Collision Investigators and diversions were put in place. Gardaí are appealing for witnesses to contact them at Ennis Garda Station on 065 6848100, The Garda Confidential Line 1800 666 111 or any Garda Station.

By CAROL BYRNE LIFE is busy for Ennis Musical Society, as its members put the finishing touches to their 2014 production. Presenting in Glór, the society will run with a string of six performances of Broadway hit musical, Annie, beginning next Tuesday and running through to Saturday, March 1. Kate Corrigan, chairperson of Ennis Musical Society, said there is a lot to prepare in getting a musical to the stage. “There are lots of administrative bits and pieces to be taken care of and we’re now obviously immersed in final rehearsals. It’s going to be a great show and we’re delighted that just under 100 local performers of all age groups will be taking part,” she said. Within this large cast, seven young girls aged from seven to 15 years of age will open the show, playing the parts of Annie and her best friends in the New York City Orphanage. Twelve-year-old Aoibh O’Reilly from Tulla takes on the title …

THE developer behind plans for a crematorium on the outskirts of Ennis has been asked by the planning authority to supply details of mitigation measures to reduce potential harmful emissions from the proposed development if granted planning permission. Concern has also been raised about the effects of the proposed development on nearby Ballybeg Lake. Fenloe Property Development Limited have applied to the local authority for permission to construct a chapel, crematorium unit, furnace and remembrance gardens and cemetery at Ballaghfadda West on the Kildysart Road. And according to backers of the plan it will bring an economic boost to the local economy if given the go-ahead. Clare County Council have requested that the developers submit further information and revised proposals before making a decision. The planning authority have asked for a detailed specification of the proposed crematorium technology to be used at the facility as well as a description of the process outlining all waste products to be generated including …