Regional

THE West Clare Cancer Centre will be hosting its annual mini marathon fundraiser over the course of next weekend, writes Conor Clohessy. As was the case last year, it will be held virtually and while the event which has raised over €5 million in its time is usually run off on the last Sunday of every January, this year participants have the 29th and 30th to do their 10km in their own time. Organiser Willie McGrath said: “We ran the marathon virtually last year as well, and found it was a huge success. Going forward, it might be the way to do it; but having said that, we’re still hoping that by next year restrictions will be lifted. We’ll be celebrating 25 years, and it would be lovely to think that we could bring the crowds back to Kilkee.” Funds from the mini marathon have facilitated the construction of palliative care suites with en-suite assisted facilities in West Clare, such …

AN iconic Coca Cola advert was inspired by events at Shannon Airport 51 years ago this month, writes Owen Ryan. The advert, which features a song with the famed lyrics ‘I’d like to teach the world to sing’ came about after Bill Backer, creative director on the Coca Cola account for the McCann Erickson advertising agency was flying to England to meet with Billy Davis, a music director, to write radio commercials with British songwriters Roger Cook and Roger Greenway in January 1971. On Coca Cola’s website, it states that Bill’s flight to the UK was forced to make an unscheduled stop in Clare. “The heavy fog in London forced the plane to land in Shannon, Ireland. Passengers had to remain near the airport in case the fog lifted. Some of them were furious about their accommodations. By the next day, Backer saw some of the most irate passengers in the airport cafe. Brought together by a common experience, many …

THE chair of an Ennis retailers group has warned against “blanket pedestrianisation” of the county capital’s town centre saying it would lead to “commercial apartheid”. John O’Connor of Retailers of Ennis was reacting to the release of a survey by Clare County Council this week which showed more than 70% of respondents would like to see some form of pedestrianisation in Ennis ‘immediately’. (See Clare Champion story here) He believes compromise is needed if there are any future plans to make Ennis’ streets car-free. He insists it would need to be carefully planned out, with the needs of business owners and those who need to access those businesses taken into consideration along with increasing parking. Mr O’Connor fears that full pedestrianisation of the town centre would drive people out to the peripheries resulting in a “business desert” in the town. “We have always maintained if you continue with blanket pedestrianisation you reach a situation where you have, in essence, commercial …

GARDAÍ have renewed their appeal for information after a road traffic collision claimed the life of a young man in Clare last week. Declan Ward, who was in his late twenties, died in the two-vehicle incident that happened at around 5.45am last Wednesday morning on the main R352, around halfway between Bodyke and Tulla, in the townland of Ballinahinch. Gardaí, National Ambulance Service paramedics and units of Clare County Fire and Rescue Service from Scariff station responded to the incident. On arrival they found that the driver and sole occupant of one car had been fatally injured. The driver of the second vehicle was also injured and taken by to hospital by ambulance for treatment. He was also travelling alone and his injuries are not believed to be life-threatening. Crime Prevention Officer Sergeant Triona Brooks has urged anybody who may have been travelling in the area at the time to contact gardaí. “Just before 5.45am on Wednesday morning last January …

VISITING restrictions have been introduced at Ennis Hospital following an outbreak of Covid-19 on one of its wards. As a precautionary measure, visiting is not currently permitted on the Burren Ward. This decision is being reviewed on a daily basis. Visits to other areas of the hospital continue as normal. A spokesperson for UL Hospitals Group said, “We regret any inconvenience these restrictions cause for patients on the Burren Ward and for their loved ones. “An outbreak control team has convened, and hospital management has decided that it is necessary to impose the measures in the interests of patient safety and keeping essential services open for all patients. “We wish to reassure patients and their loved ones that all appropriate infection control precautions are being followed to minimise the risk of spreading infection among staff and patients within our health facilities, and also within the wider community.” The only exceptions to the visiting restrictions on the Burren Ward are: – …

AN online vigil in memory of Ashling Murphy will take place from Shannon on this Thursday evening. While it is being held in a church, it is not a religious event, said Ann McMahon, who has been involved in its organisation. “It’s a vigil event, that will be non-religious in memory of Ashling Murphy. It’ll be largely an online event, but it’ll take place in Ss John & Paul Church at 8pm on Thursday. “There will be some invited guests, but with Covid restrictions and erring on the side of caution. It’ll be on the Shannon parish website and also the Shannon parish Facebook page, it’ll be livestreamed there.” There will be speakers and traditional music on the night, and Ann feels last week’s tragedy may provoke change in society. “This very sad and tragic event has evoked very strong feelings in a lot of people. It is perhaps a pinch point in our reflections as a community about violence …

THE organiser of last Saturday’s walk and run in Ennis to honour of the memory of murdered teacher Ashling Murphy has said he was “overwhelmed” with the response. Around 1,000 people gathered at the Fair Green to walk and run at 4pm in memory of Ashling, culminating in a poignant candle lit vigil with music and minute’s silence. Supported by The Clare Champion, the event was initiated by John Condon, who hopes the tragedy of Ashling’s killing will not be in vain by resulting in more being done to address violence against women. “Will this be the tipping point where we say enough is enough? There have been some brutal killings, some right here in Clare, and at some stage there has to be a tipping point, hopefully this might be it. However, addressing this is a monumental task, it’s education at home, education at school, educating of young men on how to respect women, it has to do with …

A SOUTH-EAST Clare resident has been forced to replace five showers in her home due to frequent water breaks and changes in pressure, writes Dan Danaher and Owen Ryan. June Kirwan, who lives near the entrance to Corbally United FC, revealed decreasing and increasing water pressure when there is a water break on the busy regional road breaks her shower, particularly if it is being used at the time. “I had plumbers out to check everything in the house and our problems with water pressure. After spending so much money, they realised the problems are caused by changes in the water pressure,” Ms Kirwan told The Clare Champion. “When there is a water break on the road, they reduce the water pressure and then increase it again when it is fixed. If anyone is in the shower, I am in trouble. It is going to break the shower with the pressure coming off and on.” Residents are becoming increasingly frustrated …