Regional

Ennis has enjoyed more high profile success in the national Tidy Towns competition, being named this Friday as Ireland’s Tidiest Large Urban Centre for 2022. Announcing the winners, Minister Heather Humphreys said, “I want to sincerely congratulate Ennis and all of its TidyTowns volunteers. “This is a moment of great pride for Ennis and indeed the wider county of Clare. Having won the overall prize in 2021, Ennis today continues to showcase all that is good about community and volunteerism. “I have no doubt that the Tidy Towns Group in Ennis will receive a warm and deserving homecoming as they celebrate this wonderful occasion. “The level of competition was extremely high this year with the third highest number of entries ever recorded. “I want to pay tribute to all the winners today but, above all, I want to say a huge thank you to the thousands of TidyTowns volunteers across the country. “The time and effort that you put in …

AN EXCITING mix of trad and classical sounds comes to Kilkee on Saturday, October 29, as the West Ocean String Quartet come to West Clare.  Among the programme on the night will be pieces from their latest, and fifth album, Atlantic Edge. Blending traditional and classical elements, the album was recorded in Dublin  over three days in November 2019, and marked the Quartet’s two decades together. The album release was to have been accompanied by a tour of venues along the Atlantic coast in Spring of 2020, but as with so many other cultural events fell victim to Covid. The Quartet’s founder, Belfast musician, composer and television producer, Neil Martin, said that the Quartet is thrilled to be fulfilling the original tour schedule, including Cultúrlann Sweeney on Saturday. The repertoire for their Clare concert  is music from or about the west of Ireland, both traditional and newly-composed.  The Quartet celebrates the deeply rich vein of airs and dance tunes that …

AHEAD of a community meeting in Bodyke on the recent grant of planning permission to a 19-turbine wind farm on the slopes of Slieve Bernagh, the developers have responded to concerns raised by a local TD. FuturEnergy Ireland – a joint renewables venture between the ESB and Coillte – said in a statement that the Community Benefit Fund “is contingent on the project being built and constructed as per the application and planning conditions”. However, the company added that it is “exploring options to bring forward a portion of the anticipated fund”.  Earlier this month, Deputy Michael McNamara called on the developers to honour a promise to fund local sports clubs, even in the event of a legal challenge to the project. Planning permission was issued by An Bord Pleanála on September 29, subject to 20 conditions. In a response to a query from The Champion, the company said it has asked to meet Deputy McNamara to discuss the project …

AFTER more than three decades in existence the Ennis Mental Health Association has confirmed this week that it will fully cease operations at the end of the month. Maria Molloy, chair of the registered charity, explained that the board of directors believes the time is right to retire after many years of service locally. Like-minded local organisations and charities have been presented with the organisation’s remaining funds, she added. Ms Molloy expressed appreciation for the “generous support” the organisation has received over the years. And she reminded anyone with concerns about their mental health that support is available from Mental Health Ireland. She said, “Ennis Mental Health Association has operated in the town of Ennis and its environs for over 32 years. “Following much consideration, and after many years of commitment, the Board of Directors of Ennis Mental Health Association has decided that the time has now come for them to retire.” She continued, “We are extremely grateful for the …

BUS services in Shannon are currently very unreliable, and make things very difficult for local people using public transport, according to a local councillor. “There are people being left on the side of the road. We were told they were going to bring in a double decker bus to alleviate this, but it hasn’t happened yet,” Councillor Donna McGettigan complained. She cited an example of a bus running 35 minutes late, with people being left at the side of the road again and pointed out also there are no bus stops by the Radisson. The Sinn Féin representative said that she tries to use public transport, but that the state of it locally makes it very hard to encourage anyone else to do so. “It’s crazy, and it’s a time when there is a move to try and encourage people to use public transport. I love public transport, I try to use it as much as possible and you can …

THE invaluable work that an East Clare social enterprise is doing to conserve Ireland’s plant genetic resources as well as the agricultural and social heritage associated with them is celebrated in a new book, which was launched last week in Scariff.  Irish Seed Savers Association was the venue for the latest in-person launch of Other Stories, Cultural Heritage & Society. Seed Saver’s Scarriff hub at Capparoe was a hive of activity as the local group gathered with representatives of International Council on Monuments & Sites (ICOMOS) Ireland and many others who contributed to the beautifully-crafted publication. ICOMOS Ireland funded the free book which showcases the work and importance of 15 culture, heritage and society projects on the island of Ireland and gives a voice to those involved in the form of personal reflections. Also included is the X-PO in Kilnaboy.    At the East Clare launch, Fidelma Mullane, President of ICOMOS Ireland, was among those in attendance. “The Faro Convention emphasises the …

DEEP in the leafy, rolling landscape of East Clare, lies a noted wellspring of traditional music. In towlands like Glendree, Kilclaren, Caher, Magherabaun and Maghera, a distinctive musical style and repertoire have been handed down with care and love. The village of Feakle has long been a focal point for this transmission of culture, drawing musicians from a wide hinterland stretching to Scariff, Bodyke, Tulla and Kilkishen. Establishments like Lena’s Bar brought together young, emerging musicians with legends such as John Naughton, Martin Rochford, P Joe Hayes, Francie Donnellan, Mikey Donoghue, Paddy Grogan, Joe Bane and Bill Malley.  At the feet of these giants, upcoming generations immersed themselves in the riches of East Clare. Among them was the acclaimed concertina player, Mary MacNamara. She and her brothers and sister sat by Lena’s hearth listening and learning for more than a decade.  This year, after a “labour of love,” and with the support of The Arts Council, Mary realised a life-long …

A BEAGH native is getting set to return from the West coast of America to launch his debut album at a homecoming gig in Gort next month.  Vincey Keehan has been living in the US for more than four decades and his debut album, Great Highway, includes 14 tracks evoking memories of Ireland, as well as cherished family and friends.  Now an adopted San Franciscan living in the Sunset District with his wife, Missy, Vincey is a multi-instrumentalist and a veteran of the city’s thriving music scene. After a rapturous reception for the album in the US, Vincey is set for a homecoming in November and an Irish launch for Great Highway.  The new album features Vincey’s family and friends in music and includes ‘The Lovely Woodlands of Clare’. The piece is a moving tribute to his sister Mary whose daughter, Eimear, a talented musician, passed away in a tragic accident in France when she was just 21. Vincey was …