Regional

SHANNON Golf Club was the winner of the 25th JB Carr Diamond Trophy Tournament, played recently. The over-60s Scotch foursomes took place in Wicklow with over 2,000 players competing from early April across all four provinces. Over five months, more than 4,000 rounds of golf were played, with the finalists welcomed to Woodenbridge in September after a two-year break due to the pandemic. The four provincial winners – Royal Curragh, Shannon, Castlebar and Dunmurry – were piped over the iconic bridge at the parklands course on the first evening, following their managers who were holding high their respective provincial flags. The draw took place that evening, pitting Castlebar against Shannon and Royal Curragh against Dunmurry. Castlebar was the only team to have previously reached the finals. The Saturday morning brought very wet and challenging conditions, with other courses in the locality closing. At Woodenbridge, the gladiators competed manfully, with Shannon overcoming the conditions and Castlebar 3/2 with the final match …

WITH the amount of Ukrainian refugees in Ballyvaughan now greater than the permanent population of the village, the local Community Development Group has asked that no more be housed there. With local services struggling to cope, Ballyvaughan Community Development Group wrote to Minister Roderic O’Gorman last week about the issue. The group claimed the population of the area had suddenly risen from 300 to 700, and as a result the local national school is struggling, while there are long waits for appointments at its Medical Centre. It also warned that small businesses that rely on Ballyvaughan tourism will struggle if there is no tourist accommodation and that the winter could see a lot of boredom and frustration among the new arrivals, due to the relatively meagre facilities in the area. “The local community is becoming increasingly frustrated and angry with the lack of Government support and the lack of communication between IPAS (International Protection Accommodation Services ) and the local …

THE Ennis All Stars Football team won the cup again at the 25th Annual SARI Soccerfest (Sports Against Racism Ireland) which took place in Dublin last weekend. The team were retaining the title they won in 2019, with the tournament not taking place in 2020 and 2021 due to the pandemic. Ennis teams have participated in the tournament for over 22 years and this is the fourth victory. Over that time hundreds of players from up to 25 countries have played for the honour of the Banner county. Some of the players have moved away from Clare for study or work in the past few years but steadfastly step up to represent the Banner at the Soccerfest. “We are delighted especially to win it back to back like this. As we know the past 2 years have been very difficult for some people and it’s good to see a return to this wonderful sporting event “ said player Julius Leke. …

TWO Clare-based businesses, have been shortlisted as finalists in the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) Energy Awards 2022. The Falls Hotel and Spa and the Lahinch Leisure Centre in partnership with Tipperary Energy Agency, are among the cohort of energy-conscious businesses and communities that have been selected for their dedication to an energy-efficient way of working. The annual awards recognise and reward excellence in sustainable energy in business, communities, research, buildings, renewables and the public sector. A total of 33 applicants across 10 categories have been shortlisted. Winners will be announced at the national awards ceremony in October, this will return in person for the first time in three years following online ceremonies during Covid. The Falls Hotel & Spa has been nominated for its six-year campaign to reduce its CO2 emissions. The hotel’s sustainability journey started with smart energy changes, such as switching all of the light fittings to LED, fitting aerators on all water supply systems and using …

ENNIS Scouts are looking forward to celebrating on the double this weekend. September marks the 90th year of Scouting in Ennis and the 1st and 4th Clare Group are looking forward to catching up with former and current members at the official opening of their new Scout Hall on Station Road this Saturday. The new state-of-the-art Scout Hall is the result of a massive community effort and fundraising campaign. The Scout Hall will be officially opened on Saturday by Chief Scout Jill Pitcher Farrell who is the youngest and first female Chief Scout. The Ennis Scouts group was founded in 1932 and the very first meetings were held in a room above Griffin’s shop in the Square. “We have had various homes throughout the years including the building where Madden’s furniture shop is now, the old cinema and in the early 1960s we moved to our two present location which was built as a temporary hall until a suitable hall …

KILLALOE has been lauded as a crucial hub along the River Shannon by a well-known senior waterways manager. Speaking at a media event to preview the Lua End of Season Celebration in Killaloe this weekend, Waterways Ireland regional manager, Eanna Rowe said the future development of this hub is outlined in the Shannon Tourism Masterplan, which was completed by Waterways Ireland, Fáilte Ireland and officials in ten local authorities. “One of the best ways of putting places like Killaloe on the shop window is through festivals like Lua. Waterways Ireland are delighted to support the Lua Festival. “This is in addition to the bricks and mortar development work we carry out as well. It is great to see Lua getting off the ground at last. Covid-19 got in the way previously. Hopefully this festival will go from strength to strength.” Mr Rowe said it is great to see so many elements of the waterside and waterways community coming together in …

AN East Clare boat operator, who been conducting tours to Holy Island for 32 years, has questioned whether Clare County Council’s purchase of the old Mountshannon Rectory represents a value for money deal. Described by the council as a “landmark tourism project” on the banks of Lough Derg, plans were lodged for a proposed new Inis Cealtra (Holy Island) visitor centre in the heart of Mountshannon village last February and were adopted by the council last May. The Old Rectory Visitor Centre building will comprise a reception area, three exhibition areas interpreting stories from Mountshannon and the island of Inis Cealtra as well as a community/co-working space and a revitalised Rectory Garden. Councillors were told at the January meeting of Killaloe Municipal District this visitor centre is expected to be operational by early to mid-2023. The Visitor Experience project to interpret the 41-acres island is a collaborative initiative involving the council, Ireland’s Hidden Heartlands (Fáilte Ireland), Waterways Ireland, the Office …

IN perhaps a fitting end for somebody planning on joining the priesthood, Councillor Mark Nestor’s final Ennis Municipal District meeting saw him raise issues relating to a religious grotto and Drumcliffe graveyard. Before announcing he was stepping down from his role as an elected official the Fianna Fáil councillor raised two final motions at the September Ennis Municipal District meeting. The Cloughleigh-based councillor requested works be carried out on the steps beside the grotto in nearby Hermitage “to ensure they are safe for use for residents in the area”. Ian Chaplin, acting senior executive engineer, told the meeting the location has been assessed by Ennis Municipal District. “The steps leading up to the grotto are in an accessible condition including steel handrails to aid access to the grotto itself. The concrete base and mosaic style tile used at the top of the grotto has become fractured. “We will request the Rural Development Officer to engage with the residents association to …