Regional

THE manager of a Parteen factory, which constructed a “100 metre tall wind turbine” that is “taller than the tower housing Big Ben in London” in the wrong place, has revealed their electricity costs have almost trebled over a 12-month period. An Enforcement Notice issued by Clare County Council on March 8, 2021 requested Limerick Blow Moulding to decommission and remove a wind turbine erected near the factory on or before Thursday, April 8, 2021 following an alleged breach of a planning permission condition. However, this wind turbine, which has attracted numerous planning objections from residents, two Clare deputies Cathal Crowe and Violet-Anne Wynne and Senator Timmy Dooley, is still in situ but is not operational. It has also been claimed by Deputy Crowe this wind turbine is “visually obtrusive” when viewed from local scenic areas including the Shannon River, St Thomas’s Island and King John’s Castle in Limerick City The company recently applied for retention permission for a revised …

GLÓR has appointed 17-year-old Sean Shannon as its first Young Associate Artist. Through its Associate Artists programme glór aims to support artists in practical ways, enabling connections between artists, audiences and communities throughout Clare, and facilitating the creation of new work inspired by Clare’s unique culture and landscape. Sean received his initial piano lessons from Meaghan Dineen through the Music Generation programme. He is currently studying with Tatiana Timofeeva, and in September he will commence a Bachelor in Music Performance on an entrance scholarship at the Royal Irish Academy of Music under Professor Réamonn Keary. In 2018 he performed for President Michael D. Higgins at Clarecare charity’s 50th anniversary celebration, and at the age of 14 he gave his debut solo recital at Glór in 2019. Last year  he featured on RTÉ’s Nationwide. Sean has also successfully participated in numerous national piano competitions, most recently the Feis Ceoil and previously received a scholarship funded by Maoin Cheoil an Chláir/Limerick School …

A CLARE doctor who worked in a hospital during the Covid-19 pandemic has been crowned the new Miss Ireland. Ivanna McMahon, 27, from Barefield told The Champion she is “over the moon” to have taken the title at 75th Miss Ireland competition which was held on Saturday at The Royal Theatre, Castlebar. Ivanna, who qualified for the competition as Miss Munster, will now go on to represent Ireland in Miss World later this year. Speaking to the Clare Champion Ivanna says she is thrilled with the win, though she admits it came as a surprise. “I’m absolutely delighted, I’m still a little bit in shock. It was definitely a surprise, absolutely surreal, but I’m absolutely thrilled.” Ivanna studied medicine at University College Cork and graduated in 2020, going on to do her internship at Cork University Hospital. She then went to University Hospital Tralee to work in surgery, working in the GP Scheme at Tralee General Hospital throughout the pandemic. …

IT is now highly likely that An Bord Pleanála will make the final decision on the proposed development of “Ireland’s largest solar farm” in South-East Clare after two residents vowed to appeal any planning approval granted by Clare County Council. If Reeve Wave Limited is refused a 10-year planning permission to develop a solar array at Ballyglass, Coolderry, Dromintobin North, Reanbrone and Oakfield townlands, Ardnacrusha, it also has the option of appealing any refusal to the independent appeals’ board. This proposal, which has been described as “Ireland’s largest solar farm” by the Blackwater Concern Solar Group (BCSG) has prompted a series of submissions from 22 residents, and well known environmentalist Peter Sweetman of Wild Ireland Defence CLG and Others. Listed as signatories were Paula Reidy, Bunratty; Denis and Rose O’Donnell, Blackwater; Stephanie and Alan Higgins, Blackwater; Eunice Randle, Coolderra, Ardnacrusha; Michael and Mary Clery, Blackwater; Keith Larkin, Clonlara village; Susanne O’Dalaigh, Blackwater; Liam and Rachel Mannix, Oakfield, Clonlara; Greg Larkin …

A LEADING podcaster has paid tribute to the work of two Dutch natives who have been running an organic nursery outside Bodyke for more than two decades.  Gert and Elisabeth Stam are qualified horticulturalists who now run Caherhurley Nursery. Their unique enterprise, which is part of an organic farm on the slopes of Sliabh Bernagh, was visited recently by award-winning agricultural journalist Hannah Quinn-Mulligan for her podcast ‘Organic Matters’. The weekly show for the Irish Organic Association has generated huge interest in recent years and features all aspects of organic farming and growing.  The couple, who ran a Dutch garden that catered for 25,000 visitors a year, left the Netherlands more than twenty years ago to come to East Clare, and they shared their vision with Hannah and her listeners.  They explained that when Elisabeth sold an Arabian horse to a Limerick native, it gave the couple an opportunity to visit Ireland and to radically change their lifestyles. They bought …

AN Bord Pleanála has been urged to overturn Clare County Council’s decision to refuse planning permission for a multi-million Euro housing scheme in Lahinch. The council recently turned down plans for the development of seven detached four-bedroom dwelling houses with detached sheds at School Road, Attycristora, Lahinch. Associated site development works included wastewater pre-treatment and connections to public services. A Natura Impact Statement was also submitted on behalf of the developers, SPL Property Limited, Saint Flannan’s View, Ennis. This was the applicant’s second application for the proposed development at this site, which sought to address the council’s concerns raised in a Further Information Request in relation to the previous application. In this subsequent application, the applicant’s design team revisited the layout and as indicated in the Senior Executive Planner’s Report dated July 1, 2022, the council’s concerns were successfully addressed in relation to a number of aspects. These included drainage attenuation, boundary treatment, pedestrian infrastructure, construction traffic, management, water capacity, …

MISS Munster Ivanna McMahon from Barefield rolled up her sleeves at the weekend for the Miss Ireland 2022 nationwide beach and waterways clean-up. From August 12 to 14 the 37 finalists vying for the coveted Miss Ireland 2022 title, including Ivanna, put their collective strength and unity together to co-ordinate a big beach clean-up all over Ireland.   Thousands have flocked to our beaches and waterways during the recent warm weather but the glorious sunshine also brought ‘rubbish weather’ as many beaches and waterways across Ireland were left in dire conditions by sun seekers leaving their rubbish behind. Ivanna, 27, gathered her friends and family to do a clean up at Lahinch beach. The over-riding theme for Miss Ireland is ‘Our World Our Future’ with a focus on the environment and global citizenship.  Each of the finalists all over Ireland gathered all of their friends and families to help make a real impact and highlight the importance of communities coming together to protect our …

AT just 12 years of age Clarecastle’s Sophie Mae Kerin is galloping ahead in her dream to be a champion jockey. The youngster was a winner at the high profile Dingle Racing Festival, following in the footsteps of such giants of the sport as Pat Smullen, Richard Hughes, Oisin Murphy, Nina Carberry and many more. First getting in the saddle at eight years of age, Sophie Mae began her equestrian life in showjumping, but it was racing that was always her ambition. In the recent three-day Dingle festival she rode the aptly named Little Lioness to victory in the 12.2hh pony derby for Ballinasloe’s Tony Beegan. Proud dad Kenneth tells us the whole family are thrilled with Sophie Mae’s success. “Dingle is the biggest pony race in Ireland of the year and this was her first proper race with thoroughbreds. “Before this she had run in a beginners race coming in second. She has only been entering races for the …