Regional

THE joy and enthusiasm brought by Swiss native, Cornelia Wahli, to her adopted home in Tulla, was remembered at her funeral mass last Sunday (June 12). A passionate environmentalist, Cornelia came to Ireland as an au pair, bidding farewell to her native Frauenfeld in Thurgau, Switzerland. She lived for a time in Dublin, and later on Tory Island, before moving to Clare and becoming deeply involved in community life and environmental activism. She was a prominent member of The Clare Public Participation Network (PPN) and the instigator of climate initiatives including ‘Operation Deplastification’ and ‘Slim Your Bin’. Cornelia had also made a major submission to the forthcoming Clare County Development Plan. In it, she urged people to work towards an organic and chemical-free Clare over the coming decades. She told The Champion, at the time, that the inspiration for this vision was her granddaughter and other children whom she hoped would grow up in a flourishing environment.  In Tulla, Cornelia …

THE free public poetry reading series ‘Poetry in the Park’, returns for its second year to the Canon Quinn Park in Gort this Sunday. Taking place between 1 and 2pm, the event invites all local poets and budding poets to come along and read their poems, or recite poems from their favourite authors. “We are delighted to have public poetry back in one of the loveliest public facilities we have in Gort, Canon Quinn Park’, said Justin McDermott, organiser of Poetry in the Park. “We had some wonderful days of sunshine and poetry last year, and we are looking forward to hearing more of the talent of our modern local poets.” Any poets or budding poets interested in doing a reading at Poetry in the Park are asked to register in advance by emailing mcdermottjustin@hotmail.com.  People of all ages are welcome to come with friends and family, bring a picnic and enjoy the poetry in this wonderful local amenity park. Poetry in …

RTÉ Radio 1 star, Ray D’Arcy has predicted a warm welcome for the shape-shifting Púca when the controversial statue is installed in North Clare on Saturday week (June 25).  The broadcaster has frequently expressed his fascination with the colourful controversy that saw the two-metre horse-headed figure ultimately rejected by the people of Ennistymon. Sculptor Aidan Harte has spoken on the popular mid-afternoon radio show on a number of occasions since the debacle originally erupted in May of last year. In recent days, D’Arcy visited the Dublin-based foundry where the folklore figure has been cast in bronze, and even got to rub the toe of the Púca for luck.  Now that the mischievous Púca has found his “forever home” at The Michael Cusack Centre, its creator expressed his optimism that the reaction of locals and visitors in Carron will be a positive one. “The reaction most artists get to their work is apathy,” Mr Harte told Ray D’Arcy. “When the row …

THE “wonderful addition” 44 children from Ukraine have made to Ennis Educate Together school has been highlighted by principal David Quinn at the school’s recent celebration day. The event also presented an opportunity to showcase the quite literal growth of a new project which has resulted in a sunflower, the national flower of Ukraine, planted for every pupil in the school. As well as welcoming the school’s new enrolments, the day was a celebration for the entire school and offered an opportunity for families to visit for the first time since Covid-19. On the day Ennis Educate Together’s youngest pupil Oleksandr  and oldest pupil Melisa helped raise the school flag with its newly designed logo featuring new school colours, chosen with input from the children. Mr Quinn explained, “The children’s voice is very important in our school. Last year we surveyed the children in third to sixth classes to choose our schools colours and to add them to our school …

TWO Kilkee residents have poured cold water on plans by Fáilte Ireland and Clare County Council to locate WC, shower and changing rooms facilities for water-based activities in the town. Serious questions have been raised in an objection lodged with An Bord Pleanála about the proposed location of this development and whether there has been a proper assessment of alternative sites or the use of existing buildings. The submission by Michael Nolan, solicitor and his wife, Mary O’Dowd, East End, Kilkee claimed no evidence has been produced that there is a need for the proposed facility. Their submission also states that the site selection is incorrect, unsuitable and contrary to the proper planning and sustainable development of the area. They further claim there are more than sufficient facilities already in existence, both in terms of existing buildings and alternative sites, if it is accepted at all that the proposal is acceptable. This development is based on a proposal from Fáilte …

A WEST Clare artist has been chosen to participate in an inaugural exhibition to platform artists with intellectual disabilities. Brian Cusack from Kilrush is one of ten artists chosen by Connections Arts Centre (CAC) to participate in the bold and innovative exhibition to be held later this month in Dublin’s Royal College of Surgeons. Brian says, “My love of art emerged as a young man and it has grown over the past 15 years. I mostly work with acrylics, and paint a wide variety of subjects, usually from existing images, but more recently I have taken to open-air painting. I am really happy and exciting about exhibiting in the Connections Arts exhibition. “I am so lucky that I and three colleagues are supported to run our own business called ‘Woodwebs’, we have a stall in Kilrush Farmers Market selling woodcraft. It’s a place that is important to me, full of colour, energy and laughter where craft workers and artisan food …

WORLD Refugee Day is being celebrated in Ennis this weekend with Clare Immigrant Support Centre organising a gathering to celebrate the day this Sunday, June 19, in Ennis’ Fair Green at 5.30pm. Orla Ní Éilí of the Clare Immigrant Support Centre explains World Refugee Day is an international day designated by the United Nations to honour refugees around the globe. She explains that Sunday’s event is an opportunity to celebrate refugees in our community. “It celebrates the strength and courage of people who have been forced to flee their home country to escape conflict or persecution. World Refugee Day is an occasion to build empathy and understanding of refugees life circumstances and to recognize the resilience involved in rebuilding their lives.” World Refugee Day has been marked in Ennis since 1998 with Ms Ní Éilísaying Clare Immigrant Support Centre “is privileged to have a unique role in supporting and working with and for refugees in Clare”. This year, the focus …

The possibility of Clare County Council’s Chief Executive joining the board of Shannon Group was raised at a meeting of the group and the local authority. While Conal Henry said he hadn’t given the idea much thought, he wasn’t supportive of it. “The job of the board is to promote the interests of the entity to which it is the board. The job of the Chief Executive (of Clare County Council) is to promote the interests of Clare. They’re generally the same, but not always.” Mr Henry said it would create some potential for conflicts of interest. “It doesn’t mean we shouldn’t have the interests of Clare County Council and the people of Clare at the forefront of our minds. “It means from a corporate governance point of view everybody on the board of Shannon should be thinking first and foremost about the interests of Shannon. “That’s not Pat’s (Clare County Council CEO Pat Dowling) job, Pat’s job first and …