Regional

AS first reported in the Clare Champion last month, Ryanair has today opened its first aircraft heavy maintenance facility in Ireland at Shannon Airport, which will create 200 high-skilled jobs in the locality, including licensed engineers, mechanics, and support staff. The airline will invest €10 million in this state-of-the-art three-bay facility, leased from Shannon Group, to support the maintenance of Ryanair’s fleet as it grows to 600 aircraft by 2026. Ryanair Director of Operations, Neal McMahon, said, “We are delighted to announce the opening of our new aircraft maintenance facility at Shannon Airport – our first heavy maintenance facility in the country. This facility will create 200 high-skill jobs, demonstrating Ryanair’s continued growth & commitment to Ireland. “Ryanair creates opportunities for highly skilled engineering jobs, with our industry leading rosters and the youngest fleet in Europe. Shannon is an ideal location with opportunities to attract, train and employ local talent to support this new facility.” Shannon Group CEO, Mary Considine, …

LIAM Alford retained his WKA world light welterweight title in Wexford on Saturday night, knocking out French challenger Julien Letellier early on. On Monday Liam said he was “over the moon” with the result, which keeps the door open for a possible future defence in his home town. He said it had been an early knockout, although he hadn’t planned to exert much pressure in the early stages. “It was one minute and fifty seconds of the first round. We didn’t know too much about him, so the plan was to go out, suss him out for the first round, see what he’s got. Then start to capitalise and land some shots. “But I went out in the first round and I could see the opportunity and I was thinking why would I wait? If I feel I can catch him in the first round and get him out of there I may as well! “The plan for the first …

AN OUTDOOR pavilion planned for Mountshannon has hit a further hitch, with permission for the development being appealed to An Bord Pleanála. Earlier this year, Mountshannon Community Council, which is spearheading the project, secured a funding award of €54,860 from The Department of Rural and Community Development. The facility, to be located at Aistear Park, was given planning permission by Clare County Council at the start of last month. Now, a third-party appeal has been lodged by four residents of the town’s Main Street. The hitch means it will be several months before the future of the project is known. The appeal, which was lodged on April 27, has been made by two couples who had objected to the development when it originally came before the Council. In their correspondence with An Bord Pleanála, the appellants have outlined seven grounds for their opposition to the development. In the first instance, the appellants express the opinion that the planning application should …

THE first North West Clare agricultural show in three years is going to take place on Sunday, June 5, on the grounds of the Falls Hotel in Ennistymon. PRO Kieran Houlihan said that while missing two years of the show was disappointing, it was necessary. “We were disappointed, but we were more than happy to go along with the guide lines that were in place. A lot of our committee members would be middle aged or older and their safety was a priority. Like all organisations we were curtailed but it was for the benefit of all.” Some things are different after the pandemic and he feels there may be more entries in some of the classes. “We’re hoping to see a large turnout in home produce classes. A lot of people took on lockdown projects and got interested in gardening and fowl and that kind of thing, so we’re hoping there will be an increase in those classes. “Maybe …

A MAN has been struck twice by passing cars on a stretch of local road which sees motorists engage in “games of cat and mouse” prompting calls by Ennis councillors for the introduction of a temporary reduced speed limit. Increasing volumes of traffic on the narrow local road at Kilbricken that runs from Ballaghboy cross/Quin road to the N85 Dual Carriageway has resulted in “a nightmare” for those living in the area, a meeting of local councillors has heard. Speaking at a meeting of the Ennis Municipal District, deputy mayor Councillor Paul Murphy outlined that growing numbers of traffic “has resulted in increased traffic jams/snarls, incidences of verbal altercations between motorists and games of cat and mouse as to which driver can beat the oncoming car to the next passing point.” He continued, “Residents living on the road have to endure this on a daily basis and have made me aware that a local man has been struck by a …

A North Clare community-led group is strongly encouraging community groups, community interests and local residents to have their say during the current phase of the Cliffs of Moher 2040 consultation process. The North Clare Strategic Planning Group (NCSPG) is a collaborative body, committed to the creation of a community of communities across the North Clare region and is offering to facilitate a shared community voice on the proposed developments. The future of the Cliffs of Moher is currently the subject of heightened attention as Clare County Council, in partnership with Fáilte Ireland, plans for the future development and sustainability of this iconic location. The Council has created a number of online and in-person opportunities for interested parties to have their say on plans for the Cliffs’ future. Established in 2021, the NCSPG’s ambition is to facilitate communities across North Clare to come together to address significant regional concerns and to maximise local community-based skills, assets and expertise for the benefit …

CAMOGIE has been a life-long passion for Quin’s Eileen (Eily) McMahon, who celebrated her 100th birthday in recent weeks. Alongside her sisters, Marcella (Cella), Maisie, Teresa (Tesa) and Kathleen (Dokey), Eily was known for her skill, athleticism and her dedication to her club. Now in her 101st year, Eily is President of Clooney-Quin Camogie and Ladies Football Club and Vice President of the GAA Club. Born Eileen McNamara, Eily was the second youngest in a family of nine from Hazelwood, Quin. Her parents were Jim McNamara and his wife Etta (née Neylan) and her nine siblings were Maisie, Mike, Joe, Paddy, Kathleen, Tom, Marcella and Teresa. Having grown up in a house steeped in hurling, Eily went on to prove her own sporting prowess and talent. “Her brothers were hurlers and their home was close to a pitch,” her daughter Geraldine told The Champion. “There were always people coming and going and the family had a great time growing up.” …

THE prospect that Clare may not have the infrastructure in place to take on offshore windfarm contracts was raised at the most recent West Clare Municipal District meeting. Councillor Ian Lynch proposed on May 3 that West Clare MD invite developers such as Simplify Blue Group to give a presentation to the members on the anticipated infrastructural requirements. There should, he said, be a specific focus on harbour developments, for maximisation of the project’s potential in the community. Councillor Lynch went against his own motion to illustrate that Clare is moving towards the possibility of these contracts at a far slower rate than needed, which will send investors to Kerry or Galway. He continued that he believes the starting point for moving forward with Clare’s offshore potential is to put the question out to the public, not discussing it as though the contracts are already set in stone while no preparation is done. He said: “You can see it from …