Tag Archives: 2014

SHANNON Airport saw passenger numbers increase by 17% in 2014, as its recovery continues. The total number of passengers went from 1.4 million in 2013 to 1,639,315 in 2014. Such an increase is very welcome at an airport, whose survival was in doubt just two years ago. In 2012, Shannon had just 1.394 million passengers, the lowest number since 1988. After its separation from the Dublin Airport Authority, the numbers kept falling in the early months of 2013, before beginning to move in the right direction in the second half of the year, with the overall figure slightly ahead of 2012. In 2014 the recovery picked up momentum, with 10 new destinations and 16 service enhancements. Following a deal with Ryanair, most of the 2014 growth was on European routes, with nine new destinations delivering a 70% increase in passengers. While the new services included some sun destinations, there were also high numbers of inbound visitors following the return of …

Re-enactors dressed in costume spanning the Iron Age and early Medieval period to the 16th century will add a time-travel feel to a  special Lughnasa celebration being organised by Shannon Heritage at Craggaunowen visitor attraction near Quin over the bank holiday weekend. John Ruddle, chief  executive Shannon Heritage said, “The ancient pagan festival of Lughnasa marks the first day of autumn and the start of the harvest season. The event will be staged by Claíomh Living History Group whose members have many years of experience as historical interpreters and living history specialists.” Visitors to Craggaunowen will have the opportunity to celebrate Lughnasa on Sunday and Monday August. “Claíomh Living History Group will add a time-travel feel to the event, giving visitors a glimpse of what living conditions were like for Hiberno-Norse families living in a Crannóg. On display will be a range of replica Viking Age clothing, artefacts, weapons and silverwork,” Mr Ruddle continued. A number of showcase events from …

The total number of vacant commercial premises in Clare has increased from 11.2% in Q1 2013 to 12.2% in Q1 2014, according to the latest data published by GeoDirectory this Monday. For the first time, the report includes an analysis of the commercial vacancy rates of a selection of Ireland’s main shopping centres and high streets in Dublin, Cork, Galway, Kilkenny and Limerick. In Clare, 863 of the 7,062 commercial addresses recorded in Q1 2014 were vacant. This is a commercial vacancy rate of 12.2%.  This figure relates to premises in Ennis and all over the count. According to the latest edition of GeoView which is published quarterly, there are 223,336 commercial address points across the country, of which, 27,791 were classified as vacant. The national commercial vacancy rate in Q1 2014 is unchanged from the 12.4% reported in Q4 2013. Thirteen counties; Sligo, Leitrim, Galway, Dublin, Limerick, Roscommon, Waterford, Carlow, Donegal, Mayo, Laois, Longford and Offaly recorded commercial vacancy rates …

ELECTED for another five years late this evening, Fine Gael’s Gabriel Keating said his vote climbed during the day like a jumbo jet. He said he was always confident. “I had the work done and I felt it would come right. My vote this morning was low, it was two or three hundred behind some of the lads that I thought would get there, but it climbed and climbed and climbed.” It was a very different campaign to 2009, he claimed. “It was a different campaign because five years ago I was really taking the seat that had been held by Madeline Taylor Quinn. This time we had two candidates, an ex Fine Gael and a Fine Gael candidate from Kilrush. But I had great support, great canvassers with me. “As the day went on I was climbing, it (his vote) was like a 747 going up all the time,” he added.  

By Owen Ryan MICHAEL Fleming, who served as Mayor of Shannon between the summers of 2012 and 2013 has announced he will be seeking election to Clare  County Council in next month’s local elections. Elected to the Town Council as a Fine Gael representative five years ago, he left the party subsequently. He will also be running as an independent in next month’s elections and he said that not being in a party will allow him to speak his mind to a greater extent. “As an independent I have more of an opportunity to voice my opinion. I worked hard for the people of the community and I intend to continue to be loyal to the people of the community.” When he spoke to The Clare Champion on Monday, he acknowledged that he has yet to start canvassing. “I haven’t really (started yet) because I only decided last Thursday that I decided I was going to run as an independent. …

THREE of Ennis’ longest-serving public representatives will not be contesting this May’s local elections. Councillors Tommy Brennan, Peter Considine and Mary Coote Ryan are retiring from politics. Independent Councillor Brennan, a member of Ennis Town Council for 35 years and Clare County Council for 29 years, said he made the decision to bow out as a result of changes to local government. “Our function as councillors has been taken away and it’s pointless. It has completely changed. It started in about 2001 with Better Local Government and then the recent changes by Minister Hogan. It leaves the council with no function whatsoever,” he stated. He said the decision not to stand was not made lightly, particularly given the high level of support from the public over the years. “The people of Ennis have given me great support over the last 30 years and I thank them for that. I look forward to retiring and, if I can be of any …

THE Labour Party and Sinn Féin have added further candidates to the upcoming local elections. The Labour Party have decided to run a second candidate, Dermot Hayes, in Ennis area. Seamus Ryan was already selected by the party. According to the party, they have been getting a positive response on the canvas and believe there is a good opportunity for two candidates to be elected to Clare County Council. Dermot Hayes comes from Kells, Corofin from a family of 13 children. He attended Ennis Community College and, as a mature student, studied Community Development in Galway and Maynooth Universities. He has lived in Ennis since 1974, is married to Marian and they have two teenage daughters. He worked in Belvedere Carpets, Studio Eyewear and Interton Electronics and more recently in a number of community and voluntary organisations, including The Disabled People of Clare, Clare Supported Employment and People With Disabilities in Ireland. Dermot has been unemployed on three occasions and …

 By Seamus Hayes All-Ireland senior hurling champions Clare will begin their 2014 championship campaign at the Provincial semi-final stage where they will face either Cork or Waterford. A first round win for Cork will result in a repeat of the All-Ireland final which produced two outstanding games before Clare brought home the Liam McCarthy cup for only the fourth time in their history Five counties will compete for the Provincial crown and the second semi-final will be between Tipperary and Limerick. A Cork win over Waterford in the only quarter final game will result in a repeat of the semi-final pairings from 2013. Meanwhile, in the senior football championship Clare will face Waterford in a quarter final with the defending champions Kerry awaiting the winners. In the other half of the draw Tipperary play Limerick with Cork awaiting the winners. Last week the Munster Council, controversially, decided to seed Cork and Kerry for 2014, a decision that has drawn a strong  response …