Tag Archives: clare

A RADIO documentary about the life of Ennis native Bernárd Lynch is to be broadcast this week. “Falsely Accused” broadcasts on Clare FM at 11 am on Friday and will look back at Bernárd’s life, from growing up in St Michael’s Villas, being ordained in Newry, and then joining the Society of African Missions (SMA) which would eventually lead him to New York. While in New York, Bernárd worked with mainly sick men that were dying in their hundreds and thousands. The cause of these deaths was eventually coined AIDS. By 1983 New York City had 1,000 reported AIDS cases, by 1987, it estimated 70,000 New Yorkers had AIDS. While some families turned their back on their loved ones, Bernárd Lynch was there in their final hours, minutes, and seconds to bring peace and comfort. In the late 80s, Bernárd was home and received a call to tell him criminal charges were being filed against him for the alleged sexual …

ENNIS residents’ concerns over “haphazard development” and vacant homes at St Flannan’s Terrace have prompted calls for ‘Development and Design Guidelines’ to be drawn up for the area. A newly-formed residents association of St Flannan’s Terrace have made the request for the area which was built in the early 1900s and has been designated Architectural Conservation Area (ACA) under the Clare County Development Plan. Councillor Johnny Flynn at a meeting of the Ennis Municipal District urged his fellow councillors to support the residents in their call for guidelines to be drawn up under relevant planning legislation. “The procedure for such guidelines is laid out in Section 84 of the Planning and Development Act 2000 (as amended) together with advice on public consultation, enforcement etc,” he pointed out. The terrace constitutes 46 houses, six of which are unoccupied. “They are quite concerned about haphazard development occurring and some vacancy,” he said. He continued that because the terrace is an ACA design guidelines …

THE “great endeavours” of world champion athlete ‘Honest’ John Purcell should be honoured in a more visible way, as the existing plaque at John O’Sullivan Lees Road is “not noticed”, says Mayor of Ennis Councillor Clare Colleran Molloy. A request for a more prominent memorial to the Ballymaley world record holder, following representations from the Purcell family, is now to be made to the Memorial Committee of Clare County Council. Councillor Colleran Molloy told a recent meeting of the Ennis Municipal District that members of the Purcell family had been in contact about the need for a new memorial. The track at John O’Suillivan Lees Road is dedicated to world champion ‘Honest’ John Purcell who reigned as world champion and world record holder for long jump, and for hop, step and jump in the 1880s.  John Purcell was born in Ballymaley in 1860 and died in San Francisco in 1904.   Councillor Colleran Molloy outlined that the existing dedication marker is a …

A Ukrainian artist, living in Ennis, Yeni Goryeva, has painted a portrait of Irish showjumper Conor Swail, and is hoping to contact him to present him with the painting. The Ennis based artist painted Swaile from a magazine cover. Yeni came from Kiev earlier in the year and now lives in a hotel in Ennis with other members of her family. Yeni is an artist and was also the owner and professional hairdresser at her beauty salon in Ukraine. But everything changed on February 24 with the start of the war and Yeni and her daughter Anastasia came to live for now, to Ennis. While living in Ireland for the last few months she has been inspired by beautiful nature, people and Irish people’s hospitality. She never stopped painting her art work and this year her work has featured in art exhibitions called ‘A Ukrainian Artist’s View of Ireland’. One day in a store Yeni saw a magazine with a man …

A PAINTING by Ennis artist Mick O’Dea is getting the royal treatment in its brand new home. His painting of the Grace O’Malley Tall Ship is now on display in the offices of HSH Prince Albert II of Monaco at the Yacht Club Monaco. The artwork which was commissioned by Robert Lee Mulcahy is on permanent loan and on display at the yacht club. The painting was purchased by The ATLANTIC Youth Trust, a charity focused on youth development through working with tall ships. Earlier this year the charity purchased a 164ft tradewind schooner, now named the Grace O’Malley after the famous Pirate Queen. Following a refit of the vessel the charity aims to provide on board training to 1,000 young people annually from all socio-economic backgrounds in sailing, navigation and communication skills development. Speaking to the Clare Champion, artist O’Dea said, “I’m proud to be associated with such a worthy cause. The complete refurbishment of Ireland’s new tall ship …

TWO Clare business owners are encouraging returned emigrants who are setting up a business, or those living abroad thinking of returning home with an idea they want to get off the ground, to get involved in a government backed programme. Back for Business is a development programme, funded by the Government’s Emigrant Support Programme, that was established to foster and support entrepreneurial activity among emigrants returning to live in Ireland. It is aimed at those who have lived abroad for at least a year and have returned in the last three years or those planning to return in the near future. It was launched last month by Colm Brophy TD Minister of State for Overseas Development Aid and Diaspora and now the programme is looking for applications for the 2023 programme from those living or hoping to return to County Clare. There is no charge for those selected to participate and the closing date for applications is Thursday, January 12. Former participants …

HOUSE prices in Clare fell by 1.6% in the last three months of the year, according to Daft.ie. It found that while Clare house prices were still 5.7% higher at the end of 2022 compared to a year earlier, they had dropped by 1.6% in the final quarter of the year. The average house price sought in Clare on Daft.ie in the final quarter of last year was just over €234,000, almost twice the amount sought at the low point of the crash. In Clare the average price sought for a one bedroom apartment now stands at €99,000, 14% greater than at the end of 2021. At the other end of the spectrum the average price sought for a five bedroom detached house is €299,000, down 1% on the end of 2021. Writing in the Daft.ie report, economist Ronan Lyons said that supply and demand may be beginning to align. “During the 2010s a pattern emerged of what the academic …

ENNIS employer Ecolect Technical Services Limited has won a prestigious award at the 2022 Generation Apprenticeship Employer of the Year Awards, taking home a ‘pioneering micro-employer’ award at the ceremony. Seven businesses from around the country have been crowned Generation Apprenticeship Employers of the Year by Simon Harris TD, Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science in an awards ceremony which took place on Thursday, December 8th, 2022 in the Morrison Hotel, Dublin. Commenting on their award win, the Ecolect Technical Services Ltd Team, based on the Tulla Road, said, “Absolutely thrilled to be nominated for the award. Our apprentices are the future of our company and are key to its further growth and expansion” Founded in 2001, Ecolect Technical Services Limited are a leading provider of innovative mechanical, electrical and instrumentation engineering solutions. It provides services to customers across sectors including Data Centres, Life Sciences, Industrial, Commercial, Substations and Renewables and operate across Ireland, the UK …