Tag Archives: clare

BOAT users are being urged to ensure their vessel is serviced and in safe working order as Lough Derg RNLI helped two vessels in difficulty in back-to-back shouts at the weekend. On Sunday afternoon July 3, Valentia Coast Guard requested Lough Derg RNLI lifeboat to launch to assist three people on a 25ft motor cruiser adrift with steering failure near Williamstown on the country Clare shoreline. At 2.30pm Lough Derg RNLI lifeboat Jean Spier launched with helm Owen Cavanagh, Joe O’Donoghue, Chris Parker and Ciara Moylan on board. At 2.35pm the lifeboat arrived on scene. The lifeboat transferred a volunteer across to the casualty vessel who established that all on board were safe and unharmed and wearing their lifejackets. The cruiser had power but its steering had failed. The skipper had dropped anchor to prevent drift across the navigation channel. Given the location and weather, the RNLI lifeboat helm made the decision to take the vessel under tow, and as …

FRIENDS and family of the late Ashling Murphy arrived in County Clare this week having joined a cycle travelling from Tyrone to Miltown Malbay’s Willie Clancy Summer School festival in memory of the popular teacher. The 23 year-old primary school teacher and traditional Irish musician, who had been a regular visitor to the Willie Clancy summer school, was tragically killed in January of this year while out running in Tullamore. Her life has also been remembered with the announcement by Comhaltas  Ceoltóirí Éireann of three scholarships in her honour, with the organisation describing Ashling as “a light of inspiration”. The ‘Wheels & Jigs’ cycle is raising funds for the Ashling Murphy Memorial Trust which has been set up by the Murphy family and at the time of going to press close to €10,500 had been raised. The cycle was founded in 2015 and has raised funds for a number of different charities over the years. Ashling had performed with Fermanagh …

WITH schools now on summer holidays the dangers that farms can pose to children have been highlighted by gardaí in Clare. “Now that schools are over and the weather is hopefully starting to get good, kids are out and about on farms, but farms are a workplace and unfortunately children are killed every year on farms,” warns Clare Crime Prevention Officer Sergeant Triona Brooks. “Never allow a child onto a farmyard unless they are closely supervised by an adult. It’s not possible to safely look after your child and work on the farm at the same time.” She has issued advice to those who live on a farm saying, “Keep children out of work areas. Have a fenced off safe play area in view of your home. Have easy to read danger signs and tell children what they mean.” All unattended vehicles should be locked and the keys removed and kept away from children. Safety measures should be put in …

FROM all across the United States members of the O’Dea clan will be in Ennis and Dysert O’Dea this weekend for their 11th annual clan gathering. The international O’Dea clan gathering, from July 8 to 10, will see more than 50 clan members travelling from various parts of the USA, including California, Florida, Missouri, Ohio and other states to attend the event. Unfortunately, clan members from Australia and New Zealand will not be attending due to Covid 19 restrictions. Nevertheless, a fully packed weekend programme for those attending includes lectures, DNA workshops, a visit to Dysert O’Dea castle, a sightseeing tour to the Cliffs of Moher, Ballyvaughan and Corcomroe abbey and a farewell gala dinner in the Old Ground Hotel. The highlight of the weekend will be the inauguration of the incoming Clan Chieftain (Taoisigh) Ennis man Shane O’Dea at Dysert O’Dea castle on, Saturday. In honour of the weekend event, the Ennis Municipal District will host a mayoral reception …

HAVING taken a break last year due to Covid-19 Peadar White, who recently turned 78, will be back in the saddle this weekend in support of the Samaritans Ennis and Clare. Peadar will be completing a stationary cycle on Saturday at the Height in O’Connell Street, Ennis from 9am to 6pm, and he’s urging people to come out and show their support for the invaluable work of the Samaritans. Peadar’s cycle is just one of a number of events which have been organised this month to raise funds and awareness of the round-the-clock emotional support services provided by the Samaritans. Samaritans Ennis and Clare volunteers will be walking 7 km on 24/7, or July 24, at 7pm around Ennis to encourage the community to reach out for help. And the public are being urged to help raise funds for the organisation by taking part in a ‘Samarathon’ and running, walking or cycling the equivalent of a marathon across July. Looking ahead to this …

THE untimely death of David Woodford in May 2020 was a huge loss, not just for his family, but also for the wider community and music lovers across the county. While Covid ruled out a large public gathering to mark his passing, David’s legacy is now enshrined in the launch of the Bassment rehearsal space at Clare Youth Service in Ennis. A generous donation from Eileen Woodford on behalf of her late beloved David has allowed young people at CYS to get together, remodel, and design the studio and rehearsal space located in the Ennis Youth Centre. As Eileen explained, David was always a supporter of Clare Youth Service and, with his band ‘Hot Ice’, had run an event to raise funds for the organisation, “David always had great time for young people and helping to revamp their space to allow greater opportunity for young people to come and play music seems very fitting.” It has been nearly 15 years …

FAMILY Carers Ireland in Clare has revealed there has been an increase in demand for its counselling service with carers “mentally and physically fatigued to the point of burnout”. According to David O’Connor, Family Carers Ireland Carer Supports Manager in Clare some carers do not even have the time to come in person to counselling sessions, instead using the service by phone. “That is how much pressure they are actually under, they are under huge amounts, and time is just such a finite resource. It just continues to add to their stress.” He believes more needs to be done to support carers, saying “joined up thinking” and a holistic approach is needed across all sectors including government, the HSE and Family Carers Ireland. A minimum amount of respite hours per month per family would go some way towards alleviating the strain on carers, he adds. He was speaking in light of recently released results of a study by researchers at …

THE Clare branch of the Samaritans is planning a range of events during the month of July. On July 24 its volunteers will be having a 7km Talk To Us Walk around Ennis, promoting awareness of what the charity offers. Samaritans Ennis and Clare Branch Director, Margaret MacMahon said, “We’re looking forward to spreading the word about Talk to Us in person this July. “Now that the pandemic restrictions have lifted, our volunteers will be walking 7 km around Ennis at 7pm on 24/7 (July 24) to make sure people know that we are always available 24/7. “It’s been a challenging few years and we know that many people are still facing all kinds of pressure, however, we want to remind the public that they are not alone. “It doesn’t matter how great or small the problems feel, our volunteers are here at any time of day or night, whatever they are facing.” The volunteers will be raising awareness of …