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Tag Archives: shannon

“It showed us how important it is to get out and meet people”

THE weather is changing and the days are shortening, but the Shannon Tidy Towns group is still active. “We’ll still be doing litter picks, that’s important because you’re never free of rubbish in any town or village, group secretary Derek Clune told The Champion. “It’s important to keep the River Walk tidy because it’s very well used, the Town Park is the same. When the Town Park was developed the Council introduced this Leave No Trace, the idea is that everyone takes away everything, and it’s great in theory but in practice it doesn’t work I’m afraid. “If that wasn’t done two or three times a week it would look bad. It’s very well used, families use it,  you have the pump track there, the River Walk is the same, even people from outside Shannon use it.” The group is also hoping to complete a long-planned project this month. “We have a big project in the pipeline for a long …

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Element Six add almost 100 staff in past year as profits grow

THE number of people employed at Shannon company Element Six increased by almost 100 in 2021, newly filed accounts show. The overall number employed jumped from an average of 378 in 2020 to an average of 477 last year. The number working in production increased by 90 year on year, from 277 to 367, with small increases in the number working in engineering, sales and marketing and finance and administration. Its accounts are prepared in US dollars, and the amount spent on wages and salaries increased by over $5 million year on year. Turnover increased significantly, up from $159.33 million in 2020 to $221 million last year. Operating profit also increased, from $5.848 million to $7.43 million. The Director’s Report was very positive about the year and confident about the future. “2021 saw a return of demand to pre-Covid-19 levels with an overall increase in revenue of 39% year on year. “Key areas of focus for the business in 2021 …

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Aodán’s hit one-man show back for three encores

HAVING had a very enthusiastic response to his one-man show A Night in November at the Hope Café in Shannon, Aodán Fox is putting on three extra shows on October 13, 14 and 15. The play is about the night of the infamous soccer match between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland at Windsor Park in 1993, when a hateful atmosphere prevailed. It leads to Kenneth Norman McAllister, a Protestant who has previously been anti Catholic, starting to question his beliefs and identity. Aodán says he has been amazed by the response to the play. “I’m blown away by the reaction to be honest. The first three nights that we did sold out within a couple of days. A lot of people were asking me about it, a lot of people who were away and a lot of people who wanted to see it again. “It had a bit of traction so we decided to put it on again …

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Newly opened cemetery praised as beautiful public space

A NEW direction in design undertaken by Clare County Council to create a beautiful public realm space at a Shannon cemetery has been praised. The extension to Illaunmanagh burial ground in Shannon was officially opened by Cathaoirleach of Clare County Council, Tony O’Brien. The Council undertook a different approach to the design and layout of the extension moving away from the traditional dense grid layout. The new space, Councillor O’Brien observed, combines an homage to the nature, geography, heritage, and the people of Shannon The newly opened extension allows bereaved families to reflect in the comfort of nature and the Shannon Estuary. Councillor O’Brien, said, “Our graveyards are so important to us all here in County Clare. This project has taken many influences from scores of historic graveyards across Clare, where those who built this county now rest. “I know this place will be a fitting resting place for those we lose in the coming decade, and a place of …

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Aldi ‘extremely disappointed’ at refusal for Shannon store

SUPERMARKET giant Aldi has said the decision to deny it permission for a store in Shannon was unfortunate for the town, but it hasn’t indicated whether it will make another application. Colin Breslin, Regional Managing Director, ALDI Ireland, said, “ALDI Ireland is extremely disappointed at the decision by An Bord Pleanála to refuse planning permission for our proposed new store in Shannon. “This application has been six years in the making and we have gone to considerable lengths to meet all that was asked of us by planners and others. “We will be reviewing this decision by An Bord Pleanála carefully, as it is really unfortunate news for the people of Shannon, Clare and the entire mid-West.” “The cost-of-living crisis is impacting every household and we are very aware what it means for our customers. Being able to offer our customers the best value at locations most convenient to them matters more than ever. Against this backdrop, the decision of …

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Aldi denied Shannon store as it would undermine ‘masterplan’

AN Bord Pleanála has again rejected an appeal from Aldi to overrule Clare County Council and allow the development of a new store and cafe/restaurant opposite Shannon’s Town Centre. There has been considerable local support for allowing Aldi to go ahead with the development, with a lot of frustration about the lack of development in Shannon in recent years. However, Clare County Council and An Bord Pleanála have both now ruled twice against Aldi, with the project not having advanced at all since the first planning application was lodged more than five years ago. An Bord Pleanála inspector Adrian Ormsyby reviewed Clare County Council’s decision to again reject Aldi’s application. While he disagreed with the Council’s contention that the development should not be allowed on grounds of zoning or lack of pedestrian links to the existing Town Centre, he was still against it being given the green light. In the report he stated, “Having regard to the prominent location of …

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‘Absolutely amazing’ sense of community in Shannon

AFTER many years as a youth worker serving Shannon, Thomas O’Hara is moving into the world of academia. Thomas, who worked with Clare Youth Service in Shannon from 2006 to 2008, and again from 2011 until this year is taking up a position with TUS in Limerick (formerly Limerick Institute of Technology). Speaking to the Champion, he said he had really enjoyed working with the young people of the town, and found the level of community spirit in Shannon to be very strong. “The people there, the sense of community is absolutely amazing. Once people find out you are doing anything in the area they’re very quick to support it, I’ve found, and that was always an advantage to me in working with young people.” “It was a great way of showing young people how community supports itself, how to get involved in your community. “Sometimes that’s one of the key things for young people; where do I fit into …

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Live performances continue at Swive in Shannon

DAMIAN O’Rourke has organised a number of live performances at the Swive Stage in Shannon Town Centre. “We had the first one on September 7, the next one will be on the 21st and it’s every second Wednesday until October 19,” said Damian.  He said it is following on from the Wings festival, which was held in the summer. “We had a good reaction to that and this ties in with Phase 4 of the Live Local Performance Scheme  from the County Council. Instead of doing one big event I thought it’d be nice to have a continual thing, where people can come mid-week and look forward to the next one.” There will be a diversity of performers, he added. “The first night we had two acts, the next three events we will have three performers per night. There will be a nice mix of poetry, music, storytelling, tunes, songs and stuff. There will be an array of performers that …

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