The past 12 months have been momentous ones for the people of County Clare. In this week’s Clare Champion we take a look back at the highs of lows of 2024 in the Banner County.
CLICK, click went a plethora of cameras at 2.03pm on Saturday, August 10, as photographers recorded the arrival of Edna O’Brien’s remains on Holy Island.
Family members shouldered the willow environmentally friendly coffin a short distance from the slipway to a spot where she was laid on wooden trestles under the direction of local undertaker John Tuohy.
Ms O’Brien (93) was left stationary on the island for about 40 minutes in keeping with the local burial tradition for the island to allow a flotilla of lake-boats to ferry the large group of mourners across about 400 metres of water under the watchful eye of the Killaloe Coast Guard and RNLI.
Earlier mourners were taken in a bus from Mountshannon and had the option of parking near Tom Hanley’s house at Knockaphort were up to 100 spaces were provided with stewarding on roads by local volunteers.
The Clare Civil Defence provided eight members in total including boat crew and two emergency medical technicians on the island and rescue van that could be deployed if needed.
For more on this story and all the latest news from the Banner County, pick up this week’s Clare Champion or view our digital edition which is available HERE.
East Clare correspondent, Dan Danaher is a journalism graduate of Rathmines and UL. He has won numerous awards for special investigations on health, justice, environment, and reports on news, agriculture, disability, mental health and community.