Clare        3-11 Derry       1-8 CLARE overcame Derry in the first round of the All-Ireland Camogie Championship at Donaghmore GAA grounds in Ashbourne, County Meath on Saturday. Clare gave championship debuts to seven players. Laura McMahon, Cushla Hehir and Sinéad Tuohy were in the starting line-up, while Lisa Loughnane, Caitriona Hennessy, Joanne Walsh and Vera Loughnane were all introduced during the course of the game.Experienced Deirdre Murphy turned in a powerful performance and inspired Clare to this latest victoryWith the aid of a very strong breeze in the first half, the Clare girls held Derry scoreless, while accounting for a commendable 1-8. Clare were slow to settle and after 10 minutes only had one point on the board, a Niamh O’Dea score from play after good work by Deirdre Murphy. Two pointed frees followed from Claire McMahon before Deirdre Murphy was first to pounce on a short clearance by the Derry defence to send an unstoppable shot to the net. …

IRISH bankers who are suspected of committing economic treason against the State should be interned by special courts if necessary, according to Clare Fine Gael Senator Tony Mulcahy.

IF 2012 was a good year for Truagh-Clonlara camogie then 2013 is following on in the right direction. Having won the Clare Féile na nGael competition, Truagh-Clonlara are the Clare Féile representatives in Limerick in early July. Having overcome Sixmilebridge in the Clare final, this will be the first time Truagh have entered Féile as county champions. It is an huge achievement for the club and the fruits of the work of so many people involved in the camogie club, the local school Scoil Seanain Naofa, (retired principal) PJ Fitzpatrick and current principal Eddie Horgan and all the hard-working teachers in the school have, over the years, done a lot of work to promote the game) plus the parents and families of all the girls involved who have travelled the length and breadth of Clare and beyond with club, school and county.Truagh participated in Féile as a host club when it took place in Clare and Limerick. In 1986, Féile …

AN appropriate civic ceremony marking the contribution of four town councils to their communities should be hosted by Clare County Council before the next local elections, according to the county’s new First Citizen. Councillor Joe Arkins, who was elected as the new Mayor of Clare without a vote at the annual general meeting on Friday, acknowledged the abolition of Ennis, Shannon, Kilrush and Kilkee Town Councils would leave a void, which he doesn’t totally support. The first Ruan resident to become mayor proposed the roll of honour in the foyer of Aras an Chláir should pay tribute to all town councillors who have served as elected representatives many on a totally voluntary basis. He stressed the reform of local government, which will provide one single administrative authority for Clare, should provide boundaries not for the electoral needs of any councillor but should be fit for the purpose of the communities they served. Acknowledging the ­integration of Town Council services at …

Clare Champion journalist Carol Byrne has scooped another national award for her courts’ coverage.

UP to 20 Clare parents have requested the intervention of Bishop of Killaloe, Dr Kieran O’Reilly to deal with a child protection issue in a local school.

The lack of an allowable deduction for dependent children under the new Fair Deal has been criticised by Councillor Tom McNamara.

The final round of games in the league section of this year’s Cusack Cup were played last weekend. The results have confirmed who will compete in the play offs and have also determined who will drop down to Division 2 for next season. Despite losing their 100% record, holders Kilmurry-Ibrickane remain favourites to retain the title. They were already in the final before going down to Éire Óg at the weekend. Lissycasey, already in the semi-final, confirmed their position with a win over Doonbeg and they will have home advantage for their semi-final game where they will play Éire Óg, who secured their play-off spot with victory over Kilmurry.Liscannor were already relegated prior to the weekend, when they suffered a heavy loss to Miltown, a result that sees Miltown safe in Division 1 for next season. They had a superior score difference to Ennistymon, Doonbeg and St Joseph’s with the latter the ones to lose out and so will join …